Beyond and below them stretched the Bush, an ocean of tree-tops, as level as the windless sea, and over this green expanse shadows of fleecy clouds chased each other. Presently Jim discovered a brown space in the distance, and detected a thin column of smoke rising on occasions between the vagrant winds. He called Burton's attention, and Mike turned experienced eyes in that direction.
'A settler's clearing,' he said. 'No; by Jove, it's Macdougal's homestead!'
'What!' cried Done, sitting up with a jerk. 'Donald Macdougal's station?'
'Yes, Monkey Mack's.' Burton rose to his feet and looked about him. 'There isn't a doubt,' he continued. 'That's Boobyalla all right. I was over the country to the west once with cattle.'
'And since we came to Jim Crow I have been so near.'
''Bout twenty mile as the crow flies. Why, old man, you look all caved in.'
'I'm greatly surprised. I thought Boobyalla was right away in the wilds.'
A pity this isn't wild enough for you.'
'Yes; but cut off completely from the people.'
'The people have been distributin' themselves a good deal o' late.
Boobyalla was far enough out o' the runnin' till the rushes broke out at
Forest Creek an' Jim Crow. As 'tis, I'll bet my boots the Macdougal's as
lonesome down there as a sick sheep.'