"I certainly hope you won't leave me behind," returned his young cousin, in an injured tone.
"All right. Billy Button will make four, and that will be enough. To-morrow we'll have all the horses in and get ready for a start the next day."
"How long shall we be away?" asked Charlie, who bore upon his shoulders the onerous duties of storekeeper.
"Can't say. What do you think, Brown? Six weeks? Two months?"
"We surely ought to find something in that time, if it's only the remains of Leichhardt."
"Make up three months' rations for four, Charlie; I hate to run short. Lucky we killed the other day, the beef will be just right for carrying."
ROUTE MAP
On an outside cattle-station, where so much camping-out has to be constantly done, the preparations for such a trip do not take long, and the morning of the second day found everything in readiness. Brown had sent over to his place for his own horses, and they started with fourteen in all. Two apiece for riding, four packed with rations, and two with canvas water-bags and the necessary blankets, tent, &c. At the last moment the blacks about the station tried to dissuade Billy from going by telling him horrible tales of the fate surely awaiting him at the dreaded burning mountain, but Billy stoutly refused to be frightened, and scorned to remain, although given the option by Morton.