'Yes, I have been fortunate with the hunting. One can always get half a pound of flour for a pound of meat, so that I still have almost as much as I started with, and I always give each of the horses four pounds of bread a day. One cannot expect that horses can be kept in condition when they are working day after day and have to spend their nights in searching for food and then not getting half enough of it.'
'These Indian ponies can do it; no one thinks of feeding a horse on the plains. They have got to rustle for themselves.'
'That may be, but these three horses have not been accustomed to that sort of thing. No doubt they have always been fed when they have worked, and they would soon have broken down under the life that comes natural to the half-wild ponies of the plains. However, it has paid to keep them well; they have come along without halts, and, as you see, they are in as good condition as when they started. In better condition indeed, for they are as hard as nails and fit to do anything.'
'That young mate of yours is a good 'un, and takes wonderful care of the critters. He is British too, I suppose?'
'Oh, yes, we came out together.'
'Ain't no relation of yourn?'
'No. I was coming out and so was he, and we agreed to come together. It is always a good thing to have someone one knows at home with one.'
'That is so,' the man agreed. 'A good mate makes all the difference in life out here. It is easy to see the young 'un thinks a heap of you, and I guess you could reckon on him if you got into a tight corner. He is a tough-looking chap, too. Well, I reckon the meat's done. You had better give a call for your mate. Where has he gone to?'
'He is at the cart,' Ned said, as he stood up and looked round. 'Jacob, supper is ready.'
'I am coming,' was called back; but it was another five minutes before Jacob came up and seated himself by the fire.