“But it’s your home for the present.”

The man threw a few more sticks on the fire, and said nothing.

“I say, Leather, what sort of a place is it?”

“Station’s like other stations.”

“Yes, but is it pretty—beautiful?”

“No.”

“What? My father said it was a grand place with a glorious view.”

“It’s built of wood and thatched with bark, and you can see a long way.”

“But the mountains?”

“There are mountains; so there are for miles.”