“Send one of the men, father.”
“I don’t want to weaken my defensive force, boy.”
“I’d go, father, but I don’t know the way,” said Nic.
“Yes: you shall go, my boy. The horse will take you straight to the station as soon as he is well away from his companion; and, look here! the track may prove faint, but do you see that notch in the mountains?”
“Where it looks as if a square piece had been cut out, and a cat’s head with its ears standing up?”
“Yes: that notch is the pass through the mountains, and is just about two miles behind our house, which stands on a slope. You could not miss it.”
“A wooden house: I know,” said the boy; “but are the others at all like it?”
“What others? There is no other station for miles, boy. Well, will you risk it?”
“I don’t see any risk, father.”
“No; but blacks may be there. Well mounted, though, you could easily give them a wide berth.”