“There’s plenty of room,” said Nic.
“To starve, my led. But, mark my words, if we don’t run him down this morning, he’ll come back before long to ask for his punishment, if the myall blacks have not speared him and knocked him on the head.”
Just then the men came forward, and the magistrate’s attention was taken up, so that he did not see Nic’s shudder.
“Oh, Brookes,” said Mr Dillon, “that fellow broke out and ran for the bush last night?”
“What?” cried the man, changing colour.
“Has he made you deaf?” said Mr Dillon. “Your Leather got away last night. Have you seen him?”
“No, no,” said Brookes, who looked unnerved. “But you’ll run him down, sir?”
“Of course. And you, Samson?”
“No, sir, he hasn’t been back here. Here, you—Bung, Rig, Damper: have you seen Leather ’smorning?”
“Plenty mine see Leather chop rail.”