The house stood on a very slight rise, where the clump of swamp box terminated, a quarter of a mile away; and, sure enough, we could see, through a gap in the undergrowth of old-man salt-bush, a man chopping wood at the edge of the clump. But he seemed quite unconscious of the multitude of bullocks that, scattered all over the paddock, were laying in a fresh supply of grass.
"It's Moriarty," sighed Thompson, gazing at the horseman.
"He's been sent to catch us. It's all up."
Then, like the sound of many waters, rose the mingled sentiments of the company, as each man dragged on his boots with a celerity beyond description.
"You keep him on a string, Collins, while we coller as many of the carrion as we"——
"What use? It's a summonsing match already. Look at the fence! And Martin lives in the hut after all. He's between us and the bullocks now— laughing at us. What business had we to travel on"——
"Demmit suggest something. Make use of me in this emergency,
I beg of you. Shall I"——
"Port Phillip, all over. Jist let me deliver this (adj.) load.
That's all I"——
"Comes o' young pups knowin' heverythink. I kep' misdoubtin' all the (adj.) time"——
"Are you fellows mad?" shouted the young storekeeper, as he dashed past the group, and pulled his blown horse round in a circle. "Out with those bullocks as quick as the devil'll let you! Martin's on top of you! I've just given him the slip! We were sent from the station expressly to nip you. Fly round! blast you, fly round!"
At the word, Cooper and Thompson snatched up their bridles and darted off, followed by Price and Willoughby. Dixon and Bum were not in the crowd, but no one had leisure just then to notice their absence.