‘Lads of mettle, both of ’em,’ said Brody. ‘Such a wild-goose chase as they are on would just have suited me in my young days. Good luck go with you, my lads! You’ll always have a warm corner in Ben Brody’s heart.’
As the homestead they had left behind became fainter and fainter in the distance, Edgar and Will turned round in their saddles and waved a parting salute to Ben Brody, whose figure was just discernible on the veranda.
As the morning wore on, the heat became intense, and in the afternoon it was so hot they decided to camp under the shade of some trees. Towards evening they went on again, and that night slept in the open, with their saddles for pillows and the bare ground for a bed. Had it not been for the constant singing and stinging of the mosquitoes, they would have had a pleasant night, as the air was soft and warm, and they needed no covering.
Yacka stretched himself out near them, and slept like a dog—half awake and ready to spring to his feet at the slightest sound. At daybreak they made a slight meal, and then proceeded on their journey. Yacka went ahead, and at such a pace that the horses often had to break into a canter to keep up with him. They arrived at Bardo Station that night, and met with a hospitable reception.
Charles Brunt, the manager, was rather amused at the idea of a couple of lads going in search of adventure, with a blackfellow as guide and companion. He knew Yacka, and was of the same opinion as Ben Brody, that the black had white blood in his veins.
‘This is a hospitable land, anyhow,’ said Edgar, when they had been away from Yanda for about a fortnight, and had managed, through Yacka’s guidance, to fall in with comfortable quarters almost every night.
As they went on, however, Edgar saw they were gradually getting into a wilder country, and farther away from the beaten track. Yacka said, when questioned, he was taking a short cut, and that he knew the way.
‘Where are you steering for?’ asked Edgar.
‘South Australian border,’ said Yacka. ‘Then we work up to the MacDonnell Ranges, past Alice Springs. You’ll see wild country then, when we get through the ranges.’
‘How long will it take us to reach the ranges?’ asked Will.