‘You’re welcome,’ said the man. ‘Where do you hail from?’
‘We have come from Yanda station, in the west of New South Wales.’
The man stared at them in amazement.
‘What, just as you are? You two youngsters, with this blackfellow!’
‘Yes,’ said Will. ‘My friend was going alone with Yacka, but as I wanted to be in it if there were any adventures, they decided to take me along with them.’
‘Well, upon my word,’ said the man, ‘you’re a couple of good plucked ’uns! Do you know where you are?’
‘I have not the faintest idea,’ said Edgar, ‘but Yacka has.’
‘You seem to have a good deal of confidence in this blackfellow,’ said the man, eyeing Yacka closely.
‘We have,’ said Edgar. ‘He’s a fine fellow.’
‘That’s more than I can say for some of his kind,’ said the man. ‘It was only the other week one of our fellows was murdered beyond the Ranges by some of these blacks.’