‘Well, he bought all the land hereabouts—a few millions of acres—from blackfellows who called themselves chiefs. The other colonists disputed his royalty. The Government backed them up, and sent a superintendent to reign over them. However, he will do very well. Who’s this tall man coming along? St. Maur, as I’m a living sinner!’
And that gentleman it turned out to be, extremely well-dressed, and sauntering about as if in Bond Street. His greeting, however, was most cordial, and smacked more of the wilderness than of the pavé.
‘By Jove!’ he said, ‘you here, Rockley? I was just thinking of you and Effingham. Can’t say how glad I am. Come into my miami. What a pity you couldn’t have a throw in! Lots of money to be made. Made some myself already.’
‘Daresay,’ said Rockley. ‘You’re pretty quick when there’s a spec. on hand. What have you been about?’
‘Mixed herd of cattle. Turned overlander, as they call it here; brought over one on my own account, and another that I picked up on the road. Just going over to see Howie’s horses sold. I want a hack. You come and lunch with me and Dutton and Tom Carne. We’re over at “The Lamb”—some fellows from Adelaide there.’
‘Certainly,’ said Rockley, always ready for anything in the way of speculation or enterprise. ‘Nothing better to do; and, by the way, Effingham, we shall want horses for riding home; for, as for going back with that atrocious, reckless, buccaneering ruffian, I’ll see him d——d first!’
Here the sentence, ending with more force than elegance, merged in the loud ringing of an auctioneer’s bell in close proximity to a large stock-yard at the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets, near where a seductive soft-goods establishment now stands.
The yard contained over a hundred head of horses, which were permitted to run out one at a time, when, being completely encircled by the crowd, they remained confused, if not quieted, until their fate was decided.
An upstanding, unbroken grey filly happened to be separated just as they arrived—
And struggling fiercely, but in vain,