"His dog ken," said Peter.

The pipe was again removed and its abbreviated stem pointed in the
direction of Dave's cattle dog, who had risen beside his kennel with
pointed ears, and was looking eagerly in the direction from which his
master was expected to come.

Presently the sound of horse's hoofs was distinctly heard.

"I can hear two horses," cried Jimmy Nowlett excitedly.

"There's only one," said old Peter quietly.

A few moments passed, and a single horseman appeared on the far side of
the flat.

"It's Doc. Wild on Dave's horse," cried Jimmy Nowlett. "Dave don't ride
like that."

"It's Dave," said Peter, replacing his pipe and looking more unsociable
than ever.

Dave rode up and, throwing himself wearily from the saddle, stood
ominously silent by the side of his horse.

Joe Middleton said nothing, but stood aside with an expression of utter
hopelessness on his face.

"Not there?" asked Jimmy Nowlett at last, addressing Dave.

"Yes, he's there," answered Dave, impatiently.

This was not the answer they expected, but nobody seemed surprised.

"Drunk?" asked Jimmy.

"Yes."

Here old Peter removed his pipe, and pronounced the one word--"How?"

"What the hell do you mean by that?" muttered Dave, whose patience had
evidently been severely tried by the clever but intemperate bush doctor.

"How drunk?" explained Peter, with great equanimity.

"Stubborn drunk, blind drunk, beastly drunk, dead drunk, and damned well
drunk, if that's what you want to know!"

"What did Doc. say?" asked Jimmy.

"Said he was sick--had lumbago--wouldn't come for the Queen of England;
said he wanted a course of treatment himself. Curse him! I have no
patience to talk about him."

"I'd give him a course of treatment," muttered Jimmy viciously, trailing
the long lash of his bullock-whip through the grass and spitting
spitefully at the ground.

Dave turned away and joined Joe, who was talking earnestly to his mother
by the kitchen door. He told them that he had spent an hour trying to
persuade Doc. Wild to come, and, that before he had left the shanty,
Black had promised him faithfully to bring the doctor over as soon as
his obstinate mood wore off.

Just then a low moan was heard from the sick room, followed by the sound
of Mother Palmer's voice calling old Mrs. Middleton, who went inside
immediately.

No one had noticed the disappearance of Peter, and when he presently
returned from the stockyard, leading the on