l it orf, larst Christmas, Miss, with Banjo in the 'urdle
race? Didn't I collar a hundred and five quid from that Melbourne
bookie?"

"Yes. And what became of it? How much of it did you bring back? Just
thirty shillings! And you couldn't do any work for nearly two weeks; and
you had _delirium tremens_. Now, go away, and if you come back as you
did last time father won't have any more to do with you--and neither
will I."

Smith would ride off with his companions. "She made me ante up ten quid
this time," he would observe--expecting sympathy.

"Well, it's ten pound to the good for you, you boozing little owl,"
would be the reply. For all the men at the camp knew that during two
years Kate had placed various sums to the credit of Smith at the Boorala
bank, and had extorted a solemn promise from him not to attempt to write
a cheque for even one pound without her consent. But, as she felt she
could not trust Cockney, she had also taken the bank manager into her
confidence, and asked him to refuse to honour any cheque drawn by "the
bad lot" unless it had her endorsement.

The bank manager, who was another of Kate's adorers, promised to observe
her wishes. "It's not banking etiquette, Miss Fraser, but that doesn't
matter in North Queensland. We do many things that we ought not to do,
and if Smith draws a cheque you may be sure that I will refuse to pay it
as 'signature illegible'--as it is sure to be. But I'll lend him a few
pounds if he breaks out again, and is laid up in this abode of sin, so
that he may get home again to your protecting care."

The milking was finished, and Smith, taking up the heavy bucket of milk,
was just about to carry it to the house, when he set it down again.

"My word, Miss," he said admiringly, "look there; there's that Mr
Gerrard a-gallopin' 'is 'orse down to the creek for a swim bareback. My
oath, 'e can ride."

Kate turned just in time, and saw Gerrard, who was in his pyjamas with a
towel over his shoulders, disappearing over the ridge at a full gallop.
She did not know that he had risen long before she had, walked in the
grey dawn to the horse paddock through the dew-soaked grass, caught his
horse, and had been an interested spectator of her dairy work.

"Yes, Smith, he _can_ ride, as you say. And his horse wanted a swim
after such a hot ride from Port Denison."

As they walked back to the house, Kate saw her father coming towards
them, and let Smith go on.

"Father," she said, "I a