on has been burned, and that you have lost
nearly all your cattle. And we have taken a liberty which I hope won't
offend you--it is only a present for Jim, and won't give you any trouble
on board the steamer, and the freight is paid right on to Somerset, and
my husband put five hundredweight of best Sydney lucerne hay on board,
so you won't have no trouble in feeding him; and, although I say it
myself, there's not a better bred bull calf in North Queensland."

"Do you mean to say, Mrs Woodfall, that you have given Jim that Young
Duke bull of yours? Why, he's worth fifty pounds! Oh no, I can't allow
you to be so generous as that."

"You can't help it now, Mr Gerrard," said the good woman triumphantly;
"my husband brought him on board last night, and he is now in his stall
on the fore-deck as happy as a king, and I hope he will prove his good
blood when you once have him at Ocho Rios. Come and look at him," and
she smiled with pride as she led the way out of the saloon.

The animal was comfortably established in a stall on the fore-deck, and
beside him was Woodfall feeding him with the "Sydney lucerne."

"Woodfall, that bull is going ashore right away unless you take fifty
pounds for him," said Gerrard; "he'll be worth five hundred pounds to me
in a couple of years."

"Can't take it, Mr Gerrard. He's a present to Jim, so it's no use
talking. But I would take it as a favour if you'd send me a line, and
tell me how he bears the journey."

"Indeed I will, Woodfall," replied Gerrard, who was greatly touched by
this practical demonstration of their regard for him; for he knew that
their excuse of giving the bull to Jim was a shallow one, and that both
husband and wife were aware that the animal would prove of the greatest
value to him, now that Ocho Rios was practically without cattle. And
such sympathy went to his heart. "The world is full of kind people," he
thought. Then he turned to Mrs Woodfall and her husband with a smile.
"Come back to the saloon with me. The steamer will leave in half an
hour, and we shall not have much time to talk together. And the steward
is giving us tea there."

The big woman's face flushed with pleasure. "That is kind of you, Mr
Gerrard. I can drink a cup of tea, but would be afraid to ask that swell
steward for it; he looks like----"

"Like a duke in disguise, eh? But he'll take a shilling tip from any
one, I can assure you."

"Well, I never! He ought to be ashamed of himself. English