king man. His wife is a thoroughly, good honest woman, and they
have no children. I think they would be suitable people; and I'm sure
would look after the boy very well. Where is he?"

"On board the steamer, just now, waiting for me. I'll tell you how I'm
fixed. The youngster is an orphan who was living with my brother-in-law
at Marumbah. I took a great fancy to him, and as my sister did not care
much for the young 'un, though Ted did, I persuaded Ted to let me have
him to 'father.' I should have liked to have had my poor sister Mary's
little girl--you know that my sister died soon after her husband and my
father and mother all went together in the _Cassowary_--but, of course,
I couldn't bring her away from civilisation--there's no white woman
within two hundred miles of Ocho Rios." Then he went on telling his host
the history of Jim, from the time Westonley had brought him away from
Newcastle to the present. Lacey listened with interest.

"Well, a few weeks ago in Sydney I met a Mrs Tallis, a widow. Her
husband was a squatter, and died a few months ago in Sydney."

"I knew him. His station is called Kaburie--it is between here and
Mackay--and is a rattling good cattle run."

"Yes. She wants to sell it. I suppose the poor little woman doesn't like
going back to the place now. However now I'm coming to the point I've an
idea that it might suit me as a breeding station, and told her I would
stop at Bowen, and go and look at it. Now it would suit me very well
if I could leave my _protege_ here for a couple of weeks, as the young
scamp has managed to sprain his wrist on board, and so can't very well
come with me, though I should like to take him very much."

"The Woodfalls will take him, I'm sure. And I will look after him as
well. Now, will you come and see Aulain for a few minutes? Then I'll
take you up to Mrs Woodfall."

Aulain, a strikingly handsome, slightly-built, olive-faced man, with
jet-black beard and moustache, was delighted to see Gerrard.

"Hallo! old 'Tom-and-Jerry,' I'm glad to see you again. Sit down and
tell me o' the wondrous sights o' Sydney and Melbourne. Heavens, man, I
wish I could get away down South for six months."

They remained talking for half an hour, during which time Gerrard told
Aulain the reason of his stopping at Bowen.

"By Jove! old fellow, I shall be glad if you buy Kaburie, for you'll
have to put in some of your time there, of course, and I've applied for
a removal from the Cap