s and filled his face with wrinkles.

"Going to introduce new inventions, eh?" he said.

"Yes, sir, but only one at a time," said Uncle Jack.

"And have you brought a regiment of soldiers with you, gentlemen?"

"Brought a what?" said Uncle Bob, laughing.

"Regiment of soldiers, sir, and a company of artillerymen with a couple
of guns."

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Uncle Dick, showing his white teeth. "Mr
Tomplin means to besiege Arrowfield."

"No, I don't, my dear sir. I mean to turn your works into a fort to
defend yourselves against your enemies."

"My dear sir," said Uncle Jack, "we haven't an enemy in the world."

"Not at the present moment, sir, I'll be bound," said Mr Tomplin,
taking snuff, and then blowing his nose so violently that I wondered he
did not have an accident with it and split the sides. "Not at the
present moment, gentlemen; but as soon as it is known that you are going
to introduce new kinds of machinery, our enlightened townsmen will
declare you are going to take the bread out of their mouths and destroy
everything you make."

"Take the bread out of their mouths, my dear Mr Tomplin!" said Uncle
Jack. "Why, what we do will put bread in their mouths by making more
work."

"Of course it will, my dear sirs."

"Then why should they interfere?"

"Because of their ignorance, gentlemen. They won't see it. Take my
advice: there's plenty to be done by clever business men. Start some
steady manufacture to employ hands as the work suggests. Only use
present-day machinery if you wish to be at peace."

"We do wish to be at peace, Mr Tomplin," said Uncle Bob; "but we do not
mean to let a set of ignorant workmen frighten us out of our projects."

"Hear, hear!" said Uncle Dick and Uncle Jack; and I put in a small
"hear" at the end.

"Well, gentlemen, I felt it to be my duty to tell you," said Mr
Tomplin, taking more snuff and making more noise. "You will have
attacks made upon you to such an extent that you had better be in the
bush in Queensland among the blacks."

"But not serious attacks?" said Uncle Jack. "Attempts to frighten us?"

"Attempts to frighten you! Well, you may call them that," said Mr
Tomplin; "but there have been two men nearly beaten to death with
sticks, one factory set on fire, and two gunpowder explosions during the
past year. Take my advice, gentlemen, and don't put yourself in
opposition to the workmen if you are going to settle down here."

He rose, shook han