teeth and hope that a lucky chance
would put some of the enemy in his power. To Mary it seemed incredible
that in the nineteenth century people should be able to steal sheep
without suffering for it; and Hugh soon saw that she was a true daughter
of William Grant, as far as fighting was concerned. She listened with
set teeth to all stories of depredation and trespass, and they talked
over many a plan together. But though they became quite friendly their
intimacy seemed to make no progress. To her he was rather the employee
than the friend. In fact he did not get on half so far as did Gavan
Blake, who came up to Kuryong occasionally, and made himself so
agreeable that already his name was being coupled with that of the
heiress. Ellen Harriott always spoke to Blake when he came to the
station, and gave no sign of jealousy at his attentions to Mary Grant;
but she was waiting and watching, as one who has been a nurse learns
to do. And things were in this state when an unexpected event put an
altogether different complexion on affairs.

CHAPTER XIV. RED MICK AND HIS SHEEP DOGS.

When Hugh came home one day with his face, as usual, full of trouble,
Mary began to laugh him out of it.

"Well, Mr. Hugh, which is it to-day--the Doyles or the Donohoes? Have
they been stealing sheep or breaking gates?"

"Oh, it's all very well for you to laugh," he said; "you don't
understand. Some of that gang up the river went into the stud paddock
yesterday to cut down a tree for a bee's nest, and left the tree
burning; might have set the whole run--forty thousand acres of dry
grass--in a blaze. Then they drove their dray against the gate, knocking
it sideways, and a lot of the stud sheep got out into the other paddock,
and I'll have to be off at day-break to-morrow to get 'em back."

"Why don't you summon the wretches, and have them put in gaol, or go and
break their gates, and cut down their trees?" she said, with a cheerful
ignorance of details.

"I daren't--simply daren't. If I summoned one of them, I'd never have
dry grass but there'd be fires. I'd never have fat sheep but there'd be
dogs among 'em. They ride all over the run; but if a bird belonging
to the station flew over one of their selections they'd summon me for
trespass. There's no end to the injury a spiteful neighbour can do you
in this sort of country. And your father would blame me."

"Why?"

"Oh, it's part of the management of a station to get on with your