had charge of the provisions, and was at that moment sitting upon the
grub box, which had been thoughtfully filled for the start by Mr.
Wallis.

"I don't mind where we get to by night--no, I mean sundown, for that is
what Australians say--but I do hope it will soon be time to open the
grub box, for I am getting most fearfully hungry, and I expect the horse
is hungry too," said Ducky, who was in high feather this morning, and
full of the oddest little jokes, with quips and cranks of all sorts. She
had kept up a fire of small jokes with Don and Billykins ever since the
start, for she was wildly excited because she was going to see her
father, who of course could not possibly know her until he was told who
she was.

"You can have food now, and I know there are some lovely sandwiches on
the top of the box, for I saw the woman at the shop pack them into their
place above those tins of tongue," said Nealie; "but I have had strict
orders to feed Rocky only at sunrise, noon, and sundown, and the noon
meal is to be a slight one, and I am going to obey orders."

"How shall we get the horse and wagon back from Hammerville to Sydney?
Will it have to be put on the rail?" asked Rumple, who had not heard, or
else had forgotten, the final instructions which had been given to his
sister.

"We have to hand it over to the nearest agent of the company, and he
lives about twenty miles from Hammerville on the nearest point of the
railway," replied Nealie.

"Do you mean that the railway does not go nearer than twenty miles from
Hammerville?" cried Sylvia. "Why, the place must be quite at the back of
beyond!"

"That is just about where it is, my dear; and if you thought that it was
going to be a second Sydney, why, you are in for a pretty big
disappointment, I am afraid," said Rupert, who was still poring over the
map. "Hammerville is a mining place, although it is not quite clear to
me yet what kind of mining is done there, and it seems to have sprung
into existence within the last six or seven years. This Gazetteer affair
says that it is a very healthy place, and bound to develop into a city
of the first importance; only, so far as I can see, it is not very big
yet, though doubtless it will receive a mighty impetus of growth when it
has the honour of sheltering us. Only I don't mean to stay there very
long;" and as he spoke Rupert folded up the map, putting it in his
pocket with a satisfied slap, then sat looking out between the shoul