he wayside, but on Monday morning the way grew wilder
and rougher, they were getting out in the back country, and all round
there was nothing to be seen save rolling downs and broad sheep
paddocks, while the road stretched shadeless and glaring for miles on
miles before them, and every step stirred blinding clouds of dust.

"This rather takes the gilt off the gingerbread," said Rupert, as he sat
under the wagon tilt fanning himself with his hat and choking with dust.

Vast herds of cattle, being driven down to the coast to be turned into
chilled beef for exportation, had been passing them all day, and these
droves materially added to their sufferings because of the amount of
dust that was raised. There was danger for Rocky, too, from the long,
sharp horns of the cattle, as they pressed closely round the wagon in
passing, and as a measure of precaution Nealie turned the wagon right
round every time she saw a great drove approaching, by which means the
back of the wagon had the chief impact.

Camping that night was not a very cheerful business. There was only a
scanty supply of water available, food supplies were also running short,
and there was a cold wind blowing, which one of the drovers had told
them was going to be a "southerly buster", only, luckily for their
present peace of mind, the seven did not as yet understand the true
significance of the term.

The shortness of food was owing to their having expected to reach a
certain point of the journey where fresh supplies could be procured. But
they had been held up so many times that afternoon by the passing of
cattle that they were five or six miles from the place where they had
intended to stop when sundown came.

"Never mind being short to-night; we will have a good feed when we reach
Ford to-morrow to make up for it," said Nealie cheerfully. Her money was
holding out so much better than she had expected, thanks to the kindness
of Mrs. Warner, that she was feeling quite easy in her mind about food
supplies just at present.

"We will turn in directly we have eaten all there is for supper, before
it has time to evaporate and leave us hungry again," said Rumple, who
could always forget his woes in sleep.

"That is a downright jolly idea!" cried Sylvia, stretching her arms
above her head in a sleepy fashion. The long days in the open air made
her most fearfully hungry and tired, while to-day had certainly been the
most fatiguing that they had had since leaving S