nted to
the wretched beings; "but I fancied they were black fellows hiding away,
and trying to escape my notice. The man who attacked me is probably the
boy's father, and they have shown more than usual affection for their
son."

"Don't you think that we could do something for the poor lad?" observed
Bracewell. "Mr Kimber will see what chance there is of his recovery."

"With all the pleasure in the world," said the dominie, dismounting, and
he and Bracewell examined the lad's hurt.

The _gin_ sat watching their proceedings.

"He is shot through the body. It is a wonder that he has lived so long,
for I make no doubt he is one of the blacks who attacked the hut,"
observed the dominie. "I don't believe that the best surgeon in the
land could do him any good. If we were to attempt to move him, he would
die before we had carried him a hundred yards."

Bracewell expressed the same opinion.

We tried to make the old _gin_ understand that there was no hope of her
son's recovery; indeed, the next instant, while lifting him up, and
after he had given a few gasps, his arms fell helplessly by his side,
and we saw that he was dead.

"We had better leave him to his mother, and probably his father will
return as soon as we have gone," observed Bracewell. "He has brought
his fate upon himself, and we can do no more."

This was very evident, and the overseer, who was in a hurry to get back,
galloped on, while we once more rode forward, leaving the poor woman
with her dead son.

We had had enough of fighting, and were truly glad to reach Mr Strong's
station without any other accident. Bracewell was warmly welcomed.

Although he had not before been a visitor at the house, his high
character, his perseverance and industry were all known to Mr Strong,
who might possibly have had no objection to bestow upon him one of his
blooming daughters.

We spent our time in the usual way, working on the station, varied with
an occasional hunt after kangaroos, for as they eat up the grass
required for the sheep, it is considered necessary to destroy them when
they are numerous near a station. The blacks, after the severe lesson
they had received from us, and from other settlers in the neighbourhood,
betook themselves to another part of the country, and we had no longer
any fear of being troubled by them.

We had been some days at Mr Strong's, and Bracewell was talking of
returning home, when a hut-keeper from the most distant sta