ve at the station. I had ridden
forward to look out for the water, when just as I caught sight of the
glitter of a pool, I saw two persons emerge from the shade. They were
white lads with a couple of dogs and had guns in their hands. So intent
were they on some object before them that they did not perceive me. One
of them fired at an opossum which they had, I concluded, driven out of
its hole. The animal fell to the ground, when they dashed forward to
save it from being torn to pieces by the dogs. As they did so, one of
them looked up and saw me watching them.

"Hallo! Where do you come from?" he exclaimed advancing.

"From England," I answered. "We want to reach Mr Strong's station, and
shall be obliged if you will help us to find it."

"That's where we live, so we can take you to it," replied the lad. "You
have, however, come somewhat out of your way, and must have passed it on
your right."

I thanked him. "And who are you?" I asked.

"We are Mr Strong's sons," he replied. "We came here to look for some
stray cattle which are hid in this scrub, so we shall first have to
drive them out, but that won't take us long. We left our horses hobbled
close at hand while we stopped, intending to take our dinner, as we have
been out since the morning."

"We were going to do the same," I observed. "Here comes my brother Guy;
if you haven't eaten your dinner you'll join us, won't you?"

"Of course!" he said laughing. "And I conclude that you are Guy and
Maurice Thurston, our cousins we have been expecting out from the old
country for some months past. My name is Hector. That is my brother
Oliver. I suppose you have heard of us?"

I had to confess that I had not before heard their names, though I did
not like to say how little I knew about them.

Guy, Toby, and I, having dismounted and allowed our horses to drink at
the pool, hobbled them and let them go away to feed, while we sat down
in a shady spot to discuss our provisions. Our cousins produced damper,
cold beef and cheese from their pockets; while Toby placed before us a
piece of a kangaroo which we had shot the previous day and some
biscuits, while we all contented ourselves with a draught of water from
the pool.

The meal was quickly despatched, when our cousins jumped up saying that
they must look out for the cattle, and that as soon as we saw the herd
rounded up and clear of the scrub, we might follow in the rear. They
advised us to take care