ld Tom Wells what he had seen, and Tom told Boyce,
and soon afterwards Mr Ramsay went to the pens in which the sheep were
placed, and sent for the fast shearer, John Butt. John was very angry,
but Mr Ramsay was firm, and refused to fulfil his part of the contract
unless he sheared the sheep properly.

"I'll pay the fellow off who brought the matter before the master's
eyes," growled John Butt. "It's that new chum; I saw him looking at the
sheep. What business has he to come and interfere with our ways?"

Joseph Rudge had thus made an enemy though he did not know it. Even had
he known what would happen, he would have done the same, for he was one
of those who follow the golden rule, "Do right, whatever you think may
come of it, and leave that to be settled by God."

The first thing done with the fleece, when off the sheep's back, was to
clean it on the folding table, which was a framework through which the
dirt fell. After that it was put into the press and packed tightly into
large bales fit for sending on board the ship which was to carry it to
England. As soon as all the wool was done up into bales, it was packed
on the drays to be sent off to the port to be shipped. Each dray
carried about twenty bales, and was drawn by ten stout oxen. The drays
were low, like those of brewers, had no sides, but upright pins to keep
in the bales, those at the corners being of iron. The bales were
secured by ropes, with a tarpaulin to be thrown over them in case of
wet. Dick Boyce and Tom Wells had to set off again at once. Sam wanted
very much to go with them. He had a fancy for the life they led, as
many a boy would have, but his father could not spare him. They
travelled about fifteen miles each day, and carried everything they
wanted on the road. At night, tarpaulins were let down at the sides and
ends of the dray. This formed as much shelter as they required when
sleeping. The bullocks were turned loose to pick up their food; and
while Boyce went to bring them in, Wells lighted the fire, cooked their
breakfast, and made the dray ready for starting. From stations far up
the country, drays are two months and more on the journey to the sea.
The chief drawback to this life is, that people long accustomed to it do
not take readily to any other, and this made Joseph not wish that Sam
should follow it.

STORY FIVE, CHAPTER 2.

Joseph Rudge and his family had for some time been living in the new
hut, about twent