them for the night. For this he had a sort
of box on legs, with a hole in the side, into which he could creep and
sleep comfortably. The dogs were fastened up at different points round
the fold, that should a dingo, or native dog, a sort of fox, come near,
their barking might at once arouse him. Joseph was just sitting down to
his supper of a dish of stewed mutton and damper, that is wheaten
unleavened bread, baked under the ashes, washed down by a few cups of
good tea, when Tony Peach rode up. A fresh damper and a bowl of tea was
placed before him. He talked on general matters for some time, and he
then spoke of what he called the rights of servants. After a little
time he began to speak about a plan by which, if Joseph would join him,
they should make a good thing, and no one be the worse or the wiser.
Tony proposed forming a herd of cattle of their own in a back run. They
were to put a brand on the animals of J.B., and John Butt was to stand
as the owner.

"That is to say, you want _me_ to join you in robbing our good master,"
said Joseph, fixing his eyes on Tony.

"Call it what you like," answered Tony, "a few beasts out of the herd
won't be missed every now and then, and we shall get them."

"No, I'll have nothing to do with the matter," said Joseph stoutly,
"it's robbery, call it what you will; and what is more, Peach, if I
thought that you were about such a thing, I'd let Mr Ramsay know, as it
would be my duty to do. I warn you."

Peach was very angry, for he had already begun the business, and wanted
a mate to help him. He tried to hide his anger, though he made up his
mind to be revenged.

"Well, mate, don't say anything about it. If you don't think it should
be, we'll let it alone, and no harm will have been done."

Joseph was not satisfied. He made up his mind to keep a good look-out
on the cattle under his charge.

After Peach was gone, he went in to ask old Mat what he thought about
the man.

"What has he been saying to you?" asked Mat, looking up from his bed,
for he had already turned in. "No good, I'll warrant."

Joseph told him.

"That's just what he said to me some time back; but he found that he
would gain nothing, so he's let me alone since."

Joseph said that he hoped he would gain nothing from him either.

"Never let him gain an inch, mate, or he'll soon gain an ell," said old
Mat. "He is doing Satan's work, and that's what Satan is always trying
to do--trying to make us