out more things certain against this man, it will be my duty
to inform the master."

Mr Ramsay was very much vexed at not getting more of the cattle in. He
did not blame Joseph, for he knew that it was not his fault, that Peach
had long been in charge of them and ought to have kept them in better
order. Of course Peach excused himself, and said that the cattle were
always wild, and that it was no fault of his. Joseph began to wish that
he had had nothing to do with cattle, but had stuck to his sheep. He
had certainly much hard work, for he had to be in the saddle early in
the morning and to keep in it most of the day. Sam, though, liked it
very much. Bob had now taken Sam's place and helped Mat in taking care
of the sheep.

One day old Mat came to Joseph and begged him to look at the sheep. He
was afraid something was the matter with some of them. Joseph examined
narrowly all those which Mat thought were sick. There was no doubt that
they had the distemper. It had not spread far yet. A stop must be put
to it. He at once sent off Ben on horseback to acquaint Mr Ramsay, and
to bring back tobacco and other stuff for making washes. Meantime he
separated the diseased animals from the rest, which he told Mat to drive
to a fresh part of the run where they had not been for some time. He
warned him on no account to go near any other flock. Meantime he rode
round to the nearest hut to advise the shepherds to look to their sheep,
to see if the distemper had showed itself among them, that they might
take steps to stop it. At one of the stations he met Peach. It was one
like his own, with three men, one of them having charge of a back run
with cattle. Peach was not very friendly. "I should think Ned Marks
here would know as soon as a fresh hand whether or not his sheep had the
distemper," he remarked with a sneer. "Some people, however, are fond
of busying themselves about what doesn't concern them; but I've just to
say that they may go too far some day and find that others won't stand
it."

Joseph made no answer, he was resolved to do his duty, whatever came of
it.

"Never mind him; I'm not offended," said Marks, giving a wink to Peach,
which he fancied Joseph did not observe. "Here, Rudge, to show that
there is no ill-will between us, do you take a glass of this good rum.
I got a few bottles the last time I was down at the store. There are
not many left."

"No thank you, mate," answered Joseph. "I mad