wo men and the waggon."

"They'll be all right, mother," said the second girl, squeezing up to
Nic's side and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Oh! how wet and
hot you are. Sticky boy!"

"Yes, mother dear," said Janet. "Hil is quite right. There's nothing
to mind."

"But he said the blacks were going to attack the waggon, my dear," cried
Mrs Braydon anxiously. "We had better send over to Mr Dillon for a
party to go and meet them."

"Oh, nonsense, mother!" said Hilda, giving her dark brown curls a toss;
"father would laugh at the idea. He'll fire a few shots over their
heads and send them scrambling away."

"Yes, of course," said Janet calmly enough. "Mamma is a little nervous
sometimes, Nic. We don't mind a few blackfellows about here. They are
only like big children."

"But what ought I to do?" cried Nic anxiously. "Shall I ride somewhere
and get help?"

"Perhaps it is not necessary," said Mrs Braydon, smiling rather
piteously. "The girls are right. But, my dear boy, how did you find
your way?"

"Father pointed out that gap in the mountain over there, and told me to
ride straight for it."

"What place was it where you left your father?"

Nic described it as well as he was able.

"I know: it must be the third water-hole from here; five-and-thirty
miles away."

"And he has ridden all that way since morning!" cried Mrs Braydon. "My
poor boy! It is dreadful!"

"There," cried Hilda saucily; "it's all over, Jan. I knew mamma would
spoil him as soon as he came. Go and have your face washed, Nic; you're
not fit to touch ladies. _Cooey--cooey_!"

Nic stared to see his pretty young sister, a year older than he,
suddenly put her hands to her mouth and utter a peculiar cry.

"She's calling one of the men."

"_Cooey_!" came in response, and a shock-headed black in shirt and
trousers came running down from one of the sheds.

"White Mary want er?"

"No, no: where's Samson?"

"White Mary want er--Sam," said the black aloud, as if telling himself;
and he trotted off with a queer gait, his legs very far apart, as if he
found trousers awkward to walk in; and he then burst into a sharp run,
for the dogs, which had been smelling his heels, began to bark and rush
after him.

"Here, here, here!" shouted Nic, for the black uttered a yell; and the
dogs turned back obediently, and came to his side wagging their tails,
and, apparently satisfied in their minds, were ready to respond to the
friend