ome of these places, because they say there's no doctor. I am a
doctor, Nic."

"Yes, father; and I've heard say that you were a very clever one."

"I did my best, boy. But I was going to say I am a doctor, and saving
for an occasional accident, which nature would heal, I am like a fish
out of water."

"Break-fast!" cried a merry, girlish voice; and Hilda, looking bright
and eager, looked in at the stable door.

"Ah! here you are, Nic!" she cried. "What a shame! your first morning,
and not been to say `how are you?' to mamma!"

Nic rushed by her before she had finished, and ran into the house, where
Mrs Braydon was eagerly waiting to welcome him to the board.

"I needn't have been so apologetic," said the doctor drily, as he came
in a minute later and took his place. "Here have I been preaching to
this boy about the hardships of our life, and our rough fare, and--
humph! French ham, new-laid eggs, coffee, cream, honey, jam, hot
bread-cakes, and--tut--tut--tut! My poor boy, I am so sorry there are
no fried rolls. Can you make shift?"

"Yes, father," said Nic, laughing, as he thought of school fare. "I'm
going to try."

He did.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

A STRANGE ENCOUNTER.

"Don't go too far, Nic," said Dr Braydon, a few mornings after the
boy's arrival at the Bluff.

"Oh no, father; only I must see what the place is like all round."

"Of course; I have no time to-day, or I'd take you for a ride round."

"But ought he to go alone?" said Mrs Braydon.

"He must learn to run alone, my dear," said the doctor. "We can't chain
him up like a dog."

"No," said Mrs Braydon, rather piteously; "but there are the
precipices."

"Nic has eyes in his head, and will not go and jump down there. He
can't very well fall by accident."

"The snakes, my dear."

"He must learn at once to keep a sharp look-out for them. I suppose
there were plenty of adders on the common at school?"

"Plenty, father."

"But the blacks, my dear. I have not got over that scare."

"They're gone, my dear. That man came back last night and said that he
saw them, and hid because he was afraid. The party hung about after the
waggon for about an hour, and then went right off across the river."

"But they may come back."

"Oh yes," said the doctor tenderly; "but don't be afraid. Nic will not
go very far--eh, boy?"

"Oh no, father; I'll really take care."

"And you will be very careful, my dear?"

"Of course he will," sai