body from the back country, Mr Ellis,'
she said. 'Walter so seldom brings a stranger here, and I get tired of
talking to the same people about the same things, and seeing the same
faces. You don't know what a relief it is, Mr Ellis, to see a new face
and talk to a stranger.'

'I can quite understand that, Mrs Head,' I said. And so I could. I never
stayed more than three months in one place if I could help it.

She looked into the fire and seemed to try to think. The Boss
straightened up and stroked her head with his big sun-browned hand, and
then put his arm round her shoulders. This brought her back.

'You know we had a station out on the Lachlan, Mr Ellis. Did Walter ever
tell you about the time we lived there?'

'No,' I said, glancing at the Boss. 'I know you had a station there;
but, you know, the Boss doesn't talk much.'

'Tell Jack, Maggie,' said the Boss; 'I don't mind.'

She smiled. 'You know Walter, Mr Ellis,' she said. 'You won't mind him.
He doesn't like me to talk about the children; he thinks it upsets me,
but that's foolish: it always relieves me to talk to a stranger.' She
leaned forward, eagerly it seemed, and went on quickly: 'I've been
wanting to tell you about the children ever since Walter spoke to me
about you. I knew you would understand directly I saw your face. These
town people don't understand. I like to talk to a Bushman. You know we
lost our children out on the station. The fairies took them. Did Walter
ever tell you about the fairies taking the children away?'

This was a facer. 'I--I beg pardon,' I commenced, when Andy gave me a
dig in the back. Then I saw it all.

'No, Mrs Head. The Boss didn't tell me about that.'

'You surely know about the Bush Fairies, Mr Ellis,' she said, her big
eyes fixed on my face--'the Bush Fairies that look after the little ones
that are lost in the Bush, and take them away from the Bush if they are
not found? You've surely heard of them, Mr Ellis? Most Bushmen have that
I've spoken to. Maybe you've seen them? Andy there has?' Andy gave me
another dig.

'Of course I've heard of them, Mrs Head,' I said; 'but I can't swear
that I've seen one.'

'Andy has. Haven't you, Andy?'

'Of course I have, Mrs Head. Didn't I tell you all about it the last
time we were home?'

'And didn't you ever tell Mr Ellis, Andy?'

'Of course he did!' I said, coming to Andy's rescue; 'I remember it now.
You told me that night we camped on the Bogan river, Andy.'

'Of co