interest.

Murden spoke to them in their native language, of which he understood a
little, and inquired the distance to a stock-hut; and with an almost
imperceptible motion of their heads, they intimated the direction which
we were to pursue, and then relapsed into their former state of
stoicism.

"Some of our heaviest cattle-raisers are trying an experiment," said
Murden, as we rode. "Thinking that these poor devils are fit for
something, they are employing them to look after cattle on these immense
plains. The plan has worked admirably so far, for they appear especially
adapted for this kind of work, as it suits their idea of freedom and
idleness."

"And what pay do they get?" I asked.

"Their pay is trifling, but they are assured of good, healthy food, and
clothing if they will wear it, which in some cases they reject with
disdain. Our countrymen have never treated the natives as human beings,
and hence they have never looked upon us with any love; fear alone keeps
them in subjection. A new theory is to be attempted, and with what
success remains to be seen."

When we came in sight of the hut, we started our horses, and left the
cart and men to follow at their leisure. The place was not very
inviting, and did not reflect much credit on the stockman who had charge
of the station.

The hut was built of rough boards, patched in a dozen different places
with bullocks' hides, to keep out the rain in the winter, and the hot
sun in the summer. A small shed was placed at one end of the house,
under which all the cooking was done during wet weather.

Two upright sticks, with necks, on which a cross bar was placed, formed
the fireplace, and that was all that was required by men who live on
meat day after day, and year after year, until, as one stockman informed
me, he "felt horns growing on the sides of his head."

Basking in the sun, which was high in the heavens, was a parrot,
confined in a rough board cage, evidently whittled out with a jackknife,
during the leisure hours of its master. The bird was shrieking out a few
words of unmistakable English, and appeared to utter them with the
greatest glee, as though charmed by having a number of new listeners to
whom it could show off its perfections.

"D---- it, where do you come from?" the bird yelled; and then changing
his tune, he shouted, "take that dog away--take him away! take him
away--cuss him!"

We could but feel amused at such proficiency in the English lan