A Final Reckoning

ich Bill had expressed for them. As a spectacle, they were no doubt grand; but as neighbours to a half-c

y almost cloudless. The mate stood with two of the best hands at the wheel; while the second mate took his place in the fore top, with a lantern, to signal the position of ice ahead. Fortunately there were but few small floating blocks about, and the Paramatta t

ches in the bulwarks. A respectable jury mast was rigged by the stump of the main mast; and the spar, which had done such good service among the ber

ried before the gale burst, the Paramatta proceeded on her way. The weather continued favourable and, without further adventure, the P

ben to go with him to the poop, as he and

n here. We must have a talk together. Now we want

ng work, sir," Reuben s

many of them; and I fancy you would find it difficult to get anything like regular work. The distance

untry, looking for a day's work. Captain Wilson is going to marry my girl shortly, and of course he feels just the same about it. So the next question is, 'What is the best thing we can do for you?' Now, if you

accept it. Ten such farms would not pay the debt I owe you, and I tell you I should think it downright

know, assistant superintendent to the constabulary force of the colony. Now, if you like, I will obtain you a commission as an inspector. The pay is not high, but b

ilent for a

Hudson, is a most generous one; but I have not been accustomed to farming, and I would rather ha

ulary, "I fear that I cannot accept your offer, becaus

which, there are several officers in the force who have risen from the ranks, and who have had n

ustralia in order that I might be away from everyone who knew the story, but I couldn't accept y

ben's listeners excl

the whole story," Reuben said, "an

whole circumstances, with which

ou know, I take an interest in these things. I own I was puzzled at the time-because, you see, I d

dded warmly. "They must be a pack

but now you have told me, I see no reason whatever why you should not accept my offer. In the first place, no one but ourselves will know your history. In the next, if they did so, that is no reason why you s

in the constabulary. You need not give me an answer now. Think it over for a week. You will hav

ntry with me, for a month or two, and learn the ways of the place; till Captain Wilson has got an appointment for you-that is, if you qui

and the colony was in its early infancy. As soon as the vessel cast anchor, Mr. Hudson and his party landed

wholly unknown to Reuben. He had, of course, before landing laid aside the suit he had worn on board ship, and had dressed hims

the formation of what they call at home a genteel establishment. The number of emigrants who come out is small. For the most part they have a little money and take up land, or at any rate, go up country and look for work there. A few, of course, who have been sent out by their friends at home to get rid of them, loaf about Sydney and spend their money, till they are drive

ooked su

ng fray, in which some of the game keepers got badly hurt. Well, that wasn't so much against him, you know, so I got talking to him one day, and found out that he came from my part of England. I found he had a wife, so I sent home money to some friends, and asked them to send her out; which th

time was out some years ago, but that has made no difference. Nothing would induce him to leave me; and I would not part with him for any amount, for a more faithful and trusty fellow

and had broken half his ribs. He was taken to the government hospital. They did not think, at first, that he would ever get over it; but though he pulled through, it was clear he would never be fit for any hard work. So the surgeon of the hospital spoke of the case to me, and

by some bush-ranging scoundrels, out of pure mischief, I should say. He was insensible when I found him, but I saw that he was alive, and managed to get him up on my horse and too

ut that Sam, as I called him, was a valuable fellow about a place. He could turn his hand to everything, but I found he was specially happy when he was engaged about the horses; so at last I handed over that department to

enteel, it's a thoroughly good-working one, and I doubt

istols, and these he always loads before we start, so as to be ready to repel boarders. He looks out sharply, too, for I have never lost a thing since he came; and when you consider what a number of gentry there are, abou

chance. Now run upstairs quickly, both of you; for Rachel will not be pleased if you let the first dinner get cold, after she ha

e a minute

what had become of him. He promised to c

igh spirits, with the exception of Mrs. Hudson, who was cool in her manners to the young officer, and was evidentl

had shown great pluck and presence of mind in an affair at the Cape, which I described to him. He said that he could appoint you at once, as young Houghton, a district superintendent, was killed three weeks ago, in

er over last night, and quite made up my mind to accept the place

sure you will do credit to my recommendation

e was to come up to my station, and there, before you are on shore two hours, you arrange the whole bu

or visiting you, later on. Indeed, I don't know why he should not be able to look you up, as soon as you get there. He wil

, though perhaps a little slow; but he will be a good man for Reuben to serve under, and I know t

Wilson, I will forgive you. An

several bands of bush rangers, who have been doing a deal of mischief up country; so to begin with, he wishes me to make a tour of inspection, and to report generally. After

e, now, till Frances is settled, too. Ever since she was a child, when she once made up her min

id, laughing and colouring. "As far as I a

no, my dear, if Wilson is a wise fellow, he will bring you to book, as soon as I can either build, or get hold of, a place fit for you. We shall be having no peace, now. Every time he is off on d

e will have to do his duty. I don't suppose he

er spoiled. It don't so much matter with Wilson, because he has done his share of dangerous work, and is pretty well up at t

ars to come," Reuben laughed. "Are these blac

sometimes attack solitary stations, and murder every soul there; but they seldom stand up in fair figh

ostly escaped convi

hepherding and take to the bush; but the great proportion are convicts. It is not to be wondered at, when you look at the life many of these men have led at h

the worst; for as often as not, they may have killed a warder in making

arties of blacks, and live with them. Sometimes two or three get together, and all the harm they do is to carry off an occasional sheep, for food. And the other kind are de

ct having made them wary; and being generally in league with the blacks, who are as cunning as foxes, and can run pretty nearly as fast as a horse can gallo

t, to have the instinct of dogs, and can follow a track when the keenest white's eye cannot de

these trackers i

are, in fact, our bloodhounds; and although some of our men pic

hadow of denial, he accepted Mr. Hudson's kind offer; although he had intended to ask Captain Wilson to make an advance of pay, in order that he might get what was necessary. He could not, however, have purchased such an outfit as Mr. Hudson insisted on getting for him; the latter ordering not only un

an up-country station, who has an animal at all out of the ordinary way, has to keep his stable door locked and sleep with one eye open; and even then, the chances are strongly in

ave a go

to one of the blac

out eighteen years

icer, and he's going to take the bay with him; n

rse, which he had groomed and was

ave Mass

the horse, too, and to see no one steals it. So someone I can trust must go with him. If you don't like him for a master, after you have tried him, Jim, you can come back to me agai

, with his small eyes deeply sun

after white man and Tartar, to pl

, Jim," his e

d away with Reuben; "if you treat these black fellows well,

as paint. At night he will sleep in the stable, and will be ready, at all times and places, to make a fire, and cook a damper or a bit of meat, if you are lucky enough to have one by you. All the p

. Jim trotted, with an easy stride, behind him. Reuben at first was inclined to ride slowly, in order to give his attendant time to keep up with him; but he soon found that, wha

a district, it was not far from Sydney, and his duties consisted principally in hunting for convicts who had made their escape, in looking after refractory ticket-of-leave men, and in ordinary constabulary work. He had learned in that time to become a first-rate r

cceeded to the chief command of the constabulary, ordering him to hand over charge of the distri

me. He stood about five feet nine, but looked shorter, owing to his great width of shoulders. He was still quiet in manner, but he had the same bright and pleasant expression whi

his master, and his fidelity and devotion had been of the greatest se

Sydney, Captain Wilson said

shing yourself. However, I thought better to keep you at quiet work, until you were thoroughly master of your duties; and had, moreover, got your full

-wright's work, and four years on horseback in this bracing air, ought to make one st

re are many men in the force who could

rict-it was a bad business. He and two of his men were out, after some natives who had dri

sir," Reuben

e a better choice than in sending you there. Your age is the only thing against you-not with me, you know, but others may think that I have done wrong, in selecting so young an officer-but you see, I know my man. I know, too

ent. It would be putting you over the heads of too many. But you will have

lson. I will do my best to show

an usual about it, which makes it very difficult to run these fellows down; and the natives are specially troublesome. Besides which, at present there are two or three of the worst gangs of bush r

ve liked better; and I hope, ere long, I may be ab

free, and then I will drive you home. You need not start for a