Tom Gerrard
walking his horse, slowly rode up to the bluff, a
as I was coming along the beach and so turned off. Am
re for both Kaburie and the Gully; the main tr
" Then again raising his hat to Kate, he sai
rd of Ocho Rios, I am sure, for I have seen your p
certain that you were the young lady whom Mr Lace
hed merrily. "Mr Gerrard, this is my friend, the Reverend
m and his fair companion as if he had known them for years, and both Forde a
Peninsula. Of course," she added, with her usual serene frankness, "I am very, very sorry that Mrs Tallis is not coming back, for we are great friends, and always exch
rd with assumed gravity, th
ugh to say that most men do
nd, and humbly beg you to instruct me what to do; and further
Forde with a laugh, as he rose to go to his horse; "y
rson being in the running," said quietly, "I certainly am a most forgetful man, Miss Fraser, and a
ely divined that Gerrard had purposely deferred giving her the let
she placed the letter in the pocket of
so. He has had a very bad attack of fever this time
rry.' And I am so really, really glad to meet you, Mr Gerrard. Randolph
Lacey a couple of days ago. His own
ot ever speak to me of Mr Aulain in connection with the Native Police. I loathe and detest
ual Inspector, Miss Fraser. No one has ever accused him of
ost here on the coast some years ago, and some of the crew killed by the blacks, the Government acted most cruelly. The Native Police not on
The blacks in this part of the colony are bad enough, but on Cape York Peninsula, they are worse-daring and ferocious cannibals. The in
ellow, Mr Gerrard, for spe
, and so terrify a large mob of cattle that they will seek refuge in the ranges, and eventually become so wild as to be irrecoverable. I can put down my losses alone fr
but said no mor
he said as Forde returned. "It will be so pleasant for father
e on to, Kaburie with me in the morning, show me the ropes, and tell me som
lease it from poor Mrs Tallis, but she wanted to sell outright, so father has to keep 'pegging away' at the claim
e rough, bark-roofed shed with uncovered sides, which contained the battery plant, and Fraser's equally unpretentious dwelling, which, with three or four miners' huts constituted the camp. A bright, brawling little mountain stream, with high
loud coo-e-e! and came towards them. He was bareheaded, and clad in a coarse flannel singlet, and dirty moleskin pants, with knee-boots; and his perspiring fac
'found' Mr Forde, and this is Mr Gerrard, who is going
house, Kate, and I'll follow you soon. Give Forde and Mr Gerrard towels. I daresay they'll be glad of
oing, father?
ame, about half
"she." Sometimes "she" is a "bully-boy with a glass eye; going four ounces to the ton
quick sympathy for her sprung up in his heart. And to Fraser himself he had taken an instantaneous liking. Those big, light-grey Scots
" he said to himself, as he wa
aser?" asked Kate, "I really bel
as grown on me from being so much alone. What a sp
yes made Tom Gerrard's heart quicken as it