The Shadow of a Man

ead-station than wool-shed ever was before or since. Rigden rode as though he were on his way thither; he certainly had not the appearance of a man come to cut out horses in a hors

moonlight, not without seeing t

knew every inch of the country, and his own mind to an irreducible nicety. A clump of box rose in his path; a round-shot would have cut through quicker,

ck, could see scarcely any trace of his horse's hoofs. He now flung a leg across the saddle, and s

e proceeded it was afoot, with his arm through the reins, and the pockets of the dust-

eated the torture two or three times on his way across the clay-pans. On such occasions the night-horse was made to halt (while the stamping was done un

Rigden had still another mile to do in the tight shoes for this his sin. It brought him to the pouting lips of a tank (so called) where the moon shone in a mirror of still water framed in slime. Here he gave his horse a drink, and, remounting, changed his boots once more. A sharp canter brought him back to t

who was seated with his subord

said he'd be back by eleven. He'

od man at hi

ng their rank tobacco. Theodore had offered them his cigars, to put an end to the reek, but his offer had come too late. He hardly knew why he remained; not even to himself would he admit

arth; one of the straightest that ever stepped. Don't you make a

e tone in which that captious critic was accustomed to refer to the bulk of humanity; indeed, it was complimentary for him. Before more could be a

ind them?" inqui

en, "I found some

they all cr

Rigden smiling. "Where's

r travellers' h

ut I dare say you can tell me as well. Get that tra

, didn't we?" said th

d the trooper, who wa

culiarity abou

aid the

pursue

he produced a worn heel tor

said Rigd

t sprang fr

struck h

you a distinct track with no left heel to it all down the l

his own room, to which his sensitive soul ever banished him betimes. All were on their feet but B

w it up?" aske

, a

id you s

t: you shall be es

rgeant; "not by a

-pans in the horse-paddock? Well, you'll see my tracks there, and you'd better follow them; there are just one or two of the others; but on the soft ground you'll see the one as plai

aid the sergeant cordially, "

in Butcher-boy. And that reminds me: there'll be a big muster to-morrow, Spicer. The tank in Butcher-boy's as low as low; the Big Bushy tanks always go one worse; we'll muster

sergeant. "But I should have

n's pret

ss loo

ive it best till morning. Come, m

nt on the discovery of the tracks. Rigden lingered a moment with his lieutenants, and then remarked that he had left

oat, sir?" asked t

pon him with un

my good fellow," he made shift to add in a kindlier tone; "you can't expect to do your work unless you get your