Settling Day

the property from his father, and had taken no share in amassing the v

he took his departure for London. The name of his station was Cudgegong, and it comprised an area of about thirty to forty square miles. In addition to this he held big shares in several mines in the weste

t, and as he grew older he became domine

seems bred in all Australians, and bef

he two men had not been bad friends, in fact Rodney Shaw got

of his return, and asked Doonan

it,' said th

d he knows everything tha

rant you,' laughed Jim; 'but I har

said Doonan. 'You were always

s the weather takes up. Perhaps I can be

th Willie. The lad loved to hear of his exploits, and how he had captured b

d seen in Melbourne the lad's eyes gl

ide in a real

out for a jockey,

ll be one if d

said the constable. 'Your

m. 'That's strange. I was only thinking th

old enough, and I shall ride

forgot it was Ned's day. Ned will be glad of thi

ving a couple of passengers to grumble on the top

ay with the mails,'

ouldn't mind if someone would take those two mal

iable, are th

hey have been gro

nside,' sa

re fairly wet outside, but the

quencher,' said Ji

wasted on them,' replied Ned

e passengers looking at the house, evidently in

ed, shaking his fist. 'It will do

im, when he had att

. I don't know whether that can be reckoned

me since he went

years, I should think, m

ll right. Benjamin Nix is

answered Ned. 'Better t

re's likely to be trouble in thi

's t

es about aga

in his yard, and glanced at Constable Doonan. Was

sent him up to Cudgegong. The man in charge of him complains that someone either stole him or le

oped into the yard with my mob yesterday during

say so!' ex

ute would have made short work of me

ned to Ned wha

at all surprised if the man did not let him go through

y Potter's and will make inquiries. In the meantime, Jim, I

o-morrow,'

d, much to the relief of his two passengers, clam

ttle for this, in fact was glad of it. He saddled Bess and

grass gave way beneath her feet. It was a luxury that had n

e of mounted police, and recognised Sergeant M

here. Perhaps he has been to p

he th

If the stallion in my place is the missing one, Machinson would be only too pleased to get me into trouble, though why I don't know

asual remark about the rain

bought a valuable stallion in Sydney, which has been stolen. The man in char

ound a stray stallion in his mob, and also said that Cons

about it,' said Jim. 'I heard from Doonan, and Ne

Then you do not know who is the owner of this horse? It is not ofte

ho was not afraid of half-

ind them when they have bee

this horse I have is Mr Shaw's, it wi

h the thief,' s

the horse was s

was stolen; th

to be running about wi

know,' was the suggesti

to infer by that?'

Don't you think it n

ld you wha

te how the horse came t

ke to find out. Perhaps y

end the thief. There is too much of t

ly your fault, because you never catch the

angrily. 'Remember I can make you account

accounte

ll that story

t is what I am

ll ride bac

; 'but I should prefer yo

e, yet this only aggravated him the more. Such is the nature of some men, but Jim Dennis was not of

,' said Jim, holding out his hand,

nd in a half-hearted wa

almost forgotten all my old friends, but y

I should not have recognised him had

th Dennis?' said Sh

s your horse,' said

ory,' said Jim, 'or it

Shaw an account of

'I wonder how the horse got into your

'how the horse came there. If he is your hors

n which Rodney Shaw spoke; it seem

for him. One of my men

etter send two,' r

e as dangero

amed him down. Still, I think it

u bring

your own men did it. He might get lost on the

send your own men,' said that w

a hospitable reception, and he was not a ma

' said Rodney Shaw, who seemed sudd

iding this way,' w

, Jim Dennis considered himself