our friends. The captain, they said, would give us every
assistance in his power. He had a herd of cattle, as well as sheep,
with several horses, though whether he would be able to spare the horses
they could not tell; but he would probably try and obtain them for us
from the next station, a dozen miles or so farther off.

We were still, we found, a hundred and fifty miles, at least, from
Sydney; so that, had not the settlers established stations to the
northward, we should have had a long journey to perform before we could
obtain assistance. They were more ready to hear the accounts we had to
give than to say anything about themselves; indeed, when once or twice
Mudge inquired how long they had been in the colony, and why they came
out, they made evasive answers, and turned the subject. They were, in
reality, convicts; assigned servants, who received no wages, but were
allowed thus much of liberty as long as they behaved themselves well.

As soon as supper was over, they advised us to turn in, observing that
they should have to be up before daybreak to breakfast, that the
shepherd might take his sheep at early dawn to their pasture, at some
distance from the hut. They offered us their bunks, but we declined;
for two reasons: one was, that they looked excessively black and dirty;
and the other, that, being long accustomed to sleep on the bare ground,
we would not turn them out of their beds. We accordingly lay down on
the floor, with our knapsacks as pillows, with a feeling of security
which we had not for long enjoyed; and knowing that one of the faithful
dogs was watching at the door, we were soon fast asleep. When I awoke,
I saw the hut-keeper kneading a damper, which he put under the ashes of
the already kindled fire. I need not say that I would rather not have
witnessed the operation.

I did not open my eyes again till he summoned us to breakfast, when we
were joined by the shepherd, who had gone out to see that his sheep were
safe. Our meal being quickly despatched, he bade us farewell and again
sallied forth, to let his sheep out of their pen; when the hut-keeper
asked us if we were inclined to stop a while, or go on to the captain's.
We, of course, expressed a wish to set off at once, and begged him to
show us the way.

"I can't go with you, as I have to help my chum to attend to some sick
sheep," he said, "and to look after the hut; but you can't mistake it if
you keep due south, over yonder rise w