boys remained chatting outside the house until Mr Jackson came to the
door and called them in.

"So you are not contented to stop at home, Dick," Mrs Jackson said,
"and you want to take Tom rambling away with you again? Of course I
cannot say no, when my husband is inclined to let him go, but I shall be
terribly anxious until he is back again."

"I won't let him get into any scrapes, Mrs Jackson," Dick said
confidently.

"I have no faith whatever," Mrs Jackson said, smiling, "in your keeping
him out of scrapes, but I do think it possible that you may get him out
of them after he is once in them. Do be careful, my boys, for the sakes
of your fathers and mothers! I know Mr Harvey has been making these
journeys for a good many years and has always got back safely, and I
have great faith in his experience and knowledge,--but there, Dick, I
must not keep you. Here is my husband with an answer to your father's
letter, and as you will have lots to do, and your father will be waiting
for this letter before he starts for Newcastle, you had better ride off
at once. Good-bye, my boy, for I shan't see you again before you start.
I trust that you will come back safe and well."

Two minutes later Dick was again galloping across the country, arriving
home in time for breakfast.

Mrs Humphreys was in better spirits than Dick had feared he should find
her; but her health had improved immensely since her arrival in the
colony, and she was more active and energetic than Dick ever remembered
her to have been. She was able therefore to take a far more cheerful
view of the proposed expedition than she could have done the year
before, and her husband had had comparatively little difficulty in
obtaining her consent to Dick's accompanying Mr Harvey.

"Your father thinks that it will be for your good, my boy," she said,
"and I have no doubt that you will enjoy yourself greatly,--but be sure
to be careful, and don't let your high spirits get you into scrapes;--
remember how valuable your life is to us!"

"While you are away, Dick," his father said, "you will remember that you
are absolutely under Mr Harvey's orders. As the head of the expedition
he stands in the position of the master, and he must receive ready and
explicit obedience from all. He is not a man unnecessarily to curb or
check you, and you may be sure that he will not restrain you unless for
the good of the expedition. You must beware how far you stray from the
carav