rough costume of the bush,
unceremoniously entered the hut, and, eyeing them with a scrutinising
glance, drew up a stool and seated himself at the table.

"The new managers, I presume, Mr --- I beg your pardon--I forget your
name," he began, in a supercilious tone. "You have stolen a march on
me, and I conclude that I am to be superseded."

"That probably will not rest with us," said James. "I suppose that if
the trustees of the property find that we can manage it to their
satisfaction without help, they will not consider themselves justified
in retaining your services."

The overseer, Mr Basham, as he was called, was very unlike the person
they expected to see. The shape of his features was remarkably good,
though the expression was unsatisfactory; his figure was light and wiry,
and capable of enduring considerable fatigue; and his manners were those
of a gentleman, marred somewhat by rough companions and the hard life he
had led. He saw at once that the young men with whom he had to deal,
though inferior to him in knowledge of the world, possessed an
uprightness and firmness of character with which he could not trifle.
He would much have liked to have entrapped them by offering them a share
of his profits, but that plan, it was evident, would not answer with
them. Still he trusted that some way might be found of securing what he
had obtained, if not for making more.

"Well, well, gentlemen, I have always been an unfortunate person, and so
we'll drop the subject, and discuss what is taking place in the great
world."

Without more ado he did turn the subject, and showed that he was a man
of considerable information, and had received a superior education.
This only made him the more difficult to deal with. Though he was now
free, they suspected strongly that he had been a convict. They could
scarcely believe that with his abilities he would not otherwise have
been employed in some higher position. After their inspection of the
runs, they had been engaged for a day in turning everything out of the
hut, and in having it thoroughly cleansed. They then re-arranged the
furniture and contents, according to their own taste. For several days
after Mr Basham's return they saw him hunting about the hut in search
of something, and at last he asked them if they had seen his books.
James at once replied that he had, according to the direction of the
trustees, taken possession of them, and should keep them till he
rece