so," said Charlie. "We won't be there longer than we can
help. Who's on the block now? Redman sold his rights in it after he'd
mortgaged it to my uncle."

"There's old Paddy Keogh there now--greatest old character in the North.
Lives there with his blacks and a Chinaman. Regular oldest-inhabitant
sort of chap. Would have gone with Noah in the Ark, but he swore so
badly they wouldn't have him on board. You'll find him great fun."

"I suppose he'll give us possession all right. We don't want any
trouble."

"He'd fire at you just as soon as look at you, I think," said the other.
"But I don't fancy he wants to stay there much. It's not the first time
he's been broke, so I don't expect he'll take it very hard. Well, if you
won't stay, good-bye and good luck! Give my best wishes to old Paddy."

They resumed the weary journey, and after another two days' riding
sighted away over the plain a small iron house, gleaming in the setting
sun. "Here we are!" said Charlie. "That's No Man's Land."

The arrival was not inspiriting. They rode their tired horses up to the
low-roofed galvanised-iron house, that looked like a huge kerosene-tin
laid on its side, with a hole cut for a door and two holes for windows.
There was no garden and no fenced yard. It was stuck down in the middle
of the wilderness, glaring forlornly out of its windows at a wide
expanse of dry grass and dull-green bushes. Behind it was a small
duplicate, which served as kitchen and store. A huge buffalo-head was
nailed to a tree near by. In front was a rail on which were spread
riding-saddles, pack-saddles, hobbles, surcingles, pannikins, bridles,
empty bags, and all manner of horse-gear; and roundabout were a litter
of chips, an assortment of empty tins, bits of bullock-hide, empty
cartridge-cases, and the bare skulls of three or four bullocks, with
neat bullet-holes between the eyes.

Amidst this congenial debris roamed a herd of gaunt pigs, fierce-eyed,
quarrelsome pigs, that prowled restlessly about, and ever and again
returned disconsolately to the stinking carcasses of some large birds
of prey that had been thrown out in the sun. They were flat-sided,
long-legged, long-nosed, and had large bristling manes--showed, in fact,
every sign of reverting to the type of the original pig that yachted
with Noah. Living with them, in a state of armed neutrality, were three
or four savage-looking cattle dogs, who honoured the strangers with deep
growls, not condescending