rew retired to the four-in-hand.

No one was seriously hurt, except "Omadhaun" Doyle, who had been
struck on the head by the big mare's hoof. He lay very still, breathing
stertorously, and Jerry the Swell took the trouble to come over to
the four-in-hand, and inform them that he thought "Omadhaun" had got
percussion of the brain, and that things looked very "omnibus" for him.
However, as soon as he could swallow whisky he was pronounced out of
danger, and the Kuryong party was allowed to depart in peace for home,
glad enough to get away. But the two girls were afraid to drive the big
mare, as she was thoroughly roused after her dash in among the Doyles
and Donohoes, and was inclined to show a lot of temper. A hurried
consultation was held, with the result that Ellen Harriott and Alick
were received into the four-in-hand, while Hugh was entrusted with the
task of driving his employer home in the sulky.

Now, a sulky is a vehicle built to accommodate two people only, and
those two people have to sit fairly close together. For a few miles they
spun along in silence, Hugh being well occupied with steadying the
mare. From time to time he looked out of the corner of his eye at his
companion; she looked steadily, almost stolidly, in front of her. Then
she began to tap on the floor of the sulky with her foot. At last she
turned on him.

"Well, we didn't win," she said. "I suppose you are glad."

"Why should I be glad, Miss Grant?"

"Oh! you said we oughn't to go and race among those people. And you were
right. It served them just right that the mare ran over them. I hope
that none of them are going to die."

"They wouldn't be much missed," said Hugh wearily. "They have started
stealing the sheep again."

"Can't you catch them?" she said, with pretended asperity. "If you went
out and hid in a fallen tree, don't you think you could catch them?"

Hugh looked at her to see if she were in earnest, but she looked
straight in front again and said nothing, still keeping up the slight
tapping of her foot. He flushed a little, and spoke very quietly.

"I think I'll have to resign from your employment, Miss Grant. I don't
care about stopping any longer; and I will go out back and take up one
of those twenty-thousand-acre leases in Queensland. You might put Poss
or Binjie on in my place. They would be glad of a billet, and they might
catch Red Mick for you."

"Do you really want to go?" she said, looking straight at him for the