tried--in vain--to pump her on the
matter. He rode away, his curiosity unsatisfied.

But when they rode up the homestead paddock at his farm, he gave a long
whistle.

"What on earth--?" he began amazedly.

There were men in sight everywhere, and all working. Eight or nine
ploughs were moving across the paddocks destined for cultivation;
already wide strips of freshly turned earth showed that they had been
some time at work. On the flat where Bob had begun his drain was a line
of men, and some teams with earth-scoops, cutting a deep channel. There
were even men digging in the garden; and the sound of axes came faintly
from a belt of scrub that Bob was planning to clear--some day. He gaped
at them.

"What does it mean?"

"It's a bee," said Wally kindly. "A busy bee, improving each shining
hour."

Bob turned a puzzled, half-distressed face to Mr. Linton.

"I say, sir--what is it?"

"It's just that, my boy," said David Linton. "The district had a fancy
to help you--Cunjee thinks a heap of soldiers, you see. So a lot of the
fellows got together and planned to put in a day on the creek, doing odd
jobs."

"I say," said poor Bob flushing scarlet, "I never heard such a
thing--and I hardly know any of them. Whatever am I to say to them,
sir?"

"I wouldn't say much at all," said David Linton laughing. "You'll only
embarrass them if you do. Just take a hand in any job you like, and
carry on--as we're all going to do."

"There's one man you know, anyhow," said Jim grinning. He pointed out
old Joe Howard, the nearest to them among the ploughmen.

"Heavens!" ejaculated Bob. "You don't mean to tell me old Joe has come
of his own accord!"

"Couldn't keep him away," Jim said. "He remarked that you were a very
decent young feller, and he'd taught you how to work, so he might as
well lend an 'and. It's like old Joe's cheek, but he'll claim for ever
that he made you a worker."

"Oh, let him," said Bob. "It doesn't hurt me, and it may amuse him." His
gaze travelled across the busy paddocks. "Well--I'm just staggered," he
said. "The least I can do is to get to work quickly."

They turned the horses out and scattered; Bob to cutting scrub--it was
the job he liked least, so it seemed to him the decent thing to tackle
it--Jim to the drain construction, while Wally joined the band of
workers in the garden, since he knew Tommy's plans concerning it; and
Mr. Linton attacked a fence that needed repairs. In the middle of the
mo