e up my mind when I came
out to this country never to touch liquor, and I find not only that I
can get on without it, but that I am much the better without it. I used
to take it in England, and I am ashamed to say how much of my wages went
in drink. I wish to be friendly with you, Marks, but I shouldn't show
my good feeling by drinking your rum."

"As you like," said Marks. "It isn't often you have such a chance in
the bush. However, it's liberty hall, and no man is forced to do what
he doesn't like."

Peach now seemed to take a hint from Marks, and pretended once more to
be friendly with Joseph. "I don't bear malice, Rudge," he said, holding
out his hand. "May be one of these days you'll see things in a
different way, and understand that I wanted only to do you a good turn."

"I hope not," answered Joseph, going towards the door. "I think I
understand you pretty clearly; and I pray that I may never be brought to
call black white."

"A canting hypocrite!" exclaimed Peach, as Joseph rode off.

Joseph offered up a silent prayer, "Lead us not into temptation."

As the stockman rode on he saw by the look of the sky that one of those
fierce storms which occasionally visit parts of Australia, was
threatening. He had reached his farthest point from home. The country
was wild. There was no regular road, only a track which it required
sharp eyes to find out in some places. He pushed on, hoping to get home
before the storm broke. Presently, however, loud peals of thunder burst
from the sky; the lightning darted along the ground and among the trees
with a crackling noise, which made his horse start from side to side.
Down came the rain like a water-spout, and the wind sprung up and blew
in fierce gusts, tearing off huge branches of the trees, and now and
then uprooting the trees themselves. Joseph saw that it would be
dangerous to take shelter under any of the trees, so he kept as much as
he could in the open ground.

He had not gone far when he heard a cry. It was from some
fellow-creature, he was certain of that. He looked about on every side,
and at last saw that a falling tree had struck down a black man, who lay
beneath it unable to move.

Joseph fastening his horse to a stump, ran towards the poor fellow. He
was alive, and his body seemed uninjured, but his foot had been caught
by the trunk and held him fast. Had he been alone he must have died a
horrible death, for it was clear that he could not ha