that perhaps with the solitary exception of a doating parent who
might mourn his death in a far distant land, the man would pass from
this earth without the regret of a mortal; and without leaving the
remembrance of a virtue, or good action, to perpetuate his memory.

"Then, I suppose, Dick," continued William, "you have been quieter
lately, since Mr. Smith was killed."

"Yes, sir, we've been somewhat quieter of late," replied the man; "but
we expect to get a turn again soon. The shearers round the stations will
be done their work shortly, and they'll be in with their cheques. Some
on 'em a' done already; for we had a party in last week of about eight,
and they only went away yesterday."

"And I suppose spent their money too, like real gentleman, eh, Dick?"
said William laughing.

"Why, sir," replied the man, "some on 'em did knock down their pile, and
when they left here they was regularly cleared out."

"And how much had they spent individually do you think?" enquired the
young squatter.

"That I couldn't exactly say," replied the other; "some on 'em knocked
down twenty pounds or so, but some on 'em stuck to their tin, as they
was a going down the country."

"Probably it was the intention of the whole party to go down the country
until they came here; don't you think so, Dick?" asked William.

"Praps it was, sir, but some on 'em had to go back agin to work,"
naively replied the Ganymede.

"But how on earth could one man spend twenty pounds in a week, by
merely drinking?" enquired William.

"Easy enough, sir," replied the fellow; "some of those chaps, when they
get the drink in 'em, will 'shout' for the whole town; and you know it
ain't our buisness to stop 'em; we only sells the grog, and they buy
it."

William had often heard of such practices as these where poor deluded
wretches, after toiling hard to obtain their wages, had no sooner
received a cheque or draft from their employers in settlement of what
was due them, than they would rush to the first public-house; and,
placing their cheque in the hands of the publican, would commence a
course of mad dissipation; merely requesting to be informed when the
money was expended. This had been told him, and also that the victims,
after being kept in a state of delirium for a week or so, had it
intimated to them that their funds were exhausted; that they had been
"shouting" to all the town, or in other words, that they had been
providing drink to all who chos