y.

"Then that unpleasant business is at an end. Did you get your specimens
yesterday?"

"No," cried Nic; "the quarrel yesterday upset me, and I could only go
and wander about in the bush thinking about it. I did not shoot a
bird."

"Then go and make up for it to-day," said the doctors smiling.

"But," said Nic, hesitating, "don't you want me, father--to begin work?"

"Yes, by-and-by; not yet. I should like you to have your run about the
place for a week or two more--or a month, say. It will not be waste
time. You cannot see what is going on about a station like this without
learning a great deal that will be invaluable by-and-by. Of course I
shall take you with me for a few runs or rides. By the way, did they
finish emptying the waggon?"

"Oh yes, father; I saw that done, and kept account of the packages that
came over in the _Northumbrian_. I didn't know the rest."

"That was businesslike, and the more so for its being done unasked."

"But Brookes didn't like my being there, father."

"Indeed!" said the doctor slowly. "And the other man--Samson?"

"He liked it, father. We're capital friends. I like him: he's such a
rum old fellow."

"Well, you must get to like Brookes too. Now have your run."

Nic felt better, for the previous day's trouble had sat upon him like a
nightmare. Hurrying to his room he took his gun, and leaving it at the
door was guided by the voices to the big store-room, where Mrs Braydon
and the girls were busy unpacking and arranging some of the stores
brought by the waggon.

Here he was soon dismissed by his sisters, and after promising to be
back in good time, he went off across the home part of the station,
catching sight of Samson, Brookes, and a couple of the blacks busy over
some task in an open shed, which task looked like the stacking up of
bundles of wool rolled neatly together.

"I can't go and tell Brookes I'm sorry before them," thought Nic; "and
I'm afraid I don't feel sorry. I suppose, though, I was a bit in the
wrong. Father knows best; but he wouldn't have let Brookes speak like
that. Brookes wouldn't have dared to do it."

The boy had got about a mile away from the station and into a part of
the doctor's land which looked as if it had been carefully planted with
trees, but his common sense told him that it must be in precisely the
same condition as when he took up that part of the country; and after
stopping to look round and admire the beauty of the