grin.

This exasperated him so that he made a rush back to look into the long
dark shed, where he could see wool everywhere, but no traces of the
blacks, who seemed to have disappeared.

"I'll bring a whip," he shouted, and then went away, laughing at the way
the men were scared.

"Sam's right," he said: "they are like big black children. Here! Hi!
Samson," he shouted, and the old man came to meet him. "They don't
know."

"Don't know, sir? What makes you say that?"

Nic related his experience, and Sam grinned.

"And they laughed at you," he said, showing his teeth. "Why was that?
On'y because they enjoyed being as they thought too clever for you,
Master Nic. They know, sir; but it's no use--they won't tell. They
like you and me; but if they'd speak out to us as they do to one
another, they'd say, `No mine tell Leather fellow, Mas Nic, plenty mine
jam, damper. Leather fellow mumkull.'"

"Mumkull? Afraid Leather would kill them for telling?"

"That's it, sir, safe."

There was something to stir the pulses of Nic soon after, and he somehow
felt glad that he did not know the convict's hiding-place, for a dozen
of the colonial mounted police rode up, followed by half a dozen black
trackers and a couple of chained and muzzled, fierce-looking dogs, whose
aspect sent a shiver through Nic, excited the indignation of the
collies, and drove Nibbler into a fit of fury, making him bound to the
end of his chain so savagely that he dragged his tub kennel out of its
place and drew it behind him, making him look like some peculiar snaily
quadruped trying to shed its shell.

"Better shut up your dogs, sir," said the policeman who had been once
before. "Letter for Mrs Braydon."

The dogs were quieted and shut away, so that they could not commit
suicide by dashing at the powerful brutes held in leash; and once more,
while the police were being refreshed, Mrs Braydon read her letter over
to her children, who learned that the governor was no better, that the
doctor was bound to stay, and that while he regretted this, and the bad
news about the assigned servant, every assistance ought to be given to
the police who had come to fetch him back to the chain gang.

Nic said nothing, but after a time he saddled Sorrel, and rode with the
police leader as they started for their first search.

"Now, Mr Braydon," said the man, "your father said that we must take
this fellow; so as in all probability you know where he is, perh