e said aloud, "that doesn't look bad. I shall go on and get
Sorrel. I'm going to ride round the bullocks. Not coming yet, I
suppose?"

"No, sir; I'll just run my eye round that hundred over yonder with Black
Damper. Haven't counted 'em 'smorning, I s'pose?"

"I haven't been there," said Nic.

"Ah, they'd better be counted. One'd think the blacks could count a
flock of sheep, but not they. It's _bulla_ and _kimmeroi_ and
_metancoly_, and saying that over and over again. They can eat as many
as you like, but counting beats 'em."

"Yes, they are stupid that way, Brookes," said Nic; and he went straight
off for home, looking perfectly unconcerned, but feeling particularly
uncomfortable as he turned over in his own mind the possibility of the
man finding the convict's hiding-place.

For now it seemed such a very simple thing, and he wondered that the men
from the Wattles and the government police had not gone straight for and
made some efforts to get down to the bottom of the great gorge.

By degrees, though, he grew better satisfied, as he recalled that this
place bore the reputation of being impossible of access, and even the
blacks declared that no man had ever been down.

Then came a horrible thought.

"Suppose Brookes should encounter the convict and use the gun he always
carried now! Leather was unarmed, but--"

Nic shuddered as he thought of what a strong, active man would do if
driven to bay. The gun would only go off once, but a desperate man
would find weapons in sticks and stones.

The boy made an effort to cast off the unpleasant sensation, and hurried
home, where the calm aspect of everything and the look of content he saw
in his mother's and sisters' eyes altered the current of his thoughts;
and he hurried himself, saddling Sorrel, and rode off, after promising
that he would be back in good time to take tea.

He had a long round, found the cattle wanted driving in a bit, and after
performing this duty by the help of his two dogs, he cantered towards
home, coming round by where Rigar was playing shepherd with another
flock. But all was right here, save that the collies helped to bring
them half a mile nearer the station to new pastures; after which Nic
turned his horse's head homeward, arriving in good time and finding
Brookes busily helping old Sam and looking more like himself.

A couple of days elapsed, and on the following morning Nic announced
that he was going to take a long round,