rds Balooka and Buckley's Crossing. On the way we crossed some of
the roughest country we had ever seen or ridden over.

'My word, Dick,' said Jim one day, as we were walking along and leading
our horses, 'we could find a place here if we were hard pushed near as
good for hiding in as the Hollow. Look at that bit of tableland that
runs up towards Black Mountain, any man that could find a track up to it
might live there for a year and all the police of the country be after
him.'

'What would he get to eat if he was there?'

'That long chap we stayed with at Wargulmerang told us that there were
wild cattle on all those tablelands. Often they get snowed up in winter
and die, making a circle in the snow. Then fish in all the creeks,
besides the old Snowy, and there are places on the south side of him
that people didn't see once in five years. I believe I shall make a
camp for myself on the way, and live in it till they've forgot all about
these cursed cattle. Rot their hides, I wish we'd never have set eyes on
one of them.'

'So do I; but like many things in the world it's too late--too late,
Jim!'

Chapter 14

One blazing hot day in the Christmas week Jim and I rode up the 'gap'
that led from the Southern road towards Rocky Creek and the little flat
near the water where our hut stood. The horses were tired, for we'd
ridden a long way, and not very slow either, to get to the old place.
How small and queer the old homestead looked, and everything about it
after all we had seen. The trees in the garden were in full leaf, and
we could see that it was not let go to waste. Mother was sitting in the
verandah sewing, pretty near the same as we went away, and a girl was
walking slowly up from the creek carrying a bucket of water. It was
Aileen. We knew her at once. She was always as straight as a rush, and
held her head high, as she used to do; but she walked very slow, and
looked as if she was dull and weary of everything. All of a sudden Jim
jumped off, dropped his horse's bridle on the ground, and started to
run towards her. She didn't see him till he was pretty close; then she
looked up astonished-like, and put her bucket down. She gave a sudden
cry and rushed over to him; the next minute she was in his arms, sobbing
as if her heart would break.

I came along quiet. I knew she'd be glad to see me--but, bless you, she
and mother cared more for Jim's little finger than for my whole
body. Some people have a way