their journey homewards. The captain, having been very
sparing of his ammunition had sufficient to enable them to obtain food,
though, during two or three days they were somewhat hard put to it for
water. The hole in which they found the dead cattle contained a
sufficient supply for the horses and Bruce, but none of the rest of the
party, except Bendigo, felt inclined to taste it.

They found Mr Hayward quite recovered. The shepherds had treated him
with all the attention they possibly could. The captain had warned his
party not to speak of the new run in the presence of the shepherds, lest
they might mention it to their employers, and create some dispute.

Stopping on Sunday to rest, they travelled on for the remainder of the
week, performing nearly thirty miles a day, the horses all the time
obtaining no other food than the grass they could pick up, and often
having to go several hours without water; still they and their riders
got back to Stratton in very good condition.

The captain had, without loss of time, to go to Brisbane to obtain legal
possession of his new run. As soon as possible after his return, he
intended to set out with his flocks, herds, and his family for the site
of the new station.

The children, in consequence of the out-door life they led, had got into
somewhat erratic ways. Miss Saville had done her best to teach the
younger girls, as well as Tommy and Albert, but even they were apt to
break loose and to rebel against her authority, as well as that of their
elder sisters.

The season of wild fruit had come round, and raspberries were especially
plentiful. Rob and Edgar determined that they must go off to the scrub
to obtain a supply for preserving, and Tommy and Albert insisted on
accompanying them.

"I go too," said Effie; "if we cannot reach the fruit high up, we can
pick that growing near the ground as fast as you can."

Without asking leave they all set off, having first provided themselves
with large baskets which Rob and Edgar had been busy in manufacturing.

They would certainly not have been allowed to go without Betty, but she
was watching over little Sybil, who was unwell, and was not aware that
they had set out. They went along to the westward on the edge of the
scrub which the flood had not reached--indeed, its traces had even
disappeared from the surface which it had covered. They were somewhat
disappointed at first in not finding fruit in the abundance they had
ex