shape our course for the farm, and not be all day thinking of
the matter," Mr. Brown said testily. "If Wright won't give us a supper
and a bed we can go without."

"Remember," shouted Day, as we urged our horses along as fast as
possible over the uneven ground, keeping close to the base of the
mountain, to avoid the fire which was still raging parallel to our
course, "I don't bold out hopes that you will be well received. I ain't
much acquainted with the covey Wright, so that it will be no use for me
to ride in advance."

"Don't distress yourself," replied Mr. Brown, somewhat annoyed to think
that a stockman should want to vouch for his respectability; but I
looked at the matter in the light of a good joke, and, riding by the
side of Day, I managed to discover the reasons for not wishing to appear
before the farm house of the proprietor.

It seemed that Mr. Wright was engaged extensively, not only in
agriculture but in stock raising, and that to carry on his business it
was necessary to employ quite a small army of laborers, as well as a
small colony of dogs, who guarded the sheep during the night, and formed
regular cordon around them, into which circle none could enter or depart
except the shepherds. In case of an alarm by an invasion of bushrangers,
the employees were required to turn out and act as skirmishers to repel
the enemy; and as every person was well armed and compelled to be a good
marksman, Mr. Wright, after a few battles, in which the bushrangers
suffered no insignificant loss, finally concluded that it was better to
get their mutton at some station where blows were less plenty and flesh
equally as good.

Still, in spite of these drawbacks, Mr. Wright was compelled to be
constantly on the alert, and never laid his head upon his pillow of
dried grass at night expecting to wake up alive in the morning, for the
region in which his farm was situated was surrounded by bands of
depredators; and how should he know but they would join forces and make
common cause against a man whom they considered an enemy?

CHAPTER LXXIV.

ARRIVAL AT MR. WRIGHT'S STATION.

A love of excitement was the key to Mr. Wright's secret for remaining on
his farm and cultivating it, while danger attended him at every step
that he took, unless surrounded by a body guard of laborers. Yet he
neglected no precaution to insure his safety, and those under his
charge; and for this purpose he had two natives of Australia attached