I like feeding a real hungry man; it's almost as good as eating oneself--sometimes better.
When the edge of his appetite was taken off he began to talk; he said first-- "Got a station anywheres about here, sir ?" "No, I'm Hamlyn of the Durnongs, away by Maneroo." "Oh! ay; I know you, sir; which way have you come this morning ?" "Southward; I crossed the Belloury about seven o'clock." "That, indeed! You haven't seen anything of three bullock drays and a mob of cattle going south ?" "Yes! I camped with such a lot last night!" "Not Major Buckley's lot ?" "The same." "And how far were they on ?" "They crossed the range at daylight this morning;--they're thirty miles away by now." He threw his hat on the ground with an oath: "I shall never catch them up.

I daren't cross that range on foot into the new country, and those black devils lurking round.

He shouldn't have left me like that;--all my own fault, though, for staying behind! No, no, he's true enough--all my own fault.

But I wouldn't have left him so, neither; but, perhaps, he don't think I'm so far behind." I saw that the man was in earnest, for his eyes were swimming;--he was too dry for tears; but though he looked a desperate scamp, I couldn't help pitying him and saying,-- "You seem vexed you couldn't catch them up; were you going along with the Major, then ?" "No, sir; I wasn't hired with him; but an old mate of mine, Bill Lee, is gone along with him to show him some country, and I was going to stick to him and see if the Major would take me; we haven't been parted for many years, not Bill and I haven't; and the worst of it is, that he'll think I've slipped away from him, instead of following him fifty mile on foot to catch him.

Well! it can't be helped now; I must look round and get a job somewhere till I get a chance to join him.