Brentwood, I must say, was a widower, and a kindhearted, easy-going man; he had, besides, a daughter, who was away at school.

Enough of them at present.
The next of Sam's companions who takes an important part in this history is Cecil Mayford--a delicate, clever little dandy, and courageous withal; with more brains in his head, I should say, than Sam and Jim could muster between them.

His mother was a widow, who owned the station next down the river from the Buckleys', distant about five miles, and which, since the death of her husband, Doctor Mayford, she had managed with the assistance of an overseer.

She had, besides Cecil, a little daughter of great beauty.
Also, I must here mention that the next station below Mrs.Mayford's, on the river, distant by the windings of the valley fifteen miles, and yet, in consequence of a bend, scarcely ten from Major Buckley's at Baroona, was owned and inhabited by Yahoos (by name Donovan), with whom we had nothing to do.

But this aforesaid station, which is called Garoopna, will shortly fall into other hands, when you will see that many events of deep importance will take place there, and many pleasant hours spent there by all our friends, more particularly one--by name Sam.
"There is one other left of whom I must say something here, and more immediately.