He has now, you perceive, handed over the care of these rascals to you.

It is rather strange that they should have landed here." "I believe that they were expected," said the Doctor.

"I believe that there is a desperate scheme of villany afloat, and that some of us are the objects of it." "If you mean," said Desborough, "that that man you saw on the Cape last night was watching for the boat, I don't believe it possible.

It was, possibly, some stockman or shepherd, having a look at the weather." The Doctor had it on the tip of his tongue to speak, and astound them by disclosing that the lonely watcher was none other than the ruffian Touan, alias George Hawker; but the Major pressed his foot beneath the table, and he was silent.
"Well," said Desborough, "and that's about all that's to be said at present, except that the settlers must arm and watch, and if necessary fight." "If they will only do that," said the Colonial Secretary; "if they will only act boldly in protecting their property and lives, the evil is reduced by one-half; but when Brallagan was out, nothing that I or the Governor could do would induce the majority of them to behave like men." "Look here, now," said Barker, the host, "I was over the water when Brallagan was out, and when Howe was out too.

And what could a lonely squatter do against half-a-dozen of 'em?
Answer me that ?" "I don't mean that," said the Colonial Secretary; "what I refer to is the cowardly way in which the settlers allowed themselves to be prevented by threats from giving information.