They left the sheep-country behind them and got out into cattle-land, where "runs" are measured by the hundred square miles, and every man is a law unto himself.

They left their buggy after a time, and pushed on with pack-horses; and after travelling about two hundred miles, came to the outer edge of the settled district, where they stayed with two young Englishmen, who were living under a dray, and building their cattle-yards themselves--the yards being a necessity, and the house, which was to come afterwards, a luxury.

The diet was monotonous--meat "ad libitum," damper and tea.

They had neighbours within sixty miles, and got letters once in two months by riding that distance.

"Stay here a while," they said to the travellers, "and take up some of the country near by." "We're to take over the country Redman took up," said Charlie.