Following him were some seven or eight packhorses, all heavily laden with hides.

And behind the packhorses rode three or four naked blacks and a Chinaman.
Hugh's guide at once made himself welcome in his happy-go-lucky style.
He introduced Hugh as Mr.Lambton, from New South Wales.

The buffalo shooters made him welcome after the fashion of their kind; but Considine was obviously uneasy, and avoided him, riding with Tommy Prince for a while, and evidently trying to find out what Hugh had come for.
That night, when they got to the buffalo shooters' camp, Hugh opened fire on Considine.

The veteran was in a cheerful mood after his meal, and Hugh wanted to start diplomatically, thinking he might persuade him.
If that failed he would give him the summons; but he would start with the suaviter in modo.

When it came to the point, however, he forgot his diplomacy, and plunged straight into trouble.
"I'll tell you what I've come up here for, Considine," he said.