CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
A STRANGE ENCOUNTER.
"Don't go too far, Nic," said Dr Braydon, a few mornings after the boy's arrival at the Bluff.
"Oh no, father; only I must see what the place is like all round." "Of course; I have no time to-day, or I'd take you for a ride round." "But ought he to go alone ?" said Mrs Braydon.
"He must learn to run alone, my dear," said the doctor.

"We can't chain him up like a dog." "No," said Mrs Braydon, rather piteously; "but there are the precipices." "Nic has eyes in his head, and will not go and jump down there.

He can't very well fall by accident." "The snakes, my dear." "He must learn at once to keep a sharp look-out for them.

I suppose there were plenty of adders on the common at school ?" "Plenty, father." "But the blacks, my dear.

I have not got over that scare." "They're gone, my dear.