"Of course I do; I didn't
understand, that was all."
"We haven't finished her education yet," Dan explained, and the Maluka
added, "But she's learning."
Johnny looked perplexed. "Oh, well! That's all right, then," he said,
rather ambiguously. "I'll be back as soon as possible, and then we
shan't be long."
Two days later he left the homestead bound for the well, and as he
disappeared into the Ti-Tree that bordered the south track, most of us
agreed that "luck was out." Only Dan professed to think differently.
"It's more wonderful than ever," he declared; "more wonderful than ever,
and if it holds good we'll never see Johnny again."
CHAPTER VIII
Considering ourselves homeless, the Maluka decided that we should "go
bush" for awhile during Johnny's absence beginning with a short tour of
inspection through some of the southern country of the run; intending, if
all were well there, to prepare for a general horse-muster along the
north of the Roper. Nothing could be done with the cattle until "after
the Wet."
Only Dan and the inevitable black "boy" were to be with us on this
preliminary walk-about; but all hands were to turn out for the muster, to
the Quiet Stockman's dismay.
"Thought they mostly sat about and sewed," he said in the quarters.
Little did the Sanguine Scot guess what he was doing when he "culled"
needlework from the "mob" at Pine Creek.
