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Updated: June 27, 2025
"We all do," replied Fred; "the bag was not to be found where Jack placed it." "I know that," the old man answered, with a silent chuckle. "How do you know that it was gone! I demanded. "Why, because when you threw it down, I picked it up, and made my way out of the woods as fast as possible." "And the bushrangers took it from you?" I demanded. "I didn't say so," the stockman replied, coolly.
He seemed very nervous and very inquisitive, and as he questioned the ranger his eyes were like those of a dog that fears his master's hand. Ross wondered about this afterward, but at the moment his mind was busy with the significance of this patient toiler with a spade. He was a prophetic figure in the most picturesque and sterile land of the stockman.
I think I heard long ago from one of the Crosbies of a place in the ranges down towards behind the Nulla Mountain, "Terrible Hollow". He didn't know about it himself, but said an old stockman told him about it when he was drunk. He said the Government men used to hide the cattle and horses there in old times, and that it was never found out. 'Why wasn't it found out, Jim?
The Fizzer was one of those happy, natural people who always find the supply exactly suited to the demand. But if our Fizzer was just our Fizzer, the Quiet Stockman was changing every day.
"They'll have 'em stampeding yet," Dan said at last growing uneasy, as more and more cattle escaped, and the mob shifted ground with a rumbling rattle of hoofs every few minutes. Finally, as the rumbling rattle threatened to become permanent, a long drawn-out cry of "Ring ing" from Big Jack sent Dan and the Quiet Stockman to their saddles.
It was out of town just then, up-country somewhere, billabonging in true bush-whacker style, but was expected to return in a day or two, when it would be at our service. Jack, the Quiet Stockman, was out at the homestead, "seeing to things" there.
"Here is your answer," cried the stockman; and as he spoke a slim poled spear whistled within an inch of my head, and passed out of sight, far to the other side of the road. "And here goes my reply," exclaimed Fred, who held his rifle in his hand ready for use. He raised it, and hardly took time to sight a naked, black body, which was visible for a moment before he fired.
He learned to ride and manage his horse well; and by the time he had gained a knowledge of the country, he had attained many of the requisites of a good stockman.
I continued my occupation, therefore, and while I kept my eyes on the hiding-place of the convict, I did not neglect to note the movements of the bushrangers, who were grouped around the fire, and wholly unsuspicious of the presence of their most deadly enemy. "Hist!" said the stockman, after successfully imitating the singing of a cricket to attract my attention.
The Maluka spent one day with Dan beyond the "frontgate" his tail wagging along behind as a matter of course another day passed boundary-riding, inspecting water-holes, and doubling back to the Dandy's camp to see his plans; then, picking up the Quiet Stockman, we struck out across country, riding four abreast through the open forest-lands, and were camped at sundown, in the thick of the cattle, miles from the Dandy's camp, and thirty miles due north from the homestead.
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