Finally, it was decided that the Quiet Stockman and his "boys" were to
patrol the country north from the river while we were to keep to the
south banks and follow the river down to the boundaries in all its
windings, each party appointed to camp at the Red Lily lagoons second
night out, each, of course, on its own side of the river. It being
necessary for Jack to cross the river beyond the Springs, he left the
homestead half a day before us--public gossip reporting that he was
"going beyond the Waterhouse horse mustering," and Dan finding
dust-throwing highly diverting, shouted after him that he "might as well
bring some fresh relays to the Yellow Hole in a day or two," and then
giving his attention to the packing of swags and pack-bags, "reckoned
things were just about fixed up for a surprise party."
CHAPTER XX
At our appointed time we left the homestead, taking the north-west track
for over a mile to continue the dust-throwing; and for the whole length
of that mile Dan reiterated the "advantages of surprise parties," and his
opinion that "things were just about properly fixed up for one"; and when
we left the track abruptly and set off across country at right angles to
it, Sambo's quick questioning, suspicious glance made it very evident
that he, for one, had gleaned no inkling of the patrol, which naturally
filled Dan with delight.
Pages:
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319