Jim and I hadn't seen him laugh for I don't know how long,
and it almost frightened us.

As Jim said, it wouldn't do to let the cattle out again.
If calves are weaned, and have only one brand on, it is very hard for any man
to swear that they are not the property of the man to whom that brand belongs.
He may believe them to be his, but may never have seen them in his life;
and if he has seen them on a camp or on the run, it's very hard to swear
to any one particular red or spotted calf as you would to a horse.

The great dart is to keep the young stock away from their mothers
until they forget one another, and then most of the danger is past.
But if calves with one man's brand on are seen sucking another man's cows,
it is pretty plain that the brand on the calves has been put on
without the consent of the owner of the cows -- which is cattle-stealing;
a felony, according to the Act 7 and 8 George IV, No. 29,
punishable with three years' imprisonment, with hard labour
on the roads of the colony or other place, as the Judge may direct.

There's a lot of law! How did I learn it? I had plenty of time
in Berrima Gaol -- worse luck -- my first stretch. But it was
after I'd done the foolishness, and not before.




Chapter 5