satisfactorily passed certain ordeals in bush life. They should be able
to ride a buckjumper, or, at any rate, hold on till the saddle went, use
a stockwhip, cut up and light a pipe of tobacco with a single wax vesta
while riding full speed in the teeth of a sou'-wester, and be ready and
competent to take a hand at any manual labour going.

After dinner some of our new acquaintances entertained us with some
miraculous tales of bush life, while others looked carelessly on to see
how far we could be gulled with impunity. An amusing incident, however,
occurred presently which rapidly increased their respect for the raw
material. C---- was a young giant, six feet three in his stockings, and
the last man to put up with an indignity. One of the party--a rough,
vulgar sort of fellow, who had been romancing considerably, and who
evidently was not on the most cordial terms with the rest of the
company--carried his rudeness so far as to drop into C----'s seat when
the latter had vacated it for a moment. On his return C---- asked him to
leave it, which the fellow refused to do. C---- put his hand on his
collar. "Now," said he, "get out! Once, twice, three times"--and at the
last word he lifted the chap bodily and threw him over the table, whence
he fell heavily on the floor. He was thoroughly cowed, and with a few
oaths left the room. It needed only such an incident as this to put us
on the friendliest terms with them all, and we enjoyed a pleasant
afternoon and gathered much information.

[Illustration: THE ARRIVAL OF LAPWORTH.]

The following morning, whilst waiting for breakfast, sitting out on the
grass in front of the house, we heard a stampede coming along the road
from the direction of the Fort, and presently there hove in sight
Lapworth astride a hired nag, coming ahead at a gallop, one hand