both grand specimens of ancient art, were given in. This was agreed to,
and the drover was sent off to get his meals in the hut before leaving
by the coach.

"The mon is verra harrd up, an' it's a sair thing that Queensland fever,"
was the only remark M'Gregor made. But we knew now that there was
a soft spot in his heart somewhere.

Next morning the drover got a crisp-looking cheque. He said no word
while the cheque was being written, but, as he was going away,
the horse happened to be in the yard, and he went over to the old comrade
that had carried him so many miles, and laid a hand on his neck.

"He ain't much to look at," said the drover, speaking slowly and awkwardly,
"but he's white when he's wanted." And just before the coach rattled off,
the man of few words leant down from the box and nodded impressively,
and repeated, "Yes, he's white when he's wanted."

We didn't trouble to give the new horse a name. Station horses
are generally called after the man from whom they are bought.
"Tom Devine", "The Regan mare", "Black M'Carthy" and "Bay M'Carthy"
were among the appellations of our horses at that time. As we didn't know
the drover's name, we simply called the animal "The new horse"
until a still newer horse was one day acquired. Then, one of the hands
being told to take the new horse, said, "D'yer mean the NEW new horse
or the OLD new horse?"

"Naw," said the boss, "not the new horrse -- that bay horrse we bought
frae the drover. The ane he said was white when he's wanted."