to the telegraph office it was the Maluka who wired: "Wife coming, secure
buggy", and in an incredibly short space of time the answer was back:
"No buggy obtainable."

Darwin looked interested. "Mac hasn't wasted much time in making
inquiries," it said.

"Or in apologies or explanations," the Maluka added shortly, and sent in
reply: "Wife can ride, secure suitable mount."

But the Sanguine Scot's fighting blood was up, and almost immediately the
wire rapped out: "No side-saddle obtainable. Stock horses all flash"; and
the onlookers stared in astonishment.

"Mac's in deadly earnest this time," they said, and the Maluka, with a
quiet "So am I," went back to the telegraph.

Now, in the Territory everybody knows everybody else, but particularly
the telegraph people; and it often happens that when telegrams of general
interest are passing through, they are accompanied by confidential
asides--little scraps of harmless gossip not intended for the
departmental books; therefore it was whispered in the tail of the last
message that the Katherine was watching the fight with interest was
inclined to "reckon the missus a goer," and that public sympathy was with
the stockman--the Katherine had its women-folk and was thankful; but the
Katherine knew that although a woman in a settlement only rules her
husband's home, the wife of a station-manager holds the peace and comfort
of the stockmen in the hollow of her hand.

"Stock horses all flash," the Sanguine Scot said, and then went out and