this was being told, a good deal was said of Harry Heathcote. Nokes
declared that he had come right across Gangoil, and explained that he
would not have been at all sorry to meet Master Heathcote in the
bush. Master Heathcote had had his own way up at the station when he
was backed by a lot of his own hands; but a good time was coming,
perhaps. Then Nokes gave it to be understood very plainly that it was
the settled practice of his life to give Harry Heathcote a thrashing.
During all this there was an immense amount of bad language, and a
large portion of the art which in the colony is called "blowing."
Jerry, Boscobel, and Nokes all boasted, each that on the first
occasion he would give Harry Heathcote such a beating that a whole
bone should hardly be left in the man's skin.

"There isn't one of you man enough to touch him," said Joe, who was
known as the freest fighter of the Brownbie family.

"And you'd eat him, I suppose," said Jerry.

"He's not likely to come in my way," said Joe; "but if he does, he'll
get as good as he brings. That's all."

This was unpleasant to the visitors, who, of course, felt themselves
to be snubbed. Boscobel affected to hear the slight put upon his
courage with good humor, but Nokes laid himself down in a corner and
sulked. They were soon all asleep, and remained dozing, snoring,
changing their uncomfortable positions, and cursing the mosquitoes,
till about four in the afternoon, when Boscobel got up, shook
himself, and made some observation about "grub." The meal of the day
was then prepared. A certain quantity of flour and raw meat, ample
for their immediate wants, was given to the two strangers, with which