fashion which to Heathcote was objectionable politically, morally,
and socially. Let Medlicot in regard to character be what he might,
he was a free-selector, and a squatter's enemy, and had clinched his
hostility by employing a servant dismissed from the very run out of
which he had bought his land. "It is hard to say," he replied at
length, "who have grudges, as against whom, or why. I suppose I have
a great grudge against you, if the truth is to be known; but I
sha'n't burn down your mill."

"I'm sure you won't."

"Nor yet say worse of you behind your back than I will to your face."

"I don't want you to think that you have occasion to speak ill of me,
either one way or the other. What I mean is this--I don't quite think
that the evidence against Nokes is strong enough to justify me in
sending him away; but I'll keep an eye on him as well as I can. It
seems that he left our place early this morning; but the men are not
supposed to be there on Sundays, and of course he does as he pleases
with himself."

The conversation then dropped, and in a little time Harry made some
excuse for leaving them, and returned to the house alone, promising,
however, that he would not start for his night's ride till after the
party had come back to the station. "There is no hurry at all," he
said; "I shan't stir for two hours yet, but Mickey will be waiting
there for stores for himself and the German."

"That means a nobbler for Mickey," said Kate. "Either of those men
would think it a treat to ride ten miles in and ten miles back, with