One of them had the habit of fainting if anything happened, and the
other used to tend her until she revived, when they both sat still
and shrieked. Their nerves had once been tested by a carpenter, who
was employed about the house, and cut his hand badly; on another
occasion by the kitchen chimney which took fire; and that was the
way they behaved each time. So it was useless to look upon their
presence as any safeguard; indeed one of them speedily detected a
fancied likeness to Burgess in one of the poor swaggers, and
shrieked every time she saw him.

We were indeed three "lone, 'lorn women," all through that weary
night. I could not close my eyes; but laid awake listening to the
weka's shrill call, or the melancholy cry of the bitterns down in
the swamp. With the morning light came hope and courage; and I must
say I felt ashamed of my suspicions when my cook came to announce
that the "swaggers was just agoin' off, and wishful to say good-bye.
They've been and washed up the tin plates and pannikins and spoons
as clean as clean can be; and the one I thought favoured Burgess so
much, mum, he's been and draw'd water from the well, all that we
shall want to-day; and they're very civil, well-spoken chaps, if you
please, mum!" F--- was right in his surmise, I fancy; for there
were plenty of tattooed pictures of anchors and ships on the brawny
bare arms of my departing guests. They seemed much disappointed to
find there was no work to be had on our station; but departed, with
many thanks and blessings, "over the hills and far away."

Latterly, with increasing civilization and corresponding social
economy, there have been many attempts made by new-fangled managers
of runs, more than by the run-holders themselves, to induce these
swaggers to work for their tucker,--to use pure colonial