uncommon well in these salubrious mountings, still a drop of physic
is often handy-like, and in a general way I always purchase myself a
box of Holloway's Pills (of which you do get such a lot for your
money), and also a bottle of pain-killer; but last shearing they was
out o' pain-killer, they said, so they put me up a bottle o' Cain
pepper, and likewise that 'ere condiment, which was werry
efficacious, 'specially towards the end o' the bottle!" "And do you
really mean to say you drank it, Salter?" I inquired with horror.

"Certainly I do, mum, whenever I felt out o' sorts. It always took
my mind off the loneliness, and cheered me up wonderful, especial if
I hadded a little red pepper to it," said Salter, getting up from
his log of wood and making me a low bow. All this time F--- and I
were seated amicably side by side on poor Salter's red
blanket-covered "bunk," or wooden bedstead, made of empty
flour-sacks nailed between rough poles, and other sacks filled with
tussock grass for a mattress and pillow.

The word loneliness gave me a good opening to broach the subject of
our Sunday gatherings, and my suspicions of Jim's having been told
of our visit were confirmed by the alacrity with which he said, "I
have much pleasure in accepting your kind invitation, mum, if so be
as I am not intruding."

"No, indeed Salter," F--- said; "you'd be very welcome, and you
could always turn Judy into the paddock whilst we were having
service."

Now if there was one thing dearer to Salter's heart than another, it
was his little roan mare Judy: her excellent condition, and jaunty