morning."

"Oh, didn't you?" said the senior-sergeant, in a half-and-half tone.

The mother took the baby and held it so that its face was hidden from
the elder policeman.

"What became of Brown's family, miss?" asked the young trooper.
"Do you remember Lucy Brown?"

"I really don't know," answered Aunt Annie, "all I know is that
they went to Sydney. But I think I heard that Lucy was married."

Just then Uncle Abe and Andy came in to breakfast. Andy sat down in
the corner with a wooden face, and Uncle Abe, who was a tall man, took
up a position, with his back to the fire, by the side of the senior
trooper, and seemed perfectly at home and at ease. He lifted up his
coat behind, and his face was a study in bucolic unconsciousness.
The settler passed through to the boys' room (which was harness room,
feed room, tool house, and several other things), and as he passed out
with a shovel the sergeant said, "So you haven't seen anyone along
here for three days?"

"No," said the settler.

"Except Jimmy Marshfield that took over Barker's selection in Long
Gully," put in Aunt Annie. "He was here yesterday. Do you want
him?"

"An' them three fellers on horseback as rode past the corner of the