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Leslie rode loping back to turn on the lineeven with Sterl. In another moment
they were in the unfamiliar English saddles. If Dann gets to theKimberleys with
half his cattle hell be rich, an richer pronto. Sterl espied Leslie andBeryl,
accompanied by a frank-featured blond young giant, nearing thegroup. The girl
interrupted theeven, almost unconscious ebb and flow of his sensorial
perceptions.
Fleecy white clouds sailed above the green lineof bush.
I was
referring to our trek, not your journal.
If you must take sidesyou should take
mine.
Hazelton, dont run away from me when I call you, complained Dann, ashe
caught up.
Ive sent Monkton on ahead to let down the bars, replied Drake.
Red,
Im disgusted with you, declared Sterl, angrily. Sterl bowed scornfully and left
the campfire for his own tent.
Then bothdiscovered that Stanley Dann, Slyter
and Leslie had followed them. In another yearLeslie would be a beautiful woman,
and irresistible. Im not exciting discord, returned Ormiston, hotly. What his
next move might have been did not transpire, for Ormistonconfronted him
belligerently. Ive been called worse than that, by sentimental young ladies,
repliedSterl, satirically. Not that it influences me in the least, continued
Dann, rising. Howdy, ragamuffin, said Sterl, coming to her calls.
As shedid not
appear to hear, he asked her again. Hazelton,you spoke right from the shoulder.
This is an Australian girl, not one of your trail drabs to mouth over! Cattle
and horses made forthe creek and spread along its low bank for a mile. Red, Im
going to try to make that blackunderstand our game.
Hello, Ormiston, youre just
in time to giveyour opinion.
When I swung, you dumbhead, you ducked into it.
At
last the sun rose high enough to be warm, and to dry wet garments. Ive wanted
to meet you again, to tell you I regret the unpleasantnessof our meeting at
Downsville. But be cunning, and find out through her all that ispossible about
Ormiston.
But, pard, its for them, an us too, returned Red, sharply. Eight to
eleven, elevento two, two till five.
Circle, Red, till we get the lay of the
herd.
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