I spoke with some warmth, for I considered that Day deserved as good treatment as ourselves.

“I don’t doubt his honesty or his bravery,” returned our host, dryly, “but I am compelled to believe that if you knew how much I have to contend with here in the wilderness, hardly knowing friend from foe, and desired to treat all alike, I am sure that you would not think hard of me if I did desire to exclude the shepherd from the table.  Be assured that he is happier where he is, and when another stockman visits my farm he will not be expected to sit at the same table with myself.  Discipline is what keeps my men in subjection.”

Another roar of laughter from the kitchen, and the servant who attended upon our table entered the apartment with a broad grin upon his face.

“Well, Jackson, something is going on in the kitchen that amuses you as well as the rest,” Mr. Wright said.

“Yes, sir; that covey from the other station is telling the funniest things about his playing ghost, and frightening bushrangers into fits.  He’s a wild ’un, and no mistake.”

A sudden darkness and pattering of rain drops outside told us that the storm had begun, and we felt thankful that we were under shelter for the night.

“Tell the men who are on duty to look well to the cattle, and then make themselves comfortable for the night,” our host said, addressing the man, who seemed to be Mr. Wright’s especial attendant.

The person alluded to departed on his errand, and while he was gone we surveyed the heavens from the windows, and found that the clouds were black and full of moisture, while the rain was descending in torrents.

“Let it continue this way for an hour or two, and I shall have the pleasure of your company for a day or two at least,” Mr. Wright said, apparently pleased with the thought.

“Why so?” I asked.

“Because the Loddon will be impassable, and resemble no more the quiet river such as you saw to-day than to-morrow morning will resemble the present moment.  But come, let us return to the table, and have our coffee and pipes; cigars I have, if you prefer them.”

But no one desired them, for after once getting acclimated to pipes, cigars are of a secondary consideration.

We again took seats at the table, and lighting our pipes, sipped some of the excellent coffee at our leisure, and while the storm raged without, we talked and chatted of the past with as much freedom as though we had been friends all our lifetime.

Lights were brought, and the heavy window shutters closed, and we drew our chairs nearer to each other as the wind howled around the stout building, and the lightning played in the air with extraordinary vividness as the darkness increased.

“This storm will soon extinguish the fire in the brush,” Mr. Wright said, “and I shall not be sorry to know that my wheat is no longer in danger of being consumed by fierce flames, instead of hungry men.  Ah, well, I have seen many fires raging since I settled on the thousand acres that I own, but somehow I have escaped much injury, excepting once.”