98 NOTES OF TRAVEL 
our attention during part of the evening, and then we talked 
of many things. I went early to look at my horses next morn- 
ing, and was dismayed to find my mare lame in another 
foot. Mant was with me, and we struck off the shoe, but 
only to find one of the nails had touched her too close, and 
inflammation had set in. Never had I such bad luck, but 
again I had the good fortune to be with an exceptionally 
good fellow. I must stay a day, and then if the mare was no 
better, I should have another in place of her! So I promised 
to stay, and we walked towards the house ; we were met by 
the servant girl, who told us with the utmost excitement how 
“the wildcat”? had just rushed out from the bachelors’ 
quarters, and into the sorghum. Mant said we must have 
him, and, armed with shotguns. we took up a position where 
the monster might be dropped as_ he crossed a narrow path 
between two patches of sorghum. My instructions were not 
to lose a moment when the dogs brought the stranger to the 
path. Then we heard a rush through the sorghum, and we 
both stood with finger on trigger. ‘‘ Now he comes ; don’t 
miss him ’”’ said my friend, and I fired. At one time I could 
do some fairly smart shooting, but that was the best shot I 
ever mad» and Mant’s favourite young tabby lay dead on 
the path before us! 
George Mant was one of those very good fellows of whom 
they say in the bush—‘** My word, but he is a white man;” 
and so he is up to the present time. He has been blessed 
with a large family of girls and boys, but he has had a lot of 
bad luck, too, and still pluckily fights on against drought, 
ticks, and other disadvantages. When I started next morn- 
ing, a chestnut son of “ Cain” carried my pack, in place of 
the “‘ Sailor ’’ mare, and afterwards, on the station, he proved 
a very useful horse. Teebar station, which belonged to Mr. 
Eaton, was about three miles distant from Gigoomgan, but 
by visiting the last named place, I missed Teebar. My 
business took me to Degilbo, and I followed a track I had 
used a few months before, and which brought me into the 
Maryborough-Gayndah road, not far from the Bluff. It 
was a relief to reach Degilbo, though I suffered some days 
detention there. Most of the horses I had brought from 
New England I had sold before I went to Sydney. Those I 
retained were running up a gorge about three miles from the 
