318 INCIVILITY OF A SETTLER. 



tality of a Mr. Chapman, whose station we were 

 passint^. It was the only one we had seen during 

 the day, and knowing the possibility of our being 

 mistaken for bush-rangers,* we turned back our 

 rough coats, and rode up to the house as smart 

 as we could make ourselves. We met the owner 

 standing in the gateway of the garden fronting 

 the house, which he nearly filled ; but although 

 presenting a John Bull's exterior, there was a 

 great deficiency of the national character within. 

 After introducing ourselves we asked for a little 

 milk, but were refused on the plea that there was 

 none at the station. Our surly informant added, 

 that we should find a comfortable inn eight miles 

 farther on. First looking at the number of fine 

 milch cows that were grazing near, and then at the 

 speaker, we turned and left him in silent disgust. 



We passed the night at the inn to which we had 

 been directed, and next morning I separated from my 

 companions, our roads being difi'erent. There had 

 been a hoar frost during the night, and the morning 

 was delightfully bracing. About ten miles in a N.W. 



* Escaped convicts, who live by plundering the settlers, taking 

 also their lives if any resistance is offered. 



I remember on one occasion, a party of gentlemen had their 

 horses taken from them : one of them was of great value, 

 and the owner thought he would try an experiment to recover 

 him, by saying in a jocular manner, that he would tie a card 

 with his address round the animal's neck, in order that when 

 done with they might know where to return him. Strange to 

 say his experiment succeeded, as the horse was sent back a short 

 time afterwards. 



