252 VILLAINOUS-LOOKING VISITORS. 



horses neighing down the valley, and a few minutes later Polly 

 appeared and galloped up to me ; so I took a double twelve-bore 

 rifle, which I kept loaded, and walked down towards the stream 

 where the horses were, when I met two villainous-looking half- 

 breeds, mounted on small ponies, and carrying rifles and 

 revolvers. They had evidently from the tracks been examin- 

 ing our stock, and were now on their way to see how many we 

 were. They asked me where the camp was and what we were 

 doing there ; also of how many the party consisted ; and as I 

 did not like their looks I said that there were several, but that 

 my companions were away hunting, though I expected them 

 back at any minute. They accompanied me to the tent, and 

 telling me that they had eaten very little breakfast, they cut 

 some steaks off one of the deer which I had hanging up, and I 

 gave them some coffee. They then lit their pipes and made 

 themselves comfortable round the fire, asking me all kinds of 

 questions as to where I came from ; what our object was in 

 hunting; evidently not believing me when I said we were out 

 for pleasure, but thinking we must be looking up land claims, 

 as it was incomprehensible to men of their kind that anyone 

 should find pleasure out of a town. When they had sat a 

 short time they said that they would go into the tent and take 

 a sleep ; so, as there were many things in it which would have 

 tempted them very much, and which if they did not take at 

 once they might come back for that night, I told them that it 

 was so small that our beds entirely filled it, and that we did 

 not allow anyone in it. On this they said that I did not seem 

 to be very hospitable, and that they would come again when 

 my companions were at home. I replied that they were 

 welcome at any time to all they could eat, and I warned them 



