An Outback Marriage

"Where is Binjie?" she asked. "Isn't he coming over?"

"Not he," said the youth, with an air of great certainty. We're

busy over at our place, I tell you. The water is all gone in the

nine-mile paddick. Binj an me and Andy Kelly had to muster all the

sheep and shift 'em across to the home paddick. Binj is musterin'

away there now. I just rode over to see Hugh about some of your

sheep that's in the river paddick."

"Won't Binjie be over, then?" persisted Emily.

"No, of course he won't. Don't I tell you he's got three days' work

musterin' there? I must be off at daylight to-morrow, home again,

or the old man'll know the reason why."

By this time they had reached the homestead, and Poss went off

with the children to the stables. Here he secured the "knockabout"

horse, always kept saddled and bridled about the station for

generally-useful work, and set off at a swinging canter up the

paddock after his own steed. Miss Grant went in and found Mrs.

Gordon at her jam-making.

"Well, and have you found anything to amuse you?" asked the old

lady in her soft, even voice.

"Oh, I've had quite a lot of experiences; and I went for a walk

and met Poss. Who is Poss?"

The old lady laughed as she gave the jam a stir. "He's a young

Hunter," she said. "Was Binjie there?"

"No; and he isn't coming either; he has work to do. I learnt that

much. But who is Poss? and who is Binjie? I'm greatly taken with

Poss."

"He's a nice-looking young fellow, isn't he? His father has a small

station away among the hills, and Poss and Binjie help him on it.

Those are only nick-names, of course. Poss's name is Arthur, and

Binjie's is George, I think. They're nice young fellows, but very

bushified; they have lived here all their lives. Their father--well,

he isn't very steady; and they like to get over here when they can,

and each tries to come without the other knowing it. Binjie will

be here before long, I expect. They're great admirers of Miss

Harriott, both of them, and they come over on all sorts of ridiculous

pretexts. Poor fellows, it must be very dull for them over there.

Fancy, week after week without seeing anyone but their father,

the station-hands, and the sheep! Now that you're here, I expect

they'll come more than ever."

As she spoke, the tramp of a horse's hoofs was heard in the yard

and, looking out, Miss Grant saw a duplicate of Poss dismounting

from a duplicate of Poss's horse. And Mrs. Gordon, looking over

her shoulder, said, "Here's Binjie. I thought he'd be here before

long."

"Why do they call him Binjie?" asked Miss Grant, watching the new

arrival tying up his horse. "What does it mean?"