Page:Authors daughter v1.djvu/198

194 whose this swankie. that's so helpful ?" "It's George Copeland, that's come from my father's station at Gundabook. He was at Branxholm for twelvemonths before he went up the country, but that is before you came to these parts."

"Oh! it's George Copeland, is it I've heard Mr. Hammond speak of him;' said McCallum, looking at the middle-sized, well-made Englishman, with his quick eye and his thick curly dark brown hair, not altogether with bene- volence. "And how are things looking at Gundabook ?"

"Somewhat better since I went up," said George.

"It's a poor place," said McCallum. "I wonder at Mr. Lindsay having anything to do wih it. In a dry season like this what can you do for water ?"

"We've sunk for it and got it." "Is it good water, though, when you have got it ?" said McCallum. "Yes, very good water."

"You never get the wool there off the sheep that you can hereabouts, not the half of the quantity, and the quality is very indifferent," urged the overseer.