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Rh own blanket and dream of the rug. Why, Amy, you are colder than I am."

"I'll ride across at once," said Allan, "George will give me a fresh horse, and I will be back in two hours."

"Oh! don't go," said Amy; "you may lose the tracks, and then where shall we be?"

"You will be where I leave you," said Allan, laughing; "it is where I will be that is the question; but I am too practised a bushman to lose myself in such a track as this. Mr. Lufton, take good care of the girls for two hours, for I will not be longer than that away. I don't think there will be any more thunder or rain."

Amy remonstrated, but Isabel rather urged her brother to go, so that he took his own way, and set off for Gundabook. Here was a most interesting and romantic situation for Mr. Lufton. Two very ﬁne girls, both under seventeen, altogether placed under his protection for two hours and probably for longer; night coming on fast, and absolute silence and seclusion for miles around. He could not have fancied anything happening so congenial to his tastes or so opportune for his hopes.

But he had not been long left in charge when he Wished Allan back again. He fancied that it