Page:Diary of ten years.djvu/253

 235 shepherd came to the rescue and shot the kangaroo, when the dog was nearly exhausted, being cut and bruised severely. The singularity is that the barking of the dog was heard distinctly here, the distance not being much less than four miles.

Friday (24th).—The soldiers made their way here late last night. I got straw shaken in the kitchen for them, and this morning despatched them to patrol, with instructions to call on the settlers and ascertain the movements of the natives. All was quiet, they having proceeded below Guildford. This little display of force and watchfulness on our part may have a good effect upon them. * *  *  Mr. and Mrs. Tanner called here to-day. They now talk of going to India, and thence overland to England. * *  *  I watch with great interest every day the progress of two of my vines which have some fruit in progress; two fig trees also, none of them being as yet more than 20 inches high, and this but the second year of their growth.

Saturday (25th).—It is provoking that, after having supported my two workmen all through the time of scarcity of provisions, and labour, and giving them high wages—40s. a month during all that time, they both give me warning now that they will leave me in a month, just at the commencement of harvest, unless I raise their wages. This is gratitude and honour. Fortunately I have just hired another at 40s. a month for the two ensuing months,—a quiet-looking handy man who has been living with our friend M— for eighteen months. * *  *  The natives have all dispersed to-day, and gone off again, for what reason I know not, but suspect they did not like the appearance of the police and soldiers visiting them. Tomghin says they will go away for four months, but this is too good news to be true. * *  *  I have just finished roofing a frame of a house, 40 feet long by 12 wide, part of which will serve for a barn, the rest for cow-house or other purposes.

Oct. 26th.—The Governor has gone to the Murray River