THE SHEPHERD'S HUT.
Not feeling their fatigue so much now that they were buoyed up by the
hope of shelter and food, the two boys plodded on. The way was at times
difficult, and there was no glimpse of the light which Jack had seen
from the tree-top.
"Do you think you are on the right track, Jack?" asked Harry anxiously.
"Yes, I feel sure of it," answered the young sailor.
"It would be very unlucky if we had wandered from the right direction."
"Yes, I should feel like lying down and giving up, but I am sure I am
right."
Events proved that Jack was right. They came to an open place, from
which they could distinctly see the light gleaming from a dwelling only
forty rods away.
"There, what did I tell you?" demanded Jack triumphantly.
"You are right, Jack. I am glad enough to admit it. Now the question is,
will the people who occupy the house let us in?"
"They can't be so inhuman as to refuse. Pass on, Harry."
They were not long in reaching the hut. It was one of those slab huts
which are used by shepherds. They are lonely enough, the stations being
in some instances twenty miles from the nearest dwelling. This was a
single dwelling, the home of one of the out keepers. The chief stations
are usually an aggregation of dwellings. In the yard was a pile of wood
for fuel. Close at hand was a paddock surrounded by a rail fence, over
which hung a number of sheepskins. All these evidences of habitation
cheered the hearts of the lonely boys.
Harry went up to the door and knocked.
His knock appeared to create some commotion inside. A voice was heard,
and then there was audible the barking of a dog, but no one came to the
door.
"Suppose you knock again, Harry," said Jack.
"They must have heard my first knock. Perhaps they don't want to let us
in."
However, Harry knocked again.
Again the dog inside barked, this time with fierce emphasis.
"Is there no one inside but the dog?" thought Harry anxiously. Having no
weapon with him, he took a piece of a broken rail, so that in case of
necessity he might have a means of defence.
He was about to venture on a third knock when a tremulous voice, which
the boys at once recognized as that of a girl, was heard from within.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"We are two boys who have lost our way, and are almost starved,"
answered Harry. "For Heaven's sake let us in, and give us something to
eat."
There was a pause, the girl being evidently undecided.
"Are there only two of you?" she asked.
"Only two."
"You are sure there is no one with you?"
"No one."
"And you are boys?"
"Yes."
"What brings you here--in this lonely place, at this hour?"
"We are on our way to the gold-fields of Bendigo."
"But this is off the road."
"I know it. The fact is, we were captured by the bushrangers, and have
made our escape. We plunged into the woods, thinking we were less likely
to be caught and carried back."
There was a change in the girl's tone as she said: "Is this really true?
You are not bushrangers yourselves?"
"No, I hope not," answered Harry with a boyish laugh.
This laugh, which sounded natural and genuine, evidently inspired the
girl with confidence.
"If I let you in, will you promise to do no mischief?" she asked.
"You shall have no cause to regret admitting us, we promise that."
There was still a little pause of indecision, and then a bolt was drawn,
and the door opened. The two boys saw in the doorway a pleasant-faced
girl of fourteen, whose eyes fell upon them not without a shade of
anxiety. But when she saw that the two visitors were boys not much older
than herself, there was a look of relief, and she said: "I will trust
you. Come in if you like. Hush, Bruno!"
This was addressed to a large shepherd dog that stood beside her, eying
them suspiciously.
A weight seemed lifted from the hearts of the two boys, as they caught
sight of the comfortable interior of the hut. On the one side of the
room was a large open fireplace, on which a good fire was burning. The
flickering flames helped illumine the apartment, and diffused a
home-like air, which was most grateful to the two tired wanderers.
"You are very kind to admit us," said Harry. "You have no idea how great
a favor it is."
"I would have let you in before, but I thought you might be
bushrangers," said the girl.
"We don't look much like bushrangers, do we?" said Harry with a smile.
The girl smiled too. She was evidently pleased with the appearance of
her two visitors.
"No; if I had seen you, I should have known better than to think you
belonged to their band. Come in and sit down by the fire."
"Thank you."
Harry and Jack seated themselves on a settle near the fire, and the girl
continued to eye them curiously.
"I suppose you are boys," she said.
"We don't call ourselves men yet," answered Harry.
"I never saw a boy before," was the unexpected remark of their young
hostess.
"WHAT!" ejaculated the two boys in concert.
"I scarcely ever saw anybody," explained the girl. "My father and I live
here alone, and have lived here for years. He has a flock of fifteen
hundred sheep to watch and tend. Sometimes another shepherd calls here,
and we had a visit from the bushrangers last year."
"It must be very lonely for you," said Harry in a sympathetic tone.
"Yes, it is; but I am used to it. Father is away all day, but he leaves
Bruno to keep me company."
"Come here, Bruno!" said Jack in a coaxing tone.
Bruno eyed Jack dubiously, and finally walked up to him deliberately,
and allowed himself to be stroked.
"Bruno doesn't think we are bushrangers," said Jack, smiling.
"He did at first, though," the girl replied with an answering smile.
"Have you been walking all day?"
"Yes; the greater part of the day."
"Then you must be hungry."
"We are almost starved!" said Harry tragically. "Are we not, Jack?"
"I am quite starved," said the young sailor.
"Then I must get you some supper," said the girl in a hospitable tone.
"Thank you," said Harry earnestly. "Will you let me know your name?" he
asked.
"My name is Lucy."
"My grandmother's name was Lucy," said Jack.
"Then you may look upon me as your grandmother," said the girl
demurely.
Of course all three laughed heartily at this absurdity. Then Lucy moved
about with quick steps, and soon a goodly supper of mutton-chops was
fizzling in the frying-pan, sending forth savory odors that made their
mouths water. Presently Lucy drew out a table, and placed upon it the
chops and some cold bread.
"I would boil some potatoes," she said, "but you might not like to wait
so long."
"I think we won't wait, Lucy."
"You haven't told me your name," said Lucy as they drew up to the
table.
"My name is Harry Vane," said the possessor of that name.
"And mine is Jack Pendleton."
"Harry and Jack," repeated Lucy, nodding.
"Yes."
"And where do you come from?"
"From America."
"Isn't that a long way off?"
"Yes, thousands of miles off; seven or eight, I think."
"You are very young to walk so far," said Lucy, "but perhaps you rode.
Did the bushrangers steal your horses?"
"We came over the sea," said Harry. "Jack is a sailor."
Lucy looked at Jack curiously, as if a sailor were a strange species of
animal.
At this point Bruno raised his head, looked toward the door, and began
to bark.
"I think my father must be close by," said Lucy. "Bruno is always the
first to hear him."