PRIZE NOVELETTE.
(BY ALFRED ODGERS.)
THE SQUATTER'S STORY
AN ADVENTURE IN THE NARRACOORTE CAVES.
PREFACE.
This story is dedicated to the pioneers and first settlers of Australia, who so nobly and heroically, in the face of almost insurmountable difficulties, stood their ground, and thus largely helped to make our fair land what it is to-day—a prosperous State.
CHAPTER I.
It was in the year 1848, a few years before the Victorian gold-diggings era, that, in company with two young fellows about my own age, under an engagement with a Victorian squatter, I travelled towards the south-east of South Australia for the purpose of selecting suitable land for a sheep-station. We had his confidence (besides which, he was a distant relative of mine); he therefore agreed to thoroughly equip our party, and to give us each a share in the venture, and, as money was a scarce commodity, we were to be allowed a certain percentage of the increase of the flock in lieu of wages—a common custom then.
One of my companions was a young Englishman of aristocratic birth, whose friends were glad to be rid of, because of his fast and indolent habits; though I must say, that whilst with me he did not exhibit these failings, and a more honorable, faithful, hard-working young fellow than Cecil Maitland I never knew. He was daring and generous, a thorough scholar, and a pleasant companion. The o ler was a thrifty young Scotchman, who a few months before had run away from a vessel. He, too, was thoroughly reliable, of pleasant temperament and splendid physique. "Mac." as we called him, was the life of our party. In his early days, in the "Land o' Cakes," he had gained useful experience amongst sheep and cattle; we therefore found him of very great service. Of myself little shall be said, except that I was the son of a well-known Anglican bishop, had received a good education, but, disliking the monotony of a profession, took to bush life.
We left Geelong about the end of August, and after a few months' slow travelling reached the locality known as Mosquito Plains, bat now known as Narracoorte. We soon erected huts and sheepyards,
