She always spoke of her late husband as having been the Boss-mate on that--to him fatal--exploring expedition.

Also, she resented having all the bachelors 'dumped down'-- as she phrased it--on her, while the 'Ladyship's swell staff' was spared the trouble.

At present the Bachelors' Quarters was fairly full.

Mr Ninnis, store-keeper and overseer in the owner's absence, abode there permanently, and just now, there were Zack Duppo, the horse-breaker, and a young man from Breeza Downs--a combined cattle and sheep station about fifty miles distant--who had come to help in the mustering and to collect any beasts strayed from the Breeza Downs' herd.
The gully crossing lay below the boulders of rock at the head of the lagoon.

Presently, two horsemen appeared on the rise.