Ninnis considered Maule a person of parts and of practical experience.

He said to himself that the Boss had done wisely in leaving Maule at the head-station while they were short-handed.

Maule showed great interest in Bush matters--said he wanted to learn all he could about the management of cattle--thought it not improbable that he might invest money in Leichardt's Land.

Ninnis agreed to show him round, and Maule begged that he might be made useful--even offered to take a turn with the tailing-mob, so that Moongarr Bill and the other stockmen might be free to muster more cattle.
Nothing was heard of the Blacks during the next day or two, but one morning Ninnis discovered that an old gun, which the station hands and the black-boys were allowed to use on Sundays for shooting game in the lagoon, had disappeared in the night.

Circumstantial evidence pointed to Wombo as the thief.