Great was my amazement to find the unconquerable Mr.Sim thaw immediately on the accost of this strange gentleman, who hailed him with a ready familiarity, proceeded at once to discuss with him the trade of droving and the prices of cattle, and did not disdain to take a pinch from the inevitable ram's horn.

Presently I was aware that the stranger's eye was directed on myself; and there ensued a conversation, some of which I could not help overhearing at the time, and the rest have pieced together more or less plausibly from the report of Sim.
'Surely that must be an _amateur drover_ ye have gotten there ?' the gentleman seems to have asked.
Sim replied, I was a young gentleman that had a reason of his own to travel privately.
'Well, well, ye must tell me nothing of that.

I am in the law, you know, and _tace_ is the Latin for a candle,' answered the gentleman.

'But I hope it's nothing bad.' Sim told him it was no more than debt.
'Oh, Lord, if that be all!' cried the gentleman; and turning to myself, 'Well, sir,' he added, 'I understand you are taking a tramp through our forest here for the pleasure of the thing ?' 'Why, yes, sir,' said I; 'and I must say I am very well entertained.' 'I envy you,' said he.

'I have jogged many miles of it myself when I was younger.