If such were the case, he would have quite enough to do to drive his sheep from the fire, and it might be that many of them also would perish in the flames.

The catastrophe might even be so bad, so frightful, that the shed and station and all should go; though, in thinking of all the fires of which he had heard, he could remember none that had spread with fatality such as that.
He found Karl Bender in his hut asleep.

The man was soon up, apologizing for his somnolence, and preparing tea for his master's entertainment.

"It is not Christmas like at home at all; is it, Mr.
'Eathcote?
Dear, no! Them red divils is there ready to give us a Christmas roasting." Then he told how he had boldly ridden up to Boolabong that morning, and had seen Georgie and Boscobel with his own eyes.

When asked what they had said to him, he replied that he did not wait till any thing had been said, but had hurried away as fast as his horse could carry him.
"I'll go up to Boolabong myself," said Harry.
"My word! They'll just about knock your head off," suggested Jacko.
Karl Bender also thought that the making of such a visit would be a source of danger.