He had been shot by some bush-ranging scoundrels, out of pure mischief, I should say.

He was insensible when I found him, but I saw that he was alive, and managed to get him up on my horse and took him home.

We were six weeks getting him round, for the bullet had gone through his body.
It would have killed a white man in an hour, but these black fellows are as hard as nails.
"My wife nursed him, for she was living up the country with me at that time; and when he got well, he declared that he would never leave us.

I don't know that I was much gratified at the news, at first; but I soon found out that Sam, as I called him, was a valuable fellow about a place.

He could turn his hand to everything, but I found he was specially happy when he was engaged about the horses; so at last I handed over that department to him, and when we set up this place here, I brought him down with me and made him head of the stables.