They came to Midhurst homestead at about half-past two. By that time she had a raging thirst, and she was getting very tired. Moonshine and one or two of the other boys ran out and took her bridle and helped her down from Robin; she could not manage the stretch from the stirrup to the ground. She said, “Bourneville, tell Moonshine to saddle up and come with me to Willstown. I’m going to have a cup of tea and some tucker, and then we’ll start. You take all the boys back to Mr. Harman. That okay?”
He said, “Yes, Missy.” It struck her that if she was tired he must be exhausted; he had been in the saddle continuously for twenty-three hours. She looked at the seamed black face and said, “Can you make it, Bourneville? Are you very tired?”
He grinned. “Me not tired, Missy. Go back to Missa Harm
