“I know a brave _man_,” came in decided tones from Margot’s cubicle. “I’m sure the motto on the shield is true of _him_!”
“What sort of things does he do?” begged everybody, eager for a recipe for bravery.
“Well, for one thing, he met three robbers--bushrangers, you know, and murderers they were really--when he was on horseback all alone, and before they had time to whip out their pistols he held them up with _his_, and made them all walk into the nearest town; ten miles it was, and he knew all the time that his pistol wasn’t loaded.”
“And did _they_?” inquired the others breathlessly.
“Of course not, or they’d have shot him in a minute; they were a desperate gang!”
“What else did he do?” inquired Stella with interest. “That’s not much use to us, I’m afraid, but let’s hear; it might give us ideas.”
“For one thing he spent a night in a cave that was supposed to be haunted--no one would go near it, even in the daytime, because of the stories there were about--and it was while he was in there he found out that the robbers used it as a hiding-place at night. He listened, and heard them say where they had taken some horses that had been stolen from one of the farms. He headed a band next day, and went after the horses, too, and he got them. They were awfully valuable ones; one of them was worth nearly a hundred pounds!”
“I say, what a lark to know such a man,” broke in Josy. “Who is he? Do tell us.”
“He’s a friend of dad’s,” said Margot simply. “When we were out in the Bush he helped with the farms. He was champion sheep-shearer. I told you about him, didn’t I, Gretta?” And she turned to her cousin.
“Is it Long Jake, that you were talking about in the train?” asked Gretta with interest; “that man who gave you lessons in Australia?”
“‘Long Jake!’” echoed the other listeners. “What a funny name, and _how_ ripping he must be to know!”
“If he were in this school,” added Josy, breathing deeply, “wouldn’t I get ideas from him for the prize!”
“He’d win it himself, I should imagine,” corrected the superior Stella. “There wouldn’t be much chance for any of _us_! I’m going to ask dad for ideas at the week-end. If he knows any good ones, I’ll tell you on Monday.”
“Why, it’s the week-end to-morrow,” exclaimed Margot. “Where do you live, Stella? Shall you walk home, or how do you get there?”