"I'll look after her. I'm sorry I smiled as I did, but--"
"Oh, nothing. We see some queer folks here sometimes," she said.
"I daresay you do," replied Glen, "but we're all right. You needn't be afraid of any of us."
"I'm not," she retorted, unable to resist laughing at him.
"That girl's better than I thought," he remarked when she had gone.
"They often are, if you'll only take time to find it out," said Bill.
"He must have just gone out. I don't think he liked the sister business."
"That remains to be seen," Bill answered, and the remark made Glen thoughtful.
Jim came in again and they had a council of ways and means.
Bill Bigs had a considerable sum of money. He had not half-poisoned the inhabitants of Boonara, and the keepers of the fence, and others, without making a handsome profit on his concoctions. His dealings in hay and provender of various kinds had been another source of income. Occasional loans, at heavy risks, and corresponding interest, had also brought grist to the mill.
The sale of his shanty to Garry Backham brought him in several hundred pounds, about twice the amount he valued it at, and he had not yet recovered from the surprise at his good luck, or at the fact that Garry had found the ready money in a lump sum. Altogether he had a few thousands at his back.
Glen Leigh had more money than the other two would have thought possible. He had it stowed away in a bank in Sydney, where it had remained, and been added to, ever since he had been on the fence.
Jim Benny had a few pounds which he carried with him.
"I'll look round," said Bill. "I'm the business man. I reckon I'd best stick to my own line and buy a 'house' if I can find a decent one at a fair price."
"It's about the best thing you can do," agreed Glen.
"And if I succeed, you two, and the girl, must put up with me until you find work," went on Bill.
"That's a bit difficult, but two fellows who ride like you can ought to find some sort of occupation. Start a buckjumping show. Give 'em a taste of your quality; that's the game; I've hit on a little gold mine. We can get horses, and it won't cost a deal to run it."
"You mean have a real genuine show of buckjumping, and riding, in Sydney, and other places?" Glen queried.