Page 105 - A Little Bush Maid

"Blessed if T know. He just laughed in a queer way, until Norah stuck up for
him, and then he looked grave. ’T’m lucky to have one friend,’ he said, and

walked out of the tent. You’re a set of goats!" finished Jim
comprehensively.

"Well, T’m not ashamed of what T said, anyhow!" Norah answered
indignantly. She elevated her tip-tilted nose, and walked away to where the

Hermit was gathering sticks, into which occupation she promptly entered.
The boys looked at each other.

"Well, T am--rather," Harry said. He disappeared into the scrub, returning
presently with a log of wood as heavy as he could drag. Wally, seeing his

idea, speedily followed suit, and Jim, after a stare, copied their example.
They worked so hard that by the time the Hermit and Norah had the fire

alight, quite a respectable stack of wood greeted the eye of the master of the
camp. He looked genuinely pleased.

"Well, you are kind chaps," he said. "That will save me wood-carting for
many a day, and it is a job that bothers my old back."

"We’re very glad to get it for you, sir," Jim blurted, a trifle shamefacedly. A
twinkle came into the Hermit’s eyes as he looked at him.

"That’s all square, Jim," he said quietly, and without any more being said

the boys felt relieved. Evidently this Hermit was not a man to bear malice,
even if he did overhear talk that wasn’t meant for him.

"Well," said the Hermit, breaking a somewhat awkward silence, "it’s about
time we heard the dusky Billy, isn’t it?"

"Quite time, T reckon," Jim replied. "Lazy young beggar!"

"Well, the billy’s not boiling yet, although it’s not far off it."

"There he is," Norah said quickly, as a long shout sounded near at hand.
The Hermit quickly went off in its direction, and presently returned,