Page 29 - A Little Bush Maid

CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER IV

JTM’S TDEA

Two hammocks, side by side, under a huge pine tree, swung lazily to and

fro in the evening breeze. Tn them Norah and Harry rocked happily, too
comfortable, as Norah said, to talk. They had all been out riding most of the

day, and were happily tired. Tea had been discussed fully, and everything
was exceedingly peaceful.

Footsteps at racing speed sounded far off on the gravel of the front path-- a
wide sweep that ran round the broad lawn. There was a scatter of stones,

and then a thud-thud over the grass to the pine trees--sounds that signalised
the arrival of Jim and Wally, in much haste. Jim’s hurry was so excessive
that he could not pull himself up in time to avoid Harry. He bumped

violently into the hammock, with the natural result that Harry swung
sharply against Norah, and for a moment things were rather mixed.

"You duffer!" growled Harry, steadying his rocking bed. "Hurt you? "--this
to Norah.

"No, thanks," Norah laughed. "What’s the matter with you two?"

"Got an idea," Wally gasped, fanning himself with a pine cone.

"Hurt you?"

"Rather. Tt’s always a shock for me to have an idea. Anyway this isn’t
mine--it’s Jim’s."

"Oh." Norah’s tone was more respectful. Jim’s ideas were not to be treated
lightly as a rule. "Well, let’s hear it."

"Fishing," Jim said laconically. "Let’s start out at the very daybreak, and get
up the river to Anglers’ Bend. They say you can always get fish there. We’ll

ride, and take Billy to carry the tucker and look for bait. Spend the whole