Page 30 - A Little Bush Maid

blessed day, and come home with the mopokes. What do you chaps say?"

"Grand idea!" Norah cried, giving her hammock an ecstatic swing. "We’ll
have to fly round, though. Did you ask Dad?"

"Yes, and he said we could go. Tt’s tucker that’s the trouble. T don’t know if
we’re too late to arrange about any."

"Come and ask Mrs. Brown," said Norah, flinging a pair of long black legs

over the edge of the hammock. "She’ll fix us up if she can."

They tore off to the kitchen and arrived panting. Mrs. Brown was sitting in

calm state on the kitchen verandah, and greeted them with a wide,
expansive smile. Norah explained their need.

Mrs. Brown pursed up her lips.

"T haven’t anythink fancy, my dear," she said slowly. "Only plum cake and
scones, and there’s a nice cold tongue, and an apple pie. T’d like you to have

tarts, but the fire’s out. Do you think you could manage?"

Jim laughed.

"T guess that’ll do, Mrs. Brown," he said. "We’ll live like fighting cocks, and

bring you home any amount of fish for breakfast. Don’t you worry about
sandwiches, either--put in a loaf or two of bread, and a chunk of butter, and
we’ll be right as rain."

"Then T’ll have it all packed for you first thing, Master Jim," Mrs. Brown

declared.

"That’s ripping," said the boys in a breath. "Come and find Billy."

Billy was dragged from the recesses of the stable. He grinned widely with

joy at the prospect of the picnic.