Geoffrey Lawrence sat on the veranda of cattle sta undoing the chain. When he came out, he the big house on his grandfather's tion. He could see the great herd of cattle had latched the gate. But he had forgotten that had been rounded up ready to be taken the chain! to the nearest rtilhead. The droving would What do you have to say for yourself, take five days of riding through some of Burke?" Mr. Blair asked Burke said nothing Geoff s mouth grassland and closed in a thin line. Why not let Burke take Australia's most exciting desert. But Geoff couldn't go the blame? He'd taken the credit for a lot of Next year." grandfather had said Burke Blair's not much older than 1 am 18 work he hadn't done. and he's going," Geoff pleaded Burke's not coming on the droving, Mr 4 Burke's father said It's the Burke knows a lot about cattle for his Lawrence He's done a lot of 19 best way I know to punish him said grandfather "That will leave us shorthanded." Grand work here lately." Geoff wanted to tell grandfather that he father looked at Geoff. "Do you think you had been doing Burke's chores for him. Burke ever wanted to do was train his new 20 could take Burke's place?" Yes, sir. work hard Geoff said pony. But Geoff said nothing. He couldn't But he felt ashamed very well tell on his best friend "Then get your gear. We'll leave as soon It still isn't fair," he muttered. kicking e round up the horses. the veranda railing. Yesterday Burke had 2 2 Geoff saw the sad look on Burke's face asked him to feed the horses that were He sighed. He couldn't go on the droving grandfather." he called penned up for the droving. And Geoff had not this way. Wait, done it "It's not Burke's fault. I'm the one who fed When Burke came to say goodbye, Geoff the horses yesterday Why didn't you say so grandfather couldn't think of a thing to say "I wish you could come," Burke said So do I Geoff said glumly, looking asked sternly wanted to go on the droving Don't blame Geoff." Burke said "It past Burke. Then his eyes widened. His was my job. I should have told you Geoffs grandfather and Burke's father were ridin been doing a lot of my work lately. He de- toward the house What's the matter 10 Geoff called serves to go on the droving more than I do." Geoff shook his head. "I'm still the one Plenty grandfather said. "The horses who left the chain off the gate." for the droving are scattered over the Seems to me," said south paddock. "that grandfather, How did they get out?" both of you are at fault. But I'm glad you 1 2 Mr. Blair frowned at his son. "No one' both admit it. It's a case now of leaving you n the pen since you fed them. You home or taking you both and giving you I 3 forgot to fasten the chain on the gate. I thought there was a latch on that extra work as punishment." Take us along Geoff. "We'll work hard grandfather said 14 gate," Geoff stammered There is." Mr. Blair said, "but it doesn't 29 Mr. Blair grinned. "I can certainly find hold. That's why we use the chain. Burke lots of work for them. Saddle up, boys. Let's round up those horses." knows that