LEFT IN CHARGE. 4l

Well, after “Tarra” and I had seen the last of the dog-cart, we turned about to think
how best we could spend the long day before us. Father had taught me how to sketch a
little, sovI ran in and got out my book and pencil, and then while looking about me, an
idea struck me that I would go down and sketch Johnny Cha-Che before he woke up, for
I knew that this was the time he took his forenoon smoke and nap. I had always wanted
to take him asleep, but could not do it when Aunt Sarah was at home, for she did not think
it proper—she was so very strong on the “proprieties.” No sooner thought than done; |
stole down gently through the pumpkins and marrows, and opening the door of the hut
discovered my subject lying on his bunk, face upwards, 4 with such a
seraphic smile upon his yellow
quite looked like a golden 4
nankeens. Tarra sat down
door while I placed the
best position and
study. [had just
ral pose inrough,

  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 

f ace, that he
| cherub inblue
' quietly by the
stool in the
| began = my
14 got the gene-
i as father
. should be first
get the fore-.

~ taught me it
done so as to
shortening
when I was
the most un-
from Tarra, a

properly

startled by
es} usual sound
low growl, a thing
he never did excepting to ‘“‘sun-
downers” —

station, that 1

when they came near the

 

jumped up in quite a fluster, and.
drawing the curtain aside from the little window, looked out to see what the matter
could be.

It was lucky for us all that I did not open the door, but only looked out of the window
for there I saw a number of black fellows stealing from the bush towards the empty house.
One by one they crept along, with branches held in front of them ; I counted forty before 1]
could recover myself enough to think.

Then I: remembered how nasty Aunt Sarah had been with the last tribe who had visited
us, and how harshly they had been driven off the station by her orders, and all at once |
felt how helpless I was, with none of the men near to aid me, while a horror came over me
for a moment which deprived me of breath, and the next moment made me feel as old
as a grown-up woman. “Cha-Che, wake up,” I cried, shaking the smiling Chinaman, but
he never moved a bit or seemed to feel my shaking.

Then I looked about me wondering what I would do if they came to the hut and found
me alone with only the sleeping Chinaman and Tarra.

Tarra! He was looking at me intently with eyes which not only seemed to understand
my thoughts, but also were trying their hardest to tell me what to do—ah! I read the wise dog’s
meaning at last ; it was—“ Quick, bar the door and window, and then let me go for help.”