Mr. Neuchamp, who, having as yet not gone through the terrible trials of a prolonged drought, had never witnessed the incredible emaciation to which stock may be reduced, and their rapid and magical transformation at the wand of the enchanter ‘Rain,’ looked as if he really _would_ be surprised at the tottering, hollow-eyed, fleshless spectre, in appearance something between an expiring poley cow and an anatomical preparation, ‘pulling hard’ again, or doing any deed of valour as a charger. ‘Ah! you’ll be all in the fashion, then,’ said Mr. Levison, with his customary affirmative expression, which apparently meant that having asserted his opinion it was waste of time to attempt to prove it. ‘When old BI (that’s what the men call him, his name’s written on him pretty big) kicks up his heels, it’ll mean that Rainbar’s _worth twenty thousand pounds_! That’s why I want you to be careful, and not waste your money and get sold up just before the tide turns. How’s that Arab horse-breeding notion turned out? They’d fetch about three pound a head all round just now.’ ‘Very well, so far; they’re a little poor, but nothing could look more promising than the yearlings—plenty of bone, and as handsome as you could make them. I should grieve more about their forced sale than anything.’ ‘Well, you’re not sold up yet, and won’t be if you’ll be careful and take my advice and Paul Frankston’s. You mark me, horses will be horses in a year or two. They’re hardly worth owning now; but their turn’s coming, with everything else that any man will have to sell in Australia for the next ten years.’ Mr. Levison placed the few necessary articles which he had abstracted from his valise, in the moiety of the gray blanket which he had apparently not required as a saddle-cloth. He requested leave to cut off and to take with him a fair-sized section of damper, sternly refusing any other description of edible. Then, turning his face to the broad plain, he held out his hand to Ernest, and finally exhorting him not to waste his money, addressed himself to the far-stretching trail after such a fashion as convinced Ernest that he was no inexperienced pedestrian.