human
It will not do to push them too hard, at first. There is no saying how far we shall have to go.
gpt
Do you mean to follow them into their own country?
human
I do, Reuben said.
gpt
I will follow them till I catch them, if I have to go across Australia.
human
That's the sort, Mr. Blount said.
gpt
I expect you will find half-a-dozen other fellows at my station, by the time you get there. I sent my hand off on horseback to the stations near, to tell them what had taken place, and that I had ridden off to you, and asking them to come round.
human
How far is it?
gpt
About forty miles.
human
But your horse will never be able to do it,
gpt
I got a fresh horse at a friend's, four miles from your station, so I am all right.
human
They will have more than a day's start of us,
gpt
Yes; thirty-six hours, for you will have to stop at my place tonight. But they can't travel very fast with sheep, you know.
human
No, Reuben agreed.
gpt
If they had had cattle, it would have been useless following them; but with sheep we may come up to them, especially if they don't think they will be followed far.
human
No; that's my hope. They will know I had forty miles to ride to your station. Besides, had it not been that I was expecting the shepherd in for supplies, I might not have found it out for two or three days. So I expect they will think that they are pretty safe from pursuit. They have never been followed far into the bush. It's nasty work, you see.
gpt
It's got to be done, Reuben said.
human
It is impossible to keep guard everywhere, and the only way to put a stop to these outrages is to teach the blacks that punishment will follow, wherever they go.