"Halloo, strangers! glad to see you," said a tall young man, as he opened the door.—"Our dogs are taught manners—they won't hurt you—they know better than to drive any one from our poor hut.—Such as it is, come in and welcome.—From town, I guess—What news?"
"We are from town," replied Hugh, "and if there is any news, you'll find it in the Melbourne newspapers," and he produced several from his hat.
"Now then," said their entertainer, "sit down, we'll soon have something ready for you.—No grog to offer you, I'm sorry to say.—It wont keep in these parts, will it, Jim?" he said, appealing to one of the other inmates.
"No," said Jim in return, "it wasn't made to keep, was it Tom?"
"Of course not," replied Tom, who appeared to be the eldest of the family: "my brothers, gentlemen," he continued, with a sweep of his arm round the hut, "five on'em, and altho I say it, there aint a happier family in the country. We commenced our colonial edication with five year in Van Dieman's Land, and we're finishing it here. There's my brother Tom, there's Jack, Jim, and Bob; I'm Ned, and the youngest is little Jake (who was about six feet out of his boots)—there; I haven't been so polite for a long time."
"Your hospitality and good feeling," said Hugh, is worth all the politeness in the world. But you have omitted to tell us your sirname.
"Did I?—Martin:—a name well known in the Lincolnshire fens:—but now take a tightner from that cold beef, you shall soon have some tea."
The two did ample justice to the fare which was set before them, whilst one of the brothers Martin, read the newspapers aloud for the edification of the others.
