Cirrus@Austlit

Set in Wirramunga, this story tells of the adventures of the fine young horseman Nick Blackwood, his younger brother Ted and their cousin Solly Burtin, when they chase and capture a bandit who has shot and robbed a neighbour, Tod Breer. As a reward, Breer, who is recovering in hospital, buys Nick the young roan filly he desperately wants.

At Clarence Colley's birthday party, the children play a game in which they hide, and then try to find the 10 shilling note Clarence has received as a present. Clever Clarence hides it in a neighbour's pocket, where none of the other children can find it, but realises he isn't quite so clever when Mr Duggan disappears from the party and Clarence finds out he's on his way to Melbourne for a business trip!

Everyone in Willow Town had heard of old Mr Clatters, who lived on Willow Hill and had a reputation as a mean and cantankerous fellow. Ned and Dick decide to show they aren't afraid by going to visit him, and to prove they've done so they promise to bring back a note from Mr Clatters to show their friends.

At first Mr Clatters is hostile, as he believes Ned and Dick are there to tease and torment him, but they win him over when they foil and catch a thief who is trying to steal Mr Clatters's gold - wealth that he was rumoured to have collected while a prospector in Cedrington. After the thief has been seen off, Clatters confesses that he does have gold, but that he has decided to put it in the bank and buy a cottage in town. Ned and Dick promise to visit him in his new house and help him in the garden. In return, Clatters signs their note with the words, 'Ned and Dick have done me a great service. I consider them the best friends I've ever had.'

Jim Bolton, Ned Murray and Tom Dane are enjoying their trip to the seaside when they decide to walk around the headland. They find a tunnel in the rock and, while exploring inside, the sea - and a huge octopus - also come in. The octopus winds itself around Jim's leg, and the other two boys use rocks and a scout knife to fend the creature off.

Rex Derwent and Peter Drake prepare to take Peter's Australian terrier, 'Dim', to their local Dog Show. The night before the show, Rex overhears two men plotting to 'take care' of Sam Stemmer's dog Foxo to spoil his chances at the show. Rex warns Sam and finds a packet of red dye the two ne'er-do-wells have dropped.

At the dog show the next day, Sam informs them that Foxo has indeed been covered with red ink. The boys suspect Luke Dingwall (who has entered his dog, Lee of Lumsden) and his friend Mr Pellingham, and when they see that Pellingham's shirt has a red stain, they confront him in front of the judges and show the packet of red ink Rex found as proof.

Dan Kenyon is enjoying a ride in his father's new speedboat when he falls in the water. Two men on a big launch, Sid Jampkin and Bill Boston, rescue Dan and his father and take them back to their house. They offer to buy the boat but Mr Kenyon refuses, whereupon the two men tie Dan and his father up and make off with the boat! Next morning, the milkman unties them and Dan, by chance, discovers where the two men are hiding the boat and overhears them planning to take it to Shillington. Dan relays this information to the police who intercept the thieves.