on our selection-第12章

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〃Quick　and　show　me　where！〃　Dad　said。

Joe　showed　him。

〃My　God！〃　and　Dad　stood　and　stared。　　Old　Bob　it　wasdead。　　Dead　as　Moses。

〃Poor　old　Bob！〃　Dad　said。　　〃Poor…old…fellow！〃　　Joe　asked　what　could　have　killed　him？　　〃Poor…old…Bob！〃

Dave　brought　the　dray；　and　we　took　him　to　the　houseor　what　remained　of　it。

Dad　could　n't　make　out　the　cause　of　deathperhaps　it　was　lightning。　　He　held　a　POST…MORTEM；　and；　after　thinking　hard　for　a　long　while；　told　Mother　he　was　certain；　anyway；　that　old　Bob　would　never　get　up　again。　　It　was　a　change　to　have　a　dead　man　about　the　place；　and　we　were　very　pleased　to　be　first　to　tell　anyone　who　did　n't　know　the　news　about　old　Bob。

We　planted　him　on　his　own　selection　beneath　a　gum…tree；　where　for　years　and　years　a　family　of　jackasses　nightly　roosted；　Dad　remarking：　　〃As　there　MIGHT　be　a　chance　of　his　hearin'；　it'll　be　company　for　the　poor　old　cove。〃




Chapter　XIV。



When　Dan　Came　Home。


One　night　after　the　threshing。　　Dad　lying　on　the　sofa；　thinking；　the　rest　of　us　sitting　at　the　table。　　Dad　spoke　to　Joe。

〃How　much；〃　he　said；　〃is　seven　hundred　bushels　of　wheat　at　six　shillings？〃

Joe；　who　was　looked　upon　as　the　brainy　one　of　our　family；　took　down　his　slate　with　a　hint　of　scholarly　ostentation。

〃What　did　y'　say；　Dadseven　'undred　BAGS？〃

〃Bushels！　　BUSHELS！〃

〃Seven　'un…dered　bush…els…of　wheatWHEAT　was　it；　Dad？〃

〃Yes；　WHEAT！〃

〃Wheat　at。。。At　WHAT；　Dad？〃

〃Six　shillings　a　bushel。〃

〃Six　shil…lings…a。。。。　　A；　Dad？　We've　not　done　any　at　A；　she's　on'y　showed　us　PER！〃

〃PER　bushel；　then！〃

〃Per　bush…el。　　That's　seven　'undered　bushels　of　wheat　at　six　shillin's　per　bushel。　　An'　y'　wants　ter　know；　Dad？〃

〃How　much　it'll　be；　of　course。〃

〃In　money；　Dad；　orer？〃

〃Dammit；　yes；　MONEY！〃　　Dad　raised　his　voice。

For　a　while；　Joe　thought　hard；　then　set　to　work　figuring　and　rubbing　out；　figuring　and　rubbing　out。　　The　rest　of　us　eyed　him；　envious　of　his　learning。

Joe　finished　the　sum。

〃Well？〃　from　Dad。

Joe　cleared　his　throat。　　We　listened。

〃Nine　thousan'　poun'。〃

Dave　laughed　loud。　　Dad　said；　〃Pshaw！〃　and　turned　his　face　to　the　wall。　Joe　looked　at　the　slate　again。

〃Oh！　　I　see；〃　he　said；　〃I　did　n't　divide　by　twelve　t'　bring　t'　pounds；〃　and　laughed　himself。

More　figuring　and　rubbing　out。

Finally　Joe；　in　loud；　decisive　tones；　announced；　〃FOUR　thousand；　NO　'undered　an'　twenty　poun'；　fourteen　shillin's　an'〃

〃Bah！　　YOU　blockhead！〃　Dad　blurted　out；　and　jumped　off　the　sofa　and　went　to　bed。

We　all　turned　in。

We　were　not　in　bed　long　when　the　dog　barked　and　a　horse　entered　the　yard。　There　was　a　clink　of　girth…buckles；　a　saddle　thrown　down；　then　a　thump；　as　though　with　a　lump　of　blue…metal；　set　the　dog　yelping　lustily。　　We　lay　listening　till　a　voice　called　out　at　the　door〃All　in　bed？〃　Then　we　knew　it　was　Dan；　and　Dad　and　Dave　sprang　out　in　their　shirts　to　let　him　in。　All　of　us　jumped　up　to　see　Dan。　　This　time　he　had　been　away　a　long　while；　and　when　the　slush…lamp　was　lit　and　fairly　going；　how　we　stared　and　wondered　at　his　altered　looks！　　He　had　grown　a　long　whisker；　and　must　have　stood　inches　higher　than　Dad。

Dad　was　delighted。　　He　put　a　fire　on；　made　tea；　and　he　and　Dan　talked　till　near　daybreakDad　of　the　harvest；　and　the　Government　dam　that　was　promised；　and　the　splendid　grass　growing　in　the　paddock；　Dan　of　the　great　dry　plains；　and　the　shearing…sheds　out　back；　and　the　chaps　he　had　met　there。　　And　he　related　in　a　way　that　made　Dad's　eyes　glisten　and　Joe's　mouth　open；　how；　with　a　knocked…up　wrist；　he　shore　beside　Proctor　and　big　Andy　Purcell；　at　Welltown；　and　rung　the　shed　by　half　a　sheep。

Dad　ardently　admired　Dan。

Dan　was　only　going　to　stay　a　short　while　at　home；　he　said；　then　was　off　West　again。　　Dad　tried　to　persuade　him　to　change　his　mind；　he　would　have　him　remain　and　help　to　work　the　selection。　　But　Dan　only　shook　his　head　and　laughed。

Dan　accompanied　Dad　to　the　plough　every　morning；　and　walked　cheerfully　up　and　down　the　furrows　all　day；　talking　to　him。　　Sometimes　he　took　a　turn　at　the　plough；　and　Dad　did　the　talking。　　Dad　just　loved　Dan's　company。

A　few　days　went　by。　　Dan　still　accompanied　Dad　to　the　plough；　but　did　n't　walk　up　and　down　with　him。　　He　selected　a　shade　close　by；　and　talked　to　Dad　from　there　as　he　passed　on　his　rounds。　　Sometimes　Dan　used　to　forget　to　talk　at　allhe　would　be　asleepand　Dad　would　wonder　if　he　was　unwell。　Once　he　advised　him　to　go　up　to　the　house　and　have　a　good　camp。　　Dan　went。　He　stretched　himself　on　the　sofa；　and　smoked　and　spat　on　the　floor　and　played　the　concertinaan　old　one　he　won　in　a　raffle。

Dan　did　n't　go　near　the　plough　any　more。　　He　stayed　inside　every　day；　and　drank　the　yeast；　and　provided　music　for　the　women。　　Sometimes　he　would　leave　the　sofa；　and　go　to　the　back…door　and　look　out；　and　watch　Dad　tearing　up　and　down　the　paddock　after　the　plough；　then　he'd　yawn；　and　wonder　aloud　what　the　diggins　it　was　the　old　man　saw　in　a　game　like　that　on　a　hot　day；　and　return　to　the　sofa；　tired。　　But　every　evening　when　Dad　knocked　off　and　brought　the　horses　to　the　barn　Dan　went　out　and　watched　him　unharnessing　them。

A　month　passed。　　Dad　was　n't　so　fond　of　Dan　now；　and　Dan　never　talked　of　going　away。　　One　day　Anderson's　cows　wandered　into　our　yard　and　surrounded　the　hay…stack。　　Dad　saw　them　from　the　paddock　and　cooeed；　and　shouted　for　those　at　the　house　to　drive　them　away。　　They　did　n't　hear　him。　　Dad　left　the　plough　and　ran　up　and　pelted　Anderson's　cows　with　stones　and　glass…bottles；　and　pursued　them　with　a　pitch…fork　till；　in　a　mad　rush　to　get　out；　half　the　brutes　fell　over　the　fence　and　made　havoc　with　the　wire。　Dad　spent　an　hour　mending　it；　then　went　to　the　verandah　and　savagely　asked　Mother　if　she　had　lost　her　ears。　　Mother　said　she　had　n't。　　〃Then　why　the　devil　could　n't　y'　hear　me　singin'　out？〃　　Mother　thought　it　must　have　been　because　Dan　was　playing　the　concertina。　　〃Oh；　DAMN　his　concertina！〃　Dad　squealed；　and　kicked　Joe's　little　kitten；　that　was　rubbing　itself　fondly　against　his　leg；　clean　through　the　house。

Dan　found　the　selection　pretty　slowso　he　told　Motherand　thought　he　would　knock　about　a　bit。　　He　went　to　the　store　and　bought　a　supply　of　ammunition；　which　he　booked　to　Dad；　and　started　shooting。　　He　stood　at　the　door　and　put　twenty　bullets　into　the　barn；　then　he　shot　two　bears　near　the　stock…yard　with　twenty　more　bullets；　and　dragged　both　bears　down　to　the　house　and　left　them　at　the　back…door。　　They　stayed　at　the　back…door　until　they　went　very　bad；　then　Dad　hooked　himself　to　them　and　dragged　them　down　the　gully。

Somehow；　Dad　began　to　hate　Dan！　　He　scarcely　ever　spoke　to　him　now；　and　at　meal…times　never　spoke　to　any　of　us。　　　Dad　was　a　hard　man　to　understand。　We　could　n't　understand　him。　　〃And　with　DAN　at　home；　too！〃　Sal　used　to　whine。　　Sal　verily　idolised　Dan。　　Hero…worship　was　strong　in　Sal。

One　night　Dad　came　in　for　supper　rather　later　than　usual。　　He'd　had　a　hard　day；　and　was　done　up。　　To　make　matters　worse；　when　he　was　taking　the　collar　off　Captain　the　brute　tramped　heavily　on　his　toe；　and　took　the　nail　off。　　Supper　was　n't　ready。　　The　dining…room　was　engaged。　　Dan　was　showing　Sal　how　the　Prince　of　Wales　schottische　was　danced　in　the　huts　Out　Back。　For　music；　Sal　was　humming；　and　the　two　were　flying　about　the　room。　　Dad　stood　at　the　door　and　looked　on；　with　blood　in　his　eye。

〃Look　here！〃　he　thundered　suddenly；　interrupting　Dan〃I've　had　enough　of　you！〃　　The　couple　stopped；　astonished；　and　Sal　cried；　〃DAD！〃　　But　Dad　was　hot。　　〃Out　of　this！〃　（placing　his　hand　on　Dan；　and　shoving　him）。　　〃You've　loafed　long　enough　on　me！　　Off　y'　go　t'　th'　devil！〃

Dan　went　over　to　Anderson's　and　Anderson　took　him　in　and　kept　him　a　week。　Then　Dan　took　Anderson　down　at　a　new　game　of　cards；　and　went　away　West　again。




Chapter　XV。



Our　Circus。


Dave　had　been　to　town　and　came　home　full　of　circus。　　He　sat　on　the　ground　beside　the　tubs　while　Mother　and　Sal　were　washing；　and　raved　about　the　riding　and　the　tumbling　he　had　seen。　　He　talked　enthusiastically　to　Joe　about　it　every　day　for　three　weeks。　　Dave　rose　very　high　in　Joe's　estimation。

Raining。　　All　of　us　inside。　　Sal　on　the　sofa　playing　the　concertina；　Dad　squatting　on　the　edge　of　a　flat　stone　at　the　corner　of　the　fireplace；　Dave　on　another　opposite；　both　gazing　into　the　fire；　which　was　almost　out；　and　listening　intently　to　the　music；　the　dog；　dripping　wet；　coiled　at　their　feet；　shivering；　Mother　sitting　dreamily　at　the　table；　her　palm　pressed　against　her　cheek；　also　enjoying　the　music。

Sal　played　on　until　the　concertina　broke。　　Then　there　was　a　silence。

For　a　while　Dave　played　with　a　piece　of　charcoal。　　At　last　he　spoke。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　looking　at　Dad；　〃what　about　this　circus？〃

Dad　chuckled。

〃But　what　d'　y'　THINK？〃

〃Well〃　（Dad　paused）；　〃yes〃　（chuckled　again）〃very　well。〃

〃A　CIRCUS！〃　Sal　put　in〃a　PRETTY　circus　YOUS'D　have！〃

Dave　fired　up。

〃YOU　go　and　ride　the　red　heifer；　strad…legs；　same　as　y'　did　yesterday；〃　he　snarled；　〃an'　let　all　the　country　see　y'。〃

Sal　blushed。

Then　to　Dad：

〃I'm　certain；　with　Paddy　Maloney　in　it；　we　could　do　it　right　enough；　and　make　it　pay；　too。〃

〃Very　well；　then；〃　said　Dad；　〃very　well。　　There's　th'　tarpaulin　there；　and　plenty　bales　and　old　bags　whenever　you're　ready。〃

Dave　was　delighted；　and　he　and　Dad　and　Joe　ran　out　to　see　where　the　tent　could　be　pitched；　and　ran　in　again　wetter　than　the　dog。

One　day　a　circus…tent　went　up　in　our　yard。　　It　attracted　a　lot　of　notice。　Two　of　the　Johnsons　and　old　Anderson　and　　others　rode　in　on　draught…horses　and　inspected　it。　　And　Smith's　spring…cart　horse；　that　used　to　be　driven　by　every　day；　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　lane　and　stared　at　it；　and；　when　Smith　stood　up　and　belted　him　with　the　double　of　the　reins；　he　bolted　and　upset　the　cart　over　a　stump。　　It　was　n't　a　very　white　tent。　　It　was　made　of　bags　and　green　bushes；　and　Dad　and　Dave　and　Paddy　Maloney　were　two　days　putting　it　up。

We　all　assisted　in　the　preparations　for　the　circus。　　Dad　built　seats　out　of　forked　sticks　and　slabs；　and　Joe　gathered　jam…tins　which　Mother　filled　with　fat　and　moleskin　wicks　to　light　up　with。

Everyone　in　the　district　knew　about　our　circus；　and　longed　for　the　opening　night。　　It　came。　　A　large　fire　near　the　slip…rails；　shining　across　the　lane　and　lighting　up　a　corner　of　the　wheat…paddock；　showed　the　way　in。

Dad　stood　at　the　door　to　take　the　money。　　The　Andersonseleven　of　themarrived　first。　　They　did　n't　walk　straight　in。　　They　hung　about　for　a　while。　　Then　Anderson　sidled　up　to　Dad　and　talked　into　his　ear。　　〃Oh！　that's　all　right；〃　Dad　said；　and　passed　them　all　in　without　taking　any　money。

Next　came　the　Maloneys；　and；　as　Paddy　belonged　to　the　circus；　they　also　walked　in　without　paying；　and　secured　front　seats。

Then　Jim　Brown　and　Sam　Holmes；　and　Walter　Nutt；　and　Steve　Burton；　and　eight　others　strolled　along。　　Dad　owed　all　of　them　money　for　binding；　which　they　happened　to　remember。　　〃In　yous　go；〃　Dad　said；　and　in　the　lot　went。　　The　tent　filled　quickly；　and　the　crowd　awaited　the　opening　act。

Paddy　Maloney　came　forward　with　his　hair　oiled　and　combed；　and　rang　the　cow…bell。

Dave；　bare…footed　and　bare…headed；　in　snow…white　moles　and　red　shirt；　entered　standing　majestically　upon　old　Ned's　back。　　He　got　a　great　reception。　　But　Ned　was　tired　and