on our selection-第14章

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ome；　had　twenty…oneall　girls　but　him。　　That　was　forty　years　ago；　and　he　did　n't　know　how　many　she　had　since。　　Mother　and　Sal　smiled。　　They　began　to　like　old　Casey。

Casey　took　up　his　hat　and　went　outside；　and　did　n't　say　〃Good…day〃　or　〃Thanks〃　or　anything。　　He　did　n't　go　away；　either。　　He　looked　about　the　yard。　　A　panel　in　the　fence　was　broken。　　It　had　been　broken　for　five　years。　　Casey　seemed　to　know　it。　　He　started　mending　that　panel。　　He　was　mending　it　all　the　evening。

Mother　called　to　Joe　to　bring　in　some　wood。　　Casey　left　the　fence；　hurried　to　the　wood…heap；　carried　in　an　armful；　and　asked　Mother　if　she　wanted　more。　　Then　he　returned　to　the　fence。

〃J…OE；〃　Mother　screeched　a　little　later；　〃look　at　those　cows　tryin'　to　eat　the　corn。〃

Casey　left　the　fence　again　and　drove　the　cows　away；　and　mended　the　wire　on　his　way　back。

At　sundown　Casey　was　cutting　more　wood；　and　when　we　were　at　supper　he　brought　it　in　and　put　some　on　the　fire；　and　went　out　again　slowly。

Mother　and　Sal　talked　about　him。

〃Better　give　him　his　supper；〃　Sal　said；　and　Mother　sent　Joe　to　invite　him　in。　　He　did　n't　come　in　at　once。　　Casey　was　n't　a　forward　man。　　He　stayed　to　throw　some　pumpkin　to　the　pigs。

Casey　slept　in　the　barn　that　night。　　He　slept　in　it　the　next　night；　too。　He　did　n't　believe　in　shifting　from　place　to　place；　so　he　stayed　with　us　altogether。　　He　took　a　lively　interest　in　the　selection。　　The　house；　he　said；　was　in　the　wrong　place；　and　he　showed　Mother　where　it　ought　to　have　been　built。　　He　suggested　shifting　it；　and　setting　a　hedge　and　ornamental　trees　in　front　and　fruit　trees　at　the　back；　and　making　a　nice　place　of　it。　Little　things　like　that　pleased　Mother。　　〃Anyway；〃　she　would　sometimes　say　to　Sal；　〃he's　a　useful　old　man；　and　knows　how　to　look　after　things　about　the　place。〃　Casey　did。　　Whenever　any　watermelons　were　ripe；　he　looked　after　THEM　and　hid　the　skins　in　the　ground。　　And　if　a　goanna　or　a　crow　came　and　frightened　a　hen　from　her　nest　Casey　always　got　the　egg；　and　when　he　had　gobbled　it　up　he　would　chase　that　crow　or　goanna　for　its　life　and　shout　lustily。

Every　day　saw　Casey　more　at　home　at　our　place。　　He　was　a　very　kind　man；　and　most　obliging。　　If　a　traveller　called　for　a　drink　of　water；　Casey　would　give　him　a　cup　of　milk　and　ask　him　to　wait　and　have　dinner。　　If　Maloney；　or　old　Anderson；　or　anybody；　wished　to　borrow　a　horse；　or　a　dray；　or　anything　about　the　place；　Casey　would　let　them　have　it　with　pleasure；　and　tell　them　not　to　be　in　a　hurry　about　returning　it。

Joe　got　on　well　with　Casey。　　Casey's　views　on　hard　work　were　the　same　as　Joe's。　　Hard　work；　Joe　thought；　was　n't　necessary　on　a　selection。

Casey　knew　a　thing　or　twoso　he　said。　　One　fine　morning；　when　all　the　sky　was　blue　and　the　butcher…birds　whistling　strong；　Dwyer's　cows　smashed　down　a　lot　of　the　fence　and　dragged　it　into　the　corn。　　Casey；　assisted　by　Joe；　put　them　all　in　the　yard；　and　hammered　them　with　sticks。　　Dwyer　came　along。

〃Those　cattle　belong　to　me；〃　he　said　angrily。

〃They　belongs　t'　ME；〃　Casey　answered；　〃until　you　pay　damages。〃　Then　he　put　his　back　to　the　slip…rails　and　looked　up　aggressively　into　Dwyer's　face。　Dwyer　was　a　giant　beside　Casey。　　Dwyer　did　n't　say　anythinghe　was　n't　a　man　of　wordsbut　started　throwing　the　rails　down　to　let　the　cows　　out。　Casey　flew　at　him。　　Dwyer　quietly　shoved　him　away　with　his　long；　brown　arm。　　Casey　came　again　and　fastened　on　to　Dwyer。　　Joe　mounted　the　stockyard。　Dwyer　seized　Casey　with　both　hands；　then　there　was　a　struggleon　Casey's　part。　　Dwyer　lifted　him　up　and　carried　him　away　and　set　him　down　on　his　back；　then　hastened　to　the　rails。　　But　before　he　could　throw　them　down　Casey　was　upon　him　again。　　Casey　never　knew　when　he　was　beaten。　　Dwyer　was　getting　annoyed。　　He　took　Casey　by　the　back　of　the　neck　and　squeezed　him。　Casey　humped　his　shoulders　and　gasped。　　Dwyer　stared　about。　　A　plough…rein　hung　on　the　yard。　　Dwyer　reached　for　it。　　Casey　yelled；　〃Murder！〃　　Dwyer　fastened　one　end　of　the　rope　round　Casey's　bodyunder　the　armsand　stared　about　again。　　And　again　〃Murder！〃　from　Casey。　　Joe　jumped　off　the　yard　to　get　further　away。　　A　tree；　with　a　high　horizontal　limb；　stood　near。　Dad　once　used　it　as　a　butcher's　gallows。　　Dwyer　gathered　the　loose　rein　into　a　coil　and　heaved　it　over　the　limb；　and　hauled　Casey　up。　　Then　he　tied　the　end　of　the　rope　to　the　yard　and　drove　out　the　cows。

〃When　y'　want　'im　down；〃　Dwyer　said　to　Joe　as　he　walked　away；　〃cut　the　rope。〃

Casey　groaned；　and　one　of　his　boots　dropped　off。　　Then　he　began　to　spin　roundto　wind　up　and　unwind　and　wind　up　again。　　Joe　came　near　and　eyed　the　twirling　form　with　joy。

Mother　and　Sal　arrived；　breathless　and　excited。　　They　screeched　at　Joe。

〃Undo　th'　r…r…rope；〃　Joe　said；　〃an'　he'll　come　w…wWOP。〃

Sal　ran　away　and　procured　a　sheet；　and　Mother　and　she　held　it　under　Casey；　and　told　Joe　to　unfasten　the　rope　and　lower　him　as　steadily　as　he　could。　Joe　unfastened　the　rope；　but　somehow　it　pinched　his　fingers　and　he　let　go；　and　Casey　fell　through　the　sheet。　　For　three　weeks　Casey　was　an　invalid　at　our　place。　　He　would　have　been　invalided　there　for　the　rest　of　his　days　only　old　Dad　came　home　and　induced　him　to　leave。　　Casey　did　n't　want　to　go；　but　Dad　had　a　persuasive　way　with　him　that　generally　proved　effectual。

Singularly　enough；　Dad　complained　that　kangaroos　were　getting　scarce　where　he　was　camped；　while　our　paddocks　were　full　of　them。　　Joe　started　a　mob　nearly　every　day；　as　he　walked　round　overseeing　things；　and　he　pondered。　Suddenly　he　had　an　original　inspirationoriginality　was　Joe's　strong　point。　　He　turned　the　barn　into　a　workshop；　and　buried　himself　there　for　two　days。　　For　two　whole　days　he　was　never　〃at　home；〃；　except　when　he　stepped　out　to　throw　the　hammer　at　the　dog　for　yelping　for　a　drink。　　The　greedy　brute！　it　was　n't　a　week　since　he'd　had　a　billyfulJoe　told　him。　On　the　morning　of　the　third　day　the　barn…door　swung　open；　and　forth　came　a　kangaroo；　with　the　sharpened　carving　knife　in　its　paws。　　It　hopped　across　the　yard　and　sat　up；　bold　and　erect；　near　the　dog…kennel。　　Bluey　nearly　broke　his　neck　trying　to　get　at　it。　　The　kangaroo　said：　　〃Lay　down；　you　useless　hound！〃　and　started　across　the　cultivation！；　heading　for　the　grass…paddock　in　long；　erratic　jumps。　　Half…way　across　the　cultivation　it　spotted　a　mob　of　other　kangaroos；　and　took　a　firmer　grip　of　the　carver。

Bluey　howled　and　plunged　until　Mother　came　out　to　see　what　was　the　matter。　She　was　in　time　to　see　a　solitary　kangaroo　hop　in　a　drunken　manner　towards　the　fence；　so　she　let　the　dog　go　and　cried；　〃Sool　him；　Bluey！　　Sool　him！〃　Bluey　sooled　him；　and　Mother　followed　with　the　axe　to　get　the　scalp。　　As　the　dog　came　racing　up；　the　kangaroo　turned　and　hissed；　〃G'　home；　y'　mongrel！〃　Bluey　took　no　notice；　and　only　when　he　had　nailed　the　kangaroo　dextrously　by　the　thigh　and　got　him　down　did　it　dawn　upon　the　marsupial　that　Bluey　was　n't　in　the　secret。　　Joe　tore　off　his　head…gear；　called　the　dog　affectionately　by　name；　and　yelled　for　help；　but　Bluey　had　not　had　anything　substantial　to　eat　for　over　a　week；　and　he　worried　away　vigorously。

Then　the　kangaroo　slashed　out　with　the　carving…knife；　and　hacked　a　junk　off　Bluey's　nose。　　Bluey　shook　his　head；　relaxed　his　thigh…grip；　and　grabbed　the　kangaroo　by　the　ribs。　　How　that　kangaroo　did　squeal！　　Mother　arrived。　　She　dropped　the　axe；　threw　up　both　hands；　and　shrieked。　　〃Pull　him　off！　he's　eating　me！〃　gasped　the　kangaroo。　　Mother　shrieked　louder；　and　wrung　her　hands；　but　it　had　no　effect　on　Bluey。　　He　was　a　good　dog；　was　Bluey！

At　last；　Mother　got　him　by　the　tail　and　dragged　him　off；　but　he　took　a　mouthful　of　kangaroo　with　him　as　he　went。

Then　the　kangaroo　raised　itself　slowly　on　to　its　hands　and　knees。　　It　was　very　white　and　sick…looking；　and　Mother　threw　her　arms　round　it　and　cried；　〃Oh；　Joe！　　My　child！　my　child！〃

It　was　several　days　before　Joe　felt　better。　　When　he　did；　Bluey　and　he　went　down　the　gully　together；　and；　after　a　while；　Joe　came　backlike　Butleralone。




Chapter　XVII。



Dad's　〃Fortune。〃


Dad　used　to　say　that　Shingle　Hut　was　the　finest　selection　on　Darling　Downs；　but　WE　never　could　see　anything　fine　about　itexcept　the　weather　in　drought　time；　or　Dad's　old　saddle　mare。　　SHE　was　very　fine。　　The　house　was　built　in　a　gully　so　that　the　bailiffs　（I　suppose）　or　the　blackswho　were　mostly　deadcould　n't　locate　it。　　An　old　wire…fence；　slanting　all　directions；　staggered　past　the　front　door。　　At　the　rear；　its　foot　almost　in　the　back　door；　sloped　a　barren　ridge；　formerly　a　squatter's　sheep…yard。　For　the　rest　there　were　sky；　wallaby…scrub；　gum…trees；　and　some　acres　of　cultivation。　　But　Dad　must　have　seen　something　in　it；　or　he　would　n't　have　stood　feasting　his　eyes　on　the　wooded　waste　after　he　had　knocked　off　work　of　an　evening。　　In　all　his　wanderingsand　Dad　had　been　almost　everywhere；　swimming　flooded　creeks　and　rivers；　humping　his　swag　from　one　end　of　Australia　to　the　other；　at　all　games　going　except　bank…managing　and　bushranginghe　had　seen　no　place　timbered　like　Shingle　Hut。

〃Why；〃　he　used　to　say；　〃it's　a　fortune　in　itself。　　Hold　　on　till　the　country　gets　populated；　and　firewood　is　scarce；　there'll　be　money　in　it　thenmark　my　words！〃

Poor　Dad！　　I　wonder　how　long　he　expected　to　live？

At　the　back　of　Shingle　Hut　was　a　tract　of　Government　landmostly　mountainsmarked　on　the　map　as　the　Great　Dividing　Range。　　Splendid　country；　Dad　considered　itBEAUTIFUL　countryand　part　of　a　grand　scheme　he　had　in　his　head。　　I　defy　you　to　find　a　man　more　full　of　schemes　than　Dad　was。

The　day　had　been　hot。　　Inside；　the　mosquitoes　were　bad；　and；　after　supper；　Dad　and　Dave　were　outside；　lying　on　some　bags。　　They　had　been　grubbing　that　day；　and　were　tired。　　The　night　was　nearly　dark。　　Dad　lay　upon　his　back；　watching　the　stars；　Dave　upon　his　stomach；　his　head　resting　on　his　arms。　　Both　silent。　　One　of　the　draught…horses　cropped　the　couch…grass　round　about　them。　　Now　and　again　a　flying…fox　circled　noiselessly　overhead；　and　〃MOPOKE！MOPOKE！〃　came　dismally　from　the　ridge　and　from　out　the　lonely…looking　gully。　　A　star　fell；　lighting　up　a　portion　of　the　sky；　but　Dad　did　not　remark　it。　　In　a　while　he　said：

〃How　old　are　you；　Dave？〃　　Dave　made　a　mental　calculation　before　answering。

〃S'pose　I　must　be　eighteen　now　。。。Why？〃

A　silence。

〃I've　been　thinking　of　that　land　at　the　backif　we　had　that　I　believe　we　could　make　money。〃

〃Yairsif　we　HAD。〃

Another　silence。

〃Well；　I　mean　to　have　it；　and　that　before　very　long。〃

Dave　raised　his　head；　and　looked　towards　Dad。

〃There's　four　of　you　old　enough　to　take　up　land；　and　where　could　you　get　better　country　than　that　out　there　for　cattle？　　Why〃　（turning　on　his　side　and　facing　Dave）　〃with　a　thousand　acres　of　that　stocked　with　cattle　and　this　kept　under　cultivation　we'd　make　moneywe'd　be　RICH　in　a　very　few　years。〃

Dave　raised　himself　on　his　elbow。

〃Yairswith　CATTLE；〃　he　said。

〃Just　so〃　（Dad　sat　up　with　enthusiasm）；　〃but　to　get　the　LAND　is　the　first　thing；　and　that's　easy　enough　ONLY〃　（lowering　his　voice）　〃it'll　have　to　be　done　QUIETLY　and　without　letting　everyone　'round　know　we're　going　in　for　it。〃　（〃Oh！　yairs；　o'　course；〃　from　Dave。）　　〃THEN〃　（and　Dad　lifted　his　voice　and　leaned　over）　〃run　a　couple　of　wires　round　it；　put　every　cow　we've　here　on　it　straight　away；　get　another　one　or　two　when　the　b