on our selection-第15章

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e　of　wires　round　it；　put　every　cow　we've　here　on　it　straight　away；　get　another　one　or　two　when　the　barley's　sold；　and　let　them　breed。〃

〃'Bout　how　many'd　that　be　t'　start　'n？〃

〃Well；　EIGHT　good　cows　at　the　leastplenty；　too。　　It's　simply　WONDERFUL　how　cattle　breed　if　they're　let　alone。　　Look　at　Murphy；　for　instance。　Started　on　that　place　with　two　young　heifersthose　two　old　red　cows　that　you　see　knocking　about　now。　　THEY'RE　the　mothers　of　all　his　cattle。　Anderson　just　the　same。。。Why；　God　bless　my　soul！　we　would　have　a　better　start　than　any　one　of　them　ever　hadby　a　long　way。〃

Dave　sat　up。　　He　began　to　share　Dad's　enthusiasm。

〃Once　get　it　STOCKED；　and　all　that　is　to　be　done　then　is　simply　to　look　after　the　fence；　ride　about　among　the　cattle　every　day；　see　they're　right；　brand　the　calves；　and　every　year　muster　the　mob；　draft　out　the　fat　bullocks；　whip　them　into　town；　and　get　our　seven　and　eight　pounds　a　head　for　them。〃

〃That'd　suit　me　down　to　the　ground；　ridin'　about　after　cattle；〃　Dave　said。

〃Yes；　get　our　seven　and　eight　pounds；　maybe　nine　or　ten　pounds　a…piece。　And　could　ever　we　do　that　pottering　about　on　the　place？〃　　Dad　leaned　over　further　and　pressed　Dave's　knee　with　his　hand。

〃Mind　you！〃　（in　a　very　confidential　tone）　〃I'm　not　at　all　satisfied　the　way　we're　dragging　along　here。　　It's　utter　　nonsense；　and；　to　speak　the　truth〃　（lowering　his　voice　again）　〃I'VE　BEEN　SICK　OF　THE　WHOLE　DAMN　THING　LONG　AGO。〃

A　minute　or　two　passed。

〃It　would　n't　matter；〃　Dad　continued；　〃if　there　was　no　way　of　doing　better；　but　there　IS。　　The　thing　only　requires　to　be　DONE；　and　why　not　DO　it？〃　　He　paused　for　an　answer。

〃Well；〃　Dave　said；　〃let　us　commence　it　straight　offt'morror。　　It's　the　life　that'd　suit　ME。〃

〃Of　course　it　WOULD。。。and　there's　money　in　it。。。no　mistake　about　it！〃

A　few　minutes　passed。　　Then　they　went　inside；　and　Dad　took　Mother　into　his　confidence；　and　they　sat　up　half　the　night　discussing　the　scheme。

Twelve　months　later。　　The　storekeeper　was　at　the　house　wanting　to　see　Dad。　Dad　was　n't　at　home。　　He　never　was　when　the　storekeeper　came；　he　generally　contrived　to　be　away；　up　the　paddock　somewhere　or　amongst　the　cornif　any　was　growing。　　The　storekeeper　waited　an　hour　or　so；　but　Dad　did　n't　turn　up。　　When　he　was　gone；　though；　Dad　walked　in　and　asked　Mother　what　he　had　said。　　Mother　was　seated　on　the　sofa；　troubled…looking。

〃He　must　be　paid　by　next　week；〃　she　said；　bursting　into　tears；　〃or　the　place'll　be　sold　over　our　heads。〃

Dad　stood　with　his　back　to　the　fire…place；　his　hand　locked　behind　him；　watching　the　flies　swarming　on　the　table。

Dave　came　in。　　He　understood　the　situation　at　a　glance。　　The　scene　was　not　new　to　him。　　He　sat　down；　leant　forward；　picked　a　straw　off　the　flor　and　twisted　it　round　and　round　his　finger；　reflecting。

Little　Bill　put　his　head　on　Mother's　lap；　and　asked　for　a　piece　of　bread。。。He　asked　a　second　time。

〃There　IS　no　bread；　child；〃　she　said。

〃But　me　wants　some；　mumma。〃

Dad　went　outside　and　Dave　followed。　　They　sat　on　their　heels；　their　backs　to　the　barn；　thoughtfully　studying　the　earth。

〃It's　the　same　thing〃Dad　said；　reproachfully〃from　one　year's　end　to　the　other。。。alwuz　a　BILL！〃

〃Thought　last　year　we'd　be　over　all　this　by　now！〃　from　Dave。

〃So　we　COULD。。。Can　NOW。。。It　only　wants　that　land　to　be　taken　up；　and；　as　I've　said　often　and　often；　these　cows　taken〃

Dad　caught　sight　of　the　storekeeper　coming　back；　and　ran　into　the　barn。

Six　months　later。　　Dinner　about　ready。　　〃Take　up　a　thousand　acres；〃　Dad　was　saying；　〃take　it　up〃

He　was　interrupted　by　a　visitor。

〃Are　you　Mister　Rudd？〃　　Dad　said　he　was。

〃Well；　erI've　a　FI。　FA。　against　y'。〃

Dad　didn't　understand。

The　Sheriff's　officer　drew　a　document　from　his　inside　breast…pocket　and　proceeded　to　read：

〃To　Mister　James　Williams；　my　bailiff。　　Greeting：　　By　virtue　of　Her　Majesty's　writ　of　FIERI　FACIAS；　to　me　directed；　I　command　you　that　of　the　goods　and　chattels；　money；　bank…note　or　notes　or　other　property　of　Murtagh　Joseph　Rudd；　of　Shingle　Hut；　in　my　bailiwick；　you　cause　to　be　made　the　sum　of　forty　pounds　ten　shillings；　with　interest　thereon；〃　&c。

Dad　understood。

Then　the　bailiff's　man　rounded　up　the　cows　and　the　horses；　and　Dad　and　the　lot　of　us　leant　against　the　fence　and　in　sadness　watched　Polly　and　old　Poley　and　the　rest　for　the　last　time　pass　out　the　slip…rails。

〃That　puts　an　end　to　the　land　business！〃　Dave　said　gloomily。

But　Dad　never　spoke。




Chapter　XVIII。



We　Embark　in　the　Bear　Industry。


When　the　bailiff　came　and　took　away　the　cows　and　horses；　and　completely　knocked　the　bottom　out　of　Dad's　land　scheme；　Dad　did　n't　sit　in　the　ashes　and　sulk。　　He　was　n't　that　kind　of　person。　　He　DID　at　times　say　he　was　tired　of　it　all；　and　often　he　wished　it　far　enough；　too！　　But；　then；　that　was　all　mere　talk　on　Dad's　part。　　He　LOVED　the　selection。　　To　every　inchevery　stick　of　ithe　was　devoted。　　'T　was　his　creed。　　He　felt　certain　there　was　money　in　itthat　out　of　it　would　come　his　independence。　Therefore；　he　did　n't　rollup　and；　with　Mother　by　the　hand　and　little　Bill　on　his　back；　stalk　into　town　to　hang　round　and　abuse　the　bush。　　He　walked　up　and　down　the　yard　thinking　and　thinking。　　Dad　was　a　man　with　a　head。

He　consulted　Mother　and　Dave；　and　together　they　thought　more。

〃The　thing　is；〃　Dad　said；　〃to　get　another　horse　to　finish　the　bit　of　ploughing。　　We've　got　ONE；　Anderson　will　lend　the　grey　mare；　I　know。〃

He　walked　round　the　room　a　few　times。

〃When　that's　done；　I　think　I　see　my　way　clear；　but　THAT'S　the　trouble。〃

He　looked　at　Dave。　　Dave　seemed　as　though　he　had　a　solution。　　But　Joe　spoke。

〃Kuk…kuk…could　n't　y'　b…reak　in　some　kang'roos；　Dad？　　There's　pul…lenty　in　th'　pup…paddick。〃

〃Could　n't　you　shut　up　and　hold　your　tongue　and　clear　out　of　this；　you　brat？〃　Dad　roared。　　And　Joe　hung　his　head　and　shut　up。

〃Well；　y'　know〃Dave　drawled〃there's　that　colt　wot　Maloney　offered　us　before　to　quieten。　　Could　get　'im。　　'E's　a　big　lump　of　a　'orse　if　y'　could　do　anythin'　with　'im。　　THEY　gave　'im　best　themselves。〃

Dad's　eyes　shone。

〃That's　th'　horse；〃　he　cried。　　〃GET　him！　　To…morrow　first　thing　go　for　him！　　I'LL　make　something　of　him！〃

〃Don't　know〃Dave　chuckled〃he's　a〃

〃Tut；　tut；　you　fetch　him。〃

〃Oh；　I'll　FETCH　'im。〃　　And　Dave；　on　the　strength　of　having　made　a　valuable　suggestion；　dragged　Joe　off　the　sofa　and　stretched　himself　upon　it。

Dad　went　on　thinking　awhile。　　〃How　much；〃　he　at　last　asked；　〃did　Johnson　get　for　those　skins？〃

〃Which？〃　Dave　answered。　　〃Bears　or　kangaroos？〃

〃Bears。〃

〃Five　bob；　was　n't　it？　　Six　for　some。〃

〃What；　A…PIECE？〃

〃Yairs。〃

〃Why；　God　bless　my　soul；　what　have　we　been　thinking　about？　　FIVE　SHILLINGS？　Are　you　sure？〃

〃Yairs；　rather。〃

〃What；　bear…skins　worth　that　and　the　paddock　here　and　the　lanes　and　the　country　over…run　with　themFULL　of　the　damn　thingsHUNDREDS　of　themand　we；　all　this　timeall　these　yearsworking　and　slaving　and　scraping　and…and〃　（he　almost　shouted）；　〃DAMN　me！　　What　asses　we　HAVE　been；　to　be　sure。〃　　（Dave　stared　at　him。）　　〃Bear…skins　FIVE　SHILLINGS　each；　and〃

〃That's　all　right　enough；〃　Dave　interrupted；　〃but〃

〃Of　COURSE　it's　all　right　enough　NOW；〃　Dad　yelled；　〃now　when　we　see　it。〃

〃But　look！〃　and　Dave　sat　up　and　assumed　an　arbitrary　attitude。　　He　was　growing　suspicious　of　Dad's　ideas。　　〃To　begin　with；　how　many　bears　do　you　reckon　on　getting　in　a　day？〃

〃In　a　day〃reflectively〃twenty　at　the　least。〃

〃Twenty。　　Well；　say　we　only　got　HALF　that；　how　much　d'　y'　make？〃

〃　MAKE？〃　（considering）。　　〃Two　pounds　ten　a　day。。。fifteen　or　twenty　pounds　a　week。。。yes；　TWENTY　POUNDS；　reckoning　at　THAT　even。　　And　do　you　mean　to　tell　ME　that　we　would　n't　get　more　than　TEN　bears　a　day？　　Why　we'd　get　more　than　that　in　the　laneget　more　up　ONE　tree。〃

Dave　grinned。

〃Can't　you　SEE？　　DAMN　it；　boy；　are　you　so　DENSE？〃

Dave　saw。　　He　became　enthusiastic。　　He　wondered　why　it　had　never　struck　us　before。　　Then　Dad　smiled；　and　we　sat　to　supper　and　talked　about　bears。

〃We'll　not　bother　with　that　horse　NOW；〃　said　Dad；　〃the　ploughing　can　go；　I'm　DONE　with　it。　　We've　had　enough　poking　and　puddling　about。　　We'll　start　this　business　straightaway。〃　　And　the　following　morning；　headed　by　the　dog　and　Dad；　armed　with　a　tomahawk；　we　started　up　the　paddock。

How　free　we　felt！　　To　think　we　were　finished　for　ever　with　the　raking　and　carting　of　hayfinished　tramping　up　and　down　beside　Dad；　with　the　plough…reins　in　our　hands；　flies　in　our　eyes　and　burr　in　our　feetfinished　being　the　target　for　Dad's　blasphemy　when　the　plough　or　the　horses　or　the　harness　went　wrongwas　delightful！　　And　the　adventure　and　excitement　which　this　new　industry　promised　operated　strongly　upon　us。　　We　rioted　and　careered　like　hunted　brumbies　through　the　trees；　till　warned　by　Dad　to　〃keep　our　eyes　about；〃　then　we　settled　down；　and　Joe　found　the　first　bear。　It　was　on　an　ironbark　tree；　around　the　base　of　which　we　soon　were　clamouring。

〃Up　y'　go！〃　Dad　said；　cheerfully　helping　Dave　and　the　tomahawk　into　the　first　fork。

Dave　ascended　and　crawled　cautiously　along　the　limb　the　bear　was　on　and　began　to　chop。　　WE　armed　ourselves　with　　heavy　sticks　and　waited。　　The　dog　sat　on　his　tail　and　stared　and　whined　at　the　bear。　　The　limb　cracked；　and　Dave　ceased　chopping　and　shouted　〃Look　out！〃　We　shouldered　arms。　　The　dog　was　in　a　hurry。　　He　sprang　in　the　air　and　landed　on　his　back。　　But　Dave　had　to　make　another　nick　or　two。　　Then　with　a　loud　crack　the　limb　parted　and　came　sweeping　down。　　The　dog　jumped　to　meet　it。　　He　met　it；　and　was　laid　out　on　the　grass。　　The　bear　scrambled　to　its　feet　and　made　off　towards　Bill。　　Bill　squealed　and　fell　backwards　over　a　log。　　Dad　rushed　in　and　kicked　the　bear　up　like　a　football。　　It　landed　near　Joe。　Joe's　eyes　shone　with　the　hunter's　lust　of　blood。　　He　swung　his　stick　for　a　tremendous　blowswung　it　mightily　and　highand　nearly　knocked　his　parent's　head　off。　　When　Dad　had　spat　blood　enough　to　make　sure　that　he　had　only　lost　one　tooth；　he　hunted　Joe；　but　Joe　was　too　fleet；　as　usual。

Meanwhile；　the　bear　had　run　up　another　treeabout　the　tallest　old　gum　in　the　paddock。　　Dad　snapped　his　fingers　angrily　and　cried：　　〃Where　the　devil　was　the　DOG？〃

〃Oh；　where　the　devil　wuz　the　DORG？〃　Dave　growled；　sliding　down　the　tree〃where　th'　devil　wuz　YOU？　　Where　wuz　the　lot　o'　y'？〃

〃Ah；　well！〃　Dad　said　〃there's　plenty　more　we　can　get。　　Come　along。〃　And　off　we　went。　　The　dog　pulled　himself　together　and　limped　after　us。

Bears　were　plentiful　enough；　but　we　wandered　far　before　we　found　another　on　a　tree　that　Dave　could　climb；　and；　when　we　DID；　somehow　or　other　the　limb　broke　when　he　put　his　weight　on　it；　and　down　he　came；　bear　and　all。　Of　course　we　were　not　ready；　and　that　bear；　like　the　other；　got　up　another　tree。　　But　Dave　did　n't。　　He　lay　till　Dad　ran　about　two　miles　down　a　gully　to　a　dam　and　filled　his　hat　with　muddy　water　and　came　tearing　back　with　it　emptytill　Anderson　and　Mother　came　and　helped　to　carry　him　home。

We　did　n't　go　out　any　more　after　bears。　　Dave；　when　he　was　able；　went　and　got　Maloney's　colt　and　put　him　in　the　plough。　　And；　after　he　had　kicked　Dad　and　smashed　all　the　swingle…trees　about　the　place；　and　got　right　out　of　his　harness　a　couple　of　times　and　sulked　for　two　days；　he　went　well　enough　beside　Anderson's　old　grey　mare。