on our selection-第16章

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s　a　couple　of　times　and　sulked　for　two　days；　he　went　well　enough　beside　Anderson's　old　grey　mare。

And　that　season；　when　everyone　else's　wheat　was　red　with　rustwhen　Anderson　and　Maloney　cut　theirs　for　haywhen　Johnson　put　a　firestick　in　hisours　was　good　to　see。　　It　ripened；　and　the　rain　kept　off；　and　we　reaped　200　bags。　　Salvation！




CHAPTER　XIX。



Nell　and　Ned。


That　harvest　of　two　hundred　bags　of　wheat　was　the　turning…point　in　the　history　of　our　selection。　　Things　somehow　seemed　to　go　better；　and　Dad's　faith　was　gradually　justifiedto　some　extent。　　We　accumulated　out…buildings　and　added　two　new　rooms　to　the　hut；　and　Dad　was　able　to　lend　old　Anderson　five　pounds　in　return　for　a　promise　to　pay　seven　pounds　ten　shillings　in　six　months'　time。　　We　increased　the　stock；　too；　by　degrees；　andcrowning　joy！we　got　a　horse　or　two　you　could　ride　to　the　township。

With　Nell　and　Ned　we　reckoned　we　had　two　saddle…horsesthose　were　their　names；　Nell　and　Ned；　a　mare　and　a　colt。　　Fine　hacks　they　were；　too！　Anybody　could　ride　them；　they　were　so　quiet。　　Dad　reckoned　Ned　was　the　better　of　the　two。　　He　was　well…bred；　and　had　a　pedigree　and　a　gentle　disposition；　and　a　bald…face；　and　a　bumble…foot；　and　a　raw　wither；　and　a　sore　back　that　gave　him　a　habit　of　〃flinching〃a　habit　that　discounted　his　uselessness　a　great　deal；　because；　when　we　were　n't　at　home；　the　women　could　n't　saddle　him　to　run　the　cows　in。　　Whenever　he　saw　the　saddle　or　heard　the　girth…buckles　rattle　he　would　start　to　flinch。　　Put　the　cloth　on　his　backfolded　or　otherwiseand；　no　matter　how　smart　you　might　be；　it　would　be　off　before　you　could　cover　it　with　the　saddle；　and　he　would　n't　have　flicked　it　with　his　tail；　or　pulled　it　off　with　his　teeth；　or　done　anything　to　it。　　He　just　flinchedmade　the　skin　on　his　backwhere　there　was　anyQUIVER。　　Throw　on　the　saddle　without　a　cloth；　and　he　would　〃give〃　in　the　middle　like　a　broken　railbend　till　his　belly　almost　touched　the　ground；　and　remain　bent　till　mounted；　then　he'd　crawl　off　and　gradually　straighten　up　as　he　became　used　to　you。　　Were　you　tender…hearted　enough　to　feel　compunction　in　sitting　down　hard　on　a　six…year…old　sore；　or　if　you　had　an　aversion　to　kicking　the　suffering　brute　with　both　heels　and　belting　his　hide　with　a　yard　or　two　of　fencing…wire　to　get　him　to　show　signs　of　animation；　you　would　dismount　and　walkperhaps；　weep。　　WE　always　rode　him　right　out；　though。

As　a　two…year…old　Ned　was　Dad's　hope。　　Pointing　proudly　to　the　long…legged；　big…headed；　ugly　moke　mooching　by　the　door；　smelling　the　dust；　he　would　say：　　〃Be　a　fine　horse　in　another　year！　　Little　sleepy…looking　yet；　that's　nothing！〃

〃Stir　him　up　a　bit；　till　we　see　how　he　canters；〃　he　said　to　Joe　one　day。　And　when　Joe　stirred　him　uprattled　a　piece　of　rock　on　his　jaw　that　nearly　knocked　his　head　offDad　took　after　Joe　and　chased　him　through　the　potatoes；　and　out　into　the　grass…paddock；　and　across　towards　Anderson's；　then　returned　and　yarded　the　colt；　and　knocked　a　patch　of　skin　off　him　with　a　rail　because　he　would　n't　stand　in　a　corner　till　he　looked　at　his　eye。　　〃Would　n't　have　anything　happen　to　that　colt　for　a　fortune！〃　he　said　to　himself。　　Then　went　away；　forgetting　to　throw　the　rails　down。　　Dave　threw　them　down　a　couple　of　days　after。

WE　preferred　Nell　to　Ned；　but　Dad　always　voted　for　the　colt。　　〃You　can　trust　him；　he'll　stand　anywhere；〃　he　used　to　say。　　Ned　WOULD！　　Once；　when　the　grass…paddock　was　burning；　he　stood　until　he　took　fire。　　Then　he　stood　while　we　hammered　him　with　boughs　to　put　the　blaze　out。　　It　took　a　lot　to　frighten　Ned。　　His　presence　of　mind　rarely　deserted　him。　　Once；　though；　he　got　a　start。　　He　was　standing　in　the　shade　of　a　tree　in　the　paddock　when　Dad　went　to　catch　him。　　He　seemed　to　be　watching　Dad；　but　was　n't。　　He　was　ASLEEP。　　〃Well；　old　chap；〃　said　Dad；　〃how　ARE　y'？〃　and　proceeded　to　bridle　him。　　Ned　opened　his　mouth　and　received　the　bit　as　usual；　only　some　of　his　tongue　came　out　and　stayed　out。　　〃Wot's　up　w'　y'？〃　and　Dad　tried　to　poke　it　in　with　his　finger；　but　it　came　out　further；　and　some　chewed　grass　dropped　into　his　hand。　　Dad　started　to　lead　him　then；　or　rather　to　PULL　him；　and　at　the　first　tug　he　have　the　reins　Ned　woke　with　a　snort　and　broke　away。　　And　when　the　other　horses　saw　him　looking　at　Dad　with　his　tail　cocked；　and　his　head　up；　and　the　bridle…reins　hanging；　they　went　for　their　lives　through　the　trees；　and　Blossom's　foal　got　staked。

Another　day　Dad　was　out　on　Ned；　looking　for　the　red　heifer；　and　came　across　two　men　fencinga　tall；　powerful…looking　man　with　a　beard；　and　a　slim　young　fellow　with　a　smooth　face。　　Also　a　kangaroo…pup。　　As　Dad　slowly　approached；　Ned　swaying　from　side　to　side　with　his　nose　to　the　ground；　the　elder　man　drove　the　crowbar　into　the　earth　and　stared　as　if　he　had　never　seen　a　man　on　horseback　before。　　The　young　fellow　sat　on　a　log　and　stared　too。　　The　pup　ran　behind　a　tree　and　growled。

〃Seen　any　cattle　round　here？〃　Dad　asked。

〃No；〃　the　man　said；　and　grinned。

〃Did　n't　notice　a　red　heifer？〃

〃No；〃　grinning　more。

The　kangaroo…pup　left　the　tree　and　sniffed　at　Ned's　heels。

〃Won't　kick；　will　he？〃　said　the　man。

The　young　fellow　broke　into　a　loud　laugh　and　fell　off　the　log。

〃No；〃　Dad　replied〃he's　PERFECTLY　quiet。〃

〃He　LOOKS　quiet。〃

The　young　fellow　took　a　fit　of　coughing。

After　a　pause。　　〃Well；　you　did　n't　see　any　about；　then？〃　and　Dad　wheeled　Ned　round　to　go　away。

〃No；　I　DID　N'T；　old　man；〃　the　other　answered；　and　snatched　hold　of　Ned's　tail　and　hung　back　with　all　his　might。　　Ned　grunted　and　strained　and　tore　the　ground　up　with　his　toes；　Dad　spurred　and　leathered　him　with　a　strap；　looking　straight　ahead。　　The　man　hung　on。　　〃Come　'long；〃　Dad　said。　　The　pup　barked。　　〃COME　'long　with　YER！〃　Dad　said。　　The　young　fellow　fell　off　the　log　again。　　Ned's　tail　cracked。　　Dad　hit　him　between　the　ears。　　The　tail　cracked　again。　　A　piece　of　it　came　off；　then　Ned　stumbled　and　went　on　his　head。　　〃What　the　DEVIL！〃　Dad　said；　looking　round。　　But　only　the　young　fellow　was　laughing。

Nell　was　different　from　Ned。　　She　was　a　bay；　with　yellow　flanks　and　a　lump　under　her　belly；　a　bright　eye；　lop　ears；　and　heavy；　hairy　legs。　　She　was　a　very　wise　mare。　　It　was　　wonderful　how　much　she　know。　　She　knew　when　she　was　wanted；　and　she　would　go　away　the　night　before　and　get　lost。　　And　she　knew　when　she　was　n't　wanted；　then　she'd　hang　about　the　back…door　licking　a　hole　in　the　ground　where　the　dish…water　was　thrown；　or　fossicking　at　the　barn　for　the　corn　Dad　had　hidden；　or　scratching　her　neck　or　her　rump　against　the　cultivation　paddock　slip…rails。　　She　always　scratched　herself　against　those　slip…railssometimes　for　hoursalways　until　they　fell　down。　Then　she'd　walk　in　and　eat。　　And　how　she　COULD　eat！

As　a　hack；　Nell　was　unreliable。　　You　could　n't　reckon　with　certainty　on　getting　her　to　start。　　All　depended　on　the　humour　she　was　in　and　the　direction　you　wished　to　takemostly　the　direction。　　If　towards　the　grass…paddock　or　the　dam；　she　was　off　helter…skelter。　　If　it　was　n't；　she'd　go　on　strikeput　her　head　down　and　chew　the　bit。　　Then；　when　you'd　get　to　work　on　her　with　a　waddywhich　we　always　didshe'd　walk　backwards　into　the　house　and　frighten　Mother；　or　into　the　waterhole　and　dirty　the　water。　　Dad　said　it　was　the　fault　of　the　cove　who　broke　her　in。　　Dad　was　a　just　man。　　The　〃cove〃　was　a　union　shearerdid　it　for　four　shillings　and　six　pence。　　Wanted　five　bob；　but　Dad　beat　him　down。　　Anybody　else　would　have　asked　a　pound。

When　Nell　DID　make　up　her　mind　to　go；　it　was　with　a　rush；　and；　if　the　slip…rails　were　on　the　ground；　she'd　refuse　to　take　them。　　She'd　stand　and　look　out　into　the　lane。　　　You'd　have　to　get　off　and　drag　the　rails　aside　（about　twenty；　counting　broken　ones）。　　Then　she'd　fancy　they　were　up；　and　would　shake　her　head　and　mark　time　until　you　dug　your　heels　into　her；　then　she'd　gather　herself　together　and　jump　high　enough　for　a　showover　nothing！

Dave　was　to　ride　Nell　to　town　one　Christmas　to　see　the　sports。　　He　had　n't　seen　any　sports　before；　and　went　to　bed　excited　and　rose　in　the　middle　of　the　night　to　start。　　He　dressed　in　the　dark；　and　we　heard　him　going　out；　because　he　fell　over　Sandy　and　Kate。　　They　had　come　on　a　visit；　and　were　sleeping　on　the　floor　in　the　front　room。　　We　also　heard　him　throw　the　slip…rails　down。

There　was　a　heavy　fog　that　morning。　　At　breakfast　we　talked　about　Dave；　and　Dad　〃s'posed〃　he　would　just　about　be　getting　in；　but　an　hour　or　two　after　breakfast　the　fog　cleared；　and　we　saw　Dave　in　the　lane　hammering　Nell　with　a　stick。　　Nell　had　her　rump　to　the　fence　and　was　trying　hard　to　kick　it　down。　　Dad　went　to　him。　　〃Take　her　gently；　take　her　GENTLY；　boy；〃　he　shouted。　　〃PSHAW！　　take　her　GENTLY！〃　Dave　shouted　back。　　〃Here〃he　jumped　off　her　and　handed　Dad　the　reins〃take　her　away　and　cut　her　throat。〃　　Then　he　cried；　and　then　he　picked　up　a　big　stone　and　rushed　at　Nell's　head。　　But　Dad　interfered。

But　the　day　Dad　mounted　Nell　to　bring　a　doctor　to　Anderson！　　She　started　away　smartlythe　wrong　road。　　Dad　jerked　her　mouth　and　pulled　her　round　roughly。　　He　was　in　a　hurryNell　was　n't。　　She　stood　and　shook　her　head　and　switched　her　tail。　　Dad　rattled　a　waddy　on　her　and　jammed　his　heels　hard　against　her　ribs。　　She　dropped　her　head　and　cow…kicked。　　Then　he　coaxed　her。　　〃Come　on；　old　girl；〃　he　said；　〃come　on；〃and　patted　her　on　the　neck。　　She　liked　being　patted。　　That　exasperated　Dad。　　He　hit　her　on　the　head　with　his　fist。　　Joe　ran　out　with　a　long　stick。　　He　poked　her　in　the　flank。　　Nell　kicked　the　stick　out　of　his　hands　and　bolted　towards　the　dam。　　Dad　pulled　and　swore　as　she　bore　him　along。　　And　when　he　did　haul　her　in；　he　was　two　hundred　yards　further　from　the　doctor。　　Dad　turned　her　round　and　once　more　used　the　waddy。　　Nell　was　obdurate；　Dad　exhausted。　Joe　joined　them；　out　of　breath。　　He　poked　Nell　with　the　stick　again。　　She　〃kicked　up。〃　　Dad　lost　his　balance。　　Joe　laughed。　　Dad　said；　〃St…o…op！〃　Joe　was　energetic。　　So　was　Nell。　　She　kicked　up　againstrongand　Dad　fell　off。

〃Wot；　could'n'　y'　s…s…s…stick　to　'er；　Dad？〃　Joe　asked。

〃STICK　BE　DAMNEDrunCATCH　her！DN　y'！〃

Joe　obeyed。

Dad　made　another　start；　and　this　time　Nell　went　willingly。　　Dad　was　leading　her！

Those　two　old　horses　are　dead　now。　　They　died　in　the　summer　when　there　was　lots　of　grass　and　waterjust　when　Dad　had　broken　them　into　harnessjust　when　he　was　getting　a　good　team　together　to　draw　logs　for　the　new　railway　line！




CHAPTER　XX。



The　Cow　We　Bought。


When　Dad　received　two　hundred　pounds　for　the　wheat　he　saw　nothing　but　success　and　happiness　ahead。　　His　faith　in　the　farm　and　farming　swelled。　Dad　was　not　a　pessimistwhen　he　had　two　hundred　pounds。

〃Say　what　they　like；〃　he　held　forth　to　Anderson　and　two　other　men　across　the　rails　one　evening〃talk　how　they　will　about　it；　there's　money　to　be　made　at　farming。　　Let　a　man　WORK　and　use　his　HEAD　and　know　what　to　sow　and　when　to　sow　it；　and　he　MUST　do　well。〃　（Anderson　stroked　his　beard　in　grave　silence；　HE　had　had　no　wheat）。　　〃Why；　once　a　farmer　gets　on　at　all　he's　the　most　independent　man　in　the　whole　country。〃

〃Yes！　　Once　he　DOES！〃　drawled　one　of　the　men；a　weird；　withered　fellow　with　a　scraggy　beard　and　a　reflective　turn　of　mind。

〃Jusso；〃　Dad　went　on；　〃but　he　must　use　his　HEAD；　it's　　all　in　th'　head。〃　（He　tapped　his　own　skull　with　his　finger）。　　〃Where　woul