on our selection-第17章

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〃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　would　I　be　now　if　I　had　n't　used　me　head　this　last　season？〃

He　paused　for　an　answer。　　None　came。

〃I　say；〃　he　continued；　〃it's　a　mistake　to　think　nothing's　to　be　made　at　farming；　and　any　man〃　（〃Come　to　supper；　DAD！〃't　was　Sal's　voice）　〃ought　t'　get　on　where　there's　land　like　this。〃

〃LAND！〃　said　the　same　man〃where　IS　it？〃

〃Where　IS　it？〃　Dad　warmed　up〃where　IS　N'T　it？　　Is　n't　this　land？〃　（Looking　all　round。）　　〃Is　n't　the　whole　country　land　from　one　end　to　the　other？　　And　is　there　another　country　like　it　anywhere？〃

〃There　is　n't！〃　said　the　man。

〃Is　there　any　other　country　in　th'　WORLD〃　（Dad　lifted　his　voice）　〃where　a　man；　if　he　likes；　can　live〃　（〃Dad；　tea！〃）　〃without　a　shilling　in　his　pocket　and　without　doing　a　tap　of　work　from　one　year's　end　to　the　other？〃

Anderson　did　n't　quite　understand；　and　the　weird　man　asked　Dad　if　he　meant　〃in　gaol。〃

〃I　mean；〃　Dad　said；　〃that　no　man　should　starve　in　this　country　when　there's　kangaroos　and　bears　and〃（Joe　came　and　stood　beside　Dad　and　asked　him　if　he　was　DEAF）〃and　goannas　and　snakes　in　thousands。　　Look　here！〃　（still　to　the　weird　man）；　〃you　say　that　farming〃（Mother；　bare…headed；　came　out　and　stood　beside　Joe；　and　asked　Anderson　if　Mrs。　Anderson　had　got　a　nurse　yet；　and　Anderson　smiled　and　said　he　believed　another　son　had　just　arrived；　but　he　had　n't　seen　it）〃that　farming　don't　pay〃（Sal　came　along　and　stood　near　Mother　and　asked　Anderson　who　the　baby　was　like）〃don't　pay　in　this　country？〃

The　man　nodded。

〃It　will　pay　any　man　who〃

Interruption。

Anderson's　big　dog　had　wandered　to　the　house；　and　came　back　with　nearly　all　that　was　for　supper　in　his　mouth。

Sal　squealed。

〃DROP　ITDROP　IT；　Bob！〃　Anderson　shouted；　giving　chase。　　Bob　dropped　it　on　the　road。

〃DAMN　IT！〃　said　Dad；　glaring　at　Mother；　〃wot　d'　y'　ALL　want　out　'ere？。。。Y…YOU　brute！〃　（to　the　dog；　calmly　licking　its　lips）。

Then　Anderson　and　the　two　men　went　away。

But　when　we　had　paid　sixty　pounds　to　the　storekeeper　and　thirty　pounds　in　interest；　and　paid　for　the　seed　and　the　reaping　and　threshing　of　the　wheat；　and　bought　three　plough…horses；　and　a　hack　for　Dave；　and　a　corn…sheller；　and　a　tank；　and　clothes　for　us　all；　and　put　rations　in　the　house；　and　lent　Anderson　five　pounds；　and　improved　Shingle　Hut；　and　so　on；　very　little　of　the　two　hundred　pounds　was　left。

Mother　spoke　of　getting　a　cow。　　The　children；　she　said；　could　n't　live　without　milk　and　when　Dad　heard　from　Johnson　and　Dwyer　that　Eastbrook　dairy　cattle　were　to　be　sold　at　auction；　he　said　he　would　go　down　and　buy　one。

Very　early。　　The　stars　had　scarcely　left　the　sky。　　There　was　a　lot　of　groping　and　stumbling　about　the　room。　　Dad　and　Dave　had　risen　and　were　preparing　to　go　to　the　sale。

I　don't　remember　if　the　sky　was　golden　or　gorgeous　at　all；　or　if　the　mountain　was　clothed　in　mist；　or　if　any　fragrance　came　from　the　wattle…trees　when　they　were　leaving；　but　Johnson；　without　hat　or　boots；　was　picking　splinters　off　the　slabs　of　his　hut　to　start　his　fire　with；　and　a　mile　further　on　Smith's　dog　was　barking　furiously。　　He　was　a　famous　barker。　　Smith　trained　him　to　it　to　keep　the　wallabies　off。　　Smith　used　to　chain　him　to　a　tree　in　the　paddock　and　hang　a　piece　of　meat　to　the　branches；　and　leave　him　there　all　night。

Dad　and　Dave　rode　steadily　along　and　arrived　at　Eastbrook　before　mid…day。　The　old　station　was　on　its　last　legs。　　〃The　flags　were　flying　half…mast　high。〃　A　crowd　of　people　were　there。　　Cart…horses　with　harness　on；　and　a　lot　of　tired…looking　saddle…hacks；　covered　with　dry　sweat；　were　fastened　to　cart…wheels；　and　to　every　available　post　and　place。　　Heaps　of　old　iron；　broken…down　drays　and　buggies　and　wheel…barrows；　pumps　and　pieces　of　machinery；　which　Dad　reckoned　were　worth　a　lot　of　money；　were　scattered　about。　　Dad　yearned　to　gather　them　all　up　and　cart　them　home。　　Rows　of　unshaven　men　were　seated　high　on　the　rails　of　the　yards。　　The　yards　were　filled　with　cattlecows；　heifers；　bulls；　and　calves；　all　separatebellowing；　and；　in　a　friendly　way；　raking　skins　and　hair　off　each　other　with　their　horns。

The　station…manager；　with　a　handful　of　papers　and　a　pencil　behind　his　ear；　hurried　here　and　there；　followed　by　some　of　the　crowd；　who　asked　him　questions　which　he　did　n't　answer。　　Dad　asked　him　if　this　was　the　place　where　the　sale　was　to　be。　　He　looked　all　over　Dad。

A　man　rang　a　bell　violently；　shouting；　〃This　way　for　the　dairy　cows！〃　　Dad　went　that　way；　closely　followed　by　Dave；　who　was　silent　and　strange。　　A　boy　put　a　printed　catalogue　into　Dad's　hand；　which　he　was　doubtful　about　keeping　until　he　saw　Andy　Percil　with　one。　　Most　of　the　men　seated　on　the　rails　jumped　down　into　an　empty　yard　and　stood　round　in　a　ring。　　In　one　corner　the　auctioneer　mounted　a　box；　and　read　the　conditions　of　sale；　and　talked　hard　about　the　breed　of　the　cattle。　　Then：

〃How　much　for　the　imported　cow；　Silky？　　No。1　on　the　catalogue。　　How　much　to　start　her；　gentlemen？〃

Silky　rushed　into　the　yard　with　a　shower　of　sticks　flying　after　her　and　glared　about；　finally　fixing　her　gaze　on　Dad；　who　was　trying　to　find　her　number　in　the　catalogue。

〃A　pure…bred　'Heereford；'　four　years　old；　by　The　Duke　out　of　Dolly；　to　calve　on　the　eighth　of　next　month；〃　said　the　auctioneer。　　〃How　much　to　start　her？〃

All　silent。　　Buyers　looked　thoughtful。　　The　auctioneer　ran　his　restless　eyes　over　them。

Dad　and　Dave　held　a　whispered　consultation；　then　Dad　made　a　movement。　The　auctioneer　caught　his　eye　and　leant　forward。

〃FIVE　BOB！〃　Dad　shouted。　　There　was　a　loud　laugh。　　The　auctioneer　frowned。　〃We're　selling　COWS；　old　man；〃　he　said；　〃not　running　a　shilling…table。〃

More　laughter。　　It　reached　Dave's　heart；　and　he　wished　he　had　n't　come　with　Dad。

Someone　bid　five　pounds；　someone　else　six；　seven…eight…nine　went　round　quickly；　and　Silky　was　sold　for　ten　pounds。

〃Beauty〃　rushed　in。

Two　station…hands　passed　among　the　crowd；　each　with　a　bucket　of　beer　and　some　glasses。　　Dad　hesitated　when　they　came　to　him；　and　said　he　did　n't　care　about　it。　　Dave　the　same。

Dad　ran　〃Beauty〃　to　three　pound　ten　shillings　（all　the　money　he　had）；　and　she　was　knocked　down　at　twelve　pounds。

Bidding　became　lively。

Dave　had　his　eye　on　the　men　with　the　beerhe　was　thirsty。　　He　noticed　no　one　paid　for　what　was　drunk；　and　whispered　his　discovery　to　Dad。　　When　the　beer　came　again；　Dad　reached　out　and　took　a　glass。　　Dave　took　one　also。

〃Have　another！〃　said　the　man。

Dave　grinned；　and　took　another。

Dad　ran　fifteen　cows；　successively；　to　three　pounds　ten　shillings。

The　men　with　the　beer　took　a　liking　to　Dave。　　They　came　frequently　to　him；　and　Dave　began　to　enjoy　the　sale。

Again　Dad　stopped　bidding　at　three　pounds　ten　shillings。

Dave　began　to　talk。　　He　left　his　place　beside　Dad　and；　hat　in　hand；　staggered　to　the　middle　of　the　yard。　　〃WOH！〃　he　shouted；　and　made　an　awkward　attempt　to　embrace　a　red　cow　which　was　under　the　hammer。

〃SEV'N　POUN'SEV'N　POUN'SEV'N　POUN'；〃　shouted　the　auctioneer；　rapidly。　〃Any　advance　on　sev'n　POUN'？〃

〃WENNY　（hic）　QUID；〃　Dave　said。

〃At　sev'n　poun'　she's　GOING？〃

〃Twenny　（hic）　TWO　quid；〃　Dave　said。

〃You　have　n't　twenty…two　PENCE；〃　snorted　the　auctioneer。

Then　Dave　caught　the　cow　by　the　tail；　and　she　pulled　him　about　the　yard　until　two　men　took　him　away。

The　last　cow　put　up　was；　so　the　auctioneer　said；　station…bred　and　in　full　milk。　　She　was　a　wild…looking　brute；　with　three　enormous　teats　and　a　large；　fleshy　udder。　　The　catalogue　said　her　name　was　〃Dummy。〃

〃How　much　for　'Dummy；'　the　only　bargain　in　the　mobhow　much　for　her；　gentlemen？〃

Dad　rushed　〃Dummy。〃　〃Three　poun'　ten；〃　he　said；　eagerly。

The　auctioneer　rushed　Dad。　　〃YOURS；〃　he　said；　bringing　his　hammer　down　with　a　bang；　〃you　deserve　her；　old　man！〃　　And　the　station…manager　chuckled　and　took　Dad's　nameand　Dad's　money。

Dad　was　very　pleased；　and　eager　to　start　home。　　He　went　and　found　Dave；　who　was　asleep　in　a　hay…stack；　and　along　with　Steven　Burton　they　drove　the　cow　home；　and　yarded　her　in　the　dark。

Mother　and　Sal　heard　the　noise；　and　came　with　a　light　to　see　Dad's　purchase；　but　as　they　approached　〃Dummy〃　threatened　to　carry　the　yard　away　on　her　back；　and　Dad　ordered　them　off。

Dad　secured　the　rails　by　placing　logs　and　the　harrow　against　them；　then　went　inside　and　told　Mother　what　a　bargain　he'd　made。

In　the　morning　Dad　took　a　bucket　and　went　to　milk　〃Dummy。〃　All　of　us　accompanied　him。　　He　crawled　through　the　rails　while　〃Dummy〃　tore　the　earth　with　her　fore…feet　and　threw　lumps　of　it　over　the　yard。　　But　she　was　n't　so　wild　as　she　seemed；　and　when　Dad　went　to　work　on　her　with　a　big　stick　she　walked　into　the　bail　quietly　enough。　　Then　he　sat　to　milk　her；　and　when　he　took　hold　of　her　teats　she　broke　the　leg…rope　and　kicked　him　clean　off　the　block　and　tangled　her　leg　in　the　bucket　and　made　a　great　noise　with　it。　　Then　she　bellowed　and　reared　in　the　bail　and　fell　down；　her　head　screwed　the　wrong　way；　and　lay　with　her　tongue　out　moaning。

Dad　rose　and　spat　out　dirt。

〃Dear　me！〃　Mother　said。　　〃it's　a　WILD　cow　y'　bought。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　Dad　answered；　〃she's　a　bit　touchy；　that's　all。〃

〃She　tut…tutTUTCHED　YOU　orright；　Dad；〃　Joe　said　from　the　top　of　the　yard。

Dad　looked　up。　　〃Get　down　outer　THAT！〃　he　yelled。　　〃No　wonder　the　damn　cow's　frightened。〃

Joe　got　down。

Dad　brought　〃Dummy〃　to　her　senses　with　a　few　heavy　kicks　on　her　nose；　and　proceeded　to　milk　her　again。　　〃Dummy〃　kicked　and　kicked。　　Dad　tugged　and　tugged　at　her　teats；　but　no　milk　came。　　Dad　could　n't　understand　it。　〃Must　be　frettin'；〃　he　said。

Joe　owned　a　pet　calf　about　a　week　old　which　lived　on　water　and　a　long　rope。　Dad　told　him　to　fetch　it　to　see　if　it　would　suck。　　Joe　fetched　it；　and　it　sucked　ravenously　at　〃Dummy's〃　flank；　and　joyfully　wagged　its　tail。　〃Dummy〃　resented　it。　　She　plunged　until　the　leg…rope　parted　again；　when　the　calf　got　mixed　up　in　her　legs；　and　she　trampled　it　in　the　ground。　　Joe　took　it　away。　　Dad　turned　〃Dummy〃　out　and　bailed　her　up　the　next　dayand　every　day　for　a　weekwith　the　same　result。　　Then　he　sent　for　Larry　O'Laughlin；　who　posed　as　a　cow　doctor。

〃She　never　give　a　drop　in　her　life；〃　Larry　said。　　〃Them's　BLIND　tits　she　have。〃

Dad　one　day　sold　〃Dummy〃　for　ten　shillings　and　bought　a　goat；　which　Johnson　shot　on　his　cultivation　and　made　Dad　drag　away。




CHAPTER　XXI。



The　Parson　and　the　Scone。


It　was　dinner…time。　　And　were　n't　we　hungry！particularly　Joe！　　He　was　kept　from　school　that　day　to　fork　up　hay…work　hard　enough　for　a　mantoo　hard　for　some　menbut　in　many　things　Joe　was　more　than　a　man's　equal。　Eating　was　one　of　them。　　We　were　all　silent。　　Joe　ate　ravenously。　　The　meat　and　pumpkin　disappeared；　and　the　pile　of　hot　scones　grew　rapidly　less。　　Joe　regarded　it　with　anxiety。　　He　stole　sly　glances　at　Dad　and　at　Dave　and　made　a　mental　calculation。　　Then　he　fixed　his　eyes　longingly　on　the　one　remaining　scone；　and　ate　faster　and　faster。。。。Still　silence。　Joe　glanced　again　at　Dad。

The　dogs　outside　barked。　　Those　inside；　lying　full…stretch　beneath　the　table；　instantly　darted　up　and　rushed　out。　　One　of　them　carried　off　little　Billwho　was　standing　at　the　table　　with　his　legs　spread　out　and　a　pint　of　tea　in　his　handas　far　as　the　door　on　its　back；　and