on our selection-第2章

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e　door；　but　it　did　n't　keep　the　dingoes　from　the　fowl…house！

Once　the　corn　ripened　it　did　n't　take　long　to　pull　it；　but　Dad　had　to　put　on　his　considering…cap　when　we　came　to　the　question　of　getting　it　in。　To　hump　it　in　bags　seemed　inevitable　till　Dwyer　asked　Dad　to　give　him　a　hand　to　put　up　a　milking…yard。　　Then　Dad's　chance　came；　and　he　seized　it。

Dwyer；　in　return　for　Dad's　labour；　carted　in　the　corn　and　took　it　to　the　railway…station　when　it　was　shelled。　　Yes；　when　it　WAS　shelled！　　We　had　to　shell　it　with　our　hands；　and　what　a　time　we　had！　　For　the　first　half…hour　we　did　n't　mind　it　at　all；　and　shelled　cob　after　cob　as　though　we　liked　it；　but　next　day；　talk　about　blisters！　　we　could　n't　close　our　hands　for　them；　and　our　faces　had　to　go　without　a　wash　for　a　fortnight。

Fifteen　bags　we　got　off　the　four　acres；　and　the　storekeeper　undertook　to　sell　it。　　Corn　was　then　at　12　shillings　　and　14　shillings　per　bushel；　and　Dad　expected　a　big　cheque。

Every　day　for　nearly　three　weeks　he　trudged　over　to　the　store　（five　miles）　and　I　went　with　him。　　Each　time　the　storekeeper　would　shake　his　head　and　say　〃No　word　yet。〃

Dad　could　n't　understand。　　At　last　word　did　come。　　The　storekeeper　was　busy　serving　a　customer　when　we　went　in；　so　he　told　Dad　to　〃hold　on　a　bit〃。

Dad　felt　very　pleasedso　did　I。

The　customer　left。　　The　storekeeper　looked　at　Dad　and　twirled　a　piece　of　string　round　his　first　finger；　then　said〃Twelve　pounds　your　corn　cleared；　Mr。　Rudd；　but；　of　course〃　（going　to　a　desk）　〃there's　that　account　of　yours　which　I　have　credited　with　the　amount　of　the　chequethat　brings　it　down　now　to　just　three　pound；　as　you　will　see　by　the　account。〃

Dad　was　speechless；　and　looked　sick。

He　went　home　and　sat　on　a　block　and　stared　into　the　fire　with　his　chin　resting　in　his　hands；　till　Mother　laid　her　hand　upon　his　shoulder　and　asked　him　kindly　what　was　the　matter。　　Then　he　drew　the　storekeeper's　bill　from　his　pocket；　and　handed　it　to　her；　and　she　too　sat　down　and　gazed　into　the　fire。

That　was　OUR　first　harvest。




Chapter　III。



Before　We　Got　The　Deeds


Our　selection　adjoined　a　sheep…run　on　the　Darling　Downs；　and　boasted　of　few　and　scant　improvements；　though　things　had　gradually　got　a　little　better　than　when　we　started。　　A　verandahless　four…roomed　slab…hut　now　standing　out　from　a　forest　of　box…trees；　a　stock…yard；　and　six　acres　under　barley　were　the　only　evidence　of　settlement。　　A　few　horsesnot　ourssometimes　grazed　about；　and　occasionally　a　mob　of　cattlealso　not　ourscows　with　young　calves；　steers；　and　an　old　bull　or　two；　would　stroll　around；　chew　the　best　legs　of　any　trousers　that　might　be　hanging　on　the　log　reserved　as　a　clothes…line；　then　leave　in　the　night　and　be　seen　no　more　for　monthssome　of　them　never。

And　yet　we　were　always　out　of　meat！

Dad　was　up　the　country　earning　a　few　poundsthe　corn　drove　him　up　when　it　did　n't　bring　what　he　expected。　　All　we　got　out　of　it　was　a　bag　of　flourI　do　n't　know　what　the　storekeeper　got。　　Before　he　left　we　put　in　the　barley。　　Somehow；　Dad　did　n't　believe　in　sowing　any　more　crops；　he　seemed　to　lose　heart；　but　Mother　talked　it　over　with　him；　and　when　reminded　that　he　would　soon　be　entitled　to　the　deeds　he　brightened　up　again　and　worked。　　How　he　worked！

We　had　no　plough；　so　old　Anderson　turned　over　the　six　acres　for　us；　and　Dad　gave　him　a　pound　an　acreat　least　he　was　to　send　him　the　first　six　pounds　got　up　country。　　Dad　sowed　the　seed；　then　he；　Dan　and　Dave　yoked　themselves　to　a　large　dry　bramble　each　and　harrowed　it　in。　　From　the　way　they　sweated　it　must　have　been　hard　work。　　Sometimes　they　would　sit　down　in　the　middle　of　the　paddock　and　〃spell〃　but　Dad　would　say　something　about　getting　the　deeds　and　they'd　start　again。

A　cockatoo…fence　was　round　the　barley；　and　wire…posts；　a　long　distance　apart；　round　the　grass…paddock。　　We　were　to　get　the　wire　to　put　in　when　Dad　sent　the　money；　and　apply　for　the　deeds　when　he　came　back。　　Things　would　be　different　then；　according　to　Dad；　and　the　farm　would　be　worked　properly。　　We　would　break　up　fifty　acres；　build　a　barn；　buy　a　reaper；　ploughs；　cornsheller；　get　cows　and　good　horses；　and　start　two　or　three　ploughs。　　Meanwhile；　if　we　（Dan；　Dave　and　I）　minded　the　barley　he　was　sure　there'd　be　something　got　out　of　it。

Dad　had　been　away　about　six　weeks。　　Travellers　were　passing　by　every　day；　and　there　was　n't　one　that　did　n't　want　a　little　of　something　or　other。　Mother　used　to　ask　them　if　they　had　met　Dad？　　None　ever　did　until　an　old　grey　man　came　along　and　said　he　knew　Dad　wellhe　had　camped　with　him　one　night　and　shared　a　damper。　　Mother　was　very　pleased　and　brought　him　in。　We　had　a　kangaroo…rat　（stewed）　for　dinner　that　day。　　The　girls　did　n't　want　to　lay　it　on　the　table　at　first；　but　Mother　said　he　would　n't　know　what　it　was。　　The　traveller　was　very　hungry　and　liked　it；　and　when　passing　his　plate　the　second　time　for　more；　said　it　was　n't　often　he　got　any　poultry。

He　tramped　on　again；　and　the　girls　were　very　glad　he　did　n't　know　it　was　a　rat。　　But　Dave　was　n't　so　sure　that　he　did　n't　know　a　rat　from　a　rooster；　and　reckoned　he　had　n't　met　Dad　at　all。

The　seventh　week　Dad　came　back。　　He　arrived　at　night；　and　the　lot　of　us　had　to　get　up　to　find　the　hammer　to　knock　the　peg　out　of　the　door　and　let　him　in。　　He　brought　home　three　poundsnot　enough　to　get　the　wire　with；　but　he　also　brought　a　horse　and　saddle。　　He　did　n't　say　if　he　bought　them。　It　was　a　bay　mare；　a　grand　animal　for　a　journeyso　Dad　saidand　only　wanted　condition。　　Emelina；　he　called　her。　　No　mistake；　she　was　a　quiet　mare！　　We　put　her　where　there　was　good　feed；　but　she　was　n't　one　that　fattened　on　grass。　　Birds　took　kindly　to　hercrows　mostlyand　she　could　n't　go　anywhere　but　a　flock　of　them　accompanied　her。　　Even　when　Dad　used　to　ride　her　（Dan　or　Dave　never　rode　her）　they　used　to　follow；　and　would　fly　on　ahead　to　wait　in　a　tree　and　〃caw〃　when　he　was　passing　beneath。

One　morning　when　Dan　was　digging　potatoes　for　dinnersplendid　potatoes　they　were；　too；　Dad　said；　he　had　only　once　tasted　sweeter　ones；　but　they　were　grown　in　a　cemeteryhe　found　the　kangaroos　had　been　in　the　barley。　We　knew　what　THAT　meant；　and　that　night　made　fires　round　it；　thinking　to　frighten　them　off；　but　did　n'tmobs　of　them　were　in　at　daybreak。　　Dad　swore　from　the　house　at　them；　but　they　took　no　notice；　and　when　he　ran　down；　they　just　hopped　over　the　fence　and　sat　looking　at　him。　　Poor　Dad！　I　do　n't　know　if　he　was　knocked　up　or　if　he　did　n't　know　any　more；　but　he　stopped　swearing　and　sat　on　a　stump　looking　at　a　patch　of　barley　they　had　destroyed；　and　shaking　his　head。　　Perhaps　he　was　thinking　if　he　only　had　a　dog！　　We　did　have　one　until　he　got　a　bait。　　Old　Crib！　　He　was　lying　under　the　table　at　supper…time　when　he　took　the　first　fit；　and　what　a　fright　we　got！　　He　must　have　reared　before　stiffening　out；　because　he　capsized　the　table　into　Mother's　lap；　and　everything　on　it　smashed　except　the　tin…plates　and　the　pints。　　The　lamp　fell　on　Dad；　too；　and　the　melted　fat　scalded　his　arm。　　Dad　dragged　Crib　out　and　cut　off　his　tail　and　ears；　but　he　might　as　well　have　taken　off　his　head。

Dad　stood　with　his　back　to　the　fire　while　Mother　was　putting　a　stitch　in　his　trousers。　　〃There's　nothing　for　it　but　to　watch　them　at　night；〃　he　was　saying；　when　old　Anderson　appeared　and　asked　〃if　I　could　have　those　few　pounds。〃　Dad　asked　Mother　if　she　had　any　money　in　the　house？　　Of　course　she　had　n't。　　Then　he　told　Anderson　he　would　let　him　have　it　when　he　got　the　deeds。　　Anderson　left；　and　Dad　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　sofa　and　seemed　to　be　counting　the　grains　on　a　corn…cob　that　he　lifted　from　the　floor；　while　Mother　sat　looking　at　a　kangaroo…tail　on　the　table　and　did　n't　notice　the　cat　drag　it　off。　　At　last　Dad　said；　〃Ah；　well！it　won't　be　long　now；　Ellen；　before　we　have　the　deeds！〃

We　took　it　in　turns　to　watch　the　barley。　　Dan　and　the　two　girls　watched　the　first　half　of　the　night；　and　Dad；　Dave　and　I　the　second。　　Dad　always　slept　in　his　clothes；　and　he　used　to　think　some　nights　that　the　others　came　in　before　time。　　It　was　terrible　going　out；　half　awake；　to　tramp　round　that　paddock　from　fire　to　fire；　from　hour　to　hour；　shouting　and　yelling。　　And　how　we　used　to　long　for　daybreak！　　Whenever　we　sat　down　quietly　together　for　a　few　minutes　we　would　hear　the　dull　THUD！　　THUD！　THUD！the　kangaroo's　footstep。

At　last　we　each　carried　a　kerosene　tin；　slung　like　a　kettle…drum；　and　belted　it　with　a　waddyDad's　idea。　　He　himself　manipulated　an　old　bell　that　he　had　found　on　a　bullock's　grave；　and　made　a　splendid　noise　with　it。

It　was　a　hard　struggle；　but　we　succeeded　in　saving　the　bulk　of　the　barley；　and　cut　it　down　with　a　scythe　and　three　reaping…hooks。　　The　girls　helped　to　bind　it；　and　Jimmy　Mulcahy　carted　it　in　return　for　three　days'　binding　Dad　put　in　for　him。　　The　stack　was　n't　built　twenty…four　hours　when　a　score　of　somebody's　crawling　cattle　ate　their　way　up　to　their　tails　in　it。　We　took　the　hint　and　put　a　sapling　fence　round　it。

Again　Dad　decided　to　go　up　country　for　a　while。　　He　caught　Emelina　after　breakfast；　rolled　up　a　blanket；　told　us　to　watch　the　stack；　and　started。　The　crows　followed。

We　were　having　dinner。　　Dave　said；　〃Listen！〃　　We　listened；　and　it　seemed　as　though　all　the　crows　and　other　feathered　demons　of　the　wide　bush　were　engaged　in　a　mighty　scrimmage。　　〃Dad's　back！〃　Dan　said；　and　rushed　out　in　the　lead　of　a　stampede。

Emelina　was　back；　anyway；　with　the　swag　on；　but　Dad　was　n't。　　We　caught　her；　and　Dave　pointed　to　white　spots　all　over　the　saddle；　and　said〃Hanged　if　they　have　n't　been　ridin'　her！〃meaning　the　crows。

Mother　got　anxious；　and　sent　Dan　to　see　what　had　happened。　　Dan　found　Dad；　with　his　shirt　off；　at　a　pub　on　the　main　road；　wanting　to　fight　the　publican　for　a　hundred　pounds；　but　could　n't　persuade　him　to　come　home。　Two　men　brought　him　home　that　night　on　a　sheep…hurdle；　and　he　gave　up　the　idea　of　going　away。

After　all；　the　barley　turned　out　wellthere　was　a　good　price　that　year；　and　we　were　able　to　run　two　wires　round　the　paddock。

One　day　a　bulky　Government　letter　came。　　Dad　looked　surprised　and　pleased；　and　how　his　hand　trembled　as　he　broke　the　seal！　　〃THE　DEEDS！〃　he　said；　and　all　of　us　gathered　round　to　look　at　them。　　Dave　thought　they　were　like　the　inside　of　a　bear…skin　covered　with　writing。

Dad　said　he　would　ride　to　town　at　once；　and　went　for　Emelina。

〃Could　n't　y'　find　her；　Dad？〃　Dan　said；　seeing　him　return　without　the　mare。

Dad　cleared　his　throat；　but　did　n't　answer。　　Mother　asked　him。

〃Yes；　I　FOUND　her；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃DEAD。〃

The　crows　had　got　her　at　last。

He　wrapped　the　deeds　in　a　piece　of　rag　and　walked。

There　was　nothing；　scarcely；　that　he　did　n't　send　out　from　town；　and　Jimmy　Mulcahy　and　old　Anderson　many　and　many　times　after　that　borrowed　our　dray。

Now　Dad　regularly　curses　the　deeds　every　mail…day；　and　wishes　to　Heaven　he　had　never　got　them。




Chapter　IV。



When　the　Wolf　was　at　the　Door。


There　had　been　a　long　stretch　of　dry　weather；　and　we　were　cleaning　out　the　waterhole。　　Dad　was　down　the　hole　shovelling　up　the　dirt；　Joe　squatted　on　the　brink　catching　flies　and　letting　them　go　again　without　their　wingsa　favourite　amusement　of　his；　while　Dan　and　Dave　cut　a　drain　to　turn　the　water　that　ran　off　the　ridge　into　the　holewhen　it　rained。　　Dad　was　feeling　dry；　and　told