on our selection-第3章

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to　turn　the　water　that　ran　off　the　ridge　into　the　holewhen　it　rained。　　Dad　was　feeling　dry；　and　told　Joe　to　fetch　him　a　drink。

Joe　said：　　〃See　first　if　this　cove　can　fly　with　only　one　wing。〃　Then　he　went；　but　returned　and　said：　　〃There's　no　water　in　the　bucketMother　used　the　last　drop　to　boil　th'　punkins；〃　and　renewed　the　fly…catching。　　Dad　tried　to　spit；　and　was　going　to　say　something　when　Mother；　half…way　between　the　house　and　the　waterhole；　cried　out　that　the　grass　paddock　was　all　on　fire。　　〃So　it　is；　Dad！〃　said　Joe；　　slowly　but　surely　dragging　the　head　off　a　fly　with　finger　and　thumb。

Dad　scrambled　out　of　the　hole　and　looked。　　〃Good　God！〃　was　all　he　said。　How　he　ran！　　All　of　us　rushed　after　him　except　Joehe　could　n't　run　very　well；　because　the　day　before　he　had　ridden　fifteen　miles　on　a　poor　horse；　bare…back。　　When　near　the　fire　Dad　stopped　running　to　break　a　green　bush。　He　hit　upon　a　tough　one。　　Dad　was　in　a　hurry。　　The　bush　was　n't。　　Dad　swore　and　tugged　with　all　his　might。　　Then　the　bush　broke　and　Dad　fell　heavily　upon　his　back　and　swore　again。

To　save　the　cockatoo　fence　that　was　round　the　cultivation　was　what　was　troubling　Dad。　　Right　and　left　we　fought　the　fire　with　boughs。　　Hot！　　It　was　hellish　hot！　　Whenever　there　was　a　lull　in　the　wind　we　worked。　　Like　a　wind…mill　Dad's　bough　movedand　how　he　rushed　for　another　when　one　was　used　up！　　Once　we　had　the　fire　almost　under　control；　but　the　wind　rose　again；　and　away　went　the　flames　higher　and　faster　than　ever。

〃It's　no　use；〃　said　Dad　at　last；　placing　his　hand　on　his　head；　and　throwing　down　his　bough。　　We　did　the　same；　then　stood　and　watched　the　fence　go。　After　supper　we　went　out　again　and　saw　it　still　burning。　　Joe　asked　Dad　if　he　did　n't　think　it　was　a　splendid　sight？　　Dad　did　n't　answer　himhe　did　n't　seem　conversational　that　night。

We　decided　to　put　the　fence　up　again。　　Dan　had　sharpened　the　axe　with　a　broken　file；　and　he　and　Dad　were　about　to　start　when　Mother　asked　them　what　was　to　be　done　about　flour？　　She　said　she　had　shaken　the　bag　to　get　enough　to　make　scones　for　that　morning's　breakfast；　and　unless　some　was　got　somewhere　there　would　be　no　bread　for　dinner。

Dad　reflected；　while　Dan　felt　the　edge　on　the　axe　with　his　thumb。

Dad　said；　〃Won't　Missus　Dwyer　let　you　have　a　dishful　until　we　get　some？〃

〃No；〃　Mother　answered；　〃I　can't　ask　her　until　we　send　back　what　we　owe　them。〃

Dad　reflected　again。　　〃The　Andersons；　then？〃　he　said。

Mother　shook　her　head　and　asked　what　good　there　was　it　sending　to　them　when　they；　only　that　morning；　had　sent　to　her　for　some？

〃Well；　we　must　do　the　best　we　can　at　present；〃　Dad　answered；　〃and　I'll　go　to　the　store　this　evening　and　see　what　is　to　be　done。〃

Putting　the　fence　up　again　in　the　hurry　that　Dad　was　in　was　the　very　devil！　　He　felled　the　saplingsand　such　saplings！TREES　many　of　them　werewhile　we；　〃all　of　a　muck　of　sweat；〃　dragged　them　into　line。　　Dad　worked　like　a　horse　himself；　and　expected　us　to　do　the　same。　　〃Never　mind　staring　about　you；〃　he'd　say；　if　he　caught　us　looking　at　the　sun　to　see　if　it　were　coming　dinner…time〃there's　no　time　to　lose　if　we　want　to　get　the　fence　up　and　a　crop　in。〃

Dan　worked　nearly　as　hard　as　Dad　until　he　dropped　the　butt…end　of　a　heavy　sapling　on　his　foot；　which　made　him　hop　about　on　one　leg　and　say　that　he　was　sick　and　tired　of　the　dashed　fence。　　Then　he　argued　with　Dad；　and　declared　that　it　would　be　far　better　to　put　a　wire…fence　up　at　once；　and　be　done　with　it；　instead　of　wasting　time　over　a　thing　that　would　only　be　burnt　down　again。　　〃How　long；〃　he　said；　〃will　it　take　to　get　the　posts？　Not　a　week；〃　and　he　hit　the　ground　disgustedly　with　a　piece　of　stick　he　had　in　his　hand。

〃Confound　it！〃　Dad　said；　〃have　n't　you　got　any　sense；　boy？　What　earthly　use　would　a　wire…fence　be　without　any　wire　in　it？〃

Then　we　knocked　off　and　went　to　dinner。

No　one　appeared　in　any　humour　to　talk　at　the　table。　　Mother　sat　silently　at　the　end　and　poured　out　the　tea　while　Dad；　at　the　head；　served　the　pumpkin　and　divided　what　cold　meat　there　was。　　Mother　would　n't　have　any　meatone　of　us　would　have　to　go　without　if　she　had　taken　any。

I　don't　know　if　it　was　on　account　of　Dan　arguing　with　him；　or　if　it　was　because　there　was　no　bread　for　dinner；　that　Dad　was　in　a　bad　temper；　anyway；　he　swore　at　Joe　for　coming　to　the　table　with　dirty　hands。　　Joe　cried　and　said　that　he　could　n't　wash　them　when　Dave；　as　soon　as　he　had　washed　　his；　had　thrown　the　water　out。　　Then　Dad　scowled　at　Dave；　and　Joe　passed　his　plate　along　for　more　pumpkin。

Dinner　was　almost　over　when　Dan；　still　looking　hungry；　grinned　and　asked　Dave　if　he　was　n't　going　to　have　some　BREAD？　　Whereupon　Dad　jumped　up　in　a　tearing　passion。　　〃Dn　your　insolence！〃　he　said　to　Dan；　〃make　a　jest　of　it；　would　you？〃

〃Who's　jestin'？〃　Dan　answered　and　grinned　again。

〃Go！〃　said　Dad；　furiously；　pointing　to　the　door；　〃leave　my　roof；　you　thankless　dog！〃

Dan　went　that　night。

It　was　only　upon　Dad　promising　faithfully　to　reduce　his　account　within　two　months　that　the　storekeeper　let　us　have　another　bag　of　flour　on　credit。　And　what　a　change　that　bag　of　flour　wrought！　　How　cheerful　the　place　became　all　at　once！　　And　how　enthusiastically　Dad　spoke　of　the　farm　and　the　prospects　of　the　coming　season！

Four　months　had　gone　by。　　The　fence　had　been　up　some　time　and　ten　acres　of　wheat　put　in；　but　there　had　been　no　rain；　and　not　a　grain　had　come　up；　or　was　likely　to。

Nothing　had　been　heard　of　Dan　since　his　departure。　　Dad　spoke　about　him　to　Mother。　　〃The　scamp！〃　he　said；　〃to　leave　me　just　when　I　wanted　helpafter　all　the　years　I've　slaved　to　feed　him　and　clothe　him；　see　what　thanks　I　get！　but；　mark　my　word；　he'll　be　glad　to　come　back　yet。〃　　But　Mother　would　never　say　anything　against　Dan。

The　weather　continued　dry。　　The　wheat　did　n't　come　up；　and　Dad　became　despondent　again。

The　storekeeper　called　every　week　and　reminded　Dad　of　his　promise。　　〃I　would　give　it　you　willingly；〃　Dad　would　say；　〃if　I　had　it；　Mr。　Rice；　but　what　can　I　do？　　You　can't　knock　blood　out　of　a　stone。〃

We　ran　short　of　tea；　and　Dad　thought　to　buy　more　with　the　money　Anderson　owed　him　for　some　fencing　he　had　done；　but　when　he　asked　for　it；　Anderson　was　very　sorry　he　had　n't　got　it　just　then；　but　promised　to　let　him　have　it　as　soon　as　he　could　sell　his　chaff。　　When　Mother　heard　Anderson　could　n't　pay；　she　DID　cry；　and　said　there　was　n't　a　bit　of　sugar　in　the　house；　nor　enough　cotton　to　mend　the　children's　bits　of　clothes。

We　could　n't　very　well　go　without　tea；　so　Dad　showed　Mother　how　to　make　a　new　kind。　　He　roasted　a　slice　of　bread　on　the　fire　till　it　was　like　a　black　coal；　then　poured　the　boiling　water　over　it　and　let　it　〃draw〃　well。　Dad　said　it　had　a　capital　flavourHE　liked　it。

Dave's　only　pair　of　pants　were　pretty　well　worn　off　him；　Joe　had　n't　a　decent　coat　for　Sunday；　Dad　himself　wore　a　pair　of　boots　with　soles　tied　on　with　wire；　and　Mother　fell　sick。　　Dad　did　all　he　couldwaited　on　her；　and　talked　hopefully　of　the　fortune　which　would　come　to　us　some　day；　but　once；　when　talking　to　Dave；　he　broke　down；　and　said　he　did　n't；　in　the　name　of　the　Almighty　God；　know　what　he　would　do！　　Dave　could　n't　say　anythinghe　moped　about；　too；　and　home　somehow　did　n't　seem　like　home　at　all。

When　Mother　was　sick　and　Dad's　time　was　mostly　taken　up　nursing　her；　when　there　was　nothing；　scarcely；　in　the　house；　when；　in　fact；　the　wolf　was　at　the　very　door；Dan　came　home　with　a　pocket　full　of　money　and　swag　full　of　greasy　clothes。　　How　Dad　shook　him　by　the　hand　and　welcomed　him　back！　And　how　Dan　talked　of　〃tallies〃；　〃belly…wool〃；　and　〃ringers〃　and　implored　Dad；　over　and　over　again；　to　go　shearing；　or　rolling　up；　or　branding　ANYTHING　rather　than　work　and　starve　on　the　selection。

That's　fifteen　years　ago；　and　Dad　is　still　on　the　farm。




Chapter　V。



The　Night　We　Watched　For　Wallabies。


It　had　been　a　bleak　July　day；　and　as　night　came　on　a　bitter　westerly　howled　through　the　trees。　　Cold！　was　n't　it　cold！　　The　pigs　in　the　sty；　hungry　and　half…fed　（we　wanted　for　ourselves　the　few　pumpkins　that　had　survived　the　drought）　fought　savagely　with　each　other　for　shelter；　and　squealed　all　the　time　likewell；　like　pigs。　　The　cows　and　calves　left　the　place　to　seek　shelter　away　in　the　mountains；　while　the　draught　horses；　their　hair　standing　up　like　barbed…wire；　leaned　sadly　over　the　fence　and　gazed　up　at　the　green　lucerne。　　Joe　went　about　shivering　in　an　old　coat　of　Dad's　with　only　one　sleeve　to　ita　calf　had　fancied　the　other　one　day　that　Dad　hung　it　on　a　post　as　a　mark　to　go　by　while　ploughing。

〃My！　it'll　be　a　stinger　to…night；〃　Dad　remarked　to　Mrs。　Brownwho　sat；　cold…looking；　on　the　sofaas　he　staggered　inside　with　an　immense　log　for　the　fire。　　A　log！　Nearer　a　whole　tree！　　But　wood　was　nothing　in　Dad's　eyes。

Mrs。　Brown　had　been　at　our　place　five　or　six　days。　　Old　Brown　called　occasionally　to　see　her；　so　we　knew　they　could　n't　have　quarrelled。　Sometimes　she　did　a　little　house…work；　but　more　often　she　did　n't。　　We　talked　it　over　together；　but　could　n't　make　it　out。　　Joe　asked　Mother；　but　she　had　no　ideaso　she　said。　　We　were　full　up；　as　Dave　put　it；　of　Mrs。　Brown；　and　wished　her　out　of　the　place。　　She　had　taken　to　ordering　us　about；　as　though　she　had　something　to　do　with　us。

After　supper　we　sat　round　the　fireas　near　to　it　as　we　could　without　burning　ourselvesMrs。　Brown　and　all；　and　listened　to　the　wind　whistling　outside。　　Ah；　it　was　pleasant　beside　the　fire　listening　to　the　wind！　　When　Dad　had　warmed　himself　back　and　front　he　turned　to　us　and　said：

〃Now；　boys；　we　must　go　directly　and　light　some　fires　and　keep　those　wallabies　back。〃

That　was　a　shock　to　us；　and　we　looked　at　him　to　see　if　he　were　really　in　earnest。　　He　was；　and　as　serious　as　a　judge。

〃　TO…NIGHT！〃　Dave　answered；　surprisedly〃why　to…night　any　more　than　last　night　or　the　night　before？　　Thought　you　had　decided　to　let　them　rip？〃

〃Yes；　but　we　might　as　well　keep　them　off　a　bit　longer。〃

〃But　there's　no　wheat　there　for　them　to　get　now。　　So　what's　the　good　of　watching　them？　　There's　no　sense　in　THAT。〃

Dad　was　immovable。

〃Anyway〃whined　Joe〃　I'M　not　goingnot　a　night　like　thisnot　when　I　ain't　got　boots。〃

That　vexed　Dad。　　〃Hold　your　tongue；　sir！〃　he　said〃you'll　do　as　you're　told。〃

But　Dave　had　n't　finished。　　〃I've　been　following　that　harrow　since　sunrise　this　morning；〃　he　said；　〃and　now　you　want　me　to　go　chasing　wallabies　about　in　the　dark；　a　night　like　this；　and　for　nothing　else　but　to　keep　them　from　eating　the　ground。　　It's　always　the　way　here；　the　more　one　does　the　more　he's　wanted　to　do；〃　and　he　commenced　to　cry。　　Mrs。　Brown　had　something　to　say。　　SHE　agreed　with　Dad　and　thought　we　ought　to　go；　as　the　wheat　might　spring　up　again。

〃Pshah！〃　Dave　blurted　out　between　his　sobs；　while　we　thought　of　telling　her　to　shut　her　mouth。

Slowly　and　reluctantly　we　left　that　roaring　fireside　to　accompany　Dad　that　bitter　night。　　It　WAS　a　night！dark　as　pitch；　silent；　forlorn　and　forbidding；　and　colder　than　the　busiest　morgue。　　And　just　to　keep　wallabies　from　eating　nothing！　　They　HAD　eaten　all　the　wheatevery　blade　of　itand　the　grass　as　well。　　What　they　would　start　on　nextourselves　or　the　cart…harnesswas　n't　quite　clear。

We　stumbled　along　in　the　dark　one　behind　the　other；　with　our　hands　stuffed　into　our　trousers。　　Dad　was　in　the　lea