on our selection-第6章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


me　some　day　and　find　us　all　on　the　floor　with　our　throats　cut。〃

〃Pshaw！〃　Dad　answered；　〃what's　the　use　of　talking　like　that？〃　Then　to　Dave：　　〃Go　out　and　see　if　he's　in　the　barn！〃

Dave　fidgetted。　　He　did　n't　like　the　idea。　　Joe　giggled。

〃Surely　you're　not　FRIGHTENED？〃　Dad　shouted。

Dave　coloured　up。

〃Nodon't　think　so；〃　he　said；　and；　after　a　pause；　〃YOU　go　and　see。〃

It　was　Dad's　turn　to　feel　uneasy。　　He　pretended　to　straighten　the　fire；　and　coughed　several　times。　　〃Perhaps　it's　just　as　well；〃　he　said；　〃to　let　him　be　to…night。〃

Of　course；　Dad　was　n't　afraid；　he　SAID　he　was　n't；　but　he　drove　the　pegs　in　the　doors　and　windows　before　going　to　bed　that　night。

Next　morning；　Dad　said　to　Dave　and　Joe；　〃Come　'long；　and　we'll　see　where　he's　got　to。〃

In　a　gully　at　the　back　of　the　grass…paddock　they　found　him。　　He　was　ploughingsitting　astride　the　highest　limb　of　a　fallen　tree；　and；　in　a　hoarse　voice　and　strange；　calling　out〃Gee；　Captain！come　here；　Tidy！WA…AY！〃

〃Blowed　if　I　know；〃　Dad　muttered；　coming　to　a　standstill。　　〃Wonder　if　he　is　clean　mad？〃

Dave　was　speechless；　and　Joe　began　to　tremble。

They　listened。　　And　as　the　man's　voice　rang　out　in　the　quiet　gully　and　the　echoes　rumbled　round　the　ridge　and　the　affrighted　birds　flew　up；　the　place　felt　eerie　somehow。

〃It's　no　use　bein'　afraid　of　him；〃　Dad　went　on。　　〃We　must　go　and　bounce　him；　that's　all。〃　But　there　was　a　tremor　in　Dad's　voice　which　Dave　did　n't　like。

〃See　if　he　knows　us；　anyway。〃and　Dad　shouted；　〃HEY…Y！〃

Jack　looked　up　and　immediately　scrambled　from　the　limb。　　That　was　enough　for　Dave。　　He　turned　and　made　tracks。　　So　did　Dad　and　Joe。　　They　ran。　No　one　could　have　run　harder。　　Terror　overcame　Joe。　　He　squealed　and　grabbed　hold　of　Dad's　shirt；　which　was　ballooning　in　the　wind。

〃Let　go！〃　Dad　gasped。　　〃DAMN　Y'；　let　me　GO！　　〃trying　to　shake　him　off。　But　Joe　had　great　faith　in　his　parent；　and　clung　to　him　closely。

When　they　had　covered　a　hundred　yards　or　so；　Dave　glanced　back；　and　seeing　that　Jack　was　n't　pursuing　them；　stopped　and　chuckled　at　the　others。

〃Eh？〃　Dad　said；　completely　winded〃Eh？〃　　Then　to　Dave；　when　he　got　some　breath：

〃Well；　you　ARE　an　ass　of　a　fellow。　　（PUFF！）。　　What　th'　DEVIL　did　y'　RUN　f'？〃

〃Wot　did　I　run　f'？　　What　did　YOU　run　f'？〃

〃Bah！〃　and　Dad　boldly　led　the　way　back。

〃Now　look　here　（turning　fiercely　upon　Joe）；　don't　you　come　catching　hold　of　me　again；　or　if　y'　DO　I'll　knock　y'r　dd　head　off！。。。Clear　home　altogether；　and　get　under　the　bed　if　y're　as　frightened　as　THAT。〃

Joe　slunk　behind。

But　when　Dad　DID　approach　Jack；　which　was　n't　until　he　had　talked　a　great　deal　to　him　across　a　big　log；　the　latter　did　n't　show　any　desire　to　take　life；　but　allowed　himself　to　be　escorted　home　and　locked　in　the　barn　quietly　enough。

Dad　kept　Jack　confined　in　the　barn　several　days；　and　if　anyone　approached　the　door　or　the　cracks　he　would　ask：

〃Is　me　father　there　yet？〃

〃Your　father's　dead　and　buried　long　ago；　man；〃　Dad　used　to　tell　him。

〃Yes；〃　he　would　say；　〃but　he's　alive　again。　　The　missus　keeps　him　in　there〃indicating　the　house。

And　sometimes　when　Dad　was　not　about　Joe　would　put　his　mouth　to　a　crack　and　say：

〃Here's　y'r　FATHER；　Jack！〃　　Then；　like　a　caged　beast；　the　man　would　howl　and　tramp　up　and　down；　his　eyes　starting　　out　of　his　head；　while　Joe　would　bolt　inside　and　tell　Mother　that　〃Jack's　getting　out；〃；　and　nearly　send　her　to　her　grave。

But　one　day　Jack　DID　get　out；　and；　while　Mother　and　Sal　were　ironing　came　to　the　door　with　the　axe　on　his　shoulder。

They　dropped　the　irons　and　shrank　into　a　corner　and　cowered　piteouslytoo　scared　even　to　cry　out。

He　took　no　notice　of　them；　but；　moving　stealthily　on　tip…toes；　approached　the　bedroom　door　and　peeped　in。　　He　paused　just　a　moment　to　grip　the　axe　with　both　hands。　　Then　with　a　howl　and　a　bound　he　entered　the　room　and　shattered　the　looking…glass　into　fragments。

He　bent　down　and　looked　closely　at　the　pieces。

〃He's　dead　now；〃　he　said　calmly；　and　walked　out。　　Then　he　went　to　work　at　the　post…holes　again；　just　as　though　nothing　had　happened。

Fifteen　years　have　passed　since　then；　and　the　man　is　still　at　Shingle　Hut。　He　was　the　best　horse　Dad　ever　had。　　He　slaved　from　daylight　till　dark；　keeps　no　Sunday；　knows　no　companion；　lives　chiefly　on　meat　and　machine　oil；　domiciles　in　the　barn；　and　has　never　asked　for　a　rise　in　his　wages。　His　name　we　never　knew。　　We　call　him　〃Jack。〃　The　neighbours　called　him　〃CRANKY　Jack。〃




Chapter　VIII。



A　Kangaroo…Hunt　from　Shingle　Hut。


We　always　looked　forward　to　Sunday。　　It　was　our　day　of　sport。　　Once；　I　remember；　we　thought　it　would　never　come。　　We　longed　restlessly　for　it；　and　the　more　we　longed　the　more　it　seemed　to　linger。

A　meeting　of　selectors　had　been　held；　war　declared　against　the　marsupial；　and　a　hunt　on　a　grand　scale　arranged　for　this　particular　Sabbath。　　Of　course　those　in　the　neighbourhood　hunted　the　kangaroo　every　Sunday；　but　〃on　their　own；〃　and　always　on　foot；　which　had　its　fatigues。　　This　was　to　be　a　raid　EN　MASSE　and　on　horseback。　　The　whole　country…side　was　to　assemble　at　Shingle　Hut　and　proceed　thence。　　It　assembled；　and　what　a　collection！　　Such　a　crowd！　such　gear！　such　a　tame　lot　of　horses！　and　such　a　motley　swarm　of　lean；　lank；　lame　kangaroo…dogs！

We　were　not　ready。　　The　crowd　sat　on　their　horses　and　waited　at　the　slip…rails。　　Dogs　trooped　into　the　yard　by　the　dozen。　　One　pounced　on　a　fowl；　another　lamed　the　pig；　a　trio　put　the　cat　up　a　peach…tree；　one　with　a　thirst　mounted　the　water…cask　and　looked　down　it；　while　the　bulk　of　the　brutes　trotted　inside　and　disputed　with　Mother　who　should　open　the　safe。

Dad　loosed　our　three；　and　pleased　they　were　to　feel　themselves　free。　　They　had　been　chained　up　all　the　week；　with　scarcely　anything　to　eat。　　Dad　did　n't　believe　in　too　much　feeding。　　He　had　had　wide　experience　in　dogs　and　coursing　〃at　home〃　on　his　grandfather's　large　estates；　and　always　found　them　fleetest　when　empty。　　OURS　ought　to　have　been　fleet　as　locomotives。

Dave；　showing　a　neat　seat；　rode　out　of　the　yard　on　Bess；　fresh　and　fat　and　fit　to　run　for　a　kingdom。　　They　awaited　Dad。　　He　was　standing　beside　HIS　mountFarmer；　the　plough…horse；　who　was　arrayed　in　winkers　with　green…hide　reins；　and　an　old　saddle　with　only　one　flap。　　He　was　holding　an　earnest　argument　with　Joe。。。Still　the　crowd　waited。　　Still　Dad　and　Joe　argued　the　point。。。There　was　a　murmur　and　a　movement　and　much　merriment。　Dad　was　coming；　so　was　Joeperched　behind　him；　〃double　bank；〃　rapidly　wiping　the　tears　from　his　eyes　with　his　knuckles。

Hooray！　　They　were　off。　　Paddy　Maloney　and　Dave　took　the　lead；　heading　for　kangaroo　country　along　the　foot　of　Dead　Man's　Mountain　and　through　Smith's　paddock；　where　there　was　a　low　wire　fence　to　negotiate。　　Paddy　spread　his　coat　over　it　and　jumped　his　mare　across。　　He　was　a　horseman；　was　Pat。　The　others　twisted　a　stick　in　the　wires；　and　proceeded　carefully　to　lead　their　horses　over。　　When　it　came　to　Farmer's　turn　he　hesitated。　　Dad　coaxed　him。　　Slowly　he　put　one　leg　across；　as　if　feeling　his　way；　and　paused　again。　　Joe　was　on　his　back　behind　the　saddle。　　Dad　tugged　hard　at　the　winkers。　　Farmer　was　inclined　to　withdraw　his　leg。　　Dad　was　determined　not　to　let　him。　　Farmer's　heel　got　caught　against　the　wire；　and　he　began　to　pull　back　and　gruntso　did　Dad。　　Both　pulled　hard。　　Anderson　and　old　Brown　ran　to　Dad's　assistance。　　The　trio　planted　their　heels　in　the　ground　and　leaned　back。

Joe　became　afraid。　　He　clutched　at　the　saddle　and　cried；　〃Let　me　off！〃　〃Stick　to　him！〃　said　Paddy　Maloney；　hopping　over　the　fence；　〃Stick　to　him！〃　He　kicked　Farmer　what　he　afterwards　called　〃a　sollicker　on　the　tail。〃　Again　he　kicked　him。　　Still　Farmer　strained　and　hung　back。　　Once　more　he　let　him　have　it。　　Thenoff　flew　the　winkers；　and　over　went　Dad　and　Anderson　and　old　Brown；　and　down　rolled　Joe　and　Farmer　on　the　other　side　of　the　fence。　　The　others　leant　against　their　horses　and　laughed　the　laugh　of　their　lives。　　〃Worse　'n　a　lot　of　dd　jackasses；〃　Dad　was　heard　to　say。　They　caught　Farmer　and　led　him　to　the　fence　again。　　He　jumped　it；　and　rose　feet　higher　than　he　had　any　need　to；　and　had　not　old　Brown　dodged　him　just　when　he　did　he　would　be　a　dead　man　now。

A　little　further　on　the　huntsmen　sighted　a　mob　of　kangaroos。　　Joy　and　excitement。　　A　mob？　　It　was　a　swarm！　　Away　they　hopped。　　Off　scrambled　the　dogs；　and　off　flew　Paddy　Maloney　and　Davethe　rest　followed　anyhow；　and　at　varying　speeds。

That　all　those　dogs　should　have　selected　and　followed　the　same　kangaroo　was　sad　and　humiliating。　　And　such　a　waif　of　a　thing；　too！　　Still；　they　stuck　to　it。　　For　more　than　a　mile；　down　a　slope；　the　weedy　marsupial　outpaced　them；　but　when　it　came　to　the　hill　the　daylight　between　rapidly　began　to　lessen。　　A　few　seconds　more　and　all　would　have　been　over；　but　a　straggling；　stupid　old　ewe；　belonging　to　an　unneighbourly　squatter；　darted　up　from　the　shade　of　a　tree　right　in　the　way　of　Maloney's　Brindle；　who　was　leading。　　Brindle　always　preferred　mutton　to　marsupial；　so　he　let　the　latter　slide　and　secured　the　ewe。　　The　death…scene　was　most　imposing。　The　ground　around　was　strewn　with　small　tufts　of　white　wool。　　There　was　a　complete　circle　of　eager；　wriggling　dogsall　jammed　together；　heads　down；　and　tails　elevated。　　Not　a　scrap　of　the　ewe　was　visible。　　Paddy　Maloney　jumped　down　and　proceeded　to　batter　the　brutes　vigorously　with　a　waddy。　As　the　others　arrived；　they　joined　him。　　The　dogs　were　hungry；　and　fought　for　every　inch　of　the　sheep。　　Those　not　laid　out　were　pulled　away；　and！　when　old　Brown　had　dragged　the　last　one　off　by　the　hind　legs；　all　that　was　left　of　that　ewe　was　four　feet　and　some　skin。

Dad　shook　his　head　and　looked　graveso　did　Anderson。　　After　a　short　rest　they　decided　to　divide　into　parties　and　work　the　ridges。　　A　start　was　made。　Dad's　contingentconsisting　of　himself　and　Joe；　Paddy　Maloney；　Anderson；　old　Brown；　and　several　othersstarted　a　mob。　　This　time　the　dogs　separated　and　scampered　off　in　all　directions。　　In　quick　time　　Brown's　black　slut　bailed　up　an　〃old　man〃　full　of　fight。　　Nothing　was　more　desirable。　　He　was　a　monster；　a　king　kangaroo；　and　as　he　raised　himself　to　his　full　height　on　his　toes　and　tail　he　looked　formidablea　grand　and　majestic　demon　of　the　bush。　　The　slut　made　no　attempt　to　tackle　him；　she　stood　off　with　her　tongue　out。　　Several　small　dogs　belonging　to　Anderson　barked　energetically　at　him；　even　venturing　occasionally　to　run　behind　and　bite　his　tail。　　But；　further　than　grabbing　them　in　his　arms　and　embracing　them；　he　took　no　notice。　　There　he　towered；　his　head　back　and　chest　well　out；　awaiting　the　horsemen。　　They　came；　shouting　and　hooraying。　　He　faced　them　defiantly。　Anderson；　aglow　with　excitement；　dismounted　and　aimed　a　lump　of　rock　at　his　head；　which　laid　out　one　of　the　little　dogs。　　They　pelted　him　with　sticks　and　stones　till　their　arms　were　tired；　but　they　might　just　as　well　have　pelted　a　dead　cow。　　Paddy　Maloney　took　out　his　stirrup。　　〃Look　out！〃　he　cried。　　They　looked　out。　　Then；　galloping　up；　he　swung　the　iron　at　the　marsupial；　and　nearly　knocked　his　horse's　eye　out。

Dad　was　disgusted。　　He　and　Joe　approached　the　enemy　on　Farmer。　　Dad　carried　a　short　stick。　　The　〃old　man〃　looked　him　straight　in　the　face。　　Dad　poked　the　stick　at　him。　　He　promptly　grabbed　hold　of　it；　and　a　piece　of　D