on our selection-第7章

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straight　in　the　face。　　Dad　poked　the　stick　at　him。　　He　promptly　grabbed　hold　of　it；　and　a　piece　of　Dad's　hand　as　well。　　Farmer　had　not　been　in　many　battlesno　Defence　Force　man　ever　owned　him。　　He　threw　up　his　head　and　snorted；　and　commenced　a　retreat。　The　kangaroo　followed　　him　up　and　seized　Dad　by　the　shirt。　　Joe　evinced　signs　of　timidity。　　He　lost　faith　in　Dad；　and；　half　jumping；　half　falling；　he　landed　on　the　ground；　and　set　out　speedily　for　a　tree。　　Dad　lost　the　stick；　and　in　attempting　to　brain　the　brute　with　his　fist　he　overbalanced　and　fell　out　of　the　saddle。　　He　struggled　to　his　feet；　and　clutched　his　antagonist　affectionately　by　both　pawsstanding　well　away。　　Backwards　and　forwards　and　round　and　round　they　moved。　　〃Use　your　knife！〃　Anderson　called　out；　getting　further　away　himself。　　But　Dad　dared　not　relax　his　grip。　　Paddy　Maloney　ran　behind　the　brute　several　times　to　lay　him　out　with　a　waddy；　but　each　time　he　turned　and　fled　before　striking　the　blow。　Dad　thought　to　force　matters；　and　began　kicking　his　assailant　vigorously　in　the　stomach。　　Such　dull；　heavy　thuds！　　The　kangaroo　retaliated；　putting　Dad　on　the　defensive。　　Dad　displayed　remarkable　suppleness　about　the　hips。　At　last　the　brute　fixed　his　deadly　toe　in　Dad's　belt。

It　was　an　anxious　moment；　but　the　belt　broke；　and　Dad　breathed　freely　again。　　He　was　acting　entirely　on　the　defensive；　but　an　awful　consciousness　of　impending　misfortune　assailed　him。　　His　belt　was　gone；　andhis　trousers　began　to　slipslipslip！　　He　called　wildly　to　the　others　for　God's　sake　to　do　something。　　They　helped　with　advice。　　He　yelled　〃Curs！〃　and　〃Cowards！〃　back　at　them。　　Still；　as　he　danced　around　with　his　strange　and　ungainly　partner；　his　trousers　kept　slippingslipping。　　For　the　fiftieth　time　and　more　he　glanced　eagerly　over　his　shoulder　for　some　haven　of　safety。　　None　was　near。　　And　thenoh；　horror！down　THEY　slid　calmly　and　noiselessly。　　Poor　Dad！　　He　was　at　a　disadvantage；　his　leg　work　was　hampered。　　He　was　hobbled。　　Could　he　only　get　free　of　them　altogether！　But　he　could　n'this　feet　were　large。　　He　took　a　lesson　from　the　foe　and　jumpedjumped　this　way　and　that　way；　and　round　about；　while　large　drops　of　perspiration　rolled　off　him。　　The　small　dogs　displayed　renewed　and　ridiculous　ferocity；　often　mistaking　Dad　for　the　marsupial。　　At　last　Dad　became　exhaustedthere　was　no　spring　left　in　him。　　Once　he　nearly　went　down。　　Twice　he　tripped。　　He　staggered　againdown　he　was　goingdowndown；　down　and　down　he　fell！　　But　at　the　same　moment；　and；　as　though　they　had　dropped　from　the　clouds；　Brindle　and　five　or　six　other　dogs　pounced　on　the　〃old　man。〃　　The　rest　may　be　imagined。

Dad　lay　on　the　ground　to　recover　his　wind；　and　when　he　mounted　Farmer　again　and　silently　turned　for　home；　Paddy　Maloney　was　triumphantly　seated　on　the　carcase　of　the　fallen　enemy；　exultingly　explaining　how　he　missed　the　brute's　head　with　the　stirrup…iron；　and　claiming　the　tail。




Chapter　IX。



Dave's　Snakebite。


One　hot　day；　as　we　were　finishing　dinner；　a　sheriff's　bailiff　rode　up　to　the　door。　　Norah　saw　him　first。　　She　was　dressed　up　ready　to　go　over　to　Mrs。　Anderson's　to　tea。　　Sometimes　young　Harrison　had　tea　at　Anderson's　Thursdays；　usually。　　This　was　Thursday；　and　Norah　was　starting　early；　because　it　was　〃a　good　step　of　a　way〃。

She　reported　the　visitor。　　Dad　left　the　table；　munching　some　bread；　and　went　out　to　him。　　Mother　looked　out　of　the　door；　Sal　went　to　the　window；　Little　Bill　and　Tom　peeped　through　a　crack；　Dave　remained　at　his　dinner；　and　Joe　knavishly　seized　the　opportunity　of　exploring　the　table　for　leavings；　finally　seating　himself　in　Dad's　place；　and　commencing　where　Dad　had　left　off。

〃Jury　summons；〃　said　the　meek　bailiff；　extracting　a　paper　from　his　breast…pocket；　and　reading；　〃Murtagh　Joseph　Rudd；　selector；　Shingle　Hut。。。Correct？〃

Dad　nodded　assent。

〃Got　any　water？〃

There　was　n't　a　drop　in　the　cask；　so　Dad　came　in　and　asked　Mother　if　there　was　any　tea　left。　　She　pulled　a　long；　solemn；　Sunday…school　face；　and　looked　at　Joe；　who　was　holding　the　teapot　upside…down；　shaking　the　tea…leaves　into　his　cup。

〃Tea；　Dad？〃　he　chuckled〃by　golly！〃

Dad　did　n't　think　it　worth　while　going　out　to　the　bailiff　again。　He　sent　Joe。

〃Not　any　at　all？〃

〃Nothink；〃　said　Joe。

〃H'm！　　Nulla　bona；　eh？〃　And　the　Law　smiled　at　its　own　joke　and　went　off　thirsty。

Thus　it　was　that　Dad　came　to　be　away　one　day　when　his　great　presence　of　mind　and　ability　as　a　bush　doctor　was　most　required　at　Shingle　Hut。

Dave　took　Dad's　place　at　the　plough。　　One　of　the　horsesa　colt　that　Dad　bought　with　the　money　he　got　for　helping　with　Anderson's　crophad　only　just　been　broken。　　He　was　bad　at　starting。　　When　touched　with　the　rein　he　would　stand　and　wait　until　the　old　furrow…horse　put　in　a　few　steps；　then　plunge　to　get　ahead　of　him；　and　if　a　chain　or　a　swingle…tree　or　something　else　did　n't　break；　and　Dave　kept　the　plough　in；　he　ripped　and　tore　along　in　style；　bearing　in　and　bearing　out；　　and　knocking　the　old　horse　about　till　that　much…enduring　animal　became　as　cranky　as　himself；　and　the　pace　terrible。　　Down　would　go　the　plough…handles；　and；　with　one　tremendous　pull　on　the　reins；　Dave　would　haul　them　back　on　to　their　rumps。　　Then　he　would　rush　up　and　kick　the　colt　on　the　root　of　the　tail；　and　if　that　did　n't　make　him　put　his　leg　over　the　chains　and　kick　till　he　ran　a　hook　into　his　heel　and　lamed　himself；　or　broke　something；　it　caused　him　to　rear　up　and　fall　back　on　the　plough　and　snort　and　strain　and　struggle　till　there　was　not　a　stitch　left　on　him　but　the　winkers。

Now；　if　Dave　was　noted　for　one　thing　more　than　another　it　was　for　his　silence。　　He　scarcely　ever　took　the　trouble　to　speak。　　He　hated　to　be　asked　a　question；　and　mostly　answered　by　nodding　his　head。　　Yet；　though　he　never　seemed　to　practise；　he　could；　when　his　blood　was　fairly　up；　swear　with　distinction　and　effect。　　On　this　occasion　he　swore　through　the　whole　afternoon　without　repeating　himself。

Towards　evening　Joe　took　the　reins　and　began　to　drive。　　He　had　n't　gone　once　around　when；　just　as　the　horses　approached　a　big　dead　tree　that　had　been　left　standing　in　the　cultivation；　he　planted　his　left　foot　heavily　upon　a　Bathurst…burr　that　had　been　cut　and　left　lying。　　It　clung　to　him。　He　hopped　along　on　one　leg；　trying　to　kick　it　off；　still　it　clung　to　him。　He　fell　down。　　The　horses　and　the　tree　got　mixed　up；　and　everything　was　confusion。

Dave　abused　Joe　remorselessly。　　〃Go　on！〃　he　howled；　waving　in　the　air　a　fistful　of　grass　and　weeds　which　he　had　pulled　from　the　nose　of　the　plough；　〃clear　out　of　this　altogether！you're　only　a　damn　nuisance。〃

Joe's　eyes　rested　on　the　fistful　of　grass。　　They　lit　up　suddenly。

〃L…l…look　out；　Dave；〃　he　stuttered；　〃y'…y'　got　a　s…s…snake。〃

Dave　dropped　the　grass　promptly。　　A　deaf…adder　crawled　out　of　it。　　Joe　killed　it。　　Dave　looked　closely　at　his　hand；　which　was　all　scratches　and　scars。　　He　looked　at　it　again；　then　he　sat　on　the　beam　of　the　plough；　pale　and　miserable…looking。

〃D…d…did　it　bite　y'；　Dave？〃　　No　answer。

Joe　saw　a　chance　to　distinguish　himself；　and　took　it。　　He　ran　home；　glad　to　be　the　bearer　of　the　news；　and　told　Mother　that　〃Dave's　got　bit　by　a　addera　sudden…death　adderright　on　top　o'　the　finger。〃

How　Mother　screamed！　　〃My　God！　　whatever　shall　we　do？　　Run　quick；〃　she　said；　〃and　bring　Mr。　Maloney。　　Dear！　oh　dear！　oh　dear！〃

Joe　had　not　calculated　on　this　injunction。　　He　dropped　his　head　and　said　sullenly：　　〃Wot；　walk　all　the　way　over　there？〃

Before　he　could　say　another　word　a　tin…dish　left　a　dinge　on　the　back　of　his　skull　that　will　accompany　him　to　his　grave　if　he　lives　to　be　a　thousand。

〃You　wretch；　you！　　Why　don't　you　run　when　I　tell　you？〃

Joe　sprang　in　the　air　like　a　shot　wallaby。

〃I'll　not　go　AT　ALL　nowy'　see！〃　he　answered；　starting　to　cry。　　Then　Sal　put　on　her　hat　and　ran　for　Maloney。

Meanwhile　Dave　took　the　horses　out；　walked　inside；　and　threw　himself　on　the　sofa　without　uttering　a　word。　　He　felt　ill。

Mother　was　in　a　paroxysm　of　fright。　　She　threw　her　arms　about　frantically　and　cried　for　someone　to　come。　　At　　last　she　sat　down　and　tried　to　think　what　she　could　do。　　She　thought　of　the　very　thing；　and　ran　for　the　carving…knife；　which　she　handed　to　Dave　with　shut　eyes。　　He　motioned　her　with　a　disdainful　movement　of　the　elbow　to　take　it　away。

Would　Maloney　never　come！　　He　was　coming；　hat　in　hand；　and　running　for　dear　life　across　the　potato…paddock。　　Behind　him　was　his　man。　　Behind　his　manSal；　out　of　breath。　　Behind　her；　Mrs。　Maloney　and　the　children。

〃Phwat's　the　thrubble？〃　cried　Maloney。　　〃Bit　be　a　difadher？　　O；　be　the　tares　of　war！〃　　Then　he　asked　Dave　numerous　questions　as　to　how　it　happened；　which　Joe　answered　with　promptitude　and　pride。　　Dave　simply　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　turned　his　face　to　the　wall。　　Nothing　was　to　be　got　out　of　him。

Maloney　held　a　short　consultation　with　himself。　　Then〃Hould　up　yer　hand！〃　he　said；　bending　over　Dave　with　a　knife。　　Dave　thrust　out　his　arm　violently；　knocked　the　instrument　to　the　other　side　of　the　room；　and　kicked　wickedly。

〃The　pison's　wurrkin'；〃　whispered　Maloney　quite　loud。

〃Oh；　my　gracious！〃　groaned　Mother。

〃The　poor　crathur；〃　said　Mrs。　Maloney。

There　was　a　pause。

〃Phwhat　finger's　bit？〃　asked　Maloney。　　Joe　thought　it　was　the　littlest　one　of　the　lot。

He　approached　the　sofa　again；　knife　in　hand。

〃Show　me　yer　finger；〃　he　said　to　Dave。

For　the　first　time　Dave　spoke。　　He　said：

〃Damn　y'what　the　devil　do　y'　want？　　Clear　out　and　lea'　me　'lone。〃

Maloney　hesitated。　　There　was　a　long　silence。　　Dave　commenced　breathing　heavily。

〃It's　maikin'　'm　slape；〃　whispered　Maloney；　glancing　over　his　shoulder　at　the　women。

〃Don't　let　him！　　Don't　let　him！〃　　Mother　wailed。

〃Salvation　to　's　all！〃　muttered　Mrs。　Maloney；　piously　crossing　herself。

Maloney　put　away　the　knife　and　beckoned　to　his　man；　who　was　looking　on　from　the　door。　　They　both　took　a　firm　　hold　of　Dave　and　stood　him　upon　his　feet。　　He　looked　hard　and　contemptuously　at　Maloney　for　some　seconds。　Then　with　gravity　and　deliberation　Dave　said：　　〃Now　wot　'n　th'　devil　are　y'　up　t'？　　Are　y'　mad？〃

〃Walk　'm　along；　Jaimeswalk　'malong；〃　was　all　Maloney　had　to　say。　　And　out　into　the　yard　they　marched　him。　　How　Dave　did　struggle　to　get　away！swearing　and　cursing　Maloney　for　a　cranky　Irishman　till　he　foamed　at　the　mouth；　all　of　which　the　other　put　down　to　snake…poison。　　Round　and　round　the　yard　and　up　and　down　it　they　trotted　him　till　long　after　dark；　until　there　was　n't　a　struggle　left　in　him。

They　placed　him　on　the　sofa　again；　Maloney　keeping　him　awake　with　a　strap。　How　Dave　ground　his　teeth　and　kicked　and　swore　whenever　he　felt　that　strap！　　And　they　sat　and　watched　him。

It　was　late　in　the　night　when　Dad　came　from　town。　　He　staggered　in　with　the　neck　of　a　bottle　showing　out　of　his　pocket。　　In　his　hand　was　a　piece　of　paper　wrapped　round　the　end　of　some　yards　of　sausage。　　The　dog　outside　carried　the　other　end。

〃An'　'e　ishn't　dead？〃　Dad　said；　after　hearing　what　had　befallen　Dave。　〃Don'　b'leevsh　idwuzhn't　bit。　　Die　'fore　shun'own　ifsh　desh　ad'er　bish　'm。〃

〃Bit！〃　Dave　said　bitterly；　turning　round　to　the　surprise　of　everyone。　〃I　never　said　I　was　BIT。　　No　one　said　I　wasonly　those　snivelling　idiots　and　that　pumpkin…headed　Irish　pig　there。〃

Maloney　lowered　his　jaw　and　op