on our selection-第8章

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　those　snivelling　idiots　and　that　pumpkin…headed　Irish　pig　there。〃

Maloney　lowered　his　jaw　and　opened　his　eyes。

〃Zhackly。　　Did'n'　I　（HIC）　shayzo；　'Loney？　　Did'n'　I；　eh；　ol'　wom'n！〃　Dad　mumbled；　and　dropped　his　chin　on　his　chest。

Maloney　began　to　take　another　view　of　the　matter。　　He　put　a　leading　question　to　Joe。

〃He　MUSTER　been　bit；〃　Joe　answered；　〃'cuz　he　had　the　d…death　adder　in　his　hand。〃

More　silence。

〃Mush　die　'fore　shun'own；〃　Dad　murmured。

Maloney　was　thinking　hard。　　At　last　he　spoke。　　〃Bridgy！〃　he　cried；　〃where's　th'　childer？〃　　Mrs。　Maloney　gathered　them　up。

Just　then　Dad　seemed　to　be　dreaming。　　He　swayed　about。　　His　head　hung　lower；　and　he　muttered；　〃Shen'l'm'n；　yoush　disharged　wish　shanksh　y'cun'ry。〃

The　Maloneys　left。

Dave　is　still　alive　and　well；　and　silent　as　ever；　and　if　any　one　question　is　more　intolerable　and　irritating　to　him　than　another；　it　is　to　be　asked　if　he　remembers　the　time　he　was　bitten　by　deaf…adder。




Chapter　X。



Dad　And　The　Donovans。


A　sweltering　summer's　afternoon。　　A　heat　that　curled　and　withered　the　very　weeds。　　The　corn…blades　drooping；　sulking　still。　　Mother　and　Sal　ironing；　mopping　their　faces　with　a　towel　and　telling　each　other　how　hot　it　was。　The　dog　stretched　across　the　doorway。　　A　child's　bonnet　on　the　floorthe　child　out　in　the　sun。　　Two　horsemen　approaching　the　slip…rails。

Dad　had　gone　down　the　gully　to　Farmer；　who　had　been　sick　for　four　days。　The　ploughing　was　at　a　standstill　in　consequence；　for　we　had　only　two　draught…horses。　　Dad　erected　a　shelter　over　him；　made　of　boughs；　to　keep　the　sun　off。　　Two　or　three　times　a　day　he　cut　greenstuff　for　himwhich　the　cows　ate。　　He　humped　water　to　him　which　he　sullenly　refused　to　drink；　and　did　all　in　his　power　to　persuade　Farmer　to　get　up　and　go　on　with　the　ploughing。　　I　don't　know　if　Dad　knew　anything　of　mesmerism；　but　he　used　to　stand　for　long　intervals　dumbly　staring　the　old　horse　full　in　the　eyes　till　in　a　commanding　voice　he　would　bid　him；　〃Get　up！〃　But　Farmer　lacked　the　patriotism　of　the　back…block　poets。　　He　was　obdurate；　and　not　once　did　he　〃awake；〃　not　to　mention　〃arise〃。

This　afternoon；　as　Dad　approached　his　dumb　patient；　he　suddenly　put　down　the　bucket　of　water　which　he　was　carrying　and　ran；　shouting　angrily。　　A　flock　of　crows　flew　away　from　Farmer　and　〃cawed〃　from　a　tree　close　by。　Dad　was　excited；　and　when　he　saw　that　one　of　the　animal's　eyes　was　gone　and　a　stream　of　blood　trickled　over　its　nose　he　sat　down　and　hid　his　face　in　his　big　rough　hands。

〃CAW；　CAW！〃　came　from　the　tree。

Dad　rose　and　looked　up。

〃　CURSE　you！〃　he　hissed〃you　black　wretches　of　hell！〃

〃CAW；　CAW；　CAW〃

He　ran　towards　the　tree　as　though　he　would　hurl　it　to　the　ground；　and　away　flew　the　crows。

Joe　arrived。

〃W…w…wuz　they　at　him；　Dad？〃

Dad　turned　on　him；　trembling　with　rage。

〃Oh；　YOU　son　of　the　Devil！〃　he　commenced。　　〃YOU　worthless　pup；　you！　　Look　there！　　Do　you　see　that？〃　（He　pointed　to　the　horse。）　〃Did　n't　I　tell　you　to　mind　him？　Did　n'〃

〃Yes；〃　snivelled　Joe；　〃but　Anderson's　dog　had　a　k…k…k…angaroo　bailed　up。〃

〃DAMN　you；　be　off　out　of　this！〃　And　Dad　aimed　a　block　of　wood　at　Joe　which　struck　him　on　the　back　as　he　made　away。　　But　nothing　short　of　two　broken　legs　would　stop　Joe；　who　the　next　instant　had　dashed　among　the　corn　like　an　emu　into　a　scrub。

Dad　returned　to　the　house；　foaming　and　vowing　to　take　the　gun　and　shoot　Joe　down　like　a　wallaby。　　But　when　he　saw　two　horses　hanging　up　he　hesitated　and　would　have　gone　away　again　had　Mother　not　called　out　that　he　was　wanted。　　He　went　in　reluctantly。

Red　Donovan　and　his　son；　Mick；　were　there。　　Donovan　was　the　publican；　butcher；　and　horse…dealer　at　the　Overhaul。　　He　was　reputed　to　be　well…in；　though　some　said　that　if　everybody　had　their　own　he　would　n't　be　worth　much。　　He　was　a　glib…tongued　Irishman　who　knew　everythingor　fondly　imagined　he　didfrom　the　law　to　horse…surgery。　　There　was　money　to　be　made　out　of　selections；　he　reckoned；　if　selectors　only　knew　how　to　make　itthe　majority；　he　proclaimed；　did　n't　know　enough　to　get　under　a　tree　when　it　rained。　　As　a　dealer；　he　was　a　hard　nut；　never　giving　more　than　a　〃tenner〃　for　a　twenty　pound　beast；　or　selling　a　ten　pound　one　for　less　than　twenty　pounds。　　And　few　knew　Donovan　better　than　did　Dad；　or　had　been　taken　in　by　him　oftener；　but　on　this　occasion　Dad　was　in　no　easy　or　benevolent　frame　of　mind。

He　sat　down；　and　they　talked　of　crops　and　the　weather；　and　beat　about　the　bush　until　Donovan　said：

〃Have　you　any　fat　steers　to　sell？〃

Dad　had　n't。　　〃But；〃　he　added；　〃I　can　sell　you　a　horse。〃

〃Which　one？〃　asked　Donovan；　for　he　knew　the　horses　as　well　as　Dad　didperhaps　better。

〃The　bayFarmer。〃

〃How　much？〃

〃Seven　pounds。〃　Now；　Farmer　was　worth　fourteen　pounds；　if　worth　a　shillingthat　is；　before　he　took　sickand　Donovan　knew　it　well。

〃Seven；〃　he　repeated　ponderingly。　　〃Give　you　six。〃

Never　before　did　Dad　show　himself　such　an　expert　in　dissimulation。　　He　shook　his　head　knowingly；　and　enquired　of　Donovan　if　he　would　take　the　horse　for　nothing。

〃Split　the　difference；　thenmake　it　six…ten？〃

Dad　rose　and　looked　out　the　window。　　

〃There　he　is　now；〃　he　remarked　sadly；　〃in　the　gully　there。〃

〃Well；　what's　it　to　besix…ten　or　nothing？〃　renewed　Donovan。

〃All　right；　then；〃　Dad　replied；　demurely；　〃take　him！〃

The　money　was　paid　there　and　then　and　receipts　drawn　up。　　Then；　saying　that　Mick　would　come　for　the　horse　on　the　day　following；　and　after　offering　a　little　gratuitous　advice　on　seed…wheat　and　pig…sticking；　the　Donovans　left。

Mick　came　the　next　day；　and　Dad　showed　him　Farmer；　under　the　bushes。　　He　was　n't　dead；　because　when　Joe　sat　on　him　he　moved。　　〃There　he　is；〃　said　Dad；　grinning。

Mick　remained　seated　on　his　horse；　bewildered…looking；　staring　first　at　Farmer；　then　at　Dad。

〃Well？〃　Dad　remarked；　still　grinning。　　Then　Mick　spoke　feelingly。

〃YOU　SWINDLING　OLD　CRAWLER！〃　he　said；　and　galloped　away。　　It　was　well　for　him　he　got　a　good　start。

For　long　after　that　we　turned　the　horses　and　cows　into　the　little　paddock　at　night；　and　if　ever　the　dog　barked　Dad　would　jump　up　and　go　out　in　his　shirt。

We　put　them　back　into　the　paddock　again；　and　the　first　night　they　were　there　two　cows　got　out　and　went　away；　taking　with　them　the　chain　that　fastened　the　slip…rails。　　We　never　saw　or　heard　of　them　again；　but　Dad　treasured　them　in　his　heart。　　Often；　when　he　was　thoughtful；　he　would　ponder　out　plans　for　getting　even　with　the　Donovanswe　　knew　it　was　the　Donovans。　　And　Fate　seemed　to　be　of　Dad's　mind；　for　the　Donovans　got　into　〃trouble；〃；　and　were　reported　to　be　〃doing　time。〃　That　pleased　Dad；　but　the　vengeance　was　a　little　vague。　　He　would　have　liked　a　finger　in　the　pie　himself。

Four　years　passed。　　It　was　after　supper；　and　we　were　all　husking　corn　in　the　barn。　　Old　Anderson　and　young　Tom　Anderson　and　Mrs。　Maloney　were　helping　us。　　We　were　to　assist　them　the　following　week。　　The　barn　was　illuminated　by　fat…lamps；　which　made　the　spiders　in　the　rafters　uneasy　and　disturbed　the　slumbers　of　a　few　fowls　that　for　months　had　insisted　on　roosting　on　the　cross…beam。

Mrs。　Maloney　was　arguing　with　Anderson。　　She　was　claiming　to　have　husked　two　cobs　to　his　one；　when　the　dogs　started　barking　savagely。　　Dad　crawled　from　beneath　a　heap　of　husks　and　went　out。　　The　night　was　dark。　　He　bade　the　dogs　〃Lie　down。〃　　They　barked　louder。　　〃Damn　youlie　down！〃　he　roared。　They　shut　up。　　Then　a　voice　from　the　darkness　said：

〃Is　that　you；　Mr。　Rudd？〃

Dad　failed　to　recognise　it；　and　went　to　the　fence　where　the　visitor　was。　He　remained　there　talking　for　fully　half…an…hour。　　Then　he　returned；　and　said　it　was　young　Donovan。

〃DONOVAN！　　MICK　Donovan？〃　exclaimed　Anderson。　　And　Mother　and　Mrs。　Maloney　and　Joe　echoed　〃MICK　Donovan？〃　　They　WERE　surprised。

〃He's　none　too　welcome；〃　said　Anderson；　thinking　of　his　horses　and　cows。　Mother　agreed　with　him；　while　Mrs。　Maloney　repeated　over　and　over　again　that　she　was　always　under　the　impression　that　Mick　Donovan　was　in　gaol　along　with　his　bad　old　father。　　Dad　was　uncommunicative。　　There　was　something　on　his　mind。　　He　waited　till　the　company　had　gone；　then　consulted　with　Dave。

They　were　outside；　in　the　dark；　and　leant　on　the　dray。　　Dad　said　in　a　low　voice：　　〃He's　come　a　hundred　mile　to…day；　'n'　his　horse　is　dead…beat；　'n'　he　wants　one　t'　take　him　t'　Back　Creek　t'morrer　'n'　leave　this　one　in　his　place。。。Wot　d'y'　think？〃　　Dave　seemed　to　think　a　great　deal；　for　he　said　nothing。

〃Now；〃　continued　Dad；　〃it's　me　opinion　the　horse　is　n't　his；　it's　one　he's　shookan'　I've　an　idea。〃　　Then　he　proceeded　to　instruct　Dave　in　the　idea。　A　while　later　he　called　Joe　and　drilled　him　in　the　idea。

That　night；　young　Donovan　stayed　at　Shingle　Hut。　　In　the　morning　Dad　was　very　affable。　　He　asked　Donovan　to　come　and　show　him　his　horse；　as　he　must　see　it　before　thinking　of　exchanging。　　They　proceeded　to　the　paddock　together。　　The　horse　was　standing　under　a　tree；　tired…looking。　　Dad　stood　and　looked　at　Donovan　for　fully　half…a…minute　without　speaking。

〃Why；　damn　it！〃　he　exclaimed；　at　last；　〃that's　MY　OWN　horse。。。You　don't　mean。。。S'help　me！　　Old　Bess's　foal！〃　　Donovan　told　him　he　was　making　a　mistake。

〃Mistake　be　hanged！〃　replied　Dad；　walking　round　the　animal。　　〃Not　much　of　a　mistake　about　HIM！〃

Just　here　Dave　appeared；　as　was　proper。

〃Do　you　know　this　horse？〃　Dad　asked　him。　　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　he　answered；　surprisedly；　with　his　eyes　open　wide；　〃Bess's　foal！of　course　it　is。〃

〃There　you　are！〃　said　Dad；　grinning　triumphantly。

Donovan　seemed　uneasy。

Joe　in　his　turn　appeared。　　Dad　put　the　same　question　to　him。　　Of　course　Joe　knew　Bess's　foal〃the　one　that　got　stole。〃

There　was　a　silence。

〃Now；〃　said　Dad；　looking　very　grave；　〃what　have　y'　got　t'　say？　　Who'd　y'　get　him　off？　　Show's　y'r　receipt。〃

Donovan　had　nothing　to　say；　he　preferred　to　be　silent。

〃Then；〃　Dad　went　on；　〃clear　out　of　this　as　fast　as　you　can　go；　an'　think　y'rself　lucky。〃

He　cleared；　but　on　foot。

Dad　gazed　after　him；　and；　as　he　left　the　paddock；　said：

〃One　too　many　f'　y'　that　time；　Mick　Donovan！〃　　Then　to　Dave；　who　was　still　looking　at　the　horse：　　〃He's　a　stolen　one　right　enough；　but　he's　a　beauty；　and　we'll　keep　him；　and　if　the　owner　ever　comes　for　him；　wellif　he　is　the　ownerhe　can　have　him；　that's　all。〃

We　had　the　horse　for　eighteen　months　and　more。　　One　day　Dad　rode　him　to　town。　　He　was　no　sooner　there　than　a　man　came　up　and　claimed　him。　　Dad　objected。　　The　man　went　off　and　brought　a　policeman。　　〃Orright〃Dad　said〃TAKE　him。〃　　The　policeman　took　him。　　He　took　Dad　too。　　The　lawyer　got　Dad　off；　but　it　cost　us　five　bags　of　potatoes。　　Dad　did　n't　grudge　them；　for　he　reckoned　we'd　had　value。　　Besides；　he　was　even　with　the　Donovans　for　the　two　cows。




Chapter　XI。



A　Splendid　Year　For　Corn。




We　had　just　finished　supper。　　Supper！　dry　bread　and　sugarless　tea。　　Dad　was　tired　out　and　was　resting　at　one　end　of　the　sofa；　Joe　was　stretched　at　the　other；　without　a　pillow；　and　his　legs　tangled　up　among　Dad's。　　Bill　and　Tom　squatted　in　the　ashes；　while　Mother　tried　to　put　the　fat…lamp　into　burning　order　by　poking　it　with　a　table…fork。

Dad　was　silent；　he　seemed　sad；　and　lay　for　some　time　gazing　at　the　roof。　He　might　have　been　watching　the　blaze　of　the　glorious　moon　or　counting　the　star