on our selection-第16节

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catching　goannas　and　letting　them　go　without　their　tails；　or　coupled　in　pairs　with　pieces　of　greenhide。　　The　paddock　was　full　of　goannas　in　harness　and　slit…eared　bears。　　THEY　belonged　to　Joe。

Joe　also　took　an　interest　in　snakes；　and　used　to　poke　amongst　logs　and　brush…fences　in　search　of　rare　specimens。　　Whenever　he　secured　a　good　one　he　put　it　in　a　cage　and　left　it　there　until　it　died　or　got　out；　or　Dad　threw　it；　cage　and　all；　right　out　of　the　parish。

One　day；　while　Mother　and　Sal　were　out　with　Dad；　Joe　came　home　with　a　four…foot　black　snake　in　his　hand。　　It　was　a　beauty。　　So　sleek　and　lithe　and　lively！　　He　carried　it　by　the　tail；　its　head　swinging　close　to　his　bare　leg；　and　the　thing　yearning　for　a　grab　at　him。　　But　Joe　understood　the　ways　of　a　reptile。

There　was　no　cageDad　had　burnt　the　last　oneso　Joe　walked　round　the　room　wondering　where　to　put　his　prize。　　The　cat　came　out　of　the　bedroom　and　mewed　and　followed　him　for　the　snake。　　He　told　her　to　go　away。　　She　did　n't　go。　　She　reached　for　the　snake　with　her　paw。　　It　bit　her。　　She　spat　and　sprang　in　the　air　and　rushed　outside　with　her　back　up。　　Joe　giggled　and　wondered　how　long　the　cat　would　live。

The　Rev。　Macpherson；　on　his　way　to　christen　M'Kenzie's　baby；　called　in　for　a　drink；　and　smilingly　asked　after　Joe's　health。

〃Hold　this　kuk…kuk…cove；　then；〃　Joe　said；　handing　the　parson　the　reptile；　which　was　wriggling　and　biting　at　space；　〃an'　I'll　gug…gug…get　y'　one。〃　But　when　Mr。　Macpherson　saw　the　thing　was　alive　he　jumped　back　and　fell　over　the　dog　which　was　lying　behind　him　in　the　shade。　　Bluey　grabbed　him　by　the　leg；　and　the　parson　jumped　up　in　haste　and　made　for　his　horsefollowed　by　Bluey。　　Joe　cried；　〃KUM　'ere！〃then　turned　inside。

Mother　and　Sal　entered。　　They　had　come　to　make　Dad　and　themselves　a　cup　of　tea。　　They　quarrelled　with　Joe；　and　he　went　out　and　started　playing　with　the　snake。　　He　let　it　go；　and　went　to　catch　it　by　the　tail　again；　but　the　snake　caught　HIMby　the　finger。

〃He's　bit　me！〃　Joe　cried；　turning　pale。　　Mother　screeched；　and　Sal　bolted　off　for　Dad；　while　the　snake　glided　silently　up　the　yard。

Anderson；　passing　on　his　old　bay　mare；　heard　the　noise；　and　came　in。　　He　examined　Joe's　finger；　bled　the　wound；　and　was　bandaging　the　arm　when　Dad　rushed　in。

〃Where　is　he？〃　he　said。　　〃Oh；　you　dd　whelp！　　You　wretch　of　a　boy！　MY　God！〃

〃'Twasn'　MY　fault。〃　　And　Joe　began　to　blubber。

But　Anderson　protested。　　There　was　no　time；　he　said；　to　be　lost　barneying；　and　he　told　Dad　to　take　his　old　mare　Jean　and　go　at　once　for　Sweeney。　Sweeney　was　the　publican　at　Kangaroo　Creek；　with　a　reputation　for　curing　snake…bite。　　Dad　ran　out；　mounted　Jean　and　turned　her　head　for　Sweeney's。　But；　at　the　slip…rails；　Jean　stuck　him　up；　and　would　n't　go　further。　　Dad　hit　her　between　the　ears　with　his　fist；　and　got　down　and　ran　back。

〃The　boy'll　be　dead；　Anderson；〃　he　cried；　rushing　inside　again。

〃Come　on　then；〃　Anderson　said；　〃we'll　take　off　his　finger。〃

Joe　was　looking　drowsy。　　But；　when　Anderson　took　hold　of　him　and　placed　the　wounded　finger　on　a　block；　and　Dad　faced　him　with　the　hammer　and　a　blunt；　rusty　old　chisel；　he　livened　up。

〃No；　Dad；　NO！〃　he　squealed；　straining　and　kicking　like　an　old　man　kangaroo。　Anderson　stuck　to　him；　though；　and　with　Sal's　assistance　held　his　finger　on　the　block　till　Dad　carefully　rested　the　chisel　on　it　and　brought　the　hammer　down。　　It　did　n't　sever　the　fingerit　only　scraped　the　nail　offbut　it　did　make　Joe　buck。　　He　struggled　desperately　and　got　away。

Anderson　could　n't　run　at　all；　Dad　was　little　faster；　Sal　could　run　like　a　greyhound　in　her　bare　feet；　but；　before　she　could　pull　her　boots　off；　Joe　had　disappeared　in　the　corn。

〃Quick！〃　Dad　shouted；　and　the　trio　followed　the　patient。　　They　hunted　through　the　corn　from　end　to　end；　but　found　no　trace　of　him。　　Night　came。　The　search　continued。　　They　called；　and　called；　but　nothing　answered　save　the　ghostly　echoes；　the　rustling　of　leaves；　the　slow；　sonorous　notes　of　a　distant　bear；　or　the　neighing　of　a　horse　in　the　grass…paddock。

At　midnight　they　gave　up；　and　went　home；　and　sat　inside　and　listened；　and　looked　distracted。

While　they　sat；　〃Whisky；〃　a　blackfellow　from　Billson's　station；　dropped　in。　　He　was　taking　a　horse　down　to　town　for　his　boss；　and　asked　Dad　if　he　could　stay　till　morning。　　Dad　said　he　could。　　He　slept　in　Dave's　bed；　Dave　slept　on　the　sofa。

〃If　Joe　ain't　dead；　and　wuz　t'　come　in　before　mornin'；〃　Dave　said；　〃there　won't　be　room　for　us　all。〃

And　before　morning　Joe　DID　come　in。　　He　entered　stealthily　by　the　back…door；　and　crawled　quietly　into　bed。

At　daybreak　Joe　awoke；　and　nudged　his　bed…mate　and　said：

〃Dave；　the　cocks　has　crowed！〃　　No　answer。　　He　nudged　him　again。

〃Dave；　the　hens　is　all　off　the　roost！〃　　Still　no　reply。

Daylight　streamed　in　through　the　cracks。　　Joe　sat　uphe　was　at　the　backand　stared　about。　　He　glanced　at　the　face　of　his　bed…mate　and　chuckled　and　said：

〃Who's　been　blackenin'　y'；　Dave？〃

He　sat　grinning　awhile；　then　stood　up；　and　started　pulling　on　his　trousers；　which　he　drew　from　under　his　pillow。　　He　had　put　one　leg　into　them　when　his　eyes　rested　on　a　pair　of　black　feet　uncovered　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。　He　stared　at　them　and　the　black　face　againthen　plunged　for　the　door　and　fell。　　Whisky　was　awake　and　grinned　over　the　side　of　the　bed　at　him。

〃Wot　makit　you　so　fritent　like　that？〃　he　said；　grinning　more。

Joe　ran　into　Mother's　room　and　dived　in　behind　her　and　Dad。　　Dad　swore；　and　kicked　Joe　and　jammed　him　against　the　slabs　with　his　heels；　saying：

〃My　GAWD！　　You　DEVIL　of　a　feller；　how　（KICK）　dare　you　（KICK）　run　（KICK）　run　（KICK；　KICK；　KICK）　away　yesterday；　eh？〃　　（KICK）。

But　he　was　very　glad　to　see　Joe　all　the　same；　we　all　felt　that　Shingle　Hut　would　not　have　been　the　same　place　at　all　without　Joe。

It　was　when　Dad　and　Dave　were　away　after　kangaroo…scalps　that　Joe　was　most　appreciated。　　Mother　and　Sal　felt　it　such　a　comfort　to　have　a　man　in　the　houseeven　if　it　was　only　Joe。

Joe　was　proud　of　his　male　prerogatives。　　He　looked　after　the　selection；　minded　the　corn；　kept　Anderson's　and　Dwyer's　and　Brown's　and　old　Mother　Murphy's　cows　out　of　it；　and　chased　goannas　away　from　the　front　door　the　same　as　Dad　used　to　dofor　Joe　felt　that　he　was　in　Dad's　place；　and　postponed　his　customary　familiarities　with　the　goannas。

It　was　while　Joe　was　in　charge　that　Casey　came　to　our　place。　A　starved…looking；　toothless　little　old　man　with　a　restless　eye；　talkative；　ragged　and　grey；　he　walked　with　a　bend　in　his　back　（not　a　hump）；　and　carried　his　chin　in　the　air。　　We　never　saw　a　man　like　him　before。　　He　spoke　rapidly；　too；　and　watched　us　all　as　he　talked。　　Not　exactly　a　〃traveller；〃　he　carried　no　swag　or　billycan；　and　wore　a　pair　of　boots　much　too　large。　　He　seemed　to　have　been　〃well　brought　up〃he　took　off　his　hat　at　the　door　and　bowed　low　to　Mother　and　Sal；　who　were　sitting　inside；　sewing。　　They　gave　a　start　and　stared。　　The　dog；　lying　at　Mother's　feet；　rose　and　growled。　　Bluey　was　n't　used　to　the　ways　of　people　well　brought　up。

The　world　had　dealt　harshly　with　Casey；　and　his　story　went　to　Mother's　heart。　　〃God　buless　y'；〃　he　said　when　she　told　him　he　could　have　some　dinner；　〃but　I'll　cut　y'　wood　for　it；　oh；　I'll　cut　y'　wood！〃　And　he　went　to　the　wood…heap　and　started　work。　　A　big　heap　and　a　blunt　axe；　but　it　did　n't　matter　to　Casey。　　He　worked　hard；　and　did　n't　stare　about；　and　did　n't　reduce　the　heap　much；　either；　and　when　Sal　called　him　to　dinner　he　could　n't　hearhe　was　too　busy。　　Joe　had　to　go　and　bring　him　away。

Casey　sat　at　the　table　and　looked　up　at　the　holes　in　the　roof；　through　which　the　sun　was　shining。

〃Ought　t'　be　a　cool　house；〃　he　remarked。

Mother　said　it　was。

〃Quite　a　bush　house。〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　Mother　said〃we're　right　in　the　bush　here。〃

He　began　to　eat　and；　as　he　ate；　talked　cheerfully　of　selections　and　crops　and　old　times　and　bad　times　and　wire　fences　and　dead　cattle。　　Casey　was　a　versatile　ancient。　　When　he　was　finished　he　shifted　to　the　sofa　and　asked　Mother　how　many　children　she　had。　　Mother　considered　and　said；　〃Twelve。〃　He　thought　a　dozen　enough　for　anyone；　and；　said　that　HIS　mother；　when　he　left　home；　had　twenty…oneall　girls　but　him。　　That　was　forty　years　ago；　and　he　did　n't　know　how　many　she　had　since。　　Mother　and　Sal　smiled。　　They　began　to　like　old　Casey。

Casey　took　up　his　hat　and　went　outside；　and　did　n't　say　〃Good…day〃　or　〃Thanks〃　or　anything。　　He　did　n't　go　away；　either。　　He　looked　about　the　yard。　　A　panel　in　the　fence　was　broken。　　It　had　been　broken　for　five　years。　　Casey　seemed　to　know　it。　　He　started　mending　that　panel。　　He　was　mending　it　all　the　evening。

Mother　called　to　Joe　to　bring　in　some　wood。　　Casey　left　the　fence；　hurried　to　the　wood…heap；　carried　in　an　armful；　and　asked　Mother　if　she　wanted　more。　　Then　he　returned　to　the　fence。

〃J…OE；〃　Mother　screeched　a　little　later；　〃look　at　those　cows　tryin'　to　eat　the　corn。〃

Casey　left　the　fence　again　and　drove　the　cows　away；　and　mended　the　wire　on　his　way　back。

At　sundown　Casey　was　cutting　more　wood；　and　when　we　were　at　supper　he　brought　it　in　and　put　some　on　the　fire；　and　went　out　again　slowly。

Mother　and　Sal　talked　about　him。

〃Better　give　him　his　supper；〃　Sal　said；　and　Mother　sent　Joe　to　invite　him　in。　　He　did　n't　come　in