on our selection-第21节

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！


　a　friendly　way；　raking　skins　and　hair　off　each　other　with　their　horns。

The　station…manager；　with　a　handful　of　papers　and　a　pencil　behind　his　ear；　hurried　here　and　there；　followed　by　some　of　the　crowd；　who　asked　him　questions　which　he　did　n't　answer。　　Dad　asked　him　if　this　was　the　place　where　the　sale　was　to　be。　　He　looked　all　over　Dad。

A　man　rang　a　bell　violently；　shouting；　〃This　way　for　the　dairy　cows！〃　　Dad　went　that　way；　closely　followed　by　Dave；　who　was　silent　and　strange。　　A　boy　put　a　printed　catalogue　into　Dad's　hand；　which　he　was　doubtful　about　keeping　until　he　saw　Andy　Percil　with　one。　　Most　of　the　men　seated　on　the　rails　jumped　down　into　an　empty　yard　and　stood　round　in　a　ring。　　In　one　corner　the　auctioneer　mounted　a　box；　and　read　the　conditions　of　sale；　and　talked　hard　about　the　breed　of　the　cattle。　　Then：

〃How　much　for　the　imported　cow；　Silky？　　No。1　on　the　catalogue。　　How　much　to　start　her；　gentlemen？〃

Silky　rushed　into　the　yard　with　a　shower　of　sticks　flying　after　her　and　glared　about；　finally　fixing　her　gaze　on　Dad；　who　was　trying　to　find　her　number　in　the　catalogue。

〃A　pure…bred　'Heereford；'　four　years　old；　by　The　Duke　out　of　Dolly；　to　calve　on　the　eighth　of　next　month；〃　said　the　auctioneer。　　〃How　much　to　start　her？〃

All　silent。　　Buyers　looked　thoughtful。　　The　auctioneer　ran　his　restless　eyes　over　them。

Dad　and　Dave　held　a　whispered　consultation；　then　Dad　made　a　movement。　The　auctioneer　caught　his　eye　and　leant　forward。

〃FIVE　BOB！〃　Dad　shouted。　　There　was　a　loud　laugh。　　The　auctioneer　frowned。　〃We're　selling　COWS；　old　man；〃　he　said；　〃not　running　a　shilling…table。〃

More　laughter。　　It　reached　Dave's　heart；　and　he　wished　he　had　n't　come　with　Dad。

Someone　bid　five　pounds；　someone　else　six；　seven…eight…nine　went　round　quickly；　and　Silky　was　sold　for　ten　pounds。

〃Beauty〃　rushed　in。

Two　station…hands　passed　among　the　crowd；　each　with　a　bucket　of　beer　and　some　glasses。　　Dad　hesitated　when　they　came　to　him；　and　said　he　did　n't　care　about　it。　　Dave　the　same。

Dad　ran　〃Beauty〃　to　three　pound　ten　shillings　（all　the　money　he　had）；　and　she　was　knocked　down　at　twelve　pounds。

Bidding　became　lively。

Dave　had　his　eye　on　the　men　with　the　beerhe　was　thirsty。　　He　noticed　no　one　paid　for　what　was　drunk；　and　whispered　his　discovery　to　Dad。　　When　the　beer　came　again；　Dad　reached　out　and　took　a　glass。　　Dave　took　one　also。

〃Have　another！〃　said　the　man。

Dave　grinned；　and　took　another。

Dad　ran　fifteen　cows；　successively；　to　three　pounds　ten　shillings。

The　men　with　the　beer　took　a　liking　to　Dave。　　They　came　frequently　to　him；　and　Dave　began　to　enjoy　the　sale。

Again　Dad　stopped　bidding　at　three　pounds　ten　shillings。

Dave　began　to　talk。　　He　left　his　place　beside　Dad　and；　hat　in　hand；　staggered　to　the　middle　of　the　yard。　　〃WOH！〃　he　shouted；　and　made　an　awkward　attempt　to　embrace　a　red　cow　which　was　under　the　hammer。

〃SEV'N　POUN'SEV'N　POUN'SEV'N　POUN'；〃　shouted　the　auctioneer；　rapidly。　〃Any　advance　on　sev'n　POUN'？〃

〃WENNY　（hic）　QUID；〃　Dave　said。

〃At　sev'n　poun'　she's　GOING？〃

〃Twenny　（hic）　TWO　quid；〃　Dave　said。

〃You　have　n't　twenty…two　PENCE；〃　snorted　the　auctioneer。

Then　Dave　caught　the　cow　by　the　tail；　and　she　pulled　him　about　the　yard　until　two　men　took　him　away。

The　last　cow　put　up　was；　so　the　auctioneer　said；　station…bred　and　in　full　milk。　　She　was　a　wild…looking　brute；　with　three　enormous　teats　and　a　large；　fleshy　udder。　　The　catalogue　said　her　name　was　〃Dummy。〃

〃How　much　for　'Dummy；'　the　only　bargain　in　the　mobhow　much　for　her；　gentlemen？〃

Dad　rushed　〃Dummy。〃　〃Three　poun'　ten；〃　he　said；　eagerly。

The　auctioneer　rushed　Dad。　　〃YOURS；〃　he　said；　bringing　his　hammer　down　with　a　bang；　〃you　deserve　her；　old　man！〃　　And　the　station…manager　chuckled　and　took　Dad's　nameand　Dad's　money。

Dad　was　very　pleased；　and　eager　to　start　home。　　He　went　and　found　Dave；　who　was　asleep　in　a　hay…stack；　and　along　with　Steven　Burton　they　drove　the　cow　home；　and　yarded　her　in　the　dark。

Mother　and　Sal　heard　the　noise；　and　came　with　a　light　to　see　Dad's　purchase；　but　as　they　approached　〃Dummy〃　threatened　to　carry　the　yard　away　on　her　back；　and　Dad　ordered　them　off。

Dad　secured　the　rails　by　placing　logs　and　the　harrow　against　them；　then　went　inside　and　told　Mother　what　a　bargain　he'd　made。

In　the　morning　Dad　took　a　bucket　and　went　to　milk　〃Dummy。〃　All　of　us　accompanied　him。　　He　crawled　through　the　rails　while　〃Dummy〃　tore　the　earth　with　her　fore…feet　and　threw　lumps　of　it　over　the　yard。　　But　she　was　n't　so　wild　as　she　seemed；　and　when　Dad　went　to　work　on　her　with　a　big　stick　she　walked　into　the　bail　quietly　enough。　　Then　he　sat　to　milk　her；　and　when　he　took　hold　of　her　teats　she　broke　the　leg…rope　and　kicked　him　clean　off　the　block　and　tangled　her　leg　in　the　bucket　and　made　a　great　noise　with　it。　　Then　she　bellowed　and　reared　in　the　bail　and　fell　down；　her　head　screwed　the　wrong　way；　and　lay　with　her　tongue　out　moaning。

Dad　rose　and　spat　out　dirt。

〃Dear　me！〃　Mother　said。　　〃it's　a　WILD　cow　y'　bought。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　Dad　answered；　〃she's　a　bit　touchy；　that's　all。〃

〃She　tut…tutTUTCHED　YOU　orright；　Dad；〃　Joe　said　from　the　top　of　the　yard。

Dad　looked　up。　　〃Get　down　outer　THAT！〃　he　yelled。　　〃No　wonder　the　damn　cow's　frightened。〃

Joe　got　down。

Dad　brought　〃Dummy〃　to　her　senses　with　a　few　heavy　kicks　on　her　nose；　and　proceeded　to　milk　her　again。　　〃Dummy〃　kicked　and　kicked。　　Dad　tugged　and　tugged　at　her　teats；　but　no　milk　came。　　Dad　could　n't　understand　it。　〃Must　be　frettin'；〃　he　said。

Joe　owned　a　pet　calf　about　a　week　old　which　lived　on　water　and　a　long　rope。　Dad　told　him　to　fetch　it　to　see　if　it　would　suck。　　Joe　fetched　it；　and　it　sucked　ravenously　at　〃Dummy's〃　flank；　and　joyfully　wagged　its　tail。　〃Dummy〃　resented　it。　　She　plunged　until　the　leg…rope　parted　again；　when　the　calf　got　mixed　up　in　her　legs；　and　she　trampled　it　in　the　ground。　　Joe　took　it　away。　　Dad　turned　〃Dummy〃　out　and　bailed　her　up　the　next　dayand　every　day　for　a　weekwith　the　same　result。　　Then　he　sent　for　Larry　O'Laughlin；　who　posed　as　a　cow　doctor。

〃She　never　give　a　drop　in　her　life；〃　Larry　said。　　〃Them's　BLIND　tits　she　have。〃

Dad　one　day　sold　〃Dummy〃　for　ten　shillings　and　bought　a　goat；　which　Johnson　shot　on　his　cultivation　and　made　Dad　drag　away。




CHAPTER　XXI。



The　Parson　and　the　Scone。


It　was　dinner…time。　　And　were　n't　we　hungry！particularly　Joe！　　He　was　kept　from　school　that　day　to　fork　up　hay…work　hard　enough　for　a　mantoo　hard　for　some　menbut　in　many　things　Joe　was　more　than　a　man's　equal。　Eating　was　one　of　them。　　We　were　all　silent。　　Joe　ate　ravenously。　　The　meat　and　pumpkin　disappeared；　and　the　pile　of　hot　scones　grew　rapidly　less。　　Joe　regarded　it　with　anxiety。　　He　stole　sly　glances　at　Dad　and　at　Dave　and　made　a　mental　calculation。　　Then　he　fixed　his　eyes　longingly　on　the　one　remaining　scone；　and　ate　faster　and　faster。。。。Still　silence。　Joe　glanced　again　at　Dad。

The　dogs　outside　barked。　　Those　inside；　lying　full…stretch　beneath　the　table；　instantly　darted　up　and　rushed　out。　　One　of　them　carried　off　little　Billwho　was　standing　at　the　table　　with　his　legs　spread　out　and　a　pint　of　tea　in　his　handas　far　as　the　door　on　its　back；　and　there　scraped　him　off　and　spilled　tea　over　him。　　Dad　spoke。　　He　said；　〃Damn　the　dogs！〃　　Then　he　rose　and　looked　out　the　window。　　We　all　roseall　except　Joe。　　Joe　reached　for　the　last　scone。

A　horseman　dismounted　at　the　slip…rails。

〃Some　stranger；〃　Dad　muttered；　turning　to　re…seat　himself。

〃Why；　it'sit's　the　minister！〃　Sal　cried〃the　minister　that　married　Kate！〃

Dad　nearly　fell　over。　　〃Good　God！〃　was　all　he　said；　and　stared　hopelessly　at　Mother。　　The　ministerfor　sure　enough　it　was　the　Rev。　Daniel　Macphersonwas　coming　in。　　There　was　commotion。　　Dave　finished　his　tea　at　a　gulp；　put　on　his　hat；　and　left　by　the　back…door。　　Dad　would　have　followed；　but　hesitated；　and　so　was　lost。　　Mother　was　restless〃on　pins　and　needles。〃

〃And　there　ain't　a　bite　to　offer　him；〃　she　cried；　dancing　hysterically　about　the　table〃not　a　bite；　nor　a　plate；　nor　a　knife；　nor　a　fork　to　eat　it　with！〃　　There　was　humour　in　Mother　at　times。　　It　came　from　the　father's　side。　　He　was　a　dentist。

Only　Joe　was　unconcerned。　　He　was　employed　on　the　last　scone。　　He　commenced　it　slowly。　　He　wished　it　to　last　till　night。　　His　mouth　opened　and　received　it　fondly。　　He　buried　his　teeth　in　it　and　lingered　lovingly　over　it。　Mother's　eyes　happened　to　rest　on　him。　　Her　face　brightened。　　She　flew　at　Joe　and　cried：

〃Give　me　that　scone！put　it　back　on　the　table　this　minute！〃

Joe　became　concerned。　　He　was　about　to　protest。　　Mother　seized　him　by　the　hair　（which　had　n't　been　cut　since　Dan　went　shearing）　and　hissed：

〃Putitbacksir！〃　Joe　put　it　back。

The　minister　came　in。　　Dad　said　he　was　pleased　to　see　himpoor　Dad！and　enquired　if　he　had　had　dinner。　　The　parson　had　not；　but　said　he　did　n't　want　any；　and　implored　Mother　not　to　put　herself　about　on　his　account。　He　only　required　a　cup　of　teanothing　else　whatever。　　Mother　was　delighted；　and　got　the　tea　gladly。　　Still　she　was　not　satisfied。　　She　would　be　hospitable。　　She　said：

〃Won't　you　try　a　scone　with　it；　Mr。　Macpherson？〃　And　the　parson　said　he　would〃just　one。〃

Mother　passed　the　rescued　scone　along；　and　awkwardly　apologised