on our selection-第6节

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〃Eh？〃　Dad　went　on；　〃say　sh'ain't？　　L'ere…ever　y'　name　isbetcher　pound　sh'is。〃

Then　a　jeering　and　laughing　crowd　gathered　round；　and　Dave　wished　he　had　n't　come　to　the　races。

〃She　ain't　well；〃　said　a　tall　man　to　Dad〃short　in　her　gallops。〃　Then　a　short；　bulky　individual　without　whiskers　shoved　his　face　up　into　Dad's　and　asked　him　if　Bess　was　a　mare　or　a　cow。　　Dad　became　excited；　and　only　that　old　Anderson　came　forward　and　took　him　away　there　must　have　been　a　row。

Anderson　put　him　in　the　dray　and　drove　it　home　to　Shingle　Hut。

Dad　reckons　now　that　there　is　nothing　in　horse…racing；　and　declares　it　a　fraud。　　He　says；　further；　that　an　honest　man；　by　training　and　racing　a　horse；　is　only　helping　to　feed　and　fatten　the　rogues　and　vagabonds　that　live　on　the　sport。




Chapter　VII。



Cranky　Jack。


It　was　early　in　the　day。　　Traveller　after　traveller　was　trudging　by　Shingle　Hut。　　One　who　carried　no　swag　halted　at　the　rails　and　came　in。　　He　asked　Dad　for　a　job。　　〃I　dunno；〃　Dad　answered〃What　wages　would　you　want？〃　The　man　said　he　would　n't　want　any。　　Dad　engaged　him　at　once。

And　SUCH　a　man！　　Tall；　bony；　heavy…jawed；　shaven　with　a　reaping…hook；　apparently。　　He　had　a　thick　crop　of　black　hairshaggy；　unkempt；　and　full　of　grease；　grass；　and　fragments　of　dry　gum…leaves。　　On　his　head　were　two　old　felt　hatsone　sewn　inside　the　other。　　On　his　back　a　shirt　made　from　a　piece　of　blue　blanket；　with　white　cotton　stitches　striding　up　and　down　it　like　lines　of　fencing。　　His　trousers　were　gloom　itself；　they　were　a　problem；　and　bore　reliable　evidence　of　his　industry。　　No　ordinary　person　would　consider　himself　out　of　work　while　in　them。　　And　the　new…comer　was　no　ordinary　person。　　He　seemed　to　have　all　the　woe　of　the　world　upon　him；　he　was　as　sad　and　weird…looking　as　a　widow　out　in　the　wet。

In　the　yard　was　a　large　heap　of　firewoodremarkable　truth！which　Dad　told　him　to　chop　up。　　He　began。　　And　how　he　worked！　　The　axe　rang　againparticularly　when　it　left　the　handleand　pieces　of　wood　scattered　everywhere。　　Dad　watched　him　chopping　for　a　while；　then　went　with　Dave　to　pull　corn。

For　hours　the　man　chopped　away　without　once　looking　at　the　sun。　　Mother　came　out。　　Joy！　　She　had　never　seen　so　much　wood　cut　before。　　She　was　delighted。　　She　made　a　cup　of　tea　and　took　it　to　the　man；　and　apologised　for　having　no　sugar　to　put　in　it。　　He　paid　no　attention　to　her；　he　worked　harder。　　Mother　waited；　holding　the　tea　in　her　hand。　　A　lump　of　wood　nearly　as　big　as　a　shingle　flew　up　and　shaved　her　left　ear。　　She　put　the　tea　on　the　ground　and　went　in　search　of　eggs　for　dinner。　　（We　were　out　of　meatthe　kangaroo…dog　was　lame。　　He　had　got　〃ripped〃　the　last　time　we　killed。）

The　tea　remained　on　the　ground。　　Chips　fell　into　it。　　The　dog　saw　it。　He　limped　towards　it　eagerly；　and　dipped　the　point　of　his　nose　in　it。　It　burnt　him。　　An　aged　rooster　strutted　along　and　looked　sideways　at　it。　HE　distrusted　it　and　went　away。　　It　attracted　the　piga　sow　with　nine　young　ones。　　She　waddled　up；　and　poked　the　cup　over　with　her　nose；　then　she　sat　down　on　it；　while　the　family　joyously　gathered　round　the　saucer。　Still　the　man　chopped　on。

Mother　returnedwithout　any　eggs。　　She　rescued　the　crockery　from　the　pigs　and　turned　curiously　to　the　man。　　She　said；　〃Why；　you've　let　them　take　the　tea！〃　　No　answer。　　She　wondered。

Suddenly；　and　for　the　fiftieth　time；　the　axe　flew　off。　　The　man　held　the　handle　and　stared　at　the　woodheap。　　Mother　watched　him。　　He　removed　his　hats；　and　looked　inside　them。　　He　remained　looking　inside　them。

Mother　watched　him　more　closely。　　His　lips　moved。　　He　said；　〃LISTEN　TO　THEM！　　THEY'RE　COMING！　　I　KNEW　THEY'D　FOLLOW！〃

〃Who？〃　asked　Mother；　trembling　slightly。

〃THEY'RE　IN　THE　WOOD！〃　he　went　on。　　〃Ha；　ha！　　I've　got　them。　　They'll　never　get　out；　NEVER　GET　OUT！〃

Mother　fled；　screaming。　　She　ran　inside　and　called　the　children。　　Sal　assisted　her。　　They　trooped　in　like　wallabiesall　but　Joe。　　He　was　away　earning　money。　　He　was　getting　a　shilling　a　week　from　Maloney；　for　chasing　cockatoos　from　the　corn。

They　closed　and　barricaded　the　doors；　and　Sal　took　down　the　gun；　which　Mother　made　her　hide　beneath　the　bed。　　They　sat　listening；　anxiously　and　intently。　　The　wind　began　to　rise。　　A　lump　of　soot　fell　from　the　chimney　into　the　fireplacewhere　there　was　no　fire。　　Mother　shuddered。　　Some　more　fell。　　Mother　jumped　to　her　feet。　　So　did　Sal。　　They　looked　at　each　other　in　dismay。　　The　children　began　to　cry。　　The　chain　for　hanging　the　kettle　on　started　swinging　to　and　fro。　　Mother's　knees　gave　way。　　The　chain　continued　swinging。　　A　pair　of　bare　legs　came　down　into　the　fireplacethey　were　curled　round　the　chain。　　Mother　collapsed。　　Sal　screamed；　and　ran　to　the　door；　but　could　n't　open　it。　　The　legs　left　the　chain　and　dangled　in　the　air。　　Sal　called　〃Murder！〃

Her　cry　was　answered。　　It　was　Joe；　who　had　been　over　at　Maloney's　making　his　fortune。　　He　came　to　the　rescue。　　He　dropped　out　of　the　chimney　and　shook　himself。　　Sal　stared　at　him。　　He　was　calm　and　covered　from　head　to　foot　with　soot　and　dirt。　　He　looked　round　and　said；　〃Thought　yuz　could　keep　me　out；　did'n'y'？〃　　Sal　could　only　look　at　him。　　〃I　saw　yuz　all　run　in；〃　he　was　saying；　when　Sal　thought　of　Mother；　and　sprang　to　her。　　Sal　shook　her；　and　slapped　her；　and　threw　water　on　her　till　she　sat　up　and　stared　about。　　Then　Joe　stared。

Dad　came　in　for　dinnerwhich；　of　course；　was　n't　ready。　　Mother　began　to　cry；　and　asked　him　what　he　meant　by　keeping　a　madman　on　the　place；　and　told　him　she　KNEW　he　wanted　to　have　them　all　murdered。　　Dad　did　n't　understand。　　Sal　explained。　　Then　he　went　out　and　told　the　man　to　〃Clear！〃　The　man　simply　said；　〃No。〃

〃Go　on；　now！〃　Dad　said；　pointing　to　the　rails。　　The　man　smiled　at　the　wood…heap　as　he　worked。　　Dad　waited。　　〃Ain't　y'　going？〃　he　repeated。

〃Leave　me　alone　when　I'm　chopping　wood　for　the　missus；〃　the　man　answered；　then　smiled　and　muttered　to　himself。　　Dad　left　him　alone　and　went　inside　wondering。

Next　day　Mother　and　Dad　were　talking　at　the　barn。　　Mother；　bare…headed；　was　holding　some　eggs　in　her　apron。　　Dad　was　leaning　on　a　hoe。

〃I　am　AFRAID　of　him；〃　Mother　said；　〃it's　not　right　you　should　keep　him　about　the　place。　　No　one's　safe　with　such　a　man。　　Some　day　he'll　take　it　in　his　head　to　kill　us　all；　and　then〃

〃Tut；　tut；　woman；　poor　old　Jack！　　he's　harmless　as　a　baby。〃

〃All　right；〃　（sullenly）；　〃you'll　see！〃

Dad　laughed　and　went　away　with　the　hoe　on　his　shoulder　to　cut　burr。

Middle　of　summer。　　Dad　and　Dave　in　the　paddock　mowing　lucerne。　　Jack　sinking　post…holes　for　a　milking…yard　close　to　the　house。　　Joe　at　intervals　stealing　behind　him　to　prick　him　with　straws　through　a　rent　in　the　rear　of　his　patched　moleskins。　　Little　Billin　readiness　to　runstanding　off；　enjoying　the　sport。

Inside　the　house　sat　Mother　and　Sal；　sewing　and　talking　of　Maloney's　new　baby。

〃Dear　me；〃　said　Mother；　〃it's　the　tiniest　mite　of　a　thing　I　ever　saw；　why；　bless　me；　anyone　of　y'　at　its　age　would　have　made　three　of〃

〃MIND；　Mother！〃　Sal　shrieked；　jumping　up　on　the　sofa。　　Mother　screamed　and　mounted　the　table。　　Both　gasped　for　breath；　and　leaning　cautiously　over　peeped　down　at　a　big　black　snake　which　had　glided　in　at　the　front　door。　Then；　pale　and　scared…looking；　they　stared　across　at　each　other。

The　snake　crawled　over　to　the　safe　and　drank　up　some　milk　which　had　been　spilt　on　the　floor。　　Mother　saw　its　full　length　and　groaned。　　The　snake　wriggled　to　the　leg　of　the　table。

〃Look　out！〃　cried　Sal；　gathering　up　her　skirts　and　dancing　about　on　the　sofa。

Mother　squealed　hysterically。

Joe　appeared。　　He　laughed。

〃You　wretch！〃　Mother　yelled。　　〃Run！RUN；　and　fetch　your　father！〃

Joe　went　and　brought　Jack。

〃Oh…h；　my　God！〃Mother　moaned；　as　Jack　stood　at　the　door；　staring　strangely　at　her。　　〃Kill　it！why　don't　he　kill　it？〃

Jack　did　n't　move；　but　talked　to　himself。　　Mother　shuddered。

The　reptile　crawled　to　the　bedroom　door。　　Then　for　the　first　time　the　man's　eyes　rested　upon　it。　　It　glided　into　the　bedroom；　and　Mother　and　Sal　ran　off　for　Dad。

Jack　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　snake　and　continued　muttering　to　himself。　Several　times　it　made　an　attempt　to　mount　the　dressing…table。　　Finally　it　succeeded。　　Suddenly　Jack's　demeanour　changed。　　He　threw　off　his　ragged　hat　and　talked　wildly。　　A　fearful　expression　filled　his　ugly　features。　His　voice　altered。

〃You're　the　Devil！〃　he　said；　〃THE　DEVIL！　　THE　DEVIL！　　The　missus　brought　youah…h…h！〃

The　snake's　head　passed　behind　the　looking…glass。　　Jack　drew　nearer；　clenching　his　fists　and　gesticulating。　　As　he　did　he　came　full　before　the　looking…glass　and　saw；　perhaps　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　his　own　image。　　An　unearthly　howl　came　from　him。　　〃ME　FATHER！〃　he　shouted；　and　bolted　from　the　house。

Dad　came　in　with　the　long…handled　shovel；　swung　it　about　the　room；　and　smashed　pieces　off　the　cradle；　and　tore　the　bed…curtains　down；　and　made　a　great　noise　altogether。　　Finally；　he　killed　the　snake　and　put　it　on　the　fire；　and　Joe　and　the　cat　watched　it　wriggle　on　the　hot　coals。

Meanwhile；　Jack；　bare…headed；　rushed　across　the　yard。　　He　ran　over　little　Bill；　and　tumbled　through　the　wire…fence　on　to　the　broad　of　his　back。　He　roared　like　a　wild　beast；　clutched　at　space；　spat；　and　kicked　his　heels　in　the　air。

〃Let　me　up！…AH…H…H！let