on our selection-第8节

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own　dodged　him　just　when　he　did　he　would　be　a　dead　man　now。

A　little　further　on　the　huntsmen　sighted　a　mob　of　kangaroos。　　Joy　and　excitement。　　A　mob？　　It　was　a　swarm！　　Away　they　hopped。　　Off　scrambled　the　dogs；　and　off　flew　Paddy　Maloney　and　Davethe　rest　followed　anyhow；　and　at　varying　speeds。

That　all　those　dogs　should　have　selected　and　followed　the　same　kangaroo　was　sad　and　humiliating。　　And　such　a　waif　of　a　thing；　too！　　Still；　they　stuck　to　it。　　For　more　than　a　mile；　down　a　slope；　the　weedy　marsupial　outpaced　them；　but　when　it　came　to　the　hill　the　daylight　between　rapidly　began　to　lessen。　　A　few　seconds　more　and　all　would　have　been　over；　but　a　straggling；　stupid　old　ewe；　belonging　to　an　unneighbourly　squatter；　darted　up　from　the　shade　of　a　tree　right　in　the　way　of　Maloney's　Brindle；　who　was　leading。　　Brindle　always　preferred　mutton　to　marsupial；　so　he　let　the　latter　slide　and　secured　the　ewe。　　The　death…scene　was　most　imposing。　The　ground　around　was　strewn　with　small　tufts　of　white　wool。　　There　was　a　complete　circle　of　eager；　wriggling　dogsall　jammed　together；　heads　down；　and　tails　elevated。　　Not　a　scrap　of　the　ewe　was　visible。　　Paddy　Maloney　jumped　down　and　proceeded　to　batter　the　brutes　vigorously　with　a　waddy。　As　the　others　arrived；　they　joined　him。　　The　dogs　were　hungry；　and　fought　for　every　inch　of　the　sheep。　　Those　not　laid　out　were　pulled　away；　and！　when　old　Brown　had　dragged　the　last　one　off　by　the　hind　legs；　all　that　was　left　of　that　ewe　was　four　feet　and　some　skin。

Dad　shook　his　head　and　looked　graveso　did　Anderson。　　After　a　short　rest　they　decided　to　divide　into　parties　and　work　the　ridges。　　A　start　was　made。　Dad's　contingentconsisting　of　himself　and　Joe；　Paddy　Maloney；　Anderson；　old　Brown；　and　several　othersstarted　a　mob。　　This　time　the　dogs　separated　and　scampered　off　in　all　directions。　　In　quick　time　　Brown's　black　slut　bailed　up　an　〃old　man〃　full　of　fight。　　Nothing　was　more　desirable。　　He　was　a　monster；　a　king　kangaroo；　and　as　he　raised　himself　to　his　full　height　on　his　toes　and　tail　he　looked　formidablea　grand　and　majestic　demon　of　the　bush。　　The　slut　made　no　attempt　to　tackle　him；　she　stood　off　with　her　tongue　out。　　Several　small　dogs　belonging　to　Anderson　barked　energetically　at　him；　even　venturing　occasionally　to　run　behind　and　bite　his　tail。　　But；　further　than　grabbing　them　in　his　arms　and　embracing　them；　he　took　no　notice。　　There　he　towered；　his　head　back　and　chest　well　out；　awaiting　the　horsemen。　　They　came；　shouting　and　hooraying。　　He　faced　them　defiantly。　Anderson；　aglow　with　excitement；　dismounted　and　aimed　a　lump　of　rock　at　his　head；　which　laid　out　one　of　the　little　dogs。　　They　pelted　him　with　sticks　and　stones　till　their　arms　were　tired；　but　they　might　just　as　well　have　pelted　a　dead　cow。　　Paddy　Maloney　took　out　his　stirrup。　　〃Look　out！〃　he　cried。　　They　looked　out。　　Then；　galloping　up；　he　swung　the　iron　at　the　marsupial；　and　nearly　knocked　his　horse's　eye　out。

Dad　was　disgusted。　　He　and　Joe　approached　the　enemy　on　Farmer。　　Dad　carried　a　short　stick。　　The　〃old　man〃　looked　him　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