on our selection-第9节

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in　the　cultivation；　he　planted　his　left　foot　heavily　upon　a　Bathurst…burr　that　had　been　cut　and　left　lying。　　It　clung　to　him。　He　hopped　along　on　one　leg；　trying　to　kick　it　off；　still　it　clung　to　him。　He　fell　down。　　The　horses　and　the　tree　got　mixed　up；　and　everything　was　confusion。

Dave　abused　Joe　remorselessly。　　〃Go　on！〃　he　howled；　waving　in　the　air　a　fistful　of　grass　and　weeds　which　he　had　pulled　from　the　nose　of　the　plough；　〃clear　out　of　this　altogether！you're　only　a　damn　nuisance。〃

Joe's　eyes　rested　on　the　fistful　of　grass。　　They　lit　up　suddenly。

〃L…l…look　out；　Dave；〃　he　stuttered；　〃y'…y'　got　a　s…s…snake。〃

Dave　dropped　the　grass　promptly。　　A　deaf…adder　crawled　out　of　it。　　Joe　killed　it。　　Dave　looked　closely　at　his　hand；　which　was　all　scratches　and　scars。　　He　looked　at　it　again；　then　he　sat　on　the　beam　of　the　plough；　pale　and　miserable…looking。

〃D…d…did　it　bite　y'；　Dave？〃　　No　answer。

Joe　saw　a　chance　to　distinguish　himself；　and　took　it。　　He　ran　home；　glad　to　be　the　bearer　of　the　news；　and　told　Mother　that　〃Dave's　got　bit　by　a　addera　sudden…death　adderright　on　top　o'　the　finger。〃

How　Mother　screamed！　　〃My　God！　　whatever　shall　we　do？　　Run　quick；〃　she　said；　〃and　bring　Mr。　Maloney。　　Dear！　oh　dear！　oh　dear！〃

Joe　had　not　calculated　on　this　injunction。　　He　dropped　his　head　and　said　sullenly：　　〃Wot；　walk　all　the　way　over　there？〃

Before　he　could　say　another　word　a　tin…dish　left　a　dinge　on　the　back　of　his　skull　that　will　accompany　him　to　his　grave　if　he　lives　to　be　a　thousand。

〃You　wretch；　you！　　Why　don't　you　run　when　I　tell　you？〃

Joe　sprang　in　the　air　like　a　shot　wallaby。

〃I'll　not　go　AT　ALL　nowy'　see！〃　he　answered；　starting　to　cry。　　Then　Sal　put　on　her　hat　and　ran　for　Maloney。

Meanwhile　Dave　took　the　horses　out；　walked　inside；　and　threw　himself　on　the　sofa　without　uttering　a　word。　　He　felt　ill。

Mother　was　in　a　paroxysm　of　fright。　　She　threw　her　arms　about　frantically　and　cried　for　someone　to　come。　　At　　last　she　sat　down　and　tried　to　think　what　she　could　do。　　She　thought　of　the　very　thing；　and　ran　for　the　carving…knife；　which　she　handed　to　Dave　with　shut　eyes。　　He　motioned　her　with　a　disdainful　movement　of　the　elbow　to　take　it　away。

Would　Maloney　never　come！　　He　was　coming；　hat　in　hand；　and　running　for　dear　life　across　the　potato…paddock。　　Behind　him　was　his　man。　　Behind　his　manSal；　out　of　breath。　　Behind　her；　Mrs。　Maloney　and　the　children。

〃Phwat's　the　thrubble？〃　cried　Maloney。　　〃Bit　be　a　difadher？　　O；　be　the　tares　of　war！〃　　Then　he　asked　Dave　numerous　questions　as　to　how　it　happened；　which　Joe　answered　with　promptitude　and　pride。　　Dave　simply　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　turned　his　face　to　the　wall。　　Nothing　was　to　be　got　out　of　him。

Maloney　held　a　short　consultation　with　himself。　　Then〃Hould　up　yer　hand！〃　he　said；　bending　over　Dave　with　a　knife。　　Dave　thrust　out　his　arm　violently；　knocked　the　instrument　to　the　other　side　of　the　room；　and　kicked　wickedly。

〃The　pison's　wurrkin'；〃　whispered　Maloney　quite　loud。

〃Oh；　my　gracious！〃　groaned　Mother。

〃The　poor　crathur；〃　said　Mrs。　Maloney。

There　was　a　pause。

〃Phwhat　finger's　bit？〃　asked　Maloney。　　Joe　thought　it　was　the　littlest　one　of　the　lot。

He　approached　the　sofa　again；　knife　in　hand。

〃Show　me　yer　finger；〃　he　said　to　Dave。

For　the　first　time　Dave　spoke。　　He　said：

〃Damn　y'what　the　devil　do　y'　want？　　Clear　out　and　lea'　me　'lone。〃

Maloney　hesitated。　　There　was　a　long　silence。　　Dave　commenced　breathing　heavily。

〃It's　maikin'　'm　slape；〃　whispered　Maloney；　glancing　over　his　shoulder　at　the　women。

〃Don't　let　him！　　Don't　let　him！〃　　Mother　wailed。

〃Salvation　to　's　all！〃　muttered　Mrs。　Maloney；　piously　crossing　herself。

Maloney　put　away　the　knife　and　beckoned　to　his　man；　who　was　looking　on　from　the　door。　　They　both　took　a　firm　　hold　of　Dave　and　stood　him　upon　his　feet。　　He　looked　hard　and　contemptuously　at　Maloney　for　some　seconds。　Then　with　gravity　and　deliberation　Dave　said：　　〃Now　wot　'n　th'　devil　are　y'　up　t'？　　Are　y'　mad？〃

〃Walk　'm　along；　Jaimeswalk　'malong；〃　was　all　Maloney　had　to　say。　　And　out　into　the　yard　they　marched　him。　　How　Dave　did　struggle　to　get　away！swearing　and　cursing　Maloney　for　a　cranky　Irishman　till　he　foamed　at　the　mouth；　all　of　which　the　other　put　down　to　snake…poison。　　Round　and　round　the　yard　and　up　and　down　it　they　trotted　him　till　long　after　dark；　until　there　was　n't　a　struggle　left　in　him。

They　placed　him　on　the　sofa　again；　Maloney　keeping　him　awake　with　a　strap。　How　Dave　ground　his　teeth　and　kicked　and　swore　whenever　he　felt　that　strap！　　And　they　sat　and　watched　him。

It　was　late　in　the　night　when　Dad　came　from　town。　　He　staggered　in　with　the　neck　of　a　bottle　showing　out　of　his　pocket。　　In　his　hand　was　a　piece　of　paper　wrapped　round　the　end　of　some　yards　of　sausage。　　The　dog　outside　carried　the　other　end。

〃An'　'e　ishn't　dead？〃　Dad　said；　after　hearing　what　had　befallen　Dave。　〃Don'　b'leevsh　idwuzhn't　bit。　　Die　'fore　shun'own　ifsh　desh　ad'er　bish　'm。〃

〃Bit！〃　Dave　said　bitterly；　turning　round　to　the　surprise　of　everyone。　〃I　never　said　I　was　BIT。　　No　one　said　I　wasonly　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