on our selection-第25章

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g　or　two；　and　some　charcoal　were　at　the　bottom。　　No　water。　　He　sighed　again；　took　the　yoke　and　two　kerosene…tins；　and　went　off　to　the　springs。

About　an　hour　and　a　half　after　he　returned　with　two　half…tins　of　muddy；　milky…looking　waterthe　balance　had　been　splashed　out　as　he　got　through　the　fencesand　said　to　Mother　（wiping　the　sweat　off　his　face　with　his　shirt…sleeve）

〃Don't　know；　I'm　SURE；　what　things　are　going　t'　come　t'；。。。no　use　doing　anything。。。there's　no　rain。。。no　si〃　he　lifted　his　foot　and　with　cool　exactness　took　a　place…kick　at　the　dog；　which　was　trying　to　fall　into　one　of　the　　kerosene…tins；　head　first；　and　sent　it　and　the　water　flying。　〃Oh　you　！〃　The　rest　is　omitted　in　the　interests　of　Poetry。

Day　after。　　Fearful　heat；　not　a　breath　of　air；　fowl　and　beast　sought　the　shade；　everything　silent；　the　great　Bush　slept。　　In　the　west　a　stray　cloud　or　two　that　had　been　hanging　about　gathered；　thickened；　darkened。

The　air　changed。　　Fowl　and　beast　left　the　shade；　tree…tops　began　to　stirto　bendto　sway　violently。　　Small　branches　flew　down　and　rolled　before　the　wind。　　Presently　it　thundered　afar　off。　　Mother　and　Sal　ran　out　and　gathered　the　clothes；　and　fixed　the　spout；　and　looked　cheerfully　up　at　the　sky。

Joe　sat　in　the　chimney…corner　thumping　the　ribs　of　a　cattle…pup；　and　pinching　its　ears　to　make　it　savage。　　He　had　been　training　the　pup　ever　since　its　arrival　that　morning。

The　plough…horses；　yoked　to　the　plough；　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　paddock；　beating　the　flies　off　with　their　tails　and　leaning　against　each　other。

Dad　stood　at　the　stock…yardhis　brown　arms　and　bearded　chin　resting　on　a　middle…railpassively　watching　Dave　and　Paddy　Maloney　breaking…in　a　colt　for　Callaghana　weedy；　wild；　herring…gutted　brute　that　might　have　been　worth　fifteen　shillings。　　Dave　was　to　have　him　to　hack　about　for　six　months　in　return　for　the　breaking…in。　　Dave　was　acquiring　a　local　reputation　for　his　skill　in　handling　colts。

They　had　been　at　〃Callaghan〃as　they　christened　the　coltsince　daylight；　pretty　well；　and　had　crippled　old　Moll　and　lamed　Maloney's　Dandy；　and　knocked　up　two　they　borrowed　from　Andersonyarding　the　rubbish；　and　there　was　n't　a　fence　within　miles　of　the　place　that　he　had　n't　tumbled　over　and　smashed。　　But；　when　they　did　get　him　in；　they　lost　no　time　commencing　to　quieten　him。　　They　cursed　eloquently；　and　threw　the　bridle　at　him；　and　used　up　all　the　missiles　and　bits　of　hard　mud　and　sticks　about　the　yard；　pelting　him　because　he　would　n't　stand。

Dave　essayed　to　rope　him　〃the　first　shot；〃　and　nearly　poked　his　eye　out　with　the　pole；　and　Paddy　Maloney；　in　attempting　to　persuade　the　affrighted　beast　to　come　out　of　the　cow…bail；　knocked　the　cap　of　its　hip　down　with　the　milking…block。　　They　caught　him　then　and　put　the　saddle　on。　　Callaghan　trembled。　　When　the　girths　were　tightened　they　put　the　reins　under　the　leathers；　and　threw　their　hats　at　him；　and　shouted；　and　〃hooshed〃　him　round　the　yard；　expecting　he　would　buck　with　the　saddle。　　But　Callaghan　only　trotted　into　a　corner　and　snorted。　　Usually；　a　horse　that　won't　buck　with　a　saddle　is　a　〃snag。〃　　Dave　knew　it。　　The　chestnut　he　tackled　for　Brown　did　nothing　with　the　saddle。　　HE　was　a　snag。　　Dave　remembered　him　and　reflected。　　Callaghan　walked　boldly　up　to　Dave；　with　his　head　high　in　the　air；　and　snorted　at　him。　　He　was　a　sorry…looking　animalcuts　and　scars　all　over　him；　hip　down；　patches　and　streaks　of　skin　and　hair　missing　from　his　head。　　〃No　buck　in　him！〃　unctuously　observed　Dad；　without　lifting　his　chin　off　the　rail。　　〃Ain't　there？〃　said　Paddy　Maloney；　grinning　cynically。　　〃Just　you　wait！〃

It　seemed　to　take　the　heart　out　of　Dave；　but　he　said　nothing。　　He　hitched　his　pants　and　made　a　brave　effort　to　spitseveral　efforts。　　And　he　turned　pale。

Paddy　was　now　holding　Callaghan's　head　at　arms'…length　by　the　bridle　and　one　ear；　for　Dave　to　mount。

A　sharp　crack　of　thunder　went　off　right　overhead。　　Dave　did　n't　hear　it。

〃Hello！〃　Dad　said；　〃We're　going　to　have　ithurry　up！〃

Dave　did　n't　hear　him。　　He　approached　the　horse's　side　and　nervously　tried　the　surcinglea　greenhide　one　of　Dad's　workmanship。　　〃Think　that'll　hold？〃　he　mumbled　meekly。

〃Pshaw！〃　Dad　blurted　through　the　rails〃　Hold！　　Of　course　it'll　holdhold　a　team　o'　bullocks；　boy。〃

〃'S　all　right；　Dave；　's　all　rightgit　on！〃　From　Paddy　Maloney；　impatiently。

Paddy；　an　out…and…out　cur　amongst　horses　himself；　was　anxious　to　be　relieved　of　the　colt's　head。　　Young　horses　sometimes　knock　down　the　man　who　is　holding　them。　　Paddy　was　aware　of　it。

Dave　took　the　reins　carefully；　and　was　about　to　place　his　foot　in　the　stirrup　when　his　restless　eye　settled　on　a　wire…splice　　in　the　crupperalso　Dad's　handiwork。　　He　hesitated　and　commenced　a　remark。　　But　Dad　was　restless；　Paddy　Maloney　anxious　（as　regarded　himself）；　besides；　the　storm　was　coming。

Dad　said：　　〃Damn　it；　what　are　y'　'FRAID　o'；　boy？　THAT'll　holdjump　on。〃

Paddy　said：　　〃NOW；　Dave；　while　I've　'is　'ead　round。〃

Joe　（just　arrived　with　the　cattle…pup）　chipped　in。

He　said：　　〃Wot；　is　he　fuf…fuf…fuf…f…rikent　of　him；　Dad？〃

Dave　heard　them。　　A　tear　like　a　hailstone　dropped　out　of　his　eye。

〃It's　all　damn　well　t'　TALK；〃　he　fired　off；　〃come　in　and　RIDE　th'horse　then；　if　y'　s'GAME！〃

A　dead　silence。

The　cattle…pup　broke　away　from　Joe　and　strolled　into　the　yard。　　It　barked　feebly　at　Callaghan；　then　proceeded　to　worry　his　heels。　　It　seemed　to　take　Callaghan　for　a　calf。　　Callaghan　kicked　it　up　against　the　rails。　　It　must　have　taken　him　for　a　cow　then。

Dave's　blood　was　up。　　He　was　desperate。　　He　grabbed　the　reins　roughly；　put　his　foot　in　the　stirrup；　gripped　the　side　of　the　pommel；　and　was　on　before　you　could　say　〃Woolloongabba。〃

With　equal　alacrity；　Paddy　let　the　colt's　head　go　and　made　tracks；　chuckling。　　The　turn　things　had　taken　delighted　him。　　Excitement　（and　pumpkin）　was　all　that　kept　Paddy　alive。　　But　Callaghan　did　n't　budgeat　least　not　until　Dave　dug　both　heels　into　him。　　Then　he　made　a　blind　rush　and　knocked　out　a　panel　of　the　yardand　got　away　with　Dave。　　Off　he　went；　plunging；　galloping；　pig…jumping；　breaking　loose　limbs　and　bark　off　trees　with　Dave's　legs。　　A　wire…fence　was　in　his　way。　　It　parted　like　the　Red　Sea　when　he　came　to　ithe　crashed　into　it　and　rolled　over。　　The　saddle　was　dangling　under　his　belly　when　he　got　up；　Dave　and　the　bridle　were　under　the　fence。　　But　the　storm　had　come；　and　such　a　storm！　　Hailstones　as　big　as　apples　nearlyfirst　one　here　and　there；　and　next　moment　in　thousands。

Paddy　Maloney　and　Joe　ran　for　the　house；　Dave；　with　an　injured　ankle　and　a　cut　head；　limped　painfully　in　the　same　direction；　but　Dad　saw　the　plough…horses　turning　and　twisting　about　in　their　chains　and　set　out　for　them。　　He　might　as　well　have　started　off　the　cross　the　continent。　　A　hailstone；　large　enough　to　kill　a　cow；　fell　with　a　thud　a　yard　or　two　in　advance　of　him；　and　he　slewed　like　a　hare　and　made　for　the　house　also。　　He　was　getting　it　hot。　　Now　and　again　his　hands　would　go　up　to　protect　his　head；　but　he　could　n't　run　that　wayhe　could　n't　run　much　any　way。

The　others　reached　the　house　and　watched　Dad　make　from　the　back…door。　Mother　called　to　him　to　〃Run；　run！〃　　Poor　Dad！　　He　was　running。　　Paddy　Maloney　was　joyful。　　He　danced　about　and　laughed　vociferously　at　the　hail　bouncing　off　Dad。　　Once　Dad　staggereda　hail…boulder　had　struck　him　behind　the　earand　he　looked　like　dropping。　　Paddy　hit　himself　on　the　leg；　and　vehemently　invited　Dave　to　〃Look；　LOOK　at　him！〃　　But　Dad　battled　along　to　the　haystack；　buried　his　head　in　it；　and　stayed　there　till　the　storm　was　overwriggling　and　moving　his　feet　as　though　he　were　tramping　chaff。

Shingles　were　dislodged　from　the　roof　of　the　house；　and　huge　hailstones　pelted　in　and　put　the　fire　out；　and　split　the　table；　and　fell　on　the　sofa　and　the　beds。

Rain　fell　also；　but　we　did　n't　catch　any　in　the　caskthe　wind　blew　the　spout　away。　　It　was　a　curled　piece　of　bark。　　Nevertheless；　the　storm　did　good。　　We　did　n't　lose　ALL　the　potatoes。　　We　got　SOME　out　of　them。　　We　had　them　for　dinner　one　Sunday。




CHAPTER　XXIII。



The　Agricultural　Reporter。


It　had　been　a　dull；　miserable　day；　and　a　cold　westerly　was　blowing。　　Dave　and　Joe　were　at　the　barn　finishing　up　for　the　day。

Dad　was　inside　grunting　an