on our selection-第7章

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！


he　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　go　me　throat！〃　he　hissed。

The　dog　ran　over　and　barked　at　him。　　He　found　his　feet　again；　and；　making　off；　ran　through　the　wheat；　glancing　back　over　his　shoulder　as　he　tore　along。　　He　crossed　into　the　grass　paddock；　and　running　to　a　big　tree　dodged　round　and　round　it。　　Then　from　tree　to　tree　he　went；　and　that　evening　at　sundown；　when　Joe　was　bringing　the　cows　home；　Jack　was　still　flying　from　〃his　father〃。

After　supper。

〃I　wonder　now　what　the　old　fool　saw　in　that　snake　to　send　him　off　his　head　like　that？〃　Dad　said；　gazing　wonderingly　into　the　fire。　　〃He　sees　plenty　of　them；　goodness　knows。〃

〃That　was　n't　it。　　It　was　n't　the　snake　at　all；〃　Mother　said；　〃there　was　madness　in　the　man's　eyes　all　the　while。　　I　saw　it　the　moment　he　came　to　the　door。〃　She　appealed　to　Sal。

〃Nonsense！〃　said　Dad；　〃NONSENSE！〃　and　he　tried　to　laugh。

〃Oh；　of　course　it's　NONSENSE；〃　Mother　went　on；　〃everything　I　say　is　nonsense。　　It　won't　be　nonsense　when　you　come　home　some　day　and　find　us　all　on　the　floor　with　our　throats　cut。〃

〃Pshaw！〃　Dad　answered；　〃what's　the　use　of　talking　like　that？〃　Then　to　Dave：　　〃Go　out　and　see　if　he's　in　the　barn！〃

Dave　fidgetted。　　He　did　n't　like　the　idea。　　Joe　giggled。

〃Surely　you're　not　FRIGHTENED？〃　Dad　shouted。

Dave　coloured　up。

〃Nodon't　think　so；〃　he　said；　and；　after　a　pause；　〃YOU　go　and　see。〃

It　was　Dad's　turn　to　feel　uneasy。　　He　pretended　to　straighten　the　fire；　and　coughed　several　times。　　〃Perhaps　it's　just　as　well；〃　he　said；　〃to　let　him　be　to…night。〃

Of　course；　Dad　was　n't　afraid；　he　SAID　he　was　n't；　but　he　drove　the　pegs　in　the　doors　and　windows　before　going　to　bed　that　night。

Next　morning；　Dad　said　to　Dave　and　Joe；　〃Come　'long；　and　we'll　see　where　he's　got　to。〃

In　a　gully　at　the　back　of　the　grass…paddock　they　found　him。　　He　was　ploughingsitting　astride　the　highest　limb　of　a　fallen　tree；　and；　in　a　hoarse　voice　and　strange；　calling　out〃Gee；　Captain！come　here；　Tidy！WA…AY！〃

〃Blowed　if　I　know；〃　Dad　muttered；　coming　to　a　standstill。　　〃Wonder　if　he　is　clean　mad？〃

Dave　was　speechless；　and　Joe　began　to　tremb