on our selection-第23部分

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hts　went　sadly　back　to　the　day　he　turned　the　poor　devil　out　of　the　barn。

They　carried　the　man　inside　and　placed　him　on　the　sofa。　　But　soon　he　took　a　turn。　　He　sank　quickly；　and　in　a　few　moments　he　was　dead。　　In　a　few　moments　more　nearly　everyone　had　gone。

〃While　you　are　here；〃　Dad　said　to　the　clergyman；　in　a　soft　voice；　〃I'll　open　the　swag。〃　　He　commenced　to　unroll　itit　was　a　big　blanketand　when　he　got　to　the　end　there　were　his　own　trousersthe　lost　ones；　nothing　more。　　Dad's　eyes　met　Mother's；　Dave's　met　Sal's；　none　of　them　spoke。　　But　the　clergyman　drew　his　own　conclusions；　and　on　the　following　Sunday；　at　Nobby…Nobby；　he　preached　a　stirring　sermon　on　that　touching　bequest　of　the　man　with　the　bear…skin　cap。




CHAPTER　XXVI。



One　Christmas。


Three　days　to　Christmas；　and　how　pleased　we　were！　　For　months　we　had　looked　forward　to　it。　　Kate　and　Sandy；　whom　we　had　only　seen　once　since　they　went　on　their　selection；　were　to　be　home。　　Dave；　who　was　away　shearing　for　the　first　time；　was　coming　home　too。　　Norah；　who　had　been　away　for　a　year　teaching　school；　was　home　already。　　Mother　said　she　looked　quite　the　lady；　and　Sal　envied　the　fashionable　cut　of　her　dresses。

Things　were　in　a　fair　way　at　Shingle　Hut；　rain　had　fallen　and　everything　looked　its　best。　　The　grass　along　the　headlands　was　almost　as　tall　as　the　corn；　the　Bathurst…burr；　the　Scotch…thistles；　and　the　〃stinking　Roger〃　were　taller。　　Grow！　　Dad　never　saw　the　like。　　Why；　the　cultivation　was　n't　large　enough　to　hold　the　melon　and　pumpkin　vinesthey　travelled　into　the　horse…paddock　and　climbed　up　trees　and　over　logs　and　stumps；　and　they　would　have　fastened　on　the　horses　only　the　horses　were　fat　and　fresh　and　often　galloped　about。　　And　the　stock！　　Blest　if　the　old　cows　did　n't　carry　udders　like　camp…ovens；　and　had　so　much　milk　that　one　could　track　them　everywhere　they　wentthey　leaked　so。　　The　old　plough…horses；　tooonly　a　few　months　before　dug　out　of　the　dam　with　a　spade；　and　slung　up　between　heaven　and　earth　for　a　week；　and　fed　and　prayed　for　regularly　by　Dadactually　bolted　one　day　with　the　dray　because　Joe　rattled　a　dish　of　corn　behind　them。　　Even　the　pet　kangaroo　was　nearly　jumping　out　of　its　skin；　and　it　took　the　big　black　〃goanna〃　that　used　to　come　after　eggs　all　its　time　to　beat　Dad　from　the　barn　to　the　nearest　tree；　so　fat　was　it。　And　such　a　season　for　butterflies　and　grasshoppers；　and　grubs　and　snakes；　and　native　bears！　　Given　an　ass；　an　elephant；　and　an　empty　wine…bottle　or　two；　and　one　might　have　thought　Noah's　ark　had　been　emptied　at　our　selection。

Two　days　to　Christmas。　　The　sun　getting　low。　　An　old　cow　and　a　heifer　in　the　stock…yard。　　Dad　in；　admiring　them；　Mother　and　Sal　squinting　through　the　rails；　little　Bill　　perched　on　one　of　the　round　posts；　nursing　the　steel　and　a　long　knife；　Joe　running　hard　from　the　barn　with　a　plough…rein。

Dad　was　wondering　which　beast　to　kill；　and　expressed　a　preference　for　the　heifer。　　Mother　said；　〃No；　kill　the　cow。〃　　Dad　inspected　the　cow　again；　and　shook　his　head。

〃Well；　if　you　don't　she'll　only　die；　if　the　winter's　a　hard　one；　then　you'll　have　neither。〃　　That　settled　it。　　Dad　took　the　rope　from　Joe；　who　arrived　aglow　with　heat　and　excitement；　and　fixed　a　running　noose　on　one　end　of　it。　　Then

〃Hunt　'em　round！〃　he　cried。

Joe　threw　his　hat　at　them；　and　chased　them　round　and　round　the　yard。　Dad　turned　slowly　in　the　centre；　like　a　ring…master；　his　eye　on　the　cow；　a　coil　of　rope　was　in　this　left　hand；　and　with　the　right　he　measuredly　swung　the　loop　over　and　over　his　head　for　some　time。　　At　last　the　cow　gave　him　a　chance　at　her　horns；　and　he　let　fly。　　The　rope　whizzed　across　the　yard；　caught　little　Bill　round　the　neck；　and　brought　him　down　off　the　post。　Dad　could　hardly　believe　it。　　He　first　stared　at　Bill　as　he　rolled　in　the　yard；　then　at　the　cow。　　Mother　wished　to　know　if　he　wanted　to　kill　the　boy；　and　Joe　giggled　and；　with　a　deal　of　courage；　assured　Dad　it　was　〃a　fine　shot。〃　　The　cow　and　the　heifer　ran　into　a　corner；　and　switched　their　tails；　and　raked　skin　and　hair　off　each　other　with　their　horns。

〃What　do　you　want　to　be　always　stuck　in　the　road　for？〃　Dad　growled；　taking　the　rope　off　little　Bill's　neck。　　〃Go　away　from　here　altogether！〃　Little　Bill　went　away；　so　did　Mother　and　Saluntil　Dad　had　roped　the　cow；　which　was　n't　before　he　twice　lassoed　the　heiferonce　by　the　fore…leg　and　once　round　the　flanks。　　The　cow　thereupon　carried　a　panel　of　the　yard　away；　and　got　out　and　careered　down　the　lane；　bucking　and　bellowing　till　all　the　cattle　of　the　country　gathered　about　her。

Dad's　blood　was　up。　　He　was　hanging　on　to　the　rope；　his　heels　ploughing　the　dust；　and　the　cow　pulling　him　about　as　she　liked。　　The　sun　was　setting；　a　beautiful　sunset；　too；　and　Mother　and　Sal　were　admiring　it。

〃Did　y'　never　see　th'　blasted　sun　gogo　down　be〃　Dad　did　n't　finish。　He　feet　slid　under　a　rail；　causing　him　to　relax　his　grip　of　the　rope　and　sprawl　in　the　dust。　　But　when　he　rose！

〃Are　y'　going　t'　stand　staring　there　all　night？〃　　They　were　beside　the　rails　in　an　instant；　took　the　end　of　the　rope　which　he　passed　to　them；　put　it　once　round　the　gallows…post；　and　pulled…pulled　like　sailors。　　Dad　hung　on　close　to　the　cow's　head；　while　Joe　kicked　her　with　his　bare　foot　and　screwed　her　tail。

〃Steady！〃　said　Dad；　〃that'll　about　do。〃　　Then；　turning　to　the　women　as　he　mounted　a　rail　and　held　the　axe　above　the　cow's　head：　　〃Hang　on　there　now！〃　　They　closed　their　eyes　and　sat　back。　　The　cow　was　very　patient。　Dad　extended　himself　for　a　great　effort；　but　hesitated。　　Joe　called　out：　〃L…l…ook　out　th'　axe　dud…dud…don't　fly　and　gug…gug…get　me；　Dad！〃　　Dad　glanced　quickly　at　it；　and　took　aim　again。　　Down　it　came；　whish！　　But　the　cow　moved；　and　he　only　grazed　her　cheek。　　She　bellowed　and　pulled　back；　and　Mother　and　Sal　groaned　and　let　the　rope　go。　　The　cow　swung　round　and　charged　Joe；　who　was　standing　with　his　mouth　open。　　But　only　a　charge　of　shot　could　catch　Joe；　he　mounted　the　rails　like　a　cat　and　shook　his　hat　at　the　beast　below。

After　Dad　had　nearly　brained　her　with　a　rail　the　cow　was　dragged　to　the　post　again；　and　this　time　Dad　made　no　mistake。　　Down　she　dropped；　and；　before　she　could　give　her　last　kick；　all　of　us　entered　the　yard　and　approached　her　boldly。　　Dad　danced　about　excitedly；　asking　for　the　long　knife。　　Nobody　knew　where　it　was。　　〃DAMN　it；　where　is　it？〃　he　cried；　impatiently。　　Everyone　flew　round　in　search　of　it　but　Joe。　　HE　was　curious　to　know　if　the　cow　was　in　milk。　　Dad　noticed　him；　sprang　upon　him；　seized　him　by　the　shirt　collar　and　swung　him　round　and　trailed　him　through　the　yard；　saying：　　〃Find　me　th'　knife；　d'　y'　HEAR？〃　　It　seemed　to　sharpen　Joe's　memory；　for　he　suddenly　remembered　having　stuck　it　in　one　of　the　rails。

Dad　bled　the　beast；　but　it　was　late　before　he　had　it　skinned　and　dressed。　When　the　carcase　was　hoisted　to　the　gallowsand　it　seemed　gruesome　enough　as　it　hung　there　in　the　pallid　light　of　the　moon；　with　the　night　birds　dismally　wailing　like　mourners　from　the　lonely　treeswe　went　home　and　had　supper。

Christmas　Eve。　　Mother　and　Sal　had　just　finished　papering　the　walls；　and　we　were　busy　decorating　the　place　with　green　boughs；　when　Sandy　and　Kate；　in　their　best　clothesKate　seated　behind　a　well…filled　pillow…slip　strapped　on　the　front　of　her　saddle；　Sandy　with　the　baby　in　front　of　himcame　jogging　along　the　lane。　　There　was　commotion！　　Everything　was　thrown　aside　to　receive　them。　　They　were　surrounded　at　the　slip…rails；　and　when　they　got　downtalk　about　kissing！　　Dad　was　the　only　one　who　escaped。　　When　the　hugging　commenced　he　poked　his　head　　under　the　flap　of　Kate's　saddle　and　commenced　unbuckling　the　girth。　　Dad　had　been　at　such　receptions　before。　　But　Sandy　took　it　all　meekly。　　And　the　baby！　（the　dear　little　thing）　they　scrimmaged　about　it；　and　mugged　it；　and　fought　for　possession　of　it　until　Sandy　became　alarmed　and　asked　them　to　〃Mind！〃

Inside　they　sat　and　drank　tea　and　talked　about　things　that　had　happened　and　things　that　had　n't　happened。　　Then　they　got　back　to　the　baby　and　disagreed　on　the　question　of　family　likeness。　　Kate　thought　the　youngster　was　the　dead　image　of　Sandy　about　the　mouth　and　eyes。　　Sal　said　it　had　Dad's　nose；　while　Mother　was　reminded　of　her　dear　old　grandmother　every　time　the　infant　smiled。　　Joe　ventured　to　think　it　resembled　Paddy　Maloney　far　more　than　it　did　Sandy；　and　was　told　to　run　away　and　put　the　calves　in。　　The　child　was　n't　yet　christened；　and　the　rest　of　the　evening　was　spent　selecting　a　name　for　it。　　Almost　every　appellation　under　the　sun　was　suggested　and　promptly　rejected。　　They　could　n't　hit　on　a　suitable　one；　and　Kate　would　n't　have　anything　that　was　n't　nice；　till　at　last　Dad　thought　of　one　that　pleased　everybody〃Jim！〃

After　supper；　Kate　started　playing　the　concertina；　and　the　Andersons　and　Maloneys　and　several　others　dropped　in。　　Dad　was　pleased　to　see　them；　he　wished　them　all　a　merry　Christmas；　and　they　wished　him　the　same　and　many　of　them。　　Then　the　table　was　put　outside；　and　the　room　cleared　for　a　dance。　　The　young　people　took　the　floor　and　waltzed；　I　dare　say；　for　milestheir　heads　as　they　whirled　around　tossing　the　green　bushes　that　dangled　from　the　rafters；　while　the　old　people；　with　beaming　faces；　sat　admiring　them；　and　swaying　their　heads　about　and　beating　time　to　the　music　by　patting　the　floor　with　their　feet。　　Someone　called　out　〃Faster！〃　Kate　gave　it　faster。　　Then　to　see　them　and　to　hear　the　rattle　of　the　boots　upon　the　floor！　　You'd　think　they　were　being　carried　away　in　a　whirlwind。　All　but　Sal　and　Paddy　Maloney　gave　up　and　leant　against　the　wall；　and　puffed　and　mopped　their　faces　and　their　necks　with　their　pocket…handkerchiefs。

Faster　still　went　the　music；　faster　whirled　Sal　and　Paddy　Maloney。　　And　Paddy　was　on　his　mettle。　　He　was　lifting　Sal　off　her　feet。　　But　Kate　was　showing　signs　of　distress。　　She　leaned　forward；　jerked　her　head　about；　and　tugged　desperately　at　the　concertina　till　both　handles　left　it。　　That　ended　the　tussle；　and　Paddy　spread　himself　on　the　floor；　his　back　to　the　wall；　his　legs　extending　to　the　centre　of　the　room；　his　chin　on　his　chest；　and　rested。

Then　enjoyment　at　high　tide；　another　dance　proposed；　Sal　trying　hard　to　persuade　Dad　to　take　Mother　or　Mrs。　Maloney　up；　Dad　saying　〃Tut；　tut；　tut！〃when　in　popped　Dave；　and　stood　near　the　d