on our selection-第15部分

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leg　into　them　when　his　eyes　rested　on　a　pair　of　black　feet　uncovered　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。　He　stared　at　them　and　the　black　face　againthen　plunged　for　the　door　and　fell。　　Whisky　was　awake　and　grinned　over　the　side　of　the　bed　at　him。

〃Wot　makit　you　so　fritent　like　that？〃　he　said；　grinning　more。

Joe　ran　into　Mother's　room　and　dived　in　behind　her　and　Dad。　　Dad　swore；　and　kicked　Joe　and　jammed　him　against　the　slabs　with　his　heels；　saying：

〃My　GAWD！　　You　DEVIL　of　a　feller；　how　（KICK）　dare　you　（KICK）　run　（KICK）　run　（KICK；　KICK；　KICK）　away　yesterday；　eh？〃　　（KICK）。

But　he　was　very　glad　to　see　Joe　all　the　same；　we　all　felt　that　Shingle　Hut　would　not　have　been　the　same　place　at　all　without　Joe。

It　was　when　Dad　and　Dave　were　away　after　kangaroo…scalps　that　Joe　was　most　appreciated。　　Mother　and　Sal　felt　it　such　a　comfort　to　have　a　man　in　the　houseeven　if　it　was　only　Joe。

Joe　was　proud　of　his　male　prerogatives。　　He　looked　after　the　selection；　minded　the　corn；　kept　Anderson's　and　Dwyer's　and　Brown's　and　old　Mother　Murphy's　cows　out　of　it；　and　chased　goannas　away　from　the　front　door　the　same　as　Dad　used　to　dofor　Joe　felt　that　he　was　in　Dad's　place；　and　postponed　his　customary　familiarities　with　the　goannas。

It　was　while　Joe　was　in　charge　that　Casey　came　to　our　place。　A　starved…looking；　toothless　little　old　man　with　a　restless　eye；　talkative；　ragged　and　grey；　he　walked　with　a　bend　in　his　back　（not　a　hump）；　and　carried　his　chin　in　the　air。　　We　never　saw　a　man　like　him　before。　　He　spoke　rapidly；　too；　and　watched　us　all　as　he　talked。　　Not　exactly　a　〃traveller；〃　he　carried　no　swag　or　billycan；　and　wore　a　pair　of　boots　much　too　large。　　He　seemed　to　have　been　〃well　brought　up〃he　took　off　his　hat　at　the　door　and　bowed　low　to　Mother　and　Sal；　who　were　sitting　inside；　sewing。　　They　gave　a　start　and　stared。　　The　dog；　lying　at　Mother's　feet；　rose　and　growled。　　Bluey　was　n't　used　to　the　ways　of　people　well　brought　up。

The　world　had　dealt　harshly　with　Casey；　and　his　story　went　to　Mother's　heart。　　〃God　buless　y'；〃　he　said　when　she　told　him　he　could　have　some　dinner；　〃but　I'll　cut　y'　wood　for　it；　oh；　I'll　cut　y'　wood！〃　And　he　went　to　the　wood…heap　and　started　work。　　A　big　heap　and　a　blunt　axe；　but　it　did　n't　matter　to　Casey。　　He　worked　hard；　and　did　n't　stare　about；　and　did　n't　reduce　the　heap　much；　either；　and　when　Sal　called　him　to　dinner　he　could　n't　hearhe　was　too　busy。　　Joe　had　to　go　and　bring　him　away。

Casey　sat　at　the　table　and　looked　up　at　the　holes　in　the　roof；　through　which　the　sun　was　shining。

〃Ought　t'　be　a　cool　house；〃　he　remarked。

Mother　said　it　was。

〃Quite　a　bush　house。〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　Mother　said〃we're　right　in　the　bush　here。〃

He　began　to　eat　and；　as　he　ate；　talked　cheerfully　of　selections　and　crops　and　old　times　and　bad　times　and　wire　fences　and　dead　cattle。　　Casey　was　a　versatile　ancient。　　When　he　was　finished　he　shifted　to　the　sofa　and　asked　Mother　how　many　children　she　had。　　Mother　considered　and　said；　〃Twelve。〃　He　thought　a　dozen　enough　for　anyone；　and；　said　that　HIS　mother；　when　he　left　home；　had　twenty…oneall　girls　but　him。　　That　was　forty　years　ago；　and　he　did　n't　know　how　many　she　had　since。　　Mother　and　Sal　smiled。　　They　began　to　like　old　Casey。

Casey　took　up　his　hat　and　went　outside；　and　did　n't　say　〃Good…day〃　or　〃Thanks〃　or　anything。　　He　did　n't　go　away；　either。　　He　looked　about　the　yard。　　A　panel　in　the　fence　was　broken。　　It　had　been　broken　for　five　years。　　Casey　seemed　to　know　it。　　He　started　mending　that　panel。　　He　was　mending　it　all　the　evening。

Mother　called　to　Joe　to　bring　in　some　wood。　　Casey　left　the　fence；　hurried　to　the　wood…heap；　carried　in　an　armful；　and　asked　Mother　if　she　wanted　more。　　Then　he　returned　to　the　fence。

〃J…OE；〃　Mother　screeched　a　little　later；　〃look　at　those　cows　tryin'　to　eat　the　corn。〃

Casey　left　the　fence　again　and　drove　the　cows　away；　and　mended　the　wire　on　his　way　back。

At　sundown　Casey　was　cutting　more　wood；　and　when　we　were　at　supper　he　brought　it　in　and　put　some　on　the　fire；　and　went　out　again　slowly。

Mother　and　Sal　talked　about　him。

〃Better　give　him　his　supper；〃　Sal　said；　and　Mother　sent　Joe　to　invite　him　in。　　He　did　n't　come　in　at　once。　　Casey　was　n't　a　forward　man。　　He　stayed　to　throw　some　pumpkin　to　the　pigs。

Casey　slept　in　the　barn　that　night。　　He　slept　in　it　the　next　night；　too。　He　did　n't　believe　in　shifting　from　place　to　place；　so　he　stayed　with　us　altogether。　　He　took　a　lively　interest　in　the　selection。　　The　house；　he　said；　was　in　the　wrong　place；　and　he　showed　Mother　where　it　ought　to　have　been　built。　　He　suggested　shifting　it；　and　setting　a　hedge　and　ornamental　trees　in　front　and　fruit　trees　at　the　back；　and　making　a　nice　place　of　it。　Little　things　like　that　pleased　Mother。　　〃Anyway；〃　she　would　sometimes　say　to　Sal；　〃he's　a　useful　old　man；　and　knows　how　to　look　after　things　about　the　place。〃　Casey　did。　　Whenever　any　watermelons　were　ripe；　he　looked　after　THEM　and　hid　the　skins　in　the　ground。　　And　if　a　goanna　or　a　crow　came　and　frightened　a　hen　from　her　nest　Casey　always　got　the　egg；　and　when　he　had　gobbled　it　up　he　would　chase　that　crow　or　goanna　for　its　life　and　shout　lustily。

Every　day　saw　Casey　more　at　home　at　our　place。　　He　was　a　very　kind　man；　and　most　obliging。　　If　a　traveller　called　for　a　drink　of　water；　Casey　would　give　him　a　cup　of　milk　and　ask　him　to　wait　and　have　dinner。　　If　Maloney；　or　old　Anderson；　or　anybody；　wished　to　borrow　a　horse；　or　a　dray；　or　anything　about　the　place；　Casey　would　let　them　have　it　with　pleasure；　and　tell　them　not　to　be　in　a　hurry　about　returning　it。

Joe　got　on　well　with　Casey。　　Casey's　views　on　hard　work　were　the　same　as　Joe's。　　Hard　work；　Joe　thought；　was　n't　necessary　on　a　selection。

Casey　knew　a　thing　or　twoso　he　said。　　One　fine　morning；　when　all　the　sky　was　blue　and　the　butcher…birds　whistling　strong；　Dwyer's　cows　smashed　down　a　lot　of　the　fence　and　dragged　it　into　the　corn。　　Casey；　assisted　by　Joe；　put　them　all　in　the　yard；　and　hammered　them　with　sticks。　　Dwyer　came　along。

〃Those　cattle　belong　to　me；〃　he　said　angrily。

〃They　belongs　t'　ME；〃　Casey　answered；　〃until　you　pay　damages。〃　Then　he　put　his　back　to　the　slip…rails　and　looked　up　aggressively　into　Dwyer's　face。　Dwyer　was　a　giant　beside　Casey。　　Dwyer　did　n't　say　anythinghe　was　n't　a　man　of　wordsbut　started　throwing　the　rails　down　to　let　the　cows　　out。　Casey　flew　at　him。　　Dwyer　quietly　shoved　him　away　with　his　long；　brown　arm。　　Casey　came　again　and　fastened　on　to　Dwyer。　　Joe　mounted　the　stockyard。　Dwyer　seized　Casey　with　both　hands；　then　there　was　a　struggleon　Casey's　part。　　Dwyer　lifted　him　up　and　carried　him　away　and　set　him　down　on　his　back；　then　hastened　to　the　rails。　　But　before　he　could　throw　them　down　Casey　was　upon　him　again。　　Casey　never　knew　when　he　was　beaten。　　Dwyer　was　getting　annoyed。　　He　took　Casey　by　the　back　of　the　neck　and　squeezed　him。　Casey　humped　his　shoulders　and　gasped。　　Dwyer　stared　about。　　A　plough…rein　hung　on　the　yard。　　Dwyer　reached　for　it。　　Casey　yelled；　〃Murder！〃　　Dwyer　fastened　one　end　of　the　rope　round　Casey's　bodyunder　the　armsand　stared　about　again。　　And　again　〃Murder！〃　from　Casey。　　Joe　jumped　off　the　yard　to　get　further　away。　　A　tree；　with　a　high　horizontal　limb；　stood　near。　Dad　once　used　it　as　a　butcher's　gallows。　　Dwyer　gathered　the　loose　rein　into　a　coil　and　heaved　it　over　the　limb；　and　hauled　Casey　up。　　Then　he　tied　the　end　of　the　rope　to　the　yard　and　drove　out　the　cows。

〃When　y'　want　'im　down；〃　Dwyer　said　to　Joe　as　he　walked　away；　〃cut　the　rope。〃

Casey　groaned；　and　one　of　his　boots　dropped　off。　　Then　he　began　to　spin　roundto　wind　up　and　unwind　and　wind　up　again。　　Joe　came　near　and　eyed　the　twirling　form　with　joy。

Mother　and　Sal　arrived；　breathless　and　excited。　　They　screeched　at　Joe。

〃Undo　th'　r…r…rope；〃　Joe　said；　〃an'　he'll　come　w…wWOP。〃

Sal　ran　away　and　procured　a　sheet；　and　Mother　and　she　held　it　under　Casey；　and　told　Joe　to　unfasten　the　rope　and　lower　him　as　steadily　as　he　could。　Joe　unfastened　the　rope；　but　somehow　it　pinched　his　fingers　and　he　let　go；　and　Casey　fell　through　the　sheet。　　For　three　weeks　Casey　was　an　invalid　at　our　place。　　He　would　have　been　invalided　there　for　the　rest　of　his　days　only　old　Dad　came　home　and　induced　him　to　leave。　　Casey　did　n't　want　to　go；　but　Dad　had　a　persuasive　way　with　him　that　generally　proved　effectual。

Singularly　enough；　Dad　complained　that　kangaroos　were　getting　scarce　where　he　was　camped；　while　our　paddocks　were　full　of　them。　　Joe　started　a　mob　nearly　every　day；　as　he　walked　round　overseeing　things；　and　he　pondered。　Suddenly　he　had　an　original　inspirationoriginality　was　Joe's　strong　point。　　He　turned　the　barn　into　a　workshop；　and　buried　himself　there　for　two　days。　　For　two　whole　days　he　was　never　〃at　home；〃；　except　when　he　stepped　out　to　throw　the　hammer　at　the　dog　for　yelping　for　a　drink。　　The　greedy　brute！　it　was　n't　a　week　since　he'd　had　a　billyfulJoe　told　him。　On　the　morning　of　the　third　day　the　barn…door　swung　open；　and　forth　came　a　kangaroo；　with　the　sharpened　carving　knife　in　its　paws。　　It　hopped　across　the　yard　and　sat　up；　bold　and　erect；　near　the　dog…kennel。　　Bluey　nearly　broke　his　neck　trying　to　get　at　it。　　The　kangaroo　said：　　〃Lay　down；　you　useless　hound！〃　and　started　across　the　cultivation！；　heading　for　the　grass…paddock　in　long；　erratic　jumps。　　Half…way　across　the　cultivation　it　spotted　a　mob　of　other　kangaroos；　and　took　a　firmer　grip　of　the　carver。

Bluey　howled　and　plunged　until　Mother　came　out　to　see　what　was　the　matter。　She　was　in　time　to　see　a　solitary　kangaroo　hop　in　a　drunken　manner　towards　the　fence；　so　she　let　the　dog　go　and　cried；　〃Sool　him；　Bluey！　　Sool　him！〃　Bluey　sooled　him；　and　Mother　followed　with　the　axe　to　get　the　scalp。　　As　the　dog　came　racing　up；　the　kangaroo　turned　and　hissed；　〃G'　home；　y'　mongrel！〃　Bluey　took　no　notice；　and　only　when　he　had　nailed　the　kangaroo　dextrously　by　the　thigh　and　got　him　down　did　it　dawn　upon　the　marsupial　that　Bluey　was　n't　in　the　secret。　　Joe　tore　off　his　head…gear；　called　the　dog　affectionately　by　name；　and　yelled　for　help；　but　Bluey　had　not　had　anything　substantial　to　eat　for　over　a　week；　and　he　worried　away　vigorously。

Then　the　kangaroo　slashed　out　with　the　carving…knife；　and　hacked　a　junk　off　Bluey's　nose。　　Bluey　shook　his　head；　relaxed　his　thigh…grip；　and　grabbed