Preface
Ofthestoriesinthisvolumemanyhavealreadyappearedin(variousperiodicals),whileseveralnowappearinprintforthefirsttime。
H。L。
Sydney,March17th,1900。
ContentsTheSongsTheyusedtoSingAVisionofSandyBlightAndyPage’sRivalTheIron-BarkChip\"Middleton’sPeter\"
TheMysteryofDaveReganMitchellonMatrimonyMitchellonWomenNoPlaceforaWomanMitchell’sJobsBill,theVentriloquialRoosterBushCatsMeetingOldMatesTwoLarrikinsMr。Smellingscheck\"ARoughShed\"
PayableGoldAnOversightofSteelman’sHowSteelmantoldhisStoryOntheTrackTheSongsTheyusedtoSingOnthediggingsuptotwentyoddyearsago——andasfarbackasIcanremember——onLambingFlat,thePipeClays,Gulgong,HomeRule,andsothroughtheroaringlist;inbarkhuts,tents,public-houses,slygrogshanties,and——well,themostgloriousvoiceofallbelongedtoabadgirl。Wewereonlychildrenanddidn’tknowwhyshewasbad,butweweren’tallowedtoplaynearorgonearthehutshelivedin,andweweretrainedtobelievefirmlythatsomethingawfulwouldhappentousifwestayedtoansweraword,anddidn’trunawayasfastasourlegscouldcarryus,ifsheattemptedtospeaktous。Wehadbeforeusthedreadexampleofoneurchin,whogotanawfulhidingandwentonbreadandwaterfortwenty-fourhoursforallowinghertokisshimandgivehimlollies。Shedidn’tlookbad——shelookedtouslikeagrandandbeautifullady-girl——
butwegotinstilledintoustheideathatshewasanawfulbadwoman,somethingmoreterribleeventhanadrunkenman,andonewhosepresencewastobefearedandfledfrom。Thereweretwoothergirlsinthehutwithher,alsoaprettylittlegirl,whocalledher\"Auntie\",andwithwhomwewerenotallowedtoplay——fortheywereallbad;
whichpuzzledusasmuchaschild-mindscanbepuzzled。
Wecouldn’tmakeouthoweverybodyinonehousecouldbebad。
Weusedtowonderwhythesebadpeopleweren’thuntedawayorputingaoliftheyweresobad。Andanotherthingpuzzledus。Slippingoutafterdark,whenthebadgirlshappenedtobesingingintheirhouse,we’dsometimesrunagainstmenhangingroundthehutbyonesandtwosandthrees,listening。
Theyseemedmysterious。Theyweremostlygoodmen,andweconcludedtheywerelisteningandwatchingthebadwomen’shousetoseethattheydidn’tkillanyone,orstealandrunawaywithanybadlittleboys——ourselves,forinstance——whoranoutafterdark;
which,aswewereinformed,thosebadpeoplewerealwaysonthelookoutforachancetodo。
WeweretoldinafteryearsthatoldPeterMcKenzie(arespectable,married,hard-workingdigger)wouldsometimesstealupoppositethebaddoorinthedark,andthrowinmoneydoneupinapieceofpaper,andlistenrounduntilthebadgirlhadsungthe\"BonnieHillsofScotland\"
twoorthreetimes。Thenhe’dgoandgetdrunk,andstaydrunktwoorthreedaysatatime。Andhiswifecaughthimthrowingthemoneyinonenight,andtherewasaterriblerow,andshelefthim;andpeoplealwayssaiditwasallamistake。
Butwecouldn’tseethemistakethen。
ButIcanhearthatgirl’svoicethroughthenight,twentyyearsago:
Oh!thebloomin’heath,andthepalebluebell,InmybonnetthenIwore;
AndmemoryknowsnobrighterthemeThanthosehappydaysofyore。
Scotland!Landofchiefandsong!
Oh,whatcharmstotheebelong!
AndIamoldenoughtounderstandwhypoorPeterMcKenzie——whowasmarriedtoaSaxon,andaTartar——wentandgotdrunkwhenthebadgirlsang\"TheBonnieHillsofScotland。\"
HisanxiouseyemightlookinvainForsomelovedformitknew!……
Andyetanotherthingpuzzledusgreatlyatthetime。
Nextdoortothebadgirl’shousetherelivedaveryrespectablefamily——
afamilyofgoodgirlswithwhomwewereallowedtoplay,andfromwhomwegotlollies(thosehardoldred-and-white\"fishlollies\"
thatgrocerssenthomewithparcelsofgroceriesandreceiptedbills)。
Nowonewashingday,theybeingasgladtogetridofusathomeasweweretogetout,wewentovertothegoodhouseandfoundnooneathomeexceptthegrown-updaughter,whousedtosingforus,andread\"RobinsonCrusoe\"ofnights,\"outloud\",andgiveusmorelolliesthananyoftherest——andwithwhomwewerepassionatelyinlove,notwithstandingthefactthatshewasengagedtoa\"grown-upman\"——
(wereckonedhe’dbedeadandoutofthewaybythetimewewereoldenoughtomarryher)。Shewaswashing。Shehadcarriedthestoolandtuboveragainstthestickfencewhichseparatedherhousefromthebadhouse;
and,toourastonishmentanddismay,thebadgirlhadbroughtHERtuboveragainsthersideofthefence。Theystoodandworkedwiththeirshoulderstothefencebetweenthem,andheadsbentdownclosetoit。
Thebadgirlwouldsingafewwords,andthegoodgirlafterher,overandoveragain。Theysangverylow,wethought。
Presentlythegoodgrown-upgirlturnedherheadandcaughtsightofus。
Shejumped,andherfacewentflamingred;shelaidholdofthestoolandcarriedit,tubandall,awayfromthatfenceinahurry。
Andthebadgrown-upgirltookhertubbacktoherhouse。
Thegoodgrown-upgirlmadeuspromisenevertotellwhatwesaw——thatshe’dbeentalkingtoabadgirl——elseshewouldnever,nevermarryus。
Shetoldme,inafteryears,whenshe’dgrownuptobeagrandmother,thatthebadgirlwassurreptitiouslyteachinghertosing\"Madeline\"
thatday。
Irememberadreadfulstoryofadiggerwhowentandshothimselfonenightafterhearingthatbadgirlsing。Wethoughtthenwhatafrightfullybadwomanshemustbe。Theincidentterrifiedus;andthereafterwekeptcarefullyandfearfullyoutofreachofhervoice,lestweshouldgoanddowhatthediggerdid……
IhaveadreamyrecollectionofacircusonGulgongintheroaringdays,morethantwentyyearsago,andawoman(tomychild-fancyabeingfromanotherworld)standinginthemiddleofthering,singing:
Outinthecoldworld——outinthestreet——
AskingapennyfromeachoneImeet;
CheerlessIwanderaboutalltheday,Wearingmyyounglifeinsorrowaway!
Thatlastlinehauntedmeformanyyears。Irememberbeingfrightenedbywomensobbing(andoneortwogreatgrown-updiggersalso)
thatnightinthatcircus。
\"Father,DearFather,ComeHomewithMeNow\",wasasacredsongthen,notapegforvulgarparodiesandmorevulgar\"business\"
forfourth-rateclownsandcorner-men。Thentherewas\"ThePrairieFlower\"。
\"OutonthePrairie,inanEarlyDay\"——Icanhearthedigger’swifeyet:
shewastheprettiestgirlonthefield。Theymarriedontheslyandcreptintocampafterdark;butthediggersgotwindofitandrolledupwithgold-dishes,shovels,&c。,&c。,andgavethemarealgoodtinkettlingintheold-fashionedstyle,andanuggetortwotostarthousekeepingon。
Shehadaverysweetvoice。
Fairasalily,joyousandfree,Lightoftheprairiehomewasshe。
She’sa\"granny\"now,nodoubt——ordead。
AndIrememberapoor,brutallyill-usedlittlewife,wearingablackeyemostly,andsinging\"LoveAmongsttheRoses\"atherwork。
Andtheysangthe\"BlueTailFly\",andallthefirstandbestcoonsongs——
inthedayswhenoldJohnBrownsankadufferonthehill……
ThegreatbarkkitchenofGrannyMathews’\"RedclayInn\"。
Afreshback-logthrownbehindthefire,whichlightstheroomfitfully。
Companysettleddowntopipes,subduedyarning,andreverie。
FlashJack——redsash,cabbage-treehatonbackofheadwithnothinginit,glossyblackcurlsbunchedupinfrontofbrim。FlashJackvolunteers,withoutinvitation,preparation,orwarning,andthroughhisnose:
Hoh!——
Therewasawildkerlonialyouth,JohnDowlinwashisname!
Hebountiedonhisparients,WholivedinCastlemaine!
andsoonto——
HetookapistolfromhisbreastAndwavedthatlit——tletoy——
\"Littletoy\"withanenthusiasticflourishandgreatunctiononFlashJack’spart——
\"I’llfight,butIwon’tsurrender!\"saidThewildKerlonialBoy。
Eventhisfailstorousethecompany’senthusiasm。\"Giveusasong,Abe!
Giveusthe`Lowlands’!\"AbeMathews,beardedandgrizzled,islyingonthebroadofhisbackonabench,withhishandsclaspedunderhishead——
hisfavouritepositionforsmoking,reverie,yarning,orsinging。
Hehadastrong,deepvoice,whichusedtothrillmethroughandthrough,fromhairtotoenails,asachild。
TheybotherAbetillhetakeshispipeoutofhismouthandputsitbehindhisheadontheendofthestool:
TheshipwasbuiltinGlasgow;
’Twasthe\"GoldenVanitee\"——
Lineshavedroppedoutofmymemoryduringthethirtyyearsgonebetween——
AndsheploughedintheLowLands,Low!
Thepublic-housepeopleandmorediggersdropintothekitchen,asalldowithinhearing,whenAbesings。
\"Nowthen,boys:
AndsheploughedintheLowLands,Low!
\"Now,alltogether!
TheLowLands!TheLowLands!
AndsheploughedintheLowLands,Low!\"
Toeandheelandflatoffootbegintostamptheclayfloor,andhornyhandstoslappatchedkneesinaccompaniment。
\"Oh!saveme,lads!\"hecried,\"I’mdriftingwiththecurrent,AndI’mdriftingwiththetide!
AndI’msinkingintheLowLands,Low!
TheLowLands!TheLowLands!\"——
Theoldbarkkitchenisa-goingnow。Heelsdrummingongin-casesunderstools;hands,knuckles,pipe-bowls,andpannikinskeepingtimeonthetable。
Andwesewedhiminhishammock,Andweslippedhimo’ertheside,AndwesunkhimintheLowLands,Low!
TheLowLands!TheLowLands!
AndwesunkhimintheLowLands,Low!
OldBoozerSmith——adirtygin-soddenbundleofragsonthefloorinthecornerwithitsheadonacandlebox,andcoveredbyahorserug——
oldBoozerSmithissupposedtohavebeendeadtotheuniverseforhourspast,butthechorusmusthavedisturbedhistorpor;
for,withasuddennessandunexpectednessthatmakesthenextmanjump,therecomesabellowfromunderthehorserug:
Wotthough!——Iwear!——arag!——gedcoat!
I’llwearitlikeaman!
andceasesassuddenlyasitcommenced。Hestrugglestobringhisruinedheadandbloatedfaceabovethesurface,glaresround;
then,noonequestioninghismanhood,hesinksbackanddiestocreation;
andsubsequentproceedingsareonlyinterruptedbyasnore,asfarasheisconcerned。
LittleJimmyNowlett,thebullock-driver,isinspired。\"Goon,Jimmy!
Giveusasong!\"
InthedayswhenwewerehardupForwantofwoodandwire——
Jimmyalwaysblunders;itshouldhavebeen\"foodandfire\"——
WeusedtotieourbootsupWithlit——tlebits——erwire;
and——
I’msittinginmylit——tleroom,Itmeasuressixbysix;
Thework-housewallisopposite,I’vecountedallthebricks!
\"Giveusachorus,Jimmy!\"
Jimmydoes,givinghisheadashort,jerkynodfornearlyeveryword,anddescribingacircleroundhiscrown——asifhewerestirringapintofhottea——withhisforefinger,attheendofeveryline:
Hall!——Round!——Me——Hat!
Iworeaweepin’willer!
JimmyisaCockney。
\"Nowthen,boys!\"
Hall——round——mehat!
Howmanyolddiggersrememberit?
And:
Abutcher,andabaker,andaquiet-lookingquaker,Alla-courtingprettyJessieattheRailwayBar。
Iusedtowonderasachildwhatthe\"railwaybar\"meant。
And:
Iwould,Iwould,IwouldinvainThatIweresingleonceagain!
Butah,alas,thatwillnotbeTillapplesgrowonthewillowtree。
Adrunkengambler’syoungwifeusedtosingthatsong——toherself。
Astiratthekitchendoor,andacryof\"Pinter,\"andoldPoynton,Ballaratdigger,appearsandisshovedin;hehasseveraldrinksaboard,andtheyproceedto\"gitPinteronthesingin’lay,\"
andatlasttalkhimround。Hehasagoodvoice,butno\"theory\",andblundersworsethanJimmyNowlettwiththewords。
Hestartswithahowl——
Hoh!
WaydowninCoventGar-ar-r-dingsA-strollingIdidgo,Toseethesweetestflow-ow-wersThate’eringardingsgrow。
Hesawtheroseandlily——theredandwhiteandblue——
andhesawthesweetestflow-ow-ersthate’eringardingsgrew;
forhesawtwolovelymaidens(Pintercalls’em\"virgings\")
underneath(hemusthavemeantontopof)\"agardingchair\",singsPinter。
AndonewaslovelyJessie,Withthejetblackeyesandhair,roarsPinter,Andtheotherwasavir-ir-ging,Isolemn-lyedeclare!
\"Maiden,Pinter!\"interjectsMr。Nowlett。
\"Well,it’sallthesame,\"retortsPinter。\"AmaidenISavirging,Jimmy。
Ifyou’resinging,Jimmy,andnotme,I’llleaveoff!\"
Chorusof\"Order!Shutup,Jimmy!\"
Iquicklyestep-peduptoher,Anduntoherdidsa-a-y:
Doyoubelongtoanyyoungman,Hoh,tellmethat,Ipra-a-y?
Heranswer,accordingtoPinter,wassurprisinglypromptandunconventional;
alsofullandconcise:
No;Ibelongtonoyoungman——
Isolemnlyedeclare!
ImeantoliveavirgingAndstillmylaurelswear!
JimmyNowlettattemptstomoveanamendmentinfavourof\"maiden\",butispromptlysuppressed。ItseemsthatPinter’ssuithasahappytermination,forheissupposedtosinginthecharacterofa\"SailorBold\",andasheturnstopursuehisstrollin\"CoventGar-ar-dings\":
\"Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!\"shecried,\"IloveaSailorBold!\"
\"Hong-kore,Pinter!Giveusthe`GoldenGlove’,Pinter!\"
Thuswarmedup,Pinterstartswithanexplanatory\"spoken\"
totheeffectthatthesongheisabouttosingillustratessomeofthelittlewaysofwoman,andhow,nomatterwhatyousayordo,sheisboundtohaveherownwayintheend;alsohow,inoneinstance,shesetaboutgettingit。
Hoh!
Now,it’sofayoungsquoirenearTimworthdiddwell,Whocourtedanobleman’sdaughtersowell——
Thesonghaslittleornothingtodowiththe\"squire\",exceptsofaras\"allfriendsandrelationshadgivenconsent,\"and——
Thetroo-soowasordered——appointedtheday,Andafarmerwereappointedfortogiveheraway——
whichlastseemedamostunusualproceeding,consideringtheweddingwasatoneyaffair;butperhapstherewerepersonalinterests——
thenoblemanmighthavebeenhardup,andthefarmerbackinghim。
Buttherewasanextraordinarysceneinthechurch,andthingsgotmixed。
Forassoonasthismaidingthisfarmerespied:
\"Hoh,myheart!Hoh,myheart!
Hoh,myheart!\"thenshecried。
Hysterics?Anyway,insteadofbeingwed——
Thismaidentooksickandshewenttoherbed。
(N。B。——Pintersticksto`virging’。)
Whereuponfriendsandrelationsandguestsleftthehouseinabody(astrangebutperhapsawiseproceeding,afterall——maybetheysmeltarat)
andlefthertorecoveralone,whichshedidpromptly。Andthen:
Shirt,breeches,andwaistcoatthismaidingputon,Anda-huntingshewentwithherdogandhergun;
Shehuntedallroundwherethisfarmierdiddwell,Becauseinherownheartshelove-edhimwell。
Thecat’soutofthebagnow:
Andoftenshefired,butnogameshekilled——
whichwasnotsurprising——
Tillatlasttheyoungfarmiercameintothefield——
Nowonder。Sheputittohimstraight:
\"Oh,whyareyounotatthewedding?\"shecried,\"Fortowaitonthesquoire,andtogivehimhisbride。\"
HewasaspromptandasdelightfullyunconventionalinhisreplyastheyoungladyinCoventGardings:
\"Oh,no!andoh,no!ForthetruthImustsa-a-y,Ilovehertoowellfortogivehera-w-a-a-y!\"
whichwassatisfactorytothedisguised\"virging\"。
\"……andI’dtakeswordinhand,AndbyhonourI’dwinherifshewouldcommand。\"
Whichwasstillmoresatisfactory。
Nowthisvirging,being——
(JimmyNowlett:\"Maiden,Pinter——\"Jimisthrownonastoolandsatonbyseveraldiggers。)
Nowthismaiding,beingplease-edtoseehimsobold,Shegavehimherglovethatwasfloweredwithgold,andexplainedthatshefounditinhisfieldwhilehuntingaroundwithherdogandhergun。Itisunderstoodthathepromisedtolookuptheowner。Thenshewenthomeandputanadvertisementinthelocal`Herald’;andthatad。musthavecausedconsiderablesensation。
Shestatedthatshehadlosthergoldenglove,andTheyoungmanthatfindsitandbringsittome,Hoh!thatveryyoungmanmyhusbandshallbe!
Shehadasavingclauseincasetheyoungfarmermislaidtheglovebeforehesawthead。,andanOLDblokegotholtofitandfetcheditalong。
Buteverythingwentallright。Theyoungfarmerturnedupwiththeglove。
Hewasaveryrespectableyoungfarmer,andexpressedhisgratitudetoherforhaving\"honour-edhimwithherlove。\"Theyweremarried,andthesongendswithapictureoftheyoungfarmeressmilkingthecow,andtheyoungfarmergoingwhistlingtoplough。ThefactthattheylivedandgraftedontheselectionprovesthatIhittherightnailontheheadwhenIguessed,inthefirstplace,thattheoldnoblemanwas\"stony\"。
Inafteryears,……shetoldhimofthefun,Howshehuntedhimupwithherdogandhergun。
Butwhetherhewaspleasedorotherwisetohearit,afteryearsofmatrimonialexperiences,theoldsongdoesn’tsay,foritendsthere。
FlashJackismoresuccessfulwith\"SaintPatrick’sDay\"。
Icometotheriver,Ijumpeditquiteclever!
Mewifetumbledin,andIlostherforever,St。Patrick’sowndayinthemornin’!
ThisisgreatlyappreciatedbyJimmyNowlett,whoissuspected,especiallybyhiswife,ofbeingmorecheerfulwhenontheroadsthanwhenathome……
\"SamHolt\"wasagreatfavouritewithJimmyNowlettinafteryears。
Oh,doyourememberBlackAlice,SamHolt?
BlackAlicesodirtyanddark——
Who’danoseonherface——Iforgethowitgoes——
AndteethlikeaMoretonBayshark。
SamHoltmusthavebeenveryhardupfortuckeraswellasbeautythen,forDoyourememberthe’possumsandgrubsShebakedforyoudownbythecreek?
SamHoltwas,apparently,ahardenedflashJack。
Youwerenotquitethecleanlypotato,SamHolt。
Referenceismadetohis\"mannerofholdingaflush\",andheisaskedtorememberseveralthingswhichhe,nodoubt,wouldratherforget,including……thehidingyougotfromtheboys。
Thesongisdecidedlypersonal。
ButSamHoltmakesapileandgoeshome,leavingmanyabetterandworsemantopadthehoofOutBack。And——JimNowlettsangthiswithsomuchfeelingastomakeitappearapersonalaffairbetweenhimandtheabsentHolt——
And,don’tyourememberthefiver,SamHolt,Youborrowedsocarelessandfree?
IreckonI’llwhistleagoodmanytunes(withincreasingfeeling)
Ereyouthinkofthatfiverandme。
ForthechanceswillbethatSamHolt’soldmateWillbehumpinghisdrumontheHughendenRoadTotheendofthechapteroffate……
Anechofrom\"TheOldBarkHut\",sungintheoppositioncampacrossthegully:
Youmayleavethedoorajar,butifyoukeepitshut,There’snoneedofsuffocationintheOuldBarrkHut……
Thetucker’sinthegin-case,butyou’dbetterkeepitshut——
FortheflieswillcantherrounditintheOuldBarkHut。
However:
What’soutofsightisoutofmind,intheOuldBarkHut……
WewashedourgreasymoleskinsOnthebanksoftheCondamine。——
Somebodytacklingthe\"OldBullockDray\";itmustbeoverfiftyversesnow。
Isawabushmanatacountrydancestarttosingthatsong;
he’dgetuptotenorfifteenverses,breakdown,andstartafresh。
Atlasthesatdownonhisheeltoit,inthecentreoftheclearfloor,restinghiswristonhisknee,andkeepingtimewithanindexfinger。
Itwasveryfunny,butthethingwastakenseriouslyallthrough。
IrreverentechofromtheoldLambingFlattrouble,fromcampacrossthegully:
RuleBritannia!Britanniarulesthewaves!
NomoreChinamenwillenterNooSouthWales!
andYankeeDoodlecametotownOnalittlepony——
Stickafeatherinhiscap,AndcallhimMaccaroni!
Allthecampsseemtobesingingto-night:
Ringthebell,watchman!
Ring!Ring!Ring!
Ring,forthegoodnewsIsnowonthewing!
Goodlines,theintroduction:
Highonthebelfrytheoldsextonstands,Graspingtheropewithhisthinbonyhands!……
Bon-firesareblazingthroughouttheland……
Gloriousandblessedtidings!Ring!Ringthebell!……
GrannyMathewsfailstocoaxhernieceintothekitchen,butpersuadeshertosinginside。Sheisthegirlwholearnt`subrosa’
fromthebadgirlwhosang\"Madeline\"。Suchashavethemoninstinctivelytaketheirhatsoff。Diggers,&c。,strollingpast,haltatthefirstnotesofthegirl’svoice,andstandlikestatuesinthemoonlight:
Shallwegatherattheriver,Wherebrightangelfeethavetrod?
Thebeautiful——thebeautifulriverThatflowsbythethroneofGod!——
Diggerswantedtosendthatgirl\"Home\",butGrannyMathewshadtheold-fashionedhorrorofanyofherchildrenbecoming\"public\"——
Gatherwiththesaintsattheriver,ThatflowsbythethroneofGod!……
Butitgrowslate,orrather,early。The\"Eyetalians\"gobyinthefrostymoonlight,fromtheirlastshiftintheclaim(foritisSaturdaynight),singingalitany。
\"Getupononeend,Abe!——standupall!\"Handsareclaspedacrossthekitchentable。Redclay,oneofthelastofthealluvialfields,haspeteredout,andtheRoaringDaysaredying……Thegrandoldsongthatisknownallovertheworld;yethowmanyintenthousandknowmorethanoneverseandthechorus?LetPeterMcKenzielead:
Shouldauldacquaintancebeforgot,Andneverbroughttomin’?
Andheartsechofromfarbackinthepastandacrosswide,wideseas:
Shouldauldacquaintancebeforgot,Anddayso’langsyne?
Nowboys!alltogether!
Forauldlangsyne,mydear,Forauldlangsyne,We’lltak’acupo’kindnessyet,Forauldlangsyne。
Wetwahaerunaboutthebraes,Andpu’dthegowansfine;
Butwe’vewanderedmonyawearyfoot,Sin’auldlangsyne。
Theworldwaswidethen。
Wetwahaepaidl’ti’theburn,Fraemornin’suntilldine:
thelogfireseemstogrowwatery,forinwide,lonelyAustralia——
Butseasbetweenusbraidhaeroar’d,Sin’auldlangsyne。
Thekitchengrowsdimmer,andtheformsofthedigger-singersseemedsuddenlyvagueandunsubstantial,fadingbackrapidlythroughamistyveil。Butthewordsringstronganddefiantthroughhardyears:
Andhere’sahand,mytrustyfrien’,Andgie’sagrupo’thine;
Andwe’lltak’acupo’kindnessyet,Forauldlangsyne……
AndthenettleshavebeengrowingforovertwentyyearsonthespotwhereGrannyMathews’bigbarkkitchenstood。
AVisionofSandyBlightI’dbeenhumpingmyback,andcrouchingandgroaningforanhourorsointhedarkestcornerofthetravellers’hut,torturedbythedemonofsandyblight。Itwastoohottotravel,andtherewasnoonethereexceptourselvesandMitchell’scattlepup。
Wewerewaitingtillaftersundown,forIcouldn’thavetravelledinthedaylight,anyway。Mitchellhadtiedawettowelroundmyeyes,andledmeforthelastmileortwobyanothertowel——
oneendfastenedtohisbeltbehind,andtheotherinmyhandasIwalkedinhistracks。Andoh!butthiswasarelief!
Itwasoutofthedustandglare,andthefliesdidn’tcomeintothedarkhut,andIcouldhumpandstickmykneesinmyeyesandgroanincomfort。
Ididn’twantathousandayear,oranything;Ionlywantedreliefformyeyes——thatwasallIprayedforinthisworld。Whenthesungotdownabit,Mitchellstartedpokinground,andpresentlyhefoundamongsttherubbishadirty-lookingmedicinebottle,corkedtight;whenherubbedthedirtoffapieceofnotepaperthatwaspastedon,hesaw\"eye-water\"writtenonit。
Hedrewthecorkwithhisteeth,smeltthewater,stuckhislittlefingerin,turnedthebottleupsidedown,tastedthetopofhisfinger,andreckonedthestuffwasallright。
\"Here!Wakeup,Joe!\"heshouted。\"Here’sabottleoftears。\"
\"Abottlerwot?\"Igroaned。
\"Eye-water,\"saidMitchell。
\"Areyousureit’sallright?\"Ididn’twanttobepoisonedorhavemyeyesburntoutbymistake;perhapssomeburningacidhadgotintothatbottle,orthelabelhadbeenputon,orlefton,inmistakeorcarelessness。
\"Idunno,\"saidMitchell,\"butthere’snoharmintryin’。\"
Ichancedit。Ilaydownonmybackinabunk,andMitchelldraggedmylidsupandspilthalfabottleofeye-waterovermyeye-balls。
Thereliefwasalmostinstantaneous。Ineverexperiencedsuchaquickcureinmylife。Icarriedthebottleinmyswagforalongtimeafterwards,withanideaofgettingitanalysed,butleftitbehindatlastinacamp。
Mitchellscratchedhisheadthoughtfully,andwatchedmeforawhile。
\"IthinkI’llwaitabitlonger,\"hesaidatlast,\"andifitdoesn’tblindyouI’llputsomeinmyeyes。I’mgettingatouchofblightmyselfnow。
That’sthefaultoftravellingwithamatewho’salwayscatchingsomethingthat’snogoodtohim。\"
Asitgrewdarkoutsidewetalkedofsandy-blightandfly-bite,andsand-fliesupnorth,andordinaryflies,andbranchedofftoBarcoorot,andstruckthetrackagainatbeesandbeestings。Whenwegottobees,Mitchellsatsmokingforawhileandlookingdreamilybackwardsalongtracksandbranchtracks,androundcornersandcircleshehadtravelled,rightbacktotheshort,narrow,innocentbitoftrackthatendsinavague,mistypoint——liketheendofalong,straight,clearedroadinthemoonlight——asfarbackaswecanremember……
\"Ihadaboutfourteenhives,\"saidMitchell——\"weusedtocallthem`swarms’,nomatterwhethertheywereflyingorinthebox——whenIlefthomefirsttime。Ikeptthembehindtheshed,intheshade,ontablesofgalvanisedironcasesturneddownonstakes;
butIhadtomakelegslateron,andstandtheminpansofwater,onaccountoftheants。Whenthebeesswarmed——andsomehivessentouttheLordknowshowmanyswarmsinayear,itseemedtome——
we’dtin-kettle’em,andthrowwateron’em,tomake’embelievethebiggestthunderstormwascomingtodrowntheoldestinhabitant;
and,iftheydidn’tgetthestartofusandrise,they’dsettleonabranch——
generallyononeofthescraggyfruittrees。Itwasroughonthebees——
cometothinkofit;theirinstincttoldthemitwasgoingtobefine,andthenoiseandwatertoldthemitwasraining。Theymusthavethoughtthatnaturewasmad,drunk,orgoneratty,ortheendoftheworldhadcome。
We’drigupatable,withaboxupsidedown,underthebranch,coverourfacewithapieceofmosquitonet,haveragsburninground,andthengivethebranchasuddenjerk,turntheboxdown,andrun。Ifwegotmostofthebeesin,therestthatwerehangingtotheboughorflyingroundwouldfollow,andthenwereckonedwe’dshookthequeenin。
Ifthebeesintheboxcameoutandjoinedtheothers,we’dreckonwehadn’tshookthequeenin,andgoforthemagain。
Whenahivewasfullofhoneywe’dturntheboxupsidedown,turntheemptyboxmouthdownontopofit,anddrumandhammeronthelowerboxwithasticktillallthebeeswentupintothetopbox。
Isupposeitmadetheirheadsache,andtheywentuponthataccount。
\"Isupposethingsaredonedifferentlyonproperbee-farms。
I’veheardthatabee-farmerwillpartahangingswarmwithhisfingers,takeoutthequeenbeeandarrangematterswithher;butourwayssuitedus,andtherewasalotofexpectationandrunningandexcitementinit,especiallywhenaswarmtookusbysurprise。Theyellof`Beesswarmin’!’
wasasgoodtousastheyellof`Fight!’isnow,or`Bolt!’intown,or`Fire’or`Manoverboard!’atsea。
\"Therewastonsofhoney。Thebeesusedtogotothevineyardsatwine-makingandgethoneyfromtheheapsofcrushedgrape-skinsthrownoutinthesun,andgetsodrunksometimesthattheywobbledintheirbee-lineshome。
They’dfillalltheboxes,andthenbuildinbetweenandunderthebark,andboard,andtincovers。Theyneverseemedtogettheideaoutoftheirheadsthatthiswasn’tanevergreencountry,anditwasn’tgoingtosnowallwinter。MyyoungerbrotherJoeusedtoputpiecesofmeatonthetablesneartheboxes,andinfrontoftheholeswherethebeeswentinandout,forthedogstograbat。Butoneolddog,`BlackBill’,wasamatchforhim;
ifitwasworthBill’swhile,he’dcampthere,andkeepJoeandtheotherdogsfromtouchingthemeat——onceitwasputdown——tillthebeesturnedinforthenight。AndJoewouldgettheotherkidsroundthere,andwhentheyweren’tlookingorthinking,he’dbrushthebeeswithastickandrun。
I’dlamhimwhenIcaughthimatit。Hewasanawfulyoungdevil,wasJoe,andhegrewupsteady,andrespectable,andrespected——andIwenttothebad。Inevertrustagoodboynow……Ah,well!
\"Irememberthefirstswarmwegot。We’dbeentalkingofgettingafewswarmsforalongtime。ThatwaswhatwasthematterwithusEnglishandIrishandEnglish-IrishAustralianfarmers:
weusedtotalksomuchaboutdoingthingswhiletheGermansandScotchdidthem。Andweeventalkedinalazy,easy-goingsortofway。
\"Well,oneblazinghotdayIsawfathercomingalongtheroad,hometodinner(wehaditinthemiddleoftheday),withhisaxeoverhisshoulder。
Inoticedtheaxeparticularlybecausefatherwasbringingithometogrind,andJoeandIhadtoturnthestone;but,whenInoticedJoedraggingalonghomeinthedustaboutfiftyyardsbehindfather,Ifelteasierinmymind。SuddenlyfatherdroppedtheaxeandstartedtorunbackalongtheroadtowardsJoe,who,assoonashesawfathercoming,shiedforthefenceandgotthrough。Hethoughthewasgoingtocatchitforsomethinghe’ddone——orhadn’tdone。Joeusedtodosomanythingsandleavesomanythingsnotdonethathecouldneverbesureoffather。
Besides,fatherhadawayofstartingtohammerusunexpectedly——
whentheideastruckhim。Butfatherpulledhimselfupinaboutthirtyyardsandstartedtograbuphandfulsofdustandsandandthrowthemintotheair。
Myidea,inthefirstflash,wastogetholdoftheaxe,forIthoughtitwassun-stroke,andfathermighttakeitintohisheadtostartchoppingupthefamilybeforeIcouldpersuadehimtoputit(hishead,Imean)
inabucketofwater。ButJoecamerunninglikemad,yelling:
\"`Swarmer——bees!Swawmmer——bee——ee——es!Bring——a——tin——dish——
and——a——dippera——wa-a-ter!’
\"Iranwithabucketofwaterandanoldfrying-pan,andprettysoontherestofthefamilywereonthespot,throwingdustandwater,andbangingeverything,tinoriron,theycouldgetholdof。
Theonlybullockbellinthedistrict(ifitwasinthedistrict)
wasontheoldpoleycow,andshe’dbeenlostforafortnight。
Motherbroughtuptherear——butsoonworkedtothefront——
withabaking-dishandabigspoon。Theoldlady——shewasn’toldthen——
hadadeep-rootedprejudicethatshecoulddoeverythingbetterthananybodyelse,andthattheselectionandallonitwouldgotothedogsifshewasn’ttheretolookafterit。
Therewasnojoltingthatideaoutofher。Shenotonlybelievedthatshecoulddoanythingbetterthananybody,andherswastheonlyrightorpossibleway,andthatwe’ddoeverythingupsidedownifshewasn’ttheretodoitorshowushow——butshe’dtrytodothingsherselforinsistonmakingusdothemherway,andthatledtomessesandrows。Shewasexcitednow,andtookcommandatonce。Shewasn’ttongue-tied,andhadnoimpedimentinherspeech。
\"`Don’tthrowupdust!——Stopthrowingupdust!——
Doyouwanttosmother’em?——Don’tthrowupsomuchwater!——
Onlythrowupapannikinatatime!——D’yerwanttodrown’em?
Bang!Keeponbanging,Joe!——Lookatthatchild!Run,someone!——run!
you,Jack!——D’yerwantthechildtobestungtodeath?——
Takeherinside!……Dy’hearme?……Stopthrowingupdust,Tom!
(Tofather。)You’rescaring’emaway!Can’tyouseetheywanttosettle?’
[Fatherwasgettingmadandyelping:`ForGodsakeshettupandgoinside。’]
`Throwupwater,Jack!Throwup——Tom!Takethatbucketfromhimanddon’tmakesuchafoolofyourselfbeforethechildren!
Throwupwater!Throw——keeponbanging,children!Keeponbanging!’
[Motherputherfaithinbanging。]`There!——they’reoff!You’velost’em!
Iknewyouwould!Itoldyer——keeponbang——!’
\"Abeestruckherintheeye,andshegrabbedatit!
\"Motherwenthome——andinside。
\"Fatherwasgoodatbees——couldmanagethemlikesheepwhenhegottoknowtheirideas。Whentheswarmsettled,hesentusfortheoldwashingstool,boxes,bags,andsoon;andthewholetimehewasfixingthebeesInoticedthatwheneverhisbackwasturnedtoushisshoulderswouldjerkupasifhewascold,andheseemedtoshudderfrominside,andnowandthenI’dhearagruntingsortofwhimperlikeaboythatwasjuststartingtoblubber。Butfatherwasn’tweeping,andbeesweren’tstinginghim;
itwasthebeethatstungmotherthatwasticklingfather。Whenhewentintothehouse,mother’sothereyehadbungedforsympathy。Fatherwasalwaysgentleandkindinsickness,andhebathedmother’seyesandrubbedmudon,buteverynowandthenhe’dcatchinside,andjerkandshudder,andgruntandcough。Mothergotwild,butpresentlythehumourofitstruckher,andshehadtolaugh,andarumlaughitwas,withbotheyesbungedup。Thenshegothysterical,andstartedtocry,andfatherputhisarmroundhershoulderandorderedusoutofthehouse。
\"Theywereveryfondofeachother,theoldpeoplewere,underitall——
rightuptotheend……Ah,well!\"
Mitchellpulledtheswagsoutofabunk,andstartedtofastenthenose-bagson。
AndyPage’sRivalTallandfreckledandsandy,Faceofacountrylout;
ThatwasthepictureofAndy——
Middleton’srouseabout。
OnMiddleton’swidedominionsPliedthestock-whipandshears;
Hadn’tanyopinions——————
Andhehadn’tany\"ideers\"——atleast,hesaidsohimself——
exceptasregardedanythingthatlookedtohimlikewhathecalled\"funnybusiness\",underwhichheadinghecataloguedtyranny,treachery,interferencewiththelibertyofthesubjectbythesubject,\"blanky\"lies,orswindles——allthings,inshort,thatseemedtohisslowunderstandingdishonest,meanorpaltry;
mostespecially,andaboveall,treacherytoamate。
THAThecouldneverforget。Andywasuncomfortably\"straight\"。
Hismindworkedslowlyandhisdecisionswere,asarule,rightandjust;
andwhenheoncecametoaconclusionconcerninganymanormatter,ordecideduponacourseofaction,nothingshortofanearthquakeoraNevertirecyclonecouldmovehimbackaninch——unlessaconvictionwereseverelyshaken,andthenhewouldrequireasmuchtimeto\"back\"tohisstartingpointashedidtocometothedecision。
Andyhadcometoaconclusionwithregardtoaselector’sdaughter——name,LizziePorter——wholived(andslaved)onherfather’sselection,nearthetownshipcorneroftherunonwhichAndywasageneral\"hand\"。
Hehadbeeninthehabitforseveralyearsofcallingcasuallyattheselector’shouse,asherodetoandfrobetweenthestationandthetown,togetadrinkofwaterandexchangethetimeofdaywitholdPorterandhis\"missus\"。Theconversationconcernedthedrought,andthelikelihoodorotherwiseoftheirevergoingtogetalittlerain;
oraboutPorter’scattle,withanoccasionalenquiryconcerning,orreferenceto,astraycowbelongingtotheselection,butpreferringtherun;alittle,plump,saucy,whitecow,by-the-way,practicallypurewhite,butreferredtobyAndy——whohadeyeslikeablackfellow——as\"oldSpeckledy\"。Nooneelsecoulddetectaspotorspeckleonheratacasualglance。
Thenafteralongbovinesilence,whichwouldhavebeenpainfullyembarrassinginanyothersociety,andatiltingofhiscabbage-treehatforward,whichcameofticklingandscratchingthesun-blotchednapeofhisneckwithhislittlefinger,Andywouldslowlysay:\"Ah,well。Imustbegettin’。
So-long,Mr。Porter。So-long,Mrs。Porter。\"And,ifSHEwereinevidence——asshegenerallywasonsuchoccasions——\"So-long,Lizzie。\"
Andthey’dshout:\"So-long,Andy,\"ashegallopedofffromthejump。
Strangethatthoseshy,quiet,gentle-voicedbushmenseemthehardestandmostrecklessriders。
ButoflatehishorsehadbeenseenhangingupoutsidePorter’sforanhourorsoaftersunset。Hesmoked,talkedovertheresultsofthelastdrought(ifithappenedtorain),andthepossibilitiesofthenextone,andplayedcardswitholdPorter;
whotooktowinking,automatically,athis\"oldwoman\",andnudging,andjerkinghisthumbinthedirectionofLizziewhenherbackwasturned,andAndywasscratchingthenapeofhisneckandstaringatthecards。
Lizzietoldaladyfriendofmine,yearsafterwards,howAndypoppedthequestion;tolditinherquietway——youknowLizzie’squietway(somethingoftheold,privilegedhouse-catabouther);
neverasigninexpressionortonetoshowwhethersheherselfsaworappreciatedthehumourofanythingshewastelling,nomatterhowcomicalitmightbe。Shehadwitnessedtwotragedies,andhadfoundadeadmaninthebush,andrelatedtheincidentsasthoughtheywerecommon-place。
Ithappenedoneday——afterAndyhadbeencomingtwoorthreetimesaweekforaboutayear——thatshefoundherselfsittingwithhimonalogofthewoodheap,inthecooloftheevening,enjoyingthesunsetbreeze。Andy’sarmhadgotroundher——
justasitmighthavegoneroundaposthehappenedtobeleaningagainst。
Theyhadn’tbeentalkingaboutanythinginparticular。Andysaidhewouldn’tbesurprisediftheyhadathunderstormbeforemornin’——
ithadbeensosmotherin’hotallday。
Lizziesaid,\"Verylikely。\"
Andysmokedagoodwhile,thenhesaid:\"Ah,well!It’sawearyworld。\"
Lizziedidn’tsayanything。
By-and-byeAndysaid:\"Ah,well;it’salonelyworld,Lizzie。\"
\"Doyoufeellonely,Andy?\"askedLizzie,afterawhile。
\"Yes,Lizzie;Ido。\"
Lizzieletherselfsettle,alittle,againsthim,withouteitherseemingtonoticeit,andafteranotherwhileshesaid,softly:
\"SodoI,Andy。\"
Andyknockedtheashesfromhispipeveryslowlyanddeliberately,andputitaway;thenheseemedtobrightensuddenly,andsaidbriskly:
\"Well,Lizzie!Areyousatisfied!\"
\"Yes,Andy;I’msatisfied。\"
\"Quitesure,now?\"
\"Yes;I’mquitesure,Andy。I’mperfectlysatisfied。\"
\"Well,then,Lizzie——it’ssettled!\"……
Butto-day——acoupleofmonthsaftertheproposaldescribedabove——
Andyhadtroubleonhismind,andthetroublewasconnectedwithLizziePorter。Hewasputtingupatwo-railfencealongtheoldlog-paddockonthefrontage,andworkinglikeamanintrouble,tryingtoworkitoffhismind;andevidentlynotsucceeding——
forthelasttwopanelswereoutofline。Hewasrammingapost——
Andyrammedhonestly,fromthebottomofthehole,notthelastfewshovelfulsbelowthesurface,assomedo。Hewasrammingthelastlayerofclaywhenacloudofwhitedustcamealongtheroad,paused,anddriftedorpouredoffintothescrub,leavinglongDaveBentley,thehorse-breaker,onhislastvictim。
\"’Ello,Andy!Graftin’?\"
\"Iwanttospeaktoyou,Dave,\"saidAndy,inastrangevoice。
\"All——allright!\"saidDave,ratherpuzzled。Hegotdown,wonderingwhatwasup,andhunghishorsetothelastpostbutone。
DavewasAndy’soppositeinonerespect:hejumpedtoconclusions,aswomendo;but,unlikewomen,hewasmostlywrong。HewasanoldchumandmateofAndy’swhohadalwaysliked,admired,andtrustedhim。
Butnow,tohishelplesssurprise,Andywentonscrapingtheearthfromthesurfacewithhislong-handledshovel,andheapingitconscientiouslyroundthebuttofthepost,hisfacelikeablockofwood,andhislipssetgrimly。Davebrokeoutfirst(withbushoaths):
\"What’sthematterwithyou?Spititout!WhathaveIbeendoin’toyou?
What’syergotyerragoutabout,anyway?\"
Andyfacedhimsuddenly,withhatredfor\"funnybusiness\"
flashinginhiseyes。
\"WhatdidyousaytomysisterMaryaboutLizziePorter?\"
Davestarted;thenhewhistledlongandlow。\"Spititallout,Andy!\"
headvised。
\"Yousaidshewastravellin’withafeller!\"
\"Well,what’stheharminthat?Everybodyknowsthat——\"
\"IfanycrawlersaysawordaboutLizziePorter——lookhere,meandyou’sgottofight,DaveBentley!\"Then,withstillgreatervehemence,asthoughhehadashareinthegarment:\"Takeoffthatcoat!\"
\"NotifIknowit!\"saidDave,withthesuddenquietnessthatcomestobravebutheadstrongandimpulsivemenatacriticalmoment:
\"Meandyouain’tgoin’tofight,Andy;and\"(withsuddenenergy)
\"ifyoutryitonI’llknockyouintojim-rags!\"
Then,steppingclosetoAndyandtakinghimbythearm:
\"Andy,thisthingwillhavetobefixedup。Comehere;
Iwanttotalktoyou。\"Andheledhimsomepacesaside,insidetheboundaryline,whichseemedaludicrouslyunnecessaryprecaution,seeingthattherewasnoonewithinsightorhearingsaveDave’shorse。
\"Now,lookhere,Andy;let’shaveitover。What’sthematterwithyouandLizziePorter?\"
\"I’Mtravellin’withher,that’sall;andwe’regoingtogetmarriedintwoyears!\"
Davegaveventtoanotherlong,lowwhistle。Heseemedtothinkandmakeuphismind。
\"Now,lookhere,Andy:we’reoldmates,ain’twe?\"
\"Yes;Iknowthat。\"
\"AnddoyouthinkI’dtellyouablankylie,orcrawlbehindyourback?
Doyou?Spititout!\"
\"N——no,Idon’t!\"
\"I’vealwaysstuckupforyou,Andy,and——why,I’vefoughtforyoubehindyourback!\"
\"Iknowthat,Dave。\"
\"There’smyhandonit!\"
Andytookhisfriend’shandmechanically,butgrippedithard。
\"Now,Andy,I’lltellyoustraight:It’sGorstruthaboutLizziePorter!\"
Theystoodastheywereforafullminute,handsclasped;
AndywithhisjawdroppedandstaringinadazedsortofwayatDave。
Heraisedhisdisengagedhandhelplesslytohisthatch,gulpedsuspiciously,andaskedinabrokenvoice:
\"How——howdoyouknowit,Dave?\"
\"Knowit?Andy,ISEEN’EMMESELF!\"
\"Youdid,Dave?\"inatonethatsuggestedsorrowmorethanangeratDave’spartintheseeingofthem。
\"Gorstruth,Andy!\"……
\"Tellme,Dave,whowasthefeller?That’sallIwanttoknow。\"
\"Ican’ttellyouthat。IonlyseenthemwhenIwascanterin’pastinthedusk。\"
\"Thenhow’dyouknowitwasamanatall?\"
\"Itworetrousers,anyway,andwasasbigasyou;soitcouldn’thavebeenagirl。I’mprettysafetoswearitwasMickKelly。
Isawhishorsehangin’upatPorter’sonceortwice。
ButI’lltellyouwhatI’lldo:I’llfindoutforyou,Andy。
And,what’smore,I’lljobhimforyouifIcatchhim!\"
Andysaidnothing;hishandsclenchedandhischestheaved。
Davelaidafriendlyhandonhisshoulder。
\"It’sredhot,Andy,Iknow。AnybodyelsebutyouandIwouldn’thavecared。
Butdon’tbeafool;there’sanyGorsquantityofgirlsknockin’round。
Youjustgiveittoherstraightandchuckher,andhavedonewithit。
Youmustbebadofftobotherabouther。Gorstruth!sheain’tmuchtolookatanyway!I’vegottoridelikeblazestocatchthecoach。
Don’tknockofftillIcomeback;Iwon’tbeaboveanhour。
I’mgoin’togiveyousomepointsincaseyou’vegottofightMick;
andI’llhavetobetheretobackyou!\"And,thustakingtherightmomentinstinctively,hejumpedonhishorseandgallopedontowardsthetown。
Hisdust-cloudhadscarcelydisappearedroundacornerofthepaddockswhenAndywasawareofanotheronecomingtowardshim。HehadadazedideathatitwasDavecomingback,butwentondigginganotherpost-hole,mechanically,untilaspring-cartrattledup,andstoppedoppositehim。
Thenheliftedhishead。ItwasLizzieherself,drivinghomefromtown。
Sheturnedtowardshimwithherusualfaintsmile。Hersmallfeatureswere\"washedout\"andratherhaggard。
\"’Ello,Andy!\"
But,atthesightofher,allhishatredof\"funnybusiness\"
——intensified,perhaps,byasenseofpersonalinjury——cametoahead,andheexploded:
\"Lookhere,LizziePorter!Iknowallaboutyou。Youneedn’tthinkyou’regoin’tocottononwithmeanymoreafterthis!
Iwouldn’tbeseeninapaddockwithyer!I’msatisfiedaboutyou!
Getonoutofthis!\"
Thegirlstaredathimforamomentthunderstruck;thenshelammedintotheoldhorsewithastickshecarriedinplaceofawhip。