"Me Bin Catch Traveller," He Said Triumphantly, Claiming His Rewards, "Me
Bin Come Back Two Fellow Sleep"; And Before We Could Explain That Was
Hardly What We Had Meant, The Man Had Ridden Up.
"Heard you were doing a famish here, sitting with your tongues hanging
out," he laughed, "so I've brought you a few more raisins." And
dismounting, he drew out from a pack-bag a long calico bag containing
quite ten pounds of tea.
"You struck the Wag's tin," he said, explaining the mistake, as every one
shouted for Sam to boil a kettle instantly, and with the tea came a
message from the Wag himself:
"I'll trouble you for my raisins "; and we could almost hear the Wag's
slow, dry chuckle underlying the words.
Mine Host also sent a message, saying he would "send further supplies
every opportunity, to keep things going until the waggons came through,"
and underlying his message we felt his kindly consideration. As a further
proof of his thoughtfulness we found two china cups imbedded in the tea.
He had heard of Sam's accident. Tea in china cups! and as much and as
strong as we desired. But in spite of Mine Host's efforts to keep us
going, twice again, before the waggons came, we found ourselves begging
tea from travellers.
Our energies revived with the very first cup of tea, and we went for our
usual evening stroll through the paddocks, with all our old appreciation;
and on our return found the men stretched out on the grass beyond the
Quarters, optimistic and happy, sipping at further cups of tea.
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