"Seems to have struck a mob of brumbies," he commented.
But before Jack could "get properly going" with the brumbies, two
travellers rode into the homestead, supporting between them a third
rider, a man picked up off the track delirious with fever, and foodless;
and at the sight of his ghastly face our hearts stood still with fear.
But the man was one of the Scots another Mac of the race that loves a
good fight, and his plucky heart stood by him so well that within
twenty-four hours he was Iying contentedly in the shade of the Quarters,
looking on, while the homestead shared the Fizzer's welcome with Mac and
Tam and a traveller or two.
Out of the south came the Fizzer, lopping once more in his saddle, with
the year's dry stages behind him, and the set lines all gone from his
shoulders, shouting as he came: "Hullo! What ho! Here's a crowd of us!"
but on his return trip the Fizzer was a man of leisure, and we had to
wait for news until his camp was fixed up.
"Now for it!" he shouted, at last joining the company, and Mac felt the
time was ripe for his jocular greeting and, ogling the Fizzer, noticed
that "The flats get greener every year about the Elsey."
But the Fizzer was a dangerous subject to joke with. "So I've noticed,"
he shouted as, improving on Mac's ogle, he singled him out from the
company, then dropping his voice to an insinuating drawl he challenged
him to have a deal.
Instantly the Sanguine Scot became a Canny Scot, for Mac prided himself
on a horse-deal. And as no one had yet got the better of the Fizzer the
company gathered round to enjoy itself.
"A swop," suggested the Fizzer, and Mac agreeing with a "Right ho!" a
preliminary hand-shake was exchanged before "getting to business"; and
then, as each made a great presence of mentally reviewing his team, each
eyed the other with the shrewdness of a fighting cock.
"My brown mare!" Mac offered at last, and knowing the staunch little
beast, the homestead wondered what Mac had up his sleeve.
We explained our suspicions in asides to the travellers, but the Fizzer
seemed taken by surprise. "By George!" he said. "She's a stunner! I've
nothing fit to put near her excepting that upstanding chestnut down
there."
The chestnut was standing near the creek-crossing, and every one knowing
him well, and sure of that "something" up Mac's sleeve, feared for the
Fizzer as Mac's hand came out with a "Done!" and the Fizzer gripped it
with a clinching "Right ho!"
Naturally we waited for the denouement, and the Fizzer appearing
unsuspicious and well-pleased with the deal, we turned our attention to
the Sanguine Scot.
