In that one swift, sidelong glance every movement had been photographed
on Jackeroo's mind, to be reproduced later on for the entertainment of
the camp with that perfect mimicry characteristic of the black folk.
And it was always so. Just as they had "beck-becked" and bumped in their
saddles with the Chinese drovers, so they imitated every action that
caught their fancy, and almost every human being that crossed their
path - riding with feet outspread after meeting one traveller; with toes
turned in, in imitation of another; flopping, or sitting rigidly in their
saddles, imitating actions of hand and turns of the head; anything to
amuse themselves, from riding side-saddle to climbing trees.
Jackeroo being "funny man" in the tribe, was first favourite in
exhibitions; but we could get no further pantomime that night, although
we heard later from Bett-Bett that "How the missus climbed a tree" had a
long run.
The next day passed branding the cattle, and the following as we arrived
within sight of the homestead, Dan was congratulating the Maluka on the
"missus being without a house," and then he suddenly interrupted himself
"Well, I'm blest!" he said.
