Every
Day Was Filled With Flies, And Dust, And Prickly Heat, And Daily And
Hourly Our Hands Waved Unceasingly, As
They beat back the multitude of
flies that daily and hourly assailed us - the flies and dust treated all
alike,
But the prickly heat was more chivalrous, and refrained from
annoying a woman. "Her usual luck!" the men-folk said, utilising
verandah-posts or tree-trunks for scratching posts when not otherwise
engaged. Daily "things" and the elements hummed, and as they hummed Dan
and Jack came and went like Will-o'-the-Wisps - sometimes from the
south-east and sometimes from the north-east; and as they came and went,
the Maluka kept his hand on the helm; Happy Dick filled in odd times as
he alone knew how; a belated traveller or two passing out came in, and
went on, or remained; Brown of the Bulls sent on a drover ahead of the
mob to spy out the land, and the second letter left the rack, while all
who came in, or went on, or remained, during their stay at the homestead,
stood about the posts and uprights waving off flies, and rubbing and
wriggling against the posts like so many Uriah Heeps, as they laid plans,
gossiped, gave in reports, or "swopped yarns." The Territory is hardly an
earthly paradise just before the showers. Still, Cheon did all he could
to make things pleasanter, regaling all daily on hop-beer, and all who
came in were sure of a welcome from him - Dan invariably inspiring him
with that ever fresh little joke of his when announcing afternoon tea to
the quarters.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 261 of 304
Words from 72422 to 72695
of 84691
