Of the brumby mobs on it, Mac then
and there set to work to calculate the "sized mob" that could be "got
together after the Wet," listening with interest to the account of our
brumby encounters out east.
But long before we had done with brumbies Cheon was announcing dinner in
his own peculiar way.
"Din-ner! Mis-sus! Boss! All about!" he chanted, standing in the open
doorway nearest to us; and as we responded to his call, he held the door
of the dining-net and glided into the details of his menu: "Veg-e-table
Soooup!" he sang: "Ro-oast Bee-ef! Pee-es! Bee-ens! Too-mar-toos!
Mar-row!" and listening, we felt Brown of the Bulls was being right
royally welcomed with as many vegetables as were good for him. But the
sweets shrank into a simple "bakee custard!"
"This is what you might call style!" Mac and Brown of the Bulls declared,
as Cheon waved them to seats with the air of an Emperor, and for two
courses the dinner went forward according to its menu, but at the third
course tinned peaches had usurped the place of the "bakee custard."
Every one looked surprised, but, being of the bush-folk, accepted peaches
and cream without comment, until Cheon, seeing the surprise, and feeling
an explanation was due - anyway to the missus - bent over her and whispered
in a hoarse aside.
