Could, getting as much entertainment as possible out of Cheon and the
staff in between times.
For three days I lay obediently patient, and each day Cheon grew more
affectionate, patting my hands at times, as he confided to the Maluka
that although he admired big, moon-faced women as a feast for the eyes,
he liked them small and docile when he had to deal personally with them.
Until I met Cheon I thought the Chinese incapable of affection; but many
lessons are learned out bush.
Travellers - house-visitors - coming in on the fourth day, I hoped for a
speedy release, but visitors were considered fatiguing, and release was
promised as soon as they were gone.
Fortunately the walls had many cracks in them - not being as much on the
plumb as Johnny had predicted, and for a couple of days, watching the
visitors through these cracks and listening to their conversation
provided additional amusement. I could see them quite distinctly as, no
doubt, they could see me; but we kept a decorous silence until the Fizzer
came in, then at the Fizzer's shout the walls of Jericho toppled down.
"The missus sick!" I heard him shout. "Thought she looked in prime
condition at the Springs." (Bush language frequently has a strong twang
of cattle in it.)
"So I am now," I called; and then the Fizzer and I held an animated
conversation through the walls. "I'm imprisoned for life," I moaned,
after hearing the news of the outside world; and laughing and chuckling
outside, the Fizzer vowed he would "do a rescue next trip if they've
still got you down." Then, after appreciating fervent thanks, he shouted
in farewell: "The boss is bringing something along that'll help to pass
some of the time - the finest mail you ever clapped eyes on," and
presently patient and bed were under a litter of mail-matter.
The Fizzer having brought down the walls of conventionality, the
traveller-guests proffered greetings and sympathy through the material
walls, after which we exchanged mail-news and general gossip for a day or
two; then just as these travellers were preparing to exchange farewells,
others came in and postponed the promised release. As there seemed
little hope of a lull in visitors, I was wondering if ever I should be
considered well enough to entertain guests, when Fate once more
interfered.
"Whatever's this coming in from the East?" I heard the Maluka call in
consternation, and in equal consternation his traveller-guest called
back: "Looks like a whole village settlement." Then Cheon burst into the
room in a frenzy of excitement: "Big mob traveller, missus.
Two-fellow-missus, sit down," he began; but the Maluka was at his heels.
"Here's two women and a mob of youngsters," he gasped. "I'm afraid
you'll have to get up, little 'un, and lend a hand with them."
Afraid! By the time the village settlement had "turned out" and found
its way to the house, I was out in the open air welcoming its members
with a heartiness that must have surprised them. Little did they guess
that they were angels unaware. Homely enough angels, though, they
proved, as angels unaware should prove: one man and two women from
"Queensland way," who had been "inside" for fifteen years, and with them
two fine young lads and a wee, toddling baby - all three children born in
the bush and leaving it for the first time.
Never before had Cheon had such a company to provide for; but as we moved
towards the house in a body - ourselves, the village settlement, and the
Maluka's traveller-guests, with a stockman traveller and the Dandy
looking on from the quarters, his hospitable soul rejoiced at the sight;
and by the time seats had been found for all comers, he appeared laden
with tea and biscuits, and within half an hour had conjured up a
plentiful dinner for all comers.
Fortunately the chairs were all "up" to the weight of the ladies, and the
remainder of the company easily accommodated itself to circumstances, in
the shape of sawn stumps, rough stools, and sundry boxes; and although
the company was large and the dining-table small, and although, at times,
we feared the table was about to fulfil its oft-repeated threat and fall
over, yet the dinner was there to be enjoyed, and, being bush-folk, and
hungry, our guests enjoyed it, passing over all incongruities with simple
merriment - a light-hearted, bubbling merriment, in no way comparable to
that "laughter of fools," that crackling of thorns under a pot, provoked
by the incongruities of the world's freak dinners. The one is the
heritage of the simple-hearted, and the other - all the world has to give
in exchange for this birthright.
The elder lads, one fourteen and one ten years of age, found Cheon by far
the most entertaining incongruity at the dinner, and when dinner was
over - after we had settled down on the various chairs and stumps that had
been carried out to the verandah again - they shadowed him wherever he
went.
They were strangely self-possessed children; but knowing little more of
the world than the black children their playmates, Cheon, in his turn,
found them vastly amusing, and instructing them in the ways of the
world - from his point of view - found them also eager pupils.
But their education came to a standstill after they had mastered the
mysteries of the Dandy's gramophone, and Cheon was no longer
entertaining.
All afternoon brass-band selections, comic songs, and variety items,
blared out with ceaseless reiteration; and as the men-folk smoked and
talked cattle, and the wee baby - a bonnie fair child - toddled about,
smiling and contented, the women-folk spoke of their life "out-back," and
listening, I knew that neither I nor the telegraph lady had even guessed
what roughness means.
