We accepted one half, for the man had a three-days, journey before him,
and Sam doled it out so frugally that we spent two comparatively happy
days before fixing our attention on the north track, along which Billy
would return.
In four and a half days he appeared, carrying a five-pound tea-tin on his
head, and was hailed with a yell of delight. We were all in the
stockyard, and Billy, in answer to the hail, came there.
Dan wanted a "sniff of it right off," so it was then and there opened;
but as the lid flew back the yell of delight changed to a howl of
disappointment. By some hideous mistake, Billy had brought RAISINS.
Like many philosophers, Dan could not apply his philosophy to himself.
"It's the dead finish," he said dejectedly; "never struck anything like
it before. Twice over too," he added. "First tinware and now this foolery
"; and he kicked savagely at the offending tin, sending a shower of
raisins dancing out into the dust.
Every one but Dan was speechless, while Billy, not being a slave to
tea-drinking, gathered the raisins up, failing to see any cause for
disappointment, particularly as most of the raisins fell to his share
for his prompt return.
He also failed to see any advantage in setting out again for the
Katherine. "Might it catch raisins nuzzer time," he said, logically
enough.
Dan became despondent at the thought. "They're fools enough for
anything," he said. I tried to cheer him up on the law of averages, as
Goggle-Eye was sent off with instructions to travel "quick-fellow,
quick-fellow, big mob quick-fellow," and many promises of reward if he
was back in "four fellow sleeps."
For two more days we peered into the forest for travellers but none
appeared, and Dan became retrospective. "We might have guessed this 'ud
happen," he said, declaring it was a "judgment on the missus" for
chucking good tea away just because a fly got into it. "Luck's cleared
right out because of it, missus," he said; "and if things go on like this
Johnny'll be coming along one of these days." (Dan was the only one of
us who could joke on the matter.)
"Luck's smashed all to pieces," he insisted later, when he found that the
first pillow was finished; but at sundown was inclined to think it might
be "on the turn again," for Goggle-Eye appeared on the north track,
stalking majestically in front of a horseman.
"Me bin catch traveller," he said triumphantly, claiming his rewards, "Me
bin come back two fellow sleep"; and before we could explain that was
hardly what we had meant, the man had ridden up.
"Heard you were doing a famish here, sitting with your tongues hanging
out," he laughed, "so I've brought you a few more raisins." And
dismounting, he drew out from a pack-bag a long calico bag containing
quite ten pounds of tea.
