Fortunately a
holland dress was behaving beautifully. "A staunch little beast," the
Maluka called it. That, however, had to be washed, every alternate day;
and, fearing possible contingencies, I was beginning a dress of
unbleached calico, when the Maluka, busy among the stores, came on a roll
of bright pink galatea ordered for lubras' dresses, and brought it to the
house in triumph.
Harsh, crudely pink, galatea! Yet it was received as joyfully as ever a
woman received a Paris gown; for although necessity may be the mother of
invention, she more often brings thankful hearts into this world.
A hank of coarse, bristling white braid was also unearthed from among the
stores, and within three days the galatea had become a sturdy
white-braided blouse and skirt, that promised to rival the "staunch
little beast" in staunch-heartedness.
By the time it was finished, Johnny and the Dandy had all the flooring
boards down in the dining-room, and before the last nail was in, Cheon
and the Maluka had carried in every available stick of furniture, and
spread it about the room to the greatest possible advantage. The walls
were still unfinished, and doors and window frames gaped; but what did
that matter? The missus had a dining-room, and as she presided at her
supper-table in vivid pink and the pride of possession, Cheon looked as
though he would have liked to shake hands with every one at once, but
particularly with Johnny.
"Looks A1," the Maluka said, alluding to the stiff, aggressive frock, and
took me "bush" with him, wearing the blouse, and a holland riding skirt
that had also proved itself a true, staunch friend.
Dan, the Quiet Stockman, and the Dandy, had already gone "bush" in
different directions; for with the coming of the year's stores,
horse-breaking, house-building, trunks and waggons had all stepped into
their proper places - a very secondary one - and cattle had come to the
front and would stay there, as far as the men were concerned until next
Wet.
Cattle, and cattle only, would be the work of the "Dry." Dan and the
Quiet Stockman, with a dozen or so of cattle "boys" to help them, had the
year's musterings and brandings to get through; the Dandy would be
wherever he was most needed; yard-building, yard-repairing, carting
stores or lending a hand with mustering when necessity arose, while the
Maluka would be everywhere at once, in organisation if not in body.
Where runs are huge, and fenceless, and freely watered the year's
mustering and branding is no simple task Our cattle were scattered
through a couple of thousand square miles of scrub and open timbered
country, and therefore each section of the run had to be gone over again
and again; each mob, when mustered, travelled to the nearest yard and
branded.
