Perhaps it
meant "old pal" or "mate," or, judging from the tone of voice that
accompanied it, "old girl," but more probably, like "Maluka,"
untranslatable. The Maluka was always "Maluka" to the old men, and to
some of us who imitated them.
Dan came in the day after the Maluka, and, hearing of our "affairs," took
all the credit of it to himself.
"Just shows what a bit of educating'll do," he said. "The Dandy would
have had a gay old time of it if I hadn't put you up to their capers";
and I had humbly to acknowledge the truth of all he said.
"I don't say you're not promising well," he added, satisfied with my
humility. "If Johnny'll only stay away long enough, we'll have you
educated up to doing without a house."
Within a week it seemed as though Johnny was aiding and abetting Dan in
his scheme of education; for he sent in word that his "cross-cut saw," or
something equally important, had doubled up on him, and he was going
back to Katherine to "see about it straight off."
CHAPTER IX
Before the mustered horses were drafted out, every one at the homestead,
blacks, whites, and Chinese, went up to the stockyard to "have a look at
them."
Dan was in one of his superior moods. "Let's see if she knows anything
about horses," he said condescendingly, as the Quiet Stockman opened the
mob up a little to show the animals to better advantage.
