Part 12 (1/2)
”The cattle are out of sight, Steve,” said I, as I rounded up the scattering bullocks ”Not worth while to go after theo, by all hastly siladly stand the loss of them, and make the station a present of buht of this infernal capie--Just let us yoke up as quickly as if our lives depended on it--which, to tell the truth, is not ---- hello! where's Daluepot, jist in front o' the (adj) hut,” replied Mosey, without pausing in his work ”I seen him there--Back, Snailey, or I'll knock the (adj) horn off o' you--but I thought it was one o' them station cattle till you minded me Why the (sheol) didn't you count yer lot properly?”
A deep oath broke from the lips of the man who never swore
But he controlled hiround?” he asked
”(Adv) little on'y his horns; or else I'd 'a' knowed him--Wub--back, Major,”
replied Mosey reluctantly, as he chained his last pair
Then, I grieve to say, Thompson let himself out No puerile repetition; no slovenly, slipshod work there It was the performance of a born orator and poet, and one who, like Ti, involved litany of seething malediction, delivered, rammatical exactitude which left St Ernulphus a bad second The other fellows pursued their work in awe-stricken silence, till at length Cooper, glancing toward the raly:
”--it, man, don't swear; not now, anyway I'll fetch these ten across, an' they'll (adv) soon snake hion, an' foller ap, and drove them rapidly to the spot indicated by Mosey Thompson mounted his horse and cantered after, with the heavy coil of rope across the front of his saddle
I accompanied him At the very extremity of the clump, and not fifty yards fromires too common in Riverina
It was about twenty yards across; and, in the very centre, Damper's head and the line of his back appeared above the surface; the straight furrow behind hi unable to turn, and being exceedingly strong and sound, had worked hi down
In a couple ofand an inch and a-half in diameter--was looped round the roots of the bullock's horns, and the team was attached to the fall
Then a slow, steady strain drove Daently shi+fted him, first forward, then upward, then on to the surface, where he slid sround We released hihly, and followed the tearass as he went along
Price and Mosey had just got under way Willoughby was trying to yoke Dixon's leaders, while Dixon, owing to his screw earisolances of frantic apprehension toward the ram-paddock
His anxiety was not unreasonable, for there had just coht speck, too suess as the likeliest person to be co on foot fronified sufficiency even of a bullock driver; and the unhappy conjecture of circumstances had driven Dixon past this point
”Stiddy, now; go stiddy, an' keep yer (adj)up to hien the off-sider, so's he can't shi+ft There! block him! (Sheol)! Let him rip now
O may the” &c, &c
”Dixon! Dixon! I en Don't be frightened; they 'on't bite Yoke on yer other (adj) shoulder Right
Git well up agen hiht on-to hie if it was to save his (adj) life”
Willoughby, with the yoke on his shoulder, and the off-side bow in his hand, gingerly approached the excited bullocks, essaying a light touch on the near-sider's shrinking shoulder The next one Eve's curse on Cain, in Byron's fine drama, is mere balderdash to what followed on Dixon's part
”Dee! you force me to inform you that your helpless condition was my incentive to these well-ad! it is now the only consideration which restrains”--
”O, go to (sheol) You're no (adj) good You ain't fit to (purvey offal to Bruin) An' here's theone; an' Martin he'll be on top o' me in about two (adj) twos; an' me left by my own (adj) self, like a (adj) natey cat in a (adj) trap
May the holy” &c, &c ”If I'd that horse,” he continued, glancing furiously at Cleopatra, ”I'd make him smell (adj sheol)”
”Nonsense, Dixon,” said I pleasantly; ”the horse is not annoying you
Ah! Willoughby; Ne ultra-no, let's see--Ne sutor ultra crepidaree of BD--which doesn't always signify Bachelor of Divinity--before you took your BA
Will you just bring up the unspeakables as Dixon points thehby, instantly recovering his temper ”Smoker--Nelson--dem your skins, come up once more!”
Dixon's bullocks were exceptionally docile, for that uncultivated animal was one of the most humane and skilful drivers in Riverina; therefore, about twenty-five minutes sufficed to place his teaht as well cohby