Part 56 (2/2)

Over range after range they hold their headlong course. Now a bandicoot scuttles away from under their feet to hide in his hollow log; now a mob of terrified cattle huddle together as they sweep by; now they are flying past a shepherd's hut, and the mother runs out to s.n.a.t.c.h up a child, and bear him out of harm's way, after they are safe past. A puppy, three weeks old, joins the chase with heart and soul, but ”eaves in” at about fifty yards, and sits him down to bark. Now they are rus.h.i.+ng on through a broad flat, with another great range before them.

Still always the grey bounding figure holds on, through sunlight and shadow, with the dogs grim and steadfast close in his wake.

The work begins to tell on the horses. Fat Jezebel, who could hardly be held at first, now is none the worse for a little spur; and Jim's lean, long-legged horse, seems to consider that the entertainment ought to conclude shortly. ”Well done, Fly!” he shouts; ”bravely tried, my girl!” She had drawn herself ahead, and made a bold strike at the kangaroo, but missed him. Now the other dog, Bolt, tries it, but without luck; and now they have both dropped a little back, and seem in for another mile or so.

Well done, la.s.s!--there she goes again! With a furious effort she pushes ahead, and seizes the flying beast by the hock--this time with some luck, for down he goes in a cloud of dust and broken sticks, and both the dogs are on him at once. Now he is up again and running, but feebly. And see, what is the matter with the young dog? He runs on, but keeps turning, snapping fiercely at his side, and his footsteps are marked with blood. Poor lad! he has got a bad wound in that last tumble,--the kangaroo has ripped up his flank with a kick from his hind foot. But now the chase is over,--the hunted beast has turned, and is at bay against a tree, Fly standing before him, waiting for a.s.sistance, snarling fiercely.

They pulled up. Jim took out a pistol and presented it to Halbert.

”Thank you,” said he. ”Hair trigger?”

”Yes.”

He balanced it for a second, and in another the kangaroo was lying quivering on the ground, shot through the heart.

”Well done!” said Jim. ”Now, I must look to this dog.”

All his flank along the ribs was laid open, and Jim, producing a needle and thread, proceeded to sew it up.

”Will you let me do that for you?” said Halbert.

”I wish you would. I'm fond of the poor thing, and my hand shakes.

You've seen the surgeons at work, I expect.”

”Yes, indeed.” And he tenderly and carefully st.i.tched up the dog's side, while Jim held him.

”What do we do with the game?” said he.

”Oh, Jerry will be along on our tracks presently,” said Jim. ”He brings me the tail, and does what he likes with the rest. I wonder where Sam and Alice are?”

”Oh, they are right enough,” said Halbert, laughing. ”I dare say they are not very anxious about the kangaroo, or anything else. That's 'a case,' I suppose?”

”Well, I hope it is,” said Jim; ”but you see I don't know. Girls are so odd.”

”Perhaps he has never asked her.”

”No; I don't think he has. I wish he would. You are not married, are you?”

”My G.o.d--no!” said Halbert, ”nor ever shall be.”

”Never?”

”Never, Jim. Let me tell you a story as we ride home. You and I shall be good friends, I know. I like you already, though we have only known one another two days. I can see well what you are made of. They say it eases a man's mind to tell his grief. I wish it would mine. Well; before I left England I had secretly engaged myself to marry a beautiful girl, very much like your sister, a governess in my brother-in-law's family. I went off to join my regiment, and left her there with my sister and her husband, Lord Carstone, who treated her as if she was already one of the family--G.o.d bless them! Two years ago my father died, and I came into twenty thousand pounds; not much, but enough to get married on in India, particularly as I was getting on in my profession. So I wrote to her to come out to me. She sailed in the a.s.sam, for Calcutta, but the s.h.i.+p never arrived. She was spoken off the Mauritius, but never seen after. The underwriters have paid up her insurance, and everyone knows now that the a.s.sam went down in a typhoon, with all hands.”

”G.o.d bless you,” said Jim! ”I'm very sorry for that.”

”Thank you. I have come here for change of scene more than anything, but I think I shall go back soon.”

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