Part 30 (2/2)
”Well, I won't ask you,” said Mitch.e.l.l, ”but I don't suppose you want any fencing done?”
”Naw.”
”Nor boundary-riding'?”
”Naw.”
”You ain't likely to want a man to knock round?”
”Naw.”
”I thought not. Things are pretty bad just now.”
”Na--yes--they are.”
”Ah, well; there's a lot to be said on the squatter's side as well as the men's. I suppose I can get a bit of rations?”
”Ye-yes.” (_Shortly_)--”Wot d'yer want?”
”Well, let's see; we want a bit of meat and flour--I think that's all.
Got enough tea and sugar to carry us on.”
”All right. Cook! have you got any meat?”
”No!”
To Mitch.e.l.l: ”Can you kill a sheep?”
”Rather!”
To the cook: ”Give this man a cloth and knife and steel, and let him go up to the yard and kill a sheep.” (To Mitch.e.l.l) ”You can take a fore-quarter and get a bit of flour.”
Half an hour later Mitch.e.l.l came back with the carca.s.s wrapped in the cloth.
”Here yer are; here's your sheep,” he said to the cook. ”That's all right; hang it in there. Did you take a forequarter?”'
”No.”
”Well, why didn't you? The boss told you to.”
”I didn't want a fore-quarter. I don't like it. I took a hind-quarter.”
So he had.
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