"My eye!" said Sandy, "weren’t the p’lice sold! Fancy ole Ben goin’ into the lion’s den with his information an’ then takin’ the letter out to the camp, an’ none of ’em cute enough to twig ’im! He’s a downy cove is Ben. Ain’t he, Joe?"
"They say," concluded Joe, "that the piebald he rode was his favourite horse, the blood-bay he calls Samson."
"Now, then," exclaimed Sandy, pulling out his watch, "we’ve only a few minutes left, an’ we mustn’t be late, as Mr. Neville won’t be able to ride fast."
"Poor old Fevvers!" exclaimed Tom reminiscently. "This hasn’t been much of a treat for him."
"What’s up, old horse? Your ears you prick, And your eager eyeballs glisten. ’Tis the wild dog’s note, in the tea-tree thick, By the river to which you listen.
Let the dingo rest, ’tis all for the best; In this world there’s room enough For him and you and me and the rest, And the country is awful rough." ADAM LINDSAY GORDON.
"Here’s a fine how-d’ye-do!" exclaimed Mr. M’Intyre wrathfully, as he strode into the house, one hot morning shortly after the events recorded in the previous chapter. "Why sic rubbish were ever created passes understanding!"
The irate squatter, contrary to his usual habit, clattered through the hall and out on to the front verandah, slamming the door most vigorously as he made his exit.
"Whatever’s stung dad this morning, Jess?" remarked Maggie to her sister, as their excited parent made his noisy intrusion.
"Something bad, you may be sure, to cause dad to parade in that fashion. I expect the blacks have been performing. They madden father at times by their ’want o’ intellect,’ as he calls it."
"I’ll—I’ll cut the livers out o’ them, the sneakin’ hounds! Rot ’em, I’ll pizen every faither’s son o’ the dirty vermin!"
"Oh, father!" cried Jessie, "you surely are not going to poison the poor things?"
"Pizen ’em, that am I! Pizen’s ower guid for them, thieving brutes that they are! ’Puir things,’ as you ca’ the wretches," continued he sarcastically, "I’ll hae the life o’ the hale o’ them, if it tak’s a’ the pizen in Tareela!" barked the exasperated man.
"Then you’re no father of mine!" blazed out Jessie. "What have the poor boys done that you should threaten such dreadful——"
"Why, poor Willy and Jacky: what have they done that you should——"