按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a friendly way； raking skins and hair off each other with their horns。
The station…manager； with a handful of papers and a pencil behind his ear； hurried here and there； followed by some of the crowd； who asked him questions which he did n't answer。 Dad asked him if this was the place where the sale was to be。 He looked all over Dad。
A man rang a bell violently； shouting； 〃This way for the dairy cows！〃 Dad went that way； closely followed by Dave； who was silent and strange。 A boy put a printed catalogue into Dad's hand； which he was doubtful about keeping until he saw Andy Percil with one。 Most of the men seated on the rails jumped down into an empty yard and stood round in a ring。 In one corner the auctioneer mounted a box； and read the conditions of sale； and talked hard about the breed of the cattle。 Then：
〃How much for the imported cow； Silky？ No。1 on the catalogue。 How much to start her； gentlemen？〃
Silky rushed into the yard with a shower of sticks flying after her and glared about； finally fixing her gaze on Dad； who was trying to find her number in the catalogue。
〃A pure…bred 'Heereford；' four years old； by The Duke out of Dolly； to calve on the eighth of next month；〃 said the auctioneer。 〃How much to start her？〃
All silent。 Buyers looked thoughtful。 The auctioneer ran his restless eyes over them。
Dad and Dave held a whispered consultation； then Dad made a movement。 The auctioneer caught his eye and leant forward。
〃FIVE BOB！〃 Dad shouted。 There was a loud laugh。 The auctioneer frowned。 〃We're selling COWS； old man；〃 he said； 〃not running a shilling…table。〃
More laughter。 It reached Dave's heart； and he wished he had n't come with Dad。
Someone bid five pounds； someone else six； seven…eight…nine went round quickly； and Silky was sold for ten pounds。
〃Beauty〃 rushed in。
Two station…hands passed among the crowd； each with a bucket of beer and some glasses。 Dad hesitated when they came to him； and said he did n't care about it。 Dave the same。
Dad ran 〃Beauty〃 to three pound ten shillings （all the money he had）； and she was knocked down at twelve pounds。
Bidding became lively。
Dave had his eye on the men with the beerhe was thirsty。 He noticed no one paid for what was drunk； and whispered his discovery to Dad。 When the beer came again； Dad reached out and took a glass。 Dave took one also。
〃Have another！〃 said the man。
Dave grinned； and took another。
Dad ran fifteen cows； successively； to three pounds ten shillings。
The men with the beer took a liking to Dave。 They came frequently to him； and Dave began to enjoy the sale。
Again Dad stopped bidding at three pounds ten shillings。
Dave began to talk。 He left his place beside Dad and； hat in hand； staggered to the middle of the yard。 〃WOH！〃 he shouted； and made an awkward attempt to embrace a red cow which was under the hammer。
〃SEV'N POUN'SEV'N POUN'SEV'N POUN'；〃 shouted the auctioneer； rapidly。 〃Any advance on sev'n POUN'？〃
〃WENNY （hic） QUID；〃 Dave said。
〃At sev'n poun' she's GOING？〃
〃Twenny （hic） TWO quid；〃 Dave said。
〃You have n't twenty…two PENCE；〃 snorted the auctioneer。
Then Dave caught the cow by the tail； and she pulled him about the yard until two men took him away。
The last cow put up was； so the auctioneer said； station…bred and in full milk。 She was a wild…looking brute； with three enormous teats and a large； fleshy udder。 The catalogue said her name was 〃Dummy。〃
〃How much for 'Dummy；' the only bargain in the mobhow much for her； gentlemen？〃
Dad rushed 〃Dummy。〃 〃Three poun' ten；〃 he said； eagerly。
The auctioneer rushed Dad。 〃YOURS；〃 he said； bringing his hammer down with a bang； 〃you deserve her； old man！〃 And the station…manager chuckled and took Dad's nameand Dad's money。
Dad was very pleased； and eager to start home。 He went and found Dave； who was asleep in a hay…stack； and along with Steven Burton they drove the cow home； and yarded her in the dark。
Mother and Sal heard the noise； and came with a light to see Dad's purchase； but as they approached 〃Dummy〃 threatened to carry the yard away on her back； and Dad ordered them off。
Dad secured the rails by placing logs and the harrow against them； then went inside and told Mother what a bargain he'd made。
In the morning Dad took a bucket and went to milk 〃Dummy。〃 All of us accompanied him。 He crawled through the rails while 〃Dummy〃 tore the earth with her fore…feet and threw lumps of it over the yard。 But she was n't so wild as she seemed； and when Dad went to work on her with a big stick she walked into the bail quietly enough。 Then he sat to milk her； and when he took hold of her teats she broke the leg…rope and kicked him clean off the block and tangled her leg in the bucket and made a great noise with it。 Then she bellowed and reared in the bail and fell down； her head screwed the wrong way； and lay with her tongue out moaning。
Dad rose and spat out dirt。
〃Dear me！〃 Mother said。 〃it's a WILD cow y' bought。〃
〃Not at all；〃 Dad answered； 〃she's a bit touchy； that's all。〃
〃She tut…tutTUTCHED YOU orright； Dad；〃 Joe said from the top of the yard。
Dad looked up。 〃Get down outer THAT！〃 he yelled。 〃No wonder the damn cow's frightened。〃
Joe got down。
Dad brought 〃Dummy〃 to her senses with a few heavy kicks on her nose； and proceeded to milk her again。 〃Dummy〃 kicked and kicked。 Dad tugged and tugged at her teats； but no milk came。 Dad could n't understand it。 〃Must be frettin'；〃 he said。
Joe owned a pet calf about a week old which lived on water and a long rope。 Dad told him to fetch it to see if it would suck。 Joe fetched it； and it sucked ravenously at 〃Dummy's〃 flank； and joyfully wagged its tail。 〃Dummy〃 resented it。 She plunged until the leg…rope parted again； when the calf got mixed up in her legs； and she trampled it in the ground。 Joe took it away。 Dad turned 〃Dummy〃 out and bailed her up the next dayand every day for a weekwith the same result。 Then he sent for Larry O'Laughlin； who posed as a cow doctor。
〃She never give a drop in her life；〃 Larry said。 〃Them's BLIND tits she have。〃
Dad one day sold 〃Dummy〃 for ten shillings and bought a goat； which Johnson shot on his cultivation and made Dad drag away。
CHAPTER XXI。
The Parson and the Scone。
It was dinner…time。 And were n't we hungry！particularly Joe！ He was kept from school that day to fork up hay…work hard enough for a mantoo hard for some menbut in many things Joe was more than a man's equal。 Eating was one of them。 We were all silent。 Joe ate ravenously。 The meat and pumpkin disappeared； and the pile of hot scones grew rapidly less。 Joe regarded it with anxiety。 He stole sly glances at Dad and at Dave and made a mental calculation。 Then he fixed his eyes longingly on the one remaining scone； and ate faster and faster。。。。Still silence。 Joe glanced again at Dad。
The dogs outside barked。 Those inside； lying full…stretch beneath the table； instantly darted up and rushed out。 One of them carried off little Billwho was standing at the table with his legs spread out and a pint of tea in his handas far as the door on its back； and there scraped him off and spilled tea over him。 Dad spoke。 He said； 〃Damn the dogs！〃 Then he rose and looked out the window。 We all roseall except Joe。 Joe reached for the last scone。
A horseman dismounted at the slip…rails。
〃Some stranger；〃 Dad muttered； turning to re…seat himself。
〃Why； it'sit's the minister！〃 Sal cried〃the minister that married Kate！〃
Dad nearly fell over。 〃Good God！〃 was all he said； and stared hopelessly at Mother。 The ministerfor sure enough it was the Rev。 Daniel Macphersonwas coming in。 There was commotion。 Dave finished his tea at a gulp； put on his hat； and left by the back…door。 Dad would have followed； but hesitated； and so was lost。 Mother was restless〃on pins and needles。〃
〃And there ain't a bite to offer him；〃 she cried； dancing hysterically about the table〃not a bite； nor a plate； nor a knife； nor a fork to eat it with！〃 There was humour in Mother at times。 It came from the father's side。 He was a dentist。
Only Joe was unconcerned。 He was employed on the last scone。 He commenced it slowly。 He wished it to last till night。 His mouth opened and received it fondly。 He buried his teeth in it and lingered lovingly over it。 Mother's eyes happened to rest on him。 Her face brightened。 She flew at Joe and cried：
〃Give me that scone！put it back on the table this minute！〃
Joe became concerned。 He was about to protest。 Mother seized him by the hair （which had n't been cut since Dan went shearing） and hissed：
〃Putitbacksir！〃 Joe put it back。
The minister came in。 Dad said he was pleased to see himpoor Dad！and enquired if he had had dinner。 The parson had not； but said he did n't want any； and implored Mother not to put herself about on his account。 He only required a cup of teanothing else whatever。 Mother was delighted； and got the tea gladly。 Still she was not satisfied。 She would be hospitable。 She said：
〃Won't you try a scone with it； Mr。 Macpherson？〃 And the parson said he would〃just one。〃
Mother passed the rescued scone along； and awkwardly apologised