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trees with Dave's legs。 A wire…fence was in his way。 It parted like the Red Sea when he came to ithe crashed into it and rolled over。 The saddle was dangling under his belly when he got up； Dave and the bridle were under the fence。 But the storm had come； and such a storm！ Hailstones as big as apples nearlyfirst one here and there； and next moment in thousands。
Paddy Maloney and Joe ran for the house； Dave； with an injured ankle and a cut head； limped painfully in the same direction； but Dad saw the plough…horses turning and twisting about in their chains and set out for them。 He might as well have started off the cross the continent。 A hailstone； large enough to kill a cow； fell with a thud a yard or two in advance of him； and he slewed like a hare and made for the house also。 He was getting it hot。 Now and again his hands would go up to protect his head； but he could n't run that wayhe could n't run much any way。
The others reached the house and watched Dad make from the back…door。 Mother called to him to 〃Run； run！〃 Poor Dad！ He was running。 Paddy Maloney was joyful。 He danced about and laughed vociferously at the hail bouncing off Dad。 Once Dad staggereda hail…boulder had struck him behind the earand he looked like dropping。 Paddy hit himself on the leg； and vehemently invited Dave to 〃Look； LOOK at him！〃 But Dad battled along to the haystack； buried his head in it； and stayed there till the storm was overwriggling and moving his feet as though he were tramping chaff。
Shingles were dislodged from the roof of the house； and huge hailstones pelted in and put the fire out； and split the table； and fell on the sofa and the beds。
Rain fell also； but we did n't catch any in the caskthe wind blew the spout away。 It was a curled piece of bark。 Nevertheless； the storm did good。 We did n't lose ALL the potatoes。 We got SOME out of them。 We had them for dinner one Sunday。
CHAPTER XXIII。
The Agricultural Reporter。
It had been a dull； miserable day； and a cold westerly was blowing。 Dave and Joe were at the barn finishing up for the day。
Dad was inside grunting and groaning with toothache。 He had had it a week； and was nearly mad。 For a while he sat by the fire； prodding the tooth with his pocket…knife； then he covered his jaw with his hand and went out and walked about the yard。
Joe asked him if he had seen Nell's foal anywhere that day。 He did n't answer。
〃Did y' see the brown foal any place ter…day； Dad？〃
〃Damn the brown foal！〃and Dad went inside again。
He walked round and round the table and in and out the back room till Mother nearly cried with pity。
〃Is n't it any easier at all； Father？〃 she said commiseratingly。
〃How the devil can it be easier？。。。Oh…h！〃
The kangaroo…dog had coiled himself snugly on a bag before the fire。 Dad kicked him savagely and told him to get out。 The dog slunk sulkily to the door； his tail between his legs； and his back humped as if expecting another kick。 He got it。 Dad sat in the ashes then； and groaned lamentably。 The dog walked in at the back door and dropped on the bag again。
Joe came in to say that 〃Two coves out there wants somethink。〃
Dad paid no attention。
The two 〃coves〃a pressman； in new leggings； and Canty； the storekeepercame in。 Mother brought a light。 Dad moaned； but did n't look up。
〃Well； Mr。 Rudd；〃 the pressman commenced （he was young and fresh…looking）； 〃I'm from the （something…or…other） office。 I'merafter information about the crops round here。 I supposeer〃
〃Oh…h…h！〃 Dad groaned； opening his mouth over the fire； and pressing the tooth hard with his thumb。
The pressman stared at him for awhile； then grinned at the storekeeper； and made a derisive face at Dad's back。 Then〃What have you got in this season； Mr。 Rudd？ Wheat？〃
〃I don't know。。。。Oh…hit's awful！〃
Another silence。
〃Did n't think toothache so bad as THAT；〃 said the man of news； airily； addressing Mother。 〃Never had it much myself； you see！〃
He looked at Dad again； then winked slyly at Canty； and said to Dad； in an altered tone： 〃Whisky's a good thing for it； old man； if you've got any。〃
Nothing but a groan came from Dad； but Mother shook her head sadly in the negative。
〃Any oil of tar？〃
Mother brightened up。 〃There's a little oil in the house；〃 she said； 〃but I don't know if we've any tar。 Is there； Joein that old drum？〃
〃Nurh。〃
The Press looked out the window。 Dad commenced to butcher his gums with the pocket…knife； and threatened to put the fire out with blood and saliva。
〃Let's have a look at the tooth； old man；〃 the pressman said； approaching Dad。
Dad submitted。
〃Pooh！I'll take that out in one act！〃。。。To Joe〃Got a good strong piece of string？〃
Joe could n't find a piece of string； but produced a kangaroo…tail sinew that had been tied round a calf's neck。
The pressman was enthusiastic。 He buzzed about and talked dentistry in a most learned manner。 Then he had another squint at Dad's tooth。
〃Sit on the floor here；〃 he said； 〃and I won't be a second。 You'll feel next to no pain。〃
Dad complied like a lamb。
〃Hold the light down here； missisa little lower。 You gentlemen〃 （to Canty and Dave） 〃look after his legs and arms。 Now； let your head come backright back； and open your mouthwide as you can。〃 Dad obeyed； groaning the whole time。 It was a bottom…tooth； and the dentist stood behind Dad and bent over him to fasten the sinew round it。 Then； twisting it on his wrist； he began to 〃hang on〃 with both hands。 Dad struggled and groanedthen broke into a bellow and roared like a wild beast。 But the dentist only said； 〃Keep him down！〃 and the others kept him down。
Dad's neck was stretching like a gander's； and it looked as if his head would come off。 The dentist threw his shoulders into it like a crack oarsmanthere was a crack； a rip； a tear； and； like a young tree leaving the ground； two huge； ugly old teeth left Dad's jaw on the end of that sinew。
〃Holy！〃 cried the dentist； surprised； and we stared。 Little Bill made for the teeth； so did Joe； and there was a fight under the table。
Dad sat in a lump on the floor propping himself up with his hands； his head dropped forward； and he spat feebly on the floor。
The pressman laughed and slapped Dad on the back； and asked 〃How do you feel； old boy？〃 Dad shook his head and spat and spat。 But presently he wiped his eyes with his shirt…sleeve and looked up。 The pressman told Mother she ought to be proud of Dad。 Dad struggled to his feet then； pale but smiling。 The pressman shook hands with him； and in no time Dad was laughing and joking over the operation。 A pleased look was in Mother's face； happiness filled the home again； and we grew quite fond of that pressmanhe was so jolly and affable； and made himself so much at home； Mother said。
〃Now； sit over； and we'll have supper；〃 said Dad； proud of having some fried steak to offer the visitors。 We had killed a cow the evening beforeone that was always getting bogged in the dam and taking up much of Dad's time dragging her out and cutting greenstuff to keep her alive。 The visitors enjoyed her。 The pressman wanted salt。 None was on the table。 Dad told Joe to run and get someto be quick。 Joe went out； but in a while returned。 He stood at the door with the hammer in his hand and said：
〃Did you shift the r…r…r…rock…salt from where S…Spotty was lickin' it this evenin'； Dave？〃
Dave reached for the bread。
〃Don't botherdon't bother about it；〃 said the pressman。 〃Sit down； youngster； and finish your supper。〃
〃No bother at all；〃 Dad said； but Joe sat down； and Dad scowled at him。
Then Dad got talking about wheat and wallabieswhen； all at once； the pressman gave a jump that rattled the things on the table。
〃Oh…h…h！。。。I'VE got it now！〃 he said； dropping his knife and fork and clapping his hands over his mouth。 〃Ooh！〃
We looked at him。 〃Got what？〃 Dad asked； a gleam of satisfaction appearing in his eyes。
〃The toothache！the dd toothache！。。。Oh…h！〃
〃Ha！ ha！ Hoo！ hoo！ hoo！〃 Dad roared。 In fact； we all roaredall but the pressman。 〃OH…H！〃 he said； and went to the fire。 Dad laughed some more。
We ate on。 The pressman continued to moan。
Dad turned on his seat。 〃What paper； mister； do you say you come from？〃
〃OH…H！。。。Oh…h； Lord！〃
〃Well； let me see； I'll have in altogether； I daresay； this year； about thirty…five acres of wheatI suppose as good a wheat〃
〃Damn the wheat！。。。OOH！〃
〃Eh！〃 said Dad； 〃why； I never thought toothache was THET bad！ You reminds me of this old cow we be eatin'。 SHE moaned just like thet all the time she was layin' in the gully； afore I knocked 'er on the head。〃
Canty； the storekeeper； looked up quickly； and the pressman looked round slowlyboth at Dad。
〃Here；〃 continued Dad〃let's have a look at yer tooth； old man！〃
The pressman rose。 His face was flushed and wild…looking。 〃Come on out of thisfor God's sake！〃 he said to Canty〃if you're ready。〃
〃What；〃 said Dad； hospitably； 〃y're not going； surely！〃 But they were。 〃Well； thenthirty…five acres of wheat； I have； and〃 （putting his head out the door and calling after them） 〃NEXT yearnext year； all being well； please God； I'll have SIXTY！〃
CHAPTE