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Knowing the lay of the country too, made it easier than it was before for us. Cudgee has turned out a smarter boy than Wombo was. No fear of Myalls with their infernal jagged spears being round without his sniffing them. One of the horses died from eating poison-bush.
Steadbolt dropped his hold of the roan leader's bridle and fell back screaming imprecations. At a touch, the buggy-horses bounded forward. 'Sit tight, Biddy, said her husband. 'Up you get, Cudgee, he shouted.
Here Wombo, the black boy, was waiting Moongarr Bill having gone on with the pack horse to the camping place and helped to unharness the two leaders which he drove before him ahead. The trees thickened, the buggy wheels caught on stumps. Cudgee had to get down at intervals and, with his axe, lop and clear fallen timber. Every mile the progress grew slower and the forest more lonely.
'Oh, I wonder that you can spare Ninnis, she returned bitterly. 'I suppose you'd want Moongarr Bill still more on the run. But there's Joe Casey I daresay somebody else can milk the cows, and get up wood and water. Or there's Cudgee I don't mind who goes with me.... I can drive myself. 'My God! do you imagine I'd put a black-boy or anyone but my own trusted overseer in charge of you!
The two men went over questions connected with the journey, overhauling the buggy so that springs, bars and bolts might be in order, seeing that the horses were in good condition, sending on Cudgee that very hour, with a second pair in relay for the long stage of the morrow, when over fifty miles must be covered.
The buggy was quite a smart bush turn-out comfortable seats in front a varnished cover, now lying back; a well behind, filled with luggage; a narrow back seat whence Cudgee a smaller edition of Wombo sprang down. Cudgee, too, stared at Lady Bridget and clicked his teeth in admiration, exclaiming: 'Hullo! New feller Mithsis.
But Cudgee, out of malice or stupidity, did not let the roans go or else someone else put a restraining hand on the reins. The man with the ragged beard roared out. 'Ho, you think you're going to ride over us! you and your fine ladyship! Wot do we care about the British hairystocracy. What we're asking for is the rights of labour, and we mean to have 'em.
Mustering those beasts for boiling down started that old spear wound afresh. Until it got well again, there was nothing for it but to sit tight and wait. Moongarr Bill left to make a prospecting trip on my old tracks up the Bight took Cudgee and the black-boy with him.
You can take it from us, boys, he's the meanest cuss that ever downed a harmless nigger.... Ask him what the twenty-five notches on his gun stand for? 'And I tell YOU what it is, Steve Baines. There'll be another notch on my gun, and it won't be for a nigger, if you give me any more of your insolence, said McKeith coolly. 'Get out of the way, men. Let the horses go, Cudgee. Ready, Biddy?
'Why is it so dark and the heat so stifling? she asked. 'These damned Unionists have fired the only good pasture left on Moongarr. It's been burning since two o'clock this morning. I sent the men out. Now I'm going myself to save what I can. He left the room abruptly. In a minute or two she heard him outside calling 'Cudgee... Harris' and then giving the order to saddle up.
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