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Thus, she gave orders that the veranda of the Old Humpey should be kept free from disturbing footsteps, and saw that the bathroom was in order, and a change of clothing set ready for him when he should awake. Also that there should be a meal prepared. He did not wake till the afternoon. She heard him go straight in to take his bath, and hastened to have the dining room table spread.
The Old Humpey, as it was called, had creepers overgrowing its roof, a nesting-place for frogs, lizards, snakes and Lady Bridget, brave enough for doughty deeds, could never overcome her terror of horned beasts and reptiles.
'YOWI* I believe when Boss say PHO-PHO, my word! that one PHO-PHO. Plenty black feller frightened. Bridget pushed the unhappy gin along the track. 'You needn't be frightened. Boss has gone away. 'Boss no sit down long-a Humpey? Wombo looked relieved, and while Bridget reassured him, the three moved on towards the crossing.
It passed over the head-station and travelled at a furious rate along the plain. Hailstones fell, as large as a pigeon's egg, and stripped off such leafage as the drought had left. Thunder volleyed and lightning blazed. Part of the roof of the Old Humpey was torn off. The hide-house was practically blown away.
She dropped flat on the earth, her cloak drawn lightly between her knees, and wriggled snake-like, as Oola had done past Harris' windows, then pushed herself on hands and knees along the ground, squeezing her body against the palings of the yard, till she reached the Old Humpey on the opposite side. Once round that corner, she got on to her feet, feeling sick and giddy but intensely relieved.
McKeith's jaw squared, and there showed in his eyes that ugly devil which many a black and white man had seen, but never his wife before. 'Look here, milady there can be only one boss on this station. And now you'll excuse me if I act according to my own discretion. Without another word he walked up the veranda and down the few steps connecting it with the Old Humpey.
Lady Bridget ran through the sitting-room to the veranda behind, which again connected on either side the new house with the Old Humpey and kitchen and store-wing the hide-house standing slightly apart at the end of the store building. The shrieks in male and female keys came from the hide-house and mingled with McKeith's strident tones fulminating in Blacks' lingo.
He took up the piece of bark too, and laid it with the daguerreotypes on the table. He seemed afraid to give himself time to think, but went from room to room here and in the Old Humpey, dragging one thing after another out on to the veranda.
'The moon was right on her just then. I saw her give a shiver she'd been out in the wet. Then she walked up the veranda to where there's the covered bit joining on to the Old Humpey, and I noticed her sit down on the steps 'Stop, broke in McKeith. 'If you were on the veranda over there, you couldn't have seen as far as the steps. 'Right you are, Boss. But I wasn't waiting on the veranda.
Colin explained that these were the Old Humpey as he called the original dwelling house and the kitchen and store building opposite. Lately, the New House had been put up at right angles with the old buildings, and fronting the plain. It had been begun before his trip south and practically finished during his absence. Colin was very proud of the New House.
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