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Months afterward, when the two Mondunbarra bullocks had been swapped-away into a team from the Sydney side, I camped one night with Baxter and Donovan, who discussed, in the most matter-of-fact way, their own tranquil appropriation of the beasts. Each of these useful scoundrels had the answer of a good conscience touching the transaction.
But the fit passed away instantly, and he asked, in his usual subdued tone, "When did you see this this Alf Morris last?" "About two months ago," I replied. "He was camped at that time in the Dead Man's Bend, at the junction of Avondale and Mondunbarra." "When are you likely to see him again?" asked the boundary man. "But, of course, you can't tell. It's a foolish question.
And, of all Alf's enemies, perhaps the most inveterate was the Chinaman's boss, Mr. Smythe, managing partner of Mondunbarra.
It must be remembered that Alf was camped at the junction of three runs; Yoongoolee lay along the opposite side of the river, whilst on our side, Mondunbarra and Avondale were separated by a boundary fence which ran into the water a few yards beyond where the wagon stood. The fence, much damaged by floods, was repaired merely to the sheep-proof standard. The wagon was in Mondunbarra.
Trinidad Pad., per Sam Young. Conclave. Introductory. On the evening of Tuesday, the 8th, I had called officially at Mondunbarra homestead. No one was visible except Bert Smythe, the managing partner's younger brother, who was leaving the store, with a ring of keys on his finger.
Next evening, his neighbour had re-delivered them to Avondale f.o.b., and in the morning, Tom returned them to Mondunbarra c.o.d. Next night, the untiring Asiatic had them back on Avondale o.r.; and in the morning, Tom did what he should have done at first put them across the river on to the station from whose bourne no trespasser returned. The ensuing adventures of the bullocks you already know.
With this the discomfited Mongol turned his horse in the direction of Mondunbarra homestead, and, like a driver starting an engine when there is danger of the belt flying off, gradually worked up his pace to a canter, leaving me in possession of the field. But in cases of this kind, there is only one thing worse than victory. I was fairly in a fix with Alf's bullocks.
I inquired ominously. Something akin to a smile flickered round the shaven lips of the descendant of Hengist as, contemplating the lop ears of his horse, he observedly contentedly, "Ees, shure; an' 'hat's f'r w'y Oi be a-teakin' of 'em." "Well, Alf's laid-up; not able to look after them" "Oi 've 'eard 'at yaan afoor." "so I've come to take them back, and leave them at his camp on Mondunbarra."
If they came across the river again, he would hunt them back into Mondunbarra he would do that much but Muster M'Intyre's orders were orders. By way of changing the subject, Sollicker became confidential. He had been in his present employ ever since his arrival in the country, ten years before, and had never set foot outside the run during that time.
And where the boundary fence of Mondunbarra and Avondale crosses the plain, is seen a fair example of the mirage that phenomenon so vaguely apprehended in regions outside its domain, and so little noticed where repetition has made it familiar.
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