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Updated: June 20, 2025
Says I, when I heard you tappin', 'That's Cap'n Hocken, says I, 'signallin' me to come an wish him joy, an' maybe to join him in a drink over his luck. And why not? says I. 'Stranger things have happened." "You'll excuse me. . . . If he's in his garden, I want a chat with him." Cai hurried out to the front door. "Maybe you'd like me to go with you," suggested Mr Philp, ready for him.
"Now, there's a man whose place, as you might say, won't go unfilled much longer hey?" Mr Philp pointed his walking-stick at the name of the late owner of Rilla, and achieved a sort of watery wink. "I daresay you mean something by that, Mr Philp," said Cai, staring at him, half angry and completely puzzled. "But be dashed if I know what you do mean." "There now!
Fancy's hands, disencumbered of the tea-tray, began to twitch violently. "Very well, master," was all she said, however; and with that she left the room to fetch her hat and small cloak. "I'd advise you to tackle Philp gently," was Mr Rogers's warning as soon as the pair were alone. "Not that I've any likin' for the man: but the point is, you've no evidence.
After marking several sites on the station, when passing through Brisbane later, on my way to Cowley Station on the same errand, I interviewed Messrs. Philp and Forsyth, who told me there had been a well sunk on my site and no water obtained, but that the contractor had sunk a three-inch bore, where my peg was, and had obtained good water for his camp use.
Unless he mistook, the flesh beneath the shirt-sleeve yet kept some faint vibration of Mrs Bosenna's hand, resting upon it, thrilling it. "The point is," said Cai to himself, "it can't be 'Bias, anyway. I felt pretty sure at the time that Philp was lyin'. But what a brazen fellow it is!"
"If you'd really like a talk with him," said Mr Rogers, blinking, "maybe you'd best let the child here take you to his house. . . . Eh, missy? Cap'n Hunken tells me as how he'd like to pay a call 'pon Mr Philp, up in Union Place." "Now?" asked Fancy. "The sooner the better," answered 'Bias, crushing 'The Troy Herald' between his hands.
Mr Philp slowly unwound the woollen wrap that had swathed his beard out of sight. "Clever things, birds," said Mr Philp, and his voice seemed to regain its identity as the folds of the bandage dropped from him. "I wonder whether shavin' would help! . . . I don't like to be beat." 'Bias, who had come with that very intent, lifted a hand but let it fall again. No, he could not!
I've known scores o' men get married o' purpose to break clear o' their habits an' take a fresh start; but ne'er a man that didn't tie himself up thereby in twenty new habits for e'er a one he'd let drop." "Go on with your folly, if it amuses you." "Then, again, you've taken a house." "So Rogers tells me. I don't even know the rent, at this moment." "Twenty-five pound p'r annum," put in Mr Philp.
"Ah!" said Mr Philp. "That's what I'd like to know." "Well, I'll give 'ee the information, and nothin' to pay. Coals burn faster as a man burns slower. You're gettin' on in life; an' next time you draw your knees higher the grate you can tell yourself that, William Philp. . . . Hullo! there's Cap'n Hunken! . . . Mornin', Cap'n. That's a fine bird you're carryin'."
The barber, without turning, nodded towards the newcomer as he entered a short man, aged about sixty, with a square-cut grey beard, sanguine complexion, and blue eyes that twinkled with a deceptive appearance of humour. "Here's Cap'n Cai Hocken, home from sea." "Eh? I am very glad to see you, Cap'n Hocken," said Mr Philp politely. "There's a post-card waitin' for you, up at the Office."
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