But the recollection of that raging mob was too vividly in mind, and the
cattle beginning to trot at the sight of the water, decided against them,
and the next moment I was three feet from the ground, among the
low-spreading branches of a giant Paper-bark. Jackeroo was riding ahead,
and flashed one swift, sidelong glance after me but as the mob trotted by
he trotted with them as impassive as a statue.
But we had by no means done with Jackeroo; for as we sat in camp that
night at the Springs, with the cattle safe in the yard, shouts of
laughter from the "boys'" camp attracted our attention, and we found
Jackeroo the centre-piece of the camp, preparing to repeat some
performance. For a second or so he stood irresolute; then, clutching
wildly at an imaginary something that appeared to encumber his feet, with
a swift, darting run and a scrambling clamber, he was into the midst of a
sapling; then, our silence attracting attention, the black world
collapsed in speechless convulsions.
"How the missus climbed a tree, little 'un," the Maluka chuckled; and the
mimicry of action had been so perfect that we knew it could only be that.
Every detail was there: the moment of indecision, the wild clutch at the
habit, the quick, feminine lift of the running feet, and the
indescribably feminine scrambling climb at the finish.
In that one swift, sidelong glance every movement had been photographed
on Jackeroo's mind, to be reproduced later on for the entertainment of
the camp with that perfect mimicry characteristic of the black folk.
And it was always so. Just as they had "beck-becked" and bumped in their
saddles with the Chinese drovers, so they imitated every action that
caught their fancy, and almost every human being that crossed their
path - riding with feet outspread after meeting one traveller; with toes
turned in, in imitation of another; flopping, or sitting rigidly in their
saddles, imitating actions of hand and turns of the head; anything to
amuse themselves, from riding side-saddle to climbing trees.
Jackeroo being "funny man" in the tribe, was first favourite in
exhibitions; but we could get no further pantomime that night, although
we heard later from Bett-Bett that "How the missus climbed a tree" had a
long run.
The next day passed branding the cattle, and the following as we arrived
within sight of the homestead, Dan was congratulating the Maluka on the
"missus being without a house," and then he suddenly interrupted himself
"Well, I'm blest!" he said.
