"Her Usual Luck!" The Men-Folk Said, Utilising
Verandah-Posts Or Tree-Trunks For Scratching Posts When Not Otherwise
Engaged.
Daily "things" and the elements hummed, and as they hummed Dan
and Jack came and went like Will-o'-
The-Wisps - sometimes from the
south-east and sometimes from the north-east; and as they came and went,
the Maluka kept his hand on the helm; Happy Dick filled in odd times as
he alone knew how; a belated traveller or two passing out came in, and
went on, or remained; Brown of the Bulls sent on a drover ahead of the
mob to spy out the land, and the second letter left the rack, while all
who came in, or went on, or remained, during their stay at the homestead,
stood about the posts and uprights waving off flies, and rubbing and
wriggling against the posts like so many Uriah Heeps, as they laid plans,
gossiped, gave in reports, or "swopped yarns." The Territory is hardly an
earthly paradise just before the showers. Still, Cheon did all he could
to make things pleasanter, regaling all daily on hop-beer, and all who
came in were sure of a welcome from him - Dan invariably inspiring him
with that ever fresh little joke of his when announcing afternoon tea to
the quarters. "Cognac!" he would call, and also invariably, Dan made a
great show of expectant haste, and a corresponding show of
disappointment, when the teapot only was forthcoming.
But Cheon's little joke and the afternoon tea were only interludes in the
heat and thirst and dust. Daily things hummed faster and faster, and the
South-east Trades skirmished and fought with the North-west monsoon,
until the Willy-Willys, towering higher and higher sped across the plain
incessantly, and whirled, and spun and danced like storm witches, in, and
out and about the homestead enclosure, leaving its acres all dust, and
only dust, with the house, lightly festooned in creepers now, and set in
its deep-green luxuriant garden of melons, as a pleasant oasis in a
desert of glare and dust.
Daily and hourly men waved and perspired and rubbed against scratching
posts, and daily and hourly the Willy-Willys whirled and spun and danced,
and daily and hourly as they threatened to dance, and spin, and whirl
through the house, the homestead sped across the enclosure to slam doors
and windows in their faces, thus saving our belongings from their
whirling, dusty ravages; and when nimbler feet were absent it was no
uncommon sight to see Cheon, perspiring and dishevelled, speeding towards
the house like a huge humming-top, with speeding Willy-Willys speeding
after him, each bent on reaching the goal before the other. Oftentimes
Cheon outraced the Willy-Willys, and a very chuckling, triumphant Cheon
slammed-to doors and windows, but at other times, the Willy-Willys
outraced Cheon, and, having soundly buffeted him with dust and debris,
sped on triumphant in their turn, and then a very wrathful, spluttering,
dusty Cheon sped after them.
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