Mac coughed in embarrassment, and the Maluka and the Wag seemed
pre-occupied, and, fearing I had been misunderstood, I added hastily: "So
is everyone in the Settlement, for that matter," thereby causing further
embarrassment.
After a short intense silence the Wag "thought he'd be getting along,"
and as he moved off the Maluka laughed. "Oh, missus, missus!" and Mac
blurted out the whole tale of the edict - concluding rather ambiguously by
saying: "Don't you go thinking it's made any difference to any of us,
because it hasn't. We're not saints, but we're not pigs, and, besides, it
was a pleasure."
I doubted if it was much pleasure to Tam-o-Shanter; but forgetting he was
sober by compulsion, even he had begun to feel virtuous; and when he
heard he had been called a "sober, decent little man," he positively
swaggered; and on the fourth morning walked jauntily past the Cottage and
ventured a quiet good-morning - a simple enough little incident in itself;
but it proved Tam's kinship with his fellowmen. For is it not the
knowledge that some one thinks well of us that makes us feel at ease in
that person's company?
Later in the same day, the flood having fallen, it was decided that it
would be well to cross the horses in the rear of a boat, and we were all
at the river discussing preparations, when Tam electrified the community
by joining the group.
In the awkward pause that followed his arrival he passed a general remark
about dogs - there were several with us - and every one plunged into dog
yarns, until Tam, losing his head over the success of his maiden speech,
became so communicative on the subject of a dog-fight that he had to be
surreptitiously kicked into silence.
"Looks like more rain," Mac said abruptly, hoping to draw public
attention from the pantomime. "Ought to get off as soon as possible, or
we'll be blocked at the King."
The Katherine seized on the new topic of conversation, and advised
"getting out to the five-mile overnight," declaring it would "take all
day to get away from the Settlement in the morning." Then came another
awkward pause, while every one kept one eye on Tam, until the Maluka
saved the situation by calling for volunteers to help with the horses,
and, Tam being pressed into the service, the boat was launched, and he
was soon safe over the far side of the river.
Once among the horses, the little man was transformed. In the quiet,
confident horseman that rode down the gorge a few minutes later it would
have been difficult to recognise the shy, timid bushman.
