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Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958

"Mates at Billabong"

Must have got him in the yard, and
saddled him himself. Murty saw him just as he was riding off, and tried
to stop him. Here's Murty--he'll tell you."
"Sure, I towld him to stop, Miss Norah," said the stock-man. "Axed him,
I did, if he'd y'r lave, and he gev me back-answers as free as y'
please. I was perfickly calm, an never losht me timper, an' towld him
I'd pull him off av the little harse if he'd not the lave to take him;
an' he put the comether on me by cantherin' off. So I waited, thinkin'
not to worry y', an' that he'd be comin' back; or more be token Bobs
widout him, an' small loss. But he's elsewhere yit, so I kem in f'r
Masther Jim."
"Well, I'm blessed!" said Norah, weakly.
"The mean little toad!" Wally's voice was full of scorn. "I'd like five
quiet minutes with him with coats off when he comes back!"
"I guess he'll get that--or its equivalent," said Jim, grimly. "Which
way did he go, Murty?"
"To the bush paddock, Masther Jim. He's that stupid, tin to one he's
bushed in one av thim gullies."
"Or else Bobs has slung him; but in that case Bobs would be back at the
gate," Jim said. "Perhaps he is."
"No, he ain't, Masther Jim, I wint over a bit an' had a look. There's
no sign av either av thim."
"Well, I suppose we'd better go after them," Jim said.


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