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e dogs pursued him noisily。 〃GERROUT！〃 Joe shouted； and the crowd stood up and became very enthusiastic。 The dogs caught the kangaroo； and were dragging him to earth when Dad rushed in and kicked them in twos to the top of the tent。 Then； while Johnson expostulated with Dad for laming his brindle slut； the kangaroo dived through a hole in the tent and rushed into the house and into the bedroom； and sprang on the bed among a lot of babies and women's hats。
When the commotion subsided Paddy Maloney rang the cow…bell again； and Dave and 〃Podgy；〃 the pet sheep； rode out on Nugget。 Podgy sat with hind…legs astride the horse and his head leaning back against Dave's chest。 Dave （standing up） bent over him with a pair of shears in his hand。 He was to shear Podgy as the horse cantered round。
Paddy Maloney touched Nugget with the whip； and off he went〃rump…ti…dee； dump…ti…dee。〃 Dave rolled about a lot the first time round； but soon got his equilibrium。 He brandished the shears and plunged the points of them into Podgy's belly…woolalso into Podgy's skin。 〃Bur…UR…R！〃 Podgy blurted and struggled violently。 Dave began to topple about。 He dropped the shears。 The audience guffawed。 Then Dave jumped； but Podgy's horns got caught in his clothes and made trouble。 Dave hung on one side of the horse and the sheep dangled on the other。 Dave sang out； so did Podgy。 And the horse stopped and snorted； then swung furiously round and round until five or six pairs of hands seized his head and held him。
Dave did n't repeat the act。 He ran away holding his clothes together。
It was a very successful circus。 Everyone enjoyed it and wished to see it againeveryone but the Maloneys。 They said it was a swindle； and ran Dad down because he did n't divide with Paddy the 3s。 6d。 he took at the door。
Chapter XVI。
When Joe Was In Charge。
Joe was a naturalist。 He spent a lot of timetime that Dad considered should have been employed cutting burr or digging potatoesin ear…marking bears and bandicoots； and catching goannas and letting them go without their tails； or coupled in pairs with pieces of greenhide。 The paddock was full of goannas in harness and slit…eared bears。 THEY belonged to Joe。
Joe also took an interest in snakes； and used to poke amongst logs and brush…fences in search of rare specimens。 Whenever he secured a good one he put it in a cage and left it there until it died or got out； or Dad threw it； cage and all； right out of the parish。
One day； while Mother and Sal were out with Dad； Joe came home with a four…foot black snake in his hand。 It was a beauty。 So sleek and lithe and lively！ He carried it by the tail； its head swinging close to his bare leg； and the thing yearning for a grab at him。 But Joe understood the ways of a reptile。
There was no cageDad had burnt the last oneso Joe walked round the room wondering where to put his prize。 The cat came out of the bedroom and mewed and followed him for the snake。 He told her to go away。 She did n't go。 She reached for the snake with her paw。 It bit her。 She spat and sprang in the air and rushed outside with her back up。 Joe giggled and wondered how long the cat would live。
The Rev。 Macpherson； on his way to christen M'Kenzie's baby； called in for a drink； and smilingly asked after Joe's health。
〃Hold this kuk…kuk…cove； then；〃 Joe said； handing the parson the reptile； which was wriggling and biting at space； 〃an' I'll gug…gug…get y' one。〃 But when Mr。 Macpherson saw the thing was alive he jumped back and fell over the dog which was lying behind him in the shade。 Bluey grabbed him by the leg； and the parson jumped up in haste and made for his horsefollowed by Bluey。 Joe cried； 〃KUM 'ere！〃then turned inside。
Mother and Sal entered。 They had come to make Dad and themselves a cup of tea。 They quarrelled with Joe； and he went out and started playing with the snake。 He let it go； and went to catch it by the tail again； but the snake caught HIMby the finger。
〃He's bit me！〃 Joe cried； turning pale。 Mother screeched； and Sal bolted off for Dad； while the snake glided silently up the yard。
Anderson； passing on his old bay mare； heard the noise； and came in。 He examined Joe's finger； bled the wound； and was bandaging the arm when Dad rushed in。
〃Where is he？〃 he said。 〃Oh； you dd whelp！ You wretch of a boy！ MY God！〃
〃'Twasn' MY fault。〃 And Joe began to blubber。
But Anderson protested。 There was no time； he said； to be lost barneying； and he told Dad to take his old mare Jean and go at once for Sweeney。 Sweeney was the publican at Kangaroo Creek； with a reputation for curing snake…bite。 Dad ran out； mounted Jean and turned her head for Sweeney's。 But； at the slip…rails； Jean stuck him up； and would n't go further。 Dad hit her between the ears with his fist； and got down and ran back。
〃The boy'll be dead； Anderson；〃 he cried； rushing inside again。
〃Come on then；〃 Anderson said； 〃we'll take off his finger。〃
Joe was looking drowsy。 But； when Anderson took hold of him and placed the wounded finger on a block； and Dad faced him with the hammer and a blunt； rusty old chisel； he livened up。
〃No； Dad； NO！〃 he squealed； straining and kicking like an old man kangaroo。 Anderson stuck to him； though； and with Sal's assistance held his finger on the block till Dad carefully rested the chisel on it and brought the hammer down。 It did n't sever the fingerit only scraped the nail offbut it did make Joe buck。 He struggled desperately and got away。
Anderson could n't run at all； Dad was little faster； Sal could run like a greyhound in her bare feet； but； before she could pull her boots off； Joe had disappeared in the corn。
〃Quick！〃 Dad shouted； and the trio followed the patient。 They hunted through the corn from end to end； but found no trace of him。 Night came。 The search continued。 They called； and called； but nothing answered save the ghostly echoes； the rustling of leaves； the slow； sonorous notes of a distant bear； or the neighing of a horse in the grass…paddock。
At midnight they gave up； and went home； and sat inside and listened； and looked distracted。
While they sat； 〃Whisky；〃 a blackfellow from Billson's station； dropped in。 He was taking a horse down to town for his boss； and asked Dad if he could stay till morning。 Dad said he could。 He slept in Dave's bed； Dave slept on the sofa。
〃If Joe ain't dead； and wuz t' come in before mornin'；〃 Dave said； 〃there won't be room for us all。〃
And before morning Joe DID come in。 He entered stealthily by the back…door； and crawled quietly into bed。
At daybreak Joe awoke； and nudged his bed…mate and said：
〃Dave； the cocks has crowed！〃 No answer。 He nudged him again。
〃Dave； the hens is all off the roost！〃 Still no reply。
Daylight streamed in through the cracks。 Joe sat uphe was at the backand stared about。 He glanced at the face of his bed…mate and chuckled and said：
〃Who's been blackenin' y'； Dave？〃
He sat grinning awhile； then stood up； and started pulling on his trousers； which he drew from under his pillow。 He had put one leg into them when his eyes rested on a pair of black feet uncovered at the foot of the bed。 He star