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〃Won't you try a scone with it； Mr。 Macpherson？〃 And the parson said he would〃just one。〃
Mother passed the rescued scone along； and awkwardly apologised for the absence of plates。 She explained that the Andersons were threshing their wheat； and had borrowed all our crockery and cutleryeverybody's； in fact； in the neighbourhoodfor the use of the men。 Such was the custom round our way。 But the minister did n't mind。 On the contrary； he commended everybody for fellowship and good…feeling； and felt sure that the district would be rewarded。
It took the Rev。 Macpherson no time to polish off the scone。 When the last of it was disappearing Mother became uneasy again。 So did Dad。 He stared through the window at the parson's sleepy…looking horse； fastened to the fence。 Dad wished to heaven it would break away； or drop dead； or do anything to provide him with an excuse to run out。 But it was a faithful steed。 It stood there leaning on its forehead against a post。 There was a brief silence。
Then the minister joked about his appetiteat which only Joe could afford to smileand asked； 〃May I trouble you for just another scone？〃
Mother muttered something like 〃Yes； of course；〃 and went out to the kitchen just as if there had been some there。 Dad was very uncomfortable。 He patted the floor with the flat of his foot and wondered what would happen next。 Nothing happened for a good while。 The minister sipped and sipped his tea till none was left。。。
Dad said： 〃I'll see what's keeping her；〃 and roseglad if ever man was gladto get away。 He found Mother seated on the ironbark table in the kitchen。 They did n't speak。 They looked at each other sympathisingly。
〃Well？〃 Dad whispered at last； 〃what are you going to do？〃 Mother shook her head。 She did n't know。
〃Tell him straight there ain't any； an' be done with it；〃 was Dad's cheerful advice。 Mother several times approached the door； but hesitated and returned again。
〃What are you afraid of？〃 Dad would ask； 〃he won't eat y'。〃 Finally she went in。
Then Dad tiptoed to the door and listened。 He was listening eagerly when a lump of eartha piece of the cultivation paddockfell dangerously near his feet。 It broke and scattered round him； and rattled inside against the papered wall。 Dad jumped round。 A row of jackasses on a tree near by laughed merrily。 Dad looked up。 They stopped。 Another one laughed clearly from the edge of the tall corn。 Dad turned his head。 It was Dave。 Dad joined him； and they watched the parson mount his horse and ride away。
Dad drew a deep and grateful breath。 〃Thank God！〃 he said。
CHAPTER XXII。
Callaghan's Colt。
It was the year we put the bottom paddock under potatoes。 Dad was standing contemplating the tops； which were withering for want of rain。 He shifted his gaze to the ten acres sown with corn。 A dozen stalks or so were looking well； a few more； ten or twelve inches high； were coming in cob； the rest had n't made an appearance。
Dad sighed and turned away from the awful prospect。 He went and looked into the water…cask。 Two butterflies； a frog or two； and some charcoal were at the bottom。 No water。 He sighed again； took the yoke and two kerosene…tins； and went off to the springs。
About an hour and a half after he returned with two half…tins of muddy； milky…looking waterthe balance had been splashed out as he got through the fencesand said to Mother （wiping the sweat off his face with his shirt…sleeve）
〃Don't know； I'm SURE； what things are going t' come t'；。。。no use doing anything。。。there's no rain。。。no si〃 he lifted his foot and with cool exactness took a place…kick at the dog； which was trying to fall into one of the kerosene…tins； head first； and sent it and the water flying。 〃Oh you ！〃 The rest is omitted in the interests of Poetry。
Day after。 Fearful heat； not a breath of air； fowl and beast sought the shade； everything silent； the great Bush slept。 In the west a stray cloud or two that had been hanging about gathered； thickened； darkened。
The air changed。 Fowl and beast left the shade； tree…tops began to stirto bendto sway violently。 Small branches flew down and rolled before the wind。 Presently it thundered afar off。 Mother and Sal ran out and gathered the clothes； and fixed the spout； and looked cheerfully up at the sky。
Joe sat in the chimney…corner thumping the ribs of a cattle…pup； and pinching its ears to make it savage。 He had been training the pup ever since its arrival that morning。
The plough…horses； yoked to the plough； stood in the middle of the paddock； beating the flies off with their tails and leaning against each other。
Dad stood at the stock…yardhis brown arms and bearded chin resting on a middle…railpassively watching Dave and Paddy Maloney breaking…in a colt for Callaghana weedy； wild； herring…gutted brute that might have been worth fifteen shillings。 Dave was to have him to hack about for six months in return for the breaking…in。 Dave was acquiring a local reputation for his skill in handling colts。
They had been at 〃Callaghan〃as they christened the coltsince daylight； pretty well； and had crippled old Moll and lamed Maloney's Dandy； and knocked up two they borrowed from Andersonyarding the rubbish； and there was n't a fence within miles of the place that he had n't tumbled over and smashed。 But； when they did get him in； they lost no time commencing to quieten him。 They cursed eloquently； and threw the bridle at him； and used up all the missiles and bits of hard mud and sticks about the yard； pelting him because he would n't stand。
Dave essayed to rope him 〃the first shot；〃 and nearly poked his eye out with the pole； and Paddy Maloney； in attempting to persuade the affrighted beast to come out of the cow…bail； knocked the cap of its hip down with the milking…block。 They caught him then and put the saddle on。 Callaghan trembled。 When the girths were tightened they put the reins under the leathers； and threw their hats at him； and shouted； and 〃hooshed〃 him round the yard； expecting he would buck with the saddle。 But Callaghan only trotted into a corner and snorted。 Usually； a horse that won't buck with a saddle is a 〃snag。〃 Dave knew it。 The chestnut he tackled for Brown did nothing with the saddle。 HE was a snag。 Dave remembered him and reflected。 Callaghan walked boldly up to Dave； with his head high in the air； and snorted at him。 He was a sorry…looking animalcuts and scars all over him； hip down； patches and streaks of skin and hair missing from his head。 〃No buck in him！〃 unctuously observed Dad； without lifting his chin off the rail。 〃Ain't there？〃 said Paddy Maloney； grinning cynically。 〃Just you wait！〃
It seemed to take the heart out of Dave； but he said nothing。 He hitched his pants and made a brave effort to spitseveral efforts。 And he turned pale。
Paddy was now holding Callaghan's head at arms'…length by the bridle and one ear； for Dave to mount。
A sharp crack of thunder went off right overhead。 Dave did n't hear it。
〃Hello！〃 Dad said； 〃We're going to have ithurry up！〃
Dave did n't hear him。 He approached the horse's side and nervously tried the surcinglea greenhide one of Dad's workmanship