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Dave did n't hear him。 He approached the horse's side and nervously tried the surcinglea greenhide one of Dad's workmanship。 〃Think that'll hold？〃 he mumbled meekly。
〃Pshaw！〃 Dad blurted through the rails〃 Hold！ Of course it'll holdhold a team o' bullocks； boy。〃
〃'S all right； Dave； 's all rightgit on！〃 From Paddy Maloney； impatiently。
Paddy； an out…and…out cur amongst horses himself； was anxious to be relieved of the colt's head。 Young horses sometimes knock down the man who is holding them。 Paddy was aware of it。
Dave took the reins carefully； and was about to place his foot in the stirrup when his restless eye settled on a wire…splice in the crupperalso Dad's handiwork。 He hesitated and commenced a remark。 But Dad was restless； Paddy Maloney anxious （as regarded himself）； besides； the storm was coming。
Dad said： 〃Damn it； what are y' 'FRAID o'； boy？ THAT'll holdjump on。〃
Paddy said： 〃NOW； Dave； while I've 'is 'ead round。〃
Joe （just arrived with the cattle…pup） chipped in。
He said： 〃Wot； is he fuf…fuf…fuf…f…rikent of him； Dad？〃
Dave heard them。 A tear like a hailstone dropped out of his eye。
〃It's all damn well t' TALK；〃 he fired off； 〃come in and RIDE th'horse then； if y' s'GAME！〃
A dead silence。
The cattle…pup broke away from Joe and strolled into the yard。 It barked feebly at Callaghan； then proceeded to worry his heels。 It seemed to take Callaghan for a calf。 Callaghan kicked it up against the rails。 It must have taken him for a cow then。
Dave's blood was up。 He was desperate。 He grabbed the reins roughly； put his foot in the stirrup； gripped the side of the pommel； and was on before you could say 〃Woolloongabba。〃
With equal alacrity； Paddy let the colt's head go and made tracks； chuckling。 The turn things had taken delighted him。 Excitement （and pumpkin） was all that kept Paddy alive。 But Callaghan did n't budgeat least not until Dave dug both heels into him。 Then he made a blind rush and knocked out a panel of the yardand got away with Dave。 Off he went； plunging； galloping； pig…jumping； breaking loose limbs and bark off trees with Dave's legs。 A wire…fence was in his way。 It parted like the Red Sea when he came to ithe crashed into it and rolled over。 The saddle was dangling under his belly when he got up； Dave and the bridle were under the fence。 But the storm had come； and such a storm！ Hailstones as big as apples nearlyfirst one here and there； and next moment in thousands。
Paddy Maloney and Joe ran for the house； Dave； with an injured ankle and a cut head； limped painfully in the same direction； but Dad saw the plough…horses turning and twisting about in their chains and set out for them。 He might as well have started off the cross the continent。 A hailstone； large enough to kill a cow； fell with a thud a yard or two in advance of him； and he slewed like a hare and made for the house also。 He was getting it hot。 Now and again his hands would go up to protect his head； but he could n't run that wayhe could n't run much any way。
The others reached the house and watched Dad make from the back…door。 Mother called to him to 〃Run； run！〃 Poor Dad！ He was running。 Paddy Maloney was joyful。 He danced about and laughed vociferously at the hail bouncing off Dad。 Once Dad staggereda hail…boulder had struck him behind the earand he looked like dropping。 Paddy hit himself on the leg； and vehemently invited Dave to 〃Look； LOOK at him！〃 But Dad battled along to the haystack； buried his head in it； and stayed there till the storm was overwriggling and moving his feet as though he were tramping chaff。
Shingles were dislodged from the roof of the house； and huge hailstones pelted in and put the fire out； and split the table； and fell on the sofa and the beds。
Rain fell also； but we did n't catch any in the caskthe wind blew the spout away。 It was a curled piece of bark。 Nevertheless； the storm did good。 We did n't lose ALL the potatoes。 We got SOME out of them。 We had them for dinner one Sunday。
CHAPTER XXIII。
The Agricultural Reporter。
It had been a dull； miserable day； and a cold westerly was blowing。 Dave and Joe were at the barn finishing up for the day。
Dad was inside grunting and groaning with toothache。 He had had it a week； and was nearly mad。 For a while he sat by the fire； prodding the tooth with his pocket…knife； then he covered his jaw with his hand and went out and walked about the yard。
Joe asked him if he had seen Nell's foal anywhere that day。 He did n't answer。
〃Did y' see the brown foal any place ter…day； Dad？〃
〃Damn the brown foal！〃and Dad went inside again。
He walked round and round the table and in and out the back room till Mother nearly cried with pity。
〃Is n't it any easier at all； Father？〃 she said commiseratingly。
〃How the devil can it be easier？。。。Oh…h！〃
The kangaroo…dog had coiled himself snugly on a bag before the fire。 Dad kicked him savagely and told him to get out。 The dog slunk sulkily to the door； his tail between his legs； and his back humped as if expecting another kick。 He got it。 Dad sat in the ashes then； and groaned lamentably。 The dog walked in at the back door and dropped on the bag again。
Joe came in to say that 〃Two coves out there wants somethink。〃
Dad paid no attention。
The two 〃coves〃a pressman； in new leggings； and Canty； the storekeepercame in。 Mother brought a light。 Dad moaned； but did n't look up。
〃Well； Mr。 Rudd；〃 the pressman commenced （he was young and fresh…looking）； 〃I'm from the （something…or…other） office。 I'merafter information about the crops round here。 I supposeer〃
〃Oh…h…h！〃 Dad groaned； opening his mouth over the fire； and pressing the tooth hard with his thumb。
The pressman stared at him for awhile； then grinned at the storekeeper； and made a derisive face at Dad's back。 Then〃What have you got in this season； Mr。 Rudd？ Wheat？〃
〃I don't know。。。。Oh…hit's awful！〃
Another silence。
〃Did n't think toothache so bad as THAT；〃 said the man of news； airily； addressing Mother。 〃Never had it much myself； you see！〃
He looked at Dad again； then winked slyly at Canty； and said to Dad； in an altered tone： 〃Whisky's a good thing for it； old man； if you've got any。〃
Nothing but a groan came from Dad； but Mother shook her head sadly in the negative。
〃Any oil of tar？〃
Mother brightened up。 〃There's a little oil in the house；〃 she said； 〃but I don't know if we've any tar。 Is there； Joein that old drum？〃
〃Nurh。〃
The Press looked out the window。 Dad commenced to butcher his gums with the pocket…knife； and threatened to put the fire out with blood and saliva。
〃Let's have a look at the tooth； old man；〃 the pressman said； approaching Dad。
Dad submitted。
〃Pooh！I'll take that out in one act！〃。。。To Joe〃Got a good strong piece of string？〃
Joe could n't find a piece of string； but produced a kangaroo…tail sinew that had been tied round a calf's neck。
The pressman was enthusiastic。 He buzzed about and talked dentistry in a most learned manner。 Then he had another squint at Dad's tooth。
〃Sit on the floor here；〃 he said； 〃and I won't be a second。 You'll feel next to no pain。〃