He was accustomed to say 'twas a mercy it
didn't hinder his profession--which, being that of a horsebreaker, freed
him, as a rule, from the necessity of much walking. Other men Billabong
had sent to the war, and not all of them had come back; the lonely
station had been a place of anxiety and of mourning. But to-day the
memories of the long years of fighting and waiting were blotted out in
joy.
"Come in, boys," Mrs. Brown nodded at the men. "Tea's ready. What's it
going to be?"
"Fine, I think," said Boone, replying to this somewhat indefinite
question with complete certainty as to the questioner's meaning. "I
seen you an' Murty pokin' your heads up at them clouds, but there ain't
nothin' in them." A smile spread over his good-looking, dark face.
"Bless you, it couldn't rain today, with Miss Norah comin' home!"
"I don't believe, meself, that Providence 'ud 'ave the 'eart," said Mrs.
Brown. "Picksher them now, all flyin' round and gettin' ready to start,
and snatchin' a bite of breakfast--"
"If I know Master Jim 'twill be no bite he'll snatch!" put in Mick.
"Well, all I 'ope is that the 'otel don't poison them," said Mrs.
Brown darkly. "I on'y stopped in a Melbin' 'otel once, and then I got
pot-o'-mine poisoning, or whatever they call it. I've 'eard they never
wash their saucepans!"
"No wonder you get rummy flavours in what you eat down there, if that's
so," said Dave.
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