Robbery under Arms / A Story of Life and Adventure in the Bush and in the Australian Goldfields

e had had no money when he first came, people said; indeed, he often said so himself. He was not proud, at any rate in that way, for he was not above telling a young fellow t

ot drink. There were very few countries where idle, unsteady people got rich. 'As for the poor man, he was the real rich man in Australia; high wages, cheap food, lodging, clothing, travelling. What more did he want

ys shorn at his shed. He was one of those gentlemen-and he was a gentleman, if ever there was one-that takes a deal of notice of his wo

y all I hear about your father before you, I'm afraid he doesn't teach you anything worth knowing. But Jim there's a grand fellow; if

ty,' I said impudently. 'You'd like to break us all in and

rth calling men, let alone gentlemen. We are your best fri

ee so much

be all well taught and able to make the best of your lives-not driven to drink, as many of you are, be

re wasn't another man living that could overcrow me-'don't you think you'd kno

n I ever knew-'and it is a perfectly fair way of putting it. But your class might, I think, always rely upon there being enough kindness and w

rers work pretty hard, and as they buy their own rations generally, they can afford to live well. After a hard day's shearing-that is, from five o'clock in the morning to seven at night, going best pace all the time, every man working as hard a

ther until shearing was over and they were paid off; but they'd get some

ed to get into big stakes. I won at first, and then Jim and I began to lose, and had such a lot of I O U's out that I was afraid we'd have no mone

leen and another in a strange hand. It had come to our

im. He was quite well, it said; and to look out for him about Christmas time; he might come home then, or send for us; to stop at Boree if we co

without them. However, the devil was too strong for me. Money's a tempting thing, whether it's notes or gold, especially when a man'

ozen of us that were in the card racket. I flung down my note, and Jim did his, and told th

mes in the settled districts very bare. They are not very well supplied with clothes; their horses are poor and done

fools enough to be pleased with it. Strangely, too, our luck turned from that minute, and

when it came in the way. However, the shearing hut was our own, in a manner of speaking, and as long as we shore clean and kept the shed going the overseer, Mr. M'Intyre, didn't trouble his head m

Nick's purse. It's bred and born and welded in them. Ye'll just have the burrs and seeds amang the wool if ye keep losing a smart shearer for the sake o'

of himself, and come to the gallows-foot at last, whether he likes it or not. The parson here isn't bad at all. He's a man and a gentleman, too; and he's talked and read to me by the ho

and took a ride into the township just for the fun of the thing, and for a little change. The horses had got quite fresh with the rest and the spring grass. Their coats were shining, and they all looked v

lean clothes. Then we had our dinner and a

raight as a rush, with a bright blue eye that was always laughing and twinkling, and curly dark brown hair. No wonder all the girls used to think so much of him. He could do anything and everything that a man could do

ause the man that had him was afraid of him. Now that he had got a little flesh on his bones he looked s

horse in a fair deal, and had as much right to a good mount

'Intyre out in the wrong for saying what he did. The ol

evil,' looking at me. 'But I misdoot sair ye'll die wi' your boots on. There's a smack o' Jo

eensland blacks' yabber? Blest if I understand a word of it. But I didn't want to be nasty, only I

eipt mysel'. But where did yon lang-leggit, long-lockit, Fish Ri

horse in the country and find out all the people that owned him since h

ing his head. 'And yet he's a fine laddie; a gra-and laddie wad he be with good guidan

Mac always talked. Dr