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

gnal to each other very pressing. We thought the time might come some day when we might be near

be the state of affairs, the sign was to hold up your hat or cap straight over your head. If the danger threatened on the left, to shift to that side. If it was v

had we learned them? Why, in the long days we had spent in the saddle

s. He 'dropped', I could see. He took up the brown horse, and made such a rush to collar the mare that showed he intended to see for himself what the danger was. The cross-grained jade! She was a well-b

oung shearer. 'They can't stop themselves a

,' I said. 'Stick t

veral of the men knew the place, a

saw the two horses rush up at top s

o use. Now-now! She's saved! Oh, my God! they're both right. B

.

had been a child and place her before him; saw the brown horse prop, and swing round on his haunches in a way that showed he had not been called

together. His face was white, and his dry lips couldn't find

et the service may God in that hour forget me. You are a nobl

nd trembling, not altogether from fear, but excitement, and trying to choke back the sobs that would come out now and then. 'I'd risk life and limb any day before Miss Falklan

We could see where the brown had torn up the turf as he struck all four hoofs deep into it at once. Indeed, he had been newly shod, a freak of Jim's about a bet with a travelling blacksmith. Then the oth

th a spring cart. Mr. Falkland lifted his daughter in and took the reins, leaving his horse to be ridden home by the ration-carrier. As

t help wondering what it was all about. Anyhow, I knew we agreed it was never to be worked for nothing, so thought the best thing I could do was to call in the mare, and see if I could find out anything then. When I got alongside, I coul

, Miss Falkl

fifty yards and we'll be over the downfall wh

said. "We'll not go

sit still and drag at a runaway horse all the time. I couldn't stop the brute; she was boring like a wild bull. So just as we came pretty close I lifted Miss Falkland off the saddle and yelled at old Brownie as if I had been on a c

d then red, and trembled like a leaf when I lifted her

u? You have saved me from a horrible death, and I shall think

a fool. "I'd have gone over the bank with you, Mis

topped short of that, James," she said. She did ind

our fortune's made. Mr. Falkland 'll stand a fa

he yarn, and if there's any chaff about it after this the cove will ha

with their hands, and not likely to take much from anybody. But Jim was a heavy weight an

t buy a farm for him and stock it. No! Jim wouldn't touch nothing or take a billet on the place. He wouldn't leave his family, he said. And as for taking money or anything else for saving Miss Falkland's

now and then, is it, Mr. Falkland?' he said, looking up an

have of the effect of the dishonest way that horses of value are come by, and the net of roguery that often entangles fine youn

he was wrong. I felt, too, just then, as if I could ha

honest and straight-to be able to

M'Intyre and Mr. Falkland seemed to have got a cheque and a walking-ticket at the same time. Away they went, like a lot of boys out of school; and half of 'em didn't show as much sense either. As for me and Jim we had no particular wish to go home before

it, and was never happier than when he'd had a real tearing day's work and was settling himself after his tea to a good steady smoke. A great smoker he'd come to be. He never was much for drinking except now a

e next day. We had been camping in an old shepherd's hut and had been pretty jolly all by ourselves. There was first-rate feed for our horses, as the grass was

time it was! Now I'm always waking up with a start and expecting to see a policeman or that infernal half-

don't like him somehow; I don't see that he's worse than any other

'I don't see what else is to come of it. Hist! isn't that a

ou could see ever so well and hear ever so far also. Jim had a blackfellow's hearing; his ey

heard a slight noise a good way off, a

rigal, infernal scoundrel that he is. Of course he's got a message from our respe

o you

,' says Jim. 'I can make out his sideling kind

g for a minute. 'I can hear the regula

w we're here, I

I suppose,' I answered. 'I begin t

what this black snake of a Warrigal will be up to.

ful sound at the dead of night, and now, for some reason or other, it affected Jim and me in much the same manner. I remembered the last time I had heard the bird at home, just before we starte

is queer dismal-voiced bird hooting its hoarse deep notes out of the dark tree that swished and sighed-like in front of the sandhill, a queer feeling came over both of us tha