A Little Bush Maid, Page 4

  CHAPTER IV. JIM'S IDEA

  Two hammocks, side by side, under a huge pine tree, swung lazily to andfro in the evening breeze. In them Norah and Harry rocked happily, toocomfortable, as Norah said, to talk. They had all been out riding mostof the day, and were happily tired. Tea had been discussed fully, andeverything was exceedingly peaceful.

  Footsteps at racing speed sounded far off on the gravel of the frontpath--a wide sweep that ran round the broad lawn. There was a scatter ofstones, and then a thud-thud over the grass to the pine trees--soundsthat signalised the arrival of Jim and Wally, in much haste. Jim's hurrywas so excessive that he could not pull himself up in time to avoidHarry. He bumped violently into the hammock, with the natural resultthat Harry swung sharply against Norah, and for a moment things wererather mixed.

  "You duffer!" growled Harry, steadying his rocking bed. "Hurt you?"--this to Norah.

  "No, thanks," Norah laughed. "What's the matter with you two?"

  "Got an idea," Wally gasped, fanning himself with a pine cone.

  "Hurt you?"

  "Rather. It's always a shock for me to have an idea. Anyway this isn'tmine--it's Jim's."

  "Oh." Norah's tone was more respectful. Jim's ideas were not to betreated lightly as a rule. "Well, let's hear it."

  "Fishing," Jim said laconically. "Let's start out at the very daybreak,and get up the river to Anglers' Bend. They say you can always get fishthere. We'll ride, and take Billy to carry the tucker and look for bait.Spend the whole blessed day, and come home with the mopokes. What do youchaps say?"

  "Grand idea!" Norah cried, giving her hammock an ecstatic swing. "We'llhave to fly round, though. Did you ask Dad?"

  "Yes, and he said we could go. It's tucker that's the trouble. I don'tknow if we're too late to arrange about any."

  "Come and ask Mrs. Brown," said Norah, flinging a pair of long blacklegs over the edge of the hammock. "She'll fix us up if she can."

  They tore off to the kitchen and arrived panting. Mrs. Brown was sittingin calm state on the kitchen verandah, and greeted them with a wide,expansive smile. Norah explained their need.

  Mrs. Brown pursed up her lips.

  "I haven't anythink fancy, my dear," she said slowly. "Only plum cakeand scones, and there's a nice cold tongue, and an apple pie. I'd likeyou to have tarts, but the fire's out. Do you think you could manage?"

  Jim laughed.

  "I guess that'll do, Mrs. Brown," he said. "We'll live like fightingcocks, and bring you home any amount of fish for breakfast. Don't youworry about sandwiches, either--put in a loaf or two of bread, and achunk of butter, and we'll be right as rain."

  "Then I'll have it all packed for you first thing, Master Jim," Mrs.Brown declared.

  "That's ripping," said the boys in a breath. "Come and find Billy."

  Billy was dragged from the recesses of the stable. He grinned widelywith joy at the prospect of the picnic.

  "All the ponies ready at five, Billy," ordered Jim. "Yours too. We'regoing to make a day of it--and we'll want bait. Now, you chaps, comealong and get lines and hooks ready!"

  * * * * *

  "Whirr-r-r!"

  The alarm clock by Jim's bedside shrieked suddenly in the first hint ofdaylight, and Jim sprang from his pillow with the alertness of aJack-in-the-box, and grabbed the clock, to stop its further eloquence.He sat down on the edge of his bed, and yawned tremendously. At theother side of the room Harry slept peacefully. Nearer Wally's black eyestwinkled for a moment, and hurriedly closed, apparently in deep slumber.He snored softly.

  "Fraud!" said Jim, with emphasis. He seized his pillow, and hurled itvigorously. It caught Wally on the face and stayed there, and beneathits shelter the victim still snored on serenely.

  Jim rose with deliberation and, seizing the bedclothes, gave a judiciouspull, which ended in Wally's suddenly finding himself on the floor. Heclasped wildly at the blankets, but they were dragged from his reluctantgrasp. Jim's toe stirred him gently and at length he rose.

  "Beast!" he said miserably. "What on earth's the good of getting up atthis hour?"

  "Got to make an early start," replied his host. "Come and stir up oldHarry."

  Harry was noted as a sleeper. Pillows hurled on top of him were asnought. The bedclothes were removed, but he turned on his side andslumbered like a little child.

  "And to think," Wally said, "that that chap springs up madly when thegetting-up bell rings once at school!"

  "School was never like this," Jim grinned. "There's the squirt, Wal."

  The squirt was there; so was the jug of water, and a moment sufficed tocharge the weapon. The nozzle was gently inserted into the sleeper'spyjama collar, and in a moment the drenched and wrathful hero arosemajestically from his watery pillow and, seizing his tormentors, bangedtheir heads together with great effort.

  "You're slow to wake, but no end of a terror when once you rouse up,"said Wally, ruefully rubbing his pate.

  "Goats!" said Harry briefly, rubbing his neck with a hard towel. "Comeon and have a swim."

  They tore down the hail, only pausing at Norah's door while Jim ran into wake her--a deed speedily accomplished by gently and firmly pressinga wet sponge upon her face. Then they raced to the lagoon, and in a fewminutes were splashing and ducking in the water. They spent more timethere than Jim had intended, their return being delayed by a spiritedboat race between Harry's slippers, conducted by Wally and Jim. By thetime Harry had rescued his sopping footgear, the offenders were beyondpursuit in the middle of the lagoon, so he contented himself withannexing Jim's slippers, in which he proudly returned to the house. Jim,arriving just too late to save his own, promptly "collared" those ofWally, leaving the last-named youth no alternative but to paddle home inthe water-logged slippers--the ground being too rough and stony to admitof barefoot travelling.

  Norah, fresh from the bath, was prancing about the verandah in herkimono as the boys raced up to the house, her hair a dusky cloud abouther face.

  "Not dressed?--you laziness!" Jim flung at her.

  "Well, you aren't either," was the merry retort.

  "No; but we've got no silly hair to brush!"

  "Pooh!--that won't take me any time. Mrs. Brown's up, Jim, and she saysbreakfast will be ready in ten minutes."

  "Good old Brownie!" Jim ejaculated. "Can't beat her, can you? D'you knowif she's got the swag packed?"

  "Everything's packed, and she's given it all to Billy, and it's on oldPolly by now." Polly was the packhorse. "Such a jolly, big bundle--andeverything covered over with cabbage leaves to keep it cool."

  "Hooroo for Casey! Well, scurry and get dressed, old girl. I bet youkeep us waiting at the last."

  "I'm sure I won't," was the indignant answer, as Norah ran off throughthe hail. "Think of how much longer you take over your breakfast!"

  Ten minutes later breakfast smoked on the wide kitchen table, Mrs.Brown, like a presiding goddess, flourishing a big spoon by a frying-panthat sent up a savoury odour.

  "I'm sure I hope you'll all kindly excuse having it in here," she saidin pained tones. "No use to think of those lazy hussies of girls havingthe breakfast-room ready at this hour. So I thought as how you wouldn'tmind."

  "Mind!--not much, Mrs. Brown," Jim laughed. "You're too good to usaltogether. Eggs and bacon! Well, you are a brick! Cold tucker wouldhave done splendidly for us."

  "Cold, indeed!--not if I know it--and you precious lambs off for such aride, and going to be hot weather and all," said the breathless Mrs.Brown indignantly. "Now, you just eat a good breakfast, Miss Norah, mylove. I've doughnuts here, nearly done, nice and puffy and brown, justas you like them, so hurry up and don't let your bacon get cold."

  There was not, indeed, much chance for the bacon, which disappeared in amanner truly alarming, while its fate was speedily shared by the hugepile of crisp doughnuts which Mrs. Brown presently placed upon the tablewith a flourish.

  "We don't get things like this at school!" Wally said regretfully,pausing for an instant before his seventh.
<
br />   "All the more reason you should eat plenty now," said their constructor,holding the doughnuts temptingly beneath his nose. "Come now, dearie, doeat something!" and Wally bashfully recommenced his efforts.

  "How's Billy getting on?" Jim inquired.

  "Billy's in the back kitchen, Master Jim, my love, and you've no call toworry your head about him, He's had three plates of bacon and five eggs,and most like by this time he's finished all his doughnuts and drunk hiscoffee-pot dry. That black image will eat anythink," concluded Mrs.Brown solemnly.

  "Well, I can't eat anything more, anyhow," Jim declared. "How we're allgoing to ride fifteen miles beats me. If we sleep all day, instead ofcatching fish for you, you've only got yourself to blame, Mrs. Brown."Whereat Mrs. Brown emitted fat and satisfied chuckles, and the meetingbroke up noisily, and rushed off to find its hats.

  Six ponies in a line against the stable yard fence--Bobs, with an eyelooking round hopefully for Norah and sugar; Mick, most feather-headedof chestnuts, and Jim's especial delight; Topsy and Barcoo, good usefulstation ponies, with plenty of fun, yet warranted not to break the necksof boy-visitors; Bung Eye, a lean piebald, that no one but black Billyever thought of riding; next to him old Polly, packed securely with theday's provisions. Two fishing-rods stuck out from her bundles, and a bigbunch of hobbles jingled as she moved.

  There was nothing in the saddles to distinguish Norah's mount, for she,too, rode astride. Mr. Linton had a rooted dislike to side saddles, andwas wont to say he preferred horses with sound withers and a daughterwhose right hip was not higher than her left. So Norah rode on a daintylittle hunting saddle like Jim's, her habit being a neat divided skirt,which had the double advantage of looking nice on horseback, and havingno bothersome tail to hold up when off.

  The boys were dressed without regard to appearances--loose old coatsand trousers, soft shirts and leggings. Red-striped towels, peeping outof Polly's packs, indicated that Jim had not forgotten thepossibilities of bathing which the creek afforded. A tin teapot jangledcheerfully against a well-used black billy.

  "All right, you chaps?" Jim ran his eye over the ponies and their gear."Better have a look at your girths. Come along."

  Norah was already in the saddle, exulting over the fact that, in spiteof Jim's prophecy that she would be late, she was the first to bemounted. Bobs was prancing happily, infected with the gaiety of themoment, the sweet morning air and sunshine, and the spirit of mirth thatwas everywhere. Mick joined him in capering, as Jim swung himself intothe saddle. Billy, leading Polly, and betraying an evident distaste fora task which so hampered the freedom of his movements, moved off downthe track.

  Just as Wally and Harry mounted, a tall figure in pyjamas appeared atthe gate of the back yard.

  "There's Dad!" Norah cried gleefully, cantering up to him. The boysfollowed.

  "Had to get up to see the last of you," Mr. Linton said; "not muchchance of sleeping anyhow, with you rowdy people about."

  "Did we wake you, Dad?--sorry."

  "Very sorry, aren't you?" Mr. Linton laughed at the merry face. "Well,take care of yourselves; remember, Norah's in your charge, Jim, and allthe others in yours, Norah! Keep an eye to your ponies, and don't letthem stray too far, even if they are hobbled. And mind you bring me homeany amount of fish, Harry and Wal."

  "We will, sir," chorused the boys.

  Norah leant from her saddle and slipped an arm round her father's neck.

  "Good-bye, Dad, dear."

  "Good-bye, my little girl. Be careful--don't forget." Mr. Linton kissedher fondly. "Well, you're all in a hurry--and so am I, to get back tobed! So-long, all of you. Have a good time."

  "So-long!" The echoes brought back the merry shout as the six poniesdisappeared round the bend in the track.

  Down the track to the first gate helter-skelter--Billy, holding it open,showed his white teeth in a broad grin as the merry band swept through.Then over the long grass of the broad paddock, swift hoofs shaking offthe dewdrops that yet hung sparkling in the sunshine. Billy plodded farbehind with the packhorse, envy in his heart and discontent with thefate that kept him so far in the rear, compelled to progress at thetamest of jogs.

  The second paddock traversed, they passed through the sliprails into abush paddock known as the Wide Plain. It was heavily timbered towardsone end, where the river formed its boundary, but towards the end atwhich they entered was almost cleared, only a few logs lying here andthere, and occasionally a tall dead tree.

  "What a place for a gallop!" said Harry. His quiet face was flushed andhis eyes sparkling.

  "Look at old Harry!" jeered Wally. "He's quite excited. Does your motherknow you're out, Hal?"

  "I'll punch you, young Wally," retorted Harry. "Just you be civil. Butisn't it a splendid place? Why, there's a clear run for a mile, I shouldsay."

  "More than that," Jim answered. "We've often raced here."

  "Oh!" Norah's eyes fairly danced. "Let's have a race now!"

  "Noble idea!" exclaimed Wally.

  "Well, it'll have to be a handicap to make it fair," Jim said. "If westart level, Norah's pony can beat any of the others, and I think Mickcan beat the other two. At any rate we'll give you fellows a start, andNorah must give me one."

  "I don't care," Norah said gleefully, digging her heel into Bobs, withthe result that that animal suddenly executed a bound in mid-air."Steady, you duffer; I didn't mean any offence, Bobsie dear," She pattedhis neck.

  "I should think you wouldn't care," Jim said. "Best pony and lightestweight! You ought to be able to leave any of us miles behind, so we'llgive you a beautiful handicap, young woman!"

  "Where's the winning post?" Harry asked.

  "See that big black tree--the one just near the boundary fence, I mean?It's a few chains from the fence, really. We'll finish there," Jimreplied.

  "Come on, then," said Norah, impatiently. "Get on ahead, Harry andWally; you'll have to sing out 'Go!' Jim, and sing it out loud, 'causewe'll be ever so far apart."

  "Right oh!" Jim said. "Harry, clear on a good way; you're the heaviest.Pull up when I tell you; you too, Wal." He watched the two boys ride onslowly, and sang out to them to stop when he considered they hadreceived a fair start. Then he rode on himself until he was midwaybetween Wally and Norah, Harry some distance ahead of the former. Theponies had an inkling of what was in the wind, and were dancing withimpatience.

  "Now then, Norah,"--Jim flung a laughing look over his shoulder--"nocribbing there!"

  "I'm not!" came an indignant voice.

  "All right--don't! Ready every one? Then--go!" As the word "Go" leftJim's lips the four ponies sprang forward sharply, and a moment laterwere in full gallop over the soft springy turf. It was an ideal placefor a race--clear ground, covered with short soft grass, well eaten offby the sheep--no trees to bar the way, and over all a sky of thebrightest blue, flecked by tiny, fleecy cloudlets.

  They tore over the paddock, shouting at the ponies laughing, hurlingdefiance at each other. At first Harry kept his lead; but weight willtell, and presently Wally was almost level with him, with Jim not farbehind. Bobs had not gone too well at first--he was too excited to getthoroughly into his stride, and had spent his time in dancing when heshould have been making up his handicap.

  When, however, he did condescend to gallop, the distance that separatedhim from the other ponies was rapidly overhauled. Norah, leaning forwardin her stirrups, her face alight with eagerness, urged him on with voiceand hand--she rarely, if ever touched him with a whip at any time.Quickly she gained on the others; now Harry was caught and passed, evenas Jim caught Wally and deprived him of the lead he had gaily held forsome time. Wally shouted laughing abuse at him, flogging his pony on thewhile.

  Now Norah was neck and neck with Wally, and slowly she drew past him andset sail after Jim. That she could beat him she knew very well, but thequestion was, was there time to catch him? The big tree which formed thewinning post was very near now. "Scoot, Bobsie, dear!" whispered Norahunconscious of the fact that she was saying any
thing unmaidenly. At anyrate, Bobs understood, for he went forward with a bound. They werenearly level with Jim now--Wally, desperately flogging, close in therear.

  At that moment Jim's pony put his foot into a hole, and went down like ashot rabbit, bowling over and over, Jim flung like a stone out of acatapult, landed some distance ahead of the pony. He, too, rolled for amoment, and then lay still.

  It seemed to Norah that she pulled Bobs up almost in his stride.Certainly she was off before he had fairly slackened to a walk, throwingherself wildly from the saddle. She tore up to Jim--Jim, who layhorribly still.

  "Jim--dear Jim!" she cried. She took his head on her knee. "Jim--oh,Jim, do speak to me!"

  There was no sound. The boy lay motionless, his tanned face strangelywhite. Harry, coming up, jumped off, and ran to his side.

  "Is he hurt much?"

  "I don't know--no, don't you say he's hurt much--he couldn't be, in sucha second! Jim--dear--speak, old chap!" A big sob rose in her throat, andchoked her at the heavy silence. Harry took Jim's wrist in his hand, andfelt with fumbling fingers for the pulse. Wally, having pulled his ponyup with difficulty, came tearing back to the little group.

  "Is he killed?" he whispered, awestruck.

  A little shiver ran through Jim's body. Slowly he opened his eyes, andstretched himself.

  "What's up?" he said weakly. "Oh, I know.... Mick?"

  "He's all right, darling," Norah said, with a quivering voice. "Are youhurt much?"

  "Bit of a bump on my head," Jim said, struggling to a sitting position.He rubbed his forehead. "What's up, Norah?" For the brown head had gonedown on his knee and the shoulders were shaking.

  Jim patted her head very gently.

  "You dear old duffer," he said tenderly.