On Our Selection

ky J

ried no swag halted at the rails and came in. He asked Dad for a job. "I dunno," Dad answer

n inside the other. On his back a shirt made from a piece of blue blanket, with white cotton stitches striding up and down it like lines of fencing. His trousers were gloom itself; they were a problem, and bore reliable evidence of hi

gan. And how he worked! The axe rang again-particularly when it left the handle-and pieces of w

man, and apologised for having no sugar to put in it. He paid no attention to her; he worked harder. Mother waited, holding the tea in her hand. A lump of wood nearly as big as a shingle fle

m. An aged rooster strutted along and looked sideways at it. HE distrusted it and went away. It attracted the pig-a sow with nine young ones. She wad

from the pigs and turned curiously to the man. She said, "W

the handle and stared at the woodheap. Mother watched him. He remove

lips moved. He said, "LISTEN TO THEM!

Mother, tremb

n. "Ha, ha! I've got them. They'

er. They trooped in like wallabies-all but Joe. He was away earning money. He

s no fire. Mother shuddered. Some more fell. Mother jumped to her feet. So did Sal. They looked at each other in dismay. The children began to cry. The chain for hanging the kettle on started swinging to and fro. Mother's knees gave way. The chain

He was calm and covered from head to foot with soot and dirt. He looked round and said, "Thought yuz could keep me out, did'n'y'?" Sal could only look at him. "I saw yuz all

t by keeping a madman on the place, and told him she KNEW he wanted to have them all murdered. Dad did

. The man smiled at the wood-heap as he worke

s," the man answered; then smiled and muttered to hi

barn. Mother, bare-headed, was holding some

d keep him about the place. No one's safe with such a man. S

oor old Jack! he's

(sullenly);

way with the hoe on hi

ard close to the house. Joe at intervals stealing behind him to prick him with straws through a rent

r and Sal, sewing and talk

e of a thing I ever saw; why, bless me, anyon

Both gasped for breath, and leaning cautiously over peeped down at a big black snake which ha

which had been spilt on the floor. Mother saw its full len

thering up her skirts and

uealed hy

ared. He

yelled. "Run!-RUN, an

and bro

stood at the door, staring strangely

but talked to himse

first time the man's eyes rested upon it. It glided

t to mount the dressing-table. Finally it succeeded. Suddenly Jack's demeanour changed. He threw off

; "THE DEVIL! THE DEVIL! Th

ting. As he did he came full before the looking-glass and saw, perhaps for the first time in his life

e cradle, and tore the bed-curtains down, and made a great noise altogether. Finally, he kil

l, and tumbled through the wire-fence on to the broad of his back. He roared

H-H!-let go me t

houlder as he tore along. He crossed into the grass paddock, and running to a big tree dodged round and round it. Then from t

r su

him off his head like that?" Dad said, gazing wonderingl

d; "there was madness in the man's eyes all the while. I s

ad; "NONSENSE!" an

I say is nonsense. It won't be nonsense when you come home

e of talking like that?" Then to Dave

did n't like the

not FRIGHTENE

colou

e said; and, after a p

aighten the fire, and coughed several times. "Perhaps

as n't, but he drove the pegs in the doors

ve and Joe, "Come 'long, and

ghing-sitting astride the highest limb of a fallen tree, and, in a hoar

ered, coming to a standstill

less, and Joe b

iet gully and the echoes rumbled round the ridge and the

e must go and bounce him, that's all." But there w

s, anyway."-and Da

ed and made tracks. So did Dad and Joe. They ran. No one could have run harder. Terror ov

-trying to shake him off. But Joe had great

ve glanced back, and seeing that Jack was n't p

winded-"Eh?" Then to Dave

a fellow. (PUFF!). What

n f'? What di

d boldly led

hold of me again, or if y' DO I'll knock y'r d-d head off!...Clear h

lunk

l to him across a big log, the latter did n't show any desire to take life, b

everal days, and if anyone approache

ather th

d buried long ago, man

live again. The missus keeps him

not about Joe would put h

amp up and down, his eyes starting out of his head, while Joe would bolt insid

le Mother and Sal were ironing came to

k into a corner and cowered pite

door and peeped in. He paused just a moment to grip the axe with both hands. Then with

d looked closel

out. Then he went to work at the post-hole

m daylight till dark; keeps no Sunday; knows no companion; lives chiefly on meat and machine oil; domiciles in the barn; and