The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-23
A WOMAN'S WORK


thing to dc, in this way. that ii left the
steep and dangerous descent to the rivers
bed the first work in thu morning for the
freshened team, but Dickson had never
realized the practical points Of team
drivers life, although he had known how
to handle four-n-hand to perfection IN
The Old days at home.
When he had embarrassed and attended
to his mules, he knelt down upon the
ground and bull: up little pile of sticks,
which he presently lit and sat down by to
eat his supper.
He had gone through the routine of the
evening IN dreamy and mechanical way,
as though he accepted it as necessary, APP
parently taking little care for it, or maybe
for anything else And as his head bent
toward the dying embers, the eyes that
were fixed upon them showed that strange
inward look which is so often seen i'll tho
eyes of those who lead solitary lives.
1t is rough calling that of a teamster in
North Australia. aud the regular hand at
it is generally man of rough and wild
character. one who on his journey through
the bush IS a singer of ribaid songs and
whose language is almost by necessity ex-
pletive, for the reason that ho has forgot
ten how to use any other, aud it, in lis
sens less coarseness. is characteristic of
to be found men among them who are of
detected and taciturn manner, but these
men make no friends for themselves and
have little enough TO say 10 any one.
The teamsier Dickson was a man of the
last description, therefore the custom Of
driving in company with one or more
wagons and all making for the same
camping place a-night had never been fol-
lowed by him.
He watched the smoldering fire until
there was only tiny heap Of white ashes
left with a few charred and smoking sticks
lying round the outer edges. He lit his
pipe with one of these presently and got
NJ and stretched his cramped limbs be-
fore he crept into his bOX-shaped ham
mock that was slung between two trees
He crept into IL almost as Il fugitive and
hastily closed the entrance, for the mos
Quitoes were rampant outside and he
could hear their angry ping-ping as he fell
asleep.
Very early next morning D ckson was
ready to 60 on his journey, and he held the
reius gathered up in one hand, while the
other was raised to pull himself up to tie
drivers seat. his knees resting on the foot
board. when the leaders of his team made
sudden start forward, which jerked him
backward off the wagon, and he fell with
his arms and legs entangled by the reins.
In his struggles to free himself he only
added to- the fear of the now terrified
mules, and they rushed forward again,
making for the track and along it went
straight away for the McKiuay crossing
| On the edge of the rivers bank they
! swerved to the left. and racing down the
cutting made Sideways to the bed and the
! loaded wagon behind them rocked from
side to side aud almost overturned with
! the impetus of the descent, while Dickson
was dragged on Wlthal. AS they crushed
over the pebbles and sand Of the dry
rivers bed and I'D the dusty Wheel lowpd
track of the other bank some bags of stuff
loosened from the tastenings. rolled off
the load, anu the team DluGdered sense
less!y along, almost hidden il the chokip 9
| volumes OF black dust.
Soon after they reached the top of the
bank the reins broke. and Dickson was
left lying bruised and insensible across the
| track. For three long hours lie lay there
viii the sun grew hotter every moment
above him.
A little further on the wagon had be-
come jammed against a leg. and the mules,
! as quiet as sheep now, StOOd tamely blink
| ing by 1t.
At last man. on his way down from
! Pine Creek, rode mp to the spot. and when
| he saw Dickson he jumped off his horse
/ quickly, calling out loudly at the same
time, "Holioa. mate, what's up?" Re-
! ceiving 10 answer. he poured some whisky
! between his lips. and with much d f1icuty
moved him to the shade of tree. Then
he freed the mules from their broken har-
ness ana they wandered away biting al
the heads of the tail grass as they went.
Dickson, who had revived a little. fol-
| lowed the newcomer with daZed and
! dreamy eyes, though now and then he
glanced at his manned and broken limbs
which lay stretched ont before him, so cold
and numb, seeming no longer to belong tu
| him.
The other man came back presently and
said: Now then, matey, I'm gong IF 10
see if | can get cart to carry you OH tc
the hospital"
The man returned with the cart at last.
and he had also brought companion to
help him. When together they had lifted
Dickson into it. he lay along the floor in q
dead swoon from the agony of being
moved.
The two men seated in the cart were
silent, though now and then, as cue or The
other looked down at Di kson, he would
meet the eyes of his companion often with
a shake of the head and tilt upward of the
chin.
They could do very little to relieve
Dick son, although he lived for many days
at first an unconscious silence when life
seemed almost dormant, and afterward in
a ievrred delirium; and sometimes, through
the almost indistinct mutterings, the words
"Joan-Joan-yoli how
love you-darling!" would be heard. And
again. when tins thin. restless hands wan
dered to grope for little gold chain tina,
lay fastened round his neck, from which
hung a woman's diamond ring. the raftered
roof of the hospital echoed the wild bursts
of laughter and the cry, Joan, Joan, u
and the voice would rs suddenly fai to re-
cite piteously, "Iu-all time-of our trbu-
ation-in-th e-houf- and for
a few moments there would be sileae..
1t was easy to geiher some threads OF
the stor7 together. 'or the voice. manner
and allusion to places and people told Of
widely different past associations in the
teamSter's life. And woman had driven
him out to this-to a bllghted life. and oh
livinn in tie wilderness OF The Australian
bush!
For some time any attempt to discover
his real name would arouse his suspicion,
and for the moment, when questioned, he
gained strength of mind to control his
nurse was standing by his bed he opened
his eyes and spoke quite sensibly 10 his
compan ion-"I'vr been rsther queer
nurse, haven't I?"-raising his hand to hi'
head-"talked lot OF nonsense. Ell p
Chen murmuring TO himself: ut can
matter much now. anyhow; the games
closa up!'
Dickson" the nurse said, seeing thai
the opportunity had come when they
hoped to find his lips less firmly sealed,
"the doctor says you must tell us your OWE
name"
"Why does he want to know it?" he sait
lanauidly.
you see. Dickson. he is responsible fo