The morning times., 1896-02-23
DAPHNE.

scrubs would not appear 10 be an exist
cnoe possessed OF many charms, and yet
believe there is no case on record of a
man or woman who. having once Served
his or her apprenticeship to the trade. has
ever returned to a civilized life again.
In the Queensland Bush carrying trade,
You must understand. there are three main
arteries, the townships or Hughenden,
Longreach and Charlevllle. and from each
OF these places there flows continually
stream OF enormous tablo-topped wagons.
bound for stations in the great West, all
more or less remote from what is generally
supposed TO make life worth living.
1ne existence OF The carrier is rough
Go a terrible degree, and must in no way
be confounded with that OF the respectable,
5og-trot class who ply Their trade in Eng
liSh rural districts. Let me picture for
yoa a nights camp of one OF these nomad
families.
Imagine q treeless plain, say some eco
or SEQ miles from civilization, extend
ing as far as the eye can reach on every
side. In The foreground you will probably
have a fair-sizea water hole, up 10 the
side OF which, as you look, lunibcrs an
enormous wagon, piled with loading OF
every kind aGd description, and drawn
by perhaps twenty bullocks. Wearied
after their long days march, the team
rs up 10 the water and then comes to a
haiE, with a deep Grunt OF satisfaction.
The sun. which throughout the day has
caused them untold aGonies, now lies low
Upoa the horizon, turning the dreary plain
into the. likeness Of a waving SEA, and
paiating'ihe placid yTaicr hole with colors
OF ever changing beauty.
Ouce az StaudslIii, the work of un-
yokinG begins; and after this IS accom-
pliSbed the off-s.der, or drivers assistant,
beis certain bullocEs and coEdIcts the
herd 10 water ard the best GRASS; the driver
meanwhile places The yoees 10 proper or-
der upon the pole, preparatory % an early
start upon The morrow.
The carriers wife, by this time. has de-
seconded from hcr perch on ;he sEmmit OF
the load, aud with a crowd Of aut-hr0wn
children at her hee!s, has set about her
Preparation OF the evening meal. Ere
IL is eaten The sun has packed hIs pillows
IN the west and dropped into lis crimson
bed.
As daylight disappears, and without an
interval OF light. darkness descends upon
the plain, aud one by one suudry Jewels
drop cut OF the treasure house of night
% deck the canopy OF heaven. The still
Ness j. almost remarkable and later on,
when each member OF the tiny party has
found resting place among the loading
or beneath the wagon, It becomes even
more intense, tin only the whistle OF a cur
lew, the cry OF a naraUding dingO, or the
distant boom OF tie bullock jars upon the
Sleeping night.
by daybreak tie community is once
more astir, and when breakfast has been
eaten, tie team is yoKcd up. Then the
woman places herself and children upon
the top or The wagon, the carrier takes
his place and cracks his heavy whip, the
bullocEs SWAY forward, and once more
the journey is resumed across the same
interminahle pain. SO, week in ind
week out, from years end 10 years end.
The same life gees forward, never wary
inC save when rain, or scarcity Of grass.
ma i.es Tie track impossible. Small won
der, therefore. that the wcmcn grow 10
be hard and rough, Cunsorting. Is they
do, with none but the sternest OF TIE
opposite sex, and daily doing work that
would test the patience and endurance
of tie strongest man. These are some
OF The folk who in reality do the building
up OF our colonies, although the credit
goes ia another noiser, uglier and far
less useful class. Bet to get back TO my
story.
As / have said at the beginning, she
was tail, angular and peculiarly plain, and,
in spite OF the glarIng incongruity of il,
81 must be recorded that her baptisnal name
was Daphne. Her husband was a carrier
on the Hidgercc-Kalaha track, and she was
at once The brain and maiustay OF his busi-
ness
My first acquaintance with them occurred
onthe edge OF Borce scrub, a dismal place,
md more than a hundred miles removed
from either of the above townships. They
were camped beside big water hole, and
on dismOunting from my horse / was in-
troduced 10y the carrier, with becoming
ceremony, to his wife. Great were the
proofs of friendship they showed to me, and
long viii cherish the memory OF that rough
but hearty hospitality. Next morning
went my way, they theirs, and it was not
for nearly a year that we met again.
When ] next heard OF them. Daphne was
fn the township hospital recovering
from serious accident occaSioncd 10y
fan from a wagon; and her husband,
an enormously built man, with a rough
manner. which, by those unSkilled in such
matters. might easily have been mistaken
for insolencc, lad that very day returned
with loading from the West. BY inquiring
after lis wife. whose Illness ] was aware
pf. ] tCUcEod the right string, for his eyes
1T up, his voice Softened and .Ie answered
my questions with surprising meekRess.
she was getting on well he said; but
al the same, il was terrible slow work"
IN or alrRggrFuh -
The Kaaba Hospital occupies the best posi-
iiou in iEc township, even then tbs, if any
hing. little less cnecrlcss than an under
takers showroom. Great gray plains sur
round it on three sides; the township. with
hsuGly wlitcwashed roofs, stareS at itfrom
the fourth, and il would be impossible to
say which view woald be likely TO have the
most depressing effect upon an invalid. am
told ihat Kal2ba was only designed as de-
pot for the Great West, aud I console myself
with the reflection that in the very near fu-
ture the Oycrlard Railway win ohviate
that necessity, and then IT viii be scattered
10 the four winds ~ heaven. At present il
isthc dccalpguc turned backward.
When my business was finished rode up
to the hospital and feft some newspapers.
Daphne being the only patient, found her
occupying the best bed in the only ward.
Her WHY black hair struggled in rank con-
fusion about the pillow, while her COM
plexion harmonized, as well asa wcll-tanned
skin would permit. with the dingy white
ness OF the counterpanc. Only the great
dark, honesteyesient relief to the monotony
of her expression. and they were now fall OF
something which, when read Alright, epclt
hGpeiessness OF an extraordinary degree.
baal made his appearance, and, preceded
by tn. ma.rGD. StalIpd into his y-ife'S