The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-24
The SHEARERs' WAGES.
BY OWEN HALL,
OF " A
Ysy yas Sada aynaae)
reached at Inst the end OF the spur for

4 reacheo at lnst the enu OF the spur lot
which I had been steering so long.
The sharp tinkling gush Of the stream
| made Cossacle prick forward his ears
as we descended the slope into the broad
bottom, where the Cinna-gulla creek
dashed over It's flashing bed of polished
| white pebbles.
The long shadow OF the range had
fallen dark and silent over the plain
and the light was dying very low in
the western sky before rode up 10
Hutchens'. The place hadn't much TO
recommend IL to the fastidious, but
year in Australia had effectually re-
moved me out of that class. and was
well pleased to let the stablemnn take
charge of Cossack while / walked into
the rough and ready common room OF
"The Divide" Supper-the rough but
plentiful Australian bush supper-with
| its invariable mutton and it's inevitable
/ damper-bread and tea, and after sitting
sleepily for half an hour in the place
where i had suppcd | was glad to be
shown the way TO a rough bed in still
rougher bedroom where i could rest
after my sixty-mile ride.
i awoke with the blazing morning
sun full in my face, and knew that /
had oversight myself. TO spring out of
bed and complete my simple toilet was
the work of but minute or two, and in
q quarter of an hour / had swallowed
hasty breakfast and started again ON
my journey. The morning was beauti-
full, and Cossack, who seemed as fresh
A 4 r.. -.
yesterday, appeared to enjoy IL as much
as did myself.
The way to Maroonn lay for the first
twelve miles or NO along the foot of the
range, ard here the bush ran out into The
plain in long tongues through which n
rough road had been cut, broad enough
for two carts to pass one another. 1
wanted to get TO the station by twelve
o'clock IL possible, and IL was now after
seven, SO that IA steady seven miles an
hour would just about do ii in the time.
There was no need TO push Cossack. lie
Was going ut his own favorite pace aud
seemed 10 enjoy it. He evidently liked
the cool shade of the forest, with it's long
arcades of shadow, flecked and splashed
with golden bars and spots of sunshine,
and j fully sympathized with him. The
wood was full of life; parrots chattered
and called in harsh conversational tones
from tree TO tree; cockatoos scolded
and swore In the lcafy researches where
the flash of their white and golden
plumage combined with their voices to
betray them; bandicoots scuttled across
the track with shy, quick motion; on
occasional green or brown lizard darted
up tree, its bright eye turned inquir-
ingly on the intrpders; and now and
| then striped or spotted snake would
| glide with a swift sinuous motion that
taxed the eye to follow it into the dim
mer shadows of the forest.
Now We were drawing closer TO The
range, for / could hear the gush and
murmur of the stream that ran along
its foot on my left hand, and knew that
] should soon have passed the forest
road and have TO strike across the open
plain in the full blaze of the morning
sunshine. At that moment my ear
caught a new sound which belonged
neither TO the forest nor the stream. 1t
was dull, AMI sounded distant at first,
but it was the tramp of horses hoofs.
and il came from behind. There was
nothing much in that, and yet felt my