Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-03-28
[ cggg " '.- .'" -'''-''''' 7 : l lEAl Ezl i Rallies, 1 |AG>aSza> >! G5e Amateur ]
 MlN1DI CraCkStnan l ENu4dSWlW N By E. W. HoRNUNG
By E. W. HcRNUNG

A urban brauch-- My tnaneier had faded into some excellent fellow with billet to lose if he called his soul his own. st.u, a manager was a mall- aGer and l sad would soon see whether this was the relative I was looking for if he would be good enough to give ne the name of that branch
 Il do more, says the doctor. 'I'll get you the name of the branch he's been promoted to- for l think hearel they'd moved him up one already And the next day he brought me the name of the township of Yea. some fifty miles north of Melbourne. but with the vagueness which character ized al his information he was unable to say Whe,Aer 1 shoa.d find u.y rcla- tive there or not
 Hes q single man. and his initials arc w. F. said the doctor. who was certain ena9gh of the immateliaI points He left his old post several days ago. but it appears he's not due at the new one tii, tne ne" year, No doubt hell go before tllen to take things over and sett!e ia. Y5u might find him Hi9 there an! yen night not. If l N.e"e soa should write
 hat,l lose two days said I. and more il he isn't there.' tor I'd grown quite keen OH this up country manager. and 1 felt that ii could get at l.in While the holidays were stIil on a little conviviality might help matters con silerab.y
 Then, said the doctor, I should get a quiet horse and ride. You needn t use that hand.'
 "'CaI.t l go by train:'
 ~ ou can and you can't You would still have to ride. suppose you're a horseman:
 "'Yes.
 "'Then should certainly ride all the way. It's :: delightful road. through Wh!ttiesya ya and over the Plenty ranges It'll give you some idea of the bush Mr, Rallies. and you'll see the sources You'll see where every drop of it comes from, the pure Yan Yean. I wish l had time to ride with you
 But where can 1 get q horse?
 ",The doctor thought for moment
 ye mare of my own that's as fat as butter for want of work, said he. It would be a charity to me to sit on her back for a hundred miles or SO, and then I should know you'd have nt temptation to use that hand
 You're far too good l protested.
 You're X. J. Raffles,' he said.
 And if ever there was a prettier compliment or a finer instance of even colonial hospitality I can only say, Bunny, that I never heard of either''
 He slipped his whisky. threw away the stump of his cigarette and lit an. other before continuing.
 Well, l managed to write line to W. F. with my own hand, which, as you will gather, was not very badly wourdod-it was simply this third finger that was split and in splints- and next morning the doctor packed me off on bovine beast that would have done for an ambulance. Half the team came up to see E,e start; the rest were rather sick with me for not stopping to see the match out, as if could help them to win by watching them. They little knew the game I'd got on myself but still less did I know the game l was going to play.
 Ut was an interesting ride enough, especially after passing the place called Whittlesea, a real wild town ship on the lower slope of the ranges. where I recollect having a deadly meal of hot mutton and tea. with the ther- mometer at three figures in the shade. The first thirty miles or so was q good metal road. too good to go half round the world to ride on. but after Whittle- sea it was a mere track over the ranges. a track l often couldn't see and left entirely to the mare. Now it dipped into gully and ran through q creek. and all the time the local color was inches thick gum trees galore and parrots all colors of the rainbow In one place a whole forest of gums had been ring parked and were just as though they had been painted white without leaf or living thing Tor miles. And the first living thing did meet was the sort to give you the creeps. It was riderless horse com ing full tilt through the bush, with the saddle twisted around and the stirrul irons ringing. Without thinking l had a shot at heading him with the doctor $ mare and blocked him just enough te allow d man who came galloping after to do the rest.
 "Thank ye, mister groWled the man, huge chap i'll red checked shirt, with beard like W. G. Grace but the very devil of an expression.
 "'Been an accident:' said l, refining up.
 "'Yes.' said he. scowling as thoust he detied me to ask any more.
 "Well, Bunny, l may be black guard myself. but don't think l eve' looked at fellow as that chap looEef at me. But ssared him out au-
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