The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-05-04
ole New Bullocky."
!, "a =. ss - a.
A Tasmania Story.

'ss'as'a'F
| just when to strike for present victory.
Three days Tony drove his team
down the ten miles of tram-line to
the mill BY that date he knew each
animal by name, and he knew their
characteristics. And they knew him
as animals do know the human who
loves them. On the fourth morning
Buster was sulky He did not obey
the wall-eyed old leader who roE11eG
the mob at daybreak, and T9ny had 10
80 out for him with whip. He came
dropping saliva FROM his great laws
and stood, four sgnare and unmoving
as Iony yoked>up. Then he flung him
sen stfalghtway and it took six men
20 bring him up again. Robinson was
angry, for Jake was grinning. "You
get away, Jake" he said. THE lad'H
want room sposin' they starts goin'"
When Jake had creaked off through
the faint light Robinson said: EYER
goin' to leave a pair behind terday,
Tony" % you think I'm going to
leave my head?" retorted Tony, crisp
w.
Couldn't say. But" Then you
needn't think I'll leave Buster" Tony's
eyes were burning. I'm not going to
be bested by any brute that chooses
to play up with me. He'll have to go;
and I'll make him put his back into it,
or I'll know why. Stand clear there,
you fellows"
Tony knew that he was on his trial
before the whole camp, with a thous-
and pounds worth of bullocks to his
care, and danger waiting at each turn
of the track
Buster crawled sulkily over the
rough corduroy where the grade was
level, and the weight of the heavily
lade.. truck steadied him. ToSdy
watched, ngalinped, for thae Steep
downward pinched beyond, grinding
! down the brakes as firmly as he dared
until the screech of the wooden tram
lines under the wooden wheels shut
!, out all the merry music of the bush.
! TOny's hands were yet stiff on the
whip, and the chains chilled him as he
! WIN Wv ASsti OAlCD up lWO I4uhS dl
the foot of the grade. They had come
down faster than he liked to remem-
, Der, and he felt sick somewhere when
he thought of the meaning of a false
step. AN very certainly there'll be
a false step fore long Busters MAX
, ms pace to blow the lot of EN-"
With a quick, clumsy "clack-clack
, they rounded the cutting above the
Black Whirlpool, with Tony walking
partly on air and partly on any stray
scrub root available, and holding him
, self ever beside Buster alert-eyed and
Quicktongued. Below the water was
white foam and black ink, and gray as
death. Tony looked down only once
He had walked between the lines until
, this day Over a frail bridge they
: creaked; through swamp where the
rails were greasy with slime, and
, Tony ran, half-bent, sanding the track
to give grip.
/ At a pool beyond Buster desired tC
o. drink. Tony objected, and then came
I the trouble From sulkiness the brute
o grew to stubbo"nness. Finally he stuck
in his toes, and refused movement Of
o any kind. Tony tried art, persuasion
and the merciful lash of the whip
Buster stood firm; his great head low
: his little eyes half shut. Then Tony
- sat down in the narrow gut between
the line and the chalky cliffs, anC
: wiped the sweat off his face and neck
You'll get sick of that presently
my friend" he said. And then II
take it out of you"
p The day was very hot among thu
= tall trees-hotter than it should b.
= for the time OF year There was a new
tang in the air, Tony flung up his hea(
!, and shifted. Then he came to his fee
= with horror wide in his eyes To righ
of the line the Sky was smeared red
, and red glinted in the top-most gum
leaves.
, "Fire!" said Tony in his throat, anC
! Stripped his whip bringing the bu
down on Busters quarter. The bull
locks snorted, thrusting their head.
forward with the sudden strange moan
ing that hurts the heart Of those tina
, love them. Tony's eyes blinded for
moment. We've got to go through
y with it, old boys-if we can. But In
not going TO leave you And there's
. no turning back. Buster-if / get you
, started"
, Here Tony did cruel thing. u,