The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-04-06


| as Tony yoked up. Then he flung him
| self straightway, and it took six men
to bring him up again. Robinson was
angry, for Jake was grinning. lyon
get away, jake" ae said. THE lad'll
want room s'posin' they starts goin'"
When Jake had creaked off through
the faint light Robinson said: Eyer
goin' to leave pair behind terday,
Tony" cd you think I'm going to
leave my head?" retorted Tony, crisp
ly.
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
laden truck steadied him. Tony
watched, light-lipped, for the 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
took the rear ones up two links at
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. can very certainly therell be
a false step fore long. Busters max
ing pace to blow the lot Of EN-"
With 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
quick-tongued. 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 a swamp where the
rails were greasy with slime, and
Tony ran, half-bent, sanding the track
to give grip.
AT pool beyond Buster desired to
drink. Tony objected, and then came
the trouble. From sulkiness the brute
grew to stubbornness. Finally he stuck
in his toes, and refused movement of
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, and
wiped the sweat off his face and neck.
| you'll get sick of that presently,
my friend" he said. "And then I'll
take it out of you
The day was very hot among the
| tall trees-hotter than it should be
for the time of year. There was a new
tang in the air, Tony flung up his head
and shifted. Then he came to his feet
with horror wide in his eyes. To right
of the line the sky was smeared red,
and red glinted in the top-most gum
| leaves
"Fire!" said Tony in his throat, and
gripped his whip. bringing the but
down on Busters quarter. The bull
locks snorted, thrusting their heads
forward with the sudden strange moan
ing that hurts the heart of those that
love them. Tonys eyes blinded for
moment. We've got to go through
with it, old boys-if we can. But I'm
not going to leave you. And there's
no turning back Buster-if I get you
started"
Here Tony did cruel thing. He
took the sharp-pointed bar used for
lowering and other necessities, reused
up the rest of the team, and jabbed
Buster savagely in the tenderest por-
lions Of his toughened body.
AS Buster jumped forward Tony
dropped the bar and swung to the
yoke, thereby saving an upset by the
last inch of his weight. Then the
team Numbered down the narrow
track, walled in by tangled under
scrub and tall trees with ridden rot
tenness of foothold, and creeks to
make all thought of escape impossible.
A smother of smoke belched suddenly
through the bush, smarting Tony's
eyes, and bringing his heart to his
lips. 1t lifted, and he saw underneath
one pillar of scarlet that seemed to hit
the sky. Then came the cruel noise of
it, and heat that make the bullocks
drip from flank to shoulder.
This is going to be close thing"
said Tony. Must cast off the truck if
we want TO get through" He let them
pelt full speed up the next rise. On
the top even Buster was blown, and In
the minutes wait he slung apart the