"
The rest of the morning he filled in with tales of cattle-musters tales
of stampedes and of cattle rushing over camps and "mincing chaps into
saw-dust" until I was secretly pleased that the coming muster was for
horses.
But Jack's reprieve was to last a little longer. When all was ready for
the muster, word came in that outside blacks were in all along the river,
and the Maluka deciding that the risks were too great for the missus in
long-grass country, the plans were altered, and I was left at the
homestead in the Dandy's care.
"It's a ill wind that blows nobody any good," the Maluka said, drawing
attention to Jack's sudden interest in the proceedings.
Apart from sterling worth of character, the Dandy was all contrast to the
Quiet Stockman: quick, alert, and sociable, and brimming over with quiet
tact and thoughtfulness, and the Maluka knew I was in good hands. But
the Dandy had his work to attend to; and after watching till the bush had
swallowed up the last of the pack-team, I went to the wood-heap for
company and consolation. Had the Darwin ladies seen me then, they would
have been justified in saying, "I told you so.
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