Jackeroo was riding ahead,
and flashed one swift, sidelong glance after me but as the mob trotted by
he trotted with them as impassive as a statue.
But we had by no means done with Jackeroo; for as we sat in camp that
night at the Springs, with the cattle safe in the yard, shouts of
laughter from the "boys'" camp attracted our attention, and we found
Jackeroo the centre-piece of the camp, preparing to repeat some
performance. For a second or so he stood irresolute; then, clutching
wildly at an imaginary something that appeared to encumber his feet, with
a swift, darting run and a scrambling clamber, he was into the midst of a
sapling; then, our silence attracting attention, the black world
collapsed in speechless convulsions.
"How the missus climbed a tree, little 'un," the Maluka chuckled; and the
mimicry of action had been so perfect that we knew it could only be that.
Every detail was there: the moment of indecision, the wild clutch at the
habit, the quick, feminine lift of the running feet, and the
indescribably feminine scrambling climb at the finish.
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