Читать книгу Gentlemen at Gyang Gyang - Miles Franklin - Страница 16

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After dinner the Boss straightened his tired back and went to the telephone. He could spring off his horse, and with the aid of Pup to hold the sheep, ring them in the open and catch an affected animal in one hand while carrying his shears and dressing in the other, and still make as good a tally as any man except the youthful cracks, but his years began to leave him weary after a big day. He called Gundagai first to know if there had been rain Down Below. Thus he kept his finger on the pulse of the stock-market. No man was cannier at getting ahead of the game in unloading his stock before a drought or in buying additional lots to eat his grass ere prices rose in a good season. He knew by these reports where a penny or a pound would go on to a beast or was likely to come off, and had the machinery for acting accordingly.

The day's report from most of the runs was that the flies had wrought lively havoc. The telephone rang with demands for extra men to meet the emergency. From Tumbarumba to Tumut and Bool Bool and Coolooluk to Currangorambla and Yarrangobilly men must be had as swiftly as telephone could summon and motor-car transport.

"Twenty-five bob a day—that's pretty stiff," reached the ears of Spires, deep in a game of poker with Burberry and the Dude.

"Haven't a hope of getting anyone for less," said Yarrango.

"If I must, I must," said Labosseer. "We haven't got the plant for dipping here."

He rang off, but the bell called him again immediately. He placed the receiver to learn that a fierce fire was raging on Boocal, one of the Labosseer places near Wagga. Ten miles of fencing were gone, as well as some sheep, and there was a struggle to save the homestead. The overseer had wired his anxiety, for the occupant, one of Labosseer's sons, was in New Zealand on his honeymoon. Labosseer turned to Burberry.

"Find Peter and ask him to come to me at once, please." Burberry flung down his cards and hurried outside, returning in a few minutes with Peter. He would not glance at Bernice, who was reading a paper.

"What state is my car in?"

"It can't be put in working order till we get that new part on Friday."

"That's no good to me. I want to start to Wagga now. Ten miles of fencing gone—worth a hundred and twenty pounds a mile or more." He completed the information of the telegram, and what he had done about men.

"I'm all right here," said Peter. "It's about a car. Mr Burberry's is not safe as it stands."

"Mine is at your disposal," said Spires quickly. "I was on the point of volunteering for work among the sheep. Peter can tell you I'm no new-chum—how about it?" His eyes were hard upon Peter.

"If you are not too soft and townified to stick to it," said Peter flatly.

Spires joined gaily in the laugh at his expense. "I'll have to prove that. I might be more useful to Mr Labosseer with my car."

"If you would run me as far as Bool Bool, I can get a car there, and you could come back and pitch in here, where you would be really useful."

Mr Labosseer went out for a final confabulation with Peter. Spires went like a shot to action. He was favourably impressing his host and Burberry by the way he filled the breach both with the car and in handling sheep.

"The infernal cow, just showing off till he gets himself wormed in," thought Peter, but he was biased. Spires rivalled either Black or Red Peter in speed and capability, only that instead of hard slogging he tried get-rick-quick gambles.

He primed his car, elated that everything seemed to be coming his way. A little beyond Goonara they overtook a car going down from Adaminaby. There was a spare seat in this to which Mr Labosseer transferred, releasing Spires for the fly war at Gyang Gyang.