Page:The romance of Runnibede (IA romanceofrunnibe00rudd).pdf/64

“We ean't do anything tor him,” the Governor, almost in tears, said to the drover. But another plunge and the brave Tommy got free of the shafts. Then aut tangy yells and shouts of joy as the grey horse went swimmiug round amongst the cattle. But with that first plunge of Tommy’s the dray went right away from old Harry into deep water, and there in the air he hung above the backs of the bullocks! And as he hung he kicked—why, in the name of everyone, he kieked, 1 uever could under- stand—and as he kicked, his boots and grimy mole- skin pants, in the absence of the belt, kept slip-slip- slipping till they slipped right down and fell off ou to the back of a beast.

‘Goodness, look at that!’’ the Governor said sol- emnly. Warabah yelled the wild mirth of his lost tribe, aud Ted and I, poimting to the unhappy Harry, joined in with him. ‘‘Gonfound it, boys!’ the Gov- ernor shouted to us, “‘what do you mean by jeer- ing?”

‘“Mhere’s nothing else for him, now, Governor,” Tam Merton called out. ‘‘He’ll have to let go and fall amonest them, aud take a chanee,’’ Everyone else seemed breathless.

‘Let go, Harry, and drop on them,”’ 'l'om shouted, as he and Warabah made a further effort to flog a way through the bullocks,

Then old Iarry let go, and fell flop and heavily on the backs of heaven only knows how many bullocks. Holy wars! Didn't we get excited. Where those bullocks thought Harry had come from, no one cauld tell. And when at the thud and feel of him, they