Children Of The Bush

General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1907 Original Publisher: Angus and Robertson, Ltd. Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: A SKETCH OF MATESHIP BILL and Jim, professional shearers, were coming into Bourke from the Queensland side. They were horsemen and had two pack-horses. At the last camp before Bourke Jim's pack-horse got disgusted and homesick during the night and started back for the place where he was foaled. Jim was little more than a newchum- Jackeroo ; he was no Bushman and generally got lost when he went down the next gully. Bill was a Bushman, so it was decided that he should go back to look for the horse. Now Bill was going to sell his pack-horse, a well-bred mare, in Bourke, and he was anxious to get her into the yards before the horse sales were over; this was to be the last day of the sales. Jim was the best ' barracker' of the two; he had great imagination ; he was a very entertaining story-teller and conversationalist in social life, and a glib and a most impressive liar in business, so it was decided that he should hurry on into Bourke with the mare and sell her for Bill. Seven pounds, reserve. Next day Bill turned up with the missing horse and saw Jim standing against a verandah post of the ' Carriers' Arms,' with his hat down over his eyes, and thoughtfully spitting in the dust. Bill rode over to him. ' 'Ullo, Jim.' "Ullo, Bill. I see you got him.' ' Yes, I got him.' Pause. 'Where'dyer find him?' "Bout ten mile back. Near Ford's Bridge. He was just feedin' along.' Pause. Jim shifted his feet and spat in the dust. ' Well,' said Bill at last. ' How did you get on, Jim ?' ' Oh, all right,' said Jim. ' I sold the mare.' ' That's right,' said Bill. ...