A Little Bush Maid | Page 9

beneath his dignity, and the sight of Lee Wing
did not tend to improve his view of the matter. He stood aloof, with a
cold, proud smile, like a hero of melodrama.
Black Billy was, of course, in the stables, and came with alacrity. He
had not much English and that little was broken, but he worshipped the
Linton children--Jim especially, and would obey him with the
unquestioning obedience of a dog.
"All here?" asked Jim, looking round. "Five, six, eight--that's all serene.
Now who's going to drive who?"
Opinions on that point were mixed. Every one wanted the kangaroo,
and at last a general vote gave him to Norah. Wally chose one Wallaby.
He said it was only natural, and made a further remark about the
feelings of the others when "Wally and his wallaby should wallow by
them" that was happily quenched by Harry, who adopted the simple
plan of sitting on the orator. Harry secured the second wallaby, and

black Billy was given the Orpington rooster as his steed. Mrs. Brown
from the first applied for the tortoise. She said it meant less exertion,
and she preferred to be slow and sure, without any risk of over-work.
Hogg chose the yellow cat, Tim, and Lee Wing was given Caesar, the
cockatoo.
"Leaving old Fudge for me," Jim said ruefully. "What sort of a chance
do you think I've got? Never mind, I'm used to being suppressed."
"Good for you," observed Harry. "Now, how about harness?"
"Well, we'll leave that to individual taste," Jim said. "Here's a ball of
string, and there are plenty of light straps. Mrs. Brown--you're the
leading lady. How shall I harness your prancing steed for you?"
"You will have your joke, Master Jim," retorted Mrs. Brown, bridling
and beaming. "Now, I don't think I'll harness my poor beastie at all.
Give me a couple of sticks to keep his head the right way and to poke
him gently, and we'll beat you all yet!"
Norah and the two boys fixed up fearful and wonderful harness for
their nominations--collars of straps, and long string headpieces and
reins. The animals objected strongly to being harnessed, and the
process was most entertaining. Mrs. Brown was particularly
appreciative, and at length in a paroxysm of mirth narrowly escaped
sitting down on the tortoise.
Black Billy's harness was not extensive. He tied a string round the
black Orpington's leg, and retired to the stable for a few minutes,
returning with a bulging pocket, the contents of which he did not
communicate. Hogg did not attempt to bit and bridle the yellow cat,
which was much annoyed at the whole proceeding. Instead he fixed up
a collar and traces of string, and chose a long cane, more, he said, for
purposes of defence than for anything else. Lee Wing and Jim
harnessed their steeds in the same way--with a long string tied to each
leg.
"All ready?" Jim queried. "Toe the line!"

The course was across a small paddock near the house--a distance of
about thirty yards--and the competitors were ranged up with no little
difficulty. Luckily, the line was a wide one, admitting of considerable
space between each starter, or the send-off might have been
inextricably confused. However, they were all arranged at last, and Jim,
in a stentorian voice, gave the word to "Go."
As the signal was given, the drivers urged on their steeds according to
their judgment, and with magnificent results.
First to get off the line were the wallabies and the kangaroo. They fled,
each his several way, and after them went their drivers, in great haste.
The kangaroo had all the best of the start. So remarkable was his bound
that he twitched his reins quite out of Norah's hands, and made for the
fence of the paddock. It was an open one, which let him through easily.
The wallabies, seeing his shining success, followed his course, and
midway managed to entangle their reins, at which Wally and Harry
were wildly hauling. Confusion became disorder, and the wallabies at
length reduced themselves to a tangle, out of which they had to be
assisted by means of Harry's pocket knife.
Jim had no luck. The parrot went off well, but very soon seemed to
regret his rashness and, despite all Jim's endeavours, returned with
solemnity to the start, where he paused and talked fluently in the mixed
language that was all his own. In desperation Jim tried to pull him
along, but Fudge simply walked round and round him, until he had
exhausted his driver's patience, and was "turned out."
The most spirited of the competitors were decidedly the cockatoo and
Tim. They were panting for each other's blood from the start, and
before they had been urged over a quarter of the way they found