Mother watched him more closely. His lips moved. He said, "LISTEN TO
THEM! THEY'RE COMING! I KNEW THEY'D FOLLOW!"
"Who?" asked Mother, trembling slightly.
"THEY'RE IN THE WOOD!" he went on. "Ha, ha! I've got them. They'll
never get out; NEVER GET OUT!"
Mother fled, screaming. She ran inside and called the children. Sal
assisted her. They trooped in like wallabies--all but Joe. He was away
earning money. He was getting a shilling a week from Maloney, for chasing
cockatoos from the corn.
They closed and barricaded the doors, and Sal took down the gun, which
Mother made her hide beneath the bed. They sat listening, anxiously and
intently. The wind began to rise. A lump of soot fell from the chimney
into the fireplace--where there was no fire. Mother shuddered. Some more
fell. Mother jumped to her feet. So did Sal. They looked at each other
in dismay. The children began to cry. The chain for hanging the kettle
on started swinging to and fro. Mother's knees gave way. The chain
continued swinging. A pair of bare legs came down into the fireplace--they
were curled round the chain. Mother collapsed. Sal screamed, and ran to
the door, but could n't open it.
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