..Still the crowd waited. Still Dad and Joe
argued the point...There was a murmur and a movement and much merriment.
Dad was coming; so was Joe--perched behind him, "double bank," rapidly
wiping the tears from his eyes with his knuckles.
Hooray! They were off. Paddy Maloney and Dave took the lead, heading for
kangaroo country along the foot of Dead Man's Mountain and through Smith's
paddock, where there was a low wire fence to negotiate. Paddy spread his
coat over it and jumped his mare across. He was a horseman, was Pat.
The others twisted a stick in the wires, and proceeded carefully to lead
their horses over. When it came to Farmer's turn he hesitated. Dad
coaxed him. Slowly he put one leg across, as if feeling his way, and
paused again. Joe was on his back behind the saddle. Dad tugged hard at
the winkers. Farmer was inclined to withdraw his leg. Dad was determined
not to let him. Farmer's heel got caught against the wire, and he began
to pull back and grunt--so did Dad. Both pulled hard. Anderson and old
Brown ran to Dad's assistance. The trio planted their heels in the ground
and leaned back.
Joe became afraid. He clutched at the saddle and cried, "Let me off!"
"Stick to him!" said Paddy Maloney, hopping over the fence, "Stick to him!"
He kicked Farmer what he afterwards called "a sollicker on the tail.
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