Also a kangaroo-pup. As Dad slowly
approached, Ned swaying from side to side with his nose to the ground,
the elder man drove the crowbar into the earth and stared as if he had
never seen a man on horseback before. The young fellow sat on a log and
stared too. The pup ran behind a tree and growled.
"Seen any cattle round here?" Dad asked.
"No," the man said, and grinned.
"Did n't notice a red heifer?"
"No," grinning more.
The kangaroo-pup left the tree and sniffed at Ned's heels.
"Won't kick, will he?" said the man.
The young fellow broke into a loud laugh and fell off the log.
"No," Dad replied--"he's PERFECTLY quiet."
"He LOOKS quiet."
The young fellow took a fit of coughing.
After a pause. "Well, you did n't see any about, then?" and Dad wheeled
Ned round to go away.
"No, I DID N'T, old man," the other answered, and snatched hold of Ned's
tail and hung back with all his might. Ned grunted and strained and tore
the ground up with his toes; Dad spurred and leathered him with a strap,
looking straight ahead. The man hung on. "Come 'long," Dad said. The
pup barked. "COME 'long with YER!" Dad said. The young fellow fell off
the log again.
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