‘No,’ was the reply; ‘you pays your money and you takes your bargain. But I don’t think you fellows’ll ever get the chance. I heard him say he’d as soon face a mad bull as come to this station.’
The men, of whom the hut was now full, laughed; and said one,—
‘The chap as sells, out an’ out, an honest article like that un needn’t be scared. It’s them coves as gets you to sign things, and keeps sendin’ a lot o’ rotten trash, not a bit like what you seen furst; an’ then comes, as flash as you please, summonsin’ of you an’ a-gettin’ of you bullyragged in Court—them’s the coves as we’ve got a derry on. Let’s have another squint at that pitcher o’ Dick Turpin an’ Black Bess, mates.’
‘Give you five bob on your bargain!’ shouted a tall stockman, presently, from the outer edge of the circle, where he had been impatiently waiting for a look.
‘Couldn’t part with it,’ said the owner decidedly. [200] ]‘But I’ll tell you what I will do. I’m going back to the township to-morrow. If the chap ain’t gone, I’ll let him know he can sell a few here. He might venture if you’ll all give your word not to go for him when he does come. He’s got lots of others, too. There’s “The Bloody Robber of the Blue Mountains,” and “The Pirate’s Bride,” and “The Boundin’ Outlaws of the Backwoods,” and plenty more—all same price, and all pictures and covers same as this one is.’
‘Right! Tell him to come! It was pay-day yesterday,’ yelled the crowd unanimously.
‘Not a bad night’s work, I do believe,’ muttered the traveller to himself, as he reluctantly stretched out on the hard bunk-boards. ‘I hope, though, this confounded beard and moustache won’t come off while I’m asleep, if I ever do get any on such a bed.’
PART II.
‘Is your life insured?’ ‘You’ll get sudden notice to vamose