‘So you shall,’ said Captain Fife. ‘I will take care your going up country does not injure your prospects in that line. We have a very good team on the station, and you will have plenty of practice to keep your hand in. Some of our best men have been drawn from up country.’
It was decided that Edgar, after a week’s stay in Sydney with Wal Jessop, should go up to Yanda, and try how the life suited him.
‘I will advance you enough money to keep you going,’ said Captain Fife, ‘and you can repay me when you have “knocked up a cheque,” as we say here.’
Edgar left Captain Fife’s office feeling he had been most fortunate. His heart was heavy when he thought of the Distant Shore and those on board who had lost their lives. He could hardly realize, as he walked the streets of Sydney, how near he had been to death, and that only a day or two ago. He met Wal Jessop, and told him what Captain Fife had done.
‘He’s a good sort,’ said Wal—‘a regular out-and-outer. You’ll have a real good time at Yanda. It’s different to many stations, for the hands up there all pull together, and, my eye! don’t they turn out some good sports. Why, Tom Trundle, one of the best fast bowlers we ever had in the New South Wales team, came from Yanda. How he learned to bowl up there, blest if I know! but that he had learned he quickly proved when he tried his hand on the Association Ground. I’ll never forget that match,’ went on Wal, warming to his work, as this was one of his favourite topics. ‘Tommy was picked to play for the country against the town, and the way he made some of the crack players’ stumps fly was a caution. Frank Rarey was a good bat—about our best—but the country chap sent Frank’s middle stump turning summersaults in the air like a clown in a circus. It was as good as a pipe of ‘bacca after a day’s hard graft to see the expression on Frank’s face when he saw that stump fly. He looked at Tom, and he looked at the shattered wicket. Then he walked into the dressing-room and meditated. When the innings was ended Frank went up to Tom and said:
‘“You’re a wonder, Trundle. You’ll have to play for the colony next time.”
‘Sure enough he did,’ added Wal; ‘and bless me if he didn’t come off first pop. He took seven of the Victorian wickets in the very next match we had against that colony.’
‘Something like a triumph,’ said Edgar, who listened to Wal’s recital with all the ardour of a schoolboy. ‘I only hope I may come off as well as he did when I have the luck to play for the colony.’
‘Did Captain Fife say anything about it?’ asked Wal. ‘He’s a rare one for cricket, and, in fact, all sorts of sport.’
‘He said if I went up country it would not prejudice my chance in the cricket-field,’ said Edgar.