s mouth;
then 'e goes on feedin' has if 'e didn't mind dorgs or 'orses, or men,
and hadn't never heerd o' kangaroo-tail soup in 'is life."

"Perhaps we may get him next Sunday, Smith. Now, bail up, Maggie, and
if you try to kick over the bucket you'll feel sorry, I can assure you,"
and she smacked a jet black little cow on the ribs with her strong,
shapely brown hand. The beast put her head through the bail; "Cockney"
quickly pinned her in, then secured her "kicking" leg with a green hide
leg rope, and the Goddess of the Gully began to milk. "Cockney" stood by
watching, pipe in mouth, and waiting till Kate was ready for the second
cow to be put in the bail.

"Here's Jackey and 'is missus, as usual, Miss Kate," he said, pointing
to the slip rails of the milking yard, on which a large "laughing
jackass," and his mate had perched, and were regarding Kate with solemn
attention.

"Oh, the poor things! I forgot their bread this morning. I was thinking
about something else."

"Don't you worry about 'em, Miss," said Smith, with a grin, "they can
take care 'o themselves, Miss Kate."

"Yes, Smith."

"I went to look at that 'ere guinea hen what was sittin' on eleven eggs
under that sort o' cotton bush in the 'orse paddock."

"Did you? The chicks will be out in three or four days."

"They are out already, Miss; them two laughin' jackasses 'as heaten
up every blessed egg, and on'y the shells is lef. I thought I saw 'em
flying about the nest, and went to see."

"Oh, the wretches!" cried Kate in dismay.

"Next ter halligaters, laughin' jackasses his the mischievioustest, and
cunnin'est things hin creation," observed Mr Smith; "hif I 'ad my gun
'ere now I could take 'em both hin a line. Look at 'em setting there
like two bloomin' cheerybims, who 'adn't never seen a hegg o' any kind
but their own."

"Oh, no, don't shoot them, Smith. I feel very mad with them, but
wouldn't hurt them for the world. They kill and eat such a lot of
snakes--bad snakes, 'bandy-bandies' and 'black necks.'"

"So I believe, Miss. And perhaps that is wot fills 'em with such
willianly; they himbibes the snakes' cunning after they 'as digested
'em. I onct heerd a naturalist cove as was getting birds on the
Diamantina River say that he was dead certain there wasn't no laughin'
jackasses in the Garden o' Eding, which was a smokin' great pity."

"Why?" asked Kate, as she rose, put the milk bucket aside, and let Smith
bail up the second cow.

"Oh, he