rit of FIERI FACIAS, to me directed, I command you that of
the goods and chattels, money, bank-note or notes or other property of
Murtagh Joseph Rudd, of Shingle Hut, in my bailiwick, you cause to be
made the sum of forty pounds ten shillings, with interest thereon," &c.

Dad understood.

Then the bailiff's man rounded up the cows and the horses, and Dad and
the lot of us leant against the fence and in sadness watched Polly and
old Poley and the rest for the last time pass out the slip-rails.

"That puts an end to the land business!" Dave said gloomily.

But Dad never spoke.

Chapter XVIII.

We Embark in the Bear Industry.

When the bailiff came and took away the cows and horses, and completely
knocked the bottom out of Dad's land scheme, Dad did n't sit in the
ashes and sulk. He was n't that kind of person. He DID at times say
he was tired of it all, and often he wished it far enough, too! But,
then, that was all mere talk on Dad's part. He LOVED the selection.
To every inch--every stick of it--he was devoted. 'T was his creed.
He felt certain there was money in it--that out of it would come his
independence. Therefore, he did n't rollup and, with Mother by the hand
and little Bill on his back, stalk into town to hang round and abuse
the bush. He walked up and down the yard thinking and thinking. Dad
was a man with a head.

He consulted Mother and Dave, and together they thought more.

"The thing is," Dad said, "to get another horse to finish the bit of
ploughing. We've got ONE; Anderson will lend the grey mare, I know."

He walked round the room a few times.

"When that's done, I think I see my way clear; but THAT'S the trouble."

He looked at Dave. Dave seemed as though he had a solution. But Joe
spoke.

"Kuk-kuk-could n't y' b-reak in some kang'roos, Dad? There's pul-lenty
in th' pup-paddick."

"Could n't you shut up and hold your tongue and clear out of this, you
brat?" Dad roared. And Joe hung his head and shut up.

"Well, y' know"--Dave drawled--"there's that colt wot Maloney offered
us before to quieten. Could get 'im. 'E's a big lump of a 'orse if y'
could do anythin' with 'im. THEY gave 'im best themselves."

Dad's eyes shone.

"That's th' horse," he cried. "GET him! To-morrow first thing go for
him! I'LL make something of him!"

"Don't know"--Dave chuckled--"he's a----"

"Tut, tut; you fetch him."

"Oh, I'll FETCH 'im." And Dave, on the strength of having ma