ut in it. He paid no attention to
her; he worked harder. Mother waited, holding the tea in her hand. A
lump of wood nearly as big as a shingle flew up and shaved her left
ear. She put the tea on the ground and went in search of eggs for
dinner. (We were out of meat--the kangaroo-dog was lame. He had got
"ripped" the last time we killed.)

The tea remained on the ground. Chips fell into it. The dog saw it.
He limped towards it eagerly, and dipped the point of his nose in it.
It burnt him. An aged rooster strutted along and looked sideways at
it. HE distrusted it and went away. It attracted the pig--a sow with
nine young ones. She waddled up, and poked the cup over with her nose;
then she sat down on it, while the family joyously gathered round the
saucer. Still the man chopped on.

Mother returned--without any eggs. She rescued the crockery from the
pigs and turned curiously to the man. She said, "Why, you've let them
take the tea!" No answer. She wondered.

Suddenly, and for the fiftieth time, the axe flew off. The man held
the handle and stared at the woodheap. Mother watched him. He removed
his hats, and looked inside them. He remained looking inside them.

Mother watched him more closely. His lips moved. He said, "LISTEN TO
THEM! THEY'RE COMING! I KNEW THEY'D FOLLOW!"

"Who?" asked Mother, trembling slightly.

"THEY'RE IN THE WOOD!" he went on. "Ha, ha! I've got them. They'll
never get out; NEVER GET OUT!"

Mother fled, screaming. She ran inside and called the children. Sal
assisted her. They trooped in like wallabies--all but Joe. He was
away earning money. He was getting a shilling a week from Maloney, for
chasing cockatoos from the corn.

They closed and barricaded the doors, and Sal took down the gun, which
Mother made her hide beneath the bed. They sat listening, anxiously
and intently. The wind began to rise. A lump of soot fell from the
chimney into the fireplace--where there was no fire. Mother shuddered.
Some more fell. Mother jumped to her feet. So did Sal. They looked
at each other in dismay. The children began to cry. The chain for
hanging the kettle on started swinging to and fro. Mother's knees gave
way. The chain continued swinging. A pair of bare legs came down into
the fireplace--they were curled round the chain. Mother collapsed.
Sal screamed, and ran to the door, but could n't open it. The legs
left the chain and dangled in the air. Sal called