ay, so I jist said,
"Would you like some more coffee?"

'"Yes, thenk yer," he said--"about two quarts."

'I nearly filled the pint pot, and he drank it and stood on his head
as long as he could, and when he got right end up he said, "Thenk yer,
mum--it's a fine day," and then he walked off. He had two saddle-straps
in his hands.'

'Why, what did he stand on his head for?' asked Mary.

'To wash it up and down, I suppose, to get twice as much taste of the
coffee. He had no hat. I sent Tommy across to Wall's to tell them that
there was a man wanderin' about the Bush in the horrors of drink, and
to get some one to ride for the police. But they was too late, for he
hanged himself that night.'

'O Lord!' cried Mary.

'Yes, right close to here, jist down the creek where the track to Wall's
branches off. Tommy found him while he was out after the cows. Hangin'
to the branch of a tree with the two saddle-straps.'

Mary stared at her, speechless.

'Tommy came home yellin' with fright. I sent him over to Wall's at once.
After breakfast, the minute my eyes was off them, the children slipped
away and went down there. They came back screamin' at the tops of their
voices. I did give it to them. I reckon they won't want ter see a dead
body again in a hurry. Every time I'd mention it they'd huddle together,
or ketch hold of me skirts and howl.

'"Yer'll go agen when I tell yer not to," I'd say.

'"Oh no, mother," they'd howl.

'"Yer wanted ter see a man hangin'," I said.

'"Oh, don't, mother! Don't talk about it."

'"Yer wouldn't be satisfied till yer see it," I'd say; "yer had to see
it or burst. Yer satisfied now, ain't yer?"

'"Oh, don't, mother!"

'"Yer run all the way there, I s'pose?"

'"Don't, mother!"

'"But yer run faster back, didn't yer?"

'"Oh, don't, mother."

'But,' said Mrs Spicer, in conclusion, 'I'd been down to see it myself
before they was up.'

'And ain't you afraid to live alone here, after all these horrible
things?' asked Mary.

'Well, no; I don't mind. I seem to have got past carin' for anythink
now. I felt it a little when Tommy went away--the first time I felt
anythink for years. But I'm over that now.'

'Haven't you got any friends in the district, Mrs Spicer?'

'Oh yes. There's me married sister near Cobborah, and a married brother
near Dubbo; he's got a station. They wanted to take me an' the children
between them, or take some of the younger children. But I couldn't bring
my