n sent him sprawling on the ground, and,
before he had a chance to get up again, was holding the black down with
a wrestling grip he had learnt when he was a lad. He grabbed his hat
with his free hand and reached for the red-hot branding-iron. He
pressed the fiery T.D.3 into the flank of the naked black-fellow. The
man yelled and squirmed with pain, but his captor held him tight. It
was a cruel thing to do, but Mick's Irish temper had got the better of
him, and he held the brand on the flesh till it had burnt a mark which
would never come off.

Then he released his grip and stood up. Instantly the tortured black
sprang to his feet and reached for a stick. But before his hand could
close on it a shot rang out, and Eagle jumped back as if he had been
mortally wounded. The man was unharmed, however, for Mick had only
fired into the air as a warning, but he now covered the native with his
automatic pistol. The warragul knew enough about white men to
understand that sudden death could spit out of that little barrel which
Mick held in his hand, and if there had been any doubt in his mind as
to what he ought to do, it was dispelled by the shouts of warning of
the other blacks.

Looking at Mick with fierce hatred, he backed slowly step by step till
he was about fifty yards away, when he turned and ran for his life.
Mick fired a parting shot after him, but it was not necessary. The
branded black-fellow did not stop till he was out of sight over the
first sand-hill.

The work of branding was quietly resumed after this interruption, but
the spirit of laughter and good-natured rivalry had gone. The blacks
were nervous and the white boys were frankly scared at the unexpected
turn of events, and even Mick himself, after a few minutes had passed,
was sorry for what he had done. But he worked every man in the plant
to the full limit of his powers, never once easing the strain, for any
sign of relenting would have been misunderstood by the natives, who
think that a white man's kindness is the same as weakness, for they
respect one thing and one thing only, and that is power. In this they
are not unlike white men.

[1] It is a great insult to a native to suggest that he is a woman or
that he does woman's work.

CHAPTER XVIII

Revenge

Just before sunset, after a long and tiring day's work, the last of the
clean-skins was branded, and staggered to its feet and made off to
rejoin the other cattle. Mick wipe