BONES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6496, 27 May 1899, Page 3

BONES.

;•• .::■'■■■ ■' ' (AustrolasiVn.) - An 'old cart, an-old horse, and two disreputable ■ liumaii beings were camped by the roadside in the gathering dusk. In the big paddocks near by sleepy sheep baa-ed . as they flocked together. In a pond frogs croaked unceasingly, and crickets whirred near by. .I'You go up t' the 'ouse an' arst fer tucker," suggested one of the men lying by the fire to his companion, who was sorting unsavoury victuals out of a dirty bran bag. "Me go!" "Yairs." Each sentence was. sufficiently adorned with expletives to completely double its length. "You're the 'ungriest, thinnest, whiniest, ain't yer? What's the good of a fat beast like me whinin', eh:" There was common sense in this, " but Pop White, though he did not resent -the T>ersonal reparks, felt lazy. "I've got a gammy laeg," he grumbled. ' '■' That'll 'elp you — more pity." ' ■' ■ "It won't 'elp me t' run if they set the dawgs on ter in& No wonder yer fat, doin' nuthin'." ••••■ .-..-, -. ........ .-. "My troubles about fat. Go on, Pop." Quarter of an- hour later Pop returned in triumph. " Struck a patch right enuft. None of yer safe sweepin's an' crusts. Coid bacon, , butter, noo bread, tart. Bye buck, J>.-hoshua, Cropsey! Religious old woman hup there calls me poor crittur, and tells me to come hin the mornin'!" They set to work on the food, and presently' Pop remarked, " There's a. fine little paddick by the sliprail, full o' feed, half-a dozen mokes in it. We'll put old Bones in there fer to-night. He's a bit out of condition, like, not so flash as 'c was." " Might of sent a bit o' pickle," grumbled Cropsey. Women ain't got no palate. Why put 'im in the paddick ; we'd 'aye t' be hup early t' tyke 'im out." "Not us. The old woman's as soft as butter. You jam 'im in afore the moon's hup:" ■ The old honse was provided with a log of wood tied by a rope to his foreleg ; he was led into the paddock, and given a parting kick. He took no notice, however, for the feed was good and kicks were common. The. other horses crowded round him, several light graceful hacks, a solid pair of greys, draught horses, and a Shetland pony. They sniffed and. snorted at the stranger'; a vicious chestmii turned to bestow a vicious kick, but old Bones moved out of his way, dragging his log after him, and resumed feeding. . He puzzled and annoyed the other beasts. They were hardly sure' that he was reaily a horse, so gaunt and boriey w ; as he. His brown hide so seamed and scarred, so ragged his mane and tail. His . weary old eyes were sunk in deep hollows, Ms knees swollen, his spread hoofs cracked and broken. Collar and shafts had rubbed 'new sores, and there were marks of- others but lately healed. All th's was nob visible in the moonlight, but they saw enough to make them snort and whinny, partly in sympathy, partly in disgust. Then they all hustled'off to the the other end of the field, and Bones was left to himself. The moon as- it mounted high overhead showed miles of undulating country, mostly cleared with here and there patches of stunted messmate, stretches of cultivation, a big orchard white with blossom, from which a. sweet scent drifted on the fitful south wind. There was an occasional imitated bleat, from a sheep, a sudden excited quacking] of ducks in the distant farmyard, then the brooding silence would be unbroken save by the far womp womp of a great bull frog. But old Bones, oblivious of everything but the delicious sweetness of clover, went munching on. When the red flush of crept into the. sky,- and the birds began to awake, screaming, twittering, carolling^ laughing, the horses in the far end roused themselves, remembered the - extraordinary creature that had come among them the night before. A caricature of a horse, an absurdity built of the rubbish collected in a boneyiard and tannery. They neighed and trotted over to again inspect the curiosity, sinking their own differences, which were frequent, in the common interest. Old Bones looked up . as they collected round him, tossing their heads, neighing, whinnying, snorting. The chestnut again Offered to kick, but Bones was an adept' at avoiding blows. One of the greys bit at him savagely and squealed. Then a wild fit of excitement seized them all ; they flourished about for an" instant, then were off at a gallop down the paddock, pausing at v the corner, only to come flying back. Bones gazed at them with some wonder as they approached again; and gave a friendly neigh as they dashed off frantically in another direction. Then, as they again came up and passed with clatter of hoofs, tossing heads and flying tails, he threw himself with an ungainly lurch amongst them. He had forgotten his hobble, for'his years,' forgotten that he had broken ( knees, a ' bad shoulder, and other troubles that attack ah old horse who has not 'known a holiday for twenty years, has been ill-used, ill-fed, and becomes at length a somewhat rusty machine. But Bones forgot all this ; a memory 'had- swept back of long-ago .days, when he was used to wild miles of country ; when with sure feet and sound wind he had galloped after scrubbers, rounded up ferocious beasts, flying with reckless feet after the leaders. Of days when he had travelled hour after hour, nor felt weary ; of days when no fence could hold him if he wanted his freedom. He stumbled along for a few yards, despite the log, his tail stiffened, his head erect, and about, as much spring in his gnarled old legs as in so many clothesprops. The draught horses thundered behind him, the Shetland pony frolicked past like a kitten. Bones tripped over his log and fell ; a dra&ght horse close behind, unable to save himself, fell also. His great hoofs struck Bones on the head, and the old horse's troubles were at an end. ' "Wiser*, liis owners .discovered, what had happened, they . held a long • discussion as to what wa§ to i. be" done. The result was that Pop -soughit the old lady, explained to her that their horse was a fair terror to jump (they had ' thoughtfully removed the hobble), that he ; had .got" in among her horses, and had evidently been 1 playing up, for he' had been lacked" to death, " • ;'"I couldn't' tell ye, mum, how l loved that there animal ; so did me mate. He'd feed hout of our 'ands, aa' he'd know the either of us anywhere.; we've 'ad 'ixnsinst 'c was a little foal." "She giv* me five- bob," he remark»d to Oropsey later, "and considerin' that we oney giv' four for 'im, Je-hoshua, we've come right end up. There's a poor bloke up there a bit off of 'is onicn, an' he'll bay the cart off of us fer a quid ; so, Cropsey, we 'aid right bowers this time, me buttercup." •■ -• - '-•■■•