In the meantime it is not displeasing5 to see a trifle of mud again—marshes filling with their complement6 of water; to hear the bittern boom and the wild drake quack7 in the reed-bordered pool,—sights and sounds to which I have been a stranger for years and years.
The showers have refreshed the long-dry fallows, and a goodly breadth of wheat is now looking green and well-coloured. But to-day I marked three ploughs in one field, availing of the favourable8 state of tilth. The ordinary processes of a country neighbourhood are in full swing. Loads of hay, top-heavy and fragrant9, meet you from time to time upon the metalled highway. A pony-carriage passes, much as it might do in the narrow lanes of Hertfordshire or Essex. The straggling briar and hawthorn10 hedges have been trimmed lately. All things savour strongly of the old land, from which the district takes its name. As in England, the guns are now in use and request; and amid my peregrinations it chances that I fall upon a custom of the country, which is partly of the nature of work and partly of play.
Yes, it is a kangaroo drive or battue—a measure rendered 209necessary by the persistent11 multiplication12 of these primeval forms, and their tendency to eat and destroy grass, out of all proportion to the value of their skins.
To this gathering13 I am bidden, and gratefully promise to keep tryst14, divining that certain of the neighbours and notables will attend, with wives and daughters in sufficient abundance to warrant a dance after the sterner duties of the day.
And while on the subject of sport and recreation, how little is there worthy15 of the name in the country districts of Australia. Fishing is there none, or bait fishing at the best; hunting is a tradition of our forefathers16; shooting, an infrequent pleasure. Since the introduction of the railway many of the ordinary travelling roads have been practically deserted17. The well-tried friend or the agreeable stranger no longer halts before the hospitable18 homestead; months may pass before any social recreation takes place in the sequestered19 country homes which were wont20 to be so joyous21. But just at the exact period when such resources were strained, the too prolific22 marsupial23 has come to the rescue. He it is who now poses as the rescuer of distressed24 damsels, and ennuyées chatelaines, wearying of solitary25 sweetness as of old; and yet he is classed by reckless utilitarians26 and prosaic27 legislators as a noxious28 animal! Behold29 us, then, a score of horsemen gaily30 sallying forth31 from a station of the olden time,—one of those happy, hospitable dwellings32, where, whatever might be the concourse of guests, there was always room for one more,—well mounted, and mostly well armed with the deadly chokebore of the period. The day is cloudy and overcast33; but no particular inconvenience is apprehended34. The majority of the party are of an age lightly to regard wind or weather. The conversation is free and sportive. Compliments, more or less equivocal, are exchanged as to shooting or horsemanship, and a good deal of schoolboy frolic obtains. Dark hints are thrown out as to enthusiastic sportsmen who blaze away regardless of their 'duty to their neighbour,' and harrowing details given of the last victim at a former 'shoot.'
As we listen to these 'tales for the marines,' uncomfortable thoughts will suggest themselves. We recall the grisly incident in The Interpreter; when at a 'wild-schutz' the Prince de Vochsal's bullet glides35 off a tree-stem and finds a home in Victor De Rohan's gallant36 breast. Might such a contretemps 210occur to-day? Such things are always on the cards. May not even the rightful possessor of this susceptible37 heart be widowed ere this very eve, and the callow Boldrewoods be rendered nestless? No matter! One can but die once. It won't be quite so hot as Tel-el-kebir. Even there survivors38 returned. So we shake up our well-tried steed, shoulder the double-barrel, and ruffle39 it with the rest, serene40 in confidence as to the doctrine41 of chances.
And now after three or four miles' brisk riding o'er hill and dale—the country in these parts may certainly be described as undulating—we come upon a line of recently 'blazed' trees. These are half-way between a ravine or gully, and the crest42 of a range, to which it runs parallel. As the first man reaches a marked tree, he takes his station, the next in line halting as he comes to the succeeding one. The distances between are perhaps seventy or eighty yards, and each man stands sheltered on one side of his tree-trunk. The number of guns may be some ten or fifteen. The beaters, horsemen also, have gone forward some time since, and our present attitude is one of expectation.
In about ten minutes a sound as of galloping43 hoofs44 is heard upon the western side, of ringing stockwhips, shouts and yells, then nearer still the measured 'thud, thud' which tells of the full-grown marsupial. Bang goes a gun at the end of the line; the battle has begun. A curious excitement commences to stir the blood. It is not so much unlike the real thing. And a line of skirmishers in close quarters with an enemy's vedette would be posted like us, and perhaps similarly affected45 by the first crackling fire of musketry. Two more shots right and left nearer to our position; then half-a-dozen. A volley in our immediate46 neighbourhood raises expectation and excitement to the highest pitch. 'May Allah protect us! There is but one Prophet,' we have but time to ejaculate, and lo! the marsupial tyrant47 of our flocks and herds48 is upon us in force. Here they come, straight for our tree, seven or eight of all sizes, from the innocent 'joey' to the grim ancient, 'the old man,' in the irreverent vernacular49 of the colonists50.
Now is our time. We step bravely from behind our tree and bang into the patriarch's head and shoulders, as for one moment he arrests his mad career in wild astonishment51 at our sudden apparition52.
211He staggers, but does not fall. Habet, doubtless; but the half-instinctive muscular system enables him to carry off the balance of a cartridge53 of double B.
As the affrighted flock dashes by, we wheel and accommodate the next largest with a broadside. It is more effective; a smashed hind-leg brings down the fur-bearing 'noxious animal,' which lies helpless and wistful, with large, deer-like eyes. A smart fusilade to the left reveals that the fugitives54 have fallen among foes55 in that direction.
The small arms being silent, we quit our trees, each man scalps his victims, giving the coup-de-grace to such of the wounded as need a quietus. No quarter is given—neither age nor sex is spared. Even the infants, those tender weaklings the 'joeys,' are not saved. It is the horrible necessity of war—a war for existence. As thus: If the kangaroo are allowed to live and multiply, our sheep will starve. We can't live if they don't. Ergo, it is our life and welfare against Marsupial Bill's, and he, being of the inferior race, must go under.
One wonders whether this doctrine will be applied56 in the future to inferior races of men. As the good country of the world gets taken up, I fear me pressure will be brought to bear by the all-absorbing Anglo-Saxons, Teutons, and Slavs upon the weaker races. Wars of extermination57 have been waged ere now in the history of the world. They may be yet revived, for all we can predicate from existing facts.
As we go down the line the scalps are collected in a bag. We are thus enabled to compare notes as to success. One gentleman has five kangaroos lying around him; he is not certain either whether an active neighbour has not done him out of a scalp. The collecting business having been completed, a move is made for the horses, hung up out of danger, and another paddock is 'driven' with approximate results.
A good morning's work has been done, and a sufficiency of bodily exercise taken by one o'clock, at which time a move is made towards a creek58 flat, where on the site of a deserted sheep-station, with yards proper, of the olden time, a substantial picnic lunch is spread. Appetites of a superior description seem to be universal, and a season of hearty59 enjoyment60 succeeds to that of action.
212The spot itself might well have stood for the locality sketched61 in Lindsay Gordon's unpublished poem. Strange that the poetic62 gift should enable the possessor to invest with ideal grace a subject so apparently63 prosaic and homely64 as a deserted shepherd's hut.
Can this be where the hovel stood?
Of old I knew the spot right well;
One post is left of all the wood,
Three stones lie where the chimney fell.
Rank growth of ferns has well-nigh shut
From sight the ruin of the hut;
There stands the tree where once I cut
The M that interlaced the L.
What more is left to tell?
As we were converging65 towards this spot before lunch, the smart shot of the gathering was made. A forester kangaroo, demoralised by the abnormal events of the day, came dashing up towards the party. He wheeled and fled as we met, and a snap shot but staggered him. Then one of the party dropped the reins66 on his horse's neck, and with a long shot rolled him over, dead as a rabbit.
A succession of 'drives' make a partial clearance67 of each paddock, all being taken in turn. The short winter day, accented by heavy showers in the afternoon, begins to darken as we ride homewards, damp but hilarious68. The day had been successful on the whole. Plenty of fun, reasonable sport, manly69 exercise, and a fair bag. Nearly a hundred legal 'raisings' of 'h'ar' prove that the average has been over ten head per gun. Dry clothes, blazing fires, a warm welcome and sympathetic greetings, await us on arrival. The advantage of bearing trifling70 discomfort71, to be compensated72 by unwonted luxury, presents itself to every logical mind. The dinner was a high festival, where mirth reigned73 supreme74; while the ball in the evening—for had not all dames75 and demoiselles within twenty miles been impressed for the occasion?—fitly concluded the day's work with a revel76 of exceptional joyousness77.
If there be a moral connected with this 'study in Black and White' it must be that while most people (excepting the advocates for the abolition78 of capital punishment) admit that it is a good and lawful79 deed to clear the 'noxious' marsupial 213off the face of the earth, we trust that the process will not be so swift as to bring speedily to an end such enjoyable gatherings,—these sociable80 murder parties, wherein business and pleasure are happily conjoined, as in the battue at which I had the happiness to be present.
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1
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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sleet
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| n.雨雪；v.下雨雪，下冰雹 | |
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displeasing
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| 不愉快的，令人发火的 | |
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complement
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| n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足 | |
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quack
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| n.庸医；江湖医生；冒充内行的人；骗子 | |
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8
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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10
hawthorn
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| 山楂 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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multiplication
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| n.增加，增多，倍增；增殖，繁殖；乘法 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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tryst
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| n.约会；v.与…幽会 | |
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15
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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17
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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18
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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19
sequestered
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| adj.扣押的；隐退的；幽静的；偏僻的v.使隔绝，使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 )；扣押 | |
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20
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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21
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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22
prolific
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| adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的 | |
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marsupial
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| adj.有袋的，袋状的 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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25
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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26
utilitarians
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| 功利主义者，实用主义者( utilitarian的名词复数 ) | |
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27
prosaic
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| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
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28
noxious
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| adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的 | |
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29
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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32
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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33
overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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34
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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35
glides
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| n.滑行( glide的名词复数 )；滑音；音渡；过渡音v.滑动( glide的第三人称单数 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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36
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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37
susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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38
survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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39
ruffle
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| v.弄皱，弄乱；激怒，扰乱；n.褶裥饰边 | |
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40
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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41
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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42
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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43
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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44
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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45
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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46
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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47
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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48
herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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49
vernacular
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| adj.地方的，用地方语写成的；n.白话；行话；本国语；动植物的俗名 | |
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50
colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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51
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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52
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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53
cartridge
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| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
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54
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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55
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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56
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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57
extermination
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| n.消灭，根绝 | |
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58
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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59
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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60
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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61
sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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62
poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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63
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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64
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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65
converging
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| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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66
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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67
clearance
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| n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理 | |
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68
hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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69
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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70
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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71
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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72
compensated
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| 补偿，报酬( compensate的过去式和过去分词 )； 给（某人）赔偿（或赔款） | |
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73
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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74
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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75
dames
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| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
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76
revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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77
joyousness
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| 快乐，使人喜悦 | |
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78
abolition
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| n.废除，取消 | |
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79
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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80
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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