After this came ‘Diseases of All Known Domestic Animals,’ with gorgeously coloured pictures. As nothing could be found in the whole work relating to horses or cattle or dogs, except the illustrations, this was also voted a fraud. However, they cut out the plates, and stuck them upon the walls of the huts and cottages, so that it was not clear loss altogether.
192a[Illustration]
Started back to Atlanta, pursued for half the distance with thunderous whip-crackings. (Page 194.)
But the last straw was ‘The Universal Biography of Eminent6 Men—Dead and Alive,’ with splendid portraits. 193When they discovered that the notices they had been led to expect of their own ‘Boss,’ ‘Hungry’ Parkes of Humpalong, the Mayor of Atlanta, etc., etc., were absent, and their places filled by paragraphs and woodcuts relating to Nelson, Julius C?sar, Pompey, Scipio Africanus, and such-like characters, they one and all bucked7, and refused to pay on delivery. Then they were hauled to Quarter Sessions, confronted with their signatures, and made to pay.
In vain they swore that the thing had never been ordered; that it wasn’t up to specification8; that their handwriting was a palpable forgery9. In vain they related how they had never touched it, but had left their copies lying on verandahs, stockyard posts, in mud, in dust, wherever, in fact, the agent had chanced to bail10 them up. All in vain; they had to pay—costs and all.
Therefore was it that Barracaboo had forsworn literature by sample, or in uncertain instalments, and vowed11 vengeance12 upon all shabby men with indelible pencils, and printed agreements with a space left for signature. More especially had they a ‘down’ on people who wore goatees and snuffled when they talked.
‘If you see one of ’em at the station,’ said the manager—a rough, tough old customer, and disappointed at being ousted13 by Julius C?sar—‘set the dogs on him. I’ll pay damages. If he don’t take that hint, touch him up with stockwhips. It’ll only be justifiable14 homicide at the worst. I know the law: an’ I don’t mind a fiver in such a case!’
194‘Let us only get a chance, sorr,’ said the sheep-overseer, ‘an’ we’ll learn ’em betther manners wid our whups. Doggin’s too good for the thrash!’
This state of affairs was pretty well known at Atlanta, the neighbouring township; and book-fiends, warned, generally gave Barracaboo a wide berth15. Once, certainly, a new hand at the game, and one who fancied himself too much to bother about collecting local information, came boldly into the station-yard just as the bell was ringing for dinner, and produced the advance sheets of a sweet and lively work, entitled, ‘Hermits, Ancient and Modern: Illustrated with Forty-seven Choice Engravings.’
He had got to ‘Now, gentlemen,’ when, hearing the howl of execration16 that went up, he suddenly took in the situation and started back to Atlanta, pursued for half the distance with thunderous whip-crackings by the sheep-overseer and the butcher, who were the only two who happened to have their horses ready.
Chancing to have a capital mount, he distanced them and galloped17 into town, and up the main street, reins18 on his horse’s neck, and trousers over his knees, half dead with fright, only to be promptly19 summoned and fined for furious riding within the municipality.
For weeks afterwards sheets of ‘Hermits’ strewed20 the ‘cleared line,’ and he received a merciless chaffing from his fellow-fiends, who could have warned him what to expect had he confided21 his destination to them.
About this time came to Atlanta a small, ’cute-looking, clean-shaven, elderly man. He was unknown to any 195present, but modestly admitted that he was in the book trade, and had a consignment22 with him. And he listened with interest to the conversation in the ‘Commercial Room.’
‘The district’s petered out,’ remarked a tall American gentleman, with the goatee and nasal voice abhorred23 of Barracaboo. ‘Clean petered out since that last “Universal Biography” business. They’re kickin’ everywhere. Darned if a feller didn’t draw a bead24 on me yesterday afore I’d time almost to explain business. Then he got so mad that I left, not wantin’ to become a lead mine.’
‘Been here a week and haven’t cleared exes.,’ said another mournfully. ‘Off to-morrow. No use trying to work such a desert as this now.’
‘Big place, this station with the funny name, you’re talkin’ about?’ asked the newcomer, who had introduced himself as ‘Mr Potts, from London.’
‘Over a hundred men of one sort or another all the year round,’ was the reply. ‘Capital shop for us, once too. But it’s sudden death to venture there now. I did real good biz at Barracaboo for the Shuffle25 Litho. Company. It wouldn’t pay, though, to chance back again.’
‘Ah, that was the “Around the World” thing, wasn’t it? Didn’t come up to guarantee, eh?’
‘Well, hardly,’ replied the other. ‘However, that wasn’t my fault, you know. All I had to do was to get the orders, which I did to the tune26 of a couple of hundred or thereabout.’
196‘That’s the worst of those things,’ said Mr Potts. ‘Instalments always make a mess of it. Then the agent loses his character, if nothing else. I was out delivering in the Western District for Shuffle Litho., and was glad to get away by the skin of my teeth. But it’s not only the personal danger I object to,’ continued Mr Potts, after a pause. ‘It is the, ahem, the moral degradation27 involved in such a pursuit—you know what I mean, sir?’
‘Just so, just so,’ answered the other vaguely28, with a hard stare at the round, red face looming29 through cigar smoke.
‘That’s what made me throw the line up,’ went on Mr Potts, ‘more than anything else. The money’s not clean, sir! I’d rather carry about a ton of print, and risk selling for cash at a fractional advance upon cost price.’
‘That’s all right,’ replied his companion with a grin. ‘Only take my advice, and don’t trouble Barracaboo with your ton of print, or you’ll be very apt to leave it there. They won’t give you time to open your mouth. Ask “The Hermit,” if you don’t believe me.’
For a whole day Mr Potts drove around and about with a selection from his stock.
But he never was allowed even a chance to exhibit a sample. Farmers, selectors, squatters, townsfolk, had all apparently30 quite made up their minds.
Times out of number he was threatened with personal violence, and greeted with language quite unprintable here. Once sticks were thrown at him; and once an 197old copy of the ‘Biography’ was hurled31 into the buggy, whilst cattle-dogs were heeling his horses. Clearly it was useless to persist. The district was fairly demoralised; and with a sigh, Mr Potts drove home to receive the ‘What did I tell you’s’ of the other ‘gents.’
But he was a resourceful man was Mr Potts, and he determined32, before leaving the district for ever, to have one more attempt under conditions which should, at all events, give him an opportunity of displaying a specimen of his goods. Besides, he thirsted for vengeance on the community, and knew that if he could but get an opening it was his, full and complete.
. . . . . . . . . .
‘No objection to my camping here to-night, I s’pose?’ asked a rather forlorn-looking traveller of the cook at Barracaboo, shortly after the events related above.
‘Chop that heap o’ wood up, an’ you gets your supper an’ breakfus’,’ said the cook, laconically33.
The traveller worked hard for an hour, and finished his task, handling the axe34 as if born to it, and provoking the cook’s admiration35 to such an extent that he went one better than his promise, and proffered36 a pint37 of tea and a lump of ‘brownie.’
Presently, lighting38 his pipe, and undoing39 his swag, the new-comer, remarking that there was nothing like a read for passing the time away, took out a gorgeously bound volume, sat down at the table, and was soon so interested that he let his pipe go out. Save for the cook, the long kitchen was empty, all the men being away on the run.
198For a time, busy with a batch40 of bread, the former took no notice of the stranger. Then, his work done, he came and looked over his shoulder, saying, ‘What you got there, mate?’
‘Finest thing ever you read,’ said the other, carelessly turning over some vivid pictures. “The Life and Adventures of Dick Turpin, Claude Duval, and Other Eminent Outlaws41.” Something like a book this is,’ he continued. ‘Six hundred pages full of love and murder; and that excitin’ you can’t bear to put it down!’
This was charming; and the cook, and the butcher, and a couple of boundary riders dropped in for a yarn42, at once became inquisitive43, and anxious to have a look.
‘See here,’ said the owner of the wonderful volume, pointing to an outrageous44 effort in coloured process, ‘this is the bold Dick Turpin on his wonderful mare45, Black Bess, taking the ten-foot gate on the road to York. See, he’s got the reins in his teeth and a pistol in each hand.’
‘By gum, she’s a flyer!’ ‘Twig the long-necked spurs.’ ‘No knee-pads to the saddle either!’ ‘Ten foot! there ain’t a horse in Hostralia as could do it!’—exclaimed his audience, becoming excited.
‘And here you have,’ went on the traveller, ‘the gentle highwayman, Claude Duval, stickin’ up the Duke of York’s coach on ’Oundslow ’Eath. And here he is again, dancing under the moon with the Duchess.’ And so he continued, setting forth46 in tempting47 sequence the 199glories of the work, pausing at intervals48 to read aloud thrilling bits, and comment upon them.
‘Where did you get it, mate?’ at length asked the cook.
‘Bought it in Atlanta,’ replied the other. ‘Fellow there’s got lots of ’em, and only thirty bob apiece. Cheap at double the price, I reckon, considerin’ the amoun’ of readin’ in it.’
‘Ain’t no deliv’rin’ numbers, or signin’ ’greements, or any o’ that game?’ asked one suspiciously. ‘’Cause if there is, we’re full.’
‘No,’ was the reply; ‘you pays your money and you takes your bargain. But I don’t think you fellows’ll ever get the chance. I heard him say he’d as soon face a mad bull as come to this station.’
The men, of whom the hut was now full, laughed; and said one,—
‘The chap as sells, out an’ out, an honest article like that un needn’t be scared. It’s them coves49 as gets you to sign things, and keeps sendin’ a lot o’ rotten trash, not a bit like what you seen furst; an’ then comes, as flash as you please, summonsin’ of you an’ a-gettin’ of you bullyragged in Court—them’s the coves as we’ve got a derry on. Let’s have another squint50 at that pitcher51 o’ Dick Turpin an’ Black Bess, mates.’
‘Give you five bob on your bargain!’ shouted a tall stockman, presently, from the outer edge of the circle, where he had been impatiently waiting for a look.
‘Couldn’t part with it,’ said the owner decidedly. 200‘But I’ll tell you what I will do. I’m going back to the township to-morrow. If the chap ain’t gone, I’ll let him know he can sell a few here. He might venture if you’ll all give your word not to go for him when he does come. He’s got lots of others, too. There’s “The Bloody52 Robber of the Blue Mountains,” and “The Pirate’s Bride,” and “The Boundin’ Outlaws of the Backwoods,” and plenty more—all same price, and all pictures and covers same as this one is.’
‘Right! Tell him to come! It was pay-day yesterday,’ yelled the crowd unanimously.
‘Not a bad night’s work, I do believe,’ muttered the traveller to himself, as he reluctantly stretched out on the hard bunk-boards. ‘I hope, though, this confounded beard and moustache won’t come off while I’m asleep, if I ever do get any on such a bed.’
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1
aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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2
copiously
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| adv.丰富地，充裕地 | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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6
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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7
bucked
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| adj.快v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的过去式和过去分词 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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8
specification
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| n.详述；[常pl.]规格，说明书，规范 | |
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9
forgery
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| n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为） | |
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10
bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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11
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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12
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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13
ousted
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| 驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺 | |
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14
justifiable
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| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
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15
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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16
execration
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| n.诅咒，念咒，憎恶 | |
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17
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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18
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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19
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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20
strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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21
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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22
consignment
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| n.寄售；发货；委托；交运货物 | |
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23
abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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24
bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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25
shuffle
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| n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走 | |
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26
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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27
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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28
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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29
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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30
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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31
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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32
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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laconically
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| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
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34
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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35
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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36
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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38
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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39
undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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40
batch
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| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
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41
outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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42
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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43
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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44
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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45
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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46
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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47
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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48
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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49
coves
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| n.小海湾( cove的名词复数 )；家伙 | |
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50
squint
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| v. 使变斜视眼, 斜视, 眯眼看, 偏移, 窥视; n. 斜视, 斜孔小窗; adj. 斜视的, 斜的 | |
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51
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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52
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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