These were a numerous and varied1 band, and required no small amount of attention. Bobs, of course, came first—no other animal could possibly approach him in favour. But after Bobs came a long procession, beginning with Tait, the collie, and ending with the last brood of fluffy2 Orpington chicks, or perhaps the newest thing in disabled birds, picked up, fluttering and helpless, in the yard or orchard3. There was room in Norah's heart for them all.
Tait was a beauty—a rough-haired collie, with a splendid head, and big, faithful brown eyes, that spoke4 more eloquently5 than many persons' tongues. He was, like most of the breed, ready to be friends with any one; but his little mistress was dearest of all, and he worshipped her with abject6 devotion. Norah never went anywhere without him; Tait saw to that. He seemed always on the watch for her coming, and she was never more than a few yards from the house before the big dog was silently brushing the grass by her side. His greatest joy was to follow her on long rides into the bush, putting up an occasional hare and scurrying7 after it in the futile8 way of collies, barking at the swallows overhead, and keeping pace with Bobs' long, easy canter.
Puck used to come on these excursions too. He was the only being for whom it was suspected that Tait felt a mild dislike—an impudent9 Irish terrier, full of fun and mischief10, yet with a somewhat unfriendly and suspicious temperament11 that made him, perhaps, a better guardian12 for Norah than the benevolently13 disposed Tait. Puck had a nasty, inquiring mind—an unpleasant way of sniffing14 round the legs of tramps that generally induced those gentry15 to find the top rail of a fence a more calm and more desirable spot than the level of the ground. Indian hawkers feared him and hated him in equal measure. He could bite, and occasionally did bite, his victims being always selected with judgment16 and discretion17, generally vagrants18 emboldened19 to insolence20 by seeing no men about the kitchen when all hands were out mustering21 or busy on the run. When Puck bit, it was with no uncertain tooth. He was suspected of a desire to taste the blood of every one who went near Norah, though his cannibalistic propensities22 were curbed23 by stern discipline.
Only once had he had anything like a free hand—or a free tooth.
Norah was out riding, a good way from the homestead, when a particularly unpleasant-looking fellow accosted24 her, and asked for money. Norah stared.
“I haven't got any,” she said. “Anyhow, father doesn't let us give away money to travellers—only tucker.”
“Oh, doesn't he?” the fellow said unpleasantly. “Well, I want money, not grub.” He laid a compelling hand on Bobs' bridle25 as Norah tried to pass him. “Come,” he said—“that bracelet'll do!”
It was a pretty little gold watch set in a leather bangle—father's birthday present, only a few weeks old. Norah simply laughed—she scarcely comprehended so amazing a thing as that this man should really intend to rob her.
“Get out of my way,” she said—“you can't have that!”
“Can't I!” He caught her wrist. “Give it quietly now, or I'll—”
The sentence was not completed. A yellow streak26 hurled27 itself though the air, as Puck, who had been investigating a tussock for lizards28, awoke to the situation. Something like a vice29 gripped the swagman by the leg, and he dropped Norah's wrist and bridle and roared like any bull. The “something” hung on fiercely, silently, and the victim hopped30 and raved31 and begged for mercy.
Norah had ridden a little way on. She called softly to Puck.
“Here, boy!”
Puck did not relinquish32 his grip. He looked pleadingly at his little mistress across the swagman's trouser-leg. Norah struck her saddle sharply with her whip.
“Here, sir!—drop it!”
Puck dropped it reluctantly, and came across to Bobs, his head hanging. The swagman sat down on the ground and nursed his leg.
“That served you right,” Norah said, with judicial33 severity. “You hadn't any business to grab my watch. Now, if you'll go up to the house they'll give you some tucker and a rag for your leg!”
She rode off, whistling to Puck. The swagman gaped34 and muttered various remarks. He did not call at the house.
Norah was supposed to manage the fowls35, but her management was almost entirely36 ornamental37, and it is to be feared that the poultry38 yard would have fared but poorly had it depended upon her alone. All the fowls were hers. She said so, and no one contradicted her. Still, whenever one was wanted for the table, it was ruthlessly slain39. And it was black Billy who fed them night and morning, and Mrs. Brown who gathered the eggs, and saw that the houses were safely shut against the foxes every evening. Norah's chief part in the management lay in looking after the setting hens. At first she firmly checked the broody instincts by shutting them callously40 under boxes despite pecks and loud protests. Later, when their mood refused to change, she loved to prepare them soft nests in boxes, and to imprison41 them there until they took kindly42 to their seclusion43. Then it was hard work to wait three weeks until the first fluffy heads peeped out from the angry mother's wing, after which Norah was a blissfully adoring caretaker until the downy balls began to get ragged44, as the first wing and tail feathers showed. Then the chicks became uninteresting, and were handed over to Black Billy.
Besides her own pets there were Jim's.
“Mind, they're in your care,” Jim had said sternly, on the evening before his departure for school. They were making a tour of the place—Jim outwardly very cheerful and unconcerned; Norah plunged45 in woe46. She did not attempt to conceal47 it. She had taken Jim's arm, and it was sufficient proof of his state of mind that he did not shake it off. Indeed, the indications were that he was glad of the loving little hand tucked into the bend of his arm.
“Yes, Jim; I'll look after them.”
“I don't want you to bother feeding them yourself,” Jim said magnanimously; “that 'ud be rather too much of a contract for a kid, wouldn't it? Only keep an eye on 'em, and round up Billy if he doesn't do his work. He's a terror if he shirks, and unless you watch him like a cat he'll never change the water in the tins every morning. Lots of times I've had to do it myself!”
“I'd do it myself sooner'n let them go without, Jim, dear,” said the small voice, with a suspicion of a choke.
“Don't you do it,” said Jim; “slang Billy. What's he here for, I'd like to know! I only want you to go round 'em every day, and see that they're all right.”
So daily Norah used to make her pilgrimage round Jim's pets. There were the guinea pigs—a rapidly increasing band, in an enclosure specially48 built for them by Jim—a light frame, netted carefully everywhere, and so constructed that it could be moved from place to place, giving them a fresh grass run continually. Then there were two young wallabies and a little brush kangaroo, which lived in a little paddock all their own, and were as tame as kittens. Norah loved this trio especially, and always had a game with them on her daily visit. There was a shy gentleman which Norah called a turloise, because she never could remember if he were a turtle or a tortoise. He lived in a small enclosure, with a tiny water hole, and his disposition49 was extremely retiring. In private Norah did not feel drawn50 to this member of her charge, but she paid him double attention, from an inward feeling of guilt51, and because Jim set a high value upon him.
“He's such a wise old chap,” Jim would say; “nobody knows what he's thinking of!”
In her heart of hearts Norah did not believe that mattered very much.
But when the stables had been visited and Bobs and Sirdar (Jim's neglected pony52) interviewed; when Tait and Puck had had their breakfast bones; when wallabies and kangaroo had been inspected (with a critical eye to their water tins), and the turtle had impassively received a praiseworthy attempt to draw him out; when the chicks had all been fed, and the guinea pigs (unlike the leopard) had changed their spot for the day—there still remained the birds.
The birds were a colony in themselves. There was a big aviary53, large enough for little trees and big shrubs54 to grow in, where a happy family lived whose members included several kinds of honey-eaters, Queensland finches, blackbirds and a dozen other tiny shy things which flitted quickly from bush to bush all day. They knew Norah and, when she entered their home, would flutter down and perch55 on her head and shoulders, and look inquisitively56 for the flowers she always brought them. Sometimes Norah would wear some artificial flowers, by way of a joke. It was funny to see the little honey-eaters thrusting in their long beaks58 again and again in search of the sweet drops they had learned to expect in flowers, and funnier still to watch the air of disgust with which they would give up the attempt.
There were doves everywhere—not in cages, for they never tried to escape. Their soft “coo” murmured drowsily59 all around. There were pigeons, too, in a most elaborate pigeon cote—another effort of Jim's carpentering skill. These were as tame as the smaller birds, and on Norah's appearance would swoop60 down upon her in a cloud. They had done so once when she was mounted on Bobs, to the pony's very great alarm and disgust. He took to his heels promptly61. “I don't think he stopped for two miles!” Norah said. Since then, however, Bobs had grown used to the pigeons fluttering and circling round him. It was a pretty sight to watch them all together, child and pony half hidden beneath their load of birds.
The canaries had a cage to themselves—a very smart one, with every device for making canary life endurable in captivity62. Certainly Norah's birds seemed happy enough, and the sweet songs of the canaries were delightful63. I think they were Norah's favourites amongst her feathered flock.
Finally there were two talkative members—Fudge the parrot, and old Caesar, a very fine white cockatoo. Fudge had been caught young, and his education had been of a liberal order. An apt pupil, he had picked up various items of knowledge, and had blended them into a whole that was scarcely harmonious64. Bits of slang learned from Jim and the stockmen were mingled65 with fragments of hymns66 warbled by Mrs. Brown and sharp curt67 orders delivered to dogs. A French swag-man, who had hurt his foot and been obliged to camp for a few days at the homestead, supplied Fudge with several Parisian remarks that were very effective. Every member of the household had tried to teach him to whistle some special tune68. Unfortunately, the lessons had been delivered at the same time, and the result was the most amazing jumble69 of melody, which Fudge delivered with an air of deepest satisfaction. As Jim said, “You never know if he's whistling 'God Save the King,' 'Pop Goes the Weasel,' or 'The Wearin' o' the Green,' but it doesn't make any difference to Fudge's enjoyment70!”
Caesar was a giant among cockatoos, and had a full sense of his own importance.
He had been shot when very young, some stray pellets having found their way into his wing. Norah had found him fluttering helplessly along the ground, and had picked him up, sustaining a severe peck in doing so. It was, however, the first and last peck he ever gave Norah. From that moment he seemed to recognize her as a friend, and to adopt her as an intimate—marks of esteem71 he accorded to very few others. Norah had handed him to Jim on arriving at the house, a change which the bird resented by a savage72 attack on Jim's thumb. Jim was no hero—at the age of eleven, he dropped the cockatoo like a hot coal. “Great Caesar!” he exclaimed, sucking his thumb, and Caesar he was christened in that moment.
After his recovery, which was a long and tedious process, Caesar showed no inclination73 to leave the homestead. He used to strut74 about the back yard, and frequent the kitchen door, very much after the fashion of a house-dog. He was, indeed, as valuable as a watch-dog, for the appearance of any stranger was the signal for a volley of shrieks75 and chatter76, sufficient to alarm any household. However, Caesar's liberty had to be restricted, for he became somewhat of a menace to all he did not choose to care for, and his attacks on the ankles were no joking matter.
To the dogs he was a constant terror. He hated all alike, and would “go for” big Tait as readily as for cheerful little Puck, and not a dog on the place would face him. So at last a stand and a chain were bought for Caesar, and on his perch he lived in solitary77 splendour, while his enemies took good care to keep beyond his reach. Norah he always loved, and those whom he had managed to bite—their number was large—used to experience thrills on seeing the little girl hold him close to her face while he rubbed his beak57 up and down her cheek. He tolerated black Billy, who fed him, and was respectful to Mr. Linton; but he worshipped Mrs. Brown, the cook, and her appearance at the kitchen door, which he could see from his stand, caused an instant outbreak of cheers and chatter, varied by touching78 appeals to “scratch Cocky.” His chief foe79 was Mrs. Brown's big yellow cat, who not only dared to share the adored one's affections, but was openly aggressive at times, and loved to steal the cockatoo's food.
Caesar, on his perch, apparently80 wrapped in dreamless slumber81, would in reality be watching the stealthy movements of Tim, the cat, who would come scouting82 through the grass towards the tin of food. Just out of reach, Tim would lie down and feign83 sleep as deep as Caesar's, though every muscle in his body was tense with readiness for the sudden spring. So they would remain, perhaps many minutes. Tim's patience never gave out. Sometimes Caesar's would, and he would open his eyes and flap round on his perch, shouting much bad bird language at the retreating Tim. But more often both remained motionless until the cat sprang suddenly at the food tin. More often than not he was too quick for Caesar, and would drag the tin beyond reach of the chain before the bird could defend it, in which case the wrath84 of the defeated was awful to behold85. But sometimes Caesar managed to anticipate the leap, and Tim did not readily forget those distressful86 moments when the cockatoo had him by the fur with beak and claw. He would escape, showing several patches where his coat had been torn, and remained in a state of dejection for two or three days, during which battles were discontinued. It took Caesar almost as long to recover from the wild state of triumph into which his rare victories threw him.
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1
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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fluffy
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| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
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orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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4
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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eloquently
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| adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地) | |
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abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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7
scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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benevolently
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| adv.仁慈地，行善地 | |
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14
sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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15
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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vagrants
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| 流浪者( vagrant的名词复数 )； 无业游民； 乞丐； 无赖 | |
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emboldened
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| v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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21
mustering
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的现在分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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22
propensities
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| n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
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23
curbed
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| v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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25
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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27
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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lizards
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| n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 ) | |
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29
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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30
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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31
raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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32
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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36
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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callously
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41
imprison
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| vt.监禁，关押，限制，束缚 | |
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42
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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44
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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45
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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46
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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47
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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48
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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49
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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50
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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51
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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52
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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53
aviary
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| n.大鸟笼，鸟舍 | |
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54
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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56
inquisitively
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| 过分好奇地； 好问地 | |
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57
beak
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| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
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beaks
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| n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 )；鹰钩嘴；尖鼻子；掌权者 | |
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59
drowsily
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| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
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60
swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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61
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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62
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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63
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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64
harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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65
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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66
hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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67
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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68
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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69
jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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70
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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71
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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72
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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73
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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74
strut
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| v.肿胀，鼓起；大摇大摆地走；炫耀；支撑；撑开；n.高视阔步；支柱，撑杆 | |
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75
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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76
chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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77
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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78
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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79
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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80
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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81
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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82
scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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83
feign
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| vt.假装，佯作 | |
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84
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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85
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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86
distressful
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| adj.苦难重重的，不幸的，使苦恼的 | |
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