MITCHELL: A CHARACTER SKETCH

 It was a very mean station, and Mitchell thought he had better go himself and beard the overseer for tucker. His mates were for waiting till the overseer went out on the run, and then trying their luck with the cook; but the self-assertive and diplomatic¹ Mitchell decided² to go.

 

“Good day,” said Mitchell.

 

“Good day,” said the manager.

 

“It's hot,” said Mitchell.

 

“Yes, it's hot.”

 

“I don't suppose,” said Mitchell; “I don't suppose it's any use asking you for a job?”

 

“Naw.”

 

“Well, I won't ask you,” said Mitchell, “but I don't suppose you want any fencing done?”

 

“Naw.”

 

“Nor boundary-riding'?”

 

“Naw.”

 

“You ain't likely to want a man to knock round?”

 

“Naw.”

 

“I thought not. Things are pretty bad just now.”

 

“Na—yes—they are.”

 

“Ah, well; there's a lot to be said on the squatter's side as well as the men's. I suppose I can get a bit of rations³?”

 

“Ye-yes.” (Shortly)—“Wot d'yer want?”

 

“Well, let's see; we want a bit of meat and flour—I think that's all. Got enough tea and sugar to carry us on.”

 

“All right. Cook! have you got any meat?”

 

“No!”

 

To Mitchell: “Can you kill a sheep?”

 

“Rather!”

 

To the cook: “Give this man a cloth and knife and steel, and let him go up to the yard and kill a sheep.” (To Mitchell) “You can take a fore-quarter and get a bit of flour.”

 

Half an hour later Mitchell came back with the carcass wrapped in the cloth.

 

“Here yer are; here's your sheep,” he said to the cook. “That's all right; hang it in there. Did you take a forequarter?”'

 

“No.”

 

“Well, why didn't you? The boss told you to.”

 

“I didn't want a fore-quarter. I don't like it. I took a hind-quarter.”

 

So he had.

 

The cook scratched his head; he seemed to have nothing to say. He thought about trying to think, perhaps, but gave it best. It was too hot and he was out of practice.

 

“Here, fill these up, will you?” said Mitchell. “That's the tea-bag, and that's the sugar-bag, and that's the flour-bag.” He had taken them from the front of his shirt.

 

“Don't be frightened to stretch 'em a little, old man. I've got two mates to feed.”

 

The cook took the bags mechanically and filled them well before he knew what he was doing. Mitchell talked all the time.

 

“Thank you,” said he—“got a bit of baking-powder?”

 

“Ye-yes, here you are.”

 

“Thank you. Find it dull here, don't you?”

 

“Well, yes, pretty dull. There's a bit of cooked beef and some bread and cake there, if you want it!”

 

“Thanks,” said Mitchell, sweeping⁴ the broken victuals⁵ into an old pillow-slip which he carried on his person for such an emergency. “I s'pose you find it dull round here.”

 

“Yes, pretty dull.”

 

“No one to talk to much?” “No, not many.”

 

“Tongue gets rusty⁶?”

 

“Ye—es, sometimes.”

 

“Well, so long, and thank yer.”

 

“So long,” said the cook (he nearly added “thank yer”).

 

“Well, good day; I'll see you again.”

 

“Good day.”

 

Mitchell shouldered his spoil and left.

 

The cook scratched his head; he had a chat with the overseer afterwards, and they agreed that the traveller was a bit gone.

 

But Mitchell's head wasn't gone—not much: he had been round a bit—that was all.

 

 

 

 

1 diplomatic   

adj.外交的，从事外交的，策略的，有手腕的

参考例句：

• There are certain forms that must be followed in diplomatic circles.在外交界有一些礼节是必须遵守的。
• You must be more diplomatic in handling the situation.你在处理这一情况时，必须圆滑。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 rations   

定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量

参考例句：

• They are provisioned with seven days' rations. 他们得到了7天的给养。
• The soldiers complained that they were getting short rations. 士兵们抱怨他们得到的配给不够数。

4 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

5 victuals   

n.食物；食品

参考例句：

• A plateful of coarse broken victuals was set before him.一盘粗劣的剩余饭食放到了他的面前。
• There are no more victuals for the pig.猪没有吃的啦。

6 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。