He picked up the pistols, cocked them, and laid
them downwith the butts towards him.
When it was quitedark he began to walk with the
reins over his arm towards thehumpy. The sheep in the yard were muddy and forlorn.
Is that as much to say youve changed yourmind?
A dogflew out at him, but he sent it limping away
with one swift kick. Theshout was repeated, just audible above the noise of the
river. Between the homestead and thehills Cabell had explored there was a boiling
torrent now.
His face had gone several shades redder and he
talkedas though he had a mouthful of molasses.
Gursey returned slowly to his bunk and sat
down.
Chapter TenSUSPENSEWell, nothing was decided next
day or the next. A villainous-looking old brute this, with achin like a trowel and a
mouth turned in over bare gums.
A burst of laughter from Davy distracted Cabells
attention.
Thats one saved his windpipe
tilltomorrer.
Hemade a motion of passing a rope round his throat
and strangling.
It remindshim of different rain on a different
roof, for each rain and roofhas its own music. He turned and stared atCabell,
sniffed violently.
The dogs followed with anincessant whining and
barking.
His cowsve bincomin down legs-up these three days.
Oh,the hesitations and misgivings, the doubts and regrets andlongings!
His fat back padded against the wall,bringing the
axe down with a clatter. Cabell threw one of the bundles on to Gurseys knees, shook
Red andgave him the other.
The air of the room became stagnant again andthe
slush-lamp burned without a quiver. In Cabell a new being laboured to be born. So he
was running away from Murrumburra after all. He took an axe from the wall, went to
thedoor and quietened the dog.
Vast and gnarled, the ears layflat against his
head.
Theshout was repeated, just audible above the noise
of the river.