Page:Triangles of life, and other stories.djvu/257

 got him a few things from the store, and arranged about his tucker for a day or two.

Cooney seemed neither slouching nor sullen, but he kept vaguely and unobtrusively to himself. He would sit smoking in the row by the hut after tea. His manner suggested that of a mild, harmless, deaf man of rather low intelligence. Bob, who was a silent, seriout man, would sometimes squat beside him and talk in a low voice, and Jim began to brood, as much as it was in his nature to brood, and to wonder more often what there was between Cooney and his old mate. But mateship a forbade him to inquire. And so till " cut-out," and next day, the river-boat being delayed, and time of little importance (for it was the end of the season), while for an extra pound or two they decided to take the track up the river to the township where they intended to spend Christmas. As fuel to Jim's growing resentment, Cooney—who had a decent swag by this time, and a water-bag, thanks to Bob—seemed prepared to travel with them. Then Jim burst out—

"—— it all, Bob! Yer ain't going to take that —— on the track with us, are yer?"

" He's only going as far as the Wanaaring track," said Bob, " and then he's going to strike Out Back to look for a chance amongst the stragglers." Then he added in a mutter: " He's got pluck anyhow, poor devil."

"Well, I don't know about the pluck," said Jim. "But—why, he's got all the brands of a gaol-bird or something, and I can't make out how in —— you