Page:While the Billy Boils, 1913.djvu/144

 a long way out of my road a-purpose.…I meant to have just one more Christmas with old Ben Hake an' the rest of the boys―but I didn't know as they'd moved on so far west. The old bush school is dyin' out.'

There was a smile in his eyes, but his bearded lips twitched a little.

'Things is changed. The old houses is pretty much the same, an' the old signs want touchin' up and paintin' jest as bad as ever; an' there's that old palin' fence that me an' Ben Hake an' Jimmy Nowlett put up twenty year ago. I've tramped and travelled long ways since then. But things is changed―at least, people is.…Well, I must be goin'. There's nothing to keep me here. I'll push on and get into my track again. It's cooler travellin' in the night.'

'Yes, it's been pretty hot to-day.'

'Yes, it has. Well, s'long.'

'Grood day. Merry Christmas!'

'Eh? What? Oh, yes! Same to you! S'long!'

'Good day!'

He drifted out and away along Sunset Track.