Page:While the Billy Boils, 1913.djvu/76

 'Ah, well!' he said, in explanation of a long meditative silence on his part; 'ah, well―them saplings―the smell of them gum leaves set me thinking.' And he thought some more.

'Well, for my part,' said a tourist in the coach, presently, in a condescending tone, 'I can't see much in Australia. The bally colonies are'

'Oh, that be damned!' snarled the Australian-born―they had finished the second flask of whisky. 'What do you Britishers know about Australia? She's as good as England anyway.'

'Well, I suppose you'll go straight back to the States as soon as you've done your business in Christchurch,' said the bagman, when near their journey's end they had become confidential.

'Well, I dunno. I reckon I'll just take a run over to Australia first. There's an old mate of mine in business in Sydney, and I'd like to have a yarn with him.