The black police of Queensland : reminiscences of official work and personal adventures in the early days of the colony . too new in the sixties to be entirely-level. The mare never broke her trot thewhole distance. At length, when one of thewheels was in a straight line with a hugestump, I was thinking of making a suggestionin a loud voice, for we were creating a greatwind, when the trap was flung open and abeaming face appeared as the driver roaredout stand by. I had just time to see thatthe off wheel had cleared the stump by abouthalf an inch, when I was thrown partly offmy seat as the mare
The black police of Queensland : reminiscences of official work and personal adventures in the early days of the colony . too new in the sixties to be entirely-level. The mare never broke her trot thewhole distance. At length, when one of thewheels was in a straight line with a hugestump, I was thinking of making a suggestionin a loud voice, for we were creating a greatwind, when the trap was flung open and abeaming face appeared as the driver roaredout stand by. I had just time to see thatthe off wheel had cleared the stump by abouthalf an inch, when I was thrown partly offmy seat as the mare was brought up suddenlyon her haunches, to a full stop at the gateof the little hotel. True to my home instincts, I asked, Whatis the fare ? Oh, damn the expense, was all theanswer I received ; and then jumping off hisperch, he resumed, Ill just see to oldKitty, and then Im going to shout, whichmeans, to those unacquainted with Colonialslang, Im going to stand drinks. So I stepped into the bar and was presentlyjoined by my driver, who, after calling forrefreshments, said : You see, I love that mare, shes all in the. I] JACK PAYNE 25 world to me. I dont often send her along thatpace ; she wanted to go, so I let her rip. I onlycarry that whip for show. What did you comeout for ? I see youre a new hand ; youre rightto be under the old flag. However, he did not wait for an answer tohis question. It was evident that he wishedrather to speak of himself, for he continued : *• My name is Payne—Jack Payne—I wasa junior officer aboard one of ships atthe siege of Sebastopol. Then I left theservice, and after a lot of ups and downs,worked my passage out here and came ashoreat Moreton Bay, with two shillings and somepence in my pocket, all in coppers—what I hadcleared, in fact, the night before landing, at I sawed wood at a Brisbane boarding-house for a week, and so got free rations. Afterthis I helped a bullock puncher—anglicebullock driver—with his team far up i
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1902
