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1、TheDrover'sWifeThetwo-roomedhouseisbuiltofroundtimber,slabs,andstringy-bark,andflooredwithsplitslabs.Abigbarkkitchenstandingatoneendislargerthanthehouseitself,verandaincluded.Bushallaround-bushwithnohorizon,forthecountryisflat.Norangesinthedistance.Thebushconsistsofstunted,rottennativ
2、eapple-trees.Noundergrowth.Nothingtorelievetheeyesavethedarkergreenofafewshe-oakswhicharesighingabovethenarrow,almostwaterlesscreek.Nineteenmilestothenearestsignofcivilisation-ashantyonthemainroad.Thedrover,anex-squatter,isawaywithsheep.Hiswifeandchildrenareleftherealone.Fourragged,dr
3、ied-up-lookingchildrenareplayingaboutthehouse.Suddenlyoneofthemyells:"Snake!Mother,here'sasnake!"Thegaunt,sun-brownedbushwomandashesfromthekitchen,snatchesherbabyfromtheground,holdsitonherlefthip,andreachesforastick."Whereisit?""Here!Goneinthewood-heap;"yellstheeldestboy-asharp-facedu
4、rchinofeleven."Stopthere,mother!I'llhavehim.Standback!I'llhavethebeggar!""Tommy,comehere,oryou'llbebit.ComehereatoncewhenItellyou,youlittlewretch!"Theyoungstercomesreluctantly,carryingastickbiggerthanhimself.Thenheyells,triumphantly:"Thereitgoes-underthehouse!"anddartsawaywithclubupli
5、fted.Atthesametimethebig,black,yellow-eyeddog-of-all-breeds,whohasshownthewildestinterestintheproceedings,breakshischainandrushesafterthatsnake.Heisamomentlate,however,andhisnosereachesthecrackintheslabsjustastheendofitstaildisappears.Almostatthesamemomenttheboy'sclubcomesdownandskins
6、theaforesaidnose.Alligatortakessmallnoticeofthis,andproceedstounderminethebuilding;butheissubduedafterastruggleandchainedup.Theycannotaffordtolosehim.1>Page2of9Thedrover'swifemakesthechildrenstandtogethernearthedog-housewhileshewatchesforthesnake.Shegetstwosmalldishesofmilkandsetsthem
7、downnearthewalltotemptittocomeout;butanhourgoesbyanditdoesnotshowitself.Itisnearsunset,andathunderstormiscoming.Thechildrenmustbebroughtinside.Shewillnottakethemintothehouse,forsheknowsthesnakeisthere,andmayatanymomentcomeupthroughacrackintheroughslabfloor;soshecarriesseveralarmfulsof
8、firew
