This was the consummate fool, sent of the Devil, whom I have mentioned
above. We have seen him before. He was the longest, brownest, stupidest
of the Hawbuck family. The one who could spit further than any of his
brothers.
"Well, Charley," he said, "is this all true about the bushrangers?"
Charles said it was. And they were bailed up in the limestone gully,
and all the party were away after them.
"Where are you going then?" asked the unfortunate young idiot.
"Home to my mother," blurted out poor Charles.
"Well!" said the other, speaking unconsciously exactly the words which
the enemy of mankind desired. "Well, I couldn't have believed that. If
a chap had said that of you in my hearing, I'd have fought him if he'd
been as big as a house. I never thought that of you, Charley."
Charles cursed aloud. "What have I done to be talked to like this?
Major Buckley has no right to send me away like this, to be branded as
coward through the country side. Ten times over better to be shot than
have such words as these said to me. I shall go back with you."
"That's the talk," said the poor fool.
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