sentenced to two years' hard; during which time the selector himself
got six months for assaulting the squatter with intent to do him
grievous bodily harm-which, indeed, he more than attempted, if a
broken nose, a fractured jaw, and the loss of most of the squatters'
teeth amounted to anything. The squatter by this time had made peace
with the other local Justice, and had become his father-in-law.

When Tom came out there was little left for him to live for; but he
took a job of fencing, got a few pounds together, and prepared to
settle on the land some more. He got a "missus" and a few cows
during the next year; the missus robbed him and ran away with the
dummy, and the cows died in the drought, or were impounded by the
squatter while on their way to water. Then Tom rented an orchard up
the creek, and a hailstorm destroyed all the fruit. Germany happened
to be represented at the time, Jacob having sought shelter at Tom's
but on his way home from town. Tom stood leaning against the door
post with the hail beating on him through it all. His eyes were very
bright and very dry, and every breath was a choking sob. Jacob let
him stand there, and sat inside with a dreamy expression on his hard
face, thinking of childhood and fatherland, perhaps. When it was over
he led Tom to a stool and said, "You waits there, Tom. I must go
home for somedings. You sits there still and waits twenty minutes;"
then he got on his horse and rode off muttering to himself; "Dot man
moost gry, dot man moost gry." He was back inside of twenty minutes
with a bottle of wine and a cornet under his overcoat. He poured the
wine into two pint-pots, made Tom drink, drank himself, and then took
his cornet, stood up at the door, and played a German march into the
rain after the retreating storm. The hail had passed over his
vineyard and he was a ruined man too. Tom did "gry" and was all
right. He was a bit disheartened, but he did another job of fencing,