ers of
the creek; there were political differences, too, and a fierce sporting
rivalry. By the majority of the people of Cow Flat the purloining of
their goats was accepted as further evidence of the moral depravity and
low origin of the people of Waddy, and the feeling between the townships
was suddenly strained to a dangerous tension.

The first few skirmishing parties from Cow Flat were composed of women
and boys, and an undisciplined and rash pursuit of goats followed each
visit. The nannies and billies, under stress of the new excitement, ran
suddenly wild and developed a fleetness of foot, an expertness in
climbing, and powers of endurance hitherto all unsuspected by their
owners; so very few animals were recovered by the visitors.

The hunt was continued throughout the next day. Goats were rushing wildly
about the place from morning till midnight pursued by their wrathful
owners, to the detriment of the peace of Waddy and the undoing of the
tractable local milkers; and at last a great resentment took possession
of the matrons of the township--there were counter-attacks among the
houses, rescue parties beset the women carrying off prizes, and a few
skirmishes happened on the flat. Now the men were induced to take a hand,
and there was talk of battle and pillage and sudden death.

Devoy, pugnacious and vengeful, provoked the first serious struggle.
Discovering a man of Cow Flat who claimed a small family of aggressive
brown goats which he had marked out as the vandals that had wrought ruin
amongst his well-kept beds, Devoy bearded the stranger and spoke of
damages and broken heads, and his small son, Danny, a young Australian
with a piquant brogue and a born love of ructions, moved round and
incited him to bloodshed.

'Go fer him, daddy. Sure, ye can lick him wid one hand, dear,' pleaded
Danny.

'Yer dir-rty goats have ate me gar-rden, sor. D'ye moind me now? It's
ruined me gar-rden is on me,' said Devoy aggressively.

'Hit him, daddy,' screamed Danny.

Devoy accepted the advice and struck the first blow. The man from Cow
Flat was very willing, and they fought a long, destructive battle; and
through it all Danny danced about the ring, bristling with excitement and
crying fierce and persistent encouragement to his sire.

'Let him have it, daddy!' 'Now ye have him!' 'Good on you, daddy!' 'Sure,
you'll do him!' 'One round more, daddy, an' ye have him beat!' These
phrases, and shrill inarticulate cries of appl