or pulled into a frame or cage something like the frame in which
oxen are shod. When the cow was thoroughly secured in this way, with
one fore leg tied up so that she could not lift either of her hind legs,
the milkmaid, who was a big, rough-looking man, proceeded to milk the
animal. When the operation was concluded, another cow was brought up and
put through the same process.

"I asked if they had any cows that would stand peaceably and submit to
the milking process. They answered me that they had such cows
occasionally, but not often; and the man with whom I talked seemed to be
rather proud of the circumstance, that Australian cows were more
high-spirited than American ones.

"The stockmen had had their breakfast and were about starting for their
daily rounds. Some fifty or sixty horses had been driven in from a
paddock and enclosed in a yard large enough for five times their number.
A man went into the yard to select his horse for the day's riding, and
having singled out the animal, he made several ineffectual attempts to
capture him. When he approached the group, it divided and started off
for a different part of the yard. Then the man was joined by another,
and the horses at once concluded that it was time for their fun to
cease. They submitted quietly to being bridled and saddled, and one
after another they were led out of the yard as soon as this operation
was complete.

"One of the stockmen remarked that he would like to see one of us
youngsters go in there and get a horse.

"I replied that I had heard too many stories of the character of
Australian horses to induce me to make the attempt.

"You are very wise not to do so," he answered. "They would have fun
with you by the hour, and then you would not be able to lay hands on one
of them. Whenever we get a new chum that is a green hand, we have a
jolly time seeing him work. He goes inside with one of the black boys,
and between them they manage to get a horse off into a corner. Then the
new chum takes his bridle over his arm and approaches the horse, talking
to him all the time. Australian horses don't understand that sort of
thing, and you might as well talk to the surf on the sea-coast as to one
of them. Just as the new chum gets up to within about four feet of the
horse's neck, the beast spins around on his hind legs, and is off like a
shot. He kicks and prances, and sometimes he lies down and rolls, and
all the time he is saying to himself, 'What a joll