File:The pearl divers of Roncador Reef, and other stories (1908) (14763111352).jpg

Identifier: pearldiversofron00beck (find matches)
Title: The pearl divers of Roncador Reef, and other stories
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Becke, Louis, 1855-1913
Subjects:
Publisher: London : J. Clarke
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
d you was here, and come to arsk yer ifyer would like me to come along with yer campinout. What is your name ? Jim Trollope. Never heard the name about here in my time.Do you live here ? Yes. I works at the sawmills — when I getswork. Mother lives here. She told me that my oldman knowed all you chaps when you was kids. Heuster to work on Gwalior Cattle Station on theHastins River for Major Cockburn. A light broke in upon me—I remembered the manat once. Where is he now ? I asked. Dead this seven year. Mother married Socky Cole, the punt-man. He fell outer the punt and gotdrownded two year ago. I thought for a few moments. The boy, thoughunkempt and semi-savage in appearance, had a goodopen face, and so when he told me that he had hadno work for some time, I said that he could come withme at so much per day for as long as I might wanthim. Then I went to see his mother. She was ahard-faced sun-baked creature, who earned her livingby cooking and washing for some of the mill men and 74
Text Appearing After Image:
well? I SAID, INTERROGATIVELY. HEKKU YOU WAS HERi:, AMI COME TO ARSK YER IK VEK \VOLI.r> LIKE ME TO COME ALONli WITH YHR CAMIIN OLT. Jim Trollope and Myself timber-getters who were single. She was very civil,told me that Jim would be right enough if I givehim a clout on the ead now and then when he dontmove hisself smart, and thanked me when I gave herten shillings on account of Jims future earnings. Theboy, she told me, was over sixteen, and a good bush-man, and knew the coast well, up and down, forthirty mile or more. So, although I was in no way anxious for company,I took on young Jim, intending to let him fish,shoot and camp with me as long as I remained in thevicinit) of his home. And when, an hour later, hecame to help me put our traps together, it did megood to see his ej-es light up as he handled myfishing tackle and guns with respect bordering uponreverence. Like those lines, Jim ? My word ! I never seed anything like em afore.Crikey ! Theyre beauties. An them big hooks wi

Note About Images