" Hand-over-hand this time," Mac said, looking up at
the telegraph wire that stretched far overhead. " There's



We of the Never-Never 35

no pulley here. Hand-over-hand, or the horse's-taiJ
trick."

But Mine Host of the " Pub '-' had seen us, and running
down the opposite side of the gorge, launched a boat at
the river's brink ; then puUing up-stream for a hundred
yards or so in the backwash, faced about, and raced down
and across the swift-flowing current with long, sweeping
strokes ; and as we rode down the steep, winding track to
meet him, Mac became jocular, and reminding us that the
gauntlet of the Katherine had yet to be run, also reminded
us that the sympathies of the Katherine were with the
stockmen ; adding with a chuckle, as Mine Host bore down
upon us. " You don't even represent business here ; no
woman ever does.''

Then the boat grounded, and Mine Host sprang ashore
— another burly six-foot bushman — and greeted us with
a flashing smile and a laughing " There's not much of her
left." And then, stepping with quiet unconcern into over
two feet of water, pushed the boat against a jutting ledge
for my convenience. " Wet feet don't count," be laughed,
with another of his flashing smiles, when remonstrated
with, and Mac chuckled in an aside, " Didn't I tell you a
woman doesn't represent business here ? "



CHAPTER IV

The swim being beyond the horses, they were left hobbled
out on the north banks, to wait for the river to fall ; and
after another swift race down and across stream. Mine Host
landed every one safely on the south side of the flood, and
soon we were clambering up the steep track that led from
the river to the " Pub."

Coming up from the river, the Katherine Settlement
appeared to consist solely of the " Pub " and its accom-
panying store ; but beyond the " Pub," which, by the



36 We of the Never-Never

way, seemed to be hanging on to its own verandah posts
for support, we found an elongated, three-roomed building,
nestUng under deep verandahs, and half-hidden beneath a
grove of lofty scarlet flowering ponchianas.
