Поющие в терновнике

           Buttheyhuntmagnificently,andcallnomanmasterorprovider."

           Heunearthedacoldpieceofmuttonandapacketofbreadandbutterfromhissaddlebag,carvedahunkfromthemuttonandhandedtheresttoFrank.Puttingthebreadandbutteronalogbetweenthem,hesankhiswhiteteethintothemeatwithevidentenjoyment.Thirstwasslakedfromacanvaswaterbag,thencigarettesrolled.

           Alonewilgatreestoodnearby;FatherRalphindicateditwithhiscigarette.

           "That’sthespottosleep,"hesaid,unstrappinghisblanketandpickinguphissaddle.

           Frankfollowedhimtothetree,commonlyheldthemostbeautifulinthispartofAustralia.Itsleavesweredenseandapalelimegreen,itsshapealmostperfectlyrounded.Thefoliagegrewsoclosetothegroundthatsheepcouldreachiteasily,theresultbeingthateverywilgabottomwasmownasstraightasatopiaryhedge.Iftherainbegantheywouldhavemoreshelterunderitthananyothertree,forAustraliantreesweregenerallythinneroffoliagethanthetreesofwetterlands.

           "You’renothappy,Frank,areyou?"FatherRalphasked,lyingdownwithasighandrollinganothersmoke.

           FromhispositionacoupleoffeetawayFrankturnedtolookathimsuspiciously."What’shappy?"

           "Atthemoment,yourfatherandbrothers.Butnotyou,notyourmother,andnotyoursister.Don’tyoulikeAustralia?"

           "Notthisbitofit.IwanttogotoSydney.Imighthaveachancetheretomakesomethingofmyself."

           "Sydney,eh?It’sadenofiniquity."FatherRalphwassmiling.