Page:The Toll of the Bush.pdf/46

‘Have you had breakfast?’ Geoffrey asked.

Pine chewed the cud of an early meal of potatoes, looked at the spread table, and replied in the negative.

‘Put on your coat then and sit down. We’ll see about the greases by and by.’

Pine did as he was hidden, and having discovered by watching the brothers that porridge was eaten with a spoon—this was after a momentary aberration with a knife and fork—he fell to, first helping himself liberally to sugar, pepper, and salt, the latter condiments being added to show a perfect acquaintance with European customs.

‘Seen any more of the Reverend Fletcher?’ asked Robert.

‘I not seen,’ said Pine; ‘but my mother’s father she seen, and all the people up there very religiously now.’

‘Where’s that?’ Robert asked.

‘Up to Wairangi. You know the how-you-call ’Vation Army?’

‘Salvation Army?’

‘That te ferra. My mother’s father’s people all belonga him dis time. I tink a very good ting dat, p’r’aps not?’ he asked.

Robert nodded. ‘What do they do?’ he asked.

‘They sell all deir tings. No cow dere, no riwai,^[1] no gum. All te people buy biggy drum and tombones and blow him up and down te beach. My mother’s father she very ol’ man—more’n one hund’ed years—he play te tombones too. When he come down to see us yes’day, he got tombones on his back an’ he play all a tune. Then by’m-by