A FATEFUL BARGAIN 327 



Malay pieman for cakes. Then good Christian folks 

 charged her with the theft of the cross, and the pieman 

 with receiving it, knowing it to have been stolen. Lucy 

 was pardoned, but the pagan went to prison. 



Anti-Climax 



A boy was asked if he thought Jimmy Governor (a 

 notorious desperado who had given the New South Wales 

 police much trouble) ought to be hanged. "Baal. No 

 fear hang 'em ; too good." 



" What you do then ? " 



" Me ! me punch 'em nose ! " 



Little Fella Creek Sailor 



Ponto, a boy well known in North Queensland, and one 

 of the few aboriginals whose memory is honoured by tomb- 

 stones, was once taken by his master to Sydney. He saw 

 many wonders, being particularly impressed by the appear- 

 ance of the men-of-war's-men. 



A month or so after his return he was away among the 

 mountains with his master and a friend who was wearing a 

 jersey. 



" You sailor. Bob ? " asked Ponto. 



" Yes, Ponto. Pm sailor-man." 



" No. You no sailor," responded Ponto decisively. 



" Yes. I tell you true. Pm sailor." 



Ponto : " Ah ! me think you no big salt-water sailor. 

 You only little fella creek sailor. You no got jacket — 

 flash collar, knife alonga string ! " 



A Fateful Bargain 



A squatter, travelling on foot with his black boy, came 

 to a river almost a " banker," and there was no recourse but 

 to swim. After Charcoal had taken a couple of trips with 



