Chapter XIII: A Square Deal

A Square Deal

"DREAMIN'?" I sez to Digger Smith. "Buck up, ole sport, an' smile. Ain't there enough uv joy to-day To drive the bogey man away An' make reel things worth while? A bloke would think, to see you stare, There's visions on the 'ill-tops there."

"Dreamin'," sez Digger Smith. "Why not? An' there is visions too. An' when I get 'em sorted out, An' strafe that little bogey, Doubt, I'll start me life all new. Oh, I ain't crook; but packed in 'ere Is thoughts: enough to last a year.

"I'm thinkin' things," sez Digger Smith. "I'm thinkin' big an' fine Uv Life an' Love an' all the rest, An' wot is right an' wot is best, An' 'ow much will be mine. Not that I'm wantin' overmuch Some work, some play, an' food an' such."

"See 'ere," I sez. "You 'ark to me. I've done some thinkin' too. An' this 'ere land, for wot yeh did, Owes some few million solid quid To fightin' blokes like you. So don't be too dam modest or Yeh'll git less than yeh're lookin' for."

"Money?" sez Digger. "Loot?" sez 'e "Aw, give that talk a rest! I'm sick uv it. I didn't say That I was thinkin' all uv pay, But wot was right an' best. An' that ain't in the crazy game Uv grabbin' wealth an' chasin' fame.

"Do you think us blokes Over There, When things was goin' strong, Was keepin' ledgers day be day An' reck'nin' wot the crowd would pay? Pull off! Yeh got it wrong. Do you think all the boys gone West Wants great swank 'ead-stones on their chest?

"You chaps at 'ome 'as small ideer Uv wot we think an' feel. We done our bit an' seen it thro', An' all that we are askin' you Is jist a fair, square deal. We want this land we battled for To settle up--an' somethin' more.

"We want the land we battled for To be a land worth while. We're sick uv greed, an' 'ate, an' strife, An' all the mess that's made uv life." . . . 'E stopped a bit to smile. "I got these thoughts Out There becos We learnt wot mateship reely was."

. . . . . . . .

The hills be'ind the orchard trees Was showin' misty blue. The ev'nin' light was growin' dim; An' down I sat 'longside uv 'im, An' done some dreamin' too. I dreams uv war; an' wot is paid By blokes that went an' blokes that stayed.

I dreams uv honour an' reward, An' 'ow to pay a debt. For partin' cash, an' buyin' farms, An' fittin' chaps with legs an' arms Ain't all--there's somethin' yet. There's still a solid balance due; An' now it's up to me an' you.

There's men I know ain't yet woke up, Or reckernized that debt-- Proud men 'oo wouldn't take yeh down Or owe their grocer 'arf-a-crown-- They ain't considered, yet, There's somethin' owin'--to the dead, An' Diggers live for more than bread.

"_We_ learnt wot mateship was," 'e sez. "Us Diggers found the good That's hid away somewhere in chaps, An' ain't searched for enough, per'aps, Or prized, or understood. But all this game uv grab an' greed An' silly 'ate--Why, where's the need?"

The hills be'ind the orchard trees Jist caught the settin' sun. A bloke might easy think that there, 'Way back be'ind the range somewhere, Where streaks uv sunlight run, There was a land, swep' clear uv doubt, Where men finds wot they dreams about.

. . . . . . . . .

"Beauty," sez Digger, sudden-like, "An' love, an' kindliness; The chance to live a clean, straight life, A dinkum deal for kids an' wife A man needs nothin' less. . . . Maybe they'll get it when I go To push up daisies. I dunno."

"Dreamin'," sez Digger Smith. "Why not? There's visions on the hill.". . . Then I gets up an' steals away, An' leaves 'im with the dyin' day, Dreamin' an' doubtin' still. . . . Cobber, it's up to me an' you To see that 'arf 'is dream comes true.

THE END

GLOSSARY

Alley, to throw in the.--To surrender. Ar.--An exclamation expressing joy, sorrow, surprise, etc., according to the manner of utterance. Aussie.--Australia; an Australian.

Bag of tricks.--All one's belongings. Barrack.--To take sides. Beat the band.--To amaze. Bint.--Girl. Bird, to give the.--To treat with derision. Blighty.--London. Blind.--Deception, "bluff." Bloke.--A male adult of the genus homo. Bluff.--Cunning practice; make-believe; to deceive; to mislead. Bonzer,--The best. Book.--In whist, six tricks. Booked.--Engaged. Buckley's (Chance)--A forlorn hope. Buck up.--Cheer up. Bunk, to do a.--To depart.

Chap.--A "bloke" or "cove." Chuck off--To chaff; to employ sarcasm. Chuck up.--To relinquish. Chump.--A foolish fellow. Cobber--A boon companion. Coot.--A person of no account (used contemptuously). Cove--A "chap" or "bloke." q.v. (Gipsy). Cow.--A thoroughly unworthy, not to say despicable person, place, thing or circumstance. Crack--To smite. Crack hardy.--To suppress emotion; to endure patiently; to keep a secret. Crook.--Unwell; dishonest; spurious; fraudulent. Superlative, dead crook. Crook.--A dishonest or evil person. Crool.--To frustrate; to interfere with.

Dead.--In a superlative degree; very. Deal.--A "hand" at cards. Digger.--An infantryman; a comrade. Dilly.--Foolish; half-witted. Dinkum.--Honest; true. Dipped.--Mentally deficient. Dizzy limit--The utmost; the superlative degree. Dope.--A drug. Dud.--No good; ineffective; used up.

Fag.--A cigarette. Final, to run one's.--To die. Final kick.--Final leave. Fly.--A turn; a try.

Game.--Occupation; scheme; design. Grandstand play.--Playing to the gallery. Groggy.--Unsteady. Grouch.--To mope; to grumble.

Hokey Fly, by the.--A mild expletive, without any particular meaning. Hump, to--To carry, as a swag or other burden.

Job.--Work, occupation. John 'Op (or Jonop)--Policeman. Jolt.--A blow.

Keep one down.--Take a drink. Kick.--Leave. Kick about.--To loaf or hang about. Kid--A child. Kid, to.--To deceive; to persuade with flattery. Lob, to--To arrive. Lurk--A plan of action; a regular occupation. Moniker.--A name; a title; a signature. Mug.--A simpleton.

Nail.--Catch. Nark.--s., a spoil--sport; a churlish fellow. Nark, to.--To annoy; to foil. Neck and neck.--Side by side. Nix.--Nothing. Nod, on the.--Without payment.

Pal.--A friend; a mate (Gipsy). Part.--Give; hand over. Pins.--Legs. Pull, to take a.--To desist; to discontinue. Pull off.--Desist. Pull my (or your) leg.--To deceive or get the best of. Punter.--The natural prey of bookmakers (betting men). Push up daisies, to.--To be interred.

Quid.--A sovereign, or pound sterling.

Rag.--Song in rag time. Rattled--Excited; confused. Recomeniber.--Remember. Renege.--To fail to follow suit (in playing cards); to quit. Rile--To annoy. Riled--Roused to anger. Ringer.--Expert. Rook, to.--To "take down." Rouse (or Roust).--To upbraid with many words. Ructions.--Growling; argument. Run 'is final.--Died.

Sawing wood--"Bluffing;" biding one's time. School.--A club; a clique of gamblers, or others. Scoot.--To hurry; to scuttle. Scrap.--Fight. Shicker--Intoxicating liquor. Skite.--To boast. Slam,--Making all the tricks (in card-playing). Sling.--Discard; throw. Slope, to.--To leave in haste. Smooge.--To flatter or fawn; to bill and coo. Snarky--Angry. Sock it into.--To administer physical punishment. S.O.S--Signal of distress or warning, used in telegraphy. Spare my days.--A pious ejaculation. Spell.--Rest or change. Sprag--To accost truculently; to convince. Spuds.--Potatoes. Square.--Upright; honest. Squeak.--To give away a secret. Stoke.--Eat. Stop one.--To receive a blow. Stoush--To punch with the fist. s., Violence. Strength.--Truth; correct estimate. Strike me!--The innocuous remnant of a hardy curse. 'Struth!--An emaciated oath. Stunt.--A performance; a tale. [At the front: a battle, engagement] Swank.--Affectation; ostentation. Swap.--Exchange. Swiv'ly--Afraid, or unable, to look straight.

Take down.--Deceive; get the best of. Tart.--A young woman (contraction of sweetheart). Tater--Potato. Throw in the alley.--To surrender. Tip.--A warning; a prognostication; a hint. Toff.--An exalted person. Tony.--Stylish. Tossed out on my neck.--Rejected. Track with--To woo; to "go walking with." Treat.--Very much or very good. Tucker.--Food. Twig.--To observe; to espy.

Umptydoo.--Far-fetched; "crook." Up to us.--Our duty.

Wade in--Take your fill. Wise, to put.--To explain; to instruct. Wowser--A narrow-minded, intolerant person.

Yap--To talk volubly.