"
But Neddy was not so much of a fool as to be able to shut his eyes to
the nature of the boiling-down business. The brands were too
various, and Joshua claimed them all. Neddy said one night:
"Don't you think, Joshua, this game of yours is rather dangerous?
Why, it's nothing better than cattle stealing; and I've heern folks
say at one time it was a hanging matter. You may be found out some
day by an unlucky chance, and then what will you do?"
"You mustn't call it cattle stealing, Neddy; that doesn't sound
well," said Joshua. "I call it back pay for work and labour done. I
have good reasons for it. I was sent out for stealing a horse, which
I never did steal; I only bought it cheap for a couple of pounds.
They sent me to the island, and I worked seven years for a settler
for nothing. Now I put it to you, Neddy, as an honest and sensible
man, Am I to get no pay for that seven years' work? And how am I to
get it if I don't take it myself? The Government will give me no
pay; they'd give me another seven years if they could. But you see,
there are no peelers here, no beaks, and no blooming courts, so I
intend to make hay while the sun shines, which means tallow in these
times. All these settlers gets as much work out of Government men as
they can get for nothing, and if you says two words to 'em they'll
have you flogged.
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