Three Elephant Power and Other Stories
by Andrew Barton `Banjo' Paterson [Australian Poet, Reporter -- 1864-1941.]
Three Elephant Power and Other Stories
By A. B. Paterson, Author of The Man from Snowy River, Rio Grande,
Saltbush Bill, J.P., An Outback Marriage, Etc.
These stories appeared originally in several Australian journals.
Contents
Three Elephant Power
The Oracle
The Cast-iron Canvasser
The Merino Sheep
The Bullock
White-when-he's-wanted
The Downfall of Mulligan's
The Amateur Gardener
Thirsty Island
Dan Fitzgerald Explains
The Cat
Sitting in Judgment
The Dog
The Dog -- as a Sportsman
Concerning a Steeplechase Rider
Victor Second
Concerning a Dog-fight
His Masterpiece
Done for the Double
Three Elephant Power
"Them things," said Alfred the chauffeur, tapping the speed indicator
with his fingers, "them things are all right for the police. But, Lord,
you can fix 'em up if you want to. Did you ever hear about Henery,
that used to drive for old John Bull -- about Henery and the elephant?"
Alfred was chauffeur to a friend of mine who owned a very powerful car.
Alfred was part of that car. Weirdly intelligent, of poor physique,
he might have been any age from fifteen to eighty. His education had been
somewhat hurried, but there was no doubt as to his mechanical ability.
He took to a car like a young duck to water. He talked motor,
thought motor, and would have accepted -- I say with enthusiasm,
for Alfred's motto was `Nil admirari' -- but without hesitation,
an offer to drive in the greatest race in the world.
He could drive really well, too; as for belief in himself,
after six months' apprenticeship in a garage he was prepared
to vivisect a six-cylinder engine with the confidence of
a diplomaed bachelor of engineering.
Barring a tendency to flash ...
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