Summary

The hut was a challenge for Thornhill but he had it finished within five weeks. There were gaps between the sheets of bark that had to be stopped with mud to keep the snakes from getting in the cabin. The Sunday after they moved into the hut neighbors came to visit. Among them were Smasher and Sagitty Birtles. Sagitty told stories about how his things, including his wheat, were constantly being stolen by the blacks. He indicated he’d taught them a lesson after his wheat was stolen. Spider Webb told how the blacks had cut the skirt off his wife while she was sick in the hut. Spider referred to the black as vermin. Loveday, who believed himself a gentleman, said the natives had speared him in the backside one day when he was relieving...