Too Late For the Education

“G’day mate, how’s it goin’?” Spoke out a soft and even drawl. I walked ‘cross the road toward the ute answering Jack’s friendly call. Pointing his thumb toward the back, “Do yer recognize that multi-breed?” Whose tail wagged; tongue’s hangin’ out, and needing a good feed. I scruffed the ‘fella’ on the head then looked him up and down. “Yeah!” I said “I’ve met him twice, when I was campin’ near a town. His owners out here wantin’ work; a raw green city bloke, who’d keep us all in ‘stitches’ with the way he’d tell a joke.” “Have yer seen him lately?” - I rubbed me chin realizing ‘No!’ “His dog’s been wanderin’ ‘round the place for near a week or so. Normally I would’a shot him but his whimpers at the door, set my mind to thinkin’ there may be something wrong for sure.” “You said his mate’s a city bloke who ain’t been out here long? Chuck yer swag up in the back; we'll find out what’s gone wrong.” We drove ‘round and ‘round the dusty roads until it was nearly dark. Finally near a line of red gums, the dog began to bark. “What’s up with him?” I’m asking Jack who replied “Let’s take a ‘peek.’ The only thing that’s down there is a bloody old dry creek.” From the bank we searched the course. Pools of water worried Jack. “We've had no rain for weeks here.” Then cursed, as he turned his back. “Come on!” Jack ran - “Jump in the ute. We’ll drive along and search the flanks. Release the dog and let him run to search between the banks.” A fence line stretched across the creek; we got out and followed that. ‘Mongst barbed wire snagged sticks and wood there’s a swag and one old hat. “Strike me pink!” Jack scratched his head. “Do you know what he’s done? I s’pose no one ever told him ‘bout the danger where there’s none. It ain’t rained here but further up they had three inches in a burst. He’d set up camp here in the creek!” - His best mate found him first.