But they are too lazy to look after their own work, and too miserable to pay a good man to do it for them.

They just get a half-and-half sort of fellow that'll take low wages and make it up with duffing, and of course he's not likely to look very sharp after the back country.' 'You're not far away,' says Jim; 'but don't you think they'd have to look precious sharp and get up very early in the morning to be level with chaps like father and Starlight, let alone Warrigal, who's as good by night as day?
Then there's you and me.

Don't try and make us out better than we are, Dick; we're all d----scoundrels, that's the truth of it, and honest men haven't a chance with us, except in the long run--except in the long run.

That's where they'll have us, Dick Marston.' 'That's quite a long speech for you, Jim,' I said; 'but it don't matter much that I know of whose fault it is that we're in this duffing racket.
It seems to be our fate, as the chap says in the book.

We'll have a jolly spree in Adelaide if this journey comes out right.