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Alligator, who is the family dog, takes the wildest of interests in the proceedings. We learn that Alligator is vital to the family, "They cannot afford to lose him". The drover's wife makes them stand together near the dog house while she watches for the snake. This continues into the sunrise, so they must be relocated inside, for their safety. The mother will stay up all night to protect her children against the snake. Again, this proves she is very protective and caring of her children.
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Four ragged children were playing about the timber built 'two-roomed house'. Suddenly, one of them spots a snake. Panic soon breaks out across the yard as the "gaunt, sun-browned [Mum] dashes from the kitchen, snatches her baby from the ground, holds it on her left hip, and reaches for a stick". This is the first time we are introduced to the Wife and she demonstrates that she is protective of her children. We can see this by the way she "dashes" from the kitchen to ensure her baby is safe.
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As the mother guards the children, we learn more about the hardships she has faced, through her thoughts. Her husband is rarely with her, and always on the road, for his job. She has faced a flood in his absence, she has fought pleuro-pnuemonia, she fights the crows and eagles that are after her chickens and she has to take on the "father" figure role in the family, most of the time. This demonstrates her resilience and her strength to supply for her family in times of hardship.
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As daylight approached, Alligator becomes active, and the mother knows the snake is near. Alligator snatches the snake. He shakes the snake to a point of when the mother can get it and through it in the fire. This demonstrates how vital Alligator is, in the times of the Father's absence, to protect the family against predators that may occur in outback Australia.
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The mother is relieved that the snake has been killed. She sits and watches it burn in the fire, as kind of like a ceremony for all of her hard work. She is glad that her kids are now safe and not in danger.
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Panic soon breaks out across the yard as the "gaunt, sun-browned [Mum] dashes from the kitchen, snatches her baby from the ground, holds it on her left hip, and reaches for a stick". This is the first time we are introduced to the Wife and she demonstrates that she is protective of her children. We can see this by the way she "dashes" from the kitchen to ensure her baby is safe.
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Panic continues as the snake goes into the wood-heap. Even though the mother is very protective, she does so in a very strict way. "Tommy, come here, or you'll be bit. Come here at once when I tell you, you little wretch". This demonstrates that she sounds stressed, ultimately coming across as strict to her children.