Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-06-30
CHAPTER III.

lovely stretch OF country which, at thu
drst glance, = stranger would imagine
to b one vast plain. 1t Is beauti
fully undulating country In reality
with low hills and wide-spreading val.
teys, belts and clumps q shea oak and
pine. and largo lsgoons, which. when
dlled By the winter rains. are the re-
sort Of tho various wild-fowl with
which the country abounds.
Some ~ the valleys contain vast
stretches OF dense scrub. whilst others
present = tempting 2aasssre for the
herds OF kanparoos In some parts
where dams have been made to save
the water, there are huts and sheep
yards. and far-away out-statIons where
solitary men dwell. tending the flocks
committed to their care, seeing no llv-
Ing soul for months together, and
wishing to see none. These matters"
~ they are termed. frequently go raw
Ing mad. and the generality Of them
are moody, crack Drained creatures
who have almost lost whatever hu-
manity they once possessed
Facing these great plains. and nest
ling under the brow OF lofty hill on
tho Barrier Ranges. was station con-
sisting Of comfortable dwelling
house, built from tho boulders which
lined the creek close by, number OF
meme huts. wool-shed. sheep and
cattle yards and paddocks-the last
stretching out from the Range for sew
eral miles into the plains
To the weary 'swagsman." who had
skirted the Range from tho last station
Tor over twenty miles on blazing
Eot day, with his roll OF blankets
siunk across his shoulder and his "bil-
~" In his hand. the sight OF Redmount
Station WAS most welcome one In
deed. The tall blue gum trees which
marked the irregular line OF the creek
~ 1t debouched from the gully In the
hills were visible for great distance.
and. to the sore-foeted traveller tolllng
on towards them. II seemed as II they
were never TO be reached. But, when
once those trees were gained. the
knowledge OF the certain food and rest
to be obtained beneath them cheered
tho fainting spirits. and the hard days
tramp was soon forgotten In the COM
fort OF the travellers hut and the slim
ulatlng draughts OF smoking tea.
Mr.. Charles Hall was the owner OF |
Redmount and lord not only OF hum |
dreds OF square miles OF country sur
rounding II, but OF the countless slocks
and herds which grazed thereon. Here
he lived with Ills wife and family, per-
fectly happy and contented. and far
away from all excitement. political or
otherwise. their lives passed whole
somely among the rural pursuits and
interests with which they were sur
rounded. What was II 10 them that
there was change OF government In
England. fortune lost or won upon
tho Derby. or new plot against the
cxar, What did they care about the
life Of the old world? Less than moth
ingl A good lambing season. heavy
clip" rise In wool. an occasional
run down TO Melbourne or Sydney,
were matters OF far keener interest to
them than all the squabbles or rejoic-
lnss Of the people OF the old country.
The owner OF Redmount had left
England. with his young wife. nearly ,
twenty years previously. and. after the
usual amount OF struggling inseparable ,
rom colonist's life. had settled down
md prospered. His family consisted
If two nne grown lads and n girl. who ,
Tere rapidly becoming more and more /.
l<eful TO him. The elder son. Jack.
hough only just nineteen. already
TODD to his father quite In the place ,
< IN overscer on the run" the
'ounser. George. was still at college in j
|ydney.
6hearing had commenced and every
'ody on the station was hard at work. :,
ira Hall had been busy the whole day
bag cooking for the men. for they bad :,
40 unfortunate enough at this sea- :,
a. Of all others. to lose their cook.
n. Hall had been absent from home =
~ the past two weeks. Business had
Rken him away to Melbourne. but
hat night he was expected home. The e
~ had been exceedingly hot though j.
Wa only the middle OF November. b
I'd Mrs. Hall Was 30 thoroughly tired z
at with her exertions that she was 7
agting on lounge chair In the YER r.
nda. anxiously watching the track ~
ound the foot OF the Range ia the
ope Of seeing her husband in the a,
Istance. From whore she sat the OF
respect VA lovely indeed. From the m