The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-10-24
CHAPTER III.

| DOruerS Oh south AuSlTdild, luOiO 40 :"
lovely stretch OF country which, at the
| first glance, a stranger would imagine
to be one vast plain. 1t Is a beauu-
fully undulating country in reality,
with low hills and wide-spreading val
leys belts and clumps of shea-oak ana
pine, and large lagoons, which, Wheh
filled by the winter rains, are the re-
sort OF the various wild-fowl with
which the country abounds.
Some of the valleys contain vast
stretches of dense scrub, whilst others
present tempting pasture for the
herds OF kangaroos. 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 liv-
ing soul for months together, and
wishing to see none. These "hatters,"
as they are termed, frequently go raw
Ing mad, and the generality of them
are moody, crack Drained creatures
who have almost lost whatever hui
mainly they once possessed.
Facing these great plains, and nest
ling under the brow of lofty hill on
the Barrier Ranges, was a station con-
sisting Of comfortable dwelling
house, built from the boulders which
lined the creek close by, number of
mems 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 the last station
for over twenty miles on a blazing
not day, with his roll of blankets
slllng across his shoulder and his "bil-
~ In his hand, the sight of Redmount
station was a most welcome one in
deed. The tall blue gum trees which
marked the irregular line of the creek
as 1t debouched from the gully in the
hills were visible for great distance,
and, to the sore-footed traveller toiling
on towards them, it seemed as if 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
uiating draughts of smoking tea.
Mr.. Charles Hall was the owner of
hedmount, and lord not only of hun
dreds OF square miles of country sur
rounding it, but of the countless fiocks
and herds which grazed thereon. Here
he lived with his wife and family. ner-
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 1t to them that
tnere was a change OF government in
England, a fortune lost or won unon
the Derby, or a new plot against the
czar? What did they care about the
life OF the old world? Less than moth
ing A good lambing season, heavy
clip" rise in wool, an occasional
run down to Melbourne or SYDNEY
We're matters of far keener interest IN
Them than all the squabbles or reioic-
ings OF the people of the old country
Inc owner OF Redmount had left
England, with his young wife. nearly
twenty years previously, and, after the
usual amount Of struggling inseparable
from colonist's life. had settled down
and prospered. His family consisted
OF two fine grown lads and a girl. who
we're rapidly becoming more and more
useful to him The elder son lack
though only just nineteen. already
stood to his father quite in the place
OF an overseer on the run" the
Younger, George. was still at college in
Sydney. -
Shearing had commenced and every
body on the station was hard at work
Mrs. Hall had been busy the whole dav
ong cooking for the men, for they had
been unfortunate enough at this sea-
son, OF all others, to lose their cook
MT. Hall had been absent from home
Tor the past two weeks. Business had
~sA NtAA away W mClDOurne. Dut
mat night he was expected home. The
day had been exceedingly hot. thouoh
1t was only the middle of November
and Mrs. Hall was so thoroughly tired
out with her exertions that she was
resting on a lounge chair in the YER
anda, anxiously watching the track
round the foes of the Range in the
hope of seeing her husband in the
distance. From where she sat tbe
prospect was lovely indeed. From the
house y spacious garden full of shrubs
orange and lemon trees, and English
flowers, mingled with exot,cs
stretched down the hillside IN a brh,
bling stream. Higher up the gully
large gum trees waved their featherv
foliage in the evening air, and a grand
background of precipitous hills formed
splendid contrast to the nlains
across which Mrs. Hall strained her
eyes in vain.
The sun had just gone down beb;nd
the hills, and only the brows OF the
dark peaks We're tiHged with it's last
hna H.. -