llers expected to be fed without payment. One day we ferried
Inspector Clohesy and his troopers across the river, which at the time
was running very high. After a great deal of difficulty and some danger,
we landed them and 2,000 ounces of gold in safety. Before the river was
crossable for teams, I cut my name on a tree, bearing date 1870, which I
again saw many years later. On arrival, we were warmly welcomed at the
station.

When in Townsville I had asked Fitzmaurice, who had reached there from
Peak Downs and was going to Sydney for a spell, to get a waggon made for
me below. I now decided to turn out my bullocks at Oak Park to spell,
and take on stock riding and droving fat bullocks into the diggings,
where Mr. Mytton, having taken a partner named John Childs to look after
the station during his absence, had opened a shop, and was butchering
himself. Mr. Childs was married and had one little girl, named Beatrice,
now married to one of our greatest sheep-owners.

Amongst those who camped a night at the Broken River was a young
new-chum Irishman, who asked if we knew a man in "Australia" called Tom
Ripley. We replied "Yes, he is now at the Gilbert with his teams." He
said, "I am his brother; he has bullock cars, hasn't he?" This remark,
simple as it was, a long standing joke among the carriers.

In conversation we gleaned that he had left Ireland on the same day that
we had left Townsville, had crossed the ocean, and was passing us bound
for nearly the same destination as ourselves.

As two hundred and fifty miles is to thirteen thousand, so was the speed
of bullock teams attempting travelling during the wet season to that of
a sailing ship from the foggy seas.

CHAPTER V.

My mate, Jim Wilson, returned to Townsville after delivering his load at
Lyndhurst. Mr. Mytton had purchased Junction Creek Station (afterwards
called Wandovale), from Mr. Cudmore, and had left the Gilbert to take
delivery, intending afterwards to go on to Townsville to be married to
Miss Watson. As the station was short-handed, and Mr. Mytton wished to
make some alterations to prepare for his bride, he asked me if I would
stay and use my team to bring in the timber, and also to assist Childs
with the cattle. I consented to remain for a couple of months. During
this time the black boys on the station bolted, taking with them Mrs
Childs' gin, and my black boy. A carpenter named Jack Barker and myself
started with three horses in pursuit