ohn Ferguson, who thought he
could not improve upon it, had allowed it to retain that name. The part
of it which had attracted Bob's attention, and induced him to so
christen it, was a gently undulating valley opening to the Gibson river,
as the crow flies, a few miles below Strawberry Hill. The north side of
the valley was partially covered with the fern plant (which suggested
the name); and here, it struck John, would be a good site for his
station, and he consequently determined to visit it first.

On the following morning, in company with the man, whose assistance had
been so kindly given him by Mr. Smithers, John rode over to the run, and
reaching the valley we have mentioned camped for the night. In the
morning, at the first sight of his position, he was convinced no better
situation could be found; so gave up the idea of any further
prospecting, and prepared for the carpenters, by marking out the sites
for the house, huts, and yards.

Down the valley, which we have said opened out to the river, meandered a
beautiful little limpid stream; on the upper side of the vale, and
receding from the banks of the river, rose a gentle acclivity, which
pointed itself out as the spot on which to erect the house; while on the
flat below was every convenience for the huts and yards. Above this
point the river took a considerable bend, making on the other side a
deep pocket, which was low and apparently subject to flooding. It was
covered by a dense scrub, over which, from the elevated position John
had chosen for his domicile, he could catch a glimpse of Strawberry
Hill; which, though on the same side of the river as Fern Vale, and some
distance round, appeared, when looking across the head of the stream,
not very far off.

The carpenters shortly making their appearance, all were soon in a state
of animation; and, before long, the crash of falling timber, the echo
of the axe in felling, and the mallet in splitting the logs for the
fences, resounded through the wood, where hitherto solitude had held
undisputed sway; and, long before the arrival of the flocks or the
supplies, substantial stock-yards had been erected, as well as huts for
the shepherds, and a commodious store-house. The construction of the
dwelling-house, being a matter of a secondary consideration, it was
necessarily left to the last; and the whole party set to work busily to
put up a large shed for shearing, and storing the wool when ready for
packing.