Поющие в терновнике

           Thedeepgullybesidetheheadstockman’shousehadashallow,sluggishstreamofmuddywateratitsbottom.NoonecreditedFatherRalph’staleofitsrisingsixtyfeetovernight;itdidn’tseempossible.Waterfromthiscreekwaspumpedupbyhandtoservicethebathroomandkitchen,andittookthewomenalongtimetogetusedtowashingthemselves,thedishesandtheclothesingreenish-brownwater.Sixmassivecorrugated-irontanksperchedonwoodenderrickliketowerscaughtrainfromtheroofandprovidedthemwithdrinkingwater,buttheylearnedtheymustuseitverysparingly,thatitwasnevertobeusedforwashing.Fortherewasnoguaranteeastowhenthenextrainsmightcometofillthetanksup.

           Thesheepandcattledrankartesianwater,nottappedfromaneasilyaccessiblewatertable,buttrueartesianwaterbroughtfromoverthreethousandfeetbelowthesurface.Itgushedatboilingpointfromapipeatwhatwascalledtheborehead,andranthroughtinychannelsfringedwithpoisonouslygreengrasstoeverypaddockontheproperty.Thesechannelsweretheboredrains,andtheheavilysulphurated,mineral-ladenwatertheycontainedwasnotfitforhumanconsumption.

           Atfirstthedistancesstaggeredthem;Droghedahadtwohundredandfiftythousandacres.Itslongestboundarystretchedforeightymiles.Thehomesteadwasfortymilesandtwenty-sevengatesawayfromGillanbone,theonlysettlementofanykindcloserthanahundredandsixmiles.