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           ThatJanuarythecloudsstormeddarkacrossthesky;tornintosoddenshredsbythewind,anditbegantorain;notagentledownpourbutasteady,roaringdelugewhichwentonandon.

           Theyhadbeenwarned;BlueyWilliamshadturnedupwithhisdrayloadedhighandtwelvesparehorsesbehindhim,forhewasmovingfasttogetthroughhisroundsbeforetherainsmadefurtherprovisioningofthestationsimpossible.

           "Monsoonsarecomin’,"hesaid,rollingacigaretteandindicatingpilesofextragrocerieswithhiswhip."TheCooperan’theBarcooan’theDiamantinaarerunnin’realbankersan’theOverflowisoverflowin’.ThewholeQueenslan’Outback’stwofootunderwateran’thempoorbuggersistryin’tofindariseinthegroun’toputthesheepon."

           Suddenlytherewasacontrolledpanic;Paddyandtheboysworkedlikemadmen,movingthesheepoutofthelow-lyingpaddocksandasfarawayfromthecreekandtheBarwonastheycould.FatherRalphturnedup,saddledhishorseandsetoffwithFrankandthebestteamofdogsfortwounclearedpaddocksalongsidetheBarwon,whilePaddyandthetwostockmeneachtookaboyinotherdirections.

           FatherRalphwasanexcellentstockmanhimself.HerodeathoroughbredchestnutmareMaryCarsonhadgivenhim,cladinfaultlesslytailoredbuffjodhpurs,shinytankneeboots,andaspotlesswhiteshirtwithitssleevesrolleduphissinewyarmsanditsneckopentoshowhissmoothbrownchest.