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Chapter 4

Inbaggyoldgreytwilltrouserstiedwithbowyangsandagreyflannelundershirt,Frankfeltlikeapoorrelation.Whichwaswhathewas,hethoughtwryly,followingthestraightfigureonthedaintymarethroughastandofboxandpinebeyondthecreek.Hehimselfrodeahard-mouthedpiebaldstockhorse,amean-temperedbeastwithawillofitsownandaferocioushatredofotherhorses.Thedogswereyelpingandcavortinginexcitement,fightingandsnarlingamongthemselvesuntilpartedwithaflickfromFatherRalph’sviciouslywieldedstockwhip.Itseemedtherewasnothingthemancouldn’tdo;hewasfamiliarwiththecodedwhistlessettingthedogstowork,andpliedhiswhipmuchbetterthanFrank,stilllearningthisexoticAustralianart.

ThebigQueenslandbluebrutethatledthedogpacktookaslavishfancytothepriestandfollowedhimwithoutquestion,meaningFrankwasverydefinitelythesecond-stringman.HalfofFrankdidn’tmind;healoneamongPaddy’ssonshadnottakentolifeonDrogheda.HehadwantednothingmorethantoquitNewZealand,butnottocometothis.Hehatedtheceaselesspatrollingofthepaddocks,thehardgroundtosleeponmostnights,thesavagedogswhichcouldnotbetreatedaspetsandwereshotiftheyfailedtodotheirwork.