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           Theshearinghadbeenalmostimpossible,forshearerswouldnottouchsoakedwool,andunlessthemuddriedbeforelambingmanyoffspringwoulddieinthesoddenearthandthecold.

           ***

           Thephonejangleditstwolongs,oneshortforDrogheda;Feeansweredandturned.

           "Bob,theAML&Fforyou."

           "Hullo,Jimmy,Bobhere…Yeah,righto…Oh,good!Referencesallinorder?…Righto,sendhimouttoseeme…Righto,ifhe’sthatgoodyoucantellhimhe’sprobablygotthejob,butIstillwanttoseehimformyself;don’tlikepigsinpokesanddon’ttrustreferences…Righto,thanks.Hooroo."

           Bobsatdownagain."Newstockmancoming,agoodblokeaccordingtoJimmy.BeenworkingoutontheWestQueenslandplainsaroundLongreachandCharleville.Wasadrover,too.Goodreferencesandallaboveboard.Cansitanythingwithfourlegsandatail,usedtobreakhorses.Wasashearerbeforethat,gunshearertoo,Jimmysays,overtwofiftyaday.That’swhatmakesmeabitsuspicious.Whywouldagunshearerwanttoworkforstockman’swages?Nottoooftenagunshearerwillgiveuptheboggiforasaddle.Behandypaddock-crutching,though,eh?"

           WiththepassingoftheyearsBob’saccentgrewmoredrawlingandAustralianbuthissentencesshorterincompensation.Hewascreepinguptowardthirty,andmuchtoMeggie’sdisappointmentshowednosignofbeingsmittenwithanyoftheeligiblegirlshemetatthefewfestivitiesdecencyforcedthemtoattend.