FL14370731

1399

It is just a week today since
we started with the cattle. We have
a mob of about 730. The work is
very slow but still one has to be always
on the look out. The cattle have to
be watched all night so as there
is six of us we have three watches
viz. from 6 to 10 second 10 to 2
and thirdly 2 to 6 every night. We change
watches always.

I must tell you of a night we had
last Thursday, it had been raining
all day and of course we were all
wet through. Harden & myself had
middle watch so after tea at six
oclock turned in. The night was
dark as pitch one could hardly
see his hand before him. The ground
was so wet that the cattle would
not camp at seven oclock. One
of the men came and wanted
another hand so Mick got up and
went out. About ten minutes after
the same person came to the
tent and said all must get up
& go out. We did so and to our
disgust all the cattle were gone
off the camp. I went to get
a horse and tumbled into a
gutter. The horse had a bell so
found my way to him and
you may imagine the darkness
when I had to strike matches
to see where his head was.
I caught him and all of
us started after the cattle. I
never had such a dark ride,
had to keep my hand in