Up the Country: A Saga of Pioneering Days

The details of the cattle expedition do not vitally concern this story. Under Poole's leadership, the droving was a notable success; Tim Brennan, Malcolm McEachern and Denny Healey proved cool and unbluffable salesmen, and those beasts not disposed of at the diggings were bought as "stores" by squatters farther south. The partners cleaned up a satisfactory sum. A number of stockmen deserted to the diggings, but an equal number of disappointed diggers, seeing in cattle a fresh El Dorado, seized the chance to leave. Thus as many young men eventually returned to Bool Bool and Maneroo as had set out. No one fell ill or met with an accident or left his heart behind him. Poole saw Charlotte and Philip and brought back parcels and letters for both Curradoobidgee and Three Rivers.

The details of the undertaking were talked over for a long time, the particulars of Melbourne incidents being circulated for male delectation only. Meanwhile, the affairs for which Bert, to the astonishment of his companions, had forgone so great an adventure, began to ripen, to the great concern of the first families of Maneroo and Bool Bool.