17
Harry and Patrick stayed with Robert for nearly three months, repairing fencing, installing new gates, cutting and stacking firewood, assisting with crutching the sheep and collecting food and building materials from Gloucester. They even built a large, hawk-proof enclosure to house ten “at-the-point-of-laying” pullets.
However, the purchase of a Coolgardie safe was their priority; the second being to ensure a cool beer was always close to hand to farewell the passing of each day.
Robert’s gratitude was genuine, but so was his frustration: regardless, his guests refused to accept any payment… for anything.
* * *
While stacking goods after a typical shopping trip, Patrick asked, ‘I say, Robert, apart from those two clowns who shot your sheep, have you heard about any other bushrange
