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Pat Ritter. Books


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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

Postby patritter » Sun Oct 01, 2017 10:42 pm

'The Drover' - Page 94:

Once the cattle left the property Harry Williams was in charge; his responsibility, to deliver the cattle to Clifton Hills in good condition and not lose any along the way.
Both men sat on the top rail of the cattle yards, their eyes flicking from one beast to another. Harry slowly drew on his tailor made cigarette, a curl of smoke past his eyes, his face skewed to show wrinkles and age, his mind completely focused on the task ahead.
‘They look a good mob?’ He repeated as he looked across to Dennis to get a response.
‘They’re the best we’ve got. I’ve put a few more in for killers. There should be enough to get you thorough. The rain hasn’t come this year and if we don’t move them off now they won’t be good for anything. You know what the country’s like out here when there’s no rain.’ Dennis voiced in his slow western drawl.
‘We might get winter rain and hopefully the rivers are flowing when we’re on the move.’ Both men couldn’t talk any more because once they mentioned the weather and the stock – that was it, their conversation limited.
In the outback it was always taken as part of life, a drover was a few runs below on the social status ladder to a grazier.
Harry Williams always felt he did a good job at what he did but when it came to mixing with the cockies; it wasn’t the same as mixing with drovers and ringers. He knew how to talk with other drovers and ringers and felt comfortable in their company but when it came to conversing with cockies he felt intimidated in what to say. His life was the wide open spaces with stock routes his boundaries. He didn’t need to be a cockie or grazier to prove what to do. His life was carefree with open plains and no boundary fences.
When Harry was asked to take the cattle, his imagination went wild; he had never before taken 500 bullocks from Queensland to South Australia. His decision to follow the stock routes, traverse many properties along the way, his knowledge of the area depended wholly on word-of-mouth from other drovers or property owners when he passed through.
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

Postby patritter » Mon Oct 02, 2017 10:36 pm

'The Drover' - Page 95:

There are no maps or roadways, only the sign showing Stock Route to guide where he had to go. Harry would scout ahead to find water for the stock. Ten miles per day was a common distance for the stock to travel.
Harry’s day started before the morning sun burst across the horizon and finished when it sunk below the western horizon. There was no time piece to gauge the time of the day, his job only to take the cattle from one point to the next.
He was astonished to be given the job in the first place to drive the cattle from Bullo Downs to Clifton Hills.
In his life as a drover this was by far the longest drive he’d ever undertaken. Apart from the family to help him he employed five aboriginal stockmen. Les accompanied Harry and had with him his 12 years old son Greg to help, who was responsible for horse tailing; particularly riding the first shift on the Nighthorse and to make sure all the horses were shod. Although Greg was 12 he worked as hard as any man.
Harry was satisfied with his camp but with the recent loss of his sister he knew his brother-in-law was finding it tough and partial to a drop of rum but on any droving trip alcohol was not included.
Droving 500 head of cattle was a huge task and Harry being the Boss Drover had the responsibility to ensure the cattle were delivered on time and in better condition than they were before they left Bulloo Downs. There were many things could go wrong and hopefully Harry’s craft as a drover excelled in his ability of a lifetime of droving that nothing went wrong on the trip.
He had his own worries; Rose was now responsible for twelve children all under the age of nine years including infant twin boys.
Before Harry and Rose made the decision to take on the children they spoke about the consequences. This was a lifetime commitment; it was not only this droving trip but afterwards for the next decade and a half raising the children. It would be tough but each agreed; there was much they would go without.
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

Postby patritter » Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:32 pm

'The Drover' - Page 96:

Chapter 12

Harry owned a Bedford truck with a steel crate large enough to carry six horses, swags, food, and to use as a camper while on the track. It had a good motor and hopefully wouldn’t break down.
Rose settled the twins in the front compartment while the other children rode in the back. Each sat or lay on their swags until they reached Bulloo Downs. The dogs travelled in their dog-boxes under the rear tray of the truck.
Greg being the horse tailer drove the plant of 20 horses from Cunnamulla to Bulloo Downs accompanied by his father and five stockmen. They followed the stock route arriving at Bulloo Downs four weeks after leaving Cunnamulla. All was in readiness for the drive to South Australia.
‘Are you ready Les,’ Harry called out to his brother-in-law.
‘Sure am.’
‘Let’s move em out.’ Harry commanded.
He’d spoken to Rose before they arrived at Bulloo Downs and arranged she drive the truck, follow the stock route along the Bulloo River about ten miles. He’d meet her there with the cattle to camp the night.
Harry had never driven this many cattle before. He knew over past years, he needed to be skilled enough, to get the best out of the cattle he was responsible for. It was like he had climbed to the top of Mount Everest in droving and this epic trip would prove his worth. He felt good, no - he felt great!
He knew the basic needs of the cattle were feed; water and rest. At their rest time they needed to settle to chew their cud. If when they lay down to rest and exhaled a ‘whoosh’ sound, this was his barometer to show how the drove was progressing. If the cattle were relaxed, well fed, rested and watered he knew he could relax.
TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK CLICK HERE: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95766
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

Postby patritter » Wed Oct 04, 2017 10:34 pm

'The Drover' - Page 97:

He felt as if he was a champion about to defend his title of one of the greatest drovers of all time. Let’s get to the water the stock tonight, went through his mind and then look toward tomorrow. One day at a time.
The bullocks spread out. They were spread across the open plain. Les near the front with each ringer on the wings to allow the animals to walk and feed at their leisure.
Steady as we go cautioned Harry to himself acknowledging so far everything was going okay. Ten miles he needed to go each day. This was checked by the stock inspector or police officer when at anytime they checked on the mob.
Early that morning he took delivery of the mob. Soon became mid-morning and during the hottest stage of the day he told his workers to rest and let the cattle lie down. They’d rest until about two-thirty and head off to water and camp the cattle down for the night.
The first day was uneventful in that everything went to clock work without a hitch. Harry moved the mob close to the night camp where Rose parked the truck.
She cooked roast meat in the Bedourie oven and used other Bedourie ovens to cook potatoes and damper. She cooked her favourite dessert of bread and butter custard taught to her by her mother.
Altogether she had twelve children; the twins were on goats’ milk serviced by a nanny goat they’d bought along. She also had six ringers and her husband to feed. The children and Greg the horse-tailer helped her with daily chores.
On the road there was no refrigeration and all meat was salted and packed away from the flies. When the men killed a beast which was normally every couple of weeks or when meat run short, it was covered with salt and placed into bags to preserve. All flour and other food was stored in tin containers to keep them safe from meat ants which somehow sought out food where ever it may be.
TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK CLICK HERE: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95766
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

Postby patritter » Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:34 pm

'The Drover' - Page 98:

‘So far so good,’ Harry told his wife after he unsaddled his horse and walked into camp. ‘I’m on the first watch.’ He told her.
‘Harry, have a seat over there on the log and I’ll bring your meal with your mug of black tea.’ Rose went about arranging Harry’s meal while he found a stump to sit on.
Claire came up beside him, ‘can I help - Daddy?’ She pleaded with her father, ‘I’ve bought Dusty along and I’ve got him going good.’ Her blue eyes beamed brightly direct into his own, Harry’s heart pounded with glee to know his daughter wanted to help.
‘What about helping your Mum – she’ll need your help here at the camp – won’t she?’ Harry explained.
‘I sure do – there’s plenty to do and I need help to look after the young boys and Annie.’ Her mother spoke in a commanding voice. Claire moved away and let her father eat his meal in peace.
After the men finished their meals they threw their swags on the ground and slept until they were required to do their watch with the cattle. At times their watch was a couple of hours depended on how the cattle settled. While on watch they rode the Nighthorse around the bedded down cattle softly singing a country song.
Harry returned from his watch and knew because he was Boss Drover he would complete the final watch before daylight. When he came to bed in the back of the truck Rose was awake, ‘how did our first day go Love?’ She asked him in a low voice not to awaken the children.
‘Great, the men are good – it was a wonderful meal you cooked, the cattle are settled and there’s another three hundred and sixty-four days to go. I don’t expect everyday to be like this one because for the next couple of days we’ve got to cross the Grey Range and head to the Wilson River.’
TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK CLICK HERE: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95766
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

Postby patritter » Sat Oct 07, 2017 10:46 pm

'The Drover' - Page 99:

‘It’ll be alright Love; I have the utmost faith in your ability to know what you’re doing.’ She placed her arms around his neck to feel tension in the muscles. She softly rubbed the muscles and before long Harry was sound asleep in her arms.
Daylight broke through the scrub, Harry returned to the camp after his two hour watch. The night was as good as he could ever have imagined. The cattle moving off camp.
Before daylight Greg caught each horse and had them ready for the ringers. Each ringer finished their breakfast and made sufficient lunch before heading off for the day. Harry retired to bed for a couple of hours sleep before his day began.
It was another ten miles to the foot of the Grey Range before the cattle transcended the high cliffs to the top and walk to the other side.
After Harry slept for a couple of hours he awoke to find Rose moved the truck to a location ten miles from where they were, to a shady place at the foot of the Grey Range.
‘How did you know where to go?’ He asked climbing down from the back of the truck.
Rose handed him a hot mug of black tea and said, ‘I’m not silly – you know. I followed the track and found this spot. Isn’t it any good?’ She queried.
‘Yeah – no; it’s good. I’ll need to ride over the range to see where the next water hole is located for the cattle. They’ll be ready for a drink before we get over the top.’
‘I’m sure Les would have taken care to give the cattle enough water before he let them off camp. Have a yarn to him.’
‘Alright, I’ll see you when I return. It could be a bit late depends on where I find water.’ Harry finished his mug of tea, mounted his horse and rode up the high range to the top.
TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK CLICK HERE: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95766
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

Postby patritter » Sun Oct 08, 2017 10:52 pm

'The Drover' - Page 100:

‘Alright you kids, school’s in. All gather around.’ Rose summoned the children to a place under the shade of a huge box tree and there performed her daily chore of teaching the children school work.
Before she left Cunnamulla she visited the children’s school and requested from the Principal sufficient work for the children while they were on the road.
‘Do we have to do it Ma?’ questioned Claire, ‘I hate school. I’d rather be out there with Dad.’ She whined.

Harry rode all through the day to find a suitable trail for the cattle to follow. Cattle are grazing beasts and when they’ve had their fill will walk a track to seek water. Otherwise they eat, sleep and rest and a contented animal is a good animal.
The Grey Range is tough country, rough with rocks and little feed for the stock. If Harry was to push this mob over the range without feed or water for a couple of days he would have a struggle on his hands. His intentions were to find a path up through the range; walk the cattle over the top to find the Wilson River on the other side.
He walked his trusted horse steady along the side of the range; a drop of about thirty feet straight down slowed him. His calculation or risk to injuring an animal was high; if he didn’t go this way his only other trail was an extra couple of weeks by going around the range to meet the Wilson River on the other side.
His thoughts calculated the danger and how he was going to carry out the task. There were sufficient ringers to guide the cattle through and over the range. It would be a slow trek but taking care and going steady was his idea. No rushing only steady as they go.
With Les in front; line the bullocks out in one line to follow him; they should be able to complete their task with little risk to either beast or man.
TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK CLICK HERE: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95766
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