That was just before the time Biddy went away.

Afterwards, the sales I'd counted on turned out badly--cattle too poor for want of grass to stand the droving and the worst luck in the sale-yards I'd ever known.
First thing I did was to reduce the staff and bar everything but bare necessaries--I sent off the Chinamen and every spare hand.

Ninnis and I and the stockman--a first-rate chap, Moongarr Bill--worked the run--just the three of us.

You can guess how we managed it.

A Malay boy did cooky for the head-station.
After Christmas I left Ninnis and Bill to look after the place.