'Well, Jack! Well, Bill!' and so on, calls us his good faithful fellows, and how well we'd brought the cattle over; nods to father, who didn't seem able to take it all in; says he'll back us against any stockmen in Australia; has up Warrigal and shows him off to the company.

'Most intelligent lad.' Warrigal grinned and showed his white teeth.

It was as good as a play.
Then everybody goes to lunch--swells and selectors, Germans and Paddies, natives and immigrants, a good many of them, too, and there was eating and drinking and speechifying till all was blue.

By and by the auctioneer looks at his watch.

He'd had a pretty good tuck-in himself, and they must get to business.
Father opened his eyes at the price the first pen brought, all prime young bullocks, half fat most of them.