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Sam
Machell
drew
the
attention
of
his
auditors
to
the
fact
that
the
real
guides
of
the
drove
were
neither
the
men
nor
the
dogs
,
but
the
oxen
themselves
,
beasts
of
superior
intelligence
,
recognized
as
leaders
by
their
congenitors
.
They
advanced
in
front
with
perfect
gravity
,
choosing
the
best
route
by
instinct
,
and
fully
alive
to
their
claim
to
respect
.
Indeed
,
they
were
obliged
to
be
studied
and
humored
in
everything
,
for
the
whole
drove
obeyed
them
implicitly
.
If
they
took
it
into
their
heads
to
stop
,
it
was
a
matter
of
necessity
to
yield
to
their
good
pleasure
,
for
not
a
single
animal
would
move
a
step
till
these
leaders
gave
the
signal
to
set
off
.
Sundry
details
,
added
by
the
stock-keeper
,
completed
the
history
of
this
expedition
,
worthy
of
being
written
,
if
not
commended
by
Xenophon
himself
.
As
long
as
the
troop
marched
over
the
plains
it
was
well
enough
,
there
was
little
difficulty
or
fatigue
.
The
animals
fed
as
they
went
along
,
and
slaked
their
thirst
at
the
numerous
creeks
that
watered
the
plains
,
sleeping
at
night
and
making
good
progress
in
the
day
,
always
obedient
and
tractable
to
the
dogs
.
But
when
they
had
to
go
through
great
forests
and
groves
of
eucalyptus
and
mimosas
,
the
difficulties
increased
.
Platoons
,
battalions
and
regiments
got
all
mixed
together
or
scattered
,
and
it
was
a
work
of
time
to
collect
them
again
.
Should
a
"
leader
"
unfortunately
go
astray
,
he
had
to
be
found
,
cost
what
it
might
,
on
pain
of
a
general
disbandment
,
and
the
blacks
were
often
long
days
in
quest
of
him
,
before
their
search
was
successful
.
During
the
heavy
rains
the
lazy
beasts
refused
to
stir
,
and
when
violent
storms
chanced
to
occur
,
the
creatures
became
almost
mad
with
terror
,
and
were
seized
with
a
wild
,
disorderly
panic
.
However
,
by
dint
of
energy
and
ambition
,
the
stock-keeper
triumphed
over
these
difficulties
,
incessantly
renewed
though
they
were
.
He
kept
steadily
on
;
mile
after
mile
of
plains
and
woods
,
and
mountains
,
lay
behind
.
But
in
addition
to
all
his
other
qualities
,
there
was
one
higher
than
all
that
he
specially
needed
when
they
came
to
rivers
.
This
was
patience
--
patience
that
could
stand
any
trial
,
and
not
only
could
hold
out
for
hours
and
days
,
but
for
weeks
.
The
stock-keeper
would
be
himself
forced
to
wait
on
the
banks
of
a
stream
that
might
have
been
crossed
at
once
.
There
was
nothing
to
hinder
but
the
obstinacy
of
the
herd
.
The
bullocks
would
taste
the
water
and
turn
back
.
The
sheep
fled
in
all
directions
,
afraid
to
brave
the
liquid
element
.
The
stock-keeper
hoped
when
night
came
he
might
manage
them
better
,
but
they
still
refused
to
go
forward
.
The
rams
were
dragged
in
by
force
,
but
the
sheep
would
not
follow
.
They
tried
what
thirst
would
do
,
by
keeping
them
without
drink
for
several
days
,
but
when
they
were
brought
to
the
river
again
,
they
simply
quenched
their
thirst
,
and
declined
a
more
intimate
acquaintance
with
the
water
.
The
next
expedient
employed
was
to
carry
all
the
lambs
over
,
hoping
the
mothers
would
be
drawn
after
them
,
moved
by
their
cries
.
But
the
lambs
might
bleat
as
pitifully
as
they
liked
,
the
mothers
never
stirred
.
Sometimes
this
state
of
affairs
would
last
a
whole
month
,
and
the
stock-keeper
would
be
driven
to
his
wits
'
end
by
his
bleating
,
bellowing
,
neighing
army
.
Then
all
of
a
sudden
,
one
fine
day
,
without
rhyme
or
reason
,
a
detachment
would
take
it
into
their
heads
to
make
a
start
across
,
and
the
only
difficulty
now
was
to
keep
the
whole
herd
from
rushing
helter-skelter
after
them
.
The
wildest
confusion
set
in
among
the
ranks
,
and
numbers
of
the
animals
were
drowned
in
the
passage
.
Such
was
the
narrative
of
Sam
Machell
.
During
its
recital
,
a
considerable
part
of
the
troop
had
filed
past
in
good
order
.
It
was
time
for
him
to
return
to
his
place
at
their
head
,
that
he
might
be
able
to
choose
the
best
pasturage
.
Taking
leave
of
Lord
Glenarvan
,
he
sprang
on
a
capital
horse
of
the
native
breed
,
that
one
of
his
men
held
waiting
for
him
,
and
after
shaking
hands
cordially
with
everybody
all
round
,
took
his
departure
.
A
few
minutes
later
,
nothing
was
visible
of
the
stock-keeper
and
his
troop
but
a
cloud
of
dust
.
The
wagon
resumed
its
course
in
the
opposite
direction
,
and
did
not
stop
again
till
they
halted
for
the
night
at
the
foot
of
Mount
Talbot
.
Paganel
made
the
judicious
observation
that
it
was
the
25th
of
December
,
the
Christmas
Day
so
dear
to
English
hearts
.
But
the
steward
had
not
forgotten
it
,
and
an
appetizing
meal
was
soon
ready
under
the
tent
,
for
which
he
deserved
and
received
warm
compliments
from
the
guests
.
Indeed
,
M.
Olbinett
had
quite
excelled
himself
on
this
occasion
.
He
produced
from
his
stores
such
an
array
of
European
dishes
as
is
seldom
seen
in
the
Australian
desert
.
Reindeer
hams
,
slices
of
salt
beef
,
smoked
salmon
,
oat
cakes
,
and
barley
meal
scones
;
tea
ad
libitum
,
and
whisky
in
abundance
,
and
several
bottles
of
port
,
composed
this
astonishing
meal
.
The
little
party
might
have
thought
themselves
in
the
grand
dining-hall
of
Malcolm
Castle
,
in
the
heart
of
the
Highlands
of
Scotland
.
The
next
day
,
at
11
A.
M.
,
the
wagon
reached
the
banks
of
the
Wimerra
on
the
143d
meridian
.
