"
Dave raised himself on his elbow.
"Yairs--with CATTLE," he said.
"Just so" (Dad sat up with enthusiasm), "but to get the LAND is the first
thing, and that's easy enough ONLY" (lowering his voice) "it'll have to be
done QUIETLY and without letting everyone 'round know we're going in for
it." ("Oh! yairs, o' course," from Dave.) "THEN" (and Dad lifted his
voice and leaned over) "run a couple of wires round it, put every cow
we've here on it straight away; get another one or two when the barley's
sold, and let them breed."
"'Bout how many'd that be t' start 'n?"
"Well, EIGHT good cows at the least--plenty, too. It's simply WONDERFUL
how cattle breed if they're let alone. Look at Murphy, for instance.
Started on that place with two young heifers--those two old red cows that
you see knocking about now. THEY'RE the mothers of all his cattle.
Anderson just the same...Why, God bless my soul! we would have a better
start than any one of them ever had--by a long way."
Dave sat up. He began to share Dad's enthusiasm.
"Once get it STOCKED, and all that is to be done then is simply to look
after the fence, ride about among the cattle every day, see they're right,
brand the calves, and every year muster the mob, draft out the fat
bullocks, whip them into town, and get our seven and eight pounds a head
for them.
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