Journeys with my Gun

(43) Lost

The Muster..
Another interesting task appeared one day in the form of an improbable mission to retrieve Lignum cattle which are beasts (cattle) that live permanently in the enormous wet, protected from the sun and tangled mess of lignum (which had been on fire forever) that covered a wide area of Bulloo Downs.
Lignum was widespread because it stores water and presents a widespread unbelievable entanglement in the vast outback, it also provided shelter for all manner of animals and some creepy things on various amounts of legs.

There were a few other potential problems within our mission which foretold a dreadful end to a job which eventually had to be done. The amount of cattle permanently residing in the Lignum was unknown, none had been sighted in years, the inhabitants only came out of the Lignum at night, it of course was unknown as to the difficulty in rounding up wild cattle.
Night had arrived as we sat on our horses (the magnificent seven) at a sandhill exit in the moonlight, waiting.. waiting....
After a very long wait and out of sight of any surfacing beasts, we counted about 15 cattle emerging to enjoy the evening air. They were a sight to behold, huge beasts with very long horns and backs that wide you could lay a king size mattress on some of them.
Then, in the early morning we were able to corral them away from the entry and force them out to open ground, they didn't attempt escape as they were too fat to run, obvious well aged and became exhausted very quickly.
We were required to settle the cattle down thru to dawn when we hustled them up for a relatively short muster to a truck waiting at a remote timber loading bay.
The whole event from this point was an absolute disaster, initially the cattle refused to move, a few started a sit-down strike, others just stood rock hard stubbornly refusing to move an inch and all of them suffered from exhaustion.
None made it to the truck, a few made it to the loading ramp which was smashed to matches by the bulk, rage and horns of the few.
The mission was abandoned, and I didn't look back to the aftermath.

LOST..
I must have been about 14 years of age, who knows, as another exciting task was seen on the horizon. The subject of droving cattle arose as I was informed that the station was to engage contract drovers to move 600 head of cows and calves from Bulloo Downs to a property over the border near Bourke NSW.
That form of moving cattle is mainly well gone now with the advent of powerful and more efficient trucks and with the trucks arrival we have also seen the drover disappear or reappear on a motor bike.

A Story Of The Aussie Outback.
'I was dreaming I suppose for my eyes were nearly closed when a very strange procession passed me by ...ab Banjo Patterson - 'The  Drovers Dream'

As the drove came closer, the station manager asked me if I would like to join the drovers on the long haul to Bourke. So, the exciting opportunity came to pass. Of the small team I only remember the boss in some detail whom I got to like immensely, he was a kind and gentle man who believed in the Australian flag and way of life with all of its graces, traditions and challenges. There was, however, always the matter of dining, so when resting under a tree during a break and having a sandwich, there was to be no slouching, sit up straight, did you have a wash this morning and often a daily sermon for myself and another young fellow about the Australian way and where the pair of us lacked conformation (especially in washing hands)
He was a great guy whom I will always remember. These types of guys who passed my way in life have always confirmed that being a boss or mentor with real leadership qualities has such a positive effect on one's wellbeing and development and puts paid to the various mongrels that as well pass by whom had other ideas.

'First there came the Kangaroo with his
swag of blankets blue, a Dingo ran beside him for a mate, they were travelling mighty fast and they shouted as they passed 'We better get along or we'll be late.....'