Mystic Mountains

before urging them to prepare to move on.
    "I think last night and this morning will live in my memory forever Thelma," Isabella said as they went to the wagons.
    "Aye, mine too, girl."
    They had slept side by side on the ground beneath the wagon, both only catching snatches of sleep.
    "Now we have Cox 's River to face, and Gillie reckons it isn't going to be easy getting over."
    He was right. By the look on Tiger 's face as they looked on the treacherous river this was going to be the worst crossing so far.
    Tiger rode across to test the depth. His horse was wet nearly to its withers and Tiger 's breeches soaked when he came back.
    "Right, take your wagon over first, Johnny," he ordered. "And, Jones," he pointed to a rider, "you take hold of the lead horse and guide it along, all right?"
    He stopped to spare Isabella a glance, before riding to the following dray. "And you men keep the bullocks moving, whatever happens, do you hear me?"
    Johnny grimaced as he looked sideways at Isabella, before slapping the reins on the rumps of the horses. They began to move slowly down the slope into the fast flowing river, Jones urging the lead horse forward.
    "Hang onto me, Tim, and don 't let go." Isabella clutched at her son as the wagon tipped at a precarious angle entering the water, and the front horses baulked when it swirled about their bellies.
    "Keep them moving, man!" Tiger roared, splashing Satan into the river and waving his whip as the wagon hit a rock and wobbled. Isabella suppressed a scream of fear when a jolt vibrated through her, and Tim 's lower lip trembled. She gave him what she hoped was a comforting smile, pressing him tighter to her side.
    The men swore, cursed, and cajoled the animals until after what seemed an eternity they reached the far bank.
    "Hallelujah," the men chorused, whooping as Johnny pulled up well away from the river.
    "Thank the Lord," Johnny whispered. Taking off his cabbage-tree hat he wiped at his head with a fist. "I ain 't a religious man, missus, but I sure as hell thank Him, if He was what stopped us from going under."
    It took hours of laborious work to get everyone and all the animals across. The bullocks decided to be water-shy and the sheep had to be coaxed and hard-pressed. Every man stood nigh on chest high in water to ensure no creature got pulled downstream by the current.
    As they all lay on their backs, taking a breather after the exertion, Tiger declared, "We'll camp here for a day where there's good pasture for the animals."
    Hats were tossed in the air as they all shouted their pleasure.
    "Thank heavens," Thelma said to Isabella. "What I need more than anything is a bath and a change of clothing. I'm beginning to stink like one of those pigs yonder."
    "The pigs don 't stink, Thelma, they've just had a bath," Tim told her indignantly. He liked the pigs.
    Tiger overheard, and suggested, "You women and Tim take the first go at bathing. But take care not to go beyond the stretch where we crossed. We don 't know how deep it gets further upriver. And for God's sake watch out for snakes."
    No need to warn us about them, Isabella thought, her lip curling bitterly.
    Tiger ensured no man ventured near while they stripped to their underthings and washed their hair and bodies. Agnes and Lily then washed their filthy clothing and it was hung to dry, along with the men's trousers and shirts, on a line strung between two red-barked eucalyptus trees.
    After the evening meal they sat around the fire talking in a desultory way. The men were circled around their own fire a short distance away, Lily with them. Agnes went to bed with Tim as soon as she 'd eaten. Isabella peeped in soon after to see them both sound asleep.
    Thelma yawned and stretched. "Well, I 'm away to my bed too," she said, patting Gillie's knee as he sat staring at the flames, puffing at his pipe. "Coming along, Gillie?"
    "Aye, love, it 's been a tiring couple of days." He stood and touched his forelock. "Dougal will be sorely missed," he said softly to Isabella. "I just wanted to say that I'll not find another man as good with sheep as that young fellow. I know things weren't good with you two for a long time, and at times I blamed you. But I just wanted you to know I don't blame you for the way things were between you."
    Isabella touched his outstretched hand. "Thank you, Gillie, that's decent of you."
    He nodded and followed Thelma to their tent, dropping the flap after them.
    Isabella had left her hair loose to dry.