"Dad's back!" Dan said, and rushed out in the lead of a stampede.
Emelina was back, anyway, with the swag on, but Dad was n't.

We caught her, and Dave pointed to white spots all over the saddle, and said--"Hanged if they have n't been ridin' her!"-- meaning the crows.
Mother got anxious, and sent Dan to see what had happened.

Dan found Dad, with his shirt off, at a pub on the main road, wanting to fight the publican for a hundred pounds, but could n't persuade him to come home.

Two men brought him home that night on a sheep-hurdle, and he gave up the idea of going away.
After all, the barley turned out well--there was a good price that year, and we were able to run two wires round the paddock.
One day a bulky Government letter came.

Dad looked surprised and pleased, and how his hand trembled as he broke the seal! "THE DEEDS!" he said, and all of us gathered round to look at them.