Chapter 9 Summary

Life continues peacefully on Drogheda. Jims and Patsy do their correspondence lessons eagerly at the kitchen table. They look forward to being old enough to attend Riverview boarding school in Sydney. Any discussion of the boys leaving Drogheda depresses Mrs. Smith, the housekeeper who dotes on the two boys. Stuart has taken up permanent residence in the Home Paddock again, as the depression brings an increasing number of drifters to the ranch. Tramps know they can always find plenty of hot food, provisions for the road, and a job if they want one at Drogheda.

In August when the big storm breaks, only Paddy is far out in the paddocks, trying to round up errant sheep. He takes shelter in a group of dead tree stumps collected around a massive dead gum tree. A bolt of lightning strikes the gum tree, and suddenly...