Great Southland Gold [antikvár]

QAVQyNew South Wales, 1843"Still no sign of your father, Tim?"For a long moment there was no movement from the boy perched in the highest possible spot of the old gum tree. At last he shook his head, though continuing to stare out across the valley, searching the winding road that disappeared through the tall timber at the foot of the distant mountain. Adam knew how desperately the boy hoped to see the famil-iar horse and wagon carrying the man he had missed so much these last long months.After a pause, Adam Stevens tried again. "Anything could have delayed him, Son," he called in an even louder voice. His voice was troubled, revealing his own anxiety. They had been expecting Timothy Hardy to arrive midmoming, at the latest by midday. But the sun was low in the west. Adam had been out in the back paddocks all day, and when he had returned a few moments ago, his anxious wife had met him at the homestead gate. Kate was deeply worried about Tim, who had climbed the tree hours ago and resisted all her pleas to come down.Tim stirred slightly but never stopped watching that distant dirt track. It was a long moment before his quiet tones answered, "But Father would have allowed for that and set out even earlier than he had planned. He always camps some-where so he can be here as early as possible. His letter said to expect him this morning. Besides, he knew Fd be waiting."Adam's concern deepened. Tim was right. It was so unlike Timothy. After the tragedy of losing his wife and small daughter the year before, Timothy had found it especially hard to leave his beloved son at Waverley so the boy could