Cirrus@Austlit

'The Rainham’s property next to Billabong is not doing well.  Bob and Tommy are very worried.  Tommy, doing her best to keep positive and cheerful, sells her car to help pay the mortgage.

'The Lintons are worried for their friends too and, as a diversion from his woes, take Bob out to muster their combined young cattle in from the back blocks to fatten them up on the grasslands.  Bob, investigating a rough patch of scrub, slips down a cleft in the rocks.  Happily, Bill is nearby and comes to his rescue.  That night, Bob shows the men his find from the fall – gold-bearing stones!  Suddenly there is hope for a brighter future, though plans to peg and claim rights to the area are initially thwarted by a rogue fossicker hell bent on getting there first.  Further inspection of the site reveals a fascinating and elaborate underground cave system and the gold find proves positive … the mining of which will need planning, hard work and secrecy.'  (Publication summary)