Fern Vale; or, the Queensland Squatter. Volume 3

A sunny Queensland morning finds a lively party of equestrians tracing a bridle path between Strawberry Hill and Brompton. Mrs. Rainsfield, her sister, Tom, the Fergusons and their black boy Joey pause at a tranquil lagoon, sharing a simple tiffin under the shade of a lone tree. Their conversation drifts between the comforts of the bush and the distant memories of England, while the horses and dogs revel in the gentle breeze.

Later they reach the homestead at Brompton, where Mr. and Mrs. Smithers welcome them with warm hospitality and a bustling evening of laughter. The next day promises the highlight of the season—a local horse race set on a natural track beside the Gibson River, its level turf framed by swaying acacia and a shallow swamp that collects the rain. As the community prepares for the fete, the promise of sunshine and competition brightens the air, even as the surrounding lands whisper of a looming dry spell.