What kind of life had Harry lived after he left home?

His life was quite happening as he told Bessel that I’ve been everything you can think of almost but a tailor or soldier. I’ve been a boundary rider; I’ve sheared sheep, and humped my swag, and harpooned a whale. I’ve rigged ships, and prospected for gold, and skinned dead bullocks, —and

turned my back on more money than the old man would have scraped in his whole life.