ng cattle camps, and now after a
hard day's riding were stretching themselves out upon the grassy bank to
rest, whilst Toby was lighting the fire in readiness for supper. On the
top of the bank the three hardy stockhorses and a packmare, were grazing
contentedly on the rich green grass, and lying at Westonley's feet
were two beautiful black-and-tan cattle dogs, still panting with their
exertions. The camp had been made in a grove of mimosa trees, within a
hundred yards of the clear waters of the creek, which rippled musically
over its rocky bed as it sped swiftly to the sea. It wanted an hour to
sunset, and already the hum of insects was in the air, and a faint cool
breeze which had been stirring the green graceful fronds of the mimosas,
and wafting fleecy strips of white across the blue dome above, had died
away.

In the thick foliage of a cedar tree on the opposite bank, a pheasant
and his mate were hopping about, uttering their harsh, rude notes; then
came a whir and whistle of wings and a quick passing shadow overhead
as a flock of black duck sped over the tree tops to some sandy-banked,
reed-margined pool near by.

Westonley, a big, bushy-bearded man, raised himself on one elbow, and
watched them disappear; then he called to Toby to take the gun and
follow.

"What's the use of 'em, Ted?" said Gerrard, as pipe in mouth, and with
hands clasped under his head, he gazed upwards to the sky. "There's two
scrub turkeys in the saddle-bags; don't be such a beastly glutton."

"You mind your own business, my little man. You like scrub turkey. I
don't. Give me a black or a wood duck, freshly killed, before all scrub
or 'plain' turkeys in Australia. And move yourself, you useless animal,
and get one of your turkeys and pluck it while Toby is getting a duck or
two. Wonderfully intelligent nigger is Toby. I've never yet known him to
fail in getting me a duck if there was one within a mile. I say, Tommy,
d'ye like crawfish? This creek here is full of 'em. We'll get some after
supper."

"All right! I'm with you there," said Gerrard, as he pulled out two
scrub turkeys from the saddle-bags, and then seizing one by the legs, he
took aim at the broad back of his friend, and the fat, heavy bird struck
him fairly in the middle of it. The big man never moved, except to
carelessly put his hand out behind, and taking the turkey, began to
pluck it.

"Tommy," he said, presently, "d'ye know how to make crawfish soup? It's
grand!"

"C