ng among the trees in the distance. Presently
another, and another appeared. They did not come near us, but were
apparently moving in the same direction that we were.

I pointed them out to Bracewell.

"I saw the rascals," he answered. "They are up to mischief very likely,
and think it prudent to keep at a distance from us. I'll soon make them
vanish."

Lifting his rifle, he uttered a loud whoop, when in an instant every
black disappeared, either having dropped to the ground, or got behind
the stems of trees.

"I don't suppose they'll come near us again, but it will be as well to
be on our guard when passing any thick scrub. We must either give it a
wide berth so that their spears cannot reach us, or gallop quickly by."

During the day-time, however, there was not much probability that the
blacks would venture to attack us; but we agreed that we must be very
careful during the night, lest they should spear our horses,--a trick
they are apt frequently to play when they think that they can do so and
make their escape without the risk of a bullet through their bodies.

Though we looked out for them on every side, not another black did we
see; but Bracewell remarked, that we must not consequently fancy that
they had taken themselves off.

However, as the day wore on, and they did not again reappear, we began
to hope that we had distanced them, and that they would not trouble us
during the night. At length we reached the water-hole, near which grew
several magnificent trees, where there was abundance of grass for the
horses, so that they would not be tempted to stray away.

Choosing a spot with a water-hole on one side, and three or four fine
trees of large girth on the other, we unsaddled our horses and made up
our fire. We had provisions enough for the evening, but should have to
go on short commons the next day, unless we could shoot a paddy-melon or
some birds.

Bracewell offered, as there was still sufficient light, to try to do so;
but Guy and I advised him to remain in camp while we endeavoured to
shoot a few parrots or cockatoos, so many of which were flitting about
among the boughs that we felt confident of shooting as many as we
required.

No sooner, however, did we fire, than having each brought down a parrot,
the remainder of the noisy birds flew away. We followed, expecting to
get some more shots, but the sound of our guns having alarmed them, as
soon as we approached they again took to fligh