would be. We looked about in all
directions and at length, to our no small satisfaction, espied him still
standing by the horses and wondering what had become of us. We had lost
considerable time by our hunting, though we had obtained a good dinner,
and of course had been delayed also by one of the party having to
proceed on foot.

While we were seated round our camp-fire Bracewell said--

"I scarcely like to make the proposal I am about to do, and yet perhaps
you will not object. If you will consent to remain in camp here and
allow me to take one of your horses, I will ride forward and bring a
couple of fresh ones from my station. Should you not do this I must
insist on walking, though I shall of necessity delay you. I confess
also, that I am anxious to give notice that the bushrangers are abroad,
or they may be visiting my hut or some of my neighbours, and carry off
arms and ammunition, which is chiefly what they come after, for they
don't find much else than food in the shepherds' huts."

"Pray do as you think best," said Guy, "I am sure Maurice will agree
with me that we should not at all mind remaining stationary for a few
hours, nor will our other horses, which require rest."

I thought the plan a good one, and before the day had actually broken,
Bracewell mounted my horse and away he rode at a rate which assured us
that we should not be long alone. As Toby had plenty of food, he did
not grumble at the delay, but sat himself down contentedly at the fire
which he promised to keep alight, while we took our guns and went to
shoot some birds or a kangaroo if we could see one.

The great drawback to a traveller in a hot country is the impossibility
of preserving fresh meat, which exposed to the sun quickly becomes
uneatable. What we killed one day was therefore unfit for food the
next, and we had each morning to shoot some more game, or content
ourselves with damper and tea.

We had already become pretty skilful in baking damper, which consists
simply of flour and water, kneaded on a board, and baked in the form of
a large biscuit under the ashes.

We saw several kangaroos, but they bounded away before we could get near
enough to shoot them, and had to content ourselves as before with a
couple of parrots and as many pigeons, which was an ample supply, for
although the over-high kangaroo meat did not suit our palates, Toby had
no objection to it.

We had been shooting for some time, and were making our w