d not have praised you if you had not, and it is time that you
should have some cattle of your own, and sheep too, and in a few days I
will tell you what proportion of the increase of my flocks and herds I
can allow you."

Troloo was now more than ever at the station. He came in, while Mr
Ramsay was there, with the news that a large number of kangaroos were
assembled not far off, driven by the fire from their usual feeding
grounds. Hearing this, Mr Ramsay sent over to Mr Harlow, and a party
was made up to hunt them. It was well worth doing so, for though their
flesh is not as good as mutton, for each kangaroo killed, two sheep
would be saved. Both gentlemen had large dogs trained to hunt them. A
kangaroo is a curious animal, with short forelegs, and very long hind
ones, which it doubles up under itself. With these, and the help of a
long, heavy tail, it leaps over the ground almost as fast as a horse can
gallop. A female kangaroo has a sort of pouch in front, in which she
carries her young. On the approach of danger the young one jumps into
it, and off she goes. When very hard pressed, however, to save her own
life, she will take it out and drop it, and thus go faster over the
ground. Two or three other gentlemen and several stockmen from the
neighbouring stations joined the party. After they had ridden several
miles, Troloo gave notice that they were near the spot. The rifles were
got ready, and the party spread out so as to stop the mob from breaking
through. The feeding ground was in a large, open space, on the borders
of a part of the bush which had escaped the fire. As the horsemen drew
near, the creatures looked up, and seeing their enemies, started off.
The dogs were set on and the horsemen followed, firing as they had a
chance. Several of the animals were shot, and Sam and Bob boasted that
each of them had killed one. They also came upon two emus, to which
they gave chase. These are birds with long, thick legs and short wings,
which help them along when running before the wind. Their bodies are
about half the size of a small Australian sheep. They run at a great
rate, so that a horse has hard work to come up with them. Sam's horse
was already tired, and they were obliged to give up the chase. As they
rode back to join the rest of the party, they saw under the trees what
looked like a native hut. On getting nearer they found that a man was
inside leaning against the trunk of a tree. They cal