their rich
plumage flashing in the reflection of the sun, and almost dazzling the
eye of the beholder, as they darted in their continued flight from tree
to tree, in the exuberance of their conscious freedom and enjoyment of
resuscitated nature, screeched their notes of thankfulness and
admiration. The running streamlet, called into almost momentary
existence, bounded and leapt its limpid volume through its tortuous and
meandering course, insinuated its translucent body into masses of
fibrous _debris_ and crevices of rock, to emerge in miniature cataracts,
and murmur its allegiance to an all-smiling nature. The brightened face
of morn greeted the young men upon their start; and with their spirits
buoyant and animated by the refreshing influence of the delightful
temperature, the surrounding fragrance, and the cheerful and
exhilarating aspect of the bush, they rode with light and happy hearts.

Their course, however, was tedious and troublesome, and at the same time
dangerous; for the fury of the storm, which now showed what had been
the extent of its force, in the destruction it had occasioned, had
placed numerous traps on the road. Immense trees lay prostrate across
their track, frequently necessitating a deviation from the path. Here a
patriarch of the forest was riven to the root; with its splinters
scattered in all directions; while one portion, still adhering in its
connexion to the base, and supported by a branch resting on the ground,
formed a triumphal arch across the road. There a similar denizen of the
woods extended his humiliated form; torn up by the root, which had drawn
with it masses of its congenial soil, seemingly unwilling to part with
its natural element from which it had derived its sustenance. This would
cause another deviation; and the treacherous nature of the ground (which
was what bushmen call rotten, that is, superficially looking perfectly
sound, though actually so soft that a horse would sink into it to his
knees) rendered travelling insecure, and required the exercise of
extreme caution. Hence the day was considerably advanced ere the
travellers arrived at Brompton.

As they approached this station, they were very much struck with its
appearance. It was situated on a rising ground facing the Gibson river;
which, with the heavy rains that had fallen, had risen considerably
above its usual height, and had the appearance of a noble stream. The
house itself was of the kind generally to be met w