he gave each a friendly patting and stroked
their cold wet noses; "you're ever so much better companions than old
Leather. Now then, finish your breakfast: to-night you will sleep in
your warm stable."

The announcement made, of course, no impression upon the horses, which
lowered their heads again directly, and went on cropping the succulent
coarse grass, while Nic went on to the side of the pool, and began to
undress, when his attention was taken by a sudden splash; and as he
stood wondering he could dimly see something swimming about toward the
other side.

"Must be a big water rat," muttered Nic, commencing to undress; and,
confident that there was nothing likely to injure him, he plunged in,
had his swim, crept out, rubbed, and was going on with his dressing
again behind a clump of wattle scrub, when the splash excited his
curiosity again, and turning his head cautiously, he peered down at the
pool over which the pale grey light was now growing brighter.

For the first few moments he could see nothing; then a sinuous line of
disturbed water showed him where something was swimming.

"'Tis a rat," he said to himself, "and those are ducks just on beyond
it. No, it isn't a rat: it's one of those things with the duck's bill
that father was talking about. I'll dress quickly and fetch the gun. I
might get two or three ducks for supper."

The next moment he thought he would run as hard as he could to the
waggon, and avoid being speared, but he did not stir, only stood in a
stooping position staring wildly at' a black figure stealing along among
the trees on the other side of the pool; and hardly had he realised this
fact before another black appeared walking in the track of the first,
and then' another and another.

Nic felt paralysed. They might be dangerous, for they were all carrying
spears, and were stealing up to the water in the most cautious way.

The next minute he could see at least a dozen, and lowering his head
cautiously he dropped upon his knees well out of sight, and finished
dressing before softly turning his head again to watch.

The blacks were gone; and, though relieved, the boy was puzzled, for he
could not make out how they could have left, as there was the open
country just beyond the water-hole, and hardly a bush that could form a
hiding-place.

He could not have been deceived. Those must have been blacks, a strong
party of them; and it was evident that they had not been seen up at th