ly dreading their attacks. She said she
heard the report of our rifles on the first day of our search, but
unhappily the wind was blowing directly from us towards her, and
consequently we were unable to hear her answering calls, though she had
strained her voice to the utmost to make herself heard. She had been
almost frantic with despair, knowing that help was so near at hand and
yet beyond her reach. She thought, and we agreed with her, that another
day in the bush would have ended their lives, or at any rate that of the
little girl."

As the narrator paused, Harry asked if the woman recovered her health
and strength completely.

"She recovered her strength very soon," was the reply, "but her mind was
affected by her exposure and sufferings, and she was never quite herself
again, mentally. The children recovered completely after a few weeks of
nourishment, and the little girl who was so near dying in that hollow
tree has since grown up and married."

"I think it is time for a story of less mournful character," said one of
the party.

"By all means," said another; "let us have one."

"Well, here it is," was the reply.

"At the station of a wealthy squatter a party assembled one evening for
a good time and a supper. There were young men and young women, as well
as men and women who were not altogether young, who had been invited for
miles around, and they had a jolly time, you may well believe me. Some
of the young fellows, wishing to have some fun, disguised themselves in
rough clothes, blackened their faces, and frowzed up their hair in the
roughest kind of way. Then they suddenly appeared at the door of the
large room, and the cry of 'Bushrangers!' was raised. Some of the ladies
fainted in alarm, and all were more or less frightened. The joke was not
kept up very long, as the counterfeit bushrangers were not good
impersonators, and were speedily detected by their friends. There was a
great deal of fun and laughter over the trick that had been played, and
then the performers in the scheme resumed their ordinary dress and
continued in the games with the others.

"An hour or so later, rough voices were heard outside of the house, and
soon there appeared in the doorway six or eight rough-looking men with
begrimed faces, untrimmed hair, and very shabby-looking garments, who
entered the hall with a very determined manner. Some of the party burst
out laughing, and exclaimed, 'Bushrangers again!' declaring that they