se who have participated in the hunt, or it may be
applied to some needed public work in the neighborhood.

"The hides are pegged out and dried, and after being packed into bales
they are shipped to various parts of the world. There is an increasing
demand in the United States for kangaroo leather, as you are doubtless
aware. Kangaroo flesh is put into tin cans for the market, but by far
the greater part of the meat obtained from a single drive is left on the
ground.

"Mr. Syme tells us that when the aboriginals used to hunt the kangaroos,
they killed them with the boomerang or the spear. In hunting with the
boomerang, they would creep up very slowly until within range, and
whenever they threw the weapon, it was generally with fatal effect. In
hunting with the spear, a native used to dress up so as to look like a
bush, by surrounding himself with twigs and vines. He carried his spear
in an upright position, so that it appeared to form an apex of the bush.
Then he walked slowly along, standing perfectly still when the kangaroo
raised its head to look around, and only moving while the animal grazed.
In this way, and by taking plenty of time, he would get up within
spear-throwing distance, and the rest of the story tells itself."

CHAPTER XVI.

HUNTING THE EMU AND OTHER BIRDS--AN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP RUN.

It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the
station on its return. Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent
day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.

Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots
with the rifle or shot-gun. They modestly and truthfully answered that
they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to
make a trial of their skill.

"Very well," said the host, "we will go out to-morrow and make an effort
to obtain some birds. We will begin with the largest bird of Australia,
the emu, and see what luck we can have with him."

"I've read about that bird," said Harry; "he doesn't fly, but he can run
very fast. I have read that he will outrun a horse; is that really so?"

"Yes," was the reply; "he can outrun most horses; in fact, it requires
an exceedingly fleet steed to overtake him. It is very little use to try
to run him down by a dead chase after him. The best way is to station
the horses along in a line about half a mile or so apart, and then chase
the bird in their direction. Each horseman takes