not like to be left here longer than is necessary."

They remained only during the night, and again starting before the sun
rose they reached the water-hole where they had before camped by
nightfall.

It was satisfactory to find no traces of blacks. Bendigo now assumed a
great air of importance. Paul and Harry agreed that he fancied himself
the leader of the party. "Let him do so," said Paul, "it may make him
more careful. He will consider himself responsible should we meet with
any misfortune."

Travelling through a new country, hitherto untrod by the foot of a white
man, is no doubt very interesting in theory, but it becomes dreadfully
wearisome in practice. To go on hour after hour with huge gum-trees on
every side, the only change being the sight of a kangaroo, a wallaby, a
bandicoot, or a jolly little paddy-melon hopping away.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE EXPLORERS RUN SHORT OF POWDER--SCANTY FARE--CAMPED AT NIGHT--
CONTINUE JOURNEY--BENDIGO OBTAINS HONEY.

Two days had passed away; the young explorers made good progress. They
now discovered, what caused them some anxiety, that they were running
short of ammunition. Without it they would have a difficulty in
obtaining food, although Bendigo and Bruce might help them. It was
absolutely necessary to retain sufficient powder to protect themselves
should they encounter any hostile blacks. Paul insisted that they
should not fire another shot, except to kill a kangaroo or emu; at the
same time, he did not wish to confess to Bendigo the small amount of
ammunition they possessed. They had thus been for some time on short
commons, and were beginning to feel the effects of scanty fare. Bendigo
trapped several creatures, now and then catching a 'possum in its hole,
or an iguana. Occasionally he found eggs where they themselves would
not have discovered them. Had they been able to preserve the animals
they caught they might have subsisted very well; but after a few hours,
even though the meat was cooked, it became uneatable, and they were
obliged to give it to Bendigo or Bruce, who were not so particular.

They had been very unsuccessful all day, and had made a long march, when
they encamped somewhat earlier than usual near a water-hole. They were
fully aware of the risk they ran when selecting such a spot of a visit
from the blacks; but they hoped, by keeping a good watch, not to be
surprised by them. They knew that their chief danger would arise should
t