on
the place where it took its rise; if in the range above them, there was
no fear, but if it had a long course on the opposite side of the range,
a sudden downpour of rain might swell its waters before they had time to
escape through their natural channel. That important point would be
ascertained when their father arrived. They had, it should be said,
notched the trees as they came along, so that he was not likely to cross
their track.

"In case there is a chance of the country being flooded, I think we
might build our house on yonder knoll, close under the hill, with the
river bending round it," observed Paul; "it is a beautiful spot, and we
should get a fine view from it over the whole district. I vote that we
camp there to-night, and set up a flag-staff, so that our father may see
it miles off; for I feel sure he will not pass to the west of this range
without first examining the country where we now are."

Paul's proposal was at once adopted. The trees on the knoll, though
growing pretty thickly, were of no great height, and it would be easy to
cut a flag-staff long enough to rise above them.

"Old Bolter" was hobbled as usual, and the young explorers, having
ascertained that the river was nowhere fordable in the neighbourhood of
the knoll, nor up to the point where it came out of the hills, the rest
of the horses were turned loose, as there was no fear of their bolting.

As they hoped their journey westward was now terminated, they ventured
to shoot as many parrots and pigeons as would serve them for an ample
meal. This done, they lighted their fire, leaving Reggy to cook the
birds, while Paul, Harry, and Bendigo went down to the scrub on the bank
of the river to cut a pine suitable for a flag-staff. The soft wood
yielded easily to their axes, and in a few minutes it lay on the ground.
To lop off the branches and bark it occupied but a short time, and
then, all three placing it on their shoulders, they carried it up the
hill.

"But what are we to do for a flag?" asked Reggy.

"We must fasten our handkerchiefs and my spare shirt together. A strong
breeze will be required, to be sure, to blow it out; but, depend upon
it, our father will guess what it means at any distance," answered Paul.

The flag was made, and lashed on with some strips of hide taken from the
last kangaroo they had shot, as they had no halyards with which to hoist
it. The pole was lashed to the trunk of another tree. When it was