leaves from some shrubs which partly concealed him. So busily engaged
was he, that he did not at first notice their approach, but as they got
near his quick ear detected the sound of their horses' feet, and taking
one glance at them over his shoulder, he bounded off to seek safety in
flight.

The dogs gave chase, the horsemen followed close upon their heels. The
kangaroo appeared to move but slowly, and to be making his long bounds
with deliberation.

"We shall be up to him in three minutes!" cried Reggy.

"Not so fast as that, by a long way," answered Harry; "he is now going
at double the speed you suppose, and will soon increase it."

Harry was right. On went the kangaroo towards a creek in which there
were two or three deep water-holes, a couple of miles to the northward.
Hector and Reginald could not help laughing as they saw the wonderful
bounds he made, holding his little front claws close to him, as a man
does when running a race, with his knowing head held upright.
Sometimes, when passing through high grass, the head and shoulders alone
were visible, and the dogs could not be perceived except by the waving
grass, while often they could not see the chase; still they kept on in
its tracks. At last a large water-hole was reached, the kangaroo leapt
into it, and having gained the centre, turned round and watched for the
approach of the dogs. Bruce--knowing old fellow--was well aware that
the kangaroo would have him at a great disadvantage, and contented
himself by standing at the edge and barking, as he knew the animal must
in time abandon his present position and again take to flight. All the
older dogs imitated Brace's example; but two young ones, thinking
themselves braver than their companions, swam out, expecting to catch
the kangaroo by the neck and bring him down. The first which approached
was caught in his short arms before the dog could seize his throat, and
was held down under the water, the kangaroo looking round all the time
with perfect unconcern. In vain the dog struggled: the greater its
efforts to free himself, the more rapidly the water entered its mouth.

The second dog attempted to make a diversion in its favour, but the
kangaroo managed to give it a blow with the sharp claw of one of its
hinder feet, and, with a yelp of pain, it swam back to the shore,
leaving a ruddy stain in the water, while the body of the first dog
which had been seized floated up deprived of life.

Harry and