y
employed stirring up the savory mess, and trying to make a wheezy pipe
draw; and as the tobacco which he was smoking was damp, and the meat was
liable to burn, his time was fully occupied.

"Come, rouse up." Smith said, when he saw that we were awake; and while
he spoke, he was trying to coax a coal into the pipe, but it obstinately
refused to go.

"We'll be off in an hour's time; so I'm getting a little bit of
breakfast ready before we start. Get up, and help me set the table."

We rolled up our blankets, and in a few minutes had drawn the rough
table to the middle of the room, and placed thereupon our tin plates and
quart pots.

As breakfast was not quite ready, I strolled out of doors, and found
that the first streaks of daylight were just visible, and the stars
looked white and silverish. There were no clouds to obscure the sight,
and for a short time I stood watching the gradual changes that were
taking place as the sun edged its way towards the horizon. First long
streaks of a bright golden color were extended like huge arms, and then
they changed to a subdued pink tint that defied the art of a painter to
transfer to canvas. Glorious are the views to be obtained in Australia
at sunrise, and if those of Italy excel them, it must indeed be a land
for poets and painters.

A heavy dew had fallen during the night, and refreshed the aromatic
plants that sprouted beneath my feet; and as they were crushed by my
heavy tread, they yielded up their life with a perfumed breath that
filled the air with fragrance, and made me regret that I had no other
means of locomotion beside my feet.

The heavy rumbling of carts over the dry streets was heard, and an
occasional crack of the dreadful whip and the fierce shout of the driver
proved that there were others stirring as early as ourselves.

"Breakfast is ready," shouted Fred from the door of the hut; and I
retraced my steps to the home of the convict, whom I found still sucking
his pipe and pouring out the coffee.

Our meal was soon over, for the delicacy of civilized life was not
particularly observed, and our long seclusion from the society of
females had rendered us little better than savages, as far as manners
were concerned.

"Now, then, pack up your traps, and he ready for a start. I'll be along
here with my team in half an hour, as my freight is already loaded."

"Rut we shall need provisions for the route," I said.

"Of course you will; but as I have to tak