We sank into the
watery valley, and began to ascend the next height. Another roller came
hissing on. If it caught us, we should be swamped; but the sail kept
full, and the two pulled right lustily.

Just then I glanced down on Edith's face for an instant: her eyes were
open; she was looking round with astonishment.

"Thank Heaven, you are better," I said. "Keep quiet; we shall be all to
rights directly."

She heard me, and did not move. I held my breath, for we were on the
worst part of the bar. Another roller came on, and I thought it would
overwhelm us. It lifted the stern of the boat, and we were shot amidst
a mass of foaming waves, till we glided down into the smooth water of
the river.

We now quickly ran up the river, and rounding to, shot up to the
landing-place, where my father and mother stood ready to receive us. As
my mother's eye fell on Edith's pale face she uttered a cry of alarm.

"She is getting better now, mother," I said; "and under your care she'll
soon be well again."

As I spoke, Harry and I were preparing to lift Edith out of the boat.
My father came to assist us, and carried her in his arms to the cottage.
I was thankful to find that in a short time she was herself again.
Possibly her sudden illness may have been the means of saving our lives.
Scarcely had we landed when the storm burst with great fury, though it
lasted but a short time; after which the sun again came out, and all was
bright and beautiful as before.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

EXPEDITION TO OBTAIN VEGETABLES--CRESTED COCKATOOS--WE BECOME BETTER
ACQUAINTED WITH PULLINGO AND HIS FAMILY--TOMMY TAKES MR. AND MRS.
PULLINGO'S PORTRAITS--A SPORTING EXPEDITION--SEE AN EMU--KILL TWO
KANGAROOS--MEET BUSHRANGERS--GO OUT FISHING--HURRIED RETURN--BUSHRANGERS
HAVE VISITED THE VILLAGE--FIND THE MEN BOUND--PURSUE BUSHRANGERS--THEY
ESCAPE--EDITH AND PIERCE MISSING--MY MOTHER'S ALARM--SEARCH IN THE BOAT
ALONG THE COAST--DISCOVER THE BODY OF A BUSHRANGER UNDER THE CLIFF--
RETURN WITHOUT FINDING THE MISSING ONES.

A week had passed away since the boat left us, and we were all feeling
ourselves, as it were, at home. As may be supposed, my mother begged
that we would not take Edith again beyond the mouth of the river;
indeed, she herself had no wish to go. Occasionally we pulled up the
stream, for although we knew that there were natives in the
neighbourhood, we did not fear that they would molest us, as we had not
seen any of their canoe