y for use should we be compelled from any cause to return.

Our camp was formed at some distance from the water, on the side of a
bank, where the ground was drier than the spot we first occupied near
the river. It was truly a wild woodland scene: the trees of gigantic
growth towering up to the starlit sky, their branches thickly interlaced
with countless creepers, which hung down in festoons, bearing flowers of
various hues, some of enormous size, others so minute as scarcely to be
discernible except when massed in clusters. Those only, however, were
visible, which, hanging low down, shone in the light of the blazing
fire.

Mudge had thoughtfully arranged a bark hut for my mother and Edith,
while lean-tos served for the rest of the party. Considering our
circumstances, we were very merry as we sat round the fire enjoying a
good supper, for, having an abundance of provisions, there was no
necessity to stint ourselves; indeed, we possessed more than we could
carry, and should have to let some remain _en cache_, as the Canadians
call it.

Pullingo had, according to his own idea, become one of us; Mudge having
dressed him up in a shirt and trousers, which made him far more
presentable among civilised people than he had hitherto been. He had
tried to get him into a canvas jacket; but he made signs that it was too
hot, and that he should sink with the weight;--though one would not
suppose that it could have made much difference. I observed that at
night he took off his new clothes, and merely threw his skin-rug over
him; probably he would otherwise have been unable to go to sleep.

But I must now hurry on, and merely give the chief incidents of our
journey.

CHAPTER TEN.

JOURNEY COMMENCED--OUR NIGHT ENCAMPMENT--WITNESS A CORROBORREE, OR
SKELETON DANCE--NATIVES VISIT US--A MAGICIAN PLAYS OFF HIS TRICKS--
NATIVE SUPERSTITIONS--JOURNEY RESUMED--CURIOUS TREES--CAMP ALARMED BY A
"LAUGHING JACKASS"--HALT FOR THE DAY--EXPEDITION--DISCOVER AN OLD WOMAN
TRYING TO AROUSE THE NATIVES TO ATTACK US--PULLINGO APPEARS TO WARN US--
WE RETREAT--A HURRIED MARCH--A LITTER FORMED FOR EDITH--AGAIN ENCAMP--A
FUGITIVE--SURPRISED BY THE NATIVES--PROVE TO BE FRIENDS OF PULLINGO--THE
MARCH RESUMED.

Having housed in the boat, and hidden such provisions and goods as we
could not take with us, we commenced our journey. We each of us carried
a pack containing ammunition, a pair of shoes, a change of clothing,
flour, biscuit, and prese