ck wood to which Pullingo conducted us. On
looking at the map, however, it seemed as if, after all our walking, we
had made no progress, though the ground over which we had passed had
been perfectly easy; and we knew from the account the bushranger had
given us that we should have a mountainous and rocky region to cross,
when our difficulties would be greatly increased.

"Come, come," said my father, when he heard the remarks some of us were
making; "I must not let you look at the map in future. All we have to
do is to push bravely onward while we are on the move, and to rest at
such spots as will afford us water and an abundance of game."

The next day, having made as good progress as on the first, we had
altogether accomplished thirty miles by sunset. We had thus made half a
degree, which, as Tommy remarked, sounded at all events like something;
and each day we managed to shoot as many parrots or pigeons as we
required for food. Occasionally, too, Pullingo brought some down with
his boomerang.

We had been travelling on for some days, when one evening we encamped
near what was now a rivulet, but it had already fallen considerably, and
we could see by the appearance of the banks that it would probably ere
long be dry. My mother and Edith, though they had walked on without
complaining, were evidently tired, and my father proposed that we should
remain there to rest, or only take a short journey the next day. So our
camp was formed as usual; and our provisions having been cooked, we sat
round the camp-fire to take our supper.

We all shared alike: the food requiring cooking was boiled in our
largest pot, the game and vegetables being cut up into small pieces, and
biscuit or flour being added to it, with pepper and mustard. This was a
favourite dish both for dinner and supper, and very excellent it was.
My father and mother and Edith, with Mudge and I and the other boys,
took our seats on one side, while the men collected on the other.
Pullingo generally squatted down by the side of Paddy, whom he looked
upon as his chief friend. They already managed to understand each other
pretty well, eking out the few words they knew of each other's language
by signs which it would have puzzled the rest of us to comprehend.

This evening, Pullingo, instead of coming to the front, had seated
himself some way behind Doyle, who handed him his basin of soup; and we
had nearly finished our meal when, on looking up, I found that