nominated the "giant kingfisher." When I saw the bird,
I was very sorry that it had been killed; for, notwithstanding its
discordant voice, it is a remarkably sociable and useful creature, as we
afterwards discovered. It destroys snakes, which it catches by the
tail, and then crushes their head with its powerful beak; it also
renders an essential service to the settlers who want to get up early,
by shouting out its strange notes to welcome the approach of dawn--from
which peculiarity it is also called the "settler's clock." We soon
discovered that _gogobera_ was the name given to it by the natives.
They, at all events, have no superstitious feeling regarding it; for
Pullingo, plucking the bird, soon had it roasting before the fire; and,
to the best of my belief, he had devoured the whole of it before the
morning.

"I hope we shall have no other disturbance during the night, and so I
advise all hands to turn in," said my father.

We quickly followed his advice. Probably, had the black not killed the
poor gogobera, we should have been aroused betimes in the morning; as it
was, the man who was on watch at that time did not think it necessary to
call us till the sun was above the horizon.

My father, I found, after consulting with Mudge, determined to remain
where we were for the day, as our camp was well situated near water, and
there was evidently an abundance of game to be obtained in the
neighbourhood. Pullingo, who had over-eaten himself during the night
with the gogobera, on hearing this showed no inclination to get up, but
rolled himself over and went to sleep again.

Mudge and I had been curious to know what sort of country lay beyond the
hills in the direction Pullingo had been so unwilling we should take on
the previous day. We determined, therefore, to set off as soon as
breakfast was over.

We did so, taking Paddy Doyle and Popo with us to carry our provisions,
and armed with our fowling-pieces and pistols. As Pullingo was still
fast asleep, we settled not to interrupt him. We set off, therefore,
without waiting for the black, and at once made our way to the westward,
through the forest. Soon reaching the top of the hill, we descended
into the valley, which was still more thickly wooded than the country we
had left. On we went, without seeing any birds at which to fire, till,
as we happened to be standing without speaking, I fancied I heard the
sound of voices coming from a distance. I told Mudge