moving away, he advised that we should do so
without delay.

My father had been anxious to allow my mother and Edith time to rest:
the strength of my little sister, indeed, was severely tried with the
long walk she had taken every day since we had commenced our journey.

"But, sure, we can carry the young lady," exclaimed Paddy. "I, for one,
will willingly lend my shoulder. Sure, she's as light as a feather!"

"And so will I," said Mudge. "I only wish we had thought of it before."

Burton also, and one of the other men, volunteered to carry her. My
mother thanked them, and declared that, so far as she herself was
concerned, she was ready to proceed any distance which might be thought
necessary. We accordingly at once set to work to construct a sort of
palanquin. Several of the trees I have described, which have long
foot-stalks above their leaves, from which the natives make their
spears, were growing near, and from these two long poles were speedily
cut. They were tough and light, and sufficiently strong to bear my
sister's weight. Some cross-pieces were secured to them, and the
intervals filled up with the long spiral leaves from the same tree. On
the top of this network a piece of bark was fastened; thus, in less than
five minutes a very suitable litter was constructed.

Having quickly packed up our traps, we placed Edith on it and set out;
Paddy declaring, with true Irish politeness, that his own pack felt all
the lighter for having the young lady to balance it. Pullingo was
evidently astonished at seeing the pains we took with the little girl,
as his own wife and daughters would have had to carry any property they
possessed, while he trudged ahead, laden only with his spears and
boomerang,--not, by the way, that the Australian natives ever are the
possessors of many weighty articles, dispensing, as they do when
travelling, with houses or clothing or cooking utensils, or indeed any
of the requirements of civilised beings. While acting as our guide,
however, he seemed anxious to imitate us in all respects, and now
marched ahead wearing the trousers and shirt which had been given him;
looking upon them, however, more as an honourable distinction than as
articles of necessity.

The appearance of the country varied but little from that we had passed
over. It was sufficiently level to allow of Edith being carried without
difficulty, though in some places undulating, and covered pretty thickly
with trees