concealed by the thick hair around them. We did not, however, stop long
to examine it, but, taking out our knives, quickly skinned and cut it
up. This done, we lost no time in collecting wood, lighting a fire, and
setting a joint to roast; while we toasted some thin slices to satisfy
the immediate cravings of our hunger.

As soon as we had done so, Mudge started to look for water, leaving me
to attend to the roast, and to watch that no hungry dingo carried off
our store of meat. "Depend upon it, that animal can't have lived
without water; and if its home is near here, water is not likely to be
far off," he observed. So, though it still wanted a couple of hours or
more to sunset, we were so weary that we agreed it would be wise to stop
where we were.

After I had seen that the meat was roasted, I employed myself, while
waiting for Mudge's return, in cutting some poles and collecting bark to
form our hut; keeping my eye, however, on the fire. It was fortunate
that I did so, for while I was cutting down a small tree, partly hid by
a bush, I caught sight of one of our canine visitors of the previous
night--or, at all events, an animal of the same species, the abominable
dingo--stealing cautiously towards the carcass of the kangaroo. I
sprang out, axe in hand, hoping that the intruder would await my coming.
He did so for an instant, unwilling to lose the feast he had expected
to enjoy; but just before I reached him he turned round and ran off
yelping, disappointed of his prey.

The animal was shaped like a common dog; was of a reddish-brown colour,
with a sharp muzzle, and ears short and erect, its tail pendent and
bushy, and its eyes small and cunning.

We afterwards had a great deal of trouble with these dingos, which are
clever creatures, hunting in packs, and committing fearful depredations
on the flocks of the settlers. To preserve our meat, I hung it up on
the bough of a small tree, at a height no dingo could reach; feeling
very sure that otherwise it would be carried off during the night.

I had begun to be somewhat anxious at Mudge's long absence, when at
length I heard his voice, singing as he came along; and presently he
climbed up to the plateau with both our bottles and the kettle he had
taken with him full of water.

"We may consider the difficult part of our journey over, and be
thankful," he said, as he got up to me. "A stream flows down the side
of the mountain, and instead of running towards t