had been rising slightly during the past
forty-eight hours, and next morning had suddenly grown steep. The river
was still close at hand, though it was now more broken and torrent-like,
but beautifully wooded in places, and the soil for miles on either side
looked wonderfully rich. To their right were plains; but in front, and
to their left, hills and mountains hemmed them in; and when utterly
exhausted, the cattle slowly drew their loads into the shade cast by
some magnificent trees, just behind which a cascade of sparkling water
dashed down from the mountains beyond, while the river-glade was
glorious with ferns and verdant growth of kinds that they had not seen
in the earlier part of their journey, every one seemed to be imbued with
the same idea, and no one was the least surprised when the captain
looked round with his face lit up with satisfaction.

"There," he cried, "was it not worth the long journey to find a place
like this. No flood can touch us here. The land is rich; the place
beautiful. Wife, girls, boys, what do you say to this for Home, sweet
home?"

The answer was a hearty cheer from the boys; and, as if he comprehended
everything, Shanter burst into a wild triumphal dance round the spear he
had stuck into the ground.

"Hurray!" he shouted. "Make gunyah. All corbon budgery. Plenty
budgery. Bull-cow eat. Plenty sheep eat. Hurray!"

There was not a dissentient voice. Uncle Jack smiled, Sam German began
to look round for a slope for a kitchen garden, while the captain, Mrs
Bedford, and the girls began to talk about a site for a house; and,
tying a handkerchief over her grey hair and pinning up her dress, Aunt
Georgie beckoned severely to Shanter, who came to her like a shaggy
black dog.

"Get some wood, sir, and make a fire."

"Makum fire, makum damper, pot a kettle tea?" he asked.

"Yes; dampers and roast mutton to-day," she said.

"Make big fire, roast mutton," shouted Shanter, excitedly, and rushing
to the side of one of the wagons, he threw down spear, boomerang, and
waddy, snatched an axe from where it was stuck in the side, and five
minutes later he was chopping wood with all his might.

That afternoon and evening were indeed restful, though little rest was
taken, for all were in a state of intense excitement, and examining in
every direction the site of their new home. It was fancy, of course,
but to the boys it seemed that the cattle had all taken to the place,
and settled d