curl of smoke showed where the fire left in the morning
still burned feebly. But no one stirred, and with hearts sinking lower
and lower in the solemn silence, the boys knelt there, thinking over the
frank, boyish ways of the big sturdy savage who lay there before them.

Once or twice a piping whistle was heard from some rail, or the call of
a waterfowl, which made the horses raise their heads, look round, and
then, uttering a low sigh, go on cropping the grass again, after looking
plaintively at their masters, as if protesting against being turned out
to graze with their reins about their legs and their bits in their
mouths.

Then, all at once, just as the stars were beginning to show faintly in
the pearly-grey sky, the three boys started back in horror, for there
was a curious sound, something between a yawn and a sigh, and Shanter
suddenly started up and looked round. Then he rose to his feet, as if
puzzled and unable to make out where he was.

Then his memory came back, and he ran to the edge of the water-hole,
peered through the darkness with his hand over his eyes, and without
hesitation waded in, seized the kangaroo, as it floated, by one of its
hind-legs, and dragged it ashore.

"Marmi Rifle; chopper--chopper," he cried.

One was handed to him in silence, for a curious feeling of awe troubled
the boys, and they could hardly believe in the truth of what they were
seeing in the semi-darkness. But the blows they heard were real enough,
and so was the wet figure of Shanter, as he approached them, bearing the
great tail of his enemy.

"Big boomer go bong," said Shanter in a husky voice.

"Want mumkull mine. Shanter mumkull big boomer. Now fire big roast and
damper."

With a sigh of relief the boys made for the fire, threw on a few twigs
to catch first, and as there were a good heap of embers, larger pieces
of wood soon followed. Then after removing the horses' saddles and
bridles, and hobbling them to keep them from straying, the boys gladly
took off some of their soaking garments and huddled round the fire,
where the black was busily roasting the tail of the smaller kangaroo,
which he had fetched, while the boys were occupied with their horses.

"Mine wear baal clothes," he said pityingly, as he, with his skin dry
directly, looked at their efforts to dry themselves. Then the big tin
billy was boiled and tea made, its hot aromatic draughts being very
comforting after the soaking, and by that time th