a back in his band, he
gave the bag a shake, took a cautious look round, and then advanced to
the tub, and with one quick movement, thrust the head off, so that it
fell behind upon the floor.

Then, bag in one hand, his other resting on the edge of the barrel, he
stood perfectly still, as if turned to stone. His eyes were starting,
his mouth open, and his lips drawn back in a ghastly grin, as he stood
gazing at a hideous-looking face rising slowly out of the flour, red, as
if covered with blood, and dashed with patches of white meal. Nearer
and nearer this object approached him, till, with a yell of horror, he
dragged himself away, and dashed out of the storehouse, shouting
"Bunyip! bunyip!" as he ran to where his companions were waiting for his
spoil.

Then a low whispering followed, and the result was that six of the party
crawled in the same manner as that in which the first black had
approached.

An observer would have said that they were evidently doubtful of the
truth of their companion's statement, and had agreed to go together and
test it.

Their advance was exactly in every respect like that of the first man;
and they reached the shelter of the fence, and paused till the last man
was close up, when all went through the same manoeuvre together, running
on their hands and feet, with their bodies close to the ground.

At the door they paused again listening, and no doubt the slightest
sound would have started them off in full retreat. But all was
perfectly still, and taking courage, they gathered themselves up, and
club in hand leaped into the storehouse, to stand gazing wildly round.

Nothing was there to startle them--no sign of danger. The bag their
companion had dropped lay upon the floor, but the flour-barrel was
covered; and after a couple of them had exchanged a whisper, all stood
with their nulla-nullas ready to strike, but no one attempted to move
the cask head.

At last two who appeared to be the leaders extended a hand each, gazed
in each other's eyes, and at a signal gave the lid a thrust, and it fell
off behind with a loud clatter, which made all bound out of the
storehouse. But the last man looked back as his comrades were taking to
flight, and uttered a few words loudly.

They were sufficient to arrest the flight and all stood in a stooping
position, gazing wildly at the tub, which stood looking harmless enough,
and after a little jabbering, they advanced once more, as if they all
fo