e likely three, uncle. I think it was nearer six though."

"Did you kill it?"

"No; it wouldn't stop, but crawled into the bush, and I don't think I
should have tried."

"Well, be on your guard all of you. I suppose they are pretty
plentiful, and some are very dangerous, but I believe they will all get
out of our way if they can. What birds are those?"

A couple of dusky-green birds, with their feathers barred across like
those of a hawk or cuckoo, with lines of a darker green, started up from
some grass and flew off, their long, pointed tails and rounded heads and
beaks showing plainly what they were.

"Ground parrots," said the captain. "It's curious, in a country to
which one kind of bird is peculiar, what a variety one sees."

"Is one kind of bird peculiar to this country, then?" asked Norman.

"Well, it is not fair to say peculiar, but one kind is abundant--the
parrot--and there are several kinds here."

"Are cockatoos?" said Rifle, eagerly.

"A cockatoo, you might say, is a parrot. The only difference seems to
be that it has a crest.--But how much farther do you make it to the
tree, German?"

"Miles," said that worthy, rather gruffly. "Keeps getting farther off
'stead o' nigher, sir."

"The air is so wonderfully clear that distance is deceiving. Never
mind, keep on slowly, so as not to distress the cattle and the horses
with their heavier loads."

"Needn't ha' said that, sir; this horse'll go slow enough," grumbled
German. "I get thinking sometimes as he ain't moving at all."

The captain laughed, and as he rode a few yards in advance to carefully
scan the country in front, a great deal of whispering and gesticulation
went on between the gardener and Norman, while the other boys looked on
full of mischievous glee, and egged the lad on.

"No, no, Master Norman; don't, sir. It'd make him cross."

"Yes, and he'd discharge you if I told him how you threw cold water on
his plans."

"I ain't a bit afraid o' that, sir," said German, with a grin. "He
can't send me back. But I don't want to rile him. I say, don't tell
him, sir."

"But you laughed at everything he meant to do."

"That I didn't, sir. Precious little laughing I've done lately."

"Well, then, say you're sorry, and that you think father's plans are
splendid."

"What, tell a couple o' big thumpers like that?" whispered German, with
virtuous indignation; "no, that I won't. I wonder at you, Master
Norman; that I do."

"Oh,