mber, and the
half-grown ones, called "Flying Joeys," always escaped; they were so
swift, and they could jump to such a distance that I won't mention
it, as some ignorant people might call me a liar. Those killed were
mostly does with young, or old men. Any horse of good speed could
round up a heavy old man, and then he made for the nearest gum tree,
and stood at bay with his back to it. It was dangerous for man or
dog to attack him in front, for with his long hind claws he could cut
like a knife.

Philip's family began to desert him. Bruin, as already stated,
sneaked away and was killed by Hugh Boyle. Joey opened his
cage-door, and flew up a gum tree. When Philip came home from the
school, and saw the empty cage, he called aloud, "Joey, Joey, sweet
pretty Joey," and whistled. The bird descended as far as the
lightwood, but would not be coaxed to come any nearer. He actually
mocked his master, and said, "Ha, ha, ha! who are you? Who are you?
There is na luck aboot the hoose," which soon proved true, for the
next bird Pussy brought into the house was Joey himself.

Pup led a miserable life, and died early. The coroner suspected that
he had been murdered by Maggie, but there was no absolute proof.

Maggie had really no conscience. She began to gad about the bush.
In her girlish days she wore short frocks, as it were, having had her
wings clipped, but the next spring she went into society, was a
debutante, wore a dress of black and white satin which shone in the
sun, and she grew so vain and flighty, and strutted about so, that it
was really ridiculous to watch her. She began also to stay out late
in the evening, which was very improper, and before going to bed
Philip would go under the lightwood with a lighted candle, and look
for her amongst the leaves, saying, "Maggie, are you there?" She
was generally fast asleep, and all she could do was to blink her
eyes, and say, "Peet, peet," and fall asleep again. But one night
she never answered at all. She was absent all next day, and many a
day after that. October came, when all the scrub, the lightwood, and
wattle were in full bloom, and the air everywhere was full of
sweetness. Philip was digging his first boiling of new potatoes,
when all at once Maggie swooped down into the garden, and began
strutting about, and picking up the worms and grubs from the soil
newly turned up.

"Oh, you impudent hussy!" he said. "Where have you been all this
time?" He