ith
the hounds. A large and heavy "old man" was sighted; and the dogs
stuck him up with his back to a tree. While they were growling and
barking around the tree Gleeson dismounted, and, going behind the
tree, seized the "old man" by the tail. The kangaroo kept springing
upwards and at the dogs, dragging Gleeson after him, who was jerking
the tail this way and that to bring his game to the ground, for the
"old man" was so tall that the dogs could not reach his throat while
he stood upright. Philip gave his horse to McCarthy and approached
the "old man" with his club.

"Shoot him with your revolver," said Gleeson. "If I let go his tail,
he'll be ripping you with his toe."

"I might shoot you instead," said Philip; "better to club him. Hold
on another moment."

Philip's first blow was dodged by the kangaroo, but the second fell
fairly on the skull; he fell down, and Ossian, a big and powerful
hound, seized him instantly by the throat and held on. The three men
mounted their horses and rode away, but Philip's mare was, as usual,
shying at every tree. As he came near one which had a large branch,
growing horizontally from the trunk, his mare spring aside, carried
him under the limb, which struck his head, and threw him to the
ground. He never spoke again.

After the funeral, McCarthy rode over to the Rocky Waterholes to make
some enquiries. He called at Mrs. Martin's residence, and he said:

"Mr. Philip told us he was married the day before the accident, but
it seemed so strange, we could not believe it; so I thought I would
just ride over and enquire about it, for, of course, if he had a
wife, she will be entitled to whatever little property he left behind
him."

"Yes, it's quite true," said Mrs. Martin. "They were married sure
enough. He called here at Christmas, and said he would like to see
Miss Edgeworth; but she was away on a visit to some friends. I asked
him if he had any message to leave for her, but he said, 'Oh, no;
only I thought I should like to see how she is getting along. That's
all, thank you. I might call again at Easter.' So he went away. On
last Easter Monday he came again. Of course I had told Miss
Edgeworth, about his calling at Christmas and enquiring about her,
and it made me rather suspicious when he came again. As you may
suppose, I could not help taking notice; but for two days, nor, in
fact, for the whole week, was there the slightest sign of anything
like lovemaking b