retty mean business."

"There's no doubt about that," said Harry. "I'd rather live poor all my
life than live by fleecing my neighbors."

Toward the close of the day they entered a much pleasanter country. In
place of sandy clay, baked hard in the sun, alternating here and there
with a moist bog, they came to tall grass, trees of great height, and
meadows suitable for grazing. The cattle revelled in the rich feed, and
Obed suffered them to eat their fill, feeling that they had worked hard
and deserved it. Though it was rather earlier than usual, they decided
to encamp for the night near the margin of a creek, shaded by trees of a
gigantic size.

Harry looked longingly at the clear stream, and a vision rose before him
of a pond in his native town where he had been accustomed to bathe.

"Jack," said he, "let's have a swim."

"I'm with you," said Jack promptly. "I'll bet you a shilling I'll be in
the water first."

"I'll make a try for it anyway." But Jack, being more simply dressed,
was as good as his word, and plunged into the creek first. Harry was
scarcely half a minute behind. The boys swam, dived, and frolicked as
boys of their age will, and were loath to come out at the last. After
their experience of mud and heat the bath seemed to them delicious.

"I haven't enjoyed myself so much since I came to Australia," said Harry
with a deep sigh of satisfaction. "I wish I could have a bath every
evening."

"So do I," said Jack; "I mean to have another to-morrow morning."

They slept soundly all night, but early in the morning, as consciousness
returned, Harry was startled by the sound of hearty laughter. He looked
at Jack and Obed in amazement, but both were fast asleep. Indeed, the
sound seemed to come from above. He looked up into the tree beneath
which they had encamped, but could see no person concealed among the
branches. He did, however, notice a peculiar looking bird, and it dawned
upon him that the laughter proceeded from it. He remembered now to have
heard of the bird peculiar to Australia, popularly known as "the
laughing jackass." This was the first chance he had had of hearing it,
and he woke up Obed and Jack to hear it also.

"That beats all I ever heard," said Mr. Stackpole. "I wish he'd tell us
what's the joke, and we'll laugh too."

This was not the only sound they heard. A flock of white cockatoos were
roosting on the tree, and favored the party with their dissonant cries.
They are described as