nds for some
time, when Arthur, looking up, saw a creature approaching from a
distance. That it was an emu they guessed at once. They sat still,
afraid of frightening it away. It stalked leisurely on towards their
horses, not noticing them. Its head seemed fully six feet from the
ground, at the end of a long neck; its legs were thick, to support its
fat, tub-shaped body, of a brownish-black colour. Reaching the horses,
it stopped, made a curious noise, which sounded like "Boo!" in their
faces, and which caused them to start back. James and Arthur, thinking
that their steeds would have broken their tethers, jumped up, when the
emu, having satisfied his curiosity, turned round and trotted off, at a
pace which showed that he had no fear of being pursued.

Towards the close of the day the travellers, after crossing an elevated
down, saw before them a silvery stream running through a wide valley
towards the east, its banks fringed by a variety of trees; while not far
from them, amid a grove of fruit trees, appeared a pretty
dwelling-house, with a verandah running round it, and near at hand,
barns, sheds, stables, and other outhouses. A closer inspection showed
them that there were carpenters' and blacksmiths shops; indeed, it was a
complete farm establishment on a large scale.

As riding on, in advance of the dray, they reached the door, a stout,
hearty-looking old gentleman came out to meet them, and welcomed them in
the most cordial manner. Their horses were quickly unsaddled and turned
into a paddock, and they themselves conducted into the house, and
introduced to the members of the family as late arrivals from the old
country. All welcomed them; and they were soon seated at a well-covered
supper-table, surrounded by the various inmates of the house. The young
strangers were surprised to find that the letter of introduction they
brought had not been read, and that the kindness they were receiving was
quite independent of anything that might be said in their favour. It
was not till the next day that the old Mr Prentiss alluded to it. "We
received you, young gentlemen, as strangers," he remarked; "but I little
thought how much I owed you for saving from injury, if not death, those
so dear to me."

James and Arthur Gilpin agreed that their "lines had fallen to them in
pleasant places." They were treated as members of the family, and, what
was of the greatest consequence to them as intending settlers, they were