aptain yonder
promised to get us for our guide, and I was wondering whether that was
likely to be he."

The doctor's words made the rest turn to gaze after the fine-looking,
lithe and active black, who stalked on, haughty of mien, without even
seeming to give a thought to the English intruders upon his soil.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

`MAK' IS SENT IN.

The barracks of Illakaree did not form an attractive object in the
lovely landscape surrounded by hills, in and out amongst which the
Reptile River ran, for a building hastily raised of corrugated iron
never was and never will be beautiful.

"I say ugly," said Mark to his cousin, "but all the same I should like
to be inside one when there was a bad hailstorm. My word, what a shindy
there would be with the big stones--lumps of ice, I suppose, they would
be in a place like this--hammering down upon the zinc roof."

"The soldiers look cheery enough."

"And healthy," said the doctor.

"Thoroughly," said Sir James. "It is a pity they cannot make
arrangements down at the port to give their men a holiday up here."

They were close up to the captain's quarters, and he, catching sight of
the party, came out hastily to shake hands.

"Well," he said, in a light cheery way, "what can I do for you? How are
you getting on?"

"Excellently," said the doctor, "thanks to you. We have secured the
ponies, two waggons, and two span of oxen with their drivers."

"That's right. Have you got your forelopers too."

"Not yet, but I suppose there will be no difficulty about them."

"Not the slightest. We generally have one or two black fellows eager to
get a job with someone going up country. I will undertake to find them.
The oxen are all right, for I have seen them. You couldn't have had a
better lot, and you are quite right too over the ponies. Now, is there
anything else I can do?"

Before the doctor could speak, the frank, good looking young captain
turned to the boys.

"Nice lucky pair of young dogs you are--going on a natural history and
hunting trip like this! What wouldn't I give to come with you!"

"Well, come, then," said Sir James. "I should be delighted to
strengthen our party with such a companion. You know a good deal about
the country, don't you?"

"Well--yes. I have had two or three little excursions in the direction
you are going through the great forests and away on to where the old
stones are said to be, Dr Robertson," continued the speaker, turnin