ince I commenced my
journey. Far as eye could reach it was one undulating forest of endless
shades of green, amidst which, like verdant islands, rose hill and
lesser mountain.

I could have stopped and gazed at the scene for hours had not the doctor
taken me by the arm.

"Rest and food, my lad," he said; "and then higher up yet before we
settle to our map making and mark out our future course."

Jimmy was already fast asleep beneath a rock, curled up in imitation of
Gyp, while Jack Penny was sitting with his back against a tree,
apparently studying his legs as he rubbed his hands up and down them
gently, to soften and make more pliable the muscles.

"Tain't time to go on yet, is it?" he said with a dismal glance up at
us.

"No, no, Penny; we'll have a good rest first," said the doctor; and Jack
uttered a profound sigh of relief.

"I am glad," he said, "for I was resting my back. I get up against a
small tree like this and keep my back straight, and that seems to make
it stronger and stiffer for ever so long."

"Then take my advice, Penny; try another plan, my lad. You have grown
too fast."

"Yes, that's what father always said," replied Jack, beginning with a
high squeak and rumbling off into a low bass.

"You are then naturally weak, and if I were you I should lie flat down
upon my back every time we stopped. You will then get up refreshed more
than you think for."

"But you wouldn't lie flat like that when you were eating your victuals,
would you? I ain't Jimmy."

"No, but you could manage that," I said; and Jack Penny nodded and lay
down very leisurely, but only to spring up again most energetically and
uttering a frightened yell.

Gyp and Jimmy uncoiled like a couple of loosened springs, the former to
utter a series of angry barks, and the latter to spring up into the air
suddenly.

"Where de bunyip--where de big bunyip? Jimmy kill um all along."

He flourished his waddy wildly, and then followed Gyp, who charged into
the wood as the doctor and I seized our guns, ready for action.

Then a fierce worrying noise took place for a few moments in amongst the
bushes, and then Jimmy came bounding out, dragging a small snake by the
tail, to throw it down and then proceed to batter its head once again
with his waddy, driving it into the earth, though the reptile must
already have ceased to exist.

"Killum dead um!" cried Jimmy, grinning with triumph. "Jimmy killum
headums; Gyp killums tail."

"