ws and the
natural dampness of the salt, exudes through the pores of the canvas.

When John saw the nature of his loss, knowing there was no use in
complaining, he made the best of his mishap by determining to ride over
in the morning to Strawberry Hill, and see if he could not borrow some
from his neighbour there until the receipt of his further supplies for
shearing. Before going, however, on the following morning, he desired to
settle with the bullock-driver for the carriage of his supplies up, and
to make arrangements with him for the occupation of one of his teams for
the remainder of the season. For that purpose he took his bridle in his
hand, and proceeded to catch his horse, which was running in one of the
paddocks lately fenced in; and on the way, as he passed the camp of the
draymen, he requested the fellow to go up to the hut in a few minutes,
to be settled with, and receive his instructions for further employment.
He then went in search of his steed, leaving the men stretched on the
grass in front of a fire, near which stood their pots of tea, cooling;
and in the ashes of which lay embedded their "damper," receiving its
finishing heat, preparatory to being subjected to the operation of
mastication; while the fellows themselves lay motionless, and careless
of everything around them, in the full enjoyment of the everlasting
pipe.

Oh, smoke! thou deity of thousands, and the special idol of the
bush-man! thou that soothest the dull moments of a weary solitude, and
the anguish of a desponding spirit; that satisfiest the cravings of a
consuming hunger; that alleviates the pains, brightens the intellects,
and dispels illusion of the morbid fancies and diseased imaginations of
thy votaries! thou anodyne for melancholy; thou disseminator of good
feeling; conciliator and ratifyer of peace offerings! without thee what
would mortal bush-man be?--they, to whom thou art a friend in need. All
potent smoke! thine influence is supreme; thy virtues are legion; and
thy capabilities are boundless as the vapour into which thou meltest as
a holocaust for thy happy devotees. If the pipe could but speak, what
mysteries could it reveal! the rapturous visions of the inspired lover,
rising in the circular imageries of its vaporous fumes, to beguile his
fancies in the absence of his loved one; or the workings of a deep
despondency and bitter disappointment, carrying its victim with blind
impetuosity to a melancholy contemplation of a