ey were to proceed
with, anticipating the return of the dray; by which time John expected
to be ready for shearing, and would be able to give it a load of wool to
take down to the port for shipment. They walked on in this way for some
little distance, Ferguson absorbed in his conversation with the
bullock-driver, and paying little attention to his path; while the
latter listened to his directions, seemingly without noticing his
remarks, beyond an occasional grunt of acquiescence, and with his eyes
fixed upon the ground.

A tributary (or rather the bed of what after heavy rains formed a
tributary) of the creek, though now almost dry, here crossed their path.
At some remote age a large tree had fallen across the stream, and,
having buried itself in the soil on either side, formed a barrier to the
current; which had in the course of years left a deposit of earth and
sand, so as to bring its bed above the impediment on a level with the
obstruction; while, on the lower side of the log, the bank of sand and
pebbles had been hollowed out into a pool by the eddying of a miniature
cataract. Though the creek was otherwise dry, in this pool there was
water; and John Ferguson, walking along the course with his companion,
and leading his horse after him by the bridle, made a short bound to
clear the water-hole. He, however, was prevented from effecting his
purpose, by the bullock-driver, who, at the moment of his leap, seized
him by the arm, and caused him to alight, instead of on the bank, in the
middle of the water; where he stood up to his knees, with a look at his
companion of enquiring astonishment. The man, hardly able to refrain
from indulging in a positive fit of stentorian cachinnation, without
deigning any auricular explanation, pointed to the bank, on which
Ferguson felt annoyed for not being permitted to reach. He instantly
directed his eyes to the spot indicated by his companion, and at once
perceived the nature of the escape he had made; for there had lain a
large brown snake, on which he would have inevitably trodden, the
consequences of which made him shudder to contemplate. Being aroused
from its torpor by the approach and close proximity of those, whom its
instinct told it were enemies, the reptile raised its head and about two
feet of its body in a perpendicular attitude, with the head slightly
extended and swaying from side to side; while it protruded its long
forked tongue in fitful starts, and expressed a combi