ow interstices between each, through which the rain driven by the
wind, and the water on the ground in perfect streams, were permitted,
_ad libitum_, to make their ingress. In the centre of the domicile, and
seemingly firmly fixed into the ground, were four sticks, so placed as
to form the four corners of a parallelogram; their ends were forked, and
held two other sticks about six feet long, resting longitudinally in
their supports. To each of these side poles were affixed, with small
skewer-like twigs, the sides of a sack which had been cut open
lengthways; and formed in all, an impromptu bedstead or stretcher, on
which, by a bundle of blankets that there appeared, it was evident the
occupier of the establisment was wont to court repose, free from the
moisture of his mother earth. Under this rural bed, was a box of that
description generally brought to the country by emigrants, and at once
proclaimed its owner, to the practised eye of William, to be a "new
chum;" for he well knew that after a very short residence in the country
such cumbrous attendants were usually dispensed with--shepherds who had
gained much experience usually carrying their extensive wardrobes on
their backs, and their blankets and pots rolled up in their "swags."

As we have said, William at once knew the rural swain, whose habitation
this was, to be one new to the colony; and he readily conjectured his
absence from his abode was occasioned by some detention incidental to
the storm, and which his experience had not taught him to avoid. Before
the door of the hut lay a few sticks and logs charred by fire, the
relics of a conflagration; ignited, probably, for culinary purposes, as
well as to impart caloric to the person of the shepherd. Knowing these
to be less pervious to the wet than unburnt wood, William laid them in
order for burning, in a position as free from water as he could find;
and after stripping the flakey bark off some tea trees (the inner part
of which is generally dry and exceedingly inflammable), he speedily
managed, as only bushmen can, to ignite a fire; and had it in a cheerful
blaze, as the rain subsided and the occupant of the hut made his
appearance. Somewhat refreshed by the genial warmth of the fire, and the
prospect of having some tea and something to eat, William soon forgot
his fatigue and late dangers; and when the man reached his place, rather
surprised at the appearance of a stranger, our friend had taken the
bridle and s