hin, with young.]

[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Australian Bear, with young one.]

[Illustration: Fig. 4.--Opossum, with young.]

[Illustration: Fig. 5.--Bat, resting, with young.]

The curious Koala, or native 'bear' of Australia, carries her young on
her back (fig. 3), and apparently without serious inconvenience, though
she has to make her way about the topmost boughs of the giant gum-trees.
Finally, we must refer to the kangaroo, which carries its young in a
special pouch, too well known to need description here. The point to
which we would direct attention is the burden which all these animals
are willing to bear for the sake of their young ones.

W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S.

[Illustration: "I was received with joy."]

ROUND THE CAMP-FIRE.

V.--SAVED FROM THE MATABELES.

(_Continued from page_ 195.)

I looked at Umkopo in astonishment. What did he mean by that, die? Did
he think that by his presence with us we should gain so much in strength
that we should now beat off the enemy?

Umkopo laughed again. 'You shall see,' he said'; I am the White Witch;
that which I say will be obeyed.'

manner of Umkopo, though his words sounded no better than conceited
nonsense.

'Do you mean to go among them?' I asked; 'I warn you, Umkopo, it is a
dangerous thing to do. They may kill you.'

'Kill me--these children?' he said, with scorn; 'you shall see.'

He strode straight away, with these words, towards the Matabele hosts.

'Stop, Umkopo,' I cried after him; 'you are unarmed--take a rifle, at
least, or a pistol.'

'Give me a pistol,' said he, stopping a moment to think; 'a lion may
show his teeth when a hyena yelps, that is no shame.'

I gave him a loaded revolver. 'What do you mean to do or say?' I asked.

'I will say "go away," and they will go,' he laughed; 'I will say "dare
not threaten those who are of my race--I am the White Witch."'

'But if they refuse to obey?' I asked.

Umkopo gave me a glance brimful of haughty contempt. 'You speak
foolishness,' he said. With which he strode away towards the Matabele
fellows.

Well, I watched him with some interest and anxiety, as you will readily
believe. The Kaffirs, too, watched him in fear and trembling.

'I have heard of the White Witch,' Dicky muttered. 'The Matabeles are
like his children, so men say.'

Umkopo went among the indunas who squatted in front of the regiment and
sat down with them. We could see that there was excitement among the
b