uted
for his friends to pull him off.

"Lie down on the ground," said one of the Australians; "lie down on the
ground, and he will leave you at once. He is just as much frightened as
you are."

Ned flung his horse's bridle to one of his friends, and then obeyed
instructions. He dropped to the ground, and immediately as he did so the
horrid-looking creature left him.

"What in the world is that?" said Ned, as he rose to his feet again and
regained his composure.

"That's an iguana, or lizard," was the reply. "It is perfectly harmless
as long as you know how to deal with it. When it is pursued by dogs, it
runs to its hole if it can; if its hole is not available, it climbs a
tree until it is out of reach of its pursuers, and if no tree is at
hand, it will climb on a man or a horse. It selected you as a place of
shelter, and I warrant it was more scared than you were."

"It might be easily mistaken for an alligator," said Ned, surveying the
animal as it was stretched on the ground, having been killed by a blow
on the head from the butt of a stockman's whip.

"Yes, it is often mistaken for a young alligator. I have known of an
iguana to appear in a party of pleasure seekers, picnicking in the
woods, and make quite a serious disturbance. The ladies screamed and
fled and some of them fainted. Some of the men fled, too, but those who
knew about the creature quickly despatched him."

"Is it useful for food?"

"Yes; the blacks use it, and are very fond of it, but white men don't
'hanker after it,' as your American phrase is. However, those who have
been bold enough to taste it assert that, when well cooked, the flavor
is excellent."

"Well, it doesn't look very inviting," Ned remarked; "and I don't think
I would care for iguana for dinner."

"You may not care for it," was the reply, "but the black fellows will.
Here, Jack," he continued, addressing the aboriginal, "you can have
this."

Jack needed no second invitation. With a smile on his face, he quickly
took possession of the huge lizard and strapped it to his saddle. No
doubt the meat of the iguana gave the blacks at the station a supper
that they greatly enjoyed.

Another day was spent at the cattle station, Harry and Ned going out
with one of the stockmen and accompanying him on his morning round. Dr.
Whitney thought he did not care for any more horseback exercise just
then, and spent the day around the station. The youths enjoyed their
ride very much, and r