ighed poor Hector.

"I don't think things will be so bad as that," said Harry.

The leeches were very small at first, looking somewhat like thick bits
of hair, but they rapidly began to swell, and two which stuck on Reggy's
wrist, which he did not observe while assisting his brother, had grown
to the size of his little finger. Fortunately the leeches were wiped
off poor Hector's body before they had time to extract much of his
blood. Although he declared that he felt very faint he soon recovered,
and being attended to by Reggy and Harry, put on his clothes, vowing
that it should be the last time he would ever bathe in that detestable
country.

"All water-holes have not got leeches in them," observed Harry. "There
are none in those near Stratton, and I would advise you to break that
resolution."

Hector, however, declaring that he felt very ill, insisted on returning
home.

"Any news of Paul yet?" asked Harry, as they arrived at home.

"Not a word," said his father; "if he does not appear to-morrow I intend
to ride out and try to discover him."

Hector, meanwhile, was bitterly complaining to his mother of the
sufferings he had endured. "I wish that you'd let me go back to
England, or try and get me some gentlemanly post in Sydney or
Melbourne," he said.

"I will ask your father," was the answer.

The captain, to whom Mr Berrington communicated his son's request,
laughed heartily. "I am sorry for the poor boy. He would find that he
had dropped out of the frying-pan into the fire. If he cannot find
occupation in the bush, depend upon it he will not in the city. People
there do not want fine young gentlemen any more than they do here. Do
not let him go, as you will only be throwing your money away, but have
patience with him, and by degrees he will get accustomed to our ways,
and prove useful at last."

Mr Berrington told his son "that he would think about the matter," and
Hector used to talk to his cousins of the Government appointment he
expected soon to obtain.

The heat had been very great. Not a cloud was in the sky, and not a
breath of wind fanned the topmost boughs of the tallest trees. Captain
Berrington had determined on starting to discover what had become of
Paul. Rob and Edgar were awake before daylight. The whole family
intended to be up to see the captain off. The window was left open on
account of the heat. Presently, from the wood close at hand, there came
forth a wild shriek of