em, for Old Bolter was a cunning rogue, and by
this time had probably got far away into the bush; but to find him they
were determined, as he was wanted for work, and could do twice as much
as any other horse when he chose. They were now, as fast as the
numerous trees would allow them, cantering forward through a scrub,
extending for some distance from the banks of the river. Familiar as
was the scenery to them, Paul, who had an eye for the picturesque, could
not help remarking the beauty of the rich tropical vegetation amid which
they were passing. The sun, now rapidly rising behind their backs,
threw a bright glow on the dark-green branches of the huge fig-trees,
the feathery leaves of the cabbage and other palms, and here and there,
tall pines or red cedars, towering above the mass of foliage, with vines
and creepers of many hues hanging to the boughs in wreaths and festoons,
or extending to the ground like loose ropes from the rigging of a ship.

They soon got clear of the scrub, for Old Bolter would certainly not be
hiding within it, for the best of reasons--not a blade of grass grew on
the leaf-covered ground. They now entered the more open country, called
forest land, in contradistinction to the scrub. Here, though gum-trees
of vast size towered to the sky, they generally stood far apart--their
curiously-shaped leaves, with their edges turned upwards, allowing the
sun's rays to penetrate to the grass-covered ground. Paul and Harry now
began to look out eagerly for the runaway. There were one or two places
in which he had before been found, and these they had settled first to
visit. They were gullies, or dry creeks, bordered thickly by trees,
beneath the shade of which he could stand during the heat of the day,
and, while whisking off the flies with his long tail, meditate at his
leisure. Three of these places were visited, but Old Bolter was not
there. The water-holes in their neighbourhood were dry, which would
account for the absence of the knowing old steed.

"He has gone to Myall Creek, depend upon it," observed Paul; "we shall
find him in the scrub thereabouts."

Harry agreed that his brother was very likely correct in his surmise,
and, the ground being open, they again rode forward. Harry especially
delighted in a hard gallop. By getting over the ground at an early
hour, they might rest during the heat of the day under the shade of the
myall trees--from which the creek took its name--and employ