the
night to discover the fact. But a truce to jesting. What direction do we
travel to reach the Loddon?"

"We have got to ford this stream, and follow the bank for about three
miles, where we cross the country in the direction of Mount Tarrengower,
which we cannot see from this spot; after we have gained the Loddon, we
are to find a sheep path that will lead us to a plain, in the centre of
which is a small barren strip, surrounded on all sides, excepting one,
with quicksands and bogs. Bill told me that the path would lead almost
direct to the spot, and that I could not fail to recognize it, as
thousands of sheep resort there every week for the purpose of licking
the salt that is constantly forming under the action of brackish water
and a burning sun."

"And Mount Tarrengower--how far is that from the place indicated?" I
inquired.

"Not more than a mile, I should judge, for at twelve o'clock at night
the full moon, partly concealed by the mountain, throws a shadow exactly
upon the edge of the spot where we are to dig."

I considered the direction rather blind, but Mr. Brown seemed so
confident that I thought I would not dash his spirits by grave
misgivings. I was in a reflective mood, however, while assisting to pack
up, and saddle our animals, and I thought how Fred would laugh if we
returned empty-handed.

We mounted our animals and rode along the bank of the stream for a few
rods, until we reached what we supposed to be a good fording place, for
we saw the prints of animals' feet in profusion on both sides of the
brook.

"I will cross first," Mr. Brown said, "and then you can drive the pack
horse over, and follow after him."

I made no objections to the suggestion, but I thought I would watch his
course narrowly, and see how deep the dark-looking water really was
before I ventured to cross upon what seemed to me a very uncertain soil.

"Here I go," my friend exclaimed, striking his reluctant animal, who
didn't appear to relish the expedition.

The spirited animal bounded under the blow, and dashed down the bank,
sinking to his knees at every step in the light soil, and straining
badly to carry his master in safety to the opposite side. The water was
only up to the saddle girths, and the stream was not more than twenty
feet wide, yet I feared that both horse and rider would sink before my
eyes in the treacherous quicksands which composed the bed of the brook.

"Use whip and spur," I shouted, "or you will