to
his farm, and their duty consisted in watching for the footsteps of
strangers, and following their trail until satisfied that no wrong was
intended; or, if danger threatened, the occupants of the farm could be
prepared to meet it from the timely warning of the industrious blacks. I
think that I have before spoken of the ability of the Australian to
follow a trail with the fidelity of a bloodhound--no matter how light
the step or what kind of ground is passed over, the native is never at
fault, or thrown off the scent; and even if a dozen men attempt to
deceive him, he picks out the footsteps of the person he is in pursuit
of, and knows an enemy from a friend.

Their tact and knowledge in this respect is marvellous, and is only
equalled by their skill at throwing the boomerang,--a curved piece of
wood, measuring from twenty inches to three feet in length.

As I listened to Day's description of the farmer of the Lodden, and his
means of repelling attacks, and precaution against surprise, I no longer
regretted the dangers of the excursion and its hardships. I longed to
see a farmer of Australia, and learn his method of planting, and what
kind of tools he used, and all the information which I hoped would be
interesting to my agricultural friends in this country. I forgot that I
was not clothed in exactly the kind of costume that would insure me a
warm reception, and I forgot that the farmers of Victoria, as a general
thing, are as aristocratic in feeling as the gentlemanly farmers of
England.

I could have wished for a white shirt and a decent riding costume; but
as I was destitute of those luxuries, I determined to appear like an
American gentleman, even if I didn't look like one.

As for Mr. Brown, he manifested the most profound contempt for clothing
when I hinted the matter to him, and concluded by expressing a hope that
if Mr. Wright didn't like our personal appearance he wouldn't look at
us, which I considered only just and reasonable, although, as a general
thing, I prefer open hostility to quiet contempt.

In about two hours time we gained the banks of the Loddon, and quenched
our thirst with its pure water, and then followed the stream along for a
number of miles until we began to approach signs of cultivation, when we
struck a very good road that apparently had been used for the carting of
water to the farm house. In a short time we came in view of an immense
field of wheat, ripe and ready for reaping, bu