them from a blow that would have unhorsed us.

That was the first time we made the acquaintance of the most skilful
weapon in use by the natives. They throw the boomerang with unerring
precision, and had we not heard of the manner of its working, and been
apprised of the necessity of avoiding its flight, by the warning voice
of Smith, one of us would have made a meal for an Australian native that
morning.

The boomerang is a piece of hard wood about three feet long, slightly
curved in the form of a bow; and when a native wishes to strike an
object, he does not throw his weapon directly at it, but from it, and by
some unexplained principle of retrogradation, the boomerang touches the
ground, and then flies with great force directly at whatever it is
aimed. I have seen the natives exhibit their proficiency a hundred
different times--and the more I saw of the game, the more I became
bewildered at the science displayed.

We did not stop to fight an unseen enemy, but continued our headlong
course, and at length had the pleasure of reaching an open space where
we could wait the approach of those disposed to attack us, although
whether they would venture to make a demonstration on the plain was
uncertain.

Smith, however, was determined to be prepared for the worst. He unyoked
his cattle, but instead of turning them loose, when they soon would have
fallen a prey to the rapacious appetites of the natives, he grouped them
around the cart, and chained them, to prevent their flight in case of an
attack. By this method they served as a shield to us, and did not
interfere with our rifle practice.

We had no sooner got our arrangements completed, than a dozen or twenty
of the filthy-looking wretches--naked, with the exception of a mat
around their hips--appeared at the edge of the bushes, and seemed to
survey our disposition of the order of battle. Two or three of them,
self-elected leaders, apparently wished for an immediate assault; but we
could see that the proposition met with no approval from the mass, and
the motions were made towards the men, as though to wait until night
time.

"We shall have a sleepless night, and must be prepared for the black
devils' mischief," Smith said, surveying the force and comprehending
their meaning.

"Do they often attack teams?" we asked of Smith, who, now that his
cattle were safe, had regained all of his cuteness and colloquial
powers.

"During all my freighting to the mines, this is