Part 13 (1/2)

”I'h it in the bush, and no ht in his co look out of hisat the beautifulbathed in the soft, silvery light, and a feeling of melancholy came over him

He was sorry to leave frank-spoken, ht away into the wilds, though fascinating, would inspire hi the few days he had been ashore he had picked up some information, and not always of the pleasantest nature People about had not been backward in telling hi people who entered the bush They had so for unwary passers-by, and then struck the so venomous that the sufferer would survive only a few hours at most, possibly only a few ers, too, in the bush, they said; but when asked what, they shook their heads very strangely, as if the subject were not to be htly So one way and another Nic was pretty well prie that he was going to his real home, he fell asleep to drea which was one that was terrible in the extre was left for him to do but lie down and die; and the first part of this he had, he thought, just achieved, when a loud voice came out of the blackness and cried:

”Now, Nic, boy, it's tis

They know you”

CHAPTER EIGHT

TO THE BUSH

For some moments Nic acted involuntarily as he scra, as he did, in a confused way that it was his duty to dress, but why and wherefore, he had not therong; and as he could not get hio on Those things which ought to have been in one place had got into another; and even when the cold water had thoroughly wakened hiet on very well, and felt ill-humoured, stupid, and out of sorts

”It's so vexatious starting so soon,” thought Nic, as lie thrust brush, co he had nearly packed over night; and at last he opened the door, just as his father called up the stairs:

”Come, Nic, my boy: they didn't teach you at school to be quick”

”Hush!+ you'll wake Lady O'Hara,” protested the boy

”I should be puzzled to,” replied his father shortly ”Co-rooht of the candles standing on the white breakfast-cloth, was their hostess

Nic was quite awake now, and the last trace of ill-temper passed away as he shook hands

”I did not expect to see you thisto let old friends start without a coet another”

”Days?” said Nic

”To be sure, boy There is no stage coach for you, and you'll have to keep with your waggon These bullocks go about two miles an hour”

This was news to Nic, who had been iet ho, and that hy his father had started so early

Sir John entered the room directly after, and the meal was just as if it had been nine o'clock instead of four in the ; so that the travellers ell prepared, when the doctor rose, to say good-bye, for the cracking of a stock whip and sundry ejaculations and apostrophes to the bullocks to ”coet over,” and ”pull,” were heard outside, where a couple of horses freshly brought round were stas were hurried round fro the two collies intended for the doctor--and after many frantic dashes at the horses, they were taken forward toward the waggon, where the bullocks were immediately driven into a state of commotion, and faced round to lower their horns and receive their enemies

Finally, however, the two excited anion, which started at once with a great deal of whip cracking and shouting on the part of Brookes, his fellow, Leather, being perfectly silent, and the black nowhere to be seen

This start having been accomplished, the doctor returned with his son to say their final farewells to the governor and his lady

”There, good-bye, Nic,” cried the latter; ”it's only a little way off you live We think nothing of a few hundredto see you, or you will us before very long Are you a good horse I see you're to ride”