The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-08-08
For the Girls and Boys.
Kangaroo Hunting.

COIOnleS.'
1t was just light when the stock keeper
called me, and wasn't long dressing. tool
one ofthe large pistols that father said nigh
have, and the stock keeper had musket, anc
we had half damper and paper ofsaIt, anc
| had my big hack knife, and so olive went
do think Hector knew he was going to have
some kangaroo; for he seemed so glad, and
licked his chops, and Fly wagged her tail
and the morning was so beautiful, and what
do you think, father? the bird that mother
likes to hear so much is Il magpie, il is indeed;
for | saw it, aud it's just like an English mag
pie, only it sings so beautiful. We walked o.
yer the plain till we came to the hills; the dogs
kept quiet behind us. The stock keeper said
might see they had been well trained; they
kept their heads low and their tails hanging
down behind them, as if they had no life in
them; but you should have seen them when
they got sight ola kangaroo, didn't they pluck
up. We went on till we got about four or five
miles from the tents, and then we did not talk,
for the kangaroos are startled at the least noise
they are Just like hares for that. Then the
stock-keepcr stood still. He said to the dogs,
Go find and then the dogs cantered about
round MS, going further and further off, till
Hector began to smell about very earnestly.
'lIc has got scent said the stock keeper; and
so he had, for he galIopcd offwith his nose to
the ground straight ahead Fly saw him, and
she gallopcd after. Il think it's a big one,
said the stock keeper, the dogs seem so warm
at it, was running after them as fast as
could, when the stock keeper called after lne
TO stop. Stop said he; it's ofno use for you to
run, you could not keep up with them Why,
what are we to do" said l. if they kill kang-
aroo how can we find it:' wait biz said
he; 'ull in good time 1.-THE dogs kill kan
CARGO we shall find him, I'll warrant so we
waited and waited till was quite tired; and
a good while after Hector came back quite
slowly, as ifhe was tired, with Fly following
after. The stock keeper looked at his mouth.
WHATS that for?' said ]. 'Io see if he has
killed, said he; look here, his mouth is bloody
and that's come by killing kangaroo, You
may be sure oft Then the stock keeper
stood up, and said to Hector, show and then
Hector trotted off, not fast, hut pretty fast, so
that was obliged to trot to keep up with him;
and he trottcd on and on till was rather tir-
ed, ] dare say for three miles from where we
were at first; and on he went, and we follow
Ing him, till he brought us to dead kunga-
roo, close TO n little pool of water. 1t was a
big one; with such a claw on each
ofhis hind legs; n claw that would rip upa
dog in a moment, or man too, ifhc got at
him. Good dogn said the stock keeper; and
Hector wagsed his tail, and seemed to like
to be praised. Then the stock keeper gave
me his gun to hold and he cut open the kan
CARGO, and gave the inside to the dogs. Then
he skinned the upper part down 10 the loins;
and cut the kangaroo in half and hung it up
in a tree, noting the place; the other half he
left on the ground; that is, when he went a.
way from the place for he would not let the
dogs have more than taste of the blood, lest
it should spoil their hunting.
whats to be done now?' said I. wen
kill another said the stock keeper, 'ifyou are
not tired, said was not tired bit; so after
we had rested little while, we went on again
the dogs following lis as at first We saw a
touch them, After we had got mile or two,
the stock keeper, who had been examining
the ground all the way along, said, 4 think
there are some big ones hereabouts, by the
looks ofthe marks; so he said to the dogs, 60
fnd,' as he had said before. Almost directly
we saw such large fellow-I'm sure he was
six feet high--he looked at us and at the dogs
for a moment and then off he went.
What hops he did give! he hoped with his
two hind legs, with his fore legs in the air, and
his tail straight out behind him--and wasn't
it n tail!-it was as thick as a bed post; and
this great tail went wag, wag; up and down,
as he jumped, and seemed to balance him be-
hind. But Hector and Fly were after him.
This time the stock keeper ran too, for the
ground was level and clear of fallen timber,
and you could see good way before you.
had began to feel little tired, but didn't
feel tired then. Hop, Hop, went the kanga-
roo, and the dogs after him, and we after the
logs; and we scampered on till was quite
out of breath; and the kangaroo was good
Dit before the dogs, wien he turned up hill
Now we shall have him. said the stock keep
or; 'the dogs will beat him up HILL wanted
my breath, but kept up, and we scrambled
up the hill, and thought the dogs would get
nm; but the kangaroo got to the top ofthe
lill first, and when we got a sight of him, he
vas bounding down the hill making such pro
iigious leaps at every jump,over every thing,
hat YOU couldn't believe il if Won didn't see