Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-11-30

NCu IluuSdll't juuhuo Nv WV u'Sb''h'' "'Ns
that's what not one man in five hundred
who were there managed to bring away,
for his share Of the spoil"
The thin man winked again, but the
thoughts Of sum OF ten thousand golden
pounds seem to add 50 much weight to
the responsibility and ycracity Of the
bearded man, that had he felt disposed to
enter into tho borders not limited to vera
city, he would now have found plenty OF
believers Tor anything he might choose to
say.
The settler paused, ignited his cigar,
and then waited to enjoy few pulls, while
the waiter Of the old Southampton Hotel
replcnshcd several empty glasses.
awe were having kangaroo-hunt,"
continued lie, "some years ago now, up at
place where | was. Kangaroos were not
so scarce then as they've grown since; and
perhaps if our friend here were to go over
on purpose to have one, he might travel
some hundreds of miles before he could
enjoy that pleasure. Being a BIT fla sport
ing man in a mild way, as | had dropped
in at quarters where the squattcr was also
fond ola bit of the field work, got stay
ing on day after day ; for ! happened then
to have nothing to do, having been driven
out of my holding by drought that had
starved three parts my beasts and sheep,
and flood that hal drowned the rest. So
that [ was on tile wander, looking out for
some fresh spot on which to locate myself,
and naturally feeling rather low-spirited ;
for, after working seven or eight years to
get together decent bit Of stock, it SEEM
ed rather hard for the climate to turn dead
againstm me- and to make me ruined man"
81 should think Stralla's nice place,
sir" SAID the thin man, lau hing.
Very, if a man has his wits about him, y
said the settler coolly; "and, what's more,
IT'S very hospitable place, as | found
then for I'd fallen into good quarters,
my host being from my own county, and
having had many good galop with the
same pack of hounds. SO we talked over
old times, and fshed bit, and shot a little,
and helped him take stock; and we com
pared notes about management, he being
able to give me plenty of good hints, and
perhaps giving him two or three respecta-
ble little wrinkles.
"The day before left him we went out
for a kangaroo-hunt, for over night one OF
his men had come in to report tracks that
he had seen near q water-hole some few
miles away.
"Perhaps my friend here will think
that am throwing the hatchct, when
say that this was all on my hosts piece
for shcep-larmcrs they think more Of
miles than they do Of acres Of land, and
have known gentlemen cut there whose
holdings were such that you might ride
twenty miles without getting to the last
blazed tree.
The country about there was so woody
and rocky that my hot said he had better
go on foot, so we did, taking with us {
black fellow, and one of his men--an Ole
convict who held the two dogs, in 9
leash, after the fashion of grey hounds fol
coursng, till we came to the spot-what
thew call out there a creck-a long water.
hole that depended on the wet season tC
supply it af csh after the long dry Aus
traIian SIMMER.
cit was glorious morning in a glorious
country. The sky was delightfully."- blue
while the atmosphere was SO clear ant
transparent that you could see the very
leaves distinctly upon the trees, at an as
tonishng distance. All, gentlemen i
there is beautiful country in this worlC
it is Australia :"
"Where droughs and floods destroy thC
whole of mans stock" sneered the thin
man, as he whispered the words into thu
lumber he raised to his lips.
"And where industrious hard-workins
men may dig gold out of the soft earth b.
the creeks" sid the settler, who haC
managed to hear every word
"Good-good-good!" chorussed tn
company, so that any one but the thin
man would have been crushed by tn,
weight of that gold but he only laughed
snorted, and took refuge IN clouds Of tobac
co smoke.
"Perhaps Pm boring you with m.
stories, gentlemen" said the settler, part
ing his beard.
, "No no--no, no-go on, sir" CAM
f from all parts Of the room, and he con
tinued:
"WeIl, gentlemen, we soon got into tn
= hunting country, and were not long bcfor
we put up Kangaroo when felt almos
ashamed to hunt it, for the poor beast sa
up on its hind-lcgs and tail for few mo
mcnts, turning upon us its simple doelik
face, as much as to say How Cali you b
such brutes p but it turned directly, CAV
! bound that startled me, and was Of
flying over rock and bush in most sur
l prising manner. Then the dogs wcr
= slipped, and away we were scram5Iin
{ amongst bushes and rocks, tripped up nov
+ and then, but making rush over ever.
/ bit of open ground, to try and keep tn
dogs in sight; but as to my host and sell
n we were separated directly.
81 was not much used to this sort {
thing, but soon warmed up to the chas,
u and, now getting peep at the dogs, an
I now led by the shouting and barllin!
> managed to get up in pretty good tim
= to where the black fellow was dancin
!, about with delight, and the convict wa
II coupling up tie dogs, as they lay pantin
and lolling out their great red tongues, be
. side the kangaroo they had killed.
q "Long as had been in the country
n had never fallen to my lot before to be 9
. the death of a kangaroo and once more
: could not help pity ing the soft, mousey
+ skinned animal, it looked so innocent
a tame, and simple. But, there it does nc
= do for men who hunt to be too sentimel
+ tai, and besides, they may make mistak
in the character of their quarry; for, Nv
- never seen the animal yet that was no
q when driven to bay, perfect savag
/. either from fear or natural courage.
- Where's tie governor, sir ? said th
Il man, as | came up.
| "'I have not seen him, since trippe
q over a crceper that came down crash
q bruised myself awfully. lie did not sto