The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-09-23
n,ioru,ntain 10 serve as a landmark.

y = : "
mountain to serve as a landmark
Billy was puzzled and lost, but not
frightened He ran on at venture
past thicket and hillock, till it had
grown dark; odark, indeed, that he
could scarcely see, and had no longer
the least idea to what point of the
compass he was going,
The desert is not . comfortable
I place clest in, and Blly's sensa-
tons were far from pleasant. To fall
iinto the hands Of the blacks and be
kept a prisones, or perhaps be roast
edand eaten, ,asfre among the chan
s Of renaiaing long in the locality
hil hich,Iie found himself
81 sshart tl,nre rms liftln .d'r'S-
rsesot ocs g caught By snei natives:
Ion foot, however, few Europeans
would care to try u race, with these
long-legged blacks, with their boom
.erangs swhistlins about his ears. ).
|! A kind of large black snake;.reEy
active, and a deadly bitter, is common
| in the scrub. Billy dreaded the
snakes almost as much as the blacks.
Then, too, he was wet, and the night
was chilly.
He had, however, abitof "dampcr"
bread in the leathcrn pocket Of his
jacket. This he ate while peering
about for some nook Or sheltered spot,
where he might creep to escape the
the cold wind and to pass the night.
At the foot OF one Of the bare hill
locks close at hand, he presently saw
u large rock half hidden by the shas-
gy grass-trces. Pushing through the
shrubbcry, he found that the rock
oyerhung on the lower side offering a
! partial shelter.
Here he sat down and determined
to remain until daylight. 1t was a
.dreary evening, and the slow hours
dragged on a still drcarcr night.
At first Billy was not inclined to
sleep Once 4 kangaroo passed at 4
little distance, making the ground
jar heavily at each one of its unwicld-
ly leaps. Later, he heard the low
shrill "pheet" Of snake close at
hand, and hastily threw stones, sticks
and dirt, to frishtcn off SO undesir-
able companion.
Two or thrce.timcs he f,ncicd he
heard a queer sound of snuffing furth-
under the rock, and concluded
that there was 4 burrow of wombats
behind the bowldcr, who howcredissatis-
fled because he had taken possession
of their front doorstep. But though
somewhat large animals, Billy had
very little fear Of wombats.
Towards morning he grew drowsy,
and at length fell asleep. At broad
daylight he awoke, Starting hastily
a sudden rumble caught his ear, and,
turning, he cspicd big mottle tail
disappearing in rather large black
hole, that seemed to lead under the
rock. He concluded the animal was
a wombat that had probably been OBJ
serving him curiously.
I'll dig you out of here some day."
was Billy's mental comment. Then
he bcthought himself of his situation
and got up to consider it. He felt
hungry, and by careful search he
found a few dirty crumbs of dam
per" in his leather pouch, and ate
them one by one.
While thus engaged, a sharp snap
ping Of twigs drew his attention.
1t came nearer, and 4 moment later
there burst through the trailing
leaves the long, black paws, and gray
wolfsh head of a native dog.
AT sight Of him, Billy jumped up
in sudden apprehension. The dog
snarled, then barked noisily. In
mcdiatcly there arose low, peculiar
cry, apparently not hundred yards
of. 1t was answered from all about
I-"Cooe. cooc."
The blacks were abroad on a hunt.
Billy's heart almost came through
his ribs. If he ran, the dog would
follow him, and the whole pack of
natives would soon be at his heels.
He glanced helplcssly around
The wombat hole met his eye. The
blacks were coming. There was no
time to think twice. Billy instantly
resolved to take his chances with the
wombats. and dived into the hole.