Iron County register., 1899-03-02

IT WAS the edge of the forest at last.
l had wandered for hours since
missed my companions in the endless
mazes of that gray Tasmanian forest,
till had almost made up my mind that
J should have TO spend the night there.
The idea had been far from cheerful,
and II was with a start of pleased sur
prise that found myself, almost with
out any warning, in the open space once
more. 1t was just sunset; the western
sky was still one blaze of crimson
glory. and the long shadows from the
opposite range were flung darkly across
the lower ground before me.
Not a breath of wind was stirring.
Il was so quiet, indeed, that after the
first minute or two l could hear the
rush and murmur of the little stream
which appeared 10 run through the bot
tom of the valley. though 1T was i'm
visible from the spot on which l stood.
The sound reminded me that l was
thirsty. and / made my way with hasty
strides down the slope TO where the riv-
uIet-for in this summer weather il was
no more-found its way through 4
channel almost hidden by a luXuriant
l
1eaped hastily down the bank 10 the
bed of pebbles below, and, leaning my
gun against the bank, knelt on the
stones and took long draught of the
ldeliciously cool water.
When I got up and looked around the
first thing l noticed was the strange
way in which a great rock hung beet
ling over the bed of the stream, almost
like a tower that had somehow got
tilted TO one side. II was but few
yards higher up the stream than where
! stood, and my eye caught sight of
path ascending the bank which looked
as if il had been used quite lately. l
felt my spirits rise at once. After all,
nv luck was not so bad as / had begun
10 fancy. This was good deal better.
al any rate, than being lost IN the bush.
The path looked a if it had been a good
deal used. and even if nobody came
along IL that night had only to wait
for daylight to see the track for myself
and find my way back again to my
friends al Gartmere.
| paused to think what l should do
in the meantime. As far as l could see
there was no particular reason why I
clumps of fern that covered the ground
near the banks of the stream; and yet
somehow l didn't like the idea. There
might be snakes about, and even water
rats would be disagreeable companions.
The great bowlder looked as if 1t had
fat top. and if / could only climb ii
/ should certainly be out of harms way
during the night.
A dozen steps brought me to the foot
of the rock, and as ! looked up l saw
that it was even higher than 1 had sup
posed. 1t seemed TO rise almost perpen-
dicuiarly on two sides, while on third
it overhung the bed of the stream; but
on the side nearest me it sloped more
gradually. l was still looking at it
doubtfulIy when a distant Sound from
the forest. like the noise caused by the
breaking of a branch, decided me TO
try ii. 1 grasped my gun and scram-
bled up the face of the rock. 1t was not
so difficult TO climb as had fancied. and
in two or three minutes l had reached
the top
Not such a bad place, either" l said
to myself as looked around. The top
was nearly fat, or, if anything. slightly
followed out, and there were tufts of
grass and beds Of moss upon it that
promised to make something of bed
! was satisfied that it would answer my
purpose. and at any rate | wasn't like
IL TO be disturbed by anything there
/ was tired with my long tramp, but as
vet / didn't feel sleepy, so took seat
on the edge of the rock, with my legs
hanging over, and prepared TO enjoy
smoke
II was very quiet. As ] listened 1
couldn't hear sound except the low
musical gurgle of the stream below me.
Then / suddenly remembered the sound
that had seemed TO come from the for
est as 1 stood hesitating at the foot of
The rock. What could it have been?
II. was not loud; but for the silence
around / should perhaps hardly have
heard it at ALL But it certainly sounded
like the noise of breaking stick. on
which something had put heavy foot
There had been no wind at all. so it
must surely have been some living ami
mai / was Just in the state of mind in
which one is inclined TO speculate lazily
on passing things of little Importance.
1t might have been cattle in the forest.
of course. but had been tod that cattle
in Tasmania were kept within fences.
listened for another sound of the
same kind till / had almost persuaded
myself that heard something move
on the hillside. / strained my eyes in
the attempt to see what it was, but the
night was too dark to make out any
thing even q few yards of. AT last
gave it up. What did il matter. after
au7 IL was most likely only my fancy;