The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-11-02

himself to his new surroundings in the digger's tent. He was carefully fed,
 kept warm at night, and soon began to
 like his new quarters with the gold l seekers, who bestowed upon him much | affectionate attention. In a few days l he was quite at home in his master 1 serge blouse, running up the arm or | the loose garment, or round the full | front above the tight waistband, ss fancy took him, and enjoying the warmth of his patrons body he was,
 in fact, like the little eve lamb which
 lay in her masters bosom. Singularly interesting and amusing it was to see him poke his little head out between the buttons, or through button -hole,
 of the blouse Cjumpers' they are call l ed in Australia) at intervals to ask, with glittering eye and jerky move | ment, for an occasional fly from his
 masters hand caught on the shafts or cover of the cart. The sagacity of this humble but delightful little friend en- abled him later on to repay the kind- | ness he received by service of almost vital importance to his protector ser l vice. however too little understood at the time, although fully appreciated af- terward.
 When the camp was pitched for the night, Master Lizard would employ himself by making the most inquisitive scrutiny and inspection of the imme-
 diate surroundings within and without the tent; he made himself acquainted
 with every stone, turf, stump, or hole,
 within what he considered his domain,
 ,.ritJ, bn cum, tn "a
 blanket on his masters bed, where he
 invariably slept. On one occasion, dur
 ing the darkness of the night, he be-
 came extremely restless, running about
 on the bed, evidently with the view of
 awakening his slumbering protector,
 who, being a sound sleeper, was not
 easily disturbed Failing to attract att
 tention, he proceeded to run rapidly
 backward and forward, over the sleep CTS face, making at the same time a low splitting noise, like an angry cat.
 By this means he at length aroused his
 patron, who gently pushed him away several times speaking soothingly in | the hope of quieting the excited little | creature But the lizard would not be | soothed; on the contrary, having at- | tracted attention, he continued his rap- | i'd and inexpicable movements with re- | doubled energy, until at length his mas ter, convinced that something must be | amiss, got up struck a light and look ed round the tent, the sharp eyes of the | lizard following every movement with | intense interest But nothing unusual could be seen and the gold hunter re- tired once more with a chiding word to the lizard for his fears. He was scarce ly asleep, however, before he was again and losing patience at these repeated Interruptions to his slumbers, he seized the lizard and in the darkness flung him from the bed across the tent. Tn this involuntary flight the little creature struck the tent pole with con- siderable force, and half of his tail was broken off-a matter of no very great Importance to a lizard, perhaps, but still q discouraging reward for a well meant warning Nevertheless, the maimed little reptile returned to the bed, keeping close to his master, but still continued very restless and excited For the remainder of the night. At ength the day dawned and the camp I was soon in movement and preparation ! 'or the days march. The tents were struck and In due course the bedding rolled up, ready to be placed on the 'ough digger's cart Then, indeed, the mystery was explained, for in the scrub and fern thrown underneath the
 canty bedding, to keep it from the bare sround, huge tiger snake with sev- ral younger ones was discovered. This make Is of a deadly description, much cared by the colonists, and like all makes, has a strong scent, which, no :, loubt, made the lizard aware of his nemy's presence, if he had not indeed ,een 1t creep under the curtain of the ! ent and select its resting place. The .. enormous reptile had sought for her !. angerous brood the warmth of the ent, and especially of the bed under which she had ensconced herself and er i'll omened family. Needless to ay they were one and all promptly F From the Leisure Hour. JORWAY'S LOVE FOR THE KAIS-