Year: 1871

more the cry for help, when the dogs leaped up and howled.

 "sNe black feller 'botit hefe,' said the gentleman in our company when, follow ing his example, we set off at run in the direction of the cries, the black far out stripping us, though we kept, him we'll in view till he disappeared behind some rocks but only to turn back directly and to come running towards us, shouting, Ole man got hini-ole man got hirn!

 "We pressed on, panting heavily, and in few moments were in full view of the strangest sight ever saw in my life-one which seemed to quite paralyze the man ing tightly by the leash, in spite of the angry struggles of the animals and his masters anguished cries for help. There, some fifty yards in front, was fierce struggle going on, apparently a vain one clasped round the waist by tremendous great kangaroo, such as we settlers call an sold man."

 "Rightl' growled the sea captain, while the thin mans eyes twinkled mali ciously. *

 "It was in bushy part, and from the branch he held in his hand it was evident that my friend had been clinging with all his might to some tree or other, 50 as to hinder his enemy, or else I'm afraid we should have come too late.

 " Dropping the branch, he now began kicking and struggling with the energy of despair, striking fiercely at the beast with his fists, and doing all>that he could to get away; but there is no doubt that, If we had not come up, the next minute would have been his last, for, in spite of his struggles, the old man kept on slowly, -hop-hop, nearer and nearer to a great water-hole; and though a strong and hearty man, my friend seemed like a child in his eneny's grasp.

 "'1oose the dogs!' I shouted to the convict servant, but utterly confused, he only held on tightly, letting the faithful beasts drag him along with them till, with one cut of his knife that he had held ready to skin the dead kangaroo, the black sev- cred the leaden throng, and coupled as they were, the dogs dashed down upon the old man.

 "Then came fierce hurrying rush and scramble-a frightful howl-and one dog turned over on its back, disabled by a kick, and then half-strangled by being dragged about by its companion, who had made good his hold upon the kangaroo's throat. The dog shook fercely till, in its agony, the beast loosed it's hold upon my friend, who fell down exhausted just upon the edge of the water-hole, as the dogs and their enemy rolled from the bank into the deep water, which directly after was lashed into muddy foam by the fierce struggle going on.

 cit would have gone hard with the poor dog if just then the leash had not given way, leaving him free from the weight of his fellows carcasc hung to his neck; and now, in spite of the fierce tear ing and kicking of the old man, he held on tightly to the place in his throat where he bad first fixed his steel-strap jaws. By degrees they struggled into shallower water, and so exciting was the battle that my friend forgot his late peril, and sat up, panting, to see the end.

 " Suddenly, with one of his tremendous leaps, the kangaroo bounded right out, cleaning the bank, and alighting amongst some low scrub at the lower end. But the dog still held on and, lodging about till he could get chance, the black brought down his club with tremendous effect upon the old man's' head, when the poor brute quivered slightly and rolled over, dead; a huge fellov, who had stood up over six feet high.

 Y" That was narrow escape,' said, as 1 helped my friend to his legs, while the convict drew out of the water the carcase of the other dog.

 "sYes,' he said; let's get back. pve had enough of it for one day. I feel quite sick and i'll. If I had had knife, I could have got on but, unarmed, I was as help less as a child.'

 "I had heard of such adventures before but had never seen anything of the kind so l said, What do you think the brute would have donep

 "Done!' echoed my friend. Drowned me as dead as that poor dog there. Poor brute one of the best kangaroo dogs ] ever had. An old beast ? he exclaimed kicking the dead body of the kangaroo yiciously, which was, after all, hardly tc be wondered at. tHe came upon me all of a sudden-hop-hop- -hop-and before 1 had recovered from my, surprise, he had me tightly round the waist, and then began to hop away. I hardly know how felt at first; but when the thought struck me that he was making for the water-hole the feeling was awful, and my struggles did hinder him bit.'

 GA good thing too,' replied. 'Then we only came up just in time 9

 "'Only just,' said my friend; and he looked winter than ever."

 "Now, do you expect us to believe all that 2" broke in the thin man, as he again winked at the company in general. But the settler was busy relighting his cigar, which lad gene out during the narration, and he made no reply.

 .."I say, sir;' said the thin man again, "do you expect us to believe that your old kangaroo would have hoppcd into the water hole, and drowned the squatter?' " The gentlemen present can do as they please, sir" said the settler with dignity "and l have no doubt but that you will do the same. leave it entirely to my listeners good sense, for the story is true.'