234

THE CHASE OF THE EMU.

"Huzza! papa!" cried Gerald.

"There's the Emu

at last! I saw one at the Zoological Gardens, and I know the fellow at once. Now, how are we to get hold of him? I fear his skin is too tough for a spear or an arrow to do much harm, and Arthur is so careful of his charges."

"I have but four left," answered Arthur, with a sigh, "and I am unwilling to waste my shot, and perhaps attract the attention of the wandering natives. We will try arrows and spears, and, if we can, the boomerang."

"Be canny, lads!" cried Wilkins, in great excitement. "Keep at his back, I tell ye; he can see half a mile afore him, but he's as deaf as a post; and if he once gets a sight on us he'll be off like Voltigeur, and he'll be a sharp chap as sets eyes on him again. Stand here, we'll try a throw now; and Jin, woman, gie us a touch of yer boomerang."

Baldabella was as much excited as any of the party, and perfectly understood the rules of emu-hunting. They fixed themselves at a proper distance, and then, seeing that the bird, which had been feeding on some root or herbage, had raised its head, as if about to move, they flung their spears and discharged their arrows with some effect, as a spear and an arrow were left in its side; Baldabella at the same time threw her boomerang, which struck it with such force that it staggered, and uttered a deep, booming cry; but, rallying again, it began to run very swiftly, till a second flight of spears and arrows brought it to the ground.

All the party then went up to it; and O'Brien had approached, and was about to touch it, when Wilkins seized his arm, and drew him back just in time; for

THE USEFUL EGGS.

235

the animal struck out its powerful leg, and shattered the bow which the boy held in his hand.

"He would have sarved your leg as bad," said Wilkins, "if he could have hitten ye.

He has a leg like a sledge-hammer for a hit. We'se be forced to give him a few more spears afore it will be safe to come nigh him."

But a blow on the head stunned the huge creature ; and it was then quickly dispatched and cut up. They contented themselves with carrying off the two hindquarters, which Wilkins assured them afforded the most palatable meat, and which would be ample provision for two days.

"There are some eggs, too," said Hugh, "which we might carry off for papa; but they are so tremendously large and heavy."

"The egg is, I believe, excellent food," said Arthur; "but with food we are abundantly supplied. I think we must take two, however; one for papa, the other to form into that very useful vessel, a water-bottle or bucket."

Delighted with the immense dark-green egg, and the examination of the curious, fur-like plumage of the emu, Mr. Mayburn no longer regretted the forest scenery he had left, but cheerfully went forward over the green and flowery plain, till, after walking many miles, they encamped beneath a gum-tree, made a fire, and broiled some emu-steaks, which all pronounced would have been better than beef-steaks if they could have had a little salt to eat with them; but they were gradually becoming reconciled to this privation.

No one dared to murmur, amidst their blessings, because they had been a day without water; but they

236

THE CHAIN OF POOLS.

trusted in God to provide them with this boon, too, in his good time. The large egg was carefully cleaned out through a small opening made by Jack at one end, and then slung with cords, to make it convenient to carry next day, before they took their rest.

and

But the next day they had travelled for many hours, till, faint and weary, their steps were feeble and languid, when the sight of a line of casuarina-trees directed them to the bed of a river, now quite dry; and while the most exhausted sat down to rest, the young active proceeded up the hard bed till it became mud, and a little higher, muddy pools. Into these pools they, at once, plunged their faces, and drank, and moistened their burning skin, and then each laughed at the crust of dirt left on his neighbour's face. But by persevering in walking on, they met with a pool of clearer water, from which they filled their water-buckets and mussel-shells, and returned to take the refreshment to their friends, and then to conduct them to the moister region.

They continued to pursue the course of the chain of pools which must in a short time be really a river, when the periodical rains came on. The prospect of these approaching rains rendered all the thoughtful of the party anxious and uneasy; for the pleasant openair life to which they had become habituated would then be intolerable.

For two days the emu-flesh was eatable, and the pools amply supplied them with water. Then they again reached a line of low hills from which the river had its source; and through the shrubs and brushwood that covered them they forced or cut their way, and descended on a more fertile and pleasant plain.