A night March. — Bush Hospitaliti/. 41 



tended to confuse us amid this labyrinth than enable us to 

 extricate ourselves. We held on however till 1 a. m,, and 

 were just on the eve of camping for the night to await the 

 break of day, when all at once we saw before us the stately 

 fence which surrounds Bargo. With quickened steps we made 

 for the lonely little farm, and hammered at its closed door. A 

 tremendous chorus of barking dogs was the not very propitious 

 welcome of guests arriving at such an unseasonable hour. 

 After repeated knocking the door of the hut was opened ; an 

 old man appeared in his night-shii't on the threshold, and 

 gruffly inquired who we were and what we wanted ? The 

 reply was not difficult. Our having passed that way before, 

 when we had scraped acquaintance with the old gentleman, 

 likewise stood us in good stead. We were most cordially re- 

 ceived, and, despite the lateness of the hour, preparations were 

 at once made to prepare something for us to eat. Tea, coffee, 

 eggs, fresh butter, and damper were carried into the sitting- 

 room, and as far as was practicable sleeping quarters were 

 prepared in the little hut. 



The only ill result of our nocturnal fatigues was that we 

 rose late, the sun being high in the heavens ere we awoke. 

 We were just about to ask for our driver, when he made 

 his appearance, and told us he was ready to proceed. He 

 had paid hire for fresh horses at Wulongong, and hoped to 

 make the rest of the journey without further interruption. 

 Wkile they were being put to, we re-entered the hut, and 



