134 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



was the freshness and beauty of a new creation on every 

 thing ; and the landscape of the previous night was in- 

 deed altered. The long jutting point where stood the 

 squatter's hut and " clearing," had disappeared — house, 

 garden-spot, fields, and fences, were obliterated ; the 

 water-washed banks were lined only with the unbroken 

 forest. 



The stranger, while looking, would never have 

 dreamed that the axe and the plough had been in the 

 vicinity. 



The caving banks had swept away all signs of hu- 

 manity, and left every thing about us in wild and primi- 

 tive solitude. 



