178 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



The ground is usually hilly, the scrub thick, and the grass 

 high. It is needless to say that on the present occasion we 

 were all on foot. Forestier's Peninsula is no place for a horse 

 except the traveller be jogging along the rugged and little 

 unfrequented track which leads to Hobart Town, by a most 

 circuitous route. 



Away then we strode, skirting the shore pretty closely, until 

 we came to a valley which had been partially cleared by one 

 of those extensive bush conflagrations which are of annual 

 occurence. 



The forest is fired in several places every summer, with a 

 view to keeping down the scrub, and giving a chance of growth 

 to the grass and the larger forest trees. These fires burn for 

 several consecutive days, and at night the glare from them, 

 lighting up the adjacent horizon, and the wind at one time 

 whirling along vast clouds of smoke, and again throwing up 

 sheets of flame and myriads of burning particles, produce an 

 effect as grand as can be imagined. Here, then, in the glade, 

 we paused, disposed ourselves in an extended line, slipped four 

 dogs, and gave the word, "go seek." 



Away they trotted with- nose to the ground, cautiously 

 hunting, crossing and recrossing, but occasionally getting not 

 only out of sight in the long grass, but out of hearing and com- 

 mand. Presently a sharp bark gave the signal of game 

 started, and the next moment we catch a glimpse of the kan- 

 garoo in mid air, as he bounds down the declivity in a suces- 

 sion of leaps such as the kangaroo only can accomplish. 



There he goes, his tiny ears laid back on his small deer-like 

 head, his forefeet gathered up like a penguin's flappers, and 

 his long stout tail erect in the air ! Now bounding aloft, now 

 vanishing as he plunges into the waving grass. 



Two more of the dogs have sighted him, and' are silently 

 tearing along on his track. Every bound increases his dis- 

 tance from his pursuers, he winds round the base of the hill, 

 to avoid the ascent, but up he must go ; this is the only chance 



