Homesteading 



We stood looking for a few seconds, and then 

 became conscious of a pricking sensation about 

 our necks and a swarm of insects. 



"Flying ants," said Harry, adding, "Unhitch 

 the team quick — we can't stand this." 



We soon had the horses in the stable and 

 hurried to the house, where, as the others arrived, 

 a scene of confusion ensued as we stripped off 

 our shirts and rubbed one another's backs with 

 oil to allay the painful irritation. 



Happily, these pests, though trying for the 

 time, unlike the mosquitoes, don't last long, as 

 they quickly pass the flying stage of their life, 

 drop their wings, and return to earth, so we were 

 soon at work again. 



In the course of a fortnight we put up about 

 forty to fifty tons, which our friends considered 

 enough for the winter, three to every head being 

 thought a fair estimate. 



While we were finishing. Bob spent a couple 

 of days cutting in a slough adjacent to my home- 

 stead. As there was no accommodation for man 

 or beast there except the little pastm-e, he 

 returned each evening. 



Then we all went over for a few hours diu-ing 

 two days and put up abundance of fodder for 

 our wants, so by this bit of co-operation the 

 haying was got through well. 



100 



