The Australian at Play 191 



of a pair of these water-moles at play is reward 

 enough to the nature-lover for much patient 

 watching. In the big water-hole, there will 

 surely be black duck and teal, both very welcome 

 additions to the larder, while the presence of the 

 rabbit may be taken as a matter of course. 

 Every patch of scrub may shelter a wallaby, but 

 one may only look from a distance at the big 

 forester kangaroos, hopping away at long range 

 among the open forest trees. 



Flour and bacon, with potatoes and onions, 

 and, of course, tea and sugar, are necessities to 

 the camper-out; also a pair of blankets, the 

 oldest clothes available, not forgetting a pair of 

 thick leather leggings as a precaution against 

 snake bite, and just as much or as little sporting 

 paraphernalia as may seem desirable. A horse 

 and cart for the conveyance of these things, and 

 of the tent, may be hired at the railway-station 

 nearest the chosen spot, and then all arrangements 

 are made. From the first dip in the water-hole 

 before the sun is up to the last pipe smoked 

 around the camp fire before turning in, the whole 

 day is one round of keen delight. Damper and 

 billy tea provide a meal that appears in the light 

 of a choice confection, and the feeblest joke gains 

 a zest from its surroundings. 



lyet me recall but one incident from among 

 many memories of camp life. We had been in 

 camp a week in a secluded valley in the Dividing 

 Ranges, and during that time had seen no human 



