The Aborigines 203 



foundation in fact. A trial was at once arranged, 

 and five officers set off, at different hours and in 

 different directions, two on foot, and three on 

 horseback; Billy being meantime locked up. 

 When released he followed up each track in turn, 

 and on his return to camp, note-books were taken 

 out and he was told to proceed. Billy forthwith 

 sketched the routes taken by each, described how 

 one had tied up his horse, and climbed a tree, 

 although there was neither " possum or sugar 

 bag ' ' in it. One of the footmen was a ' ' silly 

 pfeller," for he had gone out in his socks and cut 

 his foot, and so lamed himself for the rest of his 

 journey. The half-burnt match of another man 

 who had lighted his pipe was produced, as well 

 as hairs establishing the fact that the three horses 

 were dark brown, light brown, and grey in 

 colour. In short, Billy quite convinced those 

 English officers that his powers were as great as 

 had been claimed. 



Apart from this sphere of usefulness, the 

 aborigines make splendid stockmen, for they are 

 good natural horsemen, and their keen sight and 

 hearing, as well as their instinct for observation, 

 are of the greatest advantage in this work. It 

 more closely resembles their natural life, provid- 

 ing them with plenty of change and excitement, 

 and with the nomad existence to which they have 

 always been accustomed. But should the tribe 

 to which they belong make its appearance in the 

 neighbourhood, they at once grow unsettled and 



