RAINING BIKD BODIES 167 



they were both looking the other way, I threw it high 

 up in the air. As it descended, the papers, streaming 

 out behind, caught the eye of the older man, and he 

 exclaimed, 



" Oh, look there ! What can it be ? Did you ever 

 see the likes of that ? " 



Upon which the other burst into a roar of laughter ; 

 and, dropping his sponge, rolled about on the ground in 

 a paroxysm of mirth, while the old man stood staring 

 alternately at him and the paper. At last he shook 

 him, demanding, 



" Wat's the matter ? Wat is it ? " 



"It's nothing," replied the other, hardly able to 

 gasp. "Come out of the sky. Been rainin' 'ere all 

 the mornin'. Got a factory hup above, where they 

 makes 'em." 



After father finished his lectures in Townsville, a 

 party of gentlemen engaged him to report on a mine 

 some distance in the country; and Shelley and I, after 

 packing our things, and sending a couple of boxes of 

 specimens home, started by boat for Thursday Island. 

 Our plan was to remain there, collecting specimens, 

 until father arrived, when we were to leave for New 

 Guinea, where we intended to remain three months; 

 after which we were going to Java, thence to India, 

 and at last through Europe, home. 



The steamer was large and wide, and almost as 

 steady as a rock. There was a very jolly crowd of 



