The Australian Bush. 419 



escaped, turned up, as all heroes of romance generally do, " all 

 right at last." 



I got through my book and fell asleep. I recollect I dreamt all 

 night of kangaroo, and fancied I was engaged in a deadly struggle 

 with an "old man," which all at once, like the stag of Saint 

 Hubert, assumed a beautiful female form, and I suddenly woke with 

 the last four lines of Peter Pindar's Razor-Seller on I he tip of my 

 tongue : 



' Not think they'd shave !' quoth Hodge, with wondering eyes, 



And voice not much unlike an Indian yell, 

 ' What were they made for then, you knave ?' he cries. 



' Made/ quoth the fellow with a smile, ' to sell !' 



" And what did you do with the book ?" perhaps it may be 

 asked. 



Why I cut it into little square pieces, and put it away. It might 

 come in handy for wrapping specimens in. But to return to my 

 immediate subject. 



If the party are shooting the kangaroo for sale, they will, per- 

 haps, require about twenty-five per week, and these, sold at the tent, 

 will average about 3.5. each without the skins, which will be worth 

 perhaps i/. is. per dozen. So the weekly returns during the kan- 

 garoo season will be something like $1. to be divided between the 

 party, besides ducks. No man's rations in a bush-tent ought to cost 

 more than i2s. per week, so, after expenses are paid, there ought 

 always to remain a small margin for profit. Four days will be oc- 

 cupied in shooting the kangaroo, and they will have two days for 

 rest, and to do all "odd chores" in ; or, if they are collecting bird 

 skins, in shooting and skinning their specimens. 



The kangaroo must always be skinned as soon as they are 

 brought home, and hung up out of reach of the dogs, and they will 

 then keep a long time. 



The Sunday is always a day of rest in the bush tents, and anyone 

 who is so inclined can spend the Sabbath in the bush quite as devoutly 

 as at home ; and one thing I have remarked in my intercourse with 

 the rough fellows that one often meets in the bush (even among 



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