A Kangaroo Hunt 



therefore, when, upon reaching the edge 

 of the clearing, and peering through the 

 fringe of leaves, we could discover no liv- 

 ing object save a few horses grazing peace- 

 fully near its centre. We were about to 

 break cover, when my attention was at- 

 tracted by a few black spots upon the 

 farther edge of the meadow. These I 

 pointed out to Wilkinson. 



" Kangaroo, sure enough/' was his whis- 

 pered reply ; and upon looking closely, 

 both R. and I could see the queer, elon- 

 gated objects moving about from time to 

 time as they grazed quietly. 



There were a good many of them five 

 - seven nine perhaps twelve, of sizes 

 so varying as to suggest the idea that they 

 must all be members of one large and grow- 

 ing family. Fortunately for us the wind 

 was blowing across the clearing from north 

 to south, while the kangaroos were grazing 

 upon its far eastern edge, and we ourselves 

 were placed at its extreme western extrem- 

 ity. We were much too far off for a safe 

 shot, and it would be necessary, therefore, 

 first to make a long detour through the 

 forest so as to approach them from behind, 

 and then to do a piece of very careful 

 stalking ; for the slope of the mountain 

 opposite, close to which the kangaroos 



187 



