258 RAMBLES AFTER SPORT. 



have killed a thousand. However, I haven't done so 

 bad.'' I didn't think he had ; thirty couple, at a dollar, 

 isn't bad work for one night. I stuck by Ryles all the 

 time the birds stayed in the estuary ; I have no doubt we 

 killed 500 duck between us, as I had fortunately brought 

 out from England with me a single eight-bore muzzle- 

 loader, the same which has laid low many a mallard and 

 wigeon in Poole Harbour. At last, by being continually 

 banged at, the best part of the ducks took themselves 

 ofi' to safer quarters, and after a comparatively blank 

 night, Eyles observed, ^' Well, I'm off; there's no ducks 

 nor bathers to brag about, and I expegs I've got to live 

 like the rest of 'em." *"' Well, where are you going to ?" 

 '^ Oh, allers the same old place, up the Coast Range 

 way." A.n arrangement was soon come to between this 

 honest fellow and myself, satisfactory to him and delight- 

 ful to me. I overhauled my boots and guns, bought a 

 few new traps, and laid in a good stock of cake tobacco and 

 relishes, such as anchovies, lemons, a few spices, and 

 nutmegs, &c., which make all the difference as to 

 whether a trip is to be an enjoyment or a nuisance. 

 Flour, &c., we knew we could get in abundance in 

 exchange for our game, but to make sure, I sewed up a 

 roll of half-eagles in my waistbelt. An exceedingly 

 played-out steed of Eyles carried all our traps quite 

 safely, and one fine starlight night we set out, as my 

 companion kept the particular place where he went to a 

 profound secret. " Every dorgorned cuss in the place 

 would be knocking around if they knowed of it." We 

 travelled down the coast two days without stopping, and on 

 our third evening out we camped for the first time in a 

 regular manner, both to rest ourselves and the horse. 

 Our little tent was about big enough for one good-sized 



