86 
MYOLA 
CHAP. 
was the only companion to share those joys, which to 
her material soul were most questionable ; but then 
she had not the joys of a hobby, and my specimens 
to her were nothing but “ rubbidge.” I had not even 
the shake of a hand at parting, or a “ God b’w’ye ” 
to cheer the way, but there was something ineffably 
delightful in the thought of this wild away -into- the- 
mountain-to-shoot-tigers feeling about it all, and the 
halting when and where we liked to raise a temporary 
home without let or hindrance from man or beast. 
We crossed a branch of the Gilbert River, and then 
went westward through a dull and monotonous country 
of low scrub, not a sound to be heard but the screech 
of a black cockatoo as he soared in solitary flight 
overhead, and the deafening whirr of grasshoppers as 
they flew in thousands from under the wheels, and 
towards evening, the plaintive cry of a curlew and 
whoop of the more-pork. 
We made our first halt by the side of an old water- 
course. There were green sedges here, marking the 
spot where a small spring bubbled up, and in the fertile 
deposits of sand swept down by a hundred torrents 
there were good nibblings for the horses. What better 
camping place could we find ? Sticks and dry leaves 
were soon heaped together for our fire, and while we 
prepared the tea., the horses were unharnessed, saplings 
cut, pegs driven in, and our temporary home was rapidly 
established. 
Mrs. S. made a capital damper which consisted of 
well-kneaded flour and water rolled out on a piece of 
bark, and baked in the ashes ; my bag formed our table, 
with a clean towel as a cloth, and now, with our table 
spread and our water boiled and our feast prepared, 
Mrs. S. and I enjoyed with the greatest relish our first 
open-air meal. The men with their lighted pipes had 
