sides. But the first belt of timber that we entered hid them from our sight. And then I think for the first time I became fully aware of the meaning of what we were doing.
"Jack, my boy!" said I, giving my horse a slight cut, so that he bounded forward, "we're in for it now."
"You don't seem sorry for if, Bob," said he, urging his horse to join me.
Truly neither of us was sorry for it. A new spirit of independence and love of adventure sprang up within us. We were young and well and strong. The morning air was fresh; the unaccustomed aspect of the forest, the screams of a flock of savage birds of the cockatoo sort that seemed as if they were making for the same hill as ourselves, the aspect of our native guide, who trotted on with his body slightly bent forward, and with the confident air of one who had "been there before," all stirred us to a sense of strangeness and expectance which was quite a joy. Even the warnings of Mr. Fetherston and Tim Blundell seemed only to intensify the joy.
"For if a path be dangerous known,
The danger's self is lure alone."
All the way from Port Augusta, Gioro had been dressed like the rest of us; he had worn a pair of mole-
