The Gold Hunters' Adventures; Or, Life in Australia

e of cattle, can scarcely draw a heavy cart, as the brutes sink to their knees in mud at every step, and the wheels of the vehicle are buried to the axletree most of the time. Five or ten mil

unted courage-have been known to follow a team for twenty-four hours, expressly for the purpose of picking the bones of an ox which they imagined would soon g

tain torrents, and sweep every thing opposed to them towards the ocean, become puny little rivulets, and as the summer advances, dis

lipse. The eyes and nostrils of the traveller become irritated by the fine particles, and the dust is sifted into his ears and mouth. The latter gets coated with dust, and all moisture is denied the palate. Vainly the tongue is rolled from side to side to che

the liquid is strained and boiled, and thus relieved of many of its bad properties, but swallows a large quantity of the nauseous filth, and for many days after rep

rs of such indulgence, we were not likely to be caught; although we had a good guide with us in the person

the heat growing less oppressive, we certainly did not feel much refreshed by its disappearance, as our legs, unacc

We were fearful that he would laugh at us, and we had our reputation as Americans at heart too much to let him think that we we

for the night?" I asked of the convict in a careless

he inquired,

ered, with an i

ight is the best time to travel, s

boot seems inclined to raise others. I'll tell you what it is, Smith, for the last two months we've been on shipboard,

ng whip, bringing the end of the lash to bear with great precision upon the flanks of the leading yoke of cattle, which testified their appreciation of his attention by kicking at the heads

few minutes' brisk walk. "My feet are raw, and g

ff his boots and stockings, and declared, as we hastened to overtake Smith, t

s we reached the team,

, clapping his boots together as

ith; for, it being already dark, it was har

cried Fred,

ed?" asked the co

es

he mines. You are liable at any moment to step upon a poisonous snake; and if bitten, no power

e said, Fred willingly complied, although he groaned with pain as

off his boots, although I told him there was danger of treading upon snakes in the dark. He laughed at me; but before his

, but which I readily recognized as one of the most poisonous in the country. The natives call them capi-ni-els, or what signifies little devils. As the impudent scam

llen to twice his usual size, and was lying panting by the side of the road, incapable of moving or speaking. I got a large quantity of brandy down his

keep my boots on," I replied, after

parts?" asked Fred, who seemed to have almost forg

nd of dragging their forms over it, as it is soft, and keeps them warm during the night. I have known teams to be stopped, an

time, I was stopped in this same way. I was jogging along one night, all alone, and urging my oxen to their utmost speed, when all a

way I wanted them to go. When they arrived at the spot at which they had balked a few minutes before, they went through with the same antics, and then I thought it best to see w

e light of the candle I saw about half a bushel of snakes, coiled up in a heap, and all alive with rage at being disturbed. I hardly knew what to do. There they were, and gave no indications of leaving the road; and I no longer wondered at the reluctance of the

the gun, and instead of a bullet, put in about a handful of the shot, and then setting my lantern as near

hough defying me to do my worst. Their eyes sparkled like precious stones, and by the light of the lantern I could see them change, as they moved their position to face me, and assume a hundred different hues. It was a terrible and fascinating sight, and for a few minutes I sto

shovel and thrown the bodies a considerable distance from the spot. I never saw such a large c

rived at any conc

rom some enemy of the serpent tribe, and so fo

rapid rate; and even before we could discover its outlines, we distinguished the cracking o

the road, and stopping them. "There is no occasion for you t

ore a sort of uniform, whizzed past us, and by the side of the team rode two soldiers, dressed in the livery of England. They were

it," cried Smith, as he

they?"

the move, and only stop long enough to change horses and escort. To-morrow at this time the miners will be in

ay and night until we re

attle. "Do you see yonder light far ah

es

ntil morning. Cheer up; it's only a mile distant, and there is