paused.

"Quite frequently; but he always came alone, and would not allow one of
the gang whom he gathered about him to molest my flocks. I saw him on my
last trip to the mines, and he tried to bribe me to purchase him a pair
of revolvers; but I refused, and he left me without a word of reproach."

It was nearly four o'clock when Smith finished his account of the
bushranger; and as the heat was not so oppressive as at noon, we decided
to travel eight or ten miles farther that evening, before we camped for
the night.

The oxen were found, driven towards the cart, and yoked; and, with many
a sharp crack of the stockman's whip, we crossed the stream, and once
more pursued our way towards Ballarat.




CHAPTER III.

TRAVELLING IN AUSTRALIA.--AN ADVENTURE WITH SNAKES.--CARRYING THE MAILS.


During the rainy season in Australia, the roads leading to the mines are
almost impassable, as the soil is light and the water easily penetrates
to a great depth. Teams, with half a dozen yoke 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 miles per day is as great a distance as animals