Page 53 - In A New World

moist bog, they came to tall grass, trees of great height, and meadows
suitable for grazing. The cattle revelled in the rich feed, and Obed suffered

them to eat their fill, feeling that they had worked hard and deserved it.
Though it was rather earlier than usual, they decided to encamp for the

night near the margin of a creek, shaded by trees of a gigantic size.

Harry looked longingly at the clear stream, and a vision rose before him of

a pond in his native town where he had been accustomed to bathe.

"Jack," said he, "let’s have a swim."

"I’m with you," said Jack promptly. "I’ll bet you a shilling I’ll be in the

water first."

"I’ll make a try for it anyway." But Jack, being more simply dressed, was as
good as his word, and plunged into the creek first. Harry was scarcely half a
minute behind. The boys swam, dived, and frolicked as boys of their age

will, and were loath to come out at the last. After their experience of mud
and heat the bath seemed to them delicious.

"I haven’t enjoyed myself so much since I came to Australia," said Harry
with a deep sigh of satisfaction. "I wish I could have a bath every evening."

"So do I," said Jack; "I mean to have another to-morrow morning."

They slept soundly all night, but early in the morning, as consciousness
returned, Harry was startled by the sound of hearty laughter. He looked at

Jack and Obed in amazement, but both were fast asleep. Indeed, the sound
seemed to come from above. He looked up into the tree beneath which they

had encamped, but could see no person concealed among the branches. He
did, however, notice a peculiar looking bird, and it dawned upon him that
the laughter proceeded from it. He remembered now to have heard of the

bird peculiar to Australia, popularly known as "the laughing jackass." This
was the first chance he had had of hearing it, and he woke up Obed and

Jack to hear it also.