Page 100 - A Little Bush Maid

"Look here," said the Hermit.

He drew aside a clump of dogwood, and revealed the end of an old log-- a
huge tree-trunk that had long ago been a forest monarch, but having fallen,

now stretched its mighty length more than a hundred feet along the ground.
Tt was very broad and the uppermost side was flat, and here and there bore
traces of caked, dry mud that showed where a boot had rested. The

dogwood walled it closely on each side.

"That’s my track home," the Hermit said. "Let me help you up, Miss
Norah."

He sprang up on the log as he spoke, and extended a hand to Norah, who
followed him lightly. Then the Hermit led the way along the log, which was

quite broad enough to admit of a wheelbarrow being drawn down its length.
He stopped where the butt of the old tree, rising above the level of the
trunk, barred the view, and pulling aside the dogwood, showed rough steps,

cut in the side of the log.

"Down here, Miss Norah."

Tn a moment they were all on the ground beside him--Wally, disdaining the

steps, having sprung down, and unexpectedly measured his length on the
earth, to the accompaniment of much chaff. He picked himself up, laughing

more than any of them, just as Norah popped her head through the scrub
that surrounded them, and exclaimed delightedly-- .

"Why, here’s the camp."

"T say," Jim said, following the Hermit into the little clearing, "you’re well
planted here!"

The space was not very large-- a roughly circular piece of ground, ringed
round with scrub, in which big gum trees reared their lofty heads. A wattle

tree stood in the centre, from its boughs dangling a rough hammock, made
of sacking, while a water bag hung from another convenient branch. The