Page 91 - A Little Bush Maid

them thought of picking it up. Tt was hard luck for them, after they’d packed
it so carefully."

"Ts that how you looked at it?" Jim asked, laughing.

"Well--T tried to," said the Hermit, laughing in his turn. "Sometimes it was
pretty hard work--and T’ll admit that for the first few days my own

misfortunes were uppermost."

"But you didn’t lose your tucker after all, you said?" queried Wally. "T
thought they left the bag?"

"They did," the Hermit admitted. "But have you ever explored the interior
of a black fellow’s bag, Master Wally? No? Well, if you had, you would

understand that T felt no further hankerings over those masterpieces of the
cook’s art. T’m not extra particular, T believe, but T couldn’t tackle them--no
thanks! T threw them into the scrub--and then washed my hands!"

"Poor you!" said Norah.

"Oh, T wasn’t so badly off," said the Hermit. "They’d left me the plum-duff,
which was hanging in its billy from a bough. Lots of duff-- T had it morning,

noon and night, until T found something fresh to cook--and T haven’t made
duff since. And here we are at the creek!"