But a wild idea had just then entered Mackay's head; he bent down and gathered several of the emu feathers lying around; these he stuck in the Shadow's hair much to that youth's disgust.
"Why, Shad, if your face was blacked you'd pass for one of the warriors!" exclaimed Jack, noting the effect at once.
"We'll save these decorations for future use," said Mackay, quietly.
Emu Bill whistled softly, "I never thought o' that," said he. "I reckon it's a real daisy idea."
Quickly they despoiled the natives of their gorgeous trappings, and Bob sighed when the miserable bodies were revealed in all their savage nakedness, and marvelled at the unusual muscular development showing in their chest and limbs.
"Ay, Bob," said Mackay, guessing his thoughts, "one of these fellows is worth two of any other tribe, I ken. Somehow, though I have a sair grudge against them, I feel sort o' sorry to see such bonnie specimens slaughtered."
"But I reckon they would have danced round our funeral all right," said Emu Bill, savagely. "Hang it, the nigs in this here country ain't fit to live, they ain't."
"There are no opossums about here, are there?" asked Jack, suddenly.
"Nary one," answered Emu Bill, with a laugh. "Why, they couldn't live on sand, an' there ain't no trees around that a muskittie couldn't bend by sitting on them."
"Then where could these skins come from?" cried the lad.