“Nonsense!” said Man; “they’re too big. Who ever saw rabbits that size?”
“Well, hares then,” said Rifle, excitedly. “I say, why not shoot one?”
Norman made no answer, but stood watching the animals as, with long ears erect, they loped about among the long grass, taking a bite here and a bite there.
Just then a shrill whistle came from the camp, and at the sound the animals sat up, and then in a party of about a dozen, went bounding over the tall grass and bushes at a rapid rate, which kept the boys watching them, till they caught sight of Tim making for the party beneath the tree, packing up, and preparing to continue the journey.
“Now, boys, saddle up,” cried the captain. “See the kangaroos?”
“Of course, cried Norman; we ought to have known, but the grass hid their legs. I thought their ears were not long enough for rabbits.”
“Rabbits six feet high!” said the captain, smiling.
“Six what, father?” cried Norman.
“Feet high,” said the captain; “some of the males are, when they sit up on their hind-legs, and people say that they are sometimes dangerous when hunted. I daresay we shall know more about them by-and-by.—What made you go forward, Tim, when Rifle came to you—to look at the kangaroos?”
“No, uncle; I thought I saw blacks amongst the bushes.”