With a sigh of relief Jack threw himself on the ground.
“This is worse than any work I did on shipboard,” he said.
Harry smiled.
“I don’t think it is likely to cure you of your love for the sea, Jack,” he said. “Though I haven’t your fondness for sea life, I confess I would rather be on the deck of a good staunch ship than here.”
“Harry,” said Jack anxiously, “when do you think we shall find something to eat? I am terribly hungry.”
“So am I, Jack. It’s the hard walk that has increased our appetite.”
“I have often thought I might be afloat in an open boat without anything to eat, but I never expected to be caught in such a pickle on land.”
“A good many things have happened to us to-day that we didn’t expect,” said Harry. “Do you know, Jack, it seems the longest day I ever spent!”
“I can say the same.”
“This morning we set out with Obed, free from care. We have been captured by bushrangers, taken to their camp, seen the murder of their leader, escaped, and after walking for miles through a rough wilderness here we are, tired out and in danger of starvation.”