We beckoned to him to continue roasting his snake, and then endeavoured to make him understand that we wanted a guide to conduct us to the station. He seemed determined not to understand our wishes. However, we waited patiently, hoping that when he had eaten his snake he might be more inclined to act as our guide. Finding that we had no intention of molesting him, he took things leisurely. The snake being roasted, he began to stow it away.
“I wonder he doesn’t offer us some, though I’m not inclined to eat it,” I observed.
“He is a perfect savage, and has no wish to part with his dainty fare,” replied Guy.
We thought that the fellow would soon come to an end of the meal, and that then he would pack up the rest of the snake and carry it with him. To our surprise he did not stop until he had swallowed the whole of it, and when we again made signs to him that we wanted him to guide us, he stroked his stomach and signified that he should prefer sleeping by the side of his fire.
Guy at length, losing patience, gave a flourish with his stock whip, when an idea seemed suddenly to strike the black, and getting up he made signs to us to follow him. We naturally supposed that he intended to lead us to the station, and rode after him without hesitation. We had not gone far, however, when a cooee reached our ears. We replied, and presently, looking round in the direction from whence the sound came, we saw Bracewell galloping towards us, followed by Toby.
“I am thankful that I found you sooner than I expected,” he said. “Where do you think you were going?”
“To the station,” answered Guy.
“You were riding, however, in an opposite direction,” said our friend.
“The black we fell in with, undertook to guide us,” I remarked.
“The rascal had no intention of taking you to my station. He would probably have led you into the