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ERNEST SHOOTS A KANGAROO 113
the load a little chest, which we found half buried in the sands, quite close to the waves, and then we set out on our return to Falcon Stream. We found the others up, and interested to hear where we had been. The chest we had brought was soon opened by a strong hatchet, for all were eager to see what was inside. It contained, however, only some sailors' clothes and some linen, which were wet with the sea.
We then sat down to breakfast, and afterwards Fritz and Jack showed me no less than fifty dead ortolans and thrushes. I found that they had used so large a quantity of powder and shot in this sport that I stopped them, and taught them how to make some snares of the thread of the karata, to be hung from the branches of the fig-tree. The boys were both interested and eager, and so clever at it that Jack succeeded in his very first attempt. I left Francis with him, and took Fritz and Ernest to help me in making the sledge.
As we were hard at work a great noise was heard among the fowls; the cock crowed louder than the rest, and the hens ran to and fro cackling. We all hastened up, and Ernest, happening to look at the monkey, noticed that he jumped quickly into a hollow place under one of the roots of the tree and |
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