AURORA AUSTRALIS.
being stewed, for we were all growing rather tired of Adélies.
All this time we had been walking slowly back towards the hut. I kept hoping that our new acquaintance would leave us, for I dreaded what might happen if we met any of our dogs.
The sight of this majestic bird, pursued by half a dozen yelping curs, tobogganning along on his stomach, and tearing all his brass buttons off on the ice, would have been most painful to me.
But my mind was soon relieved. Our friend stopped and looked round him, squawked thoughfully, and, extending a flipper to me he said:–
“Weel! here we are at the march. I’ll jeest say good-bye tae ye.”
“I would advise ye no tae come ower here again till the Maister’s gane.”
“It’s no that I care much mysel’, but he’s vera parteeklar.”
We shook hands with him, and started away for home.
“Quite a civil bird,” I said to A—.
“Yes,” he replied, “and I thought, rather intelligent.” But his voice ‘far, far away did seem.’
I pinched myself surreptitiously, glanced at my
