It was fated their slumbers were not to be of long duration, for Lady, the kangaroo dog and pillow, suddenly sprung up with a growl, letting Dodge's head drop heavily upon the ground. The sleepers started up in time to hear a sound as of several persons retreating from the hut. On opening the door, the dog ran out barking furiously, but the inmates could distinguish nothing to excite alarm, although the moon shone brightly.
Dodge was rubbing his head, as he said, "One of the disadvantages of having an animated bolster; but we must look about us; I can't make this out exactly;" and he whistled for his Lady, but she did not return. "Stranger still!" said Dodge. "See to your guns, lads, and follow me, there's no time to dress." Accordingly they wrapped themselves in their blankets and sallied from the hut.
Dodge assumed the command, "Raymond," he said, "you will take the right, I the left, and Slinger, you keep near, don't go above thirty yards off, and if Raymond or I make signals, go inside immediately, and let no one enter but ourselves.—Blaze away, we shan't be far off."
Then they each went on their separate missions. Raymond stumbled over logs and tufts of long grass, for such was his anxiety to discover some cause of alarm that he scarcely looked to see where he was going, and after he had made two or three turns, he began to wonder in which direction the hut was. At this moment he saw an object move out from behind a tree and quickly dart back again. Stealthily advancing to where he had seen the figure, he had reached to within a few yards of the spot, when he heard a low whistle. Raising his gun very cautiously, he dropped among the grass, and shortly afterwards saw a light object protruding from behind the tree. Taking a deliberate aim at it, he said, "Move and I will fire. Who and what are you?"
