from them leaped high into the air. The trees growing along the water's edge twisted about each other, and swayed in gentle motion as the soft, summer breezes crooned through their branches. All the wild animals and feathered tribes of the bushland made their way there, till Curlew Lagoon seemed the Mecca and centre of their universe, Wild ducks would rise from the seclusion of its reeds and lilies in such numbers that they looked like black storm clouds. And what a gorgeous sight if was when all the bright plumaged birds that vathered there were astir in the sun. And the armfuls and baskets of wild flowers and orchids and ferns that mother and Dorothy used to gather around its banks, in what profusion they must have been! They knew the names of all the varieties, too! Derned if ever I could remember one. The fragrance that came from those wild flowers and blossoms of the trees made one linger to inhale deep breaths of it. It was the very essence of poetry and perfume. Dingo scrub came right to the edge of the rock cliff that walled the western side, and what a place for pigeons! 'Twas a spot that made the bush endear itself to you—a spot right in the heart of the silences and solitudes of the bushland.
From Curlew Lagoon all the water required now for use at the homestead was drawn. That was work giver to old Harry. Several times a week he went off with a small iron tank on a dray, and a nuggetty grey horse between the shafts: and all the way there and back Harry yapped and tugged at the mouth of that horse. A hollow-eyed rogue of a horse
