Our course was now bent towards Cape Shanck, lying eight miles to the south.  The first part lay over a level open woodland country; low hills then made their appearance, becoming more numerous as we neared our destination.  At their commencement we turned off the road to look for a kangaroo; a herd was soon found; but all, after a sharp burst of a few miles, got away from us.

KILLING A KANGAROO.

When both horses and dogs had regained their wind we went to better ground, and came suddenly on a fine herd.  A large male, called an Old Man by the colonists, loitering to protect the does under his care, was singled out by the fastest dog; and a splendid run ensued; the country, however, being rather woody, and strewed with fallen timber which was concealed by long grass, only those who risked the pace over it enjoyed the sport.  The dogs stuck well to their game, and coming at last to an open piece of ground, the fleetest began to close with the Old Man, who was covering an immense space in each bound.  At length the dog reached the kangaroo’s quarters, and burying his teeth in them, made him face about, cutting at his pursuer, who kept out of reach, with his hind feet, and then turning round and endeavouring to escape.  But the same liberty being again taken with his haunches he was once more brought to bay.  The rest of the pack now came up, and a fine half-bloodhound rushed in and seized the kangaroo* by the throat; whilst the latter, in return, fiercely clutched the dog round the neck; a violent struggle ensued, each trying to choke the other.  Although the dog that had first reached the Old Man was biting his quarters, the danger that the game hound would be laid open by a cut from the kangaroo’s hind feet, determined Dr. Barker and myself to watch an opportunity of creeping up behind a tree to assist in the struggle.  We accordingly did so, and managed to seize the animal by his monstrous tail, so that by keeping a strain on it he was prevented from lifting his hind leg, as if he had we should have pulled him over.

(Footnote.  Although these animals have a most innocent countenance, the large males are very dangerous when brought to bay.  I know an instance of a gentleman, who was endeavouring to assist his dog in killing one of them, having his clothes severed in front and the skin of his body just scratched by a cut from the hind leg.  Had this person been any nearer the kangaroo, his bowels would have been torn open.  The middle toe projecting and being armed with a strong nail, enable them to inflict dreadful wounds, and frequently to kill dogs.  It is seldom, indeed, that they will attack a kangaroo in front; old dogs never do, but have a very clever way of throwing the smaller kind by the stump of the tail when running.)

The dogs, thus protected from injury, were at last victorious; and the kangaroo, a great beast, weighing nearly two hundred pounds, was soon stretched on the ground.