“The charge made dreadful havoc, and dozens of them were killed and cast out of the heap by those unharmed; but instead of causing them to escape to the prairie, they only seemed more determined to dispute the right of way, and hissed and ran out their thin, forked tongues as though defying me to do my worst.  Their eyes sparkled like precious stones, and by the light of the lantern I could see them change, as they moved their position to face me, and assume a hundred different hues.  It was a terrible and fascinating sight, and for a few minutes I stood and watched them twist and writhe themselves into a thousand different shapes.  Seeing that I should have to make a regular business at slaughtering them, I went to work after a while, and poured volley after volley into the mass, until not more than half a dozen escaped alive.

“Even after they were dead I could not get my cattle along the road until I had first taken a shovel and thrown the bodies a considerable distance from the spot.  I never saw such a large collection of serpents before, and I have often wondered why they were gathered in such a mass.”

“Have you ever arrived at any conclusion?” I asked.

“I have thought that they expected an attack from some enemy of the serpent tribe, and so formed themselves into that shape for resistance.”

While Smith was speaking, we heard a team behind us that appeared to be tearing along at a rapid rate; and even before we could discover its outlines, we distinguished the cracking of a whip as though the driver was anxious to see how many times he could snap it in a minute.

“I hear you,” muttered Smith, driving his oxen to one side of the road, and stopping them.  “There is no occasion for you to make so much noise to let people know that you are coming.”

Even while Smith was grumbling, a light-bodied cart, with lamps on each side, drawn by a span of horses, and driven by a man who wore a sort of uniform, whizzed past us, and by the side of the team rode two soldiers, dressed in the livery of England.  They were out of sight in a moment, but they threw a jest at us as they passed, and before Smith could reply, the soldiers were lost to view.

“A hard time you have of it,” cried Smith, as he started his team again.

“Who are they?” we asked.

“That is a government team, and carries the mail between Melbourne and Ballarat.  Day and night they are upon the move, and only stop long enough to change horses and escort.  To-morrow at this time the miners will be in possession of their letters and papers, and I need not tell you how anxiously news is looked for from home.”

“But are we to keep on day and night until we reach Ballarat?” asked Fred.

“No,” replied Smith, touching up his cattle.  “Do you see yonder light far ahead?” he cried, pointing with his whip.

“Yes.”

“Well, at that light we’ll prepare a cup of coffee, and sleep until morning.  Cheer up; it’s only a mile distant, and there is where you will get your first view of the natives of Australia.”