A BIG SHEEP FARM. : 339

“Lonely,” he said to himself. “Guess I will turn back to the
wool-shed.”’

But where were the kangaroos, and especially that much-coveted
‘baby-kangaroo? Nothing turned up, and our hunter walked slowly
back to the wool-shed.

« What a nice tree,” he said. “Iwonder if I couldn’t climb that! I
don’t believe Ralph could!”

Anxious. to gain an imaginary victory over Ralph, who was not
there to win a real one for himself, Rick wriggled his way up among
the branches of the tree, and silently perched on a limb to meditate
on the possibilities of securing a baby kangaroo. In a little while
he noticed a movement over the ground. Something was there. Was
it an animal stealing toward his tree? It certainly was. His heart
began to flutter, when suddenly up among the top branches, such
a noise was made! It was a combination of a bray and a laugh and
a hoot! Ralph’s heart went quicker than ever. In his fright, he
made a misstep, and fell a few feet to the ground. It did not hurt
him; but whut was the matter with the creature he had seen strangely
moving toward his tree! Lifting itself and standing on its hind
legs, it gave a tremendous jump and bounded away.

1?

“Oh dear! massy!” screamed Rick, repeating an exclamation some-
times heard in Concord.: Away went the kangaroo in one direction, and
away went the kangaroo-hunter in another! Both were thoroughly
scared, and neither dared to look round.

“T wish I had his legs!” thought Rick. Finally, ee no sound
of pursuit, he stopped.

“Whew! Wasn’t that a lucky escape, and won’t I have a lot to
tell the boys at home! Been as nigh a kangaroo as that!”

Rick felt that he had covered himself with glory, and could now
return contented. Coming in sight of the wool-shed, he went on till