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58 I'm agreeable either way. Which shall it be, a jolly row or a jolly night of it? But I see you mean to shake down with us—that's right—we'll enjoy ourselves:" as a preliminary, the two bushmen commenced undressing and rolling up their several articles of clothing to serve for pillows. Their example was soon followed by the remainder of the party. Then they all laid down in such order as appeared most convenient, but Weevel still gave preference to the place nearest the door.

"There," said the former speaker, "now we are all snug, we'll have a song to begin with, and here goes 'Hurrah for the Bushman's Life, it is the best of any,'" and he was proceeding with his entertainment, when Weevel said innocently,

"I thought we came here to sleep."

"Did you?" said the singer.

"Yes," said Weevel.

"Well, then go to sleep, and never interrupt a good song," and he made a second attempt, and succeeded in bellowing through a lot of words, and a tune probably to the initiated, but certainly our travellers could not discover the least resemblance to one.

His companion now produced a black bottle and tendered it to Hugh who lay next him. He was going to take a sip, when a toast was demanded and as Hugh hesitated, one of the bushmen, taking the bottle from his hand, said, "now I'll give you something which I know you will drink, heartily—'Here's destruction to all our bedfellows but the humans.'"

"Bless me!" said Weevel—"mosquitoes?"

"No, worse than mosquitoes."

"What then—centipedes, scorpions, snakes?—it must be snakes said poor Weevel."

"No."

"What then? oh do tell."

" Soldiers, that's what they are. Why this is the haunted