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234 more scientific than those of the elder Australian. He also watched the weather warily, and looked well to the horses, and the girls felt that they depended on his care on this day, though on the former Mr. Lufton had been more full of little attentions. But when they got into the mallee scrub the dreariness of the journey and the threatening appearance of the sky depressed the party. Mile after mile they went on in 'a narrow track bounded on each side by a scrub too high to see over, and too dense to push through, the dull, dead-alive green of the leaves looking duller than ever against the grey sky.

"If the station Jessie and George are on is at all like this," said Amy, "I do not wonder at his rejoicing at the sight of the vineyards and wheatfields at home."

"Oh! it is not so bad as this; no, nothing like so bad. It is Opener and better watered, though not so well watered as We could wish," said Lufton.

"Is all the back country in Australia like this?" asked Amy. "Is it only near the coast that you have good land?"

"Oh! there is good and bad all through, but the interior is all too dry. A great deal can be done by stocking and well-sinking, but this can never be such a country as the United States," said Allan.