The danger is this, Nic: once a man wanders into the scrub the trees and shrubs are all so much alike, the hills and mountains so much the same, that the mind gets deceived and at last confused.

Then the country is so vast that, once he goes wrong, he may wander on and on till he frightens his mother out of her wits and makes his sisters cry," said the doctor merrily.

"Now do you understand ?" "Yes, quite, father.

But I've got a pocket compass." "Good! Learn to use it well." "And I promise you, mother dear, that I will not go into the bush, or anywhere to-day far from home." "That's right, my boy," said the doctor.

"Be off, then, and we shall have a big meal at sundown.