At this house I stayed the night, and in the course of the evening a
stray dog--a retriever, hardly full grown, and evidently very much down
on his luck--took up with me; when I inquired about him, and asked if I
might take him with me, the landlord said he wished I would, for he knew
nothing about him and was trying to drive him from the house. Knowing
what a boon the companionship of this poor beast would be to me when I
was camping out alone, I encouraged him, and next morning he followed me
as a matter of course.
In the night the Southerly Burster which my host anticipated had come up,
cold and blustering, but invigorating after the hot, dry, wind that had
been blowing hard during the daytime as I had crossed the plains. A mile
or two higher up I passed a large sheep-station, but did not stay there.
One or two men looked at me with surprise, and asked me where I was
going, whereon I said I was in search of rare plants and birds for the
Museum of the town at which I had slept the night after my arrival. This
satisfied their curiosity, and I ambled on accompanied by the dog. In
passing I may say that I found Doctor not to excel at any pace except an
amble, but for a long journey, especially for one who is carrying a
heavy, awkward load, there is no pace so comfortable; and he ambled
fairly fast.
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