OFF- THE TRACK.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 298, 16 October 1873, Page 9

OFF- THE TRACK.

Oh where the deuce is the track, the track ? Round an' round, an' forrard, and back ! " Keep the sun on yer- right," they said — But, hang it, he's gone an' got over my head! " Make'for a belt of apple trees ;" Jist so. But where's yer belt, if ye please? 1 By gum, its hot ? This child '11 melt, An there ain't no apples, nor ain't no belt, *' Keep clear o' the timber-getters' tracks "— Bn&wich is-wich, I'd beg; to ax ? They forks and jines, the deil. knows »how — I Wish I'd a sight d' either now ! <#* " Leave the track," sez they, " when you sees Some yards to the right two big grass trees." Two! It's dozens on dozens 1 pass - Most on 'em big, an' all on. 'em grass. m Oh where the duce is th# track, the track ? I' m fairly taken aback, aback. "Keep tow'rd the river. You can't go wrong." Whew? Can't I, though ! That^was rayther strong. " Follow the lay o' the land," sen they ; But, Lord, this flat ain't got no lay ! Where? Ain't it hot on the pint o' the '• nose ! An' the more I mops the hotter I grows, "Ah' when you comes to the foot o' the 'range "—" — "When ! That's the pint. But ain't it strange, That the further I goes, to left or right, " The more there ain't no range in .sight. Gum treeSj gum trees, slim an' high, Timber green an' timber dry, Blackened stumps an' fallen logs — Lively work as on we jogs ! Oh the deil an' all take flat, the flat. ! I'm one'myself for the matter o' that. I'm mazed, an' so is the brute I rides, An' the sun's getting over the left besides. Dash it I'll follow my nose, my nose. Step out straight forrard, here goes here goes ! Let the. sun be left, or the sun be right, Suminut or other must come in sight.

"Well, well ! If this ain't too bad by half ! Lor , how the beggars '11 laugh an chaff ! Back to my startin' point. Yes ; 'tis so, I put them slip-rails six hours ago. Unumgar, Queensland.