But there was no rain about now, and, in truth, he would have welcomed the unpleasant odour.

Perhaps it was that which made the ground so stark and bare beneath these trees where no grass will grow.

The sun was lowering when they left the gidia.

Out in the gum forest again, the birds were chattering before retiring to rest.

All life is still in the bush at mid-day, but now there were curious scutterings among the grass tussocks, and the whirr of its insect population sounded all round.