He could remember
various lovers running away together before marriage, but he could
not call to mind a single instance in which they ran away from one
another immediately after marriage. But he said to himself, "It will
all be explained by-and-by," and he refrained from asking any
impertinent questions merely to gratify curiosity.
After dinner Gleeson, Philip, and McCarthy rode into the bush with
the hounds. A large and heavy "old man" was sighted; and the dogs
stuck him up with his back to a tree. While they were growling and
barking around the tree Gleeson dismounted, and, going behind the
tree, seized the "old man" by the tail. The kangaroo kept springing
upwards and at the dogs, dragging Gleeson after him, who was jerking
the tail this way and that to bring his game to the ground, for the
"old man" was so tall that the dogs could not reach his throat while
he stood upright. Philip gave his horse to McCarthy and approached
the "old man" with his club.
"Shoot him with your revolver," said Gleeson. "If I let go his tail,
he'll be ripping you with his toe."
"I might shoot you instead," said Philip; "better to club him. Hold
on another moment."
Philip's first blow was dodged by the kangaroo, but the second fell
fairly on the skull; he fell down, and Ossian, a big and powerful
hound, seized him instantly by the throat and held on.
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