About two in the morning
With supreme satisfaction I sat at the open door , and smoked and watched , with my fire blazing merrily away ; then , before it was too late , I stripped off , and went out and let the rain wash off the dust and dirt of a day 's journey under a fierce , baking sun . How cool , delightful , and invigorating it felt ! I dried myself with a spare shirt , and then lay down on my blanket beside the fire to listen contentedly to the clamour of the rain upon the roof . About two in the morning the downpour ceased , the sky cleared , and a fair half-moon of silvery brightness shone out above the tops of the white gum forest . Fifty yards or so away , in front of the door , a shallow pool had formed in a depression of the hard , sun-baked soil , and as the soft light of the moon fell upon it there came a whirr of wings as a flock of night-roving , spur-winged plover lit upon its margin . I could have shot half a dozen of them from where I sat , but felt that I could not lift gun to shoulder and slaughter when there was no need , and their shrill cries , as they ran to and fro , afforded me an infinite pleasure . I took off my horse 's bridle , put his hobbles on again , rubbed my cheek against his warm , moist nose , and left him .