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diff --git a/21383.txt b/21383.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7eff0ee --- /dev/null +++ b/21383.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4094 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Adventures in Australia, by W.H.G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Adventures in Australia + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Illustrator: E. Evans + +Release Date: May 8, 2007 [EBook #21383] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Adventures in Australia, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +A couple of young men go to Australia to stay awhile with the uncle of +one of them. While on the way up to the uncle's station they meet with +various adventures. + +During the book we are introduced to various of the animals of +Australia, the kookaburra, the wombat, the kangaroo, the wallaby, and +many others. We also meet with the aboriginal occupiers of the land. + +Finding that they like the life in Australia, the two young men decide +to settle, and they buy, with the uncle's assistance, an area of land on +which to create a station. + +This is not a long book, but it is amply illustrated. Some of the +drawings are very nice indeed. + +You will enjoy this book, and it makes a good audiobook. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +Some years ago two travellers, mounted on wiry yet strong looking +steeds, were wending their way through a forest in Australia. They were +both young and dressed much alike in broad-brimmed pith hats, loose red +shirts, corduroy trousers and high boots with spurs. + +Each of them had stuck in his belt an axe, a brace of pistols, and a +long knife; while at his back was slung a serviceable-looking rifle, +showing that they were prepared to defend themselves, should they +encounter any treacherous blacks, a very possible contingency at that +period of the country's history. + +They were followed by an active native also mounted, who led a horse +carrying their baggage. The scenery was not especially attractive, +indeed so great was its sameness that alone they would have been utterly +unable to find their way. On either side rose tall stringy-bark and +other gum-trees, their curious and narrow leaves affording scarcely any +shelter from the rays of the almost vertical sun, the huge white stems +from which the bark hung down in ragged masses giving them a weird and +dreary aspect. Tracks there were, but they branched now in one +direction now in the other, and were more calculated to bewilder the +travellers than to guide them aright. Their map--for being new arrivals +in the country they carried one--told them that they should soon reach a +broad stream. They were now looking out eagerly for it, wondering +whether they should have to wade through it or should find a ferry-boat +ready to take them and their animals across. + +I may as well say--having thus begun, after the fashion of a writer +whose pure and wholesome works I used heartily to enjoy in my boyhood +days--that one of the travellers was myself, Maurice Thurston, and the +other my brother Guy, a year only my senior. We had lately lost our +father, with whose sanction we had settled some time before to come out +to Australia and seek our fortunes. We, our mother, our two sisters, +and another brother, had been left with a very limited income; and Guy +and I, wishing to push our own fortunes and establish a home for the +rest of the family, agreed that no time should be lost in carrying our +plan into execution. As soon therefore as our mother's affairs had been +settled, we set sail from England, and, about two weeks before the day I +am describing, arrived in Australia. We had not come entirely on a +wild-goose chase. A cousin of our father's, Mr Oliver Strong, had long +been settled in the country, and had replied to an application made to +him some time before by our father, saying that he should be happy to +receive us and put us in the way of doing well for ourselves, if we were +sober, steady, strong, active, willing fellows with heads on our +shoulders and without any "fine gentleman" notions. + +We were now making our way toward his station, some hundred miles in the +interior. Though we had not ridden far from our camping place, the +intense heat of the sun made us feel very thirsty, and sympathise with +our horses which must have been equally so; thus we were anxious as soon +as possible to reach the river, where we hoped to find an abundance of +water. + +From our black guide we could not obtain much information; for, although +we were well assured that he spoke English when we engaged him, we found +that it was of a character which would take us some time to learn. +However he understood us better than we did him, though we had to put +questions in all sorts of ways and repeat them over and over again. We +then had to puzzle out his replies, not always arriving at a +satisfactory conclusion. + +Guy frequently stood up in his stirrups and looked ahead, hoping to +catch the sheen of water. At last we began to have some uncomfortable +suspicions that, although our black attendant professed to know the way, +he had managed to lose it--a circumstance not at all unlikely to occur-- +and that we were wandering far out of our proper course. Though the sun +was of some assistance, yet we might be going too much to the north or +too much to the west, and might pass a long way off from the station +which we wished to reach. All we could do therefore was to exert our +wits, and, should we have got out of the direct path, to try and find +it. At length the foliage before us became somewhat thicker, but no +sign of water did we see. We were riding on when a loud cry reached our +ears. + +"There's some one in distress!" I exclaimed. + +"I fear that you are right, we must find out," answered Guy. + +We were urging on our horses, when a peal of mocking laughter seemed to +come from the wood close to us. + +"What can that be?" I asked; "some natives who want to frighten us, or +an unfortunate maniac." + +The shout of laughter was repeated. + +"Him one jackass!" observed our guide, Toby. + +"Jackass! What can the fellow mean?" cried Guy. + +Then looking up we discovered a large bird not far off who was evidently +uttering the extraordinary sound we heard. It was, as Toby told us, a +laughing-jackass, or a gigantic kingfisher. So ridiculous were the +sounds that we could not help laughing too. + +Presently a number of cockatoos, rising with loud screams just before +us, flew over the trees to pitch again not far off. As we were watching +them we found ourselves at the top of a bank, some thirty or forty feet +in height. Below it, to the right and left, stretched a sandy bottom +scarcely less than half a mile in breadth, and on the opposite side rose +another bank. Below the one on which we stood was a stream of water, +flowing sluggishly along, scarcely twelve feet wide, and so shallow that +we could see the bottom. + +"Can this be the river we were to come to?" I exclaimed, examining the +map. + +"No doubt about it," answered my brother; "perhaps sometimes this broad +bed of sand is covered, and if we had found it so, we should have had +considerable difficulty in crossing; so it is as well as it is, here is +water enough for ourselves and our weary beasts." We accordingly agreed +to stop and dine. Having watered our horses, we hobbled them and turned +them at liberty under some trees where grass was growing; then +unslinging our guns, we went in search of the cockatoos we had seen. I +killed one, and Guy a parrot; but the report of our guns frightened away +the birds, which were more wary than usual, and we had to return +satisfied with this scanty supply of food. On reaching the spot we had +selected for our camp, close to the water where our black boy was +waiting for us, we found that he had during our absence made a fire, at +which we cooked the birds, Toby devouring the larger portion. + +We would gladly have eaten some fruit, however sour it might have been, +but none was to be found. We had just finished masticating the tough +parrot, when we caught sight of two natives scampering along as if they +were mad, so it seemed to us, for they had their eyes fixed in the air +and appeared regardless of all impediments in their way. We shouted to +them, but not hearing us, on they went, now leaping over the fallen +trunk of a tree, now rushing through a bush, now tumbling into a hole, +still keeping their eyes fixed on the object which engaged their +attention. We asked Toby what they were about. + +"Dey huntee bee. Soon catchee!" he answered. The reply was +intelligible enough, but why they should hunt a bee puzzled us. They +however stopped, while yet in sight, under a large tree, the stem of +which they began to climb. Hoping, as was really the case, that they +were going to rob the hive of its honey, we followed them. As we +approached we could see their dusky forms among the lower branches, with +vast numbers of bees flying about them, whose presence they seemed +almost to disregard. + +The two natives were so busily employed that they did not at first +perceive us; but when they came down, they regarded us with much +astonishment, and we were afraid that they would turn tail and run off, +without giving us the honey which it was our object to obtain. We +therefore made all the friendly signs we could think of, and I having +fortunately a gaily printed cotton handkerchief in my pocket, presented +it to them, signifying at the same time that we wished some of the honey +in return. + +Our quiet manner quickly disarmed their suspicions, and returning with +us, they poured out as much honey as our two tin pots could contain. + +I may as well describe the mode of finding the honey the bee-hunters +adopt. On perceiving a bee sucking the juice from flowers, he hurries +to the nearest pool and selects a spot where the banks shelve gradually. +He then lying on his face fills his mouth with water, and patiently +awaits the arrival of the bee: as the insect requires moisture, he knows +that ere long it will come and drink. The moment it approaches him he +blows the water from his mouth over it, thus slightly stunning it. +Before it has recovered, he seizes it and by means of some gum fastens +to its legs a tuft of white down, which he has obtained from the +neighbouring trees. The insect flies in a straight line towards its +nest, while the white down serving to impede the progress, enables the +hunter to keep it in view, till it reaches its home. + +We ate the honey with a small supply of biscuit, and found it far more +satisfactory food than the tough parrots had proved. + +Having taken a last drink and filled up our waterbottles, we parted on +friendly terms with the natives; when, saddling our horses, we continued +our journey. + +"There is little chance of our reaching another river with more water in +it than the last, to camp by," observed my brother; "I see none marked +down on the maps for leagues ahead." + +We passed through the same sort of scenery as before, with the same +dreary views on either side, so that we might have fancied that we had +already crossed the country a dozen times. + +We at length came to the bed of a stream, no longer however containing +water, though I doubt not that we should have obtained it by digging +beneath the surface. + +The appearance of the bee-hunters had warned us that there were natives +about, and we had been cautioned against trusting them. We heard that +they had at different times murdered a number of unfortunate hut-keepers +and shepherds up the country, so that we were inclined to form very +unfavourable opinions of the aborigines. Toby, to be sure, was faithful +enough, but then he was semi-civilised. We now asked him if he thought +that there were many natives in the neighbourhood to whom the +bee-hunters belonged. + +He shook his head--"May be!" he said; "bad mans, keep out of him way." + +This advice we were ready enough to adopt, and we had no fear, should we +meet them on the open ground, of keeping them at bay; but we wished +especially to avoid being caught asleep, either at night or resting +during the noon-day heat. + +We had, at this time, literally no experience about Australia. We had +read a few books, to be sure, but Mr Strong had not described the +country, and only advised our father to send us out without incumbrances +of any description--a small stock of serviceable clothes, a few books +and a box of pills apiece. We followed out his injunctions almost to +the letter, adding only some well-made tools, a fowling-piece each, and +a supply of ammunition, to which we added on our arrival a few +necessaries for travelling in the bush. + +Thus we found that one animal could carry all our worldly possessions, a +few odd articles for immediate use being packed in our saddle-bags. We +were now, as the day was wearing on, looking out for a convenient place +to camp. We tried to make Toby understand that we wished for one in +which we could not easily be surprised by natives, or if surprised, +where we could defend ourselves with some hope of success. + +The nature of the ground had changed since the morning, and we now +entered a rocky and wild-looking district. + +Here we should have no difficulty, we thought, in selecting a spot for +our camp. We were looking about, when we spied in the distance what +appeared to be the figure of a man standing against a tree. My brother +instantly rode forward and I following him saw a person who, to all +appearance, though in bush costume, was a gentleman, bound with his +hands behind his back, and secured firmly to a tree. He was deadly pale +and seemed so much exhausted that he did not even speak to us as we +approached. + +To leap from our horses and release him without asking questions, was +the work of a minute. Having put him on his feet and waited until he +had somewhat recovered, we inquired how he had been placed in the +position in which we had found him. + +"Some rascally bushrangers surprised, and `stuck me up,'" he answered. +"I had just dismounted, when three of them, who had been lying in +ambush, suddenly sprang on me, and before I could draw my revolver, +knocked me down. + +"I fully believed that they intended to murder me, but they contented +themselves with carrying off my horse and arms and ammunition and +everything I had about me; having lashed me to this tree, and then +galloped away, leaving me to the chance of dying of thirst and +starvation, or being gnawed to death by the dingoes. Had you not come +up, such might have been my fate; and, believe me, I am deeply grateful +to you for rescuing me from it." + +We had been aware of the possibility that we might meet with natives, +but had not thought of the likelihood of encountering bushrangers, +indeed we fancied that the country was no longer infested by such +characters. + +We, of course, having assured the stranger that we were very glad to +have been of use to him, invited him to accompany us until he could +obtain another horse, and offered to let him ride one of ours by turns. + +"I should like however to try and catch the fellows who robbed you;" +exclaimed Guy. "Is there any chance of overtaking them? Surely they +will encamp not far from this, and if we follow their tracks we might +come upon them as suddenly as they surprised you." + +"Very little chance of that," observed the stranger. "They are +desperate fellows, and, knowing that every man's hand is against them, +keep a strict watch. They are aware that it is possible that I might be +released, and will probably ere this have got a good many miles away, I +am, however, grateful to you for your offer, though I am sorry to delay +you. I confess that, without a gun or flint and steel, I should be very +sorry to perform the rest of the journey on foot by myself. I am going +to the north-west, and I judge, from the direction you were riding, that +our roads lie the same way." + +Guy told him that we were bound for Mr Strong's station, which we +understood was nearly a hundred miles off; and at the rate we could +travel with our baggage-horse, we did not expect to reach it for three +or four days. + +Observing how ill the stranger looked I suggested that we should at once +look out a good spot for camping. + +"I can help you, as I know the country," said the stranger. "A short +distance further on there is a water-hole in what during the rainy +season is sometimes a torrent; we can there obtain all the requisites +for a camp." + +I now insisted that he should mount my horse, and we set out. + +Pushing forward, we soon reached the spot he spoke of. Our new +companion, after examining the ground, told us that the bushrangers had +been there, and after watering their horses had ridden on, as he +supposed they would, and that we need have no apprehensions of an attack +from them. + +We soon hobbled the horses in the usual fashion, fastening their legs +together with leathern straps in such a way as to make it impossible for +them to move beyond a slow walk, so that if they were inclined to stray +they could not go far. + +Toby quickly lighted a fire, while the stranger by our advice rested +near it. Guy and I taking our guns went out in different directions in +search of game, which is usually to be found near a water-hole in +Australia. We soon came back, Guy with a brace of pigeons and I with +three parrots, so that we had ample food for all hands. As we had +damper and tea, we enjoyed a satisfactory meal which greatly revived our +new friend. While we were seated round the fire--Toby watching the +horses--the stranger inquired if we were related to Mr Strong. This +led us to give him a brief sketch of our history. + +"May I ask your name?" he said. "Mine is Norman Bracewell." + +"And ours is Thurston," said my brother. "What! Guy Thurston?" +exclaimed Bracewell, leaning forward and grasping Guy's hand; "I thought +from the first that I knew your features. We were at school together. +`Little Guy' we used to call you, and you haven't forgotten me?" + +"No indeed!" said Guy warmly, "you always stood my friend when the big +fellows tried to bully me, and I have a perfect recollection of your +countenance. I have often wished to know what had become of you, but +could only hear that you had gone abroad." + +"I thought of writing to let you know, in case you should ever come out +to Australia; but I fancied that that was so unlikely and the chances of +meeting you so small that I did not carry out my intention. You must +stop at my hut. The longer you stay the better. We will have many a +talk about old times and I think I can put you up to all sorts of +information which will be useful to you in the country. To tell you the +truth, I doubt if you will find your cousin, Mr Strong, as I heard that +he had gone northwards to occupy a new station, some hundreds of miles +off, and if so you will probably find no one to give you a welcome at +his house except some old hut-keeper." + +On hearing this, Guy and I gladly agreed to stop a few days with +Bracewell until we could obtain some definite information as to the +movements of our cousin. + +We told him of our meeting with the two bee-hunters. + +"This proves that there are some natives in the neighbourhood. They may +be honest, but they may also be ill-disposed, as are many of the blacks +in this region. I advise that we keep a strict watch at night, and I +offer to stand guard part of the time," observed Bracewell. + +We agreed to keep a watch, but after the trying time he had gone through +we thought that he ought to have a quiet night's rest so as to be the +better able to continue his journey the next morning. + +Toby had put up a rough hut of boughs, which would afford two of us at a +time sufficient shelter from the night air. Of rain there was no fear. +Toby erected a hut for himself with a few boughs stuck upright in the +ground, which formed all the protection he required. + +I undertook to keep the first watch, and I promised my brother that I +would call him when I could no longer remain with my eyes open. From +past experience we knew that it would not do to trust Toby, who would be +very certain to be down as soon as he found that our eyes were off him. +Guy and Bracewell were quickly asleep and I commenced walking to and +fro, keeping a look-out on every side and sometimes stopping to throw a +few sticks on the fire. I could see the horses safely feeding hear at +hand, and so perfect was the silence which reigned around that I could +not fancy that there was any real necessity for keeping awake. Still, +as I had undertaken to do so, I should not have felt justified in lying +down. I should probably have let the fire out, and the smoke from that +was at all events useful to keep mosquitoes and sandflies somewhat at +bay. Should the fire go out it was no more than possible that a pack of +dingoes might creep up, and while we were in darkness drive the horses +away, or carry off our saddle-bags, or tear our saddles and +sleeping-rugs to pieces. I persevered therefore, stopping every now and +then to amuse myself by looking up at the star-lighted sky and trying to +make out the various constellations, conspicuous among which was the +brilliant cross of the southern hemisphere. Except the occasional croak +of a frog, the cry of a night bird, or the chirp of a cricket, not a +sound had reached my ears; when suddenly, as I was watching the moon +rising above the rocks on one side of the camp, the most unearthly +shrieks and yells rent the air. Guy, awakening, started to his feet. + +"What's the matter?" he exclaimed. "I dreamed that savages were upon +us, and expected the next moment to have a spear through me." + +"I haven't seen any savages, but those sounds seem scarcely human, I +wonder Bracewell hasn't been awakened by them. We must rouse up Toby +and learn what he thinks they are." + +The fearful noise still continued. We stood with our arms ready +expecting every moment to see a herd of savages rush in upon us, for +that the sounds were produced by natives we could have no doubt. We +quickly made Toby spring to his feet. + +"What's all that noise about?" asked Guy. + +"He-he-he, ho-ho-ho! dat corroborree," answered Toby who did not appear, +as we expected would be the case, at all astonished at the uproar. + +Bracewell at length awoke and confirmed what Toby had said, that the +savages were indulging in one of their native dances. + +"I should like to go and see it," I exclaimed; "can we do so without +risk of being discovered?" + +Taking Toby to guide us, while Bracewell remained in camp, we set out. +We were scarcely prepared for the strange and weird sight which we saw +as we looked over some low bushes we had just reached. Before us was an +open glade, beyond which the moon was rising brightly. In the centre of +the glade burned a fire. Seated on the ground were a number of figures +rattling sticks together. Suddenly there burst forth out of the +darkness a score of skeleton-like figures who threw themselves into +every possible attitude, now stretching out their legs, now springing up +and clapping their hands, and all the time shrieking, laughing and +singing, and following a big black fellow who acted as fugleman and +stood on one side with stick in hand to direct the proceedings. + +Not for a moment did they cease, though every now and then we might have +fancied that they had disappeared had we not distinguished their black +backs turned towards us. We watched until we grew weary of the sight, +but the dancers appeared in no way tired; and as we saw no chance of +their giving in, we retreated to our own camp, pretty well tired out and +assured that they would not molest us during the night. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +The night passed as Bracewell had predicted, without a visit from the +natives; and as he assured us that they were not at all likely to attack +four armed men in the day-time, we, being anxious to become better +acquainted with them, agreed before setting off to pay a visit to their +camp. They were sure indeed to find ours out; so that it would be as +well to show that we had no fear of them, and to gain their friendship. +On examining the birds we had cooked the previous evening we found they +had been nearly devoured by the white ants, a large nest of which we +discovered a short distance from the camp. We had therefore to look out +for some fresh provisions. Bracewell was a much better shot than either +of us; and, taking my gun, in a few minutes he killed a small kangaroo +which he found as it was about to spring out of the bush where it had +spent the night, scarcely a hundred yards from the camp. Having skinned +it in the most scientific fashion, the joints were put on to roast. We +had now an abundance for our noon-day meal; for, as the animal was about +four feet long, including the tail which was nearly half its length, it +afforded us a good supply of meat. We should have preferred starting at +day-break, but without food we none of us felt inclined to commence our +journey. Toby indeed gave us to understand that he could not think of +leaving while so much good meat remained to be eaten. Having given him +as much as we all three consumed, we packed up the remainder in our +saddle-bags and then--I insisting that Bracewell should mount my horse +while I walked--we set off for the native village which we caught sight +of a short distance to the north of our camp. The inhabitants were +lying about in front of it, evidently enjoying the _otium cum +dignitate_. The men mostly stretched on the ground surrounded by their +dogs, while the women were squatting outside their leafy bowers. The +huts, if so they can be called, were placed in a semi-circle, and were +formed by thick boughs stuck in the ground joining at the top on which +other boughs were lightly thrown. They were scarcely more than four +feet in height and might be described rather as screens than huts, as +their only object appeared to be to keep off the wind from the +inhabitants and the small fires which burnt before them. On the outside +were stuck their spears ready for instant use. Except some pieces of +opossum skin round their loins, the men wore no garments, though several +of them had fillets bound round their brows. Two or three were smoking +short clay pipes obtained from shepherds or hut-keepers with whom they +had come in contact. Several of the men started up, and seizing their +spears advanced as they saw us approach, but the greater number lay +gorged with food on the ground, not apparently noticing us. Bracewell, +who could speak Toby's lingo, told him to say to the black fellows, that +we wished to be their friends; that their corroborree had afforded us a +good deal of amusement; and that if we could kill a kangaroo we would +give it to them to make another feast the next night. + +As soon as Toby had translated what had been said, the blacks began +chattering away in the most extraordinary fashion. + +As they ceased Toby informed us that they were highly pleased with our +offer. They wished to remain friends with the white men, and if we +chose to stop with them we should be welcome. Of course, we had no +inclination to do this, but we asked if two or three of them would +accompany us to carry home any game we might kill. They however +declined the invitation, saying that they were well filled already, of +which fact their distended condition was sufficient evidence. + +"Well then, as we cannot turn back, you will have to go without a +kangaroo, even though we may shoot one," said Bracewell, and telling +Toby to wish them a friendly farewell we rode on. + +As I was very active and had been accustomed to running at school, I +easily kept up with the horses. At length however, as the sun grew +hotter, I should have been glad enough to remount. Bracewell, observing +that I was becoming fatigued, insisted on getting off his horse, but of +this I would not hear. He however dismounted, when Guy made him get on +again and put me on his own horse. Before long, however, my brother was +nearly knocked up, and seeing this I proposed that he should remount, +and that I should ride Toby's horse. Toby made a wry face, for, +although better able to run than any of us, he considered that it was +more dignified to ride. + +As we rode along we kept a look-out for kangaroos, as we should have +been glad to kill one for ourselves, although our black friends were not +likely to benefit by it. + +We had gone some way when we caught sight of a dark object appearing +just above a thick mass of leaves some two hundred yards away. Standing +up in my stirrups I saw that it was the head of a kangaroo who was +engaged in pulling off the foliage. I called to Bracewell and my +brother, hoping that if we could get nearer before the creature moved +away, we might shoot it. + +Throwing the halter of the baggage-horse, which I had been leading, to +Toby, I rode towards the spot, unslinging my rifle and as I did so +ramming down a ball. The creature was more wide-awake than I had +supposed. I had just got near enough to fire, when it broke from its +cover in fine style and, after taking a few jumps to see in what +direction to go, it started forward over the open ground without +apparent effort. + +"That's a large _boomer_, an old one!" shouted Bracewell, "he'll give us +a long run. If we had dogs we should soon however catch him." + +In the excitement of the chase, forgetting that we ran great risk of +knocking up our horses, away we started. Although the animal had only +two legs to run on and had an enormous tail to carry, which does not, I +really believe, help it, though it serves to balance itself in its +upright position, so far did it get ahead of us that it was useless +firing. I had scarcely noticed the direction it was taking, but on +looking round I found that it was leading us back to the spot from which +we had come. How far it had got I cannot say, when four or five black +fellows started up with spears in their hands uttering loud shouts and +shrieks. The _boomer_ saw that it had no chance of escape in that +direction, being perhaps better acquainted with its black enemies than +with the strange creatures on four legs which had been pursuing it. It +therefore stopped and gave us time to approach before it bounded round +and made off to the right. I had thrown myself from my horse, for I had +no notion at that time of firing from my saddle. I took a steady aim +and pulled the trigger. My bullet must have hit it on the hinder leg, +for it slackened its pace. In the meantime Bracewell and Guy dashed +forward. The creature, instead of continuing its flight, again stopped, +and facing the horsemen as they approached struck out with one of its +hinder claws, and had not Bracewell suddenly turned his steed, so +furiously did it strike that he would have been severely wounded. +Turning round however he dealt it so heavy a blow on the head with his +riding-whip that it staggered, and Guy firing brought it to the ground. +The natives, whom we recognised as our friends of the morning, now came +up and claimed the prize. Bracewell gave them to understand that we +must first cut out as many steaks as we required. When this was done we +handed the body over to them. They appeared highly delighted and +especially struck by the moderate quantity we claimed. We had now to +turn back to where we had left Toby in charge of the baggage animal. I +had some secret apprehensions that, if not honest, he might bolt with +our traps and be received with open arms as a wealthy man among some of +his countrymen. I was not aware at the time that he belonged to a tribe +regarded as hereditary enemies by the people inhabiting the country we +were travelling through, and that he was as likely to lose his life at +their hands as any white man would be. We looked about in all +directions and at length, to our no small satisfaction, espied him still +standing by the horses and wondering what had become of us. We had lost +considerable time by our hunting, though we had obtained a good dinner, +and of course had been delayed also by one of the party having to +proceed on foot. + +While we were seated round our camp-fire Bracewell said-- + +"I scarcely like to make the proposal I am about to do, and yet perhaps +you will not object. If you will consent to remain in camp here and +allow me to take one of your horses, I will ride forward and bring a +couple of fresh ones from my station. Should you not do this I must +insist on walking, though I shall of necessity delay you. I confess +also, that I am anxious to give notice that the bushrangers are abroad, +or they may be visiting my hut or some of my neighbours, and carry off +arms and ammunition, which is chiefly what they come after, for they +don't find much else than food in the shepherds' huts." + +"Pray do as you think best," said Guy, "I am sure Maurice will agree +with me that we should not at all mind remaining stationary for a few +hours, nor will our other horses, which require rest." + +I thought the plan a good one, and before the day had actually broken, +Bracewell mounted my horse and away he rode at a rate which assured us +that we should not be long alone. As Toby had plenty of food, he did +not grumble at the delay, but sat himself down contentedly at the fire +which he promised to keep alight, while we took our guns and went to +shoot some birds or a kangaroo if we could see one. + +The great drawback to a traveller in a hot country is the impossibility +of preserving fresh meat, which exposed to the sun quickly becomes +uneatable. What we killed one day was therefore unfit for food the +next, and we had each morning to shoot some more game, or content +ourselves with damper and tea. + +We had already become pretty skilful in baking damper, which consists +simply of flour and water, kneaded on a board, and baked in the form of +a large biscuit under the ashes. + +We saw several kangaroos, but they bounded away before we could get near +enough to shoot them, and had to content ourselves as before with a +couple of parrots and as many pigeons, which was an ample supply, for +although the over-high kangaroo meat did not suit our palates, Toby had +no objection to it. + +We had been shooting for some time, and were making our way back to +camp, when we caught sight in the distance of three horsemen, their +heads and those of their steeds, occasionally appearing above the +brushwood. They appeared to be coming towards us. + +At first we thought that they must be Bracewell and two companions; but +as we could make out no led horses, and they were not approaching from +the direction he would appear, we concluded that they must be strangers. + +"What if they should be bushrangers?" said Guy. "If they catch Toby +alone they are certain to carry off our baggage and horses, and will +probably shoot him to prevent him giving information." + +"The sooner we get back to camp the better," I answered. + +We hurried on, keeping ourselves concealed as much as possible. "It +would be prudent to load our guns with ball," said Guy; "the fellows +won't know that we suspect them, and may think that they can stick us up +with perfect ease." + +Fortunately our horses were close to the camp, and as soon as we reached +it we sent Toby to bring them in, not telling him that we suspected the +character of the strangers. As they approached we anxiously examined +their appearance, which was certainly not in their favour. They were +savage-looking fellows with long beards, their unkempt hair hanging over +their shoulders. They pulled up suddenly when they saw us standing with +our backs to a couple of large trees, our baggage and saddles piled on +the ground, and Toby holding our horses. + +"What is your pleasure, friends?" asked Guy. The fellows examined us +without answering. + +"You look as if you'd know us again should we come across you," said +Guy. "Just take my advice. Ride on and leave us to cook our dinner." + +"Who are you, young chaps, and where are you going?" inquired one of the +horsemen, who from his appearance we concluded was the leader of the +party. + +"We are going our own way and are not inclined to give that information +to those who have no authority to ask it," replied Guy in a firm voice. + +"Did you fall in with a young fellow who had been stuck up by +bushrangers?" inquired the man. + +The question convinced us that we were not mistaken as to the character +of our visitors. + +"I have just told you that we are not going to answer any questions from +those who have no right to put them," said Guy. + +"Oh, oh, oh!" cried the man, making a movement as if he was about to +unsling his gun. + +"If you do that, I'll fire," shouted Guy. "Our rifles are loaded with +ball; now ride on, we do not wish to take your lives, but we have no +intention of being stuck up." + +During this conversation I was looking at the other two fellows, who had +not spoken but seemed to be waiting until their chief gave a sign to +them to act. As my eye ranged over the countenance of one of them, it +struck me forcibly that I had seen the man before, but when or where, I +could not recollect. He was evidently very young, for while the faces +of the others were covered with hair, he had but a small moustache on +his lips, but exposure to the hot sun had so tanned his complexion, that +had he been an intimate friend I might have failed to recognise him. He +looked at me and then at my brother, whose attention was occupied by the +older bushranger and did not notice him as I was doing. + +"Oh, oh, oh!" exclaimed the man, after the warning Guy had given him; +and, without saying another word, he and his companions turned their +horses' heads and rode away in the direction from whence they had come. +Probably they had been attracted by the smoke of our fire, and expected +to find some travellers unprepared for them; so we should have been had +we not fallen in with Bracewell, and should certainly have lost our +baggage and horses, and perhaps our lives. + +"We have had a narrow escape, for there is no doubt about those fellows +being bushrangers," I observed to Guy. + +"Not the slightest," replied my brother. "I felt that there was only +one way to deal with them. Had we shown the slightest hesitation or +nervousness, they would have attempted to frighten us into submission." + +"Did you notice the countenance of one of the others?" I asked. "I +could not help fancying that I knew it well. If it were not so very +improbable, I should say that it was that of a fellow I remember at +school when I first went there. I wish that you had observed him, for +as you must have known him better than I did, you would have been more +sure about the matter." + +"What, do you mean the youngest of the three?" asked Guy. "The fact is +I did note him. It struck me that he was wonderfully like a fellow I +always stood clear of, though he especially tried to make friends with +me. If you remember the name of the person you think he was, tell me, +and I shall better be able to judge whether I am right." + +"I am nearly certain then that it was Cyril Vinson." + +"You are right," answered Guy. "He was a clever fellow without a +particle of principle; and I remember hearing it reported some time +after he left school, that he had committed forgery, and that, although +he was not convicted, his friends had sent him out of the country." + +We talked over the matter, and agreed that it was very strange we should +so soon after our arrival in the country have fallen in, under such +extraordinary circumstances, with two old school-fellows. + +The day passed by without another visit, either from the bushrangers or +the blacks. As may be supposed, we kept a remarkably bright look-out +during the night. Either Guy or I remained awake, walking up and down +in the neighbourhood of our camp-fire. Directly the bells on the necks +of our horses sounded faint, we sent out Toby to drive them in, that we +might run as little risk as possible of their being carried off. + +Bracewell had told us that sometimes natives stole up and speared the +horses at night, or tried to drive them away from the camp, though they +might not venture to attack their owners. We had chiefly therefore to +fear a trick of this sort being played us, but it was almost impossible +to guard against the horses being surprised during the darkness, should +they be at any distance from the camp. + +As those we had fallen in with appeared to be friendly, we hoped that we +should escape so unpleasant a loss. + +As the next day passed on we looked at our watches, anxiously expecting +Bracewell. With the chance of another visit from the bushrangers, we +did not like to go far from the camp; but we shot as many birds as we +wanted, though Toby would have been happier had we brought him a +kangaroo, that he might gorge himself to his heart's content. + +As I had been awake so much during the night, I felt very sleepy, and +had thrown myself on the ground to get some rest, when I heard Guy say-- + +"Here come a couple of horsemen, but whether they are Bracewell and a +companion, or the bushrangers returning, I cannot say. At all events we +must be prepared for them." + +I sprang to my feet, and Toby was sent to bring in the horses. Our +apprehensions of another visit from the bushrangers were soon set at +rest when we recognised Bracewell, who was followed by another man +leading a spare horse. + +"I am sorry to have kept you so long," he exclaimed, as he threw himself +from his steed. "Our horses had strayed, frightened by the blacks, who +have killed one of them. If we come across the fellows they must look +out for broken heads in consequence. However, Bob and I succeeded in +catching three, and then lost no time in coming to you." + +When we told him of the visit we had received from the bushrangers, he +exclaimed:-- + +"We must run those fellows down. It is too bad that we should be unable +to ride in security through the country without the risk of being +robbed, perhaps murdered, by such villains." + +We immediately saddled our horses, packed our traps on our baggage +animal, and prepared to go forward under Bracewell's guidance. Old Bob, +his hut-keeper and factotum, dropped behind to drive on the +baggage-horse at a greater speed than Toby was inclined to move. I +heard him talking to the black in a lingo which was utterly +incomprehensible to me. + +Bracewell was much astonished when Guy told him that we had recognised +Cyril Vinson among the bushrangers. We were once more, on account of +the slow pace of our baggage-horse, compelled to camp, but as Bracewell +wished to get back to his hut that night, he rode forward, leaving old +Bob to guide us in the morning. Old Bob undertook to keep watch, and as +he did not look like a man who would go to sleep while so engaged, we +were able to rest securely. + +It was nearly evening the next day when we caught sight of the huts +forming our friend's station. He came forward to meet us. + +"I expected you somewhat sooner," he said. "As Bob was away, I was +engaged in performing one of his duties--feeding the inhabitants of my +farm-yard. I have a curious lot, which I have caught and tamed at +different times. Here they are, come and have a look at them." + +And he led the way to an enclosure with a hut on one side of it. As he +stooped down, ducks and fowls rushed forward to obtain the food he held +in his hand, the pigs came grunting up, and several long-legged birds-- +storks I believe they were--stood by waiting for their share, numerous +parrots and parroquets were perched on the railings, as tame as the +barn-door fowls, while a laughing-jackass looked on complacently from an +overhanging bough, every now and then uttering its strange notes. + +Bracewell directed Bob to finish feeding the birds, and ushered us into +the hut. It was about thirty feet long and twelve wide, roughly built +with a verandah in front, and contained a centre room and one on either +side. The interior was far neater than I had expected from the +appearance of the outside, and was furnished with tables and chairs, and +several cupboards and some book-shelves; the walls were ornamented with +a few pictures and native weapons, while two spare guns and some pistols +were against them. A couple of large Scotch deer hounds of a +badger-like colour accompanied their master. They were intelligent, +powerful-looking animals, and were used, he told us, for hunting the +kangaroo. Before a fire in a smaller hut on one side of the main +building, two joints of mutton were roasting. + +"I can give you but bush fare," said our host, "mutton, damper, and tea; +for of wine and spirits I have none, with the exception of a bottle of +brandy, which I keep safely locked up for reasons which I will explain +to you." + +Besides the large hut I have described there were two smaller ones and a +shed, which served as a stable and cowhouse. Near them was an enclosed +field and small kitchen-garden, such as is not often seen at an +Australian cattle or sheep station. To the west was a thick wood, which +afforded shelter from the winds blowing at times hot and sand-laden from +the interior; while in front was a slight dip, at the bottom of which +was the bed of a river, but through it a trickling stream alone at +present found its way to the eastward. Here and there appeared groves +of acacias, while as far as the eye could reach in every other direction +were grassy downs, scattered over which we caught sight of a +considerable herd of sheep wending their way homewards. Altogether, +Bracewell's station presented a more civilised aspect than any we had +fallen in with on our journey. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +We spent a pleasant evening with Bracewell, talking over old times and +our future prospects. He gave us a great deal of good advice, by which +we hoped to profit. + +"I am very glad you have come out, old fellows, for I am sure you will +succeed if you stick to work," he observed. "I have not done badly. I +began with eight head of cattle, and now I have three hundred; and with +forty sheep, which have become upwards of two thousand. I should have +had a larger number had I known more of the business when I commenced, +but I have lost many by disease and dingoes, and the natives. You must +make up your mind to take the rough and smooth together, and not despair +though you happen to get what they call a run of ill-luck--which in nine +cases out of ten arises from a man's carelessness. I confess that I +have sometimes felt my solitude; but yet, with my friends on the shelves +up there, and these faithful animals at my feet, I have had no great +reason to complain. I also remember that I should have been much worse +off in many respects had I remained at home." + +"But what about the blacks and the bushrangers?" asked Guy. + +"The blacks have been troublesome at times, but I have hitherto been +able to keep them at bay," answered Bracewell; "and with regard to the +bushrangers, none have ever paid me a visit. The fellows who stuck me +up the other day were the first I had the misfortune to fall in with. I +wonder if Vinson recognised me; but I think not, or if he did he kept +out of sight. I am grieved to think it was him, as he will certainly, +before long, come to an untimely end; for no bushranger ultimately +escapes, and most of them run but a very short career: they either get +shot or die of starvation and sickness in the bush." + +When we talked of continuing our journey the next day, Bracewell would +not hear of it. + +"Your relative does not expect you," he observed, "and you will pick up +more useful knowledge on my station than you will on a more extensive +run; besides which I want you to have some hunting with me, to show you +this part of the country." + +Nothing loth, we agreed to Bracewell's proposal. It was not until a +late hour, for the bush, that we turned into our bunks in one of the +side-rooms, which he told us he kept as his guest-chamber. Bracewell +slept in a hammock in the sitting-room, while old Bob occupied the other +room. + +The first day we spent riding over the run, visiting the cattle and +inspecting the sheep. In the evening Bracewell proposed that we should +go into the neighbouring wood in search of opossum, whose skins he +wished to obtain to make some rugs, which he said he wanted to sleep on +when camping out or to serve as coverlets in cold weather. His shepherd +possessed a couple of small dogs, famous opossum hunters. The sheep +having been penned, their master was requested to accompany us. + +The Australian opossum is a long-bodied short-legged little animal, with +a furry tail by which he can suspend himself on the branches of trees, +while it assists him to make rapid progress among them. He is fond of +hiding himself in the holes of decayed trees, out of which it is no easy +matter to smoke him. Being a nocturnal animal he is more generally +captured during the day-time, for the bright light of the sun puzzles +him and he knows not in what direction to make his escape. + +We soon arrived at a large hole in a gum-tree round which the dogs began +barking, leaving us no doubt that several opossums were ensconced +within. Our first care was to collect a quantity of sticks and green +leaves; when, a fire being kindled inside the hole, the smoke began to +ascend, filling the whole of the cavity, which extended to where the +boughs branched off. The moon having risen, we could see almost as well +as in daylight. Before long, three or four little creatures emerged +from the hole and began to make their way upwards. One, however, almost +suffocated by the smoke, fell to the ground; when the dogs, instantly +pouncing upon it, would have torn it to pieces had not their master +pulled them off. Guy shot another, and two more were brought to the +ground by the sticks which the rest of us hove at them before they had +recovered their senses, after having been so unexpectedly smoked out of +their nests. + +We were equally successful with two other trees, round which the dogs +gave tongue, and after an hour's hunting we returned carrying our +prizes, which took Bracewell and his shepherd some time to clean. + +"Of course opossum hunting is but tame work, I'll allow," exclaimed +Bracewell while washing his hands after having cleaned the last of the +beasts; "but as you are both good horsemen and have steady nerves we +will to-morrow go in chase of some wild cattle which have appeared in +the bush not far off. I should not object to kill a couple of them, as +we are in want of fresh meat and I cannot afford to slaughter my sheep. +Perhaps on the way we may fall in with a kangaroo, which is sure to give +us good sport." + +Next morning found us all three galloping along through the open forest. +We trusted entirely to Bracewell's guidance, for before we had gone a +mile, I confess I should have had a difficulty in finding my way back +again. + +"We are in luck," cried Bracewell, as in less than half an hour we +caught sight of four head of the wild cattle we were in search of. As +we approached they began pawing on the ground, sticking out their tails +and looking anything but amiable. + +"They will charge if we don't take care," observed Bracewell. "Shout +and crack your whips, that will make them show us their flanks." + +We had, I should have said, our guns in readiness, and a brace of +pistols in our belts, so that we were well armed for the encounter with +a wild bull, who, looking upon human beings and every other animal as +enemies, was a dangerous character to engage. + +Bracewell had before instructed us how to act under such ordinary +circumstances as were likely to occur. The cracking of our whips, and +our loud shouts, at length frightened the three bulls, and instead of +running at us they turned tail and off they went. + +"Tally-ho!" shouted Bracewell, and we made chase. + +Our object was now to overtake them. Bracewell having got up to a +powerful red bull, for a few seconds he and the animal kept time +together; then gaining a little and keeping it on his right side he +fired, and the superb beast, with a low bellow, crashed headlong to the +ground. Pulling up for a moment he galloped after me, as I dashed on +close to another bull I had singled out; but in consequence of a fallen +tree which would have compelled me to slacken speed, I had ranged up on +the wrong side, so that I could not fire with due effect. Fearing +however that the bull would escape, I took the best aim I could, fired, +and wounded it. The bull, maddened with rage, charged wildly at my +horse. + +"Spur for your life," shouted Bracewell. I did so, for I expected every +moment to see the bull rip open my steed with his powerful horns, and I +knew that if it was gored I might be trampled to death. + +The bull came thundering behind me and actually touched my horse, which +nearly sent me over its head as it kicked out viciously to defend +itself. Happily Bracewell was close behind, and coming up presented the +muzzle of his pistol at the bull's head. The next moment I was safe. +In the meantime Guy had been pursuing a third bull. I had heard him +fire twice. I now saw the animal rushing on, with head down, about to +run at him. Fortunately a tree was near at hand, round which he managed +to guide his horse, when the bull for a moment losing sight of him he +was able to take a steady aim: he fired and the monster rolled over. + +"Nervous work!" exclaimed Bracewell. "You fellows have behaved +capitally, though I really forgot the danger to which you might be +exposed, but I am very thankful that no harm has been done. We'll now +ride back as hard as we can go, and get the cart to bring in the meat +before the dingoes or black fellows or the ants have taken possession of +it." + +We agreed that hunting wild cattle was more exciting sport than +galloping after kangaroos, although we fancied that the latter was the +finest amusement to be found in Australia. Not a moment was lost on our +arrival at home in getting the cart under way, and Guy and I undertook +to accompany it, but Bracewell could not again leave the station during +the time that old Bob who drove it, and Toby who went to assist him, +were away. As we approached the scene of action, we caught sight of a +number of what at a distance I should have fancied were ordinary dogs-- +with sharp muzzles, short, erect ears, and bushy tails--hovering round +the spot. + +"They're dingoes!" cried Guy. "The rascals have already commenced +operations on one of the bulls. We must drive them off or old Bob won't +have much meat to carry home." + +We dashed at the brutes with our riding-whips, which we brought into +active play. Some well-aimed lashes on their backs made the dingoes +turn tail and retreat to a safe distance, where they stood watching the +operation of cutting up one of the animals. + +While we were assisting Bob and Toby to load the cart with the flesh of +the first bullock, the dingoes made a sudden dash at the carcase of the +animal on which they had before commenced. + +This was more than we could stand. + +"If I was you, sir, I'd give them a lesson they'll not forget," cried +Bob; and throwing ourselves on our horses, we rode at the savage pack, +using the butts of our whips with such good effect that we knocked over +upwards of half a dozen before the rest of the pack took to flight. To +prevent their returning, we pursued them as they went off in the +direction of the station, when, firing our pistols, we brought down two +or three more; but we were soon thrown behind by having to pull up and +reload, and the pack, keeping wonderfully well together, again managed +to distance us. Still, excited by the chase, we kept on, the dead +dingoes marking the course we had taken. Our horses, having been +somewhat tired by the chase after the wild cattle and the rides to and +from the station, did not make as good play as they might otherwise have +done. Neither Guy nor I thought of pulling up, however, while we had +the chance of killing more of the brutes. At last my horse, stumbling, +threw me over his head, and I lost the rein; when finding himself at +liberty, away he galloped, showing no inclination to be caught. I +shouted to my brother, who had got some distance on; he heard me, and +seeing what had occurred went in chase of my steed, which by +occasionally doubling and then galloping off again, well-nigh tired out +his horse. I ran here and there hoping to catch the animal, but it took +good care to avoid me. At length however Guy got hold of it, by which +time, of course, the pack had escaped. We now had to consider what road +we should take, but when we looked round we found it was a question +difficult to decide. + +"If we could but come across one of the dead dingoes, we could easily +make our way back to where we left old Bob," observed Guy. + +We felt sure that the last dingo we had killed could not be far off. + +"This is the spot where my horse threw me, and I had just before knocked +over a dingo," I said, "I know it by that peculiar-looking gum-tree." + +We rode on, expecting to come upon the dead dingo, but though we +searched about we could nowhere discover it. On and on we went, still +no dingoes could we see, nor could we distinguish the track made by our +horses' feet. The sky had become overcast, but though we could not see +the sun, we knew that it must be near setting. In a short time the +increasing darkness made us feel somewhat uncomfortable about the chance +of being benighted. + +We cooeyed as loudly as we could in the hope that Bob and Toby would +hear our voices, but no answer reached us. Had we been riding horses +belonging to the station, we might have let them select their course and +they would probably have taken us in; but we had mounted our own beasts, +which could not be depended on. Still, as long as there was light +sufficient to enable us to avoid knocking our heads against the boughs +of trees, we rode on, hoping that we might at length reach the station. +At last, however, we agreed that we must make up our minds to spend the +night in the bush, hungry and thirsty as we felt. Next morning we +thought we should, at all events, easily find our way. We accordingly +dismounted, hobbled our horses, collected materials for a fire, and +choosing a spot free from grass we soon kindled a flame, though it +rather mocked us as we had nothing to cook at it. We settled that one +should keep watch and look after the horses. The poor animals were +suffering from thirst as much as we were, and were continually moving +away to look for water, for without it they showed little inclination to +crop the grass. Had we thought it prudent for both of us to sleep, the +night would have appeared to pass by much more quickly than it did. I +was very thankful when at length day broke, and we were saluted by the +merry call of the laughing-jackass. We did not shoot him, but we killed +a couple of parrots, which we quickly roasted to satisfy the gnawings of +hunger, and then mounting our horses made, as we thought, in the +direction of the station. We felt especially vexed with ourselves for +losing our way, and causing Bracewell the anxiety he would naturally +feel on our account, though he would guess pretty clearly what had +happened from the report old Bob would give him on his return. + +We had gone some distance, when we caught sight of a fire and a column +of smoke rising, in the morning air. + +"Perhaps that is the camp of some people Bracewell has sent out to look +for us," said I. + +"It may be that of bushrangers," observed Guy. "It will be prudent, at +all events, to approach it cautiously." + +Riding on, we caught sight of a black figure with his back towards us, +seated before a small fire at which he was apparently engaged in cooking +something. His attention absorbed in his occupation, he did not observe +us. The delicate morsel he was preparing for his meal was, we +afterwards discovered, a large snake. When his ear at length caught the +sound of horses' feet, he started up, and seizing the half-roasted +snake, scampered off. Had we not made signs to him that we wished to be +friends, he would soon have been out of sight. Seeing, however, that we +did not unsling our rifles, he gained courage and returned to the fire. + +We beckoned to him to continue roasting his snake, and then endeavoured +to make him understand that we wanted a guide to conduct us to the +station. He seemed determined not to understand our wishes. However, +we waited patiently, hoping that when he had eaten his snake he might be +more inclined to act as our guide. Finding that we had no intention of +molesting him, he took things leisurely. The snake being roasted, he +began to stow it away. + +"I wonder he doesn't offer us some, though I'm not inclined to eat it," +I observed. + +"He is a perfect savage, and has no wish to part with his dainty fare," +replied Guy. + +We thought that the fellow would soon come to an end of the meal, and +that then he would pack up the rest of the snake and carry it with him. +To our surprise he did not stop until he had swallowed the whole of it, +and when we again made signs to him that we wanted him to guide us, he +stroked his stomach and signified that he should prefer sleeping by the +side of his fire. + +Guy at length, losing patience, gave a flourish with his stock whip, +when an idea seemed suddenly to strike the black, and getting up he made +signs to us to follow him. We naturally supposed that he intended to +lead us to the station, and rode after him without hesitation. We had +not gone far, however, when a cooee reached our ears. We replied, and +presently, looking round in the direction from whence the sound came, we +saw Bracewell galloping towards us, followed by Toby. + +"I am thankful that I found you sooner than I expected," he said. +"Where do you think you were going?" + +"To the station," answered Guy. + +"You were riding, however, in an opposite direction," said our friend. + +"The black we fell in with, undertook to guide us," I remarked. + +"The rascal had no intention of taking you to my station. He would +probably have led you into the midst of a gang of his own people who, I +have had notice, are encamped in the neighbourhood, and had they found +you unprepared they might have speared you for the sake of your horses +and clothes. The fellow you fell in with was probably one of their +scouts who had been sent forward to ascertain what we were about. +Should they have found us off our guard, they might have robbed the huts +and carried off some of our cattle and sheep." + +While Bracewell was speaking, I looked round and found that the black +fellow had disappeared. This strongly corroborated the account our +friend had given us. + +As we were suffering greatly from thirst, we were anxious to get back as +soon as possible. We had, we found, gone at least ten miles out of our +way. Bracewell had, however, with the aid of Toby, traced us. Though +our horses were tired, their eagerness to obtain water made them exert +themselves, and they did not take long to cover the ground. Most +thankful we were when we reached the stream close to the station, where +we and they could take a good draught of the refreshing fluid. + +We then, by our friend's advice--while old Bob was preparing dinner-- +turned into our bunks and managed to get a sound snooze, awaking much +refreshed. + +Next morning we had completely recovered from the fatigues we had gone +through, and we now felt that we ought to continue our journey to Mr +Strong's. + +"But I don't like you two fellows, with only Toby, to travel through the +bush, with a chance of falling in with hostile blacks or those rascally +bushrangers, who would only be too glad to stick you up and revenge +themselves for your setting me free," said Bracewell. "I have given +notice to the police that the latter gentlemen are abroad, and before +long, clever as they may think themselves, they will be run to earth; +but the blacks are far more difficult customers to deal with--they are +here, there, and everywhere. One only knows where they have been when +the cattle are found speared, or the hut-keeper murdered, or the sheep +driven off. I should like to accompany you myself, but I cannot at +present leave my station. However, if you will wait for a couple of +days longer I will ride part of the way with you, and in the meantime we +will try to ascertain the whereabouts of the mob of blacks, and I shall +be able to judge whether the road will be safe for you to travel." + +The two days passed by pleasantly enough, during which we rode round the +station with Bracewell, to assist him in examining his sheep and to help +in the various duties of a squatter's life. + +Meantime, Toby and another native were sent out to ascertain what had +become of the mob of blacks reported to be in the neighbourhood. They +came back saying that, although they had come upon their tracks, the +natives had moved away westward, and that we were not likely to fall in +with them. We again, accordingly, told our host that we must go. + +"Well, if you must, you must; and according to my promise I intend to +ride part of the way with you," he answered. "I wish however that you +could do without your baggage, and we would see how fast we could get +over the ground; but as you have to take that, we must be content with a +steady pace, and I'll make play on my way back so as to be at home again +by night." + +As there was a moon in the sky, and Bracewell knew every inch of the +ground, we were in our saddles long before day-break, carrying with us +our breakfast and kettle in which the tea could easily be made at the +camp-fire. + +We had performed some ten or twelve miles before sunrise, enjoying the +cool fresh air of early morning, and fresh it is even in Australia +before the burning sun gains his power over the world. + +We camped near a water-hole, from which we obtained all the fluid we +required for our morning's meal. We had again mounted and were going +round on the opposite side, when Bracewell exclaimed--"The blacks have +been here. See, here are the remains of their fire still smouldering. +They cannot have left it very long. We must keep a look-out for them +when passing any spot from which they may hurl their lances should they +be badly disposed; not that that is likely to be the case, and they +certainly will not venture to attack us in the open." + +Toby, who had examined the ground, gave it as his opinion that they had +gone away to the northwards and that, being probably on a hunting +expedition, they would be too intent on attacking their game to annoy +us. Toby was right, and in about half an hour, just as we reached the +top of a slight ridge or elevation which had before hidden them from +view, we caught sight of several dusky figures, each holding in his hand +a throwing-stick with a long spear attached to it. One of them had +fixed to his left arm a shield of boughs which concealed his body as he +crept towards a group of kangaroos feeding in the grassy bottom. As the +hunters did not perceive us and we had time, we stood still watching +them. + +The throwing or throw-stick, is to serve the purpose of a sling for +casting the spear. A heavy flat piece of wood, between two and three +feet long, has at one end a slight hollow into which the end of the +spear is fitted while at the other is a heavy weight, thus assisting the +hunter in the act of throwing the spear. Except a small fillet of grass +the natives wore not a particle of clothing, though there were several +scarifications on their bodies; and what sailors call a spritsail-yard +run through their nostrils which added to the ferocity of their +appearance. + +As we wanted to see how they would proceed, we kept as much as possible +behind the ridge, and as the wind came from the kangaroos to us, we were +not discovered by the animals. All this time the hunters were creeping +forward, concealing themselves among the shrubs and trees until they got +near enough to the game to hurl their spears with effect. + +One fellow crept forward, holding his shield of boughs, until it seemed +to us that he was almost close up to the kangaroos. Then his spear flew +from his throwing-stick with so tremendous a force that the animal was +almost pinned to the ground. Not a spear missed, and almost at the same +moment three kangaroos were killed. Three others hopped away, but were +pursued by the nimble-footed hunters, who using their throwing-sticks as +clubs, despatched the animals with reiterated blows on the head. + +Not until the hunt was over did we show ourselves, when we astonished +the savages standing over their slain game. Fixing their spears in +their sticks they threatened to launch them against us should we attempt +to deprive them of their prizes. On seeing this we directed Toby to say +that we had no intention of interfering with them. Whether or not they +understood him, however, we could not tell, for they stood without +altering their position, and not wishing to have an encounter with them +which must have ended in bloodshed, we made a wide circuit beyond the +reach of their weapons. When we looked back we saw them joined by a +large number of their fellows who were employed in dragging off the +bodies of the kangaroos. + +"I am afraid you will be in some danger from them on your return," I +observed to Bracewell. + +"No fear of that," he answered. "They will be too busy in gorging +themselves with the flesh of the kangaroos; besides they will not be on +the look-out for me, and a well-mounted man, provided he doesn't come +unexpectedly on a mob, need have no fear of them. My rifle can carry +farther than their throwing-sticks, a fact of which they are well +aware." + +We soon lost sight of the blacks, and after riding on several miles +further, our friend told us that he must bid us farewell, promising, +however, to ride over to Mr Strong's station, should he find he could +leave home, to see how we were getting on. "And remember," he added, "I +shall be glad if one or both of you can join me, should you not find +yourselves comfortable at your relative's; and if he has moved on, as he +intended doing, to another station, come back if you think fit at once; +though probably, if he expects you, he will have left word that you may +be forwarded on to him. He has, I understand, a large family, but as we +have never met I cannot give you a description of them. I need not warn +you to keep as good a watch at night as you have hitherto done, and to +avoid either blacks or suspicious looking white men, though I do not +mean to say that you are to look upon every traveller you meet with as a +bushranger." + +We having again thanked Bracewell for his advice and the hospitality he +had shown us, he turned his horse's head towards his home, and we +proceeded on our journey. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +We had already, according to our calculation, performed the distance to +Mr Strong's station, but no signs of it could we discover. The heat +was oppressive, and seeing a wood on our left, we were assured from the +nature of the trees, that either a water-hole or a stream would be +found. We agreed to camp there for a couple of hours to let our horses +feed and to take our dinner, hoping then by pushing on that we should +before evening at all events arrive at the station. I had ridden +forward to look out for the water, when just as I caught sight of the +glitter of a pool, I saw two persons emerge from the shade. They were +white lads with a couple of dogs and had guns in their hands. So intent +were they on some object before them that they did not perceive me. One +of them fired at an opossum which they had, I concluded, driven out of +its hole. The animal fell to the ground, when they dashed forward to +save it from being torn to pieces by the dogs. As they did so, one of +them looked up and saw me watching them. + +"Hallo! Where do you come from?" he exclaimed advancing. + +"From England," I answered. "We want to reach Mr Strong's station, and +shall be obliged if you will help us to find it." + +"That's where we live, so we can take you to it," replied the lad. "You +have, however, come somewhat out of your way, and must have passed it on +your right." + +I thanked him. "And who are you?" I asked. + +"We are Mr Strong's sons," he replied. "We came here to look for some +stray cattle which are hid in this scrub, so we shall first have to +drive them out, but that won't take us long. We left our horses hobbled +close at hand while we stopped, intending to take our dinner, as we have +been out since the morning." + +"We were going to do the same," I observed. "Here comes my brother Guy; +if you haven't eaten your dinner you'll join us, won't you?" + +"Of course!" he said laughing. "And I conclude that you are Guy and +Maurice Thurston, our cousins we have been expecting out from the old +country for some months past. My name is Hector. That is my brother +Oliver. I suppose you have heard of us?" + +I had to confess that I had not before heard their names, though I did +not like to say how little I knew about them. + +Guy, Toby, and I, having dismounted and allowed our horses to drink at +the pool, hobbled them and let them go away to feed, while we sat down +in a shady spot to discuss our provisions. Our cousins produced damper, +cold beef and cheese from their pockets; while Toby placed before us a +piece of a kangaroo which we had shot the previous day and some +biscuits, while we all contented ourselves with a draught of water from +the pool. + +The meal was quickly despatched, when our cousins jumped up saying that +they must look out for the cattle, and that as soon as we saw the herd +rounded up and clear of the scrub, we might follow in the rear. They +advised us to take care should any of them charge us, as they were apt +to be vicious, and Toby might have a difficulty in escaping. "You need +not hurry yourselves," they added, "but when you hear the sound of our +stock whips, you had better mount and be ready to start." + +Guy and I agreed that it was very fortunate we had fallen in with our +cousins, who seemed to be wonderfully hardy fellows, and we hoped might +prove good companions. + +We waited a short time, when we heard, coming from some distance, +apparently, the sharp report of the whips, like the sound of crackers. +Now the sounds, mingled with a chorus of lowing and bellowing, reached +us from one side, now from the other, every moment approaching nearer, +so that we agreed that it would be wise to catch our horses and mount. +We were quickly in our saddles, when several bulls burst out of the +scrub a short distance from us. We rode forward to get out of their way +as they looked very much inclined to charge us. Presently others +appeared in different directions, and then our two young cousins, +cracking their long whips, followed, rounding up the cattle in the most +scientific manner, and turning several cows which with their calves were +evidently intent on bolting back into the scrub. + +We soon got excited with the scene, and although our horses were +somewhat tired and we had no stock whips, we managed so effectually to +turn the cattle with our ordinary riding-whips, that our cousins +declared we assisted them very much. The mob once collected went on +steadily until we got them into the paddock, an enclosure half a mile in +extent, into which, some bars being removed, most of them eagerly +rushed. A few however tried to bolt, but were sent back by the stock +whips, and all were fortunately turned in; some to be used for beef, +others for branding, while the cows were wanted for milking. + +"Where is the station?" I asked. "I can see only this immense +paddock." + +"There!" answered Hector, pointing to where I caught sight of the roofs +of several low buildings. "We shall soon be there." + +We put our horses into a canter, and in a short time arrived before a +collection of buildings like Indian bungalows, the centre of which was +the dwelling house, which had slab walls and shingled roof, with a +pretty verandah in front. + +A stout gentleman, a few grey hairs sprinkling his head and large bushy +beard, came out to meet us, and on hearing from Hector who we were, +welcomed us cordially. + +Our cousins took our horses, which they turned into a small paddock +containing a shed at one end to afford shelter to the animals. + +We then entered the house, where we were introduced to the hostess, a +tall lady, somewhat sallow and careworn, but with considerable animation +in her manner. We were next made known to three young ladies, two of +whom we understood were Misses Strong and a third Clara Mayne, a friend; +besides these there were three young children. In a short time, two +tall lads, sunburnt, and sinewy, made their appearance with stock whips +in their hands and broad-brimmed hats on their heads. + +"You have not seen them all yet," observed our hostess. + +Two more young men came in, one somewhat older than Guy, the other about +my own age, and I found that they also were cousins. Altogether a +goodly company sat down to the evening meal. We all waited on +ourselves, there being no female helps in the household. + +A rattling conversation was kept up, the young men describing to their +father the events of the day, while we had to give an account of our +adventures from the time of our landing. They were all highly +interested in hearing of Bracewell being stuck up by bushrangers and how +we had rescued him. + +"We must put a stop to the career of those gentlemen," observed Mr +Strong. "We have heard before this of their doings, and I have even +considered it prudent not to leave the ladies alone in the house without +two or three men as guards; a most abominable inconvenience, and yet, +from knowing the atrocities of which they are capable, I consider it +absolutely necessary." + +The blacks, he said, had also been troublesome. A large mob who had +been wandering about in that part of the country, might, he thought it +possible, take it into their heads, to pay the station a visit; though +it was not likely that they would do harm should they find his people +prepared for them. + +After a pleasant evening, we were shown to the room we were to occupy in +one of the other sheds where three of our cousins also slept. One of +the elder ones was called in the night to mount guard, and we found that +a watch was regularly kept in case either bushrangers or blacks should +make their appearance. + +Next morning our cousins invited us to accompany them to drive in +another mob of cattle for the purpose of mustering and branding the +calves. We proposed riding our own horses, but they laughed at the +notion. + +"You'd get run down to a certainty," said Hector. "As we go along I'll +tell you what you'll have to do, for there's nothing like beginning at +once." + +We were in the saddle before daylight, having first breakfasted, when we +found a mob of sixty or eighty tame cattle, a short distance from the +station. + +"What are they for?" I asked. + +"They are coaches!" answered Hector. "We use them to entice the wild +ones, who take shelter among them, and then the whole are more easily +driven into the stock yards." + +The animals quietly pursued their way, going wherever their drivers +chose to direct them. We mustered a dozen horsemen. On arriving close +to the run where the wild cattle were known to be, three of the men +remained with the coaches, and the rest of us rode forward, dividing +into two parties, the one going to the right, the other to the left, so +as to encircle the whole camp,--the name given to the spot where the +wild cattle congregate. The country had a very wild appearance, there +were rocks and hills and fallen trees in all directions, and I guessed +that we should have a pretty rough ride. Our object was to drive the +cattle towards the coaches and to prevent any of them turning back and +breaking through the line we formed in their rear. We were accompanied, +I should have said, by a pack of dogs, of a somewhat mongrel appearance, +of all sizes and shapes. On arriving at the camp one of the best +mounted stockmen went ahead to lead the cattle, which curiously enough +always follow where they see another animal going, and now the work +began. + +Cracking our whips and shouting at the top of our voices, off we started +over the rough ground, now dashing up a hill, now descending the steep +side of another, our animals springing and dodging about to avoid rocks +and other obstructions. Now we leaped over trees, twisting and turning +in every direction to avoid the standing stumps and jumping over +scattered logs; now we had to force our way through a thick patch of +saplings which caught us as in a net. Not occasionally but _every_ +moment some of the cattle would turn and attempt to break through, some +of our party having immediately to wheel round, with loud cracks of +their whips, and make the beasts head the other way. None of us seemed +to think of the danger we were running. Though Guy and I were good +horsemen it was pretty hard work for us, and our whips were but of +little use as we could not make them crack like the rest of the party. +The cows gave us most trouble, but the dogs hung on to the animals, some +catching them by the nose, others by the heels or tails, not ceasing to +worry them until they took the required direction. + +As we were riding along, after we had got free of the bush, a huge bull +made a dash out, attempting to escape. I galloped after him, +belabouring him with my whip, and in spite of his continuing to try and +toss me, turned him back into the herd. + +"Well done, Maurice," exclaimed Hector, "you'll make a first-rate +stockman, but you must practise with your whip before you can become as +expert as is necessary." + +We visited, in the course of a day or two, other camps in which the wild +cattle were collected in the same fashion; when, led by the coaches, the +whole were driven into the yards, as they are called, situated at the +head station. Here they were allowed to remain until next morning when +the operation of mustering and branding commenced. The yard was so +divided that the cattle required for the various purposes were driven +into different compartments; the calves into one, the cattle to be +slaughtered into another, and those to be turned loose again, into a +third, while the stockmen from two or three neighbouring stations +attended to claim any of their masters' cattle which had got in among +Mr Strong's. + +A calf having been lassoed, it was hauled up and its head held down by a +plank, when a hot brand was handed to a man standing ready to press it +against the creature's skin, where an indelible mark was left, when the +little bellower was allowed to rise and make its escape into another +pen. + +Guy and I were not of much use, but we saw everything going forward, and +lent a hand whenever we could. + +"Now, my lads," said Mr Strong to us the next day; "I see the stuff you +are made of. You'll do, and if you like to remain with me to learn all +you ought to know, you are welcome; after that you can decide what +course you will follow." + +We had been some days at the station when a person arrived who had +occasionally been spoken of as Mr Kimber. He acted as tutor to our +host's younger sons as he did also to another family in the +neighbourhood. He was a graduate of one of our leading universities, +and had been found by Mr Strong in the humble capacity of hut-keeper on +a neighbouring station, a situation he was compelled to take in +consequence of having expended the whole of his means. His present +occupation was more in accordance with his tastes, although his salary +was, I suspect, not very considerable. He was evidently not cut out for +an Australian settler, for though he could manage to stick on horseback, +as Hector observed, "he preferred a walk to a gallop;" while he +persisted in wearing a stove-pipe hat and a swallow-tail coat, which he +evidently considered a more dignified costume than the straw hat and red +shirt generally worn by all ranks in the bush. He was amusing from the +simplicity of his remarks, and as he was honest and well-informed, Mr +Strong was really glad to retain him. + +We had been expecting a visit from Bracewell, as Guy had written to him +to tell him that we were still remaining with our relative, who did not +appear to have any idea of leaving his station, but he had received no +answer. + +Mr Kimber gave two days of the week to the family of a Captain Mason, +who owned the station next to Mr Strong's. His plan was to ride over +early in the morning of one day and to return late in the evening of the +next. + +After we had become tolerably intimate he invited me to accompany him, +and to assist in teaching two of the younger boys. As I wished to +become acquainted with Captain Mason, and to see his station, I readily +accepted his invitation. I found a family very similar to that of Mr +Strong, and quite as numerous; the girls and boys tall and lithe, but as +active as crickets. The girls told me to tell my cousins that they +would ride over some day to see them, as soon as those abominable +bushrangers had been captured. + +We started somewhat later than usual from Captain Mason's, but the +"Dominie," as the boys called him, had frequently traversed the road, +and assured me that he knew it perfectly. We pushed on, however, as +fast as we could go, wishing to get in before dark, as my companion +confided to me the fact that he felt not a little nervous about the +bushrangers, of whose atrocious deeds the young Masons had been telling +him--the murders they had committed, the huts they had attacked, and the +number of people they had stuck up. I could not disprove the +statements, though I believe the accounts greatly exaggerated, and I +described to him the way we had driven the fellows off by the exhibition +of firmness and courage. + +"All very well in daylight," he observed; "but suppose the villains were +to pop up from behind the bushes on the other side of the road, and +order us to stand and deliver, and to threaten to shoot us if we +attempted to draw our pistols,--and by the bye I haven't any to draw,-- +what should we do?" + +"Put spurs to our horses and gallop out of their way," I answered. +"They wouldn't dare to fire, and if they did, the chances are they would +miss us. We must run some danger in this country, and the risk is not +nearly so great as riding after wild cattle as we have still to do, so +pray do not make yourself unhappy on the subject." + +Still, I saw that my companion looked anxiously about him, especially as +it began to grow dusk, immediately after which darkness came on, and we +were compelled to moderate our speed for fear of getting a knock on our +heads from overhanging branches, or riding against fallen logs. + +Eager as the dominie was to get on, not being a first-rate horseman he +went even slower than was necessary. We were passing through a thickish +part of the forest, when, reining in his steed, he whispered to me in a +tremulous voice--"Pull up, pray do, I hear the tramp of horses' feet. +Suppose they should be bushrangers, they might shoot us down before we +had time to escape." + +I reined in my steed to listen for the sounds which his sensitive ear +had detected. "They may be simply wild cattle, or riderless horses, +taking a scamper," I observed, laughing. + +"Oh, no; they don't move about after dark," he said; "they must be +mounted horses, do let us remain quiet until we ascertain who the people +are." + +"They are very likely some of the young Strongs coming out to meet us," +I remarked. + +Scarcely had I said this, however, than I caught sight of two horsemen +riding across an open glade some distance off. There was sufficient +light for me to make out the figures distinctly. One was a big fellow +in a rough garb, the other was slighter, and both were armed. Presently +afterwards two others came into view, the moonbeams glancing on the +barrels of their rifles, showing that they also were armed. I fully +expected that they would discover us, and I intended if they did so +boldly to ride up and enquire where they were going. They galloped on, +however, without perceiving us. As I alone had arms I felt that it +would be folly to interfere with them, as we might run the risk of being +shot, while we could gain no possible advantage. I therefore remained +perfectly quiet, and in another minute they were out of sight. They +were going in the direction of Captain Mason's station. They would be, +however, mistaken, I hoped, if they expected to surprise our friends; +who had assured me that they kept a watch by night and day, and were +well prepared for such gentry. + +As soon as they were out of hearing, we rode on; the dominie I saw +feeling far from happy, as every now and then he turned his head over +his shoulder to assure himself that we were not followed. + +The moon, which had now risen high in the sky, afforded us ample light +to see our way. As the country became more open, we were able to push +on as fast as we could go. + +We were to have another adventure. While still some distance from home, +the loud lowing of a cow reached our ears. The animal was evidently +alarmed at something. Galloping towards it, we found on getting up that +she was endeavouring to protect her calf from the attack of a dozen +dingoes. Now she would run at one with her sharp horns, now at another, +but the moment she had gone in one direction the brutes would assail her +helpless young one. They were not even deterred by our approach. + +"We must put an end to these dingoes!" I exclaimed. Unstrapping one of +my stirrup irons and using it as a weapon, I singled out one of the wild +dogs, and succeeded, after several attempts, in giving it a blow on the +head which brought it to the ground. I then attacked another, which I +treated in the same fashion. The dominie tried to imitate me but very +nearly tumbled over on his nose, though he assisted in protecting the +calf by driving off the cowardly brutes. The cow at last pinned one to +the ground with her horns, and then turning round attacked it with her +heels until she well-nigh pounded it into a jelly. At length the +survivors took to flight. + +"We have killed three at at all events," remarked the dominie. + +"Not so sure of that," I answered as we rode away, and turning my head, +I observed that one of the dingoes was beginning to move. I turned +round, when it lay perfectly still, but it had crept on half a dozen +yards at least. + +I gave it a few more blows with my stirrup iron, and then getting out my +knife cut its throat. I treated its companions in the same manner, as I +did not feel sure that the one the cow had tossed was really dead, so +tenacious of life are the brutes. + +I do not know whether the cow was grateful, but we left her licking her +calf where the dingoes had bitten it. When we drew in sight of the +station we saw Hector and his elder brother Ralph coming to meet us. + +"We got somewhat anxious about your being so much later than usual," +said the latter. "We have had a visit from some suspicious characters +who said that they were in search of work and had lost their way, and +begged that they might have a night's lodging in one of the out-houses, +and some supper and breakfast, and that one or two of us would ride +along with them in the morning to show them the road to the next +station. As, however, Hector had detected a brace of pistols under the +shirt of the man who spoke, and saw that the others had long knives in +their belts, while their countenances were of the most villainous cast, +we refused to comply with their wishes, and told them that they must +ride on and camp out as they had evidently previously been doing." + +"I did not think all had villainous countenances," said Hector; "there +was one good-looking young fellow among them. He kept in the background +and said nothing. However, I had no doubt of what they were, and they +showed it by riding away when they found that we were not to be taken +in. Oliver followed them, when they stopped at a piece of scrub, from +which they each drew forth a rifle and several other articles, still +further proving that they had some treacherous design in coming to the +station." + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +The account we brought of the direction the supposed bushrangers were +riding convinced Mr Strong that such was their character, and that +pressed for food and ammunition, probably for both, they were going to +some other station to supply their wants by force. We, however, heard +nothing of them, nor had they, we found, visited Captain Mason's +station, and in what direction they had gone we could not ascertain. + +Some days after the events I have described, a stockman who had been +engaged by Mr Strong's agent arrived. He had stopped at Bracewell's, +and brought the sad intelligence that our friend was ill, and that he +had expressed a strong wish that either Guy or I should come and stay +with him. He also greatly wanted medical advice. No doctor was to be +found within sixty miles of the station. Guy and I were eager to go to +the assistance of our friend, and Mr Strong gave both of us leave. +Hector having some business to transact for his father at the chief +town, and the dominie, who we found had a considerable amount of medical +knowledge, offered to go if he could be spared for a few days. To this +Mr Strong did not object, and before daylight the next morning we set +off carrying huge saddle-bags in which the articles we required were +stowed. Those of the dominie contained his medicine chest--not a very +large one, but well suited for the bush, where Morrison's pills are more +in request than drugs in general. We were accompanied by two dogs, one +of which had from my first arrival especially attached himself to me, +and Hector, to whom he belonged, had made me a present of him. + +Though anxious about our friend we were all in high spirits at the +prospect of a gallop across the country, which few people in good health +could fail to enjoy. Even the dominie forgot his fears of bushrangers +and mials, or wild blacks. + +Our road lay through a lightly timbered country, and here and there +patches of scrub consisting of a sweet-scented wattle. We saw pigeons +in abundance, and at times a kangaroo hopped away before us. The grass, +owing to the heat of the weather, was rather yellow than green, but we +knew that a few showers would soon change its hue. After traversing +this country for several miles, we saw some trees evidently much larger +than those round us. As we drew near, the vegetation below us looked +green, a sign that we were approaching a creek or water-hole. Just then +we caught sight of three kangaroos leisurely cropping the grass. +Before, however, we could unsling our rifles, they winded us and bounded +away at a rate which would have made it hopeless to follow them unless +we had been accompanied by native dogs and were prepared for a long +chase. We accordingly unsaddled at the hole, which was full of +unusually clear water, a luxury not often obtained in the bush. The +grass, also, beneath the trees being shaded was closer and greener than +that elsewhere; they were mostly tea-trees and gum-trees, many of them +growing to a good size. Among the boughs we saw numbers of white +cockatoos, parrots, laughing-jackasses, and many other birds, who +received us, as we prepared to camp for our noon-day meal, with a loud +chorus of varied cries. + +Having allowed our horses some time to feed, we again mounted and rode +forward. We camped again at night at another water-hole, and were at an +early hour the next morning once more in our saddles. + +We had proceeded some little distance, when I observed that Guy's horse +had gone lame, and presently it made a fearful stumble from which he +could with difficulty recover it. + +"I am afraid that I must get off and walk, and give the horse a chance +of recovering himself," said Guy. + +We pulled up, and Hector examined the animal's hoofs. A sharp thorn had +run into his right fore-foot, and though Hector extracted it, the animal +still remained as lame as before. We should not, under ordinary +circumstances, have minded the delay, but knowing how ill Bracewell was +we were much annoyed. + +At last Hector offered to remain with Guy, if the dominie and I would +ride on. To this proposal I was very glad to accede. + +The dominie at first looked a little uncomfortable at having to proceed +with a single companion. + +"Suppose we were to fall in with bushrangers," he observed. "What +should we do?" + +"Shoot them through the head if they offer to interfere with you," said +Hector. "You are always thinking of those fellows. The chances are +they cleared out of our district long ago when they found that we were +prepared for them." + +"You may do our friend Bracewell a great deal of good," I observed, "for +you at all events know more about doctoring than any of us. You can +discover what is the matter with him." + +"I certainly will not decline doing what you say," he answered, and +seeing to our saddle-girths we prepared for a gallop which would bring +us up to Bracewell's station before nightfall, Hector and Guy promising +to follow as fast as they could, although they would have to camp out +another night. We started off. The dominie had lately improved in his +horsemanship, and we made good play over the ground. I felt sure that I +knew the way, as the track between the two stations was tolerably well +defined. There were only two places, of no great extent, passing +through which we should have to pull rein. At the first the ground was +unusually rough and rocky, with thick underwood. We got over it, +however, and soon afterwards had to pass through a gorge in the only +range of hills we had to cross. The path was narrow, so that we could +not conveniently ride side by side. I therefore, as guide, took the +lead, and had unintentionally got some way ahead of the dominie, when I +heard him cry out, and turning round to see what was the matter I found +my right arm seized by a fellow who had sprung out from behind a rock +while another grasped my horse's rein, and the next instant I was +dragged to the ground. + +"Stuck up at last, young master," cried a voice which I recognised as +that of the tall bushranger Guy and I had before encountered and driven +off. "Do not be a fool and show fight, or I'll blow your brains out. +Here, hand out what you've got about you. You may think yourself +fortunate if we leave you the clothes on your back, but we don't want +them. Do as I tell you, down on your knees and stay there, while I feel +your pockets." + +As may be supposed I did not carry much money in the bush, but on +leaving home I had put a couple of sovereigns in my pocket. My rifle, +of course, I expected to lose. + +While the bushranger was performing the operation of cleaning me out, a +savage bull-dog approached, and I thought was going to fly at me, but I +found his eyes were directed towards some object at my back, which +proved to be my faithful Carlo, who, however ready to do battle in my +cause, thought it prudent, in the presence of a superior force, to yield +to circumstances. + +All this time I could not see what was happening to the dominie, but I +concluded that he would wisely not attempt to make any resistance, and +that he was being cleaned out as I was. I did not again hear his voice, +and as the bushranger swore that he would shoot me through the head +should I move, I thought it as well not to look round lest he should put +his threat into execution. The fellow who had taken my horse now picked +up my gun and carried it off to a short distance. Two of them then +produced a rope, intending, I concluded, to treat the dominie and me as +they had Bracewell. + +As the man who stood over me returned his pistol to his belt, I took a +glance round to try and ascertain what had become of my companion, but +he was nowhere to be seen, and I feared, therefore, that they intended +to bind him to a tree at such a distance that we could hold no +communication with each other. My dog Carlo was also not to be seen; I +felt, however, nearly sure that the bushrangers had not carried him off. +I had often remarked his peculiar sagacity, and hoped that, finding he +could do me no good, he had kept out of the way to avoid the risk of +being either killed or captured. I soon found that my anticipations +were correct. The bushranger now holding a pistol to my head made me +get up and walk to a tree some distance from the track, so that should +any travellers pass by I should not be discovered. I might have acted a +more heroic part had I struggled desperately, seized a pistol, and +attempted to blow out the brains of one of the ruffians; but as I felt +that it was more than likely I should lose my own life, I considered it +wiser to yield with calmness and dignity. + +The villains were well up to their work, and having secured my hands +behind me, they fastened me in so effectual a way to a tree, that I +could not possibly set myself at liberty. + +Without speaking another word to me, the big bushranger led off my +horse, carrying with him my gun and articles he had taken from me, and +disappeared among the trees. I saw two other persons leading a horse, +going in the same direction, one of whom I felt sure, from his figure, +was Vinson, though I did not see his countenance. Indeed, I suspect +that he had unintentionally avoided coming near me. + +As soon as the bushrangers had gone, I looked round in search of the +dominie, but could nowhere discover him. I could scarcely hope that he +had escaped, or, if he had, that he had got off on horseback. I felt +nearly sure that the horse I had just seen led away by the robbers was +his. I was thus left in doubt how they had treated him, whether they +had bound him as they had me, or used greater violence. As soon as I +fancied that they had gone off to a sufficient distance not to hear me, +I shouted to the dominie, hoping to hear a reply. Not a sound reached +my ears, and I began seriously to apprehend that they had knocked him on +the head or stabbed him. I remembered the dread he had always expressed +of the bushrangers, and I thought it possible that he might have had +some especial reason for fearing them. Perhaps he had known one of +them, or might have attempted at some time or other to betray them into +the hands of the police. + +After shouting in vain for some minutes, I began to lose all hope of +receiving a reply. What had become of Carlo, I could not tell; I feared +that the bushrangers must have killed him, as I felt nearly sure that he +would not have deserted me, either to make his escape from the scene of +danger, or to follow them. I should have been glad to have him by my +side for the sake of companionship; it also struck me that should he +come, he might possibly be able to bite through the thongs if I could +show him what I wanted done. I called to him several times, but he did +not appear. At last I arrived at the conclusion that the bushrangers +had killed him. I now began to think of my own dangerous position, +while thus utterly unable to defend myself. If discovered by hostile +blacks, they would make me a target for their spears, or a pack of +dingoes might attack me. I never had heard of their assaulting a living +man, but I saw no reason why they should not do so, should they discover +that I had no means of defending myself. A snake or scorpion might bite +me, and mosquitoes or other stinging insects were sure to find me out +and annoy me; while I had the prospect of remaining without water or +food for hours, or perhaps days to come, when I might at last perish +from hunger and thirst. Such and other gloomy thoughts passed through +my mind. I had not from the first struggled, for I felt sure that I +should thus tighten the thongs which bound me. Now, however, I set to +work calmly to try and release myself, by drawing up one of my hands, +hoping that if I could but get my head low enough to reach the thong +round my arm, I might in time gnaw it through; but after making a +variety of efforts I found that the attempt was vain, and giving it up, +I resigned myself to my fate, whatever that might be. + +Still it must be understood that I did not altogether lose hope. There +was the possible chance of the dominie having escaped, and that some +traveller might be coming by and release me, as Guy and I had released +Bracewell. Still many hours might pass before then, and I was already +suffering from thirst, though I was not troubled by hunger. Being out +of the path, I could only hope to attract attention from passers-by by +shouting as I heard the sound of their horses' footsteps. This I could +do as long as I retained my senses, but I might, I feared, drop off into +a state of stupor, and those who might have released me might be close +at hand without my knowing it. + +Suddenly I thought I would make one more attempt to ascertain if the +dominie was within hearing. I shouted as loud as I could bawl, and then +gave a cooey, which would reach further than any other sound. I +listened; a faint cry came from a distance. It was the dominie's voice, +I thought, but could not make out what he said. The tones were +melancholy in the extreme. It might be some consolation to him, poor +fellow, to know that I was alive, and I no longer doubted that the +bushrangers had treated him in the same manner that they had me, though +I suspected that he had been either stunned or so frightened that he had +not before heard my shouts or been able to reply. I intended every now +and then to give him a hail, when it occurred to me that our voices +might attract any blacks passing at a distance, and that we should thus +increase the risk of being killed by them. + +I could scare sly tell how the hours went by. At length darkness came +on, and I began to doze. It was the best thing I could do, as it +prevented me from feeling either hunger or thirst. I was, however, +quickly awakened by the thongs cutting my limbs as I bent forward. I +then tried to lean against the tree with my feet out, and in that +position I escaped the pressure on my limbs, and was at last able to +drop off to sleep. My slumbers, as may be supposed, were far from +pleasant, indeed I was conscious all the time that something +disagreeable had happened; but still, by thus snatching a few intervals +of sleep, I found that the night passed away faster than I should have +supposed possible. Strange sounds occasionally reached my ears. I +fancied that I heard in the distance the yelping and barking of a pack +of dingoes, and as the brutes often hunt together in considerable +numbers, I dreaded that they might find out the dominie and me, and tear +us to pieces. With intense relief I saw the streaks of dawn appear in +the sky. The laughing-jackass uttered his cheerful notes, and parrots +and other birds began to chirp and screech and chatter. The sound +tended somewhat to raise my spirits, though the pangs of hunger and +thirst which now oppressed me soon became insupportable. As in daylight +the blacks might be passing, I was afraid of attracting their attention +by crying out, so that I was unable to ascertain how it fared with the +poor dominie. When the sun rose, the heat became oppressive, and the +insects began to buzz about my face, while I had no power to drive them +off. + +This annoyance was trying in the extreme. I spluttered and spat, and +winked my eyes, and shook my head, to very little effect; and although +the creatures did not often bite me, their buzzing and tickling almost +drove me mad. At last a sound struck my ear. It was the bay of a +hound, then came a bark, and the next instant the faithful Carlo bounded +up to me, and licking my face, soon drove off the flies. Then, having +exhibited his delight, away he went barking cheerfully. Presently the +sound of the tramping of horses' hoofs reached my ears, but on a sudden, +the sound ceased, and I feared that I had been deceived; but then it +occurred to me that the rider had discovered the dominie, and was +stopping to set him at liberty. In a few seconds I caught sight of a +horseman. It was my brother Guy, who came galloping up to me. Throwing +himself from his saddle, without stopping to ask questions he cut the +thongs which bound me to the tree. + +"You looked so pale that I thought that was the first thing to do," said +Guy, as he supported me in his arms, and gradually let me sink down on +the ground, for I could not stand. "Hector is looking after the +dominie, he is even in a worse condition than you are." + +"I am fearfully thirsty," I said. + +"I knew you must be," he replied, applying a water-bottle to my mouth. + +The draught, which was tolerably cool, had an almost instantaneous +effect, and I was at once able to get up on my feet. + +"We thought something had happened when Carlo, rushing back, came +barking and pulling at our trousers; and as soon as we could catch our +horses, in spite of the lameness of mine, we started off. We could not +travel fast at night, but immediately day broke we galloped on; and I am +thankful indeed, my dear Maurice, to find you uninjured--but how did you +get into this plight?" + +I briefly told him of the way the bushrangers had stuck me up. + +"The villains! I wish that we could find them. Now, get up on my +horse, and we will go to where I left Hector and the dominie. We'll +breakfast as soon as we can reach a water-hole. We passed one a little +way back, and we must then try and get on to Bracewell's as soon as +possible." + +With his assistance, I mounted his horse, and we soon reached the spot +where Hector was attending to the dominie, who was slowly recovering. I +really believe, from the condition he was in, that he would soon have +died. One of the ruffians had struck him over the head with the butt of +his pistol, but he had suffered more from fear than from the blow, for +he fully believed that they were going to put him to death. He was +lifted on Hector's horse, and we soon reached the water-hole. The fire +was quickly lighted, and after a good breakfast on a paddy-melon--a +small species of kangaroo--which Hector had shot the previous evening, +we felt greatly revived, and fully able to continue the journey; indeed, +I felt myself as strong as ever. Guy and Hector ran alongside the +horses, and we made good progress. We had reached an open part of the +country, when we caught sight of a figure seated on a fallen log. His +back was towards us, and he did not appear to notice our approach; +indeed, so motionless did he sit, that he might have been mistaken for a +bronze statue. He had not a rag round his body, but on his shoulders +were a number of raised marks, produced by making slashes in the skin, +and filling them up with clay, so that when the wound healed, an +elevated scar was made. His hair was fastened in a top-knot, and he had +a long pointed beard, with moustache on his lips, his prominent nose +having nothing of the negro character about it. Fastened to a belt +round his waist was a snake and a little kangaroo rat, on which he +evidently intended to make his dinner. A cord round his neck supported +a shell ornament in front, and a tassel behind completed his costume. I +describe him, of course, not as we saw him when at a distance, but +according to the appearance he presented on a further acquaintance. +Suddenly, as we came upon him, he seemed in no way alarmed; but, jumping +up, he seized his spear and throwing-stick which lay on the ground at +his side. Seeing, however, that he could not possibly escape us, he +made no attempt to run. + +As we approached, Hector, who from a long intercourse with the blacks +was able to make him understand what he said, inquired whether he had +seen any white men passing that way, and should he have done so, whether +he could tell us who they were. + +The black, without hesitation, replied, saying, that he had seen no less +than four, that they were armed with guns, and were leading a couple of +horses. + +"That looks suspicious. They must have been the bushrangers," observed +Hector; "and if--as I think possible--they are not far off, we must try +and capture the fellows, or at all events recover our horses." + +Hector, who closely questioned the black, was satisfied that he wished +to be honest, and accordingly asked him if he thought that he could +track the bushrangers. He replied, without hesitation, that if he once +came upon their trail he could do so. + +"Lead on, then," said Hector. + +Anxious as we were to get to Bracewell's, it was important to recover +our horses, and if possible to capture the robbers. We were five +against four, for having promised the black a handsome reward, if we +should catch one or more of the villains, we could trust to his aid, and +his spear would be of as much use as our guns at close quarters; but we +could not reckon much on the assistance of the dominie, whose +nervousness we thought would prevent him from doing what was necessary. + +We had not gone far, when the black declared positively, that he had +found the trail of the robbers, and that probably they would be encamped +at a water-hole not far off. + +Our undertaking was one requiring the greatest caution, for they were +certain to be on the watch, and being well armed, would prove formidable +opponents. We might, to be sure, steal upon them during the darkness of +night and shoot them down, but we had no wish to do that; our object was +to recover our property and bring them to justice. The black showed +himself to be an admirable scout. The evening was drawing on when he +told us that we were not far from where he expected to find them. How +it happened that they had not ridden to a distance, it was impossible to +say; probably the spot they had chosen, being out of the high road, they +did not expect to be discovered. + +Securing our horses in a thick scrub, where they were completely +concealed, we cautiously advanced, the black going ahead. It was by +this time getting quite dark. Our great fear was that the dog they had +with them would wind us, and if so it would be necessary to shoot the +creature as it approached. This, of course, would give them the alarm, +though we hoped to spring upon them and knock over two or three before +they could escape. The horses were probably feeding at a distance, and +the saddles and baggage would be at the camp. + +We were noiselessly making our way, when the black signed to us to halt, +and then began to creep forward. Anxious to have a look at the fellows +I followed his example, carrying my pistols in my belt, and I found that +Carlo was close at my heels, evidently aware that danger was at hand. +At last the black stopped, when I joined him; and looking over some low +shrubs, I saw the four bushrangers seated round a fire, their saddles +and baggage and their guns lying on the ground near them. They +evidently did not suppose that there was any chance of their being +attacked. The only one of their party who seemed to be on the watch was +their bull-dog, who, lifting up his head, turned his eyes towards us. +The wind was blowing from them to us, or the dog would have smelt us +out. As it was I fully expected every moment to see him dash forward +with a loud bark to where we lay. I did not dare to move, and scarcely, +indeed, to breathe. + +After watching for some time, the black began slowly to retreat, and I +was truly thankful when we got out of hearing of their voices. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +When I got back to my friends we held a consultation as to our best mode +of proceeding. It was agreed that we would wait until the bushrangers +separated, which they were sure to do in the morning, and then rush on +those in the camp while the others were away. The dog would prove the +chief obstacle, and it was settled that I was to shoot him while Hector +and Guy should dash into their camp. Two of the men would in all +probability remain, while the others went to look after the horses, +leaving their arms behind them. The dominie was to remain with the +horses in case any of the fellows escaping might gallop off with them. + +We waited until about a couple of hours to dawn, when we crept forward, +led by the black. We dared not approach as close as we could have +wished, on account of their watch-dog, who would be certain to give the +alarm. Our plans being arranged, the dominie and I lay down, and, +wearied with what we had lately gone through, slept for the greater part +of the night. + +It was still dusk when, having crept up to the robbers' camp, we saw one +of them get up and throw some sticks on the fire. He then aroused his +companions, and two of them, the big bushranger and one I took to be +Vinson, went off, as we concluded, to bring in the horses, happily +leaving their guns behind them. + +Now was our opportunity. At a signal from Hector, we rose to our feet, +and holding our guns ready to fire, rushed towards the two men, who were +engaged in cooking their breakfast. The bull-dog, with a fierce bark, +sprang towards us. As he did so, the black with his spear nearly fixed +the brute to the ground, which saved me from having to fire, and thus +alarming the other two. One of the men attempted to take up his gun, +but it was beyond his reach; he, however, seized from the fire a thick +stick, with which he made a blow at my head; but at that instant my +brave Carlo sprang at his throat with a force which brought him to the +ground. Hector and Guy were in the meantime struggling with the other +man, whom they succeeded in securing. Having lashed his arms behind +him, they were at liberty to come to my assistance, and soon firmly +bound the fellow Carlo had overthrown, for I had not struck a blow. On +examining the countenances of the men we discovered that they were both +strangers. The big bushranger and Vinson, who were, we had little +doubt, the other two we had seen, had gone off probably to catch the +horses. Having left their arms behind them they were in our power, but +it was a great question whether we could manage to capture them. They +would probably be back in a few minutes, and we had at once to decide +how to act. + +"I have a bright idea," exclaimed Guy; "I tell you what we will do. +We'll gag these two fellows to prevent them from crying out, and drag +them behind those bushes close to the camp. You, Maurice, and the +black, being also concealed, must threaten to shoot them if they attempt +to make any noise. Hector and I will then take their places at the +fire, and pretend to be cooking the breakfast. As there will not be +much light for some time, the other men when they return will not at +first discover us, and we shall be able to point our rifles and order +them to give in before they are aware of the trap we have laid. To make +things more certain, we'll put on our prisoners' cabbage straw hats and +red shirts, so that the chances are that they will get close up before +they find out their mistake." + +Hector and I highly approving of Guy's suggestion, we immediately set +about putting it into execution. The black, who, being a remarkably +intelligent fellow, fully understood our object, seemed highly +delighted, grinning from ear to ear, as he assisted us. + +We quickly gagged our prisoners, and then, dragging them behind the +bushes, took off their shirts and hats, which, as they were far from +clean, I was secretly glad I had not got to wear. Guy and Hector put +them on, and then examining the fire-arms to ascertain if they were +properly loaded, drew them close to the fire, before which they sat +down. While one turned the spits on which they had put some meat to +roast, the other employed himself in chopping up sticks and placing them +on the fire. So exactly did they act the parts in which we had found +our present prisoners engaged, that I felt sure the other men would not +suspect the trap laid for them until they were close up to the camp. It +was to be hoped that both would come at the same time, for if not, +though we might seize one, the other would probably be warned, and make +his escape. There was a risk, of course, that they would come across +the dominie and the horses, and if so, would guess that we had +discovered their camp, and would at all events be on their guard. Guy +had, however, especially charged the dominie that should the bushrangers +by any accident discover him, he was to keep them at a distance by +threatening to fire if they approached. + +While my brother and Hector were bending over the fire as I have +described, I kept peering through the bushes, keeping one eye on our two +prisoners, though I felt sure that the black would watch them carefully +as he squatted down by their side with a sharp knife in his hand. It +was a nervous time, but we had not long to wait before we heard the dull +sound of galloping feet, and several horses came in sight, followed by +the big bushranger mounted on a powerful steed. I could nowhere see +Vinson, so that he at all events would have a chance of escaping. The +horses came rushing on, and as they got near the fire separated, some on +one side, some on the other. With an oath the big man shouted out-- + +"Why don't you stop them, you fellows?" The two figures bending over +the fire did not appear to hear him, until, throwing himself from his +horse, he approached them; when, snatching up their rifles, they +suddenly turned round and presented the barrels at his head. + +"Hands up, or we fire!" cried Guy and Hector in the same breath. + +Notwithstanding this warning the bushranger's right hand instantly moved +towards the butt of the pistol in his belt, his left still holding the +rein; he, however, quickly changed his mind, for he well knew, should he +attempt to draw his weapon, before he could present it a couple of balls +might be crashing through his brain. Another oath escaped his lips. + +"Caught at last," he cried out, as if he was going to yield, but the +next instant with a bound he was in his saddle, leaning forward at the +same time, so that the horse's neck might protect his head. Guy fired. + +The bullet only grazed the fellow's shoulder. I was taking aim at the +fugitive, when another person appeared, driving before him the remainder +of the horses. Forgetting for a moment that the bushranger's guns lay +beside my brother and Hector, but recollecting that the big fellow had a +brace of pistols in his belt, I was afraid of firing lest I should miss; +and that he, coming back, would turn the tables on us. The next instant +Hector and Guy had each picked up a gun. The big bushranger had, +however, already got to a considerable distance, and although both +fired, he continued his course, apparently uninjured. + +While they were reloading, the fourth man, whom I took to be Vinson, had +disappeared. We all three immediately rushed out to stop the horses, +and succeeded in catching our own and two others. Our own saddles were +in the robber's camp, so all we had to do was to put them on ready for a +start. We then placed our prisoners on the backs of the other two, +securing their legs under the horses' bellies, and fastening long +leathern thongs to the bridles. We then, carrying off the ammunition, +and two of the guns as trophies, smashed up the others, and threw the +saddles and the few articles of baggage we found, on the fire, +retaining, however, one or two things which were likely to prove +acceptable to our black guide, who was highly delighted with his share +of the plunder. Hoping to receive a further reward, he undertook to +accompany us to Bracewell's, and to lead our prisoners' horses. We +thought it prudent, however, not to trust him too much, though we +accepted his offer, provided he could keep up to us. + +We were anxious as soon as possible to hand our prisoners over to the +police, lest their two comrades, still at large, with others of the gang +they might fall in with, should attempt their rescue; but we felt pretty +secure, as they would know that, so long as we were on the watch, they +were not likely to succeed. Should we, however, be kept out another +night, they would compel us to be very vigilant, while we should have to +guard both ourselves and the horses. + +Although the two bushrangers had escaped, we had succeeded in breaking +up the gang, and without guns and ammunition they would have great +difficulty in supporting themselves; while the two we had made prisoners +would probably, on their trial, be ready to give such information as +might assist in the capture of others. + +Leading on our prisoners, we now set out to return to where we had left +the dominie. + +We had, I should have said, hurriedly eaten some of the provisions Guy +and Hector had cooked, and we took the remainder so that no time need be +lost in proceeding to Bracewell's. + +On reaching the spot, what was our dismay to see neither the dominie nor +the horses. We shouted to him, but no reply came. + +"What can have become of him?" exclaimed Guy. "Those fellows must have +fallen in with him, and compelled him to accompany them." + +"I do not think that is possible," I remarked, "for they went off in a +different direction. Still his disappearance is very mysterious. We +must try to learn what the black thinks about the matter." + +We inquired of our guide, by signs and such words as he understood. + +He examined the ground on every side and then started off at a run in a +southerly direction, and on closer examination we discovered traces of +the horses. + +After waiting some time, as the black did not return, Guy proposed that +Hector should stay by the prisoners and the two animals we had +recovered, while he and I went in search of our missing friend. + +Hector undertook to do as proposed. + +"I'll hobble all four of them," he observed, "and there'll be no risk of +their getting away." + +Not wishing to lose more time we started. After going on for some time +we got separated, and I found to my right a deep gully, with steep +cliff-like banks, mostly covered with trees of a character which showed +that there was generally an abundance of water; indeed, I observed +several small pools, joined by a trickling rivulet three or four feet +only in width. + +As I went along, I shouted out our friend's name. At last I heard the +tramp of horses, and looking about, I caught sight through the trees of +our two animals with their saddles on their backs, the black following, +driving them before him. + +I was thankful to find that they had been recovered, though much grieved +not to see the dominie, for I naturally feared that some serious +accident had happened to him. I now once more returned, intending to +rejoin Hector, when I heard a faint shout. It came from the direction +of the gully. My hopes revived of finding the dominie. After going on +some way, I again heard the shout followed by a cooey which I was sure, +however, was not uttered by him. It was the voice either of Guy or +Hector. + +I cooeyed in return. Soon afterwards another reached my ears, coming +from the same direction. At last I gained the summit of a cliff, when, +looking down, I saw Guy bending over the prostrate form of a man. + +I soon joined my brother, and found that the fallen person was the +dominie. Guy was employed in chafing his hands, and trying to restore +him to consciousness. + +"Can he have been attacked by bushrangers, and thrown here?" I asked. + +"I don't think that," answered Guy, pointing up to the cliff. "See, he +must have fallen over, and striking his head on the ground, have become +insensible. Go and get some water from yonder pool in your hat, and I +think that if we bathe his head, he will come to." + +I did as Guy desired me, and in a short time we had the satisfaction of +seeing our companion revive. + +"Have you got the horses?" were the first words he spoke. + +"All right!" I answered, "and we have captured two bushrangers into the +bargain." + +The news seemed to have a good effect, and now that he had come to +himself, he quickly, with our assistance, was able to get up the cliff, +when we helped him along. + +In a short time we joined Hector, who had caught the horses driven up to +him by the black. + +We immediately mounted, and Hector taking charge of one prisoner, and +Guy of the other, I attended to the dominie. We expected that our black +guide would have kept up with the horses, but when he found the rate at +which we went, he appeared to have had enough of our society, and, +suddenly bolting off into the bush, disappeared. + +"It is the way of those black fellows," observed Hector. "He has +obtained more than he expected, and has no fancy to be shot by the +bushrangers, should we encounter them; probably, also, he wants to join +his gins, who, I dare say, are not far off, though they have kept out of +our sight." + +We rode on, when the ground was level breaking into a gallop. The +dominie now and then groaned, but when I offered to pull up, he always +answered-- + +"Go on, go on; perhaps those villains will be watching for us; I don't +want to be stuck up again or shot." + +When I observed that they had only pistols, he answered-- + +"Ah, well! pistols will kill as well as rifles, and we don't know at +what moment they may pounce out from this thick scrub." + +As I thought it possible that they might make an attempt to surprise us, +I was not sorry to follow the dominie's wishes. + +We made such good way that I hoped we should reach Bracewell's before +sundown. Late in the day, I began to recognise spots we had passed +while staying with him, although so great is the sameness of the +country, that I could not feel very certain that such was the case, +until I heard Guy, who was ahead, sing out-- + +"Here we are! I see the top of Bracewell's hut." + +We gave a cooey to let those at the station know of our approach, and in +another moment old Bob came hurrying out to meet us. + +"Thankful you've come, gentlemen," he exclaimed; "though Mr Bracewell's +round the corner, he'll be glad of your society. He's in terribly low +spirits at having only me to look after him. But, whom have you there? +Picked up a couple of pirates on the road?" + +We soon explained who our captives were. Old Bob shook his fist at +them. + +"You rascals! You're caught at last, are you? You'll be having your +legs in chains before long I hope, and not be keeping honest folk in +fear of their lives." + +"We must see where we can stow these fellows until we can send for the +police," said Guy. + +"We'll stow them safe enough," said old Bob, "and, provided we keep +their arms lashed behind their backs, and their legs in limbo, they'll +not escape from where I'll put them." + +The captive bushrangers cast angry glances at the speaker, but as their +mouths were still gagged, they could not express their feelings by +words. + +Before we went in to see Bracewell, we had hauled them off their horses, +and under Bob's directions, dragged them into a hut, which had only one +door and one window. He then brought a couple of stout ropes, with +which we secured them to the posts which supported the roof, one on +either side of the hut, so that they could not reach each other. We +next drew the gags from their mouths, expecting that they would make the +first use of their tongues by abusing us, but they appeared to be too +dull and brutal even to do that. After closing the door and window, we +left them to their own devices. + +"I'll take care that they don't get out during the night. If they try +that dodge, I'll send a bullet through their heads," muttered old Bob. + +Bracewell, who had been asleep when we arrived, awoke as we entered, +delighted to see us, and insisted on getting up to do the honours of his +hut. Old Bob in the meantime was cooking supper, and a very +satisfactory one he managed to produce. + +Our coming, as we expected, did our friend a great deal of good, and we +hoped that the medicine which the dominie brought would still further +restore him. + +Old Bob insisted that a guard should be kept on the prisoners, and he +offered to stand watch for four hours, provided we three took the +remainder of the night between us. To this we could not object, though +when he aroused me, I confess that I got up very unwillingly. + +I was thankful, however, that his advice was followed. While standing +before the door, I heard one of the fellows announce to his comrade that +he had got one of his arms free, and that in another minute he would set +him at liberty. Had they succeeded in doing this, they would have had +no difficulty in working their way out of the hut. + +I at once opened the door, and walked up to the fellow with a pistol in +my hand. I found that he had really managed to get an arm free, though +the moment he saw me he placed it behind him. + +I shouted to old Bob, who quickly came to my assistance, and we soon had +the fellow more securely fastened than before. We then examined the +other. Though he had evidently been trying his best to get out his +arms, he had not succeeded. As may be supposed, we did not allow them +an opportunity of attempting the same trick again, and when I called up +Guy, I charged him to keep a watch on the two fellows, a lantern being +placed in the middle of the hut to throw its light upon them. + +At day-break Hector rode off to execute the commissions for his father, +and at the same time to summon the police. + +As our prisoners required our constant attention, we were very thankful +when a dozen black troopers came clattering up to the station under the +command of an English officer, to whom we handed over the bushrangers, +and gave a full description of how they had been caught, and of their +two companions who had escaped. + +We had, as we expected, to go and give evidence; but, fortunately, as +their trial came on at once, we were not long delayed. + +By the time we were wanted, Bracewell, thanks to the dominie's medical +skill, had almost entirely recovered. He was able to identify the two +men as among the party who had attacked him, we also having found in +their possession some of his property which they had taken. The other +two were still at large, but the police entertained no doubt that they +should catch them before long. + +We all returned to Bracewell's, and I was glad to find that he had +accepted an invitation from Mr Strong, to pay him a visit, which he was +able to do as he had engaged a trustworthy man to assist old Bob in +taking care of the station. We therefore prepared to set out +immediately. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +We were actually in our saddles and about to set off, when Hector +received a letter from his father directing him to return to town to +make some further purchases, and to transact other business. + +The dominie, who had been expressing a wish to visit the city and buy +some books, begged permission to accompany him. + +"You go on leisurely, we'll soon catch you up," said Hector. "It is a +pity that you should be delayed for us." + +Bracewell agreed to this arrangement. As his strength was not +completely restored, it was considered advisable that he should make +short stages. While we therefore rode on as we intended to the +north-west, our friends, borrowing a couple of horses, that their own +might be fresh when they returned to the station, galloped off towards +the coast. + +We were approaching a water-hole by the side of which we proposed +encamping the first evening, when we caught sight of a native walking +leisurely along with an axe in his hand. He came forward with a +confidence which showed that he was accustomed to meet white men, and we +recognised, as he approached, our former guide. He appeared to be +highly pleased at seeing us, and began jabbering away in a language +which neither Guy nor I could understand. Bracewell, who seemed to +comprehend him, replied in the same lingo; and then told us that the +black had informed him that his tribe was in the neighbourhood and would +be happy if we would pay them a visit, that they might show their +gratitude for the wealth we had showered upon them. + +While he was speaking, another black popped his head out from behind the +bushes, when the other called to him, and he came forward. As he was +approaching he cast his eyes to the top of a tree, a little distance +off, when a few words were exchanged between the two. + +They both ran to it and without more ado, began to ascend, cutting +slight notches with their axes, just of sufficient size to enable them +to put in their toes and fingers. + +We watched their proceedings with wonder at the rapidity with which they +got up, almost indeed as fast as if they were mounting an ordinary +ladder. Round and round the tree they climbed, giving a couple of +strokes with their little axes sufficient to make a notch of the +required size. Until I saw the confidence with which they proceeded, I +expected every moment that they would drop down again to the ground. +Though the tree must have been sixty feet high without a branch, they +were at the top in less than a minute, when securing themselves they +plunged down their hands. While the one drew out an opossum, the other, +before the animal could bite him, knocked it on the head and threw it to +the ground. + +They descended with even greater celerity than they had mounted, and +then to our surprise brought the animal to us, apparently as an +offering. + +Bracewell thanking them, told them to keep it for themselves, which they +were evidently well content to do. They accompanied us to the +water-hole, where, without being told to do so, they assisted in +collecting sticks for a fire. + +This being done, we having hobbled our horses, they squatted themselves +on the ground to skin their opossum which they then brought to be +roasted. The confidence they exhibited in us showed that we might trust +them, and we allowed them to go about the camp as they liked, though +Bracewell advised that we should keep an eye on our saddle-bags and +valises lest the temptation to appropriate their contents might be too +great to be resisted. + +While we were discussing our supper, they managed to devour the whole of +the opossum between them; and then, having stuck some boughs in the +ground to form a hut, they lay down side by side beneath them, and were +quickly asleep, evidently feeling perfectly secure in our neighbourhood. + +Both Guy and I wanted to see more of the natives, and Bracewell +consented, should our guests again offer to guide us to their camp, to +ride round to it, as it would not take us much out of our way. There +was, he said, a few miles off, a large shallow lagoon, near which they +were assembled for the purpose of fishing and catching the wild fowl +which frequented it; and that we should thus have an opportunity of +seeing the way in which they engaged in those pursuits. As he knew the +country well, he could easily make his way back to the direct route, so +that we could run no risk of missing Hector and the dominie. That +Bracewell might enjoy a full night's rest, Guy and I agreed to keep +watch and watch, but he laughed at our proposal, declaring that it was +useless. + +"But should bushrangers stumble upon us, we might all three be stuck up, +and find ourselves minus our horses and rifles," said Guy. + +"No chance of that," answered Bracewell, "the fellows were certain to +clear out of this part of the country, when they knew the police were on +their tracks. There is a greater risk from the blacks, though I feel +sure those two fellows there can be trusted." + +In spite of Bracewell's remarks, Guy and I determined to keep to our +resolution, and as soon as he was asleep, I rose, and having made up the +fire, walked about, endeavouring to keep my eyes open. I tried this for +some time, when feeling tired, I sat down with my rifle by my side. + +How it was I could not tell, but before long I found myself stretched on +the ground, and when I awoke the fire was almost out. Giving a kick to +the embers to obtain a flame, I looked at my watch. It was then almost +day-break and I thought it useless to rouse my brother. + Directly afterwards a chorus of cachinnations from a couple of +laughing-jackasses, gave me notice that the morning would soon commence. + +I called Guy and Bracewell, who shrewdly suspected what had happened, +although as no harm had come of it, they spared me any severe remarks. + +While we were breakfasting, the blacks, who had got on their legs, +sauntered up to the camp, and begged for some of the tea and damper on +which we were regaling ourselves. + +To catch our horses, saddle up and mount, did not take us long, and as +our new friends repeated their offer, we set off, the blacks running +ahead. As they were making their way through scrub some distance ahead, +one of them stopped and called to the other, when they each cut a long +thin switch and ran towards an object which we just then saw moving in +the grass. Presently the wicked-looking head of a large snake rose in +the air. The blacks ran towards it, one on either side, and bestowing +some sharp blows with their wands, down it dropped. On getting up to +the spot, we found that it was a snake between nine and ten feet long. + +The blacks seemed to consider it a great prize, for, chopping off the +head, one of them slung the body over his shoulder, and they then again +went on shouting with glee. + +In a short time we arrived at the blacks' camp. It consisted of a +number of rude bowers, such as I have before described, tenanted by a +few women, children, and old men, all the active men being out hunting +in the lagoon which appeared just beyond. + +Riding on we caught sight of a number of black figures, scattered in all +directions, engaged in knocking down with their boomerangs some large +birds perched on the withered branches of the trees overhanging the +water. + +Our friends brought us one of the boomerangs to examine. It was a +curved piece of wood about two feet two inches from tip to tip, rather +more than two inches wide in the middle, and diminishing towards the +tips. + +We saw bird after bird knocked off the trees with this remarkable +weapon. When it first left the hand of the thrower, we could not decide +in what direction it was going, but after making numberless circles in +the air, it never failed to hit the object intended. + +Most of the birds we saw struck were cormorants, which, as they fell +into the water, the blacks seized and wrung their necks. Some, however, +not being killed outright or stunned, showed fight, and attacked the +naked bodies of their assailants with their sharp beaks. We witnessed +the sport for some time, till the birds nearest us becoming alarmed, +took to flight, but were followed by the persevering hunters, who marked +where they again alighted. + +As we did not wish to delay, we thanked our friends, who with the +prospect of an ample feast before them, showed no inclination to +accompany us. One of them, however, had a talk with Bracewell just +before we started. + +"What was the black fellow saying?" I asked as we rode along. + +"He told me that a mob of bad black fellows, as he called them, are in +the neighbourhood, and that we must take care not to fall in with them, +as they will not scruple to spear our horses at night, or, should we be +off our guard, murder us." + +"What had we better do then?" I enquired. + +"Be on our guard and not let them surprise us," he answered, laughing. +"I have no fear of the blacks, provided they know that we are prepared +to give them a warm reception. We will, however, keep a look-out for +the fellows, and as soon as we get back to the regular track, I'll leave +a note fixed to a tree for Hector, telling him what we have heard, and +advising him and the dominie to keep a watch at night on their horses, +as I don't think it's worth while waiting for them. + +"Still, notwithstanding what our black friend said, the chances are that +we shall not fall in with the mob of bad natives," he added; and as he +knew the country much better than Guy or I did, we were perfectly ready +to be guided by his opinion. + +We soon again got into the main track. + +On reaching it, Bracewell taking out his pocketbook, wrote a few lines, +warning Hector that a mob of blacks were said to be in the +neighbourhood, and telling him where we proposed camping. + +Cutting some thorns, he pinned it to a tree in a conspicuous place. + +"Hector will not fail to observe it," he said, as he did so. + +"But if the blacks see it they'll tear it down surely," I remarked. + +"They'll not do that," he answered, "they'll fancy it is some charm, and +will not venture to touch it." + +This done, we pushed forward, rather faster than we had hitherto been +going, in order to arrive at a spot at which Bracewell advised that we +should camp early in the evening. + +Although there were several stations scattered over the country in +various directions, the traffic between them was so limited, that no +inns or even liquor stores had been established; and travellers had +consequently to camp out in the bush night after night when proceeding +towards the interior. + +We found doing this was no hardship, and infinitely preferred sleeping +by our camp-fire with the canopy of heaven above us, to taking up our +quarters in a shepherd's hut or grog shop. + +We were approaching the end of our day's journey, when I caught sight of +a black figure flitting among the trees in the distance. Presently +another, and another appeared. They did not come near us, but were +apparently moving in the same direction that we were. + +I pointed them out to Bracewell. + +"I saw the rascals," he answered. "They are up to mischief very likely, +and think it prudent to keep at a distance from us. I'll soon make them +vanish." + +Lifting his rifle, he uttered a loud whoop, when in an instant every +black disappeared, either having dropped to the ground, or got behind +the stems of trees. + +"I don't suppose they'll come near us again, but it will be as well to +be on our guard when passing any thick scrub. We must either give it a +wide berth so that their spears cannot reach us, or gallop quickly by." + +During the day-time, however, there was not much probability that the +blacks would venture to attack us; but we agreed that we must be very +careful during the night, lest they should spear our horses,--a trick +they are apt frequently to play when they think that they can do so and +make their escape without the risk of a bullet through their bodies. + +Though we looked out for them on every side, not another black did we +see; but Bracewell remarked, that we must not consequently fancy that +they had taken themselves off. + +However, as the day wore on, and they did not again reappear, we began +to hope that we had distanced them, and that they would not trouble us +during the night. At length we reached the water-hole, near which grew +several magnificent trees, where there was abundance of grass for the +horses, so that they would not be tempted to stray away. + +Choosing a spot with a water-hole on one side, and three or four fine +trees of large girth on the other, we unsaddled our horses and made up +our fire. We had provisions enough for the evening, but should have to +go on short commons the next day, unless we could shoot a paddy-melon or +some birds. + +Bracewell offered, as there was still sufficient light, to try to do so; +but Guy and I advised him to remain in camp while we endeavoured to +shoot a few parrots or cockatoos, so many of which were flitting about +among the boughs that we felt confident of shooting as many as we +required. + +No sooner, however, did we fire, than having each brought down a parrot, +the remainder of the noisy birds flew away. We followed, expecting to +get some more shots, but the sound of our guns having alarmed them, as +soon as we approached they again took to flight. + +By some means or other, I, having hurried on, lost sight of Guy, though +I concluded that he was following me. At last I saw a large cockatoo +nodding his head as if not aware of my presence. I fired, and brought +him down, when directly afterwards I heard the report of Guy's gun, much +further off than I had expected. + +The thought just then occurred to me, that should the blacks be in the +neighbourhood, they might discover our whereabouts by the reports; so I +felt that it would be wise to be satisfied with the birds we had killed, +and return to camp. + +I was therefore making my way back, when, turning my head, I caught +sight of a black figure stealthily approaching with a lance in his hand. +Suspecting that his intentions were hostile, I quickly reloaded, +ramming down a ball. As he approached from behind the trunk of a tree, +I levelled my rifle. He vanished in an instant, though when I moved on +again, I felt pretty sure that he was following me. I therefore every +now and then turned suddenly round and pointed my rifle towards my +pursuer. At last, having gone on for some distance, I began to fear +that I had lost my way, for I could not see either our camp-fire or the +smoke rising from it. To ascertain if I was near it, I gave a loud +cooey, expecting that Guy and Bracewell would hear me and reply. + +No answer came. I began to feel rather uncomfortable, for although with +my rifle in my hand, I was a match for two or three blacks, I should be +in an awkward predicament should I be followed by a whole mob. It would +not do to stop, so on I pushed. + +Again I cooeyed, and this time I heard my friends cooey in return. +Still the distance was apparently considerable, and at any moment the +blacks might overtake me. I ran on as fast as the nature of the ground +would allow, endeavouring to keep a straight course. + +Once more I turned round when to my dismay I beheld a score or more of +blacks armed with spears and shields. For a moment I faced them as +before, presenting my rifle. I might bring down one of the fellows, I +knew; but then, unarmed, I should be at their mercy; I therefore +contented myself with threatening them. The instant I raised my weapon, +they all vanished as before. Directly afterwards I caught sight of the +glare of the fire: I dashed forward, when to my surprise I found my +brother and Bracewell coolly seated on the ground, engaged in preparing +a couple of parrots which the former had shot. + +"Up, up!" I exclaimed: "the blacks are upon us--there is not a moment +to lose if we intend to save our lives." + +"Oh, nonsense!" cried Bracewell. "You've seen a big `boomer,' or the +stump of a tree, which you have mistaken for a black fellow." + +I loudly protested that I was not mistaken, and advised them to load +their rifles with ball. + +While I was speaking, a spear quivered in the tree close to where they +were sitting. They jumped to their feet in an instant. + +"If we don't take care, we shall have the horses wounded," I exclaimed, +and I ran to where they were feeding, leaving Guy and Bracewell to keep +watch for the appearance of our enemies. + +Just as I had brought the horses up, and was tethering them behind the +clump of trees, the mob of blacks came in sight, shrieking and dancing +and brandishing their spears. + +Bracewell, on this, exclaimed, "We'll show them that we're not to be +trifled with; or they will become bolder, and make a rush upon us with +their waddies. Guy, do you pick off that fellow on the right; I'll take +the fellow in the centre who is nourishing his weapon--he intends to +hurl it at us as soon as he gets near enough. Maurice, you must keep +them in check while we are reloading, but don't fire unless they +advance." + +As he spoke, he and Guy pulled their triggers. As the smoke cleared off +I saw two blacks on the ground--my companions were rapidly reloading +while I kept my rifle pointed at the advancing mob. I had my eye upon +one of them, who appeared to be leader. We were tolerably well +sheltered by the roots of the trees, so that we could take aim without +exposing ourselves. + +The determined front we exhibited did not however deter the blacks from +advancing, and as they did so, they sent a whole shower of spears, which +stuck quivering in the trunk of the tree forming our chief protection. +Several, however, passed and fell into the ground close to the horses, +fortunately none of which were injured. + +I fired and brought down the man at whom I had aimed; I then sprang +behind shelter and reloaded, while my brother and Bracewell knocked over +two more. + +It was dreadful work, having thus to kill our fellow-creatures; but at +that moment all we thought about was that they intended to kill us, and +that it was our business to defend our lives. Whether or not we should +do so successfully seemed very doubtful; for as far as we could judge, +while they flitted in and out among the trees, there were a hundred or +more of them yelling and shrieking and hurling their sharp-pointed +spears towards us. A hundred opposed to three were fearful odds. +Probably they were not aware of the smallness of our number, or they +might have made a rush at our camp, and knocked us all over with their +waddies. Every moment we expected that they would do so. Should one of +us be killed or wounded so as to be unable to fire, the other two must +inevitably become their victims. + +As yet we had happily escaped injury, and the blacks did not appear +inclined to venture closer than at first. We had been firing away as +rapidly as we could reload, but though we had killed several, we had +frequently missed, for as they kept springing in and out behind the +trees in the thickening gloom, it was very difficult to hit them. +Suddenly they vanished, and I was afraid were coming round to get on our +flank; the width of the water-hole, and the marshy ground on the further +side was, however, too great to allow them to hurl their spears across +it. My gun was loaded, but when I put my hand into my bullet-pouch, to +my dismay, I found that I had not another shot left. I told my +companions. "Neither have I, and have just loaded with small shot," +said Bracewell. + +"So have I," said Guy; "but it will do to pepper them with if they come +nearer." + +"But small shot will not go through their shields," I remarked. + +"Then we must aim at their legs," answered Bracewell, calmly. + +"Don't you think it would be prudent to mount the horses and gallop off +before they again attack us?" asked Guy. + +"They will probably be on the look-out should we make the attempt, and +surround us before we get to any distance," said Bracewell. "Better try +and hold our own here, where we have the shelter of the trees, only +don't throw a shot away." + +This discussion was cut short by a loud yell uttered by our savage +enemies, who, the next instant, again came into view, and advanced with +their spears poised. We had barely time to spring behind the trees, +when a shower of spears flew through the air, some passing close to us, +others sticking in the opposite side of the trunks. We immediately +replied, but could not see whether our shots took effect. The spears +now fell so thickly, that we could scarcely venture to show ourselves +even for a moment to fire in return. By the sound of the savages' +voices we judged they were getting nearer, and now we all felt that we +should have to sell our lives dearly, unless we could manage to mount +our horses and gallop away; but it would take some time to saddle them, +and the natives were not likely to allow us many moments to do so. +Bracewell, however, desperate as was our condition, tried to keep up our +spirits. + +As far as we could judge, the savages showed no intention of abandoning +their object. Just as we expected that they would make their final +rush, a loud cooey was heard, and I caught the sound of the trampling of +horses' feet. We cooeyed in return again and again. The savages must +have heard us, as well as the cooeys in the distance; for after vainly +hurling another shower of spears, they turned and scampered off as fast +as their legs could carry them, their flight hastened by the peppering +we gave their backs with small shot. Almost immediately afterwards +Hector and the dominie, accompanied by half a dozen troopers, came +galloping up along the path close to the water-hole. As they appeared, +without waiting to exchange words, we threw our saddles on our horses' +backs and mounted ready to join them in the pursuit of our foes. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +The sergeant in command of the troopers told us that they had been sent +forward in search of some bushrangers who with unaccountable hardihood, +notwithstanding the capture of two of their companions, were still +committing their depredations in that part of the country; and that +having accompanied Hector, who had discovered our note, they had come on +to assist us in case we should be attacked by the blacks. + +We all rode on together in the direction we supposed the savages to have +taken. But darkness was coming on: the sergeant soon pulled up +declaring that we might as well look for a needle in a bundle of hay, as +expect to catch one of them. + +Had we had any natives with us we might have tracked them during the +night. We should now however only run the risk of losing our way +without the slightest chance of capturing a black man. + +This was very evident, and we accordingly settled to return to the camp +and wait until the following morning. + +Hector and the dominie had brought a good supply of provisions in their +saddle-bags, and our supper being cooked, we sat round the fire sipping +our mugs of scalding tea, and fighting our battle over again. + +The sergeant told us that the mob which had attacked us was said to be +the most daring in that part of the country. They had already, it was +supposed, murdered two hut-keepers and a shepherd, and had carried off +large numbers of sheep. Without natives to track them it would be +impossible to come upon their camp so as to capture their leaders. The +punishment they had received from us might perhaps, we thought, prevent +them from committing further depredations in the neighbourhood; and the +sergeant's business for the present was to hunt down the bushrangers, +which was more in his way. He, as soon as he had seen us safely on our +road, must continue his course in the direction he had been informed +they had taken. + +At length we began to get drowsy, and one after the other we lay down +with our horse-cloths for bedding and our saddles for pillows. + +The sergeant undertook that one of his men should keep watch, though it +was very improbable that the blacks would venture to attack us during +the night. + +I was awakened just before dawn by the "settler's clock," as the +laughing-jackass is frequently called; and lifting my head, by the light +of the still burning embers of our fire saw the dominie rubbing his +eyes, but no one else was moving. I suspected from this that the last +man on guard had gone to sleep. No sticks had been thrown on for a +considerable time, and on counting heads I discovered that the sergeant +and his troopers were all snoring loudly, and sound asleep. I bethought +me that we would play them a trick; so quickly arousing Guy and +Bracewell, I proposed that we should unite our voices and give a +terrific shriek as if a whole mob of black fellows were about to break +into the camp. They agreed. + +We did shriek with a vengeance, the echo resounding through the forest. +The effect was electrical. Up jumped the sergeant and his men and +seizing their arms prepared to receive their expected foes. + +"Whereabouts are they?" exclaimed the sergeant. "Reserve your fire, +until you see them," he added--a caution I should not have considered +necessary. "Did any of you gentlemen catch sight of them?" he asked. +Our loud laugh told him the trick we had played. "Which of you lads was +keeping guard?" he enquired. + +"I was," answered one, who had been among the loudest of the snorers, +and we found that the speaker had in reality the middle watch, but +having dropped off, had not called his relief. + +We thought it best to say as little as possible about the matter, for +according to strict military discipline, the man who goes to sleep on +guard in the face of an enemy, becomes liable to the punishment of +death. The sergeant also, who was a good-natured fellow, was evidently +anxious not to take too much notice of the matter. + +We soon got the fire made up, and having breakfasted, we mounted and +rode in the direction we supposed that the blacks had taken, but except +the dead bodies of the men we had shot, no trace of them could we +discover. They probably could not tell whether or not we had any +natives with us, and therefore took care to leave no trail by which they +could be followed up. They might possibly have been hiding all the time +in the neighbourhood, or might--contrary to their usual custom--have +travelled during the night. + +After looking for an hour or more we agreed that it would be useless to +search further and pursued our course towards Mr Strong's. The +sergeant's way for some distance lay in the same direction, and he and +his men therefore accompanied us. We had got about half way, when we +saw a white man running towards us. He appeared to be in a desperate +hurry, and as he approached made signs entreating us to stop. + +"What's the matter, my man?" inquired Bracewell as he came up. + +"I am a shepherd on Mr Robinson's out-station," he answered. "I had +driven my flock to the run this morning, when who should I see coming +towards me but old Bill the hut-keeper who had a spear in his side and +another in his back. He had just time to tell me that, soon after I had +gone, a whole mob of blacks surrounded the hut, and to the best of his +belief were still either in or about it, when, though I did my best to +help him by cutting out the spear, he sank back and died. On this I was +afraid to stay where I was lest the blacks should find me out, and was +trying to reach Mr Strong's or some other station, when I saw you." + +This account made us resolve at once to try and surprise the blacks. +The shepherd acknowledged that he and his mate had just before got in on +the sly some bottles of rum, which it was possible the blacks might have +found; and that if so, should we advance cautiously, we might very +likely catch them. Not a moment however was to be lost, and one of the +troopers taking the shepherd up behind him on his horse to act as our +guide, we set off in the direction of the hut. It was so situated at +the bottom of a hill, with a belt of trees on one side, that led by the +shepherd we were able to get close up to it without being discovered. + +We there dismounted, leaving our horses under the charge of the dominie +who volunteered for the service. + +We crept cautiously down towards the hut, the sounds proceeding from +which showed us to our great satisfaction, that it was still in +possession of the blacks. We now advanced with greater caution, +Bracewell and Hector, who were the most experienced in bush life, +leading, I following, until we could look right down upon the hut. A +few blacks were squatting on the ground outside, and the hut itself +appeared to be full of them. The sergeant and his men, I should have +said, had brought some coils of rope with which to bind any prisoners +they might capture. These they formed into lassoes for the purpose of +throwing over the heads of the blacks. As we watched the hut, the +people collected round it had, as far as we could judge, no intention of +moving, probably fancying that they were safe, for the present, from +pursuit. + +Bracewell now made a sign to us to rise to our feet, so that we might +rush down on the hut and capture all the blacks in it if not those +outside. At the signal we were in motion, the troopers with their drawn +swords in one hand and their pistols in the other, and we with our +rifles. We had got half way down the slope before the blacks discovered +us. Most of those outside scampered off, but we saw, by the crowd at +the door, that the hut was full, and before many could escape, we were +at the entrance. Some tried to get out of the window on one side of the +hut, but Guy, Hector, and I shot them down as they reached the ground, +thus putting a stop to any others escaping in that direction; while the +sergeant and his troopers, bursting into the hut, soon had several of +the rest secured by their necks. Others were knocked down. The greater +number either lay helpless on the ground or stared stupidly at their +assailants. Had our object been slaughter we might have killed the +whole mob, but the sergeant had received orders to capture as many as +possible alive, and we were thankful not to have to destroy any more of +the poor wretches. + +Altogether, thirty were made prisoners, but we could not calculate how +many had made their escape. The greater number, however, had left their +spears and waddies behind them, so that they were not likely for the +present to attempt further mischief. At the request of the sergeant we +brought down the horses and assisted him in securing the prisoners and +arranging them in the order in which they were to march. It took some +time to bind the unfortunate wretches, whom we secured with their arms +behind them, and then fastened together by strong ropes six in a line. +Our next care was to collect all the arms, which, with the exception of +a few we desired to possess, were broken and thrown on the fire. + +There was very little chance of rescue; indeed, had the blacks still at +liberty made the attempt, they would to a certainty have hastened the +death of their friends. The shepherd entreated us to assist him in +bringing in the body of the hut-keeper--a task, from a sense of +humanity, we undertook, while he remained to look after his sheep. + +We accordingly brought the body in on the dominie's horse and placed it +in the bunk in which the unfortunate man, a few hours before, had been +sleeping, little dreaming of the fate awaiting him. The dominie, Guy, +and I remained at the hut, while Bracewell and Hector rode off to the +head station to give information of what had occurred and to obtain a +companion for the poor man. + +Finding a couple of spades in the hut, Guy and I employed our time in +burying the blacks who had been shot on the first onslaught. It was a +far from pleasant undertaking, but it was better to put them underground +before they were discovered by the dingoes or vultures, which would +before long find them out. + +The day was waning and as our companions had not returned we began to +fear that we should have to spend the night in the hut. I was glad at +length when I saw the shepherd returning with the flock. He thanked us +heartily for what we had done. + +When he entered the hut he seemed dreadfully upset at the sight of his +dead mate. "It is a trying life, this shepherding, gentlemen," he +observed; "with the chance of being speared or clubbed by the +blackfellows, or stuck up by a bushranger, while one has to spend day +after day without a human being to speak to, from sunrise to sunset--and +then to have one's only chum killed so suddenly! It is well-nigh more +than I can bear." + +It was late at night before Bracewell and Hector came back, accompanied +by Mr Piatt, the overseer from the head station, and another man to +take the place of the murdered hut-keeper. As it was now too late to +think of proceeding on our journey that night, we turned our horses into +a spare paddock, where they could find grass enough to satisfy their +hunger until the morning. + +Having stowed our baggage inside the hut, after supper we lay down, +where we could find room on the ground; one of the party, however, +keeping watch in case the blacks should return, though it was not at all +likely they would do that. + +Before sunrise the shepherd and his new mate got up to dig a grave for +the murdered man, in which we saw him placed before we started. We +then, having breakfasted, continued our route, Mr Piatt accompanying +us, as, for a couple of miles or so, our roads lay in the same +direction. He had come away without his rifle, or arms of any +description, excepting his heavy riding-whip, and he declared that they +were unnecessary; for the blacks, he said, would never venture to attack +a well-mounted man, and as for bushrangers, when there was no booty to +be obtained they were not likely to interfere with him. He had ridden +about the country in all directions, and except when hunting a kangaroo +or emu, he had never had to fire a shot. + +"But with a mob of savage blacks in the neighbourhood, it would be more +prudent to be armed," I observed. + +"My horse-whip will soon send them to the rightabout, should any of them +venture to come near me," he answered laughing. "However we have got +half a dozen rifles at the head station, and as soon as I get back I'll +arm each man and we'll quickly drive the remainder of the mob from the +neighbourhood. Depend upon it if any are remaining they'll clear out +fast enough when they find we are after them." + +We soon got over the two miles the overseer was to accompany us. He +then, thanking us for the service we had rendered his people, turned off +to the right. He was still in sight, when we heard him shout, and I saw +that he was galloping along with uplifted whip as if to strike some +object on the ground. Supposing that he had called us, we rode towards +him. Just then I saw a tall black man spring up from behind a bush and, +with axe in hand, attack the overseer, who, it appeared to me, was in +great danger of being killed; but as the savage was about to strike, the +lash of the whip caught his arm and wrenched the weapon out of his hand. + +The black, uttering a cry of disappointed rage, bounded away and a +moment after was lost to sight among the scrub. On getting near to +Piatt we saw two more natives on the ground, the one a youth badly +wounded, the other a _gin_, old and wrinkled, apparently the mother of +the lad. + +"I would not have attempted to strike them, had I seen that one was a +woman and that the lad was wounded," said the overseer, as he pointed to +the wretched beings; "but I fancied they were black fellows hiding away, +and trying to escape my notice. The man who attacked me is probably the +boy's father, and they have shown more than usual affection for their +son." + +"Don't you think that we could do something for the poor lad?" observed +Bracewell. "Mr Kimber will see what chance there is of his recovery." + +"With all the pleasure in the world," said the dominie, dismounting, and +he and Bracewell examined the lad's hurt. + +The _gin_ sat watching their proceedings. + +"He is shot through the body. It is a wonder that he has lived so long, +for I make no doubt he is one of the blacks who attacked the hut," +observed the dominie. "I don't believe that the best surgeon in the +land could do him any good. If we were to attempt to move him, he would +die before we had carried him a hundred yards." + +Bracewell expressed the same opinion. + +We tried to make the old _gin_ understand that there was no hope of her +son's recovery; indeed, the next instant, while lifting him up, and +after he had given a few gasps, his arms fell helplessly by his side, +and we saw that he was dead. + +"We had better leave him to his mother, and probably his father will +return as soon as we have gone," observed Bracewell. "He has brought +his fate upon himself, and we can do no more." + +This was very evident, and the overseer, who was in a hurry to get back, +galloped on, while we once more rode forward, leaving the poor woman +with her dead son. + +We had had enough of fighting, and were truly glad to reach Mr Strong's +station without any other accident. Bracewell was warmly welcomed. + +Although he had not before been a visitor at the house, his high +character, his perseverance and industry were all known to Mr Strong, +who might possibly have had no objection to bestow upon him one of his +blooming daughters. + +We spent our time in the usual way, working on the station, varied with +an occasional hunt after kangaroos, for as they eat up the grass +required for the sheep, it is considered necessary to destroy them when +they are numerous near a station. The blacks, after the severe lesson +they had received from us, and from other settlers in the neighbourhood, +betook themselves to another part of the country, and we had no longer +any fear of being troubled by them. + +We had been some days at Mr Strong's, and Bracewell was talking of +returning home, when a hut-keeper from the most distant station arrived +in great alarm, stating that he had been beset the previous evening by a +party of white men on horseback, who, taking his gun and ammunition, his +week's supply of provisions and everything else, they could lay hands on +in the hut, had lashed him hand and foot, threatening that if he gave +information of their visit, they would return and kill him. +Fortunately, soon after they had gone a shepherd arrived, but he had +been afraid at first to leave the hut lest they should put their threat +into execution. Waiting till daylight, he had followed their tracks for +some distance, when he had hurried back to bring us information of the +robbery. His idea was, that having supplied themselves with arms, they +intended to pillage some of the larger stations, but how he arrived at +this conclusion he did not say. His account was sufficiently clear to +make us resolve to follow them up, and to try and put a stop to their +career. Whether or not they were led by our former acquaintance, the +big bushranger, and that unhappy fellow Vinson, we could not tell; but +from the description the hut-keeper gave of two of the men who had +attacked him, we strongly suspected that such was the case. + +As there was no time to be lost, we at once organised a party to set out +in search of the fellows. The only black on whom we could rely to act +as a scout was our own attendant Toby, who volunteered, without +hesitation, to accompany us. The party consisted of the three elder +Strongs, Bracewell, Guy, and I, and two men from the station, with Toby. +All of us were mounted, and we agreed to call on our way at Captain +Mason's to get further reinforcements, thinking it not unlikely that the +bushrangers had already paid him a visit, or if not that they were +lurking in the neighbourhood. + +As we rode fast we arrived at the captain's before the evening. He had +seen nothing of the bushrangers; but we found the family somewhat in a +state of alarm, as a shepherd had come in with the information that a +keeper on one of the captain's stations had been killed in his hut the +previous night, and that he himself had narrowly escaped with his life. + +Captain Mason, therefore, gladly reinforced us with a couple of men; he, +however, thinking it prudent to remain to defend his house, lest, during +our absence, the daring ruffians might venture to attack it. + +Riding towards the hut, we hoped that we might come upon the track of +the outlaws. In this we were not mistaken; and Toby assured us that we +should be able to follow them up, as they had taken no pains to conceal +their movements. As it grew dark he dismounted, and led the way in a +manner which showed that he was well accustomed to the work. + +After going some distance, he begged us to halt, saying that we were not +far off from the camp of the bushrangers. + +Having pulled up under the shelter of some tall bushes, we waited to +hear the report Toby might bring us. He again crept forward. We had +not remained long, when the crack of a rifle was heard. As Toby had +gone unarmed, with the exception of a long knife which he usually +carried in his belt, we feared that coming suddenly on the bushrangers +he had been shot. At all events, as concealment was no longer +necessary, we dashed forward, Bracewell and I, with Mr Strong's +overseer leading. We had not gone far, when we caught sight of Toby +standing with his knife in his hand, and, some twenty paces from him, of +a man in the act of levelling his musket to fire. + +That the latter was one of the bushrangers, there could be no doubt, and +the overseer, without waiting to inquire, raising his rifle, discharged +it. The bullet took effect, but not until the man had fired; Toby at +the same moment fell to the ground, and I thought was killed; but the +bushranger, before the smoke had cleared away, had darted behind a tree. + +I had not fired, and my attention was attracted for an instant by Toby, +who, to my great satisfaction, I saw spring to his feet and make chase +after the fugitive. We called him back, thinking, probably, that the +man was not alone, and that our black follower would fall a victim to +his intrepidity; but, without heeding us, he dashed forward, and as soon +as Bracewell had reloaded, we followed him. It was no easy matter, +however, to make our way between the trees, which here grew unusually +thick, while the ground was encumbered by fallen trunks and boughs. The +spot had evidently been chosen by the bushrangers as a place likely to +afford concealment, and, at the same time, enable them to defend +themselves. + +"That fellow was placed here on watch, to warn his comrades of the +approach of an enemy, and, depend upon it, they are not far off," said +Bracewell. "We shall come upon them presently, and it will be our own +fault if we allow any of the gang to escape." + +We now heard the sound of fire-arms, and as the bushrangers were warned +of our approach, we knew that their first impulse would be to mount +their horses and gallop off. + +Our great object, therefore, was to prevent them from doing this, and +unless they had kept their animals saddled and bridled, we had still a +prospect of succeeding. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +Darkness was coming on, but we had still light sufficient to see our +way, and should we not come up with the bushrangers at once, they might +be off, and we should find it a hard matter to overtake them. We had +gone on for some minutes, expecting every instant to discover them, when +Toby stopped. + +"Dey dare," he said, pointing to a rocky knoll which rose just above the +wood through which we were making our way. The reason they had not +mounted their horses was now apparent, for we caught sight of the +animals scampering away in the distance. The outlaws had probably taken +up this position under the idea that they could effectually defend +themselves against us, evidently not knowing the numbers composing our +party. The instant we emerged from among the trees, several bullets +came flying past our heads. By a simultaneous impulse we fired in +return. + +"On, on! before they have time to reload," cried Bracewell. + +We dashed forward with our pistols in our hands. When we reached the +knoll, not a man was to be seen on his feet, but three lay dead or dying +among the rocks. At that instant a fourth sprang up with a rifle in his +hand with which he was taking aim at Bracewell, when, before he had time +to pull the trigger, the overseer fired and he fell. I had recognised +Vinson, and as I rode up, I observed the look of agony and despair which +overspread the countenance of my former school-fellow. I think he must +have known me, but he was unable to speak, and before I could dismount +he had ceased to breathe. + +It was a sad end of a mis-spent life, and yet at one time Cyril Vinson +was one of the most admired and sought after in a fashionable circle. +Among the bodies we discovered that of the big bushranger, while we +found that of the man who first fired a short distance from the knoll, +where he had fallen and died before he had been able to reach his +companions. + +One of the gang only escaped, but Toby declined to go in search of him +until the following morning, as he could not, he said, traverse the +forest at night. + +At daylight we followed him up, but found that he had managed to catch +one of the horses, and for the time had made good his escape. + +We got back to the station the next day. The information we brought of +the destruction of the long dreaded gang, caused no small satisfaction +to our neighbours. Some weeks afterwards the body of the bushranger who +had escaped was discovered in a state of emaciation, showing that he +must have been starved to death. + +Although there is generally work enough on an Australian station to +occupy everybody, we made frequent excursions to hunt kangaroo, dingoes, +and emus. Mr Strong, however, objected to the younger members of his +family expending the large amount of powder and shot they were apt to +fire away. He would allow them, he said, only the use of bows and +arrows, promising, however, to give each a rifle when they could bring a +parrot down on the wing, an emu running, or a kangaroo bounding over the +ground. We therefore employed ourselves during the longer evenings of +winter in manufacturing bows and feathering a large supply of arrows, +for both of which objects we found suitable material. + +We were in the meantime daily gaining experience in all farming +operations which would prove of the greatest value when we should have +charge of a station on our own account. + +I had long promised to make a hunting trip with Hector and his two young +brothers, Oliver and Ralph. As soon as our weapons were finished we set +off, accompanied by Toby, who, since the courage he had displayed in +capturing the bushrangers, had become a person of no small importance. +I took the liberty, however, of carrying my rifle, as Hector also did +his. We agreed to camp out for one or two nights, or as long as the +flour and biscuits in our wallets would last. + +It is usual to hunt the emu on horseback with dogs, when the bird is +pursued until the dogs can get up to it, and seizing it by the throat +drag it down. We, however, hoped with Toby's assistance to stalk it as +the natives are in the habit of doing, and for this purpose our bows and +arrows were likely to prove as efficient weapons as rifles, the report +of which would be certain to drive the birds away from the spot where +they were feeding; whereas the silent arrow might bring down one without +frightening the others. + +We tramped over many weary miles till we reached the edge of a large +plain known to be frequented by emus, far beyond any of the sheep-runs. +On one side it was bounded by an extensive scrub, which being +fortunately to leeward, we hoped by creeping along under its cover to +get within reach of the birds. We had proceeded some way when we caught +sight of several, but they were all feeding too far off to give us any +hope of shooting them without showing ourselves. Had we been mounted we +might have been able to run down two or three, but being on foot, our +best chance was to wait in ambush until some unwary bird got within +range of our arrows. My idea was that, if we could shoot one, the +others, from curiosity, would come to see what was the matter. + +We accordingly agreed to wait patiently until we were certain of hitting +our "quarry." Toby set us a good example by taking post behind a bush, +where he stood looking like a bronze statue well blackened by London +smoke. + +Had two or three emus come near enough, I do not think that Hector and I +could have resisted the temptation to use our rifles. Not a sound was +heard, except when an emu uttered its hollow, booming note, as if +carrying on a conversation with its mate. At length one of the noble +birds came stalking up directly towards where we lay hid. It was fully +seven feet in height, with powerful, stout legs, while its wings were so +small that they could not be distinguished from its lightish brown and +grey plumage. It got up to within twenty yards, when Oliver and Ralph, +unable longer to restrain their eagerness, leapt to their feet, and sent +a couple of shafts into its body. The emu, seeing them, turned tail, +and off it went at a rapid rate. Influenced by a natural impulse, they +started off in chase, instead of getting under cover and watching for +the chance of another bird coming up to it. Toby also sprang out from +behind a tree, and Hector and I followed, trusting that the arrows had +struck deep enough, if not mortally to wound the emu, at all events, to +prevent its keeping up the pace at which it was going. Our plucky young +companions were fixing fresh arrows to their strings as they ran on, +while Toby, bounding over the ground, promised soon to come up with the +wounded bird. What had become of the other emus, I could not see; and I +had to look where I was stepping, for fear of toppling down on my nose. +I do not think I ever ran faster in my life. The emu kept on, but still +it did not gain upon us sufficiently fast to make us abandon the hope of +coming up with it. At length its pace became slower, and Oliver, who +was leading, sent another arrow into its body. It went off again on +feeling the pain, faster than ever; but before long, once more slackened +its speed, though it still managed to keep ahead. A pretty long chase +it led us altogether, still the excitement and prospect of catching it +at last induced us to proceed, Oliver and Ralph shouting and hallooing +in high glee, as they dashed over the ground, while Toby held his axe +ready to give it a finishing blow as soon as he could get up to it. I +was but a short distance behind the others, and supposed that Hector was +following me; but at last the hard-pressed emu showed evident signs of +giving in, and Oliver was springing towards it, when Toby shouted-- + +"Take care, him give kick one side!" + +Fortunately Oliver followed this advice, when, in spite of its hurts, +the bird struck out so furiously behind and on one side, that it would +have broken his leg, or have inflicted a dangerous wound, had it struck +him. + +The black now, getting in front of it, threw the axe with so sure an +aim, that the bird, its head almost cleft in two, fell dead to the +ground. + +The two boys uttered a shout of triumph, in which I joined. I expected +to hear Hector's voice, but on looking round he was nowhere to be seen. +What had become of him, neither his brothers nor the black could say. +We were afraid that he must have hurt his foot, or fallen and been +unable to follow. We could scarcely calculate how far we had come. +Oliver declared that it must have been five miles at least; but I did +not think the distance was nearly so much. The question was now, what +to do with our emu while we went back in search of Hector, as we were +unwilling to abandon so valuable a prize to the dingoes, who were very +likely to find it out. Fortunately there were some bushes near which +would afford fuel for a fire, and Toby consented to camp on the spot, +while we returned to look for our companion. + +I should have said that Guy and Bracewell had promised to ride after us +the next morning with a spare horse or two, to carry back the spoils of +the chase. I knew that they would come, although they had expressed +great doubt whether we should have any game to carry home. They had +settled to meet us at a spot with which Hector was acquainted; but if he +were lost we should be unable to find it. + +After we had taken some rest and food we set off, leaving Toby to skin +and cut up the emu. + +We had spent so much time in the chase, that it began to grow dark +before we had got a mile on our way; still, as we had a compass with us, +we were able to keep in the right direction. + +"As the moon is about to rise, we shall soon be able to see our way," +said Oliver; "but what can have happened to Hector?" + +No one was able to answer that question. As we went on we shouted out +his name, but no reply came, and I began to feel very uneasy. I thought +that I had seen him certainly close to the point we had now reached. + +I twice fired off my rifle, but listened in vain for the report of his. +I now began to regret that we had not brought Toby with us, for he would +have been far more likely to find him than we were. + +His brothers were almost in despair. + +"We had better go back and get Toby," exclaimed Oliver. + +"Something dreadful must have happened. Perhaps he has been bitten by a +poisonous snake, or kicked by an emu," said Ralph. + +"Unless a mob of blacks have been hiding in the scrub and tracked us," I +remarked. + +"But then I don't see how they could have overtaken him without our +seeing them," said Oliver. + +At last it became so dark that we found it impossible to proceed, and it +was proposed to halt until the moon should rise, when we should better +be able to find our way. + +We accordingly sat down on the ground to wait until the pale luminary of +night could give us her light. + +She rose even sooner than we had expected. + +"Hurrah!" cried Oliver, "it will soon be almost as light as day, and +unless Hector has fallen asleep, we shall find him." + +We accordingly went on, shouting out as before. Presently my foot +slipped into a hole, and I very nearly dislocated my ankle. + +"What could have made that hole?" I exclaimed. + +"Wombats, I've a notion," answered Oliver. "Look, there's one of the +creatures!" As he spoke we saw an animal like a small bear waddling +along over the ground. Presently we caught sight of another and +another. We had evidently got into a colony of the creatures. + +"I wonder we did not come across these when we were running after the +emu," I observed. "I am afraid that we have got out of our way." + +"We must have been close on one side or the other, for I'm certain that +we were at no great distance from this," answered Oliver. + +"Hector, Hector!" he shouted. + +"Listen!" cried Ralph: "I heard a voice. It came from the right--it's +not far off there!" + +Again we shouted, when listening attentively we all three heard a reply +and felt sure that we were not mistaken as to the direction from which +it came. + +On making our way towards the spot we caught sight of a dozen or more +wombats, and presently of the head and arms of a person rising above the +ground. + +"That must be Hector! Hector, Hector, is it you?" shouted Oliver. + +"Yes, yes! make haste or I shall tumble back again," was the answer. + +We sprang forward and caught him by the arms; when, all three hauling +away, we quickly dragged him out of a large hole into which he had +fallen. + +"Take care," he said. "I cannot stand--I sprained my ankle when falling +into the hole, and the pain was so great that I believe I must have +fainted. When I came to myself, I found that it was perfectly dark, and +no sooner had I managed to reach the top of the hole than a whole herd +of those wombats came sniffing round me, wondering what strange creature +had got among them. I shouldn't have minded them, had they not tried to +bite my hands and compelled me to let go again." + +The wombats, on our appearance, had waddled off, so that they did not +interfere with us while we were attending to Hector. + +On his trying to use his foot he found that his ankle was not so much +injured as he had supposed, and that by supporting himself on our +shoulders he could manage to hobble along. He therefore very willingly +agreed to try and get back to the camp. + +"But what has become of your gun?" I asked; "can you remember where you +left it?" + +"I'm sure I don't know," answered Hector; "I had it in my hand when I +fell, but when I felt about for it I could nowhere find it." + +We searched for the rifle round the hole and at last came to the +conclusion that it must have fallen in. + +Ralph offered to descend. + +He got down without difficulty and soon cried out that he had found the +rifle at the bottom. "Stay, I have found something else," he added as +he handed up the rifle. "While I was groping about, my hand came in +contact with two hairy creatures. Here they are!" and stooping down +again he hauled out two young wombats. We speedily knocked them on the +head, agreeing that they would make a very good roast for supper. + +We should have been puzzled to know how the big wombat got out of the +hole, had not Ralph told us that he had found a passage sloping upwards +to a smaller entrance some distance off. + +As the two small wombats might not prove sufficient for all hands I shot +a big fellow which measured nearly three feet in length, and was covered +with a thick hairy coat. + +Ralph undertook to carry it on his shoulders, while Oliver and I +supported Hector. + +We now lost no time in making our way back to the camp. Our progress +was of necessity slow, but we reached it at last, having been guided +during the latter part of the distance by the bright flames of Toby's +fire. + +We immediately set to work to cook the wombat. Toby however had +satisfied his hunger on the flesh of the emu, though he managed after a +little rest to devour no small portion of the meat we had brought. + +We then lay down to sleep, pretty well tired by the fatigue we had gone +through. To our dismay Hector was utterly unable to walk the next +morning, but fortunately our friends discovered us on their way to the +rendezvous, and he mounting one of the horses we set off for home. We +carried with us the emu, which it was calculated would yield between six +and seven quarts of fine oil. It is for the sake of this valuable +product that the bird is generally hunted. + +Hector very good-naturedly bore the bantering of the rest of the party +on the subject of his adventure among the wombats. + +We had ridden some distance across the open country, when we observed +ahead what looked like a dense black mist in the far distance above the +scrub. + +"What can that be?" I asked of Bracewell. + +"I don't like its appearance," he answered. "I fear that the bush is on +fire, and if so it is impossible to say where it will stop. It appears +to be at no great distance from the station. What do you think, +Hector?" + +"I'm sure it's very near," he answered hurriedly; "and during this dry +weather the rapidity with which it spreads is extraordinary. Push on, +all of you; don't mind me, I can be of no use with this lame foot, but +you may still be in time to assist in saving our dear ones at home +should the fire reach the house. Here, Maurice, do you mount my horse, +and I'll get on the animal carrying the emu; there's not a moment to +lose." + +I willingly acted according to his suggestion; and, leaving him with his +two younger brothers and Toby, Bracewell, Guy, and I galloped forward. + +Bracewell appeared more agitated than I had ever seen him before. He +had been paying great attention to Mary Strong, and the thought now +occurred to him that she was in danger. While we were dashing on as +hard as we could go, it appeared to us that the conflagration was +rapidly extending. Already dense wreaths of smoke, rising towards the +sky, formed a thick canopy overhead; while we could see every now and +then the bright flames darting upwards above the intervening bush as +some tall tree was wrapped in their embrace. + +It was very evident that the homestead was in the greatest danger, even +if it was not already encircled in flames; and although the inmates +might have made their escape, we could not tell in what direction they +had fled. They would have endeavoured to save as much of their property +as possible from destruction, and Bracewell's fears conjured up the +dreadful idea that they might have been caught by the rapidly advancing +foe before they could reach a place of safety. + +With whip and spur we urged on our animals. We had as yet seen no one +to tell us in what direction our friends had gone. There was a stream +to the left, used in the shearing season for washing the sheep, and +Bracewell hoped that they might have made their way to it. + +The intervening ground was free of trees, and the grass had been cropped +so low that the fire was not likely to make much progress over it. They +might, however, still be at the house, and towards it we directed our +course. + +As we galloped up what was our dismay to find it on fire, while the +outbuildings were nearly burnt to the ground! We dashed up shouting to +our friends, but no one replied. + +"They must have gone across the stream," cried Bracewell; and turning +our horses' heads we rode furiously on through the flames which had +already caught the bushes on either side of us. After shouting again +and again it was with unspeakable thankfulness that we heard our shouts +answered, and dashing across the stream, we found the family assembled +on a spot where the fire was not likely to reach. + +Mary was on her palfrey, her father standing by her side endeavouring to +quiet her alarm, while Mrs Strong with the children and young people +were seated on the ground among such articles as they had been able to +save. + +Our arrival greatly relieved their anxiety, for they had fancied that we +and the boys might have been passing through a part of the wood in which +the fire had been raging. + +The flames spread to the east and the west, but having nothing to feed +on near the stream they fortunately did not cross to the side on which +we had taken refuge. + +The fire continued to rage long after darkness had come on, and grand +and terrible was the spectacle it exhibited. We watched it anxiously +not knowing how far it might extend. I was much struck with the calm +way in which Mr Strong endured his hard fortune. Not a murmur escaped +his lips, but over and over again he expressed his gratitude to Heaven +for having preserved all those dear to him from injury. + +Under his directions we all turned to and put up some huts for the +ladies, in which they passed the night. Mercifully towards morning a +heavy fall of rain came on and extinguished the fire almost as suddenly +as it had begun. + +Next morning Mr Strong set about ascertaining his losses and with +wonderful energy took steps to repair them. + +Bracewell invited the family to take up their abode at his hut until +their new house was ready to receive them, and they immediately set off +in one of the waggons which had escaped. + +Guy and I, with the young Strongs, worked with the farm hands from +morning till night, in putting up fences and rebuilding the house; and +in a wonderfully short time the station, which had become little more +than a mass of ruins, began to assume a habitable aspect. + +Though we worked without wages the knowledge we gained was of the +greatest value to us in our subsequent career. In a year or two our +worthy cousin had completely recovered from the heavy losses he had +sustained. + +Bracewell before long became the husband of Mary Strong. + +The proprietor of the next station to his wishing to sell out, we, +assisted by him, were able to purchase it; and as soon as we had got up +a tolerable residence, we sent to the old country for our mother and +sisters; and I may honestly say we have had no cause to regret having +fixed our home in Australia. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Adventures in Australia, by W.H.G. 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