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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 <a -href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: A Lad of Mettle</p> -<p>Author: Nat Gould</p> -<p>Release Date: August 10, 2021 [eBook #66030]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LAD OF METTLE***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4 class="pgx" title="">E-text prepared by Demian Katz, Craig Kirkwood,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (https://www.pgdp.net)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Villanova University Digital Library<br /> - (https://digital.library.villanova.edu/)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Villanova University Digital Library. See - https://digital.library.villanova.edu/Item/vudl:279070 - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<hr class="pgx" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp51" style="max-width: 43.125em;"> - <img id="coverpage" class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover." /> -</div> - -<p id="half-title">A LAD OF METTLE</p> - -<div class="boxit"> -<p class="largefont center">NAT GOULD’S SPORTING NOVELS</p> - -<p class="center"><em>Crown 8vo., Picture Boards.</em></p> - -<p> -THE DOUBLE EVENT<br /> -RUNNING IT OFF<br /> -JOCKEY JACK<br /> -HARRY DALE’S JOCKEY<br /> -BANKER AND BROKER<br /> -THROWN AWAY<br /> -STUCK UP<br /> -ONLY A COMMONER<br /> -THE MINERS’ CUP<br /> -THE MAGPIE JACKET<br /> -WHO DID IT?<br /> -HORSE OR BLACKSMITH?<br /> -NOT SO BAD AFTER ALL<br /> -SEEING HIM THROUGH -</p> - -<p class="center"><em>Also, uniform with the above</em>,</p> - -<p> -ON AND OFF THE TURF IN AUSTRALIA<br /> -TOWN AND BUSH<br /> -THE DOCTOR’S DOUBLE<br /> -A LAD OF METTLE -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="tb x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h1 class="nobreak">A LAD OF METTLE</h1> -</div> - - -<p class="center p4" style="line-height:1.5"><span class="smallfont">BY</span><br /> -<span class="largefont">NAT GOULD</span></p> - -<p class="center smallfont">AUTHOR OF ‘THE DOUBLE EVENT,’ ETC.</p> - -<p class="center p4" style="line-height:1.5">LONDON<br /> -GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, <span class="smcap">Limited</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">Broadway, Ludgate Hill</span> -</p> - -<hr class="tb x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center" style="line-height:2"><span class="italicfont">To</span><br /> -MY SONS.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - - -<div class="center"> -<table class="toc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> -<tr><td class="tocchapter"><span class="smallfont">CHAPTER</span></td><td></td><td class="tocpage"><span class="smallfont">PAGE</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">I.</td><td class="toctitle">BULLY RAKES TAKEN DOWN</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">9</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">II.</td><td class="toctitle">IN THE CRICKET-FIELD</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">19</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">III.</td><td class="toctitle">A CRITICAL MOMENT</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">28</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">IV.</td><td class="toctitle">LEAVING SCHOOL</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">38</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">V.</td><td class="toctitle">A FURIOUS STORM</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">46</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">VI.</td><td class="toctitle">THE ‘DISTANT SHORE’</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">55</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">VII.</td><td class="toctitle">WHAT THE MORNING BROUGHT FORTH</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">64</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">VIII.</td><td class="toctitle">IN WAL JESSOP’S COTTAGE</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">74</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">IX.</td><td class="toctitle">UP COUNTRY</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">83</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">X.</td><td class="toctitle">A WILD SCENE</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">92</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XI.</td><td class="toctitle">YACKA THE BLACK</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">101</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XII.</td><td class="toctitle">IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">110</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XIII.</td><td class="toctitle">BY THE LAGOON</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">119</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XIV.</td><td class="toctitle">ON THE OVERLAND LINE</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">129</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XV.</td><td class="toctitle">THROUGH THE RANGES</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">139</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XVI.</td><td class="toctitle">AFTER THE FIGHT</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">148</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XVII.</td><td class="toctitle">WONDROUS CAVERNS</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">158</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XVIII.</td><td class="toctitle">THE WHITE SPIRIT</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">167</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XIX.</td><td class="toctitle">THE FORCES OF NATURE</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">176</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XX.</td><td class="toctitle">THE RETURN TO YANDA</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">186</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XXI.</td><td class="toctitle">AN EXCITING CHASE</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">195</a><span class="pagenum">[viii]</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XXII.</td><td class="toctitle">TIME FLIES</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">204</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XXIII.</td><td class="toctitle">AN EVENTFUL NIGHT</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">214</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XXIV.</td><td class="toctitle">HOME AGAIN</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">223</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XXV.</td><td class="toctitle">THE SCENE AT LORD’S</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">232</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XXVI.</td><td class="toctitle">AN UPHILL GAME</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">241</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XXVII.</td><td class="toctitle">THE CAPTAIN OR HIS GHOST</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">250</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XXVIII.</td><td class="toctitle">A STRANGE STORY</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">259</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XXIX.</td><td class="toctitle">WARLIKE SPORTS</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">269</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tocchapter">XXX.</td><td class="toctitle">GOOD-BYE TO AUSTRALIA</td><td class="tocpage"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">278</a></td></tr> -</table></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center xxlargefont nobreak" style="margin-bottom:1em" id="CHAPTER_I">A LAD OF METTLE</p> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">BULLY RAKES TAKEN DOWN.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Lessons were over for the day, and the boys at -Redbank School came running with shouts and -whoops of joy into the playing-fields. They were -like young colts freed from restraint for a few hours, -and eager to make the most of their liberty.</p> - -<p>Redbank was the home of brilliant cricketers and -all-round athletes. Many a noted cricketer had -received his first lessons in the great game on Redbank -cricket ground. The lads were proud of the -men who played in the All England eleven, and who -were never slow to acknowledge that to Redbank -they owed what prowess they possessed.</p> - -<p>The Redbank lads were born runners, so many an -old hand training them for races vowed. Something -in the atmosphere of Redbank seemed to make the -lads athletic. Perhaps the traditions attached to the<span class="pagenum">[10]</span> -school had much to do with this, for lads are very -proud, and justly so, of the feats of scholars who have -preceded them.</p> - -<p>But Redbank was not merely a training ground for -famous athletes. Redbank scholars had taken high -honours at the Universities, and afterwards distinguished -themselves in various walks of life. The -Bishop of Flaxham was proud of the fact that he was -‘grounded’ at Redbank. He was an eloquent and -distinguished man, an ornament to the Church, and -a brilliant writer of readable books.</p> - -<p>When the Bishop of Flaxham came to Redbank, -and preached in the chapel, the lads with difficulty -restrained themselves from giving him a hearty cheer -at the end of his address. The Bishop knew how to -talk to boys, and never forgot that at one period of -his life he had been bored with wearisome sermons -about the world, the flesh, and the devil, which he -did not in the least understand. So he took warning, -and told the lads to run the race set before them -much in the same manner as they would a hundred -yards sprint, each striving to win the prize and do -the distance in even time. The Bishop believed that -well-trained muscles and a healthy body were conducive -to an active and moral state of mind. The -Redbank lads gloried in the fact that the Bishop of -Flaxham had been one of themselves.</p> - -<p>Field-Marshal Lord Kingcraft was a Redbank boy, -and his warlike deeds and bravery were celebrated -in song on the fly-leaves of school-books, and occasionally<span class="pagenum">[11]</span> -on the panels of doors and the insides of -desks.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="indentquote0">‘Lord Kingcraft’s won the great V.C., -</div><div class="indent0">May Redbank do the same for me.’ -</div></div></div></div> - -<p>was discovered carved, evidently with much labour -and pains, on the lid of a desk at which the celebrated -Field-Marshal formerly worried his brains over Euclid -and algebra.</p> - -<p>This inscription was pointed out to the brave leader -of men when he visited his old school, and he never -forgot it. He hoped, from the bottom of his heart, -the lad who carved it would one day win his V.C.</p> - -<p>Redbank was represented in the navy and in the -diplomatic world, and one day it was hoped a Redbank -lad would become Prime Minister.</p> - -<p>So, with all these successful public men constantly -before them as an example, the lads of Redbank felt -bound to endeavour to do great deeds, and win -renown for themselves and their school.</p> - -<p>The head-master of Redbank was the Rev. Henry -Hook, and it was universally acknowledged that no -more suitable man could have been selected. He -ruled his lads with a firm hand, but he was no tyrant -or hard task-master. The boys knew he meant what -he said, and that his word to them could be implicitly -relied upon. He had confidence in his boys, and they -returned it.</p> - -<p>When Edgar Foster came to Redbank School he -was sixteen, small for his age, but muscular and<span class="pagenum">[12]</span> -active. At this time there were between two and -three hundred scholars at Redbank, and naturally out -of such a number there were several lads whose -absence would not have been regretted.</p> - -<p>Young Edgar Foster soon became popular. For -one thing, his father was a well-known man, who had -worthily upheld the honour of Redbank in the cricket -field, and had captained the All England eleven. -This was quite sufficient to give Edgar a standing in -the school.</p> - -<p>Bullies exist in almost every walk of life, and a few -of this undesirable species were to be found at Redbank. -The leader of these bullies was a lad named -Raymond Rakes—‘Bully Rakes’ as he was generally -called. He was a big, hulking fellow, powerful and -strong, but deficient in courage, as bullies generally -are.</p> - -<p>There was nothing manly about Bully Rakes, and -the boys knew it. So far he had held his own, -for he was the biggest boy in the school. Any new -scholar he at once endeavoured to inspire with awe, -and generally succeeded.</p> - -<p>Our story commences about a week after Edgar -Foster’s arrival at Redbank. The boys were bounding -out of school and soon spread over the fields in groups; -the bulk of them, however, went towards the cricketing -nets.</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster had not had any opportunity of -showing what he could do with the bat. He was a -lad who did not push himself forward, but quietly<span class="pagenum">[13]</span> -bided his time, knowing full well that when that time -came he would not be found wanting. The boy is -father to the man, and it will be gathered from this -story of a lad of mettle that Edgar Foster acted in -this wise during many trying periods of his after-life.</p> - -<p>Edgar watched the practice with keen and critical -eyes. His father had taught him how to handle a bat -as only a skilful player can.</p> - -<p>‘Here, Foster, take a turn,’ said the lad who had -just finished batting. ‘We’ve not had the chance of -seeing how you shape yet.’</p> - -<p>‘I’m ready,’ said Edgar, pulling off his coat and -eagerly holding out a hand for the bat.</p> - -<p>‘It’s my turn,’ said Bully Rakes. ‘Just you drop -that bat, or I’ll make you.’</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster looked up at the big fellow standing -before him, but he did not flinch, nor did he drop the -bat.</p> - -<p>The boys crowded round, anticipating a row, and -anxious to see how the new-comer would shape with -Rakes.</p> - -<p>‘If it is your turn,’ said Edgar quietly, ‘I will give -you the bat. If it is not your turn, under no circumstances -will I drop the bat.’</p> - -<p>The tones were firm, there was no flinching, and -the lad looked determined.</p> - -<p>Bully Rakes was not accustomed to be addressed -in this manner. He eyed Edgar scornfully, and -said:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[14]</span></p> - -<p>‘I shall have to teach you manners. I am the -best judge of whose turn it is. Will you drop that -bat?’</p> - -<p>Edgar turned to the lad who had handed him the -bat, and said:</p> - -<p>‘Do you bat in turns? Has Rakes any right to -bat before me?’</p> - -<p>Courage is infectious. Will Brown had never -defied Rakes before, but he felt he must back up his -plucky schoolmate.</p> - -<p>‘Rakes has no right to bat here at all,’ he replied. -‘He’s been batting at the other net, and has just -finished his turn.’</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster made no further remark, but walked -coolly to the wicket.</p> - -<p>This defiance of his demands gave Bully Rakes a -shock. He knew if he allowed Foster to bat his -hold over the boys would be gone. He strode up to -Edgar and said savagely:</p> - -<p>‘Give me the bat, or I’ll thrash you!’</p> - -<p>‘Had you asked me politely at first, I should -probably have handed you the bat,’ said Edgar. ‘I -shall not do so now. As for thrashing me—well, -that has to be decided.’</p> - -<p>‘Bravo, Foster!’ shouted several lads.</p> - -<p>‘Punch his head, Rakes,’ said one of the bully’s -toadies.</p> - -<p>‘Give me that bat, or fight me!’ shouted Rakes in -a passion.</p> - -<p>‘Shame!’ shouted the lads.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[15]</span></p> - -<p>Rakes was much taller and more powerfully built -than Edgar.</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster handed the bat to Will Brown, and -said:</p> - -<p>‘Come on, I’m ready.’</p> - -<p>Bully Rakes had his coat off, and the boys, seeing -a fight about to take place, formed a ring. They -would have given much to see Bully Rakes get a -severe thrashing.</p> - -<p>Now they were in a fighting attitude the disparity -between the lads was more apparent. Edgar was -lightly built, but active, and evidently in good condition. -Bully Rakes was massive, heavy, and ponderous -in his movements. The boys were determined to see -fair play, and gave Edgar every encouragement. As -usual, when he had to fight, Bully Rakes rushed in at -close quarters, and tried to overwhelm his smaller -opponent by the force of his onslaught.</p> - -<p>Edgar, however, was ready for him. He knew how -to box better than most lads of his age. His father -had taught him, impressing upon him that because -he knew how to use his fists he ought not to pick -quarrels.</p> - -<p>Seeing Bully Rakes rush at him, Edgar sprang -nimbly to one side. The bigger lad stumbled forward -and almost fell. Thus foiled at the first -attempt, Rakes lost his temper. He heard the lads -jeering at him, and he determined he would make -Edgar suffer for the humiliation.</p> - -<p>Recovering himself, Rakes glared at Edgar and<span class="pagenum">[16]</span> -then aimed a terrific blow at his ribs. Quick as -lightning shot out Edgar’s left and caught Rakes on -the ear. It was a stinging blow, and the bully did -not take punishment well. Rakes again rushed at -Edgar, and, closing with him, kicked him severely on -the shin. It was a despicable act, and several lads -pulled Rakes back, others shouting ‘Coward!’ and -‘Foul play!’</p> - -<p>‘Hands off!’ shouted Rakes. ‘You’d better not -interfere with me.’</p> - -<p>‘Leave him to Foster,’ said Will Brown; ‘he’ll -settle him.’</p> - -<p>A roar of laughter followed this remark, and made -Bully Rakes furious.</p> - -<p>‘Stand up and fight fair,’ said Edgar. ‘Who -taught you to kick? We’re not playing football.’</p> - -<p>The boys were delighted. Here was young Foster -taking it out of Bully Rakes, and chaffing him unmercifully.</p> - -<p>Rakes again commenced the attack, but with more -caution. He was not a match for his young opponent -when it came to science. He managed to land -a blow on Edgar’s right eye, but the return he -received fairly between his own eyes staggered him. -Edgar followed up his advantage and soon had the -satisfaction of seeing Bully Rakes measure his length -on the grass.</p> - -<p>The younger boys danced with delight as the -defeat of their enemy looked assured.</p> - -<p>Rakes, however, was not yet beaten. He staggered<span class="pagenum">[17]</span> -to his feet and fought again with some determination. -Feeling he had met his match, his courage, -what little he possessed, gave way, and Edgar soon -had the bully at his mercy. Edgar was not disposed -to let him off lightly, and he knocked Rakes about -in a manner that both astonished and alarmed -him.</p> - -<p>‘Have you had enough?’ said Edgar, standing -over him after another knock-down blow. ‘If not, -get up, and I’ll repeat the dose.’</p> - -<p>‘I’ve done for to-day,’ growled Rakes; ‘but I’ll -be even with you for this, see if I don’t.’</p> - -<p>‘Take your defeat like a man,’ said Edgar, ‘and -drop bullying in the future. Where’s the bat?’ he -added, turning to Will Brown.</p> - -<p>But the boys would not let him bat. They cheered -him and shook hands with him, and Edgar felt he -had quickly made a position for himself in the -school.</p> - -<p>Bully Rakes slunk away with one or two companions, -who had been tempted by his example to -bully on a smaller scale, and were downcast at his -defeat.</p> - -<p>‘You’ll get into a row,’ said Will Brown to Edgar. -‘The chief can’t bear fighting, but when he hears the -truth, I fancy he’ll side with you.’</p> - -<p>‘He’ll hear the truth then,’ said Edgar. ‘I shall -ask to see him when we reach school.’</p> - -<p>‘I shouldn’t,’ said Will Brown. ‘None of the -masters may have noticed it.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[18]</span></p> - -<p>‘It makes no difference to me whether they have -noticed it or otherwise,’ said Edgar; ‘I shall tell the -doctor all about it, if he will see me. It is the most -straightforward way, as I have only been about a -week in the school.’</p> - -<p>‘Perhaps you’re right,’ said Will Brown.</p> - -<p>‘Sure of it,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>That evening Dr. Hook received a polite note -from Edgar Foster, in which he asked for an interview. -Dr. Hook knew Edgar’s father, and admired -him for his many manly qualities.</p> - -<p>‘You wanted to see me, Foster,’ said Dr. Hook, -when the lad came into his study.</p> - -<p>Then, catching sight of Edgar’s discoloured eye, -he frowned.</p> - -<p>Edgar explained what had occurred in the cricket-field. -Dr. Hook listened attentively, noting the -boy’s face all the time. His scrutiny was evidently -favourable.</p> - -<p>‘I am glad you came to me,’ said the head-master; -‘I strongly object to fighting, but in this instance I -think it may be overlooked. Send Rakes to me -when you go out.’</p> - -<p>‘Please, sir,’ said Edgar, and hesitated. ‘I hope -you will not punish Rakes; I gave it him severely -this afternoon.’</p> - -<p>Dr. Hook smiled as he said:</p> - -<p>‘No, I will not punish Rakes; I merely wish to -speak to him about his conduct. You may go.’</p> - -<p>‘That lad will get on in the world,’ thought Dr.<span class="pagenum">[19]</span> -Hook, when the door closed behind Edgar. ‘I’m -glad he thrashed Rakes; it will do him good.’</p> - -<p>Bully Rakes got a very different reception to -Edgar Foster, and as he left the room he vowed he -would have his revenge upon Edgar for ‘sneaking’ -to the head-master.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">IN THE CRICKET-FIELD.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The thrashing of Bully Rakes gave Edgar Foster -a hold over the affections of his schoolfellows, and -he never lost it. In twelve months he became captain -of the eleven, and led them to victory on many -occasions. Edgar worked hard, both at lessons and -play. He found it much easier to study when his -body was in good order, and his athletic exercises -helped to make his school tasks the easier. He -could not be called a brilliant scholar by any means, -but he was endowed with an amount of perseverance -that generally pulled him through.</p> - -<p>‘It’s got to be done, and I’ll do it,’ Edgar thought -to himself when pondering over a difficult task, and -he generally succeeded.</p> - -<p>The Redbank lads took a defeat from their great -opponents, the eleven of Fairfield College, with a -very bad grace. Not that they allowed their successful<span class="pagenum">[20]</span> -opponents to see their chagrin, they were too -manly for that, but they felt the defeat keenly.</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster determined to win the return match -if possible. He had taken great care to select his -eleven, and felt confident of success. He was the -more eager to win because his father was coming to -Redbank to watch the game. Dr. Hook too was -anxious his boys should regain their lost laurels, and -he encouraged Edgar by his kindly advice.</p> - -<p>It so happened that Raymond Rakes, despite his -many bad qualities, was a very fair cricketer. He -had not been chosen to play in the first match -against Fairfield, and he put his being left out of -the team down to Edgar’s animosity.</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster, however, was not actuated by any -such motive. He thought Rakes hardly good enough, -and therefore did not select him. Since this match -Rakes had shown such good form that Edgar decided -to include him in the eleven for the return match.</p> - -<p>Bully Rakes was much surprised when Edgar -asked him to play. He said he would think over -the matter, and complained about not being chosen -in the first match.</p> - -<p>‘You had not shown good enough form then,’ -said Edgar; ‘you have come on wonderfully since, -and therefore I ask you to play. It is for the honour -of the school we are playing this time, so you ought -to have no hesitation.’</p> - -<p>‘Then I’ll play,’ said Rakes, in his usual surly -manner.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[21]</span></p> - -<p>‘And I hope you will make a good score,’ said -Edgar.</p> - -<p>As the captain of the Redbank eleven walked -away, Rakes looked after him with no friendly eyes. -He had never forgotten the humiliating defeat he -sustained when Edgar first came to the school. No -opportunity had yet occurred of paying off the grudge -he owed Edgar on that account.</p> - -<p>‘He’s set his heart on winning this match,’ muttered -Rakes to himself; ‘he’d have left me out again -if he could. I’ve a good mind to spoil his plans. -What does it matter whether we win or lose the -match? I don’t care much which way it goes, and -I’d like to see Foster taken down a peg or two. -I’ll wait and see how our side shapes. I may be -able to carry out a plan of my own.’</p> - -<p>Had Edgar Foster doubted Rakes, he would not -have asked him to play; but he could not understand -any lad throwing away a chance of victory -merely to spite the captain of the team. Such conduct -Edgar would not have suspected even in Raymond -Rakes.</p> - -<p>‘So you’ve asked Rakes to play?’ said Will -Brown, who had become a stanch friend of Edgar’s -ever since the fight with Bully Rakes.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Edgar. ‘He’s not a bad bat at all; -he’s a fair field, and will do to put on for a change -bowler. We must win the match. I’m awfully -anxious about it. My father will be here, and -there’s sure to be a big crowd of people. We<span class="pagenum">[22]</span> -have a good team, and I’m pretty confident this -time.’</p> - -<p>‘All the same, I should not have played Rakes,’ -said Will Brown.</p> - -<p>‘Why?’ asked Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Because I don’t trust him. He’s never forgiven -you for licking him, and if he gets half a chance -he’ll throw us over in the match, just to spite you,’ -said Will.</p> - -<p>Edgar looked at his schoolmate in surprise. He -could not believe in any lad doing such a thing.</p> - -<p>‘He’ll never do that,’ said Edgar. ‘Even if it is -as you say, and he still bears me a grudge, he would -never be such a cad as to throw the school over in -order to annoy me.’</p> - -<p>‘I hope he won’t, for your sake,’ said Will; ‘but -all the same, I have my doubts.’</p> - -<p>Will Brown’s words made Edgar feel uneasy for -a time, but he soon forgot them. It was universally -agreed that a better eleven could not have been -chosen to meet Fairfield College. Masters were not -to play; it was to be purely a boys’ match.</p> - -<p>Early and late Edgar was at the cricket nets -watching the practice and debating how he should -send his team in to bat. For such a young lad, he -had keen powers of observation, and he made a -pretty accurate calculation as to the pluck and nerve -of each boy. Edgar’s father arrived the day before -the match, and saw the final practice.</p> - -<p>‘You have a real good team,’ he said to his son,<span class="pagenum">[23]</span> -‘and ought to win. Remember, a good deal depends -upon the captain.’</p> - -<p>‘I’m not likely to forget that,’ said Edgar. ‘You -have often told me a good captain wins many a game -at cricket.’</p> - -<p>Robert Foster was proud of his son, and naturally -felt anxious to see him successful.</p> - -<p>‘How’s my lad doing?’ he had said to the head-master.</p> - -<p>‘Well—very well,’ said Dr. Hook. ‘He is not a -brilliant scholar, but he will get on in the world. He -is like his father in one respect. He is about the -best cricketer and all-round athlete we have in the -school.’</p> - -<p>Robert Foster’s eyes brightened, and he said:</p> - -<p>‘I’m glad of that. I’m not a rich man, and my -lad will have to fight his own battles. He has a -great inclination to go abroad, and I don’t know that -it will not be a good thing for him. His sister will -be able to keep me from feeling lonely.’</p> - -<p>Dr. Hook looked at Robert Foster with his kindly -eyes, and replied:</p> - -<p>‘Travel expands the mind. If a lad has plenty of -ballast, he will take no harm in any part of the -world. Your son is a lad of mettle, and you need -have no fear about his future. If I am a judge of -character, I should say Edgar Foster is a lad who -will surmount difficulties and dangers, and he is -bound to be a leader of men.’</p> - -<p>Robert Foster was proud of the way in which the<span class="pagenum">[24]</span> -head-master spoke of his son. How little do thoughtless -schoolboys know the pleasure a father feels in -hearing praise bestowed upon his child, or of the -pang he feels when the son he loves strays from the -right path. Robert Foster loved his son devotedly, -although he made very little demonstration of his -affection, and Edgar thoroughly understood and -appreciated the manly qualities of his father.</p> - -<p>The eventful day arrived, and a glorious day it -was. The sun shone brightly, and there was a slight -cool breeze. Redbank cricket ground was charmingly -situated. The pavilion was small, but there were -several large trees growing at the back which afforded -ample shade. The ground was level and well-kept, -and the pitch had much care bestowed upon it. It -was a great day at Redbank when this return match -with Fairfield College was to be played. Flushed -with the triumph of their previous victory, the Fairfield -lads were eager for the fray, and had invited -many friends to come and witness their further -triumph. The captain of the Fairfield eleven, Harold -Simpson, was almost as popular at Fairfield as -Edgar Foster was at Redbank. The two captains -had a mutual liking for each other, although each -one was determined to beat the other in the great -game they were about to play.</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster lost the toss, and, as the ground was -in such good order, Harold Simpson elected to send -his men in first.</p> - -<p>‘They are a strong batting team,’ said Edgar to<span class="pagenum">[25]</span> -his father. ‘It will take us some time to get rid of -them.’</p> - -<p>‘It is a one-day match, so you must do your level -best to get them out quickly,’ said his father.</p> - -<p>As the boys filed on to the field they were cheered -by their comrades and the Redbank supporters, who -had mustered in strong force.</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster came in for a special share of applause, -and he felt his pulses tingle and his heart beat high -with hope as he bounded over the springy turf towards -the wickets.</p> - -<p>The two Fairfield batsmen were wildly cheered by -their mates, and Harold Simpson decided on this -occasion to go in first.</p> - -<p>Will Brown and Sayers junior were put on to -bowl.</p> - -<p>An anxious moment is that during which the first -ball in a match is delivered. The bowler goes back -from the wicket, measuring his men; for a second or -two he hesitates and looks round, then he glances at -the batsman, sees all is ready, and prepares for the -delivery. As he takes his run to the wicket the -spectators hold their breath. Will this first ball be -fatal? A sigh of relief goes round as the batsman -plays it well forward.</p> - -<p>Harold Simpson failed to score in Brown’s first -over. Sayers junior then took the ball, and his first -delivery made the bails fly, much to the delight of -the Redbank boys, who shouted and cheered vociferously.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[26]</span></p> - -<p>Edgar Foster felt they had commenced well, and -was anxious for the good-fortune to continue. The -Fairfield boys were determined bats, and a long stand -took place before the second batsman was got rid of.</p> - -<p>Harold Simpson still kept his wicket up, and runs -came freely. At the fall of the fifth wicket Fairfield -had put a hundred runs on, of which the captain had -made forty.</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster went on to bowl. He was not such -a good bowler as Rakes, who thought he ought to -have been tried before, and looked sullen.</p> - -<p>In his first over Harold Simpson skied a ball to -Raymond Rakes. It was an easy catch, but Rakes -missed it, and so clumsily that the boys jeered at -him.</p> - -<p>Will Brown, who had been watching him, thought:</p> - -<p>‘He dropped that on purpose, because Edgar -bowled it.’</p> - -<p>Nothing daunted at this stroke of bad luck, Edgar -sent another similar ball down. Harold Simpson -hesitated for a moment as to what he should do with -it; then he struck out, and, strange to say, the ball -went to Rakes again.</p> - -<p>It was not such an easy catch as the former one, -but, still, there ought to have been very little difficulty -in a good fielder securing it. Rakes fumbled it badly, -and again missed the catch.</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster could not help thinking of what Will -Brown had said to him. He was very much annoyed, -and at the conclusion of his over said to Rakes:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[27]</span></p> - -<p>‘Those were two easy catches to miss; they may -cost us the match.’</p> - -<p>‘They were not as easy as they looked,’ said Rakes. -‘You don’t suppose I dropped them on purpose, do -you?’</p> - -<p>‘I should be very sorry to think that,’ said Edgar; -‘but be more careful next time.’</p> - -<p>At last Will Brown secured Harold Simpson’s -wicket, and the others followed rapidly, the innings -closing for a hundred and thirty-four, a good score in -a one-day school match.</p> - -<p>‘What do you think of it, Edgar?’ asked his father. -‘Shall you be able to wipe that off?’</p> - -<p>‘I think so,’ replied Edgar. ‘We should have had -a much easier task had Rakes held those two catches -off my bowling.’</p> - -<p>‘He made an awful mess of them,’ said Robert -Foster. ‘How he dropped the first puzzles me; he -had it fairly in his hands.’</p> - -<p>‘Look here, Edgar!’ said Will Brown. ‘It’s no use -mincing matters. I’m sure Rakes missed those -catches purposely. When are you going to send -him in?’</p> - -<p>‘About seventh,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Put him in last,’ said Will.</p> - -<p>‘That would only make matters worse,’ said Edgar; -‘he would know I doubted him, and act accordingly. -He shall go in sixth wicket down. It will -give him a chance of making up for missing those -catches.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[28]</span></p> - -<p>‘As you wish,’ said Will. ‘Mind, if you are in with -him, he does not run you out.’</p> - -<p>‘No fear of that,’ said Edgar, laughing.</p> - -<p>And he crossed over to speak to Raymond Rakes.</p> - -<p>‘You go in sixth wicket down,’ he said.</p> - -<p>‘All right,’ replied Rakes, ‘that will suit me.’</p> - -<p>‘We’ve not been very good friends,’ said Edgar, -‘but you know it is not my fault. We want to win -this match, and it may be that your batting will turn -the scale in our favour at a critical point of the game. -I shall rely upon you to do your best for the honour -of the school. You missed two very easy catches; -try and make up for it by playing your best when -you go in to bat.’</p> - -<p>‘I always do,’ said Rakes sulkily, and walked -away.</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster felt rather sorry he had included -Raymond Rakes in the Redbank eleven.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">A CRITICAL MOMENT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>As Edgar Foster walked to the wickets he felt much -depended upon him. He was going in first, taking -first over, and if he failed to play with confidence it -would set a bad example to the remainder of the -team. It was, however, at such moments as these that -Edgar Foster’s courage and spirit did not fail him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[29]</span></p> - -<p>As he took his position at the wicket he looked -round him with a confident air to see how the field -was placed. He saw Harold Simpson had so placed -his men that not a chance would be thrown away, -provided the bowlers were in good form. After a few -moments’ delay Edgar handled his bat confidently, -and prepared to receive the first ball of the over.</p> - -<p>A lad named Winter was bowling, and Edgar knew -he was a promising youngster. The first ball pitched -short and then shot forward at a tremendous pace. -It was a ball that might have deceived any batsman, -and Edgar had only just time to change his mind and -block it. The escape was narrow, and the boys saw -it, but they knew the ball was well played, and -cheered.</p> - -<p>‘Thought it had him,’ said Robert Foster to one of -the Redbank masters.</p> - -<p>‘It would have been a stroke of bad luck for us if -he had gone out,’ was the reply.</p> - -<p>Off the next ball Edgar scored a couple, and the -fourth ball of the over he skied on to the pavilion.</p> - -<p>‘That first ball put him on his mettle,’ thought his -father.</p> - -<p>Strange to say, in the next over Edgar’s partner -was dismissed first ball in a similar manner to that in -which the Fairfield batsman was out.</p> - -<p>Will Brown was next in, and he and Edgar made -things lively. They fairly collared the bowling, and -gave the Fairfield team plenty of leather-hunting. -Fours came freely, and Harold Simpson began to<span class="pagenum">[30]</span> -look rather downcast. However, when Will Brown -was bowled with the score at eighty, the Fairfield -captain brightened up again. He knew how often a -collapse followed a long stand, and how ‘glorious’ -was the uncertainty of cricket.</p> - -<p>Will Brown’s partnership with Edgar had put the -Redbank boys into an excellent humour, and they -were prepared to cheer every hit. What they were -not prepared for happened. This was the collapse of -the next four batsmen. Three of them were bowled -in one over, and the fourth had his bails sent flying -when he had scored two. Eighty for two wickets, -and eighty-two for six wickets altered the game completely.</p> - -<p>It was now the turn of the Fairfield boys to give -vent to their delight. The prospect of defeat had not -been pleasant, but this sudden change mended the -fortunes of their side, and they were wild with the -sudden revulsion of feeling. They chaffed the Redbank -lads unmercifully, until at one time there was -danger of a fistic war.</p> - -<p>This was, however, happily averted by the appearance -of Raymond Rakes, who was cheered as he went -to the wickets. Although Rakes was unpopular, the -boys knew he was a fair bat, and they wished to encourage -him to make a stand with Edgar Foster.</p> - -<p>As Rakes came to the wickets Edgar went forward -to meet him.</p> - -<p>‘Play steady,’ said Edgar; ‘I feel I am well set. -If you play carefully for a few overs you will soon<span class="pagenum">[31]</span> -master the bowling. Remember how much depends -upon you. We shall have to win the match between -us.’</p> - -<p>‘I’ll see what I can do,’ said Rakes. ‘It’s precious -bad luck four of our best bats going out like this.’</p> - -<p>‘Don’t think of that,’ said Edgar. ‘Try and make -up for it by piling up a good score.’</p> - -<p>Raymond Rakes followed Edgar’s advice, and soon -found he had very little difficulty in playing the -bowling. He knew how anxious Edgar was, not -only to win the match, but to make fifty because his -father was present.</p> - -<p>‘I’m well set,’ thought Rakes. ‘I’d like to get -him out. It would cut him up terribly to be run -out. Even if he got out we have a chance. I can -make a fair score, and our tail-end is not a bad -one.’</p> - -<p>Still harbouring such thoughts as these Raymond -Rakes batted steadily, and Edgar was immensely -pleased to see him scoring freely, and the Redbank -boys were cheering every stroke. They watched the -scoring-board intently, and grew more and more -excited with every run. Suddenly there was a loud -cry of dismay from the boys. Some shouted ‘Run, -Rakes!’ others ‘Go back, Foster!’</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster hit a ball forward, and called to -Rakes to run. Had Rakes come at once it would -have been an easy but smart run. Rakes started -late, and then when Edgar Foster was three parts of -the way down the pitch shouted to him to go back,<span class="pagenum">[32]</span> -and ran back himself. This left Edgar in a most -unenviable position. The ball was smartly fielded, -and as Edgar ran back he saw it flash past him -straight for the wicket-keeper.</p> - -<p>‘I’m done,’ thought Edgar, but he ran on as fast -as possible.</p> - -<p>It was a critical moment. The wicket-keeper in -some unaccountable way fumbled the ball, and only -knocked the bails off as Edgar reached the crease.</p> - -<p>‘How’s that?’ came from wicket-keeper, bowler, -and fielders in a general chorus.</p> - -<p>They were anxious to see Edgar out, for he had -given them a lot of trouble, and seemed likely to -give more.</p> - -<p>‘Not out!’ promptly came the decision of the -umpire, and a roar of applause echoed over the field -as the Redbank lads danced with delight, and flung -their caps high into the air because their captain had -another chance given him. Edgar knew the decision -of the umpire was correct, and he thanked his lucky -star that the wicket-keeper had fumbled the ball. -When he thought of Raymond Rakes he felt inclined -to give him a bit of his mind, but he determined to -treat the matter as a pure accident until the close of -the game. As for Raymond Rakes he was savage -at the non-success of his plan. He had deliberately -tried to run Edgar out. It was a dirty trick, and he -knew it, but he was bitterly disappointed that it had -not been successful.</p> - -<p>‘Hang the fellow! he seems to have all the luck,’<span class="pagenum">[33]</span> -thought Raymond. ‘I wonder if he suspects anything?’</p> - -<p>The idea of Edgar Foster suspecting he had acted -in such a manner made Rakes feel uneasy, for he -had not forgotten the punishment Edgar gave him -when he first came to the school. He did not bat -with such confidence, and Edgar put this down to -its proper cause. Runs came freely again, for Edgar -felt the result of the match depended almost entirely -upon himself. When his score reached fifty the -cheering broke out again, and made Rakes turn -green with envy.</p> - -<p>‘He shall have a new bat for that,’ said Robert -Foster. ‘By Jove! he deserves it. He’s batting -splendidly. I’m glad that big hulking fellow did not -run him out.’</p> - -<p>Before the score reached a hundred Rakes was -caught. He was not very warmly greeted as he -returned to the pavilion. The boys knew how matters -stood between him and Edgar, and they had a shrewd -suspicion Bully Rakes had tried to get Edgar run out.</p> - -<p>Rakes flung his bat down in a corner of the dressing-room -and took off his pads.</p> - -<p>‘You didn’t manage to run him out,’ said Will -Brown.</p> - -<p>‘Who wanted to run him out?’ said Rakes angrily; -‘I didn’t. It was his own fault. There was no run, -and I didn’t want to get out through his foolishness.’</p> - -<p>‘You’d better tell him that when the match is over,’ -said Will Brown. ‘He’ll probably want an explanation.<span class="pagenum">[34]</span> -If he believes you, well and good; if not—oh -my, won’t you just catch it!’</p> - -<p>Bully Rakes took up a pad and hurled it at his -tormentor.</p> - -<p>‘Get out of this, you little beast!’ he said. ‘You -know I can’t touch you here, or you’d not be so -cheeky.’</p> - -<p>‘Mind and keep clear of Edgar’s left if it comes to -war,’ said Will Brown. ‘I fancy you know he’s a -good fist at the end of his left arm.’</p> - -<p>Bully Rakes jumped to his feet and made towards -the speaker; but Will Brown was too quick for -him, and shot out at the side door.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the game was at a critical stage. Edgar -Foster was playing at his best. He did not give a -chance, nor did he throw away an opportunity of -stealing a run. He knew that every run was of vast -importance. A run lost might mean the match lost. -Sayers junior was in with him, and blocked steadily -while his captain made the runs. The fielders were -on the alert, and were smart and active, and many a -run was saved. Harold Simpson was a good general, -and handled his men well.</p> - -<p>‘It does one good to watch a game like this,’ said -Robert Foster to Dr. Hook. ‘I have seldom seen -lads field better, and Edgar is batting really well. -Who is the little chap keeping his end up so well?’</p> - -<p>‘Sayers junior,’ said Dr. Hook. ‘He’s helping -your son famously.’</p> - -<p>‘Playing a most unselfish game,’ said Robert<span class="pagenum">[35]</span> -Foster. ‘That is how matches are won. A selfish -player at any game is a big handicap on his side.’</p> - -<p>A burst of cheering from lusty throats stopped -the conversation. It was caused by Edgar Foster -hitting a ball over the pavilion—a mighty stroke for -a lad.</p> - -<p>‘Well hit!’ ‘Bravo, Foster!’ ‘Three cheers for -our skipper!’ And the Redbank lads shouted until -they were hoarse.</p> - -<p>The match was, however, not yet won. Sayers -junior played a ball on to his wicket when ten runs -remained to be got to tie and eleven to win.</p> - -<p>‘I am afraid we shall lose,’ said Dr. Hook, as the -ninth man was clean bowled and the last of the team -went in.</p> - -<p>‘Can he bat at all?’ asked Robert Foster anxiously.</p> - -<p>‘He is uncertain, but at times he shapes well,’ said -one of the masters.</p> - -<p>‘Then I hope it is his day for shaping well,’ said -Edgar’s father.</p> - -<p>‘Block them, Bull,’ said Edgar, as the lad came to -the wicket.</p> - -<p>‘I’ll do my level best,’ said Bull, ‘and I don’t feel -a bit nervous.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s right,’ said Edgar. ‘Then, between us we -must win the match.’</p> - -<p>Fortunately Edgar was batting, and he hit the first -ball sent him after Bull came in for a single. It was -fielded smartly, thrown in swiftly, the wicket-keeper -could not quite reach it, and there was another run<span class="pagenum">[36]</span> -for an overthrow. This gave Edgar another chance -before the over was finished, and he promptly took -advantage of it, hitting the next ball round to leg for -three. The excitement was intense. Would Bull be -able to keep his wicket up during this over? The -Redbank boys vowed they would make Bull a presentation -if he managed to do so. It was a surprise -to them when Bull fluked a ball past point, and -another run followed. Edgar determined to finish -the game if possible, and a couple of runs were got -by a somewhat lucky stroke. This left three runs to -win, and the boys of both schools were in a fever of -excitement.</p> - -<p>‘If Edgar can only manage to hit a three,’ said -Will Brown, ‘then we shall be all right. He’s done -wonders, considering everything.’</p> - -<p>The next ball Edgar could do nothing with. It -puzzled him, and nearly got past his bat.</p> - -<p>Then came a comparatively easy ball, and Edgar -lifted it over the ropes, amidst a perfect hurricane -of cheers. This hit won the match, and the -Redbank boys rushed wildly over the ground and, -surrounding Edgar, bore him shoulder-high to the -pavilion. It was a scene seldom witnessed even on -this famous school-ground, and as Edgar’s father -looked on he felt the moisture well up into his eyes, -and his heart beat with pride. He knew what this -moment of triumph would mean to his son, and he -gloried in it. He made his way to the dressing-room, -and as he came the boys stood on one side and<span class="pagenum">[37]</span> -cheered him again and again. They were proud of -the father and proud of the son, and were not slow to -show it.</p> - -<p>‘Splendidly done, my lad!’ said Robert Foster, as -he placed his hand on Edgar’s shoulder. ‘It was a -plucky, uphill fight, and your schoolfellows are enthusiastic -about it. I never saw you play a steadier or -better game.’</p> - -<p>‘It was hard work,’ said Edgar, ‘but I did not feel -a bit nervous. We have won, but it was a narrow -shave. I think it ought to have been an easier -victory had Rakes done his best.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, you think Rakes behaved badly? I should -give a boy like that a wide berth.’</p> - -<p>‘We are not friends,’ said Edgar, ‘but I bear him -no animosity.’</p> - -<p>The Redbank boys could do nothing but talk over -their victory, and Edgar Foster found they gave most -of the credit to himself.</p> - -<p>Edgar gave Rakes to understand he believed he -had tried to run him out.</p> - -<p>‘I may be wrong, but that is my opinion,’ said -Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Your opinion is worth nothing to me,’ said Rakes, -‘so you may keep it to yourself.’</p> - -<p>‘That may be,’ replied Edgar; ‘but the honour of -the school ought to be worth something to you. I -shall not ask you to play again during the time I am -captain of the eleven.’</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum">[38]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">LEAVING SCHOOL.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The time arrived, all too soon, when Edgar Foster was -to leave Redbank. Unlike many lads, he was not -eager to have done with lessons, and take his place -in the busy world. During his stay at Redbank he -had made many friends, Will Brown being an -especial favourite with him. Dr. Hook was proud -of his scholar, for Edgar had done as well at work as -at play.</p> - -<p>When the holiday time came round, Edgar Foster -bade farewell to Redbank with feelings of regret. As -he looked back at the school he was leaving he -thought of the many happy hours he had spent -within its walls. He had gone through trial and -struggle, such as every lad must encounter, but they -only made victory taste the sweeter.</p> - -<p>‘I shall feel quite lonely next term,’ said Will -Brown, who was going home with Edgar to spend a -few days. ‘It’s lucky for some of us Rakes is leaving, -or he would have made it uncomfortably hot. I shall -never forget the thrashing you gave him. It did me -good to see you punish him;’ and Will Brown -chuckled with delight at the mere thought.</p> - -<p>‘If I never have a harder battle to fight than that,’ -said Edgar, ‘I shall be lucky.’</p> - -<p>‘What are you going to do?’ asked Will Brown.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[39]</span></p> - -<p>‘With my father’s permission I shall go to Australia,’ -said Edgar. ‘You know how fond I have -always been of reading and learning about our great -colonies. I think it is a splendid thing to start life -in a new country, where you are not bound down -by a lot of old-world prejudices.’</p> - -<p>‘And what shall you do in Australia?’ asked Will -Brown.</p> - -<p>‘I hardly know, but you may be sure I shall -not remain idle very long. There ought to be -plenty for an active young fellow like me to do out -there.’</p> - -<p>‘They are great cricketers, the Australians,’ said -Brown. ‘You’re sure to get into one of the best -elevens, and that will help you along.’</p> - -<p>‘And give me a chance of a trip home perhaps,’ -said Edgar. ‘I should hardly like playing against -England.’</p> - -<p>‘I expect you will become such an enthusiastic -colonist that you will be only too eager to assist in -lowering the flag of old England on the cricket-field.’</p> - -<p>‘We shall see,’ replied Edgar. ‘Of one thing you -may be quite sure: I shall look upon Australia as my -home if I have to earn my living there.’</p> - -<p>Robert Foster was heartily glad to welcome his -son’s schoolmate at Elm Lodge. He was a believer -in schoolboy friendships when judiciously made.</p> - -<p>Elm Lodge was not a large place, but it was old-fashioned -and picturesque, and overlooked the -Thames near Twickenham. Robert Foster, in<span class="pagenum">[40]</span> -addition to being a great cricketer, was a skilful -oarsman, and many a Thames waterman had found -it a hard task to row with him. He was also an -enthusiastic fisherman, and knew the favourite haunts -of the famous Thames trout, and where many a good -jack was to be found. There was a boathouse at -Elm Lodge, and Edgar always anticipated a good -time on the great river.</p> - -<p>Doris Foster was a bright, merry girl of seventeen, -a perfect picture of ruddy health, her cheeks untouched -by any artificial beautifier. Nature was her -lady’s-maid, and Doris Foster would not have -changed her for the most skilful of tire-women. It -was a difficult matter to keep Doris Foster indoors, -no matter how bad the weather might be. She -revelled in sunshine, but she loved the keen, sharp, -frosty air of winter, and the sound of the frozen snow -crunching beneath her tiny feet. She knew the -names of the wild-flowers, and was well acquainted -with their haunts, and also their habits. She was -not a clever girl, but she was thoroughly domesticated, -a far more desirable accomplishment. Her -father and brother were her best friends, and she -made but few new acquaintances. Doris Foster -was a true-born English girl, not a forced artificial -production such as may be encountered by the score -in the Row, or the fashionable thoroughfares of the -West End. She had not learned to talk slang, and -to consider it correct to endeavour to make people -think, ‘What a pity she is not a man!’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[41]</span></p> - -<p>With the enthusiasm of a schoolboy, Will Brown -adored Doris Foster. There was no maudlin, sentimental -love nonsense about his adoration. It was -the pure affection and liking a healthy youth feels for -a healthy girl.</p> - -<p>‘Excuse the expression, Edgar,’ he said one day, -‘but your sister is a brick.’</p> - -<p>The schoolboy ‘brick’ is synonymous for everything -that is good. When one lad calls another a -‘brick’ there’s a ring about the word that is unmistakable. -So, when Will Brown called his sister a -brick, Edgar Foster heartily endorsed the sentiment.</p> - -<p>‘I’d like to know,’ said Will, ‘if there is anything -she cannot do?’</p> - -<p>‘Several things,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>They were sitting in a boat close to the garden -hedge, and passing their time pleasantly enough.</p> - -<p>‘Enumerate some of them,’ said Will Brown incredulously.</p> - -<p>‘She cannot smoke,’ said Edgar solemnly; ‘nor -can she make a speech. She would be a ghastly -failure as a woman politician, or a leader of fashion. -I am afraid she could not write a book, and drag all -her female friends through a moral pillory in it. Oh, -there are heaps of things Doris cannot do!’</p> - -<p>‘And a jolly good thing, too!’ said Will Brown. -‘I hate stuck-up girls—they’re worse than spoony -girls. Now, your sister—well, a fellow can make a -chum of her, and all that, don’t you know.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[42]</span></p> - -<p>‘Comprehensive, certainly,’ laughed Edgar. ‘What -does “all that, don’t you know” mean?’</p> - -<p>Will Brown waved his hand towards the flowing -river, and was at a loss for an answer.</p> - -<p>Splash!</p> - -<p>‘What’s that?’ said Will, as he shook the water -off his boating-jacket.</p> - -<p>‘That is Miss “All that, don’t you know,”’ laughed -Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Where is she?’ said Will, jumping up, and narrowly -missing overturning the boat.</p> - -<p>‘In safety, on the other side of the hedge,’ said -Edgar loudly. ‘She dare not come nearer, for fear -of the consequences.’</p> - -<p>Splash!</p> - -<p>‘We had better get out of this,’ said Will.</p> - -<p>A merry peal of laughter sounded from the other -side of the hedge.</p> - -<p>‘You lazy boys! I thought I would rouse you. -Pull the boat round to the steps, and take me for a -row immediately.’</p> - -<p>‘We decline to be ordered about,’ said Edgar. -‘Ask politely, and your request may be granted.’</p> - -<p>‘Will Mr. William Brown and Mr. Edgar Foster, -of Redbank School—ahem! College—have the goodness -to row to the steps of Elm Lodge, where they -will find Miss Doris Foster at home?’</p> - -<p>‘That’s much better,’ said Edgar. ‘Our compliments -to Miss Doris Foster, and we hasten to comply -with her request.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[43]</span></p> - -<p>‘Pull, Edgar, you lazy beggar!’ said Will, ‘for -Elm Lodge, home, and beauty.’</p> - -<p>Doris Foster looked charming in her light summer -dress and large river hat, as she stood on the steps -leading from the lawn to the water.</p> - -<p>‘Your ladyship has showered many favours upon -us of late,’ said Will Brown, as he gave her his hand -and she stepped into the boat; ‘in fact, we are in -danger of being overwhelmed with them.’</p> - -<p>‘Doris, you ought not to throw stones,’ said Edgar, -with an attempt to be serious.</p> - -<p>‘I did not throw stones,’ said Doris.</p> - -<p>‘You hear her?’ said Edgar to Will. ‘She did not -throw stones! I blush for my sister.’</p> - -<p>‘They were two half-bricks,’ said Doris. ‘Didn’t -they splash!’ And she laughed merrily.</p> - -<p>‘There’s prevarication!’ said Edgar. ‘A brick -in this instance is to all intents and purposes a -stone.’</p> - -<p>‘A brick is a brick,’ said Doris; ‘therefore it cannot -be a stone.’</p> - -<p>‘A brick is not a brick when it is only half a brick,’ -said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘If you don’t stop it,’ said Will Brown, ‘I’ll——Look -out!’ he shouted.</p> - -<p>There was a bend in the river, and they did not -see the small launch until it was nearly on to them. -The swirl she made in the water caused their boat to -dance up and down in the swell.</p> - -<p>‘All your fault,’ said Edgar to his sister. ‘But,<span class="pagenum">[44]</span> -thank goodness! it has put an end to your argument.’</p> - -<p>They had a pleasant row, and came back glowing -with health, and very hungry. Luncheon proved -most acceptable, and was thoroughly enjoyed by -these young people with good appetites and no -thoughts of indigestion.</p> - -<p>Doris Foster missed Will Brown when he left Elm -Lodge, for she had come to regard him as a sincere -friend. She had, however, other things to occupy -her mind now, for Edgar was to sail for Australia in -a couple of months. She dreaded the parting with -her brother, not only on her own account, but because -she knew how much her father would miss him. She -was half inclined to be angry with Edgar because he -had chosen to go abroad. At the same time, she -admired the spirit of adventure that tempted him -away from a comparatively easy life in England. -She knew if she had been a man she would have -followed her brother’s example.</p> - -<p>Robert Foster made the most of the time his son -was to remain at home.</p> - -<p>‘I shall be sorry to part with you,’ he said to -Edgar; ‘but you are young, and I am not old. So I -hope, ere many years have gone, we may meet again. -I believe it will do you good to go abroad. One -thing you must bear in mind: come home again if -you do not like it.’</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster was fond of the sea, and, as his father -knew the owner of one of the principal lines of sailing<span class="pagenum">[45]</span> -ships trading to Australia, he had decided to make -the voyage in the <em>Distant Shore</em>, a large vessel holding -a quick record.</p> - -<p>‘You are quite sure you prefer to go out in a sailing -vessel?’ said Robert Foster. ‘It will be a tedious -voyage.’</p> - -<p>‘I am sure the time will pass quickly,’ said Edgar. -‘I love the sea. Those big steamers are too much -like hotels, and I cannot bear hotel life.’</p> - -<p>‘Please yourself, my boy. The <em>Distant Shore</em> is a -fine vessel, and Captain Manton a good seaman. -He’ll look after you well, I feel sure.’</p> - -<p>The weeks rolled all too quickly by, and the time -drew near when the <em>Distant Shore</em> was to sail for -Sydney.</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster paid a visit to Redbank, and was -heartily welcomed by his old schoolmates, who -wished him a prosperous voyage and success in the -new country. Dr. Hook was very kind to him, and -gave him some good advice.</p> - -<p>As Edgar shook hands with him, Dr. Hook said:</p> - -<p>‘An old friend of mine once gave me what I consider -good advice. He said: “Don’t fret, keep your -temper, and mind your own business.” If you carry -out his precepts, I think you will do well.’</p> - -<p>Edgar did not feel in very good spirits when his -last night at home arrived. As he looked around the -cosy room, he wondered how many years it would be -before he saw it again, and the dear ones he must -leave behind. He said to himself he must work hard<span class="pagenum">[46]</span> -and earn a good name, and then he would come home -and be received with open arms.</p> - -<p>His father was kinder than ever on this their evening -of parting, and Doris did all in her power to make -things bright and cheerful. Edgar never ceased to -remember this particular night, and it came vividly -before him on many occasions when far away.</p> - -<p>Robert Foster and his daughter saw Edgar sail in -the <em>Distant Shore</em>, and waved him a tearful farewell.</p> - -<p>As Edgar stood looking at them he felt lonely, and -when they gradually receded from his sight he heaved -a sigh, and felt a choking sensation in his throat.</p> - -<p>When Robert Foster and Doris reached Elm Lodge -again he kissed her fondly, and said in a broken -voice:</p> - -<p>‘God knows when we shall see him again, Doris. -You are all I have left now; you must not leave your -father.’</p> - -<p>‘Edgar will return some day,’ she said quietly. ‘I -will take his place until then. When he comes back -you will forget all the sorrow of parting.’</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">A FURIOUS STORM.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Hundreds of people hurrying to business in Sydney -at an early hour in the morning cast anxious eyes at -the dull leaden sky, across which heavy clouds rolled,<span class="pagenum">[47]</span> -hanging over the harbour and the city. They also -gazed in wonderment, and with feelings not devoid of -awe, upon a mass of peculiar white clouds banked up -in an exactly opposite direction to the harbour. These -clouds were of a fleecy whiteness, balloon-shaped, and -clung together until they were heaped almost mountains -high.</p> - -<p>There was a peculiar stillness about the atmosphere—the -calm that usually precedes a storm. All day -long the clouds hung suspended overhead, and towards -the middle of the afternoon it grew much darker. -People residing at harbour suburbs hurried home as -fast as possible, and were glad when they were ferried -safely across the water.</p> - -<p>The Watson’s Bay ferry-boat was throwing off from -the landing-stage as a well-built man in a pilot’s coat -jumped on board.</p> - -<p>‘Nearly missed it, Wal,’ said the skipper of the -<em>Fairy</em>. ‘The next boat will have a rough passage, I -reckon.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes; it’s been brewing all day,’ replied Walter -Jessop. ‘We shall have a terrible night, I fear. It -will be dangerous near the coast to-night. Luckily, -there’s no vessel been sighted anywhere handy.’</p> - -<p>The speaker was evidently a seaman. He had an -honest, open face, weather-beaten and tanned with -exposure, and his hands were hard and big and used -to hard work.</p> - -<p>Pilot Jessop was well known in Sydney. In years -gone by he had done good service as a pilot, and he<span class="pagenum">[48]</span> -still followed his calling, but fortune had favoured him -in the shape of a windfall from a rich relation, and he -only took on work when he felt inclined.</p> - -<p>Walter Jessop knew the coast of Australia as well -as any man, and he had sailed up most of the harbours -and rivers between Adelaide and Normanton. Such -a man was not likely to make many mistakes about -the weather, and he knew what these lowering clouds -that had been hanging about all day meant.</p> - -<p>The <em>Fairy</em> was one of the smallest ferry boats on -the harbour, and at this time Watson’s Bay was not -such an important place as it is now. Pilot Jessop, -however, found it handy to live at Watson’s Bay, as -it was under the great shadows of South Head, beyond -which lay the open sea. Many a ship had he piloted -to a safe anchorage in the harbour.</p> - -<p>When the landing-stage was reached, he bade the -skipper of the <em>Fairy</em> good-night, and walked to his -home, which nestled in a sheltered position high up -above the harbour.</p> - -<p>A bright little woman, clad in a homely dress, gave -him a hearty welcome. Mrs. Jessop was just the wife -for such a man, and they had only one regret: they -had no child to lavish their affection upon.</p> - -<p>‘We’re in for a storm,’ said Wal Jessop, as he was -generally called. ‘I hope there’s no vessel making -for the harbour; they’d better keep away from our -coast to-night.’</p> - -<p>‘I’m right glad you have no occasion to go to sea -on such nights,’ said his wife. ‘It would make an old<span class="pagenum">[49]</span> -woman of me before my time if you were out in these -storms.’</p> - -<p>‘I weathered a good many storms before I met -you,’ said Wal Jessop, ‘but I don’t feel much inclined -for it again when I come to such comfortable quarters -as these.’</p> - -<p>A low murmuring sound could be heard, a door -banged, and the windows creaked ominously.</p> - -<p>‘It’s coming,’ said Jessop. ‘Make everything -snug, my lass; there’ll be a perfect hurricane before -morning.’</p> - -<p>As Wal Jessop sat at the well-laden tea-table, he -suddenly put down his knife and fork, and drew a -paper from his coat-pocket.</p> - -<p>‘I’d quite forgotten,’ he said. ‘I hope they’re not -making for Sydney in such a gale as this will be.’</p> - -<p>‘What ship do you mean?’ asked his wife.</p> - -<p>‘The <em>Distant Shore</em> is due here early next week. -It’s Saturday, and the agents expect her on Monday -at the latest. I hope Captain Manton has not made -an extra quick passage. She’s a clipping sailer, is the -<em>Distant Shore</em>, and he’s a bit venturesome—likes to -make a rapid run. I shouldn’t wonder if she’s not far -away to-night.’</p> - -<p>‘I hope not,’ said Mrs. Jessop.</p> - -<p>Captain Manton often paid a visit to the Jessops -when in Sydney, and the pilot and his wife were very -fond of his company.</p> - -<p>As the evening wore on the storm raged in all its -fury. Every hour seemed to add to the velocity of<span class="pagenum">[50]</span> -the gale. A great roar like distant thunder could be -heard in the cottage as the waves dashed against the -mighty rocks of South Head, and then rushed back, -baffled and angry.</p> - -<p>‘It’s beginning to rain,’ said Wal Jessop; ‘I’ll just -see if the pony’s all right before it comes on faster.’</p> - -<p>‘Be quick in again,’ said his wife, ‘or you’ll be -drenched.’</p> - -<p>A fierce gust came in as he opened the door and -quickly shut it again.</p> - -<p>‘It doesn’t rain after all,’ he said, as he looked up -at the dark clouds through which the moon occasionally -shone in fitful gleams.</p> - -<p>As if to convince him he had made a mistake, and -that his first surmise was correct, a shower of heavy -drops fell upon him. He stood still and thought for -a moment; then he touched the wet on his coat and -tasted it. It was salt, and he knew the waves outside -were running high and dashing showers of salt spray -over the top of the rocks, and the wind carried it -across the village.</p> - -<p>‘Such a sea is worth having a look at,’ he thought. -‘I’ll have a walk up to the cliffs before I turn in.’</p> - -<p>He told his wife it was the spray from the waves -being dashed on the rocks, and she knew it must be -terrible out at sea.</p> - -<p>Walter Jessop could not rest. He felt uneasy, and -had an undefinable feeling that some dire catastrophe -was about to take place. He sat down and tried to -read the evening paper, but nothing in it interested<span class="pagenum">[51]</span> -him. His pipe continually went out because he was -so deep in thought he failed to draw sufficiently to -keep it alight. His wife watched him with anxious -eyes. She had seen him like this before when he -had been affected by a presentiment of evil. He got -up from his chair and restlessly paced about the -room.</p> - -<p>‘Have a glass of something,’ said his wife. ‘It’s -getting on for bedtime.’</p> - -<p>‘Don’t mind if I do,’ he said. ‘I’ll tell you what -it is, lass: I fear there’ll be something awful happen -before the night’s over.’</p> - -<p>‘It’s the storm makes you feel like that,’ said his -wife. ‘This will do you good.’ And she handed -him a glass of toddy.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop drank it with evident relish. Then he -looked at his watch, and said:</p> - -<p>‘Ten o’clock. I’ll just go up on the cliffs, and -have a look out to sea; I’ll never rest if I don’t.’</p> - -<p>‘If you say you’ll go I know you mean it,’ said -his wife; ‘but do be careful. You might get blown -over the rocks.’</p> - -<p>‘There’s a moon,’ he said; ‘and I’m more likely -to be blown away from the rocks than over them. -I’ll not be gone long. You go to bed.’</p> - -<p>He put on a thick coat and slouch hat, kissed his -wife, and then went out into the stormy night.</p> - -<p>‘If he fancies I’m going to bed until he comes -home he’s mistaken,’ said Mrs. Jessop to herself. -‘Oh, these sailors! A furious gale seems to tempt<span class="pagenum">[52]</span> -them outside when other folk are only too anxious to -hide their heads under the bedclothes.’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop felt the full force of the wind as he -made his way up a narrow path towards the top of -the cliff. He battled with it, and seemed to take a -fierce delight in overcoming it. A terrific gust nearly -swept him off his feet, and he muttered:</p> - -<p>‘Nearly had me that time, but I’ll beat the winds -as I have done before. There’s some satisfaction in -fighting a gale like this, but I’d sooner be doing it -here than out at sea yonder.’</p> - -<p>At last he reached the roadway, which he crossed, -and then climbed up again towards the top of the -rocks. As he made his way slowly the salt spray -dashed into his face, and wetted him all over. He -could hear the waves thundering against the rocks, -and every roar was followed by a dense shower of -spray. When he reached the top of the rocks the -moon came out from behind a cloud, and shed a pale -light on the scene.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop looked out to sea, and saw nothing but -a black mass of tumultuous water and fierce waves -chasing each other in mad sport. Then he looked -down below and saw masses of foam tossed about -and flung high into the air. He saw the great waves -roll across the jutting rock, then dash furiously -against the solid mass opposed to them, and cast up -spray like a waterspout. This battle between the -waves and the rocks had been going on for centuries, -and would, he knew, continue for centuries more.<span class="pagenum">[53]</span> -The waves, constantly baffled and defeated, had to -retreat, but they returned again and again to the -charge, bringing up reinforcements from their mighty -reserves, until at last the rocks seemed to give way -inch by inch, and their jagged, worn fronts bore -unmistakable testimony to the fierceness of the onslaught.</p> - -<p>Pilot Jessop could not tear himself away from this -scene of tumult and fierce war. He stood alone -upon the rocks, the spray drenching him, and the -wind whistling and whining in his ears. He knew -there was a warm bed awaiting him at home, and yet -he could not leave the spot. He peered out to sea, -and saw an empty space. The moon was again -hidden, and all was black and desolate. Suddenly -he started, and gave vent to an exclamation. He -thought he saw a tiny light sparkle far away out in -the gloom. He looked again and again, but could -see nothing. Could his eyes have deceived him? -What could he have mistaken for a light so far out -at sea? There it was again. He could not mistake -it this time. There were two lights like stars; now -he saw three. A cold, dull feeling came over him, -and froze the blood in his veins; his heart beat -loudly, and he put his hands to his head to think.</p> - -<p>Was it a ship out at sea and heading for the -harbour on such a night as this? Surely no captain -would be so mad and foolish as to risk passing -through that narrow strait between the Heads in such -a gale! He looked again and again, and the more<span class="pagenum">[54]</span> -he looked the more he was convinced it was a vessel -being driven on to the rocks. He knew if it was a -ship she would be dashed into a thousand pieces and -not a soul on board could be saved. Hoping against -hope, he looked again. The light had gone, and he -breathed more freely. His eyesight must have -deceived him.</p> - -<p>He felt a tug at his sleeve, and turning quickly -round, faced his wife.</p> - -<p>‘I could bear it no longer,’ she said; ‘you have -been out over three hours. The suspense was -terrible. I thought you were blown over the rocks. -Come home, Wal, you are wet through.’</p> - -<p>‘Three hours!’ he exclaimed, then, knowing how -he had been compelled to struggle to reach the rocks, -he took his wife in his arms, strained her to his -breast, kissed her fondly, and said:</p> - -<p>‘You are a brave little woman, and I’m a brute for -causing you anxiety. We will go home at once. -This is no fit place for you.’</p> - -<p>‘Wal, Wal!’ she cried as she stared over his -shoulder with wide, terror-stricken eyes; ‘look, -there’s a light; two lights, three! It’s a ship! -Lord have mercy on ’em!’</p> - -<p>‘Good God, she’s seen it! Then my eyes have -not deceived me. That’s what I’ve been watching -this hour,’ he said.</p> - -<p>They looked together out across the furious ocean, -and saw the lights plainly now.</p> - -<p>Mary Jessop hid her face on her husband’s shoulder<span class="pagenum">[55]</span> -and sobbed aloud. She knew not a single man, -woman, or child on the ill-fated vessel could expect -to live when the ship was shattered to pieces. As -she stood there in the rocks with the wind roaring -around her, safe in her husband’s strong arms, she -offered up a prayer to the God who rules the seas to -save the ship from destruction.</p> - -<p>As for Pilot Jessop, he seemed for the moment -incapable of action. He quickly recovered, and said -in a hollow voice:</p> - -<p>‘Suppose it’s the <em>Distant Shore</em>?’</p> - -<p>His wife shuddered and said:</p> - -<p>‘Can nothing be done to save her?’</p> - -<p>‘No, Mary; she’s beyond control. No captain -would be here on such a night if he had control of his -ship. She’s helpless, and we are helpless; but we -can rouse the folk and do all we can. Come.’</p> - -<p>They went down the rocky path and hurried to the -village, where, despite the gale, the people were sleeping -soundly.</p> - -<p>They roused two or three men, and telling them to -pass the word on, they fought their way back to the -top of the cliffs.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">THE ‘DISTANT SHORE.’</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The <em>Distant Shore</em> made a quick voyage towards -Australia, and her captain felt sure of beating the<span class="pagenum">[56]</span> -sailing record by two or three days. Captain Manton -had taken a great liking to Edgar Foster, who spent -many a pleasant hour in his cabin with him. On -this voyage Captain Manton was accompanied by -his wife and child, a bright little girl about three -years of age. The child was very fond of Edgar, -and he played with the little one on deck for hours -at a stretch.</p> - -<p>‘I never remember a more favourable voyage,’ -said the captain to Edgar one morning; ‘we ought -to be in Sydney harbour in the course of two or -three days. Looks as though we are going to finish -with a squall,’ he added, pointing to the restless -clouds overhead.</p> - -<p>‘I am quite anxious to weather a storm before -we get to our journey’s end,’ said Edgar, smiling, -‘or I shall fancy I have not been to sea.’</p> - -<p>‘Your wish is likely to be gratified,’ he said; ‘but -the <em>Distant Shore</em> is a good ship, and it will be an -uncommon bad storm she cannot sail through safely.’</p> - -<p>‘With a good ship and a clever captain we have -not much to fear,’ said Edgar. ‘Here’s little Eva -coming for her morning romp. I should have been -quite lonely on board without her.’</p> - -<p>Edgar held out his arms, and the child ran into -them. He lifted her above his head, where she -laughed with delight, and looked at her father with -merry eyes.</p> - -<p>‘Pass her on to me,’ said Captain Manton; and -Edgar tossed her into her father’s arms.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[57]</span></p> - -<p>‘Back again,’ she cried, and she was tossed to -Edgar again.</p> - -<p>The captain watched them for a few moments as -they played on the deck, and then cast an anxious -look at the sky. He knew they were in for a storm, -probably a bad one.</p> - -<p>During the night Edgar heard the vessel creak -and groan, and her timbers strain in a most unusual -manner. The sailors were hard at work on deck, -and he knew the storm must have burst upon them. -He turned over in his berth, and felt thankful the -<em>Distant Shore</em> was such a safe vessel, and her captain -a trustworthy seaman.</p> - -<p>Edgar had some difficulty in reaching the deck -next morning. Not a single passenger was in the -saloon as he staggered through, holding on first to -one thing, and then another.</p> - -<p>‘You had better keep below, sir,’ said one of the -stewards; ‘you’ll stand a good chance of being blown -overboard if you venture on deck. We are finishing -up with a real bad storm.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s just what I want to see,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘You can’t get out that way,’ said the man; ‘the -hatches are down. Come this way, and I will show -you how to get on deck.’</p> - -<p>Edgar followed the man to the fore-part of the -ship, and was well knocked about during the -journey.</p> - -<p>‘Go up there, and you’ll be able to see what it’s -like before you go on deck,’ said the steward.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[58]</span></p> - -<p>‘Just as well to look before I leap, I suppose,’ -said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘I don’t think you’ll want to leap on deck when -you have had a look out,’ was the reply.</p> - -<p>Edgar climbed up the steep steps, holding on with -all his might. When he reached the top he saw -there was a thick glass with bars across it. He could -see well enough through the glass, and the sight -almost took away his breath.</p> - -<p>A huge wave towered high above the ship, and -Edgar thought if it came over the deck the vessel -must surely go down. The <em>Distant Shore</em> gave a -mad plunge, and he nearly lost his foothold. The -ship seemed to dive down into the depths of the -sea, and then, coming up again, shook herself all -over. On second thoughts Edgar decided to remain -where he was, or rather down below in the saloon. -Captain Manton entered a few minutes after Edgar -succeeded in finding his way back.</p> - -<p>‘Well, my lad, you’ve got a storm at last,’ said -the captain; ‘I hope you are satisfied. My wife and -Eva are in their cabin, and I don’t think they are -quite so pleased as you are about the weather. It will -get worse before it mends.’</p> - -<p>‘Worse?’ said Edgar. ‘Why, it’s blowing a regular -hurricane, and the sea is running as high as the -ship.’</p> - -<p>‘How did you find that out?’ said Captain -Manton. ‘I gave orders no one was to be allowed -on deck.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[59]</span></p> - -<p>Edgar explained, and the captain was satisfied.</p> - -<p>‘So you did not like the look of things?’ he asked.</p> - -<p>‘No,’ said Edgar. ‘I think I am safer here, -although I confess I feel a little queer.’</p> - -<p>Captain Manton smiled as he replied:</p> - -<p>‘Sea-sickness will soon cure you of a longing for -storms. I’d advise you to turn in before you have -to be carried to your berth.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, it’s not so bad as that,’ said Edgar. ‘It will -pass off.’</p> - -<p>‘No doubt,’ said the captain with a meaning smile.</p> - -<p>All that day the storm raged, and the <em>Distant -Shore</em> battled with it. As night came on, Captain -Manton became anxious. He knew they were nearing -the coast of New South Wales, and the wind -was driving them straight in that direction. He tried -in vain to alter the ship’s course, but he could not -keep out to sea; some uncontrollable current appeared -to drive the vessel along. As the night wore on -there were no signs of the storm abating; in fact, the -gale was worse than ever.</p> - -<p>A terrible crash made everyone on board quake. -A huge sea dashed over the ship, sweeping her deck -well-nigh clear. The boats were smashed to atoms; -two sailors were washed overboard, and Captain -Manton was dashed against his cabin and almost -stunned. Before the <em>Distant Shore</em> could right herself -another merciless sea swept over her, and at the -same moment the rudder chain snapped, and the -vessel swung helplessly round.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[60]</span></p> - -<p>Captain Manton at once realized the danger they -were in. By the fitful light of the moon he saw the -terrible havoc the waves had made on deck. Then -he saw something that made his heart quail; it was -the flashing of the light from South Head lighthouse. -Well might a brave man tremble at the thought of -being dashed to pieces on those great rocks. His -ship was no longer under control, and he could do -nothing to save her from being driven to destruction. -Had the steering gear held firm he might have tried -to dash through the Heads into the harbour. That -would have been a mere chance; but even this, -small as it was, had gone. Despair seized upon him, -and held him in chains; but he burst the bonds at -the thought of the lives of those on board. They -were still some distance from the Heads; the light -flashed out many miles to sea. He must prepare -them as quietly as possible to await their fate.</p> - -<p>Leaving the mate in charge of the vessel, he went -below. He made for Edgar’s cabin and entered -without knocking.</p> - -<p>Edgar was wide awake and dressed, and he knew -there must be something wrong when he saw the -captain.</p> - -<p>‘What is it?’ said Edgar. ‘Any danger?’ and he -tumbled out of his berth.</p> - -<p>‘You are a brave lad,’ said Captain Manton, ‘and -I have come to you first. There is no time to lose. -We are in deadly peril. I have no control over the -ship, and we are being blown straight for the rocks.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[61]</span></p> - -<p>‘What can I do?’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>He was pale, but perfectly calm.</p> - -<p>‘Very little,’ said Captain Manton; ‘but you can -set a good example. A panic will only make matters -worse. If the passengers are kept under control, it -may be possible to save some of them. Will you -call them up in the saloon cabin? Tell them to dress, -and try and calm them. I will tell my wife and take -her and Eva up with me. You will find them in my -cabin. If it comes to the worst, do what you can -for them. I must stick to the ship. I’ll save her if -I can, but I see no chance at present. Good-bye!’</p> - -<p>He held out his hand and Edgar gripped it hard. -They looked firmly into each other’s eyes. They -were not afraid of facing death. Edgar seemed to -have grown older, and Captain Manton saw the look -of determination on his face and thought to himself:</p> - -<p>‘This lad will not fail me. He will give his life to -save those I love.’</p> - -<p>‘Good-bye,’ said Edgar, and without another word -he went to rouse his fellow-passengers.</p> - -<p>So well did he accomplish his difficult task that, -although the peril they were in was understood, there -was no panic. Happily there were very few women -and children on board, and the men behaved well.</p> - -<p>It was an awful sight, Edgar thought: the saloon -filled with people hastening to their death, awaiting -the summons from the captain, ‘All hands on deck,’ -which meant they were to sell their lives as dearly as -possible. The very suddenness of the danger appeared<span class="pagenum">[62]</span> -to have taken all sense of fear away. Not -a word was spoken; the sobbing of children, and the -half-smothered, heart-rending groan of some poor -mother, could alone be heard.</p> - -<p>A great rush of wind, followed by a loud shout, -aroused them:</p> - -<p>‘All hands on deck!’</p> - -<p>Edgar led the way, and then stood by while the -women and children were helped up the stairs. The -men followed. Edgar was the last to leave the -saloon. Once on deck he saw what their danger -was, and from whence it came. The lighthouse stood -high up on the rocks, flashing across the sea, and they -were so near now that the rays lighted up the faces -of those in deadly peril on the doomed ship. Edgar -forced his way towards the captain’s cabin, and found -Mrs. Manton and Eva crouching down, overcome with -fear. He spoke a few words of encouragement, and -little Eva looked up into his face with wistful eyes.</p> - -<p>Then Edgar looked round the ship as the light -flashed on it again. He saw pale, blanched faces all -round him, men clinging in desperation to ropes -and bars, and women holding their children fast, -themselves held by strong men’s disengaged arms. -It was an awful sight, but Edgar felt no fear for himself -as he looked at it. He thought of the grand -voyage they had gone through, and how near they -were to their destination. The good ship was struggling -on, and after going these thousands of miles -was to be dashed to pieces at the very entrance to<span class="pagenum">[63]</span> -the harbour of safety. His mind wandered to those -at home, and he seemed to see his father and sister -sitting in the dear old room at Elm Lodge, as on -that last night in the home he loved so well. Their -voices seemed to ring in his ears, giving him hope -and encouragement. He smiled faintly as he -imagined he could hear his father say:</p> - -<p>‘You’re in a tight fix, my lad, but never despair; -be brave and fight to the end.’</p> - -<p>A loud cry of despair echoed through the night. -It was wafted to the watchers on the rocks, who -stood there helpless, unable to lend a hand to save -the men and women going to sure destruction. -Again it rose above the roar of the sea, and Edgar -shuddered as he heard it.</p> - -<p>Well might the doomed ones cry aloud. To the -right of them, not many yards away, yawned a large -opening between the gigantic rocky Heads. Through -that opening lay safety and rest, and yet no power -on earth could drive the <em>Distant Shore</em> through it. -Facing them was another gap, but there was no -opening there; the solid rock rose straight out of the -sea. On came the <em>Distant Shore</em> through the boiling, -seething mass of waters.</p> - -<p>Captain Manton stood at his post. Once he cast -his eyes in the direction of his cabin, and a satisfied -smile played over his face as he saw Edgar there.</p> - -<p>‘My life for theirs, O God!’ he cried.</p> - -<p>He was not a man given to many prayers, but he -believed his cry would be heard.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[64]</span></p> - -<p>Edgar looked ahead. He saw the vessel heaved -high upon the waves; he saw the merciless rock in -front. There was not a moment to spare. He -rushed into the cabin.</p> - -<p>‘Give me Eva,’ he said. ‘You will have a better -chance alone.’</p> - -<p>The mother pressed her child to her heart and -smothered her with kisses.</p> - -<p>Edgar snatched the child away and sprang out of -the cabin. At the same moment there was a terrific -crash, a rending and splitting of timbers, cries and -groans, shrieks for help, and strange, unearthly -sounds.</p> - -<p>Edgar, with the child firmly clasped in his arms, -was hurled against the side of the vessel. He felt it -give way, and as he glanced round he saw the ship -shattered into a thousand pieces, and great timbers -hurled high into the air. Then he felt the water -rush over him, he was lifted off his feet and flung -into the furious waves, with little Eva still clasped -firm in his arms.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">WHAT THE MORNING BROUGHT FORTH.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>And what of the watchers on South Head? Wal -Jessop’s summons had been obeyed, and a small -knot of men, and one or two women, stood looking -out to sea at the doomed ship.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[65]</span></p> - -<p>‘What is she, Wal?’ said one man. ‘Do you know -her name?’</p> - -<p>‘Not for certain; but I’m afraid it’s the <em>Distant -Shore</em>,’ replied Jessop.</p> - -<p>‘Captain Manton? I hope not,’ was the reply.</p> - -<p>‘She’s helpless,’ said Jessop. ‘There’s no control -over that ship. It’s awful! Here we are, and cannot -lend a helping hand. No boat could live in such a -sea; no man could swim near those rocks.’</p> - -<p>They saw the ship lifted upon the top of the waves, -and then sink out of sight again. The large vessel -was no more to the merciless sea than a mere cork.</p> - -<p>‘It will not be many minutes now,’ said Jessop to -his wife; and she shuddered, and stepped back from -the cliffs. ‘Go home, Mary,’ he said; ‘this is no -place for you.’</p> - -<p>‘I’ll face it now I’m here,’ she said; ‘the crash will -be awful. Can nothing be done to save them?’</p> - -<p>‘Nothing,’ he replied. ‘We must wait and see -what the morning brings forth; the sea may have -gone down by then. There’s very little hope that -anyone will be saved.’</p> - -<p>They crowded dangerously near the edge of the -cliffs, and strained their eyes in the direction of the -ship.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the vessel shot upright under them, deep -down below. She was heaved forward with tremendous -force on the waves, and then came the crash, which -seemed to shake the rock upon which they stood. It -was an awful sound, this rending of timbers, the<span class="pagenum">[66]</span> -grinding and splitting to pieces of a fine ship, with -her living freight, within a few yards of the harbour.</p> - -<p>Cries came up from this abyss and made strong -men tremble and weep. Cries for help, and they -could not help, although there was not a man -amongst them but would have risked his life cheerfully -had he thought there was the slightest hope of -saving those on board.</p> - -<p>They heard the ship grinding on the rocks, they -heard groans and shrieks, and in a few moments -there came an awful stillness. Even the waves -seemed awed by this terrible disaster, and there was -a lull in the storm. The wind dropped quickly and -moaned dismally.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop lay flat down, and, while a man held -his legs, peered into the depths below, but he -could see nothing but the white foam from the waves. -There was not a trace of the vessel, so far as he could -make out.</p> - -<p>‘We must wait till morning, but it’s weary work,’ -he said. ‘Would to God we could do something to -help them! They’re beyond help now, I’m afraid. -Poor Manton!’</p> - -<p>‘Then, you feel sure it’s the <em>Distant Shore</em>?’</p> - -<p>‘I have a presentiment it is. She’s due shortly, -and Manton always liked to make a quick passage. -If it is the <em>Distant Shore</em>, it will be the last trip he -will ever make,’ said Jessop.</p> - -<p>‘What shall we do as soon as it’s light?’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop was always the man addressed; the<span class="pagenum">[67]</span> -others recognised him as the guiding hand in this -trouble.</p> - -<p>‘We must have ropes ready,’ he said. ‘I’m going -down the rocks as soon as it’s light.’</p> - -<p>‘No, no,’ said his wife; ‘you must not, Wal. It -will mean death to you, and then to me. If the rope -broke you would be dashed to pieces. Wait until -you can row round through the Heads.’</p> - -<p>‘Nay, my lass,’ he said kindly; ‘even if the gale -drops, the sea will be too rough for any boat to reach -the rocks below. I must go down. There’ll be no -danger, with a stout rope and sturdy arms to hold -me. Think of it, lass—I might save a life. It’s -worth the risk, if only for the chance.’</p> - -<p>She knew it would be useless to try and dissuade -him; but she determined to remain and watch.</p> - -<p>It was weary work waiting for the light to come. -Ropes had been procured, and a heavy crowbar -driven firmly down.</p> - -<p>‘No danger of them breaking,’ said Wal Jessop as -he handled the ropes. ‘You must keep the rope -well away from the rock as you lower me down; if it -frays on a jagged sharp edge it might break.’</p> - -<p>At last daylight began to appear, and in these -climes there is not long to wait before it is quite light.</p> - -<p>As the men looked over the cliffs they could see no -sign of any living creature. Spars and timbers had -been dashed upon the rocks, and remained there, but -they were the only signs of the wreck.</p> - -<p>‘If timber can lodge there,’ said Jessop, ‘maybe<span class="pagenum">[68]</span> -some poor fellow has managed to be cast up out of -reach of the waves. Make ready quickly; we must -lose no time.’</p> - -<p>The men set to work with a will. The stoutest -rope was not long enough to reach to the foot of the -rocks, and another long one had to be fastened on. -The end was made fast to the iron bar, bags were -put along the edge of the cliff to prevent the rope -fraying, and, when Wal Jessop had inspected everything, -and found all right, he tied the rope round his -waist, and stood ready to make the descent. It was -a perilous task, for the wind was still high and the -face of the rocks dangerous, having so many sharp -projections against which he might be knocked as he -was lowered down.</p> - -<p>He kissed his wife, and bade her think only of the -duty he had to perform; and if there was a spice of -danger in it, why, so much the better, and the more -credit to a man for undertaking it.</p> - -<p>‘You ought to be proud I’m going to do it,’ he -said; ‘there’s not a man here who does not envy me -the job, and would like to take it on himself.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s so,’ said one of the men. ‘It’s because -we have such respect for your husband that we’re -letting him have first turn. If he wants to go down -a second time, I reckon there’ll be a dispute about it.’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop crawled to the edge of the rocks, and -then, taking a firm hold of the rope, slipped quickly -over. Two men held the rope near the edge, the -others were behind, and one man stood watching<span class="pagenum">[69]</span> -Jessop, giving the signal when to stop and when -to lower.</p> - -<p>The wind was blowing strong from the sea, and it -took Wal Jessop all his time to keep himself clear of -the rocks. He dared not push off with his feet because -the wind swung him back violently. He was -bruised and scratched, and his clothes were torn, when -he reached a rock above the level of the waves, and -signalled to stop lowering.</p> - -<p>‘He’s down,’ said the man giving orders to the -others, ‘and in a safe place, too.’</p> - -<p>Mary Jessop felt thankful for this, but she would -not be at rest until her husband reached the top -again.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop unfastened the rope and left it dangling. -He then sat down and looked around him. Those -above could merely see a small figure contemplating -the scene. On all sides there was ample evidence of -a wreck, but it seemed to Wal Jessop the vessel had -been shattered to atoms.</p> - -<p>‘Not much chance of anyone being saved,’ he -thought sadly. ‘How could they be dashed against -these rocks and live?’</p> - -<p>He scrambled along from rock to rock and found -very little. A hat or a coat he came across, lodged -high up on some projection. There was plenty of -timber and odds and ends, but not a sign of any -living soul. He searched in one direction, towards -the Heads, for about an hour, and then began to make -his way in the opposite direction. It was hard work,<span class="pagenum">[70]</span> -for the sea was still rough and the wind high, and it -was difficult for him to obtain a firm foothold on -the slippery slabs and slanting rocks.</p> - -<p>He was about to give up his search, when he caught -sight of something white lying on a high level piece -of rock some distance away.</p> - -<p>‘Wonder what that is?’ he thought. ‘A white -jacket, or something of the sort, I expect. Anyhow, -now I am here, I may as well go and see.’</p> - -<p>He scrambled along, and as he neared the object -that had attracted his attention, his heart began to -beat fast. The white garment he fancied covered a -human form. Could it be possible? Had some poor -fellow been cast up by the sea on to a ledge of safety? -He hurried on, in the hope that after all he might be -able to save a human life. What a feeling of exultation -comes over a man when he snatches a fellow-creature -from the jaws of death! Wal Jessop had -saved men’s lives before this time, but he was -anxious to save someone from this fearful wreck if -possible.</p> - -<p>As he struggled on over the uneven rocks, he saw -that the ledge upon which the white object lay was -out of the reach of the waves. His practised eyes -saw at a glance that, if a man had been cast up on to -this ledge, he would not be washed back by the -receding waves. He reached the foot of the rock, and -found it a difficult matter to get up the side. He -walked round and found a better foothold on the -other side. It was not long before he reached the<span class="pagenum">[71]</span> -top, and there he saw a sight that brought tears to his -eyes.</p> - -<p>Stretched on the rock lay a youth, calm and still—so -still that Wal Jessop thought him dead. It was a -comely face he looked upon, a face he knew would -be fair, indeed, if life still remained to bring back -light to the closed eyes. Clasped in the left arm -of the youth was a child, and she also lay insensible.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop looked down upon them with great -sorrow in his heart.</p> - -<p>‘A brave lad this,’ he thought. ‘He must have -fought hard to save that little lass—a brave lad, -indeed, to risk his life for a little child.’</p> - -<p>He stooped over them. He had a flask of brandy -in his coat-pocket. He placed his hand on the -youth’s heart and felt there was a slight pulsation. -He could not resist a loud cry of joy.</p> - -<p>‘He’s alive yet!’ he shouted. Then he felt the -child’s heart. Yes, it still beat faintly.</p> - -<p>‘Both alive!’ he cried. ‘Thank God, they may be -saved!’</p> - -<p>He forced some brandy into the youth’s mouth, -and a few drops he gave to the child. Then he -pulled off his coat, wrapped the little girl in it, and -began to rub the youth’s limbs and body to try and -restore animation.</p> - -<p>‘Not a case of half-drowned,’ he said. ‘They’ve -been thrown up on to this ledge and stunned. They -must have been insensible for some hours. He’s got<span class="pagenum">[72]</span> -a nasty cut at the back of his head, and the little one -has a big bruise on her temple.’</p> - -<p>After rubbing the youth’s hand for some time -Wal Jessop saw signs of returning life. The sight -gladdened him, and he redoubled his efforts. -Presently he heard a faint sigh, the youth’s eyes -opened, and he gazed wildly about him as though -thinking of and looking for something. In a few -minutes he gasped:</p> - -<p>‘The child! Little Eva—where——’</p> - -<p>‘Safe, my lad. She’s here,’ said Wal Jessop.</p> - -<p>A satisfied smile passed over the youth’s face, and -he sank again into insensibility.</p> - -<p>‘A brave lad,’ muttered Wal Jessop again. ‘Thinks -of naught but the saving of that little one.’</p> - -<p>A faint cry made him turn his head, and he saw a -movement under his coat.</p> - -<p>‘The warmth has brought her round,’ he thought. -‘I’ll attend to her first. He won’t come round again -yet awhile.’</p> - -<p>He took up the girl and she opened her eyes wide.</p> - -<p>‘Where is I?’ she lisped. ‘Where’s my daddy -and my mammy? Where’s Eddy? Who is you?’ -Then, as she caught sight of the sea and the rocks, -she began to cry.</p> - -<p>‘I’ll take care of you, my lamb,’ said Wal Jessop. -‘Eddy’s asleep—look.’</p> - -<p>The girl looked at him and said quickly:</p> - -<p>‘No wake him. Eddy very tired. He carried me -long way.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[73]</span></p> - -<p>‘Then, I’ll take you home and come back for him,’ -said Wal. ‘Give me a kiss, little one.’</p> - -<p>She put up her face and he kissed her tenderly. -Then he took her up in his arms and carried her as -gently as possible over the rocks back towards the -rope. Tired and worn out, the child was soon fast -asleep.</p> - -<p>‘That’s well,’ said Wal Jessop as he hurried on; -‘she’ll not be frightened as we are hauled up. -There’ll be something for Mary to do here. We’ve -no young one of our own. Perhaps we are to have -this one from the sea. We’ll see about it when the -lad can tell us all.’</p> - -<p>When Wal Jessop reached the rope he gave a loud -hallo, and held up the sleeping child. He could hear -the ringing cheers from those on the top.</p> - -<p>Having made the rope fast and tied the child firmly -round the waist, he gave the signal to haul up, and -soon reached the top without any mishap.</p> - -<p>‘Here, lass, there’s a present for you,’ said Wal, as -he laid the sleeping child in his wife’s arms.</p> - -<p>Mary Jessop kissed it fondly, and could find no -words to express her feelings.</p> - -<p>‘There’s a lad down yonder,’ said Wal Jessop. ‘I -must go back for him. You take the child home, -Mary. I’ll not be long. There’s no danger. It’s a safe -trip. I’ve been once, and I know the way. Now, lads, -lower me down again, and we’ll soon have the young -fellow up here. He’s a fine-looking chap, and I’m -glad I’m the one to rescue him. Lower away, boys!’</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum">[74]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">IN WAL JESSOP’S COTTAGE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>When Wal Jessop reached Edgar Foster—for it was -our hero who had been so miraculously saved from -sudden death—he found him sitting with his back to -the rock, and gazing out to sea with wistful eyes. -Edgar smiled faintly as he approached, and held out -his hand, which Wal Jessop seized in a hearty clasp. -Edgar began to talk, but Wal Jessop told him not to -excite himself, and to leave anything he had to say -until they were safe and sound on the top of the -rocks.</p> - -<p>‘The little one is safe,’ said Wal. ‘It was easy -enough to take her up, but it will be more difficult -with you, and I shall want you to help me all you -can.’</p> - -<p>‘I’ll do my best,’ said Edgar, ‘but I feel very weak. -What an awful night it was!’ And he shuddered as he -spoke.</p> - -<p>‘You’ll be able to tell me about it later on,’ said -Wal Jessop. ‘Try and walk a bit; put your arm -round my neck, and lean on me heavily.’</p> - -<p>Edgar managed to stand on his feet, but he felt so -weak he almost fell down again. However, he succeeded -in dragging along, with Wal Jessop’s assistance, -as far as the dangling rope. Edgar saw how -long it was, and said:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[75]</span></p> - -<p>‘Will it bear us both? You ought not to run any -risk.’</p> - -<p>It’s strong enough to hold an elephant,’ said Wal; -‘and there’s plenty of good sturdy fellows on top to -haul us up.’</p> - -<p>Without further delay he proceeded to make preparations -for the ascent. He tied the rope firmly -under Edgar’s arms, then made a loop lower down in -which he could fix his feet. When Wal had put his -feet in the loop, Edgar put his feet on the top of -Wal Jessop’s, and, facing each other, they were ready -to be hauled up. Wal Jessop also had his arms -round Edgar, in case the rope was not sufficient -support for him.</p> - -<p>‘Do you feel firmly fixed?’ said Wal.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ replied Edgar; ‘but it will be a stiffish pull -for those on the top.’</p> - -<p>‘Never you fear!’ said Wal. ‘They’ll manage it. -It’s what they have been at all their lives, hauling in -ropes either on board or ashore.’</p> - -<p>He gave the signal, and they commenced slowly to -ascend.</p> - -<p>It was with a hearty cheer the men hauled them -out of danger, and when Wal Jessop and Edgar stood -on the top of the rock the good fellows capered with -delight like so many schoolboys. They surrounded -Edgar, and were so boisterous in their expressions of -goodwill towards him, that Wal Jessop felt he ought -to interpose, or else the excitement would be too -much for the lad.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[76]</span></p> - -<p>‘Hold hard, boys!’ he shouted, forcing them back. -‘This is my prize, and I’m going to carry him off -home. A rest will do him good, and we shall hear -all about his escape later on.’</p> - -<p>‘What ship was it?’ asked one of the men.</p> - -<p>‘The <em>Distant Shore</em>,’ said Edgar sadly.</p> - -<p>‘And the skipper?’</p> - -<p>‘Lost—all lost, I am afraid, but myself and the -little one,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>Good-natured Wal Jessop, wishing to prevent more -painful questions, hurried Edgar Foster away from -the scene as quickly as he could walk.</p> - -<p>‘Where are we going to?’ asked Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘My cottage,’ said Wal. ‘The wife has taken the -young one, and has probably put her in bed ere -this.’</p> - -<p>‘You are very kind to us,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘I shouldn’t be much of a man if I didn’t do all I -could for you,’ said Wal. ‘I’ll bet you’d have done -as much for me.’</p> - -<p>‘I should have done my best,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘I know it, lad, and therefore there is all the more -pleasure in helping you. Mind the path here, it’s a -bit rough and steep,’ said Wal.</p> - -<p>When they reached Wal Jessop’s cottage, Edgar -felt exhausted, and sank helplessly into the easy-chair -Mrs. Jessop placed ready for him. Tears stood -in her eyes as she looked at Edgar’s youthful face, -and thought of those who would mourn him as lost -until they learned the truth.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[77]</span></p> - -<p>‘Poor lad!’ she said in a whisper to Wal. ‘He’s -worn out, and no wonder. You must get him into -bed, and I’ll make something hot for him.’</p> - -<p>‘He’ll be best there,’ said Wal. ‘Here goes!’</p> - -<p>He lifted Edgar out of the chair, and carried him -into a small bedroom. He helped him off with his -clothes, such as they were, all ragged and torn, and -wrapped him in the blankets. Mrs. Jessop brought -him a bowl of beef-tea and bread, and after Edgar -had done justice to it, he fell into a sound sleep.</p> - -<p>‘Wonder who he is?’ said Mrs. Jessop. ‘He’s a -fine lad.’</p> - -<p>‘And a brave one,’ said Wal. ‘He’ll sleep a good -many hours, I guess. I’ll go up to Sydney by the -boat, and give what information I can about the -wreck. I’ll hurry back as quickly as possible. If he -asks for me, tell him I shall not be long away. -Where’s the child?’</p> - -<p>Mrs. Jessop, with her finger on her lips to ensure -silence, noiselessly opened their bedroom door.</p> - -<p>Fast asleep in his own bed Wal Jessop saw the -child he had rescued from a cruel death. How calm -and peaceful she lay; not a thought of trouble haunted -her as she slept! One tiny hand peeped out from -the coverlet, and Wal Jessop could not resist covering -it with his large hand. The little one returned the -pressure, but did not awake.</p> - -<p>‘I wish she belonged to us,’ he said to his wife.</p> - -<p>‘So do I,’ was her reply. ‘Who knows but what -she may do, if she has lost her father and mother?’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[78]</span></p> - -<p>‘We shall find out all about them when I return,’ -he said. ‘Rest is what they want now, poor things. -I’ll bring some clothes back for him. You can get -the little one some when you go out. It will be a -bit of fresh shopping for you,’ he added with a smile -that brought the colour into his wife’s cheeks.</p> - -<p>When Wal Jessop reached Sydney, he found -everyone in a state of excitement about the wreck, -so many different accounts having been given by -irresponsible persons. But he did not stay to gratify -mere idle curiosity. He went direct to the offices of -the Marine Board, and gave all the evidence he could -about the wreck of the <em>Distant Shore</em>. His story was -listened to with rapt attention, for Wal Jessop was -a man who could be depended upon in all he did or -said.</p> - -<p>At the conclusion of his story, Captain Fife, President -of the Board, complimented him upon his -bravery, and asked him to bring the youth he had -rescued to the offices of the Board as soon as he was -in a proper state to give his version of the disaster.</p> - -<p>‘By the way, what sort of a lad is he, Jessop?’ -asked Captain Fife.</p> - -<p>‘If looks go for anything, he’s one of the right sort,’ -said Wal; ‘and that he’s brave goes without saying, -after what I have told you.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, I dare say I can find him something to do,’ -said Captain Fife; ‘that is, I mean, if he has no friends -out here to help him.’</p> - -<p>‘I’m sure it is very kind of you,’ said Wal. ‘I<span class="pagenum">[79]</span> -don’t know who or what he is, at present; but he’s -been brought up a cut above me, I guess.’</p> - -<p>‘That may be,’ said Captain Fife, smiling; ‘but if -he turns out as good a man as Wal Jessop, his father -will have reason to be proud of him.’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop’s honest face shone with pleasure at -this remark, and he said:</p> - -<p>‘If I can be of any use to him, he’s welcome to -all I know about Australia.’</p> - -<p>‘And that is more than most of us,’ said Captain -Fife. ‘He is in good hands, at any rate. Bring him -here as soon as you can.’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop made the best of his way home. He -avoided the busy shipping quarters, but was waylaid -by several of his acquaintances, who knew he could -tell them more about the wreck than anyone. The -pressmen were also on his track, and, in order to -quiet them, Wal Jessop gave them a short account of -what had occurred.</p> - -<p>‘It’s not all I know,’ he said at the conclusion of -his remarks; ‘but it is quite enough for you chaps -with vivid imaginations to work upon. I reckon, -when I read the accounts, they’ll be equal to anything -that could have been strung together on the spot. -Some of you have fathered stirring yarns on to me -before now. Give me a rest this time, and I’ll forgive -you.’</p> - -<p>‘We can’t let you off so easily, Wal,’ said one -pressman. ‘If I don’t get your photo for my paper -I shall have to find another shop to work in.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[80]</span></p> - -<p>‘You’ll get no photo from me,’ said Wal. ‘I’m -not a particularly good-looking man, but I draw the -line at those outrages in your paper, Billy.’</p> - -<p>When Wal Jessop arrived home, he found Edgar -had just awoke out of a refreshing sleep, for which he -felt much better.</p> - -<p>‘I have brought you some new clothes,’ said Wal; -‘your garments were rather knocked about with -rough usage. How do you feel now, my lad?’</p> - -<p>‘Excepting the pain in my head, I am all right,’ -said Edgar. ‘It is very good of you to purchase me -clothes. I have lost all I had on board the ship. I -put a draft in my coat-pocket, but I had to get rid of -my coat to save our lives. I must let my father -know I am saved, as he will be anxious about me -when he hears of the wreck.’</p> - -<p>‘I’ll send a cablegram,’ said Wal. ‘We can -manage to advance you cash enough,’ he added, -smiling. ‘Now put on your clothes and come and -have a chat with the lassie.’</p> - -<p>‘She’s a dear little child,’ said Edgar, ‘and the -captain’s daughter.’</p> - -<p>‘Poor Manton!’ said Wal; ‘I fancied as much. -She’s got the look of her father about her.’</p> - -<p>When Edgar appeared in the cosy room, he saw -Eva quietly sitting on Mrs. Jessop’s knees. The -child cried out, and slipping down, toddled towards -him, holding out both hands.</p> - -<p>Edgar clasped her in his arms and kissed her -fondly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[81]</span></p> - -<p>‘Poor little Eva,’ he said. ‘I promised to save -you if I could, and, now I have done so, I will look -after you.’</p> - -<p>Eva commenced to prattle in her childish way, and -asked for her mother.</p> - -<p>‘She’s gone a long way off,’ said Edgar. ‘You -will stay with me, won’t you, dear?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes. Stay till mamma comes back,’ said Eva. -‘Where’s daddy?’</p> - -<p>‘Gone with mamma,’ said Edgar. ‘He said you -must be a good girl.’</p> - -<p>‘Always good girl with Eddy,’ she said, snuggling -up against him.</p> - -<p>This was more than Mrs. Jessop’s motherly heart -could stand, and she beat a hasty retreat.</p> - -<p>‘Me go too,’ said Eva; and Edgar let her patter -after Mrs. Jessop.</p> - -<p>‘Now,’ said Wal Jessop, ‘we may as well introduce -ourselves. I’m Pilot Walter Jessop, and am as well -known along this coast as a good many sailors.’</p> - -<p>‘Edgar Foster is my name,’ said Edgar, who proceeded -to relate how it came about he was on board -the <em>Distant Shore</em>. He also told Wal Jessop about -his school-days and life at home. Wal Jessop was a -man who inspired confidence, and Edgar felt it would -be good for him to make a friend of the man who -had rescued him from a watery grave.</p> - -<p>‘We had a splendid passage,’ said Edgar, ‘until -we were somewhere off the coast of Tasmania, I believe. -It was then the storm commenced to brew,<span class="pagenum">[82]</span> -and Captain Manton became anxious. We could not -have had a better skipper, and no blame can be attached -to him for the loss of the ship. It was a pure -accident. The rudder chains snapped at a critical -moment, and the ship was not under control. It was -a terrible time, and I shall never forget it. Captain -Manton asked me to do what I could to save his -wife and child, as he had to try and look after the -ship and those on board. The last I saw of him he -was standing as cool and collected as though sailing -calmly into port. What the agony of his mind must -have been I fail to imagine. When the crash came -I snatched Eva from Mrs. Manton’s arms, and -directly afterwards I was hurled against the side of -the vessel, and the support almost immediately gave -way. I was pitched into the seething waves, with the -child in my arms. For a moment I was stunned, -but when the dazed feeling passed I caught hold of -a floating spar, which I managed to grasp with one -hand and to hold Eva with my other arm. The -child was insensible from the shock, and luckily for -us she did not know what happened.</p> - -<p>‘After a few minutes I scrambled on the spar, -which was tossed up and down by the waves in a -fearful manner. I expected every moment would be -my last, and that we should be dashed to pieces on -the rocks. How we escaped is really marvellous, and -God must have been very near us at that time. One -huge wave lifted the spar on to the rocks, and as I -felt it roll backwards I slipped off and clung to a<span class="pagenum">[83]</span> -jagged edge of rock. Another wave came rushing -over us, and must have rolled me higher up the -rocks, for I remember nothing more until I saw you -bending over me. I can hardly realize I am saved, -and can still hear the roar of the waves, and seem to -feel the water dashing over me.’</p> - -<p>‘When you see the place where you were cast up -by the sea,’ said Wal, ‘you will wonder still more -that you were not dashed to pieces. I see you are -tired now. In the morning we can talk over what is -best to be done.’</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">UP COUNTRY.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Edgar Foster accompanied Wal Jessop to Sydney, -in order to give evidence before the Marine Board as -to the cause of the disaster to the <em>Distant Shore</em>. -He found he was the cynosure of all eyes on the -ferry-boat, for the morning papers had given a glowing -account of his bravery in saving Eva.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop felt proud of the fine lad by his side, -who had so quickly recovered from his exertions, -and seemed to have almost forgotten the horrors of -the wreck in looking at the beautiful scene he now -saw for the first time.</p> - -<p>As the ferry-boat left the landing-stage at Watson’s -Bay, Wal Jessop pointed out the narrow passage -through the Heads, and Edgar saw with wondering<span class="pagenum">[84]</span> -eyes how near the ill-fated ship had been to the -harbour of refuge.</p> - -<p>‘If we could only have been driven through that -passage instead of on to the rocks,’ said Edgar, ‘we -might all have been alive now.’</p> - -<p>‘It was a terrible thing to go down so near home,’ -said Wal Jessop. ‘This is one of the best and safest -harbours in the world.’</p> - -<p>‘I have heard a good deal about it,’ said Edgar, -smiling, ‘but I am not surprised at the enthusiastic -way in which people praise its beauties. All I have -heard or read gave me a very faint idea of the -reality, which is far beyond any expectation I had -formed.’</p> - -<p>‘I’m glad to hear that,’ replied Wal Jessop. -‘People at times are apt to consider we “blow” too -much about our harbour.’</p> - -<p>‘Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon a -scene like this,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>When they arrived at Circular Quay, Wal Jessop -took his companion to the Marine Board offices, -where he left him, and went to send a cablegram to -Edgar’s father.</p> - -<p>Edgar gave his account of the wreck in a manner -that at once won the respect of Captain Fife and -the members of the Board. He modestly put his -own courageous conduct in the background, and -spoke of Captain Manton in such a manner that it -left no doubt upon the minds of his hearers that -everything had been done that was possible to save<span class="pagenum">[85]</span> -the ship. Edgar’s description of the wreck and the -bravery of Wal Jessop was given in a simple, -straightforward style.</p> - -<p>Captain Fife watched Edgar narrowly, and came -to the conclusion he was a lad to be trusted, and -also a lad who had received a good education. After -the Board meeting he took Edgar into his private -office, and asked him what he intended to do.</p> - -<p>‘I hardly know at present,’ replied Edgar, ‘but I -have no doubt I shall be able to obtain some kind -of work until I can look round.’</p> - -<p>‘Your name seems familiar to me,’ said Captain -Fife.</p> - -<p>‘Probably,’ said Edgar, smiling, ‘if you are a lover -of cricket.’</p> - -<p>Captain Fife jumped up from his chair, and said -in astonishment:</p> - -<p>‘Surely you are not the son of Robert Foster, who -captained the last English eleven against our team at -Lord’s?’</p> - -<p>‘I am,’ said Edgar, ‘and proud of it.’</p> - -<p>‘And well you may be, my lad,’ said Captain Fife. -‘The son of such a sterling, manly cricketer as -Robert Foster will not lack friends in Australia. I -suppose it is needless to ask if you play?’</p> - -<p>‘I am very fond of the game,’ said Edgar, ‘and -was captain of my school when I left.’</p> - -<p>‘We must give you a trial here,’ said Captain -Fife, ‘but in the meantime I must try and find you -something to do.’ He thought for a few moments,<span class="pagenum">[86]</span> -and then said: ‘How would you like to go up country -for a time? I have an interest in a station in the -West, and I think you would enjoy the life. It is -very quiet, but the change would in itself be a novelty -to you.’</p> - -<p>‘I should like it immensely,’ said Edgar; ‘I do -not care much for a town life.’</p> - -<p>‘I believe you lost everything in the wreck?’ said -Captain Fife.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ replied Edgar. ‘Wal Jessop has sent a -cablegram to my father, stating I am safe, and also -that I lost all, so I have no doubt he will send me -out a draft by an early mail to cover expenses. -I do not wish to draw upon my father continually, -and I came out here to earn my living if -possible.’</p> - -<p>‘Glad to hear it,’ said Captain Fife. ‘We have -too many young fellows out here who live upon -money sent them from home. It is a mistaken kindness, -as it causes them to rely upon others instead -of themselves, and self-reliance a man must have to -get on in this world.’</p> - -<p>Edgar was much impressed with what Captain -Fife said, and knew it was sound advice he gave.</p> - -<p>‘My father always taught me to hold my own,’ -said Edgar, ‘and to do what is right. Of course I -got into scrapes sometimes at school, but I never -shirked the consequences. I fought a lad called -Bully Rakes, and beat him, the first week I was at -Redbank. I was in the right, and therefore I felt<span class="pagenum">[87]</span> -confident of success, although he was a much stronger -lad.’</p> - -<p>‘So you can box as well as play cricket,’ said -Captain Fife, smiling; ‘you’ll get on all right here, I -can see. Can you ride well?’</p> - -<p>‘Fairly well,’ said Edgar. ‘I followed the hounds -during the holidays when I had an opportunity. I -should like to have a chance in the cricket-field here.’</p> - -<p>‘So you shall,’ said Captain Fife. ‘I will take -care your going up country does not injure your -prospects in that line. We have a very good team -on the station, and you will have plenty of practice -to keep your hand in. Some of our best men have -been drawn from up country.’</p> - -<p>It was decided that Edgar, after a week’s stay in -Sydney with Wal Jessop, should go up to Yanda, -and try how the life suited him.</p> - -<p>‘I will advance you enough money to keep you -going,’ said Captain Fife, ‘and you can repay me -when you have “knocked up a cheque,” as we say -here.’</p> - -<p>Edgar left Captain Fife’s office feeling he had -been most fortunate. His heart was heavy when -he thought of the <em>Distant Shore</em> and those on board -who had lost their lives. He could hardly realize, -as he walked the streets of Sydney, how near he -had been to death, and that only a day or two ago. -He met Wal Jessop, and told him what Captain -Fife had done.</p> - -<p>‘He’s a good sort,’ said Wal—‘a regular out-and-outer.<span class="pagenum">[88]</span> -You’ll have a real good time at Yanda. It’s -different to many stations, for the hands up there all -pull together, and, my eye! don’t they turn out some -good sports. Why, Tom Trundle, one of the best -fast bowlers we ever had in the New South Wales -team, came from Yanda. How he learned to bowl -up there, blest if I know! but that he had learned -he quickly proved when he tried his hand on the -Association Ground. I’ll never forget that match,’ -went on Wal, warming to his work, as this was one -of his favourite topics. ‘Tommy was picked to play -for the country against the town, and the way he -made some of the crack players’ stumps fly was a -caution. Frank Rarey was a good bat—about our -best—but the country chap sent Frank’s middle -stump turning summersaults in the air like a clown -in a circus. It was as good as a pipe of ‘bacca after -a day’s hard graft to see the expression on Frank’s -face when he saw that stump fly. He looked at -Tom, and he looked at the shattered wicket. Then -he walked into the dressing-room and meditated. -When the innings was ended Frank went up to Tom -and said:</p> - -<p>‘“You’re a wonder, Trundle. You’ll have to play -for the colony next time.”</p> - -<p>‘Sure enough he did,’ added Wal; ‘and bless me -if he didn’t come off first pop. He took seven of the -Victorian wickets in the very next match we had -against that colony.’</p> - -<p>‘Something like a triumph,’ said Edgar, who<span class="pagenum">[89]</span> -listened to Wal’s recital with all the ardour of a -schoolboy. ‘I only hope I may come off as well as -he did when I have the luck to play for the colony.’</p> - -<p>‘Did Captain Fife say anything about it?’ asked -Wal. ‘He’s a rare one for cricket, and, in fact, all -sorts of sport.’</p> - -<p>‘He said if I went up country it would not prejudice -my chance in the cricket-field,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Nor will it,’ said Wal. ‘It will be far better for -you to go up country than remain hanging about -town.’</p> - -<p>‘I shall have to leave Eva behind until some of -Captain Manton’s friends have been communicated -with. My father will probably see to that when he -learns the news. I must write him a long letter by -the next mail, and tell him all about the wreck and -how bravely Pilot Jessop acted.’</p> - -<p>‘Ay,’ said Wal, with a smile, ‘and if I were you -I’d just send him a few papers in order to let him see -how well his son behaved. That would only be fair. -As for the little lass, she’s welcome to stop with us as -long as she’s allowed. It will be a sore trial to my -wife to part with her. You see, we have no bairn of -our own,’ added Wal, with a wistful sigh.</p> - -<p>‘She could not be in better hands,’ said Edgar. ‘I -suppose,’ he asked, as a sudden idea occurred to him, -‘there is no possible chance of anyone being saved -from the wreck? I mean, do you think it possible -anyone could have drifted out to sea on a portion of -the wreck and been picked up by a passing boat?’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[90]</span></p> - -<p>‘That’s not possible, I think,’ said Wal. ‘No boat -left the harbour next day, and the storm was so bad, -I hardly think anyone could have lived through it out -at sea.’</p> - -<p>‘It was just a thought occurred to me,’ said Edgar. -‘I know every search has been made, but one clings -to hope, even after all hope has gone.’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop took Edgar round Sydney, and showed -him several sights. The more Edgar saw of the city, -the more he marvelled at its wondrous growth. He -had been taught much at school about the colonies, -but he had no idea such vast cities as Sydney lay on -the other side of the world. Young though he was, -he saw at once how greatly such possessions as -Australia must enhance the power and importance of -the mother-country. He saw how widespread the -influence and example of England was, and every -name and building tended to revive some association -with the old country.</p> - -<p>As he sat in the Botanical Gardens with Wal -Jessop, looking over the lovely expanse of harbour -before them, and the hills and bays of the opposite -shore, he said:</p> - -<p>‘It is only a lad’s opinion, but I think we are not -taught sufficient about our country’s great possessions -abroad when we are at school.’</p> - -<p>‘Perhaps not,’ said Wal; ‘but on this side of the -world our youngsters are taught more about old -England than Australia.’</p> - -<p>‘That should not be,’ said Edgar. ‘Every child<span class="pagenum">[91]</span> -ought to have a thorough knowledge of his own -country, and, from what little I know of it, the history -of Australia must be vastly interesting.’</p> - -<p>‘It is,’ said Wal, ‘and I have managed to scrape -together a good deal about it. The early settlers -here had no easy time, but they did well, and laid the -foundation of a promising colony upon a lot of bad -material. You would hardly think to look at it now -that Sydney, a century ago, was a convict settlement -of only a few huts, and inhabited by desperate -criminals, many of whom were more like fiends than -human beings.’</p> - -<p>‘There are not many traces of those days left?’ said -Edgar questioningly.</p> - -<p>‘No,’ said Wal, ‘and it is far better they should be -obliterated. Now, in Tasmania you see more of it. -You would find Port Arthur a curious old place. It -gave me the horrors the first time I saw it.’</p> - -<p>They chatted on for some time. Wal Jessop was a -good talker, and interested a lad of Edgar’s age. -Edgar Foster was a manly boy, not a boy developed -into a man before his time by a forcing process, as -too often is the case in this age of rapid progress.</p> - -<p>On reaching home again, Wal Jessop explained to -his wife how Edgar had been received by Captain -Fife.</p> - -<p>‘You’ll not object to keep the little lass here,’ said -Wal, ‘while Edgar goes up country for a few -months?’</p> - -<p>‘I should like to keep her for my own,’ said Mrs.<span class="pagenum">[92]</span> -Jessop. ‘She is a dear child, and will be a joy to our -home.’</p> - -<p>‘She is a lovable little thing,’ said Edgar, ‘and I -am sure will give you no trouble. I do not know -whether Captain Manton had any relations in -England, but I imagine he had. In any case, we -shall hear something before very long. I know I -shall leave her in safe hands.’</p> - -<p>‘That you may rest assured of,’ said Mrs. Jessop; -‘and I hope you will have a good time up country. -Captain Fife has evidently taken a fancy to you, and -he’s a man worth knowing.’</p> - -<p>‘That he is, Mary,’ said her husband; ‘and many’s -the good turn he’s done me.’</p> - -<p>‘Which you thoroughly deserved,’ said Edgar, with -a smile.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">A WILD SCENE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Yanda Station was situated in a wild country, and -when Edgar Foster arrived there he thought he had -never seen such a dreary spot. Accustomed to the -green fields of old England and her charming rural -landscapes, Edgar found the barren plains and scraggy -trees monotonous. Instead of miles upon miles of -green, undulating pasture-land, he saw brown, hard-baked -ground, the stunted grass growing in patches, -and looking parched and dry for want of water.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[93]</span></p> - -<p>Although the first glimpse of Yanda disenchanted -Edgar of the ideas he had formed of ‘up-country’ -scenes, the reception he met with from the station -hands reconciled him to the prospect before him. -Captain Fife had written to Benjamin Brody, the -manager at Yanda, informing him who Edgar Foster -was, and how he had behaved at the wreck of the -<em>Distant Shore</em>. He also stated that Edgar was the -son of the famous cricketer, Robert Foster. This was -quite sufficient to ensure Edgar a hearty reception, -and his arrival was quite an event on the station.</p> - -<p>Ben Brody was a born colonial, a man accustomed -to take the rough with the smooth of life and weld -them into an even existence. Brody’s temper was -none of the best, but he kept it under control. He -was a sober man in the accepted sense of the word; -that is, he never took more liquor than he could conveniently -carry. There was no better rider at Yanda -than Ben Brody, and the toughest buck-jumper -generally found he had met his match when Brody -got on to his back.</p> - -<p>Fearless and determined, he was the very man to -manage the somewhat mixed lot of hands on Yanda -Station. They had some ‘queer customers’—Brody’s -expression—on Yanda. It was a wild country, and -far out of the beaten track. The wonder to most -people who took the trouble to think about such an -outlandish place as Yanda was how it was kept going, -for they would never have been so rash as to argue -that Yanda paid its way.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[94]</span></p> - -<p>But Yanda, thanks to good management, did pay -its way, and Captain Fife and others were perfectly -satisfied with their investment. Yanda was bought -cheap at a time when station property in the far -West was going begging, and the installation of Ben -Brody as manager had resulted in its turning out a -good bargain. Brody was a great believer in sheep, -but he had not much faith in cattle on Yanda. The -hands firmly believed that Ben Brody had been reared -from a very early age upon lean mutton, and that the -taste for any other kind of meat was foreign to -him.</p> - -<p>Ben Brody had a horror of fat sheep. He preferred -sheep “all wool,” because wool was worth considerably -more than flesh. The slaughtering of a bullock -at Yanda was the signal for much joy on the part of -the hands. When Ben Brody received the news that -Edgar Foster would arrive on a certain day at Yanda, -he resolved to duly celebrate the event, just to give -the ‘new chum’ a better idea of the country.</p> - -<p>‘What’s come over Brody?’ asked Will Henton. -‘He’s actually ordered the slaughtering of a bullock. -I am overwhelmed with joy.’</p> - -<p>Will Henton was a young fellow who discovered -town life too fast for him, so had found his way to -Yanda, and turned out a useful man.</p> - -<p>‘There’s a new hand coming,’ said Harry Noke. -‘Brody’s told me about him. He’s the young fellow -who rescued that little lass at the wreck of the <em>Distant -Shore</em>, and he’s a son of Robert Foster the cricketer.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[95]</span></p> - -<p>‘No!’ said Will Henton. ‘You can’t mean it. -What a slice of luck! He’s sure to play cricket well, -and we’re short of a man or two.’</p> - -<p>‘You know the reason of the slaughter now,’ said -Harry. ‘I must confess beef will be a change from -Brody’s everlasting mutton.’</p> - -<p>‘We must give young Foster a good reception,’ -said Will.</p> - -<p>‘He deserves it,’ said Harry, ‘and he’ll be able to -spin us some yarns about the wreck.’</p> - -<p>‘Plucky young beggar,’ said Will. ‘I’m open to -bet you a trifle he can box.’</p> - -<p>‘You’re mad on boxing,’ said Harry. ‘It would be -a blessing if some disguised fighting-man came here -to knock the conceit out of you.’</p> - -<p>The hands at Yanda talked the matter of Edgar’s -arrival over, and agreed to make things pleasant for -him; occasionally they made matters rather rough -for a new hand, until he paid a substantial -footing.</p> - -<p>So it came about that there was much feasting and -rejoicing when Edgar arrived, and he thought them a -set of jolly good fellows.</p> - -<p>‘The hospitality makes up for the barrenness of the -land,’ thought Edgar.</p> - -<p>There were a good many blackfellows about -Yanda, and they were as keen on the scent of fresh-killed -meat as a hound after a fox. Towards night, -when the feasting was over, and Ben Brody, Edgar, -and several of the hands were sitting on the wide<span class="pagenum">[96]</span> -veranda running round the homestead, dusky forms -were seen advancing across the open plain.</p> - -<p>‘Have you black men about here?’ asked Edgar in -some surprise.</p> - -<p>‘Thousands of ’em,’ said Brody, without moving a -muscle of his face.</p> - -<p>Edgar looked at him, smiling, and said:</p> - -<p>‘They must be pretty tame if there are thousands -of them. I suppose when you first arrived here you -brought an army to conquer the country.’</p> - -<p>‘We’ll say hundreds,’ said Brody; ‘I must have -been thinking of sheep.’</p> - -<p>‘Mutton again!’ whispered Will to Harry Noke. -‘He lives on mutton, consequently he thinks of -sheep.’</p> - -<p>‘How many hundred blacks have you on Yanda?’ -said Edgar, who had been somewhat prepared for Ben -Brody’s exaggerations by Wal Jessop.</p> - -<p>‘Well, really, I couldn’t say for certain,’ replied -Brody; ‘I’ve not had ’em mustered lately. When -we’ve a bit of spare time I’ll have ’em counted for you.’</p> - -<p>‘Thanks,’ said Edgar; ‘it is always interesting to -ascertain what likelihood there is of the original inhabitants -of a country becoming extinct.’</p> - -<p>A roar of laughter greeted Edgar’s reply, and Will -Henton said:</p> - -<p>‘The young un’s a bit too much for you, Brody. -You had better not spin him any of those well-seasoned -aboriginal yarns of yours, for I fancy they -won’t wash.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[97]</span></p> - -<p>‘You swallowed some of them, anyway,’ said Ben -Brody.</p> - -<p>‘Merely to oblige you,’ said Will.</p> - -<p>Ben Brody glared at him, and then said:</p> - -<p>‘Meat is bad for you, Will; I must in future -restrict you to a mutton diet.’</p> - -<p>‘What are these fellows coming for?’ asked Edgar, -as about thirty blacks, including a few females, -advanced to within a dozen yards or so of the -veranda.</p> - -<p>‘They are on the war-path,’ said Will Henton. -‘The slaughtering of a bullock at Yanda is an -event of such magnitude that even the natives -of the country assemble to give thanks on the -occasion.’</p> - -<p>‘Never mind his chaff,’ said Ben Brody to Edgar; -‘you will have plenty of it if you remain here very -long. Would you care to see these fellows dance, -hold a “corroboree” as they call it?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Edgar, ‘I should very much like to -see it.’</p> - -<p>‘Then you shall. They have not given us anything -in that line lately,’ said Brody.</p> - -<p>He called a big, powerful-looking black, and spoke -to him, and made signs.</p> - -<p>‘I’ve promised them a good square meal if they -give us a dance,’ said Brody.</p> - -<p>Edgar thought it a wild scene as he looked at the -dusky forms in the moonlight. As far as he could -see the endless plain stretched out before him. The<span class="pagenum">[98]</span> -white, gaunt trees were ghostly and weird, and the -hum of many insects was in the air.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes Edgar heard a low, crooning -sound, which gradually swelled into a hoarse roar, -and then, with a loud shout from their leader, the -black fellows commenced to dance. They stamped -upon the hard ground with bare feet until the sound -became like the tramp of soldiers. Having worked -themselves up to a proper pitch of excitement, the -wild fellows threw their limbs about in the most -extraordinary fashion. Some of them leaped high -into the air, and the women sat and clapped their -hands and beat them on the ground.</p> - -<p>The black men whirled their arms, and waved -heavy sticks over their heads. Their faces became -most repulsive. Most of them had thick, curly black -hair, which hung down in shaggy locks. Their noses -were big, coarse, and wide, and their cheek-bones -high, while their mouths were of great size, and their -lips thick.</p> - -<p>As Edgar watched them dancing in this strange -fashion in the moonlight he thought it was the -wildest scene he had ever looked upon.</p> - -<p>‘Do they never get tired?’ he asked, as the dance -continued, and the efforts of the blacks did not relax.</p> - -<p>‘They have great powers of endurance,’ said Ben -Brody. ‘You see the big fellow there, to the right? -I’ve known him go ninety miles between sunset and -sunrise without so much as a halt. They are -treacherous fellows, some of them, but Yacka is a<span class="pagenum">[99]</span> -cut above the others. He’s a strange fellow. He -hails from South Australia, and the blacks around -here seem afraid of him. Strange to say, he speaks -English well, and is far better looking than the -others. My own impression is that there’s a bit of -white blood in his veins, although his skin is black. -Eh, Yacka, come here!’ he shouted.</p> - -<p>The black, who was standing alone looking at the -dancers, who were now slowing down, stepped quickly -on to the veranda without an effort.</p> - -<p>‘This is Yacka,’ said Brody to Edgar, and then -turning to the black, he said: ‘A new hand, only -arrived to-day. You’ll be able to show him a thing -or two about Yanda, I reckon.’</p> - -<p>Yacka nodded and, holding out his hand towards -Edgar, said:</p> - -<p>‘He says true. I know much about this country. -Much about other country far off. Ah, you shake -my hand! Good fellow! Yacka your friend.’</p> - -<p>Edgar had taken the black’s proffered hand, giving -it a hearty shake; this he did without a moment’s -hesitation.</p> - -<p>‘You’ve made friends with Yacka,’ said Brody; -‘that is the way he tests a man. I’ve known fellows -come here and refuse to shake hands with Yacka. -Not a blessed black in the whole tribe would help -the man who declined Yacka’s hand. I dare say -it’s quite as clean as a good many white men’s -hands.’</p> - -<p>‘I like the look of him,’ said Edgar, ‘and how well<span class="pagenum">[100]</span> -he talks! Have you ever tried to make him work as -a hand on the station?’</p> - -<p>‘Bless you, he wouldn’t demean himself to work -like these fellows, and if he did they’d buck against -it,’ said Brody.</p> - -<p>‘Quite right, too,’ said Harry Noke; ‘we don’t -want a lot of infernal blacks doing station work; -they are good for nothing but thieving and every sort -of iniquity.’</p> - -<p>‘Perhaps white men have driven them to it,’ said -Edgar; ‘I dare say they managed very well before -Australia was discovered by Captain Cook.’</p> - -<p>‘You cannot make these black fellows understand -what civilization means,’ said Brody.</p> - -<p>‘Rum,’ grunted a quiet-looking man, who had -scarcely spoken during the evening.</p> - -<p>‘When Jim Lee offers a remark, which you may -have observed is seldom,’ said Brody, ‘it is generally -to the point. Undoubtedly rum and civilization go -hand in hand where the blacks are concerned. Apart -from rum, however, the beggars are too infernally -stupid to learn anything.’</p> - -<p>‘Yacka seems fairly intelligent,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘I make an exception of Yacka,’ said Ben. ‘He’s -sharp enough, and the way he carves emu eggs and -boomerangs is a caution. The ideas that chap can -put on an emu egg beat creation. But he’s a -thorough wild man, although he does talk English -well, and has ideas above his fellows. You could no -more get Yacka to conform to our idea of civilized<span class="pagenum">[101]</span> -behaviour than you could train a monkey to keep -out of mischief. Yacka is full of mischief, but it’s -a humorous sort of mischief, and does not do much -harm.’</p> - -<p>‘Yacka’s the only useful black we have around -here,’ said Will Henton. ‘He’s a splendid fag in the -cricket field, and when he’s extra good we let him -handle a bat. He shapes well, too, and I’m inclined -to think Yacka might be developed into a decent -cricketer. He rides well, and that’s more than the -other fellows do; and when he’s handled my gun -I’ve seen him make some fair shots. The rummy -part of the business is that Yacka won’t be civilized, -as Ben says, and you can’t get him to leave the -camp.’</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster thought a good deal about Yacka -that night, and resolved to try and make friends -with him, and learn something of his past life, which -he felt sure would be interesting.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">YACKA THE BLACK.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Edgar Foster, after six months’ experience on -Yanda Station, liked the life very much. He was -popular with the hands, and Ben Brody had taken to -him in a manner that caused men to marvel. It was -seldom Brody made a chum of anyone, but he had<span class="pagenum">[102]</span> -done so of Edgar, who was young enough to be his -son.</p> - -<p>It was an intense relief to Edgar when he received -letters from his father and sister. They were letters -such as might have been expected from them, and the -way in which they referred to the terrible loss of the -<em>Distant Shore</em> brought tears into Edgar’s eyes. His -father enclosed him a draft, and said he was proud of -his son, and knew he had risked his life to save -Captain Manton’s child. Inquiries had been made in -every direction, but no relations had been found to -claim little Eva. Captain Manton had not saved -much money, and what he had was in the hands of -the shipping company to which the <em>Distant Shore</em> -belonged.</p> - -<p>Robert Foster wrote that he had consulted the -chairman of the company, and it had been arranged -that if no relation claimed Eva she was to remain in -charge of Wal Jessop and his wife, and a sum of -money would be paid annually to them. In concluding -his letter Robert Foster gave his son good -advice, telling him to go on as he had commenced, -and to brave dangers if by doing so he could help -others.</p> - -<p>Doris Foster wrote Edgar a loving letter, in which -she gave him the news that Will Brown had sailed for -Australia, and also that she had heard Raymond -Rakes had turned out badly, and been sent to -sea:</p> - -<p>‘Will has promised to try and make a small fortune<span class="pagenum">[103]</span> -in Australia,’ she wrote, ‘and when he has done so he -is to return to England and ask me a certain question -which I leave you to guess. Please do not tell him, -if you see him, that under any circumstances the -answer will be “Yes.” It might make him lazy if he -knew the capture was certain. You are a dear, -noble, brave brother, and we are very proud of you. -I am posting you a <em>Graphic</em>. You will see therein a -portrait of a certain young fellow who is styled “The -<em>Distant Shore</em> Hero,” which is no more than he -deserves. Give little Eva a lot of kisses from me. -I long to see the child you saved so splendidly. I -am sure Wal Jessop must be a grand man, and his -wife a dear, good woman. Please do not marry a -black lady, and come home as civilized as when you -left.’</p> - -<p>Edgar read these letters again and again until Ben -Brody said:</p> - -<p>‘You are a lucky beggar to have such interesting -letters. Those I get are never worth reading twice. -They’re mostly about sheep, and the price of wool, -and you cannot knock much romance out of those -articles.’</p> - -<p>Before he had been at Yanda a month, Edgar had -shown them how he could bat, and also use his fists; -and, much to Will Henton’s surprise, he had found -his match with the gloves on.</p> - -<p>‘You’re a hard hitter,’ he said to Edgar; ‘no -wonder you made Bully Rakes sing small.’</p> - -<p>Edgar related many tales about his schooldays, and<span class="pagenum">[104]</span> -worked the hands up to a pitch of enthusiasm over -the celebrated match with Fairfield.</p> - -<p>‘Blest if I don’t feel as though I’d seen it!’ said -Ben Brody.</p> - -<p>‘Good yarn!’ exclaimed Jim Lee, the silent one.</p> - -<p>‘What a brute that Rakes must be,’ said Will -Henton. ‘Fancy a fellow going against his own -side. You say he’s gone to sea? I hope he won’t -come over here; we want none of his sort.’</p> - -<p>‘I’d like to meet Will Brown,’ said Ben Brody. -‘Suppose you ask him to come up here and try his -luck? He’ll not make a fortune very quick, but it -will keep him out of mischief.’</p> - -<p>‘I’ll write to his ship in Sydney when she arrives, -and ask him,’ said Edgar; ‘I think it would just suit -him.’</p> - -<p>‘We can always find room for an extra hand or -two on Yanda,’ said Brody, with a wink, ‘provided -they’re the right sort.’</p> - -<p>‘You’ll find Will all right,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘If he comes up to your standard he’ll do,’ replied -Brody.</p> - -<p>There was not much variety in the life at Yanda, -but it was new to Edgar, and he found much to -interest him. He had the usual experience with a -buck-jumper, and felt the peculiar sensation of being -hurled into the air, with no certainty as to where he -would come down. This is how Edgar described his -first throw from a buck-jumper to his father:</p> - -<p>‘You suddenly feel his back arch, and it nearly<span class="pagenum">[105]</span> -cuts you in two. Then you discover he has all four -legs off the ground at the same time. Finally you -are shot into space, much in the same way as you -would go if a gigantic catapult propelled you. The -sensation is not pleasant, and the knowledge that all -your mates are enjoying the undignified manner in -which you are unseated adds to the general discomfiture. -However, I am a fair rough-rider now, -although there’s one horse—“Brody’s buck-jumper,” -he’s called—I cannot tackle, and no other man on the -place with the exception of Brody himself. There’s -a history attached to this animal which you may hear -some day. Brody once got him into a horse-box, I -believe, and the passengers on the train sent a deputation -to the guard at the first stopping-place to have -the horse removed. Someone suggested the animal -ought to be shot, but Brody’s wrath was so great when -he heard this that no further mention was made of it. -Anyhow, Brody’s buck-jumper had his own way, as he -always has, for the remainder of the journey.’</p> - -<p>Yacka the black had taken to Edgar Foster from -the moment he took his hand, and during the six -months that had passed he was constantly about the -homestead asking what he could do for him.</p> - -<p>‘Bless me if I don’t think you’ll civilize Yacka in -time!’ said Brody. ‘I never knew him come round -here so much before. It’s all that handshake -did it.’</p> - -<p>‘He’s a good fellow, although he is black,’ said -Edgar. ‘I’m very fond of Yacka, but I cannot quite<span class="pagenum">[106]</span> -make him out. He seems to have something on his -mind. I hope he has done nothing very dreadful.’</p> - -<p>‘You never know what these black fellows are up -to,’ said Brody; ‘but I do not think Yacka is deceitful. -Revengeful they all are, and if anyone harmed -Yacka or others belonging to him, I believe he would -make it particularly warm for him.’</p> - -<p>Yacka followed Edgar about with dog-like devotion, -and never tired of doing odd jobs for him. Edgar -watched the black carve wonderful scenes on emu -eggs, and it was extraordinary the faithfulness with -which he depicted birds and beasts on these brittle -shells.</p> - -<p>After taking particular care to carve one egg, -Yacka, with a look of fear in his eyes, handed it to -Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Why, it’s a cave surrounded by rocks and shrubs,’ -said Edgar. ‘Where did you see it? There is nothing -at all like that about here.’</p> - -<p>‘No,’ said Yacka, ‘long way off. Tramp, tramp, -for miles. Lonely desert where no white man ever -been—wonderful place. Like to see it?’</p> - -<p>The black spoke eagerly, and Edgar saw there was -something he had left hidden, which he did not care -for him to know.</p> - -<p>‘It would be no good going such a long journey, -Yacka,’ he replied, ‘because there are no people, and -what is to be found when we get there? We might -starve on the way, or die from want of water.’</p> - -<p>‘Plenty water,’ said Yacka. ‘I know the track;<span class="pagenum">[107]</span> -no one else knows it. There!’ he exclaimed, as he -smashed the emu egg he had been at so much trouble -to carve, ‘no one find it now, not even you.’</p> - -<p>‘I should remember the place if I saw it,’ said -Edgar. ‘You carve so well, and I am sure what you -carved on that egg is true to Nature.’</p> - -<p>‘Come with Yacka, and I will show you much,’ -said the black. ‘Make you rich—richer than Master -Fife, richer than your Queen; but you must go -alone with Yacka.’</p> - -<p>The black spoke earnestly, and his eyes glistened.</p> - -<p>‘I don’t see much chance of making a fortune or -finding riches in a desert,’ said Edgar. ‘Where is -this wonderful cave that contains so much wealth?’</p> - -<p>‘Many miles,’ said Yacka; ‘over Great Desert in -Northern Territory. It is not all sand. No white -man has been there; but Yacka has, and knows -there is grass and water, and food, plenty food.’</p> - -<p>‘Are you certain no white man has ever been -there?’ asked Edgar.</p> - -<p>Yacka hesitated a few moments, and then said:</p> - -<p>‘No white <em>man</em>.’</p> - -<p>‘And no white woman?’ laughed Edgar, who -noticed the stress Yacka laid on man.</p> - -<p>Yacka sprang to his feet, and waved his arms -about wildly.</p> - -<p>‘Come and see!’ he cried. ‘Come to the White -Spirit’s Cave! I am the son of Enooma!’</p> - -<p>The last word he said in a soft, liquid tone, far -different from his usual rather harsh mode of speech;<span class="pagenum">[108]</span> -and he lingered over the name with evident fondness.</p> - -<p>Edgar became interested, and the spirit of adventure -began to stir within him.</p> - -<p>‘Who is Enooma?’ he asked, endeavouring to -speak the word as Yacka pronounced it.</p> - -<p>‘The White Spirit of the Great Desert,’ said Yacka, -in a solemn voice. ‘She rests in the cave in the land -I came from. She is beautiful and white as clouds; -and I am black as the thunder-makers—and her son.’</p> - -<p>‘How can that be?’ asked Edgar. ‘Yacka must be -mistaken; he cannot be the son of Enooma the White -Spirit. How can I trust him if he deceives me?’</p> - -<p>The black looked round, and, seeing no one about, -said:</p> - -<p>‘Yacka speaks true, else how would he know the -cave where no white man has been?’</p> - -<p>‘Suppose I promise to go with you to the cave,’ said -Edgar, ‘how would it be possible for us to go alone?’</p> - -<p>‘We have guns,’ said Yacka, relapsing into ordinary -speech, ‘and there is much to shoot where I go. We -follow tracks through big white man’s country, and -cross rivers. I came from there, and can return. -Yacka knows a track once he has followed it.’</p> - -<p>‘Give me time to think it over,’ said Edgar. ‘I -trust you, Yacka, but I have others to think about. -I have a good sister, and a kind father, in far-away -England, and there will be dangers to encounter on -our journey.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ assented Yacka, ‘dangers, but we shall not<span class="pagenum">[109]</span> -die. The White Spirit will watch over us when she -knows we are coming towards her. Enooma rests -and waits for us. Speak no words to them,’ he -added, and pointed towards the homestead.</p> - -<p>‘All you have told me I promise to hold sacred,’ -said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘It is good,’ said Yacka, and calmly commenced -to carve a snake on one of the boomerangs, which he -picked up from the ground where he had thrown -them.</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster felt he was about to embark upon -strange adventures. He knew Yacka was no -ordinary black, and Ben Brody had said he believed -Yacka had white blood in his veins. Who could this -White Spirit Enooma be, whom Yacka called his -mother? Could it be possible a white woman had -penetrated to the unknown parts of the Northern -Territory? If so, how had she reached there? and -how could it be that Yacka the black was her son? -Probably it was some superstition Yacka had inherited -from his tribe.</p> - -<p>Edgar pondered over the story of riches Yacka -had related. Gold was dug out of the earth in most -unlikely places. Barren wastes had been found to -teem with the precious metal. The possibilities of -the country Edgar felt were not yet known, and in a -new and unexplored part of the vast land he was -now in what might not happen? He knew he could -trust Yacka, but he would have preferred to take a -mate with him. Will Brown would be just the one,<span class="pagenum">[110]</span> -and if he could persuade Yacka to take Will along -with them it would be glorious. He thought over -the excuses he could make to Captain Fife and -Ben Brody for leaving Yanda. If he stated he was -prompted by a love of adventure they would believe -him, and it would be the truth. There would be no -difficulty in getting away, and no time for returning -need be named.</p> - -<p>Eagerly Edgar awaited the arrival of Will Brown -in order to give Yacka a chance of making friends -with him.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>In due course Will Brown arrived at Yanda, and -he was only too glad to have the opportunity of -meeting his chum, Edgar Foster, in the new country -to which he had come. As for Edgar, it was with -unbounded delight he welcomed Will Brown. They -had much to talk about, and it was a source of much -joy to Edgar that he could listen to one who had -so recently seen those dear to him in the home he -loved so well, on the banks of the Thames.</p> - -<p>When Edgar made known to Ben Brody his intention -of leaving Yanda for a time in search of adventures, -the manager evinced no surprise.</p> - -<p>‘I didn’t expect you would be here long,’ he said. -‘Young ‘uns like to roam, and I don’t blame you.<span class="pagenum">[111]</span> -I’ve had enough wandering about to last me a lifetime, -and I’m settled for good here, so long as they -will have me. I shall be sorry to lose you, and I -wish you had chosen to remain. You have picked -a good guide in Yacka. What that black chap -knows is beyond credit. He’s never said where he -came from, but if I’m a judge it is somewhere in the -region of the MacDonnell Ranges. There are some -powerful savage tribes over there, and I’d advise -you to steer clear of them, that is, if you get so far; -but you are a precious long way from there, you -bet.’</p> - -<p>‘I do not know where we are going,’ said Edgar; -‘but Yacka has made great promises, and if he fulfils -them there will be something to talk about when we -return.’</p> - -<p>Yacka, with some show of reluctance, agreed to -Will Brown accompanying them. He yielded when -Edgar said he would not go without Will, for the -black was determined Edgar should undertake the -journey.</p> - -<p>The night before their departure they had a great -‘send off,’ all hands coming into the homestead for -the occasion.</p> - -<p>The general opinion seemed to be that Edgar and -Will were about to follow Yacka purely for the sake -of adventure, and the good fellows thought all the -better of them for their pluck and spirit.</p> - -<p>Ben Brody had given each of them a good horse, -and they had the pick of the best guns on the<span class="pagenum">[112]</span> -station. Will Henton gave them a revolver each, -expressing the hope that they would clear the country -of a few blacks.</p> - -<p>‘I hope we shall not have to use them for any -such purpose,’ said Edgar; ‘but if it comes to a fight -we shall be all there.’</p> - -<p>‘You are going on a fool’s errand,’ said Harry -Noke; ‘much better remain where you are. I would -not trust Yacka, or any other blackfellow. It’s like -enough he’ll lead you into danger out of pure devilment.’</p> - -<p>‘You are wrong,’ said Jim Lee; ‘Yacka’s square.’</p> - -<p>‘Jim’s right,’ said Brody. ‘You’re riled, Harry, -because you have not pluck enough to go with them. -As it is the last night, we must have Yacka in and -give him a drink.’</p> - -<p>Ben Brody went into the veranda and gave a -peculiar whistle, which sounded shrilly on the still -night air. In a few minutes Yacka appeared.</p> - -<p>‘That’s fetched him,’ said Will Henton; ‘Brody’s -a wonder at all sorts of signals. I believe he’s a -different call for every man on the place.’</p> - -<p>‘Have a drink, Yacka,’ said Ben Brody. ‘What’s -it to be, rum or beer?’</p> - -<p>Yacka smacked his lips, and said, ‘Beer.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s better,’ said Jim Lee; ‘rum’s a curse.’</p> - -<p>Yacka drank the beer with evident relish.</p> - -<p>‘Like a square meal?’ said Brody.</p> - -<p>The black nodded, and Brody helped him plentifully -to the remains of the feast.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[113]</span></p> - -<p>‘Where are you going to take these youngsters?’ -said Ben Brody.</p> - -<p>‘Long way,’ replied Yacka. ‘Bring them safe -back.’</p> - -<p>‘I hope so,’ said Brody. ‘Going in search of the -lost tribes?’</p> - -<p>Yacka grinned, showing his gleaming teeth.</p> - -<p>‘All tribes lost since the white men came,’ he -replied.</p> - -<p>‘Guess you’re about right there,’ said Brody. -‘Black and white cannot live side by side; one of -them’s bound to go, and it’s the black. Now, if -they were all like you, Yacka, we could get on well -together. Bless me if I don’t believe you are half a -white man!’</p> - -<p>A peculiar look came into Yacka’s eyes.</p> - -<p>‘Think so?’ he said. ‘Black skin, white man’s -heart.’</p> - -<p>‘Bravo!’ shouted Brody. ‘You shall have another -glass for that. Fill up, lads! Here’s to our mates, -and a safe journey along with Yacka!’</p> - -<p>All hands were becoming hilarious, and began to -sing ‘For they are jolly good fellows.’</p> - -<p>When the noise subsided, Brody said:</p> - -<p>Do you want a horse, Yacka?’</p> - -<p>The black shook his head, and slapped his legs.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, I know,’ said Brody; ‘your legs will carry -you quite as far as any of our station nags. You’ll -accept a gun, eh?’</p> - -<p>The black sprang to his feet, and said:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[114]</span></p> - -<p>‘A gun for my own! Very good, Master Brody; -I like a gun.’</p> - -<p>‘Then you shall have one,’ said Ben. ‘I know -you can shoot.’</p> - -<p>Yacka went through a performance of shooting an -imaginary object in such a realistic manner that -everybody laughed.</p> - -<p>It was a merry night, and all slept soundly. In -the morning Edgar and Will made a start from -Yanda with Yacka, who was on foot, and the black -looked the picture of a trained athlete.</p> - -<p>Yacka had discarded his ordinary loin-cloth, and -wore instead a peculiar arrangement in which he -could stow away a variety of articles. He declined -to wear any other clothing, and his body shone in -the sunlight, and the muscles stood out on his arms, -chest, and lower limbs. His curly hair was sufficient -protection to his head from the burning sun, and it -was in much better condition than the shaggy locks -of the blacks who were looking on. Yacka had -evidently told the blacks he was leaving Yanda, and -they looked as disconsolate as their expressionless -faces would permit.</p> - -<p>As for Edgar and Will Brown, they were in -high spirits, and, mounted on two very fair horses, -thoroughly equipped for a journey, they looked a -fine pair of young fellows.</p> - -<p>‘You’ll strike a station about sundown, I reckon,’ -said Ben Brody. ‘They’ll be glad to see you if you -say where you hail from, although it makes very<span class="pagenum">[115]</span> -little difference about that round here. Take care -of yourselves, my lads, and I hope Yacka will bring -you back to Yanda soon.’</p> - -<p>After hearty handshakes all round, the trio set -off amidst cheers and the loud, peculiar cries of the -blacks. Ben Brody watched them for a long time, -and waved his hat in response to the salutes of -Edgar and Will.</p> - -<p>‘Lads of mettle, both of ’em,’ said Brody. ‘Such -a wild-goose chase as they are on would just have -suited me in my young days. Good luck go with -you, my lads! You’ll always have a warm corner in -Ben Brody’s heart.’</p> - -<p>As the homestead they had left behind became -fainter and fainter in the distance, Edgar and Will -turned round in their saddles and waved a parting -salute to Ben Brody, whose figure was just discernible -on the veranda.</p> - -<p>As the morning wore on, the heat became intense, -and in the afternoon it was so hot they decided to -camp under the shade of some trees. Towards evening -they went on again, and that night slept in the -open, with their saddles for pillows and the bare -ground for a bed. Had it not been for the constant -singing and stinging of the mosquitoes, they would -have had a pleasant night, as the air was soft and -warm, and they needed no covering.</p> - -<p>Yacka stretched himself out near them, and slept -like a dog—half awake and ready to spring to his feet -at the slightest sound. At daybreak they made a<span class="pagenum">[116]</span> -slight meal, and then proceeded on their journey. -Yacka went ahead, and at such a pace that the horses -often had to break into a canter to keep up with him. -They arrived at Bardo Station that night, and met -with a hospitable reception.</p> - -<p>Charles Brunt, the manager, was rather amused at -the idea of a couple of lads going in search of adventure, -with a blackfellow as guide and companion. -He knew Yacka, and was of the same opinion as Ben -Brody, that the black had white blood in his veins.</p> - -<p>‘This is a hospitable land, anyhow,’ said Edgar, -when they had been away from Yanda for about a -fortnight, and had managed, through Yacka’s guidance, -to fall in with comfortable quarters almost -every night.</p> - -<p>As they went on, however, Edgar saw they were -gradually getting into a wilder country, and farther -away from the beaten track. Yacka said, when -questioned, he was taking a short cut, and that he -knew the way.</p> - -<p>‘Where are you steering for?’ asked Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘South Australian border,’ said Yacka. ‘Then we -work up to the MacDonnell Ranges, past Alice -Springs. You’ll see wild country then, when we get -through the ranges.’</p> - -<p>‘How long will it take us to reach the ranges?’ -asked Will.</p> - -<p>‘Long time yet,’ said Yacka. ‘Many miles’ tramp -a day. Horses will knock up, but not Yacka, then -you have to walk it.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[117]</span></p> - -<p>‘A pleasant prospect,’ said Edgar. ‘We may have -to tramp hundreds of miles. However, we are in for -it, and we may as well see all Yacka has to show -us. I shall be sorely cut up if he has deceived -us.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you think he would do so?’ asked Will.</p> - -<p>‘Not intentionally,’ replied Edgar; ‘but what may -appear wonderful to him may be commonplace to -us.’</p> - -<p>Having got out of the beaten track, they had to -rely upon their guns for food. They had an ample -supply of ammunition, preferring to load up their -horses in this way to carrying provisions. Edgar was -a good shot, and seldom missed his mark.</p> - -<p>‘We must be careful and not miss,’ he said, ‘for -every shot is of importance.’</p> - -<p>One afternoon they had an exciting chase after -kangaroos, and Edgar and Will thought it excellent -sport. Yacka followed the hunt, and when he suddenly -vanished, Edgar in a few minutes saw him -ahead, waiting for the kangaroos to pass.</p> - -<p>‘By Jove! how Yacka can run!’ said Edgar. -‘Look where he is now. He’ll get a kangaroo sure -enough, without firing a shot.’</p> - -<p>They reined in their horses, and watched him. -When the kangaroos found the chase was not so hot, -they slackened their speed, and leapt along at a -steadier pace. Yacka was concealed behind a huge -tree, and as a large kangaroo went past he slipped -quickly round and dealt it a terrific blow with a<span class="pagenum">[118]</span> -heavy knobstick he carried in his hand. The kangaroo -fell down stunned, and with a whoop Edgar -and Will rode forward, in case any of the herd should -make an attack on Yacka. When they pulled up, -they found Yacka had cut the animal’s throat, and -was contemplating it with satisfaction.</p> - -<p>Will, having dismounted, picked up the stick Yacka -had struck the kangaroo with. It was smooth, hard -wood, with a notched handle, and gradually swelling -larger until, at the end, there was a sharp, smooth -knob, which was so heavy it might have been weighted -with iron.</p> - -<p>‘A formidable weapon,’ he said, holding it out to -Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘That is a nulla-nulla,’ said Yacka. ‘Crack a man’s -skull easily.’</p> - -<p>‘What is it weighted with?’ asked Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Nothing,’ said Yacka. ‘Very hard, heavy wood, -all smoothed down with sharp stone and rubbed with -coarse sand. Never break it. Hard as iron.’</p> - -<p>‘Are they used in your tribal wars?’ asked -Will.</p> - -<p>Yacka nodded and said:</p> - -<p>‘Terrible blows from them. Split a man’s head -right open. See!’ He took the weapon from Edgar, -and with one blow shattered the dead kangaroo’s -skull. It split in two, and Yacka scooped out the -brains. He then cut off the tail, and said, ‘Have -good soup to-night. This fellow make better soup -than ox-tail.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[119]</span></p> - -<p>They shook their heads sceptically; the tail did -not look very inviting then.</p> - -<p>Yacka selected a spot to camp in near a small -spring of water. He then proceeded to make a fire, -collecting sundry dry pieces of wood and a kind of -moss for the purpose. He filled the large ‘billy’ can -he carried during the day slung across his back with -sundry other articles, and, having skinned the kangaroo’s -tail, cut it up into small pieces, and put it in -the can.</p> - -<p>How he managed to make it so tasty Edgar could -not imagine, but it was delicious, and they voted -Yacka was right when he said it was better than ox-tail.</p> - -<p>‘Yacka’s a capital cook,’ said Will, ‘and the beauty -of him is that he wants so little to cook with.’</p> - -<p>‘He’d rather surprise some of the modern cooks,’ -said Edgar. ‘They appear to contrive to do away -with the genuine flavour of everything they cook, and -Yacka makes a point of retaining that flavour.’</p> - -<p>How they did enjoy this wild life! and, so far, -their powers of endurance had not been severely -tested.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">BY THE LAGOON.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>They had been more than a month away from -Yanda, and Edgar began to wonder where their<span class="pagenum">[120]</span> -march would lead them. Yacka did not vouchsafe -much information, but kept steadily on his way at a -pace that astonished them. Mile after mile was -traversed, and their guide showed no sign of weariness -or flagging.</p> - -<p>One beautiful moonlight night they camped by -the shore of a large lagoon, which reminded them -of a small lake in their own country. It was a magnificent -sight, this sheet of still water glistening -in the moonlight, the trees which overhung it reflecting -weird shadows on the surface.</p> - -<p>‘I had no idea there were such lakes as these,’ said -Edgar. ‘There must be a lot of good shooting about -here.’</p> - -<p>‘Plenty of ducks and herons,’ said Yacka. ‘I will -get you some ducks without firing a shot.’</p> - -<p>They were interested in watching Yacka catch wild -ducks. The black crept cautiously into the water, -and then sat down amongst a lot of cover, which hid -his head from view. Presently they heard a call -such as the wild duck makes.</p> - -<p>‘That’s Yacka,’ said Edgar. ‘He can imitate the -cries of all kinds of birds and animals. Look! -there’s a flock of wild ducks coming over.’</p> - -<p>The birds flew right into the lagoon, and settled -down on the water not far from Yacka. In a few -minutes there was a flutter in the water, and the -flock rose quickly and flew rapidly away, leaving -three of their number struggling entangled in a fine-meshed -net Yacka had thrown dexterously over them.<span class="pagenum">[121]</span> -Yacka stood up, and, seizing the ducks one by one, -quickly killed them, and brought them to the shore -where Edgar and Will were sitting.</p> - -<p>‘Cleverly done,’ said Edgar. ‘If we run short of -ammunition there is little fear of starving when Yacka -can effect such captures.’</p> - -<p>The ducks were spitted and roasted, Yacka as -usual acting as cook, and they were thoroughly -enjoyed. Wild bees seemed plentiful, and Yacka -went in search of honey, which he soon found in the -hollow of a tree.</p> - -<p>So pleasant was it by the lagoon that they rested -there for several days, enjoying bathing in the lukewarm -water, and finding plenty of birds to supply -their daily wants. Yacka captured a native bear, a -curious little fellow with a woolly skin, and a sharp, -inquiring face. When tucked up he looked for all -the world like a big ball. Huge lizards were -occasionally seen gliding about, and the shrill cries -of parrots were heard overhead. At night the -peculiar cry of the laughing jackass was heard. A -flock of black swan passed by, but did not settle on -the lagoon. They also saw pigeons, wild geese, -plover, and quail, and a couple of pelicans.</p> - -<p>So interesting was the wild life of this lagoon that -Edgar was loath to move on into less hospitable -country, but he saw signs that Yacka was becoming -impatient, so decided to resume their march. They -left the camp by the lagoon with much regret, and -cast many a wistful glance behind.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[122]</span></p> - -<p>‘It will be a long time before we strike such a -good camping-ground again,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Wait until you reach Yacka’s country,’ said the -black; ‘find plenty sport there. My tribe help you -hunt and fish in big lakes and rivers.’</p> - -<p>‘To which tribe do you belong?’ asked Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘MacDonnell Ranges,’ said Yacka; ‘but we have -gone miles and miles further north to the land of -Enooma, the White Spirit, across sandy desert. My -tribe very old and warlike. Their country goes far -into the Northern Territory.’</p> - -<p>‘So your tribe is known as the MacDonnell -Ranges blacks,’ said Edgar; ‘but you have a native -name, I expect. What is it?’</p> - -<p>‘The Enooma,’ said Yacka. ‘We are the favoured -tribe of the great White Spirit.’</p> - -<p>‘And you are the son of Enooma,’ said Edgar. -‘Then we are safe with you.’</p> - -<p>‘No one will harm the friends of the son of -Enooma,’ said Yacka.</p> - -<p>‘Why did you leave your own country?’ asked -Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘To wander far and learn much. It was the wish -of Enooma, and she must be obeyed. I have been -in big cities—Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and -Brisbane, and have learned many things and seen -much evil,’ said Yacka.</p> - -<p>‘And how did you get on to Yanda Station?’ said -Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘From Queensland. I went to Adelaide first, and<span class="pagenum">[123]</span> -then walked to the other big cities. From Brisbane -I went on until I came to Yanda, and there I -camped.’</p> - -<p>Yacka went on ahead, and Edgar said to Will:</p> - -<p>‘It will be worth all our travels if we can clear up -this mystery about Yacka’s birth. He must have -been taught by white people, or he would not speak -as he does. It is getting more and more interesting. -Who would have thought when we were at Redbank -we should in so short a time be tramping over the -wilds of Australia with only a black for our companion?’</p> - -<p>‘I wonder what they are up to at Redbank now?’ -said Will.</p> - -<p>‘The usual routine work,’ replied Edgar. ‘We -had some jolly times there.’</p> - -<p>‘I wish I could make a fortune!’ said Will suddenly.</p> - -<p>Edgar laughed as he replied:</p> - -<p>‘It does not look much like it at present, but there -is no telling what may happen. Yacka says he can -make me rich, and if so you will have a share in the -plunder. Why do you wish to make a fortune? -You were not always such a mercenary fellow.’</p> - -<p>‘Because I love your sister, and I want to be in a -position some day to ask her to be my wife. Now do -you understand?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Edgar, ‘and I wish you luck. Doris -is a lovable girl, and I know you will try and make -her happy. It is a long time to look ahead, but<span class="pagenum">[124]</span> -there is nothing like having an object in life to make -a man successful.’</p> - -<p>‘You know my object,’ said Will. ‘What is -yours?’</p> - -<p>‘To earn a good name, and to make my father -proud of his son,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Then you will certainly succeed,’ said Will, ‘even -if you have not done so already.’</p> - -<p>Edgar laughed as he said:</p> - -<p>‘I have not done much at present to earn a name -for myself. If ever I become a rich man, I will try -and do good with my money. I have always found -there is a lot of pleasure in helping other people.’</p> - -<p>‘You always manage to get on with people,’ said -Will. ‘You have even made a staunch friend of -Yacka. How did you manage it?’</p> - -<p>‘By treating him more like a human being than a -dog,’ said Edgar. ‘Of course, Yacka is not like -most of the natives. They are a dull, stupid lot, -what I have seen of them so far, and it would be -almost impossible to teach them anything. I believe -Yacka could be taught just the same as a white man.’</p> - -<p>One night, as they were camping under the shade -of some bushes, Edgar was awakened by something -cool touching his face. He put out his hand and felt -a cold, smooth substance, which he at once knew must -be a snake. He sprang to his feet, clutching the -snake and flinging it from him. The noise roused -Will, and Yacka was quickly on the alert. It was -too dark to see anything, but Yacka shifted their<span class="pagenum">[125]</span> -camping-ground. In the morning Yacka came -across a venomous yellow snake, which he killed and -brought to Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Yellow snake,’ he said; ‘dangerous! Deadly -poison! Almost as bad as a death adder! Yacka -skin him,’ which he at once proceeded to do.</p> - -<p>Edgar congratulated himself upon a lucky escape, -for had the snake bitten him there would have been -but little chance of his continuing the journey. For -breakfast Yacka was busily engaged in roasting strips -of flesh, but neither Edgar nor Will could think what -animal he had killed to provide their meal.</p> - -<p>‘What have you got there?’ asked Will. ‘I hope -you’re not toasting that snake.’</p> - -<p>Yacka shook his head and said:</p> - -<p>‘You try it first, then I will tell you what it is. -Very good indeed!’ and he smacked his lips.</p> - -<p>They enjoyed the tasty morsels, and Yacka informed -them it was the flesh of a species of iguana, -one of the lizard tribe.</p> - -<p>Will shuddered as he said:</p> - -<p>‘I confess it tasted all right, but I do not think -I should have eaten it had I known what it -was.’</p> - -<p>They were about to resume their journey, when -they heard someone ‘cooeying’ loudly, and the -sound proclaimed the person was some distance -away.</p> - -<p>Yacka had carefully avoided meeting wanderers in -the country they had come through, and when he<span class="pagenum">[126]</span> -heard the ‘cooey’ he held up his hand, and they -stopped.</p> - -<p>‘Let us see who it is,’ said Edgar. ‘It will be a -change to meet a stranger.’</p> - -<p>‘All right,’ said Yacka; ‘I know where that comes -from. We are near the telegraph route. Send news -from Adelaide right across the country to Port -Darwin. It is men, perhaps, looking after the line.’</p> - -<p>‘Bravo!’ said Will. ‘We shall at least be able to -hear some fresh news.’</p> - -<p>They proceeded in the direction of the sound, and -in the course of a quarter of an hour came upon a -camp, where four white men were sitting down smoking -and chatting.</p> - -<p>‘Hallo! what have we got here?’ said one of the -men, as he saw Yacka advancing in front of Edgar -and Will.</p> - -<p>‘Glad to see you,’ said Edgar, stepping forward. -‘We have not had any company but our own for such -a long time that we are thankful to have fallen in -with you.’</p> - -<p>‘You’re welcome,’ said the man. ‘Where do you -hail from?’</p> - -<p>‘We have come from Yanda station, in the west of -New South Wales.’</p> - -<p>The man stared at them in amazement.</p> - -<p>‘What, just as you are? You two youngsters, -with this blackfellow!’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Will. ‘My friend was going alone -with Yacka, but as I wanted to be in it if there were<span class="pagenum">[127]</span> -any adventures, they decided to take me along with -them.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, upon my word,’ said the man, ‘you’re a -couple of good plucked ’uns! Do you know where -you are?’</p> - -<p>‘I have not the faintest idea,’ said Edgar, ‘but -Yacka has.’</p> - -<p>‘You seem to have a good deal of confidence in -this blackfellow,’ said the man, eyeing Yacka closely.</p> - -<p>‘We have,’ said Edgar. ‘He’s a fine fellow.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s more than I can say for some of his kind,’ -said the man. ‘It was only the other week one of -our fellows was murdered beyond the Ranges by -some of these blacks.’</p> - -<p>‘Revenge!’ said Yacka quietly. ‘How many of -the black men had he killed?’</p> - -<p>‘Blest if the fellow can’t speak English as well as I -can!’ said the man in astonishment. ‘Maybe it was -revenge, but we don’t allow black men to kill white -men without making an example of them.’ Turning -to Edgar he said: ‘I like the look of you, young -fellow, and your mate. My name’s Walter Hepburn, -and I’m in the Government service, and -stationed at Alice Springs, where the telegraph office -is. We’ve been repairing on the line, and are on our -way back to the Springs. If you care to come on -with us, I have no doubt we can show you some fun.’</p> - -<p>‘How far are we from Alice Springs?’ asked -Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘A couple of days will take us there.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[128]</span></p> - -<p>‘Then we shall be very pleased to go with you, and -thank you heartily for your invitation. My name is -Edgar Foster.’</p> - -<p>‘What! the young fellow who saved the skipper’s -baby from the wreck of the <em>Distant Shore</em>?’ exclaimed -Walter Hepburn.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Edgar sadly; ‘we were the only two -saved.’</p> - -<p>‘Give me your hand, lad,’ said Walter Hepburn; -‘I’m proud to shake it. Here, lads, give three cheers -for Edgar Foster!’</p> - -<p>The men gave three ringing cheers, that echoed -far and wide.</p> - -<p>It made Edgar’s heart beat fast to hear them in -this wild country.</p> - -<p>Good deeds make themselves known and felt the -wide world over, and their influence can make men -better even in a wilderness.</p> - -<p>Yacka was pleased at the reception given to Edgar, -and his black face was all smiling.</p> - -<p>‘That blackfellow’s uncommon fond of you, I -reckon?’ said Walter Hepburn.</p> - -<p>‘He is,’ said Edgar. ‘Yacka planned this expedition -for us, and we are in search of adventures, and -want to see the country.’</p> - -<p>That night Edgar and Will enjoyed a hearty -supper with their newly-made acquaintances; and -Edgar had to relate how he was rescued, and how he -saved Eva from the wreck of the <em>Distant Shore</em>.</p> - -<p>When Edgar mentioned to Walter Hepburn that<span class="pagenum">[129]</span> -they were going far beyond the Ranges with Yacka, -he looked serious.</p> - -<p>‘If you’ll take my advice, you will make for -Adelaide from Alice Springs. It is over a thousand -miles from there to Adelaide. If you go on north, -to Port Darwin, that is over nine hundred miles. -Where does Yacka, as you call him, want to take you -on the other side of the Ranges?’</p> - -<p>‘That is his secret,’ said Edgar, ‘and I cannot tell -you what he has told me. Before we started from -Yanda I meant to go through with this business, and -I’ll do it if I live.’</p> - -<p>‘I admire your pluck,’ said Walter Hepburn; ‘but -what is the use of risking your life when there is no -object to be gained?’</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">ON THE OVERLAND LINE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>A couple of days after their meeting with the -telegraph repairers the party arrived at Alice Springs—the -most interesting of all the stations on the overland -telegraph line. Alice Springs stands high above -the sea-level, and there is magnificent and interesting -scenery in the district, the valley in which it lies being -of exceptional beauty.</p> - -<p>As Edgar looked at the scene mapped out before -him, he could not help expressing astonishment at<span class="pagenum">[130]</span> -what he saw. Alice Springs he had imagined as -a bare, desolate spot, and here he saw the great -MacDonnell Ranges lying to the north, the source of -rivers, creeks, and springs, the valley stretching far -away to east and west. The River Todd, running -close by, lends a picturesque charm to the scene.</p> - -<p>There were numerous people about when the party -arrived, as Alice Springs is the repeating station on -the line, and consequently a considerable number of -officers were employed. The buildings were not particularly -enchanting, but they were useful and commodious. -Several trees were scattered about, affording -a comfortable shade, and the hot winds had not -scorched up all vegetation.</p> - -<p>The officers employed at Alice Springs Station -were a genial, jovial lot of fellows; and when Edgar -and Will had been duly introduced by Walter Hepburn, -they were at once made at home. After -travelling so many miles, and living on the produce -of their guns and Yacka’s ingenuity, it was a treat -for them once more to come across civilization. They -were feasted and made much of, and the inevitable -race-meeting was got up in their honour.</p> - -<p>Edgar noticed there were a good many men about -besides the officers employed on the station, and he -did not like the look of some of them. They had -a hang-dog expression on their faces, and a lazy, -loafing way of idling about that spoke ill for the -manner in which they managed to knock out a -living.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[131]</span></p> - -<p>‘You have some queer customers about here,’ said -Edgar to Walter Hepburn.</p> - -<p>‘You mean those fellows over yonder,’ he replied.</p> - -<p>‘I guess you’re about right—they are queer customers. -They are out-and-out “spielers,” and you generally -find them loafing about in the interior wherever -there is a new settlement. They are always in -fairly strong force around here, and when we have -races they are only too ready to make wagers which -they have no intention of paying. Some of our -fellows are foolish enough to bet with them, and out -of sheer despair at getting up a game of cards, I -have known them play with these men. Needless to -say, our fellows never win. These “spielers” know too -much for them. In my opinion, they are worse than -the blacks, and a greater danger to settlers. Horse-stealing -and swindling they are always ready for; -but they are cowards when fairly tackled, and soon -seek fresh fields when a place becomes too hot to -hold them.’</p> - -<p>‘Strange how such men can find occupation here,’ -said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Well, you see, it’s this way,’ said Walter Hepburn. -‘Settlers in a new country, where white men -are scarce, and blacks are dangerous and hostile, are -only too glad to give a white man a welcome. No -questions are asked as to who or what the white man -may be, but they take it for granted his company -must be an improvement on their black, quarrelsome -neighbours. I’ve known blackguards like those you<span class="pagenum">[132]</span> -see over yonder stay at a place for a week, and then -clear out with the best horses and anything else they -could conveniently take away.’</p> - -<p>‘I saw a couple of them eyeing our horses over -a short time back,’ said Will Brown, who came up -and heard the conversation. ‘Yacka says we had -better leave our horses behind when we go beyond -the Ranges, and call for them as we return; that is, -if they will care to have them here.’</p> - -<p>‘You can leave them with pleasure if you wish,’ -said Walter Hepburn, ‘and I’ll promise to look after -them for you as well as I can. You will certainly not -have much use for horses if you are going west after -you cross the ranges. It is, so far as we know, very -little else but desert between here and West Australia. -As I told you before, I am afraid you are undertaking -a great risk, and all to very little purpose. You may -as well remain here a week or two, and then return -south towards Adelaide. You’ll have had enough of -it when you reach there, without going farther north.’</p> - -<p>‘I’ll consult Yacka, and hear what he has to say,’ -said Edgar, and walked towards the black, leaving -Will with Walter Hepburn.</p> - -<p>Edgar explained what Hepburn had said, and -Yacka replied:</p> - -<p>‘I will go with you to Adelaide, if you wish; but -you will be sorry for it. We have come so far, let us -go on. These men know nothing of Enooma’s -country. They have been lost in the desert and -never found the green land. Come with me, and I<span class="pagenum">[133]</span> -will show you much. Yacka has said he will make -you rich. Come and see if the son of Enooma speaks -true.’</p> - -<p>‘You say we had better leave our horses here until -we return,’ said Edgar. ‘How far have we to go -beyond the ranges?’</p> - -<p>‘Long way,’ said Yacka, ‘but fine country. We -soon leave the sand behind, and then you will see -much better place than Yanda.’</p> - -<p>‘I will go with you,’ said Edgar, and Yacka was -pleased. ‘We will leave here in a few days.’</p> - -<p>During the time they remained at Alice Springs -there was plenty of amusement. Local races, and a -cricket match filled in the time, and Edgar managed -to impress it upon them that he could handle a bat.</p> - -<p>Yacka amused himself in various ways. He kept -aloof from everyone, and sat looking on at the -various games in a contemplative style that amused -Edgar.</p> - -<p>The numerous ‘spielers’ about the place found -time hang heavily on their hands, and two or three -of them thought to pass a few hours away by teasing -Yacka, and trying to work him into a frenzy. These -vile wretches were adepts in the art of ill-using and -insulting not only blacks, but white men, when they -got the chance, and when there was but little danger -connected with it.</p> - -<p>Yacka was quietly carving a stick, when three of -these vagabonds came up to him. One jerked the -stick out of his hand and flung it away, another<span class="pagenum">[134]</span> -upset the log upon which he was sitting, and the -third kicked him in the ribs as he lay on the floor.</p> - -<p>Then these three white men with black hearts got -a surprise from the black man with a white heart. -Yacka sprang to his feet with a yell. He seized the -nearest man round the waist, lifted him off his feet, -and flung him over his shoulder, as easily as only a -practised wrestler could. The man fell with a heavy -thud upon the ground and lay there. Yacka bounded -upon the next man before he had recovered from his -surprise, and would have treated him in a similar -way. The noise, however, attracted the attention of -the ‘spielers’ mates, who came running up, and Yacka -was surrounded by enemies.</p> - -<p>The black’s eyes fairly blazed as he looked round -at the cowardly crew hemming him in on every side. -He could not see a loophole of escape, so he determined -to fight for liberty. Yacka knew well enough -if these men got him down he would probably be -kicked to death.</p> - -<p>A blow on the back of his head warned him his -persecutors meant business. Yacka could see no -weapon handy, so he used his fists, and struck out -right and left with tremendous effect. Three of the -crew measured their full length on the ground in -almost as many seconds. Yacka’s blows fell fast, but -he could not guard himself at the rear as well as in -the front. Blows fell upon his head and made him -dizzy, and he knew he could not hold out much -longer.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[135]</span></p> - -<p>‘There’s a row going on outside,’ said Walter -Hepburn, as he got up from the table where they had -just been refreshing themselves, and went to the -door.</p> - -<p>‘Hang me if it is not that black chap of yours! -The “spielers” are on to him. Come along, quick, -or they’ll do for him!’</p> - -<p>Edgar and Will jumped up, and the three ran towards -the scene of the encounter.</p> - -<p>They were only just in time. One of the gang of -cowards attacking Yacka struck him a severe blow -on the head with a heavy stick, and the black fell on -to his knees. No sooner was he down than a brutal -assault was made upon him. Edgar outstripped his -companions and was first on the scene. He said -nothing, but he began to knock the ‘spielers’ about -in a manner that left no doubt as to his hitting -powers.</p> - -<p>Will Brown and Walter Hepburn were not slow to -follow his example, and although they were opposed -to more than double their own number, the trio -quickly drove the ‘spielers’ away, some of them -much the worse for the encounter.</p> - -<p>Edgar knelt down beside Yacka, who was lying on -the ground half stunned.</p> - -<p>‘The brutes!’ said Edgar. ‘They have mauled -him badly. How do you feel, Yacka? Any bones -broken?’</p> - -<p>The black smiled feebly and said:</p> - -<p>‘No bones broken, Master Edgar, but I have got<span class="pagenum">[136]</span> -a bad head. I could have beaten the first three, but -more came up and they got at me from behind.’ -Seeing Hepburn, he added significantly: ‘That is -what causes revenge, and the killing of white men.’</p> - -<p>‘I’m not surprised,’ said Will. ‘You cannot expect -a blackfellow to stand such brutal conduct as -this.’</p> - -<p>‘No,’ said Hepburn, ‘but the worst of it is the -innocent suffer for the guilty. These brutes get off -scot-free, and some poor settler meets with his -death.’</p> - -<p>‘Yacka has never killed a man what you call a -settler,’ said the black.</p> - -<p>‘No one supposes you have,’ said Edgar. ‘Can -you walk?’</p> - -<p>Yacka managed to stand on his feet, but his head -swam, and he felt dizzy.</p> - -<p>‘Bring him into my shanty,’ said Hepburn. ‘I -can’t stand even a blackfellow being knocked about -in this style.’</p> - -<p>The ‘spielers’ were hanging about as they led -Yacka into Hepburn’s house. As he entered the -door the black turned and shook his fist at them, and -a cruel look came into his eyes.</p> - -<p>Hepburn saw it and whispered to Edgar:</p> - -<p>‘I would not give much for one of those fellows’ -chances of salvation if Yacka got him alone.’</p> - -<p>Had it been a white man the ‘spielers’ had set -upon, they would have been hustled out of the place -quickly enough, but a blackfellow more or less did<span class="pagenum">[137]</span> -not seem to matter with the bulk of the men. The -majority of them would have knocked a ‘spieler’ -down with the greatest of satisfaction, but even in -such a case as the assault upon Yacka they were inclined -to regard the black as the aggressor. This -feeling naturally aroused Edgar’s indignation. He -had not lived amongst savage blacks as most of these -men had, and gone with his life in his hands every -time he went a few miles up country. The blacks in -many cases undoubtedly attacked peaceful settlers -and murdered them in a treacherous manner. This -naturally aroused a feeling of intense hatred against -the original inhabitants of the country, and all blackfellows -were treated alike. When the settlers treated -the blacks kindly it was regarded by them as a sign -of weakness, and an encouragement to attack them. -Arguments such as these Hepburn used to convince -Edgar the white men had good reason for hating the -black.</p> - -<p>‘The Finke blacks,’ said Hepburn, ‘are a peaceable -lot; but when you get into the Musgrave and -MacDonnell Ranges, and farther north, it is necessary -to be well armed if you wish to come back again. -I have been there and know, and that is the main -reason I have endeavoured to persuade you not to -go with Yacka.’</p> - -<p>‘It would be cowardly on our part to desert Yacka -now,’ said Edgar, ‘nor have we any inclination to do -so. I would sooner trust a whole tribe of blacks -than the brutal fellows who attacked him.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[138]</span></p> - -<p>Hepburn saw it was useless to argue more, so he -said good-naturedly:</p> - -<p>‘If you are bent upon proceeding, you must let -me supply you with more ammunition. You will -want it, I am afraid, unless Yacka is well-known to -the northern tribes.’</p> - -<p>‘You’re a brick!’ said Will enthusiastically, ‘and I -for one will accept your gift.’</p> - -<p>‘It’s a good while since I heard that expression,’ -said Hepburn. ‘It reminds me of my school-days.’</p> - -<p>‘Where were you put in training?’ asked Edgar -with a smile.</p> - -<p>‘At a grand old school, which I dare say you -have heard of,’ said Hepburn. ‘I was educated at -Redbank.’</p> - -<p>Edgar and Will gave a whoop that startled Hepburn, -and before he could realize what had happened, -he felt both his arms being worked up and down in -a rapid style that took his breath away.</p> - -<p>‘Hold on, lads!’ he gasped; ‘you’ll have my arms -off. What the deuce is the matter with you?’</p> - -<p>‘This is the most extraordinary thing I ever heard -of,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘I see nothing very extraordinary in my having -been educated at Redbank,’ said Hepburn, ‘except -the fact that I might have done the school more -credit, considering the training I received.’</p> - -<p>‘We are Redbank boys,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>It was Hepburn’s turn now, and the pumping -process recommenced. They almost danced for joy,<span class="pagenum">[139]</span> -and Yacka, who was lying on the camp-bed, thought -they had gone suddenly mad.</p> - -<p>‘Bless my soul! it is remarkable after all,’ said -Hepburn. ‘To think we Redbank fellows should -all meet in this outlandish spot! The world is very -small.’</p> - -<p>What a night they made of it, and they were still -talking over the glories of Redbank when the morning -light made the lamp grow dim.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">THROUGH THE RANGES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Edgar Foster learned that Walter Hepburn had -gone to Redbank a term or two after his father left -the school. Hepburn was therefore well acquainted -with the prowess of Edgar’s father in the cricket-field. -It seemed very strange that they should all -meet at Alice Springs, and it was a date to be noted -as a red-letter day when the discovery was made. -Had Walter Hepburn been free to leave his post, -he would, after finding out they were Redbank boys, -have joined them in their travels farther north. -School ties bind men fast together, especially when -such a good feeling existed as always did amongst -Redbank lads.</p> - -<p>The time came for parting, and when Yacka was -sufficiently recovered they left the station amidst<span class="pagenum">[140]</span> -general regret, and a universally expressed wish to -see them safe back again.</p> - -<p>Yacka was quite himself as soon as all traces of -civilization were left behind. Once in the ranges he -revelled in the mountain air, and appeared familiar -with every pathway. In one place they had a -difficult task to perform. Yacka led them up to a -gigantic cleft in the rocks, which towered high above -them on either side. Between these high, rocky -walls flowed a river, and up it Yacka said they must -swim.</p> - -<p>‘It will save a big climb over the rocks,’ he said, -‘and I can take your clothes on my head.’</p> - -<p>There was nothing for it but to strip, and Edgar -and Will were not averse to a good swim.</p> - -<p>Yacka tied their clothes in a bundle, and placing -the guns on the top, put them all on his head, far -out of the reach of the water. He had tied the -bundle under his chin with a strap, and it was -marvellous to watch how he swam up the river with -such a load on his head.</p> - -<p>Edgar and Will plunged in after him, and found -the water very cold; but the exertion of swimming -kept the circulation of their blood up.</p> - -<p>‘By Jove! it was a cold bath,’ said Will, as he -stood drying himself in the sun. ‘It must be the -rocks make it like iced-water.’</p> - -<p>‘Very refreshing on a hot day,’ said Edgar. ‘They -would give a trifle to have such a cool bathing-place -at Yanda.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[141]</span></p> - -<p>As they proceeded they came across a number of -watercourses and hills and valleys. They climbed -to the top of high rocks, and descended again into -level lands. At sundown they were tired out, and -could hardly eat the supper Yacka prepared for -them. No sooner had they finished their meal than -they were sound asleep. But Yacka did not sleep; -he stood looking down at them with his big eyes, and -seemed to be in deep thought. The moonlight -showed his black form standing over the two sleepers, -and his attitude was one of dejection.</p> - -<p>‘How white they are,’ he muttered, ‘and Yacka -so black! but they are not as white as Enooma, -and Yacka is her son.’</p> - -<p>He sat down, and commenced to reason in his -own way as to why he should be black, and the two -sleepers white. He could find no satisfactory solution -to the problem. Yacka knew naught of the -white man’s God, but he had a wonderful amount -of superstition in his nature, and a firm belief that -the White Spirit watched over him. Yacka had no -fear of death; he would have laughed at such a -thought, and yet he did not understand what death -really meant. Had the blackfellow been able to -express what he really thought about death, it would -have been to the effect that it was merely the White -Spirit’s way of rewarding him for his work here by -carrying him off to a country where he would be -happy for ever. Yacka slept but little that night, -but he was awake early, and ready to start again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[142]</span></p> - -<p>The ranges were passed, and they were now in -more open country. On the lowlands were numerous -bushes, mulga on the hills, and gum and tea tree in -the creeks. Plains of salt-bush could be seen, but -on to the west they descried grass-land.</p> - -<p>For several days they tramped on, living on the -simplest fare, and yet feeling strong and well, and fit -for almost any exertion.</p> - -<p>‘Where are all the blacks we heard so much about?’ -said Edgar. ‘We have met none yet.’</p> - -<p>‘We shall be in the Enooma country by sunset -to-morrow,’ said Yacka; ‘then you will see men of -my tribe.’</p> - -<p>Yacka spoke truly. The next night they came -across a blacks’ camp. To Edgar’s surprise there -were between two and three hundred of them. As -they approached Yacka made a peculiar sound like -the shrill cry of a parrot, only with quite a different -note, which roused the blacks, and several rushed -forward to meet them.</p> - -<p>When they saw Yacka the effect was astonishing. -At first they looked at him in amazement, then an -old man cried aloud, ‘Yacka! Yacka! Enooma! -Enooma!’ and the whole of the blacks, surrounding -him, knelt before him.</p> - -<p>There was a proud look on Yacka’s face as he -motioned them to rise. Then he spoke rapidly in -the native tongue, and pointed to Edgar and -Will.</p> - -<p>The blacks gave vent to warlike cries, and, shaking<span class="pagenum">[143]</span> -their wooden spears high in the air, drove them into -the ground with terrific force.</p> - -<p>‘That means they will kill any man who does you -harm,’ said Yacka. ‘You are safe here, and the whole -tribe will protect you.’</p> - -<p>They moved towards the camp, and at their -approach the blacks stood up and awaited their -coming with eager and excited looks.</p> - -<p>Yacka was known to them, and was evidently an -important man with the tribe. Edgar fancied they -regarded him with something akin to fear, and said to -Will:</p> - -<p>‘We were right to trust Yacka, for these blacks -stand in awe of him, and we shall be safe with -them.’</p> - -<p>‘They are a savage-looking lot,’ said Will, ‘and I -should not care to have come amongst them alone. -If these are the men who molest the settlers, I am not -surprised at the white men hating them.’</p> - -<p>The blacks were tall, powerful men, of a far different -stamp to those in the west of New South Wales. -Yacka was small beside some of them, and many -were six feet high and over. They were all armed -with native weapons, and were well prepared for any -encounter. As they were in such strong force, Edgar -came to the conclusion they must be on the war-path, -and questioned Yacka.</p> - -<p>‘They are always armed,’ said Yacka. ‘The Curracoo -tribe are their deadly enemies, and when they -meet they fight.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[144]</span></p> - -<p>‘I never heard of that tribe,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘The Enooma and the Curracoo are not known -except in this part of Australia,’ said Yacka. ‘They -are tribes of the MacDonnell and Musgrave blacks. -They fight savagely. The Curracoo wish to seize the -white spirit of the Enooma, and think to capture her; -but they know nothing of our country, nor of the caves -we are going to.’</p> - -<p>The blacks regarded Edgar and Will with much -curiosity, and from the manner in which many of -them pointed at their own bodies and then at Edgar’s, -he thought they could not have seen many white men. -It was a strange sensation for the two friends to lie -awake in the midst of a camp of over two hundred -savage blacks, and wonder what was about to -happen.</p> - -<p>Early in the morning they were aroused by loud -warlike cries, and Yacka hurried up to them and -said:</p> - -<p>‘Follow me; the Curracoo are at hand, and there -will be a fight.’</p> - -<p>‘And if the Enooma are beaten, what will become -of us?’ said Will.</p> - -<p>‘The Enooma will win,’ said Yacka. ‘If beaten, -Yacka can save you.’</p> - -<p>He led them to a small hill not far distant from the -camp, and bade them remain until his return.</p> - -<p>‘You can see the fight,’ he said, ‘and there is no -danger.’</p> - -<p>‘This is a lively situation,’ said Edgar. ‘With all<span class="pagenum">[145]</span> -due respect to Yacka, if his tribe is defeated, the Curracoo -will make short work of us.’</p> - -<p>‘There they are!’ said Will, pointing excitedly to a -dark mass moving across the open country.</p> - -<p>‘It seems to me there are some hundreds of them,’ -said Edgar; ‘far more than the Enooma. This is a -poor look-out, Will. We must be prepared to fight -for our lives.’</p> - -<p>As they stood on the rising ground they had a -splendid view of the plain below, and were soon -absorbed in the scene before them. The two bodies -of blacks were approaching nearer and nearer, and -neither tribe shirked an encounter. They could see -Yacka standing some distance apart, and evidently -directing the movements of the Enooma.</p> - -<p>‘Yacka has learned something in the big cities,’ -said Edgar; ‘look where he has sent about fifty men -round that clump of trees, where they are hidden from -the enemy. They intend to make an attack on the -rear that will prove successful.’</p> - -<p>Suddenly, and without a moment’s warning, the -whole scene changed. On the plain, that a moment -before had contained two bodies of blacks advancing -towards each other, there was now a confused mass of -figures, uttering terrible cries and fighting like furies. -The sound of blows could be heard above the din, and -the grass was dotted with the forms of fallen blacks. -They were at too close quarters for spears, and were -using heavy nulla-nullas, and warding off the blows -with wooden shields.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[146]</span></p> - -<p>They saw Yacka quietly surveying the scene, and -wondered why he did not join in.</p> - -<p>‘He is waiting for a favourable opportunity,’ said -Edgar. ‘Those men behind the trees have not moved -yet.’</p> - -<p>The cries of the fighting blacks became more and -more wild and furious. They looked like fiends -dancing about in a frenzy, and dealing blows on -every hand. One huge fellow, a chief of the -Enooma, did terrible execution with an enormous -weapon which he whirled about like a battle-axe, and -Edgar and Will watched him with a fascination -that deadened all sense of their own danger if the -tribe suffered defeat.</p> - -<p>‘Look at him!’ said Edgar. ‘He’s mowing them -down like grass. No one can stand in his way. His -wrist play is splendid—it reminds me of club exercise -at school.’</p> - -<p>‘It’s a trifle more exciting than that,’ said Will. -‘What strength the fellow has! He could fell an ox -with one of those terrible blows. Nothing can stop -him.’</p> - -<p>As though to give the lie to his words, a black, -nearly as big as the Enooma chief, barred his way, -and a desperate combat took place. Both men had -wooden shields with which they dexterously warded -off the blows. They were evenly matched, although -the Enooma black was a shade taller than his opponent. -Both were mad with rage and thirst for blood, -and it was a duel to the death.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[147]</span></p> - -<p>‘He’s down!’ shouted Edgar, as the Enooma chief -slipped; but it was only a feint, as the black, -dodging a blow aimed at his head by his opponent, -suddenly raised himself. The Curracoo overbalanced -himself with the force of the blow, and fell forward. -As he stumbled along, the Enooma, raising his huge -club on high, brought it down with tremendous force -on the back of the Curracoo’s head. Where they -stood they could hear the blow, and Edgar shuddered -as he saw the black’s head split open, and he fell dead -on the ground.</p> - -<p>Seeing their champion killed, the Curracoo wavered; -and, seizing this favourable opportunity, Yacka, uttering -a loud war-yell, sprang forward and called upon -the men in ambush to follow him. In a few minutes -the Enooma blacks were furiously attacking the Curracoos -in the rear. Unaccustomed to these tactics, -the Curracoos were terrified, and at once tried to run -away from the danger. This, however, was impossible; -they were hemmed in on all sides, and by -merciless foes who knew not the meaning of the -word ‘quarter.’ It was a fearful sight to see these -blacks felled to the ground by the heavy blows rained -upon them on all sides. The Enooma were bent -upon slaughter, and killed their enemies without -mercy. The plain had every appearance of a battle-field, -and in some places half a dozen blacks were -piled in a heap, dead.</p> - -<p>At a signal from Yacka the Enooma ceased fighting, -and, surrounding the blacks still left alive, held them<span class="pagenum">[148]</span> -prisoners. These men were disarmed and marched -off towards the camp. A few of the Curracoos could -be seen flying from the scene of the battle which had -proved so fatal to them, but comparatively few of -them escaped.</p> - -<p>Yacka came to Edgar and Will, and they saw he -was almost covered with blood, and his club was dripping -dark-red drops. The black’s eyes shone with -the light of battle and thirst for blood. All the -savage nature of this strange being was roused, and -the cruelty in him was uppermost. He shook the -blood-stained club over his head, and said:</p> - -<p>‘Victory to the Enooma. There has been a -terrible slaughter. Come and see. Yacka will show -you how the Enooma strike their enemies.’</p> - -<p>Edgar and Will descended from the hill where they -had witnessed the fight, and followed Yacka on to the -field of battle.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">AFTER THE FIGHT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>It was indeed a terrible sight the two friends gazed -upon. On the ground where the fight had furiously -raged lay scores of dead blacks in all attitudes, just -as they had fallen. It made them shudder to look at -the scene. The terrific nature of the blows dealt was -apparent, for most of the dead had their skulls fractured,<span class="pagenum">[149]</span> -and their features were ghastly and distorted. -Their weapons lay near them, and Edgar picked up -the club which the powerful black who fought the -Enooma chief had used. It was a great weight, and -fully three feet long, and capable of dealing a fearful -blow, even in a weak man’s hands. The end was -covered with blood and hair, showing that the Curracoo -had killed many enemies before he was slain.</p> - -<p>‘You will bury these men?’ asked Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘The Enooma must have burial,’ said Yacka; ‘the -Curracoo are not fit to be hidden away;’ and he struck -a fallen black, who still showed signs of life, over the -head with his club.</p> - -<p>‘That was a cowardly thing to do,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘They are not fit to live,’ said Yacka, and went on.</p> - -<p>‘What a brute he is, after all!’ said Will, in a low -voice. ‘He is no better than the others.’</p> - -<p>‘He is a savage at heart,’ said Edgar, ‘and we -must make allowances for him.’</p> - -<p>‘If he kills defenceless men like that,’ said Will, ‘I -would not give much for our lives if he felt disposed -to turn upon us.’</p> - -<p>‘He will not do that,’ said Edgar. ‘We are his -friends, these men his enemies. Had the Curracoo -won, they would have treated the Enooma in the -same way. This savage warfare is the same the -world over, I expect. It is a horrible sight.’</p> - -<p>‘Over a hundred killed,’ said Yacka, with a savage -smile; ‘and we have many prisoners.’</p> - -<p>‘Shall you kill the prisoners?’ asked Edgar.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[150]</span></p> - -<p>‘Yes; and leave them as a warning to the tribe.’</p> - -<p>‘How will they be put to death?’ asked Edgar, -who had read of the tortures inflicted by savages in -Africa and elsewhere.</p> - -<p>‘That will be decided,’ said Yacka. ‘The Enooma -know how to kill their enemies.’</p> - -<p>After a gruesome tramp over the battle-field, they -returned to the camp. The victorious Enooma were -already commencing to celebrate their triumph.</p> - -<p>Edgar saw a group of prisoners, about forty or -fifty in number, bound with thongs made of some -kind of reed or long grass. They all looked terror-stricken, -and evidently knew what was in store for -them.</p> - -<p>‘Poor wretches!’ said Will. ‘It would be a kindness -to shoot them.’</p> - -<p>‘We must not interfere,’ said Edgar. ‘It would -be risking our lives to do so. Even Yacka would not -stand that.’</p> - -<p>‘You saw a dance at Yanda,’ said Yacka. ‘You -will see a genuine war dance soon.’</p> - -<p>Towards night the big men of the tribe assembled -round Yacka, and all squatted on the ground.</p> - -<p>‘They are deciding the fate of the prisoners,’ said -Will. ‘I hope it will not be very awful.’</p> - -<p>The consultation did not last long, and Yacka came -towards them. He seemed pleased at the prospect -before him, and laughed harshly.</p> - -<p>‘It is good,’ he said. ‘All die a dog’s death.’</p> - -<p>‘Will they be hanged?’ asked Will.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[151]</span></p> - -<p>‘Some,’ said Yacka. ‘Wait and see.’</p> - -<p>There were many trees near the camp, and they -had big white branches a good height from the -ground. Ten of the Curracoos were brought -forward and thrown down under the trees. They -were then raised feet first, and bound with their -heads downwards round the trunks of the trees. -Others were drawn up, feet foremost, over the -branches, and left hanging with their heads touching -the feet of the others.</p> - -<p>Edgar protested to Yacka, but he took no notice. -The black was looking at the fearful scene with -savage delight. There was no mercy to be got out -of Yacka, so Edgar did not speak to him again.</p> - -<p>Other blacks were brought to these trees, cast -down on their faces, and spears were driven through -their backs, pinning them to the ground in such a -manner that they could not get free. Their cries -were fearful, and made the place seem like a hell -upon earth. Some of the cruelties were too fearful -to relate, and yet Yacka watched it all with fiendish -glee. When the last prisoner had been tortured and -left to die a lingering death, Yacka was satisfied.</p> - -<p>‘We cannot trust you after what we have seen,’ -said Edgar. ‘We shall go back. Guide us to Alice -Springs; if not, we must risk it, and go alone.’</p> - -<p>Yacka was dumfounded. He could not understand -the reason of their distrust in him. He had -acted according to the customs of his tribe, and -knew, had the Curracoo won, the Enooma would<span class="pagenum">[152]</span> -have been treated in a similar way. It was the -fortune of war. The Enooma had gained the victory; -why should the white men mistrust him because the -tribe had taken their just revenge?</p> - -<p>‘Yacka is your friend,’ said the black. ‘You have -come to no harm. We make war in our own way. -You kill many men with big guns. I have seen them -fired. They kill many at one shot. It is more -terrible than our wars.’</p> - -<p>‘We do not torture prisoners,’ said Edgar. ‘You -are no better than these savages.’</p> - -<p>‘I am the son of Enooma,’ said Yacka; ‘therefore -I am the head of them. The head guides the -body. I am the chief, the king, and I am above -them all.’</p> - -<p>‘You are as cruel as they are,’ said Edgar. ‘If -you are the King of the Enooma, why did you not -kill these men at once, not torture them?’</p> - -<p>‘It is the will of Enooma,’ said Yacka, ‘and she -must be obeyed.’</p> - -<p>‘The White Spirit would never allow men to be -tortured,’ said Edgar. ‘There is no White Spirit -over the Enooma; it is a black spirit, and full of -evil.’</p> - -<p>‘You saved Yacka’s life,’ said the black, ‘and he is -grateful. If my tribe know you call Enooma a black -spirit, Yacka could not save you. Follow me. It is -not far. Yacka will lead you back when you have -looked upon the White Spirit, and seen the gold and -beautiful stones.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[153]</span></p> - -<p>The agonized groans of the tortured blacks sounded -terrible, and Edgar said:</p> - -<p>‘Kill these men, and we will go with you.’</p> - -<p>Yacka hesitated, and Edgar, noticing it, said:</p> - -<p>‘I took your hand in friendship; now it is stained -in blood. Kill these men, and I will forgive you, and -the White Spirit will be glad.’</p> - -<p>‘It shall be,’ said Yacka, and moved away towards -the camp.</p> - -<p>How he prevailed upon the tribe he did not say, -but the tortured men were killed, and their groans -ceased, much to Edgar’s relief.</p> - -<p>After this experience, there was no telling what -might happen if another encounter took place with a -hostile tribe, and the Enooma were defeated. Yacka, -however, had no intention of proceeding alone, and -Edgar and Will found the tribe was to accompany -them. Marching many miles a day in the company -of a tribe of warlike blacks was a novel experience. -Edgar had many opportunities of noting how they -lived and their habits. He soon learned that the -Enooma were excellent marksmen, and could throw -a spear with as great accuracy as he could shoot. -They used their boomerangs dexterously.</p> - -<p>Yacka was an adept at throwing this peculiar -weapon, which is almost in the shape of a half -crescent, and is made of very hard wood, smooth and -shaved down to a sharp edge on the inside curve. -Yacka could throw his boomerang high into the air, -until it appeared a mere speck, and it came down in<span class="pagenum">[154]</span> -a series of curves until it fell at his feet. No matter -how far he threw the boomerang, it invariably returned -to him.</p> - -<p>The first time Edgar attempted throwing a -boomerang he was rather astonished. Instead of -going high into the air, it gave a few curves, then -flew rapidly backwards, and Edgar had to duck his -head quickly to avoid a blow.</p> - -<p>‘It is not so easy as it looks,’ he said to Will. -‘Have a try?’</p> - -<p>Will took the weapon and tried, with no better -result; in fact, he came off worse than Edgar, for he -got a severe blow on the shin. The blacks were -amused at the white men’s clumsy attempts to throw -the boomerang, and their grins of satisfaction exasperated -Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘They imagine we can do nothing in this line,’ he -said to Will. ‘We must undeceive them, or they -will have a very poor opinion of us. We have not -many shots to spare; but it may be as well to show -them how deadly a gun is.’</p> - -<p>Edgar explained to Yacka that it was not fair the -blacks should have it all their own way.</p> - -<p>‘Throw your boomerang, and I’ll engage to hit it -in the air,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>Yacka did not care to risk his own boomerang, -which was carved in a fantastic manner, so he took -another, and, after telling the blacks what Edgar -was about to do, he flung it into the air.</p> - -<p>As it came circling down Edgar fired and hit it,<span class="pagenum">[155]</span> -but it did not split with the shot; the marks, however, -were plainly visible, and the blacks were not -only terrified at the noise, but amazed at the result. -It was Will’s turn next, and he elected to try his luck -with the revolver.</p> - -<p>Yacka fastened one of the blacks’ loin-cloths to a -tree, doubling it into a small space. These cloths -were made of thick skin, probably kangaroo, and -when doubled it offered strong resistance to a -bullet.</p> - -<p>Will fired at twenty paces. The bullet passed -through the skin and flattened against the tree. On -seeing this, the blacks regarded the revolver with -much interest, but would not handle it.</p> - -<p>The Enooma blacks were athletic fellows, and -could run, jump, and wrestle in a manner that surprised -Edgar, who knew a good deal about such -sports.</p> - -<p>In his Redbank days Edgar had run his hundred -yards in even time, and he was in splendid condition -now.</p> - -<p>One of the Enooma, called Ouwana, they noticed -was a fine runner, and Will suggested Edgar should -try his speed against him.</p> - -<p>Yacka, as usual, arranged matters.</p> - -<p>Ouwana was a tall, lithe-limbed black, about -twenty years old, and with a less repulsive cast of -countenance than many of his tribe. He was quite -willing to run Edgar, and Will measured out the -distance as near as he could stride it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[156]</span></p> - -<p>Yacka acted as starter, the signal being a loud -clap of the hands, and Will was judge. The blacks -grew quite excited over the race.</p> - -<p>Yacka’s hands met with a crack like a pistol, and, -trained as he had been to start smartly, Edgar gained -a slight advantage. He ran his best, but before he -had gone fifty yards it was a hopeless case, as -Ouwana passed him like a flash, and simply won -hands down.</p> - -<p>Edgar was amazed, not so much at being beaten, -as by the easy way in which it was done.</p> - -<p>‘He’s a champion,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘He would be good enough to win one of those -big handicaps we saw advertised in the Sydney -paper before we left Yanda. How much was the -prize money?’</p> - -<p>‘About six hundred pounds, I think,’ said Will; -‘I wish we had Ouwana there.’</p> - -<p>‘So do I,’ said Edgar; ‘it would be rare fun to see -the black fellow “down” the cracks.’</p> - -<p>The days passed quickly, and Edgar and Will -had no thought of time. They did not even know -what month it was, and were dead out of their -reckoning as regards the days of the week.</p> - -<p>What surprised them most was the fertile nature of -the country. They had passed across a vast sandy -plain, and taken some days to do it, but ever since -they left it behind they had been tramping over what -Edgar knew would not only be excellent sheep -country, but would also carry cattle. Grass was<span class="pagenum">[157]</span> -plentiful—not brown, dry grass, but green and juicy—proving -there had either been recent rain, or there -was plenty of moisture in the earth.</p> - -<p>It was not a flat, dull, and uninteresting country, -for there were hills and valleys, and trees and shrubs, -and beautiful wild flowers and blossoming trees were -found in many places. Wild berries and fruits they -found, and running streams of water, which seemed -to find their source in the many caves with which the -mountains were honeycombed. In some of these -streams, which at times were sufficiently large to be -called rivers, crocodiles were found, both large and -small. The larger crocodile was voracious, and it -was not safe to bathe when any of them showed their -ugly heads, but the smaller species was harmless, and -never ventured to attack them.</p> - -<p>The Enooma blacks were fond of the water, and -often risked their lives bathing and swimming where -crocodiles were to be seen.</p> - -<p>Ouwana was especially venturesome, and often -speared a crocodile in the water.</p> - -<p>Yacka said he had seen Ouwana fight a crocodile, -with a shortened spear like a dagger, for the mere -excitement of the sport.</p> - -<p>Edgar managed to further earn the goodwill of -the blacks by saving Ouwana’s life.</p> - -<p>The black dived into the stream, and was swimming -in the centre, when a huge crocodile appeared -close beside him. The hideous creature opened its -monster jaws, showing great ugly teeth, and in<span class="pagenum">[158]</span> -another moment would have ended Ouwana’s career. -Edgar luckily had his gun with him, and, taking a -steady aim with the barrel used for ball, fired. The -crocodile sank like a stone.</p> - -<p>Ouwana was unaware of his danger, and at first -thought Edgar had fired at him. This roused all the -ferociousness in the black’s nature, and it would have -gone hard with Edgar had Yacka not come up and -explained.</p> - -<p>When Ouwana found out what Edgar had done he -showed his repentance for doubting him, and his -thankfulness for his delivery from a fearful death, by -kneeling down and putting both arms round Edgar’s -legs. He then looked up into his face with such -sorrowful eyes that Edgar patted his woolly head, -much as he would have done that of a big dog.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">WONDROUS CAVERNS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>‘Look!’ said Yacka, pointing to a range of hills in -the distance. ‘There you will find the cave of the -White Spirit, and your journey will be ended.’</p> - -<p>Gazing in the direction the black indicated, they -saw hill upon hill towering one above the other like a -number of huge pyramids. It was a strange sight in -this wild country, where it was doubtful if ever a -white man had set foot before.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[159]</span></p> - -<p>They were all eagerness to continue the journey, -but Yacka said this could not be. Certain forms and -ceremonies were to be gone through before he could -venture with them into the hills and caves where -Enooma, the White Spirit, lay at rest. Only the head -of the tribe was permitted to enter the cave, and so -superstitious were the blacks upon this point, that -they believed it meant certain death to anyone of -their number who disobeyed. Consequently Yacka -would have no difficulty in showing Edgar and Will -what the cave contained, as he alone could enter.</p> - -<p>Yacka had stated to the tribe that the white men -were come to see Enooma, who was of the same -race, and therefore they must be permitted to enter -the cave.</p> - -<p>At the foot of the nearest hill—it could almost be -called a mountain—they halted, and the blacks commenced -a wild, weird chant which sounded like the -wail of lost spirits. They prostrated themselves upon -the ground, and made signs with their spears.</p> - -<p>Yacka stepped on ahead, and beckoned to Edgar -and Will to follow, which they did without hesitation. -The other blacks came on at a respectful distance, -and seemed afraid that something was about to -happen. In the side of the hill they were approaching, -Edgar saw a large cleft in the rock wide enough -to admit half a dozen people to pass in abreast. -These hills were all solid rock, not merely mounds -of earth, and were bare in many places, while in -fissures grew trees, and wild creepers hung down in<span class="pagenum">[160]</span> -great profusion. Orchids were growing of exceptional -beauty, and Edgar, as he looked at them, -thought of the price they would bring in the old -country. As they entered the cleft in the rock the -blacks remained behind, and squatted down on the -ground.</p> - -<p>‘They guard the entrance,’ said Yacka. ‘When -no one is here this opening in the rock closes up, and -no one can find the cave of Enooma.’</p> - -<p>Edgar wondered how Yacka knew the cleft closed -up if no one was there to see such a strange thing -happen.</p> - -<p>‘How can you tell that,’ he said, ‘if you have never -seen it?’</p> - -<p>‘Rest and listen,’ said Yacka: ‘You never believe -I speak truth because I am black. Once the -Enooma were defeated by the Curracoo, and fled -before them to these hills. They were so hard-pressed -that they had to rush through the cleft in the -rock, and when the last of the tribe passed in the -cleft closed and shut the Curracoo out. This is true, -for men of the tribe have told me, and they do not -lie to the chief.’</p> - -<p>Edgar believed this to be another superstition of -the blacks, but he could not resist looking behind -him towards the cleft they had entered by. With a -loud cry he sprang to his feet, for behind them there -was a solid rock, and he could see nothing of the -blacks they had left. Will looked, and turned pale -as he saw they were shut in.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[161]</span></p> - -<p>‘How is this?’ said Edgar. ‘What has happened?’</p> - -<p>‘Enooma has closed her gate,’ said Yacka. ‘She -knows of the approach of her son and the white men, -and she wishes to be undisturbed.’</p> - -<p>Edgar walked back to where he imagined the cleft -in the rock by which they entered had been, but he -could see nothing but a solid mass in front of him. -He felt the rock and it was hard and firm, and must -have been there for ages. How had this strange -thing happened? Yacka must have suddenly turned -as they walked along, and the opening become -hidden, but as they entered the black appeared to -have gone straight on.</p> - -<p>‘I give it up,’ said Edgar. ‘We seem to be -blocked in here, and shall have to trust to Yacka to -get us out. It makes a fellow feel queer when such -strange things happen, but I have no doubt there is -an explanation of it if we can find it out.’</p> - -<p>The place they were now standing in was a narrow -defile between rocks towering up perpendicularly to -a considerable height. These rocks were bare and -smooth, and not a plant or fern could be seen -growing on the sides. Before them was the mouth -of a cave, and inside seemed dark as pitch. Yacka -walked to the mouth of the cave, and they followed -him. When they became accustomed to the gloom, -they saw a faint glimmer of light, about the size of a -bull’s-eye lantern glass, in the far distance. So far -as Edgar could make out, the sides of the cave were<span class="pagenum">[162]</span> -rocks, but smoothed in a similar way to those on -either side of the defile they had left. The floor of -the cave was hard and even, in some places so -smooth that it became slippery and dangerous. -Yacka did not speak, but kept moving slowly -forward, and they could see the dim outline of his -figure.</p> - -<p>‘It must have been the action of water for ages -that has made the floor so smooth,’ said Edgar. -‘How cold it is after the heat we have had! Reminds -me of a petrifying cave. I believe if we -remained here long enough we should be turned into -stone.’</p> - -<p>‘I have no desire to be turned into a petrified -mummy at present,’ said Will laughing; ‘but you’re -right about the cold—I am chilled to the bone.’</p> - -<p>‘How much more of this is there, Yacka?’ said -Edgar, speaking loud enough for the black, who was -some way in front, to hear him.</p> - -<p>The sound of his voice echoed through the passage, -and gradually died away in the distance.</p> - -<p>‘Wait,’ said Yacka. ‘Be careful here.’</p> - -<p>They had need of the warning, for they were now -treading upon something soft and slimy, and the -sensation was not pleasant. They slipped about and -made but little progress, and were glad when the -ground felt hard and dry again.</p> - -<p>The round ball of light at the end was gradually -widening, and they could now see more plainly the -nature of the passage they were traversing. Looking<span class="pagenum">[163]</span> -up to the roof Edgar saw thousands of glittering -stars, which flashed and twinkled even with the faint -light from the opening.</p> - -<p>‘Look, Will,’ he said; ‘how lovely this roof would -be if there was more light! They might be diamonds, -they sparkle so.’</p> - -<p>‘Wish they were,’ replied Will. ‘A few diamonds -would help a fellow along—you know in what direction -I mean.’</p> - -<p>‘Yacka has promised to make us rich. I wonder -if he will let us take what we like if there is anything -to take?’</p> - -<p>It was a mass of various-coloured stalactites on the -roof that had attracted Edgar’s attention, and as they -got more light in the passage they were seen in all -their beauty. The sides were also covered with -curiously-twisted and gnarled designs. As they -neared the opening they saw the sun was shining -brightly, and that they were about to enter an open -space. They were not, however, prepared for the -sight that burst upon their astonished gaze as they -stepped out of the darkness into the full light of the -sun. Yacka watched them with a delighted expression -in his eyes, and had evidently anticipated the -surprise he was about to give them.</p> - -<p>They were so charmed with the scene that they sat -down and looked upon it without saying a word. -The spot they were in was like a large basin hollowed -out of the solid rocks. The sides sloped down gradually, -and were hollowed out at the base. Had there<span class="pagenum">[164]</span> -been tiers of seats round, it would have resembled in -shape a vast amphitheatre. There was, however, -something far more picturesque than bare seats round -this wonderful circle. The whole of the basin was -covered with a kind of green moss, which looked like -velvet as the sun shone upon it.</p> - -<p>This velvet bed was studded with a profusion of -flowers of all colours, shapes, and sizes. Brilliant -orchids selected the most shady nooks to fix their -abode in. Huge white convolvulus spread over projections -and clumps; lilies of great height filled in spaces -where water lodged, and gently trickled down into a -pool in the hollow of the basin. Great nest ferns surrounded -the water, their fronds, over six feet long, -spreading out like large fans. The miniata had its -large carmine blossoms showing to perfection, the -colour being dazzling. Pandanus and screw palms -also grew amongst the giant ferns and lilies. Floating -on the water in the basin were gigantic water-lilies.</p> - -<p>So scooped out was this basin, that there was an -ample shade for the numerous ferns and lilies that do -not flourish with the full light of the sun upon them. -Surrounded by such lovely flowers and ferns, and with -a cool pool of water to make everything refreshing, it -is small wonder, after their recent experiences, that -Edgar and Will fancied themselves in an enchanted -spot. How it all came here no one could fathom. -Nature fixes upon strange spots in which to work at -her best. All they knew and cared about was that<span class="pagenum">[165]</span> -in an unexplored part of Australia they had come -upon such a wonderful scene.</p> - -<p>Yacka assured them this was a mere nothing when -compared with the cave of Enooma.</p> - -<p>The place they were now in he described as the -bathing-place of Enooma, and said the waters from -the caves did not run into this place.</p> - -<p>‘You can drink this water,’ said Yacka, ‘but not -that in the caves. It is bitter, and will turn the -tongue hard, and you will have no taste.’</p> - -<p>It always struck Edgar as curious that, no matter -where they happened to be, Yacka could invariably -procure them a good meal. Even in this spot, where -it did not seem likely they would be able to find much -to relieve their hunger, Yacka got berries and roots, -some water from the pool, and made quite a pleasant, -and what proved to be a strengthening, drink. He -also gave them a root which he said would appease -hunger for a time whenever tasted.</p> - -<p>Yacka would not allow them to linger here, but -walked round the basin.</p> - -<p>Edgar saw no outlet except the one by which they -had entered. At the far side Yacka pulled aside the -dense masses of ferns, and they saw an opening large -enough to admit of a man crawling through. Yacka -went first, and they followed on their hands and -knees.</p> - -<p>This passage was about fifty yards in length, and -at the other end was an open cave, which was lighted -by a hole in the roof, naturally formed. Gliding down<span class="pagenum">[166]</span> -the walls were glistening drops of water, and the floor -was very uneven, and covered with masses of rock -that must at some remote period have become -detached from the roof. Some of the tracery on the -walls Edgar looked at with wonder. It was of a rich -cream colour, and almost like the texture of a cashmere -shawl.</p> - -<p>All sorts of shapes and figures could be seen caused -by the action of the water, which must have taken -thousands of years to perform its work, and would -take thousands more years to complete it. Hanging -from the roof were large pendants like icicles, and the -water ran slowly down them and dripped off at the -end. The hollow underneath caused by these drips -showed the extreme age of the cave.</p> - -<p>Leaning against the side of the cave Edgar saw -close to him what at first looked like a bunch of -grapes; but when he observed it closely he found it -was a peculiar formation in the rock.</p> - -<p>‘That is one of the secrets,’ said Yacka. ‘It is a -guide to the inner cave we must enter. Watch.’</p> - -<p>Yacka pushed the bunch of grapes, and a large -slab of rock moved slowly round, and through the -opening they saw another large cave beyond.</p> - -<p>‘Enter and wait,’ said Yacka.</p> - -<p>‘Are you coming?’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘I will fetch you,’ said Yacka; ‘but I must enter the -White Spirit’s cave before you, or harm may befall.’</p> - -<p>‘I don’t half like it,’ said Edgar. ‘We are not -afraid, but you had better go on with us.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[167]</span></p> - -<p>Yacka said: ‘You must remain alone.’</p> - -<p>‘All right,’ said Edgar, sitting down on a projection -from the rock; ‘but make haste back.’</p> - -<p>Yacka went away, and when they looked round they -found the rock had swung back into its place, and they -were imprisoned in the cave.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">THE WHITE SPIRIT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>It was not a pleasant sensation to find themselves -alone, shut up in a cave, only a faint glimmer of -light being visible, and from which there appeared to -be no means of escape. There was a peculiar clammy -dampness about the atmosphere, and a strange vault-like -smell. It might have been an old tomb, so weird -was everything surrounding them.</p> - -<p>‘The stone must have swung back into its place,’ -said Edgar. ‘Yacka will open it when he returns.’</p> - -<p>‘All the same, I don’t like it,’ said Will. ‘Suppose -he could not move the stone again. If anything -happened to him, we have very little chance of getting -out.’</p> - -<p>‘There is no occasion for alarm at present,’ said -Edgar. ‘I trust Yacka, and he will soon return. To -pass away the time we may as well examine the cave.<span class="pagenum">[168]</span> -It is evidently only one of many. The whole of -these rocks and hills are honeycombed.’</p> - -<p>They stepped cautiously, and felt the sides of the -cave, finding them smooth and even.</p> - -<p>‘Here is another of these peculiar formations like -a bunch of grapes,’ said Edgar. ‘Perhaps there is -another stone that swings round. We can try at any -rate.’</p> - -<p>He pushed the hard knob, as he had seen Yacka do, -and cried out excitedly:</p> - -<p>‘It moves, Will; come and help me! Push hard! -I can feel it giving way.’</p> - -<p>Slowly the huge stone moved, and there was an -opening wide enough for them to pass through.</p> - -<p>Edgar went through first, but came back quickly -when Will called out the opening was closing up -again and the stone swinging back into its place. -Edgar had just time to step back into the cave when -the stone swung to.</p> - -<p>‘That is the way the other must have closed up,’ -said Edgar. ‘It made no noise. Let us have -another try, the cave on the other side is much -larger than this.’</p> - -<p>‘If we get through,’ said Will, ‘the stone will -swing back, and we shall be worse off than before. -Yacka will not be able to find us when he returns.’</p> - -<p>‘He will follow us,’ said Edgar. ‘He must know -of this cave and the way to enter it.’</p> - -<p>‘If you mean going on, I will follow you,’ said -Will.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[169]</span></p> - -<p>They moved the stone again, and this time they -both stepped quickly through before it swung -back.</p> - -<p>The cave they entered was, as Edgar said, much -larger than the one they had just left. It was lighted -by the same dim light, but they could not see from -whence it came.</p> - -<p>‘Here is another knob,’ said Will. ‘They must -have been made by the blacks. Perhaps we are on -the way to the cave of Enooma. I wonder what -Yacka will think if we reach it before him.’</p> - -<p>‘He will think we have been guided there by the -White Spirit,’ said Edgar, ‘and will regard us with -superstitious awe. It would be a good thing if we -could come across the cave he spoke of without his -help.’</p> - -<p>The stone turned in a similar way to the others, -but this time they found themselves in a long passage, -like an old mining tunnel in a rock.</p> - -<p>They walked cautiously along, but there was more -light here than in the cave they had left. Edgar -kicked a loose stone and it rolled some distance in -front and then vanished, and they heard a splash. -The stone had fallen into a deep hole, and as they -peered down they saw the water rolling slowly along -at a considerable depth.</p> - -<p>‘It must be an underground river,’ said Edgar. -‘We have had a narrow escape.’</p> - -<p>They shuddered to think what would have befallen -them had they not been warned by the stone.<span class="pagenum">[170]</span> -Round one side of the opening was a narrow pathway, -and along this they passed safely to the opposite -side, looking well ahead in case there should be more -of these death traps.</p> - -<p>The passage wound through the rock in a tortuous -manner, and after they had gone a considerable distance, -they sat down to rest and wonder where it -would lead them. Will wished they had remained in -the cave and waited for Yacka’s return, and Edgar -began to think he had ventured upon a foolhardy -journey.</p> - -<p>‘We are in for it now,’ he said, ‘and shall have to -go on, for we cannot find our way back, and even if -we did, we could not push the stones round from this -side. It looks very much like the workings of an old -mine, but there can have been no mining done here, -because the blacks know nothing of such work. -What’s that?’</p> - -<p>They listened intently and heard a faint sound in -the distance like someone in pain and wailing aloud.</p> - -<p>‘Come along,’ said Edgar, ‘there is someone ahead -of us.’</p> - -<p>They walked on as fast as they were able, and -presently came to the end of the passage. Here they -found another stone blocking the exit, but it had -been partly pushed aside as though someone had just -entered, and it had not swung back into its place. -Edgar passed through, and as he did so held up his -hand to caution Will not to make a noise.</p> - -<p>It was a strange, weird sight they saw. They had<span class="pagenum">[171]</span> -entered another large cave, but it was of a totally -different formation to those they had seen. At the -far end of the cave was a beautiful crystal wall nearly -thirty feet high. The stalagmites were short and -thick, and the stalactitic formations extremely long, -many being over a hundred feet in length. Massive -deposits could be seen on all sides heaped up in the -most curious manner. Many of them were of a -wondrous salmon colour, others were deep red, and -brown, and several glittered with a dull blood-red -glow.</p> - -<p>They were awed by this grand, majestic freak of -Nature. To the left was another passage, full of -magnificent columns of stalactites and stalagmites, -all pure white and diamond-like in brilliance; they -seemed to be coated with sparkling and lustrous -gems. These columns rose from floor to roof like -huge pillars in some vast cathedral. They were of -different formations, but all about the same height. -All the colours of the rainbow sparkled in the various -pillars, and the effect was dazzling.</p> - -<p>Passing down this magnificent column passage, untouched -by the art of man, and marvelling at its -strange beauty, they came to a beautiful shawl-like -formation of the purest white, which hung suspended -from the roof between two massive pillars until it -reached within a yard of the floor. This curtain was -of the most delicate pattern, the tracery being very -fine, in some places almost as fine as a spider’s web. -There were designs on it of flowers and leaves unlike<span class="pagenum">[172]</span> -any they had ever seen in reality. It was evident -this curtain shut off some chamber beyond from the -passage of columns they had just passed through.</p> - -<p>Edgar was about to speak, when they again heard -the wail that had before startled them.</p> - -<p>This time it sounded nearer, on the other side of -the curtain, and Edgar stooped down in order to pass -underneath. Will followed him, and both clutched -their revolvers.</p> - -<p>They were now in a richly-stocked chamber of -large size, the colours on the rock and the roof being -of a dazzling white, like alabaster. In a recess at -the end was a white recumbent figure, resting on a -huge salmon-coloured slab, from which hung down -like drapery a yellow-tinted curtain of stone, with -red-veined tracery running through it in all manner -of intricate shapes and ways.</p> - -<p>Before this stone figure, resting upon its hard bed, -knelt the black figure of Yacka, standing out with -extraordinary distinctness from his white surroundings. -Yacka prostrated himself before the white -figure, and from time to time gave a low, yet piercing, -wailing cry.</p> - -<p>They stood looking upon the strange scene in -silence, and neither felt inclined to break it.</p> - -<p>Yacka suddenly seemed to be aware that someone -was present, for he rose to his feet and, turning round, -faced them.</p> - -<p>He did not seem at all surprised to see them, and -beckoned to them to advance.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[173]</span></p> - -<p>When they reached the stone upon which Yacka -stood, the black said:</p> - -<p>‘Kneel, kneel. This is the White Spirit of the -Enooma. This is Enooma, and this is her cave. -She dwells here. She has lived here from the beginning, -and Yacka is her son. Kneel before the White -Spirit.’</p> - -<p>To humour him they knelt. There was something -solemn about the proceedings—something it was -difficult to understand. As they knelt, Yacka wailed -again, and the peculiar cry echoed through the white, -vaulted chamber.</p> - -<p>‘I knew you would come,’ said Yacka. ‘Enooma -told me you would find your way. She whispered to -me that you were of her race, and her people.’ The -black’s voice had a sad tone in it. ‘She has found -her white sons, and the poor black must know her no -more; Yacka is no longer the only son of Enooma. -He has brought you to her, and she claims you as -her own. You are of her race and her people. -Rise and look upon the face of Enooma, the White -Spirit, and say did Yacka speak false when he brought -you here.’</p> - -<p>Edgar and Will rose to their feet, and, standing on -a large slab which Yacka pointed out to them, they -looked down upon the figure before them.</p> - -<p>To Edgar it looked like the figure of a very beautiful -woman carved in alabaster. She lay on her back, -with her hands hidden beneath the folds of a fine -piece of stone lacework. The lower part of the<span class="pagenum">[174]</span> -figure had a similar covering, so that the actual part -of a woman visible to them was the face only. But -the lace covering of the body was of such fine work -that the figure could almost be seen underneath.</p> - -<p>The face of Enooma wore a calm and peaceful -expression, such as is invariably found upon the -carved monuments of the dead, and bearing but -little sign of the mind that worked within before -death.</p> - -<p>‘Can this be the image of a being that once lived -here?’ said Edgar to Will.</p> - -<p>Yacka stood some distance away, and could not -hear them.</p> - -<p>‘Impossible,’ said Will. ‘No white woman has -ever been here.’</p> - -<p>‘It may not have been a white woman,’ said Edgar. -‘Carved as this is, one could not tell whether the -original was black or white. It is an alabaster figure, -or looks like it.’ He touched the figure on the face with -his hand, and drew it back suddenly. ‘It feels quite -hot,’ he said.</p> - -<p>‘Probably so intensely cold that you imagined for -the moment it burned you,’ said Will.</p> - -<p>Edgar touched the face again, but, strange to say, -could not keep his hand upon it.</p> - -<p>‘You try,’ he said; and Will put his hand out.</p> - -<p>Yacka saw the motion, and called out:</p> - -<p>‘Touch her not! Only one must touch her.’</p> - -<p>Will smiled as he said:</p> - -<p>‘I will do her no harm, Yacka.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[175]</span></p> - -<p>‘At your own risk,’ said the black, ‘touch her, -but do not blame me; I warned you.’</p> - -<p>Will put out his hand again, and then a strange -thing happened. Before he touched the face his feet -slipped, and he fell off the slab with such force that, -his head coming into violent contact with the stone, -he was stunned.</p> - -<p>Edgar jumped down and held up his head, and in -a few moments Will recovered his senses.</p> - -<p>‘I warned you,’ said Yacka.</p> - -<p>‘It was a pure accident,’ said Will.</p> - -<p>Edgar made no remark, but he thought it a strange -coincidence.</p> - -<p>A peculiar rumbling sound was heard, and Yacka -listened intently. In a moment there was a terrific -crash. The rock upon which they stood shook, and -the sides of the cave seemed to rock.</p> - -<p>The slab upon which rested the White Spirit of -Enooma rocked to and fro, and the figure seemed to -move.</p> - -<p>Crash followed crash, and roar upon roar. The -forces of Nature seemed to have suddenly burst -loose, and a general upheaval was taking place. So -violent became the oscillation, that they were compelled -to lie down on the floor of the cave.</p> - -<p>‘It is Enooma’s welcome to her own people,’ said -Yacka, who was not in the least afraid.</p> - -<p>‘It is an earthquake,’ said Edgar in an awestruck -voice.</p> - -<p>‘What is an earthquake?’ said Yacka.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[176]</span></p> - -<p>Edgar made no reply. He could not. For the -first time he felt a strange fear creep over him. With -a trembling hand he pointed to the white figure of -Enooma.</p> - -<p>They looked with wondering eyes, and on Yacka’s -face was an expression of absolute terror. The slab on -which Enooma rested cracked and split, and the white -figure disappeared from view.</p> - -<p>With a terrible cry of rage Yacka sprang to his -feet, and looked down the opening into which the -White Spirit of Enooma had disappeared.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">THE FORCES OF NATURE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>As Yacka stood on the height above them, his black -figure seemed to grow and expand until he looked a -giant in stature. His rage was terrible, and his -whole frame shook with wrath. Shock followed -quickly upon shock, but Yacka maintained his foothold, -despite the violent concussions that rocked the -cave.</p> - -<p>A huge piece of rock crashed down at Edgar’s -feet, the broken portions flying in all directions. -They at once looked round for some place to hide -in, and some protection from the falling stones. -Crawling along on their hands and knees, they crept<span class="pagenum">[177]</span> -under a portion of the slab upon which the white -figure had rested, and which had fallen upon two -large rocks that upheld it. Under this they had a -safe shelter, providing the ground held firm. Above -the roar and din of falling rocks they could now -hear the peals of thunder, which sounded like salvos -of artillery. A crack in the roof of the cavern -admitted the lightning, which darted in and out -incessantly.</p> - -<p>From where they were hidden they could see -Yacka, who still stood a solitary black figure amidst -this chaos. The black was lost to all sense of danger, -even to the nature of the surroundings. One thought -alone absorbed him—the sudden vanishing of the -white figure of Enooma. He peered into the depths -below him, but could see nothing; he waved his -hands wildly, and uttered loud cries.</p> - -<p>Watching him intently, Edgar and Will were -afraid every moment he would jump into the fissure, -or be hurled into it by a sudden shock. After a few -moments’ pause in this battle of the forces of Nature, -another shock was felt. They heard the same dull, -rumbling sound, and felt the vibration of the earth -beneath them. The movement increased in force, -until they were rocked to and fro, and had to cling -to the edge of the slab for support. Another rush -of fallen rocks and stones took place, and after a -terrific and prolonged peal of thunder a dead silence -reigned. After the deafening noise the sudden silence -could almost be felt; the change was marvellous.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[178]</span></p> - -<p>‘It is all over,’ said Edgar. ‘Thank God, we are -alive!’</p> - -<p>They crept out of their hiding-place and looked -for Yacka, but he was nowhere to be seen. Hastily -they scrambled on to the fallen slabs, and looked -down into the dark hole where the figure of Enooma -had fallen.</p> - -<p>‘Yacka, Yacka!’ shouted Edgar.</p> - -<p>There was no answer, except a loud echo of his -voice. Again Edgar shouted, and this time there -was a faint response.</p> - -<p>‘He has fallen down,’ said Will. ‘How are we to -reach him? He may be fatally injured.’</p> - -<p>They looked round for some means of descending -in safety, and after peering down the hole for some -time Edgar said:</p> - -<p>‘There is a light at the bottom, and now I can -see better; the rocks seem to be piled up in heaps. -We may be able to descend by slipping from one to -the other. It is our only chance, and we must -try it.’</p> - -<p>They prepared for their perilous descent; they -had no rope, and nothing out of which a support of -any kind could be made.</p> - -<p>Edgar knelt down, and Will caught hold of one -hand as he glided over the edge.</p> - -<p>‘All right,’ said Edgar, ‘I have a foothold here.’</p> - -<p>Will followed, and the same operation was repeated, -and Edgar again found a firm footing lower down. -He stood still, and helped Will to follow him. It<span class="pagenum">[179]</span> -was slow work, but by degrees they neared the -bottom.</p> - -<p>Edgar looked down from the ledge upon which -he was standing, and saw Yacka lying near the foot -of the rock.</p> - -<p>‘Are you badly hurt?’ he called out.</p> - -<p>‘Not much hurt,’ replied Yacka. ‘My leg pains, -but is not broken.’</p> - -<p>‘It is a big drop from here,’ said Edgar, ‘but it -does not look a dangerous place to fall on. I’ll -chance it.’</p> - -<p>He let himself down to his full length, and then -dropped.</p> - -<p>‘It is quite safe,’ he shouted to Will.</p> - -<p>Will followed, and they found they were on a -bed of moss and ferns that had flourished in the -darkness, and had been kept green by the dampness.</p> - -<p>Yacka was not much hurt. He had slipped, and -fallen a considerable distance, and his descent had -been checked by a projection in the rock. From -this he had gradually descended, much in the same -way as Will and Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Where are we?’ said Edgar. ‘This cavern must -have been in its present state a long time.’</p> - -<p>‘It has,’ said Yacka. ‘This is the place I was to -show you. The White Spirit of Enooma guarded the -entrance. The place where she rested formed the -opening. She fell down here, and is gone; Enooma -will be seen no more. When her treasure is gone<span class="pagenum">[180]</span> -there will be no need for her to guard it. Her task -is ended, and she will watch no more.’</p> - -<p>‘If the figure fell on the moss and ferns it would -not be much injured,’ said Edgar; ‘we will search -for Enooma while you rest here.’</p> - -<p>‘It is not good for Yacka to remain; he will search -with you,’ said the black.</p> - -<p>‘She must be near here,’ said Will. ‘See, there is -the opening down which she fell.’</p> - -<p>They searched in every direction, but could find -no trace of the figure. Edgar felt they were treading -on some soft substance like sand, and, stooping -down, felt it with his hands. It was like powder, -quite white and fine.</p> - -<p>‘The figure must have crumbled away,’ said -Edgar. ‘Look at this powder’; and he handed -some to Will.</p> - -<p>Yacka looked at it curiously, and said:</p> - -<p>‘Enooma has gone; the White Spirit has left her -cave, and has shown no sign.’</p> - -<p>‘This is a sign,’ said Edgar. ‘Your white lady -has crumbled to dust. The figure must have been -one of Nature’s freaks, and having become decayed -and rotten with age, has been ground to powder by -the fall.’</p> - -<p>‘I should like to know how the figure came where -we found it,’ said Will.</p> - -<p>‘It was placed there by the Enooma years and -years ago,’ said Yacka. ‘It was a pure block of -white stone then, and no figure on it. The White<span class="pagenum">[181]</span> -Spirit formed the figure, and Yacka is the son of -Enooma.’</p> - -<p>‘Was Enooma, your mother, a white woman?’ -said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘I knew no mother,’ said Yacka. ‘She left me -before I could speak. The tribe knew she was white, -and her spirit lived in these caves. Now the spirit -is gone, and the Enooma will seek a new country. -It is good; we have lived here too long. We -shall go north, and be near the sea; that will give -strength to the Enooma, and make them strong big -men.’</p> - -<p>‘How are we to get out of this place,’ said Will.</p> - -<p>‘Easy way out,’ said Yacka; ‘but hard way in.’</p> - -<p>Edgar thought this strange, but waited to see what -Yacka meant.</p> - -<p>‘Come,’ said Yacka, limping along. ‘I will show -you the riches of Enooma.’</p> - -<p>He led them along a dark passage into another -cave, and here the light streamed in from a cleft in -the rock. Gold glittered in heaps on the floor. There -were nuggets of gold almost solid, and some as large -as a goose egg. They were scattered about in -reckless profusion. There were diamonds of small -size, uncut, and great rubies of pigeon-blood colour. -It was a cave of riches, and Edgar and Will feasted -their eyes on it in amazement. They held the rubies -in their hands, and gloated over their wondrous -colour. They handled the gold and felt its weight, -and were bewildered with the nature of the discovery.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[182]</span></p> - -<p>‘How did all this come here?’ said Edgar. ‘To -whom does it belong?’</p> - -<p>‘It is mine,’ said Yacka. ‘I am the son of -Enooma, and the tribe collected it. None of them -know its value. They do not wish for gold or stones. -All they wish for is to live a savage life, and to have -a country of their own. They cannot be taught what -such things as these mean. Yacka has been in great -cities and knows. He has seen the white man kill -for love of gold; he has seen the women of the white -men sell themselves for these,’ and he held up some -rubies and diamonds. ‘It is better for the Enooma -to remain as they are. Gold would make them fight -amongst themselves, now they fight their enemies.’</p> - -<p>‘You may be right,’ said Edgar. ‘All the same, I -should like a few samples of your wealth, Yacka.’</p> - -<p>‘Take what you will,’ said Yacka. ‘It is far to -carry it. Do not take too much, or you will not -reach Yanda again. Water is more precious than -gold sometimes.’</p> - -<p>‘May we return and take away more?’ asked -Will.</p> - -<p>‘If you can find the place,’ said the black; ‘but -Yacka will show you no more.’</p> - -<p>‘Then I am afraid we shall not have much chance,’ -said Will. ‘It is a pity all this wealth should be -wasted.’</p> - -<p>‘Others may find it, and take their share,’ said -Yacka. ‘It is not good for one man to have too -much.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[183]</span></p> - -<p>‘We can carry enough away with us,’ said Edgar, -‘to give us a start in life, anyhow. Perhaps Yacka is -right. It is not good for a man to have too much. -Will you help us, Yacka?’</p> - -<p>‘To carry gold for you?’ said the black.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘I will carry some, and stones for you, but I will -not use any,’ Yacka said.</p> - -<p>‘You’re a strange being,’ said Edgar; ‘but the -black man lives not as the white man.’</p> - -<p>‘No,’ said Yacka; ‘he does not slay his friend for -gold.’</p> - -<p>Edgar dropped the subject. Whatever the cruel, -cowardly conduct of the blacks might be, he knew -enough about the pursuit of wealth to refrain from -arguing with Yacka.</p> - -<p>‘The tribe will be waiting for us,’ said Yacka. ‘We -must return.’</p> - -<p>‘Perhaps the earthquake has frightened them -away,’ said Will.</p> - -<p>‘They would not feel it so much as we did, being -underground,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘It was no earthquake,’ said Yacka. ‘It was the -White Spirit welcoming you.’</p> - -<p>‘A strange welcome,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Had it been an earthquake you would have been -killed,’ said Yacka. ‘I have seen what an earthquake -does. It swallows up mountains and trees, -and heaves up other mountains in their place. All -the plains of Australia were formed by earthquakes,<span class="pagenum">[184]</span> -and the mountains were thrown up to make that part -smooth.’</p> - -<p>‘How long will it take us to return to the tribe?’ -said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Not long,’ replied Yacka. ‘We will go now. We -can return for the gold.’</p> - -<p>‘We had better take some now,’ said practical Will.</p> - -<p>Edgar was nothing loath, and they filled what -pockets they had left in their torn clothes with gold, -rubies, and diamonds.</p> - -<p>Yacka watched them and said:</p> - -<p>‘I will return for more. You need not come again.’</p> - -<p>‘You mean you do not wish us to return,’ said -Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘That is it,’ said Yacka. ‘I will return alone.’</p> - -<p>To this they agreed, acknowledging that Yacka -had the right to do as he pleased, as it was undoubtedly -his find. They were not long in getting -out of this strange labyrinth of caves and passages, -and Edgar wondered why they had not come in this -way. Before they reached the exit Yacka said they -must be blindfolded. To this at first they protested, -but as Yacka was firm, and they were in his power, -they consented.</p> - -<p>Yacka led Will by the hand, Edgar holding Will’s -other hand. They tramped in this way for a considerable -time, and then Yacka removed the covering -from their eyes.</p> - -<p>They were on the grassy plain once more, but the -whole scene had been changed by the wondrous<span class="pagenum">[185]</span> -forces of Nature. Huge masses of rock were strewn -about, and trees were felled and torn up by the roots. -Where they had entered the mountains there was no -other means of passing through. The blacks had -retreated before the terrible storm, and were encamped -a long way off. They could just see the -camp fires in the distance. Several dead blacks lay -around, evidently killed by falling rocks, but Yacka -took very little notice of them. Death ended all for -these men, and, being dead, Yacka thought no more -of them.</p> - -<p>When Edgar looked round to see where they had -come out of the caves, there was no opening anywhere. -Yacka smiled as he said:</p> - -<p>‘You will never find the entrance. It is known -only to me, and once I lost it and never found it -again.’</p> - -<p>‘Then that is the reason we went in the other -way,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Yacka. ‘Now I have the way out, I -can find the way in again.’</p> - -<p>They marched towards the camp, and the Enooma -rushed to meet them, uttering loud cries of delight. -They had never expected to see them return alive -after such a terrific earthquake. These blacks were -strange people. Terrified as they had recently been, -they had in a very few hours forgotten their experiences. -The sudden changes in this climate had -made them familiar with the working of the forces of -Nature, which are truly marvellous.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[186]</span></p> - -<p>In the stillness of the night, as Edgar and Will sat -side by side, they returned thanks for their merciful -escape. It was an experience they would never -forget, and now that it was over both felt untold -gold would not tempt them to brave it again.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">THE RETURN TO YANDA.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Before they were awake next morning Yacka, true -to his promise, went to the cave and returned with -some of the finest rubies and purest lumps of gold. -He roused Edgar and Will, and showed them what -he had done.</p> - -<p>‘It is as much as we can carry,’ he said, and they -agreed with him.</p> - -<p>The gold was heavy, and they had a long tramp -before them.</p> - -<p>Without further delay they collected their treasure, -and made it secure in a strong skin loin-cloth, which -was fastened by dried strips of leather, so that none -of the stones could fall out.</p> - -<p>‘This is like putting all our eggs in one basket,’ -said Edgar. ‘I think we had better carry the best -of the rubies about us.’</p> - -<p>This was done, and the bag again fastened -securely.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[187]</span></p> - -<p>The Enooma accompanied them, and left them -about a couple of days’ journey from the ranges.</p> - -<p>At this point Edgar and Will bade them farewell, -and Yacka promised to return and travel with them -further north. The black had explained to them all -that had taken place in the caves, and they did not -care to remain longer in that district.</p> - -<p>Yacka led them safely through the <a id="Ref_187" href="#BRef_187">MacDonnell</a> -Ranges, and they reached Alice Springs, where they -had a hearty welcome.</p> - -<p>‘We never expected to see you alive again,’ said -Walter Hepburn. ‘You have been away close upon -six months, and we thought you were gone for good. -I hope you are satisfied with your experiences.’</p> - -<p>‘We are,’ said Edgar. ‘We have seen many -strange and wonderful sights.’</p> - -<p>‘You must tell me about your adventures to-night,’ -said Hepburn. ‘I have kept your horses safe, and -they will be ready for the journey.’</p> - -<p>It was a relief to Edgar and Will to obtain fresh -clothes, for those they wore were almost in rags.</p> - -<p>The night of their arrival they related to Walter -Hepburn all that had befallen them, and he was -amazed. He could hardly credit the account Edgar -gave of the wealth found in the cave of Enooma; but -when he saw the precious stones and gold spread out -before him, he was completely overwhelmed.</p> - -<p>‘This is pure gold,’ he said, as he handled a large -lump of the precious metal. ‘And these rubies are -exceedingly rich in colour, and worth a heap of<span class="pagenum">[188]</span> -money. We have found rubies in the creeks here, -but nothing to be compared to these. Of course, you -will return with a properly equipped expedition, and -carry the bulk of it away?’</p> - -<p>‘I am afraid that will be out of the question,’ said -Edgar. ‘Yacka will not guide us there again, and I -am sure we could not find the place.’</p> - -<p>‘Yacka must be forced to act as guide,’ said Hepburn. -‘Such a treasure as you have discovered -cannot be allowed to remain buried.’</p> - -<p>‘I shall not be the one to use force against Yacka,’ -said Edgar. ‘The black has acted honestly by us, -and we must do the same by him.’</p> - -<p>‘If you fellows do not have another try to find the -place I shall,’ said Hepburn.</p> - -<p>Edgar laughed as he said:</p> - -<p>‘You are welcome to do so. For my part I have -had enough of it, and am glad to have got back -again with a whole skin.’</p> - -<p>‘You must be careful not to let anyone know about -here what you have with you. There are some -desperate characters, and a mere hint as to the wealth -you have, and your lives would not be safe,’ said -Hepburn.</p> - -<p>‘We have told no one but yourself,’ said Edgar; -‘and we know we can trust you. You are an old -Redbank boy.’</p> - -<p>After some persuasion Walter Hepburn agreed to -accept a couple of fine rubies and a heavy nugget in -return for the keep of the horses, and as a remembrance<span class="pagenum">[189]</span> -of their visit. As well as he was able -Edgar described the country they had traversed -and the appearance of the place where the caves -were.</p> - -<p>‘Even if you reach there safely,’ said Edgar, ‘you -will not be able to find the entrance. We could see -nothing of it, and even Yacka lost the run of it once.’</p> - -<p>‘It is worth the risk,’ said Hepburn. ‘I wish I -had gone with you. I am used to these wilds, and -once I had been over the ground I am sure I could -find my way back.’</p> - -<p>They did not remain long at Alice Springs, as they -were eager to return to Yanda and learn how their -friends had got on during their absence.</p> - -<p>The return journey passed in much the same way -as their ride to Alice Springs from Yanda.</p> - -<p>They had a plentiful supply of ammunition, which -Walter Hepburn had given them, and consequently -were not afraid to shoot when in need of provisions.</p> - -<p>Edgar noticed Yacka was restless, and did not -seem at his ease during their journey, and he questioned -him as to the reason.</p> - -<p>‘I have a fear we are being followed,’ said Yacka. -‘I have seen no one, but still I fear it. Did anyone -know you had gold and stones at Alice Springs?’</p> - -<p>‘Only Walter Hepburn,’ said Edgar. ‘We were -careful not to tell anyone else.’</p> - -<p>‘You showed him the stones?’ asked Yacka.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Edgar; ‘we spread them out on the -table in his house, but no one else was there.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[190]</span></p> - -<p>‘But there are windows,’ said Yacka, ‘and someone -may have looked in. It was foolish.’</p> - -<p>‘I think you are wrong about anyone following us,’ -said Will. ‘They would have attacked us before -now.’</p> - -<p>Yacka explained that he had not slept at night -since they left the Springs. He had watched and -waited and heard strange sounds. He felt sure they -were being followed, but at some distance.</p> - -<p>‘You must have a sleep to-night, anyhow,’ said -Edgar, ‘or you will knock up. We can keep watch -in turns.’</p> - -<p>Yacka assented, for he felt much in need of sleep.</p> - -<p>They camped on a level patch of ground, where -there was not much surrounding shelter, and where -they felt secure against any surprise.</p> - -<p>Worn out from want of sleep, Yacka stretched -himself on the ground, and quickly fell into a deep -slumber.</p> - -<p>‘He’s dead tired,’ said Edgar. ‘I have never seen -him drop off into such a sound sleep. He generally -has an eye open, and his ears catch every sound.’</p> - -<p>‘Are you going to take first watch?’ said Will.</p> - -<p>‘If you like,’ said Edgar. ‘I will rouse you when -I become drowsy.’</p> - -<p>Will soon followed Yacka into the land of dreams, -and Edgar, leaning his back against the trunk of a -tree, watched them. The treasure was close to him, -and the sight of it brought back to him the scenes -they had witnessed. From these experiences his<span class="pagenum">[191]</span> -thoughts wandered to Wal Jessop and Eva, and he -wondered how they had gone on during his absence. -He was anxious to see them again, and when he -reached Yanda meant to take a trip to Sydney as -early as possible.</p> - -<p>Then he thought of home, and his father and sister, -and hoped to have letters from them at Yanda. They -would be anxious to hear how his exploit had turned -out, and what a glowing account he would give them! -Lost in these pleasant reflections, he did not hear the -stealthy tread of two men behind the tree.</p> - -<p>These men kept well in the shadow of the trunk of -the tree against which Edgar sat, all unconscious of -their approach. They were desperate-looking fellows, -dressed in bush fashion, and had evidently ridden -after Edgar and his companions from Alice Springs. -Cautiously they approached, avoiding the loose twigs -on the ground, and halting to listen intently at every -few yards. Each man had a revolver in his hand, -and a knife in his belt.</p> - -<p>The taller of the two motioned to the knife at his -side, and pointed to Edgar. The other nodded, and -drew out his formidable blade. He then crept, knife -in hand, towards Edgar, and his companion made -towards Will.</p> - -<p>Edgar, who began to feel drowsy, rose to his feet -and leaned on his shoulder against the tree, his back -still to the man stealing up, knife in hand. Edgar -little knew the peril he was in, and dreaded nothing.</p> - -<p>Nearer and nearer drew the man with his murderous<span class="pagenum">[192]</span> -weapon. He was now close to the tree, and had his -knife uplifted ready to strike.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a laughing jackass, perched in the -branches above Edgar’s head, gave his mocking -laugh. The sound startled him, and he turned round; -as he did so he saw the man, and the knife he had -in his uplifted hand flashed in the faint moonlight.</p> - -<p>He shouted, ‘Yacka! Yacka! Will! Will!’ and -sprang backwards.</p> - -<p>The man rushed upon him just as Will opened his -eyes in a half-drowsy way, and dimly realized that a -man was pointing his revolver at him.</p> - -<p>‘Move, and I fire!’ said the man to Yacka, as he -saw the black spring to his feet.</p> - -<p>Yacka dared not move; he knew it would be -instant death to Will.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Edgar grappled with his assailant, and -a desperate struggle was going on.</p> - -<p>The man covering Will called out to his mate and -Edgar:</p> - -<p>‘Drop struggling, or I fire!’</p> - -<p>Edgar glanced at him, and saw the danger Will -was in.</p> - -<p>‘Hands off!’ he said, and the man ceased to -struggle with him.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately, neither Edgar or Will had their -revolvers handy, and their guns were against the -trunk of the tree—the revolvers being luckily hidden -from sight in the long rank grass.</p> - -<p>‘We want that bag,’ said the tall man, still covering<span class="pagenum">[193]</span> -Will. ‘Let my mate get the bag and your guns, and -then you can go.’</p> - -<p>In a moment it flashed across Edgar that if the -men took the bag and the guns there would still be -the revolvers, and that gave them a chance before the -thieves reached their horses. He was not, however, -too eager, and said:</p> - -<p>‘You are a cowardly pair to rob us like this.’</p> - -<p>‘You are three to one,’ said the man with a grin. -‘Nothing very cowardly about that. Will you “ante -up” the “boodle”?’</p> - -<p>‘How do we know you will not fire on us? We -shall be unarmed,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘We want the plunder, not your lives,’ said the -man. ‘Come, be quick. We have no time to -waste.’</p> - -<p>The man was evidently impatient, and Edgar -thought: ‘Perhaps they are afraid of someone following -them from the Springs.’ Aloud he said:</p> - -<p>‘We agree. Take the bag and our guns and go.’</p> - -<p>The man who had attacked Edgar picked up the -bag and the two guns. It was an anxious moment -for Edgar. The revolvers were lying near the tree, -and the man might kick them as he went along. -With a sigh of relief, Edgar saw the man had not discovered -them. Yacka was on the alert, but saw no -chance of making a move without injuring Will, and -Edgar was in the same fix. The tall man ‘bailed’ -them up until his companion returned with their -horses.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[194]</span></p> - -<p>Having fixed the bag firmly in front of the saddle -the man mounted, placing the guns also in front of -him. He then led the other horse up to the man -covering Will, and levelled his revolver at him while -his mate mounted.</p> - -<p>Yacka stood at the other side of the horses, and for -a brief moment the man covering Will could not see -him, and the taller man was mounting with his back -to Yacka. In an instant Yacka bounded between the -man with the revolver and Will, and jerked the -horse’s bridle, which caused the animal to suddenly -back. The man fired, but the movement of the horse -spoilt his aim and the shot did no harm.</p> - -<p>Seeing how matters stood, Edgar ran for the -revolvers, and reached them before the thieves could -realize what had happened.</p> - -<p>A desperate fight now took place. The mounted -men, whose horses plunged at the sound of firing, -aimed at Will and Edgar, and the former felt a sharp -pain in his left arm.</p> - -<p>Yacka still hung on to the horse’s bridle, and the -man on it fired point-blank at him, the bullet -grazing his head.</p> - -<p>Edgar approached this man, and when close to -him fired. The shot told, and the man’s right arm -fell to his side, his revolver dropping on to the -ground.</p> - -<p>‘Winged!’ shouted Edgar. ‘Hold on, Yacka!’</p> - -<p>But Yacka had let go of the horse and pulled the -man out of the saddle. The horse, finding itself free,<span class="pagenum">[195]</span> -galloped off, with the bag still fast to the front of the -saddle.</p> - -<p>The other man, seeing how matters were going, -and knowing the loose horse had the bag still fast to -the saddle, turned tail and galloped after it.</p> - -<p>‘The horses—the horses! Quick, Will!’ said -Edgar. ‘We must be after them.’</p> - -<p>Will brought up the horses, and they were quickly -in the saddle.</p> - -<p>‘You keep guard over this fellow, Yacka,’ said -Edgar. ‘Don’t let him go.’</p> - -<p>For answer Yacka smiled savagely, and gripped -the man by the throat so hard that his eyes started -from his head.</p> - -<p>‘He’s in safe hands,’ said Edgar. ‘Come along, -Will, or we shall lose our treasure after all.’</p> - -<p>They rode away after the other man and the runaway -horse as fast as their nags could carry them.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">AN EXCITING CHASE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>It proved an exciting chase they had commenced. -The thief knew he need expect no mercy if caught, -and rode desperately. He knew the country better -than Edgar and Will, which gave him a decided -advantage; moreover, he had a good horse, probably -stolen, and knew how to ride.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[196]</span></p> - -<p>‘He is gaining on us,’ said Edgar. ‘I am afraid -we shall lose him. There is no chance of hitting -either man or horse from this distance.’</p> - -<p>Mile after mile was traversed, and still the chase -went on. The riderless horse stuck close to his -companion, but when he began to flag the man took -hold of the bridle and urged him on. Edgar took -no heed where they were going, nor did Will. They -were too excited to take much notice of the country -they passed through. At last the fugitive turned his -horse to the left, and plunged into a much more -difficult country to travel. The undergrowth became -denser and tangled, and it was with difficulty the -horses could be forced to go through it. It was not -long before they lost sight of the man they were in -pursuit of.</p> - -<p>‘Where can he have got to?’ said Will. ‘He -would never hide here with two of us after him.’</p> - -<p>‘We must ride on,’ replied Edgar. ‘It is easy to -miss a man and come across his track again in a very -short time.’</p> - -<p>They rode on at a slow pace, and presently came -to a narrow opening in the scrub. Here they -halted and found recent tracks of horses, so they -determined to follow in this direction. The tracks -led them in a roundabout way, and presently they -came to the conclusion the man had doubled -back.</p> - -<p>‘He must be heading for our camp again,’ said -Edgar. ‘Strange he should do this unless he fancies<span class="pagenum">[197]</span> -we are put off the scent, and he is riding back to -rescue his mate.’</p> - -<p>‘If that is his game,’ said Will, ‘we must follow -him hard. He might shoot Yacka before we arrive.’</p> - -<p>It was, however, difficult for them to find their -way. They were not experienced bushmen, and had -failed to notice certain signs by which they would -know they were on the right track. They saw no -signs of the man, nor could they now observe in -which direction the horses had gone. To ride on -and trust to chance was their only hope. It was -quite light now, and this aided them. As time -passed they became anxious, and wondered what -would become of Yacka if they did not arrive on the -scene in time, for they had not the least doubt now -that their man was heading for the camp to rescue -his mate.</p> - -<p>‘This chase he has led us has been a blind,’ said -Edgar. ‘If we had taken ordinary precautions we -ought to have found out he was doubling back.’</p> - -<p>‘Only a bushman would have found that out,’ said -Will. ‘I do not see how we can blame ourselves.’</p> - -<p>‘We have had enough experience the last few -months to have found that out,’ said Edgar. ‘By -Jove! there he is, I believe.’</p> - -<p>There was a horseman in front of them, but they -could not see the second horse. They rode on faster -now, but did not gain much ground. A rise in the -land hid the man from view, and soon after he disappeared -they heard a shot. This made them ride<span class="pagenum">[198]</span> -all the faster, and they quickly reached the top of -the rise, and had a good view of the plain beyond.</p> - -<p>‘He fired that shot to warn his mate,’ said Will. -‘We cannot be far from the camp now.’</p> - -<p>‘I’ll fire,’ said Edgar; ‘and if Yacka hears the -two shots he will probably divine we are in -pursuit.’</p> - -<p>He fired a shot from his revolver as they rode on.</p> - -<p>‘There’s the place we camped at,’ said Edgar, -pointing to two or three tall trees: ‘but I see nothing -of Yacka or the other men.’</p> - -<p>They rode up to the place, and found the camp -deserted. There was blood upon the ground and -signs of a struggle, but they imagined this must -have been caused by Yacka dragging the wounded -man along. Edgar called out ‘Yacka!’ and gave -a loud ‘cooee,’ and after waiting a few moments they -heard a faint response. They rode in the direction -of the sound, and, rounding a clump of trees on a -mound, came upon a strange sight.</p> - -<p>Stretched on the ground was one of the robbers, -the man they supposed they had left with Yacka. -This man had been strangled, and was dead. Near -him sat Yacka with a strange expression on his face. -When the black saw them he gave a faint moan, and -pressed his hand to his side.</p> - -<p>‘Good God! he’s shot!’ said Edgar, dismounting -and running to the black. He found blood streaming -from a deep wound in his side evidently inflicted -with a knife. ‘How did this happen?’ asked Edgar,<span class="pagenum">[199]</span> -as he endeavoured to stanch the flow of blood with -a neckerchief he had rapidly pulled off.</p> - -<p>Yacka pointed to the dead man, and Will, who -had come up, exclaimed:</p> - -<p>‘This is not the fellow we left with Yacka. It is -the man we have been chasing all this time.’</p> - -<p>‘Where is the other man?’ asked Edgar, who could -hardly believe his eyes.</p> - -<p>‘I killed him,’ said Yacka faintly.</p> - -<p>‘Where is he?’ asked Will.</p> - -<p>Yacka pointed to some bushes, and Will went -across and found the body of the man they had left -with Yacka. This man had also been strangled.</p> - -<p>They managed to stop the flow of blood from the -deep wound in Yacka’s side, but it was some hours -before he had sufficiently recovered strength to relate -what had happened.</p> - -<p>When Yacka heard the shot fired, he at once -thought the man’s mate had doubled back to rescue -him, and had given Edgar and Will the slip. He -knew how easily it could be done by an old hand, -and his surmise was confirmed by the expression on -the man’s face when he heard the shot. In a moment -Yacka had made up his mind how to act. He had -no gun, for he found that all three had been taken, -instead of only those belonging to Edgar and Will. -He seized his prisoner by the throat, and strangled -him. Then he propped the dead man up with his -back to a tree, and tied him to it with one of the -tethering ropes. He hid himself behind the tree and<span class="pagenum">[200]</span> -waited, and in a short time the other robber came -on to the scene. When this man saw his mate bound -to the tree, he dismounted and came towards him, -evidently thinking Yacka had made him fast, that he -had fallen asleep, and Yacka had gone away.</p> - -<p>Yacka awaited his coming, crouching down behind -the tree. No sooner did the man see his mate was -dead than he realized that a trap had been set for -him, and ran back to the horses. Yacka was quickly -after him, and before the man could reach the horses -had caught him up. Finding Yacka at such close -quarters, the man drew his knife instead of his revolver, -no doubt thinking it would be more effective. -A desperate struggle ensued, which Yacka described -graphically.</p> - -<p>‘We rolled over and over,’ said Yacka. ‘I had no -knife, and he was a powerful man. I caught him by -the throat, and he lost the grip of his knife. I clung -to him with both hands, and he managed to get his -knife and stuck it in my side. I did not let go my -hold. I became fainter and fainter, but clung to his -throat. Then I fell across him, and when I came to -my senses again, which could not have been long, he -was dead. It was their lives or mine, and they were -not fit to live.’</p> - -<p>As they listened to Yacka’s story of this terrible -struggle and awful end of the thieves, they wondered -if many men would have had the courage to act as -he had done.</p> - -<p>‘The horses will not have gone far,’ said Yacka.<span class="pagenum">[201]</span> -‘They were dead tired, I could see, when the man -dismounted.’</p> - -<p>While Will attended to Yacka, Edgar went in -search of the two stray horses, and found them about -a couple of miles away, quietly cropping the scanty -herbage. He secured them without trouble, and was -glad to see their precious treasure was safe, and also -their guns.</p> - -<p>They had to remain in this spot for a week before -Yacka was fit to be removed, and during that time -they buried the bodies of the robbers as well as they -were able with the primitive means at hand.</p> - -<p>Their progress was slow, because Yacka could not -ride far, and had to be helped off one of the horses at -different times to rest. It was lucky for them they -had the two captured horses in addition to their own. -Yacka guided them, and seemed to take a delight in -hiding from them how far they were from Yanda.</p> - -<p>‘Surely we must be somewhere near Yanda by this -time,’ said Edgar. ‘I almost fancy I can recognise -the country.’</p> - -<p>‘You ought to,’ said Yacka, ‘for we are on Yanda -Station now, and we shall reach the homestead to-night.’</p> - -<p>They could not suppress their feelings, and gave a -loud hurrah.</p> - -<p>Yacka had spoken correctly, for towards sundown -the familiar homestead came in sight.</p> - -<p>Yacka wished them to gallop on and leave him, -but this they declined to do, saying he had done so<span class="pagenum">[202]</span> -much for them, it was only making a small return to -remain with him.</p> - -<p>As they neared the homestead they noticed several -figures moving about, evidently in an excited way, on -the veranda.</p> - -<p>‘There’s Ben Brody!’ said Edgar eagerly. ‘He -has recognised us. What a time we shall have to-night!’</p> - -<p>Ben Brody was standing leaning against the door-post -when he saw something moving across the plain -in front of him. He went inside for his glasses, and, -after looking through them for several minutes, he -gave a loud shout.</p> - -<p>It was such an unusual thing for Ben Brody to -shout, except when issuing orders, or expressing his -feelings to some unfortunate new-chum, that the -hands about the place fancied the homestead must -have caught fire. Several of them rushed round to -the front, and found Ben Brody executing a kind of -war-dance on the veranda.</p> - -<p>‘What’s up now?’ asked Will Henton. ‘Something -stinging you?’</p> - -<p>‘No, you fool,’ roared Brody. ‘Do you think I’m -as tender as you? It’s them lads coming back!’</p> - -<p>‘Not Foster and Brown?’ asked Will.</p> - -<p>‘That’s just it, you bet,’ said Brody.</p> - -<p>Off ran Will Henton, and in a few moments -Harry Noke, Jim Lee, and two or three more came -round.</p> - -<p>‘Give me the glasses,’ said Noke.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[203]</span></p> - -<p>‘No need for that,’ said Jim Lee. ‘I can spot ’em -from here.’</p> - -<p>‘We must go and meet them,’ said Will Henton.</p> - -<p>‘Right you are,’ said Brody. ‘Boys, we’ll have a -terrible night of it.’</p> - -<p>They mounted their horses, and in less time than it -takes to write it down were galloping towards the -home-comers.</p> - -<p>The scene was one to be remembered. They -sprang from their horses, and pulled Edgar and Will -out of their saddles, and shook them by the hands, -cheered and hallooed until the plain rang with their -hearty shouts. Yacka stood quietly looking on, and -when they had almost wrung Edgar’s and Will’s -hands off they tackled him.</p> - -<p>‘Don’t handle Yacka as roughly as you have -handled us,’ laughed Edgar; ‘he’s got a bad wound.’</p> - -<p>Then came a string of questions as to how Yacka -received his wound, and who had given it him. Such -a rain of questions was showered at them that at last -Ben Brody said:</p> - -<p>‘Give them breathing-time, lads. We shall hear -all about their adventures later on. We’re right glad -to see you back again safe and sound.’</p> - -<p>A general chorus of assent followed this remark.</p> - -<p>‘Expect you have not come back loaded with -wealth?’ said Will Henton.</p> - -<p>‘Wait and see,’ said Edgar. ‘I rather fancy we -have a surprise in store for you.’</p> - -<p>‘Have you had a good time?’ said Ben Brody.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[204]</span></p> - -<p>‘It has been a wonderful time, and we have seen -many strange things, and gone through a good deal -of hard work. I’m heartily glad to see Yanda again, -but I would not have missed our experiences for the -world.’</p> - -<p>‘Same here,’ said Will Brown, ‘but I never wish -to go through such a time again.’</p> - -<p>Yacka rode quietly behind, a lonely black figure, -the pain in his face showing how he still suffered. He -was glad to see this hearty welcome, but it made him -feel lonely. He had no friends such as these men at -Yanda were. He was a wanderer, an outcast, a black, -a despised native of the country these white men had -taken from his people. But Yacka was, through all -this, white enough at heart to know it was all for the -best. His people could never become like these -people, and the country in the hands of blacks, he -knew, would still have been wild and desolate.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">TIME FLIES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The hands at Yanda marvelled greatly at the tale -Edgar told of their adventures, and they marvelled -still more when the treasure they brought with them -was shown.</p> - -<p>‘And to think that black fellow knew all about it, -and kept the secret so long,’ said Ben Brody. ‘I can<span class="pagenum">[205]</span> -hardly believe it is true. You must have travelled -thousands of miles. All I can say is you deserve -what you have got.’</p> - -<p>After staying a few weeks at Yanda, where he received -letters from home, and from Wal Jessop, Edgar -decided to go to Sydney and see Eva again. Will -Brown remained at Yanda, in order to gain more -experience of station life.</p> - -<p>When Edgar arrived in Sydney, he at once went to -Watson’s Bay. Wal Jessop did not know Edgar had -left Yanda. Eva had constantly inquired for Edgar -during his absence, and been comforted by the assurance -he would return to her.</p> - -<p>Edgar walked up the steep path to the cottage, -intending to give the inmates a surprise, but Eva, -who was looking out of the window, recognised him, -and gave a joyful cry that brought Mrs. Jessop to -her. Together they rushed out to greet Edgar, and -he soon had little Eva crowing delightedly in his -arms, Mrs. Jessop looking on, her motherly face -beaming with satisfaction.</p> - -<p>‘How you have grown, Eva!’ said Edgar, holding -her up in his arms to have a better look at her. ‘You -have had a good home, and Mrs. Jessop has taken -great care of you.’</p> - -<p>Eva began to prattle in her pretty childish way, -and asked Edgar numerous questions, some of which -he found a difficulty in answering.</p> - -<p>When Wal Jessop returned home and found Edgar -installed in the cottage he was delighted. He had<span class="pagenum">[206]</span> -been longing to see him again, and to hear all about -his adventures. These Edgar had to relate over and -over again, and little Eva, too, was interested in -hearing about Yacka and the blacks, and the White -Spirit in the wonderful cave. When she saw the -precious stones and gold Edgar brought with him, she -clapped her hands with joy, and wanted to play with -all the pretty things.</p> - -<p>‘You’ll not be short of money for a time with such -rubies as these to sell,’ said Wal Jessop, as he took -some of the stones in his hand. ‘They are the finest -I ever saw. You’ll get more for them in London than -you will here.’</p> - -<p>‘I shall keep the bulk of them,’ said Edgar; ‘but -we must dispose of some of them, Wal, in order to -keep things going.’</p> - -<p>‘Captain Fife will be able to do that for you,’ said -Wal. ‘He knows the best market for such things. -What a wonderful chap that black must be! There -are not many like him here.’</p> - -<p>‘You will see him before long,’ said Edgar. ‘He -has promised to come to Sydney when his wound -has quite healed.’</p> - -<p>‘A knife-thrust like that will take some time to -get well,’ said Wal. ‘I wonder if he will ever take -you back again to find more of the treasure?’</p> - -<p>‘I shall not go,’ said Edgar; ‘but I have no -doubt there will be search made for it, even if Yacka -declines to lead the way.’</p> - -<p>The evening of Edgar’s arrival at the cottage he<span class="pagenum">[207]</span> -had a walk on the cliffs with Wal Jessop, and again -looked down upon the terrible rocks where the -<em>Distant Shore</em> was dashed to pieces, and himself and -Eva were so miraculously saved. As he looked into -the depths below, the scene came vividly to mind -again, and he could not resist grasping Wal Jessop -by the hand, while the tears stood in his eyes.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop knew what he meant better than if he -had spoken, and returned the pressure of his hand. -They walked back to the cottage, and once more -talked over the scenes of that awful night.</p> - -<p>When Edgar saw Captain Fife that gentleman -received him cordially, and promised to dispose of -some of the rubies to the best advantage.</p> - -<p>‘They are wonderfully good stones,’ said Captain -Fife, ‘and there will be no difficulty in obtaining a -stiff price for them. By the way, what are you -going to do with yourself now? Are you returning -to the station, or would you prefer to remain in -Sydney?’</p> - -<p>‘If I can obtain a suitable billet,’ said Edgar, ‘I -should like to remain here.’</p> - -<p>Captain Fife had been on the look-out for a private -secretary for some time, and he offered Edgar the -post, which he willingly accepted, thinking himself -fortunate, as indeed he was, to gain such a position.</p> - -<p>Time flies quickly, and when Edgar Foster had -been private secretary to Captain Fife for over two -years, he had become quite at home in Sydney, and -was recognised as one of the best of good fellows.<span class="pagenum">[208]</span> -Edgar was fond of sports of all kinds, and he liked -fun as well as any young fellow of his age, but he -shunned the fast sets in the city, and one of his -constant companions was Wal Jessop. Two or three -times a week he went to Wal’s cottage to see Eva, -who was rapidly growing into a very pretty girl. He -heard regularly from home, and also had news from -Yanda—for Will Brown was still there. Yacka had -tried Sydney life, but quickly tired of it, and returned -to the West.</p> - -<p>Two or three expeditions had been fitted out to -try and find the Cave of Enooma, as it was called, for -the adventures of Edgar Foster and Will Brown had -been related in the <cite>Sydney Mail</cite>, and naturally there -was a desire to obtain the wealth stated to be there. -These expeditions had, however, been failures, and -nothing came of them. Yacka refused to lead anyone -into the Enooma country, and Edgar and Will, -when approached upon the subject, expressed their -inability to do so. When the second expedition -failed in its object, people said the discovery was a -myth, but others knew better, and Edgar only smiled -when he heard disparaging remarks made.</p> - -<p>Although Edgar stuck well to his work during the -time he had been with Captain Fife, he found ample -opportunity to indulge in his favourite pastime, -cricket, and, much to his delight, had been selected -captain of the South Sydney team. In this capacity -he not only proved himself a good all-round cricketer, -but a splendid leader, and no one, it was generally<span class="pagenum">[209]</span> -acknowledged, placed his men to more advantage in -the field. He was selected to play for New South -Wales against Victoria, but, like many a good -cricketer before him, he failed at his first attempt. -There was, however, no doubt about his ability, and -he now stood an excellent chance of being selected -as one of the next Australian eleven. This is the -height of every cricketer’s ambition in the colonies, -and Edgar felt anxious as to whether his performances -during the season would warrant the selection -committee including him in the team. So far he had -done fairly well. There remained one inter-Colonial -match to play against South Australia, and Edgar -knew upon this match would depend the final decision -as to his being a member of the Australian -eleven.</p> - -<p>He had practised steadily, and felt confident, and -was encouraged by Wal Jessop and Captain Fife. -Will Brown wrote from Yanda, saying they were -coming down in force to see him play, and Ben -Brody added a postscript to the effect that the honour -of the Yanda boys was in Edgar’s hands.</p> - -<p>When the eventful day arrived Edgar’s feelings -can be imagined. The match took place on the -Association ground at Sydney, and the South Australians -placed a formidable team on the field. -Several men on either side were on their best mettle -and playing for a place in the Australian eleven.</p> - -<p>Ben Brody appeared on the ground resplendent in -a new cabbage-tree hat, which he had bought in<span class="pagenum">[210]</span> -honour of the occasion. He was as anxious as anyone -to see Edgar successful. Will Brown vowed if -Edgar Foster went home with the team, he should go -by the same boat. Will Henton, Harry Noke, and -Jim Lee all came up from Yanda for the match, and -consequently there was a family party on the ground. -In Wal Jessop Ben Brody found a man after his own -heart, and they got on well together.</p> - -<p>Edgar felt encouraged by their presence to do his -best, and something seemed to tell him he would -succeed.</p> - -<p>The New South Wales captain won the toss and -elected to bat. This gave Edgar a chance to sit and -chat with his friends. He hardly knew how popular -he had become in Sydney, owing to his numerous -adventures and his sterling character, until he saw -the number of people who were only too proud to -recognise him.</p> - -<p>‘You must be a favourite with the ladies,’ said -Ben Brody. ‘All the pretty girls are smiling at you. -Lucky dog!’</p> - -<p>It was true Edgar knew several nice girls, but he -had not yet found one he preferred to any of the -others. He thought there was time enough for that -in another five or six years.</p> - -<p>The home team commenced badly, and lost two -wickets for thirty runs. At the fall of the fourth -wicket Edgar Foster went in, and his appearance on -the ground, from the pavilion, was the signal for a -loud outburst of applause. As he walked to the<span class="pagenum">[211]</span> -crease Edgar vowed he would do his utmost to merit -this reception. He was cool and collected, and had -seldom felt so confident. He commenced well by -making a couple of boundary hits in his first over. -His partner, Frank Highdale, was well set, and the -pair looked like making a big stand.</p> - -<p>Edgar roused the spectators by hitting a ball into -the pavilion, and Highdale had completely mastered -the bowling. Runs came rapidly, and the South -Australian captain seemed puzzled to know how to -effect a separation.</p> - -<p>Although Highdale had been batting some time -before Edgar came in, the latter was first to reach -the coveted fifty. When this number of runs appeared -to Edgar’s name on the scoring-board, Ben -Brody, to use his own expression, ‘broke loose.’ He -cheered in the most frantic manner, and waved his -huge hat in delight.</p> - -<p>The New South Wales eleven were at the wickets -all day, and when stumps were drawn Edgar Foster -was ‘not out, one hundred and nine’! He was congratulated -on all sides, and Captain Fife said, as he -shook hands with him:</p> - -<p>‘Your place in the team is assured. I shall cable -to your father as soon as the selection is made. He -will be mighty proud of his son.’</p> - -<p>On the renewal of the match next day, Edgar -added another fifty to his score, and was clean -bowled, after making one hundred and fifty-nine, a -magnificent innings.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[212]</span></p> - -<p>The match ended in a win for the home colony by -two hundred runs. In the second innings Edgar -Foster placed fifty-six to his credit; he also bowled -well during the match, and came out with a very -good average.</p> - -<p>Consequently, it was no surprise when he found -his name amongst the favoured thirteen cricketers -picked to make up the Australian team. He received -a cablegram from his father congratulating -him, and this gave him more pleasure than anything -else.</p> - -<p>As usual, there was some grumbling about the -composition of the team, but no one had anything to -say about Edgar Foster’s inclusion.</p> - -<p>‘We are to go home in the <em>Cuzco</em>,’ said Edgar -to Will Brown; ‘so you had better book your -passage.’</p> - -<p>‘You bet!’ said Will; ‘and who do you think is -going home for a trip with us?’</p> - -<p>‘Don’t know,’ said Edgar. ‘I wish we could take -Yacka. He would create a sensation there.’</p> - -<p>‘Yacka is far happier camping out at Yanda,’ said -Will. ‘Ben Brody is going home with us. He says -he has never had a holiday since he was a lad, over -forty years ago, and he thinks it is about time he -took one now.’</p> - -<p>‘I am glad,’ said Edgar. ‘Ben Brody is a real -good sort; he’s a rough diamond, but I like him -better than if he were polished.’</p> - -<p>The hands on Yanda were in high glee about<span class="pagenum">[213]</span> -Ben leaving them for a time. They fancied the -mutton diet would be knocked off, but Ben said he -should leave strict injunctions behind about that.</p> - -<p>The time passed quickly, and the morning the -<em>Cuzco</em> was to leave Circular Quay a large crowd of -people assembled to see the New South Wales -members of the team leave for London. There -was so much hand-shaking, and so many parting -good-byes, that Edgar felt sure some of them would -be left behind.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop and his wife brought Eva down to see -Edgar off, and the child did not like to see him leave -her in the big steamer.</p> - -<p>‘I will come back for you, Eva,’ said Edgar; ‘I -promise you I will come back. Be a good girl while -I am away, and I will bring you back the best doll I -can find in London.’</p> - -<p>‘With brown hair, and blue eyes?’ said Eva.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Edgar. ‘It shall have bonny blue -eyes, and bright brown hair like yours, Eva.’</p> - -<p>He took her in his arms, and kissed her over and -over again, and then handed her to Mrs. Jessop. -Just as the gangway was about to be raised they -saw a tall figure flying up it with long strides. It -was Ben Brody.</p> - -<p>‘You nearly missed us,’ said Edgar, laughing. -‘Where have you been? I thought I saw you on -board some time back.’</p> - -<p>‘So I was,’ said Ben, gasping for breath; ‘but I -left my ‘bacca behind in a box at the hotel, and I’d<span class="pagenum">[214]</span> -sooner have gone back to Yanda than been on board -without my usual brand.’</p> - -<p>The <em>Cuzco</em> had now cast off, and as she left the -wharf Edgar singled out Eva, hoisted high on Wal -Jessop’s shoulder, and waved her a hearty farewell.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">AN EVENTFUL NIGHT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>An Australian team bound for England always has -a good time on board the steamer, and the eleven -of which Edgar was a member was no exception to -the rule. At Melbourne and Adelaide they were -joined by the members of the team hailing from -Victoria and South Australia.</p> - -<p>On arriving at Colombo they went ashore to play -a match against a team selected from the leading -local cricketers. Being out of practice they did not -play up to their usual form, and the Colombo team -nearly defeated them, and were much elated in consequence.</p> - -<p>At this time the mail steamers did not pass -through the Suez Canal at night-time, and the <em>Cuzco</em> -anchored off Ismailia. A run ashore to pass away -the time was only natural, and Edgar, accompanied -by Will Brown and other members of the team, -made up a party. This night ashore at Ismailia<span class="pagenum">[215]</span> -was destined to effect a change in Edgar’s future -life.</p> - -<p>The population of Ismailia is a mixture of different -nationalities, some of them being of a rather desperate -and fierce nature. An Egyptian wedding-party -passed through one of the streets; it was a curious -sight to unaccustomed eyes. The men, swathed in -long white garments, with turbans on their heads, -and sandals on their feet, carried long poles, at the -ends of which lanterns were fixed. Their brown -arms and faces shone in the reflected light, and -offered a strong contrast to the colour of their -garments. Fierce eyes gleamed from under dark, -bushy eyebrows, and as the men marched, uttering -a wild chant in peculiar tones, the effect was somewhat -weird. The bridegroom, who was being escorted -to his bride, was a tall, powerful young fellow, of a -better caste than his friends.</p> - -<p>All went well until the procession approached the -bride’s house, when a party of young fellows from -the <em>Cuzco</em>, who had been revelling not wisely but too -well, barred the road. It was a foolhardy thing to -do. To stop such a procession was exceedingly -dangerous, and could only be construed as an insult -by the natives, who are not slow to avenge any slight -put upon them.</p> - -<p>Edgar and those with him saw the danger, and -shouted to the obstructionists to move out of the -way. It was, however, too late, and the warning -would probably not have been heeded in any case.<span class="pagenum">[216]</span> -Seeing how matters stood, the Egyptians grew -furious. Knives flashed in the light, and a rush was -made at the foolish young fellows, who so recklessly -hindered the procession.</p> - -<p>‘Come on,’ shouted Edgar, ‘or there will be -murder done!’</p> - -<p>He rushed forward, followed by his companions, -but they found it impossible to render much assistance, -owing to the confusion. Edgar became separated -from the others, and was drawing back from the -crowd, when he heard a cry for help, followed by a -woman’s shriek.</p> - -<p>Rushing in the direction of the sound, he saw a -girl of about eighteen struggling in the grasp of a -powerful Egyptian. He recognised her as Miss -Muriel Wylde, a passenger on the <em>Cuzco</em>, with whom -he had had pleasant chats on deck. In a moment -Edgar had the ruffian by the throat, and forced him -to loose his hold. No sooner, however, was the girl -free, than another man seized her and attempted to -carry her off. She struggled violently, and shouted -again for help. Edgar had his work cut out with -the man he first tackled. He was unarmed, and -had to rely upon his fists. The furious Egyptian -rushed upon him with an uplifted knife in his hand. -Edgar did not flinch, but caught the fellow by the -wrist, and the knife flew from his grasp. Then, -with his left fist, he dealt the man a savage blow -between the eyes that well-nigh stunned him.</p> - -<p>Turning to see what had become of Miss Wylde,<span class="pagenum">[217]</span> -Edgar saw that she had fainted, and her captor was -hurrying away with her. Edgar gave chase, and -quickly came up with him. The Egyptian dropped -his burden, and turned on Edgar, aiming a terrific -blow at him with his knife. Edgar sprang backwards, -and the man over-reached himself. Before -he recovered, Edgar had him on the ground, and -stunned him by knocking his head on the hard -road.</p> - -<p>He then sprang to his feet, and went to the -assistance of Miss Wylde, who had luckily been -thrown on the soft sand by the side of the road, and -found she had recovered from her faint.</p> - -<p>‘Can you walk?’ said Edgar; ‘are you much -hurt?’</p> - -<p>She was trembling and alarmed, and could hardly -answer him.</p> - -<p>‘We must make our way to the quay,’ he said, -‘and get a boat back to the ship as quickly as -possible. These fellows are frantic at being interfered -with, and are in a dangerous state. Lean on -me, and try and walk.’</p> - -<p>She put her hand on his shoulder, and Edgar -supported her by placing his arm round her waist.</p> - -<p>They had not gone many yards before Edgar -heard loud shouting behind them. It was evident -some of the Egyptians were coming that way, and -they must be avoided if possible. A few paces -straight ahead Edgar saw a high wall, and what -looked like a doorway. He lifted his companion off<span class="pagenum">[218]</span> -her feet, and ran as fast as he could towards the -archway.</p> - -<p>On reaching it he knocked loudly. The door was -opened by an old native woman, who peered curiously -into his face.</p> - -<p>Without saying a word Edgar stepped inside, and -closed the door behind him.</p> - -<p>‘What do you here?’ asked the old woman, in -broken English. ‘Are you from the ship?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Edgar, not knowing what else to say, -or what excuse to give for his conduct.</p> - -<p>The old woman’s eyes gleamed, and her wrinkled, -parchment-like skin seemed to crumple up and -almost crack. Her mouth expanded in what she -no doubt meant for a smile, but Edgar thought it a -diabolical grin, and Muriel Wylde shrank back.</p> - -<p>‘Money—gold!’ said the woman hoarsely, her -skinny hands extended like a couple of claws. ‘Gold, -and you shall hear your fortune. The oldest Egyptian -in Ismailia can speak truth.’</p> - -<p>Edgar felt relieved; had the old woman guessed -they were fugitives she might not have been so -friendly. He looked at his companion, and said:</p> - -<p>‘We shall be glad to hear our fortunes from you, -mother. That is what we came for,’ and he took a -sovereign out of his pocket.</p> - -<p>The old Egyptian’s eyes fastened upon it, and her -hand was stretched out.</p> - -<p>‘Give me your hand,’ she said to Miss Wylde.</p> - -<p>The girl put out her open hand reluctantly, and<span class="pagenum">[219]</span> -the Egyptian gazed at it so attentively that she -appeared to have forgotten the coin.</p> - -<p>‘You have been in trouble, and he has saved you,’ -croaked the woman.</p> - -<p>The girl started, and the Egyptian smiled at this -corroborative evidence. She had hazarded a guess -at the situation, and hit the mark.</p> - -<p>She then proceeded to give an account of what -would follow this adventure, and caused Muriel -Wylde to blush, and wish she was safely on board -again.</p> - -<p>Edgar’s future was soon told, in the usual strain. -He was the hero of the story, and would be rewarded -in due time by the hand of the lady he had -rescued.</p> - -<p>Edgar gave the fortune-teller the sovereign, and -asked her to direct them to the quay. She cautiously -opened the door, and peered out into the darkness, -listening attentively. She beckoned them to step -out, and then pointed in the direction in which they -should go.</p> - -<p>They walked for some distance, and then reached -the part of the town where the cafés were still open, -and men and women were drinking coffee, seated -round tables under the verandas and trees.</p> - -<p>They sat down at one of the tables and rested, -refreshing themselves with some excellent coffee.</p> - -<p>‘We must hurry back to the ship,’ said Edgar. -‘Your party may have returned, and if so your -mother will be very anxious.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[220]</span></p> - -<p>She was eager to go, and they rose from the table. -As they walked away a tall Egyptian followed them. -It was one of the men Edgar had knocked down. -They were not out of danger yet.</p> - -<p>A long avenue led down to the quay, where the -boats were generally waiting to sail or row passengers -back to the ship.</p> - -<p>The Egyptian followed them, keeping within the -shadow of the trees, his bare feet making no sound.</p> - -<p>Muriel Wylde was still weak from the effect of the -shock she had received, and Edgar had to support -her. He seemed nothing loath to do so, and his -companion felt a sense of pleasurable security with -his strong arm round her waist.</p> - -<p>On reaching the quay Edgar called out to a boatman, -who came slowly towards them in his tiny craft.</p> - -<p>He explained that he wanted to be taken to the -<em>Cuzco</em>, and the boatman agreed.</p> - -<p>Edgar handed his companion down into the boat, -and as she stepped on to the seat she looked up and -gave a cry of alarm. Behind Edgar stood the tall -Egyptian, who had crept stealthily up, and was about -to stab Edgar in the back. At her cry Edgar looked -round, and, seeing no other way of escape, he sprang -into the water. The Egyptian sprang after him, and -grasped Edgar by the arm. A terrible struggle -then took place, and in the water the Egyptian -proved the more powerful.</p> - -<p>The man in the boat made no movement until -Muriel Wylde seized a round pole, and tried to hit<span class="pagenum">[221]</span> -Edgar’s assailant on the head. The boatman then -took the part of his countryman, and attempted to -seize the pole and wrench it out of Muriel’s hands. -The girl, however, was now thoroughly roused. -Edgar had rescued her, and she must do the same -for him, for he was in deadly peril. The Egyptian -dragged Edgar down and got his head under the -water, with the evident intention of drowning him.</p> - -<p>A struggle commenced in the boat, but by a lucky -stroke Muriel managed to hit the boatman in the -chest, and he fell overboard. The Egyptian was not -far from the boat, and Muriel, raising the pole, -brought it down heavily on his head, causing him to -loose his hold of Edgar.</p> - -<p>Half suffocated, Edgar came to the surface, and -struck out feebly for the boat.</p> - -<p>Muriel leaned over the side and grasped him by -the arm. Pulling with all her strength, she managed -to give him sufficient assistance to help him to -scramble into the boat.</p> - -<p>The two Egyptians in the water were on either -side of the boat, and were trying to upset it, and -Muriel kept them from clambering in by hitting at -them with the pole.</p> - -<p>Edgar was well-nigh exhausted, but he managed -to set the sail, and, as the breeze was blowing from -the shore, the boat soon made headway and left the -Egyptians behind. Finding pursuit hopeless, they -swam ashore, and stood there gesticulating furiously.</p> - -<p>Muriel, turning round to look at Edgar, saw he<span class="pagenum">[222]</span> -was unconscious. She was accustomed to sailing-boats, -and, having placed her jacket under Edgar’s -head, she steered with one hand and guided the sail -with the other. The boat sped along in the direction -of the <em>Cuzco</em>, whose lights were seen shining in -the distance.</p> - -<p>Muriel Wylde sat watching Edgar, and when she -thought over their night’s adventures, she was thankful -they had escaped with life. Edgar was a handsome -young fellow, and Muriel Wylde felt her heart beat -fast as she looked at him. They had been good -friends on board during the voyage, and Edgar’s -mates had chaffed him about ‘pretty Miss Wylde.’ -Her mother had noticed her daughter’s partiality for -Edgar’s society, and did not discourage it, as she had -taken a fancy to the young fellow.</p> - -<p>Before they reached the steamer, Muriel Wylde -left the stern of the boat for a moment to attend to -Edgar. As she bent over him, he opened his eyes -and looked into her face, which was very near to his -own. Their eyes met, and they suddenly felt that -something had been revealed to each of them.</p> - -<p>Edgar took Muriel Wylde’s hands, and drew her -towards him. She did not resist, and when he kissed -her she was not surprised or startled. It seemed a -fitting climax to the dangers they had passed -through.</p> - -<p>So lost were they in each other, although neither -spoke, they did not notice they were close to the -<em>Cuzco</em>. A loud ‘Ahoy!’ from the deck roused them,<span class="pagenum">[223]</span> -and in a few minutes they were alongside the steamer, -and friendly hands were assisting them up the gangway.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">HOME AGAIN.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Their adventures at Ismailia formed the subject of -conversation for several days between Edgar and -Muriel Wylde. With her mother’s consent, Muriel -accepted Edgar’s offer of marriage, and when the -engagement became known on board they were regarded -with romantic interest by the passengers. -The remainder of the voyage proved uneventful. -Muriel Wylde and her mother left the steamer at -Naples, and proceeded overland to London, but -Edgar remained on board with the team.</p> - -<p>On arriving at Tilbury, the eleven received a hearty -welcome from a large number of influential cricketers -and lovers of the game. To Edgar, all this was as -nothing to the joy he felt at meeting his father and -Doris again.</p> - -<p>Elm Lodge looked much the same as when he -went away, and the old home was so peaceful that -Edgar began to wonder how he had ever made up -his mind to leave it. He had much to relate to his -father and sister, and, needless to say, Will Brown -entertained Doris in a manner agreeable to that -young lady.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[224]</span></p> - -<p>The wreck of the <em>Distant Shore</em> was described -again, and Robert Foster noticed with pride how -modestly Edgar spoke of the part he took in saving -Eva.</p> - -<p>‘Poor Manton!’ said Robert Foster. ‘I am sorry -he was drowned, for a better seaman could not be -found. I should like to meet Wal Jessop, and we -must try and have little Eva over here, for we cannot -spare you again, Edgar, now we have got you at -home.’</p> - -<p>‘It would be splendid if Wal could be induced to -bring Eva and his wife home,’ said Edgar. ‘I must -write and ask him. You have to meet Ben Brody, -who came over with us, and I am sure you will be -amused at him. He is a character, and a rough-and-ready -customer, but a genuine good fellow.’</p> - -<p>When Edgar spoke of his engagement to Muriel -Wylde, his father was pleased he had found a girl -after his own heart, for his son’s happiness always -held a foremost place with him.</p> - -<p>‘And what about the Australian eleven?’ said -Robert Foster. ‘Are they a strong team? It is -rather too bad of you to play against the old country. -It places me in an awkward position. Of course, -I am patriotic enough to wish to see England victorious, -and yet I shall be highly delighted to see -you pile up a big score.’</p> - -<p>‘I shall do my best,’ said Edgar; ‘and every -member of the team will try hard to win the matches. -I think we stand an excellent chance, and you will<span class="pagenum">[225]</span> -have to put your best eleven in the field to beat us in -the test matches.’</p> - -<p>‘Your men generally play well, and with constant -practice they know each other’s play thoroughly, but -we have some splendid cricketers now, and they will -take a lot of beating,’ said his father.</p> - -<p>‘All the more credit to us, then, if we win,’ said -Edgar.</p> - -<p>The members of an Australian eleven have plenty -of hard work to go through when in England, and -Edgar could not remain idle at home. He went to -Mitcham to practise on the famous common, and his -father accompanied him to see how the men shaped. -To two or three of the older members of the team, -who had been in England before, Robert Foster was -well known, and his appearance with Edgar was -hailed with delight.</p> - -<p>William Murch, the captain of the Australians, -shook hands heartily with Robert Foster, and said -with a smile:</p> - -<p>‘We have had you against us on many occasions, -but I think we can cry quits now we have your son -on our side.’</p> - -<p>‘How does Edgar shape?’ asked Robert Foster.</p> - -<p>‘I consider him one of our best bats, and expect -great things of him. He has a happy knack of -making a big score when it is most wanted. He is a -smart fielder and a good change bowler. In fact, I -cannot pay him a higher compliment than to say he -is as good a man as his father,’ said Murch.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[226]</span></p> - -<p>Edgar was now at the nets, and making the balls -fly about merrily.</p> - -<p>‘He does not seem very stiff after the voyage,’ said -Robert Foster. ‘His wrist play is good, but his style -could be improved a bit. I must give him a wrinkle -or two.’</p> - -<p>‘That will be going over to the enemy’s camp,’ -said Murch, with a laugh; ‘but we shall be glad of -such a valuable coach.’</p> - -<p>‘By Jove! so it will,’ said Robert Foster. ‘But -I cannot resist the temptation, all the same. We -cricketers, I am glad to say, are always ready to help -each other, and I have had many a good wrinkle -given me by Australians.’</p> - -<p>‘Ah! it is a game that stands ahead of all other -games,’ said Murch enthusiastically. ‘It is a genuine -sport, and a manly sport. It not only gives pleasure -to the players, but to thousands of people in all -parts of the world. Lovers of cricket, no matter -where you go, are always willing to help each -other.’</p> - -<p>‘You are right,’ said Robert Foster. ‘Cricket will -never take a back seat to any other game.’</p> - -<p>‘Look out!’ said Murch, as he dodged a ball hit -by Edgar. ‘Your son is evidently bent upon letting -us know he is at the nets.’</p> - -<p>When he had finished his turn with the bat Edgar -joined his father and Murch.</p> - -<p>‘How do you think I shape?’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Very well,’ replied his father, ‘but your style is<span class="pagenum">[227]</span> -rather faulty. I think I can give you a hint as to -what I mean when we reach home.’</p> - -<p>‘Now then, Will, it’s your turn,’ said Edgar, and -Will Murch went to the nets with his bat under his -arm.</p> - -<p>‘You have seen him play before?’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Many times,’ said his father. ‘He is a splendid -bat, and I should think he will make a good captain. -Is he popular with the team?’</p> - -<p>‘Very,’ said Edgar. ‘I believe every one of us -thinks he is the best man that could have been -selected.’</p> - -<p>‘That is the proper feeling to start with,’ said -Robert Foster. ‘If you have no confidence in your -captain, defeat is almost certain.’</p> - -<p>When Robert Foster had seen the Australians at -practice on several occasions, he came to the conclusion -it was the strongest team that had yet come -to England.</p> - -<p>‘The test matches will be a treat,’ he said. ‘If -honours are divided in the first two matches, what -tremendous excitement there will be over the -final!’</p> - -<p>‘Which I hope we shall win,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>Doris Foster was quite as interested as her father -in the probable result of the tour. Although Will -Brown had not returned from Australia with enough -wealth to warrant him in setting up an establishment -of his own, Doris thought she would not be -risking much in accepting him as her lover. With<span class="pagenum">[228]</span> -Robert Foster’s sanction they became engaged, and -the family circle at Elm Lodge increased.</p> - -<p>Ben Brody came to Elm Lodge, and soon made -himself at home. Robert Foster discovered that men -of Brody’s stamp are to be trusted, and although he -might have been out of place amidst the sham and -humbug of a society drawing-room, Ben Brody was -in his element at Elm Lodge.</p> - -<p>His quaint remarks caused roars of laughter, and -he drew some amusing pictures of station life in which -Edgar and Will Brown were conspicuous figures.</p> - -<p>‘I’ll tell you what it is,’ he said to Edgar one day -as they sat on the lawn enjoying the fragrant weed, -‘this beats Yanda hollow. What a trump your dad -is! Talk about colonial hospitality, it is a mere trifle -to the way in which I have been treated here. I -have lived on the fat of the land, while those poor -beggars at Yanda have been stifling their ill-feelings -with the usual mutton. Then there’s your sister—but -she ought to have a whole vocabulary to herself -and not be mixed up with such matters. Will -Brown’s a lucky fellow, and so for the matter of that -are you. Girls like Miss Muriel Wylde are not -found every day. I wonder if you will ever return to -Australia.’</p> - -<p>‘That remains to be seen,’ said Edgar. ‘After the -tour will be time enough to think about that.’</p> - -<p>The opening match of the tour was played at Sheffield -Park against Lord Sheffield’s eleven. Ever -ready to assist in promoting honest manly games,<span class="pagenum">[229]</span> -H.R.H. the Prince of Wales honoured them with his -presence. Will Murch was introduced to his Royal -Highness, and was naturally much elated. The -match resulted in a win for the Australians, but -Edgar did not ‘come off’ on this occasion.</p> - -<p>As the weeks rolled by and the tour progressed, it -was easy to see the Australian eleven was a fine -team. So far they had only been twice beaten—once -by an M.C.C. eleven, and in the first match -against England.</p> - -<p>Their second struggle with the cracks of the home -team had resulted in a win for the Australians. -Edgar played well in these matches, but had done -nothing particularly wonderful. Against several of -the county elevens he had made good scores. He -astonished W. G. at Gloucester by the way he -knocked the champion’s bowling about, and the hero -of a hundred fights warmly congratulated him on his -performance.</p> - -<p>‘I always thought W. G. was a jealous man,’ said -Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Not a bit of it,’ said Robert Foster. ‘He’s one -of the first to recognise merit in a cricketer. I’ll tell -you what he is jealous about.’</p> - -<p>‘And that is?’ asked Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘The honour of the game, and the honour of his -side when he captains a team,’ said Robert Foster.</p> - -<p>The final test match was to be played at Lord’s, -and the greatest interest was manifested in the -result. Throughout England enthusiastic cricketers<span class="pagenum">[230]</span> -waxed eloquent over the forthcoming struggle. In -Australia every item of news was eagerly read and -discussed. It might safely be said that millions of -people anxiously awaited the result of this great match. -The picking of the England eleven was a difficult -task, but at last it was done, and Robert Foster could -not find a fault with the team.</p> - -<p>‘They ought to beat you, Edgar,’ he said. ‘It is -the best team that could have been selected. Grace -has had a large finger in that pie, and no fault can -be found with it. I cannot pick out a weak spot.’</p> - -<p>‘They have not won yet,’ said Edgar; ‘and all -our men are in splendid trim. Murch is sanguine, -and he’s not given to over-estimate our chances. -Lord’s has been our unlucky ground, but that is no -reason why we should not prove successful.’</p> - -<p>‘What a sight it will be!’ said Robert Foster. ‘I -hope you will pile up a big score.’</p> - -<p>‘So do I,’ replied Edgar. ‘This is my chance, -and I shall do my best.’</p> - -<p>The great match was to commence on Monday, -and on the Sunday quite a party of cricketers -assembled at Elm Lodge. Will Murch, Bannman, -Black, Royle of the Australians, and two of the -English team enjoyed Robert Foster’s hospitality -and listened to the yarns spun by Ben Brody.</p> - -<p>Muriel Wylde and her mother were in London for -the match, and came to spend the day at Elm -Lodge. Muriel and Doris were great friends, and -found much to talk about. It was an eventful<span class="pagenum">[231]</span> -Sunday, this day before the great match, which -formed almost the sole topic of conversation. Many -were the surmises as to who would make the big -scores, and which bowler would secure the best -average.</p> - -<p>‘We count upon you this time,’ said Murch to -Edgar. ‘It is your turn to knock up a big score -against England.’</p> - -<p>‘I mean to try,’ said Edgar, ‘and I feel very fit.’</p> - -<p>‘Muriel will be terribly disappointed if you make -less than a hundred,’ said Doris.</p> - -<p>‘That is rather a large order,’ laughed Edgar, ‘but -I must do my best to execute it.’</p> - -<p>Late hours were not kept that night. Robert -Foster packed them off in good time.</p> - -<p>‘You shall have a night of it when the match is -over,’ he said to Will Murch. ‘Win or lose, you must -come here to celebrate the event. Remember I am -equally interested in both sides.’</p> - -<p>As Edgar bade Muriel good-night, she said:</p> - -<p>‘I am quite anxious about you, Edgar. I feel sure -you will succeed. I shall be terribly excited during -the first over, but when you are firmly set and -making a score, it will be glorious.’</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum">[232]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">THE SCENE AT LORD’S.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>An enormous crowd assembled on the famous -cricket-ground at Lord’s to witness the final battle -between England and Australia. The record attendance -was registered for the opening day of a match, -and it was with difficulty that the crowd could be -kept within bounds. It reminded old race-goers of -a Derby Day to see so many vehicles driving in the -direction of the ground. Although the sky was dull -and threatening, this did not damp the ardour of the -spectators. The members’ pavilion was thronged, -and also the reserved stands and enclosure. A dense -mass of people filled every available standing and -sitting place in the cheaper portion of the ground. -No sooner were the doors opened than a rush commenced -for the best seats, which were secured by -those who had been patiently waiting from an early -hour in the morning.</p> - -<p>Outside the high walls it was more like a fair than -anything else. Itinerant vendors of a variety of -eatables did a good trade, and evaded the attentions -of the police with remarkable skill. No sooner did -the man in blue move a coster on than he ‘bobbed -up serenely’ in a different place. Portraits of the -cricketers were hawked about, though the celebrities -depicted would have had some difficulty in recognising<span class="pagenum">[233]</span> -their own faces. The excitement over the -match was tremendous. The bus-drivers discussed -the chances of success with the passengers nearest to -them, and many of the cabmen wore the English -colours on their whips. Morning editions of the -evening papers met with a ready sale, and every -scrap of news anent the great match was pounced -upon with avidity.</p> - -<p>Before noon a few drops of rain fell, and with the -gathering clouds the faces of the people became -sombre, and their looks gloomy. A heavy shower -would make a good deal of difference, and none knew -it better than the members of the teams.</p> - -<p>Robert Foster stood inside the pavilion, with his -son and Will Murch, anxiously scanning the clouds -for a sign of a break. They had not long to wait. -The blue sky became visible, and the sun chased the -dulness away and shed its brilliant rays on the scene.</p> - -<p>And what a sight it was as they looked from the -pavilion over the ground! A dense mass of people -lined the enclosure, and even pressed over the boundary -line in some parts of the ground. To the -left of the pavilion the enclosure was gay with the -costumes of the ladies, and they seemed as eager -for the game to commence as any of the male -sex.</p> - -<p>Doris Foster accompanied Muriel Wylde and her -mother, and they were escorted by Will Brown and -Ben Brody, who felt slightly uncomfortable in a hard -hat and a pair of gloves—not to mention a new suit,<span class="pagenum">[234]</span> -made by a fashionable tailor. They occupied seats -in the first enclosure, and had an excellent view of the -ground.</p> - -<p>The mere mention of Lord’s conjures up wonderful -feats in the cricket field, and recalls memories of men -who played on its green sward. A glance round the -pavilion shows the members have not been unmindful -of their doughty champions of the game. It gives -the history of cricket, its rise and progress, in a -pictorial form, to look at the various prints, paintings, -and engravings hanging on the walls. The ‘tall hat’ -period is well represented, and young cricketers may -well be forgiven for smiling at the costumes of the -men who made the game what it is. The smile, however, -was not at the men—there was nothing but -praise for them. Old stagers waxed eloquent over -the doings of the cricketers of their younger days. -They vowed there were as good men then as now, -although they had to confess the game had improved—and -consequently the players also.</p> - -<p>A gray-headed veteran came up to Robert Foster -and said:</p> - -<p>‘We had big crowds in our day, but nothing like -this,’ and he waved his hand in a comprehensive -sweep round the circle of faces.</p> - -<p>Edgar was introduced to the veteran, who said:</p> - -<p>‘I remember the first time I saw your father play. -He was about your age then, and he <em>was</em> a bat. I’ll -never forget it. It was on this very ground—Surrey -against Middlesex. He won the match, my boy. I’d<span class="pagenum">[235]</span> -sooner you were for us than against us to-day, if you -can play as well as your father did then.’</p> - -<p>‘I recollect that match,’ said Robert; ‘but you -give me too much credit when you say I won it for -the team.’</p> - -<p>‘Not a bit of it,’ replied the veteran. ‘Ask any -man who saw it, and I’ll guarantee he tells the -same story. Is it not recorded in the annals of -cricket?’</p> - -<p>‘We’ve lost the toss,’ said Edgar. ‘The usual luck -at Lord’s.’</p> - -<p>‘I expect they will bat,’ said Robert Foster.</p> - -<p>‘I doubt it,’ said Edgar. ‘The ground is a bit -tricky and in favour of the bowlers. Grace has gone -to have a good look at the wicket. He knows there -are no chances to be thrown away.’</p> - -<p>The tall figure of the English captain, with his -black, bushy beard, stood out boldly against the background -of people. It was in the days when Grace -was at his best, and Dr. E. M. was another of -the valiant brothers who took the field; Shaw and -Morley, the famous Notts bowlers, were in their -prime, and Daft had not yet retired from the field—when -such grand men as A. P. Lucas, A. G. Steel, -A. Lyttelton and Lord Harris were seen at nearly -every big match. It was an anxious moment for -everyone as Grace consulted with two of his team as -to whether they should bat.</p> - -<p>At last the decision came. The Englishmen were -to bat, and a mighty cheer went up from the crowd.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[236]</span></p> - -<p>‘The pitch is all right, or Grace would not have -gone in,’ said Robert Foster.</p> - -<p>‘Perhaps he thinks it will wear all right for their -innings, and leave us with the ground cut up,’ said -Murch.</p> - -<p>People settled down in their places, and made -themselves as comfortable as possible. As the Australians -filed on the ground, headed by Murch, cheer -after cheer was given them—for the ‘Kangaroo boys’ -had become very popular.</p> - -<p>The commencement of a great match is always -fraught with intense excitement. How will the game -go? Will there be a stand for the first wicket?</p> - -<p>The brothers Grace, W. G. and E. M., came out to -face the bowling, and again the cheers broke out from -all parts of the ground. Two good men and good -bats were going to open the game for the honour of -Old England against the attack of her young country’s -sons.</p> - -<p>The English captain went through the preliminaries -usual with him. He calmly surveyed the field, -noting with keen eyes how each man was placed. -He took his block, and then patted the ground in a -fatherly way with his bat, as though requesting the -pitch to behave well to him. Then he put his bat -under his arm and leisurely fastened his glove. -Having put himself to rights, he was ready for the -attack.</p> - -<p>The battle had commenced, and it soon became -lively. Both men were in form, and the Australians<span class="pagenum">[237]</span> -had plenty of leather-hunting. Boundary hits did -not come quite so quickly as might have been -expected, as the ball seemed to fall rather dead, and -did not roll far. When an adjournment for luncheon -was made, both Graces were still in, and the crowd -was jubilant.</p> - -<p>Murch was not at all depressed. He never gave -in, or had the faintest intention of doing so.</p> - -<p>‘After luncheon will do it,’ he said. ‘There will -be a separation then.’</p> - -<p>He was right, for in the first over E. M. Grace -had his stumps upset.</p> - -<p>It was, however, uphill work fighting against such -a powerful batting team. Man after man came in -and piled up a score, and the captain was not got -rid of until he had placed one hundred and fifty-two -to his credit. He had played a grand innings, -and fully maintained his great reputation.</p> - -<p>The Englishmen were not disposed of until they -had piled up the large score of four hundred and -two.</p> - -<p>‘What do you think of it now?’ asked Robert -Foster of Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘It is a big score, but we may equal it,’ he replied.</p> - -<p>‘I admire your pluck, but I hardly think you -will do that,’ was the remark of a friend of Mr. -Foster’s.</p> - -<p>They did not do it. The Australians made an -unfortunate start, for Murch, their great bat and -popular captain, was caught before he had scored.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[238]</span></p> - -<p>Edgar made a fair show, and put on thirty runs -before he was bowled; but none of the team made -a good stand, and the innings closed, for a hundred -and fifty runs—two hundred and fifty-two behind -their opponents. This was a terribly black outlook -for the Australians, and everyone was disappointed -at their display.</p> - -<p>Muriel Wylde felt vexed, and she knew Edgar -would be much cut up about it. He came to see -her, and tried to put the best face he could on the -matter.</p> - -<p>‘We must avoid a one innings defeat, anyhow,’ -he said; ‘I cannot make it out at all. It is sheer -bad luck, for the wicket was good. I think when -Murch got out for a duck it made our fellows feel a -bit nervous.’</p> - -<p>‘You played well enough,’ said Brody.</p> - -<p>‘That you did,’ said Will Brown; ‘but I’m afraid -you are in for an awful dressing.’</p> - -<p>‘No telling what may happen in cricket,’ said -Edgar. ‘I have seen an even worse match than this -pulled out of the fire.’</p> - -<p>‘Then you have not lost hope?’ said Muriel.</p> - -<p>‘By no means,’ said Edgar. ‘I have a presentiment -we shall make a big score, and prove what we -really can do.’</p> - -<p>Robert Foster was proud of the display of the -home eleven, but he could not help feeling a pang -of regret that the Australians had not made a better -show.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[239]</span></p> - -<p>Will Murch was determined to have his revenge -for the catch that disposed of him, and said he felt -like making a big score. He got his men together, -and talked the matter over.</p> - -<p>‘I’ll go in first again,’ he said, ‘with Bannman, -and we must make a stand somehow. If we can -make a big score the other side may be got out -without getting the requisite runs, or they may not -have time to get them, and we shall make a draw -of it.’</p> - -<p>Edgar Foster was to go in at the fall of the first -wicket, and Murch was very anxious every man -should do his level best.</p> - -<p>‘They will be very down in the mouth about it -at home,’ he said. ‘We can all imagine how they -felt when they saw the poor stand we made; we’ll -try and change the tune for them. Remember, lads, -that every run tells. Run carefully, but run well, -and then it is surprising how a few singles tot up -and swell the total. Bat carefully until you are set, -and when you feel safe don’t spare them. They have -given us some leather-hunting, let us return the compliment.’</p> - -<p>The cheery words of their captain put heart into -the team, and it was with considerable confidence -they saw Murch and Bannman walk to the wickets -to commence the second innings.</p> - -<p>Edgar went over to his father to watch the start, -and his heart beat fast as he saw Murch prepare to -take the first over.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[240]</span></p> - -<p>‘This is better, much better,’ said Robert Foster, -as Murch hit a couple of fours in his first over. ‘We -can afford to be generous, and wish you all to do -well this innings.’</p> - -<p>Bannman played a cautious game, and left the -bulk of the run-getting to his captain. After half -an hour’s play there was a change of bowling. Will -Murch treated the new-comer with scant ceremony.</p> - -<p>To Edgar’s great delight the Australian captain -hit the bowling all over the field. His powerful -drives and clean cuts elicited well deserved applause, -which was freely bestowed.</p> - -<p>‘If you go on at this rate,’ said Robert Foster, -‘it will put a very different complexion on the game. -Your men always did play a good uphill fight.’</p> - -<p>‘And will do so to-day,’ said Edgar. ‘By Jove! -that was a narrow shave.’</p> - -<p>Bannman made a miss-hit, and the ball went near -to the fielder at point, but he just failed to hold it, -although he touched it.</p> - -<p>When the second day’s play ended, Murch and -Bannman were not out, and the score stood at one -hundred and thirty, of which number Will Murch -had made eighty-four.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum">[241]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">AN UPHILL GAME.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The brilliant stand made by the Australian captain -and Bannman caused intense excitement, and the -attendance on the final day of the match was enormous. -Hundreds of people who anticipated a tame -finish, and a one-sided affair, changed their opinions -upon reading the score in the morning papers. Contrary -to expectation, the third day’s play promised -to be the most interesting of all.</p> - -<p>When Murch and Bannman commenced again, -every stroke was followed with interest. Runs came -freely, and Bannman was not disposed of until he -had made seventy. Then Edgar Foster joined his -captain, and the reception he received on going to -the wicket proved his father’s prowess in the field -was not forgotten. Foster, in days gone by, was a -name to conjure by, and people remembered Robert -Foster’s feats with the bat.</p> - -<p>Muriel Wylde felt anxious, and whispered to Doris -Foster:</p> - -<p>‘I do hope Edgar will make a score.’</p> - -<p>‘He will try to do so, because he knows it will -give you pleasure,’ said Doris.</p> - -<p>Murch spoke to Edgar when he went in to bat, -and gave him a hint or two as to the bowling. -Edgar played the last ball of the over, and then -Murch scored a couple in the next over.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[242]</span></p> - -<p>The bowling was splendid. Both Shaw and -Morley were doing their level best. Edgar found -Alf Shaw could deceive a batsman, and put in a -swift ball when least expected. He scored a single -off the last ball, and then faced Morley. Edgar was -partial to swift bowling, as Morley soon discovered, -and the over proved productive.</p> - -<p>‘I’m getting well set,’ thought Edgar. ‘I believe -I’m in for a good score.’</p> - -<p>The runs came freely, and it was not until he had -made a hundred and sixty runs that Murch was -caught.</p> - -<p>He had done splendidly, and his return to the -pavilion was a triumph. Royle joined Edgar and -played steadily.</p> - -<p>Grace took the ball and faced Edgar. The English -captain knew Edgar was a free hitter, and placed his -men far out. Then he tried to tempt him to send a -catch. Edgar narrowly escaped being caught at the -second ball of the over, and this made him careful. -The last ball, however, was one he could not resist -hitting. He drove it straight as a dart, and it -landed over the boundary. It was a tremendous hit, -and caused an outburst of cheering.</p> - -<p>The next exciting moment came when E. M. -Grace made a magnificent catch at long-on from a -very high hit by Royle. He caught the ball with -one hand, having had to run for it, and, much to -Royle’s surprise, held it.</p> - -<p>Donnell came next, and then there was some big<span class="pagenum">[243]</span> -hitting. Both batsmen knocked the bowling about -terribly. When Edgar had scored fifty there was a -hearty cheer, and he appeared likely to make as big -a score as his captain. The Australians were playing -a splendid uphill game, and keeping up their reputation -as ‘men who never know when they are -beaten.’</p> - -<p>At the fall of the seventh wicket the two hundred -and fifty-two runs had been wiped off, and they were -over fifty to the good.</p> - -<p>The game now became most exciting, as the -Englishmen knew if they did not quickly dispose of -the Australians the game would end in a draw. -Each man worked hard, and the fielding and bowling -was splendid.</p> - -<p>Still Edgar Foster kept on increasing his score, -and passed his century, to the great delight of his -father and his friends.</p> - -<p>Connor was now in, and his hits were marvellous. -The giant—he was about six feet four—lifted the balls -all over the ground, and safely out of the reach of the -fielders.</p> - -<p>When the last wicket fell Edgar Foster was a -hundred and fifty, not out, and the score was five -hundred and two runs, or two hundred and fifty -ahead of the Englishmen.</p> - -<p>Such a grand uphill game it was generally acknowledged -had never been played before. Edgar Foster -was overwhelmed with congratulations, and Muriel -Wylde showed her delight on her face.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[244]</span></p> - -<p>‘It was splendid, Edgar,’ she said. ‘I believe you -would have made two hundred or more.’</p> - -<p>‘I felt like it,’ said Edgar. ‘I knew you were -watching me, and that put me on my mettle.’</p> - -<p>It seemed well nigh a hopeless task for the -Englishmen to get two hundred and fifty runs in the -short time at their disposal. However, they lost no -time in making a start to try to do so.</p> - -<p>Strange to say, they did not bat in anything like -the form shown in their first innings. Three wickets -fell for under fifty runs, W. G. Grace being unluckily -run out.</p> - -<p>The Australians fielded with wonderful skill. -Hardly a ball got past them, and many boundary -hits were saved.</p> - -<p>Seven wickets fell for a hundred runs, and now it -was the turn of the Australians to endeavour to get -their opponents out before the call of time.</p> - -<p>The Englishmen had reckoned with certainty upon -a draw, but they now had to fight hard to avert -defeat, and even a draw would not be in their favour.</p> - -<p>‘It is a most extraordinary game,’ said Robert -Foster. ‘The glorious uncertainty of cricket again. -You never can tell how it will go until a match is -over, no matter how favourable it may look for a -particular side.’</p> - -<p>He had joined the ladies, and they were all watching -the game with interest, taking keen note of every -good stroke and every brilliant piece of fielding.</p> - -<p>Will Brown looked at his watch.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[245]</span></p> - -<p>‘They have only half-an-hour left,’ he said. ‘I -should not wonder if they were got out in that time.’</p> - -<p>The thousands of spectators also wondered how the -game would end.</p> - -<p>Ten minutes before time Morley joined Shaw at -the wickets. They were not good bats—anything -but that, and the crowd knew it. Morley hit out -recklessly and made a couple of fours, and Shaw -played steadily. The Australians did all in their -power to separate them, but, as luck would have it, -they failed to do so. The game ended in a draw, -which practically amounted to a victory for the -Australians, as the English eleven required over -seventy runs to win.</p> - -<p>The result of this match was the subject of conversation -for some days, and the grand struggle made by -the Australians was commented upon on all sides.</p> - -<p>At Elm Lodge the event was duly celebrated, and, -as Robert Foster promised, the party made a night -of it.</p> - -<p>When the tour of the Australians was finished they -left for home, but Edgar Foster did not return with -them. At his father’s request he remained at home.</p> - -<p>‘What will Eva think when she finds that I have -not returned?’ said Edgar. ‘I promised her I would -go back.’</p> - -<p>‘We must try and get her over here,’ said his -father. ‘I shall feel lonely when you and Doris have -left me, and Eva will be nice company for me.’</p> - -<p>‘She is a dear little thing,’ said Edgar, ‘and you<span class="pagenum">[246]</span> -will love her as much as though she were your own -child.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you think every soul on board the <em>Distant -Shore</em>, with the exception of Eva and yourself, was -drowned?’ said Robert Foster.</p> - -<p>‘There can hardly be any doubt about it,’ said -Edgar. ‘Why do you ask?’</p> - -<p>‘Because I have received a rather mysterious letter,’ -said Robert Foster; ‘it bears the Sydney postmark, -and contains news that may interest you. I will show -it you.’</p> - -<p>Robert Foster unlocked his desk, and put his hand -in one of the pigeon-holes. He looked through the -letters, but could not find the one for which he -searched.</p> - -<p>‘Strange,’ he said, ‘I am sure I put it there.’</p> - -<p>‘You may have dropped it, or torn it up by -mistake,’ said Edgar. ‘Perhaps you remember the -contents?’</p> - -<p>‘The bulk of them,’ said his father. ‘The letter -stated that the writer had been on a cruise to the -South Sea Islands, where he met a man who had -been saved from a wreck. He believes, from hints -the man, who was very reticent, let fall, that he was -saved from the wreck of the <em>Distant Shore</em>. When -he returned to Sydney he met with Wal Jessop, who -was much interested in what he was told about this -man. Wal Jessop described Captain Manton, and -my correspondent says he firmly believes from this -description it is Captain Manton who was saved and<span class="pagenum">[247]</span> -is now in the South Seas. He did not tell Wal Jessop -this, because the man seemed to have a great desire -to be left alone, and had no wish to let people know -he had been saved from the wreck of the <em>Distant -Shore</em>. It is a most extraordinary story, and I wish -I had the letter. I must have torn it up by mistake. -It was careless of me to do so.’</p> - -<p>Edgar was amazed at what his father said, and -replied:</p> - -<p>‘I can hardly credit this story. How any man -could live if washed out to sea on such a night I do -not know. If it is Captain Manton, surely he would -have made some sign before this. It cannot possibly -be Eva’s father, for I saw him standing on the deck -as the ship struck, and from the look on his face, and -the way he waved farewell to me, I knew he meant to -go down with her.’</p> - -<p>‘He may have been washed out to sea, and found a -spar or something to support him. I have a peculiar -feeling that this man who was saved from the wreck -is Manton. I have had strange dreams about him -since I received the letter, and I am not a dreamer as -a rule, or a superstitious man. I knew Manton well; -he was a proud man, and very sensitive. If he be -the man so strangely saved, I think it is precisely -what he would do—to hide himself away in some -lonely spot, in order to make people think him dead.’</p> - -<p>‘But surely he would come forward and tell the -story of the wreck,’ said Edgar. ‘No blame attaches -to him; he did his utmost to save the ship, and went<span class="pagenum">[248]</span> -down with her when he found he could not do so. -Then there is Eva. He would want to see his child -again; surely he would hear that she had been -saved.’</p> - -<p>‘He may not have heard. In such a lonely spot -one hears very little news from the outer world.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you really place any faith in your mysterious -correspondent’s letter?’</p> - -<p>‘I do, Edgar, and for this reason: I feel no man -would have written such a letter had he not been convinced -of the truth of its contents.’</p> - -<p>‘But why should he write to you?’ asked Edgar. - -‘Wal Jessop probably told him how you saved -Eva from the wreck, and it would occur to him that -you might wish to know what he thought he had discovered. -He no doubt wrote to me, thinking I would -tell you if I thought it well to do so,’ said Robert -Foster.</p> - -<p>‘It may be as you surmise,’ said Edgar. ‘I shall -never be easy in my mind until I have seen the man -who wrote the letter, and heard all he has to tell.’</p> - -<p>‘That would mean another trip to Australia,’ said -his father with a smile. ‘What would Muriel say to -that?’</p> - -<p>‘I do not think she would object to my going, for -we are not to be married, as you know, until she is -twenty-one. Her mother will not consent to part -with her before that time. In any case I should not -have the journey for nothing, because I could bring -Eva back with me.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[249]</span></p> - -<p>‘So you could,’ said Robert Foster. ‘We should -be put down as a couple of foolish fellows if anyone -knew what you went to Sydney for.’</p> - -<p>‘I shall tell no one, with the exception of Muriel,’ -said Edgar. ‘She will not think it foolish.’</p> - -<p>‘I ought to tell you more,’ said Robert Foster. -‘There was a sketch in the letter, and it bore a strange -resemblance to Manton. I cannot make out where -the letter has got to.’</p> - -<p>‘Was it a sketch made on the spot, or drawn from -memory?’</p> - -<p>‘Drawn in Sydney, I believe the writer said.’</p> - -<p>‘Then it may have been drawn from Wal Jessop’s -description,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Possibly, but I hardly think so. It seemed to -me to be a sketch just as the man who drew it remembered -to have seen him. I did not tell you of -this before, because I thought it might upset you -during the tour.’</p> - -<p>‘I should have thought a good deal about it, no -doubt,’ said Edgar; ‘and perhaps it was as well you -did not tell me.’</p> - -<p>Edgar pondered over what his father told him, and -the more he thought over it, the more impossible it -seemed to him that anyone, least of all Captain -Manton, should have been saved from the wreck of -the <em>Distant Shore</em>.</p> - -<p>The spirit of adventure, however, was still strong -within him, and this letter his father had received -would serve as an excuse, if a poor one, to revisit<span class="pagenum">[250]</span> -Australia. He communicated his intention to Muriel, -and when she heard the reason for his setting out -again she did not consider it so improbable as Edgar -himself did.</p> - -<p>So it was arranged that Edgar should again voyage -to the Colonies, and Ben Brody was glad of a comrade -to return with him. Will Brown, having -obtained a situation in a large shipping office, decided -to remain in England, and Doris Foster was consoled -by the thought that if Edgar left again, she would -still have a companion of her own age to whom she -was much attached.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">THE CAPTAIN OR HIS GHOST.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>In due course Edgar Foster arrived in Sydney again. -He thought it better to take Wal Jessop into his -confidence, and related to him the real reason of his -return to Australia.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop remembered the circumstances, and -said he did not think Edgar would easily find the -man.</p> - -<p>‘He spoke of sailing for America,’ said Wal; ‘and -as I have seen nothing of him for some time, I think -he must have gone away.’</p> - -<p>‘I mean to have a cruise in the South Seas, at any -rate,’ said Edgar. ‘I have never been there, and it<span class="pagenum">[251]</span> -will be interesting. I am sure to hear something -about this man from the natives and traders.’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop thought for a few moments, and then -said:</p> - -<p>‘I have a schooner that would suit your purpose, -and I should not mind making a voyage with you. -It would be better than going alone, and I have been -in the South Seas several times.’</p> - -<p>‘That would be splendid!’ said Edgar, overjoyed -at the prospect of having Wal Jessop with him.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop communicated his intention of accompanying -Edgar to his wife, and although she did not -care for him to leave her again to go on a cruise, she -raised no objections when she heard what object they -had in view.</p> - -<p>‘How strange it will be if you find Captain -Manton there!’ she said. ‘Even if such a thing -happened I am afraid he would not return with -you.’</p> - -<p>‘We shall persuade him to do so,’ said Wal, ‘if -we find him; but that is more than we hope for. -Still, more extraordinary things than this have happened -over shipwrecks, and truth is often stranger -than fiction.’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop’s schooner did not take much fitting -out for the voyage, for both he and Edgar were used -to roughing it. A couple of good men were engaged -to go with them, upon whom Wal Jessop knew he -could rely.</p> - -<p>They set sail early one morning, and were soon<span class="pagenum">[252]</span> -outside the heads, going along at a fair rate of speed -in their small craft.</p> - -<p>‘She sails well,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Many a craft twice her size does not skim over the -sea so fast,’ said Wal.</p> - -<p>Edgar thoroughly enjoyed being on board the -schooner. It was vastly different from the life on an -ocean liner. They had on board a stock of goods to -trade with the natives, and hoped to make the trip -profitable. The wind and weather being in their -favour, they sailed merrily along, and there was every -prospect of their making a fast trip.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop suggested going to Fiji first of all.</p> - -<p>‘It’s a jolly place,’ he said, ‘and will not be out of -our way, and we are not tied for time.’</p> - -<p>‘It is a good thing your wife cannot hear you,’ said -Edgar, laughing. ‘I fancy I heard you say we should -return as quickly as possible.’</p> - -<p>‘So we shall,’ said Wal; ‘but we made no stipulation -as to the course we should take.’</p> - -<p>They made sail for Levuka, the former capital of -Fiji, Suva being the present capital. Levuka is -situated on a narrow strip of beach, from which the -backbone of Ovalau rises precipitately to a height of -2,500 feet, and falls in a similar manner on the other -side.</p> - -<p>Levuka, Edgar found, consisted of one main street -about a mile in length, which runs along the beach -from old Government House to the native village -at the other end. The ground ascends rapidly on<span class="pagenum">[253]</span> -leaving the beach, and the hills around are dotted -with pretty villas. The stores and hotels face the -water, and here Edgar and Wal took in a fresh stock -of provisions for the schooner.</p> - -<p>After leaving Levuka, they sailed along the coast -and saw a number of small native towns dotted about -at varying intervals, usually among a little grove of -cocoa-nuts or bananas.</p> - -<p>They landed near one of these native villages and -obtained a supply of yams and sweet potatoes, also -bananas in any quantity. The village was surrounded -by filth and garbage of all sorts, and among -this highly-scented mess a number of scraggy pigs, -thin hens, and young children were rummaging. The -stagnant water lying about attracted swarms of -mosquitoes and flies.</p> - -<p>Edgar entered one of the houses and was almost -choked with the smoke, and was glad to get a breath -of fresh air. The earthen floor of the house he -could just discern was covered with dry grass over -which were spread a few mats. The men seemed a -lazy lot of fellows, passing the bulk of their time in -smoking. They went inland for several miles, but -found the country hilly and uninteresting.</p> - -<p>They saw numerous inland villages nestling in the -valley or perched on the top of a hill. After leaving -Fiji they sailed for the New Hebrides, rather an inhospitable -country, so Edgar understood. Wal Jessop -had, however, been to Tana before, and meant to -steer for that place.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[254]</span></p> - -<p>‘What sort of a place is Tana?’ asked Edgar as -they sat idly in the schooner with the blue sky -shining brilliantly overhead, and the blue water of -the ocean all around them.</p> - -<p>‘It is a volcanic island,’ said Wal. ‘There are -several of them in the group, and on many of them -the natives speak different languages. It is a circular -island, with a high mountain in the centre which we -ought to see before long. The mountain is constantly -in eruption, and answers the purpose of a -lighthouse. It is covered with vegetation almost to -the top.’</p> - -<p>‘I hope we shall not have an earthquake during -our stay on the island. I have experienced one -already, during our exploration in the cave of -Enooma, and I should not care for the experience -to be repeated,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>Next morning the island of Tana came in sight, -and Edgar marvelled at its beauty as seen from the -schooner. In the centre of the island rose the high -mountain, as Wal Jessop had described it, and smoke -and fire were issuing from the top. They were not -long in reaching a landing-place, and on the beach -they saw a number of native canoes, some about -fifteen feet long, and others from twenty-five to -nearly fifty feet in length.</p> - -<p>When the natives saw the schooner let go her -anchor, two canoes put off and were quickly paddled -alongside. The natives in them were rather under -the middle stature and the colour of old copper.<span class="pagenum">[255]</span> -Their faces were painted a reddish colour, and looked -oily and sticky. Their hair was frizzy and of a light-brown -colour, and was twisted and curled into -numerous tails, which were thrown back from the -forehead and hung down the back. It looked for all -the world like a wig made of whipcord, Edgar -thought.</p> - -<p>‘These fellows are Tanese,’ said Wal. ‘I must -try and make them understand a few questions.’</p> - -<p>He spoke to one of the natives, who was taller -than his companions, and asked him to come on -board the schooner. Without the least hesitation -the man did so. As he stood on deck, Edgar saw -that he was a well-made, athletic young fellow. The -septum of his nose was pierced, and through it was -inserted a reed horizontally, but not so as to project -beyond either nostril. He had tortoiseshell earrings -in his ears, about half a dozen hanging down -on each side, and the weight had enlarged the -aperture until a child’s hand might have been passed -through. He was not tattooed, but on his breast a -rude device of a fish had been either cut or burnt in, -and on the upper part of his arms was a leaf done in a -similar way. He had no clothes on except a matting -bag round the loins. He had armlets on, and also -three large whale’s teeth on three strings hanging -horizontally on his breast.</p> - -<p>‘He’s a chief,’ said Wal. ‘I can tell that by those -teeth he has on his breast.’</p> - -<p>‘He is a formidable-looking savage,’ said Edgar.<span class="pagenum">[256]</span> -‘I should not care to have a hit with that club he -carries.’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop motioned the chief to sit down, which -he did, and was presented with a necklace of bright-coloured -beads which delighted him immensely.</p> - -<p>The other natives in the canoes were looking at -the schooner with eager eyes, evidently with the expectation -of getting a few presents.</p> - -<p>The chief, whose name was Meri, spoke a few -words of English, and as Wal Jessop knew a little of -the Tana language, they managed to understand -each other.</p> - -<p>Although Edgar could not make out what they were -talking about, he knew Wal Jessop was questioning -him as to the white men who visited the island.</p> - -<p>‘Psan Aremama,’ said Meri.</p> - -<p>‘There is a white man on the island,’ said Wal to -Edgar. ‘We must go ashore and try and meet him. -Meri knows where he is to be found, but he avoids -the coast.’</p> - -<p>‘Strange a white man should be here,’ said Edgar. -‘It may be the very man we are in search of.’</p> - -<p>‘If it turns out to be Manton, it will be stranger -still,’ said Wal.</p> - -<p>Meri agreed to take them ashore in his canoe, and -to make room for them ordered two of the men to -jump out and swim back to land.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop asked if there were sharks about, for -he saw the natives were frightened, but dared not -disobey the chief.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[257]</span></p> - -<p>Meri laughed, showing his even teeth, and hinted -that it would be good sport to see a shark or two -hunt the natives.</p> - -<p>‘Pleasant sort of man to work for,’ said Edgar, -when Wal had explained.</p> - -<p>The canoe shot away from the side of the schooner. -Wal and Edgar had their rifles with them and also a -number of beads, trinkets, and pieces of bright-coloured -cloths, with which to propitiate the natives.</p> - -<p>As they neared the shore one of the natives who -was swimming dived, and before he came to the -surface the water was dyed with blood.</p> - -<p>‘Laumasan! [good],’ chuckled Meri.</p> - -<p>The native came to the surface, and they saw he -had dived and stabbed a shark that had been in -pursuit.</p> - -<p>‘That was cleverly done,’ said Wal.</p> - -<p>‘They must have some pluck,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Good fighters, many of them,’ said Wal. ‘We -must try and get them to give us an exhibition of -spear-throwing and stone-slinging. It will interest -you.’</p> - -<p>They got out of the canoes and waded through -the surf to the beach. Here a number of natives, -men and women, were gathered. The women were -fairly well covered with long girdles reaching below -the knee. These girdles were made of rolled dried -fibre of the banana stalk, which was soft to touch -and very like hemp. They also wore a few ornaments, -and their hair was shorter than the men’s,<span class="pagenum">[258]</span> -standing erect in a forest of little curls about an inch -long.</p> - -<p>The chief conducted them to his hut, which was -rudely constructed, but large enough to hold half a -dozen persons comfortably. This hut was built -amongst the trees, and there were huts of a smaller -size for about eight or ten families.</p> - -<p>The chief gave them to understand that they must -join them at the marum, or place of public meeting.</p> - -<p>This meeting was held under a banyan tree in a -large clear space. All the men assembled here at -sundown for their evening meal.</p> - -<p>A bowl of kava was prepared by chewing the root -and ejecting the contents of the mouth into a bowl, -which was filled up with water, then mixed and -strained. In addition to the kava, there were raw -yams served, and cooked food consisting of figs and -fowls. The women had their meal apart from the -men.</p> - -<p>Meri repeated a short prayer before the meal, -wishing them success in their crops and in the battles -in which they were often engaged.</p> - -<p>Edgar, having seen the kava prepared, did not -relish tasting it, but at a sign from Wal Jessop, he -took the bowl and sipped a little.</p> - -<p>‘They would have been greatly offended had you -refused it,’ Wal explained.</p> - -<p>After the meal, which, with the exception of the -kava, Edgar relished, the men made speeches and -danced, flourishing their clubs. It amused Edgar<span class="pagenum">[259]</span> -to watch the children, of whom the men seemed very -fond. The copper-skinned little ones imitated their -elders with precocious dexterity.</p> - -<p>It was a curious sight to see these natives holding -a marum under the huge banyan tree, and as the -shades of night quickly fell their figures loomed in -the light with a peculiarly weird effect as they -danced and chanted their monotonous song.</p> - -<p>Meri sat between Wal Jessop and Edgar, and as -the dance proceeded, he caught them one by each -arm and nodded across the opening. Edgar and -Wal looked in the direction Meri indicated, and saw -a strange figure standing looking at the scene.</p> - -<p>Edgar sprang to his feet and shouted:</p> - -<p>‘The captain or his ghost!’</p> - -<p>‘The very image of him,’ said Wal.</p> - -<p>The stranger had, however, noted their movements, -and, suddenly turning, darted back into the shadow -of the trees.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">A STRANGE STORY.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Wal Jessop hastily explained to Meri that it was -their intention to go in pursuit of the white man, -and the chief said he would accompany them. The -meeting came to an end, the savages dispersing to -their various huts.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[260]</span></p> - -<p>Meri, beckoning to Wal and Edgar to follow him, -led the way across the marum into the forest beyond. -They were soon in richly-wooded country, and found -progress difficult. Edgar constantly stumbled over -some tangled, twisted root that lay hidden in his -path; thorns, growing on some of the bushes, pricked -him and tore his clothes, and Wal Jessop was in no -better plight. Meri, however, did not appear to mind -the thorns, but walked on at a rapid pace.</p> - -<p>They continued their tramp for some time, but saw -nothing of the white man who had so quickly and -mysteriously disappeared.</p> - -<p>When they halted to rest Wal Jessop questioned -Meri, and learned that the white man had been on -the island for some time. He came in a trading -vessel, and was left behind, either wilfully or through -his own desire. The natives regarded him with -superstition, and thought him scarcely human. Meri -himself was evidently a believer in the white man’s -powers over the natives for good or evil.</p> - -<p>On resuming their search they came upon a pathway -evidently cut in the bush, and along this Meri -led them.</p> - -<p>He halted at the entrance to a small clearing, and -here they saw a strange sight.</p> - -<p>Standing straight up from the ground were several -large trunks of trees, that had been hollowed out and -rudely carved in the shape of hideous heads at the -top. They appeared to be idols, and Meri regarded -them with a look of awe.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[261]</span></p> - -<p>‘This is a Sing-Sing ground,’ said Wal; ‘I have -heard of them before, but never seen one. This is -where their gods live, and it is regarded as a sacred -grove. If the white man is here it easily accounts -for the fear with which he is regarded. No native -would remain here alone; in fact, they dare not -venture except upon special occasions. I’ll ask Meri -about it.’</p> - -<p>Wal questioned the chief, who said he could enter -the sacred grove as chief of his tribe, and they walked -into the clearing. Raising his club Meri struck one -of the hollow trunks a blow, and it echoed through -the forest with a sound like a drum.</p> - -<p>Edgar looked into the hollow of each tree, but saw -nothing. Presently a tall figure glided into the grove, -and stood still regarding them.</p> - -<p>They were at once convinced it was the unfortunate -captain of the <em>Distant Shore</em> standing before them, -but he showed no sign that he recognised them.</p> - -<p>He was strangely altered from the fine, stalwart -seaman they had known as Captain Manton of the -<em>Distant Shore</em>. His figure was gaunt and thin, and -his arms and hands were mere skin and bone. His -hair was white, his beard of the same hue, and -his eyes looked vacantly from under his bushy eyebrows. -He wore an old coat, which reached to his -knees, and his legs and feet were bare. As he -advanced slowly towards them Meri fell back, but -Edgar and Wal stood their ground.</p> - -<p>‘Begone!’ said this ghost-like figure of Captain<span class="pagenum">[262]</span> -Manton. ‘This is no place for you. Begone, and -leave me in peace! I harm no one. I am quite -alone—alone in a world of my own, peopled with the -ghosts of the drowned!’</p> - -<p>Edgar stepped forward, and, looking him straight -in the eyes, said:</p> - -<p>‘Do you not know me, Captain Manton? I am -Edgar Foster. I was saved from the wreck with your -daughter Eva.’</p> - -<p>At the mention of Eva’s name a momentary light -of intelligence came into the man’s eyes, but it -quickly died away, and left them dull and vacant.</p> - -<p>‘Poor fellow!’ said Edgar sorrowfully; ‘his brain -has given way under the strain. He must have -suffered severely.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you think he is mad?’ asked Wal.</p> - -<p>‘Not a dangerous form of madness,’ replied Edgar; -‘but I have no doubt he is not in his right mind. We -must humour him, and question him. He has a -strange story to relate, if he can be persuaded to tell -it, and if he remembers all he has gone through.’</p> - -<p>Edgar took the unfortunate man by the hand, and -persuaded him to sit down.</p> - -<p>Meri looked on, his curiosity evidently being -excited.</p> - -<p>Edgar tried as gently and simply as possible to -lead the wandering mind of the captain back to -the wreck of the <em>Distant Shore</em>, and found, to his -delight, that he succeeded in rousing his dormant -memory.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[263]</span></p> - -<p>Captain Manton began to talk in a strange, -monotonous way. He was evidently recapitulating -what had happened to him after the wreck of the -<em>Distant Shore</em>, and he seemed almost unconscious of -anyone being present.</p> - -<p>From time to time during the course of the strange -tale he related Edgar refreshed his weak memory.</p> - -<p>‘If we can lead him on to tell us everything,’ said -Edgar, ‘he may recognise us in the end.’</p> - -<p>‘I hope so,’ said Wal; ‘it is terrible to see him -like this, but it may be caused through not having -any white men to converse with.’</p> - -<p>Captain Manton—for, indeed, it was that unfortunate -seaman—commenced by telling them, in a somewhat -incoherent way, that he was on a big ship when -it went on to the rocks and crashed to pieces.</p> - -<p>‘It was the captain’s fault,’ he said; ‘he ought to -have made for a harbour; he is responsible for all our -deaths.’</p> - -<p>‘You were saved,’ said Edgar. ‘You are not dead, -and you ought to be thankful. It was not the -captain’s fault, for he was a brave man, and a good -seaman. I knew him well, and he was incapable of -a cowardly action.’</p> - -<p>‘I knew him once,’ said Captain Manton, ‘but it -must have been a very long time ago. He’s dead -now, and you say I am alive. Strange how little I -remember of Manton, for I must have known him -well.’</p> - -<p>‘You did,’ said Edgar. ‘Have you forgotten?<span class="pagenum">[264]</span> -Can you not remember that you are Captain Manton, -and that I saved your daughter Eva?’</p> - -<p>‘Eva,’ said Manton, with a deep sigh, ‘I know -the name very well—Eva; yes, I once knew little -Eva.’</p> - -<p>He spoke in such pathetic tones that both Edgar -and Wal Jessop were affected.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Manton began to talk rapidly.</p> - -<p>‘I remember now,’ he said; ‘the captain went -down with the ship. I was tossed about on the rocks—washed -on and then off again. A huge wave rolled -me back into the sea, and I clutched a broken spar. -The captain clutched that spar, too, but I pushed -him off—ah, ah! I pushed him off because there was -only room for one; but he came up again and sat -beside me, and I had not strength to push him off -again. He did not try to push me off. Out to sea -we were taken, and then I recollect nothing until I -awoke on board a small craft, and the captain was -not there. He must have fallen off the spar, and -been drowned. I was starved on the boat, for they -had very little to eat. When they landed on some -island, they went away and left me. The natives -were kind to me and gave me food. I have lived -here many years. I do no one any harm, and I want -to stay here. You will not take me away?’ he said -suddenly, turning to Edgar and Wal, with an imploring -look in his eyes.</p> - -<p>Edgar evaded the question, and said:</p> - -<p>‘I will tell you what happened on the night the<span class="pagenum">[265]</span> -<em>Distant Shore</em> was wrecked, and how Wal Jessop -here saved me and your daughter Eva.’</p> - -<p>‘My daughter Eva!’ said Manton, with a soft smile—‘my -daughter Eva!’</p> - -<p>He lingered fondly over the name, and Edgar said -to Wal:</p> - -<p>‘I believe if I relate all that took place he will -remember. His sufferings have caused loss of -memory, that is all.’</p> - -<p>‘I hope so,’ said Wal; ‘it is pitiable to find him -like this.’</p> - -<p>Edgar then told him as briefly as possible all that -took place at the wreck of the <em>Distant Shore</em>. As he -described how Wal Jessop found himself and Eva -on the rocks, and at great risk got them to the top of -the cliffs, Manton’s eyes brightened, and he listened -with intense interest.</p> - -<p>‘Eva is now a beautiful little girl,’ said Edgar, ‘and -she has been expecting to see you. We have always -told her you would come back to her, and I am sure -you will do so. You remember me now, do you not?’ -said Edgar; ‘and also your good friend in Sydney, -Wal Jessop?’</p> - -<p>‘Ay, you’ll remember me, skipper,’ said Wal, in a -hearty voice; ‘I’ve towed you safely into port many -a time. Come, give me a grip of your hand, and say -you know me.’</p> - -<p>Manton looked, first at Edgar, and then at Wal -Jessop. He was wrestling with the memories of the -past that had so long been absent from him. Gradually<span class="pagenum">[266]</span> -they saw his memory was recovering its power. -The mind was only clouded, and brighter days would -chase the gloom away.</p> - -<p>‘My God! can it be true?’ said Manton, as he -gazed at them. ‘Am I dreaming, or am I mad? -Can this be Edgar Foster, and my old mate, Wal -Jessop? Where am I, and how did I come here?’</p> - -<p>He was wrestling with his memory, and gradually -drawing it back to life. With the return of reason -he failed to comprehend what had happened to him, -and why he was on this wild island in the New -Hebrides.</p> - -<p>‘True, true, true!’ he murmured; ‘they are indeed -my friends!</p> - -<p>He grasped their hands, and his frame shook with -the intense emotion he felt. He was in a very weak -state, and the reaction was too much for him. The -change from darkness to light overpowered him, and -he sank back in a dead faint.</p> - -<p>Meri, when he saw Manton fall back, to all appearance -dead, sprang forward and brandished his club -in a savage manner. He thought Edgar and Wal -must have practised some witchcraft upon this white -man, who had been so long amongst them.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop, leaving Manton in Edgar’s care, explained, -as well as he could, what had happened. -Meri looked displeased when Wal said they would -take Manton away with them, and said evil would -fall upon their tribe if they allowed him to go.</p> - -<p>It was some time before Manton recovered, and<span class="pagenum">[267]</span> -when he did so he was too weak to walk. Wal Jessop -persuaded Meri to return with him to the village, and -obtain help to carry Manton to the beach.</p> - -<p>Edgar remained with the captain, and did all in -his power to cheer him. He knew it would be some -time before they returned, and Manton was not in a -fit state to be left alone. With the return of his -memory he had become nervous and excited. For -the first time since that fatal night when the <em>Distant -Shore</em> was wrecked, he began to remember clearly -what had taken place.</p> - -<p>Edgar saw what it was preyed upon his mind, and -said:</p> - -<p>‘Everyone will be glad to hear you have been -saved in such a strange and marvellous way. You -will be heartily welcomed in Sydney when we return; -and think of little Eva waiting and watching for -you.’</p> - -<p>‘The ship was lost,’ said Manton in a hollow voice, -‘and I am responsible. Did all on board perish with -the exception of three?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Edgar; ‘but you were not to blame. -Everyone praised your conduct, for I told them how -you stood by your ship, and went down with her. -Nothing could have saved her. You did all that -man could do.’</p> - -<p>‘And my poor wife?’ he moaned.</p> - -<p>Edgar was silent. He knew words would avail -nothing.</p> - -<p>‘How did you find me?’ asked Manton.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[268]</span></p> - -<p>Edgar related how his father received a letter, and -his own determination to set out in quest of him in -order to ascertain the truth.</p> - -<p>‘And you did this for my sake?’ said Manton.</p> - -<p>‘I must not take too much credit for that,’ said -Edgar. ‘A love of adventure prompted me, and, -although I hardly credited your being alive, yet I -knew it was not impossible.’</p> - -<p>‘And where am I, and how long have I been -here?’ asked Manton wonderingly.</p> - -<p>‘You are on the island of Tana, in the New -Hebrides,’ said Edgar. ‘You were no doubt picked -up by a schooner on its way to the South Seas from -Sydney.’</p> - -<p>‘It is all very strange,’ said Manton. ‘I must -have been near to death when I was rescued from -the sea.’</p> - -<p>‘Your sufferings were so great that your mind -became deranged,’ said Edgar. ‘With complete rest, -and amongst your friends, you will speedily recover.’</p> - -<p>Manton shook his head despondingly. He was in -a melancholy mood, and his mind was not quite -balanced. As Edgar looked at him his heart was -full of pity for him, and he fervently hoped it would -not be many weeks before Captain Manton was fully -recovered both in mind and body.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum">[269]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">WARLIKE SPORTS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>When Meri and Wal Jessop reached the village the -chief explained to his followers how the white men -had recognised their friend, and the natives were -excited at such an unlooked-for occurrence. A -stretcher was quickly made of long poles and -matting, and, accompanied by four stalwart natives, -Wal Jessop and Meri returned to the Sing-Sing -ground where they had left Edgar and Captain Manton. -They carefully carried Manton to the village, -and Wal Jessop went out to the schooner to obtain -drugs from the medicine chest.</p> - -<p>In the course of a few days Captain Manton was -much better, and eager to be gone from the island. -The chief and the natives, however, seemed loath to -part with him, and Edgar thought there might be -some trouble in getting him away. To make matters -easier they presented Meri and most of the natives—men, -women, and children—with gifts of beads, cloth, -and small ornaments. It amused them to watch the -women adorning their persons with bright red and -yellow cloths, and they were particularly delighted -some with the strings of bright-coloured beads.</p> - -<p>Edgar noticed the natives, even when going to -walk in the plantations, were armed, and Meri said -they were always at war with one or more of the<span class="pagenum">[270]</span> -neighbouring tribes. Even the women and children -were armed, and it was surprising with what accuracy -of aim the smallest lads could shoot their arrows. -These natives were all fond of sports, and spent the -greater part of their time practising with the various -weapons they used.</p> - -<p>Meri, at Edgar’s request, ordered some native -sports to take place; and the men, nothing loath, prepared -for them in a very short time. Wal Jessop -promised the most successful should have prizes -given them, selected from the stock of trade goods -on board the schooner.</p> - -<p>Spear-throwing was first undertaken, and the -natives aimed with wonderful skill, far better than -the Enooma blacks. They hurled their spears with -terrific force, and often buried them six inches deep -in the trunk of a tree the wood of which was almost -as hard as iron. Smooth stones were piled up on the -beach, and the natives, using slings, whirled them out -to sea for such a long distance that the splash made -when they fell could hardly be seen. Club-swinging -they were clever at, and an attack with clubs, warded -off by wooden shields, made Edgar fearful for the -result, so furious and excited did the combatants -become.</p> - -<p>The boys and girls, all naked, ran races on the -clear white sand, and swam out to sea in the most -daring manner. One lad, a son of the chief, shot his -arrow through Meri’s fingers as he spread the back of -his hand out wide against a tree. The girls were<span class="pagenum">[271]</span> -quite as active as the boys, and ran as fast, and swam -as well. These youngsters had very little fear in -them, and even a shark near the shore did not -frighten them, for the lads would swim out with -spears in their hands and attack the monsters.</p> - -<p>The canoe-races caused much excitement, and the -chief, Meri, paddled dexterously—in fact, he was -superior to the others in most of the sports.</p> - -<p>Edgar was much interested in watching the natives -build a canoe. A tree was felled, and the branches -cut off. Then, for a common fishing canoe, the log -was hollowed out about fifteen feet long, and a -rough canoe was soon formed. The better-built -canoes were made of separate planks raised from -the keel, and laid on in pieces from twenty-five to -fifty feet long. Gum of the bread-fruit tree was -used instead of pitch, and smeared over to make -them water-tight. The inside and outside were -smoothed, and when finished the canoe looked a -creditable craft.</p> - -<p>Although Edgar enjoyed the experiences he was -going through at Tana, he was anxious to get away -now Captain Manton had been discovered; but the -chief always made some excuse for detaining them, -and Wal Jessop said it would be safer to obtain his -permission to leave. Captain Manton was also in a -hurry to depart, and once more get to sea. Wal -Jessop gave Meri to understand that it was necessary -for them to leave, and the chief said he would -consider the matter.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[272]</span></p> - -<p>A meeting was held under the banyan tree in the -marum, and the three friends looked on, much -interested in the proceedings.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop gathered that there was considerable -opposition to Captain Manton’s departure, and that -the chief did not care to resist the will of the natives. -When the meeting was over, Meri said his people were -not willing that Captain Manton should go with Edgar -and Wal.</p> - -<p>To this Wal Jessop made no reply, but after consulting -Edgar and Captain Manton, it was arranged -they should make a bolt for it at night, seize one of -the canoes, and row back to the schooner.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop went to the schooner to give instructions -for all to be ready for sailing immediately they -were on board.</p> - -<p>Towards evening, when the natives were returning -from the plantation, there was a great row amongst -them. They came forward shouting, dancing, and -gesticulating, and in their midst was a poor wretched -native, almost ready to drop with fright. Meri’s men -had kidnapped this man, who belonged to another -tribe, and he knew, poor wretch! the fate in store for -him.</p> - -<p>‘What will they do with that poor beggar?’ said -Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘Eat him probably,’ said Wal Jessop with a -shudder. ‘The natives here are cannibals.’</p> - -<p>‘Horrible!’ said Edgar. ‘Can we do nothing to -prevent it?’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[273]</span></p> - -<p>‘I am afraid not,’ said Wal. ‘I will remonstrate -with the chief, but it will be all to no purpose. All -we can do is to take advantage of their absence -when the poor wretch is killed, and make for the -schooner.’</p> - -<p>‘Speak to Meri,’ said Edgar. ‘We ought to stop -it if we can.’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop went to the chief, who acknowledged it -was the custom to kill and eat prisoners of another -tribe. Wal then tried to buy the wretch off, but the -chief was firm. He could not interfere with the custom -of the tribe.</p> - -<p>That night a large fire was lighted in the marum, -and they could see the flames flashing in the darkness.</p> - -<p>They shuddered as they thought of what was -about to take place; but as they were powerless -to interfere they determined to steal away to the -schooner.</p> - -<p>Cautiously they went down to the beach and -secured a canoe. Captain Manton sat in the bow, -where there was a seat for the chief, and Wal and -Edgar paddled.</p> - -<p>Before they were half-way to the schooner the -natives saw them, and, uttering loud cries, ran down -to the beach. A large canoe was quickly launched, -Meri took his place in the bow, and the pursuit commenced.</p> - -<p>‘They will overhaul us before we reach the schooner,’ -said Wal. ‘Our only plan is to frighten them. We<span class="pagenum">[274]</span> -have our rifles. You must send a bullet or two in -their direction, Edgar. Do not harm anyone if you -can help it, but strike the canoe somewhere near the -chief. It will give him a shock, and may hinder the -pursuit.’</p> - -<p>The natives were fast nearing them, their canoe -skimming along the water with wonderful swiftness. -Meri stood up in the bow, spear in hand, and signalled -them to stop. His dark figure was plainly seen in -the moonlight which covered the sea with a soft, -silvery glow.</p> - -<p>Edgar put down his paddle and took up his rifle, -which he levelled at the chief.</p> - -<p>Meri saw him, but did not flinch. He turned to his -men and urged them on.</p> - -<p>Edgar took aim and fired at the bow of the canoe. -It was a lucky shot, for just as he fired the bow of the -canoe rose slightly, and the bullet splintered the wood -under Meri’s feet.</p> - -<p>This caused the chief to spring backwards, and in -so doing he stumbled and fell into the water. The -natives at once ceased rowing, and assisted him to get -into the canoe.</p> - -<p>Edgar, as soon as he had fired the shot, put down -the rifle and grasped the paddle. They gained on -the canoe again, and reached the schooner before -the natives. Captain Manton was assisted into the -schooner, and Edgar and Wal quickly followed, -taking good care to throw their rifles to the men on -deck.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[275]</span></p> - -<p>Everything was ready for sailing immediately, but -before the schooner could get under way the canoe, -full of natives, was alongside.</p> - -<p>Meri was about to spring on the schooner when -Edgar levelled his rifle at him, and Wal Jessop -shouted:</p> - -<p>‘Get back, or we shall fire. We want to leave -peaceably. Go back to your island. You have had -many presents from us.’</p> - -<p>The chief said they wanted their white man back, -and meant to have him.</p> - -<p>‘Then you must look out for a row,’ said Wal.</p> - -<p>The schooner was now under sail, and although -there was but little breeze, she made headway. Seeing -the schooner gliding away, the chief gave some -order to his men, who stood up and hurled their spears -at those on deck.</p> - -<p>‘Lie flat down,’ shouted Wal, who saw their intention; -and they all fell on the deck. The spears -whistled harmlessly over them, one or two striking the -mast.</p> - -<p>‘Give me the gun; I’ll give them a dose of shot for -that,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop handed him a gun, and Edgar fired it -at the canoe. The shot told, and one or two of the -natives were hit, but not severely. This had the -desired effect, and, seeing pursuit was both hopeless -and dangerous, the chief ordered them to paddle back -to the island.</p> - -<p>The travellers were all glad to get safely away from<span class="pagenum">[276]</span> -Tana, and decided to sail direct to Sydney, as there -was an ample supply of food on board. Captain -Manton seemed to recover every day at sea, and -both Edgar and Wal Jessop did all in their power -to cheer him and make him forget what he had -suffered.</p> - -<p>The voyage back to Sydney was uneventful, and -the little schooner entered the Heads sooner than was -expected, and cast anchor in Watson’s Bay.</p> - -<p>Captain Manton, as they neared the Heads, had -looked long at the fatal rocks where the <em>Distant Shore</em> -went to pieces, and the tears stood in his eyes as he -thought of that awful night.</p> - -<p>When they were in the smooth waters of the -harbour, and snugly at anchor in Watson’s Bay, his -spirits revived at the prospect of meeting his daughter -again.</p> - -<p>He wondered if she would know him, for he was -much altered, and she was a little child when last he -saw her on that fatal night.</p> - -<p>‘I am sure she will recognise you,’ said Edgar; -‘you look much more like your old self now. When -we found you at Tana you were a different man.’</p> - -<p>They landed at the jetty, and walked up to Wal -Jessop’s cottage.</p> - -<p>‘We shall give them a surprise,’ said Edgar.</p> - -<p>‘A pleasant one,’ said Wal.</p> - -<p>Captain Manton’s heart beat fast as he walked up -the familiar road, and hastened to meet the daughter -he had thought he would never see again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[277]</span></p> - -<p>‘Perhaps it will be better for me to go on first,’ said -Wal, ‘and prepare her. The sudden joy may be too -much for Eva.’</p> - -<p>They agreed, and Wal walked on. He reached -the cottage door, and knocked. His wife opened it, -and gave a cry of joy as she saw him. After a hearty -embrace, she said anxiously:</p> - -<p>‘Where is Edgar? Is he well?’</p> - -<p>‘Never better,’ said Wal. ‘Where’s Eva?’</p> - -<p>Eva heard them talking, and came running into -the room. She rushed into Wal’s outstretched arms, -and he kissed her tenderly.</p> - -<p>‘Edgar has come back,’ said Wal, ‘and someone -else—someone you love best in all the world.’</p> - -<p>‘Daddy?’ said Eva excitedly.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Wal, looking from her to his wife; -‘daddy has come back.’</p> - -<p>He heard footsteps outside, and said:</p> - -<p>‘And here he is, with Edgar.’</p> - -<p>Captain Manton came into the room. Eva looked -at him for a few moments, evidently in doubt.</p> - -<p>‘Eva, my child, my little one, don’t you know me? -Come to my arms, my pet; come to daddy again.’</p> - -<p>‘It is my daddy!’ said Eva, with a joyful cry, as -she flew to him. ‘Eddy said he would come back. -I shall never let him go away again—never, never, -never!’</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum">[278]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX. -<br /><span class="cheaderfont">GOOD-BYE TO AUSTRALIA.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>How Captain Manton came to Sydney, and how he -received a welcome of the heartiest description on all -sides, is well known throughout the colony. His -marvellous escape and subsequent adventures, and -the strange discovery of him at Tana by Edgar -Foster and Wal Jessop, have been related over and -over again. His examination by the Marine Board -was thoroughly satisfactory, and Captain Fife said -no man could have done more than Captain Manton -to save his ship.</p> - -<p>The tall, commanding form of Captain Manton, -and the pretty child accompanying him wherever he -went, soon became familiar figures in the parks of -Sydney. The big, stalwart seaman was wrapped up -in his child, and his intense love for her was shown in -every word and action.</p> - -<p>They sat together for hours on the grassy slopes of -the Botanical Gardens overlooking the harbour, and -watched the big steamers pass to and fro, and the -sailing vessels towed out from their snug berths to -face the perils of an ocean voyage to some far-distant -land. Those were halcyon days for little Eva Manton, -and she often thought of them in after years, when -the business of life had commenced for her in real -earnest.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[279]</span></p> - -<p>Leaving Captain Manton to rejoice in his new-found -happiness, Edgar Foster took a trip out West -to Yanda, in order to bid good-bye to his friends -before finally departing for England.</p> - -<p>They were all very pleased to see him at Yanda, -and Ben Brody could not refrain from relating -wonderful and improbable yarns about his experiences -with Edgar in London.</p> - -<p>‘It’s grown into a mighty big place,’ said Ben. -‘You fellows have no idea what London is like. -Bless me if the people are not thicker on the pavements -than sheep in a catching pen!’</p> - -<p>‘What’s the mutton like over there?’ asked Jim -Lee solemnly.</p> - -<p>‘Nearly as juicy as it is here,’ said Ben, with a -wink, and a smack of the lips that betokened fond -remembrances of sundry succulent London chops.</p> - -<p>Yacka made quite a scene when he discovered that -Edgar had returned. He summoned all the blacks -in the neighbourhood, and a great corroboree took -place in his honour.</p> - -<p>To Edgar’s inquiries Yacka said he had resolved -never to return to the country of the Enooma, or to -the cave of the White Spirit, now no longer there.</p> - -<p>Yacka was contented to live and die at Yanda, -where Ben Brody and the hands were kind to him, -and where he could idle away most of his time, and -spend a savage life such as the blackfellow loves.</p> - -<p>‘Would you not like to become civilized,’ asked -Edgar, ‘and cultivate the ways of the white man?’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[280]</span></p> - -<p>‘No,’ said Yacka; ‘to be civilized means rum and -ruin. Yacka loves his freedom, and wants no civilization.’</p> - -<p>It was in vain Edgar endeavoured to induce Yacka -to leave Yanda, and go to Sydney with him. The -black was firm in his resolve never to quit Yanda -again, and many years after Edgar learned that -Yacka died at the station, and was much regretted, -not only by the blacks, but also by the hands.</p> - -<p>Before Edgar left Sydney he was entertained by -the cricketers of the city at a banquet, and the -speeches made on that memorable occasion were -treasured by him. They were not mere after-dinner -displays, but real, genuine words spoken from the -heart, and Edgar accepted them as such.</p> - -<p>Edgar made many attempts to induce Captain -Manton to return to England with him.</p> - -<p>The captain, however, was firm in his determination -not to leave Sydney.</p> - -<p>‘I want to end my days here in peace,’ he said to -Edgar; ‘I have only Eva to live for, and I feel we -shall be happy here with our good friends the Jessops. -You will tell your father how much I thank him for -all his kindness to me and mine.’</p> - -<p>‘I am sorry you have decided to remain here,’ -said Edgar; ‘we should all be so pleased to welcome -you home.’</p> - -<p>‘I feel I must remain, my lad,’ said Captain -Manton. ‘I want to be near the place where I lost -my wife and my ship, and all the poor souls who<span class="pagenum">[281]</span> -went down with her. God knows I did my best to -save them, but it was not to be. I feel it to be my -duty to stay here—a duty I owe to the dead who lie -buried fathoms deep off this spot. At Watson’s Bay -I hope to end my days, and I am thankful Eva has -been restored to me to keep me from being lonely -in my declining years.’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop became more reconciled to parting -with Edgar Foster when he heard that Captain -Manton had decided to remain and take a small -cottage at Watson’s Bay.</p> - -<p>‘I should have been lost without one of you,’ he -said, ‘and I don’t know what the wife would have -done without Eva. She loves that bairn as much as -if she were her own.’</p> - -<p>The day that Edgar sailed for home Captain -Manton and Eva stood on the cliffs at Watson’s -Bay, and watched the great steamer pass slowly -through the Heads. They waved their handkerchiefs, -and Captain Manton, looking through his glasses, -spied Edgar leaning over the rails of the upper-deck -also waving a farewell.</p> - -<p>As he saw those two figures on the cliffs, Edgar -Foster felt a sadness creep over him at the thought -that he might never see them again. He watched -them as the steamer ploughed its way south, until -they were mere specks against the sky-line.</p> - -<p>As for Captain Manton and Eva, they stood there -until the steamer had disappeared, and only a faint -line of smoke denoted where she had sunk below<span class="pagenum">[282]</span> -the horizon. Then the captain took Eva by the -hand, and led her gently down the rough, steep, -pathway to Wal Jessop’s cottage. He did not feel -lonely, for he had his child to comfort him, and he -knew the remainder of his life would be quiet, -uneventful, and peaceful. He had determined to -devote his life to his child, and to try and teach her -how to be a brave, good woman.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Jessop had been a mother to Eva, and she -felt it would be hard to part with her.</p> - -<p>‘Try and persuade Captain Manton to stay with -us,’ she said to Wal. ‘We have room for him, and -then I shall not lose Eva.’</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop broached the subject to Captain -Manton, who was easily persuaded to fall in with -Mrs. Jessop’s wishes.</p> - -<p>‘It will be better for Eva,’ he said, ‘for your wife -has taken her mother’s place. I shall not want -much attention. We old sailors are accustomed to -looking after ourselves and taking things easily, eh, -Wal?’</p> - -<p>‘I guess we are,’ replied Wal; ‘I’m right glad -you have decided to stay with us, skipper. I believe -the wife would have broken her heart if you had -taken Eva away from her.’</p> - -<p>So Captain Manton and Eva remained at Wal -Jessop’s cottage, and a happy united family they -were.</p> - -<p>Leaving Captain Manton and the Jessops, we -must now return to Edgar Foster, who, after a safe<span class="pagenum">[283]</span> -passage home, was once more at his father’s house -at Elm Lodge.</p> - -<p>He related how Captain Manton was found, and -excited interest by displaying a number of curiosities -he had secured in the South Seas.</p> - -<p>‘I wish Manton had come home with you,’ said -his father; ‘I wanted to see him again.’</p> - -<p>‘After all, I think he decided rightly to remain -in Sydney,’ said Edgar. ‘Eva was much attached -to Mrs. Jessop, and Wal will be a good companion -for the captain.’</p> - -<p>Naturally, Edgar had not been home long before -he paid a visit to the Wyldes, and he found Muriel -looking more charming than ever. After several -years of travel, Edgar felt it was high time he settled -down and devoted himself to business seriously. -He knew his father was moderately well off, but he -was determined to get his own living, and not rely -upon him. He did not know that Mrs. Wylde was -a wealthy woman, or he would perhaps have felt -some diffidence in proposing to Muriel.</p> - -<p>Will Brown and Doris Foster were married soon -after Edgar’s return, and resided in a comfortable -house at Putney.</p> - -<p>When Edgar had been at home some time, the -secretary of the M—— Cricket Club died, and -Robert Foster thought it would be a good place for -his son. The salary was excellent, and the work -such as Edgar liked, and knew a good deal about.</p> - -<p>At a meeting of the club Edgar’s name came up,<span class="pagenum">[284]</span> -and the committee decided in his favour, at the same -time suggesting that he should play when required. -This suited Edgar’s plans admirably, and it was -somewhat of a novelty to see the secretary of such -a club taking a prominent position in the cricket-field.</p> - -<p>Feeling his position secure, and having now an -ample income for his wants, Edgar asked Muriel -Wylde to marry him at an early date, and she consented. -The wedding took place at Twickenham -Church, and never had the sun shone on a prettier -bride, or a more manly-looking bridegroom.</p> - -<p>Prosperity dogged Edgar’s footsteps, for he invested -a considerable sum in mines in West Australia, -and being well advised, his speculation proved successful. -As the years rolled on he became a devoted -husband and father, and he taught his sons to be -honest and manly, and to earn for themselves a good -name as lads of mettle.</p> - -<p>In the cricket-field Edgar constantly distinguished -himself, and many a century was recorded to his -credit. Through his management the club of which -he was secretary advanced by leaps and bounds, -until financially it stood far above the average run -of clubs, and in the cricket-field had twice held the -honours at the close of the season.</p> - -<p>News from Sydney came frequently, and kept -Edgar in touch with the world over the water, for -which he had a great affection.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[285]</span></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Many years after Edgar Foster left Sydney for the -last time an old man and a lovely girl were sitting on -the cliffs at Watson’s Bay. Below them the vast -expanse of sea lay calm and still. Hardly a ripple -stirred the placid surface of the water, as it gently -lapped over the smooth worn slabs of rock at the -base of the cliffs. A faint breeze fanned the faces of -the old man and the beautiful girl, and waved his -white beard gently, and caressingly lingered amidst -her silken hair. It was easy to see they were father -and daughter, for she resembled him very much.</p> - -<p>They both looked out to sea, and watched the -boats sailing slowly in the calm water. Scores of -yachts and small boats had ventured outside the -Heads on this calm day.</p> - -<p>It was Sunday, and there were many people from -Sydney enjoying the cool breeze on the cliffs. -Several of them looked at the gray-bearded man -and his lovely daughter, and there was respect in -their glances, for they knew the history of this inseparable -pair.</p> - -<p>Eva Manton had developed into a lovely girl. -The promise of childhood had been fulfilled in -womanhood—for woman she was, although her father -always called her ‘my little girl.’</p> - -<p>Captain Manton was ageing rapidly, but still looked -to have many years of life before him. With sturdy -Wal Jessop and his wife he passed life comfortably, -and lived for his daughter, who amply repaid the -affection he bestowed upon her.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[286]</span></p> - -<p>Eva Manton had her admirers as other girls have, -but she kept them at arm’s length. She meant to -be her father’s companion while he lived, and -thought it no sacrifice upon her part to remain with -him.</p> - -<p>Now she could understand all about that terrible -wreck, and how Wal Jessop’s sturdy arms had rescued -Edgar Foster and herself from the rocks below -where they stood.</p> - -<p>She often sat there looking down into the depths, -and thought how Edgar Foster had at the risk of -his own life saved hers. Then she would think of -the peril her father had passed through, and of his -wonderful rescue and discovery on the island by -Wal Jessop and Edgar. She felt it was good to be -alive after such trials and sufferings, and she was -thankful for her existence.</p> - -<p>‘A letter from Edgar,’ said Wal Jessop one morning -as they all sat in the cottage.</p> - -<p>This was an important event, and one always -eagerly looked forward to. Edgar’s letters gave -them all pleasure, they were so bright and cheery, -and full of good news and good wishes.</p> - -<p>Wal Jessop read it, and, as usual, had to repeat the -operation.</p> - -<p>‘That’s what I call a manly letter,’ said Captain -Manton.</p> - -<p>‘He was always a straight goer,’ said Wal Jessop. -‘As a lad he was a manly youngster.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[287]</span></p> - -<p>‘He was brave,’ said Eva, ‘and full of courage. -He risked his life for mine.’</p> - -<p>‘And for that I am ever grateful,’ said her father.</p> - -<p>‘I wish him well,’ said Wal, ‘for he deserves to be -happy. I always thought him a lad of mettle.’</p> - - -<p class="center p2 smallfont">BILLING AND SONS, PRINTERS, GUILDFORD.</p> - -<p> </p> -<hr class="tb x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="transnote"> -<h2 style="margin-top: 0em">Transcriber’s Note:</h2> - -<p>This book was published in 1897.</p> - -<p>Some cricketers in the book have the same names as well-known -cricketers of the time period.</p> - -<p>The original hard copy version of this book has advertisements at -the end, some of which are now illegible due to wear, and these -advertisements are not included in this version.</p> - -<p>Punctuation has been made consistent.</p> - -<p>Variations in spelling and hyphenation were retained as they appear in -the original publication, except that obvious typographical errors -have been corrected.</p> - -<p>The following change was made:</p> - -<p><a id="BRef_187" href="#Ref_187">p. 187</a>: MacDonald changed to MacDonnell (the MacDonnell Ranges)</p> - -</div></div> - -<p> </p> -<hr class="pgx" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LAD OF METTLE***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 66030-h.htm or 66030-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/6/0/3/66030">http://www.gutenberg.org/6/6/0/3/66030</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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