A short time before this, Troloo, who had learned to be very useful with
the sheep, had gone off without giving any warning. It was the way of
black fellows, so Joseph could not complain, though he was very sorry to
lose him, especially when there was so much work to be done.
Joseph did not let any of his family be idle. They had learned to make
and to do all sorts of things. They made all their candles and soap.
They spun wool when their fingers had nothing else to do, and then
knitted it into socks and waistcoats. The boys could knit, and when
they were out shepherding, they had plenty of time to make all the socks
they could wear. The younger ones, among other things, learned to make
baskets out of long reeds, which they gathered near the creek. One day,
when they had used up all their reeds, Nancy, with little Bill and Mary,
set out to gather a fresh stock. When they got down to the edge of the
creek they saw some long reeds growing on the other side. "See, see,
how fine and tall they are, Nancy; we must go over and get them," cried
little Bill. "I know a place higher up where we can cross easily."
Nancy saw no harm in doing as Bill said, for they could get no reeds on
that side. They went on and on, and still they did not get to the place
he spoke of. "It can only be a little farther; come on, Nancy," he
cried out, running on with Mary. Nancy followed. "Here it is," he
said, at last, and they began to cross. The water deepened. "No fear;
do you, Nancy, lift up Mary, and I can get across easily enough," said
Bill. They all got safe over. The creek twisted a good deal, and Bill
thought, and Nancy thought also, that they would make a short cut across
the country from the place where they then were to that where the rushes
grew. A hill rose up close to the creek, and they were certain that if
they went round it they should find the water on the other side. The
sky was covered with clouds and the sun was not to be seen, so that
there were no shadows to guide them. They walked on and on, thinking
each moment that they should reach the river. Little Bill was sure that
they could not have made a mistake, and ran on before his sisters
shouting out, "Come on, Nancy; come on, Mary." The girls followed as
fast as they could, but there were no signs of the creek. They began to
be puzzled. Nancy fancied that Bill must have made a mistake. "No, no;
it's farther off than I thought, that's all," said Bill. "We shan't
find it by standing still."
Bill was a sturdy little chap, though so young. "Mary bery, bery
tired," cried the youngest girl. She couldn't speak plain, she was so
young.
"Well, sit down, little one, and rest, and we'll see what we've got for
you," said Bill, in an encouraging tone--he dearly loved little Mary.
He searched in his pockets and brought out some cold damper and cheese,
and some biscuit and raisins, and several other articles. The children
all sat down and feasted off the food. It revived them.
"We must get on now," said Nancy, rising. "O Bill, where can we have
got to?"
"All right," answered Bill, "we shall find the water in ten minutes;
only we must keep moving." They went on again for ten minutes, twenty,
thirty, an hour or more. Bill at last began to cry and wring his hands.
"Oh dear, oh dear, we have lost our way!"
"I was afraid so, long ago," said Nancy. "All we've to do is to try and
find it."
That was more easily said than done. Nancy felt very anxious, but she
kept her thoughts to herself, for fear of frightening Bill and Mary.
Bill had kept up bravely till now, but little Mary already looked very
tired. Nancy took her hand and led her on. Bill then took her up on
his back, but he had not gone far when he had to ask her if she was not
rested. His legs and back ached; he put her down. She could run on a
little way she thought. She soon, however, again said she was tired,
and Nancy took her up; but poor Nancy could not carry her far, for Mary
was a fat, heavy child. Where they had got to, Nancy could not tell.
Time went by, too, faster than they thought. It got dusk, and there
were no signs of the creek. Night was coming on.
"We cannot go farther in the dark," said Nancy.
"No; I must make a `gunyio' for you and Mary," said Bill, who had tried
hard to keep up his courage.
He cut down some boughs, and Nancy and Mary collected some long, dry
grass, and they built a rude hut, like those the natives use, and made a
bed. They then all crept in. They had no fear about being in the
forest by themselves at night, only they wished that they were at home,
as they knew their father and mother would be frightened. There were no
wild beasts to hurt them, and Joseph Rudge had taken care that his
children should have no foolish notions about ghosts and spirits.
"If such things come on earth it's only because God lets them, and He
would not let them come in shapes to frighten people, especially little
children and those He loves," he used to say to them.
The three children knelt down and said their prayers; then, without
fear, they crept into the hut, and were soon asleep.
When Joseph and Tom Wells came back from looking after the cattle, the
children had not returned. Still Sarah thought that they would come
every minute, and was looking out for them. Joseph was very tired.
"You stay quiet, mate," said Tom, "I will go and look out for the young
ones; I shall find them fast enough."
Tom rode off, and not long after Sam and Ben came in with old Mat from
herding the sheep. The lads were very eager to set off to look for
their little brother and sisters. Taking a sup of tea and a piece of
damper in their hands, away they went. Mat promised to herd the sheep
till they came back. Joseph and Sarah all this time were very anxious
for their little ones. Still she got the supper ready, hoping to have
them brought back safe to her. There were several good things--a
damper, a dish of stewed mutton, and a parrot pie, made with the birds
which Tom Wells had shot that morning and brought to her. Parrots in
that country are as common as pigeons in England, and are generally
cooked in pies.
It was quite dark when Sam and Ben came back. They had found no traces
of the children. Tom came in some time after. Not a sign of the
children.
"God's will be done!" said Joseph.
"Oh we shall find them to-morrow, mate, never fear," said Tom Wells.
The party eat their supper with sad hearts, but not in silence, for they
talked over and over what could have become of the children. They could
make no further search that night. Tom went to his hut, promising to be
ready to start again at break of day. Ben went out to look after his
sheep at night. That must not be neglected.
Sarah was up long before daybreak to get the breakfast ready. Often and
often she went to the door of the hut, hoping to hear her young ones
voices returning home. Joseph mounted his horse, and went off in one
direction, Tom in another, and Sam in another. They were to return at
noon. Old Mat and Ben had to look after the sheep. Poor Sarah and
Sally worked away in and about the hut as hard as possible, but they
could not help thinking and talking about the dear little ones, and what
had become of them. Some time had passed, when Sally cried out that she
heard voices, and, running out, she saw three people on horseback
cantering up to the hut. They were Mr Harlow and his two sisters.
They had come over about the school. They were very sorry to hear that
the children were missing. Mr Harlow said that he would go off at once
to look for them. He had given his horse a handful of grain, and was
just starting, when a black came running up at full speed towards the
hut. Sally, who first saw him, said she was quite sure it was Troloo;
so he was. He reached the door of the hut out of breath.
"Oh, Missie Rudge, black fellow come, kill you piccaninnies, sheep, old
Mat, all, all," he cried out as soon as he could speak. What he said
was enough to frighten Sarah.
"Then the blacks must have found our poor, dear children, and they have
killed them," she said, and burst into tears.
"No, black fellow find piccaninnies," said Troloo, looking up from the
ground on which he had thrown himself.
Mr Harlow, who had dismounted from his horse, cross-questioned the
black as to the report he had brought. As far as he could make out, a
large party of natives were on their way to the hut, with the purpose of
burning it, and killing all the family. Still he thought that they
would not dare to do what they threatened, and tried to persuade poor
Mrs Rudge not to be frightened.
"If it was not for the dear children I wouldn't be frightened; but what
I fear is that the cruel black fellows have got hold of them, and will
do them a harm."
Mr Harlow had now to consider what was best to be done. He wished
first to place his sisters in safety, and then to fortify the hut, so
that when the natives arrived they might find all things prepared for
them. He could do little, however, till Joseph, and Bob, and Tom Wells
returned, He learned from Sarah where Mat and Sam were to be found. He
begged his sisters who were well accustomed to find their way across the
country, to ride home and to send three of their men, well armed, to
help drive away the blacks, while he went to warn Mat and Sam, and to
get them to come home. Meantime Sarah got ready some food for poor
Troloo. Every now and then she went to the door, or sent Sally to see
if Joseph or Tom were coming with the children.
At last noon came, and soon after Tom appeared, but he had found no
traces of the lost ones. The poor mother's heart sank within her. Tom
rather laughed at the notion of the blacks daring to attack the station,
and said that they would get more than they expected if they came. Mr
Harlow and Mat and Bob now arrived, and Sam also returned. He was very
downcast at not having found his little brother and sisters.
"Now lads, the best thing you can do is to gallop off to Mr Ramsay, to
get his help," said Mr Harlow to Sam and Bob. "It is better to be too
strong than too weak; and I hope that the blacks, when they find that we
are ready for them, will take themselves off again."
The lads went off as hard as they could go, Sam catching a fresh horse
for the ride.
Mr Harlow, with Tom and Mat, helped by Sarah and Sally, set to work to
prepare for the attack of the natives. They fastened up the windows,
just leaving room for the barrels of their rifles to pass through; then
they got up a number of the stakes from the cattle pens and put up a
strong paling in front of each of the doors. This done, they put up a
strong paling, or palisade in front of the hut, and began to carry it
all round, so that none of the natives could get near enough to fire the
hut, without a good chance of being shot. This took some time, and the
day was drawing to a close before Joseph himself was seen riding
homewards. He brought none of his young ones with him. The meeting
between him and his wife was very sad. All he could say was, "God's
will be done! We will start away to-morrow again, and they cannot have
got far from home." He was much astonished at the preparations made for
the expected attack of the natives, and thanked Mr Harlow warmly for
what he had done.
"Why, Rudge, I could not leave your wife and daughters without you, but
now that you have returned I must set off to look after my sister-kind.
I did not half like letting them go alone," said Mr Harlow. "As the
blacks have not appeared as yet, as they never travel at nights, I do
not think that they will come till to-morrow, and before that you will
have plenty of assistance."
The evening came, and the night drew on, and still no natives appeared.
Troloo offered to go out and learn if they were near. He thought that
they might have encamped not far off, so as to attack the station at
break of day. Once he would have been afraid to move about himself in
the dark, but now he said that as he was going to help white man, white
man's God would take care of him. Mat had gone to look after the sheep,
for it was not safe to leave them alone at night, lest the dingoes (the
wild dogs of the country) should get among them. Thus only Joseph and
Tom Wells remained in the hut with Sarah and Sally. It was a sad time
for them, they thought more about the poor children than themselves.
Tom was a kind-hearted fellow, and did his best to keep up their
spirits.
"As you often say, Joseph, I say to you, trust in God, and all will come
right at last."
"Very hard, in a case like this, to follow out what one knows to be
true," answered Rudge.
"Yes, Joseph; but this is just a case where we have to show our faith.
I know that God loves us and that keeps me up," said Sarah, though her
voice trembled as she spoke.
All this time her dear little ones might be starving, or dying of
thirst, or have been carried off by the blacks, or have fallen into a
water-hole.
It was near ten at night when Troloo came back. It was some time before
he could make his friends understand that the black fellows, to the
number of fifty, or more, were camped at a spot, to reach which, from
the hut, would take about an hour. They had been having a war dance, he
said, and that showed that they were about to attack the place. They
were armed with spears and clubs and boomerangs. The last weapon is a
moon-shaped piece of hard-wood. The blacks throw it with great force,
and can make it whirl back into their own hands. They can also throw
their spears to a great distance with good aim. This news made Joseph
more than ever anxious for the arrival of Mr Ramsay and Sam and Bob.
No one was inclined to go to sleep. Sarah and Sally lay down, but were
up every ten minutes looking out of doors, and listening for sounds.
Before daybreak Troloo was on foot, and stole out. He was gone some
time; Tom thought that he had taken fright, and run away. Joseph said
that he was sure he was faithful; so it proved. He came back in half an
hour, saying that the blacks were coming on, and would soon be at the
station. Joseph and Tom looked out eagerly in all directions for their
friends. Even old Mat had not come in. Should they put Sarah and Sally
on horseback, and make their escape?
"The property here was put under my charge, and I cannot leave it," said
Rudge. "As long as I have life I must fight to defend it."
"But your wife and Sally," said Tom. "His wife will stay by her
husband, as I hope yours will, Tom Wells, when you get one," said Sarah.
"Then I will stop," said Tom, looking at Sally. "And I would stay with
father and mother, even if I had the chance of going," said Sally.
There were three rifles in the hut; Sarah knew how to load them. She
was to do so as fast as she could, and Troloo was to hand them to Joseph
and Tom. They were to fire as quick as possible, so that the blacks
might think that there were many more people in the hut than there were,
and so be frightened and go away. All was ready; still no friends had
come, but as they looked out, a number of black figures were seen
stealing out from among the trees. They collected in a large body, and
then came towards the hut flourishing their spears. They stopped when
they saw no one, and looked cautiously about. Joseph was very anxious
not to fire, or to hurt any one.
"To my mind its the white men has often set the bad example to the poor
black fellows, from what I have heard, and I don't want to do the same
sort of thing," he observed.
It was clear that the natives couldn't make out how things stood. They
stopped, and talked, and looked about. Then some drew near and ran off
again, just as boys run into the water on the sea shore, and out again,
fearing some danger.
"We will pray to be delivered from these poor black fellows," said
Joseph; "It's what God tells us to do when we are in danger."
He did as he proposed, and the rest joined him in the prayer.
Troloo could not make out exactly what his white friends were about. He
expected to see them begin to fire away and kill his black relations.
Still he seemed to think that they deserved to be punished. At last the
blacks, seeing no one, came on all together.
"Now let us shout at the top of our voices, and fire over their heads,"
whispered Joseph; "may be they'll take fright and run off."
The savages drew still nearer, and then Joseph, and Tom, and Sarah, and
her daughter, all shouted out, and shrieked at the top of their voices,
and the two men at the same moment fired their rifles. The savages,
hearing the whistling of the bullets just above their heads, looked
about astonished, and then ran off as fast as they could run. They did
not go far, however, but, stopping, began to talk to each other, and
seeing no one following, took courage.
"I am afraid that that trick won't answer again," observed Tom; "the
next time we must rush out upon them, and take one or two of them
prisoners."
"We might as well try to catch eels with our fingers," answered Joseph.
"If they come on again we must, I fear, fight it out. We ought not to
leave the shelter of our hut as long as it will hold us."
"Oh, no, no; let us stay where we are," said Sarah.
The blacks, however, did not seem inclined to let them do that. Once
more they plucked up courage and came on, whirling their spears.
The rifles were again loaded; still Joseph did not wish to fire at the
savages. The blacks got quite close, and then sent a shower of spears,
which came quivering against the posts which were round the hut, several
piercing its thin walls. Fortunately none came through the openings.
"We must give it them in earnest next time," said Tom.
"Wait a bit, mate; as long as they don't do more than that, they will do
us no harm."
As soon as the natives had thrown their darts, they ran off again,
expecting a volley from the rifles; then back they came and threw more
of their spears. As before, a few came partly through the wall, but did
no harm, as Sarah and Sally kept on the other side, and the men stood
behind the stout posts which supported the roof. The blacks came nearer
and nearer, sending their spears still farther through the walls.
"I would do anything rather than kill those poor savages," said Rudge.
"But if we don't, they'll kill us, mate, and it won't do to fire over
their heads again," observed Tom, raising his rifle, and covering one of
the black leaders. "I could pick that fellow off if I fired."
"Let's try what another shout will do, and if that does not put them to
flight, we must fire at last," said Rudge.
Again they all shouted together, Troloo joining in the cry. The blacks,
as before, looked about them, and some, who were about to throw their
spears, stopped with them poised in their hands. Others, however,
seemed to be telling them that they were cowards, and at last the whole
party whirling round their spears more fiercely than before, rushed
towards the hut. Rudge's finger was on the trigger, and so was Tom's,
when a faint shout was heard in the distance, like an echo of theirs.
It was repeated, and another was heard as if from a different direction.
"Don't fire, Mat," cried Rudge; "see, the black fellows are running.
Thank God that we have not had to shed man's blood."
"And let us thank Him that our lives have mercifully been saved," said
Sarah, as they opened the door of the hut, from which not a black was to
be seen.
In another minute Mr Ramsay and Sam and Bob rode up to the door, and
Mr Harlow and several men appeared at a little distance. Mr Ramsay
was inclined to follow the blacks, and to kill some of them, but Mr
Harlow begged that he would not hurt them, as he was sure that they were
set on by some one else, and that at all events they were ignorant
savages, and knew no better.