"We are Mr Strong's sons," he replied. "We came here to look for some
stray cattle which are hid in this scrub, so we shall first have to
drive them out, but that won't take us long. We left our horses hobbled
close at hand while we stopped, intending to take our dinner, as we have
been out since the morning."
"We were going to do the same," I observed. "Here comes my brother Guy;
if you haven't eaten your dinner you'll join us, won't you?"
"Of course!" he said laughing. "And I conclude that you are Guy and
Maurice Thurston, our cousins we have been expecting out from the old
country for some months past. My name is Hector. That is my brother
Oliver. I suppose you have heard of us?"
I had to confess that I had not before heard their names, though I did
not like to say how little I knew about them.
Guy, Toby, and I, having dismounted and allowed our horses to drink at
the pool, hobbled them and let them go away to feed, while we sat down
in a shady spot to discuss our provisions. Our cousins produced damper,
cold beef and cheese from their pockets; while Toby placed before us a
piece of a kangaroo which we had shot the previous day and some
biscuits, while we all contented ourselves with a draught of water from
the pool.
The meal was quickly despatched, when our cousins jumped up saying that
they must look out for the cattle, and that as soon as we saw the herd
rounded up and clear of the scrub, we might follow in the rear. They
advised us to take care should any of them charge us, as they were apt
to be vicious, and Toby might have a difficulty in escaping. "You need
not hurry yourselves," they added, "but when you hear the sound of our
stock whips, you had better mount and be ready to start."
Guy and I agreed that it was very fortunate we had fallen in with our
cousins, who seemed to be wonderfully hardy fellows, and we hoped might
prove good companions.
We waited a short time, when we heard, coming from some distance,
apparently, the sharp report of the whips, like the sound of crackers.
Now the sounds, mingled with a chorus of lowing and bellowing, reached
us from one side, now from the other, every moment approaching nearer,
so that we agreed that it would be wise to catch our horses and mount.
We were quickly in our saddles, when several bulls burst out of the
scrub a short distance from us. We rode forward to get out of their way
as they looked very much inclined to charge us. Presently others
appeared in different directions, and then our two young cousins,
cracking their long whips, followed, rounding up the cattle in the most
scientific manner, and turning several cows which with their calves were
evidently intent on bolting back into the scrub.
We soon got excited with the scene, and although our horses were
somewhat tired and we had no stock whips, we managed so effectually to
turn the cattle with our ordinary riding-whips, that our cousins
declared we assisted them very much. The mob once collected went on
steadily until we got them into the paddock, an enclosure half a mile in
extent, into which, some bars being removed, most of them eagerly
rushed. A few however tried to bolt, but were sent back by the stock
whips, and all were fortunately turned in; some to be used for beef,
others for branding, while the cows were wanted for milking.
"Where is the station?" I asked. "I can see only this immense
paddock."
"There!" answered Hector, pointing to where I caught sight of the roofs
of several low buildings. "We shall soon be there."
We put our horses into a canter, and in a short time arrived before a
collection of buildings like Indian bungalows, the centre of which was
the dwelling house, which had slab walls and shingled roof, with a
pretty verandah in front.
A stout gentleman, a few grey hairs sprinkling his head and large bushy
beard, came out to meet us, and on hearing from Hector who we were,
welcomed us cordially.
Our cousins took our horses, which they turned into a small paddock
containing a shed at one end to afford shelter to the animals.
We then entered the house, where we were introduced to the hostess, a
tall lady, somewhat sallow and careworn, but with considerable animation
in her manner. We were next made known to three young ladies, two of
whom we understood were Misses Strong and a third Clara Mayne, a friend;
besides these there were three young children. In a short time, two
tall lads, sunburnt, and sinewy, made their appearance with stock whips
in their hands and broad-brimmed hats on their heads.
"You have not seen them all yet," observed our hostess.
Two more young men came in, one somewhat older than Guy, the other about
my own age, and I found that they also were cousins. Altogether a
goodly company sat down to the evening meal. We all waited on
ourselves, there being no female helps in the household.
A rattling conversation was kept up, the young men describing to their
father the events of the day, while we had to give an account of our
adventures from the time of our landing. They were all highly
interested in hearing of Bracewell being stuck up by bushrangers and how
we had rescued him.
"We must put a stop to the career of those gentlemen," observed Mr
Strong. "We have heard before this of their doings, and I have even
considered it prudent not to leave the ladies alone in the house without
two or three men as guards; a most abominable inconvenience, and yet,
from knowing the atrocities of which they are capable, I consider it
absolutely necessary."
The blacks, he said, had also been troublesome. A large mob who had
been wandering about in that part of the country, might, he thought it
possible, take it into their heads, to pay the station a visit; though
it was not likely that they would do harm should they find his people
prepared for them.
After a pleasant evening, we were shown to the room we were to occupy in
one of the other sheds where three of our cousins also slept. One of
the elder ones was called in the night to mount guard, and we found that
a watch was regularly kept in case either bushrangers or blacks should
make their appearance.
Next morning our cousins invited us to accompany them to drive in
another mob of cattle for the purpose of mustering and branding the
calves. We proposed riding our own horses, but they laughed at the
notion.
"You'd get run down to a certainty," said Hector. "As we go along I'll
tell you what you'll have to do, for there's nothing like beginning at
once."
We were in the saddle before daylight, having first breakfasted, when we
found a mob of sixty or eighty tame cattle, a short distance from the
station.
"What are they for?" I asked.
"They are coaches!" answered Hector. "We use them to entice the wild
ones, who take shelter among them, and then the whole are more easily
driven into the stock yards."
The animals quietly pursued their way, going wherever their drivers
chose to direct them. We mustered a dozen horsemen. On arriving close
to the run where the wild cattle were known to be, three of the men
remained with the coaches, and the rest of us rode forward, dividing
into two parties, the one going to the right, the other to the left, so
as to encircle the whole camp,--the name given to the spot where the
wild cattle congregate. The country had a very wild appearance, there
were rocks and hills and fallen trees in all directions, and I guessed
that we should have a pretty rough ride. Our object was to drive the
cattle towards the coaches and to prevent any of them turning back and
breaking through the line we formed in their rear. We were accompanied,
I should have said, by a pack of dogs, of a somewhat mongrel appearance,
of all sizes and shapes. On arriving at the camp one of the best
mounted stockmen went ahead to lead the cattle, which curiously enough
always follow where they see another animal going, and now the work
began.
Cracking our whips and shouting at the top of our voices, off we started
over the rough ground, now dashing up a hill, now descending the steep
side of another, our animals springing and dodging about to avoid rocks
and other obstructions. Now we leaped over trees, twisting and turning
in every direction to avoid the standing stumps and jumping over
scattered logs; now we had to force our way through a thick patch of
saplings which caught us as in a net. Not occasionally but _every_
moment some of the cattle would turn and attempt to break through, some
of our party having immediately to wheel round, with loud cracks of
their whips, and make the beasts head the other way. None of us seemed
to think of the danger we were running. Though Guy and I were good
horsemen it was pretty hard work for us, and our whips were but of
little use as we could not make them crack like the rest of the party.
The cows gave us most trouble, but the dogs hung on to the animals, some
catching them by the nose, others by the heels or tails, not ceasing to
worry them until they took the required direction.
As we were riding along, after we had got free of the bush, a huge bull
made a dash out, attempting to escape. I galloped after him,
belabouring him with my whip, and in spite of his continuing to try and
toss me, turned him back into the herd.
"Well done, Maurice," exclaimed Hector, "you'll make a first-rate
stockman, but you must practise with your whip before you can become as
expert as is necessary."
We visited, in the course of a day or two, other camps in which the wild
cattle were collected in the same fashion; when, led by the coaches, the
whole were driven into the yards, as they are called, situated at the
head station. Here they were allowed to remain until next morning when
the operation of mustering and branding commenced. The yard was so
divided that the cattle required for the various purposes were driven
into different compartments; the calves into one, the cattle to be
slaughtered into another, and those to be turned loose again, into a
third, while the stockmen from two or three neighbouring stations
attended to claim any of their masters' cattle which had got in among
Mr Strong's.
A calf having been lassoed, it was hauled up and its head held down by a
plank, when a hot brand was handed to a man standing ready to press it
against the creature's skin, where an indelible mark was left, when the
little bellower was allowed to rise and make its escape into another
pen.
Guy and I were not of much use, but we saw everything going forward, and
lent a hand whenever we could.
"Now, my lads," said Mr Strong to us the next day; "I see the stuff you
are made of. You'll do, and if you like to remain with me to learn all
you ought to know, you are welcome; after that you can decide what
course you will follow."
We had been some days at the station when a person arrived who had
occasionally been spoken of as Mr Kimber. He acted as tutor to our
host's younger sons as he did also to another family in the
neighbourhood. He was a graduate of one of our leading universities,
and had been found by Mr Strong in the humble capacity of hut-keeper on
a neighbouring station, a situation he was compelled to take in
consequence of having expended the whole of his means. His present
occupation was more in accordance with his tastes, although his salary
was, I suspect, not very considerable. He was evidently not cut out for
an Australian settler, for though he could manage to stick on horseback,
as Hector observed, "he preferred a walk to a gallop;" while he
persisted in wearing a stove-pipe hat and a swallow-tail coat, which he
evidently considered a more dignified costume than the straw hat and red
shirt generally worn by all ranks in the bush. He was amusing from the
simplicity of his remarks, and as he was honest and well-informed, Mr
Strong was really glad to retain him.
We had been expecting a visit from Bracewell, as Guy had written to him
to tell him that we were still remaining with our relative, who did not
appear to have any idea of leaving his station, but he had received no
answer.
Mr Kimber gave two days of the week to the family of a Captain Mason,
who owned the station next to Mr Strong's. His plan was to ride over
early in the morning of one day and to return late in the evening of the
next.
After we had become tolerably intimate he invited me to accompany him,
and to assist in teaching two of the younger boys. As I wished to
become acquainted with Captain Mason, and to see his station, I readily
accepted his invitation. I found a family very similar to that of Mr
Strong, and quite as numerous; the girls and boys tall and lithe, but as
active as crickets. The girls told me to tell my cousins that they
would ride over some day to see them, as soon as those abominable
bushrangers had been captured.
We started somewhat later than usual from Captain Mason's, but the
"Dominie," as the boys called him, had frequently traversed the road,
and assured me that he knew it perfectly. We pushed on, however, as
fast as we could go, wishing to get in before dark, as my companion
confided to me the fact that he felt not a little nervous about the
bushrangers, of whose atrocious deeds the young Masons had been telling
him--the murders they had committed, the huts they had attacked, and the
number of people they had stuck up. I could not disprove the
statements, though I believe the accounts greatly exaggerated, and I
described to him the way we had driven the fellows off by the exhibition
of firmness and courage.
"All very well in daylight," he observed; "but suppose the villains were
to pop up from behind the bushes on the other side of the road, and
order us to stand and deliver, and to threaten to shoot us if we
attempted to draw our pistols,--and by the bye I haven't any to draw,--
what should we do?"
"Put spurs to our horses and gallop out of their way," I answered.
"They wouldn't dare to fire, and if they did, the chances are they would
miss us. We must run some danger in this country, and the risk is not
nearly so great as riding after wild cattle as we have still to do, so
pray do not make yourself unhappy on the subject."
Still, I saw that my companion looked anxiously about him, especially as
it began to grow dusk, immediately after which darkness came on, and we
were compelled to moderate our speed for fear of getting a knock on our
heads from overhanging branches, or riding against fallen logs.
Eager as the dominie was to get on, not being a first-rate horseman he
went even slower than was necessary. We were passing through a thickish
part of the forest, when, reining in his steed, he whispered to me in a
tremulous voice--"Pull up, pray do, I hear the tramp of horses' feet.
Suppose they should be bushrangers, they might shoot us down before we
had time to escape."
I reined in my steed to listen for the sounds which his sensitive ear
had detected. "They may be simply wild cattle, or riderless horses,
taking a scamper," I observed, laughing.
"Oh, no; they don't move about after dark," he said; "they must be
mounted horses, do let us remain quiet until we ascertain who the people
are."
"They are very likely some of the young Strongs coming out to meet us,"
I remarked.
Scarcely had I said this, however, than I caught sight of two horsemen
riding across an open glade some distance off. There was sufficient
light for me to make out the figures distinctly. One was a big fellow
in a rough garb, the other was slighter, and both were armed. Presently
afterwards two others came into view, the moonbeams glancing on the
barrels of their rifles, showing that they also were armed. I fully
expected that they would discover us, and I intended if they did so
boldly to ride up and enquire where they were going. They galloped on,
however, without perceiving us. As I alone had arms I felt that it
would be folly to interfere with them, as we might run the risk of being
shot, while we could gain no possible advantage. I therefore remained
perfectly quiet, and in another minute they were out of sight. They
were going in the direction of Captain Mason's station. They would be,
however, mistaken, I hoped, if they expected to surprise our friends;
who had assured me that they kept a watch by night and day, and were
well prepared for such gentry.
As soon as they were out of hearing, we rode on; the dominie I saw
feeling far from happy, as every now and then he turned his head over
his shoulder to assure himself that we were not followed.
The moon, which had now risen high in the sky, afforded us ample light
to see our way. As the country became more open, we were able to push
on as fast as we could go.
We were to have another adventure. While still some distance from home,
the loud lowing of a cow reached our ears. The animal was evidently
alarmed at something. Galloping towards it, we found on getting up that
she was endeavouring to protect her calf from the attack of a dozen
dingoes. Now she would run at one with her sharp horns, now at another,
but the moment she had gone in one direction the brutes would assail her
helpless young one. They were not even deterred by our approach.
"We must put an end to these dingoes!" I exclaimed. Unstrapping one of
my stirrup irons and using it as a weapon, I singled out one of the wild
dogs, and succeeded, after several attempts, in giving it a blow on the
head which brought it to the ground. I then attacked another, which I
treated in the same fashion. The dominie tried to imitate me but very
nearly tumbled over on his nose, though he assisted in protecting the
calf by driving off the cowardly brutes. The cow at last pinned one to
the ground with her horns, and then turning round attacked it with her
heels until she well-nigh pounded it into a jelly. At length the
survivors took to flight.
"We have killed three at at all events," remarked the dominie.
"Not so sure of that," I answered as we rode away, and turning my head,
I observed that one of the dingoes was beginning to move. I turned
round, when it lay perfectly still, but it had crept on half a dozen
yards at least.
I gave it a few more blows with my stirrup iron, and then getting out my
knife cut its throat. I treated its companions in the same manner, as I
did not feel sure that the one the cow had tossed was really dead, so
tenacious of life are the brutes.
I do not know whether the cow was grateful, but we left her licking her
calf where the dingoes had bitten it. When we drew in sight of the
station we saw Hector and his elder brother Ralph coming to meet us.
"We got somewhat anxious about your being so much later than usual,"
said the latter. "We have had a visit from some suspicious characters
who said that they were in search of work and had lost their way, and
begged that they might have a night's lodging in one of the out-houses,
and some supper and breakfast, and that one or two of us would ride
along with them in the morning to show them the road to the next
station. As, however, Hector had detected a brace of pistols under the
shirt of the man who spoke, and saw that the others had long knives in
their belts, while their countenances were of the most villainous cast,
we refused to comply with their wishes, and told them that they must
ride on and camp out as they had evidently previously been doing."
"I did not think all had villainous countenances," said Hector; "there
was one good-looking young fellow among them. He kept in the background
and said nothing. However, I had no doubt of what they were, and they
showed it by riding away when they found that we were not to be taken
in. Oliver followed them, when they stopped at a piece of scrub, from
which they each drew forth a rifle and several other articles, still
further proving that they had some treacherous design in coming to the
station."