We were actually in our saddles and about to set off, when Hector
received a letter from his father directing him to return to town to
make some further purchases, and to transact other business.
The dominie, who had been expressing a wish to visit the city and buy
some books, begged permission to accompany him.
"You go on leisurely, we'll soon catch you up," said Hector. "It is a
pity that you should be delayed for us."
Bracewell agreed to this arrangement. As his strength was not
completely restored, it was considered advisable that he should make
short stages. While we therefore rode on as we intended to the
north-west, our friends, borrowing a couple of horses, that their own
might be fresh when they returned to the station, galloped off towards
the coast.
We were approaching a water-hole by the side of which we proposed
encamping the first evening, when we caught sight of a native walking
leisurely along with an axe in his hand. He came forward with a
confidence which showed that he was accustomed to meet white men, and we
recognised, as he approached, our former guide. He appeared to be
highly pleased at seeing us, and began jabbering away in a language
which neither Guy nor I could understand. Bracewell, who seemed to
comprehend him, replied in the same lingo; and then told us that the
black had informed him that his tribe was in the neighbourhood and would
be happy if we would pay them a visit, that they might show their
gratitude for the wealth we had showered upon them.
While he was speaking, another black popped his head out from behind the
bushes, when the other called to him, and he came forward. As he was
approaching he cast his eyes to the top of a tree, a little distance
off, when a few words were exchanged between the two.
They both ran to it and without more ado, began to ascend, cutting
slight notches with their axes, just of sufficient size to enable them
to put in their toes and fingers.
We watched their proceedings with wonder at the rapidity with which they
got up, almost indeed as fast as if they were mounting an ordinary
ladder. Round and round the tree they climbed, giving a couple of
strokes with their little axes sufficient to make a notch of the
required size. Until I saw the confidence with which they proceeded, I
expected every moment that they would drop down again to the ground.
Though the tree must have been sixty feet high without a branch, they
were at the top in less than a minute, when securing themselves they
plunged down their hands. While the one drew out an opossum, the other,
before the animal could bite him, knocked it on the head and threw it to
the ground.
They descended with even greater celerity than they had mounted, and
then to our surprise brought the animal to us, apparently as an
offering.
Bracewell thanking them, told them to keep it for themselves, which they
were evidently well content to do. They accompanied us to the
water-hole, where, without being told to do so, they assisted in
collecting sticks for a fire.
This being done, we having hobbled our horses, they squatted themselves
on the ground to skin their opossum which they then brought to be
roasted. The confidence they exhibited in us showed that we might trust
them, and we allowed them to go about the camp as they liked, though
Bracewell advised that we should keep an eye on our saddle-bags and
valises lest the temptation to appropriate their contents might be too
great to be resisted.
While we were discussing our supper, they managed to devour the whole of
the opossum between them; and then, having stuck some boughs in the
ground to form a hut, they lay down side by side beneath them, and were
quickly asleep, evidently feeling perfectly secure in our neighbourhood.
Both Guy and I wanted to see more of the natives, and Bracewell
consented, should our guests again offer to guide us to their camp, to
ride round to it, as it would not take us much out of our way. There
was, he said, a few miles off, a large shallow lagoon, near which they
were assembled for the purpose of fishing and catching the wild fowl
which frequented it; and that we should thus have an opportunity of
seeing the way in which they engaged in those pursuits. As he knew the
country well, he could easily make his way back to the direct route, so
that we could run no risk of missing Hector and the dominie. That
Bracewell might enjoy a full night's rest, Guy and I agreed to keep
watch and watch, but he laughed at our proposal, declaring that it was
useless.
"But should bushrangers stumble upon us, we might all three be stuck up,
and find ourselves minus our horses and rifles," said Guy.
"No chance of that," answered Bracewell, "the fellows were certain to
clear out of this part of the country, when they knew the police were on
their tracks. There is a greater risk from the blacks, though I feel
sure those two fellows there can be trusted."
In spite of Bracewell's remarks, Guy and I determined to keep to our
resolution, and as soon as he was asleep, I rose, and having made up the
fire, walked about, endeavouring to keep my eyes open. I tried this for
some time, when feeling tired, I sat down with my rifle by my side.
How it was I could not tell, but before long I found myself stretched on
the ground, and when I awoke the fire was almost out. Giving a kick to
the embers to obtain a flame, I looked at my watch. It was then almost
day-break and I thought it useless to rouse my brother.
Directly afterwards a chorus of cachinnations from a couple of
laughing-jackasses, gave me notice that the morning would soon commence.
I called Guy and Bracewell, who shrewdly suspected what had happened,
although as no harm had come of it, they spared me any severe remarks.
While we were breakfasting, the blacks, who had got on their legs,
sauntered up to the camp, and begged for some of the tea and damper on
which we were regaling ourselves.
To catch our horses, saddle up and mount, did not take us long, and as
our new friends repeated their offer, we set off, the blacks running
ahead. As they were making their way through scrub some distance ahead,
one of them stopped and called to the other, when they each cut a long
thin switch and ran towards an object which we just then saw moving in
the grass. Presently the wicked-looking head of a large snake rose in
the air. The blacks ran towards it, one on either side, and bestowing
some sharp blows with their wands, down it dropped. On getting up to
the spot, we found that it was a snake between nine and ten feet long.
The blacks seemed to consider it a great prize, for, chopping off the
head, one of them slung the body over his shoulder, and they then again
went on shouting with glee.
In a short time we arrived at the blacks' camp. It consisted of a
number of rude bowers, such as I have before described, tenanted by a
few women, children, and old men, all the active men being out hunting
in the lagoon which appeared just beyond.
Riding on we caught sight of a number of black figures, scattered in all
directions, engaged in knocking down with their boomerangs some large
birds perched on the withered branches of the trees overhanging the
water.
Our friends brought us one of the boomerangs to examine. It was a
curved piece of wood about two feet two inches from tip to tip, rather
more than two inches wide in the middle, and diminishing towards the
tips.
We saw bird after bird knocked off the trees with this remarkable
weapon. When it first left the hand of the thrower, we could not decide
in what direction it was going, but after making numberless circles in
the air, it never failed to hit the object intended.
Most of the birds we saw struck were cormorants, which, as they fell
into the water, the blacks seized and wrung their necks. Some, however,
not being killed outright or stunned, showed fight, and attacked the
naked bodies of their assailants with their sharp beaks. We witnessed
the sport for some time, till the birds nearest us becoming alarmed,
took to flight, but were followed by the persevering hunters, who marked
where they again alighted.
As we did not wish to delay, we thanked our friends, who with the
prospect of an ample feast before them, showed no inclination to
accompany us. One of them, however, had a talk with Bracewell just
before we started.
"What was the black fellow saying?" I asked as we rode along.
"He told me that a mob of bad black fellows, as he called them, are in
the neighbourhood, and that we must take care not to fall in with them,
as they will not scruple to spear our horses at night, or, should we be
off our guard, murder us."
"What had we better do then?" I enquired.
"Be on our guard and not let them surprise us," he answered, laughing.
"I have no fear of the blacks, provided they know that we are prepared
to give them a warm reception. We will, however, keep a look-out for
the fellows, and as soon as we get back to the regular track, I'll leave
a note fixed to a tree for Hector, telling him what we have heard, and
advising him and the dominie to keep a watch at night on their horses,
as I don't think it's worth while waiting for them.
"Still, notwithstanding what our black friend said, the chances are that
we shall not fall in with the mob of bad natives," he added; and as he
knew the country much better than Guy or I did, we were perfectly ready
to be guided by his opinion.
We soon again got into the main track.
On reaching it, Bracewell taking out his pocketbook, wrote a few lines,
warning Hector that a mob of blacks were said to be in the
neighbourhood, and telling him where we proposed camping.
Cutting some thorns, he pinned it to a tree in a conspicuous place.
"Hector will not fail to observe it," he said, as he did so.
"But if the blacks see it they'll tear it down surely," I remarked.
"They'll not do that," he answered, "they'll fancy it is some charm, and
will not venture to touch it."
This done, we pushed forward, rather faster than we had hitherto been
going, in order to arrive at a spot at which Bracewell advised that we
should camp early in the evening.
Although there were several stations scattered over the country in
various directions, the traffic between them was so limited, that no
inns or even liquor stores had been established; and travellers had
consequently to camp out in the bush night after night when proceeding
towards the interior.
We found doing this was no hardship, and infinitely preferred sleeping
by our camp-fire with the canopy of heaven above us, to taking up our
quarters in a shepherd's hut or grog shop.
We were approaching the end of our day's journey, when I caught sight of
a black figure flitting among the trees in the distance. Presently
another, and another appeared. They did not come near us, but were
apparently moving in the same direction that we were.