CATCHING A TARL AS WELL AS A CASSIOWARY.
We started up in such surprise and rapidity, that the inspector stumbled
and fell head foremost against Steel Spring, striking the latter full in
his stomach, and sending him, like a cannon ball, out of the back
entrance of the store amidst the horses, stabled there in company with
Rover, for security.
Before the scamp could gain his feet, the dog, still entertaining a
little animosity against his old enemy, flew at him, and with a vigorous
bite tore off a portion of his pants, where they were the fullest, and
then luckily desisted from further damage, probably not liking the
taste.
"Some one has been listening!" exclaimed the lieutenant, rushing towards
the front door, followed by the inspector and Fred, while I proceeded to
the relief of Steel Spring, who made more noise than all the rest of us.
"There he goes--follow him!" shouted Murden, as a form was seen to run
towards the river, although the night was too dark to distinguish who it
was; and after running a few yards, the pursuers returned completely
baffled, and bewildered at the turn affairs had taken.
"What is to be done now?" asked Mr. Brown, with a bewildered air.
"Vy, I shall have to get a new pair of pants, I s'pose," answered Steel
Spring, who imagined that the conversation was addressed to him.
"Silence, you fool; we are in no humor for jesting," returned Mr. Brown,
angrily.
"I don't think it any joke to have a big dog tear ye, and spile new
clothes," Steel Spring muttered, although not loud enough for Mr. Brown
to hear.
"Some person has overheard our plans, and the miners will be
forewarned," Murden said. "Who would have supposed that an eavesdropper
was concealed within hearing?"
"But what is to be done?" reiterated Mr. Brown.
"There is where I need advice myself," the lieutenant answered looking
first upon Fred and then upon myself, as though desirous of our
opinions.
There was an ominous pause, but at length Fred concluded to speak in
relation to the matter, and his remarks were received with attention.
"This mining tax," he said, "is one that will have to be abolished
before many months, because it is oppressive, and applies to all without
distinction. The miner who digs his fifty pounds of nuggets per week, or
the one who does not get gold enough to make a finger ring, are
compelled to conform to the law; and as there are more blanks than
prizes in this lottery--for gold digging is but a lottery--of course the
poorer class feel that they are aggrieved, and desire an equalization
law, so that a man can pay according to his earnings.
"As soon as a conflict does occur, the government will be defeated. It
may not be in fighting battles, but it will be in public resentment. Let
ten or a dozen miners be killed by the police or soldiers, and the
governor-general and his council will be driven from the country by
popular opinion.
"The mother country, as she valued her possession, would not dare to
retain him or friends in office, for if they did, a revolution would be
the consequence. With the retirement of the government, all those who
had aided it would be compelled to leave, or all those who had taken a
prominent part in the warfare against the miners. Therefore, if you
desire to make Australia a home, don't be mixed up in the present
struggle, if possible."
"I am half inclined to think that you are right," Murden said, at
length.
"I also begin to think so," the inspector remarked.
"I've hall 'long hentertained similar hideas," Steel Spring said, but he
was not attended to.
"But we are officers of the police force, and must respond when called
for duty," the lieutenant observed.
"Granted," replied Fred; "but it is very easy to get exchanged,
especially if the request is backed with a rare specimen nugget."
The two officers exchanged glances, and nodded acquiescence in the views
promulgated.
"I think," Murden said, "that my time will be so occupied with affairs
at Melbourne that I shall not be able to visit Ballarat again this
year."
"And I have an intense desire to be near an uncle of mine in Sydney.
Will you, Mr. Murden, forward my petition for an exchange?" asked the
inspector, with a smile of great meaning.
"It will give me great pleasure to undertake the commission. I have
heard of some very fine specimens of gold being taken from these mines,"
the lieutenant added.
"It will give me great satisfaction to forward two pieces that I owe to
our worthy chief, and will you tell him that I anticipate obtaining a
third piece after I am exchanged?"
"And what report had I better carry back to Melbourne?" the lieutenant
asked.
"You can say that you gave me the necessary instructions, but there is
no hope of coping with the miners unless five thousand troops, with
cannon, are on the ground. That will startle government, you may
depend," the inspector answered, earnestly.
"And let us keep our counsel. There is no need that we should inform our
superiors that through our stupidity their well-laid plans have been
destroyed, and the miners acquainted with what is in store for them. Eh,
Mr. Brown?"
"Certainly not, sir," promptly responded that individual.
"Ve should lose our reputation for shrewdness if ve did," muttered Steel
Spring, but his master overheard him, and gave him a kick as a reward.
And in this manner was it settled, that government should not be
enlightened in regard to the information which the miners had obtained,
and it was owing to the plot being overheard at our store that the
people of Ballarat were enabled to abolish the odious mining tax, and to
accomplish that, were prepared for the soldiers when they did arrive.
The inspector left us for his quarters, and the rest of us retired for
the night, with the intention of rising early and riding out to meet
Smith, who could not be more than ten miles distant, according to
Murden's report.
We were on horseback about sunrise, and rode slowly out of Ballarat,
leaving Steel Spring to look after the store and its effects. The miners
were cooking their breakfasts as we passed along, and the fumes of fried
pork and boiling coffee greeted our nostrils at every turn.
Stretched out as far as the eye could reach were tents of every color
and hue, from the new comer of yesterday to the old stager blackened by
the dust and rains of nearly twelve months. We met parties of Chinese,
who had been on a hunt for lizards and other insects, and to judge from
their jargon, they had been eminently successful.
Two of them were staggering under the weight of an enormous snake, that
they had found dead a short distance from the town, and they strung it
on a pole, and were congratulating themselves on the many stews that it
would make. They regarded it in the light of a present from their gods,
and danced with joy.
We left the main road, and followed an almost imperceptible trail that
led us in a parallel course, and within sight of the road that we
expected Smith would choose for reaching the town. By doing so we were
enabled to avoid the dust and confusion, and ride more at our leisure;
and before we were five miles from Ballarat we were repaid for our
precaution, for just as we were passing a small clump of half-stunted
vegetation we heard a fluttering of wings, and on looking up, we saw one
of the largest birds that Australia can boast. It was a full-grown
cassiowary, and stood nearly eight feet high, we judged, with long,
stout legs, black and muscular, and a foot that would cover a peck
measure.
The bird's beak was like an ostrich's, stout and sharp, and its head and
body greatly resembled one. The cassiowary's wings were also small, and
seemed as though intended to help its progress when running; for it was
impossible to lift its huge body into the air with such puny ones.
The bird did not seem much alarmed at our presence, and by keeping
Rover at our sides, we were enabled to examine it at leisure. After
first stretching out its long neck, and uttering a peculiar whistle, the
bird, after a second glance at us, continued to feed, and seemed
disposed to let us continue our journey without further attention.
"It's a cassiowary," Murden said, in a low tone, "and I'll give five
pounds for its skin. I never saw a live one before, although I have
frequently seen the stuffed one at the government house, which is valued
so highly by Sir Charles Latrobe. What a prize it would be, if we only
had our rifles?"
The lieutenant was right; if we had only have taken our rifles with us,
we could have killed the bird from where we stood; but the distance was
too great to expect a fatal result with a revolver, and we knew that if
we advanced nearer it would take to flight. If we went back to Ballarat
after a rifle, it was not likely that the bird would stay there until we
returned, and under these circumstances we looked towards Fred for his
advice.
"Let us capture the bird alive," he said, and we laughed at his words,
thinking that he meant to ridicule us.
"I am serious," he said, "for I believe that it is possible."
"Let us know how," cried Murden; "and if your plan succeeds, the best
supper that can be obtained in Ballarat shall reward your ingenuity!"
"For how many?" inquired Fred.
"For the party, and Mr. Brown."
"That will cost you more than five pounds; but as you are anxious for
the bird, I will try and devise a way of relieving your purse."
Fred, as he spoke, uncoiled his long halter,--a rope that we used to
hitch the horses to during the daytime, so that they could wander over
considerable ground, and feed upon the dried grass,--and made a running
knot in one end, and thus formed a slip-noose, like the Mexican's
_reatta_.
"What next?" we asked.
"Why, I want both of you to follow my example, and if you get near
enough to the bird, to throw the rope over its neck, and see that one
end of it is made fast to the pommel of the saddle."
"Why, that is the way that the Spaniards capture ostriches," Murden
said.
"Precisely," returned Fred, "only they have to ride many miles over a
sandy soil before the ostrich will consent to be taken; and it strikes
me that we can imitate those same Spaniards, and even if we can't get
near enough to cast our reattas we can try the effects of a shot."
"By George, I'm in for the sport!" cried Murden, and he commenced
preparing his rope in a manner similar to Fred's.
In a few minutes we were ready, and rode off a short distance, and then
gradually closed in until the unconscious bird was surrounded. I then
allowed Rover to start, and with a low bay he dashed towards the
cassiowary.
The latter, when the dog was within a few feet, stopped feeding, and
seemed to be somewhat astonished; and just us the hound sprang upon his
intended victim, the bird turned tail to, and started on a run, in the
direction of Fred.
The animal made awful clumsy work of running, and yet it got over the
ground in a surprisingly rapid manner; and although Rover exerted
himself to the utmost, he had some difficulty in gaining on the chase.
We hallooed the hound on, in hopes that he would seize the bird by one
of its legs; and in fact, just as he was about to, the cassiowary
suddenly stopped, raised one of its huge feet, and with a vigorous kick
sent Rover rolling head over heels.
The dog got up and looked somewhat astonished, and then recommenced the
chase with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.
The bird continued its irregular course, lifting its huge legs in a slow
and mathematical manner, yet running with great speed, and seeming to
care no more for bushes, and such like obstructions, than an elephant.
As I said before, the bird's course led directly towards Fred; but upon
getting sight of him as he sat on his horse with rope in hand, it
changed, and fled towards me, plunging its long neck, and uttering a
short whistle, as though blowing off steam. Even while running, the
short, stumpy wings were used to aid its flight and steady its body,
which rocked, and rolled, and swayed to and fro like a ship in a head
sea.
"On, Rover, on!" we shouted, and the faithful dog strained all of his
energies to overtake the chase, and when he again got within a few yards
of it, up went a claw, and we could hear the powerful blow that
descended upon the dog's head, and sent him rolling over and over again,
and this time a slight yelp told that he was somewhat hurt.
"Look out for him!" shouted Fred and Murden, spurring towards me, but
there was no necessity to caution me. I had my rope all ready, and when
the bird was near enough, I whirled it over my head _a la Mexicano_, and
let it fly at the long neck that was stretched out to its fullest
extent.
The cord fell directly upon the bird's body, but was shook clear in an
instant, and its course was changed; and instead of seeking to pass me,
it turned and ran towards the lieutenant, who was laughing most heartily
at our attempts to imitate the cattle drivers of Spanish climes.
"Look out!" shouted Fred, but the warning was unheeded, and before the
lieutenant could command his presence of mind the bird charged upon him,
startled his horse, and the next moment the officer was thrown to the
ground directly in the path of the cassiowary.
Luckily Murden struck the ground face downwards, and before he could
turn over the bird was upon him. With one vigorous jerk of its beak on
that portion of his anatomy where the flesh is supposed to be firmest,
he tore away cloth, and perhaps an inch or two of skin; for at any rate
we saw the lieutenant clap his hand upon his wound, and when he withdrew
it, blood dripped from his fingers.
"D----n the cassiowary!" Murden roared, struggling to his feet, and
rubbing his bruised limbs; but we did not stop to hear his complaints,
for the bird was going off like a frightened deer, and if we expected to
make a prize, there was no time to lose.
We struck our animals, and they followed the object of pursuit at the
top of their speed, yet for the first five minutes we did not gain an
inch; and even Rover, who had joined in the chase with renewed vigor
found that he had got his match for once.
At length we got clear of the dried grass and bushes, and entered upon
the prairie, that was as smooth and level as a house floor, and then we
began to gradually gain upon the huge bird in spite of its immense
strides.
Our course led directly towards the main road, and we could see a dozen
teams leisurely pursuing their journey, and we hoped that the drivers
would head the bird and cause it to turn towards us, when an opportunity
would offer for a shot, for we began to give up all hope of making the
capture alive.
We flew over the ground as fast as the horses could stretch, and the
animals seemed to enjoy the sport equally as well as ourselves; in a few
minutes we saw that the teamsters were watching the chase, and that a
number of them had got their guns in readiness to give the bird a shot
in case it went near enough to their carts. That was something that we
did not desire, as we wished the honor of making the capture; and had we
been disposed to trust to our revolvers, we could have wounded the bird
when it unhorsed the lieutenant and left him sprawling in the dirt.
The eyes of the cassiowary were as sharp, however, as our own, and
seeing the danger in front, slackened its speed as though uncertain what
to do, and we took advantage of the hesitancy to urge the pace of our
horses to the utmost, and gained so rapidly that Fred determined to try
his reatta. He whirled it over his head in true Mexican style, and threw
it, but the Mexican science was not in the act; it struck upon the
bird's back, and then slipped to the ground.
Nothing daunted, Fred gathered up his rope again, and by the time that
it was in his hand the chase suddenly stopped, raised its long neck, and
attempted to pass between us, and again seek refuge amidst the grass
that was growing in profusion on our right.
That act was fatal to the poor bird, for before it could gain headway
Rover had caught one of its long legs in his mouth and bit so hard that
a shrill shriek was elicited--something like the cry of an enraged ape.
Again did the bird strike him with beak and claw, but the dog held on
with the tenacity of a death-grip; and during the struggle we rode
quickly up and threw our slip-nooses over that long neck, which had cut
through the air with more than railroad speed. Even then, the cassiowary
seemed to be more concerned about Rover than ourselves, and fought him
fiercely.
"Call off the dog," shouted Fred; "we have him sure, now."
That was a task of some difficulty, for Rover had got his blood up and
was fighting desperately, making the feathers fly in all directions; and
even his antagonist was using all the weapons that nature had given him,
and was striking out like a prize-fighter, fighting with wings and beak,
and sometimes with feet, in a manner that would have excited the
admiration of a cock-fighting padre.
By the time that I got Rover to relinquish the combat,--and during its
continuance I did not escape harmless,--the teamsters had stopped their
oxen and were rushing towards us, anxious to see what kind of an animal
we were struggling with. The bird made frantic efforts to escape, but by
means of the rope we were enabled to frustrate them, and were getting
him quite subdued when the crowd reached us.
"What on airth is that?" inquired a man, whose voice readily proclaimed
his nation.
"Why, that is an Australian turkey," replied Murden, who joined us at
that instant, looking somewhat the worse for his trip, and we noticed
that his seat in the saddle was not very firm.
"Why, you don't say that, 'squire?" asked our new acquaintance,
approaching the captive to get a nearer view.
"Yes, it is. We pasture them out a little ways, and when the people at
Ballarat feel like having a feast we catch one, but sometimes they get a
little wild."
"Wall, I swow to man, if that don't beat all that I ever heard of, and
no mistake. I've seen big cock-turkeys, and uncle Josiah raised one for
last Thanksgiving that was a whopper, but this knocks him. I say, what
could I get a pair of these 'ere for?"
The stranger very imprudently laid his hand upon the bird for the
purpose of feeling his condition, and what proportion of flesh there was
to feathers. Hardly had the captive felt his touch when all of his
native fierceness returned, and while our countryman, with a grave face,
was still expressing his wonder, the cassiowary raised one of his
muscular legs and kicked him full on his breast. In another instant the
American was going backward at a rapid rate, and finally brought up full
length upon the earth. For a second he didn't move, then slowly
gathering up his lank form, he looked first at the cassiowary, and then
at Murden, and muttered,--
"Dod rot yer Australia turkeys,--they don't know manners."
The crowd roared with laughter, and for a long time our American friend
was known by the nickname of "Turkey Johnson."