PADDY SUGGESTS OBTAINING PULLINGO'S ASSISTANCE--WE SET OUT--DESCEND THE
CLIFF BY A ROPE--FIND EDITH AND PIERCE IN A CAVE--THE BOAT ARRIVES--A
TREMENDOUS STORM--THE WATER FLOWS OVER OUR SETTLEMENT--ESCAPE TO THE
CLIFFS--TAKE REFUGE UNDER A ROCK--RETURN TO THE VILLAGE--IT HAS ESCAPED
DAMAGE--A WHALE THROWN ON SHORE--IT ATTRACTS THE NATIVES--THEIR SAVAGE
DANCE--THEY ENCAMP--UNPLEASANT ODOUR FROM THE WHALE--EXPLORE THE RIVER--
RETURN FOR OUR FRIENDS--QUIT OUR VILLAGE--OUR FIRST ENCAMPMENT.
My dreams were as miserable as my waking thoughts. I fancied that I saw
the bush rangers carrying off Edith and Pierce, who in vain struggled to
release themselves; then the wretches hurled the children over the
cliff, and shouted as they saw them falling; then the sea rolled up and
swept them away, as they held out their hands in vain for assistance.
I awoke before daylight, and as I had no wish to go to sleep again I
dressed and went out. The first person I met was Paddy Doyle.
"I'm after thinking, Master Godfrey, that friend Pullingo will be able
to help us in finding the dear young childher," he said. "I can soon
make him understand that they are lost; and though he hasn't
book-learning, he's got notions in his head which would puzzle some of
us. The thought came across me in the night, when not a rap more sleep
could I get; and I've been waiting till daylight to visit the blacks'
camp."
"By all means," I said. "I'll go with you, for I am sure my father will
approve of your idea."
As a ruddy glow was already appearing in the eastern sky, precursor of
the sun, Paddy and I at once set off. As we drew near he shouted,
"Pullingo, Pullingo." Directly afterwards we saw the black crawl out of
his hut. "Our friend doesn't take much time to dress in the morning,"
observed Paddy, "seeing he hasn't a large amount of clothing to put on,
and isn't over particular about the use of soap and water."
The black quickly understood that we had some matter of importance to
communicate, but it took much longer to make him comprehend what we
wanted him for. Paddy, however, succeeded at length; and he set off
with us for the village.
On arriving, that there might be no mistake, I took Pullingo into the
house and showed him the children's empty beds, and then pointed along
the shore in the direction they were supposed to have taken. He thought
for some minutes, and then looking about, found a piece of rope: he soon
made us understand that it was much too short for what he wanted, and
seemed highly pleased when we took him into the store-house, where he at
once selected a long coil. He then touched Mudge, Burton, Doyle, and me
on the shoulder, and signified that he wished us to accompany him.
Before setting out, however, he made signs that he should like something
to eat, and seemed highly pleased when we gave him some broiled fish,--
which he quickly swallowed, though he had had a quantity of kangaroo
flesh on the previous evening.
My father would have accompanied us, but was unwilling to leave my
mother. "I entrust the search to you, Mudge," he said; "and I am sure
that you will spare no effort to recover the children, should their
lives have been mercifully preserved."
Pullingo having inquired by signs whether we were ready, we set out.
Instead, however, of taking the way along the shore, he turned up the
river towards his own camp, and then ascended the cliff.
"I wonder, after all, whether he really understands that we are in
search of Edith and Pierce," I observed to Paddy Doyle.
"No doubt about it, sir," was the answer; "you'll see when we get to the
top that he'll go along the cliff. Maybe he knows some way down that we
haven't discovered; or there is some place or other into which he thinks
the children have tumbled and can't get out again."
On reaching the top of the cliff, however, Pullingo, instead of keeping
close to the edge, started off in a direction which would lead us, I
saw, to a spot some way along the coast, beyond the point, I calculated,
where the bushranger had fallen over. Had I not been so anxious about
the fate of my brother and sister, I should have been amused at the air
of importance with which the savage strutted on at the head of the
party, evidently feeling himself infinitely superior to us. He held a
lance in his left hand; a tall feather was stuck in his bushy hair; not
an article of clothing had he on, with the exception of the very small
kilt which he wore round his waist.
I joined Mudge, and went on ahead with him, close behind our guide, the
other men following, and carrying the coil of rope between them.
"I can't fancy that the children could have got so far round the coast
as the point we shall reach if we continue on as we are going," I
observed to him.
"As the tide was low and the sand smooth, they were probably tempted to
go on without considering how far they had got," said Mudge. "I am
surprised, however, that your sister Edith should have ventured, and not
recollected that the tide would again rise, and that they would not be
able to repass many of the places they had previously got over without
difficulty. Still, I feel sure that they did go forward, and that the
black knows where they are."
His remarks somewhat cheered me. We went on and on; and it seemed to me
that we must be near the part of the cliff over which the bushranger had
fallen. We discussed the probable cause of his death.
"At all events, horrible as was his death, it was better than dying of
starvation, as is the fate, I fancy, of a large proportion of the
convicts who take to the bush," observed Mudge; "though dreadful must be
the fate of his companion, who is now doomed to wander alone through
these wilds, without daring to hold any intercourse with white men for
fear of being betrayed; and, probably, equally dreading the blacks, who,
if he were to be found unprepared, would speedily put him to death."
We went on for nearly two miles, when we reached a fissure in the
cliffs, the ground sloping on either side towards it. The black
advanced cautiously; and following him, we found ourselves on the edge
of the cliff, which appeared to hang over the water. We descended the
slope I have mentioned, till we reached a broad ledge, about a quarter
of the way down. Signing to the men to uncoil the rope, the end of
which he allowed to fall over till it apparently reached the bottom, he
now by gestures inquired which of us was ready to descend.
"We must first secure the upper end, my friend," observed Mudge; a
matter the black did not appear to have considered.
Each of us had fortunately brought a stout staff to serve us as a
walking-stick; by forcing these together into the ground, we formed a
post of sufficient strength round which to secure the rope, one man in
addition holding on to it.
"I wish to be the first to descend," said I.
"No, no, Mr Godfrey; if there is danger, it is not you should run it,
as it would be a sad thing if you were to be lost as well as your
brother and sister," exclaimed Paddy Doyle. "If Mr Mudge will give me
leave, I'll be the first to go; and if I get safe down I'll shout out,
and you can follow."
"Doyle is right," said Mudge; "let him go first."
Without waiting a moment, Paddy threw himself over the cliff, holding on
by the rope, and began to descend. It must have been somewhat trying
even to his nerves, for the rope swung backwards and forwards, being at
a considerable distance from the cliff. How the black came to conceive
that we should venture down, it was difficult to say; as he himself
certainly could never have climbed up or down such a rope, it must have
been a perfectly original idea with him. He had seen the rope in our
camp, and formed a just opinion of its strength; and he must have argued
that as he could climb a thin and lofty tree without branches, so could
we get up and down a stout rope.
On hearing Doyle's voice I was going to follow, when, to my surprise,
Pullingo approached the cliff, and seizing the rope, began to descend as
fearlessly as Doyle had done. I waited till he had reached the bottom,
and then, not without some feeling of anxiety, followed their example.
I found that we had reached a narrow beach, which extended some way up
in the hollow formed between the two sides of the cliff. I looked
about, half expecting to see Edith and Pierce.
Pullingo observed my disappointment, and beckoned Doyle and me to follow
him. He turned back--that is to say, to the northward of the spot where
we stood--and made his way along an exceedingly narrow ledge, a few feet
only above the water, which beat with a hollow sound beneath our feet.
Sometimes I had the greatest difficulty in making my way; and when at
length we came to a broader place, Doyle stopped and pulled off his
shoes, which he put into his pocket. I followed his example, and was
then able to get on somewhat better. The cliff was too smooth to afford
any hold to our hands; and a slip would have plunged us headlong into
the sea.
At length the black stopped at a somewhat broader place, which allowed
us to join him; when, turning round, we looked down into a shallow
cavern, in the centre of which we saw Edith and Pierce, kneeling down
side by side, and gazing towards the sea. We had approached so
noiselessly that they had not heard us. I easily leaped to the level on
which they were kneeling, and uttered their names. They both sprang to
their feet, and throwing their arms round me, burst into tears.
"We were praying to God for help, but thought it would come from the
sea," exclaimed Edith, as soon as she could find words to speak. "How
did you know we were here? And poor mamma, how frightened she must have
been at not seeing us! That made us more unhappy than anything else all
the night long. We had brought some food, so we were not hungry; and
see! there is a spring of water issuing from the cliff, and that gave us
what we wanted to drink. But we have been very frightened, and know
that we have been exceedingly naughty in coming so far by ourselves. We
got as far as this, and were sitting down, very happy, when we began to
think it was time to go home; but we had not got far before we found the
water close up to the cliff, and we could not pass. It rose higher and
higher, so we ran back and got into this cave just before the sea
reached the part of the beach by which alone we could gain it. At first
we thought that it would perhaps come right up into the cave and drown
us. On and on it came, and we got farther and farther back; and oh, how
thankful we were when at length we saw it stop and come no higher!"
I did not scold Edith or Pierce; and I felt very thankful that the
weather had been so calm, for had there been any wind the surf would
have broken into the cave, and certainly have swept them away.
We had now to consider how we were to return. I proposed to Doyle that
we should wait till the tide had gone down, and then get along the beach
by the way they had come.
"But maybe the tide won't go down as low as it did yesterday; and if it
doesn't, there are many places you will be unable to get across," said
Doyle.
"Then the best thing we can do is to send round for the boat," I
observed. "If you will climb up to the top of the cliff, I will stay
with my brother and sister."
"To confess the truth, Mr Godfrey, it's just the thing I don't think is
as aisy as it looks," said Doyle. "I'll try to do it, to please you;
but I rather think our friend Pullingo, though not brought up to the
sea, will do it more aisy."
"But how is he to make them understand that we have found the children
and want the boat?" I asked.
"Haven't you got a pencil and paper!" exclaimed Edith. "Just write a
note to Mr Mudge, and get him to take it up."
"A bright idea," I observed; and taking out my pocket-book, I wrote a
few words, explaining the plan we proposed.
Pullingo at once understood that he was to carry up the bit of paper,
and did not appear to hesitate about ascending the rope. I remained
with Edith and Pierce, while Paddy went back with the black. He soon
returned to the cave, when he told me that Pullingo had, without
hesitation or the slightest appearance of fear, grasped the rope and
begun the ascent, showing as much activity as a monkey, or, as he
observed, as if he had been born and bred at sea. He watched him till
he had climbed safely over the top of the cliff; when a shout from above
told him that my note had been received.
We now sat down, watching the tide, which was still flowing.
"What if it should rise higher than it did yesterday?" I observed; "we
should be somewhat cramped for space."
"I don't think Pullingo would have left us here if he thought that was
going to happen," said Doyle; "he knows all about it. He is a wonderful
fellow; how he came to find out that the children were here, is more
than I can tell."
"We saw his son as we came along yesterday, and perhaps he guessed where
we had gone," said Pierce, thus accounting for the black knowing where
to find the children.
Still, I did not feel altogether comfortable as I saw the tide rising
higher and higher, and I began to consider that, after all, it might
have been better to have tried to go up by the rope.
Edith sat quite calmly. "I am very sure that it will not come higher
than that," she said, placing a stone on the ground.
"And why do you think so?" I asked.
"Because God rules the waves. He can stop them just where he wills,"
she answered with perfect calmness.
She was right; the water came only a little higher than the stone, and
then began to recede.
The children had brought an ample store for their picnic, and had thus
enough food to prevent them suffering much from hunger. They wanted
Paddy and me to take some, but of course we would not touch it, though I
confess that by this time I was somewhat hungry.
At length, greatly to my satisfaction, I caught sight of the boat
pulling with four oars rapidly towards us. Feeling her way, she got
within twenty yards of where we were. Burton, who was in her, tucking
up his trousers waded on shore, and taking up Edith carried her on
board; while Paddy got Pierce on his back, and soon placed him by her
side. I followed, when the boat shoved off, and we made the best of our
way to the river. I was thankful to hear from Mudge, who also had come,
that my mother was much better.
Our father received us at the landing-place, and not a word of reproach
did he utter to Edith and Pierce--feeling that they had been
sufficiently punished for their thoughtlessness; while our poor mother
welcomed them back with tears of joy.
"O mamma, mamma! how very sorry I am that we should have alarmed you
so," exclaimed Edith, as she threw her arms round our mother's neck.
"We fancied that we were doing something very heroic in exploring the
country, and expected to find another river or beautiful harbour, little
dreaming of the danger we were running."
"We may thank God, my child, that you are preserved," answered our
mother. "From what I hear, had a storm come on you would inevitably
have been lost."
She did not think at the moment how narrow an escape they had had.
Scarcely had we landed when the general appearance of the sky to
windward changed, clouds dark as ink rose above the horizon; and before
an hour had passed, one of those fearful gales known as black hurricanes
or black squalls, which occasionally blow on the Australian coast, began
to rage.
It was far more furious than the one which burst on us soon after we
landed. The sea came rushing into the river and drove back the ebb with
a power which rapidly made the water rise; and as we watched it getting
higher and higher, we began to fear that the whole of our peninsula
would be flooded. Huge boughs were torn off the trees, which bent
before the gale, and every instant we expected some of them to fall.
Night coming quickly on, increased the horrors of the scene. Several
times my father went down to the edge of the water to ascertain how high
it had risen, leaving Burton to watch, and report to him should it rise
above a certain point. In a short time the flood would set in; if so,
we might expect the water to rise very rapidly. Of course, no one
thought of going to bed; my mother and Edith sat dressed for a journey,
and every one was ordered to prepare to start at a moment's notice. We
each had our guns and as much ammunition as we could carry, for on that
our existence might depend should we be deprived of our stores. We had
also a small quantity of provisions, a second pair of shoes apiece, and
a few articles of clothing, packed up in readiness for a move.
"I should have despatched a party with provisions and ammunition to a
place of safety up the side of the cliff, had I not hoped that before
the flood set in the gale would have abated," observed my father; "and I
even now think that it might be the most prudent course. I will go down
once more and ascertain if the waters are still rising; and if they are,
it will be wise to start at once, though I regret that you and Edith
should be exposed to the rain and wind."
My father said this as we were collected in the sitting-room of our
house.
Mudge just then came in, the rain pouring off his hat. "I have secured
the boat with a long warp," he said, "and loaded her with as many of our
stores as I thought she could safely carry, so that when the waters
subside I trust that these may at all events be preserved. I am afraid,
sir, that we must make a start; the water has got to within a foot of
the top of the bank, and if a heavy sea were to come rolling up from the
mouth of the river it might sweep over the whole settlement."
"We will no longer delay, then," said my father; "tell the men to get
ready."
We all of us accordingly, loading ourselves with the packages we had
prepared--my mother, indeed, insisting on carrying a pretty heavy
bundle--followed my father out of the house. Mudge summoned the men,
who were ready to set out. Before proceeding, however, my father
ordered them to secure all the doors and windows, so that should the
buildings not be carried away by the flood, the articles within them
might be preserved, though they would get damaged by the water. My
father supported my mother; Mudge took charge of Edith; and I held
Pierce by the hand. The rest of the party pushed on close behind--and
from the remarks they made they evidently expected the whole peninsula
to be overwhelmed in a few minutes.
It was with difficulty we could see our way. "Let me go on ahead, yer
honour," sang out Paddy; "I'm a fine pilot in the dark; and it's better
that I should tumble into the river than that you and the misthress
should come to harm."
Paddy had supplied himself with a long stick, with which he felt the way
before him. We managed, by keeping close together under his guidance,
to get across the narrow neck of land, and then continued our course
along the bank of the river. As it was somewhat higher than the
peninsula, we had no great fear of the waters overtaking us till we
could reach a place of safety.
We were exposed, however, to another danger, from the masses of earth
and rock which, loosened by the wind, came falling down on our left;
while branches of various sizes, wrenched off the parent stems, were
whirled through the air, and often fell close to us. Even Paddy had
great difficulty in finding the part of the cliff which was accessible.
Happily, a short distance up there was an overhanging rock. As there
was no danger of the waters rising so high, and as it seemed perfectly
secure, my father directed us all to take shelter beneath it. We were
here, at all events, safe from the branches hurtling through the air,
and from the pieces of rock which came bounding down the cliffs. My
mother, Edith, and Pierce were placed in the most sheltered part, and
the rest crept in on either side or in front of them. Here we all sat
the livelong night, anxiously waiting for day, and wishing that the
hurricane would cease.
"Such furious gales as this seldom last many hours," observed my father.
"I trust that it will prove the clearing storm, after which we may look
for fine weather. And we must make up our minds to move in the upper
downs should we remain in the neighbourhood; though, unless we hear from
Sydney, I believe that we shall act wisely by commencing our journey to
the southward. We are a sufficiently large party to resist any attack
which the natives may venture to make on us; and as we have an abundance
of ammunition, we shall be able to supply ourselves with food on the
road."
The subject my father spoke of was of interest to us all.
When we were not talking, I dozed frequently off; and thus the night
passed away with me more rapidly than I could have expected. Sometimes,
when I awoke, I heard the storm still howling and raging, and the waves
roaring on the shore; then there came a lull, and for some time I lost
all consciousness.
On starting up I saw that several of the party were on foot. The sky
overhead was blue, and the first rays of the rising sun were glancing on
the tree-tops sprinkled with moisture, which now no longer waved to and
fro in the breeze.
"Let us return to our village: and I trust that we may find that less
damage has been committed than we expected," said my father.
We all anxiously followed, looking towards the spot where we had left
our houses standing, and wondering whether they would still be there.
"I see their roofs," cried Pierce, who, with Tom, had darted on ahead;
"hurrah! hurrah!"
He was right, and in a short time we reached the isthmus. We expected
to find the garden, at all events, destroyed and everything uprooted.
The water had indeed washed over the greater part of the peninsula, and
had filled a trench dug round the garden, but could scarcely have done
more than just cover the ground. It had entered the cottages, which
were a little lower down; but it had risen but a few inches, and
everything was in its place. Even in the storeroom, the articles alone
which were on the lower tier had got wet. The boat was also secure,
with her cargo undamaged. We had, indeed, reason to be grateful to
Providence, that the waters had been arrested at the moment when they
might have destroyed everything in the settlement.
We had to wait some time for breakfast--till the wood we could collect
was dry enough to light a fire; and in the interval we employed
ourselves in cleaning out the floors of the houses, which were covered
with slime. Our narrow escape, however, made my father determine not to
wait beyond the expiration of the four months, should a vessel from
Sydney not appear to carry us off.
By puffing and blowing Paddy at last succeeded in kindling a fire, when
our tea-kettle was boiled and we had breakfast.
Soon afterwards I was looking with a spy-glass towards the coast on the
opposite side of the river, from which direction a gentle breeze blowing
wafted a far from pleasant odour towards us, when I observed a large
dark object lying on the beach. On looking at it with my naked eye, I
had till then supposed that it was a rock--though I could not help
fancying that no rock had formerly been there. I now discovered that it
was a huge dead whale, which, partly decomposed, had been thrown up by
the waves during the night. It was likely to prove anything but an
agreeable neighbour, however, and would certainly become worse and
worse.
I pointed it out to Mudge and the rest. "We must hope that the wind
will change before long, or even at the distance it is off it will drive
us away from this," said Mudge.
A number of sea-birds were already hovering over the carcass, showing
that they had scented it from afar. Though the smell was unpleasant,
still I was anxious to have a nearer view of the monster; so Mudge,
Harry, Tommy, and I agreed to go over.
Having taken the things out of the boat, we pulled across the river,
which was still somewhat swollen, and had just landed when we caught
sight of several natives rushing on with headlong speed towards the
whale, having apparently come from the interior. We drew back, and
concealed ourselves behind the trees; and they, evidently from having
their eyes fixed on the whale, had not seen us. The country towards the
west was open, and as I turned my glass in that direction I observed a
still greater number running on as fast as their legs could carry them.
The sound of their wild shouts and shrieks, as they clapped their hands
and kicked up their legs with delight, reached our ears. On they came.
We had no notion that anything like the number of natives we saw existed
in the neighbourhood. How, indeed, they came to discover that the
creature, to them so great a prize, had been cast on shore, it was
difficult to say--unless, like the birds of prey, they had scented it
from afar. Over the hills they came, some appearing at the entrance of
a valley, others making their way along the shore. Already we saw that
some had arrived; and through my glass I recognised our friend Pullingo
as the principal figure by the feather at the top of his head, the
bundle of lances in one hand, and an axe which we had given him in the
other. Some of the natives carried huge drums, which they beat with
might and main, forming the bass to their shrill shrieks. All seemed so
eager to reach the scene of action, that even had we been much nearer we
ran little risk of being discovered.
On they came in troops, till nearly two hundred must have been
collected; then joining hands, they formed a large circle round the
whale, while Pullingo mounted along the tail to the top of it, where he
stood flourishing his axe, and apparently making a speech to the
assembled multitude. Its tenor we should not have understood, even had
we heard his words distinctly; but it was replied to by the shouts and
cries of the people below: then the drums set up a thundering rattle,
and the blacks reiterating their shrieks and cries, men, women, and
children began to dance round and round, throwing themselves into the
wildest and most extravagant postures, all trying to vie one with the
other who could leap, and kick, and twist their bodies and arms about in
the most grotesque fashion. Whether it was simply to show their joy, or
was some religious ceremony, we could not determine.
The dance, if so it could be called, continued for some time, Pullingo
still remaining the central figure on the top of the whale, when
suddenly he dug his axe into the creature's back; on which, picking up
their stone knives or other instruments, which they had placed on the
ground, the savages rushed forward and began hacking away at the body of
the whale in a most ferocious fashion.
I was very glad that we were at a distance, for even as seen through a
telescope the spectacle was one of the most disgusting I ever witnessed.
As they cut out pieces of the flesh, they rammed them into their
mouths, tearing them with their teeth like a pack of famishing wolves;
some of them literally forcing their way into the carcass, out of which
they emerged carrying huge pieces of dripping flesh, covering their
bodies with blood. Even the women, some of them young, and, as seen
from a distance, far from ill-looking, attacked the whale in the same
fashion as the men, and appeared again dripping all over with blood.
When I thought of the putrid state of the flesh, it made me almost sick
to look at them, and disgusted at seeing human beings so degraded.
Under ordinary circumstances they were not pleasant neighbours, but
horrible must have been the effluvium arising from them after they had
thus gorged themselves.
Not having any wish to get nearer the scene, we returned to the boat;
and in a short time afterwards we saw that they had lighted fires in the
neighbourhood of the monster, intending apparently to cook the flesh,
and to stay there till they had eaten it up.
The presence of so large a number of natives in our vicinity, made my
father consider seriously whether it would not be prudent to leave our
present position without further delay, nearly four months having
elapsed since the departure of the long-boat. He forthwith invited
Mudge and Burton to hold a consultation on the subject, at which I also
was present; and where Mudge remarked that two days only remained to
complete the four months.
"If no vessel appears in that time, I think we may conclude, either that
the long-boat has unfortunately been lost, or that Mr Brown has been
unable to succeed in obtaining a vessel to come to our relief," observed
Mudge. "While the whale lasts, I don't think we need fear a visit from
those unsavoury gentlemen; but when they have recovered from the effects
of their banquet, and begin to feel the pangs of hunger, they are very
likely to become troublesome; and though we should be able to hold our
own against them, we might find it dangerous to go out hunting singly or
in small parties. I therefore advise that at the end of two days we
should proceed up the river as far as the boat will carry us, and either
pitch our camp there, while we make further preparations for our
journey, or push on southward at once. I prefer an inland route to one
along the coast, because in the latter case we should have to follow its
various sinuosities, and have to cross the rivers at their mouths, where
they are probably the broadest; whereas by keeping inland we may steer a
direct course, and are more likely to find game and obtain fresh water."
"I am of Mr Mudge's opinion," observed Burton. "By keeping near the
coast, if the natives are inclined to attack us we should only have one
side to defend. But then, again, if we move quickly on they will see
that we are merely travelling through the country, and not wishing to
interfere with them, and so are not likely to annoy us. I, however,
would advise that we should make all preparations before leaving this,
and begin our overland journey directly we leave the boat."
"I agree with all you have said," observed my father. "I will get you,
Burton, to explain the plan we propose to the other men; and I hope that
all will be satisfied that what we suggest is for the best. I should be
glad, however, if, before starting, we could manage to communicate with
Pullingo, as he would prove invaluable as a guide across the parts of
the country with which he is acquainted; and I think, after the way we
have treated him, that he may be trusted."
"Paddy Doyle would be the best person to try and get hold of him," I
observed. "It would be pretty trying to any one of us to go near the
whale, but I suspect that the Irishman would not be very particular; and
as Pullingo knows that we can always supply him with food, he might be
more willing than the rest of his tribe to leave the horrible mass of
flesh on which they are gorging themselves."
"You must speak to Paddy, and see if he is willing to go," said my
father. "In the meantime, we will make packages of the necessaries we
are to take with us; and I should advise each person to manufacture for
himself a pair of canvas leggings, and a broad-brimmed hat of the same
material."
Before separating they discussed other points, and made out a list of
the different articles it would be advisable to take with us.
As soon as I told Doyle, he immediately agreed to visit the blacks'
camp. It was too late to set off that night; but next morning Burton
and I, with one of the other men, took him across to the opposite shore.
We watched him as he made his way towards the camp, which, in spite of
the odour proceeding from the carcass of the whale, was pitched close to
it. The only shelter the natives had provided for themselves consisted
of some slabs of bark three or four feet in length, either stuck in the
ground or leaning against a rail, with their fires in front.
They were still, apparently, all fast asleep, overcome by their debauch
of the previous day and night. Doyle, who wisely carried his musket and
pistols, went on without hesitation. How he found out Pullingo's
sleeping-place I do not know, as there was nothing to distinguish it
from the rest. For some time he was lost to sight behind the carcass of
the whale.
We waited and waited, and began at length to wonder that he did not
return. Before starting, he had said that he would fire off his pistol
should he require assistance, though he had little fear on that score.
"I hope that nothing has happened to poor Paddy," observed Burton.
"I can't fancy it, unless he has been overcome by the odour of the
whale," I answered; "it is bad enough even here, and sufficient to breed
a fever among the blacks, even if it does not make us sick."
"No fear of that," observed Burton; "they are accustomed to it. Hurrah!
here comes Doyle, and our friend Pullingo with him, rubbing his stomach,
as if he found walking a trouble."
"I've got him," exclaimed Doyle as he approached; "but we must keep him
well supplied with food, or he'll be off again to have another blow-out
of whale's flesh. Faith, it's rather high flavoured; but it's to their
taste, I suppose."
Pullingo hesitated before stepping into the boat, and cast a wistful
glance in the direction of the whale.
"Don't think about that, old fellow," said Paddy, patting him on the
shoulder; "we'll give you as much good grub as you can want. So come
along with us;" and taking his arm, he induced him to step into the
boat.
I did not find him a very pleasant neighbour; but I held my nose, and
endeavoured not to think about the matter. As soon as we got him on
shore, we tried to make him understand what we wanted: that we purposed
moving southward, and that we would reward him handsomely if he would
act as our guide. We could not clearly make out whether or not he was
willing to go; and as we could not start for a couple of days, Mudge
offered to go up the river as far as it was navigable in the boat, with
Doyle and Harry and me, and one of the other men, and to take him with
us. We should thus be better able to judge whether he understood what
we wished him to do.
There was no risk, in the meantime, of the natives leaving their feast;
and the wind fortunately now blowing from us towards the whale, we were
no longer annoyed by the disagreeable odour. One thing was certain,--
that the boat could not carry us all, with our provisions and stores,
and that we should, at all events, have to make two or three trips. My
father, therefore, thought that the sooner we set off the better. We
accordingly put on board the boat a supply of provisions, ammunition,
and some other articles, which we intended storing near the
landing-place at the head of the river. We also took with us such tools
as we should require to build a hut. These arrangements being made, we
wished our friends good-bye, and pulled away up the river.
The scenery, as we advanced, became highly picturesque, and in some
places the banks on either side were fringed with trees; in others,
perpendicular cliffs rose sheer out of the water to a considerable
height; while numerous points projected into the stream, some rocky,
others covered with the richest vegetation.
We had been curious to know how Pullingo and his family had crossed the
river; but we had not got far when we caught sight of a very
rough-looking canoe hauled up on the bank. We pulled in to examine it,
and found that it consisted of a single large sheet of bark bent up, the
ends roughly sewed together, lumps of clay being stuffed in to prevent
the water from entering, while the centre part was kept open by several
pieces of stick fixed across the upper edge. Such a canoe could not
take many minutes to form; and we agreed that it would be well to copy
the natives when we had rivers to cross, and to form similar canoes, as
they would be more quickly constructed, and could be guided with less
difficulty, than a raft. Pullingo made us understand that this was his
canoe, but that he would leave it where it was for the use of his wife
and family.
As the tide had just begun to flow when we started, we made rapid
progress. We saw numerous birds, ducks and geese, which skimmed over
the surface, seeking for their prey, or flew off, startled by our
approach. We pulled on till the shadows which spread over the stream
showed us that night was coming on, and that we must ere long look out
for a place to encamp. As, however, the sun's rays still tinged the
topmost boughs of the more lofty trees, we continued our course, anxious
to get as high as possible before bringing up.
"Avast pulling," cried Mudge; "I think I hear the sound of a waterfall."
We obeyed him. I could distinctly hear the rushing noise of a body of
water coming from the upper part of the river. We again gave way, and
saw before us a mass of foam produced by the water running over a ledge
of rocks some six or eight feet in height, stretching directly across
the river. This would effectually bar our further progress; and not to
lose more time, we pulled in to the right or southern bank, towards a
spot where the tall trees receding afforded an open space on which we
might encamp. In other parts along the bank the vegetation was of an
unusually dense character for Australia: numberless creepers hung from
the branches of the lofty trees, bearing star-like flowers, some white,
others of a yellow hue, shining like gold, contrasted with the dark
green foliage; while the ground below and more open spaces were carpeted
with a rich sward but seldom seen in that country, and produced,
probably, by the spray from the waterfall cast over it when the wind
blew down the river.
Pullingo, by his gestures, leading us to suppose that he considered it a
good place for encamping, we accordingly landed. We found the ground
harder than we had expected, as the soil, which was only a few inches
deep, rested on a bed of rock, which had prevented the trees from taking
root. We quickly set about forming our camp; some of the party
collecting sheets of bark, aided by Pullingo, while others picked up
broken branches for our fire.
While we were thus employed, a flight of the magnificent cockatoos I
have before described settled on some of the branches close to the
river. Pullingo, who had brought his boomerang, at once eyed them
eagerly. Paddy and I, who were near him, ran for our guns; but he made
a sign to us not to shoot, letting us understand that he had a far more
effectual way of procuring our supper. We followed him cautiously, so
as not to frighten the birds as he stole towards them. As they
clustered thickly on the boughs, it was evident they intended to rest
there for the night. They sat talking away to each other at a great
rate for some minutes; then, having placed their sentinels and wished
each other good-night, they put their heads under their wings and
prepared for sleep. They little thought of the subtle foe in their
neighbourhood.
Having got close under the tree without being perceived, Pullingo drew
his boomerang from his belt, and retired a few paces from his shelter;
then running forward, to give power to his arm, till his feet touched
the margin of the stream, and throwing his right hand, which held the
boomerang, over his back, he cast it directly before him with all the
force of his arm. These different movements had scarcely occupied three
seconds. The sentinels, meanwhile, had given a warning sound, and the
birds seemed to be aware that all was not right. When, however, they
saw the weapon flying towards the surface of the water, they appeared
satisfied that it had nothing to do with them.
But instead of dropping into the stream, as might have been expected, it
suddenly took a new direction; and flying up into the air with
irresistible force, came turning round and round in the most
extraordinary manner, with a whizzing sound, into the very midst of the
cockatoos' roosting-place, continuing its course among them--killing one
outright, breaking the wing of another, sending another squalling to the
ground, cutting open their heads, and committing all sorts of damage
among the feathered inhabitants of the trees. In vain the unfortunate
cockatoos, overcome with astonishment, uttered their cries of despair;
in vain they endeavoured to escape the awful blows of this apparently
enchanted piece of wood; the boomerang continued its eccentric course,
not ceasing its gyrations till it had knocked over nearly a dozen birds,
and had fallen close to the spot where its owner stood ready to receive
it.
It was the first time I had ever seen the boomerang used, and I could
not have believed it capable of such performances had I not witnessed
them. Before the birds had recovered from their fright, the boomerang
was again in their midst, whizzing round and round, as if endued with
life, and committing almost as much damage as before. Pullingo was
preparing to throw it a third time, when the survivors of the cockatoos,
discovering that this was no secure resting-place for them, took to
flight, uttering mournful cries for their lost companions--several of
whom, having been roughly plucked, were speedily roasting on spits
before the fire.
"Much obliged to you for the good supper you've procured for us, Mr
Pullingo," observed Paddy; "but it surprises me that you, who can get as
many well-tasted birds as you like by throwing that bit of stick, can
bring yourself to eat such horrible food as that putrid whale's flesh.
However, we all have our tastes; though I can't say I admire yours."
These remarks were made while we were seated round the fire, and
Pullingo was gnawing away at the whole body of a cockatoo, which he had
taken for his share. Though he could not understand a word the Irishman
said, he seemed to have an idea that he was referring to his gastronomic
powers, and he complacently stroked his stomach, to show that he was
enjoying his food.
Having finished our meal, we prepared ourselves for sleep, each of us
having placed a piece of bark on the ground to serve as a mattress,
under shelter of the upright pieces, according to the native fashion.
Pullingo was quickly snoring, showing his confidence in us; but Mudge
thought it would be wiser to keep watch, in case any strange natives
might pay us a visit during the night. We knew that we had no danger to
apprehend from savage animals, as even the dingo, the only carnivorous
quadruped in the country, will not attack a human being able to offer
the slightest resistance. We could not, however, tell what a pack of
such brutes might do should they find us asleep.
I kept my watch very faithfully; but I suspect some of the rest of the
party followed Pullingo's example, and went to sleep. No serious
consequences ensued, but the sun was up before any of us awoke.
We immediately set to work to relight the fire and cook our breakfast.
Mudge and Paddy Doyle then tried once more to ascertain whether Pullingo
was willing to accompany us to the south; and after such conversation as
they could carry on, they were satisfied that he would undertake to act
as guide--as far, at all events, as he was acquainted with the country.
What had become of his big son, his wife, and small children, we could
not make out; but he apparently intended to leave them behind.
"Now, lads," said Mudge, "we will store the goods we have brought up,
and then make the best of our way down to the camp; but as it would not
be safe, I suspect, to leave them without protection, are any of you
willing to remain? If we carry our black friend back within scent of
the whale, I am afraid that he will attempt to return to it. Do you
think, Doyle, that you could manage to keep him here?"
"I'll try, your honour; and I'm ready enough myself to remain, if
anybody will stay with me," answered Paddy.
"I will," said Harry, who observed that the other men did not answer
readily.
"So will I," I said, "if you wish it, Mudge."
"No," he answered; "two are sufficient, and you may be wanted to bring
up the boat. As we have the tide with us, we may reach the camp and be
back here soon after nightfall; and we now know the river sufficiently
well to pull up in the dark."
Mudge desired Doyle to place the goods on a bed of bark slabs, and to
build a hut over them of the same material, so that, should rain come
on, they might be preserved from wet. Pullingo, on seeing that we left
our goods behind us, was perfectly ready to remain; and wishing our
friends good-bye, we pulled rapidly down the river. As we had a strong
current with us we made good way, and in about six hours reached the
encampment.
"Has the vessel appeared?" I asked of Tommy Peck, who had come down to
meet us, as I sprang on shore.
"Not a sign of one," he answered. "The captain has gone up to the top
of the cliff to have a better look-out; and if none appears, I think he
will be for moving."
My mother and Edith, on hearing from Popo that the boat had arrived,
came out of the house and gave me the same report. They had been busily
engaged for the last two days in preparing for our intended journey, as
had also the men in the camp.
On my father's return he expressed himself satisfied with what we had
done, and accepted Mudge's offer to go back again at once with another
cargo of goods; while he himself proposed to remain with Pierce, Tom,
and one of the other men; and I was to bring back the boat, which in her
last trip was to carry up my father and mother and Edith, and the
remainder of the goods and chattels we intended to remove.
We accordingly lost no time in again starting, as we did not wish to
lose any of the daylight. For nearly two hours we had to pull on in the
dark, and frequently it was so difficult to see our way that we had to
advance cautiously. I sat in the bow, endeavouring to pierce the gloom,
so as to catch sight of any danger ahead before we were upon it. Very
thankful I was when I saw a bright glare cast over the water, and on the
boughs and trunks of the surrounding trees, by Paddy Doyle's camp-fire,
and he and Harry answered my hail.
We soon made our way to the bank, when we found that they had been
expecting us, and had prepared an ample supper of roast parrots and
doves, with a pot of tea, and some cakes cooked in the ashes. They had
also got ready our sleeping-places; so without loss of time we lay down
to rest, intending to start again an hour before dawn, that we might, if
possible, return before the close of the day.
I was so anxious to be off in time that I awoke even sooner than was
necessary. I found Pullingo sitting up--not keeping watch, but stowing
away in his capacious inside the remains of our supper, which I had
intended for breakfast. Several birds which had been killed the
previous day were hanging up, so I plucked and spitted them. I then
aroused those of my companions who were to form the crew. We hurried
over our breakfast; and making our way to the boat, began our downward
voyage. As before, we had to proceed cautiously till daylight returned;
we then made such good play that we reached the camp even before my
father expected us.
He had just returned from a last trip to the downs. "No vessel anywhere
in sight," he said. "I very much fear that Brown and his party are
lost; they must have encountered the gales we felt so severely here. I
warned them of the danger they would run, but they would not believe me.
Nevertheless, I am heartily sorry to think that they have probably been
lost."
I found that during our absence my father had done his utmost to secure
the property we were to leave behind from being plundered by the
natives. He had barricaded the doors and windows, both of the huts and
the store-house, with pieces of timber fixed firmly in the ground and
horizontal bars nailed across them, which we had hopes that the natives
would not venture to remove.
The remainder of the articles we intended to carry with us were neatly
done up in packages. We also took all our arms and ammunition, of which
we had not more than would last us, we calculated, till we could hope to
reach the settlements; indeed, it was the fear of this running short
which made my father determine to commence our journey to the southward
without further delay. While that lasted, we might amply supply
ourselves with food, and with due precaution set the natives at
defiance; but should that be exhausted, they, with their long spears and
formidable boomerangs, would be superior to us in weapons of defence,
while we should have no means of obtaining provisions. Had not the
bushrangers carried off so much of our powder, we might have remained
another month or two.
The boat was loaded without delay. Our last act was to collect all the
vegetables fit for use in the garden, that we might have a supply of
green food--at all events, for the first few days of our journey. Not
without regret did we bid farewell to the spot which had afforded us
shelter for so many weeks.
"Shove off," said my father, as he seated himself at the helm, with my
mother and Edith by his side, while the faithful Nanny crouched at my
sister's feet; and giving way, we commenced our voyage up the river. We
took a look through an opening in the trees in the direction of the
whale, round which the natives were still collected in vast numbers; and
thankful were we to get away from them, for we had no doubt that as soon
as they had eaten up the monster they would become troublesome. We
should have been glad had we been able to penetrate farther to the west
by water, as a glance at the map we had with us showed that we should
still have a considerable amount of westing to make in our course to
Sydney.
My mother was cheerful, notwithstanding the arduous journey on foot
which she was about to undertake. Edith laughed and talked as usual,
not troubling herself about the matter; indeed, she thought that it
would be very good fun to walk on all day through a new country with a
constant change of scenery, and at the end of it the amusement of
forming a camp for the night. She thought, indeed, it would be a
succession of picnics, only with more excitement than ordinary picnics
afford. We none of us said anything to damp her spirits, though I could
not help fearing that she would get tired before long of this style of
life. We had, however, every reason to hope that we should enjoy fine
weather, as the rainy season was now over; and that would be much in our
favour.
We met with no adventure worth recording, and having pulled on all day
without cessation, we reached the head of the navigation soon after
sunset. Our friends, having a fire blazing up cheerfully and provisions
cooking at it, were collected on the bank to welcome us. As soon as the
boat was unloaded we dragged her up the bank some way from the water,
where we intended, before starting the next morning, to house her
carefully over, so that she might be protected from the sun and wet, and
be ready for use should we be compelled from any cause to return.
Our camp was formed at some distance from the water, on the side of a
bank, where the ground was drier than the spot we first occupied near
the river. It was truly a wild woodland scene: the trees of gigantic
growth towering up to the starlit sky, their branches thickly interlaced
with countless creepers, which hung down in festoons, bearing flowers of
various hues, some of enormous size, others so minute as scarcely to be
discernible except when massed in clusters. Those only, however, were
visible, which, hanging low down, shone in the light of the blazing
fire.
Mudge had thoughtfully arranged a bark hut for my mother and Edith,
while lean-tos served for the rest of the party. Considering our
circumstances, we were very merry as we sat round the fire enjoying a
good supper, for, having an abundance of provisions, there was no
necessity to stint ourselves; indeed, we possessed more than we could
carry, and should have to let some remain _en cache_, as the Canadians
call it.
Pullingo had, according to his own idea, become one of us; Mudge having
dressed him up in a shirt and trousers, which made him far more
presentable among civilised people than he had hitherto been. He had
tried to get him into a canvas jacket; but he made signs that it was too
hot, and that he should sink with the weight;--though one would not
suppose that it could have made much difference. I observed that at
night he took off his new clothes, and merely threw his skin-rug over
him; probably he would otherwise have been unable to go to sleep.
But I must now hurry on, and merely give the chief incidents of our
journey.