VISITED BY MORE BLACKS ON OUR MARCH--WONDER AT OUR THUNDER-MAKERS--A
PERMANENT CAMP FORMED--MUDGE AND I SET OFF TO EXPLORE THE WAY--PULLINGO
DISPOSES OF HIS GARMENTS--CROSS A RIVER--REACH THE FOOT OF THE RANGE--
PULLINGO MEETS HIS SON QUAQUAGMAGU--HIS DETERMINATION TO LEAVE US--THE
CAVERN OF THE MOON--A NATIVE LEGEND--OBSERVE THE NATIVES WORSHIPPING
BEFORE THE CAVERN--DESERTED BY PULLINGO--WE PROCEED WITHOUT HIM--ENTER A
RUGGED REGION--SKELETON OF THE BUSHRANGER--CAMP UNDER A ROCK--OUR WATER
EXHAUSTED.
We travelled on for several days, happily escaping any molestation from
the natives. A few came near us, to whom Pullingo explained that we
were merely passing through the country, and that we wished to be on
friendly terms with the black men,--but at the same time that we
possessed the power, with our wonderful thunder-makers, of destroying
all our enemies. Now and then an individual bolder than his companions
would come up to us while we were on the march, or when we were
encamped, for the purpose of examining the said thunder-makers, as they
called our firearms, more closely; but when they did so they gazed at
them with the utmost astonishment and awe in their countenances, and
quickly took their departure, evidently thinking it not safe to remain
in the neighbourhood of such formidable beings. All this time even
Pullingo himself had never ventured to touch a firearm, so that he had
no idea how the explosion was produced. The greater number of the
blacks we saw, however, scampered off as soon as they caught sight of
us.
The country over which we passed was very similar to that I have before
described. One evening, as we were passing over a higher hill than
usual, we caught sight in the far distance of a blue range of mountains,
which it was very clear we must cross to get to the southward. How high
it really was we could not decide, but it appeared of considerable
elevation, and, we feared, would prove rugged and barren.
When we were encamped that evening, after my mother and Edith had
retired to their hut, my father expressed his fears to Mudge and me that
they might suffer much inconvenience and hardship, if not danger, in
passing over it. "I wish that I had shown more resolution in preventing
my poor mates from going away in the long-boat," he observed; "had I
induced them to wait till the stormy season was over, they might have
accomplished the voyage in safety, and we should by this time probably
have been succoured by a vessel from Sydney, and saved the fatigue of
this long journey."
"You acted for the best, sir," observed Mudge; "and perhaps the
difficulties we have to go through may not be so great as you
anticipate. However, I have been thinking over the matter, and if you
will allow me and one other person to set out, with Pullingo as a guide,
supposing we can induce him to accompany us, we will explore the route,
while you remain encamped in some eligible position near water with the
rest of the party, where you can obtain abundance of game. Doyle is a
capital shot, and sure amply to supply your larder. We, having
ascertained the best road to take, will return for you; and perhaps on
the other side of the range we may fall in with settlers, from whom we
may obtain horses on which Mrs Rayner and your daughter could perform
the rest of the journey. Two or three men can often make their way
easily in a region through which a larger party would find it difficult
if not impossible to proceed."
"I am indeed most grateful to you for your offer," said my father; "but
whom do you propose taking with you? I confess that, for the sake of my
wife and daughter, I am unwilling to weaken our party, in case the
natives should visit our camp, and, seeing only a few men, might be
tempted to molest us."
As soon as I had heard Mudge's proposal, I determined if I could to
accompany him. "Let me go," I exclaimed. "I can endure as much fatigue
as any one; and though I can use my rifle to some effect, the blacks,
looking upon me only as a boy, would not consider that I added to the
strength of the party: and thus you will retain five men besides
yourself, while I think I shall be of as much assistance to Mudge as any
one else."
"I shall be very happy to have you, Godfrey," said Mudge, "if your
father approves of your going; indeed, I had thought of proposing that
you should accompany me. What do you say, Captain Rayner? I will
defend him with my life, should he be exposed to danger--not that I
think we shall have to encounter any. And we may depend, I think, on
our guns for supplying ourselves with food."
My father considered the matter, and, greatly to my satisfaction,
finally agreed to let me accompany Mudge. He explained the plan to my
mother the next morning, observing: "We allowed Godfrey to go to sea,
and surely he will have to encounter no greater danger by accompanying
so sensible and determined a fellow as Mudge, than he would have had to
run constantly while performing the duties of his profession."
The matter being settled, we lost no time in making our preparations.
We had some alterations to make in the contents of our packs, that we
might each carry a sufficient store of the articles we were most likely
to require. We took an ample supply of powder and shot, a tinder-box
apiece, the most portable food we possessed, and bottles to contain
water, with a pocket-compass and a spy-glass, and an additional pair of
shoes. We had also a kettle to boil water for making our tea, and a tin
cup apiece to drink it out of, with a spoon, a plate apiece, and a
couple of knives and forks. Our camp equipage, though not elaborate,
was as complete as we desired. Our legs were encased in strong gaiters.
We left our party encamped on the summit of a mound, from which they
could obtain a view on every side; while the trees, with the addition of
some stockades placed between them, would enable them effectually to
defend themselves against any attack of the natives. At the foot of the
mound ran a stream with several deep water-holes in its course, which
were not likely ever to become dry; while the trees along its margin
were frequented by various descriptions of birds. Thus an abundant
supply of food could always be obtained.
Between it and the range was a more thickly wooded country than we had
hitherto passed through, and of some extent, which prevented us from
seeing the character of the ground beyond. Through this we should have
to make our way. We should, however, have some distance to go before we
could reach the actual base of the hills.
Pullingo, as far as we could ascertain, had no objection to accompanying
us; and besides our guns, we each had a brace of pistols, an axe, and a
long knife.
At early dawn, after a hearty breakfast, all the party having got up to
wish us good-bye, we set out. The clearness of the atmosphere deceived
us, and it took us some time before we entered the forest. The rays of
the sun, as they gleamed through the trees, showed us the direction we
were to take. Mudge went first, and I followed, for there was often not
room between the numberless creepers which hung down from the boughs to
make our way two abreast.
Pullingo had, I observed, for some days past been giving signs that he
was becoming tired of the routine of our life, so different from that
which natives are accustomed to lead. He now, instead of going ahead,
lagged behind, merely pointing in the direction we were to take, and
which we knew perfectly well without his assistance. Directly we
entered the forest I saw him making all sorts of extraordinary gestures,
and after going on a little way I observed that he had taken off his
shirt. A minute afterwards, what was my surprise on turning round to
see him holding his trousers in his hand; then, flourishing them for an
instant in the air, he pitched them on to the bough of a tree, where
they hung fluttering in the breeze, while he bounded forward, as if
delighted at finding himself free of the garments which had so long
proved irksome to him. I hailed Mudge, and asked him whether he ought
not to be told to go back and get his clothes.
"Let him alone," was the answer; "he is only following the bent of his
nature; he is perfectly welcome to run naked if he likes, though I
suspect that when we come to cross the tops of the hills he will be
sorry that he got rid of them."
So strange, however, were the black's antics, that I began to fear he
had lost his senses. He shouted and laughed, and tumbled head over
heels, and skipped, and jumped about in the most extraordinary manner,
as if rejoicing in his regained freedom.
"I suppose he fancies that his clothes will hang there till he comes
back, when he intends to appear decently, I hope, at the camp," I
remarked.
"I don't think he troubles himself about the future," answered Mudge;
"he just now feels as much satisfaction at being without his clothes, as
you or I would in getting a warm bath and putting on a clean shirt and
trousers."
We were some time in making our way through the forest, Pullingo not
taking any special trouble to pick out the best path. We had expected
almost immediately to commence our ascent of the mountain, but on
emerging from the forest we saw before us a valley, with a broad stream
flowing through it. By the rapidity of the current we judged that it
made a direct course to the sea; and it was evidently far too deep to
allow us to hope that we could wade across it.
We pointed it out to Pullingo, who had now become a little more quiet,
and asked him how he proposed to cross the river. He at once turned
back, and going towards a huge old stringy-bark tree which stood out
some way from the rest, stripped off two large pieces of bark, which he
invited us to assist in carrying down to the water's edge. He then,
looking about, got some long grass of a peculiar nature, with which he
quickly manufactured some strong twine; then bending up the ends of the
bark, which yielded easily to the pressure he bestowed on it, and using
a pointed stick as an awl, he soon sewed them together. Both pieces
were treated in the same way. He then got some clay from the bank of
the river and stuffed it into the ends; and thus in a wonderfully short
time had manufactured two canoes. From some small pieces of bark and a
pole, which he cut with my axe, he also speedily formed a couple of
paddles.
We had all along intended, it will be remembered, should we meet with
rivers, to make some canoes for crossing them; but he, in less than a
quarter of the time that we should have employed in making one, had
formed two which would answer the purpose--though I should not, I own,
have liked to undertake a long trip in one of them. He signed to Mudge
to get into one, while he seated himself in the other, beckoning me to
follow, which I did without hesitation, though the water reached almost
up to the gunwale. We were quickly across; then he drew the canoes
carefully up the bank, and placed them side by side, showing how he
recollected that we might require them on our return.
We had been much deceived as to the distance; and we found that we had
still some way to go before we got actually among the ranges we had to
traverse. How wide they might be we could not tell; it might take us a
day or two, or several days, to cross them.
The evening found us making our way over a tolerably level country, the
hills which we thought so near in the morning being still at some
distance. Here and there vast eucalypti of enormous growth were
scattered about, towering to the sky; some decayed and hollow, with
their limbs scathed by lightning, and their bark hanging down in long
strips, like ragged giants, others still covered by sombre foliage.
We were struck by Pullingo's manner; he kept looking about him, not as
if the region were strange to him, but as if he were searching for
something.
The shadows of the tall trees continued increasing in length; at last
Mudge proposed that we should forthwith encamp, and accordingly made
Pullingo understand that we intended doing so. He nodded his consent to
our proposal, and at once began to collect bark for a lean-to and wood
for a fire. Relieving ourselves of our packs, we assisted him, and had
soon erected our shelter for the night, close to the trunk of one of the
enormous trees I have described. These arrangements being made, we took
our guns, and in the course of a few minutes had shot as many birds as
we required for our supper and breakfast.
On returning to our camp we saw, to our surprise, Pullingo seated on the
ground opposite another black, on whose knees his hands rested, while
they gazed into each other's faces. They were talking earnestly
together, as if they had matters of the greatest importance to
communicate. As we drew near enough to distinguish the features of the
stranger black, we recognised our old acquaintance, Pullingo's son,
Quaquagmagu. So deeply were they engaged, they did not even perceive
our approach; and as we had no wish to disturb them, we retired to a
distance to wait till they had finished their conversation. Finding,
however, that we might wait till midnight, and as we wished to get our
pigeons plucked and roasted, we once more drew near. At length
perceiving us, they sprang to their feet; when Pullingo exclaimed,
"Son--Quaquagmagu--me, me!"
"Of course we recollect him," said Mudge, shaking him by the hand. I
did the same, apparently much to the young man's satisfaction.
"And what brought your son here?" inquired Mudge, as if he knew that it
would be useless to put the question to Quaquagmagu.
"All, all," answered Pullingo, shaking his head; and he poured forth a
torrent of words which we could not understand.
At length, however, we made out, chiefly by signs, that something was
wrong at home--either that his children were ill, or that his wife had
run away; at all events, that he wished to return northward. This was
to us a serious announcement, as we had greatly depended on his
assistance for traversing the country. It had, however, been tolerably
evident that he had got tired of acting as our guide; indeed, few of the
wild natives can ever be depended upon for associating with the whites
for any length of time. Only the younger men, who get gradually
habituated to civilised customs, will ever remain faithful to the duties
they undertake. Pullingo was no exception to the rule.
"Will it be necessary for us to turn back?" I asked.
"Certainly not," answered Mudge; "we can make our way very well without
him, and as it is important for the sake of your mother and sister that
we should undertake the journey, I say, by all means let us push on."
"I am perfectly ready to do so," I answered; "indeed, I very much doubt
whether Pullingo knows anything about the mountains, and I suspect that
from the first he had no intention of conducting us over them. I
suppose, however, that he does not intend to leave us at once?"
"Little fear of that while we have the pigeons roasting at the fire,"
observed Mudge. "Perhaps during the evening we shall be able to learn
more about the matter; however, in the meantime we must make him and his
son assist us in plucking the birds, for I am getting pretty sharp set."
Pullingo and Quaquagmagu very willingly obeyed our directions,
especially as they were to benefit by the task, and we quickly had a
dozen pigeons and parrots roasting on as many spits.
"And so, Pullingo, you intend to leave us to make our way over the hills
by ourselves! That is not treating us properly," observed Mudge.
The black hung down his head, as if he had understood every word that
was said, and then with a sigh pointed northward.
"But why couldn't you have told us this before?" asked Mudge.
Pullingo pointed to his son, to intimate that he had brought him
intelligence which made him wish to return.
"And has he come all this way by himself?" asked Mudge, making signs at
the same time to explain his meaning.
The black intimated that he had not come alone, but that several of his
tribe had accompanied him, for some object or other which we could not
make out. We were puzzled also to discover how Quaquagmagu had known
where to find his father. It showed us that the blacks had some secret
means of communicating with each other of which we were ignorant.
We sat by our camp-fire endeavouring to hold a conversation with
Pullingo. His stock of words was but small; though, considering the
time he had been with us, it was wonderful that he had gained the
meaning of so many. We both eked them out by signs, in making use of
which the black was singularly clever. Our aim was to ascertain the
object for which Quaquagmagu and his companions had come into that part
of the country, but we were for a long time excessively puzzled to
understand the meaning of Pullingo's words and gestures. It had
something to do with the moon, and also with a large cavern; but whether
they had come to worship the moon, or some object in the cavern, we
could not clearly make out.
It was not till long afterwards that I understood what he wished to tell
us. In the early days of the world, the moon, who was then a very
beautiful young woman, lived happily in the midst of the forests through
which we had lately passed. It was her custom to take up her abode in a
large cave in the side of the mountain we were approaching. Here she
would have remained till the present day, had she not, by the envy of
some evil spirits, been driven from earth, and condemned to exist only
in the night up in the sky. The stars, the blacks believe, are the
tears of regret which the moon sheds when weary of her banished
condition. When she gains a certain position in the sky, however, she
is able to look down upon her former well-beloved abode, on which she is
wont to shed a brilliant light; unless her enemies, by means of clouds
which they send across the heavens, deprive her of the only pleasure she
enjoys in her solitary existence.
Those of her mortal relatives who still regard her with affection, make
a point of paying an annual visit to the place she loved so well when on
earth; and it appeared that a large party had been made up by Pullingo's
tribe with this object in view. The ceremony, if so it could be called,
was, we understood, to take place the following night.
Anxious as we were to push forward, we would not have allowed ourselves
to be stopped by such an object; but as the cavern existed some way up
the mountain, we thought that we should probably not be able to get much
beyond the spot. Our curiosity, indeed, had been excited by what
Pullingo had told us, and we were glad of an opportunity of witnessing
anything like a religious ceremony performed by the blacks; for, from
what we had heard of them, we supposed that they were utterly destitute
of anything approaching to religion.
At length Mudge told Pullingo that it was time to turn in. We retired
to our hut, leaving him and his son to creep under a lean-to they had
put up. Though we believed that we could thoroughly trust his honesty,
and that our lives also would be safe while he was near us, we agreed
that it would be prudent not to let him suppose that we should both be
asleep at once. Accordingly, after Mudge lay down I walked about with a
gun in my hand, to show that we were on the watch; and when I did go to
sleep, I made a pillow of my knapsack, and held a pistol in my hand.
We were awakened in the morning by the loud cry of our friend the
"laughing jackass." As Pullingo and Quaquagmagu had eaten up the
remainder of the birds we had shot, we immediately started to obtain a
fresh supply. This was not difficult to do, and we soon killed enough
to feed all hands and to enable us to carry some with us for the next
day's journey. Then shouldering our muskets, we set out with our faces
to the hill, the two blacks accompanying us.
"Perhaps Pullingo is, after all, sorry for having intended to desert us,
and will still continue our guide," I observed.
"Not much chance of that," answered Mudge. "Depend on it, he'll take
French leave whenever it suits his convenience."
Still, I was inclined to believe that the native would prove faithful.
Neither he nor his son, however, offered to carry our packs; though
Pullingo chatted as usual, and seemed in a particularly merry mood.
In the afternoon, after having stopped for dinner,--when we fed our
attendants with the produce of our guns,--we were already among the
spurs of the mountains, amid which the trees were of even more gigantic
growth than lower down. Instead of ascending abruptly, we found
ourselves in a valley with a gentle slope, penetrating far into the
range.
As the sun was now setting, we agreed to camp under a tall tree by the
side of a stream flowing down the valley, which would supply us with
water. We had shot some birds on our way, so we at once set to work to
collect bark for our hut and wood for our fire. Pullingo and his son
assisted us; but we observed that they did not put up a lean-to for
themselves. We were busily engaged in preparing our birds for supper,
when, after we had spitted them, on looking round we found that our
black companions had disappeared.
"I suppose they will come back for their share," observed Mudge.
Even when the birds were roasted they did not return, so we ate our
supper and prepared to take our rest. The moon, by this time, had risen
high in the sky, and was shedding her beams on the precipitous side of
the valley a little way below us. I was on the point of dropping off to
sleep, Mudge having agreed to keep watch, when I was aroused by a chorus
of strange, unearthly cries.
"Depend upon it, these must proceed from our black friends, who are
paying their respects to the cavern of the moon," observed Mudge. "I
thought just now I caught sight of some figures moving over the ground.
Probably Pullingo and his son are among them. Let us go and see what
they are about."
I willingly agreed. Strapping on our packs, which we were too wise to
leave behind, we proceeded in the direction from which the sounds came,
knowing that the light of the fire would enable us to find our way back
to the camp without difficulty. In a short time we caught sight of a
number of dark figures forming a semicircle in front of a cavern, the
entrance to which was surrounded by trees and numberless creepers
clinging to the rock. The men were dancing in their usual strange
fashion, leaping and springing, and twisting their bodies into all sorts
of curious attitudes; singing at the same time at the top of their
voices. Suddenly, at a signal from their fugleman, they all dropped
down on their knees and began to creep towards the cavern, rubbing their
noses every now and then on the ground. Thus they continued moving
about in front of the cavern, no one apparently daring to approach too
near the entrance.
As we were unwilling to be discovered, which we thought would be the
case should they on rising face about in our direction, we slowly
retreated towards our camp. On looking back, we saw that they were
still crawling about on hands and knees; and as the spectacle was rather
humiliating than interesting, we did not feel inclined to watch their
further proceedings.
After lying down I was very soon asleep. When Mudge called me, he told
me that the shouting and singing had been going on ever since, and that
neither Pullingo nor his son had returned.
"They'll come back, however, before morning," I observed.
I was wrong, for when I awoke they were not visible; nor, as far as our
telescope could enable us to distinguish objects, was a black to be
seen. We had several birds remaining, and we cooked them; still fully
expecting that Pullingo and his son would return for breakfast. We ate
our portion, keeping the remainder for them; but after waiting for some
time, they did not make their appearance.
"It would be useless to lose more time," observed Mudge at length. "It
is very evident that Pullingo and Quaquagmagu have taken French leave,
and gone off with their companions. The chances are that we shall see
no more of them. If the old fellow changes his mind, which perhaps he
may do when he recollects the pleasant roasts with which we supplied
him, he can easily track us along the valley."
"I can scarcely fancy that he would have gone off without wishing us
good-bye," I observed. "We'll give him another chance: I'll fire off my
gun, which I suppose he will understand as a signal that we are on the
march."
"Don't throw away a shot for so uncertain an object," answered Mudge.
"Let us look out for the birds; we may as well carry as much food as we
can into the mountains, in case we should find none there."
I followed Mudge's advice; and looking about, soon caught sight of a
magnificent cockatoo, at which I let fly and brought it to the ground,
the echoes of the report reverberating down the valley. "If our black
friend is in the neighbourhood he must have heard that shot," I
observed. Returning with my prize, we packed up our traps, stuffing the
roast pigeons into our kettle, which Mudge carried, while I hung the
unplucked bird outside my pack.
"Forward!" cried Mudge, and we turned our faces up the mountain.
We soon got into a region very different from any we had as yet met
with. Wild, rugged, and barren rocks rose around us, and a stunted
vegetation alone appeared in the gorges along which we made our way.
Still we pushed on, steering by our compass, which told us that we were
keeping a pretty direct course to the southward. Fortunate it was that
we had brought food with us, for not a bird appeared, nor did we see an
animal at which we could get a shot. We, of course, carefully noted the
way, not only that we might know it again, but to judge whether it could
be easily traversed by animals. As yet we agreed that a sure-footed
horse could easily get along, rugged as the way was, and steep in some
places. At length we came to the steep side of a mountain, over which
we ourselves, laden as we were, might be able to make our way, though it
was very certain that no horse could either ascend or descend it with
safety. I proposed, notwithstanding, that we should climb it.
"We'll not do that if it can be avoided," answered Mudge. "It may take
us less time to get over it, but it will be more advantageous to our
friends if we can make our way either to the right or left."
We looked about and soon found a route to the right, which appeared
practicable, as far as we could see; but where it would lead us to, we
could not tell.
"There's nothing like trying," observed Mudge; "and a perpendicular
precipice alone should stop us."
He was right; and after proceeding about a mile to the eastward, we
descended again into a valley which led in the direction we wished to
take. A cascade which came tumbling down the rock tempted us to stop,
although no trees from the bark of which we could form a hut were to be
seen. The shrubs, however, which grew in the neighbourhood of the fall
afforded us a supply of firewood. As we could find no cave or hollow
for a sleeping-place, we cut down a quantity of boughs, and arranged
them so as to screen ourselves from the cool breeze which blew along the
valley; but, from the dry appearance of the grass, and our own previous
sensations, we judged that the place was hot enough during the day, when
the sun beat down into it.
We soon had our kettle boiling; and having eaten some of our cold
pigeons--which, by the way, were rather high by this time--we drank our
tea, and lay down to sleep, with our firearms by our sides. There was
not much chance of our being interfered with by natives, and we also
concluded that no dingos were likely to find their way into a region
destitute of all other animals. There is no country in the world,
indeed, in which a traveller can rest so securely at night, provided no
natives attack him, as in Australia. Perhaps I might except the risk
from snakes; but these are only to be met with in the hotter spots, and
even the venomous ones seldom bite unless attacked. Dreary as was the
aspect of the region in which we were encamped, compared with the
scenery to which we had been accustomed, we slept, however, without
fear; and the next morning, having taken a shower-bath in the waterfall,
we breakfasted, and set off in good spirits.
"No signs of Master Pullingo," observed Mudge. "He might have found it
difficult to track us over the rocky ground, even had he wished it; but
I suspect that he has gone away north with his friends, and that we
shall not again set eyes on him."
We trudged on along the bottom of the gorge, the heat as the sun rose
and beat down into it becoming greater and greater till it was almost
insupportable. The scenery became still wilder as we advanced, and much
more arid; often bare rocks alone were to be seen on either hand, with
only the most stunted vegetation, and no signs of water. We travelled
on till noon, when we stopped under the shade of a rock to eat our
frugal meal. We had, of course, filled our bottles in the morning, and
therefore did not suffer from thirst, though we had been compelled to
exhaust a large portion of their contents.
Hitherto the route we had fortunately hit upon was practicable for
horses, though in many places the riders would have to dismount in order
to proceed with safety. The day was well advanced when, as we were
making our way through a narrow gorge, we came upon the bones of a large
animal; which, upon examination, proved to be those of a horse--picked
completely clean, however, by birds or insects.
"This shows that some traveller has been trying to make his way through
this defile; and if he came from the southward, it should encourage us
to hope that the route is practicable for four-footed beasts," observed
Mudge.
"Yes," I remarked; "but also, I fear, it makes it probable that there is
but little water or herbage, and that the poor animal must have died
from hunger and thirst. And look there! see, here are the bit and
stirrups, and the ironwork of the saddle. The rider must have found it
necessary to desert his steed without attempting to preserve them. Look
there! under the cliff are also part of a knapsack and other things."
We hurried on to the spot at which I pointed. There lay a gun, a brace
of pistols, a tinder-box, a clasp-knife, powder-horn, the brass of a
shot-belt, and many other articles. The knife attracted my attention--
it was exactly like one I had lost; and taking it up, what was my
surprise to see my own initials on the small plate in the handle, which
I had myself cut.
"That powder-horn is one I have used," observed Mudge; "I left it in the
store, intending to fill it. Let me see,--it was the very day before
the bushrangers paid us a visit. I have no doubt that the horse was one
ridden by the fellow who escaped, and that he must have been making his
way across the mountains when the animal fell down and died."
"If so, he must have been very hard pressed, or he would not have left
his gun and ammunition, on which he depended for subsistence, behind
him," I observed.
"You are right, Godfrey; and I have no doubt he must have been overtaken
by sickness, or been starved to death." Immediately after, Mudge
exclaimed,--"See! there is a piece of cloth hanging in that bush above
our heads; perhaps it was intended as a signal to any passer-by, or has
been blown there by the wind. I'll take off my knapsack and climb to
the top; there appears to be a broad ledge, from which I may get a view
down the gorge, and perhaps discover the most practicable path for us to
follow."
Mudge did as he proposed; when, getting his head above the level of the
ledge, he turned round and exclaimed,--"It is as I expected. There lies
the skeleton of the unhappy wretch, picked as clean as the bones of his
horse. He must have climbed up here for the purpose of looking about
him, and sunk down and died. Not an article of clothing remains; the
ants and birds must have carried that off."
"Heaven grant that his fate may not be ours!" I could not help mentally
exclaiming.
Mudge having looked round the ledge, and taken a glance along the
valley, now rejoined me. We had no time to lose, and were glad to get
away from the remains of the unhappy man and his steed. The powder-horn
was empty; and as we did not wish to add to the weight of our knapsacks,
we left that and the other articles, with the exception of my knife,
which I put in my pocket. We were very doubtful at times whether any
horse could get over the rough ground along which we made our way.
At last, night approaching, we were obliged to encamp in a wild and
desolate spot, the least satisfactory we had as yet stopped at. The
only shelter we could find was under an overhanging rock; such bushes as
we could see not affording us the means of building a hut or putting up
any protection against the night wind, which blew keenly across the
heights. We managed, however, to cut a sufficient quantity of dry wood
to light a fire, at which to boil the tea-kettle and cook our last
remaining bird. It was somewhat high, but we ate a portion
notwithstanding, reserving some for breakfast next morning. We had now
only a few mouthfuls of water at the bottom of our bottles, and, as far
as we could judge from the appearance of the country to the southward,
which presented a succession of rocky heights, it might be long before
we could replenish our store. We had still, however, some preserved
meat and flour and a small quantity of biscuit, which we had hitherto
carefully husbanded; and we hoped before that was exhausted to get into
a region where game and fruits of some sort could be found. We did not,
therefore, allow our spirits to be depressed. It was a great thing to
be conscious that we were performing an important duty; and I especially
felt very thankful that my mother and Edith had not been induced to
attempt crossing the mountains on foot before we had explored the way.
The place we had chosen was, at all events, dry enough, and we hoped, by
creeping close under the rock, not to suffer much from the cold.
Having said our prayers,--which, I may here observe, we always did both
morning and evening,--we recommended ourselves to the care of our
heavenly Father, and fearlessly lay down to rest.