PLEASANT RIDES THROUGH THE COUNTRY--MAGNIFICENT VEGETATION--HECTOR STUNG
BY A NETTLE--A HURRICANE--ROOF OF THE HUT BLOWN OFF.
Some weeks passed away, and the new comers were getting accustomed to
bush-life. Even the unimpressible Evelina and Adela began to take an
interest in what was going on, though they were still open to the
criticism pronounced on them by Harry to Reginald--
"Those girls of yours are very well in their way, but it is a pity they
cannot learn to make themselves useful."
Aunt Emily was, however, delighted with all she saw--the trees, the
birds, the animals; and much indeed there was to admire during the rides
she and two or three of the girls were accustomed to take, either with
Mr Berrington or Paul, Harry or Reginald.
All apprehension of an attack from the blacks had subsided, and they
frequently rode to a considerable distance from Stratton. The country
beyond the scrub was open, or rather only sprinkled with tall ungainly
gum-trees, but there was to be found in many spots other and very
beautiful foliage. In some places groves of acacia-trees with yellow
blossoms, and in other spots tall coral trees with long pendulous red
flowers, looking exactly like strings of coral hanging from the dark
foliage. Sometimes they came upon the curiously-shaped bottle tree,
which greatly resembles a lemonade bottle placed in the ground. Then,
not far off, would be found the grass tree, from the summit of which
long pendants projected like enormous blades of grass. Even these trees
were of considerable height. Mr Berrington said that during the hot
months he always had a supply of the wood, as the smoke arising from it
emits not only a very pleasant odour, but is much objected to by the
mosquitos, and by burning it in the room those pests of Queensland are
always driven out.
One of the most remarkable trees they met with was the bunya-bunya, a
species of pine. It towered like a pinnacle above all the other trees,
reaching a height of upwards of two hundred feet.
Some of the young trees were peculiarly handsome, throwing out branches
all around close to the ground to a distance of many yards, and smaller
branches rising in regular gradation to the top, thus forming a perfect
cone with so dense a foliage that it was evident no animal could
penetrate it. At the top of the older trees grew an enormous cone of
fruit, each being the size of a chestnut. From some of these a bare
pole shot up nearly a hundred feet above the branches, with this
prodigious cone at the summit. Notwithstanding this, the party saw a
couple of blacks belonging to a friendly tribe, who occasionally camped
near them, climb to the top, whence they threw down the fruit in
handfuls. Harry and Reginald filled their pockets with some of it,
which they carried home. It was cooked as chestnuts are, but was
pronounced more farinaceous and much nicer to eat.
The party frequently took provisions with them, and enjoyed a picnic in
some beautiful spot while their horses were hobbled near. On one of
these occasions Hector had condescended to accompany them. He and Paul,
with Mr Hayward, were walking some little distance from the rest, when
Hector, not taking an interest in the conversation of his cousin and the
dominie, sauntered away from them. Hector had the habit as he walked
along of pulling off the leaves of any shrub or tree he passed, from
mere thoughtlessness, not with any idea of examining their shape or
character.
"Where's Hector got to?" suddenly exclaimed Paul.
"There he is," said Mr Hayward; then he shouted, "Come back, Hector;
come back! Don't touch those shrubs."
But Hector either did not hear or did not heed the call, and Mr Hayward
and Paul set off to run after him. Presently they heard him shriek out,
and throw down a large leaf like that of a mallow, which he had plucked
from a shrub about fifteen feet in height.
"That's a nettle tree," exclaimed Mr Hayward; "poor fellow! he'll
suffer for it."
They found Hector wringing his hand, and declaring that he had been
stung by a snake. He was somewhat consoled when Mr Hayward and Paul
assured him that he had only by mistake caught hold of a huge nettle,
though he might expect to suffer from its effects for some days to come.
He wanted to run off to a stream near which the party had picnicked, to
cool his hand in the water.
"That will only make matters worse," said Paul; "you must keep your hand
as dry as possible, for every time you wet it the pain will come on
again."
Poor Hector could scarcely refrain from crying out with pain.
"You must grin and bear it, old fellow," said Harry, really wishing to
console him. "When you get home mother will, I dare say, apply some
remedy. We were fortunately warned about catching hold of nettles
before we had your experience; but you'll never do it again."
All the party enjoyed the ride, except poor Hector, who complained
bitterly of the pain he suffered from the stinging-nettle. On their
arrival at home, Mrs Hugh applied ammonia and oil. At length he
acknowledged that the pain had considerably abated, but during the
remainder of the evening he took every opportunity of abusing the
country and "its horrible productions."
Harry, who was always ready to take up the cudgels in favour of his
native land, answered, "Why, even you in England have got nettles, and
poisonous berries too, and, I am sure, have not got one-tenth part of
the fruits and plants which this country can produce. We can grow the
sugar-cane, cotton, coffee, rice and tobacco, and Peruvian bark, or what
answers as well, and spices of all sorts, while few of our berries are
poisonous; and, except those rascally dingos, we have not an animal in
the country which can do any harm to man or beast."
"Oh, yes! it's a very nice land indeed," sneered Hector.
"Come, old fellow, you're shut up, after all," exclaimed Harry,
triumphantly, "and it is time to go to bed. I'm off to our hut. Come
along, Reggy; Paul went there an hour ago."
Family prayers were over. The two lads, wishing their fathers and
mothers and all hands good night, set off to their abode.
Mr Hayward and the rest of the inmates of the hut had been some time
asleep, when they were awakened by a fearful uproar, like the howling,
shrieking, and hissing of a thousand locomotive engines dashing on at
full speed--so Reggy described it. They could scarcely hear their own
voices as they shouted to know what was happening.
"A storm, lads, and such a one as we don't often get," said Mr Hayward,
who was dressing as fast as he could. The rest followed his example,
for at any moment the roof of their hut might be carried off. As they
looked out they saw the tallest trees bending and groaning under the
fearful blast. At that moment a huge branch, broken off, was dashed to
the ground near them with a tremendous crash, while the whole air was
filled with leaves, twigs, and smaller branches.
The thunder, which had been heard at a distance, came near. At first it
sounded like a faint cannonading, but now it broke overhead with
terrible roars and rattles, as if a pitched battle were raging amid the
clouds, drowning all other sounds. In such rapid succession did peal
follow peal, that they appeared like one continuous roar.
Black clouds made the night as dark as pitch, until the lightning burst
forth and lit up the whole of the surrounding scene. Streams of the
electric fluid, running down the stems of the tall trees, went hissing
along the ground like fiery serpents. Blast succeeded blast, until
suddenly the whole roof of the hut, being lifted together, was carried
off, the inmates knew not where; when down came the rain in a sheet of
water, rather than drops. The lads were thankful that they had got on
their clothes, at all events, and had time to slip into their
waterproofs.
"We must go and see what is happening at the house. I only hope the
fencing won't be blown down, or we shall have work enough to-morrow to
collect the stock again," cried Paul.
In spite of the storm, and the danger they ran from falling boughs, they
commenced making their way towards the house. Sometimes it was so dark
that they could not see a foot before them. Then, in an instant, a
bright flash would illumine the whole scene, and they rushed forward
again, stopping when darkness came upon them. At length they calculated
that they must be close to the house. A flash revealed it to them, but
it appeared as if the roof had gone. No one was to be seen. They
shouted, but no reply came. They tried to open the door, but it was
fastened within. Perhaps those they loved had been crushed by the
falling roof. The thought was too dreadful. Paul and Harry shook at
the door, and shouted again and again.