ARRANGING THE DETAILS
In the afternoon Mr. Breslin brought around a trap to drive over the
road to Rockingham, where the men were to embark in the whaleboat for
the ship, if the escape was successful. For ten miles the drive was
over the hard macadamized road built by the prisoners and called the
Fenian road. With a pair of horses and four men in the trap, this
distance was accomplished in forty minutes, and the test was very
satisfactory. Then a sandy, heavy road was encountered for a distance
of seven miles, which merged into a mere track winding through the
"black boys," as the trees are called, the bush, and the sand to
Rockingham Hotel. The latter stretch was about four miles, and the
total distance was made in two hours and twenty minutes.
Here a hard, sandy beach was discovered. Garden Island, a long, low
stretch of land covered with tall grass and bush, makes out from a
point and extends nearly to Freemantle, forming Cockburn's Sound, a
sheltered inlet. At the north end of the island is a narrow passage
between the island and Cape Peron, a point on the mainland. Here the
men alighted.
"Now, this is the place," said Mr. Breslin, "where we propose to bring
the men, and where we expect you to meet us with a boat."
Captain Anthony stuck up an old piece of joist or rail in the sand
above high-water mark.
"Let it be understood that this is the place where I will meet you with
my boat if God spares my life," said the captain.
The four men then drove back to the hotel at Rockingham, where they
rested, for the day had been intensely hot, and men and horses were
thoroughly fatigued. That evening they arranged a code of cipher for
telegraphing. Breslin was to notify Captain Anthony at Bunbury when the
gunboat left Freemantle, and the captain was to telegraph back the hour
of sailing. Forty-eight hours from the time when the telegram was sent,
Captain Anthony was to have the Catalpa off the coast at Rockingham and
his boat on the beach.
This was leaving much to chance, of course. Rockingham was a hundred
miles from Bunbury, and head winds, bad weather, or calms might prevent
the Catalpa from covering the distance within that time. But it was
indeed a desperate undertaking; the men had resolved to take desperate
chances and trust the luck which had thus far attended the expedition.
The telegraphic code was arranged as follows: When the gunboat sailed,
Breslin was to send the message, "Your friend (N. or S. meaning north
or south) has gone home. When do you sail?" This meant, "The gunboat
has sailed north or south. All right. Start from Bunbury." In case the
gunboat arrived to take the governor to the northwest coast, Breslin
was to wire "Jones is going overland to Champion Bay. When do you clear
out of Bunbury?" And when the coast was again clear, "Jones has gone to
Champion Bay; did not receive a letter from you," meaning, "All right
again."
[Illustration: THE TOWN OF FREEMANTLE, AUSTRALIA]
On Monday, Captain Anthony was invited to go with his friends and
a party of merchants in the colony to Perth, the residence of the
governor. The company assembled at one of the hotels, and previous
to the dinner were entertained by the songs of a Western Australian
shepherd. A copy of the verses of one of the selections, describing
one of the unique sports of the colony, was given the captain at his
request. These are the lines:--
"I'm an odd thinking man,
And will get on if I can,--
I'm only a shepherd, 'tis true;
I find sport with my gun
Whilst out on the run,
In hunting the kangaroo!
"Some folks talk of the fox,
Ride through heather and box,
Hounds, steeds, and their hunting crew;
That is all very well,
But no sport can excel
The chase of the kangaroo.
"If I put up a doe,
Oft her offspring she'll throw
From the pouch in her breast, 'tis true;
And now for the fun,--
For I don't use my gun,--
But run down the young kangaroo.
"Whilst my dogs on the scent
Of killing intent,
Swiftly o'er the plain they flew:
They ne'er lose a trail,
Nor to kill ever fail,
Or show the dead kangaroo.
"When a booma's at bay
You've the devil to pay,
He'll fight like a boxer,'tis true:
He's a terrible foe,
As the dogs often know,
In encounters with kangaroo.
"I've kept you too long,
So an end to my song;
I hope 'twill amuse not a few.
When we meet again
We'll go out on the plain,
For a hunt of the kangaroo."
When the gentlemen were about to be seated at the dinner-table, Captain
Anthony was filled with consternation as a government official placed
his hand on his arm and said, "Excuse me, sir, but what is your name
and business, and what are you doing here?"
Captain Anthony naturally thought the plot had been betrayed, when
Breslin stepped up to explain that this was a custom of the country.
The captain received such a shock that he failed to thoroughly enjoy
the dinner. He found another illustration of the suspicion which is
always abroad in the penal colony, later in the day. Going into the
hydrographic office to buy a chart of the coast, he was compelled to
reply to a long series of questions before he was permitted to purchase
it.
On Thursday, April 6, Captain Anthony started back to the ship in the
Bunbury mail coach, carrying $250 in gold which Mr. Breslin had given
him to square up his bills. This was a thirty-two hours' journey over
sandy roads, and as the weather was hot and Captain Anthony was the
only passenger, he was utterly wearied when he arrived at Bunbury at
four P.M. the following day.