A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE.
"You have not met Dick Fletcher?" said Ralph Granger in surprise.
"Yes, we only parted from him this morning."
"Did he rob you?"
"No, but he tried to."
Here Obed gave an account of Fletcher's searching his pockets during the
night.
"He thought I was sound asleep," he continued, "and so I was, but it
doesn't take much to wake me. When I gripped his throat, he concluded
he'd tackled the wrong man."
"Did you part company with him then?"
"No; he pretended he had been in search of matches, and I pretended to
believe it, but kept a good look-out. Last evening we stopped at the
Travellers' Rest, and Harry, here, overheard him and the landlord out in
the woods concocting a scheme to rob us, so I just told the gentleman
his room was better than his company, and he cleared out."
"I am afraid he will turn up again," said Granger apprehensively.
"We'll try to be ready for him," said Obed coolly, "but I don't mean to
borrow any trouble."
By this time their new acquaintance had satisfied his hunger. He turned
gratefully to Obed Stackpole.
"How can I thank you for your great kindness?" he said earnestly. "I
feel that you have saved my life."
"Tut, tut." said Obed, "I've only done as you would have done in my
place. Obed Stackpole isn't the man to let anyone go hungry when he has
enough and to spare. But finish your story, my friend. How long is it
since you parted company with that skunk, Fletcher?"
"I think it is only seven days, but it has seemed a month."
"And didn't you meet anybody humane enough to relieve your hunger?".
"Yes, during the first four days, but not for the last three. Part of
the time I lost my way, and did not meet anyone. I hope you will never
know such torments as I have known in that time."
"Amen to that! And now, my friend, what are your plans?"
"I should like to go back to Melbourne," said the stranger hesitatingly.
"If you say so, we'll fit you out with three days' provisions, and you
can push on."
"I hardly like to go alone."
"I am sorry, for your sake, that we are going the other way. You see we
haven't made our pile yet, and must go on. I wish we were on our way
back, with our pockets well lined. Although you have been robbed, you've
got a good sum waiting for you in Melbourne."
"True; I shall be all right when I get there, but as I am at present
situated, it seems very uncertain when I shall have that good fortune."
"I'll tell you what you'd better do, Granger. Come along with us, and
join the first party we meet bound for the city. You will, at all
events, be sure of your victuals till then."
"I believe your advice to be good, and will accept your kind invitation.
When I met you I was about worn out, but the tea and food have put new
life in me, and my strength has returned."
After an hour's halt, the little party resumed their march. They were
compelled to go so slowly, in consequence of the difficulties of the
way, not caring, of course, to get ahead of the oxen, that Granger was
easily able to keep up. He proved to be a pleasant addition to the
party, and all were glad to have exchanged Fletcher for him. They were
not destined to travel long together, however, for before nightfall they
fell in with a party of eight persons bound for Melbourne. The two
parties halted, and had a conference. Granger's story being told, they
agreed to let him join their party, in consideration of a fair
compensation which he agreed to make on his arrival at Melbourne.
"Good-by, Granger," said Obed, as they parted. "I think you're all right
now. I wish you good luck for the balance of your journey."
"Thank you, Mr. Stackpole," said Granger, grasping the Yankee's hand
cordially. "If I do, I shall feel that I am indebted to you for my good
fortune. I shudder to think what would have been my fate if I hadn't
fallen in with you."
"Then don't think of it! Good-by. Perhaps we shall meet again."
Granger also shook hands with Harry and Jack, and so they parted on the
best of terms.
"I wonder whether we shall meet with any more of that mean skunk
Fletcher's victims," said Obed. "He's in a pretty mean business."
"There's no doubt about that," said Harry. "I'd rather live poor all my
life than live by fleecing my neighbors."
Toward the close of the day they entered a much pleasanter country. In
place of sandy clay, baked hard in the sun, alternating here and there
with a moist bog, they came to tall grass, trees of great height, and
meadows suitable for grazing. The cattle revelled in the rich feed, and
Obed suffered them to eat their fill, feeling that they had worked hard
and deserved it. Though it was rather earlier than usual, they decided
to encamp for the night near the margin of a creek, shaded by trees of a
gigantic size.
Harry looked longingly at the clear stream, and a vision rose before him
of a pond in his native town where he had been accustomed to bathe.
"Jack," said he, "let's have a swim."
"I'm with you," said Jack promptly. "I'll bet you a shilling I'll be in
the water first."
"I'll make a try for it anyway." But Jack, being more simply dressed,
was as good as his word, and plunged into the creek first. Harry was
scarcely half a minute behind. The boys swam, dived, and frolicked as
boys of their age will, and were loath to come out at the last. After
their experience of mud and heat the bath seemed to them delicious.
"I haven't enjoyed myself so much since I came to Australia," said Harry
with a deep sigh of satisfaction. "I wish I could have a bath every
evening."
"So do I," said Jack; "I mean to have another to-morrow morning."
They slept soundly all night, but early in the morning, as consciousness
returned, Harry was startled by the sound of hearty laughter. He looked
at Jack and Obed in amazement, but both were fast asleep. Indeed, the
sound seemed to come from above. He looked up into the tree beneath
which they had encamped, but could see no person concealed among the
branches. He did, however, notice a peculiar looking bird, and it dawned
upon him that the laughter proceeded from it. He remembered now to have
heard of the bird peculiar to Australia, popularly known as "the
laughing jackass." This was the first chance he had had of hearing it,
and he woke up Obed and Jack to hear it also.
"That beats all I ever heard," said Mr. Stackpole. "I wish he'd tell us
what's the joke, and we'll laugh too."
This was not the only sound they heard. A flock of white cockatoos were
roosting on the tree, and favored the party with their dissonant cries.
They are described as having "most sharp and rasping voices."
"If that's singing," said Obed. "I shan't be afraid to try it myself."
"Don't you sing, Mr. Stackpole?" asked Jack, smiling.
"I thought I could once, when I was in my teens. I attended a singing
school, and went in the attic one Sunday mornin' to practise. Soon my
father was at the foot of the stairs, and asked me what I meant by
sawin' boards up in the attic Sunday mornin'."
Of course the boys laughed, but in spite of Obed's disclaimer thought
they would prefer listening to him to the cockatoos.
They got ready to move at seven, the boys having made sure of a bath
first. They were not destined to proceed far, however. About ten
o'clock, as they were skirting the woods, six men on horseback rode out
from the leafy covert. They seemed inclined to dispute the passage of
the party.
"What can they want?" ejaculated Harry, with a startled look.
"I expect they are bushrangers," said Obed.