We had made our plans, but they were very elastic, for it was impossible
for us to keep to any hard-and-fast line.
"No, Joe," the doctor said, "we cannot say that we will do this or that;
we must be governed by circumstances. We have one object in view--to
find your father, and so far we have determined to follow the course of
the first big river; when we shall be diverted from it time must prove."
We slept that night under the shade of another tree, and as the mist
rolled off the next morning we started once again.
It was so glorious a morning that, in spite of the serious nature of our
position, it was impossible not to feel in the highest of spirits. The
way lay through dense forest, but we had fallen into a track which I at
first thought was a regular pathway, and so it proved to be, but not of
the kind I imagined as I eagerly called the doctor's attention to it,
and the ease with which we were now getting along.
"No, Joe," he said; "this is not a path used by human beings. Look down
at the footprints."
I looked down to see the hoof-marks of innumerable wild creatures, and
said so.
"Yes," replied the doctor, "it is a track down to the river, followed by
the animals that go to drink, and we shall not be long before we get to
the water side."
Our way did not seem wearisome, for there was so much to see, the birds
in particular taking my attention greatly. One moment a flock of black
cockatoos would fly screaming by, then a cloud of brilliantly-coloured
parroquets, and in one opening we came upon what looked at first like a
gigantic beech-tree completely alive with tiny blue-and-green parrots
about the size of sparrows, climbing, fluttering, chattering, and
chirping, now with their heads up, now heads down, and forming one of
the prettiest sights I had ever seen.
I could have shot twenty or thirty together as they sat in rows upon the
bare branches, so little did they heed our presence; but it was
unnecessary to destroy their little lives, and we passed on.
I was less merciful an hour later, for food was a necessity, and I was
fortunate enough to bring down at the first shot a beautiful little deer
that started up in our very path.
My shot seemed to alarm the whole forest and set it in an uproar: birds
shrieked, monkeys chattered, and to right and left there was a rushing
crackling noise, as of big creatures seeking flight. There was a
deep-mouthed howl, too, away on our right that made me look anxiously at
the doctor.
"I don't know, Joe," he replied, as if in answer to a spoken question.
"There may be tigers here, and leopards, and old men of the woods, big
as ourselves. It is new land, my lad, so don't look to me for
information."
"Dat big bunyip," said Jimmy in a scared whisper. "Take black fellow--
kill um, eatum."
Just then we heard the same beating noise that had fallen upon our ears
the previous day.
"Dat big bunyip beat um gin," whispered Jimmy, with a curious
awe-stricken look in his countenance.
"'Taint," said Jack Penny slowly. "I don't believe in bunyips. If it
was a bunyip beating his gin, she'd holloa out like hooray, and squeak
the leaves off the trees."
"'Fraid squeak," said Jimmy eagerly, as he caught Jack's meaning.
"Well, perhaps Jimmy's right," said the doctor slowly; "and as I've
never seen a bunyip the present is a favourable opportunity, and we can
interfere to stop him from too severely castigating his wife. Come,
Jimmy, lead on."
Jimmy's jaw dropped, but his hand stole to his waistband, from which he
drew his waddy, talking slowly the while, till, seeing the doctor make a
movement towards him, he turned round and darted into the bush.
"He won't stop till he gets back to the village," drawled Jack.
"He won't go farther than the first big tree," I said, laughing. "He's
watching us now, I'll be bound."
"Then you and I will have to meet the bunyip, Joe," said the doctor.
"Are you coming, Penny?"
"Yes, I'll come," said Jack quietly. "I should like to see a bunyip.
Come along."
Jack went on--not first, for Gyp started before him and, guided by the
noise, we pushed on amongst the dense growth, finding the earth grow
moister beneath our feet; and then all at once it seemed as if the big
trees had come to an end and we were in a lighter place.
"There's the water," I cried, as I caught sight of a flash.
"You'll be in it here directly, same as I was," drawled Jack. "I say,
doctor, ain't this the sort of place big snakes like?"
"Hush!" whispered the doctor; and pressing back the thick growth we
advanced cautiously, and following his example I, too, stepped from tuft
to tuft, listening to the beating noise and to the other sounds that
arose.
First there was the loud rustle of wings as some water birds flew up,
long-legged creatures with far-stretching necks. Then on my left there
was an ominous noise, as of something crawling amongst the reeds, and I
shuddered as I saw that Jack Penny was holding his gun ready, and that
Gyp's hair was bristling all about his neck, while his teeth were bared.
The doctor was some distance before us now, and I could see him peering
between some bushes and waving his hand to me to come forward; so,
forgetting the danger, if danger there was, I went cautiously to my
companion's side, to gaze with astonishment at the scene before me.
There was no bunyip or native Australian demon there, but a great
shallow, muddy pond or lake, which seemed as if it must be swarming with
fish and crocodiles, for every here and there, as the great rugged backs
of the horrible lizards were seen pushing towards the shore, shoals of
silvery fish leaped out, flashing in the sunshine before they splashed
back into the water.
Here, then, was the secret of the mysterious noise which was being
produced before my eyes. For the crocodiles were driving the shoals of
fish into the little bays and creeks, and then stunning them by beating
the water heavily with their tails, the result being that the paralysed
fish were easily devoured.
I felt as if I could never tire of gazing at the monsters so busy before
us. There must have been at least five-and-twenty, and all of large
size; and it was not a pleasant thought to consider what would have been
the consequences if we had attempted to wade across the lagoon.
Before leaving, however, the doctor took out his glass and swept the
shore of the great pond, to nod with satisfaction.
"This is only a sort of bay belonging to the river we are seeking, Joe,"
he said. "Look there to the left, and you can see the entrance choked
up with reeds."
We crept back cautiously, to find Jimmy awaiting our return; and then
making a detour towards the lake, we soon reached the river, along whose
bank was a well-trodden path, in whose softer parts, besides those of
deer, it was plain to see the ugly toes of crocodiles, and the long
trail they made as they dragged themselves along.
We did not halt until we had left the crocodile pond a long way behind;
but a fine dry, open spot, close to the flashing water of the swift
river, was so tempting that we did not go so far as we had intended.
Here a fire was soon lit, and Jimmy sat watching the roasting of the
buck with an indescribable look of satisfaction in his countenance;
while, eager to try whether it would be possible to add to our provision
store at any time from the river, I went on down to the water's edge.
For if there were fish in such abundance in the lagoon, I felt sure that
if they would bite there must be plenty in the stream.
My first idea had been to have a bathe in the cool-looking water, but,
seeing my intention, the black who had been my companion in the watch,
took my hand, led me cautiously along for a short distance, and then
pointed to where there was lying, dimly outlined in the thickened water,
one of the hideous creatures such as I had seen in the lagoon.
The black then put his wrists together, spread wide his hands, and
closed them sharply upon my arm like a pair of jaws, and snatched me
sidewise with a good tug.
I was quite satisfied, and nodding and shuddering I joined the doctor,
who was ready enough to help me fish.
We soon had our lines ready, and baiting the hooks with pieces of raw
meat, we threw out and waited, after the manner of fishermen at home,
for a bite.
After a time I examined my bait and threw in again. Then the doctor
examined his and threw in again, but neither of us had the slightest
touch, and growing weary we went back to the fire to find the buck
sufficiently roasted and Jimmy's eyes standing out of his head with
hunger; so we made a hasty meal, left the blacks to finish it, and Jack
Penny to rest his long body, while we had another try at the fishing.
But Jack Penny did not care to rest when anything was going on, and
after we had been fishing without result for about half an hour he
joined us.
"Caught anything?" he said; and on our replying in the negative, "Here,
let me try," he said.