"Yes: all go 'long. Tink bunyip. Kill um dead. No kill bunyip. Oh
no!"
There was the sound of voices, but they were more distant, and then they
seemed to come up the rift in quite a broken whisper, and the next
moment they had died away.
"Safe, doctor!" I said, and we all breathed more freely than before.
The blacks had gone. Evidently they believed that the occupant of the
cave had expired in that final roar, and when we afterwards crept
cautiously round after a detour the next morning, it was to find that
the place was all open, and for fifty yards round the bushes and
tree-ferns torn down and burned.
The night of our escape we hardly turned from our positions, utterly
exhausted as we were, and one by one we dropped asleep.
When I woke first it was sometime in the night, and through the trees
the great stars were glinting down, and as I lay piecing together the
adventures of the past day I once more fell fast asleep to be awakened
by Jimmy in the warm sunlight of a glorious morning.
"All black fellow gone long way. Come kedge fis an fine 'nana."
I rose to my feet to see that the doctor was busy with his patient, who
was none the worse for the troubles of the past day, and what was of
more consequence, he was able to speak slowly and without running off
into the native tongue.
We went down to the stream, Jack Penny bearing us company, and were
pretty fortunate in cutting off some good-sized fish which were sunning
themselves in a shallow, and Ti-hi and his companions were no less
successful in getting fruit, so that when we returned we were able to
light a fire and enjoy a hearty meal.
What I enjoyed the most, though, was a good lave in the clear cold water
when we had a look at the mouth of the cave.
The doctor came to the conclusion that where we were, shut-in by high
shelving sand rocks, was as safe a spot as we could expect, the more so
that the blacks were not likely to come again, so we made this our camp,
waiting to recruit a little and to let the black village settle down
before making any farther attempt. Beside this there was our new
companion--William Francis he told us his name was, and that he had been
ten years a prisoner among the blacks. Until he had recovered from the
effect of his unlucky wound we could not travel far, and our flight when
we rescued my father must necessarily be swift.
It was terribly anxious work waiting day after day, but the doctor's
advice was good--that we must be content to exist without news for fear,
in sending scouts about the village at night, we should alarm the enemy.
"Better let them think there is no one at hand," said the doctor, "and
our task will be the easier."
So for a whole fortnight we waited, passing our time watching the bright
scaled fish glance down the clear stream, or come up it in shoals; lying
gazing at the brightly plumed birds that came and shrieked and climbed
about the trees above our heads; while now and then we made cautious
excursions into the open country in the direction opposite to the
village, and fortunately without once encountering an enemy, but adding
largely to our store of food, thanks to the bows and arrows of our
friends.
At last, one evening, after quietly talking to us sometime about the
sufferings of himself and my father, Mr Francis declared himself strong
enough to accompany our retreat.
"The interest and excitement will keep me up," he said; "and you must
not wait longer for me. Besides, I shall get stronger every day, and--"
He looked from me to the doctor and then back, and passed his hand
across his forehead as if to clear away a mist, while, when he began to
speak again, it was not in English, and he burst into tears.
"Lie down and sleep," the doctor said firmly; and, obedient as a child,
the patient let his head sink upon the rough couch he occupied and
closed his eyes.
"It is as if as his body grew strong his mental powers weakened," said
the doctor to me as soon as we were out of hearing; "but we must wait
and see."
Then we set to and once more talked over our plans, arranging that we
would make our attempt next night, and after studying the compass and
the position we occupied we came to the decision that we had better work
round to the far side of the village, post Mr Francis and two of the
blacks there, with our baggage, which was principally food; then make
our venture, join them if successful, and go on in retreat at once.