"HOW MANY DID YOU SEE?"
It was only dawn, but German had seen that the great kettle was boiling
where it hung over the wood fire, and that the cattle were all safe, and
enjoying their morning repast of rich, green, dewy grass. The boys were
up and off at once, full of the life and vigour given by a night's rest
in the pure fresh air, and away down to the river side to have a bath
before breakfast.
Then, just as flecks of orange were beginning to appear, Aunt Georgie
came out of the tent tying on an apron before picking up a basket, and
in a businesslike way going to the fire, where she opened the canister,
poured some tea into a bit of muslin, and tied it up loosely, as if she
were about to make a tea-pudding.
"Too much water, Samuel," she said; "pour half away."
Sam German lifted down the boiling kettle, and poured half away.
"Set it down, Samuel."
"Yes, mum," said the man obediently; and as it was placed by the fire,
Aunt Georgie plunged her tea-bag in, and held it beneath the boiling
water with a piece of stick.
Just then the captain and Uncle Jack appeared from where they had been
inspecting the horses.
"Morning, auntie," said the former, going up and kissing the
sturdy-looking old lady.
"Good-morning, my dear," she replied; "you needn't ask me. I slept
deliciously, and only dreamed once about that dreadful black man.--
Good-morning, John, my dear," she continued, kissing Uncle Jack. "Why,
you have not shaved, my dear."
"No," he said gruffly, "I'm going to let my beard grow."
"John!" exclaimed Aunt Georgie.
"Time those girls were up," said the captain.
"They'll be here directly, Edward," said the old lady; "they are only
packing up the blankets."
"Oh!" said the captain; "that's right. Why, where are the boys gone?"
"Down to the river for a bathe, sir," said German.
"What! Which way?" roared the captain.
"Straight down yonder, sir, by the low trees."
"Quick, Jack, your gun!" cried the captain, running to the wagon,
getting his, and then turning to run in the direction pointed out; his
brother, who was accustomed to the captain's quick military ways, and
knowing that he would not give an order like that if there were not dire
need, following him directly, armed with a double gun, and getting close
up before he asked what was the matter.
"Matter?" panted the captain. "Cock your piece--both barrels--and be
ready to fire when I do. The boys are gone down to the river."
"What, are there really savages there?"
"Yes," said the captain, hoarsely; "savages indeed. Heaven grant we may
be there in time. They have gone to bathe, and the river swarms for a
long way up with reptiles."
Uncle Jack drew a deep breath as, with his gun at the trail, he trotted
on beside his brother, both increasing their pace as they heard the
sound of a splash and shouting.
"Faster!" roared the captain, and they ran on till they got out from
among the trees on to a clearing, beautifully green now, but showing
plain by several signs that it was sometimes covered by the glittering
river which ran deep down now below its banks.
There before them were Rifle and Tim, just in the act of taking off
their last garments, and the former was first and about to take a run
and a header off the bank into the deep waters below, when, quick as
thought, the captain raised his gun, and without putting it to his
shoulder, held it pistol way, and fired in the air.
"Now you can shoot!" cried the captain; and again, without stopping to
ask questions, Uncle Jack obeyed, the two shots sounding almost
deafening in the mist that hung over the ravine.
As the captain had anticipated, the sound of the shots stopped Rifle at
the very edge of the river, and made him make for his clothes, and what
was of even greater importance, as he reached the bank where the river
curved round in quite a deep eddy beneath them, there was Norman twenty
yards away swimming rapidly toward a shallow place where he could land.
Words would not have produced such an effect.
"Now," said the captain, panting for breath from exertion and
excitement, "watch the water. Keep your gun to your shoulder, and fire
the moment there is even a ripple anywhere near the boy."
Uncle Jack obeyed, while as Norman looked up, he saw himself apparently
covered by the two guns, and at once dived like a dabchick.
"Madness! madness!" groaned the captain; "has he gone down to meet his
fate. What are you loaded with?"
"Ball," said Uncle Jack, laconically.
"Better lie down and rest your piece on the edge of the bank. You must
not miss."
As they both knelt and rested the guns, Norman's head appeared.
"I say, don't," he shouted. "I see you. Don't do that."
"Ashore, quick!" roared the captain, so fiercely that the boy swam
harder.
"No," roared the captain again; "slowly and steadily."
"Yes, father, but don't, don't shoot at me. I'm only bathing."
"Don't talk; swim!" cried the captain in a voice of thunder; and the boy
swam on, but he did not make rapid way, for the tide, which reached up
to where they were, was running fast, and as he swam obliquely across
it, he was carried rapidly down.
"What have I done--what does it mean?" he thought, as he swam on,
growing so much excited now by the novelty of his position that his
limbs grew heavy, and it was not without effort that he neared the bank,
still covered by the two guns; and at last touched bottom, waded a few
paces, and climbed out to where he was able to mount the slope and stand
in safety upon the grass.
"Ned, old fellow, what is it?" whispered Uncle Jack, catching his
brother's arm, for he saw his face turn of a ghastly hue.
"Hush! don't take any notice. I shall be better directly. Load that
empty barrel."
Uncle John Munday Bedford obeyed in silence, but kept an eye upon his
brother as he poured in powder, rammed down a wad, and then sent a
charge of big shot rattling into the gun before thrusting in another wad
and ramming it home.
As he did all this, and then prised open the pan of the lock to see that
it was well filled with the fine powder--for there were no breechloaders
in those days, and the captain had decided to take their old flint-lock
fowling-pieces for fear that they might be stranded some day up-country
for want of percussion caps--the deadly sickness passed off, and Captain
Bedford sighed deeply, and began to reload in turn.
Meanwhile, Norman, after glancing at his father, naturally enough ran to
where he had left his clothes, hurried into shirt and trousers, and as
soon as he was, like his companions, half-dressed, came toward the two
men, Rifle and Tim following him, after the trio had had a whispered
consultation.
"I'm very sorry, father," faltered Norman, as he saw the stern, frowning
face before him, while Uncle Jack looked almost equally solemn.
Then, as the captain remained silent, the lad continued: "I know you
said that we were to journey up the country quite in military fashion,
and obey orders in everything; but I did not think it would be doing
anything wrong for us all to go and have a morning swim."
"Was it your doing?" said the captain, coldly.
"Yes, father. I know it was wrong now, but I said there would be time
for us all to bathe, as the river was so near. I didn't think that--"
"No," said the captain, sternly, "you did not think--you did not stop to
think, Norman. That is one of the differences between a boy and a man.
Remember it, my lad. A boy does not stop to think: as a rule a man
does. Now, tell me this, do I ever refuse to grant you boys any
reasonable enjoyment?"
"No, father."
"And I told you before we started that you must be very careful to act
according to my rules and regulations, for an infringement might bring
peril to us all."
"Yes, father."
"And yet you took upon yourself to go down there to bathe in that swift,
strange river, and took your brother and cousin."
"Yes, father. I see it was wrong now, but it seemed a very innocent
thing to do."
"Innocent? You could not have been guilty of a more wild and mad act.
Why would not the captain allow bathing when we were in the tropics?"
"Because of the sharks; but there would not be sharks up here in this
river."
"Are there no other dangerous creatures infesting water, sir?"
A horrified look came into Norman's eyes, and the colour faded out of
his cheeks.
"What!" he said at last, in a husky voice, "are there crocodiles in the
river?"
"I had it on good authority that the place swarmed with them, sir; and
you may thank God in your heart that my enterprise has not been darkened
at the start by a tragedy."
"Oh, father!" cried the boy, catching at the captain's hand.
"There, it has passed, Man," said the captain, pressing the boy's hand
and laying the other on his shoulder; "but spare me such another shock.
Think of what I must have felt when German told me you boys had come
down to bathe. I ought to have warned you last night; but I cannot
think of everything, try as I may. There, it is our secret, boys. Your
mother is anxious enough, so not a word about this. Quick, get on your
clothes, and come on to breakfast.--Jack, old fellow," he continued, as
he walked slowly back, "it made me feel faint as a woman. But mind
about the firing. We did not hit anything. They will very likely ask."
As it happened, no questions were asked about the firing, and after a
hearty breakfast, which, in the bright morning, was declared to be
exactly like a picnic, they started once more on what was a glorious
excursion, without a difficulty in their way. There was no road, not so
much as a faint track, but they travelled on through scenery like an
English park, and the leader had only to turn aside a little from time
to time to avoid some huge tree, no other obstacles presenting
themselves in their way.
German, the captain's old servant, a peculiarly crabbed man in his way,
drove the cart containing the tent, provisions, and other immediate
necessaries; Uncle Munday came last on horseback with his gun instead of
a riding-whip, driving the cattle and spare horses, which followed the
lead willingly enough, only stopping now and then to crop the rich
grass.
The progress was naturally very slow, but none the less pleasant, and so
long as the leader went right, and Uncle Munday took care that no
stragglers were left behind, there was very little need for the other
drivers to trouble about their charges; while the girls, both with their
faces radiant with enjoyment, cantered about quite at home on their
side-saddles, now with the captain, who played the part of scout in
advance and escort guard, now behind with Uncle Jack, whose severe face
relaxed whenever they came to keep him company.
Hence it was that, the incident of the morning almost forgotten, Norman
left the horses by whose side he trudged, to go forward to Rifle, who
was also playing carter.
"How are you getting on?" he said.
"Slowly. I want to get there. Let's go and talk to Tim."
Norman was ready enough, and they went on to where their cousin was
seated on the shaft of one of the carts whistling, and practising
fly-fishing with his whip.
"Caught any?" said Rifle.
"Eh? Oh, I see," said the boy, laughing. "No; but I say there are some
flies out here, and can't they frighten the horses!"
"Wouldn't you like to go right forward?" said Norman, "and see what the
country's like?"
"No: you can see from here without any trouble."
"Can you?" said Rifle; and catching his cousin by the shoulder, he gave
him a sharp pull, and made him leap to the ground.
"What did you do that for?" said Tim resentfully.
"To make you walk. Think the horse hasn't got enough to drag without
you? Let's go and talk to Sourkrout."
"If old Sam hears you call him that, he'll complain to father," said
Norman quietly.
"Not he. Wouldn't be such an old sneak. Come on."
The three boys went forward to where Sam German sat up high in front of
the cart looking straight before him, and though he seemed to know that
the lads were there by him, he did not turn his eyes to right or left.
"What can you see, Sam?" cried Rifle eagerly.
"Nought," was the gruff reply.
"Well, what are you looking at?"
"Yon tree right away there."
"What for?"
"That's where the master said I was to make for, and if I don't keep my
eye on it, how am I to get there."
He nodded his head toward a tree which stood up alone miles and miles
away, but perfectly distinct in the clear air, and for a few minutes
nothing more was said, for there were flies, birds, and flowers on every
hand to take the attention of the boys.
"How do you like Australia, Sam?" said Norman, at last.
"Not at all," grumbled the man.
"Well, you are hard to please. Why, the place is lovely."
"Tchah! I don't see nothing lovely about it. I want to know why the
master couldn't take a farm in England instead of coming here. What are
we going to do for neighbours when we get there?"
"Be our own neighbours, Sam," said Rifle.
"Tchah! You can't."
"But see how beautiful the place is," said Tim, enthusiastically.
"What's the good of flowers, sir? I want taters."
"Well, we are going to grow some soon, and everything else too."
"Oh! are we?" growled Sam. "Get on, will yer?"--this to the horse.
"Strikes me as the captain's going to find out something out here."
"Of course he is--find a beautiful estate, and make a grand farm and
garden."
"Oh! is he?" growled Sam. "Strikes me no he won't. Grow taters, will
he? How does he know as they'll grow?"
"Because it's such beautiful soil, you can grow Indian corn, sugar,
tobacco, grapes, anything."
"Injun corn, eh? English corn's good enough for me. Why, I grew some
Injun corn once in the hothouse at home, and pretty stuff it was."
"Why, it was very handsome, Sam," said Rifle.
"Hansum? Tchah. What's the good o' being hansum if you ain't useful?"
"Well, _you're_ not handsome, Sam," said Norman, laughing.
"Who said I was, sir? Don't want to be. That's good enough for women
folk. But I am useful. Come now."
"So you are, Sam," said Tim; "the jolliest, usefullest fellow that ever
was."
"Useful, Master 'Temus, but I don't know about jolly. Who's going to be
jolly, transported for life out here like a convick? And as for that
Injun corn, it was a great flop-leaved, striped thing as grew a ear with
the stuff in it hard as pebbles on the sea-saw--seashore, I mean."
"Sam's got his tongue in a knot," said Norman. "What are you eating,
Sam?"
"Ain't eating--chewing."
"What are you chewing, then. India-rubber?"
"Tchah! Think I want to make a schoolboy's pop-patch? Inger-rubber?
No; bacco."
"Ugh! nasty," said Rifle. "Well, father says he shall grow tobacco."
"'Tain't to be done, Master Raffle," said Sam, cracking his whip; nor
grapes nayther. Yer can't grow proper grapes without a glass-house.
"Not in a hot country like this?"
"No, sir. They'll all come little teeny rubbidging things big as black
currants, and no better."
"Ah, you'll see," cried Norman.
"Oh yes, I shall see, sir. I ain't been a gardener for five-and-twenty
years without knowing which is the blade of a spade and which is the
handle."
"Of course you haven't," said Tim.
"Thankye, Master 'Temus. You always was a gentleman as understood me,
and when we gets there--if ever we does get there, which I don't
believe, for I don't think as there is any there, and master as good as
owned to it hisself, no later nor yes'day, when he laughed at me, and
said as he didn't know yet where he was a-going--I says, if ever we does
get there, and you wants to make yourself a garden, why, I'll help yer."
"Thankye, Sam, you shall."
"Which I will, sir, and the other young gents, too, if they wants 'em
and don't scorn 'em, as they used to do."
"Why, when did we scorn gardens?" said the other two boys in a breath.
"Allus, sir; allus, if you had to work in 'em. But ye never scorned my
best apples and pears, Master Norman; and as for Master Raffle, the way
he helped hisself to my strorbys, blackbuds, and throstles was nothing
to 'em."
"And will again, Sam, if you grow some," cried Rifle.
"Don't I tell yer it ain't to be done, sir," said Sam, giving his whip a
vicious whish through the air, and making the horse toss its head,
"Master grow taters? Tchah! not he. You see if they don't all run away
to tops and tater apples, and you can't eat they."
"Don't be so prejudiced."
"Me, sir--prejudiced?" cried the gardener indignantly. "Come, I do like
that. Can't yer see for yourselves, you young gents, as things won't
grow here proper?"
"No!" chorused the boys.
"Look at the flowers everywhere. Why, they're lovely," cried Norman.
"The flowers?" said Sam, contemptuously. "Weeds I call them. I ain't
seen a proper rose nor a love-lies-bleeding, nor a dahlia."
"No, but there are plenty of other beautiful flowers growing wild."
"Well, who wants wild-flowers, sir? Besides, I want to see a good
wholesome cabbage or dish o' peas."
"Well, you must plant them first."
"Plaint 'em? It won't be no good, sir."
"Well, look at the trees," said Rifle.
"The trees? Ha! ha! ha!" cried Sam, with something he meant for a
scornful laugh. "I have been looking at 'em. I don't call them trees."
"What do you call them, then?" said Norman.
"I d'know. I suppose they thinks they're trees, if so be as they can
think, but look at 'em. Who ever saw a tree grow with its leaves like
that. Leaves ought to be flat, and hanging down. Them's all set
edgewise like butcher's broom, and pretty stuff that is."
"But they don't all grow that way."
"Oh yes, they do, sir. Trees can't grow proper in such syle as this
here. Look here, Master 'Temus, you always did care for your garden so
long as I did all the weeding for you. You can speak fair. Now tell me
this, What colour ought green trees to be?"
"Why, green, of course."
"Werry well, then; just look at them leaves. Ye can't call them green;
they're pink and laylock, and dirty, soap-suddy green."
"Well, there then, look how beautifully the grass grows."
"Grass? Ye-e-es; it's growing pretty thick. Got used to it, I
suppose."
"So will our fruits and vegetables, Sam."
"Nay, Master Norman, never. The syle won't suit, sir, nor the country,
nor the time, nor nothing."
"Nonsense!"
"Nay, sir, 'tain't nonsense. The whole place here's topsy-turvy like.
Why, it's Christmas in about a fortnit's time, and are you going to tell
me this is Christmas weather? Why, it's hot as Horgus."
"Well, that's because we're so far south."
"That we ain't, sir. We're just as far north as we are south, and you
can't get over that."
"But it's because we've crossed the line," cried Rifle. "Don't you
remember I told you ever so long ago that we were just crossing the
line?"
"Oh yes, I remember; but I knew you was gammoning me. I never see no
line?"
"Of course not. It's invisible."
"What? Then you couldn't cross it. If a thing's inwisible, it's
because it ain't there, and you can't cross a thing as ain't there."
"Oh, you stubborn old mule!" cried Norman.
"If you forgets yourself like that, Master Norman, and treats me
disrespeckful, calling me a mule, I shall tell the captain."
"No, don't; I'm not disrespectful, Sam," cried Norman, anxiously. "Look
here, about the line: don't you know that there's a north pole and a
south pole?"
"Yes, I've heard so, sir; and as Sir John Franklin went away from our
parts to find it, but he didn't find it, because of course it wasn't
there, and he lost hisself instead."
"But, look here; right round the middle of the earth there's a line."
"Don't believe it, sir. No line couldn't ever be made big enough to go
round the world; and if it could, there ain't nowheres to fasten it to."
"But I mean an imaginary line that divides the world into two equal
parts."
Sam German chuckled.
"'Maginary line, sir. Of course it is."
"And this line--Oh, I can't explain it, Rifle, can you?"
"Course he can't, sir, nor you nayther. 'Tain't to be done. I knowed
it were a 'maginary line when you said we war crossing it. But just you
look here, sir: 'bout our garden and farm, over which I hope the master
weant be disappointed, but I _know_ he will, for I asks you young gents
this--serusly, mind, as gents as has had your good eddication and growed
up scollards--How can a man make a garden in a country where everything
is upside down?"
"But it isn't upside down, Sam; it's only different," said Norman.
"That's what I say, sir. Here we are in the middle o' December, when,
if the weather's open, you may put in your first crop o' broad Windsor
beans, and you've got your ground all ridged to sweeten in the frost.
And now, look at this. Why, it's reg'lar harvest time and nothing else.
I don't wonder at the natives being black."
"Look, look!" cried Tim suddenly, as he pointed away to where, on an
open plain on the right, some birds were running rapidly.
"I see them! what are they?" cried Rifle, excitedly.
"Somebody's chickens," said Sam, contemptuously.
The boys looked at him and laughed.
"Sam German has got to grow used to the place," said Norman. And then,
as his father cantered up, he pointed off. "Do you see those, father?"
"What, those birds?" said the captain, eagerly. "Comebacks, sir.
Guinea fowls. A bit wild," said Sam, quietly.
"Guinea fowls?" replied the captain, sheltering his eyes. "No; birds
twenty times as large, you might say. Why, boys, those must be emus."
"Emus?" said Rifle. "Oh yes, I remember. Ostrichy-looking things. Are
those what they are?"
"I do not think there's a doubt about it," replied the captain, after
another look at the rapidly-retiring birds, which, after a long stare at
the little train of carts and wains, literally made their legs twinkle
like the spokes of a carriage wheel as they skimmed over the ground and
out of sight.
"Yes," said the captain again, as the last one disappeared. "Emus, the
Australian ostriches. You boys ought to make notes of all the wild
creatures you see."
"We shan't forget them, uncle," said Tim. "Let's see; there was the
black, the snake--"
"Snake? Have you seen one?"
"Oh yes," replied Tim.
"Thirty feet long, wasn't it?" said Norman, giving his brother a look.
"Thirty? More likely three, uncle. I think it was nearer six though."
"Did you kill it?"
"No; it wouldn't stop, but crawled into the bush, and I don't think I
should have tried."
"Well, be on your guard all of you. I suppose they are pretty
plentiful, and some are very dangerous, but I believe they will all get
out of our way if they can. What birds are those?"
A couple of dusky-green birds, with their feathers barred across like
those of a hawk or cuckoo, with lines of a darker green, started up from
some grass and flew off, their long, pointed tails and rounded heads and
beaks showing plainly what they were.
"Ground parrots," said the captain. "It's curious, in a country to
which one kind of bird is peculiar, what a variety one sees."
"Is one kind of bird peculiar to this country, then?" asked Norman.
"Well, it is not fair to say peculiar, but one kind is abundant--the
parrot--and there are several kinds here."
"Are cockatoos?" said Rifle, eagerly.
"A cockatoo, you might say, is a parrot. The only difference seems to
be that it has a crest.--But how much farther do you make it to the
tree, German?"
"Miles," said that worthy, rather gruffly. "Keeps getting farther off
'stead o' nigher, sir."
"The air is so wonderfully clear that distance is deceiving. Never
mind, keep on slowly, so as not to distress the cattle and the horses
with their heavier loads."
"Needn't ha' said that, sir; this horse'll go slow enough," grumbled
German. "I get thinking sometimes as he ain't moving at all."
The captain laughed, and as he rode a few yards in advance to carefully
scan the country in front, a great deal of whispering and gesticulation
went on between the gardener and Norman, while the other boys looked on
full of mischievous glee, and egged the lad on.
"No, no, Master Norman; don't, sir. It'd make him cross."
"Yes, and he'd discharge you if I told him how you threw cold water on
his plans."
"I ain't a bit afraid o' that, sir," said German, with a grin. "He
can't send me back. But I don't want to rile him. I say, don't tell
him, sir."
"But you laughed at everything he meant to do."
"That I didn't, sir. Precious little laughing I've done lately."
"Well, then, say you're sorry, and that you think father's plans are
splendid."
"What, tell a couple o' big thumpers like that?" whispered German, with
virtuous indignation; "no, that I won't. I wonder at you, Master
Norman; that I do."
"Oh, very well, then," cried the boy. "Here goes. I say, father--" He
ran forward, and as he joined the captain, taking hold of the mane of
his horse, and walking on beside him, Sam's face was so full of pitiable
consternation that the other two boys laughed.
Sam turned upon them fiercely.
"Ah, it's all very well for you two to grin," he growled. "Think o'
what it's going to be for me."
"Serve you right for saying what you did," cried Rifle, by way of
consolation.
"Oh, Master Raffle, don't you turn again me, too.--He's too hard, ain't
he, Master 'Temus?"
"Not a bit," cried the latter. "You grumble at everything. You're a
regular old Sourkrout, always grumbling."
"Well! of all!" gasped the gardener, taking off his hat and wiping his
brow.
"Look here," cried Rifle; "father will be back here directly, so you had
better go down on your knees and say you're very sorry."
"That I won't," said German, sturdily.
"And say you believe that the place is beautiful, and that you'll make a
better garden than we had in the country, and grow everything."
"No; you won't ketch me saying such a word as that, sir, for I don't
believe the place is any good at all. I say, see them chaps yonder?"
The boys looked in the direction pointed out by Sam with his whip, and
Rifle exclaimed, "Blacks!"
"Yes; I saw one too."
"I seed three or four dodging in and out among the trees," said Sam.
Rifle ran on to join his father.
"Stop a moment, Master Raffle," cried Sam, imploringly. "Oh, he's gone!
Go on too, Master 'Temus, and say that I didn't mean it. The captain
would be so put out if I found fault, after promising to stand by him
through thick and thin."
"Then will the land grow potatoes?" said Tim mischievously.
"If I don't make it grow some as is twice as big as those at home, I'm a
Dutchman. Oh dear! Here he comes."
For the captain had turned his horse's head and returned.
"Did you both see blacks?" he said anxiously.
"Yes, both of us, uncle, going from tree to tree along there toward the
river."
"How many did you see, Tim?"
"I think it was two, uncle; but I'm not sure, for they darted from bush
to bush, and were in sight and out again directly."
"And you, German?"
"Oh, I saw 'em first, sir, just as Master 'Temus says, running and
dodging from bush to tree, so as to keep out of sight."
"But how many did you see?"
Can't say for certain, sir; but I don't think there was more'n six.
The captain hesitated for a few moments, then, as if decided what to do,
he spoke.
"Keep on, and make for the tree. Have you the gun handy?"
"Yes, sir, close to my elber."
"Loaded."
"That she is, sir. Double dose o' big shot."
"That's right. But I don't think there is any danger. The blacks will
not meddle with us if we leave them alone. Look here, boys, we shall go
armed for the sake of precaution, but I fervently hope that we shall not
be called upon to fire upon the poor wretches. I daresay we shall
encounter some of them, and if we do, you must keep them at a distance.
Let them know that we are their masters, with firmness, but no cruelty."
"Look, there they go again!" cried Norman, pointing to a patch of
woodland, a quarter of a mile forward, to their left.
"Yes, I saw one dart in amongst the scrub," said the captain. "There,
keep on as if nothing had happened. It is not worth while to startle
your mother and the girls. Now, each of you to his duty, and let the
people see that we mean business, and not to take any notice of or to
molest them."
Each boy returned to his driving duties, and, on the plea of Mrs
Bedford looking dull, the captain made the two girls ride close to the
wagon, where she sat with Aunt Georgie, after which he went back to
where Uncle Jack was steadily driving his flocks and herds, and warned
him of what he had seen.
"Humph not pleasant," said the captain's brother. "Think they're
dangerous?"
"I think that the farther we get away from civilisation the less likely
they are to interfere with us, so long as we do not molest them."
"Not going to turn back, then?"
"What, because we have seen a few blacks? Hardly likely, is it?"
"No," said the other; and, keeping a sharp look-out, they went on at
their slow crawl for nearly three hours before the landmark was reached,
all pretty well exhausted, for the heat had been growing intense. But
the great tree was one of many standing out of quite a shady grove, and
this was cautiously approached by the captain, who scouted forward in
front to find it apparently quite free from any appearance of ever
having been occupied, and here in a very short time the little caravan
was arranged so that they had some protection in case of an attack; a
fire was lit by German, while the boys turned the horses loose to graze;
and water being near in a creek, the customary kettle was soon on to
boil, and Aunt Georgie was unpacking the store of food, when German
shouted, "Hi! quick! look out!" and there was a glimpse of a black
figure passing rapidly among the trees.