A FIERCE FIGHT
When the blacks, more than a hundred in number, saw Jim Dennis and
Constable Doonan riding towards them, they halted, not being sure as to
who they were.
King Charlie, however, recognised them, and went forward to meet them.
'How came you here?' asked Jim.
'Sal said you were on the war-path. I heard of the attack on your house
and went to see if she was safe,' said Charlie.
'And you thought you would come on here and help us?'
'Yes.'
'And so you shall. We will give you plenty of work. Are your fellows
armed?' said Jim.
'We have spears and boomerangs, and nullah nullahs and stone hatchets,'
said Charlie.
'I think they will come in handy at close quarters,' said Jim with a
smile. 'We shall have no occasion to fire them out. We can capture the
lot alive.' Then, looking at Charlie, he said,--
'Listen to me. When you hear shots fired rush through the bush and
attack the rear of the houses. We shall be in front, and they will not
suspect any assault at the back. Creep close up, and hide in the bushes
until you hear the signal. There are a lot of blacks over there to the
right, and they will probably join you when the fight commences.'
The old man was all attention, and signified that he understood what was
required and would carry out the orders.
'My revenge is near,' he said. 'They stole my people and made dogs of
them, and they shall die.'
'We want to take them alive,' said Jim. 'Do not kill if you can secure
them.'
Charlie struck his spear on the ground and said savagely,--
'Blood for blood, and we spare them not!'
Jim Dennis saw it was useless to argue with him, and he knew if any of
Dalton's men fell into King Charlie's hands they would not have an easy
death.
They rode back to their comrades, and King Charlie and his men advanced
into the bush unseen.
'Back again so soon?' said Mr Dauntsey. 'Anything fresh to report?'
'The best of good luck has befallen us,' said Jim, excitedly. 'Charlie
and his tribe are here. The old fellow heard from Sal what we had afoot,
and came on here to help us and take his revenge. There's over a hundred
of them, and they are by this time concealed in the bush at the back of
the houses. When we advance in front and fire they will make a rush in
the rear, and I promise you they will not be slow about it.'
'This is splendid,' said Mr Dauntsey. 'What do you say, sergeant?'
'It is the best thing that could have happened, but we shall have to be
quick or those black fellows will kill them all. They will show no mercy
to any of the gang,' said Machinson.
'We had better all advance in line, about a dozen yards apart,' said Mr
Dauntsey, and to this the sergeant agreed.
No time was lost; the wounded man was left in as comfortable a position
as possible, and they moved ahead.
'All fire quickly,' said Machinson. 'If you see no one, aim where the
smoke is, on the off chance of hitting.'
In a few minutes, when Dalton and his men saw them again advancing, the
firing recommenced, and it was sharply returned.
Above the crack of the rifles, however, was heard a terrific yell, which
completely drowned the sound of the firing. There was a tremendous
crashing in the bush at the rear of the houses and the cries of many
blacks.
Dalton and his gang were surprised, and when they realised what had
happened were almost in despair. They knew no mercy would be shown them
by the blacks and preferred to risk capture at the hands of the police.
They did not mean to give in without a desperate struggle, for their
lives were at stake.
In Dalton's house, besides himself, were six of his men, including Seth
Sharp and Rodney Shaw.
When Shaw discovered Sal had escaped, his rage knew no bounds, and he
acted like a madman, so much so that his manager thought he had lost his
senses.
Benjamin Nix tried to calm him and partially succeeded.
'Why make such a fuss over her? She's far better away from here,' said
Nix.
'I'll be even with her,' replied Shaw; and there and then made up his
mind to ride to Barker's Creek and bribe Dalton to scour the country for
her.
When he arrived at Dalton's he found affairs had reached a crisis.
Abe Dalton was in no mood to be trifled with or to stand upon ceremony.
'This comes of meddling in your affairs,' he said savagely. 'Curse you
and the girl too! You have ruined us all, yourself included, you
blundering fool!'
Rodney Shaw commenced to realise the extent of the scrape he had got
into, but he did not mean to be beaten.
When Abe Dalton explained to him what had happened, and that his spies
had brought in news that an attack was to be made on Barker's Creek
Rodney Shaw said,--
'I'll stay with you and see it through. I'd like to get a chance of
putting a bullet in Jim Dennis.'
'There's more than you would give a good deal for such a chance,' said
Dalton. 'If you mean to stay, well and good; I'm not going to stop you;
but let me warn you it will be putting your neck in a noose to be found
here. You had better clear out and do the best you can for yourself.'
Rodney Shaw, however, decided to remain. He thought Dalton and his men
would easily repulse any attack made upon them, and Dennis might be
killed in the struggle. He meant to have a shot at him if possible, for
he had learned something during the past week that had caused him to
tremble whenever he thought of the owner of Wanabeen. What that
something was will be related later on.
This was how Rodney Shaw came to be at Barker's Creek, which was the
worst place he could possibly be found in.
'These blacks will do for us,' said Dalton, savagely; 'and it is all the
fault of you fellows keeping the gins here.'
'We must fight it out,' said Shaw. 'Curse the blacks!'
He took a steady aim and fired at Jim Dennis, but missed.
The tumult was tremendous. The black fellows, now they were let loose
and had a chance of revenge, were so many infuriated savages. They
yelled and danced, brandishing their spears, and rushed upon the
houses, heedless of the shots fired at them.
In the blacks' camp at the creek there was a regular pandemonium. The
gins shrieked with terror and thought their end was at hand, and so it
was for many of them. Some of these black women had left behind in King
Charlie's camp husbands and brothers, and they now took their revenge by
spearing or clubbing them. It was a horrible scene, but King Charlie
took no heed of it, nor did he attempt to stay the slaughter. In his
savage way he regarded it as an act of justice, and he may have been
right.
Round Dalton's house the fight was fierce. At the rear the blacks were
forcing an entrance, at the front the police had already battered in the
door.
All were on foot now and it soon became a hand-to-hand conflict.
Seeing the game was up, Rodney Shaw thought of his own safety.
At the back of the house several horses were stabled, and these had not
been injured, although they were frightened. Shaw thought if he could
make a rush for it he might reach them and gallop off. They were all
saddled and bridled ready for an emergency.
The blacks were now swarming into the house, and Dalton's men kept them
back with their revolvers.
Passing into a side room, Shaw saw a chance of escape.
The attack was mainly confined to the other part of the house, where a
desperate stand was being made. Squeezing himself through the small
window, Rodney Shaw managed to reach the ground safely.
Clutching his revolver, he hurried across to the horses. He was kicked
and jostled by the excited animals, but escaped serious injury.
Mounting one he had fairly under control, he was riding away when some
of the blacks saw him and with a yell rushed after him.
Constable Doonan also saw him, and, making for his horse, was quickly in
pursuit.
Shaw, however, was too far ahead, and Doonan, halting, pulled out his
carbine, took a steady aim and fired.
His shot he saw took effect, but Rodney Shaw did not fall. 'I hit him,'
said Doonan. 'That will prove he was here.' Then he rode back,
dismounted, and drawing his revolver, rushed into the fighting mob.
Blood flowed freely and many blacks lay dead, but still Dalton and his
men held out.
From the other houses the members of the gang came out and joined in the
fight, for they knew it was their last chance.
Dr Tom was busy looking after the wounded.
Jim Dennis was hit in the fleshy part of the arm, but went on fighting.
Two of the constables were mortally wounded, and the doctor was doing
what he could for them.
Willie Dennis had accounted for one man, and from a distance watched the
fight.
'Help me, Willie,' said the doctor. 'You will be more use here than over
yonder.'
Ten of Dalton's men were killed by the blacks, and the remainder were
nearly all wounded.
Dalton fought like a tiger, and when he saw Sergeant Machinson and
another constable rushing upon him to seize him, he shouted,--
'So you have done for me at last, sergeant. Take that!'
He fired his revolver, and the unfortunate man fell dead, shot through
the heart.
Adye Dauntsey saw him fall, and fired at Dalton, hitting the hand in
which he held his revolver, and shattering it. He was at once secured.
There was no resistance now except on the part of Seth Sharp, who fought
like a wild beast, but he was eventually beaten down and firmly bound.
The house presented the appearance of a shambles.
The body of Sergeant Machinson was carried outside, and Dalton said as
they passed him, as he lay bound on the floor,--
'That's how I treat men who play me false. He's better dead. He was
false to his trust and false to me.'
Adye Dauntsey heard him, but made no remark. The sergeant, whatever his
misdeeds, had paid for them with his life while doing his duty.
They were all tired and worn out after the struggle. Many blacks had
been killed, and King Charlie and his tribe set about burying them by Mr
Dauntsey's orders.
The attacking party had lost two constables and Sergeant Machinson, and
nearly all of them bore marks of the severe encounter.
Seth Sharp and Abe Dalton were firmly secured, and only five other men
of the gang were taken alive. The blacks had already set fire to the
houses and humpies, and Barker's Creek was in flames.
'They have settled the difficulty for us,' said Mr Dauntsey, 'and I
think it is the best thing that could have happened. Barker's Creek will
be wiped out at last.'