"The fiend's alarm began; a hollow sound
Sung in the leaves; the forest rock'd around,
Air blackened,--rolled the thunder,--groan'd the ground."
DRYDEN.
Early on the following morning, John and William prepared to resume
their journey; and, upon a settlement of their reckoning with their
host, they were not a little surprised and annoyed to find a
considerable item in their bill set down for the damage caused by the
previous night's debauch. This exaction they resisted, but to no
purpose. The landlord was no respecter of persons, and was inexorable in
his demands; they were present during the scene, and consequently, in
his eyes, implicated and liable to pay for their pleasure. Besides
which, he intended to reap a rich harvest from the event, and charge the
same to each party staying in his house; notwithstanding that the sum
apportioned to each individual was ample to indemnify him for any loss
he had sustained. Not being in the habit, however, of having his demands
called into question, he was not in this case inclined to relinquish his
intention of enforcing the payment; and the brothers were therefore
constrained to submit to the extortion.
The shortest though more intricate route to Brompton, the station of Mr.
Smithers, was through the bush, following a line described to them by an
old shepherd of their father's who well knew that part of the country;
and, being experienced bushmen themselves, they determined upon taking
that course in preference to the more circuitous, though better defined,
dray road and townships. With this intention, provided with a
descriptive sketch of the country, a pocket compass, and the sagacity
and instinct of their black boy, they started for Barra Warra, a station
distant about fifty miles; which was centrally situated, and from whence
there was a postman's track to Brompton. To reach this point before
dark, it was necessary to push on; as, should they not complete their
distance in daylight, it would necessitate the alternative of spending a
night in the bush; a circumstance, which, though not likely to cause any
uneasiness to a bushman, was, in the possibility of obtaining
comfortable quarters, as well to be avoided.
Nothing of any note occurred in the ride, until well on in the
afternoon; when they began to detect signs of their approach to an
extensive station, and expected shortly to witness symptoms of animation
and habitation. The weather during the greater part of the day had been
exceedingly sultry; which, with the heavy appearance of the sky, was a
portentous indication of storm. In order to escape this, and reach the
shelter of the station before the rending of the heavens, the young men
urged their weary horses to an accelerated speed. They rode on; still
without coming upon any track that would guide them to the station they
knew could not be far distant; when an occasional low rumbling noise of
distant thunder announced the approach of the warring elements; and with
the gradual extinction of the sun's rays, made them feel the
unpleasantness of their situation, and a desire to be well housed. The
instinct of the black here made its value apparent; for, where nothing
was visible even to the practised eye of either John or William, he
suddenly discerned the tracks of sheep; and naturally inferring that
they must either be directed towards, or from, the head station; and
also detecting the track of the shepherd, who must have accompanied the
flock, easily deciding which must have been the homeward course, he took
the lead of the party, and piloted them with his eyes fixed upon the
ground; travelling as speedily as their horses could proceed.
Very little distance, however, had been accomplished; and the increasing
gloom lent its darkness to the shades of night already setting in; when
a few heavy drops of moisture, accompanied by a flash of vivid light,
that made the horses start and tremble; and followed by a peal of
thunder that seemed to shake the very earth; announced to the travellers
that they were in for an unpleasant experience, in all probability, of a
miserable night. The trio, however, still held on their way; the black
boy, during the momentary illuminations caused by the repeated flashes
of lightning, continued to discern the, but to him, evanescent path; and
with spasmodic starts; and intervals of salient progression, proceeded
in his guiding course.
The appearance of the forest was fearfully sublime; the tall bare trunks
of the gigantic gum-trees, with their surfaces of immaculately smooth
bark of a pale bluish hue, appearing as if they had by some
unaccountable agency been stripped of their natural skin, contrasted
strangely with the surrounding gloom. When the momentary flashes of
light lit up the darkness of the woods, and revealed the naked stems,
like argenteous columns supporting the black canopy of eternal shades,
they displayed a scene calculated to create in an imaginative fancy the
existence of a vast catacomb of departed dryads; while it inspired the
mind with awe, at the presence of the dread power that moves the spirit
of the storm. Still, down came the rain; flash followed upon flash; and
the thunder rolled as if the whole heavens were rent by the mighty
convulsions of the elements. The storm by this time had reached the
culminating point; and the volume of water, pouring upon the earth, gave
to the ground the appearance of one vast swamp; while it obliterated,
even to the acute vision of the black, all signs of the track that had
been leading them to their night's destination. Nothing now seemed to
offer them any chance of an alleviation of their discomfort; no sound
could be caught by the quick ear of Joey, that would tend to lead them
to the desired refuge; no abatement of the storm appeared probable; and
in the perfect obscurity of the night, any removal from their present
position would only involve them, in all probability, more in the bush,
and render their extrication more tedious and difficult. To add to their
misery, they were cold and drenched, had no possibility of lighting a
fire, or indulging in that balm for every misfortune, a pipe; and with
their horses almost knocked up, they saw no alternative but to take what
little protection a tree afforded, and wait for the morning.
Their position had attained this climax of wretchedness, when it struck
John Ferguson that Joey might be able to hear or see something from the
top of one the trees, that would lead them to shelter; he therefore
requested the black, as a forlorn hope, to try it. Joey, upon receiving
his command, selected a piece of wild vine sufficiently long to give him
a firm hold in each hand, while it compassed the trunk of a good-sized
tree; then divesting himself of his boots, and choosing one of the
largest stems he could distinguish, he prepared to mount an old blue
gum, whose trunk rose for fully forty feet smooth and straight, and
without an impediment or excrescence. Putting his supple vine-stalk
round the tree, and firmly grasping each end of the cane by his hands,
he placed his feet firmly against the stalwart denizen of the woods, and
rose in bounding starts with a celerity astonishing to the uninitiated.
Upon reaching the fork of the tree, and ascending the highest branch, he
spent some moments gazing around, in the hope of detecting a friendly
light in the surrounding gloom, but without success; not a gleam was
visible, and not a sound, save the rumbling of the thunder and the heavy
pattering of the rain, broke the solemn monotony of the storm.
Disappointed and nearly disheartened, he communicated to his master
below the ungrateful intelligence that nothing was perceptible; but
preparatory to his descent, he gave a loud "cooey," in the faint hope
that it might attract the attention of some human being. As we proceed,
we may as well describe to the reader the nature of this signal. A
"cooey" is, as its name implies, a call having the sound its orthography
indicates; with a prolonged dwelling upon the first syllable, and a
sharp determined utterance in its termination. This sound, which is
peculiar to the Australian bush, uttered with the intonation and force
of healthy lungs, can be heard at a surprising distance; and often, when
used by one lost in the nemoral labyrinths of the country, is the means
of attraction; and consequent deliverance from danger and probable
death.
It was, then, one of these efficient signals of distress that was
uttered by Joey, with a lustiness that would have done credit to La
Blache; and great was his joy when, after a few moments of listening,
his ear caught the sound of a dog's barking. The canine infection spread
rapidly over the settlement, and once started kept up an unceasing
chorus from the throats of a whole pack; and guided by the friendly
notice, our travellers were enabled to discern in which direction Barra
Warra lay. They mounted their horses with stiff and weary limbs, though
with lightened hearts, and proceeded for about a hundred yards in the
direction whence echoed the barking; when, to their no little
astonishment, they came upon the line of fence enclosing the paddocks
attached to the house, and immediately struck the track leading to the
station. By this they had the mortification to discover, that if they
had been enabled to continue their course for a few minutes before the
storm thickened, they would have, long ere then, been comfortably
sheltered from the inclemency of the weather. However, they were not in
a disposition to indulge in any vain regrets; and shortly arriving at
the house, they presented themselves in their sad plight. The noise of
the dogs had attracted the attention of the people of the place, who,
imagining the cause, were expecting to see the approach of some
traveller; so, when John and William made their appearance, they were
met at the door by the owner of the station.
This gentleman upon witnessing the condition of the young men, and
instantly perceiving them to be of his own order, extended his hand to
each; and expressing his regret at their misfortune, invited them into
the house, and provided them with dry changes. A warm repast was quickly
ready for them; and during its discussion they related their parentage,
destination, and object of their journey, to their new friend, Mr.
Dawson; who proved himself a most agreeable person. He informed them
that he had heard of their father, and was delighted to make the
acquaintance of his sons; he proffered the hospitality of his house for
as long as they wished to stay; and pressed them to prolong their visit.
This, however, would involve a breach of their engagement with Smithers;
and, pleased as they were with the civility and kindness displayed in
the invitation, they regretted they could not, on that occasion, accept
it, and informed their entertainer that their object was to reach
Brompton on the following day; which would necessitate a resumption of
their journey early on the morrow.
Mr. Dawson expressed sorrow that he could not induce them to remain; but
trusted they would make his house their temporary home on some more
convenient occasion; and informing them that he had then got a few
friends stopping with him on a short visit, and who were then assembled
in the drawing-room, he led the Fergusons off to introduce them.
The young men naturally thought the company, to whom they were about to
be ushered, consisted of some of the neighbouring squatters, who had
volunteered their company for a few days to dispel their mutual
monotony. But great was their surprise, when, upon entering a very
comfortably (almost elegantly) furnished room, to see assembled several
ladies, dispersed about the apartment; some in conversation with
gentlemen; others at work, amusing or instructing the children; while
one sat at a handsome cottage piano, running through some new music,
brought to the station by one of her friends; and accompanying herself
on the instrument, while singing in a sweet and melodious voice a new
and popular song. To her, whom he addressed as his wife, the host
introduced our travellers; detailing in a few words, the information
respecting their movements, which they had themselves imparted to him;
and then in turn went through the usual formality with the remainder of
his guests.
In society such as this, where restraint is unknown, and cordiality and
hospitality reign supreme, it is not to be wondered at that our friends
speedily found themselves at home; nor that their own prospects were
canvassed by their new friends, with a zeal and freedom that would be
considered unpardonable impertinence in the more settled and formal
circles of the "old country." From the information obtained from the
more experienced settlers, the Fergusons derived considerable benefit;
and their friends' directions and opinions of the country, being, in the
estimation of the young men, likely to be valuable, they determined to
allow themselves, in a great measure, to be guided by them.
The evening, enlivened by an occasional dance, music, and lively
conversation, was passed exceedingly pleasantly by the brothers; who
were perfectly delighted with their kind reception; and sadly regretted
their inability to comply with their kind host's repeated entreaties to
extend their visit. Mr. Dawson informed them that those pleasing
reunions, had become quite numerous in that part of the country; where
the degree of familiar and friendly intercourse established among the
neighbouring families was such, that, after the bustle and occupation of
shearing time was over, such a party, as he then had in his house, was
formed alternately at each of the surrounding stations; and their
leisure existence became a prolonged life of reciprocal good-feeling
and friendship; which, by the means of this happy unity, were firmly
cemented.
On the following morning, the sun rose with a refreshed resplendence;
and our young friends, after breakfasting, and taking a cordial leave of
their kind entertainers and their friends, proceeded on their way to
Brompton. The previous evening's storm had had the effect of deliciously
cooling the atmosphere; and the sun's clear rays obliquely striking the
fragrant gum-leaves, which fluttered high over-head in the gentle
morning breeze, and still bathed, as it were, in tears for the late
elemental strife, made them sparkle like glittering gems in the roof of
their arboreous edifice. The aromatic exudation from the dwarfish
wattle, with its May-like blossom, which seemed to flourish under the
protection of its gigantic compeers; and the bright acacia, decking,
with its brilliant hue, the sloping sward, both lent their aid in the
general pageant. The shrill cry of the parrots, which, with their rich
plumage flashing in the reflection of the sun, and almost dazzling the
eye of the beholder, as they darted in their continued flight from tree
to tree, in the exuberance of their conscious freedom and enjoyment of
resuscitated nature, screeched their notes of thankfulness and
admiration. The running streamlet, called into almost momentary
existence, bounded and leapt its limpid volume through its tortuous and
meandering course, insinuated its translucent body into masses of
fibrous _debris_ and crevices of rock, to emerge in miniature cataracts,
and murmur its allegiance to an all-smiling nature. The brightened face
of morn greeted the young men upon their start; and with their spirits
buoyant and animated by the refreshing influence of the delightful
temperature, the surrounding fragrance, and the cheerful and
exhilarating aspect of the bush, they rode with light and happy hearts.
Their course, however, was tedious and troublesome, and at the same time
dangerous; for the fury of the storm, which now showed what had been
the extent of its force, in the destruction it had occasioned, had
placed numerous traps on the road. Immense trees lay prostrate across
their track, frequently necessitating a deviation from the path. Here a
patriarch of the forest was riven to the root; with its splinters
scattered in all directions; while one portion, still adhering in its
connexion to the base, and supported by a branch resting on the ground,
formed a triumphal arch across the road. There a similar denizen of the
woods extended his humiliated form; torn up by the root, which had drawn
with it masses of its congenial soil, seemingly unwilling to part with
its natural element from which it had derived its sustenance. This would
cause another deviation; and the treacherous nature of the ground (which
was what bushmen call rotten, that is, superficially looking perfectly
sound, though actually so soft that a horse would sink into it to his
knees) rendered travelling insecure, and required the exercise of
extreme caution. Hence the day was considerably advanced ere the
travellers arrived at Brompton.
As they approached this station, they were very much struck with its
appearance. It was situated on a rising ground facing the Gibson river;
which, with the heavy rains that had fallen, had risen considerably
above its usual height, and had the appearance of a noble stream. The
house itself was of the kind generally to be met with under similar
circumstances; that is, a one-storied weather-boarded building of about
six or eight rooms, mostly connected with one another, with a broad
shady verandah, detached kitchen and stable, and other out-houses at a
short distance removed from the dwelling. As a structure it had nothing
about it that would attract special attention; it was simply neat, and
had an appearance of comfort; but looked at in conjunction with the
prettily arranged garden, with its tastefully laid out flower plots, and
well stocked beds of vegetive edibles--and which was protected from the
intrusion of quadrupeds by a substantial "pailing fence"--it was a snug
and pleasant residence. Numerous and extensive enclosed paddocks
stretched far down the banks of the river; and in them might have been
seen quite a herd of horses luxuriating in the rich pasturage; while at
a distance of a few hundred yards stood the enclosures forming the
stock-yard, and, adjacent, the large wool-shed and the huts of the men.
From these, smoke with graceful curls rose in the calm evening air, and
gave to the _locale_ the appearance of a small though picturesque
township; and, with the park-like appearance of the country, impressed
our young travellers with the feeling, that Brompton was one of the most
serene and delightful spots they had ever seen.
This station was of considerable magnitude; and, being in the centre of
a district becoming fast occupied by settlers and their stock, it was
likely, at no very distant period, to become a place of considerable
importance. The government had reserved a site for a township; and had
already established a branch post-office for the convenience of the
settlers in the neighbourhood; it might consequently be considered the
_ultima thule_ of civilisation. The proprietor of the station, Mr.
Alfred Smithers, was a gentleman in the meridian of life, who had, in
the general exodus from the southern districts of the colony, come over
into the Darling Downs in search of "new country;" and continuing to
push on until he passed the boundary of the existing settlements, had
alighted on a tract of land situated near the head of the Gibson river,
to which it appeared no venturesome squatter had as then penetrated. He
took up the "run" from government, gave it its present name, brought
over his flocks, and established his station; then building a
comfortable little cottage, which, since the erection of the present
house, had been occupied by the overseer, he removed to it Mrs. Smithers
and his family. His brother shortly afterwards followed him into this
unknown wilderness, and not being possessed of any stock himself,
assisted him in the general management of the station.
The younger brother, Mr. Robert Smithers, more generally known among his
friends as Bob Smithers, and of whom we shall have to make frequent
mention in the course of our narrative, was a gentleman of rather
prepossessing appearance; the junior of his brother by some ten years;
but, unlike him, was of an unsettled and reckless disposition, rather
fond of the society of wild and dissolute companions, and at times, when
absent from home, exhibited symptoms of the old colonial leaven, and
indulged in courses of dissipation and debauchery. On the station,
however, he was energetic and industrious; and, at its early settlement,
was of considerable service to his brother, not only in the general
routine of the establishment, but from his implacable enmity to the
blacks, whom he inspired with a wholesome dread of his prowess; so
that, while their neighbours were continually suffering from the
depredations of the sable marauders, their flocks and property were left
intact.
Shortly after Bob's juncture with his brother, and perceiving the number
of settlers that continually migrated to this new district, he
provisioned himself and a few domesticated blacks (that occasionally
worked on the station, and on whom he could depend) with rations for two
or three months; and being well armed for his own protection, in case of
a collision with any of his colleagues' countrymen, or of their
treachery, he took his departure on a prospecting tour. Following the
course of the river, and exploring the creeks and tributaries augmenting
it, he drew a rough sketch or plan of the surface of the country, noting
the different hills, creeks, and landmarks, to which he gave names; and
marking the trees at various spots, to indicate to any future searcher
that the country had been selected. He then divided his plan into
divisions, which he roughly estimated to contain each about twenty or
thirty thousand acres; and dignifying them with names, he sent into
government, tenders for their lease. At the time of which we speak, in
the survey department of the legislature, very little was known of the
country designated "the unsettled districts," but which were fast
filling up; and as little enquiries were made by the authorities, as to
the accuracy of the sketches and estimations in the tenders, in the
absence of any others, they were necessarily accepted at the minimum
rate of ten guineas per annum each. Thus Mr. Robert Smithers became, for
a small annual rental, the lessee of a tract of country equal in extent
to an European principality. Although, without the present means of
stocking the land thus obtained, Bob Smithers knew perfectly well that
as the country became taken up and occupied, and as fresh settlers
poured in, he would find many who would purchase his right to the "runs"
at pretty round sums, in preference to pushing out still further;
besides, having no absolute necessity to sell them, he could continue to
hold out, until their value sufficiently advanced to induce him to
effect a sale. A prospect of a profitable realization having now
presented itself, he had been offering them; and it was for one of these
runs that the Fergusons were in treaty.
Their approach to the station had been noticed from the house; and upon
their arrival at the door, they were welcomed by Mr. Alfred Smithers,
who at once concluded who they were; so consigning their horses to the
care of a man in waiting and their own black boy Joey, they entered the
domicile, and were introduced to Mrs. Smithers and the family. In the
absence of his brother, who was shortly expected in, John fell into
conversation with Mr. Smithers, respecting the country they were about
to visit, and their proposed operations, should they decide upon
purchasing; while William, with his usual frankness, subsided into a
friendly conversation with the lady, while he playfully noticed the
children, with whom he instantly became a great favourite.
The internal arrangements of the house seemed in perfect keeping with
its external appearance of comfort: order, decorum, and cleanliness,
seemed its characteristics; and happiness and contentment that of the
inmates' existence. Mr. Smithers was evidently a man of domestic
attachments; one whose greatest pleasure was in his family; while his
wife was blessed with an equally happy temperament, devoted to her
husband, with whom and her children she divided her entire affection.
Their family consisted of three, two boys and a girl; who,
notwithstanding the disadvantages under which they laboured, were
exeeedingly obedient and well mannered, without any of the wayward
forwardness, and rude precosity, so generally to be met with in children
brought up under similar auspices. Though hospitable and kind in the
extreme, from their remote and secluded position, the Smitherses were
rarely visited by strangers; and even their few neighbours were either
located at such considerable distances that it made visiting
inconvenient, or they were people of a stamp who had no relish for their
society. Mr. Smithers never visited town, except when business made it
absolutely necessary, and his amiable wife never entertained any desire
to leave her family; consequently it was not to be wondered at, from the
time of her arrival at the station, five years before the period of
which we speak, she had never left it longer than for a day's ride, to
return the courtesies of some of her nearest friends.
Bob Smithers, as we have already said, was inclined occasionally to
exceed the bounds of temperance and decorum; but even he sincerely
respected his sister-in-law, and never ventured to violate propriety by
the introduction of such companions as he knew would be distasteful to
her. At the same time, the influence of her presence acted as a check
upon his wild and uncouth habits, and prevented him from giving way so
entirely to his reckless propensities as he would have done under no
such restraint.
The Fergusons were well pleased with the portion of the Smithers'
_menage_ they had met; and during the interval that they were waiting
for the return of Bob, who had, so his brother informed them, been
detained somewhere on the run, probably through the swollen nature of
the creeks, they enjoyed one of the most pleasant evenings they had
spent for a long time. The absentee made his appearance late in the
evening, and after a mutual introduction, informed his visitors that he
had hardly expected them for a day or two. The rain in the neighbourhood
of Brompton, they discovered, had been falling for some days, and had
been considerably heavier than on the higher parts of the river; while,
owing to the large body of water that had fallen, Bob stated that all
the rivers were too much swollen to admit of their being crossed, and
advised, for their mutual comfort, that their expedition should be
delayed for a few days to give the water time to subside. This advice
was backed up by the rest of the family, who were unanimous in
expressing the delight they would feel in their friends extending the
term of their visit; while they, having no objections themselves to such
a course, gladly responded to the appeal, and considered themselves
stationary until the river would admit of their proceeding on their
expedition. With this arrangement settled, they finally separated for
the night.