The Kangaroo Hunters; Or, Adventures in the Bush

by Clarence Young

  CHAPTER XXXII.

  Travellers' Wonders.--The Detective Force.--A Trap for the Rangers.--TheSkirmish and the Victory.--Daisies in Australia.--The Constancy of SusanRaine.--The Trial and Sentence of the Natives.--Peter and hisColleagues.

  Arthur was the narrator, and his long and wonderful story produced muchsympathy and astonishment in his friendly hearer. At the earnest requestof Margaret, the delinquent Davy was pardoned, and reinstalled in hisoffice of stock-keeper; and Mr. Deverell promised to interest himself toobtain the emancipation of Wilkins.

  "I must enlist you all to join my small force," said Edward Deverell;"for it is my intention to persevere in my attempt to recover my cattleand punish the robbers. My black allies are of opinion that the men whodrove off the cattle will dispose of them to some of those unprincipleddealers who range the interior to pick up such bargains, and who canagain sell them for large profits to the Macquarie gold-diggers, whomake no inquiries how they were obtained. They must necessarily bringthe cattle through the direct pass of these mountains, which is notquite so perplexing as that you had selected; and we are encamped hereto watch for and intercept them. From your report, the party will bemore numerous than we expected; but the hungry blacks who swell theirtrain, in the hopes of receiving a share of the brandy and tobacco, areno heroes. I think, Hugh, we shall be able to give them a drubbing."

  "As if there could be a doubt of it!" said Hugh, contemptuously. "We areall ready to enlist into the ranks, captain, I will engage to say--thatis, with the exception of papa and the womankind; the chaplain to theregiment, and the Sisters of Charity who are to attend on the wounded."

  "Most useful members of the army they will be," answered Deverell, "ifwe come to close quarters; for, greatly as I abhor warfare, I do notexpect to settle this vexatious matter without bloodshed."

  "If ye did, sir," said Wilkins, "ye'd be wrong; and, depend on't, ye'dsoon have plenty more such-like customers. If a mad dog were to bite aman, and he let it run off, he'd be safe to bite other folks, and that'snot fair. I say, knock him on t' head at first."

  "The cases will hardly bear comparison, Wilkins," replied Mr. Mayburn;"and it has ever been a question among reasoning men whether thedestitute ought to be subjected to capital punishment for seizing ashare of the abundance of the prosperous."

  "Robin Hood law!--rob the rich to feed the poor," cried Gerald. "Onlythink of papa encouraging bush-ranging!"

  "My dear Mr. Mayburn, spare your compassion for these rogues," saidDeverell, laughing. "These men are not destitute--they are worthless,idle vagabonds, and, according to the by-laws of squatters and settlers,they are amenable to justice. I shall certainly reclaim my own property,give the scoundrels a sound thrashing, and, if they show fight, we areprepared for actual service, and they must take the consequences."

  It was long before the party were tired of conversation, and settled totake a secure night's rest; while the watchful police relieved eachother, lest the rangers should pass during the night. In the morningthey placed themselves in convenient posts on the mountains, where theycould command all the approaches; but the day was somewhat advanced whennotice was given that objects were seen approaching at a distance. Thenthe work of preparation actually began; along the heights of the passwere placed the rifle-rangers, as Hugh termed them, consisting ofArthur, Gerald, and himself, Mr. Deverell, and six of the police.Margaret and Mr. Mayburn, with the women, were left in perfect securityin the little glen where the encampment was formed; and the rest of theparty guarded the end of the pass, to secure any of the enemy who mightsucceed in reaching it.

  "We conclude," said Mr. Deverell, "that the rangers, who doubtless arewell acquainted with the pass, will drive the cattle on before them. Nowwe propose to secure these as they issue from this walled passage, andwhen they are all again in our possession, the stock-keepers must beready to drive them off; while the rest of our troop must intercept andcapture the drivers, to prevent pursuit. And now, Davy, I will test yourfidelity again. Will you take up your whip and set off with our beaststo the station?"

  "If ye'd not object, master," said Davy, humbly, "I'd as lief have ashot among 'em afore I set out, specially at that deep, black-heartedrogue Peter, as put an end to our Bill. I can't say, master, Bill didn'tget far wrang; but Peter's out and out a worse chap, and it wasn't hisplace to kill a better fellow nor hisself."

  "You will obey my orders, Davy," said his master, "and leave thepunishment of Peter in our hands. I will take care he shall suffer forhis misdeeds; and you will do your duty best by looking after your oldfour-footed friends. Have the rogues spared poor Lily, David? She was ofa fine breed, Gerald, and I was deeply incensed at the rogues forselecting her to carry off."

  "Bless ye, master, they count nought of breeds," answered Davy; "allthey want is to kill plenty for beef, and to swop all they've left forspurrits and backy; Lily was to t' fore when I cut off from 'em, bonniecretur, but she'll be hard up, if they've brought her this far. Shealways kenned me, master, and let me milk her; but she niver could bidethem black fellows nigh hand her."

  "Very good, Davy," answered Deverell. "Then your duty is to drive offLily, and as many more beasts as you can manage, to this glen; and toremain here with Mr. Mayburn till we come up, as we hope, with ourprisoners. Then we shall set out in good spirits on our long journey toDaisy Grange."

  In a quarter of an hour all the arrangements were made, the bravedefenders were all ready: by this time the procession was close to themountains; the bush-rangers were driving the cattle before them,followed by Peter, with his black troop. He now appeared painted likehis men with the peculiar insignia of war and defiance, his body beingmarked in red lines in the form of a skeleton, a decoration he hadprobably adopted to conciliate the natives.

  The weary cattle were slowly urged into the narrow rock-bound path, oneof the rangers heading them, to lead them along the right pass, therest following them closely. The confined path rung with the lowing ofthe alarmed and reluctant cattle, forced onward cruelly by the spears oftheir drivers, whose wild and terrific oaths completed the discordanttumult. At length, when the cattle-leader emerged from the narrow partof the pass to a more open space, and had his face turned back to seethat the line of animals was properly brought forward, he was easilyseized, gagged, and bound by the dexterous police. Then, as the animalsone after another appeared, they were driven off by the stock-keepers tothe glen.

  The rest of the party were prepared to capture the rangers as theyfollowed the cattle; but the sudden cry of the leader, who had beenseized, and which was easily distinguished amidst the clamor of thenoisy cattle, was heard by Peter. The shrewd man at once comprehendedthe opposition that awaited them, and calling on his black fellows towield their spears and follow him, he rushed on, with his men behindhim, to the scene of conflict. The police on the heights allowed him andsome of his black followers to proceed a little forward, and then fireda volley down into the midst of the blacks that were left behind, who,surprised and bewildered, and ever terrified at the effects offire-arms, turned back tumultuously and fled. In vain the desperateBlack Peter shouted to rally his followers, and fought desperatelyagainst the men at the end of the pass with the few supporters he hadbrought on. He and his troops were soon overpowered, and all capturedand bound, with very little bloodshed.

  "Huzza!" cried Gerald; "a glorious victory! Arthur, you must write thedespatch; naming the superior force of the enemy, the cool anddetermined bravery of the little body of defenders, the desperateresistance of the furious bush-rangers, their complete discomfiture;and, finally, you must particularly mention the prudent, vigorous, andsuccessful support of the young Lieutenant O'Brien, who is recommendedfor promotion."

  "Margaret will consider us all heroes," said Hugh; "and we must hastenon as speedily as possible to allay her anxiety for us. But, CaptainDeverell, whatever are we to do with these prisoners?"

  "We are bound to convey or send the dangerous bush-rangers to Sydney,"answered Deverell, "there to be dealt with according
to law. As for thecowardly, treacherous, and ignorant natives, we must devise somepunishment for them; but, if possible, we will not encumber ourselveswith them, nor be obliged to feed them on our journey. For the presentwe must contrive to keep them in some place of security till the policereturn from their useless chase of the unhappy blacks who have fled."

  "And who will, I hope, escape," said Arthur; "for they are but tools inthe hands of these abandoned convicts, and are scarcely themselvesresponsible for their deeds of evil."

  "See here," said Gerald; "this large cave would make a good jail, and wemight build up the entrance."

  "Then ye'll have to look about for a lot of caves, Master Gerald," saidWilkins, "and lodge 'em, as they say down t' country, on t' separatesystem, or we'se find all our birds flown to-morrow morning, I'llengage. Why, bless you, if that there Black Peter was shut up for a daywi' a new-born babby, he'd make 't a rogue for life. He'd make a parsoninto a bush-ranger, give him a bit of time; and my fancy is as how he'shelped by that bad 'un as is his master; God save us!"

  "There is no doubt, Wilkins," said Mr. Mayburn, "that the Great Spiritof Evil does readily and unfailingly stretch forth his hand to aid hiswicked followers, and we should all join in your prayer, my good man.May God save us in the hour of temptation!"

  Around the little hollow where the encampment was found, and where theyoung heroes were joyfully welcomed, were many small caves in the rocks,in which the prisoners, black and white, were separately enclosed. Oneof the stock-keepers had received a spear-wound in his arm; and one ofthe misguided natives was killed by a rifle-shot. These were all thecasualties. When the police returned from the pursuit of the blackfugitives, who had taken refuge in a thick wood, after many of them hadbeen severely wounded, Mr. Deverell requested that all further pursuitshould be relinquished, as the cattle were recovered and the ringleaderswere now in confinement, which he knew would be a terrible punishment tothem, even though it were only for one night.

  Margaret and Mr. Mayburn paid every care and attention to the woundedman, and when all their duties were fulfilled, the united friends satdown, to rest on the green turf, and to talk of the hopeful future.

  "Now, we are all anxious to know, Edward Deverell," said Hugh, "if youhave got your house built, or if you are all dwelling in tents; and,above all, what kind of place is Daisy Grange?"

  "I have got my house built, Hugh," answered he, "and Daisy Grange Iwill leave undescribed, only assuring you that it will be completely aparadise in my eyes when I see you all there, which I trust will bebefore many days are passed."

  "And the daisies?" inquired Margaret.

  "The daisies were at first coy and capricious in their new home,"answered he, "but finally they have yielded to care and perseverance,and consented to adorn my small lawn, in sufficient numbers to justifyme in retaining the dear name for my much beloved home."

  "And what does Emma do in the wilderness?" asked Hugh.

  "She cultivates flowers," replied Deverell, "sews on buttons, andperforms other needful female occupations, plays, sings, reads, and isnot ashamed to assist her mother, and Susan the dairy-maid, to make thebutter and cheese."

  "Is that Susan Raine?" asked Margaret, anxiously, for she saw Wilkinslooking at Mr. Deverell with much agitation. "Is that the pretty, modestSusan, that was our fellow-voyager?"

  "It is the same girl," answered Deverell. "Poor Susan, we are all verysorry for her; she had to endure a grievous disappointment, for she hadtaken the opportunity of accompanying us, as our servant, in order thatshe might join her betrothed, a wild fellow that had been transportedfor some venial offence; and when we reached Melbourne, and institutedthe regular inquiry, we found the man had made his escape in an Indiavessel, with some vile wretches who had been working with him. I fear heis wholly unworthy of the good girl, who still mourns so deeply forhim."

  "He's nought but a reg'lar scoundrel," said Wilkins, impetuously, "heis; and she'd sarved him right if she'd gone and wed another; that'swhat she has done likely, sir?"

  "That is what I certainly wished her to do," said Deverell, lookingsurprised at the free interference of Wilkins; "but the silly girl isstill haunted by the wild hope of reclaiming the unfortunate man who wasthe companion of her childhood. She has refused the young herdsman whois so kindly attended by Miss Margaret; a worthy fellow, and hasdetermined to remain unmarried for the sake of the convict who has socruelly neglected her."

  "That's like my bonnie true-hearted lass," said Wilkins, much excited."Scamp as I were to lose her! But now please, Miss Margaret, to put in aword like for me. Tell t' master I'se nought like so bad but thatthere's some hopes of me, if Sue will take up wi' me; but how can I lookfor't?"

  Margaret undertook to explain Wilkins's position to Deverell, and toplead for him to Susan; and the rough convict turned away with a tear inhis eye, as the recollection of youthful and innocent days shone throughthe mist of evil deeds that had darkened his mature life.

  Mr. Deverell was pleased with the story of Wilkins, and as he would befar removed from temptation at the settlement, and would be carefullywatched by his good friends, he promised to bestow Susan on him; and nowthey prepared to break up the encampment, and to pursue their journeyunder pleasant auspices.

  "But before we set out," said Mr. Deverell, "it will be necessary tocome to some, arrangement about our troublesome prisoners. We must holda court of justice, as imposing as circumstances will permit, andendeavor to alarm them, and make a salutary impression on them."

  "There is a handsome rocky throne for the bench," said Hugh. "Please toascend to the elevation, Mr. Judge Deverell, and look as grave as youpossibly can; papa will sit by you in the character of Mercy, tomitigate the severity of Justice. Arthur and Gerald must take that hill,and Jack and I will remain here to represent counsel. We will not takethe trouble to call a jury, because I know my lord judge has made up hismind about the sentence. Now, all you people stand round, and leave apassage for the police to bring up the prisoners. Will this do, mylord?"

  "I am content, Hugh, provided you all look serious," answered Deverell."You must make the most of our strength, and display your arms toadvantage. With these ignorant natives, in their present condition,intimidation is the only mode of subjection. I hope the time is not verydistant when milder measures may be used to win them to civilization. Weare commencing the work by educating the children."

  The glen was first cleared by sending the stock-keepers forward with thecattle, as their progress must necessarily be slow; then, one afteranother, the police released the trembling, crouching savages from thecaves, and brought them before the judge. The poor wretches, at thesight of the array of guns and spears before them, endured all theterrors of death. Deverell, who had acquired some facility in speakingtheir language, made a long address to the terrified men; reproachingthem with their folly and ingratitude in robbing him, who had neverrefused to assist them in their days of destitution, and who earnestlydesired their welfare. He warned them of the danger of dealing with thebush-rangers, who always deceived them, and of frequenting the bushtaverns to obtain the poisonous liquor which would in the end destroytheir whole nation. He threatened them with instant death if they daredto transgress again; and then, satisfied with the fright he had giventhem, he relieved them from their misery by giving them leave to depart;a permission which they did not delay a moment to make use of; butsprung up the rocks, and speedily disappeared to seek the concealment ofthe bush.

  There remained now only the four vile bush-rangers to dispose of; butthese men, all escaped convicts, Mr. Deverell declined to punish,proposing to commit them to the charge of four of the mounted police,who were to conduct them, or, as these officials appropriately expressedit, to drive them to Sydney, and there deliver them into the hands ofjustice.

  These ruffians were therefore brought from their respective dungeons,and manacled two together; their persons were searched, lest they shouldhave any concealed arms; and their legs were then released from thefetters. Peter, who obst
inately refused to submit to the incumbrance ofclothing, required no search, and was coupled to one of his bush rangingfriends, loudly showering curses on his conquerors.

  "Do you mean us to set out fasting with these malignant scoundrels?" heyelled out. "Ye're fine Christians, to hunger folks. And ye know as wellas we do these greedy black rascals will prig all our rations on t'road."

  Mr. Deverell did know that the black police were scandalously harshwith their white prisoners, and he therefore ordered that these wretchedcriminals should sit down for half an hour, and be supplied with aplentiful breakfast of cold meat, which they began to devour ravenously,watched curiously by Ruth, who concealed herself in a thicket, that shemight look in safety at these terrible bush-rangers. All the rest of theparty, glad to avoid the sight of the wretches, wandered off to anotherlittle glen which opened from their encampment, except Mr. Deverell andArthur, who had called the police to one side to give them a strictcharge to be watchful and determined, but at the same time to treattheir prisoners with humanity.

  While they were conversing, they were startled and alarmed by a screamfrom Ruth, who, they believed, had left the encampment with the rest ofthe party, and on turning round they saw, to their great vexation, theranger who had been linked with Peter galloping off on the horse of oneof the police, which, ready for starting, had been tied to a tree nearthe prisoners. The police mounted the other three horses that wereready, and speedily pursued the fugitive; while Deverell and Arthur wentup in haste, and found, to their extreme mortification, that the villainPeter was also missing. The remainder of the party, recalled from theirramble by the shriek of Ruth, had now joined them; and when the agitatedgirl was able to give an account of the occurrence, she said:--

  "He reached out, and took a cloak off t' horse, and groped in t' pocketstill he fetched out summut, maybe a key, for I heard a click; and thenPeter jumped up and laid hands on t' horse; but t' other fellow wassharp after him, and pushed him off, and loped atop on his backhisself, and galloped off like mad, and left Peter standing. Oh master!how awful he swore and stamped about, and took off right up to me, and Ishrieked out; and then he scrambled up yon wood." And Ruth pointed tothe precipitous wood-covered wall of the glen.