CHAPTER TEN.
JOURNEY COMMENCED--OUR NIGHT ENCAMPMENT--WITNESS A CORROBORREE, ORSKELETON DANCE--NATIVES VISIT US--A MAGICIAN PLAYS OFF HIS TRICKS--NATIVE SUPERSTITIONS--JOURNEY RESUMED--CURIOUS TREES--CAMP ALARMED BY A"LAUGHING JACKASS"--HALT FOR THE DAY--EXPEDITION--DISCOVER AN OLD WOMANTRYING TO AROUSE THE NATIVES TO ATTACK US--PULLINGO APPEARS TO WARN US--WE RETREAT--A HURRIED MARCH--A LITTER FORMED FOR EDITH--AGAIN ENCAMP--AFUGITIVE--SURPRISED BY THE NATIVES--PROVE TO BE FRIENDS OF PULLINGO--THEMARCH RESUMED.
Having housed in the boat, and hidden such provisions and goods as wecould not take with us, we commenced our journey. We each of us carrieda pack containing ammunition, a pair of shoes, a change of clothing,flour, biscuit, and preserved meat, salt and other necessaries. Myfather had, in addition, his money, which he had saved from the wreck, acompass, a sextant, a map, and a book or two. Mudge was similarlyloaded. I had my journal; and my mother insisted on carrying her ownclothing, as well as some provisions, and her Bible; while Edith wasquite unhappy till she was allowed to have a small parcel made up forherself.
Each package was suited to the strength of the person who had to carryit. It is a very different thing to lift a weight which may appearperfectly light for a few minutes, and to have to carry it day after dayon one's shoulders, with the addition of a musket, a brace of pistols,and a stout stick.
Pullingo went ahead with his spears in his hand and his boomerang stuckin his girdle, fully conscious of his dignity. Paddy Doyle went next tohim, or marched at his side for the purpose of keeping him in goodhumour, while he endeavoured to learn his language and teach himEnglish. Mudge marched next with Tommy Peck; my father and motherfollowed, and either Harry or I accompanied Edith and Pierce, who ledthe goat between them; while Burton and Popo, with the other men,brought up the rear. When I was not with Edith, I either walkedalongside Burton or went ahead with Mudge.
After we left the neighbourhood of the river we emerged into a more opencountry; that is to say, the trees grew at a sufficient distance apartto enable us to see a long way between them. We flattered ourselvesthat we were not likely to meet with any natives for some time, as wefancied that all those in the neighbourhood had collected to feed on thecarcass of the whale, and we knew that Pullingo would not lead usthrough a country inhabited by any tribes hostile to his own.
I should say that the aborigines of Australia are divided into numerousseparate tribes or families, living entirely apart from each other,retaining their own hunting-grounds, and so seldom intermixing that inmany instances they are unacquainted with each other's language. Wewere led to suppose that Pullingo's tribe was chiefly located in theregion to the south of the river, and that he had come farther norththan usual when he fell in with us; we could only thus account for theconfidence with which he marched on ahead, as if thoroughly acquaintedwith the country.
We calculated that we had made fifteen miles, when we encamped for thenight on the border of a thick wood to which Pullingo conducted us. Onlooking at the map, however, it seemed as if, after all our walking, wehad made no progress, though the ground over which we had passed hadbeen perfectly easy; and we knew from the account the bushranger hadgiven us that we should have a mountainous and rocky region to cross,when our difficulties would be greatly increased.
"Come, come," said my father, when he heard the remarks some of us weremaking; "I must not let you look at the map in future. All we have todo is to push bravely onward while we are on the move, and to rest atsuch spots as will afford us water and an abundance of game."
The next day, having made as good progress as on the first, we hadaltogether accomplished thirty miles by sunset. We had thus made half adegree, which, as Tommy remarked, sounded at all events like something;and each day we managed to shoot as many parrots or pigeons as werequired for food. Occasionally, too, Pullingo brought some down withhis boomerang.
We had been travelling on for some days, when one evening we encampednear what was now a rivulet, but it had already fallen considerably, andwe could see by the appearance of the banks that it would probably erelong be dry. My mother and Edith, though they had walked on withoutcomplaining, were evidently tired, and my father proposed that we shouldremain there to rest, or only take a short journey the next day. So ourcamp was formed as usual; and our provisions having been cooked, we satround the camp-fire to take our supper.
We all shared alike: the food requiring cooking was boiled in ourlargest pot, the game and vegetables being cut up into small pieces, andbiscuit or flour being added to it, with pepper and mustard. This was afavourite dish both for dinner and supper, and very excellent it was.My father and mother and Edith, with Mudge and I and the other boys,took our seats on one side, while the men collected on the other.Pullingo generally squatted down by the side of Paddy, whom he lookedupon as his chief friend. They already managed to understand each otherpretty well, eking out the few words they knew of each other's languageby signs which it would have puzzled the rest of us to comprehend.
This evening, Pullingo, instead of coming to the front, had seatedhimself some way behind Doyle, who handed him his basin of soup; and wehad nearly finished our meal when, on looking up, I found that the blackhad disappeared. I had fancied, during the pauses in the conversation,that I heard strange sounds coming out of a thick part of the forestbehind us, but I took but little notice of them. The idea which passedthrough my mind was that they were produced by a flock of parrots orcockatoos retiring late to rest.
Presently I saw Pullingo come back and touch Paddy on the shoulder,making a sign to him to follow. Paddy got up, taking his gun, which layby his side. Being curious to see whatever the black wished to showhim, I took up my gun also, and crept on close behind him. The blackled us in the direction from whence I had heard the sounds proceed, andwhich was, I should have said, directly to the south of us, or in thepath we were about to pursue next morning.
After going some way, I observed the glare of a fire reflected on theboughs of the trees ahead of us. We got nearer and nearer to it, whenthe black stopped behind some thick, low bushes. I saw Paddy stretchinghimself on tiptoe, and looking over them; and imitating him, I beheld aspectacle which sent a thrill of horror through me. Paddy's teeth werechattering and his limbs shaking, yet he still looked on with a fixedgaze, as if he could not force himself away. Directly in front of us,but some distance off, in the dark portion of a forest glade, appearedsome twenty or thirty skeleton forms, every limb in rapid motion,twisting and turning and leaping,--the legs and arms being thrown outsometimes alternately, like the toy figures worked by a string for theamusement of babies and small children. Now they went on one side, nowon the other; now they cast themselves towards the ground, as if theywere about to turn head over heels, in the fashion of boys making a"wheel" alongside carriages; now up they leaped all together, now onefollowing the other; till, after a succession of more extravagantmotions than before, they suddenly disappeared. I thought they had gonealtogether, when in another instant they again burst into view andrecommenced the same performances as before.
For the first few seconds--until I had time for reflection--I couldscarcely help fancying that they were skeletons animated by magic power;and poor Paddy, I saw, fully believed that such was the case. All thetime, a band of native musicians, with their drums, were furiouslybeating away directly in front of us, apparently unconscious of ourpresence. This convinced me, if I had required other proof, that humanbeings had to do with the spectacle I saw; and presently my notion wasfully confirmed by seeing the seeming skeletons advance close to thefire, when I discovered the substantial black bodies of a party ofnatives painted over with white lines to resemble the bones ofskeletons.
They continued their strange, weird dance, twisting and turning, somewith their arms akimbo, others resting on their legs. The groan ofrelief given by poor Paddy nearly betrayed our presence, of which Iconcluded Pullingo had not made them aware. What their object was itwas difficult to say, or what was Pullingo's in br
inging us to see them:possibly, I thought, aware of our presence in the neighbourhood, theywanted to frighten us from proceeding; or perhaps they were onlyperforming a corroborree or native dance for their own amusement.
After we had watched them for some time, I pulled Paddy's arm, and gothim, not unwillingly, to retire from the scene.
"Arrah, Misther Godfrey," he said, "sure they're curious crathurs, themblack nagurs; and I confess, your honour, when I first saw them, that Ifelt nigh ready to sink into the ground and turn into a skeleton myself!But why Pullingo brought us to see them, is more than I can make out."
"It puzzles me also," I said. "Perhaps my father or Mr Mudge will beable to form a conjecture on the subject."
These remarks were not made till we were well out of hearing of thenatives. Before we had got far, Pullingo joined us, and inquired, Paddysaid, what we thought of the performance.
The information we brought to the camp--of the vicinity of so large aparty of natives--was anything but satisfactory, and made my fatherresolve to continue the journey next morning, instead of resting a day,as he had proposed; and my mother declared that she was perfectly ableto travel, provided we could make a shorter stage than on the previousdays. The account we gave of the curious skeleton dance performed bythe blacks made Mudge, Tom, and Harry determine to go and see it.Burton offered to accompany them; but the rest of the men, afterlistening to the description given by Paddy, seemed to think that therewas something weird and supernatural in it, and showed no inclination tojoin them. As for Pullingo, he made no attempt to explain matters, andI could not help suspecting that he had got up the performance himselffor some purpose of his own. We waited some time for the return ofMudge and the rest; but they at length came back, saying that they hadnot been discovered, and that the skeletons were still dancing away asfuriously as ever.
My father determined that a double watch should be kept during thenight. To set the example, he took the first, with Burton and one ofthe men; and I relieved him after a couple of hours. During the wholetime I heard the drums beating in the distance, and I had no doubt thatthe natives were keeping up their corroborree, which I suppose affordedthem as much amusement as a ball in England does the young ladies andgentlemen who attend it. Mudge, who followed me, said that he alsoheard the sounds during the whole of his watch; indeed, the natives musthave kept up their festivities, if so they could be called, till the"laughing jackass"--which performs the duty of a cock in Australia, bychattering vociferously just before sunrise--warned them to seek repose.
As we were anxious to avoid the natives, we started at daybreak, andmarched nearly four miles before we halted for breakfast, munching onlya little biscuit to stay our appetites. Pullingo led the way as usual,making us suppose that he had no connection with those who had beenengaged in the corroborree. My father, however, did not entirely trusthim: taking out his compass, he examined it frequently, to ascertainthat he was conducting us on a direct course. We might, indeed, havedispensed with his guidance, had he not been of so much service inshowing us where springs of water were to be found, as also in pointingout the trees on which parrots, pigeons, and other birds perched atnight.
After breakfast we rested for a short time, and then again pushedforward, hoping to keep well ahead of our black neighbours of theprevious night. As it was impossible for my mother and Edith to make solong a journey as on the previous day, we halted early in the afternoon,in a wooded region very similar to that in which we had encamped onformer nights, on the southern side of a stream which we had just beforepassed. I call it a stream, because water ran through it; but itconsisted merely of a numerous succession of holes more or less deep,connected by a tiny rivulet, over which we could step without theslightest difficulty. We could see that in the rainy season the waterhad risen many feet, when it must have assumed the character of atorrent, difficult and often very dangerous to cross.
We lost no time in building a hut for my mother and Edith, and inarranging shelter for ourselves. Mudge, Doyle, Harry, and I then tookour guns and went out to kill some game for supper, hoping to get asmany birds as would serve also for our breakfast next day. On lookingabout for Pullingo, to get him to accompany us, we found that he haddisappeared; but in what direction he had gone no one could tell.
"We can do very well without him," observed Mudge; "only we must takecare not to lose our way."
My father offered to lend us his compass, charging us to be verycareful. Our object had been to shoot cockatoos, parrots, or pigeons,or indeed any other birds likely to prove good for food. We troubledourselves very little about their names or habits; we were, indeed,sportsmen simply for the pot. We kept our eyes about us, however, insearch of a kangaroo or any other animal; and either Mudge or I had ourfowling-piece loaded with bullets, in case one should cross our path.We had already shot several beautiful doves and parrots; but even now Icould not help feeling what a pity it was to deprive creatures with solovely a plumage of life.
We were walking on when Harry exclaimed, "Look! look! what is thatfearful creature?"
"A small bear, I do believe, by its colour and the way it walks,"exclaimed Mudge as he ran on. "I hope soon to be better acquainted withthe gentleman."
The animal, which was leisurely pursuing its course, waddling alongsomething like a fat bear, across the bottom of a slight depression inthe ground, did not perceive us; and Mudge, whose rifle was loaded witha bullet, soon got sufficiently near to fire. His shot must havepenetrated to the animal's heart, for it rolled over and was dead in amoment. On examining the creature, which was three feet long, we foundits fur warm, long, and somewhat harsh to the touch, of a grey colour,mottled with black and white. Its muzzle was very broad and thick. Itwas, indeed, very similar to a bear, but it possessed a pouch like thekangaroo, and its feet were black, and armed with strong claws.
"He is a curious-looking creature," observed Paddy, who quickly came upwith us. "One thing is very certain,--whether it's a bear or a pig ofthese parts, it will give all hands a dacent supply of meat for the nextday or two."
Paddy at once set to work to cut up the animal, after which we loadedourselves with the portions, I should think it must have weighed fullyforty pounds. It was, I afterwards found, a wombat, or Australian bear,an animal very common in all parts of the country. It burrows deeplyinto the earth; but we were fortunate enough to find this one on ajourney, otherwise we should not have obtained it so easily.
We returned at once with our booty to the camp, when Paddy lost no timein spitting the wombat, and placing it to roast before the fire. Thespit he used was a long thin stick, which he rested on two forkeduprights before the fire; one end extending like the tangent of a circleto a sufficient distance, so that a person could keep turning it roundand round without having to sit too close to the fire.
Soon after our arrival Pullingo appeared, accompanied by three blacks,one of whom he formally introduced to us as Naggernook. He wasapparently, judging by his withered skin and white hair and beard, avery old man; but he had not lost the use of his tongue, for hechattered away with extraordinary volubility, as if wishing to impresssome matter of importance upon us--though what it was, of course wecould not understand. The sight of the wombat roasting before the fireexcited his interest, and he inquired of Pullingo how we had obtainedit. Pullingo, pointing to our guns, entered into a long account of thewonders they were capable of performing; indeed, he himself, though hehad so often seen them fired, seemed still to regard them withsuperstitious awe, which it was important for our interests that heshould continue to feel.
As my father was anxious to conciliate the blacks, he waited till one ofthe joints of the wombat was sufficiently roasted, and then presented itto Naggernook; who had no sooner received the present than he beganjumping, and hopping, and skipping about in the most extraordinarymanner, hugging it with delight. Having thus exhibited hissatisfaction, if not his gratitude, he sat himself down on the ground,and began to devour the meat--taking off huge piece
s, which he stuffedinto his mouth in a fashion more honoured in the breach than in theobservance; occasionally throwing a piece, though not withoutreluctance, to his two younger companions, who sat by his side,submissively eating what was thus bestowed on them, much after the way acouple of dogs would have done while watching their master at dinner.
We had no wish for the society of these unattractive specimens ofhumanity, but they, it appeared, had made up their minds to remain, forthe purpose of obtaining whatever we were disposed to bestow on them,--or perhaps of stealing, if they had the opportunity. However, on thatpoint we may have wronged them.
As soon as the two lads had scraped every particle of meat off the boneNaggernook had thrown them, they collected some sheets of bark and putup a lean-to close to our camp, showing that they had no intention ofgoing away. Pullingo, when he sat before the fire at supper, gave us,in a low voice, as if afraid they would overhear him, a long account ofhis native acquaintances who had honoured us with a visit; but what itwas we could not clearly make out. One thing was certain,--that aconsiderable number of blacks were encamped in our neighbourhood, thoughwhether we should be troubled by them remained to be seen. Of course wekept watch as usual, Mudge and I undertaking the charge of the secondwatch. We agreed to walk together round and round the camp; or if onesat down, the other was to move backwards and forwards, and to speak tohim at each turn.
We had been walking up and down for nearly an hour, when, feeling verytired, I sat down, while Mudge continued pacing up and down. He hadjust got to the end of his beat, the light of the fire still enabling meto watch him, when I saw him bending forward with his hand above hiseyes, as if to peer into the darkness. As I got up and moved towardshim, he stopped. Just then I saw, in an opening of the forest some wayoff, what appeared to be a human figure, standing on the summit of amound of earth slightly elevated above the surrounding ground. Humanthough the figure was, it had a most extraordinary appearance. From theshoulders floated out, moved by the breeze which blew through theopening, the ends of a long scarf, with which its body was enveloped,like the wings of some huge bird of night. A long beard hung from itschin; while its hair, divided into separate long locks, rose in numerouspoints above its head.
Not a sound issued from this extraordinary-looking being, who stood likea statue--with the exception of its arms, which it continued slowly towave up and down in a series of mysterious signs, as if it would bar ourprogress in that direction; indeed, if I may not be accused of impietyby saying so, it reminded me of the angel with the flaming sword,stationed at the entrance of Eden to prohibit the return of our firstparents,--though I am very certain that the idea must have been originalso far as the Australian necromancer--for such, we concluded, was thecharacter assumed by the being we saw before us--was concerned. He musthave been a bold fellow, to endeavour thus to practise on the supposedcredulity of the white men, for a shot from one of our rifles mightquickly have put an end to his performances; but, of course, we did notfor a moment think of firing at him.
"What can be the object of that extraordinary-looking character?" Iasked, as I got close up to Mudge.
"A trick of the natives, I conclude, to try and frighten us," heanswered. "Perhaps, as they know that they cannot compete with ourfirearms, they are trying to awe us with an exhibition of their magicpowers; and that old fellow there is evidently acting the part of asorcerer. I should suspect him to be our friend Naggernook, had I notseen him fast asleep in his camping-place when I last passed round thatway. Just you go and see whether he is still there, Godfrey, while Ikeep an eye on the fantastic-looking personage out there."
Moving cautiously, I made my way towards the spot where our visitors hadgone to rest; and there, to the best of my belief, they were all threestill fast asleep. I returned to Mudge, who had not moved, he beingcurious to watch the proceedings of the sorcerer.
"Rouse up Pullingo," he said, "and let us see what account he has togive when he sees yonder scarecrow."
I found our black guide sleeping in his usual place near Paddy Doyle.While I was waking him, Paddy started up.
"There is an extraordinary-looking character playing off some trick orother not far from this, and we want to see what the black thinks abouthim," I said; "try and make him understand that we are not in theslightest degree frightened, and only want to know what can be hisobject in placing himself there."
"But suppose it is a real ghost? For the love of Heaven, don't be afteroffending him," said Paddy in a low whisper; "there are such things inthe old country, and none but a haythen man would think of doubting it.So do, Masther Godfrey dear, take care what you are about."
Paddy having thus delivered himself, tried to make Pullingo understandthat we had seen something extraordinary near the camp; and not withoutsome hesitation did he accompany Paddy and me to where I had left Mudgestanding. The effect produced on him upon seeing the figure was fargreater than I had expected: the moment his eyes fell on it he begantrembling all over; and shouting out at the top of his voice, "Karakul!karakul!" he bolted off towards the camp.
His cries aroused the other natives, who, starting to their feet, fledaway through the forest, uttering the same mysterious word. The noisethey made, of course, aroused every one in the camp; and my father andBurton quickly joined us, inquiring what was the matter. We hadnaturally looked to see what had become of the blacks, and when weturned our eyes again towards the mound the mysterious figure haddisappeared.
"We must try and find the fellow, and teach him not to play his tricksbefore us," exclaimed Mudge, dashing forward. I and most of the partyfollowed. Harry, however, brave as he was on most occasions, seemedalmost as much frightened as the blacks, and entreated us to let theghosts alone.
In vain we hunted round and round the mound; no one could we discover:indeed, in the darkness, a person well acquainted with the localitycould easily have escaped, and might still be hiding not far off.
"There's no use in looking further for the fellow," observed Mudge; "butwe must let him see that we are not frightened by his tricks."
Returning to the camp, we made up the fire, and then went in search ofPullingo and his friends. After some time we found them, crouching downtogether in the hollow of a tree some way on the other side of the camp.Either they were very much alarmed, or they pretended to be so: theirteeth were chattering, their limbs shaking, as they all clung together,holding each other's hands, and looking out of their hole with staringeyeballs; even their hair appeared to have assumed an upright position,as if it was standing on end. If not really frightened, they certainlyacted their parts very cleverly. Calling Paddy, who had now recovered,and seemed rather ashamed of himself, we got him to persuade Pullingoand his friends to come with us to the fire; round which they sat downin their usual fashion, as if nothing had happened. I observed,however, that they looked every now and then in the direction in whichthe figure had appeared, and occasionally cast suspicious glances behindthem. But a couple of roast parrots which we divided among themcontributed to restore their spirits.
By dint of cross-questioning Pullingo, we learned from him that thekarakul was, as we suspected, a sorcerer--a being with unlimited powerover the lives of all who offend him. He produces the death of hisvictim in a very extraordinary fashion, by means of a small boneextracted from the body of a dead man, which by his magical power he cansend into the heart of any one whom he wishes to destroy. He obtainsthis bone by his enchantments. On the death of a native, he goes to thegrave the night after the funeral, and going through certain magicalperformances, he afterwards lies on the top of it. At the precisemoment that a certain star appears in the heavens the dead man comesforth, summoned by these incantations, and introduces within the skin ofthe karakul, without causing him more pain or inconvenience than doesthe bite of an ant, a minute bone taken from his own skeleton. The bonethus obtained remains concealed under the enchanter's skin till themoment that he requires to use it. He then, by magical power, ordersthe mysterious bone
to go out of his own body and plant itself in thatof the person he intends to destroy: it immediately enters the heart ofhis unhappy victim, who quickly dies in great agony.
The enchanter, however, pretends not only to kill people, but to curethem. When he cannot do so by his incantations, he tries rubbing andvarious passes, much in the fashion of a mesmeriser. When these fail,he burns the arms and legs of his patients, bleeds them behind the ear,or hangs them up by an arm to the branch of a tree; if they are wounded,he covers up their wounds with an ointment of mud. If after theapplication of these remedies the patient does not get better, thekarakul declares that it is his own fault, and washes his hands of it.
"We have good reason to stand in awe of these powerful enchanters,"observed Pullingo; at all events, that was what we understood him tosay, as far as we could comprehend his gestures and words. When I cameto know more about the natives, I found that his account was perfectlycorrect. He told us a good many other curious things relating to thesuperstitions of his countrymen; but I do not remember all of them. Hetold us that the natives are firmly convinced no person ever dies fromnatural causes; and that if not killed by his fellow-creatures, ordestroyed by the spells of magicians, he would live on for ever withoutgrowing old or exhausting his physical powers.
"Come, we've had enough of this stuff," said Mudge at last. "Tell yourfriends to turn in again and go to sleep; and you do the same, MasterPullingo, or you will not be fit for your duty to-morrow."
Burton and one of the men relieved Mudge and me; but though they kept alook-out for the karakul, the magician did not think fit to return tohis post: possibly the gleam of the fire on their muskets as they walkedround the camp may have shown him that the experiment would bedangerous.
We talked over the matter the next morning, and came to the conclusionthat, for some reason or other, the natives were anxious to prevent uscontinuing our journey. Of course, we settled to take no notice; and assoon as breakfast was over we packed up our traps and got ready tostart, telling Pullingo to lead the way. He hesitated, and finallydeclared that he could not venture in the direction where the karakulhad appeared.
"You may go any way you like," observed Mudge; "but we shall go straightforward, and you may join us on the other side."
Naggernook and his attendants had been watching our proceedings, andwhen they saw that we were advancing in the direction of the mound theybolted off, crying out, "Karakul! karakul!" We replied with shouts oflaughter. Mudge fired a shot ahead to make them understand that thatwould clear the way of all foes. It was a hint which they were wellcapable of understanding, and, we hoped, would prevent their countrymenfrom molesting us. Our great object was to avoid coming into collisionwith them, for if blood was once shed we could not tell where it mightend. It was important to show the natives our power, and that we didnot entertain the slightest fear of them.
We marched forward in our usual order, and soon left the "sorcerer'shillock," as we called it, far behind. Whether he and his associateswere following us we could not tell; though, of course, knowing thecountry, they might be advancing in the same direction on either side ofus, and still keeping carefully out of sight.
I have not spoken much as yet of the appearance of the country, or thetrees we met with. Near the river, and as far as we could see along thecoast, were groups of magnificent pines known as the Norfolk IslandPine, a hundred feet in height, with perfectly straight stems, fit formasts to the largest ships. The most numerous trees were the eucalypti,or stringy-bark tree, of various species, some of the prodigious heightof a hundred and fifty feet; others were of enormous girth, many fromthirty to forty feet round; and several, hollowed by age, were largeenough to admit the whole of our party. Except for size, they cannot becalled handsome, as the colour of the leaf is harsh and unsightly, owingto its margin being presented towards the stem, both surfaces havingthus the same relation to light. In the hollows we met with superbferns growing on stems some twenty feet in height, and about thethickness of a boat-oar. It then throws out a number of leaves in everydirection, four or five feet in length, very similar in appearance tothe common fern. Another curious tree had a stem sixteen feet long;after which it branched out in long spiral leaves which hung down on allsides, resembling those of the larger kinds of grass. From the centreof the leaves sprang a foot-stalk twenty feet in length, exactly likethe sugar-cane, and terminating in a spiral spike resembling an ear ofwheat. It yielded a fragrant-scented yellow resin.
Pullingo having lost two of his spears, with which he had attempted tokill a big forester kangaroo, and which made off with them sticking inits back, he climbed to the top of several of these trees and cut downthis upper stem. He then hardened them in the fire. On comparing thenew spears with his old ones, we found that they were all of the samematerial. We before had been puzzled to know how he had obtained suchstraight and slender rods.
Though we believed that Pullingo was attached to us, we were still verydoubtful of the temper of his countrymen, and therefore, when on themarch we kept close together, to be ready to resist any sudden attack.When we halted at mid-day to rest, we took care not to range to anygreat distance in search of game unless we had him with us. We seldomwent more than a couple of days without killing a kangaroo or a wombat,while we obtained an ample supply of birds,--either cockatoos or parrotsand parakeets, several varieties of pigeons, as also of doves, and nowand then a bustard, or native turkey, a large bird weighing sixteen oreighteen pounds. Frequently, as we were marching on, we were saluted bya sound so like the crack of a whip, that Tommy and Pierce declared thatsome black boy near at hand must be amusing himself with one; and it wassome time before we discovered that the sound was produced by a smallbird either over our heads or perched on a tree near at hand.
We marched on about ten miles, and again encamped close to one of thehuge eucalypti I have before mentioned. Near at hand was a forest, orbush, somewhat denser than usual with hilly ground, which confined ourview on that side to narrow limits. A stream of water tempted us tostop here rather than push on a few miles farther. My mother and Edithperformed the daily journey without feeling any unusual fatigue; but thegreat heats had not begun, and the air was pure and exhilarating.
Mudge, Paddy, and I were very successful in a shooting expedition onwhich we started, as soon as we had encamped, with Pullingo; Mudgehaving killed a good-sized kangaroo, and Paddy and I two dozengaily-feathered birds, while Pullingo had brought down nearly a dozenmore with his boomerang. We had intended going in the direction of thehills, but when he saw us setting off he made signs to us that it wouldbe of no use; and when we still persevered he placed himself in front ofus, and by the most violent gestures endeavoured to stop our progress.At length, as we dodged him, he turned back towards the camp and sathimself down on the ground, as if determined not to accompany us. Wetherefore gave up the attempt, and took the way he pointed out, alongthe banks of the stream, near which we found most of the birds wekilled.
On our return the men set to work to pluck our feathered prizes, whilePaddy scientifically cut up the kangaroo; after which there was a grandcooking of flesh and fowl, while some cakes made by my mother were bakedunder the ashes. As a rule, the farinaceous food we were able to carrywas reserved for my mother, Edith, and Pierce. We found scarcelyanything in the shape of fruit, but we obtained a sort of wild spinach,and occasionally heads of cabbage-palms, which served us for vegetables,and assisted to keep the whole party in health.
Supper was over, and my mother and Edith had just retired to their hut.Except Mudge and Paddy, who had to keep the first watch, the rest of theparty were about to lie down under the lean-tos, when on a sudden thereburst forth, close to us, a wild, unearthly, and abrupt yell of mockinglaughter, as if uttered by a party of natives who, creeping on usunawares, had surrounded the camp, and now to their delight found thatwe were in their power. We started to our feet and seized our arms,expecting the next moment to have a shower of spears hurled into ourmidst; but when we
looked round to see in which direction the enemywould appear, no one was to be seen.
"Where can that have come from?" exclaimed Mudge.
"The fellows must have retreated, whoever they were. Keep steady, mylads," cried my father; "on no account leave the camp. Their objectprobably is to entice us away, when they hope to destroy us in detail."
My mother had come out of her hut with Edith, who stood trembling by herside.
"Don't be alarmed," said my father. "The savages, finding that we areprepared, are not likely to attack us."
"But there is no shelter for them nearer than the neighbouring bush; andthat cry came from a spot close at hand," observed Mudge. "With yourleave, Captain Rayner, I will take two men with me and soon rout themout of their lurking-place."
"Depend upon it, they are far away by this time," observed my father.
Scarcely had he spoken, when again there came that fearful yell,sounding like what I could conceive to be the horrible laughter of amaniac.
"Why, I do believe it comes from some fellow who has climbed into thisvery tree," cried Mudge; "and I'll take the liberty of shooting him ifhe doesn't come down of his own accord."
I had observed all this time that Pullingo sat very quietly by the fire,watching what we were about, and merely uttering the word "Gogobera;"but whether that was the name of the leader of the savages surroundingus, or of some supposed malign spirit, we could not tell. I now saw,however, that he was quietly laughing, evidently highly diverted by thealarm these strange sounds had produced among us.
"The black knows something about it," I sang out. "I shouldn't besurprised if, after all, it was one of those necromancers he was tellingus about playing off his tricks. Paddy, do you try and get him to tellus who has been making those hideous noises."
Pullingo quickly understood Paddy, and getting up, went towards thebranch of the tree at which Mudge and several others were looking up.Taking out his boomerang, he stepped a few paces back; then away it flewtill it took a course upwards and penetrated amid the boughs, and thenext instant down came a large bird, with a black head and a peculiarlystrong beak.
"Dat make laughee," he observed composedly.
We found that our nocturnal visitor was no other than that well-knownmember of the feathered tribe, the "laughing jackass;" morescientifically denominated the "giant kingfisher." When I saw the bird,I was very sorry that it had been killed; for, notwithstanding itsdiscordant voice, it is a remarkably sociable and useful creature, as weafterwards discovered. It destroys snakes, which it catches by thetail, and then crushes their head with its powerful beak; it alsorenders an essential service to the settlers who want to get up early,by shouting out its strange notes to welcome the approach of dawn--fromwhich peculiarity it is also called the "settler's clock." We soondiscovered that _gogobera_ was the name given to it by the natives.They, at all events, have no superstitious feeling regarding it; forPullingo, plucking the bird, soon had it roasting before the fire; and,to the best of my belief, he had devoured the whole of it before themorning.
"I hope we shall have no other disturbance during the night, and so Iadvise all hands to turn in," said my father.
We quickly followed his advice. Probably, had the black not killed thepoor gogobera, we should have been aroused betimes in the morning; as itwas, the man who was on watch at that time did not think it necessary tocall us till the sun was above the horizon.
My father, I found, after consulting with Mudge, determined to remainwhere we were for the day, as our camp was well situated near water, andthere was evidently an abundance of game to be obtained in theneighbourhood. Pullingo, who had over-eaten himself during the nightwith the gogobera, on hearing this showed no inclination to get up, butrolled himself over and went to sleep again.
Mudge and I had been curious to know what sort of country lay beyond thehills in the direction Pullingo had been so unwilling we should take onthe previous day. We determined, therefore, to set off as soon asbreakfast was over.
We did so, taking Paddy Doyle and Popo with us to carry our provisions,and armed with our fowling-pieces and pistols. As Pullingo was stillfast asleep, we settled not to interrupt him. We set off, therefore,without waiting for the black, and at once made our way to the westward,through the forest. Soon reaching the top of the hill, we descendedinto the valley, which was still more thickly wooded than the country wehad left. On we went, without seeing any birds at which to fire, till,as we happened to be standing without speaking, I fancied I heard thesound of voices coming from a distance. I told Mudge, who, onlistening, was convinced that I was right.
"Still, we will go on," he said. "If the voices are those of natives,we can but retire; and the very fact of our doing so will show them,should they discover us, that we have no ill-feeling or hostileintentions towards them."
We went on and on through the thick forest, which afforded us ampleshelter. The voices we had heard grew louder and louder, and we sawthat we were approaching an opening, when just at the edge of it wefound a thick belt of bushes, which completely concealed us from any onebeyond, though we managed to look through it. The scene which presenteditself induced us to remain instead of retiring. In the centre, on thetop of a mound, stood a tall, gaunt old woman, her long white hairstreaming behind her back in the wind. In her left hand she held a longstick, which she flourished above her head, while with the other she wasmaking the most vehement gestures. Around the woman, and densely packedtogether, were collected a number of men of all ages, and a few women--as we supposed, from seeing several sturdy infants rolling about on thegrass by their sides. The eager faces of her audience were intentlyfixed upon her as she poured forth a torrent of words, the meaning ofwhich was beyond our comprehension. So intently were they listening,that we ran but little chance of being discovered, unless she shouldhappen to turn her eyes in the direction of the spot where we layhidden.
For several minutes she went on, eloquently addressing the assembly andwildly gesticulating, apparently in the endeavour to arouse them to somemode of action which she was advocating. From some of the words whichreached our ears, we at length could not help suspecting that she wasspeaking about us, and advising the warriors of her tribe to put a stopto our progress through the country. The longer she went on the moreconvinced we became of this, and we could not help dreading that theywould suddenly start up to rush towards our camp, and discover us.
Mudge touched me on the shoulder, and made a sign to me to retreat whilethere was time. I passed it on to Paddy and Popo, who were on the otherside. Just at that moment, on looking round, I saw the countenance of ablack close behind me. Had our enemies surrounded us? If so, we shouldhave to fight hard for our lives. Great was my satisfaction, when asecond glance showed me that the new-comer was no other than Pullingo,who had crept cautiously up to us. He did not speak, but his gesturesproved that he wished us to retreat as silently as he had approached.As this was undoubtedly the wisest thing we could do, we movednoiselessly away from the bush, stooping down as he was doing, so thatwe might escape being seen by the old witch on the top of the mound.Happily at that time her head was turned away from us, while she wasaddressing those on the further side of the circle.
Pullingo led on without stopping for a moment, or venturing even to lookback, probably fearing that he might be discovered, and bring down thevengeance of his countrymen upon himself. At all events, the fact ofhis having followed us, knowing the danger in which we might placeourselves, was a convincing proof of his fidelity. With unerringsagacity he led the way through the forest, and not till we had passedover the first range of hills did he stop to allow us to take breath.
"Bad!--mighty bad, Paddy!" he said, turning round to his friend, andspeaking with the accent he had learned from the Irishman. "If getkilled, others say Pullingo did it. Bad!--mighty bad, Paddy!" hecontinued repeating, his limited stock of words not allowing him toexpress his opinion of our proceeding in any other way.
"But if we had not g
one, we should not have found out that the blackswere thinking of attacking us," answered Doyle. "They might have beendown upon us during the night, and killed every mother's son among usbefore we were awake in the morning; so you see, Mr Pullingo, ourjourney has been of more use than you're inclined to suppose. And prayhow comes it, if you knew they were there, that you didn't tell us?"
"I tell by-and-by if dey come," answered Pullingo. "Now, on again;" andonce more moving forward, he led the way to the camp. He either took ashorter route, or we got over the ground very much faster than when wewere going, as we arrived considerably sooner than I expected.
The account we gave my father made him hesitate about remaining where wewere. We had still four hours of daylight, and by pushing on we mightput a distance of ten miles or so between ourselves and the blacks.From what we had seen, and the few words we had understood, we gatheredthat the old hag, for some cause or other, was instigating her tribe toattack us. Pullingo was consulted on the subject; and when heunderstood that we proposed moving away, he advised that we should do sowithout delay.
My father had been anxious to allow my mother and Edith time to rest:the strength of my little sister, indeed, was severely tried with thelong walk she had taken every day since we had commenced our journey.
"But, sure, we can carry the young lady," exclaimed Paddy. "I, for one,will willingly lend my shoulder. Sure, she's as light as a feather!"
"And so will I," said Mudge. "I only wish we had thought of it before."
Burton also, and one of the other men, volunteered to carry her. Mymother thanked them, and declared that, so far as she herself wasconcerned, she was ready to proceed any distance which might be thoughtnecessary. We accordingly at once set to work to construct a sort ofpalanquin. Several of the trees I have described, which have longfoot-stalks above their leaves, from which the natives make theirspears, were growing near, and from these two long poles were speedilycut. They were tough and light, and sufficiently strong to bear mysister's weight. Some cross-pieces were secured to them, and theintervals filled up with the long spiral leaves from the same tree. Onthe top of this network a piece of bark was fastened; thus, in less thanfive minutes a very suitable litter was constructed.
Having quickly packed up our traps, we placed Edith on it and set out;Paddy declaring, with true Irish politeness, that his own pack felt allthe lighter for having the young lady to balance it. Pullingo wasevidently astonished at seeing the pains we took with the little girl,as his own wife and daughters would have had to carry any property theypossessed, while he trudged ahead, laden only with his spears andboomerang,--not, by the way, that the Australian natives ever are thepossessors of many weighty articles, dispensing, as they do whentravelling, with houses or clothing or cooking utensils, or indeed anyof the requirements of civilised beings. While acting as our guide,however, he seemed anxious to imitate us in all respects, and nowmarched ahead wearing the trousers and shirt which had been given him;looking upon them, however, more as an honourable distinction than asarticles of necessity.
The appearance of the country varied but little from that we had passedover. It was sufficiently level to allow of Edith being carried withoutdifficulty, though in some places undulating, and covered pretty thicklywith trees; generally, however, the country was thoroughly park-like,and I could not help expecting to see a herd of deer start up and gobounding away before us. In lieu of them, we occasionally caught sightof three or four kangaroos, and sometimes of solitary individuals,--which, however, made their escape before we could get a shot at them.They are wary animals; and it is difficult to approach them unless wherethe cover is thick, and the sportsman is on the alert. But even whenfeeding they keep a watchful eye round on every side, to give notice oftheir two enemies, the natives or the dingos, as they approach.
"Well, after all, this is a very jolly life," observed Tommy to me, ashe and Harry and I brought up the rear, having been ordered to keep alook-out on every side, as well as behind us, lest any natives should befollowing our trail. "I only wish those black fellows would takethemselves off and not interfere with us."
"Perhaps they may be saying the same thing of us," I observed. "We mustremember that we are the trespassers; and they, by right of previousoccupation, consider the country their own, and are naturally notpleased at seeing us killing the animals on which they subsist."
"But there must be enough for both of us," said Tommy, "judging from thenumber of birds we see overhead. And it is very foolish in them toattempt to interfere with the white men: the weakest must always go tothe wall."
"That may be," I observed: "but they have to learn that lesson; and inthe meantime they fancy that they can drive us out of the country. Wehave, of course, a perfect right to come here; but we are bound to treatthem with humanity, and to take every pains not to injure them ordeprive them of their means of subsistence."
"That, I am sure, is very right," observed Harry. "It is not theirfault that they are ignorant savages; and we must think of what weshould have been ourselves if we had not been instructed. I never canforget what I might have become had I been left with those dreadfulpeople from whom you rescued me. I should have known nothing of God orof his love for man, or of his desire that man should be reconciled tohim through his own appointed way, and come to live with him in theglorious heaven he has prepared, for ever and ever."
"Then why is it that thousands and tens of thousands of savages, in allparts of the world, are allowed to live and die without ever hearing ofhim?" asked Tommy.
"That is one of the many mysteries which man has failed to solve," Iobserved. "We cannot understand His plans; with regard to them, all weknow is how He deals with us: for that we know through the Bible, whereall seems to me perfectly clear."
"I am sure it is," observed Harry; "I have been certain of that sinceyour mother and Edith have read the book to me, and have taught me toread it for myself. It seems to me that people are ignorant becausethey will not read the book, or seek for grace to understand it."
I was very glad to hear Harry say this, for it showed that my mother'sinstruction had not been thrown away on him. Indeed, besides beingthoroughly guileless and honest, he possessed as much naturalintelligence as anybody I ever met.
We talked about many other things, and Harry was always ready to listenfor the sake of gaining information. He delighted especially to hearabout England, as well as other countries, and the numberless wonders ofwhich he formerly had no conception.
That day's march--to us, who had been out all the morning--was a veryfatiguing one. We had, too, as I have said, to be constantly on thewatch, especially when passing near thickets--so I will call them--offerns or other closely-growing trees, which might afford concealment tothe blacks. We knew that, cunning as they were, they were just aslikely to appear ahead or on one side of us as behind. My father hadgiven directions that, should we be attacked. Edith was to be placed onthe ground, when we were to gather round her, forming a hollow square,in the same way that infantry are arranged to receive cavalry; but thatno one was to fire until he gave the word. He always entertained a hopethat the blacks, on seeing us well-prepared, would not venture to attackus.
I was very thankful when at length, just as the sun was setting,Pullingo called a halt by the side of a wood. It was somewhat in ahollow, for the sake of a water-hole which existed at the bottom. Ourcamp, however, was pitched on a slope where the ground was dry. Aroundthe spot grew some enormous ferns, as large as ordinary trees in thenorthern parts of the world. We lost no time in making preparations forpassing the night: our huts were quickly put up and a fire kindled--thegrass surrounding the place being first carefully cut down, so as toprevent any risk of it blazing up and setting the trees in flames.This, in dry weather, is the chief danger to be guarded against whentravelling in Australia.
Edith thanked her carriers for having saved her so much fatigue.
"Sure, it's the pleasantest thing I've done for many a day, Miss Edith,
"answered Paddy, with a flourish of his straw hat; "and of course I justspeak the sentiments of all the rest."
Mudge, who was not in the habit of paying compliments, smiled; but hetold Edith he was very glad to have been able to carry her, and that heshould propose making a litter for Mrs Rayner, and letting Harry, andTom, and Popo, and me act as her bearers for another day.
Scarcely had we sat down to supper when we were saluted with the samediscordant, laughing cry which had startled us on the previous evening;but this time, knowing from whence it proceeded, we felt no alarm;though I believe that, had not Pullingo killed the gogobera, we shouldnot have been convinced that a bird could have produced such sounds.
Of course, we kept a watch; but the night passed away without any eventto disturb our rest. Even before the sun was up, our friend the"laughing jackass" woke us with his strange cries. Pullingo would havekilled him with his boomerang, had we not begged his life; and soonafter the sun was up, I observed him flying away to a place of safety,disturbed by seeing so many people moving about.
As our rest had been cut short at the last place, my father settled toremain here till past noon, and to make only half a day's journey, sothat we might start at dawn the next day and make some progress duringthe cool hours of the morning. We therefore sat quiet after breakfast,enjoying the rest we all more or less needed.
Though I have not before mentioned it, my father, I should have said,invariably called all the party together for prayers, both morning andevening, and either he or my mother read a portion of the Bible to us.
After this had been done, Mudge and I took our guns, in the hope ofshooting some birds for dinner, which we intended to take beforestarting. We killed as many as we required; and finding it very hot, weagreed to rest under the shade of a huge fern, while we sent the gameback by Popo, who had accompanied us, to be got ready for cooking.Mudge leaned back against a tree and lighted his pipe, while I sat closeto him, enjoying the comparative coolness which the shade afforded.
We had not been resting many minutes when we heard a rustling sound inthe bushes; and supposing that it was caused by a kangaroo, I lifted mygun, ready to fire. At that instant a native burst from the cover; buton seeing us, with a look of astonishment and terror he sprang on oneside, and continued his course at headlong speed, passing some thirtyyards from us, and being quickly lost to sight. I was thankful that Ihad not fired, as I was nearly doing, before I discovered that it was ahuman being, rushing through the forest, and apparently, from some causeor other, flying from his foes. Had he merely been hunting, he wouldhave retreated, as he would have known that the animal of which he wasin chase was not likely to have passed us.
"It proves, at all events, that the natives are timid beings, and thatwe have very little cause to fear them, or that fellow would not havebeen so frightened at seeing us," observed Mudge.
Some time passed by, when Mudge looked at his watch. "I should thinkthat the parrots must now be properly done; and we may as well return tothe camp," he observed. "But, really, I feel very little inclination toget up."
Just as he spoke I saw Pullingo close to us. He had approached sonoiselessly, that, had he been an enemy, he might easily have surprisedus.
"Not good here; too far from camp," he said in a low voice.
Scarcely had he said this when I heard a rustling in the direction fromwhence the native had appeared, and immediately afterwards seven darkforms--some with spears, others with axes or clubs, in their hands--camerushing forth into the sunlight, looking about in every direction, as ifin eager search of some one or something. Concealed as we were by thehigh grass and the trunks of the trees, they did not at first perceiveus, and earnestly I hoped that they might pass by without doing so.Pullingo crouched down, eagerly watching them, but without uttering aword. Mudge's hand moved towards his pistols; and I kept my finger onthe trigger of my gun, ready to fire should they appear to have anyintention of attacking us. They were more savage-looking fellows thanany we had before seen--their countenances distorted with rage, andevery action exhibiting the fury which animated them. Eagerly theylooked about on every side; but not discovering the object of theirsearch, were about to rush onward, when one of them caught sight of us.
On finding that we were discovered, we both sprang to our feet with ourguns ready to fire, determined to sell our lives dearly should theyattack us, as we had no doubt they would; while with terrific shrieksthey came bounding towards us, some with their spears ready to dart,others flourishing their axes and clubs.
"I'll pick off the leading fellow, and you fire at the next," criedMudge; and I was on the point of obeying him, when Pullingo started upand uttered some words in his own language, the meaning of which wecould not understand.
The natives stopped, and Pullingo cried out to us, "Don't shoot! don'tshoot!" He was but just in time. "Dey not enemy," he said.
He now advanced and exchanged a few hurried words with the natives, who,I had very little doubt, were in pursuit of the black we had previouslyseen; but, of course, we did not let them know that he had passed us.Having exchanged a few more words with Pullingo, they continued theircourse in the direction the fugitive had taken, while we returned withPullingo to the camp.
On the way he told us that the fugitive had committed a murder or someother crime, and that the avengers were following him to take his life.Alas! for him, poor wretch! there was no city of refuge in the land; andunless he could exhibit more cunning and endurance than his sevenpursuers, his fate was sealed, and probably ere the sun had set he wouldbe numbered with the dead.
We were thankful for our escape, for had we killed one of them in ourignorance of their intentions, the others would have set upon us; and weshould either have been compelled to shoot the whole of them, or havebeen pierced through and through with their lances. It was, at allevents, fortunate that Pullingo had come up just at the right moment.
Before we reached the camp he resumed his shirt and trousers, which, forsome reason or other which he did not explain, he had hidden away in thebush. I could not help fancying that he knew his countrymen might passby that way; and having found out where we were, he had come to warn usof our danger.
We narrated the adventure to my father and the rest of the party; andafter the description we gave of the blacks, they expressed a hope thatwe should not fall in with them.
Our game, as we had expected, was ready for taking off the spits; and assoon as we had discussed it, we prepared for our departure.
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