From Squire to Squatter Part 47

So the return journey was commenced at once. On riding through the forest they had to observe the greatest caution.

Craig was an old Bushman, and knew the ways of the blacks well. He trotted on in front. And whenever in any thicket, where an ambush might possibly be lurking, he saw no sign of bird or beast, he dismounted and, revolver in hand, examined the place before he permitted the others to come on.

They got through the forest and out of the gloom at last, and some hours afterwards dismounted a long way down the creek to water the horses and let them browse. As for themselves, no one thought of eating. There was that feeling of weight at every heart one experiences when first awakening from some dreadful nightmare.

They talked about the ma.s.sacre, as they sat under the shadow of a gum tree, almost in whispers; and at the slightest unusual noise the men grasped their revolvers and listened.

They were just about to resume their journey when the distant sound of galloping horses fell on their ears. Their own nags neighed. All sprang to their feet, and next moment some eight or nine men rode into the clearing.

Most of them were known to Craig, so he advanced to meet them.

"Ah! I see you know the worst," said the leader.

"Yes," said Craig, "we know."

"We've been to your place. It is all right there with one exception."

"One exception?"

"Yes; it's only the kid--Mr Cooper's little daughter, you know."

"Is she dead?" cried Archie aghast.

"No, sir; that is, it isn't likely. Mr Cooper's black girl left last night, and took the child."

"Good heavens! our little Diana! Poor Bob! He will go raving mad!"

"He is mad, sir, or all but, already; but we've left some fellows to defend the station, and taken to the trail as you see."

"Craig," said Archie, "we must go too."

"Well," said the first speaker, "the coast is all clear betwixt here and Burley. Two must return there with the ladies. I advise you to make your choice, and lose no time."

It was finally arranged that Branson and one of the newcomers should form the escort; and so Archie, Harry, and Craig bade the girls a hurried adieu, and speedily rode away after the men.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

ON THE WAR TRAIL.

Twelve men all told to march against a tribe consisting probably of over a hundred and fifty warriors, armed for the fight, and intoxicated with their recent success! It was a rash, an almost mad, venture; but they did not for one moment dream of drawing back. They would trust to their own superior skill to beat the enemy; trust to that fortune that so often favours the brave; trusting--many of them I hope--to that merciful Providence who protects the weak, and who, in our greatest hour of need, does not refuse to listen to our pleadings.

They had ridden some little way in silence, when suddenly Archie drew rein.

"Halt, men!" he cried. "Halt for a moment and deliberate. Who is to be the commander of this little force?"

"Yourself," said Gentleman Craig, lifting his hat. "You are boss of Burley Farm, and Mr Cooper's dearest friend."

"Hear, hear!" cried several of the others.

"Perhaps it is best," said Archie, after a moment's thoughtful pause, "that I should take the leadership under the circ.u.mstances. But, Craig, I choose you as my second in command, and one whose counsel I will respect and be guided by."

"Thank you," said Craig; "and to begin with, I move we go straight back to Findlayson's farm. We are not too well armed, nor too well provisioned."

The proposal was at once adopted, and towards sundown they had once more reached the outlying pastures.

They were dismounting to enter, when the half-naked figure of a black suddenly appeared from behind the storehouse.

A gun or two was levelled at him at once.

"Stay," cried Craig. "Do not fire. That is Jacoby, the black stockman, and one of poor Mr Findlayson's chief men. Ha, Jacoby, advance my lad, and tell us all you know."

Jacoby's answer was couched in such unintelligible jargon--a mixture of Bush-English and broad Scotch--that I will not try the reader's patience by giving it verbatim. He was terribly excited, and looked heartbroken with grief. He had but recently come home, having pa.s.sed "plenty black fellows" on the road. They had attempted to kill him, but here he was.

"Could he track them?"

"Yes, easily. They had gone away _there_." He pointed north and east as he spoke.

"This is strange," said Craig. "Men, if what Jacoby tells us be correct, instead of retreating to their homes in the wilderness, the blacks are doubling round; and if so, it must be their intention to commit more of their diabolical deeds, so there is no time to be lost."

It was determined first to bury their dear friends; and very soon a grave was dug--a huge rough hole, that was all--and in it the murdered whites were laid side by side.

Rupert repeated the burial-service, or as much of it as he could remember; then the rude grave was filled, and as the earth fell over the chest of poor old-fashioned Findlayson, and Archie thought of all his droll and innocent ways, tears trickled over his face that he made no attempt to hide.

The men hauled the gates of a paddock off its hinges, and piled wood upon that, so that the wandering dingoes, with their friends the rooks, should be baulked in their attempts to gorge upon the dead.

The blacks had evidently commenced to ransack the stores; but for some reason or another had gone and left them mostly untouched.

Here were gunpowder and cartridges in abundance, and many dainty, easily-carried foods, such as tinned meats and fish, that the unhappy owner had evidently laid in for his friends. So enough of everything was packed away in the men's pockets or bags, and they were soon ready once more for the road.

The horses must rest, however; for these formed the mainstay of the little expedition. The men too could not keep on all night without a pause; so Archie and Craig consulted, and it was agreed to bivouac for a few hours, then resume the journey when the moon should rise.

Meanwhile the sun went down behind the dark and distant wooded hills, that in their strange shapes almost resembled the horizon seen at sea when the waves are high and stormy. Between the place where Archie and his brother stood and the light, all was rugged plain and forest land, but soon the whole a.s.sumed a shade of almost blackness, and the nearest trees stood up weird and spectre-like against the sky's strange hue.

Towards the horizon to-night there was a deep saffron or orange fading above into a kind of pure grey or opal hue, with over it all a light blush of red, and hurrying away to the south, impelled by some air-current not felt below, was a mighty host of little cloudlets of every colour, from darkest purple to golden-red and crimson.

There was now and then the bleating of sheep--sheep without a shepherd-- and a slight tinkle-tinkle, as of a bell. It was in reality the voice of a strange bird, often to be found in the neighbourhood of creeks and pools.

Hardly any other sound at present fell on the ear. By-and-bye the hurrying clouds got paler, and the orange left the horizon, and stars began to twinkle in the east.

"Come out here a little way with me," said Rupert, taking Archie by the hand.

When they had gone some little distance, quite out of hearing of the camp, Rupert spoke:

"Do you mind kneeling down here," he said, "to pray, Archie?"

"You good old Rupert, no," was the reply.

Perhaps no more simple, earnest, or heart-felt prayer was ever breathed under such circ.u.mstances, or in such a place. And not only was Rupert earnest, but he was confident. He spoke to the great Father as to a friend whom he had long, long known, and One whom he could trust to do all for the best. He prayed for protection, he prayed for help for the speedy restoration of the stolen child, and he even prayed for the tribe they soon hoped to meet in conflict--prayed that the G.o.d who moves in so mysterious a way to perform His wonders would bless the present affliction to the white man, and even to the misguided black.