The Dingo Boys Part 18

Norman sprang up rested and refreshed, and then glanced round uneasily, expecting to see his father come and order the black to be off.

But the captain was busy examining the cattle, the horses and their harness, and the loading of the wagons; helping German to tighten a rope here, and rearrange packages where they had broken loose, and seeing generally to the many little matters that have so much to do with the success of an overland journey with a caravan.

Then breakfast was announced just after the boys had returned from the river, where they had had to content themselves with a wash, while Shanter looked on, and then followed them back, apparently supremely proud and happy to be in their company.

Breakfast over, and the provisions repacked, Shanter not having been forgotten by big white Mary, as he insisted upon calling Aunt Georgie, the horses and drawing bullocks were put to, a last glance cast round to see that nothing had been left, and then, prior to giving the word to advance, the captain mounted with his little field-gla.s.s to the top of the highest load, where he carefully scanned the country, and made remarks to his brother as to the direction to take that day.

"Yes," he said at last; "the river evidently makes a vast bend here, and curves round to the north. We will go straight across from here to that hill--mountain I ought to call it.--Do you see, German?"

"Yes, sir, I see," said the gardener, shading his eyes.

"There can be no mistake as to your course; the plain is perfectly level and treeless, and we ought easily to get there for our mid-day halt.

How far do you think it is--eight miles?"

"Twenty," said Uncle Jack, st.u.r.dily.

"Nonsense!"

"Yes, twenty. The air is so clear that places look closer than they are."

"Well, we will not argue," said the captain, lowering himself down.

"There's your mark, German; make straight for that."

"No," shouted a voice; and all turned with a look of wonder to Shanter, who had evidently been listening intently, and who was now in a great state of excitement, gesticulating and flourishing his nulla-nulla wildly.

"What do you say?" cried the captain, frowning.

"No go 'long," cried Shanter, pointing across the plain. "No--no.

Horse fellow--bull-cow fellow, all go puff-puff."

And he went down on all fours, with his eyes wide and staring, mouth open, and tongue lolling out, breathing hoa.r.s.ely and heavily, snuffling about the while at the ground. Then he threw up his head, and whinnied like a horse in trouble, snuffled about again, and lowed like an ox, and finally seemed to grow weaker and weaker till he fell over on his side, struggled up again, fell on his side, stretched out his head and legs, and finally gave a wonderful imitation of a horse or ox dying.

"All go bong (dead)," he cried. "No go along. No water drink. Big fellow horse, can't pull along."

He pointed again and again, out over the plain, and shook his head violently.

"White fellow come 'long," he continued, as he leaped up, shouldered his spear, and started, pointing before him to the tree-spread track nearer the river. "Bull-cow fellow eat."

He made believe to s.n.a.t.c.h a mouthful of gra.s.s, and went on munching it as he walked slowly on as if pulling a load.

"Much water, drink.u.m, drunk.u.m," he continued, pointing in the direction of the river.

"He seems to be right, Ned," said Uncle Jack, as the boys looked on eagerly.

"Yes; I suppose he is. Perhaps it is sandy and waterless all across there."

"And if we keep by the river, we shall get gra.s.s, shelter, and water."

"Yes; but I do not like to have my plans overset by a savage."

"Not when the savage knows better?" said Uncle Jack, drily.

"How do I know that he does?" said the captain. "How can I tell that he is not going to lead us into some ambush, where his tribe will murder us and seize upon our goods and stores?"

"Humph I hope not," said Uncle Jack. "I'll shoot him dead if he does, but I think I'd trust him."

"I want to get rid of the fellow," said the captain; "and he is always coming back."

"He'll soon be tired," said his brother. "These people seem to be very childlike and simple. It is a novelty for him to be with us. One of these days he will be missing. I shouldn't worry about him."

"Gee-hup, horse fellow!" shouted the black, just then. "All along.

Shanter know. Baal that way."

He pointed over the plain and shook his head. Then shouldering his spear, he stepped off nearly due west, and the caravan started.

Day succeeded day, and the two halts were regularly made in pleasant places, but the captain was never satisfied. They were good, but he always found some drawback. The progress was very slow, for it was hot, but the land was dry, and the difficulties they had with the wagons were very few, and their few miles were got over steadily day after day, with no adventure to signify; and to make up for the slow progress, their cattle were fresh and in good condition at each morning's start, while the whole process seemed like a pleasant excursion of the most enjoyable kind.

At last one day, the hottest on their journey, the draught cattle had a laborious pull, for the ground had been rising slightly during the past forty-eight hours, and next morning had suddenly grown steep. The river was still close at hand, though it was now more broken and torrent-like, but beautifully wooded in places, and the soil for miles on either side looked wonderfully rich. To their right were plains; but in front, and to their left, hills and mountains hemmed them in; and when utterly exhausted, the cattle slowly drew their loads into the shade cast by some magnificent trees, just behind which a cascade of sparkling water dashed down from the mountains beyond, while the river-glade was glorious with ferns and verdant growth of kinds that they had not seen in the earlier part of their journey, every one seemed to be imbued with the same idea, and no one was the least surprised when the captain looked round with his face lit up with satisfaction.

"There," he cried, "was it not worth the long journey to find a place like this. No flood can touch us here. The land is rich; the place beautiful. Wife, girls, boys, what do you say to this for Home, sweet home?"

The answer was a hearty cheer from the boys; and, as if he comprehended everything, Shanter burst into a wild triumphal dance round the spear he had stuck into the ground.

"Hurray!" he shouted. "Make gunyah. All corbon budgery. Plenty budgery. Bull-cow eat. Plenty sheep eat. Hurray!"

There was not a dissentient voice. Uncle Jack smiled, Sam German began to look round for a slope for a kitchen garden, while the captain, Mrs Bedford, and the girls began to talk about a site for a house; and, tying a handkerchief over her grey hair and pinning up her dress, Aunt Georgie beckoned severely to Shanter, who came to her like a s.h.a.ggy black dog.

"Get some wood, sir, and make a fire."

"Mak.u.m fire, mak.u.m damper, pot a kettle tea?" he asked.

"Yes; dampers and roast mutton to-day," she said.

"Make big fire, roast mutton," shouted Shanter, excitedly, and rushing to the side of one of the wagons, he threw down spear, boomerang, and waddy, s.n.a.t.c.hed an axe from where it was stuck in the side, and five minutes later he was chopping wood with all his might.

That afternoon and evening were indeed restful, though little rest was taken, for all were in a state of intense excitement, and examining in every direction the site of their new home. It was fancy, of course, but to the boys it seemed that the cattle had all taken to the place, and settled down to a hearty feed of the rich gra.s.s.

But there was work to be done that evening, though not much. The tent had to be set up, and as the boys drove in the pegs, it was with a heartier will, for they knew that they would not be withdrawn for some time to come.

The position for the house was soon decided, for nature herself had planned it; a charming spot, sheltered to the north by a range from the scorching north wind; and in addition there was a grove of magnificent gum-trees, just far enough apart to have allowed them to grow to their greatest perfection, while dotted here and there were other trees with p.r.i.c.kly leaves and pyramidal growth, their lower boughs touching the ground, every one a perfect specimen that it would have been a sin to cut down.

From this chosen spot the land sloped gradually down to the sparkling river, with its beautiful falls and pools, while away on the other side, beyond the bed of the stream, stretched out a grand expanse of land all on a gentle slope. On the hillier side an equally beautiful expanse, extending for miles, sloped upward toward the mountains, offering pasture that would have satisfied the most exacting.

"We are the first settlers here," cried the captain, "and as I have a right, Jack, to-morrow we will ride in different directions, and blaze trees for our boundaries. Then there will only be the plan and description to send to the crown offices in the city, and we take up a grand estate that will in due time be our own."

"Our own!" cried Norman, excitedly. "But you will have a bit of the river too?"

"I shall take up land on both sides--a large estate. There is plenty for all Englishmen, but those who are enterprising enough to do as we have done, of course, get the first choice."