The Dingo Boys Part 4

Their faces shone with the pleasure they felt so far, but Mrs Bedford's countenance looked sad, for she fully grasped now the step that had been taken in cutting themselves adrift from the settlers at the port. She had heard the bantering words of the man when they started, and they sent a chill through her as she pictured endless dangers, though at the same time she mentally agreed with her husband that solitude would be far preferable to living among such neighbours as the people at the port.

She tried to be cheerful under the circ.u.mstances, arguing that there were three able and brave men to defend her and her niece and daughter, while the boys were rapidly growing up; but, all the same, her face would show that she felt the risks of the bold step her husband was taking, and his precautions added to her feeling of in security and alarm.

In a very short time Rifle had finished his meal, and looked at their man German, who was seated a little way apart munching away at bread and cheese like a two-legged ruminant. He caught the boy's eye, grunted, and rose at once.

"Shall we relieve guard, father?" said Rifle.

"No, but you may carry a jug of tea to the outposts," was the reply; and after this had been well-sweetened by Aunt Georgie, the boy went off to his cousin Tim, not because he was the elder, but on account of his being a visitor in their family, though one of very old standing.

"Well," he cried, as he approached Tim, who was gazing intently at a patch of low scrubby trees a short distance off; "seen the enemy?"

"Yes," said the boy, in a low earnest whisper. "I was just going to give warning when I saw you comma."

Rifle nearly dropped the jug, and his heart beat heavily.

"I say, you don't mean it?" he whispered.

"Yes, I do. First of all I heard something rustle close by me, and I saw the gra.s.s move, and there was a snake."

"How big?" cried Rifle, excitedly; "twenty feet?"

"No. Not eight, but it looked thick, and I watched it, meaning to shoot if it showed fight, but it went away as hard as ever it could go."

"A snake--eight feet long!" cried Rifle, breathlessly. "I say, we are abroad now, Tim. Why didn't you shoot it?"

"Didn't try to do me any harm," replied Tim, "and there was something else to look at."

"Eh? What?"

"Don't look at the wood, Rifle, or they may rush out and throw spears at us."

"Who?--savages?" whispered Rifle.

"Yes; there are some of them hiding in that patch of trees."

"Nonsense! there isn't room."

"But I saw something black quite plainly. Shall I fire?"

"No," said Rifle, stoutly. "It would look so stupid if it was a false alarm. I was scared at first, but I believe now that it's all fancy."

"It isn't," said Tim in a tone full of conviction; "and it would be ever so much more stupid to be posted here as sentry and to let the enemy come on us without giving the alarm."

"Rubbish! There is no enemy," cried Rifle.

"Then why did my uncle post sentries?"

"Because he's a soldier," cried the other. "Here, have some tea. It isn't too hot now, and old Man's signalling for his dose."

"I can't drink tea now," said Tim, huskily. "I'm sure there's somebody there."

"Then let's go and see."

Tim was silent.

"What, are you afraid?" said his cousin.

"No. Are you?"

"Don't ask impertinent questions," replied Rifle shortly. "Will you come?"

For answer Tim c.o.c.ked his piece, and the two boys advanced over the thick gra.s.s toward the patch of dense scrub, their hearts beating heavily as they drew nearer, and each feeling that, if he had been alone, he would have turned and run back as hard as ever he could.

But neither could show himself a coward in the other's eyes, and they walked on step by step, more and more slowly, in the full expectation of seeing a dozen or so of hostile blacks spring to their feet from their hiding-place, and charge out spear in hand.

The distance was short, but it seemed to them very long, and with eyes roving from bush to bush, they went on till they were close to the first patch of trees, the rest looking more scattered as they drew nearer, when all at once there was a hideous cry, which paralysed them for the moment, and Tim stood with his gun half raised to his shoulder, searching among the trees for the savage who had uttered the yell.

Another followed, with this time a beating of wings, and an ugly-looking black c.o.c.katoo flew off, while Rifle burst into a roar of laughter.

"Why didn't you shoot the savage?" he cried. "Here, let's go right through the bushes and back. Perhaps we shall see some more."

Tim drew a deep breath full of relief, and walked forward without a word, pa.s.sing through the patch and back to where the tea-jug had been left.

Here he drank heartily, and wiped his brow, while Rifle filled the mug a second time.

"You may laugh," he said, "but it was a horrible sensation to feel that there were enemies."

"Poll parrots," interrupted Rifle.

"Enemies watching you," said Tim with a sigh. "I say, Rifle, don't you feel nervous coming right out here where there isn't a soul?"

"I don't know--perhaps. It does seem lonely. But not half so lonely as standing on deck looking over the bulwarks on a dark night far out at sea."

"Yes; that did seem terrible," said Tim.

"But we got used to it, and we _must_ get used to this. More tea?"

"No, thank you."

"Then I'm off."

With the jug partly emptied, Rifle was able to run to the open part, where Man greeted him with:

"I say, what a while you've been. See some game over yonder?"

"No; but Tim thought there were savages in that bit of wood."

"What! and you two went to see?"