The Dingo Boys Part 46

"I can smell it now," cried Tim. "It's like burning wool."

"Mumkull sheep fellow. Roace plenty mutton."

"Oh yes, one of our sheep," cried Norman, fiercely.

"Kimmeroi--bulla--metancoly--plenty mutton."

"Yes," said Rifle, "and they'll camp down there and eat all father's sheep. Oh, if we could only drive them right away."

"Shanter catch sheep fellow, eat mutton?"

"No, not yet," said the captain, quietly; and very soon after, with Shanter and Sam German watching, the defenders of the little fort obeyed a call, and went in to enjoy a wonderfully good breakfast considering the position in which they were placed.

Then began a day of careful watching, during which, at Aunt Georgie's desire, Shanter sought for eggs, drove up the two cows to the door to be milked, and a.s.sisted in bringing in more wood and water, displaying a wonderful eagerness in performing any duties connected with the preparation of food.

Many of the little things done looked risky, but the enemy made no sign, and the sun began to set with the house much strengthened as a fort, and better provisioned for a siege.

Rifle was sure, two or three times over, that the blacks must be gone, and said so, but Shanter shook his head.

"Black fellow plenty eat. Go sleep," he said, on one occasion. On another, he cried cheerfully, "Black fellow baal go along. Mumkull all a body." While lastly, he said coolly, "Black fellow ogle eye all a time."

Then night--with the place closely barricaded, and the arrangement made that half of their little party should sleep while the other half watched, but the former had their weapons by their sides ready to spring up at the first alarm, the captain having arranged where each sleeper's place was to be.

There was some opposition on the part of the ladies, but they yielded upon the captain telling them that the siege might last for days; and that not only would they be safer, but it would give their defenders confidence to know they were out of danger.

And then once more the anxious watch began, Shanter creeping now softly from loophole guard to loophole guard, for there was no need for him to watch by the chimney, which was stopped again.

But their precautions were necessary, for the first alarm they had came from the chimney, to which, spear in hand, the black ran and chuckled as he heard the chest creak, and a crashing sound upon the cask which supported it notify that one of the black fellows was trying to force his way down.

After that five different attacks were made, the blacks trying to force in door and window, till a shot was fired through the loophole. This was in each case followed by a desperate effort to spear the defenders through the hole; and being prepared now, Shanter waited for and seized the weapon, holding it while a charge of shot was poured through the slit.

Then would come yells and a savage throwing of spears, which suggested a harvest to the black, which however, as in the last case, was not fulfilled, every one being afterwards collected and carried away.

The result of all this was that very little sleep was enjoyed by anybody, and the morning broke to give the defenders an interval of rest and peace, for the blacks did not show themselves by day.

Somewhat rested, the little party prepared for the third night, hoping that the enemy would now be disgusted at his want of success and retire, and now darkness had come and hopes had grown stronger and stronger, before there was a sudden rush and several men gained the roof and began tearing off the shingles, till a shot or two fired straight upward sent the cowardly savages helter-skelter down once more.

They came no more that night, and a peaceful day followed, with the cattle indicating that the black fellows were still hiding about in the scrub; while a fire showed that they were providing themselves with food at the captain's expense.

The ladies looked more calm and hopeful, for they were beginning to believe in the strength of their little fortress and the bravery of their defenders; but there was an anxious look in the captain's eyes, and the boys talked over the position together.

"I expected that they would have given up before now," Norman said.

"So did I," cried Rifle. "A lot of them must have been wounded and some killed, though we don't see them."

"Shanter says _metancoly_," cried Tim. "I suppose that's what makes them so fierce. Do you think they will stay till they've killed us all?"

"Hope not," replied Rifle; "I'm getting tired of it. I wish father hadn't come out so far away from all neighbours. We might have had some help if he hadn't."

"Hush! the girls," whispered Norman, as, pale and anxious looking, the sister and cousin went to the front door where the captain was watching, Shanter being on duty at the back.

It was soon agreed that it was of no use to wish, and the long irksome day came to an end, with the door once more barricaded, and keen eyes watching for the next approach of the enemy.

But the blacks were too cunning to advance while there was the slightest chance of their being observed; and when they did come it was with a sudden rush from somewhere close at hand, when retaliatory shots again and again forced them to retreat. It was just such a night as the others which they had pa.s.sed, and the coming of day was once more gladly hailed with its peace and opportunities for rest and sleep.

That afternoon the captain looked more haggard and wistful than ever.

As far as he could make out, a couple of his choicest oxen were missing, and it soon became a conviction that they had been speared by the black fellows for their feast about the fire they had established in a grove a mile away.

So far there was no fear of the garrison, as Rifle called them, being starved out; but at any time a nearer approach of the enemy would put a stop to the successful little forays made by Shanter in search of eggs and chickens; and the task of milking the cows, which marched up slowly morning and evening, might easily have been made too difficult or terminated by the throwing of spears.

"Don't let's halloa before we are hurt," Tim had said to this; and all went on as before, the next day and the next.

Again the sun rose after a more anxious night, for the attacks had been exceedingly pertinacious and hara.s.sing, while the mischief done amongst the attacking party must have been terrible.

"They're getting more savage," Norman said gloomily in the course of the day, after returning from the room where Mrs Bedford was lying down; "and it's wearing mamma out."

"Yes," said Tim; "and the girls can't keep their tears back. I say, couldn't we all make an attack upon them in their camp?"

"And be speared," cried Rifle. "No; there are too many of 'em. They'd drive us back and get into the house, and then--Ugh!"

The shudder he gave was echoed by his companions.

"I was thinking whether it would be possible on horseback," said Norman.

"No, my boy," said the captain, who had overheard their remarks; "it would be too risky, I dare not. What is the matter with the black?"

"I have not seen anything," replied Norman.

"Nor you, boys?"

Rifle and Tim were silent.

"Speak!" said the captain, sternly.

"I thought as Rifle does, uncle, that Shanter seems to be getting tired of fighting. He always wants to be asleep in the day now, and is sulky and cross if he is woke up."

"You have noted that, Rifle?"

"Yes, father."

"I had similar thoughts. The man wants to get into the fresh air, and be free once more."

The object of their conversation was sitting listlessly upon his heels gazing at the smoke of the fire rising in the scrub, but did not appear to notice that he was being made the object of the conversation, and soon after they saw his head droop down as if he had gone fast asleep.

The captain made a movement as if to go and rouse him up, but refrained, and taking the gla.s.s, he focussed it, and proceeded to count the horses and cattle still scattered about grazing. For though they seemed to be scared away by the yelling and firing at night, they came slowly back toward the house in the course of the day, so that by night they were for the most part in their old quarters, the horses even going back into their paddock.

The day wore on, with turns being taken in the watching, the two girls and Aunt Georgie insisting upon aiding, their sight being sharp enough they declared, so that the defenders of the little fort were able to get more sleep, and prepare for the night attacks which were sure to come.