CHAPTER XXVIII.
The Cookery disturbed.--A Signal-rocket.--A Surprise andCapture.--Pillage.--The Taste of Gunpowder.--A Fatal Explosion.--TheContrivances of Necessity.--A Region of Famine.--Renewed Hopes.--AnUnfair Advantage.
A nook was soon cleared, where the family landed, and the light canoeswere drawn close to shore, and moored to the canes. Then the fine rusheswere cut down and spread to form seats for Margaret and her father; andArthur, with Wilkins and Jack, set out with guns and bows, leaving Hughand O'Brien to guard the encampment. Baldabella then went off with herspear, and soon pierced several large fish; and while Mr. Mayburn tookout his book, and Margaret talked to Nakinna, Jenny and Ruth made a fireto broil the fish.
Already the cooking began to smell temptingly, and the hungry littlegirl was dancing joyfully about the fire, watching till the repast wasready, when Baldabella suddenly threw down her spear, started forward,and laying her hand on Margaret's arm, she held up her finger in anattitude of warning, and bent forward as if listening. Then drawing adeep sigh, she whispered through her closed teeth--"Baldabella hear him,missee; black fellow come--one, two, many--eat missee--eat Nakinna--burnall!" Then snatching up her child, she gazed wildly round, and her fearswere confirmed a minute after, by the fatal cry ringing through thereeds, which announced the proximity of the dreaded natives.
The boys, who were rambling about among the bamboos, searching fornests, at the vexatious sound of the _coo-ee_, left their spoil to hurryto the encampment, and entreat their father and sister to embark at onceand seek safety; but Mr. Mayburn could not be persuaded to leave theabsent.
"Then let us make a sally to bring them up," said Gerald; "no timeshould be lost; we have our bows to defend ourselves, though theycarried the guns with them."
"But they must have heard the _coo-ee_ as well as we did," replied Hugh,"and, depend on it, they are on the road back to us. I say, nurse, wemust eat our fish cold; just pull that fire to pieces."
Ruth the unlucky, always officious, took a bucket of water and threw itover the blazing sticks; on which a dark, dense smoke rose up from themlike a column, and the cries of the natives were now heard loud andtriumphant.
"Oh! Ruth, Ruth!" said Hugh, "you have sent up a signal-rocket to them.Margaret and papa, do step into the canoe; there is more safety on theriver than here."
"I do not see that, Hugh," answered Mr. Mayburn; "the water is soshallow here, that they could wade to us, and we must not run down thestream and leave our kind foragers."
A loud rustling and crackling among the reeds prevented more words; theboys would have sent their arrows into the thicket, but Margaretbesought, and Mr. Mayburn commanded, that they should not beginaggression, and a few minutes rendered these weapons absolutely useless,for they were closely surrounded by a numerous tribe of natives,carrying spears. But the anxious voyagers soon discovered that thepeople were peacefully inclined, for they made no attempt to injure thestrangers, but with loud cries and rapidly-uttered words, seemed toexpress astonishment rather than anger.
One man took Margaret's large sun-hat from her head and placed it on hisown, which so much delighted the rest, that all the hats of the partywere coolly and speedily appropriated, without any opposition from therightful owners, except from Ruth, who tied her bonnet so firmly underher chin, that the rough attempts of the man to tear it from her headnearly strangled her, till Margaret stepped forward to relieve her byloosing the strings.
O'Brien, also, was so indignant when one of the savages came to claimhis hat, that he flung it into the river, but the man leaped in andrescued it, and at the same time he discovered the canoes, and summonedhis friends vociferously to look on these new treasures. In the meantime the fish already cooked was devoured by some of the natives, andthe rest revived the fire to cook the remainder of Baldabella's spoil.
Jenny's shawl was next discovered, and appropriated by a bold marauder,who threw it, in not ungraceful drapery, over his uncovered shoulders.Another savage stripped from Ruth a large cloak which she had hastilyput on to conceal the basket which contained her last two fowls, whichshe held on her arm. This basket was a new prize, and the fowls wereregarded with much curiosity.
"Oh! tell 'em not to twine their necks about, Mistress Baldabella,"cried Ruth. "Tell 'em what bonnie creaters they are, laying every day,too."
But Baldabella, shy and fearful, had slunk behind the rest, and Margaretundertook to point out to the robber the value of the fowls, by showinghim the eggs and caressing the birds. The man grinned, to express thathe understood the explanation, sucked the eggs, and then walked off withbasket and fowls, leaving Ruth in complete despair.
Just at that moment, Arthur issued from among the reeds, and startedback, overcome with amazement and dismay, at the sight of the dark crowdwhich thronged the little clearance. He was immediately surrounded, andbefore he could offer any effectual resistance, his gun and hat weretaken away, as well as a bag of pigeons that was hung over his arm.
"Baldabella," said he, "ask the chief of the tribe what he wants fromus. We will give him the birds, and some knives and axes; but his peoplemust then go away, and leave us our canoes and our guns."
Baldabella reluctantly came forward, and bending her head down as sheapproached the chief, repeated her message in a submissive tone, and thesavage replied in a long harangue which made the poor woman tremble, andwhich she interpreted to her friends, greatly abridged, saying:--"Blackfellow say, he take all: he very angry. Good white friend allrun--fast--go away! Meny, much meny, black fellows come--all veryhungry--eat fish--eat bird--eat all white friend. Go fast,massa;--missee, good friend, go away!"
This was decidedly sound advice; but under the present circumstances itwas no easy task for the large party to run away. Wilkins and Jack hadjoined them, and were immediately seized by the savages, disarmed, andheld fast by their captors. The attack was too sudden to allow them anyopposition, and Jack looked deeply distressed, while Wilkins wasabsolutely furious, till a few words from Arthur induced them to submitwith quietness to have their game and their hats taken away from them.
Then the robbers paused, evidently lost in admiration of the complicateddress of their captives, which they seemed desirous to possess, but werepuzzled how to separate the garments from the wearer, or probablydoubtful whether they did not actually form a part of that anomalouscreature, a white man. It was plain, however, that Baldabella and herchild were of their own race, and the chief went up to her, andcommanded her to follow him, and become one of his jins. The poor woman,in terror and indignation, refused his request, and turned to flee fromhim; the savage immediately seized the child, and the alarmed mother,supported by Arthur and Hugh, tried in vain to rescue the screaminggirl, till the man, in a violent rage, sprung forward to the river, andflung the child into the water. But in a moment Hugh leaped in after it,and brought the half-senseless child to the distracted mother, who hadplunged in after him herself.
But now the chief's attention was diverted from Baldabella to the spoilsof his victims; and some of the men were sent off with baskets,portmanteaus, knives, axes, guns, and all the precious possessions ofthe unfortunate travellers, who momentarily expected to be murdered aswell as pillaged.
When the canoes had been completely ransacked, four of the men carriedthem off, while the rest were collected round a skin bag which containedtheir valuable ammunition. One of the natives drew out a canister ofgunpowder, forced it open, and filled his mouth with the powder. Withludicrous grimaces, he spat out the nauseous mixture, and raised hishand to fling the rest upon the fire. Arthur saw the motion, and callingon his friends to escape, he rushed up, hoping to arrest the arm of theignorant man; but he was too late, and though he retreated the moment hesaw the canister flying through the air, he was prostrated senseless bythe fearful explosion that followed.
The very earth shook beneath their feet, and such of the natives as werenot actually stunned by the shock, fled, with cries of horror, into thebush, which was already blazing in several places fr
om the burningfragments of the fire cast in all directions. The emancipated prisonershad all, with the exception of Arthur, reached in safety the edge of theriver; and though trembling and much shaken, they had not sustained anyinjury. Arthur was brought to them perfectly insensible; but in a fewminutes, when water had been plentifully poured over him, he recovered,and except a nervous tremor that lasted many hours, and the loss of hishair, which was completely scorched off, no serious consequencessucceeded his perilous accident.
But though temporarily relieved from the presence of the savages, theywere still in the midst of great dangers. The dry blazing reeds renderedfurther progress impossible; and they gratefully thanked God that thelittle spot they had cleared for their landing now afforded them asecure refuge.
The wind carried the flames rapidly down the east bank of the rivertowards the south; and they waited in great agitation till a path shouldbe opened for them to proceed. Their anxious silence was interrupted bythe sound of a low musical wail, so expressive of sorrow that it painedevery heart; and on looking round, they saw the dirge proceeded fromBaldabella, who was bending over the body of the native who had perishedin the explosion caused by his own ignorance, and now lay a blackenedcorpse on the spot from whence he had flung the canister.
The little girl was kneeling by her mother, seeming to be conscious ofthe solemnity of the ceremony, and raising her feeble voice, inimitation of her mother. Much affected, Mr. Mayburn drew near them, andbriefly and simply explained to the tender-hearted woman the uselessnessof mourning over the hapless dead, and the lesson his sudden fateafforded to the living; and he begged her to join him in the prayer thatthey might all live so watchfully, that the hour of death might neversurprise them unprepared. The plain truths of Christianity had fallenwith good effect on the mind of the grateful and gentle woman, and Mr.Mayburn hoped earnestly that she and her child had been, by God's mercy,rescued from darkness.
"And now, let us turn away from this sad spectacle, my good woman,"continued Mr. Mayburn, "and endeavor to escape from this burningwilderness, for we all have work to do in the world. Arthur, will you,with your usual prudence, decide which way we shall turn? The flames areraging before us, and these savage natives may, at any moment, beset usfrom behind. My judgment fails to point out any escape; but, Arthur, Iwill pray for God's assistance, that you may be enabled to save us all."
"We may retrace our path up the river--a discouraging journey!" saidArthur; "or we may wait till the devouring flames have cleared a roadfor us; but the delay is perilous. Even should we try to force our wayeast, into yon barren desert, destitute as we now are, we should onlyobtain a change of evils; and I am reluctant to leave the friendlyriver, where alone we can hope to obtain food and water."
Baldabella pointed across the broad river, and said, "Go quick there,find many root, many nut, no black fellow. Bad black fellow come backsoon, paint all white; very angry, see brother dead; kill all white man,eat Nakinna, carry away Baldabella! God never come to black fellow."
To cross the river did certainly seem the most desirable plan; but howto effect the transit was a perplexing question. It was about a hundredyards across, but, as far as they could judge, not more than from fourto five feet deep at any part; so that the young men would have nodifficulty in wading across; but to the women, and even to Mr. Mayburn,such an undertaking would be very difficult, if not impossible.
Jack looked round in despair; there were no trees, and even if there hadbeen any, he had no axe. They examined carefully the field of plunder,in hopes some tool or utensil might have been overlooked by theplunderers; but, except the spear of the fallen native, and thefishing-spear of Baldabella, nothing had been left behind. Wilkins hadfortunately preserved a long knife which he wore under his blouse; and,from the mysterious form of the dresses, the pockets had escaped beingrifled.
Jack looked joyfully at the knife, and said, "We might cut some of thesethick tall reeds, and make a float for them, Mr. Arthur. I have a fewloose nails in my pocket, and here's a stone with a hole through it; wecan fix a reed handle to it, and then it will make shift for a hammer.We could easily guide them over on a float of this sort, it's myopinion."
It was at least desirable to make the experiment; so without delay thestrong bamboos were cut, broken, or torn down; a range of them placedflat, close together on the ground, connected by transverse bars, whichwere fastened somewhat imperfectly with Jack's precious "loose nails." Aquarter of an hour completed this slight frame; in which time theconflagration, which had run to some distance down the banks of theriver, had left a scorched and smoking clearance, disclosing the bodiesof three more victims, who had not been able to escape the rapid flames.The boys found also several nests of half-roasted water-fowls, whichthey snatched away at some risk from the heated ground, and broughtforward for a needful repast.
"If we had but saved the ropes!" exclaimed Jack. But ropes were notattainable, nor even that excellent substitute for them, the stringybark; and the raft was launched on the river, to be drawn or urgedacross by the strong arms of the men. Margaret, at her own request, wasthe first to venture on the frail machine, guided on one side by Jack,and on the other by Wilkins, who waded, and in some places swam, andbrought their charge in safety to the opposite bank, which was coveredwith reeds like that which they had left.
In this way the strong men successively brought over Mr. Mayburn and thetwo women. Baldabella, with her child on her shoulder and herfishing-spear in her hand, plunged at once into the water, followed byArthur, who insisted on her holding his hand through the deepest part.Finally, after a sorrowful look at the scene of their losses, and a vainsearch for any trifling article of their property, the two boys followedtheir friends. Then the disconsolate travellers, forcing their waythrough the reedy thicket, stood to gaze with consternation on the wildbarren region that spread before them.
"God has pleased to cast us feeble and destitute into this widewilderness," said Mr. Mayburn; "of ourselves, we can do nothing, but Heis mighty to save. He rescued us from the murdering savage, from flood,and from fire, and He will not suffer us to perish from famine, if wepray and trust. Let us lift up our hands and voices in thanksgiving andsubmission."
The rough convict, the ignorant Baldabella, and the simple child joinedearnestly in the devotions of their more enlightened friends; andrefreshed and hopeful, they rose from their knees, "to walk in faith thedarkling paths of earth."
"If we can but keep near the river," said Margaret, "we cannot perishfor want; and, besides, it seems to lead us in the very path we wish tofollow."
"Fish is better nor starving," said Wilkins; "but I reckon we'se soontire on't, if we come on nought better. What's come to t' lass now?"addressing Ruth, who was weeping.
"I've gone and roven a hole in my boot," sobbed she, "and I don't knowhow ever I'se to git it mended."
The boys laughed at the small distress of Ruth; but, after all, it wasno laughing matter for her. To walk over the brush-covered plain, oramong the dry reeds, was a trying exertion even for the well-shod, andMargaret was dismayed when she considered how this could be accomplishedwhen their boots should fail. "Yet why dare I doubt?" she said. "See,Ruth; Baldabella, and even little Nakinna, walk as well as we do, andthey are barefooted. We must not shrink from such small trials as this."
Just then a pair of the splendid bronze pigeons, so unequalled in beautyby any of their race, winged their flight from the water above the headsof the travellers; and though they no longer had the means of obtainingthese birds, as delicious in taste as they are lovely in plumage, theywere satisfied to see there were animals in the waste around them.
"These thin bamboos would make capital arrows," said Hugh; "and I haveno doubt we can bend one of these tall canes for a bow, if we had butthe means of stringing it."
"We might, at all events, sharpen some of the canes for spears," saidArthur, "not only for defence in need, but to be useful if we should beso fortunate as to encounter a kangaroo, or meet with the burrows of thewombats."
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"What has become of our raft?" asked Margaret "You had there a goodstock of bamboos ready cut."
"With all my nails in them," exclaimed Jack. "What a fool I was not toremember that in time; now it will be far enough down the river."
It was too true: the raft had already been carried away by the streamout of their sight; and all deeply regretted their negligence, as theymoved slowly through the entangled scrub, frequently compelled to walkactually over the low bushes. On the opposite shore of the river theycould still discover the wild flames flying down before the wind, andleaving behind a black smoking surface.
When wearied with the excitement and toil of the day, they werecompelled to seek rest among the comfortless reeds, they sat down andlooked at each other for some time rather sorrowfully, for the pressureof hunger had fallen on all. It was Baldabella who first relieved theirdistress; with untired energy she went to the river with her spear, andreturned very soon with a large river-cod, and an apron filled with thefresh-water mussels, now truly prized for their useful shells. A firewas soon made, the fish was spitted on a sharpened reed, and while itwas roasting, Hugh, with Wilkins's invaluable knife, cut a number ofshort thin reeds into chopsticks, as he called them, to enable them toconvey the roasted fish from the reeds on which it was dished to theirmouths. Rude as the contrivance was, and laughable as were the failuresmade in using their new utensils, they managed to make a satisfactorysupper, and were content to sleep among the reeds in the open air,though the nights now felt exceedingly cold.
For several days they continued to toil on along the reedy banks of theriver, over the same cheerless bush, and subsisting on the sameunvarying fish diet. Then the banks became rocky and precipitous, andthe river so difficult of access that it was only at rare openings theywere able to obtain water or fish. But soon after the landscape wasenlivened once more by tall trees. Their path was over the grassyplains, which were even now, in the winter of the year, gay with brightflowers. More than once they remarked with thankfulness the track of thekangaroo, and the chattering of birds gave them hopes of new food, andthey anxiously sought the means of obtaining them.
With what joy they recognized the stringy-bark tree, and gathered thefibres to twist into bowstrings, and with what triumph did Hugh, thefirst who finished the rude weapon, draw his rough string and bring downpigeons and cockatoos sufficient for an ample meal even to thehalf-starved, but which taxed the ingenuity of the women to cook in anyway. They were finally made into what Gerald called a Meg Merriliesstew, which was cooked in a very large mussel-shell, and even withoutsalt or vegetables was fully enjoyed by the dissatisfied fish-eaters.
Then they all sat down earnestly to make a complete stock of bows andarrows; even Baldabella worked hard in twisting the bark for strings,and when they set out to continue their journey, they felt moreconfidence, for they were now provided with the means of obtaining food,and of defending themselves against hostile attacks; and in another daythey again met with wild oats, and, to the joy of the women, with thetea-bush. The fig-trees no longer bore fruit, but they were stillcovered with their usual inhabitants, flocks of brilliant pigeons,chattering cockatoos, and the satin-bird, distinguished by its flossyplumage and dazzling bright eye. Occasionally they still met with thecucumber melon, a pleasant refreshment when they were weary; and now,strong in hope, they went on their way, still keeping within sight ofthe river.
"Every hour must bring us nearer to some of the most remote settlementsof enterprising squatters," said Margaret, as they rested beneath afig-tree one evening; "and all our trials would be forgotten if we couldonce more feel the blessing of a roof over our heads and hear thelanguage of civilized life."
"It'll be a gay bit yet afore we come on 'em, Miss," said Wilkins."Folks is not such fools as to squat on bare commons; and there'sanother thing ye'll find,--we'se meet a few more of them black dogs yet,specially if we come on a bit of good land; they're up to that as wellas we are. And now, as things look a bit better, I'd not wonder ifthey're nigh at hand."
"I agree with you, Wilkins," said Arthur. "We are now certainly indanger of encountering tribes of natives, especially as we are on thetrack of the kangaroos, a great temptation to them."
"I wish we could see one of the mountebank beasts," said Gerald;"wouldn't I send an arrow or a spear into him. Take notice, all of you,I intend to bag the first old fellow that shows his long nose."
A sudden spring from a thicket behind them brought a large kangaroo intothe midst of the circle, and before they had recovered the surprisesufficiently to take up bows or spears, a succession of rapid bounds hadcarried the animal completely beyond their reach.
A burst of laughter from his friends somewhat disconcerted O'Brien, butwith his usual good-humor he said, "Very well; I allow you to laughto-night. The fellow took an unfair advantage of me; but wait tillto-morrow."