Part 8 (1/2)

Presently, I grasped the whole terrible affair, and realised it as absolute fact! My first io and reassure the unhappy victiht count on my assistance to the last It was not advisable, however, to withdraw suddenly froht arouse suspicion

The only alternative that presented itself was to send a note ore fleshy leaf of a water-lily, and then, with one of her bone needles, I pricked, in printed English characters, ”_A friend is near_; _fear not_” Handing this original letter to Yairls and tell them to hold it up before the fire and read the perforations

This done, I returned to the _corroboree_, still displaying a feigned enthusiass, but determined upon a bold and resolute course of action I h, that at that particular irls away out of the power of this savage, who had doubtless won the

I azed at hih it were but yesterday that we met I think I have already said he was the e I have ever co the Australian blacks The curious raised scars were upon this particular chief both large and numerous This curious foreneral practice is to make transverse cuts with a sharp shell, or stone knife, on the chest, thighs, and sometimes on the back and shoulders Ashes and earth are then rubbed into each cut, and the wound is left to close Next co, and a little later the earth that is inside is gradually removed--sometimes with a feather When the wounds finally heal up, each cicatrice stands out like a raised weal, and of these extraordinary marks the blacks are inordinately proud

But to return to the chief ned the girls I must say that, apart fronificently fore

I co, I presu a ould be extended tomy stay As I anticipated, he readily acquiesced, and I instantly followed up the concession by cal that I should like to have the thite women ere in the caave a point-blank refusal I persisted, however, and taunted hi the inviolable rules of courtesy; and at length he gave me to understand he would think the matter over

All this time Yamba had been as busy as a showour her custoent,” and had spread erated reports of ical attributes I controlled the denizens of Spiritland, and could call them up in thousands to torment the blacks I controlled the elements; and was in short all-powerful

I ” did a great deal of good, and wherever ent I was looked upon as a sort of wizard, entitled to very great respect, and the best of everything that was going

For a long time the tribal chief persisted in his opposition to irls; but as iven ht), I kneould subht, and at length, before we separated on the second day, the great race Of course, I did not disturb the girls at that hour, but next day I told Yae for an interview She cauidewhite people once e exciteotappearance, which was far eously painted native chief than a civilised European For it o discarded all clothing, except an apron of emu feathers, whilstdownway in tih the cairls' doth she stopped at the back of a crescent-shaped break-wind of boughs, and a , and alirls

Looking back now, I remember they presented a truly pitiable spectacle

They were huddled together on the sandy ground, naked, and locked in one another's arms Before them burned a fire, which was tended by the wohtfully emaciated and terrified--so much so, that as I write these words my heart beats faster with horror as I recall the terrible iht of me, they screamed aloud in terror I retired a little way disco suddenly ht I was another black fellow co to torture theh my mind at that moment What would people inland--think of the fate that had overtaken these girls--a fate that would infallibly read ant and even offensive fiction than real, heart-rending fact?

I went back and stood before the girls, saying, reassuringly, ”Ladies, I am a white man and a friend; and if you will only trust in me I think I can save you”

Their amazeirls became quite hysterical I called Yamba, and introduced her as my wife, and they then caly, ”Oh, save us! Take us away from that fearful brute”

I hastily explained to them that it was solely because I had resolved to save them that I had ventured into the camp; but they would have to wait patiently until circumstances favoured my plans for their escape I did not conceal fro able to take them away at all was extremely problematical; for I could see that to have raised false hopes would have ended in real disaster Gradually they became quieter andI quickly told the as I remained in the caiant chief they dreaded so much, and with this reassurance I walked swiftly away, followed by Yamba

The laws of native hospitality absolutely forbade any one to interfere with the girls during ht for the extensive swamps which I knew lay a few miles froht doith Yareat number of cockatoos, turkeys, and other wild fohich birds were pro in view a little a which should render irls a little less e As a matter of fact, I handed over the bird-skins to Yaaroo sinews, soon arirls, ere shi+vering with cold and neglect I at once saw the reason ofhad apparently been lost or destroyed, and the native wo upon the newcoave them little or no food Nor did the jealous wives instruct the interlopers in the anointing of their bodies with that peculiar kind of clay which for heat of the sun, the treacherous cold of the night-winds, and the painful attacks of insects All the infor was the fact that they had been shi+pwrecked, and had already been captive airl further said that they were not allowed their liberty, because they had on several occasions tried to put an end to their indescribable sufferings by co irls you never saw They were not of elaborate design, being of the shape of a long sack, with holes for the arms and neck; and they afterwards shrank in the ins her story--An interview on the high seas--Drifting to destruction--The shi+p disappears--Tortured by thirst--A fearful sight--Cannibals on the watch--The blacks quarrel over the girls--Courting starvation--Ya announceht--Anxious moments--A weird situation--”Victory, victory”--A et sore feet

At our next interview, thanks to Ya very much better than when I first saw thereat desire to learn soed the I learnt was that they were two sisters, na nineteen and seventeen years Both girls were extre her lovely violet eyes It was Blanche ith much hysterical emotion, told me the story of their painful experience, Gladys occasionally pro her sister with a few interpolated words

Here, then, is Blanche Rogers's story, told as nearly as possible in her oords Of course it is absurd to suppose that I can reproduce _verbatiirl

”My sister and I are the daughters of Captain Rogers, who commanded a 700- ton barque owned by our uncle” [I ahters of the captain or the owner--L de R] ”We were always very anxious, even as children, to accoth we induced him to take us with him when he set sail from Sunderland [not certain, this] in the year 1868 [or 1869], with a apore]

The voyage out was a very pleasant one, but practically without incident--although, of course, full of interest to us The shi+p delivered her freight in due course, but our father failed to obtain a return cargo to take back with hio of soe, father decided to make for Port Louis, in Mauritius, to see what he could do aar-exporters there

”On the way to Port Louis, we suddenly sighted a shi+p flying signals of distress We at once hove to and asked what assistance we could render

A boat presently put off from the distressed vessel, and the captain, who came aboard, explained that he had run short of provisions and wanted a fresh supply--no matter how small--to tide him over his difficulty He further stated that his vessel was laden with guano, and was also _en route_ for Port Louis The two captains had a long conversation together, in the course of which an arrangement was arrived at between theht, whereupon our visitor said: 'Why don't you make for the Lacepede Islands, off the north-west Australian coast, and load guano, which you can get there for nothing?'