Part 48 (1/2)
Oh, what a beautiful religion is ours--the religion of love--the religion taught by the lips of the mild and gentle Jesus!
When they rose from their knees they once more looked skywards at the stars, for they were brightly s.h.i.+ning now; then hand-in-hand, as they had come, the brothers returned to the camp.
No log fire was lit to-night. The men just lay down to sleep rolled in their blankets, with their arms close by their saddle pillows, two being told off to walk sentry in case of a sudden surprise.
Even the horses were put in an enclosure, lest they might roam too far away.
About twelve o'clock Archie awoke from an uneasy dreamful slumber, and looked about him. His attention was speedily attracted to what seemed a huge fire blazing luridly behind the hills, and lighting up the haze above with its gleams. Was the forest on fire again? No; it was only moonrise over the woods. He awakened Craig, and soon the little camp was all astir, and ready for the road. Jacoby was to act as guide. No Indian from the Wild West of America could be a better tracker.
But even before he started he told Craig the task would be an easy one, for the black fellows had drunk plenty, and had taken plenty rum with them. They would not go far, he thought, and there was a probability that they would meet some of the band returning. Even in the moonlight Jacoby followed the trail easily and rapidly.
It took them first straight for the forest that had been burned recently--a thoughtless deed on the part of the whites, that probably led to all this sad trouble.
There was evidence here that the blacks had gone into camp on the very night of the ma.s.sacre, and had held a corroboree, which could only have been a day or two ago. There were the remains of the camp fires and the trampled ground and broken branches, with no attempt at concealment.
There was a chance that even now they might not be far away, and that the little band might come up with them ere they had started for the day. But if they ventured to hope so, they were doomed to disappointment.
Morning broke at last lazily over the woods, and with but a brief interval they followed up the trail, and so on and on all that day, till far into the afternoon, when for a brief moment only Jacoby found himself puzzled, having fallen in with another trail leading south and west from the main track. He soon, however, discovered that the new trail must be that of some band who had joined the Findlayson farm raiders.
It became painfully evident soon after that this was the correct solution, for, going backwards some little way, Archie found a child's shoe--one of a crimson pair that Bob had bought in Brisbane for his little Diana.
”G.o.d help her, poor darling!” said Archie reverently, as he placed the little shoe in his breast pocket. When he returned he held it up for a moment before the men, and the scowl of anger that crossed their faces, and the firmer clutch they took of their weapons, showed it would indeed be bad for the blacks when they met these rough pioneers face to face.
At sunset supper was partaken of, and camp once more formed, though no fire was lit, cold though it might be before morning.
The men were tired, and were sound asleep almost as soon as they lay down; but Craig, with the brothers, climbed the ridge of the hill to look about them soon after it grew dark.
The camp rested at the entrance of a wild gully, a view of which could be had, darkling away towards the east, from the hill on which the three friends now found themselves.
Presently Rupert spoke.
”Archie,” he said, ”in this land of contrarieties does the moon sometimes rise in the south?”
”Not quite,” replied Archie.
”Look, then. What is that reflection over yonder?” Craig and Archie both caught sight of it at the same time.
”By Saint George and merry England!” Craig cried exultingly, ”that is the camp of the blacks. Now to find Diana's other shoe, and the dear child herself wearing it. Now for revenge!”
”Nay,” said Rupert, ”call it _justice_, Craig.”
”What you will; but let us hurry down.”
They stayed but for a moment more to take their bearings. The fire gleams pointed to a spot to the south-east, on high ground, and right above the gully, and they had a background of trees, not the sky. It was evident then that the enemy was encamped in a little clearing on a forest tableland; and if they meant to save the child's life--if indeed she was not already dead--the greatest caution would be necessary.
They speedily descended, and a consultation being held, it was resolved to commence operations as soon as the moon should rise; but meanwhile to creep in the darkness as near to the camp as possible.
But first Jacoby was sent out to reconnoitre. No cat, no flying squirrel could glide more noiselessly through an Australian forest than this faithful fellow. Still he seemed an unconsciously long time gone.
Just as Craig and Archie were getting seriously uneasy the tinkle, tinkle of the bell-bird was heard. This was the signal agreed upon, and presently after, Jacoby himself came silently into their midst.
”The child?” was Archie's first question.