Part 6 (1/2)
While the bushranger was perfor approached, and I thought was going to fly at me, but I found his eyes were directed towards some object at my back, which proved to be my faithful Carlo, who, however ready to do battle in ht it prudent, in the presence of a superior force, to yield to circumstances
All this ti to the dominie, but I concluded that he would wisely not atte cleaned out as I was I did not again hear his voice, and as the bushranger swore that he would shoot ht it as well not to look round lest he should put his threat into execution The felloho had taken un and carried it off to a short distance Two of the, I concluded, to treat the dominie and me as they had Bracewell
As the man who stood over lance round to try and ascertain what had become of my companion, but he was nowhere to be seen, and I feared, therefore, that they intended to bind him to a tree at such a distance that we could hold no co Carlo was also not to be seen; I felt, however, nearly sure that the bushrangers had not carried hiacity, and hoped that, finding he could do ood, he had kept out of the way to avoid the risk of being either killed or captured I soon found thata pistol to et up and walk to a tree some distance from the track, so that should any travellers pass by I should not be discovered I led desperately, seized a pistol, and attempted to blow out the brains of one of the ruffians; but as I felt that it was more than likely I should lose my own life, I considered it wiser to yield with calnity
The villains ell up to their work, and having secured my hands behind me, they fastened me in so effectual a way to a tree, that I could not possibly setanother word towith hiun and articles he had taken fro the trees I sao other persons leading a horse, going in the saure, was Vinson, though I did not see his countenance Indeed, I suspect that he had unintentionally avoided coone, I looked round in search of the dominie, but could nowhere discover him I could scarcely hope that he had escaped, or, if he had, that he had got off on horseback I felt nearly sure that the horse I had just seen led away by the robbers was his I was thus left in doubt how they had treated hireater violence As soon as I fancied that they had gone off to a sufficient distance not to hearto hear a reply Not a sound reached an seriously to apprehend that they had knocked him on the head or stabbed him I reers, and I thought it possible that hetheht have attempted at some time or other to betray the in vain for so a reply What had becoers must have killed him, as I felt nearly sure that he would not have deserted er, or to follow thelad to have him by my side for the sake of coht possibly be able to bite through the thongs if I could show him what I wanted done I called to him several times, but he did not appear At last I arrived at the conclusion that the bushrangers had killed hierous position, while thus utterly unable to defend myself If discovered by hostile blacks, they would ht attackman, but I saw no reason why they should not do so, should they discover that I had no ht biteinsects were sure to findwithout water or food for hours, or perhaps days to coer and thirst Such and other glooh led, for I felt sure that I should thus tighten the thongs which bound me Noever, I set to work cal up one of h to reach the thong rounda variety of efforts I found that the attened ht be
Still it ether lose hope There was the possible chance of the do by and release ht pass before then, and I was already suffering fro out of the path, I could only hope to attract attention fro as I heard the sound of their horses' footsteps This I could do as long as I retained ht, I feared, drop off into a state of stupor, and those who ht be close at hand without ht I would make oneI shouted as loud as I could bawl, and then gave a cooey, which would reach further than any other sound I listened; a faint cry caht, but could not make out what he said The tones were ht be some consolation to hier doubted that the bushrangers had treated hih I suspected that he had been either stunned or so frightened that he had not before heard my shouts or been able to reply I intended every now and then to give hiht attract any blacks passing at a distance, and that we should thus increase the risk of being killed by theth darkness ca I could do, as it prevented er or thirst I was, however, quickly awakened by the thongs cutting ainst the tree with my feet out, and in that position I escaped the pressure on my limbs, and was at last able to drop off to sleep My slumbers, as may be supposed, were far fro disagreeable had happened; but still, by thus snatching a few intervals of sleep, I found that the night passed away faster than I should have supposed possible Strange sounds occasionally reachedand barking of a pack of dingoes, and as the brutes often hunt together in considerable nuht find out the dominie and me, and tear us to pieces With intense relief I saw the streaks of dawn appear in the sky The laughing-jackass uttered his cheerful notes, and parrots and other birds began to chirp and screech and chatter The sound tended soer and thirst which now oppressed ht be passing, I was afraid of attracting their attention by crying out, so that I was unable to ascertain how it fared with the poor dominie When the sun rose, the heat becaan to buzz about my face, while I had no power to drive the in the extreme I spluttered and spat, and winked h the creatures did not often bitealmost drove me mad At last a sound struck my ear It was the bay of a hound, then came a bark, and the next instant the faithful Carlo bounded up toexhibited his delight, away he went barking cheerfully Presently the sound of the tra of horses' hoofs reached my ears, but on a sudden, the sound ceased, and I feared that I had been deceived; but then it occurred toto set hiht of a horse up toto ask questions he cut the thongs which bound ht that was the first thing to do,” said Guy, as he supported round, for I could not stand ”Hector is looking after the dominie, he is even in a worse condition than you are”
”I am fearfully thirsty,” I said
”I knew youa water-bottle to ht, which was tolerably cool, had an alet up onhad happened when Carlo, rushi+ng back, ca at our trousers; and as soon as we could catch our horses, in spite of the lameness of ht, but ialloped on; and I am thankful indeed, et into this plight?”
I briefly told hiers had stuck me up
”The villains! I wish that we could find theo to where I left Hector and the dominie We'll breakfast as soon as we can reach a water-hole We passed one a little way back, and we et on to Bracewell's as soon as possible”
With his assistance, I mounted his horse, and we soon reached the spot where Hector was attending to the do I really believe, from the condition he was in, that he would soon have died One of the ruffians had struck him over the head with the butt of his pistol, but he had suffered more from fear than fro to put him to death He was lifted on Hector's horse, and we soon reached the water-hole The fire was quickly lighted, and after a good breakfast on a paddy-aroo--which Hector had shot the previous evening, we felt greatly revived, and fully able to continue the journey; indeed, I felt side the horses, and we ress We had reached an open part of the country, e caught sight of a figure seated on a fallen log His back was towards us, and he did not appear to notice our approach; indeed, so ht have beenround his body, but on his shoulders were a nu slashes in the skin, and filling them up with clay, so that when the wound healed, an elevated scar waspointed beard, withof the negro character about it Fastened to a belt round his waist was a snake and a little kangaroo rat, on which he evidently intended to make his dinner A cord round his neck supported a shell ornament in front, and a tassel behind completed his costume I describe him, of course, not ashi to the appearance he presented on a further acquaintance
Suddenly, as we ca up, he seized his spear and throwing-stick which lay on the ground at his side Seeing, however, that he could not possibly escape us, he made no atte intercourse with the blacks was able to make him understand what he said, inquired whether he had seen any whitethat way, and should he have done so, whether he could tell us who they were
The black, without hesitation, replied, saying, that he had seen no less than four, that they were ar a couple of horses
”That looks suspicious They ers,” observed Hector; ”and if--as I think possible--they are not far off, we must try and capture the fellows, or at all events recover our horses”
Hector, who closely questioned the black, was satisfied that he wished to be honest, and accordingly asked hiers He replied, without hesitation, that if he once came upon their trail he could do so
”Lead on, then,” said Hector
Anxious as ere to get to Bracewell's, it was important to recover our horses, and if possible to capture the robbers We were five against four, for having promised the black a handsome reward, if we should catch one or more of the villains, we could trust to his aid, and his spear would be of as uns at close quarters; but we could not reckon much on the assistance of the doht would prevent hione far, when the black declared positively, that he had found the trail of the robbers, and that probably they would be enca was one requiring the greatest caution, for they were certain to be on the watch, and being well arht, to be sure, steal upon theht and shoot them down, but we had no wish to do that; our object was to recover our property and bring them to justice The black showed hi on when he told us that ere not far from where he expected to find them How it happened that they had not ridden to a distance, it was i out of the high road, they did not expect to be discovered