Part 9 (1/2)
Lifting his rifle, he uttered a loud whoop, when in an instant every black disappeared, either having dropped to the ground, or got behind the steain, but it will be as well to be on our guard when passing any thick scrub We ive it a wide berth so that their spears cannot reach us, or gallop quickly by”
During the day-time, however, there was not much probability that the blacks would venture to attack us; but we agreed that we ht, lest they should spear our horses,--a trick they are apt frequently to play when they think that they can do so and h their bodies
Though we looked out for them on every side, not another black did we see; but Bracewell remarked, that we must not consequently fancy that they had taken themselves off
However, as the day wore on, and they did not again reappear, we began to hope that we had distanced theht At length we reached the water-hole, near which grew several rass for the horses, so that they would not be te a spot with a water-hole on one side, and three or four fine trees of large girth on the other, we unsaddled our horses and , but should have to go on short commons the next day, unless we could shoot a paddy-melon or some birds
Bracewell offered, as there was still sufficient light, to try to do so; but Guy and I advised him to remain in camp while we endeavoured to shoot a few parrots or cockatoos, so hs that we felt confident of shooting as many as we required
No sooner, however, did we fire, than having each brought down a parrot, the re to get so alarht
By soht of Guy, though I concluded that he was followinghis head as if not aware of ht hiun, ht just then occurred to ht discover our whereabouts by the reports; so I felt that it would be wise to be satisfied with the birds we had killed, and return to ca ure stealthily approaching with a lance in his hand
Suspecting that his intentions were hostile, I quickly reloaded, ra down a ball As he approached from behind the trunk of a tree, I levelled ain, I felt pretty sure that he was following me I therefore every now and then turned suddenly round and pointed one on for soan to fear that I had lost my way, for I could not see either our ca froave a loud cooey, expecting that Guy and Braceould hear an to feel rather uncoh with my rifle in my hand, I was a match for two or three blacks, I should be in an aard predicament should I be followed by a whole ain I cooeyed, and this time I heard my friends cooey in return
Still the distance was apparently considerable, and at any ht overtake round would allow, endeavouring to keep a straight course
Once more I turned round when to my dismay I beheld a score or more of blacks armed with spears and shi+elds For a ht bring down one of the fellows, I knew; but then, unarmed, I should be at theirthem The instant I raised my weapon, they all vanished as before Directly afterwards I caught sight of the glare of the fire: I dashed forward, when to my surprise I found ed in preparing a couple of parrots which the former had shot
”Up, up!” I exclaimed: ”the blacks are upon us--there is not a moment to lose if we intend to save our lives”
”Oh, nonsense!” cried Bracewell ”You've seen a big `boomer,' or the stump of a tree, which you have mistaken for a black fellow”
I loudly protested that I was not mistaken, and advised the, a spear quivered in the tree close to where they were sitting They jumped to their feet in an instant
”If we don't take care, we shall have the horses wounded,” I exclai Guy and Bracewell to keep watch for the appearance of our eneht the horses up, and was tethering theht, shrieking and dancing and brandishi+ng their spears
Bracewell, on this, exclaimed, ”We'll show them that we're not to be trifled with; or they will become bolder, and make a rush upon us with their waddies Guy, do you pick off that fellow on the right; I'll take the fellow in the centre who is nourishi+ng his weapon--he intends to hurl it at us as soon as he gets near enough Maurice, you , but don't fire unless they advance”
As he spoke, he and Guy pulled their triggers As the sround-- while I keptmob I had my eye upon one of them, who appeared to be leader We were tolerably well sheltered by the roots of the trees, so that we could take ai ourselves
The determined front we exhibited did not however deter the blacks fro, and as they did so, they sent a whole shower of spears, which stuck quivering in the trunk of the tree for our chief protection
Several, however, passed and fell into the ground close to the horses, fortunately none of which were injured
I fired and brought down thebehind shelter and reloaded, while my brother and Bracewell knocked over twothus to kill our fellow-creatures; but at that ht about was that they intended to kill us, and that it was our business to defend our lives Whether or not we should do so successfully seee, while they flitted in and out a and shrieking and hurling their sharp-pointed spears towards us A hundred opposed to three were fearful odds