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BLACKS AND BUSHRANGERS
BLACKS AND BUSHRANGERS
The Great Lone Land. By Colonel W. F. Butler , C.B. Illustrated. Crown 8vo, 7 s. 6 d. The Wild North Land. By Colonel W. F. Butler , C.B. Illustrated. Crown 8vo, 7 s. 6 d. How I Found Livingstone. By H. M. Stanley . Illustrations and Maps. Crown 8vo, 7 s. 6 d. Through the Dark Continent. By H. M. Stanley . Numerous Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 12 s. 6 d. Through Masai Land. By Joseph Thomson . Numerous Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 7 s. 6 d. To the African Lakes and Back. By Joseph Thomson . Numerous I
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
A few words concerning the following narrative may not be out of place. Many years ago, and before the present township of Townsville, in Northern Queensland, was thought of, I found myself wandering in the neighbourhood of Mount Elliott, and also about the waters of the Burdekin river, in latitude a little south of 19 degrees. Whilst so engaged, looking for country suitable for stock, hunting, &c., it was my privilege to make the acquaintance of one “Jimmy Morrill,” and through him I en
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CHAPTER I. The New Forest—Sampson Stanley the gipsy—Mat and Tim—A New Forest sportsman—Braken Lodge.
CHAPTER I. The New Forest—Sampson Stanley the gipsy—Mat and Tim—A New Forest sportsman—Braken Lodge.
About the year ’43 there had lived for a long period in the little hamlet of Burley, in the New Forest, a clan of gipsies of the name of Stanley. Sampson, the head of the tribe, had commenced life as a knife-grinder, and by tramping the Forest summer and winter, and plying his trade in the neighbouring parishes, had collected sufficient funds to purchase a good van, an old horse, and some donkeys. He was also known, in the Forest phraseology, as a “terrible” good man with an axe, and in those da
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CHAPTER II. Squire Bell—Annie’s gift of a book—Shooting a New Forest deer—Felony—Chased by a keeper—Capture—Escape—Fight with a bloodhound.
CHAPTER II. Squire Bell—Annie’s gift of a book—Shooting a New Forest deer—Felony—Chased by a keeper—Capture—Escape—Fight with a bloodhound.
We must now digress a little; the squire that was alluded to in the last chapter, was no British squire at all, but born and bred a colonial. In earlier days he was known as one of the wool kings of Australia, and his “brand” was still to the fore in the home markets. In his native district of “Liverpool Plains,” he was always spoken of and recognized as “the Squire,” a title given him solely on account of his personal appearance. In later years he had taken up additional country to the north of
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CHAPTER III. Mat bids farewell to the Forest—The Young Austral—Tim and Jumper on board.
CHAPTER III. Mat bids farewell to the Forest—The Young Austral—Tim and Jumper on board.
At length, shortly after midnight, as far as he could judge by the moon, Mat arrived once again at Braken Lodge, and knocked up Burns, who, though astonished to see him at that hour, immediately routed out the old housekeeper to light a fire, brew some coffee, and get provisions, whilst he found a change of clothes for Mat, and bound up his wound with a healing ointment. And all these things he did without asking our gipsy any useless questions, wherein he showed his sense. After Mat had thoroug
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CHAPTER IV. Life on board the Young Austral—The wreck—A swim for life—Safe ashore.
CHAPTER IV. Life on board the Young Austral—The wreck—A swim for life—Safe ashore.
Thus it was that both brothers joined the full-rigged ship Young Austral , bound for Moreton Bay direct, joining a band of sturdy Britons who were going to seek their fortunes in the new colony. Though Tim started against his will, he very soon did “make the best of it,” seeing that there was no present hope of returning. Mat, too, helped to cheer him, telling him that the voyage would do him good, and buying him clothes and a few necessaries from those emigrants who had any to part with. A day
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CHAPTER V. The island—The gigantic cockle-shell—Amongst the blacks—The Corroboree.
CHAPTER V. The island—The gigantic cockle-shell—Amongst the blacks—The Corroboree.
After getting out of the water, Mat and Tim remained stretched on the sand without moving a limb, enjoying the sense of perfect security from the sea; but at length they felt that they must commence to look for water, their thirst was so great after all the salt water that they had swallowed. On trying to rise, they found they could scarcely stand, so numbed and weary were their limbs; but by stamping and running, they caused the blood to flow through their veins, and were thus enabled to start
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CHAPTER VI. Wild honey—They find the wreck—The Thunderstick.
CHAPTER VI. Wild honey—They find the wreck—The Thunderstick.
During the voyage out Tim had proved to his shipmates that he had a fair voice for singing, and on the strength of this was deputed to lead the hymns, when the captain performed the little Sunday service on deck. So it struck Mat, upon awakening the next morning after the “Corroboree” in the native camp, that Tim should give them one of the hymns they had learnt on board ship. So, whilst lying in the “gunyah,” Tim struck up at the top of his voice, “From Greenland’s icy Mountains,” and Mat joini
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CHAPTER VII. Spearing geese—Killing ducks with boomerangs—’Possum-hunting—How to make fire—The tribe shift camp—The Boorah—Mat and Tim’s journal.
CHAPTER VII. Spearing geese—Killing ducks with boomerangs—’Possum-hunting—How to make fire—The tribe shift camp—The Boorah—Mat and Tim’s journal.
After our boys had been with the tribe for seven months, as near as they could guess, by means of a notched stick on which they nicked off the days, they began to acquire a smattering of the dialect, so that both black and white men could understand each other to a limited extent. In this way the brothers made out that in four moons many tribes would visit them. They now went out regularly hunting with their black friends, and in this way learnt much concerning the habits of the native game; als
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CHAPTER VIII. Gold—Hostile natives—Flight by night—The great battle—Clubs—Fists—New Forest wrestling—“Old Joe.”
CHAPTER VIII. Gold—Hostile natives—Flight by night—The great battle—Clubs—Fists—New Forest wrestling—“Old Joe.”
Though our foresters were looked upon and treated as brothers by the Waigonda tribe, signs were not wanting to show that some of the neighbouring blacks, who had been present at the Boorah, were envious of their position, and of the goods which they possessed, and an incident happened before long to prove this in an unpleasant way. The brothers had gone on a distant hunting expedition by themselves; they eventually reached a country of dry gullies which they knew of old. Resting after their long
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CHAPTER IX. After the battle—Burial rites—The Waigonda wish to make chiefs of the white men—Our “twins” leave with Dromoora and Terebare for the south.
CHAPTER IX. After the battle—Burial rites—The Waigonda wish to make chiefs of the white men—Our “twins” leave with Dromoora and Terebare for the south.
When the brothers returned to Dromoora they found that chief lying on the ground, surrounded by Terebare and her maidens, who had not joined in the pursuit. These were weeping and wailing, supposing him to be dead; but Tim brought a gourd of water and poured it over his face and head. This act aroused Terebare, and she quickly procured some young shoots of the rough-leaved fig, then making poultices of the milky juice, applied them to her lord’s wounds. “I knew he warn’t dead,” said Tim; as, aft
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CHAPTER X. Burns’ station—The horse-breaker—Colonial “Blow”—Satan the First—Mat “collars” the buckjumper.
CHAPTER X. Burns’ station—The horse-breaker—Colonial “Blow”—Satan the First—Mat “collars” the buckjumper.
Burns listened in wonder to Mat’s narrative, and when it was concluded, said,— “You are the first white man who have lived amongst the blacks of the northern coast, and come again into civilization. I remember my brother writing out by mail about you perfectly well; there were a lot of my stores on that ship, but she never turned up. Well, wonders will never cease; what are you thinking of doing? By-the-bye, Stephen said that you were the most undefeated rider, for your age, in Hampshire.” “I co
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CHAPTER XI. An official summons—Travelling in state—Brisbane—On board ship again—Triumphal entry into Sydney—In a church again—The lecture—Meeting old friends—Soft reflections.
CHAPTER XI. An official summons—Travelling in state—Brisbane—On board ship again—Triumphal entry into Sydney—In a church again—The lecture—Meeting old friends—Soft reflections.
Some few weeks after this, the brothers were discussing their future plans with Burns. The fact was that ever since the riding episode, he had been trying to induce them to stay altogether at his station, and they had almost agreed with his proposal to do so, at all events for six months, when their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a mounted messenger, who, with a loud clinking of spurs, came up the verandah steps and handed Burns an official-looking document, saying shortly, as he
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CHAPTER XII. Tim starts for the Darling Downs—French as spoken by Mrs. Bell—Parson Tabor—Leichardt’s grave—The French “professor”—Mat unmasks the “professor.”
CHAPTER XII. Tim starts for the Darling Downs—French as spoken by Mrs. Bell—Parson Tabor—Leichardt’s grave—The French “professor”—Mat unmasks the “professor.”
Next morning the leading newspapers of the town were placed in Mat’s hands by Marvin, who triumphantly remarked,— “See what an excellent ‘coach’ I proved.” The entire lecture was given in extenso ,—what Mat had said, and, as he remarked after a perusal, some things he had not said. “The old folks must have these,” agreed the brothers, and the papers were accordingly sent home to the Forest. “And now, brother,” said Tim, “there was a Darling Downs squatter got hold of me last night, and said I mu
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CHAPTER XIII. Tim’s unpleasant reception at Bulinda—The bushranger’s camp—The robbery—Annie kidnapped—Tim’s good Samaritans.
CHAPTER XIII. Tim’s unpleasant reception at Bulinda—The bushranger’s camp—The robbery—Annie kidnapped—Tim’s good Samaritans.
We will now take up the thread of Tim’s movements since he quitted the “Keen” family. He first made his way by sea to Sydney, and, hiring a horse, rode out to the first station on the road to Bulinda Creek, leaving his “traps” to be sent direct to the squire’s by one of the drays which were passing at intervals between the town and the station. Having arrived at his destination, he found, upon making the acquaintance of the family who owned it, that they were so glad to welcome him, and so hospi
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CHAPTER XIV. Mat on the trail of the bushranger—Annie’s signal—Mat tracks the bushranger to his lair—The cave—Our hero as the black warrior once more—A fearful fight—Dromoora’s timely cry—Annie’s rescue—Blissful moments.
CHAPTER XIV. Mat on the trail of the bushranger—Annie’s signal—Mat tracks the bushranger to his lair—The cave—Our hero as the black warrior once more—A fearful fight—Dromoora’s timely cry—Annie’s rescue—Blissful moments.
Before Mat made his start after the bushranger, he had buckled on a brace of pistols, loaded his gun with a heavy charge of slugs, and put some matches in his leather pouch. Trusting entirely to his powers of tracking, he went on foot, knowing that he could approach his quarry in this manner, and no other. Food he did not stop for, either to eat or to burden himself with, that he could procure whenever he wished it. One thing that puzzled him was, what had become of Dromoora; the chief had disap
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CHAPTER XV. Magan’s armour—Safe at Bulinda Creek again—The professor’s last lesson on the island—Mat and Tim once more together—Tim convalescent.
CHAPTER XV. Magan’s armour—Safe at Bulinda Creek again—The professor’s last lesson on the island—Mat and Tim once more together—Tim convalescent.
After the first transports of joy at again meeting each other were over, Annie led her father under the big ti-tree, and recounted to him some of the adventures that had befallen her since she had been carried off. “And where is the man that saved you, lassie?” said the squire, as soon as he had heard her narrative. “He was here just now, father.” Mat had retired, not wishing to disturb the meeting between father and daughter, but he now came forward, when Bell took his hand in both of his, sayi
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CHAPTER XVI. The Squire’s offer—Tim decides to go home—Our heroine’s advice to Mat—Our forester takes to gardening—The “new chum’s” difficulties and troubles.
CHAPTER XVI. The Squire’s offer—Tim decides to go home—Our heroine’s advice to Mat—Our forester takes to gardening—The “new chum’s” difficulties and troubles.
The squire, one evening after the inmates of Bulinda Creek had once more settled down to their quiet every-day life, beckoned Mat on to the verandah for a smoke. When they had made themselves comfortable in a couple of “squatters,” or easy seats made of canvas, propped on two poles, the old man spoke. “Mat, my lad, I have heard the opinion of the doctor, that Tim should go home. I hope that you and he will accept the offer that I am going to make to you. If he wishes to go, and I believe he does
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CHAPTER XVII. English Society v. Colonial—Music—The “new chum’s” letter—“Two’s company and three’s none”—Unpleasant reflections—Parson Tabor’s advice—Mrs. Bell shows that she has a “down” on our hero—The “Spider”—The “new chum” proves that he is “not such a fool as he looks”—Tim returns home.
CHAPTER XVII. English Society v. Colonial—Music—The “new chum’s” letter—“Two’s company and three’s none”—Unpleasant reflections—Parson Tabor’s advice—Mrs. Bell shows that she has a “down” on our hero—The “Spider”—The “new chum” proves that he is “not such a fool as he looks”—Tim returns home.
The conversation at supper turned upon station matters, varied by a discussion concerning a concert which had just taken place in Sydney; and here Fulrake, who had a good knowledge of music, and who had been present at the concert, was both interesting and amusing, at all events to the ladies of the party; but he spoilt this favourable impression which he had created, a little later on by making sarcastic remarks upon the society of Sydney, this called forth a mild reproach from Parson Tabor, as
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CHAPTER XVIII. Our hero visits the old Waigonda country once more—The overlanding—The Golden Gully—The last sight of Dromoora.
CHAPTER XVIII. Our hero visits the old Waigonda country once more—The overlanding—The Golden Gully—The last sight of Dromoora.
Our hero, having seen his twin brother comfortably off, and well provided for by the liberality of the squire, decided to start at once with Dromoora and Terebare to the northern wild country, the land of the Waigonda tribe. Tom had often expressed a wish to accompany him, whenever he made up his mind to go, and Mat gladly accepted his offer now that he was actually organizing the little expedition. The squire said that he would get an extra hand or two to help him during the absence of “his boy
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CHAPTER XIX. Bulinda Creek once more—Mat again asks Tabor’s advice—The parson “on matrimony”—Annie’s little arbour.
CHAPTER XIX. Bulinda Creek once more—Mat again asks Tabor’s advice—The parson “on matrimony”—Annie’s little arbour.
Many weeks again passed over, and once again the travellers reined up at Bulinda Creek, travel-stained and weary, but otherwise as well as when they had quitted that station. They arrived during the night, whilst all the inmates were asleep, so turned out their horses, and retired to their quarters. Mat was up and out again by daylight, and, seeing no one about, thought that he would stroll down and look at Annie’s garden, but early as he was he found by the tracks that some one had preceded him
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CHAPTER XX. Back in the old Forest—Jumper’s last home—Return of our hero and heroine for good and all to Bulinda Creek—Conclusion and farewell.
CHAPTER XX. Back in the old Forest—Jumper’s last home—Return of our hero and heroine for good and all to Bulinda Creek—Conclusion and farewell.
Mrs. Bell had some time before this given up all hopes of her daughter becoming attached to any of the young visitors to Sydney whom she had set her heart upon. Addressing her husband upon the subject, some weeks previously, she said,— “It’s no good, Bell, I did ’ope she would take to some one of those young men with a ’andle to their names; they are ready enough to come forward; but though she is pleasant and gay enough with them all, it’s very soon, ‘Mother, riding at the Creek suits me better
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