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As we rode up we could see a gunyah made out of boughs, and a longish wing of dogleg fence, made light but well put together. As soon as we got near enough a dog ran out and looked as if he was going to worry us; didn't bark either, but turned round and waited for us to get off. 'It's old Crib, said Jim, with a big laugh; 'blest if it ain't. Father's somewhere handy.
Arrived in front of one who now acted as chief, much laid down his burden, exposing the contents the body of a native child! half roasted and drawn the "long pig" of the cannibals! Overcome by what I had seen, I sought my gunyah, where I passed the night a prey to the most dismal forebodings.
Bill presently tied up the hanging door of the gunyah and mounted his horse. Jess and Finn followed him as their wont was, but their hearts were sad, and Bill's glowering looks gave them no encouragement. For almost seven miles they followed Bill, and then, after leaping a low "dog-leg" fence, they found themselves in the one wide street of Nargoola township.
One of you can go to that gunyah, just under the range where that big white rock is, and you'll find tea and sugar and something to eat. Jim rushed off at once, while I sulkily began to put some bark and twigs together and build a fire. 'What's the use of all this cross work? I said to father; 'we're bound to be caught some day if we keep on at it.
The pelt he placed on a log beside the gunyah, and the carcase he cut in half across the backbone. Then he tossed the head half to Jess, and the other, and slightly larger portion, to Finn. "Fair doos," he said explanatorily. "Wolf's the biggest; and it was his kill, anyway; so he gets the quarters." So the hounds fed, while Bill washed and prepared his own breakfast.
With a desperate effort she drew back her fore-legs a little, raising herself almost into a sitting position against the side of the gunyah. The faint groans that the pain of moving forced from her were of real service to her in a way, for they made the foremost dingo think she was in her death agony, and gave a sort of recklessness to his plunge forward under the thatch.
Some young gins stood by a gunyah, and he saw one of the horsemen point to them, and turn and say something to his companions. The sound of their voices came to him and then he saw two of them ride at the men till they scattered and fled, while the other two rode at the gins.
The precaution adopted on this occasion was always followed by us when we had any real doubt about the natives; that is to say, we built a "dummy" gunyah of boughs, which we were supposed to sleep in; and we covered in the front so as our possible assailants could not easily detect our absence. We would then creep away into the bush or hide behind a tree, and, of course, would light no fire.
On the previous day, Bill had paid particular attention to some tracks he had seen on the far side of a gully some three or four miles from the gunyah; and Jess had shown herself amazingly anxious to make further investigations at the time, until brought sternly to heel by Bill, with the suggestion that "You've got mixed up in your almanack, old lady. This is Saturday."
Here we had the back of our gunyah for a shield, and could poke the muzzles of our guns and rifles through the interstices of the boughs. We were compelled to discharge our pieces at them to ensure our peace and safety. Our last discharge drove away the enemy, and soon after, Jimmy came with all the horses. Gibson shot a wallaby, and we had fried chops for our Christmas dinner.
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