CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
HOW JACK PENNY PUT HIS FOOT IN A TRAP.
We had made our plans, but they were very elastic, for it was impossiblefor us to keep to any hard-and-fast line.
"No, Joe," the doctor said, "we cannot say that we will do this or that;we must be governed by circumstances. We have one object in view--tofind your father, and so far we have determined to follow the course ofthe first big river; when we shall be diverted from it time must prove."
We slept that night under the shade of another tree, and as the mistrolled off the next morning we started once again.
It was so glorious a morning that, in spite of the serious nature of ourposition, it was impossible not to feel in the highest of spirits. Theway lay through dense forest, but we had fallen into a track which I atfirst thought was a regular pathway, and so it proved to be, but not ofthe kind I imagined as I eagerly called the doctor's attention to it,and the ease with which we were now getting along.
"No, Joe," he said; "this is not a path used by human beings. Look downat the footprints."
I looked down to see the hoof-marks of innumerable wild creatures, andsaid so.
"Yes," replied the doctor, "it is a track down to the river, followed bythe animals that go to drink, and we shall not be long before we get tothe water side."
Our way did not seem wearisome, for there was so much to see, the birdsin particular taking my attention greatly. One moment a flock of blackcockatoos would fly screaming by, then a cloud of brilliantly-colouredparroquets, and in one opening we came upon what looked at first like agigantic beech-tree completely alive with tiny blue-and-green parrotsabout the size of sparrows, climbing, fluttering, chattering, andchirping, now with their heads up, now heads down, and forming one ofthe prettiest sights I had ever seen.
I could have shot twenty or thirty together as they sat in rows upon thebare branches, so little did they heed our presence; but it wasunnecessary to destroy their little lives, and we passed on.
I was less merciful an hour later, for food was a necessity, and I wasfortunate enough to bring down at the first shot a beautiful little deerthat started up in our very path.
My shot seemed to alarm the whole forest and set it in an uproar: birdsshrieked, monkeys chattered, and to right and left there was a rushingcrackling noise, as of big creatures seeking flight. There was adeep-mouthed howl, too, away on our right that made me look anxiously atthe doctor.
"I don't know, Joe," he replied, as if in answer to a spoken question."There may be tigers here, and leopards, and old men of the woods, bigas ourselves. It is new land, my lad, so don't look to me forinformation."
"Dat big bunyip," said Jimmy in a scared whisper. "Take black fellow--kill um, eatum."
Just then we heard the same beating noise that had fallen upon our earsthe previous day.
"Dat big bunyip beat um gin," whispered Jimmy, with a curiousawe-stricken look in his countenance.
"'Taint," said Jack Penny slowly. "I don't believe in bunyips. If itwas a bunyip beating his gin, she'd holloa out like hooray, and squeakthe leaves off the trees."
"'Fraid squeak," said Jimmy eagerly, as he caught Jack's meaning.
"Well, perhaps Jimmy's right," said the doctor slowly; "and as I'venever seen a bunyip the present is a favourable opportunity, and we caninterfere to stop him from too severely castigating his wife. Come,Jimmy, lead on."
Jimmy's jaw dropped, but his hand stole to his waistband, from which hedrew his waddy, talking slowly the while, till, seeing the doctor make amovement towards him, he turned round and darted into the bush.
"He won't stop till he gets back to the village," drawled Jack.
"He won't go farther than the first big tree," I said, laughing. "He'swatching us now, I'll be bound."
"Then you and I will have to meet the bunyip, Joe," said the doctor."Are you coming, Penny?"
"Yes, I'll come," said Jack quietly. "I should like to see a bunyip.Come along."
Jack went on--not first, for Gyp started before him and, guided by thenoise, we pushed on amongst the dense growth, finding the earth growmoister beneath our feet; and then all at once it seemed as if the bigtrees had come to an end and we were in a lighter place.
"There's the water," I cried, as I caught sight of a flash.
"You'll be in it here directly, same as I was," drawled Jack. "I say,doctor, ain't this the sort of place big snakes like?"
"Hush!" whispered the doctor; and pressing back the thick growth weadvanced cautiously, and following his example I, too, stepped from tuftto tuft, listening to the beating noise and to the other sounds thatarose.
First there was the loud rustle of wings as some water birds flew up,long-legged creatures with far-stretching necks. Then on my left therewas an ominous noise, as of something crawling amongst the reeds, and Ishuddered as I saw that Jack Penny was holding his gun ready, and thatGyp's hair was bristling all about his neck, while his teeth were bared.
The doctor was some distance before us now, and I could see him peeringbetween some bushes and waving his hand to me to come forward; so,forgetting the danger, if danger there was, I went cautiously to mycompanion's side, to gaze with astonishment at the scene before me.
There was no bunyip or native Australian demon there, but a greatshallow, muddy pond or lake, which seemed as if it must be swarming withfish and crocodiles, for every here and there, as the great rugged backsof the horrible lizards were seen pushing towards the shore, shoals ofsilvery fish leaped out, flashing in the sunshine before they splashedback into the water.
Here, then, was the secret of the mysterious noise which was beingproduced before my eyes. For the crocodiles were driving the shoals offish into the little bays and creeks, and then stunning them by beatingthe water heavily with their tails, the result being that the paralysedfish were easily devoured.
I felt as if I could never tire of gazing at the monsters so busy beforeus. There must have been at least five-and-twenty, and all of largesize; and it was not a pleasant thought to consider what would have beenthe consequences if we had attempted to wade across the lagoon.
Before leaving, however, the doctor took out his glass and swept theshore of the great pond, to nod with satisfaction.
"This is only a sort of bay belonging to the river we are seeking, Joe,"he said. "Look there to the left, and you can see the entrance chokedup with reeds."
We crept back cautiously, to find Jimmy awaiting our return; and thenmaking a detour towards the lake, we soon reached the river, along whosebank was a well-trodden path, in whose softer parts, besides those ofdeer, it was plain to see the ugly toes of crocodiles, and the longtrail they made as they dragged themselves along.
We did not halt until we had left the crocodile pond a long way behind;but a fine dry, open spot, close to the flashing water of the swiftriver, was so tempting that we did not go so far as we had intended.
Here a fire was soon lit, and Jimmy sat watching the roasting of thebuck with an indescribable look of satisfaction in his countenance;while, eager to try whether it would be possible to add to our provisionstore at any time from the river, I went on down to the water's edge.For if there were fish in such abundance in the lagoon, I felt sure thatif they would bite there must be plenty in the stream.
My first idea had been to have a bathe in the cool-looking water, but,seeing my intention, the black who had been my companion in the watch,took my hand, led me cautiously along for a short distance, and thenpointed to where there was lying, dimly outlined in the thickened water,one of the hideous creatures such as I had seen in the lagoon.
The black then put his wrists together, spread wide his hands, andclosed them sharply upon my arm like a pair of jaws, and snatched mesidewise with a good tug.
I was quite satisfied, and nodding and shuddering I joined the doctor,who was ready enough to help me fish.
We soon had our lines ready, and baiting the hooks with pieces of rawmeat, we threw out and waited, after the manner of
fishermen at home,for a bite.
After a time I examined my bait and threw in again. Then the doctorexamined his and threw in again, but neither of us had the slightesttouch, and growing weary we went back to the fire to find the bucksufficiently roasted and Jimmy's eyes standing out of his head withhunger; so we made a hasty meal, left the blacks to finish it, and JackPenny to rest his long body, while we had another try at the fishing.
But Jack Penny did not care to rest when anything was going on, andafter we had been fishing without result for about half an hour hejoined us.
"Caught anything?" he said; and on our replying in the negative, "Here,let me try," he said.
I handed him my line, and he twisted it well round his hand.
"Fish run big, sometimes," he said, nodding his head sagaciously."Don't leave your line like that, doctor," he added; "make it fast tothat bough."
The doctor obeyed, and leaving Jack looking very drowsy and dreamy wetwo took our guns and started along the river bank, thinking thatperhaps we might find something useful for the larder, the heat of theclimate rendering it necessary for a supply to be obtained from day today.
It was a glorious walk past quiet bends of the river that were as stillas ponds, and full of red and white lotus plants which shot up theirlovely blossoms from amidst their floating liliaceous leaves. Trees inplaces overhung the water, and great wreaths of blossom or leaves ofdazzling green were reflected on the surface. Insect life was abundant:burnished beetles and lovely coloured butterflies flitting from flowerto flower. Birds, too, especially waders and great creatures that Itook to be pelicans, were busy in the shallows, where now and then agreat crocodile wallowed through the mud, evidently roused by ourapproach, for though we saw several of these creatures, not one gave theslightest sign of a disposition to attack.
"There, we are not likely to see deer before evening when they come downto drink," said the doctor. "Let's get back, Joe, my lad, the sun isnot so powerful as it was, and we may as well make a fresh start."
We were about three parts of the way back, finding some fresh object ofinterest at every turn, when I suddenly caught hold of my companion'sarm, for a peculiar cry fell upon my ear.
"Something wrong!" exclaimed the doctor, and we set off at a sharp runwhere the undergrowth would allow.
A curious sensation of dread came over me, and a cold damp feeling wason my brow and in the palms of my hands as the cry rose once more--asingularly doleful cry, as of some one in great peril.
"Are you loaded?" said the doctor, as we ran on, and his voice soundedhoarse with emotion.
I nodded, for I could not speak, and, full of the idea that our littlecamp had been attacked by savages and that some of our followers werebeing killed, I ran on.
It was hard work and like running in a nightmare to get back to ourstarting-place, for there was always some thorn or tangle that we hadnot noticed in our careful advance seeming to stop us on our way; but atlast we came within sight of the spot where we had left Jack Penny, buthe was not there.
"There's something wrong at the camp," I panted.
"Be cool," replied the doctor, "we may have to fire. Try and keep yournerve. Ah!"
This ejaculation was consequent upon our simultaneously catching sightof Jack Penny, up to the armpits in the river, holding on by the branchof a tree.
As he saw us he shouted lustily for help. It was no drawl now, but asharp quick shout.
I ran down the bank and the doctor following, we joined hands, when,catching at Jack's wrist, I held on tightly.
"Now, then," I said, as I gazed wonderingly in his ghastly face andstaring eyes, "let go, and we'll draw you ashore."
"No, no," he cried hoarsely. "Got hold of me--drag me in."
"Got hold? Of course," I said, "we'll drag you in."
"One of those brutes has got him, Joe," cried the doctor excitedly, andhis words sent such a thrill through me that I nearly loosed my hold."Here, pull both together," he said, as he got down by my side andseized Jack Penny by the other arm.
We gave a fierce drag, to find that it was answered from below, Jackbeing nearly drawn out of our hands, his head going down nearly to theeyes, and for the moment it seemed as if we were to be drawn in as well.
But fortunately Jack still had tight hold of the branch, to which heclung in the agony of desperation, and he uttered such a piercing crythat it served to arouse the sleeping blacks, the result being that, aswe were holding on, and just maintaining our ground, Jimmy and Ti-hi,the black who had attached himself to me, came running down.
They saw what was wrong, and Jimmy seized me, the black doing the sameby Jimmy, with the effect of dragging poor Jack Penny farther andfarther from the water in spite of the struggles of the reptile that wastrying to haul him back. First we had him out to the chest, then to thehips, then nearly to the knees, and I never till then thoroughlyrealised what a lot there was of him, for it seemed as if he would neverend.
"Hold on!" cried the doctor suddenly. "I'm going to loose him."
"No, no!" panted Jack, with a horrified look; but the doctor did loosehis hold and caught up his gun.
"Now, then," he cried. "All together. Haul with all your might."
We obeyed, and though we were for the moment mastered we gave a goodswing again, and it seemed as if Jack Penny must be dragged in two.
It was like playing a game of French and English, and we were in dangerof getting the worst of it. We saw what the doctor wanted, and that wasto get the reptile so near the surface that he could fire; but as soonas we got poor Jack nearly ashore the creature gave a tremendous tug,making the water swirl and the mud and sand from the bottom rise inclouds.
This went on for five minutes, during which we were striving with allour might, when I nearly loosed my hold, for Jack said in a lowdespairing tone of voice:
"Joe Carstairs, don't let him have me till you've shot me first."
I held fast though, and the fight went on, till, just as we werebeginning to despair, the reptile came nearer to the surface, the uglyprotuberances over its eyes were level with the water, and, bendingdown, the doctor reached out with his gun in one hand, held the muzzleclose to the creature's eye, and fired.
There was a tremendous sputter and we were nearly forced to leave go,but the next moment there was no resistance but weight, and we drew Jackand his aggressor, a crocodile about ten feet long, right up to thebank, the monster's jaws, which had closed over one of Jack's stoutlybooted feet, remaining fast, though the upper part of its head was allblown away.
"Dat a big bunyip," cried Jimmy, forcing the end of his spear throughthe reptile's jaws and trying to push them open, which he did with hiscompanion's help, and Jack Penny was free to limp feebly for a fewyards, and sink down amongst the reeds.
Jimmy did not seem in the least afraid of the bunyip now, for hackingoff a long lithe cane he put it over the reptile's jaw, and, twisting ittightly rope-fashion, he and Ti-hi dragged it right away from the water,and, avoiding the frantic lashings of its tail, they turned it over withtheir spears, used like levers, and kept on stabbing it in its tenderunderparts until it ceased to struggle, when Jimmy turned it over againand began to perform a triumphant war-dance on its back.
Meanwhile poor Jack Penny, who had been nearly speechless, began torevive.
"That's better," said the doctor. "Now let me look at your foot."
"Has he bit it right off?" said Jack faintly. "I can't feel it. Justwhen I needed it so badly, too!"
"Bit it off! No!" I cried. "Is it much hurt, doctor?"
"I can't tell till I have unlaced his boot," he replied. "Tell me if Ihurt you much, my lad."
"It don't hurt," said Jack faintly. "I can't feel at all."
It was rather hard work to get the boot off; but at last it was free,and the doctor inspected a double row of red spots, two of which bled alittle, but not much.
"I'm beginning to feel now," said Jack dolefully. "Why, he ain't bit itoff!" he said, raising himself so that
he could look down at the injuredmember. "I thought it was gone."
"No; your foot has only had an ugly pinch; the stout boot saved it. Letit bleed a little, my lad; it will save you pain."
"What! had he only got hold of my boot?" said Jack excitedly.
"And the foot in it," said the doctor. "See, here are the marks of theteeth."
"I thought he'd bit it right off, Joe Carstairs," said Jack dolefully."An' I say, what a coward I am!"
"Coward!" I exclaimed. "Why?"
"To be so frightened as I was," replied Jack, with a dismal sigh.
"Well, I don't know about being a coward, Master Jack Penny," said thedoctor quietly; "but I do know that if I had had my foot in thatreptile's mouth I should have been in a most horrible state of fear.There, my lad," he continued kindly, "don't think any more about it,only to be thankful for your escape."
"But he ought to tell us first how he was caught like that," I said.
"Oh, there ain't much to tell," said Jack, sitting up and raising hisleg, and softly rubbing his injured foot. "I was fishing, and the fishwouldn't bite, and I got a little nearer to the river side and threw inagain and fished; and the sun seemed to get hotter, and I suppose I fellasleep, for I remember dreaming that the dingoes had got among father'ssheep again, and that he flicked his whip-lash round my wrist. Then Itried to start up, but a big fish had hold of the line, and it tuggedaway so hard that I was overbalanced, and took a header off the bankright into the river; and when I came up, pretty tidy astonished like,and began to swim for the bank, the fish on the line, which I hadtwisted round my wrist, began tugging me out into the stream. It tookme out ever so far before I could get the line off my wrist; and then Iswam easily back, feeling awful popped like at having lost the fish andthe line; and I was just wondering what you would say, when all at oncethere was a regular rush in the water, and something shut on my foot,giving me such an awful nip that I yelled out as I caught hold of thatbranch, and held on, shivering all the while with fear, for I forgotabout the crocodiles, and thought it must be a shark."
"Well!" I said, excitedly; for he stopped.
"Well, what?" said Jack.
"What next? What did you do?" I said.
"Hollered!" replied Jack laconically. "So would you if you had beenme."
"Yes," I said, "of course; but what took place next?"
"Oh, nothing; only that I held tight and he held tight, and as often ashe tugged at me it jumped the bough up and down like a see-saw, and itwas very horrid."
"Most horrible!" said the doctor.
"Then I hollered again," said Jack.
"Yes; go on!" I cried impatiently.
"I did go on," he replied. "I went on hollering, but them chaps at thecamp were asleep, and I began to feel that I should have to let go soon;only I wouldn't, because I wanted to find out first what had become ofthe professor. Then at last you came, and that's all; only I don't feelmuch like walking very far to-day, so I shall sit still and fish."
"Fish! what, with things like that in the water?" I exclaimed.
"Oh! they won't hurt me," said Jack; "because I shall be on the look-outnow, and won't go in after the next fish that takes my line. I say,where's Gyp?"
"I don't know," I said. "I have not seen him."
"Crocodiles are very fond of dogs," said Jack quietly. "I hope one of'em hasn't got Gyp."
"Oh, no! he'd be too sharp for one of the reptiles," said the doctorreassuringly.
"I don't know," said Jack in his quiet drawl. "I thought I was much tooclever for crocodiles; but they're sharp--precious sharp about theteeth. Perhaps he's gone hunting something. He often used at home."
"Oh, yes; he'll come back," I said.
"Well, we shall see," said Jack. "I'm better now. Lend me anotherline, Joe Carstairs. I want to see if I can't catch a fish."
I looked about first to see if I could trace my line, but it washopelessly gone. To my surprise and pleasure, though, I found thedoctor's where he had left it, tied to a root and drawn out tight,evidently with a fish at the end.
I imagined that I could easily draw this out, and I did get it close upto the bank, but as soon as it was in the shallow water it sprang rightout and darted away again, making the line rush through my hands sorapidly that it burned my skin.
As it leaped out I had a good opportunity of seeing that a great silveryfellow, fully a yard long, had hooked itself, and meant to have someplaying before it turned over upon its side in token of submission.
I kept on playing the fish, which seemed to grow stronger instead ofweaker as I went on at give and take with it, till I was almost tired.At least six times did I draw it in and try to bring it within reach ofTi-hi's fingers, but in vain, for it always darted off as if refreshed.
At last, though, I drew it well in, and once more it was about to repeatits tactics; but this time it was too late, for the black pounced downupon it, thrust his hooked finger into its gills, and pulled it up on tothe bank.
Just then Jimmy came trotting up, hauling away at a line, and to mygreat delight I found that he had hunted out the one we had left withJack Penny.
"Fastum round big wood!" he cried; and then he tried to explain how thefish had entangled the line round what an American would call a snag;and the result was that we had two fine fish to carry back to the camp,Jimmy's being tired out and readily yielding as he hauled on the line.
"I don't think I'll fish to-day," said Jack Penny then. "I say, I feelas if that buck warn't good enough to eat."
Hardly had he spoken before he softly sank down sidewise, and laylooking very white, and with his eyes shut.
"Is it the venison?" I said in a whisper to the doctor.
"No. He is a little faint, now the reaction has set in," replied thedoctor; and we had to carry poor wet Jack Penny as well as the fish intocamp, and of course we got no farther on our journey that day.