The morning call., 1892-12-25
AUSTRALIANS BUSH
Christmas Eve at LOdden
Spa.
Us From Death to Dim
ner.

The thermometer registered $50 degrees
Fahrenheit.
The boiling mineral waters of the Lodden
Spa Springs steamed and trickled down the
hillock side and meandered. a tiny thread.
across the glazing sandy plain.
The eamels had wandered miles away in
search of scanty groupings from the scrub.
Tie white tent stood deserted upon the
summit of the hill. a hot and Clustering cone
rejecting back the painful rays of a lurid
Austral sun.
All around as far as the eye could reach,
and for many leagues beyond, lay the great
white desert of sand and stones which form
Australians bush.
Scattered about under the thin and stray
Cling acacia bushes which grew beside the
streamets. lay half dozen bushmen. FORM
ing the nucleus of a South Australian gov
eminent exploration party.
Dysentery aud scurvy had followed In the
wake Of long weeks OF existence upon scant
and poisonous waters, and deprivation from
meat or vegetable. And so broken down
camp had heen formed at the Lodden Spa
Springs. whilst the chief rode of on fast
camel 10 reconnoitre for fresh water and
the nearest aph-station medicines.
Broken down but patient and uEc0mplaIn-
ing. lay the strong-hearted oushmen, each
mad
reached the point that commands mute and
motionless surrender 10 the grim monarch.
Death.
But enc member Of the party moved
around in frenZied folly, struggling against
Fate.
Tom, the CHEEKY cook, persisted in crawling
round on all f0urs gathering shreds of sticks
and dead acacia pods to cook an evening
dinner, at the mere mention of which the
weakened bushman turned away in loath-
ing.
But still he persevered through all that
weary afternoon. toiling patiently alone be-
| side the tent.
IL was shutdown when, with a weary sense
OF relief ct twelve hours coming emancipa-
ton from the brutal sun, / turned over on
my side 10 change tired and aching pos
ture, and found Tom kneeliug over me. HIS
wan ana wasted features were lit up with
| such an expression of struggling cheerful
ness as made me shudder foI his reason.
Rouse NJ, young 'un, rouse up, it's
] Christmas eve" lie cried with a shout of
such brave enthusiasm as stirred the very
| yltals In me 20 faint responsive smile.
DRINK this, lie added, handing me a
I pannikin from which i swallowed draught
Of vlvlfying brandy. In few moments We
had dOsed and reused the entire remaining
| gang, and all crawling TO the tent, aiscoy-
| cred the result Of Toms afternoon tolls
A canful of meat was divided up among
| the six tin plates, with hanking chunks OF
| uAuiptE, anu We iLdu6 q NGDlt attempt 10
| swallow the food in our magnetic enthu-
siasm.
Then when Tom uncovered a tough ball
| Of dough ornamented with a dozen raisius
| there was shout of applause which grew
| In volume as he tilted little brandy into
| the dish and set Ii sfiame. High overhead
| great star gitterod in the blaekenng sky
and Tom, awkwardly removing his "cab-
| bage-tree" hat, remarked gravely:
| Boys, let's ask the star for luck. II may
be The star" he whispered In awe-stricken
| tones
And we all grew silent as we moved our
| hats and, family realizing a mysterious
something in the air, looked fixedly at the
star and asked in solemn earnest for some
| "luck."
IL must have come
The evening waxed merry over song and
| souvenir from all four corners Of the globe
| Uor We represented all nationalities) and all
our cares were forgotten under tile magic
| influences OF Christmas eve. Three Of us
are still alive. rescued from the lonely peril
of the weary bush. Frank and Charley lie
beneath The sands OF Lodden Spa, but who
Will say they have not better luck than
! ours-for the gods recruit their forces from
the bush. G. I. TIcKELL