The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-03
DEAD MANS CAMP.

and moved back by the bridge, in hopes
of getting droving job from the gulf
| down south.
1t was hot weather. Queenslanders
| will remember that summer, or at least
certain days of it, when birds fell dead
| off the trees, and men were stricken down
! by the dozen.
! There was no drearier track in Aus
tralia than the one speak of-all pine
| scrub, too thick for a dog to bark in, and
| sand deep and heavy
There was nothing doing in the Bridge,
so ] started off for the Barcoo via Borrie
| and Bringagee
| 1t was only the beginning Of the hot
! season, and I reckOned on finding water
| at a hole in the Mullungudgeree creek,
! known of aforetime, and about twenty
! five miles from the township u was
! lovely ride that, with nothing but walls
of scrub on either hand and glazing sand
ahead!
The horses, too, seemed to feel it as
they plowed along with bent down heads,
! hardly troubling to shake their fly
! tiappers and dispense the black masses
clustering at each eye. Ones veil even
was but poor protection, for they
gathered in such clouds as to actually OBJ
scure the sight.
However, shogging along, with pull
at the water-bag now and then, | al
length reached the creek.
Following it down | found the hole,
already pretty thick, and presently made
more so by the pack horse and dog be
fore l could get up to stop them from wal
lowing
The sun was setting-a big red ball over
the tops of the scrub-as l pitched the
tent, made fire, and slung the billy.
Then, as there was fair picking around
the camp, hobbled the horses long and
belled them.
After supper-biscuits, sardines and
cheese, washed down by tea thrice
skinned and strained felt pretty com
fortabl and lay on my blankets to enjoy
a good smoke. BY this time the hot sun
had set and the moon was rising-big, yell
low and hot looking, too.
II was a very lonely camp, and aCcus-
toned to solitude as l was, l felt it.
Doubtless the feeling was accentuated by
the presence all around of the thick scrub,
and the knowledge that there was no set
| Element about.
Presently little bird, known to bush
men as the shepherds companion. " set
tied on the ridge pole, and piped at reg
ular intervals in shrill, quick monotone,
Pretty little creature! Sweet, pretty
little creature"' and l felt very grateful
to him
This and the snoring of my dog, who
had fallen fast asleep on the strength of a
tin of sardines, were the only sounds audi
bic. ! was fast getting drowsy and
thinking of turning in, when l heard the
noise of hOOfs coming thump, thump
down the dry bed of the creek.
The dog awoke and barked loudly, and
in another minute a man and a woman
rode into the opening and up TO the fire
They each carried big swag in front
of them and at glance | saw that their
horses were not only well bred but ahad
travelled far and fast.
"Water!' exclaimed the man. I gave
him some, and he lifted his companion off
and handed her the mug.
Were travelin', mate" exclaimed he.
as l helped him to unsaddle. I'VE got
pushed aLween here an the Bokhira. It's
a bit o. id bad country"
They had not come from that direction
at all. But it was no business of mine, so
| passed no remark. They had plenty of
tucker with them, and l slung the billy
again.
She was fresh-looking, pleasant-faced
girl, of about Is or 49, bush-b born and bred
one could see that at a glance, and proba-
bly, able TO ride like a Ceutaur.
He was one of type | knew well A
cattle man all over from the long curved
legs of him to the lean, sharp-eyed reso-
Lutte face; also from his saddle | noticed
hanging a stockwhip with curiouslv
carved handle After supper l offered
them the use of the tent, which was
thankfully accepted The missis," said
he, " II be only too glad of the chance.
We've had to lie out these couple o.
nights" So they took their swags in
side, while Law at the fire with a pack
saddle for pillow and the dog at my
Ieet.
When / awoke, as most bushmen do,
about midnight, clouds were sailing over
the moon, and the air felt chilly Throw
ing more wood on the fire. | stood warm
ing myself while l filled my pipe.
could hear the bells not very far off
in the scrub, and knew by their steady
tinkling that the animals had found a
| good patch and were contented
Suddenly loud neigh broke the still
ness, followed by the rumbling whinny
with which struggling horse greets the
| presence of others. Then | could hear
the quick rattle of hobble-chains as our
| four galloped up tOinspect the new conner.
! There was pause of a minute, then a
regular snorting stampede, as they
| crashed wildly through the scrub, their
| bells ringing like mad, and getting fainter
and fainter in the distance.
| Bother" thought l, that means a
! long walk in the morning, unless they
take a turn Knocking the ashes out.of
my pipe, and preparing TO lie down again
in rather bad temper, ] heard the tramp
of a single horse making steadily toward
/ the camp. As the steps came nearer, the
dog growled and snarled lowly, and. with
the hair about his neck bristling like a
ruff backed slowly toward the tent
Noticing this, a cold feeling Of disquiet
and nervousness Cr5pt u}on me one. in
fact, as near fright as they make it. just
then the moon Shone out in full on the
figure of horSeman emerging from the
scrub and coming straight for me. his
head dropping forward, and his whole
! body sWaying in the saddle
At this sight my courage revived Won
! dcriUllY. Drunken riders are common
| enough in the bush and sung out grutfiy.
aud with a note of ill-temper in my voice,
Better get Off, mate, before you tumble
Off He would be Il nuisance no doubt :
and inwardly fumed as he sat there in
the moonbeams quite helpless, one hand
| clutching the rains, the other on the
| horses wither, his chin on his breast.
and broad-leafed hat well down over his
| eyes.
The dog, his head alone visible outside
/ the tent door, still growled in one long.
| hoarse snarl, with, at intervals, a sec
ond's break for fresh breath-a most I'M
earthly noise, ana one the like of which |
/ never reCOlleCted in all our long COmpan-