The Butler weekly times., 1894-01-11
THE DEAD MANS CAMP .
Experience in the Bad Lands of
New South Wales.
A Strangely Asserted Csnpis-Ho-pI
talify Of the R0ad-Grim Burden
Tied on n Horse.

1t was, I think, either in the sum
.n..r of 1873 or 1874 that I was cros-
ing over from ST Georges Bride
to KaIwall l had been to rush at
Bingera, New South Wales, but as
t proved a rank duffsr got up by
the local storekeeper, I quickly gave
it best aud made back by the Bridge
iu hopes of getting droving Job
from Gulf down south
It was hot weather Queenland
ers will remember that summer or
It least certain days of it, when birds
fell dead off the trees and men were
s r.cken down by the dozen.
There's no drearier track in Aus
tralla than the one l speak of-all
pine scrub, too thick for dog to
bark in, and sand deep and heavy.
There va. nothing doing in the
Bridge, so I started of to the Bar
COO, via Berrie and Bringagee
1t was only the beginning of the
hot season, and / reckoned on find
ing water at a hole III, the Muliun-
gudgeree creek, known of aforetime,
and about twenty five miles from the
township. 1t was a lovely ride, with
nothing but walls of scrub on either
hand and glaring sand ahead
The horses, too, seemed to feel it
as they plowed along with bent
down heads, hardly troubling to
shake their fly Aappers aud dlsperse
the black masses clustering at each
eye. Ones veil, even, was but poor
protection, for they gathered in such
clouds as to actually obscure the
sight
However, jogging along, with a
pull at the water bag now and then
1 at length reached the creek.
Following it down 1 found the
hole, already pretty thick, and pres
emily made moro SO by the pacl
horse aud the dog before could get
up to stop them wallowlng.
The sun was setting-a big rec
ball over the tops of the scrub-a'
| pitched the tent, made the fire an(
slung the billy Then, a, there wa,
fair picking around the camp.
hobbled the horses long and belize
them.
After supper biscuits, sardine
and cheese. washed down by te
thrice skinned and strained-I fel
pretty comfortable, and lay OH IN,
blankets to enjoy good smoke. B,
this time the hot sun had set ant
the moon was rising big, yellow
aud hot looking too.
It was a lonely camp, and, accus
toned to solitude as | was, / felt il
Doubtless the feeling was accenuate'
by the presence all around of tn
thick scrub, and the knowledge tha
there was no settlement about.
| Presently little bird, known t
the bushmen as the ''shepherd
companion, settled on the ridgepol
aud piped at regular intervals in
small, quick monotons: Pretty littl
creature" and l felt very grateful t
him.
This, and the snoring of my dos
who had fallen asleep on the strengt
of tin of sardines, were the onI
sounds audible. | was fast gettin
: drowsy aud thinking of turning i,
when [ heard the noise of hooi
coming thump, thump down the dr
bed of the creek.
The dog awoke and barked loudI
aud in another minute man an
woman rode into the opening an
up to the fire,
They each carried a big swag
front of them. and at glance l sa
that their horses were not only We
bred, but had travelled far and fas
Water" exclaimed the man
gave him some, and he lifted h
companion off and handed her Il
mug.
Were travelin' mate. exclaime
he, as helped him to unsaddl
1--WE got bushed atween here au
the Bokhira. It's bit o dsmne
bad country