The Springfield herald., 1899-02-10
CHAPTER XVII


Ranges, about which little then was
known, save that they were popular
ly supposed to swarm with blacks.
Tracks of wild cattle and horses be-
gan to be observed and small herds
OF kangaroos and focks OF emus fed
in dismay from the unexpected inva-
sion of their domain.
The country began to be more hilly
and better timbered. Large clumps Of
shea-oak and pine dotted about the
hills gave it that park-like appearance
SO familiar to the traveller In civilized
Victoria.
Now they crossed wide sandy
creek, lined with huge gum-trees,
where dead logs and powders spoke OF
the wintry floods, which had washed
them down from the highlands above
to their present resting places.
Here the white cockatoos screamed
their shrill welcome, and the iguanas
stole stealthily away from the track
of the explorers, and yawned their dis
appreciation at n safe distance.
WELL" thought Mr. Hall. "if this
escapade means nothing else, 1t means
one thing. II l get back safely over
those confounded sand-hills my name
isn't Charles Hall If don't take up
hundred square miles of this country
for cattle-run."
Towards midday the party came
across deserted native encamDment,
and near it was a well.
Here they rested and refreshed their
horses and themselves, having first
taken the precaution of laying in full
supply of the good drinking water for
their future needs.
After few hours rest another start
was made, but no sign of the fugitives
could be seen.
1t was drawing towards evening
when Jack Hall, who led the way. sud
denly cried
Halt"
Dismounting. he carefully examined
the ground Rain had fallen there re-
Gently. and in a 'clap-pan" which he
was about to cross he had come upon
the tracks of large dog. Uncertain
whether this was the trail of wild
dingo or of a more domesticated ami
NAL, he had at once decided upon fol-
lowing it up.
Skirting the edge of the moist clay,
he made his way carefully through a
mass of reedy grass and rushes, until
he came upon second open space, a
"clay-pan" like the first.
These "clay-pans" are bare shallow
patches of earth which hold the water
many weeks after the rain has fallen;
- Jr,y CT trtr NJ
Australia they are utilized by the set
tiers, who make tanks in their neigh
borhood, and run the water from them
by means of small drains into the arti-
fetal rain-catcher.
At the second clay-pan Jack Hall
paused and looked carefully around 1t,
and then with cry of delight he
shouted out to his companions
"All right! We are on to them
steady-don't move! Stay where you
are. Here are tracks Of mans boots
tracks not three days old!"
Resting quietly in their saddles as
they were bidden, the men sat silently
expectant, while Jack followed up the
trail.
Some twenty yards or SO from where
he first struck 1t, on the left of the
.clay-pan," he discovered in some
thick scrub the remains of a kangaroo
The feet, head and entrails lay upon
the ground. The other portions had
been taken away.
"Blacks?" inquired Mr.. Hall.
mo" replied Jack-"not blacks
look there!'-and, holding up the ami
mails skull, he showed upon it the
mark Of bullet-wound.
"They are armed then" said the SER
geant.
"Yes-they have weapons of some
sort, that's clear" replied Jack Hall;
and, splitting open the head with his
sheath-knife, he extracted bullet.
Revolver bullet" he remarked, hold
ing 1t up for his fathers inspection.
"How about the dog?" asked one OF
the troopers. There are tracks across
both these clay-pans of n dog"
"Baynes had a kangaroo-dog at the
station. remember well his buying
1t from one of the men, said Jack,
land his being chaffed about going out
hunting"
But, on the night of Bob Luke's
going up W tuc nut PooSu LhS
sergeant. "how was it that no cue
heard the dog bark?"
..Baynes took 1t down with him to
Sullivan's. remember seeing him fol-
low Baynes down the creek. You
ought to know, Sullivan? Did you see
dog with him when he came into the
bar for the mail-bags?"
YES" replied Sullivan: Il remem-
her quite we'll seeing the dog with him
that is, on the night he came down
for the mails / don't remember notic-
ing 1t with him before, though. But
dogs aren't such scarce animals about
the Ranges as to call for particular
notice"
We'll, / remember his having done
1t quite well, weeks before Bob Luke
disappeared" said Jack, "and, what's
more, he took the dog away with him
when he left the station"
After holding hurried council. 1t
was decided that young Jack should
continue the trail. and. having at last