The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-01-20
CHAPTER XVII.


In the far distance loomed the Gray
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 flocks of emus fled
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 a 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 safe distance.
well" thought Mr.. Hall, eff this
escapade means nothing else, it means
one thing. If I get back safely over
those confounded sandhills my name
isn't Charles Hall if I don't take up
hundred square miles of this country
for a cattle-run."
Towards midday the party came
across a deserted native encampment,
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 "clap-pan" which he
was about to cross he had come upon
the tracks of a large dog. Uncertain
this was the trail of a 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
mass of reedy grass and rushes, until |
he came upon a second open space, a
"clay-pan" like the first.
Thsse "clay-pans" are bare shallow
patches of earth which hold the water
many weeks after the rain has fallen;
and in some of the dry districts of
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 it,
and then with a cry of delight he
shouted out to his companions
"All right! We are on to them
'teady-don't move! Stay where you
ire. Here are tracks of mans boots
tracks not three days old"
Resting quietly in their saddles as
hey were hidden, the men sat silently
while Jack followed up the
rail.
Some twenty yards or so from where
le first struck it, on the left of the
'clay-pan," he discovered in some
hick scrub the remains of a kangaroo.
The feet, head and entrails lay upon
he ground. The other portions had
)een taken away.
"Blacks?" inquired Mr.. Hall.
mo-" replied Jack-"not blacks
ook there!"-and, holding up the ami
nails skull, he showed upon it the
mark of a bullet-wound.
"They are armed them" said the SER
,eant.
"Yes-they have weapons of some
ort, that's clear" replied Jack Hall;
md, splitting open the head with his
he extracted a bullet.
Revolver bullet" he remarked, hold
ng it up for his fathers inspection.
How about the dog?" asked one of
he troopers. There are tracks across
10Th these clay-pans of dog"
"Baynes had a kangaroo-dog at the
tation. l remember we'll his buying
t from one of the men," said Jack,
and his being chaffed about going out
uniting"
But, on the night of Bob Lukes
,oing up to the hut" interposed the
how was it that no oRe
leard the dog bark?"
"Baynes took il down with him to
'ullivans. remember seeing him fol-
ow Baynes down the creek. You
,ught to know, Sullivan? Did you see
| dog with him when he came into the
,ar for the mail-bags?"
Yes" replied Sullivan; 81 remem-
,er quite well seeing the dog with him
that is, on the night he came down
or the mails. l don't remember MOTTO
ng il with him before, though. But
logs rTen't such scarce animals about
ha 20 70 |