La Junta tribune., 1899-02-11
CHAPTER XVII.

Ranges about which little then was
known. save that they were popular
iy 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 he'd
In dismay from the unexpected ipya-
son OF their domain.
The country began to be more hilly
rId better timbered Large clumps OF
slea-oak and pine dotted about the
Hills gave IT thaspark-like appearance
10 familiar TO the traveller in civilized
Victoria
Now they crossed vide sandy
creek. lined with huge gum-trees,
where dead logs and bowlders spoke OF
he wintry floods. which had washed
Them down from the highlands above
% their present resting places
Here the white cockatoos screamed
their shrill welcome. and the iguanas
stole stenlthily away from the track
OF the explorers. and yawned tfeIr dis
appreciation at safe distance.
Well" thought Mr. Hall. III this
escapade means nothing else. II means
one thing II get back safely over
those COMPOUNDED sand-hills my name
isn't Charles Hall II don't taEs mp
hundred square miles OF this country
for cattle-run."
Towards midday the party came
across deserted native encs.npment
and near It was wFll
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 fugitiyes
could be seen.
II was drawing towards evening
when Jack Hall. who led the way. sud
denly cried
Haiti
Dismounting. he carefully examined
the ground Rain had fallen there W.
Gently. and In "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 more domestioated ami
NAL. he had at once decided upon fol-
lowing II up.
Skirting the edge CT the meist clay,
he made his way carefully through
mass of reedy grass and rushes. until
he came upon n second open spare, n
"clay-pan" like the first.
These "clay-pans'' are bare shallow
patches of earth which hold the sater
many weeks after the rain has fallen.
and In some OF the dry districts of
Australia they are utilize! by tie set
tiers. who make tanks In their neigh
horhood. and run the water from them
by means OF small drains hito the arti-
fetal raln-catcher.
At the second clay-pau Jack Hall
paused and looked carefully around It.
and then with cry OF delight he
shouted out to his compansUns-
"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 olii"
Resting quietly In their saddles as
they were hidden, the men sat silently
expectant. while Jack followed up the
trail
Some twenty yards or so from where
he first struck It, on the left of the
"clay-pan," he discovered In some
thick scrub the remains of kangaroo.
The feet. head and entrails lay upon
the ground. The other portions had
been taken away.
"Biacks?" inquired Mr.. Hall
NO" replied Jack-"not blacks
look therel''--and, holding up the AMI
mails skull. he showed upon II 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 Hail.
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 dog"
"Baynes had a kangaroo-dog at the
station. I remember well his buying
II from one of the men," said Jack.
"and his being chaffed about going out
hunting"
But. on the night OF Bob Luke's
going up to the hut" interposed the
sergeant, how was II that no one
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 rcmem-
Der quite we'll seeing the dog with him
that is. on the night he came down
for the mails. don't remember notic-
Ing It with him before. though. But
dogs aren't such scarce animals about
the Ranges as to call for particular
notice.