Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-16

&c BULL" MCGUIRE was not
what might be called q sensitive
* looking man. In fact he could
kteI better be described as tough Six
feet tall and broad in proportion,
his sun-tanned face was adorned with mass
Of fiery red whiskers which gave him most
truculent appearance. And when any one or
anything crossed him he did not belle his
looks. Still, at most times he was amiable
enough, and we were glad to drop ac:oss him
when, one scorching hot day, We sighted his
camels about hundred miles northeast Of
Kurnalpi Western Australia.
We were out prospecting, my eldest brother
and T. and had suffered run Of bad luck.
was little more than Is. and it was my first
tip out. The place we had intended to strike
for was known as the Pinnacles. We had been
very hopeful, especially myself, but we had
struck trouble almost from the start. First OF
all. we lost our compass The loss of course,
was not vital, since we could stin steer by the
Min, but, travelling as we were in a northeast
erly direction, it put us OF the proper track 10
such an extent that We missed the Pinnacles
and went travelling on miles beyond.
It was in this farther desert that our horses
persisted, dying, poor beasts, from combina-
ton Of starvation and thirst. We had no water
10 give them, for not . wen or q gnamna-hole
could we find, while in such country there
was absolutely nothing for Q horse to eat.
NY brother mercifully finished them with .
bullet apiece
We then packed what we could Of their loads
onto our one camel, leaving the rest behind.
We started OF again, heading this time back
towards Coolgardie and hoping TO come across
water. However, we found none and were
getting more than little anxious about our
rapidly diminishing store when we unexpect-
edly fen in with Bun Mcclure. His greeting
was hearty.
sYou two young fellows look like the Babes
IN the Wood" he remarked. "f you like, you
can come along with me. get pretty tired Of
talking to myself at night and 1t amt much
good trying TO start yarn with Jimmy or
Joe"
JIMMY and Joe. I may mention. were Me-
Cures two black fellows. It was the
presence of these two natives which more than
anything else, induced US to accept Bulls
offer. As already mentioned, we had been
getting very worried about the possibility Of
finding enough water 70 keep US going, but in
the company OF the blacks, trained to detect
every trifiing indication Of . track leading TO q
hidden well, we felt safer.
A couple Of days later saw us camped close
70 McGuire's patch Of pay dirt, We got TO
work. pegging out our claims and sinking q
hole In the 'ikeliest spot. In the meantime.
two blacks secuted round for water. It was
im connection with this hunt for water that our
peculiar experience began The blacks came
I'm and reported that they had found q native
yell about i've miles away. A few days later,
however, Bull discovered q well In q nearby
gully. For some reason Jimmy and Joe had
tailed to report the presence Of water 90 close
at hand, although they promptly admitted that
they knew Of its existence. We very soon trans
ported our few BELONGINGS TO the gully where
Bun had located the well.
~Of course, these beggars never missed It."
ne told Us. They just had some reason In
their heads for not wanting us to come here"
II that was the case, however. neither Jimmy
nor Joe would admit IL; In answer to our ques-
6ons they merely grtnned. preserving that fatsa-
Gus silence in which native invariably takes
gefuge when he knows something he doesn't
want to tell. For about three weeks we camped
there. Then, one evening, we discovered the
reason why our natives had wished to keep US
away from the place. Two very ancient black
3enows came stalking out Of the bush, spear IN
hand. and stood for q while surveying US. .
Bush fellows" explained Bull, after glance
Ut them. Real wild savages."
The two old black fellows stared as Us. and
We In turn stared hack
what you want?" Bull called out at length
when the silence became oppressive.
The blacks, of course. could not understand
his question, but Il broke the strain, and in
SANITY they began to pour out wild volume
they spoke. their rage finally becoming 50 over
covering that they almost danced. meanwhile
shaking their war spears at Us.
-Ask them what they want" Bull ordered,
turning to our own blacks. But both Jimmy
end Joe already knew the nature Of the trouble
"Dey say we campin' on DER bora" (sacred
groundD, land dey want Us TO so way" Jimmy
explained.
Bull grunted "And you knew this was a
bora ground all along. and that's why you didn't
want US TO camp here?" he added
Jimmy grinned. you right did"
well, bora ground or no bora ground we're
here-and here we're going 10 stop" said Bull
eonclusively so you can Just tel them old
fellows 10 20 away
yifnrnv