<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. <br/><span class="cheaderfont">IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES.</span></SPAN></h2>
<p>In due course Will Brown arrived at Yanda, and
he was only too glad to have the opportunity of
meeting his chum, Edgar Foster, in the new country
to which he had come. As for Edgar, it was with
unbounded delight he welcomed Will Brown. They
had much to talk about, and it was a source of much
joy to Edgar that he could listen to one who had
so recently seen those dear to him in the home he
loved so well, on the banks of the Thames.</p>
<p>When Edgar made known to Ben Brody his intention
of leaving Yanda for a time in search of adventures,
the manager evinced no surprise.</p>
<p>‘I didn’t expect you would be here long,’ he said.
‘Young ‘uns like to roam, and I don’t blame you.<span class="pagenum">[111]</span>
I’ve had enough wandering about to last me a lifetime,
and I’m settled for good here, so long as they
will have me. I shall be sorry to lose you, and I
wish you had chosen to remain. You have picked
a good guide in Yacka. What that black chap
knows is beyond credit. He’s never said where he
came from, but if I’m a judge it is somewhere in the
region of the MacDonnell Ranges. There are some
powerful savage tribes over there, and I’d advise
you to steer clear of them, that is, if you get so far;
but you are a precious long way from there, you
bet.’</p>
<p>‘I do not know where we are going,’ said Edgar;
‘but Yacka has made great promises, and if he fulfils
them there will be something to talk about when we
return.’</p>
<p>Yacka, with some show of reluctance, agreed to
Will Brown accompanying them. He yielded when
Edgar said he would not go without Will, for the
black was determined Edgar should undertake the
journey.</p>
<p>The night before their departure they had a great
‘send off,’ all hands coming into the homestead for
the occasion.</p>
<p>The general opinion seemed to be that Edgar and
Will were about to follow Yacka purely for the sake
of adventure, and the good fellows thought all the
better of them for their pluck and spirit.</p>
<p>Ben Brody had given each of them a good horse,
and they had the pick of the best guns on the<span class="pagenum">[112]</span>
station. Will Henton gave them a revolver each,
expressing the hope that they would clear the country
of a few blacks.</p>
<p>‘I hope we shall not have to use them for any
such purpose,’ said Edgar; ‘but if it comes to a fight
we shall be all there.’</p>
<p>‘You are going on a fool’s errand,’ said Harry
Noke; ‘much better remain where you are. I would
not trust Yacka, or any other blackfellow. It’s like
enough he’ll lead you into danger out of pure devilment.’</p>
<p>‘You are wrong,’ said Jim Lee; ‘Yacka’s square.’</p>
<p>‘Jim’s right,’ said Brody. ‘You’re riled, Harry,
because you have not pluck enough to go with them.
As it is the last night, we must have Yacka in and
give him a drink.’</p>
<p>Ben Brody went into the veranda and gave a
peculiar whistle, which sounded shrilly on the still
night air. In a few minutes Yacka appeared.</p>
<p>‘That’s fetched him,’ said Will Henton; ‘Brody’s
a wonder at all sorts of signals. I believe he’s a
different call for every man on the place.’</p>
<p>‘Have a drink, Yacka,’ said Ben Brody. ‘What’s
it to be, rum or beer?’</p>
<p>Yacka smacked his lips, and said, ‘Beer.’</p>
<p>‘That’s better,’ said Jim Lee; ‘rum’s a curse.’</p>
<p>Yacka drank the beer with evident relish.</p>
<p>‘Like a square meal?’ said Brody.</p>
<p>The black nodded, and Brody helped him plentifully
to the remains of the feast.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[113]</span></p>
<p>‘Where are you going to take these youngsters?’
said Ben Brody.</p>
<p>‘Long way,’ replied Yacka. ‘Bring them safe
back.’</p>
<p>‘I hope so,’ said Brody. ‘Going in search of the
lost tribes?’</p>
<p>Yacka grinned, showing his gleaming teeth.</p>
<p>‘All tribes lost since the white men came,’ he
replied.</p>
<p>‘Guess you’re about right there,’ said Brody.
‘Black and white cannot live side by side; one of
them’s bound to go, and it’s the black. Now, if
they were all like you, Yacka, we could get on well
together. Bless me if I don’t believe you are half a
white man!’</p>
<p>A peculiar look came into Yacka’s eyes.</p>
<p>‘Think so?’ he said. ‘Black skin, white man’s
heart.’</p>
<p>‘Bravo!’ shouted Brody. ‘You shall have another
glass for that. Fill up, lads! Here’s to our mates,
and a safe journey along with Yacka!’</p>
<p>All hands were becoming hilarious, and began to
sing ‘For they are jolly good fellows.’</p>
<p>When the noise subsided, Brody said:</p>
<p>Do you want a horse, Yacka?’</p>
<p>The black shook his head, and slapped his legs.</p>
<p>‘Yes, I know,’ said Brody; ‘your legs will carry
you quite as far as any of our station nags. You’ll
accept a gun, eh?’</p>
<p>The black sprang to his feet, and said:</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[114]</span></p>
<p>‘A gun for my own! Very good, Master Brody;
I like a gun.’</p>
<p>‘Then you shall have one,’ said Ben. ‘I know
you can shoot.’</p>
<p>Yacka went through a performance of shooting an
imaginary object in such a realistic manner that
everybody laughed.</p>
<p>It was a merry night, and all slept soundly. In
the morning Edgar and Will made a start from
Yanda with Yacka, who was on foot, and the black
looked the picture of a trained athlete.</p>
<p>Yacka had discarded his ordinary loin-cloth, and
wore instead a peculiar arrangement in which he
could stow away a variety of articles. He declined
to wear any other clothing, and his body shone in
the sunlight, and the muscles stood out on his arms,
chest, and lower limbs. His curly hair was sufficient
protection to his head from the burning sun, and it
was in much better condition than the shaggy locks
of the blacks who were looking on. Yacka had
evidently told the blacks he was leaving Yanda, and
they looked as disconsolate as their expressionless
faces would permit.</p>
<p>As for Edgar and Will Brown, they were in
high spirits, and, mounted on two very fair horses,
thoroughly equipped for a journey, they looked a
fine pair of young fellows.</p>
<p>‘You’ll strike a station about sundown, I reckon,’
said Ben Brody. ‘They’ll be glad to see you if you
say where you hail from, although it makes very<span class="pagenum">[115]</span>
little difference about that round here. Take care
of yourselves, my lads, and I hope Yacka will bring
you back to Yanda soon.’</p>
<p>After hearty handshakes all round, the trio set
off amidst cheers and the loud, peculiar cries of the
blacks. Ben Brody watched them for a long time,
and waved his hat in response to the salutes of
Edgar and Will.</p>
<p>‘Lads of mettle, both of ’em,’ said Brody. ‘Such
a wild-goose chase as they are on would just have
suited me in my young days. Good luck go with
you, my lads! You’ll always have a warm corner in
Ben Brody’s heart.’</p>
<p>As the homestead they had left behind became
fainter and fainter in the distance, Edgar and Will
turned round in their saddles and waved a parting
salute to Ben Brody, whose figure was just discernible
on the veranda.</p>
<p>As the morning wore on, the heat became intense,
and in the afternoon it was so hot they decided to
camp under the shade of some trees. Towards evening
they went on again, and that night slept in the
open, with their saddles for pillows and the bare
ground for a bed. Had it not been for the constant
singing and stinging of the mosquitoes, they would
have had a pleasant night, as the air was soft and
warm, and they needed no covering.</p>
<p>Yacka stretched himself out near them, and slept
like a dog—half awake and ready to spring to his feet
at the slightest sound. At daybreak they made a<span class="pagenum">[116]</span>
slight meal, and then proceeded on their journey.
Yacka went ahead, and at such a pace that the horses
often had to break into a canter to keep up with him.
They arrived at Bardo Station that night, and met
with a hospitable reception.</p>
<p>Charles Brunt, the manager, was rather amused at
the idea of a couple of lads going in search of adventure,
with a blackfellow as guide and companion.
He knew Yacka, and was of the same opinion as Ben
Brody, that the black had white blood in his veins.</p>
<p>‘This is a hospitable land, anyhow,’ said Edgar,
when they had been away from Yanda for about a
fortnight, and had managed, through Yacka’s guidance,
to fall in with comfortable quarters almost
every night.</p>
<p>As they went on, however, Edgar saw they were
gradually getting into a wilder country, and farther
away from the beaten track. Yacka said, when
questioned, he was taking a short cut, and that he
knew the way.</p>
<p>‘Where are you steering for?’ asked Edgar.</p>
<p>‘South Australian border,’ said Yacka. ‘Then we
work up to the MacDonnell Ranges, past Alice
Springs. You’ll see wild country then, when we get
through the ranges.’</p>
<p>‘How long will it take us to reach the ranges?’
asked Will.</p>
<p>‘Long time yet,’ said Yacka. ‘Many miles’ tramp
a day. Horses will knock up, but not Yacka, then
you have to walk it.’</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[117]</span></p>
<p>‘A pleasant prospect,’ said Edgar. ‘We may have
to tramp hundreds of miles. However, we are in for
it, and we may as well see all Yacka has to show
us. I shall be sorely cut up if he has deceived
us.’</p>
<p>‘Do you think he would do so?’ asked Will.</p>
<p>‘Not intentionally,’ replied Edgar; ‘but what may
appear wonderful to him may be commonplace to
us.’</p>
<p>Having got out of the beaten track, they had to
rely upon their guns for food. They had an ample
supply of ammunition, preferring to load up their
horses in this way to carrying provisions. Edgar was
a good shot, and seldom missed his mark.</p>
<p>‘We must be careful and not miss,’ he said, ‘for
every shot is of importance.’</p>
<p>One afternoon they had an exciting chase after
kangaroos, and Edgar and Will thought it excellent
sport. Yacka followed the hunt, and when he suddenly
vanished, Edgar in a few minutes saw him
ahead, waiting for the kangaroos to pass.</p>
<p>‘By Jove! how Yacka can run!’ said Edgar.
‘Look where he is now. He’ll get a kangaroo sure
enough, without firing a shot.’</p>
<p>They reined in their horses, and watched him.
When the kangaroos found the chase was not so hot,
they slackened their speed, and leapt along at a
steadier pace. Yacka was concealed behind a huge
tree, and as a large kangaroo went past he slipped
quickly round and dealt it a terrific blow with a<span class="pagenum">[118]</span>
heavy knobstick he carried in his hand. The kangaroo
fell down stunned, and with a whoop Edgar
and Will rode forward, in case any of the herd should
make an attack on Yacka. When they pulled up,
they found Yacka had cut the animal’s throat, and
was contemplating it with satisfaction.</p>
<p>Will, having dismounted, picked up the stick Yacka
had struck the kangaroo with. It was smooth, hard
wood, with a notched handle, and gradually swelling
larger until, at the end, there was a sharp, smooth
knob, which was so heavy it might have been weighted
with iron.</p>
<p>‘A formidable weapon,’ he said, holding it out to
Edgar.</p>
<p>‘That is a nulla-nulla,’ said Yacka. ‘Crack a man’s
skull easily.’</p>
<p>‘What is it weighted with?’ asked Edgar.</p>
<p>‘Nothing,’ said Yacka. ‘Very hard, heavy wood,
all smoothed down with sharp stone and rubbed with
coarse sand. Never break it. Hard as iron.’</p>
<p>‘Are they used in your tribal wars?’ asked
Will.</p>
<p>Yacka nodded and said:</p>
<p>‘Terrible blows from them. Split a man’s head
right open. See!’ He took the weapon from Edgar,
and with one blow shattered the dead kangaroo’s
skull. It split in two, and Yacka scooped out the
brains. He then cut off the tail, and said, ‘Have
good soup to-night. This fellow make better soup
than ox-tail.’</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[119]</span></p>
<p>They shook their heads sceptically; the tail did
not look very inviting then.</p>
<p>Yacka selected a spot to camp in near a small
spring of water. He then proceeded to make a fire,
collecting sundry dry pieces of wood and a kind of
moss for the purpose. He filled the large ‘billy’ can
he carried during the day slung across his back with
sundry other articles, and, having skinned the kangaroo’s
tail, cut it up into small pieces, and put it in
the can.</p>
<p>How he managed to make it so tasty Edgar could
not imagine, but it was delicious, and they voted
Yacka was right when he said it was better than ox-tail.</p>
<p>‘Yacka’s a capital cook,’ said Will, ‘and the beauty
of him is that he wants so little to cook with.’</p>
<p>‘He’d rather surprise some of the modern cooks,’
said Edgar. ‘They appear to contrive to do away
with the genuine flavour of everything they cook, and
Yacka makes a point of retaining that flavour.’</p>
<p>How they did enjoy this wild life! and, so far,
their powers of endurance had not been severely
tested.</p>
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