in search of the castaways-第65章

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t　drink　for　several　days；　but　when　they　were　brought　to　the　river　again；　they　simply　quenched　their　thirst；　and　declined　a　more　intimate　acquaintance　with　the　water。　The　next　expedient　employed　was　to　carry　all　the　lambs　over；　hoping　the　mothers　would　be　drawn　after　them；　moved　by　their　cries。　But　the　lambs　might　bleat　as　pitifully　as　they　liked；　the　mothers　never　stirred。　　Sometimes　this　state　of　affairs　would　last　a　whole　month；　and　the　stock…keeper　would　be　driven　to　his　wits'　end　by　his　bleating；　bellowing；　neighing　army。　Then　all　of　a　sudden；　one　fine　day；　without　rhyme　or　reason；　a　detachment　would　take　it　into　their　heads　to　make　a　start　across；　and　the　only　difficulty　now　was　to　keep　the　whole　herd　from　rushing　helter…skelter　after　them。　　The　wildest　confusion　set　in　among　the　ranks；　and　numbers　of　the　animals　were　drowned　in　the　passage。　Such　was　the　narrative　of　Sam　Machell。　　During　its　recital；　a　considerable　part　of　the　troop　had　filed　past　in　good　order。　It　was　time　for　him　to　return　to　his　place　at　their　head；　that　he　might　be　able　to　choose　the　best　pasturage。　Taking　leave　of　Lord　Glenarvan；　he　sprang　on　a　capital　horse　of　the　native　breed；　that　one　of　his　men　held　waiting　for　him；　and　after　shaking　hands　cordially　with　everybody　all　round；　took　his　departure。　　A　few　minutes　later；　nothing　was　visible　of　the　stock…keeper　and　his　troop　but　a　cloud　of　dust。　The　wagon　resumed　its　course　in　the　opposite　direction；　and　did　not　stop　again　till　they　halted　for　the　night　at　the　foot　of　Mount　Talbot。　Paganel　made　the　judicious　observation　that　it　was　the　25th　of　December；　the　Christmas　Day　so　dear　to　English　hearts。　But　the　steward　had　not　forgotten　it；　and　an　appetizing　meal　was　soon　ready　under　the　tent；　for　which　he　deserved　and　received　warm　compliments　from　the　guests。　　Indeed；　M。　Olbinett　had　quite　excelled　himself　on　this　occasion。　　He　produced　from　his　stores　such　an　array　of　European　dishes　as　is　seldom　seen　in　the　Australian　desert。　Reindeer　hams；　slices　of　salt　beef；　smoked　salmon；　oat　cakes；　and　barley　meal　scones；　tea　_ad　libitum_；　and　whisky　in　abundance；　and　several　bottles　of　port；　composed　this　astonishing　meal。　The　little　party　might　have　thought　themselves　in　the　grand　dining…hall　of　Malcolm　Castle；　in　the　heart　of　the　Highlands　of　Scotland。　The　next　day；　at　11　A。　M。；　the　wagon　reached　the　banks　of　the　Wimerra　on　the　143d　meridian。　The　river；　half　a　mile　in　width；　wound　its　limpid　course　between　tall　rows　of　gum…trees　and　acacias。　　Magnificent　specimens　of　the　MYRTACEA；　among　others；　the　_metroside…ros　speciosa_；　fifteen　feet　high；　with　long　drooping　branches；　adorned　with　red　flowers。　　Thousands　of　birds；　the　lories；　and　greenfinches；　and　gold…winged　pigeons；　not　to　speak　of　the　noisy　paroquets；　flew　about　in　the　green　branches。　　Below；　on　the　bosom　of　the　water；　were　a　couple　of　shy　and　unapproachable　black　swans。　This　_rara　avis_　of　the　Australian　rivers　soon　disappeared　among　the　windings　of　the　Wimerra；　which　water　the　charming　landscape　in　the　most　capricious　manner。　The　wagon　stopped　on　a　grassy　bank；　the　long　fringes　of　which　dipped　in　the　rapid　current。　　There　was　neither　raft　nor　bridge；　but　cross　over　they　must。　　Ayrton　looked　about　for　a　practicable　ford。　About　a　quarter　of　a　mile　up　the　water　seemed　shallower；　and　it　was　here　they　determined　to　try　to　pass　over。　The　soundings　in　different　parts　showed　a　depth　of　three　feet　only；　so　that　the　wagon　might　safely　enough　venture。　〃I　suppose　there　is　no　other　way　of　fording　the　river？〃　said　Glenarvan　to　the　quartermaster。　〃No；　my　Lord；　but　the　passage　does　not　seem　dangerous。　We　shall　manage　it。〃　〃Shall　Lady　Glenarvan　and　Miss　Grant　get　out　of　the　wagon？〃　〃Not　at　all。　　My　bullocks　are　surefooted；　and　you　may　rely　on　me　for　keeping　them　straight。〃　〃Very　well；　Ayrton；　I　can　trust　you。〃　The　horsemen　surrounded　the　ponderous　vehicle；　and　all　stepped　boldly　into　the　current。　　Generally；　when　wagons　have　to　ford　rivers；　they　have　empty　casks　slung　all　round　them；　to　keep　them　floating　on　the　water；　but　they　had　no　such　swimming　belt　with　them　on　this　occasion；　and　they　could　only　depend　on　the　sagacity　of　the　animals　and　the　prudence　of　Ayrton；　who　directed　the　team。　The　Major　and　the　two　sailors　were　some　feet　in　advance。　Glenarvan　and　John　Mangles　went　at　the　sides　of　the　wagon；　ready　to　lend　any　assistance　the　fair　travelers　might　require；　and　Paganel　and　Robert　brought　up　the　rear。　All　went　well　till　they　reached　the　middle　of　the　Wimerra；　but　then　the　hollow　deepened；　and　the　water　rose　to　the　middle　of　the　wheels。　　The　bullocks　were　in　danger　of　losing　their　footing；　and　dragging　with　them　the　oscillating　vehicle。　Ayrton　devoted　himself　to　his　task　courageously。　He　jumped　into　the　water；　and　hanging　on　by　the　bullocks'　horns；　dragged　them　back　into　the　right　course。　Suddenly　the　wagon　made　a　jolt　that　it　was　impossible　to　prevent；　a　crack　was　heard；　and　the　vehicle　began　to　lean　over　in　a　most　precarious　manner。　　The　water　now　rose　to　the　ladies'　feet；　the　whole　concern　began　to　float；　though　John　Mangles　and　Lord　Glenarvan　hung　on　to　the　side。　　It　was　an　anxious　moment。　Fortunately　a　vigorous　effort　drove　the　wagon　toward　the　opposite　shore；　and　the　bank　began　to　slope　upward；　so　that　the　horses　and　bullocks　were　able　to　regain　their　footing；　and　soon　the　whole　party　found　themselves　on　the　other　side；　glad　enough；　though　wet　enough　too。　The　fore　part　of　the　wagon；　however；　was　broken　by　the　jolt；　and　Glenarvan's　horse　had　lost　a　shoe。　This　was　an　accident　that　needed　to　be　promptly　repaired。　They　looked　at　each　other　hardly　knowing　what　to　do；　till　Ayrton　proposed　he　should　go　to　Black　Point　Station；　twenty　miles　further　north；　and　bring　back　a　blacksmith　with　him。　〃Yes；　go；　my　good　fellow；〃　said　Glenarvan。　　〃How　long　will　it　take　you　to　get　there　and　back？〃　〃About　fifteen　hours；〃　replied　Ayrton；　〃but　not　longer。〃　〃Start　at　once；　then；　and　we　will　camp　here；　on　the　banks　of　the　Wimerra；　till　you　return。〃

CHAPTER　XI　CRIME　OR　CALAMITY

IT　was　not　without　apprehension　that　the　Major　saw　Ayrton　quit　the　Wimerra　camp　to　go　and　look　for　a　blacksmith　at　the　Black　Point　Station。　　But　he　did　not　breathe　a　word　of　his　private　misgivings；　and　contented　himself　with　watching　the　neighborhood　of　the　river；　nothing　disturbed　the　repose　of　those　tranquil　glades；　and　after　a　short　night　the　sun　reappeared　on　the　horizon。　As　to　Glenarvan；　his　only　fear　was　lest　Ayrton　should　return　alone。　If　they　fail　to　find　a　workman；　the　wagon　could　not　resume　the　journey。　This　might　end　in　a　delay　of　many　days；　and　Glenarvan；　impatient　to　succeed；　could　brook　no　delay；　in　his　eagerness　to　attain　his　object。　Ayrton　luckily　had　lost　neither　his　time　nor　his　trouble。　He　appeared　next　morning　at　daybreak；　accompanied　by　a　man　who　gave　himself　out　as　the　blacksmith　from　BlackPoint　Station。　　He　was　a　powerful　fellow；　and　tall；　but　his　features　were　of　a　low；　brutal　type；　which　did　not　prepossess　anyone　in　his　favor。　But　that　was　nothing；　provided　he　knew　his　business。　He　scarcely　spoke；　and　certainly　he　did　not　waste　his　breath　in　useless　words。　〃Is　he　a　good　workman？〃　said　John　Mangles　to　the　quartermaster。　〃I　know　no　more　about　him　than　you　do；　captain；〃　said　Ayrton。　〃But　we