in search of the castaways-第74章

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the　AUSTRALASIA　informs　us　that　a　certain　Morrilli　has　just　been　restored　to　his　countrymen　after　sixteen　years　of　slavery。　His　story　is　exactly　similar　to　the　captain's；　for　it　was　at　the　very　time　of　his　shipwreck　in　the　PRUVIENNE；　in　1846；　that　he　was　made　prisoner　by　the　natives；　and　dragged　away　into　the　interior　of　the　continent。　I　therefore　think　you　have　reason　to　hope　still。〃　The　young　squatter's　words　caused　great　joy　to　his　auditors。　They　completely　corroborated　the　opinions　of　Paganel　and　Ayrton。　The　conversation　turned　on　the　convicts　after　the　ladies　had　left　the　table。　　The　squatters　had　heard　of　the　catastrophe　at　Camden　Bridge；　but　felt　no　uneasiness　about　the　escaped　gang。　It　was　not　a　station；　with　more　than　a　hundred　men　on　it；　that　they　would　dare　to　attack。　　Besides；　they　would　never　go　into　the　deserts　of　the　Murray；　where　they　could　find　no　booty；　nor　near　the　colonies　of　New　South　Wales；　where　the　roads　were　too　well　watched。　Ayrton　had　said　this　too。　Glenarvan　could　not　refuse　the　request　of　his　amiable　hosts；　to　spend　the　whole　day　at　the　station。　　It　was　twelve　hours'　delay；　but　also　twelve　hours'　rest；　and　both　horses　and　bullocks　would　be　the　better　for　the　comfortable　quarters　they　would　find　there。　This　was　accordingly　agreed　upon；　and　the　young　squatters　sketched　out　a　programme　of　the　day's　amusements；　which　was　adopted　eagerly。　At　noon；　seven　vigorous　hunters　were　before　the　door。　　An　elegant　brake　was　intended　for　the　ladies；　in　which　the　coachman　could　exhibit　his　skill　in　driving　four…in…hand。　The　cavalcade　set　off　preceded　by　huntsmen；　and　armed　with　first…rate　rifles；　followed　by　a　pack　of　pointers　barking　joyously　as　they　bounded　through　the　bushes。　　For　four　hours　the　hunting　party　wandered　through　the　paths　and　avenues　of　the　park；　which　was　as　large　as　a　small　German　state。　　The　Reuiss…Schleitz；　or　Saxe…Coburg　Gotha；　would　have　gone　inside　it　comfortably。　Few　people　were　to　be　met　in　it　certainly；　but　sheep　in　abundance。　As　for　game；　there　was　a　complete　preserve　awaiting　the　hunters。　The　noisy　reports　of　guns　were　soon　heard　on　all　sides。　　Little　Robert　did　wonders　in　company　with　Major　McNabbs。　　The　daring　boy；　in　spite　of　his　sister's　injunctions；　was　always　in　front；　and　the　first　to　fire。　But　John　Mangles　promised　to　watch　over　him；　and　Mary　felt　less　uneasy。　During　this　BATTUE　they　killed　certain　animals　peculiar　to　the　country；　the　very　names　of　which　were　unknown　to　Paganel；　among　others　the　〃wombat〃　and　the　〃bandicoot。〃　　The　wombat　is　an　herbivorous　animal；　which　burrows　in　the　ground　like　a　badger。　It　is　as　large　as　a　sheep；　and　the　flesh　is　excellent。　The　bandicoot　is　a　species　of　marsupial　animal　which　could　outwit　the　European　fox；　and　give　him　lessons　in　pillaging　poultry　yards。　It　was　a　repulsive…looking　animal；　a　foot　and　a　half　long；　but；　as　Paganel　chanced　to　kill　it；　of　course　he　thought　it　charming。　〃An　adorable　creature；〃　he　called　it。　But　the　most　interesting　event　of　the　day；　by　far；　was　the　kangaroo　hunt。　About　four　o'clock；　the　dogs　roused　a　troop　of　these　curious　marsupials。　The　little　ones　retreated　precipitately　into　the　maternal　pouch；　and　all　the　troop　decamped　in　file。　　Nothing　could　be　more　astonishing　than　the　enormous　bounds　of　the　kangaroo。　　The　hind　legs　of　the　animal　are　twice　as　long　as　the　front　ones；　and　unbend　like　a　spring。　At　the　head　of　the　flying　troop　was　a　male　five　feet　high；　a　magnificent　specimen　of　the　_macropus　giganteus_；　an　〃old　man；〃　as　the　bushmen　say。　For　four　or　five　miles　the　chase　was　vigorously　pursued。　The　kangaroos　showed　no　signs　of　weariness；　and　the　dogs；　who　had　reason　enough　to　fear　their　strong　paws　and　sharp　nails；　did　not　care　to　approach　them。　　But　at　last；　worn　out　with　the　race；　the　troop　stopped；　and　the　〃old　man〃　leaned　against　the　trunk　of　a　tree；　ready　to　defend　himself。　One　of　the　pointers；　carried　away　by　excitement；　went　up　to　him。　Next　minute　the　unfortunate　beast　leaped　into　the　air；　and　fell　down　again　completely　ripped　up。　The　whole　pack；　indeed；　would　have　had　little　chance　with　these　powerful　marsupia。　　They　had　to　dispatch　the　fellow　with　rifles。　Nothing　but　balls　could　bring　down　the　gigantic　animal。　Just　at　this　moment；　Robert　was　well　nigh　the　victim　of　his　own　imprudence。　　To　make　sure　of　his　aim；　he　had　approached　too　near　the　kangaroo；　and　the　animal　leaped　upon　him　immediately。　Robert　gave　a　loud　cry　and　fell。　　Mary　Grant　saw　it　all　from　the　brake；　and　in　an　agony　of　terror；　speechless　and　almost　unable　even　to　see；　stretched　out　her　arms　toward　her　little　brother。　No　one　dared　to　fire；　for　fear　of　wounding　the　child。　But　John　Mangles　opened　his　hunting　knife；　and　at　the　risk　of　being　ripped　up　himself；　sprang　at　the　animal；　and　plunged　it　into　his　heart。　The　beast　dropped　forward；　and　Robert　rose　unhurt。　　Next　minute　he　was　in　his　sister's　arms。　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　John；　thank　you！〃　she　said；　holding　out　her　hand　to　the　young　captain。　〃I　had　pledged　myself　for　his　safety；〃　was　all　John　said；　taking　her　trembling　fingers　into　his　own。　This　occurrence　ended　the　sport。　　The　band　of　marsupia　had　disappeared　after　the　death　of　their　leader。　The　hunting　party　returned　home；　bringing　their　game　with　them。　It　was　then　six　o'clock。　A　magnificent　dinner　was　ready。　Among　other　things；　there　was　one　dish　that　was　a　great　success。　It　was　kangaroo…tail　soup；　prepared　in　the　native　manner。　Next　morning　very　early；　they　took　leave　of　the　young　squatters；　with　hearty　thanks　and　a　positive　promise　from　them　of　a　visit　to　Malcolm　Castle　when　they　should　return　to　Europe。　Then　the　wagon　began　to　move　away；　round　the　foot　of　Mount　Hottam；　and　soon　the　hospitable　dwelling　disappeared　from　the　sight　of　the　travelers　like　some　brief　vision　which　had　come　and　gone。　For　five　miles　further；　the　horses　were　still　treading　the　station　lands。　It　was　not　till　nine　o'clock　that　they　had　passed　the　last　fence；　and　entered　the　almost　unknown　districts　of　the　province　of　Victoria。

CHAPTER　XV　SUSPICIOUS　OCCURRENCES

AN　immense　barrier　lay　across　the　route　to　the　southeast。　It　was　the　Australian　Alps；　a　vast　fortification；　the　fantastic　curtain　of　which　extended　1；500　miles；　and　pierced　the　clouds　at　the　height　of　4；000　feet。　The　cloudy　sky　only　allowed　the　heat　to　reach　the　ground　through　a　close　veil　of　mist。　　The　temperature　was　just　bearable；　but　the　road　was　toilsome　from　its　uneven　character。　The　extumescences　on　the　plain　became　more　and　more　marked。　Several　mounds　planted　with　green　young　gum　trees　appeared　here　and　there。　　Further　on　these　protuberances　rising　sharply；　formed　the　first　steps　of　the　great　Alps。　　From　this　time　their　course　was　a　continual　ascent；　as　was　soon　evident　in　the　strain　it　made　on　the　bullocks　to　drag　along　the　cumbrous　wagon。　Their　yoke　creaked；　they　breathed　heavily；　and　the　muscles　of　their　houghs　were　stretched　as　if　they　would　burst。　The　planks　of　the　vehicle　groaned　at　the　unexpected　jolts；　which　Ayrton　with　all　his　skill　could　not　prevent。　The　ladies　bore　their　share　of　discomfort　bravely。　John　Mangles　and　his　two　sailors　acted　as　scouts；　and　went　about　a　hundred　steps　in　advance。　　They　found　out　practical　paths；　or　passes；　indeed　they　might　be　called；　for　these　projections　of　the　ground