Adventures in Australia | Page 4

distance what
appeared to be the figure of a man standing against a tree. My brother
instantly rode forward and I following him saw a person who, to all
appearance, though in bush costume, was a gentleman, bound with his
hands behind his back, and secured firmly to a tree. He was deadly pale
and seemed so much exhausted that he did not even speak to us as we
approached.
To leap from our horses and release him without asking questions, was
the work of a minute. Having put him on his feet and waited until he
had somewhat recovered, we inquired how he had been placed in the
position in which we had found him.
"Some rascally bushrangers surprised, and `stuck me up,'" he answered.
"I had just dismounted, when three of them, who had been lying in
ambush, suddenly sprang on me, and before I could draw my revolver,
knocked me down.
"I fully believed that they intended to murder me, but they contented
themselves with carrying off my horse and arms and ammunition and

everything I had about me; having lashed me to this tree, and then
galloped away, leaving me to the chance of dying of thirst and
starvation, or being gnawed to death by the dingoes. Had you not come
up, such might have been my fate; and, believe me, I am deeply
grateful to you for rescuing me from it."
We had been aware of the possibility that we might meet with natives,
but had not thought of the likelihood of encountering bushrangers,
indeed we fancied that the country was no longer infested by such
characters.
We, of course, having assured the stranger that we were very glad to
have been of use to him, invited him to accompany us until he could
obtain another horse, and offered to let him ride one of ours by turns.
"I should like however to try and catch the fellows who robbed you;"
exclaimed Guy. "Is there any chance of overtaking them? Surely they
will encamp not far from this, and if we follow their tracks we might
come upon them as suddenly as they surprised you."
"Very little chance of that," observed the stranger. "They are desperate
fellows, and, knowing that every man's hand is against them, keep a
strict watch. They are aware that it is possible that I might be released,
and will probably ere this have got a good many miles away, I am,
however, grateful to you for your offer, though I am sorry to delay you.
I confess that, without a gun or flint and steel, I should be very sorry to
perform the rest of the journey on foot by myself. I am going to the
north-west, and I judge, from the direction you were riding, that our
roads lie the same way."
Guy told him that we were bound for Mr Strong's station, which we
understood was nearly a hundred miles off; and at the rate we could
travel with our baggage-horse, we did not expect to reach it for three or
four days.
Observing how ill the stranger looked I suggested that we should at
once look out a good spot for camping.

"I can help you, as I know the country," said the stranger. "A short
distance further on there is a water-hole in what during the rainy season
is sometimes a torrent; we can there obtain all the requisites for a
camp."
I now insisted that he should mount my horse, and we set out.
Pushing forward, we soon reached the spot he spoke of. Our new
companion, after examining the ground, told us that the bushrangers
had been there, and after watering their horses had ridden on, as he
supposed they would, and that we need have no apprehensions of an
attack from them.
We soon hobbled the horses in the usual fashion, fastening their legs
together with leathern straps in such a way as to make it impossible for
them to move beyond a slow walk, so that if they were inclined to stray
they could not go far.
Toby quickly lighted a fire, while the stranger by our advice rested near
it. Guy and I taking our guns went out in different directions in search
of game, which is usually to be found near a water-hole in Australia.
We soon came back, Guy with a brace of pigeons and I with three
parrots, so that we had ample food for all hands. As we had damper and
tea, we enjoyed a satisfactory meal which greatly revived our new
friend. While we were seated round the fire--Toby watching the
horses--the stranger inquired if we were related to Mr Strong. This led
us to give him a brief sketch of our history.
"May I ask your name?"