The Dingo Boys | Page 6

friendliness."
"What do you mean?" said Man.
"Why, they wouldn't have been so full of wanting to do things for us if it had not been for the girls. They couldn't keep their eyes off them."
"Like their impudence," said Rifle, indignantly.
"Of course. Never thought of that," cried Man.
Just then the captain, a double-barrelled rifle in his hand, and well mounted, was giving a final look round, when the dirty-looking fellow lounged up with about a dozen more, and addressed him as duly set down at the beginning of the first chapter.
But the laughter was drowned by the sound of wheels and the trampling of hoofs; the wagons and carts moved off, each with a boy for driver, and Uncle Munday came last, mounted like his brother, to act the part of herdsman, an easy enough task, for the cattle and spare horses followed the wagons quietly enough after the fashion of gregarious beasts.
The little caravan had gone on like this for about a mile along a track which was growing fainter every hundred yards, when Man Bedford gave his whip a crack, and turned to look back toward the sea.
"We're off now, and no mistake," he said to himself. "What fun to see Uncle John driving cattle like that! why, we ought to have had Master Ashantee--Tam o' Shanter--to do that job. I wonder whether we shall see any fellows up the country as black as he."
His brother and cousin were musing in a similar way, and all ended by thinking that they were off on an adventure that ought to prove exciting, since it was right away west into an almost unknown land.
CHAPTER THREE.
"ARE YOU AFRAID?"
After the first few miles the tracks formed by cattle belonging to the settlers at Port Haven disappeared, and the boys, though still full of excited anticipations, gazed with something like awe at the far-spreading park-like land which grew more beautiful at every step. To their left lay the winding trough-like hollow along which the river ran toward the sea; away to their right the land rose and rose till it formed hills, and beyond them mountains, while higher mountains rose far away in front toward which they made their way.
For the first hour or two the task of driving was irksome, but once well started the little caravan went on easily enough, for it soon became evident that if one of the laden carts was driven steadily on in front, the horses and bullocks would follow so exactly that they would almost tread in their leader's feet-marks, and keep the wheels of cart and wain pretty well in the ruts made by those before. As to the cattle Uncle Munday drove, they all followed as a matter of course, till a pleasant glade was reached close by the river, where it was decided to stop for the mid-day halt. Here carts and wagons were drawn up in a row, the cattle taken out, and after making their way to a convenient drinking place, they settled down to graze on the rich grass with perfect content.
Meanwhile, to Norman's great disgust, he and Artemus were planted at a distance in front and rear to act as sentries.
"But there isn't anything to keep watch over," said the elder boy in remonstrance.
"How do you know, sir?" cried the captain, sharply. "Recollect this-- both of you--safety depends upon our keeping a good look-out. I do not think the blacks will molest us, but I have been a soldier, Man, and a soldier always behaves in peace as he would in war."
"More blacks in London," said Tim, as they moved off to take up their positions on a couple of eminences, each about a quarter of a mile away.
"Yes," replied Man, who was somewhat mollified on finding that he was to keep guard with a loaded gun over his shoulder. "I say, though, doesn't it seem queer that nobody lives out here, and that father can come and pick out quite a big estate, and then apply to the government and have it almost for nothing?"
"It does," said Tim; "but I should have liked to stop in camp to have dinner."
"Oh, they'll send us something, and--look, look--what are those?"
A flock of great white cockatoos flew nearly over their heads, shrieking at them hoarsely, and went on toward the trees beyond the camp.
"I say, doesn't it seem rum? They're cockatoos."
"Wild, and never saw a cage in their lives."
"And we never fired and brought them down, and all the time with guns on our shoulders. Look!"
"Father's waving to us to separate. I daresay they'll send us something to eat."
The boys separated and went off to their posts, while smoke began to rise in the little camp, the tin kettle was filled and suspended over the wood fire, and Aunt Georgie brought out of