"You have saved our lives."

There was a low murmur here from the rescuers.

"But how--how was it?" asked the captain; "how did you know?"

"Don't you see, father?" cried Rifle, indignantly; "it was poor old Shanter."

"What? You went for help, Tam?"

"Yohi," said the black simply. "Baal budgery stop along. All go bong."

"My good brave fellow," cried the captain, seizing the black's hand in a true English grip.

"Wow! wow! yow!" yelled Shanter, struggling to get free, and then blowing his fingers. "Marmi hurt mine. Burn hands, burn all down front, put out fire."

"Tam, I shall never forgive myself," cried the captain.

"Forgib mine," cried the black eagerly; "forgib plenty soff damper-- forgib mine horse fellow to ride?"

"Yes, yes, anything," cried the captain, "and never doubt you again."

"Yohi," cried Shanter. "Where big white Mary? Mine want damper."

He hurried off to where the ladies were seated, trying to recover their calmness after the terrible shock to which they had been exposed, while the captain turned to the leaders of the rescue party.

"And the black came to you for help?"

"Yes," said Dr Freeston. "He came galloping up with a drove of horses, I don't know how many days ago, for it has been like an excited dream ever since. I ran to Henley, and we got ten stout fellows together, and rode on as fast as we could, but I'm afraid that we have punished your horses terribly as well as our own."

"Oh, never mind the horses," cried Henley, "they'll come round. But we came in time, and that's enough for us."

The captain could not speak for a few moments. Then he was himself again, and after all were satisfied that there was not the slightest danger of the fire breaking out again, proper precautions were taken to secure the horses, watch was set, and the rescue party had quite a little banquet in the kitchen, one which Rifle declared to be a supper at breakfast time, for morning was upon them before some of the most weary had lain down to sleep, and slept in peace.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

"CAN'T YOU SEE?"

For the blacks made no further sign, and when, headed by the captain, the little party boldly took up the trail that morning, it was to find that the enemy had fled in haste, and not until it was felt to be utterly useless to follow farther was the pursuit given up. But that attempt to hunt them down was not without result. Shanter was with the party, riding in high delight with the three boys, and every now and then, in his eager scouting on his "horse fellow"--as he called the rough colt he rode--he was able to show how terribly the myall blacks had been punished, and not to dwell upon horrors brought by the wretched savages upon themselves, the punishment they had received was terrible.

To Shanter was due the discovery of the cattle, somewhat diminished in numbers, but safe, where they had been driven into the bush; and so excited was the black all through that he almost forgot the terrible burns he had received on hands, arms, and chest.

The only sign of discontent he displayed was when it was decided to turn back, the captain having halted at the end of the second day, the provisions growing scarce. It was after due consultation and the decision that the blacks were certainly not likely to rally for some time to come, and the captain had said that he did not want to slaughter the poor wretches, only keep them away.

Then the horses' heads were turned, and Shanter rode up to the boys in a great state of excitement.

"Baal go back," he cried; "plenty come along. Mumkull black fellow."

"No, no," said Norman. "Black fellow gone along. Come back and take care of white Marys."

"Yohi," said Shanter, thoughtfully, and he looked at his burned arms.

"Big white Mary gib mine soff rag an' goosum greasum make well. Soff damper. Come along."

It was not without some feeling of dread that the party returned toward the station, lest another party of blacks should have visited the place in their absence; and when they reached the open place in the scrub where they had left the cattle grazing, the captain reluctantly said that another expedition must be made to bring them in. But unasked, Shanter in his quality of mounted herdsman, announced that he was going to ''top along' and bring the cattle home, so he was left, and the party rode on, the boys leaving Shanter unwillingly.

"Black fellows come again," said Rifle at parting.

Shanter grinned.

"No come no more. Plenty too much frighten."

All was well when the party rode over Wallaby Range and up to Dingo Station, and saving the blackened boards and shingles, and the marks of spears, it was surprising how very little the worse the place looked.

For Uncle Jack, Sam German, Mr Henley, and the doctor--both the latter having elected to remain behind--had worked hard to restore damaged portions; and once more the place looked wonderfully beautiful and peaceful in the evening light.

Three days later, after being most hospitably entertained, ten of the rescue party took their leave to go back to Port Haven; the other two had hinted that they should like to stay a few days longer, to have a thorough rest; and the captain had warmly begged that they would, while Aunt Georgie laughed to herself and said in her grim way, "I smell a rat."

For the two who stayed were Mr Henley the sugar-planter, and Dr Freeston.

The captain was in the highest of spirits soon after, for Shanter, looking exceedingly important on his rough colt with his spear across his knees, rode slowly up, driving the whole of the sheep, pigs, and cattle, which made for their old quarters as quietly as if they had never been away, even another speared cow being among them, very little the worse for her wound in spite of the flies.

"Hah!" cried the captain, rubbing his hands as the party all sat at the evening meal; "and now, please Heaven, we can begin again and forget the past."

A dead silence fell, and as the captain looked round he saw that the eyes of wife, daughter, and niece were fixed upon him sadly, and that Aunt Georgie's countenance was very grim.

"Shall I speak, Henley?" said the doctor.

"If you please," said that gentleman, with a glance at Ida.

"Then I will.--Captain Bedford," said the doctor, "you will forgive me, sir, I know; but I must beg of you for the sake of the ladies to give up this out-of-the-way place, and come close, up to the settlement. We feel that we cannot leave you out here unprotected. Think of what would have happened if we had not arrived in the nick of time."

There was a terrible silence, and Sam German, who was having his meal in the kitchen with Shanter, came to the door, every word having been audible.

At last the captain spoke in a low hoa.r.s.e voice.

"Gentlemen," he said, "I have thought of it all, till drawn both ways as I am, my brain seems almost on fire. I love my people as an Englishman should, and all my work has been for their sake. I would do anything to save them pain, but I ask you how can I give up this lovely home I have won from the wilderness--a place where Heaven smiles on a man's labour, and I can see, with plenty of hard work, a happy contented life and prosperity for us all. I will not appeal to my dear wife and the girls, because I know they will say, 'Do what you think best,' but I do appeal to you, aunt. It is not fair to expose you to such risks. Shall I give up? Shall I, after putting my hand to the plough, want faith and go back?"

"I _do_ wish you wouldn't ask me such things, Ned, my boy," cried Aunt Georgie, taking out her handkerchief to wipe her gla.s.ses. "Give up, now we are all so settled and comfortable and happy, all for the sake of a pack of savages? I'll learn how to shoot first. I say, no! boy, no!"

"Brother Jack," continued the captain, "I have dragged you from your club fireside, from your London friends, and made you little better than a labourer here, tell me what shall I do?"

"Your duty, Ned," said Uncle Jack, warmly. "The nip has been terrible, but I was never better nor happier in my life.--Don't look at me reproachfully, Marian, dear; don't turn away, girls.--Ned, lad, when I took the other handle of the plough, I said I wouldn't look back, and I will not. If you ask me, I say fight it out as an Englishman should, and as Englishmen have for hundreds of years."

"Hurrah!" shouted the three boys together. "Three cheers for Uncle Jack!"

"Then I need not ask you, boys?"

"No, father," said Norman. "You've taught us how to fight, and we shall be better able to meet the n.i.g.g.e.rs if they come again."