"What is it--what did you see?" was whispered by more than one in the midst of the intense excitement; and just then German, who had been collecting dry fuel ready to use for the smouldering embers in the morning, did what might have proved fatal to the emigrants.

He threw half an armful of dry brushwood on the fire, with the result that there was a loud crackling sound, and a burst of brilliant flame which lit up a large circle round, throwing up the figures of the little party clearly against the darkness, ready for the spears of the blacks who might be about to attack them.

"Ah!" shouted Uncle Jack, and seizing a blanket which had been spread over the gra.s.s, where the girls had been seated, he threw it right over the fire, and in an instant all was darkness.

But the light had spread out long enough for the object which had startled Hetty to be plainly seen. For there, twenty yards away in front of a great gum-tree, stood a tall black figure with its gleaming eyes fixed upon the group, and beneath those flaming eyes a set of white teeth glistened, as if savagely, in the glow made by the blaze.

"Why, it's Ashantee," cried Norman, excitedly; and he made a rush at the spot where he had seen the strange-looking figure, and came upon it where it stood motionless with one foot against the opposite leg, and the tall stick or spear planted firmly upon the ground.

_Click_, _click_! came from the captain's gun, as he ran forward shouting, "Quick, all of you, into the tent!"

"What are you doing here?" cried Norman, as he grasped the black's arm.

"Tickpence. Got tickpence," was the reply.

Norman burst into a roar of laughter, and dragged the black forward.

"Hi! father. I've taken a prisoner," he cried.--"But I say, uncle, that blanket's burning. What a smell!"

"No, no, don't take it off," said the captain; "let it burn now."

Uncle Munday stirred the burning blanket about with a stick, and it blazed up furiously, the whole glade being lit up again, and the trembling women tried hard to suppress the hysterical sobs which struggled for utterance in cries.

"Why, you ugly scoundrel!" cried the captain fiercely, as hanging back in a half-bashful manner the black allowed himself to be dragged right up to the light, "what do you mean? How dare you come here?"

"Tick pence," said the black. "You gib tickpence."

"Gib tickpence, you sable-looking unclothed rascal!" cried the captain, whose stern face relaxed. "Thank your stars that I didn't give you a charge of heavy shot."

"Tickpence. Look!"

"Why, it's like a conjuring trick," cried Norman, as the native joined them. "Look at him."

To produce a little silver coin out of one's pockets is an easy feat; but Ashantee brought out his sixpence apparently from nowhere, held it out between his black finger and thumb in the light for a minute, so that all could see, and then in an instant it had disappeared again, and he clapped his foot with quite a smack up against his leg again, and showed his teeth as he went on.

"White Mary 'gin to sing. Wee-eak!" he cried, with a perfect imitation of the cry the poor girl had uttered. "Pipum crow 'gin to sing morrow mornum."

He let his spear fall into the hollow of his arm, and placing both hands to his mouth, produced a peculiarly deep, sweet-toned whistle, which sounded as if somebody were incorrectly running up the notes of a chord.

"Why, I heard some one whistling like that this morning early," cried Tim.

"Pipum crow," said the black again, and he repeated the notes, but changed directly with another imitation, that of a peculiarly harsh braying laugh, which sounded weird and strange in the still night air.

"Most accomplished being!" said Uncle Munday, sarcastically.

"Laughum Jackamara.s.s," said the black; and he uttered the absurd cry again.

"Why, I heard that this morning!" cried Rifle. "It was you that made the row?"

"Laughum Jackamara.s.s," said the black importantly. "Sung in um bush.

You gib Shanter tickpence. You gib damper?"

"What does he mean?" said Uncle Jack. "Hang him, he gave us a damper."

"Hey? Damper?" cried the black, and he smacked his lips and began to rub the lower part of his chest in a satisfied way.

"He wants a piece of bread," said the captain.--"Here, aunt, cut him a lump and let's get rid of him. There is no cause for alarm. I suppose he followed us to beg, but I don't want any of his tribe."

"Oh, my dear Edward, no," cried Aunt Georgie. "I don't want to see any more of the dreadful black creatures.--Here, chimney-sweep, come here."

As she spoke, she opened the lid of a basket, and drew from its sheath a broad-bladed kitchen knife hung to a thin leather belt, which bore a clasped bag on the other side.

"Hi crikey!" shouted the black in alarm, his _repertoire_ of English words being apparently stored with choice selections taught him by the settlers. "Big white Mary going killancookaneatum."

"What does the creature mean?" said Aunt Georgie, who had not caught the black's last compound word.

"No, no," said Norman, laughing. "She's going to cut you some damper, Shanter."

"Ho! mind a knife--mind a knife," said the black; and he approached warily.

"He thought you were going to kill and cook him, aunt," said the boy, who was in high glee at the lady's disgust.

"I thought as much," cried Aunt Georgie; "then the wretch is a cannibal, or he would never have had such nasty ideas.--Ob, Edward, what were you thinking about to bring us into such a country!"

"Bio white Mary gib damper?" asked the black insinuatingly.

"Not a bit," said Aunt Georgie, making a menacing chop with the knife, which made the black leap back into a picturesque att.i.tude, with his rough spear poised as if he were about to hurl it.

"Quick, Edward!--John!" cried Aunt Georgie, sheltering her face with her arms. "Shoot the wretch; he's going to spear me."

"Nonsense! Cut him some bread and let him go. You threatened him first with the knife."

The whole party were roaring with laughter now at the puzzled faces of Aunt Georgina and the black, who now lowered his spear.

"Big white Mary want to kill Shanter?" he said to Rifle.

"No; what nonsense!" cried Aunt Georgie indignantly; "but I will not cut him a bit if he dares to call me big white Mary. Such impudence!"

"My dear aunt!" said the captain, wiping his eyes, "you are too absurd."

"And you laughing too?" she cried indignantly. "I came out into this heathen land out of pure affection for you all, thinking I might be useful, and help to protect the girls, and you let that wretch insult and threaten me. Big white Mary, indeed! I believe you'd be happy if you saw him thrust that horrid, great skewer through me, and I lay weltering in my gore."

"Stuff, auntie!" cried Uncle Jack.

"Why, he threatened me."

"Big white Mary got a lot o' hot damper. Gib Shanter bit."

"There he goes again!" cried the old lady.