The Gold Hunters' Adventures; Or, Life in Australia

s consists of a dirty piece of cloth, or skin of kangaroo, tied about their waists, leaving the upper and lower parts of their bodies na

perspiration ceases to flow, the patient dies, then the natives in Australia should, according to that reasoning, have all been under ground years ago; for I am

them more. Their limbs bear about as great a proportion to their bodies as the stem of a pipe to the bowl; and to see them walking, is apt to suggest an idea that their legs were never intended to carry their frames. The latter part of their bodies presents a protuberance,

that we were tired and nearly exhausted with travel. Telling us to go to the fire and see how we liked the looks of the natives, we followed his advice, and walked towards them. There were ten or twelve of them huddled

disgust. Their minds appeared to be too much occupied to pay the least attention to outward objects, and as they poked their burning food among the ashe

w, this is the worst," cried Fred,

ornia would be ashamed to

uld not in the dark see any evidence of a stream. "Hullo," he cried; "what is the matter? Why don't you sit down and join the gentlem

her attention to the address; but S

m; but the native gave no attention except to his burning meat, which he turne

d Smith. "Stand by and watch the fun,"

and strike upon the native's naked shoulder. The fellow uttered a howl as though sea

h upon the coals, while those who still kept their places watched his motions with th

the circle; but when he found that Smith showed no indication of yielding his place, he grunted his displeasure, got one of his companions to rake from the

er toddled off; but the native paid no attention

evils before-haven't you?"

nerally manage to reach them in the course of the night. Besides, I make them useful in case my catt

chorus, apparently roused to animati

than the paws of an orang-outang, and grea

hey want?"

l as I do;" and Smith proceeded to fill his pipe, and then coolly replaced the tobacco in his p

quick to trace disappointment

my cattle, I shall have to give them more, for they would not re

eedful to the nearest native, who grunted, but whether as an expres

y of their broiling meat. But the native upon whom the present was bestowed showed no signs of making a dividend. He carefully conc

you get,' with them," said Smith, as

ching our forms under the shelter of the cart. Our stock of coffee was produced, the pork and bread unpacked, and while the convict busied

e light of the blazing fire, we prepared to enjoy ours

ee?" asked Smith, as I rai

h threatened to extend to the others. As the materials of which it was built were light and dry, but few min

ee, and watching the progress of the fire; and even the na

body in the hut,"

ered Smith. "If these dirty scamps can't assist a c

the flames; and our steps were quickened by

nings, scattering the leaves that formed the roof, and, regardless of the heat, contin

sue from the hut-not aloud, prolonged sound, such as a man would utt

nvict, who was still eating his suppe

and rushing quickly in the direction of the

ons for defence or attack. We seized those, and charging on the fire as though it was an enemy, we poked away branch after branch, unt

flames, instead of carrying a child in his arms, he was dragging the inanimate form

e ground, and let his body drop when beyond reach of the fire, he utter

he worst," cried Smith, wiping his brow with his hand,

at you have saved his life," cried Fred, almost in

ed than he will be when he awakes. He is going through with a fit of digestion now, and is as

foot, and then went to finish his supper,

pression was intended for satisfaction or regret, I was too little acquainted with the customs of the tribe to tell. They took no further notice of either their torpid companion or our party, until suddenly an i

supper to call attention to the fact. "Look, and neve

y merely glanced in the direction indicated, and, after a brief sh

nced, I suppos

here the tobacco was put, and is determined

le for a moment, reappeared at the fire, and something like a grin of triumph lighted up his gre

rest; but before we went, we were careful enough to pack up all of our cooking apparatus, and also to place our rifles cl

santer things to contemplate, than the half-naked bodies of ten natives, who were lying upon the ground, circling the cold ashes, where the night before a fi

th, as we sat upright and rubbe

ur muscles, and relieve us of a portion of the soreness which we felt, we took his advice, and upon returning from

rayed to a considerable distance, and the convict determined not to run after them, wh

tive a nudge with his foot; but the fellow

tents over the head and shoulders of the sleeping native, who, not being accustomed to s

who appeared to have forgotten that not a w

that at last gave the barbarian to know what was wanted, and the

his torpid companions; and although blood flowed where the sharp-pointed wood touched, yet they bestirr

d on for a moment, and then off started three of the natives to find the cattle of the convict, which were, perh

le amusement," cried Smith, who appeared to take the s

cried. "What

pear," the convict said, in the true style of Englishmen, who gener

expert?"

mirable imitation of throwing the spear was not forgotten, although, to tell the truth,

lace for parties of emigrants, like ourselves, bound to the mines, and by that means had nearly destroyed the vitality of the nob

ing. His eyes, which were dull a few minutes before, now lighted up, and imparted an animation to his face that I had not believed possible; there was an act

ack and forth, as though testing the strength of his little, skinny arm, until he had apparently got the right balance, when, with a quick motion, he hurled it at t

ould not follow its flight; but we could hear the dull sound that it produce

eath; but the natives manifested no applause

hardly awake. Come, old boy," turning to the older native, "

spear a trifle heavier than the one before used, retreated nearly ten paces farther fr

, but before it had ceased, the native had snatched up another spear and hurled it after the first. The second struck

," cried the convict, as he saw that the natives we

shooting. Determined to let the natives witness a specimen of our skill, we pinned a piece of white rag, not larger than the palm of my hand, upon

ing upon the ground, and looking first at the target and then at ourselves with an expr

that they dragged from the huts half a dozen women, a

ulated the distance, and with such accuracy that the bullet cut the end o

, waving his hat, after he had pointed

k his station. He was not so long sighting as myself, but his bullet s

aw by his actions that we had risen in his estimation, while the natives, still squa

ords of congratulation. "We must get over thirty

willing,

ess and bliste

arly gone, and the

rehand it's no mean dish. Ge-long, ye brutes," and with hard cracks of the whip the cart rumbled on, and we left the natives sti