Page 90 - A Little Bush Maid

"T crept to the log, drew out both guns, and then retired to the bushes-- a
little uncertain, to tell the truth, what to do, for T hadn’t any particular wish

to murder my dusky callers; and at the same time, had to remember that
they were two to one, and would be unhampered by any feeling of chivalry,

if we did come to blows. T made up my mind to try to scare them--and
suddenly T raised the most horrible, terrifying, unearthly yell T could think
of, and at the same time fired both barrels of one gun quickly in the air!

"The effect was instantaneous. There was one howl of horror, and the black

fellows darted out of the tent! They almost cannoned into me--and you
know T must look a rum chap in these furry clothes and cap, with my
grandfatherly white beard! At all events, they seemed to think me so, for at

sight of me they both yelled in terror, and bolted away as fast as their legs
could carry them. T cheered the parting guests by howling still more

heartily, and firing my two remaining barrels over their heads as they ran.
They went as swiftly as a motor-car disappears from view-- T believe they
reckoned they’d seen the bunyip. T haven’t seen a trace of them since.

"They’d had a fine time inside the tent. Everything T possessed had been

investigated, and one or two books badly torn--the wretches!" said the
Hermit ruefully. "My clothes (T’ve a few garments beside these beauties,
Miss Norah) had been pulled about, my few papers scattered wildly, and

even my bunk stripped of blankets, which lay rolled up ready to be carried
away. There wasn’t a single one of my poor possessions that had escaped

notice, except, of course, my watch and money, which T keep carefully
buried. The tent was a remarkable spectacle, and so close and reminiscent
of black fellow that my first act was to undo the sides and let the fresh air

play through. T counted myself very lucky to get off as lightly as T did--had
T returned an hour later none of my goods and chattels would have been

left."

"What about the tucker?" Harry asked; "did they get away with the bag

they’d stowed it in?"

"Not they!" said the Hermit; "they were far too scared to think of bags or
tucker. They almost fell over it in their efforts to escape, but neither of