" Truly we British-born have reason to brag
of our "inborn sense of justice."
The Maluka being more than willing to give his fair percentage, a
judicious hint from him was generally taken quietly and for the time
discreetly obeyed, and it was a foregone conclusion that our "nigger
hunt" would only involve the captured with general discomfiture; but the
Red Lilies being a stronghold of the tribe, and a favourite hiding-place
for "outsiders," emergencies were apt to occur "down the river," and we
rode out of camp with rifles unslung and revolvers at hand.
Dan's sleep had in no wise lessened his faith in the efficiency of
dust-throwing, and as we set out he "reckoned" the missus would "learn a
thing or two about surprise parties this trip." We all did, but the black
fellows gave the instruction.
All morning we rode in single file, following the river through miles of
deep gorges, crossing here and there stretches of grassy country that ran
in valleys between gorge and gorge, passing through deep Ti Tree forests
at times, and now and then clambering over towering limestone ridges that
blocked the way, with, all the while, the majestic Roper river flowing
deep and wide and silent on our left, between its water-lily fringed
margins.
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