Читать книгу Talmud - Ivan Dexter - Страница 6

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The shock to the two men was a terrible one, for the sight was utterly unexpected. Neither of them had the remotest thought that O'Halloran was drowned. There was only about three feet of water at the spot and how he could meet his death in such a place and without their being aware of it was for a time a mystery to them. A short examination, however, showed how tragedy had occurred.

O'Halloran was thrown into water on the north side and before he could recover himself the raft had been swept over him. This would not necessarily have prevented him getting from under had it not been for the fact that the breaking up of the craft had entangled him in the loose timbers. In the darkness, and the noise made by the water his companions did not know of his plight, and indeed never suspected it.

Strangway looked for a few moments at the face of his dead comrade and then lifting the hatchet which he carried, he proceeded to cut adrift the logs which pinned the deceased under. He was at once assisted by Stanley, and in half a minute the work was accomplished. As quickly as possible they got out the body and showed an eagerness in the task which gave the idea that they thought by some miraculous means it might be found that life had not yet fled. It is needless to say how futile was the hope. Poor O'Halloran had for hours been past human aid, and as they grasped the rigid corpse their momentary dream of life vanished. They had some difficulty in getting ashore with their unexpected burthen, and neither of them uttered a syllable until it was laid down beside the fire.

"Well?" queried Stanley, looking at his companion interrogatively.

For a few moments Strangway did not reply to the monosyllabic question, and then speaking slowly and solemnly he said:—

"I have now made up my mind that come what may, I will explore the sources of Finke Creek. There is only one thing which will prevent me——"

"And that?" broke in Stanley.

"Is death. After losing two good comrades in the way we have, our plain duty is to push on. Whilst they were alive I was somewhat doubtful of going on, but now I have no scruples at all. Even if you left me Tom, I would go forward."

"You needn't be afraid of my doing that," warmly answered the ex-seaman.

"I know I can depend on you, and I think indeed, it will be safer for us to go on. It would be a great risk to try and re-cross the river just now, and by the time we return—if ever we do—it will probably be only a chain of water-holes. There seems to be a good prospect ahead, and if we can only secure the horses we may make an important discovery."

"We are on the right bank of the Warburton to get them, I think," said Stanley.

"Yes we may discover them for our route to the Finke Creek should lead us along the track which they have probably followed. Even without the horses we should succeed in reaching the place we wish to. If we returned now and reported that Ted and Bill had lost their lives and nothing resulted from the sacrifice, I don't know what would be thought of us. In fact, I would die rather than return under such circumstances," he concluded emphatically.

"I am with you heart and soul," simply answered his companion.

"We must go back and save what we can from the water. We will want all we will obtain," Strangway again said.

Casting a lingering glance at the still form near the fire, the two explorers went back to the lake and for half an hour busied themselves in recovering the stores. With few exceptions everything was found, and on account of the way it was packed, little was destroyed.

"That is something in our favor at any rate," said Strangway. "We will want provisions to go along the route."

"How can we get along without the horses?" asked Stanley.

"We must find them if possible. They cannot be far away," returned Strangway.

Going back to the fire they, for the second time in a few weeks, had to bury one of their comrades. It seemed that they were destined to misfortune in thus losing by death two of the party; but it sometimes happens that expeditions, which at the outset are unlucky, turn out well in the end. So the two men hoped it would be in the present case. After burying O'Halloran, the stores were carried to a place of safety, and secured, as it was decided to go in search of the missing horses, for at least one day. If they were not then found, the explorers would do the best they could on foot, and take only necessary provisions with them.

Going down to the banks of the Warburton, they skirted along it for about four miles, when a large open plain was reached, and to their joy, the horses were observed not far from the southern edge, quietly grazing. The packs were still on them, and in a few minutes they were secured. There was no trouble about that, for when the animals saw their masters, they ran neighing to them. As soon as they were brought back to the edge of the lake, the packs were removed, and a camp formed for the night.

Next morning a start was made for Finke Creek, which they intended striking about fifty miles above its junction with the Diamentina River. The country was mostly sandy, though in places a few belts of light timber were met. Occasional patches of spinnifex were encountered, but on the whole the route was a very easy one. Shortly before noon on the third day, Finke Creek was reached, and it proved to be a noble stream. The late rains had of course greatly swollen it, but the clear water showed it must have its rise amongst rocky ranges. At its junction with the river, it was a turbid stream running through clay plains, and receiving the muddy tributaries which flowed through them. Numerous wild fowl were on the creek, and along low ranges which ran close to it kangaroo were found. The explorers were thus enabled to obtain abundant food, and they quickly pushed on towards the head of the stream.

After a week's travel in a north westerly direction, the country became changed, and rocky peaks could be seen in the blue distance. This was evidently the source of the creek, and with their destination in view, they went forward with redoubled energy. On the second morning after sighting the ranges they came to a queer looking waterfall on the stream. The creek in fact ran from a sort of plateau or terrace behind a rocky peak right through the eminence, and on the lower side it fell about a dozen feet. There was an immense volume of water pouring through this strange aperture, and when the two men reached it they were as astonished to hear a series of extraordinary sounds coming from within. They were like the moans of imprisoned Titans, and they appeared to be constant, and to have frightened away the animal life that abounded lower down. Neither birds, kangaroo or other kinds of the lower creation could be seen for a considerable distance from the falls. The horses of the party betrayed considerable fear also, and it was with difficulty they could be got to proceed. At last they absolutely refused to go ahead, and dismounting, Strangway and his companion secured them to trees, and went on without them. When they reached the deserted place they could not see anything to account for the strange phenomenon. The sounds were weird and like the despairing outcry of some huge monster in extreme agony.

"What can it be?" asked Stanley.

"I cannot tell you. Let us make an examination of the hill. We may discover something," replied Strangway.

Both men were well armed with a rifle and revolver, in addition to which the leader carried a shot gun. Looking to the weapons to see that they were ready for action if required, the explorers carefully ascended the peak, and began a minute examination. Not a sign of life, human or otherwise was met with, but when the summit was reached a magnificent view lay outstretched before them. To the west, a spur of the hill branched off, and it ran in the form of a gradually ascending saddle-back range, until it met the magnificent line of hills, which the explorers had already noticed. The connection between the peak and the range proved to be a gigantic artificial hollow wall, with the top rounded, resembling a great subterranean circular tunnel, the roof cropping above the level of the ground. Along the base it was densely timbered with trees and a jungle of undergrowth. Northerly, the river came down from the ranges, and swept under the peak through a yawning gulf in the rock, but the noises which were now fainter were certainly not made by the inrush of water. At times they sounded like the distant boom of the ocean, dashing on a rock-bound shore, whilst again they seemed to change into a shriek.

"I can't understand this, unless there are caverns into which the water is rushing," Stanley at length said.

"The noise scarcely seems like that," replied Strangway. "If the water was falling into the earth it might make a sound something of the same sort. But that cannot be it, for the same volume of water seems to come out on the other side, as enters on this. Let us go back again and have another look at the falls," he concluded after a short pause.

Retracing their steps they again surveyed the southern declivity, but without being in the least enlightened. They could not help noticing that the sounds on the south were much louder than those on the north, but that did not help them to a solution of their cause.

"It's no use our remaining here," said Strangway, with a puzzled air. "Let us go back to the horses, and get round this place. We will only go as far as yonder range, and then we will start for home again. We have discovered some excellent pastoral country along here, and the headwaters of this creek are without doubt permanent."

"Yes that is a certainty, and some of those plains across to the east would make splendid pastures. We have at least found that Central Australia, so far as we have gone is not a barren waste," replied Stanley.

Without further conversation they retraced their steps to where the horses were tied, and which were evincing unmistakeable indications of fear. Releasing the animals, the travellers made a slight detour so as to avoid the peak, and afterwards made in the direction of the connecting spur which led to the range.

"We should reach the end to-morrow Tom, and since leaving Eyre we have had no reason to complain of our luck," said Strangway.

"It was confoundly bad up to that time though," was the reply.

"It might have been worse," came the sententious answer.

On coming to the belt of jungle at the foot of the connecting spur, Strangway expected to get a shot at a wallaby or a bird, but he was disappointed. So far as the men could see there was not sufficient footing on the smooth surface of the half rounded spur for a rock wallaby to get a hold, and the scrub at the bottom appeared to be deserted by animal life, even as the vicinity of the waterfall was.

"This is a strange place altogether. A while back we could get as much game as we liked, but there is nothing about here," exclaimed Stanley.

"I cannot understand it. There must be something which frightens the animals away. I could understand the noises at the falls doing so, but they are not heard about here."

It was Stanley who spoke, and he had scarcely finished when the same queer booming sound smote their ears, coming apparently from the vicinity of the rocky spur. The two men looked at each other for a few moments, and a shade of apprehension crossed their faces.

"We have only a few miles further to go, Tom, and we may as well finish our journey, but had I heard these sounds fifty miles further back, I would have turned back," Strangway said.

"Let us finish by all means. Sounds will never hurt us," Stanley replied in a defiant tone.

Just before sunset they reached the base of the range, and pitched their camp in a narrow, but fertile valley, at the end of which rose up a pyramidal block of huge rocks. A small rivulet ran down the centre, and there was an abundant supply of wood, and forage for the horses. Had it not been for the mysterious sounds heard during the day, the place would have seemed a perfect garden of Eden to the explorers, after their long travel through sterile tracts. As it was a gloom hung over both of them. Like sailors of the old time, when in the fogs and mirages of the trackless ocean, they fancied they saw the phantom of the Flying Dutchman, and heard the dread voice of the spectre on deck. Strangway and his companion had a presentment that something weird and uncanny was about to happen. They did not voice their fears, but after securing the horses close to the camp, they made the place as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.

As they lay down with their arms ready to hand, they were both inwardly pleased that on the morrow they would begin the return journey. For several hours, neither man slept, and it was well on to morning when slumber fell upon their tired bodies. The sun was streaming brightly on them ere they awoke. Stanley was the first to sit upright, and the rising sun streaming into the newly opened eyes, caused him to lose his vision for a few moments. As his sight grew stronger, he turned his gaze in the direction of the horses. They were there sure enough, and he jumped to his feet, for standing amongst them he saw the form of a man clad in a garb, the like of which he had never seen.