Part 15 (1/2)
dashed more wildly onward
To me, it was a vast surprise to discover that I could sitthan when at a canter or a trot At every turn I expected that he would dash hireat forest trees; but instinct rather than limpse of the road, but as for the ”notches,” I never saw one of the speed Indeed, I durst not liftthe horse's head and the trees on our track My high-crowned hat was now drenched, and battered out of shape; for whenever we caave it another knock down over my head I was spattered and covered with mud and mire
Crash, crash, went the thunder, and on, on, went ”Garibaldi” through the glooround with a e house stood out far in front of us to the left; and the horse had apparently deterht for that, as if it were his ho the hill, and took the track as his own fauide hi no more effect than that of a child By this time, I suspect, I really had lost all power ”Garibaldi”
had been at that house, probably frequently before; he knew those stables; and ainst door or wall
Some members of the fa along as ifsorooate, seized the bridle at great risk to hiht, and shouting toprobably attained his purpose--in bringing hi at me with open mouth, the man exclaimed, ”I have saved your life What h I could scarcely by this time articulate a word, I told him that the horse had run away, and that I had lost all control
Truly I was in a sorry plight, drenched, covered with mud, and ht me drunk or mad!
Finally, as if to confirm every suspicion, and aoverness, and children now looked on from the veranda,--when I was helped off the horse, I could not stand onon in the race; I staggered, and down I turin and mortification; yet there I had to sit for some time, before I recovered et toby the veranda for soth the master said, ”Will you not co iddiness was so dreadful still, that ait
As soon as I could stand, I went into the house, and drew near to an excellent fire inclothes The squatter sat oppositea look at ain over his spectacles By and by he ree your clothes?”
Speech was now returning toon in the cart, and an to relent He tookthen very slender, and he a big-fra to ularity ofto hied for a ue, I fear, was still unsteady, for the squatter looked at me rather reproachfully, and said, ”Do you really consider yourself fit to appear before ain his suspicions, that I was a life-long Abstainer, and that ed by the terrible ride and runaway horse He sestively, and said ould see how I felt after tea
We went to the table All that had occurred was now consu in the lusty farmer's clothes; and the lady and other friends had infinite difficulty in keeping their aain took speech in hand, but I suspect my words had still the thickness of the tippler's utterance, for they seemed not to carry much conviction, ”Dear friends, I quite understand your feelings; appearances are so strangely against me But I a drink, I a Total Abstainer!”
This fairly broke down their reserve They laughed aloud, looking at each other and at me, as if to say, ”Man, you're drunk at this very moment”
Before tea was over they appeared, however, to begin to entertain the idea that I _; and so I was infor, my incredulous friends becahts were gaining the ascendency And they heaped thereafter every kindness upon me, as if tothe rooallop of the day before It left deeper traces upon ood returns for the Mission Twice since, on my Mission tours, I have found myself at that sae coood lady there with very comical descriptions of my first arrival at her door
CHAPTER XLIX
THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA
DETAINED for nearly a week at Balmoral by the breakdown of the coach on these dreadful roads, I telegraphed to Hamilton for a conveyance; and the Superintendent of the Sunday School, dear Mr Laidlaw, volunteered, in order to reduce expenses, to spend one day of his precious ti hiines of Australia The Publicans had organized a day of sports, horse-racing, and circus exhibitions Ist the rest, tribe after tribe of the Aborigines fro the giving of strong drinks to these poor creatures, foolish and unprincipled dealers supplied them with the saiven theed for the fire-water which kindled the was hideous with the yells of the fighting savages They tore about on the Co tried in vain to quiet the Service About two o'clock, I tried to get into conversation with thery? They replied that they had had no food all that day; they had fought since the o Missionary black fellows far away I love you, want you rest, get food Come all of you, rest, sit round et ready tea They boil water, and I take tea with you, and then you will be strong!”
By broken English and by many symbols, I won their ear They produced tea and _da bread, without yeast, baked on the coals Their wives hasted to boil water I kept incessantly talking, to interest them, and told them how Jesus, God's dear Son, carieved to see the each other
When the tea was ready we squatted on the green grass, their tins were filled, the _da of God on the ! Many of the creatures The strong, devouring all they could get, urged er for the fray But having gained their confidence, I prayed with them, and thereafter said, ”Now, before I leave, I will ask of you to do one thing for my sake, which you can all easily do” With one voice they replied, ”Yes, we all do whatever you say”
I got their leaders to proot your tea; and I ask everyyou to lie down in the bush and take a sleep, and your wives will sit by and watch over your safety!”
In glurasped in their hands, they stood looking intently at ed then, ”You all promised to do what I asked If you break your proh at me, and say that black fellows only lie and deceive Let them see that you can be trusted I wait here till I see you all asleep”