During Christmas week some years ago, ten drovers set out to drive a big mob of cattle from a river in the far north of Australia to the last station on a railway line in the west of New South Wales.
The head drover took with him his only boy, named Willie. Willie"s mother was dead, so his father did not like to leave the boy alone while he went on such a long trip. Willie was twelve years old, and rode on a little Timor pony. There are many of these ponies running wild overWillie and his Father
the plains in the north of Australia.
All went well with Willie for the first few days of the journey. He loved to sit by the camp fire at night and listen to the tales the drovers told of their lives in the bush. The burning wood on the fire had a sweet smell, and the stars above in the sky looked very big and bright as Willie lay wrapped in his rug, staring up at them before he fell asleep.
New Year"s Day came. Willie was tired of walking his horse behind the cattle, and went for a ride across the plain. When he rode away on his little pony, nobody saw him; but he was not afraid of getting lost.
When he had gone a few miles away from the cattle track, a young buffalo calf jumped up from a little hollow in front of him. It looked at Willie and the pony for a moment, and then ran away as fast as it could.
That was great fun for Willie, and he at once gave chase. The buffalo calf looked very clumsy, but it couldWillie Gave Chase.
run very fast. Willie"s pony had as much as he could do to keep up with the little fellow.
After a run of about two miles the pony put his foot into a hole and fell. Willie was thrown on the grass about three or four yards in front, but he was not hurt. He was dazed, and did not get up for a few minutes. When he did wake up, he saw a big buffalo bull chasing his pony across the plain.
Willie watched the chase until both buffalo and pony were hidden by a line of trees. Then he felt very sad, for he knew he was a long way from his father and the other drovers, but he thought he would be able to find his way back.
He set out on his long walk, and went on bravely for some hours. He had nothing to eat, and was very gladwhen he came to a pool of water which was clear and fit to drink. After a short rest he went on his way once more, andWillie saw a Big Buffalo Bull chasing his Pony.
kept on walking till the sun went down. By this time, he hadreached the bank of a broad, deep river.
Willie began to be really frightened now. He saw no sign of cattle or drovers. It was plain that he was lost.
What was he to do? He made up his mind to stay for the night, and perhaps his father would find him in the morning.
Near the river there was a tree, which Willie found he could climb with ease. About ten feet from the ground it had two branches. On these he laid some stout sticks, and so made a platform. He sat upon this with his back against the tree for a longtime.
As it grew late, Willie felt so sleepy that he began to fear that he would not be able to keep awake much longer. So he took from his pocket some strong cord, tied it round the trunk of the tree and his body, and lay down to sleep on his platform.
At daybreak he woke,
stiff and cramped. He was
Willie saw a Big Crocodile at the Foot of the Tree.
about to get down to the ground when he chanced to look below. What was his fright to see, at the foot of the tree, a big crocodile coming up out of the river! It was not safe to get down from the tree, as the crocodile was watching him. He waited fully two hours, when all at once he saw two blackfellows coming on tiptoe towards the crocodile. They had spears and clubs, and when they were close to the crocodile they speared the brute, and so killed it.
These two blacks were very kind. They made signs to Willie to come down from his perch. They could not speak English well, but he soon made them see that he was lost, and that he wanted to find out where the drovers and the cattle were.
They led Willie along for about a mile, when they saw three horsemen galloping towards them. They weredrov ers, and on e of them w as Willie "s father. They had been searching for the lost boy allWillie, the Blackfellows, and the Crocodile.
through the night.
Willie was soon clasped in his father"s arms, and taken in front of him on horseback to the camp.
The drovers treated the two blackfellows well.They gave them damper, tobacco, and meat, and a whole bullock besides.
Willie"s Father taking him to the Camp.
On the rest of the trip, Willie took good care to keep within sight of the cattle and the drovers, and ever since he is always glad to tell his mates about the time he spent up the tree on that New Year"s night in Northern Australia.
About the Author.-The author"s name is not known. The story appeared in The School Magazine, New South Wales.
About the Story.-Find in the map a river in the far north of Australia, and a railway town in the west of New South Wales. Trace the probable stock route from the river to the town. In what parts of Australia are wild cattle found? Are the rivers always "broad and deep" in the outback country? Where are crocodiles found? How is damper made? Do you know other instances of kindness on the part of the blacks? (Think of Burke and Wills.)