Page:Life and Adventures of William Buckley.djvu/58

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LIFE OF BUCKLEY.
35

length restored, and the tribe we had joined separated from the others, and came toward where I was standing. Having formed themselves into a sort of guard, they marched me back to the other tribe, who placed themselves in square, on the spot where the fight had been. On our arrival solemn silence was observed—not even a whisper was uttered, but all eyes were directed toward me, and I again felt that some serious event might be expected, in which my safety was involved. I had a few minutes before seen women and boys murdered in their fury, and it was natural for me to feel alarm under such circumstances. After a while, they all began talking together tepidly, shaking their spears, and jumping wildly about, as if they were going mad; this ended, they gave three loud shouts, and returned to their respective huts—so I was relieved from my fears once more. In the morning, I found the other tribe had gone away, and soon after we left for the place my friends chiefly inhabited, and there we lived for a very long time unmolested, and without anything particular occurring. We remained in peace and quietness, until a messenger came from another tribe, saying we were to meet them some miles off. Their method of describing time is by signs on the fingers—one man of each party marking the days by chalkings on the arm, and then rubbing one off as each day passes. After travelling two or three days, we arrived at the appointed place, and found there a great number assembled, not one of whom I had seen before; and that evening we had the usual Corrobberree. In the morning