Page:Life and Adventures of William Buckley.djvu/102

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LIFE OF BUCKLEY.
79

the girl, instead of the man who had so barbarously murdered their father. Before they set off, they directed me where I should find them after the expedition they were going upon was over; so I started for the place appointed, near the Barwin River. The next day I swam across that river; taking with me my spears, and rugs, and fire-stick, and before night, set up my hut in a place from whence I could view the country all round. Before I lighted the fire, I made a turf and bark fence all about where it was to be, so that the flame should not be seen, for I was naturally in great dread of being overtaken. In this way I lived a few days, waiting for my friends. At length, one evening, I saw a light coming across the plain in my direction. This occasioned me great alarm, as I did not suppose the friendly tribe would travel in the night; so I put my fire out, hid my spears and fish, and concealed myself amongst the high reeds growing in the neighbourhood. After a time I heard female voices, and then one of them say, "where can he be gone?" some surmising one cause, and some another, for my absence. This satisfied me that all was right, so I approached, agreeably surprising them by my appearance. They were five young women belonging to the last party we had met with, who had made their escape, in consequence of another great fight which had ensued between my old friends, and the tribe who had killed my protectors. They told me, three men of the hostile party had been killed, and that they had burned the bodies of my said-to-be brother-in-law, his wife, and