"Him Dead, Lie 'long A Rock - Quite Still," Warri
Answered, And He Had Not Spoken Or Touched Him.
Panting and
anxious - though even then I thought of nothing worse than a sprained
ankle, and a faint in consequence - we arrived at the foot of the rocks
where Charlie had last been seen, and whence the sound of the gunshot had
come.
Right above us, caught by a ledge on the face of the rock, fifty
feet from the ground, I saw Charlie lying, and clambering up somehow at
full speed, reached his side.
Good God! Warri had spoken a true word. There was no spark of life in the
poor old fellow. What a blow! What an awful shock! What a calamity! I sat
dazed, unable to realise what had happened, until roused by a shout from
below: "Is he hurt? - badly? - not DEAD!" "As a stone," I answered; and
that was what we felt in our hearts, a dull weight, pressing all sense or
strength from us.
How to describe that sad scene? Poor old Charlie! one of the best and
truest men that God ever blessed with life; such a fine manly character;
so honest and generous - a man whose life might stand as an example for
any in the land to follow; from whose mouth I never heard an oath or
coarse word, and yet one whose life was spent amongst all classes, in all
corners of Australia; such a true mate, and faithful, loyal
companion - here his body lay, the figure of strength and power, he who had
been most cheerful of us all.
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