Now On The Receipt Of This
Unwelcome Intelligence, The First Thing That Would Strike The Blacks Would
Be The Facilities
For concealment afforded by Gould or Garden Islands, more
particularly had they any captives; and they would say to themselves
That
we should certainly overlook these two out-of-the-way little spots; and
when we were busy on Hinchinbrook, they could easily paddle themselves and
their prisoners to some of the more distant chain of islands, where they
could lie by until all fear of pursuit was past. Such was the opinion both
of the troopers and of the experienced bushmen; and as we were fully
resolved to leave them no loophole for escape, we jumped into our boat and
pulled gently over to Garden Island.
It was about seven o'clock in the morning when we started, six strong -
four whites, and Cato, and Ferdinand - well armed, and with a good supply
of provisions. The sun was already very hot, and the water smooth as
glass, save where the prow of the boat broke the still surface into a tiny
ripple, which continued plainly visible half a mile astern. I find it
difficult to bring before the reader the thousand curious objects that met
us on our way. The sullen crocodile basking in the sun, sank noiselessly;
a splash would be heard, and a four feet albicore would fling himself madly
into the air, striving vainly to elude the ominous black triangle that cut
the water like a knife close in his rear.
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