wandering life. They
had not forgotten, either, to supply themselves with several bottles of
spirits: perhaps the liquor, to which they had been so long
unaccustomed, was the cause of the death of the unhappy wretch whose
body we had seen beneath the cliff. However, that was only conjecture,
and will probably for ever remain so.

I had no inclination to go to bed, but my father insisted on my turning
in, saying that he would sit up with my mother; and in spite of my grief
and anxiety I at length fell fast asleep.

CHAPTER NINE.

PADDY SUGGESTS OBTAINING PULLINGO'S ASSISTANCE--WE SET OUT--DESCEND THE
CLIFF BY A ROPE--FIND EDITH AND PIERCE IN A CAVE--THE BOAT ARRIVES--A
TREMENDOUS STORM--THE WATER FLOWS OVER OUR SETTLEMENT--ESCAPE TO THE
CLIFFS--TAKE REFUGE UNDER A ROCK--RETURN TO THE VILLAGE--IT HAS ESCAPED
DAMAGE--A WHALE THROWN ON SHORE--IT ATTRACTS THE NATIVES--THEIR SAVAGE
DANCE--THEY ENCAMP--UNPLEASANT ODOUR FROM THE WHALE--EXPLORE THE RIVER--
RETURN FOR OUR FRIENDS--QUIT OUR VILLAGE--OUR FIRST ENCAMPMENT.

My dreams were as miserable as my waking thoughts. I fancied that I saw
the bush rangers carrying off Edith and Pierce, who in vain struggled to
release themselves; then the wretches hurled the children over the
cliff, and shouted as they saw them falling; then the sea rolled up and
swept them away, as they held out their hands in vain for assistance.

I awoke before daylight, and as I had no wish to go to sleep again I
dressed and went out. The first person I met was Paddy Doyle.

"I'm after thinking, Master Godfrey, that friend Pullingo will be able
to help us in finding the dear young childher," he said. "I can soon
make him understand that they are lost; and though he hasn't
book-learning, he's got notions in his head which would puzzle some of
us. The thought came across me in the night, when not a rap more sleep
could I get; and I've been waiting till daylight to visit the blacks'
camp."

"By all means," I said. "I'll go with you, for I am sure my father will
approve of your idea."

As a ruddy glow was already appearing in the eastern sky, precursor of
the sun, Paddy and I at once set off. As we drew near he shouted,
"Pullingo, Pullingo." Directly afterwards we saw the black crawl out of
his hut. "Our friend doesn't take much time to dress in the morning,"
observed Paddy, "seeing he hasn't a large amount of clothing to put on,
and isn't over particular about the use of soap and water