The Germ Growers: An Australian story of adventure and mysteryPotter, Robert
Science
The Germ Growers: An Australian story of adventure and mystery
Potter, Robert
Science fiction, Australian
We might have lain there for several hours, however, if it had not
been for a combination of favourable circumstances. We were only three
miles from a telegraph station to the north, and a sharp look-out had
been kept for us. It had been kept indeed since the third or fourth
day after our departure, and it had been quickened a few days ago by a
lying rumour which proved to be unintentionally true. Some blacks had
come into the camp who knew both Gioro and Bomero, and they told
Mr. Fetherston that Gioro had been killed some days before. Now, as
far as I could make out, Gioro had been killed a day or two after they
told the story. So they were certainly lying. But it seemed as if
every one who knew anything about the matter expected that Gioro would
be killed if Bomero’s protection were withdrawn. And so it happened
as you have heard, and thus their lie came true.
So there was a bright look-out kept for about fifty miles on each side
of the Daly Waters, and a party had gone westward into the bush in
search of us a few days before, and the moment the communication by
wire was broken a party of horsemen started for the point where the
break was made. We were now nearly thirty miles north of the Daly
Waters.
We were speedily taken to the nearest station and treated with all the
attention that we needed. I needed only food and clothes, but Jack
proved to be sickening for colonial fever, and was in rather a
critical state for some time. He did not seem to me to be dangerously
ill. Much languor and a little wandering and extreme prostration were
his principal symptoms. I was not very anxious about him, but
Mr. Fetherston thought more of the illness than he chose to say. I did
not know the nature of the complaint; I have learnt better since then.
Mr. Fetherston asked me several questions, and I told him all about
the blacks, dwelling especially on Bomero’s panic and Gioro’s death.
Then I said that after that we had got among some people that had
given us food and clothes. He looked very carefully at the coats and
hats, and he said, “Why, these must have come from Java, or perhaps
from the Philippines. I had no idea that there was any communication.”
I said that I was inclined to believe that the people I had met were
not of the same race as the blacks, their colour was much lighter, I
said, and they had some curious knowledge.
Mr. Fetherston looked at me with some anxiety and suspicion, and the
same evening I heard him say to Tim Blundell that people who wandered
among the blacks often got off their heads for a while.
After that I held my peace.
In about six weeks Jack was able to travel, and Mr. Fetherston gave us
an escort to Port Darwin.
After about ten days there, we were so fortunate as to get a passage
to King George’s Sound in a Government steamer. We reached Adelaide
about the first week in September.
CONCLUSION.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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