Jack & Harry (22 page)

There was a message waiting for Warri when they arrived in Docker River. It seemed that plans had changed and he was not to meet up with the herd coming down from Katherine but was to head south, to Angas Downs Station, where there was a mob that needed taking over the border into South Australia.

The note instructed Warri to bring a crew of three or four young stockmen with him plus a couple of good spare horses and make contact with Tom Cooper, the boss of the drove. It didn't take Warri more than an hour to round up three young Aboriginal stockmen to join him and Reynold.

Jack and Harry felt a little left out and somewhat intimidated by the addition of three young, but obviously competent, stockmen but uncle Warri told them they would still be a part of the drive anyhow. He also told them that it was the first time the new boys had been on a drove although they were good with horses and were experienced with cattle, having helped out on some musters. He further allayed their fears by telling them that it was agreed that they be a part of the team.

‘I make a promise wit' Rennol that I 'elp yu get as close to Kupa Piti as I can. Warri good to 'is word. Still, no wage for yu fellas, jus' yer keep. Tom Cooper 'e not pay for green blokes on a drive. That OK?'

‘Thanks, uncle Warri,' Harry spoke for both of them. ‘We promise not to cause any more problems.'

‘Yu fellas stay wit' us, me 'n Rennol. Yu good 'nuff now to 'elp out. Besides, what would we tell Brehardie 'n Dolly, they laik yu boys.'

The boys were elated to be included and they had never expected to be paid. They in fact thought the trip would cost them money but they still had the balance of their winnings tucked safely away in their blueys as they knew the time would come when the money would come in handy.

Reynold accompanied Warri to the store to top up on a few supplies while the two boys stayed to keep watch over the camp. The three new drovers kept to themselves, setting up camp on the edge of Warri's site although they would all share the same campfire and they busied themselves checking bridles and saddles, effecting repairs where necessary. Jack and Harry weren't sure if the new lads didn't approve of them being there or that they were just shy not knowing what to say. One of them, who seemed to be only about a year older than themselves, sat plaiting a stockwhip from strips of leather hide.

Jack and Harry slowly ambled closer and stood watching him work fascinated by his skill as they observed the whip materialise. He looked up, flashed a brief smile then continued, totally absorbed in his work.

‘I'm Jack and this is me mate, Harry.'

‘Wandoo.' He stated his name but didn't look up.

‘That's really great work, Wandoo,' Harry commented. ‘I couldn't do anythin' like that.'

‘Bin doin' it since I was little fella; me grandfather 'e learn me. Make bridles too.' Wandoo reached down and picked up a bridle at his side holding it up for them to see.

‘Gee that's a beauty.' Jack took the outstretched bridle examining it closely even though he knew nothing about saddlery.

Wandoo continued to plait the whip without acknowledging the compliments but they noticed a slight smile etch his face. They stood there feeling awkward so turned to walk away. It was then that Wandoo spoke. ‘Uncle Warri 'e tell us yu fellas come all way from Perth, never bin there … to Perth. Only ever bin to Laverton all me life. It big place, this Perth?'

Realising they had broken through a barrier they turned back to Wandoo ‘Yeah, it's big all right but too many people and noisy, eh? Not like out here where you blokes live.' Jack had the presence of mind not to brag about the city and its comforts or tell about his home and the easy life they had compared to the life the Aboriginal people endured in this arid, desolate country.

He was not aware at that time that the boy sitting before them and most like him would not want to trade their lifestyle and freedom for the restrictions of living in a large town or city. Although Jack and Harry didn't know it then, and it would take some time for it to develop, they too would one day feel exactly like Wandoo and his people.

‘Uncle Warri 'e say yu fellas never rid a 'orse before 'e 'n Rennol learn you 'bout a week ago, that right?'

‘Yes, that's right.' Harry was embarrassed to admit they were novices.

‘Yu do pretty good. Us boys we watch yu come inta Docker wit' uncle Warri.' Wandoo concentrated on his whip.

‘Thanks. We've got a lot still to learn though.'

Wandoo grunted, nodding his head. ‘Yeah, it take long time to ride good but yu boys get the 'ang of 'im pretty quick I tink.'

Not knowing what else to say, they were relieved to hear the dogs announce the return of Warri and Reynold from their ride and they walked off to meet them. There was a spring in their steps though at Wandoo's observations of their ability to ride. They were glad though that they had come into Docker at a walk and not at a trot because they still hadn't got the hang of that.

‘He seems to be OK, Harry, just a bit shy I reckon.'

‘Hope that's what it is, Jack. I feel a bit of a drip around those blokes though.'

‘Know what you mean, Harry, but after a few more weeks in the saddle we'll be darn near as good as they are on a horse, eh?' He slapped Harry on the back as they walked.

Harry playfully knocked Jack's hat off his head. ‘We need to get these hats a bit worn in, Jack, they look so bloody new compared to everyone else's.'

The clothes they had bought in Kalgoorlie were now creased and patchy with sweat, the newness camouflaged with red dust, grime from riding and ash from the fires. Their hats however, although dusty, still looked store-bought. When Jack picked his hat up from where it had landed after Harry had flicked it from his head, he crunched it in his hands then punched inside the crown.

‘You're right, mate,' he said. ‘We'll have to work on these.' He punched the hat harder before putting back on his head and pulling the brim low over his eyes.

They greeted Warri and Reynold as they slid from the saddles and were astonished when Reynold pulled two chocolate peanut bars from his shirt. They had forgotten about the chocolate that Harry had bought and given to Reynold way back in Menzies the first day of the trip to Mt Margaret.

‘I et mine on the way back.' Reynold grinned as he handed them the chocolates.

‘Get an early night, boys,' Warri said as he finished his now customary after-tea smoke. ‘We gotta long hard ride tomorra. Not laik the trip over, we need to get to meet up with Tom Cooper 'n 'is boys as soon as we can. They'll 'ave started wit'out us 'n we 'ave to catch them blokes up. Mob too big for jus' them fellas,' Warri grinned. ‘They need us fer sure.'

They hit the track just before sun up riding in tandem with Reynold and Warri leading. Jack and Harry felt important when Warri said they were second in the line and that the new boys could bring up the rear leading the packhorses. Warri set a fast pace and the lunch break was brief with the horses left saddled. There was just time to set a fire, boil the billy, wash down a slice of cold damper and then it was back in the saddle and on the trail again.

Passing through a varying landscape fringed with hills and high bluffs they crossed red sandy ridges dotted with spiky spinifex and saltbush. They saw huge rounded monoliths and jagged sentinels of weathered rock rising up beside the track and they rode through deep steep walled gorges of sheer rock peppered with numerous caves, coming across a number of crystal clear waterholes flanked by ancient gnarled gum trees.

Jack and Harry talked animatedly about the vastness and beauty of the scenery, continually surprised by the number of animals and reptiles they saw. Often, however, they were silenced by the primeval atmosphere of the prehistoric land they were privileged to witness, awed by the fact that few white men had ever set foot through this majestic landscape.

The first night out they camped on the sandy banks of a billabong nestled at the base of rugged red cliffs. It was tranquil beside the still water and in the peaceful silence they all spoke with hushed voices. Even the animals appeared to sense the atmosphere being unusually quiet, particularly the dogs that usually squabbled over food scraps or snapped at each other for dominance of the pack.

On the afternoon of the third day out from Docker River Warri pointed to some distant ranges washed a faded magenta by the afternoon sun. ‘See them 'ills there, that's where Lasseter camped in a cave when 'e got sick.'

‘Lasseter?' Harry asked. ‘Who's he?'

‘Yu not heard of Harry Lasseter? I thought ev'rybody know 'bout 'im. Lasseter 'n 'is gold that nobody ever find.'

‘Tell us about it, uncle Warri.' The mention of gold sparked Jack's interest.

‘Well, Lasseter was prospectin' out in this country when 'e got real crook 'n wandered about for days until 'e found a cave over there.' Warri pointed again in the direction of the range with peaks a hazy silhouette against the cobalt blue sky. ‘Some of our people find 'im 'n take care of 'im for a bit until some white fellas come across 'em 'n take Lasseter wit' 'em.'

‘What happened then, uncle Warri?' Jack was intrigued.

‘No white fella ever see where 'e found that gold though they look 'n look for years. 'Bout twenty or so I reckon they look.'

‘He found gold then did he?'

‘He got lotta nugget on 'im when 'e found 'n 'e plan to go back 'n get rich when 'e better. He pegged a claim out but nobody know where.'

‘Why didn't he go back then, uncle Warri?' Harry was now caught up in the enchantment of the story.

‘When those white fellas take Lasseter 'e get crooker 'n later 'e die never tellin' anyone where the gold is.'

‘Do you know where it is, uncle Warri?'

‘Me? Nahh! Yu tink I keep drovin' if I know where all that gold is?' he laughed.

‘Do your people out here know where it is then?' Jack persisted.

Warri was quiet for a few seconds before he answered. ‘Maybe, Jack, maybe.'

‘If they know where it is then, why haven't they told anyone or mined it themselves?'

‘If our people tell, it not long before white fellas come in 'n take over. This land then be torn up laik other places. Lotta places out 'ere sacred to us people.'

‘You could be rich though … if you found it.'

‘Rich? I got all I need now boys, good 'orses, plenty tucker, this land all 'bout.' He shrugged his shoulders waving his arm in a wide arc about him.

Though the boys tried to encourage him to continue telling them more about Lasseter and the gold Warri declined to talk further about it, dismissing them by changing the subject and diverting their attention.

‘Not too far ahead's a waterhole. Yu boys reckon yu can spot 'im? Yu boys ride through 'ere some time yu need to know 'bout tings laik that more than 'bout gold. Yu got plenty gold 'n no got water you die quick out 'ere.'

Angas Downs station came into view late on the morning of the fourth day's ride, the iron roofs of the outbuildings and homestead glinting in the sun. Jack and Harry wondered if they would get the chance to have a decent bath or maybe get to sleep in a proper bed for a change but their daydreams were short lived.

Reining to a stop beside the vast cattle yards some distance from the homestead they were met by a huge bear of a man with a grizzled grey beard riding a bay horse. He greeted Warri warmly, nodding to Jack and Harry, surprise at the presence of two young white boys clearly evident in his expression although he didn't mention it or address them.

‘Mob's got a two-day start on ya, Warri, but I'm sure you'll catch up with 'em tomorrow if ya keep ridin' on. Have a spell though, water the horses.' He indicated a concrete trough near the yards fed by a pipe running from a tall windmill nearby pumping water from a bore.

‘I saw ya comin' a ways off and boiled the billy. Also got cook to make a stew up. It's on the stove in the hut over there. It's a big pot so I'm sure there's enough for all of ya. Left a coupla loaves of home-made bread in the flywire safe too.' The big man didn't dismount. ‘Have a feed and good luck on the drove. Tom'll be waitin' for you blokes. He's a bit short handed but wanted to get crackin' with the mob rather than just sit around and wait. Good luck!' He waved a hand in parting and was about to leave when Jack kneed his horse forward.