"
Donald thought his wife was troubling herself about mere trifles, but
before he had time to say so, a blackfellow snatched his gun from
across his knees, another hit him on the head with a waddy, and a
third did the same to Flora and the unfortunate couple lay senseless
on the ground. Their hopes and troubles had come to a sudden end.
This onslaught had been made by four blacks, who now made a bundle of
the clothes, and carried them and the gun away, going towards the
camp in search of more plunder. The tents occupied by the wreckers
had been enclosed in a thick hedge of scrub to protect them from the
drifting sand. There was only one opening in the hedge, through
which the blacks could see Sambo cooking the wreckers' dinner before
a fire. His head was bare, and he was enjoying the genial heat of
early summer, singing snatches of the melodies of Old Virginny.
The hearing of the Australian aboriginal is acute, and his talent for
mimicry astonishing; he can imitate the notes of every bird and the
call of every animal with perfect accuracy.
Sambo's senseless song enchanted the four blacks. It was first heard
with tremendous applause in New Orleans, it was received with enthusiasm
by every audience in the Great Republic, and it had been the delight
of every theatre in the British Empire. It may be said that "jim
Crow" buried the legitimate drama and danced on its grave.
Pages:
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322