At length he recovered his presence of mind sufficiently to make an
effort to avert his impending doom. If the blacks could be induced
to eat the dinner he was cooking their attention to himself might be
diverted, and their appetites appeased, so he pointed towards the
pots, saying, "Plenty beef, pork, plum duff."
The blacks seemed to understand his meaning, and they began to
inspect the dinner; so instead of taking the food like sensible men,
they upset all the pots with their waddies, and scattered the beef,
pork, plum duff and potatoes, so that they were covered with sand and
completely spoiled.
Two of the blacks next peered into the nearest tent, and seeing some
knives and forks, took possession of them. But there was a sound of
voices from the waterhole, and they quickly gathered together their
stolen goods and disappeared. In a few minutes Captain Leebrace and
the wreckers arrived at the camp, bringing with them Kennedy and his
wife, who had recovered their senses, and were able to tell what had
happened.
"Black debbils been heah, cappen, done spoil all de dinner, and run
away wid de knives and forks," Sambo said.
Captain Leebrace soon resolved on a course of reprisals. He went up
the ladder to the forks of the gum tree with his telescope, and soon
obtained a view of the retreating thieves, appearing occasionally and
disappearing among the long grass and timber; and after observing the
course they were taking he came down the ladder.
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