They now went out regularly hunting with their black friends, and in this way learnt much concerning the habits of the native game; also where to look for edible roots, of which there were many sorts; and though they found that the blacks were adepts at snaring all sorts of fowl, yet from their experience at home, and the many lessons in knots which they had picked up from the sailors, the brothers soon became even more successful in their art, more especially with regard to snaring animals. They also made strong kangaroo nets out of a fine flax, which the natives showed them how to prepare; these they turned out very rapidly, and with superior knots to those formed by the tribe, which pleased the latter.
But if the blacks were surprised at the quickness of the white men, the clever way in which they learnt their habits and customs, and quite confounded at the effects of the “Thunderstick,” by which name they had dubbed the gun, in their hands, still more on their side were the brothers astonished at the prowess displayed by the former in using their spears.
Upon one occasion there was great preparation in the camp; dilly bags were filled with food, large bundles of small light sticks were brought in and fashioned into spears, and Mat and Tim were invited to attend an expedition over the plains, to which the natives kept pointing, and repeating the word “Noorgooral.”
The constant repetition of this word, coupled with the preparations for the hunt, raised the curiosity of the brothers, and they were glad to have the chance of going; so, divesting themselves of their scanty and now ragged clothes, which they found irksome to them when away from the camp, they prepared to follow the tribe.
After walking for several hours, the party came in sight of a long chain of narrow lagoons. This was towards evening, and geese could be seen coming in flocks of tens and twenties, and dropping into the pools.
“Flight time,” whispered Mat, who felt all his sporting instincts aroused at this sight.
The blacks no sooner saw the geese than they dropped into the long grass, bidding the white men do the same. Each native had a bundle of the spears in his hand, and thus crawling through the blady grass, they stealthily approached the nearest pool, when all formed a line along and directly over the water, without having disturbed a single bird.
At a given signal, up jumped each black fellow, and, as quick as lightning, hurled spear after spear into the dense bodies, or flocks, of the affrighted geese as they rose clamorous from the water.
“Why, guns couldn’t do better!” exclaimed Tim in astonishment, seeing the water covered with dead and dying fowl.
“No, a lot of them hit with guns would go away wounded,” said Mat, “and see, each bird that’s struck with those spears drops.”