Jack the Englishman

by H. Louisa Bedford

But a fresh terror presented itself to Jack's mind. What would those they had left behind them think of their non-appearance? Aunt Betty was not one to make a fuss, but if he and Eva did not come that night, Jack, boy as he was, guessed something of the pain she would endure, and there was Eva's mother as well. Something must be done to let them know that they were safe, but what did not yet appear.

* * * * *

The party at the falls were detained much longer than they expected on their climb. First one or two of them were anxious to obtain the very best possible views of the upper cascades, and their companions were quite willing to rest whilst the photographers were at work, and then, in descending from the topmost fall, Clarissa slipped, wrenching her ankle rather severely, and first handkerchiefs were sacrificed to make a bandage, and then it was a matter of real difficulty to get her down the remainder of the way, so that it was nearly two hours before the company were reassembled for tea. Mrs. Kenyon, who was in considerable pain, was made as comfortable as possible in an improvised easy chair of cushions and brake fern, and the party scattered in different directions, collecting wood for the fire whilst Tom carried off the billy to the river to fill, in readiness for tea.

"Cooey for the children, will you?" said Betty, lifting a hot face from the fire she was coaxing into ablaze. "The idle rogues should have had this all ready for us. Jack is a famous boy for a fire."

So Tom returned to the river, looking up and down its banks for the children, who he felt sure were not far off, and sent a long cooey ringing down the water, but no answer came to his call.

"I can't see them anywhere," he said, returning to Betty.

"How tiresome of them to have wandered so far. I wonder what direction they have taken. Mother, did you see Jack and Eva go off together? Do you know what has become of them?"

"I fancy I caught sight of them hurrying off towards the bridge," said another lady. "Jack had a basket slung on his back, so depend upon it they were in search of berries of sorts. There are a good many ripening just now in the bush."

"Here, mother, put in the tea; the billy is boiling," said Betty. "I'll just run up towards the bridge and have a look for them."

"I'd come with you if I weren't as lame as a duck," said Clarissa, "but ever since the bullock incident, I've always felt Eva as safe with Jack as with a man."