And the tribe rose to their feet, shaking with excitement, as the old man lifted his spear and brandished it like a youth.
"Brodarro," they shouted, but above all was the clarion cry of the old man, who cried it thrice, and at the third time pitched headlong, and rolled over upon his back, by the red edge of the blazing fire. Smith dropped on his knees by the old warrior, but he knew that the father of the Brodarros was dead.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE GOLD OUTCROP.
The sensation which the old man had caused subsided as rapidly as it rose, and most of the tribe resumed their idle occupations at once. But Big Jack and three others lifted the dead and went rapidly into the bush. Smith crossed over to the Baker, who was sitting by the side of Bill.
"What have they done with the old man, Bill?" he asked.
"They will give him to the big ants," said Bill carelessly, "and in three days his bones will be as white as his hair. It is a good thing he is dead."
"But why did the bloomin' old prophet want to do us a bad turn?" said Baker.
"Um?" said Bill, as Smith squatted by him.
"I mean, why did he say as the men of the Brodarro was to 'ave no truck with h'other white men?"