The blacks gave vent to warlike cries, and, shaking their wooden spears high in the air, drove them into the ground with terrific force.
‘That means they will kill any man who does you harm,’ said Yacka. ‘You are safe here, and the whole tribe will protect you.’
They moved towards the camp, and at their approach the blacks stood up and awaited their coming with eager and excited looks.
Yacka was known to them, and was evidently an important man with the tribe. Edgar fancied they regarded him with something akin to fear, and said to Will:
‘We were right to trust Yacka, for these blacks stand in awe of him, and we shall be safe with them.’
‘They are a savage-looking lot,’ said Will, ‘and I should not care to have come amongst them alone. If these are the men who molest the settlers, I am not surprised at the white men hating them.’
The blacks were tall, powerful men, of a far different stamp to those in the west of New South Wales. Yacka was small beside some of them, and many were six feet high and over. They were all armed with native weapons, and were well prepared for any encounter. As they were in such strong force, Edgar came to the conclusion they must be on the war-path, and questioned Yacka.
‘They are always armed,’ said Yacka. ‘The Curracoo tribe are their deadly enemies, and when they meet they fight.’
‘I never heard of that tribe,’ said Edgar.
‘The Enooma and the Curracoo are not known except in this part of Australia,’ said Yacka. ‘They are tribes of the MacDonnell and Musgrave blacks. They fight savagely. The Curracoo wish to seize the white spirit of the Enooma, and think to capture her; but they know nothing of our country, nor of the caves we are going to.’