The ‘spielers’ were hanging about as they led Yacka into Hepburn’s house. As he entered the door the black turned and shook his fist at them, and a cruel look came into his eyes.
Hepburn saw it and whispered to Edgar:
‘I would not give much for one of those fellows’ chances of salvation if Yacka got him alone.’
Had it been a white man the ‘spielers’ had set upon, they would have been hustled out of the place quickly enough, but a blackfellow more or less did not seem to matter with the bulk of the men. The majority of them would have knocked a ‘spieler’ down with the greatest of satisfaction, but even in such a case as the assault upon Yacka they were inclined to regard the black as the aggressor. This feeling naturally aroused Edgar’s indignation. He had not lived amongst savage blacks as most of these men had, and gone with his life in his hands every time he went a few miles up country. The blacks in many cases undoubtedly attacked peaceful settlers and murdered them in a treacherous manner. This naturally aroused a feeling of intense hatred against the original inhabitants of the country, and all blackfellows were treated alike. When the settlers treated the blacks kindly it was regarded by them as a sign of weakness, and an encouragement to attack them. Arguments such as these Hepburn used to convince Edgar the white men had good reason for hating the black.
‘The Finke blacks,’ said Hepburn, ‘are a peaceable lot; but when you get into the Musgrave and MacDonnell Ranges, and farther north, it is necessary to be well armed if you wish to come back again. I have been there and know, and that is the main reason I have endeavoured to persuade you not to go with Yacka.’
‘It would be cowardly on our part to desert Yacka now,’ said Edgar, ‘nor have we any inclination to do so. I would sooner trust a whole tribe of blacks than the brutal fellows who attacked him.’
Hepburn saw it was useless to argue more, so he said good-naturedly:
‘If you are bent upon proceeding, you must let me supply you with more ammunition. You will want it, I am afraid, unless Yacka is well-known to the northern tribes.’
‘You’re a brick!’ said Will enthusiastically, ‘and I for one will accept your gift.’
‘It’s a good while since I heard that expression,’ said Hepburn. ‘It reminds me of my school-days.’