Whilst matters rested thus, and the blacks were holding an animated discussion, one of the troopers espied a solitary dingo on the rocks overlooking the “bora ground,” and distant from us about fifty yards.  Lizzie at once said —­

“Suppose you shoot ’em that fellow dingo, plenty that frighten black fellow.”

“By Jove, Lizzie, what a good idea!” we said.  “Who’s the best shot; for it will be fatal to miss?”

“Let your boy fire,” said Abiram, “it will astonish them much more if they see it done by a black; and let Lizzie warn them of what is going to take place.”

“You believe you shoot ’em that fellow dingo?” asked Dunmore of Ferdinand.

“Your (yes), marmy, mine believe.”

“Plenty big glass of rum, suppose you shoot ’em bony (dead),” added Abiram.

The trooper’s eyes glistened, and he licked his lips as if the spirit were already won.

Meanwhile Lizzie had told her countrymen to watch the dog, and they would see him killed, and the blacks stood straining their eyes at the doomed dingo, who, with pricked ears and drooping tail, stood motionless against the sky-line, intently surveying the unusual scene beneath, and wondering probably how soon he should get the relics of the roasted fish, whose fragrant odour had assailed his nostrils, and drawn him into his present position.

It was a moment of intense suspense while the trooper raised his carbine —­ slowly and deliberately; no hurry, not even the quiver of a muscle, for his mind was on the rum, and he recked little of the moral influence of a successful shot; —­ we drew a long breath of relief as the weapon flashed forth, and the dog, making a convulsive bound forward, fell stone dead at the foot of the rocks, where it was instantly surrounded by the awestruck savages, who carefully examined the body, and thrust their fingers into the bullet-hole, for the ball had passed clean through the animal, just behind the shoulder-blade.

The trooper first loaded his empty barrel, and then twitching Abiram by the sleeve, whispered, “You give ’em rum now.  Plenty you make him strong, mine believe.”  His task was accomplished, and that the reward should immediately follow was with him a natural consequence.

Ferdinand’s shot and Lizzie’s eloquence had, however, rid us of all further trouble.  The blacks laid down their arms, and expressed themselves quite willing to assist us in any way.  They vehemently denied having seen any white men, but acknowledged that some had been heard of on the Macalister River, and thought they were detained by the tribes inhabiting its banks.  They were cognizant of our expedition up the Herbert, and knew that we were searching Hinchinbrook, but never thought we should have found them in their present position.