NATURE IN RETALIATION 



" Red in tooth and claw." 



TENNYSON. 



IN a mangrove creek a shoal of barramundi had been 

 bombed with dynamite. Immediately after the explosion 

 the white onlookers as well as the blacks dived off-hand 

 into the stream to secure the helpless fish. One of the 

 party seized a weighty and unconscious victim of the 

 outrage, and to retain it thrust his fist through the gills 

 and found himself unable to withdraw, and when the 

 fish began to revive he realised that he was not master. 

 With a supreme effort he did manage to get his head 

 above water to gulp a mouthful of air, but the gallant 

 fish promptly exerted itself, and a deadly struggle took 

 place on the muddy bottom. Once more the fish was 

 tugged to the surface, only to dive just as the man 

 became conscious of the applause of the interested 

 spectators. When they came to the surface again ill 

 luck on the part of the fish had brought it into the 

 shallows caused by a ridge of rocks, and the man hauled 

 his prize ashore, frankly acknowledging that the happy 

 chance of the rocks and not his own wits and strength 

 had given the victory into his hands. 



On another occasion heartless dynamite was used in a 

 creek, where had assembled many blacks, who scrambled 

 riotously in the muddy water for the spoil, among 

 which were several huge crabs, some dismembered by 



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