SOOSIE 153 



miles awa}^ and on the far side of the river. He saw 

 Uttle of it for the next few weeks. 



Duckbill and his friends, as we were well aware, 

 knew of our plans for the defeat of his proposed outrage. 

 If Soosie could be ceremoniously married to the faithful 

 Dan, no black in the neighbourhood would endeavour 

 to molest her. Indeed, all, even to Duckbill, would be 

 flattered and demonstrative of pride in the alliance. 



A fortnight later Duckbill again intercepted me. 

 Since the previous verbal encounter I had gone armed. 

 He carried, somewhat ostentatiously, a tomahawk and 

 a couple of nulla-nullas. 



"No good you keep'm that fella Tchoosie. Me bin 

 look out plenty. That fella belonga me. Suppose 

 you no lat'm come, more worse b'mbi. Me want mak'm 

 that fella all asame black fella. You gib it Clare belonga 

 Dan." 



My fingers twitched on the butt of the revolver. 

 It was an ultimatum. That which from other lips would 

 have been resented as complacent insolence had to be 

 endured with apparent calmness. Threatening him 

 with all the consequences of a visit from the "big fella 

 government," I hurriedly left, for I was not too sure 

 of self-control. 



A stricter watch than ever was maintained, for the 

 least relaxation of precautions might have involved 

 results for which a lifetime of regrets would not have 

 atoned. Though of such a low t3^pe of the human race, 

 the North Queensland aboriginal possesses certain 

 admirable characteristics. His mind seldom swerves 

 from a set purpose within view of attainment. He may 

 be rebuffed and disappointed, and may assume indif- 

 ference to or forgetfulness of his purpose; but in his 

 heart he does not accept defeat until an absolutely 

 decisive blow is received. Invisible to us, the old man 



