WORRALS DOWN UNDER
by W. E. Johns
5. SUSPICIONS AND ALARUMS (Pages 72 – 93)
(The
word alarum is not a typing error; it means an alarm, especially a call to arms)
Worrals returns and introduces the dog, Maginty, to Frecks and
Janet. “He’ll let us know if strangers
come snooping round” says Worrals. Frecks and Janet
have not seen anyone, nor found anything whilst Worrals
has been away. Janet buries a dead dingo
that looks like it has been poisoned. Maginty, the dog, disturbs a man in the distance. A “blackfellow”, but not the one they had
seen before. “He struck me as a much
taller man” says Worrals after the man has faded into
the gathering gloom. Over supper and
coffee, Worrals tells Frecks
and Janet about her trip to Adelaide and Oodnadatta. Worrals says “Moran
is a crook, and he either wants Wallabulla, or he
wants us out of the way so that he can get his hands on the opal, which he
knows is here”. He has called in two
confederates, Raffety and Barola. By a remarkable co-incidence Aunt Mary has
died. “If she died a natural death, it
was an astonishing stroke of luck for Moran, for the one obstacle between him
and the opal no longer existed”. But
Aunt Mary’s secret has died with her.
Now he is after Charlie who may know more than is good for him. “What about Charlie’s personal feelings in
the matter? They ought to be taken into
consideration. Even savages are not
altogether devoid of such fundamental virtues as affection, loyalty, and
gratitude. Charlie must have been very
fond of Aunt Mary, or he wouldn’t have stayed with her for years. She was perhaps the only person who had ever
shown him kindness”. He might want
revenge, speculates Worrals. Moran’s first reaction after her visit will
be to get in touch with his confederates, particularly if he has a murder on
his mind. “The opal might take second
place to a fear that we might learn too much, and call in the police. That’s why I say we shall see more of Moran –
and why I’ve bought the guns” says Worrals. Worrals realises
that Aunt Mary’s letters and photos are nowhere to be found and speculates that
Moran has them. That would be how he
knew about Janet. During the night, the
girls are disturbed by a commotion outside, including a wild scream. Going outside they find a spade by Aunt
Mary’s grave and fresh blood. There is a
swishing sound in the air and Worrals realises it is
a boomerang. They return to the cabin
and when there are no more disturbances, they go to sleep.