Up the Country: A Saga of Pioneering Days

Bushranging broke out again in the district. People were stuck up around Gundagai, Cooma and Yass. Small affairs these, without bloodshed, and somewhat mystifying since the robbers seemed to get so little for their trouble. The troopers were out in force, but while they were scouring the neighbourhood of the attack, the next strike would be fifty or a hundred miles distant. The suspicion grew that it was local talent that was responsible--having a little fun on its own account and resting safe in the knowledge of how easily the settlers' households could be overcome.

As the gold yield at Coolooluk increased, the robberies in the area grew more daring. The actual hailing up was done by two men, a tall one and a short, broad one, but whether they were young or old their victims could not say, since their assailants wore crape masks and broad slouch hats pulled down over their ears. Their tactics were to wait until the men of the house were absent or, failing that, until the family was assembled at a meal. Then they entered, one by the hack door and one by the front, a proceeding which was facilitated by the primitive design of the houses. They knew the exact membership of each household, a simple matter to determine in the bush, and the taller man would be left in charge of them while the short one did the ransacking. It was believed that they had assistants, for on one occasion when they made off hurriedly, it was in response to a peculiar, shrill whistle from outside. Also, when leaving on that occasion, they threatened that anyone who moved before half an hour had elapsed would be shot by a sentinel on watch. One man who disregarded this warning and emerged from his hut ten minutes after their departure had a bullet whistle within a foot of him. So the threat was clearly not an idle one.