Brumbies in the Snow

by Paula Boer

  After an hour of weaving in and out of trees, and up and down false trails, Louise despaired that Ben would ever find Old Harry’s hut. The horses started to tire from all the climbing. Every time they turned around to retrace their steps, Lady became more agitated.

  Although Louise didn’t want to doubt Ben’s navigation skills, the cold weather began to sap her strength. “Maybe we should try something else? Remember you were badly injured when you went to Harry’s hut before. Perhaps we’re in the wrong area?”

  Ben’s frown echoed her own feelings. “Yeh, nothing looks familiar. Every time I see a rock or a tree that I think is the right way, the track is blocked off. Let’s head back towards the river.”

  The horses quickened their pace thinking they were heading home. As the trees gave way to open country again, Louise spotted a familiar landmark. “Look! That’s the signpost tree that leads to our secret valley. At least we know where we are now.”

  Jake fought the bit as Ben pulled him up. Looking where Louise pointed, Ben turned the stockhorse around. “You’re right. Let’s go in there out of this wind. We can decide what to do over lunch. I’m starving and the horses need a rest.”

  Lady seemed to know where they were going as she quickened her pace when they started on the path through the trees. The ravine in the valley was where Louise and Ben had built the corral to capture Honey and Brandy. The steep sides would shelter them from the weather which was becoming worse with every hour.

  Louise stared at the valley in amazement as they headed towards the ravine. “This looks so different. Six months ago it was lush and green, now everything is grey.” Shivers ran down her back.

  Despite the changed appearance of the valley, the tree where Louise and Ben had their lunches still looked the same. Its broad branches provided shelter under which the ground had remained relatively dry. After hobbling the horses, Louise brushed dead leaves and bark off the protruding roots, clearing a comfortable seat. She started unpacking her backpack of goodies—peanut butter sandwiches, chocolate bars, home-made cookies and a malted honey drink.

  A whicker from in the trees made her sit up. Peering through the gloom, Louise tried to make out who had made the noise. Jake and Lady stood with ears pricked a short distance away. Louise could just make out the vague shape of a horse under the trees on the far side of the clearing. A buckskin head, complete with headcollar, emerged.

  “Ben, look! It’s Honey!”

  Ben signalled for her to be quiet with a flap of his hand. “Don’t startle her. Hopefully she’ll come over to Lady and Jake.”

  Louise sat rigid under the tree, watching the horses greet each other. Honey approached Jake with her head lowered and nose forward. He leant towards her. They sniffed each other’s nostrils and the stockhorse nudged her neck. She took a step back before walking across to Lady. The part-Arabian mare lifted her head and held her tail high with the long chestnut hair falling over her rump. As Honey stepped towards her, Lady struck out with her teeth bared, turning and kicking both heels at Honey’s head.

  Jumping up in alarm, Louise suppressed a cry. She didn’t want to spook the mare, but wanted to prevent Lady from chasing her away. She watched in despair as the brumby turned and trotted back towards the trees.

  Ben slowly rose to his feet. “I’ll go and get Lady. See if you can lead Jake over to Honey. You might be able to grab hold of her rope.”

  Taking care to move slowly, Louise approached the hobbled horses. Ben had left the headcollar on Jake when he had released him, only removing his saddle and bridle. They always rode with a headcollar and rope on the horses in case they needed to tie them up. She hung on to Jake’s headcollar as Ben unhobbled both horses and led Lady away.

  Keeping Jake between herself and Honey, Louise moved closer to the trees. She mumbled nonsense in the hope that Honey would recognise her and stay calm. Jake tossed his head, pulling on her arm. “Whoa there, fella. Don’t be impatient.”

  Honey remained unmoving as Louise crept closer. Still talking quietly, Louise bent down and picked up the end of the brumby’s lead rope. The soggy end had frayed and become slippery with mud.

  “There, you remember me, don’t you? Let’s get you home.” Remembering the lessons that Harry had taught her when she originally caught Honey, she played the rope over the mare’s withers and up and down her neck before scratching her with her hand.

  Louise pushed the mare away from her. The mare took one step back and then returned to where she had been standing. Louise pushed her away a few more times. Satisfied the mare was compliant, she asked her to follow her by using gentle pull and release tugs on the rope. The brumby followed.

  Greatly relieved, Louise walked back to Ben, leading both Jake and Honey. “I can’t believe we found her. Thank goodness she remembers all she’s learnt in the last six months. I was worried that once she was back in the wild I’d have to start all over again.”

  Ben grinned back at her. “At least the day hasn’t been a total waste.”

  As Louise brought both horses under the lunch tree, Lady flattened her ears back and lunged at Honey with bare teeth. The young mare pulled back on the rope. Startled, Louise hung on too hard. Feeling the pressure on her head, the buckskin mare panicked and reared, pulling free. Spinning on her heels, she cantered off into the trees.

  “Oh no! Now I’ve lost her again.” In her frustration, Louise wanted to hit Lady for causing so much trouble, though she knew that wouldn’t achieve anything.

  “Calm down. We’ll catch her again. Let’s eat our lunch while she settles. She won’t go far.” Ben tied Lady to a low hanging branch to prevent her wandering and causing more trouble.

  Louise hobbled Jake and sat down next to Ben. “You’re right. I guess I’ll be able to catch her again. But how am I going to lead her home with Lady being nasty?”

  Ben finished munching on a mouthful of corned beef and home-made pickle sandwich. “I’ll lead her for you. I know you’d rather take her home yourself, but there’s no point risking losing her on the way back.”

  Before she could answer, Louise heard a rustle behind her. Turning to look over her shoulder, she jumped up as she recognised a long grey face with wobbling ears. A whiskered old man walked beside his mule. “Harry! We’ve been looking for you. How did you know we were here?”

  Old Harry joined them and accepted the biscuits that Louise offered. “I wasn’t looking for you. I was bringing feed for your brumby. I saw her earlier this morning and reckoned she’d be hungry.”

  “Thanks, Harry. I can’t believe she came back to where we caught her.” Louise bubbled with enthusiasm now that both Honey and Harry were here. Everything would be fine.

  The old hermit gathered his kangaroo skin coat around him and made himself comfortable on a stump. “She’d remember that there was hay here before. Brumbies are smart creatures.”

  Ben handed Harry a large chunk of cheese. “We’re glad we found Honey, but we’re supposed to be looking for lost walkers. They went hiking towards Mt. Evans yesterday and didn’t get back when expected. The ranger is out with search crews.”

  Old Harry ran his fingers down his tousled beard. “Tourists, eh? Well, earlier yesterday I saw foot prints heading towards the old mines. Maybe that’s them? But it’s a long way from the track to Mt. Evans.”

  Louise jolted upright. “I was at the mines in the afternoon. I didn’t see any signs of people, but there was an avalanche. Do you think they could have been caught by the snowfall?” The worry showed on her face and she fidgeted in agitation. She couldn’t imagine how horrible it would be to be buried under all that snow.

  Ben replaced the cap on his water bottle. “I’d better radio Mr Cartwright.” He rummaged in his pack and extracted the radio. Turning it on, he checked it was on the correct channel for the repeater. He pressed the ‘talk’ button and called.

  No-one responded.

&
nbsp; Moving to another location, he tried again. Still no answer. “There doesn’t seem to be a signal here. We’d better get a move on and head there ourselves. I’ll pack up your things and tack up Lady while you go and catch Honey again.”

  Old Harry removed a cloth bag from his mule’s pack. “Here, take a few oats. Good job I always carry a few medical supplies too; I'll come with you to the mines.”

  Chapter 6

  Ben finished saddling the two horses. As the wind picked up, fresh drifts started to form around the base of the trees. Glad he had worn his fingerless gloves, Ben looked to see whether Louise had managed to catch Honey.

  He needn’t have worried. Louise led the buckskin brumby out of the trees and made her way over to the lunch tree. The beam on her face showed how easily she had caught the mare. “She was no problem without Lady snapping at her.”

  “Let me mount up, then pass the rope to me.” Ben sprang onto Jake and accepted Honey’s lead.

  Louise untied Lady from the tree. Keeping well away from Jake and Honey, she mounted. As Lady danced and tried to swing her rump towards the brumby, Louise whacked her with the ends of the reins. “Behave. Isn’t the day hard enough without you being silly?”

  Ben laughed at the cross expression on Louise’s face. He had never seen her smack a horse before. “That’ll teach her. Come on, let’s get moving and warm up. You’d better put Lady out front.”

  Old Harry had been fiddling with his mule’s gear. Ben watched as the old man bounced on both feet at her side and then, with a big spring, lay across her back. With a wriggle of his whole body, he swung his right leg over Jenny’s rump and sat astride.

  “Are you okay without a saddle?”

  “It beats trudging in this snow.” Harry’s legs dangled in front of Jenny’s packs. He looked like he was sitting in an armchair. The single rope from her halter made do as reins. Harry clicked to her. She walked off with quick short steps, following Lady.

  Ben waited a moment before following on Jake. Honey ponied alongside as if she had been led all her life. Not wanting to get too close to the others, Ben kept Jake in check, despite the old stockhorse pulling to be in front. “Steady there, mate. No point rushing.”

  Louise led the way out of the ravine and along the track back to the signpost tree. Ben could hear her chatting to Old Harry, only catching a few words as the wind whipped them away.

  “…couldn’t find you…”

  “…wombat…”

  “…strangers…”

  They made their way down to open country. Finding a well-trodden path where the snow had packed down, Louise turned and called to Ben. “Are you okay to trot?”

  “Sure. Honey is fine.” Ben felt bad about having to lead Louise’s mare despite it being the sensible thing to do; they couldn’t risk Lady attacking her again. As the riders in front increased their pace, Ben gave Honey a tug on her headcollar. The mare broke into a steady trot beside Jake.

  Ben thought of his own brumby. He dreamt of the day he could start his own stud with Brandy and break in horses for a living like his Uncle Graeme. Lost in his thoughts, Ben didn’t pay much attention to his surroundings. He almost rode into Jenny’s rear end before he realised the others had stopped.

  “Look, Ben. Those brumbies are starving.” Louise pointed towards the river where a small band of wild horses pawed at the ground. Despite the arrival of people, the brumbies had not bothered running away. The herd looked thin and dull coated.

  Ben kept Honey well away from Lady. “They’re doing it tough this winter. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them in such bad condition.”

  Old Harry nodded agreement. “I’ve never known a snow season so bad. Not for a long time, anyway.”

  Louise frowned. “Why don’t the rangers put out hay for them? They must make money from the muster each year. Couldn’t they use that to feed them through winter?”

  “Ha! That would go against their policy of not interfering.” Harry swung his legs and clicked Jenny on. He took the lead and mumbled as he rode off.

  Keeping Lady on the opposite side of Jake to Honey, Louise rode alongside Ben for a while. “I don’t think keeping horses alive is interfering, do you?” Louise kept looking across at the mob of wild horses.

  Ben could see the starving brumbies worried her. “I don’t understand it either. They manage the numbers by culling in summer, so why not feed in a bad year?” He shrugged his shoulders.

  He’d never thought to question the park’s management of the animals before. “I suppose this is nature’s way. The strong will survive, the weak won’t. I guess that’s what makes them so tough. We’d better get a move on. We’ve still a long way to go.”

  By the time the three riders reached the area of the old mines, the heavy clouds had started to shed large fluffy flakes. Flurries blew around in whirls across the ground like mini tornadoes. Gusts rattled the treetops. The horses walked with their heads down, trying to keep the snow from blowing into their eyes.

  Ben shivered as he looked about him. He had never seen the snow so deep in this area of the park. Normally he had to go further up the ranges to get decent conditions for his snowboard. Last winter, he had driven with his brother round to the fire trail that entered from Goldriver. Even then they had to walk quite a way to find decent snow.

  “Let’s take shelter in the mine for a bit.” Old Harry slid off Jenny and led her inside the dark mouth of the hillside. A sign that said ‘Keep Out! Danger!’ rested on its side at the entrance.

  Louise dismounted and loosened Lady’s girth. “Is it safe? We don’t want the horses to take fright and get hurt.”

  Ben held out his hand. “Here, give me Lady. I’ll take her and Jake in. You hang on to Honey.”

  The older horses followed Harry and his mule into the mine without any fuss. Happy to get out of the bad weather, they had no fear of tight spaces. Ben turned them to face the entrance. “See if Honey will come in. It’s too miserable for you to stand out there with her.”

  He watched as Louise encouraged the young brumby into the mine. She snorted and took tentative steps forward before retreating. Louise released the rope so as not to pull on her head.

  She talked softly to her and asked her to walk forward again. This time the mare obeyed. Once inside the gaping mountainside, she stood stiff-legged at the opening. “There’s a good girl. See, it’s like a stable.”

  Louise stroked her nose and rubbed her ears. “Isn’t that better than standing out in the cold wind?”

  Ben fumbled in his pocket for a chocolate bar. Dividing it into three, he handed the pieces around. “Now what? We’ll never find anyone in this weather.”

  Louise chewed a mouthful of peanuts and caramel. “I can’t see where the avalanche came down yesterday. It all looks the same, with deep snow everywhere. I don’t think anyone could have survived a fall like that.”

  “Shh! What’s that?” Old Harry held up his hand for silence. He had wandered further into the mine than the others, leaving Jenny standing with her rope dangling on the ground.

  Ben stopped eating and listened. “Someone’s calling.”

  Old Harry disappeared into the dark tunnel.

  For a while there was no sound. Ben started to hear rocks being moved and Harry grunting with effort. Muffled noises sounded as if people were talking. Ben wasn’t sure whether to follow Harry into the gloom. He decided he’d better stay with Louise and the horses.

  A short while later, Harry returned. “I think we’ve found our hikers. There’s been a rock fall so we’ll have to dig 'em out. Come and give me a hand.”

  Not knowing what to do with the horses, Ben turned to Louise. “Do you think you can hold all three? I’d better help Harry.”

  Louise shook her head. “I doubt Honey will stay in here if Lady gets close. I don’t want to risk losing her again.”

  �
�Tie them together, lad. They won’t go far. They’re too smart to go back out in the wind.” Old Harry returned into the mine.

  Ben unsaddled both horses and tied their lead ropes together, hobbling Jake as a double precaution. “Have you got a torch with you?”

  Louise removed her back pack and rummaged inside. “Here. Good job I carry one for when I cycle home late in the dark.” She handed the flashlight to Ben, taking care not to let Honey get too close to the other horses.

  The bright beam shone into the dark interior, revealing a pile of rocks to the ceiling. Ben removed his waterproof coat and started pulling stones out of the way. He helped Harry roll a large boulder from where it had lodged half way up the pile. Putting his mouth close to a fissure revealed in the wall, he shouted through his cupped hands. “We’ll have you out soon. Stay clear on the other side in case the rocks slip.”

  Ben resumed moving stones. The work warmed him up and stopped him worrying about what they would find under the landslide.

  After half an hour of digging, a hole large enough for a person to crawl through appeared. Ben hadn’t spoken much to the two walkers while he worked, saving his breath for his labours. He poked his head through the hole. “Are you badly injured?”

  “Frankie’s hurt. Her leg’s trapped under a rock. I can’t budge it. Thank goodness you came.”

  Ben could hear the woman crying although the man seemed alright. “I guess you’re James and Francesca?”

  “Yes, yes. Please hurry.”

  Old Harry hadn’t spoken to the trapped people while he worked. Now he scrambled up to the hole and wriggled his way through, the same way he had mounted Jenny with a waving of his legs. After a moment his whiskered face peered back through the gap. “There’s ropes on Jenny. Send one end through here and tie the other end round her chest.”

  Ben did as requested. When Harry gave him the okay, he clicked to the mule like he had heard Harry do. Jenny took the strain of the rope and pulled.