Outback Outlaw

by Chris Blake

Zuma reached up and caught the returning boomerang. “It’s lucky I’m so talented,” she said.

  Tom didn’t stop to reply. Wading further out, he reached the exhausted prisoner and helped him out of the water.

  For a while, the man lay panting on the bank. Tom and Zuma looked him up and down. Like Ben Hall he had a bushy beard, but his hair was longer. His clothes were old and tattered, his feet bare.

  Eventually, he opened his eyes. He looked from Tom’s worried face to Zuma’s. “Good day. My thanks to you,” he said in a deep voice. “Frederick Wordsworth Ward, at your service.”

  Tom frowned. He was sure he had heard the name before. Suddenly, he remembered. “Frederick Ward!” he said. “Ben Hall told me about you. You’re Captain Thunderbolt! You stole a horse and got sentenced to ten years in prison!”

  Chuckling, Frederick Ward sat up. “That’s me all right,” he said. “And if it wasn’t for you two, Captain Thunderbolt would be inside that shark’s belly by now.” He stopped. His voice became serious as he continued. “You’ve made yourself a mate for life. If there’s anything I can do in return, just say the word. What are your names?”

  “I’m Tom,” Tom told him.

  “And I’m Zuma,” added Zuma. “It was me who hit the shark with the boomerang. Just in case you were wondering.”

  Monti joined them. He was shaking his head sadly. “I’ve lost the tracks of that fellow you’re after,” he said. “They stop at the bank. I think he might have waded down the river.”

  Tom looked thoughtfully at Captain Thunderbolt. “Maybe you could help us,” he said. “We’re looking for an outlaw named Dusty Moore. He stole Ben Hall’s loot. There’s a gold coin in it that belongs to Zuma. It’s really important that we find it.”

  “We’ve tracked him this far,” Zuma continued. “Do you know where he might be going?”

  “Dusty Moore?” Captain Thunderbolt nodded. “That’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. We used to ride with the same gang before he joined up with Ben Hall. Dusty was a nasty piece of work – mean, and dangerous too.”

  “He hasn’t changed much,” said Zuma glumly.

  “Back when I knew him Dusty used to have a hideout not far from here. I don’t think he’s used it in years,” said the captain. “But if he’s on the run from Ben Hall it would be the perfect place to lie low.” He got to his feet. “I can probably still find it. But a couple of kids like you shouldn’t be meddling with someone like that all on your own. Whatever happens, you’ll have Captain Thunderbolt right at your side.”

  Monti grinned. “Well, it looks like you two don’t need my help any more,” he told Tom and Zuma. “And I’ve got a Walkabout to finish.”

  Zuma gave him a hug. “Thanks for your help, Monti,” she said.

  “We’d never have come this far without you,” Tom added. He grinned. “And I’d never have tasted witchetty grubs, either.”

  Monti laughed. “Good luck, both of you. Keep a lookout for terrifying snakes.” With a final wave, he walked back into the bush.

  When Monti was out of sight, Captain Thunderbolt shaded his eyes from the sun and looked along the river. “As I remember, Dusty’s place is this way,” he said, striding along the bank. Tom and Zuma ran after him.

  “I bet you’re glad to get off Cockatoo Island, Captain,” Tom said. “It must have been pretty bad to make you risk swimming through a shark-infested river.”

  “You can say that again,” the outlaw replied. “It’s no place for a man who loves the outback as much as I do. Believe me, I’m never going back.”

  They followed the path of the river for about another hour before the outlaw came to a halt and pointed to a shack nestled away in the trees. “This is the place.”

  Panting, Chilli quickly found some shade and lay down.

  “Poor doggie,” said Zuma. “You’ve walked a long way and you’ve only got little legs.”

  In reply, Chilli put his head on his front paws and barked quietly.

  “Zuma!” whispered Tom urgently. “We’re supposed to be creeping up on a dangerous outlaw, remember?”

  “Of course I remember,” Zuma whispered back. She turned to look at Dusty Moore’s hideout. The small rickety shack looked like it had been built from pieces of driftwood. Set back from the riverbank, it was almost completely hidden by scrubby trees and bushes.

  “Looks like he’s at home,” said Captain Thunderbolt in a deep growl. “There’s a black stallion tied up outside.”

  “The same one he took from outside the hotel,” said Tom. He turned to Zuma, eyes wide with excitement.

  She returned his look. “We’re so close,” she whispered. “Tlaloc’s coin must be inside. How can we get it without Dusty trying to stop us?”

  “Get down! Out of sight, you two,” hissed Captain Thunderbolt suddenly. He ducked behind a bush.

  Zuma grabbed Tom and pulled him behind a tree trunk as the shack’s door opened. It was Dusty Moore, still dressed in the same straw hat and red shirt. He peered round the door and looked out, checking the coast was clear. Then he walked off with an empty bucket in his hand, whistling a jaunty tune. A moment later, he disappeared behind a large rock.

  “There’s a creek round the corner,” Captain Thunderbolt said. “He’s gone for water. That gives us a few minutes to find your swag.”

  “Let’s go,” said Zuma. In a flash, she streaked out from behind the tree and dashed towards the hut. Tom and the captain followed.

  A second later, they were all standing inside Dusty’s secret hideout. “There aren’t many hiding places here,” said Tom. His voice sounded doubtful. The small hut contained only a rough wooden bed covered with a single blanket, a table, one chair and a chest.

  “Ben Hall’s loot’s got to be here somewhere,” whispered Captain Thunderbolt. “You look under the bed, I’ll check the chest.” The outlaw flung open the lid of the chest and peered inside. Meanwhile, Tom lifted up the bed so Zuma could crouch down and look underneath it. “Nothing here,” she reported. She stood up and frowned.

  Dropping the bed, Tom flung back the blanket. “Or here,” he muttered.

  Captain Thunderbolt was tossing clothes, lengths of rope and a few tools out of the chest, but there was no sign of any treasure.

  “Sorry, kids,” he groaned. “Wherever Dusty’s hidden the swag, it’s not here.”

  A shadow fell across the floor. Tom, Zuma and Captain Thunderbolt all looked round at the same moment.

  Straight down the barrel of Dusty Hall’s gun.

  “Idiots,” Dusty sneered. “Don’t you think I keep a watch of my own hideout? I saw you coming, so I set a little trap. And you walked straight into it. Idiots,” he repeated the word with a curl of his lip.

  Captain Thunderbolt scowled. “If anyone’s an idiot it’s you, Dusty. You give bushrangers a bad name.”

  Dusty chuckled nastily. “Bushranger? It’s a nice way of saying ‘thief’, Captain. We’re all thieves. Only I don’t dress it up in fancy words.”

  “Some of us only steal from folk that can afford it and share our loot with the folk that need it,” Captain Thunderbolt growled.

  “Too bad I’ve outwitted you then,” Dusty replied. “Just like I outwitted Brave Ben Hall. I guess that makes me the greatest bushranger in the land!”

  “You didn’t outwit anybody,” retorted Zuma. “You waited until Ben Hall’s back was turned and then you ran away before he could catch up with you. You’re nothing more than a big scaredy-cat.”

  “Shut your mouth!” Dusty spat on the floor, then he turned his pistol on Tom and Zuma. “I should have shot you two meddling kids when I had the chance,” he said. “It would’ve saved me all this fuss. I guess I’ll just have to do it now.”

  Dusty’s finger tightened on the trigger. A shiver of fear went down Tom’s back. Then, from the corner of his eye he saw a small movement through the open door – Chilli!

  In a flash, Tom remembered that Dusty hated dogs. He’d looked terrified when Zuma had hel
d Chilli up to him back at the hotel. “Hey, Dusty,” he shouted, pointing behind the outlaw. “Is that a dingo out there?”

  Chilli seemed to understand. As Tom said the word ‘dingo’, the little Chihuahua snarled his deepest snarl and jumped at Dusty Moore. Clinging to the outlaw’s leg, he sunk his teeth into his calf.

  “Get it off me!” Dusty shrieked. Flapping his arms, he screamed and spun round the room. “Get it off! GET IT OFF!”

  The gun flew across the tiny shack and landed at Captain Thunderbolt’s feet. In one movement, he crouched and picked it up. Pointing the gun at the ceiling, he fired a single shot through the roof. Clicking the hammer back, he pointed the gun at Dusty. “Hands to the sky,” he growled.

  Instantly, the outlaw stopped. His face paled. Slowly, he put his hands in the air.

  Zuma darted forward. Scooping Chilli off Dusty’s leg, she held the little dog tightly and scratched his ears. Chilli barked happily. “He’s usually very friendly,” she told the outlaw. “But he doesn’t seem to like you very much. I wonder why?”

  Dusty Moore glared at her and cursed.

  “Watch your mouth,” said Captain Thunderbolt. He waved the gun towards the chair. “Take a seat, Dusty. There are plenty of folk who’ll happily collect the reward for handing you in. Once I’ve tied you up I’ll let them know where to find you.”

  “I can tie him up, Captain,” said Tom. He picked up a coiled rope and wound it round the snarling Dusty. Tom had learned to tie a proper knot on a pirate ship during a previous time-travel adventure, and he made sure Dusty couldn’t escape.

  “Good work there, kid,” said Captain Thunderbolt. He grinned at Dusty. “Say hello to all the fellows back on Cockatoo Island for me, won’t you, Dusty! And I wouldn’t try swimming off if I were you. There are a whole lot of sharks in the river, and you might not be as lucky as I was.”

  Although the captain was grinning from ear to ear, he noticed that Tom and Zuma weren’t looking quite so happy. “Why are you two so glum?” he asked.

  “We might have found Dusty, but we still haven’t found that coin,” replied Zuma.

  “And you never will,” Dusty sneered. “I won’t tell you where I’ve hidden it.”

  “I said keep your mouth shut, Dusty, or I’ll gag you as well.” Captain Thunderbolt stroked his beard thoughtfully. “He might have buried it outside,” he said. “Or maybe we should search his horse’s saddlebags.”

  “What about the riddle, Tom?” Zuma suggested. “Didn’t it say something about the swag being under a tree?”

  Tom nodded. “A cabbage tree,” he said. “But I’ve no idea what it meant. I’ve never even heard of a cabbage tree and I don’t know what one looks like …”

  His voice trailed off. Captain Thunderbolt was roaring with laughter. Red-faced, he slapped his knee.

  “What’s so funny?” said Zuma.

  “Don’t you kids know what a cabbage tree is?” the captain spluttered. “I thought everyone knew that.”

  Tom and Zuma stared at him. “Um … we’re travellers,” said Tom. “We’re not from round here.”

  “So what is a cabbage tree?” asked Zuma.

  “It’s a hat,” chuckled Captain Thunderbolt. “A big hat. Everyone wears them.”

  “A hat like this one?” asked Zuma. Reaching out, she swept the hat off Dusty Moore’s head. Underneath, a small leather pouch was attached to the inside brim of the hat. The pouch jingled when she picked it up.

  “Exactly like that one,” Captain Thunderbolt smiled.

  Zuma emptied the pouch on to the table. Money and jewellery spilled out across the wooden surface. In the centre was a golden chain with a glittering Aztec coin attached to it.

  “Tlaloc’s coin!” she shouted in delight. The slave girl picked up the chain and dangled it from her fingers. “We did it, Tom. We beat Tlaloc again!”

  Tom beamed happily. Turning to Captain Thunderbolt, he said, “Thanks for all your help. We have to go now.”

  “But what about the rest of the swag?” asked the captain.

  “It belongs to Ben Hall,” said Tom. “At least, it was Ben Hall that stole it. Give it to him. Tell him to throw the biggest party Australia has ever seen.”

  “Now that’s a great idea,” laughed Captain Thunderbolt.

  “Come on, Tom,” Zuma interrupted. “Let’s get back before Tlaloc springs another nasty surprise on us.” Holding Chilli close, she touched the coin. Tom did the same.

  A blanket of shimmering mist fell on them. Within a second, Tom could see nothing but twinkling lights in the strange fog.

  “Goodbye, Captain Thunderbolt!” he heard Zuma call out.

  The floor dropped away. Once again Tom felt like he was floating in nothingness. Suddenly, he remembered something. “Oh no,” he yelled. “We’re going back to …”

  “… the school talent show,” Tom finished.

  The mist vanished. Once again, he was standing on the wet floor of the stage. In his hand was a mop. For the moment, time was standing still, but sooner or later he would have to face the disaster that he and Zuma had caused. All the dancers in Break Quake were angry with him, and Mr Braintree had looked furious too. “Oh no,” he groaned, wondering what his punishment would be. “I wish we had stayed in Australia.”

  “Me too,” said Zuma. “I’m starving. I’d love another handful of those delicious witchetty grubs.”

  Tom turned to Zuma. With their quest over, the Aztec girl was dressed in her feathered headdress and blue skin paint again.

  “Are you telling me you liked eating those things?” asked Tom. He made a face, remembering the feeling of the wriggly grubs in his mouth.

  Zuma nodded. “What’s not to like? They tasted just like—”

  Whatever Zuma was about to say was cut off by a ground-shaking rumble of thunder. Stinging rain began to fall. Shielding his eyes with one hand, Tom looked up.

  Above his head, Tlaloc’s face glared down from swirling black clouds. The rain god’s eyes were bulging with anger, his sharp teeth gnashing together. “So, you found the third coin,” Tlaloc said. As he spoke, the thunder shook the stage again. Rain poured down harder than ever. “I am here to collect it.”

  Without a word, Zuma held up the chain with the golden coin.

  Tom shivered as he stared at the face above him. With every coin they found, Tlaloc seemed to become more enraged. We’d better be careful next time, Tom thought to himself. The rain god would surely make the next quest even more difficult.

  “You may be halfway there,” Tlaloc snarled. “But you still need three more coins to win Zuma’s freedom. You can be certain that you will fail.”

  Tlaloc disappeared in a flash of lightning. The rainstorm vanished. For a few seconds there was silence, then Tom heard another thunderous roar growing in the background.

  “What’s Tlaloc up to now?” he said with a groan.

  “I don’t think it’s thunder. It’s coming from out there,” said Zuma, pointing to the stage curtain.

  Someone backstage raised the curtain. A spotlight fell on Tom. The roaring sound increased. He gulped again, uncertain what was happening. Then he blinked in surprise. The audience was laughing, stamping their feet and cheering wildly.

  “What’s going on?” Tom said, gazing around.

  Zuma didn’t reply. She was too busy bowing to an audience that couldn’t see her.

  Not knowing what else to do, Tom waved. The audience erupted into fresh cheers. A man in the front row shouted, “Encore! Encore!”

  Mr Braintree bounded out from the backstage area. “Let’s hear it for Tom,” he bellowed. “Wasn’t he brilliant?”

  “But it was an accident,” Tom said, looking confused.

  Mr Braintree wasn’t listening. “The way you knocked that bucket over and made everyone on stage slide about,” he chuckled. “Very, very funny.”

  Eventually, after more cheering, the curtain dropped again.

  “The audience thought that was hilarious, Tom,” said
Mr Braintree. “No one need know it was an accident!”

  From the other side of the stage, Break Quake ran out, shouting with laughter. One of the dancers slapped Tom on the shoulder, no longer angry with him. “You’ve got to join our group,” he yelled. “With a comedy routine like that, we could be on TV!”

  Blushing, Tom walked off stage and into the wings.

  “Looks like you stole the show,” said Zuma, her eyes twinkling.

  They glanced at each other and then burst out laughing. Three coins down and three to go – who knew where they would end up next?

  WEAPONS

  Ned Kelly was a dab hand with a sawn-off shotgun! Find out what other weapons the Outback Outlaws used.

  Musket: A long firearm meant to be fired from the shoulder, used by early European settlers.

  Pistol: A small hand gun that was popular because it could be easily hidden.

  Boomerang: A moon-shaped wooden tool designed to return to its owner when thrown. They were used by Aborigines for hunting, sport and entertainment and were often beautifully decorated.

  Nulla Nulla: An Aboriginal club made from wattle, common in the Queensland area.

  AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK TIMELINE

  In OUTBACK OUTLAW Tom and Zuma go to the Australian Outback. Discover more about it in this brilliant timeline!

  TIME HUNTERS TIMELINE

  Tom and Zuma never know where in history they’ll travel to next! Check out in what order their adventures actually happen.

  FANTASTIC FACTS

  Impress your friends with these facts about Outback Outlaws!

  Ned Kelly was Australia’s most famous bushranger and outlaw. Many charges were brought against him and his notorious gang, including theft, bank robbery, murder and even taking an entire town captive! Kelly was eventually hanged in Melbourne Gaol in 1880. Yikes!

  Bushrangers were outlaws in Australia, similar to highwaymen in Britain. Many of them, like Captain Thunderbolt, became household names.