The Call of the High Country

by Tony Parsons

  It was a three-mile ride from the Campbell homestead up the road to High Peaks and, in company with Stuart, Catriona began making more regular trips, ostensibly to exercise her ponies and visit Anne MacLeod. Catriona already possessed the curiosity of most girls where boys were concerned, although her attraction towards David was more stirred by his disregard for her than for anything physical she might have felt. The ride to High Peaks was a safe one, because for the first half of the distance the road was visible from Inverlochy and for the second half it was visible from High Peaks homestead.

  Catriona had her new grey show pony which she wanted David to see, so she told her mother she would ride to High Peaks to see Mrs MacLeod.

  ‘Very well, Catriona. I’ll call Anne and ask her if it’s convenient,’ Jane Campbell said. ‘I know she likes to give you lunch when you visit.’

  ‘I can take something to eat in a saddlebag,’ Catriona said.

  ‘Not in this hot weather you can’t. Anyway, Anne looks after you very well.’

  ‘But David goes out all day in the hills with what he carries in his saddlebag,’ Catriona said.

  ‘David is David. You are not. I know you’re a good enough rider to get to High Peaks, but what will you do when you get there?’ Jane was beginning to get suspicious of Catriona’s constant desire to visit the MacLeods.

  ‘I talk to Mrs MacLeod about lots of things. I help her make scones and cakes and other things David likes. And sometimes she rides with me up to the high places to meet David. I’ve been to most places except Yellow Rock. Why did they call it Yellow Rock anyway?’ Catriona asked.

  ‘I understand that it was because of all the broken yellow rock on the slopes. The big rocks have become eroded and cracked and when the sun shines on them they appear very bright,’ Jane explained.

  ‘Mr MacLeod says it’s too dangerous for me to ride up there.’

  ‘Very sensible of him, too. David’s grandfather was killed there,’ Jane reminded her.

  ‘Yes, I know. It’s funny it isn’t too dangerous for David. He has been going up Yellow Rock for years and he’s the same age as me,’ Catriona said petulantly.

  ‘If the MacLeods choose to risk their only child, that’s their business. However, they are absolutely right not to let you ride up it,’ Jane said with some asperity.

  ‘Which only goes to show how much better a rider they consider David to be,’ Catriona said.

  ‘Catriona, don’t be tiresome. There’s more to it than you imagine. The MacLeod horses have all been reared in that kind of country. They’re very surefooted and they are also used to carpet snakes. There are quite a lot of those up there. Horses bred on flat country don’t handle the rough country as well. I’ve heard your father say so on several occasions. The track up to Yellow Rock is only three feet wide in places. Have some sense, Catriona.’

  Catriona was delighted that her mother was letting her visit High Peaks, so she was content to let the argument rest there – for the time being anyway.

  Catriona set off on her journey after breakfast next morning. Jane watched her until she was out of sight. The grey pony had a good walking pace and handled the rise to High Peaks very comfortably. It was just on ten a.m. when Catriona rode into the house yard. Anne was standing on the front verandah with a pair of binoculars in her hand.

  ‘Hello, Catriona. Is this the new pony?’

  ‘Good morning, Mrs MacLeod. Yes, this is Princess. Do you like her?’

  ‘She is very pretty,’ Anne said diplomatically. ‘Very pretty indeed.’ Anne had learned a lot about horses since her marriage to Andrew. The first thing she had learned was that the best-looking horses were not necessarily the best horses overall. Not that she doubted the quality of the grey pony. Angus Campbell wouldn’t waste money on inferior stock.

  ‘I’m sure you’re ready for some morning tea. I’ve some fresh cake and scones inside. And what about a cold orange drink?’

  ‘That would be lovely, thank you,’ Catriona said with her usual impeccable manners, and in the next breath: ‘Is David close by?’

  ‘No, I’m afraid he isn’t. He went to look at sheep on Yellow Rock. And Andy is up on Jimmy’s Mountain. They saw a couple of flyblown sheep yesterday and missed them. I doubt that either will be home before late afternoon,’ Anne explained.

  ‘Oh,’ Catriona sighed. ‘I did want David to see Princess. Do you think I could ride up towards Yellow Rock?’

  ‘Well, I don’t know. How far would you go?’

  ‘Up to the first big rocks. Mr MacLeod has never let me go beyond there.’

  ‘I know. I have ridden right up Yellow Rock a few times and I always have my heart in my mouth. It’s a very dangerous ride, but if you only go as far as the big rocks, that should be all right. David may see you crossing the creek and come down to you. If you don’t meet up with him, you must come back here.’

  ‘Very well, Mrs Mac,’ Catriona agreed.

  So after morning tea Catriona rode out of the house yard and down past the kennels that housed the MacLeod kelpies to the first gate. This opened into what the MacLeods called their holding paddock. Here sheep were turned in while waiting to be crutched or shorn or before being taken back to the old paddocks. This paddock opened into the first hill paddock, which was well grassed and not as steep as on the range proper. The further slope ran down to the creek, which she crossed before ascending into higher country. Half Moon Creek bisected the hills on either side of her. It was a favourite place for picnics and she had been there several times. A few wethers and some horned Hereford cows grazed along the creek. The peak of Yellow Rock towered majestically above her, dominating the rest of the countryside. From the creek it was a long, slow climb to the first big rocks. These were a collection of rocks of many different shapes and sizes which were scattered about over perhaps half an acre of hillside. Anne once said the rocks had probably been distributed as the result of some monstrous disturbance, like an earthquake. David, more romantically, had said that it looked as if a giant with a bad temper had flung them about.

  This part of the climb, though steep, was not too rough, but from the big rocks on, the going became increasingly tough. Catriona dismounted and let her pony have a breather. Princess had been watered down at the creek and she was still quite fresh. She immediately began to crop the short grass between the rocks. Her small owner climbed up on top of one of the big rocks to get a better look at the mountain. There was no sign of David or his horse. That settled it – if David could ride up Yellow Rock, so could she! What a surprise he would get when she appeared near the top of the mountain.

  Having made up her mind, Catriona remounted and pointed her pony up the track that led through the scattered rocks up one side of the mountain. The going got more difficult as the gradient grew steeper and the short grass gave way to crumbled rock and dead timber. The track grew narrower; in places it was no more than three or four feet wide. On her left the mountainside plunged away steeply. Slowly, very slowly, Catriona let her pony pick her way up the mountain. They came to one particularly narrow section which showed obvious evidence of past landslides. Water rushing off the mountain had scoured out rock and shale and pushed it into a ravine below the track. There was a great mound of soil, sand and fine rock that had built up over countless years. It was at that moment that she saw David silhouetted against the skyline. He was not on horseback and she remembered that Anne had told her it was impossible for anyone to ride right to the top of Yellow Rock. The last section of the mountain had to be climbed on foot.

  David caught sight of the small rider on the grey pony just as Catriona saw him appear at the rim of the plateau that was the peak of Yellow Rock. His surprise was great, but it did not last long.

  ‘Cat, don’t come any higher! Get off and back your pony,’ he shouted at the top of his voice. ‘Don’t try and turn her. The track’s too narrow.’

  Catriona had been on the verge of doing exactly what David had screamed at her. It was just that, having co
me so far, she couldn’t bear to turn back and miss the chance to really surprise David.

  Catriona took up the reins and gave the command to back. Princess took one obedient step backwards, but right at that critical moment she saw, smelt or sensed the big carpet snake in the small cave above the track. The side of the mountain was so steep that the cave was just above her head. Perfectly mannered and tutored though she was, Princess, like most horses, had an innate fear of snakes. She reacted to the snake’s presence by taking one step sideways. Her near side front and back feet went over the ledge and she fell away down the slope.

  David heard Catriona’s scream as pony and rider fell over the ledge. He watched in horror as they hit the rubble and slid down the gully, finally coming to rest on the mound of sand and shale. Catriona had been thrown clear of Princess, who had somehow managed to get back onto her feet. Her legs had sunk several inches deep in the mound, which had halted the pony’s descent down the mountain. But Catriona was lying prostrate.

  David rushed down off the peak, leading his own pony as fast as he could, until he came to a section of track wide enough for him to tether it. He then lay on his stomach and looked down to where Catriona and her pony had fallen.

  Catriona was trying to get up but there seemed to be something wrong with one of her legs. Her blouse had ripped away from one shoulder and a leg of her jodhpurs was hanging loose. Blood was running down one side of her face and dripping onto the front of her blouse. The pony seemed to have fared better than her rider. She had hair missing from two large areas, a shoulder and just below her rump. A small trickle of blood dropped onto the sand.

  ‘Cat, are you okay?’ David called anxiously.

  ‘I don’t think so. My leg hurts awfully and so does my shoulder.’ He heard her voice weakly, as if it were coming from a great distance.

  ‘Can you stand up?’ he asked.

  ‘I don’t know. I’m too sore and everything hurts. Everything.’ Catriona was crying and in deep shock. Her tears were flowing in little runnels through the dirt on her face. It was the most terrifying thing that had ever happened in her short life.

  She had been temporarily stunned by the fall, though partly cushioned from full impact with the ground by the pony’s body. One leg and shoulder had taken the weight of the landing. Now that the impact of the fall was wearing off, Catriona became aware of pain in several places. David was the only person within miles of her, and she realised instinctively that he could do very little to help her.

  David squatted on his heels and examined the crying girl and her pony. He studied the slide and the position of the sun and came to a quick decision. Taking his handkerchief from his pocket, he knotted it around the neck of the blue kelpie at his side. Ben was one of Andy’s old dogs, but David had worked him up until he’d been given Glen. Since Glen’s death, David had gone back to using Ben. ‘Here, Ben, get down.’

  He pushed the dog over the ledge and watched him slide down the gully to where Catriona lay on the heap of rubble. The dog looked up at the boy and wagged his tail gently.

  ‘Cat, untie the handkerchief from around Ben’s neck and lay it on the ground. Can you do that?’

  He watched as Catriona untied the knot and spread the hankie out beside her.

  ‘Stay, Ben. Stay,’ he called down to the dog. Ben lay down on the square of cloth with his head pointing up to the ledge. The boy knew that his dog would not move from the handkerchief until commanded to do so. Ben would guard a saddle, a bridle, a stockwhip or any item of clothing. ‘Watch it, Ben.’

  ‘What are we going to do?’ Catriona wailed. She was hurting, and very, very frightened.

  ‘Cat, I’m going to have to leave you and go for help. Ben will stay with you until we get back. Is your watch still working?’

  She looked down at her wrist and nodded. ‘It seems to be.’

  ‘What time is it?’ he asked.

  ‘Ten past one,’ she called through her sobs.

  ‘We’ll be back here between two and three. I’ll have to ride one of Dad’s horses to make it quicker. Don’t be scared. I’ll bring ropes and a blanket for the other fellas to use. We’ll have you up in no time. You thirsty?’

  ‘A little bit,’ Catriona sobbed. The prospect of David leaving her brought renewed misery.

  David went back to his pony and unstrapped his water bottle. It was an unbreakable ex-army bottle which he threw down beside her.

  ‘See you soon, Cat,’ he called over his shoulder.

  And then he was gone, leaving Catriona and Ben alone on the mountain.

  Anne MacLeod was standing on the verandah with the binoculars glued to her eyes when she saw her son appear through the opening that led up into the steeper part of the property. He was alone and pushing his pony hard. David would never ride his pony in such a fashion unless something was wrong. She walked down the steps and stood by the gate, holding it open so David would not have to stop.

  The pony was lathered and heaving and David was off in a flash. He took the bridle and saddle across to the stables that housed the working horses. Anne closed the gate and hurried after him, sure now that something awful had happened.

  ‘David, stop. What’s the matter?’ she asked anxiously.

  ‘Can’t stop, Mum. Catriona is hurt. Maybe real bad. She and her pony went over the track on Yellow Rock. They landed on the sand pile. The pony is missing a bit of skin but doesn’t look too bad. Cat doesn’t seem to be able to get up. There’s something wrong with one of her legs, and her shoulder is hurt, too.’ He was panting as he threw the saddle on his father’s mare, Jess.

  ‘Oh, my God. What are you doing with that horse?’

  ‘I’m going back to her. I’ll take some throwing ropes, a blanket and another bottle of water. Mum, put the sheet out for Dad. When he gets here tell him we’re near the place where he found Grandfather. Just a bit this side. He knows the spot. You’ll have to ring Mr Campbell and get him and Stuart up here. They’d better bring saddled horses on their truck. Dad will need to show them the way. And, Mum, you’d better ring for the ambulance.’

  ‘David, you aren’t going on Jess?’

  Jess was one of Andy’s camp horses and much bigger than David’s ponies. Unbeknown to Anne, Andy had let David try her out during their mustering trips.

  ‘I’ve ridden her in the yard and I know I can manage her,’ he fibbed. ‘I need to get back to Cat in a hurry. She’s crying a lot.’

  Anne looked at her son in astonishment. He was only ten, yet here he was taking charge of a very serious situation and telling her what to do into the bargain. He was for all the world like a seasoned campaigner.

  ‘Mum, tell Dad I’ve taken three throwing ropes. He had better bring his rifle in case we have to destroy Cat’s pony. I don’t think we can get her up the slope.’

  ‘I thought you said the pony seemed all right,’ Anne said with a frown.

  ‘It would need a lot of men to get her up, and she might go crazy.’

  ‘David, you must wait up top until Andy arrives. Don’t try and do anything on your own. Promise me.’

  ‘Cat is hurt, Mum. Hurt and scared. I have to get down to her. Don’t worry. If Dad asks about Ben, tell him I left him with Cat.’

  He rolled a blanket into a tight bundle and tied it neatly to the cantle of the saddle. He then used a piece of doubled binder twine to tie the throwing ropes through the saddle Ds. The last item to be added was a water canteen, which he filled from a tap in the horse yard.

  ‘Put the sheet out quick, Mum,’ he said as he climbed into the saddle.

  With her heart in her mouth, Anne watched David lean over the mare’s neck and send her racing up the track into the hills. He rode that horse as if he had been born on her back. It was only after Anne had lost sight of him that she hurried to the house for the sheet. There had been a longstanding arrangement between Anne and her husband that in an emergency a white sheet would be hung over the back fence or the fence into the holding paddock. This could be
seen from most vantage points about the property.

  Anne knew that Andy was up on Jimmy’s Mountain and would have no trouble seeing the signal. She just prayed he would see it soon enough. It sounded as if Catriona were seriously injured. That was the only reason Anne had not raised stronger objections to David’s rescue plans. In Andy’s absence, David was the only person able to get back to Catriona in a hurry.

  The sheet in place, she hurried back to the house and rang the Inverlochy number.

  ‘Is that you, Jane? It’s Anne MacLeod. Is Angus there?’

  ‘He’s in the study going over his books. Is something wrong?’ There was a sharp edge to Jane’s voice.

  ‘Please get Angus, Jane. Get him quickly,’ she said urgently.

  ‘There is something wrong. Oh, Angus. Quickly. It’s Anne.’

  Angus came on the phone almost immediately.

  ‘What is it, Anne?’

  ‘There’s been an accident. Catriona and her pony have gone over the ledge at Yellow Rock. She is conscious, but there’s something wrong with her leg or ankle. David said she can’t stand up. He’s taken ropes and a blanket back with him, but he won’t be able to get her up on his own. I’ve put out a signal for Andy. Can you bring a saddled horse on your truck? I’ll ring the ambulance to save time.’

  ‘Anything else?’

  ‘I don’t think so. Oh, it might be an idea to bring another man with you in case Andy doesn’t turn up. I can take you up there, but you might need some more muscle.’

  ‘I’ll bring Stuart. Be there soon.’

  Anne put the phone down with relief and hurried down to the horse yard to saddle a fresh horse for Andy as well as her own mare. That would save some time. As much as she was concerned for Catriona and her parents, Anne’s mind was consumed with concern for her small son.