The warriors nodded gravely, and returned with his answer to the council.

The council finally chose Tulumi as war chief for two years, with Burradella as second chief and chief adviser, and Red Kangaroo as leader of a warrior party.

Throughout all the excitement the life of the tribe went on, for nomads must hunt to live, and must often be on the move. Even in a well-watered country of rich lands the seasons vary as they come and go, the game comes and goes and often must be followed as it moves. Moreover, it must not be wiped out in any one locality lest it should not come again. Plant life varies, too, with localities and seasons, while the fish vary with the rivers and billabongs and the waters and foods that flow in and out of them. And no waterhole must be fished right out because then fish will be slow to breed again. Thus a tribe must be constantly on the move within the limits of its tribal lands. Also, the digging of foodstuffs takes time and work, as does the replacement of traps and nets, carrying utensils, weapons, stone or bone or shell knives, awls, and sewing needles, and other necessary things. And all the time vigilance must be maintained, feud and raid both guarded against and carried out, and without fail the important ceremonial life of the tribe must be kept up. The life of the wild Australian aboriginal is much more complicated than it appears.

But all things seemed easier now somehow to the Gunn-e-darr tribe of the Kamilaroi. There was now no distrust, no gloom; there was much more laughter in the camps since Red Kangaroo’s duel with Jerrabri. Old Bungadoon’s voice could be heard rolling round the camp, joking more than ever. Even the warrior Boobuk had been noticed absent-mindedly doing little things for his wife, Kapota. But this, of course, was too good to last.

Red Kangaroo’s lone raid on the Coonabarabran tribe to steal his wives, and his duel with Jerrabri, were worked up into a great corroboree by old Mullionkale the play-maker. Red Kangaroo was especially pleased that his deadly shield blow, against both the Coonabarabran warrior, Kulki, and Jerrabri, was acted in special detail, for nothing could better convince the warriors of the worth of this blow, which he believed in his heart could mean such a lot to the protection of the tribe. And he had the satisfaction of seeing the warriors sharpening the ends of their shields and eagerly practising the blow. He was certain this would prove a surprise to any enemy; he had already proved it three times himself.

Tulumi and Burradella led the tribe with care and caution. Red Kangaroo was content to make suggestions, silent if his uncle or Burradella or the council of the elders, after consideration, decided against his suggestions. But some were acted upon, such as that the boys—and the older warriors—must practice the shield blow until they thoroughly understood it. They were with him, too, in encouraging the warriors to go on wife- and boy-stealing raids to build up the strength of the tribe again as quickly as possible. But only after each proposed raid had been carefully talked over and planned by the elders was it to be carried out, lest vengeance bring a real war that might overwhelm them.