He did miss the dances.

Seven moon days came and went and there was no sign of Red Kangaroo. The camp grew seriously alarmed. At first there had been no misgiving. The law was that a man could steal away for three nights and days and none could know his business unless he wished it. But no more than five men at any one time could thus vanish from camp. Furthermore, if a man were to be away more than three days, then on the fourth day there must be some friend in camp who could explain the reason why.

But there was no man to explain Red Kangaroo’s overdue absence, not even the anxious Giluram. It was plain to see, too, that his uncle Tulumi and his friend Burradella were very worried. So was old Bungadoon, who with the warrior Boobuk was roaming all over the bush searching for trace of Red Kangaroo. After the third day many had decided to track him, only to remember that it had rained the night he disappeared. Throughout all the wide bush there came no sight, no sign, no tidings of Red Kangaroo.

After seven moon days had passed by some suggested that prowling raiders, or woman-stealers must have been spying round the camp. They had ambushed Red Kangaroo and thrown his body into the river. The rain had washed out all tracks.

Few agreed with this theory. For Red Kangaroo was too alert, too strong and quick, too deadly with his weapons; he would put up such a desperately fierce fight even if surprised that he would probably get away, even though badly wounded. At least he would kill one or more of the raiders before being killed himself, and thus signs of the fight would be left for all to see. But there was no sign of a struggle anywhere.

So now others began to murmur in secret, or in places where no one could creep up and hear. And these believed that this must be the work of the chief and the elders. They had used the strangling cord on Red Kangaroo and thrown his body into the river—through jealousy, because Jerrabri knew well that the warrior lad would one day be chosen as a warrior chief to lead the tribe in raids and war, and through hatred because he saw through the elders’ abuse of the laws.

The groups huddled round the campfires at night talked in low tones now; even the children were quiet, whispering together. Silence, or glum looks, or sudden fierce frowns, were now common amongst the huntsmen during the daily hunts. As a storm gathers over the mountains, so a storm was fast gathering over the tribe.

Glowering too were the chief and the elders as they went amongst the people seeking, even demanding news, or sat frowning round their own fires. Angrily they questioned Tulumi and Burradella and the defiant Bungadoon and Boobuk and Giluram, and all the warriors and huntsmen known to be friendly to Red Kangaroo.