Chapter 6. "Coo-Ee! Coo-Ee!"

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_ CHAPTER SIX. "COO-EE! COO-EE!"

A run was made for the wagons, in whose shelter the ladies were placed, while with quite military precision, the result of the captain's teaching, men and boys stood to their arms, so that an inimical tribe would have had to face six double guns, whose discharge had been so arranged, that two would always be loading, two firing, and the other two ready to pour in their shots in case of a rush.

It was just at the edge of the grove at one end, where a glimpse of the black figure had been seen, and every eye was strained on the watch for the next appearance of danger.

"I'm glad we were warned in time," said the captain in a low voice. Then, after a painful pause, "Mind this; not a shot must be wasted. If we are to fire on the poor wretches, I should prefer for them to be at a distance, so that the charges of buck-shot may scatter and wound as many as possible, so as to give them a lesson. A close shot means death. No one fires till I give the word."

The moments grew into minutes, and as Norman looked back over his shoulder, he could see the anxious faces of the four ladies peering out at him from their shelter, but not a word was spoken.

"Think they will get round to the back to try and drive off the bullocks?"

"I was thinking of going to see, and--Look out!"

For all at once there was a loud rustling of the bushes in front of them, as if something was making a rush, and the next moment a black figure bounded into the open space where the fire was burning.

"Why, it's old Shanter," cried Rifle, bursting into a hearty laugh, in which the black joined, showing his white teeth with childish delight as he came close up, holding out something hung on the end of his spear, and carrying what appeared to be a bag made of bark in his left hand, in company with his boomerang, his war-club being stuck in the skin loin-cloth which was the only garment he wore.

"White Mary--big white Mary," he cried, while every eye scanned the trees behind him, but only for a moment or two, as all felt now that it was another false alarm.

"What do you want?" said the captain rather angrily, for he was vexed at the black's arrival.

"Shanter want big white Mary," cried the black; and he shook the objects on his spear, which proved to be a couple of opossum-like animals evidently freshly killed, and then held out his bark basket or bag.

"What for?" cried Norman.

"Good eat. Good, nice;" and then as, seeing there was no danger, the ladies came forward, the black went to Aunt Georgie, and held the bag to her. "Good, cook, fire," he said. "Big white Mary. Little white Marys--" Then he stopped short looking at Mrs Bedford, as if puzzled what to call her. But a gleam of intelligence shot across his face, and he cried, "Other white Mary."

"He's brought these for us to eat," said Rifle.

"Good eat," said the black. "Big white Mary gib soff damper."

He nodded and smiled triumphantly from one to the other.

"Put away the guns," said the captain angrily. "Here, I cannot have this black crow haunting our camp. He'll be bringing his tribe to pester us. What would you do, Jack?"

"Don't know yet," said Uncle Jack. "What has he brought in his bag?"

"Some kind of fruit," said Rifle, who had joined his aunt in the inspection of the contents of the bag, as she thrust in her hand, and snatched it away again with a cry of disgust.

"Good eat; good eat. Roastum fire," said the black indignantly, and pouncing upon a couple of large, fat, white objects which the lady had dropped, he ran with them to the fire, and placed them close to the embers, afterwards going through a pantomime of watching them, but with gesticulations indicative of delight.

"Why, they're big fat grubs," cried Norman.

"Of course," said the captain. "I have heard that they eat them. And these other things?"

He turned over the two dead animals.

"Good eat," cried the black; and he rubbed the front of his person, and grinned as broadly as nature would allow him to spread his extensive mouth. Then, turning to Aunt Georgie, "Big white Mary gib soff damper?"

The lady snorted loudly, and looked as if she would never give him another piece; but she drew her knife, and cut off a goodly-sized piece of a loaf, and held it out once more on the point of the knife.

Shanter took the bread without hesitation.

"No tick a knife in um," he cried laughing. "Shanter no 'fraid."

Then taking his bread, he went off to a short distance, and sat down to eat it, while a meal was prepared for the travellers, who then settled down to rest till the heat of the day was past.

But after a few minutes the boys were on their feet again, and ready to explore about the outskirts of the patch of woodland chosen for their resting-place; and on reaching the fire they found that the black had come close up, and seeing his grubs neglected, was busy roasting and eating them.

He looked up, laughing good-humouredly, drew out three or four of the freshly-roasted delicacies from the embers with a bit of pointed stick, and held them up to the boys.

"Good," he said.

"Well, you eat 'em," replied Norman.

The black needed no further invitation, but devoured the nicely-browned objects with great gusto, and smacked his lips.

"I say," cried Tim; "they don't smell bad."

"Ugh!" ejaculated Rifle.

"Seems so nasty," said Norman, as he watched the black attentively, while the fellow carefully arranged some more of the delicacies among the embers. "They're great fine caterpillars, that's what they are."

"But they smell so good," said Tim. "I've often eaten caterpillars in cauliflower."

"So have I," said Norman; "but then we didn't know it."

"And caterpillars lived on cauliflower, so that they couldn't be nasty."

"I don't see that these things could be any worse to eat than shrimps. Old Shanter here seems to like them."

"Old Shanter--O' Shanter--old Tam o' Shanter," said Rifle, thoughtfully.

"You'd better help him to eat them," said Norman, tauntingly.

"I'll eat one if you will," cried Tim. "They smell delicious."

"Very well. I will, if Rifle does too," said Norman.

"Then you won't," said that young gentleman. "Ugh! the nasty-looking things."

"So are oysters and mussels and cockles nasty-looking things," cried Tim, who kept on watching the black eagerly. "I never saw anything so nasty-looking as an old eel. Ugh! I'd as soon eat a snake."

"Snakum good eat," said Shanter, nodding.

"You eat one, then," cried Norman. "I'll shoot the first I see."

"Look here," cried Tim; "are either of you two going to taste one of these things?"

"No," cried both the others; "nor you. You daren't eat one."

"Oh, daren't I? You'll see," replied Tim. "Here, Shanter, give me that brown one."

"Good!" cried the black, raking out one looking of a delicate golden-brown, but it was too hot to hold for a time; and Tim held it on a pointed stick, looking at the morsel with his brow all puckered up.

"Go on, Tim; take it like a pill," cried Norman.

"He won't eat it: he's afraid," said Rifle.

"It's too hot yet," replied Tim.

"Yes, and always will be. Look out, Rifle; he'll pitch it over his shoulder, and pretend he swallowed it."

"No, I shan't," said Tim, sniffing at his delicacy, while the black watched him too, and kept on saying it was good.

"There, pitch it away," said Norman, "and come on and have a walk. I'd as soon eat a worm."

By this time Tim had sniffed again and again, after which he very cautiously bit a tiny piece off one end, hesitated, with his face looking very peculiar before beginning to chew it, but bravely going on; and directly after his face lit up just as his cousins were about to explode with mirth, and he popped the rest of the larva into his mouth, and held out his hand to the black for another.

"Oh! look at the nasty savage," cried Rifle. "You'll be ill and sick after it."

"Shall I?" cried Tim, as with his black face expanding with delight Shanter helped him to some more, and then held out one to Norman to taste.

"I say," cried the latter, watching his cousin curiously, as he was munching away fast; "they aren't good, are they?"

"No," said Rifle; "he's pretending, so as to cheat us into tasting the disgusting things."

"But, Tim, are they good?"

"Horrid!" cried the boy, beginning on another. "Don't you touch 'em.-- Here, Shanter, more."

The black turned over those he had roasting, and went on picking out the brownest, as he squatted on his heels before the fire, and holding them out to Tim.

"Well, of all the nasty creatures I ever did see," said Norman, "you are the worst, Tim."

He looked at the grub he held with ineffable disgust, and then sniffed at it.

"You'll have to go to the stream with a tooth-brush, and clean your teeth and mouth with sand."

He sniffed again, and looked at Tim, who just then popped a golden-brown fellow into his mouth.

"Ugh!" ejaculated Rifle, but he took the one the black held out to him on the stick point, smelt it cautiously, looking at Norman the while.

Then both smelt together, looking in each others eyes, Tim feasting away steadily all the time.

"I say," said Norman; "they don't smell so very bad."

"No; not so very," replied Rifle.

"I say: I will if you will."

"What, taste this?"

"Yes."

"Get out. Think I'm going to turn savage because I've come to Australia? Don't catch me feeding like a bird. You'll want to eat snails next."

"Well," said Norman, "Frenchmen eat snails."

"So they do frogs. Let 'em."

"But this thing smells so nice. I say, Rifle, bite it and try."

"Bite it yourself."

Norman did, in a slow, hesitating way, looked as if he were going to eject the morsel as the corners of his lips turned down, but bit a piece more instead, then popped the remaining half in his mouth, and smiled.

"Horrid, ain't they?" cried Tim, while, grinning with genuine pleasure, the black held out another to Norman, who took it directly, held it in first one hand, and then the other, blew upon it to cool it, and then began to eat.

"Oh, they are horrid," he cried. "Give us another, blacky."

"Look here," cried Rifle, watching him curiously, to see if there was any deceit. "I'm not going to be beaten by you two. I say--no games-- are they really nice?"

"Find out," cried Norman, stretching out his hand to take another from the pointed stick held out to him. But Rifle was too quick; he snatched it himself, and put it in his mouth directly.

"Oh, murder! isn't it hot," he cried, drawing in his breath rapidly, then beginning to eat cautiously, with his features expanding. "Here, give us another, Tam o' Shanter," and he snatched the next.

"Oh, come, I say, play fair," cried Norman, making sure of the next. "Ain't they good?"

"'Licious," said Rifle.--"Come on, cookie. More for me."

"All agone," cried the black, springing up, slapping his legs, and indulging in a kind of triumphal dance round the fire to express his delight at having converted the three white boys, ending by making a tremendous bound in the air, and coming down on all fours. "Eat um all up. You go 'long--come along. Shanter find a more."

"No, not now, old chap," said Norman. "Wait a bit."

"Had 'nuff? Good, good!" cried the black, holding his head on one side and peering at all in turn. "Good--corbon budgery!" (Very good!)

"Yes, splendid. We'll have a feast next time."

The black nodded, and picked up the two little animals which he had tossed aside, and rehung them upon his spear.

He was evidently going to roast them, but Norman stopped him, and pointed out into the open.

"Come along with us."

The black understood.

"Yes; Shanter, come along. Chop sugar-bag."

"But, look here," continued Norman, pointing in different directions. "Black fellow?"

"Black fellow?" cried Shanter, seizing his nulla-nulla--the short club he carried with a round hard knob at the end. "Black fellow?"

He dropped the dead game off his spear, dodged sharply about among the trees, and ended by hurling his weapon at a tree twenty yards away, in whose soft bark it stuck quivering, while the black rushed up, seized it, dragged it out, and then treating the trunk as an enemy, he attacked it, going through the pantomime of knocking it down, beating it on the head, jumping on the imaginary body, and then dragging it in triumph by the heels to where the boys stood laughing. Here he made believe to drop the legs of his dead enemy, and gave him a contemptuous kick. "No budgery. Shanter mumkull (kill) that black fellow."

"You seem to have found a very cheerful companion, boys," said a voice behind them, and Uncle Jack came up with a grim smile on his countenance. "Is that the way that fellow means to kill us?"

"No; that, was to show how he would kill all the black fellows who came near us."

"Mumkull black fellow," cried Shanter, shaking his club threateningly. "No come along."

Seeing the group, the captain, who had been taking a look round, and been speaking to German, who was seated on the top of one of the loaded wagons keeping watch, came up to them.

"That black fellow still here?" he said sternly.

"Black fellow come along," cried Shanter. "Where?"

He rushed about among the bushes, dodged in and out through the trees, and went through a pantomime again of hunting for enemies, but soon came back.

"No black fellow. All agone. Shanter kill mumkull."

"Very well," said the captain; "now then, you go."

He pointed away back in the direction they had come, and, looking disappointed, the black went off toward where the river lay, and soon disappeared among the trees.

"It will not do to encourage any of those fellows about our camp," said the captain decisively; and they returned to where the ladies were seated in the shade, all looking rested and cheerful, and as if they would soon be used to their new life.

A couple of hours later they were on their way again, with the captain and Uncle Jack in front scouting; and as they went on, the latter kept pointing out suitable-looking pieces of land which might be taken up for their settlement, but the captain always shook his head.

"No, Jack," he said; "they will not do."

"But the land is rich in the extreme."

"Yes; but all one dead level. Floods come sometimes, terrible floods which rise in a few hours, and we must have high ground on which to build our station, and to which our flocks and herds can flee."

"Right; I had not thought of that," said Uncle Jack, and they journeyed on till night, making a grove of magnificent trees their resting-place, and then on again for two more days, their progress being of course slow in this roadless land. Everything about them was lovely, and the journey was glorious, becoming more and more like a pleasure excursion every day as they grew more used to the life. The girls were in robust health, the boys full of excitement, and not a single black was met.

It was toward the close of the third day since Shanter had been dismissed, and they were still journeying on over the plain toward a range of mountains far away in the west, for there the captain was under the impression that he would find the tract of land he sought.

As before, they had marked down a clump of trees for their resting-place, and this they reached, just as the golden sun was sinking in a bank of glorious clouds. Here all was peaceful; water was at hand, and the bread brought from the settlement being exhausted, the flour-tub was brought out of the wagon, and Aunt Georgie proceeded to make the cake to bake for their meal--the damper of the colonists--a good fire being soon started by the boys, while the men quickly rigged up the tent.

This done, Sam German came up to the boys and took off his hat and scratched his head, looking from one to the other.

"What's the matter, Sam?" said Norman.

"In trouble, sir."

"What is it?"

"That there little ord'nary heifer as master brought out."

"What the red and white Alderney?" said Rifle.

"No, sir; that there one like a tame rat."

"What the mouse colour?"

"Yes, sir."

"Has she been eating some poisonous weed?"

"I dunno, sir."

"Well; is she ill?" said Rifle.

"Dunno that nayther, sir. She's gone."

"Gone?" cried Tim. "Ida's favourite?"

"Yes, sir. Gone she is. I can't mind o' seeing her for a long time."

"Then you've lost her?" cried Norman angrily. "Now, don't you be too hard on a man, Master Norman, because I ain't the only one as druv the cattle. Mr Munday Bedford's had a good many turns, and so has master, and you young gents druv 'em twiced--"

"Hi! German," shouted the captain just then. "I can't see the mouse-coloured heifer;" and he came toward them with Ida, who had been looking for her pet. "Where is she?"

"That's what I was talking to the young gents about, sir. I can't find her nowhere."

"Not find her?" cried the captain angrily. "I wouldn't lose that animal for fifty pounds. She is so choice bred. Well, saddle a couple of horses. You and one of the boys must go back in search of her. She must have hung back somewhere to-day."

"Can't call to mind seeing her to-day," said the gardener.

"Not seen her to-day?"

"No, papa," said Ida. "I looked for her this morning, but I did not see her, nor yet yesterday, nor the day before. I thought you had tied her up somewhere."

"Never mind, father; we'll soon find her," said Rifle. "She will not have strayed far from the track, will she, Sam?"

"I can't say, sir, now, as I've seen her for three days."

"Then you have neglected your duty, sir. You ought to have known every one of those beasts by heart, and missed one directly. It is disgraceful."

"Yes, sir, I'm afraid it is, but I never missed her, and I feel about sure now that I haven't seen the poor beast since three days ago, when you came to me and said you wanted to drive for a couple of hours, and sent me to mind the leading cart. Next day Mr Munday Bedford, sir, was driving all day at the rear. I was very careful. Shall I start back at once?"

The captain was silent for a few minutes. Then turning to Ida: "Do you think it is three days since you have seen the heifer?"

"Yes, papa; I am almost sure it is," she replied. "But have you been to try and find her?"

"Yes, every morning; but I never for a moment imagined that she was gone right away."

"I won't come back without her, sir," said German eagerly.

"It is of no use," he replied sternly. "We cannot wait here, perhaps six days, for you to go back and return. No: we may find her later on when we are going back to the port. We can't go now."

"Oh!" said Ida, piteously.

"I am very sorry, my dear, but it would be madness to stop. We must go on."

"But couldn't you get some one else to look for her?"

"Whom shall I send?" asked the captain drily; and for the first time Ida realised how far they were from all society, and that by the same time next night they would be farther away still.

"I forgot," she said. "You know best."

"Let us go, father," said Norman. "We boys will find her."

The captain waved his hand and turned away, evidently very much put out at the loss, for the mouse-coloured heifer was destined to be the chief ornament of the dairy out at the new farm.

"I can't help it, Miss Ida," said German, deprecatingly. "I took all the care of the poor beasts I could. I get all the blame, because I found out she was gone, but I've been right in front driving the leading carts nearly all the time; haven't I, Master 'Temus?"

"Yes, Sam; but are you quite sure she has gone?"

"Now, boys!" shouted the captain; "tea!"

They were soon after seated near the fire, partaking of the evening meal. The last rays of the setting sun were dying out, and the sky was fast changing its orange and ruddy gold for a dark violet and warm grey. Very few words were spoken for some time, and the silence was almost painful, broken as it was only by the sharp crack of some burning stick. Every one glanced at the captain, who sat looking very stern, and Mrs Bedford made a sign to the boys not to say anything, lest he should be more annoyed.

But Aunt Georgie was accustomed to speak whenever she pleased. To her the captain and Uncle Jack were only "the boys," and Norman, Raphael, and Artemus "the children." So, after seeing that everybody was well supplied with bread, damper, and cold boiled pork, she suddenly set down the tin mug to which she was trying to accustom herself, after being used to take her tea out of Worcester china, and exclaimed:

"I'm downright vexed about that little cow, Edward. I seemed to know by instinct that she would give very little milk, but that it would be rich as cream, while the butter would be yellow as gold."

"And now she's gone, and there's an end of her," said the captain shortly.

"Such a pity! With her large soft eyes and short curly horns. Dear me, I am vexed."

"So am I," said the captain; "and now say no more about her. It's a misfortune, but we cannot stop to trouble ourselves about misfortunes."

"Humph!" ejaculated Aunt Georgie; and she went on sipping her tea for a time.

"This is a very beautiful place, Edward," she said suddenly. "I was saying so to Marian here. Why don't you build a house and stop without going farther?"

"For several reasons, aunt dear. But don't be uneasy. I shall select quite as beautiful a place somewhere farther on, one that you and the girls will like better than this."

"I don't know so much about that," said the old lady. "I'm rather hard to please.--Oh!"

"What's the matter?" cried those nearest, for the old lady's ejaculation was startling.

"I've got it!" she cried. "Oh the artfulness of the thing, Edward, that man."

"What man?"

"That black fellow. Depend upon it, he came here on purpose to steal our poor little cow, and he has driven it away somewhere to sell."

The captain started and looked excited.

"Oh no, aunt," cried Norman; "I don't think he was a bad sort of chap."

"See how honest he was about the 'tickpence,'" said Rifle.

"I don't think he was the sort of fellow to steal," whispered Tim to Hester.

"I believe that you have hit the right nail on the head, aunt," said the captain; and the boys looked across at one another, thought of the grub feast, and felt hurt that the black, whose many childish ways had won a kind of liking for him, should be suspected of theft.

"Well," said the captain; "it will act as a warning. Bought wit is better than taught wit. No more black fellows anywhere near our camp. It is my own fault. I was warned about them. They have none of the instincts of a civilised man, and will kill or steal, or be guilty of any crime. So understand here, boys, don't make friends with any more."

"Coo-ee!"

The cry was far away, but it came clearly enough through the night air. Then again, "Coo-ee!"

"The blacks," cried the captain. "Quick! They see the fire, and think it's the camp of friends. Away from it every one. Guns."

There was a quick movement. The ladies were got under shelter, and the men and boys took refuge in the shadow cast by the bushes, all feeling that a white in the full light of the fire would be an easy mark for a spear.

The captain gave his orders briefly that there was to be no firing unless the blacks attacked them, and then they waited, Rifle suffering all the time as he crouched down in the scrub from an intense desire to answer each "coo-ee" as it came nearer and nearer, and now evidently from the track they had made in their journey that day.

"It is not a large party," whispered the captain to Artemus, who was close to him.

"Only one, I think, uncle, for it's the same man who keeps coo-eeing."

"Impossible to say yet," was whispered back by his uncle. "Feel frightened?"

"Well, I hardly know," said the boy. "I don't feel at all comfortable, and keep on wishing they'd gone."

"Naturally, my boy. I shall fire a shot or two over their heads when they come close in. That will scare them, I expect."

"Coo-ee!" came from the darkness before them, but they could see nothing now, for all near the ground and among the trees was almost black, though overhead the stars were coming out fast, and eight or ten feet above the bushes it was comparatively light.

"Coo-ee!" came again from apparently a couple of hundred yards away, but not another sound.

"Creeping up very cautiously. Suspicious because of the fire, and receiving no answer," whispered the captain. "They thought it was the camp-fire of their tribe, but now feel sure it is a white man's fire."

"Queer work this," whispered Uncle Jack to Norman, who was with him on the other side of the track, the fire lying between them and the captain.

"Yes, isn't it, uncle?" was whispered back.

"I'm beginning to ask myself why I'm here when I ought to be in London at my club."

"I'm glad you are here, uncle," whispered Norman.

"Can you see any of them, Tim? Your eyes are younger than mine."

"No, uncle," came after a pause.

"They must be crawling up, so as to hurl their spears from close by."

"Coo-ee!" came again from very near now. "Not suspicious, then?" said the captain, wonderingly.

"I can see one now, uncle," whispered Tim. "He's high up."

"In a tree?"

"No: moving; coming nearer; he's on horseback."

"Nonsense! Black fellows don't ride horses out in the scrub."

"But he is mounted, uncle. I can see plainly now."

"You are right," said the captain, after a short pause.

"Coo-ee!"

This was only from a few yards away, and directly after a familiar voice shouted:

"Why baal not call along coo-ee? Hi, white fellow! Hi, boy! Hi, big white Mary!"

"Why, it's Shanter," cried Norman, excitedly. "Hi coo-ee!"

"Coo-ee! coo-ee!" came back, and directly after a black face was seen above the bushes full in the glare of the fire, and then the body came into view, as the black's steed paced very slowly and leisurely forward, and suddenly threw up its head and gave vent to a prolonged "moo," which was answered by first one and then another of the cows and bullocks chewing their cud close to the camp.

"Hooray!" shouted Rifle and Tim together. "Here's a game. Look! he is riding on the little Alderney."

"Hey!" cried the black, drumming the heifer's ribs with his bare legs, and giving her a crack near the tail with his spear to force her right up into the light, where he sat grinning in triumph with his spear now planted on the ground.

"Yes, that's the ord'nary heifer, sure enough," grumbled German.

"Shanter fine along this bull-cow fellow all 'lone. Yabber moo-moo hard!"

He gave so excellent an imitation of the cow's lowing that it was answered again by the others.

"What, you found that heifer?" cried the captain.

"Shanter fine bull-cow fellow all 'lone."

"Where? when?"

The black pointed with his stick.

"Bulla (two) day. Come along bull fellow slow, Big white Mary gib Shanter soff damper; no eat long time. Fine sugar-bag--kill poss? No; Shanter come along bull-cow fellow."

"I can't make out his jargon," said the captain, tetchily.

"He says, father, he found the cow two days ago, and couldn't stop to eat because he wanted to bring it along. He's hungry and wants damper."

"Soff damper," said the black, correctively.

"Soft bread because he's hungry. Isn't that what you mean?" cried Norman.

"Soff damper. Big white Mary gib damper. Marmi gib Shanter tickpence bring bull-cow fellow all along."

"That I will," cried the captain. "Tut, tut! How I am obliged to eat my words. You're a good fellow, Shanter," he cried, clapping the black on the shoulder. "Go and have some damper.--Give him some meat too."

However badly Shanter expressed himself, he pretty well comprehended all that was said; and at the captain's words he began to rub his front, leaped off the heifer, and followed the boys to the fire, round which the party gathered as soon as they found there was no danger, and where Aunt Georgie, in her satisfaction, cut the fellow so big a portion of bread and bacon, that his eyes glistened and his teeth gleamed, as he ran away with it amongst the bushes to lie down and eat.

Half an hour later they found him fast asleep, and the first thing the boys saw the next morning, after a delightful night's rest, was the shining black face of Shanter where he was squatting down on his heels, watching them and waiting for them to wake.

Norman lay for some minutes, still half asleep, gazing at the black face, which seemed to be somehow connected with his dreams and with the soft sweet piping of the magpie crows, which were apparently practising their scales prior to joining in the morning outburst of song, while the great kingfishers--the laughing jackasses of the colonists--sat here and there uttering their discordant sounds, like coarse, harsh laughter, at the efforts of the crows. _

Read next: Chapter 7. "I Am Satisfied"

Read previous: Chapter 5. "How Many Did You See?"

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