Twenty-one steamers were retained to transport the crowd at a ticket price of six shillings for the return trip. The crowds had been building at Circular Quay from early morning with Henry and Tom’s Ticket sellers were busily selling tickets from their temporary booths set up under a large banner that read: HEADLAND TIGHTROPE WALK. The walk was not scheduled till 3pm, allowing ample time for the steamers to make their way to the location disembark their passengers and moor a safe distance away.
The excitement of the crowd was palpable and dozens of men, women and children crowded about chatting excitedly. For many, this was the first time they have had a reason or opportunity to sail on the harbour and their enthusiasm was infectious. Long queues formed for those purchasing refreshments from the food sellers who Tom had arranged to sell on commission. Orders flowed and the sellers were getting through crates of bottled drinks, sliced pickled pork and chunky bread rolls. Soon the steamers were ready to depart and at 10 o’clock with much tooting of steam whistles to add the overall festive mood, the fleet set off on the trip to Middle Harbour.
*
Arriving before the crowds, Henry, Tom, Ada and John spent a relaxing morning on the rocky headland making final preparations and engaging in small talk. After a light lunch Henry took a short nap before making a final inspection of the securing point with Tom. Below them was a steady procession of steamers depositing passengers at the floating docks. Further into Willoughby Bay the assemblage of steamers that had deposited their passengers and now waited till it was time to pick up their passengers looked like an armada waiting to attack a foreign shore. Between them was another flotilla of small craft filled with ‘dead head’ non-payers.
On the shore people were milling around, some enjoying a picnic lunch while others queued at the food seller’s booths provided by John. From around the left hand side of the headland the last of the thousands who have come overland and through the unexpected toll point straggled in. On the other side, people were assembled around several bands. Henry looked questioningly at Tom.
‘It was Ada’s idea,’ explained Tom. ‘She thought the bands would add to the occasion and keep the crowds entertained till your walk. I too was skeptical, but I see now she was right. She is a bright young woman with plenty of good ideas, including this walk.’
Henry smiled. ‘Yes she seems to have plenty to offer and I like that she is not shy about voicing her ideas.’
‘You seem keen on her.’
‘Yes I am. Her temperament suits me and conversation always flows easily. Plus she is not displeasing to the eye!’
Henry changed the subject. ‘How do you think the wind will hold up? It seems to have remained at a low breeze strength all morning.’
‘I think it will remain much the same,’ replied Tom as he consulted his fob watch. ‘It is almost time; you’d best get changed.’
A tent had been erected to allow Henry to change in privacy and Henry strode over and bent his head and entered through the open flap.
Thirty minutes later, dressed in a dark tunic, red cape, white silk tights and a yellow turban for creative flair, Henry made his way to the platform where Tom, John and Ada are lined up waiting for him.
‘Is the rope satisfactory?’
‘Yes I have checked the tension at the capstan and had men checking the tensioners. They report all was correct,’ confirmed Tom.
Henry turned to John. ‘Thank you sir, for allowing us use of your land and arranging the same for the far side.’
John took Henry’s hand and shook it. ‘It is our pleasure,’ he said including a look to Ada to show it was a joint emotion. ‘From my perspective with these crowds it has already been a financial success, now we eagerly await your crossing safely to the other side so it will also be a performance success.’
‘I hope to meet my side of the agreement without fail,’ Henry joked, but saw even the mention of the words ‘hope’ and ‘fail’ in the same sentence caused Ada a slight distress. ‘I am sorry Ada, I did not meant to upset you. As you know I have completed the test walk without incident, I have no reason to suspect any difference today.’
Her brow furrowed. ‘Yes but this time you not only have the pressure of the crowds, you are also including some tricks. I fear that any stumble would seal your fate,’ she said with a wavering voice as she looked into his eyes. ‘Please be careful.’ And with that she reached up and kisses him on the cheek before hurrying away to the tent.
Henry looked around feeling slightly shocked and flushing at Ada’s unabashed display of affection. John had politely taken a step or two away and was taking a keen interest in nothing particular amongst the trees while Tom gazed down seemingly inspecting his shoes.
‘Nothing like subtle pressure,’ he said as he looked up and smiled at Henry. ‘Come on, let’s get you up on the rope, it’s time.’
Henry climbed the short ladder to the small platform and bent down to shake Tom’s hand. ‘Thanks Tom, you know that without you I could not do what I do.’
‘Think nothing of it, you know I am only in it for the money,’ chuckled Tom. ‘I will see you on the other side.’
*
He closed his eyes and tried to empty his mind. He found Ada’s image and her concerned face kept creeping to the fore. He struggled as he instead visualised himself on the rope. Focusing on this he then managed to allow his remaining senses to take in all around him. The sounds of the cicadas in the trees to his left, right and behind him, the call of a bird in the distance behind him, the sound of the bands and crowd below. He felt the warm breeze caress his face. He felt his feet, his shoulders, his arms and hands. He opened his eyes and looked down the rope. He was ready.
He stepped out, step, step, step, step. Forty steps and he cleared the obscuring trees on the headland. Here he stopped, waiting for Tom to fire a pistol shot into the air as arranged to attract the attention of the crowd and to signal the start of the walk. Bang! He saw heads turn and look up, many pointing at him. The crowd fell silent, and with some discord, so did the bands.
The crowd was silent with anticipation as he made his way further along the rope. About a quarter the distance covered and he stopped. The crowd murmured. Taking one hand from his balance pole he reached into his pocket he withdrew an extending telescope. He placed an end in his mouth and pulled the telescope to extend it. He then put it to his eye and surveyed the crowd on the opposite headland and those still on some of the nearby steamers. The crowd exploded in applause. Collapsing the telescope Henry replaced it in his pocket and then gave the crowd a wave.
He reached the halfway point and unlike the previous walk, where sitting on the rope was just part of having a talk with Tom, today it was part of the act. Taking advantage of the thicker rope at the join, he sat and waved again at the crowd with a yellow handkerchief that matched his turban and then playfully mopped his brow with it.
Gazing around, it was a magnificent sight. Boats large and small almost filled the waterway to the west and around and under the walking rope. Below he saw Tom and a couple of the workers wending their way through the mass of boats on their way to the eastern headland in the rowing boat. He then pulled the telescope from his pocket once again and surveyed the shores with more interest. He saw people lining the shore and temporary docks on each headland. He could even see men and children in trees further up each slope hoping to gain a better view.
Replacing the telescope in his pocket he rose to his feet and set off steadily walking up the incline, pausing again to balance on each leg in turn to the amusement of the crowd, walked backwards for a few feet before heading off once again before moving over the shore and the jumbled rocky headland rise up to meet him before he finally reached the sanctuary of the tie-off point where Tom waited for him.
Clambering down to the ground he turned and Tom observed ‘It looked good from below. From the comments I heard as we rowed through, people were very impressed.’
‘It was a fine walk, and the crowd! I could feel their nervous energy all the way, I have never felt that before!’ replied Henry.
They scurried down the private path to the waiting rowing boat and from there, with Henry standing in the bow, they made their way around to where the crowds were gathered. He waved his yellow handkerchief at the crowd, bowing occasionally and smiled broadly in response to enthusiastic cheers and the bands; Young Australian Band, the Albion Brass Band and Cooper and Bailey's International Show Band, who had all come to entertain the crowds, and the shrilling of the steamers’ whistles. The Young Australian Band played ‘The Blondin March’; a piece they had composed specially for the occasion.
Not only had the walk put him in the record books, the size of the crowd meant that even after costs, he and Tom would each pocket a not insignificant sum of money. And there was still tomorrow’s performance as well!
*
Later that evening Henry, Tom, Ada and John were enjoying a meal at the Norfolk Hotel when James Elson entered the dining area. Tom was facing in his direction and saw him first. ‘Don’t look around, but we are about to be visited by Elson,’' he murmured in a low voice. Henry looked at Tom and smiled.
‘Well I see you are celebrating today’s achievements, Giles. I must admit it was a good show, even if a bit pedestrian.’ Elson chuckled at his own joke and continued. ‘I am surprised you did not throw in a few more stunts, after all isn’t that what you acrobats are famous for?’
John stood up abruptly, his chair scraping noisily on the floor and addressed Elson angrily. ‘Sir, I do not know who you are, which probably indicates that you are a nobody. This is a private function and I would be pleased if you would remove yourself from my property forthwith before you cause yourself any further embarrassment.’
Elson, taken aback by John’s forthright challenge was momentarily speechless, but attempted to save grace and responded ‘Of course, well, congratulations Giles,’ before exiting as quickly as he could without appearing hurried.
‘Who was that dreadful man?’ asks Ada.
‘Oh I think your father summed him up very well when he said he was a nobody,’ chuckled Henry as he winked at Tom. ‘Just an envious nobody.’