The Gold Hunters' Adventures; Or, Life in Australia

hake, which was sufficient to arouse Fred and myself fr

not seem an hour since we had first stretch

n which was hissing a spider filled with small bits of beef and pieces of potatoes. A sauce pan was doing duty for a coffee-pot, and the fragrant berry was agreeable to the nostrils of hungry men. Our host, the convict Smith, after he had aroused

e awake; and while he spoke, he was trying to coax a

ing a little bit of breakfast ready before w

d drawn the rough table to the middle of the room,

short time I stood watching the gradual changes that were taking place as the sun edged its way towards the horizon. First long streaks of a bright golden color were extended like huge arms, and then they changed to a

t; and as they were crushed by my heavy tread, they yielded up their life with a perfumed breath that f

occasional crack of the dreadful whip and the fierce shout of the d

t; and I retraced my steps to the home of the convict, who

cularly observed, and our long seclusion from the society of females had

or a start. I'll be along here with my team in

d provisions for

t a quantity for you also, and charge just what I pay. At Ballarat

rifles were reloaded, and revolvers examined, and after we had indulged in the luxury of a smoke, we he

t the sight of which the cattle fairly trembled, and

bringing out our traps and

vice. A keg of water, a bottle of whiskey, a bag of ship bread, a large piece of pork, a few potatoes, coffe

is neck attached to a thick cord, and then, uncoiling

English-built team creaked over the road, and groaned as

for a few days, they took the load along the level road at a brisk walk; and it was not until we had got beyon

carrying our rifles in our hands?" I asked of

hing until you got tired of carrying them. There is but little fear of our meeting with bushrangers so near the city; and as f

egan scorching us with its rays, although, when we started,

urne?" I asked, after we had r

ifty and s

ss near t

see in the distance; cross a barren tract of country, where no water but sink-holes is to be foun

tune and return to Melbourne in l

d as he thought what a slight chance t

rs as we would rare animals, for they were covered with a thick coating of white dust that had filled t

dn't think it worth while attempting to live any longer; and when a question was asked them, it was with great reluctance

refreshments, it did not prevent him from requesting the sick men to say, when they reached Melbourne, that they had been be

men should mention your name for the c

ome from his heart. He hesitated, as though considering whether he shou

give all that I possess to be at liberty to call myself a free man, and to know that I am no longer watched by those in power. When I received my sentence I determined upon the course I would adopt. I never murmured at my work, no matter how disagreeable it was-I was respectful and obedient, and after a year's hardship I was favorably reported at head quarters, and was then allowed to live with a man who kept cattle, and had made a fortune as a drover. I served him faithfully for two years, and upon his report I was all

ford to those returned miners will be heard

The physician will hear of my name, and one of these days I hope to receive a full pardon. But whether I do or

ttle, rousing from their snail pace at the sound of the scourge, accelerated their

the dusty road; but, as the oxen fell into the

tting convicts have leave ticket

ever smile. They are marked as sullen and discontented, and are worked until their spirits are broken, and they no longer hope for freedom. The energy and enterprise of liberated felons have increased the trade of Australia unti

ear so much about, really dange

s like themselves, or else, fearful of trusting to men that are as treacherous as wolves, will roam without companions for many days, living upon sheep, which are easily obtained from herds without the knowledge of the shepherds, and very often with their consent, to be at last betrayed an

g fellows standing over us, it would be better to let them take what they want, and go their way in peace, than to trust to an appeal to arms or oppose them.

especially when we possess weapons like these," cried Fred, tou

as though trying to satisfy himself whether Fred was

s found that while my passengers were firm for resistance at the beginning of the journey, yet at night a diff

aturedly, and spoke

Englishmen may consent to have their boots pull

our courage," said Smith; "but if we meet Black

Black Darnle

ve, and he will keep his word. He has no fear of two or even three ordinary men, for he possesses the strength of a Hercules and the desperation of a wounded tiger. Of all the bushrangers on th

im," we said, crowding nearer

small stream of water, and under the shade of some trees near at hand, we'll bo

des, the sun was nearly overhead, burning and scorching us with its intense rays, and causing the oxen to protrude t

up their speed until we reached the stream, which slowly trickled through dry plains, with scorched grass and withered shrubs; but, near the bank

ere they pleased, Smith being confident of findin

n the same ship as myself; but our conduct during the passage to Australia was widely different, he was rebellious, and I docile. He was half the time wearing irons,

his old career of insolence, and once more be punished. He is a strong man, and stands nearly six feet six, with shoulders broad and arms covered with muscle, while not a pound of surplus flesh is on his body. Before he committed the crime for which he was transported, he was a prize-fighter; but h

des the privilege of dragging a chain and ball after him. He managed to secrete a knife about his person one day, and when the guard

nted, and escaping the shower of balls that flew after him, a

erty, and only one time in a

ts of land was I stationed to look after a flock of nearly ten thousand. I in fact became a stockman, and lived a solitary life, with no

d to receive visits occasionally from the miserable natives, who hang around a sheep station; but as I never encouraged their intrus

ined one room, with a fireplace, a bed made of sheep skins, a table and two stools. The door was a stout one, m

n the rain was pouring down in torrents, and the wind beat against the hut as though it

oor, where my dog was already snuffing and uttering angry growls, as though suspicious that the person on the outside was not exactly such a guest as his master would wish for in that lonely habitatio

a voice that I thought I recognized, although

e you?'

e purpose of buying cattle, and has lost his way. Gi

bout ten miles distant. A fresh gust of wind influenced me; I slipped off the bar and opened the door; but next moment I would have given all the sheep under my charge to have h

hoeless and bleeding profusely: but the fire of his black eyes was unquenched, and the bony form, still upright in spite o

ast hurried glances around the room to see if I were alone. Satisfied that

e somewhere,' he said,

er it,' I replied, 'for we were b

ould have rushed upon me; but I brought m

one that threatened to betray me when I wished to take the ship. I swore to have your life for your cowardice; but I retract th

still retaining my hold of the gu

d one of the guards, and fought my way to this part of the country in hopes of joining a gang of bushrangers.

e, and thought of the long chase th

self, and if I am upon an equal footing with

he gun, but I no longer covere

ve not tasted food, or closed my eyes in sleep. I've run and skulked from tree to tree during that time, and heard the

he part of a serpent, and sting the one that warmed y

s hands towards the blaze to dry his ragged shirt. 'I am defenceless, and you hold a loaded gun. Discharge its

gh he cared not what became of him, and was rather anxio

un over the bed and taking a seat beside

ed, after a few moments' silence, during whi

,' he answered, glancing over his ragged suit, an

ole carcass of a lamb which I had roasted that day. He still sat by the fire and gazed at the flames as though he read his past life amid the coals that glowed upon the heart

garments," I said,

e full in the face, as th

ought when I proposed to take the ship, that you were a coward, b

I, but half of those who were not aware of the plot. The innocent an

my clothes, which were two sizes too small for him, the water on the fire boiled, and I made a strong cup of tea, and then bade him eat to repletion. He needed no second invitation, but fell to work like a wild animal, and craunched bones and flesh between his strong teeth in such a ravenous manner that I had ex

'Occupy my bed to-night,

ve me a sheep-skin and let me

pon the hearth, and giving him a pipe well filled with tobacco, retired to my couch, and

my mind. Within my reach was a gun, well charged with slugs, and there, lying upon the hearth, was an escaped convict, whose life was forfeited by the laws of Australia, and pardon and official patronage grant

succeeded, and I now thank God that my hands are not stained with the blood of a man who trusted to my goodness of he

but while I was endeavoring to kindle a fire, he suddenly started up, his count

crushing me to the ground with his weight, while his hand sought my throat whi

Darnley to relinquish his hold and turn upon the brute; but by the time that he had staggered to his feet, he awakened to his situation, and became ca

accept of the garments that belonged to me, as he feared that in case he was taken they would be traced and involve me in trouble. It was considerate in hi

another visit at the hut?

d about him to molest my flocks. I saw him on my last trip to the mines, and he tried to bribe m

ger; and as the heat was not so oppressive as at noon, we decided to trav

, with many a sharp crack of the stockman's whip, we crossed