The Gold Hunters' Adventures; Or, Life in Australia

committed by Black Darnley and his gang of bushrangers. Our party had not closed their eyes in sleep during the night, yet not one of us felt the least fatigue or desire to rest,

ars, we thought of a parent's love, and how strong it must exist in the heart of that old man, who had grown morose under his wrongs

n of quick passions-bold and fearless, or he would never have accepted the situation to which he was attached-surrounded, as he was, with dangerous neighbors-convicts, who cared no more about shedding the blood of a man than they did for th

the hands of men whom he had spoken with weekly for months, and who respected

n, and as she was half-dead with grief, and insensible to our words of encouragement, we concluded to let her

on of the load was removed. Boxes of goods were overturned, and tops wrenched off, bales were cut open, and their contents scattered upon the ground; and, upon a near examination, we found that the impudent robbers had used ou

male under his charge. But he was a man, and had seen too much of the world's trials to get discouraged, so he proceeded to gather up his goods in the most

d was placed upon blankets and screened from the hot sun. She refused all offers of nourishment, and would not drink even a cup of strong tea which we proffered her. Coffee, we unfortunately had none, as

our store of salt pork was gone, also the few vegetables, worth almost their weight in

ato left; but, after he had vented his displeasure, he applied his

did not distress us, however, for we were not likely to go into society where a change of dress was expected, b

ce of kangaroo on a stick, and in a very artistic manner

a number of flannel shirts, which he was taking to the mines on a venture. They had

the perpetrator," replied S

red, sprinkling a little s

ese parts who inflict wanton injury upon th

him once when he was i

ped molestation. He little thought that he was inju

ing cooked and seasoned the meat to his satisfaction, now approached the woman, wh

r feet, grasped his arm with a vehemence utterly at

Kill him, for he has wronged an unprotected woman, and committed ou

body to and fro, uttering moans of anguish. But she no longer shed tears, and her

eep voice. "That is God's preroga

d approached us unawares, and was leaning on his long gu

on of gathering up his traps. "I think that the scoundrels who robbed my team deserve hanging, and I

ce its blackness. But God has promised light, and behold the angel of

ng speech of the convict without comprehending its import; "but this I do know, that I would

vict, drawing a dirty looking and well-thumbed Testament from his pocket,

d from now till sundown," cried Smith, with visib

istance," said Smith, laying a hand upon the old

nly food for the body? Her looks are like

four hours, and her only friend now i

cried, approaching her; "if her sorr

hed his child, who sat with downcast eyes,

uld be seen the emotions and struggles to recollect where she had before heard his tones. She pressed her ha

ing her arms around that white-headed man's neck, ve

s around his neck, shed tears as freely as she did the day

rm supported him. He glanced from face to face as though trying to read th

orehead, "can it, indeed, be my child-has the littl

vent his seeing her again. He kissed the tears from her cheeks, and begged her to be ca

at her refusal to answer his interrogations, and th

ng done you," he cried,

d with tear

ed to injure you," he cried veh

ening and black, as

to his neck with a more convulsive grasp, a

m the latter to myself, as though deba

om his shoulder, and seeking to get a gl

blankets, and then with a face that was livid with ra

inous click of the lock of the gun proved that he was in

every thing; but, to my surprise, he was silent; evidently too much a

g gun was levelled at the breast of Smith, and in another moment all his hopes and f

houted, wildly.

s gun, but his fierce eyes

of thes

hand that held the gun, and looked

, neither. Without the aid of thes

r we had witnessed the accuracy of his aim the day before, and while the muzzle

addressing his daughter with a degree of tendernes

s as though it would burst; wh

riends, and then you shall accompany me to my home.

once more become an active man of the world, and for

g for us three to follow him a short distance from his daug

e condition-the story of her wrongs, and our surprise at finding that she was in search of him. He listened with clinched teeth,

speak, but turned away as th

ed Smith, laying his h

the convict,

propose to

, and ask that que

ing Black Darnley?

d

lo

lo

with sudden energy. "You are n

must be avenged. I go

will accompany you," Fred an

while he wrung ours, promised a compliance. The next instant he had lifted

ight, and then he was in front of the