The Gold Hunter's Adventures by William H. Thomes
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William H. Thomes >> The Gold Hunter\'s Adventures
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THE GOLD HUNTER'S ADVENTURES
Or, Life in Australia
by
WILLIAM H. THOMES
A Returned Australian
Illustrated by Champney
BOSTON:
LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.
NEW YORK:
CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM.
[Illustration]
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I.
FIRST THOUGHTS OF GOING TO AUSTRALIA.--DEPARTURE FROM CALIFORNIA.--LIFE
ON BOARD SHIP.--ARRIVAL AT WILLIAMS
TOWN.--DESCRIPTION OF MELBOURNE.--A CONVICT'S HUT.
CHAPTER II.
A MORNING IN AUSTRALIA.--JOURNEY TO THE MINES OF BALLARAT.--THE
CONVICT'S STORY.--BLACK DARNLEY, THE BUSHRANGER.
CHAPTER III.
TRAVELLING IN AUSTRALIA.--AN ADVENTURE WITH SNAKES.--CARRYING
THE MAILS.
CHAPTER IV.
EATING BROILED KANGAROO MEAT.--AUSTRALIAN SPEAKS AND
AMERICAN RIFLES.
CHAPTER V.
THE SOLITARY STOCKMAN.--SHOOTING A KANGAROO.
CHAPTER VI.
ADVENTURE WITH A DOG.--THE MURDER IN THE RAVINE.--STORY
OF AN OUTRAGED WOMAN.
CHAPTER VII.
BLACK DARNLEY'S VILLANY.--THE CONVICT STOCKMAN.
CHAPTER VIII.
AN EXPEDITION.--A FIGHT WITH BUSHRANGERS.--DEATH OF BLACK
DARNLEY.
CHAPTER IX.
THE STOCKMAN'S DAUGHTER.--MOUNTED POLICE OF MELBOURNE.
CHAPTER X.
DESPERATE DEEDS OF TWO CONVICTS.--LIEUT. MURDEN'S STORY.
CHAPTER XI.
SAGACITY OF A DOG.--A NIGHT'S ADVENTURES.
CHAPTER XII.
DISCOVERY OF A MASONIC RING.--FUNERAL PYRE OF BLACK DARNLEY.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE STOCKMAN AND HIS PARROT.--DARING PLOT OF A ROBBER CHIEFTAIN.
CHAPTER XIV.
DISCOVERY OF STOLEN TREASURES IN THE STOCKMANS'S CELLAR.
CHAPTER XV.
DYING CONFESSION OF JIM GULPIN, THE ROBBER.
CHAPTER XVI.
A FORCED MARCH TOWARDS MELBOURNE.
CHAPTER XVII.
TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO MELBOURNE.
CHAPTER XVIII.
LARGE FIRE IN MELBOURNE.--ENGLISH MACHINES AT FAULT.
CHAPTER XIX.
PARDON OF SMITH AND THE OLD STOCKMAN.--GRAND DINNER AT
THE GOVERNOR'S.
CHAPTER XX.
DUEL BETWEEN FRED AND AN ENGLISH LIEUTENANT.
CHAPTER XXI.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE SEARCH FOR GULPIN'S BURIED TREASURES.
CHAPTER XXII.
DEPARTURE FROM MELBOURNE.--FIGHT WITH THE NATIVES.
CHAPTER XXIII.
ARRIVAL AT THE OLD STOCKMAN'S HUT.--MYSTERIOUS INTERRUPTIONS DURING THE
HUNT.
CHAPTER XXIV.
ROBBERY OF THE CART.--CAPTURE OF STEEL SPRING.
CHAPTER XXV.
STEEL SPRING'S HISTORY.
CHAPTER XXVI.
FINDING OF THE TREASURE.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CAPTURE OF ALL HANDS, BY THE BUSHRANGERS.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
OPPORTUNE ARRIVAL OF LIEUTENANT MURDEN AND HIS FORCE.--ROUT OF THE
BUSHRANGERS.
CHAPTER XXIX.
REVENGE OF THE BUSHRANGERS.--FIRING OF THE FOREST.
CHAPTER XXX.
PERILOUS SITUATION DURING THE FIRE.--STEEL SPRING TURNS
UP.
CHAPTER XXXI.
CAPTURE OF THE BUSHRANGERS, AND DEATH OF NOSEY.
CHAPTER XXXII.
RETURN TO THE STOCKMAN'S HUT.--SMITH IN LOVE.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
RECOVERY OF THE GOLD.--ARRIVAL AT BALLARAT.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE BULLY OF BALLARAT.--FRED FIGHTS A DUEL.
CHAPTER XXXV.
BALLARAT CUSTOMS, AFTER A DUEL.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
ARRIVAL AT BALLARAT.--MR. BROWN'S STORY.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
FINDING OF A 110 LB. NUGGET.--CAVING IN OF A MINE.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
INCIDENTS IN LIFE AT BALLARAT.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
ATTEMPT OF THE HOUSEBREAKER.--ATTACK BY THE SNAKE.
CHAPTER XL.
DEATH OF THE BURGLAR BY THE SNAKE.
CHAPTER XLI.
VISIT TO SNAKES' PARADISE.
CHAPTER XLII.
FLIGHT FROM THE SNAKES.--ATTACKED BY THE BUSHRANGERS.
CHAPTER XLIII.
TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO BALLARAT, WITH THE BUSHRANGERS.
CHAPTER XLIV.
THRASHING A BULLY.
CHAPTER XLV.
A YOUNG GIRL'S ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF HER LOVER.
CHAPTER XLVI.
A MARRIAGE, AND AN ELOPEMENT.
CHAPTER XLVII.
COLLECTING TAXES OF THE MINERS.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
MURDEN AND STEEL SPRING ARRIVE FROM MELBOURNE.
CHAPTER XLIX.
CATCHING A TARL AS WELL AS A CASSIOWARY.
CHAPTER L.
ARRIVAL OF SMITH.--ATTEMPT TO BURN THE STORE.
CHAPTER LI.
ATTEMPT TO BURN THE STORE.
CHAPTER LII.
THE ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR. CRITCHET.
CHAPTER LIII.
OPPORTUNE ARRIVAL OF MR. BROWN.--THEY SEND FOR STEEL SPRING.
CHAPTER LIV.
THE WAY THE COLONISTS OBTAIN WIVES IN AUSTRALIA.
CHAPTER LV.
ADVENTURES AT DAN BRIAN'S DRINKING-HOUSE.
CHAPTER LVI.
ADVENTURES CONTINUED.
CHAPTER LVII.
MORE OF THE SAME SORT.
CHAPTER LVIII.
CONVALESCENCE OF MR. CRITCHET, AND OUR DISCHARGE FROM THE
CRIMINAL DOCKET.
CHAPTER LIX.
OUR TEAMSTER BARNEY, AND HIS WIFE.
CHAPTER LX.
MIKE FINDS THE LARGE "NUGGET."
CHAPTER LXI.
THE RESULT OF GROWING RICH TOO RAPIDLY.
CHAPTER LXII.
THE FLOUR SPECULATION.--MR. CRITCHET'S STORY.
CHAPTER LXIII.
THE SAME, CONTINUED.
CHAPTER LXIV.
MR. BROWN'S DISCHARGE FROM THE POLICE FORCE.--BILL SWINTON'S
CONFESSION.
CHAPTER LXV.
THE EXPEDITION AFTER BILL SWINTON'S BURIED TREASURES.
CHAPTER LXVI.
JOURNEY AFTER THE BURIED TREASURE.
CHAPTER LXVII.
THE HUNT FOR THE BURIED TREASURE.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
THE ISLAND GHOST.--NARROW ESCAPE OF MR. BROWN.
CHAPTER LXIX.
CAPTURE OF THE GHOST.
CHAPTER LXX.
THE GHOST AND THE BUSHRANGERS.
CHAPTER LXXI.
SAM TYRELL AND THE GHOST.
CHAPTER LXXII.
FINDING THE BURIED TREASURE.
CHAPTER LXXIII.
THE ESCAPE FROM THE FIRE.
CHAPTER LXXIV.
ARRIVAL AT MR. WRIGHT'S STATION.
CHAPTER LXXV.
SUPPER.--RETURN OF MR. WRIGHT'S SCOUTS.
CHAPTER LXXVI.
MIKE TUMBLES INTO THE RIVER.--ARRIVAL OF THE BUSHRANGERS.
CHAPTER LXXVII.
CAPTURE OF THE BUSHRANGERS.
CHAPTER LXXVIII.
PUNISHING THE BULLY.
CHAPTER LXXIX.
MR. WRIGHT'S FARM.--DEATH OF KELLY.
CHAPTER LXXX.
JOURNEY BACK TO BALLARAT.
CHAPTER LXXXI.
STEEL SPRING IN THE FIELD.--ATTEMPT OF THE COMMISSIONER TO
CONFISCATE OUR HORSES.
CHAPTER LXXXII.
SAME CONTINUED.--DEATH OF ROSS.
CHAPTER LXXXIII.
ARREST OF FRED.--TRIP TO MELBOURNE, AND ITS RESULTS.
INTRODUCTION.
Since my return from Australia, I have been solicited by a number of
friends to give them a history of my adventures in that land of gold,
where kangaroos are supposed to be as plenty as natives, and jump ten
times as far, and where natives are imagined to be continually lying in
ambush for the purpose of making a hearty meal upon the bodies of those
unfortunate travellers who venture far into the interior of the
country--where bushrangers are continually hanging about camp fires,
ready to cut the weasands of those who close their eyes for a
moment--and lastly, where every other man that you meet is expected to
be a convict, transported from the mother country for such petty crimes
as forgery, house-breaking, and manslaughter in the second degree.
My friends have all desired to hear me relate these particulars, and
have honored me with a large attendance at my rooms, and sat late at
night, and drank my wine and water, and smoked my cigars, with a relish
that did me great credit, as it showed that I am something of a
connoisseur in the choice of such luxuries. And then they laughed so
loudly at my jokes, no matter how poor they were, that, for a few days
after my arrival home, I really thought the air of Australia had
improved and sharpened my wit.
I should, no doubt, have continued feasting those who listened so
patiently to my yarns, had not a sudden idea entered my head, one night,
when the company were the most boisterous. I was in the act of raising a
glass of wine to my mouth, when it occurred to me that before I left
this country for Australia, via California, scarcely one of those
present had assembled on the dock to bid me farewell.
I placed the untasted wine upon the table again, lighted a cigar, and
was soon buried in smoke and reflection. I thought of the time when I
had not money enough to pay my passage to the Golden State--of the
exertions I had made to raise the amount necessary, and the many
refusals that I had met with at the hands of those who now professed to
be my friends.
I blew aside the smoke that enveloped my head, and fixed my eyes upon
one red-faced cousin, who owned bank shares, and bought stocks when low,
and sold them when a rise had taken place. He had laughed at me for my
impertinence in supposing that he could loan me money, and now he was
seated at my table, chuckling at my jokes, and swearing, while he helped
himself to liquor, that I was the best fellow alive, and that there was
nothing but what he would do for me.
Could it be possible that the possession of fifty or sixty thousand
dollars had wrought such a change? I was forced to believe it, and I
grew sad at the thought, and no more jokes escaped my lips that night;
but the company remained as late as usual, and declared by a unanimous
vote that they would meet again at the same place the next evening, and
hear further particulars.
Before sunset the next day I had changed my apartments, and taken
private lodgings with a friend who had visited me but once since my
return, and had then refused to accept of the hospitalities that I was
disposed to offer him. He had lent me money without security--he had
declined taking interest for the same--he had welcomed me on my arrival
as warmly as I expected--he did not ask me how much dust I had brought
back and he never said a word about his wish to be repaid the few
hundred dollars that he had advanced me when I left home to seek my
fortune. When I did offer him the money, and thrust a diamond ring upon
his finger as a token of my esteem, he blushed like a young school girl,
and declared that he didn't deserve it.
At his house, then, I took up my abode; and while his family treat me
with respect, they possess none of the fawning which characterizes my
other friends. As the latter have frequently expressed their sorrow for
my sudden removal, and their anxiety to know what events befell me in
the mines of Australia, I have come to the conclusion that I would put
them in print; and now those who used to drink my liquor and feast at my
table will learn how I acquired my fortune, and then, if so disposed,
they can follow in my footsteps and gain a competence for themselves.
This much I have told the reader in confidence, and with the hope that
it will not be repeated, as my red-faced cousin, who every day is to be
seen on 'Change, might be seriously angry if he was suspected of
mercenary motives. With this introduction I will commence my narrative.
LIFE IN AUSTRALIA;
OR,
A GOLD HUNTER'S ADVENTURES.
CHAPTER I.
FIRST THOUGHTS OF GOING TO AUSTRALIA.--DEPARTURE FROM CALIFORNIA.--LIFE
ON BOARD SHIP.--ARRIVAL AT WILLIAMS TOWN.--DESCRIPTION OF MELBOURNE.--A
CONVICT'S HUT.
It was as hot an afternoon on the banks of the American Fork as ever
poor mortals could be subjected to and still retain sufficient vitality
to draw their breath. Under a small tent, stretched upon their backs,
with shirt collars unbuttoned, boots off, and a most languid expression
upon their faces, were two men--both of them of good size, with a fair
display of muscle, broad-chested, hands hard and blackened with toil,
yet not badly formed; for had they been but covered with neat fitting
gloves, and at an opera, ladies might have thought they were small.
These two men, one of whom was reading a newspaper, while the other was
trying to take a _siesta_, were Frederick Button, and his faithful
companion, the writer of these adventures, whom we will distinguish by
the name of Jack, as it is both familiar and common, and has the merit
of being short.
As I was reading the paper, the contents of which interested me, I paid
but little attention to my friend, until I suddenly laid it down, and
said,--
"Fred, let's go to Australia."
"Go to the d----l," he replied, turning on his side, his back towards
me, and uttering a long w-h-e-w, as though he had found it difficult to
catch his breath, it was so hot.
"We should find it hotter in the regions of his Satanic Majesty than
here; but that is something that concerns you alone, as no doubt you are
fully aware."
Fred uttered a grunt--he was too warm to laugh, and I again returned to
the charge.
"Gold mines have been discovered in Australia, and ships are up at San
Francisco for Melbourne. A party of twenty left there last week, and
more are to follow."
There was no reply, and I continued:--
"It is stated in this paper that a man took out a lump of gold weighing
one hundred and twenty pounds, and that he had been but ten days in the
mines when he found it."
"What?" cried Fred, suddenly sitting up, and wiping the perspiration
from his brow.
I repeated the statement.
"It's a d----d lie," cried Fred.
"Then let's go and prove it so."
"How's the climate in that part of the world--hot or cold?"
"About the same as here."
Fred meditated for a few minutes, lighted his pipe, and smoked on in
silence; and as there was nothing better to do. I joined him.
"We are not making a fortune here in California, and if we don't do any
thing in Australia, we shall see the country, and that will be worth
something," I said.
"Then let's go," cried Fred, refilling his pipe; and that very evening
we commenced selling our stock of superfluous articles to our numerous
neighbors, saving nothing but tent, revolvers, rifles, and a few other
articles that would stand us in need when we reached Australia.
A week from the day that we made up our mind to try what luck there was
in store for us in Australia, we were on board of a clipper ship, and
with some two dozen other steerage passengers (for Fred and myself were
determined to be economical) we were passing through the Golden Gate on
our way to a strange land, where we did not possess a friend or
acquaintance that we knew of.
"Well," said Fred, as he stood on deck at the close of the day, and saw
the mountains of California recede from view, "it's precious little fun
I've seen in that country; and if our new home is not more exciting, I
shall be like the Irishman who pined away because he couldn't get up a
fight."
"Don't give yourself any uneasiness on that score," replied the mate,
who chanced to overhear the remark. "I'll warrant that you'll see as
many musses as you'll care to mix in."
"Then, Australia, thou art my home," cried Fred, with a theatrical wave
of his hand, as though bidding adieu to the Golden State forever.
Fred was one of the most peaceable men in the world, and never commenced
a quarrel; but when once engaged in a conflict, he was like a lion, and
would as soon think of yielding as the royal beast.
For nearly fifty days did we roll on the Pacific, amusing ourselves by
playing at "all fours," speculating on the chances of our arrival, and
making small wagers on the day that we should drop anchor; and after we
had all lost and won about an equal amount, we were one morning
overjoyed by the sight of land. Standing boldly in towards a low coast,
with no signs of a harbor, it was not until we were within half a mile
of the shore that we discovered a narrow entrance that opened into
Hobson's Bay; when we dropped anchor opposite to a town consisting of a
dozen or twenty houses, and over one of them floated the flag of
England.
"Well, Mr. Mate," asked Fred, as the men went aloft to furl sails, "do
you call that densely-populated city Melbourne?"
"That!" replied the mate, with a look of contempt at the scattered
houses. "That be d----d. That's Williams Town. Melbourne is a fine city,
seven miles from here, and where all the luxuries of life can be
obtained; but tobacco is the dearest one--so be careful of your weed."
As the officers of the custom house were even then coming on board, we
thanked him for the hint, and put ours out of their reach.
Williams Town is situated at the mouth of the River Zarra, on Hobson's
Bay, and at one time actually threatened to become a place of
considerable importance; but the water for domestic use was too bad to
be tolerated, and most of those who had settled there were glad to
retrace their steps to Melbourne, where a better sort of article exists.
"How are the mines? Do they still hold out?" I inquired of one of the
crew of the custom house boat, who was leaning against the rail in a
languid manner, as though he had been overworked for the past six
months.
"Yes, I s'pose so," he answered; and he spoke as though each word cost
him an immense amount of labor.
"Then, Fred, we are in luck," I cried, turning to my partner who stood
near at hand.
"Intend going to the mines?" the man asked, with a sudden show of
interest.
"Such is our intention," I replied.
"'Mericans, I suppose," he inquired.
"Yes."
"Then don't go if you want to keep the number of your mess," the boatman
said.
"Why not?" Fred ventured to inquire.
"'Cos they kill Yankees at the mines. Jim," he continued, turning to a
comrade, "how many 'Mericans were killed week afore last at Ballarat?"
"O, I don't know," replied the individual referred to. "A dozen or
twenty, I believe. Might have been more or less. I'm not 'ticular within
a man or two."
"Thank you for your information," cried Fred. "And now one question
more. Can you tell me how many Englishmen were killed by those same
Americans, before they died?"
This question appeared to astonish the men; for they looked at each
other, and then examined Fred with scrutinizing glances.
"I guess he'll do," they said, at length; and finding that we were not
to be frightened, they turned their attention to passengers more
credulous, and actually made some of them believe what they said was
true.
The next morning we hired a boat to take our luggage to the wharf, where
the steamers, which ply between Sydney, Geelong, and Melbourne, stop.
Our traps did not amount to much, as we had no money to spare for
freighting, and when we first stepped upon the soil of Australia, our
worldly possessions consisted of four shirts, do. pants, two pairs of
boots, blankets, tents, &c., the whole weighing just one hundred and
fifty pounds--not a large amount, but sufficient for two men, whose
wants were easily supplied.
There were a dozen rough, loaferish looking men, whiling away their time
upon the wharf; but as they confined themselves to simply asking a few
questions as to what part of the world we came from, and received
satisfactory answers, they soon lost all interest in us, and began to
speculate what time the steamer would arrive.
She did not reach the dock until noon; and as we had seen enough of
Williams Town, we readily embarked, and in an hour's time were at
Melbourne, gazing with interest at every thing that met our view.
The city was full of life and business: heaps of goods were exposed
ready for transportation to the mines, and large, lumbering carts of
English build were crawling slowly through the streets, drawn by five
and six yoke of oxen, while the drivers, armed with whips, the lashes of
which were of immense length, though the stock or handle was barely two
and a-half feet long, whirled them over the frightened animals' heads,
and whenever they struck the poor brutes, a small, circular piece of
skin was taken out, leaving the quivering flesh exposed to the sun, and
a prey for the numerous insects that hovered in the air.
We carried our stuff on shore, and then considered what was necessary to
get to the mines; and while we rested upon our bundles, and ate a
portion of the salt junk and biscuit that the cook of the ship had
insisted upon our taking with us, we took a calm survey of
Melbourne--its advantages and disadvantages. The city occupies two sides
of a valley, called East Hill and West Hill, and is well laid out.
The streets are broad, unpaved, and formed so that during the heavy
rains the water will centre into the gutters, which are flagged with a
substantial kind of stone to prevent the sidewalks from washing away
during the rainy season, when the gutters resemble small mountain
torrents, and enough head is obtained to carry half a dozen sawmills.
At the place where we landed there is barely sufficient room for the
steamer to turn round for the bay, or arm, of the River Zarra is small,
and the water shoal. Every available place near the landing was crowded,
however, with crafts of all descriptions, from the light-draughted
schooner to huge launches, with loads of goods which they had received
from ships lying in Hobson's Bay. Altogether, the scene reminded one
very much of San Francisco; and so our spirits rose as we contemplated
the bustle going on.
"Well, my men, are you in want of work?" asked a well-dressed elderly
gentleman, who had arrived in a carriage driven by a coachman in livery,
and a footman, dressed in the same garb. He appeared to own every thing
that he looked at; for we had seen half a dozen men take his orders, and
then proceed to obey them with alacrity.
"We thought we'd try the mines first," I replied, in answer to his
question.
"Hard work--hard work," he said, with a smile. "Americans, I see--smart
men in that country. Hope you'll do well here. Afraid not if you go to
the mines. Want men to help get these goods under shelter. Like to
employ you;" and off he bustled.
"A pretty good sort of man, I guess," remarked Fred.
"I say, stranger," I asked, turning to a person with a cartman's frock
on, who was seated on a box smoking a pipe, "can you tell me who that
gentleman is?"
"I didn't see any gentleman," he answered, without even taking his pipe
from his mouth.
"Why, I mean the one who just spoke to us--the man with the white vest
and gold buttons."
"Him--he's a ticket-of-leave man, and has more money than half of the
merchants in Melbourne," replied the cartman.
"What, that man a convict?" I asked, with surprise.
"Just so--transported for fourteen years for house-breaking. Behaved
himself, and so got liberty to enter into business; and now he is at the
top of the heap. In two years his time will be out, and then he can stay
or go where he pleases."
After this piece of news the convict became an object of curiosity to
us, and we watched him until he entered his carriage and drove off, his
coachman treating him with as much respect as he would the governor
general.
"I say," asked Fred of our new acquaintance, "do all convicts get rich?
Because if they do I want to become one as soon as possible."
"Not all," replied the man; "but some blunder into luck, and others are
shrewd and look after the chances. I don't suppose I shall ever be rich,
although I am doing pretty well."
"And are you a--"
I didn't like to say convict, and so I hesitated.
"O, yes; I was sentenced to ten years' transportation for writing
another man's name instead of my own on a piece of paper."
"That is forgery."
The convict smiled, as much as to say, you have hit it, and continued to
smoke his pipe with infinite satisfaction.
"I should like to know if the company we are likely to meet in the mines
are of the same class?" muttered Fred.
"Most of them," replied the man, who appeared to be a man of education;
"and you'll find them more honest than those never sentenced, because
they know that their freedom depends upon their reputation."
We sat staring at our informant for some time; but after a while he
knocked the ashes from his pipe, and arose as though going.
"If you want your traps taken to the mines at a reasonable rate, I'll do
it for you, as I start to-morrow with a load of goods for Ballarat," he
said, after a moment's hesitation.
"Is that mine productive?" we asked.
"It's as rich as any of them. You may sink a shaft and strike a vein,
and you may get nothing. It's all a lottery."
We consulted together for a few minutes, and concluded to try our
fortunes at Ballarat, and so signified to our acquaintance.
"Then shoulder your traps, and I'll show you my shanty. You can sleep
there to-night, and, let me tell you, it's a favor that I wouldn't grant
to half of my countrymen."
As we considered pride out of place in that country, we readily accepted
his offer, and in a few minutes were walking through the streets of
Melbourne with a convicted felon.
We found his hut to be built of rough boards, with but one room; and the
furniture consisted of a stove, wooden benches, a pine table, and a
curiosity in the shape of a bedstead.
That night we learned more of the customs of the Australians from our
host, who gave the name of Smith as the one which he was to be called
by, than we should have found out by a six months' residence.
Over a bottle of whiskey, which was made in Yankeeland, we spent our
first night in Australia.
"Come," said Smith, about ten o'clock, "it's time we were asleep, for we
start early in the morning, and before to-morrow night you'll not feel
as fresh as you do at present."
As he spoke he removed the whiskey, and in half an hour deep snoring was
the only sound of life in the convict's hut.
CHAPTER II.
A MORNING IN AUSTRALIA.--JOURNEY TO THE MINES OF BALLARAT.--THE
CONVICT'S STORY.--BLACK DARNLEY, THE BUSHRANGER.
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