A \ B \ C \ D \ E \ F \ G \ H \ I \ J \ K \ L \ M \ N \ O \ P \ R \ S \ T \ U \ V \ W \Z

The Gold Hunter's Adventures by William H. Thomes

W >> William H. Thomes >> The Gold Hunter\'s Adventures




I urged him for half an hour to let the larger portion of his funds
remain in our hands, but he was obstinate, and feared trickery. I then
endeavored to persuade him to deposit all but a hundred sovereign in the
government office, but strange to say, he was more fearful of the
government concern than he was of our firm. At length I got out of all
patience, for I saw that, instead of devoting his fortune to his
relatives, he was determined to have a spree, and I let him go without
another word of remonstrance.

He conducted himself precisely as I anticipated. For one week two thirds
of his countrymen suspended work, and drank cheap whiskey at Mike's
expense. His gold vanished like snow on the top of Mount Alexander at
midday, and although many of the better class of Irish visited our store
every day, and begged that we would interfere and help save a portion of
his wealth, we declined to do so; and even Mr. Brown, who was appealed
to, shrugged his shoulders, and made an oft-quoted remark that "a fool
and his money were soon parted." The most that we would do was to
promise that Mike should not buy a single sixpence worth of liquor at
our store, and we kept our word, for which we got most heartily abused
by our late employee's friends; and one day we were obliged to have two
or three arrested, owing to a display of pugilism which they made.

All things must have an ending, and to follow out Mike's fortunes, I may
as well state that he soon lost all of his money, was deserted by those
who called themselves his friends, and that he was left without the
means of buying a loaf of broad, or a glass of whiskey to keep off the
_delirium tremens_. He applied to us for employment, and we gave him
something to do; but the thoughts of his folly weighed heavily on his
mind, and one morning we found Mike hanging by his neck, in the rear of
the store where we stabled our horses.

Had he but adhered to his first resolve, of returning to Ireland, and
living in peace for the remainder of his days, his gold would have been
of some use, not only to him, but to the community; but as matters
transpired, the finding of the nugget was his greatest misfortune.

But to return to the day when our wealth was increased by a lucky stroke
of the pickaxe, and when we began to think seriously of mining claims as
means of making fortunes. In this connection we were advised by Mr.
Critchet, who, although not of a sanguine temperament, had made
considerable money in speculation as well as in digging, and was
enthusiastic when he learned that we had been amply repaid for all funds
which we had advanced.

"Now is the time to sell," he said, when he heard half a dozen
applicants make inquiries regarding the terms for our now famous claim.
"Don't hold back, and say that you don't believe that the mine contains
another nugget. That won't do in Ballarat. Speak up with confidence, and
tell about the richness of the mine, and your disinclination to sell.
That will only make people more eager, and you will get better terms."
"But we don't believe that the claim will ever pay another dollar," I
replied.

"What is that to you?" he retorted. "Didn't you buy without
expectations, and haven't you ever purchased a lottery ticket and drawn
a blank? A claim is a lottery, and one of the most treacherous kind.
Sell while you can, and try another site."

We remembered of a purchase that we had made in California, when a
shrewd fellow sold us his worked-out claim for two hundred dollars, and
we were laughed at for our greenness. We felt a desire to retaliate, but
we had been taught in New England schools that two wrongs did not make
one right, and we banished the plan from our minds of urging people to
buy our mine on the plea that it was rich beyond comparison. If it was
desired, we determined that it should be bought without extolling
claptrap of any kind.

While we were in this frame of mind, a stranger entered our store, and
expressed a desire to see the nugget which had turned half the heads in
Ballarat.

He manifested no disappointment when told that it was at the government
office, and after asking a few questions, boldly made an offer for our
claim that was greatly in advance of what we had anticipated.

There was a moment's hesitation on our part, and we were strongly
tempted to close the bargain; but better thoughts came to our aid, and
we declined the offer, on the ground that he offered more money than the
mine was really worth, and more than he could possibly get back.

"That," replied the would-be purchaser, "is my lookout. I know the
condition of the mine, and what has been taken from it. If my offer is
accepted I am willing to pay the price that I mention, and whether it
repays me or not is none of your affair."

It would have been cruel to disappoint the man, and as money was our
object, and he was so anxious to do us a service, we, with great
magnanimity, accepted of one thousand dollars in gold dust, and gave the
purchaser a deed of the claim.

"A good day's work!" cried Fred, rubbing his hands, as soon as the
stranger's back was turned. "A dozen or twenty more such, and then, hey
for home!"

We had made, as Fred said, a good day's work for the firm, for, of
course, Smith's interest was equal to our own, and he shared in any
speculation that we might enter into; but while I am on the subject, I
may as well tell of a money-making operation that entirely eclipsed the
above transaction, even including the finding of the nugget.

I was in Melbourne, one time, having run down from the mines for the
purpose of buying a few articles which we wanted forwarded by express,
and while I was dodging from one store to another, I saw that the stock
of flour was rather low, and that, unless fresh arrivals soon augmented
the small quantity on hand, the price must go up. I made a few cautious
inquiries, and found that the dealers at Sydney were not much better off
than those at Melbourne, and it occurred to me that soon a speculation
movement would begin, and that we might as well have a hand in it as to
let others make all the money.

As I said before, I made careful inquiries, and discovered that two
ships were daily expected, one from Chili, and the other from New York,
and both were loaded with flour. No vessel was expected from England
with grain on board, although it was not known for certainty.

Upon this intelligence I pondered for an hour or two, and then resolved
to try my luck in the way of speculation. Flour was selling at fair
prices, I think, although, owing to the non-publication of a price
current, and to the absence of an exchange, no two merchants sold alike.

After I had made up my mind what I intended to do, I went to the bank
where we had five thousand pounds lying to our credit, drew out the
money, and then began my purchases. In each case I stipulated that the
flour should remain in store one week, until I could get teams to cart
it to Ballarat. To this a ready assent was given, and the merchants
expressed themselves pleased to transact business with me. In some
instances I paid cash, especially where the quantity bought was very
slight, not amounting to more than fifty barrels, or one hundred sacks;
but where I bought two or even three hundred barrels, I claimed the
privilege of one month's credit, after paying twenty per cent. of the
amount down.

In two hours I had engaged nearly every barrel and sack of flour in
Melbourne, and then, and not till then, did I begin to tremble for the
result of my speculation. A dozen times during the night did I wander
through the streets of the city, and down to the water's edge, for the
purpose of seeing how the wind blew, and each time did I find that it
was favorable for vessels entering the harbor. I consulted an aged
mariner, with tar plentifully sprinkled upon the seat of his trousers,
and the son of Neptune told me, with many grave shakes of his head,
that,--

"You can't always tell about these things; sometimes the wind blows one
way here in this bloody hole, and sometimes it blows different on the
ocean."

The next day I despatched two large teams to Ballarat loaded heavily
with flour, and sent a letter by the mail, telling Fred what I had done,
and advising him to put the price up, but to first, frighten the
merchants by bantering them with offers for their stock. I knew that
that course would startle them into asking at least one third more than
they had been demanding, and that a dozen of the most prominent ones
would start for Melbourne without a moment's delay for the purpose of
seeing what the movement meant.




CHAPTER LXII.

THE FLOUR SPECULATION.--MR. CRITCHET'S STORY.


After I had written to Fred, and started the teams, I felt a little
easier, although no change had taken place in the market. I knew that
dealers had sent to Sydney for a supply of flour, and I feared that
their orders would be filled, but in this I was agreeably mistaken.
Flour at Sydney was ten shillings per barrel higher than at Melbourne,
with an upward tendency; while not a sack could be obtained of the few
farmers who raised wheat, short of eighty pounds per ton,--just double
what I had paid.

Two days after my bargain, and still no ships were signalized. I felt a
little more confidence in myself, and in the bold scheme that I was
attempting to carry out. A dozen teams were in the city, for the purpose
of carrying provisions to Ballarat and other mines, but they were
delayed, owing to their inability to get flour. I heard the price of the
article quoted at fifty pounds per ton, and I debated whether I should
hold on longer, or sell.

Twice, during the day, a rumor was started that a large American ship
was signalized, and that she was loaded to her scuppers with grain; but
I quickly proved the falsity of the report, and then made my appearance
in the store of the largest grain dealers in Melbourne, Messrs. Hennetit
& Co., since failed, and didn't pay their English creditors but sixpence
on the pound, and I strongly suspect that American firms suffered worse,
even, than that.

"My dear sir," said Mr. Hennetit, coming forward and shaking my hand
with great cordiality, "I have so desired to see you!"

"May I ask on what account?" I replied, with the utmost _sang froid_,
although I was almost bursting with anxiety.

"Why, to tell you the truth--and I am almost ashamed to confess it--we
sold you more flour than we intended, having several orders to fill, and
I thought that if it made no difference to you, we would borrow one
hundred barrels, and repay you in the course of a day or two at
farthest. It is not of much importance, but I concluded that I would
speak to you in regard to the subject."

Even while conversing, he led me to his neat and commodious private
room, as though the sight of his wealth would soften my heart, and awe
me to subjection to his will.

"You see, my dear sir, it is such a trifling matter, that I am almost
ashamed to make the request. I am positively mortified to think that we
made such a mistake as to dispose of our whole stock. However, a ship
will be here in a few days, and then we can supply the country at
greatly reduced rates."

I did not interrupt him, but sat patiently, while he was endeavoring to
wheedle me out of my speculation. He displayed the anxiety that he felt,
to carry his point, while speaking, and I knew that one of his restless
eyes was on me, to read my thoughts, during the interview.

"I am sorry that I cannot accommodate you in this instance," I answered,
"because I bought for the Ballarat market, and the people of that
section of the country are in want. Flour at the mines is selling for
sixty pounds per ton, a large advance upon what I paid."

"O, I don't mind allowing you a small margin for your trouble. You paid
forty pounds per ton. I will give you forty-five for a hundred barrels."

"My dear Mr. Hennetit, it really grieves me to think that I must refuse
your offer," I replied, "but I couldn't think of selling below the
market rates. If you wish a hundred barrels at fifty-five pounds per
ton, I shall be exceedingly happy to accommodate you."

"Pooh, pooh!" he muttered; "I can't consider such a thing. If you think
to speculate in flour in this country, you will miss it, and lose your
money."

"Perhaps I shall; but as flour has risen in price since I purchased, I
don't see why I should not reap the benefit of it."

I bowed courteously to the merchant, replaced my veil, (for during the
summer months, when the ground is dry, and the wind blows strong, it is
necessary to wear a veil, to protect the eyes from the dust which rises
in heavy clouds, and at times obscures the sun like a thunder squall,)
and walked off, hoping that I should hear his voice calling me back, but
in this I was disappointed. Mr. Hennetit thought that I would repent,
and come to his terms, and so determined to stand the pressure one day
more, at all hazards.

I walked directly to the river, and found that the wind was blowing off
shore like great guns. This elated me, although I remembered the words
of the tarry mariner, and wondered how it was out upon the broad ocean.

For two days I had not slept an hour's time, or eaten more than a crust
of bread; but when I saw how the wind was blowing, I returned to my
hotel, and supplied my nearly exhausted system with food.

No sooner had I finished dinner than I was told that a gentleman wished
to speak to me in the bar room. I went there, and saw one of the
merchants from whom I had purchased one hundred sacks of Chilian flour,
and one hundred barrels of American brand.

"Well!" he exclaimed, shaking hands with some warmth, "you have _dished_
us, and no mistake! Who, in the devil's name, would have supposed that
those two ships could have made such long passages--did you?" and then,
without waiting for me to answer, he marched up to the bar and called
for drinks, and I must confess that I gratified him, and pleased myself,
in taking a very good glass of wine and water at his expense.

"Come, now to business," my acquaintance said, wiping his lips on a
richly embroidered handkerchief, imported from Manilla.

"Very well, to business it is," said I.

"You have got all the flour in the market in your hands," he began.

"I know it," I answered.

"Yes, I suppose that you do," he said, dryly; "now, I want the flour
that I sold you, and which still remains in my store. What is the
figure, sir?"

Here was a man that I could trade with, and not resort to art. He was
never schooled in diplomacy, and his blunt nature rejected all
subterfuge. I saw that he was willing to allow me to make all that I
could, knowing that he would have done the same, had he been situated as
I was.

"Fifty-five pounds per ton," I answered.

"I'll take it at that figure," he replied, promptly; "come with me to
the store, and I will settle the amount immediately."

I did not require to be invited a second time; and after I had received
my money, I calculated how many more tons I should have to dispose of
before I could call my funds whole.

In the midst of my calculation, I was disturbed by a message from
Messrs. Hennetit & Co. They desired to see me immediately, and requested
to know when it would suit my convenience to call on them. I replied, in
half an hour; and when I was leaving the store to keep my appointment,
my blunt friend stopped me.

"Hennetit & Co.," he said, "have received a number of orders for flour,
and they must fill them. Don't sell for less than what I paid you;
perhaps you can get more."

I thanked my acquaintance for his hint, and acted on it. When Mr.
Hennetit talked about purchasing a few barrels, I put him off by
replying that it was hardly worth while to retail them, and that I had
received proposals for all that I held, and that I probably should
accept.

This information rather startled the cautious gentleman, and the
question was put to me without equivocation,--

"How much advance did I demand for the flour which they held for for
me?"

"Fifty-six pounds per ton," I replied, promptly and firmly.

"Would I not take fifty pounds?"

"No"

"Would I sell all that I held in the city to the firm of Hennetit & Co.
for that price?"

I replied that I would, provided the transaction was cashed that
afternoon.

There was a short discussion among the members of the firm; and I saw
the junior partner go out in great haste. He returned in a few minutes,
and reported, I knew what he went after. He desired to learn the
direction of the wind before completing the bargain. Fortune favored me.
It was blowing a gale directly off shore.

"Will you take a check on the bank, or do you desire gold dust?" was Mr.
Hennetit's polite interrogation.

I replied that I preferred the dust, if it was clean, and had been
received from the government office. It was warranted free of sand; and
while the weighing commenced, I drew up orders for the delivery of flour
held by the several firms in the city. By the time that I had concluded,
the dust was put into bags, marked with my name, the amount in each bag,
and I found myself thy possessor of ten thousand pounds in hard cash, or
nearly fifty thousand dollars.

In less than an hour the money was safely locked up in the vaults of the
bank; and then I began to feel as though I had passed through an ordeal
that had left me, at least, ten years older than I really was; and I
almost made a solemn vow never to attempt another speculation; but I am
glad that I hesitated, because before I left Australia I indulged in
many; and while some were unfortunate, others, I am happy to state,
turned out well, and enable me to live at the present time, a life of
such comparative idleness, that I almost repent being a bachelor, and
sometimes think that the sea of matrimony would relieve my life of
_ennui_.

I owe an apology to the reader, perhaps, for thus taking so much space
to relate a transaction that made some noise in Melbourne, owing to the
boldness of my strike, and the success that attended it. It was a
lottery, with the chances in my favor, and had I not improved it there
were others who would.

The vessels expected did not arrive for three days after I sold out; yet
the Messrs. Hennetits & Co. made money out of the operation, and
whenever I met them, after our business relations were ended, always
joked me about selling to them for so low a price, while they were
prepared to give me at least five pounds more per ton.

But I will retrace my steps, and return to our store at Ballarat, from
which place I took flight on the very day that we found our nugget.

"I think," said Mr. Critchet, as we sat smoking our pipes after tea, the
store being closed for the night, "that I shall be well enough in a few
days to go to work myself. I feel the spirit in me, but the flesh is yet
weak."

"You will not be fit for a day's work in the mines for a month yet,"
returned Fred.

"I can't remain idle for that length of time," Mr. Critchet said; "I
have already trespassed on your hospitality, and am laboring under a
debt for kind attention, that I shall have hard work to repay. I am not
rich, but if the few thousand pounds which I have accumulated, and which
are on deposit at the government office, can recompense you, they are
yours."

"I suppose," said Fred, re-filling his pipe, lighting it, and then
puffing away vigorously, "that you imagine that it is best to surrender
all your property in the most gracious manner possible. If that is your
opinion, you misjudge us."

"My dear young friend!" cried Mr. Critchet, "I certainly did not
entertain any such opinion. I have been treated as kindly and carefully
as though you were my own sons; and through your exertions and
attentions my life has been saved. I feel as though I cannot repay you
with empty thanks, for I have caused an expenditure of much time and
money. Let me feel as though I had endeavored to requite your kindness."

"So you can," returned Fred, composedly.

Mr. Critchet brightened up. I looked at my friend anxiously, and feared
that he had forgotten our agreement on the subject under discussion.

"The fact is," said Fred, knocking the ashes from his pipe, "if you wish
to deserve our friendship, never speak again in reference to the subject
of a recompense."

"But--" exclaimed the old man.

"No buts about it. You sought our house as a refuge for safety, and if
you found it, none can be more satisfied than ourselves. The first night
I saw your gray hairs I thought of my dead father, and I determined to
do all that I could for the honor of his name. God bless his memory--he
was a good man, and I am certain that if his spirit is allowed to visit
this earth, it would approve of my conduct."

"Then all recompense is refused?" demanded our guest, after a moment's
silence.

"Decidedly so."

"Then let me make a proposition to this effect: My claim is lying idle,
and is probably half full of water. I feel that I am not strong enough
to work it, and will tend the store until well, and one or both of you
can take my mine and carry it on, and, if you choose, divide the
profits between us three. By such a process you will be spared from
being under pecuniary obligations to me, and I shall feel as though I
was in some measure, however slight, repaying the expense of my board
and lodging."

How carefully the old gentleman concealed the fact, that the mine which
he owned, and had partially worked, was one of the most valuable, in
Ballarat, and that it we consented to the arrangement we should, in all
probability, make two or three thousand pounds with but a trifling
amount of labor!

"If you will do as I wish," Mr. Critchet continued, "I shall feel as
though I was not intruding upon your privacy, or upon your generosity.
If my offer is not accepted, then to-morrow I return to my tent, and
trouble you no more."

"But consider," I said, "you have no knowledge of storekeeping, and will
make but a poor clerk for attending upon these rough miners."

"My dear boy," our guest exclaimed, "before you were born, as a British
merchant, I sold thousands of pounds worth of West India goods; and
should now, if I had my rights, be in possession of a princely fortune.
Do not think that I am speaking boastingly, for I am humble. All pride,
excepting the love of honesty, and a desire to see my family once more
in comfortable circumstances, has left me; and now I labor for love of
my children, at whatever business I can make the most money."

"You have a family, then?" I asked.

The old gentleman nodded; and through the tobacco smoke I saw that his
eyes grow moist at the question. We sat silent for a few minutes, for we
did not wish to interrogate him in relation to his family affairs,
although I must confess that I felt something of a Yankee's curiosity in
regard to his position in life.

"I have no desire to keep from you my story," Mr. Critchet said,
"although it may not interest you, and is but a repetition of trust and
wrong--of confidence and betrayal. Such as it is, however, I will
confide to you, and hope that it may prevent you from being shipwrecked
on the same sea."

The old gentleman moistened his lips with a drink of cold tea, and
began:--

"My father was a merchant before me, and dealt largely in West India and
India goods; and, when I was of sufficient age, I occupied a stool in
his counting room, and learned the mysteries of buying low and selling
high, for the purpose of taking his place when he felt rich enough to
retire.

"When he did, which was at a ripe old age, I was left in possession of
two thirds of his property, it being shared by my sister and myself; and
when my sister married, which she did without my consent, and almost
before I knew her husband by reputation, I paid over to her every penny
that belonged to her, and wished her God speed on her journey through
life. We were nearly strangers to each other, owing to the death of our
mother during her infancy, when an aunt had volunteered to assume the
control of her education, and that was one reason why, perhaps, my
advice was not listened to in regard to the choice of a husband.

"Well, time passed on, and at length I too married, and was blessed with
a daughter, and then I renewed my exertions for wealth for my child's
sake; for then I was a silly and ambitious man, and hoped that I could
connect myself by marriage with some peer or lord, or even a baronet.
That was eighteen years ago, my friends, and since that period I have
grown wiser, and, as you see, older. If I can live to see my daughter
wedded to an honest man my ambition will be satisfied."

I began to reflect and ponder over those words. How did I know but that
I might suit her fancy! I looked at Fred, and would have sworn that he
was debating the same subject. I already began to feel jealous; for an
English girl, at the age of nineteen, is not to be passed by without a
kind consideration. I wondered if she was handsome, but supposed that
she must be, judging from the appearance of her father.

"I rarely saw my sister," Mr. Critchet continued, "after her marriage,
but I heard from her frequently; and seldom looked at the Morning Post
without seeing her name announced as having been present at a party the
night before. I did not envy her her life of dissipation, for I
preferred to secure happiness in a different course; but still I could
not help wondering how her husband managed to support such extravagance.
Too soon did I learn the secret; for one day he sought me out, and with
a gloomy brow, announced that his purpose in visiting me was to obtain
money to meet notes which were maturing.

Copyright (c) 2007. bestextbooks.com. All rights reserved.

W.D. Lighthall - "The Manor House of Lacolle"

Various - "Folk Lore and Legends; Scandinavian"

B. M. Bower - "The Uphill Climb"

Izola Forrester - "Kit of Greenacre Farm"