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




"Have you seen Darnley's band lately?" Smith inquired.

"Yes," replied the stockman, still retaining his position.

"Has he visited you within the past few days?" queried Smith.

"Yes," replied the man.

"Ah, his supply of provisions was short," cried Smith, as his eyes
sought the flocks as though wondering how many sheep satisfied the
bushranger and his gang.

The stockman returned no answer, so we passed him and entered his hut.
There were two bedsteads made of hides, a table, two rough chairs, that
looked as though introduced during the days of Sir Francis Drake, a few
pans hanging against the wall, an old chest with a broken lid and no
lock, and these were all the articles of luxury or convenience that
graced the cabin of the stockman.

Smith pointed out the spot where Darnley had slept on the night of his
visit; and after we had gratified our curiosity, we left the room, and
bidding the stockman good-by, started on our return to the team.

The poor man did not reply to our salutation, and after we left the
house a number of rods behind, we turned and saw that he was still
buried in profound reflection, and that his head was, as usual, resting
on his breast.

"Poor fellow!" I muttered; "his unjust sentence has broken his heart."

"He feels the wrong keenly," Smith said. "He has but one wish on earth
now; and that is, to see his daughter before he dies."

"He then has children living?" Fred asked.

"Only one, and she was a mere child when he left home. After his
misfortunes the girl was placed with a respectable family in
Lincolnshire. He has often heard from her--she married a hard-working
man, and now has one or two children. The stockman has saved every
shilling of his earnings for the last few years, for the purpose of
paying their passage to this country, where he thinks the husband can
prosper, and where he will have the privilege of seeing his
grandchildren grow up around him. Ten months since a hundred pounds were
sent for the object he had in view, but during the whole of that time no
word has arrived that the money reached its destination."

"A hard case, and one deserving of our warmest sympathy," cried Fred,
once more stopping to look at the solitary man, who still stood with
folded arms and bowed head, meditating upon his wrongs.

"A kangaroo! a kangaroo!" cried the convict, suddenly, pointing with his
hand towards a tall, slim animal, that was standing under a tree, as if
to shelter itself from the sun.

We looked at the kangaroo with considerable interest. It was nearly six
feet high, when standing upon its hind legs, of a dark red color, with
small spots of white upon its breast, while two short arms, or flippers,
were dangling from its fore-shoulders, which were narrow and lean, as
though, clipper-like, it was intended for speed.

The animal watched our movements narrowly; but as the distance was too
great for a rifle shot, we slowly edged towards it with the expectation
of getting within range.

Cautiously we crept along the prairie, sometimes partly concealed by
tall, rank grass and sweet-scented shrubs, until we were forty rods from
the tree under which the kangaroo was sporting.

"Hist!" said Smith, holding up his hand, to command our attention. "The
poor brute is a female, and has her young 'uns sporting around her."

A closer scrutiny revealed the presence of two kangaroos, who were
playing about their mother, unconscious of all danger. They were of a
much lighter color than the old one, and the fur upon their bellies was
nearly pure white. For some time we watched them, and then, desirous of
obtaining fresh meat for supper, Fred and myself crawled a little
nearer.

"Remember our wager," the convict cried, as we moved along on our hands
and knees.

Fred nodded in reply, but after we had got a few rods from Smith, the
latter suddenly started to his feet and uttered a loud yell.

So rapidly that our eyes could hardly follow their movements, did the
young animals run towards their parent and disappear from view; but we
had no time to wonder at that, for the mother, after a hasty glance
around, and comprehending the danger in which she stood, suddenly sprang
from beneath the shelter of the tree, and with the most extraordinary
bounds, some of which would measure over thirty feet in a straight line,
and nearly ten feet high, was passing us like a streak of lightning,
when Fred raised his rifle and fired.

The kangaroo continued her bounds without relaxing her speed; when,
thinking that I might be more successful, I also fired.

I heard the convict laugh heartily at our failures; but before his
merriment ceased, another gun was discharged, and with a mighty bound
the poor brute sprang into the air, alighted on the ground, and, rolling
over and over as though even in her death struggle she sought to escape,
yielded up her life.

We looked towards the stockman to see if he had discharged his gun. He
was leaning on his old musket, and a bright blue smoke was curling over
his head. For a moment he seemed to be warmed into life by the
excitement of the sport, but before the kangaroo had breathed her last,
his head sank upon his breast again, and he appeared no longer to take
an interest in the affairs of life.

We hastened to the animal, and wondered at her immense muscular power.
Her legs appeared like springs of steel, while a powerful tail, long and
bony, was also used to help the animal make those tremendous bounds,
which have become proverbial in Australia, and have excited the
attention of the most eminent naturalists.

"But where have the young 'uns disappeared?" I asked, after we had
sufficiently admired the animal.

"You would hardly think that they are still about her person," Smith
said.

We laughed incredulously, but Smith maintained his gravity and persisted
in his statement.

"It is an easy matter to settle," said Fred. "Just prove to us the truth
of your statement, and we shall be as knowing as yourself."

The convict bent over the body and inserted his hand in a small opening
in the belly of the animal that resembled the mouth of a pouch, but
which had escaped our attention. He drew forth, as the result of his
investigation, a little, struggling kangaroo, that tried to induce Smith
to relinquish his grasp by snapping at his hand with its toothless
mouth.

While we were admiring the softness of its skin, the second one was
dragged to light; but it uttered shrill cries of terror, and endeavored
to effect its escape from the rough hands that held it.

"It is as bad as murder, killing the poor brute," cried Fred,
indignantly, he having recovered from the mortification of missing the
animal.

"And there are no judges upon earth to sentence its murderer," cried a
solemn voice.

We looked and found that the stockman had left the shadow of his hut,
and was occupied the same way as ourselves, gazing at the carcass of the
kangaroo.

"Man is merciless, and God punishes us all in his own good time," the
stockman continued, as he listened to the grief of the motherless
animals.

"Then why did you take her life?" demanded Fred.

"A man that is wronged seeks to shift his burden so that the load which
weighs him down may grow lighter."

The old man, without another expression of sorrow, turned away and
walked towards his hut again; while Smith, who was used to such scenes,
and therefore had hardened his heart, deliberately commenced skinning
the dead brute, and allowed the young ones to escape wherever they chose
to run.

That night we supped upon the meat of the kangaroo; and while feasting
there was little thought of the sorrow which we experienced at its
death.




CHAPTER VI.

ADVENTURE WITH A DOG.--THE MURDER IN THE RAVINE.--STORY OF AN OUTRAGED
WOMAN.


The flickering light of a fire, around which was seated three men with
sunburnt faces and long beard, hardly illuminated the bank of the river
sufficiently to distinguish objects ten yards distant. The men were
Smith the convict, Fred, and myself. Each of our mouths were graced with
dingy pipes, and while we puffed away diligently, our eyes were fixed
upon the cheerful blaze, silently watching the ever-changing embers, and
meditating upon the events of the day. The wind had gone to sleep with
the sun, and the heated air had given place to a coolness that felt
doubly refreshing after the scorching which we had undergone on the
prairie that forenoon.

The air was still perfumed with the smoke of broiled kangaroo meat,
attracting large numbers of a fox-like species of animals, that rarely
ventured from the surrounding darkness, into the light of our camp-fire,
but skulked in the vicinity, and waited for the time when sleep would
overpower us, and allow them free pillage of our larder. Occasionally an
impatient one would utter a short bark, as though expressive of his
disgust at our watchfulness, and after he had thus given vent to his
feelings, slink away into darkness again; but their fiery, eager eyes,
could be distinguished as they prowled around and jostled each other
while taking counsel.

It was near ten o'clock. We had lapsed into silence, and each one was
busy with his own thoughts, perhaps laying plans for the future. From
the time that our pipes were lighted not a word had been exchanged, and
I was just about knocking the ashes from mine, and proposing a
retirement to our blankets beneath the nearest tree, when the prolonged
howling of a dog attracted my attention.

I looked towards Smith for an explanation, but found that he was as much
puzzled as myself, and was holding his pipe in one hand, while his head
was bent in the direction of the sound, as though waiting for a
repetition before he ventured to express an opinion.

Again did the mournful sound ring across the prairie, and this time it
seemed nearer than when first heard. I thought I knew the bay, and could
have sworn that the animal was a staghound, and a full-blooded brute at
that. I had seen none of the breed since I had arrived in Australia, and
I thought it singular to find one at such a distance from Melbourne.

"What is that hound baying for at this time of night?" I asked of the
convict, who still remained speechless.

"Are you sure that it is a hound?" Smith inquired.

"Quite positive. There he goes again. The brute has treed some animal,
and is informing his master of its whereabouts," I replied, listening to
see in what direction the sound proceeded from.

"You are wrong there," cried Fred. "The dog is evidently coming this
way, and perhaps has started a kangaroo. If it comes within sight I'll
try it, even if I miss as I did this afternoon."

Fred laid his hand upon his rifle which was lying by his side, and tried
to peer into the darkness, but a moment's experiment convinced him of
the folly of his thought, and he laid the gun down again.

"I've never heard a sound like that since I left old England," the
convict said, as the baying continued, and grew nearer at each
repetition.

We all three felt an anxiety that we tried to conceal from each other.
The loneliness of our location, and the uncertainty of meeting with
friends in that part of the country, the frequent robberies that had of
late been committed, and the daring of the bushrangers, were all ample
cause for vigilance on our part; and perhaps we suspected that the dog
was used by some gang to discover the presence of travellers, and
expedite the work of pillage.

Nearer and nearer did the hound approach, and we had just time to snatch
our rifles from the ground, and start to our feet, when the animal
sprang into our narrow circle, and with subdued bays seemed to claim our
notice.

"Give him a wide berth," shouted the convict, swinging his sharp axe
over his head as though in readiness to bring it down upon the skull of
the dog if he showed signs of hostility. "Keep clear of the brute," he
continued, "for he may be mad."

The hound, a noble animal, with long, wiry limbs, and heavy jaws, around
which drops of foam were hanging, instead of shrinking from the uplifted
arm of the convict, seemed to measure the danger in which he stood at a
glance, and before we could interfere, or the heavy axe descend, sprang
full at the throat of Smith, and such was the impetuosity and suddenness
of the attack that the convict was borne to the ground, and for a moment
was at the mercy of the dog.

Fred and myself raised our rifles simultaneously, but before we brought
them to bear, the animal had quit his grip and began craunching some
bones which were lying near the fire, tearing the meat which adhered to
them in the most ravenous manner, and exhibiting all the signs of
starvation.

"Don't fire," shouted Smith, struggling to his feet. "Don't fire; you
see the poor brute is nearly starved."

We still held our rifles ready, however, and were half inclined to use
them; but, as we looked at the dog, and saw how greedily he was
devouring his food, we concluded to wait and see what he would do after
he had satisfied his appetite.

"The dog is rather quick and spiteful," cried Smith, rubbing his throat
and adjusting his shirt collar, which had been somewhat disarranged. "It
served me right for threatening him, when it's evident that he has
sought us peaceably."

The convict, instead of harboring malice, cut large pieces of flesh from
the body of the kangaroo and fed him. He greedily devoured all that was
offered, and wagged his long, rat-like tail in satisfaction. When,
however, he had nearly demolished one fore-quarter of our prize, he
walked a short distance from the fire and renewed his howling,
commencing on a low key, and gradually ascending, until the yells could
have been heard for miles.

"What is the matter with the brute?" asked Smith, turning to Fred and
myself, who were too perplexed to answer the inquiry; and, before we
could speak again, the hound walked slowly back to the fire, looked
piteously into our faces, and, strolling out into the darkness,
commenced baying as loud as ever.

Three several times did the intelligent animal seek to induce us to
follow him, without our comprehending his meaning; but when it was
evident that such was his desire, grave questions arose as to the
expediency of our doing so. We thought that possibly it was a trick to
induce us to leave our baggage so that the owners of the dog would have
an unrestricted opportunity to plunder the cart. Such things had
happened before, and why not again?

We glanced suspiciously at the hound as he stood near the fire, looking
at our faces and appearing to understand every word that was said on the
subject; indeed, when Smith stated, during the conversation, that he
would not on any account leave his wagon, the brute uttered a howl as
though he despaired of success, and turned all of his attention to Fred
and myself.

"Let us follow him," cried my friend, grasping his rifle as though he
feared nothing with that in his hand.

The dog, as soon as Fred had uttered the words, crouched at his feet and
licked his shoes, while a low bark testified to his joy.

I looked towards Smith for advice and guidance in the matter. He was
musing on the subject, but when he saw that we only waited for his
decision, he shouldered his axe, and nodded his head.

"Let us follow the brute," he cried. "We may be the means of saving
life, and, perhaps, much suffering. Lead the way, good dog, and take us
to your master."

The hound sprang from his crouching position at Fred's feet, and
started on a dog-trot along the road that led towards Melbourne. In a
few minutes, despite our exertions to keep pace with him, he was out of
sight; but we followed along the course which he had started, and after
a short time he returned to our sides, wagging his tail, and apparently
urging us to increase our speed.

A dozen times did he disappear in like manner, yet never for any length
of period; and after we had walked nearly three miles, the animal
abandoned the beaten track and continued across the prairie.

"I don't want to go a great ways in this direction," muttered the
convict, glancing around, and trying to pierce the darkness.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because, a few miles farther and we shall be near the forest which I
spoke to you about. It is infested with men better seen at a distance or
not at all."

In spite of Smith's fears, however, we tramped on quarter of an hour
longer, and then, by the uneasy movements of the dog, concluded that we
were not far from our destination.

Suddenly the animal sprang forward with a bay of warning, and
disappeared as if by magic. The next moment we were upon the steep bank
of a gulch, nearly thirty feet deep; and had not the actions of the dog
rendered us careful, we should have plunged headlong upon its rocky bed.

For a moment, we remained motionless, hardly daring to move, for fear
that one false step would lead us to our ruin; but, after listening for
a while, we heard the dog as he reached the bottom of the ravine, and
then we determined to follow at all hazards.

With careful steps we worked our way down the steep bank, and after half
an hour's toil found ourselves at the bottom. The hound was waiting for
us, and testified his impatience by a deep bay. The instant, however,
that we joined him, he became silent, and trotted on as before.

Suddenly a groan, but a few feet from us, caused us to halt, and hastily
look around. But a short distance from us were the indistinct outlines
of a cart, and near the vehicle was the hound, busily occupied in
lapping something that was lying upon the ground.

Another groan, and we moved towards the individual that seemed in such
deep distress. By the bright starlight, but which hardly penetrated the
gulch, we saw the form of a woman extended upon the rough rocks, while
near her lay the body of a man motionless.

"Here is work for us," cried Smith, all his genuine feeling returning;
and he threw his heavy axe aside, and in a twinkling had the woman's
head upon his knee, and was pouring down her throat a potion from a
black bottle which he carried in his pocket.

"Look to the man," he cried, assuming the leadership at once; and in
obedience to orders I knelt beside him, and placed my hand upon his
heart. He was cold, and his heart was motionless. As I withdrew my hand,
I felt that my fingers were moist and sticky. I tried to discover what
adhered to them, but the darkness was too great.

"Give me the matches, Smith," I said, quickly. "We will strike a light,
and investigate this affair."

A large quantity of drift wood was lying on the bed of the gulch, and
well dried by the hot summer's sun. I cut a few shavings, and a bright
fire was soon under headway, and cast its ruddy glare upon the group
collected around the cart, which was broken in half a dozen different
places, and had, apparently, been thrown from the banks above.

As soon as sufficient fuel was added, we turned our attention to the
woman whose head Smith was holding. Her eyes were closed, and her teeth
clinched like those of a person in a fit. There was not a vestige of any
color in her face, while her garments appeared as though they had
experienced rough usage, and were torn in a dozen different places. In
spite of the strong decoction which Smith had poured down her throat,
she did not revive, or appear to comprehend what was said to her; and
after rubbing her hands for a while, and finding that it did no good, I
devoted a few moments to an examination of the body of the man.

I now comprehended the meaning of the sticky substance which adhered to
my hand, for upon his breast were two large, ragged wounds, either of
which was sufficient to let out the life of a man, and from each had
oozed his blood until it had congealed in large lumps, and was held,
bag-like, by his thick flannel shirt.

"There has been murder committed here," I cried, holding up my hands,
stained with the vital fluid of the dead man.

"There has been more than murder," replied Fred, in a low tone. "There
has been violence offered to a woman."

"Impossible," I cried, with a shudder at the thought.

"Look and convince yourself, then," Fred said, seizing a burning brand
and holding it so that the light was thrown upon the face and body of
the insensible woman.

Upon her neck was a large, discolored spot, and a near examination
revealed the impression of finger-nails, as though she had been seized
with no gentle hand, and choked, until forced to yield compliance to
unholy wishes and desires.

Upon both sides of a neck that retained traces of beauty, although
bearing the impression of the sun's burning rays, were the dark marks to
be seen; and the hand that had left its impression was none of the
smallest, nor its grip the weakest, as we could readily see.

The hound had crouched close to us, and watched with wary eyes our
movements. Often did he rise and lick the face of the insensible woman,
and after uttering a howl of grief, retire to his resting place, to
mourn in secret for his loss.

"Force more of the liquor down her throat," cried Fred, who was rubbing
a hand that appeared accustomed to toil, for its palm was hard and
broad.

Smith once more brought his bottle into requisition, and forcing apart
the teeth, emptied a portion of its contents into her mouth. Whether the
chafing began to have its effect, or the liquor was uncommonly strong,
is a matter of doubt; but at any rate she strangled as though she would
never recover her breath, and ended by opening a pair of very frightened
blue eyes.

She raised her head from Smith's knee, glanced hurriedly and with
frightened looks first at Fred and then at myself, and before we were
aware of her intentions, sprang to her feet, and with loud shrieks
sought to escape. Before she had taken half a dozen steps, however,
Smith's stout arms were thrown around her, and he was calling to her in
gentle words to listen to reason, and to look upon him as a friend--that
he would protect her, and help avenge her injuries.

Part of his words were lost during the momentary struggle which occurred
between them; but when her strength failed, and she sank exhausted and
panting into his arms, for the first time she appeared to comprehend
that we were not bushrangers, but human beings and friends.

"Compose yourself," cried Smith, as gently as though he held an infant
in his arms. "See, even your dog is satisfied that we mean no harm; he
led us to this place, or you would have perished before morning. Tell us
what has happened, and how we can assist you."

"Where is my husband?" she asked, after a moment's silence, during which
her wild eyes wandered from face to face, as though seeking to verify
the truth of his words.

We returned no answer, and she repeated the question, though in a louder
tone, and appeared to doubt us because we kept silent.

"My husband! where is my husband?" she shrieked; and as she turned her
restless eyes towards the cart, she suddenly appeared to comprehend
every thing.

"He is dead--he is dead," she cried, starting to her feet, in spite of
the gentle restraint which Smith sought to impose upon her.

She saw the body of the man who had been murdered, and with a loud cry
she fell upon it, laid her head upon its cold bosom, and sobbed as
though her heart would break. We did not interrupt her grief, but the
faithful dog lay down beside her, and added his subdued howls to her
tears; and when she mourned the loudest, he would lick her hands and
face, and seek to comfort her with his love.

We heaped up fuel on the fire, and waited patiently for the time when
the woman would exhaust her grief, and give us some account of the
proceedings by which she and hers had suffered.

While Smith and Fred remained near the fire, they examined the cart to
see if it contained any thing that would be useful to the unfortunate
woman in her present hour of grief. There were a few culinary utensils,
besides a thin mattress and blankets--all thrown in promiscuously, as
though the load had been ransacked and rifled of every thing that was
valuable, and the remainder not considered worth taking away.

The night wore on, and light would soon herald the approach of day. It
was necessary that we should return to our camp, and look after our
effects; for who could tell how long they would he safe unless guarded
by a display of rifles? Besides, the cattle needed looking after, and
collecting, or they would be likely to stray back towards Melbourne and
get mixed with the wild animals which belonged to some of the numerous
stockmen on the road. Or the bushrangers might take a fancy for a change
of diet, and prefer beef to mutton; and in this case they would not be
likely to ask the permission of the owner of the animals, unless he was
stronger-handed than the robbers.

I saw Smith glance uneasily along the ravine, and edge towards the woman
as though he wished to cheer her in her affliction, and yet explain
about the large amount of property which he had left unprotected. As
her sobs had somewhat subsided, worn out by the violence of her
emotions, she appeared more calm; he made the attempt, and kneeling
beside her spoke,--

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

Various - "St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 4, February 1878"

Sir Valentine Chirol - "India, Old and New"

Various - "The American Missionary, Volume 49, No. 3, March, 1895"

Elizabeth Apthorp McFadden - "Why the Chimes Rang: A Play in One Act"