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The Gold Hunter's Adventures by William H. Thomes

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He disappeared in the darkness, and we walked silently to the store,
where we found Smith, who was so overcome by the arrest of Fred that he
had drank six or seven glasses of whiskey, and announced his intention
of continuing to imbibe until he was lost to all reason. A few words of
comfort, however, and an announcement that we should leave for Melbourne
in the morning, and require him to look after the store until our
return, sobered him, and he vowed not to touch another glass of spirits
until Fred was released.

Mr. Brown promised to accompany me, and before morning we packed up our
clothes, and at daylight we were on our way in the stage, rolling along
at the rate of ten miles an hour; and in two days after leaving the
mines we were in Melbourne, and closeted with Murden, who proved himself
our friend in adversity, as he was in prosperity.

"I will do all that I can," he said, after listening to our story. "The
commissioner has so magnified matters that the governor and council
really think a most formidable insurrection has occurred, and that he
has displayed great power in putting it down. To make the affair as
complicated as possible, the governor seems to think that the Americans
were at the head of the conspiracy, and have urged the English on to
action. I, of course, know better, and will endeavor to have him put
right on the subject."

Murden appointed an interview in the afternoon, and then left us to lay
our case before a few of the most influential members of the council,
while we visited old acquaintances, and explained to Smith's wife, who
was living in a very pleasant house in the city, the reason why her
husband would not return for a week or two. The lady was heartily glad
to see me, and at her request Mr. Brown and myself took up our quarters
in her house during our stay in the city.

In the afternoon we called on Murden, and found that he had accomplished
his object. The governor, on his representations, had ordered a
discharge to be immediately made out, and sealed by the broad seal of
the colony, and intimated that a most thorough investigation should be
instituted regarding the conduct of both the commissioner and Colonel
Kellum at Ballarat.

"And now to conclude a long story," said Murden, "here is a discharge
which states that your friend was unjustly arrested, and that he be
released from custody, no matter under whose jurisdiction he may be,
forthwith. His excellency also bade me state that he should be pleased
to see you before your departure from the city, and requests Mr.
Inspector Brown to repair to Ballarat and report for duty."

"Ah, Murden," Mr. Brown exclaimed, "I am indebted to you for this
re-appointment."

"I thought that I might as well kill two birds with one stone, as the
saying is, and faith I've done it. But I see that both of you are
impatient to leave my pleasant company, which is ungrateful; but I
overlook it with Christian meekness. You can't go though until you have
dined with me, and then called to thank his excellency."

The proposition was accepted, and after dining with the lieutenant we
visited the palace, and were most heartily greeted by the governor and
his council, and at their request we explained our views at considerable
length in relation to the affairs of Ballarat and the mining tax, and
the means by which future troubles could be avoided. We were listened to
with attention, and I sincerely believe that what we uttered that day
did considerable towards inducing the government to abolish all
excepting a mere nominal tax, and to once more restore order in the
mines.

After leaving the palace we engaged seats in the stage, and that night
were rolling towards Ballarat, with the expectation of meeting the
military not more than thirty miles from Melbourne, and we were correct
in our supposition, for just at daylight the driver stopped, and pointed
out the company just striking their tents and getting ready for their
morning march. We induced the driver to await our return, and to the
extreme surprise of Captain Fitz we presented ourselves, and requested
the release of Fred, and after a brief examination of the document the
captain complied with our demand.

Our meeting with Fred was of a joyous description, but we had but little
time to waste in explanations. The driver was impatient, and the
soldiers ready to march. I had but time to reward the sergeant for his
kindness, and to assure Fred's fellow-prisoners that I would use all the
exertion that I could to obtain their pardons, when the rolling drum
gave the signal for moving, and in a few minutes the military were lost
to view in a cloud of dust.

But I must here draw my long narrative to a close, not because we did
not afterwards meet with adventures worthy to be recounted, but because
a lengthy absence from the country precludes the idea of further
continuing the series of sketches, which I am glad to find have found
favor in the eyes of the public.

For the satisfaction of the reader, I will state that for three years we
remained in Australia, and then when we left that country it was with a
solid conviction that we had been repaid for our toil and trouble, our
sufferings and pleasures.

Before I bid farewell to my readers, I will state that the miners who
were arrested and marched to Melbourne were all discharged, and that
after the mining tax was reduced, all further trouble ceased.

In many instances, in the course of the narrative, I have used
fictitious names; but the reader will pardon me when I state that most
of those introduced are still alive, and employed by the Australian
government, and it would hardly be right to expose their good or bad
actions to the world. With these few words I am happy to inform the
reader that my sketches are, for the present, brought to an end, but I
hope at some future time to resume them, and publish a second series of
"Adventures in Australia."

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