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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20031-h.zip b/20031-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d25ca9 --- /dev/null +++ b/20031-h.zip diff --git a/20031-h/20031-h.htm b/20031-h/20031-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9fcf55f --- /dev/null +++ b/20031-h/20031-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9924 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Final Reckoning, by G. A. Henty</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + body {background:#ffffff; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size:14pt; + margin-top:70px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify} + caption { font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-family: "Arial"; + text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18pt; } + div { text-align: center} + em {font-weight: bold} + h1 {text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em} + h2 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + hr {height: 5px} + p {text-indent: 4% } + pre {margin-left: 10%; font-size: 10pt;} + table {text-align: center} + td { font-family: "Arial"; text-align: left} + td.ltoc { letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; + text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; vertical-align: top } + td.rtoc { font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left} + thead { font-weight: bold;} +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Final Reckoning, by G. A. Henty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Final Reckoning + A Tale of Bush Life in Australia + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Illustrator: W. B. Wollen + +Release Date: December 5, 2006 [EBook #20031] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FINAL RECKONING *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>A Final Reckoning:</h1> +<h2>A Tale of Bush Life in Australia<br /> +by G. A. Henty.<br /></h2> +<hr /> +<center><table summary="Table of Contents"> +<caption>Contents</caption> +<tr><td class="ltoc"></td> +<td class="rtoc"><a href="#Preface">Preface</a>. +</td></tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch1">Chapter 1</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> The Broken Window.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch2">Chapter 2</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> The Poisoned Dog.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch3">Chapter 3</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> The Burglary At The Squire's.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch4">Chapter 4</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> The Trial.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch5">Chapter 5</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> Not Guilty!</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch6">Chapter 6</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> On The Voyage.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch7">Chapter 7</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> Gratitude.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch8">Chapter 8</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> A Gale.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch9">Chapter 9</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> Two Offers.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch10">Chapter 10</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> An Up-Country District.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch11">Chapter 11</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> The Black Fellows.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch12">Chapter 12</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> The Bush Rangers.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch13">Chapter 13</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> Bush Rangers.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch14">Chapter 14</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> An Unexpected Meeting.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch15">Chapter 15</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> At Donald's.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch16">Chapter 16</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> Jim's Report.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch17">Chapter 17</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> In Pursuit.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="ltoc"> +<a href="#Ch18">Chapter 18</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc"> Settling Accounts.</td> +</tr></table> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<table summary="Illustrations"> +<caption>Illustrations<br /> +</caption> +<tr><td> +<a href="#PicA">Reuben Whitney Acquitted of the Charge of Burglary.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr><td> +<a href="#PicB">The Ladies Saved from the Malay's Crease.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr><td> +<a href="#PicC">A Fight with the Black Fellows.</a> +</td></tr> +<tr><td> +<a href="#PicD">Jim Notes the Bush Rangers' Plans for Mischief.</a> +</td></tr> + + + +</table></center> +<h2><a name="Preface" id="Preface">Preface</a>.</h2> +<p>In this tale I have left the battlefields of history, and have +written a story of adventure in Australia, in the early days when +the bush rangers and the natives constituted a real and formidable +danger to the settlers. I have done this, not with the intention of +extending your knowledge, or even of pointing a moral, although the +story is not without one; but simply for a change—a change both +for you and myself, but frankly, more for myself than for you. You +know the old story of the boy who bothered his brains with Euclid, +until he came to dream regularly that he was an equilateral +triangle enclosed in a circle. Well, I feel that unless I break +away sometimes from history, I shall be haunted day and night by +visions of men in armour, and soldiers of all ages and times.</p> +<p>If, when I am away on a holiday I come across the ruins of a +castle, I find myself at once wondering how it could best have been +attacked, and defended. If I stroll down to the Thames, I begin to +plan schemes of crossing it in the face of an enemy; and if matters +go on, who can say but that I may find myself, some day, arrested +on the charge of surreptitiously entering the Tower of London, or +effecting an escalade of the keep of Windsor Castle! To avoid such +a misfortune—which would entail a total cessation of my stories, +for a term of years—I have turned to a new subject, which I can +only hope that you will find as interesting, if not as instructive, +as the other books which I have written.</p> +<p>G. A. Henty.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch1" id="Ch1">Chapter 1</a>: The Broken Window.</h2> +<p>"You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben +Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."</p> +<p>The words followed a shower of cuts with the cane. The speaker +was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, +near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small +degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a +cry from the boy whom he was striking. He was a lad of some +thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and +intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.</p> +<p>"I don't care if I do," he said defiantly. "It won't be my +fault, but yours, and the rest of them."</p> +<p>"You ought to be ashamed of yourself," the master said, "instead +of speaking in that way. You, who learn easier than anyone here, +and could always be at the top of your class, if you chose. I had +hoped better things of you, Reuben; but it's just the way, it's +your bright boys as mostly gets into mischief."</p> +<p>At this moment the door of the school room opened, and a lady +with two girls, one of about fourteen and the other eleven years of +age, entered.</p> +<p>"What is the matter now?" the lady asked, seeing the +schoolmaster, cane in hand, and the boy standing before him.</p> +<p>"Reuben Whitney! What, in trouble again, Reuben? I am afraid you +are a very troublesome boy."</p> +<p>"I am not troublesome, ma'm," the boy said sturdily. "That is, I +wouldn't be if they would let me alone; but everything that is done +bad, they put it down to me."</p> +<p>"But what have you been doing now, Reuben?"</p> +<p>"I have done nothing at all, ma'm; but he's always down on me," +and he pointed to the master, "and when they are always down on a +fellow, it's no use his trying to do right."</p> +<p>"What has the boy been doing now, Mr. White?" the lady +asked.</p> +<p>"Look there, ma'm, at those four windows all smashed, and the +squire had all the broken panes mended only a fortnight ago."</p> +<p>"How was it done, Mr. White?"</p> +<p>"By a big stone, ma'm, which caught the frame where they joined, +and smashed them all."</p> +<p>"I did not do it, Mrs. Ellison, indeed I didn't."</p> +<p>"Why do you suppose it was Reuben?" Mrs. Ellison asked the +master.</p> +<p>"Because I had kept him in, half an hour after the others went +home to dinner, for pinching young Jones and making him call out; +and he had only just gone out of the gate when I heard the smash; +so there is no doubt about it, for all the others must have been in +at their dinner at that time."</p> +<p>"I didn't do it, ma'm," the boy repeated. "Directly I got out of +the gate, I started off to run home. I hadn't gone not twenty yards +when I heard a smash; but I wasn't going for to stop to see what it +was. It weren't no business of mine, and that's all I know about +it."</p> +<p>"Mamma," the younger of the two girls said eagerly, "what he +says is quite true. You know you let me run down the village with +the jelly for Mrs. Thomson's child, and as I was coming down the +road I saw a boy come out of the gate of the school and run away; +and then I heard a noise of broken glass, and I saw another boy +jump over the hedge opposite, and run, too. He came my way and, +directly he saw me, he ran to a gate and climbed over."</p> +<p>"Do you know who it was, Kate?" Mrs. Ellison asked.</p> +<p>"Yes, mamma. It was Tom Thorne."</p> +<p>"Is Thomas Thorne here?" Mrs. Ellison asked in a loud voice.</p> +<p>There was a general turning of the heads of the children to the +point where a boy, somewhat bigger than the rest, had been +apparently studying his lessons with great diligence.</p> +<p>"Come here, Tom Thorne," Mrs. Ellison said.</p> +<p>The boy slouched up with a sullen face.</p> +<p>"You hear what my daughter says, Tom. What have you to say in +reply?"</p> +<p>"I didn't throw the stone at the window," the boy replied. "I +chucked it at a sparrow, and it weren't my fault if it missed him +and broke the window."</p> +<p>"I should say it was your fault, Tom," Mrs. Ellison said +sharply—"very much your fault, if you throw a great stone at a +bird without taking care to see what it may hit. But that is +nothing to your fault in letting another boy be punished for what +you did. I shall report the matter to the squire, and he will speak +to your father about it. You are a wicked, bad boy.</p> +<p>"Mr. White, I will speak to you outside."</p> +<p>Followed by her daughters, Mrs. Ellison went out; Kate giving a +little nod, in reply to the grateful look that Reuben Whitney cast +towards her, and his muttered:</p> +<p>"Thank you, miss."</p> +<p>"Walk on, my dears," Mrs. Ellison said. "I will overtake you, in +a minute or two.</p> +<p>"This will not do, Mr. White," she said, when she was alone with +the master. "I have told you before that I did not approve of your +thrashing so much, and now it is proved that you punish without any +sufficient cause, and upon suspicion only. I shall report the case +at once to the squire and, unless I am greatly mistaken, you will +have to look out for another place."</p> +<p>"I am very sorry, Mrs. Ellison, indeed I am; and it is not often +I use the cane, now. If it had been anyone else, I might have +believed him; but Reuben Whitney is always in mischief."</p> +<p>"No wonder he is in mischief," the lady said severely, "if he is +punished, without a hearing, for all the misdeeds of others. Well, +I shall leave the matter in the squire's hands; but I am sure he +will no more approve than I do of the children being ill +treated."</p> +<p>Reuben Whitney was the son of a miller, near Tipping. John +Whitney had been considered a well-to-do man, but he had speculated +in corn and had got into difficulties; and his body was, one day, +found floating in the mill dam. No one knew whether it was the +result of intention or accident, but the jury of his neighbours who +sat upon the inquest gave him the benefit of the doubt, and brought +in a verdict of "accidental death." He was but tenant of the mill +and, when all the creditors were satisfied, there were only a few +pounds remaining for the widow.</p> +<p>With these she opened a little shop in Tipping, with a +miscellaneous collection of tinware and cheap ironmongery; cottons, +tapes, and small articles of haberdashery; with toys, sweets, and +cakes for the children. The profits were small, but the squire, who +had known her husband, charged but a nominal rent for the cottage; +and this was more than paid by the fruit trees in the garden, which +also supplied her with potatoes and vegetables, so that she managed +to support her boy and herself in tolerable comfort.</p> +<p>She herself had been the daughter of a tradesman in Lewes, and +many wondered that she did not return to her father, upon her +husband's death. But her home had not been a comfortable one, +before her marriage; for her father had taken a second wife, and +she did not get on well with her stepmother. She thought, +therefore, that anything would be better than returning with her +boy to a home where, to the mistress at least, she would be most +unwelcome.</p> +<p>She had, as a girl, received an education which raised her +somewhat above the other villagers of Tipping; and of an evening +she was in the habit of helping Reuben with his lessons, and trying +to correct the broadness of dialect which he picked up from the +other boys. She was an active and bustling woman, managed her +little shop well, and kept the garden, with Reuben's assistance, in +excellent order.</p> +<p>Mrs. Ellison had, at her first arrival in the village three +years before, done much to give her a good start, by ordering that +all articles of use for the house, in which she dealt, should be +purchased of her; and she highly approved of the energy and +independence of the young widow. But lately there had been an +estrangement between the squire's wife and the village shopkeeper. +Mrs. Ellison, whose husband owned all the houses in the village, as +well as the land surrounding it, was accustomed to speak her mind +very freely to the wives of the villagers. She was kindness itself, +in cases of illness or distress; and her kitchen supplied soups, +jellies, and nourishing food to all who required it; but in return, +Mrs. Ellison expected her lectures on waste, untidiness, and +mismanagement to be listened to with respect and reverence.</p> +<p>She was, then, at once surprised and displeased when, two or +three months before, having spoken sharply to Mrs. Whitney as to +the alleged delinquencies of Reuben, she found herself decidedly, +though not disrespectfully, replied to.</p> +<p>"The other boys are always set against my Reuben," Mrs. Whitney +said, "because he is a stranger in the village, and has no father; +and whatever is done, they throw it on to him. The boy is not a bad +boy, ma'm—not in any way a bad boy. He may get into mischief, like +the rest; but he is not a bit worse than others, not half as bad as +some of them, and those who have told you that he is haven't told +you the truth."</p> +<p>Mrs. Ellison had not liked it. She was not accustomed to be +answered, except by excuses and apologies; and Mrs. Whitney's +independent manner of speaking came upon her almost as an act of +rebellion, in her own kingdom. She was too fair, however, to +withdraw her custom from the shop; but from that time she had not, +herself, entered it.</p> +<p>Reuben was a source of anxiety to his mother, but this had no +reference to his conduct. She worried over his future. The receipts +from the shop were sufficient for their wants; and indeed the widow +was enabled, from time to time, to lay by a pound against bad +times; but she did not see what she was to do with the boy. Almost +all the other lads of the village, of the same age, were already in +the fields; and Mrs. Whitney felt that she could not much longer +keep him idle. The question was, what was she to do with him? That +he should not go into the fields she was fully determined, and her +great wish was to apprentice him to some trade; but as her father +had recently died, she did not see how she was to set about it.</p> +<p>That evening, at dinner, Mrs. Ellison told the squire of the +scene in the school room.</p> +<p>"White must go," he said, "that is quite evident. I have seen, +for some time, that we wanted a younger man, more abreast of the +times than White is; but I don't like turning him adrift +altogether. He has been here upwards of thirty years. What am I to +do with him?"</p> +<p>Mrs. Ellison could make no suggestion; but she, too, disliked +the thought of anyone in the village being turned adrift upon the +world.</p> +<p>"The very thing!" the squire exclaimed, suddenly. "We will make +him clerk. Old Peters has long been past his work. The old man must +be seventy-five, if he's a day, and his voice quavers so that it +makes the boys laugh. We will pension him off. He can have his +cottage rent free, and three or four shillings a week. I don't +suppose it will be for many years. As for White, he cannot be much +above sixty. He will fill the place very well.</p> +<p>"I am sure the vicar will agree, for he has been speaking to me, +about Peters being past his work, for the last five years. What do +you say, my dear?"</p> +<p>"I think that will do very well, William," Mrs. Ellison replied, +"and will get over the difficulty altogether."</p> +<p>"So you see, wife, for once that boy of Widow Whitney's was not +to blame. I told you you took those stories on trust against him +too readily. The boy's a bit of a pickle, no doubt; and I very near +gave him a thrashing, myself, a fortnight since, for on going up to +the seven-acre field, I found him riding bare backed on that young +pony I intended for Kate."</p> +<p>"You don't say so, William!" Mrs. Ellison exclaimed, greatly +shocked. "I never heard of such an impudent thing. I really wonder +you didn't thrash him."</p> +<p>"Well, perhaps I should have done so, my dear; but the fact is, +I caught sight of him some time before he saw me, and he was really +sitting her so well that I could not find it in my heart to call +out. He was really doing me a service. The pony had never been +ridden, and was as wild as a wild goat. Thomas is too old, in fact, +to break it in, and I should have had to get someone to do it, and +pay him two or three pounds for the job.</p> +<p>"It was not the first time the boy had been on her back, I could +see. The pony was not quite broken and, just as I came on the +scene, was trying its best to get rid of him; but it couldn't do +it, and I could see, by the way he rode her about afterwards, that +he had got her completely in hand; and a very pretty-going little +thing she will turn out."</p> +<p>"But what did you say to him, William? I am sure I should never +stop to think whether he was breaking in the pony, or not, if I saw +him riding it about."</p> +<p>"I daresay not, my dear," the squire said, laughing; "but then +you see, you have never been a boy; and I have, and can make +allowances. Many a pony and horse have I broken in, in my time; and +have got on the back of more than one, without my father knowing +anything about it."</p> +<p>"Yes, but they were your father's horses, William," Mrs. Ellison +persisted. "That makes all the difference."</p> +<p>"I don't suppose it would have made much difference to me," the +squire laughed, "at that time. I was too fond of horse flesh, even +from a boy, to be particular whose horse it was I got across. +However, of course, after waiting till he had done, I gave the +young scamp a blowing up."</p> +<p>"Not much of a blowing up, I am sure," Mrs. Ellison said; "and +as likely as not, a shilling at the end of it."</p> +<p>"Well, Mary, I must own," the squire said pleasantly, "that a +shilling did find its way out of my pocket into his."</p> +<p>"It's too bad of you, William," Mrs. Ellison said indignantly. +"Here is this boy, who is notoriously a scapegrace, has the +impertinence to ride your horse, and you encourage him in his +misdeeds by giving him a shilling."</p> +<p>"Well, my dear, don't you see, I saved two pounds nineteen by +the transaction.</p> +<p>"Besides," he added more seriously, "I think the boy has been +maligned. I don't fancy he's a bad lad at all. A little mischief +and so on, but none the worse for that. Besides, you know, I knew +his father; and have sat many a time on horseback chatting to him, +at the door of his mill; and drank more than one glass of good ale, +which his wife has brought out to me. I am not altogether easy in +my conscience about them. If there had been a subscription got up +for the widow at his death, I should have put my name down for +twenty pounds; and all that I have done for her is to take eighteen +pence a week off that cottage of theirs.</p> +<p>"No, I called the boy to me when he got off, and pretty scared +he looked when he saw me. When he came up, I asked him how he dared +to ride my horses about, without my leave. Of course he said he was +sorry, which meant nothing; and he added, as a sort of excuse, that +he used from a child to ride the horses at the mill down to the +ford for water; and that his father generally had a young one or +two, in that paddock of his by the mill, and he used often to ride +them; and seeing the pony one day, galloping about the field and +kicking up its heels, he wondered whether he could sit a horse +still, and especially whether he could keep on that pony's back. +Then he set to, to try.</p> +<p>"The pony flung him several times, at first; and no wonder, as +he had no saddle, and only a piece of old rope for a bridle; but he +mastered him at last, and he assured me that he had never used the +stick, and certainly he had not one when I saw him. I told him, of +course, that he knew he ought not to have done it; but that, as he +had taken it in hand, he might finish it. I said that I intended to +have it broken in for Kate, and that he had best get a bit of +sacking and put it on sideways, to accustom the pony to carry a +lady. Then I gave him a shilling, and told him I would give him +five more, when he could tell me the pony was sufficiently broken +and gentle to carry Kate."</p> +<p>Mrs. Ellison shook her head in disapprobation.</p> +<p>"It is of no use, William, my talking to the villagers as to the +ways of their boys, if that is the way you counteract my +advice."</p> +<p>"But I don't always, my dear," the squire said blandly. "For +instance, I shall go round tomorrow morning with my dog whip to +Thorne's; and I shall offer him the choice of giving that boy of +his the soundest thrashing he ever had, while I stand by to see it, +or of going out of his house at the end of the quarter.</p> +<p>"I rather hope he will choose the latter alternative. That beer +shop of his is the haunt of all the idle fellows in the village. I +have a strong suspicion that he is in league with the poachers, if +he doesn't poach himself; and the first opportunity I get of laying +my finger upon him, out he goes."</p> +<p>A few days later when Kate Ellison issued from the gate of the +house, which lay just at the end of the village, with the basket +containing some jelly and medicine for a sick child, she found +Reuben Whitney awaiting her. He touched his cap.</p> +<p>"Please, miss, I made bold to come here, to thank you for having +cleared me."</p> +<p>"But I couldn't help clearing you, Reuben, for you see, I knew +it wasn't you."</p> +<p>"Well, miss, it was very kind, all the same; and I am very much +obliged to you."</p> +<p>"But why do you get into scrapes?" the girl said. "If you +didn't, you wouldn't be suspected of other things. Mamma said, the +other day, you got into more scrapes than any boy in the village; +and you look nice, too. Why do you do it?"</p> +<p>"I don't know why I do it, miss," Reuben said shamefacedly. "I +suppose it's because I don't go into the fields, like most of the +other boys; and haven't got much to do. But there's no great harm +in them, miss. They are just larks, nothing worse."</p> +<p>"You don't do really bad things?" the girl asked.</p> +<p>"No, miss, I hope not."</p> +<p>"And you don't tell stories, do you?"</p> +<p>"No, miss, never. If I do anything and I am asked, I always own +it. I wouldn't tell a lie to save myself from a licking."</p> +<p>"That's right," the girl said graciously.</p> +<p>She caught somewhat of her mother's manner, from going about +with her to the cottages; and it seemed quite natural, to her, to +give her advice to this village scapegrace.</p> +<p>"Well, try not to do these sort of things again, Reuben; because +I like you, and I don't like to hear people say you are the worst +boy in the village, and I don't think you are. Good-bye," and Kate +Ellison proceeded on her way.</p> +<p>Reuben smiled as he looked after her. Owing to his memory of his +former position at the mill, and to his mother's talk and teaching, +Reuben did not entertain the same feeling of respect, mingled with +fear, for the squire's family which was felt by the village in +general. Instead of being two years younger than himself, the girl +had spoken as gravely as if she had been twenty years his senior, +and Reuben could not help a smile of amusement.</p> +<p>"She is a dear little lady," he said, as he looked after her; +"and it's only natural she should talk like her mother. But Mrs. +Ellison means well, too, mother says; and as for the squire, he is +a good fellow. I expected he would have given it to me the other +day.</p> +<p>"Well, now I will go up to the pony. One more lesson, and I +think a baby might ride it."</p> +<p>As he walked along, he met Tom Thorne. There had been war +between them, since the affair of the broken window. Reuben had +shown the other no animosity on the subject as, having been +cleared, he had felt in no way aggrieved; but Tom Thorne was very +sore over it. In the first place, he had been found out; and +although Reuben himself had said nothing to him, respecting his +conduct in allowing him to be flogged for the offence which he +himself had committed, others had not been so reticent, and he had +had a hard time of it in the village. Secondly, he had been +severely thrashed by his father, in the presence of the squire; the +former laying on the lash with a vigour which satisfied Mr. +Ellison, the heartiness of the thrashing being due, not to any +indignation at the fault, but because the boy's conduct had excited +the squire's anger; which Thorne, for many reasons, was anxious to +deprecate. He was his landlord, and had the power to turn him out +at a quarter's notice; and as there was no possibility of obtaining +any other house near, and he was doing by no means a bad trade, he +was anxious to keep on good terms with him.</p> +<p>Tom Thorne was sitting on a gate, as Reuben passed.</p> +<p>"You think you be a fine fellow, Reuben, but I will be even with +you, some day."</p> +<p>"You can be even with me now," Reuben said, "if you like to get +off that gate."</p> +<p>"I bain't afeared of you, Reuben, don't you go to think it; only +I ain't going to do any fighting now. Feyther says if I get into +any more rows, he will pay me out; so I can't lick you now, but +some day I will be even with you."</p> +<p>"That's a good excuse," Reuben said scornfully. "However, I +don't want to fight if you don't, only you keep your tongue to +yourself. I don't want to say nothing to you, if you don't say +nothing to me. You played me a dirty trick the other day, and you +got well larrupped for it, so I don't owe you any grudge; but mind +you, I don't want any more talk about your getting even with me, +for if you do give me any more of it I will fetch you one on the +nose, and then you will have a chance of getting even, at +once."</p> +<p>Tom Thorne held his tongue, only relieving his feelings by +making a grimace after Reuben, as the latter passed on. In the +various contests among the boys of the village, Reuben had proved +himself so tough an adversary that, although Tom Thorne was heavier +and bigger, he did not care about entering upon what would be, at +best, a doubtful contest with him.</p> +<p>Contenting himself, therefore, with another muttered, "I will be +even with you some day," he strolled home to his father's ale +house.</p> +<p>The change at the school was very speedily made. The squire +generally carried out his resolutions while they were hot and, on +the very day after his conversation with his wife on the subject, +he went first to the vicar and arranged for the retirement of the +clerk, and the instalment of White in his place; and then went to +the school house, and informed the master of his intention. The +latter had been expecting his dismissal, since Mrs. Ellison had +spoken to him on the previous day; and the news which the squire +gave him was a relief to him. His emoluments, as clerk, would be +smaller than those he received as schoolmaster; but while he would +not be able to discharge the duties of the latter for very much +longer, for he felt the boys were getting too much for him, he +would be able to perform the very easy work entailed by the +clerkship for many years to come. It was, too, a position not +without dignity; and indeed, in the eyes of the village the clerk +was a personage of far greater importance than the schoolmaster. He +therefore thankfully accepted the offer, and agreed to give up the +school as soon as a substitute could be found.</p> +<p>In those days anyone was considered good enough for a village +schoolmaster, and the post was generally filled by men who had +failed as tradesmen, and in everything else they put their hands +to; and whose sole qualification for the office was that they were +able to read and write. Instead of advertising, however, in the +county paper, the squire wrote to an old college friend, who was +now in charge of a London parish, and asked him to choose a man for +the post.</p> +<p>"I don't want a chap who will cram all sorts of new notions into +the heads of the children," the squire said. "I don't think it +would do them any good, or fit them any better for their stations. +The boys have got to be farm labourers, and the girls to be their +wives; and if they can read really well, and write fairly, it's +about as much as they want in the way of learning; but I think that +a really earnest sort of man might do them good, otherwise. A +schoolmaster, in my mind, should be the clergyman's best assistant. +I don't know, my dear fellow, that I can explain in words more +exactly what I mean; but I think you will understand me, and will +send down the sort of man I want.</p> +<p>"The cottage is a comfortable one, there's a good bit of garden +attached to it, and I don't mind paying a few shillings a week more +than I do now, to get the sort of man I want. If he has a wife so +much the better. She might teach the girls to sew, which would be, +to nine out of ten, a deal more use than reading and writing; and +if she could use her needle, and make up dresses and that sort of +thing, she might add to their income. Not one woman in five in the +village can make her own clothes, and they have to go to a place +three miles away to get them done."</p> +<p>A week later the squire received an answer from his friend, +saying that he had chosen a man, and his wife, whom he thought +would suit.</p> +<p>"The poor fellow was rather a cripple," he said. "He is a wood +engraver by trade, but he fell downstairs and hurt his back. The +doctor who attended him at the hospital spoke to me about him. He +said that he might, under favourable circumstances, get better in +time; but that he was delicate, and absolutely needed change of air +and a country life. I have seen him several times, and have been +much struck with his intelligence. He has been much depressed at +being forbidden to work, but has cheered up greatly since I told +him of your offer. I have no doubt he will do well.</p> +<p>"I have selected him, not only for that reason, but because his +wife is as suitable as he is. She is an admirable young woman, and +was a dressmaker before he married her. She has supported them both +ever since he was hurt, months ago. She is delighted at the idea of +the change for, although the money will be very much less than he +earned at his trade, she has always been afraid of his health +giving way; and is convinced that fresh air, and the garden you +speak of, will put new life into him."</p> +<p>The squire was not quite satisfied with the letter; but, as he +told himself, he could not expect to get a man trained specially as +a schoolmaster to accept the post; and at any rate, if the man was +not satisfactory his wife was likely to be so. He accordingly +ordered his groom to take the light cart and drive over to Lewes, +the next day, to meet the coach when it came in; and to bring over +the new schoolmaster, his wife, and their belongings.</p> +<p>Mrs. Ellison at once went down to the village, and got a woman +to scrub the cottage from top to bottom, and put everything tidy. +The furniture went with the house, and had been provided by the +squire. Mrs. Ellison went over it, and ordered a few more things to +be sent down from the house to make it more comfortable for a +married couple and, driving over to Lewes, ordered a carpet, +curtains, and a few other little comforts for it.</p> +<p>James Shrewsbury was, upon his arrival, much pleased with his +cottage, which contrasted strongly with the room in a crowded +street which he had occupied in London; and his wife was still more +pleased.</p> +<p>"I am sure we shall be happy and comfortable here, James," she +said, "and the air feels so fresh and pure that I am convinced you +will soon get strong and well again. What is money to health? I am +sure I shall be ten times as happy, here, as I was when you were +earning three or four times as much, in London."</p> +<p>The squire and Mrs. Ellison came down the next morning, at the +opening of the school; and after a chat with the new schoolmaster +and his wife, the squire accompanied the former into the school +room.</p> +<p>"Look here, boys and girls," he said, "Mr. Shrewsbury has come +down from London to teach you. He has been ill, and is not very +strong. I hope you will give him no trouble, and I can tell you it +will be the worse for you, if you do. I am going to look into +matters myself; and I shall have a report sent me in, regularly, as +to how each of you is getting on, with a special remark as to +conduct; and I can tell you, if any of you are troublesome you will +find me down at your father's, in no time."</p> +<p>The squire's words had considerable effect, and an unusual quiet +reigned in the school, after he had left and the new schoolmaster +opened a book.</p> +<p>They soon found that his method of teaching was very different +to that which they were accustomed to. There was no shouting or +thumping on the desk with the cane, no pulling of ears or cuffing +of heads. Everything was explained quietly and clearly; and when +they went out of the school, all agreed that the new master was a +great improvement on Master White, while the master himself +reported to his wife that he had got on better than he had +expected.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch2" id="Ch2">Chapter 2</a>: The Poisoned Dog.</h2> +<p>The boys soon felt that Mr. Shrewsbury really wished to teach +them, and that he was ready to assist those who wanted to get on. +In the afternoon the schoolmaster's wife started a sewing class for +the girls and, a week or two after he came, the master announced +that such of the elder class of boys and girls who chose to come, +in the evening, to his cottage could do so for an hour; and that he +and the boys would read, by turns, some amusing book while the +girls worked. Only Reuben Whitney and two or three others at first +availed themselves of the invitation, but these spoke so highly of +their evening that the number soon increased. Three quarters of an +hour were spent in reading some interesting work of travel or +adventure, and then the time was occupied in talking over what they +had read, and in explaining anything which they did not understand; +and as the evenings were now long and dark, the visits to the +schoolmaster soon came to be regarded as a privilege, and proved an +incentive to work to those in the lower classes, only those in the +first place being admitted to them.</p> +<p>Reuben worked hard all through the winter, and made very rapid +progress; the schoolmaster, seeing how eager he was to get on, +doing everything in his power to help him forward, and lending him +books to study at home. One morning in the spring, the squire +looked in at Mrs. Whitney's shop.</p> +<p>"Mrs. Whitney," he said, "I don't know what you are thinking of +doing with that boy of yours. Mr. Shrewsbury gives me an excellent +account of him, and says that he is far and away the cleverest and +most studious of the boys. I like the lad, and owe him a good turn +for having broken in that pony for my daughter; besides, for his +father's sake I should like to help him on. Now, in the first +place, what are you thinking of doing with him?"</p> +<p>"I am sure I am very much obliged to you," Mrs. Whitney said. "I +was thinking, when he gets a little older, of apprenticing him to +some trade, but he is not fourteen yet."</p> +<p>"The best thing you can do, Mrs. Whitney. Let it be some good +trade, where he can use his wits—not a butcher, a baker, or a +tailor, or anything of that sort. I should say an upholsterer, or a +mill wright, or some trade where his intelligence can help him on. +When the time comes I shall be glad to pay his apprentice fees for +him, and perhaps, when you tell me what line he has chosen, a word +from me to one of the tradesmen in Lewes may be a help. In the +meantime, that is not what I have specially come about. Young +Finch, who looks to my garden, is going to leave; and if you like, +your boy can have the place. My gardener knows his business +thoroughly, and the boy can learn under him. I will pay him five +shillings a week. It will break him into work a little, and he is +getting rather old for the school now. I have spoken to Shrewsbury, +and he says that, if the boy is disposed to go on studying in the +evening, he will direct his work and help him on."</p> +<p>"Thank you kindly, sir," Mrs. Whitney said. "I think it will +just be the thing, for a year or so, before he is apprenticed. He +was saying only last night that he was the biggest boy in the +school; and though I know he likes learning, he would like to be +helping me, and feels somehow that it isn't right that he should be +going on schooling, while all the other boys at his age are doing +something. Not that I want him to earn money, for the shop keeps us +both; but it's what he thinks about it."</p> +<p>"That's natural enough, Mrs. Whitney, and anything the boy earns +with me, you see, you can put by, and it will come in useful to him +some day."</p> +<p>Reuben was glad when he heard of the arrangement; for although, +as his mother had said, he was fond of school, he yet felt it as a +sort of reproach that, while others of his age were earning money, +he should be doing nothing. He accepted the offer of the +schoolmaster to continue to work at his studies in the evening, and +in a week he was installed in Tom Finch's place.</p> +<p>The arrangement was not the squire's original idea, but that of +his younger daughter, who felt a sort of proprietary interest in +Reuben; partly because her evidence had cleared him of the +accusation of breaking the windows, partly because he had broken in +the pony for her; so when she heard that the boy was leaving, she +had at once asked her father that Reuben should take his place.</p> +<p>"I think he is a good boy, papa," she said; "and if he was +clever enough to break in my pony, I am sure he will be clever +enough to wheel the wheelbarrow and pull weeds."</p> +<p>"I should think he would, lassie," her father said, laughing, +"although it does not exactly follow. Still, if you guarantee that +he is a good boy, I will see about it."</p> +<p>"Mamma doesn't think he is a very good boy," Kate said; "but you +see, papa, mamma is a woman, and perhaps she doesn't understand +boys and girls as well as I do. I think he's good, and he told me +he never told stories."</p> +<p>The squire laughed.</p> +<p>"I don't know what your mamma would say to that, puss; nor +whether she would agree that you understand boys and girls better +than she does. However, I will take your opinion this time, and +give Reuben a chance."</p> +<p>The subject was not mentioned again in Kate's hearing, but she +was greatly pleased, one morning, at seeing Reuben at work in the +gardens.</p> +<p>"Good morning, Reuben," she said.</p> +<p>"Good morning, miss," he replied, touching his hat.</p> +<p>"I am glad you have come in Tom's place, and I hope you will be +good, and not get into scrapes, for I told papa I thought you would +not; and you see, if you do, he will turn round and blame me."</p> +<p>"I will try not to get into scrapes, Miss Kate," Reuben said. "I +don't do it often, you know, and I don't think there will be much +chance of it, here."</p> +<p>Kate nodded and walked on, and Reuben went about his work.</p> +<p>There was, however, much more opportunity for getting into +scrapes than Reuben imagined, although the scrapes were not of the +kind he had pictured. Being naturally careless, he had not been +there a week before, in his eagerness to get home to a particularly +interesting book, he forgot to carry out his orders to shut the +cucumber frames and, a sharp frost coming on in the night, the +plants were all killed; to the immense indignation of the gardener, +who reported the fact, with a very serious face, to the squire.</p> +<p>"I am afraid that boy will never do, squire. Such carelessness I +never did see, and them plants was going on beautifully."</p> +<p>"Confound the young rascal!" the squire said wrathfully, for he +was fond of cucumbers. "I will speak to him myself. This sort of +thing will never do."</p> +<p>And accordingly, the squire spoke somewhat sharply to Reuben, +who was really sorry for the damage his carelessness had caused; +and he not only promised the squire that it should not occur again, +but mentally resolved very firmly that it should not. He felt very +shamefaced when Kate passed him in the garden, with a serious shake +of her head, signifying that she was shocked that he had thus early +got into a scrape, and discredited her recommendation.</p> +<p>The lesson was a useful one. Henceforth Reuben paid closer +attention to his work, and even the gardener, who regarded boys as +his great trial in life, expressed himself satisfied with him.</p> +<p>"Since that affair of the cucumbers I must own, squire," he said +a month later, "that he is the best boy I have come across. He +attends to what I say and remembers it, and I find I can trust him +to do jobs that I have never been able to trust boys with, before. +He seems to take an interest in it, and as he is well spoken and +civil, he ought to get on and make a good gardener, in time."</p> +<p>"I am glad to hear a good account of him," the squire replied. +"He is sharp and intelligent, and will make his way in life, or I +am mistaken. His father was an uncommonly clever fellow, though he +made a mess of it, just at the end; and I think the boy takes after +him."</p> +<p>Among Reuben's other duties was that of feeding and attending to +the dogs. These consisted of two setters, a pointer, and a large +house dog, who was chained up at the entrance to the stables. +Reuben was soon excellent friends with the sporting dogs, but the +watchdog, who had probably been teased by Reuben's predecessor, +always growled and showed his teeth when he went near him; and +Reuben never dared venture within the length of his chain, but +pushed the bowl containing his food just within his reach.</p> +<p>One day, he had been sent on an errand to the stables. He forgot +the dog and ran close to the kennel. The animal at once sprang out. +Reuben made a rush, but he was not quick enough, and the dog caught +him by the leg. Reuben shouted, and the coachman ran out and, +seizing a fork, struck the dog and compelled him to loose his +hold.</p> +<p>"Has he bit you badly, Reuben?"</p> +<p>"Well, he has bit precious hard," Reuben replied. "I think he +has nearly taken a piece out of my calf," as, on pulling up his +trousers, he showed his leg streaming with blood.</p> +<p>"Put it under the pump, lad. I will pump on it," the coachman +said. "He's a bad-tempered brute, and I wonder the squire keeps +it."</p> +<p>"The brute ought to be killed," Reuben grumbled angrily. "I have +never teased it or worried it, in any way. I wish you had stuck +that fork into him, instead of hitting him with it. If you hadn't +been within reach, he would have taken the bit out of me. He will +kill somebody some day, and it were best to kill him, first."</p> +<p>The gardener pumped for some time on Reuben's leg; and then, +going into the kitchen, he got some strips of rag from the cook and +bound it up.</p> +<p>"You had best go home now," he said. "I will tell the gardener, +when he comes round, what has happened to you. I doubt you will +have to lay up, for a day or two."</p> +<p>As Reuben limped home, he met Tom Thorne walking with another +boy.</p> +<p>"Hello, Reuben!" the latter exclaimed. "What's come to you? Yer +trousers bee all tore."</p> +<p>"That brute of a house dog at the squire's has had hold of me," +Reuben answered. "The savage beast has had a try, a good many +times; but this time he got hold, and he has bit me pretty +sharp."</p> +<p>Reuben had to keep his leg quiet for three days but, the third +evening, he was well enough to go down the village to the +schoolhouse. After the lesson was over he walked for some distance +up the road, for his leg was very stiff; and he thought it would be +a good thing to try and walk it off, as he intended to go to work +next morning. On getting up early in the morning, however, he found +it was still stiff and sore; but he thought he had better go and +try to work for a bit.</p> +<p>"I am glad you are back again," the gardener said, when he saw +him, "for there's a lot of work on hand; but I see you are still +lame. The coachman tells me it were a nasty bite."</p> +<p>"It's pretty sore still," Reuben replied, "and I don't think I +can walk about much; but I thought I might help in some other +way."</p> +<p>"Very well," the gardener said. "There are a lot of plants which +want shifting into larger pots. You do them, and I will take up the +fork and dig up that piece of ground I want to put the young +lettuces into."</p> +<p>Reuben worked hard till half-past eight, and then went off to +his breakfast. On his return, he was told the squire wished to +speak to him.</p> +<p>"It's about that dog, I expect," the gardener remarked. "I +suppose you know he were poisoned last night."</p> +<p>"No, I didn't know," Reuben replied; "but it's a precious good +job. I wish he had been poisoned before he got his teeth into +me."</p> +<p>Reuben, on going round to the back door, was shown into the +library, where the squire was sitting. The coachman was with +him.</p> +<p>"Now then, Reuben," the squire said, "I want you to tell me the +truth about this matter. The coachman told me, three days ago, that +you had been bitten by the yard dog, and I made up my mind to get +rid of him, on the first opportunity; but I find he was poisoned, +yesterday evening."</p> +<p>He stopped as if expecting Reuben to say something; but the boy, +having nothing to say, merely replied:</p> +<p>"Yes, sir, so the gardener has told me."</p> +<p>"What do you know about it, Reuben?"</p> +<p>"I don't know anything about it, sir," Reuben replied, opening +his eyes.</p> +<p>"Now, look here, lad," the squire said gravely, "I am disposed +to think well of you; and although I consider it a serious offence +your poisoning the dog, I shall consider it very much worse if you +deny it."</p> +<p>"But I didn't poison it, sir," Reuben affirmed. "I never dreamt +of such a thing."</p> +<p>The squire set his lips hard together.</p> +<p>"Just tell me your story over again," he said to the +coachman.</p> +<p>"Well, yesterday evening, squire, I went down into the village +to buy some 'bacca. Just as I got back to the gate, out runs a boy. +It was too dark for me to see his face, but I naturally supposed it +were Reuben, so I said, 'Hello, Reuben, how's the leg?' But the +moment I spoke, he turned off from the path and ran away.</p> +<p>"Well, I thought it was queer, but I went on to the stable. +About a quarter of an hour afterwards, and as I was a-cleaning up +the bits, I heard Wolf howl. He kept on at it, so I took a lantern +and went out to see what was the matter. He was rolling about, and +seemed very bad. I stood a-looking at him, wondering what were best +to do, when sudden he gave a sort of yell, and rolled over, and he +was dead. I thought it was no good telling you about it till this +morning; and thinking it over, and seeing how sudden like it was, I +come to the 'pinion as how he had been poisoned; and naturally +thinking that, as he had bit Reuben, and as how Reuben said he +ought to be killed, and seeing as I had met the boy a quarter an +hour afore the dog was took bad, it came to me as how he had done +it.</p> +<p>"This morning I knew for certain as the dog had been poisoned, +for just outside of the reach of his chain there was that piece of +paper a-lying, as you have got before you."</p> +<p>It was a piece of blue paper, about four inches square, on which +was printed: "Rat poison."</p> +<p>"You hear that, Reuben? What have you to say?" the squire +asked.</p> +<p>"I have got nothing to say, sir," Reuben answered, "except that +whoever the boy was, it wasn't me, and that I know nothing about +it."</p> +<p>"Well, Reuben, it will be easy for you to clear yourself, by +saying where you were at the time.</p> +<p>"What o'clock was it, Robert, that you saw the boy?"</p> +<p>"It was just a quarter past eight, squire. The quarter struck +just as I opened the gate."</p> +<p>"Were you out or at home at that hour, Reuben?"</p> +<p>"I was out, sir. I went to the schoolmaster's."</p> +<p>"What time did you leave there?"</p> +<p>"I left at eight, sir."</p> +<p>"Then if you got in just after eight, it is clear that you were +not the boy," the squire said. "If your mother tells me that you +were in at five minutes past eight, that settles the question, as +far as you are concerned."</p> +<p>"I didn't get in till half-past eight, sir," Reuben said. "I +walked about for a bit, after I came out from school, to try and +get the stiffness out of my leg, so as to be able to come to work +this morning."</p> +<p>"Was anyone with you, Reuben? Is there anyone to say what you +did with yourself, between eight and half-past eight?"</p> +<p>"No, sir," Reuben said quietly. "I didn't speak to a soul; and +didn't see a soul, so far as I know, from the time I came out of +the gate of the schoolhouse till I got home."</p> +<p>"Does your mother sell packets of this poison?" the squire said, +pointing to the paper.</p> +<p>Reuben looked at the paper.</p> +<p>"Yes, sir; I believe she does."</p> +<p>"Well, my lad," the squire said, "you must acknowledge that the +case looks very ugly against you. You are known to have borne bad +feelings against the dog; naturally enough, I admit. A boy about +your size was seen by Robert in the dark, coming out of the gate; +and that he was there for no good purpose is proved by the fact +that he ran away when spoken to. A quarter of an hour later, the +dog dies of poison. That poison you certainly could get at home +and, by your own admission, you were out and about at the time the +dog was poisoned. The case looks very bad against you."</p> +<p>"I don't care how bad it looks," Reuben said, passionately. "It +wasn't me, squire, if that were the last word I ever had to +speak."</p> +<p>"Very well," the squire said coldly. "In my mind, the evidence +is overwhelming against you. I have no intention of pursuing the +matter further; nor will I, for your father's and mother's sake, +bring public disgrace upon you; but of course I shall not retain +you here further, nor have anything to do with you, in the +future."</p> +<p>Without a word, Reuben turned and left the room. Had he spoken, +he would have burst into a passion of tears. With a white face, he +walked through the village and entered his mother's shop.</p> +<p>"What? Back again, Reuben?" she said. "I thought your leg was +too bad to work."</p> +<p>"It isn't my leg, mother," he said, in a choking voice. "The +squire has dismissed me. He says I have poisoned his dog."</p> +<p>"Says you poisoned his dog, Reuben! Whatever put such an idea +into his head?"</p> +<p>"The coachman saw a boy coming out of the yard, at a quarter +past eight last night. It was too dark for him to say for certain, +but he thought it was me. A quarter of an hour later the dog died +of poison, and this morning they picked up a cover of one of those +rat powders you sell. I couldn't say where I was at a quarter past +eight, when the coachman saw the boy; for as you know, mother, I +told you I had walked out a bit, after I came out from the school, +to get the stiffness out of my leg. So, altogether, the squire has +made up his mind 'tis me, and so he has sent me away."</p> +<p>Reuben had summed up the points against himself in a broken +voice, and now broke into a passion of tears. His mother tried in +vain to pacify him; but indeed her own indignation, at her boy +being charged with such a thing, was so great that she could do +little to console him.</p> +<p>"It's shameful!" she exclaimed, over and over again. "I call it +downright wicked of the squire to suspect you of such a thing."</p> +<p>"Well, mother, it does look very bad against me," Reuben said, +wiping his eyes at last, "and I don't know as the squire is so much +to be blamed for suspecting me. I know and you know that it wasn't +me; but there's no reason why the squire should know it. Somebody +has poisoned his dog, and that somebody is a boy. He knows that I +was unfriendly with the dog so, putting things together, I don't +see as he could help suspecting me, and only my word the other way. +It seems to me as if somebody must have done it to get me in a row, +for I don't know that the dog had bit anyone else. If it is anyone, +I expect it's Tom Thorne. He has never been friends with me, since +that affair of the school window."</p> +<p>"I will go at once and speak to his father," Mrs. Whitney said, +taking down her bonnet from the wall.</p> +<p>"No, mother, you can't do that," Reuben exclaimed. "We have got +nothing against him. The squire has ten times as good reason to +suspect me, as I have to suspect Tom Thorne; so as we know the +squire's wrong, it's ten times as likely we shall be wrong. +Besides, if he did it, of course he would deny it, he is the worst +liar in the village; and then folks would say I wasn't satisfied +with doing it myself, but I wanted to throw the blame on to him, +just as he did on me before. No, it won't do, mother."</p> +<p>Mrs. Whitney saw that it wouldn't do, and sat down again. Reuben +sat thinking, for some time.</p> +<p>"I must go away, mother," he said at last. "I can't stop here. +Every one in the village will get to know of it, and they will +point at me as the boy as poisoned the squire's dog, and then lied +about it. I couldn't stand that, mother."</p> +<p>"And you sha'n't stand it, my boy," Mrs. Whitney said, "not a +day. I will give up the cottage and move into Lewes, at once. I +didn't go there before, for I am known there, and don't like folk +to see how much I have come down in the world."</p> +<p>"No, mother, you stop here, and I will go up to London. They say +there is lots of work there, and I suppose I can get on as well as +another."</p> +<p>"I will not hear of your doing such a thing. I should never +expect to hear of you again. I should always be thinking that you +had got run over, or were starving in the streets, or dying in a +workhouse. No, Reuben, my plan's best. It's just silliness my not +liking to settle in Lewes; for of course it's better going where +one is known, and I should be lost in a strange place. No; I +daresay I shall find a cottage there, and I shall manage to get a +living somehow—perhaps open a little shop like this, and then you +can be apprenticed, and live at home."</p> +<p>An hour later, Mrs. Ellison called. Reuben had gone upstairs to +lie down, for his leg was very painful. Mrs. Whitney did not give +her visitor time to begin.</p> +<p>"I know what you have called about, Mrs. Ellison, and I don't +want to talk about it with you. The squire has grievously wronged +my boy. I wouldn't have believed it of him, but he's done it; so +now, ma'm, I give a week's notice of this house, and here's my rent +up to that time, and I will send you the key when I go. And now, +ma'm, as I don't want any words about it, I think it will be better +if you go, at once."</p> +<p>Mrs. Ellison hesitated a moment. Never, from the time she +entered the village as the squire's wife, had she been thus spoken +to; but she saw at once, in Mrs. Whitney's face, that it were +better not to reply to her; and that her authority as the squire's +wife had, for once, altogether vanished. She therefore took up the +money which Mrs. Whitney had laid on the counter and, without a +word, left the shop.</p> +<p>"I do believe, William," she said as, greatly ruffled and +indignant, she gave an account of the interview to the squire, +"that the woman would have slapped my face, if I had said anything. +She is the most insolent creature I ever met."</p> +<p>"Well, my dear," the squire said seriously, "I can hardly wonder +at the poor woman's indignation. She has had a hard time of it, and +this must be a sad blow. Naturally she believes in her son's +innocence, and we must not altogether blame her, if she resents his +dismissal. It's a sad business altogether, and I know it will be a +worry and trouble to me for months. Mind, I don't doubt that the +boy did it; it does not seem possible that it should be otherwise. +Still, it is not absolutely proved; and upon my word, I wish now I +had said nothing at all about it. I like the boy, and I liked his +father before him; and as this story must get about, it cannot but +do him serious damage. Altogether it is a most tiresome business, +and I would give a hundred pounds if it hadn't taken place."</p> +<p>"I really do not see why you should worry about it, William. The +boy has always been a troublesome boy, and perhaps this lesson may +do him good."</p> +<p>The squire did not attempt to argue the question. He felt really +annoyed and put out and, after wandering over the ground and +stables, he went down to the schoolhouse after the children had +been dismissed.</p> +<p>"Have you heard, Shrewsbury, about that boy Whitney?"</p> +<p>"No, sir, I have heard nothing about him," the schoolmaster +said. "He was here yesterday evening, as usual. His leg is no +worse, I hope. Those dog bites are always nasty things."</p> +<p>"I wish it had been worse," the squire said testily; "then he +would have been laid up quietly at home, instead of being about +mischief."</p> +<p>"Why, what has he done, sir?" the schoolmaster asked, in +surprise.</p> +<p>The squire related the history of the dog's death, and of his +interview with Reuben. The schoolmaster looked serious, and +grieved.</p> +<p>"What do you think of the matter, Shrewsbury?" the squire asked, +when he had finished.</p> +<p>"I would rather not give any opinion," the schoolmaster replied +quietly.</p> +<p>"That means you think I am wrong," the squire said quickly. +"Well, say it out, man; you won't offend me. I am half inclined to +think I was wrong, myself; and I would as lief be told so, as +not."</p> +<p>"I don't say you are wrong, sir," the schoolmaster said, "except +that I think you assumed the boy's guilt too much as a matter of +course. Now, I have seen a great deal of him. I have a great liking +for him, and believe him to be not only a singularly intelligent +and hard-working lad, but a perfectly truthful and open one. I +allow that the circumstances are much against him; but the evidence +is, to my mind, completely overbalanced by his absolute denial. You +must remember that he saw that you were quite convinced of his +guilt; and that, in your eyes, his denial would be an aggravation +of the offence. Therefore you see he had no strong motive for +telling a lie.</p> +<p>"Who killed your dog I do not know but, from my knowledge of his +character and assurance of his truthfulness, I am perfectly +convinced that Reuben Whitney did not do it. The boy is, in some +ways, very superior to the other lads I teach. I hear that his +father was in a good position, as a miller; and his mother is of a +different class, altogether, to the other women of the village. The +boy has a certain refinement about him, a thoughtfulness and +consideration which set him apart from the others. Mischievous and +somewhat inclined to be noisy as he generally is, on days when I +have not felt quite equal to my work he would notice it at once +and, without saying a word, would, by his quietness and attention +to his work, try to save me trouble; and I have heard him try to +quiet the others, as they trooped out. The boy has a good heart as +well as a good intellect, and nothing save his own confession would +make me believe that he poisoned your dog."</p> +<p>"But he said he wished it was killed," the squire urged, as in +defence of his own opinion.</p> +<p>"He said so, squire, at the time he was smarting with the pain +of a severe bite; and I think probably he meant no more than a man +who, under the same circumstances, would say, 'Confound the dog!' +or even a stronger oath."</p> +<p>Mr. Ellison was silenced, for when in wrath he was, himself, +given to use strong expressions.</p> +<p>"I don't know what to say, Shrewsbury," he said at last. "I am +afraid I have made a mess of it; but certainly, as I first heard +it, the case seemed to admit of no doubt. 'Pon my word, I don't +know what to do. My wife has just been up to see Mrs. Whitney, and +the woman blazed out at her, and wouldn't let her say a word, but +gave notice that she should give up the house at the end of the +week. If it hadn't been for that, I might have done something; but +Mrs. Ellison was very much aggrieved at her manner. Altogether, +it's one of the most annoying things I ever had to do with."</p> +<p>In the evening the schoolmaster put on his hat and went up, with +his wife, to Mrs. Whitney. The women had seen a good deal of each +other, as they both stood somewhat apart from the rest of the +village and, in thought and speech, differed widely from the +labourers' wives; and on evenings when the sewing class did not +meet, the schoolmaster's wife often went up for an hour or two to +Mrs. Whitney's, or the latter came down to the Shrewsburys' +cottage.</p> +<p>"We have come up, Mrs. Whitney," the schoolmaster said as they +entered, "to tell you how sorry we are to hear that you are going +to leave, and that we are still more sorry for the cause. Of +course, neither my wife nor myself believe for a moment that Reuben +poisoned the squire's dog. The idea is preposterous. I told the +squire as much, today."</p> +<p>Mrs. Whitney burst into tears. She had kept up all day, +sustained partly by indignation, and partly by the desire that +Reuben should not see that she felt it; but the thought that all +the village would believe Reuben guilty had cut her to the heart, +and she had felt so unwilling to face anyone that, as soon as Mrs. +Ellison had left, she had closed the shutters of her little shop; +but she broke down, now, from her relief at hearing that someone +besides herself believed the boy to be innocent.</p> +<p>"I don't know what I shall do without you, Mrs. Whitney," Mrs. +Shrewsbury said, when the widow recovered her composure. "I shall +miss you dreadfully. Is it quite settled that you will go?"</p> +<p>"Quite settled, Mrs. Shrewsbury. I wouldn't stop in the squire's +house for an hour longer than I could help, after his believing +Reuben to be guilty of poisoning his dog, and not believing the boy +when he said he had nothing to do with it. He ought to have known +my boy better than that. And he coming up only the other day, and +pretending he felt a kindness for my dead husband."</p> +<p>"I think the squire was too hasty, Mrs. Whitney," the +schoolmaster said. "But you see, he did not know Reuben as we do; +and I think, if you will excuse my saying so, you have been a +little hasty, too. The squire came in to me to tell me about it, +and I could see he was not satisfied in his mind, even before I +gave him my positive opinion that Reuben was innocent; and I do +think that, if you had not given Mrs. Ellison notice so sharply, +the squire would have taken back his words, and said that at any +rate, as there was nothing absolutely proved, he would hold his +judgment in suspense until the matter was cleared up."</p> +<p>"And having everyone pointing the finger at my boy in the +meantime! No, thank you, Mr. Shrewsbury, that would not do for me. +I was not a bit hasty. Mrs. Ellison came in here prepared to talk +to me about Reuben's wickedness; I saw it in her face, so I +wouldn't let her open her lips. If she had, I should have given her +a piece of my mind that she wouldn't have forgot, in a hurry."</p> +<p>"I can quite understand your feelings, Mrs. Whitney," the +schoolmaster said, "and I have no doubt I should have acted as you +did, if a son of mine had been suspected in the same way. Still, I +think it's a pity; for if Reuben had stayed here, there would have +been more chance of the matter being cleared up. However, we won't +talk about that now. Now tell me, what are your plans?"</p> +<p>Mrs. Whitney told her visitors what she had determined upon. As +Lewes was only four miles off, the schoolmaster said that he and +his wife would sometimes come over to see her; and that he hoped +that Reuben, whatever trade he was apprenticed to, would still go +on with his studies. He would give him any advice or assistance in +his power.</p> +<p>The next day Mrs. Whitney and Reuben moved, with all their +belongings, to Lewes.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch3" id="Ch3">Chapter 3</a>: The Burglary At The +Squire's.</h2> +<p>"What is that woman Whitney going to do with her boy?" the +squire asked the schoolmaster, when he happened to meet him in the +village about a month after she had left. "Have you heard?"</p> +<p>"Nothing is settled yet, sir. My wife had a letter from her, two +or three days ago, saying that she had been disappointed in getting +Penfold the mill wright to take him. He wanted fifty pounds +premium, and she could only afford to pay twenty, so she is looking +out for something else. You have heard nothing more that would +throw any light on that affair, squire?"</p> +<p>"No, and don't suppose I ever shall. Have you any opinion about +it?"</p> +<p>"My opinion is that of Reuben, himself," the schoolmaster said. +"He believes that someone did it who had a grudge against him, on +purpose, to throw suspicion on him."</p> +<p>"Who should have a grudge against him?" the squire asked.</p> +<p>"Well, squire, there was one boy in the village who had, rightly +or wrongly, a grudge against Reuben. That is Tom Thorne. Reuben has +not a shadow of evidence that it was this boy, but the lad has +certainly been his enemy ever since that affair of breaking the +windows of the school, just before I came here. Thorne, you know, +did it, but allowed Reuben to be punished for the offence; and the +truth would never have been known had it not been, as I heard, that +your daughter happened to see the stone thrown. Since that time +there has been bad blood between the boys. I do not for a moment +say that Thorne poisoned your dog. Still, the boys are near enough +of a size for one to be mistaken for the other in the dark; and +Thorne knew that Reuben had been bitten by the dog, for Reuben +spoke to another boy about it, that afternoon, while Thorne was +standing by. Of course, this is but the vaguest suspicion. Still, +if you ask my opinion, I should say that I consider, from what I +have heard of the character of Tom Thorne, that he would be much +more likely to poison the dog, in order to get Reuben into +disgrace, than Reuben would be to do so out of revenge because the +dog had bitten him."</p> +<p>The squire took off his hat, and passed his hands through his +hair, in perplexity.</p> +<p>"I don't know what to think, Shrewsbury," he said. "It may be as +you say. I look upon Thorne as the worst character in the village, +and likely enough his son may take after him. That ale house of his +is the resort of all the idle fellows about. I have strong reason +to believe he is in alliance with the poachers. The first time I +get a chance, out he goes. I have only been waiting, for some time, +for an opportunity. I can't very well turn him out of his house +without some excuse.</p> +<p>"What did you say was the name of the mill wright at Lewes Mrs. +Whitney was wanting to get her son with?"</p> +<p>The schoolmaster repeated the name, which the squire jotted down +in a notebook.</p> +<p>"Look here, Shrewsbury," he said, "don't you mention to Mrs. +Whitney that you spoke to me about this matter. Do you +understand?"</p> +<p>"I understand, sir," the schoolmaster said.</p> +<p>And he was not surprised when, a few days afterwards, his wife +received a letter from Mrs. Whitney, saying that Mr. Penfold had +come in to say that he had changed his mind, and that he would take +Reuben as his apprentice for twenty pounds; adding, to her +surprise, that he should give him half a crown a week for the first +year, and gradually raise his pay, as he considered that boys ought +to be able to earn a little money for themselves.</p> +<p>Reuben, therefore, was going to work on the following week. The +half a crown a week which he was to earn was an important matter +for his mother. For although she had found a cottage and opened a +little shop, as before, her receipts were extremely small, and she +had already begun to fear that she should be obliged to make +another move, Lewes being too well supplied with shops for a small +concern like hers to flourish. The half crown a week, however, +would pay her rent; and she expected that she should make, at any +rate, enough to provide food for herself and Reuben.</p> +<p>Mrs. Whitney had hoped that, although Lewes was but four miles +from the village, the story about the dog would not travel so far; +for it was not often that anyone from the village went over to the +town. In this, however, she was mistaken for, a week after Reuben +had gone to work, the foreman went to his master and said:</p> +<p>"I don't know whether you are aware, Mr. Penfold, about that new +boy; but I hear that he had to leave Tipping, where he was employed +by Squire Ellison, for poisoning the squire's dog."</p> +<p>"How did you hear it?" Mr. Penfold asked.</p> +<p>"William Jenkins heard it from a man named Thorne, who belongs +to the village, and whom he met at a public house, yesterday."</p> +<p>"William Jenkins had best not spend so much time in public +houses," Mr. Penfold said shortly. "I heard the story before I saw +the boy and, from what I hear, I believe he was wrongfully accused. +Just tell Jenkins that; and say that if I hear of him, or any of +the hands, throwing the thing up in the boy's face, I will dismiss +them instantly."</p> +<p>And so Reuben did not know, till long after, that the story of +the killing of the dog was known to anyone at Lewes.</p> +<p>For three years he worked in Mr. Penfold's yard, giving much +satisfaction to his employer by his steadiness and handiness. He +continued his studies of an evening, under the advice of his former +master; who came over with his wife, three or four times each year, +to spend a day with Mrs. Whitney. Reuben was now receiving ten +shillings a week and, although the receipts of the shop failed, he +and his mother were able to live in considerable comfort.</p> +<p>One day, about three years after coming to Lewes, he was +returning to work after dinner when, as he passed a carriage +standing in front of one of the shops, he heard his name +pronounced, and the colour flushed to his cheek as, looking up, he +saw Kate Ellison. Timidly he touched his cap, and would have +hurried on, but the girl called to him.</p> +<p>"Stop a minute, Reuben. I want to speak to you. I am glad I have +met you. I have looked for you, every time I have come to Lewes. I +wanted to tell you that I am sure you did not kill Wolf. I know you +wouldn't have done it. Besides, you know, you told me that you +never told stories; so when I heard that you said you didn't, I was +quite sure about it."</p> +<p>"Thank you, miss," Reuben said gratefully. "I did not kill the +dog. I should never have thought of such a thing, though every one +seemed against me."</p> +<p>"Not every one, Reuben. I didn't think so; and papa has told me, +since, that he did not think so, and that he was afraid that he had +made a mistake."</p> +<p>"I am glad to hear that, miss," Reuben said. "The squire had +been very kind to me, and it has always grieved me, very much, that +he should think me capable of such a thing. I felt angry at the +time, but I have not felt angry since I have thought it over +quietly; for the case seems so strong against me that I don't see +how the squire could have thought otherwise.</p> +<p>"Thank you, miss. I sha'n't forget your kindness," and Reuben +went on with a light heart, just as Mrs. Ellison and her elder +daughter came out from the shop.</p> +<p>"Who were you speaking to, Kate?" she asked, as she took her +seat in the carriage.</p> +<p>"I was talking to Reuben Whitney, mamma. He was passing, so I +called him to tell him that I did not believe he had killed +Wolf."</p> +<p>"Then it was very improper behaviour on your part, Kate," her +mother said angrily, for she had never quite recovered from the +shock Mrs. Whitney had given to her dignity. "You know my opinion +on the subject. I have told you before that it is one I do not care +to have discussed, and that I consider it very improper for a girl, +of your age, to hold opinions different to those of your elders. I +have no doubt, whatever, that boy poisoned the dog. I must beg of +you that you will never speak to him again."</p> +<p>Kate leaned back in the carriage with a little sigh. She could +not understand why her mother, who was so kind to all the village +people, should be so implacable on this subject. But Kate, who was +now between fourteen and fifteen, knew that when her mother had +taken up certain opinions they were not to be shaken; and that her +father himself always avoided argument, on points on which he +differed from her. Talking alone with his daughter the squire had, +in answer to her sturdy assertion of Reuben's innocence, owned to +her that he himself had his doubts on the subject, and that he was +sorry he had dismissed the boy from his service; but she had never +heard him do more than utter a protest, against Reuben's guilt +being held as being absolutely proved, when her mother spoke of his +delinquency.</p> +<p>But Kate was not one to desert a protege and, having been the +means of Reuben's introduction to her father's, she had always +regarded herself as his natural protector; and Mrs. Ellison would +not have been pleased, had she known that her daughter had seldom +met the schoolmaster without inquiring if he had heard how Reuben +was getting on. She had even asked Mr. Shrewsbury to assure him of +her belief in his innocence, which had been done; but she had +resolved that, should she ever meet him, she would herself tell him +so, even at the risk of her mother's displeasure.</p> +<p>Another year passed. Reuben was now seventeen, and was a tall, +powerfully-built young fellow. During these four years he had never +been over to Tipping, in the daytime; but had occasionally walked +over, after dark, to visit the Shrewsburys, always going on special +invitation, when he knew that no one else would be there. The +Thornes no longer occupied the little public house. Tom Thorne had, +a year before, been captured with two other poachers in the +squire's woods, and had had six months' hard labour; and his father +had at once been ejected from his house, and had disappeared from +that part of the country. Reuben was glad that they had left; for +he had long before heard that Thorne had spread the story, in +Lewes, of the poisoning of the dog. He felt, however, with their +departure all chance of his ever being righted in that matter was +at an end.</p> +<p>One evening in winter, when Reuben had done his work, he said to +his mother:</p> +<p>"I shall go over and see Mr. Shrewsbury tonight. I have not been +over for some time and, as it is not his night for a class, I am +pretty sure not to find anyone there. I told him, when I was there +last, that I would take over a few tools and fix up those shelves +for him.</p> +<p>"I don't suppose he will stay very much longer at Tipping. His +health is completely restored now, and even his wife admits that he +could work at his own business again. He has already been doing a +little, for some of the houses he worked for in town, so as to get +his connection back again. I expect, every time I see him, to hear +that he has made up his mind to go. He would have done it, two +years back; but his wife and the two little ones are so well that +he did not like the thought of taking them up to London, till he +was sure that his health was strong enough to stand steady work. I +shall miss them very much. He has been a good friend, indeed, to +me."</p> +<p>"He has indeed," Mrs. Whitney said. "I think anyhow, Reuben, you +would have got on at your trade; but you would never have been what +you are now, if it hadn't been for him. Your poor father would be +proud of you, if he could see you; and I am sure that, when you +take off that workman's suit and put on your Sunday clothes, you +look as well as if the mill had never gone wrong, and you had been +brought up as he intended you to be. Mrs. Tyler was saying only the +other day that you looked quite the gentleman, and lots of people +have said the same."</p> +<p>"Nonsense, mother," Reuben answered, "there is nothing of the +gentleman about me. Of course, people say things that they think +will please you, knowing that you regard me as a sort of wonder. I +hope I shall make my way some day, and the fact that I have had a +better education than most young fellows, in my position of life, +of course may make some little difference; and will, I hope, help +me to mount the ladder, when once I put my foot upon it."</p> +<p>But although, no doubt, Mrs. Whitney was a partial judge, her +opinion as to her son was not an incorrect one; for with his +intelligent face, and quiet self-assured bearing, he looked very +much more like a gentleman than many young fellows in a far better +position in life.</p> +<p>The stars were shining brightly when he started, at seven +o'clock in the evening; and he walked with a brisk step, until he +arrived within half a mile of the village. As he passed by the end +of a lane which ran into the road, he heard a horse impatiently +pawing the ground; the sound being followed by a savage oath, to +the animal, to stand quiet. Reuben walked on a few steps, and then +paused. The lane, as he knew, only led to some fields a short +distance away. What could a horse be doing there? And who could be +the man who spoke to it? There had, lately, been several burglaries +on lonely houses, in that part of the country; and the general +belief was that these had been perpetrated by men from London.</p> +<p>"I daresay it's nothing," Reuben said to himself. "Still, it is +certainly curious and, at any rate, there can be no harm in having +a look."</p> +<p>Walking upon the grass at the side of the road, he retraced his +steps to the end of the lane, and then stood and listened. He heard +a murmur of voices, and determined to follow the matter up. He +walked quietly down the lane. After going about a hundred yards, he +saw something dark in the road and, approaching it very cautiously, +found that it was a horse harnessed to a gig. As he was standing +wondering what to do next he started, for the silence was broken by +some voices near him.</p> +<p>"It was a stupid thing to get here so early, and to have to wait +about for four hours in this ditch."</p> +<p>"It was the best plan though," another voice replied. "The trap +might have been noticed, if we had been driving about the roads +after dark; while in the daylight no one would give it a second +thought."</p> +<p>"That's right enough," the first speaker said, "but it's +precious cold here. Hand me that flask again. I am blest if the +wind does not come through the hedge like a knife."</p> +<p>The voices came from the other side of the hedge, on the +opposite side of the lane. Reuben crossed noiselessly. There was a +gate just where the cart had stopped, and the men had evidently got +over it, to obtain the shelter of the hedge from the wind. Reuben +felt the gate, which was old and rickety; then cautiously he placed +his feet on the lower bar, and leaned forward so as to look round +the hedge.</p> +<p>"What time are the others to be here, Tom?"</p> +<p>"They said they would be here at nine o'clock. We passed them +about six miles on the road, so they ought to be here to time."</p> +<p>"I suppose there's no doubt about this here being a good +business?"</p> +<p>"I will answer for that," the other said. "I don't suppose as +there's much money in the house, but there's no end of silver +plate, and their watches, and plenty of sparklers. I have heard say +as there's no one in the county as has more jewels than the +squire's wife."</p> +<p>"You know the house well, don't you?"</p> +<p>"I never was inside," the other said, "but I have heard enough, +from them that has, to know where the rooms lie. The plate chest is +in the butler's pantry and, as we are going to get in by the +kitchen window, we are safe to be able to clear that out without +being heard. I shall go on, directly the others come, and chuck +this meat to the dogs—that will silence them. I know the way +there, for I tried that on once before."</p> +<p>Reuben had thought that the voice was familiar to him, and the +words gave him the clue—the speaker was Tom Thorne—and he, and +those with him, were going to commit a burglary at the squire's. He +was hesitating whether to make off at once, to warn the squire of +what was intended; or to listen and learn a little more of their +plan, when suddenly a light shone behind him, and a voice exclaimed +with an oath:</p> +<p>"Who have we here?"</p> +<p>He leapt down, and was in the act of turning round to defend +himself, when a heavy blow with a cudgel struck him on the head, +and felled him insensible to the ground. While he had been +listening to the conversation, two men had come quietly up the +lane, walking on the grass as he had done; and their footsteps had +been unheard by him, for the horse continued, at times, impatiently +to paw the ground. The sound of their comrades' voices had told +them where they were sitting and, turning on a bull's-eye lantern +to show them the gate, they had seen Reuben leaning over it, in the +act of listening.</p> +<p>When Reuben recovered consciousness, he found that he was lying +in the ditch, his hands tightly bound to his sides, and a +handkerchief stuffed into his mouth. The four men were gathered +close by, talking in low tones.</p> +<p>"I ain't going to give up the job, now we come so far to do it," +one said, with an oath. "Besides, it's not only the swag, but the +grudge I owe the squire. If I am ready to go on, I suppose you +needn't be afraid; besides, he don't know us."</p> +<p>"Best cut his throat and a done with it," a voice, which Reuben +recognized as that of his old enemy, said. "I owe him one, and it +will be safest to stop his mouth."</p> +<p>"No, no," a third voice protested; "I ain't going to have +nothing to do with cutting throats. I don't mind running the risk +of Botany Bay, but I ain't going to run the chance of being +scragged. But let's move a bit away from here, while we settle it. +You hit him pretty hard, but he will be coming round presently. I +thought at first that you had killed him, but he's bleeding too +free for that."</p> +<p>The men moved some little distance away, and for some time +Reuben could hear a murmured talk, but could make out nothing of +what had been said. It was, he judged, a quarter of an hour before +the conversation ceased. They did not return to him but remained at +some distance off, and Reuben thought that he heard the footsteps +of one of them going down the lane. He could feel, by a warm +sensation across his cheek, that the blood was flowing freely from +the wound he had received on his temple. A dull torpid feeling came +over him, and after a time he again lost consciousness.</p> +<p>How long he remained in this state he did not know, but he was +at last aroused by being lifted and thrown into the bottom of the +cart. Four men then climbed up into it and the horse was started. +They drove at a quick pace, and Reuben wondered why they were +taking him away with them. His head ached terribly, and he suffered +much from the tightness of the cords which bound his arms. The men +seemed in high good humour, and talked and laughed in low tones; +but the noise of the vehicle prevented Reuben hearing what was +said.</p> +<p>It was, as far as he could judge, full two hours before the +vehicle stopped. He was roughly taken out of the cart, his arms +were unbound; and the men, leaping up, drove away at full speed. +The spot where he had been left was very dark, for trees +overshadowed it on both sides. Where he was he had no idea, but he +judged that he must be fully twenty miles from the village.</p> +<p>His first impulse was to take the handkerchief from his mouth, +and he then walked slowly along the road, in the direction from +which he had come. It was, he felt sure, no use shouting; for they +would have been certain to have selected some lonely spot to set +him down, and there would be no chance of awakening the inhabitants +of any distant cottage. He walked slowly, for he was faint with +loss of blood.</p> +<p>After proceeding about a quarter of a mile, he emerged from the +wood and came upon a spot where the road forked. Having no clue +whatever as to the direction in which Lewes lay, he sat down upon a +heap of stones and waited patiently for morning. He had no doubt +that the burglary had been a successful one, and he bitterly +regretted his neglect to keep a watch down the lane, to see that he +was not surprised by the men he had heard were coming. At any rate, +he hoped that he should be able to give such information as would +set the constables upon the track.</p> +<p>It seemed to him that some three hours passed before a faint +light began to dawn in the sky. By this he knew that it must be +about half-past six, and calculated, therefore, he must have set +out in the trap about half-past one. He now started to walk along +the road, hoping that he should soon meet some labourer going to +work. Stopping by a small stream which ran across the road, he +washed his head and face; as he had lain on the ground after being +struck, the blood had not flowed on to his clothes.</p> +<p>After the wash he proceeded with a brisker step. Half an hour +later he met a ploughman, riding one of his team to the fields.</p> +<p>"Is this the road to Lewes?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"Lewes? Noa, this baint the road to Lewes. I don't know nothing +about the road to Lewes. This bee the road to Hastings, if you goes +further. So they tell me; I ain't never been there."</p> +<p>"Is there a village anywhere about here?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"Ay, half a mile or so on."</p> +<p>Reuben walked on till he got to the village; and then, going to +a public house, obtained some refreshment and learned, from the +landlord, the direction he should take to get to the main road +leading to Lewes; which was, as he expected, some twenty miles +away. He found that the cart had not followed the main road towards +London, but had driven by crossroads for a considerable distance, +before turning north.</p> +<p>It was late in the afternoon before Reuben arrived at Lewes, for +he had been obliged to rest often by the way, and had made but slow +progress. When within a few doors of his mother's house, one of the +constables of the town came up to him and touched him on the +shoulder.</p> +<p>"I arrest you in the king's name!"</p> +<p>"Arrest me! What for?" Reuben exclaimed.</p> +<p>"For breaking into the house of Squire Ellison, of Tipping, +that's what it's for."</p> +<p>Reuben laughed.</p> +<p>"You have got the wrong man this time. I have no more to do with +the burglary than a child."</p> +<p>"It's no laughing matter," the constable said. "If you are +innocent you have got to prove it; that ain't no business of mine. +All I have got to do is to arrest you."</p> +<p>So saying, and before Reuben knew what he was about, he slipped +a pair of handcuffs over his wrists. Reuben flushed up. Hitherto he +had scarcely taken the matter seriously, but to be marched +handcuffed through the streets of Lewes was an indignity which +enraged him.</p> +<p>"Take these off," he said angrily. "I will go quietly with +you."</p> +<p>"You may or you may not," the man said doggedly. "You are +younger than I am, and maybe can run faster. I ain't agoing to +chance it."</p> +<p>Reuben saw that it was of no use to argue and, silent and pale, +he walked along by the side of the constable, who retained a tight +hold of his collar. A little crowd gathered speedily round, for +such a sight was unusual in Lewes; and Reuben felt thankful when +they reached the cells, and he was sheltered from the gaze of the +public. A minute later the head constable came in.</p> +<p>"Now, my lad, don't say anything to criminate yourself," he +began; "the less you talk, the better for you. I am sorry to see +you here, for I knew your father, and I have a good character of +you from your employer; so I give you my advice—keep your mouth +shut."</p> +<p>"But I am not going to keep my mouth shut," Reuben said +indignantly. "Here am I, arrested in the public streets, marched +handcuffed through the town upon a most monstrous charge, which has +been brought against me without a shadow of evidence."</p> +<p>"Don't be talking, don't be talking," the constable said +testily; "you will hear the evidence in time enough."</p> +<p>"But I will talk. I want to tell you what's happened, and you +will see that I am innocent, at once."</p> +<p>"Very well, if you will you will; but mind, don't blame me +afterwards."</p> +<p>Reuben told the story of his adventures from the time of +leaving.</p> +<p>"There," he said when he finished, "isn't that enough to show +that I am innocent?"</p> +<p>"No," the chief constable said gravely, "it's not enough to +prove anything, one way or the other. I am bound to say the story +looks a likely one; and if it weren't for two or three matters +which I heard of, from the constable who came over from Tipping, I +should have no doubt about it. However, all that is for the +magistrate to decide. There will be a meeting tomorrow."</p> +<p>"But can't I be taken before a magistrate at once? There's +Captain Fidler, within a mile."</p> +<p>"What would be the good?" the chief constable said. "You don't +suppose anyone would let you out, only on the strength of the story +you have told me. He could only remand you, and you could gain +nothing by it."</p> +<p>"Can I see my mother?" Reuben asked next.</p> +<p>"Yes," the constable said, "I will send her down a message, at +once."</p> +<p>Mrs. Whitney soon came up. A neighbour had brought her in the +news when Reuben had been arrested, and she was on the point of +starting to inquire about it when the message arrived. She was more +indignant than grieved, when she heard the charge which had been +brought against Reuben.</p> +<p>"The idea of such a thing!" she exclaimed. "These constables +don't seem to have natural sense. The idea of charging anyone who +is known as a respectable young man with such a thing as that, and +shutting him up without a question. Why, there can't be any +evidence against you."</p> +<p>"There's no saying, mother," Reuben replied. "You mustn't be too +sure of that. Don't you remember that affair of the dog? Well, the +same hand is at work now. Before, I only suspected who had done it; +but I am sure now. However, whatever evidence they may have got, we +know it isn't true. I have four years' good character here to speak +for me. Still, it is hard that I should get into positions of this +sort, without any fault of mine."</p> +<p>"It's better that it is without any fault of yours, Reuben."</p> +<p>"That is right enough, mother, so we will both keep up our +spirits."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch4" id="Ch4">Chapter 4</a>: The Trial.</h2> +<p>There were three magistrates on the bench on the following +morning, when Reuben was brought up. The justice room was crowded, +for the series of burglaries had caused some excitement; and the +news that the house of Mr. Ellison had been broken into, and that +one of the men who had been taken turned out to belong to Lewes, +had created quite a sensation.</p> +<p>Mr. Ellison was the first to give his evidence. He testified +that, on waking on the previous morning, he found that someone had +been in his room during the night. He was not in the habit of +locking his door, and had not been awakened. He found that a box +which stood on the dressing table, containing some valuable +jewelry, was gone; that his watch and that of Mrs. Ellison had been +taken; that the drawers had been opened, and a case containing the +more valuable jewels of his wife had also been abstracted. This was +not discovered till afterwards. He first missed his watch.</p> +<p>He rang the servants up, for it was still early; and it was then +discovered that the lower premises had been broken into, the plate +chest in the butler's pantry broken open, and a large quantity of +plate stolen.</p> +<p>"What do you estimate the value of the articles stolen, Mr. +Ellison?"</p> +<p>"The value of my wife's jewels I should put down, roughly, at +two thousand pounds; the silver plate might have been worth three +hundred more; the watches and other articles, so far as I yet miss +them, say another hundred."</p> +<p>The servants proved that they found the kitchen window open, on +going downstairs. It had been opened by the catch being forced +back. It was not the custom to put up shutters. The pantry door, +which was a strong one, had been cut with a saw round the lock. The +butler testified to the plate having been safe, the night before, +and the strong chest in which it was kept having been forced +open.</p> +<p>Directly it was discovered, the constable of the village was +placed in charge of the room, with orders to admit no one; and a +man on horseback was sent off to Lewes, to the chief constable. The +village constable gave evidence as to the state of the place, when +he was put in charge.</p> +<p>The constable who had been sent over from Lewes then stepped +into the witness box. He testified to the marks of entry of the +thieves, and said that the manner in which they had gone to work, +and in which the door had been sawn through, and the chest forced +open, seemed to show that it was the work of practised hands. On +examining closely the butler's pantry, he found a powerful +screwdriver and a heavy chisel. These corresponded to marks in the +lid, and had evidently been used for the purpose of forcing it +open. They had the initials "R W." burnt in the handles. The +inmates of the house all denied any knowledge of these tools.</p> +<p>Mr. Ellison had been present when he showed them to Mrs. +Ellison. On looking at them she said at once:</p> +<p>"R. W. Why, that must be Reuben Whitney, that wicked boy, +again."</p> +<p>Upon making inquiries, he found that the man named worked at Mr. +Penfold's, the mill wright at Lewes. He returned there at once and, +going to Mr. Penfold, found the prisoner was absent from work. The +men identified the brand on the tools as that of the prisoner. +Another constable proved the arrest.</p> +<p>The chief constable then read the statement that the prisoner +had made to him. The magistrates conferred together for a few +minutes, in an undertone.</p> +<p>"Mrs. Ellison," the senior of them said, addressing that lady, +who was sitting on a chair placed at the upper end of the court, +"we are sorry to trouble you, but we must ask you to go into the +witness box.</p> +<p>"I wish to ask you," he went on, when she had taken her stand in +the box, "how it was you at once connected the initials with the +prisoner?"</p> +<p>"Because he had at one time lived in the village, and was +employed assisting our gardener. He was discharged on suspicion of +having poisoned a watchdog which had bit him; and as the three dogs +about the place had all been poisoned, on the night when the house +was broken into, his name had been in my mind and, on seeing the +initials, I naturally recognized them at once."</p> +<p>There was a deep silence in the court, when Mrs. Ellison gave +her evidence. Hitherto the impression had been rather favourable to +the prisoner. His story, though strange, had been by no means +impossible and, if true, would have completely accounted for the +finding of the tools, which were the only evidence against him. The +evidence of Mrs. Ellison, however, entirely altered the complexion +of the case.</p> +<p>Reuben had stood, quiet and composed, during the hearing. His +countenance had evinced no surprise or emotion, when the tools were +produced. He had, indeed, upon thinking the matter over before +coming into court, come to the conclusion that the tools, which he +had in a small basket at the time he was attacked, had been found +in or near the house; having been left there purposely, by Tom +Thorne, in order to throw suspicion upon him. Their production, +therefore, was no surprise to him.</p> +<p>A slight shade had passed over his face when Mrs. Ellison +entered the witness box. Glancing at the squire as she gave her +evidence, Reuben saw that Mr. Ellison looked greatly vexed and +annoyed. As before, at the conclusion of the evidence of each +witness, Reuben was asked if he had any question to put. He +hesitated for a moment and then, as before, replied in the +negative.</p> +<p>Again the magistrates consulted together.</p> +<p>"Mr. Ellison, we shall be obliged if you will enter the witness +box again. In your former evidence, Mr. Ellison, you said nothing +in any way relating to the prisoner; but it now seems you had a +previous acquaintance with him. Will you tell the court what it +is?"</p> +<p>"I have not much to say," the squire said. "As a boy he lived in +the village with his mother, a most respectable person; and widow +of Jacob Whitney, a miller in a good way of business, who, as it +may be in your memory, was found drowned in his mill pond some +seven or eight years ago. The widow, being in reduced +circumstances, settled in Tipping. The boy was an intelligent lad +and, when the boy employed in my garden left, I gave him the place. +He gave every satisfaction. One day he was severely bitten by the +watchdog and, three days later, the dog was found poisoned. My +gardener saw a boy running away from the spot, a quarter of an hour +before the dog died. He believed it to be the prisoner, but it was +too dark for him to distinguish the features.</p> +<p>"At the time, I certainly suspected that he had been guilty of +poisoning the dog and, in spite of his denying that he had anything +to do with it, as he was unable to account for where he was at the +time the boy was seen, I discharged him. I wish to say publicly +that I have deeply regretted having done so, ever since, and that I +consider I acted hastily and wrongly in so doing. Considering his +previous good character, I ought not to have assumed his guilt +without more positive evidence than I had before me. I may also say +that the schoolmaster of our village will give the prisoner the +highest character for truthfulness, and he has known him ever +since. His present employer, Mr. Penfold, is also, I believe, ready +to testify to his excellent conduct during his four years of +apprenticeship."</p> +<p>"I suppose, Mr. Ellison," the senior magistrate said, "you have +not, at any time since the poisoning of the dog, obtained any +actual evidence which would show that you were mistaken in your +first view, and that your subsequent change of opinion was due +solely to your general view of the boy's character, so far as you +knew it."</p> +<p>"That is so," the squire assented and, no further question being +asked, he resumed his seat. His evidence had caused surprise and +some little amusement in court. It was clear that there was a +strong difference of opinion between him and his wife on the +subject; and that, while the lady had something like an animus +against the prisoner, the squire was strongly impressed in his +favour. After some consultation, the magistrate said:</p> +<p>"The case will be remanded until this day week, to see if +further evidence is forthcoming; but I may say that, under the +present circumstances of the case, we shall feel ourselves obliged +to send it for trial. The prisoner's account of his proceedings, +from the time he left Lewes on the previous evening up to that of +his return and arrest here, may be true; but so far it is entirely +unsupported. On the other hand, we have the evidence of the tools, +admitted to belong to him, being found on the scene of the +burglary. We have the further important fact that he had been +formerly employed upon the place; and had, it may be supposed, some +knowledge of the premises. He had been discharged upon a suspicion, +rightfully or wrongly entertained, of his having poisoned a dog +belonging to Mr. Ellison, and there is reason for the belief that +the dogs poisoned before the burglary were got at by some one +acquainted with the place."</p> +<p>"Will it be any use my calling evidence as to character, at the +next meeting?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"No," the magistrate said. "Evidence of that kind will be useful +at the trial, when the matter will be thoroughly sifted. We only +have to decide that there is prima facie evidence connecting you +with the offence, and of that there can be no doubt."</p> +<p>At the sitting a week later, no fresh evidence was produced; and +Reuben was committed for trial at the next assizes. Public opinion +in Lewes ran high on the subject of Reuben's guilt or innocence. +The other workmen at the mill wright's were strongly in his +favour—he was very popular among his fellows—and they pointed out +that several hands must have been concerned in the business, that +he was never seen about in public houses of an evening, or was +likely to have any connection with bad characters. Was it probable, +if he had gone about such a job as that, he would have taken tools +marked with his own initials; or if he had, that he would have been +fool enough to leave them behind?</p> +<p>Upon the other hand, opinion in general ran strongly against +him. His story was declared to be utterly improbable, and a fellow +who had once been dismissed for poisoning a dog would be likely, at +any future time, to revenge himself upon the employer who turned +him off. As to Mr. Ellison's declaration of his subsequent opinion +that he acted hastily, little weight was attached to it. Everyone +knew Squire Ellison was a kind-hearted man, and as he acknowledged +himself that he had obtained no evidence which would satisfy him +that he had acted wrongly in the first case, it was clear that it +was from mere kindness of heart that he had changed his mind on the +subject.</p> +<p>At Tipping the subject was never mentioned. The squire and Mrs. +Ellison had, on the drive home, had the most serious quarrel which +had ever taken place during their wedded life; which had ended by +the former saying:</p> +<p>"If anyone had ever told me before, Mary, that you were a +vindictive woman, I should have knocked him down. I might do so +now, but I should know in my heart that he had spoken truly. For +some reason or other you took a prejudice against that boy, and you +never forgave his mother for standing up in his defence. I was +shocked, downright shocked, when you gave your evidence in +court."</p> +<p>Mrs. Ellison had been too much offended to reply, and the rest +of the drive had been passed in silence. Upon their return home the +girls were full of eager questions, but the squire said +shortly:</p> +<p>"My dears, the less we talk about it, the better. Your mother +and I differ entirely on the subject. She believes that Reuben +Whitney is guilty. I am absolutely convinced he is innocent. +Therefore, if you please, we will not discuss it."</p> +<p>The following morning Kate Ellison went down to the school +house.</p> +<p>"Mr. Shrewsbury," she said, putting her head in at the door, +"could you come out for two or three minutes? I want particularly +to speak to you.</p> +<p>"Have you heard what took place yesterday, at Lewes?" she asked +when he came out.</p> +<p>"Yes, Miss Ellison. I saw Jones the constable last night, and he +told me all that had been said in court."</p> +<p>"And you think Reuben Whitney is innocent?" she asked +eagerly.</p> +<p>"I am quite sure of it, Miss Ellison—as sure as I am of my own +existence. For anyone who knows him to have a doubt is absolutely +absurd. A finer young fellow than Reuben it would be hard to +find."</p> +<p>"But what did he say? How did he account for his tools being +found there?"</p> +<p>The schoolmaster repeated the account Reuben had given, and +said:</p> +<p>"When the trial comes off I shall, of course, go over; and +testify both as to his general conduct and to the fact that he had, +as he said, promised to bring over his tools to put up some shelves +in my cupboards."</p> +<p>"Do you think he will get off, Mr. Shrewsbury?" she asked +anxiously.</p> +<p>"I should hope so, Miss Ellison, but I can't disguise from +myself that it is by no means certain. That unfortunate old +business about the dog will tell terribly against him; and though I +am perfectly sure that his account of what took place is correct, +there is nothing to confirm it. It is just the sort of story, they +will say, that he would naturally get up to account for his +absence, and for the tools being found. Of course, if the jury knew +him as well as I do the result would be certain; but I have been +trying to look at the facts as if he were a stranger, and I can't +say what decision I should come to, in such a case. Still, of +course, the high character that will be given him, and the fact +that there is no evidence whatever connecting him, in any way, with +bad characters, must count immensely in his favour."</p> +<p>The assizes were to take place only a fortnight after the date +of Reuben's committal. Mrs. Whitney had engaged a lawyer in the +town to defend her son and, to the surprise of this gentleman, Mr. +Ellison called upon him two or three days later, and said:</p> +<p>"Mr. Brogden, I hear that you have been engaged by Mrs. Whitney +to defend her son. I don't believe the young fellow is guilty, and +therefore I authorize you to spend any sum that may be necessary in +getting up his defence; and I wish you to instruct a counsel to +appear for him. Of course I cannot appear openly in the matter, and +my name must not be mentioned, but I will guarantee all +expenses.</p> +<p>"It seems to me that it would be desirable to find out, if +possible, the village where he says he breakfasted, and asked the +way to Lewes. In his story he says he didn't know the name of the +village but, as he was told it was about twenty miles from Lewes, +and he can describe the road he followed, there ought to be no +difficulty in finding it.</p> +<p>"I should advise you to have a chat with Shrewsbury, the +schoolmaster at Tipping. He is a great friend of the lad's, and a +very intelligent fellow. He may be able to suggest some points to +be followed up. At any rate, do all you can."</p> +<p>Reuben had another adherent who was also acting on his behalf. +The afternoon before the trial, Kate Ellison stopped before the +blacksmith shop in the village and, seeing that Jacob Priestley the +smith was at work, alone, she entered.</p> +<p>"Is it true, Jacob, that you have been summoned on the jury at +Lewes tomorrow?"</p> +<p>"Yes, miss, it bee true, sureley. It be four years since anyone +in the village was summoned, and it be mighty hard that they should +have picked upon me. Still, I have never been called before, so I +suppose I mustn't grumble; but it be hard to be taken away from +work, to waste one's time in a court, and they say the 'sizes ull +last for three days."</p> +<p>"Well, Jacob, you know that Reuben Whitney is going to be tried +for robbery at our house."</p> +<p>"Yes, miss; so they says."</p> +<p>"Well, what do you think about it, Jacob?"</p> +<p>"I don't think nothing one way or the other, miss. Most folks +says as how he must have done it, 'cause as how he poisoned +squire's dog afore."</p> +<p>"He didn't do anything of the sort, Jacob; and it's very wicked +of people to say so. He is innocent, quite innocent. I am sure he +is, and papa is quite sure, too; and he will be terribly put out if +he is found guilty. So I want you to promise me that, whatever the +others think, you will hold out that he is innocent."</p> +<p>"Well, miss," the smith said, scratching his head, "if you be +sure of it, and squire be sure, I suppose there can't be no doubt +about it, for who should know better than squire; and I am sure I +wouldn't go to put him about, for a better landlord than squire +ain't to be found in the county. So you tell him, miss, as I will +hold out."</p> +<p>"But papa doesn't know that I have come down here, Jacob. It +wouldn't do for him to interfere, you know; especially as he is a +magistrate himself. You mustn't mention to anyone that I have +spoken to you about it—not to anyone, Jacob, not even to your +wife—but I can tell you the squire will be heartily pleased if he +is found innocent, and he will be terribly put out if he is found +guilty."</p> +<p>"All right, miss," the smith replied. "I understand, and no one +sha'n't know as you have spoken to me aboot it. It be quite enough +for I to know as the squire knows as he's innocent. It ain't likely +as I should stick my opinion up against his."</p> +<p>The day after he heard of Reuben's arrest, the schoolmaster went +over to see him; and as he was the bearer of a letter from Mr. +Ellison to the governor of the jail, he was able to obtain +admittance.</p> +<p>"Was there ever such an unfortunate fellow as I am?" Reuben +exclaimed, after the first hearty greeting. "Here am I for the +second time accused of a crime of which I am innocent; and from +which, indeed, in the present case I am a sufferer; and all this +has come about, simply because I went out of my way to inquire into +what seemed to me a suspicious business."</p> +<p>"Tell me all about it, Reuben. I have heard the statement you +made to the chief constable; but tell it me again, with every +detail you can think of. Some circumstance, which appears to you as +trifling, may furnish a clue."</p> +<p>"I have seen Mr. Brogden, the lawyer. I have told him all that +happened," Reuben said; "but of course, I will gladly tell you +again."</p> +<p>And Reuben repeated the story of the adventure, with every +detail that he could think of; speaking slowly, as the schoolmaster +wrote it down at length.</p> +<p>"I will see what I can make of it, when I think it over," Mr. +Shrewsbury said. "Of course, as it stands, it is so natural and +probable that it would clear you at once; had it not been for that +unfortunate dog business before, and the supposition, excited by +it, that you had a feeling of hostility to the squire. I shall be +able partly to dispose of that, for I can swear that you have +frequently spoken to me of the squire in tones of respect and +liking; and that, although you regretted the manner in which you +left his service, you felt no ill will against him on account of +it. Moreover, I shall be able to prove that the reasons you gave +for having your tools with you was a true one; and although I +cannot swear that I expected you specially on that evening, the +fact that you were in the habit of coming over, at times, to see +me, cannot but corroborate your story.</p> +<p>"I shall get leave for two or three days, and will hunt up the +village where you breakfasted."</p> +<p>"Thank you very much," Reuben said, "though I have been thinking +it over, and do not see that the evidence of the people at the +public house would help me much. It will simply prove that I passed +through there in the morning; but will not show, in any way, +whether I went willingly as far as that, as one of the party who +broke into the house, or whether I was taken there."</p> +<p>"They can probably prove that you looked pale and exhausted," +the schoolmaster said.</p> +<p>"I fancy I should look pale, in any case," Reuben said, "if I +had gone through such a night's work as that of breaking into the +squire's."</p> +<p>"Well, keep up your courage, Reuben. You may be quite sure that +your friends will do all in their power for you. I shall go now and +have a chat with your mother. I am afraid that she will want +comforting more than you do."</p> +<p>"Yes," Reuben agreed, "I am afraid so. Somehow I don't seem to +take it to heart much. I shall feel it more afterwards, perhaps; +but at present, the whole thing seems so extraordinary that I can't +quite realize that I am in danger of being sent to Botany Bay. The +worst of it is that, even if I am acquitted, lots of people will +still think I am guilty. There is only one thing that can really +prove my innocence, and that is the arrest of Tom Thorne, and his +father."</p> +<p>"I hear," the schoolmaster said, "that the chief constable has +written up to Bow Street, for them to put the runners on the traces +of those two scoundrels. Whether they believe your story or not, it +is quite evident that more than one person was concerned in the +affair. Their theory, of course, is that you quarrelled with the +others over the division of the spoil; and got that knock on the +head, which is a very severe one. I went down yesterday with Jones, +to see the spot where you said you were assaulted. There were marks +where the horse stopped, and marks of feet in the field, and a +patch of blood; all of which goes to prove that your story may be +true, but unfortunately it doesn't prove that it was because, +according to the theory against you, you might have been assaulted +after the robbery, as well as before it."</p> +<p>"But in that case," Reuben said, "why should they have taken the +trouble to carry me twenty miles away?"</p> +<p>"Yes, there is of course that question," the schoolmaster said +thoughtfully; "but then, on the other hand, why did they take the +trouble in case you were not an accomplice? In both cases the +answer is the same—they did it to prevent your giving the alarm, +until they had got far away from the scene. They didn't like to +murder you, because of the consequences to themselves; but they +would not risk your recovering consciousness and getting up an +early pursuit. It cuts both ways, you see."</p> +<p>"So it does," Reuben assented. "It's just a question of belief; +and I own, myself, that that old dog business is very much against +me; and that I can't blame anyone who considers me guilty."</p> +<p>Reuben's was the last case taken at the assizes, and occasioned +a good deal of interest in that part of Sussex, partly owing to the +position of Squire Ellison, partly to the nature of the defence set +up, as to which opinion was a good deal divided. The evidence for +the prosecution was, to a great extent, similar to that given at +the inquiry before the magistrates. Unfortunately for Reuben, the +judge was notoriously a severe one; and his bias, from the first, +appeared to be against the prisoner. Mr. Ellison was closely +questioned by the prosecutor as to the poisoning of his dog, as +this was considered to show a particular animus on the part of +Reuben. He again repeated his conviction of Reuben's innocence in +that affair.</p> +<p>"But what reason have you, Mr. Ellison," the counsel for the +prosecution asked blandly, "for changing your opinion on the +subject?"</p> +<p>This was just the question which the squire could not answer +satisfactorily; and was a particularly irritating one, because it +had often been triumphantly asked by his wife.</p> +<p>"I can really give no particular reason," he said, "except that, +on reflection, the boy's previous character and antecedents +convinced me that he could not have done such an act."</p> +<p>"In fact," the counsel said suavely, "you were influenced by +your own goodness of heart, Mr. Ellison, in thus laying aside a +conviction which the facts had, at the time, forced upon you."</p> +<p>"I don't look upon it in that light," the squire replied +shortly. "I consider that in the first instance I acted hastily and +unadvisedly, and on consideration I saw that I had done so."</p> +<p>"I am afraid, Mr. Ellison," the counsel said, "that you will not +persuade the jury to agree with you."</p> +<p>"I have only one or two questions to ask you," the counsel for +the defence said, when he rose to cross-examine, "for indeed your +evidence is, as I think the jury will agree, altogether in favour +of the prisoner. In the first place, was the lad, when in your +employment, ever upstairs in your house?"</p> +<p>"Not that I know of," the squire replied. "Certainly in the +course of his duties he would never be there. Indeed, it would be +very seldom that he would even enter the kitchen, except to bring +in vegetables. Certainly he would never pass through to go +upstairs. He could not possibly have done so without exciting +attention and remarks."</p> +<p>"He would therefore, Mr. Ellison, have no means of possessing +any knowledge as to the internal arrangements of your house, beyond +that possessed by the other people in the village?"</p> +<p>"None whatever," Mr. Ellison replied.</p> +<p>"Now, as to that unfortunate affair of the poisoning of your +dog. Your opinion, as to the innocence of the prisoner in that +matter, is not a recent one—not the outcome of his after good +conduct and character?"</p> +<p>"Not at all," Mr. Ellison said. "I changed my opinion on the +matter very shortly, indeed, after the affair."</p> +<p>"Within a few days, I think I may say?" the counsel asked.</p> +<p>"Within a very few days; I may almost say within a few hours," +the squire replied. "The boy's story, told not to me but to +another, that he believed the dog was poisoned by another lad in +the village who owed him a grudge, and who has since turned out an +exceedingly bad character, struck me as being very much more +probable than that he should do it, himself."</p> +<p>Mrs. Ellison was next called. Her evidence as to the robbery was +a mere repetition of that given by the squire. The counsel then +turned to the question of the poisoning.</p> +<p>"I would rather say nothing about it," Mrs. Ellison said. "It is +a matter which has been productive of much pain to me, and I would +rather say nothing about it."</p> +<p>"But you must, madam," the judge said sharply. "You are here to +answer any question which may enable the jury to form an opinion on +this case."</p> +<p>"I am sorry to press you, Mrs. Ellison," the counsel continued, +"but I really must do so. You took a different opinion to that held +by your husband?"</p> +<p>"I regret to say that I did. Mr. Ellison told me the reasons he +had for suspecting the boy. I thought those reasons sufficient, and +have seen no cause for changing my opinion."</p> +<p>After the evidence for the prosecution had been given, the +counsel for the defence pointed out that there was, in fact, no +evidence whatever connecting Reuben with the robbery, beyond the +discovery of his tools on the premises; and that, as to this +trumpery story of the poisoning a dog, four years before, +apparently only for the purpose of showing some sort of animus, he +regarded it as altogether contemptible. When a man meant to commit +a burglary in a house, he did so in order to obtain possession of +the goods, and not from any spite against the owner. Had this young +fellow felt any malice, for this ridiculous charge on which he had +been dismissed, he would not have allied himself with burglars to +rob the house; but would probably have vented his spite in the +usual fashion, by setting fire to a stack or outhouse; but so far +as he could see, there was no foundation for the charge brought +against him, and they had already heard Mr. Ellison declare that he +regretted he had suspected him, and that he believed him to be +innocent.</p> +<p>But even had it been proved, up to the hilt, that the prisoner +had poisoned the dog, he should still hold it as wholly unconnected +with the present matter. If he had poisoned the dog, what then? It +was not a heinous sin, nor would it affect his moral character. No +boy likes having a piece taken out of his calf by a savage dog, and +there would have been nothing so very dreadful had he revenged +himself. It was probable that, even among the jury, there was one +or more who, if he had not absolutely set poison for his +neighbour's cats, for destroying his young chickens or scratching +up his flower beds, had threatened to do so, and would not have +regarded it as a very serious crime had he done so.</p> +<p>Therefore he contended that the jury should put this trumpery +affair altogether out of their minds; on the double ground that, in +the first place, the prisoner at the bar did not poison the dog; +and that, had he done so, it would have had nothing whatever to do +with the present affair.</p> +<p>"Why, gentlemen," he said, "it is an insult to your +understanding to ask you to credit that this young fellow—whose +character, which I shall presently prove to you, by unimpeachable +evidence, is of the highest kind—has, for four years, cherished +such malice against his employer, for dismissing him mistakenly, +that he has become the consort of thieves and burglars, has stained +his hands in crime, and rendered himself liable to transportation, +for the purpose merely of spiting that gentleman. Such a contention +would be absolutely absurd. I must beg you to dismiss it altogether +from your mind, and approach it from a different standpoint, +altogether. Divested of this extraneous business, the matter is a +most simple one.</p> +<p>"The prisoner left his mother's cottage, at seven o'clock in the +evening, to go over for an hour or two to his friend Mr. +Shrewsbury, the schoolmaster of Tipping. He took with him a few +tools, as he had promised to put some shelves in his friend's +house. On the way he heard some talking down a lane, which he knew +led to only a field. Thinking it strange, he went to see who it was +and, some distance down, he found a horse and cart standing and, +listening to the conversation of two men who were sitting under the +hedge, he heard enough to inform him that a burglary was intended +upon the house of Mr. Ellison. He was about to make off to give the +alarm, when he was suddenly attacked by some men who had come up +behind, and was felled to the ground. While lying insensible, he +was bound hand and foot and left in a ditch; where he remained till +the burglars returned from completing the work on hand. They then +threw him into the cart, and put him down some twenty miles away. +Being greatly exhausted by loss of blood, it was late in the +afternoon before he arrived at Lewes, when he was at once +arrested.</p> +<p>"This, gentlemen, is the prisoner's story, as related to the +chief constable when he was taken to the lockup. Nothing can be +simpler or more probable; and in some points, at least, I shall be +able to confirm it by independent testimony. Mr. Shrewsbury will +tell you that the prisoner had arranged to come over to see him, +and bring his tools. He will also tell you that, two days after the +prisoner's arrest, he went with Jones, the village constable, and +found the marks where the horse and trap had stood; while, just +inside the field, the grass was trampled with feet; and in the +bottom of the dry ditch was a great dark patch, which he was able +to ascertain to be blood. Doctor Hewitt will tell you that he was +called in to strap up the prisoner's head, after his arrest; and +that the cut was a very severe one, and must have been inflicted by +a heavy weapon, with great force.</p> +<p>"I am convinced, gentlemen, that after hearing this evidence you +will agree with me, not only that the prisoner is perfectly +innocent of the charge, but that he is a most ill-used person; and +that it is a matter of surprise and regret that the magistrates +should have committed him for trial, when the only shadow of +evidence against him was the discovery of these tools, a discovery +which he at once explained. Of other evidence, there is not one jot +or tittle. No attempt has been made to prove that the prisoner was +in the habit of consorting with bad characters; no attempt has been +made to show any connection, whatever, between him and the men who +came in a horse and trap across the hills, for the purpose of +effecting a burglary at Mr. Ellison's; and who, as we know, did +effect it. No scrap of the property stolen from the house has been +found upon him and, in order to account for the severe wound on his +head, the counsel for the prosecution has started the hypothesis +that it was given in the course of a quarrel, during the division +of the plunder.</p> +<p>"But had that been the case, gentlemen, the prisoner would not +have been standing here alone. Robbed and ill-treated by these +companions of his, he would naturally have put the officers of +justice on their track and, as he must have been in communication +with them, and well acquainted with their ways and haunts, he could +have given information which would have led to their early arrest. +He could well have done this, for the crown would have made no +difficulty, whatever, in promising a lad like this a free pardon, +on condition of his turning evidence against these burglars; whose +mode of procedure shows them to have been old hands, and who are, +no doubt, the same who have committed the various robberies which +have lately taken place in this part of the country.</p> +<p>"The prisoner is the son of highly respectable parents. His +employer will come before you, and give you evidence of the +extremely high character he bears. Mr. Shrewsbury will tell you +that he has, for the last four years, devoted no inconsiderable +portion of his leisure time to improve his education, and enable +him to recover the position occupied by his father, who was a +much-respected miller in this neighbourhood. I shall leave the case +in your hands, gentlemen, with an absolute confidence that you +will, without a moment's hesitation, find a verdict proclaiming the +innocence of my client; and enable him to leave the dock, without a +stain upon his character."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch5" id="Ch5">Chapter 5</a>: Not Guilty!</h2> +<p>The schoolmaster was the first witness called for the defence. +After stating that, although no evening was actually settled for +his coming over, he expected the prisoner one evening that week; +and that he had promised to bring his tools over, to do a little +job of carpentering; he also detailed his visit to the lane, and +the result of his observation there; and then gave Reuben the +highest character, saying that he had known him for five years, and +that he had an absolute confidence in his integrity and +honesty.</p> +<p>"He has from the first," he said, "proved a most intelligent and +hard-working boy, anxious to improve himself and to get on in the +world. He has learnt all that I could teach him, and more. He is +one of the last persons in the world whom I should consider capable +of the crime with which he is charged. As to his having any +animosity to Mr. Ellison, I can swear that, on many different +occasions, he has expressed his high opinion of him; and has +declared that it was quite natural that, with the evidence before +him, he should have thought him guilty of poisoning the dog."</p> +<p>The keeper of the wayside public house, where he had +breakfasted, proved that he was struck with the prisoner's +appearance when he entered; that he was very pale, and seemed +scarcely able to walk. He had asked him the nearest way to Lewes, +and had inquired whether there was any chance of getting a lift; as +he was anxious to get back, as soon as possible.</p> +<p>Mr. Penfold was the next witness. He said that the prisoner had +been apprenticed to him, four years previously; that his general +conduct had been most excellent, and that he was remarkably quick +and intelligent, and was an excellent workman. During the time that +he had been employed, he had never lost a day.</p> +<p>"At the time he was apprenticed to you, Mr. Penfold," Reuben's +counsel asked, "were you aware that the lad had been summarily +discharged by Mr. Ellison?"</p> +<p>"I was aware of that fact," Mr. Penfold answered; and Reuben, +with surprise, looked at his employer.</p> +<p>"From whom did you hear of it?"</p> +<p>"I heard of it from Mr. Ellison himself, who called upon me +about the matter."</p> +<p>"How was it he came to call upon you, Mr. Penfold?"</p> +<p>"The prisoner's mother had applied to me about apprenticing her +son. I had asked 50 pounds premium, and said that it wasn't my +custom to pay any wages for the first year. She said she could only +afford 20 pounds, and I thought that was an end of the matter until, a +few days later, Mr. Ellison called upon me, and said that he had +heard from the schoolmaster in his village, who was a friend of the +boy's mother, how matters stood; and that her application had +fallen through, owing to her being unable to find more than 20 +pounds.</p> +<p>"I said that this was so. Mr. Ellison then said that he was +prepared to make up the deficiency, that he had a regard for the +boy's father; and that, moreover, he himself had, through a hasty +misconception regarding the poisoning of the dog, discharged the +lad from his service; and that he felt uneasy, in his mind, at +having been guilty of a piece of injustice. Over and above the 30 +pounds, he gave me six pound ten; in order that I might pay the boy +half a crown a week, for the first year, which he said would be a +matter of consequence to his mother. He requested me on no account +to let Mrs. Whitney know that he had intervened in the matter, but +to represent that I changed my mind, and was willing to take the 20 +pounds she offered as a premium. He was particularly anxious on +this point; because, he said, she would certainly refuse to accept +assistance from him, owing to that unfortunate affair about the +dog.</p> +<p>"I may say that, from that time to this, I have not mentioned +the fact to anyone; and the sum of 20 pounds was inserted in the +indenture of apprenticeship."</p> +<p>There was a little movement of applause in the court, as Mr. +Penfold gave his evidence; and Reuben looked gratefully towards Mr. +Ellison, and said heartily:</p> +<p>"I thank you, sir, with all my heart."</p> +<p>The foreman of the yard was next examined. He confirmed the high +character Mr. Penfold had given Reuben, and adding that he knew the +lad never entered a public house, but spent his evenings almost +entirely at home studying; for that he himself had, many times, +called in and had, upon every occasion, found him so employed.</p> +<p>The counsel for the prosecution then addressed the jury, and +threw discredit upon Reuben's narrative; which, he said, was +unsupported in any material particular. That he met the rest of the +party in the lane was likely enough. He may have returned there +with them after the burglary, and probably it was there that, in a +quarrel over the spoil, he received the blow of which you have +heard.</p> +<p>"My learned friend has told you to dismiss from your mind the +question about that poisoning of the dog, four years ago; but it is +impossible for you to do so. You have heard that the dog was +poisoned, and that the evidence was so strong that his employer at +once dismissed him. It is true that Mr. Ellison has told you that +he afterwards changed his mind on the subject; but after the +evidence which Mr. Penfold has given, of the kindness of that +gentleman's heart, you will readily understand that no great stress +can be laid upon this. The matter, so far from being trivial, as my +friend represents it, is highly important; inasmuch as here we find +that, again, the dogs have been poisoned just as on the first +occasion. It is clear that burglars from London would be ignorant +of the whereabouts of the kennels, and were not likely to have come +down provided with a store of poisoned meat; had they not known, +from persons well acquainted with the place, of the steps that +would have to be taken before an entry could be effected into the +house. You will therefore see the extreme importance of this +point.</p> +<p>"I am perfectly ready to admit that the evidence is of a wholly +circumstantial nature but, from the nature of the case, it is +necessary that this should be so. Had Mrs. or Mr. Ellison awoke, +when the thieves entered their room, it is probable that much more +evidence would be forthcoming. It is, however, for you to weigh the +probabilities of the case. You have to consider whether the theory +which I have laid before you, as to the connection of the prisoner +with this affair, or this wild story which he tells you, is the +most probable."</p> +<p>The judge then summed up, with a strong bias against Reuben. He +told them that evidence for character was, of course, of +importance; but that it must not be relied upon too far. The +prisoner appeared undoubtedly to be intelligent and well-conducted, +but unfortunately his experience told him that many criminals were +men of unusual intelligence. Stress had been laid, by the counsel +for the defence, upon the fact that the prisoner was not known, at +any time, to have consorted with suspicious characters; but this, +after all, was only negative evidence. Affairs of this sort were +always conducted with secrecy and, had one of these men come down +from London, as was probable enough, to make inquiries as to houses +which could be broken into with a prospect of good booty, he would +naturally not make himself conspicuous.</p> +<p>They had heard the two stories, and must judge for themselves; +but he agreed, with the counsel for the prosecution, that the fact +that the prisoner had been discharged by Mr. Ellison for poisoning +a dog, and that on the night of the robbery other dogs were found +poisoned, and that probably by some one acquainted with the +locality, could not but have an influence upon their minds. At the +same time he would tell them that, if they had a doubt in their +minds, it was their duty to give the prisoner the benefit of that +doubt.</p> +<p>The jury consulted together for a minute or two in the jury box, +and then expressed their desire to retire. A buzz of talk arose in +the court, when they had left. Opinion was divided as to what the +verdict would be. When the counsel for the defence sat down, the +general opinion was that the prisoner would be certainly acquitted; +but the speech of the counsel for the prosecution, and the summing +up of the judge, had caused a reaction, and few doubted now that +the verdict would be guilty.</p> +<p>So Reuben himself thought. It was he felt hard that, standing +there to be tried for burglary, the decision should, in fact, +depend upon that unjust charge which had, four years ago, been +brought against him. Reuben was in the habit of what he called +arguing things out by himself; and as he stood there, waiting for +the verdict, he tried to put himself in the position of the jury; +and he felt that, in that case, he should have difficulty in coming +to a decision.</p> +<p>It was not until after the lamps had been lighted that the jury +returned into the box. The crier shouted for order, and there was +not a sound heard, as the foreman told the judge that they were not +agreed upon their verdict.</p> +<p>"Then you must go back, gentlemen, until you are," the judge +said.</p> +<p>"We are eleven one way, and one the other. Won't that do, my +lord?"</p> +<p>"No, sir," the judge replied. "You must be unanimous."</p> +<p>The jury again retired, the judge and counsel went off to dine +at the hotel, and almost all the public trooped out. Two hours +later, as the jury did not return, Reuben Whitney was taken back to +the jail, and the court closed. At nine o'clock in the morning, a +warder entered.</p> +<p>"The jury have come back into the court," he said. "They are +going to return a verdict."</p> +<p>Reuben was again placed in the dock. The seats open to the +public quickly filled, as the news spread through the town. Several +of the members of the bar dropped in, and then the judge came in +and took his seat.</p> +<p>Reuben had occupied the time in trying to judge, from the faces +of the jury, what their verdict was going to be. They looked sulky +and tired. But as Reuben's eye rested on Jacob Priestley, whom he +had at once recognized among the jury, the smith gave him an +encouraging wink. At least, so Reuben thought; but as the next +moment he was looking as surly as the rest, he thought that he must +have been mistaken.</p> +<p>"Are you agreed, gentlemen, as to the verdict you find in this +case?" the judge asked.</p> +<p>"We are, my lord," the foreman replied.</p> +<p>"Do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?"</p> +<p>"Not guilty, my lord."</p> +<p>"Very well, gentlemen," the judge said tartly. "It is your +verdict, not mine."</p> +<p>At the foreman's word a thrill had run through the court; for +when it was known, the evening before, that eleven were one way and +one the other, the belief had been general that the majority were +for a conviction. Reuben himself had so understood it, and the +verdict was a complete surprise to him.</p> +<a id="PicA" name="PicA"></a> +<center><img src="images/a.jpg" alt= +"Reuben Whitney Acquitted of the Charge of Burglary" +/></center> +<p>The constable raised the bar for him to leave the dock, and as +he moved out his friend the schoolmaster pushed forward, and shook +him warmly by the hand.</p> +<p>"Thank God for that verdict, Reuben. I am indeed rejoiced, and I +own I hardly expected it."</p> +<p>"I didn't expect it at all," Reuben said in a choked voice, for +his sudden liberation had shaken him, more than his arrest or any +of the subsequent proceedings had done.</p> +<p>"I congratulate you heartily, Reuben," Mr. Ellison said, putting +his hand on his shoulder.</p> +<p>The squire had waited at Lewes until ten o'clock on the previous +evening, and had driven over again the first thing in the morning, +so anxious was he about the verdict.</p> +<p>"I didn't believe you guilty this time, my boy, from the first. +I was glad indeed to hear the verdict; for after the judge's +summing up, I was sorely uneasy.</p> +<p>"And now, Reuben, I hope," he said, as they entered the street, +"that you have quite forgiven me for that old business. It has been +the unfortunate cause of getting you into this affair. Had it not +been for that no one would ever, for a moment, have doubted the +truth of your story."</p> +<p>"There is nothing to forgive, squire," Reuben said. "I never +blamed you for it, from the first; and even had I done so, your +goodness, of which I only heard yesterday, would have made up, many +times, for any mistake you may have made then."</p> +<p>"That is right, my lad," the squire said. "I am glad that matter +is made up. And now I will not keep you, for I know you will want +to be off home to your mother."</p> +<p>Reuben walked quietly home, so as to give the schoolmaster, who +had hurried on ahead, time to break the news of his acquittal to +his mother. Mrs. Whitney had remained in court during the trial, +but had retired when the jury left to consider their verdict, being +completely overcome with agitation and excitement. The schoolmaster +had slept in the house, and had persuaded her not to go to the +court in the morning; fearing as he did that the verdict would be a +hostile one. She completely broke down when she was told the news, +and was still sobbing when Reuben arrived.</p> +<p>The schoolmaster at once took his leave, leaving mother and son +together; and promised them to return in a day or two. When he +again came over, he saw at once that Mrs. Whitney was looking +depressed and unhappy.</p> +<p>"What do you think, Mr. Shrewsbury? Reuben says that he shall go +abroad, out to Australia. I have talked against it till I am +hoarse, but it's no good. I hope you will persuade him to give up +such a mad idea."</p> +<p>"I will hear what he has to say first, Mrs. Whitney. Reuben has +generally a good deal to say for his side of a question, and I must +hear his reasons before I can argue against them.</p> +<p>"Now, Reuben, what have you to say for yourself?"</p> +<p>"I made up my mind while I was in jail," Reuben replied, "that +if I was acquitted, I would go right away. These things stick to a +man all through his life. That first affair, four years ago, nearly +got me transported now; and if a small matter like that did me such +harm, what will this do? If I had been proved to be innocent, it +would have been different; but as it is, I believe nine people out +of ten in court thought I was guilty; and I am convinced that the +jury were eleven to one against me, only the twelfth was more +obstinate than they were, and so they gave in. I believe it was +Jacob Priestley the blacksmith who held out, for the sake of old +times.</p> +<p>"At any rate, a great many people will think me guilty, all +their lives, unless something turns up to prove my innocence. +Mother says we might settle somewhere else, where we ain't known; +but I should never feel safe. Years on, someone from Lewes might +see me and tell the story; or Tom Thorne might keep on my track. I +won't risk it.</p> +<p>"I have been to Mr. Penfold, and he says if I am determined to +go, he will cancel my indenture for me. I have no doubt I shall +find work of some sort, out there. I am a pretty good workman now +at my own craft and, if I can't get work at that, I can turn my +hand to something else.</p> +<p>"My only trouble is about mother. I want her to go with me. I +could make a living for her out there, but she won't have it. She +says six months at sea will kill her, and then she has all sorts of +ideas in her head about the natives. However I hope that, in two or +three years' time, I shall be able to write and tell her that I +have comfortably settled, and have a good home ready for her to +come to; and that then she will join me."</p> +<p>"Never," Mrs. Whitney said, excitedly. "I was born at Lewes, and +I have lived near it all my days, and I will die here. I am not +going to tramp all over the world, and settle down among black +people, in outlandish parts. I could not do it, Mr. Shrewsbury. +It's cruel of him to ask me."</p> +<p>The schoolmaster was silent for a minute. He saw that Reuben's +mind was firmly made up, and he could not deny the force of his +reasoning. It was true that many people still considered him +guilty. It was true that this story might crop up again, years on, +and ruin his life. It did seem that the best thing he could do was +to leave the country.</p> +<p>"Australia is not so bad a place as you fancy, Mrs. Whitney," he +said at last. "They do have troubles with the natives, certainly, +in the outlying settlements; but in the towns you have no more +trouble than you have here. Besides, every year the white +population is increasing, and the black diminishing. Six months' +voyage is not so dreadful as it seems. And though I do think that, +if Reuben goes out, it will be better for you to remain quietly +here till he has a home prepared for you; I think that, when the +time comes, you will change your mind about it.</p> +<p>"As to Reuben himself, I must own there's a good deal of force +in what he says; and that until those Thornes have been sent out of +the country, his story might follow him. And I have no doubt he +would do well out there. He is a good workman for his age and, as +he says, can turn his hand to almost anything. Labour is scarce out +there and, as he has got his head screwed on the right way, I have +no doubt that he will fall on his feet."</p> +<p>"I didn't expect this of you, Mr. Shrewsbury," Mrs. Whitney +said, beginning to cry. "I thought you would have taken my part, +and now you are going right against me."</p> +<p>"Not against you, Mrs. Whitney, for I think that Reuben's plan +is best for you both. He cannot but suffer, if he remains here; and +you will be unhappy in seeing him suffer. Great as the loss would +be to you, I believe that you would be happier here, alone, than +you would be were you to see him in constant trouble and worry. At +any rate you would have the option, if you found life intolerably +dull here, of joining him out there at any time.</p> +<p>"But how do you intend to get out, Reuben?" he asked, seeing +that Mrs. Whitney made no answer, but again relapsed into +tears.</p> +<p>"I shall work my way out," Reuben replied. "I can do any rough +work as a smith or a carpenter, and I should think I ought to get +my passage for my work. Anyhow, I have got twelve pounds saved up; +and if I can't get out free, that and my work ought to take +me."</p> +<p>In a short time Mrs. Whitney, finding that Reuben was not to be +shaken in his determination, ceased to oppose it; and began to busy +herself in preparations for his departure, which he had arranged to +take place as soon as possible.</p> +<p>A day or two before starting, he walked over to say goodbye to +Mrs. Shrewsbury. He stopped as he passed the smithy and, seeing +Jacob Priestley at work alone, he went in.</p> +<p>"Ah, Reuben, is it you?" the smith said. "Better here than in +the dock at Lewes, eh? I hears a talk of your going to foreign +parts."</p> +<p>"Yes, I am off," Reuben said, "and I have just come over to say +goodbye to Mrs. Shrewsbury; so I looked in as I passed, knowing as +you were one of those who found me not guilty, and would perhaps +give me a shake of the hand, before leaving."</p> +<p>"That will I, lad. Yes, I found you not guilty; and I jest +tipped you a wink, from the box, to let you know as it were all +right; but my eye! what a game we had had of it. Never had such a +game, in all my born days."</p> +<p>And the blacksmith sat down on a stool, to indulge in a great +fit of laughing.</p> +<p>"What was the game?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"Well, you know, Stokes he was the foreman, and a Cockney sort +of chap he be. He turns round in the box and, says he:</p> +<p>"'In course you are all agreed.'</p> +<p>"'Agreed as how?' says I.</p> +<p>"'Why, agreed as he's guilty, in course,' says he.</p> +<p>"'Nothing of the sort,' says I. 'I believes he's as innocent as +a child unborn.'</p> +<p>"Then they all comes round me and jaws; but seeing as I wasn't +going to give in, Stokes he asked the judge for leave to +retire.</p> +<p>"Well, when we retires they all pitches into me, and says as +it's monstrous one man should hold out agin eleven; and that, even +if I didn't feel sure myself, I ought to go as the others went. So +I didn't say much, but I sits myself down and brings out a big +chunk of bread and bacon, as my good woman had put into my pocket, +and I begins to eat.</p> +<p>"'Look you here,' says I, 'I ha' got four parcels like this. +Today be Friday, and I can hold on easy till Tuesday. That's how I +looks at it. This young chap ain't had nothing to do with this 'ere +robbery, and I ain't going to see he transported for what he never +done.'</p> +<p>"Well, there we sits. Sometimes they would all talk at once, +sometimes two or three of them would give it me. Ten o'clock comes +and they got desperate like, for only one or two of them had put +anything into their pockets, thinking that the matter was sure to +be finished that night. When the messages were sent out again, as +we couldn't agree, I sits down in a corner and, says I:</p> +<p>"'I ain't a selfish man, and any of you as changes your mind can +have a share of what I have got.'</p> +<p>"I dozes off, but I hears them jawing away among themselves. It +might have been two o'clock when one of them comes to me and gives +me a shake and, says he:</p> +<p>"'Give us a cut of that bread and bacon. I am well-nigh starved. +I have got a wife and children to think of, and it don't matter to +me whether this chap goes to Botany Bay, or whether he don't. It +didn't seem to me a certain case, all along, so I will go along +with you.'</p> +<p>"Gradually two or three more comes, and when it got light I +could see as some more was hesitating so, says I:</p> +<p>"'Lookee here, my friends. Those who has agreed to give this +young chap another chance has lessened my stock of bread and bacon +pretty considerable, and I ain't got more than enough for one more, +so who's the next?'</p> +<p>"Four more spoke out at once. I divides the bread and bacon +among them; then, as there was nine of us agin three, we goes at +them and tells them how wrong it is as we was all to suffer from +their obstinacy, and we works on their feelings about their wives +and children; and then, says I:</p> +<p>"'I call it downright ridiculous, when there's a hot breakfast +on twelve tables waiting for us, as three men should keep the rest +from tucking in, just acause they won't give an innocent lad the +benefit of the doubt.'</p> +<p>"Well, that finished them. The thought of the hot breakfast made +the other chaps so ravenous as I believe they would have pitched +into Stokes and the other two, if they hadn't have given in. So +they comes round, and we sends out to say that we had agreed on the +vardict. It were the best game I ever seed in my life."</p> +<p>"Well, Jacob, I am sure I am heartily grateful to you, and I +shall not forget your kindness; though what made you so sure of my +innocence, while all the others doubted it, I don't know."</p> +<p>"Lor', Reuben!" the smith said, "There ain't nothing to thank me +about. I didn't know nowght as to whether you was innocent or +guilty; and it was a good job for me as I had made up my mind about +that there vardict, afore I went into court; for I should never +have made head or tail of all that talk, and the fellows with white +hair on the top of their heads as kept bobbing up and down, and +asking all sorts of questions, was enough to turn an honest man's +head. The question was settled when Miss Kate Ellison—that's the +little un, you know—came in here. Says she:</p> +<p>"'Jacob, you are on this jury, I hear.'</p> +<p>"'Yes, miss,' says I.</p> +<p>"'Well, I hope you are going to find Reuben Whitney innocent,' +says she.</p> +<p>"'I don't know nothing about it,' says I. 'Folks seem to think +as he did it.'</p> +<p>"Then she went at me, and told me that she was sure you was +innocent; and the squire he was sure, and he would be moighty put +out if you was found guilty. So I told her natural that, the +squire's being a good landlord, I wouldn't disoblige him on no +account; and she might look upon it as good as settled that you +should be found innocent. So she tells me not to say a word to +anyone, and I ain't, not even to the ould woman; but in course, I +don't consider as she meant you."</p> +<p>Reuben could not help laughing as he learned that he had been +acquitted, not from any belief in his innocence on the part of the +jury, but by the intervention on his behalf of the girl who had, +before, fought his battles. Shaking hands with Jacob, he went on to +the schoolmaster's.</p> +<p>As he was sitting there chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Shrewsbury, +he saw Kate Ellison come out of her father's gate along the road +with her basket, as usual. Catching up his hat, he ran out and +stood bareheaded, awaiting her.</p> +<p>"Ah, Reuben!" she said, with a smile and a nod, "I am glad to +see you before you go; for Mr. Shrewsbury told me, yesterday, you +were going to leave Lewes and emigrate. I am glad,"—and she +hesitated a little—"very glad that they found you innocent. I was +quite sure you would not do such a thing."</p> +<p>"I am glad I came over today, Miss Ellison," Reuben said +quietly. "Very glad that I have met you; for I have just learned, +from Jacob Priestley, that it is to you I am indebted that I am +not, in the present moment, a prisoner in jail, under sentence of +transportation."</p> +<p>The girl flushed up hotly.</p> +<p>"Jacob Priestley is very wrong to have spoken about it. I told +him he was never to mention it."</p> +<p>"I hope you will not blame him, Miss Ellison. He told me he had +never spoken a word to anyone else, but he thought you did not mean +it to apply to me. I am very glad he has spoken; for I shall carry +away with me, across the sea, a deep gratitude, which will last as +long as I live, for the kindness you have shown me; not only now, +but always—kindness which has saved me from a terrible punishment, +for an offence of which I was innocent.</p> +<p>"May God bless you, Miss Ellison, and render your life a happy +one."</p> +<p>"Goodbye, Reuben," the girl said, gently. "I hope you may do +well, in the new land you are going to."</p> +<p>So saying, she went on her errand. Reuben stood watching her, +until she entered one of the cottages. Then, putting on his cap, he +returned to the schoolmaster's.</p> +<p>A week later Reuben was wandering along the side of the London +Docks, looking at the vessels lying there, and somewhat confused at +the noise and bustle of loading and unloading that was going on. He +had come up the night before by the carrier's waggon, and had slept +at the inn where it stopped. His parting with his mother had been a +very sad one, but Mrs. Whitney had so far come round as to own that +she thought that his plan was perhaps the best; although she still +maintained that she should never venture, herself, upon so distant +a journey. He had promised that, should she not change her mind on +this point, he would, whether successful or not, come home to see +her.</p> +<p>The squire had driven over, the day before he left, to say +goodbye to him. He had, through Mr. Shrewsbury, directly he heard +that he was going, offered to help towards paying his passage +money; but this offer Reuben had gratefully, though firmly, +declined to accept.</p> +<p>"Well, Reuben, I wish you every good luck on your adventure," he +said. "The place you are going to will be a great country, one of +these days; and you are just the fellow to make your way in it. I +am sorry you wouldn't let me help you; because I am in a way, you +know, at the bottom of this business which has driven you from +home."</p> +<p>"Thank you, squire, for your kind intention," Reuben answered; +"but I am so much in your debt, now, that I would rather not go +further into it. I am old enough now to make my own way in life. My +only regret in the matter is that I cannot persuade my mother to go +with me."</p> +<p>"I think she is right, Reuben," the squire replied. "You can +transplant a young tree, easily enough; but you can't an old one. +Somehow they won't take root in new soil.</p> +<p>"Well, lad, I wish you every success. I suppose I shall hear +through Shrewsbury, from time to time, how you are going on."</p> +<p>As Reuben walked along the dock, he stopped to read the notices +of their destination, affixed to the shrouds of most of the +vessels. He had already gone on board three or four, which were +loading for Australia, but in none was there a vacancy for a +carpenter. He stopped before a fine-looking barque, to which no +notice was attached.</p> +<p>"Where is she going to?" he asked a sailor, who was passing +along the gangway to the shore.</p> +<p>"She's bound for Sydney," the sailor said. "She warps out of +dock tonight, and takes on board a cargo of prisoners in the +Medway."</p> +<p>"Do you mean men sentenced for transportation?" Reuben +asked.</p> +<p>"Yes," the man said, "and I wish she had any other sort of +cargo. I have been out with such a load before, and I would as soon +go with a cargo of wild beasts."</p> +<p>Reuben felt a sudden chill, as he thought how narrow had been +his escape of forming one of a similar party. However, he stepped +on board, and went up to the mate, who was superintending the +cargo.</p> +<p>"Do you want a carpenter for the voyage out?"</p> +<p>"A carpenter!" the mate repeated. "Well yes, we do want a +carpenter. The man who was to have gone has been taken ill. But you +are too young for the berth. Why, you don't look more than +eighteen; besides, you don't look like a carpenter."</p> +<p>"I am a mill wright," Reuben said, "and am capable of doing any +ordinary jobs, either in carpentering or smith work. I have +testimonials here from my late employers."</p> +<p>"Well, you can see the captain, if you like," the mate said. +"You will find him at Mr. Thompson's office, in Tower Street, +Number 51."</p> +<p>Reuben at once made his way to the office. The captain refused, +at first, to entertain the application on the ground of his youth; +but ship's carpenters were scarce, the time was short, and there +was a difficulty in obtaining men for convict ships. Therefore, +after reading the very warm testimonial as to character and ability +which Mr. Penfold had given Reuben, he agreed to take him, on the +terms of his working his passage.</p> +<p>Reuben went back at once, to the inn where he had stopped, and +had his chest taken down to the docks; and went on board the +Paramatta which, at high water, warped out of dock into the +stream.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch6" id="Ch6">Chapter 6</a>: On The Voyage.</h2> +<p>The next day the Paramatta weighed anchor and proceeded down the +river. Reuben had no time to look at the passing ships, for he was +fully occupied with the many odd jobs which are sure to present +themselves, when a ship gets under weigh. The wind was favourable, +and the Paramatta ran down to the mouth of the Medway before the +tide had ceased to ebb. She anchored for three hours, and then made +her way up to Chatham, where she brought up close to the government +yard.</p> +<p>It was not till late in the evening that Reuben had finished his +work, and was at liberty to look round, and to take an interest in +what was going on on deck.</p> +<p>"This is your first voyage, my lad, I reckon," an old sailor, +who was standing leaning against the bulwark, smoking his pipe, +remarked.</p> +<p>"Yes," Reuben said cheerfully, "this is my first voyage. I have +shipped as carpenter, you know, to work my way out to Sydney."</p> +<p>"You could not have chosen a better ship than this 'ere barkee," +the sailor said; "though I wish she hadn't got them convicts on +board. She will sail all the faster, 'cause, you see, instead of +being choked up with cargo, the deck below there has been set aside +for them. That will make easy sailing and quick sailing; but I +don't like them, for all that. They are a lot of trouble, and they +has to be watched, night and day. There's never no saying what they +might be up to; there's mostly trouble on board, with them. Then +one can't help being sorry for the poor chaps, though they does +look such a villainous bad lot. They are treated mostly like dogs, +and I have been on board ships where the rations was not what a +decent dog would look at."</p> +<p>"But I thought there was regular food, according to a scale," +Reuben said.</p> +<p>"Ay, there's that," the sailor replied, "and the government +officers see that the quantity's right; but, Lor' bless you! They +don't trouble as to quality, and some of the owners buys up +condemned stores, and such like; anything, thinks they, is good +enough for a convict ship—biscuits as is dropping to pieces, salt +junk as 'as been twenty years in cask, and which was mostly horse +to begin with. No wonder as they grumbles and growls. A convict is +a man, you see, though he be a convict; and it ain't in human +nature to eat such muck as that, without growling."</p> +<p>"What tonnage is the vessel?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"'Leven hundred and fifty ton, and as fine and roomy a ship as +there is in the trade, and well officered. I have made three +v'yages with the captain and first mate, and the second mate was +with us on the last v'yage."</p> +<p>"How many hands are there, altogether?"</p> +<p>"Twenty-five, counting you as one, and not a-counting the two +stewards."</p> +<p>"We are going to take some passengers, I see," Reuben said. "I +have been at work, putting up pegs and shelves for them."</p> +<p>"Yes, there's eight or ten passengers, I hears," the sailor +said. "Passengers don't mostly like going by convict ships, but +then the fares are lower than by other vessels, and that tempts a +few. Besides, the Paramatta is known to be a fast ship, and the +skipper has a good name; so we shall have a better class of +passengers, I expect, than usually voyages with convict ships; and +besides the passengers there will be the officer of the convict +guard, and a surgeon, so we shall be pretty full aft."</p> +<p>"And what will my duties be, when we are at sea?"</p> +<p>"It just depends on the captain," the sailor said. "You will be +put in a watch, and work with the others, except that they may not +send you aloft. That depends on the terms that you shipped."</p> +<p>"I shipped as carpenter, and to make myself generally useful, +and to obey orders. I shall be happy to do anything I can; hard +work is better than doing nothing, any day."</p> +<p>"That's the sort, my lad," the sailor said heartily. "Now I am +sail maker, but, bless your heart! Except putting a patch on a +sail, now and then, there's nothing to do that way; and when not so +wanted I am one of the ordinary crew. Still, if you works your +passage, it ain't to be expected as they will drive you the same as +a man as is paid. He's a fair man, is the skipper; and you won't +find yourself put upon, on board the Paramatta."</p> +<p>"Can't I go up aloft now?" Reuben asked. "I would rather +accustom myself to it while we are lying steady, than go up when +the wind's blowing, and she is heeling over."</p> +<p>"Go up! To be sure you can, and I will go up with you, and tell +you some of the names of the ropes, and put you up to things. +There's a pleasure in helping a lad who seems in any way teachable. +Some of they boys as comes on board a ship ain't worth their salt, +in these days."</p> +<p>The sailor led the way up the shrouds. Reuben found it much more +difficult than it looked. He had seen the sailors running up and +down, and it looked as easy as mounting a ladder; but the slackness +of the ratlines—which, as the sailor told him, was the name of the +pieces of rope which answered to the rounds of a ladder—made it at +first awkward. When they reached the main top the sailor told him +to sit down, and look round quietly, till he became accustomed to +the height.</p> +<p>"It looks unnatural and risky, at first," he said; "but when you +get accustomed to it, you will feel just as safe, when you are +astraddle the end of a yard, and the ship rolling fit to take her +masts out, as if you were standing on the deck."</p> +<p>As Reuben had heard the sailors laughing and joking aloft, as +they hauled out the earrings of the sails, he had no doubt that +what the sailor said was true; but it seemed, to him, that he +should never accustom himself to sit at the end of a spar, with +nothing but the water at a vast depth below. It would be bad, even +with the ship lying quiet, as at present. It would be terrible with +the vessel in a heavy sea.</p> +<p>The sailor now told him the names of the masts and stays, giving +him a general idea of the work aloft, and presently asked him +whether he would like to return to the deck now, or to mount a bit +higher. Although Reuben was now becoming accustomed to the +position, he would, had he consulted his inner feelings, have +rather gone down than up; but he thought it was better to put a +good face on it, and to accustom himself, at once, to what he would +probably have to do sooner or later.</p> +<p>Holding on tight then, and following the instructions of his +companion, he made his way up until he was seated on the cap of the +top-gallant mast, holding tight to the spar, which towered still +higher above him. He was surprised at the size and strength of the +spars, which had looked so light and slender, from below.</p> +<p>"Very well done, lad," the sailor said approvingly. "You would +make a good sailor, in time, if you took to a seafaring life. +There's not one in ten as would get up there, the first time of +going aloft. You don't feel giddy, do you?"</p> +<p>"No," Reuben replied, "I don't think I feel giddy, but I feel a +strange shaky feeling in my legs."</p> +<p>"That will soon pass off," the sailor said. "You look at them +hills behind the town, and the forts and works up there. Don't +think about the deck of the vessel, or anything, but just as if you +were sitting in a chair, watching the hills."</p> +<p>Reuben did as the sailor instructed him and, as he did so, the +feeling of which he was before conscious passed completely +away.</p> +<p>"I feel all right now," he said, after sitting quietly for a few +minutes.</p> +<p>"All right, then; down we go. Don't look below, but just keep +your eyes in front of you, and never leave go of one grip till you +make sure of the next."</p> +<p>Five minutes later he stood on the deck.</p> +<p>"Well done, my lad, for the first time," the first mate said, as +Reuben put his foot on the deck "I have had my eye on you. I +shouldn't have let you go beyond the top, at the first trial; but I +didn't think you would go higher, till you were fairly up, +otherwise I should have hailed you from the deck.</p> +<p>"You ought not to have taken him up above the top, Bill. If he +had lost his head, it would have been all up with him."</p> +<p>"I could see he wasn't going to lose his head. Trust me for not +leading a young hand into danger. He was a little flustrated, when +he got into the top; but after he had sat down a bit, his breath +come quiet and regular again, and I could see there was no chance +of his nerve going."</p> +<p>The next morning, soon after daybreak, the dockyard boats began +to row alongside, with grey-coated convicts. Reuben watched them as +they came on board, with a sort of fascination with their closely +cut hair, bullet heads, and evil faces. Although he had no doubt +that the repulsive expression was due partly to the close-cut hair +and shaved faces, and their hideous garb, he could scarcely repress +a shudder as he looked at them. In some faces an expression of +brutal ferocity was dominant. Others had a shifty, cunning look, no +less repulsive.</p> +<p>There were a few good-humoured faces, one or two so different +from the others, that Reuben wondered whether they were innocent +victims of circumstances, as he had so nearly been. Not till now +did he quite realize how great his escape had been. The thought +that he might have had to spend the rest of his life herding with +such men as these, made him feel almost sick; and he thanked God +more fervently, even, than he had done when the verdict was +returned which restored him to his liberty, that he had been saved +from such a fate.</p> +<p>A hundred and eighty convicts came on board. They were in charge +of ten warders, with loaded muskets, and an hour later a party of +twenty marines, under the charge of an officer, also embarked. They +were on their way out to join a ship in Australian waters, and were +to aid the warders in keeping the convicts in good order.</p> +<p>The wind being favourable, no time was lost after the marines +had come on board. The moorings were cast off and sails hoisted, +and the Paramatta made her way against the tide to the mouth of the +Medway; and there dropped her anchor to wait until the tide began +to ebb, for the wind was so light that little would have been +gained by an attempt to proceed at once. Sail was made again as +soon as tide turned and, on turning out next morning at daylight, +for he had not yet been assigned to a watch, Reuben found that the +ship was lying at anchor in the Downs.</p> +<p>Two or three hours passed.</p> +<p>"What are we doing here, Bill?"</p> +<p>"We are waiting for the passengers. They are all coming on board +here. I expect that big lugger you see, running out direct for us, +'as got them on board."</p> +<p>"I wonder they didn't come on board when we started," Reuben +said. "I should think it would have been pleasanter than coming all +the way down to Dover by coach."</p> +<p>"So I should think, my lad; but you see, it ain't every time as +a ship has the luck we've had. It's a long job coming down to the +Downs, if the wind don't serve. We might have been beating about +there, at the mouth of the Thames, for a week. So you see, most of +these 'longshore chaps like to send their traps on board while the +vessel's in the docks, and then to come down here and stop till she +comes round."</p> +<p>In a few minutes the lugger was alongside, the gangway was +lowered, and the passengers began to come on board. They were, as +the sailor had said they would be, some ten in number. There were +six men, four ladies, and three children, the latter not counting +as regular passengers, as they were stowed away in their parents' +cabins.</p> +<p>The convicts who were on deck looked over the bulwarks, and +cracked coarse jokes among themselves, as the passengers ascended +the gangway. Reuben found that only one-third of the number were +allowed on deck at once. Two soldiers paced up and down the deck, +on guard of the hatchway leading below, and two sentries were +posted at other points.</p> +<p>A number of small boxes, bags, coats and cloaks were handed up, +and then the rope was cast off, and the lugger made her way back to +Dover, and the Paramatta again got under sail. While they had been +waiting, the chief mate had told Reuben that, according to the +captain's orders, he would henceforth be in his watch.</p> +<p>"As you are not regularly shipped as a sailor," the mate said, +"the captain does not wish you to go aloft, unless by your own +desire; but there will be plenty of work for you to do on deck, +hauling at the braces, scrubbing, and so on."</p> +<p>"I should be glad to do my work with the rest," Reuben said, "as +soon as I feel I can be useful aloft. I was up two or three times +yesterday, and hope in a few days to be quite accustomed to +it."</p> +<p>"I have noticed you, my lad, and you could not be in better +hands than Bill's. He is a capital sailor, and as he has taken to +you, and you are willing to learn, you will be a useful hand before +we get to Sydney; and even if you never go to sea again, all your +life, you will find that you have learned a great deal that is +useful on board the Paramatta."</p> +<p>The fine weather, which the Paramatta had experienced so far, +speedily left her. The sky grew overcast, and the wind freshened +fast, and the next morning the ship was staggering, under +close-reefed canvas, in the teeth of the southwesterly gale.</p> +<p>For the next three days Reuben made no advance in seamanship, +being prostrated with seasickness. At times he crept out from the +forecastle, and tried to lend a hand whenever he saw a party of men +hauling at a rope; but the motion of the ship was so great that he +could scarce keep his feet on the slippery decks, and at last the +mate ordered him to go back to the forecastle, and remain there +until he recovered somewhat from his sickness.</p> +<p>"I see you are no skulker, my lad; but you will do no good on +deck here, and are not unlikely to get a heavy fall, and perhaps a +nasty hurt, so you had best lie off till you get over your +sickness."</p> +<p>Reuben was already drenched to the skin by the spray, and felt +so weak that he was not sorry to avail himself of the mate's +orders, and to turn in again to his bunk in the forecastle.</p> +<p>On the morning of the fourth day he felt himself again, and +turned out. The gale had almost blown itself out, but the sea was +very heavy. The fresh air was delightful to Reuben, after the +confinement in the forecastle; and as his watch was on deck, he at +once went up to Bill and asked him what he could do.</p> +<p>"Glad to see you about agin, Reuben," the sailor said. "You have +had a worse time of it than most. There is a lot of difference +atween chaps. Some takes it bad, and some is never ill from the +first. Well, there ain't nothing to do at present, but just hold on +and get to feel your legs. Don't you try to go across the deck, if +the hands are called, until you are accustomed to it; else you will +get a fall, to a certainty."</p> +<p>"Is the gale nearly over, Bill?"</p> +<p>"Why, it's quite over. Don't you see that for yourself?"</p> +<p>"It seems to me to blow hard now."</p> +<p>"Blow hard! Why, there ain't a capful of wind. It was blowing +pretty hard yesterday, if you like, but not worth calling a gale. +If you are lucky, you are like to know what a gale is, when we get +south of the Cape. The wind does blow there, when it has made up +its mind. That's the place where they say as the helmsman has to +have two men, regular, to hold on his hair."</p> +<p>Reuben laughed.</p> +<p>"I think on the whole, Bill, I would rather get to Sydney +without meeting a storm like that. This has been quite enough for +me. Why, some of the waves hit the vessel's bow as if they would +have knocked it in."</p> +<p>"Wait till you have a gale in earnest, Master Reuben, and you +will know about it then. Of course it seemed worse to you, because +you were lying there a-doing nothing, and was weak-like with +heaving yourself up. If you had been on deck, you would have seen +as it was nothing worth talking about.</p> +<p>"Look at the ship. Everything's in its place, and +ship-shape."</p> +<p>"Why, what has become of the tall spars aloft," Reuben said, +looking up.</p> +<p>"Oh, they were sent down when the wind freshened," Bill said. +"There ain't nothing in that."</p> +<p>"Where are the convicts, Bill?"</p> +<p>"Oh, they are all battened down below," the sailor said +carelessly. "They only come up for an airing when the weather is +fine. They are like the passengers only, instead of pleasing +themselves, their ways are marked out for them."</p> +<p>"Have any of the passengers been up?"</p> +<p>"Two or three of the men have shown, and a gal. It ain't her +first voyage, I'll bet. A pretty thing she is, and as straight as a +mast. She's been on deck, off and on, ever since we started."</p> +<p>The next morning the sea moderated greatly and, the wind having +gone round to the southeast, the Paramatta made the most of it, to +get west as far as possible before turning her head to the +south.</p> +<p>"That's a slice of luck," Bill Hardy said to Reuben; "there's +nothing like getting well off, at the start. With luck, now, we +oughtn't to see the land till we make the Cape."</p> +<p>"But I would rather see the land, Bill. When one is going half +round the globe, it is pleasant to touch at ports on the way, and +to get a glimpse at foreign peoples and ways."</p> +<p>"Ay, I like a spree on shore," Bill agreed; "but after all, it +don't last long; and when you are near land, there's always the +chance that the wind may shift round, and you may find yourself +dead on a lee shore. The skipper gets anxious and the mates out of +temper, and if it does come on to blow hard, from the wrong +quarter, there's never no saying what will come of it.</p> +<p>"No, my lad, there's nothing like a good open sea, with no land +within five hundred miles of you, at the least. The coast of Africa +ain't a pleasant neighbour. What with the low shores, which you +don't see till you are pretty nigh close to them; what with the +currents and the changeable winds, and the precious bad lookout +there is, if you do get cast ashore, I tell you the wider berth you +gives it, the better."</p> +<p>The next morning was so fine and bright that all the passengers +were on deck, and after breakfast the word was passed forward that +the carpenter was wanted. Reuben found that he was wanted to nail +some strips of wood on the floor of some of the cabins, to prevent +the boxes from shooting out from under the berths when the vessel +rolled. As he was at work at one of these, a young lady came to the +door of the cabin, and uttered a little exclamation of surprise at +seeing Reuben kneeling on the floor. Then, seeing what he was +doing, she said:</p> +<p>"Oh, you are the carpenter, I suppose?"</p> +<p>"Yes, miss."</p> +<p>"I wish you would screw on some pegs I brought with me, to hang +things upon. Everything does get thrown about so, when the ship's +rolling. They are in that trunk, if you will not mind pulling it +out."</p> +<p>Reuben pulled out the trunk, which the girl opened and, after +some search, produced half-a-dozen iron clothes pegs. She showed +him where she wished them screwed on, and stood looking on while he +carried out her instructions.</p> +<p>"Are you the ship's carpenter?"</p> +<p>"Yes, miss."</p> +<p>"You seem very young for a carpenter, don't you?"</p> +<p>"I am young," Reuben replied, smiling, "and this is my first +voyage. Fortunately for me, the hand who was engaged hurt himself, +just as the vessel was sailing, so I obtained the berth. So far it +does not appear that it is a difficult one."</p> +<p>The girl looked at him a little curiously. His manner of talk +and conversation differed, so much, from the sailors in +general.</p> +<p>"Are you really a carpenter?" she asked. "You don't look like a +carpenter."</p> +<p>"Yes, I am really a carpenter," Reuben answered; "at least, I am +a mill wright by trade. We are a sort of half and half between +carpenter and smith.</p> +<p>"Is there anything else?" he asked, as he finished screwing the +last screw.</p> +<p>"No, nothing else, thank you," the girl answered. "That will do +very nicely, and I am much obliged to you."</p> +<p>After finishing his work in the cabins, Reuben went forward.</p> +<p>"Captain," the young lady said, as she went upon deck, "I have +been talking to that young carpenter of yours. I am quite +interested in him. Is he really a carpenter? He does not talk a bit +like one."</p> +<p>"I believe so, Miss Hudson," the captain replied. "At least, he +produced an excellent testimonial from his last employer, when I +engaged him. Of course, it might not have been genuine. If there +had been time, I should have made more inquiries; but he was well +spoken, and had an earnest look about him. But, now you mention it, +I don't know that it is very wise letting him go into all the +cabins, when I know so little about him."</p> +<p>"Oh, I never thought of that!" the girl exclaimed. "I am sure he +looks honest. It was only because he spoke so well that I mentioned +it."</p> +<p>"He seems to be a sharp young fellow," the captain remarked, +"and I see that he has taken to going aloft with the rest of the +crew already. He is an emigrant rather than a sailor, for he has +only shipped for a passage. I don't know whether he is going to +join a man, out there; but if not, he is certainly young to go out +on his own account. I do not think he's more than eighteen. He +looks so young, he cannot have served all his time at his +trade."</p> +<p>"I really feel quite interested in him, Captain Wilson," the +girl said, turning to a gentleman standing by, who had been +listening to the conversation. "I wish, if you get an opportunity, +you would get into conversation with this carpenter of ours, and +find out something about him."</p> +<p>"I will, if you like, Miss Hudson; but I don't suppose there's +much to find out, and what there is, he's not likely to tell me. +From what you say, I should guess that he had had a bad master, and +had run away."</p> +<p>"But the captain said he had good testimonials," Miss Hudson +persisted.</p> +<p>"As to testimonials," the gentleman said, "anyone can write a +testimonial."</p> +<p>"How suspicious you are, Captain Wilson!" the girl laughed. +"That's the worst of being a police officer, and having to do with +criminals. You think whoever you come across is a rogue, until you +find out he is an honest man. Now, I think everyone is honest, till +I find him out to be a rogue."</p> +<p>"My way is the safest," the officer laughed. "At any rate, on +board this ship there are five rogues to each honest man."</p> +<p>"Ah, but that's not a fair average," the girl objected. "Of +course, in the colony one has to be careful, considering that half +the shepherds and stockmen are convicts, and I must own that the +natives are nearly all thieves; but how could it be otherwise, when +England sends all its rogues out to us? You see, when free labour +gets more abundant, and we can do without convicts, the colonists +will protest against it."</p> +<p>"Very likely they will," the officer agreed; "but what is +England to do, if she has nowhere to send her rogues?"</p> +<p>"That is her business," Miss Hudson said carelessly. "There is +no reason why they should be shoved on to us. In the old time, when +there were no colonies, England managed somehow, and I suppose she +could do so again."</p> +<p>"She managed in a very short way," Captain Wilson said. "She +hung them as fast as she caught them. It did not matter much what +the offence was, whether stealing a loaf or killing a man; but she +could hardly go back to that, now."</p> +<p>"No, she could not," Miss Hudson agreed; "but I have no doubt +she can find something useful for them to do, when she has to keep +them at home.</p> +<p>"Don't you think so, captain?"</p> +<p>"I daresay she could," the captain answered. "Certainly, if I +were a colonist living in a lonely part of the country, I should +object to transportation for, what with the natives and bush +rangers and bad characters generally, no one can say their life is +safe."</p> +<p>"Oh, it's not so bad as that, captain!" Miss Hudson said +indignantly. "You are giving the place a bad character."</p> +<p>"I think Captain Wilson will agree it's a true one," the captain +said, smiling.</p> +<p>"Eh, Captain Wilson?"</p> +<p>"I am afraid so," the latter replied. "I know they keep me +pretty busy. However, after a year's holiday, I must not grumble if +I find plenty to do when I get there."</p> +<p>The voyage down to the Cape was wholly uneventful. The Paramatta +was most fortunate in her weather and, beyond trimming the sails, +the crew had a very easy time of it. Captain Wilson had, as he +promised Miss Hudson, taken the opportunity, when Reuben was +sitting idly on deck, of having a chat with him; but he did not +learn much in the course of the conversation.</p> +<p>"Your young carpenter puzzles me, Miss Hudson," he said to her +at dinner. "He is certainly an altogether exceptionally well-spoken +young fellow, for his condition of life; but I can't quite make him +out. I think that he has worked as a mill wright. He spoke openly +and without hesitation as to his work. But how it is he has thrown +it up and emigrated, so young, I can't make out. Of course he +cannot have served his time and yet, somehow, I don't think that he +has run away, from the manner in which he spoke of his +employer.</p> +<p>"He has no friends whatever in the colony, as far as I could +learn. I should say he has certainly been fairly educated, and yet +he seems, from his own account, to have worked three or four years +at his trade.</p> +<p>"I certainly like the lad, though I own that, so far, I cannot +altogether make him out. Perhaps I shall learn somewhat more about +him, before we get to the end of the voyage, and in that case I +will tell you all I know."</p> +<p>Miss Hudson was the daughter of a wealthy flock owner—or, as he +was called, squatter—in New South Wales. Her father and mother +were on board the ship with her. This was her fifth voyage. She had +gone out as a baby with her parents; and had returned to England, +at the age of ten, to be educated. When eighteen, she had joined +her mother and father in Australia and, two years later, had come +with them to Europe, and had spent some months travelling on the +Continent. They were now on their way back to the colony.</p> +<p>The only other single lady among the passengers of the Paramatta +was going out, under the charge of the captain, to fill a place as +governess in a family in Sydney. Miss Furley was somewhat quiet, +but a friendship had naturally sprang up between her and Miss +Hudson, as the only two young women on board the ship; and the life +and high spirits of the young colonist, and the musical +acquirements of Miss Furley, helped to make the voyage pass +pleasantly for the passengers in the Paramatta.</p> +<p>Captain Wilson had a good tenor voice, and sang well; and one of +the other passengers was able to furnish a bass. Almost every +evening, as the ship was running down the tropics before a gentle +favouring breeze, the sound of solo and glee singing rose from the +little party gathered on the poop; and even the convicts, on deck +forward, ceased their talk and listened to the strains.</p> +<p>Although the passage had been a pleasant one, there was a +general feeling of satisfaction when the ship dropped her anchor in +Table Bay. Most of the passengers went on shore at once, to take up +their quarters at the hotel till she sailed again. The captain said +that it would take at least a couple of days to fill up the water +tanks, and take in a supply of fresh provisions.</p> +<p>On the afternoon of the second day, Reuben asked permission of +the first mate to go ashore for a few hours.</p> +<p>"Certainly, Whitney," the officer said. "You have proved a very +useful hand on the way out, which is more than most do who work +their passage. Nine out of ten of them are not worth their salt, to +say nothing of the rest of their rations. You can stay on shore +tonight, if you like; but you must come off early in the morning. +We hope to get away in good time."</p> +<p>On landing, Reuben was much struck with the variety of the +scene. In the streets of Cape Town were men of many types. Here was +the English merchant and man of business, looking and dressing just +as he would at home. Names over the shop doors were for the most +part Dutch, as was the appearance of the majority of the white men +in the streets. Dutch farmers in broad hats and homespun garments, +mounted on rough ponies, clattered along through the streets. The +manual work was for the most part done by swarthy natives, while +among the crowd were numbers of Malays, with dark olive skins, +small eyes, and jet-black hair, their women being arrayed in every +shade of gaudy colour.</p> +<p>For some time Reuben wandered about the streets, greatly amused +at all he saw. Towards evening he turned his face towards the sea, +as he had no wish to avail himself of the permission given him to +sleep on shore. Presently he encountered Miss Hudson and Miss +Furley, walking the other way. The former nodded brightly, for she +had several times spoken to Reuben, since their first +acquaintanceship.</p> +<p>Reuben touched his hat, and proceeded on his way. He had gone +but a few yards when he heard a loud cry, and everyone darted +suddenly into shops or round corners.</p> +<p>Looking round in surprise, Reuben saw what had caused the +movement. A Malay, with his long hair streaming down his shoulders, +was rushing down the street, giving vent to terrible yells; in his +hand he held a crease, with which, just as Reuben looked round, he +cut down a native who had tried, too late, to make his escape.</p> +<p>The two English girls, confused and alarmed at the sudden +outburst; and unable, until too late, to comprehend the cause of +it, stood alone in the middle of the street and, too terrified now +to move, clung to each other, regardless of the shouts to fly +raised by people at the windows and doors.</p> +<a id="PicB" name="PicB"></a> +<center><img src="images/b.jpg" alt= +"The Ladies Saved from the Malay's Crease" +/></center> +<p>The Malay, with a howl of exultation, made at them with uplifted +crease. Reuben sprang forward, passed the terrified women when the +Malay was within four paces of them, and threw himself with all his +force upon him. The Malay, whose eyes were fixed upon the ladies, +was taken by surprise by the assault; and his crease had not time +to fall when Reuben sprang upon him.</p> +<p>The shock threw both to the ground; Reuben, as he fell, throwing +both arms round his adversary. The Malay struggled furiously, and +the combatants rolled over and over on the ground. Strong as Reuben +was, the frenzy of the Malay gave him greater power; and the lad +felt he could not long retain his grip of the arm with which the +Malay strove to use his crease.</p> +<p>Help, however, was not long in coming. A native policeman ran up +at full speed; and brought his heavy club, with his full force, +down on the head of the Malay. The latter's limbs at once relaxed, +and Reuben sprang to his feet; breathless, but not seriously +harmed, although the blood was freely flowing from some slight +wounds he had received from the Malay's sharp-edged weapon.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch7" id="Ch7">Chapter 7</a>: Gratitude.</h2> +<p>Reuben looked round, upon gaining his feet. He saw Miss Hudson +standing by the side of her companion; who had fallen, fainting, to +the ground. Mr. Hudson and Captain Wilson, running at their full +speed, were within a few paces of the girls. They had entered a +shop to make a purchase, while the ladies strolled on; and although +they had rushed out on hearing the alarm, they were too far off to +render assistance and, impotent to help, had seen with horror the +terrible death which threatened the ladies.</p> +<p>Frances Hudson had not uttered a word, from the moment when the +Malay rushed down upon them; but as her father came up she turned +round, and burst into tears as he clasped her in his arms.</p> +<p>As soon as it was seen that the Malay was no longer dangerous, +the people poured out again from the houses and shops. It was no +very unusual thing, in Cape Town, for the Malays to run amuck; and +many of those in the streets hurried off, in the direction from +which the man had come, to inquire how many victims had fallen to +his deadly crease, and to see whether any friends were among them. +On the Malay himself no one spared a moment's attention. A second +tremendous blow, with the policeman's club, had dashed out his +brains; for Malays running amuck were always killed upon the spot, +partly in order to save further trouble with them, partly to strike +terror into others.</p> +<p>Many of the bystanders gathered round Reuben, seized him by the +hand, patting him on the shoulder, and praising him for the courage +with which he had faced the maddened savage. A minute later, Mr. +Hudson forced his way through the crowd. Miss Furley had already +been raised, and carried into a shop.</p> +<p>"Go in with her, my dear," Mr. Hudson said to his daughter. "I +will bring him to you directly.</p> +<p>"My brave fellow!" he exclaimed, as he made his way to Reuben +and grasped his hand, "how can I thank you for saving my child's +life? It seemed to us that she was lost, and that nothing could +save her; when we saw you dash past her, and throw yourself unarmed +upon the madman. It was a noble deed, indeed.</p> +<p>"You are not badly hurt, I hope," he added, as he saw the blood +streaming down Reuben's face and arm.</p> +<p>"Nothing to speak of, sir," Reuben replied. "At least, I think +not; but I feel rather queer from this loss of blood. I had better +get myself bandaged up."</p> +<p>And indeed, Reuben was turning very pale, partly from the +relaxation of the tension of the struggle; partly, as he said, from +loss of blood.</p> +<p>"Stand back!" Mr. Hudson cried, "don't press upon him. The lad +is nearly fainting. One of you help me get him into a shop. Where +is the nearest surgeon to be found?"</p> +<p>It was as much as Reuben could do to walk across the street, +aided by his two supporters. A strong glass of Cape smoke (as the +native spirit is called) and water revived him somewhat. It was +some minutes before a surgeon arrived; for five persons had been +terribly wounded, and two killed by the Malay on his course, and +the surgeons near were busily employed.</p> +<p>"Not very serious," the surgeon said, as soon as he examined +Reuben's wounds. "Very different affairs from those I have just +come from."</p> +<p>"I had hold of his hand," Reuben said, "so that he couldn't +strike. They are only cuts he made in trying to get his arm +free."</p> +<p>"That on your arm will not trouble you, though it has bled +pretty freely. The one down your face is, fortunately, of no great +consequence; except that it has cut down to the bone on the brow +and cheek. If it had been an inch further back, it would have +severed the temporal artery. You have had a narrow escape of it. As +it is, you will get off with a scar, which may last for some time; +but as it is an honourable one, perhaps you won't so much care. +However, I will bring it together as well as I can, and stitch it +up, and it may not show much."</p> +<p>The wound was sewn up and then bandaged, as was that on the arm. +The other and slighter wounds were simply drawn together by slips +of plaster. When all was done, Reuben said to Mr. Hudson:</p> +<p>"I shall do very well now, sir. I am sure you must wish to go to +Miss Hudson. I will sit here a bit longer, and then go on board the +ship."</p> +<p>"You will do nothing of the kind," Mr. Hudson said. "I have just +sent for a vehicle, and you will come to the hotel and get into bed +at once. You are not fit to stand now, but I hope a good night's +rest will do you good."</p> +<p>Reuben would have protested, but at this moment a vehicle +arrived at the door, and with it Captain Wilson entered.</p> +<p>"I have just taken your daughter and Miss Furley to the hotel, +Hudson," he said. "They are both greatly shaken, and no wonder. So +I thought it better to see them back, before coming in to shake +hands with our gallant young friend here."</p> +<p>"He has lost a good deal of blood, Wilson; and I am just taking +him off, to get him to bed in the hotel.</p> +<p>"So we won't do any thanking till the morning," Mr. Hudson said, +seeing that Reuben's lip quivered, and he was incapable of bearing +any further excitement. "Do you take one of his arms and I will +take the other, and get him into that trap."</p> +<p>A quarter of an hour later, Reuben was in bed at the hotel. Mr. +Hudson brought him up a basin of clear soup. Having drunk this, he +turned over and was, in a very few minutes, asleep. The captain and +most of the other passengers were at the same hotel, and there was +great excitement when the news arrived of the terrible danger the +two girls had run. Mrs. Hudson had, from her early life, been +accustomed to emergencies; and the instant the girls arrived she +took them up to the room they shared between them, and insisted +upon their going at once to bed, after partaking of a cup of +tea.</p> +<p>"What am I to do for this young fellow, Wilson?" Mr. Hudson +asked as, having seen his patient comfortably in bed, he returned +downstairs, and took a seat in the verandah by his fellow +passenger. "I owe Frances' life to him, and there is nothing I +wouldn't do for him. The question is, what? One does not like to +offer money to a man, for such a service as this."</p> +<p>"No," Mr. Wilson agreed, "especially in his case. The young +fellow appears to me very much above his condition. Your daughter +first pointed it out to me, and I have since chatted with him +several times, and find him a very superior young fellow. Certainly +his education has been very different from that of most men in his +condition of life, and I should have taken him for a gentleman, who +had got into some scrape and run away, had it not been that he +seems to have been regularly apprenticed to his trade. Still, there +is something a little mysterious about him. I asked him casually +what part of the country he came from. He hesitated a moment, and +then said, 'From the south of England.' Of course, I did not ask +any further questions, as it was clear he did not care about naming +the precise locality, or he would not have given so vague an +answer. I feel as deeply indebted to him as you do."</p> +<p>Mr. Hudson nodded. Only the evening before arriving at Cape +Town, Captain Wilson had spoken to him on the matter of his +affection for his daughter, and had asked his permission to speak +to Frances. They had known each other in the colony, but had not +been intimate until thrown together on board the Paramatta. Seeing +that she was an only child, and that her father was considered one +of the wealthiest squatters in the colony, Captain Wilson had +feared that Mr. Hudson would not approve of him as a suitor; and +had therefore broached the subject to him, before speaking to her. +Mr. Hudson, however, had raised no objections.</p> +<p>"You have taken a manly and proper course, in speaking to me +first," he said; "just what I should have expected from you. I own +that, with the fortune the girl will have some day, I have always +looked for her making what they call a good match, and settling +down in the old country; but I may tell you that while she has been +in Europe she has had several opportunities of so doing, if she +would have taken them. She did not think fit to do so, and I have +always made up my mind not to influence her in any way, providing +she didn't fix her choice upon one whose character I disapproved. +Certainly I have no reasons for so doing, in the present case. Your +character stands high in the colony; and personally, as you are +well aware, I like you exceedingly.</p> +<p>"What Frances' feelings in the matter are, I have no means of +knowing. There is no doubt she likes you, but as to anything more, +it is for you to find out. You will have plenty of time, between +this and Sydney. Anyhow, you have my hearty approval of your +wooing.</p> +<p>"I think, between ourselves you know, you must not expect, at +first, any very cordial approval on the part of her mother. She had +an idea, you know, that Frances would marry a duke at least, and an +offer from a prince of the blood would not have surprised her. It +is a great disappointment, to her, that she should have returned +unmarried; and she has already been talking to me about our +returning to England, in another couple of years. So she will not +take quite kindly to it, at first; but you mustn't mind that. Fond +of Frances as she is, she will soon come round, if she finds that +the girl's happiness is really concerned in the matter.</p> +<p>"Take my advice, and don't push it till we get near the end of +the voyage. If Frances says yes, she is the sort of girl to stick +to it; and as I am with you, you may be quite sure it will come +right in the long run; but we might not have a very pleasant time +of it during the remainder of the voyage, you know, and as things +have gone on so pleasantly, it would be a pity to spoil them."</p> +<p>Thus it was that Mr. Hudson nodded, when the young officer of +the constabulary said that his indebtedness to Reuben was equal to +his own.</p> +<p>"Yes," he said, "if it had been one of the sailors, I could have +set the matter right by drawing a big cheque, and I shouldn't have +cared how big; but with this young fellow I do not quite see my +way. However, I will shift the responsibility, by leaving the +matter in Frances' hands—women are much better hands at things of +this sort, that require a light touch, than we are. I do not wonder +that she and Miss Furley are shaken. I feel shaken myself. I shall +never forget that scene, and the two girls standing there, and that +wild Malay rushing at them. My legs seemed to give way under me, +and I thought I should have fallen down."</p> +<p>"I felt bad myself, sir," Captain Wilson said. "I have been in +some tough fights, with bush rangers and natives; but I never had +that sort of feeling before.</p> +<p>"One ran, but one felt it was no use running, as all must be +over before we could get there. When it was over, I felt as weak as +a child."</p> +<p>"Don't let us talk any more about it," Mr. Hudson said, rising. +"I doubt whether I shall get a wink of sleep now; and I am sure I +sha'n't, if we go on talking any more about it. Let us take a turn, +and have a stiff glass of brandy and water afterwards, to settle +our nerves before turning in."</p> +<p>The passengers by the Paramatta were up early in the morning, +for the ship was to sail at nine. But early as they were, Reuben +was before them; and on Mr. Hudson inquiring about him, as he +turned out, he was informed that he had already gone on board the +ship.</p> +<p>The two girls both looked pale, when they came down to their +early breakfast. Both declared, however, that they had slept +well.</p> +<p>"You must give us time, dad, to get up our roses," Frances +Hudson said, in reply to her father's remarks as to their +appearance. "I have no doubt a few days at sea will do it; but of +course, it is only right and proper that young ladies should be +pale, after going through such an adventure as we had +yesterday.</p> +<p>"But do not let us talk about it," she said, with a shudder. "I +should like not to be able to think about it, again, for six +months. You used to say, dad, that I was plucky, because I wasn't +afraid of wild cattle, and not very afraid of the natives or bush +rangers; but I am sure I cannot lay claim to any special courage in +future, for no one in the world could feel more frightened than I +did, yesterday."</p> +<p>"Well, my dear, you were no worse than anyone else, for everyone +else bolted at the first alarm. The way that street was cleared was +something marvellous."</p> +<p>"Yes, dad; but I was too frightened to run. Not that it would +have been any use if I had, for he was close to us before we knew +what was the matter; and if I could have run, I don't think Emma +could."</p> +<p>"No, indeed," Miss Furley said. "I had no idea of running and, +even had there been plenty of time, I am sure I could not have got +out of the way. Somehow I seemed to lose all power to move. I had +just shut my eyes, and thought it was all over, when there was a +shout and a rush, and I saw the Malay roll over; and then I made a +snatch at Frances, and rolled over, too."</p> +<p>"It was a terrible moment," Mr. Hudson said. "But I agree, with +Frances, that it is better for you to try and think nothing more +about it, until you have perfectly recovered your health and +spirits."</p> +<p>"I hear, dad, that the young man that saved us has gone on board +ship. I asked, directly I was up, because I wanted to see him."</p> +<p>"And I expect, my dear, that he slipped away because he didn't +want to see you. It sounds rude, doesn't it? But I can perfectly +understand it."</p> +<p>"So can I," the girl agreed. "Did you see him this morning?"</p> +<p>"No, my dear. I came downstairs only a minute or two before you +did, and then found that he was gone."</p> +<p>"Have you thought over what you are going to do, dad, for +him?"</p> +<p>"Wilson and I have talked it over, Frances, but at present we +don't see our way. It is too serious a matter to make up our minds +in a hurry. Your mother is in favour of giving him a handsome +present; but I don't think, myself, that that would do. Men who +will do such deeds as that are not the sort of men to be paid by +money."</p> +<p>"Oh no, dad! Surely not that. Any other possible way, but not +money."</p> +<p>"No, my dear; so I thought. I have chatted it over with Wilson, +and we have agreed that the best plan is to leave it entirely in +your hands."</p> +<p>"I will think it over, dad," the girl said gravely. "It is a +serious thing. We owe him our lives, and the least we can do is not +to hurt his feelings, by the way in which we try to show our +gratitude."</p> +<p>Reuben had slept well; and on waking, soon after daylight, +jumped at once out of bed; and was glad to feel that, except for a +certain amount of weakness in the legs, and stiffness in his +wounds, he was all right again. He dressed quietly and, as soon as +he heard persons moving about in the hotel, made his way down to +the shore, and sat down there to wait for a boat from the ship; +which was lying some distance out, and would, he was sure, be +sending off early, as there would be many things to bring on board +before she sailed.</p> +<p>It was not long before he saw the men descending the gangway to +the boat alongside, which was soon rowing towards the shore. As she +approached, Reuben saw the steward and first mate, sitting in the +stern seats; and when the officer jumped ashore, his eye fell on +Reuben.</p> +<p>"Ah, Whitney," he said, "I am glad to see you about. When the +captain came off, last night, he told me all about your gallant +rescue of the two ladies. I am sorry to see you bandaged up so +much. The captain said you had some nasty cuts, but I didn't think +they were so bad."</p> +<p>"They are nothing to speak about, sir," Reuben replied, +"although you would think so, from seeing those bandages all over +one side of the face, and my arm in a sling; but they are no great +depth, and don't hurt to speak of. They were clean cuts with a +sharp edge, and don't hurt half as much as many a knock I have had, +with a hammer."</p> +<p>"Well, we all feel proud of you, my lad. It isn't everyone who +would face a Malay running amuck, without weapons, I can tell +you."</p> +<p>"I think any English sailor would do so, sir, if he saw the +Malay rushing down upon two ladies. There was no time to think +about danger, one way or the other. The only thing to be done was +to rush at him, and so I rushed, as anyone else would have +done."</p> +<p>"Ah, it's all very well to say so, Whitney; but I have my doubts +about everyone else rushing. However, I mustn't stand talking about +it now, as I have my hands full of work. The sooner you get on +board the ship, the better.</p> +<p>"Row Whitney back to the ship, lads, and come back again in an +hour's time. None of the things will be down here before that."</p> +<p>Reuben stepped into the boat, which at once pushed off. The men +rowed easily, for they were anxious to hear the particulars of the +report which had circulated through the ship. Bill Hardy was rowing +the stroke oar, and did the questioning.</p> +<p>"You may try to make little of it," he said, "but I tell you, +Reuben, it were a right down good thing—a thing any man would have +right to be proud of.</p> +<p>"What do you say, mates?"</p> +<p>There was a general chorus of "Ay, ay."</p> +<p>"I took you in hand when you came on board, young un," Bill went +on, "and I looks upon you as my chick, and I tell you I feel proud +on you. I felt sure you would turn out a good un, some day, but I +didn't look to see it so quick.</p> +<p>"In oars!"</p> +<p>The boat ran up alongside the gangway, and Reuben was soon upon +deck. He was there met by the captain, who had just come up as the +boat rowed alongside. He shook Reuben's hand heartily.</p> +<p>"You are a fine young fellow, Whitney; and your mother, if you +have one, ought to be proud of you. I should be, if you were a son +of mine. It was a lucky day for us all, when I shipped you on board +the Paramatta; for it would have been a heavy day for us, if those +two young ladies had been killed by that madman, yesterday.</p> +<p>"You look pale, lad, as much as one can see of you, and you will +have to lie by for a bit. I hear you lost a great deal of +blood.</p> +<p>"Steward, bring another cup of cocoa with mine, a large one, and +put plenty of milk in."</p> +<p>The captain insisted on Reuben coming to his cabin to drink his +cocoa.</p> +<p>"You had best knock off your allowance of spirits, till your +wounds have healed up, lad. I will tell the second mate to serve +you out port wine, instead."</p> +<p>Reuben now went forward, feeling very much the better for the +cocoa. He again had to receive the hearty congratulations of the +men; and then, rather to escape from this than because he felt he +needed it, he turned into his bunk, and was soon sound asleep.</p> +<p>Three hours later, he was awakened by the tramp of men overhead, +and knew that they were shortening the anchor chain, and preparing +to be off. Going out on to the deck, he saw that the courses had +been dropped, and the topsails were lying loose in their gaskets. +The crew were singing merrily, as they worked the capstan. Three of +the boats already hung from the davits, and two large boats were +bringing off the passengers, and were already within a hundred +yards of the ship; while the remaining ship's boat, with the +steward, crowded with fresh stores, was but a short way behind +them. As soon as the passengers were up, and the shore boats had +left, she came alongside.</p> +<p>"Hook on the falls at once," the first mate ordered, "and run +her up as she is. You can get the things out afterwards."</p> +<p>The anchor was, by this time, under the foot.</p> +<p>"Up with it, lads!" and the sailors again started, at full +speed, on the capstan.</p> +<p>The jibs were run up, the courses and topsails shaken out and +braced, and the Paramatta began to steal through the water again, +for the second portion of her voyage. Mr. Hudson and his friend +very soon made their way forward, and the ship was scarcely under +way when Reuben, who was gazing over the bulwark at the shore, felt +a hand laid on his shoulder.</p> +<p>"How are you today, Reuben? Better, I hope? It was too bad of +you to run off in that way, this morning."</p> +<p>"I am all right now, thank you, sir," Reuben answered. "I felt +just a little shaky at first, but the captain gave me a cup of +cocoa when I came on board, and I feel now as if I were fit for +duty again."</p> +<p>"Oh, nonsense," Mr. Hudson exclaimed, "you mustn't think of +work, for days yet. No, you must come aft with me. My daughter and +Miss Furley are most anxious to see you; and my wife, too, is +longing to add her thanks to mine."</p> +<p>"You are very good, sir, but really I would rather not, if you +will excuse me. It is horrid being thanked and made a fuss about, +just because, on the spur of the moment, one did one's duty."</p> +<p>"That's all very well, Reuben; but you see, it wouldn't be fair +to my daughter. If anyone did you a great service, you would want +to thank them, would you not?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I suppose so, sir," Reuben answered reluctantly; "but +really, I hate it."</p> +<p>"I can understand your feelings, my lad, but you must make up +your mind to do it. When anyone puts others under a vast obligation +to him, he must submit to be thanked, however much he may shrink +from it. Come along, it will not be very dreadful."</p> +<p>Reuben saw that there was no getting out of it, and followed Mr. +Hudson along the deck; feeling, however, more ashamed and +uncomfortable even than he did when standing in the dock, as a +criminal. Captain Wilson walked beside him. Hitherto he had not +spoken, but he now laid his hand quietly upon Reuben's +shoulder.</p> +<p>"My lad," he said, "I am not a man to talk much; but believe me +that, henceforth, I am your friend for life."</p> +<p>Reuben looked up, with a little smile which showed that he +understood. He had often, indeed, watched the young officer and +Miss Hudson together, and had guessed that they were more than mere +acquaintances.</p> +<p>The passengers were, with the exception of the three ladies, all +gathered on the poop. But Frances had proposed to her mother that +they should see Reuben in the cabin alone, as she felt that it +would be a severe ordeal, to the lad, to be publicly thanked. +Captain Wilson ascended to the poop and joined the others there, +while Mr. Hudson went alone into the cabin.</p> +<p>The three ladies were awaiting him there. Frances came forward +first. The tears were standing in her eyes.</p> +<p>"You have saved my life," she said softly, "at the risk of your +own; and I thank you with all my heart, not only for my own sake, +but for that of my father and mother; who would have been +childless, today, had it not been for you."</p> +<p>"I need no thanks, Miss Hudson," Reuben said quietly.</p> +<p>His shyness had left him, as he entered the cabin.</p> +<p>"It will, all my life, be a source of pleasure and gratification +to me, that I have been able to have been of service to so bright +and kind a lady."</p> +<p>"I am not less grateful," Miss Furley said, advancing also. "I +shall never forget that dreadful moment, and the feeling which +darted through my mind, as you rushed past us and threw yourself +upon him, and I felt that I was saved almost by a miracle."</p> +<p>"And you must accept my thanks also," Mrs. Hudson said; "the +thanks of a mother, whose child you have saved from so dreadful a +death. Believe me that there is nothing that my husband or myself +would not do, to show how deeply and sincerely we are grateful to +you."</p> +<p>Mrs. Hudson, indeed, felt rather aggrieved that she could not, +at once, take some active steps towards rewarding the young man for +saving her daughter's life; and she had been unable to understand +the scruples of her husband and daughter on the subject. It was +only, indeed, at their urgent entreaty that she had given way on +this point.</p> +<p>"I call it monstrous, Frances," she said, almost angrily. "Of +course the young man will expect something more substantial than +words. It is only natural that we should reward him for preserving +your life, and it would be a crime if we didn't do so. Of course, +he didn't do it for money at the time, but it is absurd to suppose +that a young carpenter like this, working his way out on board a +ship, will object to receive a handsome present for such a service +as this. Our feelings have a right to be considered, as well as +his; and a nice thing it will be, for people to say that Ralph +Hudson and his wife were so stingy, and ungrateful, that they did +nothing for the lad who had saved their daughter's life."</p> +<p>"There is no fear of their saying that, mother. Everyone in the +colony knows that there are no more open-handed people in New South +Wales than you and my father. Besides, I do not say that we are to +do nothing for him. On the contrary, I agree with you that it would +be wrong, indeed, if we did not. I only say, please don't let there +be a word said about reward, now. Let us thank him as one would +thank a gentleman, who had done us a great service."</p> +<p>"Of course, I will do as your father wishes, Frances, but I call +it nonsense. If he were a gentleman it would, of course, be +different; but he is a young carpenter and, though you won't see +it, that seems to me to make all the difference."</p> +<p>"From what I have seen of him, mother," Frances persisted, "I am +sure that he has the feelings of a gentleman; even if he is not one +by birth, about which I am not certain. Anyhow, I am much obliged +to you for letting me have my own way."</p> +<p>"You always do have your own way, Frances," her mother laughed. +"You get round your father first, and then you come to me, and what +can I do against the two of you?"</p> +<p>Reuben briefly answered Miss Furley and Mrs. Hudson; and Mr. +Hudson, feeling that the lad would rather get over the scene as +soon as possible, slipped his arm though his and said:</p> +<p>"Now, Reuben, you must just come up for a minute on the poop. +The other passengers are all waiting to shake you by the hand, and +they would not forgive me if I were to let you run off, as I know +you are wanting to do, without a word."</p> +<p>Accordingly Reuben was taken up to the poop, where the +passengers all shook hands with him, and congratulated him upon his +courage.</p> +<p>"Now, I suppose I can go, sir," he said, with a smile to Mr. +Hudson, when this was over.</p> +<p>"Yes, you can go now," Mr. Hudson laughed. "Most young fellows +at your age would be glad of an opportunity for figuring as a hero, +but you talk as if it was one of the most painful businesses +imaginable."</p> +<p>"Anyhow, I am glad it's over, Mr. Hudson, I can assure you; and +now, I think I will turn in again. Considering what a night I had, +I feel wonderfully sleepy."</p> +<p>It was not until the sun was setting that Reuben appeared again +on deck. Shortly after he did so, Captain Wilson strolled up to the +place where he was standing.</p> +<p>"I wish, Reuben," he said, after a few remarks on other +subjects, "that you would tell me a little more about yourself. You +understand that I do not ask from mere inquisitiveness; but after +what has happened, you see, we seem to have got into close +relationship with each other; and if I knew more about you, I could +the easier see in what way I could most really be useful to you, +out there. Are you what you appear to be?"</p> +<p>"I am, indeed," Reuben replied, with a smile. "My history is a +very simple one. My father was a miller with a good business and, +up to the age of ten, it did not appear that I should ever be +working as a craftsman for my living. Unhappily, at that time my +father slipped, one night, into the mill pond and was drowned; and +when his affairs came to be wound up, it was found that he had +speculated disastrously in wheat; and that, after paying all +claims, there was nothing left.</p> +<p>"My mother took a little village shop, and I went to the village +school. At first, I think I did not work very hard; but fortunately +there was a change in masters, and the new one turned out one of +the best friends a boy ever had. He pushed me on greatly and, when +I was apprenticed to a mill wright, he urged me to continue my +education by working of an evening. I stuck to it hard, and with +his help learned, therefore, a good deal more than was usual, in my +station of life. My mother was always particular about my speaking +and, what with that and the books, I suppose I talk better than +they generally do."</p> +<p>"And is your mother alive?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> +<p>"But how came you to think of emigrating, at your age; when +indeed, you cannot have served out your full time?"</p> +<p>"That, sir," Reuben said gravely, "I cannot tell you. Some day, +perhaps, if you care to know, I may bring myself to do so. I may +say that it was a serious matter, but that I was really in no way +to blame, whatever people may think. My conscience is absolutely +clear, and yet I would rather that the story, which I left England +to escape, should not be known to anyone."</p> +<p>"I do not seek to know further, Reuben. I think I know enough of +you to be perfectly sure that you would do nothing that was wrong, +and I am perfectly willing to take your word in the matter. +However, I am glad that you have told me as much as you have. Your +early rearing, your mother's care, and the education you have had, +perfectly account for what seemed strange about you before. You +have no objection, I hope, to my repeating your story to Mr. +Hudson, who is as much interested in you as I am.</p> +<p>"And now another thing. I know that it is painful, to him, that +one to whom he is so indebted should be forward here in the +forecastle, instead of being in the cabin. He was afraid of hurting +your feelings, by speaking to you about it; but I know that it +would be a great relief and pleasure, to him and Mrs. Hudson, if +you would allow them to make an arrangement with the captain that, +for the remainder of the voyage, you should be a passenger."</p> +<p>"I am much obliged to them," Reuben said quietly; "but I could +not think of accepting such an offer. I am working my way out +independently, sir, and I owe no one anything. I am really enjoying +the passage, and so far there has been no hardship worth speaking +of. Even putting aside the fact that I should not like to accept an +obligation which would, to most people, look like a payment for the +service I was fortunate enough to be able to render to Mr. Hudson, +I should feel out of my element. I am very comfortable, and get on +very well with the men; while in the cabin I should feel strange, +and out of place."</p> +<p>"I don't think you would seem out of place anywhere, Reuben. No +one, from your manner and conversation, would judge you to be +otherwise than a gentleman by birth; while there are several of the +passengers, aft, whose talk and methods of expression are by no +means up to the level of yours."</p> +<p>"I should feel uncomfortable myself," Reuben said, "even if I +didn't make other people uncomfortable. So I think that, with all +gratitude for the offer, I would very much rather remain as I am. +Accustomed as I have been to hard work, during my apprenticeship, +the life here appears to be exceedingly easy."</p> +<p>"Then we will say no more about it," Captain Wilson said. "It +would have been a pleasure, both to me and the Hudsons, to have you +aft, and I am sure you would be well received by all the +passengers. However, as you think you would not be comfortable, we +will let the matter drop.</p> +<p>"However, as to your work in the colony, we must have a say in +that; and I hope that, when I thoroughly understand your wishes, we +shall be able to help you forward there."</p> +<p>"For that I shall be extremely obliged, sir. It would be a great +thing, indeed, for anyone on landing to have gentlemen ready to +assist him, and push him forward. This is so at home, and is of +course still more the case in a strange country. I am very anxious +to get on, and am ready to work my hardest, to deserve any kindness +that may be shown me."</p> +<p>"Well, we shall have plenty of time to think it over before we +arrive.</p> +<p>"I fancy," Captain Wilson went on, looking upwards at the sky, +"that our wonderful run of good luck, with regard to the weather, +is likely to end shortly, and that we are in for a gale."</p> +<p>"Do you think so, sir?"</p> +<p>"I do, indeed; and if we do get a gale, it is likely to be a +serious one. The Cape, you know, was much feared for its terrible +storms by the Portuguese, and it has kept up its reputation ever +since. I think it is going to give us a taste of its quality."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch8" id="Ch8">Chapter 8</a>: A Gale.</h2> +<p>"Wilson tells me he thinks we are going to have a gale, +Bill."</p> +<p>"Ay, ay, Reuben; anyone with half an eye could see that."</p> +<p>"Which way is it likely to come?"</p> +<p>"Most likely from the north or northwest. At least that's the +quarter it's likely to settle into; but there ain't no saying which +way it may take us. I thought things had been going on too smooth +to last. Now you are going to see what a storm is, my lad. You +thought it was blowing when we went down the Channel."</p> +<p>"Is it likely to be much heavier than that, Bill?"</p> +<p>"Heavier!" the sailor repeated scornfully. "Why, there's as much +difference between a capful of wind in the Channel, and a gale off +the Cape, as there is between a newborn baby and me."</p> +<p>"Do they last long, generally?"</p> +<p>"Last! Why they goes on for weeks. There ain't no end to them. +I've wondered sometimes to myself where all the wind comes from, +and where it goes to, onlass it works round and round."</p> +<p>"But it does work round and round, Bill?"</p> +<p>"Ay, when you are near the centre of it. Why, lad, in three +hours I have gone round the compass three times, with the wind dead +aft all the time; but that's only when you are near the centre. +When you ain't it blows straight, and I have known vessels run for +days—ay, for weeks—with the wind blowing all the time in the same +quarter. Some have been blown down right to the edge of the ice, +south. I have been among the icebergs myself, two or three times, +and I guess that many a ship has laid her bones down in the ice +fields there, and no news ever come back home as to what's come to +them; and what makes it worse is as we have convicts on board."</p> +<p>"What difference does that make, Bill?"</p> +<p>"It don't make no difference, as long as all goes straight and +fair. I have heard, in course, of risings; but that's only when +either the guard are very careless, or the men is so bad treated +that they gets desperate, and is ready to die on the off chance of +getting free. So far we ain't had no trouble with them. The ship is +kept liberal, and the poor wretches ain't cheated out of the +rations as government allows them. The officer in charge seems a +good sort, and there's no knocking of them about, needless; so +there ain't no fear of trouble, as long as things go square. But +when things goes wrong, and a vessel gets cast away or anything of +that kind, then there's well-nigh sure to be trouble. The convicts +seize their opportunity, and it ain't scarce in human nature for +them not to take it, and then there ain't no saying what will +happen."</p> +<p>"Why, what a croaker you are, Bill! I didn't expect that from +you."</p> +<p>"I ain't no croaker, Reuben, but I knows what I knows. I have +been through a job like that I am telling you of, once; and I don't +want to do it again. I will tell you about it, some day. I ain't +saying as I expect any such thing will happen, on board the +Paramatta. God forbid. She's a tight ship, and she's got as good +officers and crew as ever I sailed with. She has as good a chance +as ever a ship had; but when I sees that 'ere sort of sky in these +latitudes, I feels as we are in for a tough job."</p> +<p>The conversation was broken off, abruptly, by the call of the +first mate.</p> +<p>"All hands aloft to shorten sail!"</p> +<p>"The bells is ringing up for the beginning of the performance, +Reuben. Here goes aloft!"</p> +<p>The next minute the whole of the crew were climbing the shrouds, +for the watch off duty were all on deck, and the order was +expected; for the signs of the weather could, by this time, be read +by every sailor on board. Above, the sky was still bright and blue; +but around the whole circle of the horizon, a mist seemed to hang +like a curtain.</p> +<p>"Smartly, lads, smartly," the captain shouted; "don't hurry over +your work, but do it with a will.</p> +<p>"I hope we have not left it too long, Mr. James. I have held on +longer than I ought, for every mile we get away from land is an +advantage, and we have been running nearly due south, ever since I +noticed the first falling of the glass when we got up in the +morning."</p> +<p>"I think we shall have time, sir," the mate said. "We are going +to have it, and no mistake, presently; but it don't seem to be +coming up fast."</p> +<p>"The glass is going down rapidly," the captain said. "It's down +an inch already, and is still falling.</p> +<p>"Mr. Mason," he went on, to the officer in command of the +detachment of marines, "will you kindly place your men under the +orders of Mr. James? I am going to send down all the upper spars, +and they can be useful on deck."</p> +<p>Never was the Paramatta stripped more rapidly of her sails, for +every man was conscious of the urgency of the work. As soon as the +sails were furled, the yards were sent down. The upper spars +followed them and, in little over half an hour from the time the +men began to ascend the shrouds, the Paramatta was metamorphosed. +Her tall tapering masts and lofty spread of sail were gone. Every +spar above the topmasts had been sent down to the deck; and she lay +under close-reefed topsails, a stay sail, and a storm jib. The +captain gave a sigh of relief, as the men began to descend the +rigging.</p> +<p>"Thank God, that is safely accomplished. Now we are in readiness +for whatever may come."</p> +<p>He dived into his cabin, and returned almost immediately.</p> +<p>"The glass has fallen another half inch, Mr. James," he said +gravely. "I have never but once seen it as low.</p> +<p>"Ladies and gentlemen," he went on, addressing the passengers, +who were gathered in a group, talking in low tones and anxiously +watching the wall of vapour; which now seemed to rise from the +water's edge and reach far up into the sky, the circle of view +extending scarce half a mile in any direction; "I must ask you to +go below, at once. The storm may strike us any moment now, and when +it does come it will come heavily. I should like the deck perfectly +clear, and nothing to disturb my thoughts from the working of the +ship."</p> +<p>Reuben had not gone aloft, as he was called back, just as he +began to ascend the shrouds, by the first mate, and ordered to go +round the cabins and fasten the dead lights securely. When this was +done, he aided the marines in nailing tarpaulins over the cabin +skylights, and then went round the deck, seeing that every movable +article was securely lashed. When this was done he joined Bill who, +with some others, had been at work securing all the hatches. The +convicts had long since been all sent below.</p> +<p>"Shall I send my men down, captain?" Mr. Mason asked.</p> +<p>"There is no occasion for it, just at present; but you had +better pass the word for all of them to hold on, when the gale +strikes her. That will be the critical moment. Once past that, she +will be all right till the sea begins to rise. Then you had best +get them below, for we shall have the water sweeping knee deep +along the waist, in no time.</p> +<p>"I should say send them down at once; but I know many of them +have been to sea before, and may be useful in cutting away, if +anything goes."</p> +<p>"She looks snug enough, captain," the young officer said, +glancing up at the diminished spread of canvas.</p> +<p>"She is snug enough for any ordinary gale," the captain said; +"but this is not going to be an ordinary gale. When we once get her +before it, it will be all right.</p> +<p>"Do you think we have another five minutes, Mr. James?"</p> +<p>"There's no saying, sir; but I should think so. What do you +want, sir?"</p> +<p>"I want that top sail off her, altogether."</p> +<p>"I will do it, sir," the mate said and, calling Bill Hardy and +two others of the best sailors, he led the way up the main +shrouds.</p> +<p>Every eye on deck was fixed on the four seamen as, rapidly but +steadily, they proceeded to furl and stow the sail. There was still +not a breath of wind, but a low humming noise was heard.</p> +<p>"Quick, Mr. James, never mind the sail. All hands on deck!" the +captain shouted; but the work was just done, and the sailors ran +quickly down the ratlines on to the deck.</p> +<p>"Thank God!" the captain said reverently, "that is done."</p> +<p>The ship was now under the close-reefed fore-top sail, a +diminutive try sail on the mizzen, and the jib. The hum had +increased to a roar, but still not a breath of wind stirred the +sails.</p> +<p>"Look up!" Bill said to Reuben; "you may be at sea fifty years, +and never see that again."</p> +<p>Reuben looked up. Immediately overhead was a small circle of +blue sky, round and round whose edge the edging of cloud seemed to +be circling, with extreme velocity. The light seemed to pierce +straight down onto the vessel, and she stood, pale and white, while +all around her a pitchy blackness seemed to prevail.</p> +<p>"We are in the eye of the storm, my lad. Here it comes. Now, +hold on for your life."</p> +<p>In another moment it seemed to Reuben that the end of all things +was come. He was pinned against the bulwark, as if by a mighty +invisible hand; and the vessel heeled over and over, until the deck +seemed to rise in a wall above him. Then the water poured over him +and, though he still held on, he thought the vessel had capsized. +Then he felt her rising beneath his feet, and his head emerged from +the water.</p> +<p>The captain, the first mate, and two seamen were at the wheel. +Reuben saw the captain wave his hand, but his words were lost in +the fury of the wind. The second mate, Bill Hardy, and two or three +other sailors knew what was required, and hauled upon the lee brace +of the fore-top-sail yard. The Paramatta was still lying nearly +over on her beam ends, but gradually her head began to pay off, and +she slowly righted. A minute later she was tearing directly before +the gale. Scarcely had she done so, when the fore-top sail blew out +of the bolt ropes, with a report that was heard even above the howl +of the tempest.</p> +<p>"It's done its work," Bill shouted in Reuben's ear. "I thought +she was gone. Just a little more, and she would have turned +turtle."</p> +<p>The captain had used almost precisely the same words to the +first officer, adding:</p> +<p>"She will do now, but we shall have to try to get a little more +head sail on her, when the sea gets up. Call some of the hands aft, +and get this try sail down. She yaws so, now the fore-top sail's +gone, there is no steering her."</p> +<p>This was soon done and, under bare poles, the storm jib now the +only sail upon her, the Paramatta tore through the water. There was +little motion, for the sea had not begun to get up, seeming to be +pressed flat by the force of the wind. The captain now left the +helm. Two or three of the male passengers were standing at the top +of the companion, peering out.</p> +<p>"You can come out, gentlemen, for a bit. She is running on an +even keel now, though that won't last long. No one hurt below, I +hope."</p> +<p>"Two or three of us have got bruised a little, captain; and I +think we have all of us got a severe fright. We thought she was +over."</p> +<p>"I thought so, too," the captain said. "Luckily she has got +three hundred tons of iron on board, and it's all stowed at the +bottom of the cargo, so that helped her up again; but it was touch +and go with her, for half a minute.</p> +<p>"And now, gentlemen, if you will take my advice you will just +look round, and then go below and turn in. Now you can do so +easily. Another hour, and there will be no keeping a footing."</p> +<p>The captain was right. In less than the time he named, a +terrific sea had got up. The Paramatta had already made more than +one circuit of the compass. There was no regularity in the sea. It +seemed to rise suddenly in heaps, now striking the ship on one +side, now on another, and pouring sheets of water over her +bulwarks. The motion of the vessel was so tremendous that even Bill +Hardy and the older seamen could only move along with the greatest +difficulty to carry out the orders of the captain; while Reuben +clung to the shrouds, now half buried in water, now almost hanging +in the air, with the sea racing along under his feet.</p> +<p>As yet no more sail had been put upon her, for there was no +following sea. Although running almost before the gale, a slight +helm was kept upon her, so as to edge her out from the centre of +the storm; and the second circle of the compass took more than +twice as long as the first to complete, although the vessel was +proceeding with equal speed through the water.</p> +<p>Hour after hour the sea got up—a wild, cross, broken sea—and +the motion of the vessel was so terrific as to be almost +bewildering to the oldest hands. There was none of the regular rise +and fall of an ordinary sea; the vessel was thrown with violent +jerks, now on one side, now on the other; now plunging her bow so +deeply down that she seemed about to dive, head foremost, beneath +the waves; now thrown bodily upwards, as if tossed up by some giant +hand beneath her. The watch off duty was sent below, for there was +nothing that could be done on deck; and the water swept over her in +such masses as to threaten, at times, to carry everything before +it. One man had had his leg broken. Several had been seriously +bruised and hurt.</p> +<p>"This is terrible, Bill," Reuben said, as he went below.</p> +<p>"Ay, lad; I have been at sea, man and boy, over forty years, and +it's the worst sea I ever saw. I expect to see her masts go out of +her, before long. Nothing could stand such straining as this. You +had best turn in at once. Unless I am mistaken, it will be all +hands to the pumps, before long. If she hadn't been one of the +tightest crafts afloat, she would have been making water at every +seam, by this time."</p> +<p>Reuben felt, the instant he lay down, that sleep was out of the +question; for it needed all his strength to prevent himself from +being thrown out of his bunk. The noise, too, was terrific—the +rush and swell of the water overhead, the blows which made the ship +shiver from stem to stern, the creaking of the masts, and howling +of the wind. Night had set in, now. It was pitch dark in the +forecastle, for the swinging lantern had been dashed so violently +against the beams that the light was extinguished.</p> +<p>Half an hour after Reuben turned in, a crash was heard. A moment +later the door was opened, and there was a shout:</p> +<p>"The mizzen has gone! All hands to cut away the wreck!"</p> +<p>The watch turned out and began to make their way aft, and were +soon engaged with knife and hatchet in cutting away the wreck of +the mizzen which, towing behind, threatened, with each heavy +following sea, to plunge into the vessel's stern. A cheer broke +from the men as the last rope was cut, and the wreck floated +astern. The mast had gone close to the deck, smashing the bulwark +as it fell over the side. The motion of the ship was easier, for +its loss.</p> +<p>"Mr. James," the captain shouted, "we must get preventer stays, +at once, upon the fore mast. The main mast may go, if it likes, and +at present we shall be all the better without it, but the foremast +we must keep, if we can."</p> +<p>"Ay, ay, sir. I will set about it, at once."</p> +<p>Picking out a few of the best hands, the first mate proceeded +about the work.</p> +<p>"Go and sound the well, Reuben," the captain said.</p> +<p>Reuben went off at once, and returned in two or three +minutes.</p> +<p>"There are four feet of water in it, sir."</p> +<p>"Four feet! Are you sure?" the captain exclaimed.</p> +<p>"Quite sure, sir."</p> +<p>The captain handed over the command of the deck to the second +officer, and went below with Reuben. First wiping the rod +carefully, he sounded the well.</p> +<p>"You are right," he said. "It is three inches over the four +feet. I fear that the bumping of the mizzen, before we got rid of +it, must have started a butt. She could hardly have made so much +water from straining."</p> +<p>The captain made his way aft. The saloon was empty; the +passengers, one by one, had retired to their cabins. He knocked at +the doors of Mr. Mason and the chief warder.</p> +<p>"The ship is making water fast," he said. "We must rig the +main-deck pumps. I can't spare any of the crew, their hands are +full. Will you set the convicts to work?"</p> +<p>In a few minutes the clank of the pumps was heard. Very +irregularly were they worked, for it was next to impossible for the +men to stand to them, with the vessel throwing herself about so +wildly.</p> +<p>The captain had remained on deck. He placed his hand on the +shrouds of the main mast. One moment they hung loosely; and then, +as the vessel rolled over, tightened themselves, with a sudden +jerk, till they were as stiff as iron rods. He shook his head.</p> +<p>"Reuben, make your way up to the chief officer, and tell him +that I am going to get rid of the main-top mast. Tell him to see +that everything is cut free from the fore mast."</p> +<p>Reuben made his way aloft with difficulty. It needed all his +strength to prevent the wind from tearing him from his grasp of the +shrouds, but at length he reached the fore top, where the mate was +at work. He delivered the captain's message.</p> +<p>"Ask the captain to wait five minutes, till I get the back stay +secured. I will send a man down, as soon as I am ready."</p> +<p>"You take this axe," the captain said, when Reuben regained the +deck, "and stand by this stay. When you see me ready to cut the +other, cut at the same moment."</p> +<p>In a few minutes Bill came down, with a message to the captain +that all was ready. The latter raised his arm to Reuben. He waited +till the vessel rolled over, and then lifted his axe. The two blows +fell together on the stays. A moment later the vessel began to rise +again. As the jerk came there was a crash above, and the main-top +mast fell over the side, clear of the deck, having snapped off at +the cap like a pipe stem.</p> +<p>"Thank God for that," the captain said, as he cut away the +connections on the other side, and the spar drifted astern, "that +is off our minds."</p> +<p>The loss of the main-top mast and mizzen greatly relieved the +strain on the ship, and she worked much easier. In half an hour, +the first officer returned on deck with his party, and reported +that he had done all he could to secure the fore mast.</p> +<p>"The sea is becoming more regular," the captain said, "now that +we are getting further away from the centre of the storm. We shall +soon have the waves racing behind us, like mountains, and we shall +have to shake out the fore sail to keep ahead of them. Now, let us +see how they are getting on below."</p> +<p>The well was again sounded, and it was found that the water had +gained two or three inches.</p> +<p>"When the motion gets a little more regular, Reuben, you must +take two or three hands, and work your way aft in the hold, and try +and find out where the water is coming in."</p> +<p>"I will go at once, sir, if you like."</p> +<p>"No," the captain replied, "it must not be thought of. +Everything will be adrift, and you would be crushed to death, to a +certainty. You must wait till we are out of this tumble. If the +water gains no faster than it does now, two or three hours will +make no material difference, and by that time I hope we shall have +got a regular sea."</p> +<p>Finding that there was nothing for him to do, Reuben again +turned in. The motion was still tremendous, but he could feel a +sensible change from what it was before. The motion of the ship was +less sudden and violent and, although she rolled tremendously, she +rose each time with an easier motion.</p> +<p>An hour later the watch turned out, and the others took their +place. The wind was blowing as heavily as when the hurricane began, +but the aspect of the sea had changed. It was no longer a mass of +leaping, tumbling water; but was running in long waves, following +each other, rising high above the vessel's stern as they overtook +her. Having lashed himself to the side, he remained for an hour +watching the sea. The first mate then came up to him.</p> +<p>"The captain thinks you might manage to get aft now. I will send +Bill and Dick Whistler with you, to help you move any boxes or +bales."</p> +<p>Reuben went back in the forecastle and got some tools, a piece +of old sailcloth, and a large bundle of oakum; and then made his +way with the two sailors down into the after hold. The way in which +the upper tier of cargo lay heaped against the sides showed that it +would, as the captain said, have been impossible to enter while the +motion was at its worst. The rolling, however, had greatly +diminished; the vessel rising and falling with a regular motion, as +each wave passed under her. The men each carried a lantern and, +with some difficulty, made their way to the stern.</p> +<p>"Ay, it's somewhere about here," Bill said. "I can hear the +rushing of water, somewhere below. Now, the first thing is to move +these bales."</p> +<p>They worked for a time, and then Bill returned on deck to fetch +two more hands. They brought hand spikes and bars, as the bales +were wedged so tightly together that it was difficult, in the +extreme, to move them. It took two hours' hard work before they +reached the leak. As the captain had supposed, the head of one of +the planks had been started, at the stern post, by a blow from the +wreck of the mizzen; and the water was rushing in with great +force.</p> +<p>"A few hours of this would have settled her," Bill said. "All +the pumps in the ship would not keep down such a leak as this."</p> +<p>Reuben at once set to work, cutting a deep groove in the stern +post. He butted some stout pieces of wood into this, and wedged the +other ends firmly against the first rib. Then he set to work to jam +down sail cloth and oakum between this barrier and the plank that +had started, driving it down with a marlinespike and mallet. It was +a long job, but it was securely done; and at last Reuben had the +satisfaction of seeing that a mere driblet of water was making its +way down, behind the stuffing, into the ship.</p> +<p>"That's a first-rate job, lad," Bill said approvingly. "Half an +hour's work once a week will keep her dry, if there is no water +finds its way in anywhere else."</p> +<p>Reuben went aft to the well. The pump was now working steadily, +the gangs of convicts relieving each other by turns. On sounding +the well, he found that the water had fallen nine inches since he +had last ascertained its depth. Going on deck, he found that a +misty light filled the air, and that morning was breaking.</p> +<p>The captain had two or three times come down to the hold, to +watch the progress of the work. Reuben reported to him its +completion, and the fall in the water.</p> +<p>"Yes, it's been falling the last hour," the captain said. "She +will do now. But she's making water, still. Some of the seams must +have opened. I have been looking her over, and can't find out where +it is; and we can do nothing until the gale has blown itself out, +and we can get below and shift the cargo."</p> +<p>Reuben found that the fore sail had been set while he was below; +and the vessel was running, some twelve knots an hour, before the +wind. At one moment she was in a deep valley, then her stern +mounted high on a following wave, and she seemed as if she must +slide down, head foremost. Higher and higher the wave rose, sending +her forward with accelerated motion; then it passed along her, and +she was on a level keel on its top, and seemed to stand almost +still as the wave passed from under her.</p> +<p>In spite of the extra lashing which had been given, the hen +coops, spars, and everything loose upon the decks had been swept +away; and the bulwarks had, in several places, been stove in. The +galley had been carried away, but the cook had just made a shift to +boil a cauldron of coffee below, and a mug of this was served out +to all hands. As Reuben broke a biscuit into his portion, and +sipped it, he thought he had never enjoyed a meal so much. He had +now been, for eighteen hours, wet through to the skin; and the +coffee sent a warm glow through him.</p> +<p>The captain ordered all hands, save a few absolutely required on +deck, to turn in; and Reuben was soon in a glow of warmth beneath +his blankets and, lulled by the now easy motion of the ship, was +fast asleep in a few minutes.</p> +<p>After four hours' sleep, he was again on deck. The gale was +blowing as strongly as ever, three men were at the helm, and the +vessel was still tearing along at great speed. Several of the male +passengers were on the poop, and the contrast between the +appearance of the Paramatta at the same hour on the previous day, +and that which she presented now, struck Reuben very strongly. +Sadly, indeed, she looked with mizzen mast gone, the main mast +shortened to the cap, and all the upper spars and rigging of the +fore mast gone. She was, however, making good weather of it, for +her hold was now so dry that the pumps were worked only on +alternate hours, and the relief afforded by the loss of all her top +hamper was very great.</p> +<p>For a week the Paramatta ran before the gale. At the end of the +fourth day its force somewhat abated, but it still blew much too +hard for anything to be done towards getting up fresh spars; while +the lost mizzen rendered it impossible for them to bring her up +into the wind.</p> +<p>"It's bitterly cold, Bill," Reuben said. "Its been getting +colder every day, but this morning it is really bitter."</p> +<p>"And no wonder, lad, seeing that we have been racing south for +pretty nigh a week. We have been making a little easting, but that +is all, and we are getting into the region of ice. We may see some +bergs any time now."</p> +<p>"I should like to see an iceberg," Reuben said.</p> +<p>"The fewer we see of them the better," Bill replied, "for they +are about as nasty customers as you want to meet. I expected we +should have seen them before, but this gale must have blown them +south a bit. They work up with the northwesterly current, but I +expect the wind will have carried them back against it. No, I don't +want to see no icebergs."</p> +<p>"But if it were a very big one, we might get under its lee and +repair damages a bit, Bill. Might we not?"</p> +<p>"No, my lad. The lee of an iceberg ain't a place one would +choose, if one could help it. There you are becalmed under it, and +the berg drifting down upon you, going perhaps four knots an hour. +No, the farther you keep away from icebergs the better. But if you +have got to be near one, keep to windward of it. At least, that's +my 'speryence.</p> +<p>"They have been having some trouble with the convicts, I hears. +They worked well enough at first, as long as they knew that there +was a lot of water in the hold; but since then they have been +a-grumbling, and last night I hear there was a rumpus, and six of +them was put in irons. That's the first of it, and the sooner the +gale's over, and we shapes our course in smooth water for Sydney +heads, the better I shall be pleased."</p> +<p>An hour later, Bill pointed to the sky ahead.</p> +<p>"Do yer see nothing odd about that 'ere sky?"</p> +<p>"No," Reuben replied, "except that it's very light +coloured."</p> +<p>"Ay, that's it, my lad. That's what they call the ice blink. You +see if we ain't in the middle of bergs before night comes on. I +have not been whaling for nothing."</p> +<p>A few minutes later, the first mate was heard to be shouting +orders.</p> +<p>"Just as I thought," Bill said. "We are going to try to rig a +jury mizzen, so as to help us claw off the ice, if need be."</p> +<p>A spare top mast was got up from below. Guys were fixed to one +end and, with the help of the marines and a party of convicts, the +spar was raised alongside the stump of the mizzen mast; and was +there lashed securely, the guys being fastened as stays to the +bulwarks. Blocks had been tied to the top, before it was raised; +and ropes rove into them; and a try sail was brought on deck, and +laid ready for hoisting.</p> +<p>The first mate ascended to the fore top, and at once hailed the +deck that ice was visible ahead. The captain joined him, and for +some minutes the two officers carefully examined the horizon. No +sooner did the captain regain the deck than he ordered the try sail +to be hoisted on the jury mast, and a haul to be given upon the +braces of the fore sail, while the ship's course was laid a little +north of east.</p> +<p>"It is lucky the wind has gone down as much as it has," he +remarked to Mr. Hudson. "The sea is still heavy but, if that jury +mizzen stands, we shall be able to claw off the ice."</p> +<p>"Is there much of it, captain?"</p> +<p>"We could see a good many bergs and, from the look of the sky, I +should say there was an ice field lying beyond them. However, I +think we shall do, if the wind does not freshen again. If it does, +we must do our best to make a group of islands lying down to the +southeast, and there refit. They are a rendezvous for whalers, in +summer."</p> +<p>"Why not do so now, captain?"</p> +<p>"I would, if it were not for the convicts. But, unless as a last +resource, I would not run the risk of touching at any island with +them on board. As long as we are at sea they are comparatively +harmless and, unless there is gross carelessness on the part of +their guard, there is little fear of an outbreak. But once let them +get on land, the matter is changed altogether. They are nearly +three to one as against the warders, marines, and crew; and I would +not run the risk, on any account, if it can be possibly avoided. +No, no, Mr. Hudson, unless it be a matter of life and death, we +will put in nowhere till we are in Sydney harbour."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch9" id="Ch9">Chapter 9</a>: Two Offers.</h2> +<p>At nightfall the Paramatta was in the midst of the icebergs, and +Reuben soon understood the antipathy which Bill had expressed for +them. As a spectacle, they were no doubt grand; but as neighbours +to a half-crippled ship, with half a gale blowing, their beauty was +a very secondary consideration to those on board.</p> +<p>Additional stays were fixed to the jury mast, as it might be +necessary, at any moment, to attempt to bring her up into the wind; +and the word was passed that both watches must remain on deck. +Fortunately the night was a light one, for the moon was up, and the +sky almost cloudless. The mate stood with two of the best hands at +the wheel; while the second mate took his place in the fore top, +with a lantern, to signal the position of ice ahead. Fortunately +there were but few small floating blocks about, and the Paramatta +threaded her way through the larger bergs, without once approaching +near enough to render danger imminent. It was a long and anxious +night but, when morning broke, it was seen that the sea was now +open ahead, and by the afternoon they had left the last berg +behind.</p> +<p>Two days later the wind went completely down, and the crew at +once set to work to repair damages. Reuben, with two men under him, +filled up the breaches in the bulwarks. A respectable jury mast was +rigged by the stump of the main mast; and the spar, which had done +such good service among the bergs, was replaced by a longer and +heavier one. All hands worked vigorously, and the sailors were +assisted in the heavier work by parties of convicts.</p> +<p>After two days' toil all was completed. Sail was hoisted again +and, under a greatly reduced spread of canvas to that which she had +carried before the gale burst, the Paramatta proceeded on her way. +The weather continued favourable and, without further adventure, +the Paramatta arrived off Sydney heads; having made the voyage in a +hundred and three days, which was, under the circumstances, a quick +one.</p> +<p>The last evening Captain Wilson asked Reuben to go with him to +the poop, as he and Mr. Hudson wanted to have a chat with him.</p> +<p>"Now, Reuben," Mr. Hudson said, "sit yourself down here. We must +have a talk together. Now we want to know exactly what you are +thinking of doing."</p> +<p>"I am thinking of getting work, sir," Reuben said, "at my own +trade."</p> +<p>"Well, my lad, I don't think you will make much at that. There +are mills, of course, but not a great many of them; and I fancy you +would find it difficult to get anything like regular work. The +distances here are tremendous, and you would spend the money you +made, in one job, in looking out for another.</p> +<p>"That is the first view of the case. The second is, that neither +Captain Wilson nor I mean to let you try it. You have saved my +daughter's life, and I am not going to let the man who did that +tramp about the country, looking for a day's work. Captain Wilson +is going to marry my girl shortly, and of course he feels just the +same about it. So the next question is, 'What is the best thing we +can do for you?' Now, if you have a fancy for squatting, you can +come with me up country and learn the business; and this day, +twelve-month, I will hand you over the deeds of a range, with five +thousand sheep upon it. Now, that's my offer.</p> +<p>"Now, don't you be in a hurry to refuse it, and don't let me +have any nonsense about your not liking to accept it. Ten such +farms would not pay the debt I owe you, and I tell you I should +think it downright mean, if you were to refuse to let me pay you a +part of my debt. Now you shall hear Wilson's proposal."</p> +<p>"My offer is not so brilliant, Reuben. Indeed, as far as making +money, the pay would probably be no higher, at first, than you +might earn at your trade. I am, as you know, assistant +superintendent to the constabulary force of the colony. Now, if you +like, I will obtain you a commission as an inspector. The pay is +not high, but by good conduct you may rise to a position such as I +hold. It is the position of a gentleman, and the life is full of +excitement and adventure. Now, what do you say?"</p> +<p>Reuben was silent for a minute or two.</p> +<p>"I am greatly obliged to you both," he said, "more obliged than +I can tell you. Your offer, Mr. Hudson, is a most generous one; but +I have not been accustomed to farming, and I would rather have such +a life as that which Captain Wilson offers me, although the pay may +be very much smaller.</p> +<p>"But, sir," he said, turning to the officer of constabulary, "I +fear that I cannot accept your offer, because, in the first place, +you see, I am not a gentleman."</p> +<p>"Oh, nonsense, Reuben! Your manners and language would pass you +as a gentleman, anywhere. Besides which, there are several officers +in the force who have risen from the ranks, and who have had +nothing like the education you have had. You can put that aside at +once. Is there any other reason?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir," Reuben said quietly. "I had never intended to have +spoken of it, and I came out to Australia in order that I might be +away from everyone who knew the story, but I couldn't accept your +offer without your knowing it. I am leaving England because I have +been tried for burglary."</p> +<p>"Nonsense!" both Reuben's listeners exclaimed, +incredulously.</p> +<p>"If you don't mind, I will tell you the whole story," Reuben +said, "and then you can judge for yourselves."</p> +<p>Reuben then related at length the whole circumstances, with +which the reader is already acquainted.</p> +<p>"I remember reading your story in the papers, Reuben," Captain +Wilson said. "Being in the force, you know, I take an interest in +these things. I own I was puzzled at the time—because, you see, I +did not know you—but how anyone who did know you, could think you +guilty, passes my comprehension."</p> +<p>"I call it infamous," Mr. Hudson added warmly. "They must be a +pack of fools, down at that place Lewes."</p> +<p>"Well," Captain Wilson said, "I am glad you have told me your +story; for I have all along been puzzled as to what made you give +up your trade, and emigrate, at your age. However, the matter is +explained now; but now you have told me, I see no reason whatever +why you should not accept my offer. In the first place, no one but +ourselves will know your history. In the next, if they did so, that +is no reason why you should not hold the appointment. No man is +free from the risk of being suspected unjustly. You have been +acquitted by a jury of your countrymen and, even did everyone know +it, no one dare throw it in your teeth.</p> +<p>"No, I repeat, if you like I have no doubt that I can obtain for +you an appointment as officer in the constabulary. You need not +give me an answer now. Think it over for a week. You will have +plenty of time, for Mr. Hudson insists upon your taking up your +abode with him, when you land."</p> +<p>"That I do," Mr. Hudson said. "I have a place a mile out of +Sydney, and there you will stop for a bit. Then I hope you will go +up the country with me, for a month or two, and learn the ways of +the place; till Captain Wilson has got an appointment for you—that +is, if you quite decide to accept his offer, instead of mine. But +remember, if ever you get tired of thief hunting, the offer will +still be open to you."</p> +<p>Sydney was at that time but a very small place; for the great +wave of emigrants had not yet begun to flow, and the colony was in +its early infancy. As soon as the vessel cast anchor, Mr. Hudson +and his party landed, taking Reuben with them; and an hour later he +found himself installed, as a guest, at the squatter's house.</p> +<p>It was large and comfortable, surrounded by a broad verandah, +and standing in a garden blooming with flowers, many of which were +wholly unknown to Reuben. He had, of course, before landing laid +aside the suit he had worn on board ship, and had dressed himself +in his best; and the heartiness and cordiality of his host, his +wife, and daughter soon made him feel perfectly at his ease.</p> +<p>"We are in the rough, you know," Mr. Hudson said to him. +"Everyone is in the rough here, at present. Twenty years hence +things may settle down, but now we all have to take them as we find +them. The chief difficulty is servants. You see, almost every other +man here is either a convict, an ex-convict, or a runaway sailor; +about as bad material as you could want to see, for the formation +of what they call at home a genteel establishment. The number of +emigrants who come out is small. For the most part they have a +little money and take up land, or at any rate, go up country and +look for work there. A few, of course, who have been sent out by +their friends at home to get rid of them, loaf about Sydney and +spend their money, till they are driven to take the first job that +offers. Well, they may do for shepherds, in places where no drink +is to be had for love or money, but you would scarcely care about +having them as butlers; so you see, we are driven to the three +classes I spoke of. I have been exceptionally lucky. The man who +carried the things upstairs just now, and who is my chief man here, +is an ex-convict."</p> +<p>Reuben looked surprised.</p> +<p>"He was assigned to me when he first got his ticket of leave. I +found him a good hand, and he stood by me pluckily, when my station +was attacked by the blacks. So next time I came down to the town, I +asked what he had been sent out here for. I found it was for having +been concerned in a poaching fray, in which some of the game +keepers got badly hurt. Well, that wasn't so much against him, you +know, so I got talking to him one day, and found out that he came +from my part of England. I found he had a wife, so I sent home +money to some friends, and asked them to send her out; which they +did and, finding she had, before she married him, been cook in a +gentleman's family, I engaged her here, and sent up the country for +Watson to come down. I had told him nothing about it; for I +thought, perhaps, his wife might refuse to come out, or might have +married again, or anything else.</p> +<p>"Well, the meeting was a happy one, as you may suppose; and I +then settled him down here—at least, it wasn't here, but a smaller +place I had then—and he has been with me ever since. His time was +out some years ago, but that has made no difference. Nothing would +induce him to leave me; and I would not part with him for any +amount, for a more faithful and trusty fellow never lived, and when +I go away I know everything will go along like clockwork. As for +his wife, she's a treasure, and she knows how to cook a dinner, as +you will acknowledge presently.</p> +<p>"They form the mainstay of my establishment. Besides that, +there's an old chap who looks after the garden, goes down to the +town, and does odd jobs. He was a sailor. He was landed here when +his vessel came into port, five years ago. He had fallen off the +yard on to the deck, and had broken half his ribs. He was taken to +the government hospital. They did not think, at first, that he +would ever get over it; but though he pulled through, it was clear +he would never be fit for any hard work. So the surgeon of the +hospital spoke of the case to me, and I said I thought I could find +a job that would suit him, and here he has been. He is quite strong +enough for all the work I want him to do, and I can trust him about +the place. Of course, he breaks out and gets drunk occasionally, +but one cannot expect to find a man perfect.</p> +<p>"Then there is a black boy—they call them all boys here—he +looks after the horses, and has two black boys—they are +boys—under him. I found him out on the plains. He had been shot by +some bush-ranging scoundrels, out of pure mischief, I should say. +He was insensible when I found him, but I saw that he was alive, +and managed to get him up on my horse and took him home. We were +six weeks getting him round, for the bullet had gone through his +body. It would have killed a white man in an hour, but these black +fellows are as hard as nails.</p> +<p>"My wife nursed him, for she was living up the country with me +at that time; and when he got well, he declared that he would never +leave us. I don't know that I was much gratified at the news, at +first; but I soon found out that Sam, as I called him, was a +valuable fellow about a place. He could turn his hand to +everything, but I found he was specially happy when he was engaged +about the horses; so at last I handed over that department to him, +and when we set up this place here, I brought him down with me and +made him head of the stables. It's fifteen years since I first +picked him up, and I don't think I have ever had cause to find +fault with him, since.</p> +<p>"So you see, though my establishment can't be called a genteel, +it's a thoroughly good-working one, and I doubt if there's a man in +the colony who is as well off as I am.</p> +<p>"When we go up country they all go with me except the sailor, +who remains in charge. He's a great man, I can tell you, when he's +left in what he calls command of the ship. He's got hold of two old +muskets and a brace of pistols, and these he always loads before we +start, so as to be ready to repel boarders. He looks out sharply, +too, for I have never lost a thing since he came; and when you +consider what a number of gentry there are, about here, with +experience in housebreaking, I think that's pretty well. He is +always drunk and incapable, for three or four days after our +return, as a reward to himself for having kept from drink all the +time we are away."</p> +<p>"Dinner is ready," Frances Hudson said, running into the room. +"Here you are, papa, talking away as usual, whenever you get the +chance. Now run upstairs quickly, both of you; for Rachel will not +be pleased if you let the first dinner get cold, after she has been +doing her best to turn out something special, in honour of the +occasion, ever since she heard the Paramatta was in port."</p> +<p>"I won't be a minute, Frances.</p> +<p>"Ah, here comes Wilson. I was wondering what had become of him. +He promised to come on, as soon as he had seen his chief."</p> +<p>The dinner was an excellent one, and fully bore out Mr. Hudson's +assertion with respect to his cook. All were in high spirits, with +the exception of Mrs. Hudson, who was cool in her manners to the +young officer, and was evidently desirous of showing her +disapproval of his engagement to her daughter, which had only taken +place two days before.</p> +<p>"I have news for you, Reuben," Captain Wilson said, in the first +pause of conversation. "I saw the chief, and told him I wanted an +appointment for a young friend of mine, who had come out in the +Paramatta, and who had shown great pluck and presence of mind in an +affair at the Cape, which I described to him. He said that he could +appoint you at once, as young Houghton, a district superintendent, +was killed three weeks ago, in an affair with the bush rangers up +country. He said he was very glad to hear of someone likely to make +a good officer, to fill his place. So if you make up your mind to +be a constable, the place is ready for you."</p> +<p>"Thank you very much, sir," Reuben said, "I was thinking the +matter over last night, and quite made up my mind to accept the +place you were kind enough to offer me, if you think me fit to fill +it."</p> +<p>"I have no fear on that score, Reuben. I am sure you will do +credit to my recommendation. So then, we may consider that as +settled."</p> +<p>"There," grumbled Mr. Hudson, "that's just like you, Wilson; you +upset all my plans. It was arranged he was to come up to my +station, and there, before you are on shore two hours, you arrange +the whole business; and I suppose you will be wanting him to get +into his uniform, and be off before a week's out."</p> +<p>"I daresay we can manage a fortnight," Captain Wilson laughed, +"and I have no doubt he will have plenty of opportunities for +visiting you, later on. Indeed, I don't know why he should not be +able to look you up, as soon as you get there. He will, of course, +be placed under an old hand for six months, to learn his duties and +get to speak a little of the native lingo.</p> +<p>"Hartwell, who has your district, is as good a man as he can be +put with. He is a careful officer, though perhaps a little slow; +but he will be a good man for Reuben to serve under, and I know the +chief will put him with him if I ask him, as it can't make any +difference where he goes first."</p> +<p>"Well, if you can arrange that, Wilson, I will forgive you. And +now, where are you going to?"</p> +<p>"For the time, I am not going anywhere in particular," Captain +Wilson replied. "The chief says he thinks that things have got +rather slack, since I have been away. There are several bands of +bush rangers, who have been doing a deal of mischief up country; so +to begin with, he wishes me to make a tour of inspection, and to +report generally. After that, I think I shall be settled here for a +time. At any rate, it will be my headquarters. I think it probable +the chief himself will be going home on leave, before very +long."</p> +<p>"The sooner you are settled here, the better," Mr. Hudson said; +"for I know I shall get no peace, now, till Frances is settled, +too. Ever since she was a child, when she once made up her mind +that she wanted a new toy, she worried me till I got it for her; +and you are the last new toy."</p> +<p>"Oh, papa, how can you say so!" Frances said, laughing and +colouring. "As far as I am concerned, it may be months and +months."</p> +<p>"Oh, that is all very well," Mr. Hudson broke in. "I know what +you want. You want Wilson here to be always, neglecting his duty, +and galloping over from the other end of the colony to see you. No, +no, my dear, if Wilson is a wise fellow, he will bring you to book, +as soon as I can either build, or get hold of, a place fit for you. +We shall be having no peace, now. Every time he is off on duty, you +will be picturing him as engaged in some dreadful struggle with +bush rangers and blacks; and if letters don't come as often as you +expect them, you will be fretting yourself into a fever."</p> +<p>"What nonsense, papa! I know, of course, George will have to do +his duty. I don't suppose he's always going to be tied to my apron +string."</p> +<p>"You take my advice, Reuben," Mr. Hudson said, "don't you go and +lose your heart; for if you once do, there's a police officer +spoiled. It don't so much matter with Wilson, because he has done +his share of dangerous work, and is pretty well up at the top of +the tree; but a man that has to tackle bush rangers and blacks, +ought not to have a woman at home thinking of him."</p> +<p>"There is no fear of that, for a good many years to come," +Reuben laughed. "Are these blacks really formidable fellows, +Captain Wilson?"</p> +<p>"Formidable to the settlers," Captain Wilson said, "but not to +us. They drive off cattle and sheep, and sometimes attack solitary +stations, and murder every soul there; but they seldom stand up in +fair fight, when we come down upon them; but they fight hard, +sometimes, when they are acting with bush rangers."</p> +<p>"Bush rangers are mostly escaped convicts, are they not?"</p> +<p>"Almost always," Captain Wilson replied, "except that, of +course, they have among them a few men such as runaway sailors, and +ne'er-do-wells who get sick of shepherding and take to the bush; +but the great proportion are convicts. It is not to be wondered at, +when you look at the life many of these men have led at home, and +the monotony and hardship of their lives in many of the up-country +stations, allotted to men as ignorant, and sometimes almost as +brutal as themselves.</p> +<p>"Some of them, too, escape from the road gangs, and these are +generally the worst; for as often as not, they may have killed a +warder in making their escape, and know that it will go hard with +them if they are caught.</p> +<p>"It may be said that there are two sorts of bush rangers. The +one are men who have taken to the bush, simply from a desire of +regaining their liberty. Sometimes they join parties of blacks, and +live with them. Sometimes two or three get together, and all the +harm they do is to carry off an occasional sheep, for food. And the +other kind are desperadoes—men who were a scourge in England, and +are a scourge here, who attack lonely stations, and are not content +with robbing, but murder those who fall into their hands.</p> +<p>"They are in fact wild beasts, to whom no mercy is to be +extended; and who, knowing it, will fight to the last. They are not +easy to hunt down, their instinct having made them wary; and being +generally in league with the blacks, who are as cunning as foxes, +and can run pretty nearly as fast as a horse can gallop, they are +kept very well informed as to our movements and, the country being +so immense, we should never run them down, were it not for our +native trackers.</p> +<p>"These fellows are to the full as sharp as the Red Indians of +North America. They seem, in fact, to have the instinct of dogs, +and can follow a track when the keenest white's eye cannot detect +the smallest trace of a footprint. It is something marvellous what +some of them will do."</p> +<p>"Have you many of these trackers in your employment?"</p> +<p>"There are one or two attached to every up-country station. They +are, in fact, our bloodhounds; and although some of our men pick up +a little of their craft, we should do nothing without them."</p> +<p>The next morning, Reuben met Captain Wilson down in Sydney, and +was taken by him to the chief of the constabulary, who at once made +out his appointment. On his return, Mr. Hudson again started with +him for the town, and insisted upon ordering his equipment. As +Reuben saw that he would be hurt by any shadow of denial, he +accepted Mr. Hudson's kind offer; although he had intended to ask +Captain Wilson to make an advance of pay, in order that he might +get what was necessary. He could not, however, have purchased such +an outfit as Mr. Hudson insisted on getting for him; the latter +ordering not only uniforms but suits of plain clothes, together +with saddlery, holsters, a sword, and a brace of excellent +double-barrelled pistols. He did not need to buy a horse, having in +his stables one in every way suitable, being at once quiet and +fast—it was, indeed, one of the most valuable animals in the +colony.</p> +<p>"You will have to keep your eyes open, Reuben," he said, as he +gave him the horse, "or he will be stolen from you. These bush +ranger fellows are always well mounted, and anyone at an up-country +station, who has an animal at all out of the ordinary way, has to +keep his stable door locked and sleep with one eye open; and even +then, the chances are strongly in favour of his losing his horse, +before long. These fellows know that their lives often depend upon +the speed of their horse and, naturally, spare no pains to get hold +of a good one.</p> +<p>"Ah, I have a good idea.</p> +<p>"Jim," he shouted to one of the black boys, "come here."</p> +<p>The lad, who was about eighteen years of age, trotted up.</p> +<p>"Jim, this gentleman is going to be a police officer, and he's +going to take the bay with him; now he wants a good servant. Will +you go with him?"</p> +<p>The lad looked longingly at the horse, which he had groomed and +was very fond of; but he shook his head.</p> +<p>"I no leave Massa Hudson."</p> +<p>"Yes, but I wish you to go, Jim. This gentleman is a great +friend of mine, and when bad black man attacked young Missy, he +saved her life. So I want him to be taken good care of; and the +horse, too, and to see no one steals it. So someone I can trust +must go with him. If you don't like him for a master, after you +have tried him, Jim, you can come back to me again. You have been a +good boy, and I have no wish to get rid of you; but this gentleman +don't know the ways of the country, and I want to be sure he has +someone with him he can trust."</p> +<p>The lad looked at Reuben gravely, with his small eyes deeply +sunken under the projecting eyebrows.</p> +<p>"Jim will go," he said. "He look after white man and Tartar, to +please Massa Hudson and young Missy."</p> +<p>"That's right, Jim," his employer said.</p> +<p>"That's a good stroke of business," he went on, as he turned +away with Reuben; "if you treat these black fellows well, and they +get attached to you, they are faithful to death."</p> +<p>"You will see that fellow will never let your horse out of his +sight. If you ride twenty miles across country, there he will be by +your side as you dismount, ready to take it, and looking as fresh +as paint. At night he will sleep in the stable, and will be ready, +at all times and places, to make a fire, and cook a damper or a bit +of meat, if you are lucky enough to have one by you. All the people +about the place would do anything, I believe, for Frances; and the +fact that you have saved her life will bind this boy to you, at +first. Afterwards he will get to care for you, for yourself."</p> +<p>A fortnight later Reuben, in his uniform as an officer of the +constabulary, rode out of Sydney. His baggage had been sent on, +three days before, by a waggon returning up country. Jim trotted, +with an easy stride, behind him. Reuben at first was inclined to +ride slowly, in order to give his attendant time to keep up with +him; but he soon found that, whatever pace he went, the lad kept +the same distance behind, without any apparent exertion; and he +was, therefore, able to choose his own pace, without reference to +Jim's comfort.</p> +<p>Four years passed. Reuben Whitney gave every satisfaction to his +superiors, and was considered a zealous and effective young +officer. So far he had not been placed in a position of great +responsibility; for although for the last two years he had been in +charge of a district, it was not far from Sydney, and his duties +consisted principally in hunting for convicts who had made their +escape, in looking after refractory ticket-of-leave men, and in +ordinary constabulary work. He had learned in that time to become a +first-rate rider, and a good shot with a pistol, accomplishments +which would be of vital service when he was ordered to an +up-country station. For his pistols he had as yet, however, had no +actual use, as neither bush rangers nor natives penetrated so far +into the settlement.</p> +<p>At the end of the four years' service, he received a letter from +Captain Wilson, who had just succeeded to the chief command of the +constabulary, ordering him to hand over charge of the district to +the young officer who was the bearer of the letter, and to report +himself at headquarters.</p> +<p>Reuben was now nearly three-and-twenty, and had grown into a +very powerful young man. A life spent for the most part on +horseback had hardened his muscles, and filled out his frame. He +stood about five feet nine, but looked shorter, owing to his great +width of shoulders. He was still quiet in manner, but he had the +same bright and pleasant expression which had characterized him as +a boy; and his visits to Sydney, where he was introduced by Captain +Wilson and Mr. Hudson into the best society, had given him ease and +self possession.</p> +<p>The native, Jim, was still with him. He had become greatly +attached to his master, and his fidelity and devotion had been of +the greatest service to him and, go where he would, the black was +always at his heels.</p> +<p>On his presenting himself at Sydney, Captain Wilson said, after +the first greetings:</p> +<p>"I know you have been a little disappointed, Reuben, because +hitherto you have been at stations where you have had but little +opportunity of distinguishing yourself. However, I thought better +to keep you at quiet work, until you were thoroughly master of your +duties; and had, moreover, got your full strength. I don't know +whether you have quite arrived at that yet, but I think you will +do, anyhow," and he smiled as he looked at Reuben's shoulders.</p> +<p>"I think I am as strong as most of them," Reuben said, smiling +too. "Four years' mill-wright's work, and four years on horseback +in this bracing air, ought to make one strong, if there's anything +in one to begin with. I think I shall do, in that respect."</p> +<p>"I think so, Reuben. I don't think there are many men in the +force who could hold their own with you, in a grapple.</p> +<p>"And now to business. You have heard of that affair of Inspector +Thomas, in the Goora district—it was a bad business. He and two of +his men were out, after some natives who had driven off cattle; and +he was set upon by a party of bush rangers, and he and his men +killed."</p> +<p>"So I heard, sir," Reuben said quietly.</p> +<p>"Well, I have decided in sending you up in his place. It is a +bad district—the worst we have, at present—and it needs a man of +great resolution, and intelligence. I am sure that you have plenty +of both, and that I cannot make a better choice than in sending you +there. Your age is the only thing against you—not with me, you +know, but others may think that I have done wrong, in selecting so +young an officer—but you see, I know my man. I know, too, that +several of the inspectors are getting too old for this sort of +work. I do not mean too old, perhaps, in point of years, but they +are married men with families, and for desperate work I prefer men +without encumbrances.</p> +<p>"The post should be held by an inspector, but I cannot promote +you, at present. It would be putting you over the heads of too +many. But you will have a good chance of earning early promotion, +and I know that is what you like."</p> +<p>"Thank you very much, Captain Wilson. I will do my best to show +myself worthy of your confidence."</p> +<p>"You will have all your work cut out for you, Reuben. The +district has, all along, been a most troublesome one. The number of +settlers, at present, is small. There is a good deal of higher bush +than usual about it, which makes it very difficult to run these +fellows down; and the natives are specially troublesome. Besides +which, at present there are two or three of the worst gangs of bush +rangers in the colony, somewhere in that country. You will have to +be cautious as well as bold, Reuben. It is a dangerous service I am +sending you on; still, the more danger, the more credit to +you."</p> +<p>"You could not have given me a station I should have liked +better; and I hope, ere long, I may be able to give you a good +account of the bush rangers."</p> +<p>"And now, Reuben, if you will call again in an hour, I shall be +free, and then I will drive you home. You need not start for a day +or two; and you will, of course, stay with me till you do."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch10" id="Ch10">Chapter 10</a>: An Up-Country +District.</h2> +<p>Mrs. Wilson received Reuben, as usual, with the greatest +cordiality; but she exclaimed loudly, when she heard that he was +going to the Goora district.</p> +<p>"You don't mean it, George. You can't mean that you are going to +send Reuben to that dreadful place. Why, we are always hearing of +murders and robberies there; and you know the last inspector was +killed; and the one before recalled, because you said he had lost +his nerve; and now you are sending Reuben there!"</p> +<p>"But I look upon it as the greatest honour, Mrs. Wilson, being +chosen for such a station; and you see, there will be capital +chances of distinguishing myself, and getting promoted."</p> +<p>"And capital chances of being killed," Mrs. Wilson said, in a +vexed tone. "I do call it too bad, George."</p> +<p>"But, my dear, we want a man of pluck and energy. Besides, you +know, we have been getting into hot water over that district. The +press have been saying very severe things, about our incompetence +to protect the outlying settlements, and I was obliged to choose a +man who will give satisfaction; and you will agree with me that +Reuben will do that."</p> +<p>"Of course he will," Mrs. Wilson agreed. "I shouldn't be alive +now, if he hadn't had plenty of pluck and energy; but for that very +reason, you ought not to send him to such a dangerous post."</p> +<p>"But I wish to give him an opportunity for distinguishing +himself. He wants to get on, and I want to push him on; but you +see, I can't promote him over the heads of some eight or ten men, +senior to him, unless he does something a little out of the +way."</p> +<p>"Well, I don't like it, George, I tell you frankly. I always +thought he was wrong, to go into the constabulary at all, instead +of accepting papa's offer. I can't think why you men are so fond of +fighting, when you could choose a quiet and comfortable life."</p> +<p>"But it is not always so quiet and comfortable, Frances, as a +good many have found, in the district he is going to; and after +all, it is less dangerous fighting bush rangers and natives when +you are prepared for it, than to be woke up of a night with a band +of them thundering at your door, and with no assistance within +twenty miles."</p> +<p>As Frances Wilson remembered how, in her childish days, her +father's place had been, for three days, beset with blacks, she had +no answer ready for the argument.</p> +<p>"Well, I do hope, Reuben," she said, "if you do go to this +horrid place, you will take care of yourself, and not be rash."</p> +<p>"He's going to take care of others, Frances. You know, if he had +taken care of himself and hadn't been rash, you would not have come +so well out of that Malay business. I am sure he looks as if he +could take care of himself, doesn't he?"</p> +<p>"Yes, he is big enough and strong enough," Mrs. Wilson agreed, +"but that's no good against spears or boomerangs, to say nothing of +rifles and pistols."</p> +<p>"Why, Frances, you are not generally a croaker," her husband +said lightly, "but for once, you seem to be determined to do your +best to frighten Reuben, before he starts."</p> +<p>Mrs. Wilson laughed.</p> +<p>"No, I don't want to frighten him, George. I only want to make +him careful."</p> +<p>"I will be as careful as I can, Mrs. Wilson. That boy Jim is a +treasure. I will warrant, if there are any black fellows about, he +will sniff them out somehow. That fellow has a nose like a hound. +He has always been most useful to me, but he will be invaluable at +Goora."</p> +<p>Two days afterwards, Reuben left for his new command. It took +him eight days to reach it. His headquarters were at Goora, a +settlement of some twenty houses; besides the barracks in which the +constabulary force, consisting of a sergeant, eighteen constables, +and two native trackers, were quartered. The sergeant, a +north-country Irishman named O'Connor, was somewhat surprised when +Reuben rode up to the station; for the officers previously in +command had been much older men.</p> +<p>Reuben's own quarters were in a cottage, close to the main +building, and he asked the sergeant to come, in the evening.</p> +<p>"Now, sergeant," he said, after a little preliminary talk, "I +have been sent up by Captain Wilson, with instructions to root out +these bands of bush rangers."</p> +<p>The sergeant smiled grimly.</p> +<p>"We have been doing our best for the last three years, sir, but +we have not made much of a hand at it."</p> +<p>"No," Reuben agreed, "and I don't suppose, of course, that I am +going to succeed all at once. In the first place, tell me frankly, +what sort of men have we got?"</p> +<p>"The men are good enough, sir, but they have certainly got +disheartened, lately. One way and another, we have lost something +like ten men in the last two years; and of course, that last affair +with poor Mr. Thomas was a bad one."</p> +<p>"I understand," Reuben said quietly, "some of them are not quite +so eager to meet the bush rangers as they used to be."</p> +<p>"Well, that is perhaps about it, sir; but I must say the men +have been tremendously hardly worked—pretty nigh night and day in +the saddle, often called out by false news to one end of the +district; and then to find, when they return, that those scoundrels +have been down playing their games at some station at the other +end. It's enough to dishearten a man."</p> +<p>"So it is, sergeant. I was speaking to Captain Wilson about it, +and saying that if we are to succeed we ought to have some fresh +hands, who will take up the work with new spirit. We are seven +below our force, at present; and he has promised to send me up +fifteen new hands, so there will be eight to be relieved. I will +leave it to you to pick out the men to go. Mind, put it to them +that they are to be relieved simply because Captain Wilson thinks +they have had their share of hard work, and should therefore be +sent to a quiet station, for a time. Just pick out the men whom you +think would be most pleased to go."</p> +<p>"Very well, sir. I am glad to hear the news, for to tell you the +truth, I do think we want a little fresh blood amongst us."</p> +<p>Three days later the new detachment arrived, and Reuben saw, at +once, that Captain Wilson had chosen a picked set of young men. +About half of them were freshly enlisted in the force. The others +had all been employed at up-country stations, and were well +acquainted with the nature of the work before them. The same +afternoon, the eight men picked out by Sergeant O'Connor as being +the least useful on the station started for Sydney, most of them +well pleased at being relieved from their arduous duties.</p> +<p>Reuben found that there were, in the office, a great many +letters from settlers, asking for protection. It was impossible to +comply with all these but, after consultation with O'Connor, he +sent five parties, of three men each, to as many exposed stations; +keeping ten in hand, to move as required.</p> +<p>Taking Jim, and two of the constables who had been longest on +the station, he spent two months in traversing his district, from +end to end, and making himself thoroughly acquainted with its +geographical features; for he felt that, until he had mastered +these, he should only be working in the dark. For a time the +outrages had ceased, the bush rangers having shifted their +quarters, and the natives withdrawn after the murder of the late +inspector. This was a great relief to Reuben, as it permitted him +to gain an insight into the country before setting to work in +earnest.</p> +<p>Upon his tour, he and his followers were everywhere most +hospitably received at the stations at which they halted. +Everywhere he heard the same tale of sheep killed, cattle and +horses driven off, and the insolent demeanour of the natives.</p> +<p>"I was thinking of giving it up, and moving back into the more +populated districts," one of the settlers said to Reuben; "but now +you have come, I will hold on for a bit longer, and see how it +turns out. You look to me the right sort of fellow for the post; +but the difficulty is, with such a large scattered district as +yours, to be everywhere at once. What I have often thought of, is +that it would be a good thing if the whole district were to turn +out, and go right into the heart of the black country, and give +them a lesson."</p> +<p>"From what I hear," Reuben said, "it will be next to impossible +for us to find them. The country is so vast, and covered with bush, +that there would be no searching it. They have no fixed villages, +and the want of water would render it impossible for us to go very +far. But the worst point would be that they all seem to be well +informed as to what is going on. I suppose they get warnings from +the native herdsmen and servants, and if we were all together to +enter their country, we must leave the stations unprotected, and we +should find them in ashes, on our return."</p> +<p>"Yes, that is true," the settler said. "I suppose it couldn't be +done. But it's anxious work sleeping here, night after night, with +one's rifle by one's bedside, never certain at what hour one may be +woke by the yelling of the blacks. But they are not as bad as the +bush rangers. If the blacks can but drive off your cattle, they are +contented. You have got nothing else that is much use to them. The +bush rangers don't want your cattle, beyond a head or two for +present use; but they want everything else you've got, and whether +you like it or not is quite immaterial to them. Thank God I have +got no money in the place, and I and my three men can make a pretty +good fight of it. But I pity the men with wives and daughters."</p> +<p>"Well, I hope we shall soon put a stop to it," Reuben said +cheerfully. "We will give them a lesson if we catch them, you may +be quite sure."</p> +<p>"I hope so," the settler said. "But you folks have been mighty +unlucky, lately. Never seem to have been at the right place at the +right time. Not that I am surprised at that, in such a district; +but somehow they never come up with the fellows, afterwards."</p> +<p>"No, they seem to have had bad luck," Reuben agreed. "I hope we +shall do better now."</p> +<p>Three days after his return from his last visit of inspection of +his district, a settler rode, at full speed, up to the station.</p> +<p>"Captain," he said—for although Reuben had no right to that +title, he was always so called by the settlers—"the blacks have +been down at my place. They have killed my two shepherds, and +driven off the sheep."</p> +<p>"Sergeant O'Connor, turn out the men at once," Reuben shouted. +"See that their ammunition is all right, and let each man take a +water skin and four days' provisions in his haversack.</p> +<p>"When was it?" he asked, turning to the settler again.</p> +<p>"Some time yesterday afternoon—at least, I judge so. One of the +men was to have come in for supplies, and when night came and he +hadn't come in, I began to be afraid something was wrong, for I +knew that they were getting short. So this morning, at daybreak, I +rode out with the hands I have about the house. We could see +nothing of the sheep, so we rode straight to the men's hut. There, +lying some twenty yards away, was the body of one of the men, +riddled with spear holes. He had evidently been running to the hut +for shelter, when he was overtaken. I did not stop to look for the +other, for no doubt he had been killed, too."</p> +<p>"Well, we will do what we can for you," Reuben said. "I will be +ready in five minutes."</p> +<p>He ran into the house, buckled on his sword, put some cold meat +and a small bag of flour into his haversack, together with some +dampers Jim had just cooked, and then went out again. Jim had +already brought his horse round to the door. Before mounting he +took the pistols out of the holsters, and examined them +carefully.</p> +<p>By this time the sergeant and ten men were in the saddle, and +placing himself at their head, with the settler, whose name was +Blount, he rode off at full speed; followed by his men, the two +native trackers, and Jim. Reuben soon reined his horse in.</p> +<p>"It will not do to push them too hard, at first. There is no +saying how far we shall have to go."</p> +<p>"Do you mean to follow them into their own country?" Mr. Blount +asked.</p> +<p>"I do," Reuben said. "I will follow them till I catch them, if I +have to go across Australia."</p> +<p>"That's the sort," Mr. Blount said. "I expect you will find +half-a-dozen other fellows at my station, by the time you get +there. I sent my hand off on horseback to the stations near, to +tell them what had taken place, and that I had ridden off to you, +and asking them to come round."</p> +<p>"How far is it?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"About forty miles."</p> +<p>"But your horse will never be able to do it," Reuben said.</p> +<p>"I got a fresh horse at a friend's, four miles from your +station, so I am all right."</p> +<p>"They will have more than a day's start of us," Reuben remarked +presently.</p> +<p>"Yes; thirty-six hours, for you will have to stop at my place +tonight. But they can't travel very fast with sheep, you know."</p> +<p>"No," Reuben agreed. "If they had had cattle, it would have been +useless following them; but with sheep we may come up to them, +especially if they don't think they will be followed far."</p> +<p>"No; that's my hope. They will know I had forty miles to ride to +your station. Besides, had it not been that I was expecting the +shepherd in for supplies, I might not have found it out for two or +three days. So I expect they will think that they are pretty safe +from pursuit. They have never been followed far into the bush. It's +nasty work, you see."</p> +<p>"It's got to be done," Reuben said. "It is impossible to keep +guard everywhere, and the only way to put a stop to these outrages +is to teach the blacks that punishment will follow, wherever they +go."</p> +<p>It was late in the afternoon before they arrived at Mr. Blount's +station. They found fourteen or fifteen of the neighbouring +settlers gathered there. They came out as the sound of the +trampling of the horses was heard. Several of them were known to +Reuben, from his having stopped at their stations.</p> +<p>"Glad to see you, captain, but I am afraid you are too late," +said Dick Caister, a young settler whose station lay about twelve +miles away.</p> +<p>"That remains to be proved," Reuben replied, as he +dismounted.</p> +<p>"Oh, they have got twenty-four hours' start, and it's too late +to do anything tonight. They must be thirty miles away in the bush, +already."</p> +<p>"If they were a hundred, I would follow them," Reuben said.</p> +<p>There was an exclamation of surprise, and something like a +cheer, on the part of some of the younger men.</p> +<p>"The difficulties are very great," one of the elder settlers +said. "There is neither food nor water to be found in the +bush."</p> +<p>"I know it's not an easy business," Reuben said quietly. "But as +to food, we can carry it with us; as to water, there must be water +in places, for the natives can no more go without drinking than we +can. There must be streams and water holes, here and there. But +however difficult it is, I mean to attempt it. It is the only way +of bringing the blacks to book; there can never be safety among the +outlying settlements, unless the fellows are taught a lesson.</p> +<p>"And now, gentlemen, before we go further, I want to say this: I +know that you are all ready to help, that you are all thirsting to +wipe out old scores with the blacks; but at the same time I would +point out to you that it is likely enough that the bush rangers, +who certainly work with the blacks, will follow up this stroke. +Therefore, it will not do to leave the stations defenceless. I do +not want a large force with me. If we once overtake the blacks, I +have no fear whatever of being able to give a good account of them. +Therefore I would urge, upon all of you who are married men, that +it is of the first importance that you should stay at home, in case +the bush rangers take the opportunity of our being away to pay you +a visit. That is the first thing to be thought of. If any of the +others like to go with us, I shall be very glad of their +assistance. We may be away for a week or more, for ought I +know."</p> +<p>"That is certainly the best plan, captain," Dick Caister said. +"As you say, let the married men stop at home and guard their +stations. I think the rest of us will all go with you."</p> +<p>There was a chorus of approval. Eight of those present were +married men and, though reluctant to give up the thought of +punishing the blacks, they were yet glad that they were not called +upon to leave their wives and families. With many good wishes for +the success of the expedition, they at once mounted, and rode off +to their respective stations, some of which were more than twenty +miles away.</p> +<p>"Now for ways and means," Reuben said. "What spare horses have +you, Mr. Blount?"</p> +<p>"I have only two, besides the one I am riding."</p> +<p>"I should like to take at least six. We must carry a good store +of provisions."</p> +<p>"I don't think you need trouble about that," Mr. Blount said. +"We must take a supply of flour with us, and of course tea and +sugar; and a few bottles of rum will not be amiss. All these I can +furnish. But as to meat, I do not think we need trouble. Going as +fast as the blacks will travel, there are sure to be lots of the +sheep fall by the way. The blacks will eat as many as they can, but +even a black cannot stuff himself beyond a certain extent, and +there will be plenty for us."</p> +<p>"Yes, I did not think of that," Reuben replied; "in that case +two spare horses will be enough."</p> +<p>"It would be a good thing to have a few with us, though," one of +the young men said. "My place is only six miles off. I will ride +over and bring back three with me; they are all good ones, and I +should be sorry to find they were gone when I get back. I can lead +one, my black boy can ride another and lead the third. It is likely +enough some of the horses may give out, or get speared if the +blacks make a fight of it, and half a dozen spare horses would come +in very handy."</p> +<p>Reuben thought the plan was a good one, whereupon two of the +others also volunteered to ride over and fetch—the one three and +the other two—horses.</p> +<p>"That will make ten altogether, with Blount's two. We shall +travel all the faster, because we can ride the spare horses by +turns."</p> +<p>The three settlers rode off at once, and returned late at night +with the spare horses. They had not been idle at Mr. Blount's. A +bullock had been killed and cut up, and a considerable portion +cooked, so that each of the twenty men going on the expedition +would start with ten pounds of cooked meat, in order to save the +time that would be spent in halting to cook the carcass of any +sheep they might come upon. The question of weight was immaterial, +as the meat could be packed on the spare horses.</p> +<p>As soon as day broke, the party were in their saddles. Mr. +Blount led them first to the hut near which he had found his +shepherd killed. The native trackers now took up the search. The +body of the other shepherd was found half a mile away. It was in a +sitting position by a tree; the skull was completely smashed in by +the blow of a waddy, and it was evident that a native had crept up +behind him, and killed him before he was conscious that any danger +was at hand. The trackers were not long in finding the place where +the sheep had been collected together and driven off, and a broad +track of trampled grass showed, clearly enough, the direction which +had been taken.</p> +<p>"How many of the black fellows do you think there were?" Reuben +asked one of the trackers.</p> +<p>"Great many black fellow, captain," he replied.</p> +<p>"What do you call a great many?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"Twenty, thirty, captain; can't say how many. No use, captain, +look for dem, gone right away into de bush, never find them."</p> +<p>"I am going to try, anyhow," Reuben said. "Now, do you lead the +way."</p> +<p>"I tink dere are more dan thirty black fellow," Jim said to +Reuben, as they started; "quite a crowd of dem. Me no much like +those two black fellow," and he nodded towards the trackers, who +were running on ahead. "No good, those fellows."</p> +<p>"What makes you think that, Jim?"</p> +<p>"Two days ago, Jim saw dem talking wid black fellow, half a mile +from the station. Not know Jim saw dem. Secret sort of talk. Why +dey never find de tracks before black fellows and bush rangers +always get away? Jim tink those fellows no good."</p> +<p>Reuben himself had often thought it singular that such continued +bad luck should have attended the efforts of his predecessor to +hunt down the bush rangers, but the thought that they had been put +off their scent by the trackers had not occurred to him. He had the +greatest faith in Jim's sagacity and, now that the idea was +presented to him, it seemed plausible enough.</p> +<p>"Very good, Jim, you keep your eye on those fellows. I will do +the same. We shall soon find out if they are up to any tricks."</p> +<p>Jim had been running by his master's stirrup, while this +conversation had been going on; and he now dropped into his usual +place at the rear of the party. For some miles the trail was +followed at a hand gallop, for the grass was several inches in +height, and the trail could be followed as easily as a road. The +country then began to change. The ground was poorer and more arid, +and clumps of low brush grew here and there. Still, there was no +check in the speed. The marks made by the frightened flock were +plain enough, even to the horsemen; and bits of wool, left behind +on the bushes, afforded an unmistakable testimony to their +passage.</p> +<p>"They were not going so fast, here," Mr. Blount said, after +dismounting and examining. "The footprints do not go in pairs, as +they did at first. The flock has broken into a trot. Ah! There is +the first, ahead."</p> +<p>In a hundred yards they came upon the skin and head of a sheep. +Nothing else remained. Unable to keep up with the flock, it had +been speared, cut up, and eaten raw by the blacks. In the next mile +they came upon the remains of two more; then the track widened out, +and the footprints were scattered and confused. The horses were +reined up, and Jim and the trackers examined the ground. Jim +returned in a minute or two.</p> +<p>"Black fellows give em a rest here. Could no go any furder. Lie +down and pant."</p> +<p>One of the trackers then came up.</p> +<p>"They stop here, captain, five six hours till moon rise. Make +fire, kill sheep, and have feast."</p> +<p>Reuben and some of the settlers rode over to the spot to which +the tracker pointed.</p> +<p>"Confound them!" Blount exclaimed. "Look there! There are at +least twenty heads."</p> +<p>"So there are," Reuben said. "There must have been a lot of +natives."</p> +<p>"Yes, there must have been a good many," the settler agreed, +"but not so many, perhaps, as you would think. Nobody has ever +found out, yet, how much these blacks can eat when they make up +their mind to it; but two could certainly devour a sheep. They will +eat till they can't sit upright."</p> +<p>"They would hardly eat as much as that, with a long journey +before them," Reuben said; "but allow only three to a sheep, there +must be sixty of them. My man said there were a good many more than +the trackers put it down at."</p> +<p>"So much the better. I only hope they will show fight."</p> +<p>After five minutes halt, the ride was continued for the next +three hours. Then three dead sheep were passed. This time the flesh +had not been devoured, but the poor beasts had, in every case, been +speared.</p> +<p>"Savage brutes!" Reuben exclaimed. "They might at least have +given the sheep a chance of life, when they could go no further, +instead of wantonly slaughtering them."</p> +<p>"That's their way, always," Mr. Blount said. "They kill from +pure mischief and love of slaughter, even when they don't want the +meat. But I don't suppose it makes much difference. I expect the +sheep have dropped as much from thirst as from fatigue, and they +would probably have never been got up again, after they once fell. +I fancy we shall come upon a stream, before long. I have never been +out as far as this before, but I know that there is a branch of the +Nammo crosses the bush here, somewhere."</p> +<p>Another five miles, and they came upon the river. The wet season +was only just over, and the river was full from bank to bank. It +was some thirty yards wide, and from two to three feet deep. A +score of sheep lay dead in the water. They had apparently rushed +headlong in, to quench their thirst; and had either drunk till they +fell, or had been trampled under water, by their companions +pressing upon them from behind.</p> +<p>For the next ten miles the track was plain enough, then they +came to a series of downs, covered with a short grass. At the foot +of these another long halt had been made by the blacks.</p> +<p>"We must have come twenty-five miles," Reuben said.</p> +<p>"Quite that, captain. The flock must have been dead beat, by the +time they got here. I should think they must have stopped here, +last night. We will soon see—there is one of their +fireplaces."</p> +<p>The settler dismounted, and put his hand into the ashes.</p> +<p>"Yes," he said, "they are warm still. They must have camped here +last night. They started when the moon rose, no doubt. Thus they +have eight or nine hours' start of us, only; and as they can't +travel fast, after such a journey as they had yesterday, we ought +to be able to catch them long before night."</p> +<p>"They will go better today than they did yesterday," Mr. Blount +said. "They were over-driven to start with, and that was what +knocked them up; but the blacks will begin to feel themselves safe +today, and will let them go their own pace. Sheep can do twenty +miles in a day, if not hurried."</p> +<p>"Well, at any rate," Reuben said, "we will give our horses a +couple of hours' rest. It is just eleven o'clock now, and I should +think everyone is ready for a meal."</p> +<p>There was a chorus of assent. The troop dismounted at once. The +girths were loosened, the bits taken from the horses' mouths, and +they were turned loose to graze in the long grass at the foot of +the hill. There was no fear of their attempting to stray, after +their journey of the morning. Some of the men set to to cut brush, +and in a few minutes a fire was lighted. One of the sheep, of which +there were several lying about, was skinned and cut up; and slices, +on skewers of green wood, were soon frizzling over the fire.</p> +<p>Twenty minutes later, the water in a large pot hanging over the +fire was boiling. Three or four handfuls of tea were thrown in; and +with the fried mutton, cold damper, and tea a hearty meal was made. +Then pipes were produced and lighted; while several of the men, +lying down and shading their faces with their broad hats, indulged +in a doze.</p> +<p>"One o'clock," Reuben said at last, looking at his watch. "It is +time to be moving again."</p> +<p>The horses were fetched in, the bridles replaced, and the girths +tightened.</p> +<p>"Now, which way?" Reuben asked the trackers.</p> +<p>"Along here, captain, by de foot of de hill, de trail is plain +enough."</p> +<p>It was so. A track of some width was trampled in the grass.</p> +<p>Reuben was about to give the order to proceed, when he caught +Jim's eye, and saw that the black wished to speak to him +privately.</p> +<p>"What is it, Jim?" he asked, going apart from the rest.</p> +<p>"That not de way, captain. A hundred, two hundred sheep gone +that way, wid four or five black fellow. De rest have all gone over +de hill."</p> +<p>"Are you sure, Jim?"</p> +<p>"Me quite sure, sar. De ground very hard; but while de captain +smoke him pipe, Jim went over de hill, saw plenty sign of sheep. +Went straight uphill, and then turned away to de left. Dis little +party here hab only gone to frow white man off de trail."</p> +<p>"The trackers ought to have seen that as well as you, Jim," +Reuben said angrily.</p> +<p>"Dey see, sar, sure enough. Could no help seeing, wid half an +eye. You see, sar, dose fellows up to no good. Lead party wrong if +dey can. Don't say, sar, Jim told you. If you say dat, put 'em on +their guard. Massa ride along the trail for a bit, just as if talk +wid Jim about odder affair; den after little way, begin to talk +about trail being too small, den turn and come back here, and go +over de hill."</p> +<p>"A very good idea, Jim. I will do as you say."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch11" id="Ch11">Chapter 11</a>: The Black +Fellows.</h2> +<p>A few minutes after his conversation with Jim the party started, +following the broad track through the grass along the foot of the +hill. Reuben informed Mr. Blount of what Jim had told him.</p> +<p>"By Jove, I think he is right," the settler said. "The track is +as broad as it was, but it is nothing like so much trampled down; +but if your fellow says the main body have gone over the hill, why +are you following this track?"</p> +<p>Reuben gave his reasons, and said that his man had, before, had +suspicions that the trackers were in communication with the wild +blacks.</p> +<p>"He thinks that's why it is that they have so frequently failed, +here, to catch any of these fellows."</p> +<p>"I shouldn't be at all surprised," Mr. Blount said savagely. +"The best thing would be to put a bullet into each of the rascals' +heads."</p> +<p>"I think Jim's idea is best," Reuben said. "Now that we have +once got our eyes open, they won't be able to do us any more harm; +and my black fellow will see we follow the trail right. I don't +want them to see we have any suspicions of them, as that would put +them on their guard; and by keeping our eye upon them, we may be +able to turn the tables."</p> +<p>"That is so," Mr. Blount agreed. "What are you going to do, +then?"</p> +<p>"I will call to them, in a minute or two, and tell them that it +is your opinion that only a small portion of the flock have come +this way. Then we will have a consultation and, no doubt, some of +your friends will notice that the ground is not much trampled. Then +we will decide to ride back to the point from which we started, and +will follow the other trail."</p> +<p>"Yes, that will do very well," the settler agreed.</p> +<p>Reuben at once called to the trackers, who were trotting on +ahead, and then ordered a halt. The two blacks came back.</p> +<p>"Joe," Reuben said, "Mr. Blount thinks that the main body of the +flock have not come this way. He says he thinks only a hundred or +two have come. The ground does not look to me anything like so much +trampled as it was before we halted."</p> +<p>"I tink most of dem hab come along here," the tracker said +sullenly.</p> +<p>"What do you think?" Reuben asked the other settlers, who had +gathered round.</p> +<p>"I did not notice it before," Dick Caister said; "but now Blount +has pointed it out, I agree with him entirely. There are nothing +like the full number of sheep have passed along here. I should say +that they have not gone along more than two or three deep."</p> +<p>There was a general chorus of assent.</p> +<p>"You can't have been keeping your eyes open," Reuben said to the +trackers, sharply. "If you don't look sharp in future, we shall +quarrel.</p> +<p>"Come, gentlemen, let us ride back to the halting place, and see +if we cannot find out which way the main body have gone."</p> +<p>Ten minutes' riding took them back to their starting place.</p> +<p>"They must have gone over the hill," Reuben said. "They +certainly have not kept along at the foot, or we should see their +tracks in this long grass."</p> +<p>The trackers had exchanged a few words in a low tone, and they +now moved up the hill, and began to examine the ground +carefully.</p> +<p>"Some of dem have gone this way, captain."</p> +<p>"Of course they have," Mr. Blount said. "A blind man might see +that."</p> +<p>The marks of the sheep were indeed plain enough to all, when +their attention had once been drawn to the subject. On getting +beyond the crest the trackers turned to the left, and Reuben saw +that they felt it would be hopeless to attempt, further, to mislead +a party containing several settlers who were perfectly capable of +following the trail.</p> +<p>Jim had, since speaking to his master, remained in the rear of +the troop. After three miles' riding across the downs, they again +came down upon a flat country, thickly covered with brush. Here and +there pieces of wool sticking to thorns were visible, and the +trackers went steadily on for some little time. Then their pace +became slower, and finally they stopped.</p> +<p>"Trail ended, captain."</p> +<p>"What do you mean by the trail ended?" Reuben asked angrily. +"Why, I can see a piece of wool, on there ahead."</p> +<p>"Dat so, captain; but only a few sheep hab passed here."</p> +<p>Some of the settlers dismounted and, having examined the ground +carefully, declared that they were of the same opinion as the +trackers.</p> +<p>"Very well," Reuben said; "then in that case, we must go back +again to the foot of the hill. They were all together there, and we +must take up the trail afresh."</p> +<p>On reaching the foot of the hill, Jim and some of the settlers +joined the trackers, and penetrated the bush in all directions. +Each returned bringing in pieces of wool.</p> +<p>"It is plain enough," Reuben said, "what they have done. They +have broken up into small parties, and have scattered. The question +is, 'What are we to do now?'</p> +<p>"What do you think, Mr. Blount? You have had more experience +than anyone here, and you are the most interested in our overtaking +these rascals. What do you recommend?"</p> +<p>"I don't know what to recommend," the settler said. "They have +no doubt done it to confuse us, in case we should follow so far, +and avoid being thrown off the scent the other side of the hill. +The band may really have scattered, and gone off in small parties +to different parts of the bush; or again, they may have scattered +with the understanding that they will meet again, at some given +spot, which may be ten and may be fifty miles ahead."</p> +<p>"The worst of it is," Reuben said, "I fear now that there is an +end of all chance of coming up with them, today; and now the +question of water comes in. If we could have caught them before +nightfall, the horses, having had a good drink at that stream, +could have done very well till we'd gone another thirty miles; but +as that seems hopeless, now, we must consider seriously what we had +best do, before we go any further. Does anyone here know anything +of the country ahead?"</p> +<p>There was a general silence.</p> +<p>"The horses can do very well, tomorrow, without water," Mr. +Blount said. "They will chew the leaves of this scrub; and can, if +pressed, hold on for even two or three days upon it."</p> +<p>"In that case," Reuben said, "let us go on. We will break up +into three parties. One shall go straight forward, the other two +moving to the right and left, each following the tracks as well as +they can. We will not go much beyond a walk. We have five more +hours of daylight yet, and the horses can manage another fifteen +miles. I will halt, an hour before it gets dark, and light a fire. +The smoke will be a guide to the other two parties, who should not +be more than a couple of miles to the right and left, and they will +then close in.</p> +<p>"If you can suggest any better plan than that, Mr. Blount, +please do so. Of course, I see the objection that the blacks may +make out the smoke, and will know that they are being +followed."</p> +<p>"Yes, that is an objection," Mr. Blount said; "but the chances +are that they will know it without your telling them. It is more +than probable that some of them have remained behind, on the watch; +and that they will have signalled our coming, long ago."</p> +<p>"Dey have done that, sar," Jim, who was standing close to +Reuben's elbow, put in. "Jim saw smoke curl up from the top of de +hill, just when we turned, when we lost the trail."</p> +<p>"Why didn't you tell me before, Jim?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"De captain didn't ask Jim any question. Jim thought de captain +see it for sure."</p> +<p>"I didn't see it, Jim. I don't think any of us saw it. We were +all too much occupied looking for the trail. Another time, you tell +me what you see without my asking.</p> +<p>"Well in that case, Mr. Blount, there can be no harm in my +making a smoke, as they know already that they are pursued. Will +you take charge of the right hand party? Sergeant O'Connor will +take command of the left. Do you each take a tracker with you. I +will take my boy. Three constables will go with each of your +parties, and four with me.</p> +<p>"Will you gentlemen please to divide up, so as to make seven +altogether in each party, without the natives?"</p> +<p>"I need not tell you to keep a sharp lookout, Captain Whitney. +We know the blacks are a very strong party and, now they know that +they are pursued they may, as likely as not, make a stand."</p> +<p>"Yes, that is quite possible," Reuben agreed. "Will you please +be careful that neither of your parties get more than two miles, at +the outside, away from mine? We can hear the sound of rifles, at +that distance. If either party fires, the others will of course +hurry to their assistance. Now, let us move forward."</p> +<p>With Jim in advance, Reuben's party moved on, the black +carefully examining the ground and bushes as he went; and +occasionally, somewhat to Reuben's surprise, rising from the +stooping position in which he was walking, and looking back over +his shoulder. The motive was explained when Jim exclaimed:</p> +<p>"Dere, captain, dere are de signals again."</p> +<p>Reuben turned in the saddle. On the crest of the hill behind him +were three columns of smoke. Scarcely had he looked at them when +the smoke ceased to ascend, as if the fires had been suddenly put +out.</p> +<p>"That's to tell them that we have divided in three parties?" +Reuben asked the black.</p> +<p>Jim nodded, and proceeded on his way again.</p> +<p>"That's awkward," Reuben said, "I must warn the other two +parties."</p> +<p>So saying, he at once ordered two of the constables to ride +right and left and warn the others, who were not as yet more than a +quarter of a mile on either hand, that the natives were aware that +they had broken up, and that the greatest caution must, therefore, +be observed. In ten minutes the two constables returned, having +performed their mission.</p> +<p>Although he had no reason to believe that the blacks were within +ten miles of him, Reuben now took the precaution of sending one +constable out on each flank, to a distance of fifty yards. A third +was directed to keep with Jim, fifty yards ahead of the main body; +consisting of Reuben himself, a constable, and two colonists. +Occasionally Reuben rode forward to question Jim.</p> +<p>"How many sheep do you think have gone along the track you are +following?"</p> +<p>"About thirty sheep, and three black fellow."</p> +<p>"How do you know there are three black fellows, Jim? I can see +marks, sometimes, of the sheep's feet; but I have not seen a man's +footprint at all."</p> +<p>"Jim see 'em, captain, plain enough. When dey all follow sheep, +not very plain to see; but sometimes, when de sheep want to +scatter, Jim see one footmark on one hand and one on the other, and +sure to be one man behind."</p> +<p>"How far are the sheep ahead, Jim, have you any idea?"</p> +<p>"Six, eight hours, sar, when dey pass here; but dere's no saying +how far they are, now. May be long way on, may be only little way. +Me tink dat they hab not gone so berry far; dat smoke berry thin, +not see him more than ten miles."</p> +<p>"I wish you had said that before, Jim," Reuben said. "We would +have kept together and have galloped on, and taken our chance of +finding them."</p> +<p>"Might have found four or five of dem," Jim replied, "but de +others all scattered. No good to find dem, till dey come together +again."</p> +<p>"No, you are right there, Jim. We must catch them all together, +if we can. There are some twelve hundred sheep, somewhere ahead. +Mr. Blount said there were about fifteen hundred driven off. We +have come upon a hundred dead ones, and two or three hundred may +have taken that turn to the right. As you say, it would be no good +coming upon thirty."</p> +<p>For four hours the party continued their journey.</p> +<p>"It is six o'clock," Reuben said, looking at his watch. "We will +halt, now, and light that fire."</p> +<p>Two of the constables were told off to keep watch, some fifty +yards in front; and the others dismounted, and gathered together +materials for a fire. This was soon done, and the smoke mounted +straight and clear, a signal to the other two parties to close +in.</p> +<p>Suddenly a cry was heard from one of the sentries. The men +stooping round the fire leaped to their feet, just in time to see +one of the constables struck from his horse by a boomerang, while a +dozen spears whizzed through the air at the other. He fell forward +on his horse, which carried him up to the fire; as he fell from the +saddle, as it stopped, he was caught by two of the others. Three +spears had pierced him.</p> +<p>"Stand to your arms. Steady, for your lives," Reuben +shouted.</p> +<p>"Jim, throw the horses at once, and fasten their legs.</p> +<p>"We must defend ourselves here," he continued, turning to the +others, "until help comes."</p> +<p>Not a moment was lost. The little party threw themselves down in +a circle, each taking shelter behind a bush; and Jim speedily got +the eight horses down in the centre, for each party had with it +three of the spare animals. The whole time, from the first alarm +until all was ready to receive the natives, did not occupy two +minutes.</p> +<p>The horses of the sentries had galloped wildly on, both having +been struck by spears; and Jim had no difficulty with the +remainder, which were all standing in a group when the alarm was +given, the owners not yet having removed their saddles.</p> +<p>All was done without flurry or excitement, although the yells of +the natives rose from the bush all round them. The bush was +fortunately not very thick at the point where they had halted, +Reuben having selected it for that very reason; but the bushes were +sufficiently near to each other to enable an enemy to creep up, +within thirty yards or so, without being seen.</p> +<p>"Don't throw away a shot," Reuben called out; "but pick off the +blacks, as they stand up to throw their spears.</p> +<p>"Ah!"</p> +<p>The exclamation was accompanied by a shot from his rifle, as a +native rose suddenly from the bush and hurled his spear. It missed +Reuben by an inch or two only; but, as his rifle flashed out, the +black threw up his hands and fell back in the bush.</p> +<p>"Here, sah, dis make good shelter;" and Jim propped up his +saddle, almost in front of him.</p> +<p>"That's a good idea, Jim; help the others in the same way."</p> +<a id="PicC" name="PicC"></a> +<center><img src="images/c.jpg" alt= +"A Fight with the Black Fellows" +/></center> +<p>The five men were all engaged now. The spears whizzed fast over +and among them, but most of them were thrown almost at random; for +the blacks soon learned that to raise themselves above the bushes, +to take aim, was to court sudden death. Jim, after distributing the +saddles to their owners, had lain down by the side of his master; +and loaded his rifle as fast as he discharged it, Reuben using his +pistols as effectually as the rifle, in the intervals.</p> +<p>Fortunately all the party were provided with these weapons. Had +it not been so, each man would have been liable to be rushed by the +blacks every time he discharged his rifle. As far as possible they +fired by turns; so that each man, while loading, was covered by the +fire of those on his right and left.</p> +<p>For half an hour the fight continued. Many of the blacks had +fallen, but they continued the assault as vigorously as before, and +all the defenders had received more or less serious wounds from the +spears.</p> +<p>"The others ought to have been here, long before this," Reuben +said, "if they had followed my instructions. I only hope they have +not been attacked, too; but as we don't hear any firing, that can +hardly be so."</p> +<p>"I hope they will be up before dusk," Dick Caister said. "It +will be dark in another half an hour. These fellows are only +waiting for that to make a rush. If they do, it is all up with +us."</p> +<p>"They will find it a tough job, even then," Reuben said; "but +the others must be here long before that. I told them to keep +within two miles of us. They have had time to ride double that +distance, since we made the smoke for them."</p> +<p>Another ten minutes elapsed.</p> +<p>"Hurrah!" Reuben exclaimed, "I can hear the trampling of horse's +hoofs. The moment they arrive, make a rush for your horses and +charge."</p> +<p>"I am afraid the horses are killed," Dick said ruefully.</p> +<p>"In that case," Reuben said, "we must get to our feet, and pick +off the blacks as they run. They will get up like a covey of +partridge, as the horsemen come among them."</p> +<p>A loud cheer was heard, and the little party, with an answering +shout, sprang to their feet and, rifle to shoulder, stood expecting +the blacks to rise; but the ears of the natives were sharper than +those of the whites, and they had begun to crawl away before the +latter heard the approaching horsemen.</p> +<p>Finding this to be the case, the party ran to their horses. Four +exclamations of wrath and grief were heard, for seven of the horses +were completely riddled with spears.</p> +<p>Tartar, however, at his master's voice, struggled to rise to his +feet. Reuben, aided by Jim, quickly threw off the hobbles; and +leaped on to its back as it rose to its feet, just as Mr. Blount, +with his party, rode up.</p> +<p>"Keep close together," Reuben exclaimed, as he dashed forward, +"we may find some of the scoundrels."</p> +<p>But the chase was in vain. It was already growing dusk, and +there was no saying in which direction the natives had crawled away +in the bush. After riding for a mile, Reuben reined in his +horse.</p> +<p>"It is no use," he said; "we may as well get back to the +fire.</p> +<p>"What made you so late, Mr. Blount? We were fighting for three +quarters of an hour, before you came up."</p> +<p>"I am very sorry," Mr. Blount replied; "somehow or other, we +went wrong altogether. There is nothing to guide one in this flat +bush, and the tracker who was leading the way said he was certain +he was going as you ordered him. Just before six o'clock we halted, +and looked in the direction in which we expected to see your smoke, +but there were no signs of it. Presently one of the constables +exclaimed:</p> +<p>"'There's the smoke, sir, right behind us.'</p> +<p>"I looked around and, sure enough, there was a column of smoke, +and a long way off it was.</p> +<p>"'What have you been doing, you rascal?' I said to the black. +'There's the smoke right behind us. You have been leading us wrong, +altogether.'</p> +<p>"The black insisted that he was right, and that the fire must +have been made by the black fellows. I didn't know what to make of +it. It was two or three minutes past six; and I noticed, when we +halted before, that your watch was exactly with mine. So I said to +the men:</p> +<p>"'We will wait five minutes longer and, if we see no other +smoke, you may be sure that that is made by Captain Whitney.'</p> +<p>"We waited the five minutes, and then I gave the word to start, +when one of the men exclaimed:</p> +<p>"'The black fellow's gone.'</p> +<p>"Sure enough, he had slipped away without being noticed, while +we were looking for the smoke. I felt sure, now, that something +must be wrong; and we galloped towards your smoke, as fast as the +horses could lay their feet to the ground. When we were about half +way, we heard the sound of firing, and I can tell you that we +didn't lose a moment on the way, after that. Have you had any +losses?"</p> +<p>"Two of the constables are killed," Reuben said, "and we have +all got some more or less ugly scratches. My left arm is useless +for a time, I am afraid. A spear went right through it. I fear some +of the others have worse hurts."</p> +<p>"What can have become of the sergeant's party?" Mr. Blount +said.</p> +<p>"They must have gone the wrong way, too," Reuben replied. "I +told you I suspected those trackers of being in league with the +blacks, and I have no doubt your fellow led you purposely astray, +in order to give them an opportunity of cutting us off before you +could arrive to our assistance. I suppose the other party has been +misled in the same way. It is fortunate, indeed, that you made up +your mind to ride for our smoke when you did. A quarter of an hour +later, and you would have found only our bodies, and would probably +have been ambushed in turn."</p> +<p>"Yes, it has been a close thing, indeed," Mr. Blount said. "I +was wrong, after what you told me, to trust that black scoundrel so +entirely; but I own it never entered my mind that he was leading us +astray."</p> +<p>By this time they had reached the fire, which was blazing +high.</p> +<p>"How are you all?" Reuben asked. "Nobody badly hurt, I +hope?"</p> +<p>"Nothing very bad, captain," Dick Caister replied cheerfully. +"We have all had our skin ripped up a bit, but nothing very deep. +That dodge of the saddles, of your black fellow, saved us. Mine was +knocked over half a dozen times by spears, each of which would have +done its business, if it hadn't been for it. I owe him my life so +completely, that I forgive him for making our horses a barricade, +to save yours."</p> +<p>Reuben laughed. He had noticed, when he ran for his horse, that +Jim had thrown him in the centre of the others: and their bodies +completely sheltered him from the spears of the natives.</p> +<p>"It was not fair, perhaps," he said; "but my horse would have +been killed, as well as yours, had he not done so; and Jim loves +him almost as well as he does me. He has watched over and guarded +him for the last three years."</p> +<p>"I am not angry with him," Dick said. "Nothing could have saved +our horses from being killed, and if one was to be saved, it is as +well it should be Tartar, and not one of the others, as yours was +far the most valuable of the five."</p> +<p>"Pile on the bushes," Reuben said to one of the constables. +"Make as big a blaze as you can. It will act as a beacon to the +sergeant and his party."</p> +<p>Half an hour later the trampling of horses' hoofs was heard and, +a few minutes later, the sergeant and his party rode up.</p> +<p>"I am sorry I am so late, sir," the sergeant said. "Somehow or +other we went wrong altogether, and saw nothing of your smoke. I +was afraid something was wrong, but did not know what to do; so we +halted till it came on dark, and presently made out a fire; but it +was miles away, and right in the direction from which we had come. +I did not think it could be you but, whether it was you or the +blacks, that was the place to ride to."</p> +<p>"Have you got the tracker with you, sergeant?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir; at least, I saw him trotting ahead, ten minutes ago. +Why, where has he got to?"</p> +<p>The tracker was not to be seen.</p> +<p>"He has made off to join the blacks, I expect," Reuben said. +"You have been led astray purposely. We have been attacked, and +Brown and Simpson are killed."</p> +<p>An exclamation of rage broke from the men, who were in the act +of dismounting.</p> +<p>"I expect," Reuben said, turning to Mr. Blount, "that the +fellows noticed the talk I had with Jim, before we turned back from +the false trail, and concluded that we had some suspicion that they +were in league with the blacks; and so, when the party separated, +they determined to lead the two flanking columns astray, so as to +give their friends a chance of attacking us, and then to bolt."</p> +<p>"I expect that is it," Mr. Blount agreed. "And now, the first +thing is to get something to eat. When that is done, we will have a +consultation."</p> +<p>While the meat was cooking over the fire, Reuben told off a +party of eight men to bury the bodies of the two constables who had +fallen. The task was speedily completed, two holes being easily +scraped in the light, sandy soil.</p> +<p>After supper was over, the settlers gathered round Reuben.</p> +<p>"Now, captain, what do you mean to do?" Mr. Blount asked. "I +have given up all hope of seeing my sheep again, so don't let them +influence you, but just do as you think best. The blacks are in +strong force, that is evident; and it will be a serious business +pursuing them any further, in their own country."</p> +<p>"I am going to pursue them till I catch them," Reuben said; +"that is to say, as long as there is a sheep track to serve as a +guide. I don't ask you, gentlemen, to go further, for I know it is +a serious risk; but it is my duty to hunt those fellows down, and +give them a lesson, and I mean to do it. We shall never have safety +in the settlements, until those fellows come to understand that, +whenever they attack us, they will be hunted down."</p> +<p>"I think you are right," Dick Caister said, "and as long as you +go on, I go with you for one, whatever comes of it. But how I am to +go without my horse, I don't know."</p> +<p>"There are the spare horses," Reuben said; "Fortunately we have +still got six of them."</p> +<p>"So we have," Dick exclaimed joyfully. "I had forgotten all +about them. What luck, our bringing them with us!"</p> +<p>The other settlers all announced their intention of continuing +the chase, as long as Reuben was willing to push on.</p> +<p>"I will tell you what my idea is," Reuben said. "The horses are +already worn out and, by the end of another day, they will be half +mad with thirst. I propose that we take two days' supply for +ourselves, in our water bottles; and that we push forward on foot, +sending two of the constables back to the stream, with our horses. +I propose that we should push forward tonight. I expect the track +we are following is the true one, and the stars will do as a +guide.</p> +<p>"At daybreak we will lie down in the bushes. The blacks will +probably leave some fellows behind, as scouts. They, seeing nothing +of us, will suppose we have given it up and gone home, and they +will make but a short journey. At night we will go on again, and +the chances are that, before morning, we shall catch sight of their +fires, and will fall upon them at daylight. What do you think of +the plan?"</p> +<p>"I think it is a good one," Mr. Blount said, warmly. "A capital +plan. Of course we don't much like leaving our horses, for in this +country one almost lives on horseback. Still, it will be the best +plan, certainly; for as you say, the poor brutes will be half mad, +by tomorrow night, with thirst."</p> +<p>"It will be a long tramp back again," a settler said +dismally.</p> +<p>"We won't tramp all the way," Reuben said with a smile. +"Directly we have overtaken the blacks, and given them a lesson, I +will send Jim back again for the horses. He can cover the ground at +a wonderful pace, and coming back he will ride one of them, and +help the two constables to keep them together. They will have had +two days' rest, and plenty of food and water, and will meet us +before we get halfway back. There will be no fear of the blacks +attacking them."</p> +<p>All agreed that the plan was excellent, and half an hour later +the whole party—with the exception of the two constables, who were +to start at daybreak with the horses, for the river—set out on +their march. The sky was cloudless, and the stars would have been a +sufficient guide, even had they not had Jim with them. The black, +however, took his place at the head of the party, and strode along +as unhesitating as if it had been broad daylight.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch12" id="Ch12">Chapter 12</a>: The Bush Rangers.</h2> +<p>Scarce a word was spoken as the little party marched along. It +was possible, although very improbable, that the natives, on +scattering before the charge of Mr. Blount and his companions, +might have left some of their number behind, to watch the movements +of their pursuers. They would, however, certainly not anticipate +the whites pushing forward that night. The fire had been piled +high, the last thing before leaving, and the two men left there +were told to keep it burning brightly till morning, and to start +before anyone watching in the distance would be able to see whether +the horses were mounted, or not. Should any natives approach the +fire, after they had gone, they would take it for granted that the +whole party had ridden back to the settlement.</p> +<p>All night, Reuben and his companions marched steadily forward; +and were glad to throw themselves down on the ground, at the first +appearance of daybreak. Four sentries were placed, with strict +orders to keep a bright lookout through the bushes, but on no +account to raise their heads above their level; and, arrangements +having been made for their relief, every two hours, the rest of the +party were soon sound asleep.</p> +<p>Except to relieve the sentries, there was no stir among them +until late in the afternoon. Then there was a general movement, and +soon all were sitting up, and appeasing their appetite upon the +cold meat and dampers they had brought with them.</p> +<p>"There is no harm in a pipe, I suppose, captain?" Dick Caister +said laughingly.</p> +<p>"No, I think we can risk that," Reuben replied. "The eyes of the +savages may be wonderfully keen, but they would be a great deal +sharper than I can give them credit for, were they to notice the +smoke of a dozen pipes, curling up among the bushes."</p> +<p>"I suppose, Mr. Blount," Reuben said as, after the meal was +finished, the party lighted their pipes and drew closely round the +fire, "you have heard of a good many bad businesses, with the +blacks and bush rangers, in your time?"</p> +<p>"I have, indeed," Mr. Blount replied. "In the early days, the +settlers had a hard time of it with the blacks; who were, of +course, stronger than they are now and, after they had got over +their first fear of firearms, more fearless of the whites. The bush +rangers too were, when first they began to send convicts here, more +numerous than at present. I do not know that they were as desperate +as they are now—not so ready to take life, without provocation. +You see, there was a very much larger run of country open to them; +and many convicts who escaped, and took to the bush, were content +to have gained their freedom. Some of them took black gins, and +never troubled the colonists again; beyond, perhaps, coming down to +a station and carrying off a sheep or two, or a bullock, when they +got sick of kangaroo meat and wanted a change.</p> +<p>"You see, the first settlers were generally poor and +hard-working men. Young men with a little capital had not as yet +been attracted here, so there was but little inducement for the +escaped convicts to meddle with them. There were, of course, some +notorious scoundrels, who seemed to murder for the pure love of the +thing. The worst of them, I think, was a fellow who went by the +name of Cockeye. What his real name was, I never heard.</p> +<p>"That man was a perfect devil; and was, for a long time, the +terror of the settlers. He never worked with other white men, but +lived among the blacks. Of course, in those days the police system +was in its infancy, and we had to rely upon ourselves. I had a +narrow escape, once, of losing my life, from him and his +blacks.</p> +<p>"When I was about seventeen, I lived with my father and mother +in a station about fifty miles from Sydney, or as it was called +then Port Jackson. It was at that time quite an outlying station. +We had two convicts allotted to us, both of them honest fellows +enough, who had been transported for poaching or something of that +kind—anyhow, they were not old hands, and gave no trouble. My +father was a kind master, and we always felt that, in case of need, +we could rely upon them just as upon ourselves. In those days it +was next to impossible to get hired hands for, as there was plenty +of land for anyone to squat upon, comparatively close to the port, +the men who came out generally set up for themselves, at once.</p> +<p>"One day I had been out on horseback, to look for a couple of +bullocks which had strayed away; and was on my way back when, ahead +of me, I heard the cooey of the blacks. I didn't think much of it, +because they were common enough at that time, and a party had made +a sort of encampment at a stream, about a mile from the house; but +when, a minute later, I heard a gun fired, I guessed that there was +mischief.</p> +<p>"The sound seemed to come from away towards the right, where I +knew that one of our men was out, herding the bullocks; so I +clapped spurs to my horse, and rode in that direction. When I got +near, I saw the cattle running wildly about, and a mob of black +fellows among them. I could see no signs of our man, and guessed +that he must have gone down; and that I had best ride and warn +them, at the house.</p> +<p>"The blacks saw me, and started at a run in my direction, but I +soon left them behind. I was within a quarter of a mile of the +house, when a native yell burst out ahead of me, followed by two +shots. I rode on and, when I got near the house, saw a lot of black +fellows round it.</p> +<p>"Then came a flash from one of the upper windows, and I saw one +of them roll over. That was a satisfaction, for I knew they hadn't +caught my father asleep. I knew the doors and shutters were strong, +and that he could make a good fight of it. Still, there was only +him and my mother at home, for both the men had gone out before I +left in the morning; and one man hasn't much chance of holding a +house, attacked on all sides. So I made up my mind to try to dash +through them, when the shutter opened a little, and my father +shouted out:</p> +<p>"'Ride for help, Bill. I will keep them off, till you get +back.'</p> +<p>"So I turned; but when I had gone a few yards I looked over my +shoulder, and I saw a man dash out from behind the house on +horseback, and start at a gallop after me. It was a bay with a +white leg, and I knew that Cockeye used to ride such a horse, and +that there wasn't a better in the colony. Almost at the same moment +I heard a shot again, but I didn't look round.</p> +<p>"I can tell you I felt pretty badly frightened, for there was no +mercy to be expected from that scoundrel, and I knew that he was a +good deal better mounted than I was. The next station was about +four miles off, and I had about two hundred yards start, but before +I had gone half a mile, he was within fifty yards of me. I could +hear him, cursing and swearing and shouting to me to stop, but I +had made up my mind I would not do that.</p> +<p>"I had got a brace of pistols with me, but I wasn't much of a +shot. I had, soon after I started, pulled them out of the holsters +and shoved them into my belt in front of me; so that, as he came +up, he shouldn't see my hand go down for them. My hope was that he +would ride straight up to the side of me, not knowing that I was +armed; and that would give me a chance of suddenly letting fly at +him.</p> +<p>"You would think the chance was a poor one; and that he would, +to a certainty, shoot me down before he got up. I did not much +think he would do that, for I guessed that the scoundrel would do +with me as he had in some other cases; namely, take me and carry me +back to the house, and there either threaten to shoot me, or hang +me up over a fire, or some such devilry, to make those inside give +in. I was determined this shouldn't be, and that if I could not +shoot him I would be shot myself; for otherwise he would have got +my father and mother, and it would have been three lives instead of +one.</p> +<p>"Presently—crack!—came the sound of a pistol, and I heard the +bullet whiz close by. I expect that it was only to frighten me into +stopping; but in a second or two he fired again, and the shot just +grazed my shoulder, so he was in earnest that time.</p> +<p>"I bent low on my saddle, got a pistol out of my belt, and +prepared. There was another shot, the horse gave a spring and I +knew he was hit, but for a time he went faster than ever; still, +the last shot wasn't from more than twenty yards behind; and I +expected, every minute, to see his horse's head coming up beside +me. Then I heard a curse and a sudden fall and, looking round, saw +his horse was down.</p> +<p>"Cockeye was on his feet in a moment, and drew another pistol +from his holster; so I concluded to keep on as hard as I could go, +without waiting to make inquiries. I guessed pretty well what had +happened. The shot I had heard my father fire, as he started after +me, had hit the horse; and the poor brute had kept on until he +dropped. I understood the fellow's firing, now. He felt his horse +was failing under him, and his only chance was to stop me.</p> +<p>"I kept on till I got safe to the station. The three men there +started in different directions, to fetch assistance, and by the +evening we had a score of men assembled there, and started back to +our station. We heard a cooey when we were within a mile of the +place, and guessed it was a fellow on the watch. By the time we got +there they had all cleared off, but it was a close thing.</p> +<p>"My mother was a courageous woman, and had defended the back of +the house, and my father the front. The blacks had made several +attempts to burn the place down; but the roof, like the walls, was +made of solid timber; which is the only safe way to build a house, +when you are exposed to attacks of the blacks.</p> +<p>"As long as daylight lasted the old people had done very well, +and had kept the blacks at a distance; and we saw, by the marks of +blood in the morning, that they must have killed or wounded eight +or ten of them; but if we hadn't come up before the blacks had +darkness to cover them, it would have gone hard with them. Of +course we knew that, and calculated so as to get there before +nightfall."</p> +<p>"What became of the bush ranger?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"Well, curiously enough, that was the last time he ever troubled +the settlements. We never knew exactly what became of him, but it +was said that the blacks killed and eat him. I know that was very +often the end of those fellows. As long as all went on well, the +blacks were friendly enough with them, and were glad to follow +their lead; but after a repulse like that they got at our station, +or perhaps as a result of some quarrel about the division of the +plunder, or their gins, or something of that sort, they would fall +suddenly on their white friends, and make cooked meat of them."</p> +<p>"I suppose the blacks seldom spare any whites who fall into +their hands?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"Scarcely ever," Mr. Blount replied. "That was why they were +more dreaded than the bush rangers. The latter would kill, if they +were in the humour for it; but if there was no serious resistance, +and none of their number got hurt, more often than not they +contented themselves by leaving everyone tied, hand and foot, till +somebody came to unloose them.</p> +<p>"I remember one horrible case, in which they so tied up three +white men at a lonely station, and nobody happened to go near it +for three weeks afterwards. It struck someone that none of them had +been seen, for some time; and a couple of men rode over and, to +their horror, found the three men dead of hunger and thirst.</p> +<p>"Now the black fellows don't do that sort of thing. When they do +attack a station and take it, they kill every soul; man, woman, and +child."</p> +<p>"I suppose, in that affair you were telling us of," Reuben +asked, "both of your ticket-of-leave men were killed?"</p> +<p>"Yes. One seemed to have been surprised and speared at once. The +other had made a stout fight of it, for the bodies of three natives +were found near him."</p> +<p>"I remember one case," one of the others said, "in which the +blacks did spare one of the party, in a station which they +attacked. It was a little girl of about three years old. Why they +did so I don't know; perhaps the chief took a fancy to her. Maybe +he had lost a child of the same age, and thought his gin would take +to the little one. Anyhow, he carried her off.</p> +<p>"The father happened to be away at the time. He had gone down to +Sydney with a waggon, for stores; and when he got back he found the +house burned, and the bodies of his wife, two boys, and two men, +but there was no trace of that of the child.</p> +<p>"He was nearly out of his mind, poor fellow. The neighbours all +thought that the body must have been burned with the house; but he +would have it that there would have been some sign of her. No one +else thought so; and besides, it wasn't the custom of the blacks to +carry off anyone. The father got a party to try and follow the +blacks, but of course it was no use. They had pretty near two days' +start.</p> +<p>"The father never took to his farm again, but hung about the out +stations, doing a job here and there for his grub. Sometimes he +would be away for a bit, and when he came back, though he never +talked about it, everyone knew he had been out hunting the +blacks.</p> +<p>"I do not know how many of them he killed, but I know he never +spared one, when he got him outside the settlement. After a time +the blacks never troubled that part. So many of them had been +killed that they got a superstitious fear of the man, and believed +he was possessed of an evil spirit; and I don't believe twenty of +them, together, would have dared to attack him.</p> +<p>"At last, from some of the half-tamed blacks in the settlement, +he got to hear some sort of rumour that there was a white girl, +living with one of the tribes far out in their country, and he set +out. He was away four months, and he never said what he had been +doing all the time. In fact, he started almost directly for the +port, and went home by the next ship.</p> +<p>"However, he brought his child back with him. It was four years +since she had been carried off, and she was a regular little +savage, when she arrived in the settlement with him. Of course she +could not speak a word of English, and was as fierce as a little +wildcat. I expect she got all right, after a bit.</p> +<p>"I didn't see the man, but I heard he was worn to a shadow, when +he got back. He must have had an awful time of it, in the bush. +What with hunger and thirst, and dodging the blacks, I don't know +how he lived through it; but he looked contented and happy, in +spite of his starvation, and they say it was wonderful to see how +patient he was with the child.</p> +<p>"They got up a subscription, at Sydney, to send them both home. +I heard that the captain of the ship he went in said, when he came +back the next voyage, that the child had taken to him, and had got +civilized and like other children before they got to England."</p> +<p>"Of course, such fellows as Cockeye and Fothergill are the +exceptions, and not the rule," Mr. Blount said. "Were there many of +such scoundrels about, we should have to abandon our settlements +and make war upon them; for there would be no living in the colony +till they were exterminated. Most of these fellows are the colonial +version of the highwaymen, at home. It is just 'Stand and deliver.' +They content themselves with taking what they can find in a +traveller's pockets, or can obtain by a flying visit to his +station."</p> +<p>"Yes, I had several of those in my last district," Reuben said. +"They were just mounted robbers, and gave us a good deal of trouble +in hunting them down. But none of them had shed blood during their +career, and they did not even draw a pistol when we captured them. +That style of bush ranger is a nuisance, but no more. Men seldom +carry much money about with them here, and no great harm was +done."</p> +<p>"You see," Dick Caister said, "these fellows have a remarkable +objection to putting their necks in the way of a noose; so that +although they may lug out a pistol and shout 'Bail up!' they will +very seldom draw a trigger, if you show fight. So long as they do +not take life they know that, if they are caught, all they have to +expect is to be kept at hard work during the rest of their +sentence, and perhaps for a bit longer. They don't mind the risk of +that. They have had their outing, sometimes a long one; but if they +once take life, they know its hanging when they are caught; and are +therefore careful not to press too hard upon their triggers.</p> +<p>"But once they have killed a man, they don't generally care how +many more lives they take. They are desperate, then, and seem to +exult in devilry of all kinds. As to being stuck up by an ordinary +bush ranger, one would think no more of it than of having one's +pockets picked, in England.</p> +<p>"It's lucky for us, on the whole, that the black fellows have +such a hatred of the white men. Were it not for that, a good many +of these fellows would go all lengths, relying on taking to the +bush when they had made the colony too hot to hold them. But there +are only a few of them that have ever got on well with the blacks, +and many a man who has gone out into the bush has found his end +there. You see, there's no explaining to a dozen natives, who jump +up and begin to throw spears and boomerangs at you, that you are a +bad white fellow, and not a colonist on the search for fresh +runs.</p> +<p>"No, the bush rangers on the whole are not such a bad lot of +fellows. I suppose there is not one of us, here, who hasn't had men +ride up and ask for food; who were, he knew pretty well, bush +rangers. Of course they got their food, as anyone else would who +rode up to a station and asked for it.</p> +<p>"Once, only, I was told to hand over any money I had in the +house. As, fortunately, I had only a few pounds I gave it up +without making a fight for it. It's no use risking one's life, +unless for something worth fighting for. I suppose most of us here +have had similar experiences."</p> +<p>There was a general chorus of assent among the settlers.</p> +<p>"Many of them are poor-spirited wretches. Two of them bailed up +a waggoner of mine, coming out with a load from the port. He +pretended to give in and, as they were opening some of the boxes, +he knocked one over with the butt end of his whip. The other fired +a hasty shot, and then jumped on to his horse and galloped off +again; and my man brought in the fellow he had stunned."</p> +<p>"Did you hand him over to the police?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"Not I," the settler laughed. "I thought he had got what he +deserved, so I bandaged up his head and let him go. Those poor +beggars of convicts have a dreadful hard time of it, and I don't +think there are many settlers who would hand over any man who had +escaped, and taken to the bush, even if he had occasionally bailed +up a waggoner or so. We know what a flogging the poor wretch would +get and, as long as it's only an occasional robbery, to keep +themselves from starving, we don't feel any great animosity against +them. It's different, altogether, when they take to murder. Then, +of course, they must be hunted down like wild beasts.</p> +<p>"And now I vote that we have a nap. My pipe's out, and I suppose +we shall be on the tramp again, as soon as it is dark."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch13" id="Ch13">Chapter 13</a>: Bush Rangers.</h2> +<p>As soon as it became dark, the journey was renewed.</p> +<p>"Now, Jim, you must keep your eyes well open," Reuben said. +"There is no saying when we may come upon them, now."</p> +<p>"I tink dey not berry far off, sah. Dose sheep too tired to go +far. Black fellow glad to stop and rest, when he see no one coming +after him.</p> +<p>"De ground more up and down here. Must no make noise. May come +upon dem sudden."</p> +<p>It was nearly midnight when Jim suddenly halted.</p> +<p>"What is it, Jim?" Reuben asked, in a low voice.</p> +<p>Jim stood sniffing the air.</p> +<p>"Me smell fire, captain."</p> +<p>Reuben sniffed the air, but shook his head.</p> +<p>"I don't smell anything, Jim."</p> +<p>"I smell him, sah, sure enough; not very close, perhaps, but in +de air."</p> +<p>"What is it, Captain Whitney?" Mr. Blount asked, as he came +forward and joined them.</p> +<p>"Jim says he smells fire, but I can't smell it."</p> +<p>"Oh, you can trust Jim's nose," the settler said. "It is +wonderful how keen is the scent of these natives. They are like +dogs in that respect; and can perceive the smell of a fire, when +the wind brings it down to them, miles away."</p> +<p>"Dis way now, sah," Jim said, turning off to the left, at right +angles to the course which they had been pursuing. "Smell come down +the wind, dat's sartin. We follow him far enough, we sure to catch +dem."</p> +<p>For fully two miles, Reuben followed the black without speaking. +Then he said:</p> +<p>"I don't smell any smoke, Jim. Are you quite sure you are right +about it?"</p> +<p>"Quite sure, sah. De smoke much stronger than he was. Some of +dese bushes make very sharp smell; can smell him very far +away."</p> +<p>"That's all right, Jim, on we go then. I must take your word for +it."</p> +<p>After another half-an-hour's walking, Reuben thought that he too +could smell an odour of burning wood and, soon afterwards, he +became convinced that it was so. The ground on which they were +crossing was slightly undulated and, on nearing the crest of one of +the slight rises, Jim said:</p> +<p>"De smoke am getting strong now, sah; and Jim can hear de +bleating of de sheep. If de captain will wait here, Jim will go on +ahead, and find out where dey lie."</p> +<p>"But perhaps you won't be able to find us again."</p> +<p>"Der no fear of dat, sah. But if I not come straight back, I +give a little whistle-like this—when I get on to a rise; and if +the captain answer in just the same way, then I come straight back +to him."</p> +<p>So saying, Jim glided away in the darkness; while Reuben gave +the word for the men to halt, and lie down till his return. There +was, however, no occasion for a signal for, in little over half an +hour from the time of Jim's leaving, he rejoined them again; his +coming being unnoticed until he stood among them, so noiseless were +his footsteps.</p> +<p>"We hab dem dis time, sure enough, captain."</p> +<p>"Why, is that you, Jim? You quite startled me. Well, what is +your news?"</p> +<p>"De black fellows and de sheep are a little over a mile away, +sah. Dey got a big fire down in a bottom. Some of dem eating still, +but most of dem fast asleep round de fire."</p> +<p>"How many are there of them?"</p> +<p>"About fifty, sah—at least, dat about the number Jim saw. I +expect I was right when I tell you dat there was well nigh a +hundred, at fust. Some ob them go off wid de sheep, de odder way, +and we kill over twenty in dat fight."</p> +<p>"Do you think we killed so many as that, Jim?"</p> +<p>"I went round, sah, and counted sixteen of dem; and some sure to +have crawl away and die in de bush. Dere were over twenty killed +altogether, for sure; and I specks dat some more hab left de party +today, and gone off wid dere share of de sheep to der people."</p> +<p>"Well, what do you think, Mr. Blount—shall we attack them +tonight, or wait till morning?"</p> +<p>"I should say wait till morning, certainly," the settler said. +"We might shoot a few if we attack them now, but the rest would be +all off, at the first flash of our gun; and we should never get +another shot. I think our best plan would be to remain where we +are, for another couple of hours—it is two o'clock now—then Jim +will guide us to the place, and we can take up our position as +close as we can get, and wait for daylight."</p> +<p>"There is no fear of their making a move before it is light, +Jim?"</p> +<p>"No, sah. Dey tink dey am safe now, and eat one big feast. Dey +not move till light, sartain."</p> +<p>"Very well, Mr. Blount, then we will do as you say. When we get +near them we will divide into four parties. You, with four men, +shall move up close to the sheep, Sergeant O'Connor, with four +others, shall work up from the other end of the bottom. Five others +shall make a detour, and get right on the other side of their fire; +and I, with the other three and Jim, who you see has got one of the +constables' rifles and ammunition, will come down on them from this +side.</p> +<p>"Jim will place all the parties, taking them by turns, as near +the fire as he thinks safe; and will then return to me. Only, as we +shall attack them from four sides, let everyone be careful about +his shooting; otherwise we shall have casualties from our own +shots.</p> +<p>"All will remain quiet until I fire. Then a general volley must +be poured in, with bullet and buckshot; and when the rifles and +guns are empty, go right at them with pistol and sword."</p> +<p>The plan was carried out as arranged and, before daybreak, the +four parties were lying in the positions allotted to them, within +forty yards of the blacks. A few of these were seen sitting by the +fire, the rest were all asleep.</p> +<p>Gradually the light began to creep over the sky and, as it +became lighter, there was a movement among the blacks. As soon as +he could see perfectly, Reuben was about to fire in the air; for he +did not like to fire at unsuspecting men, in spite of the deeds of +blood and rapine they had performed in the settlement.</p> +<p>Presently, however, his eye fell upon one of the treacherous +trackers, who had so nearly brought destruction upon them. He +levelled his rifle and fired, and the man fell dead in his +tracks.</p> +<p>As the rest of the blacks leapt to their feet, a volley from +nineteen guns was poured into them—followed by seven or eight +more, as most of the settlers were armed with double-barrelled +guns; a few buckshot being dropped into each barrel, over the +bullets. Then came the sharp cracks of the pistols, as the whites +rushed down to the assault.</p> +<p>The natives attempted no resistance. Panic stricken at the +sudden appearance of the foe, whom they imagined by this time far +back on their way to the settlements; and paralysed by the +slaughter made by the first volley, they thought only of flight. A +few caught up their spears and waddies, as they made a dash for the +bushes, and strove to effect their escape between the parties +advancing on each side of them; but the latter were now close at +hand and, for a minute or two, a fight took place between the +whites, with their clubbed muskets, and the natives with their +spears and waddies. But it was soon over, for the natives only +fought to escape and, as soon as they saw an opening, bounded away +into the bushes.</p> +<p>Only one of the assailants was killed, but several were more or +less severely wounded by the spears; while no less than thirty-four +of the blacks were killed. The victors made no attempt at pursuit +but, as soon as the last of the natives had escaped, they gathered +to ascertain what loss had taken place, on their side.</p> +<p>"Poor Phillips is killed," Mr. Blount said, as he examined the +body. "The spear has gone right through his throat. Fortunately he +was a single man. He has only been out here a few months, and was +staying down at Dick Caister's."</p> +<p>"Poor Tom," Dick said, in feeling tones. "He was a capital young +fellow, and I am deeply sorry. Fortunately he has left no one +behind to grieve more than I do for him, for he lost his father and +mother shortly before he came out, and was alone in the world."</p> +<p>"I am thankful it's no worse," Mr. Blount said. "We have given +the blacks a terrible lesson. I think, as far as they are +concerned, we can sleep in peace for a long time. Of course we have +not done with them, for they are very revengeful; but a blow like +this will render them careful, for a long time, how they attack +us.</p> +<p>"How many of them have fallen?"</p> +<p>"Thirty-four," Reuben said. "Jim has just been counting them +up.</p> +<p>"Now, Mr. Blount, we will have another of your sheep for +breakfast, and then we'll be off."</p> +<p>The sheep had scattered somewhat, at the alarm of the fire, but +were soon driven together again. One was caught and killed, and +slices of the meat were stuck up on ramrods, and were soon +frizzling before the fire.</p> +<p>"Well, Mr. Blount, how many sheep do you think there are +here?"</p> +<p>"I have just been looking them over," the settler replied, "and +I should say there must be nearly twelve hundred; so that, allowing +for two hundred driven off in the other direction, and a hundred +dropped by the way, the whole flock are accounted for. I am indeed +obliged to you, and to my friends here. I never expected to see a +tail of them again, when I found they were off."</p> +<p>"I am very glad you have recovered so many of them," Reuben +said, "and still more, that we have given the blacks such a lesson. +We will, as soon as we have finished, be on the march. Jim will go +on ahead at once, as we agreed; and he tells me will get to the +stream where the horses are before night, and will start out with +them at once, so that we may be able to meet them tomorrow, early. +I fancy our water bottles are all getting very low, but we can hold +on for today."</p> +<p>As soon as he had finished eating, Jim started off at a run, +which Reuben knew he would keep up for hours. The body of young +Phillips was buried; and then, collecting the flock and driving it +before them, the rest started upon their return. The sheep could +not travel fast, for many of them were footsore with their hurried +journey; but they had found plenty of nourishment in the grass at +the bottoms, and in the foliage of the bushes and, being so +supplied, had suffered little from thirst.</p> +<p>Jim, before starting, had pointed out the exact line they were +to follow, and this they kept by compass. With only one or two +short halts, they kept on until nightfall and, leaving the sheep in +a grassy bottom, lit their fire on the crest above it, in order +that its flame might serve as a guide to Jim, should he get back +with the horses before daylight.</p> +<p>There was but little talking, before each stretched himself at +length before the fire. They had been twenty-four hours without +sleep, and all were now suffering severely from thirst. The last +drops in the water bottles had been emptied, early in the day; and +they were parched not only by the heat of the sun, but by the +stifling dust raised by the flock as they travelled.</p> +<p>There had been but little supper eaten. Indeed, most of them +contented themselves with chewing pieces of raw meat, to satisfy +their thirst rather than their hunger. Although they had no fear of +the return of the natives, Reuben thought it only prudent to keep +watch, and each of the party had half an hour on sentry duty.</p> +<p>The day was just beginning to break, when the man on guard +exclaimed:</p> +<p>"I can hear the trampling of horses!"</p> +<p>The news brought everyone to their feet, and in a few minutes +the two constables and Jim rode up, driving before them the horses +of the rest of the party.</p> +<p>"Well done, Jim!" Reuben exclaimed. "Now, the first thing, get +one of the water skins off."</p> +<p>One of the skins was unfastened in a minute and, after copious +draughts, everyone felt refreshed and ready for work again.</p> +<p>"We cannot start for a few hours," Reuben said. "The horses must +have come over forty miles, and won't be fit to travel till the +afternoon; fortunately there is plenty of grass for them in the +bottom. And now that my thirst is allayed, I begin to discover that +I am hungry."</p> +<p>There was a general chorus of assent. The fire was made up +again. The men went down to the bottom, and killed and brought up a +sheep; and all were soon engaged in making up for their twenty-four +hours' fast.</p> +<p>In the afternoon a start was made; but although they travelled +all night, they did not reach the stream until the following +afternoon, as they were obliged to accommodate their pace to that +of the sheep. The following morning Reuben rode forward to the +settlements, leaving Mr. Blount, with two of his friends, to come +on with the flock at his leisure.</p> +<p>At the first farm he reached Reuben heard that, as he feared, +the bush rangers had taken advantage of so many of the settlers +being away to recommence their attacks. At the first two houses +they visited, they had found the inmates on the watch, and had +moved off without making any attack. At the third they had +surprised and killed a settler, his wife, and two hired men, and +had sacked and burned the house. Reuben learned that some of the +police had gone off in pursuit.</p> +<p>Leaving his horse to the care of the settler, Reuben borrowed a +fresh animal and rode off to the scene of the outrage, which was +some thirty miles distant. Just as he arrived there he met the +party of eight police, who had been in pursuit of the bush rangers, +and they reported that they had lost all trace of them.</p> +<p>For the next two or three weeks Reuben did not return to his +headquarters, spending the time in riding from station to station, +with a small party of police, and urging upon the settlers the +necessity not only of strongly barricading their houses, but of +keeping a watch by turns; as the bush rangers seldom attack a +place, unless they can gain the advantage of a surprise.</p> +<p>As nothing had been heard of the bush rangers, Reuben determined +to return to his barrack. He was spending the last night at Dick +Caister's when, just as they were about to turn in, the sound of a +horse's hoofs, at full gallop, was heard.</p> +<p>"Something is the matter," Dick said. "Men don't ride like that, +at night, for nothing."</p> +<p>He went to the door and opened it, just as the horseman stopped +in front.</p> +<p>"Quick, Caister!" the man said as he leaped down, "the bush +rangers are not fifty yards behind."</p> +<p>And indeed, the sound of the trampling of other horses sounded +close behind.</p> +<p>"Come in, come in!" Dick cried. "Ah! Is it you, Shillito? Never +mind the horse, he must look after himself. Luckily the captain's +here, and we will give it them hot. Just run round and see that all +the shutters are fastened."</p> +<p>As Dick spoke he was barring the door, and he now shouted at the +top of his voice to the two hired men, who were in bed upstairs; +but before any answer could be returned, there was a thundering +knocking at the door.</p> +<p>"What is it?" Dick shouted.</p> +<p>"Open the door, and be quick about it, or it will be worse for +you. We want that chap that's just ridden up, and we mean to have +him, so he had best come out at once. If you don't open the door at +once, we will cut the throats of every soul in the house."</p> +<p>"You have got to get at our throats first, my fine fellow," Dick +said jeeringly.</p> +<p>The knocking was at once renewed, but with greater violence.</p> +<p>"The door's a strong one," Dick said to Reuben, "and it will +stand a good deal of that sort of thing; but we may as well move +the table and benches up against it, then we can see how things +stand."</p> +<p>Reuben had been busy taking down the guns, which hung over the +fireplace; dropping a ramrod into them to see that they were +charged, and putting fresh caps on to the nipples. His own rifle +stood in the corner; and was, he knew, ready for service.</p> +<p>"What arms have you altogether, Caister?"</p> +<p>"I have that rifle and double-barrel gun. Both my hands have got +muskets; I got them up from Sydney, a few months back."</p> +<p>The two men now came running down from above, each with his +musket.</p> +<p>"Where is Jim?" Reuben said, looking round.</p> +<p>"He went out about ten minutes ago," Dick said. "I fancy he went +to look after your horse. He takes as much care of that animal as +if it were a child."</p> +<p>"I hope they won't find him in the stable, and cut his throat," +Reuben said. "He is wonderfully faithful and attached to me. I +would not have harm come to him, for anything.</p> +<p>"Now, I will go upstairs and reconnoitre. Now those fellows have +left off knocking at the door, they are a good deal more dangerous +than when they were kicking up all the row."</p> +<p>"Mind how you show yourself, captain, as likely enough one of +them is on the watch, expecting that we should be sure, sooner or +later, to take a look out of that window. So keep well back. The +night is pretty light, so I expect you will be able to make them +out."</p> +<p>"Can we get a view of the stable from that window?"</p> +<p>"Yes," Dick replied, "I rather had that in my mind's eye, when I +put the stable up. It's always a good thing, men knowing that their +master can have an eye upon them, when they least expect it. Why do +you ask?"</p> +<p>"Because if the window commands the stable door, we can prevent +them getting the horses out."</p> +<p>"Yes," Dick said, "after losing two in that last affair, it +would be a serious matter to have the rest of them carried +off."</p> +<p>Reuben went up the stairs and made his way towards the window, +standing a short distance back. He could see no one moving about in +the yard, and he was about to move close to it, when a tremendous +crash took place below, followed by loud shouts. He ran downstairs +again.</p> +<p>The bush rangers had moved round to the back of the house and, +there picking up a young tree which had been brought in, to saw up +into billets for firewood, they used it as a battering ram against +one of the shutters; and at the very first blow broke it off its +hinges, and then made a rush at the window. Two shots rang out +almost together; and then, firing a hasty volley into the window, +the bush rangers began to climb in. But by this time Reuben had +arrived, and the sharp cracks of his pistols rang out.</p> +<p>"They have got the police here!" one of the men exclaimed, as he +caught a sight of Reuben's uniform.</p> +<p>"Draw off, lads, I expect it's that accursed captain," another +voice exclaimed. "He's always riding about, with nobody but that +black fellow with him. He has got to go down, that fellow has, or +he will give us no end of trouble; but draw off from that window, +for a moment."</p> +<p>"What will they do next, I wonder?" Dick Caister said as, +leaving the two hands to guard the window, he returned into the +other room with Reuben.</p> +<p>"I rather expect they are going to try to burn us out. We must +keep them from that, if we can.</p> +<p>"Mr. Shillito, will you go up to the upper room, and keep an eye +on the stables? Shoot down anyone who may pass your line of +sight.</p> +<p>"Haven't you got any loopholes, Caister?"</p> +<p>"Yes, of course I have," Dick replied. "I had forgotten all +about them. Yes, there are two loopholes in the logs in each side +of the house, upstairs. They have been shut up by wisps of straw, +ever since the house was built."</p> +<p>Giving strict orders, to the two men, to shout instantly if +anyone moved near the window, the two young men went upstairs.</p> +<p>"Have you seen anything, Shillito?"</p> +<p>"Not a thing. One would almost think that they have bolted."</p> +<p>"They will hardly do that, I fancy," Reuben said. "There are ten +or twelve of them, but I think one or two must have got a bullet in +them."</p> +<p>"I wish they would come on," Dick said, as he pulled out the +straw from the loopholes.</p> +<p>Reuben went to them all in succession, and looked out, but +nothing could be seen of their assailants. Presently, however, a +number of dark figures appeared, each bearing a burden.</p> +<p>"They have been cutting brush wood!" Reuben exclaimed. "I was +right, you see. They are going to try to smoke or burn us out. Now +I think it's time to give them a lesson."</p> +<p>"Look, look!"</p> +<p>The exclamation was excited by a sudden glare of light, on the +other side of the stables.</p> +<p>"The scoundrels have set fire to the stables!" Shillito +said.</p> +<p>"What shall we do—make a sally?" Caister asked. "I am ready for +it, if you think right."</p> +<p>"No," Reuben said, "they would only shoot us down as we come +out. They must guess that some of us are up at this window, or they +would try to carry the horses off, instead of destroying them.</p> +<p>"I only wish we were on the poor beasts' backs. We would go for +them, though they were twice as many.</p> +<p>"I don't see the others now—they must have gone round to the +other side of the house."</p> +<p>Scarcely had Reuben taken up his station, at one of the +loopholes behind, than he again saw the dark figures. He took +steady aim and fired. There was a sharp cry, and one of the fellows +fell to the ground. The others at once threw down their burdens, +and fled. Three minutes later there was a shout.</p> +<p>"Look here, you policeman, and you, Caister, you shall pay +dearly for this night's work. I swear it, and Bill Fothergill never +forgets his word in that way. It's your turn, this time. It will be +mine the next, and when it is, take care."</p> +<p>The only reply was a shot from Reuben, aimed in the direction +from which the voice came. A minute later there was a trampling of +horses.</p> +<p>"They are gone!" Shillito exclaimed.</p> +<p>"Perhaps it is only a trick, to draw us out," Dick +suggested.</p> +<p>"No, I don't think it's that," Reuben said. "They are not strong +enough to send a party off, and to attack us with the rest. No, I +think they have gone. They know that we can't follow them.</p> +<p>"They have taken good care of that," he added bitterly, as he +glanced at the stables, which were now a sheet of flame. "However, +we will look round and see."</p> +<p>The three men descended to the room below and, being joined by +the two hands, removed the furniture piled against the door, and +threw it open.</p> +<p>"We mustn't go round to that side of the house, so as to get +into the glare of the fire, till we have looked round," Reuben +said. "I believe they are all gone; but they may have left a couple +of them lurking, somewhere about, to pick us off when we show in +the light.</p> +<p>"I will take one of your hands, Caister, and scout round on one +side. Do you three go the other side."</p> +<p>A quarter of an hour later the two parties met near the stables, +where the fire was now burning low. The roof had fallen in, and +only some of the uprights were erect, with flicking flames licking +them as they stood glowing above the mass of still blazing +debris.</p> +<p>"I wonder whether that poor fellow is under that?" Reuben +said.</p> +<p>"I hope not, indeed. I fancy he must have got away. He might +have slipped off when they first rode up. He may be hiding +somewhere round, afraid to come near till he knows how matters have +turned out."</p> +<p>So saying, he gave a loud cooey. They stood silent for a minute, +but no answer came back.</p> +<p>"There is nothing to be done, till morning," Dick said, "and +it's no use hanging about here. Before it gets light I will start +for Watson's. There are two of your men there; and they, with the +two Watsons and ourselves, can set out after these fellows, if you +are agreeable. That is, as soon as we get hold of some horses."</p> +<p>"I hardly think I shall be justified in taking you," Reuben +said, as he walked back towards the house. "These scoundrels are +all armed to the teeth, and they are first-rate shots. They know +every foot of the country, and against anything like equal numbers +they would make a desperate fight of it, even if they did not +thrash us. Of course, in anything like an equal number of my own +men I should not hesitate, but I don't think it will be fair for +you settlers to undertake such a service as that."</p> +<p>"Listen!" Shillito exclaimed, "they are coming back again."</p> +<p>Surely enough, on the night air the sound of horses, galloping +at full speed, could be heard.</p> +<p>"I don't think it can be them," Reuben said. "They would have no +motive in coming back, after they once rode off. They would know we +should be ready for them."</p> +<p>"I don't see who else it can be. At any rate, all our guns are +loaded; and if it is them, all the better."</p> +<p>Suddenly a loud cooey was heard.</p> +<p>"That's Jim!" Reuben exclaimed. "I should know his call among a +thousand. He must have made off to get help at once, but I don't +know how he can have done it in time."</p> +<p>"Why, it's the Watsons and my men!" he exclaimed, as the party +rode up into the light.</p> +<p>"All safe?" one of the settlers cried, as he jumped from his +horse.</p> +<p>"All safe, thank God," Reuben replied. "Did Jim bring you news +that we were attacked?"</p> +<p>"Yes; fortunately we were sitting up late, talking, when he rode +up; so there was not a minute lost."</p> +<p>"Rode up!" Reuben repeated, in surprise; "why, where did you get +a horse, Jim?"</p> +<p>"Rode master's horse," Jim said.</p> +<p>"What!" Reuben exclaimed in delight, "what, is Tartar safe? I +was afraid his body was under those ruins. Why, how did you get him +out?"</p> +<p>"Jim was in de stable, sah, when bush ranger ride up. De horses +was stamping, and I not hear dem till dey come quite close, den it +was too late to run out.</p> +<p>"De moment dat dey began to make bobbery at door, I opened +stable door and bring out de three horses."</p> +<p>"What! Did you get mine out, too?" Dick shouted. "Jim, you are a +trump, and no mistake."</p> +<p>"Den," Jim went on, paying no attention to the interruption, "me +led de other two hosses little way, and let them go loose, sure not +go far from home; and I jump on Tartar, and ride like de debel to +Watson's for de police."</p> +<p>"Well done, Jim. You have done capitally. Now let us talk over +what we had better do."</p> +<p>The party re-entered the house. Fresh wood was thrown on to the +fire, and one of Dick's hands proceeded to put food on the table, +and prepare tea, while the others consulted what course should be +pursued.</p> +<p>It was agreed, at once, that more aid would be necessary, before +they could think of attacking the bush rangers; but all were ready +to join in the hunt for them. Therefore it was decided that Dick +Shillito and the two Watsons should each ride, at once, to +neighbouring stations to bring aid. At one of the stations two more +policemen would be found, and as in the pursuit they should +probably pass near other stations, their numbers would swell as +they went. When this was settled, the party sat down to the +meal.</p> +<p>"How did you come upon them, Shillito?" Caister asked.</p> +<p>"I had been spending the day with the Wilkinsons. I did not +start to ride home till it was rather late, and I was riding fast +when, about a quarter of a mile before I got to my place, I rode +right into the middle of a lot of men on horseback. They evidently +hadn't heard me coming, and were as much surprised as I was.</p> +<p>"There was a general shout of 'Bail up!' and I saw at once what +sort of gentry they were. However, I didn't stop, but in the +confusion dashed through.</p> +<p>"A few shots were fired at me. I suppose they were too surprised +to aim straight. Then they started off after me. I knew it was no +use making for home, for there was only one man there; so I swept +round and made for your place. My horse is a good one, you know, +and I gained on them all except one man, who must have been +capitally mounted, for he gradually crept up to me. He wasn't +twenty yards behind me when he shouted:</p> +<p>"'Stop, or I fire!'</p> +<p>"I pulled straight up and, as he came up to me, let fly at him. +He tumbled off his horse, and I galloped off till I got here."</p> +<p>"What has become of your horse, I wonder?"</p> +<p>"I gave him a cut with my whip, as I jumped off. He cantered +away. Of course they may have caught him, but I don't think it's +likely."</p> +<p>"You will find him somewhere about at daylight, I expect. I will +ride Caister's spare horse, now."</p> +<p>For Jim, with one of the hands, had gone out to fetch in the two +horses from the spot where they had been turned loose.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch14" id="Ch14">Chapter 14</a>: An Unexpected +Meeting.</h2> +<p>As soon as it was light the party were assembled and started, +Jim leading the way, at a swinging pace which kept the horses going +at a hand canter. The marks were, for a time, perfectly easy to +follow. Five miles on the tracks led to a shepherd's hut. At their +call, the man came out.</p> +<p>"You had a visit from bush rangers last night?"</p> +<p>"What if I did?" the man replied gruffly. "I can't help where +the bush rangers pay their visits. Yes, they came in here and said +they wanted some supper; and you may guess I did not keep them +waiting long, for they were not in a particularly good temper. From +what they said, three of their men had been killed."</p> +<p>This was already known to the party, as Jim had found three +bodies at a short distance from the house. Two of these had +evidently been carried there from the back window, where they had +been killed in trying to effect the entry. The other had been shot +when approaching to fire the house.</p> +<p>"The captain of the gang was terrible put out, and was a-cussing +and swearing as to what he would do to those as did it. I wouldn't +be in their shoes, if they were to fall into his hands."</p> +<p>"They didn't say anything which would give you an idea as to the +direction they were taking?"</p> +<p>"Not they," the man replied. "You don't suppose they would be +such fools as that and, if they had, you don't suppose as I should +be such a fool to split on 'em. Not likely. I ain't no desire to +wake up, one night, and find the door fastened outside and the +thatch on fire."</p> +<p>"We may as well ride on," Reuben said. "We shall learn nothing +here. The fellow is a ticket-of-leave man, and as likely as not in +league with these scoundrels.</p> +<p>"I wonder what they came here for," he added, as they started +again.</p> +<p>"I tell you, sah," Jim said. "Dat fellow has driven his herd +ober their trail—all stamped out—no saying where they hab gone +to."</p> +<p>"We must follow the herd, then," Reuben said. "If we look sharp, +we ought to be able to see the traces where they left them."</p> +<p>Jim shook his head.</p> +<p>"No find," he said decidedly. "Plenty places where de ground am +berry hard, and horse feet no show. Dey choose some place like dat +and turn off; perhaps put rug under horses' feet, so as to make no +mark. Me sarch, sah. Jim look him eyes very hard, but tink no +find."</p> +<p>And so, to their great disappointment, it turned out. They +followed the tracks of the herd three miles, until they came upon +them, quietly grazing; but nowhere could they see any trace of a +party of horsemen turning off. All the party were greatly vexed at +the ill success of their expedition; for all had hoped that they +were, at last, going to overtake the gang who had done such +mischief in the colony.</p> +<p>Reuben was especially disgusted. He had, only the day before, +received a letter from his chief acknowledging the receipt of his +report describing the pursuit of the blacks, and congratulating him +warmly upon his success. The letter ended:</p> +<p>"If you can but give as good an account of the bush rangers, we +shall be indeed grateful to you. As it is, you have more than +justified my selection of you for the post."</p> +<p>Leaving two constables as guards, at Dick Caister's station, in +case, as was probable enough, the bush rangers should return to +take revenge for the repulse they had experienced there, Reuben +rode back to his headquarters, from which he had now been absent +some time. The evening after his return, he called Jim into his +room.</p> +<p>"Jim," he said, "I want your advice as to the best way of +finding out where these bush rangers are quartered. How do you +think we had better set about it? Would it be of any use, do you +think, for you to go among the natives and try and find out? There +is no doubt they know, for they have often acted with the bush +rangers. Do you think you could pass among them?"</p> +<p>"No, sah," Jim said at once. "Me no speak deir way. Me +understand black fellow, me talk dar language, but not same way. +They find out difference directly and kill me. De wild black +fellows hate those who hab lived wid de white men. We hate dem just +de same way. We say dem bad black fellow, dey say we no good."</p> +<p>"But those rascally trackers who led us wrong, that day of the +fight, they were friendly with them."</p> +<p>"Yes, sah, but dey not so very long away from the bush, and +always keep friends wid the others. Meet dem and talk to dem, and +tell dem dey set the white men on wrong tracks."</p> +<p>"Well, Jim, but could not you do the same?"</p> +<p>"No good, sah. Me brought up among de whites, eber since me +little boy. Dey not believe me if I go and say dat to dem. Jim +ready to get killed, if de captain want him; but no good at all him +getting killed in dat way."</p> +<p>"I don't want you to get killed in any way, Jim, and if that's +your opinion about it, we will give up the plan at once. Can you +think of any other way?"</p> +<p>"Me tink a lot about him. Me know de captain want very much to +catch dose fellows, but Jim no see how dat can be done, for sure. +But de best plan me can see is for Jim to go out by himself, and +search de country outside white man's bounds. If he find de track +of horses, he follow dem up. Me know about de way dey ride off +after dey be killing people at de stations. If Jim look, and look, +and look berry sharp he find dar track for sure; and once he find +dem, he follow dem up. Must be water, for sure, where dey live. Dat +good guide to begin with.</p> +<p>"But captain must not hurry; Jim may be long time before he find +dem, dar no saying how long. Captain wish Jim to go?"</p> +<p>"Well, Jim, I don't want you to go; that is to say, I should +miss you very much; but if you could find out the haunts of these +scoundrels, you would be doing me a very great service, as well as +the people of all the stations."</p> +<p>"Jim no care about oder people," the black said. "He care for de +captain, and will go out and try and find tracks."</p> +<p>"Be careful, Jim, and don't get into trouble with them. If you +were to fall into their hands, and they were to find out you were +connected with the police, they would shoot you like a dog."</p> +<p>"Dey won't find out. White man not understand. Black fellow all +one to him. You hab no fear for Jim. Who look after hoss, while Jim +away?"</p> +<p>"I shall appoint one of the policemen as my orderly, Jim, and he +will look after him."</p> +<p>Jim made a contemptuous gesture, to signify that he had little +confidence in the power of any white man to look after Tartar. For +the rest of the evening Jim was occupied in cooking, and in the +morning he was gone.</p> +<p>A week later, Reuben was among the outlying stations again. He +had heard nothing of the bush rangers, and no fresh attacks had +been made by them, since that upon Dick Caister's station.</p> +<p>One evening, just as he had gone up to bed, he was roused by a +sharp knocking at the door of the house in which he was stopping. +The settlers had grown cautious now, and an upper window was +opened, and Reuben heard the questions, "Who is there?" and "What +is it?"</p> +<p>"Is Captain Whitney here?"</p> +<p>"Yes, do you want him?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I want to see him directly."</p> +<p>In a minute, Reuben had opened the door.</p> +<p>"I am Captain Whitney," he said. "What is it?"</p> +<p>"I am glad I have found you, sir. They told me at the next +station you were here yesterday, but they did not know whether you +were here now.</p> +<p>"Well, sir, I am shepherding some twenty miles away; and this +afternoon, just as I had got back to my hut, in runs a black +fellow. It is a lonely spot, and I reached for my gun, thinking +there was more of them, when he said:</p> +<p>"'No shoot, me friend. Me sarve Captain Whitney of de police. +You know him?'</p> +<p>"I said I had heard your name.</p> +<p>"'You know where he is?' the black asked.</p> +<p>"I said I did not know for certain; but that when my mate went +in for grub, two days before, he had heard say that you had been +along there that morning.</p> +<p>"The black said: 'Good. You run and find him.'</p> +<p>"'Thank you,' says I. 'What for?'</p> +<p>"'I find out about the bush rangers,' he said. 'You go and tell +captain dat, tomorrow morning before de day begins, dey attack the +station of Donald's.'</p> +<p>"'Are you quite sure?' says I.</p> +<p>"'Quite sure,' says the black. 'Me heard dem say so.'</p> +<p>"So as I hates the bush rangers like poison, I saddles up and +rides into the station; and when I had told the boss, he said I +better ride and find you, if I could. You would be at one of the +stations this way. I stopped at three of them, and at the last they +told me you was here."</p> +<p>"Thank you greatly, my good fellow. Donald's! I don't know the +name. Where do they live?"</p> +<p>"They have only been here a couple of months," Reuben's host, +who was standing beside him, replied. "They bought that station of +Anderson's. He was a chicken-hearted young fellow, and sold out +because of the bush rangers. There is a man, his wife, and her +sister, I believe. I fancy they have got a pretty fair capital. +They took Anderson's stock, and have been buying a lot more. That's +why the bush rangers are going to attack them."</p> +<p>"I thought," Reuben said, "that Anderson's was not one of the +most exposed stations."</p> +<p>"No, that was what everyone told him, before he sold it."</p> +<p>"How far would you say it was from here?"</p> +<p>"Thirty-five miles," the settler said. "It's ten miles from +Barker's, and I reckon that's twenty-five from here."</p> +<p>"Well, of course I shall ride at once; as there are women there, +it makes the case all the more urgent. I have got my orderly, and +there are two more men at the station, this side of Barker's."</p> +<p>"I will go, of course," Reuben's host said, "and will bring two +men with me.</p> +<p>"You had best stop here for the night," he added, turning to the +shepherd. "You have ridden pretty well thirty miles already, and +that at the end of your day's work."</p> +<p>"Not I," the man replied. "Jim Walsh is not going to be lying in +bed, with the thought of two women in the hands of them murderous +bush rangers. You might lend me a fresh horse, if you have got one. +If not, I must try and pick one up at one of the stations, as we go +along."</p> +<p>"I have plenty of horses in the yard," the settler said.</p> +<p>"Well, let us be off as soon as possible," Reuben put in. "It's +past twelve o'clock now, and we have thirty-five miles to ride, and +to stop at two or three places, so we haven't a minute to +lose."</p> +<p>In a few minutes the horses were saddled, and the six men dashed +off at full gallop. At three stations, which they passed on the way +to Barker's, they picked up seven more. There was but little delay +as, the instant the news was told, the men hurried up, saddled +their horses, and rode after the party, who pushed straight on when +they had told their story. At Barker's they were joined by Barker +himself, and two men. Two constables had also been picked up on the +way.</p> +<p>The others overtook them here, and the party now numbered twenty +men. There was a pause to allow all to come up, and to give the +horses breathing time, for they had traversed twenty-five miles at +a rapid pace, with scarce a halt.</p> +<p>Mrs. Barker herself prepared a meal, to which, while the horses +got their breath, their riders did justice. Then they mounted +again, and rode for Donald's.</p> +<p>"It all depends," Reuben said, "as to our being there in time, +whether the man keeps a careful watch. If he does they may not +attack till the doors are opened, and then make a sudden rush and +catch them unawares. If, when they arrive there, they find the +whole house is asleep, they may burst in at once."</p> +<p>"I think they will be careful," Mr. Barker said. "I know Donald +is very anxious; and no wonder, with two women with him, both young +and pretty—quite out of the way, indeed. In fact, he told me the +first day I rode over, he had no idea of the unsettled state of the +district, and wouldn't have taken the place if he had, not even if +Anderson had given it as a gift; and he wrote down at once to some +agent, and told him to sell the place again, for whatever he can +get for it; but I expect there will be some trouble in finding a +purchaser. The district here has had a bad name for some time and, +if Donald had not arrived fresh from England, he must have heard of +it.</p> +<p>"Listen! I thought I heard the sound of firing."</p> +<p>There was a momentary pause, but no one could hear anything. +Nevertheless, they went on at redoubled speed. They were now within +three miles of the station.</p> +<p>Suddenly, on coming over a crest, a faint light was seen ahead. +It increased rapidly, and a tongue of flame leapt up.</p> +<p>"Come on, lads!" Reuben exclaimed. "The scoundrels are at their +work."</p> +<p>At a hard gallop they crossed the intervening ground, until they +were within half a mile of the station, from which a broad sheet of +flame was leaping up. Then Reuben drew rein, for he had outridden +the rest of his party, and it was important that all should ride +together.</p> +<p>"Now," he said, when they were gathered; "let us keep in a close +body.</p> +<p>"If they ride off as we arrive there, do you, Jones and Wilkins, +stop at the station and see if you can render any help. If not, +follow us at once.</p> +<p>"Let the rest keep on with me, straight after the bush rangers. +There is already a faint light in the east. In half an hour it will +be broad day so, even if they have got a start, we shall be able to +follow them. Now, come on."</p> +<p>At the head of his party, Reuben rode at full speed down to the +station. As he neared it he saw, to his satisfaction, that the +flames arose from some of the outbuildings, and that the house +itself was still intact; but as no firing had been heard, he hoped +that it still resisted.</p> +<p>There was a shrill whistle, when the party approached within a +hundred yards. Men were seen to dash out of the house, and to leap +upon their horses.</p> +<p>With a shout, Reuben rode down. He did not pause for a moment, +but dashed past the house in the direction in which the bush +rangers had fled. They were, he knew, but a hundred yards ahead; +but it was not light enough for him to see them, especially after +riding through the glare of the fire. The sound of the horses' +feet, however, afforded an indication; but as there was no saying +in which direction they might turn, he was forced to halt, every +two or three minutes, to listen.</p> +<p>To his mortification he found that, each time, the sound was +getting more indistinct; for the speed at which they had travelled +had taken so much out of the horses, that they were unable to +compete with the fresher animals ridden by the bush rangers, who +were all well mounted, many of the best horses in the district +having been stolen by them. At last the sound could be heard no +longer, and Reuben was reluctantly obliged to give the order to +halt; for he feared he might override the trail.</p> +<p>"It is no use," he said, as he reined in his horse. "They will +know as well as we do that they are out of hearing now, and might +turn off anywhere. It is terribly annoying. We are too late to save +the station, and the bush rangers have escaped.</p> +<p>"However, we will take up their trail as soon as it is daylight. +Indeed, I am expecting every moment to be joined by Jim, who is +sure to be somewhere near, and can perhaps guide us direct to their +hiding place."</p> +<p>Deeply disappointed, the party dismounted from their horses.</p> +<p>"The scoundrels must have had someone on the watch," Reuben +said, "or they would never have taken the alarm so soon. I am +sorry, now, that we did not send a party round to the other side +before we charged down upon them; but my blood was on fire at the +sight of the burning station, and at the thought of the women in +the hands of those scoundrels."</p> +<p>A minute later, a man rode up at full speed from behind.</p> +<p>"Is that you, Jones?" Reuben said, stepping forward.</p> +<p>"Yes, sir," the man replied, reining in his horse. "I left +Wilkins behind, and rode on to tell you what had happened."</p> +<p>"What has happened, Jones?"</p> +<p>"It's a bad business, sir, a shocking bad business; but it might +have been worse. It seems they broke in about half an hour before +we got there. One of the hands was supposed to be on watch in the +stockyard; but either he was asleep, or they crept up to him and +killed him before he could give the alarm. Then they got up to the +house and burst in the door, before the others were fairly +awake.</p> +<p>"They shot the two hands at once; but I suppose, as their blood +wasn't up, and no resistance was offered, they thought they had +plenty of time for fooling; for they must have reckoned that no +force they need be afraid of could be got together, for three or +four hours. So they made Donald and his wife and sister get +breakfast for them. The women, it seemed had got pistols, and both +swore they would blow out their brains if any man laid a hand on +them. However, the bush rangers did not touch them, though they +told them they would have to go off with them.</p> +<p>"They made Donald sit down at one end of the table, while their +captain took the other; and the two women, half dressed as they +were, waited on them. It was lucky for them that we were so close +when the alarm was given, for all made a rush to get to their +horses; only the captain stopping a moment, to let fly at +Donald."</p> +<p>"Did he kill him?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"No, sir, the bullet hit him in the body, and the ladies were +crying over him when I went in, thinking he was dead. I thought so, +too, but I found he was breathing. They poured some brandy down his +throat, and presently he opened his eyes; then, as there was +nothing for me to do, I thought I had best gallop on and give you +the news, for I knew that you would be anxious to know what had +taken place."</p> +<p>"Thank you, Jones, you did quite right. What an escape those +poor ladies have had! Another quarter of an hour, we might have +been too late, for those villains would not have kept up the farce +long."</p> +<p>"No, sir, especially as they were drinking wine. The table was +all covered with bottles."</p> +<p>"You did not see anything of Jim, did you?" Reuben inquired.</p> +<p>"No, sir, I did not see or hear anyone stirring about the +place."</p> +<p>Reuben gave a loud cooey.</p> +<p>"That will bring him, if he is anywhere within hearing."</p> +<p>But no answering call came back.</p> +<p>"I hope nothing has happened to the poor fellow," Reuben said, +after a pause.</p> +<p>"He could not possibly be here by this time," Mr. Barker said. +"The place where he warned the shepherd must be sixty miles from +here."</p> +<p>"Yes, quite that; but he can run nearly as fast as a horse can +go, and he would be ten miles nearer here, in a straight line, than +the way the man went round to fetch me."</p> +<p>As soon as it became light they followed the track, which was +plainly visible; but when they had gone half a mile further, there +was a general cry of dismay—the ground was trampled in every +direction.</p> +<p>"Confound it," Mr. Barker said, "they have done us! Do you see, +they have ridden right into the middle of a large herd of cattle, +and have driven them off in every direction; and have, no doubt, +themselves scattered among the cattle. They may go like that for +three or four miles, and then draw off from the cattle at any spot +where the ground is hard, and no tracks will be left; to meet again +at some appointed place, maybe fifty miles away."</p> +<p>"Then you don't think it's any use in pursuing them?" Reuben +asked, in a tone of deep disappointment.</p> +<p>"Not a bit in the world," Mr. Barker replied decisively. "If we +had a native tracker with us, he might possibly follow one horse's +track among those of all the cattle, discover where he separates +from them, and take up his trail; but I doubt, even then, if he +would be successful. These fellows know that a strong party is in +pursuit of them, and each of them will do everything they can to +throw us off the scent. They are sure not to go straight to their +place of meeting, but each will take circuitous routes, and will +make for thick bush, where it will be next to impossible for even a +native to follow them. No, they have done us, this time."</p> +<p>"Well, gentlemen, I hope you will all wait as long as you can at +the station here. If my boy has not been shot by those scoundrels, +he is sure to find his way here; and will be able, in all +probability, to set us on the right track.</p> +<p>"At any rate, though the bush rangers have given us the slip, we +may congratulate ourselves on our morning's work. We have at least +saved those poor ladies."</p> +<p>So saying, Reuben turned and, with the party, rode slowly back +to the station. On arriving there, they dismounted and unsaddled +their horses, and turned them into a paddock close to the house, to +feed. Reuben and Mr. Barker then went up to the house. The +constable who had been left behind came out.</p> +<p>"Well, Wilkins, how is Mr. Donald, and how are the ladies?"</p> +<p>"He is sensible now, sir; but I don't think there's much chance +for him."</p> +<p>"We ought to get a surgeon, at once," Reuben said. "Who is the nearest, +Mr. Barker?"</p> +<p>"The nearest is Ruskin."</p> +<p>"Is there no one nearer than that?" Reuben asked. "Why, he lives +about halfway between where I was sleeping last night, and my own +place. It must be seventy miles away."</p> +<p>"He's the nearest," Mr. Barker said; "take my word for it."</p> +<p>"I'll tell you what will be the best plan," Reuben's host of the +night before said. "I will ride at once to Mr. Barker's and, if he +will let me get a fresh horse there, I will gallop straight back to +my place, and will send a man off the moment I arrive there to +fetch Ruskin.</p> +<p>"It is only eight o'clock now. I can be home before noon, and my +man will do the next stage in a little over four hours. If he finds +Ruskin in, he can get to my place by ten o'clock at night, and can +start again at daybreak; so by eleven o'clock tomorrow he can be +here. If he isn't here by that time, it will be because he was out +when my man got there. At any rate, he is sure to start directly he +gets the message."</p> +<p>"That will be the best plan," Reuben agreed; "and I am sure the +ladies will be greatly obliged to you, when I tell them what you +have undertaken."</p> +<p>"Oh, that's nothing," the settler said. "We don't think much of +a seventy miles' ride, here."</p> +<p>Without any further delay, the settler saddled his horse and +went off at a gallop towards Mr. Barker's, where he was to get a +fresh mount.</p> +<p>"And now, how are the ladies, Wilkins?"</p> +<p>"They are keeping up bravely, sir. I think, as far as they are +concerned, Donald's being hit has done them good. It has given them +something to do, and they have not had time to think about what +they have gone through, and what a narrow escape they have +had."</p> +<p>"Which room are they in, Wilkins?"</p> +<p>"In there to the left, sir."</p> +<p>"As you have seen them, Wilkins, you had better go in and tell +them that we have sent off, at once, to fetch a surgeon; and that +they may rely upon his being here some time tomorrow, we hope +before noon. Ask if there is anything that we can do for them, or +for Mr. Donald."</p> +<p>The policeman went in, and Reuben called one of his other +men.</p> +<p>"Perkins, do you, Jones, and Rider go in and fetch out the +bodies of the men who have been killed. Don't make more noise than +you can help about it. Carry them out to that shed there, and then +get a bucket and wash down the floors, wherever there are +bloodstains about. I want to have the place straight, so that those +poor ladies may avoid seeing anything to recall the scene they have +passed through. Of course, you won't go into the room where they +are now."</p> +<p>Three or four of the settlers at once volunteered to set to work +to dig a grave.</p> +<p>"Choose a place a bit away from the house," one of them said. +"The farther, the better; it will remind them of this affair, +whenever they see it."</p> +<p>While Reuben was arranging this point, the constable had come +out and told Mr. Barker the ladies would be glad to see him.</p> +<p>"It's a terrible business," the settler said to Reuben, as he +turned to go into the house. "I feel downright afraid of facing +them. To think how bright and pretty they looked, when I rode over +here ten days ago; and now there they are, broken hearted."</p> +<p>He returned in a few minutes.</p> +<p>"How is Donald?" was the general question.</p> +<p>"He is hard hit," the settler said, "just under the ribs on the +right-hand side. I expect the fellow aimed at his head, but he was +starting from his seat at the moment. He isn't in much pain. I have +told them they must keep him perfectly quiet, and not let him move +till the surgeon comes.</p> +<p>"They have asked me to see about everything. It's better we +should not be going in and out of the house, as he must be kept +perfectly quiet; so I think we had better establish ourselves under +that big tree over there. There are some sheep half a mile over +that rise, if two of you will go over, kill one and fetch it in. If +you will light a fire under that tree, I will hand out from the +house flour, tea, sugar, and some cooking things."</p> +<p>There was a general murmur of approval, for all felt silent and +awed at being so close to the house of death and sorrow. Two men +got their horses, and rode off to fetch the sheep. The others +carried the various articles requisite up to the place fixed for +the bivouac, while Wilkins was installed in the house, to assist in +anything that might be required there.</p> +<p>"The poor things told me to tell you, captain, how grateful they +felt to you for the exertions you have made. I told them how it was +we came to be here; and how you had ridden, when you got the news, +to be here in time. Mrs. Donald did not say much, poor thing, she +seemed half dazed; but her sister, who seems wonderfully cool and +collected, quite realized what they had escaped; and there's many a +young fellow who would give a good deal, to win that look of +gratitude she gave me when she said:</p> +<p>"'I shall never forget what I owe you all.'</p> +<p>"I am just going to send off one of my men, to fetch my wife +over here. It will be a comfort to the two girls, for they are +little more, to have a woman with them."</p> +<p>"There's nothing to be done for Donald, I suppose?" Reuben +asked.</p> +<p>"Nothing. The wound is hardly bleeding at all. I told them that, +as far as I knew, the best thing was to keep on it a flannel dipped +in warm water, and wrung out; and that they should give him a +little broth, or weak brandy and water, whenever he seemed faint. +My surgery does not go beyond that. If it had been a smashed +finger, or a cut with an axe, or even a broken limb, I might have +been some good; for I have seen plenty of accidents of all kinds, +since I came out twenty years ago, but a bullet wound in the body +is beyond me, altogether."</p> +<p>After the meal was cooked and eaten, there was a consultation as +to what had best be done next. Two or three of the settlers who +were married men said that they would go home, as their wives would +be anxious about them. The rest agreed to stop for, at any rate, +another day.</p> +<p>Mr. Barker had found out from Mrs. Donald's sister the direction +in which the sheep and cattle were grazing, and two or three of the +party rode off to tell the shepherds and herdsmen—for there were +three men on the farm, in addition to those who had been +killed—what had happened; and to tell them that they had better +bring the sheep and cattle up to within a mile or so of the house, +and come in themselves for their stores, when required.</p> +<p>A grave was now dug, and the three men buried. In the afternoon +Mrs. Barker arrived, and at once took charge of the affairs of the +house. In the evening Mr. Barker came up to the fire round which +the men were sitting.</p> +<p>"Will you come down to the house, Captain Whitney? The ladies +have expressed a wish to see you. They want to thank you for what +you have done."</p> +<p>"There is nothing to thank about," Reuben said. "I only did my +duty as a police officer, and am disgusted at those scoundrels +having got away. I have done all I could, since I arrived; but I +can't help feeling, being in command of the force here, that we are +to some extent to blame for these fellows carrying on, as they have +done for months, without being caught."</p> +<p>"I think you had better come down, Whitney," Mr. Barker said. +"There is something bright and hopeful about you, and I think that +a talk with you might cheer the poor things up a bit. When people +are in the state they are, they seem to turn to everyone for a +gleam of hope, and comfort."</p> +<p>"Oh, if you think I can do any good, of course I will go; though +I would rather stop here, by a good way."</p> +<p>So saying, Reuben went down with Mr. Barker to the house. A lady +met them at the door.</p> +<p>"Arthur has just dozed off," she whispered. "Mrs. Barker is +sitting by him. She insisted on our coming out. Will you come in +here?"</p> +<p>As silently as possible, the two men followed her into the +kitchen, and closed the door after them. The fire was blazing +brightly, Wilkins having piled on some fresh logs before going out +to smoke a pipe. Mrs. Donald was sitting in a dejected attitude, by +its right, when her sister entered with Mr. Barker and Reuben. She +rose and, coming towards Reuben, said:</p> +<p>"How can we thank you, sir, for the exertions you have made, and +for having saved us from I dare not think what fate? As long as we +live, my sister and I will bless you."</p> +<p>"I can assure you, Mrs. Donald," Reuben said, "that I have done +nothing but my duty, and I only regret that we did not arrive half +an hour earlier."</p> +<p>"Ah, if you had!" Mrs. Donald said. "But there—we must not +repine—even in my sorrow, I feel how much we have to be thankful +for."</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed," her sister said, "we have truly reason to be +grateful."</p> +<p>As she spoke, Reuben looked at her more and more intently. He +had started when she first spoke, outside the house.</p> +<p>"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, "is it possible, or am I dreaming? +Surely you are Miss Kate Ellison?"</p> +<p>"Certainly I am," she said in surprise, at his tone; "but I +don't think—I don't remember—why, surely it is not Reuben +Whitney?"</p> +<h2><a name="Ch15" id="Ch15">Chapter 15</a>: At Donald's.</h2> +<p>It is difficult to say whether Kate Ellison, or Reuben Whitney +was the most surprised at this unexpected meeting. The former, +indeed, was aware that Reuben had come out to Australia; but that +the boy, whose cause she had championed, should now stand before +her as the officer, to whose energy and activity she and her sister +owed so much, seemed almost incredible.</p> +<p>But the surprise of Reuben was at least equal to that which she +felt. He could scarcely credit the evidence of his senses, at +seeing before him the young lady whom he had believed to be +thousands of miles away, in England. As is usual in these cases, +the girl was the first to recover from her surprise.</p> +<p>"And it is to you we owe so much!" she said, holding out her +hand. "Mr. Barker spoke of our preserver as Captain Whitney; but +somehow it never, for a moment, occurred to me to connect the name +with you.</p> +<p>"Is it not extraordinary, Alice?" she said, turning to her +sister.</p> +<p>"The surprise to me is even greater than to you, Miss Ellison," +Reuben said. "Mr. Barker always spoke of Mrs. Donald and her +sister, and I had not the least idea that you were in the colony. +My mother wrote to me, a year ago, telling me of the changes which +have taken place; but although she said that you had left Tipping, +she said nothing about your coming out here."</p> +<p>Reuben had, in fact, been much disturbed in his mind, a year +previously, by hearing from his mother that Mr. Ellison had died +suddenly. He had, it seemed, lost a large sum of money, from the +failure of a bank in which he was a shareholder, and the blow had +killed him. The estate was, when Mrs. Whitney wrote, for sale.</p> +<p>Reuben had written back, begging his mother to send him all +particulars that she could gather; but communication between +Australia and England was in those days very slow, and no answer +had yet been received. Another letter had, indeed, told him that +the estate had been sold. Mrs. Ellison, he knew, had died a few +weeks after he had left England.</p> +<p>"It is very simple," Kate Ellison said quietly; "although of +course it seems so strange to you, our being here. My sister was +engaged to Mr. Donald before papa's death and, as you know, almost +everything went owing to that bank; and as I had no reason for +staying in England, I came out here with them."</p> +<p>Reuben subsequently learned that Mr. Ellison had disapproved of +the engagement of his daughter with Mr. Donald, who was the younger +son of a neighbouring squire. When, after his death, Mr. Ellison's +affairs were wound up, it was found that there remained only the +six thousand pounds, which his wife had brought him, to be divided +between her daughters. Mr. Donald possessed no capital, and had no +prospects at home. He and Alice were quietly married, three months +after her father's death, and had sailed a week later for New South +Wales; where, as land could be taken up at a nominal price, it was +thought that her little fortune would be ample to start them +comfortably. All this, however, Reuben did not learn until some +time later.</p> +<p>After chatting for a short time, he returned to the camp +fire.</p> +<p>"This is very awkward, Mr. Barker," Mrs. Donald said; "do you +know that Captain Whitney was, at one time, gardener's boy to our +father?"</p> +<p>"Oh, Alice!" her sister exclaimed, "what difference can that +make?"</p> +<p>"It seems to me," Mrs. Donald said, "that it makes a very great +difference. You know mamma never thought well of him, and it is +very awkward, now, finding him here in such a position; especially +as he has laid us under an obligation to him.</p> +<p>"Do you not think so, Mr. Barker?"</p> +<p>"I do not pretend to know anything about such matters, Mrs. +Donald," Mr. Barker said bluntly; "and I shouldn't have thought it +could have made any difference to you, what the man was who had +saved you from such a fate as would have befallen you, had it not +been for his energy. I can only say that Captain Whitney is a +gentleman with whom anyone here, or in the old country, would be +glad to associate. I may say that when he came here, three or four +months ago, my friend Mr. Hudson—one of the leading men in the +colony—wrote to me, saying that Captain Whitney was one of his +most intimate friends, that he was in every respect a good fellow, +and that he himself was under a lifelong obligation to him; for he +had, at the risk of his life, when on the way out, saved that of +his daughter when she was attacked by a mad Malay at the Cape.</p> +<p>"More than that, I did not inquire. It was nothing to me whether +he was born a prince, or a peasant."</p> +<p>Mrs. Donald coloured hotly, at the implied reproof of Mr. +Barker's words. She had always shared her mother's prejudices +against Reuben Whitney, and she had not been long enough, in the +colony, to become accustomed to the changes of position which are +there so frequent.</p> +<p>"You do not understand, Mr. Barker," she said pettishly. "It was +not only that he was a boy employed in the family. There were other +circumstances—"</p> +<p>"Oh, Alice!" Kate broke out, "how can you speak of such things? +Here are we at present, owing more than our lives to this man, and +you are going now to damage him by raking up that miserable old +story.</p> +<p>"Mr. Barker," she said impulsively, "my father, one of the most +just, as well as one of the most kind of men, had the highest +opinion of Reuben Whitney; believe me, there was nothing in the +circumstances to which Alice alludes which could cast the slightest +slur upon his character."</p> +<p>"I feel certain of that, my dear young lady," Mr. Barker said, +"even without your assurance. Your sister is shaken by the events +of the day, and no wonder; and I am quite sure that when she thinks +this matter over she will see that, whatever her preconceived ideas +may be, it would be most ungrateful and ungenerous to breathe a +single word in disparagement of Captain Whitney."</p> +<p>So saying, he turned on his heel and left the room; and Kate, +wishing to avoid further words on the matter with her sister, +followed his example.</p> +<p>Mrs. Donald's reflections were not pleasant. She felt that Mr. +Barker's reproof was well deserved, and that she had acted +ungratefully and ungenerously. As a rule, Mr. Ellison's elder +daughter was by no means of an unkind disposition; but she was +essentially her mother's child.</p> +<p>The question of Reuben Whitney had been one which had caused +more serious dissension, between her father and mother, than any +she ever remembered. She had taken her mother's view of the case, +while Kate had agreed with her father; and although the subject had +been dropped, by mutual consent, it had been a very sore one; and +at the sight of Reuben, the remembrance of the old unpleasantness +had caused her to play a part which she could not but feel was mean +and unworthy. She felt angry at herself—angry with Mr. Barker, +with her sister, and with Reuben.</p> +<p>She was standing there, with her lips pressed together as she +thought over the matter, when Mrs. Barker came into the room.</p> +<p>"He is awake now, my dear. Perhaps you had better go in to +him."</p> +<p>Then she dismissed from her mind the events of the last few +minutes, and went in to take her place by the side of her husband. +But as, during the long hours of the night, she sat there and +thought over what had passed since the preceding evening, the +thought of how much she owed to Reuben Whitney was uppermost in her +mind; and when in the morning Mrs. Barker relieved her, she went +into the other room, where Mr. Barker and Kate were about to sit +down to breakfast, and said:</p> +<p>"Mr. Barker, I thank you for what you said to me last night. You +were right and I was wrong. I was ungrateful, and ungenerous. I can +only say that it was a very sore subject, and that in my surprise I +thought of the past, and not the present. Believe me, I am very +sorry for what I said."</p> +<p>"That is quite enough, Mrs. Donald," Mr. Barker said heartily. +"I am very glad you have said what you have. I was sure that you +would, upon reflection, feel that whatever the old grievance might +have been, it could not weigh an instant against what you owe to +that young fellow now. Let us say no more on the subject. You were +shaken and not yourself, and I was wrong in taking you up so +sharply, under the circumstances."</p> +<p>Kate said nothing, but her face showed that she was greatly +pleased at her sister's change of tone.</p> +<p>"What is going to be done, Mr. Barker?" Mrs. Donald asked. "Of +course, the friends who came to our rescue cannot stay here; and +there is no chance of my husband being moved, for a long time."</p> +<p>"I am afraid not, indeed," Mr. Barker said. "Most of them will +leave this afternoon, in time to get back to their stations +tonight.</p> +<p>"I have been speaking with Captain Whitney, and he says that he +with his men will certainly stay here, for the present.. He sent +off a messenger, last night, for six more of his men to join him +here; for he still hopes to get news from his native boy, which may +set him on the tracks of the bush rangers. You need, however, be +under no alarm; for I think there is no chance, whatever, of the +bush rangers returning.</p> +<p>"By the way, Whitney would like to speak to you, after +breakfast. He wants you to give him as minute a description as you +can of the fellows you saw. We have already descriptions of four or +five of them, given by men whom they have stuck up; but the band +must have increased lately, and any particulars might be +useful."</p> +<p>Reuben came round in a quarter of an hour later. Mr. Barker +fetched him into the room where Mrs. Barker and Kate were +sitting.</p> +<p>"Mr. Donald is no worse, I am glad to hear," he said, as he +shook hands with the two ladies.</p> +<p>"I see no change whatever," Mrs. Barker said. "He is conscious, +but does not speak much. He asked me, this morning, to tell you and +all your friends how deeply he feels indebted to you."</p> +<p>"His thanks are due to the settlers, rather than to me, Mrs. +Barker. They were volunteers, you know, while I was simply on duty. +We had, however, one common interest—to get here in time to save +the station and, above all, to catch and break up this gang of +scoundrels.</p> +<p>"And now, Miss Ellison, if you feel equal to it, would you +kindly give us an account of what happened? Mr. Barker said that he +would not ask you, yesterday; but something, perhaps, let drop by +chance, might serve as an indication to us as to the direction in +which these fellows have gone."</p> +<p>"I will tell you, certainly," the girl said, her face paling a +little; "although it is dreadful, even now, to think of. We of +course had no idea of attack, and had gone to bed as usual. One of +the men was always on guard, on the outside of the house; for these +attacks made Mr. Donald nervous for the safety of my sister, and +myself. Simpson was on guard that night. Whether he went to sleep +or not, I cannot say."</p> +<p>"He did, Miss Ellison," Reuben interrupted. "We found his body +round by the end of the house. He had evidently been sitting down +on a log, against the house; and had been killed by a crushing blow +with some heavy instrument, probably one of the tools they used for +breaking in."</p> +<p>"The first we knew about it," Kate went on, "was a tremendous +crash downstairs, which was followed by a continuous thundering +noise. I think they must have burst the door in with crowbars, or +something—that was the first noise we heard—but a strong wooden +bar, inside, kept the door in its place till they battered it down +with a log.</p> +<p>"I hurried on some things. Just as I had done—it was not a +minute, I think, from the time I woke—Alice ran in, partly +dressed, too. I had heard Mr. Donald shout to the men, then there +was another great crash as the bar gave way, and then some shots +were fired.</p> +<p>"Mr. Donald had been standing just behind the door, and had +fired through it the moment before it gave way. He had not time to +step back, and was knocked down by the door. It was fortunate for +him, for the bush rangers rushed in and shot down the two men, +instantly.</p> +<p>"Alice would have run down to see what had happened to her +husband, but I would not let her out of my room. She could have +done no good, and might have been shot. Then we heard them moving +about the house, swearing and using all sorts of horrible language. +Then they shouted up to us to come down, or else they would come +and fetch us; so we opened the door, and came down at once.</p> +<p>"Alice gave a little cry of joy, as she entered the room and saw +her husband standing unhurt, though still looking dazed and +confused from his blow.</p> +<p>"The leader of the band—I suppose you have not seen him, +Captain Whitney?"</p> +<p>"No, indeed," Reuben said. "I would give a good deal to catch +sight of him."</p> +<p>"What do you know about him?"</p> +<p>"I only know that he is a young fellow, not much older than I am +myself. His was a life sentence. He was concerned in a burglary in +the country, in which two old ladies were killed. Two of his +accomplices were hung for it, but in consideration of his youth, +and as it was not proved that he took an absolute part in the +murder, he got off with a life sentence. I heard about the case +from Captain Wilson.</p> +<p>"He came out here about a year after I did. He had not been here +a month when he killed one of the guard, and made his escape. Since +that time he has been a scourge to the colony. Not a week has +passed without complaints of his bailing up and robbing teamsters +on their way down to Sydney. He soon gathered two or three others +about him, and his daring and impudence soon made him a noted +character. Several times he, with two other men, rode into +good-sized villages and, pistol in hand, went from house to house, +and carried off every shilling in the place. He has ridden into +large stores single handed, and compelled the storekeepers to hand +over the contents of their tills. Sometimes they bring spare horses +with them, and ride off laden with groceries and stores. He has +committed at least a score of murders, always using his pistol at +the slightest show of opposition; and sometimes murdering, +apparently, from pure love of the thing."</p> +<p>"Do you know his name?" Kate asked.</p> +<p>"His real name? No, I don't know that I ever heard it. He is +always spoken of as Fothergill."</p> +<p>"I will tell you his real name, presently," Kate said. "As my +sister and I came into the kitchen, he took off his hat and made a +deep bow and said:</p> +<p>"'Ladies, me and my mates are sorry to put you to any +inconvenience; but as we happen to be hungry, we must trouble you +to get us some supper. You need not bother to make tea, wine is +good enough for us.'</p> +<p>"Of course, as we were in their hands there was nothing to do +but to obey his orders; so we spread the cloth, and brought out +what there was in the larder. Then we fetched in the wine, and I +brought several bottles of spirits; for, as I whispered to Alice, +'If they get drunk, we may be able to get away from them.'</p> +<p>"Before they sat down, the captain told two of his men to go +upstairs with us and fetch down our watches and jewelry, and the +money there was in the house. Mr. Donald had already told them +where they would find that.</p> +<p>"We lit four candles, and put them on the table. The captain +ordered Mr. Donald to sit down facing him, saying with a sort of +mock politeness that they should not really enjoy their food, +unless their host took the head of the table. Several times, while +they were eating, I saw the captain looking hard at Alice and me. +Presently he said:</p> +<p>"'I have it now. Why, you are the Ellison girls, ain't you?'</p> +<p>"I was astonished, as you may suppose, but I said:</p> +<p>"'I am Miss Ellison, and Mrs. Donald is my sister.'</p> +<p>"'By Jove, who would have thought it!' he said. 'Do you know who +I am?'</p> +<p>"I said I didn't, although really I seemed to have some sort of +recollection of his face.</p> +<p>"'Why,' he said, 'don't you remember Tom Thorne, whose father +the squire turned out of the public house? And to think, now, that +the squire's daughters are waiting on me. This is a piece of +luck.</p> +<p>"'Well, my dears,' he went on, with a horrible grin, 'you need +not tell me how you came here now, you will have plenty of time for +that. We have made up our minds to take you both with us, for it's +a horrible lonely life in the bush, without the pleasure of ladies' +society. But I never dreamt that I was in for such a slice of luck +as this.'</p> +<p>"Mr. Donald jumped from his seat as the fellow spoke, but in a +moment he levelled a pistol at him and shouted:</p> +<p>"'Sit down or I fire.'</p> +<p>"Alice rushed to her husband, and pushed him down into his +seat.</p> +<p>"'I had rather die than go with you,' I said to him quietly.</p> +<p>"'Perhaps so, my dear,' he replied; 'but you see, you haven't +got the choice.'</p> +<p>"Then he went on taunting us about old times, and especially +reminding me that I had got him a thrashing, over breaking the +school house window. When I went out to get them some more wine, +for they wouldn't touch the spirits, I got a knife and hid it in my +dress; for I made up my mind to kill myself, rather than that.</p> +<p>"A little later I stole upstairs and brought down a brace of +pistols, which Mr. Donald kept under his pillow, and slipped one +into Alice's hand. Presently they began to get noisy, and the +captain ordered me to come and sit on his knee. Then Alice and I +showed the pistols, and said we would shoot ourselves, if one of +them laid a finger on us.</p> +<p>"The captain muttered some order to his men, which I didn't +hear; but I guessed it was to leave us alone, for the present. I +had no doubt what they intended to do was to catch us off our +guard, and wrench the pistols from us; and I was glad I had the +knife hidden away, for if they did carry us off, I was sure to be +able to find some opportunity for using that.</p> +<p>"It was awful!" the girl said, putting her hand to her face. +"Awful to be standing there and hearing them laughing and shouting +and cursing. I was tempted to go behind him, and shoot him +suddenly; but the others would have been just as bad, and we should +have gained nothing by it. I would not go through that half hour +again, for all the money in the world.</p> +<p>"The men had just finished and were getting up from the table, +and I knew the moment was coming fast, when we heard a sudden shout +outside. My heart gave a bound, as they rushed to the door. The +captain fired a shot at Mr. Donald, just as he was getting up; and +as he ran out, shouted to me:</p> +<p>"'I will come back for you, missy.'</p> +<p>"If it had not been for Mr. Donald falling to the ground, I +should have fainted; but Alice called me as she ran to him, and I +think I was trying to lift him up when the constable ran in, and I +knew we were saved."</p> +<p>Reuben had given a sudden start, when Kate Ellison mentioned the +name of Tom Thorne, but he had not interrupted her.</p> +<p>"I had a score against that scoundrel before," he said, as she +finished; "and by heavens, I will settle accounts with him when I +meet him. I could have forgiven him for the wrongs he did me; but +now—" and his fingers closed on the hilt of the pistol in his +belt.</p> +<p>Kate, who had been looking down as she told her story, raised +her eyes at the tone of intense passion in the young officer's +words; and a sudden flush of colour mounted into her cheeks, which +were pale from the terror and excitement through which she had +gone.</p> +<p>"I say ditto to Captain Whitney," Mr. Barker said. "I don't know +anything about his previous doings against him; but I know that, if +ever I come across the scoundrel, I will shoot him as a dog.</p> +<p>"Even you can't say anything against that, wife, though you are +always on the side of mercy."</p> +<p>"No," Mrs. Barker agreed. "I would say nothing to stay your hand +there, John. Even putting this aside, he has committed a score of +murders; and there will be no more wrong, in shooting him, than +there would be in killing a wild beast.</p> +<p>"That is the sound of a horse coming, at a gallop. Perhaps it is +the doctor."</p> +<p>Hurrying to the door they found, to their great satisfaction, +that Mrs. Barker's guess was verified. The surgeon had been at home +when the messenger arrived, and had started five minutes later, +arriving three or four hours earlier than they had even ventured to +hope.</p> +<p>Mrs. Barker at once led the way into the next room and, a few +minutes later, came out again for hot water and sponges. Kate had +stolen away upstairs, when the surgeon had entered the house. The +two men remained to hear the verdict.</p> +<p>"He is going to probe the wound. He can give no opinion, yet, +till he discovers what course it has taken; but he says that it is +a favourable symptom that the pulse is so strong and regular. He +wishes you both to come in, as it will be necessary to hold his +patient's hands, while he is making the examination."</p> +<p>"I cannot give any positive opinion," the surgeon said, when he +had finished the examination. "I can't find the ball, and I cannot +tell for certain what course it took, after entering; but I think, +judging from the pulse, and I may say from the expression of his +face, that no vital part is injured."</p> +<p>An exclamation of thankfulness broke from Mrs. Donald.</p> +<p>"We must not be too sanguine," Mr. Ruskin went on; "but there is +certainly strong ground for hope. I shall be able to give a more +definite opinion, in the course of a few hours. He must, of course, +be kept perfectly quiet; with no more nourishment than is +absolutely necessary, and that in the shape of beef tea. I should +make him a bed here. We will manage to slide a door under him, and +lift him on to it, with as little movement as possible.</p> +<p>"At any rate, madam," he said, turning to Mrs. Donald, "I can +congratulate you upon the fact that the bullet did not strike a +couple of inches higher. Had it done so, my ride would have been a +useless one."</p> +<p>A bed was at once brought from a room above and made up, and Mr. +Donald was placed upon it, in the manner which Mr. Ruskin had +suggested. Then with lightened hearts the party, with the exception +of his wife, left the room.</p> +<p>Kate and Mrs. Barker at once set to to prepare a meal for the +surgeon; while Reuben went over to give his companions the good +news, that the surgeon had strong hopes that Mr. Donald would +recover.</p> +<p>In the afternoon all the party, with the exception of Mr. and +Mrs. Barker and the constables, rode off to their respective +stations; assuring Reuben of their readiness to assemble again, at +once, should he obtain news which would afford a hope that the gang +could be traced.</p> +<p>A few hours later, the other four constables for whom Reuben had +sent rode up. An outhouse was now prepared for the reception of the +police, Reuben himself taking up his abode there, although Mrs. +Donald strongly urged him to come into the house; but with Mr. and +Mrs. Barker and the surgeon there, and the time of one of the +ladies taken up with the wounded man, Reuben thought that their +hands were perfectly full, and said that he should prefer to mess +and sleep with his men.</p> +<p>"You see, Mrs. Donald," he said, as she tried to induce him to +alter his determination, "I shall have to be sending out men and +receiving reports, and may be obliged to ride out in the middle of +the night; therefore, you see, as absolute quiet is ordered for +your husband, it will be far better for me to be outside the house; +as the coming and going would be sure to disturb him, and he would +naturally want to know what is going on."</p> +<p>"You will not, I hope, take all your party away in pursuit of +these men, Captain Whitney," she said anxiously. "They might get up +some false alarm, to take you away, and then come down upon the +house again. I have been too much taken up with my husband to think +much about it; but although Kate keeps up bravely, I know that she +is greatly shaken, and terribly anxious. I don't know whether she +told you; but it was to her, chiefly, that horrible man spoke; and +it was she he told, as he rushed out, that he would come back to +fetch her. She will never have a moment's peace, or tranquillity, +till we hear that he is either killed or taken."</p> +<p>"Nor shall I," Reuben said. "I do not think that the scoundrel +will dare to attempt to carry out his threat to come back again; +but with so daring a villain, it would be rash to omit the smallest +precaution. You may be quite sure, Mrs. Donald, that in no case +will I leave the house unprotected; and that if I should be called +away I will leave two men here who, during my absence, will remain +in the house; and with them, Mr. Barker, and the doctor, you may +feel perfectly assured that no open attack will be made.</p> +<p>"But I cannot impress too strongly upon you that, seeing the man +with whom we have to deal, your sister should not stir outside the +house; until we have caught him, or until Mr. Donald is so far +recovered as to be able to be removed. I will not tell her so +myself; because I see that, now the strain is over, she is greatly +shaken, and I would not add to her anxiety; but if you could break +it to her, as if it were your own idea, that she had better keep +within doors until this fellow's caught, I am sure that it will be +well."</p> +<p>"You will come in this evening, I hope; and always of an +evening, Captain Whitney. It will make a change, and cheer us up; +besides, we want to hear all about your adventures, since we saw +you last."</p> +<p>This Reuben gladly promised and, after it was dark, and he had +placed a sentry, he came into the house. Mrs. Barker was on duty in +the sick room; and Reuben, at Mrs. Donald's request, gave them an +account of the voyage out, and of the circumstances which had led +to his entering the police.</p> +<p>He would have passed very briefly over the affair at the Cape, +but by many questions Mrs. Donald succeeded in eliciting from him +all the details of the story.</p> +<p>"It was a gallant action, indeed," she said warmly. "You +certainly saved the lives of those two girls, at a terrible risk of +your own."</p> +<p>"To make the romance complete, Whitney," Mr. Barker remarked, +"you ought to have married Miss Hudson."</p> +<p>"Unfortunately, you see," Reuben said with a smile, "in the +first place I was only a boy, and she was two years my senior; in +the next, and much more important place, she happened to be in love +with someone else; and I did not happen to be in love with her, +though she was, I admit, a very charming young lady, and had been +extremely kind to me."</p> +<p>"How was that, Whitney?" Mr. Barker asked. "Eighteen is a +susceptible age. I can only account for your coldness on the +supposition that you had left your heart in England."</p> +<p>"I fancy my heart was, then, where it is now," Reuben rejoined, +with a slight smile.</p> +<p>"In the right place, eh, Whitney?"</p> +<p>"In the right place," Reuben repeated quietly.</p> +<p>At this moment Mrs. Barker entered, and said that Mr. Donald +would be glad if Reuben would come and sit with him, for a little +time.</p> +<p>"Don't let him talk much," Mr. Ruskin said. "The less he talks, +the better; but your talking to him, for a time, will cheer him up +and do him good."</p> +<p>"I am glad to see you going on so well, Mr. Donald," Reuben said +heartily, as he entered. "The doctor says you are not to talk much; +but you are to play the part of a listener."</p> +<p>"Do you think you will catch these fellows?" was Mr. Donald's +first question.</p> +<p>"I will catch them, sooner or later," Reuben said. "I will run +them down if they are above ground; but I can take no steps in the +matter until I hear from my black boy. I have been expecting him to +turn up, ever since I got here; and shall begin to be afraid that +those scoundrels have ill treated him, if he does not turn up +before long."</p> +<p>"My wife has been telling me that they knew you at home, +Whitney; and that she and her people did you some terrible +injustice, somehow. But she wouldn't go into the matter. Curious, +isn't it, your meeting at this end of the world; and that, too, at +such a moment?"</p> +<p>"It is curious," Reuben said; "what people call a coincidence. +But Mrs. Donald is mistaken in telling you that her people did me +an injustice. Her father was one of the kindest friends I ever had, +and although Mrs. Ellison somewhat misjudged me, and her daughter +naturally shared her feeling, they were not in anyway to be blamed +for that; for they only thought as ninety-nine people out of a +hundred did."</p> +<p>"Whitney, Whitney," Mr. Donald muttered to himself. "I seemed to +know the name, though I cannot recall where.</p> +<p>"Ah!" he said suddenly, "of course I remember now, for I was in +the court when—" and he stopped.</p> +<p>"When I was tried," Reuben put in quietly. "Yes, that was me. I +was acquitted, as you know, principally from the way in which Mr. +Ellison stood up for me. Thank God that he never, for an instant, +believed that I was guilty."</p> +<p>"And to think it should be you!" Mr. Donald said. "How strange +things turn out! I remember I could not make up my mind about it. +It seemed so strange, either way."</p> +<p>"We had better not talk about it now," Reuben said quietly. "I +said then, and I say now, that I knew the people who did it and, +strange as the circumstances have already been, you may think them +stranger still, some day, if I bring one of them before you, alive +or dead."</p> +<p>At this moment there was a knock at the door, and Mrs. Donald +came in and said that one of the constabulary wished to speak to +Reuben.</p> +<p>"Then I will say goodnight. I hope I shall find you getting on +nicely, in the morning, Mr. Donald.</p> +<p>"Will you say goodnight to Miss Ellison and Mrs. Barker for me, +Mrs. Donald? And tell Mr. Barker that I shall be ready, in five +minutes, to smoke that pipe we talked about with him, outside."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch16" id="Ch16">Chapter 16</a>: Jim's Report.</h2> +<p>"Jones, what is it?"</p> +<p>"Your black has just come, sir. I would not let him come in; for +the fact is, he ain't a figure to introduce among ladies."</p> +<p>"What's the matter with him, Jones? Not hurt, I hope?"</p> +<p>"He has been knocked about a bit, sir; and he is done up with +travelling. The poor fellow can hardly crawl, and was half starved; +so I set him to work eating, and came off to fetch you."</p> +<p>By this time they had arrived at the door of the shed. Jim was +sitting by a fire, eagerly devouring a hunch of cold meat. The men +were standing round, waiting till he had appeased his hunger before +they asked any question. He looked up and nodded, when Reuben +entered.</p> +<p>"Well, Jim, I am glad to see you back," Reuben said heartily. "I +was beginning to be afraid about you. I hope you are not +hurt?"—for the black had a handkerchief tied round his head.</p> +<p>Jim gave a grunt, but continued stuffing great lumps of meat +into his mouth. Reuben saw that he must wait till the black's +hunger was satisfied, and stood quietly looking on until, having +devoured some five pounds of meat, he gave a sigh of contentment, +and then took a long draught of rum and water, which Constable +Jones handed to him.</p> +<p>"Jim better now," he said.</p> +<p>"That's right, Jim; now tell us all about it."</p> +<p>Jim's story was a long one, and it took more than an hour in the +telling; for his English was not always distinct, and it often +required much questioning, on Reuben's part, before he could quite +make out its meaning. The substance was as follows:</p> +<p>On leaving, some ten days before, on the mission of discovering +the haunt of the bush rangers, he knew that it was of no use to go +among the wild blacks, their allies; as the hostility against their +semi-civilized fellows was so great that he would, at once, have +been killed. He resolved to go back to the spot where the track had +been obliterated, by that of the flock of sheep; to make a wide +circuit, and pick it up beyond and, if possible, follow it until he +found them. The difficulties were great, for the bush rangers had +spared no pains in hiding their trail; keeping always upon hard, +high ground, and at one time getting into the bed of a running +stream, and following it for two miles before they again struck for +their rendezvous.</p> +<p>However, step by step Jim had tracked them; sometimes losing the +trail altogether, sometimes guided merely by a fresh-made scratch +on the surface of a stone, or by a broken twig or bruised blade of +grass. At last, he traced it far out into the bush, many miles +beyond the furthest range of settlements, and then he lost it +altogether. There had been a halt, for some time, at this spot.</p> +<p>Beyond this, Jim was entirely at fault. He made circle after +circle round the spot, but could find no trace whatever of their +passage, and returned to the point where he had missed the trail. +He relit the embers of the fire which the bush rangers had made, +cooked some food, and laid himself down—first to think it over, +then to sleep, for it was now just the close of day.</p> +<p>It was clear to him that here, more than anywhere else, the bush +rangers had made a great effort to throw anyone who might be +pursuing them off the trail. He had no doubt that the bush rangers +had muffled their horses' hoofs with cloth, and had proceeded with +the greatest care through the bush, so as to avoid breaking a +single twig in their passage; and the only reason for such greater +caution could be that it was here, and here only, that they wished +to throw the pursuers off the trail. It would have seemed, to a +white man, that they had done this before, especially when they had +kept in the water course; but to black Jim's perception, it +appeared that they had been more careless than would be expected; +and that, while apparently doing their utmost to conceal their +tracks, they had really left sufficient indications to allow a +practised tracker to follow them.</p> +<p>Why then, now that they were far beyond the settlements, and +fairly in the country of their native allies, should they, for the +first time, so hide their trail that he could not discover it?</p> +<p>The result of Jim's thoughts was that, when he awoke at +daybreak, he started back towards the settlements. When he came to +the river which the party had passed, in pursuit of the natives, he +kept along its bank, scrutinizing the ground with the greatest +care. After six miles' walking he suddenly stopped, at a point +where the soft turf near the margin was cut up by the passage of +the party of horsemen. Here was the confirmation of his ideas.</p> +<p>Arguing the matter out with himself, Jim had arrived at the +conclusion that, hitherto, the trail had been a false one, the bush +rangers' object being to lead their pursuers to believe that they +had gone far out into the native country; whereas, in fact, their +hiding place was somewhere among the settlements. Should this be +so, the only way to find them was to search for their back track. +This he had now found and, with a shout of triumph at his own +cleverness, Jim forded the river and followed the track of the +horses.</p> +<p>This was now clear enough, the horsemen taking no pains whatever +to conceal their traces, feeling perfectly confident that any +pursuers must now be thrown off the scent. Jim followed it till +sundown, when he had made some thirty miles; and then, withdrawing +some little distance from the tracks, he made his fire and camped +for the night.</p> +<p>He was now inside the line of the outlying stations, and had +approached to the edge of a bit of wild and broken country, which +offered so few inducements to settlers that it had been passed by +for the better land beyond; although occasionally, when herbage was +scarce, the settlers in the neighbourhood drove the animals up to +feed among its hills. The black had no doubt that the gang, of +which he was in pursuit, had their haunt somewhere in the heart of +this wild and little-known tract.</p> +<p>In the morning he again started and, after travelling several +miles, entered a narrow valley with very steep sides, with trees +and brushwood growing wherever they could get a foothold. He now +adopted a careless and indifferent carriage and, although he kept a +sharp lookout, no one who saw him would have supposed that he had +any particular object in view.</p> +<p>Presently he noticed that the tracks turned sharply off from the +line he had followed, in the centre of the valley; and entered the +trees, which grew thickly here at the foot of the hills. He made no +halt, even for an instant, but walked straight on. Half a mile +further he sat down and lit his fire, and began to cook some food. +He had no doubt that he was watched for, just after he passed the +point where the track turned off, he heard a very low whistle among +the trees.</p> +<p>As he sat by the fire, he kept his back towards the direction +from which he had come; and when he presently heard footsteps, no +change in his attitude betrayed that he was conscious of the fact +that persons were approaching him, until two men stopped beside +him. Then, with a cry as of sudden alarm, he leapt to his feet.</p> +<p>"Lor' a mussy!" he exclaimed, "de white man frighten me bery +much. What for dey no say dey come?"</p> +<p>"Who are you, nigger, and where do you come from, and what are +you doing here?"</p> +<p>"My name Jim," he said; "me going tro' the country looking for +place to tend hosses. Me bery good at hosses. Me look arter de +hosses ob Mr. Hudson."</p> +<p>"What did you leave him for?" one of the men asked, sternly.</p> +<p>"Someting lost from de house," Jim said quietly. "Massa Hudson +tink me took it. He make bobbery, so Jim ran away and look for +nodder place."</p> +<p>"Um," the man said; "I wonder whether you are speaking the +truth? If I thought you weren't, I would put a bullet through your +head, in double-quick time."</p> +<p>"No, sah," Jim said in great terror; "dat de truth, sure 'nough. +Jim try to get work at Sydney. Couldn't get; so start away, and ask +at all de stations. No one want black boy for hosses, so keep on +and tink dere more chance out furder. Does massa want a boy for +hoss?"</p> +<p>"What do you think, Bill?" the man who had spoken asked his +companion. "Shall we put a bullet in this fellow's head, at once, +or make him useful?"</p> +<p>"I dussay he is a liar," the other replied; "but then all these +black fellows are liars, so that does not make much difference. A +black fellow would certainly be useful for the horses, and to look +after the fire. We can always shoot him when we have done with him. +We shall soon see, by the way he handles the horses, whether he has +been accustomed to them."</p> +<p>"All right," the other said. "You come along with us then."</p> +<p>"What wages massa pay?" Jim asked.</p> +<p>"Anything you may be worth. Don't you fret about wages."</p> +<p>Jim pretended to hold out for a fixed sum; but the man said, in +stern tones:</p> +<p>"Come along, we don't want no more jaw, so you had best hold +your tongue."</p> +<p>No other words passed till they got back to the trees, and then +turned off where the horses had previously done so. Two minutes' +walk brought them to a roughly-made shed, built against the almost +perpendicular side of the hill. It was built of logs, and there was +nothing to show that it was inhabited. No smoke curled up from the +chimney. The door and shutters were closed. Anyone who, passing +through the valley, had turned among the trees and accidentally +come upon it, would have taken it for some hut erected by a wood +cutter.</p> +<p>One of the men knocked three times at the door, and it was at +once opened. Jim was pushed inside, the men followed him, and the +door was shut.</p> +<p>"Who have you got here?" a man, sitting by the side of a large +fire some distance inside the cottage, asked angrily.</p> +<p>"It's a nigger who wants work. He says he is accustomed to +horses so, as it was the choice between shooting him and bringing +him here, we thought we might as well bring him to you. It would be +handy to have a fellow to look after the horses, and cut the wood, +and make himself useful. If we find he is of no use, there will be +no great trouble in getting rid of him."</p> +<p>"That is true enough," the other said, "and I don't think +there's much risk about it.</p> +<p>"Come here, you fellow, and let me look at you."</p> +<p>Jim stepped forward towards the fire. He saw now that the hut +was built against the entrance to a cave of considerable size. In +the centre was a great fire, the smoke of which probably made its +way to the surface through crevices in the rock above. Four other +men, besides the one who had addressed him, were lying on +sheepskins against the wall. There was an opening at the further +end of the cave into an inner chamber; and here Jim knew, by an +occasional snort or an impatient pawing, the horses were +stabled.</p> +<p>The chief of the party asked a few more questions as to where +Jim had come from, and how he chanced to be passing through so +unfrequented a country. As the black had already decided upon his +story, the questions were answered satisfactory enough.</p> +<p>"I think he's all right," the man said, at last. "At any rate +here he is, and he's not likely to go out again. We have been +talking of getting a black fellow, for some time; and as here is +one ready to hand, we may as well make the best of him.</p> +<p>"Look you here," he went on sternly, to the black; "you come of +your own free will, and here you have got to stop. You will have as +much to eat as you can stuff, plenty of rum to drink, and 'bacca to +smoke; and if there's anything else you fancy, no doubt you can +have it. Only look you, if you put your foot outside that door, +unless you are ordered to do so, I will put a bullet through your +black brain."</p> +<p>"All right," Jim said. "Plenty eat, plenty drink, plenty smoke; +dat suit Jim bery well. He no want to go out of de house, if massa +say no."</p> +<p>"That's settled then. Now, put some more logs on that fire."</p> +<p>Jim at once assumed his new duty, and the bush rangers, who all +hated the slightest work, were soon well satisfied with their new +acquisition. There were several carcasses of sheep, hanging from +hooks placed in the roof, where they were slowly smoked by the +fumes from the wood. A pile of logs were heaped up in one corner, +and these had to be cut up into sizes and lengths suitable for the +fire. At one end a space was roughly partitioned off, and this was +filled with groceries, flour, and cases of wine and spirits which +had been taken from waggons going up country.</p> +<p>In the stable were several sacks of oats; and a barrel filled +with water, which was drawn from a spring, a short distance from +the hut. The first time Jim went into the stable the captain +accompanied him, and soon saw, by the black's handling of the +horses, that his account was so far accurate, and that he was +thoroughly accustomed to stable work.</p> +<p>The cooking was also handed over to him, and the gang passed +their time in sleeping, drinking, playing cards, and discussing +plans of robbery. For the first few days a sharp watch was kept up +on the black, and the men went out themselves to chop wood, or +bring in water when it was required. After a few days, however, +they relaxed their vigilance, and Jim gradually took these tasks +also upon himself.</p> +<p>He was perfectly aware, although he pretended to be unconscious +of it, that the first few times he went out one or other of the +bush rangers stole quietly after him, and watched him at work; but +as nothing suspicious was observed in his conduct, this supervision +was gradually given up.</p> +<p>"It's time to be moving again," the leader of the band said, +about a week after Jim had joined them. "We settled the next job +should be Donald's station. We know for certain that he generally +has money by him, and there will be the watches and trinkets of the +women. That fellow Thompson, who worked for them at first, says he +has got a first-rate cellar of wine; and that the women were both +out-and-outers. If they are as pretty as he says, we will have them +here, lads, to do the housekeeping. We want something to liven us +up; besides, we shall forget our company manners, if we don't get +some ladies to keep us up to the mark a little."</p> +<p>There was a burst of coarse laughter.</p> +<p>"What do you say, boys; shall we start tomorrow? It's a long +ride, and we had best leave about noon. We must get into the +neighbourhood before dark, so as to give the horses twelve hours' +rest before we begin; for we may have to ride for it.</p> +<p>"It ain't likely. Barker's is the nearest station, and it would +be hours before they could get together men enough who would dare +to follow us; but still, it's just as well to be prepared, and +since that confounded new police officer has been on the station, +there's never been no certainty about things. We owe him one for +that last affair, which cost Smith, Wilson, and Mulready their +lives; but we will pay him out yet. Who would have thought of his +being there, just on that very night? I swear, if I ever catch him, +I will roast him alive."</p> +<p>"He is no fool," one of the others said. "He gave it those black +fellows hot, and no mistake. The sooner he's put out of the way, +the better. He's a different sort of chap than the last fellow. I +sha'n't feel comfortable till he's got either a spear or a pistol +bullet in him."</p> +<a id="PicD" name="PicD"></a> +<center><img src="images/d.jpg" alt= +"Jim Notes the Bush Rangers' Plans for Mischief" +/></center> +<p>Jim, who was squatting in the corner, apparently half asleep, +was listening intently to every word. They did not heed his +presence in the slightest; for indeed he had, since his arrival, so +mixed his talk with native words that the bush rangers had no idea +that he could follow their conversations.</p> +<p>He was thinking, now, what was his best course to adopt. In the +first place, he had gathered from their talk that this was only one +of their hiding places, and that they seldom stayed very long in +one neighbourhood. The question, therefore, was whether they would +return. It was of no use his going to give the alarm, unless he +could return before his escape was suspected; or they would have +made off before he could get back again.</p> +<p>As for the Donalds, whose station was to be attacked, it gave +him no concern whatever; for the Australian blacks had little or no +regard for life, except those of people to whom they were attached. +It was Reuben's mission to capture the bush rangers and, had it +been necessary, Jim would have remained quiet while a dozen +families were slain, until he found an opportunity of bringing the +police down upon them.</p> +<p>He listened now, intently, for any word which might afford an +index to their intentions. Presently the question he hoped for +came.</p> +<p>"I suppose you will not come back here again, Tom?"</p> +<p>"No, I thinks it's getting too hot to hold us, in these parts. +We might ride back here, give our horses a rest, and load up with a +few things we may want. We can bring two or three spare horses from +Donald's. The weather is pleasant now, and we might very well put +in a few weeks with the blacks. That last haul we made of traders' +goods—cottons, and beads, and trumperies for the gins, and brass +rings and such like for the men—will put them in the best of +humours. You may be sure there will be a hot chase after us, after +this business; and I should propose that we try our luck down +south, for a bit."</p> +<p>"I agree with you," one of the others said. "We have had a very +good spell here, for the last ten months; and it don't do to tempt +luck too long. That losing three of our number, last week, looked +as if it was going to turn."</p> +<p>"What's it matter?" the captain laughed. "So much the more for +us to divide. We have got a goodish bit of brass, now, to say +nothing of the goods we have got at each of our places. We can fill +up their places easy enough, any time; and those who come in are +free to their share of what there is, in the way of grub and goods, +but they only share in the brass from the time they join."</p> +<p>Jim had heard what he wanted, and he now lay down and thought it +out. They were only coming back for a short time. Possibly they +might change their minds, and not return at all. It would be a +risky thing to depend upon it; besides, his master might be blamed +if this attack on the Donalds succeeded.</p> +<p>It would be better, then, to try to get word to him, in time for +him to be there before the bush rangers arrived. He himself would +return to the hut; so that, if the police arrived too late, he +would be able to continue with the bush rangers till some fresh +opportunity occurred for bringing his master upon them. It was +possible, of course, that one of the men would be left in the hut, +in which case he had only to wait.</p> +<p>The next morning the men busied themselves examining and +cleaning their arms, and after dinner they went to the inner cave, +and led out their horses.</p> +<p>"Now, look here," the leader said to him, "we are going away, +you see."</p> +<p>Jim nodded.</p> +<p>"We come back again tomorrow. I lock this place up, you stop +quiet till we come back. If anyone comes and knocks, while we away, +don't Jim answer. Let them think place empty."</p> +<p>"All right," Jim said shortly, and went and sat down by the +fire, as if he had no further interest in their proceedings.</p> +<p>The windows, he had already noticed, had not only shutters +outside; but they were firmly closed within, with massive planks, +securely nailed and fastened. Jim heard the last of the party go +out, and then the door was shut, and the lock turned. Jim heard the +party ride off, and then threw himself on the ground and listened, +to assure himself that they kept steadily on their way.</p> +<p>The moment he was sure they were gone, he began to search the +place for a tool which would fairly suit his purpose. Presently he +found a large butcher's knife, with which they cut up the +carcasses; and with this he set to work to dig a hole in the +ground, close to the wall of the hut. The bottom log was only sunk +a few inches in the soil, and in two hours he had burrowed under +it, and made his way out beyond; then he crept back again, scraped +the earth into the hole again as tightly as he could, crawling out +backwards. He then placed a piece of turf over the outside hole, +and stamped it down flat.</p> +<p>It was possible that, after he had started, they might change +their mind and send one of their number back again; that, however, +had to be risked, and at a steady run he set off for the +settlements. He did not make for the nearest; for he had gathered, +from the talk of the men, that the convict labourers of most of the +settlements in the neighbourhood were in league with them.</p> +<p>After three hours' steady running, in which he had covered over +twenty miles, he saw a shepherd's cottage and, making for it, gave +the man the message which he had taken to Reuben. He had no sooner +done so, and had found that the man was willing to set off with it +at once, than he turned and retraced his steps to the hut, as +rapidly as he had come. It was already dusk when he reached it.</p> +<p>Instead of approaching boldly, he made a circuit and crawled up +to it on his belly; and lay for some time, listening intently, with +his ear to the door. He felt convinced that no one was there; but +to make sure he knocked, and then withdrew among the trees. But all +was still and, feeling sure now that the place was untenanted, he +removed the piece of turf from the hole and made his way back into +the hut again; carefully replacing the piece of turf, and then +packing earth under it, so that it would not give way if trodden +upon. This, however, was a very unlikely occurrence, as he had made +the opening where some bushes screened it from view.</p> +<p>He swept up every scrap of soil from the floor inside, filled up +the hole there and trampled it down; and then, after indulging his +appetite to the fullest, threw himself down and went to sleep.</p> +<p>When he awoke, a few streaks of light streaming through the +cracks of the door showed that it was day; and he made up the fire, +and awaited the return of the bush rangers.</p> +<p>It was four or five hours before they returned, and the instant +they opened the door and entered, Jim was sure that they had +failed; but to his disappointment all were there, and his plan of +taking them in a trap had not succeeded. At this he was not +surprised; for his own calculations, as to the distance to be +traversed, had shown him that it was very questionable whether, +even under the most favourable circumstances, Reuben could have got +there in time with his men.</p> +<p>Without speaking a word to him, the men led their horses through +to the inner cave, and then threw themselves down by the fire. Jim +at once proceeded to unsaddle the horses, and rub them down; +keeping an ear open, all the time, to what was being said by the +bush rangers. Their remarks however were, for a time, confined to +terrible curses as to their luck.</p> +<p>"How did it come about, that's what I want to know?" the leader +said. "This is the second time that accursed police fellow has +turned up, and put a spoke in our wheel. Why, it was not more than +half an hour after the first shot was fired before they was down +upon us; there must have been pretty nigh twenty of them. How could +they have got such a lot of men as that together, if they hadn't +known that we were coming? It beats me altogether."</p> +<p>"So it does me!" was the general exclamation.</p> +<p>"They seemed regularly to jump out of the ground, just when all +was going pleasant. Never knew such a bit of luck—that is, if it +was luck, and not done o' purpose—and yet, I don't see as they +could have known, possible, as we was going there. Why, we didn't +know ourselves till yesterday, not what day it was to be; and +except ourselves, and that black fellow, no one could have known +it."</p> +<p>"Well, it's certain none of us blabbed; and I don't see as how +he could have told anyone."</p> +<p>"Not exactly," the leader said, "considering he's been shut up +here, ever since we have been away; besides, I don't believe he +knew anything about it. He don't make out half we say to him and, +when we are talking together, he minds us no more than if he had +been a black monkey; but if he did, it's no odds, he could not have +passed through these walls and back again; and if he could, who was +he to tell it to? The men round here are all our pals, and would +have cut his jaw short with a bullet. But there, it's no use +talking about it, he's not been out, and there's an end of it.</p> +<p>"Still, it beats me altogether. That police fellow seems to know +what we are up to, just as well as we do ourselves. I would give +all my share of the swag we have made, for the last six months, for +a shot at him."</p> +<p>"I don't like it," one of the others said, "I don't; blest if I +do; and I says as the sooner we are out of here, the better. After +what's happened, I sha'n't feel safe till I am well out in the +blacks' country. If he knows what we are going to do, there ain't +any reasons why he shouldn't know where we are."</p> +<p>"Why, Johnson," his leader sneered, "you don't really believe +the fellow's a sort of conjurer, do you?"</p> +<p>"I don't know," the man said doggedly. "After he has turned up +twice as he has, I shouldn't be surprised at nothing—not if I +heard the sound of him and his men galloping up outside, now."</p> +<p>There was a moment's silence, as each involuntarily +listened.</p> +<p>"We are getting to be like a pack of gals," the leader said +savagely, "and I agree with you, the sooner we are out of this, the +better. As soon as it gets dark, we will be on the move; but I tell +you, directly we get out among the blacks, I shall come back again. +I am going to carry off that gal, somehow. I've owed her one for +years and years, and I always pays my debts—at least, that sort of +debt.</p> +<p>"Now then, you black, just leave them horses for the present, +and come and cook us some food; the quicker, the better."</p> +<p>Jim hurried about, but in the bush rangers' present state of +temper, nothing would satisfy them; and when, in his hurry to +satisfy their angry orders, he stumbled and upset a glass of +spirits and water he was handing to the captain, the latter caught +up a brand from the fire; and struck him so violent a blow on the +temple, with the glowing end, that he fell senseless on the +ground.</p> +<p>He must have lain there a long time. He was brought to his +senses by a bucket of water being dashed over him; and he found, +when he staggered to his feet, that the band were preparing to +depart. They had already packed up the bales of presents for the +blacks, and placed them on the horses. Some of their more valuable +belongings were packed away in a secret hiding place, the rest were +left to take their chance till they returned; and indeed, except by +their friends among the shepherds, there was little probability of +anyone paying a visit to the hut, however long their absence might +be.</p> +<p>Had it not been that Jim had proved himself a really useful +fellow, for the last week, they would have shot him at once and +tossed his body in the wood; but they found it so pleasant, having +all their work taken off their hands, that after a short discussion +they decided to take him with them.</p> +<p>The door was locked, and they started at a trot; but evening was +closing in, their horses had already performed two long journeys in +the last twenty-four hours, and they soon settled into a walk. They +travelled for some hours and, it being then evident that the horses +could proceed no further, a halt was called. No fire was lighted, +for they were scarcely beyond the settlements and, for aught they +could tell, an active search might still be carried on for +them.</p> +<p>So anxious were they, that they agreed to keep watch by turns; +but when morning broke, it was discovered that the black was +missing. The next quarter of an hour was spent in angry +recriminations; but as none could say in whose watch he made his +escape, their quarrel ceased.</p> +<p>"It's no use bothering about it," the leader said. "There's one +thing, he knows nothing, and can tell nothing against us. He may +guess what he likes, but people don't waste time in listening to +black fellows' stories. I expect he has only given us the slip +because of that lick across the head I gave him, last night. I +admit I was a fool to do it, but I wasn't in the best of +tempers.</p> +<p>"However, if the worst comes to the worst, he can only lead them +to the hut; and they won't find much worth taking, there. When we +once get out to the blacks, we can snap our fingers at them."</p> +<p>It was, indeed, about midnight when Jim had stolen away. He was +still faint and giddy, and his face was terribly burned by the blow +which had been dealt him; but when once fairly away from the bush +rangers, he set out in the direction in which he knew the Donalds' +station lay; and never halted until he arrived there, on the +following evening, utterly wearied and worn out, for he had eaten +nothing on the previous day.</p> +<p>"Then they have got away after all, Jim," Reuben said, when he +had listened patiently to the long narration. "You have done all +that was possible, Jim. You have done splendidly, my poor fellow, +and although we were just too late to catch the bush rangers, we +saved the people here; but it is indeed unfortunate that they +should have got off."</p> +<p>"Jim knows where dey hab gone," the black said. "Dey hab gone to +de country of Bobitu—I heard dem say de name. Jim know dat country +well—he come from der."</p> +<p>Further question showed that Jim had, indeed, belonged to +Bobitu's tribe; and had come with a party of his people down to the +settlements, where he was taken ill and left to die, but was picked +up and nursed by Mr. Hudson.</p> +<p>"And you could take us there?"</p> +<p>Jim nodded.</p> +<p>"Bery long march, massa. Tree days, with horses. Plenty bad +people; much fight."</p> +<p>"I don't care how far it is, or how much fighting we have got to +do; I am bound to hunt down that fellow, however far he's gone. I +suppose there is no trouble about water. If they can go there, we +can."</p> +<p>"Four, six water holes," Jim said. "No trouble about +dat—trouble from de black fellow."</p> +<p>"Well, we must risk it, anyhow. We can't start for a day or two. +I must send and fetch up all the police, and I daresay some of the +colonists will join. The news of this business here has maddened +everyone, and as it is not likely that the blacks will give any +trouble for some time, and as we know the bush rangers have left +for the present, no one need be afraid of leaving their station for +a week or two."</p> +<p>The next day mounted messengers were sent off in all directions, +giving notice that the police would start, in three days' time, for +a hunt after the bush rangers; and that there was, this time, every +prospect of success, as their hiding place was known.</p> +<p>On the day named, no less than thirty settlers assembled; +together with the whole of the police force. All were well armed, +and had brought several days' provisions with them. Mr. Donald had +made marked progress, and the surgeon had now every hopes of his +recovery; but as he could not be moved, and it was just possible +the bush ranger might return to carry out his threat, during their +absence, two constables were left in the house; and Kate was +charged, on no account, to put her foot outside the door.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch17" id="Ch17">Chapter 17</a>: In Pursuit.</h2> +<p>The last thing before the party started, Reuben went into the +house. Mr. Barker was going to remain behind. He was past middle +life, and the expedition was likely to be a very toilsome one; and +Reuben was glad when he said that he thought six days' severe +riding would be rather too much for him, and that he should +constitute himself the guardian of the ladies.</p> +<p>"My wife has arranged to stay here, while you are away; so I +shall ride over to my place and see that all is going on straight, +every day, and sleep here at night."</p> +<p>"Well, ladies," Reuben said, as he entered the room, "we are +just off. So I will say goodbye to you; and I hope that, on my +return, I shall find Mr. Donald much better. I am sure that Mr. +Ruskin would not have left, this morning, unless he felt that he +had quite turned the corner. Pray take care of yourselves, while we +are away. You know I don't want to alarm you, but pray be careful. +I shall not feel comfortable, as to your safety, till I have that +villain safely in my hands."</p> +<p>"Goodbye, Captain Whitney. You know you have all our best +wishes," Mrs. Barker said. "We will take care of ourselves, till we +hear that you have destroyed the band; and above all, its +leader."</p> +<p>"The news that you have done so," Mrs. Donald said, "will do +more, I think, for my husband, than anything in the way of +doctoring. But take care of yourself, Captain Whitney. I know from +what Mr. Barker said that, although you make light of your +expedition, it is a dangerous one. He said the police had never +ventured so far in the bush, and you may expect sharp fighting with +the blacks."</p> +<p>"We may have a brush with them," Reuben said lightly; "but do +not be anxious about us. We are a very strong party, and you need +have no fear of the result.</p> +<p>"Goodbye, Miss Ellison; pray be careful till I return."</p> +<p>The last words were said in an undertone, as he held her +hand.</p> +<p>"Goodbye, Captain Whitney," she said. "God bless you all, and +bring you safely back."</p> +<p>Two minutes later, the party rode off. Jim was, like the rest, +mounted, as they would travel fast. Four led horses carried +provisions; for they would not, as before, find food by the way. It +was two o'clock in the day when they started, and they rode thirty +miles before they halted, for the night, at a water hole. They had +seen no signs of natives during the day, but Reuben at once posted +four men as sentries.</p> +<p>It was a merry party round the fire, for all were in high +spirits at the prospect of an expedition to a point far beyond that +to which any white men, with the exception of fugitives from +justice, had penetrated; and they were delighted with the thought +of putting a stop, at last, to the operations of the band who had +so long been a scourge to the settlement.</p> +<p>Mr. Blount, Dick Caister, and several others who had formed part +of the last expedition were of the party; and the confidence which +these felt in their young leader, and in the sagacity of his native +follower, communicated itself to those who had not formed part of +the previous expedition.</p> +<p>"Must start early," Jim said to Reuben, the last thing. "Long +way to water. Ride all day, not get dere before dark."</p> +<p>They rode rapidly for some time, after starting, so as to allow +the horses to take it easily, during the heat of the day, when +there was a halt of three hours; but in the afternoon they +quickened their pace again, and men and horses were jaded and done +up when, just as the sun was setting, they arrived at their +destination.</p> +<p>"How that black fellow of yours finds his way through this bush +is a perfect marvel to me," Dick Caister said. "The country has +become more undulating, this afternoon; but the first thirty miles +were almost perfectly level, and I could see nothing, whatever, +that could serve as an index, except of course the sun. Still, that +is only a guide as to the general direction. It must have been nine +or ten years since that fellow was here, and yet he led us as +straight as if he was making for a church steeple."</p> +<p>"It seems to be a sort of instinct," Reuben said, "although +possibly, for the last part of the distance, he may have seen signs +of the passage of the natives. As far as I can understand, he tells +me at this time of year there is no other water hole, within a long +distance; so that naturally there will be many natives making for +it. I am glad there are not any of them here, now.</p> +<p>"Why isn't that horse hobbled like the rest?" Reuben asked +suddenly. "Whose is it?"</p> +<p>"That is the one your black fellow rode, sir," Sergeant O'Connor +said.</p> +<p>"Jim, where are you?" Reuben called, but no reply came.</p> +<p>"What has become of him, I wonder?" Reuben said. "Has anyone +seen him, since we rode up?"</p> +<p>"He jumped off, the instant we came here," one of the policemen +replied; "and said to me, 'Look after captain horse,' and I haven't +seen anything of him since."</p> +<p>"There has been somebody here, sir," another policeman said, +coming up. "Here's the remains of a fire, behind this bush."</p> +<p>"Yes," Mr. Blount said, examining them, and pulling out a brand +that was still glowing. "Do you see, a lot of sand has been thrown +over it. Whoever was here must have seen us coming, and tried to +extinguish the fire when they caught sight of us."</p> +<p>"That is most unfortunate," Reuben said. "The fellows must have +made off, to carry the news of our coming to their friends. +However, it's too late to do anything now. It's already getting +dark, and they must have got a quarter of an hour's start. We have +taken quite enough out of the horses, and can do no more with them, +if they have to travel tomorrow; but I would give a year's pay if +this hadn't happened.</p> +<p>"Well, there's nothing to do for it but to light our fires, and +camp."</p> +<p>The knowledge that they had been seen, and that the news would +be carried to those of whom they were in search, acted as a great +damper on the spirits of the party; and the camp was much more +quiet and subdued than it had been, on the previous evening.</p> +<p>"All is not quite lost," Reuben said when, two hours later, he +found that Jim was still absent from the camp. "I can only account +for his stealing away from us, in that manner, by supposing that he +must either have caught sight of the natives, or come upon their +trail; and at once set off in pursuit. I don't see what it could +be, otherwise."</p> +<p>"But if he saw them, why didn't he tell you, Whitney?" Mr. +Blount said. "Tired as our horses were, they could have got up a +gallop for a bit."</p> +<p>"Yes, but for a very short distance," Dick Caister put in; "and +as it was getting dusk, if the blacks had had anything like a +start, we could not have overtaken them before it had got quite +dark. Those blacks can run like the wind. It takes a well-mounted +man to overtake them."</p> +<p>An hour after the party had lain down, one of the sentries +challenged; and the answer which came back, "All right, me Jim," at +once brought everyone to their feet.</p> +<p>"Well, Jim, what is it? Where have you been?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"Jim hungry."</p> +<p>"That you may be quite sure," Dick Caister said, with a laugh. +"Was there ever a native who wasn't hungry; unless he had stuffed +himself, half an hour before?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I kept some supper for you, Jim," Reuben said; "but before +you begin to eat, just tell me if everything is all right."</p> +<p>"Everyting all right," Jim said, squatting himself beside the +still glowing fire, and beginning to eat.</p> +<p>Reuben knew, by experience, that it was of no use questioning +him until he had finished; and he therefore waited patiently, +although one or two of the settlers grumbled at being kept waiting +for the news. When Jim had finished his meal, he looked round. +Reuben knew what he was expecting, and handed him a hornful of rum +and water. The black took a draught; and then, without any further +delay, began to tell his story.</p> +<p>He had, while still some distance from the halting place, seen a +light smoke coming up, and was sure that a party was already +there.</p> +<p>"But why did you not tell us, Jim?" Reuben interrupted. "We +might have galloped on, and caught them."</p> +<p>"No, sah, no catch dem; horses too tired, black fellow run away, +when see white men coming. Dat no do at all. Only one way to do. +Let 'em tink dat no one saw dem, else dey run and run, all de way +to Bobitu.</p> +<p>"When get near camp, Jim see dat smoke not come up, know de +black fellow see white man and put out um fire. When Jim come here +he jump off hoss, find fire, and follow de track. Dey four men; one +go one way, one go anoder, two men go straight on. Dey go on to +tell Bobitu, de oders go to black fellows in de bush. Jim not care +for dem, follow de two."</p> +<p>"But how could you follow them, in the dark?"</p> +<p>"Jim were sure de way dey go, dat enough for Jim. He suppose dat +dey 'top after a bit; and when dey see de white men all 'top quiet +at de water hole, and light fire, dey tink it all right. No make +hurry, perhaps 'top and light a fire demselves.</p> +<p>"So Jim go on quiet for two, tree hour; den at last he see fire, +sure 'nough. He crawl up quiet and see two black fellow dar, and +hear what 'em say. Dey tired, make long walk today to water hole; +say no hurry, white men all go sleep round fire, not go on till sun +get up, so dey stop for two, tree hour to rest demselves.</p> +<p>"Jim get quite close and jump up, den cut off one black fellow +head with sword, run sword through de body of other, finish 'em +both, and den come back to camp."</p> +<p>"Well done, indeed, Jim!" Reuben exclaimed, and a chorus of +satisfaction rose from all the party at hearing that the men—who, +had they reached the bush rangers, would have given the alarm, and +so enabled them to make their escape before the expedition +arrived—had been killed. The news, however, that two of the party +had escaped, and might bring the blacks down upon them before +morning, necessitated an increase of precautions.</p> +<p>Reuben at once divided the force into four parties, each +consisting of five constables and seven settlers. One party were at +once placed on watch, and were to be relieved in two hours' +time.</p> +<p>"I not tink dey come before morning, sah," Jim said. "No water +hole near here. Tomorrow plenty black fellow come."</p> +<p>"All right, Jim. We don't care for them, in the daylight; and +now that I know the bush rangers won't be alarmed, I don't +mind."</p> +<p>Jim's prediction proved correct. The night passed off quietly, +and the party again started at daylight. The country became more +and more broken, as they proceeded. The undulations became hills. +Some of these were so steep that all had to dismount, and lead +their horses up.</p> +<p>"Is Bobitu's camp among these hills, Jim?"</p> +<p>"Ober toder side, sah. Him place in valley, toder side; bush, +plenty game for black fellow."</p> +<p>"How far is it to this valley, Jim?"</p> +<p>Jim's ideas of figures were but vague, and he could only say +that they would get there somewhere about sunset.</p> +<p>"That would be a bad time to get there, Jim. We must halt, a +mile or two this side of them; and you must lead half the party +round, so as to cut off their retreat, even if we don't attack them +till the morning. On their fresh horses, those fellows will gallop +right away from us, if they once get a start.</p> +<p>"There is no fear, I hope, of any of the other blacks getting +there before us, and giving the alarm?"</p> +<p>Jim shook his head.</p> +<p>"No. We come straight from water hole. Black fellow go round +long way. No fear dey get dere. Dey fight when we go back."</p> +<p>"That's all right. Bobitu's fellows, and the bush rangers, will +be quite enough to tackle at once. As for the others, we will make +short work of them, if they venture to attack us on the march back. +They fight pluckily enough against men on foot, because they know +they can make off when they like; but they can't stand a charge of +horsemen."</p> +<p>Although not so long as the journey on the preceding day, the +men were heartily glad when, at about four o'clock in the +afternoon, the halt was called, and they heard that the place where +the bush rangers were supposed to be was but four miles away. After +some consultation, it was decided that Jim should lead half the +band—consisting of ten constables under O'Connor, and fifteen +colonists—round through the hills, to a position near the mouth of +the valley in which the blacks and bush rangers were likely to be; +and that, when he had posted them there, he should come back again +to their present halting place, and lead forward the party under +Reuben.</p> +<p>"Mind," Reuben said, before the others started, "we don't want +to attack the blacks, unless they show fight. Our object is the +bush rangers. Jim says that, by what he heard, they have got some +sort of houses they have built there. Let us make straight for +them. If the blacks attack, drive them off; but we can settle with +them, afterwards. The great point is to capture or kill the bush +rangers."</p> +<p>All agreed to this, for although the blacks gave great trouble, +by driving off the sheep and cattle, and sometimes killing the +shepherds, there was not the same feeling of hatred entertained for +them as for the bush rangers. It was felt to be natural that the +natives should resent the occupation of their hunting grounds; and +although they were shot down without mercy in fair fight, or if +overtaken while carrying off cattle, there was no active feeling of +animosity against them; and they were generally kindly treated, +when they called unarmed at the stations, and asked for food.</p> +<p>Against the bush rangers, on the other hand, a deadly hatred was +felt by the colonists; and the fact that these were constantly +aided, by the ticket-of-leave labourers, increased the hostility +with which they were regarded.</p> +<p>Jim left his horse behind him, when he started with his party; +saying that coming back at night, in the dark, he would rather be +without it. After their comrades had set out, those who remained +behind posted two men as sentries; and then, as soon as they had +cooked and eaten a meal, laid themselves down to sleep, until the +time should come for their advance.</p> +<p>It was just midnight when Jim returned. He reported that he had +seen no blacks by the way, and that he believed he had posted his +party without their being observed. He himself, instead of +returning by the same route that he had taken them, had come +straight up the valley.</p> +<p>There were, he said, two huts which had been built by the bush +rangers; and these were now occupied by them. There were great +fires blazing, and he thought that the natives had probably only +arrived there that evening. He had got near enough to find that +they were in a high state of delight, at the presents which their +white friends had brought them.</p> +<p>"Did you catch sight of any of the bush rangers, Jim?" Reuben +asked.</p> +<p>"Two ob dem came out and spoke to black fellows at fire, but too +far off to see which dey were."</p> +<p>An hour before daybreak the party moved forward, and halted +within half a mile of the bush rangers' camp. There they stopped, +till they could see the sunlight touch the top of the hill at the +right-hand side of the valley. This was the signal agreed upon and, +mounting, they rode forward at full speed.</p> +<p>Just as they got within sight of the huts, they heard a wild +shouting, followed instantly by the crack of rifles. Another +minute, and they had reached the scene and joined the other party, +who had made straight to the huts. The blacks, awakened suddenly as +they were sleeping round the embers of their fires, had hastily +thrown a volley of spears, and had darted away among the +bushes.</p> +<p>"Surrender, in the queen's name!" Reuben shouted, "and I promise +you that you shall be taken down, and have a fair trial."</p> +<p>The answer came in the flash of a rifle, from the window of one +of the huts; and a constable immediately behind Reuben fell dead, +with the ball through his head.</p> +<p>"Dismount!" Reuben shouted, "and break in the doors."</p> +<p>With a shout, the men threw themselves from their horses and +rushed at the doors of the huts.</p> +<p>"Sergeant O'Connor," Reuben said; "do you, with six of your men, +keep up a fire at the windows. Don't let a man show himself +there.</p> +<p>"Let ten of the others look after the horses. We shall have the +blacks back, in no time."</p> +<p>So saying, he ran forward and joined those who were battering at +the doors. Several of them had brought stout axes with them, and +the doors speedily gave way. There was a rush forward.</p> +<p>Mr. Blount fell dead, and Dick Caister's shoulder was broken by +a bullet; but there was no check, as the colonists poured into the +huts. There was a short sharp fight, but in two minutes it was +over. Three of the gang had been shot, as they leapt from the +windows. Four more lay dead, or dying, in the huts.</p> +<p>One of them had thrown down his arms, and shouted for mercy. He +had been knocked down and stunned, by the butt end of a rifle; but +was otherwise unwounded.</p> +<p>Short as was the fight, it had given time to the blacks to +rally. Their shouts were ringing in the air, and the spears were +flying thickly as the party, having finished their work, rushed +outside again, to assist the constables who were guarding the +horses.</p> +<p>"Pour a volley into the bushes," Reuben shouted; "then mount, +and charge them."</p> +<p>The order was executed and, in a minute, the horsemen were +dashing hither and thither among the bushes, shooting down with +their pistols the blacks who resisted, or dealing tremendous blows +among them with their hunting whips. The charge was irresistible, +and in five minutes the main body of the blacks were flying, at +full speed, up the steep hillsides.</p> +<p>The victors soon gathered round the huts. Several men and horses +had been wounded with spears, but none of the injuries were of a +serious character.</p> +<p>"Well, how about the prisoners?" Reuben asked the sergeant, who +had arrived before him.</p> +<p>"There's only one prisoner, sir. All the rest are accounted +for."</p> +<p>"Is it their captain?"</p> +<p>"I don't know, sir. I have never set eyes on him; but if he's a +young chap, as they say, it ain't him."</p> +<p>"Jim," Reuben said, "just go round and examine the bodies, and +see which of them is the captain."</p> +<p>Jim returned in a couple of minutes.</p> +<p>"None of dem ain't him, sah. He not dere."</p> +<p>Reuben started.</p> +<p>"Are you quite sure, Jim?"</p> +<p>"Quite sure, sah."</p> +<p>"Are you sure none of them escaped, sergeant?"</p> +<p>"I am quite sure of that, sir. No one came out of either of the +doors, and there were only three who tried to bolt through the +windows, and we accounted for them all. Perhaps that chap who is +prisoner can tell you where to find the captain. It's a bad job, +indeed, if he has escaped."</p> +<p>"Is the man recovering his senses?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir, he's just coming round."</p> +<p>Reuben stepped into the hut. The escape of Thorne destroyed all +the satisfaction which his success would have given him. He had +good reason to know the fiendish malignity of the man and, in spite +of the warnings he had given Kate Ellison, and his strict orders to +the police on guard, he felt a thrill of anxiety, now that he was +aware her enemy was still at large.</p> +<p>The prisoner was sitting up, in a corner of the hut; a +policeman, with drawn sword, standing near him.</p> +<p>"Where is your leader?" Reuben asked sternly. "The man you call +Fothergill."</p> +<p>"He went away yesterday morning," the man said, with a grin of +satisfaction. "You haven't caught him yet; and you will hear more +of him, before you do."</p> +<p>"Where was he going?" Reuben demanded.</p> +<p>"You won't get nothing out of me," the fellow said. "He's been a +good mate, and a true, and I ain't going to put you bloodhounds on +his scent. He's gone a-wooing, that's where he's gone, and that +won't help you much."</p> +<p>Reuben at once went outside, and called the settlers round +him.</p> +<p>"I am sorry to say," he said, "that the leader of the party has +got away. He rode off yesterday morning, and although the prisoner +we have taken did not say where he has gone, I have not the least +doubt he has ridden back to the Donalds, to try and carry out his +threat to return for Miss Ellison.</p> +<p>"Therefore, gentlemen, may I ask you to start homeward, at once. +The horses have only done a few miles and, if we press forward, we +may manage to get to our camp of the evening before last. We have +no more to do here, except to see if there are any valuables hidden +in the huts, and set fire to them.</p> +<p>"I expect that we shall have fighting with the blacks, on our +way back. Those parties the two fellows who got away went to fetch +will, likely enough, bar our way. If it were not for that, I should +ride on by myself; but my duty is to stop with my men until, at any +rate, we have passed the place where the blacks are likely to +attack us. That done, I shall push on. It is annoying, indeed, to +think that that fellow must have passed us somewhere on the way, +yesterday."</p> +<p>The settlers agreed, at once. They all sympathized with Reuben, +in his disappointment at the escape of the leader of the bush +rangers; and regretted the matter deeply, on their own account. +They were, too, now that the work was done, anxious to be off; not +only because they wished to return to their stations, but because +they felt that their position was a dangerous one. They had +penetrated, to a distance hitherto unattempted, into the country of +the natives; and they knew that these would gather round them, like +hornets, on their return march.</p> +<p>Ten minutes were spent in the search of the huts. The police +probed the ground with their swords, and closely examined the +walls. They found, under some sheepskins in one corner, a bag +containing upwards of two hundred pounds; which was doubtless the +amount which the bush rangers had brought back with them, from +their last plundering expedition, and had not yet been added to +their main store, wherever that might be. This, however, was a +welcome find to the police, and they abandoned the idea of +searching further; and were about to set fire to the hut, when the +prisoner said:</p> +<p>"Lookee here! I may as well tell you where the lot is hidden. It +may do me good, when it comes to the trial; and you may as well +have it, as for it to lay there. You dig up the ground in front of +that tree, behind the hut, and you will find it."</p> +<p>Five minutes later a large leather bag, containing a +considerable quantity of gold and notes, and a number of watches, +chains, and other trinkets, was brought to light.</p> +<p>"Don't stop to count the money now," Reuben said. "Fasten it on +one of the horses, and let us be off.</p> +<p>"Sergeant, let Jones ride beside the prisoner, and be +responsible for his safety. See that his hands are tied behind him, +and his ankles tied securely to stirrup leathers. Let four men take +charge of the eight horses of these bush rangers. Do you ride ahead +with four others, and keep a sharp lookout as you go. Don't press +the horses, but we must go at a smart pace, for we have a long +day's march before us. It is fully sixty miles to the water hole +where we camped, the night before last."</p> +<p>A few minutes later, the party were in motion. Although +disappointed at the escape of the leader of the band, they were +well satisfied with the result of the expedition, and at the small +amount of loss at which it had been accomplished. There was general +regret at the death of Mr. Blount; but two lives were considered to +be but a small loss, for the capture of so strong a body of bush +rangers; who, knowing that they fought with ropes round their neck, +always made a desperate resistance.</p> +<p>Half the journey was accomplished without incident, and Reuben +felt satisfied that they would, at least, have no trouble with the +tribe they had scattered in the morning. The speedy start that they +had made had taken them beyond their pursuit; and if attacked, it +would be by other tribes.</p> +<p>After an hour's halt, to feed the horses and cook some meat for +themselves, the party proceeded again. Another fifteen miles were +passed; then Reuben saw the sergeant, with the little party ahead, +suddenly draw rein. He galloped forward to them.</p> +<p>"What is it, sergeant?"</p> +<p>"I am pretty sure I saw a black fellow's head, over that rock, +sir. It's a nasty piece of ground. I noticed it yesterday, as I +came along. It would be the worst place to be attacked in of any we +have passed. If the blacks are here in force, they know what they +are doing."</p> +<p>Reuben examined the position. It was certainly a nasty place to +be attacked in. The valley was narrow, and thickly strewn with +boulders of all sizes, which had rolled down from the hillsides. +Among these the bush grew thickly, and it was only down a narrow +path in the centre, formed by a winter stream, now dry, that +horsemen could pass.</p> +<p>"I don't think it would do to make a bolt through that, sir," +the sergeant said, shaking his head. "We could only ride two +abreast and, if they are strong, we should be riddled with spears +before we got through; and there's no charging them, among those +stones and bush."</p> +<p>"That is so, sergeant. We shall have to dismount, and drive them +out foot by foot. There's nothing else for it."</p> +<p>By this time all the party had come up, and Reuben explained to +them the situation. All at once agreed that they could do nothing +on horseback, on such ground.</p> +<p>The whole party therefore dismounted. The horses were tied to +bushes, and the prisoner securely fastened to a tree. Then, rifle +in hand, they moved forward.</p> +<p>The sergeant's eye had not deceived him for, as they approached +the spot where the boulders and bush grew thickest, a shower of +spears was thrown, and the native cry rose shrill in the air. The +party were advancing in skirmishing order; and most of them threw +themselves down, or dodged behind rocks, as the blacks rose to +throw their spears and, a moment later, the rifles cracked out. +Several of the blacks fell, and the rest disappeared among the +bushes.</p> +<p>"Make your way forward, steadily and carefully. Let each man +watch his neighbour, to the right and left, and keep in line as +much as you can."</p> +<p>The fight now commenced in earnest, but the settlers and police +gradually made their way forward. Not only had they the advantage +in weapons; but the fact that they were able to fire while lying +down, or stooping, gave them an immense advantage over the blacks; +who had to expose themselves when rising to throw their spears, or +take aim with their bows.</p> +<p>Several times, emboldened by their superior numbers, the blacks +attempted a rush; but the heavy fire from rifle and pistol which +greeted them, each time, sent them back in diminished numbers. At +last the resistance became feebler, as the natives, seeing that +they were being driven out of their shelter, began to slink off; so +as not to be exposed to the fire of the white men, in the +comparatively open ground beyond. Many, however, were not quick +enough, and were shot down as they scaled the steep hillside.</p> +<p>The party of whites gathered, and compared notes. Many had +received wounds more or less severe, but none of a nature to +prevent them from continuing their journey. They quickly returned +to their horses and, mounting, continued their way.</p> +<p>"There is no fear of any farther attack, I should think, +sergeant."</p> +<p>"I should think not, sir. The beggars must have had enough of +it. They must have lost from forty to fifty men."</p> +<p>Two hours later, the party arrived at the halting place.</p> +<p>"Now, sergeant," Reuben said, "I shall hand over the command to +you; and shall ride on at once, with my boy. I am most anxious +about the man who has escaped. I shall take four of the bush +rangers' horses. They have not been ridden and, having had three or +four days' rest, are comparatively fresh. The fellow has had only +one day's start and, if I push straight on, I may be there before +him."</p> +<p>Reuben briefly bade adieu to his friends, while Jim was +transferring the saddles to two of the bush rangers' horses and, +leading two others, they started together in darkness. Changing +saddles every ten miles, they rode on till past midnight, when they +halted; for the horses, accustomed as they were to long journeys, +were now completely broken down, and Jim and his master could +scarce keep their seats.</p> +<p>"Too much long," Jim said, as he threw himself down, after +taking off the saddles and hobbling the horses; "too much long, +sah."</p> +<p>"It is long, Jim," Reuben replied. "People in England would +hardly believe horses could go a hundred miles in a day, even if +led a part of the distance. Another fifty miles will take us to +Donald's. It is about twenty miles to the water hole where we +camped, the first night; and that was about thirty miles from the +station."</p> +<p>"Shall Jim light a fire, sah?"</p> +<p>"No, Jim, it isn't worth while. There is some cold meat in my +haversack, if you are hungry; but I am too tired to eat. If there +are any natives prowling about, a fire might bring them round on +us."</p> +<p>"No tink black fellows near, massa."</p> +<p>"I don't think so either, but I don't want to run the risk, Jim; +besides, I am sure neither of us can be trusted to keep watch."</p> +<p>Reuben, in spite of his fatigue, was some time before he could +get off to sleep. The thought that probably Tom Thorne was, at that +time, camped at the water hole twenty miles ahead; and that, in the +morning, his horse would be far fresher than those he had ridden, +was maddening to him. At one time he thought of getting up, and +pursuing his way on foot; but he was stiff in every limb, and felt +that the journey was beyond him. Moreover, if the bush ranger had +taken some other line, and was not camping there, he would have no +means of pursuing his journey.</p> +<p>At the first gleam of daylight they were afoot. The saddles were +put on the horses, and they continued their way. Reuben soon found, +however, that the five hours he had rested had been insufficient to +restore the horses and, even by riding them alternately, he could +get them but little beyond a walk.</p> +<p>On arriving at the water hole, the remains of a fire were found. +Jim examined the ground carefully, and found the tracks of a horse; +and was of opinion that the rider had started three or four hours +previously. Reuben carried a large flask of spirits and, having +poured what remained in it down the throats of the horses, and +given them a drink at the pool, he again pressed on.</p> +<p>Ten miles farther, he arrived at the first outlying station. The +owner of this had not joined in the expedition, being a married +man, and unwilling to leave his wife in such an exposed position. +But upon Reuben's arrival he at once agreed to lend him two fresh +horses, and to take care of those which Reuben brought with +him.</p> +<p>While the settler was driving them in from the paddock, his wife +busied herself in preparing two huge bowls of bread and milk. These +were thankfully swallowed by Reuben and Jim and, five minutes +later, they started on the fresh horses.</p> +<p>It was indeed a relief, to Reuben's anxiety, to find himself +again flying over the ground at a rapid gallop, after the slow and +tedious pace at which he had travelled since morning. His spirits +rose, and the fears which had oppressed him seemed lifted, as if by +magic. He assured himself that he had no cause for anxiety, for +that the two constables would assuredly be on the watch, and Kate +had promised not to venture beyond the doors of the house until his +return.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch18" id="Ch18">Chapter 18</a>: Settling +Accounts.</h2> +<p>Reuben soon checked the speed of his horse. Anxious as he was to +arrive as soon as possible, he might, for aught he knew, yet have +occasion to try the animal to the utmost; and he therefore reduced +the almost racing pace, at which he had started, into an ordinary +steady gallop. The horses were fresh and in good condition, and for +several miles kept up the pace without flagging. Then they were +allowed to ease down into a walk, until they got their wind again; +and then started at the pace, half canter, half gallop, which is +the usual rate of progression of the colonial horses. They drew +rein at last on a slight eminence, from which the Donalds' station, +a mile or so distant, could be perceived.</p> +<p>"Thank God," Reuben muttered to himself, "I am back here, at +last. There is no occasion for further hurry;" and the horses were +allowed to go at an easy walk.</p> +<p>"Man on horseback," Jim suddenly said, touching Reuben's +arm.</p> +<p>"Where—where, Jim?"</p> +<p>"Gone from de house, sah, trough dem trees. Dare he go again, he +gallop fast."</p> +<p>Reuben had not caught sight of the figure, but he pressed his +spurs against the horse's sides.</p> +<p>"I will see who it is, at any rate. Jim, do you ride straight on +to the house, and say I shall be there in a few minutes."</p> +<p>As Reuben rode, at a headlong gallop, towards the point where +his course would probably intersect that of the horseman, riding in +the direction Jim had pointed out, he turned over rapidly, in his +mind, the thought whether his anxiety for Kate Ellison was not +making a fool of him. Why should he turn from his course, just at +the end of a long journey, to start at full speed on the track of +this figure, of which Jim had caught only a glance? It might be a +stockman, or someone who had ridden over from one of the +neighbouring stations to see how Donald was getting on; but even +so, he told himself, no harm was done by his assuring himself of +that.</p> +<p>It was not the way Mr. Barker would take to his station. Had it +been a neighbour who had come over, he would not be likely to leave +again, so early. Neither of the constables would be riding away, in +defiance of his orders on no account to stir any distance from the +house.</p> +<p>Presently he caught a glimpse of the horseman. He was not more +than half a mile away now, but the view he obtained was so +instantaneous that he could not distinguish any particulars.</p> +<p>"He is riding fast, anyhow," he said. "Faster than a man would +travel, on ordinary business. He is either a messenger, sent on +urgent business; or it is Thorne."</p> +<p>He slightly altered the direction of his course, for the speed +at which the horseman was travelling must take him ahead of him, at +the point where Reuben had calculated upon cutting him off. In a +short distance he would get a view of him; for the trees ended +here, and the plain was open and unbroken, save by low bush.</p> +<p>When the figure came clear of the trees, he was but a quarter of +a mile away; and Reuben gave a start, for he recognized at once the +uniform of his own corps. It could only be one of the men left at +Donald's and, with an exclamation of anger, Reuben pressed his +horse to the utmost in pursuit of the man, who was now almost +directly ahead, at the same time uttering a loud call.</p> +<p>The man glanced back but, to Reuben's surprise, instead of +stopping waved his hand above his head, and pressed forward. Two +miles were traversed before Reuben was beside him.</p> +<p>"What do you mean, sir?" he thundered out.</p> +<p>But the man pointed ahead.</p> +<p>"He has carried off Miss Ellison, sir, and has shot Brown dead. +I will tell you, afterwards.</p> +<p>"There, do you see, sir, over that brow there?"</p> +<p>At the moment, Reuben saw a figure on horseback rise against the +skyline, fully two miles in front.</p> +<p>"Ride steadily, Smithson," he said. "Keep me in view, and I will +keep him. We must overtake him in time, for his horse is carrying +double. I shall push on, for I am better mounted than you are; and +he may try to double, and throw us off his traces. If anything +happens to me don't stop for a moment, but hunt that fellow down to +the end."</p> +<p>Reuben had been holding his horse somewhat in hand, during the +last mile, for he thought there must be some reason for the +constable's strange conduct; but he now let him go and, urging him +to his full speed, soon left the constable behind. He knew that, +for some distance ahead, the country was flat and unbroken; and +that the fugitive would have no chance of concealment, whichever +way he turned.</p> +<p>Upon reaching the spot where he had seen the bush ranger pass, +the wide plain opened before him; and he gave a shout of +exultation, as he saw that he had gained considerably. The +fugitive, indeed, had evidently not been pressing his horse.</p> +<p>"He thinks he has a long journey before him," Reuben muttered. +"I fancy he's mistaken. He thinks he's only got a constable after +him, and that he can easily rid himself of him, whenever he comes +up to him. No doubt he learned from some of the convicts that +everyone is away, and therefore thinks himself safe from all +pursuit, when once he has wiped out Smithson. All the better. I +shall overtake him all the sooner."</p> +<p>Such indeed was the view of the bush ranger, who kept along at a +steady canter, troubling himself very little about the solitary +constable whom he believed to be in pursuit of him. When, indeed, +on glancing round, he saw that his pursuer was within a quarter of +a mile of him, he reined in his horse and, turning, calmly awaited +his coming.</p> +<p>Reuben at once checked the speed of his horse. He knew that the +man was said to be a deadly shot with his pistol, but he was +confident in his own skill; for, with constant and assiduous +practice, he had attained a marvellous proficiency with his weapon. +But he did not care to give his foe the advantage, which a man +sitting on a steady seat possesses, over one in the saddle of a +galloping horse. He therefore advanced only at a walk.</p> +<p>The bush ranger put down the change in speed to fear, caused by +his resolute attitude, and shouted:</p> +<p>"Look here, constable. You had best turn your horse's head, and +go home again. You know well enough that one constable is no match +for me, so you had best rein up before I put a bullet in your head. +If you shoot, you are just as likely to kill the young woman here, +as you are me; and you know I don't make any mistake."</p> +<p>Reuben was already conscious of his disadvantage in this +respect, for the bush ranger held the girl on the saddle in front +of him, so that her body completely covered his. She was enveloped +in a shawl, which covered her head as well as her figure. Her +captor held her tightly pressed to him with his left arm, while his +right was free to use a pistol.</p> +<p>Reuben checked his horse at a distance of some fifty yards, +while he thought over the best course to pursue. As he paused, +Thorne, for the first time, noticed that it was an officer with +whom he had to deal, and not with the constable; who, as he +believed, was the only one in the district. He uttered a savage +exclamation, for he felt that this materially altered the +conditions of the affair.</p> +<p>"Oh, it's you, is it?" he said. "I thought it was only one of +your men; but the advice I gave is as good, for you, as for him. I +advise you to turn back, before all my mates are down on you."</p> +<p>"Your mates will never be down on anyone again, Tom Thorne," +Reuben said sternly. "We have wiped out seven of them, and the +other is a prisoner."</p> +<p>"It's a lie!" the bush ranger said, furiously. "They are two +hundred miles away, in the bush."</p> +<p>"With your friend Bobitu, eh? Yes, they were, but they are not +now, Thorne. They are lying under the ashes of that hut of yours, +close to the tree where you buried your treasure; and it's I who am +going to have help, not you. My man will be up in a few minutes," +and he glanced round at the constable, whom the bush ranger now +perceived, for the first time, less than half a mile away.</p> +<p>Reuben's words had the effect they were intended to excite. They +filled the bush ranger with fury, and desire for vengeance; while +the sight of the approaching constable showed him that, unless he +took prompt measures, he would have two adversaries to fight at +once.</p> +<p>Without a moment's hesitation, he set spurs to his horse and +dashed at Reuben. When within twenty yards, he fired.</p> +<p>Reuben felt a sharp pain, as if a hot iron had been passed +across his cheek. Thorne uttered a shout of exultation as he saw +him start but, as he kept his seat, again raised his hand to fire. +In an instant Reuben discharged his pistol, and the bush ranger's +weapon dropped from his hand, for Reuben's bullet passed through +his wrist.</p> +<p>Throwing the burden before him headlong to the ground, Thorne +drew a pistol with his left hand; and the two shots rung out again, +at almost the same instant. Reuben, however, was slightly the +quickest, and this saved his life. His bullet passed through the +bush ranger's body, while Thorne's pistol was diverted somewhat +from its aim, and the bullet struck Reuben's left shoulder, instead +of his head. In an instant, he had drawn another pistol.</p> +<p>"Surrender or I fire!" and then seeing, by the change in the +bush ranger's face, and by his collapsing figure, that he was badly +hit; he waited, still keeping Thorne covered with the muzzle, for +the bush ranger had a charge left in the pistol which he still +grasped in his left hand.</p> +<p>Twice Thorne tried to raise it, but in vain. Then he reeled in +the saddle, the pistol dropped from his hand, and he fell heavily +over on to the ground.</p> +<p>Reuben at once leaped from his horse, and ran to raise Kate +Ellison; who lay motionless on the ground, as she had been thrown. +Removing the shawl wrapped round her head, he found she was +insensible. Kneeling beside her, he raised her head to his shoulder +and, a minute later, the constable galloped up.</p> +<p>"Badly hurt, captain?" he asked, as he leaped off his horse; for +the blood was streaming down Reuben's face, and his left arm hung +useless.</p> +<p>"Nothing to speak of, Smithson. See to Miss Ellison, first. +There is some water in my flask in the holster. Just bring it here, +and sprinkle her face. I hope she is only stunned; but that +scoundrel threw her off with such force, that she may well be badly +hurt."</p> +<p>"Is he done for, captain?" the man asked, glancing at the +prostrate figure of the bush ranger, as he proceeded to obey +Reuben's instructions; "because if you ain't certain about it, I +had better put a bullet into him. These fellows are very fond of +playing 'possum, and then turning the tables upon you."</p> +<p>"There is no fear of that, Smithson. He's hard hit. I hope he's +not dead, for I would rather that he were tried for his +crimes."</p> +<p>It was some time before Kate Ellison opened her eyes. For a +moment she looked vaguely round; then, as her eyes fell upon +Reuben's face, she uttered a little cry, and raised herself into a +sitting position.</p> +<p>"What is it, Captain Whitney? Are you badly hurt?"</p> +<p>"Thank God you have recovered, Miss Ellison. You began to +frighten me horribly. I was afraid you were seriously injured.</p> +<p>"Do not look so alarmed. I can assure you I am not much hurt; +only a flesh wound, I fancy, in the cheek, and a broken +collarbone."</p> +<p>"And you have saved me again, Captain Whitney?"</p> +<p>"Yes, thank God I have had that good fortune," Reuben said +quietly; "and this time for good, for Tom Thorne will never molest +you again."</p> +<p>"But can't I do something? Your face is bleeding dreadfully. +Please let me bind it up;" and tearing a strip off the bottom of +her dress, she proceeded to bandage Reuben's face.</p> +<p>The constable took off the black silk handkerchief which he wore +round his neck.</p> +<p>"I think, miss, this will make a sling for his arm; and when +that is done the captain will be pretty right.</p> +<p>"Do you think you can ride back, sir?" he asked, when he had +fastened the handkerchief, "or will you wait till I ride back to +the farm, and fetch help."</p> +<p>"I can ride back well enough," Reuben said, trying to rise to +his feet; but he found himself unable to do so.</p> +<p>The ball, after breaking his collarbone, had glanced downwards, +and the wound was a more serious one than he had imagined.</p> +<p>"No, I don't think I can ride back, Smithson."</p> +<p>"There is a light cart at the farm," Kate Ellison said. "Please +fetch that. I will stop here, with Captain Whitney, till you come +back."</p> +<p>"I think that will be the best way, miss," the constable agreed +and, mounting, he rode off at once.</p> +<p>It was an hour and a half before he returned, bringing the cart; +but before he arrived, Mr. and Mrs. Barker had ridden up on +horseback, the former having returned from his visit to the farm, +just as the constable rode in. While they had been alone, Reuben +had heard from Kate what had taken place.</p> +<p>"I did as you told me, Captain Whitney, and did not go once +outside the door. The constables kept a very sharp lookout, and one +of them was always on guard by the door; so there really did not +seem any possibility of danger.</p> +<p>"This morning, as I was washing up the breakfast things with +Mrs. Barker, a shot was suddenly fired outside the door and, before +I had time to think what it meant, that man rushed in. He caught me +by the wrist, and said:</p> +<p>"'Come along, it's no use your screaming.'</p> +<p>"Mrs. Barker caught up something and rushed at him, but he +knocked her down with the butt end of his pistol. Then he caught up +her shawl, which was lying on the chair close by, and threw it +right over my head; and then caught me up, and carried me out.</p> +<p>"I tried to struggle, but he seemed to hold me as if I were in a +vice. I heard Alice scream, and then I must have fainted; for the +next thing I knew was that I was being carried along on horseback. +I was so muffled up, and he held me so tight, that I felt it was no +use to struggle; and I made up my mind to lie quite still, as if I +was still insensible, till he put me down; and then—I think I +intended to try and seize his pistol, or to get hold of a knife, if +there was one and, if I could not kill him, to kill myself.</p> +<p>"There did not seem the least hope of rescue. Mr. Barker was +away, and would not be back for hours. I supposed that the +constables were shot, and all the men round were away with you; and +from the distance you said you were going, I did not think you +could be back for days.</p> +<p>"Presently I felt him stop and turn his horse; and then, when he +spoke, I knew that he had not killed both the constables, and that +one of them had followed him. When you answered, I thought it was +your voice, though it seemed impossible; but I could not be sure, +because I could not hear plainly through the shawl. Then the +pistols were fired, and I suddenly felt myself falling; and I did +not know anything more, till I saw you leaning over me.</p> +<p>"But where are all the others, and how is it you are here alone? +Of course, you must have turned back before you got to where the +bush rangers were."</p> +<p>"No, I am glad to say we succeeded with that part of the work, +Miss Ellison, and have wiped out the bush rangers altogether. We +have got one of them a prisoner, but all the rest of the gang are +killed.</p> +<p>"The distance is not quite so far as we thought it was. It was a +thirty miles' march, and two sixties. We attacked them at daybreak, +on the third day after leaving."</p> +<p>"But it is only the fourth day today, is it not? At least, it +seems so to me."</p> +<p>"It is the fourth day, Miss Ellison. When we found that the +leader of the gang was not with them, and I learned from the man we +had taken prisoner that he had started to ride back here, +twenty-four hours before, I was naturally very anxious about you; +knowing, as I did, what desperate actions the man was capable of. +So we started at once and, after a sharp fight with the blacks, got +down in the evening to the water hole, sixty miles on our way back, +where we had camped the second night out.</p> +<p>"Of course the horse I had ridden could travel no further, but I +pushed on with my black boy, on two of the horses which we had +taken from the bush rangers, and which had been led so far. We made +another forty miles by midnight, and then halted till daybreak, to +give the horses rest; but they were so done up, this morning, that +we could not get them much beyond a foot pace. When we came to the +first settlement we exchanged them for fresh ones, and galloped on; +and, thank God, we are just in time."</p> +<p>The tears were standing in the girl's eyes, and she laid her +hand on his, and said quietly:</p> +<p>"Thank you. Then you have ridden a hundred and fifty miles since +yesterday morning, besides having two fights; and all because you +were uneasy about me?"</p> +<p>"I had, as you see, good reason to be uneasy, Miss Ellison."</p> +<p>At this moment a horse's hoofs were heard approaching, and Jim +galloped up. He had, on arriving at the station, been unable to +obtain any information as to what had taken place. Mrs. Donald was +in a dead faint. Mrs. Barker had, just before he arrived, ridden +off to meet her husband; but the dead body of the constable, by the +door, and the disappearance of Kate, showed him what had taken +place; and he at once started after his master.</p> +<p>His horse, however, was a very inferior one to that ridden by +Reuben, and until he met the constable returning, he had been +obliged to follow the track of the horses in front; so he did not +arrive at the scene of the fray till half an hour after its +conclusion. He uttered exclamations of dismay, at seeing his +master's condition; for Reuben had been gradually growing faint, +and could now scarcely support himself on his elbow.</p> +<p>Jim, however, had taken the precaution to snatch a bottle of +spirits from the shelf, before he started; having an eye to his own +comforts, as well as to the possibility of its being required. He +now knocked off the neck, and poured some into the cup of Reuben's +flask, and put it to his lips.</p> +<p>"Thank you, Jim; that is just what I wanted."</p> +<p>"Massa lie down quiet," Jim said. "No good sit up;" and, +gathering a large bunch of grass, he placed it under Reuben's head; +and Reuben lay quiet, in a half dreamy state, until Mr. and Mrs. +Barker rode up.</p> +<p>Kate rose to her feet as they approached; but she was so stiff +and bruised, with her fall, that she could scarcely move forward to +meet Mrs. Barker; and burst into tears, as her friend threw her +arms round her.</p> +<p>"That's right, my poor child," Mrs. Barker said. "A cry will do +you good. Thank God, my dear Kate, for your rescue."</p> +<p>"I do indeed, Mrs. Barker. It seems almost a miracle."</p> +<p>"Captain Whitney seems to spring out of the ground, whenever +he's wanted. He seems hurt badly. The constable said it was a +broken collarbone, but it must be something a good deal worse than +that."</p> +<p>"Oh, don't say so, Mrs. Barker, after what he's done for me. If +he were to die!"</p> +<p>"There, there, don't tremble so, child. We must hope that it is +not so bad as that; but he would hardly be looking so bad as he +does, for only a broken collarbone. My husband broke his—one day +the horse ran away with him, among some trees—and he was up and +about again, in a day or two.</p> +<p>"Is he badly hurt, do you think, John?" she asked her husband, +who was kneeling beside Reuben.</p> +<p>"I hope not," the settler said. "He ought not to be like this, +only from a wound in the collarbone; but of course it may have +glanced down, and done some internal mischief. I am inclined to +think that it is extreme exhaustion, as much as anything—the +reaction after a tremendous nervous excitement."</p> +<p>"He has ridden a hundred and fifty miles, since yesterday +morning," Kate said, "and has had two fights, besides this. +Directly he knew that the leader of the bush rangers had escaped, +he came on by himself."</p> +<p>"Oh! They caught the bush rangers, did they?" Mr. Barker said, +joyfully. "I was afraid, by his getting back here so soon, that +they must have missed them somehow, and found they were on the +wrong scent.</p> +<p>"And he has ridden all the way back, has he? A very zealous +officer, Miss Ellison, a very zealous young officer, indeed."</p> +<p>But Kate was too anxious, and shaken, to mark the significance +of Mr. Barker's tone.</p> +<p>"Don't tease her," his wife said, in a low voice. "She is +terribly upset and shaken, and can hardly stand.</p> +<p>"Ah! What is that?"</p> +<p>The interruption was caused by a low groan from the fallen bush +ranger.</p> +<p>"Shoot him dead, sah," Jim, who was supporting his master's +head, exclaimed. "Don't let dat fellow come 'live no longer."</p> +<p>"I can't do that, Jim," Mr. Barker said, moving towards the +fallen man. "The man is a thorough scoundrel, a murderer, and a +robber; but he is harmless now. One cannot wish he should recover, +even for his own sake; for there is enough against him to hang him, +ten times over. However, we must do what we can for the poor +wretch."</p> +<p>So saying, he mixed some brandy with a little water in the cup, +and poured it between the bush ranger's lips.</p> +<p>"Is it mortal?" Mrs. Barker asked, as he rejoined her.</p> +<p>"I think so," he said. "I fancy he is shot through the +lungs.</p> +<p>"You must really sit down, Miss Ellison. You look as white as a +ghost, and we cannot have you on our hands, just now. We have got +them pretty full, as they are.</p> +<p>"Ah! Here comes the cart."</p> +<p>The constable had put a quantity of straw in the bottom of the +light cart, and Barker and Jim raised Reuben, and laid him in +it.</p> +<p>"We must take the other, too," Mr. Barker said. "The man is +alive, and we can't leave him here."</p> +<p>"Yes," Kate said; "he must go, too. He did Reuben a great wrong, +years ago. I hope he will confess it, before he dies."</p> +<p>Mr. Barker glanced at his wife, as Kate used the young officer's +Christian name; but she was not thinking of Captain Whitney of the +police, but of the boy Reuben, who had been accused of poisoning +her father's dog, and of committing a burglary from his house.</p> +<p>"You had better get up in front, with the constable, Miss +Ellison," the settler said, when the two wounded men had been +placed in the cart. "You certainly are not fit to ride.</p> +<p>"Or, look here, the constable shall take my horse, and I will +drive; and then I can look after you, and you can use me for a +prop, if you feel weak; but before we start, I must insist on your +taking a sip of brandy and water.</p> +<p>"It is no use your saying no," he persisted, as the girl shook +her head. "We shall have you fainting before you get home, if you +don't."</p> +<p>Kate did as she was ordered. Mr. Barker then helped her up to +her seat. As she got up, her eyes fell upon Reuben's face.</p> +<p>"Oh, Mr. Barker!" she said. "He looks dead. You are not +deceiving me, are you?"</p> +<p>"Bless me, no!" the settler said, cheerfully. "My opinion is +that he's dead asleep. The loss of blood, the sudden reaction after +the long excitement, and the exhaustion of his ride have completely +overcome him; and my opinion is that he is sound asleep.</p> +<p>"Jim, do you lead your master's horse, while the constable takes +the other; and then you two had better ride on, and help Mrs. +Donald get things ready. Get a bed up at once, for Captain Whitney; +and get some clean straw in the outhouse, with one of the rugs over +it, for the other."</p> +<p>So saying, he touched the horse with the whip, and the cart +moved slowly on, with Mrs. Barker riding beside it. She would have +gone on ahead, to have assisted in the preparations; but she +expected, momentarily, to see Kate faint, and thought it better to +remain with her, in case her assistance should be required.</p> +<p>The journey occupied some time, for Mr. Barker picked the way +carefully, so as not to jolt the cart. Mrs. Barker endeavoured to +keep Kate's attention fixed, by asking her questions as to what she +had heard about the expedition, wondering when it would return, and +whether any of the settlers were hurt. When they got within half a +mile of home, she said:</p> +<p>"I think, dear, you are looking a little better now. I will ride +on. Fortunately there is the beef tea we made, last night, for Mr. +Donald. I will get it made hot, and I will get a cup of strong tea +ready for you. That will do wonders."</p> +<p>When the cart arrived Mrs. Donald ran out and, as Kate +descended, clasped her in a long embrace.</p> +<p>"Come straight in here, my dear," Mrs. Barker said. "I have got +a basin of cold water, and a cup of strong tea, and the two +together will do marvels. We will attend to your wounded hero."</p> +<p>Reuben remained perfectly quiet and inert, as he was lifted out +and carried into the house, where a bed had been made up for him in +a room on the ground floor.</p> +<p>"Just lay him down. Throw a blanket over him, and let him lie +perfectly quiet."</p> +<p>"Do you think he is really asleep?" Mrs. Barker asked, as she +looked at the quiet face.</p> +<p>"I do, really," her husband replied. "Put your ear close to his +mouth. He is breathing as quietly as a child.</p> +<p>"And," he added, placing his fingers on Reuben's wrist, "his +pulse is a little fast, but regular and quiet. Twenty-four hours of +sleep will set him up again, unless I am greatly mistaken. I don't +expect that his wound will turn out anything very serious.</p> +<p>"Let me think. Was it not this afternoon that Ruskin said he +would be back again?"</p> +<p>"Yes, either yesterday or today."</p> +<p>"That is lucky. He will be surprised at finding two new patients +on his hands, now.</p> +<p>"I will go and have a look at that poor wretch in the shed. Give +me a cupful of beef tea. I will pour a spoonful or two between his +lips. You had better go and look after Kate. You will not be needed +here, at present.</p> +<p>"If your master wakes, Jim, let us know directly," he said to +the black, who had seated himself on the ground by the side of +Reuben's bed.</p> +<p>"I can't call the poor fellow away from his master," he added to +his wife, as he closed the door behind them; "but I am really +anxious to know what has taken place, out in the bush; and whether +many of our fellows have been killed. If, as Kate said, she heard +the captain tell the bush ranger that all his band had been killed, +except one who is a prisoner, it has indeed been a most successful +expedition; and we colonists can hardly be sufficiently grateful, +to Whitney, for having rid us of these pests. What with that, and +the thrashing the blacks have had, we shall be able to sleep +quietly for months; which is more than we have done for a long +time."</p> +<p>Kate came out of the room, with Mrs. Donald, a minute later. The +basin of cold water and the tea had had the effect Mrs. Barker +predicted. A little colour had returned into her cheeks, and she +looked altogether more like herself.</p> +<p>"How is he?" Mrs. Donald asked.</p> +<p>"In my opinion, he's doing capitally, Mrs. Donald. His pulse is +quiet and even, and he's breathing as quietly as a child; and I +believe he is simply in a state of exhaustion, from which he is not +likely to wake till tomorrow morning; and I predict that, in a few +days, he will be up and about. Indeed, if that bullet hasn't +misbehaved itself, I see no reason why he shouldn't be up +tomorrow."</p> +<p>"That is indeed a relief, to us both," Mrs. Donald said, while +Kate could only clasp her hands in silent thankfulness.</p> +<p>"And now, how is your husband? I hope he is none the worse, for +all this exertion."</p> +<p>"He was terribly agitated, at first," Mrs. Donald said. "I +fainted, you know, and he got out of bed to help me up; and it was +as much as I could do, when I recovered, to get him to lie down; +for he wanted to mount and ride after Kate, although, of course, he +is as weak as a child, and even with my help he could scarcely get +into bed again.</p> +<p>"Fortunately Mrs. Barker ran in, before she started on horseback +to fetch you, to say that the constable was off in pursuit, and +that quieted him. Then I think he was occupied in trying to cheer +me, for as soon as he was in bed I broke down and cried; till the +constable came back to say that Captain Whitney had overtaken, and +shot, the bush ranger."</p> +<p>Three hours later, to the great relief of all, the surgeon +arrived. He was first taken in to look at Reuben, having been told +all the circumstances of the case; and he confirmed Mr. Barker's +opinion that he was really in a deep sleep.</p> +<p>"I would not wake him, on any account," he said. "It is a great +effort of nature, and he will, I hope, awake quite himself. Of +course, I can't say anything about the wound, till he does.</p> +<p>"Now for his antagonist."</p> +<p>The bush ranger was still unconscious, though occasionally +broken words came from his lips. The surgeon examined his +wound.</p> +<p>"He is shot through the lungs," he said, "and is bleeding +internally. I do not think that there is the shadow of a chance for +him, and no one can wish it otherwise. It will only save the colony +the expense of his trial.</p> +<p>"And now for my original patient."</p> +<p>He was some time in Mr. Donald's room and, when he came out, +proceeded at once to mix him a soothing draught, from the case of +medicines he carried behind the saddle.</p> +<p>"We must get him off to sleep, if we can," he said; "or we shall +have him in a high state of fever, before morning. A man in his +state can't go through such excitement as he has done, without +paying the penalty.</p> +<p>"And now, I suppose, I have done," he said with a smile, as Mrs. +Donald left the room with the medicine.</p> +<p>"Yes, I think so," Mrs. Barker said. "If you had come an hour +earlier, I should have put this young lady under your charge; but I +think that the assurance of my husband, that Captain Whitney was +doing well, has been a better medicine than you could give +her."</p> +<p>"No wonder she is shaken," Mr. Ruskin remarked.</p> +<p>"Mrs. Barker tells me you had a heavy fall, too, Miss +Ellison."</p> +<p>"Yes," she replied. "I was stunned for a time but, beyond being +stiff and bruised, I am none the worse for it."</p> +<p>"Look here, Miss Ellison," the doctor said, after putting his +fingers on her wrist, "I suppose you will want to be about, +tomorrow, when our brave army returns. Now, there is nothing you +can do here. Mrs. Donald can nurse her husband. The other two +require no nursing. Mrs. Barker, I am sure, will take charge of the +house; and therefore, seriously, I would ask you to take this +draught I am about to mix for you, and to go upstairs and go to +bed, and sleep till morning."</p> +<p>"I could not sleep," Kate protested.</p> +<p>"Very well, then, lie quiet without sleeping; and if, in the +evening, you find you are restless, you can come down for an hour +or two; but I really must insist on your lying down for a bit.</p> +<p>"Now, Mrs. Barker, will you take this medicine up, and put this +young lady to bed."</p> +<p>"I hope she will get off to sleep," Mrs. Barker said, when she +came downstairs again.</p> +<p>"I have no doubt whatever about it," Mr. Ruskin replied. "I have +given her a very strong sleeping draught, far stronger than I +should think of giving, at any other time; but after the tension +that the poor girl must have gone through, it would need a strong +dose to take effect. I think you will hear nothing more of her, +till the morning."</p> +<p>Indeed, it was not until the sun was well up, the next morning, +that Kate Ellison woke. She could hardly believe that she had slept +all night; but the eastern sun, coming in through her window, +showed her that she had done so. She still felt bruised and shaken +all over, but was otherwise herself again. She dressed hastily, and +went downstairs.</p> +<p>"That's right, my dear," Mrs. Barker, who was already busy in +the kitchen, said. "You look bonny, and like yourself."</p> +<p>"How are my brother and Captain Whitney?" Kate asked.</p> +<p>"I don't think Mr. Donald is awake, yet," Mrs. Barker replied; +"but Captain Whitney has just gone out to the shed, with my husband +and the surgeon."</p> +<p>"Gone out to the shed!" Kate repeated, in astonishment.</p> +<p>"Yes, my dear. That poor wretch out there is going fast. He +recovered consciousness about two hours ago. The constable was +sitting up with him. He asked for water, and then lay for some +time, quite quiet.</p> +<p>"Then he said, 'Am I dreaming, or was it Reuben Whitney I fought +with?'</p> +<p>"'Yes, it was Captain Reuben Whitney, our inspector,' the +constable replied.</p> +<p>"For a time he lay quiet again, and then said: 'I want to see +him.'</p> +<p>"The constable told him he was asleep, and couldn't be woke.</p> +<p>"'Is he badly wounded?' the man asked. 'I know I hit him.'</p> +<p>"'Not very badly, I hope,' the constable answered.</p> +<p>"'When he wakes ask him to come to me,' the man said. 'I know I +am dying, but I want to see him first. If he can't come, let +somebody else come.'</p> +<p>"The constable came in and roused the doctor, who went out and +saw him, and said he might live three or four hours yet.</p> +<p>"Soon afterwards, just as the sun rose, Jim came out, to say +that his master was awake. Mr. Ruskin went in to him and examined +his wound, and probed the course of the bullet. It had lodged down +just at the bottom of the shoulder bone. I am glad to say he was +able to get it out. When he had done, he told his patient what the +bush ranger had said; and Captain Whitney insisted upon going out +to him."</p> +<p>"It won't do him any harm, will it?" Kate asked anxiously.</p> +<p>"No, my dear, or Mr. Ruskin would not have let him go. I saw him +as he went out, and shook hands with him and, except that nasty +bandage over his face, he looked quite himself again. As I told +you, a broken collarbone is a mere nothing and, now we know where +the bullet went and have got it out, there is no occasion for the +slightest anxiety.</p> +<p>"Here they come again, so you can judge for yourself."</p> +<p>A very few words passed between Reuben and Kate; for Mrs. +Barker, who saw how nervous the girl was, at once began to ask him +questions about what the bush ranger had said.</p> +<p>"He has made a confession, Mrs. Barker, which your husband has +written down, and Mr. Ruskin and Smithson have signed. It is about +a very old story, in which I was concerned when a boy; but it is a +great gratification for me to have it cleared up, at last. I was +accused of poisoning a dog, belonging to Miss Ellison's father; and +was tried for a burglary, committed on the premises, and was +acquitted, thanks only to Miss Ellison's influence, exerted on my +behalf—</p> +<p>"I fear," he said with a slight smile, "somewhat illegally.</p> +<p>"However, the imputation would have rested on me all my life, if +it had not been for Thorne's confession. I thought that he did the +first affair. I knew that he was concerned in the second, although +I could not prove it; but he has now made a full confession, saying +that he himself poisoned the dog, and confirming the story I told +at the trial."</p> +<p>"Oh, I am glad!" Kate exclaimed. "You know, Captain Whitney, +that I was sure of your innocence; but I know how you must have +longed for it to be proved to the world.</p> +<p>"What will you do, Mr. Barker, to make it public?"</p> +<p>"I shall send a copy of the confession, properly attested, to +the magistrates of Lewes; and another copy to the paper which, +Captain Whitney tells me, is published there weekly.</p> +<p>"It is curious," he went on, "that the sight of Whitney should +have recalled those past recollections; while, so far as I could +see, everything that has happened afterwards, his career of crime +and the blood that he has shed, seem altogether forgotten."</p> +<p>"I suppose there is no hope for him?" Kate asked, in a low +voice.</p> +<p>"He is dying now," Mr. Barker said. "Ruskin is with him. He was +fast becoming unconscious when we left him, and Ruskin said that +the end was at hand."</p> +<p>A quarter of an hour later the surgeon came in, with the news +that all was over.</p> +<p>"Now, Captain Whitney, you must come into your room, and let me +bandage up your shoulder properly. I hadn't half time to do it, +before."</p> +<p>"But you won't want me to lie in bed, or any nonsense of that +sort?" Reuben asked.</p> +<p>"I would, if I thought you would obey my orders; but as I see no +chance of that, I shall not trouble to give them. Seriously, I do +not think there is any necessity for it, providing always that you +will keep yourself very quiet. I shall bandage your arm across your +chest, so there can be no movement of the shoulder; and when that +is done, I think you will be all right."</p> +<p>There was only one more question which Reuben had to ask, with +regard to the event of the preceding day—why it was that Smithson +did not go to his comrade's assistance. He then learned that Thorne +rode quietly up to the back of the house and dismounted, then went +to the stable, where Smithson was asleep—having been on guard +during the night—and pushed a piece of wood under the latch of the +door, so that it could not be raised. Having thus securely fastened +Smithson in, he had gone to the front of the house, and had +apparently shot down the constable there before the latter was +aware of his presence.</p> +<p>Smithson, awakened by the shot, tried in vain to get out; and +was only released by Mrs. Barker, when she recovered from the +effect of the stunning blow which the bush ranger had struck her. +He had then mounted at once, and followed in pursuit.</p> +<p>In the afternoon the party returned from the bush, having +experienced no further molestation from the natives. Nothing +occurred to interfere with the progress of Reuben's wound and, in +the course of a fortnight, he was again able to resume his +duties.</p> +<p>The complete destruction of the gang of bush rangers, and the +energy with which they had been pursued into the very heart of the +bush country, made a vast sensation in the colony; and Reuben +gained great credit, and instant promotion for his conduct.</p> +<p>A month after the return of the party from the bush, Mr. Donald +was about again and, as the danger was now past, he abandoned his +idea of selling his property. The course which events took can be +judged by the following conversation, between Mrs. Donald and her +sister, three months later.</p> +<p>"Well, Kate, after all he has done for us, of course I have +nothing to say against it; and I don't suppose you would mind, if I +had. Still, I do think you might have done better."</p> +<p>"I could not have done better," Kate said hotly, "not if I had +had the pick of the whole colony."</p> +<p>"Well, not in one way, my dear; for you know that, personally, I +like him almost as well as you do. Still, I do think it is a little +unfortunate that we ever knew him before."</p> +<p>"And I think it's extremely fortunate," Kate said stoutly. "If +it hadn't been that he had known us before, and cared for me—he +says worshipped, but that's nonsense—ever since I was a child, he +would never have made that terrible ride, and I—"</p> +<p>"Oh, don't talk about it, Kate; it's too dreadful even to think +of now.</p> +<p>"Well, my dear, no doubt it's all for the best," Alice said +philosophically. "At any rate, you are quite happy, and he is a +noble fellow. But I hope, for your sake, that he won't stay in the +police. It would be dreadful for you when he was riding about, +hunting after bush rangers and blacks; for you know, my dear, there +are plenty of others left in the colony."</p> +<p>"I told him so yesterday," Kate said shyly. "I said, of course, +that I didn't want to influence him."</p> +<p>Alice broke into a laugh.</p> +<p>"You little goose, as if what you say doesn't influence +him."</p> +<p>Three weeks later, Reuben received a letter from Mr. Hudson.</p> +<p>"My dear Whitney, I am glad to hear, from you, that you are +engaged to be married; and the circumstances which you tell me of +make it a most interesting affair. If I were you, I should cut the +constabulary. I enclose a paper from Wilson, giving you three +weeks' leave. Come down to Sydney at once, and talk it over with +me. You know I regard you as my son, and I am going to have a voice +in the matter."</p> +<p>Reuben went down to Sydney and, after ascertaining his views, +Mr. Hudson went into town and forthwith arranged for the purchase, +for him, of a partnership in the chief engineering firm in the +town. When he told Captain Wilson what he had done, the latter +declared that he had robbed the colony of its best police officer. +Reuben protested against the generosity of the old settler, but the +latter declared he would have no nonsense on the subject.</p> +<p>"I am one of the richest men in the colony," he said, "and it's +hard if I can't spend my money as I choose."</p> +<p>There is little more to tell. Reuben became one of the leading +citizens of Sydney and, twenty years afterwards, sold his business +and returned to England, and bought an estate not far from Lewes, +where he is still living with his wife and family. He was +accompanied from Australia by his mother; who, in spite of her +strong objections to the sea, went out to live with him, two years +after his marriage.</p> +<p>The only point upon which Reuben Whitney and his wife have never +been able to come to an absolute agreement is as to which owes most +to the other.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Final Reckoning, by G. A. 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A. Henty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Final Reckoning + A Tale of Bush Life in Australia + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Illustrator: W. B. Wollen + +Release Date: December 5, 2006 [EBook #20031] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FINAL RECKONING *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + +A Final Reckoning: +A Tale of Bush Life in Australia +by G. A. Henty. + +Contents + +Preface. +Chapter 1: The Broken Window. +Chapter 2: The Poisoned Dog. +Chapter 3: The Burglary At The Squire's. +Chapter 4: The Trial. +Chapter 5: Not Guilty! +Chapter 6: On The Voyage. +Chapter 7: Gratitude. +Chapter 8: A Gale. +Chapter 9: Two Offers. +Chapter 10: An Up-Country District. +Chapter 11: The Black Fellows. +Chapter 12: The Bush Rangers. +Chapter 13: Bush Rangers. +Chapter 14: An Unexpected Meeting. +Chapter 15: At Donald's. +Chapter 16: Jim's Report. +Chapter 17: In Pursuit. +Chapter 18: Settling Accounts. + +Illustrations + +Reuben Whitney Acquitted of the Charge of Burglary. +The Ladies Saved from the Malay's Crease. +A Fight with the Black Fellows. +Jim Notes the Bush Rangers' Plans for Mischief. + + + +Preface. + + +In this tale I have left the battlefields of history, and have +written a story of adventure in Australia, in the early days when +the bush rangers and the natives constituted a real and formidable +danger to the settlers. I have done this, not with the intention of +extending your knowledge, or even of pointing a moral, although the +story is not without one; but simply for a change--a change both +for you and myself, but frankly, more for myself than for you. You +know the old story of the boy who bothered his brains with Euclid, +until he came to dream regularly that he was an equilateral +triangle enclosed in a circle. Well, I feel that unless I break +away sometimes from history, I shall be haunted day and night by +visions of men in armour, and soldiers of all ages and times. + +If, when I am away on a holiday I come across the ruins of a +castle, I find myself at once wondering how it could best have been +attacked, and defended. If I stroll down to the Thames, I begin to +plan schemes of crossing it in the face of an enemy; and if matters +go on, who can say but that I may find myself, some day, arrested +on the charge of surreptitiously entering the Tower of London, or +effecting an escalade of the keep of Windsor Castle! To avoid such +a misfortune--which would entail a total cessation of my stories, +for a term of years--I have turned to a new subject, which I can +only hope that you will find as interesting, if not as instructive, +as the other books which I have written. + +G. A. Henty. + + + +Chapter 1: The Broken Window. + + +"You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, +and you will come to a bad end." + +The words followed a shower of cuts with the cane. The speaker was +an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near +Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, +by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from +the boy whom he was striking. He was a lad of some thirteen years +of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at +present quivering with anger. + +"I don't care if I do," he said defiantly. "It won't be my fault, +but yours, and the rest of them." + +"You ought to be ashamed of yourself," the master said, "instead of +speaking in that way. You, who learn easier than anyone here, and +could always be at the top of your class, if you chose. I had hoped +better things of you, Reuben; but it's just the way, it's your +bright boys as mostly gets into mischief." + +At this moment the door of the school room opened, and a lady with +two girls, one of about fourteen and the other eleven years of age, +entered. + +"What is the matter now?" the lady asked, seeing the schoolmaster, +cane in hand, and the boy standing before him. + +"Reuben Whitney! What, in trouble again, Reuben? I am afraid you +are a very troublesome boy." + +"I am not troublesome, ma'm," the boy said sturdily. "That is, I +wouldn't be if they would let me alone; but everything that is done +bad, they put it down to me." + +"But what have you been doing now, Reuben?" + +"I have done nothing at all, ma'm; but he's always down on me," and +he pointed to the master, "and when they are always down on a +fellow, it's no use his trying to do right." + +"What has the boy been doing now, Mr. White?" the lady asked. + +"Look there, ma'm, at those four windows all smashed, and the +squire had all the broken panes mended only a fortnight ago." + +"How was it done, Mr. White?" + +"By a big stone, ma'm, which caught the frame where they joined, +and smashed them all." + +"I did not do it, Mrs. Ellison, indeed I didn't." + +"Why do you suppose it was Reuben?" Mrs. Ellison asked the master. + +"Because I had kept him in, half an hour after the others went home +to dinner, for pinching young Jones and making him call out; and he +had only just gone out of the gate when I heard the smash; so there +is no doubt about it, for all the others must have been in at their +dinner at that time." + +"I didn't do it, ma'm," the boy repeated. "Directly I got out of +the gate, I started off to run home. I hadn't gone not twenty yards +when I heard a smash; but I wasn't going for to stop to see what it +was. It weren't no business of mine, and that's all I know about +it." + +"Mamma," the younger of the two girls said eagerly, "what he says +is quite true. You know you let me run down the village with the +jelly for Mrs. Thomson's child, and as I was coming down the road I +saw a boy come out of the gate of the school and run away; and then +I heard a noise of broken glass, and I saw another boy jump over +the hedge opposite, and run, too. He came my way and, directly he +saw me, he ran to a gate and climbed over." + +"Do you know who it was, Kate?" Mrs. Ellison asked. + +"Yes, mamma. It was Tom Thorne." + +"Is Thomas Thorne here?" Mrs. Ellison asked in a loud voice. + +There was a general turning of the heads of the children to the +point where a boy, somewhat bigger than the rest, had been +apparently studying his lessons with great diligence. + +"Come here, Tom Thorne," Mrs. Ellison said. + +The boy slouched up with a sullen face. + +"You hear what my daughter says, Tom. What have you to say in +reply?" + +"I didn't throw the stone at the window," the boy replied. "I +chucked it at a sparrow, and it weren't my fault if it missed him +and broke the window." + +"I should say it was your fault, Tom," Mrs. Ellison said +sharply--"very much your fault, if you throw a great stone at a +bird without taking care to see what it may hit. But that is +nothing to your fault in letting another boy be punished for what +you did. I shall report the matter to the squire, and he will speak +to your father about it. You are a wicked, bad boy. + +"Mr. White, I will speak to you outside." + +Followed by her daughters, Mrs. Ellison went out; Kate giving a +little nod, in reply to the grateful look that Reuben Whitney cast +towards her, and his muttered: + +"Thank you, miss." + +"Walk on, my dears," Mrs. Ellison said. "I will overtake you, in a +minute or two. + +"This will not do, Mr. White," she said, when she was alone with +the master. "I have told you before that I did not approve of your +thrashing so much, and now it is proved that you punish without any +sufficient cause, and upon suspicion only. I shall report the case +at once to the squire and, unless I am greatly mistaken, you will +have to look out for another place." + +"I am very sorry, Mrs. Ellison, indeed I am; and it is not often I +use the cane, now. If it had been anyone else, I might have +believed him; but Reuben Whitney is always in mischief." + +"No wonder he is in mischief," the lady said severely, "if he is +punished, without a hearing, for all the misdeeds of others. Well, +I shall leave the matter in the squire's hands; but I am sure he +will no more approve than I do of the children being ill treated." + +Reuben Whitney was the son of a miller, near Tipping. John Whitney +had been considered a well-to-do man, but he had speculated in corn +and had got into difficulties; and his body was, one day, found +floating in the mill dam. No one knew whether it was the result of +intention or accident, but the jury of his neighbours who sat upon +the inquest gave him the benefit of the doubt, and brought in a +verdict of "accidental death." He was but tenant of the mill and, +when all the creditors were satisfied, there were only a few pounds +remaining for the widow. + +With these she opened a little shop in Tipping, with a +miscellaneous collection of tinware and cheap ironmongery; cottons, +tapes, and small articles of haberdashery; with toys, sweets, and +cakes for the children. The profits were small, but the squire, who +had known her husband, charged but a nominal rent for the cottage; +and this was more than paid by the fruit trees in the garden, which +also supplied her with potatoes and vegetables, so that she managed +to support her boy and herself in tolerable comfort. + +She herself had been the daughter of a tradesman in Lewes, and many +wondered that she did not return to her father, upon her husband's +death. But her home had not been a comfortable one, before her +marriage; for her father had taken a second wife, and she did not +get on well with her stepmother. She thought, therefore, that +anything would be better than returning with her boy to a home +where, to the mistress at least, she would be most unwelcome. + +She had, as a girl, received an education which raised her somewhat +above the other villagers of Tipping; and of an evening she was in +the habit of helping Reuben with his lessons, and trying to correct +the broadness of dialect which he picked up from the other boys. +She was an active and bustling woman, managed her little shop well, +and kept the garden, with Reuben's assistance, in excellent order. + +Mrs. Ellison had, at her first arrival in the village three years +before, done much to give her a good start, by ordering that all +articles of use for the house, in which she dealt, should be +purchased of her; and she highly approved of the energy and +independence of the young widow. But lately there had been an +estrangement between the squire's wife and the village shopkeeper. +Mrs. Ellison, whose husband owned all the houses in the village, as +well as the land surrounding it, was accustomed to speak her mind +very freely to the wives of the villagers. She was kindness itself, +in cases of illness or distress; and her kitchen supplied soups, +jellies, and nourishing food to all who required it; but in return, +Mrs. Ellison expected her lectures on waste, untidiness, and +mismanagement to be listened to with respect and reverence. + +She was, then, at once surprised and displeased when, two or three +months before, having spoken sharply to Mrs. Whitney as to the +alleged delinquencies of Reuben, she found herself decidedly, +though not disrespectfully, replied to. + +"The other boys are always set against my Reuben," Mrs. Whitney +said, "because he is a stranger in the village, and has no father; +and whatever is done, they throw it on to him. The boy is not a bad +boy, ma'm--not in any way a bad boy. He may get into mischief, like +the rest; but he is not a bit worse than others, not half as bad as +some of them, and those who have told you that he is haven't told +you the truth." + +Mrs. Ellison had not liked it. She was not accustomed to be +answered, except by excuses and apologies; and Mrs. Whitney's +independent manner of speaking came upon her almost as an act of +rebellion, in her own kingdom. She was too fair, however, to +withdraw her custom from the shop; but from that time she had not, +herself, entered it. + +Reuben was a source of anxiety to his mother, but this had no +reference to his conduct. She worried over his future. The receipts +from the shop were sufficient for their wants; and indeed the widow +was enabled, from time to time, to lay by a pound against bad +times; but she did not see what she was to do with the boy. Almost +all the other lads of the village, of the same age, were already in +the fields; and Mrs. Whitney felt that she could not much longer +keep him idle. The question was, what was she to do with him? That +he should not go into the fields she was fully determined, and her +great wish was to apprentice him to some trade; but as her father +had recently died, she did not see how she was to set about it. + +That evening, at dinner, Mrs. Ellison told the squire of the scene +in the school room. + +"White must go," he said, "that is quite evident. I have seen, for +some time, that we wanted a younger man, more abreast of the times +than White is; but I don't like turning him adrift altogether. He +has been here upwards of thirty years. What am I to do with him?" + +Mrs. Ellison could make no suggestion; but she, too, disliked the +thought of anyone in the village being turned adrift upon the +world. + +"The very thing!" the squire exclaimed, suddenly. "We will make him +clerk. Old Peters has long been past his work. The old man must be +seventy-five, if he's a day, and his voice quavers so that it makes +the boys laugh. We will pension him off. He can have his cottage +rent free, and three or four shillings a week. I don't suppose it +will be for many years. As for White, he cannot be much above +sixty. He will fill the place very well. + +"I am sure the vicar will agree, for he has been speaking to me, +about Peters being past his work, for the last five years. What do +you say, my dear?" + +"I think that will do very well, William," Mrs. Ellison replied, +"and will get over the difficulty altogether." + +"So you see, wife, for once that boy of Widow Whitney's was not to +blame. I told you you took those stories on trust against him too +readily. The boy's a bit of a pickle, no doubt; and I very near +gave him a thrashing, myself, a fortnight since, for on going up to +the seven-acre field, I found him riding bare backed on that young +pony I intended for Kate." + +"You don't say so, William!" Mrs. Ellison exclaimed, greatly +shocked. "I never heard of such an impudent thing. I really wonder +you didn't thrash him." + +"Well, perhaps I should have done so, my dear; but the fact is, I +caught sight of him some time before he saw me, and he was really +sitting her so well that I could not find it in my heart to call +out. He was really doing me a service. The pony had never been +ridden, and was as wild as a wild goat. Thomas is too old, in fact, +to break it in, and I should have had to get someone to do it, and +pay him two or three pounds for the job. + +"It was not the first time the boy had been on her back, I could +see. The pony was not quite broken and, just as I came on the +scene, was trying its best to get rid of him; but it couldn't do +it, and I could see, by the way he rode her about afterwards, that +he had got her completely in hand; and a very pretty-going little +thing she will turn out." + +"But what did you say to him, William? I am sure I should never +stop to think whether he was breaking in the pony, or not, if I saw +him riding it about." + +"I daresay not, my dear," the squire said, laughing; "but then you +see, you have never been a boy; and I have, and can make +allowances. Many a pony and horse have I broken in, in my time; and +have got on the back of more than one, without my father knowing +anything about it." + +"Yes, but they were your father's horses, William," Mrs. Ellison +persisted. "That makes all the difference." + +"I don't suppose it would have made much difference to me," the +squire laughed, "at that time. I was too fond of horse flesh, even +from a boy, to be particular whose horse it was I got across. +However, of course, after waiting till he had done, I gave the +young scamp a blowing up." + +"Not much of a blowing up, I am sure," Mrs. Ellison said; "and as +likely as not, a shilling at the end of it." + +"Well, Mary, I must own," the squire said pleasantly, "that a +shilling did find its way out of my pocket into his." + +"It's too bad of you, William," Mrs. Ellison said indignantly. +"Here is this boy, who is notoriously a scapegrace, has the +impertinence to ride your horse, and you encourage him in his +misdeeds by giving him a shilling." + +"Well, my dear, don't you see, I saved two pounds nineteen by the +transaction. + +"Besides," he added more seriously, "I think the boy has been +maligned. I don't fancy he's a bad lad at all. A little mischief +and so on, but none the worse for that. Besides, you know, I knew +his father; and have sat many a time on horseback chatting to him, +at the door of his mill; and drank more than one glass of good ale, +which his wife has brought out to me. I am not altogether easy in +my conscience about them. If there had been a subscription got up +for the widow at his death, I should have put my name down for +twenty pounds; and all that I have done for her is to take eighteen +pence a week off that cottage of theirs. + +"No, I called the boy to me when he got off, and pretty scared he +looked when he saw me. When he came up, I asked him how he dared to +ride my horses about, without my leave. Of course he said he was +sorry, which meant nothing; and he added, as a sort of excuse, that +he used from a child to ride the horses at the mill down to the +ford for water; and that his father generally had a young one or +two, in that paddock of his by the mill, and he used often to ride +them; and seeing the pony one day, galloping about the field and +kicking up its heels, he wondered whether he could sit a horse +still, and especially whether he could keep on that pony's back. +Then he set to, to try. + +"The pony flung him several times, at first; and no wonder, as he +had no saddle, and only a piece of old rope for a bridle; but he +mastered him at last, and he assured me that he had never used the +stick, and certainly he had not one when I saw him. I told him, of +course, that he knew he ought not to have done it; but that, as he +had taken it in hand, he might finish it. I said that I intended to +have it broken in for Kate, and that he had best get a bit of +sacking and put it on sideways, to accustom the pony to carry a +lady. Then I gave him a shilling, and told him I would give him +five more, when he could tell me the pony was sufficiently broken +and gentle to carry Kate." + +Mrs. Ellison shook her head in disapprobation. + +"It is of no use, William, my talking to the villagers as to the +ways of their boys, if that is the way you counteract my advice." + +"But I don't always, my dear," the squire said blandly. "For +instance, I shall go round tomorrow morning with my dog whip to +Thorne's; and I shall offer him the choice of giving that boy of +his the soundest thrashing he ever had, while I stand by to see it, +or of going out of his house at the end of the quarter. + +"I rather hope he will choose the latter alternative. That beer +shop of his is the haunt of all the idle fellows in the village. I +have a strong suspicion that he is in league with the poachers, if +he doesn't poach himself; and the first opportunity I get of laying +my finger upon him, out he goes." + +A few days later when Kate Ellison issued from the gate of the +house, which lay just at the end of the village, with the basket +containing some jelly and medicine for a sick child, she found +Reuben Whitney awaiting her. He touched his cap. + +"Please, miss, I made bold to come here, to thank you for having +cleared me." + +"But I couldn't help clearing you, Reuben, for you see, I knew it +wasn't you." + +"Well, miss, it was very kind, all the same; and I am very much +obliged to you." + +"But why do you get into scrapes?" the girl said. "If you didn't, +you wouldn't be suspected of other things. Mamma said, the other +day, you got into more scrapes than any boy in the village; and you +look nice, too. Why do you do it?" + +"I don't know why I do it, miss," Reuben said shamefacedly. "I +suppose it's because I don't go into the fields, like most of the +other boys; and haven't got much to do. But there's no great harm +in them, miss. They are just larks, nothing worse." + +"You don't do really bad things?" the girl asked. + +"No, miss, I hope not." + +"And you don't tell stories, do you?" + +"No, miss, never. If I do anything and I am asked, I always own it. +I wouldn't tell a lie to save myself from a licking." + +"That's right," the girl said graciously. + +She caught somewhat of her mother's manner, from going about with +her to the cottages; and it seemed quite natural, to her, to give +her advice to this village scapegrace. + +"Well, try not to do these sort of things again, Reuben; because I +like you, and I don't like to hear people say you are the worst boy +in the village, and I don't think you are. Good-bye," and Kate +Ellison proceeded on her way. + +Reuben smiled as he looked after her. Owing to his memory of his +former position at the mill, and to his mother's talk and teaching, +Reuben did not entertain the same feeling of respect, mingled with +fear, for the squire's family which was felt by the village in +general. Instead of being two years younger than himself, the girl +had spoken as gravely as if she had been twenty years his senior, +and Reuben could not help a smile of amusement. + +"She is a dear little lady," he said, as he looked after her; "and +it's only natural she should talk like her mother. But Mrs. Ellison +means well, too, mother says; and as for the squire, he is a good +fellow. I expected he would have given it to me the other day. + +"Well, now I will go up to the pony. One more lesson, and I think a +baby might ride it." + +As he walked along, he met Tom Thorne. There had been war between +them, since the affair of the broken window. Reuben had shown the +other no animosity on the subject as, having been cleared, he had +felt in no way aggrieved; but Tom Thorne was very sore over it. In +the first place, he had been found out; and although Reuben himself +had said nothing to him, respecting his conduct in allowing him to +be flogged for the offence which he himself had committed, others +had not been so reticent, and he had had a hard time of it in the +village. Secondly, he had been severely thrashed by his father, in +the presence of the squire; the former laying on the lash with a +vigour which satisfied Mr. Ellison, the heartiness of the thrashing +being due, not to any indignation at the fault, but because the +boy's conduct had excited the squire's anger; which Thorne, for +many reasons, was anxious to deprecate. He was his landlord, and +had the power to turn him out at a quarter's notice; and as there +was no possibility of obtaining any other house near, and he was +doing by no means a bad trade, he was anxious to keep on good terms +with him. + +Tom Thorne was sitting on a gate, as Reuben passed. + +"You think you be a fine fellow, Reuben, but I will be even with +you, some day." + +"You can be even with me now," Reuben said, "if you like to get off +that gate." + +"I bain't afeared of you, Reuben, don't you go to think it; only I +ain't going to do any fighting now. Feyther says if I get into any +more rows, he will pay me out; so I can't lick you now, but some +day I will be even with you." + +"That's a good excuse," Reuben said scornfully. "However, I don't +want to fight if you don't, only you keep your tongue to yourself. +I don't want to say nothing to you, if you don't say nothing to me. +You played me a dirty trick the other day, and you got well +larrupped for it, so I don't owe you any grudge; but mind you, I +don't want any more talk about your getting even with me, for if +you do give me any more of it I will fetch you one on the nose, and +then you will have a chance of getting even, at once." + +Tom Thorne held his tongue, only relieving his feelings by making a +grimace after Reuben, as the latter passed on. In the various +contests among the boys of the village, Reuben had proved himself +so tough an adversary that, although Tom Thorne was heavier and +bigger, he did not care about entering upon what would be, at best, +a doubtful contest with him. + +Contenting himself, therefore, with another muttered, "I will be +even with you some day," he strolled home to his father's ale +house. + +The change at the school was very speedily made. The squire +generally carried out his resolutions while they were hot and, on +the very day after his conversation with his wife on the subject, +he went first to the vicar and arranged for the retirement of the +clerk, and the instalment of White in his place; and then went to +the school house, and informed the master of his intention. The +latter had been expecting his dismissal, since Mrs. Ellison had +spoken to him on the previous day; and the news which the squire +gave him was a relief to him. His emoluments, as clerk, would be +smaller than those he received as schoolmaster; but while he would +not be able to discharge the duties of the latter for very much +longer, for he felt the boys were getting too much for him, he +would be able to perform the very easy work entailed by the +clerkship for many years to come. It was, too, a position not +without dignity; and indeed, in the eyes of the village the clerk +was a personage of far greater importance than the schoolmaster. He +therefore thankfully accepted the offer, and agreed to give up the +school as soon as a substitute could be found. + +In those days anyone was considered good enough for a village +schoolmaster, and the post was generally filled by men who had +failed as tradesmen, and in everything else they put their hands +to; and whose sole qualification for the office was that they were +able to read and write. Instead of advertising, however, in the +county paper, the squire wrote to an old college friend, who was +now in charge of a London parish, and asked him to choose a man for +the post. + +"I don't want a chap who will cram all sorts of new notions into +the heads of the children," the squire said. "I don't think it +would do them any good, or fit them any better for their stations. +The boys have got to be farm labourers, and the girls to be their +wives; and if they can read really well, and write fairly, it's +about as much as they want in the way of learning; but I think that +a really earnest sort of man might do them good, otherwise. A +schoolmaster, in my mind, should be the clergyman's best assistant. +I don't know, my dear fellow, that I can explain in words more +exactly what I mean; but I think you will understand me, and will +send down the sort of man I want. + +"The cottage is a comfortable one, there's a good bit of garden +attached to it, and I don't mind paying a few shillings a week more +than I do now, to get the sort of man I want. If he has a wife so +much the better. She might teach the girls to sew, which would be, +to nine out of ten, a deal more use than reading and writing; and +if she could use her needle, and make up dresses and that sort of +thing, she might add to their income. Not one woman in five in the +village can make her own clothes, and they have to go to a place +three miles away to get them done." + +A week later the squire received an answer from his friend, saying +that he had chosen a man, and his wife, whom he thought would suit. + +"The poor fellow was rather a cripple," he said. "He is a wood +engraver by trade, but he fell downstairs and hurt his back. The +doctor who attended him at the hospital spoke to me about him. He +said that he might, under favourable circumstances, get better in +time; but that he was delicate, and absolutely needed change of air +and a country life. I have seen him several times, and have been +much struck with his intelligence. He has been much depressed at +being forbidden to work, but has cheered up greatly since I told +him of your offer. I have no doubt he will do well. + +"I have selected him, not only for that reason, but because his +wife is as suitable as he is. She is an admirable young woman, and +was a dressmaker before he married her. She has supported them both +ever since he was hurt, months ago. She is delighted at the idea of +the change for, although the money will be very much less than he +earned at his trade, she has always been afraid of his health +giving way; and is convinced that fresh air, and the garden you +speak of, will put new life into him." + +The squire was not quite satisfied with the letter; but, as he told +himself, he could not expect to get a man trained specially as a +schoolmaster to accept the post; and at any rate, if the man was +not satisfactory his wife was likely to be so. He accordingly +ordered his groom to take the light cart and drive over to Lewes, +the next day, to meet the coach when it came in; and to bring over +the new schoolmaster, his wife, and their belongings. + +Mrs. Ellison at once went down to the village, and got a woman to +scrub the cottage from top to bottom, and put everything tidy. The +furniture went with the house, and had been provided by the squire. +Mrs. Ellison went over it, and ordered a few more things to be sent +down from the house to make it more comfortable for a married +couple and, driving over to Lewes, ordered a carpet, curtains, and +a few other little comforts for it. + +James Shrewsbury was, upon his arrival, much pleased with his +cottage, which contrasted strongly with the room in a crowded +street which he had occupied in London; and his wife was still more +pleased. + +"I am sure we shall be happy and comfortable here, James," she +said, "and the air feels so fresh and pure that I am convinced you +will soon get strong and well again. What is money to health? I am +sure I shall be ten times as happy, here, as I was when you were +earning three or four times as much, in London." + +The squire and Mrs. Ellison came down the next morning, at the +opening of the school; and after a chat with the new schoolmaster +and his wife, the squire accompanied the former into the school +room. + +"Look here, boys and girls," he said, "Mr. Shrewsbury has come down +from London to teach you. He has been ill, and is not very strong. +I hope you will give him no trouble, and I can tell you it will be +the worse for you, if you do. I am going to look into matters +myself; and I shall have a report sent me in, regularly, as to how +each of you is getting on, with a special remark as to conduct; and +I can tell you, if any of you are troublesome you will find me down +at your father's, in no time." + +The squire's words had considerable effect, and an unusual quiet +reigned in the school, after he had left and the new schoolmaster +opened a book. + +They soon found that his method of teaching was very different to +that which they were accustomed to. There was no shouting or +thumping on the desk with the cane, no pulling of ears or cuffing +of heads. Everything was explained quietly and clearly; and when +they went out of the school, all agreed that the new master was a +great improvement on Master White, while the master himself +reported to his wife that he had got on better than he had +expected. + + + +Chapter 2: The Poisoned Dog. + + +The boys soon felt that Mr. Shrewsbury really wished to teach them, +and that he was ready to assist those who wanted to get on. In the +afternoon the schoolmaster's wife started a sewing class for the +girls and, a week or two after he came, the master announced that +such of the elder class of boys and girls who chose to come, in the +evening, to his cottage could do so for an hour; and that he and +the boys would read, by turns, some amusing book while the girls +worked. Only Reuben Whitney and two or three others at first +availed themselves of the invitation, but these spoke so highly of +their evening that the number soon increased. Three quarters of an +hour were spent in reading some interesting work of travel or +adventure, and then the time was occupied in talking over what they +had read, and in explaining anything which they did not understand; +and as the evenings were now long and dark, the visits to the +schoolmaster soon came to be regarded as a privilege, and proved an +incentive to work to those in the lower classes, only those in the +first place being admitted to them. + +Reuben worked hard all through the winter, and made very rapid +progress; the schoolmaster, seeing how eager he was to get on, +doing everything in his power to help him forward, and lending him +books to study at home. One morning in the spring, the squire +looked in at Mrs. Whitney's shop. + +"Mrs. Whitney," he said, "I don't know what you are thinking of +doing with that boy of yours. Mr. Shrewsbury gives me an excellent +account of him, and says that he is far and away the cleverest and +most studious of the boys. I like the lad, and owe him a good turn +for having broken in that pony for my daughter; besides, for his +father's sake I should like to help him on. Now, in the first +place, what are you thinking of doing with him?" + +"I am sure I am very much obliged to you," Mrs. Whitney said. "I +was thinking, when he gets a little older, of apprenticing him to +some trade, but he is not fourteen yet." + +"The best thing you can do, Mrs. Whitney. Let it be some good +trade, where he can use his wits--not a butcher, a baker, or a +tailor, or anything of that sort. I should say an upholsterer, or a +mill wright, or some trade where his intelligence can help him on. +When the time comes I shall be glad to pay his apprentice fees for +him, and perhaps, when you tell me what line he has chosen, a word +from me to one of the tradesmen in Lewes may be a help. In the +meantime, that is not what I have specially come about. Young +Finch, who looks to my garden, is going to leave; and if you like, +your boy can have the place. My gardener knows his business +thoroughly, and the boy can learn under him. I will pay him five +shillings a week. It will break him into work a little, and he is +getting rather old for the school now. I have spoken to Shrewsbury, +and he says that, if the boy is disposed to go on studying in the +evening, he will direct his work and help him on." + +"Thank you kindly, sir," Mrs. Whitney said. "I think it will just +be the thing, for a year or so, before he is apprenticed. He was +saying only last night that he was the biggest boy in the school; +and though I know he likes learning, he would like to be helping +me, and feels somehow that it isn't right that he should be going +on schooling, while all the other boys at his age are doing +something. Not that I want him to earn money, for the shop keeps us +both; but it's what he thinks about it." + +"That's natural enough, Mrs. Whitney, and anything the boy earns +with me, you see, you can put by, and it will come in useful to him +some day." + +Reuben was glad when he heard of the arrangement; for although, as +his mother had said, he was fond of school, he yet felt it as a +sort of reproach that, while others of his age were earning money, +he should be doing nothing. He accepted the offer of the +schoolmaster to continue to work at his studies in the evening, and +in a week he was installed in Tom Finch's place. + +The arrangement was not the squire's original idea, but that of his +younger daughter, who felt a sort of proprietary interest in +Reuben; partly because her evidence had cleared him of the +accusation of breaking the windows, partly because he had broken in +the pony for her; so when she heard that the boy was leaving, she +had at once asked her father that Reuben should take his place. + +"I think he is a good boy, papa," she said; "and if he was clever +enough to break in my pony, I am sure he will be clever enough to +wheel the wheelbarrow and pull weeds." + +"I should think he would, lassie," her father said, laughing, +"although it does not exactly follow. Still, if you guarantee that +he is a good boy, I will see about it." + +"Mamma doesn't think he is a very good boy," Kate said; "but you +see, papa, mamma is a woman, and perhaps she doesn't understand +boys and girls as well as I do. I think he's good, and he told me +he never told stories." + +The squire laughed. + +"I don't know what your mamma would say to that, puss; nor whether +she would agree that you understand boys and girls better than she +does. However, I will take your opinion this time, and give Reuben +a chance." + +The subject was not mentioned again in Kate's hearing, but she was +greatly pleased, one morning, at seeing Reuben at work in the +gardens. + +"Good morning, Reuben," she said. + +"Good morning, miss," he replied, touching his hat. + +"I am glad you have come in Tom's place, and I hope you will be +good, and not get into scrapes, for I told papa I thought you would +not; and you see, if you do, he will turn round and blame me." + +"I will try not to get into scrapes, Miss Kate," Reuben said. "I +don't do it often, you know, and I don't think there will be much +chance of it, here." + +Kate nodded and walked on, and Reuben went about his work. + +There was, however, much more opportunity for getting into scrapes +than Reuben imagined, although the scrapes were not of the kind he +had pictured. Being naturally careless, he had not been there a +week before, in his eagerness to get home to a particularly +interesting book, he forgot to carry out his orders to shut the +cucumber frames and, a sharp frost coming on in the night, the +plants were all killed; to the immense indignation of the gardener, +who reported the fact, with a very serious face, to the squire. + +"I am afraid that boy will never do, squire. Such carelessness I +never did see, and them plants was going on beautifully." + +"Confound the young rascal!" the squire said wrathfully, for he was +fond of cucumbers. "I will speak to him myself. This sort of thing +will never do." + +And accordingly, the squire spoke somewhat sharply to Reuben, who +was really sorry for the damage his carelessness had caused; and he +not only promised the squire that it should not occur again, but +mentally resolved very firmly that it should not. He felt very +shamefaced when Kate passed him in the garden, with a serious shake +of her head, signifying that she was shocked that he had thus early +got into a scrape, and discredited her recommendation. + +The lesson was a useful one. Henceforth Reuben paid closer +attention to his work, and even the gardener, who regarded boys as +his great trial in life, expressed himself satisfied with him. + +"Since that affair of the cucumbers I must own, squire," he said a +month later, "that he is the best boy I have come across. He +attends to what I say and remembers it, and I find I can trust him +to do jobs that I have never been able to trust boys with, before. +He seems to take an interest in it, and as he is well spoken and +civil, he ought to get on and make a good gardener, in time." + +"I am glad to hear a good account of him," the squire replied. "He +is sharp and intelligent, and will make his way in life, or I am +mistaken. His father was an uncommonly clever fellow, though he +made a mess of it, just at the end; and I think the boy takes after +him." + +Among Reuben's other duties was that of feeding and attending to +the dogs. These consisted of two setters, a pointer, and a large +house dog, who was chained up at the entrance to the stables. +Reuben was soon excellent friends with the sporting dogs, but the +watchdog, who had probably been teased by Reuben's predecessor, +always growled and showed his teeth when he went near him; and +Reuben never dared venture within the length of his chain, but +pushed the bowl containing his food just within his reach. + +One day, he had been sent on an errand to the stables. He forgot +the dog and ran close to the kennel. The animal at once sprang out. +Reuben made a rush, but he was not quick enough, and the dog caught +him by the leg. Reuben shouted, and the coachman ran out and, +seizing a fork, struck the dog and compelled him to loose his hold. + +"Has he bit you badly, Reuben?" + +"Well, he has bit precious hard," Reuben replied. "I think he has +nearly taken a piece out of my calf," as, on pulling up his +trousers, he showed his leg streaming with blood. + +"Put it under the pump, lad. I will pump on it," the coachman said. +"He's a bad-tempered brute, and I wonder the squire keeps it." + +"The brute ought to be killed," Reuben grumbled angrily. "I have +never teased it or worried it, in any way. I wish you had stuck +that fork into him, instead of hitting him with it. If you hadn't +been within reach, he would have taken the bit out of me. He will +kill somebody some day, and it were best to kill him, first." + +The gardener pumped for some time on Reuben's leg; and then, going +into the kitchen, he got some strips of rag from the cook and bound +it up. + +"You had best go home now," he said. "I will tell the gardener, +when he comes round, what has happened to you. I doubt you will +have to lay up, for a day or two." + +As Reuben limped home, he met Tom Thorne walking with another boy. + +"Hello, Reuben!" the latter exclaimed. "What's come to you? Yer +trousers bee all tore." + +"That brute of a house dog at the squire's has had hold of me," +Reuben answered. "The savage beast has had a try, a good many +times; but this time he got hold, and he has bit me pretty sharp." + +Reuben had to keep his leg quiet for three days but, the third +evening, he was well enough to go down the village to the +schoolhouse. After the lesson was over he walked for some distance +up the road, for his leg was very stiff; and he thought it would be +a good thing to try and walk it off, as he intended to go to work +next morning. On getting up early in the morning, however, he found +it was still stiff and sore; but he thought he had better go and +try to work for a bit. + +"I am glad you are back again," the gardener said, when he saw him, +"for there's a lot of work on hand; but I see you are still lame. +The coachman tells me it were a nasty bite." + +"It's pretty sore still," Reuben replied, "and I don't think I can +walk about much; but I thought I might help in some other way." + +"Very well," the gardener said. "There are a lot of plants which +want shifting into larger pots. You do them, and I will take up the +fork and dig up that piece of ground I want to put the young +lettuces into." + +Reuben worked hard till half-past eight, and then went off to his +breakfast. On his return, he was told the squire wished to speak to +him. + +"It's about that dog, I expect," the gardener remarked. "I suppose +you know he were poisoned last night." + +"No, I didn't know," Reuben replied; "but it's a precious good job. +I wish he had been poisoned before he got his teeth into me." + +Reuben, on going round to the back door, was shown into the +library, where the squire was sitting. The coachman was with him. + +"Now then, Reuben," the squire said, "I want you to tell me the +truth about this matter. The coachman told me, three days ago, that +you had been bitten by the yard dog, and I made up my mind to get +rid of him, on the first opportunity; but I find he was poisoned, +yesterday evening." + +He stopped as if expecting Reuben to say something; but the boy, +having nothing to say, merely replied: + +"Yes, sir, so the gardener has told me." + +"What do you know about it, Reuben?" + +"I don't know anything about it, sir," Reuben replied, opening his +eyes. + +"Now, look here, lad," the squire said gravely, "I am disposed to +think well of you; and although I consider it a serious offence +your poisoning the dog, I shall consider it very much worse if you +deny it." + +"But I didn't poison it, sir," Reuben affirmed. "I never dreamt of +such a thing." + +The squire set his lips hard together. + +"Just tell me your story over again," he said to the coachman. + +"Well, yesterday evening, squire, I went down into the village to +buy some 'bacca. Just as I got back to the gate, out runs a boy. It +was too dark for me to see his face, but I naturally supposed it +were Reuben, so I said, 'Hello, Reuben, how's the leg?' But the +moment I spoke, he turned off from the path and ran away. + +"Well, I thought it was queer, but I went on to the stable. About a +quarter of an hour afterwards, and as I was a-cleaning up the bits, +I heard Wolf howl. He kept on at it, so I took a lantern and went +out to see what was the matter. He was rolling about, and seemed +very bad. I stood a-looking at him, wondering what were best to do, +when sudden he gave a sort of yell, and rolled over, and he was +dead. I thought it was no good telling you about it till this +morning; and thinking it over, and seeing how sudden like it was, I +come to the 'pinion as how he had been poisoned; and naturally +thinking that, as he had bit Reuben, and as how Reuben said he +ought to be killed, and seeing as I had met the boy a quarter an +hour afore the dog was took bad, it came to me as how he had done +it. + +"This morning I knew for certain as the dog had been poisoned, for +just outside of the reach of his chain there was that piece of +paper a-lying, as you have got before you." + +It was a piece of blue paper, about four inches square, on which +was printed: "Rat poison." + +"You hear that, Reuben? What have you to say?" the squire asked. + +"I have got nothing to say, sir," Reuben answered, "except that +whoever the boy was, it wasn't me, and that I know nothing about +it." + +"Well, Reuben, it will be easy for you to clear yourself, by saying +where you were at the time. + +"What o'clock was it, Robert, that you saw the boy?" + +"It was just a quarter past eight, squire. The quarter struck just +as I opened the gate." + +"Were you out or at home at that hour, Reuben?" + +"I was out, sir. I went to the schoolmaster's." + +"What time did you leave there?" + +"I left at eight, sir." + +"Then if you got in just after eight, it is clear that you were not +the boy," the squire said. "If your mother tells me that you were +in at five minutes past eight, that settles the question, as far as +you are concerned." + +"I didn't get in till half-past eight, sir," Reuben said. "I walked +about for a bit, after I came out from school, to try and get the +stiffness out of my leg, so as to be able to come to work this +morning." + +"Was anyone with you, Reuben? Is there anyone to say what you did +with yourself, between eight and half-past eight?" + +"No, sir," Reuben said quietly. "I didn't speak to a soul; and +didn't see a soul, so far as I know, from the time I came out of +the gate of the schoolhouse till I got home." + +"Does your mother sell packets of this poison?" the squire said, +pointing to the paper. + +Reuben looked at the paper. + +"Yes, sir; I believe she does." + +"Well, my lad," the squire said, "you must acknowledge that the +case looks very ugly against you. You are known to have borne bad +feelings against the dog; naturally enough, I admit. A boy about +your size was seen by Robert in the dark, coming out of the gate; +and that he was there for no good purpose is proved by the fact +that he ran away when spoken to. A quarter of an hour later, the +dog dies of poison. That poison you certainly could get at home +and, by your own admission, you were out and about at the time the +dog was poisoned. The case looks very bad against you." + +"I don't care how bad it looks," Reuben said, passionately. "It +wasn't me, squire, if that were the last word I ever had to speak." + +"Very well," the squire said coldly. "In my mind, the evidence is +overwhelming against you. I have no intention of pursuing the +matter further; nor will I, for your father's and mother's sake, +bring public disgrace upon you; but of course I shall not retain +you here further, nor have anything to do with you, in the future." + +Without a word, Reuben turned and left the room. Had he spoken, he +would have burst into a passion of tears. With a white face, he +walked through the village and entered his mother's shop. + +"What? Back again, Reuben?" she said. "I thought your leg was too +bad to work." + +"It isn't my leg, mother," he said, in a choking voice. "The squire +has dismissed me. He says I have poisoned his dog." + +"Says you poisoned his dog, Reuben! Whatever put such an idea into +his head?" + +"The coachman saw a boy coming out of the yard, at a quarter past +eight last night. It was too dark for him to say for certain, but +he thought it was me. A quarter of an hour later the dog died of +poison, and this morning they picked up a cover of one of those rat +powders you sell. I couldn't say where I was at a quarter past +eight, when the coachman saw the boy; for as you know, mother, I +told you I had walked out a bit, after I came out from the school, +to get the stiffness out of my leg. So, altogether, the squire has +made up his mind 'tis me, and so he has sent me away." + +Reuben had summed up the points against himself in a broken voice, +and now broke into a passion of tears. His mother tried in vain to +pacify him; but indeed her own indignation, at her boy being +charged with such a thing, was so great that she could do little to +console him. + +"It's shameful!" she exclaimed, over and over again. "I call it +downright wicked of the squire to suspect you of such a thing." + +"Well, mother, it does look very bad against me," Reuben said, +wiping his eyes at last, "and I don't know as the squire is so much +to be blamed for suspecting me. I know and you know that it wasn't +me; but there's no reason why the squire should know it. Somebody +has poisoned his dog, and that somebody is a boy. He knows that I +was unfriendly with the dog so, putting things together, I don't +see as he could help suspecting me, and only my word the other way. +It seems to me as if somebody must have done it to get me in a row, +for I don't know that the dog had bit anyone else. If it is anyone, +I expect it's Tom Thorne. He has never been friends with me, since +that affair of the school window." + +"I will go at once and speak to his father," Mrs. Whitney said, +taking down her bonnet from the wall. + +"No, mother, you can't do that," Reuben exclaimed. "We have got +nothing against him. The squire has ten times as good reason to +suspect me, as I have to suspect Tom Thorne; so as we know the +squire's wrong, it's ten times as likely we shall be wrong. +Besides, if he did it, of course he would deny it, he is the worst +liar in the village; and then folks would say I wasn't satisfied +with doing it myself, but I wanted to throw the blame on to him, +just as he did on me before. No, it won't do, mother." + +Mrs. Whitney saw that it wouldn't do, and sat down again. Reuben +sat thinking, for some time. + +"I must go away, mother," he said at last. "I can't stop here. +Every one in the village will get to know of it, and they will +point at me as the boy as poisoned the squire's dog, and then lied +about it. I couldn't stand that, mother." + +"And you sha'n't stand it, my boy," Mrs. Whitney said, "not a day. +I will give up the cottage and move into Lewes, at once. I didn't +go there before, for I am known there, and don't like folk to see +how much I have come down in the world." + +"No, mother, you stop here, and I will go up to London. They say +there is lots of work there, and I suppose I can get on as well as +another." + +"I will not hear of your doing such a thing. I should never expect +to hear of you again. I should always be thinking that you had got +run over, or were starving in the streets, or dying in a workhouse. +No, Reuben, my plan's best. It's just silliness my not liking to +settle in Lewes; for of course it's better going where one is +known, and I should be lost in a strange place. No; I daresay I +shall find a cottage there, and I shall manage to get a living +somehow--perhaps open a little shop like this, and then you can be +apprenticed, and live at home." + +An hour later, Mrs. Ellison called. Reuben had gone upstairs to lie +down, for his leg was very painful. Mrs. Whitney did not give her +visitor time to begin. + +"I know what you have called about, Mrs. Ellison, and I don't want +to talk about it with you. The squire has grievously wronged my +boy. I wouldn't have believed it of him, but he's done it; so now, +ma'm, I give a week's notice of this house, and here's my rent up +to that time, and I will send you the key when I go. And now, ma'm, +as I don't want any words about it, I think it will be better if +you go, at once." + +Mrs. Ellison hesitated a moment. Never, from the time she entered +the village as the squire's wife, had she been thus spoken to; but +she saw at once, in Mrs. Whitney's face, that it were better not to +reply to her; and that her authority as the squire's wife had, for +once, altogether vanished. She therefore took up the money which +Mrs. Whitney had laid on the counter and, without a word, left the +shop. + +"I do believe, William," she said as, greatly ruffled and +indignant, she gave an account of the interview to the squire, +"that the woman would have slapped my face, if I had said anything. +She is the most insolent creature I ever met." + +"Well, my dear," the squire said seriously, "I can hardly wonder at +the poor woman's indignation. She has had a hard time of it, and +this must be a sad blow. Naturally she believes in her son's +innocence, and we must not altogether blame her, if she resents his +dismissal. It's a sad business altogether, and I know it will be a +worry and trouble to me for months. Mind, I don't doubt that the +boy did it; it does not seem possible that it should be otherwise. +Still, it is not absolutely proved; and upon my word, I wish now I +had said nothing at all about it. I like the boy, and I liked his +father before him; and as this story must get about, it cannot but +do him serious damage. Altogether it is a most tiresome business, +and I would give a hundred pounds if it hadn't taken place." + +"I really do not see why you should worry about it, William. The +boy has always been a troublesome boy, and perhaps this lesson may +do him good." + +The squire did not attempt to argue the question. He felt really +annoyed and put out and, after wandering over the ground and +stables, he went down to the schoolhouse after the children had +been dismissed. + +"Have you heard, Shrewsbury, about that boy Whitney?" + +"No, sir, I have heard nothing about him," the schoolmaster said. +"He was here yesterday evening, as usual. His leg is no worse, I +hope. Those dog bites are always nasty things." + +"I wish it had been worse," the squire said testily; "then he would +have been laid up quietly at home, instead of being about +mischief." + +"Why, what has he done, sir?" the schoolmaster asked, in surprise. + +The squire related the history of the dog's death, and of his +interview with Reuben. The schoolmaster looked serious, and +grieved. + +"What do you think of the matter, Shrewsbury?" the squire asked, +when he had finished. + +"I would rather not give any opinion," the schoolmaster replied +quietly. + +"That means you think I am wrong," the squire said quickly. "Well, +say it out, man; you won't offend me. I am half inclined to think I +was wrong, myself; and I would as lief be told so, as not." + +"I don't say you are wrong, sir," the schoolmaster said, "except +that I think you assumed the boy's guilt too much as a matter of +course. Now, I have seen a great deal of him. I have a great liking +for him, and believe him to be not only a singularly intelligent +and hard-working lad, but a perfectly truthful and open one. I +allow that the circumstances are much against him; but the evidence +is, to my mind, completely overbalanced by his absolute denial. You +must remember that he saw that you were quite convinced of his +guilt; and that, in your eyes, his denial would be an aggravation +of the offence. Therefore you see he had no strong motive for +telling a lie. + +"Who killed your dog I do not know but, from my knowledge of his +character and assurance of his truthfulness, I am perfectly +convinced that Reuben Whitney did not do it. The boy is, in some +ways, very superior to the other lads I teach. I hear that his +father was in a good position, as a miller; and his mother is of a +different class, altogether, to the other women of the village. The +boy has a certain refinement about him, a thoughtfulness and +consideration which set him apart from the others. Mischievous and +somewhat inclined to be noisy as he generally is, on days when I +have not felt quite equal to my work he would notice it at once +and, without saying a word, would, by his quietness and attention +to his work, try to save me trouble; and I have heard him try to +quiet the others, as they trooped out. The boy has a good heart as +well as a good intellect, and nothing save his own confession would +make me believe that he poisoned your dog." + +"But he said he wished it was killed," the squire urged, as in +defence of his own opinion. + +"He said so, squire, at the time he was smarting with the pain of a +severe bite; and I think probably he meant no more than a man who, +under the same circumstances, would say, 'Confound the dog!' or +even a stronger oath." + +Mr. Ellison was silenced, for when in wrath he was, himself, given +to use strong expressions. + +"I don't know what to say, Shrewsbury," he said at last. "I am +afraid I have made a mess of it; but certainly, as I first heard +it, the case seemed to admit of no doubt. 'Pon my word, I don't +know what to do. My wife has just been up to see Mrs. Whitney, and +the woman blazed out at her, and wouldn't let her say a word, but +gave notice that she should give up the house at the end of the +week. If it hadn't been for that, I might have done something; but +Mrs. Ellison was very much aggrieved at her manner. Altogether, +it's one of the most annoying things I ever had to do with." + +In the evening the schoolmaster put on his hat and went up, with +his wife, to Mrs. Whitney. The women had seen a good deal of each +other, as they both stood somewhat apart from the rest of the +village and, in thought and speech, differed widely from the +labourers' wives; and on evenings when the sewing class did not +meet, the schoolmaster's wife often went up for an hour or two to +Mrs. Whitney's, or the latter came down to the Shrewsburys' +cottage. + +"We have come up, Mrs. Whitney," the schoolmaster said as they +entered, "to tell you how sorry we are to hear that you are going +to leave, and that we are still more sorry for the cause. Of +course, neither my wife nor myself believe for a moment that Reuben +poisoned the squire's dog. The idea is preposterous. I told the +squire as much, today." + +Mrs. Whitney burst into tears. She had kept up all day, sustained +partly by indignation, and partly by the desire that Reuben should +not see that she felt it; but the thought that all the village +would believe Reuben guilty had cut her to the heart, and she had +felt so unwilling to face anyone that, as soon as Mrs. Ellison had +left, she had closed the shutters of her little shop; but she broke +down, now, from her relief at hearing that someone besides herself +believed the boy to be innocent. + +"I don't know what I shall do without you, Mrs. Whitney," Mrs. +Shrewsbury said, when the widow recovered her composure. "I shall +miss you dreadfully. Is it quite settled that you will go?" + +"Quite settled, Mrs. Shrewsbury. I wouldn't stop in the squire's +house for an hour longer than I could help, after his believing +Reuben to be guilty of poisoning his dog, and not believing the boy +when he said he had nothing to do with it. He ought to have known +my boy better than that. And he coming up only the other day, and +pretending he felt a kindness for my dead husband." + +"I think the squire was too hasty, Mrs. Whitney," the schoolmaster +said. "But you see, he did not know Reuben as we do; and I think, +if you will excuse my saying so, you have been a little hasty, too. +The squire came in to me to tell me about it, and I could see he +was not satisfied in his mind, even before I gave him my positive +opinion that Reuben was innocent; and I do think that, if you had +not given Mrs. Ellison notice so sharply, the squire would have +taken back his words; and said that at any rate, as there was +nothing absolutely proved, he would hold his judgment in suspense +until the matter was cleared up." + +"And having everyone pointing the finger at my boy in the meantime! +No, thank you, Mr. Shrewsbury, that would not do for me. I was not +a bit hasty. Mrs. Ellison came in here prepared to talk to me about +Reuben's wickedness; I saw it in her face, so I wouldn't let her +open her lips. If she had, I should have given her a piece of my +mind that she wouldn't have forgot, in a hurry." + +"I can quite understand your feelings, Mrs. Whitney," the +schoolmaster said, "and I have no doubt I should have acted as you +did, if a son of mine had been suspected in the same way. Still, I +think it's a pity; for if Reuben had stayed here, there would have +been more chance of the matter being cleared up. However, we won't +talk about that now. Now tell me, what are your plans?" + +Mrs. Whitney told her visitors what she had determined upon. As +Lewes was only four miles off, the schoolmaster said that he and +his wife would sometimes come over to see her; and that he hoped +that Reuben, whatever trade he was apprenticed to, would still go +on with his studies. He would give him any advice or assistance in +his power. + +The next day Mrs. Whitney and Reuben moved, with all their +belongings, to Lewes. + + + +Chapter 3: The Burglary At The Squire's. + + +"What is that woman Whitney going to do with her boy?" the squire +asked the schoolmaster, when he happened to meet him in the village +about a month after she had left. "Have you heard?" + +"Nothing is settled yet, sir. My wife had a letter from her, two or +three days ago, saying that she had been disappointed in getting +Penfold the mill wright to take him. He wanted fifty pounds +premium, and she could only afford to pay twenty, so she is looking +out for something else. You have heard nothing more that would +throw any light on that affair, squire?" + +"No, and don't suppose I ever shall. Have you any opinion about +it?" + +"My opinion is that of Reuben, himself," the schoolmaster said. "He +believes that someone did it who had a grudge against him, on +purpose, to throw suspicion on him." + +"Who should have a grudge against him?" the squire asked. + +"Well, squire, there was one boy in the village who had, rightly or +wrongly, a grudge against Reuben. That is Tom Thorne. Reuben has +not a shadow of evidence that it was this boy, but the lad has +certainly been his enemy ever since that affair of breaking the +windows of the school, just before I came here. Thorne, you know, +did it, but allowed Reuben to be punished for the offence; and the +truth would never have been known had it not been, as I heard, that +your daughter happened to see the stone thrown. Since that time +there has been bad blood between the boys. I do not for a moment +say that Thorne poisoned your dog. Still, the boys are near enough +of a size for one to be mistaken for the other in the dark; and +Thorne knew that Reuben had been bitten by the dog, for Reuben +spoke to another boy about it, that afternoon, while Thorne was +standing by. Of course, this is but the vaguest suspicion. Still, +if you ask my opinion, I should say that I consider, from what I +have heard of the character of Tom Thorne, that he would be much +more likely to poison the dog, in order to get Reuben into +disgrace, than Reuben would be to do so out of revenge because the +dog had bitten him." + +The squire took off his hat, and passed his hands through his hair, +in perplexity. + +"I don't know what to think, Shrewsbury," he said. "It may be as +you say. I look upon Thorne as the worst character in the village, +and likely enough his son may take after him. That ale house of his +is the resort of all the idle fellows about. I have strong reason +to believe he is in alliance with the poachers. The first time I +get a chance, out he goes. I have only been waiting, for some time, +for an opportunity. I can't very well turn him out of his house +without some excuse. + +"What did you say was the name of the mill wright at Lewes Mrs. +Whitney was wanting to get her son with?" + +The schoolmaster repeated the name, which the squire jotted down in +a notebook. + +"Look here, Shrewsbury," he said, "don't you mention to Mrs. +Whitney that you spoke to me about this matter. Do you understand?" + +"I understand, sir," the schoolmaster said. + +And he was not surprised when, a few days afterwards, his wife +received a letter from Mrs. Whitney, saying that Mr. Penfold had +come in to say that he had changed his mind, and that he would take +Reuben as his apprentice for twenty pounds; adding, to her +surprise, that he should give him half a crown a week for the first +year, and gradually raise his pay, as he considered that boys ought +to be able to earn a little money for themselves. + +Reuben, therefore, was going to work on the following week. The +half a crown a week which he was to earn was an important matter +for his mother. For although she had found a cottage and opened a +little shop, as before, her receipts were extremely small, and she +had already begun to fear that she should be obliged to make +another move, Lewes being too well supplied with shops for a small +concern like hers to flourish. The half crown a week, however, +would pay her rent; and she expected that she should make, at any +rate, enough to provide food for herself and Reuben. + +Mrs. Whitney had hoped that, although Lewes was but four miles from +the village, the story about the dog would not travel so far; for +it was not often that anyone from the village went over to the +town. In this, however, she was mistaken for, a week after Reuben +had gone to work, the foreman went to his master and said: + +"I don't know whether you are aware, Mr. Penfold, about that new +boy; but I hear that he had to leave Tipping, where he was employed +by Squire Ellison, for poisoning the squire's dog." + +"How did you hear it?" Mr. Penfold asked. + +"William Jenkins heard it from a man named Thorne, who belongs to +the village, and whom he met at a public house, yesterday." + +"William Jenkins had best not spend so much time in public houses," +Mr. Penfold said shortly. "I heard the story before I saw the boy +and, from what I hear, I believe he was wrongfully accused. Just +tell Jenkins that; and say that if I hear of him, or any of the +hands, throwing the thing up in the boy's face, I will dismiss them +instantly." + +And so Reuben did not know, till long after, that the story of the +killing of the dog was known to anyone at Lewes. + +For three years he worked in Mr. Penfold's yard, giving much +satisfaction to his employer by his steadiness and handiness. He +continued his studies of an evening, under the advice of his former +master; who came over with his wife, three or four times each year, +to spend a day with Mrs. Whitney. Reuben was now receiving ten +shillings a week and, although the receipts of the shop failed, he +and his mother were able to live in considerable comfort. + +One day, about three years after coming to Lewes, he was returning +to work after dinner when, as he passed a carriage standing in +front of one of the shops, he heard his name pronounced, and the +colour flushed to his cheek as, looking up, he saw Kate Ellison. +Timidly he touched his cap, and would have hurried on, but the girl +called to him. + +"Stop a minute, Reuben. I want to speak to you. I am glad I have +met you. I have looked for you, every time I have come to Lewes. I +wanted to tell you that I am sure you did not kill Wolf. I know you +wouldn't have done it. Besides, you know, you told me that you +never told stories; so when I heard that you said you didn't, I was +quite sure about it." + +"Thank you, miss," Reuben said gratefully. "I did not kill the dog. +I should never have thought of such a thing, though every one +seemed against me." + +"Not every one, Reuben. I didn't think so; and papa has told me, +since, that he did not think so, and that he was afraid that he had +made a mistake." + +"I am glad to hear that, miss," Reuben said. "The squire had been +very kind to me, and it has always grieved me, very much, that he +should think me capable of such a thing. I felt angry at the time, +but I have not felt angry since I have thought it over quietly; for +the case seems so strong against me that I don't see how the squire +could have thought otherwise. + +"Thank you, miss. I sha'n't forget your kindness," and Reuben went +on with a light heart, just as Mrs. Ellison and her elder daughter +came out from the shop. + +"Who were you speaking to, Kate?" she asked, as she took her seat +in the carriage. + +"I was talking to Reuben Whitney, mamma. He was passing, so I +called him to tell him that I did not believe he had killed Wolf." + +"Then it was very improper behaviour on your part, Kate," her +mother said angrily, for she had never quite recovered from the +shock Mrs. Whitney had given to her dignity. "You know my opinion +on the subject. I have told you before that it is one I do not care +to have discussed, and that I consider it very improper for a girl, +of your age, to hold opinions different to those of your elders. I +have no doubt, whatever, that boy poisoned the dog. I must beg of +you that you will never speak to him again." + +Kate leaned back in the carriage with a little sigh. She could not +understand why her mother, who was so kind to all the village +people, should be so implacable on this subject. But Kate, who was +now between fourteen and fifteen, knew that when her mother had +taken up certain opinions they were not to be shaken; and that her +father himself always avoided argument, on points on which he +differed from her. Talking alone with his daughter the squire had, +in answer to her sturdy assertion of Reuben's innocence, owned to +her that he himself had his doubts on the subject, and that he was +sorry he had dismissed the boy from his service; but she had never +heard him do more than utter a protest, against Reuben's guilt +being held as being absolutely proved, when her mother spoke of his +delinquency. + +But Kate was not one to desert a protege and, having been the means +of Reuben's introduction to her father's, she had always regarded +herself as his natural protector; and Mrs. Ellison would not have +been pleased, had she known that her daughter had seldom met the +schoolmaster without inquiring if he had heard how Reuben was +getting on. She had even asked Mr. Shrewsbury to assure him of her +belief in his innocence, which had been done; but she had resolved +that, should she ever meet him, she would herself tell him so, even +at the risk of her mother's displeasure. + +Another year passed. Reuben was now seventeen, and was a tall, +powerfully-built young fellow. During these four years he had never +been over to Tipping, in the daytime; but had occasionally walked +over, after dark, to visit the Shrewsburys, always going on special +invitation, when he knew that no one else would be there. The +Thornes no longer occupied the little public house. Tom Thorne had, +a year before, been captured with two other poachers in the +squire's woods, and had had six months' hard labour; and his father +had at once been ejected from his house, and had disappeared from +that part of the country. Reuben was glad that they had left; for +he had long before heard that Thorne had spread the story, in +Lewes, of the poisoning of the dog. He felt, however, with their +departure all chance of his ever being righted in that matter was +at an end. + +One evening in winter, when Reuben had done his work, he said to +his mother: + +"I shall go over and see Mr. Shrewsbury tonight. I have not been +over for some time and, as it is not his night for a class, I am +pretty sure not to find anyone there. I told him, when I was there +last, that I would take over a few tools and fix up those shelves +for him. + +"I don't suppose he will stay very much longer at Tipping. His +health is completely restored now, and even his wife admits that he +could work at his own business again. He has already been doing a +little, for some of the houses he worked for in town, so as to get +his connection back again. I expect, every time I see him, to hear +that he has made up his mind to go. He would have done it, two +years back; but his wife and the two little ones are so well that +he did not like the thought of taking them up to London, till he +was sure that his health was strong enough to stand steady work. I +shall miss them very much. He has been a good friend, indeed, to +me." + +"He has indeed," Mrs. Whitney said. "I think anyhow, Reuben, you +would have got on at your trade; but you would never have been what +you are now, if it hadn't been for him. Your poor father would be +proud of you, if he could see you; and I am sure that, when you +take off that workman's suit and put on your Sunday clothes, you +look as well as if the mill had never gone wrong, and you had been +brought up as he intended you to be. Mrs. Tyler was saying only the +other day that you looked quite the gentleman, and lots of people +have said the same." + +"Nonsense, mother," Reuben answered, "there is nothing of the +gentleman about me. Of course, people say things that they think +will please you, knowing that you regard me as a sort of wonder. I +hope I shall make my way some day, and the fact that I have had a +better education than most young fellows, in my position of life, +of course may make some little difference; and will, I hope, help +me to mount the ladder, when once I put my foot upon it." + +But although, no doubt, Mrs. Whitney was a partial judge, her +opinion as to her son was not an incorrect one; for with his +intelligent face, and quiet self-assured bearing, he looked very +much more like a gentleman than many young fellows in a far better +position in life. + +The stars were shining brightly when he started, at seven o'clock +in the evening; and he walked with a brisk step, until he arrived +within half a mile of the village. As he passed by the end of a +lane which ran into the road, he heard a horse impatiently pawing +the ground; the sound being followed by a savage oath, to the +animal, to stand quiet. Reuben walked on a few steps, and then +paused. The lane, as he knew, only led to some fields a short +distance away. What could a horse be doing there? And who could be +the man who spoke to it? There had, lately, been several burglaries +on lonely houses, in that part of the country; and the general +belief was that these had been perpetrated by men from London. + +"I daresay it's nothing," Reuben said to himself. "Still, it is +certainly curious and, at any rate, there can be no harm in having +a look." + +Walking upon the grass at the side of the road, he retraced his +steps to the end of the lane, and then stood and listened. He heard +a murmur of voices, and determined to follow the matter up. He +walked quietly down the lane. After going about a hundred yards, he +saw something dark in the road and, approaching it very cautiously, +found that it was a horse harnessed to a gig. As he was standing +wondering what to do next he started, for the silence was broken by +some voices near him. + +"It was a stupid thing to get here so early, and to have to wait +about for four hours in this ditch." + +"It was the best plan though," another voice replied. "The trap +might have been noticed, if we had been driving about the roads +after dark; while in the daylight no one would give it a second +thought." + +"That's right enough," the first speaker said, "but it's precious +cold here. Hand me that flask again. I am blest if the wind does +not come through the hedge like a knife." + +The voices came from the other side of the hedge, on the opposite +side of the lane. Reuben crossed noiselessly. There was a gate just +where the cart had stopped, and the men had evidently got over it, +to obtain the shelter of the hedge from the wind. Reuben felt the +gate, which was old and rickety; then cautiously he placed his feet +on the lower bar, and leaned forward so as to look round the hedge. + +"What time are the others to be here, Tom?" + +"They said they would be here at nine o'clock. We passed them about +six miles on the road, so they ought to be here to time." + +"I suppose there's no doubt about this here being a good business?" + +"I will answer for that," the other said. "I don't suppose as +there's much money in the house, but there's no end of silver +plate, and their watches, and plenty of sparklers. I have heard say +as there's no one in the county as has more jewels than the +squire's wife." + +"You know the house well, don't you?" + +"I never was inside," the other said, "but I have heard enough, +from them that has, to know where the rooms lie. The plate chest is +in the butler's pantry and, as we are going to get in by the +kitchen window, we are safe to be able to clear that out without +being heard. I shall go on, directly the others come, and chuck +this meat to the dogs--that will silence them. I know the way +there, for I tried that on once before." + +Reuben had thought that the voice was familiar to him, and the +words gave him the clue--the speaker was Tom Thorne--and he, and +those with him, were going to commit a burglary at the squire's. He +was hesitating whether to make off at once, to warn the squire of +what was intended; or to listen and learn a little more of their +plan, when suddenly a light shone behind him, and a voice exclaimed +with an oath: + +"Who have we here?" + +He leapt down, and was in the act of turning round to defend +himself, when a heavy blow with a cudgel struck him on the head, +and felled him insensible to the ground. While he had been +listening to the conversation, two men had come quietly up the +lane, walking on the grass as he had done; and their footsteps had +been unheard by him, for the horse continued, at times, impatiently +to paw the ground. The sound of their comrades' voices had told +them where they were sitting and, turning on a bull's-eye lantern +to show them the gate, they had seen Reuben leaning over it, in the +act of listening. + +When Reuben recovered consciousness, he found that he was lying in +the ditch, his hands tightly bound to his sides, and a handkerchief +stuffed into his mouth. The four men were gathered close by, +talking in low tones. + +"I ain't going to give up the job, now we come so far to do it," +one said, with an oath. "Besides, it's not only the swag, but the +grudge I owe the squire. If I am ready to go on, I suppose you +needn't be afraid; besides, he don't know us." + +"Best cut his throat and a done with it," a voice, which Reuben +recognized as that of his old enemy, said. "I owe him one, and it +will be safest to stop his mouth." + +"No, no," a third voice protested; "I ain't going to have nothing +to do with cutting throats. I don't mind running the risk of Botany +Bay, but I ain't going to run the chance of being scragged. But +let's move a bit away from here, while we settle it. You hit him +pretty hard, but he will be coming round presently. I thought at +first that you had killed him, but he's bleeding too free for +that." + +The men moved some little distance away, and for some time Reuben +could hear a murmured talk, but could make out nothing of what had +been said. It was, he judged, a quarter of an hour before the +conversation ceased. They did not return to him but remained at +some distance off, and Reuben thought that he heard the footsteps +of one of them going down the lane. He could feel, by a warm +sensation across his cheek, that the blood was flowing freely from +the wound he had received on his temple. A dull torpid feeling came +over him, and after a time he again lost consciousness. + +How long he remained in this state he did not know, but he was at +last aroused by being lifted and thrown into the bottom of the +cart. Four men then climbed up into it and the horse was started. +They drove at a quick pace, and Reuben wondered why they were +taking him away with them. His head ached terribly, and he suffered +much from the tightness of the cords which bound his arms. The men +seemed in high good humour, and talked and laughed in low tones; +but the noise of the vehicle prevented Reuben hearing what was +said. + +It was, as far as he could judge, full two hours before the vehicle +stopped. He was roughly taken out of the cart, his arms were +unbound; and the men, leaping up, drove away at full speed. The +spot where he had been left was very dark, for trees overshadowed +it on both sides. Where he was he had no idea, but he judged that +he must be fully twenty miles from the village. + +His first impulse was to take the handkerchief from his mouth, and +he then walked slowly along the road, in the direction from which +he had come. It was, he felt sure, no use shouting; for they would +have been certain to have selected some lonely spot to set him +down, and there would be no chance of awakening the inhabitants of +any distant cottage. He walked slowly, for he was faint with loss +of blood. + +After proceeding about a quarter of a mile, he emerged from the +wood and came upon a spot where the road forked. Having no clue +whatever as to the direction in which Lewes lay, he sat down upon a +heap of stones and waited patiently for morning. He had no doubt +that the burglary had been a successful one, and he bitterly +regretted his neglect to keep a watch down the lane, to see that he +was not surprised by the men he had heard were coming. At any rate, +he hoped that he should be able to give such information as would +set the constables upon the track. + +It seemed to him that some three hours passed before a faint light +began to dawn in the sky. By this he knew that it must be about +half-past six, and calculated, therefore, he must have set out in +the trap about half-past one. He now started to walk along the +road, hoping that he should soon meet some labourer going to work. +Stopping by a small stream which ran across the road, he washed his +head and face; as he had lain on the ground after being struck, the +blood had not flowed on to his clothes. + +After the wash he proceeded with a brisker step. Half an hour later +he met a ploughman, riding one of his team to the fields. + +"Is this the road to Lewes?" Reuben asked. + +"Lewes? Noa, this baint the road to Lewes. I don't know nothing +about the road to Lewes. This bee the road to Hastings, if you goes +further. So they tell me; I ain't never been there." + +"Is there a village anywhere about here?" Reuben asked. + +"Ay, half a mile or so on." + +Reuben walked on till he got to the village; and then, going to a +public house, obtained some refreshment and learned, from the +landlord, the direction he should take to get to the main road +leading to Lewes; which was, as he expected, some twenty miles +away. He found that the cart had not followed the main road towards +London, but had driven by crossroads for a considerable distance, +before turning north. + +It was late in the afternoon before Reuben arrived at Lewes, for he +had been obliged to rest often by the way, and had made but slow +progress. When within a few doors of his mother's house, one of the +constables of the town came up to him and touched him on the +shoulder. + +"I arrest you in the king's name!" + +"Arrest me! What for?" Reuben exclaimed. + +"For breaking into the house of Squire Ellison, of Tipping, that's +what it's for." + +Reuben laughed. + +"You have got the wrong man this time. I have no more to do with +the burglary than a child." + +"It's no laughing matter," the constable said. "If you are innocent +you have got to prove it; that ain't no business of mine. All I +have got to do is to arrest you." + +So saying, and before Reuben knew what he was about, he slipped a +pair of handcuffs over his wrists. Reuben flushed up. Hitherto he +had scarcely taken the matter seriously, but to be marched +handcuffed through the streets of Lewes was an indignity which +enraged him. + +"Take these off," he said angrily. "I will go quietly with you." + +"You may or you may not," the man said doggedly. "You are younger +than I am, and maybe can run faster. I ain't agoing to chance it." + +Reuben saw that it was of no use to argue and, silent and pale, he +walked along by the side of the constable, who retained a tight +hold of his collar. A little crowd gathered speedily round, for +such a sight was unusual in Lewes; and Reuben felt thankful when +they reached the cells, and he was sheltered from the gaze of the +public. A minute later the head constable came in. + +"Now, my lad, don't say anything to criminate yourself," he began; +"the less you talk, the better for you. I am sorry to see you here, +for I knew your father, and I have a good character of you from +your employer; so I give you my advice--keep your mouth shut." + +"But I am not going to keep my mouth shut," Reuben said +indignantly. "Here am I, arrested in the public streets, marched +handcuffed through the town upon a most monstrous charge, which has +been brought against me without a shadow of evidence." + +"Don't be talking, don't be talking," the constable said testily; +"you will hear the evidence in time enough." + +"But I will talk. I want to tell you what's happened, and you will +see that I am innocent, at once." + +"Very well, if you will you will; but mind, don't blame me +afterwards." + +Reuben told the story of his adventures from the time of leaving. + +"There," he said when he finished, "isn't that enough to show that +I am innocent?" + +"No," the chief constable said gravely, "it's not enough to prove +anything, one way or the other. I am bound to say the story looks a +likely one; and if it weren't for two or three matters which I +heard of, from the constable who came over from Tipping, I should +have no doubt about it. However, all that is for the magistrate to +decide. There will be a meeting tomorrow." + +"But can't I be taken before a magistrate at once? There's Captain +Fidler, within a mile." + +"What would be the good?" the chief constable said. "You don't +suppose anyone would let you out, only on the strength of the story +you have told me. He could only remand you, and you could gain +nothing by it." + +"Can I see my mother?" Reuben asked next. + +"Yes," the constable said, "I will send her down a message, at +once." + +Mrs. Whitney soon came up. A neighbour had brought her in the news +when Reuben had been arrested, and she was on the point of starting +to inquire about it when the message arrived. She was more +indignant than grieved, when she heard the charge which had been +brought against Reuben. + +"The idea of such a thing!" she exclaimed. "These constables don't +seem to have natural sense. The idea of charging anyone who is +known as a respectable young man with such a thing as that, and +shutting him up without a question. Why, there can't be any +evidence against you." + +"There's no saying, mother," Reuben replied. "You mustn't be too +sure of that. Don't you remember that affair of the dog? Well, the +same hand is at work now. Before, I only suspected who had done it; +but I am sure now. However, whatever evidence they may have got, we +know it isn't true. I have four years' good character here to speak +for me. Still, it is hard that I should get into positions of this +sort, without any fault of mine." + +"It's better that it is without any fault of yours, Reuben." + +"That is right enough, mother, so we will both keep up our +spirits." + + + +Chapter 4: The Trial. + + +There were three magistrates on the bench on the following morning, +when Reuben was brought up. The justice room was crowded, for the +series of burglaries had caused some excitement; and the news that +the house of Mr. Ellison had been broken into, and that one of the +men who had been taken turned out to belong to Lewes, had created +quite a sensation. + +Mr. Ellison was the first to give his evidence. He testified that, +on waking on the previous morning, he found that someone had been +in his room during the night. He was not in the habit of locking +his door, and had not been awakened. He found that a box which +stood on the dressing table, containing some valuable jewelry, was +gone; that his watch and that of Mrs. Ellison had been taken; that +the drawers had been opened, and a case containing the more +valuable jewels of his wife had also been abstracted. This was not +discovered till afterwards. He first missed his watch. + +He rang the servants up, for it was still early; and it was then +discovered that the lower premises had been broken into, the plate +chest in the butler's pantry broken open, and a large quantity of +plate stolen. + +"What do you estimate the value of the articles stolen, Mr. +Ellison?" + +"The value of my wife's jewels I should put down, roughly, at two +thousand pounds; the silver plate might have been worth three +hundred more; the watches and other articles, so far as I yet miss +them, say another hundred." + +The servants proved that they found the kitchen window open, on +going downstairs. It had been opened by the catch being forced +back. It was not the custom to put up shutters. The pantry door, +which was a strong one, had been cut with a saw round the lock. The +butler testified to the plate having been safe, the night before, +and the strong chest in which it was kept having been forced open. + +Directly it was discovered, the constable of the village was placed +in charge of the room, with orders to admit no one; and a man on +horseback was sent off to Lewes, to the chief constable. The +village constable gave evidence as to the state of the place, when +he was put in charge. + +The constable who had been sent over from Lewes then stepped into +the witness box. He testified to the marks of entry of the thieves, +and said that the manner in which they had gone to work, and in +which the door had been sawn through, and the chest forced open, +seemed to show that it was the work of practised hands. On +examining closely the butler's pantry, he found a powerful +screwdriver and a heavy chisel. These corresponded to marks in the +lid, and had evidently been used for the purpose of forcing it +open. They had the initials "R W." burnt in the handles. The +inmates of the house all denied any knowledge of these tools. + +Mr. Ellison had been present when he showed them to Mrs. Ellison. +On looking at them she said at once: + +"R. W. Why, that must be Reuben Whitney, that wicked boy, again." + +Upon making inquiries, he found that the man named worked at Mr. +Penfold's, the mill wright at Lewes. He returned there at once and, +going to Mr. Penfold, found the prisoner was absent from work. The +men identified the brand on the tools as that of the prisoner. +Another constable proved the arrest. + +The chief constable then read the statement that the prisoner had +made to him. The magistrates conferred together for a few minutes, +in an undertone. + +"Mrs. Ellison," the senior of them said, addressing that lady, who +was sitting on a chair placed at the upper end of the court, "we +are sorry to trouble you, but we must ask you to go into the +witness box. + +"I wish to ask you," he went on, when she had taken her stand in +the box, "how it was you at once connected the initials with the +prisoner?" + +"Because he had at one time lived in the village, and was employed +assisting our gardener. He was discharged on suspicion of having +poisoned a watchdog which had bit him; and as the three dogs about +the place had all been poisoned, on the night when the house was +broken into, his name had been in my mind and, on seeing the +initials, I naturally recognized them at once." + +There was a deep silence in the court, when Mrs. Ellison gave her +evidence. Hitherto the impression had been rather favourable to the +prisoner. His story, though strange, had been by no means +impossible and, if true, would have completely accounted for the +finding of the tools, which were the only evidence against him. The +evidence of Mrs. Ellison, however, entirely altered the complexion +of the case. + +Reuben had stood, quiet and composed, during the hearing. His +countenance had evinced no surprise or emotion, when the tools were +produced. He had, indeed, upon thinking the matter over before +coming into court, come to the conclusion that the tools, which he +had in a small basket at the time he was attacked, had been found +in or near the house; having been left there purposely, by Tom +Thorne, in order to throw suspicion upon him. Their production, +therefore, was no surprise to him. + +A slight shade had passed over his face when Mrs. Ellison entered +the witness box. Glancing at the squire as she gave her evidence, +Reuben saw that Mr. Ellison looked greatly vexed and annoyed. As +before, at the conclusion of the evidence of each witness, Reuben +was asked if he had any question to put. He hesitated for a moment +and then, as before, replied in the negative. + +Again the magistrates consulted together. + +"Mr. Ellison, we shall be obliged if you will enter the witness box +again. In your former evidence, Mr. Ellison, you said nothing in +any way relating to the prisoner; but it now seems you had a +previous acquaintance with him. Will you tell the court what it +is?" + +"I have not much to say," the squire said. "As a boy he lived in +the village with his mother, a most respectable person; and widow +of Jacob Whitney, a miller in a good way of business, who, as it +may be in your memory, was found drowned in his mill pond some +seven or eight years ago. The widow, being in reduced circumstances, +settled in Tipping. The boy was an intelligent lad and, when the boy +employed in my garden left, I gave him the place. He gave every +satisfaction. One day he was severely bitten by the watchdog and, +three days later, the dog was found poisoned. My gardener saw a boy +running away from the spot, a quarter of an hour before the dog died. +He believed it to be the prisoner, but it was too dark for him to +distinguish the features. + +"At the time, I certainly suspected that he had been guilty of +poisoning the dog and, in spite of his denying that he had anything +to do with it, as he was unable to account for where he was at the +time the boy was seen, I discharged him. I wish to say publicly +that I have deeply regretted having done so, ever since, and that I +consider I acted hastily and wrongly in so doing. Considering his +previous good character, I ought not to have assumed his guilt +without more positive evidence than I had before me. I may also say +that the schoolmaster of our village will give the prisoner the +highest character for truthfulness, and he has known him ever +since. His present employer, Mr. Penfold, is also, I believe, ready +to testify to his excellent conduct during his four years of +apprenticeship." + +"I suppose, Mr. Ellison," the senior magistrate said, "you have +not, at any time since the poisoning of the dog, obtained any +actual evidence which would show that you were mistaken in your +first view, and that your subsequent change of opinion was due +solely to your general view of the boy's character, so far as you +knew it." + +"That is so," the squire assented and, no further question being +asked, he resumed his seat. His evidence had caused surprise and +some little amusement in court. It was clear that there was a +strong difference of opinion between him and his wife on the +subject; and that, while the lady had something like an animus +against the prisoner, the squire was strongly impressed in his +favour. After some consultation, the magistrate said: + +"The case will be remanded until this day week, to see if further +evidence is forthcoming; but I may say that, under the present +circumstances of the case, we shall feel ourselves obliged to send +it for trial. The prisoner's account of his proceedings, from the +time he left Lewes on the previous evening up to that of his return +and arrest here, may be true; but so far it is entirely +unsupported. On the other hand, we have the evidence of the tools, +admitted to belong to him, being found on the scene of the +burglary. We have the further important fact that he had been +formerly employed upon the place; and had, it may be supposed, some +knowledge of the premises. He had been discharged upon a suspicion, +rightfully or wrongly entertained, of his having poisoned a dog +belonging to Mr. Ellison, and there is reason for the belief that +the dogs poisoned before the burglary were got at by some one +acquainted with the place." + +"Will it be any use my calling evidence as to character, at the +next meeting?" Reuben asked. + +"No," the magistrate said. "Evidence of that kind will be useful at +the trial, when the matter will be thoroughly sifted. We only have +to decide that there is prima facie evidence connecting you with +the offence, and of that there can be no doubt." + +At the sitting a week later, no fresh evidence was produced; and +Reuben was committed for trial at the next assizes. Public opinion +in Lewes ran high on the subject of Reuben's guilt or innocence. +The other workmen at the mill wright's were strongly in his +favour--he was very popular among his fellows--and they pointed out +that several hands must have been concerned in the business, that +he was never seen about in public houses of an evening, or was +likely to have any connection with bad characters. Was it probable, +if he had gone about such a job as that, he would have taken tools +marked with his own initials; or if he had, that he would have been +fool enough to leave them behind? + +Upon the other hand, opinion in general ran strongly against him. +His story was declared to be utterly improbable, and a fellow who +had once been dismissed for poisoning a dog would be likely, at any +future time, to revenge himself upon the employer who turned him +off. As to Mr. Ellison's declaration of his subsequent opinion that +he acted hastily, little weight was attached to it. Everyone knew +Squire Ellison was a kind-hearted man, and as he acknowledged +himself that he had obtained no evidence which would satisfy him +that he had acted wrongly in the first case, it was clear that it +was from mere kindness of heart that he had changed his mind on the +subject. + +At Tipping the subject was never mentioned. The squire and Mrs. +Ellison had, on the drive home, had the most serious quarrel which +had ever taken place during their wedded life; which had ended by +the former saying: + +"If anyone had ever told me before, Mary, that you were a +vindictive woman, I should have knocked him down. I might do so +now, but I should know in my heart that he had spoken truly. For +some reason or other you took a prejudice against that boy, and you +never forgave his mother for standing up in his defence. I was +shocked, downright shocked, when you gave your evidence in court." + +Mrs. Ellison had been too much offended to reply, and the rest of +the drive had been passed in silence. Upon their return home the +girls were full of eager questions, but the squire said shortly: + +"My dears, the less we talk about it, the better. Your mother and I +differ entirely on the subject. She believes that Reuben Whitney is +guilty. I am absolutely convinced he is innocent. Therefore, if you +please, we will not discuss it." + +The following morning Kate Ellison went down to the school house. + +"Mr. Shrewsbury," she said, putting her head in at the door, "could +you come out for two or three minutes? I want particularly to speak +to you. + +"Have you heard what took place yesterday, at Lewes?" she asked +when he came out. + +"Yes, Miss Ellison. I saw Jones the constable last night, and he +told me all that had been said in court." + +"And you think Reuben Whitney is innocent?" she asked eagerly. + +"I am quite sure of it, Miss Ellison--as sure as I am of my own +existence. For anyone who knows him to have a doubt is absolutely +absurd. A finer young fellow than Reuben it would be hard to find." + +"But what did he say? How did he account for his tools being found +there?" + +The schoolmaster repeated the account Reuben had given, and said: + +"When the trial comes off I shall, of course, go over; and testify +both as to his general conduct and to the fact that he had, as he +said, promised to bring over his tools to put up some shelves in my +cupboards." + +"Do you think he will get off, Mr. Shrewsbury?" she asked +anxiously. + +"I should hope so, Miss Ellison, but I can't disguise from myself +that it is by no means certain. That unfortunate old business about +the dog will tell terribly against him; and though I am perfectly +sure that his account of what took place is correct, there is +nothing to confirm it. It is just the sort of story, they will say, +that he would naturally get up to account for his absence, and for +the tools being found. Of course, if the jury knew him as well as I +do the result would be certain; but I have been trying to look at +the facts as if he were a stranger, and I can't say what decision I +should come to, in such a case. Still, of course, the high +character that will be given him, and the fact that there is no +evidence whatever connecting him, in any way, with bad characters, +must count immensely in his favour." + +The assizes were to take place only a fortnight after the date of +Reuben's committal. Mrs. Whitney had engaged a lawyer in the town +to defend her son and, to the surprise of this gentleman, Mr. +Ellison called upon him two or three days later, and said: + +"Mr. Brogden, I hear that you have been engaged by Mrs. Whitney to +defend her son. I don't believe the young fellow is guilty, and +therefore I authorize you to spend any sum that may be necessary in +getting up his defence; and I wish you to instruct a counsel to +appear for him. Of course I cannot appear openly in the matter, and +my name must not be mentioned, but I will guarantee all expenses. + +"It seems to me that it would be desirable to find out, if +possible, the village where he says he breakfasted, and asked the +way to Lewes. In his story he says he didn't know the name of the +village but, as he was told it was about twenty miles from Lewes, +and he can describe the road he followed, there ought to be no +difficulty in finding it. + +"I should advise you to have a chat with Shrewsbury, the +schoolmaster at Tipping. He is a great friend of the lad's, and a +very intelligent fellow. He may be able to suggest some points to +be followed up. At any rate, do all you can." + +Reuben had another adherent who was also acting on his behalf. The +afternoon before the trial, Kate Ellison stopped before the +blacksmith shop in the village and, seeing that Jacob Priestley the +smith was at work, alone, she entered. + +"Is it true, Jacob, that you have been summoned on the jury at +Lewes tomorrow?" + +"Yes, miss, it bee true, sureley. It be four years since anyone in +the village was summoned, and it be mighty hard that they should +have picked upon me. Still, I have never been called before, so I +suppose I mustn't grumble; but it be hard to be taken away from +work, to waste one's time in a court, and they say the 'sizes ull +last for three days." + +"Well, Jacob, you know that Reuben Whitney is going to be tried for +robbery at our house." + +"Yes, miss; so they says." + +"Well, what do you think about it, Jacob?" + +"I don't think nothing one way or the other, miss. Most folks says +as how he must have done it, 'cause as how he poisoned squire's dog +afore." + +"He didn't do anything of the sort, Jacob; and it's very wicked of +people to say so. He is innocent, quite innocent. I am sure he is, +and papa is quite sure, too; and he will be terribly put out if he +is found guilty. So I want you to promise me that, whatever the +others think, you will hold out that he is innocent." + +"Well, miss," the smith said, scratching his head, "if you be sure +of it, and squire be sure, I suppose there can't be no doubt about +it, for who should know better than squire; and I am sure I +wouldn't go to put him about, for a better landlord than squire +ain't to be found in the county. So you tell him, miss, as I will +hold out." + +"But papa doesn't know that I have come down here, Jacob. It +wouldn't do for him to interfere, you know; especially as he is a +magistrate himself. You mustn't mention to anyone that I have +spoken to you about it--not to anyone, Jacob, not even to your +wife--but I can tell you the squire will be heartily pleased if he +is found innocent, and he will be terribly put out if he is found +guilty." + +"All right, miss," the smith replied. "I understand, and no one +sha'n't know as you have spoken to me aboot it. It be quite enough +for I to know as the squire knows as he's innocent. It ain't likely +as I should stick my opinion up against his." + +The day after he heard of Reuben's arrest, the schoolmaster went +over to see him; and as he was the bearer of a letter from Mr. +Ellison to the governor of the jail, he was able to obtain +admittance. + +"Was there ever such an unfortunate fellow as I am?" Reuben +exclaimed, after the first hearty greeting. "Here am I for the +second time accused of a crime of which I am innocent; and from +which, indeed, in the present case I am a sufferer; and all this +has come about, simply because I went out of my way to inquire into +what seemed to me a suspicious business." + +"Tell me all about it, Reuben. I have heard the statement you made +to the chief constable; but tell it me again, with every detail you +can think of. Some circumstance, which appears to you as trifling, +may furnish a clue." + +"I have seen Mr. Brogden, the lawyer. I have told him all that +happened," Reuben said; "but of course, I will gladly tell you +again." + +And Reuben repeated the story of the adventure, with every detail +that he could think of; speaking slowly, as the schoolmaster wrote +it down at length. + +"I will see what I can make of it, when I think it over," Mr. +Shrewsbury said. "Of course, as it stands, it is so natural and +probable that it would clear you at once; had it not been for that +unfortunate dog business before, and the supposition, excited by +it, that you had a feeling of hostility to the squire. I shall be +able partly to dispose of that, for I can swear that you have +frequently spoken to me of the squire in tones of respect and +liking; and that, although you regretted the manner in which you +left his service, you felt no ill will against him on account of +it. Moreover, I shall be able to prove that the reasons you gave +for having your tools with you was a true one; and although I +cannot swear that I expected you specially on that evening, the +fact that you were in the habit of coming over, at times, to see +me, cannot but corroborate your story. + +"I shall get leave for two or three days, and will hunt up the +village where you breakfasted." + +"Thank you very much," Reuben said, "though I have been thinking it +over, and do not see that the evidence of the people at the public +house would help me much. It will simply prove that I passed +through there in the morning; but will not show, in any way, +whether I went willingly as far as that, as one of the party who +broke into the house, or whether I was taken there." + +"They can probably prove that you looked pale and exhausted," the +schoolmaster said. + +"I fancy I should look pale, in any case," Reuben said, "if I had +gone through such a night's work as that of breaking into the +squire's." + +"Well, keep up your courage, Reuben. You may be quite sure that +your friends will do all in their power for you. I shall go now and +have a chat with your mother. I am afraid that she will want +comforting more than you do." + +"Yes," Reuben agreed, "I am afraid so. Somehow I don't seem to take +it to heart much. I shall feel it more afterwards, perhaps; but at +present, the whole thing seems so extraordinary that I can't quite +realize that I am in danger of being sent to Botany Bay. The worst +of it is that, even if I am acquitted, lots of people will still +think I am guilty. There is only one thing that can really prove my +innocence, and that is the arrest of Tom Thorne, and his father." + +"I hear," the schoolmaster said, "that the chief constable has +written up to Bow Street, for them to put the runners on the traces +of those two scoundrels. Whether they believe your story or not, it +is quite evident that more than one person was concerned in the +affair. Their theory, of course, is that you quarrelled with the +others over the division of the spoil; and got that knock on the +head, which is a very severe one. I went down yesterday with Jones, +to see the spot where you said you were assaulted. There were marks +where the horse stopped, and marks of feet in the field, and a +patch of blood; all of which goes to prove that your story may be +true, but unfortunately it doesn't prove that it was because, +according to the theory against you, you might have been assaulted +after the robbery, as well as before it." + +"But in that case," Reuben said, "why should they have taken the +trouble to carry me twenty miles away?" + +"Yes, there is of course that question," the schoolmaster said +thoughtfully; "but then, on the other hand, why did they take the +trouble in case you were not an accomplice? In both cases the +answer is the same--they did it to prevent your giving the alarm, +until they had got far away from the scene. They didn't like to +murder you, because of the consequences to themselves; but they +would not risk your recovering consciousness and getting up an +early pursuit. It cuts both ways, you see." + +"So it does," Reuben assented. "It's just a question of belief; and +I own, myself, that that old dog business is very much against me; +and that I can't blame anyone who considers me guilty." + +Reuben's was the last case taken at the assizes, and occasioned a +good deal of interest in that part of Sussex, partly owing to the +position of Squire Ellison, partly to the nature of the defence set +up, as to which opinion was a good deal divided. The evidence for +the prosecution was, to a great extent, similar to that given at +the inquiry before the magistrates. Unfortunately for Reuben, the +judge was notoriously a severe one; and his bias, from the first, +appeared to be against the prisoner. Mr. Ellison was closely +questioned by the prosecutor as to the poisoning of his dog, as +this was considered to show a particular animus on the part of +Reuben. He again repeated his conviction of Reuben's innocence in +that affair. + +"But what reason have you, Mr. Ellison," the counsel for the +prosecution asked blandly, "for changing your opinion on the +subject?" + +This was just the question which the squire could not answer +satisfactorily; and was a particularly irritating one, because it +had often been triumphantly asked by his wife. + +"I can really give no particular reason," he said, "except that, on +reflection, the boy's previous character and antecedents convinced +me that he could not have done such an act." + +"In fact," the counsel said suavely, "you were influenced by your +own goodness of heart, Mr. Ellison, in thus laying aside a +conviction which the facts had, at the time, forced upon you." + +"I don't look upon it in that light," the squire replied shortly. +"I consider that in the first instance I acted hastily and +unadvisedly, and on consideration I saw that I had done so." + +"I am afraid, Mr. Ellison," the counsel said, "that you will not +persuade the jury to agree with you." + +"I have only one or two questions to ask you," the counsel for the +defence said, when he rose to cross-examine, "for indeed your +evidence is, as I think the jury will agree, altogether in favour +of the prisoner. In the first place, was the lad, when in your +employment, ever upstairs in your house?" + +"Not that I know of," the squire replied. "Certainly in the course +of his duties he would never be there. Indeed, it would be very +seldom that he would even enter the kitchen, except to bring in +vegetables. Certainly he would never pass through to go upstairs. +He could not possibly have done so without exciting attention and +remarks." + +"He would therefore, Mr. Ellison, have no means of possessing any +knowledge as to the internal arrangements of your house, beyond +that possessed by the other people in the village?" + +"None whatever," Mr. Ellison replied. + +"Now, as to that unfortunate affair of the poisoning of your dog. +Your opinion, as to the innocence of the prisoner in that matter, +is not a recent one--not the outcome of his after good conduct and +character?" + +"Not at all," Mr. Ellison said. "I changed my opinion on the matter +very shortly, indeed, after the affair." + +"Within a few days, I think I may say?" the counsel asked. + +"Within a very few days; I may almost say within a few hours," the +squire replied. "The boy's story, told not to me but to another, +that he believed the dog was poisoned by another lad in the village +who owed him a grudge, and who has since turned out an exceedingly +bad character, struck me as being very much more probable than that +he should do it, himself." + +Mrs. Ellison was next called. Her evidence as to the robbery was a +mere repetition of that given by the squire. The counsel then +turned to the question of the poisoning. + +"I would rather say nothing about it," Mrs. Ellison said. "It is a +matter which has been productive of much pain to me, and I would +rather say nothing about it." + +"But you must, madam," the judge said sharply. "You are here to +answer any question which may enable the jury to form an opinion on +this case." + +"I am sorry to press you, Mrs. Ellison," the counsel continued, +"but I really must do so. You took a different opinion to that held +by your husband?" + +"I regret to say that I did. Mr. Ellison told me the reasons he had +for suspecting the boy. I thought those reasons sufficient, and +have seen no cause for changing my opinion." + +After the evidence for the prosecution had been given, the counsel +for the defence pointed out that there was, in fact, no evidence +whatever connecting Reuben with the robbery, beyond the discovery +of his tools on the premises; and that, as to this trumpery story +of the poisoning a dog, four years before, apparently only for the +purpose of showing some sort of animus, he regarded it as +altogether contemptible. When a man meant to commit a burglary in a +house, he did so in order to obtain possession of the goods, and +not from any spite against the owner. Had this young fellow felt +any malice, for this ridiculous charge on which he had been +dismissed, he would not have allied himself with burglars to rob +the house; but would probably have vented his spite in the usual +fashion, by setting fire to a stack or outhouse; but so far as he +could see, there was no foundation for the charge brought against +him, and they had already heard Mr. Ellison declare that he +regretted he had suspected him, and that he believed him to be +innocent. + +But even had it been proved, up to the hilt, that the prisoner had +poisoned the dog, he should still hold it as wholly unconnected +with the present matter. If he had poisoned the dog, what then? It +was not a heinous sin, nor would it affect his moral character. No +boy likes having a piece taken out of his calf by a savage dog, and +there would have been nothing so very dreadful had he revenged +himself. It was probable that, even among the jury, there was one +or more who, if he had not absolutely set poison for his +neighbour's cats, for destroying his young chickens or scratching +up his flower beds, had threatened to do so, and would not have +regarded it as a very serious crime had he done so. + +Therefore he contended that the jury should put this trumpery +affair altogether out of their minds; on the double ground that, in +the first place, the prisoner at the bar did not poison the dog; +and that, had he done so, it would have had nothing whatever to do +with the present affair. + +"Why, gentlemen," he said, "it is an insult to your understanding +to ask you to credit that this young fellow--whose character, which +I shall presently prove to you, by unimpeachable evidence, is of +the highest kind--has, for four years, cherished such malice +against his employer, for dismissing him mistakenly, that he has +become the consort of thieves and burglars, has stained his hands +in crime, and rendered himself liable to transportation, for the +purpose merely of spiting that gentleman. Such a contention would +be absolutely absurd. I must beg you to dismiss it altogether from +your mind, and approach it from a different standpoint, altogether. +Divested of this extraneous business, the matter is a most simple +one. + +"The prisoner left his mother's cottage, at seven o'clock in the +evening, to go over for an hour or two to his friend Mr. +Shrewsbury, the schoolmaster of Tipping. He took with him a few +tools, as he had promised to put some shelves in his friend's +house. On the way he heard some talking down a lane, which he knew +led to only a field. Thinking it strange, he went to see who it was +and, some distance down, he found a horse and cart standing and, +listening to the conversation of two men who were sitting under the +hedge, he heard enough to inform him that a burglary was intended +upon the house of Mr. Ellison. He was about to make off to give the +alarm, when he was suddenly attacked by some men who had come up +behind, and was felled to the ground. While lying insensible, he +was bound hand and foot and left in a ditch; where he remained till +the burglars returned from completing the work on hand. They then +threw him into the cart, and put him down some twenty miles away. +Being greatly exhausted by loss of blood, it was late in the +afternoon before he arrived at Lewes, when he was at once arrested. + +"This, gentlemen, is the prisoner's story, as related to the chief +constable when he was taken to the lockup. Nothing can be simpler +or more probable; and in some points, at least, I shall be able to +confirm it by independent testimony. Mr. Shrewsbury will tell you +that the prisoner had arranged to come over to see him, and bring +his tools. He will also tell you that, two days after the +prisoner's arrest, he went with Jones, the village constable, and +found the marks where the horse and trap had stood; while, just +inside the field, the grass was trampled with feet; and in the +bottom of the dry ditch was a great dark patch, which he was able +to ascertain to be blood. Doctor Hewitt will tell you that he was +called in to strap up the prisoner's head, after his arrest; and +that the cut was a very severe one, and must have been inflicted by +a heavy weapon, with great force. + +"I am convinced, gentlemen, that after hearing this evidence you +will agree with me, not only that the prisoner is perfectly +innocent of the charge, but that he is a most ill-used person; and +that it is a matter of surprise and regret that the magistrates +should have committed him for trial, when the only shadow of +evidence against him was the discovery of these tools, a discovery +which he at once explained. Of other evidence, there is not one jot +or tittle. No attempt has been made to prove that the prisoner was +in the habit of consorting with bad characters; no attempt has been +made to show any connection, whatever, between him and the men who +came in a horse and trap across the hills, for the purpose of +effecting a burglary at Mr. Ellison's; and who, as we know, did +effect it. No scrap of the property stolen from the house has been +found upon him and, in order to account for the severe wound on his +head, the counsel for the prosecution has started the hypothesis +that it was given in the course of a quarrel, during the division +of the plunder. + +"But had that been the case, gentlemen, the prisoner would not have +been standing here alone. Robbed and ill-treated by these +companions of his, he would naturally have put the officers of +justice on their track and, as he must have been in communication +with them, and well acquainted with their ways and haunts, he could +have given information which would have led to their early arrest. +He could well have done this, for the crown would have made no +difficulty, whatever, in promising a lad like this a free pardon, +on condition of his turning evidence against these burglars; whose +mode of procedure shows them to have been old hands, and who are, +no doubt, the same who have committed the various robberies which +have lately taken place in this part of the country. + +"The prisoner is the son of highly respectable parents. His +employer will come before you, and give you evidence of the +extremely high character he bears. Mr. Shrewsbury will tell you +that he has, for the last four years, devoted no inconsiderable +portion of his leisure time to improve his education, and enable +him to recover the position occupied by his father, who was a +much-respected miller in this neighbourhood. I shall leave the case +in your hands, gentlemen, with an absolute confidence that you +will, without a moment's hesitation, find a verdict proclaiming the +innocence of my client; and enable him to leave the dock, without a +stain upon his character." + + + +Chapter 5: Not Guilty! + + +The schoolmaster was the first witness called for the defence. +After stating that, although no evening was actually settled for +his coming over, he expected the prisoner one evening that week; +and that he had promised to bring his tools over, to do a little +job of carpentering; he also detailed his visit to the lane, and +the result of his observation there; and then gave Reuben the +highest character, saying that he had known him for five years, and +that he had an absolute confidence in his integrity and honesty. + +"He has from the first," he said, "proved a most intelligent and +hard-working boy, anxious to improve himself and to get on in the +world. He has learnt all that I could teach him, and more. He is +one of the last persons in the world whom I should consider capable +of the crime with which he is charged. As to his having any +animosity to Mr. Ellison, I can swear that, on many different +occasions, he has expressed his high opinion of him; and has +declared that it was quite natural that, with the evidence before +him, he should have thought him guilty of poisoning the dog." + +The keeper of the wayside public house, where he had breakfasted, +proved that he was struck with the prisoner's appearance when he +entered; that he was very pale, and seemed scarcely able to walk. +He had asked him the nearest way to Lewes, and had inquired whether +there was any chance of getting a lift; as he was anxious to get +back, as soon as possible. + +Mr. Penfold was the next witness. He said that the prisoner had +been apprenticed to him, four years previously; that his general +conduct had been most excellent, and that he was remarkably quick +and intelligent, and was an excellent workman. During the time that +he had been employed, he had never lost a day. + +"At the time he was apprenticed to you, Mr. Penfold," Reuben's +counsel asked, "were you aware that the lad had been summarily +discharged by Mr. Ellison?" + +"I was aware of that fact," Mr. Penfold answered; and Reuben, with +surprise, looked at his employer. + +"From whom did you hear of it?" + +"I heard of it from Mr. Ellison himself, who called upon me about +the matter." + +"How was it he came to call upon you, Mr. Penfold?" + +"The prisoner's mother had applied to me about apprenticing her +son. I had asked 50 pounds premium, and said that it wasn't my +custom to pay any wages for the first year. She said she could only +afford 20 pounds, and I thought that was an end of the matter until, a +few days later, Mr. Ellison called upon me, and said that he had +heard from the schoolmaster in his village, who was a friend of the +boy's mother, how matters stood; and that her application had +fallen through, owing to her being unable to find more than 20 +pounds. + +"I said that this was so. Mr. Ellison then said that he was +prepared to make up the deficiency, that he had a regard for the +boy's father; and that, moreover, he himself had, through a hasty +misconception regarding the poisoning of the dog, discharged the +lad from his service; and that he felt uneasy, in his mind, at +having been guilty of a piece of injustice. Over and above the 30 +pounds, he gave me six pound ten; in order that I might pay the boy +half a crown a week, for the first year, which he said would be a +matter of consequence to his mother. He requested me on no account +to let Mrs. Whitney know that he had intervened in the matter, but +to represent that I changed my mind, and was willing to take the 20 +pounds she offered as a premium. He was particularly anxious on +this point; because, he said, she would certainly refuse to accept +assistance from him, owing to that unfortunate affair about the +dog. + +"I may say that, from that time to this, I have not mentioned the +fact to anyone; and the sum of 20 pounds was inserted in the +indenture of apprenticeship." + +There was a little movement of applause in the court, as Mr. +Penfold gave his evidence; and Reuben looked gratefully towards Mr. +Ellison, and said heartily: + +"I thank you, sir, with all my heart." + +The foreman of the yard was next examined. He confirmed the high +character Mr. Penfold had given Reuben, and adding that he knew the +lad never entered a public house, but spent his evenings almost +entirely at home studying; for that he himself had, many times, +called in and had, upon every occasion, found him so employed. + +The counsel for the prosecution then addressed the jury, and threw +discredit upon Reuben's narrative; which, he said, was unsupported +in any material particular. That he met the rest of the party in +the lane was likely enough. He may have returned there with them +after the burglary, and probably it was there that, in a quarrel +over the spoil, he received the blow of which you have heard. + +"My learned friend has told you to dismiss from your mind the +question about that poisoning of the dog, four years ago; but it is +impossible for you to do so. You have heard that the dog was +poisoned, and that the evidence was so strong that his employer at +once dismissed him. It is true that Mr. Ellison has told you that +he afterwards changed his mind on the subject; but after the +evidence which Mr. Penfold has given, of the kindness of that +gentleman's heart, you will readily understand that no great stress +can be laid upon this. The matter, so far from being trivial, as my +friend represents it, is highly important; inasmuch as here we find +that, again, the dogs have been poisoned just as on the first +occasion. It is clear that burglars from London would be ignorant +of the whereabouts of the kennels, and were not likely to have come +down provided with a store of poisoned meat; had they not known, +from persons well acquainted with the place, of the steps that +would have to be taken before an entry could be effected into the +house. You will therefore see the extreme importance of this point. + +"I am perfectly ready to admit that the evidence is of a wholly +circumstantial nature but, from the nature of the case, it is +necessary that this should be so. Had Mrs. or Mr. Ellison awoke, +when the thieves entered their room, it is probable that much more +evidence would be forthcoming. It is, however, for you to weigh the +probabilities of the case. You have to consider whether the theory +which I have laid before you, as to the connection of the prisoner +with this affair, or this wild story which he tells you, is the +most probable." + +The judge then summed up, with a strong bias against Reuben. He +told them that evidence for character was, of course, of +importance; but that it must not be relied upon too far. The +prisoner appeared undoubtedly to be intelligent and well-conducted, +but unfortunately his experience told him that many criminals were +men of unusual intelligence. Stress had been laid, by the counsel +for the defence, upon the fact that the prisoner was not known, at +any time, to have consorted with suspicious characters; but this, +after all, was only negative evidence. Affairs of this sort were +always conducted with secrecy and, had one of these men come down +from London, as was probable enough, to make inquiries as to houses +which could be broken into with a prospect of good booty, he would +naturally not make himself conspicuous. + +They had heard the two stories, and must judge for themselves; but +he agreed, with the counsel for the prosecution, that the fact that +the prisoner had been discharged by Mr. Ellison for poisoning a +dog, and that on the night of the robbery other dogs were found +poisoned, and that probably by some one acquainted with the +locality, could not but have an influence upon their minds. At the +same time he would tell them that, if they had a doubt in their +minds, it was their duty to give the prisoner the benefit of that +doubt. + +The jury consulted together for a minute or two in the jury box, +and then expressed their desire to retire. A buzz of talk arose in +the court, when they had left. Opinion was divided as to what the +verdict would be. When the counsel for the defence sat down, the +general opinion was that the prisoner would be certainly acquitted; +but the speech of the counsel for the prosecution, and the summing +up of the judge, had caused a reaction, and few doubted now that +the verdict would be guilty. + +So Reuben himself thought. It was he felt hard that, standing there +to be tried for burglary, the decision should, in fact, depend upon +that unjust charge which had, four years ago, been brought against +him. Reuben was in the habit of what he called arguing things out +by himself; and as he stood there, waiting for the verdict, he +tried to put himself in the position of the jury; and he felt that, +in that case, he should have difficulty in coming to a decision. + +It was not until after the lamps had been lighted that the jury +returned into the box. The crier shouted for order, and there was +not a sound heard, as the foreman told the judge that they were not +agreed upon their verdict. + +"Then you must go back, gentlemen, until you are," the judge said. + +"We are eleven one way, and one the other. Won't that do, my lord?" + +"No, sir," the judge replied. "You must be unanimous." + +The jury again retired, the judge and counsel went off to dine at +the hotel, and almost all the public trooped out. Two hours later, +as the jury did not return, Reuben Whitney was taken back to the +jail, and the court closed. At nine o'clock in the morning, a +warder entered. + +"The jury have come back into the court," he said. "They are going +to return a verdict." + +Reuben was again placed in the dock. The seats open to the public +quickly filled, as the news spread through the town. Several of the +members of the bar dropped in, and then the judge came in and took +his seat. + +Reuben had occupied the time in trying to judge, from the faces of +the jury, what their verdict was going to be. They looked sulky and +tired. But as Reuben's eye rested on Jacob Priestley, whom he had +at once recognized among the jury, the smith gave him an +encouraging wink. At least, so Reuben thought; but as the next +moment he was looking as surly as the rest, he thought that he must +have been mistaken. + +"Are you agreed, gentlemen, as to the verdict you find in this +case?" the judge asked. + +"We are, my lord," the foreman replied. + +"Do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?" + +"Not guilty, my lord." + +"Very well, gentlemen," the judge said tartly. "It is your verdict, +not mine." + +At the foreman's word a thrill had run through the court; for when +it was known, the evening before, that eleven were one way and one +the other, the belief had been general that the majority were for a +conviction. Reuben himself had so understood it, and the verdict +was a complete surprise to him. + +[Illustration: Reuben Whitney Acquitted of the Charge of Burglary] + +The constable raised the bar for him to leave the dock, and as he +moved out his friend the schoolmaster pushed forward, and shook him +warmly by the hand. + +"Thank God for that verdict, Reuben. I am indeed rejoiced, and I +own I hardly expected it." + +"I didn't expect it at all," Reuben said in a choked voice, for his +sudden liberation had shaken him, more than his arrest or any of +the subsequent proceedings had done. + +"I congratulate you heartily, Reuben," Mr. Ellison said, putting +his hand on his shoulder. + +The squire had waited at Lewes until ten o'clock on the previous +evening, and had driven over again the first thing in the morning, +so anxious was he about the verdict. + +"I didn't believe you guilty this time, my boy, from the first. I +was glad indeed to hear the verdict; for after the judge's summing +up, I was sorely uneasy. + +"And now, Reuben, I hope," he said, as they entered the street, +"that you have quite forgiven me for that old business. It has been +the unfortunate cause of getting you into this affair. Had it not +been for that no one would ever, for a moment, have doubted the +truth of your story." + +"There is nothing to forgive, squire," Reuben said. "I never blamed +you for it, from the first; and even had I done so, your goodness, +of which I only heard yesterday, would have made up, many times, +for any mistake you may have made then." + +"That is right, my lad," the squire said. "I am glad that matter is +made up. And now I will not keep you, for I know you will want to +be off home to your mother." + +Reuben walked quietly home, so as to give the schoolmaster, who had +hurried on ahead, time to break the news of his acquittal to his +mother. Mrs. Whitney had remained in court during the trial, but +had retired when the jury left to consider their verdict, being +completely overcome with agitation and excitement. The schoolmaster +had slept in the house, and had persuaded her not to go to the +court in the morning; fearing as he did that the verdict would be a +hostile one. She completely broke down when she was told the news, +and was still sobbing when Reuben arrived. + +The schoolmaster at once took his leave, leaving mother and son +together; and promised them to return in a day or two. When he +again came over, he saw at once that Mrs. Whitney was looking +depressed and unhappy. + +"What do you think, Mr. Shrewsbury? Reuben says that he shall go +abroad, out to Australia. I have talked against it till I am +hoarse, but it's no good. I hope you will persuade him to give up +such a mad idea." + +"I will hear what he has to say first, Mrs. Whitney. Reuben has +generally a good deal to say for his side of a question, and I must +hear his reasons before I can argue against them. + +"Now, Reuben, what have you to say for yourself?" + +"I made up my mind while I was in jail," Reuben replied, "that if I +was acquitted, I would go right away. These things stick to a man +all through his life. That first affair, four years ago, nearly got +me transported now; and if a small matter like that did me such +harm, what will this do? If I had been proved to be innocent, it +would have been different; but as it is, I believe nine people out +of ten in court thought I was guilty; and I am convinced that the +jury were eleven to one against me, only the twelfth was more +obstinate than they were, and so they gave in. I believe it was +Jacob Priestley the blacksmith who held out, for the sake of old +times. + +"At any rate, a great many people will think me guilty, all their +lives, unless something turns up to prove my innocence. Mother says +we might settle somewhere else, where we ain't known; but I should +never feel safe. Years on, someone from Lewes might see me and tell +the story; or Tom Thorne might keep on my track. I won't risk it. + +"I have been to Mr. Penfold, and he says if I am determined to go, +he will cancel my indenture for me. I have no doubt I shall find +work of some sort, out there. I am a pretty good workman now at my +own craft and, if I can't get work at that, I can turn my hand to +something else. + +"My only trouble is about mother. I want her to go with me. I could +make a living for her out there, but she won't have it. She says +six months at sea will kill her, and then she has all sorts of +ideas in her head about the natives. However I hope that, in two or +three years' time, I shall be able to write and tell her that I +have comfortably settled, and have a good home ready for her to +come to; and that then she will join me." + +"Never," Mrs. Whitney said, excitedly. "I was born at Lewes, and I +have lived near it all my days, and I will die here. I am not going +to tramp all over the world, and settle down among black people, in +outlandish parts. I could not do it, Mr. Shrewsbury. It's cruel of +him to ask me." + +The schoolmaster was silent for a minute. He saw that Reuben's mind +was firmly made up, and he could not deny the force of his +reasoning. It was true that many people still considered him +guilty. It was true that this story might crop up again, years on, +and ruin his life. It did seem that the best thing he could do was +to leave the country. + +"Australia is not so bad a place as you fancy, Mrs. Whitney," he +said at last. "They do have troubles with the natives, certainly, +in the outlying settlements; but in the towns you have no more +trouble than you have here. Besides, every year the white +population is increasing, and the black diminishing. Six months' +voyage is not so dreadful as it seems. And though I do think that, +if Reuben goes out, it will be better for you to remain quietly +here till he has a home prepared for you, I think that, when the +time comes, you will change your mind about it. + +"As to Reuben himself, I must own there's a good deal of force in +what he says; and that until those Thornes have been sent out of +the country, his story might follow him. And I have no doubt he +would do well out there. He is a good workman for his age and, as +he says, can turn his hand to almost anything. Labour is scarce out +there and, as he has got his head screwed on the right way, I have +no doubt that he will fall on his feet." + +"I didn't expect this of you, Mr. Shrewsbury," Mrs. Whitney said, +beginning to cry. "I thought you would have taken my part, and now +you are going right against me." + +"Not against you, Mrs. Whitney, for I think that Reuben's plan is +best for you both. He cannot but suffer, if he remains here; and +you will be unhappy in seeing him suffer. Great as the loss would +be to you, I believe that you would be happier here, alone, than +you would be were you to see him in constant trouble and worry. At +any rate you would have the option, if you found life intolerably +dull here, of joining him out there at any time. + +"But how do you intend to get out, Reuben?" he asked, seeing that +Mrs. Whitney made no answer, but again relapsed into tears. + +"I shall work my way out," Reuben replied. "I can do any rough work +as a smith or a carpenter, and I should think I ought to get my +passage for my work. Anyhow, I have got twelve pounds saved up; and +if I can't get out free, that and my work ought to take me." + +In a short time Mrs. Whitney, finding that Reuben was not to be +shaken in his determination, ceased to oppose it; and began to busy +herself in preparations for his departure, which he had arranged to +take place as soon as possible. + +A day or two before starting, he walked over to say goodbye to Mrs. +Shrewsbury. He stopped as he passed the smithy and, seeing Jacob +Priestley at work alone, he went in. + +"Ah, Reuben, is it you?" the smith said. "Better here than in the +dock at Lewes, eh? I hears a talk of your going to foreign parts." + +"Yes, I am off," Reuben said, "and I have just come over to say +goodbye to Mrs. Shrewsbury; so I looked in as I passed, knowing as +you were one of those who found me not guilty, and would perhaps +give me a shake of the hand, before leaving." + +"That will I, lad. Yes, I found you not guilty; and I jest tipped +you a wink, from the box, to let you know as it were all right; but +my eye! what a game we had had of it. Never had such a game, in all +my born days." + +And the blacksmith sat down on a stool, to indulge in a great fit +of laughing. + +"What was the game?" Reuben asked. + +"Well, you know, Stokes he was the foreman, and a Cockney sort of +chap he be. He turns round in the box and, says he: + +"'In course you are all agreed.' + +"'Agreed as how?' says I. + +"'Why, agreed as he's guilty, in course,' says he. + +"'Nothing of the sort,' says I. 'I believes he's as innocent as a +child unborn.' + +"Then they all comes round me and jaws; but seeing as I wasn't +going to give in, Stokes he asked the judge for leave to retire. + +"Well, when we retires they all pitches into me, and says as it's +monstrous one man should hold out agin eleven; and that, even if I +didn't feel sure myself, I ought to go as the others went. So I +didn't say much, but I sits myself down and brings out a big chunk +of bread and bacon, as my good woman had put into my pocket, and I +begins to eat. + +"'Look you here,' says I, 'I ha' got four parcels like this. Today +be Friday, and I can hold on easy till Tuesday. That's how I looks +at it. This young chap ain't had nothing to do with this 'ere +robbery, and I ain't going to see he transported for what he never +done.' + +"Well, there we sits. Sometimes they would all talk at once, +sometimes two or three of them would give it me. Ten o'clock comes +and they got desperate like, for only one or two of them had put +anything into their pockets, thinking that the matter was sure to +be finished that night. When the messages were sent out again, as +we couldn't agree, I sits down in a corner and, says I: + +"'I ain't a selfish man, and any of you as changes your mind can +have a share of what I have got.' + +"I dozes off, but I hears them jawing away among themselves. It +might have been two o'clock when one of them comes to me and gives +me a shake and, says he: + +"'Give us a cut of that bread and bacon. I am well-nigh starved. I +have got a wife and children to think of, and it don't matter to me +whether this chap goes to Botany Bay, or whether he don't. It +didn't seem to me a certain case, all along, so I will go along +with you.' + +"Gradually two or three more comes, and when it got light I could +see as some more was hesitating so, says I: + +"'Lookee here, my friends. Those who has agreed to give this young +chap another chance has lessened my stock of bread and bacon pretty +considerable, and I ain't got more than enough for one more, so +who's the next?' + +"Four more spoke out at once. I divides the bread and bacon among +them; then, as there was nine of us agin three, we goes at them and +tells them how wrong it is as we was all to suffer from their +obstinacy, and we works on their feelings about their wives and +children; and then, says I: + +"'I call it downright ridiculous, when there's a hot breakfast on +twelve tables waiting for us, as three men should keep the rest +from tucking in, just acause they won't give an innocent lad the +benefit of the doubt.' + +"Well, that finished them. The thought of the hot breakfast made +the other chaps so ravenous as I believe they would have pitched +into Stokes and the other two, if they hadn't have given in. So +they comes round, and we sends out to say that we had agreed on the +vardict. It were the best game I ever seed in my life." + +"Well, Jacob, I am sure I am heartily grateful to you, and I shall +not forget your kindness; though what made you so sure of my +innocence, while all the others doubted it, I don't know." + +"Lor', Reuben!" the smith said, "There ain't nothing to thank me +about. I didn't know nowght as to whether you was innocent or +guilty; and it was a good job for me as I had made up my mind about +that there vardict, afore I went into court; for I should never +have made head or tail of all that talk, and the fellows with white +hair on the top of their heads as kept bobbing up and down, and +asking all sorts of questions, was enough to turn an honest man's +head. The question was settled when Miss Kate Ellison--that's the +little un, you know--came in here. Says she: + +"'Jacob, you are on this jury, I hear.' + +"'Yes, miss,' says I. + +"'Well, I hope you are going to find Reuben Whitney innocent,' says +she. + +"'I don't know nothing about it,' says I. 'Folks seem to think as +he did it.' + +"Then she went at me, and told me that she was sure you was +innocent; and the squire he was sure, and he would be moighty put +out if you was found guilty. So I told her natural that, the +squire's being a good landlord, I wouldn't disoblige him on no +account; and she might look upon it as good as settled that you +should be found innocent. So she tells me not to say a word to +anyone, and I ain't, not even to the ould woman; but in course, I +don't consider as she meant you." + +Reuben could not help laughing as he learned that he had been +acquitted, not from any belief in his innocence on the part of the +jury, but by the intervention on his behalf of the girl who had, +before, fought his battles. Shaking hands with Jacob, he went on to +the schoolmaster's. + +As he was sitting there chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Shrewsbury, he +saw Kate Ellison come out of her father's gate along the road with +her basket, as usual. Catching up his hat, he ran out and stood +bareheaded, awaiting her. + +"Ah, Reuben!" she said, with a smile and a nod, "I am glad to see +you before you go; for Mr. Shrewsbury told me, yesterday, you were +going to leave Lewes and emigrate. I am glad,"--and she hesitated a +little--"very glad that they found you innocent. I was quite sure +you would not do such a thing." + +"I am glad I came over today, Miss Ellison," Reuben said quietly. +"Very glad that I have met you; for I have just learned, from Jacob +Priestley, that it is to you I am indebted that I am not, in the +present moment, a prisoner in jail, under sentence of transportation." + +The girl flushed up hotly. + +"Jacob Priestley is very wrong to have spoken about it. I told him +he was never to mention it." + +"I hope you will not blame him, Miss Ellison. He told me he had +never spoken a word to anyone else, but he thought you did not mean +it to apply to me. I am very glad he has spoken; for I shall carry +away with me, across the sea, a deep gratitude, which will last as +long as I live, for the kindness you have shown me; not only now, +but always--kindness which has saved me from a terrible punishment, +for an offence of which I was innocent. + +"May God bless you, Miss Ellison, and render your life a happy +one." + +"Goodbye, Reuben," the girl said, gently. "I hope you may do well, +in the new land you are going to." + +So saying, she went on her errand. Reuben stood watching her, until +she entered one of the cottages. Then, putting on his cap, he +returned to the schoolmaster's. + +A week later Reuben was wandering along the side of the London +Docks, looking at the vessels lying there, and somewhat confused at +the noise and bustle of loading and unloading that was going on. He +had come up the night before by the carrier's waggon, and had slept +at the inn where it stopped. His parting with his mother had been a +very sad one, but Mrs. Whitney had so far come round as to own that +she thought that his plan was perhaps the best; although she still +maintained that she should never venture, herself, upon so distant +a journey. He had promised that, should she not change her mind on +this point, he would, whether successful or not, come home to see +her. + +The squire had driven over, the day before he left, to say goodbye +to him. He had, through Mr. Shrewsbury, directly he heard that he +was going, offered to help towards paying his passage money; but +this offer Reuben had gratefully, though firmly, declined to +accept. + +"Well, Reuben, I wish you every good luck on your adventure," he +said. "The place you are going to will be a great country, one of +these days; and you are just the fellow to make your way in it. I +am sorry you wouldn't let me help you; because I am in a way, you +know, at the bottom of this business which has driven you from +home." + +"Thank you, squire, for your kind intention," Reuben answered; "but +I am so much in your debt, now, that I would rather not go further +into it. I am old enough now to make my own way in life. My only +regret in the matter is that I cannot persuade my mother to go with +me." + +"I think she is right, Reuben," the squire replied. "You can +transplant a young tree, easily enough; but you can't an old one. +Somehow they won't take root in new soil. + +"Well, lad, I wish you every success. I suppose I shall hear +through Shrewsbury, from time to time, how you are going on." + +As Reuben walked along the dock, he stopped to read the notices of +their destination, affixed to the shrouds of most of the vessels. +He had already gone on board three or four, which were loading for +Australia, but in none was there a vacancy for a carpenter. He +stopped before a fine-looking barque, to which no notice was +attached. + +"Where is she going to?" he asked a sailor, who was passing along +the gangway to the shore. + +"She's bound for Sydney," the sailor said. "She warps out of dock +tonight, and takes on board a cargo of prisoners in the Medway." + +"Do you mean men sentenced for transportation?" Reuben asked. + +"Yes," the man said, "and I wish she had any other sort of cargo. I +have been out with such a load before, and I would as soon go with +a cargo of wild beasts." + +Reuben felt a sudden chill, as he thought how narrow had been his +escape of forming one of a similar party. However, he stepped on +board, and went up to the mate, who was superintending the cargo. + +"Do you want a carpenter for the voyage out?" + +"A carpenter!" the mate repeated. "Well yes, we do want a +carpenter. The man who was to have gone has been taken ill. But you +are too young for the berth. Why, you don't look more than +eighteen; besides, you don't look like a carpenter." + +"I am a mill wright," Reuben said, "and am capable of doing any +ordinary jobs, either in carpentering or smith work. I have +testimonials here from my late employers." + +"Well, you can see the captain, if you like," the mate said. "You +will find him at Mr. Thompson's office, in Tower Street, Number +51." + +Reuben at once made his way to the office. The captain refused, at +first, to entertain the application on the ground of his youth; but +ship's carpenters were scarce, the time was short, and there was a +difficulty in obtaining men for convict ships. Therefore, after +reading the very warm testimonial as to character and ability which +Mr. Penfold had given Reuben, he agreed to take him, on the terms +of his working his passage. + +Reuben went back at once, to the inn where he had stopped, and had +his chest taken down to the docks; and went on board the Paramatta +which, at high water, warped out of dock into the stream. + + + +Chapter 6: On The Voyage. + + +The next day the Paramatta weighed anchor and proceeded down the +river. Reuben had no time to look at the passing ships, for he was +fully occupied with the many odd jobs which are sure to present +themselves, when a ship gets under weigh. The wind was favourable, +and the Paramatta ran down to the mouth of the Medway before the +tide had ceased to ebb. She anchored for three hours, and then made +her way up to Chatham, where she brought up close to the government +yard. + +It was not till late in the evening that Reuben had finished his +work, and was at liberty to look round, and to take an interest in +what was going on on deck. + +"This is your first voyage, my lad, I reckon," an old sailor, who +was standing leaning against the bulwark, smoking his pipe, +remarked. + +"Yes," Reuben said cheerfully, "this is my first voyage. I have +shipped as carpenter, you know, to work my way out to Sydney." + +"You could not have chosen a better ship than this 'ere barkee," +the sailor said; "though I wish she hadn't got them convicts on +board. She will sail all the faster, 'cause, you see, instead of +being choked up with cargo, the deck below there has been set aside +for them. That will make easy sailing and quick sailing; but I +don't like them, for all that. They are a lot of trouble, and they +has to be watched, night and day. There's never no saying what they +might be up to; there's mostly trouble on board, with them. Then +one can't help being sorry for the poor chaps, though they does +look such a villainous bad lot. They are treated mostly like dogs, +and I have been on board ships where the rations was not what a +decent dog would look at." + +"But I thought there was regular food, according to a scale," +Reuben said. + +"Ay, there's that," the sailor replied, "and the government +officers see that the quantity's right; but, Lor' bless you! They +don't trouble as to quality, and some of the owners buys up +condemned stores, and such like; anything, thinks they, is good +enough for a convict ship--biscuits as is dropping to pieces, salt +junk as 'as been twenty years in cask, and which was mostly horse +to begin with. No wonder as they grumbles and growls. A convict is +a man, you see, though he be a convict; and it ain't in human +nature to eat such muck as that, without growling." + +"What tonnage is the vessel?" Reuben asked. + +"'Leven hundred and fifty ton, and as fine and roomy a ship as +there is in the trade, and well officered. I have made three +v'yages with the captain and first mate, and the second mate was +with us on the last v'yage." + +"How many hands are there, altogether?" + +"Twenty-five, counting you as one, and not a-counting the two +stewards." + +"We are going to take some passengers, I see," Reuben said. "I have +been at work, putting up pegs and shelves for them." + +"Yes, there's eight or ten passengers, I hears," the sailor said. +"Passengers don't mostly like going by convict ships, but then the +fares are lower than by other vessels, and that tempts a few. +Besides, the Paramatta is known to be a fast ship, and the skipper +has a good name; so we shall have a better class of passengers, I +expect, than usually voyages with convict ships; and besides the +passengers there will be the officer of the convict guard, and a +surgeon, so we shall be pretty full aft." + +"And what will my duties be, when we are at sea?" + +"It just depends on the captain," the sailor said. "You will be put +in a watch, and work with the others, except that they may not send +you aloft. That depends on the terms that you shipped." + +"I shipped as carpenter, and to make myself generally useful, and +to obey orders. I shall be happy to do anything I can; hard work is +better than doing nothing, any day." + +"That's the sort, my lad," the sailor said heartily. "Now I am sail +maker, but, bless your heart! Except putting a patch on a sail, now +and then, there's nothing to do that way; and when not so wanted I +am one of the ordinary crew. Still, if you works your passage, it +ain't to be expected as they will drive you the same as a man as is +paid. He's a fair man, is the skipper; and you won't find yourself +put upon, on board the Paramatta." + +"Can't I go up aloft now?" Reuben asked. "I would rather accustom +myself to it while we are lying steady, than go up when the wind's +blowing, and she is heeling over." + +"Go up! To be sure you can, and I will go up with you, and tell you +some of the names of the ropes, and put you up to things. There's a +pleasure in helping a lad who seems in any way teachable. Some of +they boys as comes on board a ship ain't worth their salt, in these +days." + +The sailor led the way up the shrouds. Reuben found it much more +difficult than it looked. He had seen the sailors running up and +down, and it looked as easy as mounting a ladder; but the slackness +of the ratlines--which, as the sailor told him, was the name of the +pieces of rope which answered to the rounds of a ladder--made it at +first awkward. When they reached the main top the sailor told him +to sit down, and look round quietly, till he became accustomed to +the height. + +"It looks unnatural and risky, at first," he said; "but when you +get accustomed to it, you will feel just as safe, when you are +astraddle the end of a yard, and the ship rolling fit to take her +masts out, as if you were standing on the deck." + +As Reuben had heard the sailors laughing and joking aloft, as they +hauled out the earrings of the sails, he had no doubt that what the +sailor said was true; but it seemed, to him, that he should never +accustom himself to sit at the end of a spar, with nothing but the +water at a vast depth below. It would be bad, even with the ship +lying quiet, as at present. It would be terrible with the vessel in +a heavy sea. + +The sailor now told him the names of the masts and stays, giving +him a general idea of the work aloft, and presently asked him +whether he would like to return to the deck now, or to mount a bit +higher. Although Reuben was now becoming accustomed to the +position, he would, had he consulted his inner feelings, have +rather gone down than up; but he thought it was better to put a +good face on it, and to accustom himself, at once, to what he would +probably have to do sooner or later. + +Holding on tight then, and following the instructions of his +companion, he made his way up until he was seated on the cap of the +top-gallant mast, holding tight to the spar, which towered still +higher above him. He was surprised at the size and strength of the +spars, which had looked so light and slender, from below. + +"Very well done, lad," the sailor said approvingly. "You would make +a good sailor, in time, if you took to a seafaring life. There's +not one in ten as would get up there, the first time of going +aloft. You don't feel giddy, do you?" + +"No," Reuben replied, "I don't think I feel giddy, but I feel a +strange shaky feeling in my legs." + +"That will soon pass off," the sailor said. "You look at them hills +behind the town, and the forts and works up there. Don't think +about the deck of the vessel, or anything, but just as if you were +sitting in a chair, watching the hills." + +Reuben did as the sailor instructed him and, as he did so, the +feeling of which he was before conscious passed completely away. + +"I feel all right now," he said, after sitting quietly for a few +minutes. + +"All right, then; down we go. Don't look below, but just keep your +eyes in front of you, and never leave go of one grip till you make +sure of the next." + +Five minutes later he stood on the deck. + +"Well done, my lad, for the first time," the first mate said, as +Reuben put his foot on the deck "I have had my eye on you. I +shouldn't have let you go beyond the top, at the first trial; but I +didn't think you would go higher, till you were fairly up, +otherwise I should have hailed you from the deck. + +"You ought not to have taken him up above the top, Bill. If he had +lost his head, it would have been all up with him." + +"I could see he wasn't going to lose his head. Trust me for not +leading a young hand into danger. He was a little flustrated, when +he got into the top; but after he had sat down a bit, his breath +come quiet and regular again, and I could see there was no chance +of his nerve going." + +The next morning, soon after daybreak, the dockyard boats began to +row alongside, with grey-coated convicts. Reuben watched them as +they came on board, with a sort of fascination with their closely +cut hair, bullet heads, and evil faces. Although he had no doubt +that the repulsive expression was due partly to the close-cut hair +and shaved faces, and their hideous garb, he could scarcely repress +a shudder as he looked at them. In some faces an expression of +brutal ferocity was dominant. Others had a shifty, cunning look, no +less repulsive. + +There were a few good-humoured faces, one or two so different from +the others, that Reuben wondered whether they were innocent victims +of circumstances, as he had so nearly been. Not till now did he +quite realize how great his escape had been. The thought that he +might have had to spend the rest of his life herding with such men +as these, made him feel almost sick; and he thanked God more +fervently, even, than he had done when the verdict was returned +which restored him to his liberty, that he had been saved from such +a fate. + +A hundred and eighty convicts came on board. They were in charge of +ten warders, with loaded muskets, and an hour later a party of +twenty marines, under the charge of an officer, also embarked. They +were on their way out to join a ship in Australian waters, and were +to aid the warders in keeping the convicts in good order. + +The wind being favourable, no time was lost after the marines had +come on board. The moorings were cast off and sails hoisted, and +the Paramatta made her way against the tide to the mouth of the +Medway; and there dropped her anchor to wait until the tide began +to ebb, for the wind was so light that little would have been +gained by an attempt to proceed at once. Sail was made again as +soon as tide turned and, on turning out next morning at daylight, +for he had not yet been assigned to a watch, Reuben found that the +ship was lying at anchor in the Downs. + +Two or three hours passed. + +"What are we doing here, Bill?" + +"We are waiting for the passengers. They are all coming on board +here. I expect that big lugger you see, running out direct for us, +'as got them on board." + +"I wonder they didn't come on board when we started," Reuben said. +"I should think it would have been pleasanter than coming all the +way down to Dover by coach." + +"So I should think, my lad; but you see, it ain't every time as a +ship has the luck we've had. It's a long job coming down to the +Downs, if the wind don't serve. We might have been beating about +there, at the mouth of the Thames, for a week. So you see, most of +these 'longshore chaps like to send their traps on board while the +vessel's in the docks, and then to come down here and stop till she +comes round." + +In a few minutes the lugger was alongside, the gangway was lowered, +and the passengers began to come on board. They were, as the sailor +had said they would be, some ten in number. There were six men, +four ladies, and three children, the latter not counting as regular +passengers, as they were stowed away in their parents' cabins. + +The convicts who were on deck looked over the bulwarks, and cracked +coarse jokes among themselves, as the passengers ascended the +gangway. Reuben found that only one-third of the number were +allowed on deck at once. Two soldiers paced up and down the deck, +on guard of the hatchway leading below, and two sentries were +posted at other points. + +A number of small boxes, bags, coats and cloaks were handed up, and +then the rope was cast off, and the lugger made her way back to +Dover, and the Paramatta again got under sail. While they had been +waiting, the chief mate had told Reuben that, according to the +captain's orders, he would henceforth be in his watch. + +"As you are not regularly shipped as a sailor," the mate said, "the +captain does not wish you to go aloft, unless by your own desire; +but there will be plenty of work for you to do on deck, hauling at +the braces, scrubbing, and so on." + +"I should be glad to do my work with the rest," Reuben said, "as +soon as I feel I can be useful aloft. I was up two or three times +yesterday, and hope in a few days to be quite accustomed to it." + +"I have noticed you, my lad, and you could not be in better hands +than Bill's. He is a capital sailor, and as he has taken to you, +and you are willing to learn, you will be a useful hand before we +get to Sydney; and even if you never go to sea again, all your +life, you will find that you have learned a great deal that is +useful on board the Paramatta." + +The fine weather, which the Paramatta had experienced so far, +speedily left her. The sky grew overcast, and the wind freshened +fast, and the next morning the ship was staggering, under +close-reefed canvas, in the teeth of the southwesterly gale. + +For the next three days Reuben made no advance in seamanship, being +prostrated with seasickness. At times he crept out from the +forecastle, and tried to lend a hand whenever he saw a party of men +hauling at a rope; but the motion of the ship was so great that he +could scarce keep his feet on the slippery decks, and at last the +mate ordered him to go back to the forecastle, and remain there +until he recovered somewhat from his sickness. + +"I see you are no skulker, my lad; but you will do no good on deck +here, and are not unlikely to get a heavy fall, and perhaps a nasty +hurt, so you had best lie off till you get over your sickness." + +Reuben was already drenched to the skin by the spray, and felt so +weak that he was not sorry to avail himself of the mate's orders, +and to turn in again to his bunk in the forecastle. + +On the morning of the fourth day he felt himself again, and turned +out. The gale had almost blown itself out, but the sea was very +heavy. The fresh air was delightful to Reuben, after the +confinement in the forecastle; and as his watch was on deck, he at +once went up to Bill and asked him what he could do. + +"Glad to see you about agin, Reuben," the sailor said. "You have +had a worse time of it than most. There is a lot of difference +atween chaps. Some takes it bad, and some is never ill from the +first. Well, there ain't nothing to do at present, but just hold on +and get to feel your legs. Don't you try to go across the deck, if +the hands are called, until you are accustomed to it; else you will +get a fall, to a certainty." + +"Is the gale nearly over, Bill?" + +"Why, it's quite over. Don't you see that for yourself?" + +"It seems to me to blow hard now." + +"Blow hard! Why, there ain't a capful of wind. It was blowing +pretty hard yesterday, if you like, but not worth calling a gale. +If you are lucky, you are like to know what a gale is, when we get +south of the Cape. The wind does blow there, when it has made up +its mind. That's the place where they say as the helmsman has to +have two men, regular, to hold on his hair." + +Reuben laughed. + +"I think on the whole, Bill, I would rather get to Sydney without +meeting a storm like that. This has been quite enough for me. Why, +some of the waves hit the vessel's bow as if they would have +knocked it in." + +"Wait till you have a gale in earnest, Master Reuben, and you will +know about it then. Of course it seemed worse to you, because you +were lying there a-doing nothing, and was weak-like with heaving +yourself up. If you had been on deck, you would have seen as it was +nothing worth talking about. + +"Look at the ship. Everything's in its place, and ship-shape." + +"Why, what has become of the tall spars aloft," Reuben said, +looking up. + +"Oh, they were sent down when the wind freshened," Bill said. +"There ain't nothing in that." + +"Where are the convicts, Bill?" + +"Oh, they are all battened down below," the sailor said carelessly. +"They only come up for an airing when the weather is fine. They are +like the passengers only, instead of pleasing themselves, their +ways are marked out for them." + +"Have any of the passengers been up?" + +"Two or three of the men have shown, and a gal. It ain't her first +voyage, I'll bet. A pretty thing she is, and as straight as a mast. +She's been on deck, off and on, ever since we started." + +The next morning the sea moderated greatly and, the wind having +gone round to the southeast, the Paramatta made the most of it, to +get west as far as possible before turning her head to the south. + +"That's a slice of luck," Bill Hardy said to Reuben; "there's +nothing like getting well off, at the start. With luck, now, we +oughtn't to see the land till we make the Cape." + +"But I would rather see the land, Bill. When one is going half +round the globe, it is pleasant to touch at ports on the way, and +to get a glimpse at foreign peoples and ways." + +"Ay, I like a spree on shore," Bill agreed; "but after all, it +don't last long; and when you are near land, there's always the +chance that the wind may shift round, and you may find yourself +dead on a lee shore. The skipper gets anxious and the mates out of +temper, and if it does come on to blow hard, from the wrong +quarter, there's never no saying what will come of it. + +"No, my lad, there's nothing like a good open sea, with no land +within five hundred miles of you, at the least. The coast of Africa +ain't a pleasant neighbour. What with the low shores, which you +don't see till you are pretty nigh close to them; what with the +currents and the changeable winds, and the precious bad lookout +there is, if you do get cast ashore, I tell you the wider berth you +gives it, the better." + +The next morning was so fine and bright that all the passengers +were on deck, and after breakfast the word was passed forward that +the carpenter was wanted. Reuben found that he was wanted to nail +some strips of wood on the floor of some of the cabins, to prevent +the boxes from shooting out from under the berths when the vessel +rolled. As he was at work at one of these, a young lady came to the +door of the cabin, and uttered a little exclamation of surprise at +seeing Reuben kneeling on the floor. Then, seeing what he was +doing, she said: + +"Oh, you are the carpenter, I suppose?" + +"Yes, miss." + +"I wish you would screw on some pegs I brought with me, to hang +things upon. Everything does get thrown about so, when the ship's +rolling. They are in that trunk, if you will not mind pulling it +out." + +Reuben pulled out the trunk, which the girl opened and, after some +search, produced half-a-dozen iron clothes pegs. She showed him +where she wished them screwed on, and stood looking on while he +carried out her instructions. + +"Are you the ship's carpenter?" + +"Yes, miss." + +"You seem very young for a carpenter, don't you?" + +"I am young," Reuben replied, smiling, "and this is my first +voyage. Fortunately for me, the hand who was engaged hurt himself, +just as the vessel was sailing, so I obtained the berth. So far it +does not appear that it is a difficult one." + +The girl looked at him a little curiously. His manner of talk and +conversation differed, so much, from the sailors in general. + +"Are you really a carpenter?" she asked. "You don't look like a +carpenter." + +"Yes, I am really a carpenter," Reuben answered; "at least, I am a +mill wright by trade. We are a sort of half and half between +carpenter and smith. + +"Is there anything else?" he asked, as he finished screwing the +last screw. + +"No, nothing else, thank you," the girl answered. "That will do +very nicely, and I am much obliged to you." + +After finishing his work in the cabins, Reuben went forward. + +"Captain," the young lady said, as she went upon deck, "I have been +talking to that young carpenter of yours. I am quite interested in +him. Is he really a carpenter? He does not talk a bit like one." + +"I believe so, Miss Hudson," the captain replied. "At least, he +produced an excellent testimonial from his last employer, when I +engaged him. Of course, it might not have been genuine. If there +had been time, I should have made more inquiries; but he was well +spoken, and had an earnest look about him. But, now you mention it, +I don't know that it is very wise letting him go into all the +cabins, when I know so little about him." + +"Oh, I never thought of that!" the girl exclaimed. "I am sure he +looks honest. It was only because he spoke so well that I mentioned +it." + +"He seems to be a sharp young fellow," the captain remarked, "and I +see that he has taken to going aloft with the rest of the crew +already. He is an emigrant rather than a sailor, for he has only +shipped for a passage. I don't know whether he is going to join a +man, out there; but if not, he is certainly young to go out on his +own account. I do not think he's more than eighteen. He looks so +young, he cannot have served all his time at his trade." + +"I really feel quite interested in him, Captain Wilson," the girl +said, turning to a gentleman standing by, who had been listening to +the conversation. "I wish, if you get an opportunity, you would get +into conversation with this carpenter of ours, and find out +something about him." + +"I will, if you like, Miss Hudson; but I don't suppose there's much +to find out, and what there is, he's not likely to tell me. From +what you say, I should guess that he had had a bad master, and had +run away." + +"But the captain said he had good testimonials," Miss Hudson +persisted. + +"As to testimonials," the gentleman said, "anyone can write a +testimonial." + +"How suspicious you are, Captain Wilson!" the girl laughed. "That's +the worst of being a police officer, and having to do with +criminals. You think whoever you come across is a rogue, until you +find out he is an honest man. Now, I think everyone is honest, till +I find him out to be a rogue." + +"My way is the safest," the officer laughed. "At any rate, on board +this ship there are five rogues to each honest man." + +"Ah, but that's not a fair average," the girl objected. "Of course, +in the colony one has to be careful, considering that half the +shepherds and stockmen are convicts, and I must own that the +natives are nearly all thieves; but how could it be otherwise, when +England sends all its rogues out to us? You see, when free labour +gets more abundant, and we can do without convicts, the colonists +will protest against it." + +"Very likely they will," the officer agreed; "but what is England +to do, if she has nowhere to send her rogues?" + +"That is her business," Miss Hudson said carelessly. "There is no +reason why they should be shoved on to us. In the old time, when +there were no colonies, England managed somehow, and I suppose she +could do so again." + +"She managed in a very short way," Captain Wilson said. "She hung +them as fast as she caught them. It did not matter much what the +offence was, whether stealing a loaf or killing a man; but she +could hardly go back to that, now." + +"No, she could not," Miss Hudson agreed; "but I have no doubt she +can find something useful for them to do, when she has to keep them +at home. + +"Don't you think so, captain?" + +"I daresay she could," the captain answered. "Certainly, if I were +a colonist living in a lonely part of the country, I should object +to transportation for, what with the natives and bush rangers and +bad characters generally, no one can say their life is safe." + +"Oh, it's not so bad as that, captain!" Miss Hudson said +indignantly. "You are giving the place a bad character." + +"I think Captain Wilson will agree it's a true one," the captain +said, smiling. + +"Eh, Captain Wilson?" + +"I am afraid so," the latter replied. "I know they keep me pretty +busy. However, after a year's holiday, I must not grumble if I find +plenty to do when I get there." + +The voyage down to the Cape was wholly uneventful. The Paramatta +was most fortunate in her weather and, beyond trimming the sails, +the crew had a very easy time of it. Captain Wilson had, as he +promised Miss Hudson, taken the opportunity, when Reuben was +sitting idly on deck, of having a chat with him; but he did not +learn much in the course of the conversation. + +"Your young carpenter puzzles me, Miss Hudson," he said to her at +dinner. "He is certainly an altogether exceptionally well-spoken +young fellow, for his condition of life; but I can't quite make him +out. I think that he has worked as a mill wright. He spoke openly +and without hesitation as to his work. But how it is he has thrown +it up and emigrated, so young, I can't make out. Of course he +cannot have served his time and yet, somehow, I don't think that he +has run away, from the manner in which he spoke of his employer. + +"He has no friends whatever in the colony, as far as I could learn. +I should say he has certainly been fairly educated, and yet he +seems, from his own account, to have worked three or four years at +his trade. + +"I certainly like the lad, though I own that, so far, I cannot +altogether make him out. Perhaps I shall learn somewhat more about +him, before we get to the end of the voyage, and in that case I +will tell you all I know." + +Miss Hudson was the daughter of a wealthy flock owner--or, as he +was called, squatter--in New South Wales. Her father and mother +were on board the ship with her. This was her fifth voyage. She had +gone out as a baby with her parents; and had returned to England, +at the age of ten, to be educated. When eighteen, she had joined +her mother and father in Australia and, two years later, had come +with them to Europe, and had spent some months travelling on the +Continent. They were now on their way back to the colony. + +The only other single lady among the passengers of the Paramatta +was going out, under the charge of the captain, to fill a place as +governess in a family in Sydney. Miss Furley was somewhat quiet, +but a friendship had naturally sprang up between her and Miss +Hudson, as the only two young women on board the ship; and the life +and high spirits of the young colonist, and the musical +acquirements of Miss Furley, helped to make the voyage pass +pleasantly for the passengers in the Paramatta. + +Captain Wilson had a good tenor voice, and sang well; and one of +the other passengers was able to furnish a bass. Almost every +evening, as the ship was running down the tropics before a gentle +favouring breeze, the sound of solo and glee singing rose from the +little party gathered on the poop; and even the convicts, on deck +forward, ceased their talk and listened to the strains. + +Although the passage had been a pleasant one, there was a general +feeling of satisfaction when the ship dropped her anchor in Table +Bay. Most of the passengers went on shore at once, to take up their +quarters at the hotel till she sailed again. The captain said that +it would take at least a couple of days to fill up the water tanks, +and take in a supply of fresh provisions. + +On the afternoon of the second day, Reuben asked permission of the +first mate to go ashore for a few hours. + +"Certainly, Whitney," the officer said. "You have proved a very +useful hand on the way out, which is more than most do who work +their passage. Nine out of ten of them are not worth their salt, to +say nothing of the rest of their rations. You can stay on shore +tonight, if you like; but you must come off early in the morning. +We hope to get away in good time." + +On landing, Reuben was much struck with the variety of the scene. +In the streets of Cape Town were men of many types. Here was the +English merchant and man of business, looking and dressing just as +he would at home. Names over the shop doors were for the most part +Dutch, as was the appearance of the majority of the white men in +the streets. Dutch farmers in broad hats and homespun garments, +mounted on rough ponies, clattered along through the streets. The +manual work was for the most part done by swarthy natives, while +among the crowd were numbers of Malays, with dark olive skins, +small eyes, and jet-black hair, their women being arrayed in every +shade of gaudy colour. + +For some time Reuben wandered about the streets, greatly amused at +all he saw. Towards evening he turned his face towards the sea, as +he had no wish to avail himself of the permission given him to sleep +on shore. Presently he encountered Miss Hudson and Miss Furley, +walking the other way. The former nodded brightly, for she had +several times spoken to Reuben, since their first acquaintanceship. + +Reuben touched his hat, and proceeded on his way. He had gone but a +few yards when he heard a loud cry, and everyone darted suddenly +into shops or round corners. + +Looking round in surprise, Reuben saw what had caused the movement. +A Malay, with his long hair streaming down his shoulders, was +rushing down the street, giving vent to terrible yells; in his hand +he held a crease, with which, just as Reuben looked round, he cut +down a native who had tried, too late, to make his escape. + +The two English girls, confused and alarmed at the sudden outburst; +and unable, until too late, to comprehend the cause of it, stood +alone in the middle of the street and, too terrified now to move, +clung to each other, regardless of the shouts to fly raised by +people at the windows and doors. + +[Illustration: The Ladies Saved from the Malay's Crease.] + +The Malay, with a howl of exultation, made at them with uplifted +crease. Reuben sprang forward, passed the terrified women when the +Malay was within four paces of them, and threw himself with all his +force upon him. The Malay, whose eyes were fixed upon the ladies, +was taken by surprise by the assault; and his crease had not time +to fall when Reuben sprang upon him. + +The shock threw both to the ground; Reuben, as he fell, throwing +both arms round his adversary. The Malay struggled furiously, and +the combatants rolled over and over on the ground. Strong as Reuben +was, the frenzy of the Malay gave him greater power; and the lad +felt he could not long retain his grip of the arm with which the +Malay strove to use his crease. + +Help, however, was not long in coming. A native policeman ran up at +full speed; and brought his heavy club, with his full force, down +on the head of the Malay. The latter's limbs at once relaxed, and +Reuben sprang to his feet; breathless, but not seriously harmed, +although the blood was freely flowing from some slight wounds he +had received from the Malay's sharp-edged weapon. + + + +Chapter 7: Gratitude. + + +Reuben looked round, upon gaining his feet. He saw Miss Hudson +standing by the side of her companion; who had fallen, fainting, to +the ground. Mr. Hudson and Captain Wilson, running at their full +speed, were within a few paces of the girls. They had entered a +shop to make a purchase, while the ladies strolled on; and although +they had rushed out on hearing the alarm, they were too far off to +render assistance and, impotent to help, had seen with horror the +terrible death which threatened the ladies. + +Frances Hudson had not uttered a word, from the moment when the +Malay rushed down upon them; but as her father came up she turned +round, and burst into tears as he clasped her in his arms. + +As soon as it was seen that the Malay was no longer dangerous, the +people poured out again from the houses and shops. It was no very +unusual thing, in Cape Town, for the Malays to run amuck; and many +of those in the streets hurried off, in the direction from which +the man had come, to inquire how many victims had fallen to his +deadly crease, and to see whether any friends were among them. On +the Malay himself no one spared a moment's attention. A second +tremendous blow, with the policeman's club, had dashed out his +brains; for Malays running amuck were always killed upon the spot, +partly in order to save further trouble with them, partly to strike +terror into others. + +Many of the bystanders gathered round Reuben, seized him by the +hand, patting him on the shoulder, and praising him for the courage +with which he had faced the maddened savage. A minute later, Mr. +Hudson forced his way through the crowd. Miss Furley had already +been raised, and carried into a shop. + +"Go in with her, my dear," Mr. Hudson said to his daughter. "I will +bring him to you directly. + +"My brave fellow!" he exclaimed, as he made his way to Reuben and +grasped his hand, "how can I thank you for saving my child's life? +It seemed to us that she was lost, and that nothing could save her; +when we saw you dash past her, and throw yourself unarmed upon the +madman. It was a noble deed, indeed. + +"You are not badly hurt, I hope," he added, as he saw the blood +streaming down Reuben's face and arm. + +"Nothing to speak of, sir," Reuben replied. "At least, I think not; +but I feel rather queer from this loss of blood. I had better get +myself bandaged up." + +And indeed, Reuben was turning very pale, partly from the +relaxation of the tension of the struggle; partly, as he said, from +loss of blood. + +"Stand back!" Mr. Hudson cried, "don't press upon him. The lad is +nearly fainting. One of you help me get him into a shop. Where is +the nearest surgeon to be found?" + +It was as much as Reuben could do to walk across the street, aided +by his two supporters. A strong glass of Cape smoke (as the native +spirit is called) and water revived him somewhat. It was some +minutes before a surgeon arrived; for five persons had been +terribly wounded, and two killed by the Malay on his course, and +the surgeons near were busily employed. + +"Not very serious," the surgeon said, as soon as he examined +Reuben's wounds. "Very different affairs from those I have just +come from." + +"I had hold of his hand," Reuben said, "so that he couldn't strike. +They are only cuts he made in trying to get his arm free." + +"That on your arm will not trouble you, though it has bled pretty +freely. The one down your face is, fortunately, of no great +consequence; except that it has cut down to the bone on the brow +and cheek. If it had been an inch further back, it would have +severed the temporal artery. You have had a narrow escape of it. As +it is, you will get off with a scar, which may last for some time; +but as it is an honourable one, perhaps you won't so much care. +However, I will bring it together as well as I can, and stitch it +up, and it may not show much." + +The wound was sewn up and then bandaged, as was that on the arm. +The other and slighter wounds were simply drawn together by slips +of plaster. When all was done, Reuben said to Mr. Hudson: + +"I shall do very well now, sir. I am sure you must wish to go to +Miss Hudson. I will sit here a bit longer, and then go on board the +ship." + +"You will do nothing of the kind," Mr. Hudson said. "I have just +sent for a vehicle, and you will come to the hotel and get into bed +at once. You are not fit to stand now, but I hope a good night's +rest will do you good." + +Reuben would have protested, but at this moment a vehicle arrived +at the door, and with it Captain Wilson entered. + +"I have just taken your daughter and Miss Furley to the hotel, +Hudson," he said. "They are both greatly shaken, and no wonder. So +I thought it better to see them back, before coming in to shake +hands with our gallant young friend here." + +"He has lost a good deal of blood, Wilson; and I am just taking him +off, to get him to bed in the hotel. + +"So we won't do any thanking till the morning," Mr. Hudson said, +seeing that Reuben's lip quivered, and he was incapable of bearing +any further excitement. "Do you take one of his arms and I will +take the other, and get him into that trap." + +A quarter of an hour later, Reuben was in bed at the hotel. Mr. +Hudson brought him up a basin of clear soup. Having drunk this, he +turned over and was, in a very few minutes, asleep. The captain and +most of the other passengers were at the same hotel, and there was +great excitement when the news arrived of the terrible danger the +two girls had run. Mrs. Hudson had, from her early life, been +accustomed to emergencies; and the instant the girls arrived she +took them up to the room they shared between them, and insisted +upon their going at once to bed, after partaking of a cup of tea. + +"What am I to do for this young fellow, Wilson?" Mr. Hudson asked +as, having seen his patient comfortably in bed, he returned +downstairs, and took a seat in the verandah by his fellow +passenger. "I owe Frances' life to him, and there is nothing I +wouldn't do for him. The question is, what? One does not like to +offer money to a man, for such a service as this." + +"No," Mr. Wilson agreed, "especially in his case. The young fellow +appears to me very much above his condition. Your daughter first +pointed it out to me, and I have since chatted with him several +times, and find him a very superior young fellow. Certainly his +education has been very different from that of most men in his +condition of life, and I should have taken him for a gentleman, who +had got into some scrape and run away, had it not been that he +seems to have been regularly apprenticed to his trade. Still, there +is something a little mysterious about him. I asked him casually +what part of the country he came from. He hesitated a moment, and +then said, 'From the south of England.' Of course, I did not ask +any further questions, as it was clear he did not care about naming +the precise locality, or he would not have given so vague an +answer. I feel as deeply indebted to him as you do." + +Mr. Hudson nodded. Only the evening before arriving at Cape Town, +Captain Wilson had spoken to him on the matter of his affection for +his daughter, and had asked his permission to speak to Frances. +They had known each other in the colony, but had not been intimate +until thrown together on board the Paramatta. Seeing that she was +an only child, and that her father was considered one of the +wealthiest squatters in the colony, Captain Wilson had feared that +Mr. Hudson would not approve of him as a suitor; and had therefore +broached the subject to him, before speaking to her. Mr. Hudson, +however, had raised no objections. + +"You have taken a manly and proper course, in speaking to me +first," he said; "just what I should have expected from you. I own +that, with the fortune the girl will have some day, I have always +looked for her making what they call a good match, and settling +down in the old country; but I may tell you that while she has been +in Europe she has had several opportunities of so doing, if she +would have taken them. She did not think fit to do so, and I have +always made up my mind not to influence her in any way, providing +she didn't fix her choice upon one whose character I disapproved. +Certainly I have no reasons for so doing, in the present case. Your +character stands high in the colony; and personally, as you are +well aware, I like you exceedingly. + +"What Frances' feelings in the matter are, I have no means of +knowing. There is no doubt she likes you, but as to anything more, +it is for you to find out. You will have plenty of time, between +this and Sydney. Anyhow, you have my hearty approval of your +wooing. + +"I think, between ourselves you know, you must not expect, at +first, any very cordial approval on the part of her mother. She had +an idea, you know, that Frances would marry a duke at least, and an +offer from a prince of the blood would not have surprised her. It +is a great disappointment, to her, that she should have returned +unmarried; and she has already been talking to me about our +returning to England, in another couple of years. So she will not +take quite kindly to it, at first; but you mustn't mind that. Fond +of Frances as she is, she will soon come round, if she finds that +the girl's happiness is really concerned in the matter. + +"Take my advice, and don't push it till we get near the end of the +voyage. If Frances says yes, she is the sort of girl to stick to +it; and as I am with you, you may be quite sure it will come right +in the long run; but we might not have a very pleasant time of it +during the remainder of the voyage, you know, and as things have +gone on so pleasantly, it would be a pity to spoil them." + +Thus it was that Mr. Hudson nodded, when the young officer of the +constabulary said that his indebtedness to Reuben was equal to his +own. + +"Yes," he said, "if it had been one of the sailors, I could have +set the matter right by drawing a big cheque, and I shouldn't have +cared how big; but with this young fellow I do not quite see my +way. However, I will shift the responsibility, by leaving the +matter in Frances' hands--women are much better hands at things of +this sort, that require a light touch, than we are. I do not wonder +that she and Miss Furley are shaken. I feel shaken myself. I shall +never forget that scene, and the two girls standing there, and that +wild Malay rushing at them. My legs seemed to give way under me, +and I thought I should have fallen down." + +"I felt bad myself, sir," Captain Wilson said. "I have been in some +tough fights, with bush rangers and natives; but I never had that +sort of feeling before. + +"One ran, but one felt it was no use running, as all must be over +before we could get there. When it was over, I felt as weak as a +child." + +"Don't let us talk any more about it," Mr. Hudson said, rising. "I +doubt whether I shall get a wink of sleep now; and I am sure I +sha'n't, if we go on talking any more about it. Let us take a turn, +and have a stiff glass of brandy and water afterwards, to settle +our nerves before turning in." + +The passengers by the Paramatta were up early in the morning, for +the ship was to sail at nine. But early as they were, Reuben was +before them; and on Mr. Hudson inquiring about him, as he turned +out, he was informed that he had already gone on board the ship. + +The two girls both looked pale, when they came down to their early +breakfast. Both declared, however, that they had slept well. + +"You must give us time, dad, to get up our roses," Frances Hudson +said, in reply to her father's remarks as to their appearance. "I +have no doubt a few days at sea will do it; but of course, it is +only right and proper that young ladies should be pale, after going +through such an adventure as we had yesterday. + +"But do not let us talk about it," she said, with a shudder. "I +should like not to be able to think about it, again, for six +months. You used to say, dad, that I was plucky, because I wasn't +afraid of wild cattle, and not very afraid of the natives or bush +rangers; but I am sure I cannot lay claim to any special courage in +future, for no one in the world could feel more frightened than I +did, yesterday." + +"Well, my dear, you were no worse than anyone else, for everyone +else bolted at the first alarm. The way that street was cleared was +something marvellous." + +"Yes, dad; but I was too frightened to run. Not that it would have +been any use if I had, for he was close to us before we knew what +was the matter; and if I could have run, I don't think Emma could." + +"No, indeed," Miss Furley said. "I had no idea of running and, even +had there been plenty of time, I am sure I could not have got out +of the way. Somehow I seemed to lose all power to move. I had just +shut my eyes, and thought it was all over, when there was a shout +and a rush, and I saw the Malay roll over; and then I made a snatch +at Frances, and rolled over, too." + +"It was a terrible moment," Mr. Hudson said. "But I agree, with +Frances, that it is better for you to try and think nothing more +about it, until you have perfectly recovered your health and +spirits." + +"I hear, dad, that the young man that saved us has gone on board +ship. I asked, directly I was up, because I wanted to see him." + +"And I expect, my dear, that he slipped away because he didn't want +to see you. It sounds rude, doesn't it? But I can perfectly +understand it." + +"So can I," the girl agreed. "Did you see him this morning?" + +"No, my dear. I came downstairs only a minute or two before you +did, and then found that he was gone." + +"Have you thought over what you are going to do, dad, for him?" + +"Wilson and I have talked it over, Frances, but at present we don't +see our way. It is too serious a matter to make up our minds in a +hurry. Your mother is in favour of giving him a handsome present; +but I don't think, myself, that that would do. Men who will do such +deeds as that are not the sort of men to be paid by money." + +"Oh no, dad! Surely not that. Any other possible way, but not +money." + +"No, my dear; so I thought. I have chatted it over with Wilson, and +we have agreed that the best plan is to leave it entirely in your +hands." + +"I will think it over, dad," the girl said gravely. "It is a +serious thing. We owe him our lives, and the least we can do is not +to hurt his feelings, by the way in which we try to show our +gratitude." + +Reuben had slept well; and on waking, soon after daylight, jumped +at once out of bed; and was glad to feel that, except for a certain +amount of weakness in the legs, and stiffness in his wounds, he was +all right again. He dressed quietly and, as soon as he heard +persons moving about in the hotel, made his way down to the shore, +and sat down there to wait for a boat from the ship; which was +lying some distance out, and would, he was sure, be sending off +early, as there would be many things to bring on board before she +sailed. + +It was not long before he saw the men descending the gangway to the +boat alongside, which was soon rowing towards the shore. As she +approached, Reuben saw the steward and first mate, sitting in the +stern seats; and when the officer jumped ashore, his eye fell on +Reuben. + +"Ah, Whitney," he said, "I am glad to see you about. When the +captain came off, last night, he told me all about your gallant +rescue of the two ladies. I am sorry to see you bandaged up so +much. The captain said you had some nasty cuts, but I didn't think +they were so bad." + +"They are nothing to speak about, sir," Reuben replied, "although +you would think so, from seeing those bandages all over one side of +the face, and my arm in a sling; but they are no great depth, and +don't hurt to speak of. They were clean cuts with a sharp edge, and +don't hurt half as much as many a knock I have had, with a hammer." + +"Well, we all feel proud of you, my lad. It isn't everyone who +would face a Malay running amuck, without weapons, I can tell you." + +"I think any English sailor would do so, sir, if he saw the Malay +rushing down upon two ladies. There was no time to think about +danger, one way or the other. The only thing to be done was to rush +at him, and so I rushed, as anyone else would have done." + +"Ah, it's all very well to say so, Whitney; but I have my doubts +about everyone else rushing. However, I mustn't stand talking about +it now, as I have my hands full of work. The sooner you get on +board the ship, the better. + +"Row Whitney back to the ship, lads, and come back again in an +hour's time. None of the things will be down here before that." + +Reuben stepped into the boat, which at once pushed off. The men +rowed easily, for they were anxious to hear the particulars of the +report which had circulated through the ship. Bill Hardy was rowing +the stroke oar, and did the questioning. + +"You may try to make little of it," he said, "but I tell you, +Reuben, it were a right down good thing--a thing any man would have +right to be proud of. + +"What do you say, mates?" + +There was a general chorus of "Ay, ay." + +"I took you in hand when you came on board, young un," Bill went +on, "and I looks upon you as my chick, and I tell you I feel proud +on you. I felt sure you would turn out a good un, some day, but I +didn't look to see it so quick. + +"In oars!" + +The boat ran up alongside the gangway, and Reuben was soon upon +deck. He was there met by the captain, who had just come up as the +boat rowed alongside. He shook Reuben's hand heartily. + +"You are a fine young fellow, Whitney; and your mother, if you have +one, ought to be proud of you. I should be, if you were a son of +mine. It was a lucky day for us all, when I shipped you on board +the Paramatta; for it would have been a heavy day for us, if those +two young ladies had been killed by that madman, yesterday. + +"You look pale, lad, as much as one can see of you, and you will +have to lie by for a bit. I hear you lost a great deal of blood. + +"Steward, bring another cup of cocoa with mine, a large one, and +put plenty of milk in." + +The captain insisted on Reuben coming to his cabin to drink his +cocoa. + +"You had best knock off your allowance of spirits, till your wounds +have healed up, lad. I will tell the second mate to serve you out +port wine, instead." + +Reuben now went forward, feeling very much the better for the +cocoa. He again had to receive the hearty congratulations of the +men; and then, rather to escape from this than because he felt he +needed it, he turned into his bunk, and was soon sound asleep. + +Three hours later, he was awakened by the tramp of men overhead, +and knew that they were shortening the anchor chain, and preparing +to be off. Going out on to the deck, he saw that the courses had +been dropped, and the topsails were lying loose in their gaskets. +The crew were singing merrily, as they worked the capstan. Three of +the boats already hung from the davits, and two large boats were +bringing off the passengers, and were already within a hundred +yards of the ship; while the remaining ship's boat, with the +steward, crowded with fresh stores, was but a short way behind +them. As soon as the passengers were up, and the shore boats had +left, she came alongside. + +"Hook on the falls at once," the first mate ordered, "and run her +up as she is. You can get the things out afterwards." + +The anchor was, by this time, under the foot. + +"Up with it, lads!" and the sailors again started, at full speed, +on the capstan. + +The jibs were run up, the courses and topsails shaken out and +braced, and the Paramatta began to steal through the water again, +for the second portion of her voyage. Mr. Hudson and his friend +very soon made their way forward, and the ship was scarcely under +way when Reuben, who was gazing over the bulwark at the shore, felt +a hand laid on his shoulder. + +"How are you today, Reuben? Better, I hope? It was too bad of you +to run off in that way, this morning." + +"I am all right now, thank you, sir," Reuben answered. "I felt just +a little shaky at first, but the captain gave me a cup of cocoa +when I came on board, and I feel now as if I were fit for duty +again." + +"Oh, nonsense," Mr. Hudson exclaimed, "you mustn't think of work, +for days yet. No, you must come aft with me. My daughter and Miss +Furley are most anxious to see you; and my wife, too, is longing to +add her thanks to mine." + +"You are very good, sir, but really I would rather not, if you will +excuse me. It is horrid being thanked and made a fuss about, just +because, on the spur of the moment, one did one's duty." + +"That's all very well, Reuben; but you see, it wouldn't be fair to +my daughter. If anyone did you a great service, you would want to +thank them, would you not?" + +"Yes, I suppose so, sir," Reuben answered reluctantly; "but really, +I hate it." + +"I can understand your feelings, my lad, but you must make up your +mind to do it. When anyone puts others under a vast obligation to +him, he must submit to be thanked, however much he may shrink from +it. Come along, it will not be very dreadful." + +Reuben saw that there was no getting out of it, and followed Mr. +Hudson along the deck; feeling, however, more ashamed and +uncomfortable even than he did when standing in the dock, as a +criminal. Captain Wilson walked beside him. Hitherto he had not +spoken, but he now laid his hand quietly upon Reuben's shoulder. + +"My lad," he said, "I am not a man to talk much; but believe me +that, henceforth, I am your friend for life." + +Reuben looked up, with a little smile which showed that he +understood. He had often, indeed, watched the young officer and +Miss Hudson together, and had guessed that they were more than mere +acquaintances. + +The passengers were, with the exception of the three ladies, all +gathered on the poop. But Frances had proposed to her mother that +they should see Reuben in the cabin alone, as she felt that it +would be a severe ordeal, to the lad, to be publicly thanked. +Captain Wilson ascended to the poop and joined the others there, +while Mr. Hudson went alone into the cabin. + +The three ladies were awaiting him there. Frances came forward +first. The tears were standing in her eyes. + +"You have saved my life," she said softly, "at the risk of your +own; and I thank you with all my heart, not only for my own sake, +but for that of my father and mother; who would have been +childless, today, had it not been for you." + +"I need no thanks, Miss Hudson," Reuben said quietly. + +His shyness had left him, as he entered the cabin. + +"It will, all my life, be a source of pleasure and gratification to +me, that I have been able to have been of service to so bright and +kind a lady." + +"I am not less grateful," Miss Furley said, advancing also. "I +shall never forget that dreadful moment, and the feeling which +darted through my mind, as you rushed past us and threw yourself +upon him, and I felt that I was saved almost by a miracle." + +"And you must accept my thanks also," Mrs. Hudson said; "the thanks +of a mother, whose child you have saved from so dreadful a death. +Believe me that there is nothing that my husband or myself would +not do, to show how deeply and sincerely we are grateful to you." + +Mrs. Hudson, indeed, felt rather aggrieved that she could not, at +once, take some active steps towards rewarding the young man for +saving her daughter's life; and she had been unable to understand +the scruples of her husband and daughter on the subject. It was +only, indeed, at their urgent entreaty that she had given way on +this point. + +"I call it monstrous, Frances," she said, almost angrily. "Of +course the young man will expect something more substantial than +words. It is only natural that we should reward him for preserving +your life, and it would be a crime if we didn't do so. Of course, +he didn't do it for money at the time, but it is absurd to suppose +that a young carpenter like this, working his way out on board a +ship, will object to receive a handsome present for such a service +as this. Our feelings have a right to be considered, as well as +his; and a nice thing it will be, for people to say that Ralph +Hudson and his wife were so stingy, and ungrateful, that they did +nothing for the lad who had saved their daughter's life." + +"There is no fear of their saying that, mother. Everyone in the +colony knows that there are no more open-handed people in New South +Wales than you and my father. Besides, I do not say that we are to +do nothing for him. On the contrary, I agree with you that it would +be wrong, indeed, if we did not. I only say, please don't let there +be a word said about reward, now. Let us thank him as one would +thank a gentleman, who had done us a great service." + +"Of course, I will do as your father wishes, Frances, but I call it +nonsense. If he were a gentleman it would, of course, be different; +but he is a young carpenter and, though you won't see it, that +seems to me to make all the difference." + +"From what I have seen of him, mother," Frances persisted, "I am +sure that he has the feelings of a gentleman; even if he is not one +by birth, about which I am not certain. Anyhow, I am much obliged +to you for letting me have my own way." + +"You always do have your own way, Frances," her mother laughed. +"You get round your father first, and then you come to me, and what +can I do against the two of you?" + +Reuben briefly answered Miss Furley and Mrs. Hudson; and Mr. +Hudson, feeling that the lad would rather get over the scene as +soon as possible, slipped his arm though his and said: + +"Now, Reuben, you must just come up for a minute on the poop. The +other passengers are all waiting to shake you by the hand, and they +would not forgive me if I were to let you run off, as I know you +are wanting to do, without a word." + +Accordingly Reuben was taken up to the poop, where the passengers +all shook hands with him, and congratulated him upon his courage. + +"Now, I suppose I can go, sir," he said, with a smile to Mr. +Hudson, when this was over. + +"Yes, you can go now," Mr. Hudson laughed. "Most young fellows at +your age would be glad of an opportunity for figuring as a hero, +but you talk as if it was one of the most painful businesses +imaginable." + +"Anyhow, I am glad it's over, Mr. Hudson, I can assure you; and +now, I think I will turn in again. Considering what a night I had, +I feel wonderfully sleepy." + +It was not until the sun was setting that Reuben appeared again on +deck. Shortly after he did so, Captain Wilson strolled up to the +place where he was standing. + +"I wish, Reuben," he said, after a few remarks on other subjects, +"that you would tell me a little more about yourself. You +understand that I do not ask from mere inquisitiveness; but after +what has happened, you see, we seem to have got into close +relationship with each other; and if I knew more about you, I could +the easier see in what way I could most really be useful to you, +out there. Are you what you appear to be?" + +"I am, indeed," Reuben replied, with a smile. "My history is a very +simple one. My father was a miller with a good business and, up to +the age of ten, it did not appear that I should ever be working as +a craftsman for my living. Unhappily, at that time my father +slipped, one night, into the mill pond and was drowned; and when +his affairs came to be wound up, it was found that he had +speculated disastrously in wheat; and that, after paying all +claims, there was nothing left. + +"My mother took a little village shop, and I went to the village +school. At first, I think I did not work very hard; but fortunately +there was a change in masters, and the new one turned out one of +the best friends a boy ever had. He pushed me on greatly and, when +I was apprenticed to a mill wright, he urged me to continue my +education by working of an evening. I stuck to it hard, and with +his help learned, therefore, a good deal more than was usual, in my +station of life. My mother was always particular about my speaking +and, what with that and the books, I suppose I talk better than +they generally do." + +"And is your mother alive?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"But how came you to think of emigrating, at your age; when indeed, +you cannot have served out your full time?" + +"That, sir," Reuben said gravely, "I cannot tell you. Some day, +perhaps, if you care to know, I may bring myself to do so. I may +say that it was a serious matter, but that I was really in no way +to blame, whatever people may think. My conscience is absolutely +clear, and yet I would rather that the story, which I left England +to escape, should not be known to anyone." + +"I do not seek to know further, Reuben. I think I know enough of +you to be perfectly sure that you would do nothing that was wrong, +and I am perfectly willing to take your word in the matter. +However, I am glad that you have told me as much as you have. Your +early rearing, your mother's care, and the education you have had, +perfectly account for what seemed strange about you before. You +have no objection, I hope, to my repeating your story to Mr. +Hudson, who is as much interested in you as I am. + +"And now another thing. I know that it is painful, to him, that one +to whom he is so indebted should be forward here in the forecastle, +instead of being in the cabin. He was afraid of hurting your +feelings, by speaking to you about it; but I know that it would be +a great relief and pleasure, to him and Mrs. Hudson, if you would +allow them to make an arrangement with the captain that, for the +remainder of the voyage, you should be a passenger." + +"I am much obliged to them," Reuben said quietly; "but I could not +think of accepting such an offer. I am working my way out +independently, sir, and I owe no one anything. I am really enjoying +the passage, and so far there has been no hardship worth speaking +of. Even putting aside the fact that I should not like to accept an +obligation which would, to most people, look like a payment for the +service I was fortunate enough to be able to render to Mr. Hudson, +I should feel out of my element. I am very comfortable, and get on +very well with the men; while in the cabin I should feel strange, +and out of place." + +"I don't think you would seem out of place anywhere, Reuben. No +one, from your manner and conversation, would judge you to be +otherwise than a gentleman by birth; while there are several of the +passengers, aft, whose talk and methods of expression are by no +means up to the level of yours." + +"I should feel uncomfortable myself," Reuben said, "even if I +didn't make other people uncomfortable. So I think that, with all +gratitude for the offer, I would very much rather remain as I am. +Accustomed as I have been to hard work, during my apprenticeship, +the life here appears to be exceedingly easy." + +"Then we will say no more about it," Captain Wilson said. "It would +have been a pleasure, both to me and the Hudsons, to have you aft, +and I am sure you would be well received by all the passengers. +However, as you think you would not be comfortable, we will let the +matter drop. + +"However, as to your work in the colony, we must have a say in +that; and I hope that, when I thoroughly understand your wishes, we +shall be able to help you forward there." + +"For that I shall be extremely obliged, sir. It would be a great +thing, indeed, for anyone on landing to have gentlemen ready to +assist him, and push him forward. This is so at home, and is of +course still more the case in a strange country. I am very anxious +to get on, and am ready to work my hardest, to deserve any kindness +that may be shown me." + +"Well, we shall have plenty of time to think it over before we +arrive. + +"I fancy," Captain Wilson went on, looking upwards at the sky, +"that our wonderful run of good luck, with regard to the weather, +is likely to end shortly, and that we are in for a gale." + +"Do you think so, sir?" + +"I do, indeed; and if we do get a gale, it is likely to be a +serious one. The Cape, you know, was much feared for its terrible +storms by the Portuguese, and it has kept up its reputation ever +since. I think it is going to give us a taste of its quality." + + + +Chapter 8: A Gale. + + +"Wilson tells me he thinks we are going to have a gale, Bill." + +"Ay, ay, Reuben; anyone with half an eye could see that." + +"Which way is it likely to come?" + +"Most likely from the north or northwest. At least that's the +quarter it's likely to settle into; but there ain't no saying which +way it may take us. I thought things had been going on too smooth +to last. Now you are going to see what a storm is, my lad. You +thought it was blowing when we went down the Channel." + +"Is it likely to be much heavier than that, Bill?" + +"Heavier!" the sailor repeated scornfully. "Why, there's as much +difference between a capful of wind in the Channel, and a gale off +the Cape, as there is between a newborn baby and me." + +"Do they last long, generally?" + +"Last! Why they goes on for weeks. There ain't no end to them. I've +wondered sometimes to myself where all the wind comes from, and +where it goes to, onlass it works round and round." + +"But it does work round and round, Bill?" + +"Ay, when you are near the centre of it. Why, lad, in three hours I +have gone round the compass three times, with the wind dead aft all +the time; but that's only when you are near the centre. When you +ain't it blows straight, and I have known vessels run for days--ay, +for weeks--with the wind blowing all the time in the same quarter. +Some have been blown down right to the edge of the ice, south. I +have been among the icebergs myself, two or three times, and I +guess that many a ship has laid her bones down in the ice fields +there, and no news ever come back home as to what's come to them; +and what makes it worse is as we have convicts on board." + +"What difference does that make, Bill?" + +"It don't make no difference, as long as all goes straight and +fair. I have heard, in course, of risings; but that's only when +either the guard are very careless, or the men is so bad treated +that they gets desperate, and is ready to die on the off chance of +getting free. So far we ain't had no trouble with them. The ship is +kept liberal, and the poor wretches ain't cheated out of the +rations as government allows them. The officer in charge seems a +good sort, and there's no knocking of them about, needless; so +there ain't no fear of trouble, as long as things go square. But +when things goes wrong, and a vessel gets cast away or anything of +that kind, then there's well-nigh sure to be trouble. The convicts +seize their opportunity, and it ain't scarce in human nature for +them not to take it, and then there ain't no saying what will +happen." + +"Why, what a croaker you are, Bill! I didn't expect that from you." + +"I ain't no croaker, Reuben, but I knows what I knows. I have been +through a job like that I am telling you of, once; and I don't want +to do it again. I will tell you about it, some day. I ain't saying +as I expect any such thing will happen, on board the Paramatta. God +forbid. She's a tight ship, and she's got as good officers and crew +as ever I sailed with. She has as good a chance as ever a ship had; +but when I sees that 'ere sort of sky in these latitudes, I feels +as we are in for a tough job." + +The conversation was broken off, abruptly, by the call of the first +mate. + +"All hands aloft to shorten sail!" + +"The bells is ringing up for the beginning of the performance, +Reuben. Here goes aloft!" + +The next minute the whole of the crew were climbing the shrouds, +for the watch off duty were all on deck, and the order was +expected; for the signs of the weather could, by this time, be read +by every sailor on board. Above, the sky was still bright and blue; +but around the whole circle of the horizon, a mist seemed to hang +like a curtain. + +"Smartly, lads, smartly," the captain shouted; "don't hurry over +your work, but do it with a will. + +"I hope we have not left it too long, Mr. James. I have held on +longer than I ought, for every mile we get away from land is an +advantage, and we have been running nearly due south, ever since I +noticed the first falling of the glass when we got up in the +morning." + +"I think we shall have time, sir," the mate said. "We are going to +have it, and no mistake, presently; but it don't seem to be coming +up fast." + +"The glass is going down rapidly," the captain said. "It's down an +inch already, and is still falling. + +"Mr. Mason," he went on, to the officer in command of the +detachment of marines, "will you kindly place your men under the +orders of Mr. James? I am going to send down all the upper spars, +and they can be useful on deck." + +Never was the Paramatta stripped more rapidly of her sails, for +every man was conscious of the urgency of the work. As soon as the +sails were furled, the yards were sent down. The upper spars +followed them and, in little over half an hour from the time the +men began to ascend the shrouds, the Paramatta was metamorphosed. +Her tall tapering masts and lofty spread of sail were gone. Every +spar above the topmasts had been sent down to the deck; and she lay +under close-reefed topsails, a stay sail, and a storm jib. The +captain gave a sigh of relief, as the men began to descend the +rigging. + +"Thank God, that is safely accomplished. Now we are in readiness +for whatever may come." + +He dived into his cabin, and returned almost immediately. + +"The glass has fallen another half inch, Mr. James," he said +gravely. "I have never but once seen it as low. + +"Ladies and gentlemen," he went on, addressing the passengers, who +were gathered in a group, talking in low tones and anxiously +watching the wall of vapour; which now seemed to rise from the +water's edge and reach far up into the sky, the circle of view +extending scarce half a mile in any direction; "I must ask you to +go below, at once. The storm may strike us any moment now, and when +it does come it will come heavily. I should like the deck perfectly +clear, and nothing to disturb my thoughts from the working of the +ship." + +Reuben had not gone aloft, as he was called back, just as he began +to ascend the shrouds, by the first mate, and ordered to go round +the cabins and fasten the dead lights securely. When this was done, +he aided the marines in nailing tarpaulins over the cabin +skylights, and then went round the deck, seeing that every movable +article was securely lashed. When this was done he joined Bill who, +with some others, had been at work securing all the hatches. The +convicts had long since been all sent below. + +"Shall I send my men down, captain?" Mr. Mason asked. + +"There is no occasion for it, just at present; but you had better +pass the word for all of them to hold on, when the gale strikes +her. That will be the critical moment. Once past that, she will be +all right till the sea begins to rise. Then you had best get them +below, for we shall have the water sweeping knee deep along the +waist, in no time. + +"I should say send them down at once; but I know many of them have +been to sea before, and may be useful in cutting away, if anything +goes." + +"She looks snug enough, captain," the young officer said, glancing +up at the diminished spread of canvas. + +"She is snug enough for any ordinary gale," the captain said; "but +this is not going to be an ordinary gale. When we once get her +before it, it will be all right. + +"Do you think we have another five minutes, Mr. James?" + +"There's no saying, sir; but I should think so. What do you want, +sir?" + +"I want that top sail off her, altogether." + +"I will do it, sir," the mate said and, calling Bill Hardy and two +others of the best sailors, he led the way up the main shrouds. + +Every eye on deck was fixed on the four seamen as, rapidly but +steadily, they proceeded to furl and stow the sail. There was still +not a breath of wind, but a low humming noise was heard. + +"Quick, Mr. James, never mind the sail. All hands on deck!" the +captain shouted; but the work was just done, and the sailors ran +quickly down the ratlines on to the deck. + +"Thank God!" the captain said reverently, "that is done." + +The ship was now under the close-reefed fore-top sail, a diminutive +try sail on the mizzen, and the jib. The hum had increased to a +roar, but still not a breath of wind stirred the sails. + +"Look up!" Bill said to Reuben; "you may be at sea fifty years, and +never see that again." + +Reuben looked up. Immediately overhead was a small circle of blue +sky, round and round whose edge the edging of cloud seemed to be +circling, with extreme velocity. The light seemed to pierce +straight down onto the vessel, and she stood, pale and white, while +all around her a pitchy blackness seemed to prevail. + +"We are in the eye of the storm, my lad. Here it comes. Now, hold +on for your life." + +In another moment it seemed to Reuben that the end of all things +was come. He was pinned against the bulwark, as if by a mighty +invisible hand; and the vessel heeled over and over, until the deck +seemed to rise in a wall above him. Then the water poured over him +and, though he still held on, he thought the vessel had capsized. +Then he felt her rising beneath his feet, and his head emerged from +the water. + +The captain, the first mate, and two seamen were at the wheel. +Reuben saw the captain wave his hand, but his words were lost in +the fury of the wind. The second mate, Bill Hardy, and two or three +other sailors knew what was required, and hauled upon the lee brace +of the fore-top-sail yard. The Paramatta was still lying nearly +over on her beam ends, but gradually her head began to pay off, and +she slowly righted. A minute later she was tearing directly before +the gale. Scarcely had she done so, when the fore-top sail blew out +of the bolt ropes, with a report that was heard even above the howl +of the tempest. + +"It's done its work," Bill shouted in Reuben's ear. "I thought she +was gone. Just a little more, and she would have turned turtle." + +The captain had used almost precisely the same words to the first +officer, adding: + +"She will do now, but we shall have to try to get a little more +head sail on her, when the sea gets up. Call some of the hands aft, +and get this try sail down. She yaws so, now the fore-top sail's +gone, there is no steering her." + +This was soon done and, under bare poles, the storm jib now the +only sail upon her, the Paramatta tore through the water. There was +little motion, for the sea had not begun to get up, seeming to be +pressed flat by the force of the wind. The captain now left the +helm. Two or three of the male passengers were standing at the top +of the companion, peering out. + +"You can come out, gentlemen, for a bit. She is running on an even +keel now, though that won't last long. No one hurt below, I hope." + +"Two or three of us have got bruised a little, captain; and I think +we have all of us got a severe fright. We thought she was over." + +"I thought so, too," the captain said. "Luckily she has got three +hundred tons of iron on board, and it's all stowed at the bottom of +the cargo, so that helped her up again; but it was touch and go +with her, for half a minute. + +"And now, gentlemen, if you will take my advice you will just look +round, and then go below and turn in. Now you can do so easily. +Another hour, and there will be no keeping a footing." + +The captain was right. In less than the time he named, a terrific +sea had got up. The Paramatta had already made more than one +circuit of the compass. There was no regularity in the sea. It +seemed to rise suddenly in heaps, now striking the ship on one +side, now on another, and pouring sheets of water over her +bulwarks. The motion of the vessel was so tremendous that even Bill +Hardy and the older seamen could only move along with the greatest +difficulty to carry out the orders of the captain; while Reuben +clung to the shrouds, now half buried in water, now almost hanging +in the air, with the sea racing along under his feet. + +As yet no more sail had been put upon her, for there was no +following sea. Although running almost before the gale, a slight +helm was kept upon her, so as to edge her out from the centre of +the storm; and the second circle of the compass took more than +twice as long as the first to complete, although the vessel was +proceeding with equal speed through the water. + +Hour after hour the sea got up--a wild, cross, broken sea--and the +motion of the vessel was so terrific as to be almost bewildering to +the oldest hands. There was none of the regular rise and fall of an +ordinary sea; the vessel was thrown with violent jerks, now on one +side, now on the other; now plunging her bow so deeply down that +she seemed about to dive, head foremost, beneath the waves; now +thrown bodily upwards, as if tossed up by some giant hand beneath +her. The watch off duty was sent below, for there was nothing that +could be done on deck; and the water swept over her in such masses +as to threaten, at times, to carry everything before it. One man +had had his leg broken. Several had been seriously bruised and +hurt. + +"This is terrible, Bill," Reuben said, as he went below. + +"Ay, lad; I have been at sea, man and boy, over forty years, and +it's the worst sea I ever saw. I expect to see her masts go out of +her, before long. Nothing could stand such straining as this. You +had best turn in at once. Unless I am mistaken, it will be all +hands to the pumps, before long. If she hadn't been one of the +tightest crafts afloat, she would have been making water at every +seam, by this time." + +Reuben felt, the instant he lay down, that sleep was out of the +question; for it needed all his strength to prevent himself from +being thrown out of his bunk. The noise, too, was terrific--the +rush and swell of the water overhead, the blows which made the ship +shiver from stem to stern, the creaking of the masts, and howling +of the wind. Night had set in, now. It was pitch dark in the +forecastle, for the swinging lantern had been dashed so violently +against the beams that the light was extinguished. + +Half an hour after Reuben turned in, a crash was heard. A moment +later the door was opened, and there was a shout: + +"The mizzen has gone! All hands to cut away the wreck!" + +The watch turned out and began to make their way aft, and were soon +engaged with knife and hatchet in cutting away the wreck of the +mizzen which, towing behind, threatened, with each heavy following +sea, to plunge into the vessel's stern. A cheer broke from the men +as the last rope was cut, and the wreck floated astern. The mast +had gone close to the deck, smashing the bulwark as it fell over +the side. The motion of the ship was easier, for its loss. + +"Mr. James," the captain shouted, "we must get preventer stays, at +once, upon the fore mast. The main mast may go, if it likes, and at +present we shall be all the better without it, but the foremast we +must keep, if we can." + +"Ay, ay, sir. I will set about it, at once." + +Picking out a few of the best hands, the first mate proceeded about +the work. + +"Go and sound the well, Reuben," the captain said. + +Reuben went off at once, and returned in two or three minutes. + +"There are four feet of water in it, sir." + +"Four feet! Are you sure?" the captain exclaimed. + +"Quite sure, sir." + +The captain handed over the command of the deck to the second +officer, and went below with Reuben. First wiping the rod +carefully, he sounded the well. + +"You are right," he said. "It is three inches over the four feet. I +fear that the bumping of the mizzen, before we got rid of it, must +have started a butt. She could hardly have made so much water from +straining." + +The captain made his way aft. The saloon was empty; the passengers, +one by one, had retired to their cabins. He knocked at the doors of +Mr. Mason and the chief warder. + +"The ship is making water fast," he said. "We must rig the +main-deck pumps. I can't spare any of the crew, their hands are +full. Will you set the convicts to work?" + +In a few minutes the clank of the pumps was heard. Very irregularly +were they worked, for it was next to impossible for the men to +stand to them, with the vessel throwing herself about so wildly. + +The captain had remained on deck. He placed his hand on the shrouds +of the main mast. One moment they hung loosely; and then, as the +vessel rolled over, tightened themselves, with a sudden jerk, till +they were as stiff as iron rods. He shook his head. + +"Reuben, make your way up to the chief officer, and tell him that I +am going to get rid of the main-top mast. Tell him to see that +everything is cut free from the fore mast." + +Reuben made his way aloft with difficulty. It needed all his +strength to prevent the wind from tearing him from his grasp of the +shrouds, but at length he reached the fore top, where the mate was +at work. He delivered the captain's message. + +"Ask the captain to wait five minutes, till I get the back stay +secured. I will send a man down, as soon as I am ready." + +"You take this axe," the captain said, when Reuben regained the +deck, "and stand by this stay. When you see me ready to cut the +other, cut at the same moment." + +In a few minutes Bill came down, with a message to the captain that +all was ready. The latter raised his arm to Reuben. He waited till +the vessel rolled over, and then lifted his axe. The two blows fell +together on the stays. A moment later the vessel began to rise +again. As the jerk came there was a crash above, and the main-top +mast fell over the side, clear of the deck, having snapped off at +the cap like a pipe stem. + +"Thank God for that," the captain said, as he cut away the +connections on the other side, and the spar drifted astern, "that +is off our minds." + +The loss of the main-top mast and mizzen greatly relieved the +strain on the ship, and she worked much easier. In half an hour, +the first officer returned on deck with his party, and reported +that he had done all he could to secure the fore mast. + +"The sea is becoming more regular," the captain said, "now that we +are getting further away from the centre of the storm. We shall +soon have the waves racing behind us, like mountains, and we shall +have to shake out the fore sail to keep ahead of them. Now, let us +see how they are getting on below." + +The well was again sounded, and it was found that the water had +gained two or three inches. + +"When the motion gets a little more regular, Reuben, you must take +two or three hands, and work your way aft in the hold, and try and +find out where the water is coming in." + +"I will go at once, sir, if you like." + +"No," the captain replied, "it must not be thought of. Everything +will be adrift, and you would be crushed to death, to a certainty. +You must wait till we are out of this tumble. If the water gains no +faster than it does now, two or three hours will make no material +difference, and by that time I hope we shall have got a regular +sea." + +Finding that there was nothing for him to do, Reuben again turned +in. The motion was still tremendous, but he could feel a sensible +change from what it was before. The motion of the ship was less +sudden and violent and, although she rolled tremendously, she rose +each time with an easier motion. + +An hour later the watch turned out, and the others took their +place. The wind was blowing as heavily as when the hurricane began, +but the aspect of the sea had changed. It was no longer a mass of +leaping, tumbling water; but was running in long waves, following +each other, rising high above the vessel's stern as they overtook +her. Having lashed himself to the side, he remained for an hour +watching the sea. The first mate then came up to him. + +"The captain thinks you might manage to get aft now. I will send +Bill and Dick Whistler with you, to help you move any boxes or +bales." + +Reuben went back in the forecastle and got some tools, a piece of +old sailcloth, and a large bundle of oakum; and then made his way +with the two sailors down into the after hold. The way in which the +upper tier of cargo lay heaped against the sides showed that it +would, as the captain said, have been impossible to enter while the +motion was at its worst. The rolling, however, had greatly +diminished; the vessel rising and falling with a regular motion, as +each wave passed under her. The men each carried a lantern and, +with some difficulty, made their way to the stern. + +"Ay, it's somewhere about here," Bill said. "I can hear the rushing +of water, somewhere below. Now, the first thing is to move these +bales." + +They worked for a time, and then Bill returned on deck to fetch two +more hands. They brought hand spikes and bars, as the bales were +wedged so tightly together that it was difficult, in the extreme, +to move them. It took two hours' hard work before they reached the +leak. As the captain had supposed, the head of one of the planks +had been started, at the stern post, by a blow from the wreck of +the mizzen; and the water was rushing in with great force. + +"A few hours of this would have settled her," Bill said. "All the +pumps in the ship would not keep down such a leak as this." + +Reuben at once set to work, cutting a deep groove in the stern +post. He butted some stout pieces of wood into this, and wedged the +other ends firmly against the first rib. Then he set to work to jam +down sail cloth and oakum between this barrier and the plank that +had started, driving it down with a marlinespike and mallet. It was +a long job, but it was securely done; and at last Reuben had the +satisfaction of seeing that a mere driblet of water was making its +way down, behind the stuffing, into the ship. + +"That's a first-rate job, lad," Bill said approvingly. "Half an +hour's work once a week will keep her dry, if there is no water +finds its way in anywhere else." + +Reuben went aft to the well. The pump was now working steadily, the +gangs of convicts relieving each other by turns. On sounding the +well, he found that the water had fallen nine inches since he had +last ascertained its depth. Going on deck, he found that a misty +light filled the air, and that morning was breaking. + +The captain had two or three times come down to the hold, to watch +the progress of the work. Reuben reported to him its completion, +and the fall in the water. + +"Yes, it's been falling the last hour," the captain said. "She will +do now. But she's making water, still. Some of the seams must have +opened. I have been looking her over, and can't find out where it +is; and we can do nothing until the gale has blown itself out, and +we can get below and shift the cargo." + +Reuben found that the fore sail had been set while he was below; +and the vessel was running, some twelve knots an hour, before the +wind. At one moment she was in a deep valley, then her stern +mounted high on a following wave, and she seemed as if she must +slide down, head foremost. Higher and higher the wave rose, sending +her forward with accelerated motion; then it passed along her, and +she was on a level keel on its top, and seemed to stand almost +still as the wave passed from under her. + +In spite of the extra lashing which had been given, the hen coops, +spars, and everything loose upon the decks had been swept away; and +the bulwarks had, in several places, been stove in. The galley had +been carried away, but the cook had just made a shift to boil a +cauldron of coffee below, and a mug of this was served out to all +hands. As Reuben broke a biscuit into his portion, and sipped it, +he thought he had never enjoyed a meal so much. He had now been, +for eighteen hours, wet through to the skin; and the coffee sent a +warm glow through him. + +The captain ordered all hands, save a few absolutely required on +deck, to turn in; and Reuben was soon in a glow of warmth beneath +his blankets and, lulled by the now easy motion of the ship, was +fast asleep in a few minutes. + +After four hours' sleep, he was again on deck. The gale was blowing +as strongly as ever, three men were at the helm, and the vessel was +still tearing along at great speed. Several of the male passengers +were on the poop, and the contrast between the appearance of the +Paramatta at the same hour on the previous day, and that which she +presented now, struck Reuben very strongly. Sadly, indeed, she +looked with mizzen mast gone, the main mast shortened to the cap, +and all the upper spars and rigging of the fore mast gone. She was, +however, making good weather of it, for her hold was now so dry +that the pumps were worked only on alternate hours, and the relief +afforded by the loss of all her top hamper was very great. + +For a week the Paramatta ran before the gale. At the end of the +fourth day its force somewhat abated, but it still blew much too +hard for anything to be done towards getting up fresh spars; while +the lost mizzen rendered it impossible for them to bring her up +into the wind. + +"It's bitterly cold, Bill," Reuben said. "Its been getting colder +every day, but this morning it is really bitter." + +"And no wonder, lad, seeing that we have been racing south for +pretty nigh a week. We have been making a little easting, but that +is all, and we are getting into the region of ice. We may see some +bergs any time now." + +"I should like to see an iceberg," Reuben said. + +"The fewer we see of them the better," Bill replied, "for they are +about as nasty customers as you want to meet. I expected we should +have seen them before, but this gale must have blown them south a +bit. They work up with the northwesterly current, but I expect the +wind will have carried them back against it. No, I don't want to +see no icebergs." + +"But if it were a very big one, we might get under its lee and +repair damages a bit, Bill. Might we not?" + +"No, my lad. The lee of an iceberg ain't a place one would choose, +if one could help it. There you are becalmed under it, and the berg +drifting down upon you, going perhaps four knots an hour. No, the +farther you keep away from icebergs the better. But if you have got +to be near one, keep to windward of it. At least, that's my +'speryence. + +"They have been having some trouble with the convicts, I hears. +They worked well enough at first, as long as they knew that there +was a lot of water in the hold; but since then they have been +a-grumbling, and last night I hear there was a rumpus, and six of +them was put in irons. That's the first of it, and the sooner the +gale's over, and we shapes our course in smooth water for Sydney +heads, the better I shall be pleased." + +An hour later, Bill pointed to the sky ahead. + +"Do yer see nothing odd about that 'ere sky?" + +"No," Reuben replied, "except that it's very light coloured." + +"Ay, that's it, my lad. That's what they call the ice blink. You +see if we ain't in the middle of bergs before night comes on. I +have not been whaling for nothing." + +A few minutes later, the first mate was heard to be shouting +orders. + +"Just as I thought," Bill said. "We are going to try to rig a jury +mizzen, so as to help us claw off the ice, if need be." + +A spare top mast was got up from below. Guys were fixed to one end +and, with the help of the marines and a party of convicts, the spar +was raised alongside the stump of the mizzen mast; and was there +lashed securely, the guys being fastened as stays to the bulwarks. +Blocks had been tied to the top, before it was raised; and ropes +rove into them; and a try sail was brought on deck, and laid ready +for hoisting. + +The first mate ascended to the fore top, and at once hailed the +deck that ice was visible ahead. The captain joined him, and for +some minutes the two officers carefully examined the horizon. No +sooner did the captain regain the deck than he ordered the try sail +to be hoisted on the jury mast, and a haul to be given upon the +braces of the fore sail, while the ship's course was laid a little +north of east. + +"It is lucky the wind has gone down as much as it has," he remarked +to Mr. Hudson. "The sea is still heavy but, if that jury mizzen +stands, we shall be able to claw off the ice." + +"Is there much of it, captain?" + +"We could see a good many bergs and, from the look of the sky, I +should say there was an ice field lying beyond them. However, I +think we shall do, if the wind does not freshen again. If it does, +we must do our best to make a group of islands lying down to the +southeast, and there refit. They are a rendezvous for whalers, in +summer." + +"Why not do so now, captain?" + +"I would, if it were not for the convicts. But, unless as a last +resource, I would not run the risk of touching at any island with +them on board. As long as we are at sea they are comparatively +harmless and, unless there is gross carelessness on the part of +their guard, there is little fear of an outbreak. But once let them +get on land, the matter is changed altogether. They are nearly +three to one as against the warders, marines, and crew; and I would +not run the risk, on any account, if it can be possibly avoided. +No, no, Mr. Hudson, unless it be a matter of life and death, we +will put in nowhere till we are in Sydney harbour." + + + +Chapter 9: Two Offers. + + +At nightfall the Paramatta was in the midst of the icebergs, and +Reuben soon understood the antipathy which Bill had expressed for +them. As a spectacle, they were no doubt grand; but as neighbours +to a half-crippled ship, with half a gale blowing, their beauty was +a very secondary consideration to those on board. + +Additional stays were fixed to the jury mast, as it might be +necessary, at any moment, to attempt to bring her up into the wind; +and the word was passed that both watches must remain on deck. +Fortunately the night was a light one, for the moon was up, and the +sky almost cloudless. The mate stood with two of the best hands at +the wheel; while the second mate took his place in the fore top, +with a lantern, to signal the position of ice ahead. Fortunately +there were but few small floating blocks about, and the Paramatta +threaded her way through the larger bergs, without once approaching +near enough to render danger imminent. It was a long and anxious +night but, when morning broke, it was seen that the sea was now +open ahead, and by the afternoon they had left the last berg +behind. + +Two days later the wind went completely down, and the crew at once +set to work to repair damages. Reuben, with two men under him, +filled up the breaches in the bulwarks. A respectable jury mast was +rigged by the stump of the main mast; and the spar, which had done +such good service among the bergs, was replaced by a longer and +heavier one. All hands worked vigorously, and the sailors were +assisted in the heavier work by parties of convicts. + +After two days' toil all was completed. Sail was hoisted again and, +under a greatly reduced spread of canvas to that which she had +carried before the gale burst, the Paramatta proceeded on her way. +The weather continued favourable and, without further adventure, +the Paramatta arrived off Sydney heads; having made the voyage in a +hundred and three days, which was, under the circumstances, a quick +one. + +The last evening Captain Wilson asked Reuben to go with him to the +poop, as he and Mr. Hudson wanted to have a chat with him. + +"Now, Reuben," Mr. Hudson said, "sit yourself down here. We must +have a talk together. Now we want to know exactly what you are +thinking of doing." + +"I am thinking of getting work, sir," Reuben said, "at my own +trade." + +"Well, my lad, I don't think you will make much at that. There are +mills, of course, but not a great many of them; and I fancy you +would find it difficult to get anything like regular work. The +distances here are tremendous, and you would spend the money you +made, in one job, in looking out for another. + +"That is the first view of the case. The second is, that neither +Captain Wilson nor I mean to let you try it. You have saved my +daughter's life, and I am not going to let the man who did that +tramp about the country, looking for a day's work. Captain Wilson +is going to marry my girl shortly, and of course he feels just the +same about it. So the next question is, 'What is the best thing we +can do for you?' Now, if you have a fancy for squatting, you can +come with me up country and learn the business; and this day, +twelve-month, I will hand you over the deeds of a range, with five +thousand sheep upon it. Now, that's my offer. + +"Now, don't you be in a hurry to refuse it, and don't let me have +any nonsense about your not liking to accept it. Ten such farms +would not pay the debt I owe you, and I tell you I should think it +downright mean, if you were to refuse to let me pay you a part of +my debt. Now you shall hear Wilson's proposal." + +"My offer is not so brilliant, Reuben. Indeed, as far as making money, +the pay would probably be no higher, at first, than you might earn +at your trade. I am, as you know, assistant superintendent to the +constabulary force of the colony. Now, if you like, I will obtain you +a commission as an inspector. The pay is not high, but by good conduct +you may rise to a position such as I hold. It is the position of a +gentleman, and the life is full of excitement and adventure. Now, what +do you say?" + +Reuben was silent for a minute or two. + +"I am greatly obliged to you both," he said, "more obliged than I +can tell you. Your offer, Mr. Hudson, is a most generous one; but I +have not been accustomed to farming, and I would rather have such a +life as that which Captain Wilson offers me, although the pay may +be very much smaller. + +"But, sir," he said, turning to the officer of constabulary, "I +fear that I cannot accept your offer, because, in the first place, +you see, I am not a gentleman." + +"Oh, nonsense, Reuben! Your manners and language would pass you as +a gentleman, anywhere. Besides which, there are several officers in +the force who have risen from the ranks, and who have had nothing +like the education you have had. You can put that aside at once. Is +there any other reason?" + +"Yes, sir," Reuben said quietly. "I had never intended to have +spoken of it, and I came out to Australia in order that I might be +away from everyone who knew the story, but I couldn't accept your +offer without your knowing it. I am leaving England because I have +been tried for burglary." + +"Nonsense!" both Reuben's listeners exclaimed, incredulously. + +"If you don't mind, I will tell you the whole story," Reuben said, +"and then you can judge for yourselves." + +Reuben then related at length the whole circumstances, with which +the reader is already acquainted. + +"I remember reading your story in the papers, Reuben," Captain +Wilson said. "Being in the force, you know, I take an interest in +these things. I own I was puzzled at the time--because, you see, I +did not know you--but how anyone who did know you, could think you +guilty, passes my comprehension." + +"I call it infamous," Mr. Hudson added warmly. "They must be a pack +of fools, down at that place Lewes." + +"Well," Captain Wilson said, "I am glad you have told me your +story; for I have all along been puzzled as to what made you give +up your trade, and emigrate, at your age. However, the matter is +explained now; but now you have told me, I see no reason whatever +why you should not accept my offer. In the first place, no one but +ourselves will know your history. In the next, if they did so, that +is no reason why you should not hold the appointment. No man is +free from the risk of being suspected unjustly. You have been +acquitted by a jury of your countrymen and, even did everyone know +it, no one dare throw it in your teeth. + +"No, I repeat, if you like I have no doubt that I can obtain for +you an appointment as officer in the constabulary. You need not +give me an answer now. Think it over for a week. You will have +plenty of time, for Mr. Hudson insists upon your taking up your +abode with him, when you land." + +"That I do," Mr. Hudson said. "I have a place a mile out of Sydney, +and there you will stop for a bit. Then I hope you will go up the +country with me, for a month or two, and learn the ways of the +place; till Captain Wilson has got an appointment for you--that is, +if you quite decide to accept his offer, instead of mine. But +remember, if ever you get tired of thief hunting, the offer will +still be open to you." + +Sydney was at that time but a very small place; for the great wave +of emigrants had not yet begun to flow, and the colony was in its +early infancy. As soon as the vessel cast anchor, Mr. Hudson and +his party landed, taking Reuben with them; and an hour later he +found himself installed, as a guest, at the squatter's house. + +It was large and comfortable, surrounded by a broad verandah, and +standing in a garden blooming with flowers, many of which were +wholly unknown to Reuben. He had, of course, before landing laid +aside the suit he had worn on board ship, and had dressed himself +in his best; and the heartiness and cordiality of his host, his +wife, and daughter soon made him feel perfectly at his ease. + +"We are in the rough, you know," Mr. Hudson said to him. "Everyone +is in the rough here, at present. Twenty years hence things may +settle down, but now we all have to take them as we find them. The +chief difficulty is servants. You see, almost every other man here +is either a convict, an ex-convict, or a runaway sailor; about as +bad material as you could want to see, for the formation of what +they call at home a genteel establishment. The number of emigrants +who come out is small. For the most part they have a little money +and take up land, or at any rate, go up country and look for work +there. A few, of course, who have been sent out by their friends at +home to get rid of them, loaf about Sydney and spend their money, +till they are driven to take the first job that offers. Well, they +may do for shepherds, in places where no drink is to be had for +love or money, but you would scarcely care about having them as +butlers; so you see, we are driven to the three classes I spoke of. +I have been exceptionally lucky. The man who carried the things +upstairs just now, and who is my chief man here, is an ex-convict." + +Reuben looked surprised. + +"He was assigned to me when he first got his ticket of leave. I +found him a good hand, and he stood by me pluckily, when my station +was attacked by the blacks. So next time I came down to the town, I +asked what he had been sent out here for. I found it was for having +been concerned in a poaching fray, in which some of the game +keepers got badly hurt. Well, that wasn't so much against him, you +know, so I got talking to him one day, and found out that he came +from my part of England. I found he had a wife, so I sent home +money to some friends, and asked them to send her out; which they +did and, finding she had, before she married him, been cook in a +gentleman's family, I engaged her here, and sent up the country for +Watson to come down. I had told him nothing about it; for I +thought, perhaps, his wife might refuse to come out, or might have +married again, or anything else. + +"Well, the meeting was a happy one, as you may suppose; and I then +settled him down here--at least, it wasn't here, but a smaller +place I had then--and he has been with me ever since. His time was +out some years ago, but that has made no difference. Nothing would +induce him to leave me; and I would not part with him for any +amount, for a more faithful and trusty fellow never lived, and when +I go away I know everything will go along like clockwork. As for +his wife, she's a treasure, and she knows how to cook a dinner, as +you will acknowledge presently. + +"They form the mainstay of my establishment. Besides that, there's +an old chap who looks after the garden, goes down to the town, and +does odd jobs. He was a sailor. He was landed here when his vessel +came into port, five years ago. He had fallen off the yard on to +the deck, and had broken half his ribs. He was taken to the +government hospital. They did not think, at first, that he would +ever get over it; but though he pulled through, it was clear he +would never be fit for any hard work. So the surgeon of the +hospital spoke of the case to me, and I said I thought I could find +a job that would suit him, and here he has been. He is quite strong +enough for all the work I want him to do, and I can trust him about +the place. Of course, he breaks out and gets drunk occasionally, +but one cannot expect to find a man perfect. + +"Then there is a black boy--they call them all boys here--he looks +after the horses, and has two black boys--they are boys--under him. +I found him out on the plains. He had been shot by some +bush-ranging scoundrels, out of pure mischief, I should say. He was +insensible when I found him, but I saw that he was alive, and +managed to get him up on my horse and took him home. We were six +weeks getting him round, for the bullet had gone through his body. +It would have killed a white man in an hour, but these black +fellows are as hard as nails. + +"My wife nursed him, for she was living up the country with me at +that time; and when he got well, he declared that he would never +leave us. I don't know that I was much gratified at the news, at +first; but I soon found out that Sam, as I called him, was a +valuable fellow about a place. He could turn his hand to +everything, but I found he was specially happy when he was engaged +about the horses; so at last I handed over that department to him, +and when we set up this place here, I brought him down with me and +made him head of the stables. It's fifteen years since I first +picked him up, and I don't think I have ever had cause to find +fault with him, since. + +"So you see, though my establishment can't be called a genteel, +it's a thoroughly good-working one, and I doubt if there's a man in +the colony who is as well off as I am. + +"When we go up country they all go with me except the sailor, who +remains in charge. He's a great man, I can tell you, when he's left +in what he calls command of the ship. He's got hold of two old +muskets and a brace of pistols, and these he always loads before we +start, so as to be ready to repel boarders. He looks out sharply, +too, for I have never lost a thing since he came; and when you +consider what a number of gentry there are, about here, with +experience in housebreaking, I think that's pretty well. He is +always drunk and incapable, for three or four days after our +return, as a reward to himself for having kept from drink all the +time we are away." + +"Dinner is ready," Frances Hudson said, running into the room. +"Here you are, papa, talking away as usual, whenever you get the +chance. Now run upstairs quickly, both of you; for Rachel will not +be pleased if you let the first dinner get cold, after she has been +doing her best to turn out something special, in honour of the +occasion, ever since she heard the Paramatta was in port." + +"I won't be a minute, Frances. + +"Ah, here comes Wilson. I was wondering what had become of him. He +promised to come on, as soon as he had seen his chief." + +The dinner was an excellent one, and fully bore out Mr. Hudson's +assertion with respect to his cook. All were in high spirits, with +the exception of Mrs. Hudson, who was cool in her manners to the +young officer, and was evidently desirous of showing her +disapproval of his engagement to her daughter, which had only taken +place two days before. + +"I have news for you, Reuben," Captain Wilson said, in the first +pause of conversation. "I saw the chief, and told him I wanted an +appointment for a young friend of mine, who had come out in the +Paramatta, and who had shown great pluck and presence of mind in an +affair at the Cape, which I described to him. He said that he could +appoint you at once, as young Houghton, a district superintendent, +was killed three weeks ago, in an affair with the bush rangers up +country. He said he was very glad to hear of someone likely to make +a good officer, to fill his place. So if you make up your mind to +be a constable, the place is ready for you." + +"Thank you very much, sir," Reuben said, "I was thinking the matter +over last night, and quite made up my mind to accept the place you +were kind enough to offer me, if you think me fit to fill it." + +"I have no fear on that score, Reuben. I am sure you will do credit +to my recommendation. So then, we may consider that as settled." + +"There," grumbled Mr. Hudson, "that's just like you, Wilson; you +upset all my plans. It was arranged he was to come up to my +station, and there, before you are on shore two hours, you arrange +the whole business; and I suppose you will be wanting him to get +into his uniform, and be off before a week's out." + +"I daresay we can manage a fortnight," Captain Wilson laughed, "and +I have no doubt he will have plenty of opportunities for visiting +you, later on. Indeed, I don't know why he should not be able to +look you up, as soon as you get there. He will, of course, be +placed under an old hand for six months, to learn his duties and +get to speak a little of the native lingo. + +"Hartwell, who has your district, is as good a man as he can be put +with. He is a careful officer, though perhaps a little slow; but he +will be a good man for Reuben to serve under, and I know the chief +will put him with him if I ask him, as it can't make any difference +where he goes first." + +"Well, if you can arrange that, Wilson, I will forgive you. And +now, where are you going to?" + +"For the time, I am not going anywhere in particular," Captain +Wilson replied. "The chief says he thinks that things have got +rather slack, since I have been away. There are several bands of +bush rangers, who have been doing a deal of mischief up country; so +to begin with, he wishes me to make a tour of inspection, and to +report generally. After that, I think I shall be settled here for a +time. At any rate, it will be my headquarters. I think it probable +the chief himself will be going home on leave, before very long." + +"The sooner you are settled here, the better," Mr. Hudson said; +"for I know I shall get no peace, now, till Frances is settled, +too. Ever since she was a child, when she once made up her mind +that she wanted a new toy, she worried me till I got it for her; +and you are the last new toy." + +"Oh, papa, how can you say so!" Frances said, laughing and +colouring. "As far as I am concerned, it may be months and months." + +"Oh, that is all very well," Mr. Hudson broke in. "I know what you +want. You want Wilson here to be always, neglecting his duty, and +galloping over from the other end of the colony to see you. No, no, +my dear, if Wilson is a wise fellow, he will bring you to book, as +soon as I can either build, or get hold of, a place fit for you. We +shall be having no peace, now. Every time he is off on duty, you +will be picturing him as engaged in some dreadful struggle with +bush rangers and blacks; and if letters don't come as often as you +expect them, you will be fretting yourself into a fever." + +"What nonsense, papa! I know, of course, George will have to do his +duty. I don't suppose he's always going to be tied to my apron +string." + +"You take my advice, Reuben," Mr. Hudson said, "don't you go and +lose your heart; for if you once do, there's a police officer +spoiled. It don't so much matter with Wilson, because he has done +his share of dangerous work, and is pretty well up at the top of +the tree; but a man that has to tackle bush rangers and blacks, +ought not to have a woman at home thinking of him." + +"There is no fear of that, for a good many years to come," Reuben +laughed. "Are these blacks really formidable fellows, Captain +Wilson?" + +"Formidable to the settlers," Captain Wilson said, "but not to us. +They drive off cattle and sheep, and sometimes attack solitary +stations, and murder every soul there; but they seldom stand up in +fair fight, when we come down upon them; but they fight hard, +sometimes, when they are acting with bush rangers." + +"Bush rangers are mostly escaped convicts, are they not?" + +"Almost always," Captain Wilson replied, "except that, of course, +they have among them a few men such as runaway sailors, and +ne'er-do-wells who get sick of shepherding and take to the bush; +but the great proportion are convicts. It is not to be wondered at, +when you look at the life many of these men have led at home, and +the monotony and hardship of their lives in many of the up-country +stations, allotted to men as ignorant, and sometimes almost as +brutal as themselves. + +"Some of them, too, escape from the road gangs, and these are +generally the worst; for as often as not, they may have killed a +warder in making their escape, and know that it will go hard with +them if they are caught. + +"It may be said that there are two sorts of bush rangers. The one +are men who have taken to the bush, simply from a desire of +regaining their liberty. Sometimes they join parties of blacks, and +live with them. Sometimes two or three get together, and all the +harm they do is to carry off an occasional sheep, for food. And the +other kind are desperadoes--men who were a scourge in England, and +are a scourge here, who attack lonely stations, and are not content +with robbing, but murder those who fall into their hands. + +"They are in fact wild beasts, to whom no mercy is to be extended; +and who, knowing it, will fight to the last. They are not easy to +hunt down, their instinct having made them wary; and being +generally in league with the blacks, who are as cunning as foxes, +and can run pretty nearly as fast as a horse can gallop, they are +kept very well informed as to our movements and, the country being +so immense, we should never run them down, were it not for our +native trackers. + +"These fellows are to the full as sharp as the Red Indians of North +America. They seem, in fact, to have the instinct of dogs, and can +follow a track when the keenest white's eye cannot detect the +smallest trace of a footprint. It is something marvellous what some +of them will do." + +"Have you many of these trackers in your employment?" + +"There are one or two attached to every up-country station. They +are, in fact, our bloodhounds; and although some of our men pick up +a little of their craft, we should do nothing without them." + +The next morning, Reuben met Captain Wilson down in Sydney, and was +taken by him to the chief of the constabulary, who at once made out +his appointment. On his return, Mr. Hudson again started with him +for the town, and insisted upon ordering his equipment. As Reuben +saw that he would be hurt by any shadow of denial, he accepted Mr. +Hudson's kind offer; although he had intended to ask Captain Wilson +to make an advance of pay, in order that he might get what was +necessary. He could not, however, have purchased such an outfit as +Mr. Hudson insisted on getting for him; the latter ordering not +only uniforms but suits of plain clothes, together with saddlery, +holsters, a sword, and a brace of excellent double-barrelled +pistols. He did not need to buy a horse, having in his stables one +in every way suitable, being at once quiet and fast--it was, +indeed, one of the most valuable animals in the colony. + +"You will have to keep your eyes open, Reuben," he said, as he gave +him the horse, "or he will be stolen from you. These bush ranger +fellows are always well mounted, and anyone at an up-country +station, who has an animal at all out of the ordinary way, has to +keep his stable door locked and sleep with one eye open; and even +then, the chances are strongly in favour of his losing his horse, +before long. These fellows know that their lives often depend upon +the speed of their horse and, naturally, spare no pains to get hold +of a good one. + +"Ah, I have a good idea. + +"Jim," he shouted to one of the black boys, "come here." + +The lad, who was about eighteen years of age, trotted up. + +"Jim, this gentleman is going to be a police officer, and he's +going to take the bay with him; now he wants a good servant. Will +you go with him?" + +The lad looked longingly at the horse, which he had groomed and was +very fond of; but he shook his head. + +"I no leave Massa Hudson." + +"Yes, but I wish you to go, Jim. This gentleman is a great friend +of mine, and when bad black man attacked young Missy, he saved her +life. So I want him to be taken good care of; and the horse, too, +and to see no one steals it. So someone I can trust must go with +him. If you don't like him for a master, after you have tried him, +Jim, you can come back to me again. You have been a good boy, and I +have no wish to get rid of you; but this gentleman don't know the +ways of the country, and I want to be sure he has someone with him +he can trust." + +The lad looked at Reuben gravely, with his small eyes deeply sunken +under the projecting eyebrows. + +"Jim will go," he said. "He look after white man and Tartar, to +please Massa Hudson and young Missy." + +"That's right, Jim," his employer said. + +"That's a good stroke of business," he went on, as he turned away +with Reuben; "if you treat these black fellows well, and they get +attached to you, they are faithful to death." + +"You will see that fellow will never let your horse out of his +sight. If you ride twenty miles across country, there he will be by +your side as you dismount, ready to take it, and looking as fresh +as paint. At night he will sleep in the stable, and will be ready, +at all times and places, to make a fire, and cook a damper or a bit +of meat, if you are lucky enough to have one by you. All the people +about the place would do anything, I believe, for Frances; and the +fact that you have saved her life will bind this boy to you, at +first. Afterwards he will get to care for you, for yourself." + +A fortnight later Reuben, in his uniform as an officer of the +constabulary, rode out of Sydney. His baggage had been sent on, +three days before, by a waggon returning up country. Jim trotted, +with an easy stride, behind him. Reuben at first was inclined to +ride slowly, in order to give his attendant time to keep up with +him; but he soon found that, whatever pace he went, the lad kept +the same distance behind, without any apparent exertion; and he +was, therefore, able to choose his own pace, without reference to +Jim's comfort. + +Four years passed. Reuben Whitney gave every satisfaction to his +superiors, and was considered a zealous and effective young +officer. So far he had not been placed in a position of great +responsibility; for although for the last two years he had been in +charge of a district, it was not far from Sydney, and his duties +consisted principally in hunting for convicts who had made their +escape, in looking after refractory ticket-of-leave men, and in +ordinary constabulary work. He had learned in that time to become a +first-rate rider, and a good shot with a pistol, accomplishments +which would be of vital service when he was ordered to an +up-country station. For his pistols he had as yet, however, had no +actual use, as neither bush rangers nor natives penetrated so far +into the settlement. + +At the end of the four years' service, he received a letter from +Captain Wilson, who had just succeeded to the chief command of the +constabulary, ordering him to hand over charge of the district to +the young officer who was the bearer of the letter, and to report +himself at headquarters. + +Reuben was now nearly three-and-twenty, and had grown into a very +powerful young man. A life spent for the most part on horseback had +hardened his muscles, and filled out his frame. He stood about five +feet nine, but looked shorter, owing to his great width of +shoulders. He was still quiet in manner, but he had the same bright +and pleasant expression which had characterized him as a boy; and +his visits to Sydney, where he was introduced by Captain Wilson and +Mr. Hudson into the best society, had given him ease and self +possession. + +The native, Jim, was still with him. He had become greatly attached +to his master, and his fidelity and devotion had been of the +greatest service to him and, go where he would, the black was +always at his heels. + +On his presenting himself at Sydney, Captain Wilson said, after the +first greetings: + +"I know you have been a little disappointed, Reuben, because +hitherto you have been at stations where you have had but little +opportunity of distinguishing yourself. However, I thought better +to keep you at quiet work, until you were thoroughly master of your +duties; and had, moreover, got your full strength. I don't know +whether you have quite arrived at that yet, but I think you will +do, anyhow," and he smiled as he looked at Reuben's shoulders. + +"I think I am as strong as most of them," Reuben said, smiling too. +"Four years' mill-wright's work, and four years on horseback in +this bracing air, ought to make one strong, if there's anything in +one to begin with. I think I shall do, in that respect." + +"I think so, Reuben. I don't think there are many men in the force +who could hold their own with you, in a grapple. + +"And now to business. You have heard of that affair of Inspector +Thomas, in the Goora district--it was a bad business. He and two of +his men were out, after some natives who had driven off cattle; and +he was set upon by a party of bush rangers, and he and his men +killed." + +"So I heard, sir," Reuben said quietly. + +"Well, I have decided in sending you up in his place. It is a bad +district--the worst we have, at present--and it needs a man of +great resolution, and intelligence. I am sure that you have plenty +of both, and that I cannot make a better choice than in sending you +there. Your age is the only thing against you--not with me, you +know, but others may think that I have done wrong, in selecting so +young an officer--but you see, I know my man. I know, too, that +several of the inspectors are getting too old for this sort of +work. I do not mean too old, perhaps, in point of years, but they +are married men with families, and for desperate work I prefer men +without encumbrances. + +"The post should be held by an inspector, but I cannot promote you, +at present. It would be putting you over the heads of too many. But +you will have a good chance of earning early promotion, and I know +that is what you like." + +"Thank you very much, Captain Wilson. I will do my best to show +myself worthy of your confidence." + +"You will have all your work cut out for you, Reuben. The district +has, all along, been a most troublesome one. The number of +settlers, at present, is small. There is a good deal of higher bush +than usual about it, which makes it very difficult to run these +fellows down; and the natives are specially troublesome. Besides +which, at present there are two or three of the worst gangs of bush +rangers in the colony, somewhere in that country. You will have to +be cautious as well as bold, Reuben. It is a dangerous service I am +sending you on; still, the more danger, the more credit to you." + +"You could not have given me a station I should have liked better; +and I hope, ere long, I may be able to give you a good account of +the bush rangers." + +"And now, Reuben, if you will call again in an hour, I shall be +free, and then I will drive you home. You need not start for a day +or two; and you will, of course, stay with me till you do." + + + +Chapter 10: An Up-Country District. + + +Mrs. Wilson received Reuben, as usual, with the greatest +cordiality; but she exclaimed loudly, when she heard that he was +going to the Goora district. + +"You don't mean it, George. You can't mean that you are going to +send Reuben to that dreadful place. Why, we are always hearing of +murders and robberies there; and you know the last inspector was +killed; and the one before recalled, because you said he had lost +his nerve; and now you are sending Reuben there!" + +"But I look upon it as the greatest honour, Mrs. Wilson, being +chosen for such a station; and you see, there will be capital +chances of distinguishing myself, and getting promoted." + +"And capital chances of being killed," Mrs. Wilson said, in a vexed +tone. "I do call it too bad, George." + +"But, my dear, we want a man of pluck and energy. Besides, you +know, we have been getting into hot water over that district. The +press have been saying very severe things, about our incompetence +to protect the outlying settlements, and I was obliged to choose a +man who will give satisfaction; and you will agree with me that +Reuben will do that." + +"Of course he will," Mrs. Wilson agreed. "I shouldn't be alive now, +if he hadn't had plenty of pluck and energy; but for that very +reason, you ought not to send him to such a dangerous post." + +"But I wish to give him an opportunity for distinguishing himself. +He wants to get on, and I want to push him on; but you see, I can't +promote him over the heads of some eight or ten men, senior to him, +unless he does something a little out of the way." + +"Well, I don't like it, George, I tell you frankly. I always +thought he was wrong, to go into the constabulary at all, instead +of accepting papa's offer. I can't think why you men are so fond of +fighting, when you could choose a quiet and comfortable life." + +"But it is not always so quiet and comfortable, Frances, as a good +many have found, in the district he is going to; and after all, it +is less dangerous fighting bush rangers and natives when you are +prepared for it, than to be woke up of a night with a band of them +thundering at your door, and with no assistance within twenty +miles." + +As Frances Wilson remembered how, in her childish days, her +father's place had been, for three days, beset with blacks, she had +no answer ready for the argument. + +"Well, I do hope, Reuben," she said, "if you do go to this horrid +place, you will take care of yourself, and not be rash." + +"He's going to take care of others, Frances. You know, if he had +taken care of himself and hadn't been rash, you would not have come +so well out of that Malay business. I am sure he looks as if he +could take care of himself, doesn't he?" + +"Yes, he is big enough and strong enough," Mrs. Wilson agreed, "but +that's no good against spears or boomerangs, to say nothing of +rifles and pistols." + +"Why, Frances, you are not generally a croaker," her husband said +lightly, "but for once, you seem to be determined to do your best +to frighten Reuben, before he starts." + +Mrs. Wilson laughed. + +"No, I don't want to frighten him, George. I only want to make him +careful." + +"I will be as careful as I can, Mrs. Wilson. That boy Jim is a +treasure. I will warrant, if there are any black fellows about, he +will sniff them out somehow. That fellow has a nose like a hound. +He has always been most useful to me, but he will be invaluable at +Goora." + +Two days afterwards, Reuben left for his new command. It took him +eight days to reach it. His headquarters were at Goora, a +settlement of some twenty houses; besides the barracks in which the +constabulary force, consisting of a sergeant, eighteen constables, +and two native trackers, were quartered. The sergeant, a +north-country Irishman named O'Connor, was somewhat surprised when +Reuben rode up to the station; for the officers previously in +command had been much older men. + +Reuben's own quarters were in a cottage, close to the main +building, and he asked the sergeant to come, in the evening. + +"Now, sergeant," he said, after a little preliminary talk, "I have +been sent up by Captain Wilson, with instructions to root out these +bands of bush rangers." + +The sergeant smiled grimly. + +"We have been doing our best for the last three years, sir, but we +have not made much of a hand at it." + +"No," Reuben agreed, "and I don't suppose, of course, that I am +going to succeed all at once. In the first place, tell me frankly, +what sort of men have we got?" + +"The men are good enough, sir, but they have certainly got +disheartened, lately. One way and another, we have lost something +like ten men in the last two years; and of course, that last affair +with poor Mr. Thomas was a bad one." + +"I understand," Reuben said quietly, "some of them are not quite so +eager to meet the bush rangers as they used to be." + +"Well, that is perhaps about it, sir; but I must say the men have +been tremendously hardly worked--pretty nigh night and day in the +saddle, often called out by false news to one end of the district; +and then to find, when they return, that those scoundrels have been +down playing their games at some station at the other end. It's +enough to dishearten a man." + +"So it is, sergeant. I was speaking to Captain Wilson about it, and +saying that if we are to succeed we ought to have some fresh hands, +who will take up the work with new spirit. We are seven below our +force, at present; and he has promised to send me up fifteen new +hands, so there will be eight to be relieved. I will leave it to +you to pick out the men to go. Mind, put it to them that they are +to be relieved simply because Captain Wilson thinks they have had +their share of hard work, and should therefore be sent to a quiet +station, for a time. Just pick out the men whom you think would be +most pleased to go." + +"Very well, sir. I am glad to hear the news, for to tell you the +truth, I do think we want a little fresh blood amongst us." + +Three days later the new detachment arrived, and Reuben saw, at +once, that Captain Wilson had chosen a picked set of young men. +About half of them were freshly enlisted in the force. The others +had all been employed at up-country stations, and were well +acquainted with the nature of the work before them. The same +afternoon, the eight men picked out by Sergeant O'Connor as being +the least useful on the station started for Sydney, most of them +well pleased at being relieved from their arduous duties. + +Reuben found that there were, in the office, a great many letters +from settlers, asking for protection. It was impossible to comply +with all these but, after consultation with O'Connor, he sent five +parties, of three men each, to as many exposed stations; keeping +ten in hand, to move as required. + +Taking Jim, and two of the constables who had been longest on the +station, he spent two months in traversing his district, from end +to end, and making himself thoroughly acquainted with its +geographical features; for he felt that, until he had mastered +these, he should only be working in the dark. For a time the +outrages had ceased, the bush rangers having shifted their +quarters, and the natives withdrawn after the murder of the late +inspector. This was a great relief to Reuben, as it permitted him +to gain an insight into the country before setting to work in +earnest. + +Upon his tour, he and his followers were everywhere most hospitably +received at the stations at which they halted. Everywhere he heard +the same tale of sheep killed, cattle and horses driven off, and +the insolent demeanour of the natives. + +"I was thinking of giving it up, and moving back into the more +populated districts," one of the settlers said to Reuben; "but now +you have come, I will hold on for a bit longer, and see how it +turns out. You look to me the right sort of fellow for the post; +but the difficulty is, with such a large scattered district as +yours, to be everywhere at once. What I have often thought of, is +that it would be a good thing if the whole district were to turn +out, and go right into the heart of the black country, and give +them a lesson." + +"From what I hear," Reuben said, "it will be next to impossible for +us to find them. The country is so vast, and covered with bush, +that there would be no searching it. They have no fixed villages, +and the want of water would render it impossible for us to go very +far. But the worst point would be that they all seem to be well +informed as to what is going on. I suppose they get warnings from +the native herdsmen and servants, and if we were all together to +enter their country, we must leave the stations unprotected, and we +should find them in ashes, on our return." + +"Yes, that is true," the settler said. "I suppose it couldn't be +done. But it's anxious work sleeping here, night after night, with +one's rifle by one's bedside, never certain at what hour one may be +woke by the yelling of the blacks. But they are not as bad as the +bush rangers. If the blacks can but drive off your cattle, they are +contented. You have got nothing else that is much use to them. The +bush rangers don't want your cattle, beyond a head or two for +present use; but they want everything else you've got, and whether +you like it or not is quite immaterial to them. Thank God I have +got no money in the place, and I and my three men can make a pretty +good fight of it. But I pity the men with wives and daughters." + +"Well, I hope we shall soon put a stop to it," Reuben said +cheerfully. "We will give them a lesson if we catch them, you may +be quite sure." + +"I hope so," the settler said. "But you folks have been mighty +unlucky, lately. Never seem to have been at the right place at the +right time. Not that I am surprised at that, in such a district; +but somehow they never come up with the fellows, afterwards." + +"No, they seem to have had bad luck," Reuben agreed. "I hope we +shall do better now." + +Three days after his return from his last visit of inspection of +his district, a settler rode, at full speed, up to the station. + +"Captain," he said--for although Reuben had no right to that title, +he was always so called by the settlers--"the blacks have been down +at my place. They have killed my two shepherds, and driven off the +sheep." + +"Sergeant O'Connor, turn out the men at once," Reuben shouted. "See +that their ammunition is all right, and let each man take a water +skin and four days' provisions in his haversack. + +"When was it?" he asked, turning to the settler again. + +"Some time yesterday afternoon--at least, I judge so. One of the +men was to have come in for supplies, and when night came and he +hadn't come in, I began to be afraid something was wrong, for I +knew that they were getting short. So this morning, at daybreak, I +rode out with the hands I have about the house. We could see +nothing of the sheep, so we rode straight to the men's hut. There, +lying some twenty yards away, was the body of one of the men, +riddled with spear holes. He had evidently been running to the hut +for shelter, when he was overtaken. I did not stop to look for the +other, for no doubt he had been killed, too." + +"Well, we will do what we can for you," Reuben said. "I will be +ready in five minutes." + +He ran into the house, buckled on his sword, put some cold meat and +a small bag of flour into his haversack, together with some dampers +Jim had just cooked, and then went out again. Jim had already +brought his horse round to the door. Before mounting he took the +pistols out of the holsters, and examined them carefully. + +By this time the sergeant and ten men were in the saddle, and +placing himself at their head, with the settler, whose name was +Blount, he rode off at full speed; followed by his men, the two +native trackers, and Jim. Reuben soon reined his horse in. + +"It will not do to push them too hard, at first. There is no saying +how far we shall have to go." + +"Do you mean to follow them into their own country?" Mr. Blount +asked. + +"I do," Reuben said. "I will follow them till I catch them, if I +have to go across Australia." + +"That's the sort," Mr. Blount said. "I expect you will find +half-a-dozen other fellows at my station, by the time you get +there. I sent my hand off on horseback to the stations near, to +tell them what had taken place, and that I had ridden off to you, +and asking them to come round." + +"How far is it?" Reuben asked. + +"About forty miles." + +"But your horse will never be able to do it," Reuben said. + +"I got a fresh horse at a friend's, four miles from your station, +so I am all right." + +"They will have more than a day's start of us," Reuben remarked +presently. + +"Yes; thirty-six hours, for you will have to stop at my place +tonight. But they can't travel very fast with sheep, you know." + +"No," Reuben agreed. "If they had had cattle, it would have been +useless following them; but with sheep we may come up to them, +especially if they don't think they will be followed far." + +"No; that's my hope. They will know I had forty miles to ride to +your station. Besides, had it not been that I was expecting the +shepherd in for supplies, I might not have found it out for two or +three days. So I expect they will think that they are pretty safe +from pursuit. They have never been followed far into the bush. It's +nasty work, you see." + +"It's got to be done," Reuben said. "It is impossible to keep guard +everywhere, and the only way to put a stop to these outrages is to +teach the blacks that punishment will follow, wherever they go." + +It was late in the afternoon before they arrived at Mr. Blount's +station. They found fourteen or fifteen of the neighbouring +settlers gathered there. They came out as the sound of the +trampling of the horses was heard. Several of them were known to +Reuben, from his having stopped at their stations. + +"Glad to see you, captain, but I am afraid you are too late," said +Dick Caister, a young settler whose station lay about twelve miles +away. + +"That remains to be proved," Reuben replied, as he dismounted. + +"Oh, they have got twenty-four hours' start, and it's too late to +do anything tonight. They must be thirty miles away in the bush, +already." + +"If they were a hundred, I would follow them," Reuben said. + +There was an exclamation of surprise, and something like a cheer, +on the part of some of the younger men. + +"The difficulties are very great," one of the elder settlers said. +"There is neither food nor water to be found in the bush." + +"I know it's not an easy business," Reuben said quietly. "But as to +food, we can carry it with us; as to water, there must be water in +places, for the natives can no more go without drinking than we +can. There must be streams and water holes, here and there. But +however difficult it is, I mean to attempt it. It is the only way +of bringing the blacks to book; there can never be safety among the +outlying settlements, unless the fellows are taught a lesson. + +"And now, gentlemen, before we go further, I want to say this: I +know that you are all ready to help, that you are all thirsting to +wipe out old scores with the blacks; but at the same time I would +point out to you that it is likely enough that the bush rangers, +who certainly work with the blacks, will follow up this stroke. +Therefore, it will not do to leave the stations defenceless. I do +not want a large force with me. If we once overtake the blacks, I +have no fear whatever of being able to give a good account of them. +Therefore I would urge, upon all of you who are married men, that +it is of the first importance that you should stay at home, in case +the bush rangers take the opportunity of our being away to pay you +a visit. That is the first thing to be thought of. If any of the +others like to go with us, I shall be very glad of their +assistance. We may be away for a week or more, for ought I know." + +"That is certainly the best plan, captain," Dick Caister said. "As +you say, let the married men stop at home and guard their stations. +I think the rest of us will all go with you." + +There was a chorus of approval. Eight of those present were married +men and, though reluctant to give up the thought of punishing the +blacks, they were yet glad that they were not called upon to leave +their wives and families. With many good wishes for the success of +the expedition, they at once mounted, and rode off to their +respective stations, some of which were more than twenty miles +away. + +"Now for ways and means," Reuben said. "What spare horses have you, +Mr. Blount?" + +"I have only two, besides the one I am riding." + +"I should like to take at least six. We must carry a good store of +provisions." + +"I don't think you need trouble about that," Mr. Blount said. "We +must take a supply of flour with us, and of course tea and sugar; +and a few bottles of rum will not be amiss. All these I can +furnish. But as to meat, I do not think we need trouble. Going as +fast as the blacks will travel, there are sure to be lots of the +sheep fall by the way. The blacks will eat as many as they can, but +even a black cannot stuff himself beyond a certain extent, and +there will be plenty for us." + +"Yes, I did not think of that," Reuben replied; "in that case two +spare horses will be enough." + +"It would be a good thing to have a few with us, though," one of +the young men said. "My place is only six miles off. I will ride +over and bring back three with me; they are all good ones, and I +should be sorry to find they were gone when I get back. I can lead +one, my black boy can ride another and lead the third. It is likely +enough some of the horses may give out, or get speared if the +blacks make a fight of it, and half a dozen spare horses would come +in very handy." + +Reuben thought the plan was a good one, whereupon two of the others +also volunteered to ride over and fetch--the one three and the +other two--horses. + +"That will make ten altogether, with Blount's two. We shall travel +all the faster, because we can ride the spare horses by turns." + +The three settlers rode off at once, and returned late at night +with the spare horses. They had not been idle at Mr. Blount's. A +bullock had been killed and cut up, and a considerable portion +cooked, so that each of the twenty men going on the expedition +would start with ten pounds of cooked meat, in order to save the +time that would be spent in halting to cook the carcass of any +sheep they might come upon. The question of weight was immaterial, +as the meat could be packed on the spare horses. + +As soon as day broke, the party were in their saddles. Mr. Blount +led them first to the hut near which he had found his shepherd +killed. The native trackers now took up the search. The body of the +other shepherd was found half a mile away. It was in a sitting +position by a tree; the skull was completely smashed in by the blow +of a waddy, and it was evident that a native had crept up behind +him, and killed him before he was conscious that any danger was at +hand. The trackers were not long in finding the place where the +sheep had been collected together and driven off, and a broad track +of trampled grass showed, clearly enough, the direction which had +been taken. + +"How many of the black fellows do you think there were?" Reuben +asked one of the trackers. + +"Great many black fellow, captain," he replied. + +"What do you call a great many?" Reuben asked. + +"Twenty, thirty, captain; can't say how many. No use, captain, look +for dem, gone right away into de bush, never find them." + +"I am going to try, anyhow," Reuben said. "Now, do you lead the +way." + +"I tink dere are more dan thirty black fellow," Jim said to Reuben, +as they started; "quite a crowd of dem. Me no much like those two +black fellow," and he nodded towards the trackers, who were running +on ahead. "No good, those fellows." + +"What makes you think that, Jim?" + +"Two days ago, Jim saw dem talking wid black fellow, half a mile +from the station. Not know Jim saw dem. Secret sort of talk. Why +dey never find de tracks before black fellows and bush rangers +always get away? Jim tink those fellows no good." + +Reuben himself had often thought it singular that such continued +bad luck should have attended the efforts of his predecessor to +hunt down the bush rangers, but the thought that they had been put +off their scent by the trackers had not occurred to him. He had the +greatest faith in Jim's sagacity and, now that the idea was +presented to him, it seemed plausible enough. + +"Very good, Jim, you keep your eye on those fellows. I will do the +same. We shall soon find out if they are up to any tricks." + +Jim had been running by his master's stirrup, while this +conversation had been going on; and he now dropped into his usual +place at the rear of the party. For some miles the trail was +followed at a hand gallop, for the grass was several inches in +height, and the trail could be followed as easily as a road. The +country then began to change. The ground was poorer and more arid, +and clumps of low brush grew here and there. Still, there was no +check in the speed. The marks made by the frightened flock were +plain enough, even to the horsemen; and bits of wool, left behind +on the bushes, afforded an unmistakable testimony to their passage. + +"They were not going so fast, here," Mr. Blount said, after +dismounting and examining. "The footprints do not go in pairs, as +they did at first. The flock has broken into a trot. Ah! There is +the first, ahead." + +In a hundred yards they came upon the skin and head of a sheep. +Nothing else remained. Unable to keep up with the flock, it had +been speared, cut up, and eaten raw by the blacks. In the next mile +they came upon the remains of two more; then the track widened out, +and the footprints were scattered and confused. The horses were +reined up, and Jim and the trackers examined the ground. Jim +returned in a minute or two. + +"Black fellows give em a rest here. Could no go any furder. Lie +down and pant." + +One of the trackers then came up. + +"They stop here, captain, five six hours till moon rise. Make fire, +kill sheep, and have feast." + +Reuben and some of the settlers rode over to the spot to which the +tracker pointed. + +"Confound them!" Blount exclaimed. "Look there! There are at least +twenty heads." + +"So there are," Reuben said. "There must have been a lot of +natives." + +"Yes, there must have been a good many," the settler agreed, "but +not so many, perhaps, as you would think. Nobody has ever found +out, yet, how much these blacks can eat when they make up their +mind to it; but two could certainly devour a sheep. They will eat +till they can't sit upright." + +"They would hardly eat as much as that, with a long journey before +them," Reuben said; "but allow only three to a sheep, there must be +sixty of them. My man said there were a good many more than the +trackers put it down at." + +"So much the better. I only hope they will show fight." + +After five minutes halt, the ride was continued for the next three +hours. Then three dead sheep were passed. This time the flesh had +not been devoured, but the poor beasts had, in every case, been +speared. + +"Savage brutes!" Reuben exclaimed. "They might at least have given +the sheep a chance of life, when they could go no further, instead +of wantonly slaughtering them." + +"That's their way, always," Mr. Blount said. "They kill from pure +mischief and love of slaughter, even when they don't want the meat. +But I don't suppose it makes much difference. I expect the sheep +have dropped as much from thirst as from fatigue, and they would +probably have never been got up again, after they once fell. I +fancy we shall come upon a stream, before long. I have never been +out as far as this before, but I know that there is a branch of the +Nammo crosses the bush here, somewhere." + +Another five miles, and they came upon the river. The wet season +was only just over, and the river was full from bank to bank. It +was some thirty yards wide, and from two to three feet deep. A +score of sheep lay dead in the water. They had apparently rushed +headlong in, to quench their thirst; and had either drunk till they +fell, or had been trampled under water, by their companions +pressing upon them from behind. + +For the next ten miles the track was plain enough, then they came +to a series of downs, covered with a short grass. At the foot of +these another long halt had been made by the blacks. + +"We must have come twenty-five miles," Reuben said. + +"Quite that, captain. The flock must have been dead beat, by the +time they got here. I should think they must have stopped here, +last night. We will soon see--there is one of their fireplaces." + +The settler dismounted, and put his hand into the ashes. + +"Yes," he said, "they are warm still. They must have camped here +last night. They started when the moon rose, no doubt. Thus they +have eight or nine hours' start of us, only; and as they can't +travel fast, after such a journey as they had yesterday, we ought +to be able to catch them long before night." + +"They will go better today than they did yesterday," Mr. Blount +said. "They were over-driven to start with, and that was what +knocked them up; but the blacks will begin to feel themselves safe +today, and will let them go their own pace. Sheep can do twenty +miles in a day, if not hurried." + +"Well, at any rate," Reuben said, "we will give our horses a couple +of hours' rest. It is just eleven o'clock now, and I should think +everyone is ready for a meal." + +There was a chorus of assent. The troop dismounted at once. The +girths were loosened, the bits taken from the horses' mouths, and +they were turned loose to graze in the long grass at the foot of +the hill. There was no fear of their attempting to stray, after +their journey of the morning. Some of the men set to to cut brush, +and in a few minutes a fire was lighted. One of the sheep, of which +there were several lying about, was skinned and cut up; and slices, +on skewers of green wood, were soon frizzling over the fire. + +Twenty minutes later, the water in a large pot hanging over the +fire was boiling. Three or four handfuls of tea were thrown in; and +with the fried mutton, cold damper, and tea a hearty meal was made. +Then pipes were produced and lighted; while several of the men, +lying down and shading their faces with their broad hats, indulged +in a doze. + +"One o'clock," Reuben said at last, looking at his watch. "It is +time to be moving again." + +The horses were fetched in, the bridles replaced, and the girths +tightened. + +"Now, which way?" Reuben asked the trackers. + +"Along here, captain, by de foot of de hill, de trail is plain +enough." + +It was so. A track of some width was trampled in the grass. + +Reuben was about to give the order to proceed, when he caught Jim's +eye, and saw that the black wished to speak to him privately. + +"What is it, Jim?" he asked, going apart from the rest. + +"That not de way, captain. A hundred, two hundred sheep gone that +way, wid four or five black fellow. De rest have all gone over de +hill." + +"Are you sure, Jim?" + +"Me quite sure, sar. De ground very hard; but while de captain +smoke him pipe, Jim went over de hill, saw plenty sign of sheep. +Went straight uphill, and then turned away to de left. Dis little +party here hab only gone to frow white man off de trail." + +"The trackers ought to have seen that as well as you, Jim," Reuben +said angrily. + +"Dey see, sar, sure enough. Could no help seeing, wid half an eye. +You see, sar, dose fellows up to no good. Lead party wrong if dey +can. Don't say, sar, Jim told you. If you say dat, put 'em on their +guard. Massa ride along the trail for a bit, just as if talk wid +Jim about odder affair; den after little way, begin to talk about +trail being too small, den turn and come back here, and go over de +hill." + +"A very good idea, Jim. I will do as you say." + + + +Chapter 11: The Black Fellows. + + +A few minutes after his conversation with Jim the party started, +following the broad track through the grass along the foot of the +hill. Reuben informed Mr. Blount of what Jim had told him. + +"By Jove, I think he is right," the settler said. "The track is as +broad as it was, but it is nothing like so much trampled down; but +if your fellow says the main body have gone over the hill, why are +you following this track?" + +Reuben gave his reasons, and said that his man had, before, had +suspicions that the trackers were in communication with the wild +blacks. + +"He thinks that's why it is that they have so frequently failed, +here, to catch any of these fellows." + +"I shouldn't be at all surprised," Mr. Blount said savagely. "The +best thing would be to put a bullet into each of the rascals' +heads." + +"I think Jim's idea is best," Reuben said. "Now that we have once +got our eyes open, they won't be able to do us any more harm; and +my black fellow will see we follow the trail right. I don't want +them to see we have any suspicions of them, as that would put them +on their guard; and by keeping our eye upon them, we may be able to +turn the tables." + +"That is so," Mr. Blount agreed. "What are you going to do, then?" + +"I will call to them, in a minute or two, and tell them that it is +your opinion that only a small portion of the flock have come this +way. Then we will have a consultation and, no doubt, some of your +friends will notice that the ground is not much trampled. Then we +will decide to ride back to the point from which we started, and +will follow the other trail." + +"Yes, that will do very well," the settler agreed. + +Reuben at once called to the trackers, who were trotting on ahead, +and then ordered a halt. The two blacks came back. + +"Joe," Reuben said, "Mr. Blount thinks that the main body of the +flock have not come this way. He says he thinks only a hundred or +two have come. The ground does not look to me anything like so much +trampled as it was before we halted." + +"I tink most of dem hab come along here," the tracker said +sullenly. + +"What do you think?" Reuben asked the other settlers, who had +gathered round. + +"I did not notice it before," Dick Caister said; "but now Blount +has pointed it out, I agree with him entirely. There are nothing +like the full number of sheep have passed along here. I should say +that they have not gone along more than two or three deep." + +There was a general chorus of assent. + +"You can't have been keeping your eyes open," Reuben said to the +trackers, sharply. "If you don't look sharp in future, we shall +quarrel. + +"Come, gentlemen, let us ride back to the halting place, and see if +we cannot find out which way the main body have gone." + +Ten minutes' riding took them back to their starting place. + +"They must have gone over the hill," Reuben said. "They certainly +have not kept along at the foot, or we should see their tracks in +this long grass." + +The trackers had exchanged a few words in a low tone, and they now +moved up the hill, and began to examine the ground carefully. + +"Some of dem have gone this way, captain." + +"Of course they have," Mr. Blount said. "A blind man might see +that." + +The marks of the sheep were indeed plain enough to all, when their +attention had once been drawn to the subject. On getting beyond the +crest the trackers turned to the left, and Reuben saw that they +felt it would be hopeless to attempt, further, to mislead a party +containing several settlers who were perfectly capable of following +the trail. + +Jim had, since speaking to his master, remained in the rear of the +troop. After three miles' riding across the downs, they again came +down upon a flat country, thickly covered with brush. Here and +there pieces of wool sticking to thorns were visible, and the +trackers went steadily on for some little time. Then their pace +became slower, and finally they stopped. + +"Trail ended, captain." + +"What do you mean by the trail ended?" Reuben asked angrily. "Why, +I can see a piece of wool, on there ahead." + +"Dat so, captain; but only a few sheep hab passed here." + +Some of the settlers dismounted and, having examined the ground +carefully, declared that they were of the same opinion as the +trackers. + +"Very well," Reuben said; "then in that case, we must go back again +to the foot of the hill. They were all together there, and we must +take up the trail afresh." + +On reaching the foot of the hill, Jim and some of the settlers +joined the trackers, and penetrated the bush in all directions. +Each returned bringing in pieces of wool. + +"It is plain enough," Reuben said, "what they have done. They have +broken up into small parties, and have scattered. The question is, +'What are we to do now?' + +"What do you think, Mr. Blount? You have had more experience than +anyone here, and you are the most interested in our overtaking +these rascals. What do you recommend?" + +"I don't know what to recommend," the settler said. "They have no +doubt done it to confuse us, in case we should follow so far, and +avoid being thrown off the scent the other side of the hill. The +band may really have scattered, and gone off in small parties to +different parts of the bush; or again, they may have scattered with +the understanding that they will meet again, at some given spot, +which may be ten and may be fifty miles ahead." + +"The worst of it is," Reuben said, "I fear now that there is an end +of all chance of coming up with them, today; and now the question +of water comes in. If we could have caught them before nightfall, +the horses, having had a good drink at that stream, could have done +very well till we'd gone another thirty miles; but as that seems +hopeless, now, we must consider seriously what we had best do, +before we go any further. Does anyone here know anything of the +country ahead?" + +There was a general silence. + +"The horses can do very well, tomorrow, without water," Mr. Blount +said. "They will chew the leaves of this scrub; and can, if +pressed, hold on for even two or three days upon it." + +"In that case," Reuben said, "let us go on. We will break up into +three parties. One shall go straight forward, the other two moving +to the right and left, each following the tracks as well as they +can. We will not go much beyond a walk. We have five more hours of +daylight yet, and the horses can manage another fifteen miles. I +will halt, an hour before it gets dark, and light a fire. The smoke +will be a guide to the other two parties, who should not be more +than a couple of miles to the right and left, and they will then +close in. + +"If you can suggest any better plan than that, Mr. Blount, please +do so. Of course, I see the objection that the blacks may make out +the smoke, and will know that they are being followed." + +"Yes, that is an objection," Mr. Blount said; "but the chances are +that they will know it without your telling them. It is more than +probable that some of them have remained behind, on the watch; and +that they will have signalled our coming, long ago." + +"Dey have done that, sar," Jim, who was standing close to Reuben's +elbow, put in. "Jim saw smoke curl up from the top of de hill, just +when we turned, when we lost the trail." + +"Why didn't you tell me before, Jim?" Reuben asked. + +"De captain didn't ask Jim any question. Jim thought de captain see +it for sure." + +"I didn't see it, Jim. I don't think any of us saw it. We were all +too much occupied looking for the trail. Another time, you tell me +what you see without my asking. + +"Well in that case, Mr. Blount, there can be no harm in my making a +smoke, as they know already that they are pursued. Will you take +charge of the right hand party? Sergeant O'Connor will take command +of the left. Do you each take a tracker with you. I will take my +boy. Three constables will go with each of your parties, and four +with me. + +"Will you gentlemen please to divide up, so as to make seven +altogether in each party, without the natives?" + +"I need not tell you to keep a sharp lookout, Captain Whitney. We +know the blacks are a very strong party and, now they know that +they are pursued they may, as likely as not, make a stand." + +"Yes, that is quite possible," Reuben agreed. "Will you please be +careful that neither of your parties get more than two miles, at +the outside, away from mine? We can hear the sound of rifles, at +that distance. If either party fires, the others will of course +hurry to their assistance. Now, let us move forward." + +With Jim in advance, Reuben's party moved on, the black carefully +examining the ground and bushes as he went; and occasionally, +somewhat to Reuben's surprise, rising from the stooping position in +which he was walking, and looking back over his shoulder. The +motive was explained when Jim exclaimed: + +"Dere, captain, dere are de signals again." + +Reuben turned in the saddle. On the crest of the hill behind him +were three columns of smoke. Scarcely had he looked at them when +the smoke ceased to ascend, as if the fires had been suddenly put +out. + +"That's to tell them that we have divided in three parties?" Reuben +asked the black. + +Jim nodded, and proceeded on his way again. + +"That's awkward," Reuben said, "I must warn the other two parties." + +So saying, he at once ordered two of the constables to ride right +and left and warn the others, who were not as yet more than a +quarter of a mile on either hand, that the natives were aware that +they had broken up, and that the greatest caution must, therefore, +be observed. In ten minutes the two constables returned, having +performed their mission. + +Although he had no reason to believe that the blacks were within +ten miles of him, Reuben now took the precaution of sending one +constable out on each flank, to a distance of fifty yards. A third +was directed to keep with Jim, fifty yards ahead of the main body; +consisting of Reuben himself, a constable, and two colonists. +Occasionally Reuben rode forward to question Jim. + +"How many sheep do you think have gone along the track you are +following?" + +"About thirty sheep, and three black fellow." + +"How do you know there are three black fellows, Jim? I can see +marks, sometimes, of the sheep's feet; but I have not seen a man's +footprint at all." + +"Jim see 'em, captain, plain enough. When dey all follow sheep, not +very plain to see; but sometimes, when de sheep want to scatter, +Jim see one footmark on one hand and one on the other, and sure to +be one man behind." + +"How far are the sheep ahead, Jim, have you any idea?" + +"Six, eight hours, sar, when dey pass here; but dere's no saying +how far they are, now. May be long way on, may be only little way. +Me tink dat they hab not gone so berry far; dat smoke berry thin, +not see him more than ten miles." + +"I wish you had said that before, Jim," Reuben said. "We would have +kept together and have galloped on, and taken our chance of finding +them." + +"Might have found four or five of dem," Jim replied, "but de others +all scattered. No good to find dem, till dey come together again." + +"No, you are right there, Jim. We must catch them all together, if +we can. There are some twelve hundred sheep, somewhere ahead. Mr. +Blount said there were about fifteen hundred driven off. We have +come upon a hundred dead ones, and two or three hundred may have +taken that turn to the right. As you say, it would be no good +coming upon thirty." + +For four hours the party continued their journey. + +"It is six o'clock," Reuben said, looking at his watch. "We will +halt, now, and light that fire." + +Two of the constables were told off to keep watch, some fifty yards +in front; and the others dismounted, and gathered together +materials for a fire. This was soon done, and the smoke mounted +straight and clear, a signal to the other two parties to close in. + +Suddenly a cry was heard from one of the sentries. The men stooping +round the fire leaped to their feet, just in time to see one of the +constables struck from his horse by a boomerang, while a dozen +spears whizzed through the air at the other. He fell forward on his +horse, which carried him up to the fire; as he fell from the +saddle, as it stopped, he was caught by two of the others. Three +spears had pierced him. + +"Stand to your arms. Steady, for your lives," Reuben shouted. + +"Jim, throw the horses at once, and fasten their legs. + +"We must defend ourselves here," he continued, turning to the +others, "until help comes." + +Not a moment was lost. The little party threw themselves down in a +circle, each taking shelter behind a bush; and Jim speedily got the +eight horses down in the centre, for each party had with it three +of the spare animals. The whole time, from the first alarm until +all was ready to receive the natives, did not occupy two minutes. + +The horses of the sentries had galloped wildly on, both having been +struck by spears; and Jim had no difficulty with the remainder, +which were all standing in a group when the alarm was given, the +owners not yet having removed their saddles. + +All was done without flurry or excitement, although the yells of +the natives rose from the bush all round them. The bush was +fortunately not very thick at the point where they had halted, +Reuben having selected it for that very reason; but the bushes were +sufficiently near to each other to enable an enemy to creep up, +within thirty yards or so, without being seen. + +"Don't throw away a shot," Reuben called out; "but pick off the +blacks, as they stand up to throw their spears. + +"Ah!" + +The exclamation was accompanied by a shot from his rifle, as a +native rose suddenly from the bush and hurled his spear. It missed +Reuben by an inch or two only; but, as his rifle flashed out, the +black threw up his hands and fell back in the bush. + +"Here, sah, dis make good shelter;" and Jim propped up his saddle, +almost in front of him. + +"That's a good idea, Jim; help the others in the same way." + +[Illustration: A Fight with the Black Fellows.] + +The five men were all engaged now. The spears whizzed fast over and +among them, but most of them were thrown almost at random; for the +blacks soon learned that to raise themselves above the bushes, to +take aim, was to court sudden death. Jim, after distributing the +saddles to their owners, had lain down by the side of his master; +and loaded his rifle as fast as he discharged it, Reuben using his +pistols as effectually as the rifle, in the intervals. + +Fortunately all the party were provided with these weapons. Had it +not been so, each man would have been liable to be rushed by the +blacks every time he discharged his rifle. As far as possible they +fired by turns; so that each man, while loading, was covered by the +fire of those on his right and left. + +For half an hour the fight continued. Many of the blacks had +fallen, but they continued the assault as vigorously as before, and +all the defenders had received more or less serious wounds from the +spears. + +"The others ought to have been here, long before this," Reuben +said, "if they had followed my instructions. I only hope they have +not been attacked, too; but as we don't hear any firing, that can +hardly be so." + +"I hope they will be up before dusk," Dick Caister said. "It will +be dark in another half an hour. These fellows are only waiting for +that to make a rush. If they do, it is all up with us." + +"They will find it a tough job, even then," Reuben said; "but the +others must be here long before that. I told them to keep within +two miles of us. They have had time to ride double that distance, +since we made the smoke for them." + +Another ten minutes elapsed. + +"Hurrah!" Reuben exclaimed, "I can hear the trampling of horse's +hoofs. The moment they arrive, make a rush for your horses and +charge." + +"I am afraid the horses are killed," Dick said ruefully. + +"In that case," Reuben said, "we must get to our feet, and pick off +the blacks as they run. They will get up like a covey of partridge, +as the horsemen come among them." + +A loud cheer was heard, and the little party, with an answering +shout, sprang to their feet and, rifle to shoulder, stood expecting +the blacks to rise; but the ears of the natives were sharper than +those of the whites, and they had begun to crawl away before the +latter heard the approaching horsemen. + +Finding this to be the case, the party ran to their horses. Four +exclamations of wrath and grief were heard, for seven of the horses +were completely riddled with spears. + +Tartar, however, at his master's voice, struggled to rise to his +feet. Reuben, aided by Jim, quickly threw off the hobbles; and +leaped on to its back as it rose to its feet, just as Mr. Blount, +with his party, rode up. + +"Keep close together," Reuben exclaimed, as he dashed forward, "we +may find some of the scoundrels." + +But the chase was in vain. It was already growing dusk, and there +was no saying in which direction the natives had crawled away in +the bush. After riding for a mile, Reuben reined in his horse. + +"It is no use," he said; "we may as well get back to the fire. + +"What made you so late, Mr. Blount? We were fighting for three +quarters of an hour, before you came up." + +"I am very sorry," Mr. Blount replied; "somehow or other, we went +wrong altogether. There is nothing to guide one in this flat bush, +and the tracker who was leading the way said he was certain he was +going as you ordered him. Just before six o'clock we halted, and +looked in the direction in which we expected to see your smoke, but +there were no signs of it. Presently one of the constables +exclaimed: + +"'There's the smoke, sir, right behind us.' + +"I looked around and, sure enough, there was a column of smoke, and +a long way off it was. + +"'What have you been doing, you rascal?' I said to the black. +'There's the smoke right behind us. You have been leading us wrong, +altogether.' + +"The black insisted that he was right, and that the fire must have +been made by the black fellows. I didn't know what to make of it. +It was two or three minutes past six; and I noticed, when we halted +before, that your watch was exactly with mine. So I said to the +men: + +"'We will wait five minutes longer and, if we see no other smoke, +you may be sure that that is made by Captain Whitney.' + +"We waited the five minutes, and then I gave the word to start, +when one of the men exclaimed: + +"'The black fellow's gone.' + +"Sure enough, he had slipped away without being noticed, while we +were looking for the smoke. I felt sure, now, that something must +be wrong; and we galloped towards your smoke, as fast as the horses +could lay their feet to the ground. When we were about half way, we +heard the sound of firing, and I can tell you that we didn't lose a +moment on the way, after that. Have you had any losses?" + +"Two of the constables are killed," Reuben said, "and we have all +got some more or less ugly scratches. My left arm is useless for a +time, I am afraid. A spear went right through it. I fear some of +the others have worse hurts." + +"What can have become of the sergeant's party?" Mr. Blount said. + +"They must have gone the wrong way, too," Reuben replied. "I told +you I suspected those trackers of being in league with the blacks, +and I have no doubt your fellow led you purposely astray, in order +to give them an opportunity of cutting us off before you could +arrive to our assistance. I suppose the other party has been misled +in the same way. It is fortunate, indeed, that you made up your +mind to ride for our smoke when you did. A quarter of an hour +later, and you would have found only our bodies, and would probably +have been ambushed in turn." + +"Yes, it has been a close thing, indeed," Mr. Blount said. "I was +wrong, after what you told me, to trust that black scoundrel so +entirely; but I own it never entered my mind that he was leading us +astray." + +By this time they had reached the fire, which was blazing high. + +"How are you all?" Reuben asked. "Nobody badly hurt, I hope?" + +"Nothing very bad, captain," Dick Caister replied cheerfully. "We +have all had our skin ripped up a bit, but nothing very deep. That +dodge of the saddles, of your black fellow, saved us. Mine was +knocked over half a dozen times by spears, each of which would have +done its business, if it hadn't been for it. I owe him my life so +completely, that I forgive him for making our horses a barricade, +to save yours." + +Reuben laughed. He had noticed, when he ran for his horse, that Jim +had thrown him in the centre of the others: and their bodies +completely sheltered him from the spears of the natives. + +"It was not fair, perhaps," he said; "but my horse would have been +killed, as well as yours, had he not done so; and Jim loves him +almost as well as he does me. He has watched over and guarded him +for the last three years." + +"I am not angry with him," Dick said. "Nothing could have saved our +horses from being killed, and if one was to be saved, it is as well +it should be Tartar, and not one of the others, as yours was far +the most valuable of the five." + +"Pile on the bushes," Reuben said to one of the constables. "Make +as big a blaze as you can. It will act as a beacon to the sergeant +and his party." + +Half an hour later the trampling of horses' hoofs was heard and, a +few minutes later, the sergeant and his party rode up. + +"I am sorry I am so late, sir," the sergeant said. "Somehow or +other we went wrong altogether, and saw nothing of your smoke. I +was afraid something was wrong, but did not know what to do; so we +halted till it came on dark, and presently made out a fire; but it +was miles away, and right in the direction from which we had come. +I did not think it could be you but, whether it was you or the +blacks, that was the place to ride to." + +"Have you got the tracker with you, sergeant?" + +"Yes, sir; at least, I saw him trotting ahead, ten minutes ago. +Why, where has he got to?" + +The tracker was not to be seen. + +"He has made off to join the blacks, I expect," Reuben said. "You +have been led astray purposely. We have been attacked, and Brown +and Simpson are killed." + +An exclamation of rage broke from the men, who were in the act of +dismounting. + +"I expect," Reuben said, turning to Mr. Blount, "that the fellows +noticed the talk I had with Jim, before we turned back from the +false trail, and concluded that we had some suspicion that they +were in league with the blacks; and so, when the party separated, +they determined to lead the two flanking columns astray, so as to +give their friends a chance of attacking us, and then to bolt." + +"I expect that is it," Mr. Blount agreed. "And now, the first thing +is to get something to eat. When that is done, we will have a +consultation." + +While the meat was cooking over the fire, Reuben told off a party +of eight men to bury the bodies of the two constables who had +fallen. The task was speedily completed, two holes being easily +scraped in the light, sandy soil. + +After supper was over, the settlers gathered round Reuben. + +"Now, captain, what do you mean to do?" Mr. Blount asked. "I have +given up all hope of seeing my sheep again, so don't let them +influence you, but just do as you think best. The blacks are in +strong force, that is evident; and it will be a serious business +pursuing them any further, in their own country." + +"I am going to pursue them till I catch them," Reuben said; "that +is to say, as long as there is a sheep track to serve as a guide. I +don't ask you, gentlemen, to go further, for I know it is a serious +risk; but it is my duty to hunt those fellows down, and give them a +lesson, and I mean to do it. We shall never have safety in the +settlements, until those fellows come to understand that, whenever +they attack us, they will be hunted down." + +"I think you are right," Dick Caister said, "and as long as you go +on, I go with you for one, whatever comes of it. But how I am to go +without my horse, I don't know." + +"There are the spare horses," Reuben said; "Fortunately we have +still got six of them." + +"So we have," Dick exclaimed joyfully. "I had forgotten all about +them. What luck, our bringing them with us!" + +The other settlers all announced their intention of continuing the +chase, as long as Reuben was willing to push on. + +"I will tell you what my idea is," Reuben said. "The horses are +already worn out and, by the end of another day, they will be half +mad with thirst. I propose that we take two days' supply for +ourselves, in our water bottles; and that we push forward on foot, +sending two of the constables back to the stream, with our horses. +I propose that we should push forward tonight. I expect the track +we are following is the true one, and the stars will do as a guide. + +"At daybreak we will lie down in the bushes. The blacks will +probably leave some fellows behind, as scouts. They, seeing nothing +of us, will suppose we have given it up and gone home, and they +will make but a short journey. At night we will go on again, and +the chances are that, before morning, we shall catch sight of their +fires, and will fall upon them at daylight. What do you think of +the plan?" + +"I think it is a good one," Mr. Blount said, warmly. "A capital +plan. Of course we don't much like leaving our horses, for in this +country one almost lives on horseback. Still, it will be the best +plan, certainly; for as you say, the poor brutes will be half mad, +by tomorrow night, with thirst." + +"It will be a long tramp back again," a settler said dismally. + +"We won't tramp all the way," Reuben said with a smile. "Directly +we have overtaken the blacks, and given them a lesson, I will send +Jim back again for the horses. He can cover the ground at a +wonderful pace, and coming back he will ride one of them, and help +the two constables to keep them together. They will have had two +days' rest, and plenty of food and water, and will meet us before +we get halfway back. There will be no fear of the blacks attacking +them." + +All agreed that the plan was excellent, and half an hour later the +whole party--with the exception of the two constables, who were to +start at daybreak with the horses, for the river--set out on their +march. The sky was cloudless, and the stars would have been a +sufficient guide, even had they not had Jim with them. The black, +however, took his place at the head of the party, and strode along +as unhesitating as if it had been broad daylight. + + + +Chapter 12: The Bush Rangers. + + +Scarce a word was spoken as the little party marched along. It was +possible, although very improbable, that the natives, on scattering +before the charge of Mr. Blount and his companions, might have left +some of their number behind, to watch the movements of their +pursuers. They would, however, certainly not anticipate the whites +pushing forward that night. The fire had been piled high, the last +thing before leaving, and the two men left there were told to keep +it burning brightly till morning, and to start before anyone +watching in the distance would be able to see whether the horses +were mounted, or not. Should any natives approach the fire, after +they had gone, they would take it for granted that the whole party +had ridden back to the settlement. + +All night, Reuben and his companions marched steadily forward; and +were glad to throw themselves down on the ground, at the first +appearance of daybreak. Four sentries were placed, with strict +orders to keep a bright lookout through the bushes, but on no +account to raise their heads above their level; and, arrangements +having been made for their relief, every two hours, the rest of the +party were soon sound asleep. + +Except to relieve the sentries, there was no stir among them until +late in the afternoon. Then there was a general movement, and soon +all were sitting up, and appeasing their appetite upon the cold +meat and dampers they had brought with them. + +"There is no harm in a pipe, I suppose, captain?" Dick Caister said +laughingly. + +"No, I think we can risk that," Reuben replied. "The eyes of the +savages may be wonderfully keen, but they would be a great deal +sharper than I can give them credit for, were they to notice the +smoke of a dozen pipes, curling up among the bushes." + +"I suppose, Mr. Blount," Reuben said as, after the meal was +finished, the party lighted their pipes and drew closely round the +fire, "you have heard of a good many bad businesses, with the +blacks and bush rangers, in your time?" + +"I have, indeed," Mr. Blount replied. "In the early days, the +settlers had a hard time of it with the blacks; who were, of +course, stronger than they are now and, after they had got over +their first fear of firearms, more fearless of the whites. The bush +rangers too were, when first they began to send convicts here, more +numerous than at present. I do not know that they were as desperate +as they are now--not so ready to take life, without provocation. +You see, there was a very much larger run of country open to them; +and many convicts who escaped, and took to the bush, were content +to have gained their freedom. Some of them took black gins, and +never troubled the colonists again; beyond, perhaps, coming down to +a station and carrying off a sheep or two, or a bullock, when they +got sick of kangaroo meat and wanted a change. + +"You see, the first settlers were generally poor and hard-working +men. Young men with a little capital had not as yet been attracted +here, so there was but little inducement for the escaped convicts +to meddle with them. There were, of course, some notorious +scoundrels, who seemed to murder for the pure love of the thing. +The worst of them, I think, was a fellow who went by the name of +Cockeye. What his real name was, I never heard. + +"That man was a perfect devil; and was, for a long time, the terror +of the settlers. He never worked with other white men, but lived +among the blacks. Of course, in those days the police system was in +its infancy, and we had to rely upon ourselves. I had a narrow +escape, once, of losing my life, from him and his blacks. + +"When I was about seventeen, I lived with my father and mother in a +station about fifty miles from Sydney, or as it was called then +Port Jackson. It was at that time quite an outlying station. We had +two convicts allotted to us, both of them honest fellows enough, +who had been transported for poaching or something of that +kind--anyhow, they were not old hands, and gave no trouble. My +father was a kind master, and we always felt that, in case of need, +we could rely upon them just as upon ourselves. In those days it +was next to impossible to get hired hands for, as there was plenty +of land for anyone to squat upon, comparatively close to the port, +the men who came out generally set up for themselves, at once. + +"One day I had been out on horseback, to look for a couple of +bullocks which had strayed away; and was on my way back when, ahead +of me, I heard the cooey of the blacks. I didn't think much of it, +because they were common enough at that time, and a party had made +a sort of encampment at a stream, about a mile from the house; but +when, a minute later, I heard a gun fired, I guessed that there was +mischief. + +"The sound seemed to come from away towards the right, where I knew +that one of our men was out, herding the bullocks; so I clapped +spurs to my horse, and rode in that direction. When I got near, I +saw the cattle running wildly about, and a mob of black fellows +among them. I could see no signs of our man, and guessed that he +must have gone down; and that I had best ride and warn them, at the +house. + +"The blacks saw me, and started at a run in my direction, but I +soon left them behind. I was within a quarter of a mile of the +house, when a native yell burst out ahead of me, followed by two +shots. I rode on and, when I got near the house, saw a lot of black +fellows round it. + +"Then came a flash from one of the upper windows, and I saw one of +them roll over. That was a satisfaction, for I knew they hadn't +caught my father asleep. I knew the doors and shutters were strong, +and that he could make a good fight of it. Still, there was only +him and my mother at home, for both the men had gone out before I +left in the morning; and one man hasn't much chance of holding a +house, attacked on all sides. So I made up my mind to try to dash +through them, when the shutter opened a little, and my father +shouted out: + +"'Ride for help, Bill. I will keep them off, till you get back.' + +"So I turned; but when I had gone a few yards I looked over my +shoulder, and I saw a man dash out from behind the house on +horseback, and start at a gallop after me. It was a bay with a +white leg, and I knew that Cockeye used to ride such a horse, and +that there wasn't a better in the colony. Almost at the same moment +I heard a shot again, but I didn't look round. + +"I can tell you I felt pretty badly frightened, for there was no +mercy to be expected from that scoundrel, and I knew that he was a +good deal better mounted than I was. The next station was about +four miles off, and I had about two hundred yards start, but before +I had gone half a mile, he was within fifty yards of me. I could +hear him, cursing and swearing and shouting to me to stop, but I +had made up my mind I would not do that. + +"I had got a brace of pistols with me, but I wasn't much of a shot. +I had, soon after I started, pulled them out of the holsters and +shoved them into my belt in front of me; so that, as he came up, he +shouldn't see my hand go down for them. My hope was that he would +ride straight up to the side of me, not knowing that I was armed; +and that would give me a chance of suddenly letting fly at him. + +"You would think the chance was a poor one; and that he would, to a +certainty, shoot me down before he got up. I did not much think he +would do that, for I guessed that the scoundrel would do with me as +he had in some other cases; namely, take me and carry me back to +the house, and there either threaten to shoot me, or hang me up +over a fire, or some such devilry, to make those inside give in. I +was determined this shouldn't be, and that if I could not shoot him +I would be shot myself; for otherwise he would have got my father +and mother, and it would have been three lives instead of one. + +"Presently--crack!--came the sound of a pistol, and I heard the +bullet whiz close by. I expect that it was only to frighten me into +stopping; but in a second or two he fired again, and the shot just +grazed my shoulder, so he was in earnest that time. + +"I bent low on my saddle, got a pistol out of my belt, and +prepared. There was another shot, the horse gave a spring and I +knew he was hit, but for a time he went faster than ever; still, +the last shot wasn't from more than twenty yards behind; and I +expected, every minute, to see his horse's head coming up beside +me. Then I heard a curse and a sudden fall and, looking round, saw +his horse was down. + +"Cockeye was on his feet in a moment, and drew another pistol from +his holster; so I concluded to keep on as hard as I could go, +without waiting to make inquiries. I guessed pretty well what had +happened. The shot I had heard my father fire, as he started after +me, had hit the horse; and the poor brute had kept on until he +dropped. I understood the fellow's firing, now. He felt his horse +was failing under him, and his only chance was to stop me. + +"I kept on till I got safe to the station. The three men there +started in different directions, to fetch assistance, and by the +evening we had a score of men assembled there, and started back to +our station. We heard a cooey when we were within a mile of the +place, and guessed it was a fellow on the watch. By the time we got +there they had all cleared off, but it was a close thing. + +"My mother was a courageous woman, and had defended the back of the +house, and my father the front. The blacks had made several +attempts to burn the place down; but the roof, like the walls, was +made of solid timber; which is the only safe way to build a house, +when you are exposed to attacks of the blacks. + +"As long as daylight lasted the old people had done very well, and +had kept the blacks at a distance; and we saw, by the marks of +blood in the morning, that they must have killed or wounded eight +or ten of them; but if we hadn't come up before the blacks had +darkness to cover them, it would have gone hard with them. Of +course we knew that, and calculated so as to get there before +nightfall." + +"What became of the bush ranger?" Reuben asked. + +"Well, curiously enough, that was the last time he ever troubled +the settlements. We never knew exactly what became of him, but it +was said that the blacks killed and eat him. I know that was very +often the end of those fellows. As long as all went on well, the +blacks were friendly enough with them, and were glad to follow +their lead; but after a repulse like that they got at our station, +or perhaps as a result of some quarrel about the division of the +plunder, or their gins, or something of that sort, they would fall +suddenly on their white friends, and make cooked meat of them." + +"I suppose the blacks seldom spare any whites who fall into their +hands?" Reuben asked. + +"Scarcely ever," Mr. Blount replied. "That was why they were more +dreaded than the bush rangers. The latter would kill, if they were +in the humour for it; but if there was no serious resistance, and +none of their number got hurt, more often than not they contented +themselves by leaving everyone tied, hand and foot, till somebody +came to unloose them. + +"I remember one horrible case, in which they so tied up three white +men at a lonely station, and nobody happened to go near it for +three weeks afterwards. It struck someone that none of them had +been seen, for some time; and a couple of men rode over and, to +their horror, found the three men dead of hunger and thirst. + +"Now the black fellows don't do that sort of thing. When they do +attack a station and take it, they kill every soul; man, woman, and +child." + +"I suppose, in that affair you were telling us of," Reuben asked, +"both of your ticket-of-leave men were killed?" + +"Yes. One seemed to have been surprised and speared at once. The +other had made a stout fight of it, for the bodies of three natives +were found near him." + +"I remember one case," one of the others said, "in which the blacks +did spare one of the party, in a station which they attacked. It +was a little girl of about three years old. Why they did so I don't +know; perhaps the chief took a fancy to her. Maybe he had lost a +child of the same age, and thought his gin would take to the little +one. Anyhow, he carried her off. + +"The father happened to be away at the time. He had gone down to +Sydney with a waggon, for stores; and when he got back he found the +house burned, and the bodies of his wife, two boys, and two men, +but there was no trace of that of the child. + +"He was nearly out of his mind, poor fellow. The neighbours all +thought that the body must have been burned with the house; but he +would have it that there would have been some sign of her. No one +else thought so; and besides, it wasn't the custom of the blacks to +carry off anyone. The father got a party to try and follow the +blacks, but of course it was no use. They had pretty near two days' +start. + +"The father never took to his farm again, but hung about the out +stations, doing a job here and there for his grub. Sometimes he +would be away for a bit, and when he came back, though he never +talked about it, everyone knew he had been out hunting the blacks. + +"I do not know how many of them he killed, but I know he never +spared one, when he got him outside the settlement. After a time +the blacks never troubled that part. So many of them had been +killed that they got a superstitious fear of the man, and believed +he was possessed of an evil spirit; and I don't believe twenty of +them, together, would have dared to attack him. + +"At last, from some of the half-tamed blacks in the settlement, he +got to hear some sort of rumour that there was a white girl, living +with one of the tribes far out in their country, and he set out. He +was away four months, and he never said what he had been doing all +the time. In fact, he started almost directly for the port, and +went home by the next ship. + +"However, he brought his child back with him. It was four years +since she had been carried off, and she was a regular little +savage, when she arrived in the settlement with him. Of course she +could not speak a word of English, and was as fierce as a little +wildcat. I expect she got all right, after a bit. + +"I didn't see the man, but I heard he was worn to a shadow, when he +got back. He must have had an awful time of it, in the bush. What +with hunger and thirst, and dodging the blacks, I don't know how he +lived through it; but he looked contented and happy, in spite of +his starvation, and they say it was wonderful to see how patient he +was with the child. + +"They got up a subscription, at Sydney, to send them both home. I +heard that the captain of the ship he went in said, when he came +back the next voyage, that the child had taken to him, and had got +civilized and like other children before they got to England." + +"Of course, such fellows as Cockeye and Fothergill are the +exceptions, and not the rule," Mr. Blount said. "Were there many of +such scoundrels about, we should have to abandon our settlements +and make war upon them; for there would be no living in the colony +till they were exterminated. Most of these fellows are the colonial +version of the highwaymen, at home. It is just 'Stand and deliver.' +They content themselves with taking what they can find in a +traveller's pockets, or can obtain by a flying visit to his +station." + +"Yes, I had several of those in my last district," Reuben said. +"They were just mounted robbers, and gave us a good deal of trouble +in hunting them down. But none of them had shed blood during their +career, and they did not even draw a pistol when we captured them. +That style of bush ranger is a nuisance, but no more. Men seldom +carry much money about with them here, and no great harm was done." + +"You see," Dick Caister said, "these fellows have a remarkable +objection to putting their necks in the way of a noose; so that +although they may lug out a pistol and shout 'Bail up!' they will +very seldom draw a trigger, if you show fight. So long as they do +not take life they know that, if they are caught, all they have to +expect is to be kept at hard work during the rest of their +sentence, and perhaps for a bit longer. They don't mind the risk of +that. They have had their outing, sometimes a long one; but if they +once take life, they know its hanging when they are caught; and are +therefore careful not to press too hard upon their triggers. + +"But once they have killed a man, they don't generally care how +many more lives they take. They are desperate, then, and seem to +exult in devilry of all kinds. As to being stuck up by an ordinary +bush ranger, one would think no more of it than of having one's +pockets picked, in England. + +"It's lucky for us, on the whole, that the black fellows have such +a hatred of the white men. Were it not for that, a good many of +these fellows would go all lengths, relying on taking to the bush +when they had made the colony too hot to hold them. But there are +only a few of them that have ever got on well with the blacks, and +many a man who has gone out into the bush has found his end there. +You see, there's no explaining to a dozen natives, who jump up and +begin to throw spears and boomerangs at you, that you are a bad +white fellow, and not a colonist on the search for fresh runs. + +"No, the bush rangers on the whole are not such a bad lot of +fellows. I suppose there is not one of us, here, who hasn't had men +ride up and ask for food; who were, he knew pretty well, bush +rangers. Of course they got their food, as anyone else would who +rode up to a station and asked for it. + +"Once, only, I was told to hand over any money I had in the house. +As, fortunately, I had only a few pounds I gave it up without +making a fight for it. It's no use risking one's life, unless for +something worth fighting for. I suppose most of us here have had +similar experiences." + +There was a general chorus of assent among the settlers. + +"Many of them are poor-spirited wretches. Two of them bailed up a +waggoner of mine, coming out with a load from the port. He +pretended to give in and, as they were opening some of the boxes, +he knocked one over with the butt end of his whip. The other fired +a hasty shot, and then jumped on to his horse and galloped off +again; and my man brought in the fellow he had stunned." + +"Did you hand him over to the police?" Reuben asked. + +"Not I," the settler laughed. "I thought he had got what he +deserved, so I bandaged up his head and let him go. Those poor +beggars of convicts have a dreadful hard time of it, and I don't +think there are many settlers who would hand over any man who had +escaped, and taken to the bush, even if he had occasionally bailed +up a waggoner or so. We know what a flogging the poor wretch would +get and, as long as it's only an occasional robbery, to keep +themselves from starving, we don't feel any great animosity against +them. It's different, altogether, when they take to murder. Then, +of course, they must be hunted down like wild beasts. + +"And now I vote that we have a nap. My pipe's out, and I suppose we +shall be on the tramp again, as soon as it is dark." + + + +Chapter 13: Bush Rangers. + + +As soon as it became dark, the journey was renewed. + +"Now, Jim, you must keep your eyes well open," Reuben said. "There +is no saying when we may come upon them, now." + +"I tink dey not berry far off, sah. Dose sheep too tired to go far. +Black fellow glad to stop and rest, when he see no one coming after +him. + +"De ground more up and down here. Must no make noise. May come upon +dem sudden." + +It was nearly midnight when Jim suddenly halted. + +"What is it, Jim?" Reuben asked, in a low voice. + +Jim stood sniffing the air. + +"Me smell fire, captain." + +Reuben sniffed the air, but shook his head. + +"I don't smell anything, Jim." + +"I smell him, sah, sure enough; not very close, perhaps, but in de +air." + +"What is it, Captain Whitney?" Mr. Blount asked, as he came forward +and joined them. + +"Jim says he smells fire, but I can't smell it." + +"Oh, you can trust Jim's nose," the settler said. "It is wonderful +how keen is the scent of these natives. They are like dogs in that +respect; and can perceive the smell of a fire, when the wind brings +it down to them, miles away." + +"Dis way now, sah," Jim said, turning off to the left, at right +angles to the course which they had been pursuing. "Smell come down +the wind, dat's sartin. We follow him far enough, we sure to catch +dem." + +For fully two miles, Reuben followed the black without speaking. +Then he said: + +"I don't smell any smoke, Jim. Are you quite sure you are right +about it?" + +"Quite sure, sah. De smoke much stronger than he was. Some of dese +bushes make very sharp smell; can smell him very far away." + +"That's all right, Jim, on we go then. I must take your word for +it." + +After another half-an-hour's walking, Reuben thought that he too +could smell an odour of burning wood and, soon afterwards, he +became convinced that it was so. The ground on which they were +crossing was slightly undulated and, on nearing the crest of one of +the slight rises, Jim said: + +"De smoke am getting strong now, sah; and Jim can hear de bleating +of de sheep. If de captain will wait here, Jim will go on ahead, +and find out where dey lie." + +"But perhaps you won't be able to find us again." + +"Der no fear of dat, sah. But if I not come straight back, I give a +little whistle-like this--when I get on to a rise; and if the +captain answer in just the same way, then I come straight back to +him." + +So saying, Jim glided away in the darkness; while Reuben gave the +word for the men to halt, and lie down till his return. There was, +however, no occasion for a signal for, in little over half an hour +from the time of Jim's leaving, he rejoined them again; his coming +being unnoticed until he stood among them, so noiseless were his +footsteps. + +"We hab dem dis time, sure enough, captain." + +"Why, is that you, Jim? You quite startled me. Well, what is your +news?" + +"De black fellows and de sheep are a little over a mile away, sah. +Dey got a big fire down in a bottom. Some of dem eating still, but +most of dem fast asleep round de fire." + +"How many are there of them?" + +"About fifty, sah--at least, dat about the number Jim saw. I expect +I was right when I tell you dat there was well nigh a hundred, at +fust. Some ob them go off wid de sheep, de odder way, and we kill +over twenty in dat fight." + +"Do you think we killed so many as that, Jim?" + +"I went round, sah, and counted sixteen of dem; and some sure to +have crawl away and die in de bush. Dere were over twenty killed +altogether, for sure; and I specks dat some more hab left de party +today, and gone off wid dere share of de sheep to der people." + +"Well, what do you think, Mr. Blount--shall we attack them tonight, +or wait till morning?" + +"I should say wait till morning, certainly," the settler said. "We +might shoot a few if we attack them now, but the rest would be all +off, at the first flash of our gun; and we should never get another +shot. I think our best plan would be to remain where we are, for +another couple of hours--it is two o'clock now--then Jim will guide +us to the place, and we can take up our position as close as we can +get, and wait for daylight." + +"There is no fear of their making a move before it is light, Jim?" + +"No, sah. Dey tink dey am safe now, and eat one big feast. Dey not +move till light, sartain." + +"Very well, Mr. Blount, then we will do as you say. When we get +near them we will divide into four parties. You, with four men, +shall move up close to the sheep, Sergeant O'Connor, with four +others, shall work up from the other end of the bottom. Five others +shall make a detour, and get right on the other side of their fire; +and I, with the other three and Jim, who you see has got one of the +constables' rifles and ammunition, will come down on them from this +side. + +"Jim will place all the parties, taking them by turns, as near the +fire as he thinks safe; and will then return to me. Only, as we +shall attack them from four sides, let everyone be careful about +his shooting; otherwise we shall have casualties from our own +shots. + +"All will remain quiet until I fire. Then a general volley must be +poured in, with bullet and buckshot; and when the rifles and guns +are empty, go right at them with pistol and sword." + +The plan was carried out as arranged and, before daybreak, the four +parties were lying in the positions allotted to them, within forty +yards of the blacks. A few of these were seen sitting by the fire, +the rest were all asleep. + +Gradually the light began to creep over the sky and, as it became +lighter, there was a movement among the blacks. As soon as he could +see perfectly, Reuben was about to fire in the air; for he did not +like to fire at unsuspecting men, in spite of the deeds of blood +and rapine they had performed in the settlement. + +Presently, however, his eye fell upon one of the treacherous +trackers, who had so nearly brought destruction upon them. He +levelled his rifle and fired, and the man fell dead in his tracks. + +As the rest of the blacks leapt to their feet, a volley from +nineteen guns was poured into them--followed by seven or eight +more, as most of the settlers were armed with double-barrelled +guns; a few buckshot being dropped into each barrel, over the +bullets. Then came the sharp cracks of the pistols, as the whites +rushed down to the assault. + +The natives attempted no resistance. Panic stricken at the sudden +appearance of the foe, whom they imagined by this time far back on +their way to the settlements; and paralysed by the slaughter made +by the first volley, they thought only of flight. A few caught up +their spears and waddies, as they made a dash for the bushes, and +strove to effect their escape between the parties advancing on each +side of them; but the latter were now close at hand and, for a +minute or two, a fight took place between the whites, with their +clubbed muskets, and the natives with their spears and waddies. But +it was soon over, for the natives only fought to escape and, as +soon as they saw an opening, bounded away into the bushes. + +Only one of the assailants was killed, but several were more or +less severely wounded by the spears; while no less than thirty-four +of the blacks were killed. The victors made no attempt at pursuit +but, as soon as the last of the natives had escaped, they gathered +to ascertain what loss had taken place, on their side. + +"Poor Phillips is killed," Mr. Blount said, as he examined the +body. "The spear has gone right through his throat. Fortunately he +was a single man. He has only been out here a few months, and was +staying down at Dick Caister's." + +"Poor Tom," Dick said, in feeling tones. "He was a capital young +fellow, and I am deeply sorry. Fortunately he has left no one +behind to grieve more than I do for him, for he lost his father and +mother shortly before he came out, and was alone in the world." + +"I am thankful it's no worse," Mr. Blount said. "We have given the +blacks a terrible lesson. I think, as far as they are concerned, we +can sleep in peace for a long time. Of course we have not done with +them, for they are very revengeful; but a blow like this will +render them careful, for a long time, how they attack us. + +"How many of them have fallen?" + +"Thirty-four," Reuben said. "Jim has just been counting them up. + +"Now, Mr. Blount, we will have another of your sheep for breakfast, +and then we'll be off." + +The sheep had scattered somewhat, at the alarm of the fire, but +were soon driven together again. One was caught and killed, and +slices of the meat were stuck up on ramrods, and were soon +frizzling before the fire. + +"Well, Mr. Blount, how many sheep do you think there are here?" + +"I have just been looking them over," the settler replied, "and I +should say there must be nearly twelve hundred; so that, allowing +for two hundred driven off in the other direction, and a hundred +dropped by the way, the whole flock are accounted for. I am indeed +obliged to you, and to my friends here. I never expected to see a +tail of them again, when I found they were off." + +"I am very glad you have recovered so many of them," Reuben said, +"and still more, that we have given the blacks such a lesson. We +will, as soon as we have finished, be on the march. Jim will go on +ahead at once, as we agreed; and he tells me will get to the stream +where the horses are before night, and will start out with them at +once, so that we may be able to meet them tomorrow, early. I fancy +our water bottles are all getting very low, but we can hold on for +today." + +As soon as he had finished eating, Jim started off at a run, which +Reuben knew he would keep up for hours. The body of young Phillips +was buried; and then, collecting the flock and driving it before +them, the rest started upon their return. The sheep could not +travel fast, for many of them were footsore with their hurried +journey; but they had found plenty of nourishment in the grass at +the bottoms, and in the foliage of the bushes and, being so +supplied, had suffered little from thirst. + +Jim, before starting, had pointed out the exact line they were to +follow, and this they kept by compass. With only one or two short +halts, they kept on until nightfall and, leaving the sheep in a +grassy bottom, lit their fire on the crest above it, in order that +its flame might serve as a guide to Jim, should he get back with +the horses before daylight. + +There was but little talking, before each stretched himself at +length before the fire. They had been twenty-four hours without +sleep, and all were now suffering severely from thirst. The last +drops in the water bottles had been emptied, early in the day; and +they were parched not only by the heat of the sun, but by the +stifling dust raised by the flock as they travelled. + +There had been but little supper eaten. Indeed, most of them +contented themselves with chewing pieces of raw meat, to satisfy +their thirst rather than their hunger. Although they had no fear of +the return of the natives, Reuben thought it only prudent to keep +watch, and each of the party had half an hour on sentry duty. + +The day was just beginning to break, when the man on guard +exclaimed: + +"I can hear the trampling of horses!" + +The news brought everyone to their feet, and in a few minutes the +two constables and Jim rode up, driving before them the horses of +the rest of the party. + +"Well done, Jim!" Reuben exclaimed. "Now, the first thing, get one +of the water skins off." + +One of the skins was unfastened in a minute and, after copious +draughts, everyone felt refreshed and ready for work again. + +"We cannot start for a few hours," Reuben said. "The horses must +have come over forty miles, and won't be fit to travel till the +afternoon; fortunately there is plenty of grass for them in the +bottom. And now that my thirst is allayed, I begin to discover that +I am hungry." + +There was a general chorus of assent. The fire was made up again. +The men went down to the bottom, and killed and brought up a sheep; +and all were soon engaged in making up for their twenty-four hours' +fast. + +In the afternoon a start was made; but although they travelled all +night, they did not reach the stream until the following afternoon, +as they were obliged to accommodate their pace to that of the +sheep. The following morning Reuben rode forward to the +settlements, leaving Mr. Blount, with two of his friends, to come +on with the flock at his leisure. + +At the first farm he reached Reuben heard that, as he feared, the +bush rangers had taken advantage of so many of the settlers being +away to recommence their attacks. At the first two houses they +visited, they had found the inmates on the watch, and had moved off +without making any attack. At the third they had surprised and +killed a settler, his wife, and two hired men, and had sacked and +burned the house. Reuben learned that some of the police had gone +off in pursuit. + +Leaving his horse to the care of the settler, Reuben borrowed a +fresh animal and rode off to the scene of the outrage, which was +some thirty miles distant. Just as he arrived there he met the +party of eight police, who had been in pursuit of the bush rangers, +and they reported that they had lost all trace of them. + +For the next two or three weeks Reuben did not return to his +headquarters, spending the time in riding from station to station, +with a small party of police, and urging upon the settlers the +necessity not only of strongly barricading their houses, but of +keeping a watch by turns; as the bush rangers seldom attack a +place, unless they can gain the advantage of a surprise. + +As nothing had been heard of the bush rangers, Reuben determined to +return to his barrack. He was spending the last night at Dick +Caister's when, just as they were about to turn in, the sound of a +horse's hoofs, at full gallop, was heard. + +"Something is the matter," Dick said. "Men don't ride like that, at +night, for nothing." + +He went to the door and opened it, just as the horseman stopped in +front. + +"Quick, Caister!" the man said as he leaped down, "the bush rangers +are not fifty yards behind." + +And indeed, the sound of the trampling of other horses sounded +close behind. + +"Come in, come in!" Dick cried. "Ah! Is it you, Shillito? Never +mind the horse, he must look after himself. Luckily the captain's +here, and we will give it them hot. Just run round and see that all +the shutters are fastened." + +As Dick spoke he was barring the door, and he now shouted at the +top of his voice to the two hired men, who were in bed upstairs; +but before any answer could be returned, there was a thundering +knocking at the door. + +"What is it?" Dick shouted. + +"Open the door, and be quick about it, or it will be worse for you. +We want that chap that's just ridden up, and we mean to have him, +so he had best come out at once. If you don't open the door at +once, we will cut the throats of every soul in the house." + +"You have got to get at our throats first, my fine fellow," Dick +said jeeringly. + +The knocking was at once renewed, but with greater violence. + +"The door's a strong one," Dick said to Reuben, "and it will stand +a good deal of that sort of thing; but we may as well move the +table and benches up against it, then we can see how things stand." + +Reuben had been busy taking down the guns, which hung over the +fireplace; dropping a ramrod into them to see that they were +charged, and putting fresh caps on to the nipples. His own rifle +stood in the corner; and was, he knew, ready for service. + +"What arms have you altogether, Caister?" + +"I have that rifle and double-barrel gun. Both my hands have got +muskets; I got them up from Sydney, a few months back." + +The two men now came running down from above, each with his musket. + +"Where is Jim?" Reuben said, looking round. + +"He went out about ten minutes ago," Dick said. "I fancy he went to +look after your horse. He takes as much care of that animal as if +it were a child." + +"I hope they won't find him in the stable, and cut his throat," +Reuben said. "He is wonderfully faithful and attached to me. I +would not have harm come to him, for anything. + +"Now, I will go upstairs and reconnoitre. Now those fellows have +left off knocking at the door, they are a good deal more dangerous +than when they were kicking up all the row." + +"Mind how you show yourself, captain, as likely enough one of them +is on the watch, expecting that we should be sure, sooner or later, +to take a look out of that window. So keep well back. The night is +pretty light, so I expect you will be able to make them out." + +"Can we get a view of the stable from that window?" + +"Yes," Dick replied, "I rather had that in my mind's eye, when I +put the stable up. It's always a good thing, men knowing that their +master can have an eye upon them, when they least expect it. Why do +you ask?" + +"Because if the window commands the stable door, we can prevent +them getting the horses out." + +"Yes," Dick said, "after losing two in that last affair, it would +be a serious matter to have the rest of them carried off." + +Reuben went up the stairs and made his way towards the window, +standing a short distance back. He could see no one moving about in +the yard, and he was about to move close to it, when a tremendous +crash took place below, followed by loud shouts. He ran downstairs +again. + +The bush rangers had moved round to the back of the house and, +there picking up a young tree which had been brought in, to saw up +into billets for firewood, they used it as a battering ram against +one of the shutters; and at the very first blow broke it off its +hinges, and then made a rush at the window. Two shots rang out +almost together; and then, firing a hasty volley into the window, +the bush rangers began to climb in. But by this time Reuben had +arrived, and the sharp cracks of his pistols rang out. + +"They have got the police here!" one of the men exclaimed, as he +caught a sight of Reuben's uniform. + +"Draw off, lads, I expect it's that accursed captain," another +voice exclaimed. "He's always riding about, with nobody but that +black fellow with him. He has got to go down, that fellow has, or +he will give us no end of trouble; but draw off from that window, +for a moment." + +"What will they do next, I wonder?" Dick Caister said as, leaving +the two hands to guard the window, he returned into the other room +with Reuben. + +"I rather expect they are going to try to burn us out. We must keep +them from that, if we can. + +"Mr. Shillito, will you go up to the upper room, and keep an eye on +the stables? Shoot down anyone who may pass your line of sight. + +"Haven't you got any loopholes, Caister?" + +"Yes, of course I have," Dick replied. "I had forgotten all about +them. Yes, there are two loopholes in the logs in each side of the +house, upstairs. They have been shut up by wisps of straw, ever +since the house was built." + +Giving strict orders, to the two men, to shout instantly if anyone +moved near the window, the two young men went upstairs. + +"Have you seen anything, Shillito?" + +"Not a thing. One would almost think that they have bolted." + +"They will hardly do that, I fancy," Reuben said. "There are ten or +twelve of them, but I think one or two must have got a bullet in +them." + +"I wish they would come on," Dick said, as he pulled out the straw +from the loopholes. + +Reuben went to them all in succession, and looked out, but nothing +could be seen of their assailants. Presently, however, a number of +dark figures appeared, each bearing a burden. + +"They have been cutting brush wood!" Reuben exclaimed. "I was +right, you see. They are going to try to smoke or burn us out. Now +I think it's time to give them a lesson." + +"Look, look!" + +The exclamation was excited by a sudden glare of light, on the +other side of the stables. + +"The scoundrels have set fire to the stables!" Shillito said. + +"What shall we do--make a sally?" Caister asked. "I am ready for +it, if you think right." + +"No," Reuben said, "they would only shoot us down as we come out. +They must guess that some of us are up at this window, or they +would try to carry the horses off, instead of destroying them. + +"I only wish we were on the poor beasts' backs. We would go for +them, though they were twice as many. + +"I don't see the others now--they must have gone round to the other +side of the house." + +Scarcely had Reuben taken up his station, at one of the loopholes +behind, than he again saw the dark figures. He took steady aim and +fired. There was a sharp cry, and one of the fellows fell to the +ground. The others at once threw down their burdens, and fled. +Three minutes later there was a shout. + +"Look here, you policeman, and you, Caister, you shall pay dearly +for this night's work. I swear it, and Bill Fothergill never +forgets his word in that way. It's your turn, this time. It will be +mine the next, and when it is, take care." + +The only reply was a shot from Reuben, aimed in the direction from +which the voice came. A minute later there was a trampling of +horses. + +"They are gone!" Shillito exclaimed. + +"Perhaps it is only a trick, to draw us out," Dick suggested. + +"No, I don't think it's that," Reuben said. "They are not strong +enough to send a party off, and to attack us with the rest. No, I +think they have gone. They know that we can't follow them. + +"They have taken good care of that," he added bitterly, as he +glanced at the stables, which were now a sheet of flame. "However, +we will look round and see." + +The three men descended to the room below and, being joined by the +two hands, removed the furniture piled against the door, and threw +it open. + +"We mustn't go round to that side of the house, so as to get into +the glare of the fire, till we have looked round," Reuben said. "I +believe they are all gone; but they may have left a couple of them +lurking, somewhere about, to pick us off when we show in the light. + +"I will take one of your hands, Caister, and scout round on one +side. Do you three go the other side." + +A quarter of an hour later the two parties met near the stables, +where the fire was now burning low. The roof had fallen in, and +only some of the uprights were erect, with flicking flames licking +them as they stood glowing above the mass of still blazing debris. + +"I wonder whether that poor fellow is under that?" Reuben said. + +"I hope not, indeed. I fancy he must have got away. He might have +slipped off when they first rode up. He may be hiding somewhere +round, afraid to come near till he knows how matters have turned +out." + +So saying, he gave a loud cooey. They stood silent for a minute, +but no answer came back. + +"There is nothing to be done, till morning," Dick said, "and it's +no use hanging about here. Before it gets light I will start for +Watson's. There are two of your men there; and they, with the two +Watsons and ourselves, can set out after these fellows, if you are +agreeable. That is, as soon as we get hold of some horses." + +"I hardly think I shall be justified in taking you," Reuben said, +as he walked back towards the house. "These scoundrels are all +armed to the teeth, and they are first-rate shots. They know every +foot of the country, and against anything like equal numbers they +would make a desperate fight of it, even if they did not thrash us. +Of course, in anything like an equal number of my own men I should +not hesitate, but I don't think it will be fair for you settlers to +undertake such a service as that." + +"Listen!" Shillito exclaimed, "they are coming back again." + +Surely enough, on the night air the sound of horses, galloping at +full speed, could be heard. + +"I don't think it can be them," Reuben said. "They would have no +motive in coming back, after they once rode off. They would know we +should be ready for them." + +"I don't see who else it can be. At any rate, all our guns are +loaded; and if it is them, all the better." + +Suddenly a loud cooey was heard. + +"That's Jim!" Reuben exclaimed. "I should know his call among a +thousand. He must have made off to get help at once, but I don't +know how he can have done it in time." + +"Why, it's the Watsons and my men!" he exclaimed, as the party rode +up into the light. + +"All safe?" one of the settlers cried, as he jumped from his horse. + +"All safe, thank God," Reuben replied. "Did Jim bring you news that +we were attacked?" + +"Yes; fortunately we were sitting up late, talking, when he rode +up; so there was not a minute lost." + +"Rode up!" Reuben repeated, in surprise; "why, where did you get a +horse, Jim?" + +"Rode master's horse," Jim said. + +"What!" Reuben exclaimed in delight, "what, is Tartar safe? I was +afraid his body was under those ruins. Why, how did you get him +out?" + +"Jim was in de stable, sah, when bush ranger ride up. De horses was +stamping, and I not hear dem till dey come quite close, den it was +too late to run out. + +"De moment dat dey began to make bobbery at door, I opened stable +door and bring out de three horses." + +"What! Did you get mine out, too?" Dick shouted. "Jim, you are a +trump, and no mistake." + +"Den," Jim went on, paying no attention to the interruption, "me +led de other two hosses little way, and let them go loose, sure not +go far from home; and I jump on Tartar, and ride like de debel to +Watson's for de police." + +"Well done, Jim. You have done capitally. Now let us talk over what +we had better do." + +The party re-entered the house. Fresh wood was thrown on to the +fire, and one of Dick's hands proceeded to put food on the table, +and prepare tea, while the others consulted what course should be +pursued. + +It was agreed, at once, that more aid would be necessary, before +they could think of attacking the bush rangers; but all were ready +to join in the hunt for them. Therefore it was decided that Dick +Shillito and the two Watsons should each ride, at once, to +neighbouring stations to bring aid. At one of the stations two more +policemen would be found, and as in the pursuit they should +probably pass near other stations, their numbers would swell as +they went. When this was settled, the party sat down to the meal. + +"How did you come upon them, Shillito?" Caister asked. + +"I had been spending the day with the Wilkinsons. I did not start +to ride home till it was rather late, and I was riding fast when, +about a quarter of a mile before I got to my place, I rode right +into the middle of a lot of men on horseback. They evidently hadn't +heard me coming, and were as much surprised as I was. + +"There was a general shout of 'Bail up!' and I saw at once what +sort of gentry they were. However, I didn't stop, but in the +confusion dashed through. + +"A few shots were fired at me. I suppose they were too surprised to +aim straight. Then they started off after me. I knew it was no use +making for home, for there was only one man there; so I swept round +and made for your place. My horse is a good one, you know, and I +gained on them all except one man, who must have been capitally +mounted, for he gradually crept up to me. He wasn't twenty yards +behind me when he shouted: + +"'Stop, or I fire!' + +"I pulled straight up and, as he came up to me, let fly at him. He +tumbled off his horse, and I galloped off till I got here." + +"What has become of your horse, I wonder?" + +"I gave him a cut with my whip, as I jumped off. He cantered away. +Of course they may have caught him, but I don't think it's likely." + +"You will find him somewhere about at daylight, I expect. I will +ride Caister's spare horse, now." + +For Jim, with one of the hands, had gone out to fetch in the two +horses from the spot where they had been turned loose. + + + +Chapter 14: An Unexpected Meeting. + + +As soon as it was light the party were assembled and started, Jim +leading the way, at a swinging pace which kept the horses going at +a hand canter. The marks were, for a time, perfectly easy to +follow. Five miles on the tracks led to a shepherd's hut. At their +call, the man came out. + +"You had a visit from bush rangers last night?" + +"What if I did?" the man replied gruffly. "I can't help where the +bush rangers pay their visits. Yes, they came in here and said they +wanted some supper; and you may guess I did not keep them waiting +long, for they were not in a particularly good temper. From what +they said, three of their men had been killed." + +This was already known to the party, as Jim had found three bodies +at a short distance from the house. Two of these had evidently been +carried there from the back window, where they had been killed in +trying to effect the entry. The other had been shot when +approaching to fire the house. + +"The captain of the gang was terrible put out, and was a-cussing +and swearing as to what he would do to those as did it. I wouldn't +be in their shoes, if they were to fall into his hands." + +"They didn't say anything which would give you an idea as to the +direction they were taking?" + +"Not they," the man replied. "You don't suppose they would be such +fools as that and, if they had, you don't suppose as I should be +such a fool to split on 'em. Not likely. I ain't no desire to wake +up, one night, and find the door fastened outside and the thatch on +fire." + +"We may as well ride on," Reuben said. "We shall learn nothing +here. The fellow is a ticket-of-leave man, and as likely as not in +league with these scoundrels. + +"I wonder what they came here for," he added, as they started +again. + +"I tell you, sah," Jim said. "Dat fellow has driven his herd ober +their trail--all stamped out--no saying where they hab gone to." + +"We must follow the herd, then," Reuben said. "If we look sharp, we +ought to be able to see the traces where they left them." + +Jim shook his head. + +"No find," he said decidedly. "Plenty places where de ground am +berry hard, and horse feet no show. Dey choose some place like dat +and turn off; perhaps put rug under horses' feet, so as to make no +mark. Me sarch, sah. Jim look him eyes very hard, but tink no +find." + +And so, to their great disappointment, it turned out. They followed +the tracks of the herd three miles, until they came upon them, +quietly grazing; but nowhere could they see any trace of a party of +horsemen turning off. All the party were greatly vexed at the ill +success of their expedition; for all had hoped that they were, at +last, going to overtake the gang who had done such mischief in the +colony. + +Reuben was especially disgusted. He had, only the day before, +received a letter from his chief acknowledging the receipt of his +report describing the pursuit of the blacks, and congratulating him +warmly upon his success. The letter ended: + +"If you can but give as good an account of the bush rangers, we +shall be indeed grateful to you. As it is, you have more than +justified my selection of you for the post." + +Leaving two constables as guards, at Dick Caister's station, in +case, as was probable enough, the bush rangers should return to +take revenge for the repulse they had experienced there, Reuben +rode back to his headquarters, from which he had now been absent +some time. The evening after his return, he called Jim into his +room. + +"Jim," he said, "I want your advice as to the best way of finding +out where these bush rangers are quartered. How do you think we had +better set about it? Would it be of any use, do you think, for you +to go among the natives and try and find out? There is no doubt +they know, for they have often acted with the bush rangers. Do you +think you could pass among them?" + +"No, sah," Jim said at once. "Me no speak deir way. Me understand +black fellow, me talk dar language, but not same way. They find out +difference directly and kill me. De wild black fellows hate those +who hab lived wid de white men. We hate dem just de same way. We +say dem bad black fellow, dey say we no good." + +"But those rascally trackers who led us wrong, that day of the +fight, they were friendly with them." + +"Yes, sah, but dey not so very long away from the bush, and always +keep friends wid the others. Meet dem and talk to dem, and tell dem +dey set the white men on wrong tracks." + +"Well, Jim, but could not you do the same?" + +"No good, sah. Me brought up among de whites, eber since me little +boy. Dey not believe me if I go and say dat to dem. Jim ready to +get killed, if de captain want him; but no good at all him getting +killed in dat way." + +"I don't want you to get killed in any way, Jim, and if that's your +opinion about it, we will give up the plan at once. Can you think +of any other way?" + +"Me tink a lot about him. Me know de captain want very much to +catch dose fellows, but Jim no see how dat can be done, for sure. +But de best plan me can see is for Jim to go out by himself, and +search de country outside white man's bounds. If he find de track +of horses, he follow dem up. Me know about de way dey ride off +after dey be killing people at de stations. If Jim look, and look, +and look berry sharp he find dar track for sure; and once he find +dem, he follow dem up. Must be water, for sure, where dey live. Dat +good guide to begin with. + +"But captain must not hurry; Jim may be long time before he find +dem, dar no saying how long. Captain wish Jim to go?" + +"Well, Jim, I don't want you to go; that is to say, I should miss +you very much; but if you could find out the haunts of these +scoundrels, you would be doing me a very great service, as well as +the people of all the stations." + +"Jim no care about oder people," the black said. "He care for de +captain, and will go out and try and find tracks." + +"Be careful, Jim, and don't get into trouble with them. If you were +to fall into their hands, and they were to find out you were +connected with the police, they would shoot you like a dog." + +"Dey won't find out. White man not understand. Black fellow all one +to him. You hab no fear for Jim. Who look after hoss, while Jim +away?" + +"I shall appoint one of the policemen as my orderly, Jim, and he +will look after him." + +Jim made a contemptuous gesture, to signify that he had little +confidence in the power of any white man to look after Tartar. For +the rest of the evening Jim was occupied in cooking, and in the +morning he was gone. + +A week later, Reuben was among the outlying stations again. He had +heard nothing of the bush rangers, and no fresh attacks had been +made by them, since that upon Dick Caister's station. + +One evening, just as he had gone up to bed, he was roused by a +sharp knocking at the door of the house in which he was stopping. +The settlers had grown cautious now, and an upper window was +opened, and Reuben heard the questions, "Who is there?" and "What +is it?" + +"Is Captain Whitney here?" + +"Yes, do you want him?" + +"Yes, I want to see him directly." + +In a minute, Reuben had opened the door. + +"I am Captain Whitney," he said. "What is it?" + +"I am glad I have found you, sir. They told me at the next station +you were here yesterday, but they did not know whether you were +here now. + +"Well, sir, I am shepherding some twenty miles away; and this +afternoon, just as I had got back to my hut, in runs a black +fellow. It is a lonely spot, and I reached for my gun, thinking +there was more of them, when he said: + +"'No shoot, me friend. Me sarve Captain Whitney of de police. You +know him?' + +"I said I had heard your name. + +"'You know where he is?' the black asked. + +"I said I did not know for certain; but that when my mate went in +for grub, two days before, he had heard say that you had been along +there that morning. + +"The black said: 'Good. You run and find him.' + +"'Thank you,' says I. 'What for?' + +"'I find out about the bush rangers,' he said. 'You go and tell +captain dat, tomorrow morning before de day begins, dey attack the +station of Donald's.' + +"'Are you quite sure?' says I. + +"'Quite sure,' says the black. 'Me heard dem say so.' + +"So as I hates the bush rangers like poison, I saddles up and rides +into the station; and when I had told the boss, he said I better +ride and find you, if I could. You would be at one of the stations +this way. I stopped at three of them, and at the last they told me +you was here." + +"Thank you greatly, my good fellow. Donald's! I don't know the +name. Where do they live?" + +"They have only been here a couple of months," Reuben's host, who +was standing beside him, replied. "They bought that station of +Anderson's. He was a chicken-hearted young fellow, and sold out +because of the bush rangers. There is a man, his wife, and her +sister, I believe. I fancy they have got a pretty fair capital. +They took Anderson's stock, and have been buying a lot more. That's +why the bush rangers are going to attack them." + +"I thought," Reuben said, "that Anderson's was not one of the most +exposed stations." + +"No, that was what everyone told him, before he sold it." + +"How far would you say it was from here?" + +"Thirty-five miles," the settler said. "It's ten miles from +Barker's, and I reckon that's twenty-five from here." + +"Well, of course I shall ride at once; as there are women there, it +makes the case all the more urgent. I have got my orderly, and +there are two more men at the station, this side of Barker's." + +"I will go, of course," Reuben's host said, "and will bring two men +with me. + +"You had best stop here for the night," he added, turning to the +shepherd. "You have ridden pretty well thirty miles already, and +that at the end of your day's work." + +"Not I," the man replied. "Jim Walsh is not going to be lying in +bed, with the thought of two women in the hands of them murderous +bush rangers. You might lend me a fresh horse, if you have got one. +If not, I must try and pick one up at one of the stations, as we go +along." + +"I have plenty of horses in the yard," the settler said. + +"Well, let us be off as soon as possible," Reuben put in. "It's +past twelve o'clock now, and we have thirty-five miles to ride, and +to stop at two or three places, so we haven't a minute to lose." + +In a few minutes the horses were saddled, and the six men dashed +off at full gallop. At three stations, which they passed on the way +to Barker's, they picked up seven more. There was but little delay +as, the instant the news was told, the men hurried up, saddled +their horses, and rode after the party, who pushed straight on when +they had told their story. At Barker's they were joined by Barker +himself, and two men. Two constables had also been picked up on the +way. + +The others overtook them here, and the party now numbered twenty +men. There was a pause to allow all to come up, and to give the +horses breathing time, for they had traversed twenty-five miles at +a rapid pace, with scarce a halt. + +Mrs. Barker herself prepared a meal, to which, while the horses got +their breath, their riders did justice. Then they mounted again, +and rode for Donald's. + +"It all depends," Reuben said, "as to our being there in time, +whether the man keeps a careful watch. If he does they may not +attack till the doors are opened, and then make a sudden rush and +catch them unawares. If, when they arrive there, they find the +whole house is asleep, they may burst in at once." + +"I think they will be careful," Mr. Barker said. "I know Donald is +very anxious; and no wonder, with two women with him, both young +and pretty--quite out of the way, indeed. In fact, he told me the +first day I rode over, he had no idea of the unsettled state of the +district, and wouldn't have taken the place if he had, not even if +Anderson had given it as a gift; and he wrote down at once to some +agent, and told him to sell the place again, for whatever he can +get for it; but I expect there will be some trouble in finding a +purchaser. The district here has had a bad name for some time and, +if Donald had not arrived fresh from England, he must have heard of +it. + +"Listen! I thought I heard the sound of firing." + +There was a momentary pause, but no one could hear anything. +Nevertheless, they went on at redoubled speed. They were now within +three miles of the station. + +Suddenly, on coming over a crest, a faint light was seen ahead. It +increased rapidly, and a tongue of flame leapt up. + +"Come on, lads!" Reuben exclaimed. "The scoundrels are at their +work." + +At a hard gallop they crossed the intervening ground, until they +were within half a mile of the station, from which a broad sheet of +flame was leaping up. Then Reuben drew rein, for he had outridden +the rest of his party, and it was important that all should ride +together. + +"Now," he said, when they were gathered; "let us keep in a close +body. + +"If they ride off as we arrive there, do you, Jones and Wilkins, +stop at the station and see if you can render any help. If not, +follow us at once. + +"Let the rest keep on with me, straight after the bush rangers. +There is already a faint light in the east. In half an hour it will +be broad day so, even if they have got a start, we shall be able to +follow them. Now, come on." + +At the head of his party, Reuben rode at full speed down to the +station. As he neared it he saw, to his satisfaction, that the +flames arose from some of the outbuildings, and that the house +itself was still intact; but as no firing had been heard, he hoped +that it still resisted. + +There was a shrill whistle, when the party approached within a +hundred yards. Men were seen to dash out of the house, and to leap +upon their horses. + +With a shout, Reuben rode down. He did not pause for a moment, but +dashed past the house in the direction in which the bush rangers +had fled. They were, he knew, but a hundred yards ahead; but it was +not light enough for him to see them, especially after riding +through the glare of the fire. The sound of the horses' feet, +however, afforded an indication; but as there was no saying in +which direction they might turn, he was forced to halt, every two +or three minutes, to listen. + +To his mortification he found that, each time, the sound was +getting more indistinct; for the speed at which they had travelled +had taken so much out of the horses, that they were unable to +compete with the fresher animals ridden by the bush rangers, who +were all well mounted, many of the best horses in the district +having been stolen by them. At last the sound could be heard no +longer, and Reuben was reluctantly obliged to give the order to +halt; for he feared he might override the trail. + +"It is no use," he said, as he reined in his horse. "They will know +as well as we do that they are out of hearing now, and might turn +off anywhere. It is terribly annoying. We are too late to save the +station, and the bush rangers have escaped. + +"However, we will take up their trail as soon as it is daylight. +Indeed, I am expecting every moment to be joined by Jim, who is +sure to be somewhere near, and can perhaps guide us direct to their +hiding place." + +Deeply disappointed, the party dismounted from their horses. + +"The scoundrels must have had someone on the watch," Reuben said, +"or they would never have taken the alarm so soon. I am sorry, now, +that we did not send a party round to the other side before we +charged down upon them; but my blood was on fire at the sight of +the burning station, and at the thought of the women in the hands +of those scoundrels." + +A minute later, a man rode up at full speed from behind. + +"Is that you, Jones?" Reuben said, stepping forward. + +"Yes, sir," the man replied, reining in his horse. "I left Wilkins +behind, and rode on to tell you what had happened." + +"What has happened, Jones?" + +"It's a bad business, sir, a shocking bad business; but it might +have been worse. It seems they broke in about half an hour before +we got there. One of the hands was supposed to be on watch in the +stockyard; but either he was asleep, or they crept up to him and +killed him before he could give the alarm. Then they got up to the +house and burst in the door, before the others were fairly awake. + +"They shot the two hands at once; but I suppose, as their blood +wasn't up, and no resistance was offered, they thought they had +plenty of time for fooling; for they must have reckoned that no +force they need be afraid of could be got together, for three or +four hours. So they made Donald and his wife and sister get +breakfast for them. The women, it seemed had got pistols, and both +swore they would blow out their brains if any man laid a hand on +them. However, the bush rangers did not touch them, though they +told them they would have to go off with them. + +"They made Donald sit down at one end of the table, while their +captain took the other; and the two women, half dressed as they +were, waited on them. It was lucky for them that we were so close +when the alarm was given, for all made a rush to get to their +horses; only the captain stopping a moment, to let fly at Donald." + +"Did he kill him?" Reuben asked. + +"No, sir, the bullet hit him in the body, and the ladies were +crying over him when I went in, thinking he was dead. I thought so, +too, but I found he was breathing. They poured some brandy down his +throat, and presently he opened his eyes; then, as there was +nothing for me to do, I thought I had best gallop on and give you +the news, for I knew that you would be anxious to know what had +taken place." + +"Thank you, Jones, you did quite right. What an escape those poor +ladies have had! Another quarter of an hour, we might have been too +late, for those villains would not have kept up the farce long." + +"No, sir, especially as they were drinking wine. The table was all +covered with bottles." + +"You did not see anything of Jim, did you?" Reuben inquired. + +"No, sir, I did not see or hear anyone stirring about the place." + +Reuben gave a loud cooey. + +"That will bring him, if he is anywhere within hearing." + +But no answering call came back. + +"I hope nothing has happened to the poor fellow," Reuben said, +after a pause. + +"He could not possibly be here by this time," Mr. Barker said. "The +place where he warned the shepherd must be sixty miles from here." + +"Yes, quite that; but he can run nearly as fast as a horse can go, +and he would be ten miles nearer here, in a straight line, than the +way the man went round to fetch me." + +As soon as it became light they followed the track, which was +plainly visible; but when they had gone half a mile further, there +was a general cry of dismay--the ground was trampled in every +direction. + +"Confound it," Mr. Barker said, "they have done us! Do you see, +they have ridden right into the middle of a large herd of cattle, +and have driven them off in every direction; and have, no doubt, +themselves scattered among the cattle. They may go like that for +three or four miles, and then draw off from the cattle at any spot +where the ground is hard, and no tracks will be left; to meet again +at some appointed place, maybe fifty miles away." + +"Then you don't think it's any use in pursuing them?" Reuben asked, +in a tone of deep disappointment. + +"Not a bit in the world," Mr. Barker replied decisively. "If we had +a native tracker with us, he might possibly follow one horse's +track among those of all the cattle, discover where he separates +from them, and take up his trail; but I doubt, even then, if he +would be successful. These fellows know that a strong party is in +pursuit of them, and each of them will do everything they can to +throw us off the scent. They are sure not to go straight to their +place of meeting, but each will take circuitous routes, and will +make for thick bush, where it will be next to impossible for even a +native to follow them. No, they have done us, this time." + +"Well, gentlemen, I hope you will all wait as long as you can at +the station here. If my boy has not been shot by those scoundrels, +he is sure to find his way here; and will be able, in all +probability, to set us on the right track. + +"At any rate, though the bush rangers have given us the slip, we +may congratulate ourselves on our morning's work. We have at least +saved those poor ladies." + +So saying, Reuben turned and, with the party, rode slowly back to +the station. On arriving there, they dismounted and unsaddled their +horses, and turned them into a paddock close to the house, to feed. +Reuben and Mr. Barker then went up to the house. The constable who +had been left behind came out. + +"Well, Wilkins, how is Mr. Donald, and how are the ladies?" + +"He is sensible now, sir; but I don't think there's much chance for +him." + +"We ought to get a surgeon, at once," Reuben said. "Who is the nearest, +Mr. Barker?" + +"The nearest is Ruskin." + +"Is there no one nearer than that?" Reuben asked. "Why, he lives +about halfway between where I was sleeping last night, and my own +place. It must be seventy miles away." + +"He's the nearest," Mr. Barker said; "take my word for it." + +"I'll tell you what will be the best plan," Reuben's host of the +night before said. "I will ride at once to Mr. Barker's and, if he +will let me get a fresh horse there, I will gallop straight back to +my place, and will send a man off the moment I arrive there to +fetch Ruskin. + +"It is only eight o'clock now. I can be home before noon, and my +man will do the next stage in a little over four hours. If he finds +Ruskin in, he can get to my place by ten o'clock at night, and can +start again at daybreak; so by eleven o'clock tomorrow he can be +here. If he isn't here by that time, it will be because he was out +when my man got there. At any rate, he is sure to start directly he +gets the message." + +"That will be the best plan," Reuben agreed; "and I am sure the +ladies will be greatly obliged to you, when I tell them what you +have undertaken." + +"Oh, that's nothing," the settler said. "We don't think much of a +seventy miles' ride, here." + +Without any further delay, the settler saddled his horse and went +off at a gallop towards Mr. Barker's, where he was to get a fresh +mount. + +"And now, how are the ladies, Wilkins?" + +"They are keeping up bravely, sir. I think, as far as they are +concerned, Donald's being hit has done them good. It has given them +something to do, and they have not had time to think about what +they have gone through, and what a narrow escape they have had." + +"Which room are they in, Wilkins?" + +"In there to the left, sir." + +"As you have seen them, Wilkins, you had better go in and tell them +that we have sent off, at once, to fetch a surgeon; and that they +may rely upon his being here some time tomorrow, we hope before +noon. Ask if there is anything that we can do for them, or for Mr. +Donald." + +The policeman went in, and Reuben called one of his other men. + +"Perkins, do you, Jones, and Rider go in and fetch out the bodies +of the men who have been killed. Don't make more noise than you can +help about it. Carry them out to that shed there, and then get a +bucket and wash down the floors, wherever there are bloodstains +about. I want to have the place straight, so that those poor ladies +may avoid seeing anything to recall the scene they have passed +through. Of course, you won't go into the room where they are now." + +Three or four of the settlers at once volunteered to set to work to +dig a grave. + +"Choose a place a bit away from the house," one of them said. "The +farther, the better; it will remind them of this affair, whenever +they see it." + +While Reuben was arranging this point, the constable had come out +and told Mr. Barker the ladies would be glad to see him. + +"It's a terrible business," the settler said to Reuben, as he +turned to go into the house. "I feel downright afraid of facing +them. To think how bright and pretty they looked, when I rode over +here ten days ago; and now there they are, broken hearted." + +He returned in a few minutes. + +"How is Donald?" was the general question. + +"He is hard hit," the settler said, "just under the ribs on the +right-hand side. I expect the fellow aimed at his head, but he was +starting from his seat at the moment. He isn't in much pain. I have +told them they must keep him perfectly quiet, and not let him move +till the surgeon comes. + +"They have asked me to see about everything. It's better we should +not be going in and out of the house, as he must be kept perfectly +quiet; so I think we had better establish ourselves under that big +tree over there. There are some sheep half a mile over that rise, +if two of you will go over, kill one and fetch it in. If you will +light a fire under that tree, I will hand out from the house flour, +tea, sugar, and some cooking things." + +There was a general murmur of approval, for all felt silent and +awed at being so close to the house of death and sorrow. Two men +got their horses, and rode off to fetch the sheep. The others +carried the various articles requisite up to the place fixed for +the bivouac, while Wilkins was installed in the house, to assist in +anything that might be required there. + +"The poor things told me to tell you, captain, how grateful they +felt to you for the exertions you have made. I told them how it was +we came to be here; and how you had ridden, when you got the news, +to be here in time. Mrs. Donald did not say much, poor thing, she +seemed half dazed; but her sister, who seems wonderfully cool and +collected, quite realized what they had escaped; and there's many a +young fellow who would give a good deal, to win that look of +gratitude she gave me when she said: + +"'I shall never forget what I owe you all.' + +"I am just going to send off one of my men, to fetch my wife over +here. It will be a comfort to the two girls, for they are little +more, to have a woman with them." + +"There's nothing to be done for Donald, I suppose?" Reuben asked. + +"Nothing. The wound is hardly bleeding at all. I told them that, as +far as I knew, the best thing was to keep on it a flannel dipped in +warm water, and wrung out; and that they should give him a little +broth, or weak brandy and water, whenever he seemed faint. My +surgery does not go beyond that. If it had been a smashed finger, +or a cut with an axe, or even a broken limb, I might have been some +good; for I have seen plenty of accidents of all kinds, since I +came out twenty years ago, but a bullet wound in the body is beyond +me, altogether." + +After the meal was cooked and eaten, there was a consultation as to +what had best be done next. Two or three of the settlers who were +married men said that they would go home, as their wives would be +anxious about them. The rest agreed to stop for, at any rate, +another day. + +Mr. Barker had found out from Mrs. Donald's sister the direction in +which the sheep and cattle were grazing, and two or three of the +party rode off to tell the shepherds and herdsmen--for there were +three men on the farm, in addition to those who had been +killed--what had happened; and to tell them that they had better +bring the sheep and cattle up to within a mile or so of the house, +and come in themselves for their stores, when required. + +A grave was now dug, and the three men buried. In the afternoon +Mrs. Barker arrived, and at once took charge of the affairs of the +house. In the evening Mr. Barker came up to the fire round which +the men were sitting. + +"Will you come down to the house, Captain Whitney? The ladies have +expressed a wish to see you. They want to thank you for what you +have done." + +"There is nothing to thank about," Reuben said. "I only did my duty +as a police officer, and am disgusted at those scoundrels having +got away. I have done all I could, since I arrived; but I can't +help feeling, being in command of the force here, that we are to +some extent to blame for these fellows carrying on, as they have +done for months, without being caught." + +"I think you had better come down, Whitney," Mr. Barker said. +"There is something bright and hopeful about you, and I think that +a talk with you might cheer the poor things up a bit. When people +are in the state they are, they seem to turn to everyone for a +gleam of hope, and comfort." + +"Oh, if you think I can do any good, of course I will go; though I +would rather stop here, by a good way." + +So saying, Reuben went down with Mr. Barker to the house. A lady +met them at the door. + +"Arthur has just dozed off," she whispered. "Mrs. Barker is sitting +by him. She insisted on our coming out. Will you come in here?" + +As silently as possible, the two men followed her into the kitchen, +and closed the door after them. The fire was blazing brightly, +Wilkins having piled on some fresh logs before going out to smoke a +pipe. Mrs. Donald was sitting in a dejected attitude, by its right, +when her sister entered with Mr. Barker and Reuben. She rose and, +coming towards Reuben, said: + +"How can we thank you, sir, for the exertions you have made, and +for having saved us from I dare not think what fate? As long as we +live, my sister and I will bless you." + +"I can assure you, Mrs. Donald," Reuben said, "that I have done +nothing but my duty, and I only regret that we did not arrive half +an hour earlier." + +"Ah, if you had!" Mrs. Donald said. "But there--we must not +repine--even in my sorrow, I feel how much we have to be thankful +for." + +"Yes, indeed," her sister said, "we have truly reason to be +grateful." + +As she spoke, Reuben looked at her more and more intently. He had +started when she first spoke, outside the house. + +"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, "is it possible, or am I dreaming? +Surely you are Miss Kate Ellison?" + +"Certainly I am," she said in surprise, at his tone; "but I don't +think--I don't remember--why, surely it is not Reuben Whitney?" + + + +Chapter 15: At Donald's. + + +It is difficult to say whether Kate Ellison, or Reuben Whitney was +the most surprised at this unexpected meeting. The former, indeed, +was aware that Reuben had come out to Australia; but that the boy, +whose cause she had championed, should now stand before her as the +officer, to whose energy and activity she and her sister owed so +much, seemed almost incredible. + +But the surprise of Reuben was at least equal to that which she +felt. He could scarcely credit the evidence of his senses, at +seeing before him the young lady whom he had believed to be +thousands of miles away, in England. As is usual in these cases, +the girl was the first to recover from her surprise. + +"And it is to you we owe so much!" she said, holding out her hand. +"Mr. Barker spoke of our preserver as Captain Whitney; but somehow +it never, for a moment, occurred to me to connect the name with +you. + +"Is it not extraordinary, Alice?" she said, turning to her sister. + +"The surprise to me is even greater than to you, Miss Ellison," +Reuben said. "Mr. Barker always spoke of Mrs. Donald and her +sister, and I had not the least idea that you were in the colony. +My mother wrote to me, a year ago, telling me of the changes which +have taken place; but although she said that you had left Tipping, +she said nothing about your coming out here." + +Reuben had, in fact, been much disturbed in his mind, a year +previously, by hearing from his mother that Mr. Ellison had died +suddenly. He had, it seemed, lost a large sum of money, from the +failure of a bank in which he was a shareholder, and the blow had +killed him. The estate was, when Mrs. Whitney wrote, for sale. + +Reuben had written back, begging his mother to send him all +particulars that she could gather; but communication between +Australia and England was in those days very slow, and no answer +had yet been received. Another letter had, indeed, told him that +the estate had been sold. Mrs. Ellison, he knew, had died a few +weeks after he had left England. + +"It is very simple," Kate Ellison said quietly; "although of course +it seems so strange to you, our being here. My sister was engaged +to Mr. Donald before papa's death and, as you know, almost +everything went owing to that bank; and as I had no reason for +staying in England, I came out here with them." + +Reuben subsequently learned that Mr. Ellison had disapproved of the +engagement of his daughter with Mr. Donald, who was the younger son +of a neighbouring squire. When, after his death, Mr. Ellison's +affairs were wound up, it was found that there remained only the +six thousand pounds, which his wife had brought him, to be divided +between her daughters. Mr. Donald possessed no capital, and had no +prospects at home. He and Alice were quietly married, three months +after her father's death, and had sailed a week later for New South +Wales; where, as land could be taken up at a nominal price, it was +thought that her little fortune would be ample to start them +comfortably. All this, however, Reuben did not learn until some +time later. + +After chatting for a short time, he returned to the camp fire. + +"This is very awkward, Mr. Barker," Mrs. Donald said; "do you know +that Captain Whitney was, at one time, gardener's boy to our +father?" + +"Oh, Alice!" her sister exclaimed, "what difference can that make?" + +"It seems to me," Mrs. Donald said, "that it makes a very great +difference. You know mamma never thought well of him, and it is +very awkward, now, finding him here in such a position; especially +as he has laid us under an obligation to him. + +"Do you not think so, Mr. Barker?" + +"I do not pretend to know anything about such matters, Mrs. +Donald," Mr. Barker said bluntly; "and I shouldn't have thought it +could have made any difference to you, what the man was who had +saved you from such a fate as would have befallen you, had it not +been for his energy. I can only say that Captain Whitney is a +gentleman with whom anyone here, or in the old country, would be +glad to associate. I may say that when he came here, three or four +months ago, my friend Mr. Hudson--one of the leading men in the +colony--wrote to me, saying that Captain Whitney was one of his +most intimate friends, that he was in every respect a good fellow, +and that he himself was under a lifelong obligation to him; for he +had, at the risk of his life, when on the way out, saved that of +his daughter when she was attacked by a mad Malay at the Cape. + +"More than that, I did not inquire. It was nothing to me whether he +was born a prince, or a peasant." + +Mrs. Donald coloured hotly, at the implied reproof of Mr. Barker's +words. She had always shared her mother's prejudices against Reuben +Whitney, and she had not been long enough, in the colony, to become +accustomed to the changes of position which are there so frequent. + +"You do not understand, Mr. Barker," she said pettishly. "It was +not only that he was a boy employed in the family. There were other +circumstances--" + +"Oh, Alice!" Kate broke out, "how can you speak of such things? +Here are we at present, owing more than our lives to this man, and +you are going now to damage him by raking up that miserable old +story. + +"Mr. Barker," she said impulsively, "my father, one of the most +just, as well as one of the most kind of men, had the highest +opinion of Reuben Whitney; believe me, there was nothing in the +circumstances to which Alice alludes which could cast the slightest +slur upon his character." + +"I feel certain of that, my dear young lady," Mr. Barker said, +"even without your assurance. Your sister is shaken by the events +of the day, and no wonder; and I am quite sure that when she thinks +this matter over she will see that, whatever her preconceived ideas +may be, it would be most ungrateful and ungenerous to breathe a +single word in disparagement of Captain Whitney." + +So saying, he turned on his heel and left the room; and Kate, +wishing to avoid further words on the matter with her sister, +followed his example. + +Mrs. Donald's reflections were not pleasant. She felt that Mr. +Barker's reproof was well deserved, and that she had acted +ungratefully and ungenerously. As a rule, Mr. Ellison's elder +daughter was by no means of an unkind disposition; but she was +essentially her mother's child. + +The question of Reuben Whitney had been one which had caused more +serious dissension, between her father and mother, than any she +ever remembered. She had taken her mother's view of the case, while +Kate had agreed with her father; and although the subject had been +dropped, by mutual consent, it had been a very sore one; and at the +sight of Reuben, the remembrance of the old unpleasantness had +caused her to play a part which she could not but feel was mean and +unworthy. She felt angry at herself--angry with Mr. Barker, with +her sister, and with Reuben. + +She was standing there, with her lips pressed together as she +thought over the matter, when Mrs. Barker came into the room. + +"He is awake now, my dear. Perhaps you had better go in to him." + +Then she dismissed from her mind the events of the last few +minutes, and went in to take her place by the side of her husband. +But as, during the long hours of the night, she sat there and +thought over what had passed since the preceding evening, the +thought of how much she owed to Reuben Whitney was uppermost in her +mind; and when in the morning Mrs. Barker relieved her, she went +into the other room, where Mr. Barker and Kate were about to sit +down to breakfast, and said: + +"Mr. Barker, I thank you for what you said to me last night. You +were right and I was wrong. I was ungrateful, and ungenerous. I can +only say that it was a very sore subject, and that in my surprise I +thought of the past, and not the present. Believe me, I am very +sorry for what I said." + +"That is quite enough, Mrs. Donald," Mr. Barker said heartily. "I +am very glad you have said what you have. I was sure that you +would, upon reflection, feel that whatever the old grievance might +have been, it could not weigh an instant against what you owe to +that young fellow now. Let us say no more on the subject. You were +shaken and not yourself, and I was wrong in taking you up so +sharply, under the circumstances." + +Kate said nothing, but her face showed that she was greatly pleased +at her sister's change of tone. + +"What is going to be done, Mr. Barker?" Mrs. Donald asked. "Of +course, the friends who came to our rescue cannot stay here; and +there is no chance of my husband being moved, for a long time." + +"I am afraid not, indeed," Mr. Barker said. "Most of them will +leave this afternoon, in time to get back to their stations +tonight. + +"I have been speaking with Captain Whitney, and he says that he +with his men will certainly stay here, for the present. He sent +off a messenger, last night, for six more of his men to join him +here; for he still hopes to get news from his native boy, which may +set him on the tracks of the bush rangers. You need, however, be +under no alarm; for I think there is no chance, whatever, of the +bush rangers returning. + +"By the way, Whitney would like to speak to you, after breakfast. +He wants you to give him as minute a description as you can of the +fellows you saw. We have already descriptions of four or five of +them, given by men whom they have stuck up; but the band must have +increased lately, and any particulars might be useful." + +Reuben came round in a quarter of an hour later. Mr. Barker fetched +him into the room where Mrs. Barker and Kate were sitting. + +"Mr. Donald is no worse, I am glad to hear," he said, as he shook +hands with the two ladies. + +"I see no change whatever," Mrs. Barker said. "He is conscious, but +does not speak much. He asked me, this morning, to tell you and all +your friends how deeply he feels indebted to you." + +"His thanks are due to the settlers, rather than to me, Mrs. +Barker. They were volunteers, you know, while I was simply on duty. +We had, however, one common interest--to get here in time to save +the station and, above all, to catch and break up this gang of +scoundrels. + +"And now, Miss Ellison, if you feel equal to it, would you kindly +give us an account of what happened? Mr. Barker said that he would +not ask you, yesterday; but something, perhaps, let drop by chance, +might serve as an indication to us as to the direction in which +these fellows have gone." + +"I will tell you, certainly," the girl said, her face paling a +little; "although it is dreadful, even now, to think of. We of +course had no idea of attack, and had gone to bed as usual. One of +the men was always on guard, on the outside of the house; for these +attacks made Mr. Donald nervous for the safety of my sister, and +myself. Simpson was on guard that night. Whether he went to sleep +or not, I cannot say." + +"He did, Miss Ellison," Reuben interrupted. "We found his body +round by the end of the house. He had evidently been sitting down +on a log, against the house; and had been killed by a crushing blow +with some heavy instrument, probably one of the tools they used for +breaking in." + +"The first we knew about it," Kate went on, "was a tremendous crash +downstairs, which was followed by a continuous thundering noise. I +think they must have burst the door in with crowbars, or +something--that was the first noise we heard--but a strong wooden +bar, inside, kept the door in its place till they battered it down +with a log. + +"I hurried on some things. Just as I had done--it was not a minute, +I think, from the time I woke--Alice ran in, partly dressed, too. I +had heard Mr. Donald shout to the men, then there was another great +crash as the bar gave way, and then some shots were fired. + +"Mr. Donald had been standing just behind the door, and had fired +through it the moment before it gave way. He had not time to step +back, and was knocked down by the door. It was fortunate for him, +for the bush rangers rushed in and shot down the two men, +instantly. + +"Alice would have run down to see what had happened to her husband, +but I would not let her out of my room. She could have done no +good, and might have been shot. Then we heard them moving about the +house, swearing and using all sorts of horrible language. Then they +shouted up to us to come down, or else they would come and fetch +us; so we opened the door, and came down at once. + +"Alice gave a little cry of joy, as she entered the room and saw +her husband standing unhurt, though still looking dazed and +confused from his blow. + +"The leader of the band--I suppose you have not seen him, Captain +Whitney?" + +"No, indeed," Reuben said. "I would give a good deal to catch sight +of him." + +"What do you know about him?" + +"I only know that he is a young fellow, not much older than I am +myself. His was a life sentence. He was concerned in a burglary in +the country, in which two old ladies were killed. Two of his +accomplices were hung for it, but in consideration of his youth, +and as it was not proved that he took an absolute part in the +murder, he got off with a life sentence. I heard about the case +from Captain Wilson. + +"He came out here about a year after I did. He had not been here a +month when he killed one of the guard, and made his escape. Since +that time he has been a scourge to the colony. Not a week has +passed without complaints of his bailing up and robbing teamsters +on their way down to Sydney. He soon gathered two or three others +about him, and his daring and impudence soon made him a noted +character. Several times he, with two other men, rode into +good-sized villages and, pistol in hand, went from house to house, +and carried off every shilling in the place. He has ridden into +large stores single handed, and compelled the storekeepers to hand +over the contents of their tills. Sometimes they bring spare horses +with them, and ride off laden with groceries and stores. He has +committed at least a score of murders, always using his pistol at +the slightest show of opposition; and sometimes murdering, +apparently, from pure love of the thing." + +"Do you know his name?" Kate asked. + +"His real name? No, I don't know that I ever heard it. He is always +spoken of as Fothergill." + +"I will tell you his real name, presently," Kate said. "As my +sister and I came into the kitchen, he took off his hat and made a +deep bow and said: + +"'Ladies, me and my mates are sorry to put you to any +inconvenience; but as we happen to be hungry, we must trouble you +to get us some supper. You need not bother to make tea, wine is +good enough for us.' + +"Of course, as we were in their hands there was nothing to do but +to obey his orders; so we spread the cloth, and brought out what +there was in the larder. Then we fetched in the wine, and I brought +several bottles of spirits; for, as I whispered to Alice, 'If they +get drunk, we may be able to get away from them.' + +"Before they sat down, the captain told two of his men to go +upstairs with us and fetch down our watches and jewelry, and the +money there was in the house. Mr. Donald had already told them +where they would find that. + +"We lit four candles, and put them on the table. The captain +ordered Mr. Donald to sit down facing him, saying with a sort of +mock politeness that they should not really enjoy their food, +unless their host took the head of the table. Several times, while +they were eating, I saw the captain looking hard at Alice and me. +Presently he said: + +"'I have it now. Why, you are the Ellison girls, ain't you?' + +"I was astonished, as you may suppose, but I said: + +"'I am Miss Ellison, and Mrs. Donald is my sister.' + +"'By Jove, who would have thought it!' he said. 'Do you know who I +am?' + +"I said I didn't, although really I seemed to have some sort of +recollection of his face. + +"'Why,' he said, 'don't you remember Tom Thorne, whose father the +squire turned out of the public house? And to think, now, that the +squire's daughters are waiting on me. This is a piece of luck. + +"'Well, my dears,' he went on, with a horrible grin, 'you need not +tell me how you came here now, you will have plenty of time for +that. We have made up our minds to take you both with us, for it's +a horrible lonely life in the bush, without the pleasure of ladies' +society. But I never dreamt that I was in for such a slice of luck +as this.' + +"Mr. Donald jumped from his seat as the fellow spoke, but in a +moment he levelled a pistol at him and shouted: + +"'Sit down or I fire.' + +"Alice rushed to her husband, and pushed him down into his seat. + +"'I had rather die than go with you,' I said to him quietly. + +"'Perhaps so, my dear,' he replied; 'but you see, you haven't got +the choice.' + +"Then he went on taunting us about old times, and especially +reminding me that I had got him a thrashing, over breaking the +school house window. When I went out to get them some more wine, +for they wouldn't touch the spirits, I got a knife and hid it in my +dress; for I made up my mind to kill myself, rather than that. + +"A little later I stole upstairs and brought down a brace of +pistols, which Mr. Donald kept under his pillow, and slipped one +into Alice's hand. Presently they began to get noisy, and the +captain ordered me to come and sit on his knee. Then Alice and I +showed the pistols, and said we would shoot ourselves, if one of +them laid a finger on us. + +"The captain muttered some order to his men, which I didn't hear; +but I guessed it was to leave us alone, for the present. I had no +doubt what they intended to do was to catch us off our guard, and +wrench the pistols from us; and I was glad I had the knife hidden +away, for if they did carry us off, I was sure to be able to find +some opportunity for using that. + +"It was awful!" the girl said, putting her hand to her face. "Awful +to be standing there and hearing them laughing and shouting and +cursing. I was tempted to go behind him, and shoot him suddenly; +but the others would have been just as bad, and we should have +gained nothing by it. I would not go through that half hour again, +for all the money in the world. + +"The men had just finished and were getting up from the table, and +I knew the moment was coming fast, when we heard a sudden shout +outside. My heart gave a bound, as they rushed to the door. The +captain fired a shot at Mr. Donald, just as he was getting up; and +as he ran out, shouted to me: + +"'I will come back for you, missy.' + +"If it had not been for Mr. Donald falling to the ground, I should +have fainted; but Alice called me as she ran to him, and I think I +was trying to lift him up when the constable ran in, and I knew we +were saved." + +Reuben had given a sudden start, when Kate Ellison mentioned the +name of Tom Thorne, but he had not interrupted her. + +"I had a score against that scoundrel before," he said, as she +finished; "and by heavens, I will settle accounts with him when I +meet him. I could have forgiven him for the wrongs he did me; but +now--" and his fingers closed on the hilt of the pistol in his +belt. + +Kate, who had been looking down as she told her story, raised her +eyes at the tone of intense passion in the young officer's words; +and a sudden flush of colour mounted into her cheeks, which were +pale from the terror and excitement through which she had gone. + +"I say ditto to Captain Whitney," Mr. Barker said. "I don't know +anything about his previous doings against him; but I know that, if +ever I come across the scoundrel, I will shoot him as a dog. + +"Even you can't say anything against that, wife, though you are +always on the side of mercy." + +"No," Mrs. Barker agreed. "I would say nothing to stay your hand +there, John. Even putting this aside, he has committed a score of +murders; and there will be no more wrong, in shooting him, than +there would be in killing a wild beast. + +"That is the sound of a horse coming, at a gallop. Perhaps it is +the doctor." + +Hurrying to the door they found, to their great satisfaction, that +Mrs. Barker's guess was verified. The surgeon had been at home when +the messenger arrived, and had started five minutes later, arriving +three or four hours earlier than they had even ventured to hope. + +Mrs. Barker at once led the way into the next room and, a few +minutes later, came out again for hot water and sponges. Kate had +stolen away upstairs, when the surgeon had entered the house. The +two men remained to hear the verdict. + +"He is going to probe the wound. He can give no opinion, yet, till +he discovers what course it has taken; but he says that it is a +favourable symptom that the pulse is so strong and regular. He +wishes you both to come in, as it will be necessary to hold his +patient's hands, while he is making the examination." + +"I cannot give any positive opinion," the surgeon said, when he had +finished the examination. "I can't find the ball, and I cannot tell +for certain what course it took, after entering; but I think, +judging from the pulse, and I may say from the expression of his +face, that no vital part is injured." + +An exclamation of thankfulness broke from Mrs. Donald. + +"We must not be too sanguine," Mr. Ruskin went on; "but there is +certainly strong ground for hope. I shall be able to give a more +definite opinion, in the course of a few hours. He must, of course, +be kept perfectly quiet; with no more nourishment than is +absolutely necessary, and that in the shape of beef tea. I should +make him a bed here. We will manage to slide a door under him, and +lift him on to it, with as little movement as possible. + +"At any rate, madam," he said, turning to Mrs. Donald, "I can +congratulate you upon the fact that the bullet did not strike a +couple of inches higher. Had it done so, my ride would have been a +useless one." + +A bed was at once brought from a room above and made up, and Mr. +Donald was placed upon it, in the manner which Mr. Ruskin had +suggested. Then with lightened hearts the party, with the exception +of his wife, left the room. + +Kate and Mrs. Barker at once set to to prepare a meal for the +surgeon; while Reuben went over to give his companions the good +news, that the surgeon had strong hopes that Mr. Donald would +recover. + +In the afternoon all the party, with the exception of Mr. and Mrs. +Barker and the constables, rode off to their respective stations; +assuring Reuben of their readiness to assemble again, at once, +should he obtain news which would afford a hope that the gang could +be traced. + +A few hours later, the other four constables for whom Reuben had +sent rode up. An outhouse was now prepared for the reception of the +police, Reuben himself taking up his abode there, although Mrs. +Donald strongly urged him to come into the house; but with Mr. and +Mrs. Barker and the surgeon there, and the time of one of the +ladies taken up with the wounded man, Reuben thought that their +hands were perfectly full, and said that he should prefer to mess +and sleep with his men. + +"You see, Mrs. Donald," he said, as she tried to induce him to +alter his determination, "I shall have to be sending out men and +receiving reports, and may be obliged to ride out in the middle of +the night; therefore, you see, as absolute quiet is ordered for +your husband, it will be far better for me to be outside the house; +as the coming and going would be sure to disturb him, and he would +naturally want to know what is going on." + +"You will not, I hope, take all your party away in pursuit of these +men, Captain Whitney," she said anxiously. "They might get up some +false alarm, to take you away, and then come down upon the house +again. I have been too much taken up with my husband to think much +about it; but although Kate keeps up bravely, I know that she is +greatly shaken, and terribly anxious. I don't know whether she told +you; but it was to her, chiefly, that horrible man spoke; and it +was she he told, as he rushed out, that he would come back to fetch +her. She will never have a moment's peace, or tranquillity, till we +hear that he is either killed or taken." + +"Nor shall I," Reuben said. "I do not think that the scoundrel will +dare to attempt to carry out his threat to come back again; but +with so daring a villain, it would be rash to omit the smallest +precaution. You may be quite sure, Mrs. Donald, that in no case +will I leave the house unprotected; and that if I should be called +away I will leave two men here who, during my absence, will remain +in the house; and with them, Mr. Barker, and the doctor, you may +feel perfectly assured that no open attack will be made. + +"But I cannot impress too strongly upon you that, seeing the man +with whom we have to deal, your sister should not stir outside the +house; until we have caught him, or until Mr. Donald is so far +recovered as to be able to be removed. I will not tell her so +myself; because I see that, now the strain is over, she is greatly +shaken, and I would not add to her anxiety; but if you could break +it to her, as if it were your own idea, that she had better keep +within doors until this fellow's caught, I am sure that it will be +well." + +"You will come in this evening, I hope; and always of an evening, +Captain Whitney. It will make a change, and cheer us up; besides, +we want to hear all about your adventures, since we saw you last." + +This Reuben gladly promised and, after it was dark, and he had +placed a sentry, he came into the house. Mrs. Barker was on duty in +the sick room; and Reuben, at Mrs. Donald's request, gave them an +account of the voyage out, and of the circumstances which had led +to his entering the police. + +He would have passed very briefly over the affair at the Cape, but +by many questions Mrs. Donald succeeded in eliciting from him all +the details of the story. + +"It was a gallant action, indeed," she said warmly. "You certainly +saved the lives of those two girls, at a terrible risk of your +own." + +"To make the romance complete, Whitney," Mr. Barker remarked, "you +ought to have married Miss Hudson." + +"Unfortunately, you see," Reuben said with a smile, "in the first +place I was only a boy, and she was two years my senior; in the +next, and much more important place, she happened to be in love +with someone else; and I did not happen to be in love with her, +though she was, I admit, a very charming young lady, and had been +extremely kind to me." + +"How was that, Whitney?" Mr. Barker asked. "Eighteen is a +susceptible age. I can only account for your coldness on the +supposition that you had left your heart in England." + +"I fancy my heart was, then, where it is now," Reuben rejoined, +with a slight smile. + +"In the right place, eh, Whitney?" + +"In the right place," Reuben repeated quietly. + +At this moment Mrs. Barker entered, and said that Mr. Donald would +be glad if Reuben would come and sit with him, for a little time. + +"Don't let him talk much," Mr. Ruskin said. "The less he talks, the +better; but your talking to him, for a time, will cheer him up and +do him good." + +"I am glad to see you going on so well, Mr. Donald," Reuben said +heartily, as he entered. "The doctor says you are not to talk much; +but you are to play the part of a listener." + +"Do you think you will catch these fellows?" was Mr. Donald's first +question. + +"I will catch them, sooner or later," Reuben said. "I will run them +down if they are above ground; but I can take no steps in the +matter until I hear from my black boy. I have been expecting him to +turn up, ever since I got here; and shall begin to be afraid that +those scoundrels have ill treated him, if he does not turn up +before long." + +"My wife has been telling me that they knew you at home, Whitney; +and that she and her people did you some terrible injustice, +somehow. But she wouldn't go into the matter. Curious, isn't it, +your meeting at this end of the world; and that, too, at such a +moment?" + +"It is curious," Reuben said; "what people call a coincidence. But +Mrs. Donald is mistaken in telling you that her people did me an +injustice. Her father was one of the kindest friends I ever had, +and although Mrs. Ellison somewhat misjudged me, and her daughter +naturally shared her feeling, they were not in anyway to be blamed +for that; for they only thought as ninety-nine people out of a +hundred did." + +"Whitney, Whitney," Mr. Donald muttered to himself. "I seemed to +know the name, though I cannot recall where. + +"Ah!" he said suddenly, "of course I remember now, for I was in the +court when--" and he stopped. + +"When I was tried," Reuben put in quietly. "Yes, that was me. I was +acquitted, as you know, principally from the way in which Mr. +Ellison stood up for me. Thank God that he never, for an instant, +believed that I was guilty." + +"And to think it should be you!" Mr. Donald said. "How strange +things turn out! I remember I could not make up my mind about it. +It seemed so strange, either way." + +"We had better not talk about it now," Reuben said quietly. "I said +then, and I say now, that I knew the people who did it and, strange +as the circumstances have already been, you may think them stranger +still, some day, if I bring one of them before you, alive or dead." + +At this moment there was a knock at the door, and Mrs. Donald came +in and said that one of the constabulary wished to speak to Reuben. + +"Then I will say goodnight. I hope I shall find you getting on +nicely, in the morning, Mr. Donald. + +"Will you say goodnight to Miss Ellison and Mrs. Barker for me, +Mrs. Donald? And tell Mr. Barker that I shall be ready, in five +minutes, to smoke that pipe we talked about with him, outside." + + + +Chapter 16: Jim's Report. + + +"Jones, what is it?" + +"Your black has just come, sir. I would not let him come in; for +the fact is, he ain't a figure to introduce among ladies." + +"What's the matter with him, Jones? Not hurt, I hope?" + +"He has been knocked about a bit, sir; and he is done up with +travelling. The poor fellow can hardly crawl, and was half starved; +so I set him to work eating, and came off to fetch you." + +By this time they had arrived at the door of the shed. Jim was +sitting by a fire, eagerly devouring a hunch of cold meat. The men +were standing round, waiting till he had appeased his hunger before +they asked any question. He looked up and nodded, when Reuben +entered. + +"Well, Jim, I am glad to see you back," Reuben said heartily. "I +was beginning to be afraid about you. I hope you are not +hurt?"--for the black had a handkerchief tied round his head. + +Jim gave a grunt, but continued stuffing great lumps of meat into +his mouth. Reuben saw that he must wait till the black's hunger was +satisfied, and stood quietly looking on until, having devoured some +five pounds of meat, he gave a sigh of contentment, and then took a +long draught of rum and water, which Constable Jones handed to him. + +"Jim better now," he said. + +"That's right, Jim; now tell us all about it." + +Jim's story was a long one, and it took more than an hour in the +telling; for his English was not always distinct, and it often +required much questioning, on Reuben's part, before he could quite +make out its meaning. The substance was as follows: + +On leaving, some ten days before, on the mission of discovering the +haunt of the bush rangers, he knew that it was of no use to go +among the wild blacks, their allies; as the hostility against their +semi-civilized fellows was so great that he would, at once, have +been killed. He resolved to go back to the spot where the track had +been obliterated, by that of the flock of sheep; to make a wide +circuit, and pick it up beyond and, if possible, follow it until he +found them. The difficulties were great, for the bush rangers had +spared no pains in hiding their trail; keeping always upon hard, +high ground, and at one time getting into the bed of a running +stream, and following it for two miles before they again struck for +their rendezvous. + +However, step by step Jim had tracked them; sometimes losing the +trail altogether, sometimes guided merely by a fresh-made scratch +on the surface of a stone, or by a broken twig or bruised blade of +grass. At last, he traced it far out into the bush, many miles +beyond the furthest range of settlements, and then he lost it +altogether. There had been a halt, for some time, at this spot. + +Beyond this, Jim was entirely at fault. He made circle after circle +round the spot, but could find no trace whatever of their passage, +and returned to the point where he had missed the trail. He relit +the embers of the fire which the bush rangers had made, cooked some +food, and laid himself down--first to think it over, then to sleep, +for it was now just the close of day. + +It was clear to him that here, more than anywhere else, the bush +rangers had made a great effort to throw anyone who might be +pursuing them off the trail. He had no doubt that the bush rangers +had muffled their horses' hoofs with cloth, and had proceeded with +the greatest care through the bush, so as to avoid breaking a +single twig in their passage; and the only reason for such greater +caution could be that it was here, and here only, that they wished +to throw the pursuers off the trail. It would have seemed, to a +white man, that they had done this before, especially when they had +kept in the water course; but to black Jim's perception, it +appeared that they had been more careless than would be expected; +and that, while apparently doing their utmost to conceal their +tracks, they had really left sufficient indications to allow a +practised tracker to follow them. + +Why then, now that they were far beyond the settlements, and fairly +in the country of their native allies, should they, for the first +time, so hide their trail that he could not discover it? + +The result of Jim's thoughts was that, when he awoke at daybreak, +he started back towards the settlements. When he came to the river +which the party had passed, in pursuit of the natives, he kept +along its bank, scrutinizing the ground with the greatest care. +After six miles' walking he suddenly stopped, at a point where the +soft turf near the margin was cut up by the passage of the party of +horsemen. Here was the confirmation of his ideas. + +Arguing the matter out with himself, Jim had arrived at the +conclusion that, hitherto, the trail had been a false one, the bush +rangers' object being to lead their pursuers to believe that they +had gone far out into the native country; whereas, in fact, their +hiding place was somewhere among the settlements. Should this be +so, the only way to find them was to search for their back track. +This he had now found and, with a shout of triumph at his own +cleverness, Jim forded the river and followed the track of the +horses. + +This was now clear enough, the horsemen taking no pains whatever to +conceal their traces, feeling perfectly confident that any pursuers +must now be thrown off the scent. Jim followed it till sundown, +when he had made some thirty miles; and then, withdrawing some +little distance from the tracks, he made his fire and camped for +the night. + +He was now inside the line of the outlying stations, and had +approached to the edge of a bit of wild and broken country, which +offered so few inducements to settlers that it had been passed by +for the better land beyond; although occasionally, when herbage was +scarce, the settlers in the neighbourhood drove the animals up to +feed among its hills. The black had no doubt that the gang, of +which he was in pursuit, had their haunt somewhere in the heart of +this wild and little-known tract. + +In the morning he again started and, after travelling several +miles, entered a narrow valley with very steep sides, with trees +and brushwood growing wherever they could get a foothold. He now +adopted a careless and indifferent carriage and, although he kept a +sharp lookout, no one who saw him would have supposed that he had +any particular object in view. + +Presently he noticed that the tracks turned sharply off from the +line he had followed, in the centre of the valley; and entered the +trees, which grew thickly here at the foot of the hills. He made no +halt, even for an instant, but walked straight on. Half a mile +further he sat down and lit his fire, and began to cook some food. +He had no doubt that he was watched for, just after he passed the +point where the track turned off, he heard a very low whistle among +the trees. + +As he sat by the fire, he kept his back towards the direction from +which he had come; and when he presently heard footsteps, no change +in his attitude betrayed that he was conscious of the fact that +persons were approaching him, until two men stopped beside him. +Then, with a cry as of sudden alarm, he leapt to his feet. + +"Lor' a mussy!" he exclaimed, "de white man frighten me bery much. +What for dey no say dey come?" + +"Who are you, nigger, and where do you come from, and what are you +doing here?" + +"My name Jim," he said; "me going tro' the country looking for +place to tend hosses. Me bery good at hosses. Me look arter de +hosses ob Mr. Hudson." + +"What did you leave him for?" one of the men asked, sternly. + +"Someting lost from de house," Jim said quietly. "Massa Hudson tink +me took it. He make bobbery, so Jim ran away and look for nodder +place." + +"Um," the man said; "I wonder whether you are speaking the truth? +If I thought you weren't, I would put a bullet through your head, +in double-quick time." + +"No, sah," Jim said in great terror; "dat de truth, sure 'nough. +Jim try to get work at Sydney. Couldn't get; so start away, and ask +at all de stations. No one want black boy for hosses, so keep on +and tink dere more chance out furder. Does massa want a boy for +hoss?" + +"What do you think, Bill?" the man who had spoken asked his +companion. "Shall we put a bullet in this fellow's head, at once, +or make him useful?" + +"I dussay he is a liar," the other replied; "but then all these +black fellows are liars, so that does not make much difference. A +black fellow would certainly be useful for the horses, and to look +after the fire. We can always shoot him when we have done with him. +We shall soon see, by the way he handles the horses, whether he has +been accustomed to them." + +"All right," the other said. "You come along with us then." + +"What wages massa pay?" Jim asked. + +"Anything you may be worth. Don't you fret about wages." + +Jim pretended to hold out for a fixed sum; but the man said, in +stern tones: + +"Come along, we don't want no more jaw, so you had best hold your +tongue." + +No other words passed till they got back to the trees, and then +turned off where the horses had previously done so. Two minutes' +walk brought them to a roughly-made shed, built against the almost +perpendicular side of the hill. It was built of logs, and there was +nothing to show that it was inhabited. No smoke curled up from the +chimney. The door and shutters were closed. Anyone who, passing +through the valley, had turned among the trees and accidentally +come upon it, would have taken it for some hut erected by a wood +cutter. + +One of the men knocked three times at the door, and it was at once +opened. Jim was pushed inside, the men followed him, and the door +was shut. + +"Who have you got here?" a man, sitting by the side of a large fire +some distance inside the cottage, asked angrily. + +"It's a nigger who wants work. He says he is accustomed to horses +so, as it was the choice between shooting him and bringing him +here, we thought we might as well bring him to you. It would be +handy to have a fellow to look after the horses, and cut the wood, +and make himself useful. If we find he is of no use, there will be +no great trouble in getting rid of him." + +"That is true enough," the other said, "and I don't think there's +much risk about it. + +"Come here, you fellow, and let me look at you." + +Jim stepped forward towards the fire. He saw now that the hut was +built against the entrance to a cave of considerable size. In the +centre was a great fire, the smoke of which probably made its way +to the surface through crevices in the rock above. Four other men, +besides the one who had addressed him, were lying on sheepskins +against the wall. There was an opening at the further end of the +cave into an inner chamber; and here Jim knew, by an occasional +snort or an impatient pawing, the horses were stabled. + +The chief of the party asked a few more questions as to where Jim +had come from, and how he chanced to be passing through so +unfrequented a country. As the black had already decided upon his +story, the questions were answered satisfactory enough. + +"I think he's all right," the man said, at last. "At any rate here +he is, and he's not likely to go out again. We have been talking of +getting a black fellow, for some time; and as here is one ready to +hand, we may as well make the best of him. + +"Look you here," he went on sternly, to the black; "you come of +your own free will, and here you have got to stop. You will have as +much to eat as you can stuff, plenty of rum to drink, and 'bacca to +smoke; and if there's anything else you fancy, no doubt you can +have it. Only look you, if you put your foot outside that door, +unless you are ordered to do so, I will put a bullet through your +black brain." + +"All right," Jim said. "Plenty eat, plenty drink, plenty smoke; dat +suit Jim bery well. He no want to go out of de house, if massa say +no." + +"That's settled then. Now, put some more logs on that fire." + +Jim at once assumed his new duty, and the bush rangers, who all +hated the slightest work, were soon well satisfied with their new +acquisition. There were several carcasses of sheep, hanging from +hooks placed in the roof, where they were slowly smoked by the +fumes from the wood. A pile of logs were heaped up in one corner, +and these had to be cut up into sizes and lengths suitable for the +fire. At one end a space was roughly partitioned off, and this was +filled with groceries, flour, and cases of wine and spirits which +had been taken from waggons going up country. + +In the stable were several sacks of oats; and a barrel filled with +water, which was drawn from a spring, a short distance from the +hut. The first time Jim went into the stable the captain +accompanied him, and soon saw, by the black's handling of the +horses, that his account was so far accurate, and that he was +thoroughly accustomed to stable work. + +The cooking was also handed over to him, and the gang passed their +time in sleeping, drinking, playing cards, and discussing plans of +robbery. For the first few days a sharp watch was kept up on the +black, and the men went out themselves to chop wood, or bring in +water when it was required. After a few days, however, they relaxed +their vigilance, and Jim gradually took these tasks also upon +himself. + +He was perfectly aware, although he pretended to be unconscious of +it, that the first few times he went out one or other of the bush +rangers stole quietly after him, and watched him at work; but as +nothing suspicious was observed in his conduct, this supervision +was gradually given up. + +"It's time to be moving again," the leader of the band said, about +a week after Jim had joined them. "We settled the next job should +be Donald's station. We know for certain that he generally has +money by him, and there will be the watches and trinkets of the +women. That fellow Thompson, who worked for them at first, says he +has got a first-rate cellar of wine; and that the women were both +out-and-outers. If they are as pretty as he says, we will have them +here, lads, to do the housekeeping. We want something to liven us +up; besides, we shall forget our company manners, if we don't get +some ladies to keep us up to the mark a little." + +There was a burst of coarse laughter. + +"What do you say, boys; shall we start tomorrow? It's a long ride, and +we had best leave about noon. We must get into the neighbourhood before +dark, so as to give the horses twelve hours' rest before we begin; for +we may have to ride for it. + +"It ain't likely. Barker's is the nearest station, and it would be +hours before they could get together men enough who would dare to +follow us; but still, it's just as well to be prepared, and since +that confounded new police officer has been on the station, there's +never been no certainty about things. We owe him one for that last +affair, which cost Smith, Wilson, and Mulready their lives; but we +will pay him out yet. Who would have thought of his being there, +just on that very night? I swear, if I ever catch him, I will roast +him alive." + +"He is no fool," one of the others said. "He gave it those black +fellows hot, and no mistake. The sooner he's put out of the way, +the better. He's a different sort of chap than the last fellow. I +sha'n't feel comfortable till he's got either a spear or a pistol +bullet in him." + +[Illustration: Jim Notes the Bush Rangers' Plans for Mischief.] + +Jim, who was squatting in the corner, apparently half asleep, was +listening intently to every word. They did not heed his presence in +the slightest; for indeed he had, since his arrival, so mixed his +talk with native words that the bush rangers had no idea that he +could follow their conversations. + +He was thinking, now, what was his best course to adopt. In the +first place, he had gathered from their talk that this was only one +of their hiding places, and that they seldom stayed very long in +one neighbourhood. The question, therefore, was whether they would +return. It was of no use his going to give the alarm, unless he +could return before his escape was suspected; or they would have +made off before he could get back again. + +As for the Donalds, whose station was to be attacked, it gave him +no concern whatever; for the Australian blacks had little or no +regard for life, except those of people to whom they were attached. +It was Reuben's mission to capture the bush rangers and, had it +been necessary, Jim would have remained quiet while a dozen +families were slain, until he found an opportunity of bringing the +police down upon them. + +He listened now, intently, for any word which might afford an index +to their intentions. Presently the question he hoped for came. + +"I suppose you will not come back here again, Tom?" + +"No, I thinks it's getting too hot to hold us, in these parts. We +might ride back here, give our horses a rest, and load up with a +few things we may want. We can bring two or three spare horses from +Donald's. The weather is pleasant now, and we might very well put +in a few weeks with the blacks. That last haul we made of traders' +goods--cottons, and beads, and trumperies for the gins, and brass +rings and such like for the men--will put them in the best of +humours. You may be sure there will be a hot chase after us, after +this business; and I should propose that we try our luck down +south, for a bit." + +"I agree with you," one of the others said. "We have had a very +good spell here, for the last ten months; and it don't do to tempt +luck too long. That losing three of our number, last week, looked +as if it was going to turn." + +"What's it matter?" the captain laughed. "So much the more for us +to divide. We have got a goodish bit of brass, now, to say nothing +of the goods we have got at each of our places. We can fill up +their places easy enough, any time; and those who come in are free +to their share of what there is, in the way of grub and goods, but +they only share in the brass from the time they join." + +Jim had heard what he wanted, and he now lay down and thought it +out. They were only coming back for a short time. Possibly they +might change their minds, and not return at all. It would be a +risky thing to depend upon it; besides, his master might be blamed +if this attack on the Donalds succeeded. + +It would be better, then, to try to get word to him, in time for +him to be there before the bush rangers arrived. He himself would +return to the hut; so that, if the police arrived too late, he +would be able to continue with the bush rangers till some fresh +opportunity occurred for bringing his master upon them. It was +possible, of course, that one of the men would be left in the hut, +in which case he had only to wait. + +The next morning the men busied themselves examining and cleaning +their arms, and after dinner they went to the inner cave, and led +out their horses. + +"Now, look here," the leader said to him, "we are going away, you +see." + +Jim nodded. + +"We come back again tomorrow. I lock this place up, you stop quiet +till we come back. If anyone comes and knocks, while we away, don't +Jim answer. Let them think place empty." + +"All right," Jim said shortly, and went and sat down by the fire, +as if he had no further interest in their proceedings. + +The windows, he had already noticed, had not only shutters outside; +but they were firmly closed within, with massive planks, securely +nailed and fastened. Jim heard the last of the party go out, and +then the door was shut, and the lock turned. Jim heard the party +ride off, and then threw himself on the ground and listened, to +assure himself that they kept steadily on their way. + +The moment he was sure they were gone, he began to search the place +for a tool which would fairly suit his purpose. Presently he found +a large butcher's knife, with which they cut up the carcasses; and +with this he set to work to dig a hole in the ground, close to the +wall of the hut. The bottom log was only sunk a few inches in the +soil, and in two hours he had burrowed under it, and made his way +out beyond; then he crept back again, scraped the earth into the +hole again as tightly as he could, crawling out backwards. He then +placed a piece of turf over the outside hole, and stamped it down +flat. + +It was possible that, after he had started, they might change their +mind and send one of their number back again; that, however, had to +be risked, and at a steady run he set off for the settlements. He +did not make for the nearest; for he had gathered, from the talk of +the men, that the convict labourers of most of the settlements in +the neighbourhood were in league with them. + +After three hours' steady running, in which he had covered over +twenty miles, he saw a shepherd's cottage and, making for it, gave +the man the message which he had taken to Reuben. He had no sooner +done so, and had found that the man was willing to set off with it +at once, than he turned and retraced his steps to the hut, as +rapidly as he had come. It was already dusk when he reached it. + +Instead of approaching boldly, he made a circuit and crawled up to +it on his belly; and lay for some time, listening intently, with +his ear to the door. He felt convinced that no one was there; but +to make sure he knocked, and then withdrew among the trees. But all +was still and, feeling sure now that the place was untenanted, he +removed the piece of turf from the hole and made his way back into +the hut again; carefully replacing the piece of turf, and then +packing earth under it, so that it would not give way if trodden +upon. This, however, was a very unlikely occurrence, as he had made +the opening where some bushes screened it from view. + +He swept up every scrap of soil from the floor inside, filled up +the hole there and trampled it down; and then, after indulging his +appetite to the fullest, threw himself down and went to sleep. + +When he awoke, a few streaks of light streaming through the cracks +of the door showed that it was day; and he made up the fire, and +awaited the return of the bush rangers. + +It was four or five hours before they returned, and the instant +they opened the door and entered, Jim was sure that they had +failed; but to his disappointment all were there, and his plan of +taking them in a trap had not succeeded. At this he was not +surprised; for his own calculations, as to the distance to be +traversed, had shown him that it was very questionable whether, +even under the most favourable circumstances, Reuben could have got +there in time with his men. + +Without speaking a word to him, the men led their horses through to +the inner cave, and then threw themselves down by the fire. Jim at +once proceeded to unsaddle the horses, and rub them down; keeping +an ear open, all the time, to what was being said by the bush +rangers. Their remarks however were, for a time, confined to +terrible curses as to their luck. + +"How did it come about, that's what I want to know?" the leader +said. "This is the second time that accursed police fellow has +turned up, and put a spoke in our wheel. Why, it was not more than +half an hour after the first shot was fired before they was down +upon us; there must have been pretty nigh twenty of them. How could +they have got such a lot of men as that together, if they hadn't +known that we were coming? It beats me altogether." + +"So it does me!" was the general exclamation. + +"They seemed regularly to jump out of the ground, just when all was +going pleasant. Never knew such a bit of luck--that is, if it was +luck, and not done o' purpose--and yet, I don't see as they could +have known, possible, as we was going there. Why, we didn't know +ourselves till yesterday, not what day it was to be; and except +ourselves, and that black fellow, no one could have known it." + +"Well, it's certain none of us blabbed; and I don't see as how he +could have told anyone." + +"Not exactly," the leader said, "considering he's been shut up +here, ever since we have been away; besides, I don't believe he +knew anything about it. He don't make out half we say to him and, +when we are talking together, he minds us no more than if he had +been a black monkey; but if he did, it's no odds, he could not have +passed through these walls and back again; and if he could, who was +he to tell it to? The men round here are all our pals, and would +have cut his jaw short with a bullet. But there, it's no use +talking about it, he's not been out, and there's an end of it. + +"Still, it beats me altogether. That police fellow seems to know +what we are up to, just as well as we do ourselves. I would give +all my share of the swag we have made, for the last six months, for +a shot at him." + +"I don't like it," one of the others said, "I don't; blest if I do; +and I says as the sooner we are out of here, the better. After +what's happened, I sha'n't feel safe till I am well out in the +blacks' country. If he knows what we are going to do, there ain't +any reasons why he shouldn't know where we are." + +"Why, Johnson," his leader sneered, "you don't really believe the +fellow's a sort of conjurer, do you?" + +"I don't know," the man said doggedly. "After he has turned up +twice as he has, I shouldn't be surprised at nothing--not if I +heard the sound of him and his men galloping up outside, now." + +There was a moment's silence, as each involuntarily listened. + +"We are getting to be like a pack of gals," the leader said +savagely, "and I agree with you, the sooner we are out of this, the +better. As soon as it gets dark, we will be on the move; but I tell +you, directly we get out among the blacks, I shall come back again. +I am going to carry off that gal, somehow. I've owed her one for +years and years, and I always pays my debts--at least, that sort of +debt. + +"Now then, you black, just leave them horses for the present, and +come and cook us some food; the quicker, the better." + +Jim hurried about, but in the bush rangers' present state of +temper, nothing would satisfy them; and when, in his hurry to +satisfy their angry orders, he stumbled and upset a glass of +spirits and water he was handing to the captain, the latter caught +up a brand from the fire; and struck him so violent a blow on the +temple, with the glowing end, that he fell senseless on the ground. + +He must have lain there a long time. He was brought to his senses +by a bucket of water being dashed over him; and he found, when he +staggered to his feet, that the band were preparing to depart. They +had already packed up the bales of presents for the blacks, and +placed them on the horses. Some of their more valuable belongings +were packed away in a secret hiding place, the rest were left to +take their chance till they returned; and indeed, except by their +friends among the shepherds, there was little probability of anyone +paying a visit to the hut, however long their absence might be. + +Had it not been that Jim had proved himself a really useful fellow, +for the last week, they would have shot him at once and tossed his +body in the wood; but they found it so pleasant, having all their +work taken off their hands, that after a short discussion they +decided to take him with them. + +The door was locked, and they started at a trot; but evening was +closing in, their horses had already performed two long journeys in +the last twenty-four hours, and they soon settled into a walk. They +travelled for some hours and, it being then evident that the horses +could proceed no further, a halt was called. No fire was lighted, +for they were scarcely beyond the settlements and, for aught they +could tell, an active search might still be carried on for them. + +So anxious were they, that they agreed to keep watch by turns; but +when morning broke, it was discovered that the black was missing. +The next quarter of an hour was spent in angry recriminations; but +as none could say in whose watch he made his escape, their quarrel +ceased. + +"It's no use bothering about it," the leader said. "There's one +thing, he knows nothing, and can tell nothing against us. He may +guess what he likes, but people don't waste time in listening to +black fellows' stories. I expect he has only given us the slip +because of that lick across the head I gave him, last night. I +admit I was a fool to do it, but I wasn't in the best of tempers. + +"However, if the worst comes to the worst, he can only lead them to +the hut; and they won't find much worth taking, there. When we once +get out to the blacks, we can snap our fingers at them." + +It was, indeed, about midnight when Jim had stolen away. He was +still faint and giddy, and his face was terribly burned by the blow +which had been dealt him; but when once fairly away from the bush +rangers, he set out in the direction in which he knew the Donalds' +station lay; and never halted until he arrived there, on the +following evening, utterly wearied and worn out, for he had eaten +nothing on the previous day. + +"Then they have got away after all, Jim," Reuben said, when he had +listened patiently to the long narration. "You have done all that +was possible, Jim. You have done splendidly, my poor fellow, and +although we were just too late to catch the bush rangers, we saved +the people here; but it is indeed unfortunate that they should have +got off." + +"Jim knows where dey hab gone," the black said. "Dey hab gone to de +country of Bobitu--I heard dem say de name. Jim know dat country +well--he come from der." + +Further question showed that Jim had, indeed, belonged to Bobitu's +tribe; and had come with a party of his people down to the +settlements, where he was taken ill and left to die, but was picked +up and nursed by Mr. Hudson. + +"And you could take us there?" + +Jim nodded. + +"Bery long march, massa. Tree days, with horses. Plenty bad people; +much fight." + +"I don't care how far it is, or how much fighting we have got to +do; I am bound to hunt down that fellow, however far he's gone. I +suppose there is no trouble about water. If they can go there, we +can." + +"Four, six water holes," Jim said. "No trouble about dat--trouble +from de black fellow." + +"Well, we must risk it, anyhow. We can't start for a day or two. I +must send and fetch up all the police, and I daresay some of the +colonists will join. The news of this business here has maddened +everyone, and as it is not likely that the blacks will give any +trouble for some time, and as we know the bush rangers have left +for the present, no one need be afraid of leaving their station for +a week or two." + +The next day mounted messengers were sent off in all directions, +giving notice that the police would start, in three days' time, for +a hunt after the bush rangers; and that there was, this time, every +prospect of success, as their hiding place was known. + +On the day named, no less than thirty settlers assembled; together +with the whole of the police force. All were well armed, and had +brought several days' provisions with them. Mr. Donald had made +marked progress, and the surgeon had now every hopes of his +recovery; but as he could not be moved, and it was just possible +the bush ranger might return to carry out his threat, during their +absence, two constables were left in the house; and Kate was +charged, on no account, to put her foot outside the door. + + + +Chapter 17: In Pursuit. + + +The last thing before the party started, Reuben went into the +house. Mr. Barker was going to remain behind. He was past middle +life, and the expedition was likely to be a very toilsome one; and +Reuben was glad when he said that he thought six days' severe +riding would be rather too much for him, and that he should +constitute himself the guardian of the ladies. + +"My wife has arranged to stay here, while you are away; so I shall +ride over to my place and see that all is going on straight, every +day, and sleep here at night." + +"Well, ladies," Reuben said, as he entered the room, "we are just +off. So I will say goodbye to you; and I hope that, on my return, I +shall find Mr. Donald much better. I am sure that Mr. Ruskin would +not have left, this morning, unless he felt that he had quite +turned the corner. Pray take care of yourselves, while we are away. +You know I don't want to alarm you, but pray be careful. I shall +not feel comfortable, as to your safety, till I have that villain +safely in my hands." + +"Goodbye, Captain Whitney. You know you have all our best wishes," +Mrs. Barker said. "We will take care of ourselves, till we hear +that you have destroyed the band; and above all, its leader." + +"The news that you have done so," Mrs. Donald said, "will do more, +I think, for my husband, than anything in the way of doctoring. But +take care of yourself, Captain Whitney. I know from what Mr. Barker +said that, although you make light of your expedition, it is a +dangerous one. He said the police had never ventured so far in the +bush, and you may expect sharp fighting with the blacks." + +"We may have a brush with them," Reuben said lightly; "but do not +be anxious about us. We are a very strong party, and you need have +no fear of the result. + +"Goodbye, Miss Ellison; pray be careful till I return." + +The last words were said in an undertone, as he held her hand. + +"Goodbye, Captain Whitney," she said. "God bless you all, and bring +you safely back." + +Two minutes later, the party rode off. Jim was, like the rest, +mounted, as they would travel fast. Four led horses carried +provisions; for they would not, as before, find food by the way. It +was two o'clock in the day when they started, and they rode thirty +miles before they halted, for the night, at a water hole. They had +seen no signs of natives during the day, but Reuben at once posted +four men as sentries. + +It was a merry party round the fire, for all were in high spirits +at the prospect of an expedition to a point far beyond that to +which any white men, with the exception of fugitives from justice, +had penetrated; and they were delighted with the thought of putting +a stop, at last, to the operations of the band who had so long been +a scourge to the settlement. + +Mr. Blount, Dick Caister, and several others who had formed part of +the last expedition were of the party; and the confidence which +these felt in their young leader, and in the sagacity of his native +follower, communicated itself to those who had not formed part of +the previous expedition. + +"Must start early," Jim said to Reuben, the last thing. "Long way +to water. Ride all day, not get dere before dark." + +They rode rapidly for some time, after starting, so as to allow the +horses to take it easily, during the heat of the day, when there +was a halt of three hours; but in the afternoon they quickened +their pace again, and men and horses were jaded and done up when, +just as the sun was setting, they arrived at their destination. + +"How that black fellow of yours finds his way through this bush is +a perfect marvel to me," Dick Caister said. "The country has become +more undulating, this afternoon; but the first thirty miles were +almost perfectly level, and I could see nothing, whatever, that +could serve as an index, except of course the sun. Still, that is +only a guide as to the general direction. It must have been nine or +ten years since that fellow was here, and yet he led us as straight +as if he was making for a church steeple." + +"It seems to be a sort of instinct," Reuben said, "although +possibly, for the last part of the distance, he may have seen signs +of the passage of the natives. As far as I can understand, he tells +me at this time of year there is no other water hole, within a long +distance; so that naturally there will be many natives making for +it. I am glad there are not any of them here, now. + +"Why isn't that horse hobbled like the rest?" Reuben asked +suddenly. "Whose is it?" + +"That is the one your black fellow rode, sir," Sergeant O'Connor +said. + +"Jim, where are you?" Reuben called, but no reply came. + +"What has become of him, I wonder?" Reuben said. "Has anyone seen +him, since we rode up?" + +"He jumped off, the instant we came here," one of the policemen +replied; "and said to me, 'Look after captain horse,' and I haven't +seen anything of him since." + +"There has been somebody here, sir," another policeman said, coming +up. "Here's the remains of a fire, behind this bush." + +"Yes," Mr. Blount said, examining them, and pulling out a brand +that was still glowing. "Do you see, a lot of sand has been thrown +over it. Whoever was here must have seen us coming, and tried to +extinguish the fire when they caught sight of us." + +"That is most unfortunate," Reuben said. "The fellows must have +made off, to carry the news of our coming to their friends. +However, it's too late to do anything now. It's already getting +dark, and they must have got a quarter of an hour's start. We have +taken quite enough out of the horses, and can do no more with them, +if they have to travel tomorrow; but I would give a year's pay if +this hadn't happened. + +"Well, there's nothing to do for it but to light our fires, and +camp." + +The knowledge that they had been seen, and that the news would be +carried to those of whom they were in search, acted as a great +damper on the spirits of the party; and the camp was much more +quiet and subdued than it had been, on the previous evening. + +"All is not quite lost," Reuben said when, two hours later, he +found that Jim was still absent from the camp. "I can only account +for his stealing away from us, in that manner, by supposing that he +must either have caught sight of the natives, or come upon their +trail; and at once set off in pursuit. I don't see what it could +be, otherwise." + +"But if he saw them, why didn't he tell you, Whitney?" Mr. Blount +said. "Tired as our horses were, they could have got up a gallop +for a bit." + +"Yes, but for a very short distance," Dick Caister put in; "and as +it was getting dusk, if the blacks had had anything like a start, +we could not have overtaken them before it had got quite dark. +Those blacks can run like the wind. It takes a well-mounted man to +overtake them." + +An hour after the party had lain down, one of the sentries +challenged; and the answer which came back, "All right, me Jim," at +once brought everyone to their feet. + +"Well, Jim, what is it? Where have you been?" Reuben asked. + +"Jim hungry." + +"That you may be quite sure," Dick Caister said, with a laugh. "Was +there ever a native who wasn't hungry; unless he had stuffed +himself, half an hour before?" + +"Yes, I kept some supper for you, Jim," Reuben said; "but before +you begin to eat, just tell me if everything is all right." + +"Everyting all right," Jim said, squatting himself beside the still +glowing fire, and beginning to eat. + +Reuben knew, by experience, that it was of no use questioning him +until he had finished; and he therefore waited patiently, although +one or two of the settlers grumbled at being kept waiting for the +news. When Jim had finished his meal, he looked round. Reuben knew +what he was expecting, and handed him a hornful of rum and water. +The black took a draught; and then, without any further delay, +began to tell his story. + +He had, while still some distance from the halting place, seen a +light smoke coming up, and was sure that a party was already there. + +"But why did you not tell us, Jim?" Reuben interrupted. "We might +have galloped on, and caught them." + +"No, sah, no catch dem; horses too tired, black fellow run away, +when see white men coming. Dat no do at all. Only one way to do. +Let 'em tink dat no one saw dem, else dey run and run, all de way +to Bobitu. + +"When get near camp, Jim see dat smoke not come up, know de black +fellow see white man and put out um fire. When Jim come here he +jump off hoss, find fire, and follow de track. Dey four men; one go +one way, one go anoder, two men go straight on. Dey go on to tell +Bobitu, de oders go to black fellows in de bush. Jim not care for +dem, follow de two." + +"But how could you follow them, in the dark?" + +"Jim were sure de way dey go, dat enough for Jim. He suppose dat +dey 'top after a bit; and when dey see de white men all 'top quiet +at de water hole, and light fire, dey tink it all right. No make +hurry, perhaps 'top and light a fire demselves. + +"So Jim go on quiet for two, tree hour; den at last he see fire, +sure 'nough. He crawl up quiet and see two black fellow dar, and +hear what 'em say. Dey tired, make long walk today to water hole; +say no hurry, white men all go sleep round fire, not go on till sun +get up, so dey stop for two, tree hour to rest demselves. + +"Jim get quite close and jump up, den cut off one black fellow head +with sword, run sword through de body of other, finish 'em both, +and den come back to camp." + +"Well done, indeed, Jim!" Reuben exclaimed, and a chorus of +satisfaction rose from all the party at hearing that the men--who, +had they reached the bush rangers, would have given the alarm, and +so enabled them to make their escape before the expedition +arrived--had been killed. The news, however, that two of the party +had escaped, and might bring the blacks down upon them before +morning, necessitated an increase of precautions. + +Reuben at once divided the force into four parties, each consisting +of five constables and seven settlers. One party were at once +placed on watch, and were to be relieved in two hours' time. + +"I not tink dey come before morning, sah," Jim said. "No water hole +near here. Tomorrow plenty black fellow come." + +"All right, Jim. We don't care for them, in the daylight; and now +that I know the bush rangers won't be alarmed, I don't mind." + +Jim's prediction proved correct. The night passed off quietly, and +the party again started at daylight. The country became more and +more broken, as they proceeded. The undulations became hills. Some +of these were so steep that all had to dismount, and lead their +horses up. + +"Is Bobitu's camp among these hills, Jim?" + +"Ober toder side, sah. Him place in valley, toder side; bush, +plenty game for black fellow." + +"How far is it to this valley, Jim?" + +Jim's ideas of figures were but vague, and he could only say that +they would get there somewhere about sunset. + +"That would be a bad time to get there, Jim. We must halt, a mile +or two this side of them; and you must lead half the party round, +so as to cut off their retreat, even if we don't attack them till +the morning. On their fresh horses, those fellows will gallop right +away from us, if they once get a start. + +"There is no fear, I hope, of any of the other blacks getting there +before us, and giving the alarm?" + +Jim shook his head. + +"No. We come straight from water hole. Black fellow go round long +way. No fear dey get dere. Dey fight when we go back." + +"That's all right. Bobitu's fellows, and the bush rangers, will be +quite enough to tackle at once. As for the others, we will make +short work of them, if they venture to attack us on the march back. +They fight pluckily enough against men on foot, because they know +they can make off when they like; but they can't stand a charge of +horsemen." + +Although not so long as the journey on the preceding day, the men +were heartily glad when, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, +the halt was called, and they heard that the place where the bush +rangers were supposed to be was but four miles away. After some +consultation, it was decided that Jim should lead half the +band--consisting of ten constables under O'Connor, and fifteen +colonists--round through the hills, to a position near the mouth of +the valley in which the blacks and bush rangers were likely to be; +and that, when he had posted them there, he should come back again +to their present halting place, and lead forward the party under +Reuben. + +"Mind," Reuben said, before the others started, "we don't want to +attack the blacks, unless they show fight. Our object is the bush +rangers. Jim says that, by what he heard, they have got some sort +of houses they have built there. Let us make straight for them. If +the blacks attack, drive them off; but we can settle with them, +afterwards. The great point is to capture or kill the bush +rangers." + +All agreed to this, for although the blacks gave great trouble, by +driving off the sheep and cattle, and sometimes killing the +shepherds, there was not the same feeling of hatred entertained for +them as for the bush rangers. It was felt to be natural that the +natives should resent the occupation of their hunting grounds; and +although they were shot down without mercy in fair fight, or if +overtaken while carrying off cattle, there was no active feeling of +animosity against them; and they were generally kindly treated, +when they called unarmed at the stations, and asked for food. + +Against the bush rangers, on the other hand, a deadly hatred was +felt by the colonists; and the fact that these were constantly +aided, by the ticket-of-leave labourers, increased the hostility +with which they were regarded. + +Jim left his horse behind him, when he started with his party; +saying that coming back at night, in the dark, he would rather be +without it. After their comrades had set out, those who remained +behind posted two men as sentries; and then, as soon as they had +cooked and eaten a meal, laid themselves down to sleep, until the +time should come for their advance. + +It was just midnight when Jim returned. He reported that he had +seen no blacks by the way, and that he believed he had posted his +party without their being observed. He himself, instead of +returning by the same route that he had taken them, had come +straight up the valley. + +There were, he said, two huts which had been built by the bush +rangers; and these were now occupied by them. There were great +fires blazing, and he thought that the natives had probably only +arrived there that evening. He had got near enough to find that +they were in a high state of delight, at the presents which their +white friends had brought them. + +"Did you catch sight of any of the bush rangers, Jim?" Reuben +asked. + +"Two ob dem came out and spoke to black fellows at fire, but too +far off to see which dey were." + +An hour before daybreak the party moved forward, and halted within +half a mile of the bush rangers' camp. There they stopped, till +they could see the sunlight touch the top of the hill at the +right-hand side of the valley. This was the signal agreed upon and, +mounting, they rode forward at full speed. + +Just as they got within sight of the huts, they heard a wild +shouting, followed instantly by the crack of rifles. Another +minute, and they had reached the scene and joined the other party, +who had made straight to the huts. The blacks, awakened suddenly as +they were sleeping round the embers of their fires, had hastily +thrown a volley of spears, and had darted away among the bushes. + +"Surrender, in the queen's name!" Reuben shouted, "and I promise +you that you shall be taken down, and have a fair trial." + +The answer came in the flash of a rifle, from the window of one of +the huts; and a constable immediately behind Reuben fell dead, with +the ball through his head. + +"Dismount!" Reuben shouted, "and break in the doors." + +With a shout, the men threw themselves from their horses and rushed +at the doors of the huts. + +"Sergeant O'Connor," Reuben said; "do you, with six of your men, +keep up a fire at the windows. Don't let a man show himself there. + +"Let ten of the others look after the horses. We shall have the +blacks back, in no time." + +So saying, he ran forward and joined those who were battering at +the doors. Several of them had brought stout axes with them, and +the doors speedily gave way. There was a rush forward. + +Mr. Blount fell dead, and Dick Caister's shoulder was broken by a +bullet; but there was no check, as the colonists poured into the +huts. There was a short sharp fight, but in two minutes it was +over. Three of the gang had been shot, as they leapt from the +windows. Four more lay dead, or dying, in the huts. + +One of them had thrown down his arms, and shouted for mercy. He had +been knocked down and stunned, by the butt end of a rifle; but was +otherwise unwounded. + +Short as was the fight, it had given time to the blacks to rally. +Their shouts were ringing in the air, and the spears were flying +thickly as the party, having finished their work, rushed outside +again, to assist the constables who were guarding the horses. + +"Pour a volley into the bushes," Reuben shouted; "then mount, and +charge them." + +The order was executed and, in a minute, the horsemen were dashing +hither and thither among the bushes, shooting down with their +pistols the blacks who resisted, or dealing tremendous blows among +them with their hunting whips. The charge was irresistible, and in +five minutes the main body of the blacks were flying, at full +speed, up the steep hillsides. + +The victors soon gathered round the huts. Several men and horses +had been wounded with spears, but none of the injuries were of a +serious character. + +"Well, how about the prisoners?" Reuben asked the sergeant, who had +arrived before him. + +"There's only one prisoner, sir. All the rest are accounted for." + +"Is it their captain?" + +"I don't know, sir. I have never set eyes on him; but if he's a +young chap, as they say, it ain't him." + +"Jim," Reuben said, "just go round and examine the bodies, and see +which of them is the captain." + +Jim returned in a couple of minutes. + +"None of dem ain't him, sah. He not dere." + +Reuben started. + +"Are you quite sure, Jim?" + +"Quite sure, sah." + +"Are you sure none of them escaped, sergeant?" + +"I am quite sure of that, sir. No one came out of either of the +doors, and there were only three who tried to bolt through the +windows, and we accounted for them all. Perhaps that chap who is +prisoner can tell you where to find the captain. It's a bad job, +indeed, if he has escaped." + +"Is the man recovering his senses?" + +"Yes, sir, he's just coming round." + +Reuben stepped into the hut. The escape of Thorne destroyed all the +satisfaction which his success would have given him. He had good +reason to know the fiendish malignity of the man and, in spite of +the warnings he had given Kate Ellison, and his strict orders to +the police on guard, he felt a thrill of anxiety, now that he was +aware her enemy was still at large. + +The prisoner was sitting up, in a corner of the hut; a policeman, +with drawn sword, standing near him. + +"Where is your leader?" Reuben asked sternly. "The man you call +Fothergill." + +"He went away yesterday morning," the man said, with a grin of +satisfaction. "You haven't caught him yet; and you will hear more +of him, before you do." + +"Where was he going?" Reuben demanded. + +"You won't get nothing out of me," the fellow said. "He's been a +good mate, and a true, and I ain't going to put you bloodhounds on +his scent. He's gone a-wooing, that's where he's gone, and that +won't help you much." + +Reuben at once went outside, and called the settlers round him. + +"I am sorry to say," he said, "that the leader of the party has got +away. He rode off yesterday morning, and although the prisoner we +have taken did not say where he has gone, I have not the least +doubt he has ridden back to the Donalds, to try and carry out his +threat to return for Miss Ellison. + +"Therefore, gentlemen, may I ask you to start homeward, at once. +The horses have only done a few miles and, if we press forward, we +may manage to get to our camp of the evening before last. We have +no more to do here, except to see if there are any valuables hidden +in the huts, and set fire to them. + +"I expect that we shall have fighting with the blacks, on our way +back. Those parties the two fellows who got away went to fetch +will, likely enough, bar our way. If it were not for that, I should +ride on by myself; but my duty is to stop with my men until, at any +rate, we have passed the place where the blacks are likely to +attack us. That done, I shall push on. It is annoying, indeed, to +think that that fellow must have passed us somewhere on the way, +yesterday." + +The settlers agreed, at once. They all sympathized with Reuben, in +his disappointment at the escape of the leader of the bush rangers; +and regretted the matter deeply, on their own account. They were, +too, now that the work was done, anxious to be off; not only +because they wished to return to their stations, but because they +felt that their position was a dangerous one. They had penetrated, +to a distance hitherto unattempted, into the country of the +natives; and they knew that these would gather round them, like +hornets, on their return march. + +Ten minutes were spent in the search of the huts. The police probed +the ground with their swords, and closely examined the walls. They +found, under some sheepskins in one corner, a bag containing +upwards of two hundred pounds; which was doubtless the amount which +the bush rangers had brought back with them, from their last +plundering expedition, and had not yet been added to their main +store, wherever that might be. This, however, was a welcome find to +the police, and they abandoned the idea of searching further; and +were about to set fire to the hut, when the prisoner said: + +"Lookee here! I may as well tell you where the lot is hidden. It +may do me good, when it comes to the trial; and you may as well +have it, as for it to lay there. You dig up the ground in front of +that tree, behind the hut, and you will find it." + +Five minutes later a large leather bag, containing a considerable +quantity of gold and notes, and a number of watches, chains, and +other trinkets, was brought to light. + +"Don't stop to count the money now," Reuben said. "Fasten it on one +of the horses, and let us be off. + +"Sergeant, let Jones ride beside the prisoner, and be responsible +for his safety. See that his hands are tied behind him, and his +ankles tied securely to stirrup leathers. Let four men take charge +of the eight horses of these bush rangers. Do you ride ahead with +four others, and keep a sharp lookout as you go. Don't press the +horses, but we must go at a smart pace, for we have a long day's +march before us. It is fully sixty miles to the water hole where we +camped, the night before last." + +A few minutes later, the party were in motion. Although +disappointed at the escape of the leader of the band, they were +well satisfied with the result of the expedition, and at the small +amount of loss at which it had been accomplished. There was general +regret at the death of Mr. Blount; but two lives were considered to +be but a small loss, for the capture of so strong a body of bush +rangers; who, knowing that they fought with ropes round their neck, +always made a desperate resistance. + +Half the journey was accomplished without incident, and Reuben felt +satisfied that they would, at least, have no trouble with the tribe +they had scattered in the morning. The speedy start that they had +made had taken them beyond their pursuit; and if attacked, it would +be by other tribes. + +After an hour's halt, to feed the horses and cook some meat for +themselves, the party proceeded again. Another fifteen miles were +passed; then Reuben saw the sergeant, with the little party ahead, +suddenly draw rein. He galloped forward to them. + +"What is it, sergeant?" + +"I am pretty sure I saw a black fellow's head, over that rock, sir. +It's a nasty piece of ground. I noticed it yesterday, as I came +along. It would be the worst place to be attacked in of any we have +passed. If the blacks are here in force, they know what they are +doing." + +Reuben examined the position. It was certainly a nasty place to be +attacked in. The valley was narrow, and thickly strewn with +boulders of all sizes, which had rolled down from the hillsides. +Among these the bush grew thickly, and it was only down a narrow +path in the centre, formed by a winter stream, now dry, that +horsemen could pass. + +"I don't think it would do to make a bolt through that, sir," the +sergeant said, shaking his head. "We could only ride two abreast +and, if they are strong, we should be riddled with spears before we +got through; and there's no charging them, among those stones and +bush." + +"That is so, sergeant. We shall have to dismount, and drive them +out foot by foot. There's nothing else for it." + +By this time all the party had come up, and Reuben explained to +them the situation. All at once agreed that they could do nothing +on horseback, on such ground. + +The whole party therefore dismounted. The horses were tied to +bushes, and the prisoner securely fastened to a tree. Then, rifle +in hand, they moved forward. + +The sergeant's eye had not deceived him for, as they approached the +spot where the boulders and bush grew thickest, a shower of spears +was thrown, and the native cry rose shrill in the air. The party +were advancing in skirmishing order; and most of them threw +themselves down, or dodged behind rocks, as the blacks rose to +throw their spears and, a moment later, the rifles cracked out. +Several of the blacks fell, and the rest disappeared among the +bushes. + +"Make your way forward, steadily and carefully. Let each man watch +his neighbour, to the right and left, and keep in line as much as +you can." + +The fight now commenced in earnest, but the settlers and police +gradually made their way forward. Not only had they the advantage +in weapons; but the fact that they were able to fire while lying +down, or stooping, gave them an immense advantage over the blacks; +who had to expose themselves when rising to throw their spears, or +take aim with their bows. + +Several times, emboldened by their superior numbers, the blacks +attempted a rush; but the heavy fire from rifle and pistol which +greeted them, each time, sent them back in diminished numbers. At +last the resistance became feebler, as the natives, seeing that +they were being driven out of their shelter, began to slink off; so +as not to be exposed to the fire of the white men, in the +comparatively open ground beyond. Many, however, were not quick +enough, and were shot down as they scaled the steep hillside. + +The party of whites gathered, and compared notes. Many had received +wounds more or less severe, but none of a nature to prevent them +from continuing their journey. They quickly returned to their +horses and, mounting, continued their way. + +"There is no fear of any farther attack, I should think, sergeant." + +"I should think not, sir. The beggars must have had enough of it. +They must have lost from forty to fifty men." + +Two hours later, the party arrived at the halting place. + +"Now, sergeant," Reuben said, "I shall hand over the command to +you; and shall ride on at once, with my boy. I am most anxious +about the man who has escaped. I shall take four of the bush +rangers' horses. They have not been ridden and, having had three or +four days' rest, are comparatively fresh. The fellow has had only +one day's start and, if I push straight on, I may be there before +him." + +Reuben briefly bade adieu to his friends, while Jim was +transferring the saddles to two of the bush rangers' horses and, +leading two others, they started together in darkness. Changing +saddles every ten miles, they rode on till past midnight, when they +halted; for the horses, accustomed as they were to long journeys, +were now completely broken down, and Jim and his master could +scarce keep their seats. + +"Too much long," Jim said, as he threw himself down, after taking +off the saddles and hobbling the horses; "too much long, sah." + +"It is long, Jim," Reuben replied. "People in England would hardly +believe horses could go a hundred miles in a day, even if led a +part of the distance. Another fifty miles will take us to Donald's. +It is about twenty miles to the water hole where we camped, the +first night; and that was about thirty miles from the station." + +"Shall Jim light a fire, sah?" + +"No, Jim, it isn't worth while. There is some cold meat in my +haversack, if you are hungry; but I am too tired to eat. If there +are any natives prowling about, a fire might bring them round on +us." + +"No tink black fellows near, massa." + +"I don't think so either, but I don't want to run the risk, Jim; +besides, I am sure neither of us can be trusted to keep watch." + +Reuben, in spite of his fatigue, was some time before he could get +off to sleep. The thought that probably Tom Thorne was, at that +time, camped at the water hole twenty miles ahead; and that, in the +morning, his horse would be far fresher than those he had ridden, +was maddening to him. At one time he thought of getting up, and +pursuing his way on foot; but he was stiff in every limb, and felt +that the journey was beyond him. Moreover, if the bush ranger had +taken some other line, and was not camping there, he would have no +means of pursuing his journey. + +At the first gleam of daylight they were afoot. The saddles were +put on the horses, and they continued their way. Reuben soon found, +however, that the five hours he had rested had been insufficient to +restore the horses and, even by riding them alternately, he could +get them but little beyond a walk. + +On arriving at the water hole, the remains of a fire were found. +Jim examined the ground carefully, and found the tracks of a horse; +and was of opinion that the rider had started three or four hours +previously. Reuben carried a large flask of spirits and, having +poured what remained in it down the throats of the horses, and +given them a drink at the pool, he again pressed on. + +Ten miles farther, he arrived at the first outlying station. The +owner of this had not joined in the expedition, being a married +man, and unwilling to leave his wife in such an exposed position. +But upon Reuben's arrival he at once agreed to lend him two fresh +horses, and to take care of those which Reuben brought with him. + +While the settler was driving them in from the paddock, his wife +busied herself in preparing two huge bowls of bread and milk. These +were thankfully swallowed by Reuben and Jim and, five minutes +later, they started on the fresh horses. + +It was indeed a relief, to Reuben's anxiety, to find himself again +flying over the ground at a rapid gallop, after the slow and +tedious pace at which he had travelled since morning. His spirits +rose, and the fears which had oppressed him seemed lifted, as if by +magic. He assured himself that he had no cause for anxiety, for +that the two constables would assuredly be on the watch, and Kate +had promised not to venture beyond the doors of the house until his +return. + + + +Chapter 18: Settling Accounts. + + +Reuben soon checked the speed of his horse. Anxious as he was to +arrive as soon as possible, he might, for aught he knew, yet have +occasion to try the animal to the utmost; and he therefore reduced +the almost racing pace, at which he had started, into an ordinary +steady gallop. The horses were fresh and in good condition, and for +several miles kept up the pace without flagging. Then they were +allowed to ease down into a walk, until they got their wind again; +and then started at the pace, half canter, half gallop, which is +the usual rate of progression of the colonial horses. They drew +rein at last on a slight eminence, from which the Donalds' station, +a mile or so distant, could be perceived. + +"Thank God," Reuben muttered to himself, "I am back here, at last. +There is no occasion for further hurry;" and the horses were +allowed to go at an easy walk. + +"Man on horseback," Jim suddenly said, touching Reuben's arm. + +"Where--where, Jim?" + +"Gone from de house, sah, trough dem trees. Dare he go again, he +gallop fast." + +Reuben had not caught sight of the figure, but he pressed his spurs +against the horse's sides. + +"I will see who it is, at any rate. Jim, do you ride straight on to +the house, and say I shall be there in a few minutes." + +As Reuben rode, at a headlong gallop, towards the point where his +course would probably intersect that of the horseman, riding in the +direction Jim had pointed out, he turned over rapidly, in his mind, +the thought whether his anxiety for Kate Ellison was not making a +fool of him. Why should he turn from his course, just at the end of +a long journey, to start at full speed on the track of this figure, +of which Jim had caught only a glance? It might be a stockman, or +someone who had ridden over from one of the neighbouring stations +to see how Donald was getting on; but even so, he told himself, no +harm was done by his assuring himself of that. + +It was not the way Mr. Barker would take to his station. Had it +been a neighbour who had come over, he would not be likely to leave +again, so early. Neither of the constables would be riding away, in +defiance of his orders on no account to stir any distance from the +house. + +Presently he caught a glimpse of the horseman. He was not more than +half a mile away now, but the view he obtained was so instantaneous +that he could not distinguish any particulars. + +"He is riding fast, anyhow," he said. "Faster than a man would +travel, on ordinary business. He is either a messenger, sent on +urgent business; or it is Thorne." + +He slightly altered the direction of his course, for the speed at +which the horseman was travelling must take him ahead of him, at +the point where Reuben had calculated upon cutting him off. In a +short distance he would get a view of him; for the trees ended +here, and the plain was open and unbroken, save by low bush. + +When the figure came clear of the trees, he was but a quarter of a +mile away; and Reuben gave a start, for he recognized at once the +uniform of his own corps. It could only be one of the men left at +Donald's and, with an exclamation of anger, Reuben pressed his +horse to the utmost in pursuit of the man, who was now almost +directly ahead, at the same time uttering a loud call. + +The man glanced back but, to Reuben's surprise, instead of stopping +waved his hand above his head, and pressed forward. Two miles were +traversed before Reuben was beside him. + +"What do you mean, sir?" he thundered out. + +But the man pointed ahead. + +"He has carried off Miss Ellison, sir, and has shot Brown dead. I +will tell you, afterwards. + +"There, do you see, sir, over that brow there?" + +At the moment, Reuben saw a figure on horseback rise against the +skyline, fully two miles in front. + +"Ride steadily, Smithson," he said. "Keep me in view, and I will +keep him. We must overtake him in time, for his horse is carrying +double. I shall push on, for I am better mounted than you are; and +he may try to double, and throw us off his traces. If anything +happens to me don't stop for a moment, but hunt that fellow down to +the end." + +Reuben had been holding his horse somewhat in hand, during the last +mile, for he thought there must be some reason for the constable's +strange conduct; but he now let him go and, urging him to his full +speed, soon left the constable behind. He knew that, for some +distance ahead, the country was flat and unbroken; and that the +fugitive would have no chance of concealment, whichever way he +turned. + +Upon reaching the spot where he had seen the bush ranger pass, the +wide plain opened before him; and he gave a shout of exultation, as +he saw that he had gained considerably. The fugitive, indeed, had +evidently not been pressing his horse. + +"He thinks he has a long journey before him," Reuben muttered. "I +fancy he's mistaken. He thinks he's only got a constable after him, +and that he can easily rid himself of him, whenever he comes up to +him. No doubt he learned from some of the convicts that everyone is +away, and therefore thinks himself safe from all pursuit, when once +he has wiped out Smithson. All the better. I shall overtake him all +the sooner." + +Such indeed was the view of the bush ranger, who kept along at a +steady canter, troubling himself very little about the solitary +constable whom he believed to be in pursuit of him. When, indeed, +on glancing round, he saw that his pursuer was within a quarter of +a mile of him, he reined in his horse and, turning, calmly awaited +his coming. + +Reuben at once checked the speed of his horse. He knew that the man +was said to be a deadly shot with his pistol, but he was confident +in his own skill; for, with constant and assiduous practice, he had +attained a marvellous proficiency with his weapon. But he did not +care to give his foe the advantage, which a man sitting on a steady +seat possesses, over one in the saddle of a galloping horse. He +therefore advanced only at a walk. + +The bush ranger put down the change in speed to fear, caused by his +resolute attitude, and shouted: + +"Look here, constable. You had best turn your horse's head, and go +home again. You know well enough that one constable is no match for +me, so you had best rein up before I put a bullet in your head. If +you shoot, you are just as likely to kill the young woman here, as +you are me; and you know I don't make any mistake." + +Reuben was already conscious of his disadvantage in this respect, +for the bush ranger held the girl on the saddle in front of him, so +that her body completely covered his. She was enveloped in a shawl, +which covered her head as well as her figure. Her captor held her +tightly pressed to him with his left arm, while his right was free +to use a pistol. + +Reuben checked his horse at a distance of some fifty yards, while +he thought over the best course to pursue. As he paused, Thorne, +for the first time, noticed that it was an officer with whom he had +to deal, and not with the constable; who, as he believed, was the +only one in the district. He uttered a savage exclamation, for he +felt that this materially altered the conditions of the affair. + +"Oh, it's you, is it?" he said. "I thought it was only one of your +men; but the advice I gave is as good, for you, as for him. I +advise you to turn back, before all my mates are down on you." + +"Your mates will never be down on anyone again, Tom Thorne," Reuben +said sternly. "We have wiped out seven of them, and the other is a +prisoner." + +"It's a lie!" the bush ranger said, furiously. "They are two +hundred miles away, in the bush." + +"With your friend Bobitu, eh? Yes, they were, but they are not now, +Thorne. They are lying under the ashes of that hut of yours, close +to the tree where you buried your treasure; and it's I who am going +to have help, not you. My man will be up in a few minutes," and he +glanced round at the constable, whom the bush ranger now perceived, +for the first time, less than half a mile away. + +Reuben's words had the effect they were intended to excite. They +filled the bush ranger with fury, and desire for vengeance; while +the sight of the approaching constable showed him that, unless he +took prompt measures, he would have two adversaries to fight at +once. + +Without a moment's hesitation, he set spurs to his horse and dashed +at Reuben. When within twenty yards, he fired. + +Reuben felt a sharp pain, as if a hot iron had been passed across +his cheek. Thorne uttered a shout of exultation as he saw him start +but, as he kept his seat, again raised his hand to fire. In an +instant Reuben discharged his pistol, and the bush ranger's weapon +dropped from his hand, for Reuben's bullet passed through his +wrist. + +Throwing the burden before him headlong to the ground, Thorne drew +a pistol with his left hand; and the two shots rung out again, at +almost the same instant. Reuben, however, was slightly the +quickest, and this saved his life. His bullet passed through the +bush ranger's body, while Thorne's pistol was diverted somewhat +from its aim, and the bullet struck Reuben's left shoulder, instead +of his head. In an instant, he had drawn another pistol. + +"Surrender or I fire!" and then seeing, by the change in the bush +ranger's face, and by his collapsing figure, that he was badly hit; +he waited, still keeping Thorne covered with the muzzle, for the +bush ranger had a charge left in the pistol which he still grasped +in his left hand. + +Twice Thorne tried to raise it, but in vain. Then he reeled in the +saddle, the pistol dropped from his hand, and he fell heavily over +on to the ground. + +Reuben at once leaped from his horse, and ran to raise Kate +Ellison; who lay motionless on the ground, as she had been thrown. +Removing the shawl wrapped round her head, he found she was +insensible. Kneeling beside her, he raised her head to his shoulder +and, a minute later, the constable galloped up. + +"Badly hurt, captain?" he asked, as he leaped off his horse; for +the blood was streaming down Reuben's face, and his left arm hung +useless. + +"Nothing to speak of, Smithson. See to Miss Ellison, first. There +is some water in my flask in the holster. Just bring it here, and +sprinkle her face. I hope she is only stunned; but that scoundrel +threw her off with such force, that she may well be badly hurt." + +"Is he done for, captain?" the man asked, glancing at the prostrate +figure of the bush ranger, as he proceeded to obey Reuben's +instructions; "because if you ain't certain about it, I had better +put a bullet into him. These fellows are very fond of playing +'possum, and then turning the tables upon you." + +"There is no fear of that, Smithson. He's hard hit. I hope he's not +dead, for I would rather that he were tried for his crimes." + +It was some time before Kate Ellison opened her eyes. For a moment +she looked vaguely round; then, as her eyes fell upon Reuben's +face, she uttered a little cry, and raised herself into a sitting +position. + +"What is it, Captain Whitney? Are you badly hurt?" + +"Thank God you have recovered, Miss Ellison. You began to frighten +me horribly. I was afraid you were seriously injured. + +"Do not look so alarmed. I can assure you I am not much hurt; only +a flesh wound, I fancy, in the cheek, and a broken collarbone." + +"And you have saved me again, Captain Whitney?" + +"Yes, thank God I have had that good fortune," Reuben said quietly; +"and this time for good, for Tom Thorne will never molest you +again." + +"But can't I do something? Your face is bleeding dreadfully. Please +let me bind it up;" and tearing a strip off the bottom of her +dress, she proceeded to bandage Reuben's face. + +The constable took off the black silk handkerchief which he wore +round his neck. + +"I think, miss, this will make a sling for his arm; and when that +is done the captain will be pretty right. + +"Do you think you can ride back, sir?" he asked, when he had +fastened the handkerchief, "or will you wait till I ride back to +the farm, and fetch help." + +"I can ride back well enough," Reuben said, trying to rise to his +feet; but he found himself unable to do so. + +The ball, after breaking his collarbone, had glanced downwards, and +the wound was a more serious one than he had imagined. + +"No, I don't think I can ride back, Smithson." + +"There is a light cart at the farm," Kate Ellison said. "Please +fetch that. I will stop here, with Captain Whitney, till you come +back." + +"I think that will be the best way, miss," the constable agreed +and, mounting, he rode off at once. + +It was an hour and a half before he returned, bringing the cart; +but before he arrived, Mr. and Mrs. Barker had ridden up on +horseback, the former having returned from his visit to the farm, +just as the constable rode in. While they had been alone, Reuben +had heard from Kate what had taken place. + +"I did as you told me, Captain Whitney, and did not go once outside +the door. The constables kept a very sharp lookout, and one of them +was always on guard by the door; so there really did not seem any +possibility of danger. + +"This morning, as I was washing up the breakfast things with Mrs. +Barker, a shot was suddenly fired outside the door and, before I +had time to think what it meant, that man rushed in. He caught me +by the wrist, and said: + +"'Come along, it's no use your screaming.' + +"Mrs. Barker caught up something and rushed at him, but he knocked +her down with the butt end of his pistol. Then he caught up her +shawl, which was lying on the chair close by, and threw it right +over my head; and then caught me up, and carried me out. + +"I tried to struggle, but he seemed to hold me as if I were in a +vice. I heard Alice scream, and then I must have fainted; for the +next thing I knew was that I was being carried along on horseback. +I was so muffled up, and he held me so tight, that I felt it was no +use to struggle; and I made up my mind to lie quite still, as if I +was still insensible, till he put me down; and then--I think I +intended to try and seize his pistol, or to get hold of a knife, if +there was one and, if I could not kill him, to kill myself. + +"There did not seem the least hope of rescue. Mr. Barker was away, +and would not be back for hours. I supposed that the constables +were shot, and all the men round were away with you; and from the +distance you said you were going, I did not think you could be back +for days. + +"Presently I felt him stop and turn his horse; and then, when he +spoke, I knew that he had not killed both the constables, and that +one of them had followed him. When you answered, I thought it was +your voice, though it seemed impossible; but I could not be sure, +because I could not hear plainly through the shawl. Then the +pistols were fired, and I suddenly felt myself falling; and I did +not know anything more, till I saw you leaning over me. + +"But where are all the others, and how is it you are here alone? Of +course, you must have turned back before you got to where the bush +rangers were." + +"No, I am glad to say we succeeded with that part of the work, Miss +Ellison, and have wiped out the bush rangers altogether. We have +got one of them a prisoner, but all the rest of the gang are +killed. + +"The distance is not quite so far as we thought it was. It was a +thirty miles' march, and two sixties. We attacked them at daybreak, +on the third day after leaving." + +"But it is only the fourth day today, is it not? At least, it seems +so to me." + +"It is the fourth day, Miss Ellison. When we found that the leader +of the gang was not with them, and I learned from the man we had +taken prisoner that he had started to ride back here, twenty-four +hours before, I was naturally very anxious about you; knowing, as I +did, what desperate actions the man was capable of. So we started +at once and, after a sharp fight with the blacks, got down in the +evening to the water hole, sixty miles on our way back, where we +had camped the second night out. + +"Of course the horse I had ridden could travel no further, but I +pushed on with my black boy, on two of the horses which we had +taken from the bush rangers, and which had been led so far. We made +another forty miles by midnight, and then halted till daybreak, to +give the horses rest; but they were so done up, this morning, that +we could not get them much beyond a foot pace. When we came to the +first settlement we exchanged them for fresh ones, and galloped on; +and, thank God, we are just in time." + +The tears were standing in the girl's eyes, and she laid her hand +on his, and said quietly: + +"Thank you. Then you have ridden a hundred and fifty miles since +yesterday morning, besides having two fights; and all because you +were uneasy about me?" + +"I had, as you see, good reason to be uneasy, Miss Ellison." + +At this moment a horse's hoofs were heard approaching, and Jim +galloped up. He had, on arriving at the station, been unable to +obtain any information as to what had taken place. Mrs. Donald was +in a dead faint. Mrs. Barker had, just before he arrived, ridden +off to meet her husband; but the dead body of the constable, by the +door, and the disappearance of Kate, showed him what had taken +place; and he at once started after his master. + +His horse, however, was a very inferior one to that ridden by +Reuben, and until he met the constable returning, he had been +obliged to follow the track of the horses in front; so he did not +arrive at the scene of the fray till half an hour after its +conclusion. He uttered exclamations of dismay, at seeing his +master's condition; for Reuben had been gradually growing faint, +and could now scarcely support himself on his elbow. + +Jim, however, had taken the precaution to snatch a bottle of +spirits from the shelf, before he started; having an eye to his own +comforts, as well as to the possibility of its being required. He +now knocked off the neck, and poured some into the cup of Reuben's +flask, and put it to his lips. + +"Thank you, Jim; that is just what I wanted." + +"Massa lie down quiet," Jim said. "No good sit up;" and, gathering +a large bunch of grass, he placed it under Reuben's head; and +Reuben lay quiet, in a half dreamy state, until Mr. and Mrs. Barker +rode up. + +Kate rose to her feet as they approached; but she was so stiff and +bruised, with her fall, that she could scarcely move forward to +meet Mrs. Barker; and burst into tears, as her friend threw her +arms round her. + +"That's right, my poor child," Mrs. Barker said. "A cry will do you +good. Thank God, my dear Kate, for your rescue." + +"I do indeed, Mrs. Barker. It seems almost a miracle." + +"Captain Whitney seems to spring out of the ground, whenever he's +wanted. He seems hurt badly. The constable said it was a broken +collarbone, but it must be something a good deal worse than that." + +"Oh, don't say so, Mrs. Barker, after what he's done for me. If he +were to die!" + +"There, there, don't tremble so, child. We must hope that it is not +so bad as that; but he would hardly be looking so bad as he does, +for only a broken collarbone. My husband broke his--one day the +horse ran away with him, among some trees--and he was up and about +again, in a day or two. + +"Is he badly hurt, do you think, John?" she asked her husband, who +was kneeling beside Reuben. + +"I hope not," the settler said. "He ought not to be like this, only +from a wound in the collarbone; but of course it may have glanced +down, and done some internal mischief. I am inclined to think that +it is extreme exhaustion, as much as anything--the reaction after a +tremendous nervous excitement." + +"He has ridden a hundred and fifty miles, since yesterday morning," +Kate said, "and has had two fights, besides this. Directly he knew +that the leader of the bush rangers had escaped, he came on by +himself." + +"Oh! They caught the bush rangers, did they?" Mr. Barker said, +joyfully. "I was afraid, by his getting back here so soon, that +they must have missed them somehow, and found they were on the +wrong scent. + +"And he has ridden all the way back, has he? A very zealous +officer, Miss Ellison, a very zealous young officer, indeed." + +But Kate was too anxious, and shaken, to mark the significance of +Mr. Barker's tone. + +"Don't tease her," his wife said, in a low voice. "She is terribly +upset and shaken, and can hardly stand. + +"Ah! What is that?" + +The interruption was caused by a low groan from the fallen bush +ranger. + +"Shoot him dead, sah," Jim, who was supporting his master's head, +exclaimed. "Don't let dat fellow come 'live no longer." + +"I can't do that, Jim," Mr. Barker said, moving towards the fallen +man. "The man is a thorough scoundrel, a murderer, and a robber; +but he is harmless now. One cannot wish he should recover, even for +his own sake; for there is enough against him to hang him, ten +times over. However, we must do what we can for the poor wretch." + +So saying, he mixed some brandy with a little water in the cup, and +poured it between the bush ranger's lips. + +"Is it mortal?" Mrs. Barker asked, as he rejoined her. + +"I think so," he said. "I fancy he is shot through the lungs. + +"You must really sit down, Miss Ellison. You look as white as a +ghost, and we cannot have you on our hands, just now. We have got +them pretty full, as they are. + +"Ah! Here comes the cart." + +The constable had put a quantity of straw in the bottom of the +light cart, and Barker and Jim raised Reuben, and laid him in it. + +"We must take the other, too," Mr. Barker said. "The man is alive, +and we can't leave him here." + +"Yes," Kate said; "he must go, too. He did Reuben a great wrong, +years ago. I hope he will confess it, before he dies." + +Mr. Barker glanced at his wife, as Kate used the young officer's +Christian name; but she was not thinking of Captain Whitney of the +police, but of the boy Reuben, who had been accused of poisoning +her father's dog, and of committing a burglary from his house. + +"You had better get up in front, with the constable, Miss Ellison," +the settler said, when the two wounded men had been placed in the +cart. "You certainly are not fit to ride. + +"Or, look here, the constable shall take my horse, and I will +drive; and then I can look after you, and you can use me for a +prop, if you feel weak; but before we start, I must insist on your +taking a sip of brandy and water. + +"It is no use your saying no," he persisted, as the girl shook her +head. "We shall have you fainting before you get home, if you +don't." + +Kate did as she was ordered. Mr. Barker then helped her up to her +seat. As she got up, her eyes fell upon Reuben's face. + +"Oh, Mr. Barker!" she said. "He looks dead. You are not deceiving +me, are you?" + +"Bless me, no!" the settler said, cheerfully. "My opinion is that +he's dead asleep. The loss of blood, the sudden reaction after the +long excitement, and the exhaustion of his ride have completely +overcome him; and my opinion is that he is sound asleep. + +"Jim, do you lead your master's horse, while the constable takes +the other; and then you two had better ride on, and help Mrs. +Donald get things ready. Get a bed up at once, for Captain Whitney; +and get some clean straw in the outhouse, with one of the rugs over +it, for the other." + +So saying, he touched the horse with the whip, and the cart moved +slowly on, with Mrs. Barker riding beside it. She would have gone +on ahead, to have assisted in the preparations; but she expected, +momentarily, to see Kate faint, and thought it better to remain +with her, in case her assistance should be required. + +The journey occupied some time, for Mr. Barker picked the way +carefully, so as not to jolt the cart. Mrs. Barker endeavoured to +keep Kate's attention fixed, by asking her questions as to what she +had heard about the expedition, wondering when it would return, and +whether any of the settlers were hurt. When they got within half a +mile of home, she said: + +"I think, dear, you are looking a little better now. I will ride +on. Fortunately there is the beef tea we made, last night, for Mr. +Donald. I will get it made hot, and I will get a cup of strong tea +ready for you. That will do wonders." + +When the cart arrived Mrs. Donald ran out and, as Kate descended, +clasped her in a long embrace. + +"Come straight in here, my dear," Mrs. Barker said. "I have got a +basin of cold water, and a cup of strong tea, and the two together +will do marvels. We will attend to your wounded hero." + +Reuben remained perfectly quiet and inert, as he was lifted out and +carried into the house, where a bed had been made up for him in a +room on the ground floor. + +"Just lay him down. Throw a blanket over him, and let him lie +perfectly quiet." + +"Do you think he is really asleep?" Mrs. Barker asked, as she +looked at the quiet face. + +"I do, really," her husband replied. "Put your ear close to his +mouth. He is breathing as quietly as a child. + +"And," he added, placing his fingers on Reuben's wrist, "his pulse +is a little fast, but regular and quiet. Twenty-four hours of sleep +will set him up again, unless I am greatly mistaken. I don't expect +that his wound will turn out anything very serious. + +"Let me think. Was it not this afternoon that Ruskin said he would +be back again?" + +"Yes, either yesterday or today." + +"That is lucky. He will be surprised at finding two new patients on +his hands, now. + +"I will go and have a look at that poor wretch in the shed. Give me +a cupful of beef tea. I will pour a spoonful or two between his +lips. You had better go and look after Kate. You will not be needed +here, at present. + +"If your master wakes, Jim, let us know directly," he said to the +black, who had seated himself on the ground by the side of Reuben's +bed. + +"I can't call the poor fellow away from his master," he added to +his wife, as he closed the door behind them; "but I am really +anxious to know what has taken place, out in the bush; and whether +many of our fellows have been killed. If, as Kate said, she heard +the captain tell the bush ranger that all his band had been killed, +except one who is a prisoner, it has indeed been a most successful +expedition; and we colonists can hardly be sufficiently grateful, +to Whitney, for having rid us of these pests. What with that, and +the thrashing the blacks have had, we shall be able to sleep +quietly for months; which is more than we have done for a long +time." + +Kate came out of the room, with Mrs. Donald, a minute later. The +basin of cold water and the tea had had the effect Mrs. Barker +predicted. A little colour had returned into her cheeks, and she +looked altogether more like herself. + +"How is he?" Mrs. Donald asked. + +"In my opinion, he's doing capitally, Mrs. Donald. His pulse is +quiet and even, and he's breathing as quietly as a child; and I +believe he is simply in a state of exhaustion, from which he is not +likely to wake till tomorrow morning; and I predict that, in a few +days, he will be up and about. Indeed, if that bullet hasn't +misbehaved itself, I see no reason why he shouldn't be up +tomorrow." + +"That is indeed a relief, to us both," Mrs. Donald said, while Kate +could only clasp her hands in silent thankfulness. + +"And now, how is your husband? I hope he is none the worse, for all +this exertion." + +"He was terribly agitated, at first," Mrs. Donald said. "I fainted, +you know, and he got out of bed to help me up; and it was as much +as I could do, when I recovered, to get him to lie down; for he +wanted to mount and ride after Kate, although, of course, he is as +weak as a child, and even with my help he could scarcely get into +bed again. + +"Fortunately Mrs. Barker ran in, before she started on horseback to +fetch you, to say that the constable was off in pursuit, and that +quieted him. Then I think he was occupied in trying to cheer me, +for as soon as he was in bed I broke down and cried; till the +constable came back to say that Captain Whitney had overtaken, and +shot, the bush ranger." + +Three hours later, to the great relief of all, the surgeon arrived. +He was first taken in to look at Reuben, having been told all the +circumstances of the case; and he confirmed Mr. Barker's opinion +that he was really in a deep sleep. + +"I would not wake him, on any account," he said. "It is a great +effort of nature, and he will, I hope, awake quite himself. Of +course, I can't say anything about the wound, till he does. + +"Now for his antagonist." + +The bush ranger was still unconscious, though occasionally broken +words came from his lips. The surgeon examined his wound. + +"He is shot through the lungs," he said, "and is bleeding +internally. I do not think that there is the shadow of a chance for +him, and no one can wish it otherwise. It will only save the colony +the expense of his trial. + +"And now for my original patient." + +He was some time in Mr. Donald's room and, when he came out, +proceeded at once to mix him a soothing draught, from the case of +medicines he carried behind the saddle. + +"We must get him off to sleep, if we can," he said; "or we shall +have him in a high state of fever, before morning. A man in his +state can't go through such excitement as he has done, without +paying the penalty. + +"And now, I suppose, I have done," he said with a smile, as Mrs. +Donald left the room with the medicine. + +"Yes, I think so," Mrs. Barker said. "If you had come an hour +earlier, I should have put this young lady under your charge; but I +think that the assurance of my husband, that Captain Whitney was +doing well, has been a better medicine than you could give her." + +"No wonder she is shaken," Mr. Ruskin remarked. + +"Mrs. Barker tells me you had a heavy fall, too, Miss Ellison." + +"Yes," she replied. "I was stunned for a time but, beyond being +stiff and bruised, I am none the worse for it." + +"Look here, Miss Ellison," the doctor said, after putting his +fingers on her wrist, "I suppose you will want to be about, +tomorrow, when our brave army returns. Now, there is nothing you +can do here. Mrs. Donald can nurse her husband. The other two +require no nursing. Mrs. Barker, I am sure, will take charge of the +house; and therefore, seriously, I would ask you to take this +draught I am about to mix for you, and to go upstairs and go to +bed, and sleep till morning." + +"I could not sleep," Kate protested. + +"Very well, then, lie quiet without sleeping; and if, in the +evening, you find you are restless, you can come down for an hour +or two; but I really must insist on your lying down for a bit. + +"Now, Mrs. Barker, will you take this medicine up, and put this +young lady to bed." + +"I hope she will get off to sleep," Mrs. Barker said, when she came +downstairs again. + +"I have no doubt whatever about it," Mr. Ruskin replied. "I have +given her a very strong sleeping draught, far stronger than I +should think of giving, at any other time; but after the tension +that the poor girl must have gone through, it would need a strong +dose to take effect. I think you will hear nothing more of her, +till the morning." + +Indeed, it was not until the sun was well up, the next morning, +that Kate Ellison woke. She could hardly believe that she had slept +all night; but the eastern sun, coming in through her window, +showed her that she had done so. She still felt bruised and shaken +all over, but was otherwise herself again. She dressed hastily, and +went downstairs. + +"That's right, my dear," Mrs. Barker, who was already busy in the +kitchen, said. "You look bonny, and like yourself." + +"How are my brother and Captain Whitney?" Kate asked. + +"I don't think Mr. Donald is awake, yet," Mrs. Barker replied; "but +Captain Whitney has just gone out to the shed, with my husband and +the surgeon." + +"Gone out to the shed!" Kate repeated, in astonishment. + +"Yes, my dear. That poor wretch out there is going fast. He +recovered consciousness about two hours ago. The constable was +sitting up with him. He asked for water, and then lay for some +time, quite quiet. + +"Then he said, 'Am I dreaming, or was it Reuben Whitney I fought +with?' + +"'Yes, it was Captain Reuben Whitney, our inspector,' the constable +replied. + +"For a time he lay quiet again, and then said: 'I want to see him.' + +"The constable told him he was asleep, and couldn't be woke. + +"'Is he badly wounded?' the man asked. 'I know I hit him.' + +"'Not very badly, I hope,' the constable answered. + +"'When he wakes ask him to come to me,' the man said. 'I know I am +dying, but I want to see him first. If he can't come, let somebody +else come.' + +"The constable came in and roused the doctor, who went out and saw +him, and said he might live three or four hours yet. + +"Soon afterwards, just as the sun rose, Jim came out, to say that +his master was awake. Mr. Ruskin went in to him and examined his +wound, and probed the course of the bullet. It had lodged down just +at the bottom of the shoulder bone. I am glad to say he was able to +get it out. When he had done, he told his patient what the bush +ranger had said; and Captain Whitney insisted upon going out to +him." + +"It won't do him any harm, will it?" Kate asked anxiously. + +"No, my dear, or Mr. Ruskin would not have let him go. I saw him as +he went out, and shook hands with him and, except that nasty +bandage over his face, he looked quite himself again. As I told +you, a broken collarbone is a mere nothing and, now we know where +the bullet went and have got it out, there is no occasion for the +slightest anxiety. + +"Here they come again, so you can judge for yourself." + +A very few words passed between Reuben and Kate; for Mrs. Barker, +who saw how nervous the girl was, at once began to ask him +questions about what the bush ranger had said. + +"He has made a confession, Mrs. Barker, which your husband has +written down, and Mr. Ruskin and Smithson have signed. It is about +a very old story, in which I was concerned when a boy; but it is a +great gratification for me to have it cleared up, at last. I was +accused of poisoning a dog, belonging to Miss Ellison's father; and +was tried for a burglary, committed on the premises, and was +acquitted, thanks only to Miss Ellison's influence, exerted on my +behalf-- + +"I fear," he said with a slight smile, "somewhat illegally. + +"However, the imputation would have rested on me all my life, if it +had not been for Thorne's confession. I thought that he did the +first affair. I knew that he was concerned in the second, although +I could not prove it; but he has now made a full confession, saying +that he himself poisoned the dog, and confirming the story I told +at the trial." + +"Oh, I am glad!" Kate exclaimed. "You know, Captain Whitney, that I +was sure of your innocence; but I know how you must have longed for +it to be proved to the world. + +"What will you do, Mr. Barker, to make it public?" + +"I shall send a copy of the confession, properly attested, to the +magistrates of Lewes; and another copy to the paper which, Captain +Whitney tells me, is published there weekly. + +"It is curious," he went on, "that the sight of Whitney should have +recalled those past recollections; while, so far as I could see, +everything that has happened afterwards, his career of crime and +the blood that he has shed, seem altogether forgotten." + +"I suppose there is no hope for him?" Kate asked, in a low voice. + +"He is dying now," Mr. Barker said. "Ruskin is with him. He was +fast becoming unconscious when we left him, and Ruskin said that +the end was at hand." + +A quarter of an hour later the surgeon came in, with the news that +all was over. + +"Now, Captain Whitney, you must come into your room, and let me +bandage up your shoulder properly. I hadn't half time to do it, +before." + +"But you won't want me to lie in bed, or any nonsense of that +sort?" Reuben asked. + +"I would, if I thought you would obey my orders; but as I see no +chance of that, I shall not trouble to give them. Seriously, I do +not think there is any necessity for it, providing always that you +will keep yourself very quiet. I shall bandage your arm across your +chest, so there can be no movement of the shoulder; and when that +is done, I think you will be all right." + +There was only one more question which Reuben had to ask, with +regard to the event of the preceding day--why it was that Smithson +did not go to his comrade's assistance. He then learned that Thorne +rode quietly up to the back of the house and dismounted, then went +to the stable, where Smithson was asleep--having been on guard +during the night--and pushed a piece of wood under the latch of the +door, so that it could not be raised. Having thus securely fastened +Smithson in, he had gone to the front of the house, and had +apparently shot down the constable there before the latter was +aware of his presence. + +Smithson, awakened by the shot, tried in vain to get out; and was +only released by Mrs. Barker, when she recovered from the effect of +the stunning blow which the bush ranger had struck her. He had then +mounted at once, and followed in pursuit. + +In the afternoon the party returned from the bush, having +experienced no further molestation from the natives. Nothing +occurred to interfere with the progress of Reuben's wound and, in +the course of a fortnight, he was again able to resume his duties. + +The complete destruction of the gang of bush rangers, and the +energy with which they had been pursued into the very heart of the +bush country, made a vast sensation in the colony; and Reuben +gained great credit, and instant promotion for his conduct. + +A month after the return of the party from the bush, Mr. Donald was +about again and, as the danger was now past, he abandoned his idea +of selling his property. The course which events took can be judged +by the following conversation, between Mrs. Donald and her sister, +three months later. + +"Well, Kate, after all he has done for us, of course I have nothing +to say against it; and I don't suppose you would mind, if I had. +Still, I do think you might have done better." + +"I could not have done better," Kate said hotly, "not if I had had +the pick of the whole colony." + +"Well, not in one way, my dear; for you know that, personally, I +like him almost as well as you do. Still, I do think it is a little +unfortunate that we ever knew him before." + +"And I think it's extremely fortunate," Kate said stoutly. "If it +hadn't been that he had known us before, and cared for me--he says +worshipped, but that's nonsense--ever since I was a child, he would +never have made that terrible ride, and I--" + +"Oh, don't talk about it, Kate; it's too dreadful even to think of +now. + +"Well, my dear, no doubt it's all for the best," Alice said +philosophically. "At any rate, you are quite happy, and he is a +noble fellow. But I hope, for your sake, that he won't stay in the +police. It would be dreadful for you when he was riding about, +hunting after bush rangers and blacks; for you know, my dear, there +are plenty of others left in the colony." + +"I told him so yesterday," Kate said shyly. "I said, of course, +that I didn't want to influence him." + +Alice broke into a laugh. + +"You little goose, as if what you say doesn't influence him." + +Three weeks later, Reuben received a letter from Mr. Hudson. + +"My dear Whitney, I am glad to hear, from you, that you are engaged +to be married; and the circumstances which you tell me of make it a +most interesting affair. If I were you, I should cut the +constabulary. I enclose a paper from Wilson, giving you three +weeks' leave. Come down to Sydney at once, and talk it over with +me. You know I regard you as my son, and I am going to have a voice +in the matter." + +Reuben went down to Sydney and, after ascertaining his views, Mr. +Hudson went into town and forthwith arranged for the purchase, for +him, of a partnership in the chief engineering firm in the town. +When he told Captain Wilson what he had done, the latter declared +that he had robbed the colony of its best police officer. Reuben +protested against the generosity of the old settler, but the latter +declared he would have no nonsense on the subject. + +"I am one of the richest men in the colony," he said, "and it's +hard if I can't spend my money as I choose." + +There is little more to tell. Reuben became one of the leading +citizens of Sydney and, twenty years afterwards, sold his business +and returned to England, and bought an estate not far from Lewes, +where he is still living with his wife and family. He was +accompanied from Australia by his mother; who, in spite of her +strong objections to the sea, went out to live with him, two years +after his marriage. + +The only point upon which Reuben Whitney and his wife have never +been able to come to an absolute agreement is as to which owes most +to the other. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Final Reckoning, by G. A. 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