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+Project Gutenberg's The Gilpins and their Fortunes, by William H. G. Kingston
+
+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: The Gilpins and their Fortunes
+       A Story of Early Days in Australia
+
+Author: William H. G. Kingston
+
+Illustrator: Archie Webb
+
+Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21464]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GILPINS AND THEIR FORTUNES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+
+
+
+The Gilpins, A Story of Early Days in Australia, by William H G
+Kingston.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+The story opens with a couple of school-leavers discussing what they
+will do with their lives.  One of the boys, a Gilpin, whose father is a
+hard-working farmer, is determined to go along the same route, but in
+Australia, as he and his brother have often dreamt of doing.
+
+They reach Australia, and an incident on the Quay in Sydney, where they
+save a family from destruction in a carriage whose horses have bolted,
+makes them valuable friends, leading to an appointment as managers, or
+overseers, of a cattle and sheep station somewhere out beyond the Blue
+Mountains.  The previous manager had let the place get run down, and was
+actually rather a crook.  Some of the other workers on the station were
+as idle and crooked as he.  Not surprising as most of them had been sent
+to Australia for some offence in England.  A few of the men were decent
+enough.  There is such resentment among the idle men that they prevail
+upon some aborigines to attack the buildings and set them on fire, a
+plan which is foiled by one of the better workers.
+
+Eventually the great Australian bubble bursts (the Australian economy is
+always a bit overheated) and the Gilpins are ordered to slaughter the
+cattle and sheep.  They discover a source of salt on the station, so
+they are able to salt down some of the meat, which was otherwise going
+to waste.
+
+Using the opportunity of buying valuable stock cheaply, they acquire the
+station and start the business again.  They rescue a drowning man, only
+to find he is the other schoolboy in the conversation that starts the
+book.  We will leave it to you to find out what his adventures had been.
+
+It takes about 3.5 hours to read this book.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+THE GILPINS, A STORY OF EARLY DAYS IN AUSTRALIA, BY WILLIAM H G
+KINGSTON.
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+Arthur Gilpin and Mark Withers walked down the High Street, arm-in-arm,
+on their return to their respective homes from the well-managed school
+of Wallington.
+
+They were among the head boys, and were on the point of leaving it to
+enter on the work of active life, and make their way in the world.  They
+had often of late discussed the important question--all-important, as it
+seemed to them--"How are we to make our way--to gain wealth, influence,
+our hearts' desires?"
+
+"For my part, I cannot stand a plodding style of doing things," said
+Mark.  "It is all very well for those without brains, but a fellow who
+has a grain of sense in his head requires a more rapid way of making a
+fortune.  Life is too short to be wasted in getting money.  I want to
+have it to spend while I am young and can enjoy it."
+
+Arthur was silent for some time.  At length he remarked, "It strikes me,
+Mark, that the object of making money is that we may support ourselves
+and families, and help those who are in distress.  My father often says
+to James, and to me, and to the rest of us, `I don't want you, when you
+enter business, to be thinking only how you can make money.  Do your
+duty, and act liberally towards all men, and you will have a sufficiency
+at all events, if not wealth.'"
+
+"Oh! your father's old-fashioned notions won't do in the world, and
+certainly won't suit me, that I can tell you," answered Mark, in a
+scornful tone.
+
+"My father is considered a sensible man.  What he preaches he practises;
+and though he has a very large family, no one calls him a poor man,"
+argued Arthur.  "He says that, considering how short life is, it cannot
+be wise to spend the time, as many men do, in gathering up riches and
+setting so high a value on them.  But here comes James!  Let us hear
+what he has to say on the subject."
+
+"Oh! of course, James has got the same notions from your father that you
+have, and I am not going to be influenced by him," answered Withers.
+
+James, however, was appealed to, and answered, "Even if we were to live
+for ever in this world, I should agree with Arthur; for, from all I see
+and hear, I am convinced that wealth cannot secure happiness; but as
+this world is only a place of preparation for another, it is evident
+folly to set one's heart upon what must be so soon parted with."
+
+Withers made a gesture of impatience, exclaiming, "Come, come, I won't
+stand any preaching, you know that; but we are old friends, and so I
+don't want to quarrel about trifles, when we are so soon to separate!
+You stick to your opinion, I will stick to mine, and we'll see who is
+right at last."
+
+"If this matter were a trifle I would not press it, but, because I am
+sure that it is one of great importance, I do press it upon you most
+earnestly, though, believe me, I am sorry to annoy you," said Arthur
+Gilpin.
+
+"Oh!  I dare say you mean well," answered Withers, in a contemptuous
+tone.  "But don't bother me again on the subject, there's a good fellow.
+You, James, are so above me, that I don't pretend to understand what
+you mean."  Saying this with a condescending air, he shook hands with
+the two brothers, and entered the house of his father, who was the
+principal solicitor of the town.
+
+The two Gilpins walked on towards their home.  Their father possessed a
+small landed property, which he farmed himself.  He had a very numerous
+family, and though hitherto he had been able to keep them together with
+advantage, the time had arrived when some of them must go forth to
+provide for themselves in the world.  James and Arthur had long turned
+their thoughts towards Australia, for which part of the British
+possessions they were preparing to take their departure.  Mr Gilpin, or
+the squire, as he was called, was looked upon as an upright,
+kind-hearted man.  He was sensible, well educated, and a true Christian;
+and he brought up his children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
+
+A year passed by: a long sea voyage was over, and James and Arthur
+Gilpin stood on the shores of Australia.  Two other brothers, with their
+sisters, remained to help their father in his farm at home.  James and
+Arthur had left England, stout of heart, and resolved to do their duty,
+hoping to establish a comfortable home for themselves and for those who
+might come after them.  Their ship lay close to the broad quay of the
+magnificent capital of New South Wales.  They had scarcely been prepared
+for the scene of beauty and grandeur which met their sight as they
+entered Port Jackson, the harbour of Sydney, with its lofty and
+picturesque shores, every available spot occupied by some ornamental
+villa or building of greater pretension, numerous romantic inlets and
+indentations running up towards the north; while the city itself
+appeared extending far away inland with its broad, well-built streets,
+its numberless churches, colleges, public schools, hospitals, banks,
+government buildings, and other public and private edifices, too
+numerous to be mentioned.
+
+The Gilpins, as they were put on shore with their luggage, felt
+themselves almost lost in that great city.  They were dressed in their
+rough, every-day suits, and looked simple, hardworking country lads, and
+younger than they really were.
+
+Large as Sydney then was, it was still diminutive compared to what it
+has since become.  Founded by criminals, it was unhappily as far
+advanced in crime and wickedness as the oldest cities of the old world,
+though efforts were being then made, as they have ever since continued
+to be made, and, happily, not without some degree of success, to wipe
+out the stain.  The two brothers stood for some time watching the
+bustling scene before them.  Huge drays laden with bales of wool were
+slowly moving along the quay towards the ships taking in cargo, while
+porters, and carts, with ever-moving cranes overhead, were rapidly
+unloading other vessels of miscellaneous commodities.  Irish, Negro,
+Chinese, and Malay porters were running here and there; cabs and carts
+were driving about, and other persons on foot and on horseback, mostly
+in a hurry, evidently with business on their hands.  There were,
+however, a few saunterers, and they were either almost naked black
+aborigines, with lank hair, hideous countenances, and thin legs, or men
+with their hands in their pockets, in threadbare coats and uncleaned
+shoes, their countenances pale and dejected, and mostly marked by
+intemperance.  Many of them were young, but there were some of all
+ages--broken-down gentlemen, unprepared for colonial life, without
+energy or perseverance, unable and still oftener unwilling to work.  The
+brothers had not to inquire who they were.  Their history was written on
+their foreheads.
+
+"What shall we do next?" asked Arthur.
+
+"I should like to get out of this place as soon as possible."
+
+"So should I, indeed," said James; "but we must go to an inn for the
+night, ascertain where labour is most wanted in the interior, and how
+best to find our way there."
+
+"You and I can scarcely carry our traps any way up those streets;
+perhaps one or two of those poor fellows there would like to earn a
+shilling by helping us," said Arthur, beckoning to some of the
+above-mentioned idlers.
+
+The first summoned walked away without noticing them, another stared, a
+third exclaimed, "Egregious snob! what can he want?" and a fourth walked
+up with his fists doubled, crying out in a furious tone, "How do you
+dare to make faces at me, you young scoundrel?"
+
+"Pardon me, sir," said James, quietly; "my brother made no faces at you.
+We merely thought that you might be willing to assist in carrying our
+luggage."
+
+"I assist you in carrying your luggage!  A good joke!  But I see you are
+not quite what I took you for; and if you'll stand a nobbler or two, I
+don't mind calling a porter for you, and showing you to a slap-up inn to
+suit you," said the man, his manner completely changing.  "You'll have
+to pay the porter pretty handsomely, my new chums!  People don't work
+for nothing in this country."
+
+While they were hesitating about accepting the man's offer to get a
+porter, thinking that there could be no harm in that, a country lad, Sam
+Green by name, who had come out as a steerage passenger with them,
+approached.  As soon as he saw them he ran up exclaiming--
+
+"Oh, Master Gilpins, there's a chap been and run off wi' all my traps,
+and I've not a rag left, but just what I stand in!"
+
+Sam was, of course, glad enough to assist in carrying their luggage.
+James apologised to the stranger, saying he would not trouble him.
+
+"Not so fast, young chum!" exclaimed the man.  "You promised me a couple
+of nobblers, and engaged me to call a porter.  I'm not going to let you
+off so easily!  Down with the tin, or come and stand the treat!"
+
+The Gilpins were rather more inclined to laugh at the man than to be
+angry; certainly they had no intention of paying him.  Perhaps their
+looks expressed this.  He was becoming more and more blustering, when a
+cry from several people was heard; and looking up the street, an open
+carriage with a pair of horses was seen dashing down towards the water
+at a furious rate.  There was no coachman on the box, but that there was
+some one in the carriage James discovered by seeing a shawl fluttering
+from the side, and by hearing a piercing shriek, uttered apparently as
+if then, for the first time, the lady had discovered the imminence of
+her danger.  In a few seconds the carriage would have been dragged over
+the quay and into water many fathoms deep.
+
+"Stop the horses!  Fifty--a hundred--five hundred pounds to whoever will
+do it!" shouted a man's voice from within.
+
+Right and left the people were flying out of the way of the infuriated
+steeds.  There was not manhood enough left apparently in the idle,
+dissipated-looking loiterers who were standing near.  Two or three took
+their hands out of their pockets and ran forward, but quickly returned
+as the horses came galloping by them.  The young Gilpins heard the
+gentleman's offer.
+
+"We don't want that!" cried James.  "Come on, Arthur!"
+
+They sprang towards the carriage, one on each side; and then turning,
+ran in the direction it was going, grasping the head-stalls of the
+animals as they passed, but allowing themselves to be carried on some
+way, their weight however telling instantly on the galloping steeds.
+
+Sam Green had remained standing by the luggage, having made up his mind
+that the suspicious-looking stranger would decamp with it, if left
+unguarded.  When, however, he saw that the horses, in spite of his young
+friends' efforts, would drag the carriage over, unless stopped, he
+started up, with his hands outstretched before him, uttering with
+stentorian voice a true English "Woh! woho!" and then, with an arm from
+which an ox would dislike to receive a blow, he seized the heads of the
+horses, already trying to stop themselves, and forced them back from the
+edge stones of the quay, which they had almost reached.  Undoubtedly the
+horses had been broken in by a trainer from the old country: Sam Green's
+"Woh! woho!" acted like magic; and the pacified though trembling animals
+allowed themselves to be turned round, with their heads away from the
+water.  While the elder Gilpin and Sam held them, Arthur ran to open the
+door, that the lady and gentleman might alight.  The one was of middle
+age, the other very young--father and daughter, Arthur surmised.
+
+"My brave lads, you have nobly won the reward I promised," said the
+gentleman, as he lifted out his daughter, who, pale and agitated, still,
+by the expression of her countenance, showed the gratitude she felt.
+
+"I am sure that my brother and I require no reward for doing our duty,"
+answered Arthur, blushing as he spoke.  "Besides, without the aid of
+that other lad, our fellow-passenger, we should probably have failed."
+
+"What!  I took you for labouring youths, I beg your pardon," said the
+gentleman, giving a glance of surprise at him.
+
+"Our intention is to labour," said Arthur, unaffectedly.
+
+"Ah! you have the stuff in you to command success," said the gentleman.
+"But I must request you to accompany me for a short distance, as my
+daughter prefers walking; and if I once lose sight of you in this
+straggling city, I may not easily find you again."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Arthur; "we have our luggage with us, and must go
+to an inn; but if you will favour me with your address, we will call on
+you before we leave Sydney."
+
+While they were speaking, the coachman, in consequence of whose
+carelessness in letting go their heads the horses had run away, came up,
+and released James and Sam.  Not a word of scolding was uttered--the
+gentleman thought a moment.
+
+"Here, Sykes, lift that luggage into the carriage, and drive these young
+gentleman home; leave them there, and come back for Miss Fanny and me to
+the club."
+
+In vain the young Gilpins expostulated.
+
+"I am a determined person, and will have it so," said the gentleman.
+
+Before they looked round, Sam had stowed away their luggage in the
+carriage, greatly to the disappointment of the bully, who had, it
+seemed, been watching for an opportunity to make off with a portion.
+The stranger then, almost against their will, forced them into it; and
+writing a few lines on the leaf of a pocket-book, gave it to the
+coachman.  "Come, my friend, you must go in also," he added, taking Sam
+by the arm.
+
+Sam drew back, and, touching his hat, exclaimed, "Noa, sir--noa, thank
+ye.  It 'ud ne'er do for me to ride wi' the young squires; I know my
+place better nor that."
+
+A mob such as Sydney, of all British ports, perhaps, can alone produce,
+had by this time collected round the carriage.  Sam's remark produced a
+loud guffaw laugh from among them, and a variety of observations came
+rattling down on him, such as "Go it, young Touch-my-hat; the nob will
+pay you--he's a nigger with a white face.  I wonder where he was raised?
+His mother was a dancing mistress--little doubt of that."
+
+Sam's temper had been irritated from the loss of his property, which he
+very naturally concluded had been stolen by some of his tormentors.  He
+now looked as if he were going to give way to his temper.  Instead of so
+doing, however, he turned calmly round with his double fist, and said
+slowly, "I'll tell you what, young chaps, a man who respects himself
+keeps his own place, and when he meets a gentleman he'd think himself
+without manners nor character if he didn't touch his hat to him.  Did
+any on ye ever see two gentlemen take off their hats to each other?
+Well, then, I have; and I should just like to know which was the worst
+man of the two?  I'll say another thing--I have mostly found that when I
+have took my hat off to a gentleman he took his off to me; and I wonder
+if his friends laughed at him.  But I suppose some of you are great nobs
+yourselves, and know all about what nobs do."
+
+Having thus delivered himself, Sam, giving a contemptuous glance at his
+opponents, slowly mounted the box by the side of the coachman.  The
+gentleman, who had walked on with his daughter, bowed to the Gilpins as
+they passed.
+
+"I am afraid that, from taking us to be ploughboys, he now believes we
+are young noblemen in disguise," observed Arthur.  "This is a very
+different style to that in which we could have expected to have entered
+Sydney half an hour ago."
+
+"Perhaps he thinks more of the service we have rendered him than we
+should," answered his brother; "however, it's a curious adventure,
+certainly."
+
+"Well, muster, there be rum jokes in this town o' yours," observed Sam
+to the coachman, after keeping silence for some time.
+
+"There be, young man," was the laconic answer; "and rum things done."
+
+In this Sam agreed, informing Mr Sykes--for this, he ascertained, was
+the coachman's name--how he had lost his property.
+
+"Be thou the young man who stopped the 'osses?" inquired Sykes.
+
+"The young squires did it, and I helped 'em," said Sam.
+
+"And saved my bacon," observed Sykes.
+
+"I say, Muster Sykes, what's the gen'l'man's name?" asked Sam,
+discovering, perhaps, by the tone of the coachman's voice, rather than
+by any perceptible change in his mask-like features, that he was not ill
+disposed towards him, and preparing therefore to be confidential.
+
+Sykes informed him that his master's name was Prentiss, that he was a
+large squatter, that there were other brothers all well off, and an old
+father; and that, take him all in all as masters went, he was not a bad
+one.  Sam, in return, told him all about himself, and all he knew about
+the Gilpins, by which time the carriage had reached the door of Mr
+Prentiss's residence, in one of the best parts of Sydney.  It was a
+handsome house; and a respectable-looking servant-woman, after a few
+words from the coachman, showed the Gilpins into a well-furnished
+dining-room, their luggage being placed in the hall.
+
+"You'll go with me, young man," observed Mr Sykes to Sam; "you'll be
+more comfortable than with the gentry."
+
+To this Sam agreed; and drove round to the back of the house, where he
+was introduced to Mrs Sykes, who lived over the coach-house, and
+numerous Masters and Misses Sykes, thin, sallow, and remarkably
+precocious young people, the eldest not being more than ten.  Among this
+hopeful family Sam in a few minutes made himself a great favourite.
+
+The young immigrants waited the arrival of their host with no little
+curiosity, for they knew less of him than Sam had contrived to learn.
+In a short time, however, the servant, placing a tray with meat, bread,
+fruit, and light wine, begged them to refresh themselves.  This occupied
+their time till the arrival of Mr Prentiss.  Perhaps James was
+disappointed at not seeing the young lady when her father entered the
+room.  Mr Prentiss put out his hand, cordially welcoming them to
+Australia and to his house; and, begging them to make it their home
+during their stay, he quickly drew out from them a statement of their
+plans and wishes.  "You can make a fair start," he observed.  "You have
+the five hundred pounds I promised, very nobly won, too; and I may give
+you a few hints besides as to the purchase of stock.  You will, of
+course, become squatters--by far the best business for young men of
+enterprise and activity.  What do you say to it?"
+
+"We should like nothing better, sir," answered James.  "But--I speak
+again for my brother as well as for myself--we cannot accept payment for
+performing a mere act of duty; your advice and assistance may be of the
+greatest value to us, and of that we will gladly avail ourselves.  The
+young man who helped us to stop the horses must, of course, speak for
+himself."
+
+"Well, well, I admire your independence and high feeling," answered Mr
+Prentiss.  "I doubt, however, that you will find many in this country to
+consider that you are right; but perhaps I may be of service to you in
+the way you desire.  You, of course, will make my house your home while
+you remain in Sydney; when you wish to commence your life in the bush, I
+will send you up the country to my father and some brothers of mine, who
+will put you in the way of a fair start.  Your young shipmate fairly
+earned a portion of the reward; he also deserves my gratitude.  He looks
+as if there was work in him, and to such a person I can be permanently
+of use.  Unhappily, numbers of men come out here--they may be counted by
+hundreds or thousands--who will not work, or who cannot work; nothing
+suits them.  They come with pockets full of letters, expecting
+first-rate situations with nothing to do.  How can such people be
+assisted to any advantage?  Give them money, and they squander it; place
+them in situations of trust, and they are dismissed as incompetent, or
+they throw them up as uncongenial to their tastes.  All we want in this
+magnificent country are people who will try to work, and if they do not
+succeed in one thing, will turn their hands to something else.  There is
+ample room, I say, for persons of every possible description, provided
+always that they belong to the `try' school."
+
+Mr Prentiss insisted on taking his guests round the town to visit its
+lions; and greatly surprised they were to see the wonderful progress it
+had already made.  "Wool has done it all!  Well may the golden fleece be
+our emblem!" he observed.
+
+At the late dinner hour they were introduced to Mrs Prentiss and two
+daughters--the young lady they had before seen and a younger sister.
+All awkwardness soon wore off, and they felt themselves perfectly at
+home.  Mr Prentiss had a conversation with Sam, the result of which
+made him supremely happy; his satisfaction was not decreased either
+when, two days afterwards, Sykes brought him his bag of clothes.
+
+"Don't ask questions, young man," he observed, as he handed them; "there
+are few of the old hands I don't know, and I guessed who had your
+property."
+
+Pleasant as the two young Gilpins found their stay in Sydney, they did
+not disguise their anxiety to be off into the country; and their new
+friend accordingly made arrangements for their journey.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+A dray, similar in construction to that used by brewers in England, but
+drawn by oxen, and laden with all sorts of stores, such as are required
+on an Australian farm--tea, carpenters' tools and agricultural
+implements, groceries and casks of liquor, clothing and furniture--was
+making its way towards the north-east from Sydney.  There was the
+bullock-driver in charge, with his chum, a newly hired hand, and Sam
+Green, who walked or sat on the dray; while the two Gilpins rode
+alongside on horses, provided by Mr Prentiss.  They were dressed more
+in the Australian style than when they landed, and in a way much better
+suited to the climate.  The road had been excellent for a hundred miles
+or more, with numerous villages near it, and a large proportion of
+houses of entertainment, so that they had no want of accommodation when
+they halted.  They had now for some time left the high-road, and though
+there were inns, and occasionally villages, and farms, and stock
+stations, they had sometimes to depend on their own resources, and to
+bivouac in the bush.  This the young immigrants found by far the
+pleasantest part of their journey.  The oxen were turned loose to graze
+at leisure; sticks were collected, and a fire lighted for boiling the
+tea-kettle and cooking the damper.  The old hands troubled themselves
+very little about their night's lodging; they, like Sam Green, were
+satisfied with the bare ground under the dray if it threatened rain, or
+anywhere near it if the weather was fine.  A small tent had been
+provided by Mr Prentiss, which, with some ticking filled with dry
+grass, gave the Gilpins a luxurious lodging for the night.  They could
+scarcely go to sleep on turning in for their first real night in the
+bush, from the novelty of the scene and the prospects opening up to
+them.  Before dawn they both started up, awoke by the strangest and most
+discordant sounds.
+
+"What can it be?" cried James.
+
+"An attack of the blacks," said Arthur, rubbing his eyes.  "But no!
+Listen!  They are birds, I verily believe; but the strangest birds I
+ever heard."
+
+He was right: there was the hideous, unearthly cry of the
+laughing-jackass, called often the bushman's clock; the screaming cry of
+thousands of parrots flying here and there through the forest; there was
+the cackle of the wattle-bird, the clear notes of the magpie, and the
+confused chattering of thousands of leather-heads; while many other
+birds added their notes to the discordant chorus, and speedily banished
+sleep from the eyes of their hearers.  The stockmen started to their
+feet, and hurried off to bring in the oxen and horses; a fire was
+lighted, tea boiled, breakfast discussed with considerable rapidity;
+and, before the sun was up, the party had recommenced their journey
+along the dusty dray-track--for as yet it deserved that name rather than
+a road.  The scenery was varied, and often very beautiful when viewed
+under a clear blue sky and bright sun.  The beds of streams were
+frequently passed, but they were either dry altogether, or occasional
+holes only with water in them could be seen here and there along the
+course, or, if nowhere dry, they were easily forded.  The Irish
+bullock-driver, Larry Killock, told Sam that, in the rainy season, these
+were often foaming torrents, rushing on with terrific noise, and
+sweeping away everything they meet.
+
+"Many a poor fellow has been drowned in trying to cross on horseback
+where, perhaps, he went over with dry feet a few days before," said
+Larry.
+
+"That's after the snow melts," observed Sam.
+
+"Snow! man alive!  It's a small matter of snow comes down from the sky
+in this beautiful country, except, now and then, on the top of the Blue
+Mountains out there; though, as for frosts, it's cold enough on the high
+ground in July and August, when the south wind blows, to make a fellow
+blow his fingers to keep them warm, and to think a blazing fire and a
+blanket pleasant companions."
+
+Sam thought that Larry was quizzing him, but still he did not like to
+accuse him directly.  "It's a strange country this, then, muster, I'm
+thinking," he remarked cautiously.
+
+"Strange!  It is a strange country, faith!" answered Larry.  "It is
+summer here when, by all dacent rules, it should be winter; the south
+wind is cold, and the north blazing hot.  There are creatures with four
+legs which have ducks' heads; and birds, with long legs and no wings, as
+tall as horses; while some of the animals stow their young away in a bag
+in front of them, instead of letting them follow properly at their
+heels, as pigs and ducks and hens do in the old country.  The trees shed
+their bark instead of their leaves; and it's only just surprising to me
+that the people walk on their feet instead of their heads, and that the
+sun thinks fit to rise in the east instead of the west; and it's often
+when I wake in the mornin' that I look out expecting to see that he's
+grown tired of his old ways, and changed to suit the other things in the
+land."
+
+Sam, who could appreciate an English style of joke, was unable to make
+out whether or not the Irishman was in earnest; but he thought it wise
+to wait till he could learn the truth from his young friends, when they
+camped in the evening.
+
+"It's only just come out, ye are?" asked Larry.
+
+Sam told him all about himself, as he had told Sykes, expecting an equal
+amount of communicativeness in return.  "You've been some time in the
+country, master, I'm thinking?  How did you come out?"
+
+Larry looked at him with a twinkle in his eye.  "Faith, that's just a
+sacret between myself and them who knows all about it," he answered,
+with a laugh.  "It's my belief that the big-wigs across the fish-pond
+had just an idea of the mighty great value I'd be to the country, and
+sent me out free of all charge to myself and family intirely."
+
+The scenery improved as the travellers advanced, and contrasted
+favourably with the dusty, stony, and worn-out region through which they
+had passed nearer the capital.
+
+"Horrible farming!" observed James; "if such were practised in England
+universally, the whole country would become a desert in a few years."
+
+Sometimes they passed through scenery like that of a park in England,
+with open green pastures sprinkled with clumps of trees; some deserving
+the names of woods, others consisting but of a few trees.  The greater
+number were _Eucalypti_ the evergreen gum, and stringy-bark trees; but
+on the banks of streams and on the hillsides, and sometimes in rich,
+alluvial valleys, such as are found in the northern hemisphere and in
+less sunny climes, were to be seen flowers, of great size and beauty,
+such as flourish only in greenhouses in England; while a great variety
+of the orchis tribe, and geraniums, both large and small, were found in
+great profusion.  The trees, the names of many of which were given by
+Larry, bore little or no resemblance to those of the same name at home.
+Among the most common were the box, wattle, and cherry; but undoubtedly
+the most prominent everywhere in the landscape were the old gum trees,
+and the huge iron stringy-bark trees, which, now with shattered and
+weird appearance, had braved the fierce storms of winter and the hot
+blasts of summer for centuries.  Many strange birds flew by overhead,
+and still stranger wild animals started up from beneath some sheltering
+bush, and ran off along the fresh glades, all reminding the new-comers
+how far distant they were from the home of their childhood.
+
+The old settled district had been left far behind before the animal they
+most wished to see started up near them.  He was a large creature, full
+five feet in height as he sat upright under the scant shade of a
+venerable gum tree, contemplating apparently the scene before him.  His
+long tail was stretched out on the ground behind him--an important
+support, and his little fore-paws tucked up in front.  James and Arthur
+were ahead of their party, and so quietly had their horses trod over the
+soft ground that he did not appear to have heard them.  They possessed
+guns, parting gifts from Mr Prentiss; but, not being required as a
+means of defence or offence, they had been left in the dray.  The
+kangaroo ("an old man" Larry called him) at length, hearing a sound,
+turned his mild, intelligent countenance towards them, and as he did so
+instantly gave a spring forward, startling them by its suddenness and
+the extent of ground it cleared.  Away he went, moving with similar
+springs, at a rate fleet as that of the deer.  In vain Larry and the men
+with the dray shouted and ran after him with their guns.  He was out of
+range before they could lift them to their shoulders.  Larry said that
+possibly a mob might be come upon before long.  In another hour or so,
+as they were travelling along a somewhat stony ridge, a large number of
+creatures were seen in the fertile valley below them.  Some were lying
+stretched at length on their sides, some were frisking about, round and
+over each other, and others were sitting up, sedately watching the rest.
+
+"Hurra, now!  There's the mob I told you of!" shouted Larry.  "If we had
+but the dogs and the master's rifle, we'd have more kangaroo steaks for
+supper than we'd eat in a week."
+
+He could scarcely restrain himself from leaving his bullocks and giving
+chase; he made a start indeed, but checked himself in time, seeing that
+the probable result would have been the upsetting of his dray and the
+destruction of most of its cargo.  The young Gilpins with Sam found
+their way down the hill, hoping to ride down one of them; but the quick
+scent and keen eyes of the animals discovered their approach, and in an
+instant all were up on their feet and tails ready for a start--the
+mothers picking up the young joeys and putting them into their pouches--
+and off went the entire herd down the valley, springing along in the
+most curious fashion, till they were out of sight.
+
+Sam Green's open eyes of astonishment were very amusing.  "Well!  I
+always did think that animals had four legs, and there they go just two
+and a tail, a-skipping like grasshoppers over the ground.  Well, well,
+well!" he continued ejaculating till they disappeared.  "There they go;
+there they go!  There's nothing I won't believe after that!"
+
+Their adventures as they travelled on were to be singularly few, they
+thought.  Now a dingo or wild dog, now a toombat or opossum, made its
+appearance, and created matter of interest and inquiry.  One evening,
+after they had camped on the borders of a wide plain, containing fine
+sheep-runs, which they were to cross the next day, the brothers led on
+their horses to find better feed than appeared near at hand; and, having
+tethered them, they sat down to talk over the future, and to commune
+with themselves.  Their heads had been resting on their hands for some
+time, when Arthur, looking up, saw a creature approaching from a
+distance.  That it was an emu they guessed at once.  They sat still,
+afraid of frightening it away.  It stalked leisurely on towards their
+horses, not noticing them.  Its head seemed fully six feet from the
+ground, at the end of a long neck; its legs were thick, to support its
+fat, tub-shaped body, of a brownish-black colour.  Reaching the horses,
+it stopped, made a curious noise, which sounded like "Boo!" in their
+faces, and which caused them to start back.  James and Arthur, thinking
+that their steeds would have broken their tethers, jumped up, when the
+emu, having satisfied his curiosity, turned round and trotted off, at a
+pace which showed that he had no fear of being pursued.
+
+Towards the close of the day the travellers, after crossing an elevated
+down, saw before them a silvery stream running through a wide valley
+towards the east, its banks fringed by a variety of trees; while not far
+from them, amid a grove of fruit trees, appeared a pretty
+dwelling-house, with a verandah running round it, and near at hand,
+barns, sheds, stables, and other outhouses.  A closer inspection showed
+them that there were carpenters' and blacksmiths shops; indeed, it was a
+complete farm establishment on a large scale.
+
+As riding on, in advance of the dray, they reached the door, a stout,
+hearty-looking old gentleman came out to meet them, and welcomed them in
+the most cordial manner.  Their horses were quickly unsaddled and turned
+into a paddock, and they themselves conducted into the house, and
+introduced to the members of the family as late arrivals from the old
+country.  All welcomed them; and they were soon seated at a well-covered
+supper-table, surrounded by the various inmates of the house.  The young
+strangers were surprised to find that the letter of introduction they
+brought had not been read, and that the kindness they were receiving was
+quite independent of anything that might be said in their favour.  It
+was not till the next day that the old Mr Prentiss alluded to it.  "We
+received you, young gentlemen, as strangers," he remarked; "but I little
+thought how much I owed you for saving from injury, if not death, those
+so dear to me."
+
+James and Arthur Gilpin agreed that their "lines had fallen to them in
+pleasant places."  They were treated as members of the family, and, what
+was of the greatest consequence to them as intending settlers, they were
+shown all the operations taking place on the farm.  As they gave
+diligent attention to everything they saw, they rapidly acquired a
+sufficient knowledge of agriculture and of the management of sheep and
+cattle, as practised in Australia, to enable them, with their previous
+experience as farmers in England, to commence farming on their own
+account.
+
+While, however, they were in search of a station to suit them, Mr
+Prentiss received an application to find a gentleman capable of taking
+the management of a sheep and cattle farm, about a hundred and fifty
+miles off.  "Quite in our neighbourhood, as we measure distances in this
+country," he remarked.  He proposed to the young Gilpins that they
+should accept the post.  "You will be allowed to keep a proportion of
+sheep and cattle on your own account, and receive wages for looking
+after those of your employer, so that you will gain in both ways.  You
+will find also an established system by which, if it prove a good one,
+time and labour may be saved.  I would gladly find you employment, but
+this will be far more to your advantage.  It was hoped, I believe, that
+one of my own sons would take it."
+
+The brothers at once agreed to accept the offer.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+The Gilpins no longer felt like newly arrived immigrants when they found
+themselves on their way to Warragong, the station of which they had
+undertaken charge.  They were far, however, from being over-confident of
+success, or of pleasing their employers; but they had resolved to make
+up by diligence and perseverance for their want of experience, and Mr
+Prentiss assured them that he had no doubt of their doing well.  Sam
+Green had thrown in his lot with them, and though receiving good wages
+from Mr Prentiss, he begged that he might be allowed to accompany them
+on the chance of their being able to give him permanent employment.
+Knowing by this time the value of a thoroughly trustworthy servant in
+Australia, they were very glad to accept his offer.  They, as well as
+Sam, had been furnished with excellent horses; and, much to his own
+satisfaction as well as theirs, Larry Killock was sent with a light cart
+to convey their luggage and various luxuries, which had been provided
+through the kindness of Mrs Prentiss.  A native black, partly
+civilised, and able to speak broken English, accompanied them as guide,
+and formed the fifth person of this party.  He either travelled in the
+cart or ran on foot beside it.
+
+"I should think that very few settlers begin a life in the bush with so
+many advantages as we possess," observed Arthur, as he rode on with his
+brother, a little ahead of the cart; "we appear to have jumped over all
+difficulties, and to have arrived at a point which many only reach after
+years of toil."
+
+"I am not quite certain that it will prove to our permanent advantage,"
+answered James.  "I would rather have begun as we proposed, and worked
+our way upward; we should the better be able to encounter difficulties
+or mishaps which may occur."
+
+"Well, I vote we do not grumble with our good fortune," said Arthur,
+laughing; "we shall have plenty to do, depend on that."
+
+There was no great variety of scenery in that part of the country over
+which they travelled, but for the want of it the beauty of the climate,
+and the sense of present freedom which they enjoyed, made ample amends.
+Without luggage they might have performed the journey in three days, but
+with the cart, twenty or, at the most, thirty miles could not be got
+over in the day.  Even supposing that they could have found their way
+alone, it would not have been altogether safe to leave the cart without
+protection.  Bushrangers were occasionally, though rarely, heard of, and
+would probably, if they fell in with the cart, make no scruple of
+running off with it, and perhaps murder the driver.  Any wandering
+blacks from the interior might also pillage the cart, and most probably
+kill poor Larry.
+
+Larry had been entertaining Sam Green with an account of the
+depredations committed by such gentry in the bygone days of the colony,
+when the Dick Turpins, who had obtained a short-lived celebrity on the
+highway of Old England, laid the settlers in this new land under
+contribution; and the white stockmen shot down the black natives with as
+little compunction as they would kangaroos; the blacks, in retaliation,
+murdering them or any white men they could meet with.  Larry, observing
+the wide-mouthed interest created by his narratives, went on till poor
+Sam began to wish himself safe out of the country again.  They were
+crossing a wide plain, with a light soil thickly covered with grass.  A
+cloud of dust was seen to the right of the direction in which they were
+travelling; it increased in extent, and rose higher and higher.
+
+"Be them the niggers coming to murder us?" asked Sam, in a fright.
+
+"If them are niggers, they're big ones, my boy, anyhow," answered Larry,
+evasively.
+
+A dull, regular, pounding sound was heard, and at length dark forms were
+seen issuing from the cloud of dust--a few first, and then more and
+more, resolving themselves into bullocks, black, white, and dun,
+galloping on and bellowing with might and main.  Horsemen appeared on
+either side, like officers on a parade, and with their long whips, which
+they kept on cracking like pistol-shots, they kept order among their
+unruly charge.  Shouting and shrieking, they galloped round from the
+rear to the side to bring back any beast which showed an intention of
+straying away, their dogs sagaciously rendering them assistance by
+barking at the heels of the animals, and turning them back into the
+herd.  What with the thunder-like bellowing of the cattle and the tramp
+of their feet, the shouting of the drivers, the cracking of their whips,
+the barking of the dogs, the dust from the ground, and the steam from
+the creatures' backs, as, lashing their long tails, they tore onwards,
+jostling each other in their course, their sharp horns lowered for the
+charge, the approaching herd appeared like some vast army of savage
+monsters, rushing on to meet their foes in battle.  To draw up out of
+their way was impossible, and the travellers soon found themselves
+surrounded by the herd; the creatures, however, turned their horns
+aside, while the shape of their own heads and the width of their backs
+prevented them from running them into their companions in front or on
+either side, in spite of the seemingly confused way in which they were
+hurrying on.  The herd had passed, when two of the principal drivers,
+who, in spite of their rough dress and hair-covered countenances,
+appeared to be gentlemen, drew up and saluted the Gilpins with "Good
+day, friends; whither bound?"
+
+"To Warragong, to take charge of the station," said James.
+
+"I wish you joy," remarked one of the strangers; "you will have no easy
+task, I take it.  A sad scoundrel has had the management of it for some
+time, as we know to our cost, having once employed him.  I am afraid,
+also, from the sort of men he always gets about him, that you will have
+no small trouble with them."  The strangers informed them that they were
+bound south to the Port Philip district, where there was a great demand
+for cattle.
+
+As the evening was approaching, the parties agreed to camp together.
+Fires were lighted, the triangles erected, and the pots were soon
+boiling, while the quickly made damper was placed under the ashes to
+bake for the coming meal.  None of the party, however, could keep their
+seats by the fire long, without being often summoned to their feet, and
+sometimes to their saddles, to drive in the straying bullocks.  It
+seemed as hard work to keep them together when resting as to drive them
+forward, but neither master nor men were disconcerted; they rushed here
+and there with shout and song and laughter, till they had brought back
+the straying cattle, and then they sat down by the fire, or rolled
+themselves up in their blankets, as if nothing had happened.  The
+Gilpins were sorry to part from their new friends, whose frank, hearty
+manners had won their regard.  The morning meal of tea, damper, and pork
+having been discussed, they rode off in opposite directions.
+
+"Not pleasant information this, our friends gave us last night," said
+Arthur.  "What can we do?"
+
+"Wait events," answered his brother; "forewarned is forearmed.  We will
+keep our knowledge to ourselves, though it will be necessary to advise
+Green not to trust to any of the men, so as to be led into mischief by
+them.  Perhaps the accounts of their misconduct may have been
+exaggerated."
+
+Travelling in Australia has its disagreeables as well as its agreeables:
+there are heavy rains and fogs and sharp winds in winter; and in summer,
+scorching blasts and stifling heat, and biting or stinging insects,
+flying, and crawling, and hopping, and dust and smoke from bush fires
+and the burning trees, and want, at times, of water; but,
+notwithstanding these occasional drawbacks, so delightful is the perfect
+freedom to be enjoyed, the pure, bright atmosphere, and the general
+healthfulness of the climate, that in the opinion of most people the
+advantages very greatly preponderate.
+
+The brothers had expected to reach the station in the afternoon, but an
+accident to the cart caused some delay, and the sun set before it
+appeared in sight.  Their black guide, however, assured them that the
+intervening country was tolerably level and easy, and that as there were
+certain woods he knew well, and a river on the other side, they could
+not miss their way.  Accordingly they pushed on, though it became so
+dark that they began to wish that they had camped at the usual hour.
+Suddenly, as they reached the confines of a wood, their horses snorted
+and started, and refused to proceed--those in the cart very nearly
+upsetting it by turning rapidly round; and, had not Sam caught their
+heads, they would have galloped off in an opposite direction.  Directly
+afterwards, a bright light burst forth from the wood and a spectacle
+appeared sufficient to make even a stout heart, with any tendency to
+superstitious feelings, tremble.  From among the trees, just beyond the
+light, appeared, flitting in and out, some twenty or thirty blanched
+skeletons, throwing their bony arms and legs with the greatest rapidity
+into every conceivable attitude.  Now they disappeared in the darkness,
+now again they darted into light; round and round they went, now seeming
+to sink into the ground, now leaping into the air, and often turning
+head over heels.  All the time not a sound proceeded from the
+phantom-looking dancers.  The Gilpins could scarcely help fancying
+themselves under some delusion.  They rubbed their eyes.
+
+"What is it?" exclaimed Arthur.  "Horrible! most horrible!  Do you see
+the skeletons?"
+
+"Indeed I do," answered his brother; "but such things cannot be--are
+not--at all events."
+
+Sam Green had hitherto been engaged with the horses; he now came up to
+the point where the hideous spectacle was visible, and no sooner did his
+eyes rest on it than he exclaimed, "Run, squires, run!  If it was mortal
+foes I'd stick by ye; but that's more than any mortal man can dare to
+face.  Oh! this is a terrible country, where the people cannot lie quiet
+in graves, but must needs go skipping about without any flesh on their
+bones."
+
+"The hoighth of ondacency!" cried out Larry, in a voice which showed
+very little, if any, alarm.  "Murra, go and tell your ugly countrymen
+that they are frightening the horses, and that they must turn their
+other sides to us till we have passed."
+
+This order was given to the guide, who ran fearlessly up to the spot
+where the skeleton dance was proceeding, and no sooner did he reach it
+than the whole vanished like magic.
+
+"It's only some black fellows dancing a Corroborry," said the Irishman,
+laughing; "you needn't be in such a mighty tremble, Sam.  We haven't the
+shred of a ghost out here; there may be some in the old country, but
+they're not fond of the salt sea, and couldn't cross it, not if they
+were paid for it, except they came out at the expense of the Government,
+like some other honest gintlemen I've heard spake of."
+
+The horses, however, were still very unwilling to proceed, and it was
+some time before they could be coaxed past the suspicious spot; they
+then set off at increased speed to get away from the object of their
+dread.  The party pulled up for the black, who came running up.  "No
+good people," he said, in a low voice; "come here, do bad."
+
+The Gilpins, hearing his remarks, endeavoured to discover the reason of
+his supposing that the party of natives they had just passed were badly
+disposed, but could elicit no further information from him.  It was more
+than an hour after this that a glimmering light appeared ahead, which
+Murra, the guide, assured them must proceed from the station.  It
+appeared to be somewhat above them on the hillside, and they soon
+afterwards found themselves ascending slightly towards it.  They had not
+got far, however, before several large dogs flew out, barking furiously,
+towards them.  They and Larry shouted loudly to the hut-keeper to call
+the animals off, but no one appeared, and, the dogs contenting
+themselves with barking, they proceeded on to the hut, from the window
+of which the light gleamed out.  The dogs, still loudly barking, at
+length roused up a couple of rough-looking men, who staggered out of the
+door, and, one of them holding a lamp, stared stupidly at the
+travellers, at the same time that, with loud oaths, he shouted to the
+dogs to be quiet.
+
+"Oh! you are strangers," said the least tipsy; "well, you shall have a
+stranger's welcome in the bush; and so you may just go and turn out your
+horses, and then come and get what you can inside."
+
+"We've come to take charge of the station," said James, rather nettled;
+"so, my men, I rather think that it is your duty to see and make
+yourselves useful to us."
+
+"Ho! ho!  Pretty sort of masters you'd make over us!" cried the man,
+holding up the light in their faces.  "To my mind, you'd better go back
+to them that sent you."
+
+This was even a worse reception than they had expected; but, perceiving
+that the man was very drunk, they saw that it would not be wise to
+irritate him.
+
+"Well, my man," said James, calmly, "we have pushed on here in the hopes
+of being welcomed, but all we will ask now is a supper and a night's
+rest."
+
+"As you speak us fair, we'll treat you fair, whoever you may be," said
+the man.  "Come in; the kettle is boiling, and there's a damper or two
+ready under the ashes."
+
+The cart having been placed close to the hut, the horses were
+unharnessed and unsaddled and turned out to pick up their supper, and
+the whole party were soon collected in the hut.  The interior showed
+evident signs of a late debauch.  There was a rough table in the centre
+covered with tobacco-ashes, a broken black cutty, or pipe, some battered
+tin mugs, and a couple of empty spirit bottles on their sides, while
+under it lay a couple of men fast asleep, and another in the corner.
+Some kicks from the shoe of their more sober companion, who had brought
+the newly arrived party in, roused them up; and he then proceeded to
+eject them, telling them to go to Bateman's hut, where they would find
+shelter.  Grumbling, they staggered out, except two, who were too far
+gone to move.  The hut was, as might have been expected, in a very dirty
+and untidy condition--so dirty, indeed, that the Gilpins were
+contemplating camping outside, when Larry, going out, reported that a
+storm was brewing, and proceeded forthwith to bring the contents of the
+cart inside.  A plentiful though roughly cooked supper was soon on the
+table to which all hands did ample justice.  The hut was a long, narrow
+building, with the entrance door towards one end, where the mud-built
+fireplace was formed and the table stood.  In the further end were some
+bunks, or standing bed-places, and the stores were piled up.  Larry
+placed the articles he had brought in the cart across the hut, so as
+more effectually to screen off the inner end.  He and the hut-keeper,
+whom he addressed as Jonas Knoll, appeared to be old acquaintances, but
+very few words passed between them.  For the first time since they had
+landed, the Gilpins lay down to rest with a feeling that they were not
+as safe as they would have been in their own home in England.
+
+Before Larry lay down, after the hut-keeper had gone to sleep, they
+observed that he put fresh grease into the lamp and trimmed the wick.
+More than once James awoke and looked around; everybody in the hut
+appeared to be sleeping soundly.  The two stockmen and the hut-keeper
+especially were snoring loudly, and not a sound from the outside was
+heard.  "It is wrong to be giving way to fear," he said to himself.
+"These coarse fellows have been indulging, according to their tastes, in
+a debauch, and were annoyed at being interrupted.  They would scarcely
+dare to harm us even if they wished it.  We must keep a tight rein on
+them and a careful watch on their proceedings, without allowing them to
+discover that they are especially observed, and we shall do well."
+
+The next morning the hut-keepers and stockmen belonging to the
+headquarters of the station made their appearance, sobered, and
+tolerably respectful in their manner; though there was an expression in
+their eyes and a tone in their voices which made the young managers
+believe that it would take but little to make them break out into open
+mutiny.  They were, however, surprised at Larry's changed manner.  There
+was an impudent swagger in all he did, and when ordered to perform any
+duty, he invariably replied in a way which made his companions laugh,
+though he executed the order with promptness.  He seemed to be on
+familiar terms with all the people on the station, and to be a favourite
+among them.  The brothers at once saw that there was much to do, and
+many alterations to be made in every direction about the station.  The
+huts were in a dilapidated condition--the one intended for their
+residence was so dirty as to be scarcely habitable; the stock-yards
+required repair; and, worse than all, the books were so badly kept that
+it was almost impossible to ascertain the number and state of the stock,
+either of cattle, sheep, or horses, or of the stores.  The overseer was
+absent--gone to a distant run--so they took possession of the books,
+which had been left carelessly out, with the intention of verifying them
+with the actual state of things.  Having made the necessary extracts,
+they locked them up and started on horseback, accompanied by Sam, whose
+practised eye was likely to prove of great assistance in numbering the
+flocks of sheep and herds of cattle which were to be inspected.  They
+had not made their intention known, and, just as they were starting,
+they summoned the most civil-looking of the stockmen, and ordered him to
+mount his horse and accompany them as a guide.  As every flock is named,
+they had no difficulty in indicating the flock they wished to visit; but
+they did not tell him till they had got some way from the station, so
+that he would have no opportunity of communicating with his companions
+should he suspect their designs.  Arrived at a run, they immediately
+called the shepherd, and ordered him to make his flock pass before them,
+when they took careful note of their numbers, appearance, and general
+condition.  Having done so, they put spurs to their horses and galloped
+off to the next run.  As they had a pocket compass and had been
+furnished with a rough map of the country, they had no difficulty in
+assuring themselves that their guide was conducting them aright.  The
+shepherds and stock-keepers looked puzzled, and as not a single remark
+of approval or disapproval was uttered, they could not make up their
+minds how to proceed.  Several of them would have given much to peep
+into the notebook which those quiet-looking young men held in their
+hands.  Refreshing themselves and their steeds at a stock-keeper's hut,
+they returned home late in the evening, satisfied that a large amount of
+rascality had been going forward, and that it would require great
+judgment and determination on their part to put matters to right.  The
+next day and the following were employed in the same manner.  Each day
+confirmed them more and more in their opinion.  For the present,
+however, they could only watch the proceedings of the men under them.
+They could not dismiss the whole of them, nor could they ascertain who
+were the most guilty.  That the overseer was a great scoundrel they had
+no doubt, and they therefore agreed that he must at once be got rid of.
+James had written an account of the state of things to Mr Prentiss, but
+doubted whether to entrust it to Larry Killock, who had so completely
+identified himself with the other men, that they thought it probable he
+might give it to them to read, and so put them on their guard.  They
+were still in this state of doubt when the time arrived for Larry to
+take his departure.  They were sitting in the hut at supper, the work of
+the day over, no one but Sam being near, when the Irishman put his head
+in at the door.  Looking round, and assuring himself that they were the
+only occupants of the building, he approached them with his former civil
+manner.
+
+"It's all pretence, yer honours," he whispered, with his hand to his
+nose.  "They're big rascals, every mother's son of them; and I'd give my
+right hand to be allowed to stop, if I thought that they'd be doing you
+any mischief; but I don't think they'll dare to work you harm.  The
+worst of them hasn't come yet, and when he does, he'll try to make you
+believe that he's the most honest man alive.  But, whist, there's some
+one coming.  If you'd have the goodness to kick me out of the hut, and
+call me an impudent thief of the world, it would keep up appearances."
+
+The brothers heartily thanked the Irishman; but were not obliged to
+fulfil his last request, as he managed to run out of the hut before any
+one appeared.  The following evening, while they were sitting as before,
+at supper, a horse's hoofs were heard approaching, and soon afterwards a
+man of middle age, dressed in the usual rough costume of the bush,
+unceremoniously entered the hut, and, eyeing them with a scrutinising
+glance, drew up a stool and seated himself at the table.
+
+"The new managers, I presume, Mr --- I beg your pardon--I forget your
+name," he began, in a supercilious tone.  "You have stolen a march on
+me, and I conclude that I am to be superseded."
+
+"That probably will not rest with us," said James.  "I suppose that if
+the trustees of the property find that we can manage it to their
+satisfaction without help, they will not consider themselves justified
+in retaining your services."
+
+The overseer, Mr Basham, as he was called, was very unlike the person
+they expected to see.  The shape of his features was remarkably good,
+though the expression was unsatisfactory; his figure was light and wiry,
+and capable of enduring considerable fatigue; and his manners were those
+of a gentleman, marred somewhat by rough companions and the hard life he
+had led.  He saw at once that the young men with whom he had to deal,
+though inferior to him in knowledge of the world, possessed an
+uprightness and firmness of character with which he could not trifle.
+He would much have liked to have entrapped them by offering them a share
+of his profits, but that plan, it was evident, would not answer with
+them.  Still he trusted that some way might be found of securing what he
+had obtained, if not for making more.
+
+"Well, well, gentlemen, I have always been an unfortunate person, and so
+we'll drop the subject, and discuss what is taking place in the great
+world."
+
+Without more ado he did turn the subject, and showed that he was a man
+of considerable information, and had received a superior education.
+This only made him the more difficult to deal with.  Though he was now
+free, they suspected strongly that he had been a convict.  They could
+scarcely believe that with his abilities he would not otherwise have
+been employed in some higher position.  After their inspection of the
+runs, they had been engaged for a day in turning everything out of the
+hut, and in having it thoroughly cleansed.  They then re-arranged the
+furniture and contents, according to their own taste.  For several days
+after Mr Basham's return they saw him hunting about the hut in search
+of something, and at last he asked them if they had seen his books.
+James at once replied that he had, according to the direction of the
+trustees, taken possession of them, and should keep them till he
+received directions to the contrary.  He shrugged his shoulders as he
+observed, "My hard fate again!  And so, I suppose, if anything goes
+wrong, those books are to be brought as evidence against me, though I
+may be as innocent as the babe unborn."  There was a sinister expression
+in his countenance as he spoke, of which he was probably unaware, but
+which convinced the young managers that they must be careful how they
+dealt with him till they could receive authority from Sydney to dismiss
+him.
+
+In spite of all their vigilance and activity, things continued to go on
+wrong.  Sheep disappeared, carried off by dingoes, or by the native
+blacks; the shepherds asserted that cattle strayed, and could not be
+recovered; and two valuable horses, intended to be sent to Sydney, for
+shipment to India, were missing.  More than once the brothers were
+inclined to wish that they had commenced as squatters on their own
+account in a small way, with only a few honest men around them; yet,
+having undertaken their present task, they were not the men to shrink
+from it.  They came to the determination, however, not to embark any of
+their own small capital till they had got everything to rights, and men
+under them in whom they could place confidence.  At length the
+looked-for authority arrived to dismiss, not only Mr Basham, but any of
+the men who might behave ill, or be suspected of malpractices; it being
+suggested that, as trustworthy men were difficult to procure, it would
+be injudicious to proceed on light grounds, at the same time, as proof
+positive would in many cases be impossible, it would not be necessary to
+wait till it was found.  This was throwing a large amount of
+responsibility on their shoulders, but they determined to do their duty.
+Mr Basham received his dismissal with great coolness; but again his
+features assumed the expression the Gilpins had before observed.  He
+claimed as his own a couple of fine horses, and, placing his personal
+property on one of these and bestriding the other, early the next
+morning he rode off, the last glance of his cold, grey eye leaving an
+impression which for many a day remained fixed on the minds of the
+brothers.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+The Gilpins found that the superintendence of a large station did not
+afford a bed of roses.  All day long they were in the saddle,
+overlooking twenty stockmen and shepherds, examining the herds and
+flocks, and often themselves doctoring any which were found diseased or
+injured.  This they were obliged to do, in consequence of the ignorance
+or carelessness of the people in charge of them.  These, with few
+exceptions, had been convicts.  Of those who had been convicts, some
+were still working out their sentences with tickets-of-leave, while
+others, who were free to go where they liked, were too old and destitute
+of energy to venture on a change of occupation, and remained as before,
+hut-keepers or shepherds.  At each inferior station there was a hut with
+a hut-keeper, whose duty was to look after the hut, to cook the
+provisions, and to tend the sheep or cattle brought for any special
+purpose into the fold or pen.  The office was usually held by some old
+convict or other person unfit for hard labour.  Though occasionally
+there is enough to do, it is considered an idle, lazy life.
+
+The brothers often rode together to the stations, to assist each other;
+but they had lately, for the sake of covering more ground in the course
+of the day, taken separate districts, that the stockmen might be kept
+constantly on the alert, not knowing any moment when the active young
+managers might pay them a visit.  Notwithstanding this, cattle and sheep
+continued to disappear as before, and they came to the resolution of
+making every man responsible who lost an animal, and stopping his wages
+till it was replaced.  One day, after a hard morning's work, Arthur
+Gilpin found himself approaching the rear of a hut, on an out station,
+at the extreme end of the territory over which the cattle ranged--the
+whole being considerably larger than many a German principality.  The
+ground was soft, and his horse's hoofs making no noise, it was not till
+he got in front of the hut that the dog, ever found as its guardian
+(either well-bred deer-hound or cur of low degree), came bounding up
+towards him, barking loudly.  In this case the animal was a remarkably
+handsome deer-hound, of a size and strength sufficient to drag him from
+his horse.  The hut-keeper was seated in a rough sort of easy-chair, and
+was apparently fast asleep.
+
+"Hillo, my man, call off your dog, or he and I may do each other an
+injury," shouted Arthur; "he is a noble brute, and I should not like to
+hurt him, if I could help it!"
+
+The man started up, a book dropping from his hand.  "Come back, good
+Brian; come back, sir!" he cried out.  "I must apologise, Mr Gilpin,
+for not hearing you; but I was overcome, I believe, by the heat," he
+added, as he took the horse from which Arthur had just dismounted.
+
+As the stock-keeper unsaddled the animal, Arthur's eye fell on the open
+page of the book from which he had been reading.  It was a superior
+edition of Horace, well used.
+
+Roughly clad and unshorn and haggard in his looks as the man was, Arthur
+could not but conclude that he had once moved among the educated classes
+of society.  The ever-ready damper and pot of tea were produced; and
+Arthur, having satisfied his appetite, made the usual inquiries about
+the station.  Everything seemed to be satisfactory.
+
+"You appear to be fond of reading," said Arthur, glancing at the Horace,
+which had been placed on a shelf among a few other books.
+
+"Ah! a friend of my early days.  He serves to beguile many a weary
+hour," answered the hut-keeper, with a sigh.
+
+Arthur did not like to ask questions.  "We brought a few books with us
+into the bush; I shall be glad to lend them to you," he said.
+
+"They will be most acceptable, sir," said the hut-keeper, his
+countenance brightening; "my own stock is small, and I have read each
+volume over and over again till I know them by heart.  I believe that if
+a chest of new books were to reach me, like the half-starved wretch who
+suddenly finds himself in the midst of plenty, I could sit down and read
+till my eyesight or my wits had left me."
+
+"I can enter into your feelings," said Arthur kindly.  "The life you
+lead must indeed be dull."
+
+"Ah! it might be far worse, though," answered the hut-keeper; "poverty
+out here can scarcely be said to pinch.  I often ask myself what might
+it have been, or what certainly would it have been, had I remained in
+London till my last shilling was gone.  To rot in a poorhouse or to
+sweep a crossing would have been my lot, or there might have been a
+worse alternative.  I had enough left to pay my passage out here.  It
+was a wise move--the only wise thing I ever did in my life.  My
+expectations on landing were foolish, and before I could realise them I
+had the chance of going to gaol or becoming a hut-keeper."  The last
+remarks were made as he stood holding the rein of Arthur's horse.
+
+Arthur rode round the run, inspected the flock, and had to pass near the
+hut again on his return homeward.  The hut-keeper, Charles Craven he
+called himself, was on the watch for him.
+
+"I must have a word with you, Mr Gilpin," he said.  "You are the first
+man I have met since I landed on these shores who has sympathised with
+me.  I would do something to serve you.  First, I must warn you never to
+be unarmed, either in your hut or out of it; and especially advise you
+and your brother, when you ride out, always to keep together.  Many of
+the hands on the station are exasperated with you for your style of
+proceeding, and they think that if they could get rid of you they would
+have things their own way."
+
+Thanking Craven for his advice, Arthur pushed on towards home as rapidly
+as his grey would carry him.  He was relieved on finding that James had
+just before arrived.  He told his brother of the warning Craven had
+given him.
+
+James was at first inclined to laugh at it.  "The scoundrels dare not
+injure us!" he exclaimed.  Then he remembered Basham's revengeful looks,
+and the surly manner of several of the hands, and finally agreed with
+his brother that it would be wiser to go armed, and keep together.
+
+They had removed the hut-keeper to another post, and placed Green in
+charge of their abode.  This would have been necessary, if for no other
+reason, for the purpose of having it kept clean and habitable, which the
+dirty habits of the former occupant rendered impracticable.  The exact
+situation of the hut has not been described.  It stood on a hillside,
+the ground immediately round it cleared, but with bush both above it and
+on either side, extending to a considerable distance.  In some places
+the trees were fine and lofty, in others only stringy-bark or low
+bushes.  A river passed in front at the distance of less than a quarter
+of a mile, full and flowing in winter, but after the heats of summer
+consisting of a succession of water-holes connected by a trickling rill.
+During the shearing season the river was a scene of the greatest
+animation, as all the flocks from far and near were driven up to it,
+that the sheep might be washed before being deprived of their fleeces.
+After a sudden downfall of rain, the quiet stream became a roaring,
+boiling torrent, sweeping onward with terrific force, now forming a wide
+lake, and, once more confined by high and narrow banks, whirling along
+with rapid eddies; and at spots, where a few hours before a person could
+pass on foot, the current would test the strength of the strongest
+swimmer or most powerful horse to cross; at other times it relapsed into
+a state of silence, not without much picturesque beauty of a tranquil
+character.  The hut commanded a view of the river, but it, as well as
+the sheds, sheep-folds, and stock-yards, were placed far too high above
+it to be reached by the widest inundation it could cause.
+
+Arthur did not forget his promise to Craven, and, as soon as he was
+able, he rode toward his hut with several books in his pockets.  The
+hut-keeper was very grateful, and expressed himself in a way which
+showed that he was really a gentleman and a man of feeling.  The
+brothers, as they rode away, agreed that it would be but an act of
+common kindness to ask him to visit them, and that they might send
+another man to take his place.
+
+Craven considered a moment.  "No; I had better not," he answered; "the
+men about here look upon me as one of themselves, and if I were seen
+with you, I should no longer be trusted by them.  They are mischievously
+inclined; and if I can turn them from their purposes, or give you
+warning of their intentions, and help, if needs be, it will afford me
+the satisfaction of believing that I have been of some little use in the
+world."
+
+They could not but agree with him, and expressed a hope that an
+employment more suited to a person of his education might be found for
+him.
+
+Craven gave a sickly smile.  "You are young, and think change is easy,"
+he said.  "The sapling is quickly bent, but when an old tree has long
+grown in the same direction, it cannot be straightened again.  Supply me
+with books and tobacco, and, a few years hence, perhaps, a pair of
+spectacles, and I shall have no desire to quit these wilds."
+
+"Perhaps you will change your mind," said James, putting out his hand,
+which the broken-down gentleman shook warmly.
+
+Many years had passed since his palm had pressed that of an equal in
+intellect and education.  It seemed to raise him out of the state of
+hopeless apathy into which he had fallen.
+
+The hut at headquarters had greatly improved in appearance since it had
+become the residence of the Gilpins.  There were three glazed windows,
+and it was partitioned off into a bedroom, a sitting-room--where books
+and papers could be arranged on shelves and kept clean--and a kitchen,
+which served as dining-room and hall.  A good-sized storeroom had been
+built at the back, with a door opening into the kitchen.  They and Sam
+Green were the only inmates of the building.
+
+It was late at night, the Bible had been read, and family prayers had
+been offered up--when two or three were gathered together that custom
+was never departed from in that rude hut in the wilds of Australia--
+thanksgivings for past, petitions for future protection.  Sam had thrown
+himself on his bed in a corner of the hall, and his loud snoring told
+that he was fast asleep.  The brothers had been reading in their
+sitting-room, and were on the point of retiring to bed, when a slight
+tap was heard at the window.  They thought it was some night bird
+attracted by the light, and took no notice.  A louder tap was heard;
+Arthur opened the window.
+
+"Wisht! mister, dear; just let me in, for I've something to say to ye,"
+said a voice, which he recognised to be Larry Killock's.
+
+"I will let you in by the door, Larry, unless you like to jump through
+the window," said Arthur.
+
+"The quickest way's the best," was the answer, as Larry leaped through
+the opening, adding, "shut the shutters, lest any one's eyes should be
+looking this way."  Larry was out of breath, and looked faint and weary,
+as if he had come a long distance.
+
+"What brings you here, Larry?" said Arthur, in a tone of anxiety, which
+it was natural he should feel.
+
+"It's bad news I've to tell yer honours; but if I'd had to lose my life,
+I'd have come to tell it," he answered.  "No matter how I found it out,
+but I did find it out, that the people on the station, just because you
+have put a stop to their robberies and rogueries, have determined to do
+away with you.  As villains is mostly cowards, there's none of them
+dares to bell the cat themselves, and so they've engaged some of them
+black fellows--the thieves of the world--to do the job for them.  It was
+to be done quickly, and I came along, ignorant entirely if I'd be in
+time or not to save yer honours' lives; but they've not killed you yet,
+and we'll see if we can't be a match for them."  The Irishman went on to
+say that the plan proposed was to set fire to the surrounding bush, and
+that while they ran out, as they naturally would, to stop the flames
+from approaching their dwelling, by cutting down the surrounding grass
+and bushes, they were to be knocked down with boomerangs by the blacks,
+and their bodies dragged into the fire.
+
+The brothers immediately decided what to do.  Waking up Sam and telling
+him what they had heard, they bade Larry take care of the house and make
+a good supper; and, reaping-hooks and axes in hand, they sailed out to
+clear the ground of all fuel capable of bringing the flames up to the
+hut.  Beginning at the back of the building, they worked away
+energetically, gradually extending their circle till they had cut down
+and raked away all fuel, almost up to the woods, when they heard Sam's
+voice calling them--
+
+"Come back, come back! the black fellows are close upon us!  I wasn't
+comfortable in my mind, and went out to listen.  I heard them calling to
+each other, and their dogs barking."
+
+Although they believed that the bullock-driver's anxiety or fears might
+somewhat exaggerate the danger, they felt that it was, at all events,
+prudent to retreat to their hut.  All remained quiet: they were
+beginning to hope that the alarm might be a false one.  Arthur again
+went out, and as, rifle in hand, he was pacing as sentry round the hut,
+he saw a bright light burst forth above the trees, half a mile or so off
+to the south-west.  He watched it for some minutes; it increased,
+extending on either hand, the forked points of the flames appearing high
+above the intervening trees.  There could be no doubt that the wood was
+on fire.  Thus far the information obtained by the bullock-driver was
+correct.  There was too much reason, therefore, to fear that their
+destruction would be attempted by the savages.  He hurried into the hut
+to consult what was best to be done.  Their horses were at hand; they
+might mount them and ride away from the danger; but such a proceeding
+was not to be thought of.  If, however, they were not secured, they
+would be carried off by the blacks.  Arthur and Sam accordingly went out
+and brought them up to the hut; there was just room for them to stand in
+the kitchen by removing the table; the door was then closed and barred.
+None of the party, however, felt inclined to wait inactive till the
+conflagration reached their neighbourhood without knowing what progress
+it was making.  There was no window at the back of the hut.
+
+"We will make holes in the roof," said Arthur; "we shall be able to see
+through them what is going on, and if we are besieged in our fortress by
+the savages, we shall be the better able to defend ourselves and annoy
+them."
+
+A stool, placed on the top of the table, enabled them to reach the roof,
+and by stringing some boards to the rafters, they found convenient
+standing places.  The square holes cut in the shingles forming the roof
+gave them a look-out.  There was enough in the spectacle they beheld to
+try the courage of the stoutest hearted.  In front of them, that is to
+say, at the back of the hut, was a narrow neck of forest, which was as
+yet intact, but above the branches--between the stems which stood out in
+bold relief--the flames were seen raging furiously, devouring, as they
+advanced, everything in their course, both to the right and to the left.
+Strange sounds, too, were heard: there was the roaring, hissing, and
+crackling of the fire, and ever and anon a report like that of heavy
+guns, as some tall tree was riven in two by the intense heat which
+surrounded it; the air also came like a blast from a furnace, laden with
+smoke, ashes, and often sparks, which threatened to ignite the dry roof
+of the building.  The danger was increasing, for the flames were
+advancing towards the confines of the wood nearest them.  Now the fire,
+snake-like, would be seen creeping along the grass, then catching hold
+of some bush, which would speedily be wrapped in its deadly embrace;
+next the lower boughs of the trees would catch, or the dry wood and
+twigs round the stumps, and upward it would mount triumphant, roaring
+and crackling--the slighter trees falling prostrate before it; the older
+and thicker still withstanding its fierce assault, though left
+branchless and blackened, with all vitality destroyed.
+
+As yet the hut remained uninjured, though a semicircle of fire raged
+furiously close to it, and here and there, where a bush still stood, or
+some tufts of grass had not been closely cropped, the flames made
+advances, and, winding along the ground, rose up, flickered, and died.
+From the first outbreak of the conflagration various animals had been
+seen crossing the open ground, as they escaped from the burning forest.
+Birds innumerable, of varied plumage, aroused from their roosting
+places, flew by, some uttering discordant screams of terror, many, with
+scorched wings, falling dead before they reached the hut.  As yet no
+human beings had been seen.
+
+"I trust that the savages will not venture to attack us," said James;
+"only in the last extremity could I feel justified in firing at them."
+
+"Arrah! it's but little of that sort of treatment they have received
+since the white man first put his foot on their shores," observed Larry.
+"I've heard tell of their being shot down by scores at a time, like
+vermin.  Many and many's the black fellow I've seen killed, and no
+notice taken of it, and no thought by the man who did the deed, any more
+than if he had fired at a wild beast."
+
+Arthur interrupted Larry's remarks by exclaiming, "There they are,
+though, and in no small numbers too, just coming round the edge of the
+burning wood to the south-east!"
+
+The rest of the party looked in the direction indicated, and there, seen
+clearly by the light of the flames thrown on their dark bodies, armed
+with spears, clubs, and boomerangs, was a numerous body of savages.
+They appeared to be looking cautiously about, as if expecting to find
+their intended victims engaged in extinguishing the flames round the
+hut.
+
+"The black chaps are no cowards, Mr Gilpin.  We shall have a fierce
+fight of it, and our three firearms won't do much against all them, I'm
+thinking," observed Larry.
+
+"There are still more of them coming!" exclaimed Arthur; "and see!
+there's a fellow has just joined them who looks like a chief.  They are
+pointing this way.  We may look out to be attacked in a few minutes.  We
+may fire surely, James, if they come on?  A few shots will probably send
+them scampering off.  They have no firearms among them."
+
+"Not so sure of that, yer honour," said Larry.  "Look, the fellow you
+called the chief has a gun of some sort, and he is showing it to the
+rest to encourage them.  He handles it like a man who knows the use of
+it, too."
+
+In spite of the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, the little garrison
+resolved to maintain their position.  Little could be gained by flight,
+and all their property would inevitably be destroyed should they desert
+the hut.  The risk they ran in either case was very great.  They might
+pick off some of the savages, but there were so many that they might
+easily surround the hut and burn it to the ground.
+
+"If we had two or three more fellows with us, we might bid defiance to
+the whole mob," said Arthur.
+
+"To my mind, if we was to shoot down that chap with the gun in his hand,
+the rest would show us their heels," observed Sam Green, who had not
+before spoken since the appearance of the savages; "they none on 'em
+shows much stomach for the fight."
+
+Sam's remark was correct.  The savages were evidently aware that the
+defenders of the hut possessed firearms, and even the chief showed no
+inclination to expose himself.  From their movements, however, it
+appeared that they were about to make a rush towards the hut.  At that
+instant the tramp of horses' hoofs was heard approaching, and a voice
+cried out--
+
+"Open the door!  Be quick!  Let us in!"
+
+James and his brother, who had been watching the savages from the roof,
+jumped down at the moment that a rifle-ball whistled by.
+
+"That bullet was never fired by a black chap," said Larry to Sam, as
+they also descended from their perches to receive the new-comers.  The
+Gilpins, without hesitation, opened the door, and Craven with a stranger
+appeared, just dismounting from their horses, whose foam-covered bits
+and reeking backs showed that they had ridden at no slow rate.
+
+"No time for words.  If you have room for our poor brutes, take them in;
+if not, they must run their chance outside," he said.  "Here, we have
+brought arms and ammunition.  We knew that you would be hard pressed,
+and have come to share your fate."
+
+"Come in, come in," said James, leading in the horses, who, trembling
+with fatigue, were quiet enough.
+
+The new-comers had brought a rifle, a musket, and two fowling-pieces,
+with powder-flasks and bullets.  This reinforcement raised the
+confidence of the little party in the hut.  The blacks, discovering
+Craven and his companion, made a rush to intercept them.  They sprang in
+after the horses; but before the door was closed, a shower of darts and
+boomerangs rattled against it, and again a shot was heard, and a bullet
+flew by among them.  Those inside hurriedly closed the door; but, almost
+before the bar could be replaced, the blacks were thundering with their
+clubs against it.  James had been strongly averse to shed blood, even
+the blood of savages endeavouring to destroy him and his companions, yet
+there was no longer any other alternative; the blacks must be driven
+off, or they would burn down the hut.  It became James's duty to take
+the command, and to give the word.  Loop-holes were speedily cut in the
+walls.
+
+"Be ready, friends; pick off the leaders, each of us those more
+immediately in front as we stand.  Do not throw a shot away.  Fire!"
+
+Three of the blacks were seen to fall to the ground, the rest ran back
+in disorder, two of them wounded.  This gave the defenders of the hut
+time to reload and to make some fresh loop-holes.  The blacks were again
+met by the chief, who was seen urging them to return, though he showed
+no inclination to place himself in danger.  Craven, seeing the look-out
+places in the roof, proposed getting up there.
+
+"I think that I might bring down that fellow if I could get a steady
+shot at him," he said, taking up his rifle.  "The fellow has
+disappeared!" he exclaimed.  "I cannot make it out, yet the rest obey
+him, for they are coming on again, and with fire-brands, too.  We must
+beat them, or they will roast us."
+
+The spectacle was indeed appalling.  There were from fifty to sixty
+blacks, each with a burning brand in his left hand and a spear or club
+in the other, all leaping and shrieking in concert, as they sprang on
+towards the hut.  The defenders waited till they got within thirty
+paces, and then all together fired.  The result was the same as before.
+Several fell, others ran howling back wounded, the rest, throwing down
+their brands, followed.  Another volley was sent after them, in the hope
+that it might induce them to abandon the attack.  Craven reloaded, and
+sat watching at his post.  The crack of his rifle was again heard.
+
+"I have hit the scoundrel!" he exclaimed.  "He is no black man; he is
+ordering them to lift him up; they are carrying him off.  I have not the
+heart to send another bullet through him, but he deserves it."
+
+"We may capture him, though," cried Arthur.  "Let us jump on our horses;
+we shall soon overtake them."
+
+The proposal was instantly adopted; no one was more eager and full of
+animation than Craven.  The horses were led out, and, Larry remaining
+with the spare firearms in the hut, the party urged on the animals in
+the direction the blacks had gone.  The flames of the burning forest
+lighted up the country, and enabled them to ride at full speed, though
+it was with difficulty they could make the horses keep near the fire,
+edging along which the blacks had gone, hoping probably, if they could
+get round the furthest end, to place it between themselves and those
+they had so ruthlessly attacked.  Mounting to the top of a ridge, the
+horsemen caught sight of a party of natives on a hill before them, with
+a valley intervening.  The blacks got to the top, on some open ground,
+when it was seen that they were carrying a burden among them.  The white
+men dashed down into the valley, and, making their way across it, urged
+their horses up the opposite height.  The blacks saw them coming; in
+vain the man they were carrying ordered them to remain by him.  Oaths,
+entreaties, promises were of no avail.  Putting him down, they ran off
+as fast as their legs would carry them.
+
+The last exclamations he uttered showed his pursuers that he was no
+native.  They were in English, and too horrible to be repeated.  The
+Gilpins reached him.  He glared fiercely at them as they dismounted, and
+seemed to be feeling for a pistol in his belt.  They grasped his hands
+to prevent his using it.  The oath he uttered betrayed him.  Though his
+face and arms and the upper part of his body was blackened, they at once
+recognised him as Basham, the late overseer.  The wretched blacks had
+already suffered so severely that the settlers had no desire to overtake
+them.  Dismounting, therefore, one of the party led the horses, and the
+rest, lifting up the wounded man, bore him back towards the hut.  They
+frequently looked behind to ascertain if the blacks were following for
+the purpose of recovering him, but no attempt of the sort was made.  It
+was hard work carrying him, for he was a heavy man.  Some deep groans
+which burst from him showed that he was suffering much pain.  From a
+feeling of mercy they stopped, and found that the bullet had entered his
+leg, and had probably grazed, if it had not broken, the bone.  Craven
+had a knowledge of surgery, especially valuable to a bushman; and while
+all were stooping down round the injured man, he probed the wound, and
+extracted some of the black cloth which had been carried into it.  Had
+Basham been a friend who had been fighting for them, he could not have
+been treated more tenderly.  He, however, scarcely spoke, and displayed
+no sign of gratitude.  At length they reached the hut in safety.  The
+horses were tethered outside, ready for instant service.  The wounded
+man was placed on Sam's bed, and such restoratives as the brothers
+possessed administered to him.  These arrangements concluded, the whole
+party thankfully sat down to a meal, which was rather breakfast than
+supper.  The Gilpins now learned from Craven that he had heard a rumour
+of the proposed attack of the savages, instigated by the stockmen,
+though he did not understand that Basham was the prime mover; that there
+was only one man whom he could trust, and that, having invited him, they
+had both set forward to their assistance.  His companion was evidently,
+like himself, a man of superior education and fallen fortunes.  In
+Craven the necessity for unusual exertion had worked a marked change,
+and he no longer appeared the spirit-broken man he had seemed when
+Arthur first met him.
+
+The fire continued raging, but made no further progress, and, in spite
+of its dangerous neighbourhood, all the party except James, who insisted
+on remaining on watch, were fast asleep.  The hours of darkness passed
+by slowly and anxiously.  He kept his ears ever ready to catch any sound
+outside, and he occasionally looked forth, thinking it possible that the
+blacks might return, or that some of the white companions of their
+prisoner might come to look for him.  The nearest police-station was
+about thirty miles off.  It was necessary to convey their prisoner
+there; but then it was very possible that they might be attacked on the
+road, and that he might be rescued.  Knowing the bad feeling of the
+people around them, it would be imprudent to weaken the strength of
+their party at the hut.  James therefore resolved, if Larry was
+sufficiently rested, to send him off, as soon as it was daylight, for a
+sufficient force to escort the late overseer to prison.  Scarcely had he
+formed this plan when Larry jumped up, and exclaimed--
+
+"Now, yer honour, you have had watching enough, and I'll just take my
+spell.  I'm as fresh as a daisy with the dew on the grass."
+
+James declined doing this, and told him of his proposed plan.
+
+"Nothing like taking time by the forelock!" exclaimed the Irishman.
+"I've my raisons, and I'll be off--as soon as I can stow some food in my
+inside and catch the horse--before it is daylight, so that it will be a
+hard job for any of them fellows to find me, even if they have a fancy
+for that same."
+
+As there was no time to be lost, James went out and brought in Larry's
+horse, to which he gave a sop of damper and spirits and water, while
+Larry was refreshing himself.
+
+"It's good luck I'll have on a good errand, I hope," he exclaimed, as he
+leaped into the saddle; "for though the police and I weren't over
+friendly once on a time, I can now face them like an honest man, thanks
+to yer honour."
+
+Larry was soon lost to sight in the gloom which prevailed at a distance
+from the yet burning wood.  Daylight came.  All hands were on foot.  The
+wounded man appeared to be no worse.  A sad change had taken place in
+the once picturesque appearance of the surrounding scenery.  In the
+place of the green wood, with many noble trees, a few blackened stems,
+gaunt and branchless, with still smouldering ashes at their base, were
+the only objects to be seen on the hillside.  The Gilpins scarcely liked
+to keep Craven and his companion from their posts, though at the same
+time they felt the importance of having a sufficient guard over their
+prisoner.  They were surprised that none of the stockmen or hut-keepers
+from the neighbourhood had made their appearance.  It proved but too
+plainly that all were disaffected; and it made them resolve not to quit
+the vicinity of the hut till the arrival of the police.  They could not,
+however, come for some hours.  Breakfast was just over, when Green, who
+had gone down to fetch some water from the river, came hurrying back,
+and reported that he had seen several men collecting, with arms in their
+hands, on the opposite side.  "Who could they be?  What could be their
+object?" was the question.
+
+It was decided that while every precaution should be taken to prevent
+surprise, they should be treated as if they could only have come on a
+friendly errand, and that every attempt should be made to conciliate
+them before resorting to force.  Scarcely five minutes had passed before
+several men were seen approaching, from the direction of the river, in
+single file.  They were all disguised, either with blackened faces or
+masks, while they wore either kangaroo or sheep skins over their
+shoulders, or were covered with the thick-leaved branches of shrubs, so
+as completely to conceal their figures.  It was evident that they
+intended mischief.  They halted at about twenty paces from the hut,
+seemingly surprised at finding the windows barricaded and the door
+closed, with the muzzles of firearms protruding from the walls.  Seeing
+their hesitation, James instantly went out, and, with his rifle in his
+hand, confronted them--
+
+"Men, you have amused yourselves seemingly with what might be a harmless
+mummery, were it not for the weapons in your hands," he began, in a firm
+tone; "put them down, and let me hear what you have got to say."
+
+The leading man, after consulting with his companions, replied, "You
+have got shut up there a friend of ours, and you must give him up to us,
+or take the consequences."
+
+"I am not at all likely to yield to demands made by strangers in the
+tone you make them, or to tell you whether or not we have any one shut
+up inside this hut," said James; "you will risk your own lives, and gain
+nothing by persisting in such folly."
+
+"Yours is the folly, master, in refusing our demands!" exclaimed the
+man.  "You can gain no good by keeping the man a prisoner, but will do
+him and us harm!"
+
+While the man was speaking, he and his companions advanced still closer
+to the hut.
+
+"Stand back!" cried James, endeavouring to bring his piece to his
+shoulder; but before he had done so, the men, stooping low, sprang
+forward, keeping him between themselves and the hut.  Those inside
+opened the door to admit him, but instead of retreating he stood fast,
+till the leader of the ruffians had struck up his rifle, and, grasping
+him by the throat, bore him backwards.  Arthur, rushing out to his
+rescue, was seized likewise, and the whole party dashed together into
+the hut, overthrowing Green, who came out to help his young masters.
+Fortunately their eyes first fell on the wounded man as he lay on a bed
+in the outer room.  The stretcher of boughs, on which he had been
+brought to the hut, still remained outside.  A few words passed between
+them.  They lifted him on the litter, neither the Gilpins nor Green
+being able to prevent them, and, with a shout of triumph, they carried
+him off towards the river.  The Gilpins and Green were quickly on their
+feet.  For an instant they stood irresolute whether to follow.
+
+"Do not attempt it," cried a voice from within; "the villains will not
+scruple to fire if you do."
+
+It was Craven who spoke.  James was inclined to accuse him of cowardice
+till he reflected at what risk he had come voluntarily to their
+assistance.  Craven himself, too, explained that being assured the
+outlaws would murder him and his companion had they seen them, they had
+retreated into the storeroom, where they lay hid among casks and cases.
+It was provoking to have lost their prisoner, but at the same time they
+had reason to be thankful that no life had been sacrificed.
+
+"If they find out from Basham that we are here, they will to a certainty
+return," observed Craven; "and we must be prepared."
+
+"The police will be here by that time," was Arthur's remark.  "If they
+come, we may follow, and we should have our horses ready."
+
+"None of them said a word about the police," observed James; "I don't
+think that they were aware that we expected them."
+
+"Then, depend on it, when they find out that Richards and I are away
+from our posts, they will return to punish us.  Basham will not say
+anything, however, till he thinks that they have placed him in safety,
+and then, of course, he will tell them of our being here."
+
+In consequence of Craven's very just apprehensions, the party set to
+work to fortify the hut more completely, by putting stronger bars to the
+windows and doors, and by placing a stockade outside at the weaker
+parts, so as to make it more difficult for any assailants to reach the
+roof.
+
+These preparations were scarcely completed, when Green, who happened to
+be on the roof, cried out--
+
+"There come the chaps again, and twice as many as before!"
+
+This was serious news; for it was not likely that the ruffian band would
+have returned, unless with the intention of destroying those who had
+offended them.  It is very probable that they hoped to make it appear
+that the blacks, having set the wood on fire, had afterwards killed
+them.  The whole party in the hut felt, therefore, that they must fight
+to the last extremity.  A line was drawn round the building, and it was
+agreed that if an enemy passed it they would fire; but they would
+refrain as long as possible from shedding blood.  They had scarcely time
+to barricade the door and windows before the outlaws appeared, mounting
+the hill from the river, not as before, in single file, but scattered
+over the ground, so as to take advantage of the shelter any inequalities
+might afford.  Some were disguised, but there were several blacks who
+were in their usual unclothed state, and were evidently not
+masqueraders.  It might have been difficult to identify even those, as
+their faces and bodies were bedaubed with pigments in strange and
+hideous devices.
+
+This time James took care not to show himself.  "Stand back, men!" he
+shouted in a loud voice.  "If any one advances across the line we have
+marked out, we must fire.  We do not wish to shed blood, but the
+consequence be on your own heads.  Back, black men! you get killed."
+
+The outlaws hesitated, and even the natives seemed to understand what
+was said.  Whereabouts the magic line was drawn, at which some of them
+would be certain to lose their lives, they could not tell.  Soldiers in
+battle will dare any danger, but villains engaged in a criminal act are
+always cowards, unless driven to desperation.  Such was not the case at
+present.  A white handkerchief was shown on a stick, and a voice cried
+out--
+
+"We don't want to hurt you, Mr Gilpin, or your brother, or man, but
+there are two fellows there, and we must have them; give them up to us,
+and we will go away."
+
+"I ask you, would you give up people who had put confidence in you?"
+said James.
+
+"We have nothing to say to that; give up the men, or we will burn down
+the hut and you in it," was the answer.
+
+"Remember the warning I have given you," said James; "however, we will
+just talk the matter over, and let you know what we decide."
+
+"Be sharp about it, then," said the first speaker; "we did not come here
+to shilly-shally, and we shall advance directly the time is up.  We give
+you five minutes to settle the matter."
+
+"We must take ten; and recollect that our rifles will be kept ready for
+use," added James, firmly.
+
+"I am afraid the fellows will put their threat into execution," said
+Craven.  "Now, you see, our lives are of no use to any one, and so, when
+the ten minutes are up, tell them that we will go with them, if they
+will take their departure quietly, and not injure you."
+
+"On no account would we do so!" exclaimed the brothers in the same
+breath.  "I would not trust them, even if we should be base enough to
+give you up."
+
+"Noa, sur; I'd sooner cut out my tongue than give ye up to them arrant
+knaves!" exclaimed Green, doubling his fist, and shaking it in the
+direction he supposed that the outlaws were collected.
+
+The minutes passed slowly by.  They were doubtful whether the outlaws
+would begin the attack at the end of the five minutes, or wait till the
+termination of the ten.  The dread of the fatal line, however, seemed to
+keep them back.  The muzzles of the firearms were kept protruding from
+the walls, and, as there were several pistols as well as rifles, they
+made a good display of force, rather damping the courage of those who
+came expecting, probably, an easy victory.
+
+The ten minutes came to an end, and fully another five had passed by,
+and the outlaws did not advance.  It was very clear, therefore, that
+they had not intercepted Larry, nor were aware that he had gone for the
+police.  How long it might be before they could arrive it was impossible
+to say; perhaps when Larry reached their quarters the larger number had
+been sent in an opposite direction, and considerable time might be lost.
+However, the importance of gaining as much time as possible was very
+great; for though the little garrison did not despair of beating off the
+enemy, they earnestly desired to avoid the bloodshed which must ensue if
+fighting once began.
+
+James therefore waited with a sad and beating heart to give the fatal
+order, should the outlaws overstep the prescribed boundary.
+
+"Well, what are you going to do?" shouted one of the men; "are you going
+to give up those fellows?"
+
+"Who is it you are looking for?" asked James, glad of any means to spin
+out the time.
+
+"Gentleman Jim and Sulking Sam," was the answer.  "Come, turn them out;
+you've got them."
+
+"I know no men by those names," said James.
+
+"The rogues are right enough, though.  I have the honour of being
+designated as `Gentleman Jim,'" said Craven, with a smile.
+
+"I say, what are the right names of the chaps?" asked one of the outlaws
+of a comrade.
+
+"I never knowed 'em by any other," was the answer.
+
+"Come, come, master, you hand them out, and be done with it!" cried
+several of the men together.
+
+"Supposing they were with us, and that we were to deliver them into your
+hands, what would you do with them?" asked James.
+
+"Hang them up on the nearest tree, as we will you also, if you don't
+come to terms pretty quickly!" shouted the first ruffian who had spoken.
+
+"I won't help you to be guilty of so great a crime," said James; "think
+better of it, and go away."
+
+"No more of this; time's up!" cried a loud voice.  "Charge, lads!"
+
+The whole body sprang forward towards the hut.  The whites instantly
+began firing their muskets or fowling-pieces, the blacks at the same
+moment casting their spears.
+
+"Hurra!  Here come the police!  Look out for yourselves!" cried Sam
+Green, who had been keeping watch at a hole near the roof, looking
+eastward.
+
+The words, uttered before any one had time to reload, had a magic
+effect.  One of the outlaws, springing on one side to ascertain whether
+the announcement was true, shouted out the fact to his comrades.  Down
+the hill they rushed, as fast as their legs could carry them.  Their
+bullets had either passed over the hut or had lodged in the thick
+planking which formed the sides, without injuring any of those within.
+The sound of the shots, however, made the police put spurs to their
+horses' sides, and they came galloping up as the last of the outlaws
+disappeared across the river.  Their steeds were pretty well knocked up
+with their long and rapid journey, but Lieutenant Graham, the officer in
+command, was most anxious to catch some of the men.  "We will join you!"
+cried Craven, running out.  Their horses were found in a grassy nook to
+the left.  Craven, with his friend Richards, and Arthur Gilpin, and ten
+of the police, led by their officer, joined in the pursuit.  Before long
+they came in sight of the outlaws, scattered far and wide over the
+country, each man endeavouring to make his escape by himself.  Most of
+them had thrown away the boughs and the skins with which they had been
+covered.  Three men kept closer together than did the rest.  Craven, who
+thought he recognised them by their figures as stockmen belonging to the
+station, recommended that they should be followed.  The men soon
+discovered that they especially were pursued.  When they saw that all
+chance of escape was gone, they turned round and stood at bay; but as
+the troopers advanced with drawn sabres, they threw down their arms and
+cried out for quarter.  Their lives were of course spared, but their
+hands being lashed behind them, they were conducted back to the hut.
+Another man was caught, but the rest were allowed to escape.  "We can
+always get any we require," observed one of the police.  The prisoners
+were the men Craven supposed.  He himself was the chief cause of their
+being taken.  Except that his dress was rough, as usual, his whole
+manner was changed as he galloped across the field.  Graham looked at
+him more than once with astonishment.
+
+They were all once more collected in the hut, doing justice to the fare
+Sam and Larry had provided.
+
+"I am nearly certain that I know you!" said the police officer,
+addressing Craven.  "My name is Graham, and yours is--"
+
+"All right, old fellow!" cried Craven, jumping up and grasping his hand;
+"it is pleasant, indeed, to meet a near relation out here.  I never
+heard of your coming."
+
+"Nor did I know of your being here.  However, we will not lose sight of
+each other again," said the lieutenant.
+
+As scarcely any of the stockmen or hut-keepers could be trusted, the
+Gilpins begged that some of the police might remain, while they went
+round to drive in and concentrate the herds of cattle and the flocks of
+sheep, now probably without keepers, and subject to the depredations of
+the outlaws.  It was very hard work; but, with the help of Craven, a few
+of the better-disposed men, who were found at their huts (having
+probably returned there after the ill-success of their expedition), were
+selected, and the task was accomplished.  Fresh hands were sent for.
+Craven was appointed overseer, with his friend under him.  Graham set
+off with his prisoners for headquarters, Norfolk Island being, without
+doubt, their ultimate destination.  No tidings could be gained of
+Basham.  He was probably hid away in the mountains, but it was not
+likely that he would make any further attempts on the station.  The
+disorderly servants were dismissed, fresh ones arrived, and for some
+time the affairs entrusted to the young settlers went on quietly and
+prosperously.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+The Gilpins found Craven a great addition to their social circle in
+their remote station.  They, more than ever, required support and
+assistance, for depressing news began to reach them from Sydney.  The
+financial affairs of the colony had for some time past been in an
+unsatisfactory state.  Money for paying the men was often considerably
+in arrear; and stores and provisions were sent up only in small
+quantities and of an inferior quality.  At length, a letter arrived from
+the agent, directing them to send produce to Sydney, to meet certain
+heavy liabilities.  As wool was not forthcoming, they were to boil down
+both cattle and sheep, to dismiss a large number of the men, and to
+practise the most rigid economy.  The requisite boilers and casks for
+the tallow soon afterwards arrived.  It was most disagreeable and
+painful work.  Flock after flock of sheep were driven in and
+slaughtered; the carcases were put into the cauldrons, the fat was
+packed in the casks, and the hides roughly dried; while the meat, which
+might have fed thousands of the starving poor in the old country, was
+allowed, of necessity, to rot uselessly on the ground.  Theirs was no
+solitary instance of the consequence of want of capital to carry on
+business, for such was the condition to which the greater number of
+squatters throughout the colony were reduced.  Fortunately, tallow and
+hides were in demand, and realised high prices, and thus many of the
+settlers were soon able to get out of their difficulties, though left
+with sadly diminished flocks and herds.  The Gilpins and their overseer,
+Craven, spared no exertion to save, as far as possible, the loss of
+property.  One day Arthur had gone in search of some cattle, which had
+strayed among the range of mountains to the west.  After looking for
+them in vain, he was returning, annoyed and out of spirits, when he
+observed a stream issuing from the side of a hill, with the banks on
+either side encrusted with a glittering white substance.  He tasted it,
+and found it perfectly salt.  Collecting a pocketful, he returned home
+with his spirits completely revived.  All the party were of opinion that
+it was a salt spring; that others would be found in the neighbourhood;
+and that salt could be manufactured with which the meat, which was now
+lost, might be preserved either for sale or for future consumption.  The
+next morning they eagerly set out for the spot.  They were not
+disappointed.  Other springs were found.  By evaporation alone, a small
+supply could be procured; and with some simple apparatus they hoped to
+produce as much as they would require.  A cauldron and some pans were
+sent up, and after a few experiments they succeeded to their
+satisfaction; and they were able to send into Sydney, with the next
+dray-load of tallow, a cask of salted hams and tongues.
+
+About this time, they received a letter from their first friend in the
+colony, Mr Prentiss, saying that the losses of his family had been so
+great, and that his father had so taken it to heart, that he was
+completely prostrate, and not likely to survive.  He had, therefore,
+himself come up to take the management of affairs, accompanied by his
+children.  He requested James to come and pay him a visit without delay.
+Leaving Arthur and Craven in charge, he at once set off.  He rode
+alone, though he would probably have to camp out one or two nights.
+There were stations on the road, but they were at inconvenient
+distances; and unless compelled by bad weather, he did not purpose
+stopping at them.  He had a gun as a protection; but he had no fear of
+bushrangers.  They were now seldom heard of in the colony.  From wild
+beasts to be dreaded by a traveller, Australia is, happily, free.  He
+was not likely to meet any blacks inclined to be unfriendly.
+Occasionally the natives murdered hut-keepers and stockmen, but in most
+instances they had been provoked to do so by ill-treatment.  With
+saddle-bags and holsters well filled, a blanket, a tin kettle and pot,
+strapped to the saddle before him, he set forth on his journey.  There
+is an elasticity in the atmosphere and a freedom from restraint which
+makes travelling on horseback in Australia most delightful.  James
+Gilpin enjoyed it to the full.  He also found it good to be alone
+occasionally, to commune with his heart; and this journey gave him ample
+opportunity of being so.  The first day passed over pleasantly.  He had
+arranged to spend the evening with an acquaintance on the road.  As his
+own shadow and that of his steed were lengthened out on the grass, the
+smoke of his friend's hut, curling up among the gum trees, appeared
+before him.  He called out as he rode up to the door, but no voice
+answered; the distant sound, however, of tinkling sheep bells told him
+that the flock of the station was being driven into a pen for the night,
+where the new-born lambs could be better protected from the dingoes and
+hawks, their chief enemies, than if left on the open.  Unsaddling and
+turning his horse into a paddock near at hand, he entered the hut.  The
+kettle was hissing on the fire, and the damper was baking under it.
+There were signs that the hut was the residence of a gentleman (though
+all was in the rough), and evidently that of a bachelor.  Every spot on
+the walls was covered with shooting and fishing gear, sporting prints,
+and some of a better description; and there was a book-case, with
+thoroughly used volumes, and coats and hats hung up, and shelves loaded
+with all sorts of articles, and chests below, and casks, one with flour
+ready open; the corners also were crowded.  There was a bed-chamber
+boarded off for the owner, a refinement not very often indulged in, and
+a bunk at one end of the general room, for the hut-keeper.  The cheery
+voice of the proprietor addressing his dogs announced his return.  He
+warmly greeted his neighbour (their abodes were only forty miles apart);
+and tea, damper, cold beef, and pork were speedily on the table.
+
+The two settlers were merry and contented, in spite of misfortunes.
+Johnstone had also been compelled to boil down.
+
+"Now is the time for a fellow with five or six hundred pounds to lay the
+foundation of a fortune," he observed; "both cattle and sheep can be
+bought at a mere nominal price.  I must sell or boil down still more of
+mine; but I see my way clearly out of my difficulties, and keep up my
+spirits."
+
+The hint was not lost upon James.  He had been unwilling to take any of
+his employers' cattle, lest it might throw him open to suspicion; but he
+now resolved to offer to purchase some, and, at all events, to take all
+that Mr Johnstone might wish to sell.  Local subjects were of course
+discussed.
+
+"By-the-by," observed Mr Johnstone, "we were surprised some days ago at
+seeing a white man lurking about here, dressed in skins and rags.  The
+people thought he must be mad; for whenever they approached him, he ran
+off howling into the bush.  I ordered some food to be placed for him at
+a spot where we could watch him.  He saw us, and would not approach; but
+after watching for some time we went away, and he then must have darted
+out from his concealment and carried off the food, for when we returned
+it was gone.  From that day he disappeared, and whether he has been
+drowned in some river or water-hole, or has been starved in the bush, I
+cannot say."
+
+James Gilpin started at an early hour the next morning, intending to
+make a long day's journey, and to camp out, as he must in that case do.
+His horse, a peculiarly fine and strong one, bore him well through the
+early part of the day.  In the afternoon he entered a forest, extending
+on either side to a considerable distance.  The track through it was
+less defined than usual, still, by constant reference to his compass,
+when he had any doubts, he had no fear about making a mistake.
+
+He had ridden on for some distance, when he observed that the sky was
+overcast, and the wind began to moan among the trees.  Suddenly, with a
+spring which would have thrown a worse rider, his horse started at a
+vivid flash of lightning which darted from the sky, struck a huge tree
+near him, tearing off a large limb, and then ran hissing along the
+ground.  A crash of thunder, such as he had really heard, followed, and
+he found it impossible to prevent his affrighted steed from setting off
+at full gallop among the trees.  It was with the greatest difficulty
+that he could guide the animal, so as to save his legs from being dashed
+against the trunks and his head against the branches.  Crash succeeded
+crash in rapid succession, and at times so vivid was the lightning that
+the forest seemed one blaze of fire.  In vain he searched for an open
+space where he might, at all events, be free from the danger of being
+crushed by falling branches.  Now he thought he saw an opening on one
+side, now on the other; but each time he was disappointed.  He
+discovered, however, that he had got out of the track, and when he began
+to consider in which direction he should go, he was under the somewhat
+painful feeling that he had lost his way.  He put his hand in his pocket
+to examine his compass; it was not there.  Again and again he searched
+for it; nowhere was it to be found.  It had undoubtedly been jerked out
+of his pocket during some of the violent springs his steed had made when
+frightened by the lightning.  He had not the remotest hope of finding it
+on the ground, and would therefore not waste time in looking for it.
+Just as he had made this disagreeable discovery, the fury of the storm
+abated, and he was in hopes that it was about to cease altogether.  He
+rode forward, he believed, towards the east.  If he could get out of the
+wood he might still reach a station before dark, considerably short of
+the distance he hoped to have made good that day.  On he went, his horse
+starting and trembling, not having yet recovered from its fright.  The
+rain was falling in torrents, and he was already wet through--no
+uncommon occurrence, however, for a squatter, who is in the saddle many
+hours every day of the year.  Down it came, harder than ever.  Another
+vivid flash, followed by a terrific clap of thunder, made his horse
+again start forward.  He galloped on till an open space was reached;
+here, at all events, he might be secure from falling branches, though
+not from the lightning, which was darting in every direction.
+
+He had almost lost hope of getting out of the wood that night.  Wet as
+he was, he must camp out on the bare ground.  He was searching for a
+spot where he might dismount and tether his horse, when again the animal
+started; this time, however, it was not at a flash of lightning.  James
+looked round, when, about a dozen yards from him, he saw, as if
+endeavouring to conceal himself behind the gnarled stem of an aged gum
+tree of gigantic proportions, the very figure Johnstone had described to
+him the previous evening.  At first he thought that his imagination must
+have deceived him; the light was uncertain, and his eyes had been
+dazzled by the lightning.  Still, he could not be mistaken: there was
+the human face, the glaring eyeballs, the matted hair and beard, and the
+dress of skins and rags.  The figure moved its arms and made threatening
+gestures at him.  "I must know whether this is reality or imagination,"
+he said to himself, again urging on his horse towards the tree under
+which the seeming figure stood.  As he did so, the threatening gestures
+became more vehement, and, as he continued to advance, a loud, unearthly
+shriek rang through the forest, and the unhappy maniac, for such without
+doubt he was, fled away into its depths, his cries echoing amidst the
+trees till they grew faint in the distance.  This incident did not
+contribute to make the prospect of camping out in that wild spot
+pleasant.  Still, James Gilpin had no choice, and his mind was too well
+trained to allow him to be made anxious by unnecessary apprehensions.
+The only thing he dreaded was the possibility of the maniac returning,
+and, perhaps, should he drop asleep, committing some violence on him.
+Both rain and lightning had ceased, and having tethered his horse in a
+grassy spot, where the animal might find food, he bethought him of the
+possibility of lighting a fire.  Under the trees there was no lack of
+fuel, and with the last remnant of daylight he collected enough to serve
+him till the morning.  Under the lee side of the trees, also, he scraped
+together enough dry leaves and small twigs and bark to raise a blaze and
+dry the wet wood.  He looked up very frequently, as was natural, to
+ascertain that the maniac was not near him.  With flint, steel, and
+gunpowder he quickly raised a blaze; his kettle was boiling, his meat
+toasting, and his damper warming up, while his blanket and clothes were
+drying; and had it not been for the spectre he had seen, he would have
+been well content with his lot,--not that he much feared what the poor
+creature could do to him, but it was the feeling that at any moment he
+might rush out on him which was so painful.  By the look of the sky he
+saw that the weather was still unsettled, and the state of the
+atmosphere, judging by his sensations, told him that there might still
+be more thunder and lightning.  He consequently considered it imprudent
+to seek for greater shelter under the trees.  His clothes and blankets
+were now tolerably dry, and having shifted the tether of his horse, that
+the animal might have fresh food, he wrapped himself up, with his feet
+to the fire and his head on his saddle-bags to seek that rest of which
+he stood so much in need.
+
+He, of course, intended to keep his eyes open, and turned in the
+direction where the poor maniac had disappeared.  As might, however,
+have been expected, he closed them and fell fast asleep.  Weariness made
+him sleep, but anxiety prevented him from sleeping soundly.  He was
+dreaming, it seemed, all the time; and his dreams were painful and
+confused in the extreme.  The strange figure of the maniac was
+constantly before him, while his unearthly cries resounded in his ears.
+His chief idea was that he was engaged in a desperate struggle to get
+out of some fearful difficulty--now swimming in a roaring torrent, now
+climbing a precipice with savage animals raging below, now flying for
+his life across a boundless plain; the maniac was mocking him on the
+banks of the stream, or present among the wild beasts, or following him
+with a troop of savages across the plain.  A loud noise sounded in his
+ear.  It was a peal of thunder.  The storm was again raging with
+redoubled fury.  He started up to secure his horse, lest the frightened
+animal should break loose and escape into the depths of the forest.  He
+must have slept long, for a few glowing ashes only remained of his fire,
+which the rain would soon quench, unless a supply of fresh wood were
+added.  He felt for some he had placed in readiness, and threw it on the
+ashes.  As he did so, a vivid flash of lightning lit up the forest
+opening, and by its light he saw, with a gleaming axe uplifted in his
+hand, the wretched maniac stealthily approaching him.  He sprang to his
+feet, seizing his rifle, when again all was darkness.
+
+"Stand back, whoever you are, or I must fire!" he shouted, at the same
+time leaping on one side, away from the spot where he had been lying.
+
+There was the sound of feet, as if a person was springing over the
+ground, a shriek, and the crash of a weapon descending.  Yes, he was
+certain it had struck his saddle-bags.  The next instant, the wood
+igniting on the fire, a flame burst forth, revealing the figure of the
+maniac retreating across the glade in the direction of the old tree,
+where he had at first appeared.  He must have just reached it when
+another flash of lightning came down in a zigzag course from the very
+clouds overhead.  It struck the huge tree, which was riven into several
+portions, and its knotted limbs scattered around.  The thunder at the
+same moment crashed and rattled with almost terrific sound.  He seized
+the tether rope of his horse, as the animal, having torn the pin from
+the ground, was about to dash off through the forest.  The poor creature
+stood as his hand stroked its head, but trembled violently.  He brought
+it up to the fire, looking round as he did so for his late assailant,
+but the maniac was nowhere to be seen.  He had the greatest difficulty
+in keeping his horse quiet; for the storm continued raging as before,
+the rain came down in torrents, the wind howled and whistled, and the
+lightning flashed; the thunder roared and rattled, and the rending of
+boughs, and the crashing of falling trees was heard on every side,
+warning him of the danger of attempting to pass among them.  As may be
+supposed, he did not again lie down: having saddled his horse and thrown
+his blanket over his shoulders, he employed the time in quieting the
+animal, throwing wood on his fire, and keeping a vigilant watch for the
+approach of the maniac.  The most weary night must have an end.  The
+storm ceased completely; the dawn came at last.  He looked around.  The
+sight which most attracted his attention was the blackened stump of that
+huge tree which had stood there the previous evening--the monarch of the
+forest glade.  He approached it.  Under one of the limbs lay a human
+form--it was the maniac's body; life was extinct.  He examined the
+features.  There could be no mistake; though haggard by starvation and
+exposure, and distorted by his violent death, he recognised them as
+those of the former overseer of Warragong, the outlaw Basham.  A small
+black mark on one side of his head showed that he had been struck by the
+electric fluid, and that his death must have been instantaneous, and
+must have immediately followed the attempt on his life.  To bury the
+body of the wretched man was impossible.  All he could do was to drag
+the heavier boughs of the trees torn off by the storm over it and leave
+it thus entombed, and then to escape from the scene.  The rising sun
+showed him the direction he should pursue, and in half an hour he was
+out of the wood, and had regained the track with which he was
+acquainted.  He reached a station in time for breakfast, when he
+narrated to the occupant what had occurred, and learned from him that
+Basham had more than once been there asking for food.
+
+A rest of a few hours restored James's strength; but instead of camping
+out as he had intended, he was glad to take shelter that night in
+another squatter's hut.  It was thus that the traveller in those days
+was able to traverse the province from one end to the other, with the
+certainty of finding food and shelter, and a welcome at any hut where he
+might call.  He was most cordially received at Prentiss Town, where he
+arrived late in the evening; but he went to a house of mourning.  Old
+Mr Prentiss, under the belief that his losses were far greater than was
+the case, and that the whole country was about to be ruined, had sunk
+broken-hearted into the grave.  He had trusted in riches, and they had
+failed him.  An apathetic indifference to everything around him had
+seized his eldest son, who had the same belief in the ruin impending
+over the colony.
+
+Notwithstanding this, there was sunlight in the dwelling: there could
+not fail to be so, James thought, where Fanny and Emily Prentiss were to
+be found.  They received him as an old and valued friend, and expressed
+their sorrow that his brother could not have accompanied him.  He
+naturally expected that they would complain of the dulness of the life
+they must now lead in the country, and regret all the gaieties and
+amusements they had left behind in Sydney; but, on the contrary, they
+seemed much pleased at having escaped from its unsatisfactory
+frivolities.  Everything in the country delighted them, and they had no
+fear of no having ample occupation.  They proposed to study the natural
+history of the district--the trees and flowers, the birds and insects,
+and the wild animals, of which there were not a few; then the farm would
+of itself afford ample occupation, along with the improvements in the
+house, into which they were about to move, on another part of the
+estate, where a garden was also to be formed.  And there were also
+several settlers with wives and grown-up daughters, who lived somewhat
+far off, to be sure; but the young ladies were good horse-women, and
+thought little of a ride of thirty miles or so.  There were likewise
+numerous families of the lower orders, who had no means of obtaining
+religious or secular instruction.  Among these they circulated books and
+tracts, and would often stop and read the Word of God to those who were
+unable to read themselves.  Thus every moment of each day was fully
+occupied.  James Gilpin could not fail to admire the manner in which his
+young hostesses spent their time, or to discover how many objects of
+interest they had in common.  Even under ordinary circumstances he would
+have been interested in them.  As it was, the interest he felt increased
+the longer he remained in their society.  He was of much use to Mr
+Henry Prentiss in arranging the affairs connected with the property; and
+at length, with new hopes and aspirations, he returned to Warragong.
+The arrangements for the purchase of the cattle and sheep were soon
+complete.  The brothers did not even now lay out all their capital, but
+allowed a portion to remain in the bank to meet any unexpected demands.
+They had from the first been allowed a percentage on the increase of the
+stock under their charge; but this, owing to the mismanagement of the
+persons employed, and the depredations of Basham and his associates, had
+hitherto been small.  The boiling-down process at length being no longer
+necessary, and the management in every department being greatly
+improved, the increase was so much more rapid than at first, that they
+found themselves, a few years after landing in Australia, the owners of
+very considerable flocks and herds, while no men in the district were
+more respected.  Their visits to Prentiss Town became more and more
+frequent; sometimes one brother went, sometimes the other--as they were
+unwilling to leave the station together--and they both met with a
+reception which made them wish to return.  The Prentiss Town property
+was now divided, and the house inhabited by Mr Henry Prentiss was
+considerably nearer to them than that of his elder brother.  They also
+had secured some runs lower down the Warragong river; and having fixed
+on a site for a house in that direction, somewhat similar, but far more
+picturesque than the spot where the old hut stood, they built a hut
+which they could inhabit till their new residence could be erected,
+leaving Craven in charge of that up the stream.  This change enabled
+them to leave their own abode early in the morning, and to reach that of
+Mr Prentiss before sunset.  There was the house of a new settler about
+half-way, and several huts where refreshment could be obtained, so that
+their visits became still more frequent and expected.  Even in the bush
+gossip is not impossible, and it became pretty generally reported that
+the two Mr Gilpins were about to marry the two daughters of Mr Henry
+Prentiss.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+The Gilpins had not attained to the prosperous condition they enjoyed
+without persevering toil and constant exertion both of mind and body.
+Some stirring incidents had occurred; but, at the same time months
+passed by in a comparatively monotonous manner.  Every day they were in
+the saddle, sometimes from morning till night; but however delightful
+that style of life may be--and that it has its attractions to most men
+there can be no doubt--men of educated minds must at times feel an
+almost insupportable weariness, and earnestly long for a change.  There
+can be but little social intercourse; some suffer materially from the
+want of public worship and religious instruction, and all must feel its
+absence.  Still, those who are fitted for a life in the bush, and have
+led it for any length of time, quit it generally with regret, and return
+to it with satisfaction.
+
+Never had the Gilpins been more busy.  Their house was nearly finished.
+It was rather large for two bachelors, to be sure; but their ideas must
+have expanded of late.  They had much more assistance than formerly
+rendered by Craven, their most efficient and active overseer, and his
+assistant, Larry.  No one would have recognised the dispirited, almost
+broken-hearted hut-keeper in the fine, active, intelligent man he had
+now become.  Gentlemanly even in his poverty, he had always been.  He
+now looked more fit to set a squadron in order, and lead them against
+the foe, than to keep sheep; yet to superintend the keeping of sheep he
+was well content.  He had greatly enlarged and improved the old hut,
+having converted it indeed into a comfortable house, with a
+flower-garden in front and one for vegetables in the rear.
+
+One of the greatest matters of interest to the bushman, who has loved
+relations in the old country, is the arrival of the post.  Often with
+trembling, always with eager, hands the packets are opened; sometimes
+they give satisfaction, and afford subjects for pleasant conversation
+for many a day; but at others, and too often, they bring news to grieve
+the hearts of their readers.  Such had been the case with the Gilpins,
+some time back, when a letter with a broad black border arrived, and
+told them of the death of a father they had so much reason to reverence
+and love.  Several changes had taken place in their family circle.
+Their eldest brother had married; and their two sisters seemed doubtful,
+when they last heard from home, whether or not they should continue to
+reside with him.
+
+The two brothers were sitting together in their nicely furnished
+dining-room.  The dark wainscoting and the proportions of the apartment
+reminded them of the one they had loved so well in their far-off home in
+the old country.  A dray had just arrived from the west, and Green made
+his appearance with the letter-bag in hand.  Eagerly the contents were
+glanced over.
+
+"Arthur, they are coming--both the dear girls, Jane and Susan--and
+Willie as an escort!" exclaimed James, in a tone of great satisfaction.
+
+"Oh! it will be delightful.  How pleased Fanny and Emily will be!" cried
+Arthur.
+
+Indeed, no event could by possibility have caused the brothers more true
+pleasure; and, as may be supposed, it formed the subject for
+conversation for the remainder of the evening and for many evenings
+afterwards.  Of course it was necessary for James to ride over to
+Prentiss Town to announce the event.
+
+"As soon after they arrive as it can be arranged," was the reply made by
+Fanny to a question put to her during his visit.  It seemed highly
+satisfactory, and was received with strong marks of gratitude.
+
+When James returned home, Arthur was not happy till he could set off to
+Prentiss Town.  He must have put a question to Emily, not unlike that
+which James put to Fanny.
+
+"Perhaps the same day that my sister is," was her reply.
+
+Not long after, James set off for Sydney.  Arthur would gladly have gone
+also, but what with their own flocks and herds, and the numerous ones
+over which they had charge, it was, they thought, scarcely fair to
+Craven to leave him so long alone.  Of late, too, there had been reports
+of wonderful discoveries of gold--nuggets to rival those of California;
+and some of the shepherds and stockmen had already gone off to the
+region where the gold was reported to have been found, and it was feared
+that others might follow.  James had not been in Sydney since his first
+arrival in the country.  The whole city was in a ferment.  There was no
+doubt of the truth of the reports of the discovery of gold, not only in
+one, but in several directions.  Nuggets of all sizes and heaps of
+gold-dust had already been brought in.  The gold fever had commenced,
+and men of all ages, ranks, and professions were fitting themselves out
+with knapsacks, spades, washers, and other apparatus for the
+gold-fields.  People were surprised that James took matters so calmly.
+"I prefer that others should dig for me--an occupation for which I never
+had a fancy, except for an hour or two in my garden in a morning," he
+answered.  "If people rush out of the colony, as it is expected they
+will, the price of stock will rise very greatly, and I shall have ample
+fortune for all my wishes."  It did rise, far higher than he expected,
+and he was not disappointed.  His heart throbbed with anxiety as he went
+down to the harbour to visit the ship on board which his sisters had
+taken their passage.  He singled them out among a large number of
+passengers, though they did not recognise the strongly built, bearded,
+and well-browned man as their brother, who had left them a fair, slight
+youth a few years before.  News of the gold discoveries had reached
+England some time before the ship sailed, and a great number of her
+passengers were intended gold-diggers--a mixed and ill-matched
+assemblage, all inspired, however, with the one ruling passion, an eager
+to grow rich suddenly.  There were young men--still mere lads--who had
+time before them to make themselves independent by steady industry; and
+old men who, it might be supposed, had little else to do than to prepare
+for another world.  There were nominal representatives of all religious
+faiths, but drawn together to worship one god--Mammon, yet not as
+brethren, for each seemed eager to supplant the other.  The Miss Gilpins
+told their brother that the universal subject of conversation during the
+voyage was gold, gold-digging, gold-washing, gold-scraping.
+
+"Like the old man in the `Pilgrim's Progress' with his muck-rake, always
+scraping with downcast looks, never gazing upwards," remarked James.
+"Ah! it is sad work; and yet, when a person gets down in the world, and
+feels the want of the wealth he once possessed, it must be a severe
+trial to him to prevent his mind from continually dwelling on the means
+by which he may regain it."
+
+The greater number of the passengers were eager to set off immediately
+for the diggings; and every vehicle to be found was secured at a high
+price, many giving promises of breaking down before half the journey was
+performed.  Many talked of trudging it on foot; and of these, several of
+them never reached their destination, having either lost their way and
+died from fatigue and starvation in the bush, or being drowned when
+crossing some river, by being carried down by the current.  The lions of
+Sydney were soon visited; and James, with his two sisters and young
+brother, set off in high spirits for Warragong.  He had a lightly-built
+covered waggon, with strong springs--the best style of vehicle for
+travelling in the bush.  The journey was performed, if not rapidly, yet
+with great ease and comfort; and there were so many objects of interest,
+all new to the strangers--the birds, beasts, reptiles, and scenery, the
+very look of the people, and the characters they met--that no one was
+weary.  As may be supposed, they called at Prentiss Town on their way,
+and, of course, spent a few days there; and, naturally, Arthur arrived
+to escort them home.  The daughters of the English farmer had been more
+practically brought up than the Australian young ladies, educated in a
+school in Sydney.  They could teach them much connected with the dairy
+and numerous household duties, of which they had never heard.  Not that
+the Miss Gilpins were, in the slightest degree, less refined or less
+educated than their new friends.  Of course, the visit was to be
+returned; there was some joking, however, on that subject, which a
+stranger might not very clearly have understood.  On the road, the party
+were met by Craven, well mounted, and dressed in the most approved
+fashion.  He came, as in duty bound, to escort his friends' sisters to
+their new abode.
+
+"And is this the hut you spoke of, dear brothers?" exclaimed the
+sisters, in the same voice.  "What a delightful house!  And this room,
+the very model of the dear old parlour.  We are sure you intended it."
+
+And Jane and Susan kissed their brothers, who were more than amply
+repaid by the happiness they felt for the years of toil they had
+endured, and all the exertions they had made to get the house ready.
+They had an idea that those sisters would not remain long under their
+roof, sorry though they would be to lose them; that is to say, not if
+their bachelor neighbours had a particle of good taste or judgment.
+Willie was delighted with everything.  His great ambition was to become
+a first-rate stockman.  He was rather young to begin active life; but he
+had made good use of his time at school, and he promised, when he left
+England, that he would not give up reading and study.  The Gilpins had
+found the time pass quickly before the arrival of their sisters, they
+now found it pass still more quickly; and it was only by managing it
+with the greatest care that they could accomplish what they had to do.
+The Miss Gilpins entered warmly into all Fanny's and Emily's plans--
+which had, indeed, now become their brothers'--for giving religious
+instruction to the surrounding population, which had of late years
+considerably increased.  Though many of the men went off to the
+diggings, the women remained, hoping to see them return, loaded with
+wealth.  Not a hut nor a residence of any sort remained unvisited by
+these six active young missionaries, who left tracts or books wherever
+they went.  They procured some Bibles from Sydney, and many a cottage,
+where the Word of God had never been heard, was supplied by them.  They
+had great reason to believe that a blessing attended their efforts.
+They had often made application in Sydney for an appointed minister of
+the Gospel.  One at length came, but he had a wide circuit, so that he
+could not come to any spot within the Sunday morning's journey more than
+six or eight times in the year.  He went his rounds, preaching on
+weekdays, from station to station, and holding a service every evening
+where he rested.  Such is the only human agency by which spiritual life
+can be maintained in the wide-scattered sheep and stock stations in
+Australia, and it behoves all those connected with that magnificent
+land, who love the Lord Jesus Christ, to aid in sending missionaries of
+the Gospel through its length and breadth.  There are many who have
+scarcely ever heard the glad tidings of salvation; many have passed
+away, sunk almost in heathen darkness.  At length, a regular place of
+worship was built, to the satisfaction of many, which satisfaction was
+by no means decreased by an interesting event which took place there
+shortly afterwards, namely, the marriages of Jane and Arthur Gilpin.  It
+would be difficult to find a more united, contented, and happy family
+than that now dwelling at Warragong, and certainly, if steady,
+persevering, industry and uprightness of conduct should be rewarded, the
+Gilpins richly deserved their success.  Sam Green, too, had followed his
+young master's example, and had taken to himself as a wife the eldest
+daughter of his old acquaintance, Sykes, the former coachman of Mr
+Henry Prentiss, who had followed his master into the country, and
+settled near him.  Larry Killock won the heart of another daughter; but,
+although Mr Sykes had himself come out at the Government expense, he
+objected to the alliance, because Larry was not yet entirely a free man.
+Larry was, however, able to prove that his crime was having joined some
+popular outbreak; and being at length freed completely from bondage, his
+wishes were no longer opposed, and he settled down near the friends to
+whom he had, with good reason, become so warmly attached.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+Some time had passed since the events just mentioned.  It was winter,
+not Christmas, however, but the period which in England is considered
+the warmest and sunniest in the year.  Frost and snow are not looked
+for, but the wind blows from the cold south, and rain comes down in
+plentiful showers, filling the water-holes, and turning the sluggish
+streams into roaring torrents.
+
+One evening, as Arthur and Willie were riding homewards from a distant
+station, their course not far from the Warragong river, a cry reached
+their ears.
+
+"It is some one shouting for help!" exclaimed Arthur.  "From what
+direction does it come?  Listen!"
+
+"From up the stream!" cried Willie, spurring on his horse.
+
+"Stay! there's a man in the river," said Arthur; "he is floating down.
+We may pass him if we don't take care."
+
+They rode directly down to the bank of the now rapid river.  Every
+stockman rides with a rope attached to his saddle.  They looked out
+anxiously as they now rode up the stream.  Again the cry was heard, but
+fainter though near; and through the thickening gloom of evening a man
+was seen clinging to a log, which was borne swiftly down the current.
+He had lost all power of guiding it, and from the way his head hung
+down, it was evident that his strength was exhausted, and that he must
+soon drop off and sink.  To leap from their horses and to secure them to
+a tree was the work of a moment.
+
+"Here, hold one end, Willie!  I think I can reach him!" cried Arthur,
+binding the two ropes together, and fastening one end round his own
+waist.
+
+Throwing off his coat, and without waiting for any expostulation from
+Willie, he plunged into the stream, and swam boldly out towards the
+drowning man.  The whirling eddies of the torrent bore the log along,
+now carrying it towards one side of the river, now towards the other.
+This much increased the difficulty of reaching it.  The man clinging to
+it had still sufficient consciousness to be aware of the effort made to
+save him, but had no strength to help himself.  Arthur had swum out very
+nearly to the extent of which the rope would allow, and yet he feared
+that he should not reach the man.  He doubted whether he should be
+strong enough to return to the shore without the aid of the rope.
+
+"Stretch out your arms, Willie; give me all the rope you can, but don't
+fall in.  In mercy take care!" he shouted.
+
+Willie stood on the very edge of the bank uncoiling the whole of the
+rope, and keeping only the end in his hands.  He dreaded lest, his feet
+slipping, he should be dragged in himself; and though he did not fear
+for himself, he knew that, if he was dragged in, Arthur would in all
+probability be lost.  He found that he could not stand still either, but
+had to move down the stream, as his brother was swept on by the current.
+"If it is difficult to hold him now, what will it be when he grasps the
+drowning man?" he thought.  He would have shouted for help had he
+believed that any one was near to afford it.  Arthur, meantime, saw the
+drowning man approaching.  An eddy seemed to be carrying him off towards
+the opposite bank.  Should he venture to swim across without the rope?
+Had he a right to run so great a risk of losing his life, and bring
+grief and sorrow to the heart of his young wife?  He prayed for strength
+and aid.  He was about to loose himself from the rope, when again the
+log was whirled near him.  The moment for the greatest exertion had
+arrived.  He sprang forward.  His right hand grasped the drowning man,
+but the log on which he floated escaped from his hold, and was borne
+onwards by the current.  As he caught the man, the spring he made and
+the additional weight almost overbalanced Willie, who was on the point
+of falling into the water, when he found himself close to a young tree,
+of the willow tribe, bending over the stream.  He grasped it with his
+left hand, hauling with all his might till he drew in a sufficient
+length of the rope to pass it round the stem.  His dread was lest his
+brother should sink before he could reach the shore.  He then feared
+that the man for whom Arthur had risked so much might be torn from his
+grasp before he could get him in.  The fact of the willow growing there
+showed that there was a permanent water-hole at the spot, and that,
+therefore, the depth must be considerable.  He dragged in the rope
+slowly, for Arthur seemed scarcely able to support his burden.  "Keep--
+keep up, brother!" he cried out, considering whether he should not make
+the rope fast and jump in to help him.  Just then he discovered that the
+current itself was doing what he wished; scarcely had he secured the
+rope than Arthur was swept close up to the bank.  He sprang on to help
+him.  The bank, happily, shelved, and together they dragged the nearly
+drowned man to the shore.  He was dressed as a labourer, and his rough
+hands showed that he was accustomed to hard work.  It was too dark to
+distinguish his features.  After they had rubbed him for some time, he
+gave signs of life; and on his further recovering they placed him on
+Willie's horse, and, supporting him on either side, led him up to the
+house, which was about half a mile distant.  The stranger scarcely spoke
+all the way; indeed, he was but partially recovered from the effects of
+his immersion.  The ladies of the family, who had been expecting them at
+an earlier hour, ran out as they reached the house.  Emily hurried off
+her husband to change his wet clothes; while Willie, briefly describing
+how bravely his brother had behaved, conducted the stranger to his room,
+that he might go to bed, while dry garments were got for him and some
+hot potation was prepared.  Had he been of the highest instead,
+apparently, of the lowest rank, he could not have been more kindly
+treated.  Willie was delighted to be of use, and having collected some
+clothes from his brother's wardrobe, brought them to the stranger, who,
+having taken the remedies prescribed for him, insisted on getting up.
+
+"Why, whose house am I in?" exclaimed the stranger, his eye falling on
+the mark of some of the linen brought for him.
+
+His young attendant told him.
+
+"Then you surely must be little Willie Gilpin!" cried the stranger; "and
+that fine fellow who jumped into the river and pulled me out is Arthur,
+and those are your sisters.  I thought I knew their faces."
+
+"And who are you?" asked Willie.
+
+"An old friend, though I think it likely a forgotten one," answered the
+stranger.  "Do not say that I know your people.  If they recollect me,
+well and good; if not, it matters little: I am not worth recollecting."
+
+It was evident that the stranger did not belong to the rank of life his
+appearance had at first betokened.  James, who had been at a distance,
+now arriving, came to the door, and invited him in to supper.  The
+stranger followed him, and with a bow to the ladies, which was certainly
+not like that of a mere countryman, was about to take a seat at table,
+when Arthur entered.  The stranger's colour mounted to his cheeks as he
+said--
+
+"I am indebted to you, sir, for my life, and I am most thankful, as it
+enables me to enjoy the present society, though I fear my life is not
+worth the risk you ran to save it."
+
+Arthur had been earnestly examining the countenance of the stranger
+while he was speaking.  "I thought so," he exclaimed, coming round to
+him and taking his hand; "Mark Withers, of Wallington?"
+
+"The same, though somewhat wiser; rather further down the hill than when
+we parted," returned the stranger.  "But I'll own it does my heart good
+to meet so many old friends together."
+
+Kind and warm greetings saluted the wanderer; his heart softened, and
+for a time he laid aside his cynical, discontented manner.  The
+well-furnished rooms, the handsome arrangements of the supper-table, and
+the servants in attendance, all spoke of ample means.  A feeling of
+jealousy might possibly have passed through his heart as he made these
+observations.  He remarked, however, when left alone with the brothers,
+"Well, you fellows seem to have fallen on your feet; and I'm heartily
+glad of it, indeed I am."
+
+"We have been working pretty hard, though," said James; and, after
+giving a brief sketch of their career in the colony, he asked, "And you,
+Withers, I hope that you have got a comfortable home in Australia
+somewhere."
+
+"Home!" exclaimed Withers; "I haven't a wigwam I can call my own, and my
+whole property consists in the damp duds I had on my back when I pulled
+them off in Willie's room."
+
+"Where have you been, then, Mark, all this time?" asked Arthur.
+
+"Been! why, my dear fellow, all round the world, exemplifying the truth
+of the saying, that `a rolling stone gathers no moss.'  My father did
+not much fancy my giving up his business; and indeed I had to take
+French leave at last, and then write and ask his forgiveness.  He told
+me, in reply, that I was a graceless vagabond; but that I might follow
+my own devices, if I was so minded, without opposition, though without
+help from him.  I fancied that my own devices were full of wisdom, so
+resolved to follow them.  I had fallen in with a man bound for the Cape
+of Good Hope Colony, and, listening to his representations, agreed to
+accompany him.  Out to the Cape I went, but soon discovered that a
+farm-life was not to my taste; and so, meeting with some sporting
+companions, I spent my time in shooting elephants and lions, and other
+beasts of the forests and mountains of that wonderful land.  As my
+expenses at this sort of work were far greater than my profits, I spent,
+in time, all the money I possessed, and had at length to engage as a
+labourer on a property of which, on first landing, I might have become
+the owner.  This was not what I had bargained for; and hearing that
+fortunes were to be made rapidly in South Australia, I saved enough
+money to carry me to Cape Town, where I found a ship calling in on her
+way to that colony.  I shipped on board her to work my passage; but
+finding the work I had to do and the treatment I had received very far
+from my taste, I resolved never again, if I could help it, to place
+myself in the same position.  I found, on reaching Adelaide, that if
+fortunes were to be made in a hurry, they were to be lost still more
+rapidly--not that I had myself any opportunity of making the experiment
+I tried all sorts of plans which I thought would prove short roads to
+what I so much desired--to become rich; but, somehow or other, none of
+them proved satisfactory.  At length I had struck out something new
+which would, I really believe, have been a great success, when the news
+of the wonderful discoveries of gold in California reached the colony.
+Wonderful to relate, I had made enough money to pay my passage, which I
+took on board one of the first vessels sailing for those regions I
+considered myself wonderfully fortunate to get there, for I had now no
+longer the slightest doubt of success.  San Francisco was already a
+wonderful place.  Everybody on board hastened to the shore as soon as we
+entered the harbour, and in the course of two or three days the whole of
+the crew, except the captain and first mate, had deserted the ship.  The
+central part of the city consisted at that time chiefly of
+lodging-houses, gambling-houses, and houses of entertainment.  The
+lodging-houses, fast as they could be put up, were crowded, and were of
+the most wretched description.  The best to which I could gain admission
+was a long barn-like edifice, with bunks or berths like those on board a
+ship, arranged along on either side with straw, hay, or leaves as a
+mattress, and a horsecloth as a coverlet.  The gambling-houses were the
+most attractive.  There was music gratis, and spirits without limitation
+for all who chose to play.  I felt sure that I should make my fortune in
+that way.  How was I to get enough to stake?  I must work.  I found no
+difficulty in obtaining employment as a labourer at high wages.  In a
+short time I had saved about twenty dollars.  I walked into the largest
+gambling-house, with my few dollars jingling in my pockets.  The hall
+was brilliantly lighted.  It was hung with coloured silk or calico, and
+adorned with mirrors and pictures.  There was a gallery with a band of
+music, and a bar where all sorts of viands could be obtained.  There
+were small tables for cards on either side, and several larger tables in
+the centre, at which sat the bankers, the professional gamblers, the
+owners or renters of the saloon.  I walked up to one of these tables and
+staked five of my hardly gained dollars against a thousand or so, and
+won.  I won again and again, until I found myself the owner of twenty
+thousand dollars.  I had never been so rich in my life, but yet it was
+not a sum which would allow me to leave off.  I played on all night,
+losing and regaining; and at length, when the saloon was closed, I had
+but a quarter of my first winning remaining.  This would never do.  I
+determined to go the next day, and I persuaded myself that if I could
+win as much as I had done the first night, I would never bet on a card
+again.  I returned to that hall of horrors--for so it was, in spite of
+its gilding and mirrors and music.  The haggard, pallid countenances of
+the professional players, almost Satanic in their calmness; the excited,
+eager looks of those who had come in the hopes, by staking their all, of
+clearing themselves from difficulties, or, by rapidly acquiring wealth;
+of being able to return to their far-distant homes!  To a considerable
+number, I believe, the scene was thoroughly distasteful; and yet,
+infatuated folly led them, as it did me, there.  I won at first; but
+fortune turned against me, and I went on losing rapidly.  If I staked
+high, I lost; if low, it was the same.  Every instant I expected to have
+my first good luck come back, till I discovered that, to the very last
+dollar, my pocket was cleared out.  But I saw a terrible sight that
+evening--I spare you the particulars--the suicide of a poor young
+Englishman, who, like me, had lost every shilling he had.  I trembled
+lest I should be tempted to commit a like act; for I found that hardly a
+week passed by but some wretched victim of gaming thus plunged into a
+fearful eternity, while numbers took to drinking hard, and brought
+themselves speedily to the grave.  Sickened for the time of gambling, I
+worked hard again, till I had saved enough to take me up to the
+diggings.  I found one of my shipmates about to start.  We agreed to go
+together.  We were bound to each other, not by mutual regard, but that
+we required companionship, and believed we could trust each other.  I do
+not much like to think of all the hardships we underwent.  We had some
+distance to go up the river, on the crowded deck of a vessel; then, with
+our packs on our backs, we commenced the toilsome part of our journey,
+over mountain and valley, across rivers and plains, on the highlands,
+exposed to sharp winds, which pierced bitterly through our light
+clothes, while on the plains we were scorched with the fierce rays of
+the unclouded sun.  A large party had collected at the foot of a rugged
+mountain.  Before us lay a plain of vast extent, which must be crossed.
+We had heard that there was a scarcity of water.  Some had filled their
+water-skins and jars and kegs; others laughed at the notion of not being
+able to go a few hours without water, even should we not find any; and
+some carried flasks filled with rum or brandy, boasting that that was
+the best stuff for quenching thirst I never felt greater heat in the
+tropics; the air was filled with the finest dust, which got down our
+throats, stopped our nostrils, and filled up the pores of our already
+parched skins.  The first night we stopped for very weariness--no water
+was to be found.  Those who had some would not part with a drop to their
+comrades: they might want it themselves.  All night the wolves howled
+round us, as if scenting their prey.  There were reports, too, that
+hostile Indians had been seen; and several times the camp was aroused by
+an alarm that the redskins were on us.  The next day, when the sun rose,
+the sky was cloudless, and there was not a breath of wind.  Greater than
+ever was the heat, and more intense the thirst of those who had brought
+no water.  I had a small flask full; but though I kept wetting my lips
+occasionally, I suffered dreadfully.  Almost certain destruction would
+be the lot of those who dropped behind; yet, one by one, several poor
+wretches sunk down exhausted, in vain imploring the rest to carry them
+on.  Sad were their cries; but our breasts were steeled against their
+appeals.  We had our own safety to consult, and the gold mines were
+before us.  Among those who sunk down were several who carried flasks of
+spirits.  Our guides declared that we should reach water before sunset.
+This kept up the spirits of the stronger men.  They were mistaken, or
+had purposely deceived us to encourage us to proceed.  Again we slept on
+the burning sand, with our pistols in our hands, and our water-bottles
+under our heads, ready at a moment's notice to defend ourselves against
+either Indians, wolves, or our own companions, who, tempted by thirst,
+might endeavour to steal the water we found so precious.  The howling of
+the wolves in the distance, and the groans, and often the imprecations
+of those suffering from thirst, drove away sleep; and I, with others,
+started up to reach the river, which we were assured was not more than
+fifteen miles off.  In four or five hours it might be reached.  We
+pushed on at a rapid rate, our mules following willingly, instinct
+telling them that relief was at hand.  The green trees appeared in
+sight, and the water, bright and limpid, was seen between them.  We
+hurried on--men and animals together rushing into the stream, the men
+lapping the water up like dogs, and dipping their whole bodies in
+without even stopping to pull off any of their clothes.  It is a wonder
+the sudden change from heat to cold did not kill some of us; but the
+fact is, that our pores were so completely closed up with dust that the
+bath, by removing the dirt, allowed the perspiration to escape and saved
+us from fever.  A few turns in the sun soon dried our garments, and then
+delightful indeed was it to throw ourselves on the grass, in the shade
+of the tall trees, and to rest after our fatigue.  One man proposed that
+we should load our mules with water and go back for our poor comrades
+who had dropped in the desert, if the caravan would camp for a couple of
+days; but the proposal was instantly negatived with derision.
+
+"What! did he forget that we were bound for the diggings?  Lose two
+whole days which might be employed in collecting the gold of which we
+were so eagerly in search!  Scarcely had our companions came up than on
+we pushed.  The diggings were at hand; the nearer we got to them, the
+more eager we became to commence work.  We reached at last the principal
+diggings.  It was a fearfully wild spot--mountains on all sides, almost
+destitute of trees, with the river running between them; the ground in
+every direction was full of burrows, as if the habitation of rabbits;
+but the chief work was going forward by the banks of the river, where
+hundreds of men were labouring away from morn till night with very
+varied success.  My partner and I set up a hut; it was a wretched
+affair, but not worse than many others; then we turned to with eager,
+beating hearts.  We dug and washed hour after hour, but, toil as we
+might, we had not, at the end of the day, obtained more than would pay
+our expenses; sometimes not so much.  We toiled on.  We had no choice;
+we must find gold or starve.  With the cold wind descending from the
+mountains at night, and the chill fogs; the hot sun by day striking down
+on our heads while we stood up to our knees in water--no wonder that all
+suffered more or less from ague and fever.  Many died from disease, some
+went mad, some committed suicide.  There was no one to care for them, no
+one to mourn them; bowie-knives were in constant requisition, murders
+frequent.  One day I heard shots fired, and ran to see what was
+occurring.  Some strangers, that is, natives of various countries, had
+trespassed on the ground claimed by a company of Americans.  Without
+giving any warning, the latter assembled and fired on the new-comers,
+killing several; then rushing on them with bowie-knives, axes, and
+revolvers, they desperately wounded or killed several more, putting the
+rest to flight.  `There, I guess they'll not try it on again,' I heard
+one of the victors say, as he kicked the dead body of one of the
+conquered party.  I could describe many other similar scenes.  At night
+we always slept with our pistols under our pillows, and our knives at
+our sides, ready to start up at a moment's notice.  Several successful
+diggers were murdered for the sake of their wealth, and others were cut
+off by Indians, while prospecting beyond the chief diggings.
+Altogether, I don't think that any place on earth could have been more
+like Pandemonium than were those Californian diggings at the time I was
+there, for I have not mentioned half of its horrors and abominations.  I
+resolved to get out of them.  An unexpected run of success gave me the
+means; the news of the discovery of gold in Australia expedited my
+movements.  My partner agreed to share my fortunes.  We got back to San
+Francisco, though not without great hazard of losing our gold and our
+lives, and got on board a ship bound across the Pacific to this country.
+The ship, however, being caught in a gale off this coast, drove on
+shore, when half the crew and passengers lost their lives--my partner
+among them--while I only saved my life and the clothes on my back.  I
+had learned by this time not to be surprised at any misfortune which
+might overtake me.  I was far better off than in California, for I was
+among countrymen, I begged my way up to the diggings, or rather I had
+not to beg it, for I was passed along from station to station.  I was
+much better off, too, at the diggings than I had been in California, for
+I was now one of the ruling faction; and, though things were bad enough
+in some respects, people were generally civilised and humane, compared
+to gold-diggers I had met on the other side of the globe.  My luck,
+however, was much the same.  All I could do was to keep body and soul
+together, till at last I had to come to the conclusion that I was not
+cut out for a gold-digger.  On my way up to the diggings, I had rested
+at a station owned by an old gentleman, who seemed to take an interest
+in me.  At all events, as I was going away, he promised to receive me
+when I got tired of gold-digging, if I would come back to him, and to
+put me in the way of making my fortune.  Utterly disgusted with my
+ill-success as gold-digger, I bethought myself of him, and was on my way
+to his abode, when, on attempting to cross your river, I was carried off
+my feet, and should have become food for fish or water-rats had it not
+been for your courage, Arthur and Willie; and I can say, with sincerity,
+that you deserve great credit for it.  As to thanking you, I do not
+fancy that thanks from such a wretched vagabond as I am are worth
+anything, and so I'll say nothing about that."
+
+"We are too glad that we have succeeded in saving your life, old friend,
+to care about thanks," said Arthur.  "And now you are here, we hope that
+you will stay and try if you cannot follow our occupation.  It is the
+one that succeeds best in Australia in the long run, depend upon it."
+
+Mark Withers said that he would think about the matter; but the next
+morning he declared his intention of proceeding to the farm of the old
+gentleman, a Mr Elton, who had invited him to his house before he went
+up to the diggings.  "The fact is," observed Mark, "I have an idea that
+he intended to leave me his property, and that would not be an
+unpleasant way of making a fortune, you'll allow."
+
+"It would be a way of getting one, certainly," observed James; "though I
+doubt if your expectations will be realised; and I think that you would
+enjoy it far more if you make it yourself by honest industry."
+
+"Every man to his taste," said Mark, with a careless laugh; "if I fail
+in my expectations, I can but try on plodding industry at last, you
+know, and little harm will be done."
+
+"It is difficult to stop a rolling stone when it has gained an impetus
+downhill," said James; "remember that, Mark.  However, I can only say
+that my brothers and I shall be glad to welcome you back, should you
+find yourself mistaken in your hopes, and to find some employment for
+you which will put you in the way of becoming independent in the end."
+
+In so great a hurry was Mark to assure himself that he should obtain the
+expected fortune from Mr Elton, that he insisted on setting forth on
+his journey the next day.  He did not object, however, to borrow a horse
+and a few pounds from his old friends.  This he did with the air of a
+man conferring rather than receiving a favour.  When Craven, who arrived
+soon afterwards, heard of this latter circumstance, he predicted that
+the face of Mr Mark Withers would not be again seen at Warragong,
+unless he might have the assurance to return and borrow more.
+
+Charles Craven had become a very constant visitor of late at Warragong.
+By his intelligence, activity, and knowledge of mankind, he had
+contributed greatly to the prosperity of the Gilpins own property, as
+well as to that committed to their charge.  They had obtained permission
+to make over a considerable portion of the latter to his management, so
+that he had now a comfortable, if not a handsome, income.  There seemed
+to be no doubt that he admired Miss Gilpin, though he had not proposed
+to her.  Perhaps he considered that she was indifferent to him, or
+regarded him merely as a valued friend of her brothers.
+
+Nothing had been heard of Mark Withers since his departure.  One evening
+a horseman was seen approaching the house, dressed in rough bush
+fashion; and soon afterwards, into the room where the ladies were
+seated, walked Mark himself.  He had assumed a careless independent
+swagger, peculiarly distasteful to those into whose society he had
+introduced himself.
+
+"Your brothers were right!" he exclaimed, throwing himself into a chair.
+"Old Elton was a humbug.  He has cheated me abominably.  Got me to
+labour for him, and then laughed in my face when I told him why I had
+done so; telling me that, as I worked for love, I required no wages; and
+that, as I was not worth my salt, he should give me none.  However, here
+I am, not much the worse for the adventure, with a few months experience
+of bush life, and ready to become your brothers' chief stockman, or
+overseer, or anything they like to put me to, not derogatory to the
+character of a gentleman."
+
+The Miss Gilpins and their sisters-in-law would have been inclined to
+laugh at this speech, had it not been for the impudence of Mark's looks
+and tone.  On the arrival of the gentlemen he softened his manner; and
+James and Arthur, ever kind and thoughtful, began at once to consider
+how they could employ their old companion, so that he might not feel the
+weight of his obligation to them.  He decided that he would be employed
+as a stockman, without considering his fitness for the occupation, but
+preferring to ride about on a good horse to walking on foot or sitting
+in the house with account-books before him.  He acquitted himself,
+however, more to his employers' satisfaction than they had expected.  He
+learned to ride and manage his horse well; and by the time he had gained
+a knowledge of the country, he had attained many of the requisites of a
+good stockman.  He showed no inclination, however, to consider himself
+of the rank of one, but, assuming on his early friendship with the
+Gilpins, was constantly appearing at the house, and at length it became
+tolerably evident that he proposed to better his fortunes by marrying
+one of the Miss Gilpins.  Jane had reason to believe that she was
+honoured by his preference.  Suddenly, after this discovery, Craven
+ceased to pay his visits at the house as usual, or, if he came, went
+only to the business room, and declined stopping to luncheon or dinner.
+Whether or not Jane was in any way concerned at this, she let no one
+discover.  Mark came oftener than ever, boasting that he should soon
+become a stockholder on a large scale, and that he intended to introduce
+great improvements in the management of cattle in Australia.
+
+Where cattle are so apt to stray, as in the Australian bush, herds of
+different proprietors may occasionally get mingled, and therefore it is
+necessary to brand them carefully.  When this operation is to be
+performed, the animals are driven into a pound.  Ropes are then cast
+over the horns and legs of the bullock to be first marked, he is thrown
+to the ground, and the hot iron is applied.  This is often a work of no
+little danger; for when a young bull, who has been roaming at liberty
+since his calfhood, finds himself thus treated, he is apt to turn on his
+tormentors, and to attempt to retaliate.  A considerable mob of cattle
+had to be branded at Warragong, and all the hands who could be collected
+were employed in driving them into the pound.  To get them there was
+difficult; to hold them quiet while being marked was still more so.  One
+young and very powerful bull had resisted all the attempts made to catch
+him, when Mark Withers--who at that instant caught sight of the Miss
+Gilpins riding by--declared that he could manage the animal; and,
+leaping over the paling, lasso in hand, approached it with unexpected
+hardihood.  The animal's rage appeared excited to an ungovernable pitch
+at seeing him, and, lowering his head with a loud roar, he dashed
+towards him.  While attempting to spring on one side, the unfortunate
+man's foot slipped, and before he could recover himself, he was
+transfixed by the animal's horns.  The bull then, lifting up his head,
+bore his victim as if in triumph round and round the pound.  In vain
+Withers struggled to release himself, and shrieked for help.  James and
+Arthur and Willie, followed by several men, leaped into the pound,
+regardless of the risk they ran of being set on by other animals.
+
+"Oh! horrible!  Save him! save him!" simultaneously cried the Miss
+Gilpins, who had ridden up.
+
+At that moment Craven, who heard their cry, rode up, and, seeing the
+state of affairs, ordered the gate to be opened, and dashed in.  The
+next instant he had thrown the lasso over the bull's head, clearing the
+man, and while he drew it tight round the creature's neck, the rest of
+the party came up and were able to get theirs round his legs and to
+bring him to the ground.  Mark breathed, but had received some severe
+injuries.  Whether they might prove fatal it was difficult to say.
+
+"Oh!  Mr Craven, we are indeed grateful for the way in which you
+released that poor man from his horrible position," said Jane, in a
+sweet, yet unfaltering voice, as, on riding out of the pound, Craven
+bowed stiffly to the sisters.
+
+He looked at Jane's countenance earnestly, and then rode up alongside
+her horse.
+
+"I have some slight surgical skill, perhaps I may be of service," he
+said quietly.
+
+Withers was being carried at this time towards the house.
+
+"Oh! try what you can do.  My brothers will be most thankful.  It would
+be dreadful were he to die in his present, as I fear, unprepared state,"
+she replied.
+
+Craven drew a deep breath.  Susan echoed her sister's words.  They were
+approaching the house.
+
+Craven's skill was not very great, but he was gentle and patient, and
+contributed to relieve the sufferings of the injured man.  Many hours
+passed before the surgeon, who had been sent for, arrived.  In the mean
+time, Craven was as assiduous in his attention as he could have been had
+Mark been his dearest friend.  The surgeon would not pronounce a decided
+opinion as to the case.  Though the injuries were severe, if the man's
+constitution was good he might recover, but if not, they would probably
+prove fatal.  James, as a true friend, felt that it was his duty to tell
+Mark the truth.
+
+The injured man groaned and muttered, "Yes, it was good; but I have done
+my best to destroy it."
+
+James spoke to him earnestly, and urged him, without delay, to make his
+peace with God, through the only means open to sinful man--the blood of
+His dear Son.
+
+Mark listened, but a veil seemed on his understanding.  "The fact is,
+old fellow, I haven't thought about the matter, and I would rather not
+now," he replied.  "I don't intend to die just yet, if I can help it;
+and who knows but what I may take up your notions of things, and become
+as good as you are?  You mean me well, I know you do; but just let me
+alone."
+
+But a faithful man is faithful in all things.  Arthur persevered, and at
+length a perceptible change took place in Mark's manner when he spoke of
+sacred matters.  The fear of death in him became great.  More than once
+Arthur heard him muttering to himself those awful words: HEREAFTER!
+ETERNITY!  At length the surgeon began to speak more favourably of
+Mark's condition.  He thought he would recover, he said, but would be a
+cripple to the end of his life.  It was a heavy blow to Mark, and caused
+him many bitter tears, although it was evident that it was a wonderful
+relief to his mind to be told that God had given him time for
+repentance, and not cut him off in the midst of his sins.  Arthur was by
+his bedside continually, and it filled him with deep joy to be able to
+believe that Mark was a changed man.  He spoke penitently, sorrowfully,
+of the past, but cheerfully and hopefully of the future.  One day, as he
+was lying on a sofa, to which he had been lifted from his bed, he said
+to Arthur, "I remember long ago, in the old country, Arthur, when you
+and I were discussing what was the object in life most worthy of our
+aim, I thought wealth, for the sake of spending it on pleasure--on
+myself.  I could not make out exactly what your aim was; but you and
+your brothers seem to me to have got all you can desire to make life
+pleasant, while I have lost all I had, and gained nothing."
+
+"I held, I believe, that all we should aim at is to do our duty, and
+that openings for the employment of our energies will always be found
+for us," answered Arthur.  "We certainly have found this to be true in
+our own case."
+
+"Yes, that you have," said Mark, without, however, any bitterness in his
+tone.  "I should have called it luck once, but I won't now.  I will try,
+by God's mercy, poor helpless creature that I am, to find some means of
+usefulness, that so I may not be a mere cumberer of the earth, but may
+repay in any way that may offer itself some little portion of the
+kindness of my benefactors."
+
+The Gilpins had truly been fruitful fig trees.  All they undertook
+prospered.
+
+Far and wide they were a blessing to their neighbours, for as such they
+looked upon all those--rich or poor--whom they could reach.
+
+Through their efforts and instrumentality the glad tidings of great joy
+were carried to all around them, many of whom would never otherwise have
+heard the Gospel sound.
+
+The contrast between the career of the brothers and their quondam friend
+was great, but not greater than will usually be found between those who
+set the Lord always before their eyes, and seek him early while yet He
+may be found, and those who turn aside from His ways and refuse to
+follow them.
+
+Craven declared that it was impossible any one could reap more benefit
+from his friends than he had.  It seemed probable, indeed, that, but for
+them, he would have remained a hut-keeper to the end of his days.  As it
+was, he became not merely an upright man in the eye of his fellow-men,
+but also a sincere Christian.  He married Jane Gilpin, and with this
+event we close our narrative.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gilpins and their Fortunes, by 
+William H. G. Kingston
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