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diff --git a/old/24805-h.htm.2021-01-25 b/old/24805-h.htm.2021-01-25 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b534923 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/24805-h.htm.2021-01-25 @@ -0,0 +1,4075 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta content="pg2html (binary v0.17)" name="linkgenerator" /> + <title> + Chinkie's Flat and Other Stories, by Louis Becke + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +Project Gutenberg's Chinkie's Flat and Other Stories, by Louis Becke + +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: Chinkie's Flat and Other Stories + 1904 + +Author: Louis Becke + +Release Date: March 11, 2008 [EBook #24805] +Last Updated: March 8, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHINKIE'S FLAT AND OTHER STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + CHINKIE'S FLAT AND OTHER STORIES + </h1> + <h2> + By Louis Becke + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h4> + Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company 1904 + </h4> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + TO MY DEAR OLD COMRADES + + North Queensland. + + December, 1908 +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I ~ “CHINKIE'S FLAT” </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II ~ GRAINGER MAKES A “DEAL” </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III ~ JIMMY AH SAN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV ~ GRAINGER AND JIMMY AH SAN TALK + TOGETHER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V ~ THE RESURRECTION OF THE “EVER + VICTORIOUS” </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI ~ “MAGNETIC VILLA” </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII ~ SHEILA CAROLAN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII ~ MYRA AND SHEILA </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX ~ DINNER WITH “THE REFINED FAMILY” + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X ~ THE “CHAMPION” ISSUES A “SPECIAL” + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI ~ A CHANGE OF PLANS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII ~ SHEILA BECOMES ONE OF A VERY + “UNREFINED” CIRCLE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII ~ ON THE SCENT </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV ~ “MISS CAROLINE” IS “ALL RIGHT” + (VIDE DICK SCOTT ) </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I ~ “CHINKIE'S FLAT” + </h2> + <p> + “Chinkie's Flat,” In its decadence, was generally spoken of, by the + passing traveller, as a “God-forsaken hole,” and it certainly did present + a repellent appearance when seen for the first time, gasping under the + torrid rays of a North Queensland sun, which had dried up every green + thing except the silver-leaved ironbarks, and the long, sinuous line of + she-oaks which denoted the course of Connolly's Creek on which it stood. + </p> + <p> + “The township” was one of the usual Queensland mining type, a dozen or so + of bark-roofed humpies, a public-house with the title of “The Digger's + Best,” a blacksmith's forge, and a quartz-crushing battery. + </p> + <p> + The battery at Chinkie's Flat stood apart from the “township” on a little + rise overlooking the yellow sands of Connolly's Creek, from whence it + derived its water supply—when there happened to be any water in that + part of the creek. The building which covered the antiquated five-stamper + battery, boiler, engine, and tanks, was merely a huge roof of bark + supported on untrimmed posts of brigalow and swamp gum, but rude as was + the structure, the miners at Chinkie's Flat, and other camps in the + vicinity, had once been distinctly proud of their battery, which possessed + the high-sounding title of “The Ever Victorious,” and had achieved fame by + having in the “good times” of the Flat yielded a certain Peter Finnerty + two thousand ounces of gold from a hundred tons of alluvial. The then + owner of the battery was an intelligent, but bibulous ex-marine engineer, + who had served with Gordon in China, and when he erected the structure he + formally christened it “The Ever Victorious,” in memory of Gordon's army, + which stamped out the Taeping rebellion. + </p> + <p> + The first crushing put through was Finnerty's, and when the “clean-up” was + over, and the hundreds of silvery balls of amalgam placed in the retorts + turned out over one hundred and sixty-six pounds' weight of bright yellow + gold, Chinkie's Flat went wild with excitement and spirituous refreshment. + </p> + <p> + In less than three months there were over five hundred diggers on the + field, and the “Ever Victorious” banged and pounded away night and day, + the rattle and clang of the stamps only ceasing at midnight on Saturday, + and remaining silent till midnight on Sunday, the Sabbath being devoted + “to cleaning-up,” retorting the amalgam, and overhauling and repairing the + machinery, and for relaxation, organising riding parties of twenty or + thirty, and chasing Chinamen, of whom there were over three hundred within + a radius of twenty miles. + </p> + <p> + The rich alluvial of Chinkie's Flat had, as a matter of fact, been first + discovered by a number of Chinese diggers, who were each getting from five + to ten ounces of gold per day, when they were discovered by the aforesaid + Peter Finnerty, who was out prospecting with a couple of mates. Their + indignation that a lot of heathen “Chows” should be scooping up gold so + easily, while they, Christians and legitimate miners, should be toiling + over the barren ridges day after day without striking anything, was so + great that for the moment, as they sat on their horses and viewed the + swarming Chinese working their cradles on the bank of the creek, the power + of speech deserted them. Hastily turning their tired horses' heads, they + rode as hard as they could to the nearest mining camp, and on the + following day thirty hairy-faced foreign-devils came charging into the + Chinese camp, uttering fearful threats, and shooting right and left (with + blank cartridges). The Chinese broke and fled, and in half an hour each of + the thirty men had pegged out a claim, and Chinkie's Flat became famous as + one of the richest, though smallest, alluvial diggings in the Far North. + </p> + <p> + Three months after the “discovery” of the field by Mr. Peter Finnerty, old + “Taeping,” as Gordon's ex-marine engineer had been promptly nicknamed, + arrived with his crushing battery, and then indeed were halcyon days for + the Flat. From early morn till long past midnight, the little bar of the + “Digger's Best” was crowded with diggers, packhorsemen and teamsters; a + police trooper arrived and fixed his tent on the ridge overlooking the + creek, and then—the very zenith of prosperity—a bank official + followed, and a stately building, composed of a dozen sheets of bark for a + roof, and floor sacks for the sides, was erected and opened for business + on the same day, amid much rejoicing and a large amount of liquid + refreshment dispensed by the landlord of the “hotel” at a shilling per + nobbler. + </p> + <p> + For six months longer all went well: more alluvial patches were discovered + in the surrounding country, and then several rich reefs were found a mile + away from the Flat, and every day new men arrived from Cooktown to the + north, and Brisbane, Sydney, and far New Zealand to the south. Three new + “hotels” sprang up; the police force was increased by another trooper and + two black trackers, who rode superciliously around the camp, carbines on + thighs, in their dark blue uniforms with scarlet facings, and condescended + to drink with even the humblest white man; and then came the added glory + of the “Chinkie's Flat Gold Escort”—when a police van with an Irish + sergeant, two white troopers, and eight black police rattled through the + camp, and pulled up at the bank, which now had a corrugated iron roof, a + proper door, and two windows, and (the manager's own private property) a + tin shower bath suspended by a cord under the verandah, a seltzogene, and + a hen with seven chickens. The manager himself was a young sporting + gentleman of parts, and his efforts to provide Sunday recreation for his + clients were duly appreciated—he was secretary of the Chinkie's Flat + Racing Club (meeting every alternate Sunday), and he and old “Taeping” + between them owned a dozen of kangaroo dogs, which lived on the community + generally, and afforded much exciting sport every Saturday, either in + hunting kangaroos or Chinamen, both of which were plentiful in the + vicinity. + </p> + <p> + For although Peter Finnerty and his party had succeeded in driving away + the heathen from the Flat itself, the continued further discoveries of + rich alluvial had brought them swarming into the district from all the + other gold-fields in the colony in such numbers that it was impossible to + keep the almond-eyed mining locusts out, especially as the Government was + disposed to give them a measure of protection—not from any unnatural + sentiment, but purely because they were revenue producers, and the + Government badly wanted money. Then, too, their camps were so large, and + so many of them were armed, and disposed to fight when in a corner, that + the breaking up of a “Chows' Camp” became more and more difficult, and in + the end the white diggers had to be content with surprising outlying + prospecting parties, chasing them with kangaroo dogs back to their main + camp, and burning their huts and mining gear, after first making a careful + search for gold, concealed under the earthen floor, or among their + ill-smelling personal effects. Sometimes they were rewarded, sometimes + not, but in either case they were satisfied that they were doing their + duty to Queensland and themselves by harrying the heathen who raged so + furiously, and were robbing the country of its gold. + </p> + <p> + Then, after old “Taeping” had succumbed to too much “Digger's Rest,” and + Finnerty—now Peter Grattan Finnerty, Esq., Member of the Legislative + Assembly of Queensland—had left the Flat and become the champion of + the “struggling white miner” in the House at a salary of £300 a year, came + bad times, for the alluvial became worked out; and in parties of twos and + threes the old hands began to leave, heading westward across the arid + desert towards the Gilbert and the Etheridge Rivers, dying of thirst or + under the spears of the blacks by the way, but ever heedless of what was + before when the allurements and potentialities of a new field lay beyond + the shimmering haze of the sandy horizon. + </p> + <p> + Then, as the miners left, the few “cockatoo” settlers followed them, or + shifted in nearer to the town on the sea-coast with their horse and + bullock teams, and an ominous silence began to fall upon the Flat when the + tinkle of the cattle bells no longer was heard among the dark fringe of + sighing she-oaks bordering the creek. As day by day the quietude deepened, + the parrots and pheasants and squatter pigeons flew in and about the + Leichhardt trees at the foot of the bluff, and wild duck at dusk came + splashing into the battery dam, for there was now no one who cared to + shoot them; the merry-faced, rollicking, horse-racing young bank manager + and his baying pack of gaunt kangaroo dogs had vanished with the rest; and + then came the day when but eight men remained—seven being old hands, + and the eighth a stranger, who, with a blackboy, had arrived the previous + evening. + </p> + <p> + And had it not been for the coming of the stranger, Chinkie's Flat would, + in a few weeks, have been left to solitude, and reported to the + Gold-fields Warden as “abandoned and duffered out.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II ~ GRAINGER MAKES A “DEAL” + </h2> + <p> + Three years before Edward Grainger had been the leader of a small + prospecting party which had done fairly well on the rivers debouching into + the Gulf of Carpentaria from the western side of Cape York Peninsula. He + was an Englishman, his mates were all Australian-born, vigorous, sturdy + bushmen, inured to privation and hardship, and possessing unbounded + confidence in their leader, though he was by no means the oldest man of + the party, and not a “native.” But Grainger had had great experience as an + explorer and prospector, for he had been compelled to begin the battle of + life when but a lad of fifteen. His father, once a fairly wealthy squatter + in the colony of Victoria, was ruined by successive droughts, and died + leaving his station deeply mortgaged to the bank, which promptly + foreclosed, and Mrs. Grainger found herself and two daughters dependent + upon her only son, a boy of fifteen, for a living. He, however, was equal + to the occasion. Leaving his mother and sisters in lodgings in Melbourne, + he made his way to New South Wales with a mob of travelling cattle, + earning his pound a week and rations. At Sydney he worked on the wharves + as a lumper, and then joined in the wild rush to the famous Tambaroora + diggings, and was fortunate enough to meet with remunerative employment, + and from then began his mining experiences, which in the course of the + following ten years took him nearly all over the Australian colonies, New + Zealand, and Tasmania. Never making much money, and never very “hard up,” + he had always managed to provide for his mother and sisters; and when he + formed his prospecting party to Cape York and sailed from Brisbane, he + knew that they would not suffer from any financial straits for at least + two years. + </p> + <p> + For nearly three years he and his party wandered from one river to another + along the torrid shores of the great gulf, sometimes doing well, sometimes + not getting enough gold to pay for the food they ate, but always, always + hopeful of the day when they would “strike it rich.” Then came misfortune—sharp + and sudden. + </p> + <p> + Camped on the Batavia River during the wet season, the whole party of five + sickened with malaria, and found themselves unable to move to the high + land at the head of the river owing to all their horses having died from + eating “poison plant.” Too weak to travel by land, they determined to + build a raft and reach the mouth of the river, where there was a small + cattle station. Here they intended to remain till the end of the rains, + buy fresh horses and provisions, and return and prospect some of the deep + gullies and watercourses at the head of the Batavia River. + </p> + <p> + Scarcely had they completed the raft, and loaded it with their effects, + when they were rushed by a mob of blacks, and in a few seconds two of the + five were gasping out their lives from spear wounds, and all the others + were wounded. Fortunately for the survivors, Grainger had his revolver in + his belt, and this saved them, for he at once opened fire on the savages, + whilst the other men worked the raft out into the middle of the stream, + where they were out of danger from spears and able to use their rifles. + </p> + <p> + After a terrible voyage of three days, and suffering both from their + wounds and the bone-racking agonies of fever, they at last reached the + cattle station, where they were kindly received in the rough, hospitable + fashion common to all pioneers in Australia. But, when at the end of a + month one of Grainger's mates died of his wounds, and the other bade him + goodbye and went off in a pearling lugger to Thursday Island, the leader + sickened of Cape York Peninsula, and turned his face southwards once more, + in the hope that fortune would be more kind to him on the new rushes at + the Cloncurry, seven hundred miles away. From the station owner he bought + six horses, and with but one black-boy for a companion, started off on his + long, long journey through country which for the most part had not yet + been traversed even by the explorer. + </p> + <p> + Travelling slowly, prospecting as he went, and adding a few ounces of gold + here and there to the little bag he carried in his saddle-pouch, quite + three months passed ere he and the black boy reached the Cloncurry. Here, + however, he found nothing to tempt him—the field was overcrowded, + and every day brought fresh arrivals, and so, after a week's spell, he + once more set out, this time to the eastward towards the alluvial fields + near the Burdekin River, of which he had heard. + </p> + <p> + It was at the close of a long day's ride over grassless, sun-smitten + country, that he came in sight of Chinkie's Flat, and the welcome green of + the she-oaks fringing Connolly's Creek and soughing to the wind. The + quietness and verdancy of the creek pleased him, and he resolved to have a + long, long spell, and try and get rid of the fever which had again + attacked him and made his life a misery. + </p> + <p> + Riding up to the hotel he found a party of some twenty or more diggers who + were having a last carouse—for the “benefit” of the landlord—-ere + they bade goodbye to Chinkie's Flat on the following evening. Among them + were two men who had become possessed of the “Ever Victorious” battery, + left to them by the recently deceased “Taeping,” who had succumbed to + alleged rum and bad whiskey. They jocularly offered Grainger the entire + plant for twenty-five pounds and his horses. He made a laughing rejoinder + and said he would take a look at the machine in the morning. He meant to + have a long spell, he said, and Chinkie's Flat would suit him better than + Townsville or Port Denison to pull up, as hotels there were expensive and + he had not much money. Then, as was customary, he returned the drink he + had accepted from them by shouting for all hands, and was at once voted “a + good sort.” + </p> + <p> + In the morning he walked down to the deserted battery, examined it + carefully, and found that although it was in very bad order, and deficient + especially in screens—the one greatest essential—it was still + capable of a great deal of work. Then he washed off a dish or two of + tailings from one of the many heaps about, and although he had no acid, + nor any other means of making a proper test in such a short time, his + scientific knowledge acquired on the big gold-fields of the southern + colonies and New Zealand showed him that there was a very heavy percentage + of gold still to be won from the tailings by simple and inexpensive + treatment. + </p> + <p> + “I'll buy the thing,” he said to himself; “I can't lose much by doing so, + and there's every chance of saving a good deal of gold, if I once get some + fine screens, and that will only take six weeks or so.” + </p> + <p> + By noon the “deal” was completed, and in exchange fer twenty-five pounds + in cash, six horses and their saddlery, Grainger, amid much good-humoured + chaff from the vendors, took possession of the “Ever Victorious” crushing + mill, together with some thousands of tons of tailings, but when he + announced his intention of putting the plant in order and crushing for the + “public” generally, as well as for himself, six men who yet had some faith + in the field and believed that some of the many reefs would pay to work, + elected to stay, especially when Grainger said that if their crushings + turned out “duffers” he would charge them nothing for using the battery. + </p> + <p> + At one o'clock that day there were but eight Europeans and one black boy + left on the once noisy Chinkie's Flat—the landlord of “The Digger's + Best,” six miners, Grainger, and the black boy, “Jacky,” who had + accompanied him on his arduous journey from the Batavia River. At + Grainger's request they all met at the public-house! and sat down to a + dinner of salt meat, damper, and tea, and after it was finished and each + man had lit his pipe, Grainger went into details. + </p> + <p> + “Now, boys, this is how the thing hangs. I've bought the old rattletrap + because I believe there's a lot of life in the old girl yet, and I'm going + to spend all the money I have in putting her in order and getting some new + gear up from Brisbane or Sydney. If I lose my money I won't grumble, but I + don't think I <i>shall</i> lose it if you will agree to give some of the + reefs a thorough good trial. As I told you, I won't ask you for a penny if + the stone I crush for you turns out no good; but it is my belief—and + I know what I am talking about—that there are a thousand tons of + surface stuff lying around this field which will give half an ounce to an + ounce to the ton if it is put through a decent machine. And I'm going to + make the old 'Ever Victorious' a pretty decent battery before long. But + it's no good my spending my money—I possess only four hundred pounds—if + you don't back me up and lend a hand.” + </p> + <p> + “You're the man for us,” said one of the men; “we'll stick to you and do + all the bullocking. But the battery is very old, and we have the idea that + old Taeping wasn't much of a boss of a crushing mill, and didn't know much + about amalgamation.” + </p> + <p> + Grainger nodded: “I am sure of it. I don't believe that he saved more than + 50 per cent, of the gold from the surface stuff he put through, and not + more than a third from the stone.... Well, boys, what is it to be?” + </p> + <p> + The men looked at each other for a moment or two, and then they one and + all emphatically asserted their intention of remaining on the field, + assisting Grainger in repairing the plant and raising trial crushings of + stone from every reef on the field. + </p> + <p> + “That's all right, then, boys,” said Grainger. “Now you go ahead and raise + the stone, and as soon as I am a bit stronger I'll start off for the Bay + and buy what I want in the way of screens, grinding pans, quicksilver, and + other gear. I'm almost convinced that with new, fine screens we shall get + good results out of the stone, and if we are disappointed, then well + tackle that heap of tailings. I've seen a lot of tailings treated without + being roasted in Victoria, and understand the process right enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, we'll do our share of yacker, mister,” said a man named Dick Scott. + </p> + <p> + “And I'll do mine. As soon as I am fit some of you must lend me a couple + of horses, and I'll ride down to the Bay.{*} I daresay I can get all that + we want there in the way of machinery without my going or sending to + Brisbane for it.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The present city of Townsville, then always called “The + Bay,” it being situated on the shores of Cleveland Bay. +</pre> + <p> + On the following morning work was started by the six men, the landlord of + the public-house agreeing to cook for all hands for the first week, while + Grainger and the black boy (though the former was still very weak from + recurrent attacks of ague) tried numberless prospects from all parts of + the heaps of tailings. At the end of a week the miners began to raise some + very likely-looking stone! and Grainger, finding some jars of muriatic + acid among the stores belonging to the battery, made some further tests of + the tailings with results which gave him the greatest satisfaction. He, + however, said nothing about this to his new mates, intending to give them + a pleasant surprise later on in the week before he left on his journey to + the coast. + </p> + <p> + At six o'clock one evening, just as the men were returning from the claim + for supper, Jacky, the black boy, was seen coming along the track at a + fast canter. He had been out looking for some cattle belonging to Jansen + the landlord, which had strayed away among the ranges. + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter, Jacky?” asked the men, as the boy jumped off his + horse. + </p> + <p> + “I bin see him plenty feller Chinaman come along road. Altogether + thirty-one. Close to now—'bout one feller mile away, I think it.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III ~ JIMMY AH SAN + </h2> + <p> + Consternation was depicted on the faces of the men. And they all began to + question Jacky at once, until Grainger appeared, and then the black boy + gave them farther particulars—the Chinamen, he said, were all on + foot, each man carrying two baskets on a stick, but there were also five + or six pack-horses loaded with picks, shovels, dishes, and other mining + gear. + </p> + <p> + “Curse the dirty, yaller-hided swine!” cried Dick Scott, turning excitedly + to Grainger. “What's to be done? They've come to rush the Flat again; but, + by thunder! I'll be a stiff 'un afore a Chow fills another dish with + wash-dirt on Connolly's Creek.” + </p> + <p> + “And me, too!” “And me, too!” growled the others angrily, and Grainger, as + he looked at their set, determined faces, knew they would soon be beyond + control, and bloodshed would follow if the advancing Chinamen tried to + come on to the field. But, nevertheless, he was thoroughly in sympathy + with them. The advent of these Chinese—probably but an advance guard + of many hundreds—would simply mean ruination to himself and his + mates, just as their prospects were so bright. The men looked upon him as + their leader, and he must act—and act quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Let them come along, boys. Then we'll bail them up as soon as they come + abreast of us, and have a little 'talkee, talkee' with them. But for + heaven's sake try and keep cool, and I daresay when they see we look ugly + at them, they'll trot on. How many of you have guns of any kind?” + </p> + <p> + Four rifles and two shot guns were quickly produced, and then every one + waited till the first of the Chinese appeared, marching one behind the + other. The foremost man was dressed in European clothes, and the moment + Scott saw him, he exclaimed— + </p> + <p> + “Why, it's Jimmy Ah San! I used to know him at Gympie in the old times. + He's not a bad sort of a Chow. Come on, boys!” + </p> + <p> + Grainger, who was not just then well enough to go with them, but remained + in his seat with his revolver on his knee, could not help smiling at the + sudden halt and terrified looks of the Chinese, when Scott and the others + drew up in front of them with their weapons at the present. Half of them + at once dropped their baskets and darted off into the bush, the rest + crowding together like a flock of terrified sheep. The leader, however, + came steadily on. Scott stepped out and met him. + </p> + <p> + “Good-morning. What do you and all your crowd want here?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing,” replied the Chinaman quietly, in excellent English, “nothing + but to get down to the creek and camp for a few days. But why do you all + come out with guns? We cannot do you any harm.” + </p> + <p> + “Just so. But we can do <i>you</i> a lot if you try on any games, Mr. + Jimmy Ah San.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you know me then,” said the man, looking keenly at Scott. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I do, an' you're all right enough. But me an' my mates is going to + keep this field for white men—it ain't goin' to be no Chinaman's + digging'. So what's yer move?” + </p> + <p> + “Only what I said. Look at my men! We do not want to stop here; we wish to + push along to the coast. Some of them are dying from exhaustion, and my + pack-horses can hardly go another quarter of a mile.” + </p> + <p> + Soott scratched his chin meditatively, and then consulted with his mates. + He, although so rough in his speech, was not a bad-natured man, and he + could see that the Chinese were thoroughly done up, and worn down to skin + and bone. Then presently Grainger walked over and joined them, and heard + what Ah San had to say. + </p> + <p> + “I'm sorry that you are in such a bad fix,” he said, “but you know as well + as I do that if any of your men put a pick into ground here, there will be + serious trouble, and if they lose their lives you will be responsible—and + may perhaps lose your own.” + </p> + <p> + “I promise you that nothing like that will happen,” replied the Chinaman. + “My men are all diggers, it is true, but we will not attempt to stay on + any field where we are not wanted. My name is James Ah San. I am a British + subject, and have lived in Australia for twenty-five years. That man” + (pointing to Scott) “knows me, and can tell you that 'Jimmy Ah San' never + broke a promise to any man.” + </p> + <p> + “That is right enough,” said Scott promptly; “every one in Gympie knew you + when you was storekeepin' there, and said you was a good sort.” + </p> + <p> + “We have come over three hundred miles from the Cloncurry,” went on the + Chinese leader, quickly seeing that Scott's remark had much impressed the + other miners; “the diggers there gave us forty-eight hours to clear out. + The blacks killed fifteen of us and speared ten of my horses, and six more + men died on the way. We can do no harm here. We only want to spell a week, + or two weeks.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor devils!” muttered Grainger; then he said to Ah San: “Very well. Now, + you see the track going through that clump of sandalwood? Well, follow it + and you'll come to a little ironstone ridge, where you'll find a good + camping-ground just over a big pool in the creek. There's a bit of sweet + grass, too, for your horses, so they can get a good feed to-night. In the + morning this black boy will, if you like, show you a place in the ranges, + about four miles from here, where you can let them run for a week. There's + some fine grass and plenty of water, and they ought to pick up very + quickly. But you will have to keep some one to see that they don't get + round the other side of the range—through one of the gaps; if they + do, you'll lose them to a dead certainty, for there are two or three mobs + of brumbies{*} running there. Do you want any tucker?” {**} + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Wild horses. + + ** Provisions. +</pre> + <p> + “No, thank you,” replied Ah San, with an unmistakable inflexion of + gratitude in his voice; “we have plenty of rice and tea, but I should like + to buy a bullock to-morrow, if I can—I saw some cattle about two + miles from here. Is there a cattle station near here?” + </p> + <p> + “No. The cattle you saw belong to one of us—this man here,” pointing + to Jansen, “will sell you a beast to-morrow, I daresay.” + </p> + <p> + Then the armed protectors of the integrity from foreign invasion of the + rights of Chinkie's Flat nodded “Good evening” to Ah San, and walked back + across the road to the “Digger's Best,” and the Chinamen, with silent, + childlike patience, resumed their loads and trotted along after their + leader. They disappeared over the hill, and ere darkness descended the + glare of their camp fires was casting steady gleams of light upon the dark + waters of the still pool beneath the ridge. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV ~ GRAINGER AND JIMMY AH SAN TALK TOGETHER + </h2> + <p> + It was eight o'clock in the morning, and Jimmy Ah San, a fat, + pleasant-faced Chinaman, dressed in European costume, came outside his + tent, and filling his pipe, sat down on the ground, and with his hands + clasped on his knees, saw six of the white men emerge from two or three + humpies, and walk down to the new shaft to begin work. + </p> + <p> + He was well acquainted with the previous history of the spot upon which he + was now gazing, and something like a scowl darkened his good-humoured face + as he looked upon the ragged, half-famished surrivors of his company, and + thought of the past horrors and hardships of the fearful journey from the + Cloncurty. Fifteen of their number had been murdered by blacks in less + than a fortnight, and the bones of half a dozen more, who had succumbed to + exhaustion or thirst lay bleaching on a strip of desert country between + the Cloncurry and the Burdekin River. + </p> + <p> + But Ah San was a man of courage—and resource as well—and his + five-and-twenty years' experience of bush and mining life in the Far North + of Australia enabled him to pilot the remainder of his men by forced + marches to the Cape River, where they had spelled for a month so as to + gain strength for the long stage between that river and Conolly's Creek, + on one of the deserted fields of which he hoped to settle and retrieve his + broken fortunes. + </p> + <p> + As he sat and watched and thought, eight or ten members of his company + came and crouched near him, gazing with hungry eyes at the heaps of + mullock and the mounds of tailings surrounding the “Ever Victorious” + battery, watching the Europeans at work, and wondering when they, too, + would give it up and follow their departed comrades. For the Chinamen knew + that those dry and dusty heaps of mullock and grey and yellow sand, on + which the death adder and the black-necked tiger snake now coiled + themselves to sleep in the noon-day sun, still contained gold enough to + reward patient industry—industry of which the foreign-devils were + not capable when the result would be but five pennyweights a day, washed + out in the hot waters of the creek under a sky of brass, “with flour at + two-pounds-ten per 50 lb. bag,” as Dick Scott said. + </p> + <p> + Presently, turning to a sun-baked, lanky Chinaman near him—his + lieutenant—he bade him tell the men to prepare to go down to the + Creek, and drag some of the pools with a small seine. + </p> + <p> + “There are many fish in all these creeks which run into the great river” + (the Burdekin), “but I will first go to the foreigners and ask their + permission. The tall, sick man is well disposed towards us, and we must be + patient and submit to the tyranny of the others for a little while. But + all may yet be well with us if I can but get speech of him alone. + Meanwhile, keep the company under close watch; let no man wander from the + camp till I return.” + </p> + <p> + Then entering his tent, he took from a canvas pack-bag a small bottle, put + it in his coat pocket, and, descending the ridge, walked towards the + “Digger's Best.” + </p> + <p> + As he drew near, Grainger, followed by the landlord, came out of the house + and sat down on rudely made reclining chairs, composed of two pieces of + sapling, with cross-pieces, from which was slung a flour sack. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, gentlemen,” said the Chinaman politely. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning,” they replied civilly, and then Grainger, who was wearing a + heavy overcoat, for the chill of an attack of ague was near, asked him to + sit down and inquired how his men were. + </p> + <p> + “They are getting on very well, thank you, sir,” replied Ah San, “but + several of them are very weak, and will not be fit to travel for a + fortnight unless we carry them. But the rest will do them much good, + especially if they get a change of food. I have come now to ask you if you + and your mates will let us drag some of the pools in the creek for fish. + We have a small net.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” replied Jansen; “some fish will do them good, and the pools + are alive with them now that the creek is so low. And anyway, we don't + want to stop you from getting food—do we, Mr. Grainger?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly not; we have no earthly right to prevent you from taking fish + in the creek, and even if we had we should not use it. We are not brutes.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you very much,” said Ah San—and then, addressing himself to + the landlord, he asked him if he had a bullock to sell. + </p> + <p> + Jansen was an alert business man at once. He had a small herd of cattle + running wild about the creek! and was only too glad to sell a beast. + </p> + <p> + “You can have any bullock you like—the biggest in the lot—for + a fiver—but, cash down.” + </p> + <p> + The Chinaman pulled out his purse, handed him a five-pound note, and asked + when he could have the beast. + </p> + <p> + “In about an hour, if you want to kill right off; but you ought not to + kill till sundown in such weather as this. But, anyway, I'll saddle up and + get a man to help me run the mob into the stockyard. Then you can pick one + out for yourself—-there's half a dozen bullocks, and some fine young + fat cows, so you can have your choice.” + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes the landlord had caught and saddled two horses, and + riding one, and leading the other, he went off to the new shaft, where the + spare horse was mounted by one of the men working there. + </p> + <p> + Then Ah San turned to the sick man, and said interrogatively— + </p> + <p> + “You have fever?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I caught it up Normanton way in the Gulf Country six months ago, and + thought I was getting clear of it, but a month back it came on again, and + I have been pretty bad ever since.” + </p> + <p> + “I can see that, and the Gulf kind of fever is bad—very bad. I know + all about it, for I lived in the Gulf Country for ten years, and have had + it myself. Now, here is some medicine which will do you good—it will + cure you in ten days if you take a dose every time you feel the 'shakes' + coming on. But you must not eat more than you can help.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” said Grainger eagerly, as he took the bottle; “it is very + kind of you. But you may want it yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “I have three or four more bottles left. I had a dozen from the doctor at + Georgetown on the Etheridge River. He is a man who knows all about fever, + and I can assure you that you will be a well man in ten days. Show me your + hand, please.” + </p> + <p> + The European extended his hand languidly to the Chinaman, who looked at + the finger-nails for a moment or two: “You will have the 'shakes' in a few + hours.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. They generally come on as soon as the sun gets pretty high—about + nine or ten o'clock.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you must take a dose now. Can I go inside and get a glass and some + water?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, certainly. It is very good of you to take so much trouble.” + </p> + <p> + Returning with a glass and some water, the Chinaman poured out a dose of + the mixture, and with a smile of satisfaction watched the sick man drink + it. + </p> + <p> + Then Grainger and his visitor began to talk, at first on general matters + such as the condition of the country between the Cloncurry and the + Burdekin, and then about Chinkie's Flat, its past glories and its present + condition. The frank, candid manner of Ah San evoked a similar freedom of + speech from the Englishman, who recognised that he was talking to an + intelligent and astute man who knew more about the Far North of Queensland + and its gold-fields than he did himself. + </p> + <p> + Then Ah San saw the opportunity for which he had been waiting, and drawing + his seat nearer to Grainger's he spoke earnestly to him, told him exactly + of the situation of himself and his company, and ended up by making him a + certain proposition regarding the working of the abandoned claims, and the + restarting of the rusting and weather-worn “Ever Victorious” battery. + </p> + <p> + Grainger listened intently, nodding his head now and then as Ah San + emphasised some particular point. At the end of an hour's conversation + they heard the cracking of the landlord's stock whip and the bellowing of + cattle as they crossed the creek, and the Chinaman rose and held out his + hand. + </p> + <p> + “Then good morning, Mr. Grainger. I hope you will be able to convince your + mates that we can all pull together.” + </p> + <p> + “I am sure of it. We are all pretty hard up. And you and your men can help + us, and we can help you. Come down again to-night, and I'll tell you the + result of my talk with them.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V ~ THE RESURRECTION OF THE “EVER VICTORIOUS” + </h2> + <p> + At six o'clock in the evening, Grainger was seated at one end of the rough + dining-table in the “Digger's Best” with some papers laid before him, At + the other end was Dick Scott, and the rest of the men sat on either side, + smoking their pipes, and wondering what was in the wind. + </p> + <p> + Grainger did not keep them waiting long. Taking his pipe ont of his month, + and laying it on the table, he went into business at once, He spoke to + them as if he were one of themselves, adopting a simplicity of language + and manner that he knew would appeal to their common sense and judgment + far more than an elaborately prepared speech. + </p> + <p> + “Now, boys, I've got something to say, and I'll say it as quick as I can. + None of you know anything of me beyond what I have told you myself; but I + don't think any one of you will imagine I'm a man who would try to ring in + a swindle on you when I bought the old rattletrap down there?” + </p> + <p> + “Go ahead, mister,” said Dick Scott, “we didn't think no such thing. We + on'y thought you was chuckin' away your money pernicious.” + </p> + <p> + Grainger laughed so heartily that his hearers followed suit Then he went + on— + </p> + <p> + “No. I'm not throwing my money away, boys. I am going to <i>make</i> money + on this field, and so are you. But there are not enough of us. We want + more men—wages' men; and presently I'll explain <i>why</i> we shall + want them. But first of all, let me show you what I obtained the other day + out of between 200 and 250 lbs. weight of those tailings.” + </p> + <p> + He rose, went into the second room, and returned with a small enamelled + dish, and placed it upon the table. The miners rose and gathered round, + and saw lying on the bottom about an ounce and a quarter of fine powdery + gold. + </p> + <p> + “Holy Moses!” cried one of them, as he drew his forefinger through the + bright, yellow dust, “there's more than an ounce there.” + </p> + <p> + “There is,” affirmed Grainger: “there are twenty-five pennyweights, and + all that came out of not more than 250 lbs. of tailings!” + </p> + <p> + The men looked at each other with eyes sparkling with excitement, and then + Grainger poured the gold out upon a clean plate for closer examination. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” exclaimed Scott, “that means those tailings would go ten ounces to + the ton!” + </p> + <p> + “Just so,” said Grainger, “but we can't get those ten ounces out of them + by ordinary means, though with new screens, new tables and blankets I am + pretty sure we can get four ounces to the ton. But we want the ten, don't + we?” + </p> + <p> + “You bet,” was the unanimous response. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'll guarantee that we shall get eight ounces at least. But first + of all I'll tell you how I got the result. You can try some of the stuff + in the morning, and you will find that those tailings will pan out about + eight or ten ounces to the ton.” + </p> + <p> + “But acid is mighty dear stuff,” said Scott. + </p> + <p> + “Just so, but it is very good as a test, and of course we are not such + duffers as to try to treat more than a couple of thousand tons of tailings + with acid. We'd die of old age before we finished. Now, I'll get on and + tell you what I do propose. You remember that I said I had seen tailings + treated in Victoria without roasting. Well, we could do that now, though + we should only get half the gold and lose the other half in the sludge + pits. Now, as I told you, I have about four hundred pounds' worth of + alluvial gold, which I brought with me from the north, and which I can + sell to any bank in the Bay. I intended when I bought the 'Ever + Victorious' to spend this £400 in buying some fine screens, a couple of + grinding pans, and some other gold-saving machinery, so that when I was + not crushing stone for you men I could be running those tailings through. + But we can do better—now that the Chinamen are here.” + </p> + <p> + Something like dismay was depicted on the men's faces when they heard + this, but no one interrupted as he went on— + </p> + <p> + “We can do much better. Instead of treating those tailings by simply + running them through the screens again and losing half the gold, we can + build a proper roasting farnaoe, and <i>then</i> we can grind them, + keeping the stampers for crushing alone. This morning I had a long yarn + with Ah San, the boss Chinaman, and he is willing to let us have as many + of his men as we want for twenty-five shillings a week each, and indenture + them to me for six months—there's the labour we want, right to our + hand. It's cheap labour, I admit, but that is no concern of ours. The + Chows, so Ah San tells me, will be only too glad to get a six months' job + at twenty-five bob a week—of which he takes half.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye,” said Scott contemptuously, “they're only bloomin' slaves.” + </p> + <p> + “To their boss, no doubt; but not to us. They will be well pleased to work + for us and earn what they consider good wages. I propose that we get at + least twenty of them and set them to work right away. There is any amount + of good clay here, I know, and we'll start them digging. I know how to + build a brick-kiln, and we'll get a proper bricklayer up from the Bay, and + I guarantee that by the time the new machinery is up that the roasting + furnace will be built.” + </p> + <p> + “No need to get a bricklayer from the Bay and pay him about eight pound a + week,” said a man named Arthur O'Hare; “I'm a bricklayer by trade.” + </p> + <p> + “Bully for you,” said Grainger; “will you take four pounds a week to put + up the furnace and chimney?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm willing, if my mates are.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, boys, that's pretty well all I have to say. We'll build the + roasting furnace; the Chinamen will do all the bullocking{*} both at that + and the battery, and we'll put on half-a-dozen to help at the new shaft. + I'll boss the battery, drive the engine, and do the amalgamating, and you + men can go on roasting stone. Every Saturday we'll stop the battery and + clean her up, and at the end of every four weeks we'll send the gold to + the bank and go shares in the plunder. Now, tell me, what do you think? Do + you think it's a fair proposition?” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * “Bullocking”—hard work—i.e., to work like bullook. In a + team. +</pre> + <p> + After a very brief consultation together, Scott, speaking on behalf of his + mates, said they were all willing, and not only willing, but pleased to + “come in” with him, but they thought that he would only be acting fairly + to himself if he, as manager of the battery, amalgamator, and general + supervisor of the whole concern, took a salary of ten pounds a week. + </p> + <p> + “No, boys. I'll take six pounds if you like. Of course, however, you will + not object to refunding me the money I am expending on the new machinery. + As for the profits, we shall divide equally. + </p> + <p> + “Well then,” said Scott, banging his brawny fist on the table and turning + to his mates, “if you treats us in that generous way, we must do the same + with you as regards the stone we raise. Boys, I proposes that as our new + mate is finding the money to start the old battery again, and going even + shares with us in the gold from the tailings, that we go even shares with + him in whatever gold we get from the claims.” + </p> + <p> + “Right,” was the unanimous response. And then they all came up one by one + and shook hands with Grainger, whose face flushed with pleasure. Then + Jansan produced a bottle of rum and Grainger gave them a toast— + </p> + <p> + “Boys, here's good luck to us all, and here's to the day when we shall + hear the stampers banging away in the boxes and the 'Ever Victorious' be + as victorious as she was in the good old days of the field.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI ~ “MAGNETIC VILLA” + </h2> + <p> + “Magnetic Villa” was one of the “best” houses in the rising city of + Townsville. It stood on the red, rocky, and treeless side of Melton Hill, + overlooked the waters of Cleveland Bay, and faced the rather + picturesque-looking island from whence it derived its name. + </p> + <p> + About ten months after the resurrection of the “Ever Victorious” and the + concomitant reawakening to life of Chinkie's Flat, three ladies arrived by + steamer from Sydney to take possession of the villa—then untenanted. + In a few hours it was generally known that the newcomers were Mrs. + Trappème, Miss Trappème, and Miss Lilla Trappème. There was also a Master + Trappème, a lanky, ill-looking, spotted-faced youth of fourteen, in + exceedingly new and badly-fitting clothes much too large for him. By his + mother and sisters he was addressed as “Mordaunt,” though until a year or + so previously his name had been Jimmy. + </p> + <p> + A few weeks after the ladies had installed themselves in the villa there + appeared a special advertisement in the Townsville <i>Champion</i> (over + the leader) informing the public that “Mrs. Lee-Trappème is prepared to + receive a limited number of paying guests at 'Magnetic Villa.' Elegant + appointments, superior <i>cuisine</i>, and that comfort and hospitality + which can Only be obtained in a Highly-refined Family Circle.” + </p> + <p> + “Hallo!” said Mallard, the editor of the <i>Champion</i>, to Flynn, his + sub, who called his attention to the advertisement, “so 'Magnetic Villa' + is turned into a hash house, eh? Wonder who they are? 'Highly refined + family circle'—sounds fishy, doesn't it? Do you know anything about + them?” + </p> + <p> + “No, but old Maclean, the Melbourne drummer who came up in the <i>Barcoo</i> + from Sydney with them, does—at least he knew the old man, who died + about a year and a half ago.” + </p> + <p> + “What was he?” + </p> + <p> + “Bank messenger in Sydney at thirty bob a week; used to lend money to the + clerks at high interest, and did very well; for when he pegged out he left + the old woman a couple of thousand. His name was Trappem—John + Trappem, but he was better known as 'Old Jack Trap.' When they came on + board the <i>Barcoo</i> they put on no end of side, and they were 'Mrs., + the Misses, and Master Lee-Trappème.'” + </p> + <p> + “Lord! what a joke! Did the drummer give the show away on board?” + </p> + <p> + “No, for a wonder. But he told me of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Daughters good looking?” + </p> + <p> + “Younger one is not too bad; elder's a terror—thin, bony, long face, + long nose, long feet, long conceit of herself, and pretty long age, walks + mincingly, like a hen on a hot griddle, and———” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, stop it! The old woman?” + </p> + <p> + “Fat, ruddy-faced, pleasant-looking, white hair, talks of her 'poor <i>papaless</i> + girls,' &c. She's a pushing old geyser, however, and has already got + the parsons and some of the other local nobility to call on her.” + </p> + <p> + “Wonder what sort of tucker they'd give one, Flynn? I'm tired of paying £6 + a week at the beastly overcrowded dog-kennel, entitled the 'Royal' Hotel—save + the mark!—and I'm game even to try a boarding-house, but,” and here + he rubbed his chin, “this 'refined family circle' business, you know?” + </p> + <p> + “They all say that,” remarked the sub. “You couldn't expect 'em to tell + the truth and say, 'In Paradise Mansions Mrs. de Jones feeds her boarders + on anything cheap and nasty; the toilet jugs have no handles, and the + floors are as dirty as the kitchen slave, who does the cooking and waits + at table, and the family generally are objectionable in their manners and + appearance.'” + </p> + <p> + “Are you game to come with me this afternoon and inspect 'Magnetic Villa' + and the 'refined family circle'?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. And, by Jove! if you take up your quarters there, I will do so as + well. We could try it, anyway. I'm batching with Battray, the police + inspector, and three other fellows. It was only going to cost us £3 a week + each; it costs us more like £6.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course, too much liquor, and all that,” said the editor of the <i>Champion</i>, + with a merry twinkle in his eye. + </p> + <p> + Scarcely had the sub-editor left when a knock announced another visitor, + and Grainger, booted and spurred, entered the room. + </p> + <p> + Mallard jumped from his chair and shook hands warmly with him. “This is a + surprise, Grainger. When did you get to town?” + </p> + <p> + “About an hour ago. Myra is with me; her six months' visit has come to an + end, and my mother and my elder sister want her back again; so she is + leaving in the next steamer. But all the hotels are packed full, and as + the steamer does not leave for a week, I don't know how to manage. That's + why I came to see you, thinking you might know of some place where we + could put up for a week.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall be only too delighted to do all I can. The town is very full of + people just now, and the hotels are perfect pandemoniums, what with + Chinkie's Flat, the rush to the Haughton, Black Gully, and other places + Townsville is off its head with bibulous prosperity, and lodgings of any + kind fit for a lady are unobtainable. Ah, stop! I've forgotten something. + I do know of a place which might suit Miss Grainger very well. Where is + she now?” + </p> + <p> + “In the alleged sitting-room at the 'Queen's.' I gave the head waiter a + sovereign to let her have it to herself for a couple of hours whilst I + went out and saw what I could do.” + </p> + <p> + Then Mallard told Grainger of “Magnetic Villa.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us go and see this refined family,” he said with a laugh. “I don't + know them, but from what my sub tells me, I daresay Miss Grainger could + manage with them for a week. I know the house, which has two advantages: + it is large, and is away from this noisy, dirty, dusty, and sinful town.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said Grainger» as he took out his pipe, “will three o'clock + suit? My sister might come.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course. Now tell me about Chinkie's Flat. Any fresh news?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing fresh; same old thing.” + </p> + <p> + “'Same old thing!'” and Mallard spread out his arms yearningly and rolled + his eyes towards the ceiling. “Just listen to the man, O ye gods! 'The + same old thing!' That means you are making a fortune hand over fist, you + and Jimmy Ah San.” + </p> + <p> + “We are certainly making a lot of money, Mallard,” replied Grainger + quietly, as he lit his pipe and crossed his strong, sun-tanned hands over + his knee. “My own whack, so far, out of Chinkie's Flat, has come to more + than £16,000.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't say 'whack,' Grainger; it's vulgar. Say 'My own emolument, derived + in less than one year from the auriferous wealth of Chinkie's Flat, + amounts to £16,000.' You'll be going to London soon, and floating the + property for a million, and—” + </p> + <p> + Grainger, who knew the man well, and had a sincere liking and respect for + him, laughed again, though his face flushed. “You know me better than + that, Mallard; I'm not the man to do that sort of thing. I could float the + concern and make perhaps a hundred thousand or so out of it if I was + blackguard enough to do it. But, thank God, I've never done anything dirty + in my life, and never will.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't mind my idiotic attempt at a joke, Grainger,” and Mallard pat ont + his hand. “I know you are the straightest man that ever lived. But I did + really think that you would be going off to England soon, and that we—I + mean the other real friends beside myself you have made in this + God-forsaken colony—would know you no more except by reading of your + 'movements' in London.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Mallard, Australia is my home. I know nothing of England, for I left + there when I was a child. As I told you, my poor father was one of the + biggest sheep men in Victoria, and died soon after the bank foreclosed on + him. The old station, which he named 'Melinda Downs,' after my mother, who + has the good old-fashioned name of Melinda, has gone through a lot of + vicissitudes since then; but a few weeks ago my agent in Sydney bought it + for £10,000, and now my mother and sisters are going back there.” + </p> + <p> + “And yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, a year or two more—perhaps three or four; and then, when + Chinkie's Flat is worked out, I too, will go south to the old home.” + </p> + <p> + Mallard sighed, and then, taking a cigar, lit it, and the two men smoked + together in silence for a few minutes. + </p> + <p> + “Mallard!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, old man.” + </p> + <p> + “This continual newspaper grind is pretty tough, isn't it?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, it is. But thanks to you—by putting me on to the 'Day Dawn' + Reef at Chinkie's Flat—I've made a thousand or two and can chuck it + at any time.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't say 'chuck.' It's vulgar; and the editor of the 'leading journal in + North Queensland' must not be vulgar,” and he smiled. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Grainger my boy, you have been a good friend to me!” + </p> + <p> + “It's the other way about, Mallard. You were the only man in the whole + colony of Queensland who stood to me when I began to employ Chinese + labour. That ruffian, Peter Finnerty, said in the House, only two months + ago, that I deserved to be shot.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, you stuck to your guns, and I to mine. Fortunately the <i>Champion</i> + is my own 'rag,' and not owned by a company. I stuck to you as a matter of + principle.” + </p> + <p> + “And lost heavily by it.” + </p> + <p> + “For six months or so. A lot of people withdrew their advertisements; but + they were a bit surprised when at the end of that time they came back to + me, and I refused to insert their ads. at any price. I consider that you + not only did wisely, but right, in employing the Chinamen. Are they going + on satisfactorily?” + </p> + <p> + “Very; they do work for me at twenty-five shillings a week that white men + would not do at all—no matter what you offered them: emptying + sludge-pits, building dams, etc.” + </p> + <p> + “Exactly! And now all the people who rose up and howled at you for + employing Chinamen, and the <i>Champion</i> for backing you up, are + shouting themselves hoarse in your praise. And the revival of Chinkie's + Flat, and the new rushes all round about it, have added very materially to + the wealth of this town.” After a little further conversation, Grainger + went back to the Queen's Hotel, where Mallard was to call at three + o'clock. + </p> + <p> + Myra Grainger, a small, slenderly-built girl of nineteen, looked up as he + entered the sitting-room. + </p> + <p> + “Any success, Ted?” + </p> + <p> + “Here, look at this advertisement. Mallard knows the place, but not the + people. He's coming here at three, and we'll all go and interview Mrs. + Trappème—'which her real name is Trappem,' I believe.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall be glad to see Mr. Mallard again. I like him—in fact, I + liked him before I ever saw him for the way in which he fought for you.” + </p> + <p> + “And I'm strongly of the opinion that Mr. Thomas Mallard has a very strong + liking for Miss Myra Grainger.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I like him still more for that.” + </p> + <p> + Grainger patted his sister's cheek. “He is a good fellow, Myra. I think he + will ask you to marry him.” + </p> + <p> + “I certainly expect it, Ted.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII ~ SHEILA CAROLAN + </h2> + <p> + Although Mrs. Trappème had been so short a time in Townsville, she had + contrived to learn a very good deal, not only about people in the town + itself, but in the surrounding districts, and knew that Grainger was a + wealthy mine-owner, had a sister staying with him on a visit—and was + a bachelor. She also knew that Mallard was the editor of the <i>Champion</i>, + and was likewise a bachelor—in fact, she had acquired pretty well + all the information that could be acquired; her informant being the + talkative, scandal-mongering wife of the Episcopalian curate. + </p> + <p> + She was therefore highly elated when at four o'clock in the afternoon Miss + Grainger and her brother, and Mallard, after a brief inspection of the + rooms—which were really handsomely furnished—took three of the + largest and a private sitting-room, at an exorbitant figure, for a week, + and promised to be at the Villa that evening for dinner. + </p> + <p> + “He's immensely rich, Juliette,” she said to her daughter (she was + speaking of Grainger after he had gone), “and you must do your best, your + very best. Wear something very simple, as it is the first evening; and be + particularly nice to his sister—I'm sure he's very fond of her. + She'll only be here a week, but he and Mr. Mallard will probably be here a + month. So now you have an excellent chance. Don't throw it away by making + a fool of yourself.” + </p> + <p> + Juliette (who had been christened Julia, and called “Judy” for thirty-two + years of her life) set her thin lips and then replied acidly— + </p> + <p> + “It's all very well for you to talk, but whenever I did have a chance—which + was not often—you spoilt it by your interference. And if you allow + Jimmy to sit at the same table with us to-night he'll simply disgust these + new people. When you call him 'Mordaunt' the hideous little wretch grins; + and he grins too when you call me 'Juliette' and Lizzie 'Lilla.'” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Trappème's fat face scowled at her daughter, and she was about to + make an angry retort when the frontdoor bell rang. + </p> + <p> + “A lady wants to see yez, ma'am,” said the “new chum” Irish housemaid, who + had answered the door. + </p> + <p> + “Did you show her into the reception room, Mary?” + </p> + <p> + “Sure, an' is it the wee room wid the sthuffed burd in the fireplace, or + is it the wan beyant wid the grane carpet on de flore; becos' I'm after + puttin' her in the wan wid the sthuffed burd? Anny way it's a lady she is, + sure enough; an' it's little she'll moind where she do be waitin' on yez.” + </p> + <p> + “Did she send in her card, Mary?” + </p> + <p> + “Did she sind in her <i>what</i>?” + </p> + <p> + “Her card, you stupid girl.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't you be after miscallin' me, ma'am. Sure I can get forty shillings a + wake annywhere an' not be insulted by anny wan, instead av thirty here, + which I do be thinkin' is not the place to shuit me”—and the + indignant daughter of the Emerald Isle, a fresh-complexioned, handsome + young woman, tossed her pretty head and marched out. + </p> + <p> + So Mrs. Trappème went into the room “wid the sthuffed burd in it,” and + there rose to meet her a fair-haired girl of about eighteen, with + long-lashed, dark-grey eyes, and a somewhat worn and drawn expression + about her small mouth, as if she were both mentally and physically tired. + Her dress was of the simplest—a neatly fitting, dark-blue, + tailor-made gown. + </p> + <p> + “I saw your advertisement in the <i>Champion</i> this morning,” she said, + “and called to ascertain your terms.” Mrs. Trappème's big, protruding, and + offensive pale-blue eyes stared at and took in the girl's modest attire + and her quiet demeanour as a shark looks at an unsuspecting or disabled + fish which cannot escape its maws. + </p> + <p> + “Please sit down,” she said with a mingled ponderous condescension and + affability. “I did not <i>advertise</i>. I merely <i>notified</i> in the + <i>Champion</i> that I would receive paying guests. But my terms are very + exclusive.” “What are they?” + </p> + <p> + “Five guineas a week exclusive of extras, which, in this place, amount to + quite a guinea more. You could not afford that, I suppose?” + </p> + <p> + The dark-grey eyes flashed, and then looked steadily at those of the fishy + blue. + </p> + <p> + “Your terms are certainly very high, but I have no option. I find it + impossible to get accommodation in Townsville. I only arrived from Sydney + this morning in the <i>Corea</i>, and as I am very tired, I should like to + rest in an hour or so—as soon as you can conveniently let me have my + room,” and taking out her purse she placed a £5 note, a sovereign, and six + shillings on the table. + </p> + <p> + “Will you allow me to pay you in advance?” she said, with a tinge of + sarcasm in her clear voice. “I will send my luggage up presently.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Trappème at once became most affable. She had noticed that the purse + the girl had produced was literally stuffed with new £5 notes. + </p> + <p> + “May I send for it?” she said beamingly, “and will you not stay and go to + your room now?” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you,” was the cold reply, “I have some business to attend to + first. Can you tell me where Mr. Mallard, the editor of the <i>Champion</i>, + lives? I know where the office is, but as it is a morning paper, I should + not be likely to find him there at this early hour.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Trappème was at once devoured with curiosity. “How very + extraordinary! Mr. Mallard was here only half an hour ago with a Mr. + Grainger and Miss Grainger. They are coming here to stay for a few weeks.” + </p> + <p> + The girl's fair face lit up. “Oh, indeed! I am sorry I was not here, as I + particularly wish to see Mr. Grainger also. I had no idea that he was in + Townsville, and was calling on Mr. Mallard—who, I know, is a friend + of his—to ascertain when he was likely to be in town.” + </p> + <p> + “They will all be here for dinner, Miss——” + </p> + <p> + “My name is Carolan,” and taking out her cardcase she handed Mrs. Trappème + a card on which was inscribed, “Miss Sheila Carolan.” + </p> + <p> + “Then Mr. Grainger is a friend of yours?” said Mrs. Trappème + inquisitively, thinking of the poor chance Juliette would have with such a + Richmond in the field as Miss Sheila Carolan. + </p> + <p> + “No, I have never even seen him,” said the girl stiffly, and then she + rose. + </p> + <p> + “Then you will send for my luggage, Mrs. Trappème?” + </p> + <p> + “With pleasure, Miss Carolan. But will you not look at your room, and join + my daughter and myself in our afternoon tea?” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you, I think I shall first try and see either Mr. Mallard or + Mr. Grainger. Do you know where Mr. Mallard lives?” + </p> + <p> + “At the Royal Hotel in Flinders Street. My daughter Lilla will be + delighted to show you the way.” + </p> + <p> + But Miss Sheila Carolan was stubborn, and declined the kind offer, and + Mrs. Trappème, whose curiosity was now at such a pitch that she was + beginning to perspire, saw her visitor depart, and then called for + Juliette. + </p> + <p> + “I wonder who she is and what she wants to see Mr. Grainger for?” she said + excitedly, as she mopped her florid face: “doesn't know him, and yet wants + to see him particularly. There is something mysterious about her.” + </p> + <p> + “What is she like?” asked Miss Trappème eagerly. “I didn't see her face, + but her clothes are all right, I can tell you.” (She knew all about + clothes, having been a forewoman in a Sydney drapery establishment for + many years.) + </p> + <p> + “Oh, a little, common-looking thing, but uppish. I wonder what on earth + she <i>does</i> want to see Mr. Grainger for?” + </p> + <p> + Half an hour later, when Miss Carolan's luggage arrived, it was duly + inspected and criticised by the whole Trappème family. Each trunk bore a + painted address: “Miss Carolan, Minerva Downs, Dalrymple, North + Queensland.” + </p> + <p> + “Now where in the world is Minerva Downs?” said Mrs. Trappème, “and why on + earth is she going there? And her name too—Carolan—Sheila + Carolan! I suppose she's a Jewess.” + </p> + <p> + “Indade, an' it's not that she is, ma'am, whatever it manes,” indignantly + broke in Mary, who had helped to carry in the luggage, and now stood erect + with flaming face and angry eyes. “Sure an' I tould yez she was a lady, + an' anny wan cud see she was a lady, an' Carolan is wan av the best names + in Ireland—indade it is.” + </p> + <p> + “You may leave the room, Mary,” said Miss Trappème loftily. + </p> + <p> + “Lave the room, is it, miss? Widout maning anny disrespect to yez, I might + as well be telling yez that I'm ready to lave the place intirely, an' so + is the cook an' stableman, an' the gardener. Sure none av us—having + been used to the gintry—want to sthay in a place where we do be + getting talked at all day.” + </p> + <p> + The prospect of all her servants leaving simultaneously was too awful for + Mrs. Trappème to contemplate. So she capitulated. + </p> + <p> + “Don't be so hasty, Mary. I suppose, then, that Miss Carolan is an + Irishwoman?” + </p> + <p> + “She is that, indade. Sore an' her swate face toold me so before she spoke + to me at all, at all.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you must look after her wants yery carefully, Mary. She will only be + here for a few weeks.” + </p> + <p> + Mary's angry eyes softened. “I will that ma'am. Sure she's a sweet young + lady wid the best blood in her, I'm thinkin'.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Trappème sniffed. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII ~ MYRA AND SHEILA + </h2> + <p> + There was nothing mysterious about Sheila Carolan; her story was a very + simple one. Her parents were both dead, and she had no relatives, with the + exception of an aunt, and with her she had lived for the last five years. + The two, however, did not agree very well, and Sheila being of a very + independent spirit, and possessing a few hundred pounds of her own, + frankly told her relative that she intended to make her own way in the + world. There was living in North Queensland a former great friend of her + mother's—a Mrs. Farrow, whose husband was the owner of a large + cattle station near Dalrymple—and to her she wrote asking her if she + could help her to obtain a situation as a governess. Six weeks later she + received a warmly worded and almost affectionate letter. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “My dear Sheila,—Why did you not write to me long, long + ago, and tell me that you and your Aunt Margaret did not get + on well together! I remember as a girl that she was somewhat + 'crotchetty.' I am not going to write you a long letter. <i>I + want you to come to us</i>. Be my children's governess—and I + really do want a governess for them—but remember that you + are coming to your mother's friend and schoolmate, and that + although you will receive £100 a year—if that is too little + let us agree for £160—it does not mean that you will be + anything else to me but the daughter of your dear mother. + Now I must tell you that Minerva Downs is a difficult place + to reach, and that you will have to ride all the way from + Townsville—250 miles—but that will be nothing to an + Australian-born girl 'wid Oirish blood in her.' When you get + to Townsville call on Mr. Mallard, the editor of the + <i>Champion</i>, who is a friend of ours (I've written him), and + he will 'pass' you on to another friend of ours, a Mr. + Grainger, who lives at a mining town called Chinkie's Flat, + ninety miles from here, and Mr. Grainger (don't lose your + heart to him, and defraud my children of their governess) + will 'pass' you on with the mailman for Minerva Downs. The + enclosed will perhaps be useful (it is half a year's salary + you advance), and my husband and <i>all</i> my large and furious + family of rough boys and rougher girls will be delighted to + see you. + + “Very sincerely yours, my dear Sheila, + + “Noba Fabbow.” + </pre> + <p> + With the letter was enclosed a cheque for £50 on a Sydney bank. + </p> + <p> + As the girl descended Melton Hill into hot, dusty, and noisy Flinders + Street, she smiled to herself as she thought how very much she had + stimulated the curiosity of Mrs. Trappème—to whom she had, almost + unconsciously, taken an instinctive dislike. + </p> + <p> + As she entered the crowded vestibule of the Royal Hotel, a group of men—diggers, + sugar planters, storekeepers, bankers, ship captains, and policemen, who + were all laughing hilariously at some story which was being told by one of + their number—at once made a lane for her to approach the office, for + ladies—especially young and pretty ladies—were few in + comparison to the men in North Queensland in those days, and a murmured + whisper of admiration was quite audible to her as she made her inquiry of + the clerk. + </p> + <p> + “No; Mr. Mallard is with Mr. and, Miss Grainger at the 'Queen's.' He left + here a few minutes ago.” + </p> + <p> + “May I show you the way, miss?” said a huge bearded man, who, booted and + spurred, took off his hat to her in an awkward manner. “I'm Dick Scott, + one of Mr. Grainger's men.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” replied Sheila, “it is very kind of you,” and, escorted by + the burly digger, she went out into the street again. + </p> + <p> + “Are you Miss Caroline, ma'am?” said her guide to her respectfully, as he + tried to shorten his lengthy strides. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, my name is Carolan,” she replied, trying to hide a smile. + </p> + <p> + “Thought so, ma'am. I heerd the boss a-tellin' Miss Grainger as you would + be a-comin' to Chinkie's on yer way up ter Minervy Downs. Here's the + 'Queen's,' miss, an' there's the boss and his sister and Mr. Mallard on + the verandah there havin' a cooler,” and then, to her amusement and + Grainger's astonishment, Mr. Dick Scott introduced her. + </p> + <p> + “This is Miss Caroline, boss. I picked her up at the 'Royal,'” and then, + without another word, he marched off again with a proud consciousness of + having “done the perlite thing.” + </p> + <p> + “I am Sheila Carolan, Mr. Grainger. I was at the 'Royal 'asking for Mr. + Mallard when Mr. Scott kindly brought me here.” + </p> + <p> + “I am delighted to meet you, Miss Carolan,” said Grainger, who had risen + and extended his hand. “I had not the slightest idea you had arrived.” And + then he introduced her to his sister and Mallard. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Miss Carolan, please let me give you a glass of this—it is + simply lovely and cold,” said Myra, pouring some champagne into a glass + with some crashed ice in it. “My brother is the proad possessor of a big + but rapidly diminishing lump of ice, which was sent to him by the captain + of the <i>Corea</i> just now.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Miss Grainger. I really am very thirsty. I have had quite a + lot of walking about to-day. I have a letter to you, Mr. Mallard, from + Mrs. Farrow,” and she handed the missive to him. + </p> + <p> + “I am so very sorry I did not know of your arrival, Miss Carolan,” said + Mallard. “I would have met you on board, but, as a matter of fact, I did + not expect you in the <i>Corea</i>, as she is a very slow boat.” + </p> + <p> + “I was anxious to get to Mrs. Farrow,” Sheila explained, “and so took the + first steamer.” + </p> + <p> + “Where are you staying, Miss Carolan?” asked Myra. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I've been very fortunate. I have actually secured a room at 'Magnetic + Villa,' on Melton Hill; in fact I went there just after you had left.” + </p> + <p> + Myra clapped her hands with delight. “Oh, how lovely! I shall be there for + a week, and my brother and Mr. Mallard are staying there as well.” + </p> + <p> + “So Mrs. Lee Trappème informed me,” said Sheila with a bright smile. + </p> + <p> + Mallard—an irrepressible joker and mimic—at once threw back + his head, crossed his hands over his chest, and bowed in such an exact + imitation of Mrs. Trappème that a burst of laughter followed. + </p> + <p> + “Now you two boys can run away and play marbles for a while, as Miss + Carolan and I want to have a little talk before we go to the 'refined + family circle' for dinner,” said Myra to her brother. “It is now six + o'clock; our luggage has gone up, and so, if you will come back for us in + half an hour, we will let you escort us there—to the envy of all the + male population of this horrid, dusty, noisy town.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said Grainger with a laugh, “Mallard and I will contrive to + exist until then,” and the two men went off into the billiard-room. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Miss Carolan,” said the lively Myra, as she opened the door of the + sitting-room and carried in the table on which were the glasses, champagne + bottle, and ice, “we'll put these inside first. The sight of that ice will + make every man who may happen to see it and who knows Ted come and + introduce himself to me. Oh, this is a very funny country! I'm afraid it + rather shocked you to see me drinking champagne on an hotel verandah in + full view of passers-by. But, really, the whole town is excited—it + has gold-fever on the brain—and then all the men are so nice, + although their free and easy ways used to astonish me considerably at + first. But diggers especially are such manly men—-you know what I + mean.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, quite. I know I shall like North Queensland. There were quite a + number of diggers on board the <i>Carea</i>, and one night we held a + concert in the saloon and I sang 'The Kerry Dance'—I'm an Irishwoman—and + next morning a big man named O'Hagan, one of the steerage passengers, came + up and asked me if I would 'moind acceptin' a wee bit av a stone,' and he + handed me a lovely specimen of quartz with quite two ounces of gold in it. + He told me he had found it on the Shotover River, in New Zealand. I didn't + know what to say or do at first, and then he paid me such a compliment + that I fairly tingled all over with vanity. 'Sure an' ye'll take the wee + bit av a stone from me, miss,' he said. 'I'm a Kerry man meself, an' when + I heard yez singin' “The Kerry Dance,” meself and half a dozen more men + from the oold sod felt that if ye were a man we'd have carried yez around + the deck in a chair.” + </p> + <p> + “How nice of him!” said Myra; “but they are all like that. Nearly every + one of my brother's men at Chinkie's Flat gave me something in the way of + gold specimens when I left there.” + </p> + <p> + “Then,” resumed Sheila, “in the afternoon <i>all</i> the steerage + passengers sent me and the captain what they call a 'round robin,' and + asked if he would let them have a concert in the steerage, and if I would + sing. And we did have it—on the deck—and I had to sing that + particular song <i>three</i> times.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish I had been there! Do you know, Miss Carolan, that that big man who + brought you here—Dick Scott—rough and uneducated as he is, is + a gentleman. On our way down from Chinkie's Flat we had to swim our horses + across the Ross River, which was in flood. When we reached the other side + I was, of course, wet through, and my hair had come down, and I looked + like a half-drowned cat, I suppose. There is a public-house on this side + of the Ross, and we went there at once to change our clothes, which were + in canvas saddle bags on a pack-horse, and came over dry. The public-house + was full of people, among whom were three commercial travellers, who were + doing what is called 'painting the place red'—they were all + half-intoxicated. As I came in wet and dripping they leered at me, and one + of them said, 'Look at the sweet little ducky—poor little darling—with + her pitty ickle facey-wacey all wet and coldy-woldy.' Ted was not near me + at the time, but Scott heard, and ten minutes later, as I was changing my + clothes, I heard a dreadful noise, and the most <i>awful</i> language, and + then a lot of cheering. I dressed as quickly as possible and went out into + the dining-room, and there on the floor were the three commercial + travellers. Their faces looked simply dreadful, smothered in blood, and I + felt quite sick. At the other end of the room were a lot of men, miners + and stockmen, who were surrounding Dick Scott, slapping him on the back, + and imploring him to drink with them. It seems that as soon as I had gone + to my room to change, the valiant Dick had told them that the 'drummers' + had insulted Mr. Grainger's sister, and in a few minutes the room was + cleared and a ring formed, and Dick actually did what the landlord termed + 'smashed up the whole three in five minutes.'” + </p> + <p> + “I'm sure I shall like Mr. Dick Scott,” said Sheila. “I had to try hard + and not laugh when he pointed to you, and said in his big, deep voice, + 'There they are, having a “cooler”'—I thought at first he meant you + were cooling yourselves.” + </p> + <p> + “Any drink is called a 'cooler,' “explained Myra; “but, oh dear, how I do + chatter! The fact is, I'm so wildly excited, and want to talk so much that + I can't talk fast enough. But I <i>must</i> first of all tell you this—I'm + really most sincerely glad to meet you, for I feel as if I knew you well. + Mrs. Farrow—I spent a week at Minerva Downs—told me you were + coming, and that she was longing to see you. I am sure you will be very, + very happy with her. She is the most lovable, sweet woman in the world, + and when she spoke of your mother her eyes filled with tears. And the + children are simply <i>splendid</i>. I suppose I am unduly fond of them + because they made so much of me, and think that my brother is the finest + rider in the world—'and he is that, indade'—isn't that Irish?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Sheila smilingly, “that is Irish; and I am sure I shall be + very happy there.” + </p> + <p> + Myra Grainger, who was certainly, as she had said, wildly excited, + suddenly moved her chair close to that on which Sheila sat. + </p> + <p> + “Miss Carolan, I'm sure that you and I will always be great 'chums'—as + they say here in North Queensland—and I'm just dying to tell you of + something. Within this last hour I have become engaged to Mr. Mallard! + Even Ted doesn't know it yet. Oh, I have heaps and heaps of things to tell + you. Can't we have a real, nice long talk to-night?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed we can,” said Sheila, looking into the girl's bright, happy face. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX ~ DINNER WITH “THE REFINED FAMILY” + </h2> + <p> + Somewhat to the annoyance of Grainger and his friends, they found on their + arrival at “Magnetic Villa” that there were several other visitors there + who had apparently come to dine. Whether they were personal friends of + Mrs. Trappème or not, or were “paying guests” like themselves, they could + not at first discover. + </p> + <p> + “Dinner will be ready at eight o'clock, Miss Grainger,” said Mrs. Trappème + sweetly to Myra, who with Sheila had been shown into their private + sitting-room; and then she added quickly, as she heard a footstep in the + passage, “You have not met my daughter. Come, Juliette, dear—Miss + Grainger, my eldest daughter; Miss Carolan, Miss Trappème.” + </p> + <p> + The two girls bowed rather coldly to Miss Trappème, who, after the usual + commonplaces, asked Miss Grainger if she were not tired. + </p> + <p> + “Very—and so is Miss Carolan. We shall be glad of an hour's rest + before dinner.” + </p> + <p> + The hint was unmistakable, and Miss Trappème smiled herself out, inwardly + raging at what she told her mother was Sheila's forwardness in so soon + thrusting herself upon Miss Grainger. + </p> + <p> + As she went out, Sheila looked at Myra and laughed. “We are certainly + meant to be treated as members of the family, whether we like it or not. I + wonder if the other people we saw are as pushful as 'Mamma' and + 'Juliette.'” + </p> + <p> + “I trust not; that would be awful—even for a week.” + </p> + <p> + Mallard was in Grainger's room, sprawled out on the bed, talking to him + and smoking, whilst the latter was opening a leather trunk which contained + some bottles of whisky and soda water, and a small box which held the + remains of the ice. + </p> + <p> + “We can't let this 'melt on as,' as the Irish would say, Mallard,” and he + placed it in the toilet basin in its covering of blanket. “Now move your + lazy self and break a piece off with your knife, whilst I open this bottle + of Kinahan's and some soda. I trust the cultured family will not object to + the sound of a cork popping at seven o'clock.” + </p> + <p> + “Not they,” said Mallard, as he rose; “they would not mind if you took the + whisky to the table and drank it out of the bottle. Oh, I can gauge the + old dame pretty well, I think; avarice is writ large in her face, and + she'll squeeze us all she can. She told me in a mysterious aside that the + butler kept all the very best wines and liquor obtainable. I thanked her, + and said I usually provided my own. She didn't like it a bit; but I'm not + going to pay her a sovereign for a bottle of whisky or Hennessey when I + can get a case of either for a five-pound note. Oh!” he added disgustedly, + “they're all alike.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, don't worry, old man,” said his friend philosophically, as he + handed him a glass; “there, take this. I wonder if Mrs. Trap—Trapper, + or whatever her name is, thinks we are going to dress for dinner. Neither + my sister nor Miss Carolan will, and I'm sure I'm not going to establish a + bad precedent.” + </p> + <p> + “Same here. If other people like to waste time dressing for dinner, let + them; this town is altogether too new and thriving a place for busy men + like ourselves to worry about evening dress. By the way, Grainger, I've + some news for you that I trust will give you pleasure: your sister has + promised to marry me next year.” + </p> + <p> + Grainger grasped his friend's hand. “I'm glad, very glad, old man. I was + wondering what made her so unusually bright this afternoon; but she has + kept it dark.” + </p> + <p> + “Hasn't had a chance to tell you yet. I only asked her a couple of hours + ago.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, let us go and see her and Miss Carolan before dinner. I can hear + them talking in the sitting-room. Hallo! who is that little fellow out + there crossing the lawn with the younger Miss Trappème. He's in full + fig..” + </p> + <p> + Mallard looked out of the window and saw a very diminutive man in evening + dress. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that's little Assheton, the new manager for the Australian Insurance + Company. He's just out from England. He's a fearfully conceited ape, but a + smart fellow at the insurance business. Great fun at the 'Queen's' the + other day with him. He came in, dressed in frock coat, tall hat, and + carrying a thick, curly stick as big as himself. Of course every one + smiled, and he took it badly—couldn't see what there was to laugh + at; and when old Charteris, the Commissioner, asked him how much he would + 'take for the hat,' he put his monocle up and said freezingly, 'Sir, I do + not know you.' That made us simply howl, and then, when we had subsided a + bit, Morgan the barrister, who is here on circuit with Judge Cooper, said + in that fanny, deep, rumbling voice of his— + </p> + <p> + “'Are you, sir, one of the—ah—ah—circus company which—ah—arrived + to-day?' + </p> + <p> + “The poor little beggar was furious, lost his temper, and called us a lot + of ill-mannered, vulgar fellows, and then some one or other whipped off + the offending hat, threw it into the street, and made a cockshy of it. + </p> + <p> + “'I'll have satisfaction for this outrage!' he piped. 'Landlord, send for + a policeman. I'll give all these men in charge. Your house is very + disorderly. Do you know <i>who</i> I am?' + </p> + <p> + “'No, nor do I care,' said old Cramp, down whose cheeks the tears were + running; 'but if you'll come here like that every day, I'll give you a + sovereign, and we'll have the hat. Oh, you're better than any circus I + ever saw. Oh, oh, oh!' and he went off into another fit. + </p> + <p> + “The poor little man looked at us in a dazed sort of a way—thought + us lunatics, and then when old Char-tens asked him not to mind a bit of + miners' horseplay, but to sit down and have some fizz, he called him 'an + audacious ruffian,' and shrieked out— + </p> + <p> + “'I am Mr. B. D. Assheton—the manager of the Australian Insurance + Company. Do you possibly imagine I would drink with a person <i>like you</i>?'” + </p> + <p> + Grainger laughed: “It must have been great fun.” + </p> + <p> + “Rather—but the cream of it is to come yet. He rushed oat into + Flinders Street, found Sergeant Doyle and a policeman, and came back + panting and furious, and pointing, to Charteris, told them to take him in + charge. Doyle looked at us blankly, saw we were nearly dead with laughing, + and then took Assheton aside, and said in his beautiful brogue— + </p> + <p> + “'Me little mahn, it's drinkin' ye've been. Do yez want me to arrest the + Po-liss Magisthrate himsilf? Who are ye at all, at all? Ye'd betther be + after goin' home and lyin' down, or I'll lock ye up for making a + dishturbance. Do ye moind me now?'” + </p> + <p> + Grainger could no longer control his laughter, and in the midst of it, + Myra tapped vigorously at the door, He rose and opened it. + </p> + <p> + “Whatever is all this noise about, Ted? You two great boys!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, take Mallard away, Myra, for heaven's sake!” + </p> + <p> + A little before eight o'clock the deafening clamour of a gong announced + dinner, and the company filed in. Mrs. Trappème and the Misses Trappème + were in “very much evening dress” as Sheila murmured to Myra, and they + seemed somewhat surprised that neither Miss Grainger nor Miss Carolan had + donned anything more unusual than perfectly-made dainty gowns of cool + white Indian muslin. Grainger and Mallard wore the usual white duck suits + (the most suitable and favoured dress for a climate like that of torrid + North Queensland), and Sheila could not but admire their big well-set-up + figures—both were “six feet men”—and contrast their handsome, + bronzed and bearded faces with the insignificant appearance of Assheton + and another gentleman in evening dress—a delicate but exceedingly + gentlemanly young Scotsman. Of course there were more introductions—all + of which were duly and unnecessarily carried out by Mrs. Trappème. Others + of that lady's guests were the local Episcopalian clergyman and his wife—the + former was a placid, dreamy-looking, mild creature, with soft, kindly + eyes. He smiled at everybody, was evidently in abject terror of his wife—a + hard-featured lady about ten years his senior, with high cheek-bones and + an exceedingly corrugated neck and shoulders. She eyed Myra and Sheila + with cold dissatisfaction, and after dinner had once begun, devoted + herself to the task of extracting information from the latter regarding + her future movements. She had already discussed her with Mrs. Trappème, + and had informed her hostess that she had “suspicions” about a girl who + affected mystery in the slightest degree, and who could afford to pay six + guineas a week for simple board and lodging. + </p> + <p> + “Quite so, Mrs. Wooler,” Mrs. Trappème had assented; “I must confess it + doesn't look quite right. Even Juliette thinks it very strange for her to + be so reticent as to who she is and where she is going. Of course I could + have refused to receive her, and am now rather sorry I did not. I + understood from her that Mr. Grainger was an utter stranger to her—and + I was quite surprised to see them all come in together as if they had + known each other for years. Not quite correct, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Grainger is very rich,” said the clergyman's wife meditatively. + </p> + <p> + “Very,” said her friend, who knew that Mrs. Wooler meant to do a little + begging (for church purposes) as soon as opportunity offered. + </p> + <p> + “It would be a pity for him to be involved with such a—a + forward-looking young person,” she said charitably. + </p> + <p> + But for the first quarter of an hour she had no opportunity of satisfying + her curiosity, for Sheila was quite hungry enough not to waste too much + time in conversation. At last, however, a chance came, when Mr. Assheton + said in his mincing voice— + </p> + <p> + “I believe, Miss Carolan, that like me, you are quite a new arrival in + this country.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, dear no! I have lived here ever since I was two years old.” + </p> + <p> + “Heah! in Townsville?” + </p> + <p> + “I meant Australia,” Sheila observed placidly. + </p> + <p> + “Then you are not an Australian born, Miss Carolan?” put in Mrs. Wooler + with a peculiarly irritating condescension of manner and surprised tone, + as if she meant to say, “I am sure you are—you certainly are not + lady-like enough to be an English girl.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I am not,” was the reply. “Do you think you will like Queensland, Mr. + Assheton?” + </p> + <p> + “I really have as yet formed no definite impression. Possibly I may in the + end contrive to like it.” + </p> + <p> + “Do. It would be a great pity for the country if you did not,” said Sheila + gravely, without moving an eyelid. + </p> + <p> + “Do you purpose making a long stay in Queensland, Miss Carolan?” pursued + Mrs. Wooler. + </p> + <p> + “A very long one, perhaps—perhaps on the other hand a very short + one. Or it may be that I may adopt a middle course, and do neither.” + </p> + <p> + Grainger, who was opposite, heard her, and as she looked across at him, he + saw that she was “playing” her questioner and quite enjoying it. + </p> + <p> + Never for one moment did the clergyman's wife dream that Sheila meant to + be anything else but evasive, so she followed up. To her mind it was + absolutely incredible that any woman would dare to snub her—Mrs. + Wooler—daughter of a dean, and possessing an uncle who had on + several occasions been spoken of by the Bishop of Dullington as his + probable successor; such a thing was impossible! + </p> + <p> + “I presume, however, that your stay in Townsville itself will be short, + Miss Carolan? You will find it a very expensive place—especially if + you have no friends to whom you can go.” + </p> + <p> + Sheila's face flushed. Her blood was getting up, and Myra looked at her + nervously. + </p> + <p> + “Is there no 'Girls' Friendly Society,' 'Young Women's Christian + Association,' or other kindred institution, where I could 'be taken in and + done for'?” she asked sweetly. + </p> + <p> + “Not as yet; but I am thinking of taking steps to found a Girls' Friendly + Society. Such an institution will soon be a necessity in a growing place + like this.” + </p> + <p> + “How nice it would be for me to go there instead of staying at—at a + boarding house!” + </p> + <p> + Juliette Trappème's sallow face flushed with rage, and Mrs. Trappème, who + saw that something was occurring, spoke loudly to Mr. Wooler, who answered + in his usual soft voice. But Mallard, who was seated next to Miss Lilla + Trappème, shot Sheila an encouraging glance. + </p> + <p> + “Quite so,” went on Mrs. Wooler. “I disapprove most strongly of any young + woman incurring risks that can be avoided.” + </p> + <p> + “What risks?” and Sheila turned and looked steadily at Mrs. Wooler. + </p> + <p> + The sharp query somewhat upset the inquisitive lady, who hardly knew what + she meant herself. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, the risks of getting into debt—living beyond one's means—and + things like that.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I see, madam,” and Sheila bowed gravely, although the danger signals + were showing now on her cheeks. Then she added very clearly and + distinctly, “That would be most dreadful to happen to any one, would it + not, Mr. Assheton?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, howwible—for a lady.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” she went on—and as she spoke she gazed so intently into Mrs. + Wooler's face that every one at the table saw her change colour—“but + I am sure, Mrs. Wooler, that no girl could possibly come to such a sad + condition while <i>you</i> are in Townsville, to give her the benefit of + <i>your</i> years, <i>your</i> advice, and <i>your</i> experience—even + though that advice was thrust upon her in a manner that I believe might + possibly cause well-deserved resentment,” and then, with a scornful smile + still on her lips, she turned to Mr. Assheton and asked him sweetly if he + did not “think it was beginning to be very warm so early in the year?” + </p> + <p> + “By heavens!” mattered Mallard to Myra, “she has done the parson woman + good. Look at her face. It's unpleasant to look at.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wooler's features were a study. Unable to speak, and her hands + trembling with rage, she gave the girl one glance of hatred, and then + tried to eat; and Viveash, who had the sense to do so, at once began + telling her some idiotic and pointless story about himself when he sang in + a cathedral choir until his voice “failed him.” + </p> + <p> + Just then a long ring was heard at the front door, and the butler + presently came to Mallard, and said— + </p> + <p> + “One of the reporters, sir, from the <i>Champion</i> wishes to see you. + Most important, sir, he says. Will you please see him at once?” + </p> + <p> + Making his excuses, Mallard left the dining-room and went into one of the + sitting-rooms, where the reporter was awaiting him. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X ~ THE “CHAMPION” ISSUES A “SPECIAL” + </h2> + <p> + Ten minutes later Mallard was at the hall door giving instructions to the + reporter. + </p> + <p> + “Hurry back as fast as you can, Winthrop, and tell Mr. Flynn to rash the + special through. And as fast as any farther news come in rap out another. + Get all the boys you can, and distribute the specials everywhere—anywhere. + Chuck some over into the cemetery—they'll make the dead 'get up and + holler.' Tell the boys that they are not to make any charge—get the + foreman to head it 'Special! Gratis! (Any one newsboy who makes a charge + for this special will be immediately dismissed.)' See? And tell the boys + they will get five shillings each extra in the morning. I'll be down in + another twenty minâtes or so. Go on, Winthrop, loop!” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Winthrop, who was as excited as Mallard himself, “looped,” and the + editor returned to the dining-room with a galley-proof slip in his hand. + Every one, of coarse, saw by his face that something had occurred. + </p> + <p> + “I won't sit down again, Mrs. Trappème, if you and the other ladies will + excuse me, for I have to hurry back to the office to attend to some + important business. There is great news.” Then, bending down, he placed + his hand on Grainger's shoulder, and whispered, “You must come with me, + old man. There is glorious news from Chinkie's. I'll tell you all about it + in a minute, as soon as we are outside. Make your apologies and let us + go,” and then going over to Mrs. Trappème, he handed her the proof to read + to her guests and hurried out with Grainger, leaving every one in the room + eager to learn what had occurred. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, dear me!” began Mrs. Lee-Trappème, adjusting her pince-nez, which + always interfered with her sight. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “SPECIAL. 'TOWNSVILLE CHAMPION.' + + “WRECK. + + “9 P.M., May 2nd. “Authentic news has just reached the + <i>Champion</i> office that the mail steamer <i>Flintshire</i> was + wrecked on the Great Barrier Beef three days ago (the 5th). + All the crew and passengers—200 in number-were saved, and + are now on their way to Townsville. [Further particulars + later.]” + </pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “DREADFUL MASSACRE BY THE NOTORIOUS BLACK OUTLAWS. + + “The Clonourry mail, which has been delayed by floods, + brings news of a terrible massacre perpetrated by the ootlaw + black ex-troopers Sandy and Daylight. A party of five miners + who were camped at a lagoon near Dry Creek were surprised + and murdered in their sleep by the two outlaws and a number + of myall blacks. The bodies were found by the mail man. + Inspector Lamington and a patrol of Native Polioe leave to- + morrow to punish the murderers. Detailed particulars of the + affair will be given in to-morrow's issue—Mudoch, the mail + man, being too exhausted to stand the test of a long + interview to-night.” + </pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “WONDERFUL GOLD DISCOVERY NEAR CHINKIN'S FLAT. + + “A NEW EL DORADO. “MR. GRAINGER + AND HIS PARTNERS THE LUCKY MEN. + + “By the Clonourry mail, which brought intelligence of the + tragedy at Dry Creek, also comes most pleasurably exciting + news. The 'Ever Victorious Grainger,' as his many friends + often designate him, some months ago sent out a prospecting + party to try the country near the headwaters of Banshee + Greek, with the result that probably the richest alluvial + field in Australia has been discovered. Over 2,000 os. of + gold—principally in nuggets ranging from 100 oz. to 2 oz.— + have already been taken by Mr. Grainger's party. Warden + Charteris, accompanied by an escort of white and black + polioe, leaves for the place to-morrow night. The news of + this wonderfully rich field has been two weeks reaching + Townsville owing to the flooded condition of the country + between Banshee Creek and Chinkie's Flat. + + “Mr. Grainger is at present in this city on a short visit. + His good fortune will benefit the country at large as well + as himself and his energetic partners.” + </pre> + <p> + “Dear me, how very exciting to be getting gold so easily!” said Mrs. + Trappème, as she laid the proof on the table; “your brother will be + delighted, Miss Grainger.” + </p> + <p> + “He will be pleased, of course,” absented Myra. “He always had a belief + that a rich alluvial gold-field would be discovered in the Banshee Creek + country. He sent this particular prospecting party away nearly two months + ago.” + </p> + <p> + “What a hawwid story about the murdered diggahs!” said Mr. Assheton to + Myra. “Did it occur neah where you were living, Miss Graingah?” + </p> + <p> + “About a hundred miles further westward, towards the Minerva Downs + district. These two men, Sandy and Daylight, have committed quite a number + of murders during the past two years. They killed five or six poor Chinese + diggers on the Cloncurry Road last year. They are both well armed, and it + is almost impossible to capture them, as they retreat to the ranges + whenever pursued.” + </p> + <p> + “They are a most ferocious and desperate pair,” said Mr. Wooler, who then + told their story, which was this:— + </p> + <p> + Some two or three years previously Sandy and Daylight, who belonged to one + of the Native Police camps in the Gulf district,{*} had, while out on + patrol, urged one of their comrades to join with them in murdering their + white officer and then absconding. The other man refused, and, later on in + the day, secretly told the officer that he was in great danger of being + shot if he rode on ahead of the patrol as usual. As soon as the party + returned to camp the two traitors were quietly disarmed, handcuffed, and + then chained to a log till the morning. During the night they managed to + free themselves (aided, no doubt, by the trooper who was detailed to guard + them), killed the man who had refused to join them by cleaving his skull + open with a blow from a tomahawk, and then decamped to the ranges with + their rifles and ammunition. They found a refuge and safe retreat with the + savage myalls (wild blacks) inhabiting the granite ranges, and then began + a career of robbery and murder. Small parties of prospectors found it + almost impossible to pursue their vocation in the “myall country,” for the + dreaded ex-troopers and their treacherous and cannibal allies were ever, + on the watch to cut them off. In the course of a few months, by surprising + and killing two unfortunate Chinese packers, the desperadoes became + possessed of their repeating rifles and a lot of ammunition, and the old + single-shot police carbines were discarded for the more effective weapons. + Sandy, who was the leader, was a noted shot, and he and his companion now + began to haunt the vicinity of isolated mining camps situated in country + of the roughest description. Parties of two or three men who had perhaps + located themselves in some almost inaccessible spot would go on working + for a few weeks in apparent security, leaving one of their number to guard + the camp and horses, and on returning from their toil would find their + comrade dead or severely wounded, the camp rifled of everything it + contained, and the horses speared; and the hardy and adventurous pioneers + would have to retreat to one of the main mining camps, situated perhaps + fifty miles away, with nothing left to them but the hard-won gold they had + saved and their mining tools, but ready and eager to venture forth again. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Gulf of Carpentaria. +</pre> + <p> + One day, so the clergyman related, a man named Potter was travelling from + Burketown to Port Denison, and camped beside a small water-hole to rest + until the morning. After unsaddling and hobbling out the horse he had been + riding, and unloading the pack-horse, he threw his packbags at the foot of + a Leichhardt tree, lit a fire, and began to boil a billy of tea. He knew + that he was in dangerous country, and that it was unwise of him to light a + fire, but being of a reckless disposition, and having a firm belief in his + luck, he took no further precaution beyond opening the flap of his + revolver pouch. + </p> + <p> + He had just taken out a piece of damper and some salt meat, which, with + the hot tea, were to be his supper, when he was startled to hear some one + address him by name, and looking up, he saw a powerfully-built black + fellow with a long black beard and smiling face standing a dozen yards or + so away. He was all but nude, but round his waist was buokled a broad + leather police belt with two ammunition pouches; in his right hand he + carried a repeating rifle. + </p> + <p> + “Don't you know me, Mr. Potter?” he said in excellent English. + </p> + <p> + Potter recognised him at once, and the two shook hands. + </p> + <p> + “Why, you're Sandy! Have you left the police?” (He knew nothing of what + had occurred.) + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” was the reply, “I skipped,” and carelessly putting his rifle down, + he asked Potter if he had any tobacco to spare. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I can give you a few plugs,” and going to his saddle bags he + produced four square plugs of tobacco, which he handed to his visitor, who + took them eagerly, at once produced a silver-mounted pipe (probably taken + from some murdered digger) filled it, and began to smoke and talk. + </p> + <p> + “My word, Mr. Potter,” he said with easy familiarity, “it is a good thing + for you that I knew you,” and he showed his white, even teeth in a smile. + “But I haven't forgot that when I got speared on the Albert River five + years ago you drove me into Burketown in your buggy to get a doctor for + me.” (He had formerly been one of Potter's stockmen, and had been badly + wounded in an encounter with wild blacks.) + </p> + <p> + Potter made some apparently careless reply. He knew that Sandy, though an + excellent stockman, had always had a bad record, and indeed he had been + compelled to dismiss him on account of his dangerous temper. He heard + later on that the man had joined the Black Police, and a deserter from the + Black Police is in nine cases out of ten an unmitigated villain. + </p> + <p> + Then Sandy became communicative, and frankly told his involuntary host + part—but part only—of his story, and wound up by saying— + </p> + <p> + “You must not sleep here to-night. There is a big mob of myalls camped in + the river-bed three miles away from here. If they see you, they'll kill + you for certain between now and to-morrow night, when you are going + through some of the gorges. You must saddle up again, and I'll take you + along another track and leave you safe.” + </p> + <p> + Tired as the horses were, Potter took Sandy's advice, and the two started + at sunset, the blackfellow leading. They travelled for some hours, and + then again camped—this time without a fire. Sandy remained till + daylight, and during a further conversation boasted that he had enough + gold in nuggets to allow him to have “a fine time in Sydney or Melbourne,” + where he meant to make his way some day “when things got a bit quiet and + people thought he was dead.” In proof of his assertion about the gold he + gave Potter a two ounce nugget he picked out from several others which + were carried in one of his ammunition pouches. Before they parted Potter + gave him—at his particular request—one of the two blankets he + carried, and then Sandy and he shook hands, and the blackfellow, rifle in + hand, disappeared, and left his former master to continue his journey. + </p> + <p> + “What a hawwid chawacter!” said Mr. Assheton, when the clergyman had + concluded his story. “Why don't the police exert themselves and catch or + shoot the fellow?” + </p> + <p> + “It is such very difficult country,” explained Myra, “and, in fact, has + not yet all been explored.” + </p> + <p> + The ladies rose, and Myra and Sheila, pleading fatigue, went to their + rooms—or rather to Myra's—leaving Mrs. and Miss Trappème and + Mrs. Wooler to, as Sheila said, “Tear me to pieces. But I could not let + that woman insult me without retaliating.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course you did right. She's an odious creature.” + </p> + <p> + Grainger returned alone about eleven o'clock. He tapped at Myra's door, + and asked her if she was asleep. + </p> + <p> + “No. Miss Carolan is here; we've been having a lovely talk.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, go to bed, and have a lovely sleep. I want to see you both, + especially Miss Carolan, very early in the morning. We can all go out on + the beach before breakfast.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Ted. Has Mr. Mallard come in?” + </p> + <p> + “No. He will not be here for another half-hour or more. Good-night.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Trappème had heard his voice, and quietly opened the door of her own + sitting-room, where she and Juliette (Mrs. Wooler had gone) had been + discussing Sheila's delinquencies. + </p> + <p> + “Well!” gasped the mother to her daughter, as she softly closed the door + again. “What on earth <i>is</i> going on, I should like to know! Did you + hear that—'I want to see you both very early, especially Miss + Garolan'? What <i>is</i> there going on? I must go and see Mrs. Wooler in + the morning and tell her. And on the beach too! Why can't they be more + open?” + </p> + <p> + Master Mordaunt, who was in the corner devouring some jelly and pastry + given to him by his fond mother, looked up and said, with distended cheeks— + </p> + <p> + “Ain't the beach open enough?” + </p> + <p> + “Hold your tongue, you horrid little animal,” said the irate Juliette. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI ~ A CHANGE OF PLANS + </h2> + <p> + Myra and Sheila, both early risers, were dressed and awaiting Grainger on + the verandah when he came out of his room at seven o'clock, and they at + once descended the steep Melton Hill to the beach. The morning was + delightfully fresh and cool, and the smooth waters of Cleveland Bay were + rippling gently to a fresh southerly breeze. Eastward, and seven miles + away, the lofty green hills and darker-hued valleys of Magnetic Island + stood clearly out in the bright sunlight, and further to the north Great + Palm Island loomed purple-grey against the horizon. Overhead was a sky of + clear blue, flecked here and there by a few fleecy clouds, and below, on + the landward side, a long, long curve of yellow beach trending from a + small rocky and tree-clad point on the south to the full-bosomed and + majestic sweep of Cape Halifax to the north. + </p> + <p> + “What a lovely day!” exclaimed Sheila as Grainger, as soon as they had + descended the hill and stepped on the firm yellow sand, led them to a + clump of black, shining rocks. “I wish I were a girl of twelve, so that I + could paddle about in the water.” + </p> + <p> + “There is nothing to stop you doing that at Minerva Downs, Miss Cardan,” + said Grainger with a smile. “There is a lovely fresh-water lagoon there, + with a dear sandy bottom, and the Farrow children—big and little—spend + a good deal of their time there bathing and fishing.” Then, as the girls + seated themselves, he at once plunged into the subject uppermost in his + mind. + </p> + <p> + “Myra, the news that came through last night has put me in a bit of a + quandary, both as regards you and Miss Carolan. Now tell me, would you + mind very much if I left you to-day and returned to Chinkie's Flat?” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed, Ted. Surely I would not be so selfish as to interfere with + your business arrangements!” + </p> + <p> + “That's a good little girl. I did want to stay in Townsville for a week or + two after you had left, then I could have taken Miss Carolan as far as + Chinkie's Flat on her way to Minerva Downs. But I can do something better, + as far as she is concerned. You will only be here for a week, and you can + suffer the Trappème people for that time. Mallard”—and he smiled—“will + no doubt try to make the time pass pleasantly for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be so silly, Ted. Get to the point about Miss Carolan. When is she + leaving?” + </p> + <p> + “To-day—if you will, Miss Carolan—with me. The Warden and his + troopers are leaving at noon for the new rush; and Charteris, when I + explained things to him (I saw him last night at Mallard's office) said he + will be very pleased if we will come with him. Will it be too much of a + rush for you?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh no, Mr. Grainger! But I have no horse,” and then, as she thought of + leaving her newly-found girl friend so soon, she looked a little + miserable, and her hand stole into Myra's. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that's all right,” said Grainger cheerfully. “I've two for you—Myra's, + and one Charteris is lending me for you. Can you ride hard and fast? + Charteris is a terror of a man for pushing along to a new rush.” + </p> + <p> + “I won't make him feel cross, I assure you, Mr. Grainger.” + </p> + <p> + “Then it's decided.” (Sheila well knew that whether | she had or had not + decided, he had; yet though dimly resentful, she was quite content when + she looked into his quiet grey eyes.) “You see, Miss Carolan, it's quite + likely I may be able to go all the way with you to Minerva Downs, and + therefore we ought not to miss travelling with the Commissioner as far as + he goes. Sub-Inspector Lamington, of the Native Police, is also coming + with us. He's off on a wild goose—or rather, a wild nigger—chase + after Sandy and Daylight and their myall friends. If, when we get to + Chinkie's Flat, I find that I <i>must</i> go with Charteris to the new + rush, your friend Dick Scott and my own trusty black boy Jacky will take + you on to Minerva Downs. You can travel with Lamington and his troopers + part of the way after you leave Chinkie's. Take some light luggage on a + pack-horse—the rest, I am sorry to say, will have to come on from + here by bullock team. But it is not unlikely that I may be able to take + you all the way.” + </p> + <p> + “I am very, very grateful to you, Mr. Grainger,” said Sheila. “I fear I am + going to prove a great encumbrance to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Ted is a dear old brother!” said Myra, patting his brown, sun-tanned + hand affectionately. + </p> + <p> + After a walk along the beach as far as the small, rocky point, they + returned to breakfast, and great was Mrs. Trappème's astonishment when + Grainger informed her that he was leaving in a few hours. + </p> + <p> + “Not for long, I trust?” she said graciously, bearing in mind that he had + told her he might remain for a week or two after Myra had left. + </p> + <p> + “I do not think I shall be in Townsville again for some months,” he + replied, as he handed her fourteen guineas. “This is for the week for my + sister and for me.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” said the lady, with a dignified bow—for she felt a + little resentful at his not telling her more. Then she said with a sweet + smile, “We will take good care of Miss Grainger. Either my daughters or I + will be delighted to see her safely on board the steamer.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you; but Mr. Mallard will do that.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, indeed!” said the lady, with unmistakable disappointment in her + voice, and then Grainger, without saying a word about Sheila, went to his + room to pack, and talk to Mallard, who had not yet risen. + </p> + <p> + “I wonder if Mr. Mallard is leaving too now that his friend is going,” + anxiously said Juliette a few minutes later. + </p> + <p> + “If he does I shall insist upon having the ful six guineas,” remarked her + mother angrily. “No, on second thoughts I won't <i>ask</i> for it. Whether + he leaves or not, I may find him very useful. I quite mean to ask him to + every day publish a 'list of guests at “Magnetic Villa."'” + </p> + <p> + “Miss Carolan wud like to see yez, mum, if ye are dishengaged,” said Mary, + entering the room. + </p> + <p> + Sheila was in the drawing-room, and thither Mrs. Trappème sailed. + </p> + <p> + “I shall be leaving Townsville to-day, I find,” she said politely. “Would + it be inconvenient for you to have my luggage sent to Hanran & Co., + who will store it for me until I need it?” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Trappème's curiosity was intense, but she remembered Mrs. Wooler's + experience of the previous evening—and feared. And then she had had + the girl's money in advance. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I am so sorry you are going,” she said, with a would-be motherly + smile. “Of course I will send it anywhere you wish—but why not leave + it here in my care?” And then she could not resist asking one question: + “Are you going to Minerva Downs, Miss Carolan, may I ask?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; I am going there.” + </p> + <p> + “What a dreadfully long journey for you! Does it not alarm you? And you + are surely not travelling alone?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no; I am fortunate in having quite a large escort. Will you send the + luggage down as soon as possible, Mrs. Trappème?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” replied the lady—this time with a stiff bow; for she + was now inwardly raging at not having learnt more. Then she went off to + tell Juliette this new development. + </p> + <p> + At ten o'clock, after Mallard had breakfasted, he and Grainger (the latter + bidding Mrs. and the Misses Trappème a polite goodbye) went away, and + shortly after Dick Scott appeared, leading a pack-horse. He took off the + empty bags, and marched up to the front door. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Grainger has sent these to Miss Caroline, miss,” he said to Lilla + Trappème, “and will you please ask her to put her things into 'em and I'll + wait?” + </p> + <p> + Myra helped Sheila pack some clothing, rugs, &c, into the bags, and + Mary took them out to the burly Dick. + </p> + <p> + “By jingo! you're the finest woman I've seen here yet,” said he affably to + the blushing Mary. “Now, will you tell Miss Caroline and Miss Grainger + that I'll be up with the horses in half an hour? Goodbye, bright eyes.” + </p> + <p> + He returned within the time, riding his own horse and leading two others. + </p> + <p> + “Sidesaddles,” said Juliette to her mother as they watched through the + dining-room windows the big digger dismount and hang the horses' reins + over the front gate. + </p> + <p> + As he strode across the lawn, they heard Mary's voice in the hall. It + sounded as if she were half crying. + </p> + <p> + “Goodbye, miss, and Hivin's blessin' on ye; and may God sind ye a good + husband.” + </p> + <p> + A moment or two later she entered, wiping her eyes. “The ladies are goin', + and wish to spake to yez,” she said. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Trappème and her daughters rose, as Myra and Sheila, clad in their + neatly-fitting habits, came into the room. + </p> + <p> + “I am going to accompany Miss Carolan and my brother for a few miles, Mrs. + Trappème, so I shall not be here for lunch,” said Myra. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, indeed,” said Mrs. Trappème faintly; and then, with a pleasant smile + from Myra, and a coldly polite bow from Sheila, they were gone. + </p> + <p> + Scott swung them up into their saddles, and in another minute they were + descending the hill. + </p> + <p> + Mother and daughter looked at each other. + </p> + <p> + “So she's going with Mr. Grainger,” said Juliette, with an unpleasant + twitch of her thin lips; “the—the little <i>cat!</i> I'd like to see + her fall off!” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind her—she's gone now—and I have had six guineas from + her,” remarked her amiable mamma. “Now, if you are coming into Flinders + Street with me, make haste, and don't sit grizzling.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Juliette! Poor Mrs. Lee-Trappème! When they descended the hill and + emerged out into Flinders Street, they found the side-path crowded with + people, who were all gazing into the great yard of the Queen's Hotel, from + which was emerging a cavalcade. First came four people—the + white-bearded Charteris with Myra, and Grainger with Sheila; after them a + sergeant and six white police, and ten Native Police with carbines on + thighs, and then Dick Scott and dark-faced Inspector Lamington; behind + followed a troop of spare horses. + </p> + <p> + As they swung through the gates, the crowd cheered as Charteris gave the + word, and the whole party went off at a sharp canter down the long, + winding street. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII ~ SHEILA BECOMES ONE OF A VERY “UNREFINED” CIRCLE + </h2> + <p> + The night wind was soughing mournfully through the dark line of she-oaks + fringing the banks of a small, swiftly-running creek, when Sheila was + awakened by some one calling to her from outside the little tent in which + she was sleeping. She sat up and looked out. + </p> + <p> + “Did you call me, Mr. Grainger?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. There is a storm coming down from the ranges. Sorry to awaken you, + but we want to make your tent more secure.” + </p> + <p> + Aided by Scott, whose giant figure Sheila could scarcely discern—so + dark was the night—Grainger soon had the tent prepared to resist the + storm. As they worked, there came such an appalling thunderclap that it + shook the ground beneath her, and for some minutes she was unable to hear + even the droning roar of the rain-laden tornado that came tearing down + from the mountains, snapping off the branches of the gum-trees, bending + low the pliant boles of the moaning she-oaks, and lifting the waters of + the creek up in sheets. + </p> + <p> + A hand touched her face in the Cimmerian darkness, and Dick Scott's voice + (he was shouting with all the strength of his mighty lungs) seemed to + whisper— + </p> + <p> + “Lie down, miss; lie down, and don't be afeerd. The tent will stand, as we + are pretty well sheltered here, and———” + </p> + <p> + Another fearful thunderclap cut short his words, and she instinctively + clutched his hand. She was used to terrific thunderstorms in New South + Wales, but she had neyer heard anything so awful as this—it seemed + as if the heavens had burst. + </p> + <p> + “Where is Mr. Grainger?” she asked, putting her lips to Dick's ear and + speaking loudly. + </p> + <p> + “Here, beside me, miss.” + </p> + <p> + “And poor Jacky! Where is he?” + </p> + <p> + “We'll find out presently, miss. Most likely the horses have cleared out, + and he's gone after 'em,” shouted Scott. + </p> + <p> + For another five minutes the howling fury of the wind and the hissing of + the rain rendered any further conversation impossible. Then came a sudden + lull of both. Grainger struck a match and lit a small lantern he was + holding, and Sheila felt a great satisfaction as the light showed upon his + face—-calm and quiet as ever—as he looked at her and smiled. + </p> + <p> + “You must pardon us coming into the tent, Miss Carolan, but we wanted to + light and leave the lantern with you. I'm afraid the horses have bolted + for shelter into the sandalwood scrub lower down the creek, or into the + gullies, and Jacky has gone after them. Will you mind staying here alone + for an hour or two whilst Scott and I help him to find them?” + </p> + <p> + “Not at all,” she replied bravely, “and I really do not need the light. I + am not at all afraid.” + </p> + <p> + “I know that, Miss Garolan. But it will serve to show us the way back.” + (This was merely a kindly fiction.) “And if, during a lull in the rain, + you should hear any of the horses' bells, will you fire two shots from + that Winchester rifle there beside you? It is possible that they may be + quite near to us. Old Euchre” (one of the pack-horses) “has as much sense + as a Christian, and it is quite likely that whilst Scott, Jacky, and I are + looking for them in the scrub, he will lead them back here.” + </p> + <p> + Then placing the lantern beside her, and partly shielding it with a saddle + cloth to protect it more folly from the gusts of wind, he and Scott went + out into the blackness. + </p> + <p> + She heard Scott a minute or two later give a loud <i>Coo-ee!</i> for + Jacky, and fancied she heard an answering cry from the blackboy, a long + distance away. Then the rain again descended in a torrential downpour, and + drowned out all other sounds. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Two weeks had passed since Sheila had left Townsville with Grainger and + the hard-riding old Warden and the swarthy-faced Lamington and his + savage-eyed, half-civilised troopers. At Chinkie's Flat they had learnt + that there were now three hundred white miners at the new rush on Banshee + Creek, but that everything was quiet, and that no disputes of any kind had + occurred, and all that Charteris would have to do would be to visit the + place, and, according to the “Gold-fields Act,” proclaim Banshee Creek to + be a new gold-field. So, after spending a night at Grainger's new house, + built on the ridge overlooking the “Ever Victorious” battery, with its + clamorous stampers pounding away night and day, the Warden bid Sheila and + Grainger goodbye, and rode off with his hardy white police, leaving + Lamington and his black, legalised murderers to go their own way in + pursuit of Sandy and Daylight, and “disperse” the myalls—if they + could find them—such dispersion meaning the shooting of women and + children as well as men. + </p> + <p> + Now, the truth is, that Grainger should have gone on with the Warden to + the new rush, where his prospecting party was anxiously awaiting his + arrival; but he was deeply in love with Sheila Carolan, and she with him, + although she did not know it. But she was mightily pleased when the “Ever + Victorious” Grainger told her that he was going to take her all the way to + Minerva Downs, as he “wanted to see Farrow about buying a hundred bullocks + to send to the new rush at Banshee Creek.” (This was perfectly true, but + he could very easily have dispatched a letter to Farrow, who would have + sent the bullocks to the meat-hungry diggers as a matter of business.) + </p> + <p> + As she had stood on the verandah of Grainger's house in the early morning, + watching Charteris and his troopers depart, and listening to the clang and + thud of the five-and-twenty stampers of the new battery of the “Ever + Victorious” pounding out the rich golden quartz, handsome, swarthy-faced + Sub-Inspector Lamington ascended the steps and bade her good morning. + </p> + <p> + “So you and Grainger travel with me for another ninety miles or so, Miss + Carolan,” he said with undisguised pleasure. “Will you be ready soon?” + </p> + <p> + “In half an hour.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, that's right. My boys and I are anxious to get to work,” and he went + on to the horse yard. + </p> + <p> + Sheila could not help a slight shudder as she heard the soft-voiced, <i>debonnair</i> + Lamington speak of his “work.” She knew what it meant—a score or two + of stilled, bullet-riddled figures of men, women, and children lying about + in the hot desert sand, or in the dark shades of some mountain scrub. + </p> + <p> + Charteris had told her Lamington's story. He was the only survivor of an + entire family who had been massacred by the blacks of Fraser's Island, and + had grown up with but one object in life—to kill every wild black he + came across. For this purpose alone he had joined the Native Police, and + there were dark tales whispered of what he had done. But the authorities + considered him “a good man,” and when he and his fierce troopers rode into + town and reported that a mob of wild blacks had been “dispersed,” no one + ventured to ask him any questions, but every one knew what had occurred. + </p> + <p> + So with Lamington and his silent, grim Danites, Sheila, Grainger, Scott, + and Jacky travelled together for nearly a hundred miles, and then the two + companies separated—Lamington heading towards that part of the + forbidding-looking mountain range where he hoped to find his prey, and + Grainger and his party keeping on to the west. + </p> + <p> + “It's dangerous country, Grainger,” the police officer said as he bade + them goodbye. “There are any amount of niggers all around, so you will + need to be careful about your fire at night. Shift your camp a good half + mile after you have lit your fire and had supper.” + </p> + <p> + Grainger smiled. “I've been through the mill, Lamington. But I don't think + we shall have any trouble unless you head them off and send Sandy and his + friends down on to us.” + </p> + <p> + “I do mean to head them off, and drive them down from the range into the + spinifex country about thirty miles from here, when I can round them up,” + said Lamington softly, as if he were speaking of driving game. “Sorry you + won't be with me to see the fun. The £500 reward for the production of + Messieurs Sandy and Daylight—alive or dead—I already consider + as mine. It will give up a trip to Melbourne to see the Cup next year.” + </p> + <p> + “But you can't claim the money—you're an official.” + </p> + <p> + “This is an exceptional case, and no distinction is to be made between + civilians and policemen—the Government does sensible things <i>sometimes</i>.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Two hours passed, and Sheila, anxiously awaiting the sound of the horses' + bells, or the reappearance of Grainger and Scott, began to feel that + something had gone amiss. The storm had ceased, and when she rose and + stepped outside she saw that a few stars were shining. Seating herself + upon a granite boulder, she listened intently, but the only sound that + broke the black silence of the night was the rushing of the waters of the + creek. + </p> + <p> + She placed her hands to her mouth, and was about to give a loud <i>Coo-ee!</i> + when her pride stopped her. + </p> + <p> + “If they hear me,” she thought, “they will think I am frightened.” + </p> + <p> + She went back into the tent and again lay down, and tried by the light of + the lantern to read a book which Myra Grainger had given her. Her watch + had stopped, and when she put the book aride she knew that the dawn was + near for the harsh cackle of a wild pheasant sounded from the branches of + a Leichhardt tree near by, and was answered by the shrill, screaming notes + of a flock of king-parrots which the storm had driven to settle amidst the + thick, dense scrub on the bank of the creek. + </p> + <p> + Quite suddenly she became aware that something was moving about in the + grass outside the tent, and a thrill of alarm made her instinctively + clutch the Winchester rifle beside her. Surely there was some one there, + whispering! Very quietly she sat up and waited. Yes, there certainly were + people outside, and a cold chill of terror possessed her when the + whisperings changed to a rapid and louder muttering in an unknown tongue, + and she knew that her visitors were blacks! + </p> + <p> + Unable to even speak, she heard the soft rustle of footsteps drawing + nearer and nearer, and then the closed flap of the tent was pulled slowly + aside by a long black hand, and the wicked eyes of the bearded face of a + huge aboriginal, naked to the waist, gazed into hers. For a second or two + he looked at her, watching her terrified expression as a snake watches the + fascinated bird; then he drew back his lips and showed two rows of + gleaming teeth in a fierce smile of exultation. By a mighty effort she + tried to raise the Winchester, and in another moment the blackfellow + sprang at her, covered her head with a filthy kangaroo skin and silently + bore her outside. + </p> + <p> + For quite ten minâtes she felt herself being carried swiftly along, till + her captor came to the creek, which he crossed. Then he uncovered her face + and spoke to her in English. + </p> + <p> + “If you make a noise I will kill you, and throw your body in the creek. I + am Sandy the Trooper.” + </p> + <p> + She gazed at him mechanically, too horrified at her surroundings to utter + a sound. For dawn had just broken and she saw that she was standing in a + small open space in the midst of a sandalwood scrub, and encircled by + twenty or thirty ferocious-looking myall blacks all armed with spears and + waddies. The strong ant-like odour which emanated from their jet-black + skins filled her nostrils and, putting her hands to her eyes, she + shuddered and fell upon her knees with a choking sob. + </p> + <p> + “Come, none of that, missie,” said another voice in English, and her hands + were rudely pulled aside; “you must get up and walk. Perhaps we won't hurt + you. But if you make a noise I'll give you a tap on the head with this + waddy,” and the speaker flourished a short club over her head. “Come! get + up!” + </p> + <p> + She obeyed him, rose slowly to her feet, and in another instant darted + aside, and, breaking through the circle of myalls, plunged into the scrub + towards the creek. But before she had gone twenty yards one of them had + seized her by her loosened hair, and a long pent-up scream burst from her + lips. + </p> + <p> + Again the filthy skin was thrown over her head, then her hands were + quickly tied behind her with a strip of bark. + </p> + <p> + Sandy lifted her up in his arms, and he, Daylight, and their followers + plunged into the forest and set off towards the mountains. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII ~ ON THE SCENT + </h2> + <p> + Through the blackness of the night and the pouring rain Grainger and Scott + made their way down the right bank of the creek to where, a mile or a mile + and a half away, was a thick scrub of sandalwood trees, in which they + imagined the terrified horses had taken refuge. The rushing, foaming + waters guided them on their way, though every now and then they had to + make a detour round the heads of some gullies, which were bank high with + backwater from the swollen creek. As soon as there was a lull in the storm + they again <i>Coo-eed</i>, but received no answer from Jacky. Grainger, + who had the most implicit faith in the judgment of his blackboy, now began + to fear that the horses, instead of making for the scrub, had gone towards + the mountains, where it would perhaps be most difficult to get them. + However, there was nothing to be done but to first examine the scrub, and + then to see what had become of Jacky. Both he and Scott had brought their + bridles with them, and the blackboy, they knew, had his as well, and they + were hoping that at any moment they might meet him driving the horses back + to the camp. + </p> + <p> + By the time the scrub was reached the storm had begun to break somewhat, + for although rain still fell heavily, the wind was losing its violence; + and presently, to their satisfaction, they heard Jacky's voice shouting + somewhere near them. + </p> + <p> + “Where are you?” called out Scott. + </p> + <p> + “Here, on cattle camp, in middle of scrub. I been catch old Euchre and two + more horse, but can't find other pack-horse and bay filly and roan colt. I + 'fraid they been go 'way back up mountain.” + </p> + <p> + They found him engaged in tying up the foreleg of Scott's horse with + strips of his shirt. The animal, when racing along in the dark, had fallen + and out itself badly from knee to hoof. Grainger examined the injury, and + saw that, although the poor creature was very lame, it could easily be led + to the camp. But the loss of the remaining horses was a serious matter, + and after a brief discussion it was resolved to first make a thorough + search along the creek for another mile before giving up any hopes of + finding them in the vicinity of the scrub. Then, if no traces could be + found, they were to return to the camp for their saddles, and Jacky and + Grainger would endeavour to pick up their tracks as soon as daylight + broke. + </p> + <p> + An hour was spent fruitlessly, and they turned back and made for the camp, + Scott and Grainger riding barebacked, and Jacky going ahead on foot, + leading the lame horse. Presently they came to a deep, rocky gully, which + they crossed, and were carefully ascending the steep bank when Scott's + horse tripped over a loose stone and fell heavily, with his rider + underneath. + </p> + <p> + Jacky and Grainger at once went to his assistance and got the horse away, + but Scott lay perfectly motionless, and when spoken to did not answer. + Grainger, like all good bushmen, had kept his matches dry, and, striking a + light, he saw that the big digger had not only received some injury to his + head, but, worse still had broken his leg; the bone had snapped completely + across half-way down from the knee. + </p> + <p> + For quite ten minutes the poor fellow remained unconscious, then, when he + came to his senses, his first question was about the horse. Was he hurt? + </p> + <p> + “No, Dick; but your leg is broken.” + </p> + <p> + The language that flowed from Mr. Scott's bearded lips cannot possibly be + set down, but he resigned himself cheerfully to Grainger and Jacky when + they put the broken limb into rough splints made of bark and twigs to keep + it in position until they could do something better on their arrival at + the camp. + </p> + <p> + Refusing to be carried, Scott dragged himself up the bank, and then + allowed them to lift him on Euchre's back, Grainger riding and Jacky + walking beside him. + </p> + <p> + By the time they reached the camp it was broad daylight, and an alarmed + look came into Grainger's eyes when there was no response to his loud <i>Coo-ee!</i> + thrice repeated. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly Jacky, whose dark eyes were rolling unnaturally as he glanced all + around him, let go the horse he was leading, sprang forward, and entered + the tent. He reappeared in a moment. + </p> + <p> + “What is wrong, Jacky? Where is she?” + </p> + <p> + “Gone,” was the quick reply. “Myall blackfellow been here and take her + away!” + </p> + <p> + “Good God!” said Grainger hoarsely, feeling for the moment utterly + unnerved as he watched the black-boy walk quickly round and round the + tent, examining the grass. + </p> + <p> + “Plenty blackfellow been here,” he said, “but only one fellow been go + inside tent. I think it, he catch him up missie when she sleep———” + </p> + <p> + An oath broke from Scott's lips. “Let me down, boss, let me down! It's all + my fault. Quick! put me inside the tent and let me be. You and Jacky has + two good horses, and Jacky is the best tracker this side o' the country.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll see to your leg first, Dick,” cried Grainger, as he and Jacky lifted + him off Euchre and helped him into the tent. + </p> + <p> + “By jingo, you won't, boss!” was the energetic reply. “What does it matter + about my leg? Let me be. I'll pull along all right, even if you are away + for a day, or two days, or a week. For God's sake, boss, don't fool about + me! Think of <i>her</i>. Saddle up, saddle up, and bring her back! They + can't be far away. Jacky, I'll give you fifty pounds if you get her. Boss, + take plenty o' cartridges an' some tucker. I'll be as right as rain here. + But hurry, hurry, boss! If they get her into the mountains we'll never see + any more of her but her gnawed bones,” and the big man struck his clenched + fist passionately upon the ground. + </p> + <p> + But Grainger, although almost maddened with fear as to Sheila's fate, + would not leave the man helpless, and whilst Jacky was saddling the + horses, he put provisions and water, and matches and tobacco, near the + poor, excited digger. Then, with the blackboy's aid, he quickly and + effectively set the broken leg with proper splints, seized round with + broad strips of ti-tree bark. “There, Dick, that's all I can do for you + now.” “You're losing time over me, boss. Hurry, hurry! and get the young + lady back for God's sake.” + </p> + <p> + Five minutes later Jacky had picked up the tracks of Sandy and Daylight + and their allies, and he and Grainger, with hearts beating high with hope, + were following them up swiftly and surely. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV ~ “MISS CAROLINE” IS “ALL RIGHT” (VIDE DICK SCOTT ) + </h2> + <p> + The tracks of the abductors of Sheila were easily discernible to the + practised eyes of Jacky—than whom a better tracker was not to be + found in North Queensland. They led in an almost direct line towards the + grim mountain range for about seventeen miles, and then were lost at a + rapidly-flowing, rocky-bottomed stream—a tributary of that on which + Grainger's camp had been made. + </p> + <p> + Never for one instant did Grainger think of questioning the judgment of + his tried and trusted blackboy, when, as they came to the stream, he + jumped off his horse and motioned to his master to do the same. + </p> + <p> + “Them fellow myall have gone into water, boss, and walk along up,” he said + placidly, as he took out his pipe, filled and lit it. Then he added that + they had better take the saddles off the horses, short-hobble them, and + let them feed. + </p> + <p> + “You don't think, Jacky, that they” (he meant the blacks) “might get on + too far ahead of us?” he asked, as he dismounted. + </p> + <p> + “No, boss, they are camped now, 'bout a mile or two mile farther up creek. + We can't take horses there—country too rough, and myall blackfellow + can smell horse long way off—all same horse or bullock can smell + myall blackfellow long way off.” + </p> + <p> + Grainger knew that this was perfectly true—cattle and horses can + always scent wild blacks at a great distance, and at once show their + alarm. And that the country was too rough for Jacky and him to go any + further with the horses was quite evident. However, he knew that as soon + as his companion had taken a few pulls at his pipe he would learn from him + what his plans were. + </p> + <p> + The weapon that the black boy usually carried was a Snider carbine, but he + had left that at the camp, and taken the spare Winchester—the one + Sheila had dropped in the tent: and he was now carefully throwing back the + lever, and ejecting the cartridges, and seeing that it was in good order + ere he re-loaded it. + </p> + <p> + “Your rifle all right, boss?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “All right, Jacky; and my revolver too.” + </p> + <p> + Jacky grunted—somewhat contemptuously—at the mention of the + revolver. “You won't get chance with rewolber, boss. Rifle best for you + an' me this time, I think it. Rewolber right enough when you ride after + myall in flat country.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Jacky,” said Grainger, “I'll leave the revolver behind. What + are we going to do?” + </p> + <p> + “First, short-hobble horses, and let 'em feed—plenty grass 'bout + here. Then you follow me. I think it that them fellow myall camp” (rest) + “'bout two mile up creek.” + </p> + <p> + “How many are there, Jacky?” + </p> + <p> + “'Bout twenty, boss—perhaps thirty. And I think it that some feller + runaway policeman with them—Sandy or Daylight, I beleeb.” + </p> + <p> + “What makes you think that?” said Grainger, instantly remembering that + Lamington had said that he meant to try and head off Sandy and his myalls + down into the spinifex country. + </p> + <p> + “Come here, boss.” + </p> + <p> + Grainger followed him to the margin of the creek, which although at dawn + had been running half bank high, owing to the tremendous downpour of rain, + was now at its normal level. + </p> + <p> + “Look at that, boss.” + </p> + <p> + He pointed to a triangular indentation, which, with footmarks, was + imprinted in the soft yellow sand at the foot of a small boulder; and + taking the butt of his Winchester rifle, fitted it into the impression. + </p> + <p> + “Some feller with Winchester rifle been sit down here, boss, and light his + pipe. See, he been scrape out pipe,” and he indicated some partially + consumed shreds of tobacco and some ashes which were lying on the sand. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I see, Jacky,” and a cold chill of horror went through him as he + thought of Sheila being in the power of such a fiend as Sandy. The myalls + would in all likelihood want to kill and eat her, but Sandy or Daylight + would probably wish to keep her a captive. And that Jacky was correct in + his surmise there could be but little doubt—both the outlawed + ex-policemen had Winchesters, taken from the Chinese packers whom they had + murdered. + </p> + <p> + “Go on, Jacky, my boy, for God's sake!” he said hoarsely, placing his hand + on the blackboy's shoulder. “Missie may be killed if we do not hurry.” + </p> + <p> + “No fear, boss!” replied Jacky with cheerful confidence, as he proceeded + to strip. “You 'member what I told you 'bout that white woman myall blacks + take away with them long time ago when ship was break up near Cape + Melville, and they find her lying on beach? They didn't kill her—these + myall nigger like White Mary {*} too much. I don't think these fellow will + kill Missie. I think it Daylight or Sandy will want her for <i>lubra</i>. + {**} Take off boots, boss.” + </p> + <p> + Grainger pulled off his knee boots, and threw them up on the bank, and + then he and Jacky short-hobbled the horses, and let them feed. The + blackboy had stripped himself of every article of clothing, except the + remnants of his shirt, which he had tied round his loins; over it was + strapped his leather belt with its cartridge pouch. + </p> + <p> + “Come on, boss,” and then instead of crossing the creek as Grainger had + imagined he would, he led the way along the same side, explaining that the + myalls, expecting—but not fearing—pursuit, would do all that + they could to make the pursuers believe that they had walked up through + the creek for a certain distance, and then crossed over to the opposite + side. The gins{***} and picaninnies, he said, were not with the party that + had seized Sheila, neither were there any dogs with them. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * “White Mary”—A white woman. + + ** Wife. + + *** Gins. Synonymous with <i>lubra</i>—i.e., a wife. +</pre> + <p> + “And you will see, boss,” he said, as, after they had come a mile and a + half, he pointed to a sandbank on the side of the creek, deeply imprinted + with footmarks, “we will find them eating fish in their camp. Look there.” + </p> + <p> + Grainger saw that on the sandbank were a number of dead fish which had + been swept down the creek from pools higher up. That many more had been + left stranded, and then taken away, was very evident by the disturbed + state of the sand and the numerous footmarks. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a harsh sound of many voices fell upon their ears, and Jacky came + to a dead stop. + </p> + <p> + Motioning to Grainger to lie down and await his return, he slipped quietly + away, his lithe, black body gliding like a snake through the dense jungle + which clothed the banks of the creek. + </p> + <p> + A quarter of an hour later he came back, his black eyes rolling with + subdued excitement. + </p> + <p> + “Come on, boss; it is all right. They are camped in an old <i>boora</i> + {*} ground, and Sandy and Daylight are going to fight for Missie. I saw + Missie.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A place which the Australian aborigines use for their + corroborées and certein religious rites. +</pre> + <p> + “Where was she?” said Grainger, whose heart was thumping fiercely as, + rifle in hand, he sprang to his feet. + </p> + <p> + “In the middle of the <i>boora</i> ground. She sit up, but all the same as + if she sleep—-eyes shut.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, God, to think that I left her!—to look after horses,” Grainger + said bitterly to himself as he followed Jacky, who little knew how dear + Sheila was to the heart of his “boss.” + </p> + <p> + Swiftly but cautiously Jacky led the way through the scrub until they came + to the margin of the <i>boora</i> ground, and then Grainger saw twenty or + thirty blacks seated on the ground in a circle, spears and waddies in + hand. In the centre was Sheila, crouched on her knees, with her hands + covering her eyes. On each side of her was a Winchester rifle, and a belt + with an ammunition pouch—her dowry. And standing near by her, + attended by their nude seconds, were Daylight and Sandy, who were also + armed with spears and waddies. They were both stripped and painted, and + ready to slaughter each other. + </p> + <p> + “Boss,” whispered Jacky, “which feller you want to take?” + </p> + <p> + “I'll take the big man with the beard,” said Grainger, as he drew up his + Winchester. + </p> + <p> + “All right, boss! I take the other man—that's Daylight. But don't + shoot until they walk across <i>boora</i> ground, and turn and face each + other. Shoot him through <i>bingie</i>,{*} boss—don't try for head, + you might miss him.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Stomach. +</pre> + <p> + “All right, Jacky,” and Grainger lay flat on the ground and brought his + rifle to his shoulder, “but don't miss your man.” + </p> + <p> + “No fear of that, boss. I'm going to give it to Daylight between the eyes. + But let me drop him first.” + </p> + <p> + “Right.” + </p> + <p> + Daylight and Sandy were taken by their seconds to opposite sides of the + ring, and then, drawing their heads back and poising their spears, they + awaited each other's attack. + </p> + <p> + Then Jacky's Winchester cracked, and Daylight span round and fell dead, + and Sandy's spear flew high in air as a bullet took him fair in the chest. + And then the savage instinct to slay came upon and overwhelmed Grainger, + as well as his black boy, and shot after shot rang out and laid low half a + dozen of the sitting and expectant savages ere they could recover from + their surprise and flee. + </p> + <p> + Grainger rushed forward to Sheila and lifted her up. + </p> + <p> + A hysterical sob burst from her as she put her trembling hands out towards + him. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I knew you would come! I knew you would come!” and then her eyes + closed, and she lay quiet in his arms. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + That night, as Sheila, with tear-swollen eyes of gratitude to God for her + preservation, lay sleeping in the little tent, Grainger and the + ever-faithful Jacky sat smoking their pipes beside the recumbent figure of + burly Dick Scott, who, broken-legged as he was, had insisted upon being + taken outside and camping with them. + </p> + <p> + “Boss,” he said, as he handed his pipe to Jacky to be filled, “this will + be suthin' for Mr. Mallard to put in the <i>Champion</i>, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Dick, old son,” and Grainger put his hand on the big man's shoulder, + with a kindly light shining in his quiet, grey eyes. “I'll write and tell + him all about it. And I'll tell him what a real, downright, out-and-out + 'white man' you are.” + </p> + <p> + “Git out, boss,” and the rough, bearded digger laughed childishly with + pleasure; “if I sees anythin' in the Champion about me, blow me but I'm + goin' back to Townsville, and I mean to spark that gal at 'Magnet Villa'—she + that was a-cryin' when Miss Caroline came away.” + </p> + <p> + “Right you are, Dick. You have promised Jacky fifty pounds if he brought + Miss Carolan back—and you will give it to him. But you are one of + the 'Ever Victorious' crowd, and don't want money, so I won't say any more + except that I'll give Mrs. Dick Scott five hundred sovereigns for a + wedding present. What is her present surname, Dick?” + </p> + <p> + “Don't know, boss. Didn't ask her. But if she isn't snapped up by one of + them flash banker fellows, or some other paper-collared swell, I think + I'll get her. Mr. Mallard and Miss Myra said they would put in a good word + for me, seein' as I hadn't no time to do any courtin' myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Dick, old son, she's yours! If you have got my sister and Mr. Mallard to + speak for you, it's all right—that's a dead certainty. How is your + leg?” + </p> + <p> + “Bully, boss—just bully. Say, boss!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Dick.” + </p> + <p> + “D'ye think we'll get them missin' horses?” + </p> + <p> + “Horses be hanged! Do you think I'm troubling about them just now?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, certingly you ought to be troublin' about 'em. Isn't the roan colt + and the bay filly worth troublin' about? The best blood in the whole + bloomin' country is in that bay filly o' Miss Caroline's. And Jimmy Ah San + offered you ninety pound for the roan, didn't he?” + </p> + <p> + Grainger put out his hand, and grasping Scott's long beard, pretended to + shake it. + </p> + <p> + “Just you go to sleep, Dick Scott, and don't waggle your chin and talk + about horses or anything else. You are a blessed nuisance, and if you wake + Miss Carolan up I'll pound you when you get better!” + </p> + <p> + Scott grinned, and then he put out his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Boss, have you fixed it up with her? I thought as how that there was + nothin' in the world so sweet in the way of wimmen as Miss Myra; but Miss + Caroline runs her a close second.” + </p> + <p> + “I have not asked her yet, Dick.” + </p> + <p> + “You ask her to-morrow, boss. You take my tip, or before you knows where + you are some other fellow will be jumpin' your claim and gettin' her.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll think of it, Dick.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't think too long over it, boss. If it wos me, I'd see it through the + first thing to-morrow momin'.” + </p> + <p> + “You mind your own business, Mister Richard Scott,” said Grainger, with a + laugh. + </p> + <p> + “All right, boss; but what about them horses? That bay filly———” + </p> + <p> + “Go to sleep, you silly old ass.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + At dawn Lamington and his Danites came splashing through the creek, and + Grainger was aroused by a loud “Hallo!” as the swarthy-faced Inspector + cantered up to the tent and dismounted. + </p> + <p> + “Well, here you are, Grainger. I know all that has happened. I rounded up + the myalls outside the <i>boora</i> ground, only half an hour after you + had left, and one of the bucks—whom I dropped with a bullet through + his thigh—told me what had occurred, when Sandy and Daylight were + just about to fight. How is Miss Carolan?” + </p> + <p> + “Well. She is sleeping. Take a peg,” and he handed Lamington his brandy + flask. + </p> + <p> + The officer poured out a stiff nip, drank it off, and then pointed to one + of his troopers, who had just dismounted, and was holding in his hand a + heavy bundle, wrapped up in an ensanguined saddle-cloth. + </p> + <p> + “That's my £500, Grainger. I'll have to send those heads to Townsville for + identification before I can claim the reward. Awfully smart of you to pot + both of them.” + </p> + <p> + “Lamington, you're a <i>beast</i>. Tell that nigger of yours to take that + infernal bundle away and keep it out of sight, or, by heavens, you and I + will quarrel.” + </p> + <p> + Lamington, gentleman at heart, apologised: “I <i>am</i> a beast, Grainger. + I didn't think of Miss Carolan.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + When Sheila awakened she had to bid Dick Scott goodbye, for Lamington was + taking him back to Chinkie's Flat. + </p> + <p> + “Goodbye, Miss Caroline. You an' the boss will pull along all right to + Minerva Downs. And when I sees you again, I hope that———” + </p> + <p> + “Dry up, Dick,” said Grainger, with assumed severity. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I know it's all right, boss; isn't it, Miss Caroline?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Mr. Scott,” said Sheila with a smile, as she put her little hand + into his. “I don't think I shall stay very long at Minerva Downs, and I do + think you will soon see me again.” + </p> + <p> + “At Chinkie's Flat?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, at Chinkie's Flat,” said Grainger, as he put his arm round Sheila, + and drew her to him. “Mr. Lamington is sending up a parson from the Bay to + Minerva Downs.” + </p> + <p> + “Boss,” cried Scott, exultantly, “there's goin' to be a red, rosy, high + old time by and by at Chinkie's Flat.” + </p> + <p> + THE END <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Chinkie's Flat and Other Stories, by Louis Becke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHINKIE'S FLAT AND OTHER STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 24805-h.htm or 24805-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/8/0/24805/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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