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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36399-8.txt b/36399-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2e87d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/36399-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7404 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Missing Friends, by Thorvald Weitemeyer + + +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: Missing Friends + Being the Adventures of a Danish Emigrant in Queensland (1871-1880) + + +Author: Thorvald Weitemeyer + + + +Release Date: June 13, 2011 [eBook #36399] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISSING FRIENDS*** + + +E-text prepared by Pat McCoy, Nick Wall, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made +available by Internet Archive/American Libraries +(http://www.archive.org/details/americana) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 36399-h.htm or 36399-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/36399/36399-h/36399-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/36399/36399-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + http://www.archive.org/details/missingfriendsbe00londiala + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + + Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). + + + + + +MISSING FRIENDS + +[Illustration: A SWAGSMAN.] + +_"Adventures are to the adventurous."_ + + BEACONSFIELD. + +[Illustration: THE ADVENTURE SERIES.] + + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + + THE ADVENTURE SERIES. + + Illustrated. Crown 8vo, 5s. + + + =1.= + Adventures of a Younger Son. By E. J. TRELAWNY. _With an + Introduction by Edward Garnett_. Second Edition. + + =2.= + Robert Drury's Journal in Madagascar. _Edited by Captain S. P. + Oliver._ + + =3.= + Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp. _With + an Introduction by H. Manners Chichester._ + + =4.= + The Adventures of Thomas Pellow, of Penryn, Mariner. _Edited by + Dr. Robert Brown._ + + =5.= + The Buccaneers and Marooners of America. Being an Account of the + Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish Main. _Edited by Howard + Pyle._ + + =6.= + The Log of a Jack Tar; or, The Life of James Choyce. With + O'Brien's Captivity in France. _Edited by V. Lovett Cameron, R.N._ + + =7.= + The Voyages and Adventures of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto. _With an + Introduction by Arminius Vambéry._ + + =8.= + The Story of the Filibusters. By JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE. To which is + added the Life of Colonel David Crockett. + + =9.= + A Master Mariner. Being the Life and Adventures of Captain Robert + William Eastwick. _Edited by Herbert Compton._ + + =10.= + Kolokotrones, Klepht and Warrior. _Edited by Mrs. Edmonds. + Introduction by M. Gennadius._ + + =11.= + Hard Life in the Colonies. _Compiled from Private Letters by C. + Carlyon Fenkins._ + + =(_OTHERS IN THE PRESS_.)= + + * * * * * + + +MISSING FRIENDS + +Being the Adventures of a Danish Emigrant in Queensland (1871-1880) + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +London: T. Fisher Unwin, +Paternoster Square. Mdcccxcii + + + + +INTRODUCTORY. + + +I was born in Copenhagen in the year 1850. My father was a builder there +in moderately good circumstances. I was the second son of a large +family, and it was my parents' great ambition that we all should receive +a good education. My eldest brother was intended for a profession, and I +was to be, like my father, a builder, and to take up his business when +old enough to do so. + +My father ruled us with an iron hand. I am sure he had as much love for +us all as most fathers have for their children, but it was considered +necessary when I was twenty years old to treat me as boys of ten are +ordinarily treated. During the time I learned my trade in my father's +shop I never knew the pleasure of owning a sixpence. After I had learned +my trade, it was just the same. I worked for my father and received my +food, clothes, and lodging as before, but I never dared to absent myself +for a quarter of an hour even without asking permission, and that +permission was as often refused as granted. A rebellious feeling kept +growing up in me; but I dared not ask my father to relax a little and +give me more liberty. To assert my independence before him seemed just +as impossible, and yet my position had become to me unbearable. There +was but one thing to do, viz., to run away, and I had scarcely conceived +this idea before I carried it into execution. + +I was now twenty-one years old. One evening, after saying good-night to +my parents in the usual orthodox fashion, I went to my room, and when +all was still, crept downstairs again and left the house. I had a bundle +of clothes with me and a watch, which I pawned next morning. I forget +the exact amount I received for it, but to the best of my recollection +it was the first money I ever possessed, and it seemed to me a vast sum +to do with just as I liked. I dared not to stay in Copenhagen for fear +of meeting my father, or somebody who knew me, so I bought a through +ticket for Hamburg the same day, and although the purchase of this +ticket nearly exhausted my funds, it was with a feeling of glorious +freedom that I left Copenhagen. On arriving in Hamburg I obtained work +at my trade without difficulty, and soon saved a little money, so that a +few months after I found myself on board an emigrant ship bound for +Queensland, where I have been ever since; but for fourteen years I never +wrote home. After that interval I sent a short letter to my eldest +brother, telling him that I was in Queensland, married, in good health, +my own master, but that I had not made my fortune; however I owed +nobody anything, and was satisfied, &c., and asked only for news. + +By return of mail came two letters, one from my father and the other +from my brother. My brother wrote that our father was now getting to be +an old man, and that his one sorrow these many years had been what had +become of me, coupled with the fear that I did not remember him as a +loving father; that he had always acted as he thought best for us, and +that the greatest joy the earth could offer him would be if he might see +me again. My father wrote in the same strain, adding that if I could not +come home I must write, and that nothing I had done would seem trivial +or uninteresting for him to read about. + +When I had read these letters my conscience smote me. Not that I had +ever felt indifferent to my parents. I had thought of them often. I do +not think ever a day went over my head during those fourteen years in +which I did not remember them. Yet I had never written. But I was now a +married man, had children of my own, and I could fully realize how it is +that the parents' love for their children is so inconceivably greater +than children's love for their parents. Would it not be a hard day for +me if ever I should have to bid good-bye to any of my sons, even if they +went out of the front door, so to speak, with my blessing? Would the +least they could do be to write to me circumstantially and often what +they thought, what they did, how they fared? And here was I who never +to that moment had been conscious of having done my parents any wrong! +Yes; I would write. I began the same evening, and kept writing on about +all my wanderings from the day I had left home up to the time of +writing, and as I wrote, many things which I thought I had forgotten +came clearly to my mind; and so I grew interested in it myself. I had my +writing copied. All this took time; but at last the manuscript was +posted to my father with a large photograph of myself enclosed. It +arrived the day after his death, but before the funeral. They buried the +manuscript and photograph with him. + +These are matters far too sacred to write much about, even anonymously. +I only touch upon them to show the origin of the following narrative. +The copy I had taken has been lying in my desk now for some years, and +when I took it out the other day it occurred to me that as it gives a +faithful picture of life that thousands of people lead here in +Queensland, it might be of general interest. I doubt if ever a book was +written with more regard to truth. I have added nothing to the original +manuscript, but I have erased such private matters as, of course, would +be out of place in a publication, and I have also considerably shortened +the description of the voyage out, as a voyage across the sea is a more +than twice-told tale to most Australian people. I have also altered the +names of persons and places mentioned wherever I have thought it +necessary. It is now several years since the events recorded happened. +The incidents themselves are sometimes trifling and always harmless. +Should any one who may read this book think they recognize themselves in +any part of my descriptions, I must beg them to accept my apology. They +will most likely then also recognize the substantial truth of my +description and my endeavour not to be too personal. + +Although it will be seen by the reader that I have often acted foolishly +and seldom excelled in wisdom, yet I do not wish it to be understood +that I consider my life altogether misspent. As I look back, I think of +myself as being always cheerful. It is the privilege of youth to be +happy under almost any circumstances, and I was young when these things +I here set down happened. If the tale has a moral, I think it will be +found sufficiently obvious. Queensland is full of missing friends. Some +come to the colony in the hope of making a speedy fortune, that they may +go home again and bless the old folks with their good fortune. Others +come out with the hope of making a good home, and to bring the old +people thither. The successful man is generally a dutiful son too, +insomuch, at least, that he lets everybody know of his success; but the +man who fails, either from lack of perseverance or from untoward +circumstances, too often becomes a "missing friend." It is generally +true that a man is valued according to the cut of his coat, but it is +not true between parent and son. So! write home, you lonely swagsman on +the dusty track of the far interior. Do not think yourself forgotten. If +you have parents alive you have friends too, who think of you night and +day. If you will only let them know that you yet have a thought left for +them, they will bless you. + +I have nothing else to add to this introduction, except that possibly +the book might have been more interesting if it contained more thrilling +adventures, but in my opinion the only merit which it may possess lies +in the strict regard paid to truth and the avoidance of all exaggeration +from beginning to end. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE + + INTRODUCTORY v + + CHAP. + + I. MY FIRST EXPERIENCES ON LEAVING HOME 3 + + II. ON THE EMIGRANT SHIP--THE JOURNEY TO QUEENSLAND 19 + + III. MY ARRIVAL IN QUEENSLAND 43 + + IV. GAINING COLONIAL EXPERIENCE 73 + + V. TOWNSVILLE: MORE COLONIAL EXPERIENCES 101 + + VI. ON THE HERBERT RIVER 131 + + VII. LEAVING THE HERBERT--RAVENSWOOD 161 + + VIII. SHANTY-KEEPING, PROSPECTING, THORKILL'S DEATH 185 + + IX. GOING TO THE PALMER 211 + + X. RETURNING FROM THE PALMER 231 + + XI. A LOVE STORY 259 + + XII. BRISBANE--TRAVELS IN THE "NEVER NEVER" LAND 271 + + XIII. THE END 315 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + (1) A SWAGSMAN _Frontispiece_ + + (2) LANDING OF EMIGRANTS _To face page_ 55 + + (3) AN ALLIGATOR POOL " " 145 + + (4) THE BAKER'S CART " " 190 + + (5) BREAKFAST IN THE GOLD FIELDS " " 198 + + (6) ROCKHAMPTON " " 232 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +MY FIRST EXPERIENCES ON LEAVING HOME. + + +Having left Copenhagen in the way just described and arrived in +Hamburg, my first care was to get work, which I fortunately obtained +the next day. The place I worked in was a large building or series of +buildings, four or five stories high, with cabinet-makers' shops from +the cellars to the loft. We had to be at work at six o'clock in the +morning, and to keep on till eight o'clock at night. Even on Sundays we +worked from six o'clock to dinner-time. Some would keep on till it was +dark on Sunday evening, and content themselves with knocking off early, +as they called it. And such work! Everybody would work as if the house +were on fire. It was all piecework. The man who stood next myself had +made veneered chests of drawers for thirty years, and never had made +anything else. He would turn out two veneered chests of drawers in a +week, and the work was faultless. These chests would, I am sure, sell +readily in Brisbane for from twelve to fifteen pounds each. He earned +about nine Prussian thalers per week. On the other side of me stood a +man who made German secretaires. There were nine or ten men in the shop. +The master was working too. He seemed just as poor as the men. Whenever +work was finished, some furniture dealer would come round and buy it. +The men seemed all more or less askew in their bodies with overwork. If +ever they had an ambition in their lives, it was to instil a proper +sense of respect into the two apprentices. I did pity these two boys. +They received their board and lodging from the master, but they could, I +am sure, easily have made one meal out of their four daily allowances. +They slept in a corner of the shop. They had, of course, to be at work +at six o'clock in the morning the same as the men, but while we had half +an hour for breakfast and "vesperkost," they were supposed to eat and +work at the same time. After work-hours at night they had to carry all +the shavings out of the shop to the loft above, from which they were +occasionally removed; then they had tea, and finally, if they liked, +they were allowed to work a couple of hours for themselves. They would +get odd pieces of veneer and wood and make a workbox. When it was +finished, they would one evening run round among the furnishers from +door to door to sell it. The dealer would know that the materials were +not paid for, and of course he did not pay them. A shilling or less is +the price a dealer in Hamburg pays for one of those beautiful workboxes +which are sold all over the world. I wonder how often the buyers of +these boxes think of the lean, ragged youth who has stood late in the +night and made it, most often perhaps to buy an extra morsel of bread +from the proceeds--because, as a matter of fact, that was what these two +boys used to do. The master was accustomed to beat them daily, and if he +was at any time thought too sparing with the rod, and thereby neglecting +their education, the men would themselves beat the lads. It was +winter-time, and daylight only about eight o'clock in the morning. But +in order to reach the shop at six o'clock, the men, who lived mostly in +the suburbs, had to be up at half-past four. I had rented a small room +from one of them, and he and I would generally arrive together. As we +scrambled our way up the dark staircase, he would caution me to walk +softly because, as he said, he wanted to catch these rascally boys in +bed. Poor fellows! If we were the first to arrive they would most often +lie in a heavy sleep. Then he would rush at them, tear the bed-clothes +off them, box their ears, and call them all sorts of _endearing_ names. +The master and the other men, with scarcely an exception, approved of +this. It was not breakfast-time before eight o'clock, and very often +when the apprentices had been hunted to work in this manner they would +get another correction before then for neglecting to wash themselves! +Poor fellows, they had no time. But, as is well known, the harder an +apprenticeship a boy has served, the more cruel does he in his turn +become after his time is out. The Prime Minister himself has not, I am +sure, half as serene a contempt for an apprentice, as a journeyman only +three months out of his apprenticeship. + +This work in Hamburg certainly did not suit my ideas of liberty. My head +would swim of an evening when I came out of the shop. As already stated, +I had rented a small room from one of the men for a mere trifle, and I +boarded myself, and very frugal fare I had. This self-denial was because +I soon made up my mind that I would not stay in Hamburg; and so I saved +all that was possible, and it did not take long before I could commence +to count a few thalers in my pocket. + +On Sunday evenings I used to go and sit in one of the public gardens, +and listen to the music and watch the faces of the people there. +Sometimes when there was a free show I would be there too, but I never +spent any money. With the din of the shop scarcely out of my ears, and +Monday morning looming only a few hours away, I almost fancied myself of +a different species from such happy, chattering crowds as would pass and +repass seemingly without a care in the world. There was not a soul to +speak to me. For one thing, I could scarcely make myself understood in +German; for another, the men in the shop, who were the only people I +knew, if I did go down the street with one of them, conversation had but +one subject for which was sure somehow to turn on the quality of the +glue we used. They all had a vast reverence for the furniture dealers, +and they were just the people I did not like. I was therefore quite +alone. I was also wonderfully homesick. Often and often did I wish that +I had never run away, but it seemed to me impossible to go home again, +and so I used to sit and speculate on what I had better do. I thought +when I had saved a little money I would go to Paris, or Vienna. They +were nice places I believed; but of one thing I was certain, and that +was that as yet I had not seen anybody I liked as well as myself, or any +place I liked so well as my own home! + +One Sunday evening as I walked about the streets, I saw in a window a +large attractive placard on which was printed in red letters, "Free +Emigration to Queensland, Australia." I am certain I had never heard the +name of Queensland before, and my impression of Australia was that it +was the place to which criminals were sent; I had also read something +about gold-diggings in Australia, but it was in the form of a novel, and +I did not believe it. I called to mind what I had read in school in the +geography about Australia, and I remembered it well. It was only a short +paragraph. It ran thus: "Australia. Travellers who come from this +distant continent, bring us very conflicting statements. It seems to be +a land in which nature is reversed. The leaves are hanging downwards on +the trees instead of upwards. Rivers run from the ocean inland. The +interior seems to be one vast lake of salt water. It is the home of the +kangaroo and the black swan. Altogether but little is known about it. +Captain Cook discovered it in the year 1788. It belongs to England. The +Dutch have possessions in the North. It has been used as a penal +settlement by England, but this is now abolished. Of late years gold has +been found in considerable quantities and in several places. Wool, +tallow, and hides are exported. Towns, Sydney and Melbourne." + +I can scarcely help laughing to myself now when recalling to mind this +piece of information about Australia. It was really an ignorant and +disgraceful morsel of information for one of the best schools in +Copenhagen to offer to its pupils, but it was all the knowledge I had or +could get, and it was not much assuredly to give one any idea what +Queensland was like. But somehow I determined to find out what I could +for myself. There was gold there that might be more easily got, perhaps, +than by making chests of drawers, so the next day I presented myself at +the office, and asked for information. + +Yes, it was right. The ship would sail in a fortnight. "Did I want to +go? Two pounds sterling please. Only three or four tickets left." +"Well--I would like a little information." "Information, yes, we have +every information. What is it you want to know? You get, to begin with, +all your food, and splendid food I can tell you is provided for you on +the whole journey. You also get bed-clothes, and your own knife, spoon, +and fork. This will all become your own property on arrival in +Queensland. Here is the bill of fare." + +I hesitated. "When you have arrived in Queensland," cried my informant, +"the Government of that country further engages to board you in a +first-class hotel for two or three weeks, free of all cost, while you +make up your mind what occupation to engage in, and--here it is in the +prospectus, look at this!--they further guarantee to find work for you +making roads, for at least two years after." "Do you yourself know +anything much about Queensland?" I ventured to ask; "I suppose you never +were there?" "I, no, I never was there--I wish I had been, I should not +have to stand here to-day. But we have every information. They have +found gold-diggings again. Here are the statistics of exports; I will +read them for you:-- + + Marks. Marks. + Hides, 100,000,000,000,000. Horns, 1,000,000,000,000. + Wool, 10,000,000,000,000. Tallow, 10,000,000,000. + Cattle, 1,000,000,000,000. Horses, 100,000,000,000,000. + Gold, 100,000,000,000. Silver, 1,000,000,000,000. + Copper, 1,000,000,000,000,000. Tin, 1,000,000,000,000. + +What do you think of that now?" + +What I thought was that it was all Latin to me. I did not know why they +exported all this wealth, or why they did not keep it at home. No more +did the man in the office, I am sure. I asked, did he think it probable +that I should obtain work as a carpenter and joiner, and did he know +what wages were going? To that he replied that, of course, I could get +work as a carpenter and joiner, and that wages were at least one pound +per day, but that if I wanted to go he would have to enlist me as an +agricultural labourer, because a whole cargo of carpenters was already +engaged, but that undoubtedly it would pay me better to dig for gold +myself. I concluded that Queensland was a sort of vast gold-field. I +asked what was the cost of living. He said, "If you like to live in an +hotel and be waited on hand and foot, of course you can have it at all +prices; but if you like to cook your own food, it will cost you nothing. +Why man! don't I keep telling you that the cattle are running wild; if +you are wise enough to buy a gun before you go, your meat supply is +secured when you get there, and all sorts of game are in equal +abundance--kangaroos, parrots, and all sorts." I inquired how much, or +rather how little, money did he think it indispensable for me to have +when I landed. He said as for that, no doubt the less I had, the less +chance there was of my being robbed. It would, in his opinion, take some +little time for any one to get alongside the people over there, but, +once having taken their measure, there was no mistake about the +resources of the country. Then, as an afterthought, he added, "In case +on your arrival in the country you should decide to establish yourself +as a farmer the Government makes you a present of"--I think it +was--"eighty acres of land. This land is the best and richest +agricultural land in the colony, and you can pick it out yourself +wherever you like best in Queensland. I will give you the order which +entitles you to your deeds." + +I felt very undecided. I did not buy any ticket, nor did I go to work +again that day. I kept roaming about the streets, thinking of Queensland +and the information I had received. Wages a pound sterling per day! if I +would only work for it--the price of food scarcely anything--cattle +running wild--large gold-fields! How was it, then, that there were +hotels where people would wait on the immigrants, "hand and foot." What +silly fellows those publicans must be; would it not pay them better to +work at a trade, or look out for gold? Truly the order of things seemed +to be reversed in that country. And eighty acres of their best land +would they give me if only I would go! Perhaps horses were running wild +as well as cattle. I might be able to catch some and break them in to +plough the land. But what about the plough? Surely nobody made ploughs +there; I should have to bring that with me. Perhaps there were saddlers. +No doubt it would be a good country for a saddler to go to, as it seemed +they had so many hides over there that they had to export them. Probably +if a saddler wanted materials, all he had to do was to flay a bullock +and carry its hide away. But were there bricklayers to build houses? +Certainly I could do the carpentry myself; on a pinch I could do the +bricklaying too. Everything seemed so satisfactory. Perhaps I should +even find gold enough while I was sinking the foundation for my house to +pay for the lot! It need not be such a large piece either. A couple of +nuggets, as large only as one brick each, would go a long way. Perhaps, +too, if I found them, it would be as well to go home again at once. Then +I began to wonder if the fellow in the office would not, if I had asked +him, have told me that houses, by careful cultivation, would grow out of +the ground themselves in that country. In a word, I gave it up. Perhaps +it was all one tissue of falsehood. Perhaps the diggers over there were +only trying to get slaves to work for them. That seemed to me more +reasonable. Why should the Government of the country make me a present +of a large estate? All bosh! But I would go, just to see the land in +which swans were black and rivers running from the ocean inland. If I +should be caught on my arrival, perhaps I might escape to the interior. +There would be no cabinet-maker's shops there, of that I felt certain. +The prospectus said that the Government would guarantee to every +intending emigrant work on the roads of the colony for two years, if he +desired it. I could not think it probable that I desired that, but +perhaps it was meant to pay our passage money. Anyhow, I promised myself +I should not fail for the want of firearms if I did go, and perhaps we +could slay any enemies we found altogether, because undoubtedly there +would be others on board ship who would fight for their liberty. +Liberty, delightful liberty! To be the captain of a gang of warriors, +half robbers, half gold-miners, roaming over the continent of Australia, +seemed a delightful prospect. + +This is, I am sure, quite a faithful picture of my wild ideas of +Queensland after I had elicited all the information I could get. + +The Government of Queensland spends yearly, I do not remember how large +a sum, in promoting free emigration. They prepared at great cost, and +with elaborate exactness, statistics to show the commercial position of +the country. Then they trust all this to the care of some office at +home, whose officials know little or nothing about Queensland. The +principal in such an office puts a clerk at the counter who has, +perhaps, no other qualification for the work than a facility for +talking. Fancy a home-bred peasant coming into such a place with the +care of a family on his shoulders, and a little money in the bank, and +think of the clerk talking to him about gold-fields and firearms and +statistics, all the time admitting he never was in the colony himself! I +think it is quite enough to prevent any one going out. And yet people of +that class are the only class of poor men who really can do well in +Queensland, and they are almost the only desirable sort of emigrants for +the country itself. The reason is that such a man can, after a very +short spell of colonial experience, go on to a piece of crown land, and +by residing there for five years, and making certain improvements +thereto, very soon get a living out of the soil, and while keeping his +children round him, be independent of everybody. But such people are at +a premium in Queensland. On the other hand, the towns out here are +crowded with men who seek for light work, and I have no hesitation in +asserting that for certain people, such as junior clerks without +influence, grocers' and drapers' assistants, second-class tradesmen, +&c., it is quite as difficult, if not more so, to obtain a living in +Queensland as in Copenhagen. The land order I obtained, and which +entitled me to eighty acres of land wherever I chose to take them, I did +not consider of any value--in fact I threw it away; so did all the other +emigrants on the ship: one might have bought a whole hatful for a dozen +biscuits! + +But all this is digression. Still, it is a matter which excites +considerable interest in Queensland, and as I think of that time, these +thoughts come uppermost in my mind. No doubt if I, in the office, had +met a man who came from the colony, and who could have advised me and +spoken with confidence about the country itself, I should have made up +my mind to go in a far less reckless way, and probably I should never +have acquired, after my arrival in the country, that roving disposition +which I contracted, and which did not leave me for many years, if it has +even left me now. Well, I made up my mind to go. I also made up my mind +that it was unnecessary for me to work any more in Hamburg while +waiting for the ship, so I took a holiday and went about town every day, +spending my money to the last farthing. I had bought a revolver, +ammunition, and a long knife. I had bought my ticket too, and so the day +arrived when we were all mustered and put on board the ship. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ON THE EMIGRANT SHIP--THE JOURNEY TO QUEENSLAND. + + +What a motley crew we were: Germans, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, a +Russian Finn, and an Icelander. There were many nationalities, but in +the majority of cases extreme poverty was evident in their dress and +stamped upon their faces, and it was easy to see that the same spirit of +recklessness which filled me had somehow also been instilled into them. +Nearly everybody had guns, revolvers, and knives, which were promptly +taken from us as we stepped on board. Then the Germans would sing in +their language of the Fatherland they had left, and in overflowing gush, +men, women, and children would hang about one another's necks. Everybody +acted in such a mad manner as, I am quite sure, he would never have +thought of behaving in any time before. Most of the men were drunk, and +as it grew dark at night one would seek for the other, and as no one +knew the way about, a perfect pandemonium was raging--singing, fighting, +blubbering in all languages. I do believe if I had had a sixpence left, +I should have spent it in schnapps too, because my courage had never +been tried so hard before. But I had spent my all, and so I made a +virtue of necessity, and stood aloof looking round me in silent wonder +as to what the end would be. + +The prospectus said that the best and most wholesome food would be +served out to us in abundance, and to look at the bill of fare one would +think it enough to satisfy any gormandizer. But we got nothing at all +the first day, and I was unspeakably hungry. The prospectus said also +that bed-clothes were supplied to us, and these were already in the +bunks--it said mattrass, pillow, sheets, and blanket. The mattrass and +pillow were right enough. The sheets it did not matter much about--they +were no good at all for their purpose. But the blanket, the only thing +we had to cover ourselves with at night on a four months' voyage, was +smaller than the size of a little dining-table when it was spread out, +about the size of a saddle-cloth and much inferior in quality to +anything worthy of the name of blanket I have ever seen before or since. +As a consequence, those who had like myself put faith in that part of +the promises made us, and who had no other bed-clothes, were compelled +when we went to bed at night, to put on all the clothes we had and sleep +in them. I slept every night for months at a stretch in my overcoat, +woollen comforter around my neck, and the blanket, the all sufficient +bed-clothes, rolled round my head! + +I did not, as it may be imagined, sleep at all the first night on board +the ship. At break of day the cook came in with a large wooden bowl of +hot potatoes, which he put on the table singing out, "Breakfast!" I was +thankful because I was very hungry, and I began at once to get out of +the bunk so as to lose no time, but I was not half way to the table +before a dozen Germans had rushed the dish and stuffed all the hot +potatoes into their pockets, their shirts, anywhere. There was not a +taste left! We were twenty-six men in that compartment, and now the row +of last night began again with renewed vigour. I looked upon it as a +lesson in smartness which I should have to learn, and I thought that if +I did not learn it soon it would be a bad job. Half of the twenty-six +men were Danes--in fact we were fourteen Danes in the compartment +against twelve Germans, because I, who hailed from Hamburg, had been +classified as a German although I am not. I believe it was a +premeditated assault on the potatoes by the Germans, because they were +all in it, and not one of the Danes had got a morsel to eat. The twelve +Germans gave nothing up. They ate the potatoes intended for us all with +great composure while we others were storming at them. Didn't I feel +wild! + +While the dissatisfaction was at its highest point, somebody we had not +yet seen came into the cabin. He was a person with a decided military +air about him, and he was also dressed in a gorgeous uniform. Two of the +passengers who had already been sworn in to act as police constables +during the voyage came behind him, and in one of his uplifted hands he +held a document which he was waving at us. "Halt," cried he. "Halt, +Donnerwetter, I say, halt, while I read this paper." All the Germans +without an exception had just come from the Franco-German war, and the +sight of the uniform and the determined military air about the doctor, +as we soon discovered him to be, had the effect of shutting them up in +an instant. Some of the Danes were also old soldiers; anyhow, you might +have heard a pin drop while the doctor, who also came straight from the +war, where he had been army surgeon, read a proclamation, the exact +words of which I forget, but which was to the purpose that he had +supreme command over us all, and--"Donnerwetter," cried he, +"Donnerwetter, I will have order. If you are not amenable to discipline +I will handcuff every one of you. What sort of Knechte are you?" This +last remark was addressed to a big strapping-looking German who happened +to stand close to him. The German stood as stiff as a statute, saluting +with the one hand, while with the other he made a slight movement which +threw his overcoat a little to one side and displayed a silver cross +which he wore on his vest. "Ha!" cried the doctor, greatly mollified, "I +see you have served the Kaiser to some purpose. Don't forget you are not +outside the Kaiser's law yet. I hope we shall be friends." Then he +marched off to read his proclamation in other parts of the ship. These +Germans, I found out by degrees, were not at all bad fellows, but we +did not for a long time forgive them the assault on the potatoes, and I +have often thought what a peculiar sign of German thrift it was. They +had simply taken in the situation more quickly than we; indeed it has +become nearly a proverb in Queensland to say that a German will grow fat +where other men will starve. After that time order was restored, and no +disturbance worth mention occurred on the whole voyage. + +Nothing can well be more tedious than a sea voyage of four months under +our circumstances. The food was wretched and insufficient, and, as I +have already mentioned, most of us had to sleep with all our clothes on +us. We did not undress; we rather dressed to go to bed! + +There was not a single individual among the passengers who understood +English. It is true I had learned English for seven years in school, but +when we came ashore it proved that I could scarcely make myself +understood in a single sentence. None of us knew anything about +Queensland, and many were the surmises and guesses at what the country +was like and what we were going to do there. I remember distinctly once +a number of us were sitting talking about the colony, and that one +ventured to say that he had heard how in Queensland, when journeymen +tradesmen were travelling about looking for work, they needed no +"wander-book," and travelled about on horseback; whereupon another got +up much offended, and said that he had heard many lies about +Queensland, but this last beat all. He did not know so much about the +"wander-book," although he had taken good care to have his own in order, +but if any one tried to make him believe that beggars went about on +horseback over there, then it was time to cry stop. "No," said he, "he +knew we should have to walk." We others concurred. + +One of my companions, I remember, was a shoemaker, and a religious +maniac besides. He would lie in his bunk and pray aloud night and day. +It was quite startling sometimes in the middle of the night when all +were asleep to hear him in a sanctimonious voice chanting a hymn. If the +spirit moved him that way, then it was good-bye to sleep for us for a +long time after. He would be quite irresistible. Most of us in the cabin +were a phlegmatic set who did not mind, but one, a Swiss, was of a very +excitable temperament. He was "down" on the shoemaker. When the hymns +began in the night one might be quite sure to hear after a minute, from +the bunk in which the Swiss lay, a smothered whispered little oath like +"Gottferdam." Then ten seconds after he would exclaim in an everyday +voice, with, however, an affected resignation, "Gottferdam"; and as the +full burden of the sacred song kept rolling on, he would start screaming +out of his bunk with a real big "Gottferdam." But the others did not +allow him to hurt his enemy. They seemed to agree that even if it was +not very nice, yet it must be wicked to hurt any one for practising his +religion; but I believe that their motives were not quite so pure, +because this shoemaker had an inexhaustible fund of anecdote, and if +anything were allowed to annoy him in the night, he would tell them no +stories during the day. When all went smooth, it was the practice for +him to gather a score or two around, the numbers swelling as he +proceeded, and then tell a story, something of a sensational sort about +love and murder. His whole soul would then be in it, and he gesticulated +as if he felt and believed it all. Every Sunday he was always more or +less ready to cry out for hunger, and would at such times sit and look +right before him straight out into space. Then he would say, "I wish I +had a dish of German dumplings. With cherry-sauce, with cherry-sauce. +Not the way one gets in the steam-kitchens, but the way my mother used +to make it." Then we would get a long description of his mother's recipe +for German dumplings. There is no mistake about it, too, we _did_ fast +on that ship. + +In reading over to myself some of these last pages, I am afraid I have +given my readers the impression that the people on board, taken as a +whole, were a bad lot. If I have done so, it is erroneous. It is true +that my first impression of the emigrants was not a good one, and +perhaps few among us excelled or were remarkable for anything in +particular, but taken as a whole they were honest, hard-working people, +and as I became acquainted with them one after another I found that men +of whom I had a very low opinion when we first came on board, were in +reality entitled to very much higher estimation. + +We did not know anything about the country to which we were going. We +had an idea that we were to begin a new life somewhat freer than in the +old world, and, simpleminded as we were--because I was just as bad as +anybody--thought that when we came on board ship we could dispense with +such formalities as those the old world had taught us. That is, I am +sure, the true reason why so many emigrants, when they leave home as +well as when they arrive in a colony, behave so foolishly as to make one +think that they never had known the decencies of life before. It is the +same with the English emigrants, only they are more quickly absorbed +into the general population. Still the word "New Chum" has in Australia +much the same meaning as the word "fool." I never felt more bitterly +ashamed than once, several years after I came to Queensland, when I saw +a number of Danish immigrants just arrived. It was in Toowoomba, and I +had come down there from up country on some business, when one of the +first things I was told was that there were a lot of my countrymen in +the depôt waiting for engagements. Toowoomba is about a hundred miles +inland, and they had been sent up from Brisbane. Well, I felt quite +pleased, and decided at once to go and see them and to speak a kind word +to some of them, if I could not do them any other service. But I came +away a great deal less pleased than I had gone. There were some long +forms outside the building, and on those forms sat as close as they +could find room a score or so of men. Each man had wooden clogs on his +feet and a long pipe in his mouth. On his knees sat his girl with her +arm round his neck, and there they sat smoking and kissing perfectly +regardless of ladies and gentlemen who would walk about looking at them +and going on again. One I stood glaring at seemed to me the worst. He +was a big ugly fellow, dressed in a blue calico blouse, black trousers +and wooden clogs. In his hand he had a pipe five feet long, but on his +head he had a sugar-bag. These sugar-bags are of straw and about two +feet six inches in length. He had tied in the corners to fit his head. +This gentleman would rush about and look in at the doors of houses, +throwing side glances in all directions with the evident desire to +attract attention. At last he stood in the middle of the street singing +an old Danish song and jerking his body about like a maniac. I could not +contain myself, so I went up to him and asked him if he did not think he +was ugly enough already without trying to make himself still more so, +and what did he mean by sticking that sugar-bag on his head? + +"Oh," cried he, quite unconcerned, "here we are right up on the top of +these blue mountains, that does not matter. It is a first-rate +straw-hat. Does it not look nice? Why! this is a free country," &c. + +One very conspicuous figure on board the emigrant ship was the +Icelander, Thorkill; he was so unlike anybody else that I would like to +describe him, especially as he became my mate in Queensland and we +became close friends. His eyes were bluer and his complexion clearer +than that of any one else I ever saw. He had long yellow curly hair, and +a big yellow beard. He was himself also big and strong, and about +twenty-eight years of age--altogether I should say, as far as appearance +went, the beau ideal of a man. But as no one is perfect, so had he also +a grievous fault, viz., a certain softness, like a woman. He always +spoke as with a comma between each word, and although he had plenty of +good sense and was, like all Icelanders, well educated, yet he would, I +believe, give most people the impression that he was not fit to battle +with a wicked world. I often wondered what might have brought him on +board that ship, but he was very reticent about his own affairs. +Meanwhile I have never known anybody whose mind was so pure, whose +thoughts were so lofty as his. But he was unpractical, to a degree. He +claimed to know all his ancestors from the twelfth century, when they +had emigrated from Norway to Iceland, and he said his father still +farmed the same land. Unless as a professor in ancient folklore, I do +not know what Thorkill was good for. I had, in school, learned much +Icelandic folklore, and to see his eyes sparkle with joy when he +discovered this and knew that I was interested in it besides, did me +real good, and so we agreed that during the voyage we would refresh each +other's memory in "Sagamaal." He arranged to teach me the whole complete +"Rümi Kronike." So we bribed the fellow who lay next to me (we had +double bunks) to exchange berths with Thorkill, and he and I then lay +together, and there we were telling "Sagamaal" from morning to night and +sometimes the whole night through. He would make me tell him one of the +"Sagas" I knew, although he knew it far better himself, just to see if I +had mastered it properly. He would listen with all his might, then he +would say: "Excuse--me--for--interrupting you--but--are--you--sure--that +--you--are--correct--in--describing--Sharpedin--the--son--of--Hakon--as +--a--longbearded--man. The--Rümi Kronike--does--not--say--so--on--the +--contrary." Then we would have a long argument about that, Thorkill +insisting upon the importance of being exact. + +He wrote a splendid hand, but from the pedantic ungainly way in which he +took hold of anything, I made sure he was not a good worker. He had +studied scientific farming at the agricultural college in Copenhagen, +and afterwards had been, he said, a sort of overseer on a large farm on +the island of Als. Whether he had given satisfaction at that or not, I +did not know, but what was the good of all his knowledge, supposing he +had any, when he did not understand English, had no friend nor money, +and was a bad worker? One day I said to him: + +"Thorkill, do you ever try to draw a real picture to yourself of how we +shall get on when we come to Queensland? I am thinking of this, there +are, according to what we have been told, no more people in all +Queensland than there is in a good-sized street in Copenhagen, and here +are all these people on board ship who will be, the moment they land, +ravenous in their competition for something to do, and another ship has +sailed from Hamburg a week after us. How will they fare? I cannot solve +it. But it strikes me very forcibly that if the sail of this ship were +set for Copenhagen harbour instead of Queensland, the only solution to +the problem there would be for the police to have some large vans in +readiness and to give us a drive in them straight out to the workhouse." +"Oh say not so," cried Thorkill, "say not so. God will protect us. You +and I will never part." "No," cried I, in the fulness of my heart, "we +will stick together, and we will get something to do too, you will see." +And then, with a new sense of responsibility on me, I would talk to him +cheerfully about Queensland, and the opportunities there would be to do +well for both of us, which could not fail, but meanwhile I would rack my +brain with thinking about how to make a few shillings to land with. I +had not got a cent, and I knew very well that Thorkill had nothing +either. It was a bad place I was in for making money, for there was not +much of it on the ship, but I now very much regretted that I had spent +all that I had before I came on board. Here were all these empty +bottles lying about the ship which nobody seemed to claim. Why, thought +I, they must be worth a little fortune in Queensland. Good idea! We will +collect them all. I communicated with Thorkill. "Oh," said he, "you-- +will--make--your--fortune--in--Queensland. They must be worth a mint of +money. But is it right to take them? What--a--business--ability--you +--have--got. Nobody seems to want them. I think we might have them." + +So then we went about begging and borrowing empty bottles everywhere, +without letting anybody know for what we wanted them, and we piled them +up in our bunks so that we could scarcely get into them; then people, +when they saw what we were after, put a price on the bottles and came to +us to sell. So Thorkill bought five shillings' worth on my +recommendation, all the money he had, and still they came with bottles, +but the firm was compelled to suspend payment. Then I, who was +understood to know a little English, opened a class for teaching that +language. My pupils had no money, but I took it out in empty bottles, +and by and by we had them stacked by the hundred all round about ready +for market. + +The food we got was so wretched and insufficient that it was scarcely +possible to keep body and soul together upon it. I have asked many +people since how they fared in other ships, and I have come to the +conclusion that our ship was the worst provided of any in that respect. +Indeed, the emigrant ships which leave England are well supplied with +everything, even luxuries, for their passengers. But in this ship we +were sometimes on the point of despair with hunger. We got our week's +supply of biscuits served out once a week. Those who were unable to +practise self-restraint, generally ate them in a couple of days, and for +the rest of the week subsisted on the so-called dinner which consisted +of a couple of mouthfuls of salt pork or mutton, with a little +sauer-krout to keep it company. Our ration of sugar was a small +table-spoonful per week to each man. The tea and coffee we got morning +and evening was served in the same wooden trough in which we fetched our +dinner, and as the sugar ration was, as already stated, served +separately once a week and quickly consumed, our beverage was void of +any sweetening. But as for me, I never fooled about all the week with my +spoonful of sugar; I always put it into the first pint of tea I got. We +also got some butter, and we never troubled much either about the +quantity or quality of that article. The trouble was that we had seldom +a biscuit to spread it on. The prospectus had said that cordials were +served out, and in conformity with that every sixteen men received one +bottle of lime-juice per week. These were our rations. There was on that +account an amount of dissatisfaction on board verging sometimes on open +mutiny. The water was also fearfully bad, with inches of froth on it, +but bad as it was, we would drink it as soon as we got it and then feel +like dying of thirst sometimes before the time came to serve out the +next rations. As a sort of proof of the correctness of this statement, I +might mention that one of the passengers had a canary bird which died of +thirst because some of us would steal the drop of water in its glass! + +I have already written that no disturbance worth mentioning occurred on +the voyage. When I wrote that, I forgot an incident which happened when +we had been out to sea about a couple of months. The doctor, as I have +already stated, was also in command of us. He had been an army doctor in +the German army during the Franco-German war, and came straight thence. +Whether he made the mistake of thinking he was in command of a convict +ship full of criminals, or whether it was that his military training was +the cause of it, I cannot say, but in one word, he was boss of that +ship. Every now and then somebody would be handcuffed and shut up during +his pleasure, without anybody taking much notice; but one day he went a +good deal too far. One of the single girls had been accused by the woman +in charge of them of some fault, upon which I need not farther enlarge +more than to say that it was trifling, and that the culprit was a very +respectable girl, who shortly after her arrival in Queensland got +married to a good husband, and that both she and her husband are, and +always were, pre-eminently respectable people. The girl was tied with +ropes to the mast, with her hands fastened behind her in such a way that +she was exposed to the full view of all the six hundred people on board. +I was lying in my bunk when a fellow came in very excited, and said, +"Look here, chaps, is not this getting red hot? There is that poor girl, +so and so, chained to the mast and crying as if her heart would break. +What are we coming to?" + +The moment I heard there was a girl chained to the mast and crying, I +jumped up and registered an oath aloud that she should not stand there +one second longer than it would take me to reach the mast. So did every +other man who was in the cabin; even meek Thorkill cried out, "It is too +bad, too bad." Then I grabbed the wooden trough in which the concoction +of roasted peas that passed for coffee was served out in the morning. So +did every other man grab at something to strike with--one would take a +wooden clog, one a long stick, another a boot, and all something, and in +less time than it takes to read this we were all on deck. But to reach +the mast was then impossible. The girl had not stood there yet for five +minutes, but there was already a surging, impenetrable crowd on the +scene of action. As I could not see, and could not content myself to +stand still, I jumped up in the rigging, and from there, right enough, I +saw the girl and four German constables (passengers who had been sworn +in as police) watching her. How shall I describe the scene. It all +seemed to me to happen in one instant. Hundreds of men were yelling from +behind at the top of their voices, "Throw them in the sea. Cut her down! +Where is the doctor? He shall not live another hour." A dozen men were +struggling round the girl, some with the constables, and some of the +more moderate among the passengers with the aggressors. One towering +fellow, a Dane, had one of the constables by the throat, and the wooden +bowl swinging over his head, and held back by another man, who implored +him to give the doctor a chance to order the girl's instant removal. The +doctor was not on deck, but he came running on now, with a revolver in +each hand. He kept on the quarter-deck, but he sang out to the +constables to cut her down and take her into the hospital. Somehow that +was done, and the doctor walked down the steps from the quarter-deck, +turned the key in the lock, put it in his pocket, and faced the crowd. + +Did you ever notice two dogs when they meet, and before they begin to +fight? How unconcerned they try to look. They will look at anything, +anywhere but at one another. So looked the doctor as he stood there with +a cigar in his mouth, smoking away and looking at anything but the sea +of faces around him. Around him like a solid wall had the men closed, +armed with knives, wooden bowls, sticks, &c., and the howl, "Throw him +in the sea," kept on from the rear. No doubt the doctor realized that he +had gone too far, and he tried all he could while he stood there not to +give further offence, but I watched him particularly from my seat in the +rigging. Fear was not in that man. Not a muscle in his face shook, and +yet I am certain that his attention was strained to the uttermost, and +that the fingers which closed on the triggers of the two revolvers would +have caused them to blaze away the moment he had felt any one touch him +ever so gently. Behind him again, but up on the quarter-deck, stood the +captain and the first mate, with large overcoats on, and their hands in +their pockets. I had a suspicion that they also had revolvers--who knows +how many--within easy distance. + +But it was one thing to see a young woman tied to the mast and crying, +and it was (the doctor and his revolver apart) quite another thing to +look at a closed door and know that she was there and that no further +harm would befall her. But most of the men had a few minutes ago been so +excited, that it was not in human nature for them to cool down at once. +The man who had when I came on the scene taken the most prominent part, +was still the foremost person. He stood within three feet of the doctor, +and, as I said already, like a solid wall stood the others armed with +divers things; but no one touched the doctor, and no one spoke to him, +and there was a sort of undecided silence. Then the leader cried, "Well, +what are you waiting for? You said throw him in the sea; just give the +word and he shall be overboard in a second." My heart beat violently. I +thought murder would be committed in an instant, and not a single life +either, but perhaps scores would be sacrificed. There was a dead +silence. The wind whistled through the rigging, but it was the only +sound heard. The doctor did not move; the captain did not move; the mate +did not move; and none of the men moved. None dared to give the +aggressive sign, and each seemed to feel it just as impossible to beat a +retreat. It might have lasted a couple of minutes, perhaps less. It +seemed an age to me. Then we all heard Thorkill's voice, he was +somewhere in the rigging too, and he cried, "Countrymen--listen--to--me! +hear--what--I--say! Disperse! Disperse!--quietly. Let--us--complain +--when--we--come--ashore! He--will--shoot--the--first--ten--or--twelve +--men--who--touch--him--and--those--who--escape--now--might--be--hung +--when--we--come--ashore. Let--us--complain--when--we--come--ashore +--and--we--will--get--justice." Thorkill still kept on talking, but the +outburst of relief from all sides completely drowned his voice. There +was an honourable way to get out of it. "We will complain when we come +ashore," "Disperse," "Let it be enough," and similar expressions, were +heard on all sides, and the doctor, I suppose nothing loth, had quite a +pleased appearance as he stepped up on the quarter-deck again as soon as +the road was clear, and disappeared out of sight simultaneously with the +dispersion of the men. + +That day the doctor did not show up again, but on the next, I suppose +just to show that he did not consider himself beaten, all the single men +were ordered below at sundown as a punishment for insubordination, and +with that the matter ended. But now the men were pressing Thorkill to +write out a complaint which should embody all we had suffered, and all +our supposed wrongs. Thorkill, however, would do no such thing. It was +not in his line, he said. Many a talk he and I had about it, but he +could not see his way. "All these poor people," said he, "are treated +with contempt because they are poor, and I cannot help them for I am +just as poor. We do not know to whom to complain; we cannot write +English, and what we do will rebound on our own heads. Still," said he, +"it--is--a--shame--that--they--should--be--allowed--to--treat--people +--like--this." Then I wrote out a complaint in Danish addressed to the +Danish Consul, Australia. The exact contents of it I have long since +forgotten, but it was to the effect that we had been starved, +ill-treated, had had no sick accommodation, insufficient bed-clothes, +&c., and from that day I looked upon myself as an important personage on +board ship. All the single and married men, with about a dozen +exceptions, signed the statement. All the single girls wanted also to +sign it, but I feared the woman in charge might confiscate the document +(the matron in charge of the girls on our ship was only an ordinary +emigrant selected by the doctor, and in my opinion scarcely the best +that might have been selected. In English emigrant ships an educated +lady is engaged as matron.) Thus I could not bring myself to go among +them for the purpose of getting signatures, and so the females were not +represented in the complaint. (It might, however, be interesting to +English readers, as showing the standard of education on the continent +of Europe, that of all the people on board only one, an elderly man, had +to sign his name with a cross.) + +One day while I was getting these signatures, and the men were coming to +where I held my levee as fast as they could, the doctor stormed the +cabin with two constables behind him and ordered me to give up the +document to him. Then the doctor and I talked, I in Danish and he in +German, and we had a wordy war. I liked the doctor in my heart, because +he was about as brave a man as one could wish to see, and very likely, +too, some of the severe discipline on board was not altogether uncalled +for; yet he was not going to have it all his own way, and to this day I +maintain that whatever else might have been right or wrong, to starve as +we starved was scandalous. I write about these things, and I do not know +whether my readers may think them of much interest, but all these little +incidents seem engraven upon my memory. On board ship there is nothing +to think about or to talk about but the same old things. One is cross, +perhaps, and everybody talks much about the same thing. "Where are we, +I wonder?" "I wonder how many knots we are running?" "I wonder how it +will go when we come to Queensland?" "I wonder if any one ever was so +hungry as I?" So it goes on, day out and day in, and one has to discuss +and answer these questions about five hundred times every day. + +But now we are nearing Australia, and high time I dare say the reader +probably thinks it is; but if my readers are tired out, so were +we. Yet there is another of the passengers I must describe, as I +intend to mention him again. I will do so in a few words. He was a +quiet, gentlemanly man, about thirty years old. He told me he had +been a lieutenant in the Danish army, but had been dismissed for +insubordination. He managed, without giving offence to anybody, to keep +himself completely in the shadow in the ship, and one seemed not to know +he was there. I will call him "A." A. understood and spoke English +fluently, but nobody knew it. Indeed, when the complaint-fever was on, +he denied all knowledge of the language. A young lady was travelling +with him--that is, she went as a single girl, but they got married as +soon as we came ashore. They had quite a number of things with them to +set up house with, and lived for a short time very comfortably on their +means; when they went away again I lost sight of them. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +MY ARRIVAL IN QUEENSLAND. + + +Never can I forget the joy I felt, a joy universal to all on board the +ship, the first day we saw Australia. It was Sunday. The whole night +before the ship had cruised about outside Bass's Straits, and at break +of day we ran in. We did not know at all we were so near. We had not +seen land for three months when we had made out the island of Madeira. +Since then, as far as I remember, we had not even passed another ship. +In the Indian Ocean, storm, sleet, rain and cold had been the order of +the day. This day, the first time for months, the sun was shining +brightly, and a crisp, altogether different air fanned our cheeks. It +was blowing very strongly, but every sail the ship could carry was +spread, so that the ship lay over very much, and we seemed to fly past +the land at lightning speed. + +This, then, was Australia, our future home--and beautiful it seemed. +Land lay on both sides. That on the Australian side was flat, seemingly, +but Tasmania showed up with a majestic chain of mountains. I had never +seen a mountain before, nor had any of the other Danes, and we wondered +whether anything could grow on them, or whether they were all solid +stone. People were so glad, that they ran about and shook one another's +hands. Three or four of the passengers had telescopes, and we were all +dying to have a long look at the coast. It is amusing to myself to think +of the amount of ignorance which really existed among us about the land +to which we were going. + +"Do you make out anything over there?" one would ask of the man with the +telescope. "Yes," came the answer, "it seems all big trees." "Trees, did +you say? I am glad of that. I will lay a wager where all those trees +will grow, something else will grow." "This is not Queensland, though." +"Oh, well, only let me see plenty of big trees when we come to +Queensland, then I am satisfied." "Do you think we shall be allowed to +cut the trees down?" "I do! they must be glad to get rid of them. Why, +it is self-evident that you can take as much land here as you want; here +is so much of it and nobody to use it." + +"Do you know, I do not believe there is any desert in that land at all!" +"No more do I. I am sure there is not. Why should there?" "I am glad I +went, now I have seen the land." "So am I." + +In another part of the ship, as I walked about, I heard a very dogmatic +fellow laying down the law to a lot of married men who were discussing +their chances of obtaining employment. + +"Why," cried he, "anyone with a spark of common sense can see at a +glance that there must be _plenty_ of work in Queensland. Look around +you here on the ship. All these people must have shelter, and food, and +clothes; I say they must. That gives work--does it not?" + +The others did not seem quite convinced by the argument. They appeared +to know that there was a missing link somewhere, but, like the Italian +smuggler in Charles Dickens' "Little Dorrit," they kept saying, "Altro, +altro, altro!" + +With such hopeful conversation the day wore away, but before night we +were out again in open sea, and for another fortnight we saw no more of +Australia. Then we made the coast again and sailed along in sight of +land. Once more we were out to sea again. At last one morning before +daybreak we dropped anchor, and when daylight came found that we were +quite close to land, and right in front of a large flagpole and some +neat wooden cottages which stood on the shore. This, then, was +Queensland--Moreton Bay, and Brisbane, the capital, lay some miles up +the river. A man came from one of the houses and hoisted a flag, then +another, and another. Our company thought he did it to do us honour, or +in joy for our safe arrival, and in the wildest excitement they screamed +hurrah! until they were hoarse. Of course, the man was merely making +signals to the town, and a few hours after a small steamer came out, and +some live sheep were put on board, also fruit for the children, and +potatoes--sweet potatoes they are called, different from our potatoes at +home and much larger. + +Kind people!--Good Queensland!--Happy country! No starvation here or +smell of poverty. Look at these potatoes, five, six, ten times as large +as those we have at home! Who said Australia was a desert? So thought +and spoke we while we scanned, with a sort of reverent awe, some ladies +and gentlemen who were on board the little steamer, and the pilot who +had come on board our own ship. Much to our regret, we found we were not +to land here. We were now informed, for the first time on the whole +voyage, that our destination was a place called Port Denison, which lies +about half way between Brisbane and Cape Somerset, and which was at that +time the farthest northern port opened up of any importance. + +So now we were off again on our interminable voyage. Only our troubles +were over. Alas! for the complaint which I carried in my pocket, we were +all as healthy and strong a set of people as any one could wish to see, +for since we arrived in Bass's Strait we had been served with plenty of +food. Just now we lived on roast meat, potatoes, and pudding every day. +I could feel my cheeks grow redder and sleeker day by day. Alas! what +should I do? As a public man I was, of course, not allowed to change my +opinions, but when I looked at all these fellows gormandizing from +morning to night, it seemed to me a sort of treason to our cause. And +what was worse, I bore no ill-will to anybody. Surely the Danish consul, +if there was one, would expect to see a lot of emaciated objects when we +had been starved so cruelly, and I myself so anxious to get something to +do. I might be hindered, and have to travel about more yet, and, if I +could not prove the truth, be cast into prison! I often wish the +complaint was as nearly forgotten as our troubles seemed to be. Yet, +after all the talk there had been, it was too late to draw back. The +ship was now for a whole week longer sailing northwards, always in sight +of land--often, indeed, so close that we could almost have thrown +biscuits ashore. The whole way along was dotted with small islands, +which became more numerous the further north we sailed. There must be +some thousands of them if they were all counted, but with the exception +of a few of the largest which lie near Brisbane, they are nearly all +uninhabited. + +To look at the coast on the mainland, one would think that the man who +said he would be satisfied if he only saw plenty of trees in Queensland, +ought to feel contented. It seemed to us one vast forest. Occasionally +we saw smoke curling up from among the trees, and at night we could see +large fires. This was the dry grass burning among the trees, a very +common thing in Queensland, but to us it was a most startling and +awe-inspiring sight. We thought that it was the aboriginals who were +trying to get on to the ship, and that these were their fires. One +night the fires extended for many miles, and a most beautiful sight it +was, but no one gave a thought to its being a bush-fire. We simply said, +"What a lot of them there must be? Why, there must be more niggers here +than there were Frenchmen at Sedan. Look at their fires!" And then we +thought it strange that we did not get our weapons back again that they +had taken from us when we came on board. I do not think any one was +afraid. I myself rather liked the novelty of being so near the "enemy." +We would sit and discuss how many we thought we could keep out, +supposing, for argument's sake, that they dared to come--and altogether +we felt ourselves great heroes. + +I have a suspicion that the Queensland pilot who was now in charge of +the ship, along with the other quality up on the quarter-deck, were +having a laugh at our expense. Anyhow, one evening I happened to come +near him I pointed round me and towards the sun, which was just going +down, and summoning to my aid all my stock of English I said, "Very +nice, Queensland." "Yes," cried he, "it looks beautiful. All that red +glow in the sky you see there is the reflection from the gold on the +gold-fields." + +I could not understand the meaning of what he said, but I looked +deferential and thankful for the information all the same, and for fear +I had not taken it all in he called the mate and asked him to explain it +to me. Probably he thought I believed it! That same night we sailed in +between a mountainous island and the coast, and one of the guns was +loaded and fired off. The echo reverberated far and near in a most +startling fashion, and perhaps it was for the echo they fired it off, +but we were certain that it must have frightened the natives out of +their wits. We were even positive we could see them round their fires +trying to put them out. Poor harmless aboriginals of Queensland! They +little know what respect they are held in by new arrivals! It is only +familiarity which breeds contempt in their case. In a few more years the +last of them will have joined the great majority. After that event has +happened, no doubt the bard will sing their praises and descant about +their matchless beauty, their enormous strength, and their bloodthirsty +cruelty. + +We had very little wind in the sails as we came along, and nothing can +be thought more beautiful than the climate we now enjoyed. I am now so +used to the Queensland climate that I take it as a matter of course, but +how can I give the reader an adequate idea of the joy I then felt in the +very fact of my existence: the beautiful sun in the day, the glorious +sunset in the evening, the full moon, and the sparkling rippling silent +water! Then all these islands we passed were so full of mysterious +interest, while the vast unknown mainland lay beyond. The reckless +spirit of which I spoke as universal when we came on board in Hamburg, +seemed now to have taken wings and fled. Indeed, the main trouble on +board just now was how we should make a good impression when we landed. +It was looked upon as a matter of honour that each should be on his very +best behaviour when we came ashore, and I know of several of whom it was +thought by the rest that their clothes were scarcely good enough, and +who were lent by the others sufficient to appear in better trim and +circumstances. The ship was now so clean that one might have eaten his +dinner off the decks anywhere. Altogether there was a decided change for +the better since the day we first saw Australia. At last, one day after +having sailed along the apparently uninhabited coast for eight or nine +days, we suddenly rounded a cliff, sailed into a little bay, and dropped +anchor. There lay Bowen in full sight of us, and this was Port Denison. +How strange it seemed that these few scattered wooden cottages we saw +lying there on the beach in appalling loneliness should be the spot that +we, through storm and trouble, had all been trying to reach. For some +time not a human being was to be seen. There was a long jetty running +out into the water for a great distance, but we did not go alongside. We +lay, I think, half a mile out, and we were given to understand that we +were not to go ashore before the morrow, and that on landing all our +wants would be attended to until we obtained employment. Now it began to +look lively on the beach. A lot of people came out on the jetty, and at +last a boat, with a dozen gentlemen in it, got under way and pulled +straight for the ship. These are Queenslanders, thought I, men who had +fought with the Blacks and been on the gold-diggings. Rich, no doubt +they were. Oh, how we screamed hurrah! for them, and how kind they +looked as they came nearer, waving their handkerchiefs and smiling in +response to our greeting. They were not at all ferocious looking; really +much the same sort of people we had seen before. Yet what adventures +must they not have gone through; what stories could they not tell if +they liked? But, of course, that would be beneath their dignity. At last +they were on board. Most of them greeted the doctor and captain in +German, being, in fact, Germans. After a short interval, one of the +Queenslanders, who proved to be the agent and interpreter employed by +the Government to attend to us when we came ashore, got up on a big box +and made a long speech in German, exhorting us to do well, and +gesticulating with much gusto and great force. He advised us to take the +first work we could get, and while we were accommodating ourselves to +the new habits of life and customs existing in this country, to try to +feel contented. "Where," cried he, "will all of you be in twenty years? +Some will be dead; others perhaps alive. Some rich and honoured; others +perhaps only servants to those among you who are more pushing or lucky. +These little children who are now running about us fighting for an +orange, may become members of Parliament in time. To-day you start with +an equal chance, but from to-morrow your fortunes will begin to alter, +and for certain not one of you will for ever forget this day; and no +doubt in after years you will look back on to-day often, and as you +recall to your mind how your time has been employed, wish you had it +over again, that you might act more wisely or become better." + +All this was good advice, and very well and kindly spoken. He said much +more to the same purpose, but as good advice is everywhere cheap and +plentiful, I will not inflict the whole of his carefully prepared speech +upon my readers. He spoke for nearly an hour. At last he congratulated +us on our clean appearance, wiped his perspiring brow, and the +performance was at an end. We were not sorry, to tell the truth--at +least I was not, because this was the day on which our best dinner, grey +peas stewed with pork, was served out; and as it was past the usual +dinner hour when the sermon was over, not only did I stand right in the +tempting smell from the kitchen, but I had also noticed how, gradually, +as the speech proceeded, the "skaffers," or men whose duty it was to +fetch the food from the cook's galley, had one by one crept away, and +now they stood in a long row ready with their wooden troughs while the +cook began to dish up the peas. + +After dinner, when we came on deck again, I heard some one cry out, "Are +there any carpenters on board? Carpenters--any carpenters who want +employment?" + +"Yes!" I was one. Five more came forward. One of the Queenslanders said +he wished to engage one or two carpenters. Of course some one acted as +interpreter. Well, he would give thirty pounds sterling per annum to a +good man. He would also give him his board and lodging. We all thought +it a fair offer, although scarcely up to our expectations. But then, +again, what were our expectations? Half the time we were afraid we +should get nothing at all to do, and the other half we thought we were +to pick up bucketsful of gold. Anyhow, we were all anxious to engage, +and I, with a full regard to the fact that my only property was a +partnership in two hundred and odd empty bottles, was not at all sorry +to see that I seemed to find favour in his eyes. I was offered an +engagement on the above-named terms. Would I kindly step this way to +sign the agreement? A document written in English was placed before me +for signature. I could pretty well understand the meaning of it, and an +interpreter was there ready enough to explain matters, but there were +certain very important features in it which never were explained to me, +and which I myself totally overlooked, and if I had seen these I should +only have agreed to them as a last resource from starvation. As the +agreement was just like those signed by thousands every year all over +Queensland to this present day, I will give it here. It ran thus: ---- +promised to serve ---- for the term of twelve calendar months and to +obey all his lawful commands. In return for which, ---- would pay the +sum of Ł---- sterling and rations. Then followed the signatures. I +understood that the word "rations" meant my board and lodging, and so it +proved in my case, and as it was explained to me; but most of my +unfortunate shipmates who signed similar agreements in the same good +faith as I found out in a practical manner that to them it had another +meaning. It will be noticed that the agreement says nothing whatever +about lodging. Legally, a Queensland employer who engages a man for +wages and "rations" might let his employé camp under the gum-trees +without giving him any sleeping accommodation whatever, and that is very +often done. If a man gets a shed or a corner of a stable to live in, it +is more than he is entitled to under these agreements. So far as the +food is concerned, the word "ration" as used in these agreements means a +fixed quantity of certain things, which, therefore, again is all an +employé can expect from his master. These consist of twelve pounds of +raw beef or mutton, eight pounds of flour, two pounds of sugar and a +quarter of a pound of tea. As long as these eatables are tea and sugar, +flour and beef, nothing is said as to quality, and the most inferior +goods which are in the market are called _ration-tea_ and +_ration-sugar_. But what is an unfortunate new arrival, who never made a +cup of tea in his life before, to do, when on his arrival at some +out-of-the-way place in the bush his "boss," as the employer in +Queensland is called, hands him these rations instead of giving him +three square meals a day? + +[Illustration: THE LANDING OF EMIGRANTS.] + +But what was happening now? The constables were running about among the +people telling them to stand here and to stand there. All the single +girls were packed together up by the wheel as close as they could stand. +Then the married men with their families were told to stand as near them +as they could, and the single men were again packed as close to them as +possible. All of us were now on the quarter-deck. Then came the +Queenslanders, the doctor, the captain, and the first mate, and took up +a position in front of us down on the deck. One of our own constables +with a very sanctimonious face was also there. What did it mean? The +Immigration Agent read out of a large protocol, "Anna Frederica +Johnston, come forward." "Anna Frederica Johnston, Anna--Anna, Anna +Frederica Johnston. They want you--you are wanted; you have to go." The +unfortunate girl was half paralyzed with terror, as she came forward. +She was a Norwegian. The immigration agent asked her, "Had she been well +and kindly treated on the voyage, and was she satisfied?" This had to be +translated from German into Norwegian before she understood it. But +scarcely did she understand what they said before she cried, "Oh yes, oh +yes, I am thankful and satisfied." "Good," she might pass forward. Then +another was called who also testified to her kind treatment, and so on +until all the girls, even the one who had been tied to the mast, had +said they were satisfied and had been well treated. While this was going +on, some of the men who stood nearest to me told me to erase their +names from the written complaint which I carried. Others advised me that +it was now too late altogether to complain; others again said, "Now is +the time." I felt myself surprised beyond measure that the Queensland +Government should take the trouble to cause such a question to be put to +each individual immigrant, and I felt certain that it could not have +been Queensland's fault if we had been badly treated. Anyhow, I saw no +reason to tell any falsehoods, and my mind was soon made up how to act. +As soon as the last girl had declared herself satisfied, the question +began with the single men. The first who happened to be called was +rather a dense sort of a fellow, and although he had signed the +complaint, still he said he was "well satisfied." So then I thought the +time had arrived for me to act. I went forward and presented my document +written in Danish and addressed to the Danish Consul, Australia; it was +translated from Danish to German and from German to English. Meanwhile I +glared at the doctor and the doctor glared at me. I felt in rare good +humour, the observed of all observers. As a Queenslander would say on +such an occasion, it was the proudest moment in my life. I was asked to +stand alongside the doctor and captain, and watch my case. The fellow +who had already declared himself satisfied was called back and asked had +he signed the complaint, and only passed forward after admitting that he +had. Then the question to the remainder became, "Have you signed the +complaint?"--to which each of them, evidently pleased, replied in the +affirmative. Those who had not signed, on saying "no" were then asked +"did they wish to sign?" Every one of them signed it then right before +the eyes of the doctor. I would as soon that they had not, because it +was easily seen that they signed it more because they were asked to do +so and did not want to cause trouble, than because they had changed +their minds since they had been requested to do the same thing on the +voyage. From that time to now I never heard any more about the +complaint. Very likely it was forwarded to the proper authorities, and +they perhaps took notice of it although unknown to us. The ship was +clean when we landed, so were the emigrants, and we had all a healthy, +well-fed appearance I am sure, and that must have been greatly in the +doctor's favour. But let me say here at once, that if there had been one +amongst us who had known the proper way to punish whoever was +responsible for our ill-treatment, I believe it would have been a simple +matter to have ruined the owners of the ship. If instead of writing our +complaint to the Danish Consul, one of us had been able to issue a writ +against the doctor upon some definite matter, he could have had as many +witnesses as he chose, ready to hand, to prove what the fare of the ship +had been. He might have produced his rag of a blanket in court too, and +then have claimed damages. I am certain that no Queensland judge or jury +would have said, after seeing it, that such a rag, two feet six inches +by three feet, was a sufficient covering on a four months' sea voyage, +or that the food we received was either sufficient or that it in any way +tallied with what we were promised. Such damages as would then have been +awarded to the first plaintiff, could indisputably have been claimed by +any other emigrant, and that would have meant more than the ship and all +that was in it was worth. + +My boss told me before the Queenslanders left the ship again that I +might, as soon as we landed, come to his house for my food and lodging, +and that he would not expect me to go to work for a few days, so that I +was well provided for already. Three or four dozen other immigrants had +also been engaged by the other Queenslanders, all for thirty pounds a +year and rations, on exactly the same agreements as mine. But Thorkill +was not among them, and I felt a little ashamed and sorry that it was +so, as we had agreed not to part, and I had in this way taken my first +chance regardless of him; but he was earnest in his gratulations and +certain, he said, he would be right too, somehow. We had all these empty +bottles, and we expected nothing less than sixpence, or perhaps a +shilling, apiece for them. At least I felt greatly consoled to think of +them, and I made up my mind that he should have the whole return from +them if he needed it. The next day arrived, when we should go ashore, +and, full of excitement and expectations, we sailed up to the jetty. +Slow work that; it took us some hours to do it. Every one was hanging +over the side of the ship looking to see what the place was like, and +watching a number of people who stood there. Now we were alongside, so +close that we might have jumped ashore, but still we were forbidden to +leave the ship before the doctor, who was ashore, arrived. A man stood +on the jetty with a large basketful of bananas, which he offered for +sale at sixpence per dozen, and handed them over the side of the ship to +any one who would buy. He sold them readily, and my mouth watered to +taste them; but I had no money. Thorkill stood alongside me, so he said, +"I should like so to taste some of those bananas." + +"So should I." + +"He charges sixpence per dozen." + +"Yes." + +"I wonder if he would take a bottle for a dozen?" + +"We will try." + +I dived into the cabin as fast as I could for a bottle, because the man +had only a few bananas left. We had all the bottles, or most of them, +wrapped up in paper, and I took one which looked nice and clean, and +came out again just in time to secure his attention. Now I had to try to +make myself understood. "I give you bottle," said I, "if you give me +bananas." + +"Are you going to shout?" cried he. "What have you got?" + +I did not know what that meant, but as he had a pleased sort of +appearance, I nodded and smiled, and caressed the bottle, saying, "Very +good, very good bottle." + +"All right," said he, "let us see what you have got. I give you some +bananas; here you are, hand down your bottle." + +So I took the bananas with the one hand, and handed him the bottle with +the other. + +He took it, smelt it, shook it, pulled off the wrapper, held it up +towards the sun, and cried, "Dead mariner, by Jove." + +Then every one on the jetty laughed like fun, but I was totally ignorant +where the joke came in, and asked, "Is it not a very good bottle?" + +"Oh, yes," said he, "splendid bottle," and they all kept on laughing and +talking at me, assuring me that I would do well in Queensland! I +understood that much. + +Thorkill and I now retired into the cabin to eat the bananas, and while +we ate them we had some conversation. + +"I wonder what they all were laughing at?" + +"Who shall say? Is--it--not--a--nuisance--that--we--do--not--understand +--English--better? I--cannot--talk--to--them--at--all. You--seemed--to-- +do--fine--though. My--word--you--did. I--never--would--have--believed-- +it. I--will--study--that--language." + +"Did you notice that he said, 'Dead mariner,' when he held the bottle up +towards the sun?" + +"Yes; now I should translate that as a dead sailor. I wonder what he +meant?" + +"Perhaps it is a slang name for a bottle." + +"I do not think you will find that a correct explanation. It was a dark +bottle; now, I am inclined to think that that sort of bottle may be used +for some liquor peculiar to this country called 'Dead Mariner;' the same +as in Denmark you have so many different names for nearly the same +thing. In that way you might be right in saying it is a slang name; but +anyhow, we will find out the true meaning of it some day." + +"Yes," I replied to Thorkill, "and the sooner we find it out the better. +Don't you see, the bottles may have a different value, and I should like +to have full value for them. We are now in Queensland, Thorkill, and I +do not intend to let any one fool me. So, before we sell to any one, I +will find out exactly what they are worth. They did not laugh at nothing +down there on the jetty. I am afraid he had too good a bargain." + +"They seemed to say we would do well with the bottles," remarked +Thorkill. + +"I hope we shall. But see! They are at last going ashore. Now, if you +take my advice, one of us will stay on board for another hour or two +watching the bottles, while the other goes up to the town to find out +their true value, and a customer for them." + +Thorkill replied to this: "Ah, yes; you go up to the town. I will stay +and watch the bottles. I am sure you can sell them to far better +advantage than I." + +Meanwhile, a number of the immigrants had gone ashore, and Thorkill and +I were getting the bottles out of their hiding-places and putting them +on the table. Some Queenslanders came in. They looked on a little. I +said, "How much money you pay me for one bottle?" + +"Have you got all these bottles for sale?" inquired one. + +"Of course," said I. + +He did not answer, but went outside and called out "Mick." + +In came the man who had sold me the bananas. + +"Do you want to buy any more 'dead mariner'?" asked the first. + +"Has he got all these bottles for sale?" inquired the banana man. + +"Certainly," cried I. (Of course, I did not make myself quite so easily +understood as might appear from this conversation, but still I managed +both to understand and to make myself understood on this occasion.) + +"No," cried he; "he did not think he wanted any more just now." + +"How much money you think I receive for one bottle?" inquired I. + +"Oh, plenty money," cried he, "my word ready; market, any one buys +them." + +"What do they say?" asked Thorkill of me. + +"They say the bottles are worth a lot of money." + +"See if you can find out what 'dead mariner' is." + +I took a porter bottle up, and then said, "You name that one 'dead +mariner'?" + +Queenslander: "Yes, certainly; that is one 'dead mariner.'" + +I took up a clear bottle and inquired, "This clear thing, you call that +empty bottle?" + +Queenslander: "To be sure that is an empty bottle. But if you are +willing to sell, you take them all up to that large hotel you see there. +They give you half-a-crown apiece for them." + +I then asked, "Which one is most costly, 'dead mariner' bottle or clear +bottle?" + +Queenslander: "Oh, that fellow--'dead mariner'--very dear; three +shillings, I think." + +"Heavens! here, we have made our fortune already, Thorkill," cried I. +"Three shillings apiece for these bottles and two-and-sixpence for +those. And it appears any one will buy. Are we not lucky?" + +"Oh, but," said Thorkill, "I shall never feel justified in taking half +of all that money. It was your idea. I should never have thought of it. +I shall be very thankful to receive just a pound or two." + +"Oh, no," cried I, "you shall share half with me whatever I get. But, +excuse me for saying it, you are so unpractical. Why are we not up and +stirring? Why are we sitting here yet? Remember time is money in this +country." Then I ventured to ask the Queenslanders if in the town there +was any one whom I might ask to assist us in carrying the bottles +ashore. + +"Oh, yes," they all cried, as if with one mouth. "You go up in town and +get hold of a couple of black fellows, and then you take them all up +that street you see there. Any one will buy them there." + +Thorkill remained on board keeping watch over the bottles, while I went +ashore to see what I should see. + +Just as I came to the end of the long jetty I saw standing there an +aboriginal and three Gins. They were about as ugly a set of blacks as I +have ever since seen in Queensland, and I was quite horrified at their +appearance. The man had on a pair of white breeches, but nothing else. +The Gins were also so scantily dressed that I am afraid of going into +details of their wearing apparel. All of them had dirty old clay pipes +in their mouths, which they were sucking, but there was no tobacco in +them. The gentleman of the party saved me the trouble of accosting him, +as he came towards me and inquired my name. Then he informed me that his +name was Jack. He next introduced me to the ladies, who, it appeared, +all had the same name--Mary. Of course I fell in with the humour of this +arrangement at once. It seemed to me a delightfully free and easy way of +making acquaintance. They all spoke a lot to me, which I did not in the +least understand, and I did the same to them no doubt. They asked me +for tobacco, which I had not got; but it appeared that all was grist +that came to their mill, for they asked in succession for matches, pipe, +"sixpence," and I do not know what else, and even wanted to feel my +pockets! Of course I did not like this familiarity, so I began to +explain to them that I wanted them to work--to carry burdens from the +ship. That was soon made clear to them. Then the "gentleman" of the +party was very particular to know what I would pay him. I had thought to +get them to carry the bottles up, and, having sold them, to pay them out +of the proceeds; but as he seemed anxious to make a fixed bargain, I +said, "I give you one bottle." In case he should have refused that, I +intended to have gone on further, and to have offered a "dead mariner," +but to my joy he accepted the offer with evident satisfaction, which +again more thoroughly convinced me of the value of my bottles. I and the +black fellow with his three Gins accordingly went back to the ship, +where Thorkill sat keeping watch over our treasure. + +I loaded the four blacks with four bags, in each of which were two dozen +assorted bottles, and now we started for town in earnest. I thought it +beneath my dignity to carry any bottles myself. I had exhorted so many +of the immigrants that it was our duty to one another to try to make a +good impression when we first landed, that the least I could do I +thought would be to set a good example. Therefore I was faultlessly got +up, in my own opinion, or at least as well as the circumstances of my +wardrobe would permit. Still, my attire was not very suitable to this +country, and indeed, when I think of it now, I must have cut a strange +figure. I had on my black evening-dress suit, which so far would have +been good enough to have gone to a ball in, but my white shirt, I know, +was of a very doubtful colour, for I had been my own washer-woman, and +it was neither starched nor ironed. Then my tall black hat, of which I +was so proud when I got it, had suffered great damage on the voyage, and +brush it as I would, any one might easily have seen that it had been +used as a foot-stool. My big overcoat, I, according to the most approved +fashion in Copenhagen, carried over my arm. In one hand I had my +handkerchief, with which I had to constantly wipe the perspiration off +my face, because it was very hot. Still, I felt myself a tip-top +dignitary as I stalked along in front of the four blacks, who came, +chattering their strange lingo, behind me. + +We marched up to the main street, and I saw at once a hotel, that +pointed out to me from the ship as the place in which to sell my +bottles. In the bar were two or three gentlemen, of whom I took no +notice. Behind the bar stood the barmaid, whom I profoundly saluted, +also in Copenhagen fashion. I had what to say on the tip of my tongue, +and indeed I have never forgotten it since. So I spoke to the barmaid +thus: "I have bottles I will sell to you. Will you buy? Three shillings +every one." She looked bewildered, not at me but at the gentlemen in the +bar, as if she appealed to them for assistance, and they began to talk +to me, but I did not understand them at all. I could feel myself getting +red in the face, too, but I manfully made another effort. I called in +the blacks and ordered them to deposit their load inside the door. Then +I said with great exactness, "I--do--not--ferstan--thee--thou--ferstan +--me. I--sell--this--clear--bottles--to thee--for three shillings every +one. This--dead--mariner--I--sell--three--shillings--and sixpence every +one. Will thou buy?" Meanwhile I had taken out of the bags two samples, +a clear and a dark bottle, and placed them on the counter, and I now +looked inquiringly around me. + +Oh, the mortification which became my portion! The girl seemed to faint +behind the bar, and the gentlemen made not the slightest excuse for +laughing right out in my face. What they said I do not know, but it was +clear they did not want my bottles. I felt insulted, and I determined to +pay the blacks off and to leave the bottles here until I could find a +German Queenslander to whom I might explain my business, and who might +help me to sell them. So I took the clear bottle which stood on the +counter, and handed it to the black as payment for his service. He +looked viciously at me and said, "That fellow no good bottle." + +I said, "Very dear bottle that." Then I decided to satisfy him at any +cost, and gave him the other one, too, and said, "Very dear bottle this, +dead mariner." + +Now began a scene as good as a play. The blacks appealed to the +gentlemen, and the gentlemen howled with laughter, and I wished myself a +thousand miles away. What did they laugh at? Why did these scampish +blacks not feel satisfied after having received double payment? What did +it all mean? More people came in and seemed amused and happy, but I was +not in the swim. Something was wrong. But what was it? I began to +suspect that my bottles could not be so very valuable, as the blacks had +thrown both the bottles out into the gutter. Anyhow, for me to stand +here to be made a fool of would not do, so I went out of the bar and +down the street. But to get away was no easy matter. In fact I found it +impossible. The coloured gentleman with his three ladies were in front +of me, behind me, and on both sides, crying, howling, yelling, cursing, +and appealing to every one who passed, or to those who came to their +doors, "That fellow big rogue. That fellow no b---- good. He b---- new +chum. He say he give me bottle, he give me no good b---- bottle; dead +mariner no b---- good." This was more than human nature could stand. I +threw my overcoat and belltopper into the gutter, and went for the +black fellow straight. I got on the top of him in a minute, but the +battle was not nearly won by that, because the black ladies were +tearing at my coat-tails, which just formed two fine handles for them. +They split my coat right up to the shoulders, pulled my hair, and +belaboured me in a general way. Now came a policeman and grabbed me by +the neck. All the "ladies" ran for their lives out of sight, but I +suspect their spouse was too bruised to follow their example. Anyhow, he +stuck to his guns yet, and while the policeman tried to march us both +down the street, he kept appealing to him, declaring his innocence, and +my villainy. That I should have spent the next few days in the +watch-house I am sure enough, had not an elderly man stepped out of the +crowd of onlookers and spoken to the policeman. Then he addressed me in +German. I learned then, through much merriment on his part and +heartburning on my own, that empty bottles are in Queensland just so +much rubbish. Indeed, after the policeman let me go, he took me round to +the backyard of the hotel, and there I saw bottles lying by the +thousands, some broken and others sound, ready to cart away. But how was +I to have known that? Was it easy to guess that a bottle, which might +pass for twopence English money in Copenhagen nearly as readily as cash, +would here in Queensland have absolutely no value? It is like all other +things one knows, easily explained: here there being no distilleries or +breweries for making liquors of any kind, they are all imported, hence +empty bottles become a drug in the market. + +But I was not out of trouble yet. The German who had in so timely a +manner come to my rescue, seeing the state of mind I was in, tried to +console me by offering me a glass of spirits. I accepted his offer very +readily, I admit, and coming into the bar again, which so vividly +reminded me of my former shame and all the indignities heaped upon me, I +poured out a whole tumblerful of raw brandy--which I should not have +done, considering that I came from a ship on which nothing of that sort +was served out. But I will draw a veil over the rest of this miserable +day. Not but that the worst is told. Intemperance was never my weakness, +but I will leave the reader to fill out the picture, and to think of me +as I returned to the ship, bleeding, torn, and battered, and there I had +to face poor Thorkill, who, in his mild surprise and disapproval, was to +me more terrible than if he had stormed and raged ever so much. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +GAINING COLONIAL EXPERIENCE + + +Having returned to the ship after the incidents related in the last +chapter, and having somewhat soothed my agitated feelings, and changed +my apparel, Thorkill and I were under the necessity again of returning +on shore; which we did, and had no difficulty in finding the depôt or +place prepared for the reception of the immigrants. I had yet scarcely +noticed anything on land, but we saw now at a glance that the town was +very small, or perhaps it would be more correct to say that the town was +large but thinly inhabited. In Queensland we generally estimate the size +of a place by the number of public-houses which it contains, and in +Bowen there were three of these institutions. Grass was growing +luxuriantly enough in the main street, and altogether it did not, as we +came along, strike us that people here seemed remarkably busy. But when +we came down to the depôt, the scene was changed. + +The depôt was a large building, or series of buildings, without +particularly good accommodation, but it had the advantage that there +was plenty of room for everybody. I felt quite glad to again see the +familiar faces of the other immigrants, although we had only been +separated a few hours. There was a large kitchen attached to the place, +and a vast quantity of bread and beef and potatoes had been left there, +more than could possibly be eaten by those present. Two or three +butchers among the immigrants, too, were quite in their element here, +cutting up the bullocks, and all the girls seemed to have formed +themselves into a committee in order to dress the meat in various +appetizing ways. But what seemed the most encouraging feature of all was +to see thirty or forty saddle-horses "hung up" outside the fence and +their owners walking about among the men offering them engagements. The +girls were also in great request. A number of English ladies stood about +the yard, or went in and out of the kitchen. They all seemed to want the +girls who were doing the cooking, and what between the English ladies +who kept trying to attract their attention, their own sweethearts--who +had now the first opportunity since they left Hamburg to speak to +them--and the preparation of food for six hundred and odd people, they +certainly had enough to do. It was comical to watch them. Among the men +the scene was but one degree less animated. They might, I am sure, all +have been engaged that first day if they had liked. A number were +engaged, and over and over again were offers made to them of further +engagements, until at last they turned their backs to the Englishmen who +seemed almost to implore some of them to sign agreements. They were all +offered the same terms--thirty pounds for twelve months, and rations. +The girls got only twenty or twenty-five pounds a year, but there seemed +to be very little difference between the agreements. The Queenslanders +would go for the biggest and most able looking of the men first, and +when they had secured them, engage the others with the same terms. I saw +my "boss" down there, and went home with him for supper. I was received +with the greatest kindness by his family, and he himself could not have +looked more friendly if I had been a long-lost relation. He proved to be +a contractor, and had also a carpenter's shop and showroom attached to +his place. He took me into the shop and showed me several things, and +asked me could I make this or that? There was nothing in the shop that a +boy who had served two years of his life in Copenhagen could not make, +but when I said "yes," he seemed greatly pleased with me, and patted me +on the back. We could not understand each other very much. After tea, I +was shown into a neat room, where stood a nice bed, a chest of drawers, +table, chair, &c. This was to be my abode. + +My "boss," however, returned at once and gave me to understand that he +wished me to go with him up to town, and have a general look round. He +gave me first of all a pound sterling, which had the effect of greatly +raising my spirits. Then he took me from the one public-house to the +other, and that made me still more hilarious, especially as he would not +allow me to change my pound; and at last he took me to a store, where a +German presided behind the counter over a lot of ready-made clothes. +Through the German as interpreter, he told me that he would advise me to +buy some new clothes after the Queensland pattern, and that he would +advance sufficient of my wages to cover the cost. I bought then white +trousers, a crimean shirt, a big slouch hat, and a red belt, and put all +on at once. This is the orthodox Queensland costume in the bush, but in +my own eyes I looked a regular masquerader, as I now swaggered down +among the immigrants in my new transformation. I was quite a hero among +them at once, being able to boast of my splendid appointment, and I +believe I had to relate twenty times that evening what I had had for my +supper at my master's place. I might, perhaps, tell it to the reader, +because it seemed to me at that time most astonishing, although it +really--with very little variation--is the ordinary food everybody eats +all over the country, as soon as one comes away from the single man's +hut in the bush. + +In the morning we generally had fried steak, white bread, and butter. No +beer or schnapps are ever put on the table in this country, but instead +of that one drinks tea by the quart at every meal. At dinner-time the +ordinary menu will be some sort of roast meat and vegetables, with a +pudding after. At supper one will get more meat and vegetables, and more +bread and butter and tea. It is all very good, but there is a frightful +sameness about it. I used at first to long for one of those plain yet +delicious dishes which the Danish housewives make at home. But I do not +believe English people would eat it, if it were put before them. They +seem to think that anything which is not a solid junk of roast beef must +be un-English. I have almost come to the same way of thinking myself. +But that evening in the depôt we did not criticise the bill of fare. The +immigrants all thought they were going to fare in the same sumptuous +way. Poor fellows, they did not, as a rule. + +Next day, Thorkill came to me with sparkling eyes, and told me he had +been so fortunate. A gentleman from Port Mackay, a sugar planter, had +engaged him and twenty-five others, all for thirty pounds a year, and +they were to sail again for the plantation next day. He understood it +was not far away. We might be able to see one another occasionally. He +had told the planter that he had studied agriculture, and the planter +had said he was a good fellow. + +"These--Englishmen--are--so--kind,--I--am sure--he--is--a--nice--man. +Perhaps he will make something of me by and by, when I can talk +English." + +Poor Thorkill; I see him in a single man's hut on a plantation among +twenty-five others, or with his hoe on his shoulder coming and going to +the fields. He went away the next day, and I fully expected he would +have written to me, but he did not. I did not know his address, and I +did not hear of him again until three years after, when I met him on the +diggings. + +As many of the immigrants were going away--they did not themselves know +where--in another day or two, it was suggested by some one that there +should be a theatrical display at the depôt in the evening; and the idea +was taken up with enthusiasm by some of the leading spirits among us. It +had, before I arrived that morning, been agreed that the play should be +a French pantomime. For the information of any one who might never have +seen anything of the kind, let me say that it was a one act farce, in +which the persons act by pantomime alone. Cassander is an old man; his +daughter Columbine loves Harlequin, a young man who always dances about +Columbine when Cassander does not see them. Then there was Pierrot, the +foolish but funny man-of-all-work, who is set to catch Harlequin, but is +always "bested"; and the staid old lover whom Cassander wishes Columbine +to marry. Not much rehearsal was needed to play the piece, and the +dresses were also easily made up on short notice. It had further been +decided in my absence that I was to play Harlequin, but I objected very +much. At last I was forced into it in a manner, because I was a pretty +fair dancer at that time, and they had nobody else. What consoled me +greatly was, that I was to wear a black mask, so that I knew that if my +feelings should get the better of me while on the stage, that I might +make as many faces behind the mask as I liked. The whole town was to be +invited, and we gave five shillings to the bell-crier to announce +through the streets that some renowned artists had arrived at the depôt, +and were going to give a grand performance that night at seven o'clock. + +We worked away hard that day in rehearsals, fitting of dresses, stage +making, quarrelling, and in a few other things which are indispensable +on such occasions. In the evening the whole building was crammed full of +English people; there were even some ladies. Our own people had all back +seats. Everything went well. Our orchestra consisted of three +violinists. There were scores of musicians among us, but these were the +best, and were used to play together. Then the blanket which served for +a curtain went up, and we began to act our parts. Everything went well +excepting that Pierrot, whose face was chalked over, began to perspire +very much, and the chalk came off; but that was nothing. It was reserved +for me to spoil the whole proceeding. It came about this way: the fellow +who played Columbine was a big, flabby-looking chap, and he looked very +nasty indeed in women's clothes. As it was my part to dance about +Columbine and make love to him--or her--as you please, I had also to +snatch kisses from him about a dozen times during the evening, but of +course I understood he knew sufficient of acting not to inflict the +punishment of real kissing on _me_. The first time, however, when my +turn came, he turned his face full upon me, and the osculation could be +heard all over the room. This happened two or three times, and every +time people laughed and applauded; but it made me regularly wild. So as +he tried it again I tore the mask off my face before I had time to +think, and cried: "Look here, if you do that again I won't play." That +brought the house down with great applause and homeric laughter; but I +got so upset over it that it was impossible for me to go on the stage +again, and the play came to an abrupt end. + +The only one of all the immigrants that remained at the depôt after a +fortnight was over, was a sickly little individual whom everybody on +board had been in the habit of pitying or jeering at, as the case may +be, and who now seemed quite unable to obtain employment. He was then +sent up to Townsville, to try there, and as I happen to know what became +of him, and as his short career affords a striking instance of what +perseverance will do for a man in Queensland, I will state how he fared. +It appears that he at last obtained employment in the ---- Hotel in +Ravenswood, to help the girls in the kitchen at cleaning knives, +plucking fowls, and the like. He had to sign an agreement whereby he +bound himself to remain for three years. The wages for the first year +were ten pounds, for the second fifteen, and for the third twenty +pounds. These are the smallest wages I have ever heard of in this +country for a white man, but our friend thought nothing of that, and +stuck to his work. He could cut hair and shave; I think he had been in a +barber's shop at home. When he brought the guest's shaving-water in the +morning, he would always offer his tonsorial services at the same time. +Of course he would be paid. When he was paid, he would generally say, +"You have not got a few old clothes you do not want?" Then most people, +as he looked so poor and insignificant, would either give him a lot of +clothes, or some money to buy with; and it was pretty well known in that +town where one might buy second-hand clothing for cash. If a guest went +away from the hotel, he would always be there hat in hand, holding the +horse. If one said to him, "Will you come and have a drink?" he would +answer, "No, thank you, sir; please, I would rather have the money." In +that way, while everybody called him "poor fellow," he was scooping in +sixpences, shillings, and even half-crowns every day. As he gave +satisfaction to his master, he was promised, as a make-up for his small +wages, that if he stayed the three years out, he should have as a +present permission to build a barber's shop alongside the hotel, and be +charged no rent. He did stay the three years out, and although I was in +his confidence as little as anybody else, I am very sure he had then his +three years' wages in his pocket and a good deal more besides. Then he +had built a small shop alongside the hotel. It was very small, but it +was in the proper place for doing business; and he began at once a +roaring trade. Sixpence for a shave, a shilling for hair-cutting, and +half a crown for shampooing! He had also ready-made clothes for sale, +hop beer, ginger beer, fruit, saddlery, and much more. People who had +anything for sale might go to him and be certain that he would offer +them a cash price for whatever it was. He opened his shop at seven +o'clock in the morning and shut it at twelve o'clock at night. On +Sundays, indeed, he was supposed to shut for three or four hours; but +one had only to knock at his door to bring him forward. Meanwhile, I do +not believe his old master, or any one else, could have obtained credit +from him for a sixpence. The usual thing in his shop was to see half a +dozen men sitting in his back room waiting to be shaved or shampooed, +and half a dozen standing by the counter in the front room, while he +would jump like a cat among them trying to serve them all at once. But +now I see I have made a mistake. I have written that "his short career +affords a striking instance of what perseverance might do for a man in +this country." That might be true if the story ended here, but it does +not. He was a great miser. His principal food, as he himself assured me, +was the rotten fruit in the shop. When a banana or an apple became +quite unsaleable, he would eat it. He had no assistant in the shop, and +could, therefore, never possibly take any outdoor exercise. At last he +fell sick, and the doctor told him he must go out on horseback every +day, and have plenty of nourishing food. He never bought a horse, and he +never altered his way of living. At last, when it was too late, he got +somebody to stand in the shop for him, for he was then too weak to stand +there himself; and he died in the back room a week after. But even the +day before he died I saw him sitting in the shop trying to direct the +assistant and keeping control over the money-box. I heard how much he +had made, but I forget. Anyhow, it was thousands, and all made in a few +years! + +Now I will relate what happened to me the first Sunday I passed in +Queensland, and to do that I must recall to the reader's memory another +of my shipmates, the naval Lieutenant A. He had got married as soon as +we came ashore, to the young lady who I always understood was his +intended wife, and they had already rented a little house and made +themselves very comfortable. On the Saturday, he came to me and told me +that he had carried a letter of introduction from home to a gentleman +who was one of the first civil servants in Bowen. This gentleman he had +seen, and as an outcome of the interview, he had been invited to come +with his wife to the Englishman's place on Sunday forenoon to be +introduced to his family, and that Mr. and Mrs. ----, as well as A. and +his wife, were all then to walk to a large garden which lay a mile or so +outside the town. He promised himself great pleasure and much advantage +from the acquaintance, and as a special favour to me, he said: "Now Mr. +---- said to me that I might invite one of our shipmates to come with +us, and I shall invite you." I thanked him very much for the honour he +did me. + +"You understand," said he, "that I would like very much to make a good +impression, not only for myself, but for our country too. I am not in +the least afraid to invite _you_, still excuse me for reminding you that +this man has much influence in Brisbane, and I have no doubt he could +make it worth your while too to be on your best behaviour." + +When he was gone, I began to look over my wardrobe, and found that I +could yet make a brave show. Still, I had a great doubt in my mind +whether it would not be the more correct thing to dress myself in my +Queensland clothes--that is, the slouch hat and the moleskins. But as I +did not seem to know myself in them at all, I decided that it was best +to make the most of the clothes I had with me from home, although it was +not without some misgivings that I came to this conclusion. My +swallow-tail coat had been torn, and although it was mended by a tailor, +it was not good enough to wear again on such an occasion, but I had a +nice new jacket I had bought in Hamburg, also a beautifully got-up +white shirt and white waistcoat. As to the belltopper, it was done for. +No more should I go into society in that belltopper, and the Queensland +hat seemed only fit company for the crimean shirt and the moleskins. I +therefore went and borrowed a tall hat for the purpose from among the +immigrants, and as I came back with it, I bought a pair of gloves for +half a guinea in a shop. + +The next forenoon, punctually at eleven o'clock, I was outside of A.'s +house in all my glory. A. and his wife were gone, however, and I then +bent my steps towards the house to which I had been directed. As soon as +I came near, I saw A. standing outside the house talking to a gentleman, +whom I at once understood to be the man who had invited us. He looked a +gentleman all over. Yet the same indescribable sort of swagger which I +had noticed in everybody else I had yet met in the country seemed also +to hover about him. I might here observe that this swagger is not +exactly native to this colony. It is only put on for the benefit of new +arrivals. As I came up A.'s friend stood with his feet wide apart, and +was in the act of lighting a meerschaum pipe. A massive gold chain hung +across his well-nourished stomach. I could see that if I had not dressed +myself to my best ability, I should have made a grave mistake. Although +I had scarcely lifted my eyes to him yet, I noticed these details as A. +introduced me to him, while I saluted him as we always salute one +another in Copenhagen. Perhaps I was just a little more than usually +polite. My hat was at my knee as A. said, "Mr. ----, Mr. ----." But the +Englishman did not seem remarkable for his politeness. On the contrary, +I felt very angry at his behaviour. He never changed his position in the +slightest degree; he seemed only to give a sort of self-satisfied grunt, +"How de do, how de do." + +There is no mistake about it, I began to wish I had not come. It was not +as though I had not been polite enough; I felt certain both that I could +make a bow with anybody, and that I had saluted and been saluted by +greater dignitaries before than he. Why then should he slight me? +thought I. Was it the custom in this country to invite people on purpose +to insult them? They began to speak to me, and I understood that the +ladies who were to take part in the excursion were inside finishing +their toilet, and would be out directly. A. could see, no doubt, that I +was not pleased, and of course he could also guess the reason. He had +been in England too, and was well versed in English customs, so he said +to me, "It is foolish of you to feel offended because Mr. ---- did not +take his hat off to you. Indeed, it was you who looked ridiculous. I am +sure you never yet saw any one take off his hat to another in this +country. It is not an English custom. Indeed it is specially distasteful +to English people. So do not do it again. Of course it did not matter." + +When I heard that I was in humour again. I could forgive every one so +long as they did not offer me a wilful insult. But was it not strange, +thought I? And there he stood, as easy as could be, smoking his pipe in +the street. Well, there is nothing like it, after all. What is a man +without his pipe? I had mine in my pocket, but I had never dreamed of +taking it out till now. I did not know what to make of things, but I +thought that if such training as I had received was at fault, perhaps it +would be well to imitate those whose training was correct. So I took my +pipe out of my pocket and borrowed a match from Mr. ---- to light it +with. Mine was only a clay pipe, and I could scarcely help laughing to +myself meanwhile, because it seemed to me very strange. But I was +determined now to show I knew English manners, and so I puffed away. +Just now Mr. ----'s wife came out of the glass doors on the verandah. +She had also dressed to make a good impression, because she was rustling +with silk and satin, and shining with gold brooches and chains all over. +The doors were opened for her by a servant, and Mrs. A. was also there. +As Mrs. A. told me afterwards, they had watched me through the glass +doors while I was saluting the husband, and probably the Englishwoman +was at that moment under the impression that I intended to go down on my +knees before her. But if she thought that, all I can say is that she was +mistaken. I was not going to look ridiculous this time. She made a bow +to me something of the sort, as I take it, that one of the Queen's maids +of honour have to practise before her majesty--a most profound +obeisance. But I stood brave. With my feet apart, in English fashion, I +puffed away at my pipe, and nodded at her, saying, "How de do? How de +do?" + +At this juncture of affairs, I became aware that nobody seemed pleased. +The lady drew herself up and seemed surprised. Her husband appeared to +regard me with a lively interest. So did two women in a house opposite. +A., in a sort of consternation, repeated the formula of introduction. I +felt the blood surging to my face, and my courage fast forsaking me. +Then it occurred to me that as I myself had not the least idea what the +words "how de do" meant which I had employed in saluting her, that +perhaps it was not a proper expression before a lady, and that it would +have been better if I had said something of which I did understand the +meaning. So as A. repeated the form of introduction, Mr.---- and +Mrs.----, I said with great desperation, "Good day, missis." + +Then I swallowed a whole mouthful of tobacco smoke (it is such strong +tobacco one smokes here, and I had not been used to more than a cigar on +rare occasions), and then--I must--expectorate. For the life of me I +could not avoid it, but where to do it, whether in front of me or behind +me, I did not know, and so I compromised and spat to the side. While all +this occurred I felt as guilty as any criminal condemned before a +judge, and still where it came in I did not know, because had not A., on +whose English experience I wholly relied, told me scarcely ten minutes +before, that "to take the hat off to one another was not an English +custom--that it was, indeed, specially distasteful to English people"? +What then could I think? You may judge of my feelings when A., now +shaking with rage and entirely forgetting himself, exclaimed to me in +Danish, "You are an unmannerly dog. Has no one ever taught you yet to +take your hat off to a lady? There he stands, smoking a stinking pipe +right in her face." + +Oh, yes! oh, yes, indeed, my humiliation was at its highest point. +Quarrelling in our own language, and ready almost to fight! Mrs. ---- +disappeared indoors again. Mrs. A. dared not follow her, but walked down +the street a little, not knowing where to put herself, and Mr. ---- +becoming more and more boisterous with me for an explanation. It did not +last long, but long enough--quite. Then I went and sat, regardless of +all appearance, on the verandah, while A., with much humility, tried to +explain the matter to our host. Mr. ---- did not quite seem to relish +the joke. He came up to me and informed me with much gravity that A. had +explained the matter to his satisfaction. "But," said he, "you will +certainly find that in this country it is the custom to salute a lady +with a great deal more politeness than you used just now towards my +wife. It is a lesson, I assure you, sir, you cannot learn too quickly." + +Half of this I understood and half I guessed. He did not know, however, +that his own mode of salutation would in Copenhagen have been thought +just about as bearish as what he was now correcting me for. I rose to +bid him good-bye, because I was determined to go home as the right +course now to pursue; but as I took off my hat to him again my +crestfallen appearance seemed to amuse him, because he began to laugh, +and when I had reached the corner of the house he came after me, +insisting that I should come back. I declined, until I could see that by +remaining stubborn I should only give still greater offence, and so we +returned and went into the drawing-room to have a glass of wine. Mrs. +---- came now into the room, and with well-bred kindness tried to put me +at my ease again. But although they now seemed to have forgiven me, and +were preparing to start for their walk, I felt that I could not go with +them, and after asking A. in my presence to offer my apology to the lady +herself, I took up my hat, and, bowing profusely to all, went away. + +The reader may guess that I was not very proud of myself when I came +home and flung myself on my bed. My career in Queensland had indeed +opened in a very unpropitious manner. I had not been a week in the +country yet, and it appeared I had made myself look more foolish +wherever I had been than I had thought it possible to do. First the +bottles--what disgrace was not that, fighting with the blacks in the +street scarcely an hour after coming ashore; and poor Thorkill, who had +invested his last sixpence, on my recommendation, in buying empty +bottles! Then at the depôt the evening after, when I somehow again had +been the laughing-stock of them all--a regular "Handy Andy"; and now +to-day, when I had started out with the best intentions, and had only +succeeded in making a never-to-be-forgotten picture of myself--and that +after having borrowed a "belltopper" to look grand in! Now I had to +return that piece of furniture to the owner, and when he asked me how I +had enjoyed the company of my grand acquaintances, probably I should +have to tell a falsehood about it in order to hide my shame. One +consolation was that I had yet the gloves--they were my own to do with +as I liked. I had paid ten and sixpence for them, more than half my +fortune. Faugh! was ever any one like me? Was that all I had come to +Queensland for? But at all events this should not happen again. If I +could find an ass bigger than myself, thought I, I should be satisfied, +but never again as long as I lived would I seek the acquaintance of +people who by any stretch of imagination might think themselves my +superiors. + +Then I called in from the backyard a whole troup of dirty, lazy blacks, +who were lying there basking in the sun in an almost naked condition, +and made them understand that I would give them all my home clothes if +they would perform a war dance in them for my instruction and pleasure. +One of them put on my swallow-tail coat and belltopper (he had no +breeches), another got my overcoat, one of the ladies put on my jacket +(she had nothing else), another put on my woollen comforter, not round +her neck but round her waist, where it was of more use. At last I took +my flute, and the whole troup kept screaming and dancing about in the +backyard while I played, until my "boss" came and interrupted the +proceedings. I felt a grim sort of satisfaction. Alas! there is no +saying what is to become of any of us before the end is over. Clothes +are lifeless things, yet how often had I not brushed them and thought it +important that they should look well! I really felt a kind of remorse +when I saw these filthy blacks lie wallowing in them amid a flock of +yelping curs. + +And now I fell to work at my trade in earnest. The houses in Bowen are +all built of wood, and a very easy affair it is for any one to build +them. Indeed housebuilding in the small Queensland towns can scarcely be +called a trade, insomuch that any practical man who can use carpenter's +tools could easily build his own house. A hammer and a coarse saw was +about a complete set of tools on many jobs we did up there. Still, large +wooden houses filled with all the most modern comforts are also +constructed, and in such none but the best workmanship is tolerated, so +there, of course, a tradesman is indispensable. At all housebuilding, +too, a man who is constantly at it acquires a quickness which would +altogether outdistance the novice, but one may learn as he goes in that +trade, and the best men I have met in the carpenter trade out here are +men who never served their time to it. + +There were no saw-mills in the town, nor was there any suitable timber +to saw in the bush, so that we depended for a supply on an occasional +schooner, or on what the steamers sometimes would bring. At times we had +no timber at all. Then we had to make furniture out of the packing-cases +in the stores, or the "boss" would buy an old humpy and pull it down, +and we had to try to make a new one out of it. My employer had engaged +another carpenter besides myself from among the immigrants. This man had +got married at the depôt to one of the girls, and they lived in a small +house. He had thirty shillings a week, of which, of course, most went to +keep house. But Bowen is one of the very few non-progressive towns on +the coast, and houses stood empty in all directions, so that he only had +to pay a nominal rent. Our "boss" seemed to have plenty of work always, +and, besides ourselves, there were two and sometimes three English +carpenters employed. We had to work like boys for them, because we could +not very well be sent anywhere by ourselves, as we could not speak to +people about the work to be done. One thing I might mention here, and +which I think very unfair, is this, that nobody took the trouble to +speak English to us, but they seemed even to go out of their way to +teach us a sort of pigeon English, which, of course, would demonstrate +our inferiority to the individual who addressed us. Although I do not +dislike either English, Scottish, or Irish people, I think it a great +delusion of theirs that they are more hospitable to foreigners, or +cosmopolitan in their way of thinking, than other nationalities, but +that they are under the impression that they are the salt of the earth +is certain. Meanwhile my mate and I did the best we could to vindicate +the honour of our country. I felt myself daily getting stronger and more +active; the change of air did wonders, and so was it with my mate. After +a while, we found we could fully hold our own. The English tradesmen +were very fond of showing how much they could do, but as we both began +to get up to their standard they would, as we worked under them, knock +us off what we were doing and put us to something else, often with the +evident intention of making the "boss," when he came, think we had not +done much, or did not understand our work. So one day I had a terrible +quarrel with the man with whom I was working on that account, and then +he began to denounce us all for cutting the wages down. I had no +intention of cutting down his wages, and I did not know in the least +what wages he got, but when he told me that he received three pounds +sterling every week I thought that the "boss" had treated me very badly. +I learned then that three pounds are the ordinary weekly wages for +carpenters in Queensland, and I told the English carpenter that I would +immediately ask the "boss" for an increase in _my_ wages to that amount, +and that if he would not give it to me I would not do more work than I +got paid for. I had been there six months at that time, and had never +taken any money of my wages beyond what I received when I started, but +when I asked for three pounds per week my employer was very +dissatisfied. I wanted him to cancel the agreement. He refused, and I +accused him of having taken an unfair advantage of me. He assured me +that as he had got me he would keep me. "Very well," said I, "do your +best to obtain your pound of flesh, but do not charge too high a day's +wages when you send me away after this; I might not suit." + +From that day there was war between us, war to the knife. Still I was, +and had been, well treated there, and so far I had done my best to +deserve it. When I think of it now, I am glad that before this occurred +I had an opportunity to show my willingness. What my master's profit on +me was I do not know, but it cannot have been large. What with my +inability to speak the language, the learning how to handle the +different tools used here, and one thing and another, it was +unreasonable for me to expect the full wages at once. When I compare my +fate with that which befell some of the other immigrants, I ought to +have thought myself very fortunate. Some of these were sent out in the +bush around the town, and among those who were a few miles distant, I +heard much dissatisfaction existed. I will here relate how some, at +least, were treated. One man and his wife, and four single men, were +engaged at a station fifty miles away. Their agreements were all the +same, thirty pounds per annum and rations. The woman, however, was not +engaged. When they arrived at the place they found a small house in the +middle of the bush. When they asked where were their rooms or place to +camp in, their employer told them they might camp anywhere they liked as +long as they did not come inside _his_ house. They had then got some +bags and branches of trees put together and slept under them, but there +was no protection from rain, and the poor woman, who was not well at the +time, thought she was going to die. Instead of food, they were served, +as I have before stated, with raw beef and flour. The reader may imagine +what sort of doughboys they were making. This was strictly and correctly +the truth, although these poor people certainly never knew the true +intent of the agreement. They would not work, they said, unless they got +proper food, but their employer was abusing them every day. They had to +fell trees and split timber for fences. Of course such hard work, with +no cooked food to eat and no bed to sleep in, was an unreasonable thing +to expect from them. After six or seven weeks of this one of them went +away, empowered by the others to go to town and complain for the others. +He came into town, where he told me what I now relate; but his "boss" +was after him quickly, and instead of obtaining redress, he was put in +the lock-up fourteen days for absconding from his hired service, and +then compelled to go back again! While he was in the lock-up, my "boss" +used to send him up three good meals every day. People who may read this +at home will no doubt think that there must be great brutality somewhere +for people to be treated like this. I agree with them. Yet the same +treatment and fare comes light to an old hand. He knows what to expect, +and is prepared for it. As men travel about from place to place in +search of work, it is absolutely necessary for them to carry everything +with them and to be their own cooks too. They have their tent, blanket, +food, billy, sometimes a frying-pan, all bundled together with their +clothes and strapped on their backs, or, if they are well-to-do, they +have a horse to carry the "swag" for them, or even two horses, one being +to ride on. There is really no reason why a man should not possess a +couple of horses here, but still they as often do not. The billy serves +all purposes: in it the meat is cooked, the tea is boiled, and on extra +occasions the plumduff too. + +It is only just to say that the custom of forcing men to camp out in +their own tents and to cook their own rations is growing more and more +out of use. In most places in the bush the employer now provides at +least shelter for his men: in many places they have the food cooked as +well; yet there are to this day thousands of people in Queensland who +live as I have just described, and who never see vegetables from one +year's end to another. + +The reader will, therefore, see that I was comparatively fortunate in +this, that I had both shelter and food while I was learning the language +and accustoming myself to the country. But after my request for more +wages had been refused, I did as little work as possible, indeed I may +say I did scarcely anything. I played quite the _gamin_ with the old +gentleman, until one day he offered to let me go, and then free once +more I promised myself never again to sign away my liberty. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +TOWNSVILLE: MORE COLONIAL EXPERIENCES. + + +I had now paid out to me twelve pounds sterling as the balance of wages +due, so it will be perceived that I had not been extravagant. Yet I am +afraid that if I had been taking my wages up weekly I should not have +had so much, if, indeed, anything. Yet here were the twelve pounds now, +and that was the main thing. It made over a hundred Danish dollars, +quite a large sum to me. Then I considered where I should go next. There +were some gold mines inland within one or two hundred miles, but I did +not know the road, or else I should have gone there. Just then there had +been opened another port north of Port Denison, viz., Townsville. I +understood that if a man wanted to make money, he should go there; or +rather I understood the further north I went the more pay I should get, +on account of its being hotter there, but that down south, were the +climate was supposed to be better, carpenters where not in demand. So, +"Northwards, ho!" was my cry. The steamer left Port Denison the next day +for Townsville, and I was among the passengers. It is on leaving one of +these small ports on the Queensland coast that I have always more than +at any other time been impressed with the utter loneliness in which they +lie. One sees the few houses and appurtenances like a speck on the +coast, and north and south the long vast coastline. We steamed along all +the evening, night, and next morning, and towards noon my attention was +directed to some small white specks on the beach. That was Townsville, +the new settlement where money was to be made. The steamer I was in +could not run close, but lay out in the bay until another very small +steamer came out and took us all on board. Then in another half-hour we +ran into a small creek, past three or four galvanized iron sheds, and +here we were at the wharf in the middle of the main street of the town. + +Townsville lies on the bank of a small river or creek called Ross Creek, +which when I was there was remarkable for being stocked with alligators. +One could not very well, therefore, cross the creek without some danger, +and at that time all the people and all the houses without a single +exception, lay on the south side of the creek. Ross Creek formed, I +might say, one side of the main street. Facing it lay a number of small +shanties, some made of packing cases and old tin; others again, built +with a view to permanency, of nicely dressed sawn timber, and looking +like rich relations in contrast to their poor neighbours. This was +Flinders Street, or Townsville proper. For about ten chains this row of +houses ran, and facing it, on the other side of the creek, was one vast +wilderness of swamp, long grass and trees. When one had passed the row +of houses composing the street there were turns off to the bush in all +directions, and tents, huts, or sheets of galvanized iron stood all +about the street. Up behind the street were some tremendous-looking +mountains, and here such people as the doctors, civil servants, &c. +seemed to have fixed their abode. The most splendid views could be +obtained up there right over the sea and the numerous small islands. +Then the climate, which at least at that time was supposed to be +somewhat unhealthy down below, was very much better on the highlands. + +While I was in Townsville my greatest pleasure was to take my lunch with +me in a morning and then scramble up there to some place from which the +best view could be had, and sit there all day. That was a cheap and +harmless pleasure, but to do so at the present time would be trespass, +because all the land about there is now sold at so much per foot, and no +one but the owners have a right either to the soil or the air, or even +the view. It seems wrong to me that it should be so. I wonder what will +become of poor people when the day arrives when all the world is thus +cut up into freehold property! If I had at that time invested the ten +pounds I carried in my pocket in a piece of land, it would certainly +have been worth thousands of pounds to-day, and I believe I might even +have been worth tens of thousands. Then I might without further trouble +have been myself a "leading Colonist" to-day! + +On looking around one would scarcely think that this place and Bowen +were in the same country. In Bowen everybody seemed to have plenty of +time. The shopkeepers there would stand in their doorways most of their +time, or go visiting one another. Then, although Bowen was so much +larger than Townsville, there seemed to be no people in it. But here +there were crowds everywhere, and seemingly not an idle man. People +appeared rather to run than to walk. I walked up the street and looked +into a half-finished building where half a dozen carpenters were at +work. I watched them well. They were all men in their prime, and if they +did not work above their strength they were good men assuredly! There +was quite a din of hammers and saws. It was terrible! I felt very much +afraid that I should not be able to match myself against any one of +them, but on the principle of not leaving until to-morrow what might be +done to-day, I asked one where the "boss" was? He pointed to a man +alongside who also was working terribly hard, and this gentleman sang +out to me from the scaffold, "What do you want, young fellow?" So I said +that I wanted work. + +"All right," cried he, "I'll give you a job, but I have no time to talk +before five o'clock; you can wait." Then I stood waiting, and feeling +half afraid to tackle the work, until the "boss" sang out "five +o'clock." + +What a relief every man must have felt. Each seemed to drop his tool +like a hot potato. I remember well my feelings. I knew before the +contractor spoke to me that he was a bully, from the way he spoke to the +other man. He came up to me. + +"Well, what is it you can do?" + +"I am a carpenter and joiner." + +"Oh, you are a German." + +"No, I am not." + +"What sort of a new chum are you then?" + +"I asked you if you wanted a carpenter." + +"Where were you working before?" + +"In Bowen." + +"What wages did you get there?" + +"Thirty pounds a year." + +"Do you know that I expect my men to earn fourteen shillings a day?" + +"I will do as much work as I can, and I do not expect you to pay me more +than I can earn." + +"Got any tools?" + +"No." + +"I do not want you then!" + +Did ever any one get such an unprovoked insult? I felt as if I could +never ask another man for work again. Although I had learned a little +English, it was far from sufficient to allow me to set up and work on my +own account. I knew that very well, and although I kept telling myself +that most likely here there would be plenty of other contractors to go +to, yet I was in very low spirits as I went off looking for a suitable +boarding-house. The place I came to did not impress me as being either +clean or comfortable. I went in at the door only because I saw on the +signboard the words "Diggers' home," or "Bushman's home." I forget +exactly what it was, but I understood there was "home" about it, and as +I was just then longing very much for such comforts as the word "home" +is associated with, I went in. It was just tea-time and about thirty men +were sitting on two wooden forms around the one table, eating. The +uncouth way in which they were gormandizing was terrible to witness. +English working people show, I think, greater anxiety to possess what +are popularly called "table manners" than does the same class where I +came from. The former hold their knives and forks in faultless style, +but they seem never to have learned what is the great point in table +manners. This is a point on which I was very strictly brought up, and as +one cannot very well criticise another's manner of eating while sitting +alongside him at table, I think I might without offence give valuable +advice here. It is this. Close your lips while you are eating, +gentlemen. It does not matter half so much to some people how you hold +your fork. + +There were among the others at the table two of my shipmates, who, as +they told me, were working at their trade for four pounds a week. They +were dressed in the height of fashion, and would not speak Danish at all +to me. One of them informed me in a sort of language that I am sure no +Englishman could have understood, that he had almost quite forgotten +Danish. As I had a craving just then for sympathy, I told them how I had +fared when I had asked for work, but all the sympathy I received was the +remark that it was smart fellows only who were needed in Townsville. +They agreed thoroughly about that, and then whenever they could repeat +the formula "I get four pounds per week," they did it _ore rotundo_. +Evidently they had a heartfelt contempt for one like me, who had been +working for only a few shillings a week. After tea, I was, on stating +that I wanted to stay for a week, shown into a small room wherein stood +six stretchers, or beds, as close as could be. One had scarcely room to +squeeze about among them. The middle of the room seemed to be a sort of +main passage two feet wide between the beds on each side, leading to +rooms beyond, and there the rest of the thirty boarders would tramp in +and out. The landlord, on showing me one of these beds as mine, demanded +a pound sterling of me in advance as one week's payment. "Beautiful +home." "Comfortable abode." I regretted that I had left Bowen, as I +thought of my clean private room there. I did not, however, pay for a +week beforehand. I paid only for my supper and a shilling for the use of +the bed or "home" for that night. I sat there on the bed for a quarter +of an hour, listening to all the noises around me. Then I felt that I +could not suffer it any longer, so I went out. It was a beautiful +moonlight night. To get out past the houses was only the work of five +minutes, and I kept walking on along a road I came to until I was well +past all signs of civilization. I had taken my flute with me as the best +means which yet remained to soothe my troubles, and then I sat down to +play. How much better I felt out there under the gum-trees! That +foul-smelling boarding-house seemed to trouble me no longer. I would not +return to it. Better by far to sleep out there under the open sky! I +sang and played and worked myself into quite a romantic feeling. At last +I fell soundly asleep. + +The next day I began more carefully to look out for a boarding-house, +but it was all one. There were enough of them indeed, but in all there +was not one which did not to my mind look more like a rabbit warren than +a "home" or a "rest," or whatever the name might be that was put over +the door. A couple of places were kept by Chinamen. They at least seemed +more honest, because they made no pretence of offering their guests what +they had not got. All the accommodation they offered was a shelf for +each man, and there seemed to be an air of "take it or leave it alone" +about them which I liked. But none of these suited me, and so I went to +the hotels, and for one pound ten shillings per week I got white man's +accommodation: a room for myself and every civility. How anybody like my +two grandly-dressed countrymen could, if they earned four pounds a +week, prefer the other place to this, I did not understand. + +I might now with much satisfaction have finished my writing here by +telling the reader how I obtained work the next day for fourteen +shillings per day, and how I saved and persevered until I myself became +a contractor--if such had been the case. But the truth must be told, and +that is that I kept delaying day by day to ask any one for a job. Every +day I would walk about the town, and passed and re-passed houses under +erection, but I could not bring myself to go and speak to any one for +fear of meeting the same fate that befell me the day I arrived. When I +came home to the hotel from such an expedition, I would console myself +by recounting my money and reckoning up how many Danish dollars it was. +That seemed to reassure me. Certainly it went fast, but on the whole I +was in no way alarmed over myself, because I knew very well that when +the necessity came a little nearer I should easily get something to do. +Meanwhile I could go out every day shooting, fishing, and enjoying +myself as best I could. + +One of the first days I was in Townsville, I went out in the main road +leading to the gold diggings, and when I was about a mile or two out of +town I came to a house which attracted my attention. It was very small, +the walls were built of saplings, the roof was covered with bark, tin, +and all sorts of odd materials. The door was made of a sapling frame +with bagging stretched across it. Yet the place had a cool, clean sort +of appearance, and under the verandah in a home-made squatter's chair +sat a man smoking a long pipe. Yet I should probably have passed by +without taking notice of any of these details if it had not been that in +front of the house, but close to the road, was erected a sort of frame +like a gallows, and from it dangled in a most conspicuous way an empty +bottle. Underneath was a piece of board nailed to a tree, and on it was +written with chalk the one word thrice repeated: "Bier. Bier. Bier." +That caused me to look at the man, and I perceived it was one of my +shipmates. This man was between fifty and sixty years old when he landed +nine months before with his wife and eight children. I am very certain +that he did not then own more than I did myself, but he had on the +voyage exhibited such a cheerful disposition, and had such a happy knack +of always trying to explain things in a way that would make one think +that any misfortune that might happen would have been just the very +thing wanted, that he had been a general favourite. But when we came to +Bowen nobody had engaged him and his eight children, and so he had been +sent here, and now I saw him sitting smoking his pipe under the verandah +with great gusto. He seemed as glad to see me as I was to see him, and +asked me to come and sit on a box which stood alongside him, and to have +a smoke out of his long pipe. Then he began to spin his yarn. His girls +were at service, the two of them, and had each ten shillings per week, +and they brought it all home, for they were good girls. He had got +somebody to apply for this land for him on his land order, "and here," +he said, "right and left is all mine. Me and mother built the house +ourselves; come inside and see." + +"But," said I, "what is the meaning of that empty bottle you have hung +up there?" + +"Oh," cried he, "did you not see my signboard. I sell beer. I cannot +understand their blessed language, but I thought if I showed them the +bottle they would know what it meant, and Annie drew that signboard +herself last Sunday she was home; she is a splendid scholar, you +know--you should only hear her talk English. It fetches them right +enough. You will see nearly everybody who comes along the road must be +in here and have his beer." + +Then we went inside, and there were the old lady and her children, as +happy as could be. Now I had to tell my history, and after much argument +my friend made me believe that the reason the contractor had not given +me a job was because I had told him the truth. "You should have said you +earned fifteen shillings a day in Bowen, that you would not work under +sixteen shillings now; that is the way. Always tell them you can do +anything." + +Good old fellow! How cheerful I felt when at last I went away. I laughed +to myself, too, at his important self-confident air. If he has kept his +land and sold beer to this day, I am sure he can smoke his pipe now with +great complacency--unless, indeed, riches, a circumstance over which he +had no control, have spoiled him. + +In the hotel in which I stayed were several other lodgers, among them an +elderly man with a long beard and a most fatherly air. He became daily +more friendly to me, and at the end of the first week he told me he was +himself a Dane, and that he had been in the Colonies a great many years. +He said he had watched me with growing interest; that he generally was +chary of offering his friendship to anybody, but that he now was +satisfied that I was a respectable, well-meaning youth, and that his +heart went out towards me. Of course the least I, under the +circumstances, could do was to accept his proffered friendship in the +same spirit in which it was offered, and I told him frankly all my +business, and how I was still smarting under the insult I had received +on my first arrival in Townsville to such a degree that from day to day +I could not bring myself to ask for work again, and how, I added, my bit +of money was going fast. He, on his part, gave me to understand that he +was not a rich man, although several times he had made his fortune. +"But," said he, "I never let the left hand know what the right hand is +doing. Sometimes, as for instance now, I run myself quite short; it does +not matter, I can always make enough for myself as long as God gives me +strength." + +I went with him to church on the Sunday, although I did not understand a +word of what the parson said, but my ancient friend had already acquired +a sort of proprietorship over me, and as he seemed to be intensely +religious, it imparted a kind of holy feeling to me to sit near him. +After church, he lectured me on religion very severely, and all the time +I knew him he prayed devoutly both morning and evening. A few days +after, he told me he had taken a contract from one of the storekeepers +in town to cut hay. He said that a man could cut a load of hay in a day, +and that he was to get thirty shillings a load for it. He would now, +said he, have to buy a horse and dray, and would also have to look out +for a partner. I asked him if he thought I might do, and said that if I +could not work as much as he I should not expect the same pay, but that +I was confident that I would not be far behind. + +"Well, I might do;" he would like to have me for a partner, but he +understood that I had very little money. It would be necessary for his +partner to have at least thirty pounds, as the horse and dray alone +would cost forty pounds, and we should have to buy tools and to keep +ourselves in rations for some time. I was very sorry that I had got only +something like eight pounds. "All right;" he would take me if I would do +the best I could. He had already an offer for a horse and dray. Then we +set about buying a tent and a lot of rations in a store, also scythes +and one thing and another necessary for the job. My partner advised me +that we should not pay for it just then, as we were to deliver hay for +the money. The same day we left with all our things packed in our swags, +and went into the bush about four miles, where there was plenty of long +grass suitable for haymaking, and there we pitched our tent. + +Here I worked for a couple of months with the utmost eagerness. It was a +time of long summer days, and from daylight to dark was I at it, doing +my level best. My partner had bought a horse and a dray, and was taking +hay into town every day, but he did not work much at home. Of course, as +he said, he was getting to be old, and could not work as formerly; but +then he did all the business, and, according to his estimate, we earned +a couple of pounds every day. As for me, I worked contented and happy, +although we had not yet taken any money for the hay and I had given my +partner every sixpence I possessed to help in buying the horse and dray. +We lived very frugally, too--at least, I did; my partner had his dinner +in town, but that was only a necessity when he was bringing hay +in--because, as he said, he did not believe in all this gorging and +over-feeding which was customary in these latter days. As for smoking +tobacco, he was much against it, and declared it to be not only a wicked +but a dirty habit; so, to please him, I had given up the pipe. I made +breakfast for him in the morning, and was at work before he rose. I had +supper ready for him when he came home at night, and I never spared +myself or gave a thought to the unequal distribution of work between us. + +One evening my partner did not come home. I was very anxious, picturing +to myself all sorts of dreadful calamities which might have happened to +him. In the morning I went into the town to the storekeeper, whom I +understood bought the hay, but I could get no satisfaction there. They +had not seen him for a week, they said, and only bought hay +occasionally. I thought they did not understand me, and I went to +another storekeeper, and got a similar answer. As I stood quite +bewildered in the street, I saw the horse and dray coming past, and a +stranger driving. On inquiry, I learnt that the man who was driving had +bought the whole concern the day before for thirty-five pounds. While we +were yet talking one of my countrymen came up and wanted to know about +the horse and cart too, and, to make a long story short, it appeared +that my mate had borrowed, on one pretext and another, from the Danes in +town nearly a hundred pounds in small sums. He had also bought the horse +and dray with a very small cash deposit, and sold them for cash, got +paid for all the hay we had cut, and owing for our rations in one of the +stores besides, he had cleared out. Benevolent-looking old hypocrite, +when I found it all out, I felt as if I could have----never mind--what +is the good? say no more. I had not got a copper. I went up to the hotel +where I had been staying before I had started haymaking, and began to +pour out my tale of woe to the publican, with no other object than to +get sympathy. The publican looked absent-minded, then he smiled: he +always thought old ---- had a "smart look" about him. "And so he has +done all of you new chums, eh! Say it again. How was it he did it? You +are too soft for this country." + +I was on the point of leaving, when a man came in and asked me if I was +old ----'s partner. I said "yes." Would I be so good as to pay this bill +for two pounds odd shillings at once, or if I did not he would make me +into sausages. This was too much. I know myself to be good-natured, and +I told him so, but if he had any evil designs on me, why I would pull +his nose. We had a long conversation on this matter, and at last he +agreed not to annihilate me there and then, and I on my part declared +myself satisfied if he would give me his pipe and tobacco and let me +have a good long smoke as a sort of proof to me that he bore me no +ill-will. When peace was thus restored, he became very friendly, and +explained to me that he had misunderstood the matter before, and that he +was very sorry for me, but that he would yet make my partner pay us all +if I would only leave it to him and go home. "Only leave it to him"? I +had nothing else to do but to go home, because in the camp there was at +least a bit to eat. So home I went. But what a change had now come about +in my fortune! Not only the loss of the money--although that was +serious enough, but there was the shock to my faith in human nature! Who +could I put faith in after this? I began in a sort of mechanical way to +cut hay again just to get away from my thoughts. Then I threw the tools +as far as I could, and went to lie down in the tent with my mind in a +state of blank. Where would I go, and what should I do next? After a +while, the man who had wanted me to pay a bill came and posted a bill on +a tree. He inquired of me if I had a horse, and seemed very sorry for me +when I told him "no." He informed me also that I must not remove +anything, as to do so would be stealing. I understood sufficient of the +proceedings to know that he also would be very "smart" if he could, and +he was scarcely gone, before a man came with another summons, which was +pasted underneath the first. This would never do, thought I. Was I to +allow myself to be made a cricket-ball of by every one who chose to play +with me. I must be "smart" too, and as soon as I got the idea, it struck +me as an immense joke. Would it have been wicked, thought I, if I had +been able to work a double game on the old swindler who had taken me in? +They seemed to show respect for the swindler, and contempt for the dupe; +but then there was the risk of cheating honest people, and that I could +never do. No, that must not be. But talking about cheating and stealing, +as the fellows who had posted the summonses on the trees had done, now +they were trying to get paid their score out of the few things which +were left in the camp without regard to me, and had the impudence to +tell me that I must not remove anything. Bosh! Was it not paid for with +my own money? Certainly all there might not fetch ten shillings, but who +had a better right or more need of it than I? So, as the first step in +"smartness," I remembered that possession amounts to nine points of the +law, and for the rest I would in my mind keep a sort of profit and loss +account, and I began at once by writing down my present score and +leaving open the opposite page for such circumstances as the future +might have in store. Dangerous thoughts, I admit, but this is the truth, +and having found a weapon in this determination, it did not take me ten +minutes to make up my mind what to do. + +There was a settler living not far away from where we had been cutting +hay. This man always seemed to me to have a friendly air about him as he +would come past occasionally, and he had always made a point of stopping +to speak to me at such times. He had several times invited me to come +and visit him, but I had never yet done so. I now thought I would go and +see him and ask him his advice, whether he thought that I had a right to +claim what there was in the camp, and if so, try to induce him to buy +what there was. I accordingly went over to his place and told him all +about my trouble. He was an Irishman. "Bad luck to the ould offinder!" +cried he, "and so he has run away. This is an awful wurld. Ah, me lad, +take my advice, never have anything to do with them Germans. Well, never +mind, you are a German too, but that one was worse than a native dog +anyhow, and so he was." + +I asked him what he thought about the things in the camp, whether I +might have them: there was an axe, besides two scythes, a bucket, billy, +frying-pan, some old blankets and other articles, and then there was the +tent. "Oh, that was all right." I could bring it all over to his place, +and he would swear to any one that it was his, and he would like to see +the man who would dispute it. I might come too, he said, and live with +him until I got something to do. He would do much more than that, only +that he had no money. This seemed to suit me in every respect, and I +began at once carrying over all that was in the tent to my new friend's +place; but the tent itself I let stand for any one to fight about as +they thought fit, or for the Government to inherit--I did not care +which. The next few days I passed with the Irishman. He was not married, +and lived quite alone on this piece of land which he had taken up as a +selection. The hut had only one room, and the absence of that refining +influence which is generally supposed to pervade a place where women +live, was painfully apparent. The Irishman knew this very well, for he +had always a way of excusing the rampant disorder in the hut by saying +"that the Missis was not at home, bad luck." + +Under the bunk were two bags of corn piled up in the cobs, in another +corner lay some turnips and seed-potatoes; we boiled the corned beef and +the tea in the one billy, and if the billy was full of meat or potatoes, +when we wanted to make tea, it was only the work of a second to topple +it all out into the bunk and fill the billy up with water for the tea. I +am sure I now ask my friend's pardon for repaying his hospitality by +describing these matters, but as I hope this history of my life will be +published, it may possibly be read by young ladies, and I cannot resist +the temptation to show them the faithful picture of a bachelor's den in +the Queensland bush. If it were a singular instance I should not think +it worth relating, but it is not; it would be more correct to say it is +the general rule. + +Every day I went into town and looked out for something to do, but I +found great difficulty. Work was plentiful, but wherever I inquired if +they wanted a carpenter, their first question was about my tools. I had +no tools, and they would not engage me. One evening I was in town on +purpose to speak to a contractor who had told me to call at his private +residence at nine o'clock with a view to engaging me. As I was walking +about trying to kill the time, I found myself standing down on the +wharf, where I had come ashore the first day I landed in Townsville. I +was watching the little steamer that used to run between the town and +the bay, and which now seemed to be getting steam up, and in a vague +sort of way I wondered whether the steamer out in the bay was going +north or south, so I asked one of the sailors. "North," said he; "they +go to Batavia, but they call at the pearl fisheries at Cape Somerset. +Are you going?" + +I had, of course, never thought of it till that moment, but as he said +"pearl fisheries" it struck me that it must be a delightful occupation +to sit fishing for pearls, and that it would be worth running a risk to +try to get to that place. Besides, it would be a splendid adventure. So +I said, "Yes, I am going." "Have you been there before?" said he; +"perhaps you are a diver?" + +"Yes, I was a diver." I found out next that I should just have time to +go out to my camp in the bush, to collect my swag and be back in time +for the steamer. I ran all the way there and back, laughing to myself +all the time, because there seemed to myself such a splendid uncertainty +about how the adventure would turn out. I had got no money, but it only +troubled me so far as perhaps it might make it impracticable to get on +board. Anyhow, I meant to have a hard try for it. When I came back I +stood watching the little steamer until the moment they were about to +cast off. Then with a hue and cry I rushed on board. + +As we sailed down the river the captain said to me, "Are you the diver?" +"No savey." "Are you going up to the pearl fisheries?" "No savey." "Have +you got a ticket?" "No savey." "Dang that fellow! Are you----Deutcher?" +"No savey." "Well, if you 'no savey,' all I can tell you is that you +shall not get on board the steamer without a ticket. You savey swim?" + +"Oh yes, I savey swim belong de pearl all de time?" "Oh, well, I think +you had better go back with us again, because they will only give you to +the sharks up there, if you try any tricks on them." + +Here the conversation was interrupted by the captain having to attend to +the ship, and I scrambled out of his way. It did not take long before we +were out alongside the large steamer, and so as it was very close I +watched my opportunity and climbed up the side and on board. There was a +large coil of rope lying on the deck, and into that I crept without a +thought for the morrow. I heard the ship getting under weigh and then I +slept, if not the sleep of the just, at least without dreams. + +Next day was Sunday. I only woke up as the sun was shining in my face, +and then I got up and looked around me. We were steaming along the +coast; there seemed to be nobody about but the sailors. I had a walk +about the deck and a wash at the pump. Nobody spoke to me for some time, +until the steward came and in a most natural way told me breakfast was +ready. "Good!" He is a sensible man, thought I, and I went below and had +a good meal. As soon as I had well finished, the mate came in and asked +me for my ticket. I had formed no particular plan of campaign, but I +felt so self-confident and happy, that I was perfectly convinced within +myself that it would be impossible for any one to be out of temper with +me. It is necessary to bear this in mind to believe what follows. Mirth +is catching, and is irresistible when natural, but nothing but the +genuine article will do here. So now the mate came up to me and said, +"Ticket." I laughed and cried "No ticle." He looked rather surprised at +me, and held out his hand saying, "Ticket." "Oh," cried I, laughing, +while I grasped his hand, "Ticket--oh I savey you give me ticket?" + +"Oh, this won't do," said he, although I could perceive my mirth was +working on him. "Money, money or ticket"--at the same time he took out +half a crown and showed it me. I tried to take the half-crown from him +and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Good fellow you," and when he +would not give it me, I told him he was too much gammon for me +altogether. At last I got him to laugh properly, and then he said I was +too much gammon for him too, but that now I should have to go off with +him to the captain, because he could not give me a free passage and +could make neither head nor tail of me in the bargain. + +"Come on," cried he; "to the captain you go." + +My whole frame shook with laughter. I do not know why, I simply relate +the fact. It seemed to me so strange and comical that I was now here, a +regular loafer, a sort of criminal, and unemployed, a--what not, not +knowing where I was going and not caring; and what would this blessed +captain do with me, or think of me? On we came, the mate and I, up to +the quarter-deck. There was a good-looking man of thirty odd years of +age reclining at his ease in a sort of chair, more in a lying than a +sitting posture. He was playing with the hand of a lady who was sitting +alongside of him, and they looked so affectionately at one another that +I made sure at once they were not husband and wife! Besides these, the +only other person on deck was the man at the wheel. On we came, and the +mate presented me as a stowaway. I saluted the lady and the captain +airily, and he spoke to me, but I paid no attention to what he was +saying. I was looking at the lady and thinking of my adventure in Bowen, +the first time I saluted a lady in Queensland. My sides shook with +laughter until I saw the lady in the same condition; then I exploded. +The lady, the captain, the mate, and the man at the wheel all followed +suit! I beat my chest and called on all the saints to give me strength +to stop, but I could not, and we all kept laughing until, from utter +exhaustion, the lady and the captain were lying back in their chairs +with averted faces, the mate was hanging over the gunwale, and I was +lying on my elbow on the deck, regularly sick. Every time the captain or +any of them were looking at me they made me laugh again. At last the +captain, after several attempts to speak to me cried, "Go away, go away; +I speak to you by and by." + +I had not been gone half an hour before I was called back again. The +lady was this time sitting with her back to me. The captain said, "What +have you got to say for yourself?" + +I somehow felt sure that it was all right, and that the lady was going +to say a good word for me, or had done so already. Anyhow I altered my +tactics, and told them how it was that I had no money, and how I +somehow, perhaps recklessly, but on the spur of the moment, had got on +board. When I had finished speaking I felt very foolish, and as the lady +turned round and looked at me, I blushed up to the roots of my hair, and +felt very much ashamed. Then the captain said, "And what do you want to +do at Cape Somerset?" + +I did not know. "Have you no money?" "No." "No friends there?" "No." +"You have been very foolish." + +After a while he said: "There will be nothing for you to do at Cape +Somerset and as little at Batavia. The only thing I can do for you is to +put you ashore at Cardwell, here, on the coast. There is a settlement +there and some sugar plantations up the river. I will do that for you, +if you like." + +I thanked him very much, and said I did not know what to do with myself. +"All right, you can hold yourself in readiness to go ashore." + +A couple of hours afterwards, the steamer was very close to land, and I +saw some houses on the beach. A boat was lowered and manned by sailors, +and I was told to get in. But so benevolent did the captain prove, that +they bundled in after me a lot of flour, tea, sugar, and meat, also a +tent. I felt completely crushed: I sat in the boat and dared not look +around; only after they put me ashore I waved my handkerchief, and +there, yes, they were waving their handkerchiefs back to me. There +seemed to be a big lump in my throat. Was I in love? Perhaps I was, I do +not know, but I felt very sure that if just then I had thought that I +could have obliged either the captain or the lady on board by drowning +myself, I would have done it. They had put me ashore in a place where +the houses which formed the settlement were hidden from my view, and I +was glad of it, because I did not want to see everybody. I found a +little stream of water close by, then I pitched the tent and laid myself +down outside, looking after the smoke of the steamer as long as I could +see the slightest sign of it. An unspeakable longing for home, a craving +for sympathy, was all over me. I suppose most people have felt the same +emotion. I did not go up to town for two or three days after; I remained +lying on the beach all day looking out over the sea, and half the night +I would walk up and down thinking, or, perhaps it would be more correct +to say, _feeling_ all sorts of things. + +If we would all only always remember the value of a kind word, or a +little genuine sympathy, how much better the world would be! Who shall +say what I might have been to-day, or into what channels my mind might +have been led, if the captain had acted towards me as he would have +been quite justified in doing--that is, if he had given me in charge of +the police when we came to a shore, and if I had been just a week or two +in the lock-up? I had been wronged in Townsville, and afterwards I had +received the impression that it was a case of each man for himself +without fear or favour. What this impression would have led to if it had +not been in this happy way checked in the very beginning, is hard to +say, but when at last I bent my steps towards the dozen or two of houses +which formed the township of Cardwell, it was with a resolution to do my +best, but not to sail again under false colours. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ON THE HERBERT RIVER. + + +From the glimpses I already had of the settlement, I came to the +conclusion that it was of no use looking for carpenter's work here, so I +went into the most conspicuous house I could see, viz., the hotel, and +asked for a job of any kind. There were three or four men in the bar, +dried-up looking mummies they seemed to me, but very friendly, for they +began at once to mix in the conversation, and after I had told everybody +all round where I came from, how old I was, what I could do, how long I +had been in the country, and a lot more besides, they held a +consultation among themselves, and agreed that my best plan was to go up +on the sugar plantations on the Herbert River. It appeared that the mail +for the plantation was taken up the river once a fortnight from Cardwell +in a common boat, and my new friends, after standing drinks all round, +unsolicited went to the captain about letting me go with him, and pull +an oar in lieu of passage money. They asked me into dinner, as a matter +of course; and who should I see waiting at the table but a German girl, +one of my shipmates. "Happy meeting." Then for two or three more days I +was breaking firewood for a living, and meanwhile it seemed as if I was +the admiration of the whole community, because Cardwell is, and was +then, as well as the Herbert River, a fearful place for fever, and the +whole population was in a constant state of disease. As for me, +Queensland had so far, I believe, rather improved my appearance than +otherwise. Anyhow, it was a case all the day through to answer people +how long I had been in the country; then they would say, "Hah! Europe, +the old country--that must be the best place, after all. Look at his +cheeks!" Then I would be advised to clear out again as fast as I came, +or else in three months I should look like everybody around me. It used +to surprise me very much, but I could not understand it, because the +climate seemed to me excellent; and as everybody seemed so kind, and I +was in the best of health, I only laughed at their sayings. Meanwhile I +had spoken to the man in charge of the mail-boat, and one day at noon I +embarked for the plantations. It was an ordinary rowing boat, and +besides myself it had two other occupants--the captain, who was a +Frenchman; the other an American. They both, on ordinary occasions, each +pulled an oar; but this time, as I was there, the captain took the helm +and I the oar. I pulled away as hard as I could, and did not see much of +where we were going, but by the time it grew dark we were past the mouth +of the river, and in smooth water. We dropped anchor in the middle of +the river, because, as the captain explained to me, if we were to run +ashore an alligator would be sure to try and crawl into the boat. They +had appliances in the boat for boiling water, and after tea they both +sat for a couple of hours spinning alligator yarns. I listened with +great interest and not without fear, because the river was swarming with +the reptiles. The blacks were also at that time so bad that no one dared +to go overland to the plantations, unless in a large company. Here in +the boat we had two loaded rifles and two revolvers, and before we +reached the plantations I saw enough to convince me that it was +necessary to be very careful when we had occasion to go ashore. It was +also considered always necessary for one to keep watch the whole night, +and as I was not sleepy I took the first watch, while the other two laid +themselves down and soon snored lustily. Put there staring out into the +darkness, with the loaded rifle over my knee, could it really be true, +as my two shipmates had just assured me, that I was bound to catch the +fever before three months were over? How did people here do when they +were sick? I had asked that question also, and they had answered it by +asking me if I thought anybody here was running about with a hospital on +his back. And when any one died, it appeared that they rolled the body +in a blanket and threw it in the river for the alligators to do the +rest! These alligators, too, which might at any time upset the boat and +eat us! Would it be my fate to serve as food for one of them? Horrible +thought. But I had heard that evening so much about alligators; how, if +I were at any time to be caught by one I should try to stick my finger +into its eye, and that it would then eject me again; the whole thing +being just as if it were a most natural and common occurrence here for +people to be eaten by these monsters. Then there were the blacks; they +were both savage and numerous, and I had got strict orders to listen +with all my ears for any surprise from them. I had taken great notice +that when boiling the tea my shipmates had been very careful to conceal +the fire. + +Bang! crack! went the rifle. Up rushed the Frenchman and the American, +revolvers in hand. I stared at them. They stared at me. + +"What is the matter?" whispered the captain. + +"I don't know," whispered I; "the gun went off." + +It was well for me, perhaps, that I was not familiar with the French +language, or else who knows but the Franco-German war might not have +been renewed between myself and the captain. He screamed and laughed and +swore both "Mon Dieu" and "Sacre bleu," and then he assured me that it +was only because I was a German that I was afraid! + +The Yankee sat and smoked his pipe, and laughed in a peculiar way; and, +wild and ashamed of myself, I could not help feeling amused at him, +because he laughed, although the grimaces in his face were exactly those +another man would make if he were going to cry. By and by the captain +began to feel calmer, and as I was disposed only to feel angry with +myself for the fear which had caused me to press on the trigger of the +rifle until it went off, we were soon friends again. My watch was over, +and I laid down to sleep, while the two others took their turn to watch +the rest of the night. At break of day we hoisted the anchor and began +to propel the boat again. I never remember anything in nature making the +same impression on me as the scenery around us. The broad river, or +inlet, was dotted all over with beautiful small islands, then on the +mainland the hills seemed to rise to immense heights, covered with the +primeval forest. The sun rose and shone with that splendour that those +who have been in the tropics can alone imagine. Parrots and all other +birds flew about in great numbers, screaming as if with joy. + +At sunrise we went ashore on a small island about half an acre in +extent, but verdant with tropical plants, quite a home of summer! Here +we had breakfast and a rest before we started again. How inconceivable +did it seem to me that this climate should be so unhealthy as they said +it was. Anyhow, it seemed to me that to have seen this place would be +justification for saying one had not lived in vain, and if the worst was +to come, death seemed to me to have no terror if one might be buried on +that island. We now started off again, pulling the boat. Shortly after, +the sky became overcast and rain began to pour down. First, we had taken +all our clothes off and covered them up with a piece of canvas. The rain +descended in sheets of water all day, and we had a rare bath all the +time; one was always baling the boat and the other pulling. I can never +forget that weary day. We could not make a fire, we had no shelter, and +scarcely five minutes' rest or interval from pulling. A sort of morose +silence seemed to settle over us all. Long after dark in the evening did +it keep on raining, and I began to wonder where we should put ourselves +that night. As the others said nothing, I did not intend to be the first +to knock under. Still, I was ready to drop as I pulled along in the +pitch darkness, and it made it much worse that I did not know but that I +might have to do it all night. At last the captain took up a horn and +blew a tune on it, and a few minutes later we heard a fearful barking as +of a score of big dogs. We had arrived at the place where the township +of Ingham stands to-day. At that time there was only one solitary house +built on high posts, with plenty of room to walk about underneath. I +understood the house was the joint property of the planters further up +the river, and the place was used as a sort of depôt. There was an old +man in charge, the only inhabitant; he lived there all alone, protected +by a score of dogs, the most ferocious-looking beasts I ever saw. It +was also part of his duty to receive and be hospitable to such +travellers as might find their way there. I was told these details while +in the boat, and cautioned not to run the boat ashore before we were +invited, as the dogs for certain would tear me to pieces. We heard the +old fellow cooeing, and shortly after he came down to us. He had a +lantern hung around his neck, and two ferocious-looking dogs were held +in chains by him, striving and tearing to get at us. Some more dogs, +which he said were quiet, but which did not look so, were barking and +straining after us at the landing-place. My shipmates had been there +before, and at last the dogs seemed to know them; but poor I had to +remain by myself in the boat until the old man had got all the dogs +chained again. At last I came ashore. Oh, the joy now of a fire, dry +clothes, a good supper, a glass of grog, and a good bed! A good bed in +the Queensland bush means two saplings stuck through a couple of +flour-bags, with two sticks nailed across at the head and the foot to +keep them apart. + +The next evening, after another hard day's pulling, we came to the first +plantation. This seemed quite a large place. I cannot now after so many +years state how many people there were or what they were doing, if ever +I knew it; but let it suffice to say that we were all well received at +supper-time in the single men's hut, where a large crowd of men were +collected. The French man told me I should be sure to get a job as +carpenter from the planter, and that I must demand three pounds sterling +per week and board for my services, nothing less. I slept that night on +the dining-table, as there was no spare bunk; and I remember that night +with great distinctness, on account of what I suffered from mosquitoes. +The next morning I saw the planter, and asked him for a job as +carpenter. "Yes," said he; I was the very man he wanted. He intended to +build a house of split timber; I might give him a price. He would order +a couple of horses, and we would ride out to look for timber, and if I +liked the trees, so much the better. This was a thing I did not then +understand anything about, and I told him so. "Never mind," said he, "I +will find you something; you can make me a waggon." I told him waggons +were not in my line. "What is in your line, then?" inquired he. + +I understood the carpentry needed in brick-building, or at least part of +it, and I could make joinery of sawn timber. + +"Very well; when he wanted a brick building, or joinery made of sawn +timber, he would send for me." + +Then he walked off in a bad humour, and I had to go back to the boat to +tell my shipmates how I had fared. That same day, at dinner-time, we +arrived at the next plantation. I was by this time in very low spirits, +because I did not know what was to become of me. Everybody seemed to +have an errand and something to do except myself, and I did not see how +and when my services would be called into requisition; but my two +shipmates kept telling me it was my own fault, and that I should take +anything I could get to do. So I would, but what was it I could do? +Anyhow, they kept telling me that here was the only likely place left, +and I there _must_ get a job. I must say I could do anything. After I +had dined, the Frenchman kept poking at me and pointing out to me the +planter, telling me I must ask for a job. So I mustered up courage and +went up and spoke to him. "What can you do?" "Anything." "Can you cook?" +"Do you mean making dinners?" "Yes." "No, I cannot do that." "Can you +split fencing stuff?" "No." "Can you make brick?" "No." "Can you chip?" +"What is that?" "Kill weeds with a hoe." "I never did it before." "I am +afraid it is difficult to find you a job. You say you can do anything: +what is it you can do?" + +I was again quite crestfallen as I said, "I do not think I can do +_any_thing." "Well, then, I cannot find you anything to do." With that +he went his way, and I came back to where the Frenchman sat, and I had +to tell him once more of my hard fate. At this he began to swear in +French like one demented, and asked me had I never told the planter I +was a carpenter. "No." "Mon Dieu! oh, Mon Dieu, was any one like this +infant!" Then he ran after the planter and spoke to him, and soon they +both came back. The planter then said he had been told I was a +carpenter, and that he was prepared to find work for me at that trade, +but that he would prefer me to go into the boat to the next plantation, +as he knew his neighbour was much in want of me. If I did not get on +there he would employ me as I came back. What a relief I felt, +especially as I understood they did not expect me to build houses out of +growing trees! The next evening we passed the place where I was told I +could get work, but it was on the other side of the river. A man stood +down by the water's edge hailing the boat. He sang out to us if we +thought it possible he might get a carpenter in Cardwell. It was music +in my ears. The Frenchman cried back: "We have one on the boat." The man +on shore replied he wanted one to make boxes, tables, and the like. I +was ready to jump out of the boat with anxiety, but I had to content +myself, as my shipmates would not let me off before the return journey, +and so I had to ply the oar until, far out into the night, we arrived at +the furthest point of our journey, viz., the Native Police camp. + +I may say a few words about this establishment. Round about in +Queensland, on the furthest outskirts of settlements, some official will +be stationed in charge of half a dozen aboriginals, trained in the use +of the rifle and amenable to discipline. It is the duty of this +official, with the assistance of his troopers, to fill the aborigines +with terror, and to use such means to that end as his own judgment may +dictate. White men to hunt the blacks with would be useless, as they +could never track them through the jungle, and would no doubt also be +too squeamish to fight the natives with their own weapons. But the +blacks themselves delight in being cruel to their own kind. Often while +I was on the Herbert, would I see them coming past, like regular +bloodhounds, quite naked, with their rifle in their hand and a belt +around their waist containing ammunition and the large scrub knife. +Their bodies would be smeared over with grease, so as to be slippery to +the touch. They would then be out on an expedition. It no doubt requires +all the authority their officer can command at such times to temper the +wind to the shorn lamb. As the district becomes settled the aboriginals +grow quiet, and the native police camp will then be shifted further on. +While I was on the Herbert I never saw any other blacks besides the +police, although the blacks were about then in great numbers. We often +saw their tracks, but they never showed themselves unless when they +could not help it. + +We arrived at the police camp about two or three o'clock in the morning, +and were received at the landing-place by two of the troopers, who stood +there without saying a word, as if they were watching for us. They were +black as the night itself, and as I never saw them until I was out of +the boat, I fairly ran against them. One of them had a pipe in his +mouth, and the only thing that indicated his presence was a glowing bit +of coal he had stuck into it. The other one, as I already stated, I ran +against, and I was quite startled as I looked into his gleaming eyes and +as I stretched out my hands felt his greasy cold flesh! So I sang out, +"Hi! vot name? Where you sit down?" that being the usual greeting to a +blackfellow, but although none of them spoke a sentence, I was reassured +in the next moment, as I saw a gentlemanly young man, dressed in a +pyjamas, coming down to greet us. This was their officer, and as he led +us towards the house I thought that it must be a cruel life for any +white man to lead alone in such a place with nobody but a lot of howling +savages to exchange a thought with. I do not think the whole clearing +was more than half an acre in extent. In the middle of it stood a house +built on posts eight feet high. It contained two rooms. This was where +the officer lived. In the yard, or whatever you liked to call the +clearing, was a fire, and around it sat or lay all these black troopers. +Australian blacks will not sleep in a house if they can possibly avoid +it, so this was their regular camping-place. A more wild and desolate +spot than this looked to me, with all these naked savages lying in the +yard, and with weapons piled about both outside and inside the house, +cannot be conceived. + +The next day, on our return journey, I parted company with my two +fellow-travellers, and went ashore at ---- plantation, where I got a +job as carpenter for two pounds ten shillings per week and my board. +This was a place which scarcely could be called a plantation yet, as it +was only just formed. The owner and his family lived there in a large +slab-house, erected on wooden piles ten or twelve feet out of the +ground. There were also a few outbuildings, but any real work was not +going on, only one man, a bullock driver, being engaged on the premises. +My "boss" told me, though, that he expected a hundred Kanakas shortly +from the South Sea Islands, and that he wanted me to fit up bunks for +them, put together tables, troughs for making bread in, furniture for +his own house, and such like. I perceived a few thousand feet of sawn +cedar lying about, and there and then I started work to astonish the +natives. I never worked with greater perseverance than then. The tools +were in a fearful condition, but I soon got them into some shape. Then I +rigged up a bench and made a sunshade out in the yard, where the young +lady could see me working, and then it began to rain tables, sofas, +chairs, and bunks, so much that I am not afraid to say that I quickly +became a favourite. I found out here that I was more capable than I +myself thought, because I even made a first-rate boat, in which I had +the pleasure of rowing about the river with Mr. ----'s daughter, and in +which she and her father afterwards travelled to Cardwell. Miss ---- had +been with her parents on the Herbert for a year, and shortly after I +arrived on the scene she went to a boarding-school in Sydney. On his +return journey from Cardwell Mr. ---- brought home a servant girl, who +proved to be the German girl I already have mentioned as having seen in +Cardwell. I relate this matter not because I took any particular +interest in this girl, but because I have by and by to write about what +happened to all of us. + +My "boss" was in my eyes a regular hero, or Nimrod, if you like. I went +out shooting with him both morning and evening, and all Sunday as well, +and became after a while quite a good shot. But one thing troubled Mr. +----; it was this: that although alligators were a daily terror, he had +never yet been able to shoot one. When we went out shooting he had +always a rifle with him, loaded with ball, and we would crawl about some +fearful places and follow the tracks of alligators, but still we had no +luck. As for me, I professed to be very sorry too, that we did not run +right up against one. I had great faith in Mr. ----, and I do not think +he had any suspicion that I was really afraid; still I always drew a +sigh of relief when we came home from one of our expeditions. There is +so much boasting going on in Queensland about alligators, that it is +next to a proverb here when one is telling an untrue tale to say that it +is "an alligator yarn," and I am, therefore, almost ashamed to write +about it. Still alligators are a reality, and up there we knew it. On +the river-bank, in front of the house was a spring, from which we got +the water supply for the house but so nervous were we that no one dared +to go to it without the utmost precaution. Every morning Mr. ---- would +come and ask the bullock driver and me if we were prepared to fetch +water. Then he would get his rifle and take up a position on the +river-bank from which he could overlook the surroundings, while we went +down to carry up a supply of water. + +[Illustration: AN ALLIGATOR POOL.] + +And now I will relate an alligator story, although I have been much +tempted to pass it over for the reason already stated. One day after +dinner Mr. ---- came to me much excited, and told me that an alligator +had taken one of the working bullocks which had been lying down a few +hundred yards from the house, in broad daylight too. We then went down +to see about it, and there were the tracks of the bullock and the +alligator. It showed plainly that the alligator must have taken the +bullock in the hind-quarters and have dragged it along, because the +earth was regularly ploughed up where the bullock had been holding back +with its head and forelegs; it had been dragged right down to the +river's edge and then killed and partly eaten. As we ran the tracks +down, we saw the alligator by the bullock, but it dropped like a stone +into the water on our approach. Mr. ---- turned to me with sparkling +eyes. "Now is our chance," cried he; "to-night and to-morrow night it +will come again and eat of the bullock. Then we can shoot it." Was it +not fun? Anyhow I said I would make one of the shooting party, and then +he began to unfold our plan of campaign. To begin with he thought it +best to delay till the next evening as the alligator would then be sure +to be more quiet. We were to take up a concealed position to windward of +the bullock's carcass, and await the arrival of the monster. And so the +next evening came, and after tea, while it was yet light, Mr. ---- came +and asked me if I was ready. "Yes," cried I. I was ready, and in a very +ferocious spirit besides! Well, then, we would get the weapons. The two +rifles were loaded, and each of us had a six-chambered revolver as well. +As for me, I stuck a butcher's knife in my belt also, as a last +resource, but Mr. ---- laughed at me for doing it and assured me that +before I could find use for that I should be in the alligator's stomach. +Then we went, Mr. ---- first and I close behind. The river-bank nearest +the water was very steep for about thirty yards, then there was a gentle +slope for another twenty yards or so, and on that slope the carcass of +the bullock was now lying. We were very careful to have the wind against +us, as the alligator is very shy as a rule, and Mr. ---- said it would +be sure to clear off if it could smell us. Then we lay down behind some +bushes in a most overpowering smell from the bullock; but what will one +not do for glory? It was agreed between us that we should both fire at +the same moment, and that Mr. ---- should give the signal. We were lying +flat on the ground, and one of Mr. ----'s legs was touching me, and it +was further agreed that I was not on any account to fire before he with +his leg pressed mine in a certain way. Then I was to fire into the mouth +of the alligator, while he at the same moment would try to send a ball +through its eye. We were lying in this position nearly up to midnight, +when we heard some heavy body come creeping up the hill, but still out +of sight. Now and then the noise would cease for a minute or two, then +it would come on again, until at last we saw the dark mass of the +alligator come crawling up to the bullock and begin to tear at it. I was +not a bit nervous, because I could see it quite distinctly, but I was +very impatient for the signal to fire which did not come, and I dared +not move round sufficiently to look at Mr. ---- either. The alligator +was turning this way and that way. Now, I thought, is the time. Still no +signal. Then it turned right round, and at one time I thought its tail +was going to sweep us away. Just when our chance was best we heard +another alligator coming crawling up the bank. It was at that moment +quite impossible to fire according to the position in which the first +alligator was lying, but as it was moving about rapidly I thought it +best in any case to ignore as well as I could the presence of the second +alligator, which we could not yet see. At last the first one began to +snap its jaws in that peculiar way which only one who has seen a live +alligator knows. Then came the signal. Bang! went the rifles. The beast +never moved a muscle. It was quite dead, and we could hear the other +alligator tearing and rolling down into the water again. Mr. ---- got up +and wiped his face. "I was afraid of you getting excited," said he. I +admitted I was thankful the sport was over, and without giving ourselves +time to measure the reptile we decamped out of the smell as fast as we +could. It was fairly overpowering, and it took the best part of a bottle +of Scotch whiskey, which the "boss" introduced, to make me believe that +it was possible to go through such adventure and still live. + +It had for a long time been the wish of Mrs. ---- and the children to +visit their nearest neighbour, who, however, lived some fourteen miles +away. One evening preparations were made for the whole family to start +at daybreak next morning on the bullock dray. It was quite a perilous +journey for a lady and children to undertake, as the track was through +the dense jungle most of the way, and through grass eight feet high at +other places, and swamps, creeks, and gullies had to be crossed. Mr. +---- told me that he could not possibly be back before the next night, +and that he entrusted everything at home to my care while he was away, +the girl included, and that I might take a holiday until they came back, +so that I on no account left the premises. He also advised me that as it +was possible I might have a surprise from the blacks I had better sleep +for the night up in the house, which, as I have already stated, stood on +high piles, and was only accessible by means of a narrow staircase. The +next morning, then, they all went away, the bullock driver and all the +dogs included. Twelve bullocks pulled the dray, into which a lot of +bed-clothes were piled. There sat the lady and the children. Mr. ---- +was on horseback, armed with his rifle and revolvers. The driver cracked +his long whip and all the dogs barked and jumped about. I stood by +seeing them off and feeling quite important too, as I was the garrison +left to defend the home until the travellers should return. About +dinner-time that same day two travellers came in a boat from one of the +plantations and asked to speak to Mr. ----. This was rather remarkable, +as we scarcely ever saw any other people than the boatmen when they +brought the mail, and occasionally the black trackers from the police +camp, but I told them that Mr. ---- and the whole family had left that +morning in the bullock dray. They seemed surprised. + +"All of them, did you say?" + +"Yes," replied I. + +"It means good-bye," said they both. "You will never see any of them +again; they have cleared off." + +I was surprised and incredulous. My friends seemed quite sure. + +"And what did he say to you when they left?" inquired one. + +"He told me I need not work until he came back, but that I must not +leave the premises. He also said that he entrusted everything to my +care." + +"My word," said they, "it is a nasty trust. Why, the blacks will be sure +to rush the place one of these days, perhaps to-night, for they are +certain to have seen the others going away." + +Then they began to commiserate with me on what was to become of myself +and the girl, as we were sure to fall into the hands of the blacks, and +they offered to take us both away in the boat with them. But I could not +see it in that way. I knew that in all probability we should have no +visitors for ten or eleven days until the mailman came. But where was I +to go? I had now a good deal of money coming to me. Who was to pay me? +Besides, it might only be all nonsense. Still the responsibility seemed +great. I took the girl aside and asked her if she liked to go in the +boat and leave me. She began to cry, and said she would rather stay, and +did not like the fellows. If there is anything that could ever make me +desperate it is to see a woman cry. So I began to give the two strangers +the cold shoulder, and to show them that I had a rifle, six +fowling-pieces, a revolver, and any amount of ammunition, and that I +would, if it was necessary, defend the place against all the blacks in +the district, but neither the girl nor I would budge out of the place +before we were paid, and that, moreover, we did not believe that the +"boss" had cleared off, but that he would be back the next evening. + +After these fellows were gone I held a council of war with the girl. We +turned and twisted probabilities for or against, were they coming back +or were they not? Evening came and we sat up in the blockhouse and dared +not go to bed. Wherever I moved there the girl was after me. I had all +the guns standing loaded alongside me, but we dared not light a lamp for +fear of attracting the blacks. We sat whispering and listening. Every +time the wind would rustle the leaves in the garden the girl made a grab +at me and cried, "There they are! There they are!" + +At last I induced her to go to her room, and then I dozed off myself, +and did not wake up before it was broad daylight. The first thing we did +that morning on coming downstairs was to look for tracks from the +blacks, to see if they had been about. I was not a very good tracker +then, but we found what proved to our entire satisfaction that the +aboriginals had been about in great numbers. This terrified the girl +completely, and she upbraided me for having slept during the night, and +implored me not to do so again; also she wished she had gone with the +strangers the day before; and then she began praying in great excitement +that it might not be her fate to fall into the hands of savages. Of +course all this had its influence on me, and as the day went on we +completely discarded the possibility of our employers returning, and +only thought of how best to protect ourselves from the blacks. I made up +my mind, therefore, that the time had now arrived for me to show myself +great and brave, and at all events to sell my life dearly. Good +generalship, however, was likely, thought I, to do more for me than +bravery unassisted by judgment, and for that reason I began to think how +to act so as to be prepared for the worst. I knew this much, that the +greatest danger from a surprise would be about sunrise. But as I was +alone I could see that it would be impossible for me to defend the whole +property. I must therefore retire to the main house, which, standing +isolated and on high piles, would offer a good fortification. But if I +had to abandon the outhouses, they would then fall into the hands of the +enemy and he would be enriched by all there was to be found in them. I +must, therefore, while I had time, carry everything I could up to the +house, and, perhaps, it would be better to burn the outhouses down +afterwards, so that they might not serve as a hiding-place for the +blacks. I would see about that, but my first duty was to carry +everything upstairs, and at all events commenced. No sooner said than +done. The girl and I carried everything we could lay our hands on, +upstairs. I also carried up water enough to last us for a fortnight or +more, three large tubsful. All the firewood that was lying handy I also +humped up, although there was no fireplace upstairs; but I wanted to do +all I could, and in my energy I could not be still. + +In this way the day passed and evening came again. As no one had +returned what hope we might have had was now dead, and as for me I felt +like a glorious Spartan, quite certain that the blacks would come and +that I should let daylight through every one of them. All my guns, of +course, were loaded, and I was showing them off to the girl, explaining +to her that it was my intention, after having defended the door as long +as I could, to retire from room to room and keep up the war all the +time. But she was nevertheless timid, and I feared much that she should, +by taking hold of me, which indeed she did all the time, prevent me from +firing, and I asked her, therefore, again to retire to her room. She +implored me to let her stay with me, and said she did not mind so that +we might die together. Then she began to hug me. What new and unexpected +horror was this? Was this a man-trap, or what? Was there not trouble +enough already? Surely, thought I, if ever a man needed a stimulant to +keep up his pluck, I am that man. Happy thought! I knew where the "boss" +kept his whiskey. I went to the cupboard and took a long, deep pull at +the bottle. "Dearest Amelia," cried I, "remember that in the time of our +glorious forefathers it was the duty of the Danish maidens to hand the +cup to the warriors, both before they went to battle and when they came +home. Do now! Let me. Oblige me to drink of this bottle. It is only +schnapps. Do! That is right. Here is luck! And death and destruction to +our enemies! And now retire to your room. Good-night. Nothing shall harm +you. Barricade the door from the inside. Let me lock it from the +outside. And now," cried I, "I make it impossible for anyone to get near +you. Here goes the key." + +With that, having turned the key twice in the lock after her, I threw it +out of the window as far as I could! I felt then as bloodthirsty as any +savage. Why did these blacks not come? The only thing that puzzled me, +as I traversed the house from one shutter to another, was what I should +do if they came underneath the house. They might then fire the building. +No, they should not. I would have them yet. I would take the two-inch +augur and bore holes all over the floor, so that I might shoot through. +I was soon boring away making holes for a long time right and left, when +the girl whispered, "What are you doing?" + +"I am boring holes," cried I, "in the floor to shoot through. Shall I +bore a hole in your door? Then you could kill half a dozen with a +revolver. If you have a mind, I will." + +"Oh, there they are!" cried the girl. + +"Ha, where? Come on!" + +"Stop, you fool, it is the master and the missis. Don't you hear the +whip? Let me out." + +"Master and missis? I cannot let you out. I have thrown the key away." + +Then it dawned on me what a fearful ass I must presently appear. It is +impossible for me to keep on with the particulars. I could not find the +key again and let the girl out. The floor was spoiled, the house upside +down. I should have been game to have fought his Satanic Majesty +himself, but to face the contempt of the "boss" and good, kind Mrs. ---- +was terrible. So I talked through the door at the girl and told her to +say, if any one made inquiries for me, that I was not at home. With that +I decamped, and did not present myself before the next midday. After a +while the matter was only referred to as a joke. + +I should have liked very much to have been able to write a detailed +account of the whole twelve months I spent at this place. I am quite +sure that if truly written, much of it would prove interesting to people +who never were so far north, but I must of necessity pass quickly over +many things of which I should have liked to write more fully, or else I +shall never come to the end of my travels. Suffice it, therefore, to say +that the Kanakas arrived in great numbers; that the "boss" and I went to +Cardwell on horseback to fetch them; that a lot of white men were also +brought together on the plantation; that I was overseer, or "nigger +driver," over part of the Kanakas for some time; that I, during the +twelve months, gained a good deal of colonial experience: learned to +ride, drive bullocks, split fencing stuff, &c., also how to build +slab-houses, as they are called--that is, to go into the bush, and with +the help of a few tools, single-handed, to make a good house out of the +growing trees. All this I learned, more or less, and then when I had +been there about twelve months I caught the fever. This fever is, I +believe, peculiar to certain parts of North Queensland; it is not +deadly, but very common, indeed my impression is that there was not a +man on the Herbert River who had not got it more or less. It comes with +shivering of cold, followed by thirst and utter exhaustion, once a day +or once every second day. Most people are able to work all the time they +have it until they feel the "shakes" coming over them. Then perforce +they must lie down, but they generally get up to their work again after +the prostration which follows is over. With me it was different. A +couple of weeks of it made me so weak that when I felt myself strongest +I could only stagger about with the help of a big stick. I had built a +carpenter's shop, and my room was off that. Then I would lie down of an +evening on the bed, with bed-clothes piled on me enough to smother one, +and still the gasping and the "shakes" would gradually commence. The +very marrow in one's bones seemed frozen, while the teeth would rattle +in the head, and the breath would come and go with fearful quickness. +After a couple of hours of this, heat and prostration would follow, +coupled with terrible thirst. Of course there was no hospital, and there +was no one to hand one a drink. When I properly understood the matter, I +would always place my wash-basin in the bed, filled with water, so that +when the time came I could lean over and drink, because I was too weak +to lift a billy can or a pint pot off the floor. But when I upset this +basin, which happened once, my sufferings were intense. I remember on +two or three occasions when I had no water how I tried to get out of +bed, how I fell and lay on the floor for hours, then crept on my hands +and knees out around the shed to where a bench stood with a tub of water +on. There I would sit or lie over the water for hours and drink. Such a +matter as this excites no sympathy in a place like that. There were now +a lot of other men, and most of them had a touch of the fever as well. +If I had slept among other men I have no doubt some one would have given +me a drink, but to ask any one to sit up with me, or disturb their +night's rest on that account, would have been asking too much, I fear. +Then when I had been alone before the new hands arrived, I had shared +pot-luck with my employer and his family, but now it seemed as if one +was only lost in a crowd. I had nothing to eat but half-putrid corned +beef and bread, served on a dirty tin plate, tea of the cheapest sort, +boiled in a bucket, and sweetened with dirty black sugar, was my fare +too. How could any sick person eat or drink such stuff? As I write now +it seems to me it is enough to cause a strong man to die of slow +starvation, and yet it is the ordinary average diet put before working +men all over the Queensland bush twenty-one times a week. One day Mrs. +---- came down and asked me very sympathetically how I was getting on. +So I showed her my plate with my dinner on, covered with flies as it +was, and very unappetizing indeed, and upbraided her and her husband for +serving such rations. "Dear me, how shocking! None of the other men +complained. Was the meat bad?" Then she assured me I should have +anything I wished for, and for the last few days I was there I was +constantly invited to their own table, although I scarcely could eat +anything even there. But I thought I had been there long enough, and +when the mailman came in his boat I took a friendly leave of my employer +and his family, and was assisted down into the boat. I had with me then +my cheque for a hundred pounds sterling, and another for seven or eight +pounds. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +LEAVING THE HERBERT--RAVENSWOOD. + + +I had again no particular idea as to where I would go, further than that +I wanted to regain my health. But oh, for the sweetness of liberty and +money! I needed not to say anything about money to my old travelling +companions in the boat; they knew I must have a good cheque, and their +attentions were in proportion! Perhaps I wrong them. Perhaps they would +have been just as careful to my wants if they had known me to be +penniless. At any rate, a sort of bed was made for me in the stern of +the boat, and offers to procure for me anything I wanted from the stores +on the plantations were profuse. But I wanted for nothing more than to +lie as easily as I might, because I really was very sick. There had been +a public-house built somewhere a mile from the river-bank since I had +passed that way before, and when we came to the place where a track led +from the water up to it, my two oarsmen proposed to go up to have some +refreshment, and promised to be back directly. Of course I could not go +with them. When they were gone some time a little pig which they had in +a bag in the boat began to find its way out. I thought it a pity to +allow it to escape, and yet I had not strength to get up, but without +calculating the consequences I rolled myself over until I lay on the top +of it. Never shall I forget the howling of that pig in my ears, for I +believe over an hour, until the men came back. The bag had somehow got +mixed in my clothing, and I could not either free myself or the pig, +else I would gladly have let it go. At last the men came back and got us +separated. + +When I came to Cardwell I thoroughly enjoyed, although I was sick, the +luxury of lying in a clean bed with white sheets, and mosquito curtains +all around me, and to have one of the servants at the hotel coming to my +door all day long asking if she could do anything for me. There was +neither doctor nor chemist in the place, but one of the storekeepers +came and looked at me, and sold me some medicine which in a short time +drove the fearful "shakings" I had away. Meanwhile, as there was no +other communication with the outer world than "the schooner," which ran +between Cardwell and Townsville, I had inquired when the schooner would +be in as I had decided to go to Townsville again. On the same day that +the ague had for the first time left me, I was told that the schooner +would be ready to run out at eleven o'clock at night. I was then so +careless of myself, or so foolish, that I, at that hour of the night, +for the first time in a fortnight, got out of my bed and went on board +the craft. It was only a sort of fishing smack, rowed by two men, who +had a small enclosure somewhere on board where they could be dry. For +passengers there was no accommodation whatever. In the hold, which was +open, was nothing but some old sails, rusty chains, empty boxes, and the +like. Two or three more passengers came on board, who at once secured +the best places in the hold, while I, who for the first time for many +weeks felt remarkably well, sat up on the deck enjoying the strong +breeze, and even tried to smoke a pipe. But any North Queenslander will +tell you that when one has had fever he has to be extra careful of not +catching cold. I did not know that just then, but in a very short time I +did. I got a fearful toothache. My enervated system did not feel able to +hold up against this new affliction, and so I threw myself down among +the ropes and boxes in the hold. There I lay, while the pain gradually +increased. The wind was against us, and it took eight or nine days +before we reached Townsville. During that time my agony grew more acute +every day. I had neither strength nor energy enough to stand on my feet. +My head swelled up to a fearful extent. My mouth was in such a state +that I could not swallow, and I gradually lost power to open my mouth or +to speak. When we had been two days out I raised myself on my elbow to +try to drink some tea and eat some mashed bananas, which some one gave +me in a pint pot. I could not swallow, so I laid myself down again and +did not after that touch food. I heard them speak about me on deck, and +say that they ought to have found out my name, because I should scarcely +last out unless the wind changed. I heard this distinctly, and laughed +to myself, because I knew I was not going to die just yet. Still to all +their inquiries I could not reply. One day I heard a Dane speaking in my +ear; where he came from, or where he went to, I do not know, but he +asked me, "Are you a Dane?" I grunted. Then he said, "What is your +name?" I tried to stutter it out from between my teeth time after time, +but he could not understand, and kept on, "Say it again." At last he +gave it up. Then he asked me if there was anything he could do for me? +what ship I had come out in, and so on. But I was so disgusted with my +own inability to use my tongue, that otherwise so ready a friend of +mine, that I made no further attempt to speak, and my countryman +disappeared again. There was now only one thought that possessed my +mind, viz., to get to Townsville, and when there to have all my teeth +pulled out. Of course it was more a relapse from the fever that was +wrong with me than toothache, but I did not know it. I lay in a daze day +after day, every time the boat gave a lurch my head would strike against +something, and the agony I suffered cannot be described. At last the +skipper took hold of me and cried, "Well, stranger, here we are in +Townsville; where shall we take you to?" + +It came on me so unexpectedly that it seemed again to send the +life-blood through me. I stared around me and saw that we were lying +close to the wharf. + +Up I jumped, to the great surprise of the skipper, and leaving my swag +behind me, and holding on with both hands to my head, I staggered +ashore. It was about eight o'clock in the morning when I landed. I knew +it because I heard all the breakfast bells ringing from the hotels, and +although I did not feel hungry, yet it reminded me that I had eaten +nothing for two weeks. On I staggered like a drunken man. People seemed +to look surprised at me, and to go out of their way for me. I came to a +chemist's shop. He also looked at me in a disgusted sort of way. I took +up a pen and wrote to him that I wanted all my teeth pulled out. He felt +my pulse. "My friend," said he, "I think you had better go to a doctor." + +I gave him to understand that I was tired, and did not know where the +doctor lived. + +"Wait," cried he, "I will get a man to go with you." + +Then he went out of the shop. As I turned round I saw a very large +mirror, in which I beheld my own image from head to foot. At first I did +not realize it was myself as I stared at it. Would my own mother have +known the picture? I hope not. Unkempt, unwashed for nearly a fortnight, +my hair hung in matted knots about my face. My whole head was swollen +to such an extent that to describe it as I saw it would seem +exaggeration. Add to this a graveyard complexion in the face, and an +emaciated form, dressed in an old crimean shirt, dirty moleskin trousers +and blucher boots, and you have the picture I beheld of myself as I +stood looking. I felt my knees giving way under me, made a grab at the +counter and fell. The next thing I remember was that I was lying on a +nice bed, in a room which proved to be in the adjoining hotel, and that +a doctor was there. With consciousness my agony returned, and I again +preferred my request in writing that he should pull all my teeth out. +"Yes, that is all very well," said he, "but we must first try to break +your mouth open. You must go to the hospital. I will give you a ticket. +What is your name? Have you no money?" + +I took out all I had got, my one hundred pounds' cheque and some change, +and laid it on the table. At the same time I wrote to him on a paper and +asked him to take charge of it and give me the balance when I asked for +it. I also asked him to order anything I wanted and to spare no expense. +Then the doctor suggested to call in a colleague that they might +consult, and when the next doctor arrived they agreed to give me +chloroform, but after great preparations had been made and a sponge held +to my nose for a minute or two without having any effect on me, they +again decided that I was too weak for chloroform, but as I, half +crying, beckoned to them to do in my case what had to be done, one of +them, with his knee on my chest, put an instrument between my teeth +while the other held my head back and somebody else sat behind my chair +and held my arms. My mouth came open. I will not unnecessarily prolong +the agony, only to state that I felt relieved shortly after and that +somebody with the utmost tenderness was bathing my head. I had now +nothing to do but to allow people to wait on me. I stayed in the hotel +for two days, when the doctor's own buggy came for me and I was driven +to the hospital. So that the reader may not be under the impression that +I wear false teeth, I would like to say that not a tooth was pulled or +any other surgical operation performed. I now got better rapidly. It +seemed impossible to feel sick in that hospital. I had a large private +room and broad verandahs outside. From my bed I could lie and watch the +ocean all day and try to count the islands. My friend, the doctor, came +also every day, and any extra comfort I wanted was quickly procured. As +I grew better I would sit and bask in the sun down among the rocks by +the shore in that half-unconscious but blissful condition which I +believe is common to all convalescents, or a couple of hours before +meal-time I would lie on my bed watching the sun and its shadows on the +floor so that I might be prepared and lose no time the moment the man +came with the dinner. Oh, for the ravenous hunger with which I could +eat! Although I had double the ordinary allowance, yet after a month's +stay in the hospital, I had to leave it for very hunger's sake. I then +settled my bill with the doctor, who charged me very moderately, and +went to live in a hotel in town. When I was perfectly cured and myself +again I could easily have obtained work in town at my trade for four +pounds per week, but I had a sort of dislike to the place, which decided +me to go up to the gold-diggings and try my luck there. The nearest +diggings were at Ravenswood, some hundred and thirty miles inland. Other +diggings were scattered behind that place, but to reach them I +understood I had to go to Ravenswood first, and that it was as good a +place as any. I bought two horses, with all necessary appendages, such +as saddle, pack-saddle, bridles, &c. They cost me about thirty pounds. I +put thirty pounds more into the bank as a sort of reserve fund in case +of accident, and after paying my way so far, and buying a few necessary +clothes, I had only some nine or ten pounds left. So one morning I +packed the one horse with my swag, containing clothes and blanket, in +the large saddle-bags. I had small bags containing flour, tea, sugar, +and other necessary things for a journey through the bush, because, +although the road I had now to travel was a beaten track, yet it is a +Queensland custom on all occasions to be as independent as possible. +Besides, when one sets out for a ramble, there is no saying where one is +going to pull up, and it seems so pleasant to know that one is +all-sufficient in his own resources, without requiring any aid from +wayside inns. So at least did I think as I rode out of the town; and as +this was my first experience of what we in Queensland call going on the +"wallaby track," I enjoyed it immensely. + +The way a man acts when travelling like this, is just to please himself. +When a fair day's journey is done, one begins to look out for a likely +spot for grass and water, and having found that, you get off the horses +and hobble them out--that is, having freed them of their load, their +forefeet are tied together with a pair of strong leather straps in such +a way that they can only totter slowly about. Having done that a fire is +made, the billy is slung on for tea, and when supper is over, a smoke, a +yarn--if there is a mate--and then a roll in the blanket with a saddle +for a pillow. + +There is often a lot of argument about what is a fair day's journey on +horseback. Of course it is a matter which never can be decided, because +so much depends upon the horses, the road, what the horses get to eat, +&c., but I do not believe many careful travellers will take their horses +more than twenty miles a day for a long journey, and then rest them +occasionally, but to hear some people talk one would think their horses +could go a hundred miles every day. In Queensland travellers have +sometimes to ride forty or fifty miles between watering-places. Most +horses can do it, if taken care of, but not every day. When travellers +meet on a Queensland road their first question after greeting is, "How +far is it to water?" and the distance between watering-places is +practically what decides a day's journey. In times of drought these +water-holes get scarce or dry up completely; rivers stop running; then +it behoves the traveller to look out where he goes. If misfortune +happens, or he has not calculated rightly the endurance of his horse, or +the water-hole on which he depends should be dried up when he arrives +there, then he is likely to perish! As for myself, I have on more than +one occasion arrived in a parched condition at a water-hole, only to +find a lot of dead cattle bogged in the soft mud, and still have been +compelled to drink the pint or two of putrefied water that might be +left. The reader will therefore see that travelling in the Queensland +bush is not exactly a perpetual picnic. + +Nothing of importance happened to me on this road, unless I were to +mention that when I was about half-way I met a swag's-man, that is, one +who carries his swag on his own back and has no horses. This fellow +asked to let him put his burden on my horse, which I let him do. I then, +by talking to him as we went along, found out that he had neither money +nor rations, and as we were only a few miles from Hugton Hotel I +promised to pay for dinner at that place for us both. Arrived at the +hotel, I ordered a first-class dinner for two; it was five shillings. +The table was laid for us with a big roast of beef and a plum-pudding. +After we both had eaten what we wanted, my fellow-traveller put nearly +all the remaining food into his bags and decamped, in spite of my +protestations. I remember well how scandalized I felt! Otherwise the +road was not lonely; every day I passed waggons hauled by sixteen or +eighteen bullocks each and filled with merchandise for the diggings. +There were also other travellers, both on foot and on horseback, but I +did not go myself in company with any, and so at last, one forenoon, I +saw the township of Ravenswood lying before me. I stopped the horses to +have a good look. + +At last I was on a gold-field. What a magic spell there seemed to me in +the words. All the old fallacious ideas connected with the word crowded +into my mind. Runaway nuns dressed in men's clothes, princes working +like labourers, and labourers living like princes--"looking for gold!" +Had I not better begin at once? + +As I came nearer I saw what seemed to me wells on all sides and tents +near the wells. Then as I looked at the ground again I became fearfully +excited. Big nuggets of shining gold were lying all around on the road. +Was it possible? Surely I knew gold when I saw it. I got off the horse +and picked it up. Not pure gold, though. But surely half of it was gold. +It glittered all over. I picked pieces up as I went along and fairly +howled with joy as I filled my bags. Think of those fools coming behind +with their flour-bags and of all the empty waggons I had met going +down, while I was finding a fortune before I reached the diggings! At +the place where I had now come, they could have loaded all the waggons +quickly. I could not carry more as I went further, ruminating over the +matter. Now the whole ground right and left was glittering all the way +into town. I threw the stuff all away again. It could not be gold! Then, +with a voice shaking between hope and fear, I asked a man who came by, +what that was. He told me at once it was "rubbish." "Did you think it +was gold?" asked he. + +"No; but I thought there might be gold in it." + +"Yes," said he, "so there was, but it did not pay to extract it." + +In this way somewhat sobered, I rode further and arrived in town, where +the next day I pitched a tent I had bought somewhere handy to the other +tents, put the horses in a paddock and looked about me. + +I will not attempt a long description of this the first gold-field I was +ever on. There was an ordinary street composed of hotels, +boarding-houses, and stores, on both sides of the road. Behind the +street were tents in which the diggers principally lived. Everywhere +were earth-mounds where some one was or had been busy rooting the ground +about. The reefs were each surmounted by an ordinary windlass, where a +man would stand hauling up the quartz all day long. Such was the picture +presented at a superficial glance at Ravenswood, and I think the +description answers for all other Queensland gold-diggings. Nearly all +the people boarded in two boarding-houses kept by Chinamen, one on each +side of the street. I think there must have been two or three hundred +boarders in each. They were both alike, two large bark-houses, no floor, +only two immense tables with forms on each side. On these tables were at +meal-times every conceivable delicacy in season, and up and down between +the tables an army of Chinamen would run round waiting on their guests. +During my various fortunes in Queensland, I have often paid two or three +pounds per week for board in hotels, and I have paid half-a-guinea for a +ticket to a public feast, but it has always been my impression that +nowhere was such good or luxurious food served out as in these +boarding-houses. It would simply be impossible to compete with them. The +charge was one pound per week, payment beforehand, and those of their +customers who wanted sleeping accommodation might, without extra charge, +fix themselves up as they liked in some sheds behind. There were also +many hotels in town, but, as far as I could see from the outside, their +"takings" were more across the bar than otherwise, as the Chinamen +seemed to monopolize the boarding-house trade. All over Australia, but +especially in Queensland, there is a bitter feeling against Chinamen. +People say that they ought to be forbidden to come to the country, +because they work too hard and too cheaply, and eat too little at the +same time; consequently we shall all go to the dogs. How is this? Surely +"there is something rotten in the state of Denmark." A white man is +always praised if he is hard-working and frugal. It seems a +contradiction to abuse one for what is commended in another! This is an +awful world. Some people say we are poor because we work too much, and +run ourselves out of work. Others say we do not work half enough, and +that that is the reason. Some say that Protection is a panacea for +poverty, others swear by Free Trade. In Australia they want to turn out +the Chinamen because they work too much; in China they want to turn out +the whites, I suppose for the same reason. Of all countries, I believe, +Australia certainly included the greatest majority of the people living +in different degrees of poverty, and work is getting to be as scarce +here where the population does not count one to the square mile, as it +is in Denmark where there are four hundred inhabitants to the square +mile. Of late years one more theory has sprung up, and its disciples +aver that all our poverty, despite our hard work and frugal fare, is due +to the fact that the earth on which we live is sold in large or small +parcels in the open market like tea and sugar, and that the owners of +the earth can in the shape of rent extract the greatest part of our +earnings. I ask the reader's pardon for this little digression, but it +seems to me to be an interesting question, and it would at least be +desirable if we all could agree whether it is Chinamen, Free Trade, or +Protection, or what not, whom we really want, because there _is_ +"something rotten in the state of Denmark." + +I took my board, like everybody else, with the Chinamen and lived in my +tent not far away. I occupied myself in prospecting, or learning how to +prospect, but what little gold-dust I could find was not worth coming +all the way for. I soon got tired of that, and one day I went and asked +for a job of carpenter's work in a large Government building I saw going +up. + +Before I proceed further I must explain that a certain fixed scale of +wages existed here for most occupations, and this scale was very +jealously guarded by the people. It was three pounds per week for miners +in dry claims, three pounds ten shillings in wet claims, bricklayers +sixteen shillings per day for eight hours, carpenters fifteen shillings, +&c. I had heard this but I had not believed it. I took it that those +figures represented what men would like to get rather than what they +actually got, and while I worked for a master I always preferred to put +my pride in earning what I got, rather than, perhaps, getting what I did +not earn. I understand the importance now of keeping up wages, but at +that time I did not, and when the carpenter said he would give me twelve +shillings a day and find tools not only did I think myself well paid, +but I had no idea or care whether others got more or less. + +Beside myself there was an American negro employed as carpenter. He +seemed a very morose sort of individual, but I took no notice of him and +was hopping about all day, giving as I thought as much satisfaction to +others as to myself. I often heard the "boss" grumble at the negro, and +occasionally I would be set to put him right about what he was working +at. This happened one afternoon as the "boss" went away shortly before +five o'clock, and I was consequently explaining to him out of my wisdom, +when he suddenly asked what wages I was getting. I told him with great +pride I was getting _twelve_ shillings a day. + +Squash came a stick down over my head, then he flew at my throat and +kicked and belaboured me in a terrible way. At last he flung me with +awful violence out on the verandah, got hold of me again and threw me +outside. He was two or three times as big a man as I, and I could not at +all defend myself against him, nor had I any idea why he had thus +maltreated me; but as there was no one to appeal to, I, in a terrible +rage, ran home to my tent for the gun. It stood there loaded, and I took +it up and started back again along the main street. The blood was +running down my face, and I howled to myself with rage as I ran. I meant +to shoot him as dead as a herring. + +"Halloa!" cried the people, "there is a fellow running amuck," and soon +there was a whole crowd behind me, intent on watching the sport. + +But I must now go back in time a little. There was at that period in +Ravenswood a Danish digger, whom I had met and who had been very +friendly to me, and both because he plays an important part in the next +few pages I have to write, and because I have entitled this book +"Missing Friends," I think he deserves mention, as he indeed had been, +and is no doubt yet, "a missing friend." He had been a farmer in +Denmark, what we in Danish call a yardsman, who owned his own freehold. +When the war with Germany in 1864 broke out, he was called on to serve +in the artillery. He was married then, had two children, and was, like +all Danish farmers, in extremely good circumstances. During the war he +was taken prisoner by the Germans, but was by some mistake reported dead +by the Danish authorities. He told me that he wrote home as soon as he +could, but the letter never reached his wife. Shortly after he tried to +escape from the Germans, and, being caught, defended himself +desperately. For this offence he was condemned to three years' hard +labour on the fortifications of some place in the south of Germany. For +one reason and another he did not write from there. Partly he was not +much of a writer, partly he objected to the enemy reading his efforts, +and as he knew his wife had plenty to live on, and that his neighbours +at home would help her to run the farm, he neglected writing, and as the +time went on pictured to himself in rosy colours the happy surprise he +would give his wife and them all at home when he _did_ return. At last +the time arrived when he was set free, and started for home. Meanwhile +his wife had bemoaned him as dead, and what little hope his friends +might have had for him died when he did not return at the end of the +war. It did not take long before one suitor after the other presented +themselves, and a couple of years later the wife got married again, with +the full consent and approval of all concerned. + +One day, when sitting at dinner on the farm, the wife saw her first +husband coming in at the door. With a scream of joy and excitement, she +rushed towards him. (Tableau.) Husband No. 2 was as honourable a man as +husband No. 1. There was a second family. What was to be done? They made +a sad but friendly compact. My friend took the eldest child with him, +and went to Australia, after having got back a fair amount of his own +cash. This man now came from his work, and as I rushed down the street, +we met. I did not see him, but he saw me. "Hulloa, countryman, what is +the matter? Stop! where are you going?" + +I tried to escape him, but he had hold of the gun. We struggled for +possession and the stock broke. When the gun broke my hope of revenge +fled as well, and in the relaxation which followed I sat down on some +steps and actually cried. I admit that it is sometimes as hard for me to +write about my weakness as about my folly, but I will ask the reader to +remember what I already have written here. The truth must be told. There +was now a large and sympathetic crowd around us, to whom I related how +the negro had maltreated me without any provocation, and while I spoke I +could see that the chances were that I would yet have revenge, because +all sorts of remarks would fly about, such as: "The poor fellow had +pluck, by Jove;" "Would you have shot him?" or, "Such a rascally negro +should not be allowed to strike and half kill a white man;" "I think I +can flog him;" "So can I, and I will;" "No Bill! you cannot!" "Let me, +you are not heavy enough!" "No," cried the Dane, and struck a crushing +blow in the wall of the house by which we stood; "he is my countryman, +and any one who strikes him, him I will strike. Where is that negro? +Only let me see him." + +I went with a sort of pious joy in front of the whole crowd up to the +negro's tent. When he saw us all coming, he thought they were going to +mob him, and only asked for fair play. He would fight them all, man for +man, and as for me, he had only struck me in open fight because I was +running down wages, working for twelve shillings a day. I was surprised +how much sympathy this statement created, but my countryman cut it short +by saying he would fight first and argue after. "All right, I'm your +man," cried the negro; "only pull off your shirt. I am dying to +commence." + +They both pulled off their shirts, and some willing assistants from the +crowd got behind each combatant to watch his interest in the coming +struggle. It was easily seen now that my countryman was a very strong +man. His arms, his shoulders, and his deeply curved back were swelling +with muscles. In his face sat a determination which boded his opponent +no good. Still, my heart sank as I looked at the negro, who was prancing +about as in irresistible joy over what he deemed his easy victory. He +seemed little short of a giant. They were just beginning to spar, when a +seedy-looking individual came forward and cried, "Hold on, gentlemen, +hold on, just one minute. It seems that we are going to see a splendid +piece of sport, and I think we ought to improve the occasion a little. I +will lay two to one on our coloured friend--two to one on Mr. Jones!" +Nobody took him up, when the negro said, "I don't mind if I lay a pound +or two on myself; any one on?" I looked at my countryman. He said, "Have +you got any money on you?" "Yes," said I, "I have got over ten pounds!" +"Lay it all," said he. "Oh, but if we should lose?" "Death and +destruction, we don't lose; lay it all." "Right you are! I lay ten +pounds to twenty against the nigger--ten to twenty--ten to twenty--who +will take me up?" + +At last the amount was gathered, but the question arose in my mind +whether the first promoter of the "sweepstakes" might be trusted with +the stakes. I asked my friend in Danish, before I handed the money over; +he said, "Just give it to him; it is all right. If we lose, we have +nothing more to do with the money, but if he won't give up the stakes +to us after I have flogged the nigger, I will flog him too!" + +Now began the terrible fight. The negro had both strength and science, +and for a long time it seemed as if my countryman was utterly done for. +It began to get dark and still they fought, but the longer it lasted the +more equal seemed the battle. At last it began to turn; at every round +my countryman would charge the negro with a loud hurrah; in another +quarter of an hour it was simply a matter of knocking him down as fast +as he got up; at last the negro was lying on the ground with his nose +downward, and could not get up again, while the Dane, stronger than +ever, was jumping all over the ring calling on him to get up. As he did +not get up, the Dane ran up to a man who held a riding-whip in his hand, +wrenched it from him, and belaboured the negro's head and back with it +until he quite lost consciousness. I admit if I had dared I would have +tried to prevent that part of the performance, but neither I nor anybody +else stirred. Of course I was not sorry when my friend and I went home +together, our ten pounds having swelled to thirty. Another advantage I +had over this matter was that I had to promise not to work under current +wages again, and when I came to work the next morning the "boss," who +had heard of the fight, at once agreed to pay me fifteen shillings a +day. As for the negro, he did not turn up and I have never seen him +since. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SHANTY-KEEPING, PROSPECTING, THORKILL'S DEATH. + + +Some time after this my friend and countryman came to me one evening +about nine o'clock with a very important air, and told me he had heard +of a new find of gold some thirty miles distant, and that there would be +sure to be a terrible rush as soon as it became generally known. As for +him, he would like to go if I would go with him and be his mate, +because, as he put it, he was sure I was lucky. He could not well have +made a greater mistake, but anyhow I was flattered and agreed to go. +Then I found he wanted to go at once. I had a few days' wages coming to +me, but I went to my employer's house at once and got my cheque. That we +changed in a public-house and went to our tents, saying nothing to +anybody about our intentions. Having got our swags ready, we, more like +thieves than anything else, knocked the one tent over and were off. My +friend's tent remained, and my horses were in a paddock with saddles and +belongings; there was no time to get them, and suspicion would have been +created had we tried. + +We rather ran than walked, but we were scarcely a mile out of town +before we overtook some six or seven others bent on the same journey. +The first twenty miles ran on a good road; that would be as far as we +could go that night, because the next ten miles were only a blazed track +right through the bush made by the prospectors, and could only be safely +traversed in the daylight. On the whole journey we were both overtaken +ourselves, and overtook other people, until, when we arrived at the +camp, we numbered a score or more. Here we found another score of +diggers sleeping or smoking, waiting for daylight. It was a moonlight +night, and I could see that we had arrived at a place where a few +humpies stood in seeming disorder round about. There was also a +public-house, and it was in the street in front of that, that the whole +army halted. I was both hot and tired, and as my mate suggested that we +had better get an hour or two of sleep, I laid myself down and slept. I +woke up again as my mate was shaking me. It was just break of day; still +we seemed late, for everybody was up and stirring. There was no time for +a billy of tea, or for ever so slight a stretch: it was up and away. Oh, +how tired I was, and stiff, and footsore! I would not have minded if I +might have started quietly, but this seemed like a race. Although I lost +no time, yet I was the very last through the little street with the +heavy swag on my back. My mate was beckoning to me as he, also late, ran +a few hundred feet in front, and then disappeared amongst the trees. I +felt irritable, as I often do before I have had my breakfast. I came by +a baker's shop, over the door of which was written, "Cold refreshing +summer drinks sold here." The baker and his wife, and a young girl also, +were peeping out through the half-opened door, and seemed to enjoy the +spectacle of the crowd racing down the street. I said to myself, "Bother +running like a fool here, I am going for a bottle of beer." + +The baker asked me if I was going to look for gold out there, or was I +looking for a job? "Because," said he, "if you think of finding gold in +that place you will be mistaken." + +He then told me he had been on the spot the previous day, and that it +was a "duffer," but still there would be a rush, and he would much like +to get somebody to ride out with bread every day and sell it at the +place. I told him I could not leave my mate like that, but the baker +just invited me in to breakfast, and offered me the loan of a horse, and +said also that he himself would take bread out as soon as we could be +off. "Perhaps," said he, "if my mate did not like the place, as he was +sure he would not, I might take a job from him." + +I therefore rode out with the baker after breakfast and found my mate, +who, as the baker predicted, was in no way enthusiastic about finding +anything as good as he had left, and before evening he was satisfied to +return to Ravenswood before any one could jump his claim there. As I did +not like going back, but wanted the change to ride up and down with +bread, I engaged with the baker for one pound ten shillings per week and +board. My duty now was to load a pack-horse every day with bread, and, +having another to ride, to take the bread to the "rush" and sell it. The +butcher at the "Twenty Mile" also engaged a man to ride up with beef, +and we generally rode in company. But it soon proved that it did not pay +our employers to keep us on, and after about three weeks' time we both +got notice to leave. That brought me to think that as there were many +men on the "rush," it might pay me to get my two horses up from +Ravenswood, and, buying myself both bread and meat together, sell it on +my own account. To that all parties were willing, and as one thing +brings another with it, I went to the Chinamen's shop with a view to +seeing what profit he would give me on groceries. As "Johnny" strongly +advised me to sell a little grog for him, I bethought myself that I had +while with the baker learned to make hop-beer and ginger-beer, and found +that I could make it for a penny a big glassful and charge a shilling. I +resolved, therefore, to take up that industry too. There was nobody at +all who had anything for sale at the "rush," and I determined to go out +and build a hut and start a general store and shanty. I now went out to +the "rush" again, and got two men to help me in the building. The hut I +put up was very primitive. Just one room about fourteen by twelve feet, +made of saplings, packing-cases, bark, or anything I could get at all +suitable. The roof was bark; the counter was bark also, and at night had +to serve for my bed. The door was an artistic piece of rubbish, if I +might use that term, but somehow it all hung together and could be +locked up. Outside I made a sunshade with tables and chairs under. That +was managed by four forked saplings put into the ground, and other +straight saplings resting as wall-plates in the forks. Again a row of +lighter sticks lay across them and leafy bushes on the top, and the +chairs were a lot of logs cross-cut at a height of eighteen inches. The +job was completed in three or four days; then I went up to Ravenswood +for my horses, and on my return got out a cask to make hop-beer in, some +buckets, and a few groceries. I was now my own "boss," and wonderfully +proud and happy I was in my little shanty. Besides my own two horses, +the butcher and baker each lent me a horse to carry the bread and meat +on, and I had quite enough to do--indeed my energy knew no bounds. + +Just about the time I started, the Palmer diggings came to the front, +and a great rush set in to that place from the south. But as no one +seemed to know properly where the Palmer was, and as conflicting and +disparaging statements soon arrived from the Palmer, and the wet season +was coming on, the north was everywhere swarming with men who were ready +to camp and prospect anywhere, just to abide time. As soon, therefore, +as I started for myself, numbers of men would arrive every day, and I +had so much to do that I did not know sometimes how to fling myself +about quick enough. Long before daylight I was up and got my four horses +together. I had a little yard for them. Then, in a racing gallop, I had +to tear into the butcher's, baker's, and grocer's, at the "Twenty Mile." +My goods would stand ready for me when I came. I would just fling the +stuff on the horses, leave my orders for the next day, and be back again +in time to sell bread and meat for breakfast! When that was over I had +to carry water from the creek to brew a cask of hop-beer, clean up shop, +serve people with grog, and feed the horses, make breakfast for myself, +chuck out a loafer or two, and other matters, all at the same time. Thus +it went on all day. In the afternoon I had sometimes to send a man off +with the horses for more rations, and from five o'clock to ten, eleven, +twelve, and sometimes all night, there would be a lot of fellows +drinking outside the shanty. + +[Illustration: THE BAKER'S CART.] + +The reader may understand that I quickly gathered in money. Five pounds +a day was nothing. But what a life it was! I was never out of my +clothes, and I was very seldom dry. Sometimes for weeks together I would +be like one hauled out of the sea. That required stimulants, and they +were near and handy, nor was it practically possible to be a Good +Templar in my position. But all my better instincts were revolted. Still +another glass of grog would make me see things in a different light, and +somehow it never seemed to have any other effect on me than +sharpening my wits; indeed, although I know myself to be a temperate man +by nature, and but seldom touch spirits, I believe that if I had not +then freely indulged in the cup that cheers, I could never have stood +the strain on my constitution which this life necessitated. My troubles +were many. One was that fellows would get drunk and grow quarrelsome +every day; if they were not very big I did not much mind, but if they +were too big then I tried all devices to make them laugh and be in +good-humour, or I would sometimes even have to keep two retainers in +free grog to assist me in the "chucking out" business. I was often +knocked about myself. Another trouble or fight with my conscience, which +I successfully overcame, was the falsifying the spirits. The storekeeper +where I bought it, as well as one good friend after the other, would +show me how I could save two-thirds of the rum and still keep it +over-proof by mixing it with water and tobacco. So with brandy, all +sorts of vile poison and most disgusting stuff was offered me to mix it +with. I did not do that, although my advisers thought me very foolish. I +mixed my spirit with water of a necessity, but I saw enough to convince +me that few shanties or public-houses ever sell pure spirits. But my +greatest trouble was what to do with my fast-accumulating money. I did +not trust anybody about me. There was no bank nearer than Ravenswood. +There was no police, and nowhere to put it. At last I hit on a plan. +Under the big cask in which I made beer I formed a hole in the ground, +and at night, when all at last was still, and the cask was empty enough +to move on edge, I, having first carefully ascertained that no one was +about, would thrust in all I had, and put things around it again so as +to prevent suspicion. This mode of banking did not altogether satisfy +me; indeed, I was always very anxious about it, but I could think of +nothing better. And so the time went on. The bucket which stood under +the cask came at last to be nearly full of money, and while on the one +hand it was my great consolation, it also caused me more anxiety than +all the rest of my work. + +One day somebody came and told me that a countryman of mine was in his +tent, and was apparently hard up, as he had asked for something to do +whereby to earn a bit of rations. The man was, I understood, camped +somewhere about. I asked them to show him to me, that I might give him +what he wanted and have a talk with him. What was my surprise and joy to +find that the stranger proved to be no one less than my long-lost friend +and shipmate, the Icelander Thorkill. He seemed to be as glad to meet me +as I was to see him, and we exchanged our colonial experiences as far as +they had gone. It appeared that Thorkill had not stayed long on the +sugar plantation in Mackay, where he had first been engaged. That did +not surprise me. His employer, he said, had offered no opposition to +his agreement being cancelled, and with the money he had earned he had +bought a ticket for Sydney in one of the steamers. He had thought to get +something to do in Sydney more suitable to his ability, but for a long +time he failed, and was, through want of money, driven to all sorts of +extremities, even to sleeping out at night. Then he at last got a job to +drive a milk-cart into Sydney for fifteen shillings a week. He had also +tried other things, such as pick and shovel work; had been assistant in +a slaughter-yard, and more besides. + +"But I do not like it," said he, "people seem so rude." + +At last he had scraped enough together to come back to Queensland; he +had walked all the way from Townsville, and here he was. "And you are +going to look for gold now?" asked I. He scarcely knew; he was so glad +and surprised to see me again that he could think of nothing else. +"Well, Thorkill," said I, "do you remember you said once that you and I +would never part? Let us now renew that agreement. Last time it was, +perhaps, my fault we parted, but this time it shall be yours; and to +show you I am in earnest I will ask you, without further formality, to +consider yourself a part proprietor of this hotel and all there is in +it." + +"Oh! what do you mean?" cried he. "You must be making a great deal of +money here and I have none; nor do I understand your work." + +"Never mind," said I, "we are partners if you like; you do not know how +badly I am off for some one I can trust. Think of my being all alone +here; I cannot do it much longer." + +But say what I would Thorkill would never hear of it, and so I in a sort +of way engaged him to do what he could for me. He carried water and +swept the floor, but the only time he tried to drive the horses to the +"Twenty Mile" he lost them both! He had his tent not far from the +shanty, but we had seldom time to speak. His heart was not in my work, +and I often, nay always, when I saw him, felt an uneasy sort of +conscience. + +One Saturday night, or perhaps more correctly Sunday morning, when a lot +of men were drinking outside my hut under the sunshade, and when I +myself had imbibed more than was good for me, I began, against all the +rules of common prudence, to boast of my money. The party appeared as if +they did not believe me, on which I got excited, and called them all +into the hut. There I asked them to look under the cask while I tilted +it over. What a sight! A bucket was buried in the ground nearly filled +with silver, gold, and notes! How much there was I did not know myself, +but there was more than I liked to say for fear of being doubted. Now +began a drinking bout such as had never been before. Everybody had to +stand drinks all round. At last they went away, but my recollections +thereof are not clear; I only know that I slept on the counter, and that +some one was shaking me and grumbling in very unparliamentary language +over my not having been away after bread and beef. I sat up and looked +around. It was about the time I ought to be back from the Twenty Mile. +The door was open, and nearly a score of men were coming along for bread +and meat. Now I remembered all about the previous night. My first +thought was my money. I went and peeped under the cask. The bucket was +gone! + +I gave the cask a push that capsized it. "Thieves and robbers, who has +stolen my money? Speak!" There was lying a pair of hobbles on the +counter, and as one of the party began to laugh, I struck him with it. +This was the signal for a fearful orgie. The whole crowd flung +themselves forward and struck, kicked, and tore me until I fainted right +away. When I came to again they did not leave me alone. The whole shop +was sacked from end to end, and in their drunken frenzy they pulled it +down! In the midst of it all came Thorkill, and putting me on his back +carried me off into his tent. There I lay while he bathed my wounds and +consoled me as well as he could, assuring me it might have been all for +the best. + +The next day the butcher and the baker came out and took their horses +away. They wanted me to start again, and both of them offered me money +and credit, but I was so disgusted with myself and the whole business +that I told them I would not be a shanty-keeper again for all the gold +in Queensland. + +Thus was it with me. To lie in Thorkill's tent and listen to his quiet, +peaceful way of talking--how different was that from the noisy, drunken +orgies of which I had for about five months been a daily witness! I took +a violent dislike to the very place, but where to go I did not know. I +felt as if I only wanted to get away from everybody but Thorkill. I did +not care where I went. As for him, he thought he would like to go south +again. This place and these people were too much for him. He had now +learned to write pretty well in grammatical English, and he thought he +might get something to do in Brisbane. As for me I had never seen a +place yet where I could not get something to do; so far as that went I +did not care, but I thought of him that he came straight from Sydney, +where he had not been successful. He had such a mild, pedantic air about +him, which no doubt would look well in an antiquary, but which would +scarcely prove a recommendation for a grocer's clerk, or, indeed, for +any other position for which I could think him eligible. So I said to +him one day, as we were again talking about going away, "I am sick and +tired of looking at anybody but yourself. What do you say if we go +prospecting for twelve months? I have got thirty pounds in Townsville +bank, and thirty pounds in Ravenswood, besides a few pounds here. You +have got twelve pounds you earned while with me. Then we have the +horses, and you have got the tent. It is sufficient for a twelvemonth's +trip. I am now a pretty good bushman, and if we only get to where there +is gold I think we shall find it. If we don't I do not care. What do you +say?" + +This proposal met at once with Thorkill's approval, and we both went +into Ravenswood, where I drew out my money. Here we loaded up the horses +with as many rations as they could carry, also pick, shovel, basin, and +other necessary things. Then we went back the same way we had come, +until we arrived at Condamine Creek, twenty-five miles out. From there +we ran up the creek, as near as I can guess about forty miles, +prospecting all the time. Then we turned northward, up another creek, +and knocked about so that it would be difficult to describe where we +went. But we did not care. I was as happy as a bird, and so was +Thorkill. We had our guns with us, and we could every day shoot as many +birds as we could eat, and kangaroos besides. Sometimes we would camp, +and Thorkill would fish while I prospected about. When it rained we +would lie in the tent and talk about Denmark and Iceland. That was a +theme on which Thorkill never could be tired, and he had such a fund of +genuine information on that subject that I was never tired of listening +to him. + +[Illustration: BREAKFAST IN THE GOLD FIELDS] + +We had been out prospecting in this way for about three months, and were +now in the vicinity of Cape gold-field, when we struck a place where we +thought there was payable gold. We had for several days been following +on, through a very mountainous country, a river, the name of which we +did not know, until we reached the place of which I now write, where it +ran through a valley, hemmed in on all sides by big mountains. The river +was still of considerable volume. Here we found a nugget of gold about +an ounce in weight the first time we tried, and although our good luck +did not repeat itself, yet we decided, as it was such a beautiful spot, +that we would camp for a month or two there, so at least to give the +place a fair trial. We pitched our tent, therefore, on a little knoll +not far from the creek, and made ourselves comfortable. The next +fortnight we washed for gold from morning to night, and each made about +an ounce per week. We considered this very satisfactory, and were +talking often about what name we should call this new field when we +could not conceal it any longer and a "rush" should set in; because we +knew very well that if we, as strangers, by and by rode into the Cape, +or any other place, to buy some rations, and there try to get our bit of +gold changed, that we should be tracked back to where we had got it, +unless we were far more clever than I gave myself credit for being. But +neither of us minded that. We were, on the contrary, quite proud of +having to figure as successful explorers, and it used to be one of our +recreations of an evening to sit and talk about what name to give the +place. Thorkill was of opinion that we ought to find a name which should +remind all who came here of both Denmark and Iceland, but as it did not +seem possible for us to invent such a name, at last I accepted +Thorkill's suggestion to call it Thingvallavatu, that being the name of +a large lake and river in Iceland not far from his home, and as it +seemed a well-sounding name, I thought it suitable; and although I do +not know if ever a white man has been there before or since that time, +yet as often as I think of the place I remember the name we gave the +river--Thingvallavatu. + +On one evening that is for ever engraven on my memory, we were lying in +our tent--Thorkill and I. It had been raining heavily all day, and we +had not been able to be about. We felt pretty miserable, our usual stock +of conversation seemed to be exhausted, but far out in the evening it +revived again, so much indeed that Thorkill began to tell me of things +of which he had never spoken before. He told me of his parents, of his +brother and his sister, and explained to me where their farm in Iceland +was, giving me the address, describing the road leading to it, and every +detail, until I said to him that if we were lucky enough now to get a +bit of gold we would both go home to Iceland and settle down there. From +that conversation drifted to other things, and was at last almost at a +standstill, when he called me by name, and, in a bashful sort of way, +observed, "I say, were you ever in love?" + +This was a theme on which we had never enlarged: partly because there +had not been much opportunity yet for either of us in Queensland to +indulge in such a luxury, and partly because I do not know, to the best +of my recollection, that it had ever been mentioned between us, so, as I +recognized that he wanted to tell me something, I said, a little +surprised, "Why do you ask?" + +"I have," said he. "While I was overseer on that farm in Alo, I knew a +girl. Oh, how good she was, and how beautiful! I sometimes would go and +visit her in the evening. She was only a servant girl, and her father +was working there too. One evening I kissed her." + +"I am afraid," said I, "you have not forgotten her yet." + +"No; her I can never forget." + +"Why did you not marry her?" said I. "I suppose as you went visiting +her, she would have had no objection?" + +"How could I?" replied he. "If only I had been an ordinary working man I +would willingly have asked her; but I was not that. Her father always +spoke to me as if I owned a mansion, and yet I had scarcely sufficient +salary to pay for my own clothes. No, I never asked her." + +"Does she know you are out here?" inquired I. + +"No, neither she nor my parents, nor anybody; they must think I am +dead." + +I had nothing to say. I was lying thinking about matters of my own. A +little after this I thought I heard him crying. Was it possible? I did +not like the idea. I listened again. Yes! there was no mistake. Thorkill +was really crying. Deep, big, stifled sobs. I asked what was the +matter. Two or three times I asked before he answered. At last he said, +"I could not help it; I cried because I know very well I shall never see +Reikjavik" (the only town in Iceland) "again." + +After that I kept talking for some time to him in a sort of overbearing +way about that, saying we need not cry, surely, about that, if that was +our only trouble; that we had money enough to get home now, and if we +had not, what then? As for myself, if I set my mind on going home, +rather than cry over it I would stow away on a ship or work my passage. +But I got no answer from Thorkill. I could not sleep, and soon after the +day broke. The rain had by this time ceased, and as I saw that Thorkill +had now fallen asleep, I thought it a pity to waken him, and crept as +quietly as I could out of the tent to make a fire and get a drop of tea +for breakfast. As I sat by the fire an hour after, eating my breakfast, +I saw Thorkill coming, creeping on his hands and feet out of the tent, +with his head screwed round, looking up in the air over the tent. I +somehow thought he was looking at a bird, and wondered he had not got +the gun, so I sat still and said nothing, but kept watching him. When he +was a long way out of the tent he got up, and, still looking up in the +air, pointed fixedly at something and cried, "See! oh, look there!" I +stole behind him and looked, but could see nothing, so I asked, "What is +it?" + +"Oh, don't you see? See! a large Russian emigrant ship flying through +the air." + +"Are you going altogether insane?" cried I, beating him on the back. The +next moment with a deep groan he fell right into my arms. I asked him +what was the matter. Was he sick? Was he bitten by a snake? I do not +know half I asked him, but all the reply I got as I laid him in his bunk +again, was, "Go for a minister." + +My mate was dying, and I knew it now. Dear reader, whoever you may be, +if you have seen your nearest friend die, then you know how bitter it +is. But if you at such time have been among others who have shared your +grief, and had a doctor to take the responsibility off your hands, then +you may only guess at what _I_ felt when I saw Thorkill lying there +perfectly unconscious. We had as it were for a long time been everything +to each other, and the disappointments and mishaps we both, so far, had +suffered in Queensland, had, it seemed at that moment, made him simply +indispensable to my existence. How could I go for a parson? I jumped out +of the tent and ran round it three or four times before I recollected +that I did not know of any human habitation within fifty miles! Then I +went in again and spoke to him. There was no answer; not a movement in +his body. He lay as if in a heavy sleep, a high colour in his face. One +of his arms was hanging out over the bunk, and would not rest where I +put it, so I took a saddle and placed that underneath it, and as it was +not yet high enough, I put a pint pot on that again. There I balanced +it, and there it remained. I had not much medicine, only some quinine. +That was no good. Then I thought he must have been taken by an +apoplectic fit. I took the scissors and cut off all his hair and beard. +Then I went outside and worked desperately at making a sunshade over the +tent, because the sun was beating down on us so fiercely; next in again, +and out. I did not know what to do. I could not for a moment remain +still. Sometimes I carried water from the creek and bathed his head with +it. Then I feared I was only tormenting him, and knocked it off again. +As I sat looking at him in the afternoon I could not avoid thinking +about how he had in his last hour of good health made such a complete +confession about matters he always before had been so reticent about. +Why? I ask the question now. Can any one answer it. It is _not_ +fashionable in our age to believe more than can be rationally explained, +but I believe most people in their lives have had similar strange +experiences. If I make the remark that I am superstitious, then I know I +shall lay myself open to ridicule, and yet it is only a form of +admitting that I do not know all that passes in heaven and on earth. + +In the afternoon, as Thorkill still lay in the same immovable trance, I +thought I must find out whether he was conscious of my being there or +not, so I knelt down and spoke in his ear, and called him by name. +"Thorkill," cried I, "if you _can_ hear me and know that I am here, try +to give me some sign." Then as I watched him I thought he breathed +extra deep, but I was never certain. Anyhow, although I had myself no +Bible, and never had used one before, I got his out of his swag and +began reading at the commencement and kept on until it was too dark to +read any more. During the night the rain and storm began again. I could +hear in Thorkill's altered breathing that the end was near, but I had no +other light but a match I struck occasionally, and it seemed to frighten +me when I struck one and saw his altered face. At last I knew he was +dead, and in an agony of sorrow and excitement I began praying to +Balder, our ancient god of all that was noble and good, to come and +fetch his own. I was fearfully agitated, and remember well how I walked +outside the tent singing the old "Bjarkamsal," and almost fancying I saw +all the ancient gods coming through the air. It is a common saying of a +person who has died, that he was too good to live, but if ever that +saying was true of any one, it was true of Thorkill. A pure descendant +from the ancient Vikings, yet how different was he from his forefathers. +And all Icelanders are more or less the same. Honest, frank, and kind, +he could not understand why everybody else was not also honest and good, +and I know very well he declined the contest of life; he could not match +his simple faith with the cunning and brutality of the ordinary set of +people one meets with when the pocket is empty. Better, perhaps, he +should have died then and there. Why was I sorry? Why did I not +rejoice? Who knew but that I some day might not die in great deal more +lonely and in much more friendless way than he? He had lost nothing, and +it was I who was the loser; but for his sake I would be glad. In this +strain of mind I passed the remainder of the night, but when at last +daylight came it brought with it the grim reality of death such as it +is, and life such as it is, and also a sense of what was now the only +favour I could show the remains of my friend. It was three or four +o'clock that afternoon before I had managed, as decently as I could, to +bury the body, and then all my energy was expended. Yet as I sat resting +myself for a moment, I was aware that I must be off somewhere before +evening, far from that spot. I had a splitting headache; my legs seemed +unable to carry me. Yet I must be off to get the horses. I found them, +but when I came home with them it was evening and I had to let them go +again. I could do no more, and not altogether with an uncomfortable +feeling was it that I that evening laid myself down in Thorkill's bunk, +thinking that perhaps after all we need not part. I was sick now myself, +and fancied I saw fearful visions all night. The next morning I could +scarcely raise myself to a sitting posture, but during the day I managed +with the instinct of self-preservation to carry some water up from the +creek and to bake a damper. My recollections for some time after this +are very indistinct. It may have been a week or it may have been two +weeks. All that I remember of that time are glimpses of myself sitting +by Thorkill's grave, singing, or playing the flute. The first clear +recollection of that time which I have, was one afternoon when I was +lying in the bunk watching, in a lazy sort of way, some rats nibbling at +the flour-bag, which had somehow fallen down from its place. The flour +lay scattered about the tent, and everything seemed in glorious +disorder. I lay a long time looking at the rats, and wondering where +Thorkill was--whether he was making breakfast, for I felt very hungry. I +had no remembrance whatever of his being dead. I called him; my voice +seemed curious and weak. I grabbed a poker to strike at the rats with +it--how heavy it felt! Then I got up and went outside, and stood staring +for a long time at the grave before I recollected that he was dead, and +that I myself was or had been sick. Everything outside the tent bore +evidence of having been thrown about as if by a maniac, and I felt a +thrill of horror running through me as I thought of myself, how perhaps +I had walked about here at night alone, sick and delirious. I felt quite +myself, however, although very weak. I was hungry, and felt that I must +have something to eat, get it where I could. I staggered about looking +for food. Not a vestige of tea could I find; there was no meat except a +few nasty bones which I found in the billy, and had to throw away; then +I discovered a little sugar, and I scraped together some flour. My next +trouble was that I had no fire and no dry matches. It took me all my +time to get a fire, by rubbing a hard and soft stick together, but at +last I succeeded, and then made a johnny-cake in the fire. Out of sugar +I made my supper, and sat by the fire dreaming and living it all over +again. With the help of my gun I got some birds the next day, and stewed +them in the billy with flour and figweed. I also found the horses all +right, but I was too weak to think of shifting my quarters just then, +much as I would have liked to do so, because there seemed to me to be a +sort of haunted air about the whole place. I busied myself all day, when +I was not hunting for food, with repairing my clothes, but I had a great +longing to see somebody of my own species again, and to sit there every +day talking to or thinking about a dead man had something sickly in it +that I did not like. I could not for a couple of days find either my +money or the bit of gold we had got. Whatever I had done with it was to +me a complete blank. I found it all at last in this way: that somehow my +hat did not seem to fit me, and when I looked it over, there was all the +money stuck under the lining, but I never had any recollection of +putting it there. + +I read all Thorkill's letters and took them with me when I left. They +were from his parents and his sister, addressed to him while he was in +Denmark, telling him of all sorts of small home-news, and hoping soon to +see him again. These he had been carrying with him everywhere, and I +had often seen him reading them. There were also photographs of all his +family, and I made them all up into a small parcel intending some day +soon to write to his people. + +I confess I never did write. I could not bring myself to do it. I +thought of what he had said--that they must think him dead. Why, then, +reopen their wound? Let him remain "a missing friend." As I had no +settled abode for a long time after this, I carried his papers with me +everywhere for many years. One photograph, of his sister, a very +handsome girl, I had until after I was married, and treasured it +greatly. I think Mrs. ---- must know what became of it at last. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +GOING TO THE PALMER. + + +When I left Thorkill's grave I made a course as near as I could for the +Cape gold-field. This place I found almost deserted, as most of the +diggers had left for the Palmer. The few people who remained there had +seemingly nothing else to speak about but the fabulous richness of that +field, and they were all deploring each his untoward circumstances which +kept him from going thither. And so it came to pass that, while +gradually recovering my spirits, I made up my mind to go to the Palmer +too. But to go to the Palmer was at that time easier said than done. The +Palmer gold-fields lay somewhere in a totally unexplored country, and +none had been known to reach the Palmer from the Cape after the +commencement of the wet season. Many unsuccessful attempts had been +made, and the returned parties spoke loudly of the "impossibilities" on +the road, such as swollen rivers, swamps, marshes, mountains, blacks, +and what not besides; and what seemed to me the worst, no supplies of +any kind were to be found on the fields. One had simply to carry with +him rations sufficient to last until he returned. Add to this that a +pint pot full of flour cost half-a-crown on the Cape, with other things +at a proportionate rate, and it made me decide another way. + +A new port had been opened on the coast by the shipping companies as the +most feasible spot from which to reach the Palmer. The name of this +place was Cooktown on the Endeavour River; and the spot is identical +with a place mentioned in Captain Cook's travels, where he ran his ship, +the _Endeavour_, ashore to carry out some necessary repairs to that +vessel. To get to Cooktown from the Cape I should first have to go to +Townsville and thence take ship to Cooktown. Although the distance from +the Cape to Townsville was as great as from the Cape to the Palmer, yet, +as it was possible to travel the one road and not the other, I decided +to go there, and from that port take ship to Cooktown, whence after +having obtained supplies, I would try to reach the Palmer. + +I will not tire the reader by describing my journey to Townsville. My +horses were well rested and in good mettle, and I let them trot out +every day, so that I reached the coast very quickly. I found Townsville +crowded with people who wanted to go to the Palmer. The steamers could +not take them fast enough, and in trying to secure a passage for myself +and my horses I was disappointed time after time. Money, however, was +flying about all over the place. I was offered work in several +quarters--in fact I was nearly implored to take it up for fifteen +shillings a day, or there was piecework, by which I could easily have +earned double that amount, but, of course, I could not think of it. At +last I obtained a passage in a schooner which had been fitted up for the +voyage. There was accommodation below decks for forty horses, and fully +that number were hoisted on board. On the deck was accommodation for as +many passengers as could find standing room, and I think there must have +been over a hundred people altogether. Indeed, we were so crowded that, +if the skipper had a right to complain of anything, it certainly could +not be that he had not a full cargo. I paid five pounds apiece for the +passage of the horses and two pounds ten shillings for myself. We had to +find our own forage, too, for the horses, and also to provide our own +food. Water, however, the skipper had to find himself--no light matter +on so small a ship. We were supposed to make the run in forty-eight +hours, and carried water enough for double that time. I had corn and hay +to last my horses for a fortnight, but some of the others had scarcely +any fodder. At last we started, and when the little steamer which hauled +us out of the creek had cast us off, it was proved to my entire +satisfaction that my run of bad luck was not yet at an end. A strong +wind was blowing, but although the ship was tearing through the water at +a terrible rate, yet we did not make real way, as the wind was straight +against us. It may seem strange that we should start with such an +adverse wind, but once the horses were on board the skipper had to go. +The first evening we were out the captain and mate fought and nearly +knocked each other into the sea. I mention this, however, only because I +remember it; I don't think our troublesome journey was due to neglect or +bad seamanship, but the wind was against us, and kept so day after day +until at last it blew a perfect hurricane. The horses, of course, +suffered very much. At one time they would stand nearly on their heads, +at another, the other way, now on one side, then on the other, as the +ship was jerking up and down. I was working down below with my two +horses all the time, trying to ease them all I could. I tied my tent, +clothes and blankets round about the stalls to lessen the force of the +knocks a little for them. All the horses, however, did not fare so well +as that, for their masters themselves were, for the most part, lying in +a helpless condition up on deck, and the air below was so foul that it +took a good pair of lungs to endure it. The horses soon began to die +off, too; and to haul the poor dead brutes up and throw them overboard +took us all our time, seeing that very few of us were capable of such +work. Upon deck it was indeed a sight. Some were completely gone with +sea-sickness and had tied themselves to the bulwarks, others were lying +"yarning" and laughing as if nothing were the matter. Many of these men +must have known that even if the ship could weather the storm, yet with +the death of their horses all hope of a successful journey was at an end +for them. Yet one heard no complaint; and I should like here to pay this +compliment to Britishers: that, whether English, Scotch, or Irish, they +are, as a rule, brave men. Ours was not a momentary suffering either. It +was a constant drenching with the waves, day after day. The horses, our +most valuable property, hauled overboard as fast sometimes as we could +get them up, and our own lives in constant danger! Yet no one +complained. They would "yarn," laugh, or crack jokes all day long. The +only exceptions to this rule, I am sorry to say, although I hope they +were not typical, were two Danes who had come on board. One of them had +informed me as soon as we left Townsville that he intended to run away +from his wife who lived there. Now, when the storm was blowing, he +became intensely religious and declared it to be a punishment from +Heaven for his wickedness and he made me most sacred promises, one after +the other, that he would return to her bosom if only God would spare him +this time. The other declared the ship to be a regular pirate craft and +Queensland an accursed country. I had to cook for them both, hand them +their food, and cheer up their spirits all the way. One day we spied a +large steamer flying the flag of distress. She came from the south too, +and was, like ourselves, trying to reach Cooktown. As she came +labouring through the waves we saw that it was the _Lord Ashley_. The +deck was black with people and I do not know how many hundred horses. +This heavy deck-cargo caused the ship to rock so that it looked as if it +were about capsizing every time it lurched over. Two of her masts were +already overboard, and as our schooner ran past her we saw the people +engaged in throwing the horses overboard alive. Nearly all the horses +were sacrificed in this manner. To see the poor brutes try to swim after +the steamer or the schooner was heartrending. We on the schooner could +give no assistance; indeed, after all, the steamer was better off than +ourselves, insomuch that it kept on its way while the schooner had to +tear up and down and to do its best not to be blown south again. When we +at last reached Cooktown, some days after, the _Lord Ashley_ was lying +there; but it was her last journey. She was so knocked about that, to +the best of my belief, she was sold as lumber afterwards. All our water +was now used up, and we had either to try to effect a landing or go +south again. As the mate declared he knew a place on the coast just +where we were, where there was a fresh-water creek, it was decided to +call for volunteers among the passengers to man the boat and get some +water. As I had two horses on board and was not sea-sick, I declared +myself ready to make one. There were six oars to be manned. The other +five volunteers, although passengers, were yet old sailors. The mate +was to take the helm. Before the boat was lowered great care was taken +to lash the empty casks in their proper position and to have everything +in order. Then the captain took the wheel and ran the schooner in +towards the land further than customary when we tacked. As we turned the +boat was lowered. The men and I jumped down. Off flew the ship: it +seemed miles before I realized that it was gone. And we in the +boat--talk about the big swing at home in Tivoli; that was only child's +play to the rocking we now had! My hat blew off and flew towards +Townsville; my hair, and even my shirt, were trying hard to follow! One +could scarcely get the oars in the water. But, in spite of all, we +paddled as best we could, and shortly after were inside a little +harbour, where the water was comparatively smooth and where we effected +a landing. How peaceful and quiet it all seemed here under the mountain. +I felt, as I trod the firm soil under my feet, that I should never make +a good sailor, and it was a terror to me how we were ever to reach the +schooner again. We rolled the casks up to the little creek and filled +them. The mate said he had been there some years before when he was with +a New Guinea expedition. As we were roaming about, waiting for the right +moment to get out again, we found a lot of wreckage, old rotten spars, a +cabin door, &c. Then we came on the skeleton of a man, not all together, +but scattered about. There were also remains of some old clothes, and we +found a purse with silver in it, something less than a pound. The mate +declared this money to be an infallible charm, and suggested that we +should each take a piece and say nothing about it. There were only six +pieces of money, and we were seven to share it. No one would stand out +for any consideration, so we drew lots. I secured a two-shilling piece, +and, whether for good or for bad luck, I have it yet, and used to carry +it for years in the most approved fashion round my neck. We had no tools +with us, so we could not bury the bones. There they lie, perhaps even +yet, the remains of another "missing friend." We came on board the +schooner again somehow. Opinions differed much amongst us as to why we +had not been drowned, and no verdict was arrived at. The mate said it +was the charms we carried which had done it, others said that God held +His hand over us, but the one who had no charm said it was because we +were the very refuse of the devil. I express no opinion myself, only +that it was certainly surprising. As the storm gradually veered round a +little we reached Cooktown. Out of the forty horses only sixteen were +alive; one of mine was dead, and the other did not look as if it could +live long after I got it out of the ship, yet it gradually came round +and proved a very good horse afterwards. + +Cooktown is now reckoned among the old-established towns of Queensland, +but when I landed there it looked wild enough. To describe it I ask the +reader to think of a fair in the Old Country, leaving out the monkeys +and merry-go-rounds. There were some thousands of people all camped out +in tents. Those who intended to start business in Cooktown had pegged +out plots of ground in the main street and run up large tents or +corrugated iron structures in which all sorts of merchandise was sold +cheap enough. But the wet season kept on, and there was no communication +with the Palmer. People left town to go there every day in the rain and +slush, but many returned saying it was no use trying, as the rivers +could not be crossed. There was at that time a very mixed lot of people +in Cooktown. All the loafers, pickpockets, and card-sharpers seemed to +have trooped in from Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, looking for the +gold in other people's pockets, and the robbing of tents was an everyday +occurrence. Then, although it had been made known far and wide that any +one who wanted to go to the Palmer must either starve or carry six +months' rations with him, still many destitute and good-for-nothing +people could also be seen wherever one looked: these form a class of men +as easily distinguished from the _bona fide_ miners as if they belonged +altogether to another species. No work of any kind was going on for more +than one-tenth of the people who looked for employment, and any one who +wanted a man might easily get him for his "tucker." I believe one could +have got them to work all day for their dinner alone. Men would walk +about among the tents in droves, and wherever they saw rations there +they would beg. While this was the true state of affairs in Cooktown +just then, I remember well standing outside the newspaper office, +reading the paper, the leading article in which described in glowing +terms the bustle and activity going on in this rising city, and declared +that any man who could lift a hammer was welcome to a pound sterling a +day! Of course I did not look for any work, so I did not care. There was +also a great deal of sickness, especially dysentery, and the doctors +required cash down before they would even look at any one. If one took a +stroll up among the tents, it was a common, indeed an inevitable, sight +to see men lying helpless, writhing with pain on the ground, some of +them bellowing out for pity or mercy. Very little pity or help, as a +rule, did they get. Men would pass such a poor object with the greatest +apathy, or at most go up to him and give good advice, such as that he +ought to be ashamed of lying there and ought to try and crawl into the +tent again! Such was life in Cooktown during the first "rush" there to +any Queensland gold-fields. + +I had not at that time got much money. If my second horse had lived, I +should have been, as I thought, all right; but as horses worth six or +seven pounds could not be bought under thirty or forty pounds, I could +not buy another to replace the one I had lost, and had therefore to be +content with one. So one day I loaded up my horse with rations and went +on the road. As I was going to the Palmer, where money was of no value +whatever, and as everything depended on my being able to carry a +sufficiency of provisions, I had bought the best of everything +regardless of cost. I had cocoa, extract of beef to make soup of, +preserved meat and such like in large quantity. Then I had tea, sugar, +and one hundred and fifty pounds of flour. My wardrobe, on the other +hand, was not extensive. It consisted of one shirt, over and above that +I wore. Fifty pounds of my flour with the tent, half a blanket, +billy-can, pint pot, knife, gun, &c., I carried on my own back; the +remainder, including spade and basin, I strapped on the back of the +horse. I had then only a few shillings left of all my money when I +started, but going through the town on my road out the burden on my back +began already to feel heavy. I therefore thought it wise to carry no +unnecessary loads, and seeing some fellows standing in the street who +looked as if they needed some refreshment, I called them together and +had a big "shout" in a public-house as far as the money would go. That +relieved my mind and my pocket! + +The road, if it might be called one, was really a track or belt of +morass, some ten chains wide, in which one had to wade at times up to +the knees. I was prepared to endure great hardships; but to understand +the suffering to man and horse in dragging oneself along that road one +must have tried it for himself. Twice that day the horse and I got +bogged. To get clear again I had first to crawl on my hands and knees +with part of my own load up to some fallen log and deposit it there, +then back to the horse for more. When the horse was quite unloaded, I +had to take it round the neck and let it use me as a sort of purchase by +which to work itself out. Then load it again and wade along. I made +eight miles that day, and I knew that no one who left Cooktown with me +came so far. At the eighth mile there was a large camp of diggers, who +said they could get no further nor yet back to Cooktown. I should have +remained there; but as I saw next morning some prepare to get a little +further, I started with them, and soon left them behind too. That day +and the next the road was better although still very bad. I crossed a +river the third evening I was out. It was as much as I could do to get +over, and, as in the night it began to pour with rain, I concluded, what +really proved to be the case, that the creek would rise and so +effectually cut off my retreat. The next day the road was worse than +ever. The horse got bogged time after time, and I was myself on the eve +of being knocked up. The whole road so far, almost ever since I had left +Cooktown, was strewn with clothes, boots, saddles, rations, in such +quantities that there would have been enough to have opened a good store +with if one could have got it all together. I had also passed at least a +score of dead horses, sticking in the mud with the saddles, and, in +some cases, rations on them; and I met scores of men, who, having thrown +everything away, were struggling to reach Cooktown again on foot. But +with dogged obstinacy I kept on trying to accomplish the impossible. At +last the poor horse got bogged again worse than ever. I could not get +him out. He looked so pitifully at me! I am sure it knew the predicament +we were both in. I struggled and tried hard to get it out, but I could +not. As it settled deeper and deeper into the quagmire I thought I might +as well finish his sufferings and my own. So I put my gun to his ear and +shot him. + +There I stood in the pouring rain alongside the dead horse, full of +anger with myself that I had not, by using more judgment, saved myself +and my poor, faithful companion from such a hard fate. I am not +poetically gifted, and do not understand the science of making much out +of a little, so I cannot say how miserable I felt. Yet it is +nevertheless true that I was ready to burst with grief. I was wet +through, and had been so all day, nor had I anything dry to put on. +Evening was coming on too. Up and down the "road" there was nothing but +a quagmire, into which I sank to the knees whenever I moved. Here also +lay my hopes of redeeming my fortunes. I know very well if I were placed +in the same position now, I should not have strength either of body or +mind to extricate myself. As it was, when I think of it now, after so +many years, I can truly aver that I mourned for the horse more than for +myself. I had met no travellers that day on account of the rain, but I +knew I was about eight miles from the Normanby River, on both sides of +which large bodies of miners were camped--those on my side being +desirous of reaching the Palmer, and the camp on the other side being +full of men who had come from the Palmer and wanted to go to Cooktown. +But both parties were prevented from getting further as the Normanby +River was in full flood and half a mile across. + +I could not continue to stand looking at the dead horse. I felt a great +longing to reach the other men that I might, by talking to them, forget +a part of my own trouble in thinking of theirs, so I managed that +evening, and with even a part of my goods, to reach the camp, and the +next few days I devoted to fetching the remainder of my stores from +where the dead horse was lying. + +On the banks of the Normanby River there was at that time a sight which +might well furnish food for reflection. I doubt if fiction could invent +anything more strange. Several hundred men were camped on the south side +of the river waiting for the flood to subside so that they might get +over. We had rations in any quantity, but, speaking for myself, I can +truthfully say, if the others were like me, we had no money. On the +other side of the river was an equally large camp. The men there were +the diggers who, when the first news of the Palmer broke out, had, +before the wet season set in, gathered to the "rush" from the +Etheridge, Gilbert, Charters Towers, Cape, and other outlying places, +and who, having eaten their rations and gathered their gold, were now +trying to get to Cooktown to purchase supplies. A perfect famine was +raging over there. The country around is very poorly off for game; +besides, they had no powder, and so they had been eating their horses, +their dogs, and at last their boots! It is a fact that they used to boil +their blucher boots for twenty-four hours and eat them with weeds! It +takes something to make a Queensland miner lie down to die, yet it was +the general opinion among men who had been to all the Victorian and New +Zealand "rushes," that they had never suffered such hardship before or +seen country so void of game or life of any sort. + +There we were, looking across at one another--they shaking their +gold-purses at us, and we showing them the flour-bags. Two came across +to us. The way they managed was this: first they took off the rag or two +which yet served them for clothes and strapped them on to the horse, +then getting on the horse and forcing it into the water it would soon be +borne with the current down the stream; they would then slip off, and +getting hold of the tail with one hand swim with the other. They both +managed to cross, but it looked so desperate an undertaking that the +others did not venture. The two men who came over brought the first +reliable news from the Palmer for a long time, and were besieged with +questions. As I do not care to return to the matter again, I will say +here that among the tales of suffering on the Palmer by the first batch +of diggers, was that of one of my shipmates from home, who had arrived +there from the Etheridge, and who, while looking for gold in one of the +tributaries to the Palmer, had been cut off from the main camp by the +river rising so that he could not cross to get away. His dead body was +found in his tent after the wet season. He had died of hunger, yet under +his head was a bag with eighteen pounds' weight of gold in it. Poor +fellow! the last time I saw him was in Port Denison, the first year I +was in the country; he had then earned five pounds sterling, and had +come into town to get it sent home to his father and mother. + +On our side of the river we passed the time as best we could. There was +a large band of German musicians, and I joined them with my flute, which +I always carried. It really seemed strange, in the heart of the +wilderness, where a few months before no white man had ever put his +foot, to hear the tones of Strauss or Offenbach. As a general thing, +though, men would sit in their tents while the rain came pouring down in +sheets of water. At night we suffered very much from mosquitoes, and in +the daytime from flies, the common little house-fly, which was a perfect +nuisance all day. Dear reader, I know you expect of me that the least I +can do for you who have followed my fortunes so far is to tell you now +how I somehow proceeded to the Palmer, and there in a month or two +accumulated at least twenty thousand ounces of gold, with which I +returned and got married to some nobleman's daughter. I should not be +sorry to write this if I only had the gold somewhere handy, but as you +no doubt would, after all, prefer the truth, whatever it is, I must +confess that I could not at all see my way to go on any further. When +the weather settled and people began to cross the river I had a good +look at the poor emaciated fellows who came across, some of them with +very little gold, and all of them more or less broken in health. Then I +began to ask myself whether the game was worth the candle. The Germans +who constituted the band offered to take me as mate in their party, and +to put my rations on their horses; and for that I was greatly obliged to +them, but I seemed all at once to have taken such a dislike to roaming +about, and was picturing to myself the comfort I could have had and the +sum of money I might have saved by constant employment at my trade, that +I refused their kind offer, and instead of going on towards the Palmer I +sold my rations for a good price and returned to Cooktown. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +RETURNING FROM THE PALMER. + + +I sat in my tent one day in Cooktown, while the rain was pouring down +outside, when my attention was attracted by four men who stood in a +desolate sort of way in the road. They seemed to me to have such a +pitiful, aimless, vacant way about them as they stood there while the +rain ran down their backs in bucketsful! But I do not suppose that I for +that reason alone should have given them a second thought, because +misery and want were such common sights in Cooktown. What, however, +riveted my interest in them was that I could see they were Danes by +their clothes, and also that they had only been a very short time in +Queensland. So I thought I would have a lark with them at my own expense +if, as I guessed, it should prove true that they could not speak +English. I therefore called to them in English, and invited them to come +into my tent out of the rain. They came quickly enough. My point was to +let them think me an Englishman and to prove the old proverb that he +"who hears himself spoken of seldom hears praise." So I questioned them +from what country they came, how long they had been in Cooktown, where +they were going, how long they had been in Queensland, and all such +matters. It appeared then that they had arrived in Rockhampton a few +months before, had taken a contract there to burn off a piece of scrub, +by which they had saved a few pounds, and having heard of the Palmer, +had bought tickets for Cooktown in the _Lord Ashley_, that steamer we +met in the storm. All their swags had been washed overboard, and since +they arrived in Cooktown they had not only spent their money long ago, +but had since been unsuccessful in all they undertook. They subsisted on +scraps and odd pickings among the tents--but they did not mind so much +now that they had got used to it! They liked Rockhampton and the job of +scrub-burning, "that being a lively game," but Cooktown they did not +like; anyhow, as soon as they could get a job and save enough to buy +some rations, they would go to the Palmer. What aggrieved them most was +that they had a Danish five-dollar note (worth about ten shillings), but +they could not get it changed because the Englishmen said it was a false +one. This they told me in a sort of English a great deal more broken +than my own, but yet they had not the slightest suspicion about my not +being myself a thoroughbred Britisher. Indeed, the conversation was full +of interjections in Danish from the one to the other, such as: "I +wonder if the beggar is going to give us some grub when he has done +questioning?" or, "He has got nothing himself to eat; let us get out of +this;" or, "Wait a minute, I will ask him for some flour." When I had +carried my game as far as I cared, we had some tea and a real good meal, +after which, as it began to get dark, I invited them all to stay in my +tent until I left Cooktown, because I was only waiting for a steamer. In +the night, as we all lay as close as we could in the little tent, I had +the satisfaction of lying listening half the night to their praise of +myself, as they were talking in Danish, thinking I did not understand. +They seemed to have a terrible grudge against some Dane in Cooktown whom +I did not know, but to whom it appeared they had applied in vain for +assistance; and now they compared me as an Englishman to their own +countryman, and came to the conclusion that strangers were always the +best. I did not like to undeceive them, and I never did; but it was so +very pleasant to lie and listen to one's own praise, and I really felt +quite benevolent over it, so I thought I would do what I could to +deserve their praises. + +[Illustration: ROCKHAMPTON.] + +I had decided that I would go back to Port Denison and ask my old +employer there for a job, which I never doubted he would give me. It +seemed to me it was the place where I had been treated best as yet in +Queensland, and although we had some differences of opinions, yet I was +quite longing to see him and his family again, and also my old shipmate +and his wife. I had no doubt, somehow, he was there still. It seemed to +me almost like going home, to see them all again, and as I was in the +tent lying listening to the Danes, I thought that I would get my nice +old room once more as soon as I came to Port Denison and have everything +provided for me, and that I could therefore spare this tent, and the +gun, the billy-can, pint pot, &c. When I left Cooktown I gave all these +articles to my countrymen there, and, as I was going in the boat, even +offered to exchange their "false" Danish five-dollar note. I had finally +only half-a-crown left. + +I have written about this, not because I wish the reader to know how +benevolent I was, but to make it clear how it was that I parted with +these things. It will be perceived, as my history proceeds, how sorely I +was afterwards in need of them myself. + +It was early morning when I was put ashore in Port Denison in a boat, +because I was the only passenger for that port. I had been away about +four years, and as the memory of my first landing in this place forced +itself upon me I felt that I had not made very good use of my time so +far. Yet as I went along I consoled myself with the reflection that even +if my pocket was empty, still I was more like a man than I had ever been +before, and if I was not rich, no one could say he was poor on my +account. + +I walked along the jetty and up the street before I met any one; then I +saw a man I remembered as one to whom I had spoken several times +formerly. I rushed up to him, laughing and smiling, and shook him by the +hand. He seemed surprised and looked cold upon me. At last he remembered +me. "Oh, yes! How are you? Come by a steamer? Nice morning." + +How many have never known the bitter disappointment of being repulsed in +this manner? I sneaked away, and began to ask myself if it was possible +that my old "boss," or, perhaps, even my shipmate and his wife, would +greet me in the same manner. I had only half-a-crown left in my pocket. +My wardrobe was also in a sad condition; yet I was clean, and had, while +on the ship, polished my boots and scented my handkerchief, so who +should say that I was not the successful digger? Still, I felt very +shaky about meeting a new disappointment, and walked about for an hour +or two, not caring to present myself at Mr. ----'s place, and not being +able to find out where my countryman lived. I was soon reassured, +however, for presently I saw the "boss" himself, out for a morning walk, +and he seemed both glad and surprised to see me. After we had given the +public debt a lift in a public-house just opened, he made a few +inquiries about how far I had succeeded in making my fortune, and +offered me there and then a job, although he said he was by no means +busy. My shipmate was with him yet, and had two pounds ten shillings +per week, and he would give me the same, he said, in the hope that work +might soon be more plentiful. When we separated I went to look for my +countryman, who also was glad to see me, and at once insisted on my +staying at his house for the present. How well off he seemed to be! It +was his own house, and he had made a nice lot of furniture himself for +the rooms. He had also a fine garden, where, as he said to me, he took +his recreation in working it up. But, best of all, he had a kind, good +wife, who also had been my shipmate, and two little boys. When he came +home of an evening the wife came with his slippers and his smoking-cap, +and there he was, while I, who had gone through more hardships these +four years than many people do in their whole life, had seemingly done +no good either to myself or to others. I had, of course, told them at +once that I intended to go to work in the old place again; and it was my +intention at the first favourable moment which offered to ask my friend +for a few pounds to renew my wardrobe a little, but so far I had said +nothing whatever to anybody about my circumstances. In the evening, as +we sat talking on the verandah, my countryman quite suddenly asked me if +I was short of money, as he was prepared to let me have some if I wanted +it. It seems a strange contradiction to my previous confession, but +nevertheless it is true, that he had scarcely spoken before I blurted +out that I was not at all short of money, and that it was a great +mistake on his part to think so, that I had quite enough to serve my +purpose at any time, and more to the same effect. + +"Well, then," said my mate, "I am glad for your sake; but as that is the +case I will tell you what I otherwise would have said nothing about. The +'boss' was to-day passing one or two jokes about your being so anxious +to make your fortune quickly when you left here last, and as we have +scarcely a stroke to do, I would not, if I were you, give him the +satisfaction to begin work again, because I am sure he thinks you are +very hard up." "Does he?" cried I. "Well, he makes a mistake, and so do +you. Perhaps you think because I haven't a paper collar on that I am +ready to beg?" "Oh, no, no!" cried he; "I only meant, in a friendly way, +to offer you what you perhaps needed, so do not get angry where no +offence is meant." "Oh, I was not angry," said I; "but I certainly would +not work for Mr. ---- again, as he thought I could not do without him. +Had I not for a fact passed Townsville, where wages were higher and work +more plentiful, to come here? And now he thought he was the only man in +Queensland where I could earn my living! But I would show Mr. ---- +different. I would go to Port Mackay, where there was plenty of work and +no family arrangement about it. That was what I would do." After some +more conversation of the same sort, I went out in the street for a walk, +and to get an opportunity of thinking quietly over my now desperate +circumstances. With the exception of the clothes I wore upon me, + + "All my fortune was a shirt + That was ragged and full of dirt." + +I walked about the streets for some time, trying to make a song in +honour of the occasion, which was to begin with the above words, and set +it to music, and as I succeeded better than I thought I correspondingly +got into high spirits, and took it all as an immense joke. There seemed +to me only one way out of the difficulty. I could walk to Port Mackay, +which is another and larger town, more prosperous than Port Denison. It +lies on the coast also, and the distance by road between the two places +is one hundred and thirty miles. The road, however, is very little +frequented, as what little communication there is is all by water. There +were, however, half a dozen stations on the road, and I made no doubt I +should be right somehow. The blacks in that district had, indeed, a bad +name for spearing cattle and being very wild and ferocious; but of that +I took no heed. The most important thing just then was for me to get +away from my countryman's house without exciting in him any suspicions +about the state of my exchequer. I felt some strokes of conscience +certainly over thus repaying his kindness with such insincerity, but I +could at least truthfully say that I had not meant it, and that +circumstances over which I had no control, &c. So the next morning I +put on a reserved, dignified air, and after breakfast told my host that +I intended to shift my quarters. They both kindly protested, until I had +to say that I had business somewhere in the bush, and would come back to +their house as soon as I came to Port Denison again, but that I had to +go now, and might not be back for some time. Then Mrs. ---- pressed me +to take some sandwiches with me for dinner, for which I was not sorry, +and then I started for Port Mackay. The first station on the road was +thirty miles out. That place I meant to reach before evening. The +sandwiches went down like apple-pie long before dinner-time, and a +little before evening I gained the station. I was even at that time so +much of a "new chum" that I took it for granted that a traveller would +be made welcome anywhere in the bush whenever he might call. In the +gold-fields where I had been people were ashamed of refusing +hospitality--at least, I had not seen it done. This was the furthest +south I had yet been in Queensland, and as I stood by the creek that +evening and looked over to the neat little homestead lying there so +isolated, it seemed to me quite a beautiful place, and I congratulated +myself that I had reached it just before I got tired and in good time +for supper. I had a bath in the creek and straightened myself up all I +could before I went up to the house. It was getting nearly dark as I +came up the track leading into the garden. I heard some one crack a whip +close behind me, and saw a man on horseback coming along with nearly a +dozen big dogs, who now barked in angry rage all round me. I stood there +a complete prisoner while the man on horseback looked daggers at me. I +suppose he had been out after cattle and had not found those he looked +for; anyhow, he did not appear in a good humour. "Where are you going?" +asked he. + +"I thought I might have a bit of supper and a camp here to-night," said +I. + +"Supper and camp!" cried he. "Why the ---- don't you camp in the bush? +Ain't you got no rations, neither?" + +"No," said I. "I should be obliged to you if you would sell me something +to eat." + +"Would you not be obliged to me if I would show you a public-house?" +cried he. + +I was too innocent to see his jeer, only I perceived that he did not +want me, so I said, "Public-house? yes, I should be glad;" and added, "I +did not know there was any; how far is it?" + +"Oh, not far," said he, and he moved on, and at last called his dogs off +me. + +I was in a rage as I moved on, but just past the house the road branched +off, and I thought it necessary to find out which to take, so I sang out +to him, "Which is the Mackay road?" + +"The _right_ one," cried he. And along the _right_-hand track I went +mile after mile, but no hotel was there. At last I found it was only a +cattle track, and that I had come out to a big creek, where it branched +off everywhere. The moon was just going down, and it was far out in the +night when I laid myself down to sleep. It was raining heavily by this +time, so that I could light no fire, but, tired and worn out as I was, I +slept as well as if I had lain on a feather bed. + +When I woke up again it was daylight, and I felt quite stiff in all my +joints and so cold that I could scarcely move. Three or four native dogs +were circling round me, but retired to a more respectful distance when I +sat up. These native dogs are, I believe, peculiar to Australia. +Miserable, cowardly curs they are. They will often follow a man for days +when he is lost until he drops, but I do not believe it has ever been +recorded that they have actually attacked a man before death has made +him oblivious to all. Not so, however, with the crow. The crow is found +all over Australia in the most out-of-the-way places, and many a brave +man has had his eyes picked out before he has had time to die! These +birds seem to have a sort of instinct to know when any one is in +distress. If a man is lost and the "trackers" are out after him, they +know that he is not far off when they see a lot of crows hovering over a +particular spot. He may not be dead, but he is certainly dying. + +Although I was wet, stiff, and cold, and without any food, yet I was +worth twenty dead men yet. I saw that the only thing I could do was to +retrace my steps to the station the same way as I had come; so along +the road I went, and that in a very bad humour, most of all because I +could see no other remedy than to beg assistance where I had been +already so badly treated. When I could get on the right track there were +thirty miles to the next station. I had only half-a-crown. What could I +do if nobody would help me? At last, at two or three o'clock in the +afternoon, I came back to the place I had started from the evening +before, when I had been shown the wrong track. As soon as I saw the +house again I felt neither hungry nor tired. I only felt as if I could +walk for ever without rest or food. I would ask for nothing. I would +take nothing. I would just go on. But still I had to find out which was +the Mackay road. Yes, I would go up to the house to ask that question. +As I came up to the place I saw a young woman standing outside the back +door washing clothes, and about a dozen blacks were squatted about the +ground in all sorts of lazy positions. I noticed especially a very tall +young gin, who stood leaning against the wall, with a long spear in her +hand. I asked the girl which was the Mackay road, and she, looking round +rather surprised at me, said, "There--that one to the left." She did not +look at all vicious, and seemed disposed to enter into conversation, +but, true to my determination, I turned on my heel to go again. I had +scarcely turned, however, before I heard her sing out in an excited +voice to the blacks, "Don't! Drop that spear! Look out!" Turning round +once more, I saw the tall gin with the spear, holding it high above her +head, ready to hurl it at me. I never spoke, because, to tell the truth, +I never realized that she intended to kill me. I looked her full in the +face, and, as I felt pretty indignant at the time, my look disarmed her. +Anyhow she quailed before my eyes and dropped the spear, and I went my +way. + +The blacks were at that time very bad in that district, spearing cattle, +&c., and as I was going along the road I accounted to myself for their +presence on the station in this way--that perhaps the squatter thought +it cheaper to feed them than to allow them to rob him. That they were +not very quiet blacks I felt sure, and the more I thought of the gin and +her uplifted spear the more anxious I became. They might, thought I, set +out after me yet and finish me off. Moreover, as I had thirty miles to +walk before I could hope for any food, I made up my mind to stagger on +as long as my feet could carry me. But I did not go so fast as the day +before. Slowly and painfully did I drag along. The road was simply a +track on which a horse might come along, and a sort of coarse grass +eight or nine feet high grew on both sides. How fervently I wished I +might meet another traveller--anybody had been welcome--but no one +seemed to have been along there for ages. On I went. Every half mile or +so I would come to a running brook crossing the road. I became too +fatigued to take off my boots and socks every time, and this made my +feet sore; but still I staggered on. It was now evening, or, rather, +late at night, but just as the moon was going down I came to a creek +which seemed larger than the rest, inasmuch that I could not in the +darkness look across, and taking a couple of steps into the water I went +in nearly to the middle; still it grew deeper. I therefore concluded +that as necessity knows no law, I must camp and wait for daylight before +I attempted crossing. A large tree was growing close to the water and on +the track. Down by the roots of that tree I threw my swag, and laid +myself upon it without undressing and without a fire. My matches were +all wet, and I was too tired to walk one unnecessary step. + +I was lying there looking up at the stars, feeling so unspeakably tired, +when, after a while, just as I was going to sleep, I heard a noise not +far from me for which I could not account, but it brought me to +speculate upon the probability that there were alligators in the water, +and that it was scarcely prudent to lie there as I did, with my feet +almost in the stream. So I got up and went back some twenty yards or so, +on the rising ground, where there had been an old camp years before. +There I lay myself down again with a big stick in my hand. I had just +gone off to sleep when I started up again in terror. A peculiar +indescribable noise was coming from down the creek, where I had been +before. What it might be I did not know. Never had I heard the like +before; it was a noise sufficient, as they say, to raise the dead. + +The water seemed agitated as if an army of blacks were coming across, +the bushes and grass were cracking as if a stampede of cattle was taking +place, and through all these noises ran a piercing continuous yell such +as no human being or animal I knew in nature could utter. The thought +ran through me as I started to my feet: either it is the blacks who have +come to kill you, or it is an alligator on the same errand. In any case, +thought I, my only chance was to show fight. With that I grabbed my +stick, and sang out, to gammon the blacks, "Here! hie! Bill! Jack! +Jimmy! Here they are. Get the guns; we will have a shot at them!" + +While I screamed at the top of my voice like this, I struck the long +grass with my stick, and, to frighten the alligator, if any were there, +ran right down to where I had been before, yelling all the while. The +noise kept on in front of me, but died away with some splashes in the +water, just as I came down. When I stopped screaming all was silent. I +stared around me, but the darkness was perfectly impenetrable. + +Was there an alligator now crouching at my feet ready to swallow me in a +couple of mouthfuls? Or was I surrounded by a mob of savages, perhaps, +lurking alongside of me, and seeing my helplessness? Or was it evil +spirits? I did not know what it was, or where it had gone, and yet the +hair seemed to rise on my head. Do not talk to me about bravery or +cowardice! I believe most men are capable of screwing their courage up +to the necessary point at any time, providing they know what is before +and behind them, but if I knew where there was a man who would not have +felt fear if placed in the same position as I stood in there, then I +would fall down and bow before him. I crept back to where I had been +lying when I heard the alarm and lay down again, and so exhausted was I +that I fell asleep at once, and did not wake up before the sun was +shining in my face. My first thought, of course, was the noise in the +night, and I went down to the creek to look for tracks or signs of some +sort. There, close by the tree, on the very spot where I first had laid +myself down, was the half of a large kangaroo. It seemed bitten off +right under the forelegs, all the rest was gone. On the road and in the +soft mud by the water were the tracks of an immense alligator, and where +it had come out and gone into the creek again a deep furrow as from a +sulky plough had been made by its tail. I had never yet been so near +death! It seemed plain to me that the first noise I had heard which +induced me to get up and go further away from the water must have been +the alligator stealing upon me, and that the unfortunate kangaroo +afterwards unwittingly saved my life. But as there is scarcely anything +that cannot be turned to good account, so I also tried to turn this +accident to my advantage, because I took up my knife and cut some steaks +out of the kangaroo, which I had to eat raw, as I could make no fire, +for I could not find any of the wood with which I had learned by +rubbing two sticks together to make it. It was with fear and trembling +that I crossed the deep creek. The water went up over my armpits; but it +had to be done, and once on the other side I made a speech to the +alligator, thanked him for my breakfast, and wished him, "Good-morning." + +I walked all day, but so slowly and painfully that I did not go very +far. One of my boots was chafing my foot so that I had to take it off, +but after having carried it some miles I threw it away. In the evening I +came to an empty hut and a stockyard, but as no one was living there I +concluded it was put up for the purpose of mustering cattle. It was +locked up, so I lay down outside and seemed to find some company in +looking at the house. The next day was Sunday. I felt when I got up that +I could not walk much further. Fortunately, perhaps, I got some +encouragement from thinking myself near the station, as fences and +cattle began to appear. Yet it took me from break of day to afternoon +before I came out on a large plain, and there at once I saw the house +lying in front of me, but yet about a mile distant. It seemed a large +and "fashionable" house for the bush. As I came a little nearer I could +see people under the verandah, and as I came still nearer I made out +three ladies and a gentleman sitting there. They seemed to have a +telescope, which they passed from one to the other, and whoever had it +pointed it straight at me. Ah! what a disgrace, thought I. I would not +mind so much, but I felt revolted at the idea of standing as a beggarman +before young ladies. If I could have run away I am sure I should have +done so, but I was altogether too weak. Still, I seemed to straighten +myself up somehow under their eyes, and I threw the long, ugly stick I +carried away, and went on with as sure a step as I could command up to +the verandah and saluted the company. + +I remember well the following scene. The gentleman, a portly, elderly +man, had one of those bluff-looking, high-coloured faces which, even +while they try to look cross, cannot hide their evident good nature. He +was now smiling in a benevolent sort of way upon me. The elderly lady +who sat by his side also looked very kind, while two young ladies, who +also were in the verandah, regarded me with a mixture of dignity, +curiosity, and pity. When the gentleman began to speak he looked very +cross. + +"Coming from the Palmer?" inquired he. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Hah! did I not tell you so? Did you find any gold there?" + +"No, sir." + +"Didn't I say so?" + +These aside remarks were addressed to the elderly lady, who silently +acquiesced; and then she turned towards me and inquired, with a sort of +anxiety, "Did you happen to meet a young man up there by name Symes? +David--David Symes, that was his name." + +I was very sorry that I had not met him. + +"How do you think he should know him?" cried the gentleman, in a great +rage. "Ah!" he exclaimed, "that will teach you fellows not to run +gallivanting about the country again in a hurry, I'll swear. All your +bit of money clean gone?" + +"No, sir." (I had my half-crown.) + +"Then you want nothing from me, I suppose?" + +"Indeed, sir, I do, very much." + +"Ah! I thought so. I knew it jolly well, I did." + +"Father," cried the lady, "why do you keep tormenting the poor man so? +You go and sit there under the sunshade, and I will tell the girl to +bring you some dinner. Poor man! walked all the way from Palmer." + +I went and seated myself by a large table which stood in the yard, and +as soon as I sat down I fell asleep; then I would start up again, and +fall asleep again, and every time I opened my eyes I saw them all +sitting on the verandah watching me. The servant-girl brought a large +supply of roast beef and potatoes, also a plum-pudding, but I could eat +nothing. When I had tried a couple of mouthfuls the squatter came down +to me and said he would show me a bed where I could lie down. "And when +you have had a good sleep," said he, "then I will find you a job of some +kind, if you want it." + +I slept for nearly twenty-four hours, and when I had fully recovered, +which took me three or four days, I had a job at ring-barking trees for +the squatter for ten shillings per week. That was all he offered me and +I did not care to ask for more--indeed, I was very well pleased. When I +had been there two or three weeks, and I thought we were about quits, I +asked for my wander-book again--in other words, I explained that I was a +carpenter and expected to earn better money if I could get to Mackay. I +am glad to say that he would have liked to keep me, and he offered me a +job as stockman for a pound sterling a week, but still that did not suit +me at all, so I went my way again with a few rations in my bag and +twenty shillings in my pocket. I will not ask the reader to follow me +step by step on this memorable journey. No doubt it will quite plainly +appear that I have gone through a terrible lot of hardships in my time, +but although I admit I should not care to have to do it again, yet it is +a fact that, when I think of myself at that time, I seemed in no way +crestfallen. On the contrary, I was always in the best of humours, and +never doubted for one moment that good fortune would come again. It has +always been a fact in my case that when I, as on this journey, have had +very scanty food for some time, my voice becomes much better and +clearer. So that as I came along the road, or in the night when I was +camped, I would enjoy myself by singing as well as if I had been a +performer at a concert. Alas! many matters which unfortunately would not +interest me much now, had at that time great attraction for my mind--a +bird, a wallaby scudding across the road, a strange plant, all such +things would set my imagination going. It is only as we grow older and +get more sense that such trivialities cease to amuse! + +The next place on this journey where anything worth relating occurred +was at a sugar plantation about sixteen miles from Mackay. I arrived +there at eight or nine o'clock one night, but as I came past the place, +some men who were camped in a tent by the road good-naturedly offered me +a drink of tea, and when I had drank it and was just ready to start +again one of the men, who had been away for half an hour, came back and +said that I had to go up to the kitchen, where there was a countrywoman +of mine who wanted to see me. I was in no way caring for a lady's +company at the time, so I asked him to make my excuses to this +countrywoman of mine and to say that I was gone; but all the men began +chaffing me, and were nearly going into fits of laughter about her good +looks, wishing they were me, that such a girl was not to be seen every +day, &c., so at last I unwillingly went up to the kitchen. I never +thought to see anybody more than some uninteresting sort of country +girl, and I only intended to ask her, as shortly as possible, what she +wanted, and then go on again. In a word, I was in rather a bad humour. +The door was opened for me by a very lady-like girl, and I was quite +doubtful at first whether it was the lady of the house or only the +servant. All at once I seemed to remember how torn my clothes were, and +my poor appearance, and felt as if I did not like to go in; but the girl +seemed bent on patronizing me. + +"Come in," cried she, in Danish; "be not afraid. If Danes meet in this +country I think it is the least they can do to speak to one another. I +know it right enough there is many a brave fellow in this country +suffering hardships such as they do not dream of at home. Come in, come +in!" + +I did not know at first whether to feel angry or not over this speech, +but--she was so pretty, and she meant well, and she _was_ my +countrywoman after all, so I took her by the hand and thanked her for +her sympathy, admitting that I was rather down on my luck just then, but +that I had great hopes that things would soon take a turn for the +better. Then she offered me a cup of tea, and by and by we were chatting +away like old friends. It was now about ten o'clock, and I thought it +high time to take my leave, when we heard some one approach the kitchen +from the house. The girl seemed to get quite terrified. "Oh," she +whispered, "that is Mr. ---- himself. He has forbidden any of the men to +come to the kitchen; he is sure to be angry." + +The gentleman came in, and while he was staring in a sort of haughty and +surprised way at me the girl was sitting bending over her sewing as if +she had committed a crime. I did not like the prospect of being turned +out very much, and I felt also sorry for having brought unpleasantness +upon her; but, after all, the want or possession of a little tact will +alter matters wonderfully even at such a moment as this, so, more for +the girl's sake than for my own, I saluted him in my politest manner and +begged his pardon for having come into the kitchen. I said I had been +travelling past, intending to walk to Mackay, but that the men on the +place had told me that a countrywoman of mine was here, and that I had +not been able to resist the temptation to call in the hope that it might +be some one I knew. I hoped he would excuse me. + +"Oh yes," said he, "that is all right; I am sure Sophy will be glad to +see a friend of hers. Have you given your countryman some supper? Don't +let him go away hungry. Surely you are not going to walk to Mackay +to-night? There is a place over there where you might sleep: you will +show him, Sophy. Good-night." + +What a relief we both seemed to find at the turn things had taken! Quite +a grand supper was now put before me, a white damask table-cloth was +spread, silver coffee-pot and cream-jug and all sorts of delicacies +appeared. When all was ready, we both sat down to the cheese, and when +at last I went to seek my bed we both candidly admitted to each other +that this had been a red-letter day and one never to be forgotten. I +slept and dreamed, and when I woke up again I could distinctly remember +what I had dreamed; and that dream I have never forgotten since. I +dreamed that I saw a snake which crept on the floor, and this snake +seemed to me of wonderful beauty, but I was not at all afraid of it--on +the contrary, I wanted to take it so that I might keep it; for that +purpose I bent towards it, but as I did so the snake seemed to rise on +end until it was nearly as tall as I, and while I stretched my arm out +to take it, it hissed, and when I touched it, then it bit me. I now +perceived it was no longer a snake, but that young woman who had +entertained me in the evening. I woke up at once, and grasped the whole +dream in my mind. Then I thought it must surely be a warning. I fancy I +see the sceptic smile who reads this. I should like my readers to +believe in the truth of my assertions; and to those who are disposed to +so believe me, I will say they may, for nothing is truer. I was lying +the remainder of the night thinking of my dream and congratulating +myself that there was no cause for me to feel uneasy, as I should be +going away in the morning, and probably should never see that girl +again. But when morning came the sun dispelled my fears, and I was soon +sitting chatting with Sophy while I had breakfast. I felt wonderfully +sorry that I should now have to go, never to see her again. It was, +however, ordained otherwise. By the time I had the swag on my shoulder +she had been into her mistress, and, without my knowing or asking +it--for indeed I only wanted to get to Mackay--had interceded for me, +asking that I should be offered work. Mr. ----, therefore, came out to +me and said he had been told that I was a carpenter, and that he had a +lot of carpenter's work he wanted done. He had no time to go into +details then, but he would be obliged to me if I would glue together for +him a case of chairs he had, and then he would speak to me again the +next day. How could I refuse? I got out the case of chairs and stood all +day gluing them together, outside the kitchen, but I could not help +thinking of my dream every now and again, and I realized that there was +great danger, and that if I engaged myself for one week it would be +impossible for me to either tear myself away or for any one else to +trust me. In the evening I sat by the fire in the kitchen, with my elbow +on my knee and my head in my hand and was in a bad humour, although the +girl was sitting chatting more sweetly than ever by my side. To talk +about a week before I tore myself away! was it not too late already? If +I had to stay here, thought I, until I could not tear myself away, then +I must be weak indeed. It must never be. I will go at once--this moment. +I got up and said I was going to Mackay as soon as I could get time to +roll my swag together. + +She looked at me as if she thought I was mad. Then she asked me if she +had offended me, and insisted on telling Mr. ---- I was going, so that +he might pay me for my day's work; but I would not risk the effect of +any pressing invitation to stay, and groped my way in the darkness down +to the road and away. Never have I felt more poor and miserable and +lonely in my own eyes, as I went along, than I did that stormy, bitterly +cold night. As soon as the imaginary danger was over I pictured to +myself in rosy colours how things might have turned out if I had only +remained. And all this I had made impossible for the sake of a miserable +dream which most people would have forgotten before they were properly +awake. Oh, yes, I deserved surely as much bad luck as fate could heap +upon me! But now it was too late. "Too late!" I kept repeating, and then +I would make plans for going away to the end of the world, as soon as I +should have sufficient money to pay my way. I could not in the darkness +cross the Pioneer River, which runs twelve miles from town, and as I had +plenty of time I sat on the bank of the river all night, wishing an +alligator might take me, indulging in romantic sentiments; but the next +morning, as I was nearing Mackay, hope sat on her throne again as I +passed by the one beautiful plantation after the other and saw enough +work going forward on all sides to convince me that I should get plenty +to do for myself, and possibly some day, perhaps, myself own one of +these plantations. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A LOVE STORY. + + +I obtained work at one of the plantations for three pounds sterling per +week. For this money I was expected only to work eight hours a day and +five hours on Saturdays, that being the ordinary tradesman's hours of +work all over Australia. But as my employer was busy and I was tired of +remaining poor longer than I could help, I obtained leave to work two +hours overtime every day, for which I was paid at the rate of +eighteenpence an hour. When I arrived in Mackay I had gone into a +Chinaman's boarding-house, as being the most suitable place for my means +and condition, but although a similar place had suited me well enough in +the gold-diggings, the class of men who stayed here and the +accommodation I received did not now suit me at all. I seemed to shrink +into myself and gradually got into a morbid and unhealthy state of mind. +I was as good, at least I thought myself as good, as most of the clerks +or well-dressed young fellows I saw knocking about the town, doing very +little work; but that they were of a different opinion was evident from +the scathing contempt one or two of them managed once or twice to put +into their manner towards me the first week I was in town when I by +accident had addressed them. Do clothes make the man? thought I; was it +necessary for me to conform to their habits, and to imitate them, to +secure respect or even civility? I would not do it. What would be +gained? All was vanity. Another little incident which had not been +without its influence upon me, I mention to show that such unconsidered +trifles make the sum total of ordinary life, was this: the day I arrived +in town, but when I was yet about half a mile from it, I had met four +young ladies, who I suppose were out for a walk. They were evidently +dressed in their best clothes and looked both nice and pretty, and as +youth always recognizes a sort of relation in youth--or, if you prefer +it, young men always take an interest in young women, and _vice +versâ_--I was looking closely at them and they at me as we neared each +other on the road. They took no trouble in concealing their verdict of +me. I will not say they were so ill-bred as to make grimaces at me, but +they might just as soon have gathered their skirts about them and held +their noses. I saw that they considered me an undesirable party. I was +just then in rather high spirits, which could not be damped all in a +moment, so as I met and passed them I took my stick up and held it in +military fashion close to my shoulder as I marched by. I could hear them +giggling behind me, but I did not look round, and lovelorn as I +was--because you must remember my adventure of the day before--it had a +depressing effect upon me, which grew as time went. So, after staying +for a week in the Chinaman's boarding-house, with the first money I got +I bought a tent and pitched it right away in a lonely spot, and there I +lived by myself, like a regular hermit. I thought of Thorkill who was +dead and of his lonely grave, that dream for which I could not account, +and I thought, too, of my own home from which I had heard nothing now +for years, and I brooded over my own friendless condition. Then I +thought of the girl on the plantation I had left behind me, but it never +entered my head for a moment to go and visit her. Far from it. I would +travel to the end of the world to put it out of my power rather than do +that, or for two pins I would then have put an end to myself! It seems +to me as I write, that, this being simply true, it should not be without +a salutary warning to other young men not to allow themselves to drift +into the same state of temperament, because it is dangerous and may +spoil a life which otherwise might become useful; nor is there any merit +in such misanthropy, as the subsequent pages will show, and but one +little straw one way or the other will have its effect during the +remainder of one's life. + +One thing which it is difficult to write about, as it seems to have no +logic or sense in it, but which, nevertheless, was of great importance +to me, was this: I worked like a tiger, not because I was fond of work +nor to get away from my morbid feelings, because I did not struggle +against them, nor because I was fond of money, as I had very little use +for any, as I thought, and as my wages were the same whether I worked +like an average man or did more, but I worked because in my morbid brain +I liked to fancy that the girl on the plantation was in great distress, +and that her life and liberty depended upon my doing certain work in a +certain time. When I got a piece of work to do I would think to myself +in this way: here is a week's work for any man, but unless I can do it +in four days, then--all sorts of misery will happen. Therefore I really +worked as if my life depended on it, and I would be perfectly intolerant +of any obstruction to my progress. My "boss" took in the situation very +soon, because he let me stand by myself and dared scarcely speak to me +for fear of putting me out. + +This state of affairs had lasted about three months, and during that +time I can almost count on my fingers the words I had said; I do not +think I had spoken to any one one unnecessary word. It cost me only five +or six shillings a week to live. I had bought merely the most necessary +clothes, and all the rest of my money and cheques I had received were in +my possession, lying in a pickle-bottle in the tent. + +One afternoon as I came from my work I saw in front of me in the street +the girl from the plantation. I ran after her. "Sophy, Sophy, is that +you?" Happy meeting! She had been in town for a month and was now a +dressmaker; but let it be enough to say that I went at once to the tent +and got out the money and bought the best clothes I could get in town, +that I went to stay at an hotel, and that, as time went on, I kept two +horses in a paddock, ordered a side-saddle, and for sixteen months after +used to boast to myself that no one among the tradesmen in Mackay had a +prettier sweetheart, was a better dancer, kept such good horses, or +earned so much money as myself! + +I reckon this time as being among my most pleasant recollections. People +did not seem to me so egotistic or the world so black as it had appeared +while I lived in the tent; on the contrary, I was often invited among +very nice people to their parties and family gatherings, and I was a +constant attendant at both Oddfellows' and Caledonian balls, and, in +short, anything that was going on. I was intending some day in the near +future to marry and settle down, and for that reason had bought an +allotment for twenty-five pounds, and I meant to build a house on it. I +had only one fault to find with the lady who honoured me with her +approbation. It was this: she was fearfully jealous and excitable, and +would at such times be in a perfect rage if I had done anything which +she thought not becoming; but as I took it as a proof of the value in +which she held me, I rather liked it, and even sometimes went so far as +to excite her suspicion on purpose just to get up a "scene." This +happened again one day when I had been sixteen months in Mackay. The +occasion was that I had, as it was Sunday, been out for a ride with +another young lady--I had things so handy, the two horses, one with +side-saddle and all, and the temptation to a little extra flirtation was +always great--but when that evening, in a most dutiful mood, I went to +see my "only love," she, I remember, was very angry indeed with me. She +was sitting sewing in her room, and I was sitting also at the table in a +careless position, with my head on my hand and my elbow on the table, +smiling at her and enjoying matters very much, although, as I have +written above, she was very angry, and even crying. She rated me +terribly, too, for my wickedness, and I was defending myself mildly. +"Dear," I said, "I only took her out to-day as a mark of the respect in +which I hold her." + +"I'll mark you!" she cried, and she struck me in the mouth with terrible +violence. The blow not only knocked me off the chair, but sent one of my +front teeth spinning round the room, and to this day I am marked by the +absence of that tooth. I got up; she stood gasping with excitement, +looking at me. I cannot give the reader any idea how handsome she was, +or how fond I was of her. Still, this would never do. I took the lamp +from the table and began looking for my tooth on the floor. I never +spoke, neither did she say anything. I can well remember. When I had +found the tooth I took my hat up and went away. This would never do, +thought I, I must be off somewhere by the next steamer, never to return; +because I knew very well that if I stayed in Mackay I should just go and +make love to her again. I therefore decided I would be off, never mind +where I went; and in that mood I arrived at my hotel. On the verandah +stood one of the boarders who was the captain of a labour schooner. For +the information of my readers who may not know what that means I will +state that the plantations round Mackay and elsewhere in Queensland +employ a great many South Sea Islanders, and that these men are brought +to Queensland under a certain system. It is this way: a number of +planters unite in sending a ship out among the South Sea Islands to +engage all the Kanakas the ship can hold, and who are willing to come. +The ship so engaged is under Government orders, and the Government sends +an agent with the ship, whose duty is to watch that no coercion is +employed in order to get "the boys" to engage, and that they understand +their agreements with the planter. These agreements are all uniform. The +Kanakas engage for three years' service, for which the planter gives +them their food and six pounds per year; he also defrays the cost of +bringing them to Queensland, and when their time is out he sends them at +his own cost back to the island whence they came. As I now came up on +the verandah the captain spoke to me and invited me in to have a drink +with him. He had been staying in the hotel for about a month and I knew +him very well, so we went into the bar and began to talk about his +affairs. He intended to start for the South Seas the following night, if +all went well; the only thing that upset him just then was that his cook +had deserted the ship and was not to be found. He did not care except +for this reason--that he could not afford to keep the ship waiting, and +on the other hand he did not know where to get another, as he could not +do without a good cook. "Faith, then," said I, "I am a good cook, as +cooks go in this part of the world, and, what is more to the purpose, +not only do I intend to leave Mackay to-morrow if I can, but I have a +great longing to see the South Sea Islands, and therefore I am your man, +if you like." + +He could not see that at all for a long time, and thought I was having a +lark with him, but when at last I said there was a lady at the bottom of +it, he winked and thought he knew all about it. So at break of day the +next morning we went on board the schooner, and I started in the cook's +galley making breakfast for all hands. I peeled potatoes and flogged the +steak as if I had never done anything else in my life, because the +captain would not engage me before I had shown my capabilities; but +after my trial he was quite satisfied and engaged me for the trip at +eight pounds per month, and then I stipulated before signing articles +that I should have leave of absence until break of day next morning, as +it was necessary for me to put my affairs in order before I left Mackay. +After having given my word of honour to return, I went ashore again. +There was enough for me to see to. My "boss" did not owe me anything, as +I had received my last cheque on the previous Saturday; but there were +my tools to dispose of. These went for a trifle among the other men: one +took one piece, one another, and the "boss" gave me his cheque for the +lot. Then there were the horses and saddles; these also were got rid of +before dinner-time, and when evening came I had sold my allotment which +I had bought for twenty-five pounds, for one hundred and fifty pounds, +and had all the money lodged in the bank. I had not, therefore, done so +badly in Mackay the eighteen or nineteen months I had been there. Not +only, on an average, had I enjoyed myself pretty well, but the sum total +which I now had to my credit was as near two hundred and fifty pounds as +possible. After tea I had nothing to do but reflect on the wisdom or +otherwise of the step I had taken. I walked about the streets for a long +time, and as I knew very well that my sweetheart expected me as usual I +found myself circling round the house in which she lived. She did not, +of course, know that I was going away, and as she usually expected me +about seven o'clock of an evening, my feet seemed perforce to carry me +towards the house. I did not go in; at eight o'clock I saw her sitting +by the window, at nine o'clock she was there still, at ten o'clock I saw +her sitting by the window as I came past the place, at eleven o'clock +she was standing outside, and I was right up to her before I saw her. +The reader must not expect too much confidence from me; I cannot repeat +what she said, and will only say this--that I have never seen her since, +and that with a heavy heart I went on board the schooner next morning, +when we hoisted anchor and left for the South Sea Islands. + +Dear reader, if I were to tell you all that happened to me on this +journey in the same detailed way as I have told you about my travels +through Queensland, it would take me too far away and also occupy too +much space, so I have thought it better to leave it all out and take up +the thread of my history at the point when I again arrived in Port +Mackay about nine months after. Should this effort of mine meet with the +approbation of the public, I shall be very glad to write another book +about my adventures in the South Seas, but at present I will content +myself by saying that although many things I saw upon this journey were +new and startling to me, yet on the whole we had a good journey, and +that I was paid off in Mackay when we came back, and at once took a +passage in a steamer for Brisbane. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +BRISBANE--TRAVELS IN THE "NEVER NEVER" LAND. + + +I went on board the _Black Swan_ on taking leave of the captain and my +other friends on the schooner, and after an uneventful passage arrived +in Brisbane. Times had altered greatly in Queensland, for the worse I +thought, since I was there last. The rich people had grown richer, and +the poor poorer. It is sad at the present day to walk about the town and +look at all the semi-destitute people whom one sees on every side, and +then think of the "booms" which used to be a few years ago. My objects +in coming to Brisbane were many. I had now, as I thought, sufficient +capital to establish myself in a small way at my trade, and I intended +to look out for a suitable place near town where I might begin. I was +also on the look-out for a wife; but that was only in a general sense, +and when all is said, I believe that what I considered most important +was to enjoy myself. In any case, with over three hundred pounds in the +bank I felt pretty independent and considered myself entitled to spend +all I could earn so long as I could keep this nest-egg safe. The town +was busy, work was plentiful, but although I went about every night and +spent all I earned, yet I by no means liked Brisbane. I do not propose +to criticise the inhabitants thereof in a general way, but so far as it +concerns my narrative at this point I must say a few words. I was very +unsuccessful in finding any girl whom I thought might suit me for a +wife, and who, at the same time, herself approved of me for a husband. +The reason, as I understood it, was this: Brisbane was, and is, crammed +full of young women who are glad to stand in a shop from morning to +night for half-a-crown a week and find themselves. Whether such girls +can or cannot make a cup of tea I do not know, but my general impression +of them was that they would rather not, if they could avoid it. Then as +for servant-girls, it is a common delusion to believe that they are well +off in Brisbane; the fact is that the majority of people who keep a +servant both overwork her and use her as a coat-of-arms wherewith to set +themselves off, and one never by any chance reads a book either in +Australia or elsewhere in which a servant is spoken of as possessed of +even common sense. Of course, the better class of girls will revolt at +contemptuous treatment, and they are, therefore, scarce in Brisbane, and +have always been. In the bush of course it is different: there the +servant is not spoken of as the "slavey" and thought of as a fool, and +as a consequence they are neither the one nor the other. But a tradesman +in Brisbane has no opportunity whatever of meeting any young woman +outside these circles, because the greatest possible social distinction +exists between such people as, say a bank clerk, or even a grocer's +clerk, and a tradesman or a labourer; so is it between a music-teacher, +shop-girl, dressmaker, or a servant. I found it so, and that had a great +deal to do with my dislike to Brisbane; but, apart from that, I had been +so used to the free life of the bush, and more lately then to the +changing scenes among the South Sea Islands, that I could not endure for +long the everyday life of the shop and the boarding-house, and the +boarding-house and the shop. I therefore engaged myself as carpenter to +a squatter who had a large station on the Darling Downs, and right glad +was I when I shook the dust of Brisbane off my feet again. But before +leaving this city I should like to speak about the last piece of work I +did there, because it is in such striking contrast to the state of the +carpenter's trade at the present time. One Saturday morning when I came +to work, my employer asked me to put a few tools in my basket and go out +to his private house to perform certain work there. As I crossed Queen +Street a man came running after me and asked me if I wanted a job of +carpenter's work. I said "No." When I came a little further up, along +George Street, a publican came running out of his door, smiling all over +his face, saying I was the very man he wanted, as he could see by the +basket I carried that I was a carpenter. I told him I was not open to +engagement; but he would not take "no" for an answer. After a long +conversation in the street, in which he implored me to do just this +little job for him that he wanted, while I explained that I was on my +road to work for which I already was engaged. I was on the point of +cutting it short by going away, when he asked me in any case to come +into his hotel and have a glass of beer. When I came in he renewed the +attack in this way--he asked me just to oblige him by looking at the +work and telling him what it was worth. He then showed me a large +shutter which stood under a rough window opening in the yard, and told +me that all he wanted was for a man to fit this shutter to the opening +and put hinges on it; he had the hinges. Now, what was it worth? I saw +that he intended me to do it if he could get me, but I by no means +wanted to. I said it was worth thirty shillings at the least: "All +right," cried he, "do it, and I will give you thirty shillings." + +I was caught now, so I gave in. I took my saw out and fitted the +shutter, screwed the hinges, and took my thirty shillings, all in less +than an hour. This is eleven or twelve years ago. I have not worked in +Brisbane since, but I know a friend of mine who two years ago put a +shilling advertisement in the papers for a carpenter to do a few days' +work, and in less than half an hour after the paper was out he had +thirty-two applicants! I was now working on one of the largest stations +on the Darling Downs. I had only come there in a roving sort of way, +under a six months' agreement which was made in Brisbane, and I had no +intention whatever of staying longer, but although the wages were less +than what I could earn in Brisbane, or in any other town, I thought I +should like to see a large sheep station, and I was told by the agent in +town that I should be sure to like it. The property itself covered I do +not know how many square miles, divided into paddocks, and in each or +most of these paddocks stood a house in which the boundary rider and his +family lived. The duty of this man is not fatiguing; he has to look out +that the fences are in good repair and report to the head station when +anything is out of order. Therefore his day's work is generally done +when after breakfast he has been jogging round the boundary fence. For +this work the wages are about thirty-five pounds sterling a year with +double rations, a free house, use of cow, &c. These boundary riders are +by no means the only employees on the station. There were general +labourers, carriers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, storekeepers, +carpenters, and a host of people who came and went without my knowing +they did so, but the whole formed quite a little township at the head +station. Once a year, when the wool was clipped off the two hundred +thousand sheep there, it was an extra busy time. Then the shearers would +arrive, sixty in number, and with all their assistants they would make +nearly a hundred persons. Besides these there were the washers, who +washed the sheep by elaborate machinery. There would be so many people +that I do not know how the "boss" knew them all. Every one of them +earned good money, although in various degrees. The shearers earned +three shillings and sixpence for every score of sheep they could shear. +An average day's work is from fifty to a hundred sheep. Then the +wool-packers, who pressed the wool into bales, had also piecework, and +this was a favourite job reserved as a reward for old hands. They earned +at it a pound or more a day. This was of course for a short time only +out of the year, but when one station is done shearing another generally +begins, and the men can, therefore, keep on for at least six months at a +stretch with very little lost time. The tradesmen on the station seemed +all part and parcel of the station, old identities, who had made their +homes there years before and did not intend to shift. I heard it +whispered that the squatter meant to try and break through the monopoly +that some of the old hands had created, and that some new blood might be +infused, and I believe that I had been engaged to hang as the sword of +Damocles over the other carpenters' heads, but I refused the _rôle_. The +head carpenter was an old, worn-out man with a large family. He had been +there seventeen years. He had one hundred pounds a year and double +rations, with a free house, wood, water, and many little perquisites. I +daresay he had saved a little money, but any one may easily understand +that a man over fifty years of age, with a large family and a settled +home where he has been for seventeen years, does not like the prospect +of change and to have to make a new start in life. Such a billet as that +of tradesman on a station is much sought after, and in many respects is +incomparably better than the position occupied in town by a married man +who works for wages. But neither the one nor the other suited my +ambition. If I had been doomed to choose between the two, I think I +should, after all, have taken the lot of the man in town, for he is more +independent if he is poorer. It is all very well to work for a master +when one is young, but as one gets on for thirty years of age he likes +to be his own master. At least that was my opinion. There seemed to me +something so forbidding in the ringing of the large bell on the station. +It would ring at a quarter to six on a morning for all hands to get out +of bed and dress. Then it rang at six o'clock for starting work. It rang +for dinner, and it rang when we were to start again. It was all correct +enough; I have no fault to find with it, I cannot suggest anything +better, but all the same I did not like it. + +My work on the station was otherwise both pleasant and independent +enough. A great deal of it consisted in making and hanging gates for the +various paddocks. These would be made at home in the shop and afterwards +carted out to their places. Then I would get a labourer with me and we +would drive off in a spring-cart from one gate to the other, and hang +them. It was a regular journey across the paddocks, and involved about a +fortnight's trip every time. + +The man who earned the most money of all the employees on the station +was the shearers' cook. The shearers had a large house to themselves and +managed their own housekeeping, inasmuch as they engaged and paid their +own cook and bought and paid for anything they liked to eat, so that +they should not grumble over the provisions. But that object has never +yet been attained with shearers, either with the lot on this station or +any other set of shearers I have ever seen. They are the most frightful +grumblers, and who is so fit an object for their displeasure as their +servant--their own servant, the cook? One thing, they pay him well. The +wages of a shearers' cook is the shearing price of a score of sheep per +week, or three-and-sixpence a week for every shearer. You will therefore +see that in a large shearing shed like this, with sixty shearers, the +cook earned ten guineas per week besides his food. But for this money he +had to do more than an ordinary man can do, and take more insults than +an ordinary dog would tolerate. First of all, the shearers always insist +on having their table spread with good things, puddings and cake every +day. He had also to bake bread, chop wood, fetch water, keep the hut +clean, and in short everything else that was wanted. Nobody but the +very smartest men can do it. But his work is not everything. When the +bell rings for meal-time, I have seen shearers come out of the shed, +making for the hut, howling at the same time: "I wonder if that ---- of +a cook has got that ---- breakfast ready!" Everything has to stand ready +for them to "rush;" and even if it does, yet one seldom hears other +conversation than such as: "I say, cook, do you call them ---- peas +boiled? D---- you! If I had my way you should be kicked out!" + +But as the majority only can dismiss their cook, he is not sent away +notwithstanding, and it is quite understood that it is part of his duty +to assume a respectful demeanour towards his employers. Yet, unless a +cook is a good fighting man, it is not a billet that I would recommend +any friend of mine to come all the way from Denmark to fill. + +When I had been on the station for six months I took a trip in the train +to the surrounding towns of Dalby, Toowoomba, Warwick, and Stanthorpe, +with a view to seeing if there was an opening for permanent business in +my line. It did not seem to me that the prospect was good enough for +more than a bare living, because bad times seemed suddenly to have set +in, and competition for work and contracts requiring small capital was +very keen. I therefore went back to the station again and bought two +horses, intending to go out west. I had my three hundred pounds safe in +a Brisbane bank, and I did not mean now to work for any employer, but +to keep my eyes open as I came along and to take any opportunities for +contracts that might come in my way and for which I could obtain a +reasonable price. + +I started from Roma, which is a town lying about 350 miles west of +Brisbane and 200 miles from the station on which I then was located. It +was fearfully dry weather when I started and there was not a blade of +grass anywhere for the horses. I made long stages of thirty to forty +miles a day, but how the horses endured it I do not know. When I camped +out at night I would have to tie the horses to a tree alongside of me, +as there was nothing for them in the bush to eat, and they would have +rambled away never to be found again if I had let them go. All the food +it was possible for me to provide for them was a little bread which I +bought at the inns on the road at intervals of seventy or eighty miles, +and in the mornings when I got up I would take a pillow-case I had and a +knife and walk about in places where the ground was inaccessible to +horses, such as the brinks of a gully or between large stones; there I +would manage to find some dry, withered stuff, wherewith I filled the +pillow-case and shared it between them. It was all I could do, and when +I arrived in Roma they were both very far gone for hunger, and there, in +town even, there was nothing for them either--the last bushel of corn +had been sold for two pounds sterling. I fed them on bread, but even +that seemed like a forbidden thing. People appeared to regard the +proceeding with evil eyes. Flour was scarce and getting more scarce. +There was no prospect of rain, and soon all would have to starve! In St. +George, which is another town 150 miles south of Roma, I was told a +perfect famine was raging. For fear of being misunderstood by people who +do not know much about Queensland, I would say that want of money had +nothing to do with this state of things, it was only the want of rain +which prevented teams from travelling and supplies from coming forward. + +I left Roma again. There was nothing to do there, scarcely a prospect of +getting enough to eat. I rambled away with my two horses out west, and I +am now anxious, for obvious reasons, not to particularize too closely +where I went. + +It had now become of more importance to me to save the lives of my +horses than to find anything to do for myself. I travelled for a month +or more at slow stages, and was now right away in the "Never Never" +country. Occasionally I would find a little for the horses to eat, but +very often it was scanty fare they had. I arrived at a station where +shearing was in full swing, and as both grass and water seemed more +plentiful there than I had seen it for hundreds of miles, I turned the +horses out for a month's spell, while I made myself comfortable in my +tent and occupied myself by reading such literature as I could borrow +from the shearers on the station. + +Among the shearers was a man with whom I grew to be on very friendly +terms. He was a big, strong, good-looking young fellow, about thirty +years of age, and seemed to me at all times so polite and well-informed +that I was always seeking his company. What interested me most in him +was a peculiarly sad expression in his face, and I often wondered at the +cause of it. When the shearing was over all the shearers went in a body +to the nearest hotel, as is customary, to have a jollification. It +happened to be located the way I had come, so, though they did not +actually pass me, I saw them ride away, and thought it rather shabby of +my acquaintance not to come and say good-bye to me. I was mistaken, +however, as I shortly afterwards saw him coming up to the tent on a +really good horse and leading another. + +"Well," said I, "are you off? I thought you had left with the others; +how is it you did not?" + +"No," said he, "I know my weakness. If I had gone with them I should +probably have got on the spree and drunk all I possess. But I am now +already pretty well-to-do, because I have a cheque for over thirty +pounds and these two horses besides. All I want is just another shed, +and then I will make tracks for Ipswich where my people live." + +"But," said I, "there is a public-house this way too." + +"Ah, yes," cried he, and winked, "but they do not catch me this time. I +have worked for the publicans for seven years, but I will never enter +such a place again." + +With that we parted, and two or three days after I got my horses up and +followed along the same road that he had taken. About noon I came to the +hotel. I did not intend to go in because the money I had with me was +getting scarce and I did not wish to draw on what I had in the bank. I +carried, too, all sorts of necessaries on my horses and wanted for +nothing. But when the publican saw me passing the door, he came running +out. + +"Good-morning, young fellow; good-morning. By Jove, that is a splendid +horse you have there. Are you travelling far? Surely you don't mean to +take your horses along in this weather. Why it is too hot for a white +man, too hot entirely. Come in and have a bit of dinner; it is all +ready. I won't charge you; I never charged a b---- man for a feed yet. I +do not think it right, do you?" + +Pressed in this way, I went inside; but my suspicions that was a +robbers' den in disguise were aroused, and if I had not felt sure of +myself I should probably have preferred to dash the spurs into the +horses and tear away; but although I thanked him for his hospitality and +agreed with him that it was very wrong to charge a man for food, yet I +made up my mind that he would have to be clever to outwit me. On the +verandah sat a forbidding-looking man on his swag, and I saw at once +that he was a poor swagsman who need have no fear of being robbed. In +the bar were three men standing drinking, but yet moderately sober. The +publican began to bustle about behind the bar. I kept one eye on him and +one on the horses. Scarcely five minutes had elapsed before a +blackfellow made his appearance outside, and began to lead my horses +away. I went outside and took them from him. + +"Are you taking my horses away?" cried I; "don't do it again." I used a +little more persuasion, but it does not look well in print. + +"Master said I take him Yarraman along-a-paddock," whined the +blackfellow. + +Now the publican came out again. + +"What is the matter?" cried he. "I told him to take and give the horses +a feed; they look as if they needed it." + +"Not at all," said I; "they have had a month's spell, and I can scarcely +hold them." + +"All right, you know best. Are you going to have a drink?" + +"Yes," I said, "I don't mind." + +"What is it going to be?" + +"Rum," said I. + +"Right you are. I almost thought you were a teetotaler." + +I watched him closely, and saw he picked out a particular glass, and +before I let him fill it I took my handkerchief up and wiped it +carefully all around the inside. I looked at him and he at me while I +did it. I also noticed that he tapped the compound from the ordinary +cask, and I was therefore not afraid to swallow it, nor did it do me any +harm. The reason I was so careful to wipe the glass was that I knew it +to be a common trick of dishonest publicans, when they see a man coming +along the road whom they wish to catch, to take a dirty pipe and blow +some of the thick, foul-smelling stuff that it contains into an empty +glass, and then have it ready for the customer. A very little dose will +make the strongest man intoxicated for the whole day, and if it is not +nicely adjusted, but just a speck too much, it will knock a man down in +a dead swoon for many hours. I had been told this on the gold diggings +by more than one person at the time I kept shanty there myself, and I +knew that there were people who travelled about the country selling to +publicans the secrets of tricking and falsifying spirits. I, therefore, +knew pretty well where to look for danger, and where I might take the +risk; but now dinner was announced, and we all went into the +dining-room. On the floor of the room I saw a man who was lying there +smeared all over with blood and filth. Still I recognized him at once as +my friend the shearer. I went up and shook him until I got a little life +into him, and he sat up and recognized me. "Hullo," bawled he, "is that +you? Ain't I a fool? Publican, give me my horses, I want to go with this +young fellow. I am going away this afternoon. Don't go away without me." + +"All right," said the publican; "I will see to get the black boy to +find your horses for you, but he says one has got out of the paddock." + +Then we had dinner--that is, I had a good meal; but the drunken shearer +could not touch food, and presented a terrible picture of sickness and +misery. By this time I was not on good terms with the publican; but I +did not care. I only studied how I could get the other poor fellow away, +and I could not as yet see any way. As soon as we came from the table he +staggered into the bar and called for drinks for all hands. The publican +then called his wife, four or five children, a seamstress, the +servant-girl, myself, the man in the yard, the black boy, the bushman I +had seen, the traveller on the verandah, who had had no dinner, and +himself, and they all had their drinks! It was a shilling a glass. Then +the shearer asked him to be kind and let him have the balance of his +cheque, which, it appeared, he had given the publican to change for him +when he came; but that good Samaritan simply told him that he would not +do such a thing, as he was too drunk to take care of money. When he went +away he should have it. The shearer, who was getting more intoxicated +again after this last glass, hung over the counter, and, in a plaintive +sort of way, cried, "I am a ---- fool! Never mind, let's have another. +Here, fill 'em up again." + +I could do no good, so I went away without paying for my dinner. I met +the shearer two years after, when he told me all about it. It appeared +that he had tried to pass the place in the same manner as I, and that +the publican had persuaded him to come in. He had not liked to take his +dinner for nothing, and had given the publican the cheque he had for +changing. He had been promised the money in half an hour, but was +shortly after intoxicated, and had never been able to get either the +horses or the money again. After having been in the state I saw him for +about three weeks, the publican presented him with a bill, from which it +appeared that he owed him for "refreshments" more than the amount of the +cheque added to the value of horses, saddles, and bridles. The publican +had, therefore, kept the horses, but had kindly given him a bottle of +grog to take with him on the road when he went away! This process is +called in bush parlance, "lambing down," and is going on every day, year +after year! + +I had not gone far from the hotel before I saw a man coming after me. He +called me to stop, which I did, and when he came closer I perceived that +it was the man who had been sitting on his swag in the verandah at the +hotel. He said he had come after me because he had neither rations nor +money, and did not know how to get along the road unless I would be good +enough to let him travel with me. He wanted to go to ---- station, and +try to get some shearing to do. It happened that I intended to turn off +the road about half a mile further on, and that according to the place +to which he said he was going we should travel in almost opposite +directions, and I told him so. I said also that if he was pushed I would +help him with a few rations, but that I had not time to accommodate the +pace of the horses to his walk, as I had already been travelling for a +much longer time than I liked. Of course he said he would be glad of +anything, and so I got off the horse and had a fire lighted, by which we +made some tea, and he had his dinner out of my provisions. After the +meal he suddenly made up his mind that he might as well go the same road +as I, and try to get a job at a station which we should pass some forty +miles from where we then stood. I did not like this much, because he +seemed to me a man whose company I should not appreciate, but, as the +loneliness of the bush always appeared to me to engender a sort of +fellowship towards whoever is there, I did not find it easy nor did I +deem it right to say I would have nothing to do with him. On the +contrary, I said that we would push on together then for the day, and +that I would walk while he put his swag on my saddle-horse. In this way +we now went several miles, and my travelling companion had very little +to say. He seemed to know the road to perfection, and about four o'clock +in the afternoon he suggested that we should camp at a certain spot at +which we had arrived, but about a hundred yards off the road. I +objected. I said he was free himself to camp or not as he chose, but if +he wanted to travel with me he would have to walk a good deal further, +as I had by no means come as far yet as I considered a day's journey +required. After that we started again, but my new friend seemed +frightfully morose, and had not a word to say. As the horse he held was +a better leader than mine he gradually forged ahead of me, and try as I +would I could not keep up with him. I was just wishing myself well rid +of him when I saw him suddenly turn off the road, leading the horse +after him, and although I called again and again, he neither turned +round nor answered me until he came to a deep water-hole about a mile +off the road. Here he took the load off the horse, and hobbled it out. I +was not only angry, but I was also to a certain extent afraid. I had +already agreed with myself that I could not lie down to sleep alongside +of him; but what, of all things, did he mean by leading me to this +place? As soon as I came up I asked him what he meant, and how he dared +to take my horse off the road. I had taken the bridle belonging to the +saddle-horse to go and catch it again, for I intended now at all hazards +to get rid of him. At this juncture he came towards me. + +"Here is grass, and here is water," cried he, "and out of this spot +shall neither I nor any ---- German or ---- Dutchman come to-night. Let +go that bridle!" + +Then he grasped the bridle. You know the old proverb that "There is a +time when patience ceases to be a virtue," and in my opinion that time +had now arrived. I had not been so long in Queensland without learning +to defend myself, so I closed with him. What a fearful struggle we had! +As far as I was concerned, I felt as if it was a struggle for life, and +I fought accordingly. Now we were up, now down. Sometimes I was on the +top of him and sometimes I was under, but whatever happened I must not +give in, because I felt sure I should receive small mercy if I did. At +last I had him. My hands were round his throat, and my knees on his +chest, while I felt his hands slide powerless off me. It was not victory +yet. If I let him go he might renew the attack, so I pressed his throat +until he was nearly black in the face, and I sat on him as heavily as I +could, because I was angry, and when at last I let him go, it was not +before I thought I had taken all his fighting humour out of him. While I +loaded my horse again I called him all the names I thought it probable +would insult him most, in case he might have any honour and shame in +him, and at last I threw his swag at his head and cried, "There, you old +loafer!" + +Then I got on the horse and rode away; nor did I stop that night before +I had put fully twenty miles between him and me. + +I was now following down the ---- River, towards the town of ----, which +I was anxious to reach as soon as possible. The weather had so far +continued fearfully dry, and the heat was every day intense, but when I +was within ninety miles of the township it began to rain. It rained as +if it intended to make up for a two years' drought. The river I followed +was nothing but a dry sand-bed when the rain began, but in three or four +days it became a roaring torrent. I saw that we were in for a +first-class flood and became anxious, as the country on which I was +camped seemed to me very flat. Just as I had made up my mind that such +was the case I met a party of stockmen, or, more correctly, they came to +my tent. They had been out helping to shift some shepherds and their +sheep to rising ground, and they assured me that the place I was in +would be flooded. As they directed me to what they thought a safe spot, +I shifted my tent at once to that place. It was a low, narrow ridge +about a mile from the river. Here I prepared myself to weather it out. +Next morning when I got up, I saw the river much nearer than the evening +before. During the day it rose on all sides, and before evening again I +was a complete prisoner on about ten acres of land, while the water +roared and hissed on all sides of me as far as the eye could reach. This +state of affairs lasted about three weeks. Anything more appallingly +lonely than to sit there in the tent, and look out on the awe-inspiring +sight of the flood with its swiftly running, destructive water cannot be +conceived. As I had but little room for exercise in my prison I could +not sleep at night, and so I would sit and sing or play on the flute, +and think of all sorts of things. The waters did not go down at the +same time as the rain ceased, and I had it all to myself some beautiful +moonlight nights. I had heard the stockmen speak about an old shepherd +who, with his sheep, was camped on a sort of island, which was formed by +the river opposite the place I was in, and about a mile and a half +distant. He was, therefore, my nearest neighbour. I could hear him at +night sometimes felling trees for exercise, and occasionally he would +answer me when I cooeed. Little did it matter to him whether the flood +was on or not. At ordinary times he would probably never see any one for +weeks or months, as no one could have any business there excepting the +ration-carrier once a week, and the shepherd, as a rule, did not see +him, as he was away with his sheep when the carrier arrived in his hut. +I used to speculate as to who he was--an old man, with wife and family +dead, perhaps. What a sad existence! Or, worse still, an old bachelor, +crusty and tired. Surely he would have some one he longed to see, and +who longed for him! How many years, thought I, had he been there, or in +places like that? What did he do with his money when he got it once a +year? Would he go with it to the nearest hotel, and as he saw other men +wonder why they were not as glad to see him as he to see them? Would he +purchase their good-will with grog? What else could he do, or was he +likely to do? Anyhow, when it was all spent, and he would get angry when +people would have no more to do with him, would he be kicked out? Would +he then come back here for another year? What else could he do? I have, +among shepherds, seen many men who must have been what is called well +educated. They count in their ranks both lawyers and parsons, but +disappointed and embittered silence is generally the stamp of them all. +Sometimes the reverse is the case; then they will talk as if they could +never stop. I like solitude myself to a certain extent, but it must +surely be an unnatural life for any man to lead quite alone in the bush. + +When at last the floods subsided I had the greatest trouble in making my +way, because there would be the most treacherous boggy holes where one +least expected them. I had also fared hard on very short rations, so as +to make what I had last until I could purchase more, and when I started +away from my camping-place I had only one more loaf of bread; all the +rest was gone. I was, therefore, very sorry to hear at the nearest +station that they would sell me nothing whatever, and when I came to the +next one again it was just as bad. I travelled for some days in this +way, and had had scarcely what would make half a meal for each day, when +at last I arrived at a place only twenty-four miles from town where I +should have to cross the river--if I could--so as to get on the main +road leading into the settlement. It was about ten o'clock in the +morning when I neared this place. It was only a small cattle station, +but I thought that whatever happened I must try to get some rations +here. I came along at a pretty brisk gallop, but when I was about twenty +chains from the houses which formed the place my horses shied violently +at a man who was lying in the middle of the road. I was, on the spur of +the moment, put out of temper, and began to rate the fellow for choosing +his camping-place there. + +"Oh, let me lie!" he cried. "Accursed be the day I came to Queensland! I +have laid myself down to die here. Shall I not be allowed to lie? Leave +me alone. O God, O God!" + +I looked closer at him. It seemed that he was in earnest, and the wonder +was that he was not dead already, as he was lying there in the terrible +sun without the least attempt to get into the shade. He was a short, +slightly built man and had a terribly emaciated, woe-begone face. It +took a long time and much persuasion before I could get him to tell me +what was the matter. Then he said he was dying from hunger. "Pshaw," I +said, "right here in front of the station! I am hungry too, but in half +an hour I shall be back to you with something to eat." + +He laughed bitterly. "Have you got it with you?" said he. "No; but I +have money, and I will buy some up here." "You might save yourself the +trouble to ask for it," said he; "you will get nothing." "Why," cried I, +"I will tell them that a man is dying with hunger outside the door." +"They know it. The squatter hunted me yesterday when I told him that I +could not cross the river or get further without food. Oh, accursed +Queensland, and the day I saw it first! Let me lie; I only want to die." + +I could not understand it, and I came to the conclusion that it must be +the man's own fault, and that the people on the station had no idea +about the despairing state he was in. I looked at the river. It was +swollen yet, and not fordable on foot, but I had no fear but that I +could get over with the horses, and I was, therefore, in a position to +promise him that he should be with me in town that same evening. On +hearing that he brightened up a little, but I was myself so hungry that +I thought I would go up to the station and get some food for both of us. +I therefore hobbled out the pack-horse after the swag was off him, and +rode up to the place, promising my despairing friend to be back to him +with all possible speed. When I came into the yard my horse made a dead +stop outside an old stable. I got off, and looking into the stable saw +another man lying on his face in one of the stalls. "Halloa," thought I, +"it appears that all the people here are off their legs!" and I sang out +to him, asking him whether he was dying of hunger too. "No; but I am +blind," said he. "Who is that?" I told him I was a traveller, and that I +just wanted to buy a few rations. "It is not you who were here +yesterday?" inquired he. "No," said I, "that poor fellow is lying out in +the road, and says he is dying for hunger. Surely it has not come to +that!" "I was awfully sorry for that man yesterday," cried he, "and +only that I cannot see at all, for I got the sand-blight a fortnight +ago, I should have given him something." Then, as with a sudden +inspiration, he said, "Are you his mate?" No, I was not his mate, I was +only sorry for him and very hungry myself. "Will you swear you will give +him the half of what I will give you?" Yes, I would swear. "All right! +Then look in that other stall there under the bags and you will find a +piece of bread, but remember he is to have the half." "Yes, yes," cried +I, while I looked under the bags and found about half a pound of stale +bread. "But are you really so very hard up here? Surely you must have +plenty of beef." "So we have," said he, "but I have been blind for two +weeks and cannot kill a beast if we run out, and the super himself is a +bad hand. We are nearly out of flour and everything else, and there is a +party of fencers cut off by the flood that we expect in now every day. +We must keep something for them; still, that super is a skunk, or he +would have given the man a piece of beef, but he won't give anything or +sell either, so there is an end to it. You might save yourself the +trouble of asking him. Are you gone?" "No," said I, "I am here yet. I am +only looking at an old grey-bearded man who is coming out of the house +and putting a saddle on a horse." "That is he." "Is he the only one at +the place besides yourself?" "Yes, unless you reckon the old woman in +the kitchen." "Could I not get round her after he is away?" "Not you; +you will get nothing out of either of them." + +I then went up to the squatter and saluted him. Would he kindly sell a +few rations? "No, I will do nothing of the sort," cried he. "You do not +know how short we are here. I have got no rations." "But," said I, "you +surely do not know that there is a man lying out there on the road who +says that he is dying of hunger. Just sell me a piece of beef." "Dying +of hunger. Ha! ha! ha! that is too good. Why, he is a regular loafer. He +was here for rations a fortnight ago, and he was here yesterday. Let him +go into town. I cannot keep him." + +"That is all very well," said I, "and I cannot pretend to say what the +man is. But how can you get to town, when you cannot cross the river? He +told me he has been lying about in all this rain and flood, and the +wonder to me is that he is not dead already." "Is that your horse?" +inquired he, pointing to where I left it standing. "Yes." "Well, then, +just take my advice and get into town yourself." "And won't you sell me +a piece of meat?" "No." "Not if a man were dying of hunger?" "Don't talk +to me about dying of hunger. It is too rich, it is indeed! +Good-morning." With that he rode away, and left me standing there +meditating upon what he had said and at free liberty to decide in my own +mind whether, after all, I had any right to expect people in a place +like that to provide the necessaries of life for travellers. + +But one cannot argue with the stomach, and, ravenously hungry as I was, +my sympathy was with myself and with the man whom I left out on the +road, and I therefore thought I would make one more attack, this time on +the old woman in the kitchen, who, during my conversation with the +super, had twice come round the corner to empty slops, and who, I +suppose, as a mark of the respect in which she held me, had thrown them +so close to me that it had sprinkled me all over. She did not look very +hospitable, but I had at that time great faith in my power to charm the +fair sex, or, as Englishmen less gallantly call them, the weaker sex. I, +therefore, wreathed my face in smiles and put myself into the most +graceful position I could assume, while I knocked at the kitchen door. +No one answered my knock, so I went inside, still retaining my charming +appearance. On the other side of the kitchen stood a row of saucepans +with something cooking in them, which emitted an odour that did not go +far to prove the theory of want raging in the place. Here is my luck +again, thought I, I will get a good meal at last. The old lady now came +running in from one of the rooms--a most forbidding object to make love +to! "You can't get no rations here," cried she. "Clear out of the +kitchen!" Then she took up a piece of firewood and struck at me with it. +How could any one expect me to look happy under the circumstances? I +knew I was getting to look ugly. Then I pulled out my large knife and +rolled my eyes in my head. That seemed to please her. She now only +mildly protested, while I took the lid off one of the saucepans and +lifted out five or six pounds of meat, with which I made my escape. When +I came out with this to the traveller on the road his joy was a pleasure +to look at. He could not understand how I had got it. So weak was he +that he cried like a baby. + +The tea, of which I had yet a supply, was made, and then the feast +began. I counselled him not to eat too much, but between the two of us +there was scarcely anything left when we were both satisfied. Then he +began to tell me his story, of which I can only give the general +outlines as I have forgotten the details; but a more terrible tale of +misery I had never heard, and any one who will fill in the picture for +himself might easily understand that he must have suffered almost enough +to justify him in lying down to die at last, when all hope seemed gone. + +He said that travelling along he had been overtaken by the flood, and +had camped by himself in a similar place to the one where I had been a +prisoner, only with this difference--that he had had no tent. He had +managed to keep a log on fire all the time, and had hung his blanket +over a pole to form a fly, but of course he had been as wet all the time +as if he had been hauled out of the sea. By the time the water went down +he had eaten every scrap of provision he had, but had nevertheless +reached this station about a fortnight since. Here, as already stated, +they would neither sell nor give him anything. He could not cross the +river to get into town, so, in a terrible condition from hunger, he had +turned back in another direction, some twenty miles or more to where +there was another small station. The country was all flooded on his way, +and for five miles in one stretch he had waded through water to his +shoulders, only being able to know the direction in which he wanted to +go by following along a fence, the top of the posts of which were out of +water. I forget how long it took him to reach this place, but when he +did arrive there it was only to be told that he could get nothing. Being +apparently the sort of man who would bend his neck to any stroke of +misfortune, he had meekly turned away, he did not know himself whither, +when by good luck as the issue proved, he had fainted when close to the +house. A man had then come out and given him something to eat, besides a +little to take with him, and had told him that twenty-five miles in +another direction was a place where he could procure supplies. He had +gone thither, but as the people there had proved but one degree more +merciful than their neighbours, they had only kept him alive a couple of +days, and then started him back here to where I found him. All his money +was seven shillings. The squatter here, as already stated, would neither +sell nor give him anything, and as he saw he could not cross the river +for several days on foot, not being able to swim, he had laid himself +down to die when I arrived on the scene. While he told me all this, he +was gradually getting very sick. The sweat hung in large drops on his +pale face, and he threw himself about writhing in agony. I need scarcely +say, perhaps, that he had eaten with less moderation than he ought. I +bustled about him, trying or wishing to do him good, but I did not know +how. I was also very anxious for us both to be off, because I heard the +squatter fire a gun in the yard, and I concluded that he had come back +and that the old woman had told him what had happened perhaps, or most +likely drawn on her imagination at the same time. As the bishop said +when he saw a criminal on the road to the scaffold: "But for the grace +of God, there go I." The reader of this truthful narrative may decide +for himself who deserved hanging most--the squatter or I; but whatever +the opinion may be, I had undoubtedly committed robbery under arms, and, +in my opinion, the man who would see another die outside his door if he +had it in his power to save him, might also add such small particulars +to the tale as would make his case strong and interesting--especially as +there was a lady in the case. I had doubtless committed a crime which, +according both to the spirit and the letter of Queensland law as among +the greatest for which a criminal is punished. Just imagine how the case +might have appeared in court. There the old grey-bearded super, the +worthy pioneer, and the interesting, inoffensive old lady, who in a +fainting condition, would tell her horrible tales; here a fat, bouncing +Crown Prosecutor; and lastly the two loafers in the dock, whom nobody +knew or would have believed. As after events proved, the super was +either too much of a gentleman or too much of a coward, as he neither +came out and remonstrated with me nor prosecuted me afterwards. + +Six weeks after this event happened I was an employer of over a dozen +men, and as time went on I was looked upon as a rising man in that town +toward which I was now going, and no one thought themselves too good to +know me. Among my acquaintances was this same super. He did not at all +recollect me from this adventure; but one day I reminded him, and told +him what I thought about him. + +Begging the reader's pardon for this digression, I will return to where +we still sat in the road. While I, for the above-named reasons, perhaps +not clearly defined in my mind, was anxious to be off, and my travelling +companion was writhing with pain before me, an accident happened which I +at the time thought one of the greatest possible misfortunes. My best +horse--my saddle-horse--got drowned in the river. It came about in this +way: ever since the flood the air had been thick with countless millions +of sand-flies; it was so bad that one could scarcely exist unless when +sitting with the head over a fire enveloped in smoke. The horses +suffered fearfully from their attacks, and just then they both became as +it were quite maddened, and galloped straight for the river. I managed +to catch the one, but the other, as if it premeditated suicide, jumped +right in, and being hobbled could not well drown just then, but was +swept down the current and away. Next morning we had eaten all our +provisions and were as hungry as ever. The river, however, was falling +fast. I got on the one horse and tried the river in several places, but +nowhere was it so low that the horse could walk across. I could get +across myself on the horse, but it reared and bucked when the other man +tried to climb on it too; as he could not ride he began his lamentations +again, imploring me not to leave him behind. I had no idea of doing +that, but it cost me not a little trouble to think out what was best to +do. Unfortunately neither of us could swim, and as he was of very short +stature, the river would have to fall until he could walk over almost +dry-footed before he would dare to attempt it. I was a head taller than +he, and as the day went on I kept walking in the river and trying it +with a long pole to find the shallowest place. The current was very +strong, but the water was falling fast, and tired out by my companion's +lamentations and the whole misery of the situation, I told him that we +would a couple of hours before sundown try to cross the river or die. It +was a dangerous undertaking, because not only was the water still very +deep, and I had only a general idea of it being fordable, but the +current was so strong that I did not know whether I should be able to +keep on my feet when I came to the deepest part. First of all I wrote a +few words in pencil to the manager of the bank in which I had my money, +telling him what to do with my account in case I should not claim it. +After having put it into an envelope, because I always carried these +things, I gave it to my fellow-traveller, and without letting him know +what it contained, exacted from him a promise that he should post it in +case I got drowned. It was the least he could do certainly, because as a +reward I said he might have all the rest of my belongings, always +supposing, of course, that I should have no further use for them. Then I +helped him on to the horse, and told him just to sit still until he saw +me safe on the other side, and that the horse would come to me when I +called it as long as he did not pull it about. Having done all this, I +took off all my clothes and strapped them on to the pack-saddle, and +lifted the whole burden on to my head so as to give me extra weight. I +also got a pole about fifteen feet in length to stand against, and then +I faced the river. The river was not very broad--I should say about +three chains. From the side where I was it gradually sloped towards its +deepest part which was near the other side, and there was at least one +chain in width where I did not exactly know the depth more than that +the horse so far had had to swim across earlier in the day when I had +tried it. The river was still falling every hour, and I was determined +for both of us to get across then. I waded into the water, and it all +went well until I came to the middle. Somehow I thought I must have got +to shallower ground than where I had tried it before. The water rushed +round my sides, and every time I had to lift the pole and put it forward +it took me all my strength to do it. The last step forward had brought +me into still deeper water, and my strength seemed exhausted--perhaps it +would be more correct to say that to hold the pole in position and keep +myself on my feet demanded as much force as I ever had. I seemed to +stand dancing on the top of the big toe while I could feel with the +other foot that it was still deeper in front of me. I pressed on the +pole to keep me down, but I felt that I had neither strength nor pluck +enough to shift it either forwards or backwards, nor even to keep +standing where I was very long. Yet how tantalizing; in front of me, +just another step, and I might grasp the boughs of a large tree hanging +out over the water. And must I die there? + +As in a panorama my whole life seemed to pass before me in review: At +home--my schoolmates, I saw them all--then Hamburg--the emigrant +ship--Thorkill--the gold-diggings--the South Seas--Brisbane--all along +this miserable journey and back where I stood. I turned my head and +looked behind me to where the Englishman sat on my horse. He laughed +loud an unpleasant ha! ha! ha! ha! It was his way to cheer me on, but it +jarred on my ear. My heart began to beat as if it would burst. Have you +travelled so far, I thought, and have you seen and suffered so many +things on purpose only to drown in this muggy stream? Never! I gathered +myself together for a supreme effort. I threw the pole from me, rushed +forward, rolled, lost the saddle, but grasped a bough, and the next +moment I climbed up the other side, when I fainted for the first and +only time in all my life. When I recovered the other man had come over +and stood alongside of me with my horse. We intended to travel all +night, so as to be in town as soon as possible, and my friend seemed +quite gay at the prospect before us. Where we stood, however, was only +on a sort of by-road, and I understood that the main road to ---- was a +couple of miles distant. I, therefore, suggested to my companion that he +should walk off as fast as he could, while I was pulling myself a little +together, and that I would overtake him on the horse before it got dark. +But--I had not got a stitch of clothes to put on! and I had to ask him +to let me have some of his. Then he began to talk while he pulled his +swag open. He had only two shirts and two pairs of breeches that he had +paid fourteen shillings for in Liverpool, but of course I should have +them. Were they worth ten shillings? Was the shirt worth five shillings? +I would not get the like under eight shillings. If I thought it was too +much, I might have the breeches he had on for five shillings. + +I was completely amazed. Was this the man for whom I had risked my life, +and as nearly as possible lost it? For whom--call it what you like--I +had begged and taken by force at the station what I thought necessary to +save his life? For whom I had lost my horse which had carried me so many +hundred miles, and the saddle and all my clothes? Here I sat as naked as +the day I was born, all to save his life, and my reward was to see him +in front of me; but he had not perception enough to know that he owed me +anything. The money I had--three or four pounds--I had on purpose taken +out of the swag before I crossed the river, and given to him so that it +might not be unnecessarily lost. I had, therefore, that, but I wondered +whether he would give me any clothes without money if I had none, or +whether, if so, I would have to force them from him. I asked him, and +said, "What if I have no money?" "Oh, but you have," said he; "I saw in +your purse you have plenty of money." Then I bought the clothes and paid +him what he asked for his breeches, for which he had given fourteen +shillings in Liverpool. I bought his shirt also for five shillings, and +a dirty, nasty towel he had was thrown in as a present for me to wind +round my head instead of a hat. + +Then he went away quite happy, asking me not to be long behind, as he +was to ride half-way on my horse, and I dressed myself in my new +clothes. I did look a terrible picture. The breeches were six inches too +short, the shirt would not button round my throat, I had neither socks +nor boots--and then the towel as a turban round the head! The horse +fairly snorted at me with terror. I sat where I was till it was nearly +dark. I had no wish to see the other fellow any more. But I made a vow, +never, if it was possible to avoid it, would I travel like this again. +But I was in dejected spirits--not, I believe, so much for what money +value I had lost, or for any fear that I could not put a stop to this +sort of travelling about almost whenever I liked, but for the conduct of +that man. As I rode along I kept saying to myself, "It shall be a +valuable lesson." Still, I fear that that sort of lessons are generally +more sad than valuable. + +It was now all but dark, and when I had ridden so far as to make me +wonder that there was no sign of the main road yet, I got off the horse +and began to look closely at the track along which I had come. I then +found that it was only a cattle track, and that the horse must have left +the right road without my noticing it. Then I began to run the tracks of +the horse back again. But the tracks were confusing, crossing and +recrossing each other so much that I lost my cue, and by the time it was +quite dark I stood in dense brigalow scrub and had to acknowledge myself +lost. I tied the horse to a tree and sat down alongside. It was no use +to walk about further before daylight. I had a general idea where the +town was lying, but I knew there were no houses or people living between +where I was and there. I was also afraid that if I did not strike the +road I might pass the town within half a mile and not know it. As for +making back for the river and station, that would be out of the +question, because it would have made me no better off. But on the whole +I was not afraid that I should be unable to find my way somewhere, the +question was really--how long could I keep up without food? The idea +occurred to me that I could at all events eat the horse as a last +extremity, but I drove the thought away as soon as it came. To be there, +and look up at the horse--my only friend--and to think that I intended +to kill it, seemed to me both criminal and impossible. I sat the whole +night smoking my pipe and waiting for the sun to rise so that I might +take the bearings of the country, and make up my mind in which direction +I would look for the road and town. + +At sunrise I started, leading the horse after me, because it was no use +now to follow the cattle tracks, and where I had to go was through the +brigalow, where I had quite work enough to do in twining in and out +among the trees and the brambles. As the day wore on I came into country +a little more open, but yet I could not ride among the trees. The sun +shone with terrible force, and the sand-flies followed us in clouds. +There was a ringing sound in my ears. I kept arranging and rearranging +the towel on my head; still, I feared that I had sunstroke, or that +something serious was the matter with me. The air seemed full of +phantoms--vicious-looking creatures. Then I saw a whole army of ladies +and gentlemen riding past, jeering me and lolling out their tongues at +me. I knew it was delusions, and I kept walking as fast and, as it +proved, as straight as possible, but still I felt myself laughing, +crying, and yelling at all these phantoms or at the unoffending horse. + +"Shoeskin," cried I to the horse, "you old dog, do you know that it was +to save you from hunger's dread that I went on this journey? And now you +have enough to eat, while I must die of hunger! but to-night I will kill +you--do you know that? Oh, Peter, Peter! is it not strange, so vicious +as you have got to be? Holloa, is that a frying-pan over there on that +log? So it is; and full of fried eggs and potatoes. Good luck. Look at +him eating it all. Stop, you rascal! No, it is a woman. Do you call +yourself a lady? You are no woman at all; only a devil. It is all +devilry. Peter, take no notice." About noon I had a bath in a water-hole +I came to, and ate some snails I found in the water. After that I felt +somewhat better, and shortly after I came on to the road. I became quite +collected in my mind at once, and jumping on to the horse tore away at +full gallop for the town, which proved to be only five or six miles +distant. As I came riding up the street at a sharp trot I knew myself to +be quite sane, but I had a suspicion that I looked very much the other +way with the towel round my head and the short tartan plaid breeches. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE END. + + +With this John Gilpin's ride the present part of my adventures, which +are contained in the manuscript I wrote to my father, comes to an end. +So does practically what I care to publish. I have seen many ups and +downs since then, but from this point in my narrative I could no longer +lay claim to be a "missing friend." I am not a novel writer, and I could +not continue the history of my life and still preserve my _incognito_ +unless I wrote fiction. As my object in publishing these papers is to +give a faithful picture of Australian life, I should feel very doubtful +of attaining the desired end. To the reader who has kindly followed me +so far, I would say that he may believe that Australia is full of young +men who, like myself at that time, travel about from place to place, and +that similar scenes to those I have described happen every day in all +parts of Queensland. If I have been able to rouse the reader's interest +and sympathy with myself in these pages, I shall feel proud, and think +that after all I did not travel and suffer so many hardships in vain. + + + + + The Gresham Press, + + UNWIN BROTHERS, + CHILWORTH AND LONDON. + + + + +History. + + The Vikings in Western Christendom, A.D. 789-888. By C. F. KEARY, + Author of "Outlines of Primitive Belief," "The Dawn of History," + &c. With Map and Tables. Demy 8vo., cloth, 16s. + + + National Life and Thought; Or, Lectures on Various Nations of the + World. Delivered at South Place Institute by Professor THOROLD + ROGERS, J. S. COTTON MINCHIN, W. R. MORFILL, F. H. GROOME, J. + THEODORE BENT, PROFESSOR A. PÜLSKY, EIRIKE MAGNUSSON, and other + Specialists. Demy 8vo., cloth, 10s. 6d. + + These Lectures attracted much attention in the Session of 1889-90, and +are now reprinted to meet the desire of a very large public. In each +case the authors have striven to put their audience in thorough sympathy +with the National Life and Thought of the Nations treated of. + + + Battles and Leaders of the American Civil War. An Authoritative + History, written by Distinguished Participants on both sides. + Edited by ROBERT U. JOHNSON and CLARENCE C. BUEL, of the + Editorial Staff of "The Century Magazine." Four Volumes, Royal + 8vo., elegantly bound, Ł5 5s. + +LORD WOLSELEY, in writing a series of articles in the _North American +Review_ on this work, says: "The Century Company has, in my judgment, +done a great service to the soldiers of all armies by the publication of +these records of the great War." + + + Diary of the Parnell Commission. Revised with Additions, from + _The Daily News_. By JOHN MACDONALD, M.A. Large crown 8vo., + cloth, 6s. + +"Mr. Macdonald has done his work well."--Speaker. + + + The End of the Middle Ages: Essays and Questions in History. By + A. MARY F. ROBINSON (Madame Darmesteter). Demy 8vo., cloth, 10s. + 6d. + +"We travel from convent to palace, find ourselves among all the +goodness, the wisdom, the wildness, the wickedness, the worst and the +best of that wonderful time. We meet with devoted saints and desperate +sinners.... We seem to have made many new acquaintances whom before we +only knew by name among the names of history.... We can heartily +recommend this book to every one who cares for the study of history, +especially in its most curious and fascinating period, the later middle +age."--_Spectator._ + + + The Federalist: A Commentary in the Form of Essays on the United + States Constitution. By ALEXANDER HAMILTON, and others. Edited by + HENRY CABOT LODGE. 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The +illustrations make one of the most attractive features of the +series."--_The Guardian._ + + Rome. By ARTHUR GILMAN, M.A., Author of "A History of the American + People," &c. Third edition. + + The Jews. In Ancient, Medićval, and Modern Times. By Prof. J. K. + HOSMER. Second edition. + + Germany. By Rev. S. BARING-GOULD, Author of "Curious Myths of the + Middle Ages," &c. Second edition. + + Carthage. By Prof. ALFRED J. CHURCH, Author of "Stories from the + Classics," &c. Third edition. + + Alexander's Empire. By Prof. J. P. MAHAFFY, Author of "Social Life + in Greece." Fourth edition. + + The Moors in Spain. By STANLEY LANE-POOLE, Author of "Studies in a + Mosque." Third edition. + + Ancient Egypt. By Canon RAWLINSON, Author of "The Five Great + Monarchies of the World." Third edition. + + Hungary. By Prof. ARMINIUS VAMBÉRY, Author of "Travels in Central + Asia." Second edition. + + The Saracens: From the Earliest Times to the Fall of Bagdad. By + ARTHUR GILMAN, M.A., Author of "Rome," &c. + + Ireland. By the Hon. EMILY LAWLESS, Author of "Hurrish." Third + edition. + + Chaldea. By Z. A. RAGOZIN, Author of "Assyria," &c. Second + edition. + + The Goths. By HENRY BRADLEY. Second edition. + + Assyria. By ZÉNAĎDE A. RAGOZIN, Author of "Chaldea," &c. + + Turkey. By STANLEY LANE-POOLE. Second edition. + + Holland. By Professor THOROLD ROGERS. Second edition. + + Medićval France. By GUSTAVE MASSON. Second edition. + + Persia. By S. G. W. BENJAMIN. Second edition. + + Phoenicia. By CANON RAWLINSON. + + Media. By Z. A. RAGOZIN. + + The Hansa Towns. By HELEN ZIMMERN. + + Early Britain. By Prof. A. J. CHURCH, Author of "Carthage" &c. + + Russia. By W. R. MORFILL, M.A. + + The Barbary Corsairs. By STANLEY LANE-POOLE. + + The Jews under the Roman Empire. By W. DOUGLAS MORRISON, M.A. + + Scotland. By JOHN MACINTOSH, LL.D. + + Switzerland. By LINA HUG and R. STEAD. + + Mexico. 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Illustrated. + +"A very charming volume.... Dr. Garnett has achieved a very interesting +and scholarly piece of work."--_Manchester Guardian._ + + 5. Mireio: A Provencal Poem. By FREDERIC MISTRAL. Translated by H. + W. PRESTON. Frontispiece by JOSEPH PENNELL. + + 6. Lyrics. Selected from the Works of A. MARY F. ROBINSON (Mdme. + Jas. Darmesteter). Frontispiece. [_Nearly Ready._ + + 7. Poems of Robert Surtees. Introduction by EDWARD PEACOCK. [_In + Preparation._ + +_A few copies of the Edition de Luxe of the earlier Volumes in the +Series may still be had. Prices on application._ + + * * * * * + +_THE PSEUDONYM LIBRARY._ + + Under this title will be published a collection of entirely New + Novels and Romances, neatly printed and tastefully bound. They + will be specially suited by their brightness and originality for + holiday reading. + +_24mo., cloth, price 1s. 6d. each._ + + 1. Mademoiselle Ixe. By LANOE FALCONER. [_Ready._ + + 2. The Story of Eleanor Lambert. By MAGDALEN BROOKE. 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I was outside). + + page 143: "Kankas" changed to "Kanakas" (expected a hundred + Kanakas shortly). + + page 216: "dassengers" changed to "passengers" (volunteers, + although passengers). + + page 221: "draging" changed to "dragging" (horse in dragging + oneself). + + page 306: "monoply" changed to "monopoly" (break through the + monopoly). + + page 330: "ou" changed to "out" (A man had then come out). + + page 348: "Pal." changed to "Pall" (Pall Mall Gazette). + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISSING FRIENDS*** + + +******* This file should be named 36399-8.txt or 36399-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/6/3/9/36399 + + + +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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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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Missing Friends</p> +<p> Being the Adventures of a Danish Emigrant in Queensland (1871-1880)</p> +<p>Author: Thorvald Weitemeyer</p> +<p>Release Date: June 13, 2011 [eBook #36399]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISSING FRIENDS***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Pat McCoy, Nick Wall,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + Internet Archive/American Libraries<br /> + (<a href="http://www.archive.org/details/americana">http://www.archive.org/details/americana</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/missingfriendsbe00londiala"> + http://www.archive.org/details/missingfriendsbe00londiala</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/illus_title.jpg"> +<img src="images/illus_title.jpg" alt="COVER" title="COVER"/> +</a> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> +<p><a id="pagei" name="pagei"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/illus_001.png"> +<img src="images/illus_001.png" alt="A SWAGSMAN" title="A SWAGSMAN"/> +</a> +</div> +<div class="center"><p class="caption">A SWAGSMAN</p></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;"/> + +<div class="poem" style="width: 24em;"> +<big><i>"Adventures are to the adventurous."</i></big></div> + + +<div><span style="margin-left: 24em;"><big><span class="smcap">Beaconsfield.</span></big></span><br /> +</div> +<p class="gap4"></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/illus_003a.png"> +<img src="images/illus_003a.png" alt="THE ADVENTURE SERIES" title="THE ADVENTURE SERIES"/> +</a></div> + +<p class="gap4"></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/illus_003b.png"> +<img src="images/illus_003b.png" alt="MONOGRAM" title="MONOGRAM"/> +</a></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/> + + +<p class="title"> +THE ADVENTURE SERIES.<br /> + +Illustrated. Crown 8vo, 5s.<br /> +</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="center"><b>1.</b><br /> +Adventures of a Younger Son. By <span class="smcap">E. J. +Trelawny.</span> <i>With an Introduction by Edward +Garnett</i>. Second Edition.<br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>2.</b><br /> + +Robert Drury's Journal in Madagascar. +<i>Edited by Captain S. P. Oliver.</i><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>3.</b><br /> + +Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military +Career of John Shipp. <i>With an Introduction +by H. Manners Chichester.</i><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>4.</b><br /> + +The Adventures of Thomas Pellow, of +Penryn, Mariner. <i>Edited by Dr. Robert Brown.</i><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>5.</b><br /> + +The Buccaneers and Marooners of America. +Being an Account of the Notorious Freebooters +of the Spanish Main. <i>Edited by Howard Pyle.</i><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>6.</b><br /> + +The Log of a Jack Tar; or, The Life of James +Choyce. With O'Brien's Captivity in France. +<i>Edited by V. Lovett Cameron, R.N.</i><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>7.</b><br /> + +The Voyages and Adventures of Ferdinand +Mendez Pinto. <i>With an Introduction by +Arminius Vambéry.</i><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>8.</b><br /> + +The Story of the Filibusters. By <span class="smcap">James +Jeffrey Roche.</span> To which is added the Life +of Colonel David Crockett.<br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>9.</b><br /> + +A Master Mariner. Being the Life and Adventures +of Captain Robert William Eastwick. +<i>Edited by Herbert Compton.</i><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>10.</b><br /> + +Kolokotrones, Klepht and Warrior. <i>Edited by +Mrs. Edmonds. Introduction by M. Gennadius.</i><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>11.</b><br /> + +Hard Life in the Colonies. <i>Compiled from +Private Letters by C. Carlyon Fenkins.</i></p> + +<p class="center"><b>(<i>OTHERS IN THE PRESS</i>.)</b></p></blockquote><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/> + +<h1> +MISSING FRIENDS,</h1> + + +<h2>BEING THE ADVENTURES<br /> +OF A DANISH EMIGRANT<br /> +IN QUEENSLAND (1871-1880)<br /></h2> + +<p class="title">ILLUSTRATED</p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="title">LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN,<br /> +PATERNOSTER SQUARE. MDCCCXCII<br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> +<p><a id="pagev" name="pagev"></a></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>INTRODUCTORY.</h2> + +<div class="figleft"> +<a href="images/illus_007.png"> +<img src="images/illus_007.png" alt="I" title="I"/> +</a></div> +<p>was born in Copenhagen in the +year 1850. My father was a builder +there in moderately good circumstances. +I was the second son of a +large family, and it was my parents' +great ambition that we all should +receive a good education. My eldest brother was +intended for a profession, and I was to be, like my +father, a builder, and to take up his business when +old enough to do so.</p> + +<p>My father ruled us with an iron hand. I am +sure he had as much love for us all as most fathers +have for their children, but it was considered +necessary when I was twenty years old to treat +me as boys of ten are ordinarily treated. During +the time I learned my trade in my father's shop +I never knew the pleasure of owning a sixpence. +After I had learned my trade, it was just the same. +I worked for my father and received my food, +clothes, and lodging as before, but I never dared +to absent myself for a quarter of an hour even +without asking permission, and that permission +was as often refused as granted. A rebellious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> +feeling kept growing up in me; but I dared not +ask my father to relax a little and give me more +liberty. To assert my independence before him +seemed just as impossible, and yet my position +had become to me unbearable. There was but one +thing to do, viz., to run away, and I had scarcely +conceived this idea before I carried it into execution.</p> + +<p>I was now twenty-one years old. One evening, +after saying good-night to my parents in the usual +orthodox fashion, I went to my room, and when all +was still, crept downstairs again and left the house. +I had a bundle of clothes with me and a watch, +which I pawned next morning. I forget the exact +amount I received for it, but to the best of my +recollection it was the first money I ever possessed, +and it seemed to me a vast sum to do with just as +I liked. I dared not to stay in Copenhagen for +fear of meeting my father, or somebody who knew +me, so I bought a through ticket for Hamburg the +same day, and although the purchase of this ticket +nearly exhausted my funds, it was with a feeling +of glorious freedom that I left Copenhagen. On +arriving in Hamburg I obtained work at my trade +without difficulty, and soon saved a little money, +so that a few months after I found myself on board +an emigrant ship bound for Queensland, where I +have been ever since; but for fourteen years I never +wrote home. After that interval I sent a short +letter to my eldest brother, telling him that I was +in Queensland, married, in good health, my own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span> +master, but that I had not made my fortune; however +I owed nobody anything, and was satisfied, +&c., and asked only for news.</p> + +<p>By return of mail came two letters, one from my +father and the other from my brother. My brother +wrote that our father was now getting to be an old +man, and that his one sorrow these many years +had been what had become of me, coupled with +the fear that I did not remember him as a loving +father; that he had always acted as he thought +best for us, and that the greatest joy the earth +could offer him would be if he might see me again. +My father wrote in the same strain, adding that if +I could not come home I must write, and that +nothing I had done would seem trivial or uninteresting +for him to read about.</p> + +<p>When I had read these letters my conscience +smote me. Not that I had ever felt indifferent to +my parents. I had thought of them often. I do +not think ever a day went over my head during +those fourteen years in which I did not remember +them. Yet I had never written. But I was now +a married man, had children of my own, and I +could fully realize how it is that the parents' love +for their children is so inconceivably greater than +children's love for their parents. Would it not be +a hard day for me if ever I should have to bid good-bye +to any of my sons, even if they went out of the +front door, so to speak, with my blessing? Would +the least they could do be to write to me circumstantially +and often what they thought, what they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> +did, how they fared? And here was I who never +to that moment had been conscious of having done +my parents any wrong! Yes; I would write. I +began the same evening, and kept writing on +about all my wanderings from the day I had left +home up to the time of writing, and as I wrote, +many things which I thought I had forgotten came +clearly to my mind; and so I grew interested in it +myself. I had my writing copied. All this took +time; but at last the manuscript was posted to my +father with a large photograph of myself enclosed. +It arrived the day after his death, but before the +funeral. They buried the manuscript and photograph +with him.</p> + +<p>These are matters far too sacred to write much +about, even anonymously. I only touch upon +them to show the origin of the following narrative. +The copy I had taken has been lying in my desk +now for some years, and when I took it out the +other day it occurred to me that as it gives a faithful +picture of life that thousands of people lead +here in Queensland, it might be of general interest. +I doubt if ever a book was written with more +regard to truth. I have added nothing to the +original manuscript, but I have erased such private +matters as, of course, would be out of place in a +publication, and I have also considerably shortened +the description of the voyage out, as a voyage +across the sea is a more than twice-told tale to +most Australian people. I have also altered the +names of persons and places mentioned wherever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span> +I have thought it necessary. It is now several +years since the events recorded happened. The +incidents themselves are sometimes trifling and +always harmless. Should any one who may read +this book think they recognize themselves in any +part of my descriptions, I must beg them to accept +my apology. They will most likely then also +recognize the substantial truth of my description +and my endeavour not to be too personal.</p> + +<p>Although it will be seen by the reader that I +have often acted foolishly and seldom excelled in +wisdom, yet I do not wish it to be understood that +I consider my life altogether misspent. As I look +back, I think of myself as being always cheerful. +It is the privilege of youth to be happy under +almost any circumstances, and I was young when +these things I here set down happened. If the +tale has a moral, I think it will be found sufficiently +obvious. Queensland is full of missing friends. +Some come to the colony in the hope of making a +speedy fortune, that they may go home again and +bless the old folks with their good fortune. Others +come out with the hope of making a good home, +and to bring the old people thither. The successful +man is generally a dutiful son too, insomuch, +at least, that he lets everybody know of his success; +but the man who fails, either from lack of perseverance +or from untoward circumstances, too often +becomes a "missing friend." It is generally true +that a man is valued according to the cut of his +coat, but it is not true between parent and son.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span> +So! write home, you lonely swagsman on the dusty +track of the far interior. Do not think yourself +forgotten. If you have parents alive you have +friends too, who think of you night and day. If +you will only let them know that you yet have a +thought left for them, they will bless you.</p> + +<p>I have nothing else to add to this introduction, +except that possibly the book might have been +more interesting if it contained more thrilling +adventures, but in my opinion the only merit +which it may possess lies in the strict regard paid +to truth and the avoidance of all exaggeration from +beginning to end.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>CONTENTS.</h3> + + +<ul class="none"><li> +<span class="ralign">PAGE</span><br /> +<br /> +INTRODUCTORY<span class="ralign"><a href="#pagev"> v</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">chap.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I. MY FIRST EXPERIENCES ON LEAVING HOME</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page3"> 3</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.75em;">II. ON THE EMIGRANT SHIP—THE JOURNEY TO QUEENSLAND</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page19">19</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">III. MY ARRIVAL IN QUEENSLAND</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page43"> 43</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">IV. GAINING COLONIAL EXPERIENCE</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page73"> 73</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.75em;">V. TOWNSVILLE: MORE COLONIAL EXPERIENCES</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page101"> 101</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left:0.5em;">VI. ON THE HERBERT RIVER</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page131"> 131</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.25em;">VII. LEAVING THE HERBERT—RAVENSWOOD</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page161"> 161</a></span><br /> +<br /> +VIII. SHANTY-KEEPING, PROSPECTING, THORKILL'S DEATH<span class="ralign"><a href="#page185"> 185</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">IX. GOING TO THE PALMER</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page211"> 211</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.75em;">X. RETURNING FROM THE PALMER</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page231"> 231</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">XI. A LOVE STORY</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page259"> 259</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.25em;">XII. BRISBANE—TRAVELS IN THE "NEVER NEVER" LAND</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page271"> 271</a></span><br /> +<br /> +XIII. THE END<span class="ralign"><a href="#page315"> 315</a></span><br /> +</li></ul> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h3> + + +<ul class="none"><li> +(1) <span class="smcap">A Swagsman</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#pagei"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></span><br /> +<br /> +(2) <span class="smcap">Landing of Emigrants</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page55"><i>To face page</i> 55</a></span><br /> +<br /> +(3) <span class="smcap">An Alligator Pool</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page145"> " " 145</a></span><br /> +<br /> +(4) <span class="smcap">The Baker's Cart</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page190"> " " 190</a></span><br /> +<br /> +(5) <span class="smcap">Breakfast in the Gold Fields</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page198">" " 198</a></span><br /> +<br /> +(6) <span class="smcap">Rockhampton</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#page232"> " " 232</a></span><br /> +</li></ul><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page3"></a>CHAPTER I.<br /> +<br /> +MY FIRST EXPERIENCES ON LEAVING HOME.</h2> + +<div class="figleft"> +<a href="images/illus_019.png"> +<img src="images/illus_019.png" alt="H" title="H"/> +</a></div> +<p>aving left Copenhagen in the way +just described and arrived in Hamburg, +my first care was to get +work, which I fortunately obtained +the next day. The place I worked +in was a large building or series of +buildings, four or five stories high, with cabinet-makers' +shops from the cellars to the loft. We +had to be at work at six o'clock in the morning, +and to keep on till eight o'clock at night. Even +on Sundays we worked from six o'clock to dinner-time. +Some would keep on till it was dark on +Sunday evening, and content themselves with +knocking off early, as they called it. And such +work! Everybody would work as if the house +were on fire. It was all piecework. The man +who stood next myself had made veneered chests +of drawers for thirty years, and never had made +anything else. He would turn out two veneered +chests of drawers in a week, and the work was +faultless. These chests would, I am sure, sell +readily in Brisbane for from twelve to fifteen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +pounds each. He earned about nine Prussian +thalers per week. On the other side of me stood +a man who made German secretaires. There were +nine or ten men in the shop. The master was +working too. He seemed just as poor as the men. +Whenever work was finished, some furniture dealer +would come round and buy it. The men seemed +all more or less askew in their bodies with overwork. +If ever they had an ambition in their lives, +it was to instil a proper sense of respect into the +two apprentices. I did pity these two boys. They +received their board and lodging from the master, +but they could, I am sure, easily have made one +meal out of their four daily allowances. They +slept in a corner of the shop. They had, of course, +to be at work at six o'clock in the morning the +same as the men, but while we had half an hour +for breakfast and "vesperkost," they were supposed +to eat and work at the same time. After work-hours +at night they had to carry all the shavings +out of the shop to the loft above, from which they +were occasionally removed; then they had tea, +and finally, if they liked, they were allowed to +work a couple of hours for themselves. They +would get odd pieces of veneer and wood and +make a workbox. When it was finished, they +would one evening run round among the furnishers +from door to door to sell it. The dealer would +know that the materials were not paid for, and of +course he did not pay them. A shilling or less is +the price a dealer in Hamburg pays for one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +those beautiful workboxes which are sold all over +the world. I wonder how often the buyers of +these boxes think of the lean, ragged youth who +has stood late in the night and made it, most often +perhaps to buy an extra morsel of bread from the +proceeds—because, as a matter of fact, that was +what these two boys used to do. The master was +accustomed to beat them daily, and if he was at +any time thought too sparing with the rod, and +thereby neglecting their education, the men would +themselves beat the lads. It was winter-time, and +daylight only about eight o'clock in the morning. +But in order to reach the shop at six o'clock, the +men, who lived mostly in the suburbs, had to be +up at half-past four. I had rented a small room +from one of them, and he and I would generally +arrive together. As we scrambled our way up the +dark staircase, he would caution me to walk softly +because, as he said, he wanted to catch these rascally +boys in bed. Poor fellows! If we were the +first to arrive they would most often lie in a heavy +sleep. Then he would rush at them, tear the bed-clothes +off them, box their ears, and call them all +sorts of <i>endearing</i> names. The master and the +other men, with scarcely an exception, approved +of this. It was not breakfast-time before eight +o'clock, and very often when the apprentices had +been hunted to work in this manner they would +get another correction before then for neglecting +to wash themselves! Poor fellows, they had no +time. But, as is well known, the harder an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +apprenticeship a boy has served, the more cruel +does he in his turn become after his time is out. +The Prime Minister himself has not, I am sure, +half as serene a contempt for an apprentice, as a +journeyman only three months out of his apprenticeship.</p> + +<p>This work in Hamburg certainly did not suit +my ideas of liberty. My head would swim of an +evening when I came out of the shop. As already +stated, I had rented a small room from one of the +men for a mere trifle, and I boarded myself, and +very frugal fare I had. This self-denial was +because I soon made up my mind that I would not +stay in Hamburg; and so I saved all that was +possible, and it did not take long before I could +commence to count a few thalers in my pocket.</p> + +<p>On Sunday evenings I used to go and sit in one of +the public gardens, and listen to the music and +watch the faces of the people there. Sometimes +when there was a free show I would be there too, +but I never spent any money. With the din of the +shop scarcely out of my ears, and Monday morning +looming only a few hours away, I almost fancied +myself of a different species from such happy, +chattering crowds as would pass and repass seemingly +without a care in the world. There was not +a soul to speak to me. For one thing, I could +scarcely make myself understood in German; for +another, the men in the shop, who were the only +people I knew, if I did go down the street with one +of them, conversation had but one subject for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +which was sure somehow to turn on the quality of +the glue we used. They all had a vast reverence +for the furniture dealers, and they were just the +people I did not like. I was therefore quite +alone. I was also wonderfully homesick. Often +and often did I wish that I had never run away, but +it seemed to me impossible to go home again, and so +I used to sit and speculate on what I had better +do. I thought when I had saved a little money +I would go to Paris, or Vienna. They were nice +places I believed; but of one thing I was certain, +and that was that as yet I had not seen anybody +I liked as well as myself, or any place I liked +so well as my own home!</p> + +<p>One Sunday evening as I walked about the +streets, I saw in a window a large attractive +placard on which was printed in red letters, "Free +Emigration to Queensland, Australia." I am +certain I had never heard the name of Queensland +before, and my impression of Australia was that it +was the place to which criminals were sent; I had +also read something about gold-diggings in Australia, +but it was in the form of a novel, and I did +not believe it. I called to mind what I had read in +school in the geography about Australia, and I +remembered it well. It was only a short paragraph. +It ran thus: "Australia. Travellers who +come from this distant continent, bring us very +conflicting statements. It seems to be a land in +which nature is reversed. The leaves are hanging +downwards on the trees instead of upwards.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +Rivers run from the ocean inland. The interior +seems to be one vast lake of salt water. It is the +home of the kangaroo and the black swan. +Altogether but little is known about it. Captain +Cook discovered it in the year 1788. It belongs +to England. The Dutch have possessions in the +North. It has been used as a penal settlement by +England, but this is now abolished. Of late years +gold has been found in considerable quantities and +in several places. Wool, tallow, and hides are exported. +Towns, Sydney and Melbourne."</p> + +<p>I can scarcely help laughing to myself now +when recalling to mind this piece of information +about Australia. It was really an ignorant +and disgraceful morsel of information for one of +the best schools in Copenhagen to offer to its +pupils, but it was all the knowledge I had or +could get, and it was not much assuredly to give +one any idea what Queensland was like. But +somehow I determined to find out what I could +for myself. There was gold there that might be +more easily got, perhaps, than by making chests of +drawers, so the next day I presented myself at the +office, and asked for information.</p> + +<p>Yes, it was right. The ship would sail in a fortnight. +"Did I want to go? Two pounds sterling +please. Only three or four tickets left." "Well—I +would like a little information." "Information, +yes, we have every information. What is it you +want to know? You get, to begin with, all your +food, and splendid food I can tell you is provided<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +for you on the whole journey. You also get bed-clothes, +and your own knife, spoon, and fork. +This will all become your own property on arrival +in Queensland. Here is the bill of fare."</p> + +<p>I hesitated. "When you have arrived in +Queensland," cried my informant, "the Government +of that country further engages to board you +in a first-class hotel for two or three weeks, free of +all cost, while you make up your mind what occupation +to engage in, and—here it is in the prospectus, +look at this!—they further guarantee to find +work for you making roads, for at least two years +after." "Do you yourself know anything much +about Queensland?" I ventured to ask; "I suppose +you never were there?" "I, no, I never was there—I +wish I had been, I should not have to stand here +to-day. But we have every information. They +have found gold-diggings again. Here are the +statistics of exports; I will read them for you:—</p> + + +<div class="center"><table style="width: 65%"> + +<tr><td align="center">Marks.</td><td align="center">Marks.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Hides, 100,000,000,000,000.</td><td align="left">Horns, 1,000,000,000,000.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Wool, 10,000,000,000,000.</td><td align="left">Tallow, 10,000,000,000.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Cattle, 1,000,000,000,000.</td><td align="left">Horses, 100,000,000,000,000.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Gold, 100,000,000,000.</td><td align="left">Silver, 1,000,000,000,000.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Copper, 1,000,000,000,000,000.</td><td align="left">Tin, 1,000,000,000,000.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>What do you think of that now?"</p> + +<p>What I thought was that it was all Latin to me. +I did not know why they exported all this wealth, or +why they did not keep it at home. No more did +the man in the office, I am sure. I asked, did he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +think it probable that I should obtain work as a +carpenter and joiner, and did he know what wages +were going? To that he replied that, of course, +I could get work as a carpenter and joiner, and +that wages were at least one pound per day, but +that if I wanted to go he would have to enlist me +as an agricultural labourer, because a whole cargo +of carpenters was already engaged, but that undoubtedly +it would pay me better to dig for gold +myself. I concluded that Queensland was a sort +of vast gold-field. I asked what was the cost of +living. He said, "If you like to live in an hotel +and be waited on hand and foot, of course you can +have it at all prices; but if you like to cook your +own food, it will cost you nothing. Why man! +don't I keep telling you that the cattle are running +wild; if you are wise enough to buy a gun before you +go, your meat supply is secured when you get there, +and all sorts of game are in equal abundance—kangaroos, +parrots, and all sorts." I inquired how much, +or rather how little, money did he think it indispensable +for me to have when I landed. He said as for +that, no doubt the less I had, the less chance there +was of my being robbed. It would, in his opinion, +take some little time for any one to get alongside +the people over there, but, once having taken their +measure, there was no mistake about the resources +of the country. Then, as an afterthought, he +added, "In case on your arrival in the country you +should decide to establish yourself as a farmer +the Government makes you a present of"—I think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +it was—"eighty acres of land. This land is the best +and richest agricultural land in the colony, and +you can pick it out yourself wherever you like best +in Queensland. I will give you the order which +entitles you to your deeds."</p> + +<p>I felt very undecided. I did not buy any ticket, +nor did I go to work again that day. I kept roaming +about the streets, thinking of Queensland and +the information I had received. Wages a pound +sterling per day! if I would only work for it—the +price of food scarcely anything—cattle running +wild—large gold-fields! How was it, then, that +there were hotels where people would wait on the +immigrants, "hand and foot." What silly fellows +those publicans must be; would it not pay them +better to work at a trade, or look out for gold? +Truly the order of things seemed to be reversed in +that country. And eighty acres of their best land +would they give me if only I would go! Perhaps +horses were running wild as well as cattle. I might +be able to catch some and break them in to plough +the land. But what about the plough? Surely +nobody made ploughs there; I should have to +bring that with me. Perhaps there were saddlers. +No doubt it would be a good country for a saddler +to go to, as it seemed they had so many hides over +there that they had to export them. Probably if +a saddler wanted materials, all he had to do was to +flay a bullock and carry its hide away. But were +there bricklayers to build houses? Certainly I +could do the carpentry myself; on a pinch I could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +do the bricklaying too. Everything seemed so +satisfactory. Perhaps I should even find gold +enough while I was sinking the foundation for my +house to pay for the lot! It need not be such a +large piece either. A couple of nuggets, as large +only as one brick each, would go a long way. +Perhaps, too, if I found them, it would be as well +to go home again at once. Then I began to +wonder if the fellow in the office would not, if I +had asked him, have told me that houses, by careful +cultivation, would grow out of the ground +themselves in that country. In a word, I gave it +up. Perhaps it was all one tissue of falsehood. +Perhaps the diggers over there were only trying to +get slaves to work for them. That seemed to me +more reasonable. Why should the Government of +the country make me a present of a large estate? +All bosh! But I would go, just to see the land in +which swans were black and rivers running from +the ocean inland. If I should be caught on my +arrival, perhaps I might escape to the interior. +There would be no cabinet-maker's shops there, +of that I felt certain. The prospectus said that +the Government would guarantee to every intending +emigrant work on the roads of the colony for +two years, if he desired it. I could not think it +probable that I desired that, but perhaps it was +meant to pay our passage money. Anyhow, I +promised myself I should not fail for the want of +firearms if I did go, and perhaps we could slay any +enemies we found altogether, because undoubtedly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +there would be others on board ship who would +fight for their liberty. Liberty, delightful liberty! +To be the captain of a gang of warriors, half +robbers, half gold-miners, roaming over the continent +of Australia, seemed a delightful prospect.</p> + +<p>This is, I am sure, quite a faithful picture of +my wild ideas of Queensland after I had elicited +all the information I could get.</p> + +<p>The Government of Queensland spends yearly, I +do not remember how large a sum, in promoting +free emigration. They prepared at great cost, and +with elaborate exactness, statistics to show the +commercial position of the country. Then they +trust all this to the care of some office at home, +whose officials know little or nothing about Queensland. +The principal in such an office puts a clerk +at the counter who has, perhaps, no other qualification +for the work than a facility for talking. +Fancy a home-bred peasant coming into such a +place with the care of a family on his shoulders, +and a little money in the bank, and think of the +clerk talking to him about gold-fields and firearms +and statistics, all the time admitting he never was +in the colony himself! I think it is quite enough +to prevent any one going out. And yet people of +that class are the only class of poor men who really +can do well in Queensland, and they are almost +the only desirable sort of emigrants for the country +itself. The reason is that such a man can, after a +very short spell of colonial experience, go on to a +piece of crown land, and by residing there for five<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +years, and making certain improvements thereto, +very soon get a living out of the soil, and while +keeping his children round him, be independent of +everybody. But such people are at a premium in +Queensland. On the other hand, the towns out +here are crowded with men who seek for light +work, and I have no hesitation in asserting that +for certain people, such as junior clerks without +influence, grocers' and drapers' assistants, second-class +tradesmen, &c., it is quite as difficult, if not +more so, to obtain a living in Queensland as in +Copenhagen. The land order I obtained, and which +entitled me to eighty acres of land wherever I +chose to take them, I did not consider of any +value—in fact I threw it away; so did all the other +emigrants on the ship: one might have bought a +whole hatful for a dozen biscuits!</p> + +<p>But all this is digression. Still, it is a matter +which excites considerable interest in Queensland, +and as I think of that time, these thoughts come +uppermost in my mind. No doubt if I, in the +office, had met a man who came from the colony, +and who could have advised me and spoken with +confidence about the country itself, I should have +made up my mind to go in a far less reckless way, +and probably I should never have acquired, after +my arrival in the country, that roving disposition +which I contracted, and which did not leave me for +many years, if it has even left me now. Well, I +made up my mind to go. I also made up my mind +that it was unnecessary for me to work any more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +in Hamburg while waiting for the ship, so I took +a holiday and went about town every day, spending +my money to the last farthing. I had bought a +revolver, ammunition, and a long knife. I had +bought my ticket too, and so the day arrived when +we were all mustered and put on board the ship.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page19" name="page19"></a>CHAPTER II.<br /> +<br /> +ON THE EMIGRANT SHIP—THE JOURNEY TO QUEENSLAND.</h2> + + +<p>What a motley crew we were: Germans, +Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, a Russian +Finn, and an Icelander. There were many +nationalities, but in the majority of cases extreme +poverty was evident in their dress and stamped +upon their faces, and it was easy to see that the +same spirit of recklessness which filled me had +somehow also been instilled into them. Nearly +everybody had guns, revolvers, and knives, which +were promptly taken from us as we stepped on +board. Then the Germans would sing in their +language of the Fatherland they had left, and in +overflowing gush, men, women, and children would +hang about one another's necks. Everybody acted +in such a mad manner as, I am quite sure, he +would never have thought of behaving in any time +before. Most of the men were drunk, and as it +grew dark at night one would seek for the other, +and as no one knew the way about, a perfect pandemonium +was raging—singing, fighting, blubbering +in all languages. I do believe if I had had a sixpence +left, I should have spent it in schnapps too,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +because my courage had never been tried so hard +before. But I had spent my all, and so I made a +virtue of necessity, and stood aloof looking round +me in silent wonder as to what the end would be.</p> + +<p>The prospectus said that the best and most +wholesome food would be served out to us in +abundance, and to look at the bill of fare one would +think it enough to satisfy any gormandizer. But +we got nothing at all the first day, and I was +unspeakably hungry. The prospectus said also +that bed-clothes were supplied to us, and these +were already in the bunks—it said mattrass, +pillow, sheets, and blanket. The mattrass and +pillow were right enough. The sheets it did not +matter much about—they were no good at all for +their purpose. But the blanket, the only thing +we had to cover ourselves with at night on a four +months' voyage, was smaller than the size of a +little dining-table when it was spread out, about +the size of a saddle-cloth and much inferior in +quality to anything worthy of the name of blanket +I have ever seen before or since. As a consequence, +those who had like myself put faith in that part of +the promises made us, and who had no other bed-clothes, +were compelled when we went to bed at +night, to put on all the clothes we had and sleep in +them. I slept every night for months at a stretch +in my overcoat, woollen comforter around my neck, +and the blanket, the all sufficient bed-clothes, rolled +round my head!</p> + +<p>I did not, as it may be imagined, sleep at all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +first night on board the ship. At break of day the +cook came in with a large wooden bowl of hot +potatoes, which he put on the table singing out, +"Breakfast!" I was thankful because I was very +hungry, and I began at once to get out of the bunk +so as to lose no time, but I was not half way to the +table before a dozen Germans had rushed the dish +and stuffed all the hot potatoes into their pockets, +their shirts, anywhere. There was not a taste left! +We were twenty-six men in that compartment, and +now the row of last night began again with renewed +vigour. I looked upon it as a lesson in smartness +which I should have to learn, and I thought that if +I did not learn it soon it would be a bad job. Half +of the twenty-six men were Danes—in fact we were +fourteen Danes in the compartment against twelve +Germans, because I, who hailed from Hamburg, +had been classified as a German although I am not. +I believe it was a premeditated assault on the +potatoes by the Germans, because they were all in +it, and not one of the Danes had got a morsel to +eat. The twelve Germans gave nothing up. They +ate the potatoes intended for us all with great +composure while we others were storming at them. +Didn't I feel wild!</p> + +<p>While the dissatisfaction was at its highest point, +somebody we had not yet seen came into the cabin. +He was a person with a decided military air about +him, and he was also dressed in a gorgeous uniform. +Two of the passengers who had already been sworn +in to act as police constables during the voyage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +came behind him, and in one of his uplifted hands +he held a document which he was waving at us. +"Halt," cried he. "Halt, Donnerwetter, I say, +halt, while I read this paper." All the Germans +without an exception had just come from the +Franco-German war, and the sight of the uniform +and the determined military air about the doctor, +as we soon discovered him to be, had the effect of +shutting them up in an instant. Some of the +Danes were also old soldiers; anyhow, you might +have heard a pin drop while the doctor, who also +came straight from the war, where he had been +army surgeon, read a proclamation, the exact words +of which I forget, but which was to the purpose +that he had supreme command over us all, and—"Donnerwetter," +cried he, "Donnerwetter, I will +have order. If you are not amenable to discipline +I will handcuff every one of you. What sort of +Knechte are you?" This last remark was addressed +to a big strapping-looking German who +happened to stand close to him. The German +stood as stiff as a statute, saluting with the one +hand, while with the other he made a slight movement +which threw his overcoat a little to one side +and displayed a silver cross which he wore on his +vest. "Ha!" cried the doctor, greatly mollified, +"I see you have served the Kaiser to some purpose. +Don't forget you are not outside the Kaiser's law +yet. I hope we shall be friends." Then he +marched off to read his proclamation in other parts +of the ship. These Germans, I found out by degrees,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +were not at all bad fellows, but we did not for a +long time forgive them the assault on the potatoes, +and I have often thought what a peculiar sign of +German thrift it was. They had simply taken in +the situation more quickly than we; indeed it has +become nearly a proverb in Queensland to say that +a German will grow fat where other men will starve. +After that time order was restored, and no disturbance +worth mention occurred on the whole +voyage.</p> + +<p>Nothing can well be more tedious than a +sea voyage of four months under our circumstances. +The food was wretched and insufficient, +and, as I have already mentioned, most of us had +to sleep with all our clothes on us. We did not +undress; we rather dressed to go to bed!</p> + +<p>There was not a single individual among the +passengers who understood English. It is true I +had learned English for seven years in school, but +when we came ashore it proved that I could scarcely +make myself understood in a single sentence. +None of us knew anything about Queensland, and +many were the surmises and guesses at what the +country was like and what we were going to do +there. I remember distinctly once a number of us +were sitting talking about the colony, and that one +ventured to say that he had heard how in Queensland, +when journeymen tradesmen were travelling +about looking for work, they needed no "wander-book," +and travelled about on horseback; whereupon +another got up much offended, and said that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +had heard many lies about Queensland, but this +last beat all. He did not know so much about the +"wander-book," although he had taken good care +to have his own in order, but if any one tried to +make him believe that beggars went about on +horseback over there, then it was time to cry stop. +"No," said he, "he knew we should have to walk." +We others concurred.</p> + +<p>One of my companions, I remember, was a shoemaker, +and a religious maniac besides. He would +lie in his bunk and pray aloud night and day. It +was quite startling sometimes in the middle of the +night when all were asleep to hear him in a sanctimonious +voice chanting a hymn. If the spirit +moved him that way, then it was good-bye to sleep +for us for a long time after. He would be quite +irresistible. Most of us in the cabin were a phlegmatic +set who did not mind, but one, a Swiss, +was of a very excitable temperament. He was +"down" on the shoemaker. When the hymns +began in the night one might be quite sure to hear +after a minute, from the bunk in which the Swiss +lay, a smothered whispered little oath like "Gottferdam." +Then ten seconds after he would exclaim +in an everyday voice, with, however, an affected +resignation, "Gottferdam"; and as the full burden +of the sacred song kept rolling on, he would start +screaming out of his bunk with a real big "Gottferdam." +But the others did not allow him to +hurt his enemy. They seemed to agree that even +if it was not very nice, yet it must be wicked to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +hurt any one for practising his religion; but I +believe that their motives were not quite so pure, +because this shoemaker had an inexhaustible fund +of anecdote, and if anything were allowed to annoy +him in the night, he would tell them no stories +during the day. When all went smooth, it was the +practice for him to gather a score or two around, +the numbers swelling as he proceeded, and then +tell a story, something of a sensational sort about +love and murder. His whole soul would then be in +it, and he gesticulated as if he felt and believed it +all. Every Sunday he was always more or less +ready to cry out for hunger, and would at such +times sit and look right before him straight out into +space. Then he would say, "I wish I had a dish +of German dumplings. With cherry-sauce, with +cherry-sauce. Not the way one gets in the steam-kitchens, +but the way my mother used to make it." +Then we would get a long description of his +mother's recipe for German dumplings. There is +no mistake about it, too, we <i>did</i> fast on that ship.</p> + +<p>In reading over to myself some of these last +pages, I am afraid I have given my readers the +impression that the people on board, taken as a +whole, were a bad lot. If I have done so, it is +erroneous. It is true that my first impression of +the emigrants was not a good one, and perhaps +few among us excelled or were remarkable for +anything in particular, but taken as a whole +they were honest, hard-working people, and as +I became acquainted with them one after another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +I found that men of whom I had a very low opinion +when we first came on board, were in reality +entitled to very much higher estimation.</p> + +<p>We did not know anything about the country to +which we were going. We had an idea that we +were to begin a new life somewhat freer than in +the old world, and, simpleminded as we were—because +I was just as bad as anybody—thought +that when we came on board ship we could dispense +with such formalities as those the old world +had taught us. That is, I am sure, the true +reason why so many emigrants, when they leave +home as well as when they arrive in a colony, behave +so foolishly as to make one think that they never +had known the decencies of life before. It is the +same with the English emigrants, only they are +more quickly absorbed into the general population. +Still the word "New Chum" has in Australia +much the same meaning as the word "fool." I +never felt more bitterly ashamed than once, +several years after I came to Queensland, when I +saw a number of Danish immigrants just arrived. +It was in Toowoomba, and I had come down there +from up country on some business, when one of +the first things I was told was that there were a +lot of my countrymen in the depôt waiting for engagements. +Toowoomba is about a hundred miles +inland, and they had been sent up from Brisbane. +Well, I felt quite pleased, and decided at once to +go and see them and to speak a kind word to some +of them, if I could not do them any other service.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +But I came away a great deal less pleased than I +had gone. There were some long forms outside the +building, and on those forms sat as close as they +could find room a score or so of men. Each man +had wooden clogs on his feet and a long pipe in his +mouth. On his knees sat his girl with her arm +round his neck, and there they sat smoking and +kissing perfectly regardless of ladies and gentlemen +who would walk about looking at them and +going on again. One I stood glaring at seemed to +me the worst. He was a big ugly fellow, dressed +in a blue calico blouse, black trousers and wooden +clogs. In his hand he had a pipe five feet long, +but on his head he had a sugar-bag. These sugar-bags +are of straw and about two feet six inches in +length. He had tied in the corners to fit his head. +This gentleman would rush about and look in at +the doors of houses, throwing side glances in all +directions with the evident desire to attract attention. +At last he stood in the middle of the street +singing an old Danish song and jerking his body +about like a maniac. I could not contain myself, +so I went up to him and asked him if he did not +think he was ugly enough already without trying +to make himself still more so, and what did he +mean by sticking that sugar-bag on his head?</p> + +<p>"Oh," cried he, quite unconcerned, "here we +are right up on the top of these blue mountains, +that does not matter. It is a first-rate straw-hat. +Does it not look nice? Why! this is a free +country," <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>&c.</p> + +<p>One very conspicuous figure on board the emigrant +ship was the Icelander, Thorkill; he was so +unlike anybody else that I would like to describe +him, especially as he became my mate in Queensland +and we became close friends. His eyes were +bluer and his complexion clearer than that of any +one else I ever saw. He had long yellow curly +hair, and a big yellow beard. He was himself also +big and strong, and about twenty-eight years of +age—altogether I should say, as far as appearance +went, the beau ideal of a man. But as no one is +perfect, so had he also a grievous fault, viz., a certain +softness, like a woman. He always spoke as +with a comma between each word, and although he +had plenty of good sense and was, like all Icelanders, +well educated, yet he would, I believe, +give most people the impression that he was not +fit to battle with a wicked world. I often wondered +what might have brought him on board that ship, +but he was very reticent about his own affairs. +Meanwhile I have never known anybody whose +mind was so pure, whose thoughts were so lofty as +his. But he was unpractical, to a degree. He +claimed to know all his ancestors from the twelfth +century, when they had emigrated from Norway to +Iceland, and he said his father still farmed the +same land. Unless as a professor in ancient +folklore, I do not know what Thorkill was good +for. I had, in school, learned much Icelandic +folklore, and to see his eyes sparkle with joy when +he discovered this and knew that I was interested<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +in it besides, did me real good, and so we agreed +that during the voyage we would refresh each +other's memory in "Sagamaal." He arranged to +teach me the whole complete "Rümi Kronike." +So we bribed the fellow who lay next to me (we +had double bunks) to exchange berths with Thorkill, +and he and I then lay together, and there we +were telling "Sagamaal" from morning to night +and sometimes the whole night through. He +would make me tell him one of the "Sagas" I +knew, although he knew it far better himself, just +to see if I had mastered it properly. He would +listen with all his might, then he would say: +"Excuse—me—for—interrupting you—but—are—you—sure—that—you—are—correct—in—describing—Sharpedin—the—son—of—Hakon—as—a—longbearded—man. +The—Rümi Kronike—does—not—say—so—on—the—contrary." Then we +would have a long argument about that, Thorkill +insisting upon the importance of being exact.</p> + +<p>He wrote a splendid hand, but from the pedantic +ungainly way in which he took hold of anything, +I made sure he was not a good worker. He had +studied scientific farming at the agricultural college +in Copenhagen, and afterwards had been, he said, a +sort of overseer on a large farm on the island of +Als. Whether he had given satisfaction at that or +not, I did not know, but what was the good of all +his knowledge, supposing he had any, when he did +not understand English, had no friend nor money, +and was a bad worker? One day I said to him:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thorkill, do you ever try to draw a real picture +to yourself of how we shall get on when we come +to Queensland? I am thinking of this, there are, +according to what we have been told, no more +people in all Queensland than there is in a good-sized +street in Copenhagen, and here are all these +people on board ship who will be, the moment they +land, ravenous in their competition for something +to do, and another ship has sailed from Hamburg +a week after us. How will they fare? I cannot +solve it. But it strikes me very forcibly that if +the sail of this ship were set for Copenhagen harbour +instead of Queensland, the only solution to +the problem there would be for the police to have +some large vans in readiness and to give us a drive +in them straight out to the workhouse." "Oh +say not so," cried Thorkill, "say not so. God will +protect us. You and I will never part." "No," +cried I, in the fulness of my heart, "we will stick +together, and we will get something to do too, you +will see." And then, with a new sense of responsibility +on me, I would talk to him cheerfully about +Queensland, and the opportunities there would be +to do well for both of us, which could not fail, but +meanwhile I would rack my brain with thinking +about how to make a few shillings to land with. I +had not got a cent, and I knew very well that +Thorkill had nothing either. It was a bad place +I was in for making money, for there was not much +of it on the ship, but I now very much regretted +that I had spent all that I had before I came on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +board. Here were all these empty bottles lying +about the ship which nobody seemed to claim. +Why, thought I, they must be worth a little +fortune in Queensland. Good idea! We will +collect them all. I communicated with Thorkill. +"Oh," said he, "you—will—make—your—fortune—in—Queensland. +They must be worth a mint +of money. But is it right to take them? What—a—business—ability—you—have—got. +Nobody +seems to want them. I think we might have +them."</p> + +<p>So then we went about begging and borrowing +empty bottles everywhere, without letting anybody +know for what we wanted them, and we piled +them up in our bunks so that we could scarcely get +into them; then people, when they saw what +we were after, put a price on the bottles and came +to us to sell. So Thorkill bought five shillings' +worth on my recommendation, all the money he +had, and still they came with bottles, but the firm +was compelled to suspend payment. Then I, who +was understood to know a little English, opened a +class for teaching that language. My pupils had +no money, but I took it out in empty bottles, and +by and by we had them stacked by the hundred +all round about ready for market.</p> + +<p>The food we got was so wretched and insufficient +that it was scarcely possible to keep body and soul +together upon it. I have asked many people since +how they fared in other ships, and I have come to +the conclusion that our ship was the worst pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>vided +of any in that respect. Indeed, the emigrant +ships which leave England are well supplied +with everything, even luxuries, for their passengers. +But in this ship we were sometimes on the point +of despair with hunger. We got our week's supply +of biscuits served out once a week. Those who +were unable to practise self-restraint, generally ate +them in a couple of days, and for the rest of the +week subsisted on the so-called dinner which consisted +of a couple of mouthfuls of salt pork or +mutton, with a little sauer-krout to keep it company. +Our ration of sugar was a small table-spoonful +per week to each man. The tea and +coffee we got morning and evening was served in +the same wooden trough in which we fetched our +dinner, and as the sugar ration was, as already +stated, served separately once a week and quickly +consumed, our beverage was void of any sweetening. +But as for me, I never fooled about all the +week with my spoonful of sugar; I always put it +into the first pint of tea I got. We also got some +butter, and we never troubled much either about +the quantity or quality of that article. The +trouble was that we had seldom a biscuit to spread +it on. The prospectus had said that cordials were +served out, and in conformity with that every +sixteen men received one bottle of lime-juice per +week. These were our rations. There was on +that account an amount of dissatisfaction on board +verging sometimes on open mutiny. The water +was also fearfully bad, with inches of froth on it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +but bad as it was, we would drink it as soon as we +got it and then feel like dying of thirst sometimes +before the time came to serve out the next rations. +As a sort of proof of the correctness of this statement, +I might mention that one of the passengers +had a canary bird which died of thirst because +some of us would steal the drop of water in its +glass!</p> + +<p>I have already written that no disturbance worth +mentioning occurred on the voyage. When I +wrote that, I forgot an incident which happened +when we had been out to sea about a couple of +months. The doctor, as I have already stated, +was also in command of us. He had been an +army doctor in the German army during the +Franco-German war, and came straight thence. +Whether he made the mistake of thinking he was +in command of a convict ship full of criminals, or +whether it was that his military training was the +cause of it, I cannot say, but in one word, he was +boss of that ship. Every now and then somebody +would be handcuffed and shut up during his pleasure, +without anybody taking much notice; but +one day he went a good deal too far. One of the +single girls had been accused by the woman in +charge of them of some fault, upon which I need +not farther enlarge more than to say that it was +trifling, and that the culprit was a very respectable +girl, who shortly after her arrival in Queensland +got married to a good husband, and that both she +and her husband are, and always were, pre-emi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>nently +respectable people. The girl was tied with +ropes to the mast, with her hands fastened behind +her in such a way that she was exposed to the full +view of all the six hundred people on board. I +was lying in my bunk when a fellow came in very +excited, and said, "Look here, chaps, is not this +getting red hot? There is that poor girl, so and +so, chained to the mast and crying as if her heart +would break. What are we coming to?"</p> + +<p>The moment I heard there was a girl chained to +the mast and crying, I jumped up and registered +an oath aloud that she should not stand there one +second longer than it would take me to reach the +mast. So did every other man who was in the +cabin; even meek Thorkill cried out, "It is too +bad, too bad." Then I grabbed the wooden trough +in which the concoction of roasted peas that passed +for coffee was served out in the morning. So did +every other man grab at something to strike with—one +would take a wooden clog, one a long stick, +another a boot, and all something, and in less time +than it takes to read this we were all on deck. +But to reach the mast was then impossible. The +girl had not stood there yet for five minutes, but +there was already a surging, impenetrable crowd +on the scene of action. As I could not see, and +could not content myself to stand still, I jumped +up in the rigging, and from there, right enough, I +saw the girl and four German constables (passengers +who had been sworn in as police) watching +her. How shall I describe the scene. It all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +seemed to me to happen in one instant. Hundreds +of men were yelling from behind at the top +of their voices, "Throw them in the sea. Cut her +down! Where is the doctor? He shall not live +another hour." A dozen men were struggling +round the girl, some with the constables, and some +of the more moderate among the passengers with +the aggressors. One towering fellow, a Dane, had +one of the constables by the throat, and the +wooden bowl swinging over his head, and held +back by another man, who implored him to give +the doctor a chance to order the girl's instant +removal. The doctor was not on deck, but he +came running on now, with a revolver in each +hand. He kept on the quarter-deck, but he sang +out to the constables to cut her down and take her +into the hospital. Somehow that was done, and +the doctor walked down the steps from the quarter-deck, +turned the key in the lock, put it in his +pocket, and faced the crowd.</p> + +<p>Did you ever notice two dogs when they meet, +and before they begin to fight? How unconcerned +they try to look. They will look at anything, anywhere +but at one another. So looked the doctor +as he stood there with a cigar in his mouth, +smoking away and looking at anything but the sea +of faces around him. Around him like a solid wall +had the men closed, armed with knives, wooden +bowls, sticks, &c., and the howl, "Throw him in +the sea," kept on from the rear. No doubt the +doctor realized that he had gone too far, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +tried all he could while he stood there not to give +further offence, but I watched him particularly +from my seat in the rigging. Fear was not in that +man. Not a muscle in his face shook, and yet I +am certain that his attention was strained to the +uttermost, and that the fingers which closed on the +triggers of the two revolvers would have caused +them to blaze away the moment he had felt any +one touch him ever so gently. Behind him again, +but up on the quarter-deck, stood the captain and +the first mate, with large overcoats on, and their +hands in their pockets. I had a suspicion that +they also had revolvers—who knows how many—within +easy distance.</p> + +<p>But it was one thing to see a young woman tied +to the mast and crying, and it was (the doctor and +his revolver apart) quite another thing to look at a +closed door and know that she was there and that +no further harm would befall her. But most of +the men had a few minutes ago been so excited, +that it was not in human nature for them to cool +down at once. The man who had when I came on +the scene taken the most prominent part, was still +the foremost person. He stood within three feet +of the doctor, and, as I said already, like a solid +wall stood the others armed with divers things; but +no one touched the doctor, and no one spoke to +him, and there was a sort of undecided silence. +Then the leader cried, "Well, what are you +waiting for? You said throw him in the sea; just +give the word and he shall be overboard in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +second." My heart beat violently. I thought +murder would be committed in an instant, and not +a single life either, but perhaps scores would be +sacrificed. There was a dead silence. The wind +whistled through the rigging, but it was the only +sound heard. The doctor did not move; the +captain did not move; the mate did not move; and +none of the men moved. None dared to give the +aggressive sign, and each seemed to feel it just as +impossible to beat a retreat. It might have lasted +a couple of minutes, perhaps less. It seemed an +age to me. Then we all heard Thorkill's voice, he +was somewhere in the rigging too, and he cried, +"Countrymen—listen—to—me! hear—what—I—say! +Disperse! Disperse!—quietly. Let—us—complain—when—we—come—ashore! +He—will—shoot—the—first—ten—or—twelve—men—who—touch—him—and—those—who—escape—now—might—be—hung—when—we—come—ashore. +Let—us—complain—when—we—come—ashore—and—we—will—get—justice." +Thorkill still kept +on talking, but the outburst of relief from all sides +completely drowned his voice. There was an +honourable way to get out of it. "We will complain +when we come ashore," "Disperse," "Let +it be enough," and similar expressions, were heard +on all sides, and the doctor, I suppose nothing +loth, had quite a pleased appearance as he stepped +up on the quarter-deck again as soon as the road +was clear, and disappeared out of sight simultaneously +with the dispersion of the men.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>That day the doctor did not show up again, but +on the next, I suppose just to show that he did not +consider himself beaten, all the single men were +ordered below at sundown as a punishment for +insubordination, and with that the matter ended. +But now the men were pressing Thorkill to write +out a complaint which should embody all we had +suffered, and all our supposed wrongs. Thorkill, +however, would do no such thing. It was not in +his line, he said. Many a talk he and I had about +it, but he could not see his way. "All these poor +people," said he, "are treated with contempt +because they are poor, and I cannot help them for +I am just as poor. We do not know to whom to +complain; we cannot write English, and what we +do will rebound on our own heads. Still," said +he, "it—is—a—shame—that—they—should—be—allowed—to—treat—people—like—this." +Then +I wrote out a complaint in Danish addressed to +the Danish Consul, Australia. The exact contents +of it I have long since forgotten, but it was to the +effect that we had been starved, ill-treated, had +had no sick accommodation, insufficient bed-clothes, +&c., and from that day I looked upon +myself as an important personage on board ship. +All the single and married men, with about a +dozen exceptions, signed the statement. All the +single girls wanted also to sign it, but I feared the +woman in charge might confiscate the document +(the matron in charge of the girls on our ship was +only an ordinary emigrant selected by the doctor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +and in my opinion scarcely the best that might +have been selected. In English emigrant ships +an educated lady is engaged as matron.) Thus I +could not bring myself to go among them for the +purpose of getting signatures, and so the females +were not represented in the complaint. (It might, +however, be interesting to English readers, as +showing the standard of education on the continent +of Europe, that of all the people on board +only one, an elderly man, had to sign his name +with a cross.)</p> + +<p>One day while I was getting these signatures, +and the men were coming to where I held my +levee as fast as they could, the doctor stormed the +cabin with two constables behind him and ordered +me to give up the document to him. Then the +doctor and I talked, I in Danish and he in German, +and we had a wordy war. I liked the doctor in +my heart, because he was about as brave a man as +one could wish to see, and very likely, too, some +of the severe discipline on board was not altogether +uncalled for; yet he was not going to have it all his +own way, and to this day I maintain that whatever +else might have been right or wrong, to starve as +we starved was scandalous. I write about these +things, and I do not know whether my readers +may think them of much interest, but all these +little incidents seem engraven upon my memory. +On board ship there is nothing to think about or +to talk about but the same old things. One is +cross, perhaps, and everybody talks much about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +the same thing. "Where are we, I wonder?" +"I wonder how many knots we are running?" +"I wonder how it will go when we come to +Queensland?" "I wonder if any one ever was so +hungry as I?" So it goes on, day out and day in, +and one has to discuss and answer these questions +about five hundred times every day.</p> + +<p>But now we are nearing Australia, and high +time I dare say the reader probably thinks it is; but +if my readers are tired out, so were we. Yet there +is another of the passengers I must describe, as I +intend to mention him again. I will do so in a +few words. He was a quiet, gentlemanly man, +about thirty years old. He told me he had been a +lieutenant in the Danish army, but had been dismissed +for insubordination. He managed, without +giving offence to anybody, to keep himself completely +in the shadow in the ship, and one seemed +not to know he was there. I will call him "A." +A. understood and spoke English fluently, but +nobody knew it. Indeed, when the complaint-fever +was on, he denied all knowledge of the +language. A young lady was travelling with him—that +is, she went as a single girl, but they got +married as soon as we came ashore. They had +quite a number of things with them to set up +house with, and lived for a short time very comfortably +on their means; when they went away +again I lost sight of them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page43" name="page43"></a>CHAPTER III.<br /> +<br /> + +MY ARRIVAL IN QUEENSLAND.</h2> + + +<p>Never can I forget the joy I felt, a joy universal +to all on board the ship, the first day +we saw Australia. It was Sunday. The whole +night before the ship had cruised about outside +Bass's Straits, and at break of day we ran in. We +did not know at all we were so near. We had not +seen land for three months when we had made out +the island of Madeira. Since then, as far as I +remember, we had not even passed another ship. +In the Indian Ocean, storm, sleet, rain and cold +had been the order of the day. This day, the first +time for months, the sun was shining brightly, and +a crisp, altogether different air fanned our cheeks. +It was blowing very strongly, but every sail the +ship could carry was spread, so that the ship lay +over very much, and we seemed to fly past the +land at lightning speed.</p> + +<p>This, then, was Australia, our future home—and +beautiful it seemed. Land lay on both sides. +That on the Australian side was flat, seemingly, +but Tasmania showed up with a majestic chain of +mountains. I had never seen a mountain before,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +nor had any of the other Danes, and we wondered +whether anything could grow on them, or whether +they were all solid stone. People were so glad, +that they ran about and shook one another's +hands. Three or four of the passengers had +telescopes, and we were all dying to have a long +look at the coast. It is amusing to myself to think +of the amount of ignorance which really existed +among us about the land to which we were going.</p> + +<p>"Do you make out anything over there?" one +would ask of the man with the telescope. "Yes," +came the answer, "it seems all big trees." +"Trees, did you say? I am glad of that. I will +lay a wager where all those trees will grow, something +else will grow." "This is not Queensland, +though." "Oh, well, only let me see plenty of +big trees when we come to Queensland, then I am +satisfied." "Do you think we shall be allowed to +cut the trees down?" "I do! they must be glad +to get rid of them. Why, it is self-evident that +you can take as much land here as you want; here +is so much of it and nobody to use it."</p> + +<p>"Do you know, I do not believe there is any +desert in that land at all!" "No more do I. I +am sure there is not. Why should there?" "I +am glad I went, now I have seen the land." +"So am I."</p> + +<p>In another part of the ship, as I walked about, +I heard a very dogmatic fellow laying down the +law to a lot of married men who were discussing +their chances of obtaining employment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why," cried he, "anyone with a spark of +common sense can see at a glance that there must +be <i>plenty</i> of work in Queensland. Look around +you here on the ship. All these people must have +shelter, and food, and clothes; I say they must. +That gives work—does it not?"</p> + +<p>The others did not seem quite convinced by the +argument. They appeared to know that there +was a missing link somewhere, but, like the Italian +smuggler in Charles Dickens' "Little Dorrit," +they kept saying, "Altro, altro, altro!"</p> + +<p>With such hopeful conversation the day wore +away, but before night we were out again in open +sea, and for another fortnight we saw no more of +Australia. Then we made the coast again and +sailed along in sight of land. Once more we were +out to sea again. At last one morning before +daybreak we dropped anchor, and when daylight +came found that we were quite close to land, and +right in front of a large flagpole and some neat +wooden cottages which stood on the shore. This, +then, was Queensland—Moreton Bay, and Brisbane, +the capital, lay some miles up the river. A +man came from one of the houses and hoisted a flag, +then another, and another. Our company thought +he did it to do us honour, or in joy for our +safe arrival, and in the wildest excitement they +screamed hurrah! until they were hoarse. Of +course, the man was merely making signals to the +town, and a few hours after a small steamer came +out, and some live sheep were put on board, also<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +fruit for the children, and potatoes—sweet potatoes +they are called, different from our potatoes at +home and much larger.</p> + +<p>Kind people!—Good Queensland!—Happy +country! No starvation here or smell of poverty. +Look at these potatoes, five, six, ten times as large +as those we have at home! Who said Australia +was a desert? So thought and spoke we while we +scanned, with a sort of reverent awe, some ladies +and gentlemen who were on board the little +steamer, and the pilot who had come on board +our own ship. Much to our regret, we found we +were not to land here. We were now informed, +for the first time on the whole voyage, that our +destination was a place called Port Denison, which +lies about half way between Brisbane and Cape +Somerset, and which was at that time the farthest +northern port opened up of any importance.</p> + +<p>So now we were off again on our interminable +voyage. Only our troubles were over. Alas! for +the complaint which I carried in my pocket, +we were all as healthy and strong a set of people +as any one could wish to see, for since we arrived +in Bass's Strait we had been served with plenty of +food. Just now we lived on roast meat, potatoes, +and pudding every day. I could feel my cheeks +grow redder and sleeker day by day. Alas! what +should I do? As a public man I was, of course, +not allowed to change my opinions, but when I +looked at all these fellows gormandizing from +morning to night, it seemed to me a sort of treason<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +to our cause. And what was worse, I bore no ill-will +to anybody. Surely the Danish consul, if +there was one, would expect to see a lot of emaciated +objects when we had been starved so cruelly, +and I myself so anxious to get something to do. +I might be hindered, and have to travel about +more yet, and, if I could not prove the truth, be +cast into prison! I often wish the complaint was +as nearly forgotten as our troubles seemed to be. +Yet, after all the talk there had been, it was too +late to draw back. The ship was now for a whole +week longer sailing northwards, always in sight of +land—often, indeed, so close that we could almost +have thrown biscuits ashore. The whole way +along was dotted with small islands, which became +more numerous the further north we sailed. +There must be some thousands of them if they +were all counted, but with the exception of a few +of the largest which lie near Brisbane, they are +nearly all uninhabited.</p> + +<p>To look at the coast on the mainland, one would +think that the man who said he would be satisfied +if he only saw plenty of trees in Queensland, ought +to feel contented. It seemed to us one vast forest. +Occasionally we saw smoke curling up from among +the trees, and at night we could see large fires. +This was the dry grass burning among the trees, a +very common thing in Queensland, but to us it +was a most startling and awe-inspiring sight. We +thought that it was the aboriginals who were +trying to get on to the ship, and that these were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +their fires. One night the fires extended for many +miles, and a most beautiful sight it was, but no +one gave a thought to its being a bush-fire. We +simply said, "What a lot of them there must be? +Why, there must be more niggers here than there +were Frenchmen at Sedan. Look at their fires!" +And then we thought it strange that we did not +get our weapons back again that they had taken +from us when we came on board. I do not think +any one was afraid. I myself rather liked the +novelty of being so near the "enemy." We +would sit and discuss how many we thought we +could keep out, supposing, for argument's sake, +that they dared to come—and altogether we felt +ourselves great heroes.</p> + +<p>I have a suspicion that the Queensland pilot +who was now in charge of the ship, along with the +other quality up on the quarter-deck, were having +a laugh at our expense. Anyhow, one evening I +happened to come near him I pointed round me +and towards the sun, which was just going down, +and summoning to my aid all my stock of English +I said, "Very nice, Queensland." "Yes," cried +he, "it looks beautiful. All that red glow in the +sky you see there is the reflection from the gold +on the gold-fields."</p> + +<p>I could not understand the meaning of what he +said, but I looked deferential and thankful for the +information all the same, and for fear I had not +taken it all in he called the mate and asked him +to explain it to me. Probably he thought I be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>lieved +it! That same night we sailed in between +a mountainous island and the coast, and one of the +guns was loaded and fired off. The echo reverberated +far and near in a most startling fashion, and +perhaps it was for the echo they fired it off, but +we were certain that it must have frightened the +natives out of their wits. We were even positive +we could see them round their fires trying to put +them out. Poor harmless aboriginals of Queensland! +They little know what respect they are held +in by new arrivals! It is only familiarity which +breeds contempt in their case. In a few more +years the last of them will have joined the great +majority. After that event has happened, no +doubt the bard will sing their praises and descant +about their matchless beauty, their enormous +strength, and their bloodthirsty cruelty.</p> + +<p>We had very little wind in the sails as we came +along, and nothing can be thought more beautiful +than the climate we now enjoyed. I am now so +used to the Queensland climate that I take it as a +matter of course, but how can I give the reader an +adequate idea of the joy I then felt in the very fact +of my existence: the beautiful sun in the day, the +glorious sunset in the evening, the full moon, and +the sparkling rippling silent water! Then all +these islands we passed were so full of mysterious +interest, while the vast unknown mainland lay +beyond. The reckless spirit of which I spoke as +universal when we came on board in Hamburg, +seemed now to have taken wings and fled. In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>deed, +the main trouble on board just now was how +we should make a good impression when we landed. +It was looked upon as a matter of honour that each +should be on his very best behaviour when we +came ashore, and I know of several of whom it +was thought by the rest that their clothes were +scarcely good enough, and who were lent by the +others sufficient to appear in better trim and +circumstances. The ship was now so clean that +one might have eaten his dinner off the decks +anywhere. Altogether there was a decided change +for the better since the day we first saw Australia. +At last, one day after having sailed along the +apparently uninhabited coast for eight or nine +days, we suddenly rounded a cliff, sailed into a +little bay, and dropped anchor. There lay Bowen +in full sight of us, and this was Port Denison. +How strange it seemed that these few scattered +wooden cottages we saw lying there on the beach +in appalling loneliness should be the spot that we, +through storm and trouble, had all been trying to +reach. For some time not a human being was to +be seen. There was a long jetty running out into +the water for a great distance, but we did not go +alongside. We lay, I think, half a mile out, and +we were given to understand that we were not to +go ashore before the morrow, and that on landing +all our wants would be attended to until we +obtained employment. Now it began to look +lively on the beach. A lot of people came out on +the jetty, and at last a boat, with a dozen gentle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>men +in it, got under way and pulled straight for +the ship. These are Queenslanders, thought I, +men who had fought with the Blacks and been on +the gold-diggings. Rich, no doubt they were. +Oh, how we screamed hurrah! for them, and how +kind they looked as they came nearer, waving +their handkerchiefs and smiling in response to our +greeting. They were not at all ferocious looking; +really much the same sort of people we had seen +before. Yet what adventures must they not have +gone through; what stories could they not tell if +they liked? But, of course, that would be beneath +their dignity. At last they were on board. Most +of them greeted the doctor and captain in German, +being, in fact, Germans. After a short interval, one +of the Queenslanders, who proved to be the agent +and interpreter employed by the Government to +attend to us when we came ashore, got up on a +big box and made a long speech in German, +exhorting us to do well, and gesticulating with +much gusto and great force. He advised us to +take the first work we could get, and while we +were accommodating ourselves to the new habits +of life and customs existing in this country, to try +to feel contented. "Where," cried he, "will all +of you be in twenty years? Some will be dead; +others perhaps alive. Some rich and honoured; +others perhaps only servants to those among you +who are more pushing or lucky. These little +children who are now running about us fighting +for an orange, may become members of Parlia<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>ment +in time. To-day you start with an equal +chance, but from to-morrow your fortunes will +begin to alter, and for certain not one of you will +for ever forget this day; and no doubt in after years +you will look back on to-day often, and as you +recall to your mind how your time has been +employed, wish you had it over again, that you +might act more wisely or become better."</p> + +<p>All this was good advice, and very well and kindly +spoken. He said much more to the same purpose, +but as good advice is everywhere cheap and plentiful, +I will not inflict the whole of his carefully prepared +speech upon my readers. He spoke for nearly an +hour. At last he congratulated us on our clean +appearance, wiped his perspiring brow, and the +performance was at an end. We were not sorry, to +tell the truth—at least I was not, because this was +the day on which our best dinner, grey peas stewed +with pork, was served out; and as it was past the +usual dinner hour when the sermon was over, not +only did I stand right in the tempting smell from +the kitchen, but I had also noticed how, gradually, +as the speech proceeded, the "skaffers," or men +whose duty it was to fetch the food from the cook's +galley, had one by one crept away, and now they +stood in a long row ready with their wooden troughs +while the cook began to dish up the peas.</p> + +<p>After dinner, when we came on deck again, I +heard some one cry out, "Are there any carpenters +on board? Carpenters—any carpenters who want +employment?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes!" I was one. Five more came forward. +One of the Queenslanders said he wished to engage +one or two carpenters. Of course some one acted +as interpreter. Well, he would give thirty pounds +sterling per annum to a good man. He would also +give him his board and lodging. We all thought it +a fair offer, although scarcely up to our expectations. +But then, again, what were our expectations? Half +the time we were afraid we should get nothing at +all to do, and the other half we thought we were to +pick up bucketsful of gold. Anyhow, we were all +anxious to engage, and I, with a full regard to the +fact that my only property was a partnership in two +hundred and odd empty bottles, was not at all +sorry to see that I seemed to find favour in his eyes. +I was offered an engagement on the above-named +terms. Would I kindly step this way to sign the +agreement? A document written in English was +placed before me for signature. I could pretty well +understand the meaning of it, and an interpreter was +there ready enough to explain matters, but there were +certain very important features in it which never +were explained to me, and which I myself totally +overlooked, and if I had seen these I should only +have agreed to them as a last resource from starvation. +As the agreement was just like those signed +by thousands every year all over Queensland to +this present day, I will give it here. It ran thus: +---- promised to serve —— for the term of twelve +calendar months and to obey all his lawful commands. +In return for which, —— would pay the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +sum of Ł—— sterling and rations. Then followed +the signatures. I understood that the word "rations" +meant my board and lodging, and so it +proved in my case, and as it was explained to me; +but most of my unfortunate shipmates who signed +similar agreements in the same good faith as I +found out in a practical manner that to them it had +another meaning. It will be noticed that the +agreement says nothing whatever about lodging. +Legally, a Queensland employer who engages a +man for wages and "rations" might let his employé +camp under the gum-trees without giving him any +sleeping accommodation whatever, and that is very +often done. If a man gets a shed or a corner of a +stable to live in, it is more than he is entitled to +under these agreements. So far as the food is concerned, +the word "ration" as used in these agreements +means a fixed quantity of certain things, +which, therefore, again is all an employé can expect +from his master. These consist of twelve pounds +of raw beef or mutton, eight pounds of flour, two +pounds of sugar and a quarter of a pound of tea. +As long as these eatables are tea and sugar, flour +and beef, nothing is said as to quality, and the most +inferior goods which are in the market are called +<i>ration-tea</i> and <i>ration-sugar</i>. But what is an unfortunate +new arrival, who never made a cup of tea in +his life before, to do, when on his arrival at some out-of-the-way +place in the bush his "boss," as the employer +in Queensland is called, hands him these rations +instead of giving him three square meals a day?</p> + +<p><a id="page55" name="page55"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/illus_072_073.png"> +<img src="images/illus_072_073.png" alt="THE LANDING OF THE EMIGRANTS" title="THE LANDING OF THE EMIGRANTS"/> +</a></div> +<div class="center"> <p class="caption">THE LANDING OF THE EMIGRANTS</p></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> +<p>But what was happening now? The constables +were running about among the people telling them +to stand here and to stand there. All the single +girls were packed together up by the wheel as close +as they could stand. Then the married men with +their families were told to stand as near them as +they could, and the single men were again packed as +close to them as possible. All of us were now on +the quarter-deck. Then came the Queenslanders, +the doctor, the captain, and the first mate, and took +up a position in front of us down on the deck. One +of our own constables with a very sanctimonious +face was also there. What did it mean? The +Immigration Agent read out of a large protocol, +"Anna Frederica Johnston, come forward." "Anna +Frederica Johnston, Anna—Anna, Anna Frederica +Johnston. They want you—you are wanted; you +have to go." The unfortunate girl was half paralyzed +with terror, as she came forward. She was +a Norwegian. The immigration agent asked her, +"Had she been well and kindly treated on the +voyage, and was she satisfied?" This had to be +translated from German into Norwegian before she +understood it. But scarcely did she understand what +they said before she cried, "Oh yes, oh yes, I am +thankful and satisfied." "Good," she might pass forward. +Then another was called who also testified +to her kind treatment, and so on until all the girls, +even the one who had been tied to the mast, had +said they were satisfied and had been well treated. +While this was going on, some of the men who stood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +nearest to me told me to erase their names from the +written complaint which I carried. Others advised +me that it was now too late altogether to complain; +others again said, "Now is the time." I felt myself +surprised beyond measure that the Queensland +Government should take the trouble to cause such +a question to be put to each individual immigrant, +and I felt certain that it could not have been +Queensland's fault if we had been badly treated. +Anyhow, I saw no reason to tell any falsehoods, and +my mind was soon made up how to act. As soon as +the last girl had declared herself satisfied, the question +began with the single men. The first who +happened to be called was rather a dense sort of a +fellow, and although he had signed the complaint, +still he said he was "well satisfied." So then I +thought the time had arrived for me to act. I went +forward and presented my document written in Danish +and addressed to the Danish Consul, Australia; +it was translated from Danish to German and from +German to English. Meanwhile I glared at the +doctor and the doctor glared at me. I felt in rare +good humour, the observed of all observers. As a +Queenslander would say on such an occasion, it was +the proudest moment in my life. I was asked to stand +alongside the doctor and captain, and watch my case. +The fellow who had already declared himself satisfied +was called back and asked had he signed the +complaint, and only passed forward after admitting +that he had. Then the question to the remainder +became, "Have you signed the complaint?"—to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +which each of them, evidently pleased, replied in the +affirmative. Those who had not signed, on saying +"no" were then asked "did they wish to sign?" +Every one of them signed it then right before the +eyes of the doctor. I would as soon that they had +not, because it was easily seen that they signed it +more because they were asked to do so and did not +want to cause trouble, than because they had +changed their minds since they had been requested +to do the same thing on the voyage. From that +time to now I never heard any more about the +complaint. Very likely it was forwarded to the +proper authorities, and they perhaps took notice of +it although unknown to us. The ship was clean +when we landed, so were the emigrants, and we had +all a healthy, well-fed appearance I am sure, and +that must have been greatly in the doctor's favour. +But let me say here at once, that if there had been +one amongst us who had known the proper way to +punish whoever was responsible for our ill-treatment, +I believe it would have been a simple matter +to have ruined the owners of the ship. If instead +of writing our complaint to the Danish Consul, one +of us had been able to issue a writ against the +doctor upon some definite matter, he could have +had as many witnesses as he chose, ready to hand, +to prove what the fare of the ship had been. He +might have produced his rag of a blanket in court +too, and then have claimed damages. I am certain +that no Queensland judge or jury would have said, +after seeing it, that such a rag, two feet six inches<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +by three feet, was a sufficient covering on a four +months' sea voyage, or that the food we received +was either sufficient or that it in any way tallied +with what we were promised. Such damages as +would then have been awarded to the first plaintiff, +could indisputably have been claimed by any +other emigrant, and that would have meant more +than the ship and all that was in it was worth.</p> + +<p>My boss told me before the Queenslanders left +the ship again that I might, as soon as we landed, +come to his house for my food and lodging, and +that he would not expect me to go to work for a +few days, so that I was well provided for already. +Three or four dozen other immigrants had also +been engaged by the other Queenslanders, all for +thirty pounds a year and rations, on exactly the +same agreements as mine. But Thorkill was not +among them, and I felt a little ashamed and sorry +that it was so, as we had agreed not to part, and I +had in this way taken my first chance regardless +of him; but he was earnest in his gratulations and +certain, he said, he would be right too, somehow. +We had all these empty bottles, and we expected +nothing less than sixpence, or perhaps a shilling, +apiece for them. At least I felt greatly consoled to +think of them, and I made up my mind that he +should have the whole return from them if he +needed it. The next day arrived, when we should +go ashore, and, full of excitement and expectations, +we sailed up to the jetty. Slow work that; it took +us some hours to do it. Every one was hanging<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +over the side of the ship looking to see what the +place was like, and watching a number of people +who stood there. Now we were alongside, so close +that we might have jumped ashore, but still we +were forbidden to leave the ship before the doctor, +who was ashore, arrived. A man stood on the +jetty with a large basketful of bananas, which he +offered for sale at sixpence per dozen, and handed +them over the side of the ship to any one who +would buy. He sold them readily, and my mouth +watered to taste them; but I had no money. +Thorkill stood alongside me, so he said, "I should +like so to taste some of those bananas."</p> + +<p>"So should I."</p> + +<p>"He charges sixpence per dozen."</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if he would take a bottle for a +dozen?"</p> + +<p>"We will try."</p> + +<p>I dived into the cabin as fast as I could for a +bottle, because the man had only a few bananas +left. We had all the bottles, or most of them, +wrapped up in paper, and I took one which looked +nice and clean, and came out again just in time to +secure his attention. Now I had to try to make +myself understood. "I give you bottle," said I, +"if you give me bananas."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to shout?" cried he. "What +have you got?"</p> + +<p>I did not know what that meant, but as he had +a pleased sort of appearance, I nodded and smiled,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +and caressed the bottle, saying, "Very good, very +good bottle."</p> + +<p>"All right," said he, "let us see what you have +got. I give you some bananas; here you are, hand +down your bottle."</p> + +<p>So I took the bananas with the one hand, and +handed him the bottle with the other.</p> + +<p>He took it, smelt it, shook it, pulled off the +wrapper, held it up towards the sun, and cried, +"Dead mariner, by Jove."</p> + +<p>Then every one on the jetty laughed like fun, +but I was totally ignorant where the joke came in, +and asked, "Is it not a very good bottle?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said he, "splendid bottle," and they +all kept on laughing and talking at me, assuring +me that I would do well in Queensland! I +understood that much.</p> + +<p>Thorkill and I now retired into the cabin to eat +the bananas, and while we ate them we had some +conversation.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what they all were laughing at?"</p> + +<p>"Who shall say? Is—it—not—a—nuisance—that—we—do—not—understand—English—better? +I—cannot—talk—to—them—at—all. +You—seemed—to—do—fine—though. My—word—you—did. +I—never—would—have—believed—it. +I—will—study—that—language."</p> + +<p>"Did you notice that he said, 'Dead mariner,' +when he held the bottle up towards the sun?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; now I should translate that as a dead +sailor. I wonder what he meant?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is a slang name for a bottle."</p> + +<p>"I do not think you will find that a correct +explanation. It was a dark bottle; now, I am +inclined to think that that sort of bottle may be +used for some liquor peculiar to this country called +'Dead Mariner;' the same as in Denmark you +have so many different names for nearly the same +thing. In that way you might be right in saying +it is a slang name; but anyhow, we will find out the +true meaning of it some day."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied to Thorkill, "and the sooner +we find it out the better. Don't you see, the +bottles may have a different value, and I should +like to have full value for them. We are now in +Queensland, Thorkill, and I do not intend to let +any one fool me. So, before we sell to any one, I +will find out exactly what they are worth. They +did not laugh at nothing down there on the +jetty. I am afraid he had too good a bargain."</p> + +<p>"They seemed to say we would do well with the +bottles," remarked Thorkill.</p> + +<p>"I hope we shall. But see! They are at last +going ashore. Now, if you take my advice, one +of us will stay on board for another hour or two +watching the bottles, while the other goes up to the +town to find out their true value, and a customer +for them."</p> + +<p>Thorkill replied to this: "Ah, yes; you go up +to the town. I will stay and watch the bottles. +I am sure you can sell them to far better advantage +than I."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile, a number of the immigrants had +gone ashore, and Thorkill and I were getting the +bottles out of their hiding-places and putting them +on the table. Some Queenslanders came in. They +looked on a little. I said, "How much money you +pay me for one bottle?"</p> + +<p>"Have you got all these bottles for sale?" +inquired one.</p> + +<p>"Of course," said I.</p> + +<p>He did not answer, but went outside and called +out "Mick."</p> + +<p>In came the man who had sold me the +bananas.</p> + +<p>"Do you want to buy any more 'dead mariner'?" +asked the first.</p> + +<p>"Has he got all these bottles for sale?" inquired +the banana man.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," cried I. (Of course, I did not +make myself quite so easily understood as might +appear from this conversation, but still I managed +both to understand and to make myself understood +on this occasion.)</p> + +<p>"No," cried he; "he did not think he wanted +any more just now."</p> + +<p>"How much money you think I receive for one +bottle?" inquired I.</p> + +<p>"Oh, plenty money," cried he, "my word ready; +market, any one buys them."</p> + +<p>"What do they say?" asked Thorkill of me.</p> + +<p>"They say the bottles are worth a lot of +money."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<p>"See if you can find out what 'dead mariner' +is."</p> + +<p>I took a porter bottle up, and then said, "You +name that one 'dead mariner'?"</p> + +<p>Queenslander: "Yes, certainly; that is one +'dead mariner.'"</p> + +<p>I took up a clear bottle and inquired, "This +clear thing, you call that empty bottle?"</p> + +<p>Queenslander: "To be sure that is an empty +bottle. But if you are willing to sell, you take +them all up to that large hotel you see there. +They give you half-a-crown apiece for them."</p> + +<p>I then asked, "Which one is most costly, 'dead +mariner' bottle or clear bottle?"</p> + +<p>Queenslander: "Oh, that fellow—'dead mariner'—very +dear; three shillings, I think."</p> + +<p>"Heavens! here, we have made our fortune +already, Thorkill," cried I. "Three shillings +apiece for these bottles and two-and-sixpence +for those. And it appears any one will buy. +Are we not lucky?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but," said Thorkill, "I shall never feel +justified in taking half of all that money. It was +your idea. I should never have thought of it. I +shall be very thankful to receive just a pound +or two."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," cried I, "you shall share half with +me whatever I get. But, excuse me for saying it, +you are so unpractical. Why are we not up and +stirring? Why are we sitting here yet? Remember +time is money in this country." Then I ven<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>tured +to ask the Queenslanders if in the town +there was any one whom I might ask to assist us +in carrying the bottles ashore.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," they all cried, as if with one mouth. +"You go up in town and get hold of a couple of +black fellows, and then you take them all up that +street you see there. Any one will buy them +there."</p> + +<p>Thorkill remained on board keeping watch over +the bottles, while I went ashore to see what I +should see.</p> + +<p>Just as I came to the end of the long jetty I +saw standing there an aboriginal and three Gins. +They were about as ugly a set of blacks as I have +ever since seen in Queensland, and I was quite horrified +at their appearance. The man had on a pair of +white breeches, but nothing else. The Gins were +also so scantily dressed that I am afraid of going into +details of their wearing apparel. All of them had +dirty old clay pipes in their mouths, which they +were sucking, but there was no tobacco in them. +The gentleman of the party saved me the trouble +of accosting him, as he came towards me and inquired +my name. Then he informed me that his +name was Jack. He next introduced me to the +ladies, who, it appeared, all had the same name—Mary. +Of course I fell in with the humour of this +arrangement at once. It seemed to me a delightfully +free and easy way of making acquaintance. +They all spoke a lot to me, which I did not in the +least understand, and I did the same to them no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +doubt. They asked me for tobacco, which I had +not got; but it appeared that all was grist that +came to their mill, for they asked in succession for +matches, pipe, "sixpence," and I do not know +what else, and even wanted to feel my pockets! +Of course I did not like this familiarity, so I +began to explain to them that I wanted them to +work—to carry burdens from the ship. That was +soon made clear to them. Then the "gentleman" +of the party was very particular to know what I +would pay him. I had thought to get them to +carry the bottles up, and, having sold them, to +pay them out of the proceeds; but as he seemed +anxious to make a fixed bargain, I said, "I give +you one bottle." In case he should have refused +that, I intended to have gone on further, and to +have offered a "dead mariner," but to my joy he +accepted the offer with evident satisfaction, which +again more thoroughly convinced me of the value +of my bottles. I and the black fellow with his +three Gins accordingly went back to the ship, +where Thorkill sat keeping watch over our +treasure.</p> + +<p>I loaded the four blacks with four bags, in each +of which were two dozen assorted bottles, and now +we started for town in earnest. I thought it +beneath my dignity to carry any bottles myself. I +had exhorted so many of the immigrants that it +was our duty to one another to try to make a good +impression when we first landed, that the least I +could do I thought would be to set a good example.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +Therefore I was faultlessly got up, in my own +opinion, or at least as well as the circumstances of +my wardrobe would permit. Still, my attire was +not very suitable to this country, and indeed, when +I think of it now, I must have cut a strange figure. +I had on my black evening-dress suit, which so far +would have been good enough to have gone to a +ball in, but my white shirt, I know, was of a very +doubtful colour, for I had been my own washer-woman, +and it was neither starched nor ironed. +Then my tall black hat, of which I was so proud +when I got it, had suffered great damage on the +voyage, and brush it as I would, any one might +easily have seen that it had been used as a foot-stool. +My big overcoat, I, according to the most +approved fashion in Copenhagen, carried over my +arm. In one hand I had my handkerchief, with +which I had to constantly wipe the perspiration off +my face, because it was very hot. Still, I felt +myself a tip-top dignitary as I stalked along in +front of the four blacks, who came, chattering +their strange lingo, behind me.</p> + +<p>We marched up to the main street, and I saw +at once a hotel, that pointed out to me from the +ship as the place in which to sell my bottles. In +the bar were two or three gentlemen, of whom I +took no notice. Behind the bar stood the barmaid, +whom I profoundly saluted, also in Copenhagen +fashion. I had what to say on the tip of my +tongue, and indeed I have never forgotten it since. +So I spoke to the barmaid thus: "I have bottles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +I will sell to you. Will you buy? Three shillings +every one." She looked bewildered, not at me +but at the gentlemen in the bar, as if she appealed +to them for assistance, and they began to talk to +me, but I did not understand them at all. I could +feel myself getting red in the face, too, but I manfully +made another effort. I called in the blacks +and ordered them to deposit their load inside the +door. Then I said with great exactness, "I—do—not—ferstan—thee—thou—ferstan—me. +I—sell—this—clear—bottles—to +thee—for three shillings +every one. This—dead—mariner—I—sell—three—shillings—and +sixpence every one. Will +thou buy?" Meanwhile I had taken out of the +bags two samples, a clear and a dark bottle, and +placed them on the counter, and I now looked +inquiringly around me.</p> + +<p>Oh, the mortification which became my portion! +The girl seemed to faint behind the bar, and the +gentlemen made not the slightest excuse for laughing +right out in my face. What they said I do +not know, but it was clear they did not want my +bottles. I felt insulted, and I determined to pay +the blacks off and to leave the bottles here until +I could find a German Queenslander to whom I +might explain my business, and who might help +me to sell them. So I took the clear bottle which +stood on the counter, and handed it to the black +as payment for his service. He looked viciously +at me and said, "That fellow no good bottle."</p> + +<p>I said, "Very dear bottle that." Then I decided<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +to satisfy him at any cost, and gave him the other +one, too, and said, "Very dear bottle this, dead +mariner."</p> + +<p>Now began a scene as good as a play. The +blacks appealed to the gentlemen, and the gentlemen +howled with laughter, and I wished myself a +thousand miles away. What did they laugh at? +Why did these scampish blacks not feel satisfied +after having received double payment? What +did it all mean? More people came in and seemed +amused and happy, but I was not in the swim. +Something was wrong. But what was it? I +began to suspect that my bottles could not be so +very valuable, as the blacks had thrown both the +bottles out into the gutter. Anyhow, for me to +stand here to be made a fool of would not do, so I +went out of the bar and down the street. But to +get away was no easy matter. In fact I found it +impossible. The coloured gentleman with his +three ladies were in front of me, behind me, and +on both sides, crying, howling, yelling, cursing, +and appealing to every one who passed, or to those +who came to their doors, "That fellow big rogue. +That fellow no b—— good. He b—— new chum. +He say he give me bottle, he give me no good +b—— bottle; dead mariner no b—— good." This +was more than human nature could stand. I threw +my overcoat and belltopper into the gutter, and +went for the black fellow straight. I got on the +top of him in a minute, but the battle was not +nearly won by that, because the black ladies were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +tearing at my coat-tails, which just formed two +fine handles for them. They split my coat right +up to the shoulders, pulled my hair, and belaboured +me in a general way. Now came a policeman and +grabbed me by the neck. All the "ladies" ran for +their lives out of sight, but I suspect their spouse +was too bruised to follow their example. Anyhow, +he stuck to his guns yet, and while the policeman +tried to march us both down the street, he kept +appealing to him, declaring his innocence, and my +villainy. That I should have spent the next few +days in the watch-house I am sure enough, had +not an elderly man stepped out of the crowd of +onlookers and spoken to the policeman. Then he +addressed me in German. I learned then, through +much merriment on his part and heartburning on +my own, that empty bottles are in Queensland just +so much rubbish. Indeed, after the policeman +let me go, he took me round to the backyard of +the hotel, and there I saw bottles lying by the +thousands, some broken and others sound, ready to +cart away. But how was I to have known that? +Was it easy to guess that a bottle, which might +pass for twopence English money in Copenhagen +nearly as readily as cash, would here in Queensland +have absolutely no value? It is like all +other things one knows, easily explained: here +there being no distilleries or breweries for making +liquors of any kind, they are all imported, hence +empty bottles become a drug in the market.</p> + +<p>But I was not out of trouble yet. The German<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +who had in so timely a manner come to my rescue, +seeing the state of mind I was in, tried to console +me by offering me a glass of spirits. I accepted +his offer very readily, I admit, and coming into the +bar again, which so vividly reminded me of my +former shame and all the indignities heaped upon +me, I poured out a whole tumblerful of raw brandy—which +I should not have done, considering that I +came from a ship on which nothing of that sort +was served out. But I will draw a veil over the +rest of this miserable day. Not but that the worst +is told. Intemperance was never my weakness, +but I will leave the reader to fill out the picture, +and to think of me as I returned to the ship, +bleeding, torn, and battered, and there I had to +face poor Thorkill, who, in his mild surprise and +disapproval, was to me more terrible than if he had +stormed and raged ever so much.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page73" name="page73"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br /> +<br /> + +GAINING COLONIAL EXPERIENCE</h2> + + +<p>Having returned to the ship after the incidents +related in the last chapter, and having +somewhat soothed my agitated feelings, and +changed my apparel, Thorkill and I were under the +necessity again of returning on shore; which we +did, and had no difficulty in finding the depôt or +place prepared for the reception of the immigrants. +I had yet scarcely noticed anything on land, but +we saw now at a glance that the town was very +small, or perhaps it would be more correct to say +that the town was large but thinly inhabited. In +Queensland we generally estimate the size of a +place by the number of public-houses which it +contains, and in Bowen there were three of these +institutions. Grass was growing luxuriantly +enough in the main street, and altogether it did +not, as we came along, strike us that people here +seemed remarkably busy. But when we came +down to the depôt, the scene was changed.</p> + +<p>The depôt was a large building, or series of +buildings, without particularly good accommo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>dation, +but it had the advantage that there was +plenty of room for everybody. I felt quite glad to +again see the familiar faces of the other immigrants, +although we had only been separated a few +hours. There was a large kitchen attached to the +place, and a vast quantity of bread and beef and +potatoes had been left there, more than could +possibly be eaten by those present. Two or three +butchers among the immigrants, too, were quite +in their element here, cutting up the bullocks, and +all the girls seemed to have formed themselves +into a committee in order to dress the meat in +various appetizing ways. But what seemed the +most encouraging feature of all was to see thirty +or forty saddle-horses "hung up" outside the fence +and their owners walking about among the men +offering them engagements. The girls were also +in great request. A number of English ladies +stood about the yard, or went in and out of the +kitchen. They all seemed to want the girls who +were doing the cooking, and what between the +English ladies who kept trying to attract their +attention, their own sweethearts—who had now +the first opportunity since they left Hamburg to +speak to them—and the preparation of food for six +hundred and odd people, they certainly had enough +to do. It was comical to watch them. Among +the men the scene was but one degree less animated. +They might, I am sure, all have been +engaged that first day if they had liked. A +number were engaged, and over and over again<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +were offers made to them of further engagements, +until at last they turned their backs to the Englishmen +who seemed almost to implore some of them +to sign agreements. They were all offered the +same terms—thirty pounds for twelve months, +and rations. The girls got only twenty or twenty-five +pounds a year, but there seemed to be very +little difference between the agreements. The +Queenslanders would go for the biggest and most +able looking of the men first, and when they had +secured them, engage the others with the same +terms. I saw my "boss" down there, and went +home with him for supper. I was received with +the greatest kindness by his family, and he himself +could not have looked more friendly if I had been +a long-lost relation. He proved to be a contractor, +and had also a carpenter's shop and showroom +attached to his place. He took me into the shop +and showed me several things, and asked me could +I make this or that? There was nothing in the +shop that a boy who had served two years of his +life in Copenhagen could not make, but when I +said "yes," he seemed greatly pleased with me, +and patted me on the back. We could not understand +each other very much. After tea, I was +shown into a neat room, where stood a nice bed, a +chest of drawers, table, chair, &c. This was to be +my abode.</p> + +<p>My "boss," however, returned at once and gave +me to understand that he wished me to go with +him up to town, and have a general look round.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +He gave me first of all a pound sterling, which had +the effect of greatly raising my spirits. Then he +took me from the one public-house to the other, +and that made me still more hilarious, especially +as he would not allow me to change my pound; +and at last he took me to a store, where a German +presided behind the counter over a lot of ready-made +clothes. Through the German as interpreter, +he told me that he would advise me to buy some +new clothes after the Queensland pattern, and that +he would advance sufficient of my wages to cover +the cost. I bought then white trousers, a crimean +shirt, a big slouch hat, and a red belt, and put all +on at once. This is the orthodox Queensland +costume in the bush, but in my own eyes I looked +a regular masquerader, as I now swaggered down +among the immigrants in my new transformation. +I was quite a hero among them at once, being able +to boast of my splendid appointment, and I believe +I had to relate twenty times that evening what I +had had for my supper at my master's place. I +might, perhaps, tell it to the reader, because it +seemed to me at that time most astonishing, +although it really—with very little variation—is +the ordinary food everybody eats all over the +country, as soon as one comes away from the +single man's hut in the bush.</p> + +<p>In the morning we generally had fried steak, +white bread, and butter. No beer or schnapps are +ever put on the table in this country, but instead +of that one drinks tea by the quart at every meal.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +At dinner-time the ordinary menu will be some +sort of roast meat and vegetables, with a pudding +after. At supper one will get more meat and +vegetables, and more bread and butter and tea. +It is all very good, but there is a frightful sameness +about it. I used at first to long for one of those +plain yet delicious dishes which the Danish housewives +make at home. But I do not believe English +people would eat it, if it were put before them. +They seem to think that anything which is not a +solid junk of roast beef must be un-English. I +have almost come to the same way of thinking +myself. But that evening in the depôt we did not +criticise the bill of fare. The immigrants all +thought they were going to fare in the same +sumptuous way. Poor fellows, they did not, as a +rule.</p> + +<p>Next day, Thorkill came to me with sparkling +eyes, and told me he had been so fortunate. A +gentleman from Port Mackay, a sugar planter, +had engaged him and twenty-five others, all for +thirty pounds a year, and they were to sail again +for the plantation next day. He understood it +was not far away. We might be able to see one +another occasionally. He had told the planter +that he had studied agriculture, and the planter +had said he was a good fellow.</p> + +<p>"These—Englishmen—are—so—kind,—I—am +sure—he—is—a—nice—man. Perhaps he will +make something of me by and by, when I can +talk English."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>Poor Thorkill; I see him in a single man's hut +on a plantation among twenty-five others, or with +his hoe on his shoulder coming and going to the +fields. He went away the next day, and I fully +expected he would have written to me, but he did +not. I did not know his address, and I did not +hear of him again until three years after, when I +met him on the diggings.</p> + +<p>As many of the immigrants were going away—they +did not themselves know where—in another +day or two, it was suggested by some one that +there should be a theatrical display at the depôt in +the evening; and the idea was taken up with enthusiasm +by some of the leading spirits among us. +It had, before I arrived that morning, been agreed +that the play should be a French pantomime. For +the information of any one who might never have +seen anything of the kind, let me say that it was +a one act farce, in which the persons act by pantomime +alone. Cassander is an old man; his +daughter Columbine loves Harlequin, a young +man who always dances about Columbine when +Cassander does not see them. Then there was +Pierrot, the foolish but funny man-of-all-work, +who is set to catch Harlequin, but is always +"bested"; and the staid old lover whom Cassander +wishes Columbine to marry. Not much +rehearsal was needed to play the piece, and the +dresses were also easily made up on short notice. +It had further been decided in my absence that I +was to play Harlequin, but I objected very much.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +At last I was forced into it in a manner, because I +was a pretty fair dancer at that time, and they had +nobody else. What consoled me greatly was, that +I was to wear a black mask, so that I knew that if +my feelings should get the better of me while on +the stage, that I might make as many faces behind +the mask as I liked. The whole town was to be +invited, and we gave five shillings to the bell-crier +to announce through the streets that some renowned +artists had arrived at the depôt, and were +going to give a grand performance that night at +seven o'clock.</p> + +<p>We worked away hard that day in rehearsals, +fitting of dresses, stage making, quarrelling, and in +a few other things which are indispensable on such +occasions. In the evening the whole building was +crammed full of English people; there were even +some ladies. Our own people had all back seats. +Everything went well. Our orchestra consisted +of three violinists. There were scores of musicians +among us, but these were the best, and were used +to play together. Then the blanket which served +for a curtain went up, and we began to act our +parts. Everything went well excepting that Pierrot, +whose face was chalked over, began to perspire +very much, and the chalk came off; but that was +nothing. It was reserved for me to spoil the +whole proceeding. It came about this way: the +fellow who played Columbine was a big, flabby-looking +chap, and he looked very nasty indeed in +women's clothes. As it was my part to dance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +about Columbine and make love to him—or her—as +you please, I had also to snatch kisses from +him about a dozen times during the evening, but +of course I understood he knew sufficient of acting +not to inflict the punishment of real kissing on <i>me</i>. +The first time, however, when my turn came, he +turned his face full upon me, and the osculation +could be heard all over the room. This happened +two or three times, and every time people laughed +and applauded; but it made me regularly wild. +So as he tried it again I tore the mask off my face +before I had time to think, and cried: "Look here, +if you do that again I won't play." That brought +the house down with great applause and homeric +laughter; but I got so upset over it that it was +impossible for me to go on the stage again, and the +play came to an abrupt end.</p> + +<p>The only one of all the immigrants that remained +at the depôt after a fortnight was over, was a sickly +little individual whom everybody on board had +been in the habit of pitying or jeering at, as the +case may be, and who now seemed quite unable to +obtain employment. He was then sent up to +Townsville, to try there, and as I happen to +know what became of him, and as his short career +affords a striking instance of what perseverance +will do for a man in Queensland, I will state how +he fared. It appears that he at last obtained +employment in the —— Hotel in Ravenswood, to +help the girls in the kitchen at cleaning knives, +plucking fowls, and the like. He had to sign an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +agreement whereby he bound himself to remain +for three years. The wages for the first year were +ten pounds, for the second fifteen, and for the third +twenty pounds. These are the smallest wages I +have ever heard of in this country for a white man, +but our friend thought nothing of that, and stuck +to his work. He could cut hair and shave; I +think he had been in a barber's shop at home. +When he brought the guest's shaving-water in the +morning, he would always offer his tonsorial services +at the same time. Of course he would be +paid. When he was paid, he would generally say, +"You have not got a few old clothes you do not +want?" Then most people, as he looked so poor +and insignificant, would either give him a lot of +clothes, or some money to buy with; and it was +pretty well known in that town where one might +buy second-hand clothing for cash. If a guest went +away from the hotel, he would always be there hat +in hand, holding the horse. If one said to him, +"Will you come and have a drink?" he would +answer, "No, thank you, sir; please, I would +rather have the money." In that way, while +everybody called him "poor fellow," he was scooping +in sixpences, shillings, and even half-crowns +every day. As he gave satisfaction to his master, +he was promised, as a make-up for his small wages, +that if he stayed the three years out, he should +have as a present permission to build a barber's shop +alongside the hotel, and be charged no rent. He +did stay the three years out, and although I was in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +his confidence as little as anybody else, I am very +sure he had then his three years' wages in his +pocket and a good deal more besides. Then he +had built a small shop alongside the hotel. It +was very small, but it was in the proper place for +doing business; and he began at once a roaring +trade. Sixpence for a shave, a shilling for hair-cutting, +and half a crown for shampooing! He +had also ready-made clothes for sale, hop beer, +ginger beer, fruit, saddlery, and much more. +People who had anything for sale might go to him +and be certain that he would offer them a cash +price for whatever it was. He opened his shop at +seven o'clock in the morning and shut it at twelve +o'clock at night. On Sundays, indeed, he was +supposed to shut for three or four hours; but one +had only to knock at his door to bring him forward. +Meanwhile, I do not believe his old master, or any +one else, could have obtained credit from him for +a sixpence. The usual thing in his shop was to +see half a dozen men sitting in his back room +waiting to be shaved or shampooed, and half a +dozen standing by the counter in the front room, +while he would jump like a cat among them trying +to serve them all at once. But now I see I have +made a mistake. I have written that "his short +career affords a striking instance of what perseverance +might do for a man in this country." That +might be true if the story ended here, but it does +not. He was a great miser. His principal food, +as he himself assured me, was the rotten fruit in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +the shop. When a banana or an apple became +quite unsaleable, he would eat it. He had no +assistant in the shop, and could, therefore, never +possibly take any outdoor exercise. At last he +fell sick, and the doctor told him he must go out +on horseback every day, and have plenty of nourishing +food. He never bought a horse, and he never +altered his way of living. At last, when it was too +late, he got somebody to stand in the shop for him, +for he was then too weak to stand there himself; +and he died in the back room a week after. But +even the day before he died I saw him sitting in the +shop trying to direct the assistant and keeping +control over the money-box. I heard how much +he had made, but I forget. Anyhow, it was +thousands, and all made in a few years!</p> + +<p>Now I will relate what happened to me the first +Sunday I passed in Queensland, and to do that I +must recall to the reader's memory another of my +shipmates, the naval Lieutenant A. He had got +married as soon as we came ashore, to the young +lady who I always understood was his intended +wife, and they had already rented a little house +and made themselves very comfortable. On the +Saturday, he came to me and told me that he had +carried a letter of introduction from home to a +gentleman who was one of the first civil servants +in Bowen. This gentleman he had seen, and as +an outcome of the interview, he had been invited +to come with his wife to the Englishman's place +on Sunday forenoon to be introduced to his family,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +and that Mr. and Mrs. ——, as well as A. and his +wife, were all then to walk to a large garden which +lay a mile or so outside the town. He promised +himself great pleasure and much advantage from +the acquaintance, and as a special favour to me, +he said: "Now Mr. —— said to me that I might +invite one of our shipmates to come with us, and I +shall invite you." I thanked him very much for +the honour he did me.</p> + +<p>"You understand," said he, "that I would like +very much to make a good impression, not only for +myself, but for our country too. I am not in the +least afraid to invite <i>you</i>, still excuse me for reminding +you that this man has much influence +in Brisbane, and I have no doubt he could make +it worth your while too to be on your best behaviour."</p> + +<p>When he was gone, I began to look over my +wardrobe, and found that I could yet make a brave +show. Still, I had a great doubt in my mind +whether it would not be the more correct thing to +dress myself in my Queensland clothes—that is, the +slouch hat and the moleskins. But as I did not +seem to know myself in them at all, I decided that +it was best to make the most of the clothes I had +with me from home, although it was not without +some misgivings that I came to this conclusion. +My swallow-tail coat had been torn, and although it +was mended by a tailor, it was not good enough to +wear again on such an occasion, but I had a nice +new jacket I had bought in Hamburg, also a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +beautifully got-up white shirt and white waistcoat. +As to the belltopper, it was done for. No more +should I go into society in that belltopper, and the +Queensland hat seemed only fit company for the +crimean shirt and the moleskins. I therefore +went and borrowed a tall hat for the purpose from +among the immigrants, and as I came back with +it, I bought a pair of gloves for half a guinea in a +shop.</p> + +<p>The next forenoon, punctually at eleven o'clock, +I was outside of A.'s house in all my glory. A. and +his wife were gone, however, and I then bent my +steps towards the house to which I had been +directed. As soon as I came near, I saw A. +standing outside the house talking to a gentleman, +whom I at once understood to be the man who had +invited us. He looked a gentleman all over. Yet +the same indescribable sort of swagger which I +had noticed in everybody else I had yet met in the +country seemed also to hover about him. I might +here observe that this swagger is not exactly native +to this colony. It is only put on for the benefit of +new arrivals. As I came up A.'s friend stood with +his feet wide apart, and was in the act of lighting +a meerschaum pipe. A massive gold chain hung +across his well-nourished stomach. I could see +that if I had not dressed myself to my best ability, +I should have made a grave mistake. Although I +had scarcely lifted my eyes to him yet, I noticed +these details as A. introduced me to him, while I +saluted him as we always salute one another in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +Copenhagen. Perhaps I was just a little more +than usually polite. My hat was at my knee as A. +said, "Mr. ——, Mr. ——." But the Englishman +did not seem remarkable for his politeness. On +the contrary, I felt very angry at his behaviour. +He never changed his position in the slightest +degree; he seemed only to give a sort of self-satisfied +grunt, "How de do, how de do."</p> + +<p>There is no mistake about it, I began to wish I +had not come. It was not as though I had not +been polite enough; I felt certain both that I +could make a bow with anybody, and that I had +saluted and been saluted by greater dignitaries +before than he. Why then should he slight me? +thought I. Was it the custom in this country to +invite people on purpose to insult them? They +began to speak to me, and I understood that the +ladies who were to take part in the excursion were +inside finishing their toilet, and would be out +directly. A. could see, no doubt, that I was not +pleased, and of course he could also guess the +reason. He had been in England too, and was +well versed in English customs, so he said to me, +"It is foolish of you to feel offended because Mr. +---- did not take his hat off to you. Indeed, +it was you who looked ridiculous. I am sure you +never yet saw any one take off his hat to another +in this country. It is not an English custom. +Indeed it is specially distasteful to English people. +So do not do it again. Of course it did not +matter."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>When I heard that I was in humour again. I +could forgive every one so long as they did not +offer me a wilful insult. But was it not strange, +thought I? And there he stood, as easy as could +be, smoking his pipe in the street. Well, there is +nothing like it, after all. What is a man without +his pipe? I had mine in my pocket, but I +had never dreamed of taking it out till now. I +did not know what to make of things, but I +thought that if such training as I had received +was at fault, perhaps it would be well to imitate +those whose training was correct. So I took my +pipe out of my pocket and borrowed a match from +Mr. —— to light it with. Mine was only a clay +pipe, and I could scarcely help laughing to myself +meanwhile, because it seemed to me very strange. +But I was determined now to show I knew English +manners, and so I puffed away. Just now Mr. ——'s +wife came out of the glass doors on the verandah. +She had also dressed to make a good impression, +because she was rustling with silk and satin, and +shining with gold brooches and chains all over. +The doors were opened for her by a servant, and +Mrs. A. was also there. As Mrs. A. told me +afterwards, they had watched me through the +glass doors while I was saluting the husband, and +probably the Englishwoman was at that moment +under the impression that I intended to go down +on my knees before her. But if she thought that, +all I can say is that she was mistaken. I was not +going to look ridiculous this time. She made a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +bow to me something of the sort, as I take it, that +one of the Queen's maids of honour have to +practise before her majesty—a most profound +obeisance. But I stood brave. With my feet +apart, in English fashion, I puffed away at my +pipe, and nodded at her, saying, "How de do? How +de do?"</p> + +<p>At this juncture of affairs, I became aware that +nobody seemed pleased. The lady drew herself up +and seemed surprised. Her husband appeared to +regard me with a lively interest. So did two +women in a house opposite. A., in a sort of consternation, +repeated the formula of introduction. I +felt the blood surging to my face, and my courage +fast forsaking me. Then it occurred to me that as +I myself had not the least idea what the words +"how de do" meant which I had employed in +saluting her, that perhaps it was not a proper expression +before a lady, and that it would have been +better if I had said something of which I did +understand the meaning. So as A. repeated +the form of introduction, Mr.—— and Mrs.——, I +said with great desperation, "Good day, missis."</p> + +<p>Then I swallowed a whole mouthful of tobacco +smoke (it is such strong tobacco one smokes here, +and I had not been used to more than a cigar on +rare occasions), and then—I must—expectorate. +For the life of me I could not avoid it, but where +to do it, whether in front of me or behind me, I +did not know, and so I compromised and spat to +the side. While all this occurred I felt as guilty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +as any criminal condemned before a judge, and +still where it came in I did not know, because had +not A., on whose English experience I wholly +relied, told me scarcely ten minutes before, that +"to take the hat off to one another was not an +English custom—that it was, indeed, specially +distasteful to English people"? What then could +I think? You may judge of my feelings when +A., now shaking with rage and entirely forgetting +himself, exclaimed to me in Danish, +"You are an unmannerly dog. Has no one ever +taught you yet to take your hat off to a lady? +There he stands, smoking a stinking pipe right in +her face."</p> + +<p>Oh, yes! oh, yes, indeed, my humiliation was +at its highest point. Quarrelling in our own +language, and ready almost to fight! Mrs. —— +disappeared indoors again. Mrs. A. dared not +follow her, but walked down the street a little, +not knowing where to put herself, and Mr. —— +becoming more and more boisterous with me for +an explanation. It did not last long, but long +enough—quite. Then I went and sat, regardless +of all appearance, on the verandah, while A., with +much humility, tried to explain the matter to our +host. Mr. —— did not quite seem to relish the +joke. He came up to me and informed me with +much gravity that A. had explained the matter to +his satisfaction. "But," said he, "you will certainly +find that in this country it is the custom to +salute a lady with a great deal more politeness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +than you used just now towards my wife. It is a +lesson, I assure you, sir, you cannot learn too +quickly."</p> + +<p>Half of this I understood and half I guessed. +He did not know, however, that his own mode +of salutation would in Copenhagen have been +thought just about as bearish as what he was now +correcting me for. I rose to bid him good-bye, +because I was determined to go home as the right +course now to pursue; but as I took off my hat to +him again my crestfallen appearance seemed to +amuse him, because he began to laugh, and when +I had reached the corner of the house he came +after me, insisting that I should come back. I +declined, until I could see that by remaining +stubborn I should only give still greater offence, +and so we returned and went into the drawing-room +to have a glass of wine. Mrs. —— came +now into the room, and with well-bred kindness +tried to put me at my ease again. But although +they now seemed to have forgiven me, and were +preparing to start for their walk, I felt that I could +not go with them, and after asking A. in my presence +to offer my apology to the lady herself, I +took up my hat, and, bowing profusely to all, went +away.</p> + +<p>The reader may guess that I was not very proud +of myself when I came home and flung myself on +my bed. My career in Queensland had indeed +opened in a very unpropitious manner. I had not +been a week in the country yet, and it appeared I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +had made myself look more foolish wherever I had +been than I had thought it possible to do. First +the bottles—what disgrace was not that, fighting +with the blacks in the street scarcely an hour after +coming ashore; and poor Thorkill, who had invested +his last sixpence, on my recommendation, +in buying empty bottles! Then at the depôt the +evening after, when I somehow again had been +the laughing-stock of them all—a regular "Handy +Andy"; and now to-day, when I had started out +with the best intentions, and had only succeeded +in making a never-to-be-forgotten picture of myself—and +that after having borrowed a "belltopper" +to look grand in! Now I had to return +that piece of furniture to the owner, and when he +asked me how I had enjoyed the company of my +grand acquaintances, probably I should have to +tell a falsehood about it in order to hide my shame. +One consolation was that I had yet the gloves—they +were my own to do with as I liked. I had +paid ten and sixpence for them, more than half +my fortune. Faugh! was ever any one like me? +Was that all I had come to Queensland for? But +at all events this should not happen again. If I +could find an ass bigger than myself, thought I, +I should be satisfied, but never again as long as +I lived would I seek the acquaintance of people +who by any stretch of imagination might think +themselves my superiors.</p> + +<p>Then I called in from the backyard a whole +troup of dirty, lazy blacks, who were lying there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +basking in the sun in an almost naked condition, +and made them understand that I would give them +all my home clothes if they would perform a war +dance in them for my instruction and pleasure. +One of them put on my swallow-tail coat and belltopper +(he had no breeches), another got my overcoat, +one of the ladies put on my jacket (she had +nothing else), another put on my woollen comforter, +not round her neck but round her waist, +where it was of more use. At last I took my flute, +and the whole troup kept screaming and dancing +about in the backyard while I played, until my +"boss" came and interrupted the proceedings. I +felt a grim sort of satisfaction. Alas! there is no +saying what is to become of any of us before the +end is over. Clothes are lifeless things, yet how +often had I not brushed them and thought it important +that they should look well! I really felt +a kind of remorse when I saw these filthy blacks +lie wallowing in them amid a flock of yelping +curs.</p> + +<p>And now I fell to work at my trade in earnest. +The houses in Bowen are all built of wood, and a +very easy affair it is for any one to build them. +Indeed housebuilding in the small Queensland +towns can scarcely be called a trade, insomuch +that any practical man who can use carpenter's +tools could easily build his own house. A hammer +and a coarse saw was about a complete set of tools +on many jobs we did up there. Still, large wooden +houses filled with all the most modern comforts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +are also constructed, and in such none but the best +workmanship is tolerated, so there, of course, a +tradesman is indispensable. At all housebuilding, +too, a man who is constantly at it acquires a quickness +which would altogether outdistance the +novice, but one may learn as he goes in that +trade, and the best men I have met in the carpenter +trade out here are men who never served +their time to it.</p> + +<p>There were no saw-mills in the town, nor was +there any suitable timber to saw in the bush, so +that we depended for a supply on an occasional +schooner, or on what the steamers sometimes +would bring. At times we had no timber at all. +Then we had to make furniture out of the packing-cases +in the stores, or the "boss" would buy an +old humpy and pull it down, and we had to try to +make a new one out of it. My employer had +engaged another carpenter besides myself from +among the immigrants. This man had got married +at the depôt to one of the girls, and they lived in a +small house. He had thirty shillings a week, of +which, of course, most went to keep house. But +Bowen is one of the very few non-progressive +towns on the coast, and houses stood empty in all +directions, so that he only had to pay a nominal +rent. Our "boss" seemed to have plenty of work +always, and, besides ourselves, there were two and +sometimes three English carpenters employed. +We had to work like boys for them, because we +could not very well be sent anywhere by ourselves,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +as we could not speak to people about the work to +be done. One thing I might mention here, and +which I think very unfair, is this, that nobody took +the trouble to speak English to us, but they +seemed even to go out of their way to teach us a +sort of pigeon English, which, of course, would +demonstrate our inferiority to the individual who +addressed us. Although I do not dislike either +English, Scottish, or Irish people, I think it a +great delusion of theirs that they are more hospitable +to foreigners, or cosmopolitan in their way of +thinking, than other nationalities, but that they are +under the impression that they are the salt of the +earth is certain. Meanwhile my mate and I did +the best we could to vindicate the honour of our +country. I felt myself daily getting stronger and +more active; the change of air did wonders, and +so was it with my mate. After a while, we found +we could fully hold our own. The English tradesmen +were very fond of showing how much they +could do, but as we both began to get up to their +standard they would, as we worked under them, +knock us off what we were doing and put us to +something else, often with the evident intention of +making the "boss," when he came, think we had +not done much, or did not understand our work. +So one day I had a terrible quarrel with the man +with whom I was working on that account, and +then he began to denounce us all for cutting the +wages down. I had no intention of cutting down +his wages, and I did not know in the least what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +wages he got, but when he told me that he +received three pounds sterling every week I +thought that the "boss" had treated me very +badly. I learned then that three pounds are the +ordinary weekly wages for carpenters in Queensland, +and I told the English carpenter that I +would immediately ask the "boss" for an increase +in <i>my</i> wages to that amount, and that if he would +not give it to me I would not do more work than I +got paid for. I had been there six months at that +time, and had never taken any money of my wages +beyond what I received when I started, but when +I asked for three pounds per week my employer +was very dissatisfied. I wanted him to cancel the +agreement. He refused, and I accused him of +having taken an unfair advantage of me. He +assured me that as he had got me he would keep +me. "Very well," said I, "do your best to obtain +your pound of flesh, but do not charge too high a +day's wages when you send me away after this; I +might not suit."</p> + +<p>From that day there was war between us, war +to the knife. Still I was, and had been, well +treated there, and so far I had done my best to +deserve it. When I think of it now, I am glad +that before this occurred I had an opportunity to +show my willingness. What my master's profit on +me was I do not know, but it cannot have been +large. What with my inability to speak the +language, the learning how to handle the different +tools used here, and one thing and another, it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +unreasonable for me to expect the full wages at +once. When I compare my fate with that which +befell some of the other immigrants, I ought to +have thought myself very fortunate. Some of +these were sent out in the bush around the town, +and among those who were a few miles distant, I +heard much dissatisfaction existed. I will here +relate how some, at least, were treated. One man +and his wife, and four single men, were engaged at +a station fifty miles away. Their agreements were +all the same, thirty pounds per annum and rations. +The woman, however, was not engaged. When +they arrived at the place they found a small house +in the middle of the bush. When they asked +where were their rooms or place to camp in, their +employer told them they might camp anywhere +they liked as long as they did not come inside <i>his</i> +house. They had then got some bags and branches +of trees put together and slept under them, but +there was no protection from rain, and the poor +woman, who was not well at the time, thought she +was going to die. Instead of food, they were +served, as I have before stated, with raw beef and +flour. The reader may imagine what sort of +doughboys they were making. This was strictly +and correctly the truth, although these poor people +certainly never knew the true intent of the agreement. +They would not work, they said, unless +they got proper food, but their employer was +abusing them every day. They had to fell trees +and split timber for fences. Of course such hard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +work, with no cooked food to eat and no bed to +sleep in, was an unreasonable thing to expect from +them. After six or seven weeks of this one of +them went away, empowered by the others to go to +town and complain for the others. He came into +town, where he told me what I now relate; but +his "boss" was after him quickly, and instead of +obtaining redress, he was put in the lock-up fourteen +days for absconding from his hired service, +and then compelled to go back again! While he +was in the lock-up, my "boss" used to send him +up three good meals every day. People who may +read this at home will no doubt think that there +must be great brutality somewhere for people to be +treated like this. I agree with them. Yet the +same treatment and fare comes light to an old +hand. He knows what to expect, and is prepared +for it. As men travel about from place to place in +search of work, it is absolutely necessary for them +to carry everything with them and to be their own +cooks too. They have their tent, blanket, food, +billy, sometimes a frying-pan, all bundled together +with their clothes and strapped on their backs, or, if +they are well-to-do, they have a horse to carry the +"swag" for them, or even two horses, one being +to ride on. There is really no reason why a man +should not possess a couple of horses here, but +still they as often do not. The billy serves all +purposes: in it the meat is cooked, the tea is +boiled, and on extra occasions the plumduff too.</p> + +<p>It is only just to say that the custom of forcing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +men to camp out in their own tents and to cook +their own rations is growing more and more out of +use. In most places in the bush the employer now +provides at least shelter for his men: in many +places they have the food cooked as well; yet there +are to this day thousands of people in Queensland +who live as I have just described, and who never +see vegetables from one year's end to another.</p> + +<p>The reader will, therefore, see that I was comparatively +fortunate in this, that I had both shelter +and food while I was learning the language and +accustoming myself to the country. But after my +request for more wages had been refused, I did as +little work as possible, indeed I may say I did +scarcely anything. I played quite the <i>gamin</i> with +the old gentleman, until one day he offered to let +me go, and then free once more I promised myself +never again to sign away my liberty.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page101" name="page101"></a>CHAPTER V.<br /> +<br /> + +TOWNSVILLE: MORE COLONIAL EXPERIENCES.</h2> + + +<p>I had now paid out to me twelve pounds sterling +as the balance of wages due, so it will be perceived +that I had not been extravagant. Yet I am +afraid that if I had been taking my wages up +weekly I should not have had so much, if, indeed, +anything. Yet here were the twelve pounds now, +and that was the main thing. It made over a +hundred Danish dollars, quite a large sum to me. +Then I considered where I should go next. There +were some gold mines inland within one or two +hundred miles, but I did not know the road, or else +I should have gone there. Just then there had been +opened another port north of Port Denison, viz., +Townsville. I understood that if a man wanted to +make money, he should go there; or rather I +understood the further north I went the more pay +I should get, on account of its being hotter there, +but that down south, were the climate was supposed +to be better, carpenters where not in demand. So, +"Northwards, ho!" was my cry. The steamer left +Port Denison the next day for Townsville, and I +was among the passengers. It is on leaving one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +these small ports on the Queensland coast that I +have always more than at any other time been +impressed with the utter loneliness in which they +lie. One sees the few houses and appurtenances +like a speck on the coast, and north and south the +long vast coastline. We steamed along all the +evening, night, and next morning, and towards noon +my attention was directed to some small white +specks on the beach. That was Townsville, the +new settlement where money was to be made. The +steamer I was in could not run close, but lay out in +the bay until another very small steamer came out +and took us all on board. Then in another half-hour +we ran into a small creek, past three or four +galvanized iron sheds, and here we were at the +wharf in the middle of the main street of the +town.</p> + +<p>Townsville lies on the bank of a small river or +creek called Ross Creek, which when I was there was +remarkable for being stocked with alligators. One +could not very well, therefore, cross the creek without +some danger, and at that time all the people +and all the houses without a single exception, lay +on the south side of the creek. Ross Creek formed, +I might say, one side of the main street. Facing +it lay a number of small shanties, some made of +packing cases and old tin; others again, built with a +view to permanency, of nicely dressed sawn timber, +and looking like rich relations in contrast to their +poor neighbours. This was Flinders Street, or +Townsville proper. For about ten chains this row<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +of houses ran, and facing it, on the other side of the +creek, was one vast wilderness of swamp, long grass +and trees. When one had passed the row of +houses composing the street there were turns off to +the bush in all directions, and tents, huts, or sheets +of galvanized iron stood all about the street. Up +behind the street were some tremendous-looking +mountains, and here such people as the doctors, +civil servants, &c. seemed to have fixed their abode. +The most splendid views could be obtained up there +right over the sea and the numerous small islands. +Then the climate, which at least at that time was +supposed to be somewhat unhealthy down below, +was very much better on the highlands.</p> + +<p>While I was in Townsville my greatest pleasure +was to take my lunch with me in a morning and +then scramble up there to some place from which +the best view could be had, and sit there all day. +That was a cheap and harmless pleasure, but to do +so at the present time would be trespass, because +all the land about there is now sold at so much per +foot, and no one but the owners have a right either +to the soil or the air, or even the view. It seems +wrong to me that it should be so. I wonder what +will become of poor people when the day arrives +when all the world is thus cut up into freehold +property! If I had at that time invested the ten +pounds I carried in my pocket in a piece of land, +it would certainly have been worth thousands of +pounds to-day, and I believe I might even have +been worth tens of thousands. Then I might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +without further trouble have been myself a "leading +Colonist" to-day!</p> + +<p>On looking around one would scarcely think that +this place and Bowen were in the same country. +In Bowen everybody seemed to have plenty of +time. The shopkeepers there would stand in their +doorways most of their time, or go visiting one +another. Then, although Bowen was so much +larger than Townsville, there seemed to be no +people in it. But here there were crowds everywhere, +and seemingly not an idle man. People +appeared rather to run than to walk. I walked up the +street and looked into a half-finished building where +half a dozen carpenters were at work. I watched +them well. They were all men in their prime, and +if they did not work above their strength they +were good men assuredly! There was quite a din +of hammers and saws. It was terrible! I felt very +much afraid that I should not be able to match +myself against any one of them, but on the principle +of not leaving until to-morrow what might be +done to-day, I asked one where the "boss" was? +He pointed to a man alongside who also was +working terribly hard, and this gentleman sang out +to me from the scaffold, "What do you want, young +fellow?" So I said that I wanted work.</p> + +<p>"All right," cried he, "I'll give you a job, but +I have no time to talk before five o'clock; you can +wait." Then I stood waiting, and feeling half +afraid to tackle the work, until the "boss" sang out +"five o'clock."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<p>What a relief every man must have felt. Each +seemed to drop his tool like a hot potato. I +remember well my feelings. I knew before the +contractor spoke to me that he was a bully, from +the way he spoke to the other man. He came up +to me.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it you can do?"</p> + +<p>"I am a carpenter and joiner."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are a German."</p> + +<p>"No, I am not."</p> + +<p>"What sort of a new chum are you then?"</p> + +<p>"I asked you if you wanted a carpenter."</p> + +<p>"Where were you working before?"</p> + +<p>"In Bowen."</p> + +<p>"What wages did you get there?"</p> + +<p>"Thirty pounds a year."</p> + +<p>"Do you know that I expect my men to earn +fourteen shillings a day?"</p> + +<p>"I will do as much work as I can, and I do not +expect you to pay me more than I can earn."</p> + +<p>"Got any tools?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"I do not want you then!"</p> + +<p>Did ever any one get such an unprovoked insult? +I felt as if I could never ask another man for work +again. Although I had learned a little English, it +was far from sufficient to allow me to set up and +work on my own account. I knew that very well, +and although I kept telling myself that most likely +here there would be plenty of other contractors to +go to, yet I was in very low spirits as I went off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +looking for a suitable boarding-house. The place I +came to did not impress me as being either clean +or comfortable. I went in at the door only because +I saw on the signboard the words "Diggers' home," +or "Bushman's home." I forget exactly what it +was, but I understood there was "home" about it, +and as I was just then longing very much for such +comforts as the word "home" is associated with, +I went in. It was just tea-time and about thirty +men were sitting on two wooden forms around the +one table, eating. The uncouth way in which they +were gormandizing was terrible to witness. English +working people show, I think, greater anxiety to +possess what are popularly called "table manners" +than does the same class where I came from. The +former hold their knives and forks in faultless +style, but they seem never to have learned what is +the great point in table manners. This is a point +on which I was very strictly brought up, and as one +cannot very well criticise another's manner of +eating while sitting alongside him at table, I +think I might without offence give valuable advice +here. It is this. Close your lips while you are +eating, gentlemen. It does not matter half so +much to some people how you hold your fork.</p> + +<p>There were among the others at the table two +of my shipmates, who, as they told me, were +working at their trade for four pounds a week. +They were dressed in the height of fashion, and +would not speak Danish at all to me. One of +them informed me in a sort of language that I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +sure no Englishman could have understood, that +he had almost quite forgotten Danish. As I had +a craving just then for sympathy, I told them how +I had fared when I had asked for work, but all the +sympathy I received was the remark that it was +smart fellows only who were needed in Townsville. +They agreed thoroughly about that, and then +whenever they could repeat the formula "I get +four pounds per week," they did it <i>ore rotundo</i>. +Evidently they had a heartfelt contempt for one +like me, who had been working for only a few +shillings a week. After tea, I was, on stating that +I wanted to stay for a week, shown into a small +room wherein stood six stretchers, or beds, as close +as could be. One had scarcely room to squeeze +about among them. The middle of the room +seemed to be a sort of main passage two feet wide +between the beds on each side, leading to rooms +beyond, and there the rest of the thirty boarders +would tramp in and out. The landlord, on showing +me one of these beds as mine, demanded a pound +sterling of me in advance as one week's payment. +"Beautiful home." "Comfortable abode." I regretted +that I had left Bowen, as I thought of my +clean private room there. I did not, however, pay +for a week beforehand. I paid only for my supper +and a shilling for the use of the bed or "home" +for that night. I sat there on the bed for a quarter +of an hour, listening to all the noises around me. +Then I felt that I could not suffer it any +longer, so I went out. It was a beautiful moon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>light +night. To get out past the houses was +only the work of five minutes, and I kept walking +on along a road I came to until I was well past all +signs of civilization. I had taken my flute with +me as the best means which yet remained to +soothe my troubles, and then I sat down to play. +How much better I felt out there under the gum-trees! +That foul-smelling boarding-house seemed +to trouble me no longer. I would not return to it. +Better by far to sleep out there under the open +sky! I sang and played and worked myself into +quite a romantic feeling. At last I fell soundly +asleep.</p> + +<p>The next day I began more carefully to look out +for a boarding-house, but it was all one. There +were enough of them indeed, but in all there was +not one which did not to my mind look more like a +rabbit warren than a "home" or a "rest," or +whatever the name might be that was put over the +door. A couple of places were kept by Chinamen. +They at least seemed more honest, because they +made no pretence of offering their guests what +they had not got. All the accommodation they +offered was a shelf for each man, and there seemed +to be an air of "take it or leave it alone" about +them which I liked. But none of these suited +me, and so I went to the hotels, and for one pound +ten shillings per week I got white man's accommodation: +a room for myself and every civility. +How anybody like my two grandly-dressed countrymen +could, if they earned four pounds a week,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +prefer the other place to this, I did not understand.</p> + +<p>I might now with much satisfaction have finished +my writing here by telling the reader how I obtained +work the next day for fourteen shillings per +day, and how I saved and persevered until I myself +became a contractor—if such had been the case. +But the truth must be told, and that is that I kept +delaying day by day to ask any one for a job. +Every day I would walk about the town, and passed +and re-passed houses under erection, but I could +not bring myself to go and speak to any one for +fear of meeting the same fate that befell me the +day I arrived. When I came home to the hotel +from such an expedition, I would console myself +by recounting my money and reckoning up how +many Danish dollars it was. That seemed to reassure +me. Certainly it went fast, but on the +whole I was in no way alarmed over myself, +because I knew very well that when the necessity +came a little nearer I should easily get something +to do. Meanwhile I could go out every day +shooting, fishing, and enjoying myself as best I +could.</p> + +<p>One of the first days I was in Townsville, I went +out in the main road leading to the gold diggings, +and when I was about a mile or two out of town +I came to a house which attracted my attention. +It was very small, the walls were built of saplings, +the roof was covered with bark, tin, and all sorts +of odd materials. The door was made of a sapling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +frame with bagging stretched across it. Yet the +place had a cool, clean sort of appearance, and +under the verandah in a home-made squatter's +chair sat a man smoking a long pipe. Yet I should +probably have passed by without taking notice of +any of these details if it had not been that in front +of the house, but close to the road, was erected a +sort of frame like a gallows, and from it dangled in +a most conspicuous way an empty bottle. Underneath +was a piece of board nailed to a tree, and on +it was written with chalk the one word thrice +repeated: "Bier. Bier. Bier." That caused me +to look at the man, and I perceived it was one +of my shipmates. This man was between fifty +and sixty years old when he landed nine months +before with his wife and eight children. I am very +certain that he did not then own more than I did +myself, but he had on the voyage exhibited such a +cheerful disposition, and had such a happy knack +of always trying to explain things in a way that +would make one think that any misfortune that +might happen would have been just the very thing +wanted, that he had been a general favourite. But +when we came to Bowen nobody had engaged him +and his eight children, and so he had been sent +here, and now I saw him sitting smoking his pipe +under the verandah with great gusto. He seemed +as glad to see me as I was to see him, and asked +me to come and sit on a box which stood alongside +him, and to have a smoke out of his long pipe. +Then he began to spin his yarn. His girls were at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +service, the two of them, and had each ten shillings +per week, and they brought it all home, for they +were good girls. He had got somebody to apply +for this land for him on his land order, "and here," +he said, "right and left is all mine. Me and +mother built the house ourselves; come inside +and see."</p> + +<p>"But," said I, "what is the meaning of that +empty bottle you have hung up there?"</p> + +<p>"Oh," cried he, "did you not see my signboard. +I sell beer. I cannot understand their blessed +language, but I thought if I showed them the +bottle they would know what it meant, and Annie +drew that signboard herself last Sunday she +was home; she is a splendid scholar, you know—you +should only hear her talk English. It fetches +them right enough. You will see nearly everybody +who comes along the road must be in here +and have his beer."</p> + +<p>Then we went inside, and there were the old +lady and her children, as happy as could be. Now +I had to tell my history, and after much argument +my friend made me believe that the reason the +contractor had not given me a job was because I +had told him the truth. "You should have said +you earned fifteen shillings a day in Bowen, that +you would not work under sixteen shillings now; +that is the way. Always tell them you can do +anything."</p> + +<p>Good old fellow! How cheerful I felt when at +last I went away. I laughed to myself, too, at his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +important self-confident air. If he has kept his +land and sold beer to this day, I am sure he can +smoke his pipe now with great complacency—unless, +indeed, riches, a circumstance over which +he had no control, have spoiled him.</p> + +<p>In the hotel in which I stayed were several other +lodgers, among them an elderly man with a long +beard and a most fatherly air. He became daily +more friendly to me, and at the end of the first +week he told me he was himself a Dane, and that he +had been in the Colonies a great many years. He +said he had watched me with growing interest; +that he generally was chary of offering his friendship +to anybody, but that he now was satisfied that +I was a respectable, well-meaning youth, and that +his heart went out towards me. Of course the +least I, under the circumstances, could do was to +accept his proffered friendship in the same spirit +in which it was offered, and I told him frankly all +my business, and how I was still smarting under +the insult I had received on my first arrival in +Townsville to such a degree that from day to day +I could not bring myself to ask for work again, and +how, I added, my bit of money was going fast. +He, on his part, gave me to understand that he +was not a rich man, although several times he had +made his fortune. "But," said he, "I never let +the left hand know what the right hand is doing. +Sometimes, as for instance now, I run myself +quite short; it does not matter, I can always make +enough for myself as long as God gives me strength."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>I went with him to church on the Sunday, +although I did not understand a word of what the +parson said, but my ancient friend had already +acquired a sort of proprietorship over me, and as +he seemed to be intensely religious, it imparted a +kind of holy feeling to me to sit near him. After +church, he lectured me on religion very severely, +and all the time I knew him he prayed devoutly +both morning and evening. A few days after, he +told me he had taken a contract from one of the +storekeepers in town to cut hay. He said that a +man could cut a load of hay in a day, and that he +was to get thirty shillings a load for it. He would +now, said he, have to buy a horse and dray, and +would also have to look out for a partner. I +asked him if he thought I might do, and said that +if I could not work as much as he I should not +expect the same pay, but that I was confident that +I would not be far behind.</p> + +<p>"Well, I might do;" he would like to have me +for a partner, but he understood that I had very +little money. It would be necessary for his +partner to have at least thirty pounds, as the +horse and dray alone would cost forty pounds, and +we should have to buy tools and to keep ourselves +in rations for some time. I was very sorry that I +had got only something like eight pounds. "All +right;" he would take me if I would do the best I +could. He had already an offer for a horse and +dray. Then we set about buying a tent and a lot +of rations in a store, also scythes and one thing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +and another necessary for the job. My partner +advised me that we should not pay for it just then, +as we were to deliver hay for the money. The +same day we left with all our things packed in our +swags, and went into the bush about four miles, +where there was plenty of long grass suitable for +haymaking, and there we pitched our tent.</p> + +<p>Here I worked for a couple of months with the +utmost eagerness. It was a time of long summer +days, and from daylight to dark was I at it, doing +my level best. My partner had bought a horse +and a dray, and was taking hay into town every +day, but he did not work much at home. Of +course, as he said, he was getting to be old, and +could not work as formerly; but then he did all +the business, and, according to his estimate, we +earned a couple of pounds every day. As for me, +I worked contented and happy, although we had +not yet taken any money for the hay and I had +given my partner every sixpence I possessed to +help in buying the horse and dray. We lived very +frugally, too—at least, I did; my partner had his +dinner in town, but that was only a necessity when +he was bringing hay in—because, as he said, he did +not believe in all this gorging and over-feeding +which was customary in these latter days. As for +smoking tobacco, he was much against it, and +declared it to be not only a wicked but a dirty +habit; so, to please him, I had given up the pipe. +I made breakfast for him in the morning, and was +at work before he rose. I had supper ready for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +him when he came home at night, and I never +spared myself or gave a thought to the unequal +distribution of work between us.</p> + +<p>One evening my partner did not come home. I +was very anxious, picturing to myself all sorts of +dreadful calamities which might have happened to +him. In the morning I went into the town to the +storekeeper, whom I understood bought the hay, +but I could get no satisfaction there. They had +not seen him for a week, they said, and only bought +hay occasionally. I thought they did not understand +me, and I went to another storekeeper, and +got a similar answer. As I stood quite bewildered +in the street, I saw the horse and dray coming +past, and a stranger driving. On inquiry, I learnt +that the man who was driving had bought the +whole concern the day before for thirty-five +pounds. While we were yet talking one of my +countrymen came up and wanted to know about +the horse and cart too, and, to make a long story +short, it appeared that my mate had borrowed, on +one pretext and another, from the Danes in town +nearly a hundred pounds in small sums. He had +also bought the horse and dray with a very small +cash deposit, and sold them for cash, got paid for +all the hay we had cut, and owing for our rations +in one of the stores besides, he had cleared out. +Benevolent-looking old hypocrite, when I found it +all out, I felt as if I could have——never mind—what +is the good? say no more. I had not got a +copper. I went up to the hotel where I had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +staying before I had started haymaking, and began +to pour out my tale of woe to the publican, +with no other object than to get sympathy. The +publican looked absent-minded, then he smiled: he +always thought old —— had a "smart look" about +him. "And so he has done all of you new chums, +eh! Say it again. How was it he did it? You are +too soft for this country."</p> + +<p>I was on the point of leaving, when a man came +in and asked me if I was old ——'s partner. I said +"yes." Would I be so good as to pay this bill for +two pounds odd shillings at once, or if I did not +he would make me into sausages. This was too +much. I know myself to be good-natured, and I +told him so, but if he had any evil designs on me, +why I would pull his nose. We had a long conversation +on this matter, and at last he agreed not +to annihilate me there and then, and I on my part +declared myself satisfied if he would give me his +pipe and tobacco and let me have a good long +smoke as a sort of proof to me that he bore me +no ill-will. When peace was thus restored, he became +very friendly, and explained to me that he had +misunderstood the matter before, and that he was +very sorry for me, but that he would yet make my +partner pay us all if I would only leave it to him +and go home. "Only leave it to him"? I had +nothing else to do but to go home, because in the +camp there was at least a bit to eat. So home I +went. But what a change had now come about in +my fortune! Not only the loss of the money<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>—although +that was serious enough, but there was +the shock to my faith in human nature! Who +could I put faith in after this? I began in a sort +of mechanical way to cut hay again just to get away +from my thoughts. Then I threw the tools as far as +I could, and went to lie down in the tent with my +mind in a state of blank. Where would I go, and +what should I do next? After a while, the man +who had wanted me to pay a bill came and posted +a bill on a tree. He inquired of me if I had a horse, +and seemed very sorry for me when I told him +"no." He informed me also that I must not remove +anything, as to do so would be stealing. I understood +sufficient of the proceedings to know that +he also would be very "smart" if he could, and he +was scarcely gone, before a man came with another +summons, which was pasted underneath the first. +This would never do, thought I. Was I to allow +myself to be made a cricket-ball of by every one who +chose to play with me. I must be "smart" too, +and as soon as I got the idea, it struck me as an +immense joke. Would it have been wicked, thought +I, if I had been able to work a double game on the +old swindler who had taken me in? They seemed +to show respect for the swindler, and contempt for +the dupe; but then there was the risk of cheating +honest people, and that I could never do. No, that +must not be. But talking about cheating and +stealing, as the fellows who had posted the summonses +on the trees had done, now they were +trying to get paid their score out of the few things<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +which were left in the camp without regard to me, +and had the impudence to tell me that I must not +remove anything. Bosh! Was it not paid for +with my own money? Certainly all there might +not fetch ten shillings, but who had a better right +or more need of it than I? So, as the first step +in "smartness," I remembered that possession +amounts to nine points of the law, and for the rest +I would in my mind keep a sort of profit and loss +account, and I began at once by writing down my +present score and leaving open the opposite page +for such circumstances as the future might have +in store. Dangerous thoughts, I admit, but this +is the truth, and having found a weapon in this +determination, it did not take me ten minutes to +make up my mind what to do.</p> + +<p>There was a settler living not far away from +where we had been cutting hay. This man always +seemed to me to have a friendly air about him as +he would come past occasionally, and he had always +made a point of stopping to speak to me at such +times. He had several times invited me to come +and visit him, but I had never yet done so. I now +thought I would go and see him and ask him his +advice, whether he thought that I had a right +to claim what there was in the camp, and if so, +try to induce him to buy what there was. I accordingly +went over to his place and told him all +about my trouble. He was an Irishman. "Bad +luck to the ould offinder!" cried he, "and so he +has run away. This is an awful wurld. Ah, me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +lad, take my advice, never have anything to do +with them Germans. Well, never mind, you are +a German too, but that one was worse than a +native dog anyhow, and so he was."</p> + +<p>I asked him what he thought about the things in +the camp, whether I might have them: there was an +axe, besides two scythes, a bucket, billy, frying-pan, +some old blankets and other articles, and then +there was the tent. "Oh, that was all right." I +could bring it all over to his place, and he would +swear to any one that it was his, and he would like +to see the man who would dispute it. I might +come too, he said, and live with him until I got +something to do. He would do much more than +that, only that he had no money. This seemed to +suit me in every respect, and I began at once +carrying over all that was in the tent to my new +friend's place; but the tent itself I let stand for +any one to fight about as they thought fit, or for the +Government to inherit—I did not care which. The +next few days I passed with the Irishman. He +was not married, and lived quite alone on this +piece of land which he had taken up as a selection. +The hut had only one room, and the absence of that +refining influence which is generally supposed to +pervade a place where women live, was painfully +apparent. The Irishman knew this very well, for +he had always a way of excusing the rampant disorder +in the hut by saying "that the Missis was +not at home, bad luck."</p> + +<p>Under the bunk were two bags of corn piled up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +in the cobs, in another corner lay some turnips and +seed-potatoes; we boiled the corned beef and the +tea in the one billy, and if the billy was full of meat +or potatoes, when we wanted to make tea, it was +only the work of a second to topple it all out into +the bunk and fill the billy up with water for the tea. +I am sure I now ask my friend's pardon for repaying +his hospitality by describing these matters, +but as I hope this history of my life will be published, +it may possibly be read by young ladies, and +I cannot resist the temptation to show them the +faithful picture of a bachelor's den in the Queensland +bush. If it were a singular instance I should +not think it worth relating, but it is not; it would +be more correct to say it is the general rule.</p> + +<p>Every day I went into town and looked out for +something to do, but I found great difficulty. +Work was plentiful, but wherever I inquired if they +wanted a carpenter, their first question was about +my tools. I had no tools, and they would not +engage me. One evening I was in town on purpose +to speak to a contractor who had told me to +call at his private residence at nine o'clock with a +view to engaging me. As I was walking about +trying to kill the time, I found myself standing +down on the wharf, where I had come ashore the +first day I landed in Townsville. I was watching +the little steamer that used to run between the +town and the bay, and which now seemed to be +getting steam up, and in a vague sort of way I +wondered whether the steamer out in the bay was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +going north or south, so I asked one of the sailors. +"North," said he; "they go to Batavia, but they +call at the pearl fisheries at Cape Somerset. Are +you going?"</p> + +<p>I had, of course, never thought of it till that +moment, but as he said "pearl fisheries" it struck +me that it must be a delightful occupation to sit +fishing for pearls, and that it would be worth +running a risk to try to get to that place. Besides, +it would be a splendid adventure. So I said, +"Yes, I am going." "Have you been there +before?" said he; "perhaps you are a diver?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was a diver." I found out next that I +should just have time to go out to my camp in the +bush, to collect my swag and be back in time for +the steamer. I ran all the way there and back, +laughing to myself all the time, because there +seemed to myself such a splendid uncertainty about +how the adventure would turn out. I had got no +money, but it only troubled me so far as perhaps it +might make it impracticable to get on board. Anyhow, +I meant to have a hard try for it. When I +came back I stood watching the little steamer +until the moment they were about to cast off. Then +with a hue and cry I rushed on board.</p> + +<p>As we sailed down the river the captain said to +me, "Are you the diver?" "No savey." "Are you +going up to the pearl fisheries?" "No savey." +"Have you got a ticket?" "No savey." "Dang +that fellow! Are you——Deutcher?" "No savey." +"Well, if you 'no savey,' all I can tell you is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +that you shall not get on board the steamer without +a ticket. You savey swim?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, I savey swim belong de pearl all de +time?" "Oh, well, I think you had better go +back with us again, because they will only give you +to the sharks up there, if you try any tricks on +them."</p> + +<p>Here the conversation was interrupted by the +captain having to attend to the ship, and I +scrambled out of his way. It did not take long +before we were out alongside the large steamer, +and so as it was very close I watched my opportunity +and climbed up the side and on board. +There was a large coil of rope lying on the deck, +and into that I crept without a thought for the +morrow. I heard the ship getting under weigh and +then I slept, if not the sleep of the just, at least +without dreams.</p> + +<p>Next day was Sunday. I only woke up as the +sun was shining in my face, and then I got up +and looked around me. We were steaming along +the coast; there seemed to be nobody about but the +sailors. I had a walk about the deck and a wash +at the pump. Nobody spoke to me for some time, +until the steward came and in a most natural way +told me breakfast was ready. "Good!" He is +a sensible man, thought I, and I went below and +had a good meal. As soon as I had well finished, +the mate came in and asked me for my ticket. I +had formed no particular plan of campaign, but I +felt so self-confident and happy, that I was perfectly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +convinced within myself that it would be impossible +for any one to be out of temper with me. It is +necessary to bear this in mind to believe what +follows. Mirth is catching, and is irresistible when +natural, but nothing but the genuine article will do +here. So now the mate came up to me and said, +"Ticket." I laughed and cried "No ticle." He +looked rather surprised at me, and held out his +hand saying, "Ticket." "Oh," cried I, laughing, +while I grasped his hand, "Ticket—oh I savey +you give me ticket?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, this won't do," said he, although I could +perceive my mirth was working on him. "Money, +money or ticket"—at the same time he took out +half a crown and showed it me. I tried to take +the half-crown from him and patted him on the +shoulder, saying, "Good fellow you," and when he +would not give it me, I told him he was too much +gammon for me altogether. At last I got him to +laugh properly, and then he said I was too much +gammon for him too, but that now I should have +to go off with him to the captain, because he could +not give me a free passage and could make neither +head nor tail of me in the bargain.</p> + +<p>"Come on," cried he; "to the captain you go."</p> + +<p>My whole frame shook with laughter. I do not +know why, I simply relate the fact. It seemed to +me so strange and comical that I was now here, a +regular loafer, a sort of criminal, and unemployed, +a—what not, not knowing where I was going and +not caring; and what would this blessed captain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +do with me, or think of me? On we came, the +mate and I, up to the quarter-deck. There was a +good-looking man of thirty odd years of age reclining +at his ease in a sort of chair, more in a +lying than a sitting posture. He was playing with +the hand of a lady who was sitting alongside of +him, and they looked so affectionately at one +another that I made sure at once they were not +husband and wife! Besides these, the only other +person on deck was the man at the wheel. On we +came, and the mate presented me as a stowaway. +I saluted the lady and the captain airily, and he +spoke to me, but I paid no attention to what he +was saying. I was looking at the lady and thinking +of my adventure in Bowen, the first time I saluted +a lady in Queensland. My sides shook with laughter +until I saw the lady in the same condition; then +I exploded. The lady, the captain, the mate, and +the man at the wheel all followed suit! I beat +my chest and called on all the saints to give me +strength to stop, but I could not, and we all kept +laughing until, from utter exhaustion, the lady and +the captain were lying back in their chairs with +averted faces, the mate was hanging over the +gunwale, and I was lying on my elbow on the deck, +regularly sick. Every time the captain or any of +them were looking at me they made me laugh +again. At last the captain, after several attempts +to speak to me cried, "Go away, go away; I speak +to you by and by."</p> + +<p>I had not been gone half an hour before I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +called back again. The lady was this time sitting +with her back to me. The captain said, "What +have you got to say for yourself?"</p> + +<p>I somehow felt sure that it was all right, and +that the lady was going to say a good word for me, +or had done so already. Anyhow I altered my +tactics, and told them how it was that I had no +money, and how I somehow, perhaps recklessly, +but on the spur of the moment, had got on board. +When I had finished speaking I felt very foolish, +and as the lady turned round and looked at me, I +blushed up to the roots of my hair, and felt very +much ashamed. Then the captain said, "And +what do you want to do at Cape Somerset?"</p> + +<p>I did not know. "Have you no money?" "No." +"No friends there?" "No." "You have been +very foolish."</p> + +<p>After a while he said: "There will be nothing +for you to do at Cape Somerset and as little at +Batavia. The only thing I can do for you is to +put you ashore at Cardwell, here, on the coast. +There is a settlement there and some sugar plantations +up the river. I will do that for you, if you +like."</p> + +<p>I thanked him very much, and said I did not +know what to do with myself. "All right, you can +hold yourself in readiness to go ashore."</p> + +<p>A couple of hours afterwards, the steamer was +very close to land, and I saw some houses on the +beach. A boat was lowered and manned by sailors, +and I was told to get in. But so benevolent did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +the captain prove, that they bundled in after me a +lot of flour, tea, sugar, and meat, also a tent. I +felt completely crushed: I sat in the boat and dared +not look around; only after they put me ashore I +waved my handkerchief, and there, yes, they were +waving their handkerchiefs back to me. There +seemed to be a big lump in my throat. Was I in +love? Perhaps I was, I do not know, but I felt +very sure that if just then I had thought that I +could have obliged either the captain or the lady +on board by drowning myself, I would have done +it. They had put me ashore in a place where the +houses which formed the settlement were hidden +from my view, and I was glad of it, because I did +not want to see everybody. I found a little stream +of water close by, then I pitched the tent and laid +myself down outside, looking after the smoke of +the steamer as long as I could see the slightest +sign of it. An unspeakable longing for home, a +craving for sympathy, was all over me. I suppose +most people have felt the same emotion. I did +not go up to town for two or three days after; +I remained lying on the beach all day looking out +over the sea, and half the night I would walk up +and down thinking, or, perhaps it would be more +correct to say, <i>feeling</i> all sorts of things.</p> + +<p>If we would all only always remember the value +of a kind word, or a little genuine sympathy, how +much better the world would be! Who shall say +what I might have been to-day, or into what +channels my mind might have been led, if the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +captain had acted towards me as he would have +been quite justified in doing—that is, if he had +given me in charge of the police when we came to +a shore, and if I had been just a week or two in the +lock-up? I had been wronged in Townsville, and +afterwards I had received the impression that it +was a case of each man for himself without fear or +favour. What this impression would have led to +if it had not been in this happy way checked in +the very beginning, is hard to say, but when at last +I bent my steps towards the dozen or two of houses +which formed the township of Cardwell, it was with +a resolution to do my best, but not to sail again +under false colours.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page131" name="page131"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br /> +<br /> + +ON THE HERBERT RIVER.</h2> + + +<p>From the glimpses I already had of the settlement, +I came to the conclusion that it was of +no use looking for carpenter's work here, so I went +into the most conspicuous house I could see, viz., +the hotel, and asked for a job of any kind. There +were three or four men in the bar, dried-up looking +mummies they seemed to me, but very friendly, +for they began at once to mix in the conversation, +and after I had told everybody all round where I +came from, how old I was, what I could do, how +long I had been in the country, and a lot more +besides, they held a consultation among themselves, +and agreed that my best plan was to go up +on the sugar plantations on the Herbert River. +It appeared that the mail for the plantation was +taken up the river once a fortnight from Cardwell +in a common boat, and my new friends, after +standing drinks all round, unsolicited went to the +captain about letting me go with him, and pull an +oar in lieu of passage money. They asked me +into dinner, as a matter of course; and who should +I see waiting at the table but a German girl, one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +of my shipmates. "Happy meeting." Then for +two or three more days I was breaking firewood +for a living, and meanwhile it seemed as if I was +the admiration of the whole community, because +Cardwell is, and was then, as well as the Herbert +River, a fearful place for fever, and the whole +population was in a constant state of disease. As +for me, Queensland had so far, I believe, rather +improved my appearance than otherwise. Anyhow, +it was a case all the day through to answer +people how long I had been in the country; then +they would say, "Hah! Europe, the old country—that +must be the best place, after all. Look at +his cheeks!" Then I would be advised to clear +out again as fast as I came, or else in three months +I should look like everybody around me. It used +to surprise me very much, but I could not understand + +it, because the climate seemed to me excellent; +and as everybody seemed so kind, and I was +in the best of health, I only laughed at their +sayings. Meanwhile I had spoken to the man in +charge of the mail-boat, and one day at noon I +embarked for the plantations. It was an ordinary +rowing boat, and besides myself it had two other +occupants—the captain, who was a Frenchman; +the other an American. They both, on ordinary +occasions, each pulled an oar; but this time, as +I was there, the captain took the helm and I the +oar. I pulled away as hard as I could, and did +not see much of where we were going, but by the +time it grew dark we were past the mouth of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +river, and in smooth water. We dropped anchor +in the middle of the river, because, as the captain +explained to me, if we were to run ashore an alligator +would be sure to try and crawl into the boat. +They had appliances in the boat for boiling water, +and after tea they both sat for a couple of hours +spinning alligator yarns. I listened with great +interest and not without fear, because the river +was swarming with the reptiles. The blacks were +also at that time so bad that no one dared to go +overland to the plantations, unless in a large company. +Here in the boat we had two loaded rifles +and two revolvers, and before we reached the plantations +I saw enough to convince me that it was +necessary to be very careful when we had occasion +to go ashore. It was also considered always necessary +for one to keep watch the whole night, and as +I was not sleepy I took the first watch, while the +other two laid themselves down and soon snored +lustily. Put there staring out into the darkness, +with the loaded rifle over my knee, could it really +be true, as my two shipmates had just assured +me, that I was bound to catch the fever before +three months were over? How did people here +do when they were sick? I had asked that +question also, and they had answered it by asking +me if I thought anybody here was running about +with a hospital on his back. And when any one +died, it appeared that they rolled the body in a +blanket and threw it in the river for the alligators +to do the rest! These alligators, too, which might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +at any time upset the boat and eat us! Would it +be my fate to serve as food for one of them? +Horrible thought. But I had heard that evening +so much about alligators; how, if I were at any +time to be caught by one I should try to stick my +finger into its eye, and that it would then eject +me again; the whole thing being just as if it +were a most natural and common occurrence here +for people to be eaten by these monsters. Then +there were the blacks; they were both savage and +numerous, and I had got strict orders to listen +with all my ears for any surprise from them. I +had taken great notice that when boiling the tea +my shipmates had been very careful to conceal +the fire.</p> + +<p>Bang! crack! went the rifle. Up rushed the +Frenchman and the American, revolvers in hand. +I stared at them. They stared at me.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" whispered the captain.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," whispered I; "the gun went +off."</p> + +<p>It was well for me, perhaps, that I was not +familiar with the French language, or else who +knows but the Franco-German war might not have +been renewed between myself and the captain. +He screamed and laughed and swore both "Mon +Dieu" and "Sacre bleu," and then he assured me +that it was only because I was a German that I +was afraid!</p> + +<p>The Yankee sat and smoked his pipe, and +laughed in a peculiar way; and, wild and ashamed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +of myself, I could not help feeling amused at him, +because he laughed, although the grimaces in his +face were exactly those another man would make +if he were going to cry. By and by the captain +began to feel calmer, and as I was disposed only +to feel angry with myself for the fear which had +caused me to press on the trigger of the rifle until +it went off, we were soon friends again. My watch +was over, and I laid down to sleep, while the +two others took their turn to watch the rest of the +night. At break of day we hoisted the anchor and +began to propel the boat again. I never remember +anything in nature making the same impression on +me as the scenery around us. The broad river, or +inlet, was dotted all over with beautiful small +islands, then on the mainland the hills seemed to +rise to immense heights, covered with the primeval +forest. The sun rose and shone with that splendour +that those who have been in the tropics can +alone imagine. Parrots and all other birds flew +about in great numbers, screaming as if with joy.</p> + +<p>At sunrise we went ashore on a small island +about half an acre in extent, but verdant with +tropical plants, quite a home of summer! Here +we had breakfast and a rest before we started +again. How inconceivable did it seem to me that +this climate should be so unhealthy as they said +it was. Anyhow, it seemed to me that to have +seen this place would be justification for saying +one had not lived in vain, and if the worst +was to come, death seemed to me to have no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +terror if one might be buried on that island. We +now started off again, pulling the boat. Shortly +after, the sky became overcast and rain began to +pour down. First, we had taken all our clothes +off and covered them up with a piece of canvas. +The rain descended in sheets of water all day, and +we had a rare bath all the time; one was always +baling the boat and the other pulling. I can +never forget that weary day. We could not make +a fire, we had no shelter, and scarcely five +minutes' rest or interval from pulling. A sort of +morose silence seemed to settle over us all. Long +after dark in the evening did it keep on raining, +and I began to wonder where we should put ourselves +that night. As the others said nothing, I +did not intend to be the first to knock under. +Still, I was ready to drop as I pulled along in the +pitch darkness, and it made it much worse that I +did not know but that I might have to do it all +night. At last the captain took up a horn and +blew a tune on it, and a few minutes later we +heard a fearful barking as of a score of big dogs. +We had arrived at the place where the township +of Ingham stands to-day. At that time there was +only one solitary house built on high posts, with +plenty of room to walk about underneath. I +understood the house was the joint property of the +planters further up the river, and the place was +used as a sort of depôt. There was an old man in +charge, the only inhabitant; he lived there all +alone, protected by a score of dogs, the most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +ferocious-looking beasts I ever saw. It was also +part of his duty to receive and be hospitable to +such travellers as might find their way there. I +was told these details while in the boat, and +cautioned not to run the boat ashore before we +were invited, as the dogs for certain would tear +me to pieces. We heard the old fellow cooeing, +and shortly after he came down to us. He had a +lantern hung around his neck, and two ferocious-looking +dogs were held in chains by him, striving +and tearing to get at us. Some more dogs, which +he said were quiet, but which did not look so, +were barking and straining after us at the landing-place. +My shipmates had been there before, and +at last the dogs seemed to know them; but poor I +had to remain by myself in the boat until the old +man had got all the dogs chained again. At last +I came ashore. Oh, the joy now of a fire, dry +clothes, a good supper, a glass of grog, and a good +bed! A good bed in the Queensland bush means +two saplings stuck through a couple of flour-bags, +with two sticks nailed across at the head and the +foot to keep them apart.</p> + +<p>The next evening, after another hard day's +pulling, we came to the first plantation. This +seemed quite a large place. I cannot now after +so many years state how many people there were +or what they were doing, if ever I knew it; but +let it suffice to say that we were all well received +at supper-time in the single men's hut, where a +large crowd of men were collected. The French<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +man told me I should be sure to get a job as +carpenter from the planter, and that I must +demand three pounds sterling per week and board +for my services, nothing less. I slept that night +on the dining-table, as there was no spare bunk; +and I remember that night with great distinctness, +on account of what I suffered from mosquitoes. +The next morning I saw the planter, and asked +him for a job as carpenter. "Yes," said he; I +was the very man he wanted. He intended to +build a house of split timber; I might give him a +price. He would order a couple of horses, and we +would ride out to look for timber, and if I liked the +trees, so much the better. This was a thing I did +not then understand anything about, and I told +him so. "Never mind," said he, "I will find you +something; you can make me a waggon." I told +him waggons were not in my line. "What is in +your line, then?" inquired he.</p> + +<p>I understood the carpentry needed in brick-building, +or at least part of it, and I could make joinery +of sawn timber.</p> + +<p>"Very well; when he wanted a brick building, +or joinery made of sawn timber, he would send for +me."</p> + +<p>Then he walked off in a bad humour, and I had +to go back to the boat to tell my shipmates how +I had fared. That same day, at dinner-time, we +arrived at the next plantation. I was by this time +in very low spirits, because I did not know what +was to become of me. Everybody seemed to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +an errand and something to do except myself, and +I did not see how and when my services would be +called into requisition; but my two shipmates kept +telling me it was my own fault, and that I should +take anything I could get to do. So I would, but +what was it I could do? Anyhow, they kept +telling me that here was the only likely place left, +and I there <i>must</i> get a job. I must say I could do +anything. After I had dined, the Frenchman kept +poking at me and pointing out to me the planter, +telling me I must ask for a job. So I mustered +up courage and went up and spoke to him. +"What can you do?" "Anything." "Can +you cook?" "Do you mean making dinners?" +"Yes." "No, I cannot do that." "Can you +split fencing stuff?" "No." "Can you make +brick?" "No." "Can you chip?" "What is +that?" "Kill weeds with a hoe." "I never +did it before." "I am afraid it is difficult to find +you a job. You say you can do anything: what +is it you can do?"</p> + +<p>I was again quite crestfallen as I said, "I do +not think I can do <i>any</i>thing." "Well, then, I +cannot find you anything to do." With that he +went his way, and I came back to where the +Frenchman sat, and I had to tell him once more +of my hard fate. At this he began to swear in +French like one demented, and asked me had I +never told the planter I was a carpenter. "No." +"Mon Dieu! oh, Mon Dieu, was any one like +this infant!" Then he ran after the planter and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +spoke to him, and soon they both came back. +The planter then said he had been told I was a +carpenter, and that he was prepared to find work +for me at that trade, but that he would prefer me +to go into the boat to the next plantation, as he +knew his neighbour was much in want of me. If +I did not get on there he would employ me as I +came back. What a relief I felt, especially as I +understood they did not expect me to build houses +out of growing trees! The next evening we passed +the place where I was told I could get work, but it +was on the other side of the river. A man stood +down by the water's edge hailing the boat. He +sang out to us if we thought it possible he might +get a carpenter in Cardwell. It was music in +my ears. The Frenchman cried back: "We have +one on the boat." The man on shore replied he +wanted one to make boxes, tables, and the like. I +was ready to jump out of the boat with anxiety, +but I had to content myself, as my shipmates +would not let me off before the return journey, +and so I had to ply the oar until, far out into the +night, we arrived at the furthest point of our +journey, viz., the Native Police camp.</p> + +<p>I may say a few words about this establishment. +Round about in Queensland, on the furthest outskirts +of settlements, some official will be stationed +in charge of half a dozen aboriginals, trained in +the use of the rifle and amenable to discipline. It +is the duty of this official, with the assistance of +his troopers, to fill the aborigines with terror, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +to use such means to that end as his own judgment +may dictate. White men to hunt the blacks +with would be useless, as they could never track +them through the jungle, and would no doubt also +be too squeamish to fight the natives with their +own weapons. But the blacks themselves delight +in being cruel to their own kind. Often while I +was on the Herbert, would I see them coming past, +like regular bloodhounds, quite naked, with their +rifle in their hand and a belt around their waist +containing ammunition and the large scrub knife. +Their bodies would be smeared over with grease, +so as to be slippery to the touch. They would +then be out on an expedition. It no doubt requires +all the authority their officer can command +at such times to temper the wind to the shorn +lamb. As the district becomes settled the aboriginals +grow quiet, and the native police camp will +then be shifted further on. While I was on the +Herbert I never saw any other blacks besides the +police, although the blacks were about then in +great numbers. We often saw their tracks, but +they never showed themselves unless when they +could not help it.</p> + +<p>We arrived at the police camp about two or +three o'clock in the morning, and were received at +the landing-place by two of the troopers, who +stood there without saying a word, as if they were +watching for us. They were black as the night +itself, and as I never saw them until I was out of +the boat, I fairly ran against them. One of them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +had a pipe in his mouth, and the only thing that +indicated his presence was a glowing bit of coal he +had stuck into it. The other one, as I already +stated, I ran against, and I was quite startled as I +looked into his gleaming eyes and as I stretched +out my hands felt his greasy cold flesh! So I sang +out, "Hi! vot name? Where you sit down?" +that being the usual greeting to a blackfellow, but +although none of them spoke a sentence, I was +reassured in the next moment, as I saw a gentlemanly +young man, dressed in a pyjamas, coming +down to greet us. This was their officer, and as +he led us towards the house I thought that it +must be a cruel life for any white man to lead +alone in such a place with nobody but a lot of +howling savages to exchange a thought with. I +do not think the whole clearing was more than +half an acre in extent. In the middle of it stood +a house built on posts eight feet high. It contained +two rooms. This was where the officer +lived. In the yard, or whatever you liked to call +the clearing, was a fire, and around it sat or lay all +these black troopers. Australian blacks will not +sleep in a house if they can possibly avoid it, so +this was their regular camping-place. A more +wild and desolate spot than this looked to me, +with all these naked savages lying in the yard, +and with weapons piled about both outside and +inside the house, cannot be conceived.</p> + +<p>The next day, on our return journey, I parted +company with my two fellow-travellers, and went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +ashore at —— plantation, where I got a job as +carpenter for two pounds ten shillings per week +and my board. This was a place which scarcely +could be called a plantation yet, as it was only just +formed. The owner and his family lived there in +a large slab-house, erected on wooden piles ten or +twelve feet out of the ground. There were also a +few outbuildings, but any real work was not going +on, only one man, a bullock driver, being engaged +on the premises. My "boss" told me, though, +that he expected a hundred Kankas shortly from +the South Sea Islands, and that he wanted me to +fit up bunks for them, put together tables, troughs +for making bread in, furniture for his own house, +and such like. I perceived a few thousand feet of +sawn cedar lying about, and there and then I +started work to astonish the natives. I never +worked with greater perseverance than then. The +tools were in a fearful condition, but I soon got +them into some shape. Then I rigged up a bench +and made a sunshade out in the yard, where the +young lady could see me working, and then it +began to rain tables, sofas, chairs, and bunks, so +much that I am not afraid to say that I quickly +became a favourite. I found out here that I was +more capable than I myself thought, because I +even made a first-rate boat, in which I had the +pleasure of rowing about the river with Mr. ——'s +daughter, and in which she and her father afterwards +travelled to Cardwell. Miss —— had been +with her parents on the Herbert for a year, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +shortly after I arrived on the scene she went to a +boarding-school in Sydney. On his return journey +from Cardwell Mr. —— brought home a servant +girl, who proved to be the German girl I already +have mentioned as having seen in Cardwell. I +relate this matter not because I took any particular +interest in this girl, but because I have +by and by to write about what happened to all +of us.</p> + +<p><a id="page145" name="page145"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/illus_166.png"> +<img src="images/illus_166.png" alt="AN ALLIGATOR POOL" title="AN ALLIGATOR POOL"/> +</a></div> +<div class="center"><p class="caption">AN ALLIGATOR POOL</p></div> + +<p>My "boss" was in my eyes a regular hero, or +Nimrod, if you like. I went out shooting with +him both morning and evening, and all Sunday as +well, and became after a while quite a good shot. +But one thing troubled Mr. ——; it was this: +that although alligators were a daily terror, he had +never yet been able to shoot one. When we went +out shooting he had always a rifle with him, loaded +with ball, and we would crawl about some fearful +places and follow the tracks of alligators, but still +we had no luck. As for me, I professed to be very +sorry too, that we did not run right up against one. +I had great faith in Mr. ——, and I do not think +he had any suspicion that I was really afraid; +still I always drew a sigh of relief when we +came home from one of our expeditions. There +is so much boasting going on in Queensland +about alligators, that it is next to a proverb +here when one is telling an untrue tale to say that +it is "an alligator yarn," and I am, therefore, +almost ashamed to write about it. Still alligators +are a reality, and up there we knew it. On the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>river-bank, in front of the house was a spring, from +which we got the water supply for the house but +so nervous were we that no one dared to go to it +without the utmost precaution. Every morning +Mr. —— would come and ask the bullock driver +and me if we were prepared to fetch water. Then +he would get his rifle and take up a position on +the river-bank from which he could overlook the +surroundings, while we went down to carry up a +supply of water.</p> + +<p>And now I will relate an alligator story, although +I have been much tempted to pass it over for the +reason already stated. One day after dinner +Mr. —— came to me much excited, and told me +that an alligator had taken one of the working bullocks +which had been lying down a few hundred +yards from the house, in broad daylight too. We +then went down to see about it, and there were the +tracks of the bullock and the alligator. It showed +plainly that the alligator must have taken the +bullock in the hind-quarters and have dragged it +along, because the earth was regularly ploughed up +where the bullock had been holding back with its +head and forelegs; it had been dragged right down +to the river's edge and then killed and partly eaten. +As we ran the tracks down, we saw the alligator +by the bullock, but it dropped like a stone into the +water on our approach. Mr. —— turned to me with +sparkling eyes. "Now is our chance," cried he; +"to-night and to-morrow night it will come again +and eat of the bullock. Then we can shoot it."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +Was it not fun? Anyhow I said I would make one +of the shooting party, and then he began to unfold +our plan of campaign. To begin with he thought +it best to delay till the next evening as the alligator +would then be sure to be more quiet. We were to +take up a concealed position to windward of the +bullock's carcass, and await the arrival of the +monster. And so the next evening came, and after +tea, while it was yet light, Mr. —— came and asked +me if I was ready. "Yes," cried I. I was ready, +and in a very ferocious spirit besides! Well, then, +we would get the weapons. The two rifles were +loaded, and each of us had a six-chambered revolver +as well. As for me, I stuck a butcher's knife in my +belt also, as a last resource, but Mr. —— laughed +at me for doing it and assured me that before I +could find use for that I should be in the alligator's +stomach. Then we went, Mr. —— first and I +close behind. The river-bank nearest the water +was very steep for about thirty yards, then there +was a gentle slope for another twenty yards or so, +and on that slope the carcass of the bullock was +now lying. We were very careful to have the wind +against us, as the alligator is very shy as a rule, and +Mr. —— said it would be sure to clear off if it +could smell us. Then we lay down behind some +bushes in a most overpowering smell from the +bullock; but what will one not do for glory? It +was agreed between us that we should both fire at +the same moment, and that Mr. —— should give +the signal. We were lying flat on the ground, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +one of Mr. ——'s legs was touching me, and it was +further agreed that I was not on any account to +fire before he with his leg pressed mine in a certain +way. Then I was to fire into the mouth of the +alligator, while he at the same moment would try +to send a ball through its eye. We were lying in +this position nearly up to midnight, when we heard +some heavy body come creeping up the hill, but +still out of sight. Now and then the noise would +cease for a minute or two, then it would come on +again, until at last we saw the dark mass of the +alligator come crawling up to the bullock and begin +to tear at it. I was not a bit nervous, because I +could see it quite distinctly, but I was very impatient +for the signal to fire which did not come, +and I dared not move round sufficiently to look at +Mr. —— either. The alligator was turning this +way and that way. Now, I thought, is the time. +Still no signal. Then it turned right round, and at +one time I thought its tail was going to sweep us +away. Just when our chance was best we heard +another alligator coming crawling up the bank. +It was at that moment quite impossible to fire +according to the position in which the first alligator +was lying, but as it was moving about rapidly I +thought it best in any case to ignore as well as I +could the presence of the second alligator, which +we could not yet see. At last the first one began +to snap its jaws in that peculiar way which only +one who has seen a live alligator knows. Then +came the signal. Bang! went the rifles. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +beast never moved a muscle. It was quite dead, +and we could hear the other alligator tearing and +rolling down into the water again. Mr. —— got +up and wiped his face. "I was afraid of you getting +excited," said he. I admitted I was thankful +the sport was over, and without giving ourselves +time to measure the reptile we decamped out of +the smell as fast as we could. It was fairly overpowering, +and it took the best part of a bottle of +Scotch whiskey, which the "boss" introduced, to +make me believe that it was possible to go through +such adventure and still live.</p> + +<p>It had for a long time been the wish of Mrs. —— +and the children to visit their nearest neighbour, +who, however, lived some fourteen miles away. +One evening preparations were made for the whole +family to start at daybreak next morning on the +bullock dray. It was quite a perilous journey for +a lady and children to undertake, as the track was +through the dense jungle most of the way, and +through grass eight feet high at other places, and +swamps, creeks, and gullies had to be crossed. +Mr. —— told me that he could not possibly be +back before the next night, and that he entrusted +everything at home to my care while he was away, +the girl included, and that I might take a holiday +until they came back, so that I on no account left +the premises. He also advised me that as it was +possible I might have a surprise from the blacks I +had better sleep for the night up in the house, +which, as I have already stated, stood on high<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +piles, and was only accessible by means of a narrow +staircase. The next morning, then, they all went +away, the bullock driver and all the dogs included. +Twelve bullocks pulled the dray, into which a lot of +bed-clothes were piled. There sat the lady and +the children. Mr. —— was on horseback, armed +with his rifle and revolvers. The driver cracked +his long whip and all the dogs barked and jumped +about. I stood by seeing them off and feeling +quite important too, as I was the garrison left to +defend the home until the travellers should return. +About dinner-time that same day two travellers +came in a boat from one of the plantations and +asked to speak to Mr. ——. This was rather remarkable, +as we scarcely ever saw any other people +than the boatmen when they brought the mail, +and occasionally the black trackers from the police +camp, but I told them that Mr. —— and the +whole family had left that morning in the bullock +dray. They seemed surprised.</p> + +<p>"All of them, did you say?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied I.</p> + +<p>"It means good-bye," said they both. "You will +never see any of them again; they have cleared +off."</p> + +<p>I was surprised and incredulous. My friends +seemed quite sure.</p> + +<p>"And what did he say to you when they left?" +inquired one.</p> + +<p>"He told me I need not work until he came +back, but that I must not leave the premises. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +also said that he entrusted everything to my +care."</p> + +<p>"My word," said they, "it is a nasty trust. +Why, the blacks will be sure to rush the place one +of these days, perhaps to-night, for they are certain +to have seen the others going away."</p> + +<p>Then they began to commiserate with me on +what was to become of myself and the girl, as we +were sure to fall into the hands of the blacks, and +they offered to take us both away in the boat with +them. But I could not see it in that way. I knew +that in all probability we should have no visitors +for ten or eleven days until the mailman came. +But where was I to go? I had now a good deal of +money coming to me. Who was to pay me? +Besides, it might only be all nonsense. Still the +responsibility seemed great. I took the girl aside +and asked her if she liked to go in the boat and +leave me. She began to cry, and said she would +rather stay, and did not like the fellows. If there +is anything that could ever make me desperate it +is to see a woman cry. So I began to give the two +strangers the cold shoulder, and to show them that +I had a rifle, six fowling-pieces, a revolver, and any +amount of ammunition, and that I would, if it +was necessary, defend the place against all the +blacks in the district, but neither the girl nor I +would budge out of the place before we were paid, +and that, moreover, we did not believe that the +"boss" had cleared off, but that he would be back +the next evening.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>After these fellows were gone I held a council of +war with the girl. We turned and twisted probabilities +for or against, were they coming back or +were they not? Evening came and we sat up in +the blockhouse and dared not go to bed. Wherever +I moved there the girl was after me. I had all the +guns standing loaded alongside me, but we dared +not light a lamp for fear of attracting the blacks. +We sat whispering and listening. Every time the +wind would rustle the leaves in the garden the girl +made a grab at me and cried, "There they are! +There they are!"</p> + +<p>At last I induced her to go to her room, and then +I dozed off myself, and did not wake up before it +was broad daylight. The first thing we did that +morning on coming downstairs was to look for +tracks from the blacks, to see if they had been +about. I was not a very good tracker then, but we +found what proved to our entire satisfaction that +the aboriginals had been about in great numbers. +This terrified the girl completely, and she upbraided +me for having slept during the night, and implored +me not to do so again; also she wished she had +gone with the strangers the day before; and then +she began praying in great excitement that it might +not be her fate to fall into the hands of savages. +Of course all this had its influence on me, and +as the day went on we completely discarded +the possibility of our employers returning, and +only thought of how best to protect ourselves from +the blacks. I made up my mind, therefore, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +the time had now arrived for me to show myself +great and brave, and at all events to sell my life +dearly. Good generalship, however, was likely, +thought I, to do more for me than bravery unassisted +by judgment, and for that reason I began +to think how to act so as to be prepared for the +worst. I knew this much, that the greatest danger +from a surprise would be about sunrise. But as I +was alone I could see that it would be impossible +for me to defend the whole property. I must +therefore retire to the main house, which, standing +isolated and on high piles, would offer a good fortification. +But if I had to abandon the outhouses, +they would then fall into the hands of the enemy +and he would be enriched by all there was to be +found in them. I must, therefore, while I had time, +carry everything I could up to the house, and, +perhaps, it would be better to burn the outhouses +down afterwards, so that they might not serve as a +hiding-place for the blacks. I would see about +that, but my first duty was to carry everything +upstairs, and at all events commenced. No sooner +said than done. The girl and I carried everything +we could lay our hands on, upstairs. I also carried +up water enough to last us for a fortnight or more, +three large tubsful. All the firewood that was +lying handy I also humped up, although there was +no fireplace upstairs; but I wanted to do all I +could, and in my energy I could not be still.</p> + +<p>In this way the day passed and evening came +again. As no one had returned what hope we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +might have had was now dead, and as for me I +felt like a glorious Spartan, quite certain that the +blacks would come and that I should let daylight +through every one of them. All my guns, of course, +were loaded, and I was showing them off to the +girl, explaining to her that it was my intention, after +having defended the door as long as I could, to +retire from room to room and keep up the war all +the time. But she was nevertheless timid, and I +feared much that she should, by taking hold of me, +which indeed she did all the time, prevent me from +firing, and I asked her, therefore, again to retire to +her room. She implored me to let her stay with me, +and said she did not mind so that we might die +together. Then she began to hug me. What new +and unexpected horror was this? Was this a man-trap, +or what? Was there not trouble enough +already? Surely, thought I, if ever a man needed +a stimulant to keep up his pluck, I am that man. +Happy thought! I knew where the "boss" kept +his whiskey. I went to the cupboard and took a +long, deep pull at the bottle. "Dearest Amelia," +cried I, "remember that in the time of our glorious +forefathers it was the duty of the Danish maidens +to hand the cup to the warriors, both before they +went to battle and when they came home. Do +now! Let me. Oblige me to drink of this bottle. +It is only schnapps. Do! That is right. Here is +luck! And death and destruction to our enemies! +And now retire to your room. Good-night. Nothing +shall harm you. Barricade the door from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +inside. Let me lock it from the outside. And +now," cried I, "I make it impossible for anyone to +get near you. Here goes the key."</p> + +<p>With that, having turned the key twice in the +lock after her, I threw it out of the window as far as +I could! I felt then as bloodthirsty as any savage. +Why did these blacks not come? The only thing +that puzzled me, as I traversed the house from one +shutter to another, was what I should do if they +came underneath the house. They might then fire +the building. No, they should not. I would have +them yet. I would take the two-inch augur and +bore holes all over the floor, so that I might shoot +through. I was soon boring away making holes +for a long time right and left, when the girl +whispered, "What are you doing?"</p> + +<p>"I am boring holes," cried I, "in the floor to +shoot through. Shall I bore a hole in your door? +Then you could kill half a dozen with a revolver. +If you have a mind, I will."</p> + +<p>"Oh, there they are!" cried the girl.</p> + +<p>"Ha, where? Come on!"</p> + +<p>"Stop, you fool, it is the master and the missis. +Don't you hear the whip? Let me out."</p> + +<p>"Master and missis? I cannot let you out. I +have thrown the key away."</p> + +<p>Then it dawned on me what a fearful ass I must +presently appear. It is impossible for me to keep +on with the particulars. I could not find the key +again and let the girl out. The floor was spoiled, +the house upside down. I should have been game<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +to have fought his Satanic Majesty himself, but to +face the contempt of the "boss" and good, kind +Mrs. —— was terrible. So I talked through the +door at the girl and told her to say, if any one +made inquiries for me, that I was not at home. +With that I decamped, and did not present myself +before the next midday. After a while the matter +was only referred to as a joke.</p> + +<p>I should have liked very much to have been able +to write a detailed account of the whole twelve +months I spent at this place. I am quite sure +that if truly written, much of it would prove +interesting to people who never were so far north, +but I must of necessity pass quickly over many +things of which I should have liked to write more +fully, or else I shall never come to the end of my +travels. Suffice it, therefore, to say that the +Kanakas arrived in great numbers; that the +"boss" and I went to Cardwell on horseback to +fetch them; that a lot of white men were also +brought together on the plantation; that I was +overseer, or "nigger driver," over part of the +Kanakas for some time; that I, during the twelve +months, gained a good deal of colonial experience: +learned to ride, drive bullocks, split fencing stuff, +&c., also how to build slab-houses, as they are +called—that is, to go into the bush, and with the +help of a few tools, single-handed, to make a good +house out of the growing trees. All this I learned, +more or less, and then when I had been there +about twelve months I caught the fever. This<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +fever is, I believe, peculiar to certain parts of +North Queensland; it is not deadly, but very +common, indeed my impression is that there was +not a man on the Herbert River who had not got +it more or less. It comes with shivering of cold, +followed by thirst and utter exhaustion, once a +day or once every second day. Most people are +able to work all the time they have it until they +feel the "shakes" coming over them. Then perforce +they must lie down, but they generally get +up to their work again after the prostration which +follows is over. With me it was different. A +couple of weeks of it made me so weak that when +I felt myself strongest I could only stagger about +with the help of a big stick. I had built a +carpenter's shop, and my room was off that. Then +I would lie down of an evening on the bed, with +bed-clothes piled on me enough to smother one, +and still the gasping and the "shakes" would +gradually commence. The very marrow in one's +bones seemed frozen, while the teeth would rattle +in the head, and the breath would come and go +with fearful quickness. After a couple of hours of +this, heat and prostration would follow, coupled +with terrible thirst. Of course there was no +hospital, and there was no one to hand one a +drink. When I properly understood the matter, I +would always place my wash-basin in the bed, +filled with water, so that when the time came I +could lean over and drink, because I was too weak +to lift a billy can or a pint pot off the floor. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +when I upset this basin, which happened once, my +sufferings were intense. I remember on two or +three occasions when I had no water how I tried +to get out of bed, how I fell and lay on the floor +for hours, then crept on my hands and knees out +around the shed to where a bench stood with a tub +of water on. There I would sit or lie over the +water for hours and drink. Such a matter as this +excites no sympathy in a place like that. There +were now a lot of other men, and most of them +had a touch of the fever as well. If I had slept +among other men I have no doubt some one would +have given me a drink, but to ask any one to sit +up with me, or disturb their night's rest on that +account, would have been asking too much, I fear. +Then when I had been alone before the new hands +arrived, I had shared pot-luck with my employer +and his family, but now it seemed as if one was +only lost in a crowd. I had nothing to eat but +half-putrid corned beef and bread, served on a +dirty tin plate, tea of the cheapest sort, boiled in +a bucket, and sweetened with dirty black sugar, +was my fare too. How could any sick person eat +or drink such stuff? As I write now it seems to +me it is enough to cause a strong man to die of +slow starvation, and yet it is the ordinary average +diet put before working men all over the Queensland +bush twenty-one times a week. One day +Mrs. —— came down and asked me very sympathetically +how I was getting on. So I showed +her my plate with my dinner on, covered with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +flies as it was, and very unappetizing indeed, +and upbraided her and her husband for serving +such rations. "Dear me, how shocking! None +of the other men complained. Was the meat +bad?" Then she assured me I should have +anything I wished for, and for the last few days I +was there I was constantly invited to their own +table, although I scarcely could eat anything even +there. But I thought I had been there long +enough, and when the mailman came in his boat I +took a friendly leave of my employer and his +family, and was assisted down into the boat. I +had with me then my cheque for a hundred pounds +sterling, and another for seven or eight pounds.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page161" name="page161"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br /> +<br /> + +LEAVING THE HERBERT—RAVENSWOOD.</h2> + + +<p>I had again no particular idea as to where I +would go, further than that I wanted to regain +my health. But oh, for the sweetness of liberty +and money! I needed not to say anything about +money to my old travelling companions in the +boat; they knew I must have a good cheque, and +their attentions were in proportion! Perhaps I +wrong them. Perhaps they would have been just +as careful to my wants if they had known me to be +penniless. At any rate, a sort of bed was made for +me in the stern of the boat, and offers to procure +for me anything I wanted from the stores on the +plantations were profuse. But I wanted for +nothing more than to lie as easily as I might, +because I really was very sick. There had been a +public-house built somewhere a mile from the river-bank +since I had passed that way before, and when +we came to the place where a track led from the +water up to it, my two oarsmen proposed to go up +to have some refreshment, and promised to be +back directly. Of course I could not go with +them. When they were gone some time a little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +pig which they had in a bag in the boat began to +find its way out. I thought it a pity to allow it to +escape, and yet I had not strength to get up, but +without calculating the consequences I rolled myself +over until I lay on the top of it. Never shall +I forget the howling of that pig in my ears, for I +believe over an hour, until the men came back. +The bag had somehow got mixed in my clothing, +and I could not either free myself or the pig, else +I would gladly have let it go. At last the men +came back and got us separated.</p> + +<p>When I came to Cardwell I thoroughly enjoyed, +although I was sick, the luxury of lying in a clean +bed with white sheets, and mosquito curtains all +around me, and to have one of the servants at the +hotel coming to my door all day long asking if she +could do anything for me. There was neither +doctor nor chemist in the place, but one of the +storekeepers came and looked at me, and sold me +some medicine which in a short time drove the +fearful "shakings" I had away. Meanwhile, as +there was no other communication with the outer +world than "the schooner," which ran between +Cardwell and Townsville, I had inquired when the +schooner would be in as I had decided to go to +Townsville again. On the same day that the ague +had for the first time left me, I was told that the +schooner would be ready to run out at eleven +o'clock at night. I was then so careless of myself, +or so foolish, that I, at that hour of the night, for +the first time in a fortnight, got out of my bed and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +went on board the craft. It was only a sort of +fishing smack, rowed by two men, who had a small +enclosure somewhere on board where they could be +dry. For passengers there was no accommodation +whatever. In the hold, which was open, was +nothing but some old sails, rusty chains, empty +boxes, and the like. Two or three more passengers +came on board, who at once secured the best +places in the hold, while I, who for the first time +for many weeks felt remarkably well, sat up on the +deck enjoying the strong breeze, and even tried to +smoke a pipe. But any North Queenslander will +tell you that when one has had fever he has to be +extra careful of not catching cold. I did not know +that just then, but in a very short time I did. I got +a fearful toothache. My enervated system did not +feel able to hold up against this new affliction, and +so I threw myself down among the ropes and +boxes in the hold. There I lay, while the pain +gradually increased. The wind was against us, +and it took eight or nine days before we reached +Townsville. During that time my agony grew +more acute every day. I had neither strength +nor energy enough to stand on my feet. My head +swelled up to a fearful extent. My mouth was in +such a state that I could not swallow, and I gradually +lost power to open my mouth or to speak. +When we had been two days out I raised myself +on my elbow to try to drink some tea and eat some +mashed bananas, which some one gave me in a +pint pot. I could not swallow, so I laid myself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +down again and did not after that touch food. I +heard them speak about me on deck, and say that +they ought to have found out my name, because I +should scarcely last out unless the wind changed. +I heard this distinctly, and laughed to myself, +because I knew I was not going to die just yet. +Still to all their inquiries I could not reply. One +day I heard a Dane speaking in my ear; where he +came from, or where he went to, I do not know, but +he asked me, "Are you a Dane?" I grunted. +Then he said, "What is your name?" I tried to +stutter it out from between my teeth time after +time, but he could not understand, and kept on, +"Say it again." At last he gave it up. Then he +asked me if there was anything he could do for me? +what ship I had come out in, and so on. But I +was so disgusted with my own inability to use my +tongue, that otherwise so ready a friend of mine, +that I made no further attempt to speak, and my +countryman disappeared again. There was now +only one thought that possessed my mind, viz., to +get to Townsville, and when there to have all my +teeth pulled out. Of course it was more a relapse +from the fever that was wrong with me than toothache, +but I did not know it. I lay in a daze day +after day, every time the boat gave a lurch my +head would strike against something, and the +agony I suffered cannot be described. At last the +skipper took hold of me and cried, "Well, stranger, +here we are in Townsville; where shall we take +you to?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<p>It came on me so unexpectedly that it seemed +again to send the life-blood through me. I stared +around me and saw that we were lying close to the +wharf.</p> + +<p>Up I jumped, to the great surprise of the +skipper, and leaving my swag behind me, and +holding on with both hands to my head, I +staggered ashore. It was about eight o'clock in +the morning when I landed. I knew it because I +heard all the breakfast bells ringing from the +hotels, and although I did not feel hungry, yet it +reminded me that I had eaten nothing for two +weeks. On I staggered like a drunken man. +People seemed to look surprised at me, and to go +out of their way for me. I came to a chemist's +shop. He also looked at me in a disgusted sort of +way. I took up a pen and wrote to him that I +wanted all my teeth pulled out. He felt my +pulse. "My friend," said he, "I think you had +better go to a doctor."</p> + +<p>I gave him to understand that I was tired, and +did not know where the doctor lived.</p> + +<p>"Wait," cried he, "I will get a man to go with +you."</p> + +<p>Then he went out of the shop. As I turned +round I saw a very large mirror, in which I beheld +my own image from head to foot. At first I did +not realize it was myself as I stared at it. Would +my own mother have known the picture? I hope +not. Unkempt, unwashed for nearly a fortnight, +my hair hung in matted knots about my face. My<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +whole head was swollen to such an extent that to +describe it as I saw it would seem exaggeration. +Add to this a graveyard complexion in the face, +and an emaciated form, dressed in an old crimean +shirt, dirty moleskin trousers and blucher boots, +and you have the picture I beheld of myself as I +stood looking. I felt my knees giving way under +me, made a grab at the counter and fell. The +next thing I remember was that I was lying on a +nice bed, in a room which proved to be in the +adjoining hotel, and that a doctor was there. +With consciousness my agony returned, and I +again preferred my request in writing that he +should pull all my teeth out. "Yes, that is all +very well," said he, "but we must first try to +break your mouth open. You must go to the +hospital. I will give you a ticket. What is your +name? Have you no money?"</p> + +<p>I took out all I had got, my one hundred pounds' +cheque and some change, and laid it on the table. +At the same time I wrote to him on a paper and +asked him to take charge of it and give me the +balance when I asked for it. I also asked him to +order anything I wanted and to spare no expense. +Then the doctor suggested to call in a colleague +that they might consult, and when the next doctor +arrived they agreed to give me chloroform, but +after great preparations had been made and a +sponge held to my nose for a minute or two without +having any effect on me, they again decided +that I was too weak for chloroform, but as I, half<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +crying, beckoned to them to do in my case what +had to be done, one of them, with his knee on my +chest, put an instrument between my teeth while +the other held my head back and somebody else +sat behind my chair and held my arms. My +mouth came open. I will not unnecessarily prolong +the agony, only to state that I felt relieved +shortly after and that somebody with the utmost +tenderness was bathing my head. I had now +nothing to do but to allow people to wait on me. +I stayed in the hotel for two days, when the +doctor's own buggy came for me and I was driven +to the hospital. So that the reader may not be +under the impression that I wear false teeth, I +would like to say that not a tooth was pulled or +any other surgical operation performed. I now +got better rapidly. It seemed impossible to feel +sick in that hospital. I had a large private room +and broad verandahs outside. From my bed I +could lie and watch the ocean all day and try to +count the islands. My friend, the doctor, came +also every day, and any extra comfort I wanted +was quickly procured. As I grew better I would +sit and bask in the sun down among the rocks by +the shore in that half-unconscious but blissful +condition which I believe is common to all convalescents, +or a couple of hours before meal-time I +would lie on my bed watching the sun and its +shadows on the floor so that I might be prepared +and lose no time the moment the man came with +the dinner. Oh, for the ravenous hunger with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +which I could eat! Although I had double the +ordinary allowance, yet after a month's stay in the +hospital, I had to leave it for very hunger's sake. +I then settled my bill with the doctor, who +charged me very moderately, and went to live in a +hotel in town. When I was perfectly cured and +myself again I could easily have obtained work in +town at my trade for four pounds per week, but I +had a sort of dislike to the place, which decided +me to go up to the gold-diggings and try my luck +there. The nearest diggings were at Ravenswood, +some hundred and thirty miles inland. Other +diggings were scattered behind that place, but to +reach them I understood I had to go to Ravenswood +first, and that it was as good a place as any. I +bought two horses, with all necessary appendages, +such as saddle, pack-saddle, bridles, &c. They +cost me about thirty pounds. I put thirty +pounds more into the bank as a sort of reserve +fund in case of accident, and after paying my way +so far, and buying a few necessary clothes, I had +only some nine or ten pounds left. So one morning +I packed the one horse with my swag, containing +clothes and blanket, in the large saddle-bags. I +had small bags containing flour, tea, sugar, and +other necessary things for a journey through the +bush, because, although the road I had now to +travel was a beaten track, yet it is a Queensland +custom on all occasions to be as independent as +possible. Besides, when one sets out for a ramble, +there is no saying where one is going to pull up, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +it seems so pleasant to know that one is all-sufficient +in his own resources, without requiring any +aid from wayside inns. So at least did I think as +I rode out of the town; and as this was my first experience +of what we in Queensland call going on +the "wallaby track," I enjoyed it immensely.</p> + +<p>The way a man acts when travelling like this, is +just to please himself. When a fair day's journey +is done, one begins to look out for a likely spot for +grass and water, and having found that, you get +off the horses and hobble them out—that is, +having freed them of their load, their forefeet are +tied together with a pair of strong leather straps +in such a way that they can only totter slowly +about. Having done that a fire is made, the +billy is slung on for tea, and when supper is over, a +smoke, a yarn—if there is a mate—and then a roll +in the blanket with a saddle for a pillow.</p> + +<p>There is often a lot of argument about what is a fair +day's journey on horseback. Of course it is a +matter which never can be decided, because so +much depends upon the horses, the road, what the +horses get to eat, &c., but I do not believe many +careful travellers will take their horses more than +twenty miles a day for a long journey, and then +rest them occasionally, but to hear some people +talk one would think their horses could go a +hundred miles every day. In Queensland travellers +have sometimes to ride forty or fifty miles between +watering-places. Most horses can do it, if taken +care of, but not every day. When travellers meet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +on a Queensland road their first question after +greeting is, "How far is it to water?" and the +distance between watering-places is practically +what decides a day's journey. In times of drought +these water-holes get scarce or dry up completely; +rivers stop running; then it behoves the traveller +to look out where he goes. If misfortune happens, +or he has not calculated rightly the endurance of +his horse, or the water-hole on which he depends +should be dried up when he arrives there, then he +is likely to perish! As for myself, I have on +more than one occasion arrived in a parched +condition at a water-hole, only to find a lot of dead +cattle bogged in the soft mud, and still have been +compelled to drink the pint or two of putrefied +water that might be left. The reader will therefore +see that travelling in the Queensland bush +is not exactly a perpetual picnic.</p> + +<p>Nothing of importance happened to me on this +road, unless I were to mention that when I was +about half-way I met a swag's-man, that is, one +who carries his swag on his own back and has no +horses. This fellow asked to let him put his +burden on my horse, which I let him do. I then, +by talking to him as we went along, found out +that he had neither money nor rations, and as +we were only a few miles from Hugton Hotel I +promised to pay for dinner at that place for us both. +Arrived at the hotel, I ordered a first-class dinner +for two; it was five shillings. The table was laid +for us with a big roast of beef and a plum-pudding.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +After we both had eaten what we wanted, my fellow-traveller +put nearly all the remaining food into his +bags and decamped, in spite of my protestations. +I remember well how scandalized I felt! Otherwise +the road was not lonely; every day I passed +waggons hauled by sixteen or eighteen bullocks +each and filled with merchandise for the diggings. +There were also other travellers, both on foot and +on horseback, but I did not go myself in company +with any, and so at last, one forenoon, I saw the +township of Ravenswood lying before me. I +stopped the horses to have a good look.</p> + +<p>At last I was on a gold-field. What a magic +spell there seemed to me in the words. All the +old fallacious ideas connected with the word +crowded into my mind. Runaway nuns dressed +in men's clothes, princes working like labourers, +and labourers living like princes—"looking for +gold!" Had I not better begin at once?</p> + +<p>As I came nearer I saw what seemed to me +wells on all sides and tents near the wells. Then +as I looked at the ground again I became fearfully +excited. Big nuggets of shining gold were lying +all around on the road. Was it possible? Surely +I knew gold when I saw it. I got off the horse +and picked it up. Not pure gold, though. But +surely half of it was gold. It glittered all over. +I picked pieces up as I went along and fairly +howled with joy as I filled my bags. Think of +those fools coming behind with their flour-bags +and of all the empty waggons I had met going<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +down, while I was finding a fortune before I +reached the diggings! At the place where I had +now come, they could have loaded all the waggons +quickly. I could not carry more as I went further, +ruminating over the matter. Now the whole +ground right and left was glittering all the way +into town. I threw the stuff all away again. It +could not be gold! Then, with a voice shaking +between hope and fear, I asked a man who came +by, what that was. He told me at once it was +"rubbish." "Did you think it was gold?" asked +he.</p> + +<p>"No; but I thought there might be gold in it."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he, "so there was, but it did not pay +to extract it."</p> + +<p>In this way somewhat sobered, I rode further +and arrived in town, where the next day I pitched +a tent I had bought somewhere handy to the +other tents, put the horses in a paddock and +looked about me.</p> + +<p>I will not attempt a long description of this the +first gold-field I was ever on. There was an +ordinary street composed of hotels, boarding-houses, +and stores, on both sides of the road. +Behind the street were tents in which the diggers +principally lived. Everywhere were earth-mounds +where some one was or had been busy rooting the +ground about. The reefs were each surmounted +by an ordinary windlass, where a man would stand +hauling up the quartz all day long. Such was the +picture presented at a superficial glance at Ravens<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>wood, +and I think the description answers for all +other Queensland gold-diggings. Nearly all the +people boarded in two boarding-houses kept by +Chinamen, one on each side of the street. I +think there must have been two or three hundred +boarders in each. They were both alike, two large +bark-houses, no floor, only two immense tables +with forms on each side. On these tables were at +meal-times every conceivable delicacy in season, +and up and down between the tables an army of +Chinamen would run round waiting on their guests. +During my various fortunes in Queensland, I have +often paid two or three pounds per week for board +in hotels, and I have paid half-a-guinea for a ticket +to a public feast, but it has always been my impression +that nowhere was such good or luxurious +food served out as in these boarding-houses. It +would simply be impossible to compete with them. +The charge was one pound per week, payment +beforehand, and those of their customers who +wanted sleeping accommodation might, without +extra charge, fix themselves up as they liked in +some sheds behind. There were also many hotels +in town, but, as far as I could see from the outside, +their "takings" were more across the bar than +otherwise, as the Chinamen seemed to monopolize +the boarding-house trade. All over Australia, but +especially in Queensland, there is a bitter feeling +against Chinamen. People say that they ought to +be forbidden to come to the country, because they +work too hard and too cheaply, and eat too little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +at the same time; consequently we shall all go to +the dogs. How is this? Surely "there is something +rotten in the state of Denmark." A white +man is always praised if he is hard-working and +frugal. It seems a contradiction to abuse one for +what is commended in another! This is an awful +world. Some people say we are poor because we +work too much, and run ourselves out of work. +Others say we do not work half enough, and that +that is the reason. Some say that Protection +is a panacea for poverty, others swear by Free +Trade. In Australia they want to turn out the +Chinamen because they work too much; in China +they want to turn out the whites, I suppose for +the same reason. Of all countries, I believe, +Australia certainly included the greatest majority +of the people living in different degrees of poverty, +and work is getting to be as scarce here where the +population does not count one to the square mile, +as it is in Denmark where there are four hundred +inhabitants to the square mile. Of late years one +more theory has sprung up, and its disciples aver +that all our poverty, despite our hard work and +frugal fare, is due to the fact that the earth on +which we live is sold in large or small parcels in +the open market like tea and sugar, and that the +owners of the earth can in the shape of rent +extract the greatest part of our earnings. I ask +the reader's pardon for this little digression, but it +seems to me to be an interesting question, and it +would at least be desirable if we all could agree<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +whether it is Chinamen, Free Trade, or Protection, +or what not, whom we really want, because there +<i>is</i> "something rotten in the state of Denmark."</p> + +<p>I took my board, like everybody else, with the +Chinamen and lived in my tent not far away. I +occupied myself in prospecting, or learning how +to prospect, but what little gold-dust I could find +was not worth coming all the way for. I soon got +tired of that, and one day I went and asked for a +job of carpenter's work in a large Government +building I saw going up.</p> + +<p>Before I proceed further I must explain that a +certain fixed scale of wages existed here for most +occupations, and this scale was very jealously +guarded by the people. It was three pounds per +week for miners in dry claims, three pounds ten +shillings in wet claims, bricklayers sixteen shillings +per day for eight hours, carpenters fifteen shillings, +&c. I had heard this but I had not believed it. I +took it that those figures represented what men +would like to get rather than what they actually +got, and while I worked for a master I always +preferred to put my pride in earning what I got, +rather than, perhaps, getting what I did not earn. +I understand the importance now of keeping up +wages, but at that time I did not, and when the +carpenter said he would give me twelve shillings a +day and find tools not only did I think myself well +paid, but I had no idea or care whether others got +more or less.</p> + +<p>Beside myself there was an American negro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +employed as carpenter. He seemed a very +morose sort of individual, but I took no notice +of him and was hopping about all day, giving +as I thought as much satisfaction to others +as to myself. I often heard the "boss" grumble +at the negro, and occasionally I would be set to +put him right about what he was working at. This +happened one afternoon as the "boss" went away +shortly before five o'clock, and I was consequently +explaining to him out of my wisdom, when he +suddenly asked what wages I was getting. I told +him with great pride I was getting <i>twelve</i> shillings +a day.</p> + +<p>Squash came a stick down over my head, then +he flew at my throat and kicked and belaboured +me in a terrible way. At last he flung me with +awful violence out on the verandah, got hold of me +again and threw me outside. He was two or three +times as big a man as I, and I could not at all +defend myself against him, nor had I any idea why +he had thus maltreated me; but as there was no +one to appeal to, I, in a terrible rage, ran home to +my tent for the gun. It stood there loaded, and I +took it up and started back again along the main +street. The blood was running down my face, and +I howled to myself with rage as I ran. I meant to +shoot him as dead as a herring.</p> + +<p>"Halloa!" cried the people, "there is a fellow +running amuck," and soon there was a whole +crowd behind me, intent on watching the sport.</p> + +<p>But I must now go back in time a little. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +was at that period in Ravenswood a Danish digger, +whom I had met and who had been very friendly +to me, and both because he plays an important +part in the next few pages I have to write, and +because I have entitled this book "Missing +Friends," I think he deserves mention, as he +indeed had been, and is no doubt yet, "a missing +friend." He had been a farmer in Denmark, what +we in Danish call a yardsman, who owned his own +freehold. When the war with Germany in 1864 +broke out, he was called on to serve in the artillery. +He was married then, had two children, and was, +like all Danish farmers, in extremely good circumstances. +During the war he was taken prisoner +by the Germans, but was by some mistake reported +dead by the Danish authorities. He told me that +he wrote home as soon as he could, but the letter +never reached his wife. Shortly after he tried to +escape from the Germans, and, being caught, +defended himself desperately. For this offence he +was condemned to three years' hard labour on the +fortifications of some place in the south of Germany. +For one reason and another he did not +write from there. Partly he was not much of a +writer, partly he objected to the enemy reading his +efforts, and as he knew his wife had plenty to live +on, and that his neighbours at home would help +her to run the farm, he neglected writing, and as +the time went on pictured to himself in rosy +colours the happy surprise he would give his wife +and them all at home when he <i>did</i> return. At last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +the time arrived when he was set free, and started +for home. Meanwhile his wife had bemoaned him +as dead, and what little hope his friends might +have had for him died when he did not return at +the end of the war. It did not take long before +one suitor after the other presented themselves, +and a couple of years later the wife got married +again, with the full consent and approval of all +concerned.</p> + +<p>One day, when sitting at dinner on the farm, the +wife saw her first husband coming in at the door. +With a scream of joy and excitement, she rushed +towards him. (Tableau.) Husband No. 2 was as +honourable a man as husband No. 1. There was a +second family. What was to be done? They made +a sad but friendly compact. My friend took the +eldest child with him, and went to Australia, after +having got back a fair amount of his own cash. +This man now came from his work, and as I rushed +down the street, we met. I did not see him, but +he saw me. "Hulloa, countryman, what is the +matter? Stop! where are you going?"</p> + +<p>I tried to escape him, but he had hold of the +gun. We struggled for possession and the stock +broke. When the gun broke my hope of revenge +fled as well, and in the relaxation which followed +I sat down on some steps and actually cried. I +admit that it is sometimes as hard for me to write +about my weakness as about my folly, but I will +ask the reader to remember what I already have +written here. The truth must be told. There was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +now a large and sympathetic crowd around us, to +whom I related how the negro had maltreated me +without any provocation, and while I spoke I could +see that the chances were that I would yet have +revenge, because all sorts of remarks would fly +about, such as: "The poor fellow had pluck, by +Jove;" "Would you have shot him?" or, "Such +a rascally negro should not be allowed to strike and +half kill a white man;" "I think I can flog him;" +"So can I, and I will;" "No Bill! you cannot!" +"Let me, you are not heavy enough!" "No," +cried the Dane, and struck a crushing blow in the +wall of the house by which we stood; "he is my +countryman, and any one who strikes him, him I +will strike. Where is that negro? Only let me +see him."</p> + +<p>I went with a sort of pious joy in front of the +whole crowd up to the negro's tent. When he +saw us all coming, he thought they were going to +mob him, and only asked for fair play. He would +fight them all, man for man, and as for me, he had +only struck me in open fight because I was running +down wages, working for twelve shillings a day. I +was surprised how much sympathy this statement +created, but my countryman cut it short by saying +he would fight first and argue after. "All right, +I'm your man," cried the negro; "only pull off +your shirt. I am dying to commence."</p> + +<p>They both pulled off their shirts, and some +willing assistants from the crowd got behind each +combatant to watch his interest in the coming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +struggle. It was easily seen now that my +countryman was a very strong man. His arms, +his shoulders, and his deeply curved back were +swelling with muscles. In his face sat a determination +which boded his opponent no good. Still, +my heart sank as I looked at the negro, who was +prancing about as in irresistible joy over what he +deemed his easy victory. He seemed little short +of a giant. They were just beginning to spar, +when a seedy-looking individual came forward and +cried, "Hold on, gentlemen, hold on, just one +minute. It seems that we are going to see a +splendid piece of sport, and I think we ought to +improve the occasion a little. I will lay two to +one on our coloured friend—two to one on Mr. +Jones!" Nobody took him up, when the negro +said, "I don't mind if I lay a pound or two on +myself; any one on?" I looked at my countryman. +He said, "Have you got any money on +you?" "Yes," said I, "I have got over ten +pounds!" "Lay it all," said he. "Oh, but if we +should lose?" "Death and destruction, we don't +lose; lay it all." "Right you are! I lay ten +pounds to twenty against the nigger—ten to +twenty—ten to twenty—who will take me up?"</p> + +<p>At last the amount was gathered, but the question +arose in my mind whether the first promoter +of the "sweepstakes" might be trusted with the +stakes. I asked my friend in Danish, before I +handed the money over; he said, "Just give it to +him; it is all right. If we lose, we have nothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +more to do with the money, but if he won't give +up the stakes to us after I have flogged the nigger, +I will flog him too!"</p> + +<p>Now began the terrible fight. The negro had both +strength and science, and for a long time it seemed +as if my countryman was utterly done for. It +began to get dark and still they fought, but the +longer it lasted the more equal seemed the battle. +At last it began to turn; at every round my +countryman would charge the negro with a loud +hurrah; in another quarter of an hour it was simply +a matter of knocking him down as fast as he got +up; at last the negro was lying on the ground with +his nose downward, and could not get up again, +while the Dane, stronger than ever, was jumping +all over the ring calling on him to get up. As he +did not get up, the Dane ran up to a man who +held a riding-whip in his hand, wrenched it from +him, and belaboured the negro's head and back +with it until he quite lost consciousness. I admit +if I had dared I would have tried to prevent that +part of the performance, but neither I nor anybody +else stirred. Of course I was not sorry when my +friend and I went home together, our ten pounds +having swelled to thirty. Another advantage I +had over this matter was that I had to promise not +to work under current wages again, and when I +came to work the next morning the "boss," who +had heard of the fight, at once agreed to pay me +fifteen shillings a day. As for the negro, he did +not turn up and I have never seen him since.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page185" name="page185"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br /> +<br /> + +SHANTY-KEEPING, PROSPECTING, THORKILL'S DEATH.</h2> + + +<p>Some time after this my friend and countryman +came to me one evening about nine o'clock +with a very important air, and told me he had +heard of a new find of gold some thirty miles +distant, and that there would be sure to be a terrible +rush as soon as it became generally known. As +for him, he would like to go if I would go with +him and be his mate, because, as he put it, he was +sure I was lucky. He could not well have made a +greater mistake, but anyhow I was flattered and +agreed to go. Then I found he wanted to go at +once. I had a few days' wages coming to me, but I +went to my employer's house at once and got my +cheque. That we changed in a public-house and +went to our tents, saying nothing to anybody about +our intentions. Having got our swags ready, we, +more like thieves than anything else, knocked the +one tent over and were off. My friend's tent +remained, and my horses were in a paddock with +saddles and belongings; there was no time to get +them, and suspicion would have been created had +we tried.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + +<p>We rather ran than walked, but we were scarcely +a mile out of town before we overtook some six or +seven others bent on the same journey. The first +twenty miles ran on a good road; that would be as +far as we could go that night, because the next ten +miles were only a blazed track right through the +bush made by the prospectors, and could only be +safely traversed in the daylight. On the whole +journey we were both overtaken ourselves, and +overtook other people, until, when we arrived at +the camp, we numbered a score or more. Here +we found another score of diggers sleeping or +smoking, waiting for daylight. It was a moonlight +night, and I could see that we had arrived at a place +where a few humpies stood in seeming disorder round +about. There was also a public-house, and it was +in the street in front of that, that the whole army +halted. I was both hot and tired, and as my mate +suggested that we had better get an hour or two of +sleep, I laid myself down and slept. I woke up +again as my mate was shaking me. It was just +break of day; still we seemed late, for everybody +was up and stirring. There was no time for a billy +of tea, or for ever so slight a stretch: it was up and +away. Oh, how tired I was, and stiff, and footsore! +I would not have minded if I might have started +quietly, but this seemed like a race. Although I +lost no time, yet I was the very last through the +little street with the heavy swag on my back. +My mate was beckoning to me as he, also late, ran +a few hundred feet in front, and then disappeared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +amongst the trees. I felt irritable, as I often do +before I have had my breakfast. I came by a +baker's shop, over the door of which was written, +"Cold refreshing summer drinks sold here." The +baker and his wife, and a young girl also, were peeping +out through the half-opened door, and seemed +to enjoy the spectacle of the crowd racing down +the street. I said to myself, "Bother running +like a fool here, I am going for a bottle of beer."</p> + +<p>The baker asked me if I was going to look for +gold out there, or was I looking for a job? +"Because," said he, "if you think of finding gold +in that place you will be mistaken."</p> + +<p>He then told me he had been on the spot the +previous day, and that it was a "duffer," but still +there would be a rush, and he would much like to +get somebody to ride out with bread every day and +sell it at the place. I told him I could not leave +my mate like that, but the baker just invited me +in to breakfast, and offered me the loan of a horse, +and said also that he himself would take bread out +as soon as we could be off. "Perhaps," said he, +"if my mate did not like the place, as he was sure +he would not, I might take a job from him."</p> + +<p>I therefore rode out with the baker after breakfast +and found my mate, who, as the baker predicted, +was in no way enthusiastic about finding +anything as good as he had left, and before evening +he was satisfied to return to Ravenswood before +any one could jump his claim there. As I did not +like going back, but wanted the change to ride up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +and down with bread, I engaged with the baker for +one pound ten shillings per week and board. My +duty now was to load a pack-horse every day with +bread, and, having another to ride, to take the +bread to the "rush" and sell it. The butcher at +the "Twenty Mile" also engaged a man to ride up +with beef, and we generally rode in company. +But it soon proved that it did not pay our employers +to keep us on, and after about three weeks' time +we both got notice to leave. That brought me to +think that as there were many men on the "rush," +it might pay me to get my two horses up from +Ravenswood, and, buying myself both bread and +meat together, sell it on my own account. To +that all parties were willing, and as one thing +brings another with it, I went to the Chinamen's +shop with a view to seeing what profit he would +give me on groceries. As "Johnny" strongly +advised me to sell a little grog for him, I bethought +myself that I had while with the baker learned to +make hop-beer and ginger-beer, and found that I +could make it for a penny a big glassful and +charge a shilling. I resolved, therefore, to take +up that industry too. There was nobody at all +who had anything for sale at the "rush," and I +determined to go out and build a hut and start a +general store and shanty. I now went out to the +"rush" again, and got two men to help me in the +building. The hut I put up was very primitive. +Just one room about fourteen by twelve feet, made +of saplings, packing-cases, bark, or anything I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +could get at all suitable. The roof was bark; the +counter was bark also, and at night had to serve +for my bed. The door was an artistic piece of +rubbish, if I might use that term, but somehow it +all hung together and could be locked up. Outside +I made a sunshade with tables and chairs under. +That was managed by four forked saplings put into +the ground, and other straight saplings resting as +wall-plates in the forks. Again a row of lighter +sticks lay across them and leafy bushes on the top, +and the chairs were a lot of logs cross-cut at a +height of eighteen inches. The job was completed +in three or four days; then I went up to Ravenswood +for my horses, and on my return got out a +cask to make hop-beer in, some buckets, and a few +groceries. I was now my own "boss," and wonderfully +proud and happy I was in my little shanty. +Besides my own two horses, the butcher and baker +each lent me a horse to carry the bread and meat +on, and I had quite enough to do—indeed my energy +knew no bounds.</p> + +<p>Just about the time I started, the Palmer diggings +came to the front, and a great rush set in to +that place from the south. But as no one seemed +to know properly where the Palmer was, and as +conflicting and disparaging statements soon arrived +from the Palmer, and the wet season was +coming on, the north was everywhere swarming +with men who were ready to camp and prospect +anywhere, just to abide time. As soon, therefore, +as I started for myself, numbers of men would arrive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +every day, and I had so much to do that I did not +know sometimes how to fling myself about quick +enough. Long before daylight I was up and got +my four horses together. I had a little yard for +them. Then, in a racing gallop, I had to tear into +the butcher's, baker's, and grocer's, at the "Twenty +Mile." My goods would stand ready for me when I +came. I would just fling the stuff on the horses, +leave my orders for the next day, and be back again in +time to sell bread and meat for breakfast! When +that was over I had to carry water from the creek +to brew a cask of hop-beer, clean up shop, serve +people with grog, and feed the horses, make breakfast +for myself, chuck out a loafer or two, and other +matters, all at the same time. Thus it went on +all day. In the afternoon I had sometimes to +send a man off with the horses for more rations, +and from five o'clock to ten, eleven, twelve, and +sometimes all night, there would be a lot of fellows +drinking outside the shanty.</p> + +<p><a id="page190" name="page190"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/illus_214_215.png"> +<img src="images/illus_214_215.png" alt="THE BAKER'S CART" title="THE BAKER'S CART"/> +</a></div> +<div class="center"><p class="caption">THE BAKER'S CART</p></div> + + +<p>The reader may understand that I quickly +gathered in money. Five pounds a day was +nothing. But what a life it was! I was never +out of my clothes, and I was very seldom dry. +Sometimes for weeks together I would be like one +hauled out of the sea. That required stimulants, +and they were near and handy, nor was it practically +possible to be a Good Templar in my position. +But all my better instincts were revolted. Still +another glass of grog would make me see things in +a different light, and somehow it never seemed to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>have any other effect on me than sharpening my +wits; indeed, although I know myself to be a +temperate man by nature, and but seldom touch +spirits, I believe that if I had not then freely +indulged in the cup that cheers, I could never +have stood the strain on my constitution which +this life necessitated. My troubles were many. +One was that fellows would get drunk and grow +quarrelsome every day; if they were not very big +I did not much mind, but if they were too big +then I tried all devices to make them laugh and be +in good-humour, or I would sometimes even have +to keep two retainers in free grog to assist me +in the "chucking out" business. I was often +knocked about myself. Another trouble or fight +with my conscience, which I successfully overcame, +was the falsifying the spirits. The storekeeper +where I bought it, as well as one good friend after +the other, would show me how I could save two-thirds +of the rum and still keep it over-proof by +mixing it with water and tobacco. So with +brandy, all sorts of vile poison and most disgusting +stuff was offered me to mix it with. I did +not do that, although my advisers thought me +very foolish. I mixed my spirit with water of a +necessity, but I saw enough to convince me that +few shanties or public-houses ever sell pure spirits. +But my greatest trouble was what to do with my +fast-accumulating money. I did not trust anybody +about me. There was no bank nearer than +Ravenswood. There was no police, and nowhere<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +to put it. At last I hit on a plan. Under the big +cask in which I made beer I formed a hole in the +ground, and at night, when all at last was still, +and the cask was empty enough to move on edge, +I, having first carefully ascertained that no one +was about, would thrust in all I had, and put +things around it again so as to prevent suspicion. +This mode of banking did not altogether satisfy me; +indeed, I was always very anxious about it, but I +could think of nothing better. And so the time +went on. The bucket which stood under the cask +came at last to be nearly full of money, and while +on the one hand it was my great consolation, +it also caused me more anxiety than all the rest +of my work.</p> + +<p>One day somebody came and told me that a +countryman of mine was in his tent, and was +apparently hard up, as he had asked for something +to do whereby to earn a bit of rations. The man +was, I understood, camped somewhere about. I +asked them to show him to me, that I might give +him what he wanted and have a talk with him. +What was my surprise and joy to find that the +stranger proved to be no one less than my long-lost +friend and shipmate, the Icelander Thorkill. +He seemed to be as glad to meet me as I was to +see him, and we exchanged our colonial experiences +as far as they had gone. It appeared that Thorkill +had not stayed long on the sugar plantation in +Mackay, where he had first been engaged. That +did not surprise me. His employer, he said, had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +offered no opposition to his agreement being cancelled, +and with the money he had earned he +had bought a ticket for Sydney in one of the +steamers. He had thought to get something to +do in Sydney more suitable to his ability, but for a +long time he failed, and was, through want of +money, driven to all sorts of extremities, even to +sleeping out at night. Then he at last got a job +to drive a milk-cart into Sydney for fifteen shillings +a week. He had also tried other things, +such as pick and shovel work; had been assistant +in a slaughter-yard, and more besides.</p> + +<p>"But I do not like it," said he, "people seem +so rude."</p> + +<p>At last he had scraped enough together to come +back to Queensland; he had walked all the way +from Townsville, and here he was. "And you are +going to look for gold now?" asked I. He scarcely +knew; he was so glad and surprised to see me +again that he could think of nothing else. "Well, +Thorkill," said I, "do you remember you said +once that you and I would never part? Let us now +renew that agreement. Last time it was, perhaps, +my fault we parted, but this time it shall be yours; +and to show you I am in earnest I will ask you, +without further formality, to consider yourself a +part proprietor of this hotel and all there is in it."</p> + +<p>"Oh! what do you mean?" cried he. "You +must be making a great deal of money here and I +have none; nor do I understand your work."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said I, "we are partners if you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +like; you do not know how badly I am off for some +one I can trust. Think of my being all alone +here; I cannot do it much longer."</p> + +<p>But say what I would Thorkill would never hear +of it, and so I in a sort of way engaged him to +do what he could for me. He carried water and +swept the floor, but the only time he tried to drive +the horses to the "Twenty Mile" he lost them +both! He had his tent not far from the shanty, +but we had seldom time to speak. His heart was +not in my work, and I often, nay always, when I +saw him, felt an uneasy sort of conscience.</p> + +<p>One Saturday night, or perhaps more correctly +Sunday morning, when a lot of men were drinking +outside my hut under the sunshade, and when I +myself had imbibed more than was good for me, I +began, against all the rules of common prudence, +to boast of my money. The party appeared as if +they did not believe me, on which I got excited, +and called them all into the hut. There I asked +them to look under the cask while I tilted it over. +What a sight! A bucket was buried in the ground +nearly filled with silver, gold, and notes! How +much there was I did not know myself, but there +was more than I liked to say for fear of being +doubted. Now began a drinking bout such as had +never been before. Everybody had to stand drinks +all round. At last they went away, but my recollections +thereof are not clear; I only know that +I slept on the counter, and that some one was +shaking me and grumbling in very unparliamen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>tary +language over my not having been away after +bread and beef. I sat up and looked around. It +was about the time I ought to be back from the +Twenty Mile. The door was open, and nearly a +score of men were coming along for bread and +meat. Now I remembered all about the previous +night. My first thought was my money. I went +and peeped under the cask. The bucket was +gone!</p> + +<p>I gave the cask a push that capsized it. "Thieves +and robbers, who has stolen my money? Speak!" +There was lying a pair of hobbles on the counter, +and as one of the party began to laugh, I struck him +with it. This was the signal for a fearful orgie. +The whole crowd flung themselves forward and +struck, kicked, and tore me until I fainted right +away. When I came to again they did not leave +me alone. The whole shop was sacked from end +to end, and in their drunken frenzy they pulled it +down! In the midst of it all came Thorkill, and +putting me on his back carried me off into his +tent. There I lay while he bathed my wounds +and consoled me as well as he could, assuring me +it might have been all for the best.</p> + +<p>The next day the butcher and the baker came +out and took their horses away. They wanted me +to start again, and both of them offered me money +and credit, but I was so disgusted with myself and +the whole business that I told them I would not +be a shanty-keeper again for all the gold in Queensland.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus was it with me. To lie in Thorkill's tent +and listen to his quiet, peaceful way of talking—how +different was that from the noisy, drunken +orgies of which I had for about five months been +a daily witness! I took a violent dislike to the +very place, but where to go I did not know. I felt +as if I only wanted to get away from everybody +but Thorkill. I did not care where I went. As +for him, he thought he would like to go south +again. This place and these people were too much +for him. He had now learned to write pretty well +in grammatical English, and he thought he might +get something to do in Brisbane. As for me I had +never seen a place yet where I could not get something +to do; so far as that went I did not care, +but I thought of him that he came straight from +Sydney, where he had not been successful. He +had such a mild, pedantic air about him, which no +doubt would look well in an antiquary, but which +would scarcely prove a recommendation for a +grocer's clerk, or, indeed, for any other position +for which I could think him eligible. So I said to +him one day, as we were again talking about going +away, "I am sick and tired of looking at anybody +but yourself. What do you say if we go prospecting +for twelve months? I have got thirty +pounds in Townsville bank, and thirty pounds in +Ravenswood, besides a few pounds here. You +have got twelve pounds you earned while with +me. Then we have the horses, and you have got +the tent. It is sufficient for a twelvemonth's trip.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +I am now a pretty good bushman, and if we only +get to where there is gold I think we shall find it. +If we don't I do not care. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>This proposal met at once with Thorkill's approval, +and we both went into Ravenswood, where +I drew out my money. Here we loaded up the +horses with as many rations as they could carry, +also pick, shovel, basin, and other necessary things. +Then we went back the same way we had come, +until we arrived at Condamine Creek, twenty-five +miles out. From there we ran up the creek, as +near as I can guess about forty miles, prospecting +all the time. Then we turned northward, up +another creek, and knocked about so that it would +be difficult to describe where we went. But we did +not care. I was as happy as a bird, and so was +Thorkill. We had our guns with us, and we could +every day shoot as many birds as we could eat, and +kangaroos besides. Sometimes we would camp, +and Thorkill would fish while I prospected about. +When it rained we would lie in the tent and talk +about Denmark and Iceland. That was a theme +on which Thorkill never could be tired, and he had +such a fund of genuine information on that subject +that I was never tired of listening to him.</p> + +<p><a id="page198" name="page198"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/illus_225.png"> +<img src="images/illus_225.png" alt="BREAKFAST IN THE GOLD FIELDS" title="BREAKFAST IN THE +GOLD FIELDS"/> +</a></div> +<div class="center"><p class="caption">BREAKFAST IN THE GOLD FIELDS</p></div> + + +<p>We had been out prospecting in this way for +about three months, and were now in the vicinity of +Cape gold-field, when we struck a place where we +thought there was payable gold. We had for +several days been following on, through a very +mountainous country, a river, the name of which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +we did not know, until we reached the place of +which I now write, where it ran through a +valley, hemmed in on all sides by big mountains. +The river was still of considerable volume. Here +we found a nugget of gold about an ounce in +weight the first time we tried, and although our +good luck did not repeat itself, yet we decided, as +it was such a beautiful spot, that we would camp +for a month or two there, so at least to give the +place a fair trial. We pitched our tent, therefore, +on a little knoll not far from the creek, and +made ourselves comfortable. The next fortnight +we washed for gold from morning to night, and +each made about an ounce per week. We considered +this very satisfactory, and were talking +often about what name we should call this new +field when we could not conceal it any longer and +a "rush" should set in; because we knew very +well that if we, as strangers, by and by rode into +the Cape, or any other place, to buy some rations, +and there try to get our bit of gold changed, that +we should be tracked back to where we had got it, +unless we were far more clever than I gave myself +credit for being. But neither of us minded that. +We were, on the contrary, quite proud of having +to figure as successful explorers, and it used to be +one of our recreations of an evening to sit and talk +about what name to give the place. Thorkill was +of opinion that we ought to find a name which should +remind all who came here of both Denmark and +Iceland, but as it did not seem possible for us to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>invent such a name, at last I accepted Thorkill's +suggestion to call it Thingvallavatu, that being the +name of a large lake and river in Iceland not far +from his home, and as it seemed a well-sounding +name, I thought it suitable; and although I do not +know if ever a white man has been there before or +since that time, yet as often as I think of the +place I remember the name we gave the river—Thingvallavatu.</p> + +<p>On one evening that is for ever engraven on my +memory, we were lying in our tent—Thorkill and I. +It had been raining heavily all day, and we had +not been able to be about. We felt pretty miserable, +our usual stock of conversation seemed to be +exhausted, but far out in the evening it revived +again, so much indeed that Thorkill began to tell +me of things of which he had never spoken before. +He told me of his parents, of his brother and his +sister, and explained to me where their farm in Iceland +was, giving me the address, describing the road +leading to it, and every detail, until I said to him +that if we were lucky enough now to get a bit of +gold we would both go home to Iceland and settle +down there. From that conversation drifted to +other things, and was at last almost at a standstill, +when he called me by name, and, in a bashful sort +of way, observed, "I say, were you ever in love?"</p> + +<p>This was a theme on which we had never enlarged: +partly because there had not been much +opportunity yet for either of us in Queensland to +indulge in such a luxury, and partly because I do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +not know, to the best of my recollection, that it +had ever been mentioned between us, so, as I +recognized that he wanted to tell me something, I +said, a little surprised, "Why do you ask?"</p> + +<p>"I have," said he. "While I was overseer on +that farm in Alo, I knew a girl. Oh, how good +she was, and how beautiful! I sometimes would +go and visit her in the evening. She was only a +servant girl, and her father was working there too. +One evening I kissed her."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid," said I, "you have not forgotten +her yet."</p> + +<p>"No; her I can never forget."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not marry her?" said I. "I +suppose as you went visiting her, she would have +had no objection?"</p> + +<p>"How could I?" replied he. "If only I had +been an ordinary working man I would willingly +have asked her; but I was not that. Her father +always spoke to me as if I owned a mansion, and +yet I had scarcely sufficient salary to pay for my +own clothes. No, I never asked her."</p> + +<p>"Does she know you are out here?" inquired I.</p> + +<p>"No, neither she nor my parents, nor anybody; +they must think I am dead."</p> + +<p>I had nothing to say. I was lying thinking +about matters of my own. A little after this I +thought I heard him crying. Was it possible? I +did not like the idea. I listened again. Yes! +there was no mistake. Thorkill was really crying. +Deep, big, stifled sobs. I asked what was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +matter. Two or three times I asked before he +answered. At last he said, "I could not help it; +I cried because I know very well I shall never see +Reikjavik" (the only town in Iceland) "again."</p> + +<p>After that I kept talking for some time to him +in a sort of overbearing way about that, saying we +need not cry, surely, about that, if that was our +only trouble; that we had money enough to get +home now, and if we had not, what then? As for +myself, if I set my mind on going home, rather +than cry over it I would stow away on a ship or +work my passage. But I got no answer from Thorkill. +I could not sleep, and soon after the day +broke. The rain had by this time ceased, and as I +saw that Thorkill had now fallen asleep, I thought +it a pity to waken him, and crept as quietly as I +could out of the tent to make a fire and get a drop +of tea for breakfast. As I sat by the fire an hour +after, eating my breakfast, I saw Thorkill coming, +creeping on his hands and feet out of the tent, with +his head screwed round, looking up in the air over +the tent. I somehow thought he was looking at a +bird, and wondered he had not got the gun, so I +sat still and said nothing, but kept watching him. +When he was a long way out of the tent he got up, +and, still looking up in the air, pointed fixedly at +something and cried, "See! oh, look there!" I +stole behind him and looked, but could see nothing, +so I asked, "What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't you see? See! a large Russian +emigrant ship flying through the air."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you going altogether insane?" cried I, +beating him on the back. The next moment with +a deep groan he fell right into my arms. I asked +him what was the matter. Was he sick? Was +he bitten by a snake? I do not know half I asked +him, but all the reply I got as I laid him in his bunk +again, was, "Go for a minister."</p> + +<p>My mate was dying, and I knew it now. Dear +reader, whoever you may be, if you have seen your +nearest friend die, then you know how bitter it is. +But if you at such time have been among others +who have shared your grief, and had a doctor to +take the responsibility off your hands, then you +may only guess at what <i>I</i> felt when I saw Thorkill +lying there perfectly unconscious. We had as it +were for a long time been everything to each other, +and the disappointments and mishaps we both, so +far, had suffered in Queensland, had, it seemed at +that moment, made him simply indispensable to my +existence. How could I go for a parson? I +jumped out of the tent and ran round it three or +four times before I recollected that I did not know +of any human habitation within fifty miles! Then +I went in again and spoke to him. There was no +answer; not a movement in his body. He lay as +if in a heavy sleep, a high colour in his face. One +of his arms was hanging out over the bunk, and +would not rest where I put it, so I took a saddle +and placed that underneath it, and as it was not +yet high enough, I put a pint pot on that again. +There I balanced it, and there it remained. I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +not much medicine, only some quinine. That was +no good. Then I thought he must have been taken +by an apoplectic fit. I took the scissors and cut +off all his hair and beard. Then I went outside +and worked desperately at making a sunshade over +the tent, because the sun was beating down on us +so fiercely; next in again, and out. I did not +know what to do. I could not for a moment +remain still. Sometimes I carried water from the +creek and bathed his head with it. Then I feared +I was only tormenting him, and knocked it off +again. As I sat looking at him in the afternoon I +could not avoid thinking about how he had in his +last hour of good health made such a complete +confession about matters he always before had +been so reticent about. Why? I ask the question +now. Can any one answer it. It is <i>not</i> fashionable +in our age to believe more than can be rationally +explained, but I believe most people in their lives +have had similar strange experiences. If I make +the remark that I am superstitious, then I know I +shall lay myself open to ridicule, and yet it is only +a form of admitting that I do not know all that +passes in heaven and on earth.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, as Thorkill still lay in the +same immovable trance, I thought I must find +out whether he was conscious of my being +there or not, so I knelt down and spoke in +his ear, and called him by name. "Thorkill," +cried I, "if you <i>can</i> hear me and know that +I am here, try to give me some sign." Then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +as I watched him I thought he breathed extra +deep, but I was never certain. Anyhow, although +I had myself no Bible, and never had used one +before, I got his out of his swag and began reading +at the commencement and kept on until it was too +dark to read any more. During the night the rain +and storm began again. I could hear in Thorkill's +altered breathing that the end was near, but I had +no other light but a match I struck occasionally, +and it seemed to frighten me when I struck one +and saw his altered face. At last I knew he was +dead, and in an agony of sorrow and excitement I +began praying to Balder, our ancient god of all that +was noble and good, to come and fetch his own. I +was fearfully agitated, and remember well how I +walked outside the tent singing the old "Bjarkamsal," +and almost fancying I saw all the ancient +gods coming through the air. It is a common +saying of a person who has died, that he was too +good to live, but if ever that saying was true of +any one, it was true of Thorkill. A pure descendant +from the ancient Vikings, yet how different was he +from his forefathers. And all Icelanders are more +or less the same. Honest, frank, and kind, he +could not understand why everybody else was not +also honest and good, and I know very well he +declined the contest of life; he could not match +his simple faith with the cunning and brutality of +the ordinary set of people one meets with when the +pocket is empty. Better, perhaps, he should have +died then and there. Why was I sorry? Why<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +did I not rejoice? Who knew but that I some +day might not die in great deal more lonely and in +much more friendless way than he? He had lost +nothing, and it was I who was the loser; but for +his sake I would be glad. In this strain of mind I +passed the remainder of the night, but when at +last daylight came it brought with it the grim +reality of death such as it is, and life such as it is, +and also a sense of what was now the only favour +I could show the remains of my friend. It was +three or four o'clock that afternoon before I had +managed, as decently as I could, to bury the body, +and then all my energy was expended. Yet as I +sat resting myself for a moment, I was aware that +I must be off somewhere before evening, far from +that spot. I had a splitting headache; my legs +seemed unable to carry me. Yet I must be off to +get the horses. I found them, but when I came +home with them it was evening and I had to let +them go again. I could do no more, and not +altogether with an uncomfortable feeling was it +that I that evening laid myself down in Thorkill's +bunk, thinking that perhaps after all we need not +part. I was sick now myself, and fancied I saw +fearful visions all night. The next morning I +could scarcely raise myself to a sitting posture, +but during the day I managed with the instinct of +self-preservation to carry some water up from the +creek and to bake a damper. My recollections for +some time after this are very indistinct. It may +have been a week or it may have been two weeks.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +All that I remember of that time are glimpses of +myself sitting by Thorkill's grave, singing, or +playing the flute. The first clear recollection of +that time which I have, was one afternoon when +I was lying in the bunk watching, in a lazy sort of +way, some rats nibbling at the flour-bag, which +had somehow fallen down from its place. The +flour lay scattered about the tent, and everything +seemed in glorious disorder. I lay a long time +looking at the rats, and wondering where Thorkill +was—whether he was making breakfast, for I felt +very hungry. I had no remembrance whatever of +his being dead. I called him; my voice seemed +curious and weak. I grabbed a poker to strike at +the rats with it—how heavy it felt! Then I got +up and went outside, and stood staring for a long +time at the grave before I recollected that he was +dead, and that I myself was or had been sick. +Everything outside the tent bore evidence of +having been thrown about as if by a maniac, and I +felt a thrill of horror running through me as I +thought of myself, how perhaps I had walked about +here at night alone, sick and delirious. I felt +quite myself, however, although very weak. I was +hungry, and felt that I must have something to +eat, get it where I could. I staggered about +looking for food. Not a vestige of tea could I +find; there was no meat except a few nasty bones +which I found in the billy, and had to throw away; +then I discovered a little sugar, and I scraped +together some flour. My next trouble was that I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +had no fire and no dry matches. It took me all +my time to get a fire, by rubbing a hard and soft +stick together, but at last I succeeded, and then +made a johnny-cake in the fire. Out of sugar I +made my supper, and sat by the fire dreaming and +living it all over again. With the help of my gun +I got some birds the next day, and stewed them in +the billy with flour and figweed. I also found the +horses all right, but I was too weak to think of +shifting my quarters just then, much as I would +have liked to do so, because there seemed to me to +be a sort of haunted air about the whole place. I +busied myself all day, when I was not hunting for +food, with repairing my clothes, but I had a great +longing to see somebody of my own species again, +and to sit there every day talking to or thinking +about a dead man had something sickly in it that +I did not like. I could not for a couple of days +find either my money or the bit of gold we had +got. Whatever I had done with it was to me a +complete blank. I found it all at last in this way: +that somehow my hat did not seem to fit me, and +when I looked it over, there was all the money +stuck under the lining, but I never had any recollection +of putting it there.</p> + +<p>I read all Thorkill's letters and took them with +me when I left. They were from his parents and +his sister, addressed to him while he was in Denmark, +telling him of all sorts of small home-news, +and hoping soon to see him again. These he had +been carrying with him everywhere, and I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +often seen him reading them. There were also +photographs of all his family, and I made them +all up into a small parcel intending some day soon +to write to his people.</p> + +<p>I confess I never did write. I could not bring +myself to do it. I thought of what he had said—that +they must think him dead. Why, then, reopen +their wound? Let him remain "a missing +friend." As I had no settled abode for a long +time after this, I carried his papers with me everywhere +for many years. One photograph, of his +sister, a very handsome girl, I had until after I +was married, and treasured it greatly. I think +Mrs. —— must know what became of it at last.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page211" name="page211"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br /> +<br /> + +GOING TO THE PALMER.</h2> + + +<p>When I left Thorkill's grave I made a course +as near as I could for the Cape gold-field. +This place I found almost deserted, as most of the +diggers had left for the Palmer. The few people +who remained there had seemingly nothing else to +speak about but the fabulous richness of that field, +and they were all deploring each his untoward +circumstances which kept him from going thither. +And so it came to pass that, while gradually recovering +my spirits, I made up my mind to go to +the Palmer too. But to go to the Palmer was at +that time easier said than done. The Palmer +gold-fields lay somewhere in a totally unexplored +country, and none had been known to reach the +Palmer from the Cape after the commencement of +the wet season. Many unsuccessful attempts had +been made, and the returned parties spoke loudly +of the "impossibilities" on the road, such as +swollen rivers, swamps, marshes, mountains, +blacks, and what not besides; and what seemed to +me the worst, no supplies of any kind were to be +found on the fields. One had simply to carry with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +him rations sufficient to last until he returned. +Add to this that a pint pot full of flour cost half-a-crown +on the Cape, with other things at a proportionate +rate, and it made me decide another +way.</p> + +<p>A new port had been opened on the coast by the +shipping companies as the most feasible spot from +which to reach the Palmer. The name of this +place was Cooktown on the Endeavour River; and +the spot is identical with a place mentioned in +Captain Cook's travels, where he ran his ship, the +<i>Endeavour</i>, ashore to carry out some necessary +repairs to that vessel. To get to Cooktown from +the Cape I should first have to go to Townsville +and thence take ship to Cooktown. Although the +distance from the Cape to Townsville was as great +as from the Cape to the Palmer, yet, as it was +possible to travel the one road and not the other, +I decided to go there, and from that port take +ship to Cooktown, whence after having obtained +supplies, I would try to reach the Palmer.</p> + +<p>I will not tire the reader by describing my +journey to Townsville. My horses were well +rested and in good mettle, and I let them trot out +every day, so that I reached the coast very quickly. +I found Townsville crowded with people who +wanted to go to the Palmer. The steamers could +not take them fast enough, and in trying to secure +a passage for myself and my horses I was disappointed +time after time. Money, however, was +flying about all over the place. I was offered work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +in several quarters—in fact I was nearly implored +to take it up for fifteen shillings a day, or there +was piecework, by which I could easily have earned +double that amount, but, of course, I could not +think of it. At last I obtained a passage in a +schooner which had been fitted up for the voyage. +There was accommodation below decks for forty +horses, and fully that number were hoisted on +board. On the deck was accommodation for as +many passengers as could find standing room, and +I think there must have been over a hundred +people altogether. Indeed, we were so crowded +that, if the skipper had a right to complain of anything, +it certainly could not be that he had not a +full cargo. I paid five pounds apiece for the passage +of the horses and two pounds ten shillings +for myself. We had to find our own forage, too, +for the horses, and also to provide our own food. +Water, however, the skipper had to find himself—no +light matter on so small a ship. We were supposed +to make the run in forty-eight hours, and +carried water enough for double that time. I had +corn and hay to last my horses for a fortnight, but +some of the others had scarcely any fodder. At +last we started, and when the little steamer which +hauled us out of the creek had cast us off, it was +proved to my entire satisfaction that my run of +bad luck was not yet at an end. A strong wind +was blowing, but although the ship was tearing +through the water at a terrible rate, yet we did +not make real way, as the wind was straight against<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +us. It may seem strange that we should start +with such an adverse wind, but once the horses +were on board the skipper had to go. The first +evening we were out the captain and mate fought +and nearly knocked each other into the sea. I +mention this, however, only because I remember it; +I don't think our troublesome journey was due +to neglect or bad seamanship, but the wind was +against us, and kept so day after day until at last +it blew a perfect hurricane. The horses, of course, +suffered very much. At one time they would +stand nearly on their heads, at another, the other +way, now on one side, then on the other, as the +ship was jerking up and down. I was working +down below with my two horses all the time, +trying to ease them all I could. I tied my tent, +clothes and blankets round about the stalls to +lessen the force of the knocks a little for them. +All the horses, however, did not fare so well as +that, for their masters themselves were, for the +most part, lying in a helpless condition up on +deck, and the air below was so foul that it took +a good pair of lungs to endure it. The horses +soon began to die off, too; and to haul the poor +dead brutes up and throw them overboard took us +all our time, seeing that very few of us were +capable of such work. Upon deck it was indeed a +sight. Some were completely gone with sea-sickness +and had tied themselves to the bulwarks, +others were lying "yarning" and laughing as if +nothing were the matter. Many of these men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +must have known that even if the ship could +weather the storm, yet with the death of their +horses all hope of a successful journey was at an +end for them. Yet one heard no complaint; and +I should like here to pay this compliment to +Britishers: that, whether English, Scotch, or Irish, +they are, as a rule, brave men. Ours was not a +momentary suffering either. It was a constant +drenching with the waves, day after day. The +horses, our most valuable property, hauled overboard +as fast sometimes as we could get them up, +and our own lives in constant danger! Yet no +one complained. They would "yarn," laugh, or +crack jokes all day long. The only exceptions to +this rule, I am sorry to say, although I hope they +were not typical, were two Danes who had come +on board. One of them had informed me as soon +as we left Townsville that he intended to run +away from his wife who lived there. Now, when +the storm was blowing, he became intensely +religious and declared it to be a punishment from +Heaven for his wickedness and he made me most +sacred promises, one after the other, that he would +return to her bosom if only God would spare him +this time. The other declared the ship to be a +regular pirate craft and Queensland an accursed +country. I had to cook for them both, hand them +their food, and cheer up their spirits all the way. +One day we spied a large steamer flying the flag of +distress. She came from the south too, and was, +like ourselves, trying to reach Cooktown. As she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +came labouring through the waves we saw that it +was the <i>Lord Ashley</i>. The deck was black with +people and I do not know how many hundred +horses. This heavy deck-cargo caused the ship +to rock so that it looked as if it were about capsizing +every time it lurched over. Two of her +masts were already overboard, and as our schooner +ran past her we saw the people engaged in +throwing the horses overboard alive. Nearly all +the horses were sacrificed in this manner. To see +the poor brutes try to swim after the steamer or +the schooner was heartrending. We on the +schooner could give no assistance; indeed, after +all, the steamer was better off than ourselves, insomuch +that it kept on its way while the schooner +had to tear up and down and to do its best not to +be blown south again. When we at last reached +Cooktown, some days after, the <i>Lord Ashley</i> was +lying there; but it was her last journey. She was +so knocked about that, to the best of my belief, she +was sold as lumber afterwards. All our water was +now used up, and we had either to try to effect a +landing or go south again. As the mate declared +he knew a place on the coast just where we were, +where there was a fresh-water creek, it was decided +to call for volunteers among the passengers to +man the boat and get some water. As I had two +horses on board and was not sea-sick, I declared +myself ready to make one. There were six oars to +be manned. The other five volunteers, although +passengers, were yet old sailors. The mate was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +to take the helm. Before the boat was lowered +great care was taken to lash the empty casks in +their proper position and to have everything in +order. Then the captain took the wheel and ran +the schooner in towards the land further than +customary when we tacked. As we turned the +boat was lowered. The men and I jumped down. +Off flew the ship: it seemed miles before I realized +that it was gone. And we in the boat—talk about +the big swing at home in Tivoli; that was only +child's play to the rocking we now had! My hat +blew off and flew towards Townsville; my hair, +and even my shirt, were trying hard to follow! +One could scarcely get the oars in the water. But, +in spite of all, we paddled as best we could, and +shortly after were inside a little harbour, where +the water was comparatively smooth and where we +effected a landing. How peaceful and quiet it all +seemed here under the mountain. I felt, as I trod +the firm soil under my feet, that I should never +make a good sailor, and it was a terror to me how +we were ever to reach the schooner again. We +rolled the casks up to the little creek and filled them. +The mate said he had been there some years before +when he was with a New Guinea expedition. As +we were roaming about, waiting for the right +moment to get out again, we found a lot of wreckage, +old rotten spars, a cabin door, &c. Then we came +on the skeleton of a man, not all together, but +scattered about. There were also remains of some +old clothes, and we found a purse with silver in it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +something less than a pound. The mate declared +this money to be an infallible charm, and suggested +that we should each take a piece and say nothing +about it. There were only six pieces of money, +and we were seven to share it. No one would +stand out for any consideration, so we drew lots. +I secured a two-shilling piece, and, whether for +good or for bad luck, I have it yet, and used to carry +it for years in the most approved fashion round +my neck. We had no tools with us, so we could not +bury the bones. There they lie, perhaps even yet, +the remains of another "missing friend." We came +on board the schooner again somehow. Opinions +differed much amongst us as to why we had not been +drowned, and no verdict was arrived at. The mate +said it was the charms we carried which had done +it, others said that God held His hand over us, but +the one who had no charm said it was because we +were the very refuse of the devil. I express no +opinion myself, only that it was certainly surprising. +As the storm gradually veered round +a little we reached Cooktown. Out of the forty +horses only sixteen were alive; one of mine was +dead, and the other did not look as if it could live +long after I got it out of the ship, yet it gradually +came round and proved a very good horse afterwards.</p> + +<p>Cooktown is now reckoned among the old-established +towns of Queensland, but when I landed +there it looked wild enough. To describe it I ask +the reader to think of a fair in the Old Country,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +leaving out the monkeys and merry-go-rounds. +There were some thousands of people all camped +out in tents. Those who intended to start business +in Cooktown had pegged out plots of ground +in the main street and run up large tents or corrugated +iron structures in which all sorts of +merchandise was sold cheap enough. But the +wet season kept on, and there was no communication +with the Palmer. People left town to go +there every day in the rain and slush, but many +returned saying it was no use trying, as the rivers +could not be crossed. There was at that time a +very mixed lot of people in Cooktown. All the +loafers, pickpockets, and card-sharpers seemed to +have trooped in from Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, +looking for the gold in other people's +pockets, and the robbing of tents was an everyday +occurrence. Then, although it had been made +known far and wide that any one who wanted to +go to the Palmer must either starve or carry six +months' rations with him, still many destitute and +good-for-nothing people could also be seen wherever +one looked: these form a class of men as easily +distinguished from the <i>bona fide</i> miners as if they +belonged altogether to another species. No work +of any kind was going on for more than one-tenth +of the people who looked for employment, and +any one who wanted a man might easily get him +for his "tucker." I believe one could have got +them to work all day for their dinner alone. Men +would walk about among the tents in droves, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +wherever they saw rations there they would beg. +While this was the true state of affairs in Cooktown +just then, I remember well standing outside +the newspaper office, reading the paper, the +leading article in which described in glowing +terms the bustle and activity going on in this +rising city, and declared that any man who could +lift a hammer was welcome to a pound sterling +a day! Of course I did not look for any work, so +I did not care. There was also a great deal of +sickness, especially dysentery, and the doctors required +cash down before they would even look at +any one. If one took a stroll up among the tents, +it was a common, indeed an inevitable, sight to +see men lying helpless, writhing with pain on the +ground, some of them bellowing out for pity or +mercy. Very little pity or help, as a rule, did +they get. Men would pass such a poor object +with the greatest apathy, or at most go up to him +and give good advice, such as that he ought to be +ashamed of lying there and ought to try and crawl +into the tent again! Such was life in Cooktown +during the first "rush" there to any Queensland +gold-fields.</p> + +<p>I had not at that time got much money. If my +second horse had lived, I should have been, as I +thought, all right; but as horses worth six or seven +pounds could not be bought under thirty or forty +pounds, I could not buy another to replace the one +I had lost, and had therefore to be content with +one. So one day I loaded up my horse with rations<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +and went on the road. As I was going to the +Palmer, where money was of no value whatever, +and as everything depended on my being able +to carry a sufficiency of provisions, I had bought +the best of everything regardless of cost. I had +cocoa, extract of beef to make soup of, preserved +meat and such like in large quantity. Then I had +tea, sugar, and one hundred and fifty pounds of +flour. My wardrobe, on the other hand, was not +extensive. It consisted of one shirt, over and +above that I wore. Fifty pounds of my flour +with the tent, half a blanket, billy-can, pint pot, +knife, gun, &c., I carried on my own back; the +remainder, including spade and basin, I strapped +on the back of the horse. I had then only a +few shillings left of all my money when I started, +but going through the town on my road out the +burden on my back began already to feel heavy. I +therefore thought it wise to carry no unnecessary +loads, and seeing some fellows standing in +the street who looked as if they needed some refreshment, +I called them together and had a +big "shout" in a public-house as far as the +money would go. That relieved my mind and my +pocket!</p> + +<p>The road, if it might be called one, was really a +track or belt of morass, some ten chains wide, in +which one had to wade at times up to the knees. +I was prepared to endure great hardships; but to +understand the suffering to man and horse in dragging +oneself along that road one must have tried it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +for himself. Twice that day the horse and I got +bogged. To get clear again I had first to crawl +on my hands and knees with part of my own load +up to some fallen log and deposit it there, then +back to the horse for more. When the horse was +quite unloaded, I had to take it round the neck +and let it use me as a sort of purchase by which to +work itself out. Then load it again and wade +along. I made eight miles that day, and I knew +that no one who left Cooktown with me came so +far. At the eighth mile there was a large camp +of diggers, who said they could get no further nor +yet back to Cooktown. I should have remained +there; but as I saw next morning some prepare to +get a little further, I started with them, and soon +left them behind too. That day and the next the +road was better although still very bad. I crossed +a river the third evening I was out. It was as +much as I could do to get over, and, as in the +night it began to pour with rain, I concluded, what +really proved to be the case, that the creek would +rise and so effectually cut off my retreat. The +next day the road was worse than ever. The +horse got bogged time after time, and I was myself +on the eve of being knocked up. The whole +road so far, almost ever since I had left Cooktown, +was strewn with clothes, boots, saddles, rations, in +such quantities that there would have been enough +to have opened a good store with if one could have +got it all together. I had also passed at least a +score of dead horses, sticking in the mud with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +saddles, and, in some cases, rations on them; and +I met scores of men, who, having thrown everything +away, were struggling to reach Cooktown +again on foot. But with dogged obstinacy I kept +on trying to accomplish the impossible. At last +the poor horse got bogged again worse than ever. +I could not get him out. He looked so pitifully at +me! I am sure it knew the predicament we were +both in. I struggled and tried hard to get it out, +but I could not. As it settled deeper and deeper +into the quagmire I thought I might as well finish +his sufferings and my own. So I put my gun to +his ear and shot him.</p> + +<p>There I stood in the pouring rain alongside the +dead horse, full of anger with myself that I had +not, by using more judgment, saved myself and +my poor, faithful companion from such a hard fate. +I am not poetically gifted, and do not understand +the science of making much out of a little, so I cannot +say how miserable I felt. Yet it is nevertheless +true that I was ready to burst with grief. I +was wet through, and had been so all day, nor had +I anything dry to put on. Evening was coming +on too. Up and down the "road" there was +nothing but a quagmire, into which I sank to the +knees whenever I moved. Here also lay my hopes +of redeeming my fortunes. I know very well if I +were placed in the same position now, I should +not have strength either of body or mind to extricate +myself. As it was, when I think of it now, +after so many years, I can truly aver that I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +mourned for the horse more than for myself. I had +met no travellers that day on account of the rain, but +I knew I was about eight miles from the Normanby +River, on both sides of which large bodies of +miners were camped—those on my side being +desirous of reaching the Palmer, and the camp on +the other side being full of men who had come +from the Palmer and wanted to go to Cooktown. +But both parties were prevented from getting +further as the Normanby River was in full flood +and half a mile across.</p> + +<p>I could not continue to stand looking at the +dead horse. I felt a great longing to reach the +other men that I might, by talking to them, forget +a part of my own trouble in thinking of theirs, so +I managed that evening, and with even a part of +my goods, to reach the camp, and the next few +days I devoted to fetching the remainder of my +stores from where the dead horse was lying.</p> + +<p>On the banks of the Normanby River there was +at that time a sight which might well furnish food +for reflection. I doubt if fiction could invent anything +more strange. Several hundred men were +camped on the south side of the river waiting for +the flood to subside so that they might get over. +We had rations in any quantity, but, speaking for +myself, I can truthfully say, if the others were like +me, we had no money. On the other side of the +river was an equally large camp. The men there +were the diggers who, when the first news of the +Palmer broke out, had, before the wet season set<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +in, gathered to the "rush" from the Etheridge, +Gilbert, Charters Towers, Cape, and other outlying +places, and who, having eaten their rations and +gathered their gold, were now trying to get to +Cooktown to purchase supplies. A perfect famine +was raging over there. The country around is +very poorly off for game; besides, they had no +powder, and so they had been eating their horses, +their dogs, and at last their boots! It is a fact +that they used to boil their blucher boots for +twenty-four hours and eat them with weeds! It +takes something to make a Queensland miner lie +down to die, yet it was the general opinion among +men who had been to all the Victorian and New +Zealand "rushes," that they had never suffered +such hardship before or seen country so void of +game or life of any sort.</p> + +<p>There we were, looking across at one another—they +shaking their gold-purses at us, and we showing +them the flour-bags. Two came across to us. +The way they managed was this: first they took +off the rag or two which yet served them for +clothes and strapped them on to the horse, then +getting on the horse and forcing it into the water +it would soon be borne with the current down the +stream; they would then slip off, and getting hold +of the tail with one hand swim with the other. +They both managed to cross, but it looked so desperate +an undertaking that the others did not +venture. The two men who came over brought +the first reliable news from the Palmer for a long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +time, and were besieged with questions. As I do +not care to return to the matter again, I will say +here that among the tales of suffering on the +Palmer by the first batch of diggers, was that of +one of my shipmates from home, who had arrived +there from the Etheridge, and who, while looking +for gold in one of the tributaries to the Palmer, +had been cut off from the main camp by the river +rising so that he could not cross to get away. +His dead body was found in his tent after the wet +season. He had died of hunger, yet under his +head was a bag with eighteen pounds' weight of +gold in it. Poor fellow! the last time I saw him +was in Port Denison, the first year I was in the +country; he had then earned five pounds sterling, +and had come into town to get it sent home to +his father and mother.</p> + +<p>On our side of the river we passed the time as +best we could. There was a large band of German +musicians, and I joined them with my +flute, which I always carried. It really seemed +strange, in the heart of the wilderness, where a few +months before no white man had ever put his foot, +to hear the tones of Strauss or Offenbach. As a +general thing, though, men would sit in their tents +while the rain came pouring down in sheets of +water. At night we suffered very much from mosquitoes, +and in the daytime from flies, the common +little house-fly, which was a perfect nuisance +all day. Dear reader, I know you expect of me +that the least I can do for you who have followed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +my fortunes so far is to tell you now how I somehow +proceeded to the Palmer, and there in a +month or two accumulated at least twenty +thousand ounces of gold, with which I returned +and got married to some nobleman's daughter. I +should not be sorry to write this if I only had +the gold somewhere handy, but as you no doubt +would, after all, prefer the truth, whatever it is, I +must confess that I could not at all see my way to +go on any further. When the weather settled and +people began to cross the river I had a good look +at the poor emaciated fellows who came across, +some of them with very little gold, and all of them +more or less broken in health. Then I began to +ask myself whether the game was worth the +candle. The Germans who constituted the band +offered to take me as mate in their party, and to +put my rations on their horses; and for that I was +greatly obliged to them, but I seemed all at once +to have taken such a dislike to roaming about, and +was picturing to myself the comfort I could have +had and the sum of money I might have saved by +constant employment at my trade, that I refused +their kind offer, and instead of going on towards +the Palmer I sold my rations for a good price and +returned to Cooktown.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page231" name="page231"></a>CHAPTER X.<br /> +<br /> + +RETURNING FROM THE PALMER.</h2> + + +<p>I sat in my tent one day in Cooktown, while +the rain was pouring down outside, when my +attention was attracted by four men who stood +in a desolate sort of way in the road. They +seemed to me to have such a pitiful, aimless, +vacant way about them as they stood there while +the rain ran down their backs in bucketsful! +But I do not suppose that I for that reason +alone should have given them a second thought, +because misery and want were such common sights +in Cooktown. What, however, riveted my interest +in them was that I could see they were Danes +by their clothes, and also that they had only +been a very short time in Queensland. So I +thought I would have a lark with them at my +own expense if, as I guessed, it should prove true +that they could not speak English. I therefore +called to them in English, and invited them +to come into my tent out of the rain. They +came quickly enough. My point was to let them +think me an Englishman and to prove the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +proverb that he "who hears himself spoken of +seldom hears praise." So I questioned them from +what country they came, how long they had been +in Cooktown, where they were going, how long +they had been in Queensland, and all such matters. +It appeared then that they had arrived in Rockhampton +a few months before, had taken a contract +there to burn off a piece of scrub, by which they +had saved a few pounds, and having heard of the +Palmer, had bought tickets for Cooktown in the +<i>Lord Ashley</i>, that steamer we met in the storm. +All their swags had been washed overboard, and +since they arrived in Cooktown they had not only +spent their money long ago, but had since been +unsuccessful in all they undertook. They subsisted +on scraps and odd pickings among the tents—but +they did not mind so much now that they had got +used to it! They liked Rockhampton and the job +of scrub-burning, "that being a lively game," but +Cooktown they did not like; anyhow, as soon as +they could get a job and save enough to buy some +rations, they would go to the Palmer. What aggrieved +them most was that they had a Danish +five-dollar note (worth about ten shillings), but +they could not get it changed because the Englishmen +said it was a false one. This they told me in +a sort of English a great deal more broken than +my own, but yet they had not the slightest +suspicion about my not being myself a thoroughbred +Britisher. Indeed, the conversation was full +of interjections in Danish from the one to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>other, such as: "I wonder if the beggar is going +to give us some grub when he has done questioning?" +or, "He has got nothing himself to eat; +let us get out of this;" or, "Wait a minute, I will +ask him for some flour." When I had carried my +game as far as I cared, we had some tea and a real +good meal, after which, as it began to get dark, I +invited them all to stay in my tent until I left +Cooktown, because I was only waiting for a +steamer. In the night, as we all lay as close as +we could in the little tent, I had the satisfaction +of lying listening half the night to their praise of +myself, as they were talking in Danish, thinking +I did not understand. They seemed to have a +terrible grudge against some Dane in Cooktown +whom I did not know, but to whom it appeared +they had applied in vain for assistance; and now +they compared me as an Englishman to their own +countryman, and came to the conclusion that +strangers were always the best. I did not like to +undeceive them, and I never did; but it was so +very pleasant to lie and listen to one's own praise, +and I really felt quite benevolent over it, so I +thought I would do what I could to deserve their +praises.</p> + +<p><a id="page232" name="page232"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/illus_261.png"> +<img src="images/illus_261.png" alt="ROCKHAMPTON" title="ROCKHAMPTON"/> +</a></div> +<div class="center"><p class="caption">ROCKHAMPTON</p></div> + +<p>I had decided that I would go back to Port +Denison and ask my old employer there for a job, +which I never doubted he would give me. It +seemed to me it was the place where I had been +treated best as yet in Queensland, and although +we had some differences of opinions, yet I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +quite longing to see him and his family again, and +also my old shipmate and his wife. I had no doubt, +somehow, he was there still. It seemed to me +almost like going home, to see them all again, and +as I was in the tent lying listening to the Danes, I +thought that I would get my nice old room once +more as soon as I came to Port Denison and have +everything provided for me, and that I could +therefore spare this tent, and the gun, the billy-can, +pint pot, &c. When I left Cooktown I gave +all these articles to my countrymen there, and, as +I was going in the boat, even offered to exchange +their "false" Danish five-dollar note. I had +finally only half-a-crown left.</p> + +<p>I have written about this, not because I wish +the reader to know how benevolent I was, but +to make it clear how it was that I parted with +these things. It will be perceived, as my history +proceeds, how sorely I was afterwards in need of +them myself.</p> + +<p>It was early morning when I was put ashore in +Port Denison in a boat, because I was the only +passenger for that port. I had been away about +four years, and as the memory of my first landing +in this place forced itself upon me I felt that I had +not made very good use of my time so far. Yet +as I went along I consoled myself with the reflection +that even if my pocket was empty, still I was +more like a man than I had ever been before, and +if I was not rich, no one could say he was poor on +my account.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> + +<p>I walked along the jetty and up the street before +I met any one; then I saw a man I remembered +as one to whom I had spoken several times +formerly. I rushed up to him, laughing and +smiling, and shook him by the hand. He seemed +surprised and looked cold upon me. At last he +remembered me. "Oh, yes! How are you? +Come by a steamer? Nice morning."</p> + +<p>How many have never known the bitter disappointment +of being repulsed in this manner? I +sneaked away, and began to ask myself if it was +possible that my old "boss," or, perhaps, even my +shipmate and his wife, would greet me in the same +manner. I had only half-a-crown left in my +pocket. My wardrobe was also in a sad condition; +yet I was clean, and had, while on the ship, +polished my boots and scented my handkerchief, +so who should say that I was not the successful +digger? Still, I felt very shaky about meeting +a new disappointment, and walked about for an +hour or two, not caring to present myself at Mr. ——'s +place, and not being able to find out where +my countryman lived. I was soon reassured, +however, for presently I saw the "boss" himself, +out for a morning walk, and he seemed both glad +and surprised to see me. After we had given the +public debt a lift in a public-house just opened, he +made a few inquiries about how far I had succeeded +in making my fortune, and offered me there and +then a job, although he said he was by no means +busy. My shipmate was with him yet, and had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +two pounds ten shillings per week, and he would +give me the same, he said, in the hope that work +might soon be more plentiful. When we separated +I went to look for my countryman, who also +was glad to see me, and at once insisted on my +staying at his house for the present. How well off +he seemed to be! It was his own house, and he +had made a nice lot of furniture himself for the +rooms. He had also a fine garden, where, as he +said to me, he took his recreation in working it +up. But, best of all, he had a kind, good wife, +who also had been my shipmate, and two little +boys. When he came home of an evening the +wife came with his slippers and his smoking-cap, +and there he was, while I, who had gone through +more hardships these four years than many people +do in their whole life, had seemingly done no good +either to myself or to others. I had, of course, told +them at once that I intended to go to work in +the old place again; and it was my intention at +the first favourable moment which offered to ask +my friend for a few pounds to renew my wardrobe +a little, but so far I had said nothing whatever to +anybody about my circumstances. In the evening, +as we sat talking on the verandah, my countryman +quite suddenly asked me if I was short of money, +as he was prepared to let me have some if I wanted +it. It seems a strange contradiction to my previous +confession, but nevertheless it is true, that he +had scarcely spoken before I blurted out that I was +not at all short of money, and that it was a great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +mistake on his part to think so, that I had quite +enough to serve my purpose at any time, and more +to the same effect.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said my mate, "I am glad for +your sake; but as that is the case I will tell you +what I otherwise would have said nothing about. +The 'boss' was to-day passing one or two jokes +about your being so anxious to make your fortune +quickly when you left here last, and as we have +scarcely a stroke to do, I would not, if I were you, +give him the satisfaction to begin work again, +because I am sure he thinks you are very hard up." +"Does he?" cried I. "Well, he makes a mistake, +and so do you. Perhaps you think because I +haven't a paper collar on that I am ready to beg?" +"Oh, no, no!" cried he; "I only meant, in a +friendly way, to offer you what you perhaps needed, +so do not get angry where no offence is meant." +"Oh, I was not angry," said I; "but I certainly +would not work for Mr. —— again, as he thought +I could not do without him. Had I not for a fact +passed Townsville, where wages were higher and +work more plentiful, to come here? And now he +thought he was the only man in Queensland where +I could earn my living! But I would show Mr. —— different. +I would go to Port Mackay, where +there was plenty of work and no family arrangement +about it. That was what I would do." +After some more conversation of the same sort, I +went out in the street for a walk, and to get an +opportunity of thinking quietly over my now des<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>perate +circumstances. With the exception of the +clothes I wore upon me,</p> + +<div class="poem" style="width:24em;"> +<span class="i0">"All my fortune was a shirt</span> +<span class="i0;">That was ragged and full of dirt."</span> +</div> + +<p>I walked about the streets for some time, trying +to make a song in honour of the occasion, which +was to begin with the above words, and set it to +music, and as I succeeded better than I thought I +correspondingly got into high spirits, and took it +all as an immense joke. There seemed to me only +one way out of the difficulty. I could walk to +Port Mackay, which is another and larger town, +more prosperous than Port Denison. It lies on +the coast also, and the distance by road between +the two places is one hundred and thirty miles. +The road, however, is very little frequented, as +what little communication there is is all by water. +There were, however, half a dozen stations on the +road, and I made no doubt I should be right somehow. +The blacks in that district had, indeed, a +bad name for spearing cattle and being very wild +and ferocious; but of that I took no heed. The +most important thing just then was for me to get +away from my countryman's house without exciting +in him any suspicions about the state of my exchequer. +I felt some strokes of conscience certainly +over thus repaying his kindness with such +insincerity, but I could at least truthfully say that +I had not meant it, and that circumstances over +which I had no control, &c. So the next morning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +I put on a reserved, dignified air, and after breakfast +told my host that I intended to shift my +quarters. They both kindly protested, until I had +to say that I had business somewhere in the bush, +and would come back to their house as soon as I +came to Port Denison again, but that I had to go +now, and might not be back for some time. Then +Mrs. —— pressed me to take some sandwiches +with me for dinner, for which I was not sorry, and +then I started for Port Mackay. The first station +on the road was thirty miles out. That place I +meant to reach before evening. The sandwiches +went down like apple-pie long before dinner-time, +and a little before evening I gained the station. I +was even at that time so much of a "new chum" +that I took it for granted that a traveller would be +made welcome anywhere in the bush whenever he +might call. In the gold-fields where I had been +people were ashamed of refusing hospitality—at +least, I had not seen it done. This was the +furthest south I had yet been in Queensland, and +as I stood by the creek that evening and looked +over to the neat little homestead lying there so +isolated, it seemed to me quite a beautiful place, +and I congratulated myself that I had reached it +just before I got tired and in good time for supper. +I had a bath in the creek and straightened myself +up all I could before I went up to the house. It +was getting nearly dark as I came up the track +leading into the garden. I heard some one crack +a whip close behind me, and saw a man on horse-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>back +coming along with nearly a dozen big dogs, +who now barked in angry rage all round me. I +stood there a complete prisoner while the man on +horseback looked daggers at me. I suppose he had +been out after cattle and had not found those he +looked for; anyhow, he did not appear in a good +humour. "Where are you going?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"I thought I might have a bit of supper and a +camp here to-night," said I.</p> + +<p>"Supper and camp!" cried he. "Why the —— don't +you camp in the bush? Ain't you got +no rations, neither?"</p> + +<p>"No," said I. "I should be obliged to you if +you would sell me something to eat."</p> + +<p>"Would you not be obliged to me if I would +show you a public-house?" cried he.</p> + +<p>I was too innocent to see his jeer, only I +perceived that he did not want me, so I said, +"Public-house? yes, I should be glad;" and +added, "I did not know there was any; how far +is it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, not far," said he, and he moved on, and at +last called his dogs off me.</p> + +<p>I was in a rage as I moved on, but just past the +house the road branched off, and I thought it +necessary to find out which to take, so I sang out +to him, "Which is the Mackay road?"</p> + +<p>"The <i>right</i> one," cried he. And along the <i>right</i>-hand +track I went mile after mile, but no hotel +was there. At last I found it was only a cattle +track, and that I had come out to a big creek,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +where it branched off everywhere. The moon was +just going down, and it was far out in the night +when I laid myself down to sleep. It was raining +heavily by this time, so that I could light no fire, +but, tired and worn out as I was, I slept as well as +if I had lain on a feather bed.</p> + +<p>When I woke up again it was daylight, and I +felt quite stiff in all my joints and so cold that +I could scarcely move. Three or four native dogs +were circling round me, but retired to a more +respectful distance when I sat up. These native +dogs are, I believe, peculiar to Australia. Miserable, +cowardly curs they are. They will often follow +a man for days when he is lost until he drops, +but I do not believe it has ever been recorded that +they have actually attacked a man before death +has made him oblivious to all. Not so, however, +with the crow. The crow is found all over +Australia in the most out-of-the-way places, and +many a brave man has had his eyes picked out +before he has had time to die! These birds seem +to have a sort of instinct to know when any one is +in distress. If a man is lost and the "trackers" +are out after him, they know that he is not far off +when they see a lot of crows hovering over a particular +spot. He may not be dead, but he is +certainly dying.</p> + +<p>Although I was wet, stiff, and cold, and without +any food, yet I was worth twenty dead men yet. I +saw that the only thing I could do was to retrace +my steps to the station the same way as I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +come; so along the road I went, and that in a very +bad humour, most of all because I could see no +other remedy than to beg assistance where I had +been already so badly treated. When I could get +on the right track there were thirty miles to the +next station. I had only half-a-crown. What could +I do if nobody would help me? At last, at two or +three o'clock in the afternoon, I came back to the +place I had started from the evening before, when +I had been shown the wrong track. As soon as I +saw the house again I felt neither hungry nor tired. +I only felt as if I could walk for ever without rest +or food. I would ask for nothing. I would take +nothing. I would just go on. But still I had to find +out which was the Mackay road. Yes, I would go +up to the house to ask that question. As I came +up to the place I saw a young woman standing outside +the back door washing clothes, and about a +dozen blacks were squatted about the ground in all +sorts of lazy positions. I noticed especially a very tall +young gin, who stood leaning against the wall, with +a long spear in her hand. I asked the girl which +was the Mackay road, and she, looking round rather +surprised at me, said, "There—that one to the +left." She did not look at all vicious, and seemed +disposed to enter into conversation, but, true to +my determination, I turned on my heel to go again. +I had scarcely turned, however, before I heard her +sing out in an excited voice to the blacks, "Don't! +Drop that spear! Look out!" Turning round +once more, I saw the tall gin with the spear, hold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>ing +it high above her head, ready to hurl it at me. +I never spoke, because, to tell the truth, I never +realized that she intended to kill me. I looked +her full in the face, and, as I felt pretty indignant +at the time, my look disarmed her. Anyhow she +quailed before my eyes and dropped the spear, and +I went my way.</p> + +<p>The blacks were at that time very bad in that +district, spearing cattle, &c., and as I was going +along the road I accounted to myself for their +presence on the station in this way—that perhaps +the squatter thought it cheaper to feed them than +to allow them to rob him. That they were not +very quiet blacks I felt sure, and the more I +thought of the gin and her uplifted spear the +more anxious I became. They might, thought I, +set out after me yet and finish me off. Moreover, +as I had thirty miles to walk before I could hope +for any food, I made up my mind to stagger on as +long as my feet could carry me. But I did not go +so fast as the day before. Slowly and painfully +did I drag along. The road was simply a track on +which a horse might come along, and a sort of +coarse grass eight or nine feet high grew on both +sides. How fervently I wished I might meet +another traveller—anybody had been welcome—but +no one seemed to have been along there for +ages. On I went. Every half mile or so I would +come to a running brook crossing the road. I +became too fatigued to take off my boots and socks +every time, and this made my feet sore; but still I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +staggered on. It was now evening, or, rather, late +at night, but just as the moon was going down I +came to a creek which seemed larger than the rest, +inasmuch that I could not in the darkness look +across, and taking a couple of steps into the water +I went in nearly to the middle; still it grew deeper. +I therefore concluded that as necessity knows no +law, I must camp and wait for daylight before I +attempted crossing. A large tree was growing close +to the water and on the track. Down by the roots +of that tree I threw my swag, and laid myself upon +it without undressing and without a fire. My +matches were all wet, and I was too tired to walk +one unnecessary step.</p> + +<p>I was lying there looking up at the stars, feeling +so unspeakably tired, when, after a while, just as I +was going to sleep, I heard a noise not far from me +for which I could not account, but it brought me +to speculate upon the probability that there were +alligators in the water, and that it was scarcely +prudent to lie there as I did, with my feet almost +in the stream. So I got up and went back some +twenty yards or so, on the rising ground, where +there had been an old camp years before. There +I lay myself down again with a big stick in my +hand. I had just gone off to sleep when I started up +again in terror. A peculiar indescribable noise was +coming from down the creek, where I had been +before. What it might be I did not know. Never +had I heard the like before; it was a noise sufficient, +as they say, to raise the dead.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> + +<p>The water seemed agitated as if an army of +blacks were coming across, the bushes and grass +were cracking as if a stampede of cattle was taking +place, and through all these noises ran a piercing +continuous yell such as no human being or animal +I knew in nature could utter. The thought ran +through me as I started to my feet: either it is the +blacks who have come to kill you, or it is an alligator +on the same errand. In any case, thought I, my +only chance was to show fight. With that I +grabbed my stick, and sang out, to gammon the +blacks, "Here! hie! Bill! Jack! Jimmy! Here +they are. Get the guns; we will have a shot at +them!"</p> + +<p>While I screamed at the top of my voice like +this, I struck the long grass with my stick, and, +to frighten the alligator, if any were there, ran +right down to where I had been before, yelling all +the while. The noise kept on in front of me, +but died away with some splashes in the water, +just as I came down. When I stopped screaming +all was silent. I stared around me, but the darkness +was perfectly impenetrable.</p> + +<p>Was there an alligator now crouching at my feet +ready to swallow me in a couple of mouthfuls? Or +was I surrounded by a mob of savages, perhaps, +lurking alongside of me, and seeing my helplessness? +Or was it evil spirits? I did not know +what it was, or where it had gone, and yet the hair +seemed to rise on my head. Do not talk to me +about bravery or cowardice! I believe most men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +are capable of screwing their courage up to the +necessary point at any time, providing they know +what is before and behind them, but if I knew +where there was a man who would not have felt +fear if placed in the same position as I stood in +there, then I would fall down and bow before him. +I crept back to where I had been lying when I +heard the alarm and lay down again, and so +exhausted was I that I fell asleep at once, and did +not wake up before the sun was shining in my face. +My first thought, of course, was the noise in the +night, and I went down to the creek to look for +tracks or signs of some sort. There, close by the +tree, on the very spot where I first had laid myself +down, was the half of a large kangaroo. It seemed +bitten off right under the forelegs, all the rest was +gone. On the road and in the soft mud by the +water were the tracks of an immense alligator, and +where it had come out and gone into the creek +again a deep furrow as from a sulky plough had +been made by its tail. I had never yet been so +near death! It seemed plain to me that the +first noise I had heard which induced me to get +up and go further away from the water must have +been the alligator stealing upon me, and that the unfortunate +kangaroo afterwards unwittingly saved my +life. But as there is scarcely anything that cannot +be turned to good account, so I also tried to turn +this accident to my advantage, because I took up +my knife and cut some steaks out of the kangaroo, +which I had to eat raw, as I could make no fire, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +I could not find any of the wood with which I had +learned by rubbing two sticks together to make it. +It was with fear and trembling that I crossed the +deep creek. The water went up over my armpits; +but it had to be done, and once on the other side I +made a speech to the alligator, thanked him for my +breakfast, and wished him, "Good-morning."</p> + +<p>I walked all day, but so slowly and painfully that +I did not go very far. One of my boots was chafing +my foot so that I had to take it off, but after having +carried it some miles I threw it away. In the evening +I came to an empty hut and a stockyard, but +as no one was living there I concluded it was put +up for the purpose of mustering cattle. It was +locked up, so I lay down outside and seemed to find +some company in looking at the house. The next +day was Sunday. I felt when I got up that I could +not walk much further. Fortunately, perhaps, I +got some encouragement from thinking myself near +the station, as fences and cattle began to appear. +Yet it took me from break of day to afternoon +before I came out on a large plain, and there at +once I saw the house lying in front of me, but +yet about a mile distant. It seemed a large and +"fashionable" house for the bush. As I came +a little nearer I could see people under the +verandah, and as I came still nearer I made out +three ladies and a gentleman sitting there. They +seemed to have a telescope, which they passed +from one to the other, and whoever had it pointed +it straight at me. Ah! what a disgrace, thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> +I. I would not mind so much, but I felt revolted +at the idea of standing as a beggarman before +young ladies. If I could have run away I am sure +I should have done so, but I was altogether too +weak. Still, I seemed to straighten myself up +somehow under their eyes, and I threw the long, +ugly stick I carried away, and went on with as +sure a step as I could command up to the +verandah and saluted the company.</p> + +<p>I remember well the following scene. The +gentleman, a portly, elderly man, had one of those +bluff-looking, high-coloured faces which, even while +they try to look cross, cannot hide their evident +good nature. He was now smiling in a benevolent +sort of way upon me. The elderly lady who sat +by his side also looked very kind, while two young +ladies, who also were in the verandah, regarded me +with a mixture of dignity, curiosity, and pity. When +the gentleman began to speak he looked very cross.</p> + +<p>"Coming from the Palmer?" inquired he.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Hah! did I not tell you so? Did you find +any gold there?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Didn't I say so?"</p> + +<p>These aside remarks were addressed to the elderly +lady, who silently acquiesced; and then she turned +towards me and inquired, with a sort of anxiety, +"Did you happen to meet a young man up there +by name Symes? David—David Symes, that was +his name."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> + +<p>I was very sorry that I had not met him.</p> + +<p>"How do you think he should know him?" cried +the gentleman, in a great rage. "Ah!" he exclaimed, +"that will teach you fellows not to run +gallivanting about the country again in a hurry, +I'll swear. All your bit of money clean gone?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir." (I had my half-crown.)</p> + +<p>"Then you want nothing from me, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, sir, I do, very much."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I thought so. I knew it jolly well, I did."</p> + +<p>"Father," cried the lady, "why do you keep +tormenting the poor man so? You go and sit there +under the sunshade, and I will tell the girl to bring +you some dinner. Poor man! walked all the way +from Palmer."</p> + +<p>I went and seated myself by a large table which +stood in the yard, and as soon as I sat down I fell +asleep; then I would start up again, and fall asleep +again, and every time I opened my eyes I saw them +all sitting on the verandah watching me. The +servant-girl brought a large supply of roast beef +and potatoes, also a plum-pudding, but I could eat +nothing. When I had tried a couple of mouthfuls +the squatter came down to me and said he +would show me a bed where I could lie down. +"And when you have had a good sleep," said he, +"then I will find you a job of some kind, if you +want it."</p> + +<p>I slept for nearly twenty-four hours, and when I +had fully recovered, which took me three or four +days, I had a job at ring-barking trees for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +squatter for ten shillings per week. That was all +he offered me and I did not care to ask for more—indeed, +I was very well pleased. When I had +been there two or three weeks, and I thought we +were about quits, I asked for my wander-book +again—in other words, I explained that I was a +carpenter and expected to earn better money if I +could get to Mackay. I am glad to say that he +would have liked to keep me, and he offered me a +job as stockman for a pound sterling a week, but +still that did not suit me at all, so I went my way +again with a few rations in my bag and twenty shillings +in my pocket. I will not ask the reader to +follow me step by step on this memorable journey. +No doubt it will quite plainly appear that I have +gone through a terrible lot of hardships in my time, +but although I admit I should not care to have to +do it again, yet it is a fact that, when I think of +myself at that time, I seemed in no way crestfallen. +On the contrary, I was always in the best of +humours, and never doubted for one moment that +good fortune would come again. It has always +been a fact in my case that when I, as on this +journey, have had very scanty food for some time, +my voice becomes much better and clearer. So +that as I came along the road, or in the night +when I was camped, I would enjoy myself by +singing as well as if I had been a performer at a +concert. Alas! many matters which unfortunately +would not interest me much now, had at that time +great attraction for my mind—a bird, a wallaby<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +scudding across the road, a strange plant, all such +things would set my imagination going. It is +only as we grow older and get more sense that +such trivialities cease to amuse!</p> + +<p>The next place on this journey where anything +worth relating occurred was at a sugar plantation +about sixteen miles from Mackay. I arrived there +at eight or nine o'clock one night, but as I came +past the place, some men who were camped in a +tent by the road good-naturedly offered me a +drink of tea, and when I had drank it and was just +ready to start again one of the men, who had been +away for half an hour, came back and said that I +had to go up to the kitchen, where there was a +countrywoman of mine who wanted to see me. I +was in no way caring for a lady's company at the +time, so I asked him to make my excuses to this +countrywoman of mine and to say that I was gone; +but all the men began chaffing me, and were nearly +going into fits of laughter about her good looks, +wishing they were me, that such a girl was not to +be seen every day, &c., so at last I unwillingly +went up to the kitchen. I never thought to see +anybody more than some uninteresting sort of +country girl, and I only intended to ask her, as +shortly as possible, what she wanted, and then +go on again. In a word, I was in rather a bad +humour. The door was opened for me by a very +lady-like girl, and I was quite doubtful at first +whether it was the lady of the house or only the +servant. All at once I seemed to remember how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +torn my clothes were, and my poor appearance, +and felt as if I did not like to go in; but the girl +seemed bent on patronizing me.</p> + +<p>"Come in," cried she, in Danish; "be not afraid. +If Danes meet in this country I think it is the +least they can do to speak to one another. I know +it right enough there is many a brave fellow in +this country suffering hardships such as they do +not dream of at home. Come in, come in!"</p> + +<p>I did not know at first whether to feel angry or +not over this speech, but—she was so pretty, and +she meant well, and she <i>was</i> my countrywoman +after all, so I took her by the hand and thanked +her for her sympathy, admitting that I was rather +down on my luck just then, but that I had great +hopes that things would soon take a turn for the +better. Then she offered me a cup of tea, and by +and by we were chatting away like old friends. It +was now about ten o'clock, and I thought it high +time to take my leave, when we heard some one +approach the kitchen from the house. The girl +seemed to get quite terrified. "Oh," she +whispered, "that is Mr. —— himself. He has +forbidden any of the men to come to the kitchen; +he is sure to be angry."</p> + +<p>The gentleman came in, and while he was +staring in a sort of haughty and surprised way at +me the girl was sitting bending over her sewing as +if she had committed a crime. I did not like the +prospect of being turned out very much, and I felt +also sorry for having brought unpleasantness upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +her; but, after all, the want or possession of a little +tact will alter matters wonderfully even at such a +moment as this, so, more for the girl's sake than +for my own, I saluted him in my politest manner +and begged his pardon for having come into the +kitchen. I said I had been travelling past, intending +to walk to Mackay, but that the men on +the place had told me that a countrywoman of +mine was here, and that I had not been able to +resist the temptation to call in the hope that it +might be some one I knew. I hoped he would +excuse me.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said he, "that is all right; I am sure +Sophy will be glad to see a friend of hers. Have +you given your countryman some supper? Don't +let him go away hungry. Surely you are not +going to walk to Mackay to-night? There is a +place over there where you might sleep: you will +show him, Sophy. Good-night."</p> + +<p>What a relief we both seemed to find at the +turn things had taken! Quite a grand supper was +now put before me, a white damask table-cloth +was spread, silver coffee-pot and cream-jug and all +sorts of delicacies appeared. When all was ready, +we both sat down to the cheese, and when at last +I went to seek my bed we both candidly admitted +to each other that this had been a red-letter day +and one never to be forgotten. I slept and +dreamed, and when I woke up again I could distinctly +remember what I had dreamed; and that +dream I have never forgotten since. I dreamed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> +that I saw a snake which crept on the floor, and +this snake seemed to me of wonderful beauty, but +I was not at all afraid of it—on the contrary, I +wanted to take it so that I might keep it; for that +purpose I bent towards it, but as I did so the +snake seemed to rise on end until it was nearly as +tall as I, and while I stretched my arm out to take +it, it hissed, and when I touched it, then it bit +me. I now perceived it was no longer a snake, but +that young woman who had entertained me in the +evening. I woke up at once, and grasped the whole +dream in my mind. Then I thought it must surely +be a warning. I fancy I see the sceptic smile who +reads this. I should like my readers to believe +in the truth of my assertions; and to those who +are disposed to so believe me, I will say they +may, for nothing is truer. I was lying the remainder +of the night thinking of my dream and +congratulating myself that there was no cause for +me to feel uneasy, as I should be going away in +the morning, and probably should never see that +girl again. But when morning came the sun dispelled +my fears, and I was soon sitting chatting +with Sophy while I had breakfast. I felt wonderfully +sorry that I should now have to go, never to +see her again. It was, however, ordained otherwise. +By the time I had the swag on my shoulder she +had been into her mistress, and, without my +knowing or asking it—for indeed I only wanted to +get to Mackay—had interceded for me, asking that +I should be offered work. Mr. ——, therefore,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +came out to me and said he had been told that +I was a carpenter, and that he had a lot of +carpenter's work he wanted done. He had no +time to go into details then, but he would be +obliged to me if I would glue together for him a +case of chairs he had, and then he would speak +to me again the next day. How could I refuse? +I got out the case of chairs and stood all day +gluing them together, outside the kitchen, but I +could not help thinking of my dream every now +and again, and I realized that there was great +danger, and that if I engaged myself for one week +it would be impossible for me to either tear myself +away or for any one else to trust me. In the evening +I sat by the fire in the kitchen, with my elbow on +my knee and my head in my hand and was in a +bad humour, although the girl was sitting chatting +more sweetly than ever by my side. To talk about +a week before I tore myself away! was it not too +late already? If I had to stay here, thought I, +until I could not tear myself away, then I must +be weak indeed. It must never be. I will go at +once—this moment. I got up and said I was +going to Mackay as soon as I could get time to +roll my swag together.</p> + +<p>She looked at me as if she thought I was mad. +Then she asked me if she had offended me, and +insisted on telling Mr. —— I was going, so that +he might pay me for my day's work; but I would +not risk the effect of any pressing invitation to +stay, and groped my way in the darkness down to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +the road and away. Never have I felt more poor +and miserable and lonely in my own eyes, as I went +along, than I did that stormy, bitterly cold night. +As soon as the imaginary danger was over I +pictured to myself in rosy colours how things +might have turned out if I had only remained. +And all this I had made impossible for the sake of +a miserable dream which most people would have +forgotten before they were properly awake. Oh, +yes, I deserved surely as much bad luck as fate +could heap upon me! But now it was too late. +"Too late!" I kept repeating, and then I would +make plans for going away to the end of the world, +as soon as I should have sufficient money to pay +my way. I could not in the darkness cross the +Pioneer River, which runs twelve miles from town, +and as I had plenty of time I sat on the bank of +the river all night, wishing an alligator might take +me, indulging in romantic sentiments; but the +next morning, as I was nearing Mackay, hope sat +on her throne again as I passed by the one beautiful +plantation after the other and saw enough +work going forward on all sides to convince me +that I should get plenty to do for myself, and +possibly some day, perhaps, myself own one of +these plantations.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span></p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page259" name="page259"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br /> +<br /> + +A LOVE STORY.</h2> + + +<p>I obtained work at one of the plantations +for three pounds sterling per week. For this +money I was expected only to work eight hours a +day and five hours on Saturdays, that being the +ordinary tradesman's hours of work all over +Australia. But as my employer was busy and I +was tired of remaining poor longer than I could +help, I obtained leave to work two hours overtime +every day, for which I was paid at the rate of +eighteenpence an hour. When I arrived in +Mackay I had gone into a Chinaman's boarding-house, +as being the most suitable place for my +means and condition, but although a similar place +had suited me well enough in the gold-diggings, +the class of men who stayed here and the accommodation +I received did not now suit me at all. I +seemed to shrink into myself and gradually got +into a morbid and unhealthy state of mind. I was +as good, at least I thought myself as good, as most +of the clerks or well-dressed young fellows I saw +knocking about the town, doing very little work; +but that they were of a different opinion was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> +evident from the scathing contempt one or two of +them managed once or twice to put into their +manner towards me the first week I was in town +when I by accident had addressed them. Do +clothes make the man? thought I; was it necessary +for me to conform to their habits, and to +imitate them, to secure respect or even civility? I +would not do it. What would be gained? All was +vanity. Another little incident which had not +been without its influence upon me, I mention to +show that such unconsidered trifles make the sum +total of ordinary life, was this: the day I arrived in +town, but when I was yet about half a mile from it, +I had met four young ladies, who I suppose were +out for a walk. They were evidently dressed in +their best clothes and looked both nice and pretty, +and as youth always recognizes a sort of relation in +youth—or, if you prefer it, young men always take +an interest in young women, and <i>vice versâ</i>—I was +looking closely at them and they at me as we +neared each other on the road. They took no +trouble in concealing their verdict of me. I will +not say they were so ill-bred as to make grimaces +at me, but they might just as soon have gathered +their skirts about them and held their noses. I +saw that they considered me an undesirable party. +I was just then in rather high spirits, which could +not be damped all in a moment, so as I met and +passed them I took my stick up and held it in +military fashion close to my shoulder as I +marched by. I could hear them giggling behind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +me, but I did not look round, and lovelorn as I was—because +you must remember my adventure of the +day before—it had a depressing effect upon me, +which grew as time went. So, after staying for a +week in the Chinaman's boarding-house, with the +first money I got I bought a tent and pitched it right +away in a lonely spot, and there I lived by myself, +like a regular hermit. I thought of Thorkill who +was dead and of his lonely grave, that dream for +which I could not account, and I thought, too, of +my own home from which I had heard nothing now +for years, and I brooded over my own friendless condition. +Then I thought of the girl on the plantation +I had left behind me, but it never entered +my head for a moment to go and visit her. Far +from it. I would travel to the end of the world +to put it out of my power rather than do that, +or for two pins I would then have put an end to +myself! It seems to me as I write, that, this being +simply true, it should not be without a salutary +warning to other young men not to allow themselves +to drift into the same state of temperament, +because it is dangerous and may spoil a life which +otherwise might become useful; nor is there any +merit in such misanthropy, as the subsequent pages +will show, and but one little straw one way or the +other will have its effect during the remainder of +one's life.</p> + +<p>One thing which it is difficult to write about, +as it seems to have no logic or sense in it, but +which, nevertheless, was of great importance to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +me, was this: I worked like a tiger, not because I +was fond of work nor to get away from my morbid +feelings, because I did not struggle against them, +nor because I was fond of money, as I had very +little use for any, as I thought, and as my wages were +the same whether I worked like an average man or +did more, but I worked because in my morbid brain +I liked to fancy that the girl on the plantation was +in great distress, and that her life and liberty +depended upon my doing certain work in a certain +time. When I got a piece of work to do I would +think to myself in this way: here is a week's +work for any man, but unless I can do it in four +days, then—all sorts of misery will happen. Therefore +I really worked as if my life depended on it, and +I would be perfectly intolerant of any obstruction +to my progress. My "boss" took in the situation +very soon, because he let me stand by myself and +dared scarcely speak to me for fear of putting me +out.</p> + +<p>This state of affairs had lasted about three +months, and during that time I can almost count +on my fingers the words I had said; I do not think +I had spoken to any one one unnecessary word. +It cost me only five or six shillings a week to live. +I had bought merely the most necessary clothes, +and all the rest of my money and cheques I had +received were in my possession, lying in a pickle-bottle +in the tent.</p> + +<p>One afternoon as I came from my work I saw +in front of me in the street the girl from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +plantation. I ran after her. "Sophy, Sophy, is +that you?" Happy meeting! She had been in +town for a month and was now a dressmaker; but +let it be enough to say that I went at once to the +tent and got out the money and bought the best +clothes I could get in town, that I went to +stay at an hotel, and that, as time went on, I kept +two horses in a paddock, ordered a side-saddle, and +for sixteen months after used to boast to myself +that no one among the tradesmen in Mackay had a +prettier sweetheart, was a better dancer, kept such +good horses, or earned so much money as myself!</p> + +<p>I reckon this time as being among my most +pleasant recollections. People did not seem to +me so egotistic or the world so black as it had +appeared while I lived in the tent; on the contrary, +I was often invited among very nice people to +their parties and family gatherings, and I was a +constant attendant at both Oddfellows' and Caledonian +balls, and, in short, anything that was going +on. I was intending some day in the near future +to marry and settle down, and for that reason had +bought an allotment for twenty-five pounds, and I +meant to build a house on it. I had only one +fault to find with the lady who honoured me with +her approbation. It was this: she was fearfully +jealous and excitable, and would at such times be +in a perfect rage if I had done anything which she +thought not becoming; but as I took it as a proof +of the value in which she held me, I rather liked it, +and even sometimes went so far as to excite her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +suspicion on purpose just to get up a "scene." +This happened again one day when I had been +sixteen months in Mackay. The occasion was +that I had, as it was Sunday, been out for a ride +with another young lady—I had things so handy, +the two horses, one with side-saddle and all, and +the temptation to a little extra flirtation was +always great—but when that evening, in a most +dutiful mood, I went to see my "only love," she, I +remember, was very angry indeed with me. She +was sitting sewing in her room, and I was sitting +also at the table in a careless position, with my +head on my hand and my elbow on the table, +smiling at her and enjoying matters very much, +although, as I have written above, she was very +angry, and even crying. She rated me terribly, +too, for my wickedness, and I was defending myself +mildly. "Dear," I said, "I only took her +out to-day as a mark of the respect in which I +hold her."</p> + +<p>"I'll mark you!" she cried, and she struck me +in the mouth with terrible violence. The blow +not only knocked me off the chair, but sent one of +my front teeth spinning round the room, and to +this day I am marked by the absence of that tooth. +I got up; she stood gasping with excitement, +looking at me. I cannot give the reader any idea +how handsome she was, or how fond I was of her. +Still, this would never do. I took the lamp from +the table and began looking for my tooth on the +floor. I never spoke, neither did she say any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>thing. +I can well remember. When I had found +the tooth I took my hat up and went away. This +would never do, thought I, I must be off somewhere +by the next steamer, never to return; because +I knew very well that if I stayed in Mackay +I should just go and make love to her again. I +therefore decided I would be off, never mind where +I went; and in that mood I arrived at my hotel. +On the verandah stood one of the boarders who +was the captain of a labour schooner. For the +information of my readers who may not know what +that means I will state that the plantations round +Mackay and elsewhere in Queensland employ a +great many South Sea Islanders, and that these +men are brought to Queensland under a certain +system. It is this way: a number of planters +unite in sending a ship out among the South Sea +Islands to engage all the Kanakas the ship can +hold, and who are willing to come. The ship so +engaged is under Government orders, and the +Government sends an agent with the ship, whose +duty is to watch that no coercion is employed in +order to get "the boys" to engage, and that they +understand their agreements with the planter. +These agreements are all uniform. The Kanakas +engage for three years' service, for which the +planter gives them their food and six pounds per +year; he also defrays the cost of bringing them to +Queensland, and when their time is out he sends +them at his own cost back to the island whence +they came. As I now came up on the verandah<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +the captain spoke to me and invited me in to have +a drink with him. He had been staying in the +hotel for about a month and I knew him very +well, so we went into the bar and began to talk +about his affairs. He intended to start for the +South Seas the following night, if all went well; +the only thing that upset him just then was that +his cook had deserted the ship and was not to be +found. He did not care except for this reason—that +he could not afford to keep the ship waiting, +and on the other hand he did not know where to +get another, as he could not do without a good +cook. "Faith, then," said I, "I am a good cook, +as cooks go in this part of the world, and, what is +more to the purpose, not only do I intend to leave +Mackay to-morrow if I can, but I have a great +longing to see the South Sea Islands, and therefore +I am your man, if you like."</p> + +<p>He could not see that at all for a long time, and +thought I was having a lark with him, but when +at last I said there was a lady at the bottom of it, +he winked and thought he knew all about it. So +at break of day the next morning we went on +board the schooner, and I started in the cook's +galley making breakfast for all hands. I peeled +potatoes and flogged the steak as if I had never +done anything else in my life, because the captain +would not engage me before I had shown my capabilities; +but after my trial he was quite satisfied +and engaged me for the trip at eight pounds per +month, and then I stipulated before signing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +articles that I should have leave of absence until +break of day next morning, as it was necessary for +me to put my affairs in order before I left Mackay. +After having given my word of honour to return, I +went ashore again. There was enough for me to +see to. My "boss" did not owe me anything, as +I had received my last cheque on the previous +Saturday; but there were my tools to dispose of. +These went for a trifle among the other men: one +took one piece, one another, and the "boss" gave +me his cheque for the lot. Then there were the +horses and saddles; these also were got rid of before +dinner-time, and when evening came I had sold +my allotment which I had bought for twenty-five +pounds, for one hundred and fifty pounds, and had +all the money lodged in the bank. I had not, +therefore, done so badly in Mackay the eighteen +or nineteen months I had been there. Not only, +on an average, had I enjoyed myself pretty well, +but the sum total which I now had to my credit +was as near two hundred and fifty pounds as +possible. After tea I had nothing to do but +reflect on the wisdom or otherwise of the step I +had taken. I walked about the streets for a long +time, and as I knew very well that my sweetheart +expected me as usual I found myself circling +round the house in which she lived. She did not, +of course, know that I was going away, and as she +usually expected me about seven o'clock of an +evening, my feet seemed perforce to carry me +towards the house. I did not go in; at eight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +o'clock I saw her sitting by the window, at nine +o'clock she was there still, at ten o'clock I saw her +sitting by the window as I came past the place, at +eleven o'clock she was standing outside, and I was +right up to her before I saw her. The reader +must not expect too much confidence from me; I +cannot repeat what she said, and will only say +this—that I have never seen her since, and that +with a heavy heart I went on board the schooner +next morning, when we hoisted anchor and left for +the South Sea Islands.</p> + +<p>Dear reader, if I were to tell you all that happened +to me on this journey in the same detailed +way as I have told you about my travels through +Queensland, it would take me too far away and +also occupy too much space, so I have thought it +better to leave it all out and take up the thread of +my history at the point when I again arrived in +Port Mackay about nine months after. Should +this effort of mine meet with the approbation of +the public, I shall be very glad to write another +book about my adventures in the South Seas, but +at present I will content myself by saying that +although many things I saw upon this journey +were new and startling to me, yet on the whole +we had a good journey, and that I was paid off in +Mackay when we came back, and at once took a +passage in a steamer for Brisbane.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page271" name="page271"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br /> +<br /> + +BRISBANE—TRAVELS IN THE "NEVER NEVER" LAND.</h2> + + +<p>I went on board the <i>Black Swan</i> on taking +leave of the captain and my other friends on +the schooner, and after an uneventful passage +arrived in Brisbane. Times had altered greatly in +Queensland, for the worse I thought, since I was +there last. The rich people had grown richer, and +the poor poorer. It is sad at the present day to +walk about the town and look at all the semi-destitute +people whom one sees on every side, and +then think of the "booms" which used to be a +few years ago. My objects in coming to Brisbane +were many. I had now, as I thought, sufficient +capital to establish myself in a small way at my +trade, and I intended to look out for a suitable +place near town where I might begin. I was also +on the look-out for a wife; but that was only in a +general sense, and when all is said, I believe that +what I considered most important was to enjoy +myself. In any case, with over three hundred +pounds in the bank I felt pretty independent and +considered myself entitled to spend all I could +earn so long as I could keep this nest-egg safe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> +The town was busy, work was plentiful, but +although I went about every night and spent all I +earned, yet I by no means liked Brisbane. I do +not propose to criticise the inhabitants thereof in +a general way, but so far as it concerns my narrative +at this point I must say a few words. I was +very unsuccessful in finding any girl whom I +thought might suit me for a wife, and who, at the +same time, herself approved of me for a husband. +The reason, as I understood it, was this: Brisbane +was, and is, crammed full of young women who are +glad to stand in a shop from morning to night for +half-a-crown a week and find themselves. Whether +such girls can or cannot make a cup of tea I do +not know, but my general impression of them was +that they would rather not, if they could avoid it. +Then as for servant-girls, it is a common delusion +to believe that they are well off in Brisbane; the +fact is that the majority of people who keep a +servant both overwork her and use her as a coat-of-arms +wherewith to set themselves off, and one +never by any chance reads a book either in Australia +or elsewhere in which a servant is spoken of +as possessed of even common sense. Of course, the +better class of girls will revolt at contemptuous treatment, +and they are, therefore, scarce in Brisbane, +and have always been. In the bush of course it is +different: there the servant is not spoken of as the +"slavey" and thought of as a fool, and as a consequence +they are neither the one nor the other. But +a tradesman in Brisbane has no opportunity what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>ever +of meeting any young woman outside these +circles, because the greatest possible social distinction +exists between such people as, say a bank clerk, +or even a grocer's clerk, and a tradesman or a +labourer; so is it between a music-teacher, shop-girl, +dressmaker, or a servant. I found it so, and +that had a great deal to do with my dislike to +Brisbane; but, apart from that, I had been so used +to the free life of the bush, and more lately then +to the changing scenes among the South Sea +Islands, that I could not endure for long the +everyday life of the shop and the boarding-house, +and the boarding-house and the shop. I therefore +engaged myself as carpenter to a squatter who +had a large station on the Darling Downs, and +right glad was I when I shook the dust of Brisbane +off my feet again. But before leaving this +city I should like to speak about the last piece of +work I did there, because it is in such striking +contrast to the state of the carpenter's trade at the +present time. One Saturday morning when I +came to work, my employer asked me to put a few +tools in my basket and go out to his private house +to perform certain work there. As I crossed +Queen Street a man came running after me and +asked me if I wanted a job of carpenter's work. I +said "No." When I came a little further up, along +George Street, a publican came running out of his +door, smiling all over his face, saying I was the +very man he wanted, as he could see by the +basket I carried that I was a carpenter. I told<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +him I was not open to engagement; but he +would not take "no" for an answer. After a long +conversation in the street, in which he implored +me to do just this little job for him that he wanted, +while I explained that I was on my road to work +for which I already was engaged. I was on the +point of cutting it short by going away, when he +asked me in any case to come into his hotel and +have a glass of beer. When I came in he renewed +the attack in this way—he asked me just to +oblige him by looking at the work and telling him +what it was worth. He then showed me a large +shutter which stood under a rough window opening +in the yard, and told me that all he wanted +was for a man to fit this shutter to the opening and +put hinges on it; he had the hinges. Now, what +was it worth? I saw that he intended me to do it +if he could get me, but I by no means wanted to. +I said it was worth thirty shillings at the least: +"All right," cried he, "do it, and I will give you +thirty shillings."</p> + +<p>I was caught now, so I gave in. I took my saw +out and fitted the shutter, screwed the hinges, and +took my thirty shillings, all in less than an hour. +This is eleven or twelve years ago. I have not +worked in Brisbane since, but I know a friend of +mine who two years ago put a shilling advertisement +in the papers for a carpenter to do a few +days' work, and in less than half an hour after the +paper was out he had thirty-two applicants! I +was now working on one of the largest stations on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +the Darling Downs. I had only come there in a +roving sort of way, under a six months' agreement +which was made in Brisbane, and I had no intention +whatever of staying longer, but although the wages +were less than what I could earn in Brisbane, or in +any other town, I thought I should like to see a +large sheep station, and I was told by the agent in +town that I should be sure to like it. The property +itself covered I do not know how many square +miles, divided into paddocks, and in each or most +of these paddocks stood a house in which the +boundary rider and his family lived. The duty of +this man is not fatiguing; he has to look out +that the fences are in good repair and report to +the head station when anything is out of order. +Therefore his day's work is generally done when +after breakfast he has been jogging round the +boundary fence. For this work the wages are +about thirty-five pounds sterling a year with +double rations, a free house, use of cow, &c. These +boundary riders are by no means the only +employees on the station. There were general +labourers, carriers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, +storekeepers, carpenters, and a host of people who +came and went without my knowing they did so, +but the whole formed quite a little township at the +head station. Once a year, when the wool was +clipped off the two hundred thousand sheep there, +it was an extra busy time. Then the shearers would +arrive, sixty in number, and with all their assistants +they would make nearly a hundred persons. Be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span>sides +these there were the washers, who washed the +sheep by elaborate machinery. There would be +so many people that I do not know how the +"boss" knew them all. Every one of them earned +good money, although in various degrees. The +shearers earned three shillings and sixpence for +every score of sheep they could shear. An +average day's work is from fifty to a hundred +sheep. Then the wool-packers, who pressed the +wool into bales, had also piecework, and this was +a favourite job reserved as a reward for old hands. +They earned at it a pound or more a day. This +was of course for a short time only out of the year, +but when one station is done shearing another +generally begins, and the men can, therefore, keep +on for at least six months at a stretch with very +little lost time. The tradesmen on the station +seemed all part and parcel of the station, old identities, +who had made their homes there years before +and did not intend to shift. I heard it whispered +that the squatter meant to try and break through +the monopoly that some of the old hands had +created, and that some new blood might be +infused, and I believe that I had been engaged to +hang as the sword of Damocles over the other +carpenters' heads, but I refused the <i>rôle</i>. The +head carpenter was an old, worn-out man with a +large family. He had been there seventeen years. +He had one hundred pounds a year and double +rations, with a free house, wood, water, and many +little perquisites. I daresay he had saved a little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +money, but any one may easily understand that a +man over fifty years of age, with a large family +and a settled home where he has been for seventeen +years, does not like the prospect of change +and to have to make a new start in life. Such +a billet as that of tradesman on a station is +much sought after, and in many respects is incomparably +better than the position occupied in town +by a married man who works for wages. But +neither the one nor the other suited my ambition. +If I had been doomed to choose between the two, +I think I should, after all, have taken the lot of +the man in town, for he is more independent if he +is poorer. It is all very well to work for a master +when one is young, but as one gets on for thirty +years of age he likes to be his own master. At +least that was my opinion. There seemed to me +something so forbidding in the ringing of the large +bell on the station. It would ring at a quarter to +six on a morning for all hands to get out of bed +and dress. Then it rang at six o'clock for starting +work. It rang for dinner, and it rang when we +were to start again. It was all correct enough; +I have no fault to find with it, I cannot suggest +anything better, but all the same I did not like +it.</p> + +<p>My work on the station was otherwise both +pleasant and independent enough. A great deal +of it consisted in making and hanging gates for the +various paddocks. These would be made at home +in the shop and afterwards carted out to their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +places. Then I would get a labourer with me and +we would drive off in a spring-cart from one gate +to the other, and hang them. It was a regular +journey across the paddocks, and involved about a +fortnight's trip every time.</p> + +<p>The man who earned the most money of all the +employees on the station was the shearers' cook. +The shearers had a large house to themselves and +managed their own housekeeping, inasmuch as +they engaged and paid their own cook and bought +and paid for anything they liked to eat, so that +they should not grumble over the provisions. But +that object has never yet been attained with +shearers, either with the lot on this station or any +other set of shearers I have ever seen. They are +the most frightful grumblers, and who is so fit +an object for their displeasure as their servant—their +own servant, the cook? One thing, they pay +him well. The wages of a shearers' cook is the +shearing price of a score of sheep per week, or +three-and-sixpence a week for every shearer. You +will therefore see that in a large shearing shed like +this, with sixty shearers, the cook earned ten +guineas per week besides his food. But for this +money he had to do more than an ordinary man +can do, and take more insults than an ordinary dog +would tolerate. First of all, the shearers always +insist on having their table spread with good +things, puddings and cake every day. He had also +to bake bread, chop wood, fetch water, keep the +hut clean, and in short everything else that was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +wanted. Nobody but the very smartest men can +do it. But his work is not everything. When the +bell rings for meal-time, I have seen shearers come +out of the shed, making for the hut, howling at the +same time: "I wonder if that —— of a cook +has got that —— breakfast ready!" Everything +has to stand ready for them to "rush;" and even +if it does, yet one seldom hears other conversation +than such as: "I say, cook, do you call them —— peas +boiled? D—— you! If I had my way you +should be kicked out!"</p> + +<p>But as the majority only can dismiss their cook, +he is not sent away notwithstanding, and it is +quite understood that it is part of his duty to +assume a respectful demeanour towards his +employers. Yet, unless a cook is a good fighting +man, it is not a billet that I would recommend +any friend of mine to come all the way from Denmark +to fill.</p> + +<p>When I had been on the station for six months +I took a trip in the train to the surrounding towns +of Dalby, Toowoomba, Warwick, and Stanthorpe, +with a view to seeing if there was an opening for +permanent business in my line. It did not seem +to me that the prospect was good enough for more +than a bare living, because bad times seemed +suddenly to have set in, and competition for work +and contracts requiring small capital was very +keen. I therefore went back to the station again +and bought two horses, intending to go out west. +I had my three hundred pounds safe in a Brisbane<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> +bank, and I did not mean now to work for any +employer, but to keep my eyes open as I came +along and to take any opportunities for contracts +that might come in my way and for which I could +obtain a reasonable price.</p> + +<p>I started from Roma, which is a town lying +about 350 miles west of Brisbane and 200 miles +from the station on which I then was located. It +was fearfully dry weather when I started and there +was not a blade of grass anywhere for the horses. +I made long stages of thirty to forty miles a day, +but how the horses endured it I do not know. +When I camped out at night I would have to tie +the horses to a tree alongside of me, as there was +nothing for them in the bush to eat, and they +would have rambled away never to be found again +if I had let them go. All the food it was possible +for me to provide for them was a little bread +which I bought at the inns on the road at intervals +of seventy or eighty miles, and in the mornings +when I got up I would take a pillow-case I had +and a knife and walk about in places where the +ground was inaccessible to horses, such as the +brinks of a gully or between large stones; there +I would manage to find some dry, withered stuff, +wherewith I filled the pillow-case and shared it +between them. It was all I could do, and when I +arrived in Roma they were both very far gone for +hunger, and there, in town even, there was nothing +for them either—the last bushel of corn had been +sold for two pounds sterling. I fed them on bread,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +but even that seemed like a forbidden thing. People +appeared to regard the proceeding with evil eyes. +Flour was scarce and getting more scarce. There +was no prospect of rain, and soon all would have to +starve! In St. George, which is another town 150 +miles south of Roma, I was told a perfect famine +was raging. For fear of being misunderstood by +people who do not know much about Queensland, +I would say that want of money had nothing to do +with this state of things, it was only the want of +rain which prevented teams from travelling and +supplies from coming forward.</p> + +<p>I left Roma again. There was nothing to do +there, scarcely a prospect of getting enough to eat. +I rambled away with my two horses out west, and +I am now anxious, for obvious reasons, not to +particularize too closely where I went.</p> + +<p>It had now become of more importance to me +to save the lives of my horses than to find +anything to do for myself. I travelled for a +month or more at slow stages, and was now right +away in the "Never Never" country. Occasionally +I would find a little for the horses to eat, but very +often it was scanty fare they had. I arrived at a +station where shearing was in full swing, and as +both grass and water seemed more plentiful there +than I had seen it for hundreds of miles, I turned +the horses out for a month's spell, while I made +myself comfortable in my tent and occupied +myself by reading such literature as I could +borrow from the shearers on the station.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p> + +<p>Among the shearers was a man with whom I +grew to be on very friendly terms. He was a big, +strong, good-looking young fellow, about thirty +years of age, and seemed to me at all times so +polite and well-informed that I was always seeking +his company. What interested me most in him was +a peculiarly sad expression in his face, and I often +wondered at the cause of it. When the shearing +was over all the shearers went in a body to the +nearest hotel, as is customary, to have a jollification. +It happened to be located the way I had +come, so, though they did not actually pass me, I +saw them ride away, and thought it rather shabby +of my acquaintance not to come and say good-bye +to me. I was mistaken, however, as I shortly +afterwards saw him coming up to the tent on a +really good horse and leading another.</p> + +<p>"Well," said I, "are you off? I thought you +had left with the others; how is it you did not?"</p> + +<p>"No," said he, "I know my weakness. If I had +gone with them I should probably have got on +the spree and drunk all I possess. But I am now +already pretty well-to-do, because I have a cheque +for over thirty pounds and these two horses +besides. All I want is just another shed, and then +I will make tracks for Ipswich where my people +live."</p> + +<p>"But," said I, "there is a public-house this +way too."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes," cried he, and winked, "but they do +not catch me this time. I have worked for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +publicans for seven years, but I will never enter +such a place again."</p> + +<p>With that we parted, and two or three days +after I got my horses up and followed along the +same road that he had taken. About noon I came +to the hotel. I did not intend to go in because the +money I had with me was getting scarce and I +did not wish to draw on what I had in the bank. +I carried, too, all sorts of necessaries on my horses +and wanted for nothing. But when the publican +saw me passing the door, he came running out.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, young fellow; good-morning. +By Jove, that is a splendid horse you have there. +Are you travelling far? Surely you don't mean to +take your horses along in this weather. Why it +is too hot for a white man, too hot entirely. +Come in and have a bit of dinner; it is all ready. +I won't charge you; I never charged a b—— man +for a feed yet. I do not think it right, do +you?"</p> + +<p>Pressed in this way, I went inside; but my suspicions +that was a robbers' den in disguise were +aroused, and if I had not felt sure of myself I +should probably have preferred to dash the spurs +into the horses and tear away; but although I +thanked him for his hospitality and agreed with +him that it was very wrong to charge a man for +food, yet I made up my mind that he would have +to be clever to outwit me. On the verandah sat a +forbidding-looking man on his swag, and I saw at +once that he was a poor swagsman who need have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +no fear of being robbed. In the bar were three +men standing drinking, but yet moderately sober. +The publican began to bustle about behind the +bar. I kept one eye on him and one on the +horses. Scarcely five minutes had elapsed before +a blackfellow made his appearance outside, and +began to lead my horses away. I went outside +and took them from him.</p> + +<p>"Are you taking my horses away?" cried I; +"don't do it again." I used a little more persuasion, +but it does not look well in print.</p> + +<p>"Master said I take him Yarraman along-a-paddock," +whined the blackfellow.</p> + +<p>Now the publican came out again.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" cried he. "I told him +to take and give the horses a feed; they look as if +they needed it."</p> + +<p>"Not at all," said I; "they have had a month's +spell, and I can scarcely hold them."</p> + +<p>"All right, you know best. Are you going to +have a drink?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said, "I don't mind."</p> + +<p>"What is it going to be?"</p> + +<p>"Rum," said I.</p> + +<p>"Right you are. I almost thought you were a +teetotaler."</p> + +<p>I watched him closely, and saw he picked out a +particular glass, and before I let him fill it I took +my handkerchief up and wiped it carefully all +around the inside. I looked at him and he at me +while I did it. I also noticed that he tapped the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +compound from the ordinary cask, and I was therefore +not afraid to swallow it, nor did it do me any +harm. The reason I was so careful to wipe the +glass was that I knew it to be a common trick of +dishonest publicans, when they see a man coming +along the road whom they wish to catch, to take +a dirty pipe and blow some of the thick, foul-smelling +stuff that it contains into an empty glass, +and then have it ready for the customer. A very +little dose will make the strongest man intoxicated +for the whole day, and if it is not nicely adjusted, +but just a speck too much, it will knock a man +down in a dead swoon for many hours. I had +been told this on the gold diggings by more than +one person at the time I kept shanty there myself, +and I knew that there were people who travelled +about the country selling to publicans the secrets +of tricking and falsifying spirits. I, therefore, +knew pretty well where to look for danger, and +where I might take the risk; but now dinner was +announced, and we all went into the dining-room. +On the floor of the room I saw a man who was lying +there smeared all over with blood and filth. Still I +recognized him at once as my friend the shearer. +I went up and shook him until I got a little life +into him, and he sat up and recognized me. +"Hullo," bawled he, "is that you? Ain't I a fool? +Publican, give me my horses, I want to go with +this young fellow. I am going away this afternoon. +Don't go away without me."</p> + +<p>"All right," said the publican; "I will see to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +get the black boy to find your horses for you, but +he says one has got out of the paddock."</p> + +<p>Then we had dinner—that is, I had a good meal; +but the drunken shearer could not touch food, and +presented a terrible picture of sickness and misery. +By this time I was not on good terms with the +publican; but I did not care. I only studied how I +could get the other poor fellow away, and I could not +as yet see any way. As soon as we came from the +table he staggered into the bar and called for +drinks for all hands. The publican then called his +wife, four or five children, a seamstress, the servant-girl, +myself, the man in the yard, the black +boy, the bushman I had seen, the traveller on the +verandah, who had had no dinner, and himself, and +they all had their drinks! It was a shilling a +glass. Then the shearer asked him to be kind and +let him have the balance of his cheque, which, it +appeared, he had given the publican to change for +him when he came; but that good Samaritan +simply told him that he would not do such a +thing, as he was too drunk to take care of money. +When he went away he should have it. The +shearer, who was getting more intoxicated again +after this last glass, hung over the counter, and, in +a plaintive sort of way, cried, "I am a —— fool! +Never mind, let's have another. Here, fill 'em up +again."</p> + +<p>I could do no good, so I went away without +paying for my dinner. I met the shearer two +years after, when he told me all about it. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +appeared that he had tried to pass the place in the +same manner as I, and that the publican had persuaded +him to come in. He had not liked to take +his dinner for nothing, and had given the publican +the cheque he had for changing. He had been +promised the money in half an hour, but was +shortly after intoxicated, and had never been able +to get either the horses or the money again. +After having been in the state I saw him for +about three weeks, the publican presented him +with a bill, from which it appeared that he owed him +for "refreshments" more than the amount of the +cheque added to the value of horses, saddles, and +bridles. The publican had, therefore, kept the +horses, but had kindly given him a bottle of grog +to take with him on the road when he went away! +This process is called in bush parlance, "lambing +down," and is going on every day, year after year!</p> + +<p>I had not gone far from the hotel before I saw +a man coming after me. He called me to stop, +which I did, and when he came closer I perceived +that it was the man who had been sitting on his +swag in the verandah at the hotel. He said he +had come after me because he had neither rations +nor money, and did not know how to get along +the road unless I would be good enough to let +him travel with me. He wanted to go to —— station, +and try to get some shearing to do. It +happened that I intended to turn off the road +about half a mile further on, and that according +to the place to which he said he was going we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +should travel in almost opposite directions, and I +told him so. I said also that if he was pushed I +would help him with a few rations, but that I had +not time to accommodate the pace of the horses to +his walk, as I had already been travelling for a +much longer time than I liked. Of course he said +he would be glad of anything, and so I got off the +horse and had a fire lighted, by which we made +some tea, and he had his dinner out of my +provisions. After the meal he suddenly made up +his mind that he might as well go the same road +as I, and try to get a job at a station which we +should pass some forty miles from where we then +stood. I did not like this much, because he +seemed to me a man whose company I should not +appreciate, but, as the loneliness of the bush +always appeared to me to engender a sort of +fellowship towards whoever is there, I did not +find it easy nor did I deem it right to say I would +have nothing to do with him. On the contrary, I +said that we would push on together then for the +day, and that I would walk while he put his swag +on my saddle-horse. In this way we now went +several miles, and my travelling companion had +very little to say. He seemed to know the road +to perfection, and about four o'clock in the afternoon +he suggested that we should camp at a +certain spot at which we had arrived, but about a +hundred yards off the road. I objected. I said +he was free himself to camp or not as he chose, +but if he wanted to travel with me he would have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +to walk a good deal further, as I had by no means +come as far yet as I considered a day's journey +required. After that we started again, but my +new friend seemed frightfully morose, and had not +a word to say. As the horse he held was a better +leader than mine he gradually forged ahead of me, +and try as I would I could not keep up with him. +I was just wishing myself well rid of him when I +saw him suddenly turn off the road, leading the +horse after him, and although I called again and +again, he neither turned round nor answered me +until he came to a deep water-hole about a mile +off the road. Here he took the load off the horse, +and hobbled it out. I was not only angry, but I +was also to a certain extent afraid. I had already +agreed with myself that I could not lie down to +sleep alongside of him; but what, of all things, did +he mean by leading me to this place? As soon as +I came up I asked him what he meant, and how +he dared to take my horse off the road. I had +taken the bridle belonging to the saddle-horse to +go and catch it again, for I intended now at all +hazards to get rid of him. At this juncture he +came towards me.</p> + +<p>"Here is grass, and here is water," cried he, +"and out of this spot shall neither I nor any —— German +or —— Dutchman come to-night. Let +go that bridle!"</p> + +<p>Then he grasped the bridle. You know the old +proverb that "There is a time when patience +ceases to be a virtue," and in my opinion that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +time had now arrived. I had not been so long in +Queensland without learning to defend myself, so +I closed with him. What a fearful struggle we +had! As far as I was concerned, I felt as if it was +a struggle for life, and I fought accordingly. Now +we were up, now down. Sometimes I was on the +top of him and sometimes I was under, but whatever +happened I must not give in, because I felt +sure I should receive small mercy if I did. At +last I had him. My hands were round his throat, +and my knees on his chest, while I felt his hands +slide powerless off me. It was not victory yet. If +I let him go he might renew the attack, so I +pressed his throat until he was nearly black in the +face, and I sat on him as heavily as I could, +because I was angry, and when at last I let him +go, it was not before I thought I had taken all his +fighting humour out of him. While I loaded my +horse again I called him all the names I thought +it probable would insult him most, in case he might +have any honour and shame in him, and at last I +threw his swag at his head and cried, "There, you +old loafer!"</p> + +<p>Then I got on the horse and rode away; nor did I +stop that night before I had put fully twenty miles +between him and me.</p> + +<p>I was now following down the —— River, +towards the town of ——, which I was anxious to +reach as soon as possible. The weather had so far +continued fearfully dry, and the heat was every +day intense, but when I was within ninety miles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> +of the township it began to rain. It rained as if it +intended to make up for a two years' drought. +The river I followed was nothing but a dry sand-bed +when the rain began, but in three or four +days it became a roaring torrent. I saw that we +were in for a first-class flood and became anxious, +as the country on which I was camped seemed to +me very flat. Just as I had made up my mind +that such was the case I met a party of stockmen, +or, more correctly, they came to my tent. They +had been out helping to shift some shepherds and +their sheep to rising ground, and they assured me +that the place I was in would be flooded. As +they directed me to what they thought a safe spot, +I shifted my tent at once to that place. It was a +low, narrow ridge about a mile from the river. +Here I prepared myself to weather it out. Next +morning when I got up, I saw the river much nearer +than the evening before. During the day it rose on +all sides, and before evening again I was a complete +prisoner on about ten acres of land, while the +water roared and hissed on all sides of me as far as +the eye could reach. This state of affairs lasted +about three weeks. Anything more appallingly +lonely than to sit there in the tent, and look out +on the awe-inspiring sight of the flood with its +swiftly running, destructive water cannot be conceived. +As I had but little room for exercise in +my prison I could not sleep at night, and so I +would sit and sing or play on the flute, and think +of all sorts of things. The waters did not go down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +at the same time as the rain ceased, and I had it +all to myself some beautiful moonlight nights. I +had heard the stockmen speak about an old shepherd +who, with his sheep, was camped on a sort of +island, which was formed by the river opposite the +place I was in, and about a mile and a half distant. +He was, therefore, my nearest neighbour. I could +hear him at night sometimes felling trees for +exercise, and occasionally he would answer me +when I cooeed. Little did it matter to him +whether the flood was on or not. At ordinary +times he would probably never see any one for +weeks or months, as no one could have any business +there excepting the ration-carrier once a week, +and the shepherd, as a rule, did not see him, as he +was away with his sheep when the carrier arrived +in his hut. I used to speculate as to who he was—an +old man, with wife and family dead, perhaps. +What a sad existence! Or, worse still, an old +bachelor, crusty and tired. Surely he would +have some one he longed to see, and who longed +for him! How many years, thought I, had he +been there, or in places like that? What did he +do with his money when he got it once a year? +Would he go with it to the nearest hotel, and as +he saw other men wonder why they were not as +glad to see him as he to see them? Would he purchase +their good-will with grog? What else could +he do, or was he likely to do? Anyhow, when it +was all spent, and he would get angry when +people would have no more to do with him, would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +he be kicked out? Would he then come back here +for another year? What else could he do? I +have, among shepherds, seen many men who +must have been what is called well educated. +They count in their ranks both lawyers and parsons, +but disappointed and embittered silence is +generally the stamp of them all. Sometimes the +reverse is the case; then they will talk as if they +could never stop. I like solitude myself to a certain +extent, but it must surely be an unnatural life +for any man to lead quite alone in the bush.</p> + +<p>When at last the floods subsided I had the +greatest trouble in making my way, because there +would be the most treacherous boggy holes where +one least expected them. I had also fared hard on +very short rations, so as to make what I had last +until I could purchase more, and when I started +away from my camping-place I had only one more +loaf of bread; all the rest was gone. I was, therefore, +very sorry to hear at the nearest station that +they would sell me nothing whatever, and when I +came to the next one again it was just as bad. +I travelled for some days in this way, and had had +scarcely what would make half a meal for each +day, when at last I arrived at a place only twenty-four +miles from town where I should have to cross +the river—if I could—so as to get on the main road +leading into the settlement. It was about ten +o'clock in the morning when I neared this place. +It was only a small cattle station, but I thought +that whatever happened I must try to get some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +rations here. I came along at a pretty brisk +gallop, but when I was about twenty chains from +the houses which formed the place my horses shied +violently at a man who was lying in the middle of +the road. I was, on the spur of the moment, put +out of temper, and began to rate the fellow for +choosing his camping-place there.</p> + +<p>"Oh, let me lie!" he cried. "Accursed be the +day I came to Queensland! I have laid myself +down to die here. Shall I not be allowed to lie? +Leave me alone. O God, O God!"</p> + +<p>I looked closer at him. It seemed that he was +in earnest, and the wonder was that he was not +dead already, as he was lying there in the terrible +sun without the least attempt to get into the +shade. He was a short, slightly built man and had +a terribly emaciated, woe-begone face. It took a +long time and much persuasion before I could get +him to tell me what was the matter. Then he +said he was dying from hunger. "Pshaw," I +said, "right here in front of the station! I am +hungry too, but in half an hour I shall be back to +you with something to eat."</p> + +<p>He laughed bitterly. "Have you got it with +you?" said he. "No; but I have money, and I +will buy some up here." "You might save yourself +the trouble to ask for it," said he; "you will +get nothing." "Why," cried I, "I will tell them +that a man is dying with hunger outside the door." +"They know it. The squatter hunted me yesterday +when I told him that I could not cross the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> +river or get further without food. Oh, accursed +Queensland, and the day I saw it first! Let me +lie; I only want to die."</p> + +<p>I could not understand it, and I came to the +conclusion that it must be the man's own fault, +and that the people on the station had no idea +about the despairing state he was in. I looked at +the river. It was swollen yet, and not fordable on +foot, but I had no fear but that I could get over +with the horses, and I was, therefore, in a position +to promise him that he should be with me in +town that same evening. On hearing that he +brightened up a little, but I was myself so hungry +that I thought I would go up to the station and +get some food for both of us. I therefore hobbled +out the pack-horse after the swag was off him, and +rode up to the place, promising my despairing +friend to be back to him with all possible speed. +When I came into the yard my horse made a +dead stop outside an old stable. I got off, and +looking into the stable saw another man lying on +his face in one of the stalls. "Halloa," thought I, +"it appears that all the people here are off their +legs!" and I sang out to him, asking him whether +he was dying of hunger too. "No; but I am +blind," said he. "Who is that?" I told him I +was a traveller, and that I just wanted to buy a few +rations. "It is not you who were here yesterday?" +inquired he. "No," said I, "that poor fellow is +lying out in the road, and says he is dying for +hunger. Surely it has not come to that!" "I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +was awfully sorry for that man yesterday," cried +he, "and only that I cannot see at all, for I got +the sand-blight a fortnight ago, I should have +given him something." Then, as with a sudden +inspiration, he said, "Are you his mate?" +No, I was not his mate, I was only sorry for +him and very hungry myself. "Will you swear +you will give him the half of what I will give you?" +Yes, I would swear. "All right! Then look +in that other stall there under the bags and you +will find a piece of bread, but remember he is to +have the half." "Yes, yes," cried I, while I +looked under the bags and found about half a +pound of stale bread. "But are you really so +very hard up here? Surely you must have plenty +of beef." "So we have," said he, "but I have +been blind for two weeks and cannot kill a beast if +we run out, and the super himself is a bad hand. +We are nearly out of flour and everything else, and +there is a party of fencers cut off by the flood +that we expect in now every day. We must keep +something for them; still, that super is a skunk, or +he would have given the man a piece of beef, but +he won't give anything or sell either, so there is +an end to it. You might save yourself the trouble +of asking him. Are you gone?" "No," said I, +"I am here yet. I am only looking at an old +grey-bearded man who is coming out of the house +and putting a saddle on a horse." "That is +he." "Is he the only one at the place besides +yourself?" "Yes, unless you reckon the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +woman in the kitchen." "Could I not get round +her after he is away?" "Not you; you will get +nothing out of either of them."</p> + +<p>I then went up to the squatter and saluted him. +Would he kindly sell a few rations? "No, I +will do nothing of the sort," cried he. "You do +not know how short we are here. I have got no +rations." "But," said I, "you surely do not +know that there is a man lying out there on the +road who says that he is dying of hunger. Just +sell me a piece of beef." "Dying of hunger. +Ha! ha! ha! that is too good. Why, he is a +regular loafer. He was here for rations a fortnight +ago, and he was here yesterday. Let him go into +town. I cannot keep him."</p> + +<p>"That is all very well," said I, "and I cannot +pretend to say what the man is. But how can +you get to town, when you cannot cross the +river? He told me he has been lying about in +all this rain and flood, and the wonder to me is +that he is not dead already." "Is that your +horse?" inquired he, pointing to where I left it +standing. "Yes." "Well, then, just take my +advice and get into town yourself." "And won't +you sell me a piece of meat?" "No." "Not if +a man were dying of hunger?" "Don't talk to me +about dying of hunger. It is too rich, it is +indeed! Good-morning." With that he rode +away, and left me standing there meditating upon +what he had said and at free liberty to decide in +my own mind whether, after all, I had any right to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> +expect people in a place like that to provide the +necessaries of life for travellers.</p> + +<p>But one cannot argue with the stomach, and, +ravenously hungry as I was, my sympathy was +with myself and with the man whom I left out on +the road, and I therefore thought I would make +one more attack, this time on the old woman in +the kitchen, who, during my conversation with the +super, had twice come round the corner to empty +slops, and who, I suppose, as a mark of the respect +in which she held me, had thrown them so close to +me that it had sprinkled me all over. She did +not look very hospitable, but I had at that time +great faith in my power to charm the fair sex, or, +as Englishmen less gallantly call them, the weaker +sex. I, therefore, wreathed my face in smiles +and put myself into the most graceful position I +could assume, while I knocked at the kitchen door. +No one answered my knock, so I went inside, still +retaining my charming appearance. On the other +side of the kitchen stood a row of saucepans with +something cooking in them, which emitted an +odour that did not go far to prove the theory of +want raging in the place. Here is my luck again, +thought I, I will get a good meal at last. The old +lady now came running in from one of the rooms—a +most forbidding object to make love to! +"You can't get no rations here," cried she. +"Clear out of the kitchen!" Then she took up a +piece of firewood and struck at me with it. How +could any one expect me to look happy under the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> +circumstances? I knew I was getting to look +ugly. Then I pulled out my large knife and rolled +my eyes in my head. That seemed to please her. +She now only mildly protested, while I took the +lid off one of the saucepans and lifted out five or +six pounds of meat, with which I made my escape. +When I came out with this to the traveller on the +road his joy was a pleasure to look at. He could +not understand how I had got it. So weak was he +that he cried like a baby.</p> + +<p>The tea, of which I had yet a supply, was made, +and then the feast began. I counselled him not +to eat too much, but between the two of us there +was scarcely anything left when we were both +satisfied. Then he began to tell me his story, of +which I can only give the general outlines as I +have forgotten the details; but a more terrible tale +of misery I had never heard, and any one who +will fill in the picture for himself might easily +understand that he must have suffered almost +enough to justify him in lying down to die at last, +when all hope seemed gone.</p> + +<p>He said that travelling along he had been overtaken +by the flood, and had camped by himself +in a similar place to the one where I had been a +prisoner, only with this difference—that he had had +no tent. He had managed to keep a log on fire all +the time, and had hung his blanket over a pole to +form a fly, but of course he had been as wet all the +time as if he had been hauled out of the sea. By +the time the water went down he had eaten every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> +scrap of provision he had, but had nevertheless +reached this station about a fortnight since. +Here, as already stated, they would neither sell +nor give him anything. He could not cross the +river to get into town, so, in a terrible condition +from hunger, he had turned back in another direction, +some twenty miles or more to where there +was another small station. The country was all +flooded on his way, and for five miles in one +stretch he had waded through water to his +shoulders, only being able to know the direction +in which he wanted to go by following along a +fence, the top of the posts of which were out of +water. I forget how long it took him to reach +this place, but when he did arrive there it was only +to be told that he could get nothing. Being apparently +the sort of man who would bend his neck +to any stroke of misfortune, he had meekly turned +away, he did not know himself whither, when by +good luck as the issue proved, he had fainted when +close to the house. A man had then come out +and given him something to eat, besides a little to +take with him, and had told him that twenty-five +miles in another direction was a place where he +could procure supplies. He had gone thither, but +as the people there had proved but one degree more +merciful than their neighbours, they had only kept +him alive a couple of days, and then started him +back here to where I found him. All his money +was seven shillings. The squatter here, as already +stated, would neither sell nor give him anything,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> +and as he saw he could not cross the river for +several days on foot, not being able to swim, he +had laid himself down to die when I arrived on the +scene. While he told me all this, he was gradually +getting very sick. The sweat hung in large drops on +his pale face, and he threw himself about writhing +in agony. I need scarcely say, perhaps, that he +had eaten with less moderation than he ought. I +bustled about him, trying or wishing to do him +good, but I did not know how. I was also very +anxious for us both to be off, because I heard the +squatter fire a gun in the yard, and I concluded +that he had come back and that the old woman +had told him what had happened perhaps, or most +likely drawn on her imagination at the same time. +As the bishop said when he saw a criminal on +the road to the scaffold: "But for the grace of +God, there go I." The reader of this truthful +narrative may decide for himself who deserved +hanging most—the squatter or I; but whatever +the opinion may be, I had undoubtedly committed +robbery under arms, and, in my opinion, the man +who would see another die outside his door if he +had it in his power to save him, might also add +such small particulars to the tale as would make +his case strong and interesting—especially as +there was a lady in the case. I had doubtless +committed a crime which, according both to the +spirit and the letter of Queensland law as among +the greatest for which a criminal is punished. +Just imagine how the case might have appeared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> +in court. There the old grey-bearded super, the +worthy pioneer, and the interesting, inoffensive +old lady, who in a fainting condition, would tell +her horrible tales; here a fat, bouncing Crown +Prosecutor; and lastly the two loafers in the dock, +whom nobody knew or would have believed. As +after events proved, the super was either too much +of a gentleman or too much of a coward, as he +neither came out and remonstrated with me nor +prosecuted me afterwards.</p> + +<p>Six weeks after this event happened I was an +employer of over a dozen men, and as time went +on I was looked upon as a rising man in that +town toward which I was now going, and no one +thought themselves too good to know me. Among +my acquaintances was this same super. He did +not at all recollect me from this adventure; but +one day I reminded him, and told him what I +thought about him.</p> + +<p>Begging the reader's pardon for this digression, +I will return to where we still sat in the road. +While I, for the above-named reasons, perhaps not +clearly defined in my mind, was anxious to be off, +and my travelling companion was writhing with +pain before me, an accident happened which I at +the time thought one of the greatest possible misfortunes. +My best horse—my saddle-horse—got +drowned in the river. It came about in this way: +ever since the flood the air had been thick with +countless millions of sand-flies; it was so bad that +one could scarcely exist unless when sitting with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> +the head over a fire enveloped in smoke. The +horses suffered fearfully from their attacks, and +just then they both became as it were quite +maddened, and galloped straight for the river. I +managed to catch the one, but the other, as if it +premeditated suicide, jumped right in, and being +hobbled could not well drown just then, but was +swept down the current and away. Next morning +we had eaten all our provisions and were as +hungry as ever. The river, however, was falling +fast. I got on the one horse and tried the river in +several places, but nowhere was it so low that the +horse could walk across. I could get across myself +on the horse, but it reared and bucked when +the other man tried to climb on it too; as he could +not ride he began his lamentations again, imploring +me not to leave him behind. I had no idea of +doing that, but it cost me not a little trouble to +think out what was best to do. Unfortunately +neither of us could swim, and as he was of very +short stature, the river would have to fall until he +could walk over almost dry-footed before he would +dare to attempt it. I was a head taller than he, and +as the day went on I kept walking in the river and +trying it with a long pole to find the shallowest +place. The current was very strong, but the +water was falling fast, and tired out by my companion's +lamentations and the whole misery of the +situation, I told him that we would a couple of +hours before sundown try to cross the river or die. +It was a dangerous undertaking, because not only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +was the water still very deep, and I had only a +general idea of it being fordable, but the current +was so strong that I did not know whether I should +be able to keep on my feet when I came to the +deepest part. First of all I wrote a few words in +pencil to the manager of the bank in which I had +my money, telling him what to do with my account +in case I should not claim it. After having +put it into an envelope, because I always carried +these things, I gave it to my fellow-traveller, and +without letting him know what it contained, +exacted from him a promise that he should post +it in case I got drowned. It was the least he +could do certainly, because as a reward I said he +might have all the rest of my belongings, always +supposing, of course, that I should have no further +use for them. Then I helped him on to the horse, +and told him just to sit still until he saw me safe +on the other side, and that the horse would come +to me when I called it as long as he did not pull it +about. Having done all this, I took off all my +clothes and strapped them on to the pack-saddle, +and lifted the whole burden on to my head so as +to give me extra weight. I also got a pole about +fifteen feet in length to stand against, and then I +faced the river. The river was not very broad—I +should say about three chains. From the side +where I was it gradually sloped towards its +deepest part which was near the other side, and +there was at least one chain in width where I did +not exactly know the depth more than that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> +horse so far had had to swim across earlier in the +day when I had tried it. The river was still falling +every hour, and I was determined for both of us to +get across then. I waded into the water, and it +all went well until I came to the middle. Somehow +I thought I must have got to shallower +ground than where I had tried it before. The +water rushed round my sides, and every time I +had to lift the pole and put it forward it took me all +my strength to do it. The last step forward had +brought me into still deeper water, and my +strength seemed exhausted—perhaps it would be +more correct to say that to hold the pole in position +and keep myself on my feet demanded as +much force as I ever had. I seemed to stand +dancing on the top of the big toe while I could +feel with the other foot that it was still deeper +in front of me. I pressed on the pole to keep me +down, but I felt that I had neither strength nor +pluck enough to shift it either forwards or backwards, +nor even to keep standing where I was very +long. Yet how tantalizing; in front of me, just +another step, and I might grasp the boughs of a +large tree hanging out over the water. And must +I die there?</p> + +<p>As in a panorama my whole life seemed to pass +before me in review: At home—my schoolmates, I +saw them all—then Hamburg—the emigrant ship—Thorkill—the +gold-diggings—the South Seas—Brisbane—all +along this miserable journey and +back where I stood. I turned my head and looked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +behind me to where the Englishman sat on my +horse. He laughed loud an unpleasant ha! ha! +ha! ha! It was his way to cheer me on, but it +jarred on my ear. My heart began to beat as if it +would burst. Have you travelled so far, I thought, +and have you seen and suffered so many things on +purpose only to drown in this muggy stream? +Never! I gathered myself together for a supreme +effort. I threw the pole from me, rushed forward, +rolled, lost the saddle, but grasped a bough, and +the next moment I climbed up the other side, +when I fainted for the first and only time in all my +life. When I recovered the other man had come +over and stood alongside of me with my horse. +We intended to travel all night, so as to be in +town as soon as possible, and my friend seemed +quite gay at the prospect before us. Where we +stood, however, was only on a sort of by-road, and +I understood that the main road to —— was a +couple of miles distant. I, therefore, suggested to +my companion that he should walk off as fast as +he could, while I was pulling myself a little +together, and that I would overtake him on the +horse before it got dark. But—I had not got a +stitch of clothes to put on! and I had to ask him +to let me have some of his. Then he began to +talk while he pulled his swag open. He had only +two shirts and two pairs of breeches that he had +paid fourteen shillings for in Liverpool, but of +course I should have them. Were they worth ten +shillings? Was the shirt worth five shillings? I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> +would not get the like under eight shillings. If I +thought it was too much, I might have the +breeches he had on for five shillings.</p> + +<p>I was completely amazed. Was this the man +for whom I had risked my life, and as nearly as +possible lost it? For whom—call it what you like—I +had begged and taken by force at the station +what I thought necessary to save his life? For +whom I had lost my horse which had carried me +so many hundred miles, and the saddle and all my +clothes? Here I sat as naked as the day I was +born, all to save his life, and my reward was to see +him in front of me; but he had not perception +enough to know that he owed me anything. The +money I had—three or four pounds—I had on +purpose taken out of the swag before I crossed the +river, and given to him so that it might not be +unnecessarily lost. I had, therefore, that, but I +wondered whether he would give me any clothes +without money if I had none, or whether, if so, I +would have to force them from him. I asked him, +and said, "What if I have no money?" "Oh, +but you have," said he; "I saw in your purse +you have plenty of money." Then I bought the +clothes and paid him what he asked for his +breeches, for which he had given fourteen shillings +in Liverpool. I bought his shirt also for +five shillings, and a dirty, nasty towel he had was +thrown in as a present for me to wind round my +head instead of a hat.</p> + +<p>Then he went away quite happy, asking me not to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> +be long behind, as he was to ride half-way on my +horse, and I dressed myself in my new clothes. I +did look a terrible picture. The breeches were six +inches too short, the shirt would not button round +my throat, I had neither socks nor boots—and then +the towel as a turban round the head! The horse +fairly snorted at me with terror. I sat where I was +till it was nearly dark. I had no wish to see the +other fellow any more. But I made a vow, never, if +it was possible to avoid it, would I travel like this +again. But I was in dejected spirits—not, I believe, +so much for what money value I had lost, or for +any fear that I could not put a stop to this sort of +travelling about almost whenever I liked, but for +the conduct of that man. As I rode along I kept +saying to myself, "It shall be a valuable lesson." +Still, I fear that that sort of lessons are generally +more sad than valuable.</p> + +<p>It was now all but dark, and when I had ridden +so far as to make me wonder that there was no +sign of the main road yet, I got off the horse +and began to look closely at the track along +which I had come. I then found that it was +only a cattle track, and that the horse must have +left the right road without my noticing it. Then +I began to run the tracks of the horse back again. +But the tracks were confusing, crossing and recrossing +each other so much that I lost my cue, +and by the time it was quite dark I stood in dense +brigalow scrub and had to acknowledge myself +lost. I tied the horse to a tree and sat down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> +alongside. It was no use to walk about further +before daylight. I had a general idea where the +town was lying, but I knew there were no houses +or people living between where I was and there. +I was also afraid that if I did not strike the road +I might pass the town within half a mile and not +know it. As for making back for the river and +station, that would be out of the question, because +it would have made me no better off. But on the +whole I was not afraid that I should be unable to +find my way somewhere, the question was really—how +long could I keep up without food? The idea +occurred to me that I could at all events eat the +horse as a last extremity, but I drove the thought +away as soon as it came. To be there, and look +up at the horse—my only friend—and to think +that I intended to kill it, seemed to me both +criminal and impossible. I sat the whole night +smoking my pipe and waiting for the sun to rise +so that I might take the bearings of the country, +and make up my mind in which direction I would +look for the road and town.</p> + +<p>At sunrise I started, leading the horse after me, +because it was no use now to follow the cattle +tracks, and where I had to go was through the +brigalow, where I had quite work enough to do in +twining in and out among the trees and the +brambles. As the day wore on I came into +country a little more open, but yet I could not +ride among the trees. The sun shone with terrible +force, and the sand-flies followed us in clouds.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> +There was a ringing sound in my ears. I kept +arranging and rearranging the towel on my head; +still, I feared that I had sunstroke, or that something +serious was the matter with me. The air +seemed full of phantoms—vicious-looking creatures. +Then I saw a whole army of ladies and gentlemen +riding past, jeering me and lolling out their tongues +at me. I knew it was delusions, and I kept walking +as fast and, as it proved, as straight as possible, +but still I felt myself laughing, crying, and yelling +at all these phantoms or at the unoffending +horse.</p> + +<p>"Shoeskin," cried I to the horse, "you old +dog, do you know that it was to save you from +hunger's dread that I went on this journey? And +now you have enough to eat, while I must die of +hunger! but to-night I will kill you—do you know +that? Oh, Peter, Peter! is it not strange, so +vicious as you have got to be? Holloa, is that a +frying-pan over there on that log? So it is; and +full of fried eggs and potatoes. Good luck. Look +at him eating it all. Stop, you rascal! No, it is a +woman. Do you call yourself a lady? You are +no woman at all; only a devil. It is all devilry. +Peter, take no notice." About noon I had a bath +in a water-hole I came to, and ate some snails I +found in the water. After that I felt somewhat +better, and shortly after I came on to the road. I +became quite collected in my mind at once, and +jumping on to the horse tore away at full gallop +for the town, which proved to be only five or six<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> +miles distant. As I came riding up the street at +a sharp trot I knew myself to be quite sane, but I +had a suspicion that I looked very much the other +way with the towel round my head and the short +tartan plaid breeches.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a id="page315" name="page315"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br /> +<br /> +THE END.</h2> + + +<p>With this John Gilpin's ride the present part +of my adventures, which are contained in the +manuscript I wrote to my father, comes to an end. +So does practically what I care to publish. I have +seen many ups and downs since then, but from +this point in my narrative I could no longer lay +claim to be a "missing friend." I am not a novel +writer, and I could not continue the history of +my life and still preserve my <i>incognito</i> unless I +wrote fiction. As my object in publishing these +papers is to give a faithful picture of Australian +life, I should feel very doubtful of attaining the +desired end. To the reader who has kindly +followed me so far, I would say that he may +believe that Australia is full of young men who, +like myself at that time, travel about from place to +place, and that similar scenes to those I have +described happen every day in all parts of +Queensland. If I have been able to rouse the +reader's interest and sympathy with myself in these +pages, I shall feel proud, and think that after all I +did not travel and suffer so many hardships in +vain.</p> + + + +<p class="title"> +The Gresham Press,<br /> +<br /> +UNWIN BROTHERS,<br /> +CHILWORTH AND LONDON.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="title"><big>History.</big></p> + +<blockquote><p><big>The Vikings in Western Christendom,</big> +A.D. 789-888. By <span class="smcap">C. F. Keary</span>, Author of "Outlines +of Primitive Belief," "The Dawn of History," &c. +With Map and Tables. Demy 8vo., cloth, 16s.</p> + +<p><big>National Life and Thought;</big> Or, Lectures on +Various Nations of +the World. Delivered at South Place Institute by Professor +<span class="smcap">Thorold Rogers</span>, <span class="smcap">J. S. Cotton Minchin</span>, <span class="smcap">W. R. Morfill</span>, +<span class="smcap">F. H. Groome</span>, <span class="smcap">J. Theodore Bent</span>, Professor <span class="smcap">A. Pülsky</span>, +<span class="smcap">Eirike Magnusson</span>, and other Specialists. Demy 8vo., +cloth, 10s. 6d.</p></blockquote> + +<p>These Lectures attracted much attention in the Session of 1889-90, and are +now reprinted to meet the desire of a very large public. In each case the authors +have striven to put their audience in thorough sympathy with the National Life +and Thought of the Nations treated of.</p> + +<blockquote><p><big>Battles and Leaders of the American Civil +War.</big> An Authoritative History, written by Distinguished +Participants on both sides. Edited by <span class="smcap">Robert U. Johnson</span> +and <span class="smcap">Clarence C. Buel</span>, of the Editorial Staff of "The +Century Magazine." Four Volumes, Royal 8vo., elegantly +bound, Ł5 5s.</p></blockquote> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Wolseley</span>, in writing a series of articles in the <i>North American Review</i> +on this work, says: "The Century Company has, in my judgment, done a great +service to the soldiers of all armies by the publication of these records of the great +War."</p> + +<blockquote><p><big>Diary of the Parnell Commission.</big> Revised with +Additions, +from <i>The Daily News</i>. By <span class="smcap">John Macdonald</span>, M.A. Large +crown 8vo., cloth, 6s.</p></blockquote> + +<p>"Mr. Macdonald has done his work well."—Speaker.</p> + +<blockquote><p><big>The End of the Middle Ages:</big> Essays and +Questions +in History. By <span class="smcap">A. Mary F. Robinson</span> (Madame Darmesteter). +Demy 8vo., cloth, 10s. 6d.</p></blockquote> + +<p>"We travel from convent to palace, find ourselves among all the goodness, the +wisdom, the wildness, the wickedness, the worst and the best of that wonderful +time. We meet with devoted saints and desperate sinners.... We seem to have +made many new acquaintances whom before we only knew by name among the +names of history.... We can heartily recommend this book to every one who cares +for the study of history, especially in its most curious and fascinating period, the +later middle age."—<i>Spectator.</i></p> + +<blockquote><p><big>The Federalist:</big> A Commentary in the Form of Essays +on the United States Constitution. +By <span class="smcap">Alexander Hamilton</span>, and others. Edited by <span class="smcap">Henry +Cabot Lodge</span>. Demy 8vo., Roxburgh binding, 10s. 6d.</p></blockquote> + +<p>"The importance of the Essays can hardly be exaggerated."—<i>Glasgow Mail.</i></p> + +<blockquote><p><big>The Story of the Nations.</big><br /> + +Crown 8vo., Illustrated, and furnished with Maps and +Indexes, each 5s.</p></blockquote> + +<p>"L'interessante serie l'Histoire des Nations formera ... un cours d'histoire +universelle d'une trčs grande valeur."—<i>Journal des Debats.</i></p> + +<p>"That useful series."—<i>The Times.</i></p> + +<p>"An admirable series."—<i>Spectator.</i></p> + +<p>"That excellent series."—<i>Guardian.</i></p> + +<p>"The series is likely to be found indispensable in every school library." +<i>Pall Mall Gazette.</i></p> + +<p>"This valuable series."—<i>Nonconformist.</i></p> + +<p>"Admirable series of historical monographs."—<i>Echo.</i></p> + +<p>"Each volume is written by one of the most foremost English authorities on the +subject with which it deals.... It is almost impossible to over-estimate the +value of a series of carefully prepared volumes, such as are the majority of those +comprising this library.... The illustrations make one of the most attractive +features of the series."—<i>The Guardian.</i></p> + +<blockquote><p><big>Rome.</big> By <span class="smcap">Arthur Gilman</span>, M.A., Author of "A History +of the American People," &c. Third edition.</p> + +<p><big>The Jews.</big> In Ancient, Medićval, and Modern Times. +By Prof. <span class="smcap">J. K. Hosmer</span>. Second edition.</p> + +<p><big>Germany.</big> By Rev. <span class="smcap">S. Baring-Gould</span>, Author of "Curious +Myths of the Middle Ages," &c. Second edition.</p> + +<p><big>Carthage.</big> By Prof. <span class="smcap">Alfred J. Church</span>, Author of "Stories +from the Classics," &c. Third edition.</p> + +<p><big>Alexander's Empire.</big> By Prof. <span class="smcap">J. P. Mahaffy</span>, +Author of "Social Life in +Greece." Fourth edition.</p> + +<p><big>The Moors in Spain.</big> By <span class="smcap">Stanley Lane-Poole</span>, +Author of "Studies in a +Mosque." Third edition.</p> + +<p><big>Ancient Egypt.</big> By Canon <span class="smcap">Rawlinson</span>, Author of "The +Five Great Monarchies of the World." +Third edition.</p> + +<p><big>Hungary.</big> By Prof. <span class="smcap">Arminius Vambéry</span>, Author of +"Travels in Central Asia." Second edition.</p> + +<p><big>The Saracens:</big> From the Earliest Times to the Fall of +Bagdad. By <span class="smcap">Arthur Gilman</span>, M.A., +Author of "Rome," &c.</p> + +<p><big>Ireland.</big> By the Hon. <span class="smcap">Emily Lawless</span>, Author of "Hurrish." +Third edition.</p> + +<p><big>Chaldea.</big> By <span class="smcap">Z. A. Ragozin</span>, Author of "Assyria," &c. +Second edition.</p> + +<p><big>The Goths.</big> By <span class="smcap">Henry Bradley</span>. Second edition.</p> + +<p><big>Assyria.</big> By <span class="smcap">Zénaďde A. Ragozin</span>, Author of "Chaldea," &c.</p> + +<p><big>Turkey.</big> By <span class="smcap">Stanley Lane-Poole</span>. Second edition.</p> + +<p><big>Holland.</big> By Professor <span class="smcap">Thorold Rogers</span>. Second edition.</p> + +<p><big>Medićval France.</big> By <span class="smcap">Gustave Masson</span>. Second +edition.</p> + +<p><big>Persia.</big> By <span class="smcap">S. G. W. Benjamin</span>. Second edition.</p> + +<p><big>Phœnicia.</big> By <span class="smcap">Canon Rawlinson</span>.</p> + +<p><big>Media.</big> By <span class="smcap">Z. A. Ragozin</span>.</p> + +<p><big>The Hansa Towns.</big> By <span class="smcap">Helen Zimmern</span>.</p> + +<p><big>Early Britain.</big> By Prof. <span class="smcap">A. J. Church</span>, Author of +"Carthage" &c.</p> + +<p><big>Russia.</big> By <span class="smcap">W. R. Morfill</span>, M.A.</p> + +<p><big>The Barbary Corsairs.</big> By <span class="smcap">Stanley Lane-Poole</span>.</p> + +<p><big>The Jews under the Roman Empire.</big> +By <span class="smcap">W. Douglas Morrison</span>, M.A.</p> + +<p><big>Scotland.</big> By <span class="smcap">John Macintosh</span>, LL.D.</p> + +<p><big>Switzerland.</big> By<span class="smcap"> Lina Hug</span> and <span class="smcap">R. Stead</span>.</p> + +<p><big>Mexico.</big> By <span class="smcap">Susan Hale</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>(<i>For further information, see "Nation Series" Catalogue. +Sent to any address on application to the Publisher.</i>)</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p class="title"><big><i>THE CAMEO SERIES.</i></big></p> + +<blockquote><p>Half-bound, paper boards, price 3s. 6d. each. Fine Edition, bound in parchment, +printed on Japan paper, numbered and signed, 30 copies only printed, +25 being for sale; terms on application from Booksellers or the Publisher.</p> + +<p><big>1. The Lady from the Sea.</big> By <span class="smcap">Henrik Ibsen</span>. Translated +by <span class="smcap">Eleanor Marx-Aveling</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>"A powerful study."—<i>Notes and Queries.</i></p> + +<blockquote><p><big>2. A London Plane-Tree,</big> and Other Poems. By <span class="smcap">Amy Levy</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>"True and tender poetry."—<span class="smcap">Saturday Review.</span></p> + +<blockquote><p><big>3. Wordsworth's Grave,</big> and Other Poems. By <span class="smcap">William +Watson</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>"True, choicely-worded, well-turned quatrains, which succeed each other like the strong +unbroken waves of a full tide."—Mr. <span class="smcap">Cosmo Monkhouse</span> in <i>The Academy</i>.</p> + +<blockquote><p><big>4. Iphigenia in Delphi,</big> With some Translations from the Greek, +by <span class="smcap">Richard Garnett</span>, LL.D. Illustrated.</p></blockquote> + +<p>"A very charming volume.... Dr. Garnett has achieved a very interesting and scholarly +piece of work."—<i>Manchester Guardian.</i></p> + +<blockquote><p><big>5. Mireio: A Provencal Poem.</big> By <span class="smcap">Frederic Mistral</span>. +Translated by <span class="smcap">H. W. +Preston</span>. Frontispiece by <span class="smcap">Joseph Pennell</span>.</p> + +<p><big>6. Lyrics.</big> Selected from the Works of <span class="smcap">A. Mary F. Robinson</span> (Mdme. +Jas. Darmesteter). Frontispiece. [<i>Nearly Ready.</i></p> + +<p><big>7. Poems of Robert Surtees.</big> Introduction by <span class="smcap">Edward Peacock</span>. +[<i>In Preparation.</i></p></blockquote> + +<p><i>A few copies of the Edition de Luxe of the earlier Volumes in the Series may still +be had. Prices on application.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p class="title"><big><i>THE PSEUDONYM LIBRARY.</i></big></p> + +<p>Under this title will be published a collection of entirely New Novels and +Romances, neatly printed and tastefully bound. They will be specially +suited by their brightness and originality for holiday reading.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 10em;"><i>24mo., cloth, price 1s. 6d. each.</i></span></p> + +<blockquote><p><big>1. Mademoiselle Ixe.</big> By <span class="smcap">Lanoe Falconer</span>. <span class="ralign">[<i>Ready.</i></span></p> + +<p><big>2. The Story of Eleanor Lambert.</big> By <span class="smcap">Magdalen Brooke</span>. +<span class="ralign">[<i>Nearly Ready</i></span></p> + +<p><big>3. The Mystery of the Campagna; and, a Shadow +on a Wave.</big> By <span class="smcap">Von Degen</span>.<span class="ralign">[<i>In Preparation.</i></span></p></blockquote> + +<p class="title"><i>OTHER VOLUMES ARE IN ACTIVE PREPARATION.</i></p> + + +<p class="title"><span class="smcap">London: T. FISHER UNWIN, Paternoster Square, E.C.</span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="title">TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:</p> + +<p>page 3: "Hamburgh" changed to "Hamburg" for consistency.</p> + +<p>page 24: "sactimonious" changed to "sanctimonious" (to hear him in a sanctimonious voice).</p> + +<p>page 30: "workohuse" changed to "workhouse" (straight out ot the workhouse).</p> + +<p>page 39: missing closing bracket ")" added (... engaged as a matron.))</p> + +<p>page 61: removed duplicate "not" (They did not laugh at nothing).</p> + +<p>page 85: word "I" added which appears to have been misprinted (next forenoon ... I was outside).</p> + +<p>page 143: "Kankas" changed to "Kanakas" (expected a hundred Kanakas shortly).</p> + +<p>page 216: "dassengers" changed to "passengers" (volunteers, although passengers).</p> + +<p>page 221: "draging" changed to "dragging" (horse in dragging oneself).</p> + +<p>page 306: "monoply" changed to "monopoly" (break through the monopoly).</p> + +<p>page 330: "ou" changed to "out" (A man had then come out).</p> + +<p>page 348: "Pal." changed to "Pall" (Pall Mall Gazette).</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISSING FRIENDS***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 36399-h.txt or 36399-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/6/3/9/36399">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/3/9/36399</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>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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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: Missing Friends + Being the Adventures of a Danish Emigrant in Queensland (1871-1880) + + +Author: Thorvald Weitemeyer + + + +Release Date: June 13, 2011 [eBook #36399] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISSING FRIENDS*** + + +E-text prepared by Pat McCoy, Nick Wall, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made +available by Internet Archive/American Libraries +(http://www.archive.org/details/americana) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 36399-h.htm or 36399-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/36399/36399-h/36399-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/36399/36399-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + http://www.archive.org/details/missingfriendsbe00londiala + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + + Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). + + + + + +MISSING FRIENDS + +[Illustration: A SWAGSMAN.] + +_"Adventures are to the adventurous."_ + + BEACONSFIELD. + +[Illustration: THE ADVENTURE SERIES.] + + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + + THE ADVENTURE SERIES. + + Illustrated. Crown 8vo, 5s. + + + =1.= + Adventures of a Younger Son. By E. J. TRELAWNY. _With an + Introduction by Edward Garnett_. Second Edition. + + =2.= + Robert Drury's Journal in Madagascar. _Edited by Captain S. P. + Oliver._ + + =3.= + Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp. _With + an Introduction by H. Manners Chichester._ + + =4.= + The Adventures of Thomas Pellow, of Penryn, Mariner. _Edited by + Dr. Robert Brown._ + + =5.= + The Buccaneers and Marooners of America. Being an Account of the + Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish Main. _Edited by Howard + Pyle._ + + =6.= + The Log of a Jack Tar; or, The Life of James Choyce. With + O'Brien's Captivity in France. _Edited by V. Lovett Cameron, R.N._ + + =7.= + The Voyages and Adventures of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto. _With an + Introduction by Arminius Vambery._ + + =8.= + The Story of the Filibusters. By JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE. To which is + added the Life of Colonel David Crockett. + + =9.= + A Master Mariner. Being the Life and Adventures of Captain Robert + William Eastwick. _Edited by Herbert Compton._ + + =10.= + Kolokotrones, Klepht and Warrior. _Edited by Mrs. Edmonds. + Introduction by M. Gennadius._ + + =11.= + Hard Life in the Colonies. _Compiled from Private Letters by C. + Carlyon Fenkins._ + + =(_OTHERS IN THE PRESS_.)= + + * * * * * + + +MISSING FRIENDS + +Being the Adventures of a Danish Emigrant in Queensland (1871-1880) + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +London: T. Fisher Unwin, +Paternoster Square. Mdcccxcii + + + + +INTRODUCTORY. + + +I was born in Copenhagen in the year 1850. My father was a builder there +in moderately good circumstances. I was the second son of a large +family, and it was my parents' great ambition that we all should receive +a good education. My eldest brother was intended for a profession, and I +was to be, like my father, a builder, and to take up his business when +old enough to do so. + +My father ruled us with an iron hand. I am sure he had as much love for +us all as most fathers have for their children, but it was considered +necessary when I was twenty years old to treat me as boys of ten are +ordinarily treated. During the time I learned my trade in my father's +shop I never knew the pleasure of owning a sixpence. After I had learned +my trade, it was just the same. I worked for my father and received my +food, clothes, and lodging as before, but I never dared to absent myself +for a quarter of an hour even without asking permission, and that +permission was as often refused as granted. A rebellious feeling kept +growing up in me; but I dared not ask my father to relax a little and +give me more liberty. To assert my independence before him seemed just +as impossible, and yet my position had become to me unbearable. There +was but one thing to do, viz., to run away, and I had scarcely conceived +this idea before I carried it into execution. + +I was now twenty-one years old. One evening, after saying good-night to +my parents in the usual orthodox fashion, I went to my room, and when +all was still, crept downstairs again and left the house. I had a bundle +of clothes with me and a watch, which I pawned next morning. I forget +the exact amount I received for it, but to the best of my recollection +it was the first money I ever possessed, and it seemed to me a vast sum +to do with just as I liked. I dared not to stay in Copenhagen for fear +of meeting my father, or somebody who knew me, so I bought a through +ticket for Hamburg the same day, and although the purchase of this +ticket nearly exhausted my funds, it was with a feeling of glorious +freedom that I left Copenhagen. On arriving in Hamburg I obtained work +at my trade without difficulty, and soon saved a little money, so that a +few months after I found myself on board an emigrant ship bound for +Queensland, where I have been ever since; but for fourteen years I never +wrote home. After that interval I sent a short letter to my eldest +brother, telling him that I was in Queensland, married, in good health, +my own master, but that I had not made my fortune; however I owed +nobody anything, and was satisfied, &c., and asked only for news. + +By return of mail came two letters, one from my father and the other +from my brother. My brother wrote that our father was now getting to be +an old man, and that his one sorrow these many years had been what had +become of me, coupled with the fear that I did not remember him as a +loving father; that he had always acted as he thought best for us, and +that the greatest joy the earth could offer him would be if he might see +me again. My father wrote in the same strain, adding that if I could not +come home I must write, and that nothing I had done would seem trivial +or uninteresting for him to read about. + +When I had read these letters my conscience smote me. Not that I had +ever felt indifferent to my parents. I had thought of them often. I do +not think ever a day went over my head during those fourteen years in +which I did not remember them. Yet I had never written. But I was now a +married man, had children of my own, and I could fully realize how it is +that the parents' love for their children is so inconceivably greater +than children's love for their parents. Would it not be a hard day for +me if ever I should have to bid good-bye to any of my sons, even if they +went out of the front door, so to speak, with my blessing? Would the +least they could do be to write to me circumstantially and often what +they thought, what they did, how they fared? And here was I who never +to that moment had been conscious of having done my parents any wrong! +Yes; I would write. I began the same evening, and kept writing on about +all my wanderings from the day I had left home up to the time of +writing, and as I wrote, many things which I thought I had forgotten +came clearly to my mind; and so I grew interested in it myself. I had my +writing copied. All this took time; but at last the manuscript was +posted to my father with a large photograph of myself enclosed. It +arrived the day after his death, but before the funeral. They buried the +manuscript and photograph with him. + +These are matters far too sacred to write much about, even anonymously. +I only touch upon them to show the origin of the following narrative. +The copy I had taken has been lying in my desk now for some years, and +when I took it out the other day it occurred to me that as it gives a +faithful picture of life that thousands of people lead here in +Queensland, it might be of general interest. I doubt if ever a book was +written with more regard to truth. I have added nothing to the original +manuscript, but I have erased such private matters as, of course, would +be out of place in a publication, and I have also considerably shortened +the description of the voyage out, as a voyage across the sea is a more +than twice-told tale to most Australian people. I have also altered the +names of persons and places mentioned wherever I have thought it +necessary. It is now several years since the events recorded happened. +The incidents themselves are sometimes trifling and always harmless. +Should any one who may read this book think they recognize themselves in +any part of my descriptions, I must beg them to accept my apology. They +will most likely then also recognize the substantial truth of my +description and my endeavour not to be too personal. + +Although it will be seen by the reader that I have often acted foolishly +and seldom excelled in wisdom, yet I do not wish it to be understood +that I consider my life altogether misspent. As I look back, I think of +myself as being always cheerful. It is the privilege of youth to be +happy under almost any circumstances, and I was young when these things +I here set down happened. If the tale has a moral, I think it will be +found sufficiently obvious. Queensland is full of missing friends. Some +come to the colony in the hope of making a speedy fortune, that they may +go home again and bless the old folks with their good fortune. Others +come out with the hope of making a good home, and to bring the old +people thither. The successful man is generally a dutiful son too, +insomuch, at least, that he lets everybody know of his success; but the +man who fails, either from lack of perseverance or from untoward +circumstances, too often becomes a "missing friend." It is generally +true that a man is valued according to the cut of his coat, but it is +not true between parent and son. So! write home, you lonely swagsman on +the dusty track of the far interior. Do not think yourself forgotten. If +you have parents alive you have friends too, who think of you night and +day. If you will only let them know that you yet have a thought left for +them, they will bless you. + +I have nothing else to add to this introduction, except that possibly +the book might have been more interesting if it contained more thrilling +adventures, but in my opinion the only merit which it may possess lies +in the strict regard paid to truth and the avoidance of all exaggeration +from beginning to end. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE + + INTRODUCTORY v + + CHAP. + + I. MY FIRST EXPERIENCES ON LEAVING HOME 3 + + II. ON THE EMIGRANT SHIP--THE JOURNEY TO QUEENSLAND 19 + + III. MY ARRIVAL IN QUEENSLAND 43 + + IV. GAINING COLONIAL EXPERIENCE 73 + + V. TOWNSVILLE: MORE COLONIAL EXPERIENCES 101 + + VI. ON THE HERBERT RIVER 131 + + VII. LEAVING THE HERBERT--RAVENSWOOD 161 + + VIII. SHANTY-KEEPING, PROSPECTING, THORKILL'S DEATH 185 + + IX. GOING TO THE PALMER 211 + + X. RETURNING FROM THE PALMER 231 + + XI. A LOVE STORY 259 + + XII. BRISBANE--TRAVELS IN THE "NEVER NEVER" LAND 271 + + XIII. THE END 315 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + (1) A SWAGSMAN _Frontispiece_ + + (2) LANDING OF EMIGRANTS _To face page_ 55 + + (3) AN ALLIGATOR POOL " " 145 + + (4) THE BAKER'S CART " " 190 + + (5) BREAKFAST IN THE GOLD FIELDS " " 198 + + (6) ROCKHAMPTON " " 232 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +MY FIRST EXPERIENCES ON LEAVING HOME. + + +Having left Copenhagen in the way just described and arrived in +Hamburg, my first care was to get work, which I fortunately obtained +the next day. The place I worked in was a large building or series of +buildings, four or five stories high, with cabinet-makers' shops from +the cellars to the loft. We had to be at work at six o'clock in the +morning, and to keep on till eight o'clock at night. Even on Sundays we +worked from six o'clock to dinner-time. Some would keep on till it was +dark on Sunday evening, and content themselves with knocking off early, +as they called it. And such work! Everybody would work as if the house +were on fire. It was all piecework. The man who stood next myself had +made veneered chests of drawers for thirty years, and never had made +anything else. He would turn out two veneered chests of drawers in a +week, and the work was faultless. These chests would, I am sure, sell +readily in Brisbane for from twelve to fifteen pounds each. He earned +about nine Prussian thalers per week. On the other side of me stood a +man who made German secretaires. There were nine or ten men in the shop. +The master was working too. He seemed just as poor as the men. Whenever +work was finished, some furniture dealer would come round and buy it. +The men seemed all more or less askew in their bodies with overwork. If +ever they had an ambition in their lives, it was to instil a proper +sense of respect into the two apprentices. I did pity these two boys. +They received their board and lodging from the master, but they could, I +am sure, easily have made one meal out of their four daily allowances. +They slept in a corner of the shop. They had, of course, to be at work +at six o'clock in the morning the same as the men, but while we had half +an hour for breakfast and "vesperkost," they were supposed to eat and +work at the same time. After work-hours at night they had to carry all +the shavings out of the shop to the loft above, from which they were +occasionally removed; then they had tea, and finally, if they liked, +they were allowed to work a couple of hours for themselves. They would +get odd pieces of veneer and wood and make a workbox. When it was +finished, they would one evening run round among the furnishers from +door to door to sell it. The dealer would know that the materials were +not paid for, and of course he did not pay them. A shilling or less is +the price a dealer in Hamburg pays for one of those beautiful workboxes +which are sold all over the world. I wonder how often the buyers of +these boxes think of the lean, ragged youth who has stood late in the +night and made it, most often perhaps to buy an extra morsel of bread +from the proceeds--because, as a matter of fact, that was what these two +boys used to do. The master was accustomed to beat them daily, and if he +was at any time thought too sparing with the rod, and thereby neglecting +their education, the men would themselves beat the lads. It was +winter-time, and daylight only about eight o'clock in the morning. But +in order to reach the shop at six o'clock, the men, who lived mostly in +the suburbs, had to be up at half-past four. I had rented a small room +from one of them, and he and I would generally arrive together. As we +scrambled our way up the dark staircase, he would caution me to walk +softly because, as he said, he wanted to catch these rascally boys in +bed. Poor fellows! If we were the first to arrive they would most often +lie in a heavy sleep. Then he would rush at them, tear the bed-clothes +off them, box their ears, and call them all sorts of _endearing_ names. +The master and the other men, with scarcely an exception, approved of +this. It was not breakfast-time before eight o'clock, and very often +when the apprentices had been hunted to work in this manner they would +get another correction before then for neglecting to wash themselves! +Poor fellows, they had no time. But, as is well known, the harder an +apprenticeship a boy has served, the more cruel does he in his turn +become after his time is out. The Prime Minister himself has not, I am +sure, half as serene a contempt for an apprentice, as a journeyman only +three months out of his apprenticeship. + +This work in Hamburg certainly did not suit my ideas of liberty. My head +would swim of an evening when I came out of the shop. As already stated, +I had rented a small room from one of the men for a mere trifle, and I +boarded myself, and very frugal fare I had. This self-denial was because +I soon made up my mind that I would not stay in Hamburg; and so I saved +all that was possible, and it did not take long before I could commence +to count a few thalers in my pocket. + +On Sunday evenings I used to go and sit in one of the public gardens, +and listen to the music and watch the faces of the people there. +Sometimes when there was a free show I would be there too, but I never +spent any money. With the din of the shop scarcely out of my ears, and +Monday morning looming only a few hours away, I almost fancied myself of +a different species from such happy, chattering crowds as would pass and +repass seemingly without a care in the world. There was not a soul to +speak to me. For one thing, I could scarcely make myself understood in +German; for another, the men in the shop, who were the only people I +knew, if I did go down the street with one of them, conversation had but +one subject for which was sure somehow to turn on the quality of the +glue we used. They all had a vast reverence for the furniture dealers, +and they were just the people I did not like. I was therefore quite +alone. I was also wonderfully homesick. Often and often did I wish that +I had never run away, but it seemed to me impossible to go home again, +and so I used to sit and speculate on what I had better do. I thought +when I had saved a little money I would go to Paris, or Vienna. They +were nice places I believed; but of one thing I was certain, and that +was that as yet I had not seen anybody I liked as well as myself, or any +place I liked so well as my own home! + +One Sunday evening as I walked about the streets, I saw in a window a +large attractive placard on which was printed in red letters, "Free +Emigration to Queensland, Australia." I am certain I had never heard the +name of Queensland before, and my impression of Australia was that it +was the place to which criminals were sent; I had also read something +about gold-diggings in Australia, but it was in the form of a novel, and +I did not believe it. I called to mind what I had read in school in the +geography about Australia, and I remembered it well. It was only a short +paragraph. It ran thus: "Australia. Travellers who come from this +distant continent, bring us very conflicting statements. It seems to be +a land in which nature is reversed. The leaves are hanging downwards on +the trees instead of upwards. Rivers run from the ocean inland. The +interior seems to be one vast lake of salt water. It is the home of the +kangaroo and the black swan. Altogether but little is known about it. +Captain Cook discovered it in the year 1788. It belongs to England. The +Dutch have possessions in the North. It has been used as a penal +settlement by England, but this is now abolished. Of late years gold has +been found in considerable quantities and in several places. Wool, +tallow, and hides are exported. Towns, Sydney and Melbourne." + +I can scarcely help laughing to myself now when recalling to mind this +piece of information about Australia. It was really an ignorant and +disgraceful morsel of information for one of the best schools in +Copenhagen to offer to its pupils, but it was all the knowledge I had or +could get, and it was not much assuredly to give one any idea what +Queensland was like. But somehow I determined to find out what I could +for myself. There was gold there that might be more easily got, perhaps, +than by making chests of drawers, so the next day I presented myself at +the office, and asked for information. + +Yes, it was right. The ship would sail in a fortnight. "Did I want to +go? Two pounds sterling please. Only three or four tickets left." +"Well--I would like a little information." "Information, yes, we have +every information. What is it you want to know? You get, to begin with, +all your food, and splendid food I can tell you is provided for you on +the whole journey. You also get bed-clothes, and your own knife, spoon, +and fork. This will all become your own property on arrival in +Queensland. Here is the bill of fare." + +I hesitated. "When you have arrived in Queensland," cried my informant, +"the Government of that country further engages to board you in a +first-class hotel for two or three weeks, free of all cost, while you +make up your mind what occupation to engage in, and--here it is in the +prospectus, look at this!--they further guarantee to find work for you +making roads, for at least two years after." "Do you yourself know +anything much about Queensland?" I ventured to ask; "I suppose you never +were there?" "I, no, I never was there--I wish I had been, I should not +have to stand here to-day. But we have every information. They have +found gold-diggings again. Here are the statistics of exports; I will +read them for you:-- + + Marks. Marks. + Hides, 100,000,000,000,000. Horns, 1,000,000,000,000. + Wool, 10,000,000,000,000. Tallow, 10,000,000,000. + Cattle, 1,000,000,000,000. Horses, 100,000,000,000,000. + Gold, 100,000,000,000. Silver, 1,000,000,000,000. + Copper, 1,000,000,000,000,000. Tin, 1,000,000,000,000. + +What do you think of that now?" + +What I thought was that it was all Latin to me. I did not know why they +exported all this wealth, or why they did not keep it at home. No more +did the man in the office, I am sure. I asked, did he think it probable +that I should obtain work as a carpenter and joiner, and did he know +what wages were going? To that he replied that, of course, I could get +work as a carpenter and joiner, and that wages were at least one pound +per day, but that if I wanted to go he would have to enlist me as an +agricultural labourer, because a whole cargo of carpenters was already +engaged, but that undoubtedly it would pay me better to dig for gold +myself. I concluded that Queensland was a sort of vast gold-field. I +asked what was the cost of living. He said, "If you like to live in an +hotel and be waited on hand and foot, of course you can have it at all +prices; but if you like to cook your own food, it will cost you nothing. +Why man! don't I keep telling you that the cattle are running wild; if +you are wise enough to buy a gun before you go, your meat supply is +secured when you get there, and all sorts of game are in equal +abundance--kangaroos, parrots, and all sorts." I inquired how much, or +rather how little, money did he think it indispensable for me to have +when I landed. He said as for that, no doubt the less I had, the less +chance there was of my being robbed. It would, in his opinion, take some +little time for any one to get alongside the people over there, but, +once having taken their measure, there was no mistake about the +resources of the country. Then, as an afterthought, he added, "In case +on your arrival in the country you should decide to establish yourself +as a farmer the Government makes you a present of"--I think it +was--"eighty acres of land. This land is the best and richest +agricultural land in the colony, and you can pick it out yourself +wherever you like best in Queensland. I will give you the order which +entitles you to your deeds." + +I felt very undecided. I did not buy any ticket, nor did I go to work +again that day. I kept roaming about the streets, thinking of Queensland +and the information I had received. Wages a pound sterling per day! if I +would only work for it--the price of food scarcely anything--cattle +running wild--large gold-fields! How was it, then, that there were +hotels where people would wait on the immigrants, "hand and foot." What +silly fellows those publicans must be; would it not pay them better to +work at a trade, or look out for gold? Truly the order of things seemed +to be reversed in that country. And eighty acres of their best land +would they give me if only I would go! Perhaps horses were running wild +as well as cattle. I might be able to catch some and break them in to +plough the land. But what about the plough? Surely nobody made ploughs +there; I should have to bring that with me. Perhaps there were saddlers. +No doubt it would be a good country for a saddler to go to, as it seemed +they had so many hides over there that they had to export them. Probably +if a saddler wanted materials, all he had to do was to flay a bullock +and carry its hide away. But were there bricklayers to build houses? +Certainly I could do the carpentry myself; on a pinch I could do the +bricklaying too. Everything seemed so satisfactory. Perhaps I should +even find gold enough while I was sinking the foundation for my house to +pay for the lot! It need not be such a large piece either. A couple of +nuggets, as large only as one brick each, would go a long way. Perhaps, +too, if I found them, it would be as well to go home again at once. Then +I began to wonder if the fellow in the office would not, if I had asked +him, have told me that houses, by careful cultivation, would grow out of +the ground themselves in that country. In a word, I gave it up. Perhaps +it was all one tissue of falsehood. Perhaps the diggers over there were +only trying to get slaves to work for them. That seemed to me more +reasonable. Why should the Government of the country make me a present +of a large estate? All bosh! But I would go, just to see the land in +which swans were black and rivers running from the ocean inland. If I +should be caught on my arrival, perhaps I might escape to the interior. +There would be no cabinet-maker's shops there, of that I felt certain. +The prospectus said that the Government would guarantee to every +intending emigrant work on the roads of the colony for two years, if he +desired it. I could not think it probable that I desired that, but +perhaps it was meant to pay our passage money. Anyhow, I promised myself +I should not fail for the want of firearms if I did go, and perhaps we +could slay any enemies we found altogether, because undoubtedly there +would be others on board ship who would fight for their liberty. +Liberty, delightful liberty! To be the captain of a gang of warriors, +half robbers, half gold-miners, roaming over the continent of Australia, +seemed a delightful prospect. + +This is, I am sure, quite a faithful picture of my wild ideas of +Queensland after I had elicited all the information I could get. + +The Government of Queensland spends yearly, I do not remember how large +a sum, in promoting free emigration. They prepared at great cost, and +with elaborate exactness, statistics to show the commercial position of +the country. Then they trust all this to the care of some office at +home, whose officials know little or nothing about Queensland. The +principal in such an office puts a clerk at the counter who has, +perhaps, no other qualification for the work than a facility for +talking. Fancy a home-bred peasant coming into such a place with the +care of a family on his shoulders, and a little money in the bank, and +think of the clerk talking to him about gold-fields and firearms and +statistics, all the time admitting he never was in the colony himself! I +think it is quite enough to prevent any one going out. And yet people of +that class are the only class of poor men who really can do well in +Queensland, and they are almost the only desirable sort of emigrants for +the country itself. The reason is that such a man can, after a very +short spell of colonial experience, go on to a piece of crown land, and +by residing there for five years, and making certain improvements +thereto, very soon get a living out of the soil, and while keeping his +children round him, be independent of everybody. But such people are at +a premium in Queensland. On the other hand, the towns out here are +crowded with men who seek for light work, and I have no hesitation in +asserting that for certain people, such as junior clerks without +influence, grocers' and drapers' assistants, second-class tradesmen, +&c., it is quite as difficult, if not more so, to obtain a living in +Queensland as in Copenhagen. The land order I obtained, and which +entitled me to eighty acres of land wherever I chose to take them, I did +not consider of any value--in fact I threw it away; so did all the other +emigrants on the ship: one might have bought a whole hatful for a dozen +biscuits! + +But all this is digression. Still, it is a matter which excites +considerable interest in Queensland, and as I think of that time, these +thoughts come uppermost in my mind. No doubt if I, in the office, had +met a man who came from the colony, and who could have advised me and +spoken with confidence about the country itself, I should have made up +my mind to go in a far less reckless way, and probably I should never +have acquired, after my arrival in the country, that roving disposition +which I contracted, and which did not leave me for many years, if it has +even left me now. Well, I made up my mind to go. I also made up my mind +that it was unnecessary for me to work any more in Hamburg while +waiting for the ship, so I took a holiday and went about town every day, +spending my money to the last farthing. I had bought a revolver, +ammunition, and a long knife. I had bought my ticket too, and so the day +arrived when we were all mustered and put on board the ship. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ON THE EMIGRANT SHIP--THE JOURNEY TO QUEENSLAND. + + +What a motley crew we were: Germans, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, a +Russian Finn, and an Icelander. There were many nationalities, but in +the majority of cases extreme poverty was evident in their dress and +stamped upon their faces, and it was easy to see that the same spirit of +recklessness which filled me had somehow also been instilled into them. +Nearly everybody had guns, revolvers, and knives, which were promptly +taken from us as we stepped on board. Then the Germans would sing in +their language of the Fatherland they had left, and in overflowing gush, +men, women, and children would hang about one another's necks. Everybody +acted in such a mad manner as, I am quite sure, he would never have +thought of behaving in any time before. Most of the men were drunk, and +as it grew dark at night one would seek for the other, and as no one +knew the way about, a perfect pandemonium was raging--singing, fighting, +blubbering in all languages. I do believe if I had had a sixpence left, +I should have spent it in schnapps too, because my courage had never +been tried so hard before. But I had spent my all, and so I made a +virtue of necessity, and stood aloof looking round me in silent wonder +as to what the end would be. + +The prospectus said that the best and most wholesome food would be +served out to us in abundance, and to look at the bill of fare one would +think it enough to satisfy any gormandizer. But we got nothing at all +the first day, and I was unspeakably hungry. The prospectus said also +that bed-clothes were supplied to us, and these were already in the +bunks--it said mattrass, pillow, sheets, and blanket. The mattrass and +pillow were right enough. The sheets it did not matter much about--they +were no good at all for their purpose. But the blanket, the only thing +we had to cover ourselves with at night on a four months' voyage, was +smaller than the size of a little dining-table when it was spread out, +about the size of a saddle-cloth and much inferior in quality to +anything worthy of the name of blanket I have ever seen before or since. +As a consequence, those who had like myself put faith in that part of +the promises made us, and who had no other bed-clothes, were compelled +when we went to bed at night, to put on all the clothes we had and sleep +in them. I slept every night for months at a stretch in my overcoat, +woollen comforter around my neck, and the blanket, the all sufficient +bed-clothes, rolled round my head! + +I did not, as it may be imagined, sleep at all the first night on board +the ship. At break of day the cook came in with a large wooden bowl of +hot potatoes, which he put on the table singing out, "Breakfast!" I was +thankful because I was very hungry, and I began at once to get out of +the bunk so as to lose no time, but I was not half way to the table +before a dozen Germans had rushed the dish and stuffed all the hot +potatoes into their pockets, their shirts, anywhere. There was not a +taste left! We were twenty-six men in that compartment, and now the row +of last night began again with renewed vigour. I looked upon it as a +lesson in smartness which I should have to learn, and I thought that if +I did not learn it soon it would be a bad job. Half of the twenty-six +men were Danes--in fact we were fourteen Danes in the compartment +against twelve Germans, because I, who hailed from Hamburg, had been +classified as a German although I am not. I believe it was a +premeditated assault on the potatoes by the Germans, because they were +all in it, and not one of the Danes had got a morsel to eat. The twelve +Germans gave nothing up. They ate the potatoes intended for us all with +great composure while we others were storming at them. Didn't I feel +wild! + +While the dissatisfaction was at its highest point, somebody we had not +yet seen came into the cabin. He was a person with a decided military +air about him, and he was also dressed in a gorgeous uniform. Two of the +passengers who had already been sworn in to act as police constables +during the voyage came behind him, and in one of his uplifted hands he +held a document which he was waving at us. "Halt," cried he. "Halt, +Donnerwetter, I say, halt, while I read this paper." All the Germans +without an exception had just come from the Franco-German war, and the +sight of the uniform and the determined military air about the doctor, +as we soon discovered him to be, had the effect of shutting them up in +an instant. Some of the Danes were also old soldiers; anyhow, you might +have heard a pin drop while the doctor, who also came straight from the +war, where he had been army surgeon, read a proclamation, the exact +words of which I forget, but which was to the purpose that he had +supreme command over us all, and--"Donnerwetter," cried he, +"Donnerwetter, I will have order. If you are not amenable to discipline +I will handcuff every one of you. What sort of Knechte are you?" This +last remark was addressed to a big strapping-looking German who happened +to stand close to him. The German stood as stiff as a statute, saluting +with the one hand, while with the other he made a slight movement which +threw his overcoat a little to one side and displayed a silver cross +which he wore on his vest. "Ha!" cried the doctor, greatly mollified, "I +see you have served the Kaiser to some purpose. Don't forget you are not +outside the Kaiser's law yet. I hope we shall be friends." Then he +marched off to read his proclamation in other parts of the ship. These +Germans, I found out by degrees, were not at all bad fellows, but we +did not for a long time forgive them the assault on the potatoes, and I +have often thought what a peculiar sign of German thrift it was. They +had simply taken in the situation more quickly than we; indeed it has +become nearly a proverb in Queensland to say that a German will grow fat +where other men will starve. After that time order was restored, and no +disturbance worth mention occurred on the whole voyage. + +Nothing can well be more tedious than a sea voyage of four months under +our circumstances. The food was wretched and insufficient, and, as I +have already mentioned, most of us had to sleep with all our clothes on +us. We did not undress; we rather dressed to go to bed! + +There was not a single individual among the passengers who understood +English. It is true I had learned English for seven years in school, but +when we came ashore it proved that I could scarcely make myself +understood in a single sentence. None of us knew anything about +Queensland, and many were the surmises and guesses at what the country +was like and what we were going to do there. I remember distinctly once +a number of us were sitting talking about the colony, and that one +ventured to say that he had heard how in Queensland, when journeymen +tradesmen were travelling about looking for work, they needed no +"wander-book," and travelled about on horseback; whereupon another got +up much offended, and said that he had heard many lies about +Queensland, but this last beat all. He did not know so much about the +"wander-book," although he had taken good care to have his own in order, +but if any one tried to make him believe that beggars went about on +horseback over there, then it was time to cry stop. "No," said he, "he +knew we should have to walk." We others concurred. + +One of my companions, I remember, was a shoemaker, and a religious +maniac besides. He would lie in his bunk and pray aloud night and day. +It was quite startling sometimes in the middle of the night when all +were asleep to hear him in a sanctimonious voice chanting a hymn. If the +spirit moved him that way, then it was good-bye to sleep for us for a +long time after. He would be quite irresistible. Most of us in the cabin +were a phlegmatic set who did not mind, but one, a Swiss, was of a very +excitable temperament. He was "down" on the shoemaker. When the hymns +began in the night one might be quite sure to hear after a minute, from +the bunk in which the Swiss lay, a smothered whispered little oath like +"Gottferdam." Then ten seconds after he would exclaim in an everyday +voice, with, however, an affected resignation, "Gottferdam"; and as the +full burden of the sacred song kept rolling on, he would start screaming +out of his bunk with a real big "Gottferdam." But the others did not +allow him to hurt his enemy. They seemed to agree that even if it was +not very nice, yet it must be wicked to hurt any one for practising his +religion; but I believe that their motives were not quite so pure, +because this shoemaker had an inexhaustible fund of anecdote, and if +anything were allowed to annoy him in the night, he would tell them no +stories during the day. When all went smooth, it was the practice for +him to gather a score or two around, the numbers swelling as he +proceeded, and then tell a story, something of a sensational sort about +love and murder. His whole soul would then be in it, and he gesticulated +as if he felt and believed it all. Every Sunday he was always more or +less ready to cry out for hunger, and would at such times sit and look +right before him straight out into space. Then he would say, "I wish I +had a dish of German dumplings. With cherry-sauce, with cherry-sauce. +Not the way one gets in the steam-kitchens, but the way my mother used +to make it." Then we would get a long description of his mother's recipe +for German dumplings. There is no mistake about it, too, we _did_ fast +on that ship. + +In reading over to myself some of these last pages, I am afraid I have +given my readers the impression that the people on board, taken as a +whole, were a bad lot. If I have done so, it is erroneous. It is true +that my first impression of the emigrants was not a good one, and +perhaps few among us excelled or were remarkable for anything in +particular, but taken as a whole they were honest, hard-working people, +and as I became acquainted with them one after another I found that men +of whom I had a very low opinion when we first came on board, were in +reality entitled to very much higher estimation. + +We did not know anything about the country to which we were going. We +had an idea that we were to begin a new life somewhat freer than in the +old world, and, simpleminded as we were--because I was just as bad as +anybody--thought that when we came on board ship we could dispense with +such formalities as those the old world had taught us. That is, I am +sure, the true reason why so many emigrants, when they leave home as +well as when they arrive in a colony, behave so foolishly as to make one +think that they never had known the decencies of life before. It is the +same with the English emigrants, only they are more quickly absorbed +into the general population. Still the word "New Chum" has in Australia +much the same meaning as the word "fool." I never felt more bitterly +ashamed than once, several years after I came to Queensland, when I saw +a number of Danish immigrants just arrived. It was in Toowoomba, and I +had come down there from up country on some business, when one of the +first things I was told was that there were a lot of my countrymen in +the depot waiting for engagements. Toowoomba is about a hundred miles +inland, and they had been sent up from Brisbane. Well, I felt quite +pleased, and decided at once to go and see them and to speak a kind word +to some of them, if I could not do them any other service. But I came +away a great deal less pleased than I had gone. There were some long +forms outside the building, and on those forms sat as close as they +could find room a score or so of men. Each man had wooden clogs on his +feet and a long pipe in his mouth. On his knees sat his girl with her +arm round his neck, and there they sat smoking and kissing perfectly +regardless of ladies and gentlemen who would walk about looking at them +and going on again. One I stood glaring at seemed to me the worst. He +was a big ugly fellow, dressed in a blue calico blouse, black trousers +and wooden clogs. In his hand he had a pipe five feet long, but on his +head he had a sugar-bag. These sugar-bags are of straw and about two +feet six inches in length. He had tied in the corners to fit his head. +This gentleman would rush about and look in at the doors of houses, +throwing side glances in all directions with the evident desire to +attract attention. At last he stood in the middle of the street singing +an old Danish song and jerking his body about like a maniac. I could not +contain myself, so I went up to him and asked him if he did not think he +was ugly enough already without trying to make himself still more so, +and what did he mean by sticking that sugar-bag on his head? + +"Oh," cried he, quite unconcerned, "here we are right up on the top of +these blue mountains, that does not matter. It is a first-rate +straw-hat. Does it not look nice? Why! this is a free country," &c. + +One very conspicuous figure on board the emigrant ship was the +Icelander, Thorkill; he was so unlike anybody else that I would like to +describe him, especially as he became my mate in Queensland and we +became close friends. His eyes were bluer and his complexion clearer +than that of any one else I ever saw. He had long yellow curly hair, and +a big yellow beard. He was himself also big and strong, and about +twenty-eight years of age--altogether I should say, as far as appearance +went, the beau ideal of a man. But as no one is perfect, so had he also +a grievous fault, viz., a certain softness, like a woman. He always +spoke as with a comma between each word, and although he had plenty of +good sense and was, like all Icelanders, well educated, yet he would, I +believe, give most people the impression that he was not fit to battle +with a wicked world. I often wondered what might have brought him on +board that ship, but he was very reticent about his own affairs. +Meanwhile I have never known anybody whose mind was so pure, whose +thoughts were so lofty as his. But he was unpractical, to a degree. He +claimed to know all his ancestors from the twelfth century, when they +had emigrated from Norway to Iceland, and he said his father still +farmed the same land. Unless as a professor in ancient folklore, I do +not know what Thorkill was good for. I had, in school, learned much +Icelandic folklore, and to see his eyes sparkle with joy when he +discovered this and knew that I was interested in it besides, did me +real good, and so we agreed that during the voyage we would refresh each +other's memory in "Sagamaal." He arranged to teach me the whole complete +"Rumi Kronike." So we bribed the fellow who lay next to me (we had +double bunks) to exchange berths with Thorkill, and he and I then lay +together, and there we were telling "Sagamaal" from morning to night and +sometimes the whole night through. He would make me tell him one of the +"Sagas" I knew, although he knew it far better himself, just to see if I +had mastered it properly. He would listen with all his might, then he +would say: "Excuse--me--for--interrupting you--but--are--you--sure--that +--you--are--correct--in--describing--Sharpedin--the--son--of--Hakon--as +--a--longbearded--man. The--Rumi Kronike--does--not--say--so--on--the +--contrary." Then we would have a long argument about that, Thorkill +insisting upon the importance of being exact. + +He wrote a splendid hand, but from the pedantic ungainly way in which he +took hold of anything, I made sure he was not a good worker. He had +studied scientific farming at the agricultural college in Copenhagen, +and afterwards had been, he said, a sort of overseer on a large farm on +the island of Als. Whether he had given satisfaction at that or not, I +did not know, but what was the good of all his knowledge, supposing he +had any, when he did not understand English, had no friend nor money, +and was a bad worker? One day I said to him: + +"Thorkill, do you ever try to draw a real picture to yourself of how we +shall get on when we come to Queensland? I am thinking of this, there +are, according to what we have been told, no more people in all +Queensland than there is in a good-sized street in Copenhagen, and here +are all these people on board ship who will be, the moment they land, +ravenous in their competition for something to do, and another ship has +sailed from Hamburg a week after us. How will they fare? I cannot solve +it. But it strikes me very forcibly that if the sail of this ship were +set for Copenhagen harbour instead of Queensland, the only solution to +the problem there would be for the police to have some large vans in +readiness and to give us a drive in them straight out to the workhouse." +"Oh say not so," cried Thorkill, "say not so. God will protect us. You +and I will never part." "No," cried I, in the fulness of my heart, "we +will stick together, and we will get something to do too, you will see." +And then, with a new sense of responsibility on me, I would talk to him +cheerfully about Queensland, and the opportunities there would be to do +well for both of us, which could not fail, but meanwhile I would rack my +brain with thinking about how to make a few shillings to land with. I +had not got a cent, and I knew very well that Thorkill had nothing +either. It was a bad place I was in for making money, for there was not +much of it on the ship, but I now very much regretted that I had spent +all that I had before I came on board. Here were all these empty +bottles lying about the ship which nobody seemed to claim. Why, thought +I, they must be worth a little fortune in Queensland. Good idea! We will +collect them all. I communicated with Thorkill. "Oh," said he, "you-- +will--make--your--fortune--in--Queensland. They must be worth a mint of +money. But is it right to take them? What--a--business--ability--you +--have--got. Nobody seems to want them. I think we might have them." + +So then we went about begging and borrowing empty bottles everywhere, +without letting anybody know for what we wanted them, and we piled them +up in our bunks so that we could scarcely get into them; then people, +when they saw what we were after, put a price on the bottles and came to +us to sell. So Thorkill bought five shillings' worth on my +recommendation, all the money he had, and still they came with bottles, +but the firm was compelled to suspend payment. Then I, who was +understood to know a little English, opened a class for teaching that +language. My pupils had no money, but I took it out in empty bottles, +and by and by we had them stacked by the hundred all round about ready +for market. + +The food we got was so wretched and insufficient that it was scarcely +possible to keep body and soul together upon it. I have asked many +people since how they fared in other ships, and I have come to the +conclusion that our ship was the worst provided of any in that respect. +Indeed, the emigrant ships which leave England are well supplied with +everything, even luxuries, for their passengers. But in this ship we +were sometimes on the point of despair with hunger. We got our week's +supply of biscuits served out once a week. Those who were unable to +practise self-restraint, generally ate them in a couple of days, and for +the rest of the week subsisted on the so-called dinner which consisted +of a couple of mouthfuls of salt pork or mutton, with a little +sauer-krout to keep it company. Our ration of sugar was a small +table-spoonful per week to each man. The tea and coffee we got morning +and evening was served in the same wooden trough in which we fetched our +dinner, and as the sugar ration was, as already stated, served +separately once a week and quickly consumed, our beverage was void of +any sweetening. But as for me, I never fooled about all the week with my +spoonful of sugar; I always put it into the first pint of tea I got. We +also got some butter, and we never troubled much either about the +quantity or quality of that article. The trouble was that we had seldom +a biscuit to spread it on. The prospectus had said that cordials were +served out, and in conformity with that every sixteen men received one +bottle of lime-juice per week. These were our rations. There was on that +account an amount of dissatisfaction on board verging sometimes on open +mutiny. The water was also fearfully bad, with inches of froth on it, +but bad as it was, we would drink it as soon as we got it and then feel +like dying of thirst sometimes before the time came to serve out the +next rations. As a sort of proof of the correctness of this statement, I +might mention that one of the passengers had a canary bird which died of +thirst because some of us would steal the drop of water in its glass! + +I have already written that no disturbance worth mentioning occurred on +the voyage. When I wrote that, I forgot an incident which happened when +we had been out to sea about a couple of months. The doctor, as I have +already stated, was also in command of us. He had been an army doctor in +the German army during the Franco-German war, and came straight thence. +Whether he made the mistake of thinking he was in command of a convict +ship full of criminals, or whether it was that his military training was +the cause of it, I cannot say, but in one word, he was boss of that +ship. Every now and then somebody would be handcuffed and shut up during +his pleasure, without anybody taking much notice; but one day he went a +good deal too far. One of the single girls had been accused by the woman +in charge of them of some fault, upon which I need not farther enlarge +more than to say that it was trifling, and that the culprit was a very +respectable girl, who shortly after her arrival in Queensland got +married to a good husband, and that both she and her husband are, and +always were, pre-eminently respectable people. The girl was tied with +ropes to the mast, with her hands fastened behind her in such a way that +she was exposed to the full view of all the six hundred people on board. +I was lying in my bunk when a fellow came in very excited, and said, +"Look here, chaps, is not this getting red hot? There is that poor girl, +so and so, chained to the mast and crying as if her heart would break. +What are we coming to?" + +The moment I heard there was a girl chained to the mast and crying, I +jumped up and registered an oath aloud that she should not stand there +one second longer than it would take me to reach the mast. So did every +other man who was in the cabin; even meek Thorkill cried out, "It is too +bad, too bad." Then I grabbed the wooden trough in which the concoction +of roasted peas that passed for coffee was served out in the morning. So +did every other man grab at something to strike with--one would take a +wooden clog, one a long stick, another a boot, and all something, and in +less time than it takes to read this we were all on deck. But to reach +the mast was then impossible. The girl had not stood there yet for five +minutes, but there was already a surging, impenetrable crowd on the +scene of action. As I could not see, and could not content myself to +stand still, I jumped up in the rigging, and from there, right enough, I +saw the girl and four German constables (passengers who had been sworn +in as police) watching her. How shall I describe the scene. It all +seemed to me to happen in one instant. Hundreds of men were yelling from +behind at the top of their voices, "Throw them in the sea. Cut her down! +Where is the doctor? He shall not live another hour." A dozen men were +struggling round the girl, some with the constables, and some of the +more moderate among the passengers with the aggressors. One towering +fellow, a Dane, had one of the constables by the throat, and the wooden +bowl swinging over his head, and held back by another man, who implored +him to give the doctor a chance to order the girl's instant removal. The +doctor was not on deck, but he came running on now, with a revolver in +each hand. He kept on the quarter-deck, but he sang out to the +constables to cut her down and take her into the hospital. Somehow that +was done, and the doctor walked down the steps from the quarter-deck, +turned the key in the lock, put it in his pocket, and faced the crowd. + +Did you ever notice two dogs when they meet, and before they begin to +fight? How unconcerned they try to look. They will look at anything, +anywhere but at one another. So looked the doctor as he stood there with +a cigar in his mouth, smoking away and looking at anything but the sea +of faces around him. Around him like a solid wall had the men closed, +armed with knives, wooden bowls, sticks, &c., and the howl, "Throw him +in the sea," kept on from the rear. No doubt the doctor realized that he +had gone too far, and he tried all he could while he stood there not to +give further offence, but I watched him particularly from my seat in the +rigging. Fear was not in that man. Not a muscle in his face shook, and +yet I am certain that his attention was strained to the uttermost, and +that the fingers which closed on the triggers of the two revolvers would +have caused them to blaze away the moment he had felt any one touch him +ever so gently. Behind him again, but up on the quarter-deck, stood the +captain and the first mate, with large overcoats on, and their hands in +their pockets. I had a suspicion that they also had revolvers--who knows +how many--within easy distance. + +But it was one thing to see a young woman tied to the mast and crying, +and it was (the doctor and his revolver apart) quite another thing to +look at a closed door and know that she was there and that no further +harm would befall her. But most of the men had a few minutes ago been so +excited, that it was not in human nature for them to cool down at once. +The man who had when I came on the scene taken the most prominent part, +was still the foremost person. He stood within three feet of the doctor, +and, as I said already, like a solid wall stood the others armed with +divers things; but no one touched the doctor, and no one spoke to him, +and there was a sort of undecided silence. Then the leader cried, "Well, +what are you waiting for? You said throw him in the sea; just give the +word and he shall be overboard in a second." My heart beat violently. I +thought murder would be committed in an instant, and not a single life +either, but perhaps scores would be sacrificed. There was a dead +silence. The wind whistled through the rigging, but it was the only +sound heard. The doctor did not move; the captain did not move; the mate +did not move; and none of the men moved. None dared to give the +aggressive sign, and each seemed to feel it just as impossible to beat a +retreat. It might have lasted a couple of minutes, perhaps less. It +seemed an age to me. Then we all heard Thorkill's voice, he was +somewhere in the rigging too, and he cried, "Countrymen--listen--to--me! +hear--what--I--say! Disperse! Disperse!--quietly. Let--us--complain +--when--we--come--ashore! He--will--shoot--the--first--ten--or--twelve +--men--who--touch--him--and--those--who--escape--now--might--be--hung +--when--we--come--ashore. Let--us--complain--when--we--come--ashore +--and--we--will--get--justice." Thorkill still kept on talking, but the +outburst of relief from all sides completely drowned his voice. There +was an honourable way to get out of it. "We will complain when we come +ashore," "Disperse," "Let it be enough," and similar expressions, were +heard on all sides, and the doctor, I suppose nothing loth, had quite a +pleased appearance as he stepped up on the quarter-deck again as soon as +the road was clear, and disappeared out of sight simultaneously with the +dispersion of the men. + +That day the doctor did not show up again, but on the next, I suppose +just to show that he did not consider himself beaten, all the single men +were ordered below at sundown as a punishment for insubordination, and +with that the matter ended. But now the men were pressing Thorkill to +write out a complaint which should embody all we had suffered, and all +our supposed wrongs. Thorkill, however, would do no such thing. It was +not in his line, he said. Many a talk he and I had about it, but he +could not see his way. "All these poor people," said he, "are treated +with contempt because they are poor, and I cannot help them for I am +just as poor. We do not know to whom to complain; we cannot write +English, and what we do will rebound on our own heads. Still," said he, +"it--is--a--shame--that--they--should--be--allowed--to--treat--people +--like--this." Then I wrote out a complaint in Danish addressed to the +Danish Consul, Australia. The exact contents of it I have long since +forgotten, but it was to the effect that we had been starved, +ill-treated, had had no sick accommodation, insufficient bed-clothes, +&c., and from that day I looked upon myself as an important personage on +board ship. All the single and married men, with about a dozen +exceptions, signed the statement. All the single girls wanted also to +sign it, but I feared the woman in charge might confiscate the document +(the matron in charge of the girls on our ship was only an ordinary +emigrant selected by the doctor, and in my opinion scarcely the best +that might have been selected. In English emigrant ships an educated +lady is engaged as matron.) Thus I could not bring myself to go among +them for the purpose of getting signatures, and so the females were not +represented in the complaint. (It might, however, be interesting to +English readers, as showing the standard of education on the continent +of Europe, that of all the people on board only one, an elderly man, had +to sign his name with a cross.) + +One day while I was getting these signatures, and the men were coming to +where I held my levee as fast as they could, the doctor stormed the +cabin with two constables behind him and ordered me to give up the +document to him. Then the doctor and I talked, I in Danish and he in +German, and we had a wordy war. I liked the doctor in my heart, because +he was about as brave a man as one could wish to see, and very likely, +too, some of the severe discipline on board was not altogether uncalled +for; yet he was not going to have it all his own way, and to this day I +maintain that whatever else might have been right or wrong, to starve as +we starved was scandalous. I write about these things, and I do not know +whether my readers may think them of much interest, but all these little +incidents seem engraven upon my memory. On board ship there is nothing +to think about or to talk about but the same old things. One is cross, +perhaps, and everybody talks much about the same thing. "Where are we, +I wonder?" "I wonder how many knots we are running?" "I wonder how it +will go when we come to Queensland?" "I wonder if any one ever was so +hungry as I?" So it goes on, day out and day in, and one has to discuss +and answer these questions about five hundred times every day. + +But now we are nearing Australia, and high time I dare say the reader +probably thinks it is; but if my readers are tired out, so were +we. Yet there is another of the passengers I must describe, as I +intend to mention him again. I will do so in a few words. He was a +quiet, gentlemanly man, about thirty years old. He told me he had +been a lieutenant in the Danish army, but had been dismissed for +insubordination. He managed, without giving offence to anybody, to keep +himself completely in the shadow in the ship, and one seemed not to know +he was there. I will call him "A." A. understood and spoke English +fluently, but nobody knew it. Indeed, when the complaint-fever was on, +he denied all knowledge of the language. A young lady was travelling +with him--that is, she went as a single girl, but they got married as +soon as we came ashore. They had quite a number of things with them to +set up house with, and lived for a short time very comfortably on their +means; when they went away again I lost sight of them. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +MY ARRIVAL IN QUEENSLAND. + + +Never can I forget the joy I felt, a joy universal to all on board the +ship, the first day we saw Australia. It was Sunday. The whole night +before the ship had cruised about outside Bass's Straits, and at break +of day we ran in. We did not know at all we were so near. We had not +seen land for three months when we had made out the island of Madeira. +Since then, as far as I remember, we had not even passed another ship. +In the Indian Ocean, storm, sleet, rain and cold had been the order of +the day. This day, the first time for months, the sun was shining +brightly, and a crisp, altogether different air fanned our cheeks. It +was blowing very strongly, but every sail the ship could carry was +spread, so that the ship lay over very much, and we seemed to fly past +the land at lightning speed. + +This, then, was Australia, our future home--and beautiful it seemed. +Land lay on both sides. That on the Australian side was flat, seemingly, +but Tasmania showed up with a majestic chain of mountains. I had never +seen a mountain before, nor had any of the other Danes, and we wondered +whether anything could grow on them, or whether they were all solid +stone. People were so glad, that they ran about and shook one another's +hands. Three or four of the passengers had telescopes, and we were all +dying to have a long look at the coast. It is amusing to myself to think +of the amount of ignorance which really existed among us about the land +to which we were going. + +"Do you make out anything over there?" one would ask of the man with the +telescope. "Yes," came the answer, "it seems all big trees." "Trees, did +you say? I am glad of that. I will lay a wager where all those trees +will grow, something else will grow." "This is not Queensland, though." +"Oh, well, only let me see plenty of big trees when we come to +Queensland, then I am satisfied." "Do you think we shall be allowed to +cut the trees down?" "I do! they must be glad to get rid of them. Why, +it is self-evident that you can take as much land here as you want; here +is so much of it and nobody to use it." + +"Do you know, I do not believe there is any desert in that land at all!" +"No more do I. I am sure there is not. Why should there?" "I am glad I +went, now I have seen the land." "So am I." + +In another part of the ship, as I walked about, I heard a very dogmatic +fellow laying down the law to a lot of married men who were discussing +their chances of obtaining employment. + +"Why," cried he, "anyone with a spark of common sense can see at a +glance that there must be _plenty_ of work in Queensland. Look around +you here on the ship. All these people must have shelter, and food, and +clothes; I say they must. That gives work--does it not?" + +The others did not seem quite convinced by the argument. They appeared +to know that there was a missing link somewhere, but, like the Italian +smuggler in Charles Dickens' "Little Dorrit," they kept saying, "Altro, +altro, altro!" + +With such hopeful conversation the day wore away, but before night we +were out again in open sea, and for another fortnight we saw no more of +Australia. Then we made the coast again and sailed along in sight of +land. Once more we were out to sea again. At last one morning before +daybreak we dropped anchor, and when daylight came found that we were +quite close to land, and right in front of a large flagpole and some +neat wooden cottages which stood on the shore. This, then, was +Queensland--Moreton Bay, and Brisbane, the capital, lay some miles up +the river. A man came from one of the houses and hoisted a flag, then +another, and another. Our company thought he did it to do us honour, or +in joy for our safe arrival, and in the wildest excitement they screamed +hurrah! until they were hoarse. Of course, the man was merely making +signals to the town, and a few hours after a small steamer came out, and +some live sheep were put on board, also fruit for the children, and +potatoes--sweet potatoes they are called, different from our potatoes at +home and much larger. + +Kind people!--Good Queensland!--Happy country! No starvation here or +smell of poverty. Look at these potatoes, five, six, ten times as large +as those we have at home! Who said Australia was a desert? So thought +and spoke we while we scanned, with a sort of reverent awe, some ladies +and gentlemen who were on board the little steamer, and the pilot who +had come on board our own ship. Much to our regret, we found we were not +to land here. We were now informed, for the first time on the whole +voyage, that our destination was a place called Port Denison, which lies +about half way between Brisbane and Cape Somerset, and which was at that +time the farthest northern port opened up of any importance. + +So now we were off again on our interminable voyage. Only our troubles +were over. Alas! for the complaint which I carried in my pocket, we were +all as healthy and strong a set of people as any one could wish to see, +for since we arrived in Bass's Strait we had been served with plenty of +food. Just now we lived on roast meat, potatoes, and pudding every day. +I could feel my cheeks grow redder and sleeker day by day. Alas! what +should I do? As a public man I was, of course, not allowed to change my +opinions, but when I looked at all these fellows gormandizing from +morning to night, it seemed to me a sort of treason to our cause. And +what was worse, I bore no ill-will to anybody. Surely the Danish consul, +if there was one, would expect to see a lot of emaciated objects when we +had been starved so cruelly, and I myself so anxious to get something to +do. I might be hindered, and have to travel about more yet, and, if I +could not prove the truth, be cast into prison! I often wish the +complaint was as nearly forgotten as our troubles seemed to be. Yet, +after all the talk there had been, it was too late to draw back. The +ship was now for a whole week longer sailing northwards, always in sight +of land--often, indeed, so close that we could almost have thrown +biscuits ashore. The whole way along was dotted with small islands, +which became more numerous the further north we sailed. There must be +some thousands of them if they were all counted, but with the exception +of a few of the largest which lie near Brisbane, they are nearly all +uninhabited. + +To look at the coast on the mainland, one would think that the man who +said he would be satisfied if he only saw plenty of trees in Queensland, +ought to feel contented. It seemed to us one vast forest. Occasionally +we saw smoke curling up from among the trees, and at night we could see +large fires. This was the dry grass burning among the trees, a very +common thing in Queensland, but to us it was a most startling and +awe-inspiring sight. We thought that it was the aboriginals who were +trying to get on to the ship, and that these were their fires. One +night the fires extended for many miles, and a most beautiful sight it +was, but no one gave a thought to its being a bush-fire. We simply said, +"What a lot of them there must be? Why, there must be more niggers here +than there were Frenchmen at Sedan. Look at their fires!" And then we +thought it strange that we did not get our weapons back again that they +had taken from us when we came on board. I do not think any one was +afraid. I myself rather liked the novelty of being so near the "enemy." +We would sit and discuss how many we thought we could keep out, +supposing, for argument's sake, that they dared to come--and altogether +we felt ourselves great heroes. + +I have a suspicion that the Queensland pilot who was now in charge of +the ship, along with the other quality up on the quarter-deck, were +having a laugh at our expense. Anyhow, one evening I happened to come +near him I pointed round me and towards the sun, which was just going +down, and summoning to my aid all my stock of English I said, "Very +nice, Queensland." "Yes," cried he, "it looks beautiful. All that red +glow in the sky you see there is the reflection from the gold on the +gold-fields." + +I could not understand the meaning of what he said, but I looked +deferential and thankful for the information all the same, and for fear +I had not taken it all in he called the mate and asked him to explain it +to me. Probably he thought I believed it! That same night we sailed in +between a mountainous island and the coast, and one of the guns was +loaded and fired off. The echo reverberated far and near in a most +startling fashion, and perhaps it was for the echo they fired it off, +but we were certain that it must have frightened the natives out of +their wits. We were even positive we could see them round their fires +trying to put them out. Poor harmless aboriginals of Queensland! They +little know what respect they are held in by new arrivals! It is only +familiarity which breeds contempt in their case. In a few more years the +last of them will have joined the great majority. After that event has +happened, no doubt the bard will sing their praises and descant about +their matchless beauty, their enormous strength, and their bloodthirsty +cruelty. + +We had very little wind in the sails as we came along, and nothing can +be thought more beautiful than the climate we now enjoyed. I am now so +used to the Queensland climate that I take it as a matter of course, but +how can I give the reader an adequate idea of the joy I then felt in the +very fact of my existence: the beautiful sun in the day, the glorious +sunset in the evening, the full moon, and the sparkling rippling silent +water! Then all these islands we passed were so full of mysterious +interest, while the vast unknown mainland lay beyond. The reckless +spirit of which I spoke as universal when we came on board in Hamburg, +seemed now to have taken wings and fled. Indeed, the main trouble on +board just now was how we should make a good impression when we landed. +It was looked upon as a matter of honour that each should be on his very +best behaviour when we came ashore, and I know of several of whom it was +thought by the rest that their clothes were scarcely good enough, and +who were lent by the others sufficient to appear in better trim and +circumstances. The ship was now so clean that one might have eaten his +dinner off the decks anywhere. Altogether there was a decided change for +the better since the day we first saw Australia. At last, one day after +having sailed along the apparently uninhabited coast for eight or nine +days, we suddenly rounded a cliff, sailed into a little bay, and dropped +anchor. There lay Bowen in full sight of us, and this was Port Denison. +How strange it seemed that these few scattered wooden cottages we saw +lying there on the beach in appalling loneliness should be the spot that +we, through storm and trouble, had all been trying to reach. For some +time not a human being was to be seen. There was a long jetty running +out into the water for a great distance, but we did not go alongside. We +lay, I think, half a mile out, and we were given to understand that we +were not to go ashore before the morrow, and that on landing all our +wants would be attended to until we obtained employment. Now it began to +look lively on the beach. A lot of people came out on the jetty, and at +last a boat, with a dozen gentlemen in it, got under way and pulled +straight for the ship. These are Queenslanders, thought I, men who had +fought with the Blacks and been on the gold-diggings. Rich, no doubt +they were. Oh, how we screamed hurrah! for them, and how kind they +looked as they came nearer, waving their handkerchiefs and smiling in +response to our greeting. They were not at all ferocious looking; really +much the same sort of people we had seen before. Yet what adventures +must they not have gone through; what stories could they not tell if +they liked? But, of course, that would be beneath their dignity. At last +they were on board. Most of them greeted the doctor and captain in +German, being, in fact, Germans. After a short interval, one of the +Queenslanders, who proved to be the agent and interpreter employed by +the Government to attend to us when we came ashore, got up on a big box +and made a long speech in German, exhorting us to do well, and +gesticulating with much gusto and great force. He advised us to take the +first work we could get, and while we were accommodating ourselves to +the new habits of life and customs existing in this country, to try to +feel contented. "Where," cried he, "will all of you be in twenty years? +Some will be dead; others perhaps alive. Some rich and honoured; others +perhaps only servants to those among you who are more pushing or lucky. +These little children who are now running about us fighting for an +orange, may become members of Parliament in time. To-day you start with +an equal chance, but from to-morrow your fortunes will begin to alter, +and for certain not one of you will for ever forget this day; and no +doubt in after years you will look back on to-day often, and as you +recall to your mind how your time has been employed, wish you had it +over again, that you might act more wisely or become better." + +All this was good advice, and very well and kindly spoken. He said much +more to the same purpose, but as good advice is everywhere cheap and +plentiful, I will not inflict the whole of his carefully prepared speech +upon my readers. He spoke for nearly an hour. At last he congratulated +us on our clean appearance, wiped his perspiring brow, and the +performance was at an end. We were not sorry, to tell the truth--at +least I was not, because this was the day on which our best dinner, grey +peas stewed with pork, was served out; and as it was past the usual +dinner hour when the sermon was over, not only did I stand right in the +tempting smell from the kitchen, but I had also noticed how, gradually, +as the speech proceeded, the "skaffers," or men whose duty it was to +fetch the food from the cook's galley, had one by one crept away, and +now they stood in a long row ready with their wooden troughs while the +cook began to dish up the peas. + +After dinner, when we came on deck again, I heard some one cry out, "Are +there any carpenters on board? Carpenters--any carpenters who want +employment?" + +"Yes!" I was one. Five more came forward. One of the Queenslanders said +he wished to engage one or two carpenters. Of course some one acted as +interpreter. Well, he would give thirty pounds sterling per annum to a +good man. He would also give him his board and lodging. We all thought +it a fair offer, although scarcely up to our expectations. But then, +again, what were our expectations? Half the time we were afraid we +should get nothing at all to do, and the other half we thought we were +to pick up bucketsful of gold. Anyhow, we were all anxious to engage, +and I, with a full regard to the fact that my only property was a +partnership in two hundred and odd empty bottles, was not at all sorry +to see that I seemed to find favour in his eyes. I was offered an +engagement on the above-named terms. Would I kindly step this way to +sign the agreement? A document written in English was placed before me +for signature. I could pretty well understand the meaning of it, and an +interpreter was there ready enough to explain matters, but there were +certain very important features in it which never were explained to me, +and which I myself totally overlooked, and if I had seen these I should +only have agreed to them as a last resource from starvation. As the +agreement was just like those signed by thousands every year all over +Queensland to this present day, I will give it here. It ran thus: ---- +promised to serve ---- for the term of twelve calendar months and to +obey all his lawful commands. In return for which, ---- would pay the +sum of L---- sterling and rations. Then followed the signatures. I +understood that the word "rations" meant my board and lodging, and so it +proved in my case, and as it was explained to me; but most of my +unfortunate shipmates who signed similar agreements in the same good +faith as I found out in a practical manner that to them it had another +meaning. It will be noticed that the agreement says nothing whatever +about lodging. Legally, a Queensland employer who engages a man for +wages and "rations" might let his employe camp under the gum-trees +without giving him any sleeping accommodation whatever, and that is very +often done. If a man gets a shed or a corner of a stable to live in, it +is more than he is entitled to under these agreements. So far as the +food is concerned, the word "ration" as used in these agreements means a +fixed quantity of certain things, which, therefore, again is all an +employe can expect from his master. These consist of twelve pounds of +raw beef or mutton, eight pounds of flour, two pounds of sugar and a +quarter of a pound of tea. As long as these eatables are tea and sugar, +flour and beef, nothing is said as to quality, and the most inferior +goods which are in the market are called _ration-tea_ and +_ration-sugar_. But what is an unfortunate new arrival, who never made a +cup of tea in his life before, to do, when on his arrival at some +out-of-the-way place in the bush his "boss," as the employer in +Queensland is called, hands him these rations instead of giving him +three square meals a day? + +[Illustration: THE LANDING OF EMIGRANTS.] + +But what was happening now? The constables were running about among the +people telling them to stand here and to stand there. All the single +girls were packed together up by the wheel as close as they could stand. +Then the married men with their families were told to stand as near them +as they could, and the single men were again packed as close to them as +possible. All of us were now on the quarter-deck. Then came the +Queenslanders, the doctor, the captain, and the first mate, and took up +a position in front of us down on the deck. One of our own constables +with a very sanctimonious face was also there. What did it mean? The +Immigration Agent read out of a large protocol, "Anna Frederica +Johnston, come forward." "Anna Frederica Johnston, Anna--Anna, Anna +Frederica Johnston. They want you--you are wanted; you have to go." The +unfortunate girl was half paralyzed with terror, as she came forward. +She was a Norwegian. The immigration agent asked her, "Had she been well +and kindly treated on the voyage, and was she satisfied?" This had to be +translated from German into Norwegian before she understood it. But +scarcely did she understand what they said before she cried, "Oh yes, oh +yes, I am thankful and satisfied." "Good," she might pass forward. Then +another was called who also testified to her kind treatment, and so on +until all the girls, even the one who had been tied to the mast, had +said they were satisfied and had been well treated. While this was going +on, some of the men who stood nearest to me told me to erase their +names from the written complaint which I carried. Others advised me that +it was now too late altogether to complain; others again said, "Now is +the time." I felt myself surprised beyond measure that the Queensland +Government should take the trouble to cause such a question to be put to +each individual immigrant, and I felt certain that it could not have +been Queensland's fault if we had been badly treated. Anyhow, I saw no +reason to tell any falsehoods, and my mind was soon made up how to act. +As soon as the last girl had declared herself satisfied, the question +began with the single men. The first who happened to be called was +rather a dense sort of a fellow, and although he had signed the +complaint, still he said he was "well satisfied." So then I thought the +time had arrived for me to act. I went forward and presented my document +written in Danish and addressed to the Danish Consul, Australia; it was +translated from Danish to German and from German to English. Meanwhile I +glared at the doctor and the doctor glared at me. I felt in rare good +humour, the observed of all observers. As a Queenslander would say on +such an occasion, it was the proudest moment in my life. I was asked to +stand alongside the doctor and captain, and watch my case. The fellow +who had already declared himself satisfied was called back and asked had +he signed the complaint, and only passed forward after admitting that he +had. Then the question to the remainder became, "Have you signed the +complaint?"--to which each of them, evidently pleased, replied in the +affirmative. Those who had not signed, on saying "no" were then asked +"did they wish to sign?" Every one of them signed it then right before +the eyes of the doctor. I would as soon that they had not, because it +was easily seen that they signed it more because they were asked to do +so and did not want to cause trouble, than because they had changed +their minds since they had been requested to do the same thing on the +voyage. From that time to now I never heard any more about the +complaint. Very likely it was forwarded to the proper authorities, and +they perhaps took notice of it although unknown to us. The ship was +clean when we landed, so were the emigrants, and we had all a healthy, +well-fed appearance I am sure, and that must have been greatly in the +doctor's favour. But let me say here at once, that if there had been one +amongst us who had known the proper way to punish whoever was +responsible for our ill-treatment, I believe it would have been a simple +matter to have ruined the owners of the ship. If instead of writing our +complaint to the Danish Consul, one of us had been able to issue a writ +against the doctor upon some definite matter, he could have had as many +witnesses as he chose, ready to hand, to prove what the fare of the ship +had been. He might have produced his rag of a blanket in court too, and +then have claimed damages. I am certain that no Queensland judge or jury +would have said, after seeing it, that such a rag, two feet six inches +by three feet, was a sufficient covering on a four months' sea voyage, +or that the food we received was either sufficient or that it in any way +tallied with what we were promised. Such damages as would then have been +awarded to the first plaintiff, could indisputably have been claimed by +any other emigrant, and that would have meant more than the ship and all +that was in it was worth. + +My boss told me before the Queenslanders left the ship again that I +might, as soon as we landed, come to his house for my food and lodging, +and that he would not expect me to go to work for a few days, so that I +was well provided for already. Three or four dozen other immigrants had +also been engaged by the other Queenslanders, all for thirty pounds a +year and rations, on exactly the same agreements as mine. But Thorkill +was not among them, and I felt a little ashamed and sorry that it was +so, as we had agreed not to part, and I had in this way taken my first +chance regardless of him; but he was earnest in his gratulations and +certain, he said, he would be right too, somehow. We had all these empty +bottles, and we expected nothing less than sixpence, or perhaps a +shilling, apiece for them. At least I felt greatly consoled to think of +them, and I made up my mind that he should have the whole return from +them if he needed it. The next day arrived, when we should go ashore, +and, full of excitement and expectations, we sailed up to the jetty. +Slow work that; it took us some hours to do it. Every one was hanging +over the side of the ship looking to see what the place was like, and +watching a number of people who stood there. Now we were alongside, so +close that we might have jumped ashore, but still we were forbidden to +leave the ship before the doctor, who was ashore, arrived. A man stood +on the jetty with a large basketful of bananas, which he offered for +sale at sixpence per dozen, and handed them over the side of the ship to +any one who would buy. He sold them readily, and my mouth watered to +taste them; but I had no money. Thorkill stood alongside me, so he said, +"I should like so to taste some of those bananas." + +"So should I." + +"He charges sixpence per dozen." + +"Yes." + +"I wonder if he would take a bottle for a dozen?" + +"We will try." + +I dived into the cabin as fast as I could for a bottle, because the man +had only a few bananas left. We had all the bottles, or most of them, +wrapped up in paper, and I took one which looked nice and clean, and +came out again just in time to secure his attention. Now I had to try to +make myself understood. "I give you bottle," said I, "if you give me +bananas." + +"Are you going to shout?" cried he. "What have you got?" + +I did not know what that meant, but as he had a pleased sort of +appearance, I nodded and smiled, and caressed the bottle, saying, "Very +good, very good bottle." + +"All right," said he, "let us see what you have got. I give you some +bananas; here you are, hand down your bottle." + +So I took the bananas with the one hand, and handed him the bottle with +the other. + +He took it, smelt it, shook it, pulled off the wrapper, held it up +towards the sun, and cried, "Dead mariner, by Jove." + +Then every one on the jetty laughed like fun, but I was totally ignorant +where the joke came in, and asked, "Is it not a very good bottle?" + +"Oh, yes," said he, "splendid bottle," and they all kept on laughing and +talking at me, assuring me that I would do well in Queensland! I +understood that much. + +Thorkill and I now retired into the cabin to eat the bananas, and while +we ate them we had some conversation. + +"I wonder what they all were laughing at?" + +"Who shall say? Is--it--not--a--nuisance--that--we--do--not--understand +--English--better? I--cannot--talk--to--them--at--all. You--seemed--to-- +do--fine--though. My--word--you--did. I--never--would--have--believed-- +it. I--will--study--that--language." + +"Did you notice that he said, 'Dead mariner,' when he held the bottle up +towards the sun?" + +"Yes; now I should translate that as a dead sailor. I wonder what he +meant?" + +"Perhaps it is a slang name for a bottle." + +"I do not think you will find that a correct explanation. It was a dark +bottle; now, I am inclined to think that that sort of bottle may be used +for some liquor peculiar to this country called 'Dead Mariner;' the same +as in Denmark you have so many different names for nearly the same +thing. In that way you might be right in saying it is a slang name; but +anyhow, we will find out the true meaning of it some day." + +"Yes," I replied to Thorkill, "and the sooner we find it out the better. +Don't you see, the bottles may have a different value, and I should like +to have full value for them. We are now in Queensland, Thorkill, and I +do not intend to let any one fool me. So, before we sell to any one, I +will find out exactly what they are worth. They did not laugh at nothing +down there on the jetty. I am afraid he had too good a bargain." + +"They seemed to say we would do well with the bottles," remarked +Thorkill. + +"I hope we shall. But see! They are at last going ashore. Now, if you +take my advice, one of us will stay on board for another hour or two +watching the bottles, while the other goes up to the town to find out +their true value, and a customer for them." + +Thorkill replied to this: "Ah, yes; you go up to the town. I will stay +and watch the bottles. I am sure you can sell them to far better +advantage than I." + +Meanwhile, a number of the immigrants had gone ashore, and Thorkill and +I were getting the bottles out of their hiding-places and putting them +on the table. Some Queenslanders came in. They looked on a little. I +said, "How much money you pay me for one bottle?" + +"Have you got all these bottles for sale?" inquired one. + +"Of course," said I. + +He did not answer, but went outside and called out "Mick." + +In came the man who had sold me the bananas. + +"Do you want to buy any more 'dead mariner'?" asked the first. + +"Has he got all these bottles for sale?" inquired the banana man. + +"Certainly," cried I. (Of course, I did not make myself quite so easily +understood as might appear from this conversation, but still I managed +both to understand and to make myself understood on this occasion.) + +"No," cried he; "he did not think he wanted any more just now." + +"How much money you think I receive for one bottle?" inquired I. + +"Oh, plenty money," cried he, "my word ready; market, any one buys +them." + +"What do they say?" asked Thorkill of me. + +"They say the bottles are worth a lot of money." + +"See if you can find out what 'dead mariner' is." + +I took a porter bottle up, and then said, "You name that one 'dead +mariner'?" + +Queenslander: "Yes, certainly; that is one 'dead mariner.'" + +I took up a clear bottle and inquired, "This clear thing, you call that +empty bottle?" + +Queenslander: "To be sure that is an empty bottle. But if you are +willing to sell, you take them all up to that large hotel you see there. +They give you half-a-crown apiece for them." + +I then asked, "Which one is most costly, 'dead mariner' bottle or clear +bottle?" + +Queenslander: "Oh, that fellow--'dead mariner'--very dear; three +shillings, I think." + +"Heavens! here, we have made our fortune already, Thorkill," cried I. +"Three shillings apiece for these bottles and two-and-sixpence for +those. And it appears any one will buy. Are we not lucky?" + +"Oh, but," said Thorkill, "I shall never feel justified in taking half +of all that money. It was your idea. I should never have thought of it. +I shall be very thankful to receive just a pound or two." + +"Oh, no," cried I, "you shall share half with me whatever I get. But, +excuse me for saying it, you are so unpractical. Why are we not up and +stirring? Why are we sitting here yet? Remember time is money in this +country." Then I ventured to ask the Queenslanders if in the town there +was any one whom I might ask to assist us in carrying the bottles +ashore. + +"Oh, yes," they all cried, as if with one mouth. "You go up in town and +get hold of a couple of black fellows, and then you take them all up +that street you see there. Any one will buy them there." + +Thorkill remained on board keeping watch over the bottles, while I went +ashore to see what I should see. + +Just as I came to the end of the long jetty I saw standing there an +aboriginal and three Gins. They were about as ugly a set of blacks as I +have ever since seen in Queensland, and I was quite horrified at their +appearance. The man had on a pair of white breeches, but nothing else. +The Gins were also so scantily dressed that I am afraid of going into +details of their wearing apparel. All of them had dirty old clay pipes +in their mouths, which they were sucking, but there was no tobacco in +them. The gentleman of the party saved me the trouble of accosting him, +as he came towards me and inquired my name. Then he informed me that his +name was Jack. He next introduced me to the ladies, who, it appeared, +all had the same name--Mary. Of course I fell in with the humour of this +arrangement at once. It seemed to me a delightfully free and easy way of +making acquaintance. They all spoke a lot to me, which I did not in the +least understand, and I did the same to them no doubt. They asked me +for tobacco, which I had not got; but it appeared that all was grist +that came to their mill, for they asked in succession for matches, pipe, +"sixpence," and I do not know what else, and even wanted to feel my +pockets! Of course I did not like this familiarity, so I began to +explain to them that I wanted them to work--to carry burdens from the +ship. That was soon made clear to them. Then the "gentleman" of the +party was very particular to know what I would pay him. I had thought to +get them to carry the bottles up, and, having sold them, to pay them out +of the proceeds; but as he seemed anxious to make a fixed bargain, I +said, "I give you one bottle." In case he should have refused that, I +intended to have gone on further, and to have offered a "dead mariner," +but to my joy he accepted the offer with evident satisfaction, which +again more thoroughly convinced me of the value of my bottles. I and the +black fellow with his three Gins accordingly went back to the ship, +where Thorkill sat keeping watch over our treasure. + +I loaded the four blacks with four bags, in each of which were two dozen +assorted bottles, and now we started for town in earnest. I thought it +beneath my dignity to carry any bottles myself. I had exhorted so many +of the immigrants that it was our duty to one another to try to make a +good impression when we first landed, that the least I could do I +thought would be to set a good example. Therefore I was faultlessly got +up, in my own opinion, or at least as well as the circumstances of my +wardrobe would permit. Still, my attire was not very suitable to this +country, and indeed, when I think of it now, I must have cut a strange +figure. I had on my black evening-dress suit, which so far would have +been good enough to have gone to a ball in, but my white shirt, I know, +was of a very doubtful colour, for I had been my own washer-woman, and +it was neither starched nor ironed. Then my tall black hat, of which I +was so proud when I got it, had suffered great damage on the voyage, and +brush it as I would, any one might easily have seen that it had been +used as a foot-stool. My big overcoat, I, according to the most approved +fashion in Copenhagen, carried over my arm. In one hand I had my +handkerchief, with which I had to constantly wipe the perspiration off +my face, because it was very hot. Still, I felt myself a tip-top +dignitary as I stalked along in front of the four blacks, who came, +chattering their strange lingo, behind me. + +We marched up to the main street, and I saw at once a hotel, that +pointed out to me from the ship as the place in which to sell my +bottles. In the bar were two or three gentlemen, of whom I took no +notice. Behind the bar stood the barmaid, whom I profoundly saluted, +also in Copenhagen fashion. I had what to say on the tip of my tongue, +and indeed I have never forgotten it since. So I spoke to the barmaid +thus: "I have bottles I will sell to you. Will you buy? Three shillings +every one." She looked bewildered, not at me but at the gentlemen in the +bar, as if she appealed to them for assistance, and they began to talk +to me, but I did not understand them at all. I could feel myself getting +red in the face, too, but I manfully made another effort. I called in +the blacks and ordered them to deposit their load inside the door. Then +I said with great exactness, "I--do--not--ferstan--thee--thou--ferstan +--me. I--sell--this--clear--bottles--to thee--for three shillings every +one. This--dead--mariner--I--sell--three--shillings--and sixpence every +one. Will thou buy?" Meanwhile I had taken out of the bags two samples, +a clear and a dark bottle, and placed them on the counter, and I now +looked inquiringly around me. + +Oh, the mortification which became my portion! The girl seemed to faint +behind the bar, and the gentlemen made not the slightest excuse for +laughing right out in my face. What they said I do not know, but it was +clear they did not want my bottles. I felt insulted, and I determined to +pay the blacks off and to leave the bottles here until I could find a +German Queenslander to whom I might explain my business, and who might +help me to sell them. So I took the clear bottle which stood on the +counter, and handed it to the black as payment for his service. He +looked viciously at me and said, "That fellow no good bottle." + +I said, "Very dear bottle that." Then I decided to satisfy him at any +cost, and gave him the other one, too, and said, "Very dear bottle this, +dead mariner." + +Now began a scene as good as a play. The blacks appealed to the +gentlemen, and the gentlemen howled with laughter, and I wished myself a +thousand miles away. What did they laugh at? Why did these scampish +blacks not feel satisfied after having received double payment? What did +it all mean? More people came in and seemed amused and happy, but I was +not in the swim. Something was wrong. But what was it? I began to +suspect that my bottles could not be so very valuable, as the blacks had +thrown both the bottles out into the gutter. Anyhow, for me to stand +here to be made a fool of would not do, so I went out of the bar and +down the street. But to get away was no easy matter. In fact I found it +impossible. The coloured gentleman with his three ladies were in front +of me, behind me, and on both sides, crying, howling, yelling, cursing, +and appealing to every one who passed, or to those who came to their +doors, "That fellow big rogue. That fellow no b---- good. He b---- new +chum. He say he give me bottle, he give me no good b---- bottle; dead +mariner no b---- good." This was more than human nature could stand. I +threw my overcoat and belltopper into the gutter, and went for the +black fellow straight. I got on the top of him in a minute, but the +battle was not nearly won by that, because the black ladies were +tearing at my coat-tails, which just formed two fine handles for them. +They split my coat right up to the shoulders, pulled my hair, and +belaboured me in a general way. Now came a policeman and grabbed me by +the neck. All the "ladies" ran for their lives out of sight, but I +suspect their spouse was too bruised to follow their example. Anyhow, he +stuck to his guns yet, and while the policeman tried to march us both +down the street, he kept appealing to him, declaring his innocence, and +my villainy. That I should have spent the next few days in the +watch-house I am sure enough, had not an elderly man stepped out of the +crowd of onlookers and spoken to the policeman. Then he addressed me in +German. I learned then, through much merriment on his part and +heartburning on my own, that empty bottles are in Queensland just so +much rubbish. Indeed, after the policeman let me go, he took me round to +the backyard of the hotel, and there I saw bottles lying by the +thousands, some broken and others sound, ready to cart away. But how was +I to have known that? Was it easy to guess that a bottle, which might +pass for twopence English money in Copenhagen nearly as readily as cash, +would here in Queensland have absolutely no value? It is like all other +things one knows, easily explained: here there being no distilleries or +breweries for making liquors of any kind, they are all imported, hence +empty bottles become a drug in the market. + +But I was not out of trouble yet. The German who had in so timely a +manner come to my rescue, seeing the state of mind I was in, tried to +console me by offering me a glass of spirits. I accepted his offer very +readily, I admit, and coming into the bar again, which so vividly +reminded me of my former shame and all the indignities heaped upon me, I +poured out a whole tumblerful of raw brandy--which I should not have +done, considering that I came from a ship on which nothing of that sort +was served out. But I will draw a veil over the rest of this miserable +day. Not but that the worst is told. Intemperance was never my weakness, +but I will leave the reader to fill out the picture, and to think of me +as I returned to the ship, bleeding, torn, and battered, and there I had +to face poor Thorkill, who, in his mild surprise and disapproval, was to +me more terrible than if he had stormed and raged ever so much. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +GAINING COLONIAL EXPERIENCE + + +Having returned to the ship after the incidents related in the last +chapter, and having somewhat soothed my agitated feelings, and changed +my apparel, Thorkill and I were under the necessity again of returning +on shore; which we did, and had no difficulty in finding the depot or +place prepared for the reception of the immigrants. I had yet scarcely +noticed anything on land, but we saw now at a glance that the town was +very small, or perhaps it would be more correct to say that the town was +large but thinly inhabited. In Queensland we generally estimate the size +of a place by the number of public-houses which it contains, and in +Bowen there were three of these institutions. Grass was growing +luxuriantly enough in the main street, and altogether it did not, as we +came along, strike us that people here seemed remarkably busy. But when +we came down to the depot, the scene was changed. + +The depot was a large building, or series of buildings, without +particularly good accommodation, but it had the advantage that there +was plenty of room for everybody. I felt quite glad to again see the +familiar faces of the other immigrants, although we had only been +separated a few hours. There was a large kitchen attached to the place, +and a vast quantity of bread and beef and potatoes had been left there, +more than could possibly be eaten by those present. Two or three +butchers among the immigrants, too, were quite in their element here, +cutting up the bullocks, and all the girls seemed to have formed +themselves into a committee in order to dress the meat in various +appetizing ways. But what seemed the most encouraging feature of all was +to see thirty or forty saddle-horses "hung up" outside the fence and +their owners walking about among the men offering them engagements. The +girls were also in great request. A number of English ladies stood about +the yard, or went in and out of the kitchen. They all seemed to want the +girls who were doing the cooking, and what between the English ladies +who kept trying to attract their attention, their own sweethearts--who +had now the first opportunity since they left Hamburg to speak to +them--and the preparation of food for six hundred and odd people, they +certainly had enough to do. It was comical to watch them. Among the men +the scene was but one degree less animated. They might, I am sure, all +have been engaged that first day if they had liked. A number were +engaged, and over and over again were offers made to them of further +engagements, until at last they turned their backs to the Englishmen who +seemed almost to implore some of them to sign agreements. They were all +offered the same terms--thirty pounds for twelve months, and rations. +The girls got only twenty or twenty-five pounds a year, but there seemed +to be very little difference between the agreements. The Queenslanders +would go for the biggest and most able looking of the men first, and +when they had secured them, engage the others with the same terms. I saw +my "boss" down there, and went home with him for supper. I was received +with the greatest kindness by his family, and he himself could not have +looked more friendly if I had been a long-lost relation. He proved to be +a contractor, and had also a carpenter's shop and showroom attached to +his place. He took me into the shop and showed me several things, and +asked me could I make this or that? There was nothing in the shop that a +boy who had served two years of his life in Copenhagen could not make, +but when I said "yes," he seemed greatly pleased with me, and patted me +on the back. We could not understand each other very much. After tea, I +was shown into a neat room, where stood a nice bed, a chest of drawers, +table, chair, &c. This was to be my abode. + +My "boss," however, returned at once and gave me to understand that he +wished me to go with him up to town, and have a general look round. He +gave me first of all a pound sterling, which had the effect of greatly +raising my spirits. Then he took me from the one public-house to the +other, and that made me still more hilarious, especially as he would not +allow me to change my pound; and at last he took me to a store, where a +German presided behind the counter over a lot of ready-made clothes. +Through the German as interpreter, he told me that he would advise me to +buy some new clothes after the Queensland pattern, and that he would +advance sufficient of my wages to cover the cost. I bought then white +trousers, a crimean shirt, a big slouch hat, and a red belt, and put all +on at once. This is the orthodox Queensland costume in the bush, but in +my own eyes I looked a regular masquerader, as I now swaggered down +among the immigrants in my new transformation. I was quite a hero among +them at once, being able to boast of my splendid appointment, and I +believe I had to relate twenty times that evening what I had had for my +supper at my master's place. I might, perhaps, tell it to the reader, +because it seemed to me at that time most astonishing, although it +really--with very little variation--is the ordinary food everybody eats +all over the country, as soon as one comes away from the single man's +hut in the bush. + +In the morning we generally had fried steak, white bread, and butter. No +beer or schnapps are ever put on the table in this country, but instead +of that one drinks tea by the quart at every meal. At dinner-time the +ordinary menu will be some sort of roast meat and vegetables, with a +pudding after. At supper one will get more meat and vegetables, and more +bread and butter and tea. It is all very good, but there is a frightful +sameness about it. I used at first to long for one of those plain yet +delicious dishes which the Danish housewives make at home. But I do not +believe English people would eat it, if it were put before them. They +seem to think that anything which is not a solid junk of roast beef must +be un-English. I have almost come to the same way of thinking myself. +But that evening in the depot we did not criticise the bill of fare. The +immigrants all thought they were going to fare in the same sumptuous +way. Poor fellows, they did not, as a rule. + +Next day, Thorkill came to me with sparkling eyes, and told me he had +been so fortunate. A gentleman from Port Mackay, a sugar planter, had +engaged him and twenty-five others, all for thirty pounds a year, and +they were to sail again for the plantation next day. He understood it +was not far away. We might be able to see one another occasionally. He +had told the planter that he had studied agriculture, and the planter +had said he was a good fellow. + +"These--Englishmen--are--so--kind,--I--am sure--he--is--a--nice--man. +Perhaps he will make something of me by and by, when I can talk +English." + +Poor Thorkill; I see him in a single man's hut on a plantation among +twenty-five others, or with his hoe on his shoulder coming and going to +the fields. He went away the next day, and I fully expected he would +have written to me, but he did not. I did not know his address, and I +did not hear of him again until three years after, when I met him on the +diggings. + +As many of the immigrants were going away--they did not themselves know +where--in another day or two, it was suggested by some one that there +should be a theatrical display at the depot in the evening; and the idea +was taken up with enthusiasm by some of the leading spirits among us. It +had, before I arrived that morning, been agreed that the play should be +a French pantomime. For the information of any one who might never have +seen anything of the kind, let me say that it was a one act farce, in +which the persons act by pantomime alone. Cassander is an old man; his +daughter Columbine loves Harlequin, a young man who always dances about +Columbine when Cassander does not see them. Then there was Pierrot, the +foolish but funny man-of-all-work, who is set to catch Harlequin, but is +always "bested"; and the staid old lover whom Cassander wishes Columbine +to marry. Not much rehearsal was needed to play the piece, and the +dresses were also easily made up on short notice. It had further been +decided in my absence that I was to play Harlequin, but I objected very +much. At last I was forced into it in a manner, because I was a pretty +fair dancer at that time, and they had nobody else. What consoled me +greatly was, that I was to wear a black mask, so that I knew that if my +feelings should get the better of me while on the stage, that I might +make as many faces behind the mask as I liked. The whole town was to be +invited, and we gave five shillings to the bell-crier to announce +through the streets that some renowned artists had arrived at the depot, +and were going to give a grand performance that night at seven o'clock. + +We worked away hard that day in rehearsals, fitting of dresses, stage +making, quarrelling, and in a few other things which are indispensable +on such occasions. In the evening the whole building was crammed full of +English people; there were even some ladies. Our own people had all back +seats. Everything went well. Our orchestra consisted of three +violinists. There were scores of musicians among us, but these were the +best, and were used to play together. Then the blanket which served for +a curtain went up, and we began to act our parts. Everything went well +excepting that Pierrot, whose face was chalked over, began to perspire +very much, and the chalk came off; but that was nothing. It was reserved +for me to spoil the whole proceeding. It came about this way: the fellow +who played Columbine was a big, flabby-looking chap, and he looked very +nasty indeed in women's clothes. As it was my part to dance about +Columbine and make love to him--or her--as you please, I had also to +snatch kisses from him about a dozen times during the evening, but of +course I understood he knew sufficient of acting not to inflict the +punishment of real kissing on _me_. The first time, however, when my +turn came, he turned his face full upon me, and the osculation could be +heard all over the room. This happened two or three times, and every +time people laughed and applauded; but it made me regularly wild. So as +he tried it again I tore the mask off my face before I had time to +think, and cried: "Look here, if you do that again I won't play." That +brought the house down with great applause and homeric laughter; but I +got so upset over it that it was impossible for me to go on the stage +again, and the play came to an abrupt end. + +The only one of all the immigrants that remained at the depot after a +fortnight was over, was a sickly little individual whom everybody on +board had been in the habit of pitying or jeering at, as the case may +be, and who now seemed quite unable to obtain employment. He was then +sent up to Townsville, to try there, and as I happen to know what became +of him, and as his short career affords a striking instance of what +perseverance will do for a man in Queensland, I will state how he fared. +It appears that he at last obtained employment in the ---- Hotel in +Ravenswood, to help the girls in the kitchen at cleaning knives, +plucking fowls, and the like. He had to sign an agreement whereby he +bound himself to remain for three years. The wages for the first year +were ten pounds, for the second fifteen, and for the third twenty +pounds. These are the smallest wages I have ever heard of in this +country for a white man, but our friend thought nothing of that, and +stuck to his work. He could cut hair and shave; I think he had been in a +barber's shop at home. When he brought the guest's shaving-water in the +morning, he would always offer his tonsorial services at the same time. +Of course he would be paid. When he was paid, he would generally say, +"You have not got a few old clothes you do not want?" Then most people, +as he looked so poor and insignificant, would either give him a lot of +clothes, or some money to buy with; and it was pretty well known in that +town where one might buy second-hand clothing for cash. If a guest went +away from the hotel, he would always be there hat in hand, holding the +horse. If one said to him, "Will you come and have a drink?" he would +answer, "No, thank you, sir; please, I would rather have the money." In +that way, while everybody called him "poor fellow," he was scooping in +sixpences, shillings, and even half-crowns every day. As he gave +satisfaction to his master, he was promised, as a make-up for his small +wages, that if he stayed the three years out, he should have as a +present permission to build a barber's shop alongside the hotel, and be +charged no rent. He did stay the three years out, and although I was in +his confidence as little as anybody else, I am very sure he had then his +three years' wages in his pocket and a good deal more besides. Then he +had built a small shop alongside the hotel. It was very small, but it +was in the proper place for doing business; and he began at once a +roaring trade. Sixpence for a shave, a shilling for hair-cutting, and +half a crown for shampooing! He had also ready-made clothes for sale, +hop beer, ginger beer, fruit, saddlery, and much more. People who had +anything for sale might go to him and be certain that he would offer +them a cash price for whatever it was. He opened his shop at seven +o'clock in the morning and shut it at twelve o'clock at night. On +Sundays, indeed, he was supposed to shut for three or four hours; but +one had only to knock at his door to bring him forward. Meanwhile, I do +not believe his old master, or any one else, could have obtained credit +from him for a sixpence. The usual thing in his shop was to see half a +dozen men sitting in his back room waiting to be shaved or shampooed, +and half a dozen standing by the counter in the front room, while he +would jump like a cat among them trying to serve them all at once. But +now I see I have made a mistake. I have written that "his short career +affords a striking instance of what perseverance might do for a man in +this country." That might be true if the story ended here, but it does +not. He was a great miser. His principal food, as he himself assured me, +was the rotten fruit in the shop. When a banana or an apple became +quite unsaleable, he would eat it. He had no assistant in the shop, and +could, therefore, never possibly take any outdoor exercise. At last he +fell sick, and the doctor told him he must go out on horseback every +day, and have plenty of nourishing food. He never bought a horse, and he +never altered his way of living. At last, when it was too late, he got +somebody to stand in the shop for him, for he was then too weak to stand +there himself; and he died in the back room a week after. But even the +day before he died I saw him sitting in the shop trying to direct the +assistant and keeping control over the money-box. I heard how much he +had made, but I forget. Anyhow, it was thousands, and all made in a few +years! + +Now I will relate what happened to me the first Sunday I passed in +Queensland, and to do that I must recall to the reader's memory another +of my shipmates, the naval Lieutenant A. He had got married as soon as +we came ashore, to the young lady who I always understood was his +intended wife, and they had already rented a little house and made +themselves very comfortable. On the Saturday, he came to me and told me +that he had carried a letter of introduction from home to a gentleman +who was one of the first civil servants in Bowen. This gentleman he had +seen, and as an outcome of the interview, he had been invited to come +with his wife to the Englishman's place on Sunday forenoon to be +introduced to his family, and that Mr. and Mrs. ----, as well as A. and +his wife, were all then to walk to a large garden which lay a mile or so +outside the town. He promised himself great pleasure and much advantage +from the acquaintance, and as a special favour to me, he said: "Now Mr. +---- said to me that I might invite one of our shipmates to come with +us, and I shall invite you." I thanked him very much for the honour he +did me. + +"You understand," said he, "that I would like very much to make a good +impression, not only for myself, but for our country too. I am not in +the least afraid to invite _you_, still excuse me for reminding you that +this man has much influence in Brisbane, and I have no doubt he could +make it worth your while too to be on your best behaviour." + +When he was gone, I began to look over my wardrobe, and found that I +could yet make a brave show. Still, I had a great doubt in my mind +whether it would not be the more correct thing to dress myself in my +Queensland clothes--that is, the slouch hat and the moleskins. But as I +did not seem to know myself in them at all, I decided that it was best +to make the most of the clothes I had with me from home, although it was +not without some misgivings that I came to this conclusion. My +swallow-tail coat had been torn, and although it was mended by a tailor, +it was not good enough to wear again on such an occasion, but I had a +nice new jacket I had bought in Hamburg, also a beautifully got-up +white shirt and white waistcoat. As to the belltopper, it was done for. +No more should I go into society in that belltopper, and the Queensland +hat seemed only fit company for the crimean shirt and the moleskins. I +therefore went and borrowed a tall hat for the purpose from among the +immigrants, and as I came back with it, I bought a pair of gloves for +half a guinea in a shop. + +The next forenoon, punctually at eleven o'clock, I was outside of A.'s +house in all my glory. A. and his wife were gone, however, and I then +bent my steps towards the house to which I had been directed. As soon as +I came near, I saw A. standing outside the house talking to a gentleman, +whom I at once understood to be the man who had invited us. He looked a +gentleman all over. Yet the same indescribable sort of swagger which I +had noticed in everybody else I had yet met in the country seemed also +to hover about him. I might here observe that this swagger is not +exactly native to this colony. It is only put on for the benefit of new +arrivals. As I came up A.'s friend stood with his feet wide apart, and +was in the act of lighting a meerschaum pipe. A massive gold chain hung +across his well-nourished stomach. I could see that if I had not dressed +myself to my best ability, I should have made a grave mistake. Although +I had scarcely lifted my eyes to him yet, I noticed these details as A. +introduced me to him, while I saluted him as we always salute one +another in Copenhagen. Perhaps I was just a little more than usually +polite. My hat was at my knee as A. said, "Mr. ----, Mr. ----." But the +Englishman did not seem remarkable for his politeness. On the contrary, +I felt very angry at his behaviour. He never changed his position in the +slightest degree; he seemed only to give a sort of self-satisfied grunt, +"How de do, how de do." + +There is no mistake about it, I began to wish I had not come. It was not +as though I had not been polite enough; I felt certain both that I could +make a bow with anybody, and that I had saluted and been saluted by +greater dignitaries before than he. Why then should he slight me? +thought I. Was it the custom in this country to invite people on purpose +to insult them? They began to speak to me, and I understood that the +ladies who were to take part in the excursion were inside finishing +their toilet, and would be out directly. A. could see, no doubt, that I +was not pleased, and of course he could also guess the reason. He had +been in England too, and was well versed in English customs, so he said +to me, "It is foolish of you to feel offended because Mr. ---- did not +take his hat off to you. Indeed, it was you who looked ridiculous. I am +sure you never yet saw any one take off his hat to another in this +country. It is not an English custom. Indeed it is specially distasteful +to English people. So do not do it again. Of course it did not matter." + +When I heard that I was in humour again. I could forgive every one so +long as they did not offer me a wilful insult. But was it not strange, +thought I? And there he stood, as easy as could be, smoking his pipe in +the street. Well, there is nothing like it, after all. What is a man +without his pipe? I had mine in my pocket, but I had never dreamed of +taking it out till now. I did not know what to make of things, but I +thought that if such training as I had received was at fault, perhaps it +would be well to imitate those whose training was correct. So I took my +pipe out of my pocket and borrowed a match from Mr. ---- to light it +with. Mine was only a clay pipe, and I could scarcely help laughing to +myself meanwhile, because it seemed to me very strange. But I was +determined now to show I knew English manners, and so I puffed away. +Just now Mr. ----'s wife came out of the glass doors on the verandah. +She had also dressed to make a good impression, because she was rustling +with silk and satin, and shining with gold brooches and chains all over. +The doors were opened for her by a servant, and Mrs. A. was also there. +As Mrs. A. told me afterwards, they had watched me through the glass +doors while I was saluting the husband, and probably the Englishwoman +was at that moment under the impression that I intended to go down on my +knees before her. But if she thought that, all I can say is that she was +mistaken. I was not going to look ridiculous this time. She made a bow +to me something of the sort, as I take it, that one of the Queen's maids +of honour have to practise before her majesty--a most profound +obeisance. But I stood brave. With my feet apart, in English fashion, I +puffed away at my pipe, and nodded at her, saying, "How de do? How de +do?" + +At this juncture of affairs, I became aware that nobody seemed pleased. +The lady drew herself up and seemed surprised. Her husband appeared to +regard me with a lively interest. So did two women in a house opposite. +A., in a sort of consternation, repeated the formula of introduction. I +felt the blood surging to my face, and my courage fast forsaking me. +Then it occurred to me that as I myself had not the least idea what the +words "how de do" meant which I had employed in saluting her, that +perhaps it was not a proper expression before a lady, and that it would +have been better if I had said something of which I did understand the +meaning. So as A. repeated the form of introduction, Mr.---- and +Mrs.----, I said with great desperation, "Good day, missis." + +Then I swallowed a whole mouthful of tobacco smoke (it is such strong +tobacco one smokes here, and I had not been used to more than a cigar on +rare occasions), and then--I must--expectorate. For the life of me I +could not avoid it, but where to do it, whether in front of me or behind +me, I did not know, and so I compromised and spat to the side. While all +this occurred I felt as guilty as any criminal condemned before a +judge, and still where it came in I did not know, because had not A., on +whose English experience I wholly relied, told me scarcely ten minutes +before, that "to take the hat off to one another was not an English +custom--that it was, indeed, specially distasteful to English people"? +What then could I think? You may judge of my feelings when A., now +shaking with rage and entirely forgetting himself, exclaimed to me in +Danish, "You are an unmannerly dog. Has no one ever taught you yet to +take your hat off to a lady? There he stands, smoking a stinking pipe +right in her face." + +Oh, yes! oh, yes, indeed, my humiliation was at its highest point. +Quarrelling in our own language, and ready almost to fight! Mrs. ---- +disappeared indoors again. Mrs. A. dared not follow her, but walked down +the street a little, not knowing where to put herself, and Mr. ---- +becoming more and more boisterous with me for an explanation. It did not +last long, but long enough--quite. Then I went and sat, regardless of +all appearance, on the verandah, while A., with much humility, tried to +explain the matter to our host. Mr. ---- did not quite seem to relish +the joke. He came up to me and informed me with much gravity that A. had +explained the matter to his satisfaction. "But," said he, "you will +certainly find that in this country it is the custom to salute a lady +with a great deal more politeness than you used just now towards my +wife. It is a lesson, I assure you, sir, you cannot learn too quickly." + +Half of this I understood and half I guessed. He did not know, however, +that his own mode of salutation would in Copenhagen have been thought +just about as bearish as what he was now correcting me for. I rose to +bid him good-bye, because I was determined to go home as the right +course now to pursue; but as I took off my hat to him again my +crestfallen appearance seemed to amuse him, because he began to laugh, +and when I had reached the corner of the house he came after me, +insisting that I should come back. I declined, until I could see that by +remaining stubborn I should only give still greater offence, and so we +returned and went into the drawing-room to have a glass of wine. Mrs. +---- came now into the room, and with well-bred kindness tried to put me +at my ease again. But although they now seemed to have forgiven me, and +were preparing to start for their walk, I felt that I could not go with +them, and after asking A. in my presence to offer my apology to the lady +herself, I took up my hat, and, bowing profusely to all, went away. + +The reader may guess that I was not very proud of myself when I came +home and flung myself on my bed. My career in Queensland had indeed +opened in a very unpropitious manner. I had not been a week in the +country yet, and it appeared I had made myself look more foolish +wherever I had been than I had thought it possible to do. First the +bottles--what disgrace was not that, fighting with the blacks in the +street scarcely an hour after coming ashore; and poor Thorkill, who had +invested his last sixpence, on my recommendation, in buying empty +bottles! Then at the depot the evening after, when I somehow again had +been the laughing-stock of them all--a regular "Handy Andy"; and now +to-day, when I had started out with the best intentions, and had only +succeeded in making a never-to-be-forgotten picture of myself--and that +after having borrowed a "belltopper" to look grand in! Now I had to +return that piece of furniture to the owner, and when he asked me how I +had enjoyed the company of my grand acquaintances, probably I should +have to tell a falsehood about it in order to hide my shame. One +consolation was that I had yet the gloves--they were my own to do with +as I liked. I had paid ten and sixpence for them, more than half my +fortune. Faugh! was ever any one like me? Was that all I had come to +Queensland for? But at all events this should not happen again. If I +could find an ass bigger than myself, thought I, I should be satisfied, +but never again as long as I lived would I seek the acquaintance of +people who by any stretch of imagination might think themselves my +superiors. + +Then I called in from the backyard a whole troup of dirty, lazy blacks, +who were lying there basking in the sun in an almost naked condition, +and made them understand that I would give them all my home clothes if +they would perform a war dance in them for my instruction and pleasure. +One of them put on my swallow-tail coat and belltopper (he had no +breeches), another got my overcoat, one of the ladies put on my jacket +(she had nothing else), another put on my woollen comforter, not round +her neck but round her waist, where it was of more use. At last I took +my flute, and the whole troup kept screaming and dancing about in the +backyard while I played, until my "boss" came and interrupted the +proceedings. I felt a grim sort of satisfaction. Alas! there is no +saying what is to become of any of us before the end is over. Clothes +are lifeless things, yet how often had I not brushed them and thought it +important that they should look well! I really felt a kind of remorse +when I saw these filthy blacks lie wallowing in them amid a flock of +yelping curs. + +And now I fell to work at my trade in earnest. The houses in Bowen are +all built of wood, and a very easy affair it is for any one to build +them. Indeed housebuilding in the small Queensland towns can scarcely be +called a trade, insomuch that any practical man who can use carpenter's +tools could easily build his own house. A hammer and a coarse saw was +about a complete set of tools on many jobs we did up there. Still, large +wooden houses filled with all the most modern comforts are also +constructed, and in such none but the best workmanship is tolerated, so +there, of course, a tradesman is indispensable. At all housebuilding, +too, a man who is constantly at it acquires a quickness which would +altogether outdistance the novice, but one may learn as he goes in that +trade, and the best men I have met in the carpenter trade out here are +men who never served their time to it. + +There were no saw-mills in the town, nor was there any suitable timber +to saw in the bush, so that we depended for a supply on an occasional +schooner, or on what the steamers sometimes would bring. At times we had +no timber at all. Then we had to make furniture out of the packing-cases +in the stores, or the "boss" would buy an old humpy and pull it down, +and we had to try to make a new one out of it. My employer had engaged +another carpenter besides myself from among the immigrants. This man had +got married at the depot to one of the girls, and they lived in a small +house. He had thirty shillings a week, of which, of course, most went to +keep house. But Bowen is one of the very few non-progressive towns on +the coast, and houses stood empty in all directions, so that he only had +to pay a nominal rent. Our "boss" seemed to have plenty of work always, +and, besides ourselves, there were two and sometimes three English +carpenters employed. We had to work like boys for them, because we could +not very well be sent anywhere by ourselves, as we could not speak to +people about the work to be done. One thing I might mention here, and +which I think very unfair, is this, that nobody took the trouble to +speak English to us, but they seemed even to go out of their way to +teach us a sort of pigeon English, which, of course, would demonstrate +our inferiority to the individual who addressed us. Although I do not +dislike either English, Scottish, or Irish people, I think it a great +delusion of theirs that they are more hospitable to foreigners, or +cosmopolitan in their way of thinking, than other nationalities, but +that they are under the impression that they are the salt of the earth +is certain. Meanwhile my mate and I did the best we could to vindicate +the honour of our country. I felt myself daily getting stronger and more +active; the change of air did wonders, and so was it with my mate. After +a while, we found we could fully hold our own. The English tradesmen +were very fond of showing how much they could do, but as we both began +to get up to their standard they would, as we worked under them, knock +us off what we were doing and put us to something else, often with the +evident intention of making the "boss," when he came, think we had not +done much, or did not understand our work. So one day I had a terrible +quarrel with the man with whom I was working on that account, and then +he began to denounce us all for cutting the wages down. I had no +intention of cutting down his wages, and I did not know in the least +what wages he got, but when he told me that he received three pounds +sterling every week I thought that the "boss" had treated me very badly. +I learned then that three pounds are the ordinary weekly wages for +carpenters in Queensland, and I told the English carpenter that I would +immediately ask the "boss" for an increase in _my_ wages to that amount, +and that if he would not give it to me I would not do more work than I +got paid for. I had been there six months at that time, and had never +taken any money of my wages beyond what I received when I started, but +when I asked for three pounds per week my employer was very +dissatisfied. I wanted him to cancel the agreement. He refused, and I +accused him of having taken an unfair advantage of me. He assured me +that as he had got me he would keep me. "Very well," said I, "do your +best to obtain your pound of flesh, but do not charge too high a day's +wages when you send me away after this; I might not suit." + +From that day there was war between us, war to the knife. Still I was, +and had been, well treated there, and so far I had done my best to +deserve it. When I think of it now, I am glad that before this occurred +I had an opportunity to show my willingness. What my master's profit on +me was I do not know, but it cannot have been large. What with my +inability to speak the language, the learning how to handle the +different tools used here, and one thing and another, it was +unreasonable for me to expect the full wages at once. When I compare my +fate with that which befell some of the other immigrants, I ought to +have thought myself very fortunate. Some of these were sent out in the +bush around the town, and among those who were a few miles distant, I +heard much dissatisfaction existed. I will here relate how some, at +least, were treated. One man and his wife, and four single men, were +engaged at a station fifty miles away. Their agreements were all the +same, thirty pounds per annum and rations. The woman, however, was not +engaged. When they arrived at the place they found a small house in the +middle of the bush. When they asked where were their rooms or place to +camp in, their employer told them they might camp anywhere they liked as +long as they did not come inside _his_ house. They had then got some +bags and branches of trees put together and slept under them, but there +was no protection from rain, and the poor woman, who was not well at the +time, thought she was going to die. Instead of food, they were served, +as I have before stated, with raw beef and flour. The reader may imagine +what sort of doughboys they were making. This was strictly and correctly +the truth, although these poor people certainly never knew the true +intent of the agreement. They would not work, they said, unless they got +proper food, but their employer was abusing them every day. They had to +fell trees and split timber for fences. Of course such hard work, with +no cooked food to eat and no bed to sleep in, was an unreasonable thing +to expect from them. After six or seven weeks of this one of them went +away, empowered by the others to go to town and complain for the others. +He came into town, where he told me what I now relate; but his "boss" +was after him quickly, and instead of obtaining redress, he was put in +the lock-up fourteen days for absconding from his hired service, and +then compelled to go back again! While he was in the lock-up, my "boss" +used to send him up three good meals every day. People who may read this +at home will no doubt think that there must be great brutality somewhere +for people to be treated like this. I agree with them. Yet the same +treatment and fare comes light to an old hand. He knows what to expect, +and is prepared for it. As men travel about from place to place in +search of work, it is absolutely necessary for them to carry everything +with them and to be their own cooks too. They have their tent, blanket, +food, billy, sometimes a frying-pan, all bundled together with their +clothes and strapped on their backs, or, if they are well-to-do, they +have a horse to carry the "swag" for them, or even two horses, one being +to ride on. There is really no reason why a man should not possess a +couple of horses here, but still they as often do not. The billy serves +all purposes: in it the meat is cooked, the tea is boiled, and on extra +occasions the plumduff too. + +It is only just to say that the custom of forcing men to camp out in +their own tents and to cook their own rations is growing more and more +out of use. In most places in the bush the employer now provides at +least shelter for his men: in many places they have the food cooked as +well; yet there are to this day thousands of people in Queensland who +live as I have just described, and who never see vegetables from one +year's end to another. + +The reader will, therefore, see that I was comparatively fortunate in +this, that I had both shelter and food while I was learning the language +and accustoming myself to the country. But after my request for more +wages had been refused, I did as little work as possible, indeed I may +say I did scarcely anything. I played quite the _gamin_ with the old +gentleman, until one day he offered to let me go, and then free once +more I promised myself never again to sign away my liberty. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +TOWNSVILLE: MORE COLONIAL EXPERIENCES. + + +I had now paid out to me twelve pounds sterling as the balance of wages +due, so it will be perceived that I had not been extravagant. Yet I am +afraid that if I had been taking my wages up weekly I should not have +had so much, if, indeed, anything. Yet here were the twelve pounds now, +and that was the main thing. It made over a hundred Danish dollars, +quite a large sum to me. Then I considered where I should go next. There +were some gold mines inland within one or two hundred miles, but I did +not know the road, or else I should have gone there. Just then there had +been opened another port north of Port Denison, viz., Townsville. I +understood that if a man wanted to make money, he should go there; or +rather I understood the further north I went the more pay I should get, +on account of its being hotter there, but that down south, were the +climate was supposed to be better, carpenters where not in demand. So, +"Northwards, ho!" was my cry. The steamer left Port Denison the next day +for Townsville, and I was among the passengers. It is on leaving one of +these small ports on the Queensland coast that I have always more than +at any other time been impressed with the utter loneliness in which they +lie. One sees the few houses and appurtenances like a speck on the +coast, and north and south the long vast coastline. We steamed along all +the evening, night, and next morning, and towards noon my attention was +directed to some small white specks on the beach. That was Townsville, +the new settlement where money was to be made. The steamer I was in +could not run close, but lay out in the bay until another very small +steamer came out and took us all on board. Then in another half-hour we +ran into a small creek, past three or four galvanized iron sheds, and +here we were at the wharf in the middle of the main street of the town. + +Townsville lies on the bank of a small river or creek called Ross Creek, +which when I was there was remarkable for being stocked with alligators. +One could not very well, therefore, cross the creek without some danger, +and at that time all the people and all the houses without a single +exception, lay on the south side of the creek. Ross Creek formed, I +might say, one side of the main street. Facing it lay a number of small +shanties, some made of packing cases and old tin; others again, built +with a view to permanency, of nicely dressed sawn timber, and looking +like rich relations in contrast to their poor neighbours. This was +Flinders Street, or Townsville proper. For about ten chains this row of +houses ran, and facing it, on the other side of the creek, was one vast +wilderness of swamp, long grass and trees. When one had passed the row +of houses composing the street there were turns off to the bush in all +directions, and tents, huts, or sheets of galvanized iron stood all +about the street. Up behind the street were some tremendous-looking +mountains, and here such people as the doctors, civil servants, &c. +seemed to have fixed their abode. The most splendid views could be +obtained up there right over the sea and the numerous small islands. +Then the climate, which at least at that time was supposed to be +somewhat unhealthy down below, was very much better on the highlands. + +While I was in Townsville my greatest pleasure was to take my lunch with +me in a morning and then scramble up there to some place from which the +best view could be had, and sit there all day. That was a cheap and +harmless pleasure, but to do so at the present time would be trespass, +because all the land about there is now sold at so much per foot, and no +one but the owners have a right either to the soil or the air, or even +the view. It seems wrong to me that it should be so. I wonder what will +become of poor people when the day arrives when all the world is thus +cut up into freehold property! If I had at that time invested the ten +pounds I carried in my pocket in a piece of land, it would certainly +have been worth thousands of pounds to-day, and I believe I might even +have been worth tens of thousands. Then I might without further trouble +have been myself a "leading Colonist" to-day! + +On looking around one would scarcely think that this place and Bowen +were in the same country. In Bowen everybody seemed to have plenty of +time. The shopkeepers there would stand in their doorways most of their +time, or go visiting one another. Then, although Bowen was so much +larger than Townsville, there seemed to be no people in it. But here +there were crowds everywhere, and seemingly not an idle man. People +appeared rather to run than to walk. I walked up the street and looked +into a half-finished building where half a dozen carpenters were at +work. I watched them well. They were all men in their prime, and if they +did not work above their strength they were good men assuredly! There +was quite a din of hammers and saws. It was terrible! I felt very much +afraid that I should not be able to match myself against any one of +them, but on the principle of not leaving until to-morrow what might be +done to-day, I asked one where the "boss" was? He pointed to a man +alongside who also was working terribly hard, and this gentleman sang +out to me from the scaffold, "What do you want, young fellow?" So I said +that I wanted work. + +"All right," cried he, "I'll give you a job, but I have no time to talk +before five o'clock; you can wait." Then I stood waiting, and feeling +half afraid to tackle the work, until the "boss" sang out "five +o'clock." + +What a relief every man must have felt. Each seemed to drop his tool +like a hot potato. I remember well my feelings. I knew before the +contractor spoke to me that he was a bully, from the way he spoke to the +other man. He came up to me. + +"Well, what is it you can do?" + +"I am a carpenter and joiner." + +"Oh, you are a German." + +"No, I am not." + +"What sort of a new chum are you then?" + +"I asked you if you wanted a carpenter." + +"Where were you working before?" + +"In Bowen." + +"What wages did you get there?" + +"Thirty pounds a year." + +"Do you know that I expect my men to earn fourteen shillings a day?" + +"I will do as much work as I can, and I do not expect you to pay me more +than I can earn." + +"Got any tools?" + +"No." + +"I do not want you then!" + +Did ever any one get such an unprovoked insult? I felt as if I could +never ask another man for work again. Although I had learned a little +English, it was far from sufficient to allow me to set up and work on my +own account. I knew that very well, and although I kept telling myself +that most likely here there would be plenty of other contractors to go +to, yet I was in very low spirits as I went off looking for a suitable +boarding-house. The place I came to did not impress me as being either +clean or comfortable. I went in at the door only because I saw on the +signboard the words "Diggers' home," or "Bushman's home." I forget +exactly what it was, but I understood there was "home" about it, and as +I was just then longing very much for such comforts as the word "home" +is associated with, I went in. It was just tea-time and about thirty men +were sitting on two wooden forms around the one table, eating. The +uncouth way in which they were gormandizing was terrible to witness. +English working people show, I think, greater anxiety to possess what +are popularly called "table manners" than does the same class where I +came from. The former hold their knives and forks in faultless style, +but they seem never to have learned what is the great point in table +manners. This is a point on which I was very strictly brought up, and as +one cannot very well criticise another's manner of eating while sitting +alongside him at table, I think I might without offence give valuable +advice here. It is this. Close your lips while you are eating, +gentlemen. It does not matter half so much to some people how you hold +your fork. + +There were among the others at the table two of my shipmates, who, as +they told me, were working at their trade for four pounds a week. They +were dressed in the height of fashion, and would not speak Danish at all +to me. One of them informed me in a sort of language that I am sure no +Englishman could have understood, that he had almost quite forgotten +Danish. As I had a craving just then for sympathy, I told them how I had +fared when I had asked for work, but all the sympathy I received was the +remark that it was smart fellows only who were needed in Townsville. +They agreed thoroughly about that, and then whenever they could repeat +the formula "I get four pounds per week," they did it _ore rotundo_. +Evidently they had a heartfelt contempt for one like me, who had been +working for only a few shillings a week. After tea, I was, on stating +that I wanted to stay for a week, shown into a small room wherein stood +six stretchers, or beds, as close as could be. One had scarcely room to +squeeze about among them. The middle of the room seemed to be a sort of +main passage two feet wide between the beds on each side, leading to +rooms beyond, and there the rest of the thirty boarders would tramp in +and out. The landlord, on showing me one of these beds as mine, demanded +a pound sterling of me in advance as one week's payment. "Beautiful +home." "Comfortable abode." I regretted that I had left Bowen, as I +thought of my clean private room there. I did not, however, pay for a +week beforehand. I paid only for my supper and a shilling for the use of +the bed or "home" for that night. I sat there on the bed for a quarter +of an hour, listening to all the noises around me. Then I felt that I +could not suffer it any longer, so I went out. It was a beautiful +moonlight night. To get out past the houses was only the work of five +minutes, and I kept walking on along a road I came to until I was well +past all signs of civilization. I had taken my flute with me as the best +means which yet remained to soothe my troubles, and then I sat down to +play. How much better I felt out there under the gum-trees! That +foul-smelling boarding-house seemed to trouble me no longer. I would not +return to it. Better by far to sleep out there under the open sky! I +sang and played and worked myself into quite a romantic feeling. At last +I fell soundly asleep. + +The next day I began more carefully to look out for a boarding-house, +but it was all one. There were enough of them indeed, but in all there +was not one which did not to my mind look more like a rabbit warren than +a "home" or a "rest," or whatever the name might be that was put over +the door. A couple of places were kept by Chinamen. They at least seemed +more honest, because they made no pretence of offering their guests what +they had not got. All the accommodation they offered was a shelf for +each man, and there seemed to be an air of "take it or leave it alone" +about them which I liked. But none of these suited me, and so I went to +the hotels, and for one pound ten shillings per week I got white man's +accommodation: a room for myself and every civility. How anybody like my +two grandly-dressed countrymen could, if they earned four pounds a +week, prefer the other place to this, I did not understand. + +I might now with much satisfaction have finished my writing here by +telling the reader how I obtained work the next day for fourteen +shillings per day, and how I saved and persevered until I myself became +a contractor--if such had been the case. But the truth must be told, and +that is that I kept delaying day by day to ask any one for a job. Every +day I would walk about the town, and passed and re-passed houses under +erection, but I could not bring myself to go and speak to any one for +fear of meeting the same fate that befell me the day I arrived. When I +came home to the hotel from such an expedition, I would console myself +by recounting my money and reckoning up how many Danish dollars it was. +That seemed to reassure me. Certainly it went fast, but on the whole I +was in no way alarmed over myself, because I knew very well that when +the necessity came a little nearer I should easily get something to do. +Meanwhile I could go out every day shooting, fishing, and enjoying +myself as best I could. + +One of the first days I was in Townsville, I went out in the main road +leading to the gold diggings, and when I was about a mile or two out of +town I came to a house which attracted my attention. It was very small, +the walls were built of saplings, the roof was covered with bark, tin, +and all sorts of odd materials. The door was made of a sapling frame +with bagging stretched across it. Yet the place had a cool, clean sort +of appearance, and under the verandah in a home-made squatter's chair +sat a man smoking a long pipe. Yet I should probably have passed by +without taking notice of any of these details if it had not been that in +front of the house, but close to the road, was erected a sort of frame +like a gallows, and from it dangled in a most conspicuous way an empty +bottle. Underneath was a piece of board nailed to a tree, and on it was +written with chalk the one word thrice repeated: "Bier. Bier. Bier." +That caused me to look at the man, and I perceived it was one of my +shipmates. This man was between fifty and sixty years old when he landed +nine months before with his wife and eight children. I am very certain +that he did not then own more than I did myself, but he had on the +voyage exhibited such a cheerful disposition, and had such a happy knack +of always trying to explain things in a way that would make one think +that any misfortune that might happen would have been just the very +thing wanted, that he had been a general favourite. But when we came to +Bowen nobody had engaged him and his eight children, and so he had been +sent here, and now I saw him sitting smoking his pipe under the verandah +with great gusto. He seemed as glad to see me as I was to see him, and +asked me to come and sit on a box which stood alongside him, and to have +a smoke out of his long pipe. Then he began to spin his yarn. His girls +were at service, the two of them, and had each ten shillings per week, +and they brought it all home, for they were good girls. He had got +somebody to apply for this land for him on his land order, "and here," +he said, "right and left is all mine. Me and mother built the house +ourselves; come inside and see." + +"But," said I, "what is the meaning of that empty bottle you have hung +up there?" + +"Oh," cried he, "did you not see my signboard. I sell beer. I cannot +understand their blessed language, but I thought if I showed them the +bottle they would know what it meant, and Annie drew that signboard +herself last Sunday she was home; she is a splendid scholar, you +know--you should only hear her talk English. It fetches them right +enough. You will see nearly everybody who comes along the road must be +in here and have his beer." + +Then we went inside, and there were the old lady and her children, as +happy as could be. Now I had to tell my history, and after much argument +my friend made me believe that the reason the contractor had not given +me a job was because I had told him the truth. "You should have said you +earned fifteen shillings a day in Bowen, that you would not work under +sixteen shillings now; that is the way. Always tell them you can do +anything." + +Good old fellow! How cheerful I felt when at last I went away. I laughed +to myself, too, at his important self-confident air. If he has kept his +land and sold beer to this day, I am sure he can smoke his pipe now with +great complacency--unless, indeed, riches, a circumstance over which he +had no control, have spoiled him. + +In the hotel in which I stayed were several other lodgers, among them an +elderly man with a long beard and a most fatherly air. He became daily +more friendly to me, and at the end of the first week he told me he was +himself a Dane, and that he had been in the Colonies a great many years. +He said he had watched me with growing interest; that he generally was +chary of offering his friendship to anybody, but that he now was +satisfied that I was a respectable, well-meaning youth, and that his +heart went out towards me. Of course the least I, under the +circumstances, could do was to accept his proffered friendship in the +same spirit in which it was offered, and I told him frankly all my +business, and how I was still smarting under the insult I had received +on my first arrival in Townsville to such a degree that from day to day +I could not bring myself to ask for work again, and how, I added, my bit +of money was going fast. He, on his part, gave me to understand that he +was not a rich man, although several times he had made his fortune. +"But," said he, "I never let the left hand know what the right hand is +doing. Sometimes, as for instance now, I run myself quite short; it does +not matter, I can always make enough for myself as long as God gives me +strength." + +I went with him to church on the Sunday, although I did not understand a +word of what the parson said, but my ancient friend had already acquired +a sort of proprietorship over me, and as he seemed to be intensely +religious, it imparted a kind of holy feeling to me to sit near him. +After church, he lectured me on religion very severely, and all the time +I knew him he prayed devoutly both morning and evening. A few days +after, he told me he had taken a contract from one of the storekeepers +in town to cut hay. He said that a man could cut a load of hay in a day, +and that he was to get thirty shillings a load for it. He would now, +said he, have to buy a horse and dray, and would also have to look out +for a partner. I asked him if he thought I might do, and said that if I +could not work as much as he I should not expect the same pay, but that +I was confident that I would not be far behind. + +"Well, I might do;" he would like to have me for a partner, but he +understood that I had very little money. It would be necessary for his +partner to have at least thirty pounds, as the horse and dray alone +would cost forty pounds, and we should have to buy tools and to keep +ourselves in rations for some time. I was very sorry that I had got only +something like eight pounds. "All right;" he would take me if I would do +the best I could. He had already an offer for a horse and dray. Then we +set about buying a tent and a lot of rations in a store, also scythes +and one thing and another necessary for the job. My partner advised me +that we should not pay for it just then, as we were to deliver hay for +the money. The same day we left with all our things packed in our swags, +and went into the bush about four miles, where there was plenty of long +grass suitable for haymaking, and there we pitched our tent. + +Here I worked for a couple of months with the utmost eagerness. It was a +time of long summer days, and from daylight to dark was I at it, doing +my level best. My partner had bought a horse and a dray, and was taking +hay into town every day, but he did not work much at home. Of course, as +he said, he was getting to be old, and could not work as formerly; but +then he did all the business, and, according to his estimate, we earned +a couple of pounds every day. As for me, I worked contented and happy, +although we had not yet taken any money for the hay and I had given my +partner every sixpence I possessed to help in buying the horse and dray. +We lived very frugally, too--at least, I did; my partner had his dinner +in town, but that was only a necessity when he was bringing hay +in--because, as he said, he did not believe in all this gorging and +over-feeding which was customary in these latter days. As for smoking +tobacco, he was much against it, and declared it to be not only a wicked +but a dirty habit; so, to please him, I had given up the pipe. I made +breakfast for him in the morning, and was at work before he rose. I had +supper ready for him when he came home at night, and I never spared +myself or gave a thought to the unequal distribution of work between us. + +One evening my partner did not come home. I was very anxious, picturing +to myself all sorts of dreadful calamities which might have happened to +him. In the morning I went into the town to the storekeeper, whom I +understood bought the hay, but I could get no satisfaction there. They +had not seen him for a week, they said, and only bought hay +occasionally. I thought they did not understand me, and I went to +another storekeeper, and got a similar answer. As I stood quite +bewildered in the street, I saw the horse and dray coming past, and a +stranger driving. On inquiry, I learnt that the man who was driving had +bought the whole concern the day before for thirty-five pounds. While we +were yet talking one of my countrymen came up and wanted to know about +the horse and cart too, and, to make a long story short, it appeared +that my mate had borrowed, on one pretext and another, from the Danes in +town nearly a hundred pounds in small sums. He had also bought the horse +and dray with a very small cash deposit, and sold them for cash, got +paid for all the hay we had cut, and owing for our rations in one of the +stores besides, he had cleared out. Benevolent-looking old hypocrite, +when I found it all out, I felt as if I could have----never mind--what +is the good? say no more. I had not got a copper. I went up to the hotel +where I had been staying before I had started haymaking, and began to +pour out my tale of woe to the publican, with no other object than to +get sympathy. The publican looked absent-minded, then he smiled: he +always thought old ---- had a "smart look" about him. "And so he has +done all of you new chums, eh! Say it again. How was it he did it? You +are too soft for this country." + +I was on the point of leaving, when a man came in and asked me if I was +old ----'s partner. I said "yes." Would I be so good as to pay this bill +for two pounds odd shillings at once, or if I did not he would make me +into sausages. This was too much. I know myself to be good-natured, and +I told him so, but if he had any evil designs on me, why I would pull +his nose. We had a long conversation on this matter, and at last he +agreed not to annihilate me there and then, and I on my part declared +myself satisfied if he would give me his pipe and tobacco and let me +have a good long smoke as a sort of proof to me that he bore me no +ill-will. When peace was thus restored, he became very friendly, and +explained to me that he had misunderstood the matter before, and that he +was very sorry for me, but that he would yet make my partner pay us all +if I would only leave it to him and go home. "Only leave it to him"? I +had nothing else to do but to go home, because in the camp there was at +least a bit to eat. So home I went. But what a change had now come about +in my fortune! Not only the loss of the money--although that was +serious enough, but there was the shock to my faith in human nature! Who +could I put faith in after this? I began in a sort of mechanical way to +cut hay again just to get away from my thoughts. Then I threw the tools +as far as I could, and went to lie down in the tent with my mind in a +state of blank. Where would I go, and what should I do next? After a +while, the man who had wanted me to pay a bill came and posted a bill on +a tree. He inquired of me if I had a horse, and seemed very sorry for me +when I told him "no." He informed me also that I must not remove +anything, as to do so would be stealing. I understood sufficient of the +proceedings to know that he also would be very "smart" if he could, and +he was scarcely gone, before a man came with another summons, which was +pasted underneath the first. This would never do, thought I. Was I to +allow myself to be made a cricket-ball of by every one who chose to play +with me. I must be "smart" too, and as soon as I got the idea, it struck +me as an immense joke. Would it have been wicked, thought I, if I had +been able to work a double game on the old swindler who had taken me in? +They seemed to show respect for the swindler, and contempt for the dupe; +but then there was the risk of cheating honest people, and that I could +never do. No, that must not be. But talking about cheating and stealing, +as the fellows who had posted the summonses on the trees had done, now +they were trying to get paid their score out of the few things which +were left in the camp without regard to me, and had the impudence to +tell me that I must not remove anything. Bosh! Was it not paid for with +my own money? Certainly all there might not fetch ten shillings, but who +had a better right or more need of it than I? So, as the first step in +"smartness," I remembered that possession amounts to nine points of the +law, and for the rest I would in my mind keep a sort of profit and loss +account, and I began at once by writing down my present score and +leaving open the opposite page for such circumstances as the future +might have in store. Dangerous thoughts, I admit, but this is the truth, +and having found a weapon in this determination, it did not take me ten +minutes to make up my mind what to do. + +There was a settler living not far away from where we had been cutting +hay. This man always seemed to me to have a friendly air about him as he +would come past occasionally, and he had always made a point of stopping +to speak to me at such times. He had several times invited me to come +and visit him, but I had never yet done so. I now thought I would go and +see him and ask him his advice, whether he thought that I had a right to +claim what there was in the camp, and if so, try to induce him to buy +what there was. I accordingly went over to his place and told him all +about my trouble. He was an Irishman. "Bad luck to the ould offinder!" +cried he, "and so he has run away. This is an awful wurld. Ah, me lad, +take my advice, never have anything to do with them Germans. Well, never +mind, you are a German too, but that one was worse than a native dog +anyhow, and so he was." + +I asked him what he thought about the things in the camp, whether I +might have them: there was an axe, besides two scythes, a bucket, billy, +frying-pan, some old blankets and other articles, and then there was the +tent. "Oh, that was all right." I could bring it all over to his place, +and he would swear to any one that it was his, and he would like to see +the man who would dispute it. I might come too, he said, and live with +him until I got something to do. He would do much more than that, only +that he had no money. This seemed to suit me in every respect, and I +began at once carrying over all that was in the tent to my new friend's +place; but the tent itself I let stand for any one to fight about as +they thought fit, or for the Government to inherit--I did not care +which. The next few days I passed with the Irishman. He was not married, +and lived quite alone on this piece of land which he had taken up as a +selection. The hut had only one room, and the absence of that refining +influence which is generally supposed to pervade a place where women +live, was painfully apparent. The Irishman knew this very well, for he +had always a way of excusing the rampant disorder in the hut by saying +"that the Missis was not at home, bad luck." + +Under the bunk were two bags of corn piled up in the cobs, in another +corner lay some turnips and seed-potatoes; we boiled the corned beef and +the tea in the one billy, and if the billy was full of meat or potatoes, +when we wanted to make tea, it was only the work of a second to topple +it all out into the bunk and fill the billy up with water for the tea. I +am sure I now ask my friend's pardon for repaying his hospitality by +describing these matters, but as I hope this history of my life will be +published, it may possibly be read by young ladies, and I cannot resist +the temptation to show them the faithful picture of a bachelor's den in +the Queensland bush. If it were a singular instance I should not think +it worth relating, but it is not; it would be more correct to say it is +the general rule. + +Every day I went into town and looked out for something to do, but I +found great difficulty. Work was plentiful, but wherever I inquired if +they wanted a carpenter, their first question was about my tools. I had +no tools, and they would not engage me. One evening I was in town on +purpose to speak to a contractor who had told me to call at his private +residence at nine o'clock with a view to engaging me. As I was walking +about trying to kill the time, I found myself standing down on the +wharf, where I had come ashore the first day I landed in Townsville. I +was watching the little steamer that used to run between the town and +the bay, and which now seemed to be getting steam up, and in a vague +sort of way I wondered whether the steamer out in the bay was going +north or south, so I asked one of the sailors. "North," said he; "they +go to Batavia, but they call at the pearl fisheries at Cape Somerset. +Are you going?" + +I had, of course, never thought of it till that moment, but as he said +"pearl fisheries" it struck me that it must be a delightful occupation +to sit fishing for pearls, and that it would be worth running a risk to +try to get to that place. Besides, it would be a splendid adventure. So +I said, "Yes, I am going." "Have you been there before?" said he; +"perhaps you are a diver?" + +"Yes, I was a diver." I found out next that I should just have time to +go out to my camp in the bush, to collect my swag and be back in time +for the steamer. I ran all the way there and back, laughing to myself +all the time, because there seemed to myself such a splendid uncertainty +about how the adventure would turn out. I had got no money, but it only +troubled me so far as perhaps it might make it impracticable to get on +board. Anyhow, I meant to have a hard try for it. When I came back I +stood watching the little steamer until the moment they were about to +cast off. Then with a hue and cry I rushed on board. + +As we sailed down the river the captain said to me, "Are you the diver?" +"No savey." "Are you going up to the pearl fisheries?" "No savey." "Have +you got a ticket?" "No savey." "Dang that fellow! Are you----Deutcher?" +"No savey." "Well, if you 'no savey,' all I can tell you is that you +shall not get on board the steamer without a ticket. You savey swim?" + +"Oh yes, I savey swim belong de pearl all de time?" "Oh, well, I think +you had better go back with us again, because they will only give you to +the sharks up there, if you try any tricks on them." + +Here the conversation was interrupted by the captain having to attend to +the ship, and I scrambled out of his way. It did not take long before we +were out alongside the large steamer, and so as it was very close I +watched my opportunity and climbed up the side and on board. There was a +large coil of rope lying on the deck, and into that I crept without a +thought for the morrow. I heard the ship getting under weigh and then I +slept, if not the sleep of the just, at least without dreams. + +Next day was Sunday. I only woke up as the sun was shining in my face, +and then I got up and looked around me. We were steaming along the +coast; there seemed to be nobody about but the sailors. I had a walk +about the deck and a wash at the pump. Nobody spoke to me for some time, +until the steward came and in a most natural way told me breakfast was +ready. "Good!" He is a sensible man, thought I, and I went below and had +a good meal. As soon as I had well finished, the mate came in and asked +me for my ticket. I had formed no particular plan of campaign, but I +felt so self-confident and happy, that I was perfectly convinced within +myself that it would be impossible for any one to be out of temper with +me. It is necessary to bear this in mind to believe what follows. Mirth +is catching, and is irresistible when natural, but nothing but the +genuine article will do here. So now the mate came up to me and said, +"Ticket." I laughed and cried "No ticle." He looked rather surprised at +me, and held out his hand saying, "Ticket." "Oh," cried I, laughing, +while I grasped his hand, "Ticket--oh I savey you give me ticket?" + +"Oh, this won't do," said he, although I could perceive my mirth was +working on him. "Money, money or ticket"--at the same time he took out +half a crown and showed it me. I tried to take the half-crown from him +and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Good fellow you," and when he +would not give it me, I told him he was too much gammon for me +altogether. At last I got him to laugh properly, and then he said I was +too much gammon for him too, but that now I should have to go off with +him to the captain, because he could not give me a free passage and +could make neither head nor tail of me in the bargain. + +"Come on," cried he; "to the captain you go." + +My whole frame shook with laughter. I do not know why, I simply relate +the fact. It seemed to me so strange and comical that I was now here, a +regular loafer, a sort of criminal, and unemployed, a--what not, not +knowing where I was going and not caring; and what would this blessed +captain do with me, or think of me? On we came, the mate and I, up to +the quarter-deck. There was a good-looking man of thirty odd years of +age reclining at his ease in a sort of chair, more in a lying than a +sitting posture. He was playing with the hand of a lady who was sitting +alongside of him, and they looked so affectionately at one another that +I made sure at once they were not husband and wife! Besides these, the +only other person on deck was the man at the wheel. On we came, and the +mate presented me as a stowaway. I saluted the lady and the captain +airily, and he spoke to me, but I paid no attention to what he was +saying. I was looking at the lady and thinking of my adventure in Bowen, +the first time I saluted a lady in Queensland. My sides shook with +laughter until I saw the lady in the same condition; then I exploded. +The lady, the captain, the mate, and the man at the wheel all followed +suit! I beat my chest and called on all the saints to give me strength +to stop, but I could not, and we all kept laughing until, from utter +exhaustion, the lady and the captain were lying back in their chairs +with averted faces, the mate was hanging over the gunwale, and I was +lying on my elbow on the deck, regularly sick. Every time the captain or +any of them were looking at me they made me laugh again. At last the +captain, after several attempts to speak to me cried, "Go away, go away; +I speak to you by and by." + +I had not been gone half an hour before I was called back again. The +lady was this time sitting with her back to me. The captain said, "What +have you got to say for yourself?" + +I somehow felt sure that it was all right, and that the lady was going +to say a good word for me, or had done so already. Anyhow I altered my +tactics, and told them how it was that I had no money, and how I +somehow, perhaps recklessly, but on the spur of the moment, had got on +board. When I had finished speaking I felt very foolish, and as the lady +turned round and looked at me, I blushed up to the roots of my hair, and +felt very much ashamed. Then the captain said, "And what do you want to +do at Cape Somerset?" + +I did not know. "Have you no money?" "No." "No friends there?" "No." +"You have been very foolish." + +After a while he said: "There will be nothing for you to do at Cape +Somerset and as little at Batavia. The only thing I can do for you is to +put you ashore at Cardwell, here, on the coast. There is a settlement +there and some sugar plantations up the river. I will do that for you, +if you like." + +I thanked him very much, and said I did not know what to do with myself. +"All right, you can hold yourself in readiness to go ashore." + +A couple of hours afterwards, the steamer was very close to land, and I +saw some houses on the beach. A boat was lowered and manned by sailors, +and I was told to get in. But so benevolent did the captain prove, that +they bundled in after me a lot of flour, tea, sugar, and meat, also a +tent. I felt completely crushed: I sat in the boat and dared not look +around; only after they put me ashore I waved my handkerchief, and +there, yes, they were waving their handkerchiefs back to me. There +seemed to be a big lump in my throat. Was I in love? Perhaps I was, I do +not know, but I felt very sure that if just then I had thought that I +could have obliged either the captain or the lady on board by drowning +myself, I would have done it. They had put me ashore in a place where +the houses which formed the settlement were hidden from my view, and I +was glad of it, because I did not want to see everybody. I found a +little stream of water close by, then I pitched the tent and laid myself +down outside, looking after the smoke of the steamer as long as I could +see the slightest sign of it. An unspeakable longing for home, a craving +for sympathy, was all over me. I suppose most people have felt the same +emotion. I did not go up to town for two or three days after; I remained +lying on the beach all day looking out over the sea, and half the night +I would walk up and down thinking, or, perhaps it would be more correct +to say, _feeling_ all sorts of things. + +If we would all only always remember the value of a kind word, or a +little genuine sympathy, how much better the world would be! Who shall +say what I might have been to-day, or into what channels my mind might +have been led, if the captain had acted towards me as he would have +been quite justified in doing--that is, if he had given me in charge of +the police when we came to a shore, and if I had been just a week or two +in the lock-up? I had been wronged in Townsville, and afterwards I had +received the impression that it was a case of each man for himself +without fear or favour. What this impression would have led to if it had +not been in this happy way checked in the very beginning, is hard to +say, but when at last I bent my steps towards the dozen or two of houses +which formed the township of Cardwell, it was with a resolution to do my +best, but not to sail again under false colours. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ON THE HERBERT RIVER. + + +From the glimpses I already had of the settlement, I came to the +conclusion that it was of no use looking for carpenter's work here, so I +went into the most conspicuous house I could see, viz., the hotel, and +asked for a job of any kind. There were three or four men in the bar, +dried-up looking mummies they seemed to me, but very friendly, for they +began at once to mix in the conversation, and after I had told everybody +all round where I came from, how old I was, what I could do, how long I +had been in the country, and a lot more besides, they held a +consultation among themselves, and agreed that my best plan was to go up +on the sugar plantations on the Herbert River. It appeared that the mail +for the plantation was taken up the river once a fortnight from Cardwell +in a common boat, and my new friends, after standing drinks all round, +unsolicited went to the captain about letting me go with him, and pull +an oar in lieu of passage money. They asked me into dinner, as a matter +of course; and who should I see waiting at the table but a German girl, +one of my shipmates. "Happy meeting." Then for two or three more days I +was breaking firewood for a living, and meanwhile it seemed as if I was +the admiration of the whole community, because Cardwell is, and was +then, as well as the Herbert River, a fearful place for fever, and the +whole population was in a constant state of disease. As for me, +Queensland had so far, I believe, rather improved my appearance than +otherwise. Anyhow, it was a case all the day through to answer people +how long I had been in the country; then they would say, "Hah! Europe, +the old country--that must be the best place, after all. Look at his +cheeks!" Then I would be advised to clear out again as fast as I came, +or else in three months I should look like everybody around me. It used +to surprise me very much, but I could not understand it, because the +climate seemed to me excellent; and as everybody seemed so kind, and I +was in the best of health, I only laughed at their sayings. Meanwhile I +had spoken to the man in charge of the mail-boat, and one day at noon I +embarked for the plantations. It was an ordinary rowing boat, and +besides myself it had two other occupants--the captain, who was a +Frenchman; the other an American. They both, on ordinary occasions, each +pulled an oar; but this time, as I was there, the captain took the helm +and I the oar. I pulled away as hard as I could, and did not see much of +where we were going, but by the time it grew dark we were past the mouth +of the river, and in smooth water. We dropped anchor in the middle of +the river, because, as the captain explained to me, if we were to run +ashore an alligator would be sure to try and crawl into the boat. They +had appliances in the boat for boiling water, and after tea they both +sat for a couple of hours spinning alligator yarns. I listened with +great interest and not without fear, because the river was swarming with +the reptiles. The blacks were also at that time so bad that no one dared +to go overland to the plantations, unless in a large company. Here in +the boat we had two loaded rifles and two revolvers, and before we +reached the plantations I saw enough to convince me that it was +necessary to be very careful when we had occasion to go ashore. It was +also considered always necessary for one to keep watch the whole night, +and as I was not sleepy I took the first watch, while the other two laid +themselves down and soon snored lustily. Put there staring out into the +darkness, with the loaded rifle over my knee, could it really be true, +as my two shipmates had just assured me, that I was bound to catch the +fever before three months were over? How did people here do when they +were sick? I had asked that question also, and they had answered it by +asking me if I thought anybody here was running about with a hospital on +his back. And when any one died, it appeared that they rolled the body +in a blanket and threw it in the river for the alligators to do the +rest! These alligators, too, which might at any time upset the boat and +eat us! Would it be my fate to serve as food for one of them? Horrible +thought. But I had heard that evening so much about alligators; how, if +I were at any time to be caught by one I should try to stick my finger +into its eye, and that it would then eject me again; the whole thing +being just as if it were a most natural and common occurrence here for +people to be eaten by these monsters. Then there were the blacks; they +were both savage and numerous, and I had got strict orders to listen +with all my ears for any surprise from them. I had taken great notice +that when boiling the tea my shipmates had been very careful to conceal +the fire. + +Bang! crack! went the rifle. Up rushed the Frenchman and the American, +revolvers in hand. I stared at them. They stared at me. + +"What is the matter?" whispered the captain. + +"I don't know," whispered I; "the gun went off." + +It was well for me, perhaps, that I was not familiar with the French +language, or else who knows but the Franco-German war might not have +been renewed between myself and the captain. He screamed and laughed and +swore both "Mon Dieu" and "Sacre bleu," and then he assured me that it +was only because I was a German that I was afraid! + +The Yankee sat and smoked his pipe, and laughed in a peculiar way; and, +wild and ashamed of myself, I could not help feeling amused at him, +because he laughed, although the grimaces in his face were exactly those +another man would make if he were going to cry. By and by the captain +began to feel calmer, and as I was disposed only to feel angry with +myself for the fear which had caused me to press on the trigger of the +rifle until it went off, we were soon friends again. My watch was over, +and I laid down to sleep, while the two others took their turn to watch +the rest of the night. At break of day we hoisted the anchor and began +to propel the boat again. I never remember anything in nature making the +same impression on me as the scenery around us. The broad river, or +inlet, was dotted all over with beautiful small islands, then on the +mainland the hills seemed to rise to immense heights, covered with the +primeval forest. The sun rose and shone with that splendour that those +who have been in the tropics can alone imagine. Parrots and all other +birds flew about in great numbers, screaming as if with joy. + +At sunrise we went ashore on a small island about half an acre in +extent, but verdant with tropical plants, quite a home of summer! Here +we had breakfast and a rest before we started again. How inconceivable +did it seem to me that this climate should be so unhealthy as they said +it was. Anyhow, it seemed to me that to have seen this place would be +justification for saying one had not lived in vain, and if the worst was +to come, death seemed to me to have no terror if one might be buried on +that island. We now started off again, pulling the boat. Shortly after, +the sky became overcast and rain began to pour down. First, we had taken +all our clothes off and covered them up with a piece of canvas. The rain +descended in sheets of water all day, and we had a rare bath all the +time; one was always baling the boat and the other pulling. I can never +forget that weary day. We could not make a fire, we had no shelter, and +scarcely five minutes' rest or interval from pulling. A sort of morose +silence seemed to settle over us all. Long after dark in the evening did +it keep on raining, and I began to wonder where we should put ourselves +that night. As the others said nothing, I did not intend to be the first +to knock under. Still, I was ready to drop as I pulled along in the +pitch darkness, and it made it much worse that I did not know but that I +might have to do it all night. At last the captain took up a horn and +blew a tune on it, and a few minutes later we heard a fearful barking as +of a score of big dogs. We had arrived at the place where the township +of Ingham stands to-day. At that time there was only one solitary house +built on high posts, with plenty of room to walk about underneath. I +understood the house was the joint property of the planters further up +the river, and the place was used as a sort of depot. There was an old +man in charge, the only inhabitant; he lived there all alone, protected +by a score of dogs, the most ferocious-looking beasts I ever saw. It +was also part of his duty to receive and be hospitable to such +travellers as might find their way there. I was told these details while +in the boat, and cautioned not to run the boat ashore before we were +invited, as the dogs for certain would tear me to pieces. We heard the +old fellow cooeing, and shortly after he came down to us. He had a +lantern hung around his neck, and two ferocious-looking dogs were held +in chains by him, striving and tearing to get at us. Some more dogs, +which he said were quiet, but which did not look so, were barking and +straining after us at the landing-place. My shipmates had been there +before, and at last the dogs seemed to know them; but poor I had to +remain by myself in the boat until the old man had got all the dogs +chained again. At last I came ashore. Oh, the joy now of a fire, dry +clothes, a good supper, a glass of grog, and a good bed! A good bed in +the Queensland bush means two saplings stuck through a couple of +flour-bags, with two sticks nailed across at the head and the foot to +keep them apart. + +The next evening, after another hard day's pulling, we came to the first +plantation. This seemed quite a large place. I cannot now after so many +years state how many people there were or what they were doing, if ever +I knew it; but let it suffice to say that we were all well received at +supper-time in the single men's hut, where a large crowd of men were +collected. The French man told me I should be sure to get a job as +carpenter from the planter, and that I must demand three pounds sterling +per week and board for my services, nothing less. I slept that night on +the dining-table, as there was no spare bunk; and I remember that night +with great distinctness, on account of what I suffered from mosquitoes. +The next morning I saw the planter, and asked him for a job as +carpenter. "Yes," said he; I was the very man he wanted. He intended to +build a house of split timber; I might give him a price. He would order +a couple of horses, and we would ride out to look for timber, and if I +liked the trees, so much the better. This was a thing I did not then +understand anything about, and I told him so. "Never mind," said he, "I +will find you something; you can make me a waggon." I told him waggons +were not in my line. "What is in your line, then?" inquired he. + +I understood the carpentry needed in brick-building, or at least part of +it, and I could make joinery of sawn timber. + +"Very well; when he wanted a brick building, or joinery made of sawn +timber, he would send for me." + +Then he walked off in a bad humour, and I had to go back to the boat to +tell my shipmates how I had fared. That same day, at dinner-time, we +arrived at the next plantation. I was by this time in very low spirits, +because I did not know what was to become of me. Everybody seemed to +have an errand and something to do except myself, and I did not see how +and when my services would be called into requisition; but my two +shipmates kept telling me it was my own fault, and that I should take +anything I could get to do. So I would, but what was it I could do? +Anyhow, they kept telling me that here was the only likely place left, +and I there _must_ get a job. I must say I could do anything. After I +had dined, the Frenchman kept poking at me and pointing out to me the +planter, telling me I must ask for a job. So I mustered up courage and +went up and spoke to him. "What can you do?" "Anything." "Can you cook?" +"Do you mean making dinners?" "Yes." "No, I cannot do that." "Can you +split fencing stuff?" "No." "Can you make brick?" "No." "Can you chip?" +"What is that?" "Kill weeds with a hoe." "I never did it before." "I am +afraid it is difficult to find you a job. You say you can do anything: +what is it you can do?" + +I was again quite crestfallen as I said, "I do not think I can do +_any_thing." "Well, then, I cannot find you anything to do." With that +he went his way, and I came back to where the Frenchman sat, and I had +to tell him once more of my hard fate. At this he began to swear in +French like one demented, and asked me had I never told the planter I +was a carpenter. "No." "Mon Dieu! oh, Mon Dieu, was any one like this +infant!" Then he ran after the planter and spoke to him, and soon they +both came back. The planter then said he had been told I was a +carpenter, and that he was prepared to find work for me at that trade, +but that he would prefer me to go into the boat to the next plantation, +as he knew his neighbour was much in want of me. If I did not get on +there he would employ me as I came back. What a relief I felt, +especially as I understood they did not expect me to build houses out of +growing trees! The next evening we passed the place where I was told I +could get work, but it was on the other side of the river. A man stood +down by the water's edge hailing the boat. He sang out to us if we +thought it possible he might get a carpenter in Cardwell. It was music +in my ears. The Frenchman cried back: "We have one on the boat." The man +on shore replied he wanted one to make boxes, tables, and the like. I +was ready to jump out of the boat with anxiety, but I had to content +myself, as my shipmates would not let me off before the return journey, +and so I had to ply the oar until, far out into the night, we arrived at +the furthest point of our journey, viz., the Native Police camp. + +I may say a few words about this establishment. Round about in +Queensland, on the furthest outskirts of settlements, some official will +be stationed in charge of half a dozen aboriginals, trained in the use +of the rifle and amenable to discipline. It is the duty of this +official, with the assistance of his troopers, to fill the aborigines +with terror, and to use such means to that end as his own judgment may +dictate. White men to hunt the blacks with would be useless, as they +could never track them through the jungle, and would no doubt also be +too squeamish to fight the natives with their own weapons. But the +blacks themselves delight in being cruel to their own kind. Often while +I was on the Herbert, would I see them coming past, like regular +bloodhounds, quite naked, with their rifle in their hand and a belt +around their waist containing ammunition and the large scrub knife. +Their bodies would be smeared over with grease, so as to be slippery to +the touch. They would then be out on an expedition. It no doubt requires +all the authority their officer can command at such times to temper the +wind to the shorn lamb. As the district becomes settled the aboriginals +grow quiet, and the native police camp will then be shifted further on. +While I was on the Herbert I never saw any other blacks besides the +police, although the blacks were about then in great numbers. We often +saw their tracks, but they never showed themselves unless when they +could not help it. + +We arrived at the police camp about two or three o'clock in the morning, +and were received at the landing-place by two of the troopers, who stood +there without saying a word, as if they were watching for us. They were +black as the night itself, and as I never saw them until I was out of +the boat, I fairly ran against them. One of them had a pipe in his +mouth, and the only thing that indicated his presence was a glowing bit +of coal he had stuck into it. The other one, as I already stated, I ran +against, and I was quite startled as I looked into his gleaming eyes and +as I stretched out my hands felt his greasy cold flesh! So I sang out, +"Hi! vot name? Where you sit down?" that being the usual greeting to a +blackfellow, but although none of them spoke a sentence, I was reassured +in the next moment, as I saw a gentlemanly young man, dressed in a +pyjamas, coming down to greet us. This was their officer, and as he led +us towards the house I thought that it must be a cruel life for any +white man to lead alone in such a place with nobody but a lot of howling +savages to exchange a thought with. I do not think the whole clearing +was more than half an acre in extent. In the middle of it stood a house +built on posts eight feet high. It contained two rooms. This was where +the officer lived. In the yard, or whatever you liked to call the +clearing, was a fire, and around it sat or lay all these black troopers. +Australian blacks will not sleep in a house if they can possibly avoid +it, so this was their regular camping-place. A more wild and desolate +spot than this looked to me, with all these naked savages lying in the +yard, and with weapons piled about both outside and inside the house, +cannot be conceived. + +The next day, on our return journey, I parted company with my two +fellow-travellers, and went ashore at ---- plantation, where I got a +job as carpenter for two pounds ten shillings per week and my board. +This was a place which scarcely could be called a plantation yet, as it +was only just formed. The owner and his family lived there in a large +slab-house, erected on wooden piles ten or twelve feet out of the +ground. There were also a few outbuildings, but any real work was not +going on, only one man, a bullock driver, being engaged on the premises. +My "boss" told me, though, that he expected a hundred Kanakas shortly +from the South Sea Islands, and that he wanted me to fit up bunks for +them, put together tables, troughs for making bread in, furniture for +his own house, and such like. I perceived a few thousand feet of sawn +cedar lying about, and there and then I started work to astonish the +natives. I never worked with greater perseverance than then. The tools +were in a fearful condition, but I soon got them into some shape. Then I +rigged up a bench and made a sunshade out in the yard, where the young +lady could see me working, and then it began to rain tables, sofas, +chairs, and bunks, so much that I am not afraid to say that I quickly +became a favourite. I found out here that I was more capable than I +myself thought, because I even made a first-rate boat, in which I had +the pleasure of rowing about the river with Mr. ----'s daughter, and in +which she and her father afterwards travelled to Cardwell. Miss ---- had +been with her parents on the Herbert for a year, and shortly after I +arrived on the scene she went to a boarding-school in Sydney. On his +return journey from Cardwell Mr. ---- brought home a servant girl, who +proved to be the German girl I already have mentioned as having seen in +Cardwell. I relate this matter not because I took any particular +interest in this girl, but because I have by and by to write about what +happened to all of us. + +My "boss" was in my eyes a regular hero, or Nimrod, if you like. I went +out shooting with him both morning and evening, and all Sunday as well, +and became after a while quite a good shot. But one thing troubled Mr. +----; it was this: that although alligators were a daily terror, he had +never yet been able to shoot one. When we went out shooting he had +always a rifle with him, loaded with ball, and we would crawl about some +fearful places and follow the tracks of alligators, but still we had no +luck. As for me, I professed to be very sorry too, that we did not run +right up against one. I had great faith in Mr. ----, and I do not think +he had any suspicion that I was really afraid; still I always drew a +sigh of relief when we came home from one of our expeditions. There is +so much boasting going on in Queensland about alligators, that it is +next to a proverb here when one is telling an untrue tale to say that it +is "an alligator yarn," and I am, therefore, almost ashamed to write +about it. Still alligators are a reality, and up there we knew it. On +the river-bank, in front of the house was a spring, from which we got +the water supply for the house but so nervous were we that no one dared +to go to it without the utmost precaution. Every morning Mr. ---- would +come and ask the bullock driver and me if we were prepared to fetch +water. Then he would get his rifle and take up a position on the +river-bank from which he could overlook the surroundings, while we went +down to carry up a supply of water. + +[Illustration: AN ALLIGATOR POOL.] + +And now I will relate an alligator story, although I have been much +tempted to pass it over for the reason already stated. One day after +dinner Mr. ---- came to me much excited, and told me that an alligator +had taken one of the working bullocks which had been lying down a few +hundred yards from the house, in broad daylight too. We then went down +to see about it, and there were the tracks of the bullock and the +alligator. It showed plainly that the alligator must have taken the +bullock in the hind-quarters and have dragged it along, because the +earth was regularly ploughed up where the bullock had been holding back +with its head and forelegs; it had been dragged right down to the +river's edge and then killed and partly eaten. As we ran the tracks +down, we saw the alligator by the bullock, but it dropped like a stone +into the water on our approach. Mr. ---- turned to me with sparkling +eyes. "Now is our chance," cried he; "to-night and to-morrow night it +will come again and eat of the bullock. Then we can shoot it." Was it +not fun? Anyhow I said I would make one of the shooting party, and then +he began to unfold our plan of campaign. To begin with he thought it +best to delay till the next evening as the alligator would then be sure +to be more quiet. We were to take up a concealed position to windward of +the bullock's carcass, and await the arrival of the monster. And so the +next evening came, and after tea, while it was yet light, Mr. ---- came +and asked me if I was ready. "Yes," cried I. I was ready, and in a very +ferocious spirit besides! Well, then, we would get the weapons. The two +rifles were loaded, and each of us had a six-chambered revolver as well. +As for me, I stuck a butcher's knife in my belt also, as a last +resource, but Mr. ---- laughed at me for doing it and assured me that +before I could find use for that I should be in the alligator's stomach. +Then we went, Mr. ---- first and I close behind. The river-bank nearest +the water was very steep for about thirty yards, then there was a gentle +slope for another twenty yards or so, and on that slope the carcass of +the bullock was now lying. We were very careful to have the wind against +us, as the alligator is very shy as a rule, and Mr. ---- said it would +be sure to clear off if it could smell us. Then we lay down behind some +bushes in a most overpowering smell from the bullock; but what will one +not do for glory? It was agreed between us that we should both fire at +the same moment, and that Mr. ---- should give the signal. We were lying +flat on the ground, and one of Mr. ----'s legs was touching me, and it +was further agreed that I was not on any account to fire before he with +his leg pressed mine in a certain way. Then I was to fire into the mouth +of the alligator, while he at the same moment would try to send a ball +through its eye. We were lying in this position nearly up to midnight, +when we heard some heavy body come creeping up the hill, but still out +of sight. Now and then the noise would cease for a minute or two, then +it would come on again, until at last we saw the dark mass of the +alligator come crawling up to the bullock and begin to tear at it. I was +not a bit nervous, because I could see it quite distinctly, but I was +very impatient for the signal to fire which did not come, and I dared +not move round sufficiently to look at Mr. ---- either. The alligator +was turning this way and that way. Now, I thought, is the time. Still no +signal. Then it turned right round, and at one time I thought its tail +was going to sweep us away. Just when our chance was best we heard +another alligator coming crawling up the bank. It was at that moment +quite impossible to fire according to the position in which the first +alligator was lying, but as it was moving about rapidly I thought it +best in any case to ignore as well as I could the presence of the second +alligator, which we could not yet see. At last the first one began to +snap its jaws in that peculiar way which only one who has seen a live +alligator knows. Then came the signal. Bang! went the rifles. The beast +never moved a muscle. It was quite dead, and we could hear the other +alligator tearing and rolling down into the water again. Mr. ---- got up +and wiped his face. "I was afraid of you getting excited," said he. I +admitted I was thankful the sport was over, and without giving ourselves +time to measure the reptile we decamped out of the smell as fast as we +could. It was fairly overpowering, and it took the best part of a bottle +of Scotch whiskey, which the "boss" introduced, to make me believe that +it was possible to go through such adventure and still live. + +It had for a long time been the wish of Mrs. ---- and the children to +visit their nearest neighbour, who, however, lived some fourteen miles +away. One evening preparations were made for the whole family to start +at daybreak next morning on the bullock dray. It was quite a perilous +journey for a lady and children to undertake, as the track was through +the dense jungle most of the way, and through grass eight feet high at +other places, and swamps, creeks, and gullies had to be crossed. Mr. +---- told me that he could not possibly be back before the next night, +and that he entrusted everything at home to my care while he was away, +the girl included, and that I might take a holiday until they came back, +so that I on no account left the premises. He also advised me that as it +was possible I might have a surprise from the blacks I had better sleep +for the night up in the house, which, as I have already stated, stood on +high piles, and was only accessible by means of a narrow staircase. The +next morning, then, they all went away, the bullock driver and all the +dogs included. Twelve bullocks pulled the dray, into which a lot of +bed-clothes were piled. There sat the lady and the children. Mr. ---- +was on horseback, armed with his rifle and revolvers. The driver cracked +his long whip and all the dogs barked and jumped about. I stood by +seeing them off and feeling quite important too, as I was the garrison +left to defend the home until the travellers should return. About +dinner-time that same day two travellers came in a boat from one of the +plantations and asked to speak to Mr. ----. This was rather remarkable, +as we scarcely ever saw any other people than the boatmen when they +brought the mail, and occasionally the black trackers from the police +camp, but I told them that Mr. ---- and the whole family had left that +morning in the bullock dray. They seemed surprised. + +"All of them, did you say?" + +"Yes," replied I. + +"It means good-bye," said they both. "You will never see any of them +again; they have cleared off." + +I was surprised and incredulous. My friends seemed quite sure. + +"And what did he say to you when they left?" inquired one. + +"He told me I need not work until he came back, but that I must not +leave the premises. He also said that he entrusted everything to my +care." + +"My word," said they, "it is a nasty trust. Why, the blacks will be sure +to rush the place one of these days, perhaps to-night, for they are +certain to have seen the others going away." + +Then they began to commiserate with me on what was to become of myself +and the girl, as we were sure to fall into the hands of the blacks, and +they offered to take us both away in the boat with them. But I could not +see it in that way. I knew that in all probability we should have no +visitors for ten or eleven days until the mailman came. But where was I +to go? I had now a good deal of money coming to me. Who was to pay me? +Besides, it might only be all nonsense. Still the responsibility seemed +great. I took the girl aside and asked her if she liked to go in the +boat and leave me. She began to cry, and said she would rather stay, and +did not like the fellows. If there is anything that could ever make me +desperate it is to see a woman cry. So I began to give the two strangers +the cold shoulder, and to show them that I had a rifle, six +fowling-pieces, a revolver, and any amount of ammunition, and that I +would, if it was necessary, defend the place against all the blacks in +the district, but neither the girl nor I would budge out of the place +before we were paid, and that, moreover, we did not believe that the +"boss" had cleared off, but that he would be back the next evening. + +After these fellows were gone I held a council of war with the girl. We +turned and twisted probabilities for or against, were they coming back +or were they not? Evening came and we sat up in the blockhouse and dared +not go to bed. Wherever I moved there the girl was after me. I had all +the guns standing loaded alongside me, but we dared not light a lamp for +fear of attracting the blacks. We sat whispering and listening. Every +time the wind would rustle the leaves in the garden the girl made a grab +at me and cried, "There they are! There they are!" + +At last I induced her to go to her room, and then I dozed off myself, +and did not wake up before it was broad daylight. The first thing we did +that morning on coming downstairs was to look for tracks from the +blacks, to see if they had been about. I was not a very good tracker +then, but we found what proved to our entire satisfaction that the +aboriginals had been about in great numbers. This terrified the girl +completely, and she upbraided me for having slept during the night, and +implored me not to do so again; also she wished she had gone with the +strangers the day before; and then she began praying in great excitement +that it might not be her fate to fall into the hands of savages. Of +course all this had its influence on me, and as the day went on we +completely discarded the possibility of our employers returning, and +only thought of how best to protect ourselves from the blacks. I made up +my mind, therefore, that the time had now arrived for me to show myself +great and brave, and at all events to sell my life dearly. Good +generalship, however, was likely, thought I, to do more for me than +bravery unassisted by judgment, and for that reason I began to think how +to act so as to be prepared for the worst. I knew this much, that the +greatest danger from a surprise would be about sunrise. But as I was +alone I could see that it would be impossible for me to defend the whole +property. I must therefore retire to the main house, which, standing +isolated and on high piles, would offer a good fortification. But if I +had to abandon the outhouses, they would then fall into the hands of the +enemy and he would be enriched by all there was to be found in them. I +must, therefore, while I had time, carry everything I could up to the +house, and, perhaps, it would be better to burn the outhouses down +afterwards, so that they might not serve as a hiding-place for the +blacks. I would see about that, but my first duty was to carry +everything upstairs, and at all events commenced. No sooner said than +done. The girl and I carried everything we could lay our hands on, +upstairs. I also carried up water enough to last us for a fortnight or +more, three large tubsful. All the firewood that was lying handy I also +humped up, although there was no fireplace upstairs; but I wanted to do +all I could, and in my energy I could not be still. + +In this way the day passed and evening came again. As no one had +returned what hope we might have had was now dead, and as for me I felt +like a glorious Spartan, quite certain that the blacks would come and +that I should let daylight through every one of them. All my guns, of +course, were loaded, and I was showing them off to the girl, explaining +to her that it was my intention, after having defended the door as long +as I could, to retire from room to room and keep up the war all the +time. But she was nevertheless timid, and I feared much that she should, +by taking hold of me, which indeed she did all the time, prevent me from +firing, and I asked her, therefore, again to retire to her room. She +implored me to let her stay with me, and said she did not mind so that +we might die together. Then she began to hug me. What new and unexpected +horror was this? Was this a man-trap, or what? Was there not trouble +enough already? Surely, thought I, if ever a man needed a stimulant to +keep up his pluck, I am that man. Happy thought! I knew where the "boss" +kept his whiskey. I went to the cupboard and took a long, deep pull at +the bottle. "Dearest Amelia," cried I, "remember that in the time of our +glorious forefathers it was the duty of the Danish maidens to hand the +cup to the warriors, both before they went to battle and when they came +home. Do now! Let me. Oblige me to drink of this bottle. It is only +schnapps. Do! That is right. Here is luck! And death and destruction to +our enemies! And now retire to your room. Good-night. Nothing shall harm +you. Barricade the door from the inside. Let me lock it from the +outside. And now," cried I, "I make it impossible for anyone to get near +you. Here goes the key." + +With that, having turned the key twice in the lock after her, I threw it +out of the window as far as I could! I felt then as bloodthirsty as any +savage. Why did these blacks not come? The only thing that puzzled me, +as I traversed the house from one shutter to another, was what I should +do if they came underneath the house. They might then fire the building. +No, they should not. I would have them yet. I would take the two-inch +augur and bore holes all over the floor, so that I might shoot through. +I was soon boring away making holes for a long time right and left, when +the girl whispered, "What are you doing?" + +"I am boring holes," cried I, "in the floor to shoot through. Shall I +bore a hole in your door? Then you could kill half a dozen with a +revolver. If you have a mind, I will." + +"Oh, there they are!" cried the girl. + +"Ha, where? Come on!" + +"Stop, you fool, it is the master and the missis. Don't you hear the +whip? Let me out." + +"Master and missis? I cannot let you out. I have thrown the key away." + +Then it dawned on me what a fearful ass I must presently appear. It is +impossible for me to keep on with the particulars. I could not find the +key again and let the girl out. The floor was spoiled, the house upside +down. I should have been game to have fought his Satanic Majesty +himself, but to face the contempt of the "boss" and good, kind Mrs. ---- +was terrible. So I talked through the door at the girl and told her to +say, if any one made inquiries for me, that I was not at home. With that +I decamped, and did not present myself before the next midday. After a +while the matter was only referred to as a joke. + +I should have liked very much to have been able to write a detailed +account of the whole twelve months I spent at this place. I am quite +sure that if truly written, much of it would prove interesting to people +who never were so far north, but I must of necessity pass quickly over +many things of which I should have liked to write more fully, or else I +shall never come to the end of my travels. Suffice it, therefore, to say +that the Kanakas arrived in great numbers; that the "boss" and I went to +Cardwell on horseback to fetch them; that a lot of white men were also +brought together on the plantation; that I was overseer, or "nigger +driver," over part of the Kanakas for some time; that I, during the +twelve months, gained a good deal of colonial experience: learned to +ride, drive bullocks, split fencing stuff, &c., also how to build +slab-houses, as they are called--that is, to go into the bush, and with +the help of a few tools, single-handed, to make a good house out of the +growing trees. All this I learned, more or less, and then when I had +been there about twelve months I caught the fever. This fever is, I +believe, peculiar to certain parts of North Queensland; it is not +deadly, but very common, indeed my impression is that there was not a +man on the Herbert River who had not got it more or less. It comes with +shivering of cold, followed by thirst and utter exhaustion, once a day +or once every second day. Most people are able to work all the time they +have it until they feel the "shakes" coming over them. Then perforce +they must lie down, but they generally get up to their work again after +the prostration which follows is over. With me it was different. A +couple of weeks of it made me so weak that when I felt myself strongest +I could only stagger about with the help of a big stick. I had built a +carpenter's shop, and my room was off that. Then I would lie down of an +evening on the bed, with bed-clothes piled on me enough to smother one, +and still the gasping and the "shakes" would gradually commence. The +very marrow in one's bones seemed frozen, while the teeth would rattle +in the head, and the breath would come and go with fearful quickness. +After a couple of hours of this, heat and prostration would follow, +coupled with terrible thirst. Of course there was no hospital, and there +was no one to hand one a drink. When I properly understood the matter, I +would always place my wash-basin in the bed, filled with water, so that +when the time came I could lean over and drink, because I was too weak +to lift a billy can or a pint pot off the floor. But when I upset this +basin, which happened once, my sufferings were intense. I remember on +two or three occasions when I had no water how I tried to get out of +bed, how I fell and lay on the floor for hours, then crept on my hands +and knees out around the shed to where a bench stood with a tub of water +on. There I would sit or lie over the water for hours and drink. Such a +matter as this excites no sympathy in a place like that. There were now +a lot of other men, and most of them had a touch of the fever as well. +If I had slept among other men I have no doubt some one would have given +me a drink, but to ask any one to sit up with me, or disturb their +night's rest on that account, would have been asking too much, I fear. +Then when I had been alone before the new hands arrived, I had shared +pot-luck with my employer and his family, but now it seemed as if one +was only lost in a crowd. I had nothing to eat but half-putrid corned +beef and bread, served on a dirty tin plate, tea of the cheapest sort, +boiled in a bucket, and sweetened with dirty black sugar, was my fare +too. How could any sick person eat or drink such stuff? As I write now +it seems to me it is enough to cause a strong man to die of slow +starvation, and yet it is the ordinary average diet put before working +men all over the Queensland bush twenty-one times a week. One day Mrs. +---- came down and asked me very sympathetically how I was getting on. +So I showed her my plate with my dinner on, covered with flies as it +was, and very unappetizing indeed, and upbraided her and her husband for +serving such rations. "Dear me, how shocking! None of the other men +complained. Was the meat bad?" Then she assured me I should have +anything I wished for, and for the last few days I was there I was +constantly invited to their own table, although I scarcely could eat +anything even there. But I thought I had been there long enough, and +when the mailman came in his boat I took a friendly leave of my employer +and his family, and was assisted down into the boat. I had with me then +my cheque for a hundred pounds sterling, and another for seven or eight +pounds. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +LEAVING THE HERBERT--RAVENSWOOD. + + +I had again no particular idea as to where I would go, further than that +I wanted to regain my health. But oh, for the sweetness of liberty and +money! I needed not to say anything about money to my old travelling +companions in the boat; they knew I must have a good cheque, and their +attentions were in proportion! Perhaps I wrong them. Perhaps they would +have been just as careful to my wants if they had known me to be +penniless. At any rate, a sort of bed was made for me in the stern of +the boat, and offers to procure for me anything I wanted from the stores +on the plantations were profuse. But I wanted for nothing more than to +lie as easily as I might, because I really was very sick. There had been +a public-house built somewhere a mile from the river-bank since I had +passed that way before, and when we came to the place where a track led +from the water up to it, my two oarsmen proposed to go up to have some +refreshment, and promised to be back directly. Of course I could not go +with them. When they were gone some time a little pig which they had in +a bag in the boat began to find its way out. I thought it a pity to +allow it to escape, and yet I had not strength to get up, but without +calculating the consequences I rolled myself over until I lay on the top +of it. Never shall I forget the howling of that pig in my ears, for I +believe over an hour, until the men came back. The bag had somehow got +mixed in my clothing, and I could not either free myself or the pig, +else I would gladly have let it go. At last the men came back and got us +separated. + +When I came to Cardwell I thoroughly enjoyed, although I was sick, the +luxury of lying in a clean bed with white sheets, and mosquito curtains +all around me, and to have one of the servants at the hotel coming to my +door all day long asking if she could do anything for me. There was +neither doctor nor chemist in the place, but one of the storekeepers +came and looked at me, and sold me some medicine which in a short time +drove the fearful "shakings" I had away. Meanwhile, as there was no +other communication with the outer world than "the schooner," which ran +between Cardwell and Townsville, I had inquired when the schooner would +be in as I had decided to go to Townsville again. On the same day that +the ague had for the first time left me, I was told that the schooner +would be ready to run out at eleven o'clock at night. I was then so +careless of myself, or so foolish, that I, at that hour of the night, +for the first time in a fortnight, got out of my bed and went on board +the craft. It was only a sort of fishing smack, rowed by two men, who +had a small enclosure somewhere on board where they could be dry. For +passengers there was no accommodation whatever. In the hold, which was +open, was nothing but some old sails, rusty chains, empty boxes, and the +like. Two or three more passengers came on board, who at once secured +the best places in the hold, while I, who for the first time for many +weeks felt remarkably well, sat up on the deck enjoying the strong +breeze, and even tried to smoke a pipe. But any North Queenslander will +tell you that when one has had fever he has to be extra careful of not +catching cold. I did not know that just then, but in a very short time I +did. I got a fearful toothache. My enervated system did not feel able to +hold up against this new affliction, and so I threw myself down among +the ropes and boxes in the hold. There I lay, while the pain gradually +increased. The wind was against us, and it took eight or nine days +before we reached Townsville. During that time my agony grew more acute +every day. I had neither strength nor energy enough to stand on my feet. +My head swelled up to a fearful extent. My mouth was in such a state +that I could not swallow, and I gradually lost power to open my mouth or +to speak. When we had been two days out I raised myself on my elbow to +try to drink some tea and eat some mashed bananas, which some one gave +me in a pint pot. I could not swallow, so I laid myself down again and +did not after that touch food. I heard them speak about me on deck, and +say that they ought to have found out my name, because I should scarcely +last out unless the wind changed. I heard this distinctly, and laughed +to myself, because I knew I was not going to die just yet. Still to all +their inquiries I could not reply. One day I heard a Dane speaking in my +ear; where he came from, or where he went to, I do not know, but he +asked me, "Are you a Dane?" I grunted. Then he said, "What is your +name?" I tried to stutter it out from between my teeth time after time, +but he could not understand, and kept on, "Say it again." At last he +gave it up. Then he asked me if there was anything he could do for me? +what ship I had come out in, and so on. But I was so disgusted with my +own inability to use my tongue, that otherwise so ready a friend of +mine, that I made no further attempt to speak, and my countryman +disappeared again. There was now only one thought that possessed my +mind, viz., to get to Townsville, and when there to have all my teeth +pulled out. Of course it was more a relapse from the fever that was +wrong with me than toothache, but I did not know it. I lay in a daze day +after day, every time the boat gave a lurch my head would strike against +something, and the agony I suffered cannot be described. At last the +skipper took hold of me and cried, "Well, stranger, here we are in +Townsville; where shall we take you to?" + +It came on me so unexpectedly that it seemed again to send the +life-blood through me. I stared around me and saw that we were lying +close to the wharf. + +Up I jumped, to the great surprise of the skipper, and leaving my swag +behind me, and holding on with both hands to my head, I staggered +ashore. It was about eight o'clock in the morning when I landed. I knew +it because I heard all the breakfast bells ringing from the hotels, and +although I did not feel hungry, yet it reminded me that I had eaten +nothing for two weeks. On I staggered like a drunken man. People seemed +to look surprised at me, and to go out of their way for me. I came to a +chemist's shop. He also looked at me in a disgusted sort of way. I took +up a pen and wrote to him that I wanted all my teeth pulled out. He felt +my pulse. "My friend," said he, "I think you had better go to a doctor." + +I gave him to understand that I was tired, and did not know where the +doctor lived. + +"Wait," cried he, "I will get a man to go with you." + +Then he went out of the shop. As I turned round I saw a very large +mirror, in which I beheld my own image from head to foot. At first I did +not realize it was myself as I stared at it. Would my own mother have +known the picture? I hope not. Unkempt, unwashed for nearly a fortnight, +my hair hung in matted knots about my face. My whole head was swollen +to such an extent that to describe it as I saw it would seem +exaggeration. Add to this a graveyard complexion in the face, and an +emaciated form, dressed in an old crimean shirt, dirty moleskin trousers +and blucher boots, and you have the picture I beheld of myself as I +stood looking. I felt my knees giving way under me, made a grab at the +counter and fell. The next thing I remember was that I was lying on a +nice bed, in a room which proved to be in the adjoining hotel, and that +a doctor was there. With consciousness my agony returned, and I again +preferred my request in writing that he should pull all my teeth out. +"Yes, that is all very well," said he, "but we must first try to break +your mouth open. You must go to the hospital. I will give you a ticket. +What is your name? Have you no money?" + +I took out all I had got, my one hundred pounds' cheque and some change, +and laid it on the table. At the same time I wrote to him on a paper and +asked him to take charge of it and give me the balance when I asked for +it. I also asked him to order anything I wanted and to spare no expense. +Then the doctor suggested to call in a colleague that they might +consult, and when the next doctor arrived they agreed to give me +chloroform, but after great preparations had been made and a sponge held +to my nose for a minute or two without having any effect on me, they +again decided that I was too weak for chloroform, but as I, half +crying, beckoned to them to do in my case what had to be done, one of +them, with his knee on my chest, put an instrument between my teeth +while the other held my head back and somebody else sat behind my chair +and held my arms. My mouth came open. I will not unnecessarily prolong +the agony, only to state that I felt relieved shortly after and that +somebody with the utmost tenderness was bathing my head. I had now +nothing to do but to allow people to wait on me. I stayed in the hotel +for two days, when the doctor's own buggy came for me and I was driven +to the hospital. So that the reader may not be under the impression that +I wear false teeth, I would like to say that not a tooth was pulled or +any other surgical operation performed. I now got better rapidly. It +seemed impossible to feel sick in that hospital. I had a large private +room and broad verandahs outside. From my bed I could lie and watch the +ocean all day and try to count the islands. My friend, the doctor, came +also every day, and any extra comfort I wanted was quickly procured. As +I grew better I would sit and bask in the sun down among the rocks by +the shore in that half-unconscious but blissful condition which I +believe is common to all convalescents, or a couple of hours before +meal-time I would lie on my bed watching the sun and its shadows on the +floor so that I might be prepared and lose no time the moment the man +came with the dinner. Oh, for the ravenous hunger with which I could +eat! Although I had double the ordinary allowance, yet after a month's +stay in the hospital, I had to leave it for very hunger's sake. I then +settled my bill with the doctor, who charged me very moderately, and +went to live in a hotel in town. When I was perfectly cured and myself +again I could easily have obtained work in town at my trade for four +pounds per week, but I had a sort of dislike to the place, which decided +me to go up to the gold-diggings and try my luck there. The nearest +diggings were at Ravenswood, some hundred and thirty miles inland. Other +diggings were scattered behind that place, but to reach them I +understood I had to go to Ravenswood first, and that it was as good a +place as any. I bought two horses, with all necessary appendages, such +as saddle, pack-saddle, bridles, &c. They cost me about thirty pounds. I +put thirty pounds more into the bank as a sort of reserve fund in case +of accident, and after paying my way so far, and buying a few necessary +clothes, I had only some nine or ten pounds left. So one morning I +packed the one horse with my swag, containing clothes and blanket, in +the large saddle-bags. I had small bags containing flour, tea, sugar, +and other necessary things for a journey through the bush, because, +although the road I had now to travel was a beaten track, yet it is a +Queensland custom on all occasions to be as independent as possible. +Besides, when one sets out for a ramble, there is no saying where one is +going to pull up, and it seems so pleasant to know that one is +all-sufficient in his own resources, without requiring any aid from +wayside inns. So at least did I think as I rode out of the town; and as +this was my first experience of what we in Queensland call going on the +"wallaby track," I enjoyed it immensely. + +The way a man acts when travelling like this, is just to please himself. +When a fair day's journey is done, one begins to look out for a likely +spot for grass and water, and having found that, you get off the horses +and hobble them out--that is, having freed them of their load, their +forefeet are tied together with a pair of strong leather straps in such +a way that they can only totter slowly about. Having done that a fire is +made, the billy is slung on for tea, and when supper is over, a smoke, a +yarn--if there is a mate--and then a roll in the blanket with a saddle +for a pillow. + +There is often a lot of argument about what is a fair day's journey on +horseback. Of course it is a matter which never can be decided, because +so much depends upon the horses, the road, what the horses get to eat, +&c., but I do not believe many careful travellers will take their horses +more than twenty miles a day for a long journey, and then rest them +occasionally, but to hear some people talk one would think their horses +could go a hundred miles every day. In Queensland travellers have +sometimes to ride forty or fifty miles between watering-places. Most +horses can do it, if taken care of, but not every day. When travellers +meet on a Queensland road their first question after greeting is, "How +far is it to water?" and the distance between watering-places is +practically what decides a day's journey. In times of drought these +water-holes get scarce or dry up completely; rivers stop running; then +it behoves the traveller to look out where he goes. If misfortune +happens, or he has not calculated rightly the endurance of his horse, or +the water-hole on which he depends should be dried up when he arrives +there, then he is likely to perish! As for myself, I have on more than +one occasion arrived in a parched condition at a water-hole, only to +find a lot of dead cattle bogged in the soft mud, and still have been +compelled to drink the pint or two of putrefied water that might be +left. The reader will therefore see that travelling in the Queensland +bush is not exactly a perpetual picnic. + +Nothing of importance happened to me on this road, unless I were to +mention that when I was about half-way I met a swag's-man, that is, one +who carries his swag on his own back and has no horses. This fellow +asked to let him put his burden on my horse, which I let him do. I then, +by talking to him as we went along, found out that he had neither money +nor rations, and as we were only a few miles from Hugton Hotel I +promised to pay for dinner at that place for us both. Arrived at the +hotel, I ordered a first-class dinner for two; it was five shillings. +The table was laid for us with a big roast of beef and a plum-pudding. +After we both had eaten what we wanted, my fellow-traveller put nearly +all the remaining food into his bags and decamped, in spite of my +protestations. I remember well how scandalized I felt! Otherwise the +road was not lonely; every day I passed waggons hauled by sixteen or +eighteen bullocks each and filled with merchandise for the diggings. +There were also other travellers, both on foot and on horseback, but I +did not go myself in company with any, and so at last, one forenoon, I +saw the township of Ravenswood lying before me. I stopped the horses to +have a good look. + +At last I was on a gold-field. What a magic spell there seemed to me in +the words. All the old fallacious ideas connected with the word crowded +into my mind. Runaway nuns dressed in men's clothes, princes working +like labourers, and labourers living like princes--"looking for gold!" +Had I not better begin at once? + +As I came nearer I saw what seemed to me wells on all sides and tents +near the wells. Then as I looked at the ground again I became fearfully +excited. Big nuggets of shining gold were lying all around on the road. +Was it possible? Surely I knew gold when I saw it. I got off the horse +and picked it up. Not pure gold, though. But surely half of it was gold. +It glittered all over. I picked pieces up as I went along and fairly +howled with joy as I filled my bags. Think of those fools coming behind +with their flour-bags and of all the empty waggons I had met going +down, while I was finding a fortune before I reached the diggings! At +the place where I had now come, they could have loaded all the waggons +quickly. I could not carry more as I went further, ruminating over the +matter. Now the whole ground right and left was glittering all the way +into town. I threw the stuff all away again. It could not be gold! Then, +with a voice shaking between hope and fear, I asked a man who came by, +what that was. He told me at once it was "rubbish." "Did you think it +was gold?" asked he. + +"No; but I thought there might be gold in it." + +"Yes," said he, "so there was, but it did not pay to extract it." + +In this way somewhat sobered, I rode further and arrived in town, where +the next day I pitched a tent I had bought somewhere handy to the other +tents, put the horses in a paddock and looked about me. + +I will not attempt a long description of this the first gold-field I was +ever on. There was an ordinary street composed of hotels, +boarding-houses, and stores, on both sides of the road. Behind the +street were tents in which the diggers principally lived. Everywhere +were earth-mounds where some one was or had been busy rooting the ground +about. The reefs were each surmounted by an ordinary windlass, where a +man would stand hauling up the quartz all day long. Such was the picture +presented at a superficial glance at Ravenswood, and I think the +description answers for all other Queensland gold-diggings. Nearly all +the people boarded in two boarding-houses kept by Chinamen, one on each +side of the street. I think there must have been two or three hundred +boarders in each. They were both alike, two large bark-houses, no floor, +only two immense tables with forms on each side. On these tables were at +meal-times every conceivable delicacy in season, and up and down between +the tables an army of Chinamen would run round waiting on their guests. +During my various fortunes in Queensland, I have often paid two or three +pounds per week for board in hotels, and I have paid half-a-guinea for a +ticket to a public feast, but it has always been my impression that +nowhere was such good or luxurious food served out as in these +boarding-houses. It would simply be impossible to compete with them. The +charge was one pound per week, payment beforehand, and those of their +customers who wanted sleeping accommodation might, without extra charge, +fix themselves up as they liked in some sheds behind. There were also +many hotels in town, but, as far as I could see from the outside, their +"takings" were more across the bar than otherwise, as the Chinamen +seemed to monopolize the boarding-house trade. All over Australia, but +especially in Queensland, there is a bitter feeling against Chinamen. +People say that they ought to be forbidden to come to the country, +because they work too hard and too cheaply, and eat too little at the +same time; consequently we shall all go to the dogs. How is this? Surely +"there is something rotten in the state of Denmark." A white man is +always praised if he is hard-working and frugal. It seems a +contradiction to abuse one for what is commended in another! This is an +awful world. Some people say we are poor because we work too much, and +run ourselves out of work. Others say we do not work half enough, and +that that is the reason. Some say that Protection is a panacea for +poverty, others swear by Free Trade. In Australia they want to turn out +the Chinamen because they work too much; in China they want to turn out +the whites, I suppose for the same reason. Of all countries, I believe, +Australia certainly included the greatest majority of the people living +in different degrees of poverty, and work is getting to be as scarce +here where the population does not count one to the square mile, as it +is in Denmark where there are four hundred inhabitants to the square +mile. Of late years one more theory has sprung up, and its disciples +aver that all our poverty, despite our hard work and frugal fare, is due +to the fact that the earth on which we live is sold in large or small +parcels in the open market like tea and sugar, and that the owners of +the earth can in the shape of rent extract the greatest part of our +earnings. I ask the reader's pardon for this little digression, but it +seems to me to be an interesting question, and it would at least be +desirable if we all could agree whether it is Chinamen, Free Trade, or +Protection, or what not, whom we really want, because there _is_ +"something rotten in the state of Denmark." + +I took my board, like everybody else, with the Chinamen and lived in my +tent not far away. I occupied myself in prospecting, or learning how to +prospect, but what little gold-dust I could find was not worth coming +all the way for. I soon got tired of that, and one day I went and asked +for a job of carpenter's work in a large Government building I saw going +up. + +Before I proceed further I must explain that a certain fixed scale of +wages existed here for most occupations, and this scale was very +jealously guarded by the people. It was three pounds per week for miners +in dry claims, three pounds ten shillings in wet claims, bricklayers +sixteen shillings per day for eight hours, carpenters fifteen shillings, +&c. I had heard this but I had not believed it. I took it that those +figures represented what men would like to get rather than what they +actually got, and while I worked for a master I always preferred to put +my pride in earning what I got, rather than, perhaps, getting what I did +not earn. I understand the importance now of keeping up wages, but at +that time I did not, and when the carpenter said he would give me twelve +shillings a day and find tools not only did I think myself well paid, +but I had no idea or care whether others got more or less. + +Beside myself there was an American negro employed as carpenter. He +seemed a very morose sort of individual, but I took no notice of him and +was hopping about all day, giving as I thought as much satisfaction to +others as to myself. I often heard the "boss" grumble at the negro, and +occasionally I would be set to put him right about what he was working +at. This happened one afternoon as the "boss" went away shortly before +five o'clock, and I was consequently explaining to him out of my wisdom, +when he suddenly asked what wages I was getting. I told him with great +pride I was getting _twelve_ shillings a day. + +Squash came a stick down over my head, then he flew at my throat and +kicked and belaboured me in a terrible way. At last he flung me with +awful violence out on the verandah, got hold of me again and threw me +outside. He was two or three times as big a man as I, and I could not at +all defend myself against him, nor had I any idea why he had thus +maltreated me; but as there was no one to appeal to, I, in a terrible +rage, ran home to my tent for the gun. It stood there loaded, and I took +it up and started back again along the main street. The blood was +running down my face, and I howled to myself with rage as I ran. I meant +to shoot him as dead as a herring. + +"Halloa!" cried the people, "there is a fellow running amuck," and soon +there was a whole crowd behind me, intent on watching the sport. + +But I must now go back in time a little. There was at that period in +Ravenswood a Danish digger, whom I had met and who had been very +friendly to me, and both because he plays an important part in the next +few pages I have to write, and because I have entitled this book +"Missing Friends," I think he deserves mention, as he indeed had been, +and is no doubt yet, "a missing friend." He had been a farmer in +Denmark, what we in Danish call a yardsman, who owned his own freehold. +When the war with Germany in 1864 broke out, he was called on to serve +in the artillery. He was married then, had two children, and was, like +all Danish farmers, in extremely good circumstances. During the war he +was taken prisoner by the Germans, but was by some mistake reported dead +by the Danish authorities. He told me that he wrote home as soon as he +could, but the letter never reached his wife. Shortly after he tried to +escape from the Germans, and, being caught, defended himself +desperately. For this offence he was condemned to three years' hard +labour on the fortifications of some place in the south of Germany. For +one reason and another he did not write from there. Partly he was not +much of a writer, partly he objected to the enemy reading his efforts, +and as he knew his wife had plenty to live on, and that his neighbours +at home would help her to run the farm, he neglected writing, and as the +time went on pictured to himself in rosy colours the happy surprise he +would give his wife and them all at home when he _did_ return. At last +the time arrived when he was set free, and started for home. Meanwhile +his wife had bemoaned him as dead, and what little hope his friends +might have had for him died when he did not return at the end of the +war. It did not take long before one suitor after the other presented +themselves, and a couple of years later the wife got married again, with +the full consent and approval of all concerned. + +One day, when sitting at dinner on the farm, the wife saw her first +husband coming in at the door. With a scream of joy and excitement, she +rushed towards him. (Tableau.) Husband No. 2 was as honourable a man as +husband No. 1. There was a second family. What was to be done? They made +a sad but friendly compact. My friend took the eldest child with him, +and went to Australia, after having got back a fair amount of his own +cash. This man now came from his work, and as I rushed down the street, +we met. I did not see him, but he saw me. "Hulloa, countryman, what is +the matter? Stop! where are you going?" + +I tried to escape him, but he had hold of the gun. We struggled for +possession and the stock broke. When the gun broke my hope of revenge +fled as well, and in the relaxation which followed I sat down on some +steps and actually cried. I admit that it is sometimes as hard for me to +write about my weakness as about my folly, but I will ask the reader to +remember what I already have written here. The truth must be told. There +was now a large and sympathetic crowd around us, to whom I related how +the negro had maltreated me without any provocation, and while I spoke I +could see that the chances were that I would yet have revenge, because +all sorts of remarks would fly about, such as: "The poor fellow had +pluck, by Jove;" "Would you have shot him?" or, "Such a rascally negro +should not be allowed to strike and half kill a white man;" "I think I +can flog him;" "So can I, and I will;" "No Bill! you cannot!" "Let me, +you are not heavy enough!" "No," cried the Dane, and struck a crushing +blow in the wall of the house by which we stood; "he is my countryman, +and any one who strikes him, him I will strike. Where is that negro? +Only let me see him." + +I went with a sort of pious joy in front of the whole crowd up to the +negro's tent. When he saw us all coming, he thought they were going to +mob him, and only asked for fair play. He would fight them all, man for +man, and as for me, he had only struck me in open fight because I was +running down wages, working for twelve shillings a day. I was surprised +how much sympathy this statement created, but my countryman cut it short +by saying he would fight first and argue after. "All right, I'm your +man," cried the negro; "only pull off your shirt. I am dying to +commence." + +They both pulled off their shirts, and some willing assistants from the +crowd got behind each combatant to watch his interest in the coming +struggle. It was easily seen now that my countryman was a very strong +man. His arms, his shoulders, and his deeply curved back were swelling +with muscles. In his face sat a determination which boded his opponent +no good. Still, my heart sank as I looked at the negro, who was prancing +about as in irresistible joy over what he deemed his easy victory. He +seemed little short of a giant. They were just beginning to spar, when a +seedy-looking individual came forward and cried, "Hold on, gentlemen, +hold on, just one minute. It seems that we are going to see a splendid +piece of sport, and I think we ought to improve the occasion a little. I +will lay two to one on our coloured friend--two to one on Mr. Jones!" +Nobody took him up, when the negro said, "I don't mind if I lay a pound +or two on myself; any one on?" I looked at my countryman. He said, "Have +you got any money on you?" "Yes," said I, "I have got over ten pounds!" +"Lay it all," said he. "Oh, but if we should lose?" "Death and +destruction, we don't lose; lay it all." "Right you are! I lay ten +pounds to twenty against the nigger--ten to twenty--ten to twenty--who +will take me up?" + +At last the amount was gathered, but the question arose in my mind +whether the first promoter of the "sweepstakes" might be trusted with +the stakes. I asked my friend in Danish, before I handed the money over; +he said, "Just give it to him; it is all right. If we lose, we have +nothing more to do with the money, but if he won't give up the stakes +to us after I have flogged the nigger, I will flog him too!" + +Now began the terrible fight. The negro had both strength and science, +and for a long time it seemed as if my countryman was utterly done for. +It began to get dark and still they fought, but the longer it lasted the +more equal seemed the battle. At last it began to turn; at every round +my countryman would charge the negro with a loud hurrah; in another +quarter of an hour it was simply a matter of knocking him down as fast +as he got up; at last the negro was lying on the ground with his nose +downward, and could not get up again, while the Dane, stronger than +ever, was jumping all over the ring calling on him to get up. As he did +not get up, the Dane ran up to a man who held a riding-whip in his hand, +wrenched it from him, and belaboured the negro's head and back with it +until he quite lost consciousness. I admit if I had dared I would have +tried to prevent that part of the performance, but neither I nor anybody +else stirred. Of course I was not sorry when my friend and I went home +together, our ten pounds having swelled to thirty. Another advantage I +had over this matter was that I had to promise not to work under current +wages again, and when I came to work the next morning the "boss," who +had heard of the fight, at once agreed to pay me fifteen shillings a +day. As for the negro, he did not turn up and I have never seen him +since. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SHANTY-KEEPING, PROSPECTING, THORKILL'S DEATH. + + +Some time after this my friend and countryman came to me one evening +about nine o'clock with a very important air, and told me he had heard +of a new find of gold some thirty miles distant, and that there would be +sure to be a terrible rush as soon as it became generally known. As for +him, he would like to go if I would go with him and be his mate, +because, as he put it, he was sure I was lucky. He could not well have +made a greater mistake, but anyhow I was flattered and agreed to go. +Then I found he wanted to go at once. I had a few days' wages coming to +me, but I went to my employer's house at once and got my cheque. That we +changed in a public-house and went to our tents, saying nothing to +anybody about our intentions. Having got our swags ready, we, more like +thieves than anything else, knocked the one tent over and were off. My +friend's tent remained, and my horses were in a paddock with saddles and +belongings; there was no time to get them, and suspicion would have been +created had we tried. + +We rather ran than walked, but we were scarcely a mile out of town +before we overtook some six or seven others bent on the same journey. +The first twenty miles ran on a good road; that would be as far as we +could go that night, because the next ten miles were only a blazed track +right through the bush made by the prospectors, and could only be safely +traversed in the daylight. On the whole journey we were both overtaken +ourselves, and overtook other people, until, when we arrived at the +camp, we numbered a score or more. Here we found another score of +diggers sleeping or smoking, waiting for daylight. It was a moonlight +night, and I could see that we had arrived at a place where a few +humpies stood in seeming disorder round about. There was also a +public-house, and it was in the street in front of that, that the whole +army halted. I was both hot and tired, and as my mate suggested that we +had better get an hour or two of sleep, I laid myself down and slept. I +woke up again as my mate was shaking me. It was just break of day; still +we seemed late, for everybody was up and stirring. There was no time for +a billy of tea, or for ever so slight a stretch: it was up and away. Oh, +how tired I was, and stiff, and footsore! I would not have minded if I +might have started quietly, but this seemed like a race. Although I lost +no time, yet I was the very last through the little street with the +heavy swag on my back. My mate was beckoning to me as he, also late, ran +a few hundred feet in front, and then disappeared amongst the trees. I +felt irritable, as I often do before I have had my breakfast. I came by +a baker's shop, over the door of which was written, "Cold refreshing +summer drinks sold here." The baker and his wife, and a young girl also, +were peeping out through the half-opened door, and seemed to enjoy the +spectacle of the crowd racing down the street. I said to myself, "Bother +running like a fool here, I am going for a bottle of beer." + +The baker asked me if I was going to look for gold out there, or was I +looking for a job? "Because," said he, "if you think of finding gold in +that place you will be mistaken." + +He then told me he had been on the spot the previous day, and that it +was a "duffer," but still there would be a rush, and he would much like +to get somebody to ride out with bread every day and sell it at the +place. I told him I could not leave my mate like that, but the baker +just invited me in to breakfast, and offered me the loan of a horse, and +said also that he himself would take bread out as soon as we could be +off. "Perhaps," said he, "if my mate did not like the place, as he was +sure he would not, I might take a job from him." + +I therefore rode out with the baker after breakfast and found my mate, +who, as the baker predicted, was in no way enthusiastic about finding +anything as good as he had left, and before evening he was satisfied to +return to Ravenswood before any one could jump his claim there. As I did +not like going back, but wanted the change to ride up and down with +bread, I engaged with the baker for one pound ten shillings per week and +board. My duty now was to load a pack-horse every day with bread, and, +having another to ride, to take the bread to the "rush" and sell it. The +butcher at the "Twenty Mile" also engaged a man to ride up with beef, +and we generally rode in company. But it soon proved that it did not pay +our employers to keep us on, and after about three weeks' time we both +got notice to leave. That brought me to think that as there were many +men on the "rush," it might pay me to get my two horses up from +Ravenswood, and, buying myself both bread and meat together, sell it on +my own account. To that all parties were willing, and as one thing +brings another with it, I went to the Chinamen's shop with a view to +seeing what profit he would give me on groceries. As "Johnny" strongly +advised me to sell a little grog for him, I bethought myself that I had +while with the baker learned to make hop-beer and ginger-beer, and found +that I could make it for a penny a big glassful and charge a shilling. I +resolved, therefore, to take up that industry too. There was nobody at +all who had anything for sale at the "rush," and I determined to go out +and build a hut and start a general store and shanty. I now went out to +the "rush" again, and got two men to help me in the building. The hut I +put up was very primitive. Just one room about fourteen by twelve feet, +made of saplings, packing-cases, bark, or anything I could get at all +suitable. The roof was bark; the counter was bark also, and at night had +to serve for my bed. The door was an artistic piece of rubbish, if I +might use that term, but somehow it all hung together and could be +locked up. Outside I made a sunshade with tables and chairs under. That +was managed by four forked saplings put into the ground, and other +straight saplings resting as wall-plates in the forks. Again a row of +lighter sticks lay across them and leafy bushes on the top, and the +chairs were a lot of logs cross-cut at a height of eighteen inches. The +job was completed in three or four days; then I went up to Ravenswood +for my horses, and on my return got out a cask to make hop-beer in, some +buckets, and a few groceries. I was now my own "boss," and wonderfully +proud and happy I was in my little shanty. Besides my own two horses, +the butcher and baker each lent me a horse to carry the bread and meat +on, and I had quite enough to do--indeed my energy knew no bounds. + +Just about the time I started, the Palmer diggings came to the front, +and a great rush set in to that place from the south. But as no one +seemed to know properly where the Palmer was, and as conflicting and +disparaging statements soon arrived from the Palmer, and the wet season +was coming on, the north was everywhere swarming with men who were ready +to camp and prospect anywhere, just to abide time. As soon, therefore, +as I started for myself, numbers of men would arrive every day, and I +had so much to do that I did not know sometimes how to fling myself +about quick enough. Long before daylight I was up and got my four horses +together. I had a little yard for them. Then, in a racing gallop, I had +to tear into the butcher's, baker's, and grocer's, at the "Twenty Mile." +My goods would stand ready for me when I came. I would just fling the +stuff on the horses, leave my orders for the next day, and be back again +in time to sell bread and meat for breakfast! When that was over I had +to carry water from the creek to brew a cask of hop-beer, clean up shop, +serve people with grog, and feed the horses, make breakfast for myself, +chuck out a loafer or two, and other matters, all at the same time. Thus +it went on all day. In the afternoon I had sometimes to send a man off +with the horses for more rations, and from five o'clock to ten, eleven, +twelve, and sometimes all night, there would be a lot of fellows +drinking outside the shanty. + +[Illustration: THE BAKER'S CART.] + +The reader may understand that I quickly gathered in money. Five pounds +a day was nothing. But what a life it was! I was never out of my +clothes, and I was very seldom dry. Sometimes for weeks together I would +be like one hauled out of the sea. That required stimulants, and they +were near and handy, nor was it practically possible to be a Good +Templar in my position. But all my better instincts were revolted. Still +another glass of grog would make me see things in a different light, and +somehow it never seemed to have any other effect on me than +sharpening my wits; indeed, although I know myself to be a temperate man +by nature, and but seldom touch spirits, I believe that if I had not +then freely indulged in the cup that cheers, I could never have stood +the strain on my constitution which this life necessitated. My troubles +were many. One was that fellows would get drunk and grow quarrelsome +every day; if they were not very big I did not much mind, but if they +were too big then I tried all devices to make them laugh and be in +good-humour, or I would sometimes even have to keep two retainers in +free grog to assist me in the "chucking out" business. I was often +knocked about myself. Another trouble or fight with my conscience, which +I successfully overcame, was the falsifying the spirits. The storekeeper +where I bought it, as well as one good friend after the other, would +show me how I could save two-thirds of the rum and still keep it +over-proof by mixing it with water and tobacco. So with brandy, all +sorts of vile poison and most disgusting stuff was offered me to mix it +with. I did not do that, although my advisers thought me very foolish. I +mixed my spirit with water of a necessity, but I saw enough to convince +me that few shanties or public-houses ever sell pure spirits. But my +greatest trouble was what to do with my fast-accumulating money. I did +not trust anybody about me. There was no bank nearer than Ravenswood. +There was no police, and nowhere to put it. At last I hit on a plan. +Under the big cask in which I made beer I formed a hole in the ground, +and at night, when all at last was still, and the cask was empty enough +to move on edge, I, having first carefully ascertained that no one was +about, would thrust in all I had, and put things around it again so as +to prevent suspicion. This mode of banking did not altogether satisfy +me; indeed, I was always very anxious about it, but I could think of +nothing better. And so the time went on. The bucket which stood under +the cask came at last to be nearly full of money, and while on the one +hand it was my great consolation, it also caused me more anxiety than +all the rest of my work. + +One day somebody came and told me that a countryman of mine was in his +tent, and was apparently hard up, as he had asked for something to do +whereby to earn a bit of rations. The man was, I understood, camped +somewhere about. I asked them to show him to me, that I might give him +what he wanted and have a talk with him. What was my surprise and joy to +find that the stranger proved to be no one less than my long-lost friend +and shipmate, the Icelander Thorkill. He seemed to be as glad to meet me +as I was to see him, and we exchanged our colonial experiences as far as +they had gone. It appeared that Thorkill had not stayed long on the +sugar plantation in Mackay, where he had first been engaged. That did +not surprise me. His employer, he said, had offered no opposition to +his agreement being cancelled, and with the money he had earned he had +bought a ticket for Sydney in one of the steamers. He had thought to get +something to do in Sydney more suitable to his ability, but for a long +time he failed, and was, through want of money, driven to all sorts of +extremities, even to sleeping out at night. Then he at last got a job to +drive a milk-cart into Sydney for fifteen shillings a week. He had also +tried other things, such as pick and shovel work; had been assistant in +a slaughter-yard, and more besides. + +"But I do not like it," said he, "people seem so rude." + +At last he had scraped enough together to come back to Queensland; he +had walked all the way from Townsville, and here he was. "And you are +going to look for gold now?" asked I. He scarcely knew; he was so glad +and surprised to see me again that he could think of nothing else. +"Well, Thorkill," said I, "do you remember you said once that you and I +would never part? Let us now renew that agreement. Last time it was, +perhaps, my fault we parted, but this time it shall be yours; and to +show you I am in earnest I will ask you, without further formality, to +consider yourself a part proprietor of this hotel and all there is in +it." + +"Oh! what do you mean?" cried he. "You must be making a great deal of +money here and I have none; nor do I understand your work." + +"Never mind," said I, "we are partners if you like; you do not know how +badly I am off for some one I can trust. Think of my being all alone +here; I cannot do it much longer." + +But say what I would Thorkill would never hear of it, and so I in a sort +of way engaged him to do what he could for me. He carried water and +swept the floor, but the only time he tried to drive the horses to the +"Twenty Mile" he lost them both! He had his tent not far from the +shanty, but we had seldom time to speak. His heart was not in my work, +and I often, nay always, when I saw him, felt an uneasy sort of +conscience. + +One Saturday night, or perhaps more correctly Sunday morning, when a lot +of men were drinking outside my hut under the sunshade, and when I +myself had imbibed more than was good for me, I began, against all the +rules of common prudence, to boast of my money. The party appeared as if +they did not believe me, on which I got excited, and called them all +into the hut. There I asked them to look under the cask while I tilted +it over. What a sight! A bucket was buried in the ground nearly filled +with silver, gold, and notes! How much there was I did not know myself, +but there was more than I liked to say for fear of being doubted. Now +began a drinking bout such as had never been before. Everybody had to +stand drinks all round. At last they went away, but my recollections +thereof are not clear; I only know that I slept on the counter, and that +some one was shaking me and grumbling in very unparliamentary language +over my not having been away after bread and beef. I sat up and looked +around. It was about the time I ought to be back from the Twenty Mile. +The door was open, and nearly a score of men were coming along for bread +and meat. Now I remembered all about the previous night. My first +thought was my money. I went and peeped under the cask. The bucket was +gone! + +I gave the cask a push that capsized it. "Thieves and robbers, who has +stolen my money? Speak!" There was lying a pair of hobbles on the +counter, and as one of the party began to laugh, I struck him with it. +This was the signal for a fearful orgie. The whole crowd flung +themselves forward and struck, kicked, and tore me until I fainted right +away. When I came to again they did not leave me alone. The whole shop +was sacked from end to end, and in their drunken frenzy they pulled it +down! In the midst of it all came Thorkill, and putting me on his back +carried me off into his tent. There I lay while he bathed my wounds and +consoled me as well as he could, assuring me it might have been all for +the best. + +The next day the butcher and the baker came out and took their horses +away. They wanted me to start again, and both of them offered me money +and credit, but I was so disgusted with myself and the whole business +that I told them I would not be a shanty-keeper again for all the gold +in Queensland. + +Thus was it with me. To lie in Thorkill's tent and listen to his quiet, +peaceful way of talking--how different was that from the noisy, drunken +orgies of which I had for about five months been a daily witness! I took +a violent dislike to the very place, but where to go I did not know. I +felt as if I only wanted to get away from everybody but Thorkill. I did +not care where I went. As for him, he thought he would like to go south +again. This place and these people were too much for him. He had now +learned to write pretty well in grammatical English, and he thought he +might get something to do in Brisbane. As for me I had never seen a +place yet where I could not get something to do; so far as that went I +did not care, but I thought of him that he came straight from Sydney, +where he had not been successful. He had such a mild, pedantic air about +him, which no doubt would look well in an antiquary, but which would +scarcely prove a recommendation for a grocer's clerk, or, indeed, for +any other position for which I could think him eligible. So I said to +him one day, as we were again talking about going away, "I am sick and +tired of looking at anybody but yourself. What do you say if we go +prospecting for twelve months? I have got thirty pounds in Townsville +bank, and thirty pounds in Ravenswood, besides a few pounds here. You +have got twelve pounds you earned while with me. Then we have the +horses, and you have got the tent. It is sufficient for a twelvemonth's +trip. I am now a pretty good bushman, and if we only get to where there +is gold I think we shall find it. If we don't I do not care. What do you +say?" + +This proposal met at once with Thorkill's approval, and we both went +into Ravenswood, where I drew out my money. Here we loaded up the horses +with as many rations as they could carry, also pick, shovel, basin, and +other necessary things. Then we went back the same way we had come, +until we arrived at Condamine Creek, twenty-five miles out. From there +we ran up the creek, as near as I can guess about forty miles, +prospecting all the time. Then we turned northward, up another creek, +and knocked about so that it would be difficult to describe where we +went. But we did not care. I was as happy as a bird, and so was +Thorkill. We had our guns with us, and we could every day shoot as many +birds as we could eat, and kangaroos besides. Sometimes we would camp, +and Thorkill would fish while I prospected about. When it rained we +would lie in the tent and talk about Denmark and Iceland. That was a +theme on which Thorkill never could be tired, and he had such a fund of +genuine information on that subject that I was never tired of listening +to him. + +[Illustration: BREAKFAST IN THE GOLD FIELDS] + +We had been out prospecting in this way for about three months, and were +now in the vicinity of Cape gold-field, when we struck a place where we +thought there was payable gold. We had for several days been following +on, through a very mountainous country, a river, the name of which we +did not know, until we reached the place of which I now write, where it +ran through a valley, hemmed in on all sides by big mountains. The river +was still of considerable volume. Here we found a nugget of gold about +an ounce in weight the first time we tried, and although our good luck +did not repeat itself, yet we decided, as it was such a beautiful spot, +that we would camp for a month or two there, so at least to give the +place a fair trial. We pitched our tent, therefore, on a little knoll +not far from the creek, and made ourselves comfortable. The next +fortnight we washed for gold from morning to night, and each made about +an ounce per week. We considered this very satisfactory, and were +talking often about what name we should call this new field when we +could not conceal it any longer and a "rush" should set in; because we +knew very well that if we, as strangers, by and by rode into the Cape, +or any other place, to buy some rations, and there try to get our bit of +gold changed, that we should be tracked back to where we had got it, +unless we were far more clever than I gave myself credit for being. But +neither of us minded that. We were, on the contrary, quite proud of +having to figure as successful explorers, and it used to be one of our +recreations of an evening to sit and talk about what name to give the +place. Thorkill was of opinion that we ought to find a name which should +remind all who came here of both Denmark and Iceland, but as it did not +seem possible for us to invent such a name, at last I accepted +Thorkill's suggestion to call it Thingvallavatu, that being the name of +a large lake and river in Iceland not far from his home, and as it +seemed a well-sounding name, I thought it suitable; and although I do +not know if ever a white man has been there before or since that time, +yet as often as I think of the place I remember the name we gave the +river--Thingvallavatu. + +On one evening that is for ever engraven on my memory, we were lying in +our tent--Thorkill and I. It had been raining heavily all day, and we +had not been able to be about. We felt pretty miserable, our usual stock +of conversation seemed to be exhausted, but far out in the evening it +revived again, so much indeed that Thorkill began to tell me of things +of which he had never spoken before. He told me of his parents, of his +brother and his sister, and explained to me where their farm in Iceland +was, giving me the address, describing the road leading to it, and every +detail, until I said to him that if we were lucky enough now to get a +bit of gold we would both go home to Iceland and settle down there. From +that conversation drifted to other things, and was at last almost at a +standstill, when he called me by name, and, in a bashful sort of way, +observed, "I say, were you ever in love?" + +This was a theme on which we had never enlarged: partly because there +had not been much opportunity yet for either of us in Queensland to +indulge in such a luxury, and partly because I do not know, to the best +of my recollection, that it had ever been mentioned between us, so, as I +recognized that he wanted to tell me something, I said, a little +surprised, "Why do you ask?" + +"I have," said he. "While I was overseer on that farm in Alo, I knew a +girl. Oh, how good she was, and how beautiful! I sometimes would go and +visit her in the evening. She was only a servant girl, and her father +was working there too. One evening I kissed her." + +"I am afraid," said I, "you have not forgotten her yet." + +"No; her I can never forget." + +"Why did you not marry her?" said I. "I suppose as you went visiting +her, she would have had no objection?" + +"How could I?" replied he. "If only I had been an ordinary working man I +would willingly have asked her; but I was not that. Her father always +spoke to me as if I owned a mansion, and yet I had scarcely sufficient +salary to pay for my own clothes. No, I never asked her." + +"Does she know you are out here?" inquired I. + +"No, neither she nor my parents, nor anybody; they must think I am +dead." + +I had nothing to say. I was lying thinking about matters of my own. A +little after this I thought I heard him crying. Was it possible? I did +not like the idea. I listened again. Yes! there was no mistake. Thorkill +was really crying. Deep, big, stifled sobs. I asked what was the +matter. Two or three times I asked before he answered. At last he said, +"I could not help it; I cried because I know very well I shall never see +Reikjavik" (the only town in Iceland) "again." + +After that I kept talking for some time to him in a sort of overbearing +way about that, saying we need not cry, surely, about that, if that was +our only trouble; that we had money enough to get home now, and if we +had not, what then? As for myself, if I set my mind on going home, +rather than cry over it I would stow away on a ship or work my passage. +But I got no answer from Thorkill. I could not sleep, and soon after the +day broke. The rain had by this time ceased, and as I saw that Thorkill +had now fallen asleep, I thought it a pity to waken him, and crept as +quietly as I could out of the tent to make a fire and get a drop of tea +for breakfast. As I sat by the fire an hour after, eating my breakfast, +I saw Thorkill coming, creeping on his hands and feet out of the tent, +with his head screwed round, looking up in the air over the tent. I +somehow thought he was looking at a bird, and wondered he had not got +the gun, so I sat still and said nothing, but kept watching him. When he +was a long way out of the tent he got up, and, still looking up in the +air, pointed fixedly at something and cried, "See! oh, look there!" I +stole behind him and looked, but could see nothing, so I asked, "What is +it?" + +"Oh, don't you see? See! a large Russian emigrant ship flying through +the air." + +"Are you going altogether insane?" cried I, beating him on the back. The +next moment with a deep groan he fell right into my arms. I asked him +what was the matter. Was he sick? Was he bitten by a snake? I do not +know half I asked him, but all the reply I got as I laid him in his bunk +again, was, "Go for a minister." + +My mate was dying, and I knew it now. Dear reader, whoever you may be, +if you have seen your nearest friend die, then you know how bitter it +is. But if you at such time have been among others who have shared your +grief, and had a doctor to take the responsibility off your hands, then +you may only guess at what _I_ felt when I saw Thorkill lying there +perfectly unconscious. We had as it were for a long time been everything +to each other, and the disappointments and mishaps we both, so far, had +suffered in Queensland, had, it seemed at that moment, made him simply +indispensable to my existence. How could I go for a parson? I jumped out +of the tent and ran round it three or four times before I recollected +that I did not know of any human habitation within fifty miles! Then I +went in again and spoke to him. There was no answer; not a movement in +his body. He lay as if in a heavy sleep, a high colour in his face. One +of his arms was hanging out over the bunk, and would not rest where I +put it, so I took a saddle and placed that underneath it, and as it was +not yet high enough, I put a pint pot on that again. There I balanced +it, and there it remained. I had not much medicine, only some quinine. +That was no good. Then I thought he must have been taken by an +apoplectic fit. I took the scissors and cut off all his hair and beard. +Then I went outside and worked desperately at making a sunshade over the +tent, because the sun was beating down on us so fiercely; next in again, +and out. I did not know what to do. I could not for a moment remain +still. Sometimes I carried water from the creek and bathed his head with +it. Then I feared I was only tormenting him, and knocked it off again. +As I sat looking at him in the afternoon I could not avoid thinking +about how he had in his last hour of good health made such a complete +confession about matters he always before had been so reticent about. +Why? I ask the question now. Can any one answer it. It is _not_ +fashionable in our age to believe more than can be rationally explained, +but I believe most people in their lives have had similar strange +experiences. If I make the remark that I am superstitious, then I know I +shall lay myself open to ridicule, and yet it is only a form of +admitting that I do not know all that passes in heaven and on earth. + +In the afternoon, as Thorkill still lay in the same immovable trance, I +thought I must find out whether he was conscious of my being there or +not, so I knelt down and spoke in his ear, and called him by name. +"Thorkill," cried I, "if you _can_ hear me and know that I am here, try +to give me some sign." Then as I watched him I thought he breathed +extra deep, but I was never certain. Anyhow, although I had myself no +Bible, and never had used one before, I got his out of his swag and +began reading at the commencement and kept on until it was too dark to +read any more. During the night the rain and storm began again. I could +hear in Thorkill's altered breathing that the end was near, but I had no +other light but a match I struck occasionally, and it seemed to frighten +me when I struck one and saw his altered face. At last I knew he was +dead, and in an agony of sorrow and excitement I began praying to +Balder, our ancient god of all that was noble and good, to come and +fetch his own. I was fearfully agitated, and remember well how I walked +outside the tent singing the old "Bjarkamsal," and almost fancying I saw +all the ancient gods coming through the air. It is a common saying of a +person who has died, that he was too good to live, but if ever that +saying was true of any one, it was true of Thorkill. A pure descendant +from the ancient Vikings, yet how different was he from his forefathers. +And all Icelanders are more or less the same. Honest, frank, and kind, +he could not understand why everybody else was not also honest and good, +and I know very well he declined the contest of life; he could not match +his simple faith with the cunning and brutality of the ordinary set of +people one meets with when the pocket is empty. Better, perhaps, he +should have died then and there. Why was I sorry? Why did I not +rejoice? Who knew but that I some day might not die in great deal more +lonely and in much more friendless way than he? He had lost nothing, and +it was I who was the loser; but for his sake I would be glad. In this +strain of mind I passed the remainder of the night, but when at last +daylight came it brought with it the grim reality of death such as it +is, and life such as it is, and also a sense of what was now the only +favour I could show the remains of my friend. It was three or four +o'clock that afternoon before I had managed, as decently as I could, to +bury the body, and then all my energy was expended. Yet as I sat resting +myself for a moment, I was aware that I must be off somewhere before +evening, far from that spot. I had a splitting headache; my legs seemed +unable to carry me. Yet I must be off to get the horses. I found them, +but when I came home with them it was evening and I had to let them go +again. I could do no more, and not altogether with an uncomfortable +feeling was it that I that evening laid myself down in Thorkill's bunk, +thinking that perhaps after all we need not part. I was sick now myself, +and fancied I saw fearful visions all night. The next morning I could +scarcely raise myself to a sitting posture, but during the day I managed +with the instinct of self-preservation to carry some water up from the +creek and to bake a damper. My recollections for some time after this +are very indistinct. It may have been a week or it may have been two +weeks. All that I remember of that time are glimpses of myself sitting +by Thorkill's grave, singing, or playing the flute. The first clear +recollection of that time which I have, was one afternoon when I was +lying in the bunk watching, in a lazy sort of way, some rats nibbling at +the flour-bag, which had somehow fallen down from its place. The flour +lay scattered about the tent, and everything seemed in glorious +disorder. I lay a long time looking at the rats, and wondering where +Thorkill was--whether he was making breakfast, for I felt very hungry. I +had no remembrance whatever of his being dead. I called him; my voice +seemed curious and weak. I grabbed a poker to strike at the rats with +it--how heavy it felt! Then I got up and went outside, and stood staring +for a long time at the grave before I recollected that he was dead, and +that I myself was or had been sick. Everything outside the tent bore +evidence of having been thrown about as if by a maniac, and I felt a +thrill of horror running through me as I thought of myself, how perhaps +I had walked about here at night alone, sick and delirious. I felt quite +myself, however, although very weak. I was hungry, and felt that I must +have something to eat, get it where I could. I staggered about looking +for food. Not a vestige of tea could I find; there was no meat except a +few nasty bones which I found in the billy, and had to throw away; then +I discovered a little sugar, and I scraped together some flour. My next +trouble was that I had no fire and no dry matches. It took me all my +time to get a fire, by rubbing a hard and soft stick together, but at +last I succeeded, and then made a johnny-cake in the fire. Out of sugar +I made my supper, and sat by the fire dreaming and living it all over +again. With the help of my gun I got some birds the next day, and stewed +them in the billy with flour and figweed. I also found the horses all +right, but I was too weak to think of shifting my quarters just then, +much as I would have liked to do so, because there seemed to me to be a +sort of haunted air about the whole place. I busied myself all day, when +I was not hunting for food, with repairing my clothes, but I had a great +longing to see somebody of my own species again, and to sit there every +day talking to or thinking about a dead man had something sickly in it +that I did not like. I could not for a couple of days find either my +money or the bit of gold we had got. Whatever I had done with it was to +me a complete blank. I found it all at last in this way: that somehow my +hat did not seem to fit me, and when I looked it over, there was all the +money stuck under the lining, but I never had any recollection of +putting it there. + +I read all Thorkill's letters and took them with me when I left. They +were from his parents and his sister, addressed to him while he was in +Denmark, telling him of all sorts of small home-news, and hoping soon to +see him again. These he had been carrying with him everywhere, and I +had often seen him reading them. There were also photographs of all his +family, and I made them all up into a small parcel intending some day +soon to write to his people. + +I confess I never did write. I could not bring myself to do it. I +thought of what he had said--that they must think him dead. Why, then, +reopen their wound? Let him remain "a missing friend." As I had no +settled abode for a long time after this, I carried his papers with me +everywhere for many years. One photograph, of his sister, a very +handsome girl, I had until after I was married, and treasured it +greatly. I think Mrs. ---- must know what became of it at last. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +GOING TO THE PALMER. + + +When I left Thorkill's grave I made a course as near as I could for the +Cape gold-field. This place I found almost deserted, as most of the +diggers had left for the Palmer. The few people who remained there had +seemingly nothing else to speak about but the fabulous richness of that +field, and they were all deploring each his untoward circumstances which +kept him from going thither. And so it came to pass that, while +gradually recovering my spirits, I made up my mind to go to the Palmer +too. But to go to the Palmer was at that time easier said than done. The +Palmer gold-fields lay somewhere in a totally unexplored country, and +none had been known to reach the Palmer from the Cape after the +commencement of the wet season. Many unsuccessful attempts had been +made, and the returned parties spoke loudly of the "impossibilities" on +the road, such as swollen rivers, swamps, marshes, mountains, blacks, +and what not besides; and what seemed to me the worst, no supplies of +any kind were to be found on the fields. One had simply to carry with +him rations sufficient to last until he returned. Add to this that a +pint pot full of flour cost half-a-crown on the Cape, with other things +at a proportionate rate, and it made me decide another way. + +A new port had been opened on the coast by the shipping companies as the +most feasible spot from which to reach the Palmer. The name of this +place was Cooktown on the Endeavour River; and the spot is identical +with a place mentioned in Captain Cook's travels, where he ran his ship, +the _Endeavour_, ashore to carry out some necessary repairs to that +vessel. To get to Cooktown from the Cape I should first have to go to +Townsville and thence take ship to Cooktown. Although the distance from +the Cape to Townsville was as great as from the Cape to the Palmer, yet, +as it was possible to travel the one road and not the other, I decided +to go there, and from that port take ship to Cooktown, whence after +having obtained supplies, I would try to reach the Palmer. + +I will not tire the reader by describing my journey to Townsville. My +horses were well rested and in good mettle, and I let them trot out +every day, so that I reached the coast very quickly. I found Townsville +crowded with people who wanted to go to the Palmer. The steamers could +not take them fast enough, and in trying to secure a passage for myself +and my horses I was disappointed time after time. Money, however, was +flying about all over the place. I was offered work in several +quarters--in fact I was nearly implored to take it up for fifteen +shillings a day, or there was piecework, by which I could easily have +earned double that amount, but, of course, I could not think of it. At +last I obtained a passage in a schooner which had been fitted up for the +voyage. There was accommodation below decks for forty horses, and fully +that number were hoisted on board. On the deck was accommodation for as +many passengers as could find standing room, and I think there must have +been over a hundred people altogether. Indeed, we were so crowded that, +if the skipper had a right to complain of anything, it certainly could +not be that he had not a full cargo. I paid five pounds apiece for the +passage of the horses and two pounds ten shillings for myself. We had to +find our own forage, too, for the horses, and also to provide our own +food. Water, however, the skipper had to find himself--no light matter +on so small a ship. We were supposed to make the run in forty-eight +hours, and carried water enough for double that time. I had corn and hay +to last my horses for a fortnight, but some of the others had scarcely +any fodder. At last we started, and when the little steamer which hauled +us out of the creek had cast us off, it was proved to my entire +satisfaction that my run of bad luck was not yet at an end. A strong +wind was blowing, but although the ship was tearing through the water at +a terrible rate, yet we did not make real way, as the wind was straight +against us. It may seem strange that we should start with such an +adverse wind, but once the horses were on board the skipper had to go. +The first evening we were out the captain and mate fought and nearly +knocked each other into the sea. I mention this, however, only because I +remember it; I don't think our troublesome journey was due to neglect or +bad seamanship, but the wind was against us, and kept so day after day +until at last it blew a perfect hurricane. The horses, of course, +suffered very much. At one time they would stand nearly on their heads, +at another, the other way, now on one side, then on the other, as the +ship was jerking up and down. I was working down below with my two +horses all the time, trying to ease them all I could. I tied my tent, +clothes and blankets round about the stalls to lessen the force of the +knocks a little for them. All the horses, however, did not fare so well +as that, for their masters themselves were, for the most part, lying in +a helpless condition up on deck, and the air below was so foul that it +took a good pair of lungs to endure it. The horses soon began to die +off, too; and to haul the poor dead brutes up and throw them overboard +took us all our time, seeing that very few of us were capable of such +work. Upon deck it was indeed a sight. Some were completely gone with +sea-sickness and had tied themselves to the bulwarks, others were lying +"yarning" and laughing as if nothing were the matter. Many of these men +must have known that even if the ship could weather the storm, yet with +the death of their horses all hope of a successful journey was at an end +for them. Yet one heard no complaint; and I should like here to pay this +compliment to Britishers: that, whether English, Scotch, or Irish, they +are, as a rule, brave men. Ours was not a momentary suffering either. It +was a constant drenching with the waves, day after day. The horses, our +most valuable property, hauled overboard as fast sometimes as we could +get them up, and our own lives in constant danger! Yet no one +complained. They would "yarn," laugh, or crack jokes all day long. The +only exceptions to this rule, I am sorry to say, although I hope they +were not typical, were two Danes who had come on board. One of them had +informed me as soon as we left Townsville that he intended to run away +from his wife who lived there. Now, when the storm was blowing, he +became intensely religious and declared it to be a punishment from +Heaven for his wickedness and he made me most sacred promises, one after +the other, that he would return to her bosom if only God would spare him +this time. The other declared the ship to be a regular pirate craft and +Queensland an accursed country. I had to cook for them both, hand them +their food, and cheer up their spirits all the way. One day we spied a +large steamer flying the flag of distress. She came from the south too, +and was, like ourselves, trying to reach Cooktown. As she came +labouring through the waves we saw that it was the _Lord Ashley_. The +deck was black with people and I do not know how many hundred horses. +This heavy deck-cargo caused the ship to rock so that it looked as if it +were about capsizing every time it lurched over. Two of her masts were +already overboard, and as our schooner ran past her we saw the people +engaged in throwing the horses overboard alive. Nearly all the horses +were sacrificed in this manner. To see the poor brutes try to swim after +the steamer or the schooner was heartrending. We on the schooner could +give no assistance; indeed, after all, the steamer was better off than +ourselves, insomuch that it kept on its way while the schooner had to +tear up and down and to do its best not to be blown south again. When we +at last reached Cooktown, some days after, the _Lord Ashley_ was lying +there; but it was her last journey. She was so knocked about that, to +the best of my belief, she was sold as lumber afterwards. All our water +was now used up, and we had either to try to effect a landing or go +south again. As the mate declared he knew a place on the coast just +where we were, where there was a fresh-water creek, it was decided to +call for volunteers among the passengers to man the boat and get some +water. As I had two horses on board and was not sea-sick, I declared +myself ready to make one. There were six oars to be manned. The other +five volunteers, although passengers, were yet old sailors. The mate +was to take the helm. Before the boat was lowered great care was taken +to lash the empty casks in their proper position and to have everything +in order. Then the captain took the wheel and ran the schooner in +towards the land further than customary when we tacked. As we turned the +boat was lowered. The men and I jumped down. Off flew the ship: it +seemed miles before I realized that it was gone. And we in the +boat--talk about the big swing at home in Tivoli; that was only child's +play to the rocking we now had! My hat blew off and flew towards +Townsville; my hair, and even my shirt, were trying hard to follow! One +could scarcely get the oars in the water. But, in spite of all, we +paddled as best we could, and shortly after were inside a little +harbour, where the water was comparatively smooth and where we effected +a landing. How peaceful and quiet it all seemed here under the mountain. +I felt, as I trod the firm soil under my feet, that I should never make +a good sailor, and it was a terror to me how we were ever to reach the +schooner again. We rolled the casks up to the little creek and filled +them. The mate said he had been there some years before when he was with +a New Guinea expedition. As we were roaming about, waiting for the right +moment to get out again, we found a lot of wreckage, old rotten spars, a +cabin door, &c. Then we came on the skeleton of a man, not all together, +but scattered about. There were also remains of some old clothes, and we +found a purse with silver in it, something less than a pound. The mate +declared this money to be an infallible charm, and suggested that we +should each take a piece and say nothing about it. There were only six +pieces of money, and we were seven to share it. No one would stand out +for any consideration, so we drew lots. I secured a two-shilling piece, +and, whether for good or for bad luck, I have it yet, and used to carry +it for years in the most approved fashion round my neck. We had no tools +with us, so we could not bury the bones. There they lie, perhaps even +yet, the remains of another "missing friend." We came on board the +schooner again somehow. Opinions differed much amongst us as to why we +had not been drowned, and no verdict was arrived at. The mate said it +was the charms we carried which had done it, others said that God held +His hand over us, but the one who had no charm said it was because we +were the very refuse of the devil. I express no opinion myself, only +that it was certainly surprising. As the storm gradually veered round a +little we reached Cooktown. Out of the forty horses only sixteen were +alive; one of mine was dead, and the other did not look as if it could +live long after I got it out of the ship, yet it gradually came round +and proved a very good horse afterwards. + +Cooktown is now reckoned among the old-established towns of Queensland, +but when I landed there it looked wild enough. To describe it I ask the +reader to think of a fair in the Old Country, leaving out the monkeys +and merry-go-rounds. There were some thousands of people all camped out +in tents. Those who intended to start business in Cooktown had pegged +out plots of ground in the main street and run up large tents or +corrugated iron structures in which all sorts of merchandise was sold +cheap enough. But the wet season kept on, and there was no communication +with the Palmer. People left town to go there every day in the rain and +slush, but many returned saying it was no use trying, as the rivers +could not be crossed. There was at that time a very mixed lot of people +in Cooktown. All the loafers, pickpockets, and card-sharpers seemed to +have trooped in from Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, looking for the +gold in other people's pockets, and the robbing of tents was an everyday +occurrence. Then, although it had been made known far and wide that any +one who wanted to go to the Palmer must either starve or carry six +months' rations with him, still many destitute and good-for-nothing +people could also be seen wherever one looked: these form a class of men +as easily distinguished from the _bona fide_ miners as if they belonged +altogether to another species. No work of any kind was going on for more +than one-tenth of the people who looked for employment, and any one who +wanted a man might easily get him for his "tucker." I believe one could +have got them to work all day for their dinner alone. Men would walk +about among the tents in droves, and wherever they saw rations there +they would beg. While this was the true state of affairs in Cooktown +just then, I remember well standing outside the newspaper office, +reading the paper, the leading article in which described in glowing +terms the bustle and activity going on in this rising city, and declared +that any man who could lift a hammer was welcome to a pound sterling a +day! Of course I did not look for any work, so I did not care. There was +also a great deal of sickness, especially dysentery, and the doctors +required cash down before they would even look at any one. If one took a +stroll up among the tents, it was a common, indeed an inevitable, sight +to see men lying helpless, writhing with pain on the ground, some of +them bellowing out for pity or mercy. Very little pity or help, as a +rule, did they get. Men would pass such a poor object with the greatest +apathy, or at most go up to him and give good advice, such as that he +ought to be ashamed of lying there and ought to try and crawl into the +tent again! Such was life in Cooktown during the first "rush" there to +any Queensland gold-fields. + +I had not at that time got much money. If my second horse had lived, I +should have been, as I thought, all right; but as horses worth six or +seven pounds could not be bought under thirty or forty pounds, I could +not buy another to replace the one I had lost, and had therefore to be +content with one. So one day I loaded up my horse with rations and went +on the road. As I was going to the Palmer, where money was of no value +whatever, and as everything depended on my being able to carry a +sufficiency of provisions, I had bought the best of everything +regardless of cost. I had cocoa, extract of beef to make soup of, +preserved meat and such like in large quantity. Then I had tea, sugar, +and one hundred and fifty pounds of flour. My wardrobe, on the other +hand, was not extensive. It consisted of one shirt, over and above that +I wore. Fifty pounds of my flour with the tent, half a blanket, +billy-can, pint pot, knife, gun, &c., I carried on my own back; the +remainder, including spade and basin, I strapped on the back of the +horse. I had then only a few shillings left of all my money when I +started, but going through the town on my road out the burden on my back +began already to feel heavy. I therefore thought it wise to carry no +unnecessary loads, and seeing some fellows standing in the street who +looked as if they needed some refreshment, I called them together and +had a big "shout" in a public-house as far as the money would go. That +relieved my mind and my pocket! + +The road, if it might be called one, was really a track or belt of +morass, some ten chains wide, in which one had to wade at times up to +the knees. I was prepared to endure great hardships; but to understand +the suffering to man and horse in dragging oneself along that road one +must have tried it for himself. Twice that day the horse and I got +bogged. To get clear again I had first to crawl on my hands and knees +with part of my own load up to some fallen log and deposit it there, +then back to the horse for more. When the horse was quite unloaded, I +had to take it round the neck and let it use me as a sort of purchase by +which to work itself out. Then load it again and wade along. I made +eight miles that day, and I knew that no one who left Cooktown with me +came so far. At the eighth mile there was a large camp of diggers, who +said they could get no further nor yet back to Cooktown. I should have +remained there; but as I saw next morning some prepare to get a little +further, I started with them, and soon left them behind too. That day +and the next the road was better although still very bad. I crossed a +river the third evening I was out. It was as much as I could do to get +over, and, as in the night it began to pour with rain, I concluded, what +really proved to be the case, that the creek would rise and so +effectually cut off my retreat. The next day the road was worse than +ever. The horse got bogged time after time, and I was myself on the eve +of being knocked up. The whole road so far, almost ever since I had left +Cooktown, was strewn with clothes, boots, saddles, rations, in such +quantities that there would have been enough to have opened a good store +with if one could have got it all together. I had also passed at least a +score of dead horses, sticking in the mud with the saddles, and, in +some cases, rations on them; and I met scores of men, who, having thrown +everything away, were struggling to reach Cooktown again on foot. But +with dogged obstinacy I kept on trying to accomplish the impossible. At +last the poor horse got bogged again worse than ever. I could not get +him out. He looked so pitifully at me! I am sure it knew the predicament +we were both in. I struggled and tried hard to get it out, but I could +not. As it settled deeper and deeper into the quagmire I thought I might +as well finish his sufferings and my own. So I put my gun to his ear and +shot him. + +There I stood in the pouring rain alongside the dead horse, full of +anger with myself that I had not, by using more judgment, saved myself +and my poor, faithful companion from such a hard fate. I am not +poetically gifted, and do not understand the science of making much out +of a little, so I cannot say how miserable I felt. Yet it is +nevertheless true that I was ready to burst with grief. I was wet +through, and had been so all day, nor had I anything dry to put on. +Evening was coming on too. Up and down the "road" there was nothing but +a quagmire, into which I sank to the knees whenever I moved. Here also +lay my hopes of redeeming my fortunes. I know very well if I were placed +in the same position now, I should not have strength either of body or +mind to extricate myself. As it was, when I think of it now, after so +many years, I can truly aver that I mourned for the horse more than for +myself. I had met no travellers that day on account of the rain, but I +knew I was about eight miles from the Normanby River, on both sides of +which large bodies of miners were camped--those on my side being +desirous of reaching the Palmer, and the camp on the other side being +full of men who had come from the Palmer and wanted to go to Cooktown. +But both parties were prevented from getting further as the Normanby +River was in full flood and half a mile across. + +I could not continue to stand looking at the dead horse. I felt a great +longing to reach the other men that I might, by talking to them, forget +a part of my own trouble in thinking of theirs, so I managed that +evening, and with even a part of my goods, to reach the camp, and the +next few days I devoted to fetching the remainder of my stores from +where the dead horse was lying. + +On the banks of the Normanby River there was at that time a sight which +might well furnish food for reflection. I doubt if fiction could invent +anything more strange. Several hundred men were camped on the south side +of the river waiting for the flood to subside so that they might get +over. We had rations in any quantity, but, speaking for myself, I can +truthfully say, if the others were like me, we had no money. On the +other side of the river was an equally large camp. The men there were +the diggers who, when the first news of the Palmer broke out, had, +before the wet season set in, gathered to the "rush" from the +Etheridge, Gilbert, Charters Towers, Cape, and other outlying places, +and who, having eaten their rations and gathered their gold, were now +trying to get to Cooktown to purchase supplies. A perfect famine was +raging over there. The country around is very poorly off for game; +besides, they had no powder, and so they had been eating their horses, +their dogs, and at last their boots! It is a fact that they used to boil +their blucher boots for twenty-four hours and eat them with weeds! It +takes something to make a Queensland miner lie down to die, yet it was +the general opinion among men who had been to all the Victorian and New +Zealand "rushes," that they had never suffered such hardship before or +seen country so void of game or life of any sort. + +There we were, looking across at one another--they shaking their +gold-purses at us, and we showing them the flour-bags. Two came across +to us. The way they managed was this: first they took off the rag or two +which yet served them for clothes and strapped them on to the horse, +then getting on the horse and forcing it into the water it would soon be +borne with the current down the stream; they would then slip off, and +getting hold of the tail with one hand swim with the other. They both +managed to cross, but it looked so desperate an undertaking that the +others did not venture. The two men who came over brought the first +reliable news from the Palmer for a long time, and were besieged with +questions. As I do not care to return to the matter again, I will say +here that among the tales of suffering on the Palmer by the first batch +of diggers, was that of one of my shipmates from home, who had arrived +there from the Etheridge, and who, while looking for gold in one of the +tributaries to the Palmer, had been cut off from the main camp by the +river rising so that he could not cross to get away. His dead body was +found in his tent after the wet season. He had died of hunger, yet under +his head was a bag with eighteen pounds' weight of gold in it. Poor +fellow! the last time I saw him was in Port Denison, the first year I +was in the country; he had then earned five pounds sterling, and had +come into town to get it sent home to his father and mother. + +On our side of the river we passed the time as best we could. There was +a large band of German musicians, and I joined them with my flute, which +I always carried. It really seemed strange, in the heart of the +wilderness, where a few months before no white man had ever put his +foot, to hear the tones of Strauss or Offenbach. As a general thing, +though, men would sit in their tents while the rain came pouring down in +sheets of water. At night we suffered very much from mosquitoes, and in +the daytime from flies, the common little house-fly, which was a perfect +nuisance all day. Dear reader, I know you expect of me that the least I +can do for you who have followed my fortunes so far is to tell you now +how I somehow proceeded to the Palmer, and there in a month or two +accumulated at least twenty thousand ounces of gold, with which I +returned and got married to some nobleman's daughter. I should not be +sorry to write this if I only had the gold somewhere handy, but as you +no doubt would, after all, prefer the truth, whatever it is, I must +confess that I could not at all see my way to go on any further. When +the weather settled and people began to cross the river I had a good +look at the poor emaciated fellows who came across, some of them with +very little gold, and all of them more or less broken in health. Then I +began to ask myself whether the game was worth the candle. The Germans +who constituted the band offered to take me as mate in their party, and +to put my rations on their horses; and for that I was greatly obliged to +them, but I seemed all at once to have taken such a dislike to roaming +about, and was picturing to myself the comfort I could have had and the +sum of money I might have saved by constant employment at my trade, that +I refused their kind offer, and instead of going on towards the Palmer I +sold my rations for a good price and returned to Cooktown. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +RETURNING FROM THE PALMER. + + +I sat in my tent one day in Cooktown, while the rain was pouring down +outside, when my attention was attracted by four men who stood in a +desolate sort of way in the road. They seemed to me to have such a +pitiful, aimless, vacant way about them as they stood there while the +rain ran down their backs in bucketsful! But I do not suppose that I for +that reason alone should have given them a second thought, because +misery and want were such common sights in Cooktown. What, however, +riveted my interest in them was that I could see they were Danes by +their clothes, and also that they had only been a very short time in +Queensland. So I thought I would have a lark with them at my own expense +if, as I guessed, it should prove true that they could not speak +English. I therefore called to them in English, and invited them to come +into my tent out of the rain. They came quickly enough. My point was to +let them think me an Englishman and to prove the old proverb that he +"who hears himself spoken of seldom hears praise." So I questioned them +from what country they came, how long they had been in Cooktown, where +they were going, how long they had been in Queensland, and all such +matters. It appeared then that they had arrived in Rockhampton a few +months before, had taken a contract there to burn off a piece of scrub, +by which they had saved a few pounds, and having heard of the Palmer, +had bought tickets for Cooktown in the _Lord Ashley_, that steamer we +met in the storm. All their swags had been washed overboard, and since +they arrived in Cooktown they had not only spent their money long ago, +but had since been unsuccessful in all they undertook. They subsisted on +scraps and odd pickings among the tents--but they did not mind so much +now that they had got used to it! They liked Rockhampton and the job of +scrub-burning, "that being a lively game," but Cooktown they did not +like; anyhow, as soon as they could get a job and save enough to buy +some rations, they would go to the Palmer. What aggrieved them most was +that they had a Danish five-dollar note (worth about ten shillings), but +they could not get it changed because the Englishmen said it was a false +one. This they told me in a sort of English a great deal more broken +than my own, but yet they had not the slightest suspicion about my not +being myself a thoroughbred Britisher. Indeed, the conversation was full +of interjections in Danish from the one to the other, such as: "I +wonder if the beggar is going to give us some grub when he has done +questioning?" or, "He has got nothing himself to eat; let us get out of +this;" or, "Wait a minute, I will ask him for some flour." When I had +carried my game as far as I cared, we had some tea and a real good meal, +after which, as it began to get dark, I invited them all to stay in my +tent until I left Cooktown, because I was only waiting for a steamer. In +the night, as we all lay as close as we could in the little tent, I had +the satisfaction of lying listening half the night to their praise of +myself, as they were talking in Danish, thinking I did not understand. +They seemed to have a terrible grudge against some Dane in Cooktown whom +I did not know, but to whom it appeared they had applied in vain for +assistance; and now they compared me as an Englishman to their own +countryman, and came to the conclusion that strangers were always the +best. I did not like to undeceive them, and I never did; but it was so +very pleasant to lie and listen to one's own praise, and I really felt +quite benevolent over it, so I thought I would do what I could to +deserve their praises. + +[Illustration: ROCKHAMPTON.] + +I had decided that I would go back to Port Denison and ask my old +employer there for a job, which I never doubted he would give me. It +seemed to me it was the place where I had been treated best as yet in +Queensland, and although we had some differences of opinions, yet I was +quite longing to see him and his family again, and also my old shipmate +and his wife. I had no doubt, somehow, he was there still. It seemed to +me almost like going home, to see them all again, and as I was in the +tent lying listening to the Danes, I thought that I would get my nice +old room once more as soon as I came to Port Denison and have everything +provided for me, and that I could therefore spare this tent, and the +gun, the billy-can, pint pot, &c. When I left Cooktown I gave all these +articles to my countrymen there, and, as I was going in the boat, even +offered to exchange their "false" Danish five-dollar note. I had finally +only half-a-crown left. + +I have written about this, not because I wish the reader to know how +benevolent I was, but to make it clear how it was that I parted with +these things. It will be perceived, as my history proceeds, how sorely I +was afterwards in need of them myself. + +It was early morning when I was put ashore in Port Denison in a boat, +because I was the only passenger for that port. I had been away about +four years, and as the memory of my first landing in this place forced +itself upon me I felt that I had not made very good use of my time so +far. Yet as I went along I consoled myself with the reflection that even +if my pocket was empty, still I was more like a man than I had ever been +before, and if I was not rich, no one could say he was poor on my +account. + +I walked along the jetty and up the street before I met any one; then I +saw a man I remembered as one to whom I had spoken several times +formerly. I rushed up to him, laughing and smiling, and shook him by the +hand. He seemed surprised and looked cold upon me. At last he remembered +me. "Oh, yes! How are you? Come by a steamer? Nice morning." + +How many have never known the bitter disappointment of being repulsed in +this manner? I sneaked away, and began to ask myself if it was possible +that my old "boss," or, perhaps, even my shipmate and his wife, would +greet me in the same manner. I had only half-a-crown left in my pocket. +My wardrobe was also in a sad condition; yet I was clean, and had, while +on the ship, polished my boots and scented my handkerchief, so who +should say that I was not the successful digger? Still, I felt very +shaky about meeting a new disappointment, and walked about for an hour +or two, not caring to present myself at Mr. ----'s place, and not being +able to find out where my countryman lived. I was soon reassured, +however, for presently I saw the "boss" himself, out for a morning walk, +and he seemed both glad and surprised to see me. After we had given the +public debt a lift in a public-house just opened, he made a few +inquiries about how far I had succeeded in making my fortune, and +offered me there and then a job, although he said he was by no means +busy. My shipmate was with him yet, and had two pounds ten shillings +per week, and he would give me the same, he said, in the hope that work +might soon be more plentiful. When we separated I went to look for my +countryman, who also was glad to see me, and at once insisted on my +staying at his house for the present. How well off he seemed to be! It +was his own house, and he had made a nice lot of furniture himself for +the rooms. He had also a fine garden, where, as he said to me, he took +his recreation in working it up. But, best of all, he had a kind, good +wife, who also had been my shipmate, and two little boys. When he came +home of an evening the wife came with his slippers and his smoking-cap, +and there he was, while I, who had gone through more hardships these +four years than many people do in their whole life, had seemingly done +no good either to myself or to others. I had, of course, told them at +once that I intended to go to work in the old place again; and it was my +intention at the first favourable moment which offered to ask my friend +for a few pounds to renew my wardrobe a little, but so far I had said +nothing whatever to anybody about my circumstances. In the evening, as +we sat talking on the verandah, my countryman quite suddenly asked me if +I was short of money, as he was prepared to let me have some if I wanted +it. It seems a strange contradiction to my previous confession, but +nevertheless it is true, that he had scarcely spoken before I blurted +out that I was not at all short of money, and that it was a great +mistake on his part to think so, that I had quite enough to serve my +purpose at any time, and more to the same effect. + +"Well, then," said my mate, "I am glad for your sake; but as that is the +case I will tell you what I otherwise would have said nothing about. The +'boss' was to-day passing one or two jokes about your being so anxious +to make your fortune quickly when you left here last, and as we have +scarcely a stroke to do, I would not, if I were you, give him the +satisfaction to begin work again, because I am sure he thinks you are +very hard up." "Does he?" cried I. "Well, he makes a mistake, and so do +you. Perhaps you think because I haven't a paper collar on that I am +ready to beg?" "Oh, no, no!" cried he; "I only meant, in a friendly way, +to offer you what you perhaps needed, so do not get angry where no +offence is meant." "Oh, I was not angry," said I; "but I certainly would +not work for Mr. ---- again, as he thought I could not do without him. +Had I not for a fact passed Townsville, where wages were higher and work +more plentiful, to come here? And now he thought he was the only man in +Queensland where I could earn my living! But I would show Mr. ---- +different. I would go to Port Mackay, where there was plenty of work and +no family arrangement about it. That was what I would do." After some +more conversation of the same sort, I went out in the street for a walk, +and to get an opportunity of thinking quietly over my now desperate +circumstances. With the exception of the clothes I wore upon me, + + "All my fortune was a shirt + That was ragged and full of dirt." + +I walked about the streets for some time, trying to make a song in +honour of the occasion, which was to begin with the above words, and set +it to music, and as I succeeded better than I thought I correspondingly +got into high spirits, and took it all as an immense joke. There seemed +to me only one way out of the difficulty. I could walk to Port Mackay, +which is another and larger town, more prosperous than Port Denison. It +lies on the coast also, and the distance by road between the two places +is one hundred and thirty miles. The road, however, is very little +frequented, as what little communication there is is all by water. There +were, however, half a dozen stations on the road, and I made no doubt I +should be right somehow. The blacks in that district had, indeed, a bad +name for spearing cattle and being very wild and ferocious; but of that +I took no heed. The most important thing just then was for me to get +away from my countryman's house without exciting in him any suspicions +about the state of my exchequer. I felt some strokes of conscience +certainly over thus repaying his kindness with such insincerity, but I +could at least truthfully say that I had not meant it, and that +circumstances over which I had no control, &c. So the next morning I +put on a reserved, dignified air, and after breakfast told my host that +I intended to shift my quarters. They both kindly protested, until I had +to say that I had business somewhere in the bush, and would come back to +their house as soon as I came to Port Denison again, but that I had to +go now, and might not be back for some time. Then Mrs. ---- pressed me +to take some sandwiches with me for dinner, for which I was not sorry, +and then I started for Port Mackay. The first station on the road was +thirty miles out. That place I meant to reach before evening. The +sandwiches went down like apple-pie long before dinner-time, and a +little before evening I gained the station. I was even at that time so +much of a "new chum" that I took it for granted that a traveller would +be made welcome anywhere in the bush whenever he might call. In the +gold-fields where I had been people were ashamed of refusing +hospitality--at least, I had not seen it done. This was the furthest +south I had yet been in Queensland, and as I stood by the creek that +evening and looked over to the neat little homestead lying there so +isolated, it seemed to me quite a beautiful place, and I congratulated +myself that I had reached it just before I got tired and in good time +for supper. I had a bath in the creek and straightened myself up all I +could before I went up to the house. It was getting nearly dark as I +came up the track leading into the garden. I heard some one crack a whip +close behind me, and saw a man on horseback coming along with nearly a +dozen big dogs, who now barked in angry rage all round me. I stood there +a complete prisoner while the man on horseback looked daggers at me. I +suppose he had been out after cattle and had not found those he looked +for; anyhow, he did not appear in a good humour. "Where are you going?" +asked he. + +"I thought I might have a bit of supper and a camp here to-night," said +I. + +"Supper and camp!" cried he. "Why the ---- don't you camp in the bush? +Ain't you got no rations, neither?" + +"No," said I. "I should be obliged to you if you would sell me something +to eat." + +"Would you not be obliged to me if I would show you a public-house?" +cried he. + +I was too innocent to see his jeer, only I perceived that he did not +want me, so I said, "Public-house? yes, I should be glad;" and added, "I +did not know there was any; how far is it?" + +"Oh, not far," said he, and he moved on, and at last called his dogs off +me. + +I was in a rage as I moved on, but just past the house the road branched +off, and I thought it necessary to find out which to take, so I sang out +to him, "Which is the Mackay road?" + +"The _right_ one," cried he. And along the _right_-hand track I went +mile after mile, but no hotel was there. At last I found it was only a +cattle track, and that I had come out to a big creek, where it branched +off everywhere. The moon was just going down, and it was far out in the +night when I laid myself down to sleep. It was raining heavily by this +time, so that I could light no fire, but, tired and worn out as I was, I +slept as well as if I had lain on a feather bed. + +When I woke up again it was daylight, and I felt quite stiff in all my +joints and so cold that I could scarcely move. Three or four native dogs +were circling round me, but retired to a more respectful distance when I +sat up. These native dogs are, I believe, peculiar to Australia. +Miserable, cowardly curs they are. They will often follow a man for days +when he is lost until he drops, but I do not believe it has ever been +recorded that they have actually attacked a man before death has made +him oblivious to all. Not so, however, with the crow. The crow is found +all over Australia in the most out-of-the-way places, and many a brave +man has had his eyes picked out before he has had time to die! These +birds seem to have a sort of instinct to know when any one is in +distress. If a man is lost and the "trackers" are out after him, they +know that he is not far off when they see a lot of crows hovering over a +particular spot. He may not be dead, but he is certainly dying. + +Although I was wet, stiff, and cold, and without any food, yet I was +worth twenty dead men yet. I saw that the only thing I could do was to +retrace my steps to the station the same way as I had come; so along +the road I went, and that in a very bad humour, most of all because I +could see no other remedy than to beg assistance where I had been +already so badly treated. When I could get on the right track there were +thirty miles to the next station. I had only half-a-crown. What could I +do if nobody would help me? At last, at two or three o'clock in the +afternoon, I came back to the place I had started from the evening +before, when I had been shown the wrong track. As soon as I saw the +house again I felt neither hungry nor tired. I only felt as if I could +walk for ever without rest or food. I would ask for nothing. I would +take nothing. I would just go on. But still I had to find out which was +the Mackay road. Yes, I would go up to the house to ask that question. +As I came up to the place I saw a young woman standing outside the back +door washing clothes, and about a dozen blacks were squatted about the +ground in all sorts of lazy positions. I noticed especially a very tall +young gin, who stood leaning against the wall, with a long spear in her +hand. I asked the girl which was the Mackay road, and she, looking round +rather surprised at me, said, "There--that one to the left." She did not +look at all vicious, and seemed disposed to enter into conversation, +but, true to my determination, I turned on my heel to go again. I had +scarcely turned, however, before I heard her sing out in an excited +voice to the blacks, "Don't! Drop that spear! Look out!" Turning round +once more, I saw the tall gin with the spear, holding it high above her +head, ready to hurl it at me. I never spoke, because, to tell the truth, +I never realized that she intended to kill me. I looked her full in the +face, and, as I felt pretty indignant at the time, my look disarmed her. +Anyhow she quailed before my eyes and dropped the spear, and I went my +way. + +The blacks were at that time very bad in that district, spearing cattle, +&c., and as I was going along the road I accounted to myself for their +presence on the station in this way--that perhaps the squatter thought +it cheaper to feed them than to allow them to rob him. That they were +not very quiet blacks I felt sure, and the more I thought of the gin and +her uplifted spear the more anxious I became. They might, thought I, set +out after me yet and finish me off. Moreover, as I had thirty miles to +walk before I could hope for any food, I made up my mind to stagger on +as long as my feet could carry me. But I did not go so fast as the day +before. Slowly and painfully did I drag along. The road was simply a +track on which a horse might come along, and a sort of coarse grass +eight or nine feet high grew on both sides. How fervently I wished I +might meet another traveller--anybody had been welcome--but no one +seemed to have been along there for ages. On I went. Every half mile or +so I would come to a running brook crossing the road. I became too +fatigued to take off my boots and socks every time, and this made my +feet sore; but still I staggered on. It was now evening, or, rather, +late at night, but just as the moon was going down I came to a creek +which seemed larger than the rest, inasmuch that I could not in the +darkness look across, and taking a couple of steps into the water I went +in nearly to the middle; still it grew deeper. I therefore concluded +that as necessity knows no law, I must camp and wait for daylight before +I attempted crossing. A large tree was growing close to the water and on +the track. Down by the roots of that tree I threw my swag, and laid +myself upon it without undressing and without a fire. My matches were +all wet, and I was too tired to walk one unnecessary step. + +I was lying there looking up at the stars, feeling so unspeakably tired, +when, after a while, just as I was going to sleep, I heard a noise not +far from me for which I could not account, but it brought me to +speculate upon the probability that there were alligators in the water, +and that it was scarcely prudent to lie there as I did, with my feet +almost in the stream. So I got up and went back some twenty yards or so, +on the rising ground, where there had been an old camp years before. +There I lay myself down again with a big stick in my hand. I had just +gone off to sleep when I started up again in terror. A peculiar +indescribable noise was coming from down the creek, where I had been +before. What it might be I did not know. Never had I heard the like +before; it was a noise sufficient, as they say, to raise the dead. + +The water seemed agitated as if an army of blacks were coming across, +the bushes and grass were cracking as if a stampede of cattle was taking +place, and through all these noises ran a piercing continuous yell such +as no human being or animal I knew in nature could utter. The thought +ran through me as I started to my feet: either it is the blacks who have +come to kill you, or it is an alligator on the same errand. In any case, +thought I, my only chance was to show fight. With that I grabbed my +stick, and sang out, to gammon the blacks, "Here! hie! Bill! Jack! +Jimmy! Here they are. Get the guns; we will have a shot at them!" + +While I screamed at the top of my voice like this, I struck the long +grass with my stick, and, to frighten the alligator, if any were there, +ran right down to where I had been before, yelling all the while. The +noise kept on in front of me, but died away with some splashes in the +water, just as I came down. When I stopped screaming all was silent. I +stared around me, but the darkness was perfectly impenetrable. + +Was there an alligator now crouching at my feet ready to swallow me in a +couple of mouthfuls? Or was I surrounded by a mob of savages, perhaps, +lurking alongside of me, and seeing my helplessness? Or was it evil +spirits? I did not know what it was, or where it had gone, and yet the +hair seemed to rise on my head. Do not talk to me about bravery or +cowardice! I believe most men are capable of screwing their courage up +to the necessary point at any time, providing they know what is before +and behind them, but if I knew where there was a man who would not have +felt fear if placed in the same position as I stood in there, then I +would fall down and bow before him. I crept back to where I had been +lying when I heard the alarm and lay down again, and so exhausted was I +that I fell asleep at once, and did not wake up before the sun was +shining in my face. My first thought, of course, was the noise in the +night, and I went down to the creek to look for tracks or signs of some +sort. There, close by the tree, on the very spot where I first had laid +myself down, was the half of a large kangaroo. It seemed bitten off +right under the forelegs, all the rest was gone. On the road and in the +soft mud by the water were the tracks of an immense alligator, and where +it had come out and gone into the creek again a deep furrow as from a +sulky plough had been made by its tail. I had never yet been so near +death! It seemed plain to me that the first noise I had heard which +induced me to get up and go further away from the water must have been +the alligator stealing upon me, and that the unfortunate kangaroo +afterwards unwittingly saved my life. But as there is scarcely anything +that cannot be turned to good account, so I also tried to turn this +accident to my advantage, because I took up my knife and cut some steaks +out of the kangaroo, which I had to eat raw, as I could make no fire, +for I could not find any of the wood with which I had learned by +rubbing two sticks together to make it. It was with fear and trembling +that I crossed the deep creek. The water went up over my armpits; but it +had to be done, and once on the other side I made a speech to the +alligator, thanked him for my breakfast, and wished him, "Good-morning." + +I walked all day, but so slowly and painfully that I did not go very +far. One of my boots was chafing my foot so that I had to take it off, +but after having carried it some miles I threw it away. In the evening I +came to an empty hut and a stockyard, but as no one was living there I +concluded it was put up for the purpose of mustering cattle. It was +locked up, so I lay down outside and seemed to find some company in +looking at the house. The next day was Sunday. I felt when I got up that +I could not walk much further. Fortunately, perhaps, I got some +encouragement from thinking myself near the station, as fences and +cattle began to appear. Yet it took me from break of day to afternoon +before I came out on a large plain, and there at once I saw the house +lying in front of me, but yet about a mile distant. It seemed a large +and "fashionable" house for the bush. As I came a little nearer I could +see people under the verandah, and as I came still nearer I made out +three ladies and a gentleman sitting there. They seemed to have a +telescope, which they passed from one to the other, and whoever had it +pointed it straight at me. Ah! what a disgrace, thought I. I would not +mind so much, but I felt revolted at the idea of standing as a beggarman +before young ladies. If I could have run away I am sure I should have +done so, but I was altogether too weak. Still, I seemed to straighten +myself up somehow under their eyes, and I threw the long, ugly stick I +carried away, and went on with as sure a step as I could command up to +the verandah and saluted the company. + +I remember well the following scene. The gentleman, a portly, elderly +man, had one of those bluff-looking, high-coloured faces which, even +while they try to look cross, cannot hide their evident good nature. He +was now smiling in a benevolent sort of way upon me. The elderly lady +who sat by his side also looked very kind, while two young ladies, who +also were in the verandah, regarded me with a mixture of dignity, +curiosity, and pity. When the gentleman began to speak he looked very +cross. + +"Coming from the Palmer?" inquired he. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Hah! did I not tell you so? Did you find any gold there?" + +"No, sir." + +"Didn't I say so?" + +These aside remarks were addressed to the elderly lady, who silently +acquiesced; and then she turned towards me and inquired, with a sort of +anxiety, "Did you happen to meet a young man up there by name Symes? +David--David Symes, that was his name." + +I was very sorry that I had not met him. + +"How do you think he should know him?" cried the gentleman, in a great +rage. "Ah!" he exclaimed, "that will teach you fellows not to run +gallivanting about the country again in a hurry, I'll swear. All your +bit of money clean gone?" + +"No, sir." (I had my half-crown.) + +"Then you want nothing from me, I suppose?" + +"Indeed, sir, I do, very much." + +"Ah! I thought so. I knew it jolly well, I did." + +"Father," cried the lady, "why do you keep tormenting the poor man so? +You go and sit there under the sunshade, and I will tell the girl to +bring you some dinner. Poor man! walked all the way from Palmer." + +I went and seated myself by a large table which stood in the yard, and +as soon as I sat down I fell asleep; then I would start up again, and +fall asleep again, and every time I opened my eyes I saw them all +sitting on the verandah watching me. The servant-girl brought a large +supply of roast beef and potatoes, also a plum-pudding, but I could eat +nothing. When I had tried a couple of mouthfuls the squatter came down +to me and said he would show me a bed where I could lie down. "And when +you have had a good sleep," said he, "then I will find you a job of some +kind, if you want it." + +I slept for nearly twenty-four hours, and when I had fully recovered, +which took me three or four days, I had a job at ring-barking trees for +the squatter for ten shillings per week. That was all he offered me and +I did not care to ask for more--indeed, I was very well pleased. When I +had been there two or three weeks, and I thought we were about quits, I +asked for my wander-book again--in other words, I explained that I was a +carpenter and expected to earn better money if I could get to Mackay. I +am glad to say that he would have liked to keep me, and he offered me a +job as stockman for a pound sterling a week, but still that did not suit +me at all, so I went my way again with a few rations in my bag and +twenty shillings in my pocket. I will not ask the reader to follow me +step by step on this memorable journey. No doubt it will quite plainly +appear that I have gone through a terrible lot of hardships in my time, +but although I admit I should not care to have to do it again, yet it is +a fact that, when I think of myself at that time, I seemed in no way +crestfallen. On the contrary, I was always in the best of humours, and +never doubted for one moment that good fortune would come again. It has +always been a fact in my case that when I, as on this journey, have had +very scanty food for some time, my voice becomes much better and +clearer. So that as I came along the road, or in the night when I was +camped, I would enjoy myself by singing as well as if I had been a +performer at a concert. Alas! many matters which unfortunately would not +interest me much now, had at that time great attraction for my mind--a +bird, a wallaby scudding across the road, a strange plant, all such +things would set my imagination going. It is only as we grow older and +get more sense that such trivialities cease to amuse! + +The next place on this journey where anything worth relating occurred +was at a sugar plantation about sixteen miles from Mackay. I arrived +there at eight or nine o'clock one night, but as I came past the place, +some men who were camped in a tent by the road good-naturedly offered me +a drink of tea, and when I had drank it and was just ready to start +again one of the men, who had been away for half an hour, came back and +said that I had to go up to the kitchen, where there was a countrywoman +of mine who wanted to see me. I was in no way caring for a lady's +company at the time, so I asked him to make my excuses to this +countrywoman of mine and to say that I was gone; but all the men began +chaffing me, and were nearly going into fits of laughter about her good +looks, wishing they were me, that such a girl was not to be seen every +day, &c., so at last I unwillingly went up to the kitchen. I never +thought to see anybody more than some uninteresting sort of country +girl, and I only intended to ask her, as shortly as possible, what she +wanted, and then go on again. In a word, I was in rather a bad humour. +The door was opened for me by a very lady-like girl, and I was quite +doubtful at first whether it was the lady of the house or only the +servant. All at once I seemed to remember how torn my clothes were, and +my poor appearance, and felt as if I did not like to go in; but the girl +seemed bent on patronizing me. + +"Come in," cried she, in Danish; "be not afraid. If Danes meet in this +country I think it is the least they can do to speak to one another. I +know it right enough there is many a brave fellow in this country +suffering hardships such as they do not dream of at home. Come in, come +in!" + +I did not know at first whether to feel angry or not over this speech, +but--she was so pretty, and she meant well, and she _was_ my +countrywoman after all, so I took her by the hand and thanked her for +her sympathy, admitting that I was rather down on my luck just then, but +that I had great hopes that things would soon take a turn for the +better. Then she offered me a cup of tea, and by and by we were chatting +away like old friends. It was now about ten o'clock, and I thought it +high time to take my leave, when we heard some one approach the kitchen +from the house. The girl seemed to get quite terrified. "Oh," she +whispered, "that is Mr. ---- himself. He has forbidden any of the men to +come to the kitchen; he is sure to be angry." + +The gentleman came in, and while he was staring in a sort of haughty and +surprised way at me the girl was sitting bending over her sewing as if +she had committed a crime. I did not like the prospect of being turned +out very much, and I felt also sorry for having brought unpleasantness +upon her; but, after all, the want or possession of a little tact will +alter matters wonderfully even at such a moment as this, so, more for +the girl's sake than for my own, I saluted him in my politest manner and +begged his pardon for having come into the kitchen. I said I had been +travelling past, intending to walk to Mackay, but that the men on the +place had told me that a countrywoman of mine was here, and that I had +not been able to resist the temptation to call in the hope that it might +be some one I knew. I hoped he would excuse me. + +"Oh yes," said he, "that is all right; I am sure Sophy will be glad to +see a friend of hers. Have you given your countryman some supper? Don't +let him go away hungry. Surely you are not going to walk to Mackay +to-night? There is a place over there where you might sleep: you will +show him, Sophy. Good-night." + +What a relief we both seemed to find at the turn things had taken! Quite +a grand supper was now put before me, a white damask table-cloth was +spread, silver coffee-pot and cream-jug and all sorts of delicacies +appeared. When all was ready, we both sat down to the cheese, and when +at last I went to seek my bed we both candidly admitted to each other +that this had been a red-letter day and one never to be forgotten. I +slept and dreamed, and when I woke up again I could distinctly remember +what I had dreamed; and that dream I have never forgotten since. I +dreamed that I saw a snake which crept on the floor, and this snake +seemed to me of wonderful beauty, but I was not at all afraid of it--on +the contrary, I wanted to take it so that I might keep it; for that +purpose I bent towards it, but as I did so the snake seemed to rise on +end until it was nearly as tall as I, and while I stretched my arm out +to take it, it hissed, and when I touched it, then it bit me. I now +perceived it was no longer a snake, but that young woman who had +entertained me in the evening. I woke up at once, and grasped the whole +dream in my mind. Then I thought it must surely be a warning. I fancy I +see the sceptic smile who reads this. I should like my readers to +believe in the truth of my assertions; and to those who are disposed to +so believe me, I will say they may, for nothing is truer. I was lying +the remainder of the night thinking of my dream and congratulating +myself that there was no cause for me to feel uneasy, as I should be +going away in the morning, and probably should never see that girl +again. But when morning came the sun dispelled my fears, and I was soon +sitting chatting with Sophy while I had breakfast. I felt wonderfully +sorry that I should now have to go, never to see her again. It was, +however, ordained otherwise. By the time I had the swag on my shoulder +she had been into her mistress, and, without my knowing or asking +it--for indeed I only wanted to get to Mackay--had interceded for me, +asking that I should be offered work. Mr. ----, therefore, came out to +me and said he had been told that I was a carpenter, and that he had a +lot of carpenter's work he wanted done. He had no time to go into +details then, but he would be obliged to me if I would glue together for +him a case of chairs he had, and then he would speak to me again the +next day. How could I refuse? I got out the case of chairs and stood all +day gluing them together, outside the kitchen, but I could not help +thinking of my dream every now and again, and I realized that there was +great danger, and that if I engaged myself for one week it would be +impossible for me to either tear myself away or for any one else to +trust me. In the evening I sat by the fire in the kitchen, with my elbow +on my knee and my head in my hand and was in a bad humour, although the +girl was sitting chatting more sweetly than ever by my side. To talk +about a week before I tore myself away! was it not too late already? If +I had to stay here, thought I, until I could not tear myself away, then +I must be weak indeed. It must never be. I will go at once--this moment. +I got up and said I was going to Mackay as soon as I could get time to +roll my swag together. + +She looked at me as if she thought I was mad. Then she asked me if she +had offended me, and insisted on telling Mr. ---- I was going, so that +he might pay me for my day's work; but I would not risk the effect of +any pressing invitation to stay, and groped my way in the darkness down +to the road and away. Never have I felt more poor and miserable and +lonely in my own eyes, as I went along, than I did that stormy, bitterly +cold night. As soon as the imaginary danger was over I pictured to +myself in rosy colours how things might have turned out if I had only +remained. And all this I had made impossible for the sake of a miserable +dream which most people would have forgotten before they were properly +awake. Oh, yes, I deserved surely as much bad luck as fate could heap +upon me! But now it was too late. "Too late!" I kept repeating, and then +I would make plans for going away to the end of the world, as soon as I +should have sufficient money to pay my way. I could not in the darkness +cross the Pioneer River, which runs twelve miles from town, and as I had +plenty of time I sat on the bank of the river all night, wishing an +alligator might take me, indulging in romantic sentiments; but the next +morning, as I was nearing Mackay, hope sat on her throne again as I +passed by the one beautiful plantation after the other and saw enough +work going forward on all sides to convince me that I should get plenty +to do for myself, and possibly some day, perhaps, myself own one of +these plantations. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A LOVE STORY. + + +I obtained work at one of the plantations for three pounds sterling per +week. For this money I was expected only to work eight hours a day and +five hours on Saturdays, that being the ordinary tradesman's hours of +work all over Australia. But as my employer was busy and I was tired of +remaining poor longer than I could help, I obtained leave to work two +hours overtime every day, for which I was paid at the rate of +eighteenpence an hour. When I arrived in Mackay I had gone into a +Chinaman's boarding-house, as being the most suitable place for my means +and condition, but although a similar place had suited me well enough in +the gold-diggings, the class of men who stayed here and the +accommodation I received did not now suit me at all. I seemed to shrink +into myself and gradually got into a morbid and unhealthy state of mind. +I was as good, at least I thought myself as good, as most of the clerks +or well-dressed young fellows I saw knocking about the town, doing very +little work; but that they were of a different opinion was evident from +the scathing contempt one or two of them managed once or twice to put +into their manner towards me the first week I was in town when I by +accident had addressed them. Do clothes make the man? thought I; was it +necessary for me to conform to their habits, and to imitate them, to +secure respect or even civility? I would not do it. What would be +gained? All was vanity. Another little incident which had not been +without its influence upon me, I mention to show that such unconsidered +trifles make the sum total of ordinary life, was this: the day I arrived +in town, but when I was yet about half a mile from it, I had met four +young ladies, who I suppose were out for a walk. They were evidently +dressed in their best clothes and looked both nice and pretty, and as +youth always recognizes a sort of relation in youth--or, if you prefer +it, young men always take an interest in young women, and _vice +versa_--I was looking closely at them and they at me as we neared each +other on the road. They took no trouble in concealing their verdict of +me. I will not say they were so ill-bred as to make grimaces at me, but +they might just as soon have gathered their skirts about them and held +their noses. I saw that they considered me an undesirable party. I was +just then in rather high spirits, which could not be damped all in a +moment, so as I met and passed them I took my stick up and held it in +military fashion close to my shoulder as I marched by. I could hear them +giggling behind me, but I did not look round, and lovelorn as I +was--because you must remember my adventure of the day before--it had a +depressing effect upon me, which grew as time went. So, after staying +for a week in the Chinaman's boarding-house, with the first money I got +I bought a tent and pitched it right away in a lonely spot, and there I +lived by myself, like a regular hermit. I thought of Thorkill who was +dead and of his lonely grave, that dream for which I could not account, +and I thought, too, of my own home from which I had heard nothing now +for years, and I brooded over my own friendless condition. Then I +thought of the girl on the plantation I had left behind me, but it never +entered my head for a moment to go and visit her. Far from it. I would +travel to the end of the world to put it out of my power rather than do +that, or for two pins I would then have put an end to myself! It seems +to me as I write, that, this being simply true, it should not be without +a salutary warning to other young men not to allow themselves to drift +into the same state of temperament, because it is dangerous and may +spoil a life which otherwise might become useful; nor is there any merit +in such misanthropy, as the subsequent pages will show, and but one +little straw one way or the other will have its effect during the +remainder of one's life. + +One thing which it is difficult to write about, as it seems to have no +logic or sense in it, but which, nevertheless, was of great importance +to me, was this: I worked like a tiger, not because I was fond of work +nor to get away from my morbid feelings, because I did not struggle +against them, nor because I was fond of money, as I had very little use +for any, as I thought, and as my wages were the same whether I worked +like an average man or did more, but I worked because in my morbid brain +I liked to fancy that the girl on the plantation was in great distress, +and that her life and liberty depended upon my doing certain work in a +certain time. When I got a piece of work to do I would think to myself +in this way: here is a week's work for any man, but unless I can do it +in four days, then--all sorts of misery will happen. Therefore I really +worked as if my life depended on it, and I would be perfectly intolerant +of any obstruction to my progress. My "boss" took in the situation very +soon, because he let me stand by myself and dared scarcely speak to me +for fear of putting me out. + +This state of affairs had lasted about three months, and during that +time I can almost count on my fingers the words I had said; I do not +think I had spoken to any one one unnecessary word. It cost me only five +or six shillings a week to live. I had bought merely the most necessary +clothes, and all the rest of my money and cheques I had received were in +my possession, lying in a pickle-bottle in the tent. + +One afternoon as I came from my work I saw in front of me in the street +the girl from the plantation. I ran after her. "Sophy, Sophy, is that +you?" Happy meeting! She had been in town for a month and was now a +dressmaker; but let it be enough to say that I went at once to the tent +and got out the money and bought the best clothes I could get in town, +that I went to stay at an hotel, and that, as time went on, I kept two +horses in a paddock, ordered a side-saddle, and for sixteen months after +used to boast to myself that no one among the tradesmen in Mackay had a +prettier sweetheart, was a better dancer, kept such good horses, or +earned so much money as myself! + +I reckon this time as being among my most pleasant recollections. People +did not seem to me so egotistic or the world so black as it had appeared +while I lived in the tent; on the contrary, I was often invited among +very nice people to their parties and family gatherings, and I was a +constant attendant at both Oddfellows' and Caledonian balls, and, in +short, anything that was going on. I was intending some day in the near +future to marry and settle down, and for that reason had bought an +allotment for twenty-five pounds, and I meant to build a house on it. I +had only one fault to find with the lady who honoured me with her +approbation. It was this: she was fearfully jealous and excitable, and +would at such times be in a perfect rage if I had done anything which +she thought not becoming; but as I took it as a proof of the value in +which she held me, I rather liked it, and even sometimes went so far as +to excite her suspicion on purpose just to get up a "scene." This +happened again one day when I had been sixteen months in Mackay. The +occasion was that I had, as it was Sunday, been out for a ride with +another young lady--I had things so handy, the two horses, one with +side-saddle and all, and the temptation to a little extra flirtation was +always great--but when that evening, in a most dutiful mood, I went to +see my "only love," she, I remember, was very angry indeed with me. She +was sitting sewing in her room, and I was sitting also at the table in a +careless position, with my head on my hand and my elbow on the table, +smiling at her and enjoying matters very much, although, as I have +written above, she was very angry, and even crying. She rated me +terribly, too, for my wickedness, and I was defending myself mildly. +"Dear," I said, "I only took her out to-day as a mark of the respect in +which I hold her." + +"I'll mark you!" she cried, and she struck me in the mouth with terrible +violence. The blow not only knocked me off the chair, but sent one of my +front teeth spinning round the room, and to this day I am marked by the +absence of that tooth. I got up; she stood gasping with excitement, +looking at me. I cannot give the reader any idea how handsome she was, +or how fond I was of her. Still, this would never do. I took the lamp +from the table and began looking for my tooth on the floor. I never +spoke, neither did she say anything. I can well remember. When I had +found the tooth I took my hat up and went away. This would never do, +thought I, I must be off somewhere by the next steamer, never to return; +because I knew very well that if I stayed in Mackay I should just go and +make love to her again. I therefore decided I would be off, never mind +where I went; and in that mood I arrived at my hotel. On the verandah +stood one of the boarders who was the captain of a labour schooner. For +the information of my readers who may not know what that means I will +state that the plantations round Mackay and elsewhere in Queensland +employ a great many South Sea Islanders, and that these men are brought +to Queensland under a certain system. It is this way: a number of +planters unite in sending a ship out among the South Sea Islands to +engage all the Kanakas the ship can hold, and who are willing to come. +The ship so engaged is under Government orders, and the Government sends +an agent with the ship, whose duty is to watch that no coercion is +employed in order to get "the boys" to engage, and that they understand +their agreements with the planter. These agreements are all uniform. The +Kanakas engage for three years' service, for which the planter gives +them their food and six pounds per year; he also defrays the cost of +bringing them to Queensland, and when their time is out he sends them at +his own cost back to the island whence they came. As I now came up on +the verandah the captain spoke to me and invited me in to have a drink +with him. He had been staying in the hotel for about a month and I knew +him very well, so we went into the bar and began to talk about his +affairs. He intended to start for the South Seas the following night, if +all went well; the only thing that upset him just then was that his cook +had deserted the ship and was not to be found. He did not care except +for this reason--that he could not afford to keep the ship waiting, and +on the other hand he did not know where to get another, as he could not +do without a good cook. "Faith, then," said I, "I am a good cook, as +cooks go in this part of the world, and, what is more to the purpose, +not only do I intend to leave Mackay to-morrow if I can, but I have a +great longing to see the South Sea Islands, and therefore I am your man, +if you like." + +He could not see that at all for a long time, and thought I was having a +lark with him, but when at last I said there was a lady at the bottom of +it, he winked and thought he knew all about it. So at break of day the +next morning we went on board the schooner, and I started in the cook's +galley making breakfast for all hands. I peeled potatoes and flogged the +steak as if I had never done anything else in my life, because the +captain would not engage me before I had shown my capabilities; but +after my trial he was quite satisfied and engaged me for the trip at +eight pounds per month, and then I stipulated before signing articles +that I should have leave of absence until break of day next morning, as +it was necessary for me to put my affairs in order before I left Mackay. +After having given my word of honour to return, I went ashore again. +There was enough for me to see to. My "boss" did not owe me anything, as +I had received my last cheque on the previous Saturday; but there were +my tools to dispose of. These went for a trifle among the other men: one +took one piece, one another, and the "boss" gave me his cheque for the +lot. Then there were the horses and saddles; these also were got rid of +before dinner-time, and when evening came I had sold my allotment which +I had bought for twenty-five pounds, for one hundred and fifty pounds, +and had all the money lodged in the bank. I had not, therefore, done so +badly in Mackay the eighteen or nineteen months I had been there. Not +only, on an average, had I enjoyed myself pretty well, but the sum total +which I now had to my credit was as near two hundred and fifty pounds as +possible. After tea I had nothing to do but reflect on the wisdom or +otherwise of the step I had taken. I walked about the streets for a long +time, and as I knew very well that my sweetheart expected me as usual I +found myself circling round the house in which she lived. She did not, +of course, know that I was going away, and as she usually expected me +about seven o'clock of an evening, my feet seemed perforce to carry me +towards the house. I did not go in; at eight o'clock I saw her sitting +by the window, at nine o'clock she was there still, at ten o'clock I saw +her sitting by the window as I came past the place, at eleven o'clock +she was standing outside, and I was right up to her before I saw her. +The reader must not expect too much confidence from me; I cannot repeat +what she said, and will only say this--that I have never seen her since, +and that with a heavy heart I went on board the schooner next morning, +when we hoisted anchor and left for the South Sea Islands. + +Dear reader, if I were to tell you all that happened to me on this +journey in the same detailed way as I have told you about my travels +through Queensland, it would take me too far away and also occupy too +much space, so I have thought it better to leave it all out and take up +the thread of my history at the point when I again arrived in Port +Mackay about nine months after. Should this effort of mine meet with the +approbation of the public, I shall be very glad to write another book +about my adventures in the South Seas, but at present I will content +myself by saying that although many things I saw upon this journey were +new and startling to me, yet on the whole we had a good journey, and +that I was paid off in Mackay when we came back, and at once took a +passage in a steamer for Brisbane. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +BRISBANE--TRAVELS IN THE "NEVER NEVER" LAND. + + +I went on board the _Black Swan_ on taking leave of the captain and my +other friends on the schooner, and after an uneventful passage arrived +in Brisbane. Times had altered greatly in Queensland, for the worse I +thought, since I was there last. The rich people had grown richer, and +the poor poorer. It is sad at the present day to walk about the town and +look at all the semi-destitute people whom one sees on every side, and +then think of the "booms" which used to be a few years ago. My objects +in coming to Brisbane were many. I had now, as I thought, sufficient +capital to establish myself in a small way at my trade, and I intended +to look out for a suitable place near town where I might begin. I was +also on the look-out for a wife; but that was only in a general sense, +and when all is said, I believe that what I considered most important +was to enjoy myself. In any case, with over three hundred pounds in the +bank I felt pretty independent and considered myself entitled to spend +all I could earn so long as I could keep this nest-egg safe. The town +was busy, work was plentiful, but although I went about every night and +spent all I earned, yet I by no means liked Brisbane. I do not propose +to criticise the inhabitants thereof in a general way, but so far as it +concerns my narrative at this point I must say a few words. I was very +unsuccessful in finding any girl whom I thought might suit me for a +wife, and who, at the same time, herself approved of me for a husband. +The reason, as I understood it, was this: Brisbane was, and is, crammed +full of young women who are glad to stand in a shop from morning to +night for half-a-crown a week and find themselves. Whether such girls +can or cannot make a cup of tea I do not know, but my general impression +of them was that they would rather not, if they could avoid it. Then as +for servant-girls, it is a common delusion to believe that they are well +off in Brisbane; the fact is that the majority of people who keep a +servant both overwork her and use her as a coat-of-arms wherewith to set +themselves off, and one never by any chance reads a book either in +Australia or elsewhere in which a servant is spoken of as possessed of +even common sense. Of course, the better class of girls will revolt at +contemptuous treatment, and they are, therefore, scarce in Brisbane, and +have always been. In the bush of course it is different: there the +servant is not spoken of as the "slavey" and thought of as a fool, and +as a consequence they are neither the one nor the other. But a tradesman +in Brisbane has no opportunity whatever of meeting any young woman +outside these circles, because the greatest possible social distinction +exists between such people as, say a bank clerk, or even a grocer's +clerk, and a tradesman or a labourer; so is it between a music-teacher, +shop-girl, dressmaker, or a servant. I found it so, and that had a great +deal to do with my dislike to Brisbane; but, apart from that, I had been +so used to the free life of the bush, and more lately then to the +changing scenes among the South Sea Islands, that I could not endure for +long the everyday life of the shop and the boarding-house, and the +boarding-house and the shop. I therefore engaged myself as carpenter to +a squatter who had a large station on the Darling Downs, and right glad +was I when I shook the dust of Brisbane off my feet again. But before +leaving this city I should like to speak about the last piece of work I +did there, because it is in such striking contrast to the state of the +carpenter's trade at the present time. One Saturday morning when I came +to work, my employer asked me to put a few tools in my basket and go out +to his private house to perform certain work there. As I crossed Queen +Street a man came running after me and asked me if I wanted a job of +carpenter's work. I said "No." When I came a little further up, along +George Street, a publican came running out of his door, smiling all over +his face, saying I was the very man he wanted, as he could see by the +basket I carried that I was a carpenter. I told him I was not open to +engagement; but he would not take "no" for an answer. After a long +conversation in the street, in which he implored me to do just this +little job for him that he wanted, while I explained that I was on my +road to work for which I already was engaged. I was on the point of +cutting it short by going away, when he asked me in any case to come +into his hotel and have a glass of beer. When I came in he renewed the +attack in this way--he asked me just to oblige him by looking at the +work and telling him what it was worth. He then showed me a large +shutter which stood under a rough window opening in the yard, and told +me that all he wanted was for a man to fit this shutter to the opening +and put hinges on it; he had the hinges. Now, what was it worth? I saw +that he intended me to do it if he could get me, but I by no means +wanted to. I said it was worth thirty shillings at the least: "All +right," cried he, "do it, and I will give you thirty shillings." + +I was caught now, so I gave in. I took my saw out and fitted the +shutter, screwed the hinges, and took my thirty shillings, all in less +than an hour. This is eleven or twelve years ago. I have not worked in +Brisbane since, but I know a friend of mine who two years ago put a +shilling advertisement in the papers for a carpenter to do a few days' +work, and in less than half an hour after the paper was out he had +thirty-two applicants! I was now working on one of the largest stations +on the Darling Downs. I had only come there in a roving sort of way, +under a six months' agreement which was made in Brisbane, and I had no +intention whatever of staying longer, but although the wages were less +than what I could earn in Brisbane, or in any other town, I thought I +should like to see a large sheep station, and I was told by the agent in +town that I should be sure to like it. The property itself covered I do +not know how many square miles, divided into paddocks, and in each or +most of these paddocks stood a house in which the boundary rider and his +family lived. The duty of this man is not fatiguing; he has to look out +that the fences are in good repair and report to the head station when +anything is out of order. Therefore his day's work is generally done +when after breakfast he has been jogging round the boundary fence. For +this work the wages are about thirty-five pounds sterling a year with +double rations, a free house, use of cow, &c. These boundary riders are +by no means the only employees on the station. There were general +labourers, carriers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, storekeepers, +carpenters, and a host of people who came and went without my knowing +they did so, but the whole formed quite a little township at the head +station. Once a year, when the wool was clipped off the two hundred +thousand sheep there, it was an extra busy time. Then the shearers would +arrive, sixty in number, and with all their assistants they would make +nearly a hundred persons. Besides these there were the washers, who +washed the sheep by elaborate machinery. There would be so many people +that I do not know how the "boss" knew them all. Every one of them +earned good money, although in various degrees. The shearers earned +three shillings and sixpence for every score of sheep they could shear. +An average day's work is from fifty to a hundred sheep. Then the +wool-packers, who pressed the wool into bales, had also piecework, and +this was a favourite job reserved as a reward for old hands. They earned +at it a pound or more a day. This was of course for a short time only +out of the year, but when one station is done shearing another generally +begins, and the men can, therefore, keep on for at least six months at a +stretch with very little lost time. The tradesmen on the station seemed +all part and parcel of the station, old identities, who had made their +homes there years before and did not intend to shift. I heard it +whispered that the squatter meant to try and break through the monopoly +that some of the old hands had created, and that some new blood might be +infused, and I believe that I had been engaged to hang as the sword of +Damocles over the other carpenters' heads, but I refused the _role_. The +head carpenter was an old, worn-out man with a large family. He had been +there seventeen years. He had one hundred pounds a year and double +rations, with a free house, wood, water, and many little perquisites. I +daresay he had saved a little money, but any one may easily understand +that a man over fifty years of age, with a large family and a settled +home where he has been for seventeen years, does not like the prospect +of change and to have to make a new start in life. Such a billet as that +of tradesman on a station is much sought after, and in many respects is +incomparably better than the position occupied in town by a married man +who works for wages. But neither the one nor the other suited my +ambition. If I had been doomed to choose between the two, I think I +should, after all, have taken the lot of the man in town, for he is more +independent if he is poorer. It is all very well to work for a master +when one is young, but as one gets on for thirty years of age he likes +to be his own master. At least that was my opinion. There seemed to me +something so forbidding in the ringing of the large bell on the station. +It would ring at a quarter to six on a morning for all hands to get out +of bed and dress. Then it rang at six o'clock for starting work. It rang +for dinner, and it rang when we were to start again. It was all correct +enough; I have no fault to find with it, I cannot suggest anything +better, but all the same I did not like it. + +My work on the station was otherwise both pleasant and independent +enough. A great deal of it consisted in making and hanging gates for the +various paddocks. These would be made at home in the shop and afterwards +carted out to their places. Then I would get a labourer with me and we +would drive off in a spring-cart from one gate to the other, and hang +them. It was a regular journey across the paddocks, and involved about a +fortnight's trip every time. + +The man who earned the most money of all the employees on the station +was the shearers' cook. The shearers had a large house to themselves and +managed their own housekeeping, inasmuch as they engaged and paid their +own cook and bought and paid for anything they liked to eat, so that +they should not grumble over the provisions. But that object has never +yet been attained with shearers, either with the lot on this station or +any other set of shearers I have ever seen. They are the most frightful +grumblers, and who is so fit an object for their displeasure as their +servant--their own servant, the cook? One thing, they pay him well. The +wages of a shearers' cook is the shearing price of a score of sheep per +week, or three-and-sixpence a week for every shearer. You will therefore +see that in a large shearing shed like this, with sixty shearers, the +cook earned ten guineas per week besides his food. But for this money he +had to do more than an ordinary man can do, and take more insults than +an ordinary dog would tolerate. First of all, the shearers always insist +on having their table spread with good things, puddings and cake every +day. He had also to bake bread, chop wood, fetch water, keep the hut +clean, and in short everything else that was wanted. Nobody but the +very smartest men can do it. But his work is not everything. When the +bell rings for meal-time, I have seen shearers come out of the shed, +making for the hut, howling at the same time: "I wonder if that ---- of +a cook has got that ---- breakfast ready!" Everything has to stand ready +for them to "rush;" and even if it does, yet one seldom hears other +conversation than such as: "I say, cook, do you call them ---- peas +boiled? D---- you! If I had my way you should be kicked out!" + +But as the majority only can dismiss their cook, he is not sent away +notwithstanding, and it is quite understood that it is part of his duty +to assume a respectful demeanour towards his employers. Yet, unless a +cook is a good fighting man, it is not a billet that I would recommend +any friend of mine to come all the way from Denmark to fill. + +When I had been on the station for six months I took a trip in the train +to the surrounding towns of Dalby, Toowoomba, Warwick, and Stanthorpe, +with a view to seeing if there was an opening for permanent business in +my line. It did not seem to me that the prospect was good enough for +more than a bare living, because bad times seemed suddenly to have set +in, and competition for work and contracts requiring small capital was +very keen. I therefore went back to the station again and bought two +horses, intending to go out west. I had my three hundred pounds safe in +a Brisbane bank, and I did not mean now to work for any employer, but +to keep my eyes open as I came along and to take any opportunities for +contracts that might come in my way and for which I could obtain a +reasonable price. + +I started from Roma, which is a town lying about 350 miles west of +Brisbane and 200 miles from the station on which I then was located. It +was fearfully dry weather when I started and there was not a blade of +grass anywhere for the horses. I made long stages of thirty to forty +miles a day, but how the horses endured it I do not know. When I camped +out at night I would have to tie the horses to a tree alongside of me, +as there was nothing for them in the bush to eat, and they would have +rambled away never to be found again if I had let them go. All the food +it was possible for me to provide for them was a little bread which I +bought at the inns on the road at intervals of seventy or eighty miles, +and in the mornings when I got up I would take a pillow-case I had and a +knife and walk about in places where the ground was inaccessible to +horses, such as the brinks of a gully or between large stones; there I +would manage to find some dry, withered stuff, wherewith I filled the +pillow-case and shared it between them. It was all I could do, and when +I arrived in Roma they were both very far gone for hunger, and there, in +town even, there was nothing for them either--the last bushel of corn +had been sold for two pounds sterling. I fed them on bread, but even +that seemed like a forbidden thing. People appeared to regard the +proceeding with evil eyes. Flour was scarce and getting more scarce. +There was no prospect of rain, and soon all would have to starve! In St. +George, which is another town 150 miles south of Roma, I was told a +perfect famine was raging. For fear of being misunderstood by people who +do not know much about Queensland, I would say that want of money had +nothing to do with this state of things, it was only the want of rain +which prevented teams from travelling and supplies from coming forward. + +I left Roma again. There was nothing to do there, scarcely a prospect of +getting enough to eat. I rambled away with my two horses out west, and I +am now anxious, for obvious reasons, not to particularize too closely +where I went. + +It had now become of more importance to me to save the lives of my +horses than to find anything to do for myself. I travelled for a month +or more at slow stages, and was now right away in the "Never Never" +country. Occasionally I would find a little for the horses to eat, but +very often it was scanty fare they had. I arrived at a station where +shearing was in full swing, and as both grass and water seemed more +plentiful there than I had seen it for hundreds of miles, I turned the +horses out for a month's spell, while I made myself comfortable in my +tent and occupied myself by reading such literature as I could borrow +from the shearers on the station. + +Among the shearers was a man with whom I grew to be on very friendly +terms. He was a big, strong, good-looking young fellow, about thirty +years of age, and seemed to me at all times so polite and well-informed +that I was always seeking his company. What interested me most in him +was a peculiarly sad expression in his face, and I often wondered at the +cause of it. When the shearing was over all the shearers went in a body +to the nearest hotel, as is customary, to have a jollification. It +happened to be located the way I had come, so, though they did not +actually pass me, I saw them ride away, and thought it rather shabby of +my acquaintance not to come and say good-bye to me. I was mistaken, +however, as I shortly afterwards saw him coming up to the tent on a +really good horse and leading another. + +"Well," said I, "are you off? I thought you had left with the others; +how is it you did not?" + +"No," said he, "I know my weakness. If I had gone with them I should +probably have got on the spree and drunk all I possess. But I am now +already pretty well-to-do, because I have a cheque for over thirty +pounds and these two horses besides. All I want is just another shed, +and then I will make tracks for Ipswich where my people live." + +"But," said I, "there is a public-house this way too." + +"Ah, yes," cried he, and winked, "but they do not catch me this time. I +have worked for the publicans for seven years, but I will never enter +such a place again." + +With that we parted, and two or three days after I got my horses up and +followed along the same road that he had taken. About noon I came to the +hotel. I did not intend to go in because the money I had with me was +getting scarce and I did not wish to draw on what I had in the bank. I +carried, too, all sorts of necessaries on my horses and wanted for +nothing. But when the publican saw me passing the door, he came running +out. + +"Good-morning, young fellow; good-morning. By Jove, that is a splendid +horse you have there. Are you travelling far? Surely you don't mean to +take your horses along in this weather. Why it is too hot for a white +man, too hot entirely. Come in and have a bit of dinner; it is all +ready. I won't charge you; I never charged a b---- man for a feed yet. I +do not think it right, do you?" + +Pressed in this way, I went inside; but my suspicions that was a +robbers' den in disguise were aroused, and if I had not felt sure of +myself I should probably have preferred to dash the spurs into the +horses and tear away; but although I thanked him for his hospitality and +agreed with him that it was very wrong to charge a man for food, yet I +made up my mind that he would have to be clever to outwit me. On the +verandah sat a forbidding-looking man on his swag, and I saw at once +that he was a poor swagsman who need have no fear of being robbed. In +the bar were three men standing drinking, but yet moderately sober. The +publican began to bustle about behind the bar. I kept one eye on him and +one on the horses. Scarcely five minutes had elapsed before a +blackfellow made his appearance outside, and began to lead my horses +away. I went outside and took them from him. + +"Are you taking my horses away?" cried I; "don't do it again." I used a +little more persuasion, but it does not look well in print. + +"Master said I take him Yarraman along-a-paddock," whined the +blackfellow. + +Now the publican came out again. + +"What is the matter?" cried he. "I told him to take and give the horses +a feed; they look as if they needed it." + +"Not at all," said I; "they have had a month's spell, and I can scarcely +hold them." + +"All right, you know best. Are you going to have a drink?" + +"Yes," I said, "I don't mind." + +"What is it going to be?" + +"Rum," said I. + +"Right you are. I almost thought you were a teetotaler." + +I watched him closely, and saw he picked out a particular glass, and +before I let him fill it I took my handkerchief up and wiped it +carefully all around the inside. I looked at him and he at me while I +did it. I also noticed that he tapped the compound from the ordinary +cask, and I was therefore not afraid to swallow it, nor did it do me any +harm. The reason I was so careful to wipe the glass was that I knew it +to be a common trick of dishonest publicans, when they see a man coming +along the road whom they wish to catch, to take a dirty pipe and blow +some of the thick, foul-smelling stuff that it contains into an empty +glass, and then have it ready for the customer. A very little dose will +make the strongest man intoxicated for the whole day, and if it is not +nicely adjusted, but just a speck too much, it will knock a man down in +a dead swoon for many hours. I had been told this on the gold diggings +by more than one person at the time I kept shanty there myself, and I +knew that there were people who travelled about the country selling to +publicans the secrets of tricking and falsifying spirits. I, therefore, +knew pretty well where to look for danger, and where I might take the +risk; but now dinner was announced, and we all went into the +dining-room. On the floor of the room I saw a man who was lying there +smeared all over with blood and filth. Still I recognized him at once as +my friend the shearer. I went up and shook him until I got a little life +into him, and he sat up and recognized me. "Hullo," bawled he, "is that +you? Ain't I a fool? Publican, give me my horses, I want to go with this +young fellow. I am going away this afternoon. Don't go away without me." + +"All right," said the publican; "I will see to get the black boy to +find your horses for you, but he says one has got out of the paddock." + +Then we had dinner--that is, I had a good meal; but the drunken shearer +could not touch food, and presented a terrible picture of sickness and +misery. By this time I was not on good terms with the publican; but I +did not care. I only studied how I could get the other poor fellow away, +and I could not as yet see any way. As soon as we came from the table he +staggered into the bar and called for drinks for all hands. The publican +then called his wife, four or five children, a seamstress, the +servant-girl, myself, the man in the yard, the black boy, the bushman I +had seen, the traveller on the verandah, who had had no dinner, and +himself, and they all had their drinks! It was a shilling a glass. Then +the shearer asked him to be kind and let him have the balance of his +cheque, which, it appeared, he had given the publican to change for him +when he came; but that good Samaritan simply told him that he would not +do such a thing, as he was too drunk to take care of money. When he went +away he should have it. The shearer, who was getting more intoxicated +again after this last glass, hung over the counter, and, in a plaintive +sort of way, cried, "I am a ---- fool! Never mind, let's have another. +Here, fill 'em up again." + +I could do no good, so I went away without paying for my dinner. I met +the shearer two years after, when he told me all about it. It appeared +that he had tried to pass the place in the same manner as I, and that +the publican had persuaded him to come in. He had not liked to take his +dinner for nothing, and had given the publican the cheque he had for +changing. He had been promised the money in half an hour, but was +shortly after intoxicated, and had never been able to get either the +horses or the money again. After having been in the state I saw him for +about three weeks, the publican presented him with a bill, from which it +appeared that he owed him for "refreshments" more than the amount of the +cheque added to the value of horses, saddles, and bridles. The publican +had, therefore, kept the horses, but had kindly given him a bottle of +grog to take with him on the road when he went away! This process is +called in bush parlance, "lambing down," and is going on every day, year +after year! + +I had not gone far from the hotel before I saw a man coming after me. He +called me to stop, which I did, and when he came closer I perceived that +it was the man who had been sitting on his swag in the verandah at the +hotel. He said he had come after me because he had neither rations nor +money, and did not know how to get along the road unless I would be good +enough to let him travel with me. He wanted to go to ---- station, and +try to get some shearing to do. It happened that I intended to turn off +the road about half a mile further on, and that according to the place +to which he said he was going we should travel in almost opposite +directions, and I told him so. I said also that if he was pushed I would +help him with a few rations, but that I had not time to accommodate the +pace of the horses to his walk, as I had already been travelling for a +much longer time than I liked. Of course he said he would be glad of +anything, and so I got off the horse and had a fire lighted, by which we +made some tea, and he had his dinner out of my provisions. After the +meal he suddenly made up his mind that he might as well go the same road +as I, and try to get a job at a station which we should pass some forty +miles from where we then stood. I did not like this much, because he +seemed to me a man whose company I should not appreciate, but, as the +loneliness of the bush always appeared to me to engender a sort of +fellowship towards whoever is there, I did not find it easy nor did I +deem it right to say I would have nothing to do with him. On the +contrary, I said that we would push on together then for the day, and +that I would walk while he put his swag on my saddle-horse. In this way +we now went several miles, and my travelling companion had very little +to say. He seemed to know the road to perfection, and about four o'clock +in the afternoon he suggested that we should camp at a certain spot at +which we had arrived, but about a hundred yards off the road. I +objected. I said he was free himself to camp or not as he chose, but if +he wanted to travel with me he would have to walk a good deal further, +as I had by no means come as far yet as I considered a day's journey +required. After that we started again, but my new friend seemed +frightfully morose, and had not a word to say. As the horse he held was +a better leader than mine he gradually forged ahead of me, and try as I +would I could not keep up with him. I was just wishing myself well rid +of him when I saw him suddenly turn off the road, leading the horse +after him, and although I called again and again, he neither turned +round nor answered me until he came to a deep water-hole about a mile +off the road. Here he took the load off the horse, and hobbled it out. I +was not only angry, but I was also to a certain extent afraid. I had +already agreed with myself that I could not lie down to sleep alongside +of him; but what, of all things, did he mean by leading me to this +place? As soon as I came up I asked him what he meant, and how he dared +to take my horse off the road. I had taken the bridle belonging to the +saddle-horse to go and catch it again, for I intended now at all hazards +to get rid of him. At this juncture he came towards me. + +"Here is grass, and here is water," cried he, "and out of this spot +shall neither I nor any ---- German or ---- Dutchman come to-night. Let +go that bridle!" + +Then he grasped the bridle. You know the old proverb that "There is a +time when patience ceases to be a virtue," and in my opinion that time +had now arrived. I had not been so long in Queensland without learning +to defend myself, so I closed with him. What a fearful struggle we had! +As far as I was concerned, I felt as if it was a struggle for life, and +I fought accordingly. Now we were up, now down. Sometimes I was on the +top of him and sometimes I was under, but whatever happened I must not +give in, because I felt sure I should receive small mercy if I did. At +last I had him. My hands were round his throat, and my knees on his +chest, while I felt his hands slide powerless off me. It was not victory +yet. If I let him go he might renew the attack, so I pressed his throat +until he was nearly black in the face, and I sat on him as heavily as I +could, because I was angry, and when at last I let him go, it was not +before I thought I had taken all his fighting humour out of him. While I +loaded my horse again I called him all the names I thought it probable +would insult him most, in case he might have any honour and shame in +him, and at last I threw his swag at his head and cried, "There, you old +loafer!" + +Then I got on the horse and rode away; nor did I stop that night before +I had put fully twenty miles between him and me. + +I was now following down the ---- River, towards the town of ----, which +I was anxious to reach as soon as possible. The weather had so far +continued fearfully dry, and the heat was every day intense, but when I +was within ninety miles of the township it began to rain. It rained as +if it intended to make up for a two years' drought. The river I followed +was nothing but a dry sand-bed when the rain began, but in three or four +days it became a roaring torrent. I saw that we were in for a +first-class flood and became anxious, as the country on which I was +camped seemed to me very flat. Just as I had made up my mind that such +was the case I met a party of stockmen, or, more correctly, they came to +my tent. They had been out helping to shift some shepherds and their +sheep to rising ground, and they assured me that the place I was in +would be flooded. As they directed me to what they thought a safe spot, +I shifted my tent at once to that place. It was a low, narrow ridge +about a mile from the river. Here I prepared myself to weather it out. +Next morning when I got up, I saw the river much nearer than the evening +before. During the day it rose on all sides, and before evening again I +was a complete prisoner on about ten acres of land, while the water +roared and hissed on all sides of me as far as the eye could reach. This +state of affairs lasted about three weeks. Anything more appallingly +lonely than to sit there in the tent, and look out on the awe-inspiring +sight of the flood with its swiftly running, destructive water cannot be +conceived. As I had but little room for exercise in my prison I could +not sleep at night, and so I would sit and sing or play on the flute, +and think of all sorts of things. The waters did not go down at the +same time as the rain ceased, and I had it all to myself some beautiful +moonlight nights. I had heard the stockmen speak about an old shepherd +who, with his sheep, was camped on a sort of island, which was formed by +the river opposite the place I was in, and about a mile and a half +distant. He was, therefore, my nearest neighbour. I could hear him at +night sometimes felling trees for exercise, and occasionally he would +answer me when I cooeed. Little did it matter to him whether the flood +was on or not. At ordinary times he would probably never see any one for +weeks or months, as no one could have any business there excepting the +ration-carrier once a week, and the shepherd, as a rule, did not see +him, as he was away with his sheep when the carrier arrived in his hut. +I used to speculate as to who he was--an old man, with wife and family +dead, perhaps. What a sad existence! Or, worse still, an old bachelor, +crusty and tired. Surely he would have some one he longed to see, and +who longed for him! How many years, thought I, had he been there, or in +places like that? What did he do with his money when he got it once a +year? Would he go with it to the nearest hotel, and as he saw other men +wonder why they were not as glad to see him as he to see them? Would he +purchase their good-will with grog? What else could he do, or was he +likely to do? Anyhow, when it was all spent, and he would get angry when +people would have no more to do with him, would he be kicked out? Would +he then come back here for another year? What else could he do? I have, +among shepherds, seen many men who must have been what is called well +educated. They count in their ranks both lawyers and parsons, but +disappointed and embittered silence is generally the stamp of them all. +Sometimes the reverse is the case; then they will talk as if they could +never stop. I like solitude myself to a certain extent, but it must +surely be an unnatural life for any man to lead quite alone in the bush. + +When at last the floods subsided I had the greatest trouble in making my +way, because there would be the most treacherous boggy holes where one +least expected them. I had also fared hard on very short rations, so as +to make what I had last until I could purchase more, and when I started +away from my camping-place I had only one more loaf of bread; all the +rest was gone. I was, therefore, very sorry to hear at the nearest +station that they would sell me nothing whatever, and when I came to the +next one again it was just as bad. I travelled for some days in this +way, and had had scarcely what would make half a meal for each day, when +at last I arrived at a place only twenty-four miles from town where I +should have to cross the river--if I could--so as to get on the main +road leading into the settlement. It was about ten o'clock in the +morning when I neared this place. It was only a small cattle station, +but I thought that whatever happened I must try to get some rations +here. I came along at a pretty brisk gallop, but when I was about twenty +chains from the houses which formed the place my horses shied violently +at a man who was lying in the middle of the road. I was, on the spur of +the moment, put out of temper, and began to rate the fellow for choosing +his camping-place there. + +"Oh, let me lie!" he cried. "Accursed be the day I came to Queensland! I +have laid myself down to die here. Shall I not be allowed to lie? Leave +me alone. O God, O God!" + +I looked closer at him. It seemed that he was in earnest, and the wonder +was that he was not dead already, as he was lying there in the terrible +sun without the least attempt to get into the shade. He was a short, +slightly built man and had a terribly emaciated, woe-begone face. It +took a long time and much persuasion before I could get him to tell me +what was the matter. Then he said he was dying from hunger. "Pshaw," I +said, "right here in front of the station! I am hungry too, but in half +an hour I shall be back to you with something to eat." + +He laughed bitterly. "Have you got it with you?" said he. "No; but I +have money, and I will buy some up here." "You might save yourself the +trouble to ask for it," said he; "you will get nothing." "Why," cried I, +"I will tell them that a man is dying with hunger outside the door." +"They know it. The squatter hunted me yesterday when I told him that I +could not cross the river or get further without food. Oh, accursed +Queensland, and the day I saw it first! Let me lie; I only want to die." + +I could not understand it, and I came to the conclusion that it must be +the man's own fault, and that the people on the station had no idea +about the despairing state he was in. I looked at the river. It was +swollen yet, and not fordable on foot, but I had no fear but that I +could get over with the horses, and I was, therefore, in a position to +promise him that he should be with me in town that same evening. On +hearing that he brightened up a little, but I was myself so hungry that +I thought I would go up to the station and get some food for both of us. +I therefore hobbled out the pack-horse after the swag was off him, and +rode up to the place, promising my despairing friend to be back to him +with all possible speed. When I came into the yard my horse made a dead +stop outside an old stable. I got off, and looking into the stable saw +another man lying on his face in one of the stalls. "Halloa," thought I, +"it appears that all the people here are off their legs!" and I sang out +to him, asking him whether he was dying of hunger too. "No; but I am +blind," said he. "Who is that?" I told him I was a traveller, and that I +just wanted to buy a few rations. "It is not you who were here +yesterday?" inquired he. "No," said I, "that poor fellow is lying out in +the road, and says he is dying for hunger. Surely it has not come to +that!" "I was awfully sorry for that man yesterday," cried he, "and +only that I cannot see at all, for I got the sand-blight a fortnight +ago, I should have given him something." Then, as with a sudden +inspiration, he said, "Are you his mate?" No, I was not his mate, I was +only sorry for him and very hungry myself. "Will you swear you will give +him the half of what I will give you?" Yes, I would swear. "All right! +Then look in that other stall there under the bags and you will find a +piece of bread, but remember he is to have the half." "Yes, yes," cried +I, while I looked under the bags and found about half a pound of stale +bread. "But are you really so very hard up here? Surely you must have +plenty of beef." "So we have," said he, "but I have been blind for two +weeks and cannot kill a beast if we run out, and the super himself is a +bad hand. We are nearly out of flour and everything else, and there is a +party of fencers cut off by the flood that we expect in now every day. +We must keep something for them; still, that super is a skunk, or he +would have given the man a piece of beef, but he won't give anything or +sell either, so there is an end to it. You might save yourself the +trouble of asking him. Are you gone?" "No," said I, "I am here yet. I am +only looking at an old grey-bearded man who is coming out of the house +and putting a saddle on a horse." "That is he." "Is he the only one at +the place besides yourself?" "Yes, unless you reckon the old woman in +the kitchen." "Could I not get round her after he is away?" "Not you; +you will get nothing out of either of them." + +I then went up to the squatter and saluted him. Would he kindly sell a +few rations? "No, I will do nothing of the sort," cried he. "You do not +know how short we are here. I have got no rations." "But," said I, "you +surely do not know that there is a man lying out there on the road who +says that he is dying of hunger. Just sell me a piece of beef." "Dying +of hunger. Ha! ha! ha! that is too good. Why, he is a regular loafer. He +was here for rations a fortnight ago, and he was here yesterday. Let him +go into town. I cannot keep him." + +"That is all very well," said I, "and I cannot pretend to say what the +man is. But how can you get to town, when you cannot cross the river? He +told me he has been lying about in all this rain and flood, and the +wonder to me is that he is not dead already." "Is that your horse?" +inquired he, pointing to where I left it standing. "Yes." "Well, then, +just take my advice and get into town yourself." "And won't you sell me +a piece of meat?" "No." "Not if a man were dying of hunger?" "Don't talk +to me about dying of hunger. It is too rich, it is indeed! +Good-morning." With that he rode away, and left me standing there +meditating upon what he had said and at free liberty to decide in my own +mind whether, after all, I had any right to expect people in a place +like that to provide the necessaries of life for travellers. + +But one cannot argue with the stomach, and, ravenously hungry as I was, +my sympathy was with myself and with the man whom I left out on the +road, and I therefore thought I would make one more attack, this time on +the old woman in the kitchen, who, during my conversation with the +super, had twice come round the corner to empty slops, and who, I +suppose, as a mark of the respect in which she held me, had thrown them +so close to me that it had sprinkled me all over. She did not look very +hospitable, but I had at that time great faith in my power to charm the +fair sex, or, as Englishmen less gallantly call them, the weaker sex. I, +therefore, wreathed my face in smiles and put myself into the most +graceful position I could assume, while I knocked at the kitchen door. +No one answered my knock, so I went inside, still retaining my charming +appearance. On the other side of the kitchen stood a row of saucepans +with something cooking in them, which emitted an odour that did not go +far to prove the theory of want raging in the place. Here is my luck +again, thought I, I will get a good meal at last. The old lady now came +running in from one of the rooms--a most forbidding object to make love +to! "You can't get no rations here," cried she. "Clear out of the +kitchen!" Then she took up a piece of firewood and struck at me with it. +How could any one expect me to look happy under the circumstances? I +knew I was getting to look ugly. Then I pulled out my large knife and +rolled my eyes in my head. That seemed to please her. She now only +mildly protested, while I took the lid off one of the saucepans and +lifted out five or six pounds of meat, with which I made my escape. When +I came out with this to the traveller on the road his joy was a pleasure +to look at. He could not understand how I had got it. So weak was he +that he cried like a baby. + +The tea, of which I had yet a supply, was made, and then the feast +began. I counselled him not to eat too much, but between the two of us +there was scarcely anything left when we were both satisfied. Then he +began to tell me his story, of which I can only give the general +outlines as I have forgotten the details; but a more terrible tale of +misery I had never heard, and any one who will fill in the picture for +himself might easily understand that he must have suffered almost enough +to justify him in lying down to die at last, when all hope seemed gone. + +He said that travelling along he had been overtaken by the flood, and +had camped by himself in a similar place to the one where I had been a +prisoner, only with this difference--that he had had no tent. He had +managed to keep a log on fire all the time, and had hung his blanket +over a pole to form a fly, but of course he had been as wet all the time +as if he had been hauled out of the sea. By the time the water went down +he had eaten every scrap of provision he had, but had nevertheless +reached this station about a fortnight since. Here, as already stated, +they would neither sell nor give him anything. He could not cross the +river to get into town, so, in a terrible condition from hunger, he had +turned back in another direction, some twenty miles or more to where +there was another small station. The country was all flooded on his way, +and for five miles in one stretch he had waded through water to his +shoulders, only being able to know the direction in which he wanted to +go by following along a fence, the top of the posts of which were out of +water. I forget how long it took him to reach this place, but when he +did arrive there it was only to be told that he could get nothing. Being +apparently the sort of man who would bend his neck to any stroke of +misfortune, he had meekly turned away, he did not know himself whither, +when by good luck as the issue proved, he had fainted when close to the +house. A man had then come out and given him something to eat, besides a +little to take with him, and had told him that twenty-five miles in +another direction was a place where he could procure supplies. He had +gone thither, but as the people there had proved but one degree more +merciful than their neighbours, they had only kept him alive a couple of +days, and then started him back here to where I found him. All his money +was seven shillings. The squatter here, as already stated, would neither +sell nor give him anything, and as he saw he could not cross the river +for several days on foot, not being able to swim, he had laid himself +down to die when I arrived on the scene. While he told me all this, he +was gradually getting very sick. The sweat hung in large drops on his +pale face, and he threw himself about writhing in agony. I need scarcely +say, perhaps, that he had eaten with less moderation than he ought. I +bustled about him, trying or wishing to do him good, but I did not know +how. I was also very anxious for us both to be off, because I heard the +squatter fire a gun in the yard, and I concluded that he had come back +and that the old woman had told him what had happened perhaps, or most +likely drawn on her imagination at the same time. As the bishop said +when he saw a criminal on the road to the scaffold: "But for the grace +of God, there go I." The reader of this truthful narrative may decide +for himself who deserved hanging most--the squatter or I; but whatever +the opinion may be, I had undoubtedly committed robbery under arms, and, +in my opinion, the man who would see another die outside his door if he +had it in his power to save him, might also add such small particulars +to the tale as would make his case strong and interesting--especially as +there was a lady in the case. I had doubtless committed a crime which, +according both to the spirit and the letter of Queensland law as among +the greatest for which a criminal is punished. Just imagine how the case +might have appeared in court. There the old grey-bearded super, the +worthy pioneer, and the interesting, inoffensive old lady, who in a +fainting condition, would tell her horrible tales; here a fat, bouncing +Crown Prosecutor; and lastly the two loafers in the dock, whom nobody +knew or would have believed. As after events proved, the super was +either too much of a gentleman or too much of a coward, as he neither +came out and remonstrated with me nor prosecuted me afterwards. + +Six weeks after this event happened I was an employer of over a dozen +men, and as time went on I was looked upon as a rising man in that town +toward which I was now going, and no one thought themselves too good to +know me. Among my acquaintances was this same super. He did not at all +recollect me from this adventure; but one day I reminded him, and told +him what I thought about him. + +Begging the reader's pardon for this digression, I will return to where +we still sat in the road. While I, for the above-named reasons, perhaps +not clearly defined in my mind, was anxious to be off, and my travelling +companion was writhing with pain before me, an accident happened which I +at the time thought one of the greatest possible misfortunes. My best +horse--my saddle-horse--got drowned in the river. It came about in this +way: ever since the flood the air had been thick with countless millions +of sand-flies; it was so bad that one could scarcely exist unless when +sitting with the head over a fire enveloped in smoke. The horses +suffered fearfully from their attacks, and just then they both became as +it were quite maddened, and galloped straight for the river. I managed +to catch the one, but the other, as if it premeditated suicide, jumped +right in, and being hobbled could not well drown just then, but was +swept down the current and away. Next morning we had eaten all our +provisions and were as hungry as ever. The river, however, was falling +fast. I got on the one horse and tried the river in several places, but +nowhere was it so low that the horse could walk across. I could get +across myself on the horse, but it reared and bucked when the other man +tried to climb on it too; as he could not ride he began his lamentations +again, imploring me not to leave him behind. I had no idea of doing +that, but it cost me not a little trouble to think out what was best to +do. Unfortunately neither of us could swim, and as he was of very short +stature, the river would have to fall until he could walk over almost +dry-footed before he would dare to attempt it. I was a head taller than +he, and as the day went on I kept walking in the river and trying it +with a long pole to find the shallowest place. The current was very +strong, but the water was falling fast, and tired out by my companion's +lamentations and the whole misery of the situation, I told him that we +would a couple of hours before sundown try to cross the river or die. It +was a dangerous undertaking, because not only was the water still very +deep, and I had only a general idea of it being fordable, but the +current was so strong that I did not know whether I should be able to +keep on my feet when I came to the deepest part. First of all I wrote a +few words in pencil to the manager of the bank in which I had my money, +telling him what to do with my account in case I should not claim it. +After having put it into an envelope, because I always carried these +things, I gave it to my fellow-traveller, and without letting him know +what it contained, exacted from him a promise that he should post it in +case I got drowned. It was the least he could do certainly, because as a +reward I said he might have all the rest of my belongings, always +supposing, of course, that I should have no further use for them. Then I +helped him on to the horse, and told him just to sit still until he saw +me safe on the other side, and that the horse would come to me when I +called it as long as he did not pull it about. Having done all this, I +took off all my clothes and strapped them on to the pack-saddle, and +lifted the whole burden on to my head so as to give me extra weight. I +also got a pole about fifteen feet in length to stand against, and then +I faced the river. The river was not very broad--I should say about +three chains. From the side where I was it gradually sloped towards its +deepest part which was near the other side, and there was at least one +chain in width where I did not exactly know the depth more than that +the horse so far had had to swim across earlier in the day when I had +tried it. The river was still falling every hour, and I was determined +for both of us to get across then. I waded into the water, and it all +went well until I came to the middle. Somehow I thought I must have got +to shallower ground than where I had tried it before. The water rushed +round my sides, and every time I had to lift the pole and put it forward +it took me all my strength to do it. The last step forward had brought +me into still deeper water, and my strength seemed exhausted--perhaps it +would be more correct to say that to hold the pole in position and keep +myself on my feet demanded as much force as I ever had. I seemed to +stand dancing on the top of the big toe while I could feel with the +other foot that it was still deeper in front of me. I pressed on the +pole to keep me down, but I felt that I had neither strength nor pluck +enough to shift it either forwards or backwards, nor even to keep +standing where I was very long. Yet how tantalizing; in front of me, +just another step, and I might grasp the boughs of a large tree hanging +out over the water. And must I die there? + +As in a panorama my whole life seemed to pass before me in review: At +home--my schoolmates, I saw them all--then Hamburg--the emigrant +ship--Thorkill--the gold-diggings--the South Seas--Brisbane--all along +this miserable journey and back where I stood. I turned my head and +looked behind me to where the Englishman sat on my horse. He laughed +loud an unpleasant ha! ha! ha! ha! It was his way to cheer me on, but it +jarred on my ear. My heart began to beat as if it would burst. Have you +travelled so far, I thought, and have you seen and suffered so many +things on purpose only to drown in this muggy stream? Never! I gathered +myself together for a supreme effort. I threw the pole from me, rushed +forward, rolled, lost the saddle, but grasped a bough, and the next +moment I climbed up the other side, when I fainted for the first and +only time in all my life. When I recovered the other man had come over +and stood alongside of me with my horse. We intended to travel all +night, so as to be in town as soon as possible, and my friend seemed +quite gay at the prospect before us. Where we stood, however, was only +on a sort of by-road, and I understood that the main road to ---- was a +couple of miles distant. I, therefore, suggested to my companion that he +should walk off as fast as he could, while I was pulling myself a little +together, and that I would overtake him on the horse before it got dark. +But--I had not got a stitch of clothes to put on! and I had to ask him +to let me have some of his. Then he began to talk while he pulled his +swag open. He had only two shirts and two pairs of breeches that he had +paid fourteen shillings for in Liverpool, but of course I should have +them. Were they worth ten shillings? Was the shirt worth five shillings? +I would not get the like under eight shillings. If I thought it was too +much, I might have the breeches he had on for five shillings. + +I was completely amazed. Was this the man for whom I had risked my life, +and as nearly as possible lost it? For whom--call it what you like--I +had begged and taken by force at the station what I thought necessary to +save his life? For whom I had lost my horse which had carried me so many +hundred miles, and the saddle and all my clothes? Here I sat as naked as +the day I was born, all to save his life, and my reward was to see him +in front of me; but he had not perception enough to know that he owed me +anything. The money I had--three or four pounds--I had on purpose taken +out of the swag before I crossed the river, and given to him so that it +might not be unnecessarily lost. I had, therefore, that, but I wondered +whether he would give me any clothes without money if I had none, or +whether, if so, I would have to force them from him. I asked him, and +said, "What if I have no money?" "Oh, but you have," said he; "I saw in +your purse you have plenty of money." Then I bought the clothes and paid +him what he asked for his breeches, for which he had given fourteen +shillings in Liverpool. I bought his shirt also for five shillings, and +a dirty, nasty towel he had was thrown in as a present for me to wind +round my head instead of a hat. + +Then he went away quite happy, asking me not to be long behind, as he +was to ride half-way on my horse, and I dressed myself in my new +clothes. I did look a terrible picture. The breeches were six inches too +short, the shirt would not button round my throat, I had neither socks +nor boots--and then the towel as a turban round the head! The horse +fairly snorted at me with terror. I sat where I was till it was nearly +dark. I had no wish to see the other fellow any more. But I made a vow, +never, if it was possible to avoid it, would I travel like this again. +But I was in dejected spirits--not, I believe, so much for what money +value I had lost, or for any fear that I could not put a stop to this +sort of travelling about almost whenever I liked, but for the conduct of +that man. As I rode along I kept saying to myself, "It shall be a +valuable lesson." Still, I fear that that sort of lessons are generally +more sad than valuable. + +It was now all but dark, and when I had ridden so far as to make me +wonder that there was no sign of the main road yet, I got off the horse +and began to look closely at the track along which I had come. I then +found that it was only a cattle track, and that the horse must have left +the right road without my noticing it. Then I began to run the tracks of +the horse back again. But the tracks were confusing, crossing and +recrossing each other so much that I lost my cue, and by the time it was +quite dark I stood in dense brigalow scrub and had to acknowledge myself +lost. I tied the horse to a tree and sat down alongside. It was no use +to walk about further before daylight. I had a general idea where the +town was lying, but I knew there were no houses or people living between +where I was and there. I was also afraid that if I did not strike the +road I might pass the town within half a mile and not know it. As for +making back for the river and station, that would be out of the +question, because it would have made me no better off. But on the whole +I was not afraid that I should be unable to find my way somewhere, the +question was really--how long could I keep up without food? The idea +occurred to me that I could at all events eat the horse as a last +extremity, but I drove the thought away as soon as it came. To be there, +and look up at the horse--my only friend--and to think that I intended +to kill it, seemed to me both criminal and impossible. I sat the whole +night smoking my pipe and waiting for the sun to rise so that I might +take the bearings of the country, and make up my mind in which direction +I would look for the road and town. + +At sunrise I started, leading the horse after me, because it was no use +now to follow the cattle tracks, and where I had to go was through the +brigalow, where I had quite work enough to do in twining in and out +among the trees and the brambles. As the day wore on I came into country +a little more open, but yet I could not ride among the trees. The sun +shone with terrible force, and the sand-flies followed us in clouds. +There was a ringing sound in my ears. I kept arranging and rearranging +the towel on my head; still, I feared that I had sunstroke, or that +something serious was the matter with me. The air seemed full of +phantoms--vicious-looking creatures. Then I saw a whole army of ladies +and gentlemen riding past, jeering me and lolling out their tongues at +me. I knew it was delusions, and I kept walking as fast and, as it +proved, as straight as possible, but still I felt myself laughing, +crying, and yelling at all these phantoms or at the unoffending horse. + +"Shoeskin," cried I to the horse, "you old dog, do you know that it was +to save you from hunger's dread that I went on this journey? And now you +have enough to eat, while I must die of hunger! but to-night I will kill +you--do you know that? Oh, Peter, Peter! is it not strange, so vicious +as you have got to be? Holloa, is that a frying-pan over there on that +log? So it is; and full of fried eggs and potatoes. Good luck. Look at +him eating it all. Stop, you rascal! No, it is a woman. Do you call +yourself a lady? You are no woman at all; only a devil. It is all +devilry. Peter, take no notice." About noon I had a bath in a water-hole +I came to, and ate some snails I found in the water. After that I felt +somewhat better, and shortly after I came on to the road. I became quite +collected in my mind at once, and jumping on to the horse tore away at +full gallop for the town, which proved to be only five or six miles +distant. As I came riding up the street at a sharp trot I knew myself to +be quite sane, but I had a suspicion that I looked very much the other +way with the towel round my head and the short tartan plaid breeches. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE END. + + +With this John Gilpin's ride the present part of my adventures, which +are contained in the manuscript I wrote to my father, comes to an end. +So does practically what I care to publish. I have seen many ups and +downs since then, but from this point in my narrative I could no longer +lay claim to be a "missing friend." I am not a novel writer, and I could +not continue the history of my life and still preserve my _incognito_ +unless I wrote fiction. As my object in publishing these papers is to +give a faithful picture of Australian life, I should feel very doubtful +of attaining the desired end. To the reader who has kindly followed me +so far, I would say that he may believe that Australia is full of young +men who, like myself at that time, travel about from place to place, and +that similar scenes to those I have described happen every day in all +parts of Queensland. If I have been able to rouse the reader's interest +and sympathy with myself in these pages, I shall feel proud, and think +that after all I did not travel and suffer so many hardships in vain. + + + + + The Gresham Press, + + UNWIN BROTHERS, + CHILWORTH AND LONDON. + + + + +History. + + The Vikings in Western Christendom, A.D. 789-888. By C. F. KEARY, + Author of "Outlines of Primitive Belief," "The Dawn of History," + &c. With Map and Tables. Demy 8vo., cloth, 16s. + + + National Life and Thought; Or, Lectures on Various Nations of the + World. Delivered at South Place Institute by Professor THOROLD + ROGERS, J. S. COTTON MINCHIN, W. R. MORFILL, F. H. GROOME, J. + THEODORE BENT, PROFESSOR A. PULSKY, EIRIKE MAGNUSSON, and other + Specialists. Demy 8vo., cloth, 10s. 6d. + + These Lectures attracted much attention in the Session of 1889-90, and +are now reprinted to meet the desire of a very large public. In each +case the authors have striven to put their audience in thorough sympathy +with the National Life and Thought of the Nations treated of. + + + Battles and Leaders of the American Civil War. An Authoritative + History, written by Distinguished Participants on both sides. + Edited by ROBERT U. JOHNSON and CLARENCE C. BUEL, of the + Editorial Staff of "The Century Magazine." 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[_Nearly + Ready_ + + 3. The Mystery of the Campagna; and, a Shadow on a Wave. By VON + DEGEN. [_In Preparation._ + +_OTHER VOLUMES ARE IN ACTIVE PREPARATION._ + + +LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN, PATERNOSTER SQUARE, E.C. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + + page 3: "Hamburgh" changed to "Hamburg" for consistency. + + page 24: "sactimonious" changed to "sanctimonious" (to hear him in + a sanctimonious voice). + + page 30: "workohuse" changed to "workhouse" (straight out ot the + workhouse). + + page 39: missing closing bracket ")" added (... engaged as a + matron.)) + + page 61: removed duplicate "not" (They did not laugh at nothing). + + page 85: word "I" added which appears to have been misprinted + (next forenoon ... I was outside). + + page 143: "Kankas" changed to "Kanakas" (expected a hundred + Kanakas shortly). + + page 216: "dassengers" changed to "passengers" (volunteers, + although passengers). + + page 221: "draging" changed to "dragging" (horse in dragging + oneself). + + page 306: "monoply" changed to "monopoly" (break through the + monopoly). + + page 330: "ou" changed to "out" (A man had then come out). + + page 348: "Pal." changed to "Pall" (Pall Mall Gazette). + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISSING FRIENDS*** + + +******* This file should be named 36399.txt or 36399.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/6/3/9/36399 + + + +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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