diff options
Diffstat (limited to '37559.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 37559.txt | 7003 |
1 files changed, 7003 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/37559.txt b/37559.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ca66e9a --- /dev/null +++ b/37559.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7003 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fern Vale (Volume 3), by Colin Munro + +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: Fern Vale (Volume 3) + or the Queensland Squatter + +Author: Colin Munro + +Release Date: September 28, 2011 [EBook #37559] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FERN VALE (VOLUME 3) *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Wall, Matthew Wheaton and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + + + + + FERN VALE + + OR THE + + QUEENSLAND SQUATTER. + + + A NOVEL. + + BY COLIN MUNRO. + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + VOL III. + + LONDON: + T. C. NEWBY, + 30 WELBECK STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE. + MDCCCLXII. + + + EDINBURGH: + + PRINTED BY THE CALEDONIAN PRESS, + + "The National Institution for Promoting the Employment of Women + in the Art of Printing." + + SOUTH SAINT DAVID STREET. + + + + +FERN VALE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + "What sport shall we devise, here in this garden, + To drive away the heavy thought of care?" + + RICHARD II., _Act 3, Sc. 4_. + + +Three days after that to which we brought down our narrative in the last +chapter the morning broke calmly and serenely over the wooded wastes of +the bush; and while the pleasant zephyr of the morning tempered the rays +of the sun, as he sped his course to the zenith, a happy party of +equestrians might have been seen cantering by the bridle path between +Strawberry Hill and Brompton. That party consisted of our friends, +Mrs., Miss, and Tom Rainsfield, and the Fergusons, accompanied by their +black boy Joey. The van was led by the first named lady, accompanied by +William Ferguson, while the others followed riding two abreast, having +paired off in a manner most congenial to themselves. The rear was +brought up by Joey and William's dogs, who coursed through the bush in +seeming delight at the prospect of wearing off a little of the rust that +had grown on them from their late inertness. + +They had ridden for nearly four hours when they slackened their speed a +little as the noon-day sun became more powerful; while, at that moment, +they came to a beautiful little spot where a grassy slope terminated in +a lagoon, whose waters appeared to the travellers clear and refreshingly +cool. Here Mrs. Rainsfield drew up her horse, and proposed a halt for +tiffin; which being generally assented to, the party dismounted. The +bridles of their horses being each fastened round a tree, some +refreshments were produced by Tom from his valise; and the friends sat +down in a shady spot on the green sward, and partook with that hearty +zest that can only be appreciated by those who have been similarly +situated. + +When perfectly refreshed they proceeded on their way, and arrived at +Brompton before the close of the evening. There they were hospitably +received by Mr. and Mrs. Smithers, and very graciously by Bob, who was +all urbanity for the occasion. They found several of the guests had also +arrived, those, who like themselves had arrived from a long distance; +and the house then was as much a scene of gaiety as if it had been the +grand reunion itself. The evening passed pleasantly enough; but, our +object being more particularly to picture to the reader the _fetes_ of +the following day, we will draw a veil over the company for the night, +and introduce them again on the morning. + +The morning in due time came; and was simply a repetition of those +common to a Queensland summer. A cloudless sky spanned the horizon, in +which the sun had a tropical brilliancy, without the scorching power +incidental to most sunny climes. The air was genial and salubrious, and +the balmy breeze bore on its placid wings the aroma of the surrounding +acacia and mimosa. It was such a day as poets love to picture, but +which, to the incredulous matter of fact denizens of "foggy England," a +description only generates a confirmed and unqualified pyrrhonism. With +all the exercise, however, of the scepticism of our friends in the "old +country," it, nevertheless, does not diminish the lustre of such +glorious sunshine as, we again repeat, is to be found nowhere in such +tolerant perfection as in Queensland, and which marked the morning to +which we allude. Perhaps the weather was a little warmer than usual, and +the atmosphere drier; rather more so, in fact, than the settlers +desired, for their rivers and creeks were getting low, and many were +desiring rain to refresh their grass, and refill their water-holes and +courses. However, such desideratum had no consideration with the party +assembled at Brompton, whose sport at the time they seemed determined +nothing should mar. + +The great _fete_ of the day was to be the races; and it was then that +the agrarian beauties of Brompton showed to advantage. It may be +remembered in an early chapter of our story we gave a cursory sketch of +the station, but in the event of its topography having escaped the +memory of the reader, we will again partially repeat the description. +For some considerable distance down the bank of the Gibson river the +land was almost perfectly level, and unusually free from timber. It was +fenced off into paddocks of considerable size. Towards the centre of one +of these was a swamp, from which the surrounding ground had just +sufficient rise to constitute it the reservoir for the drainage of the +land; while towards the river, and immediately on the bank, the land +rose in a little knoll. Here then was a naturally formed race course; +and, by the erection of a few posts, a course was marked out that for +amenity, level, turf, and convenience of sight, it would be difficult to +surpass. + +Towards eleven o'clock nearly all the expected guests having arrived, +and the ground became a lively scene as the gay and well-mounted +equestrians cantered in laughing and merry groups backwards and +forwards; some few, more exhilarated or pedantic than the rest, trying +the course and the mettle of their steeds. The guests of the Smitherses +were not the only ones who had congregated to witness the sport. Other +visitors of a more plebeian character, and self-invited, were there; all +those within a circuit of some thirty miles, who by any possibility +could obtain release from their work, had camped themselves in the +neighbourhood to be spectators. The company had ridden over the ground, +and had dispersed in all directions; when the horses "entered to run," +decorated with their party-coloured rosettes, and led by their +respective riders carrying their saddles, were descried coming on to +the course; and speedily the scattered parties converged to the knoll we +have mentioned, and which now served for a grand stand. + +The horses approached the post; and the necessary preliminaries having +been gone through, they assumed their places; when the few of the +spectative portion of the company, who still remained in the way, +speedily retired, responsive to the call of "clear the course;" and, +after the usual amount of "false starts," the signal was given that was +unanimously acted upon, and away went the horses. + +Horse-racing is the same all the world over, at least in all parts of +the globe where the Anglo-Saxon race holds sway. Therefore we need not +tire our readers by giving a prolix account of this one in particular. +We will merely say that the usual excitement prevailed at the start, +when the horses and their riders received respectively their due amount +of praise from their various admirers, whose bets were interchanged on +the result of the struggle. That the exciting anxiousness in watching +the progress round the course was there equally apparent That the +various hopes and fears of the betters as they witnessed the pulling up +or the falling away of their respective favourites; the intensity of +excitement; the uttered remarks; and the increasing watchfulness, as +some slight rise on the plain or piece of heavy ground tried the mettle +of the high-blooded animals, were all to be seen and heard there; and +that the other excitements of such a scene were equally noticeable. That +breathless interest as the horses approach the straight run to the +winning-post; the last exciting struggle of man and beast, when the +impatience of the former is administered to the latter in whip and spur; +the shouts of the jockeys mingled with the snorting of the steed, when +both are blended in the thunder of the latter's hoofs, which shakes the +very turf; while the straining animals pass the post with the seeming +velocity of steam. + +As the panting and foam-covered horses, and exhausted-looking riders, +returned to the scales, the tongues of the assemblage were loosened; the +groups reunited; and, in the interval between that and the next race, +cantered about; while some of the younger equestrians emulated among +themselves the previous competitors. A small tent had been erected on +the bank of the river for the dispensation of refreshments, and for a +shady retreat for the ladies; and thither many resorted. + +At this period of the amusements our friends had formed themselves into +a group with Mr. and Mrs. Smithers; but without Bob, who had been a +rider, and was the winner of the late race. They had leisurely ridden +round the course, and had returned to the stand, when Eleanor expressed +to John Ferguson (in whose company she had been riding) a desire to +dismount, and take a seat in the tent. He was instantly out of his +saddle assisting her to the ground, and (after giving their horses in +charge of a black boy) handed her to a seat in the shade. Bob Smithers, +who had divested himself of his riding costume for his ordinary +habiliments, then entered; and rudely brushing past John, advanced to +the girl and took her hand, while he exclaimed: + +"Come along with me, Eleanor, I want you." + +The abrupt manner of his entrance, his forcible abduction of the lady, +and his uncouth behaviour to himself, rather annoyed John. But the look +of patient endurance, mingled with entreaty, which Eleanor cast upon her +rough protector, struck our hero as containing more melancholy and +suffering than was to be expected in a young affianced bride, whose +nuptials were speedily approaching. It more than convinced him that his +friend Tom was right when he said that Eleanor Rainsfield could never be +happy with Bob Smithers. With a mind strangely agitated between fears +and hopes John emerged from the tent to see the being he loved leaning +on the arm of his rival, and going through the ceremony of several +introductions. + +She freely entered into conversation with her new-made friends; but the +party being augmented by some others, to whom we presume Bob Smithers +did not condescend to introduce her, he led her away; and they walked +arm in arm to another part of the ground, apparently in earnest +discourse. She was laying her hand upon his arm, while she looked in his +face, and seemed anxious to impress something upon him; while he +appeared to listen attentively to her remarks, though he ever and anon +burst out into a loud laugh and ejaculated a few monosyllables, which on +each occasion created a faint smile on the features of his lovely +companion. + +John Ferguson witnessed all this, and his heart sank within him. Never, +thought he, would woman hang on and talk thus with man, if she did not +love him. "Ah!" he mentally exclaimed, "she loves him devotedly; fool +that I was not to believe this before. Strange infatuation that led me +on to hope, when she herself told me as plainly as she could there was +no hope. I am doomed to disappointment I see; she never can be mine, for +she loves Bob Smithers." And with that melancholy solace John left the +spot of his soliloquy. + +What was the nature of the conversation that so disturbed his peace of +mind we do not deem it necessary to reveal, but we are disposed to think +that our love-sick friend came to a too hasty conclusion upon the nature +of the communicant's symptoms. John Ferguson was not sufficiently versed +in women's little natures to be able to construe aright their motives in +their actions, or the impulses that actuate them in their deportment. +His dejection was, consequently, the more acute from the construction he +had put upon Eleanor's conduct. It was true she was engaged to the man +with whom he saw her converse, but he never dreamt to ask himself the +question, if that circumstance was not, in a great measure, owing to +his own dilatoriness; not to classify his supineness under a more +sheepish head. + +He was sauntering away in his usual despondent mood when Tom Rainsfield +approached him from behind, administering, as he did so, a smart slap on +the shoulder, with the exclamation: "Why, John, what is the matter with +you? have you been visited by a myth? for you are as white as a sheet. +Come along with me, and I will give you some fun; William and I have +been looking for you all over the ground;" and, without waiting for an +answer or an objection, he led him off to where a party of gentlemen had +assembled to witness the next race. Amongst them were Dr. Graham, Mr. +Brown, and some others, which it is needless for us in our history to +trouble the reader by bringing forward. + +When the race was finished they speedily made their arrangements for the +proposed sport Tom had alluded to, which was none other than a Kangaroo +hunt. Mounting their horses, accompanied by some powerful kangaroo dogs +(of which William's figured not the least conspicuously), and, with as +many guns as could be mustered on the station, they started into the +bush in a direction where they anticipated finding game. + +These dogs, of which we have made mention, we may be forgiven for a +short digression to describe. They are a breed of the gaze-hound +species, though in many respects they are peculiar to themselves. The +stock was originally obtained from a cross of the Scotch staghound and +the English greyhound, and has made a race which combine in their +character the strength and courage of the former with the fleetness of +the latter, of whom, in colour and form, they have the greatest +resemblance. At the same time they are possessed of a muscular +developement which is essential to enable them to endure the severe +conflicts to which they are frequently subjected. + +The party had not ridden far before they descried a herd of kangaroos, +though not within range of shot; the guns, therefore, were instantly +slung, and the dogs and riders gave chase. + +The kangaroo as, doubtless, our readers are perfectly aware, is anything +but a graceful animal in its movements. Its fore legs are very short, +and, one would think, of little use, either for ambulation or defence; +but the paws are armed with strong and sharp claws, and in the +diminutive limb to which they are are attached, are possessed of +considerable strength, and can be used defensively with immense effect. +In their propulsion, however, these crural appendages are perfectly +unavailable; for the animals propel their unwieldy looking bodies by +long bounding leaps on their hind legs (which are long and powerful), +springing not from their feet, but by an impulsion from the whole leg, +from the hock joint to the toe, the whole of which length meets the +ground at every leap. In this motion, unsightly as it appears, they are +very fleet, frequently distancing the hardest rider, and only being +brought to bay by the dogs after a tedious chase. + +The kangaroos were no sooner sighted by our party than they were away, +the dogs with the lead, down hills across gullies, and up slopes; +through thick underwood, where the exercise of the greatest care was +necessary for the rider to preserve his seat; over fallen logs, and +under pendent branches; dangers frequently occuring simultaneously, +overhead and under foot, and requiring the firmest seat, and the +quickest eye, to avert. All these, which would make the heart of many a +bold steeplechaser quail, but which are incidental to a kangaroo hunt, +were successively gone through by each member of the present party; and +after an hour's hard riding, the foremost horseman, who had with +difficulty kept the dogs within sight, halted when they came to a stand; +and the whole of the sportsmen collected to witness the fight. + +An "old man" kangaroo sat on his haunches in a swamp, with his back to +a tree, dealing blows right and left with his epitomized limbs to those +of his assailants who ventured within his reach. The kangaroo had got +into water of sufficient depth to enable him to sit up in it, and guard +himself in the manner we have mentioned, while the dogs were raised off +their feet, and had to attack him at considerable disadvantage. They, +however, were in point of number superior to the game, and the entire +pack (six in number) boldly rushed to the charge. Though they were +successfully beaten off on each attack, and nearly all receiving wounds +that would, probably, produce scars of no mean magnitude, they as +frequently rallied, and returned to the fight. + +After looking on for some time, and perceiving that the "old man" was +too knowing for the dogs, one of the party despatched him with a shot, +when he was dragged from his entrenchments, his body deprived of its +tail (which was carried off as a trophy), and left for the dogs to do +the work of further demolition. The hunting party then returned to the +station, but, not being so hasty in their homeward progress as they were +in their outward, it was late in the afternoon before they reached the +scene of festivities. The company at the time was breaking up from the +race-course to return to the house to dine, which important business of +the day having been got over, the guests amused themselves in various +ways until the hour of the _coup de main_, the grand finale--the ball. + +We have already explained that a short distance from the house stood the +wool-shed of the station; and at the time of which we write was +comparatively empty, so much so that the bales of wool waiting for +transmission down the country occupied only a small space in the +building, to which we will, with the kind permission of our readers, in +imagination, transport them. The external appearance of "the shed" was +not such as to give the beholder any very exalted idea of internal +splendour; consequently, upon an entrance the eye was instantly struck +with the taste and skill displayed in the ornate arrangements. The +bareness of the slab walls was relieved, if not entirely concealed, by +the tasteful manipulations of the foliate decorator. At the head of the +room, in the midst of a collection of variously tinted green foliage of +numerous forms and leaf, were displayed in letters, some with the yellow +blossoms of the acacia, the magic word "love," under which was entwined, +with the wild vine and the flower of the sarsaparilla, that emblem of +mutual affection, a true lover's knot. Above it was a star of palm +leaves and fern, radiating from a centre, which was concealed by an +immense stag's horn fungus. The side walls were similarly, though not so +elaborately, decorated, and on them shone forth "mirth," and "concord," +accompanied by various other devices; while at the head of the room, at +the feet of love, stood a piano, which had been removed from the house, +to provide the "spirit of the ball." + +The room was illuminated by a bunch of lights, hanging from a rafter in +the centre. Though simply an extemporized chandelier from the hand of a +bush carpenter, it had its material so tastefully hid, by the same +genius that had decorated the walls, that it answered the purpose +admirably for which it was intended. If it did not surpass in effect the +most brilliant crystals, it was at least pretty and unique, and, with +the emerald tints in its reflection, imparted a pleasing and subdued +light, which favourably contrasted its sombre illumination with the +trying glare of the sumptuous city ball-room. The seats were arranged +round the sides of the room, and had their rough nature concealed in the +bush fashion, by being overspread with scarlet blankets, which gave them +the appearance of comfortable ottomans, and afforded a pleasing relief, +both visual and corporeal. The opposite end of the building was +partitioned off by a suspended carpet, which, by being gathered up a +little in one corner, afforded a means of entrance to what appeared to +be the sanctum, but which, in fact, contained the supper and +refreshment tables, duly caparisoned and loaded with the good things of +this life. + +The guests congregated in the ball-room at an hour that would have +shocked the sensibilities of English ladies of _haut-ton_. But ceremony +was a thing not worth studying by the lady-guests at Brompton; they had +no occasion to retire to their boudoir and spend hours in getting +themselves up for the evening, or, when their personal adornments had +been completed, to sit waiting until the arrival of a genteel hour, in +an agony of mind lest they should mar the perfection of their +soubrettes' art. Enjoyment was the order of the day at Brompton, and +when it was proposed, shortly after coffee was handed round in the +drawing-room, that the company should adjourn to the ball-room, the +guests made the necessary transition; and in a few minutes the house was +entirely vacated. + +The ladies of the company were for the most part married; hence we may +not be accused of partiality in declaring that our two friends, Eleanor +and Kate, far surpassed in beauty all their compeers, and shared between +them the adulation of the sterner animals. It could not be +satisfactorily determined which was the belle of the evening; for the +admiration of the gentlemen was about equally apportioned, and it was +difficult to decide between two such blooming beauties. + +We think we hear some of our readers enquire, "how were the ladies +dressed?" On that point, fair mesdames, we would crave your especial +indulgence. We know that is a theme on which you love to dilate; but we +(though delighted to gaze upon your charming forms, graced by the +alluring symmetry of your well-fitting and becoming attire) confess +ourselves as ignorant as babes in the technicalities of habilimentary +detail. However, thus much our observations befriended us. We can affirm +that the chief characteristics of the costumes of the gentler sex were +becoming neatness and chaste simplicity, without that unblushing display +which we have so frequently noticed in gay circles; and which, we must +confess, does not accord with our exalted idea of female modesty, +innocence, and virtue. The manner of _our_ heroines was frank, candid, +and gay; without frivolity, affectedness, or coquetry; and their +costumes neat and ladylike. + +The hand of Eleanor Rainsfield was so much desired in the mazy dance +that John sought in vain for an opportunity of soliciting a +participation with her in the pleasures of the evening, or even of +entering into conversation with her, until she had danced with nearly +all the gentlemen in the room. Then, she having been led to a seat near +where our despondent hero sat, he seized the occasion to ask her to +dance, which she promised to do after obtaining a short rest. During the +interval they fell into a sort of desultory conversation; but they were +not destined long to enjoy even this intercourse; for Bob Smithers +espying the occupation of his "lady-love," hastened to remove her from +an influence he in no way relished. + +"Eleanor," said he, "I want you to dance with me." + +"I am engaged for the next dance, Robert," she replied. + +"To whom?" he asked. + +"To Mr. Ferguson," she answered. + +"Oh, never mind, you'll dance with me," said her lord. "Your engagement +with me always ranks in precedence of others; and I am sure Mr. Ferguson +will not mind looking for another partner." + +"Mr. Ferguson has been waiting until I was disengaged, Robert," said +Eleanor, "on purpose to dance with me; so I must keep myself engaged to +him for the next dance, but will devote the following one to you." + +"Well, as you like," exclaimed Bob Smithers, in none of the most amiable +moods; "if you want to dance with Mr. Ferguson you can, but I wanted to +dance with you myself;" and, casting a look of intense malignity on the +object of his detestation, and one of equal rancour on his affianced, he +strode to another part of the room. + +Neither look had been lost on the parties to whom they had been +directed; in John they caused emotions of no pleasurable nature, whereas +Eleanor treated the truculence of Smithers with a calm benignity. The +moistened dewdrop, however, that gathered in the corner of her eye, +discovered to the anxious and watchful perception of John Ferguson the +hidden sorrow that rankled in her breast, and which she strove to +smother, dreading its discovery to the world. + +As might be imagined, under such circumstances, the dance was gone +through with mere mechanical action, and with an undisturbed silence; +for the thoughts of both parties were too much occupied on matters +having no immediate connexion with the operation of dancing to indulge +in much conversational intercourse. Besides which they both, or at +least John, was conscious of the jealous eye of Smithers following them +in every movement; and therefore felt the more uncomfortable. It was a +relief to both when the music ceased, and John led his partner (who +expressed fatigue) to a seat; but she had hardly relinquished his arm +before she was pounced upon by Bob, who, as he carried her off, scowled +fiercely on his unfortunate rival. + +John Ferguson was of an easy temper, but no man likes being grossly +insulted, and supplanted in the service of the one he loves, therefore +he felt the contumely to which he was subjected; and to calm his ruffled +temper, and to seek refreshment to his aching head, and an emollient to +his fevered brain, he walked out into the cool of the evening +atmosphere. He continued to wander, with his gaze fixed in a thoughtful +abstraction on the star-lit firmament, contemplating apparently the +argentuous brilliancy of the lunar orb travelling its ethereal course, +when his meditations were unceremoniously interrupted by the approach +of Smithers, who hastily confronted him with the following expression: + +"I would like to have a few words with you, sir, and if you'll step into +the bush, out of hearing of our visitors, I will speak." + +John replied, if he desired to say anything to him, he might have no +hesitation in saying it where he was; but that if he particularly wished +him to step a little on one side, he had no objection to do so. + +Upon gaining a retreat from the possibility of being overheard Bob +Smithers began: "I have to request one thing of you, sir, and that is +that you discontinue your attentions to the lady to whom I am engaged. +On a previous occasion I made a similar request, as also did Mr. +Rainsfield; but both you seem to disregard; therefore, I have to make it +to you again, and to accompany it with a peremptory order that it be +complied with." + +"I can't see, Mr. Smithers," said John, "that because I am called upon +by Mr. Rainsfield and yourself to break off my friendship with the +lady, that I am of a necessity compelled to comply; so long as I am +honoured by the friendship of Miss Rainsfield I shall make all your +demands subservient to the dictates of my own heart. While she holds out +the hand of cordiality to me I consider the privilege and pleasure +accruing too great to refuse to grasp it; but if Miss Rainsfield desires +our intercourse to cease, then, of course (however painful such an +estrangement would be), my courtesies would be discontinued." + +"Well, sir," said Smithers, "I have only to repeat that they shall be +discontinued at once, or I will take steps to prevent their recurrence. +The lady is engaged to be married to me, and I have a right to dictate +whom she shall recognize as her friends." + +"When you are married to the lady I shall not dispute your right," said +John; "though even then, if your wife should so far honour me as to rank +me among her list of friends, all your monitory language and manner +would not induce me to behave cavalierly to her whenever we should +chance to meet. But at present I heed not your request, unless it be +reiterated by the lady herself." + +"That, sir," said Smithers, "you shall not have the satisfaction of +hearing, and you will instantly renounce all pretensions to the lady's +favours or leave the station." + +"The first portion of your request I have already informed you I cannot +comply with; and the other, notwithstanding your gross insolence to me, +I could not offer such an affront to your worthy brother and his +inestimable lady, as to obey it." + +"Then, by heavens! you shall fight me," exclaimed the exasperated +Smithers. "I'll be on this spot with pistols in ten minutes; so you may +make the most of your time, and obtain a friend." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + "Are honour, virtue, conscience, all exiled; + Is there no pity, no relenting Ruth?" + + BURNS. + + "But I remember now + I'm in this earthly world; where to do harm + Is often laudable." + + MACBETH, _Act_ 4, _Sc._ 2. + + +The suddenness and hostile nature of Smithers' challenge so took John +Ferguson by surprise that for some few minutes he could not utter a +sound; and, when he had sufficiently recovered himself to speak, his +adversary was out of hearing, on his mission to prepare the instruments +of death. Left to a calm consideration of his position all its +unpleasantnesses in a moment flashed across his mind. Here he was +involved in a broil the result of which might prove fatal if persevered +in, and with the brother of his kind entertainer. The successful suitor +of the girl he adored, he was called upon to meet in deadly strife. John +felt he could not leave the place to compromise his honour, and insult +his host; at the same time he looked upon a hostile meeting with Bob +Smithers with great repugnance. Much as he had been contemned by Bob, +and many as were the indignities offered to him, John bore him no +animosity; and he could not reconcile to his conscience the idea of +steeping his hands in the blood of a fellow mortal; even in the act of +self-defence, when that defence became culpable by his voluntary +exposure. Yet he feared not death; no, he could stare the grim tyrant in +the face, and unflinchingly meet his shafts. He even felt he could court +his embrace now that he was to lose the only being he deemed life worth +living for. + +"Oh! Eleanor! Eleanor!" he exclaimed. "Oh! that I had not known thee! +cruel fate, that I should be drawn into the vortex of thy charms only to +be suffered to estimate thy worth, and then have my hopes crushed on the +rocks of despair. With thee life would be an Elysium; without thee 'tis +a perpetual blank; a dismal future looms in the distance like the shades +of stygian darkness. Oh, cruel fates! would that thou had'st bereft me +of life while yet I breathed in the delicious dream. But yet a door of +hope is left me to escape this bondage. I will meet the fire of your +favourite, and let him, if he so desires it, release my wearied spirit." +Thus John soliloquized as he walked back to the ball-room in a state of +mind bordering on insanity, and reduced to the lowest depths of +love-sick despair. But a "still, small voice" faintly prompted reason, +as his agitated feelings somewhat subsided, and he ceased to +apostrophize his idol, as he approached the building. + +He entered the room, and casually casting his eyes round the company +rested them on his brother; whom, upon his obtaining an opportunity, he +called out unobserved by the mass of the guests, and in a few words +explained to him the incident we have just described. + +"But, surely, John, you do not intend to accept the challenge?" said +William. + +"I have already done so," replied his brother. + +"Why, you must be demented! my dear John," exclaimed the other. "Because +a coarse, blustering fellow like that chooses to insult you, and then +call upon you to present your body as a mark for him to shoot at, surely +you are not going to forget all respect for yourself, and commit an open +violation of the laws both of God and man." + +"With regard to dyeing my hands in his blood you need have no fear, +William," said John. + +"Then why sacrifice your own life?" asked his brother. + +"I could with very few regrets submit now to that dissolution which +sooner or later must take place; but I am convinced Bob Smithers is too +much a coward to attempt my life. The laws of his country will stare him +in the face, and will prevent him pulling the trigger of a weapon with +its muzzle directed to my body. His object is simply to frighten me away +from the station, or induce me to act a coldness towards Eleanor; +neither of which desires I intend to gratify, so will stand his fire." + +"But, dear John," exclaimed his brother, "only consider, if he should be +malicious enough to attempt your life, or even to wound you, what a +dreadful misfortune it would be; and what would be the anguish of our +dear parents. Believe me, John, it is wiser to avoid the possibility of +any such catastrophe; no dishonour can be attached to you for a refusal +to comply with a barbarous custom. Pray allow yourself to be dissuaded +from this meeting." + +"No, Will, I have no fear of the consequences. Bob Smithers will never +have the courage to fire at me; and I will shame him by showing my +contempt for his threats." + +"Well, I am grieved at your obduracy, John, for my heart has misgivings +on the result." + +"Don't be agitated, William, but be convinced there is nothing to +apprehend; and now come I have been absent some time, and he appointed +ten minutes from the time of the challenge for the meeting." + +William, perceiving it was useless to attempt dissuading his brother +from his purpose, accompanied him in silence to the spot where Bob +Smithers and two friends already waited. Upon the approach of the +Fergusons one of the opposite party stepped forward to John, and offered +to enter into the arrangement of preliminaries with his brother, whom he +presumed would act as his second. + +Upon John stating his brother was on the ground in that capacity William +allowed himself to be led away by his co-adjutor, and followed him +mechanically through his various manoeuvres; acquiescing in the +arrangements, the nature of which he hardly contemplated. His mind was +intent upon the iniquity of the proceedings, and he was cogitating on a +scheme whereby he could obviate the necessity of having his brother's +life placed in jeopardy. With this thought uppermost in his imagination +he addressed himself to his companion: + +"It occurs to me, Mr. Brown (for it was he), that this meeting is +perfectly unnecessary. My brother has consented to it without having +offered any provocation to Mr. Smithers. I think the challenge was given +in a moment when that gentleman was heated by his controversy, while I +have no doubt he would far prefer letting the matter drop, if no stigma +would be attached to him on account of retraction. If so I can answer +for both my brother and myself that the affair will not travel beyond +our two selves." + +"I fear, my dear sir," replied Brown, "it is useless making any such +proposition to my principal, for he considers himself aggrieved by the +pertinacity of your brother in his aspiring to the hand of Miss +Rainsfield after he has repeatedly informed him that that young lady was +affianced to himself. He is so considerably offended and chagrined at +your brother's contumacious conduct, and his decided refusal to accede +to any of the terms my principal has proposed, that he will not be +disposed now to accept any other mode of satisfaction than this. If your +brother thought of any amicable settlement he should have done so +before; now there is only this course open." + +"Pray don't imagine that I am making any overture with the concurrence +of my brother," said William. "He, I am sorry to say, is as determined +upon this course as your principal can be; but it is that very +obstinacy I lament, for I look upon the whole of this affair not only +as extremely heathenish and barbarous, but incompatible with the +character of gentlemen." + +"Your language," replied Brown, "is calculated to cast opprobrium on all +those gentlemen engaged in this little matter, and requires some +explanation and apology; for which, I will be glad to have a few words +with you after the termination of this meeting." + +"Now then," shouted the unoccupied colleague of Mr. Brown, "it surely +does not require all that time and talk for you two to pace out the +ground. I could have settled a dozen pairs in the time you are taking +there in arranging the preliminaries of one." + +"All right, Graham," said Brown, "we have settled it now;" and turning +to William he continued: "We will draw for positions and you can place +your man, while I do mine. Dr. Graham attends professionally in the +event of either party falling; now then, sir, draw if you please. Oh! +blank; your man takes the right:" saying which he hastened to put +Smithers in position, while he left William standing seemingly rooted to +the ground. + +John, seeing his brother's indecision, came up to him, and led him away, +saying, "I suppose as Smithers has taken up that position, I am to take +this. They are particularly obliging; his second has arranged me so that +I shall have the moon directly in my face. Very kind of him, though he +does it with a mistaken object. It will enable his principal to see to +miss me; for that is what he will most desire." + +"Pray, John, do not let yourself be deceived," exclaimed his brother; +"they mean death I am convinced, and it is not too late to come to an +amicable settlement." + +"Nonsense, William, exhibit some degree of fortitude," said John. "I +tell you again Smithers is too much a poltroon to meditate my death; +though I believe if he could effect it without making himself amenable +to the laws he is not wanting in the disposition." + +"Then, even if he does not," said William, "think how the matter will be +talked about. The reports of the pistols are sure to be heard, and the +occurrence will be known almost instantly; think also how it will wound +Eleanor's feelings." + +"Tell her, William! that I was irrevocably drawn into it by Smithers +contrary to my own wishes, and that I met his fire without returning +it." + +"That is poor satisfaction for either you or her," said William "(her +especially), if you come off scatheless as you anticipate, and as I hope +and trust you may, having her name bandied about all over the country on +the evil tongue of scandal." + +"There, Will! there's a good fellow! leave me now," said John, "you see +they are impatient; his second is waiting for you to bring me my weapon. +I had almost forgotten that, and they did not seem disposed to refresh +my memory." + +William slowly walked across the ground, and took a pistol from the +hands of Mr. Brown; and placing it within those of his brother retired +to his position to await the issue of the firing. + +Upon the enquiry being asked if both were ready, and an affirmative +being returned, the signal was given, and a report of a double discharge +reverberated in the stillness of the bush. William instantly rushed to +his brother, and found him standing with his right arm still extended in +the air, in the position in which he had fired, while his left hand +covered his eyes and features which were suffused in the purple dye. + +"Merciful heaven!" cried William, "my dear brother, where are you hit?" + +His question to John was answered in a burst of boisterous merriment +from the opponents, and he hastily turned upon them to enquire the +cause of their unseemly hilarity; while Smithers advanced towards his +late antagonist, and replied: "See to him, he must be severely hit, for +he bleeds apparently profusely." + +"There is a trick in this, William," said his brother. "'Tis true I am +hit, but not with lead; I am blinded with what appears to me to be red +currant jam." + +Another roar of laughter from Smithers and his friends succeeded this +confession, and the perpetrators of the practical joke indulged their +risibilities to the full; evidently congratulating themselves upon the +success of their plans. Their self-complacency, however (at least of one +of them), was brought to an abrupt termination; for as the truth of the +plot flashed across the mind of William, as the instigator of the +proceedings approached to witness the effects of his scurrile trick, the +high-spirited youth sprang towards him, and avenged his brother's +ignominy by felling the coward to the ground. + +Graham and Brown instantly rushed to the spot, and interposed; the +former seizing William, while the latter confronted him, and stated that +if there was any cause of quarrel, it could be settled in a manner +befitting gentlemen; "and unless," said he, "I am mistaken in Mr. +Smithers he will instantly require satisfaction for your outrageous +assault." + +"Unhand me, sir," said William, as he shook himself from the iron grasp +of the pugnacious doctor, and turning to Brown he exclaimed: "You speak, +forsooth, of requiring the satisfaction of a gentleman; you and your +compeers, who debase yourselves by not only countenancing an insult from +your friend and patron to my brother, but by making yourselves parties +to a trick which no gentleman would be guilty of. As for your prototype +he has not only proved himself a blackguard by having recourse to the +subterfuge of a plea of wounded honour to perform a despicable action; +but a coward in taking a mean advantage of a gentleman under the +hospitable roof of his brother. See, the viper actually slinks away! The +derogation he intended for another reflects opprobrium on his own +infamous character; and the consciousness of his venality deprives him +even of the power of defence." Excited as William was, and inflammatory +as was his language, they failed to stir the blood of Smithers, whose +baseness was exemplified in his cowardice; for he actually left the spot +(as William's remarks would infer) in the midst of the young man's +vituperations. + +John Ferguson took his brother's arm, and led him also away from the +scene, saying as he did so: "Calm yourself, William, and never mind me, +I am not hurt, though still almost blind by that stuff in my eyes. The +disgrace of this proceeding will reflect more to his dishonour than to +mine. The report of our pistols has given alarm for I see people coming +this way, so I will get my horse saddled and take my departure." + +"Do not depart yet, John," said his brother. Remain till morning at any +rate, and take leave of Mr. and Mrs. Smithers; they will think very +strangely of your sudden departure. + +"They are sure to hear of the affair," replied John, "and my departure +will save the unpleasantness of a meeting. I will leave it to you to +make what explanation you like to them; as also to account to Eleanor +for it in what way you think best. She will no doubt have a version of +the matter from Bob Smithers; but I have a better opinion of her than to +imagine she will credit the exaggerated pseudology of malicious +gossips." + +For John to wash himself, change his attire, segregate Joey from the +dependent's festivities, get his horse in and saddle him, was the work +only of about half an hour; and the whole of it was performed without +notice from any one belonging to the establishment. John Ferguson and +Joey then started, and as the retreating sound of their horses feet were +lost in the stillness of the night, William retraced his steps to the +scene of gaiety; not to join again in the mirth, but to take an +opportunity of detailing the particulars of the late proceedings to Tom +Rainsfield; judging that he would be the best channel through whom they +could reach the ears of Eleanor. With that intention he sought out his +friend, and was astonished to find that Bob Smithers had already +communicated the fun, as he called it, to some of his choice companions; +though he had studiously avoided any mention of his rencontre with +himself. + +It was at an hour close on the heels of morn that the guests broke up +the ball; and consequently it was far advanced in the forenoon before +the assemblage in the breakfast-parlour was by any means numerous. It is +true some of the bachelors had taken their departure; but those in the +bondage of matrimony, and swains who were to act as convoys to the +ladies, of course had to wait the time and pleasure of the fair ones; +and, we must confess it, many were not loath to be detained by their +tender charges. + +Our friends were about the first to leave, as having a longer journey to +perform than most of the guests, and neither of them desiring to prolong +a stay where the occurrences had been so painful to one of their party, +they bade a kind adieu to their entertainers; and took the road at a +sharp trot, which they kept up for some hours, notwithstanding their +fatigues of the previous day and night. + +We think we informed the reader, in an early chapter of our history, +that Eleanor was (unlike most native girls) not a good horse-woman; and +that it was therefore an exercise she did not frequently indulge in. It +will not be wondered at then that the long ride to Brompton, and the +constant exercise there, had fatigued her. Her horse showing symptoms of +restlessness at starting it was proposed by William that he should affix +a leading rein to the bit ring of her horse's bridle, and ride by her +side with it in his hand. The idea was commended by the party, and was +adopted. They started, William and Eleanor leading the way, Mrs. +Rainsfield following, and Tom and Kate bringing up the rear, and +continued, as we have said, at a brisk pace for some hours. + +They had accomplished about half the distance to Strawberry Hill when +they approached rather an abrupt turn in the bush; which, in its +acuteness, prevented them from seeing, until they came immediately upon +it, a large tree which stood right in the centre of the road; or rather +a path had been beaten on either side of it. The main track led by the +right side of the trunk, and William guided his own horse and that of +his companion to take it; but Eleanor's animal became suddenly +refractory, and made a sudden deviation to pass the tree on the other +side. This movement was so unexpected that neither equestrian was +prepared for it; and the two horses, each taking opposite sides of the +tree, were brought to a check in their rapid course by the leading rein +we have mentioned. At the time William had got it firmly fixed round his +left wrist, and could not (when he saw the accident that would +inevitably occur) disengage it; for so instantaneously did it happen +that he had hardly time for meditation before the shock took place, and +both riders were hurled from their saddles with considerable force. +William, though prostrate, still kept his hold of his own bridle and the +rein of Eleanor's horse; and rose with considerable pain, though (with +the exception of numerous bruises) uninjured, to lead the horses free of +the tree. + +With Eleanor, however, the accident had resulted far differently. When +the check was felt by her horse the leading rein made him wheel his head +suddenly against the trunk; and, his fore feet tripping him as he did +so, he fell forward to the ground. Eleanor was thrown from her saddle; +and, but for one of those inauspicious events which so frequently occur +to mar our well-being, would have come off more lightly than her +companion. As it was, in her precipitation, her habit in some way became +entangled in her horse's caparisons; and, instead of being thrown clear +of danger, she was hurled with some force to the ground at the animal's +feet The horse also fell; and with the whole weight of his body across +her legs. + +It was the work of a moment for the rest of the party to pull up their +steeds, and for Kate to leap from her saddle to the side of her friend; +and another for Tom and William to extricate her from her dangerous +position. + +"Oh, dearest Eleanor," passionately exclaimed Kate, "tell me that you +are not seriously hurt. Oh, that horrid, horrid horse!" + +"I fear I am, Kate dear," replied the poor girl, "I am very much +bruised, and my leg now I try to move it gives me great pain: I am +afraid it is broken." + +"Oh, gracious goodness! what shall we do?" cried Kate; "lean on me, +Eleanor love, and see if you can rise." + +The poor girl did so; but the pain was more than even her wonted heroism +could endure. With a faint cry of agony she sank fainting into the arms +of Tom, who was standing at her side ready to support her in case of +need, and there unfortunately proved to be need; for Eleanor, as she +herself had anticipated, had broken her leg. + +The unconscious form of the suffering creature was carried into the +adjoining shade, and gently placed on the turf in a reclining position; +while the ladies speedily had recourse to those gentle restoratives, +with which they are happily at all times so ready, in cases where the +sympathies of their kindly natures are brought into play. + +We masculine mortals plume ourselves on our knowledge of the female +character; which we profess to read as the astrologers of old did "the +gems that deck eve's lustrous mantle;" and to divine their secret +wishes, fancies, and inclinations, as the professors of clairvoyance do +their susceptible pupils. But we are inclined to think woman's heart is +the true arcana of life; at least of this fact we are certain, woman's +troubles can only be appreciated by woman; and woman in sorrow can only +be soothed, or woman in pain can only be alleviated by those whose +anodynes are the effects of intuitive impulsions, arising from the +reciprocal communings of kindred spirits. Oh, woman! bless'd woman! +Favoured daughters of Eve! thou never shinest in such perfection as when +thy ministering hand assuages the pain of a sick couch. Happy is the +man, with all his flaunted superiority, who, in the time of +indisposition, when his spirit wavers indecisively between this life and +the other, is blessed with the possession of thy tender solicitude, to +smooth the passage to the mysterious bourne, or nourish the reviving +spirit with thy calm, patient, and may be, vigil-dimm'd orbs, ever +watching for returning convalescence. But we are digressing; our +feelings of gratitude to the sex are carrying us away from the subject +of our narrative, and we must apologize to our fair readers for our +abstractedness. + +Through the tender care of her friends Eleanor speedily recovered her +consciousness, though only to be made aware, by contemplation, of the +dreadfulness of her situation. She was suffering the most excruciating +agony, and was more than twenty miles from any assistance. The thought +would have subdued the stout heart of many a man, but with her evoked +not a murmur. She bore her sufferings, both bodily and mental, with her +characteristic heroism,--a heroism that admitted of no complaint,--a +perfect subjugation of the feelings, passively enduring pain with an +annihilation of all querulousness,--one that in a man would have +distinguished the bold spirit; but in a woman denoted the sublimity of +that nature, which, in its gentle texture, shines out in bold relief and +claims the laurels for an endurance which extinguishes, in its +sublimated lustre, the baser material of the stern "lords of the +creation." + +A hasty council was now formed in debate as to the best means that could +be adopted to procure assistance for their wounded friend. It was +proposed first that she should attempt to get back to Brompton; then +that one of the gentleman should ride back at once, and procure some +conveyance; then that the ladies should return to Brompton, and obtain +the requisite assistance, while the gentlemen constructed a litter and +carried the invalid as far on the road as they could, or until they were +met by assistance. To all of these propositions Eleanor, however, gave +her emphatic veto, and declared that she would not consent to return; +but affirmed her willingness and ability to proceed to Strawberry Hill. + +This desire again was energetically combatted by her friends, who argued +that such a course would endanger, not only her limb, but possibly her +life; and that it would be far better for her to waive her scruples, +and consent to return to the Smithers'. But to all entreaties on that +head she turned a deaf ear. "I will mount my horse," she said, "with +your assistance, and by going quietly I will be perfectly able to reach +home. So do not, my dear friends, make yourselves uneasy on my account." + +At this juncture when all was indecision, Kate started up and exclaimed: +"Now I'll tell you what to do. Dear Eleanor says she will not return to +Brompton, and that she would prefer going home; a thought has just come +into my head and I will act upon it. There was a doctor at the party +yesterday, and I heard Mr. Robert Smithers ask him to stop until this +afternoon; so I will ride back, and catch him before he leaves, and +bring him on here; but, in the meantime, you must assist Eleanor into +her saddle, and while William leads the horse, Mr. Rainsfield ought to +walk at her side and protect her from falling; and, if Mrs. Rainsfield +would only ride on before and send out the spring cart to meet you, the +arrangements would be complete." + +The boldness of the scheme so astonished her friends that Kate was on +her legs and ready to mount before they could think of objecting to it. +Eleanor was the first and most earnest in dissuading her from so rash a +step; but all opposition was cut short by the spirited girl herself, who +said she would not be dissuaded; and addressing her brother said: "Come, +Will, assist me into the saddle and don't detain me; for I will go, and +there is no use of either of you accompanying me; your assistance will +be required by dear Eleanor. Do as I propose, and you will find I will +be at Strawberry Hill with the doctor very shortly after you." + + + + +CHAPTER III + + "Gallop apace, you fiery footed steeds, + Towards Phoebus' mansion." + + ROMEO AND JULIET, _Act_ 3. + + +Great was the astonishment at Brompton when Kate Ferguson made her +appearance, galloping up to the station, and drew up before the house. +At the same time she gathered up the folds of her habit; and, leaving +her panting steed to the care of some of the assembled attendants, +disdaining any assistance, she leaped to the ground and ran into the +house. + +At the door of the parlour she was met by Mrs. Smithers who exclaimed, +with apprehension depicted in her countenance: "For mercy's sake! tell +me, dear Kate, what has happened to cause your return alone?" + +"Eleanor has met with an accident," she hurriedly replied, "and I want +the doctor; is he here?" + +"Unfortunately he went only about a quarter of an hour since," said Mrs. +Smithers. "I will send after him though; but tell me what was the nature +of poor Eleanor's accident." + +"She was thrown from her horse, and has broken her leg," exclaimed Kate; +"but do let me urge you to send after the doctor at once; or if you +direct me to the road he took, I will follow him myself." + +"I could not hear of such a thing," replied the lady of the place, "as +to permit you, my dear, to go. Sit down for a moment, or go to my room +and put off your habit, while I despatch a messenger." + +Mrs. Smithers left the room on her mission, and shortly returned and +informed her impatient visitor, that a man had been sent after the +doctor, with injunctions to lose no time in bringing him back. "Doctor +Graham has ceased to practise," she said, "but under such circumstances +he can have no objection to lend us his professional skill; and as +Robert is with him, and will consequently urge him to speed, we may +confidently expect him here in a very short time. Come now, my dear, put +off your things, and tell me how the unfortunate occurrence took place." + +The whole circumstances of the accident were then related, after which +an animated discussion was carried on between the ladies; the married +one contending that it was impossible for the younger one to return home +before the following morning, while Kate stoutly declared her intention +to proceed at once, when the doctor arrived. + +"Such a course, my dear Kate," urged her friend, "would be unnecessarily +exposing yourself to a fatigue which I am convinced you could not +endure. You had far better remain with me until the morning, and then +Mr. Smithers will either drive you over in his gig, or accompany you on +horseback. The doctor and Robert shall be sent off immediately they +arrive, but as to you travelling the road by night is a thing quite out +of the question." + +Still all arguments were unavailing; Kate persisted in returning at once +to be in attendance on her friend; affirming that she did not fear the +journey, nor anticipate any fatigue. So, Mrs. Smithers finding it +useless to attempt persuading the determined girl, proposed that, so as +to ease her journey as much as possible, Mr. Smithers should still drive +her over, and lead her own horse behind the vehicle. Mr. Smithers was +then sought for, and the melancholy intelligence was communicated to him +by his spouse; who desired him to place himself and his vehicle at the +disposal of Miss Ferguson. + +He regretted the sad event most feelingly; at the same time he expressed +himself only too happy to be of service to Kate, and would hear of no +objection from her; saying, "Why! if you could stand the journey +yourself, Miss Ferguson, your horse could not carry you." So that the +little messenger was perforce obliged to relinquish her opposition to +the proffered assistance. + +It was late in the afternoon before the sound of approaching horsemen +heralded the arrival of Bob Smithers and his friend, the brusque and +generally not over-courteous son of AEsculapius. They were not long +permitted to remain inactive, for the impatient anxiety of Kate for the +safety of her friend stimulated them to use despatch; and very soon +after their arrival they were tearing away again in the direction of +Strawberry Hill, in concert with Mr. Alfred Smithers and his charge. The +horsemen took the lead, and were followed closely by the vehicle; which, +by the speed that they maintained, required a skillful hand to guide +through the mazy difficulties of the bush track. The night, however, was +beautiful, and the moon bright and clear distinctly illumined their +path; so that the occasional diminution of the speed was not owing so +much to impediments and difficulties of a vehicular nature, as to a +desire on the part of the horsemen to take it easier. But these little +delays, insignificant as they were, did not accord with Kate's ideas of +the urgency of the case; and the flagging equestrians were constantly +prompted by her to an acceleration of their pace. + +Towards the latter part of the journey the bush was more dense, and the +travelling of the gig consequently became more difficult. The frequent, +though only momentary detentions, so harassed Kate that she exchanged +her seat in the gig for the back of her own jaded horse; and she led the +way at a rate that gave her less fatigued followers something to do to +keep even within sight of her. All their remonstrances against the +velocity of her pace had no further effect than a raillery from Kate at +their complaining of a speed that she was enabled to keep up; and she +told them that if they were tired out she would go on and report their +approach. However much they disliked the toil of such riding they were, +for their own credit, obliged to keep pace with her, as neither of them +relished the idea of being outstripped by a girl; and that girl one who +had ridden a far greater distance in the previous twelve hours than +they. + +In the meantime Mrs. Rainsfield had acted upon Kate's suggestion, and +had ridden home with all speed. She prepared a couch, and had it placed +in a light cart; which was then despatched to meet the invalid, with +strict injunctions to the driver to go as fast as he could, until he met +the party. Neither had Tom and William been idle, for they had placed +poor Eleanor on her saddle, where Tom held her while William led the +horse. But the pain, which the motion caused to her wounded limb, was +such that she could not with all her fortitude endure it. The young men, +therefore, constructed a sort of impromptu sedan, in which they carried +her for some distance; in fact, until they were met by the conveyance +despatched from Strawberry Hill. They then transferred their burden to +the vehicle, and continued the journey more easily for the poor girl; +though their rate of travelling was necessarily very slow. It was +midnight ere they delivered their charge into the hands of Mrs. +Rainsfield, and barely an hour afterwards Kate and her companions +galloped up to the house. + +The doctor was instantly shown into the invalid's room, when the broken +leg was soon set, and the patient placed in as easy a position as +possible; when, after giving directions to her cousin for her further +treatment, he left the room to partake of some refreshment with his +friends before they parted for the night. Tom and William waited for the +report of Kate, who was assiduously attending on Eleanor, and would not +hear of rest for herself until she had first satisfied her mind of the +safety of her friend. + +The following day the invalid was considered by her medical attendant to +be sufficiently out of danger, and progressing so favourably as to +warrant his departure. He therefore left, accompanied by his boon +companion, Bob Smithers, who preferred his society to that of the +residents of Strawberry Hill, and was followed by Mr. Alfred Smithers in +the gig. + +We have so frequently, and we think so fully, dwelt upon the character +of Eleanor Rainsfield that we are convinced she is by this time +perfectly understood by our readers. We need therefore only say that it +was quite possible for her to suffer the deepest mental agony without +the slightest semblance of its being discernible in any display in her +facial muscles. We say that it was quite possible that the existence of +sorrow could have been working deleteriously at the heart's core of the +invalid, and not be visible by any outward signs; and it was more than +probable, after the events that had lately occurred, that some such +sorrow did exist. We have already said that Eleanor was habitually of a +taciturn and uncomplaining nature; and, whatever were her griefs, she +rarely allowed their utterance to pass her lips; so it was not to be +deemed strange that her friends were unacquainted with her state of +mind. What that was we dare not violate our trust by divulging, beyond +the fact that there _was_ something that preyed upon her mind which +caused her to remain feverish and restless on her sick couch, and which +retarded her return to convalescence. She progressed but slowly; and it +was nearly two months before she was enabled to leave her room, and +expose her emaciated frame to the summer breeze in a seat in a shady +part of the verandah. + +During all this lengthened illness, her friends at Fern Vale had been +constant in their attentions, and hardly a day passed without some +enquiries being made or some intelligence being conveyed. Visits of +William and Kate were interchanged with Tom, who had delayed his journey +to town until Eleanor was what he considered sufficiently recovered to +spare him. When that time had arrived, and he saw his cousin at last +enabled to move about, he took his departure; not, however, without +making a special purpose of visiting Fern Vale to bid adieu to his +friends there. + +Why such particular consideration as this was required prior to his +departure on a journey that would not occupy more than a month, or why +it was necessary to take such a formal leave of friends he was in the +habit of seeing so frequently, and whom he could and did inform of his +intended departure upon the last occasion on which they met, we are at a +loss to conjecture. We do not, however, consider ourselves justified in +making any surmises, but intend simply to content ourselves by +chronicling the event; deeming in so doing we perform our duty, and +avoid the probability of misleading our readers, by indulging in +speculations that might lead to erroneous assumptions respecting the +motives of our friend. Therefore it is only known to Tom himself, or +rather was best known to him, what took him to Fern Vale, and what kept +him for hours in company with Kate Ferguson. But there he remained +looking over her sketches, and turning over her music, as he listened +rapturously; while her pliable fingers fluttered over the keys of her +piano, and exorcised the very spirit of the muse in the exquisite +diapason that she produced to enchant him. If it was simply to bid adieu +to the young lady he might have done that, we should have thought, in a +much shorter time, and taken his departure. It could not have been to +visit her brother, for as yet he had not seen him, and neither made any +effort nor expressed any desire to do so. He had, in fact, arrived at +Fern Vale early in the forenoon, and finding Kate alone in the +sitting-room, his gallantry (or rather his inclination) suggested that +he should endeavour to relieve the _ennui_ of the young lady. Thus he +had occupied, for nearly the whole of the morning, her and his own time, +in which occupation he seemed perfectly contented; so much so that we +strongly suspect that he--But we were about doing what we repudiated our +intention of, viz., speculating on Tom's motives. So, dear reader! with +your kind permission, so far as we are concerned, we will leave him to +enjoy uninterruptedly the pleasure of Kate's society. + +We must now beg the courteous reader to follow us over a period of about +a fortnight, during which time Eleanor had improved very little in her +health; when Kate and William one morning left Fern Vale to ride over to +see her. The weather had continued very dry for months past, and a large +portion of the bush had been slightly fired, so as just to burn off the +long dry withered grass, and leave on the ground a thick coating of +soot. Through this our friends were riding at a pretty sharp canter (as, +being like most of their birth and character, no less speed satisfying +them), when Kate's horse tripped and came down, precipitating his rider +over his head, and sending her sprawling amongst the ashes. + +Her brother alighted to assist her to rise; but she was in no way hurt, +and regained her feet with little difficulty or hesitation. But she had +no sooner faced William than he lost all control over his gravity, and +burst into an immoderate fit of laughter; while to his sister's enquiry +as to the cause of his merriment, he replied only by laughing the +louder; and she became annoyed at what she called his silly behaviour. + +"Tell me," said she, "what are you laughing at; is my face dirty?" + +"Oh, dear no!" replied he, "it is not dirty." + +Now in this reply of William's we would endeavour to exonerate him from +any duplicity or pseudology. If he meant to use the words ironically, or +to imply that his sister's face was not dirty, on the principle we have +sophistically heard enunciated that soot is clean dirt, not dirtying +where it comes in contact, but merely soiling; then it must be admitted +he spoke the truth. But we suspect rather that he meant to say her face +was not only dirty, but a shade worse; for it was absolutely black. And +much as we respect etiquette, and would be loath to commit such an +impropriety as to laugh at a lady, we question very much our ability, +had we looked on Kate's face on this occasion, to have preserved a +stoical equanimity of countenance. + +"No but, Will, dear," persisted Kate, "do tell me; is my face really +dirty? I am sure it must be or you wouldn't laugh so. It is unkind of +you to tease me;" and the little orbs in the darkened firmament, and the +little mouth that had escaped disfigurement in the sudden metamorphosis, +exhibited symptoms of a lachrymose tendency. + +Nothing so soon softens the obdurate heart of a man as seeing a woman in +tears; especially when she is a handsome young girl, and is beloved by +her masculine tormentor. Therefore we may safely surmise, that +William's laughing soon ceased; for he instantly changed his manner to +his sister, and said: + +"Yes, Kitty, darling; your face is as black as a crow; and would enable +you to make a splendid personation of an Ethiopian vocalist, if that +sable people ever exhibit their ladies. But forgive me, poppet, for +laughing at you; I would defy the goddess of grief herself to refrain +from smiling if she had perchance cast her eyes upon you as you rose +from the ground." + +"Oh, dear me! what shall I do?" said Kate, in a most piteous way. "What +shall I do? You know, Will, I can't go on in this figure, we must go +back." + +"Nonsense, my dear," said William, "you can go on very well. A slight +application of water at Strawberry Hill will very soon remove all traces +of your cloudiness." + +"But, Will," replied his sister, "all the people will be laughing at me +if I go on as I am, presenting such an odd appearance." + +"Not in the least, my pet," said William; "besides if you turned back +home our people would laugh at you quite as much, not for the soot on +your face, but for your foolishness in returning. At Strawberry Hill, +however, no one will laugh at you, for they will have too much good +breeding; and if you put your veil down over your face it will be +invisible; while at the same time you can present yourself to Eleanor, +and test her affection by seeing if she will kiss you in that plight. +I'll engage she'll laugh, for she'll think it is a little stratagem of +yours to take her by surprise and excite her merriment. She will +therefore think herself called upon to reward you with a smile." + +"I don't like to go in this figure, Will," said Kate; "do you think we +shall be able to find any water-hole on the road where I could wash my +face?" + +"Not one, Kitty," said William, "nor a drop of water nearer than +Strawberry Hill, unless you like to go to the river; and it would be +quite unnecessary, for if you went there you wouldn't be able to +thoroughly remove the black. The washing would only make you appear +worse, inasmuch as, instead of being black, you would be dirty. But +come, my little queen of Artimesia! let me put you on your horse, and +we'll go ahead. I have often heard of a sable beauty, and declare you +are one in perfection; if you were not my sister I would do the romantic +and fall in love with you. There now! up you get, and let us be off; for +the sooner you get to 'the Hill' the sooner you'll have your visage +restored to its natural colour. But before you touch your face, Kitty, +just have a look at yourself in the glass; though I need not have told +you to do that, for I know it is the first thing you are sure to do." + +"Don't be cruel, Will! and tease me so," said Kate, "or I'll go back +home." + +"Very well, my dear," said William, "I'll grant a truce, and spare +you." + +The brother and sister then turned their conversation into some other +channel, and rode on until they came within sight of Strawberry Hill; +when Kate pulled down her veil to conceal her darkened countenance from +the gaze of the curious. As they approached the station, and got +sufficiently near to distinguish the people about the place, Kate was +startled to see some gentleman on the verandah, whom she knew (by his +appearance) was not Mr. Rainsfield, and she remarked to her brother: +"Oh, William! I can't go up to the house in this figure. See, who is +that on the verandah? he is a stranger I know and I shall never be able +to meet his gaze. Can't you take me somewhere, where I can get my face +clean before I show myself?" + +"Don't be frightened Kitty," said William, "no one will be able to +distinguish the colour of your face through your veil; and, if I mistake +not, the individual you see, and whose appearance seems to cause you +such uneasiness, is none other than Bob Smithers, who will make himself +scarce when he sees me. Put on a bold face under your blackness, and try +a _coup de main_, though it is not likely under your present eclipse to +be a _coup de soleil_. If Eleanor is on the verandah when you alight run +into the house and carry her off at once; and if any of the family +should see you in your flight I will make some explanation for you." + +This seemed partially to satisfy Kate, and they rode together up to the +house. As William had conjectured the party they saw was Bob Smithers; +who, as soon as he had been able to distinguish who were the approaching +visitors, had left the spot where he had been seen by them, while +Eleanor, who had been sitting just inside one of the French lights, came +out to greet her friends as they made their appearance. William assisted +Kate off her saddle, when she ran up to the girl who stood with open +arms to embrace her. But instead of falling into that loving lock, +which was intended to unite the beatings of their young hearts, and +which she was generally so ready, with her usual ardour, to reciprocate, +she partially lifted her veil and discovered to her astonished friend +her beaming countenance. Instead of being radiant with glowing smiles it +was of course more gloomy than thunder; but her merry laugh rang as a +silvery note from the shades of Hades, while her bright eyes and pearly +teeth, in such deep contrast, shone with a more marked resplendence. + +Eleanor for some moments gazed at Kate with silent wonder, and then +asked in the faint voice of a valetudinarian: "Why, dearest Kate, what +have you been doing with yourself?" + +"I will answer for her," replied William. "You see our little Hebe has +gone into mourning; and, considering that the mere outward habilimentary +display was an empty conventionality, she chose to mark her grief in her +countenance; so that she might indulge uninterruptedly to any extent of +sorrow. As to her motive I am inclined to think she has done it to court +notice, and notoriety; for I am convinced she never looked so handsome +before." + +"That is a poor compliment William pays you, Kate," said Eleanor; "but I +appeal to you for a correct version of the phenomenon, for I am afraid +to question your brother, as I see he is in a facetious mood. Come to my +room, my dear, and we can have a talk to ourselves." + +"That is the very thing I desire, Eleanor dear," said Kate, "for I am +quite anxious to see what a fright I am, and wash off all the dreadful +smut. I saw Mr. Smithers here as I came up, and I would not for the +world that he should have seen me thus." + +"He was here a few minutes ago," said Eleanor, "but has disappeared +somewhere." + +"Well, Will," said Kate, "why are you still standing staring at us? why +don't you take the horses away?" + +"Oh, I am really very sorry for keeping him," said Eleanor, "it quite +escaped my memory; you go to my room, Kate dear, and I'll send some one +to see to the horses." + +"Not for worlds, Miss Eleanor, would I permit you to do such a thing," +exclaimed William. "I can myself take the horses to the stable; but I +was waiting to take a last fond look of Kate. I am, in fact, enchained +to the spot; if ever she was a beauty she is one now, and a shining one +that would be a fortune to a London advertising blacking manufacturer." + +"Be off, you impudent fellow!" replied his sister, "and don't show +_your_ face here until you can cease to be offensive;" saying which, she +turned into the house with Eleanor, while William took the horses to the +stable to remain for such time as he stopped at Strawberry Hill. This +business he accomplished; and, knowing that the girls would be sometime +engaged together with their own little secrets, and having no desire to +come into contact with Bob Smithers, he thought he would fill up half an +hour by paying a visit to Mr. Billing, and enjoying the refreshment of +that little individual's conversation. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + "The wondering stranger round him gazed, + All spoke neglect and disrepair." + + SIR WALTER SCOTT. + + +William sought the capricious storekeeper in the proper sphere of his +labour, viz. the store-room, and, as he had anticipated, found him +deeply engaged in some imaginarily abstruse piece of figurative +collocation, from the study of which he relieved his brain and raised +his eyes at the sound of intrusive steps. William advanced with +outstretched hand, which was humbly and respectfully taken by Mr. +Billing; who, as he removed his spectacles from his nose, and shifted, +we will not say rose from his desk, answered to his visitor's sanitary +enquiry in his blandest manner: "I thank you, Mr. Ferguson; it affords +me great satisfaction to say I am in the enjoyment of excellent health, +and trust, my dear sir, a similar blessing is dispensed to yourself." + +"Well, thank you, Mr. Billing," replied William, "I am pretty well. But +don't let me disturb you if you are busy, I have just called in to see +and have a chat with you; but if you are engaged I will not interrupt +you; for I thoroughly agree to the principle that business must be +attended to." + +"I assure you, sir," said Mr. Billing, "I appreciate your kindness in +thinking me worthy of your consideration. I feel favoured, sir, beyond +measure; and if you will still further honour me by gracing our humble +dwelling, I can say, sir, with confidence Mrs. Billing will be equally +as delighted as myself." + +"But I hope, Mr. Billing, I am not taking you away from your business," +said William. + +"By no means, my dear sir," exclaimed that urbane individual, "however +engrossed I might be in my mental or corporeal occupations, the respite, +sir, from those labours, when it is occasioned by the honour of a visit +from a young gentleman of your talent and abilities, is of too valuable +a nature, sir, not to be gratefully seized by your humble servant. Pray +accept my best thanks, sir, for your attention, and permit me to invite +you, sir, to our unpretending abode; for lowly it is, and not of those +pretensions I could desire, sir, nor of such as it has been my lot at a +former period of my life to possess, yet, sir, to it I can offer an +Englishman's adjunct, a hearty welcome." + +"I am very much obliged to you, Mr. Billing," replied William, "and will +be happy to accept of your hospitality." + +"This way then, Mr. Ferguson," said Mr. Billing. "Allow me to close the +door of the store. I always lock it in my absence to prevent, sir, any +unpleasant affairs, such as have occurred here, you know. If you will +be good enough to step this way, sir? I must apologize beforehand, for +the litter which I expect you will find, sir, in our domicile by +explaining that Mrs. Billing does not anticipate the pleasure of +visitors." + +Considering the sight that greeted the eyes of William as he entered the +cottage, such an apology was certainly necessary, or rather unnecessary, +to prepare him for what he was to witness. We said necessary, to excuse +the lady of the house for the chaotic arrangements of her household, +seeing that one couldn't enter the dwelling without being painfully +aware that slovenliness and disorder reigned supreme. Therefore we +corrected ourselves in the expression, and stated the absence of such +necessity; as no one could be so blind as to imagine that the litter +which Mr. Billing alluded to was merely the result of an occasion; for +it was too palpably evident that the spirit of disorganization was the +presiding genius of the Billing mansion, and, moreover, the visitor +would be strengthened in the conviction the very moment he cast his +eyes upon the wife of Mr. Billing's bosom. We will repeat then that Mr. +Billing made numerous apologies for the disorder to which he was about +to usher William Ferguson; and we may safely conjecture that William was +not a little surprised when all the internal arrangements of the home +burst upon his vision. + +"Let me show you to my domicile, Mr. Ferguson," said the little man in +rather a pompous way; "as usual, sir, the house is turned topsey-turvey, +Mrs. Billing is such a woman for cleanliness. You have no doubt, Mr. +Ferguson (though you have not yet become entangled in the meshes of +matrimony), heard of the nuisance of a musical wife; let me equally warn +you, sir, against choosing the partner of your connubial bliss, from +those of too cleanly a predilection. My spouse, sir, for instance, has +periodical fits for cleansing (and I regret to say, sir, they are of too +frequent occurrence for my especial comfort); then nothing but dust, +soap and water, and disquietude pervades the house for a full twelve or +twenty-four hours. You are aware, sir, 'at home' (I mean of course in +Old England) we paterfamiliases are taught, sir, to look upon +washing-days as the very superlative of domestic misery; but my wife +always had a propensity for having something like a washing-day very +nearly six times a week, sir; and she has brought her customs and +prejudices with her to this barbarous country. But come in, my dear sir, +and take a seat, while I inform Mrs. Billing of your presence; and if I +may be so bold, sir, as to add, I will entreat you to make yourself +quite at home." + +This introductory prologue of Mr. Billing's was delivered as he stood +with the door slightly ajar, and holding it by the handle while he +addressed William, no doubt to fully prepare him to a proper +appreciation of the merits of the lady to whom he was about to be +introduced. When we say introduced we do not mean that formal ceremony +in which strangers are brought to a mutual acquaintance (for William had +frequently before met Mrs. Billing), but the mere act of being ushered +to her presence in a house into which he, as yet, had never entered. Mr. +Billing had stood, door in hand, while he uttered about half of his last +sentence, when William saw, or fancied he saw, a female hand suddenly +draw back the cover of a muslin blind that screened the lower part of a +window situated in close proximity to the door at which he stood. +Instantly thereafter a female head was substituted in its place, but as +instantly withdrawn; while the noise of some falling object was +distinctly heard, and was as speedily followed by that of a hastily +closed door; all of them unmistakeable signs of a surprisal and retreat. + +At this moment Mr. Billing pushed open the door and entered the +evacuated room, in which he concluded his lugubrious notice of his +lesser half's peculiarities, and desired his visitor to take a seat; +which his visitor, picking up a chair that lay prostrate on the floor, +accordingly did; and Mr. Billing went in search of his lady. Judging +from the seeming confidence with which he walked into an apartment +entering from the one which William sat in, forming the only other one +in the front of the cottage, the operation was one of more certitude +than the verb he made use off would imply; and also judging from the +subdued whispers that William could overhear through the thin wooden +partition that constituted the wall of the room, the search was also +attended with wonderful success. But during Mr. Billing's absence to +look for his spouse, let us join our young friend in his general +inspection of the furnishing and upholstery department of the +establishment. + +In the first place we must say, distinctly and candidly, that the room +was furnished badly. Not that there was any paucity in the collection; +but the articles, though numerous, taken in the abstract, with the +greatest regard to symmetry, contrast, and beauty, and the best possible +display of talent in their collocation, any one with the slightest +pretensions to comfort, we are certain would eliminate the entire mass; +and any appraiser, if such an individual existed, within the boundaries +of New South Wales, if called in to take an inventory, would elevate +both his nose and his shoulders. + +But we will, with the reader's kind permission, give a short +description, for the benefit of young couples about to furnish; and out +of respect for the feelings and the patience of those of our readers, +who have no desire or necessity for such detail, we will epitomize the +catalogue as much as possible. + +First then we must state that there was no semblance of order in the +arrangements. Far from it; in fact, quite the reverse. All things seemed +to have been placed with a predetermination on the part of some one to +create as much confusion as possible, and to put each individual +article into as awkward a position as imaginable. It is true William had +rescued a chair from a lowly position, and had placed it on an +unoccupied spot on the floor, and used it for the purpose for which in +its construction it was intended. But it was well our young friend was +not of an erratic disposition, for if he had been bent upon voyages of +discovery, other than could be effected by his eyes, he would have found +himself in as great a labyrinth as ever impeded the progress of the +polar explorers. The fact was William was perfectly hemmed in; so that, +with the exception of a small spot that was partially occupied by his +chair, there was no room to stir, or at least very little; and he did +not consider it wise, or politic, to risk his knees and shins in an +attempt to penetrate into the thickly timbered recesses of the +apartment. As he sat in the midst of this mass, which seemed to have +been collected as the entire furniture of a dwelling, deposited in a +room for the convenience of the van that officiates at flittings, he +almost looked like an anxious emigrant keeping guard over his effects +when landed in a strange country, or as "Caius Marius mourning over the +ruins of Carthage." + +But we have wandered from our task, our self-imposed descriptive task, +which we confess ourselves at a loss to perform with satisfaction; for +having no cabinet-making knowledge, and never having before been called +upon to take an inventory of such chattels, we feel ourselves, to make +use of a vulgar idiom, "all abroad." We fear we have assumed the title +and privileges of the author without considering whether or not we are +possessed of the attributes pertaining to one; and, in our insensate +conceit, we are afraid we have forgotten the absence of that recondite +perspicuity and facile elucidation which are imperatively essential to +the character we have arrogated. But we fancy we hear some of our +impatient readers exclaim, "We wish you would tell us, without 'beating +about the bush,' what the room contains; it is all nonsense your making +excuses now, you should have thought of your incapacity before you +commenced your history, and must go on with it; all we can do is to pity +and smile at your ignorance;" and we exclaim, "A thousand thanks, kind +readers! That is the very lenience we wished to evoke; we now can +proceed with confidence, if not in our powers of depiction, at least in +your charity and forbearance." + +Well then, in the centre of the room stood a table, which we venture to +say had not been displaced in the general disorganization, +notwithstanding that its satellites had. There was nothing extraordinary +about this table, and yet there was a something which inspired awe, or +at least curiosity, and that would lead to the enquiry, Whence came it? +and this was precisely William's thought. Ah! that was a rare old table, +and struck William with a desire to know its history; but unfortunately +it had not the power to satisfy his enquiring mind; and he, having no +one at the time with him from whom he could glean the information, was +not likely to be the wiser. With the reader, however, we will not be so +harsh or uncommunicative, but will make use of our knowledge, and impart +the secret of its life; at least from the time whence it boasted of Mr. +Billing as its owner. First, however, we will give a sketch of its +general appearance. + +When we called it a table, we should have in greater justice said two +tables, for, though one, it was also two. This seeming paradox may be +explained by stating that, as it stood, it was one, but in its integral +parts it could be spoken of in the plural number; in fact, to descend to +the common vernacular mode of expression, we will say they were two side +leaf-tables that had graced the parlour windows of the little box at +Brixton. The leaves were, and had been for many years (in fact, rarely +otherwise), quiescent, and were each made to hide its diminished head in +a close contiguity to the object's crural appendages. The two tables, +thus reduced to their natural bounds, were arranged with an +affectionate concomitance so as to act the part of a table of family +pretensions. It was of mahogany; and we will assume the postulation, +that it was of solid mahogany, to which assumption we are led from its +antique appearance, presuming that in the good old days of our +ancestors, that refined species of humbug and deception, yclept +veneering, was not in vogue, as our forefathers, so we are told, could +not tolerate anything but what was substantial. But how sadly have we +degenerated in these latter days! We now no longer perpetuate their +creed, or retain any of their material predilections, except those for +beef, beer, "bacca," and bills. + +But to return to the table. We said it was mahogany, but we must correct +ourselves; we mean it was so originally, when it stood in the parlour at +Brixton, but now no longer could it be said to be of that wood. If it +but spoke, what "tales it could unfold" of voyages, journeys, mishaps, +and accidents, that would put the whole fraternity of aristocratic loos +far into the shade. Mr. Billing was wont to say he loved that old table +as much as hundreds of individuals are in the habit of affirming a +similar affection for a certain "old arm chair." He would also inform +his friends, when in a communicative mood, that that table had belonged +to his friend Lord Tom Noddy, whom he knew very well; but, unfortunately +for our poor little friend's aristocratic reputation, on one occasion +when he was a little "farther gone" than was usually his habit to go, +the truth of _in vino veritas_ was exemplified. On that occasion he +innocently informed his friends, that, of course, the Lord Tom Noddy did +not know him; that he, Mr. B., had bought the table at a sale of that +nobleman's effects, when the inconvenient demands of low tradespeople +rendered a sojourn in London exceedingly annoying to his lordship, and +induced him to fancy his health demanded attention and his person +relaxation and continental air. But still Mr. Billing could boast of +what very few, if any, men in Australia could, that is, that he was +possessed of a table that had belonged to a real, live lord; and many +were those who were made aware of the fact. + +We fear we are not confining ourselves to a succinct account of minutiae, +but are again running too much into detail of no moment; and we will, +therefore, continue more briefly the history and description of this +wonderful piece of furniture. It had been considered too great a +treasure to be sacrificed in the break-up of the Brixton "box;" +consequently it was carried off to gladden the eyes and astonish the +nerves of the natives of Australia. As we have already said, many were +the misfortunes it had gone through in its various peregrinations, and +vast the trouble it had been to its present owner, who, notwithstanding, +through all his vicissitudes, stuck to it as long as it stuck to him. +Lord Tom Noddy's table was in much the same predicament as Jack's knife, +which had had five new blades and three new handles; for his lordship's +table had had innumerable splicings, nailings, screwings, patchings, and +new leggings, composed of a variety of fibrous material, and of numerous +colours and artistic designs. Yet there it stood, with its legs of an +unequal longitude, some with castors and some without (the latter being +supplied with a stone or a piece of wood, to preserve as nearly as +possible the equilibrium); and, with more than one bandage to conceal a +fractured limb, this relic of the past, this trophy of Mr. Billing's +palmy days, and proof of his intercourse with aristocracy, preserved a +dignified composure, like a veteran surveying the scene of a triumph. We +said that the table stood in the centre of the room, and bore no +evidences of having been moved in the general disorder; of this we were +morally certain, for, judging by its paralytic appearance, it threatened +a speedy dissolution if touched. + +The other members of this conglomerate fraternity were some dozen +chairs, more or less, also in various stages of dilapidation, and of +them we can say much in a few words. They were American, machine-made, +cane-bottomed, painted, and patent varnished ladies' and gent's body +supporters, and bore the same relation to civilized furniture as Dutch +clocks used to do to the old-cased patriarchs, that in our halls marked +the phases of fleeting time. + +They were "machine-made," we say, that is, the legs, bars, etc., were +cut and turned by machinery; they were possessed of cane bottoms, +whether also arranged by machinery or not, we can't say, though they +were painted and varnished by its aid. But why such ordinary articles of +domestic use should be patent we are at a loss to comprehend, unless it +were for the design, or in the operation of painting the decorating +portion, which consisted of an application of gilt varnish on the front +of each leg and prominent part of the seat, and the representation on +the back, in high colours and gilt, of some flowers and fruit, which it +would be difficult to match with originals, from all the varieties that +have been produced, from the Eden apple downwards. + +The next article was a sort of chiffonnier, a piece of furniture that +made a great display; with crystal and china arranged with precision on +the top, and a protecting covering of chintz, no doubt the uninitiated +would imagine, to keep the polish from sustaining any injury. But must +we discover the truth? Oh! deceitfulness of man, and, we may add, of +woman too. This elegant and costly piece of furniture was nothing but a +large deal box placed up on end, with rough shelves fixed into it to add +to its utility, and with a gaudy cover put over it to hide its +nakedness. There was another article of a similar construction, a +luxuriant-looking ottoman, and a sofa which had originally, no doubt, +been of polished cedar (of which wood, we may remark, all the best +colonial furniture is made, and found to equal, if not excel, Honduras +mahogany), and with horse-hair cushions, etc. But now it presented a +doleful appearance of weather-beaten features and limbs, and where a +horse-hair covering had existed, now only canvas was visible. A mirror +of the dull and heavy school rested on the mantel-piece, along with +sundry portraits, no doubt of a family importance, executed in an art of +stern profile blackness, which art, we believe, is extinct, and happily +so. The floor had no covering, neither had the walls, which showed the +wood in its crude state, or rather in the serrated condition in which it +had left the sawyer's pit. A few children's stockings and shoes +scattered about; a woman's dress, mantle, and bonnet lying on the table, +with some calico in the process of conversion to an article of apparel; +a piano of ancient make which, we must say though, belonged to Mrs. +Rainsfield, and was placed there for the use of the children while under +the tuition of Mrs. Billing, completed the furniture; and, with other +scraps, such as towels, dusters, and odds and ends, all heaped +together, as we have said before, in interminable confusion, the reader +has an idea of what William was surveying. + +We have already confessed our lack of the author's talent of succinct +expression; and what we might have been able, had we been possessed of +such a gift, to have detailed in a few pithy words, and what was noticed +by William in a few minutes, it has taken us so long to describe. We +must therefore beg to assure the reader that Mr. Billing was not so rude +as to leave his guest waiting alone so long as we have kept him, but +shortly re-entered the sitting-room and informed William that Mrs. +Billing was that moment engaged with the children, but if he would +excuse her for a few minutes she would be obliged to him. + +Now it happened that William had heard certain sounds that indicated +arrangements of no possible connexion with children's attiring and +ornature; such as the washing of an adult's hands, the operation of +adjusting that corporeal appertinence, which is made to enclose the +forms and symmetrize the figures of Eve's fair daughters of the present +age, the rustling of silk, and other prognostics of a personal +embellishment. But still conveniently deaf as a visitor should be to +such sounds he begged that Mrs. Billing would not allow herself to be +drawn from her attention to the children on his account, for he would be +sorry to inconvenience her by his call. + +Mr. Billing thanked him for his politeness and consideration, and +entreated him not to mention anything about inconvenience; and at that +very moment Mrs. Billing sailed into the room, or at least as much of it +as she could get into; and, while shaking hands with William, said: "I +am delighted beyond measure, Mr. Ferguson, at your kindness in calling +upon us. It is so affable of you, and I can only express my regrets that +you should have happened to have chosen a day when you see we are all +topsy-turvey. You must know, Mr. Ferguson, I always like to keep my +house clean and in order, although Mr. Billing will persist in grumbling +at what he calls unnecessary cleanliness; but still I am glad you have +honoured us with a visit." "Go away, Johnny, and Bobby! Mary, don't be +rude!" + +These latter expressions were addressed to various olive branches of the +Billing tree, who showed their heads at the door whence had emerged the +parent stem, and to which, we presume, the juveniles had come to satisfy +their curiosity as to the nature of the intrusion on their domestic +privacy. But they did not seem disposed to obey the injunctions of their +maternal parent; who therefore rose and put them inside the room and +shut the door, while they continued to amuse themselves by keeping up a +perpetual kicking. + +Possibly the reader may desire to know something about Mrs. Billing, her +genealogy, etc. If so, we will endeavour to prevent disappointment by +giving a brief sketch of her. She was a lady, "a perfect lady," as her +husband used to say, and we should imagine, nearly twenty years the +junior of her lord. She was not absolutely plain; she might once have +been good-looking. In fact, Mr. Billing used to assure his friends, when +first he married her she was a beauty, one, he affirmed, of the Grecian +mould. We will not flatter her, however, by saying she was handsome; +though we will state that her looks were capable of great improvement by +the study of a little judicious display and effective costuming. But +these virtues or follies, as our readers may consider them, obtained +very little regard from Mrs. Billing; notwithstanding that on sundry +occasions, such as the present, she made an effort to appear as in +former years. + +She had taken some little pains, we say little pains because of the +insignificance of the result, to present a genteel appearance to our +friend William, and had made a hasty toilet. If it had effected any +improvement in her appearance it argued badly for her presentableness +before the operations of ablution and ornature had taken place. Her +hair, in keeping with her eyes, was black, and parted not scrupulously +in the centre; a stray lock on the forehead segregated from its rightful +position was brought immediately across the line of demarcation and +incorporated in the opposition. However, its lamination was lost in the +plastering the whole had undergone in the toilet operations; and, as +Mrs. Billing was not a vain woman, such a mishap was not deemed worthy +of notice, or at least the trouble of rectification. Her features, if +not good, were certainly far from bad. There was a vivacity and +expression in them, but there was also an unctuousness that was a +necessary concomitant on her perpetual bustle, which incessantly +displayed itself in her pale face. She wore a black silk dress, that +made a rustling like dry leaves in winter, and was modelled in a fashion +so as to confine both the wrists and the throat of the wearer; at which +points it terminated without the muslin adjuncts we usually look for. +As for the dress itself nothing need be said, except that it might have, +and had been a good one, but was then rather seedy. It gave us, however, +the idea that it was worn in much the same manner, and for much the same +purpose, as the closely buttoned up frock-coat of the "shabby genteel +gentleman," who is unable to make any display of spotless linen. But we +will make no ambiguous allusion to a lady's under garments, though we +cannot shut our eyes to noticeable facts. Neither could William, for he +perceived that her boots, though they had once been of a fashionable +make, were not what they had been, for their glory had long since +departed. He also noticed that her hands and facial contour were of a +different shade to her neck and throat. It might have been an optical +illusion, the effect of a deceptive light, the contrast of complexion, +or the exposure to sun; but he thought that where the tints blended the +contrast was too perceptible to be natural, and therefore concluded that +the phenomenon arose from the dirt not being thoroughly removed, or the +omission of an ablutionary application to the dark tinted part. + +William also noticed,--but we must again crave the indulgence of our +fair readers, whose pardon we implore for adverting to such a +subject,--when Mrs. Billing turned herself to eject and inject the +juvenile representatives of the Billing family; he saw her back! yes, +reader! her back! Now no lady should turn her back on a gentleman any +more than a gentleman should perform so derogatory an act upon a lady, +either literally or figuratively. More especially if that lady be not a +good figure, or if her dress does not fit immaculately. We do not +insinuate that Mrs. Billing had not a good figure, she was _once_ +graceful; but it was to be presumed, that considering the ample proofs +she had given of a proclivity to gestation, the symmetry of that figure +had to some extent been impaired. Be that as it may, the dress of Mrs. +Billing did not meet behind by some three or four hooks; and the +consequence was that a sight was revealed to the bashful gaze of our +young friend which caused him to blush; while the remembrance of the +cleanly characteristics, enunciated by her lord as pertaining to her, +made him wonder. For there! immediately underneath the habilimentary +cuticle, William saw garments of so suspicious a colour as to make it +questionable whether they had attained their peculiar hues by the +process of dyeing, or by their contact with this world's filth. + +But there is one thing that we must explain before we leave Mrs. +Billing. We have already told the reader that cleanliness was Mrs. +Billing's peculiar and predominant idiosyncrasy, and we must reconcile +this statement to our portraiture of unbecoming slovenliness. It is +easily said in a few words. Mrs. Billing was one of those women who are +always in a fuss about their domestic affairs; who are for ever +fidgeting about the dirt in the house; and always attempting to remove, +or remedy it, though in the attempt they only succeed in adding to the +filth. Making "confusion worse confounded;" leaving things worse than +they were before; adding to the discomfort of their husbands, their +children, and themselves; whom they keep in a perpetual state of +slovenliness and untidiness. Such was Mrs. Billing's failing; and if her +husband was blessed with perspicuity sufficient to notice it, for his +own peace of mind, he abstained from any dictation that might have +embroiled him in family dissensions; and he was right: for on the whole +she was undeniably a good wife to him notwithstanding her little +peculiarities. + +Mrs. Billing had managed to squeeze herself into a seat, as her husband +had previously done, without necessitating any extraordinarily +unpleasant contiguity to her visitor; though any extension of +prerogative on the part of the upper or nether limbs of either of the +party would have been detrimental to the visages, or shins, of the +others. So they were all perforce compelled to adhere to a strict +propriety of deportment. + +The lady was particularly charmed, or at least she continued to say so, +at what she designated the condescension of Mr. Ferguson in visiting her +humble abode. + +"I am truly delighted to see you," she said again, for at least the +twentieth time; "and only regret I can offer you no inducement to +prolong your visit. I suppose there would be no use in my asking you to +stay and take pot-luck with us in the friendly way, Mr. Ferguson? Not +that it would be any change of fare to you, for we are necessarily +humble people now; and, if we even desired it, we could not have +anything out of the common. It is not here like 'at home,' where you +can, even with the most moderate means, procure anything nice. In this +horrid country neither love nor money can buy tasty things. One has to +be contented with what we can get, and we live so incessantly upon +mutton that I wonder we're not all ashamed to look a sheep in the face. +But, as I was saying, can we persuade you to stop and take pot-luck with +us, Mr. Ferguson?" + +"I really thank you, Mrs. Billing," said William; "but my friends will +expect me to make my appearance at the house shortly. I have brought my +sister over to see Miss Eleanor, and have just dropped in to see you as +I passed." + +"Yes! it is very kind of you," said Mrs. Billing; "and of course Mrs. +Rainsfield will be expecting you. However, if at any time you shall be +disposed to honour us with a visit, let us have the pleasure of your +company sufficiently long to enable us fully to enjoy it. Devote some +evening to us, and we will endeavour to amuse you. We would be most +happy to see your sister too, if she would condescend to honour our roof +by her presence; she is a gentle, amiable young lady. I need not ask if +she is well as that I am sure of?" + +"Thank you," said William, "she is quite well, and I have no doubt will +be happy to join me in paying you a visit; especially when I tell her of +your kind enquiries." + +"Will you try a little spirits, Mr. Ferguson?" asked the master of the +mansion. "I am sorry I have no wine to offer you, and neither any choice +of spirits; but I shall be delighted if you will join me in a glass of +rum." + +"I am obliged to you; not any," replied William. + +The conversation continued for some short time longer, chiefly though on +the part of the Billing couple; who took upon themselves the initiatory +to enlighten their visitor upon all their family affairs and departed +greatness. William soon began to feel a distaste for this kind of +conversation and society, and had made one or two attempts to break the +spell. But as the pair kept up an alternate and incessant dialogue he +could not find an opportunity of taking his leave; and neither did he +effect his retreat until he had risen from his seat, stood hat in hand +for nearly ten minutes, and repeated more than once that he feared his +sister would be wondering what had become of him. + +He at last succeeded in escaping, and cordially shaking hands with the +quondum commercial man and his lady, he took his departure and walked +back to the house. Mr. Billing returned to, and was speedily lost in the +abstruse calculation from which his attention had been diverted by +William's visit; while Mrs. Billing retired to the precincts of her +sanctum, to divest herself of her outer covering for one of more humble +pretensions, in which she had been habited at the time of her +surprisal. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + "Your words have took such pains, as if they labour'd + To bring manslaughter into form, and set quarrelling + Upon the head of valour." + + TIMON OF ATHENS, _Act 3, Sc. 5._ + + +When William made his appearance at the house he found Eleanor, Mrs. +Rainsfield, and his sister together in the sitting-room; and, after +receiving a severe rating for his cruelty in teasing Kate about her +accident, he was asked by Mrs. Rainsfield what had detained him so long +at the stables. Upon his replying that he had visited the Billings +nothing would satisfy the girls but that he had an object in making such +a visit, and they insisted upon having a detailed account of all his +proceedings, and what he saw and heard at the storekeeper's cottage. +During his narration of the circumstance we will leave him for a few +minutes while we glance at another part of the station. + +Over the rails of the stockyard fence leaned a man, we might have said a +gentleman, smoking a short pipe, and carrying or rather holding in his +hand a heavy riding-whip, which we wish the reader particularly to +notice for the reason which shall shortly be seen. At his side leant +another gentleman with his back to the fence, and his eyes bent on the +ground. The first was Bob Smithers, and the other, Mr. Rainsfield; and, +at the moment of our discovering them, they were, or had been, in close +conclave. Before we proceed to listen to the conversation we will +premise by stating one fact, which we have no doubt the reader has +conjectured, viz., that the marriage between Bob Smithers and Eleanor +had been postponed _sine die_, or until such time as her health should +be thoroughly restored. + +"Yes, I say again, it is a confounded nuisance that the girl is so slow +in getting well; she might have broken half a dozen legs, and got right +again by this time. I want to get her away from that infernal fellow +Ferguson, and all his set; and I shall never do that until I have +married Eleanor. Then, by G--! if any of them cross my path, they may +expect to meet a tiger." So spoke the puissant Bob Smithers, that had +grossly insulted the senior brother of "the set," and submitted ignobly +to a blow from the younger; from whom he slunk away like an intimidated +cur who had rushed yelping at some wayfarer, and received a warm +reception. + +"I don't think you need make yourself at all uneasy, Bob," said his +companion. "Though John Ferguson has made overtures to Eleanor, which +you know were rejected, it is not very probable that his brother or +sister will at all interfere; in fact, I hardly think the young girl, +his sister, knows anything about her brother's feelings on that point. +Eleanor is exceedingly attached to them, and well she might be, for +their behaviour to her has been kind and affectionate in the extreme." + +"Well, that may be," said Smithers; "but still I hate them, especially +that young cub that is here now. He had the audacity to strike me on the +night when we paid out his brother; and, but for the intervention of +some of the people, I would have killed the young wretch on the spot." + +"As to striking you," said Mr. Rainsfield, "I am not at all surprised at +that. I wouldn't have thought much of the young fellow if he had stood +passively by, and seen a practical joke perpetrated on his brother. But +why didn't you retaliate, or wait for him till after the ball, and then +have given him a good sound horse-whipping?" + +"I couldn't get an opportunity of being at him then," said Smithers, +"but I'm d----d if I don't carry out your suggestion now. I'll get an +opportunity before he goes away." + +"If you do I only hope you'll manage it so as not to implicate me," said +Mr. Rainsfield. "I don't wish to interfere with your private quarrels; +but I would not like the young fellow attacked in my house or in my +presence. Though I have quarrelled with his brother I haven't done so +with him; and I must say he has been so attentive to Eleanor during her +illness that I would consider any countenanced outrage on him would be +the offering of an insult to her. Nevertheless, if you have any little +settlement to make with him, let it be out of my sight and hearing, and +I won't interfere with you." + +"All right, old fellow," Smithers replied, "you need not fear me, I'll +manage it comfortably enough you'll see. I'll get him quietly away from +the house, and let him feel the weight of this." Saying which he laid +his whip about some imaginary object with a force that made the missile +whiz in the air, and with a determination that plainly portrayed the +satisfaction with which he would operate upon his victim. + +"Very well," said Rainsfield, "do as you like. Only, as I said before, +don't implicate me, and though I rather like the young man I shall have +no objection to hear of the whole matter after it's done." + +These two worthies then separated, Bob Smithers to seek the opportunity +of which he spoke, and the other either to go about some business of the +station, or to keep as much out of the way of the coming event as +possible. The reader will no doubt wonder how a man of Mr. Rainsfield's +generally reputed integrity could reconcile his conscience to such +behaviour; and also that he should willingly, and, we may add, +collusively aid the suit of a man, of whose mental and moral turpitude +he could have had no doubt, in preference to the honourable addresses of +a gentleman in every way a more eligible match for his cousin. "But +thereby hangs a tale," and it is our painful task in the office in which +we stand, to see that that tale be not suppressed. + +At an early date after Eleanor's settled sojourn with Mr. Rainsfield he +became aware of the existence of an engagement between her and Bob +Smithers, from whom we may safely conjecture the knowledge was obtained. +When Rainsfield, feeling for the dependent and forlorn condition of his +relative, took her to the bosom of his family he did so out of pure +sympathy and kindliness towards her, and had no wish or desire to +interfere in the disposal of her affections. Consequently he paid very +little attention to the matter. But Smithers made a proposal to him +which, if it did not excite his cupidity, induced him to think more of +the affair as one in which he as a relative, and a protecting relative, +had an interest. It had the effect of suborning his countenance to the +match, and enlisting his strenuous exertions, to induce Eleanor to +accede to the wishes of the Smithers family, and plight herself anew to +the man who had already received her youthful acquiescence. + +The offer that Smithers had made to Rainsfield was this. That they +should enter into partnership, and throw their respective properties +into one concern, and work together on equal terms. Smithers was to +embark all the country he was then possessed of, or the proceeds arising +from the sale of any portion, and what capital he could command; and the +other was to bring in the stock and station of Strawberry Hill. In +making this offer Smithers conceived that he would be benefited by such +an arrangement, in so far as he would be able to more effectually stock +the immense tracts of country he had taken up. He considered this more +advantageous than disposing of the runs; as, he argued by lightly +stocking them in the first place, and allowing them to become by +gradation fully stocked, through augmentation and the natural increase, +he would eventually be possessed of larger property than if he with his +own means only stocked an integral part of his holdings. On the other +hand Rainsfield considered the offer as equally worthy of attention to +himself, possibly looking at it in the same light. However, he had +agreed to it; and this was the _douceur_ that had made him a warm +partizan of the Smithers' cause; and that had influenced the collusion +that worked for the consummation of Bob's, or we might say Mrs. +Smithers', matrimonial scheme. + +With regard to Eleanor, her feelings, we fear, were little dreamt of in +the matter. Rainsfield deemed Smithers a good match for her, and +possibly believing that she entertained at least some respect for the +man, he never imagined for a moment that she could have had any +objection. While she, on the other hand, from the continual promptings +of her cousin, in the absence in her mind of any other imaginative cause +for her cousin's warmth, attributed it to the desire on his part to be +relieved of an irksome burden; and she had given her consent. + +We must admit that women are as equally (it is even affirmed they are +more) susceptible than men to the warm affections of the heart; and that +as they are inspired by love so are they influenced by aversion. And as +a man, we mean of course with honour and conscience, would go to any +extremity rather than ally himself to a woman whom he contemned, so +would a woman feel as great a repugnance in accepting a man for whom she +could not entertain any respect. We do not say that Eleanor actually +abhorred Bob Smithers; but we can affirm that she felt no enjoyment in +his society, but rather the reverse; and though she had accepted him to +avoid the unpleasantness of her situation, the match was positively +distasteful to her. Smithers' nature was diametrically opposed to hers. +They had no one feeling in common; his tastes were not as her tastes; +nor hers as his. Besides, she had an exalted, and perhaps romantic, idea +of matrimony. She didn't think it proper to marry for convenience, but +imagined it was a compact that was only justly and favourably formed on +true love. Not that at the time of her engagement with Smithers she had +experienced the sentiment; but she was aware she had entertained the +proposal of a man in the absence of it, and therefore had sacrificed a +moral principle. But her trial was to come. + +She then met John Ferguson; and their mutual companionship, if it had +had its effects on John, had surely had no less so on her. It is true +she had thought no more of him, at first, than as a friend, a kind +attentive friend. But then she admired him, his precepts, his manners, +his conversation, and his general ingenuousness; she liked him, and +found pleasure in his society. Did she think she loved him? It may be +she never gave herself a thought on the subject. She was content to live +in the pleasing delusion, that John Ferguson was nothing more to her +than a friend; but there was her danger. She might have mistaken his +manner; misconstrued his feelings; and been blind to the more than +ordinary warmth of his greeting. But the pleasure in his company, the +delight at his approach, the longing for his presence between the +intervals of his visits; and the heart's palpitations, as she felt the +welcome touch of his hand in the grasp of friendship, must and did have +their own warning voices, to which Eleanor could not shut the ears of +her understanding. She suspected he loved her; she read it in his eyes; +but she feared to ask herself the question, Was the feeling +reciprocated? + +Next came the explanation. He declared the existence of that lasting +affection which never dies. But could she give him hope? could she +encourage him in his love? No! she felt she could not. She had +voluntarily given herself to another, yet felt she had by her manner +incited this one; had probably by her demeanour given him cause to hope, +while she was not justified in holding out any. She might have, nay, she +even feared she had, destroyed his peace of mind, and all through her +own selfishness. Why had she not warned him in time? why not forsworn +the pleasure to which she had no claim? These were questions she asked +herself, but could give no reply, except the sigh her heart chose to +offer. Her relationship to Smithers reverted to her mind. That she did +not love him, nor he her, she was convinced; then why not accept the +love of John Ferguson? She meditated; but in that meditation her +principle got the better of her inclinations, and she sacrificed her +interest, her happiness, and her comfort, for the inviolable +preservation of truth. + +These scruples were known to Mrs. Rainsfield and Tom, who, we have seen, +considered them unnecessarily severe, and combated against them +unceasingly, though without making any impression on the mind of +Eleanor. They deprecated what they considered her folly, and attempted +by all the arts of persuasion to move her from her purpose; but she had +been inculcated with a perception of high morality, and an appreciation +of strict integrity. Truth had been always represented to her mind as +the fundamental basis of all virtue. Her desires and her passions had +been regulated to a subserviency to the Christian character, and her +nature had been moulded in a religious education. Consequently, upon the +dictates of her conscience she acted, and felt she would be guilty of an +unpardonable moral offence to refuse her hand where her word had been +pledged. + +In this light, then, the parties stood to one another. Rainsfield was +anxious to get his cousin married to Smithers, who was equally uneasy to +have the event consummated, as he had serious misgivings on the eventual +possession of his prize. Eleanor, though she was by no means anxious to +hasten the marriage, had no desire to unnecessarily postpone an +occurrence which she could not prevent, but of which latterly, more than +ever, she had had cause to dread. However, she knew regrets were vain, +and therefore attempted to attune her thoughts and feelings to a strict +sense of duty, to forget her own personal likings, and to enter calmly +upon the obligations expected of her. Notwithstanding all her fortitude +poor Eleanor was but mortal, and she could not sustain the gigantic +contest she had undertaken. She strove long and bravely, but her love +would at times overcome her, and leave her the constant prey of her +feelings, and to a melancholy contemplation of the sacrifice she was +making; hence her protracted illness and tardy recovery. + +But we must return to our narrative. We left William and the ladies in +the parlour at Strawberry Hill house, and Bob Smithers walking from the +stockyard in that direction, breathing heavy threats of vengeance +against the gentleman who had so grievously offended him, and who had +escaped his just punishment upon the occasion when the offence was +committed. It is needless for us to comment on Bob's version of his +affray with William Ferguson, as the correct one is already known to +the reader; but the tale he told Rainsfield was the one related by him +wherever the circumstance of the blow became known. + +William, as we have said, was sitting in company with the ladies, and +was submitting with the greatest docility to be made use of, by lending +his hands for the extension of a skein of silk while it was being wound +off by Eleanor, when a little boy bearing the Billing impress on his +features appeared at the open window, and said he had something to say +to Mr. Ferguson. + +"Say it out, my boy," said William, who imagined it might be some formal +invitation from the Billing paterfamilias. + +"Please, sir, father told me to tell you a gentleman was waiting down at +our house to see you," said the boy. + +"And who is the gentleman, my lad?" asked William. + +"Please, sir, I don't know," he replied; "father only told me a +gentleman wanted to speak with you directly." + +"Is Mr. Rainsfield down at your father's house?" asked William. + +"No, sir," was the reply. + +"Very well; tell the gentleman, or your father, that I will be down +there in a few minutes," said William; "and that if the gentleman is in +any very particular hurry, it would have been a great saving of his time +if he had come up here." + +Now, the circumstance struck all present (though no one said so) as +being rather remarkable, that Smithers, for they knew it could be no +other than he, should desire to meet William Ferguson alone, and away +from the house. William knowing or suspecting the nature of the coming +interview, fearing that his friends would have a similar suspicion, and +having no desire to excite their fears, tried to show his coolness and +indifference by whistling an air as he left the room. But this +oft-repeated stratagem had not the desired effect of allaying the fears +of one, at least, who was cognizant of the quarrel at Brompton and the +whole attendant circumstances. This was Eleanor, and she was convinced, +from the manner of Smithers, that he meditated some action which he was +ashamed to perform within sight of the house. She therefore hastily put +on her hat, and prepared to follow William, and being joined by Kate, +she stepped out through the window to the green sward in front. + +Hardly a dozen steps were necessary, to bring them clear of the angle of +some outhouses that intercepted the view of the stables and Billing's +premises; and as she cleared that angle, it was to this point Eleanor +directed her gaze. The sight that she then witnessed showed that she was +only too correct in her surmise as to the intentions of Smithers; for +there she saw him in high altercation with William, who stood perfectly +at ease taking the matter as coolly as possible. His arms were folded +across his breast, and a pleasant smile played on his features, while +his antagonist had worked his wrath up to the culminating point, ready +for a mighty explosion; and raved about the ground while he brandished +his whip. + +We will not trouble our readers, or shock their ears or senses, by a +recapitulation of the dialogue; suffice it to say, that if warm it was +short. So that when Eleanor discovered the disputants she witnessed the +exacerbation of Smithers' ire, and the descent of his whip across +William's shoulders. The fate of Smithers on this occasion might have +been similar to what it was on a former one had not the attention of +William been drawn off from his purpose by hearing a loud shriek at his +rear. He turned to see whence it came, while his castigator, taking no +further heed of the circumstance than to look round to see from whom it +emanated, continued to belabour at his victim with redoubled energy. + +It was Eleanor who had uttered the shriek when she saw the blow struck +by Smithers; and instantly flying between the belligerents, throwing +her arms around the neck of her intended husband, she exclaimed: +"Robert! Robert! for mercy's sake, what are you--" But she was not +permitted to finish the sentence for the ruffian whom she had clasped in +an embrace that should have melted a heart of stone shouted in her ear, +coupled with an expression not fit to be repeated: "What business have +you here?" while he flung her from him with a force that hurled her +insensibly to the ground, where she lay without a murmur. This was more +than the honour and chivalry of William could bear. To be attacked +himself he cared little as he was well able to defend himself, and also +to retaliate when he thought fit; but to see a brute, without one spark +of manly feeling, not only lift his hand to a lady, and that lady a +gentle amiable girl who was about to bless him with more earthly +happiness than was meet for him to enjoy, but to prostrate her with such +force as to momentarily deprive her of vitality, was more than his +spirit could placidly endure. The lion was roused in his nature; and, +while Kate attended to her fallen friend, he sprung like an infuriated +animal on the cowardly villain; wrenched his whip from his hand and let +him feel not only the weight of _it_, but also of the avenger's athletic +arm, in such a way as would cause him to remember it for many a day. + +When William had thrashed the wretch until he had driven him to seek +shelter in the stables, he returned to where still lay the form of +Eleanor, who showed no signs of returning consciousness. Feeling alarmed +at the lengthened duration of the swoon Kate and her brother thought +they had best remove her to the house at once; with which intention +William took her in his arms, and carried her in to Mrs. Rainsfield. + +The good lady was quite alarmed at the appearance of poor Eleanor's +features, when her still inanimate form was brought to her. An ashy +paleness pervaded her face; her eyes were closed; and, with the +exception of an occasional faint sigh, no signs of life were visible. We +say, Mrs. Rainsfield was justly frightened at the appearance of the poor +girl, and she asked in an agitated manner: "What is this? what is the +matter? Eleanor swooned? Good gracious! what does it mean?" + +"My dear Mrs. Rainsfield," said William, "if you will allow me to tender +my advice I would suggest that you instantly put Miss Eleanor to bed. I +sadly fear her injuries are severe, and that it is more than a mere +swoon under which she is now labouring. Pray, don't delay, but remove +her at once; and Kate can tell you all the circumstances. If you will +lead the way I will carry her into her room." + +"Poor Eleanor! and is this too the work of that viper, Smithers?" said +Mrs. Rainsfield. + +"It is, indeed!" replied Kate. + +"Oh, the vile wretch!" exclaimed the lady. "It is as I thought, he +cares not a straw for her life. A man that would treat a tender, loving +girl in this way, would be guilty of any enormity; and yet she is so +infatuated as to court her own misery by persisting in accepting this +monster. Oh! what would I not give to see her safe out of his clutches? +But he surely can't have the effrontery to look her in the face after +this; nor she so silly as to receive him if he does. Certainly not, if I +can dissuade her, and I think I have some good ground to work upon now." + +By this time William had deposited his burden on the little snow-white +bed of the motionless girl, and left the room and the patient to the +guardianship of Mrs. Rainsfield and his sister; while he strolled out +for a few minutes to calm his agitation, and weigh the circumstances in +his mind. He had walked backwards and forwards for about a quarter of an +hour when he turned again into the house just as his sister was looking +for him. + +"Oh, Will!" she said, "Eleanor is in a dreadful state. She is fearfully +ill, and we think it is a fever. Mrs. Rainsfield says there is a doctor +who has lately settled at Alma, and she was going to send one of the men +over for him; but I thought it would be better, to prevent the +possibility of any mistake, for you to go. Will you go, and at once, +Will?" + +The answer William gave to his sister's question was to dart off to the +stables for his horse; and in a few minutes afterwards he might have +been seen galloping through the bush to procure the services of the son +of Galen located at the nearest township. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + "Oh! wretch without a tear--without a thought, + Save joy above the ruin thou hast wrought-- + The time shalt come, nor long remote, when thou + Shalt feel far more than thou inflictest now." + + BYRON. + + +When Smithers had partially recovered from the wholesome chastisement +administered by William Ferguson, and had witnessed, from his +concealment, the hasty departure of his foe, the nature of his journey, +and the cause of his precipitance, flashed instantly across his mind; +and, we would fain believe, his conscience was visited by compunctions +for his unpardonable brutality. He cogitated for some time on the +course he was to pursue, and thought of how he could explain away the +circumstances; for even to her whom he knew would forgive much he hardly +dared venturing an explanation; knowing too well that his conduct was +not to any extent defensible. He, however, determined to make the +attempt to see Eleanor, and endeavour to remove from her mind any +impression that might be injurious to his cause; and with that idea he +approached the house. + +Oh, Smithers, you ignorant inflated fool! How little you know the nature +of woman, and how less you can estimate their worth, and appreciate the +value of such an one as her who has surrendered her heart to thy +keeping! Thinkest thou that it is woman's only province to forgive? That +thy perpetual contumely should be continually pardoned, and thou, +without any innate goodness or recommendatory virtue, should ever claim +the devotion of a spirit the personification of purity, while thy +conduct is such as would make that spirit, were not its adjuncts truth +and compassion, shrink with loathing from the vile contamination of your +very breath, and a fear of the consequences of your truculence and +inhumanity! It is true, some women blinded by the infatuation of love, +would sacrifice their happiness, peace, and liberty, even life, on the +unworthy object of their ardent affection; but if thou believest this, +buoy not thyself up with the idea that all thy sins will be forgiven +thee! Eleanor has had much to deprecate in thee! many have been the +wounds thy churlishness has inflicted on her gentle nature, and though +she was willing to sacrifice all her earthly happiness to maintain +intact her truth and honour, yet remember she is not actuated by love, +but by an exalted sense of duty. Let her once be convinced that she is +exonerated from a performance of that, and thy bird has flown. Duty has +a strong tractive influence on a mind attuned to a high appreciation of +integrity; but love is a still more powerful incentive, and dost thou +know thou art not the happy possessor of that love? Yes, thou not only +knowest that no such sentiment is felt for you by that being whose +purity thou contemnest, but thou fearest, nay, even art certain, that +the object of that being's love is another; and that other he whom thou +hast striven to make thine enemy! Yet, knowing all this, thinkest thou +that woman, frail confiding woman, could trust thee as her mundane +protector? Because Eleanor has forgiven much, thou thinkest thyself +secure; but if this last is not the _coup de grace_ in thy catalogue of +contumacious infamies we shall be inclined to deprecate Eleanor's +leniency. But to return. + +One of Bob Smithers' characteristics was a conceited self-complacency +that distended his very soul with its blinding virus; and, speaking in +the figurative of a popular apothegm, he estimated his commendable +qualities as equivalent to no insignificant quantity of that mean +maltine beverage which we thirsty members of the great Anglo-Saxon +family call small-beer. He therefore thought he had but to go to his +betrothed with a penitential cast of countenance, and claim as a right, +and receive as a matter of course, that forgiveness which he was +entitled to expect. + +"I was only", (he said apologetically to himself), "in a bit of 'a scot' +at the time, and when she came in my way I pushed her off when she fell. +It was her own fault, and she must know I did nothing to her but what +any other man similarly situated would have done." + +At the conclusion of his meditations he stepped on to the verandah of +the house, and seeing a servant passing out of the sitting-room, into +which he had entered by the window, he called her and asked, "Where was +her mistress, or Miss Eleanor?" + +"Miss Eleanor is ill, and missus is with her," replied the girl who +looked awkward and rather sheepish at her questioner. + +"Is Miss Eleanor very bad, Mary?" asked Smithers. + +"I think she is, sir," replied she. + +"Mary! Mary!" called a voice that was almost instantly followed by the +utterer, Kate, who ran into the room, saying: "Do run out, and try and +find Mr. Rainsfield." But she had hardly got the words out of her mouth, +as she stood in the doorway of the room, than, catching sight of +Smithers, she uttered a faint scream, and fled hastily from his +presence. She was instantly followed by the girl, who had partly heard +the cause of her young mistress' illness, and was desirous to escape the +questioning of one whose character she could also despise. + +Smithers stood musing for some minutes, not altogether pleased with +these evidences of repulsion on the part of Eleanor's friends; but his +fears of their influence over her mind were only momentary. He must see +her, he said to himself; have an interview with her, and the little +difficulty will soon be arranged. Then he would hurry his marriage, he +thought, and take Eleanor away from the hated influence. "Those +Fergusons," he continued in his soliloquy, "are a pragmatic, hateful +lot, and I can't understand why Rainsfield does not keep them away from +his place." Smithers firmly believed they had been created for the +express purpose of causing him annoyance; and their present especial +object in settling in that district was to frustrate his marriage, and +rob him of his bride elect. "But he would defeat them," he said to +himself, "or he'd be--;" but here his mental reservations were +interrupted by Mrs. Rainsfield, who exclaimed as she entered the room: +"So, sir! you dare to show yourself again in my house after the vile +atrocity you have been guilty of. As to your infamy I do not wonder at +it, for it is only the fructification of a nature equally depraved, +brutal, and worthless. But after your insulting attack upon a guest of +mine, and your cruelty to a gentle and amiable girl that you should +have ventured within the precincts of this house I am truly astonished. +I know you to be too great a coward to do so did you think there was any +possibility of your meeting with the one who so lately gave you your +deserts; and I can only attribute your presence now as a further proof +of your arrogance, and to an endeavour to insult the female inmates of +this dwelling." + +"I don't know what you mean, Mrs. Rainsfield," replied the object of +that lady's invectives; "I never offered any insult to you or any other +lady in this house; so your strictures on me are quite uncalled for." + +"What, sir! can you stand before me with such barefaced effrontery, and +tell me such an unequivocal falsehood?" cried the lady. "Have you not +insulted me by cajoling from my presence a gentleman, who is my friend +and visitor, to basely assault him? and then what do you say of your +dastardly behaviour to that girl who was contemplating her own misery +and destruction by throwing herself away on such a wretch as you?" + +"I decline to answer you, madam," said Smithers, "for your language is +most offensive." + +"Then even you are susceptible on the point of feeling," replied Mrs. +Rainsfield, "and yet you think I can't feel an insult. I tell you, sir, +that if you had subjected me to the treatment that you did Eleanor I +should have considered it an offence of the most unpardonable nature. +But I love Eleanor even better than I do myself, and you may therefore +expect no mercy at my hands. For your offence to myself I shall expect +an expiation by your totally absenting yourself from this house; and if +I have any influence over the mind of that ill-used girl (which I hope +and trust I have), you may rest assured it will be exercised to your +disadvantage. So, sir, without any further parley, I have to request +that you instantly leave the house." + +"I shall do nothing of the sort, madam," replied Smithers, "your +husband I presume is the master of this house?" + +"Well, sir, I expect him here every moment," exclaimed the lady, "and if +you do not obey my injunctions you shall be forcibly expelled from the +premises." + +"And situated as I am," continued Smithers not heeding the last threat +of his irate companion, "with regard to Eleanor, I think I am entitled +to see her." + +"You shall not be admitted to her presence, sir," replied the lady. + +"I wish to see her," said Smithers, "to explain the circumstances under +which the accident occurred." + +"Accident indeed!" exclaimed Mrs. Rainsfield. "It requires no +explanation, sir, it speaks for itself. I have already had your +brutality recounted by an eyewitness." + +"By her friend I presume and one that is therefore not mine," sneered +Smithers, "the sister of that villain who first poisoned Eleanor's mind +towards me." + +"Cease, sir! your invectives against one with whom you are not worthy to +be mentioned in the same breath," cried Mrs. Rainsfield. "It was Miss +Ferguson who related to me the unmanly and ruffianly manner in which you +hurled Eleanor to the ground. She now lies with her life in imminent +peril, and yet you have the audacity to stand before me and call it an +accident which you will be able to explain." + +"Yes, madam! I am confident I shall be able to satisfy Eleanor that it +was not intentional on my part. I am exceedingly grieved that she should +be so extremely ill, but believe me, Mrs. Rainsfield, this once, that if +you will permit me to see her only for a few minutes I will be quite +contented, and will certainly relieve her mind from any impression of my +having wilfully harmed her." + +"No, sir! it is useless your attempting to alter my determination. I +tell you emphatically, that you shall not see her. She is now in a +raging fever, and the sight of you at this moment might extinguish the +flickering flame of her existence. To save me from any painful +necessity, I trust, sir, you will see the expediency of ceasing your +importunities and at once taking your departure." + +"I much regret that you will not permit me to see Eleanor," exclaimed +Smithers, "because I am sure you are acting under a misapprehension of +my motives and actions. If you would but permit me to explain, I--" + +"It is useless, sir." + +"But I am confident you must have been misinformed of the circumstances. +Your informant is no friend of mine, and would have consequently given +the affair a colouring detrimental to my interests." + +Mrs. Rainsfield could stand no more of this colloquy, and with +difficulty suppressed her rage. It had twice or thrice been just on the +point of overflowing; but now it was beyond her power to restrain it. To +have her young friend Kate branded as a liar by the infamous viper +before her struck her dumb with indignation; and it was some moments +before she regained the power of utterance, when she exclaimed: + +"You mean grovelling, despicable villain! You must of necessity add to +your opprobriousness by including Miss Ferguson among those whom you +choose to insult, and attack her with your scurrility. Because you +generate lies yourself do you think she is capable of uttering +falsehoods? I will endure you no longer. Instantly leave this house, +sir, do you hear me? or I'll--" + +"Pray, what is the matter, my dear?" enquired Mr. Rainsfield, who +entered at this moment. + +"Oh, John! cause that man to leave the house, and I'll tell you," +replied his wife. + +"My dear Rainsfield," commenced Smithers, but was cut short by the +infuriated lady, who exclaimed: + +"Not a word in my presence, sir. I have already ordered you to leave the +house; do you intend to obey me?" Then, turning to her husband, Mrs. +Rainsfield said in a voice almost choking with passion: "John, will you +not assist and support me? I have been grossly insulted by that man, who +persists in defying me. Is he to continue doing so?" and she sank into a +chair, and gave vent to her excited feelings in a flood of tears. + +Rainsfield was not one of those unfortunates, belonging to that class of +marital bipeds known as "hen-pecked husbands," though he was certainly +of an uxorious disposition. It cannot therefore be supposed that he +could have calmly witnessed the distress of mind his spouse evidently +appeared to be in without feeling some sympathy; and she being in that +state in which philosophers tell us woman soonest touches the heart of +inexorable man, viz., in tears, that sympathy was heightened. +Rainsfield's connubial heart was softened at the evidence of his wife's +woes; he therefore turned to Smithers, and said: "Leave us together just +now, Bob; I'll see you before you go." + +It must be distinctly understood that though Rainsfield, as he was in +duty bound, sided with his wife on this occasion, he had no desire to +quarrel with Smithers, even if his wife had; far from it. It is true he +had heard something of the little fracas of flogging and fainting; but +that was nothing to him. If the young men chose to quarrel, he +considered, let them do so! and if his cousin chose to interfere, and +get hard knocks for so doing, he could not help it. If the girl had +fainted it was a pity, but what influence had he over her syncope? Women +always made a great deal, he thought, about those things, but generally +cool down after a while and forget such little grievances. So when he +communicated to Smithers his wish that he should leave the house, he did +so with an expression in his look that plainly said: "Never mind, old +fellow, you will lose nothing by leaving your case in my hands." The +delinquent, we have no doubt, fully understood it, for he instantly +obeyed the behest. Let it be said, however, to the credit of Mr. +Rainsfield, that as he took this view of the case he was only aware that +Eleanor had fainted and was ill; but had no idea that William Ferguson +had gone off to Alma for a doctor, and that Eleanor's case was so +dangerous. He therefore imagined that his wife had magnified her danger, +and the heinousness of Smithers' crime; and consequently thought more +lightly of the whole affair than did his partner. But he was shortly to +be undeceived. + +As Smithers left the room Rainsfield took a seat beside his wife and +said: "Well, my dear, what is the cause of all this? you seem agitated. +I have heard something of what has happened, but surely that is not +sufficient cause for your angry altercation with Bob Smithers, and +making yourself miserable." + +"Do you not think so, John?" she replied; "first to have Eleanor nearly +brought to death's door (for she is in such a raging fever that I have +been compelled to get William Ferguson to go to Alma for a doctor), and +then to be insulted and openly defied in my own house by the villain who +is the cause of it all; do you not think that is sufficient to make me +agitated?" + +"Certainly, my dear," replied her husband, "the matter appears to me in +a new light. I was not aware it was of so serious a nature; pray tell me +all about it." + +Mrs. Rainsfield was not long in replying to this mandate, and speedily +gave her husband a detailed account of the horrors of Smithers' +proceedings, permitting them in nowise to lose in her narrative any of +their force and piquancy. She then wound up her recapitulation of +atrocities by demanding to know if her husband could think of permitting +so vile a man to darken his door again. "Understand me, John," she said, +"I shall expect you to protect me against him and his insults: and that +can't be done while his presence here is tolerated. If ever he enters +this house I shall most assuredly consider that you are conniving at +his insolence, and shall certainly confine myself to my own room during +his stay." + +We have seen that Mr. Rainsfield was mindful of his wife's wishes, but +at the same time had no desire to make a breach with Smithers; +consequently he found himself in a dilemma, from which he saw no +extrication without giving offence to one or other of the parties. He +therefore made no promise to his wife. + +"You don't answer me, John," said she, "what am I to consider you think +of his conduct?" + +"Well, my dear," replied her husband, "I really can't tell. It is +certainly reprehensible, but there is no use quarrelling with Smithers. +If it is any satisfaction to you that he should not visit us I dare say +he will not trouble you; but for my own part I can't see how you can +expect him to forego his right to see Eleanor." + +"Eleanor herself, when she recovers, if she ever does, will relieve him +from that obligation," replied Mrs. Rainsfield. + +"How can you say that?" said her husband. "She has expressed no +intention of doing so." + +"No, certainly; the poor girl is not in a state to express any +determination," replied the wife; "but do you think she will suffer +herself to be led to the altar by a brute like him, a man who has shown +himself on more than one occasion quite unworthy of her? If she has got +the spirit I think she has she will treat him with that contempt which +he deserves." + +"I see how it is," exclaimed Rainsfield, "you are prejudiced against +Smithers." + +"Prejudiced against Smithers, John?" replied his wife; "yes, I may be, +but not in the sense you mean. You fancy I dislike the man because I +would prefer Eleanor to accept another but you are mistaken. Hitherto I +never disliked Smithers as a man, but as a suitor of Eleanor I certainly +abhor him; and for this reason that I saw her inevitable fate would be +misery and wretchedness if she were ever mated to him. Now though I have +more than ever cause not only to detest him for his insolence to me but +to fear him for Eleanor's life." + +"You are infatuated against him," replied the husband. "And for this +quarrel of yours you would wish to destroy his happiness irrespective of +the feelings of Eleanor herself. You say she is really ill and cannot be +spoken to on the subject; then at present let the matter rest until her +recovery." + +"On one condition only," replied Mrs. Rainsfield, "and that is that +Smithers in the interval be banished from the house. If you agree to +that I am content to leave his further expatriation to her good +judgment." + +"So let it be," replied her husband. "I'll see Bob, and try to persuade +him to let the settlement of the affair remain in _statu quo_." + +With that the couple parted, the wife to return to the sick room, and +the husband to seek Smithers. We will not trace their steps on their +respective missions but merely state that Mrs. Rainsfield and Kate +passed an anxious night with their invalid. At an early hour on the +following morning, hearing a horseman's step passing the house, while +they were anxiously expecting the doctor, Mrs. Rainsfield looked from +the window of the room where she was keeping her vigils and detected the +retreating outline of Bob Smithers' form as he departed for his home. +Her husband she had not seen since their interview in the parlour, but +as she had not since that time left Eleanor's bedside it gave her no +concern; or at least she never thought of an absence of which she was +not cognizant. However he had been absent all night, and while the +doctor, who had arrived with William shortly after the departure of +Smithers, was administering his febrifuges to poor Eleanor he was +enacting the scene which we will detail to the reader. + +Rainsfield had had a long conversation with Smithers on the subject +that had been communicated to him by his wife; and had, after a good +deal of persuasion, induced him to agree to absent himself from +Strawberry Hill until Eleanor's recovery. + +Smithers, when he found his companion disposed to favour him, was the +louder in his asseverations of guiltlessness; demanding an instant +opportunity of explanation, and vowing vengeance against everybody +concerned, and John Rainsfield in particular, for not being master in +his own house. However Rainsfield, though he was inclined to forget his +dignity by stooping to entreaty with him, was nevertheless firm to his +purpose, and not to be intimidated by his blustering; and at last +succeeded in inducing him to promise to take his departure by daylight +the following morning, so as to avoid the possibility of any further +unpleasantness. With that he left him to his own meditations, and walked +away. + +Mr. Rainsfield had not taken many steps beyond the out-buildings +belonging to the house before he heard his own name called in a cautious +manner from behind a tree; and, glancing his eye in the direction whence +came the voice, he was startled to see the stalwart figure of a black, +half concealed behind the trunk, beckoning him with his finger. The +suddenness of the apparition for some moments unnerved him, and deprived +him of the power of utterance. He, however, mastered his fears; and, as +his self-control returned, he demanded to know what the black wanted +with him. + +"You know me, Mr. Rainsfield?" replied the black, "I'm Jemmy Davies." + +"Oh, yes, I know you," replied Mr. Rainsfield, "but I thought you and +the whole of your tribe had left the country." + +"So we did, sir, but we've all come back again, and a great many more of +the tribe too, and they are determined to kill you. Barwang and all +Dugingi's friends will kill you, and I can't prevent them though I've +tried; for they are too strong for me. So I've come to give you +warning." + +"They intend to kill me, do they? then, by G--! they shall repent their +rash resolve. But how am I to believe this?" asked Mr. Rainsfield of the +black. "You! you wretch, have you got some vile scheme in your head. +Think yourself fortunate that I've no gun with me or I'd shoot you on +the spot." + +"You wouldn't shoot me," replied Jemmy Davies; "didn't Mr. Tom tell you +that I'm always a good friend to you, how I tried to stop Dugingi from +stealing your rations when you killed so many of our tribe; and now I +come to tell you that they want to kill you and you think me no good. +But what for do you think, Mr. Rainsfield, I want to do you harm? If I +want to see you die I wouldn't tell you of this; but let the black +fellows kill you. If you will not believe me I can't help it; but if you +like to come down to the crossing-place to-night at dark I'll meet you +and show you our camp in the scrub; when you will see if I tell you a +lie. I will stop Barwang and his friends as long as I can, but I can't +prevent them altogether from coming to you; so you had better look out +and be ready." + +This warning sounded as an avenging declaration in the ear of +Rainsfield. He had for sometime flattered himself on his security and +tranquillity; and hoped, nay even believed, that he had effectually +ridden himself of a hitherto incessant annoyance. But now that the +surviving friends of his foes had returned, with the avowed object of +seeking vengeance, he was troubled in his mind. He, however, determined +to further question his informant, and, rousing himself from a reverie +into which he had fallen, perceived that the black had departed. Mr. +Rainsfield dragged through the remainder of the day with a heavy heart, +and never more than then regretted the absence of his brother. Should he +accept the black's invitation? he asked himself. It would be a +satisfaction to know in what force they were collected; but then (he +thought) the messenger might mean treachery. However, he would go; he +could detect it if it existed, and if it was attempted he could shoot +the wretch before he had time or opportunity to betray him. Yes (he +thought) he would arm himself well, and meet Jemmy Davies at the time +and place he appointed. + +"I'm glad you've come, Mr. Rainsfield," exclaimed the black, emerging +from the obscurity of the bush, as the squatter rode down to the bank of +the river some few hours after the last interview. + +"Yes I've come," said Rainsfield, "and at your bidding; but see I am +well armed," as he pointed to a brace of revolvers in his belt, "and, if +you are attempting to play me false, the first shot I'll fire shall be +through your body." + +"Never fear me, Mr. Rainsfield," replied Jemmy Davies, "I'm not going to +betray you. My greatest fear is not from your pistols but from the +tomahawks of my tribe; for if they find me with you they will be sure to +kill me." + +"Very well," said Rainsfield, "I'll follow you, lead the way;" and the +two crossed the stream in silence. + +"You had better leave your horse here, sir," said the guide, "in case he +should be heard by the tribe." + +Rainsfield acted on this hint and dismounted; and fastening the animal +to a tree, he said to the black: "Now you can go on, but remember if +this is a trap for me you had better think twice before you proceed; for +I shall keep my hand ready to lodge a ball in your heart the moment I +perceive any treachery." + +"Never be afraid, sir," replied the black, who continued to thread the +scrub in silence with his companion close to his heels. When they had +proceeded thus for some little time Rainsfield perceived by the +appearance of lights, and the noise of the blacks' voices, that they +were nearing "the camp." Jemmy Davies desired him to keep close to him, +and make no noise, as they were nearer the camp than appeared through +the thick scrub, and then led him a few steps further forward, when the +whole tribe became plainly discernible. They then dropt on their hands +and knees and crept close up to what we may call the circumvallation of +the gunyahs; and the crouching white man surveyed intently the scene +before him. Then would have been the time to have profited by his +position if treachery had been meditated; but not a leaf stirred around +them, while Rainsfield was lost in a reverie none of the most pleasant. +He was, however, aroused from this by Jemmy Davies, who pointed to a +group apart from the body of the tribe consisting of about fifteen men, +who were all armed with their spears, nullanullas, and boomerangs, and +were painted for a corroboree. One black, taller than the rest, was +haranguing them at the moment, and his hearers were apparently +acquiescing in his directions, from the yells and other marks of +approbation with which they from time to time greeted his diatribe. + +"That's Barwang and his friends," whispered Jemmy as he drew away his +companion from the spot. "They will have a great corroboree to-morrow, +and then you look out. To-morrow night they will come up to the station +to watch, very likely they will be somewhere about where you saw me this +morning; so if you keep some one on the look-out, and fire some shots +into the bush, they will think you see them and keep away. They won't do +anything to-morrow night, but watch. When they come up to kill you there +will come a great many, so keep looking out." + +Rainsfield and his companion returned to the crossing-place, when the +former mounted his horse and passed through the river, while the latter +returned to his tribe. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + "Till taught by pain, + Men really know not what good water's worth." + + BYRON. + + +The reader will remember Tom Rainsfield's journey to town had been +delayed for some time beyond when he had originally intended to start +owing to the precarious state of Eleanor's health; consequently, when he +took his departure, it was necessary for him to use speed in his +travelling. + +The summer had by that time considerably advanced, and the country had +suffered much from the continued drought that had prevailed for months. +Rain was anxiously and hopingly looked for, and a pluvial visitation +would have been hailed by the entire population with satisfaction. Tom, +as he journeyed, saw this desideratum more plainly than before leaving +home; for, as he mounted on to the extensive plains contiguous to the +source of the Gibson river, the parched bare soil became perfectly +uncomfortable to travel on. + +These plains were of fine black alluvial soil, so thinly timbered as to +have hardly a tree visible within range of the eye. They were covered +with grass, which, when the earth contained any moisture, flourished +luxuriantly, and would at times stand waving like an agrarian picture of +cereal plenty, so abundant as to impede the progress of the equestrian +traveller. But now a "change had come o'er the spirit of the dream," and +the herbous mass lay scorched and dry on the arid ground, offering no +nutriment to the browsing kine, and only requiring a single spark to +generate a grand combustion. + +Much has been said and written of the burning prairies of America, and +of the bush-fires of Australia; and we may remark, it is in such places +as these plains where they originate. Though not so extensive and +destructive in their course of devastation as those fearful +conflagrations in the western hemisphere, the bush-fires are still +frequently of sufficient magnitude to be perfectly irresistible; and +occurring as they usually do in the heart of a settled country, they are +rendered more dangerous to human life and property. How they originate +often remains a mystery. Of course carelessness frequently gives rise to +them; though at the same time they have been known to occur in parts +where neither whites nor blacks ever tread; and too often, when the +destroying element rages over and sweeps away a homestead or a farm, the +work is attributed to the incendiarism of some inoffensive blacks, who +are made to suffer at the hands of the whites. + +Tom Rainsfield journeyed on his course over these plains that looked +like a vast neglected hay-field; except in parts where water had lodged +and formed temporary ponds or "water-holes." There it presented an area +of black mud, baked hard by the power of the sun, and had absorbed so +much of its heat as to render it even painful for a horse to stand upon. +Tom rode under vertical rays, keeping as much as possible on the +withered grass (as being more comfortable than the sun-absorbing and +reflecting road), without the companionship of a fellow traveller to +relieve the monotony and solitude of the way; and not daring to indulge +in the consolation of a pipe, lest a stray spark should ignite the +inflammable material at his feet. Miles and miles of this weary and +trying travelling were passed, and Tom was not sorry when the track +entered a country less open, and he once more rode through bush land. + +Here, too, the ground, though partially sheltered from the sun's rays, +was equally devoid of feed and moisture. Not a blade of grass was to be +seen, nor a drop of water in the creeks and water-holes. For himself, +notwithstanding that his thirst was insatiable, Tom cared little; he +could manage to do without a drink until he reached the end of his day's +stage; but it was for the faithful animal that carried him that he +anxiously scrutinized every spot likely to contain the smallest +reservoir of the much coveted liquid. But his researches were all +unavailing; as yet no water could he find; until at one point on the +road, when he had almost given up the search as hopeless, he spied a +large swamp filled with reeds, in which a herd of cattle lay almost +concealed, apparently cooling themselves in the water. Here then he had +no doubt he should find what he and his horse had so much desired; and +hastening on to the black adamantine margin of what had formerly been a +large lagoon, he witnessed a sight that struck him with dismay. Not one +drop of water was visible in the extensive basin, and the cattle which +he had imagined were luxuriating in a natural refrigerator, were dead +and immovable. + +Such scenes are common under similar circumstances; and at times, while +the country is suffering from the effects of a drought, to see cattle +"bogged" in a water-hole is only thought of as a necessary consequence +fully expected, and therefore hardly to be deplored. Still when +witnessed by one who may be seeking that which is essential to life, to +allay a thirst which may be consuming, it is enough to make the heart of +such sink within him; and, though Tom was hardly in so reduced a +predicament, yet he could not gaze on the unfortunate animals without +some unpleasant admixture of perturbation and concern. + +In the swamp as many as fifty cattle had sought shelter from the heat +and moisture for their thirsty tongues. But having waded through the +mud, into which they had sank to their middles, they had possibly +satisfied themselves for the moment with a concoction of glutinous soil +and vapid lukewarm water; but, from their exhausted strength, had not +been able to extricate themselves from their miry bondage, and had +consequently died in their captivity. The mud at the time of Tom's visit +had perfectly hardened, and he traversed the whole bed of the swamp, in +the vain hope of finding some friendly hole in which a few welcome drops +might be found for his worn-out steed. But his search was fruitless, and +he was at last reluctantly compelled to relinquish it, from the attacks +of myriads of flies, who were disturbed at their bovine repast. He at +length continued his journey with a worn-out horse and a fagged and +jaded spirit, and was not a little grateful, as evening gathered its +shades around, to espy the glimmer of a light from the station which was +his night's destination. + +Tom's further progress was equally tedious and trying. The whole country +seemed parched up, and it was with the greatest difficulty he could push +on at all; and as the fatigue to himself and his horse necessitated him +to make his day's stages much shorter than he desired, it was the sixth +day from his leaving Strawberry Hill that he entered the village of +Waverley on the Brisbane river. + +When we call this a village it is only out of courtesy that we are +guilty of such a misnomer. For though, by the government plan of the +township, it looks a well-arranged and thriving place, we must state, +notwithstanding that building allotments had from time to time been put +up at auction by the government, and we may add found purchasers, and +that the existence of a public-house, rejoicing in the high-sounding +title of the Royal Hotel, lent an imposing air to the place,--the +gracefully tinted Queen Street, Albert Street, Prince of Wales Street, +etc. etc., of the elaborate survey office map, only existed in the mind +of the surveyor, and the imagination of the land-jobber. The said +thriving thoroughfares remained in a state of primeval grandeur; having +their boundaries marked, for the convenience of inquisitive seekers +after information, by small pegs driven into the ground, and whose sole +object seemed to be to lie concealed and bewilder those who might desire +to find them. + +By the foresaid plan this town or village (or, as the Americans would +say, this city) of Waverley was laid out with considerable taste. The +streets were all broad and at right angles; with a market reserve; +grants for church sites to various denominations of Christians; and a +broad quay facing the river, either for commercial purposes or for a +promenade for the inhabitants. But in reality the whole of the +architecture of the place was comprised in the sole habitation, the +Royal Hotel; which was built near the bank of the river, with a rough +fence enclosing three sides of a piece of ground that ran down to the +water's edge. This constituted the paddock for the horses of weary +travellers; and, judging from the dilapidated and generally insecure +state of the fence, argued the rare occurrence of a quadrupedal +occupancy. However, the sight of these little imperfections gave Tom no +concern, as he was confident his animal would not attempt, in the state +of fatigue to which he was reduced, to go roaming; and what gladdened +his heart more than anything was the sight of what he had long been +unacquainted with, fresh water. It was therefore with a considerable +amount of mental relief that he rode up to the unpretending hostlery. He +alighted at a door before which stood a post suspending a nondescript +lamp of antideluvian construction, and bearing from its appearance +questionable evidence of its ever having been submitted to the ordeal of +beaconing the path of the weary traveller. On the same post was affixed +a board on which the sign of the house was very plainly executed in +Roman character; informing, and we think very necessarily so, the +occasional visitor there was to be had accommodation for man and beast. + +The road leading to the Royal Hotel was not the one usually taken by +travellers from the interior to Brisbane. But Tom had chosen it to +avoid the more frequented track; knowing that in the present state of +the country travelling on the latter would be much more difficult and +troublesome. Therefore he had come by this secluded spot; intending to +cross the river, and travel down by the northern bank to Brisbane, while +the usual route was through the thriving and populous town of Ipswich, +and down the southern side of the Brisbane river. + +Tom Rainsfield entered the inn; and having his horse taken round by the +landlord to a bark shed designated a stable, where he preferred tending +the animal himself, rather than leaving him to the tender mercies of a +stranger, he gave him a drink of water and a feed of corn; and then +placing some bush hay at his disposal, left him to practise his +mastication, and make the most of his time. Having thus arranged for the +comforts of his steed Tom next thought of himself; so strolling into +the house, while something was preparing to satisfy the cravings of his +inward man, he walked into "the bar," to indulge in a pipe with +something cheering, and amuse himself by a little conversation with the +landlord. He entered the precincts of that _quarterre_ devoted to the +worship of the rosy god, and where the ministering spirit presided, +stationed behind a primitive sort of counter or bench, and at whose back +stood two kegs with taps and sundry bottles arranged on a shelf. These +(whatever their contents) appeared to be the stock-in-trade of the +establishment; excepting a large cask which stood in a corner, and which +by its appearance indicated spirituous contents, from whose bulk +probably the smaller kegs were from time to time replenished. Into this +sanctum then walked our friend Tom Rainsfield, and after calling for a +drink, and desiring the landlord in bush fashion to join him, he lit his +pipe; and taking his seat on the counter entered into the following +dialogue. + +"I shouldn't think you did much business here?" + +"Oh, pretty fair, sir." + +"Why, there doesn't appear to be many who frequent this room. I should +have thought it would have hardly been worth your while to have kept a +house in this place." + +"Nor more it would if I lived by gents a-stopping at my house; for I +don't get one of 'em a month. But you see them as pays me is the +sawyers; there are lots of 'em about these parts, cutting timber on the +hills and in the scrubs; and when they get their logs down into the +river they mostly stop here a while drinking before they raft the timber +over the flats on their way down to the mills. Then when they come back +they generally stop a while on the spree before they go to work. So, you +see, I makes a pretty good thing out of 'em; besides you see I keeps +rations here as well as grog, and sell them to the fellers when they run +short and ain't got no money." + +"But don't you often lose your money? I suppose they have none when they +go to town with their rafts, and very little when they come back; that +is even if they ever do come back; then I suppose you lose your score." + +"Oh, I manage to get it; precious few ever 'bilk' me, for I know my +marks pretty well, and them as I fancy won't come back I get to pay me +in timber; and I brand the logs with my own brand, and give some of the +fellers I can trust so much a hundred feet to raft them down for me. But +mostly the chaps come back before they have spree'd away all their +money. So I gets my share, as they pay me then what they owe me, and +have another go in until they 'knock down their pile.'" + +"And how much do their 'piles' consist of?" + +"Well, I couldn't say anything regular. I have had as much as a hundred +pounds 'knocked down' by one man at a time." And as the man said this he +smiled and heaved a sigh that seemed to say those were prosperous times +for him. True enough it was that he had had as large a sum of money paid +to him by one man; but as to the amount being actually spent, or an +equivalent even in liquor supplied, is extremely doubtful; but to follow +them in their conversation, Tom remarked: + +"And then they return to their work, I suppose, quite penniless?" + +"Oh, yes, it is very few of them ever have any money when they get back +to the scrubs; they have no use for it there, so they spend it like +men." + +"Like fools you mean." + +"No I don't. What is the use of the poor man saving his money? he can't +do anything with it; he can't buy any land to settle on; and he doesn't +care to save up his money to be robbed of it or lose it; he works hard +enough to get it, and so likes to spend it himself." + +"That is certainly one idea why working men should spend their hard-got +earnings. I should have imagined that men who had laboured hard, and +were living in the bush and scrubs in all sorts of discomfort, would +have had some desire to better their condition, and would have +accumulated means accordingly." + +"Not a bit of it, sir! they couldn't do anything with their money when +they got it." + +"Could they not buy a piece of land and commence farming? Here, for +instance, the land seems excellently adapted for agricultural purposes." + +"They can't get none, sir. The government folks won't sell any to the +poor man, leastwise the poor man can't buy none, and if he wants any he +is forced to buy it off the 'jobbers,' who generally screw him so much +that it doesn't pay. So the fellers prefer keeping to the scrubs cutting +timber; 'cos then they are not bound to work for sharpers, and can just +please themselves." + +It was evident the landlord of the Royal Hotel did not classify himself +in the category of those astute blades whom he designated by so cutting +an epithet; though Tom's opinion on that head somewhat differed from +"mine host's." He considered him a swindler of no ordinary magnitude, +though merely a type of his class. He was one of those locusts who +fattened on the hard working and reckless classes of colonial labourers; +who when they are plundering their victims, even under the guise of +friendship, dissuade them from frugality; expatiating on the numerous +sources of fraud (excepting of course their own) to which "the poor men" +would be exposed; and by their vile persuasions and chicanery too often +succeeding in eliminating from the minds of those with whom they come in +contact all notions of providence; and confirming them in their reckless +and dissipated lives. These bush publicans are the cause of immense +misery and depravity, and cannot be too harshly stigmatized for the +enormity of their infamies. + +Tom being informed that the edibles prepared for him were awaiting his +operations discontinued his dialogue, and adjourned to his epicurean +repast; at which satisfactory occupation we may leave him uninterrupted. +As his next day's stage would only be some five and twenty miles he +determined to delay his departure until the afternoon so as to give his +weary horse some additional rest; and it was therefore past noon on the +following day when he mounted his nag and left the village of Waverley. + +In leaving the inn he traversed the bank of the river for some few +hundred yards on his way to the flats where he was to cross when he +overtook a man that apparently had preceded him from the inn, and they +both went on together. The flats at this time were almost dry; for the +water in the river had long ceased to run, and at the particular spot to +which we allude, which was in ordinary times used as a ford, it could +have been crossed dry-shod, while above and below it the river remained +simply currentless pools. As Tom rode down to the bed of the river he +was struck with the immense number of logs that laid scattered about, +some on the banks, some in the river above, and some below, where a +small boat was moored, and a party of sawyers and raftmen camped. To +this party Tom's companion evidently belonged, and had apparently been +despatched to the public-house by his mates, as he was returning with +two suspicious-looking protuberances on each side of his bosom. These, +to outward appearance, very much resembled the outlines of bottles that +had been thrust into the ample folds of his blue shirt for convenience +and security of carriage. While trudging on the road alongside of Tom +Rainsfield the fellow gave evidence of a loquacious turn of mind by +commencing a conversation and inquiring if Tom was travelling to +Brisbane. Upon being informed by our friend that that was his +destination, and that he had come by way of Waverley to avoid the main +road on account of its desolate, dry, and feedless state, he remarked +with a whimsical smile: "I suppose you think that 'ere Waverley a fine +town?" + +"It seems a very good site for a township," replied Tom. "There is good +land in the vicinity, and abundance of water. I daresay in the course of +a few years it will be a flourishing place." + +"Not a bit of it, sir," said the man; "it never will be nothing. That +'ere house of Tom Brown's, 'The Royal,' as he calls it, will be the only +house in it for many a day, unless there be another public. Lor' bless +you, sir, that place of his even wouldn't be nothing if it wasn't for us +sawyers; we keeps old Brown alive, and he knows it." + +"Well, my good friend," asked Tom, "what is to prevent others settling +in the town besides Tom Brown?" + +"Why, what would be the good of it?" asked the other; "there would be +nothing for them to live upon. All the trade that's done is with us +sawyers, and there isn't more than Old Brown can do himself. Besides, +you see, most of the land that has been sold in the village has been +bought by the swells, who keep it to make money of it when some one +should want to buy." + +"I have no doubt," said Tom, "the land in the vicinity will eventually +be sold for farming, and then the growth of the village arising from the +trade that will ensue will be rapid." + +"Ah! there it is, sir. You see the squatters have got all the land now +for their sheep to feed on, and a poor man as has got a pound or two, +and wants a few acres, can't get 'em no how." + +"But the government is continually putting up land for sale," said Tom; +"and if any man desired to avail himself of the opportunity surely he +could attend the sales and effect a purchase." + +"No, sir, they couldn't," said the man; "for, you see, suppose I'm +working here in the bush and want to buy a bit of ground, how am I to +know when there is any for sale? They will perhaps mark out a few farms +near Brisbane, or Ipswich, and put 'em for sale, and they are sold off, +or leastwise the best of 'em, before I or any of my mates know anything +about it; or if so be as how I should get to hear of it and go to the +sale, there's so many people wanting 'em, perhaps gents who maybe live +in town, and want paddocks for their horses, that they will give better +prices than I can give; so, you see, I don't get half a chance. If I +want a bit of land to farm I think I ought to be able to get it anywhere +I like just as easy as the squatter can get his country. Axing your +pardon, sir, I suppose you're a squatter?" + +"That's true, my good man," replied Tom; "but I think myself that the +restrictions on the land are vastly injurious to the country, though I +doubt, even if every facility was given to the working man to procure +land if he would avail himself of the opportunity; and, instead of being +of benefit to him in the way intended, I question if the land would not +fall into the hands of 'jobbers.' Such a state of things is equally, if +not more, to be deprecated than the present system of permitting it to +remain in the possession of the squatters; for now it is made available +for pasturage; whereas then it would be allowed to lie unproductive +until such a time as the speculator could see an opportunity of a +profitable realization." + +"There would be plenty of us would buy lands and settle on them," said +the man, "if we only had the chance. Now if you like, sir, I'll just +tell you a case." + +Tom, though he knew all the man said was perfectly true, offered no +objection to the narrative, being desirous of eliciting from him his +notions on the subject, which was a much vexed one in the whole colony, +and purposely encouraged him to launch as deeply into it as he thought +fit. + +"It is about my brother, sir," said the man, "so I know it is quite +true, and you may believe it. We both came to this country together +about seven years ago, and took to cutting timber and rafting because it +paid well those times; and we made plenty of money, though we spent it +as fast as we got it. But somehow my brother didn't join much with the +other fellows, for he always was a steady chap, but took to saving his +money, and 'you may believe me,' it wasn't long before he had got 'a +pile,' of more than two hundred pounds. Now, sir, you see, when Bill +(that was his name) had saved all that money nothing would do him but he +must have a bit of ground and commence farming. There was a talk then of +some land being marked out somewhere near this 'ere town of Waverley; so +Bill thought he would like to have a few acres hereabouts better than +anywhere else. He asked some one who knew all about that sort of thing +how he should go about it to buy some, and the chap told him that he +ought to go to Brisbane and ask of the surveyors. So off he went to what +they call the survey office, and told the big-wig there that he wanted +to buy some land. Now this card showed him a lot of plans of where, he +said, they had land for sale; and Bill looks at 'em and took directions, +and went into the bush to have a look at 'em. But he found 'em to be no +good; they was only lots that had been left at the government sales, +when all the best pieces had been sold, and the ironbark ranges and +quartzy or barren gravelly country left; so he wouldn't buy any of 'em, +and told the chap in the office that he wanted some at Waverley; but he +told him he couldn't have none there as it wasn't surveyed. + +"Now the party Bill stopped with put him up to a wrinkle how he would +get the land he wanted to be surveyed 'cos he knew how to manage it. He +got up a requisition, or made an application, to have some lands on the +Brisbane river at Waverley surveyed and put up for sale, and sent it to +the government, as he said that was the sure way to get it. But it was +no go; the survey chaps told him that all the land thereabouts was +leased to squatters, and they couldn't touch it; but, says they, if you +want a nice piece of country there is some out here on the river, about +five miles away, that we are going to measure off into farms directly, +and they will just suit you; so, says they to my brother, just you go +out and have a look at them. Well, Bill went to look at 'em, and, sure +enough, they was first-rate land, so he said to himself I'll have a farm +there, and that's settled. But he was all wrong; for he didn't get a +farm there an' nowhere else as I shall tell you. + +"When he came back, after having see'd the land, he went to the office +and told the people that that place would just suit him, and he would +take a farm and buy it right off. But they laughed at him, and told him +that he couldn't buy it before it was surveyed, but that in a short +time, a week or so at most, they would have it all right and ready for +sale; so Bill thought he might make the best of it and wait. A couple +of weeks passed and he went to them, but it was not done; so he waited +another week or two, and went back again, when they told him that they +had had no time to see to it, but were going to do so very shortly. So +he waited another month, and then enquired, when they had the cheek to +tell him that they were obliged to put it off for they could not attend +to it at all, having so much work to do at other places; but that if he +would come back to town in about three months it would be all ready for +sale. + +"Now Bill was bent upon having one of them farms, so, instead of letting +the surveyor chaps, and the farms too, go to--where-ever they liked for +their humbugging, he came back to the bush to work for the three months, +and then went to town again to look after the land. But when he went to +the office even then the fellers hadn't surveyed it; and instead of +telling him like men that they were only humbugging him, and never +intended to do it at all, they commenced their little games again, and +told him that the surveyors were then at work on a particular job, but +that as soon as they were done there they would go to the land he was +waiting for. Well, sir, it's no good my telling you all the ins and outs +of it; but the long and the short of it is they kept Bill in a string +for six months, and then they didn't do the work, and I don't know if it +is done now; so, you see, that's how us poor men can't get any land." + +"I believe what you complain of is perfectly true," said Tom. "The +system is much to be deplored, but I hope it will shortly be improved. +Unless a man is on the spot, and can wait for an opportunity, such as +when a sale occurs, there is certainly very little chance for him; and +men that are employed in the bush very rarely if ever have that chance." + +"Just so, sir," said the man. + +"And what did your brother do with his money after having so much of it +and his time wasted in looking after this land?" + +"Ah, sir! there is what makes me curse the land, and the surveyors, and +all the lot, for it killed Bill, and there never was a better feller +breathing. I'll tell you how it was, sir. I told you Bill was a steady +chap; he never used to drink, anyhow not to spree, you know; but, you'll +guess, no man could stop at a public-house for six months doing nothing +without getting on the spree. Bill used to walk up and down on the +verandah at the public where he stopped, and smoke his pipe, while he +thought how them fellers at the survey office were a-treating of him, +and he got miserable like in his spirits. So when fellows got to know +him, and used to come into the house, they'd ask him to take a nobbler +with them; and somehow, you see, though he didn't do nothing of the sort +at first, he was soon glad to get some one to join him in a drink, and +being at it all day, you know, he used to get very drunk at times; so he +went on until at last he was always drunk. Now Bill all this time had +been keeping his money by him, so that he would be ready, when he +wanted it, to buy his farm. So, what with always having plenty of money +'to shout' for other fellers (for you know, sir, he was a stunning +feller to shout when he got a little bit screwed), and the lots of +fellers as always stuck to him when they knew he got 'tin,' he very soon +got 'cleared out;' and one day, after a tremendous spree, when he had +been drunk for more than a week, he got 'the horrors,' and started to +come home to the scrub. I never saw him after that, sir; for he got +drowned in one of the creeks on the road, and was found by some shingle +splitters soon afterwards without a shilling in his pocket; so that's +what he got, poor fellow, for trying to turn farmer. Now you see, sir, +we don't see the good of doing like that; so we never trouble ourselves +about saving any money, and we are a deal better off, and a happier, +than them as do." + +Tom did not attempt to refute the sophistry of this argument as he was +aware that it would be useless. He knew that the case of this man's +brother was by no means a solitary one; for not only had the suicidal +policy of the colonial government with regard to the disposal of the +waste lands been instrumental in the destruction of numerous victims +similar to this unsophisticated sawyer; but it was absolutely driving +that entire class of men into reckless extravagance and dissipation. +Whereas a liberal land policy would not only have engendered a spirit of +providence, but have offered an inducement, and have proved a stimulus, +to the country's settlement by a thriving rural population. + +But the ministerial Solons of the country could not be induced to view +the subject in that light; hence this deplorable state of morality and +improvidence, which unfortunately pervades the great bulk of the country +population. In urban localities the evil is not so severely felt, as a +steady and industrious mechanic, with his accumulated savings, is +enabled to purchase a town allotment (which allotments are just +frequently enough thrust into the market by the government as to keep +the demand in excess of the supply), and to build on it a house, which +he erects by degrees, as his means admit. Thereby, in course of a short +time, he gathers round him in the land of his adoption a comfortable +little freehold property. Thus it is, nearly all the town workmen who +are possessed of any savings convert them into something substantial; +but for the bushmen no such opportunity exists; and hence it follows, +that the towns-people are generally industrious, steady, and frugal, +while those of the bush are too frequently the reverse. + +"That certainly was a melancholy end for your brother," said Tom to his +companion, resuming the conversation that had lapsed for a few minutes. + +"Yes, sir, it was; and if Bill, poor fellow, had just been content to +stick to the scrub like us he would most likely have been 'still to the +fore.' You see, sir, we live a jolly life; are quite contented, and +spend our money while we've got it. Now those fellows over there," +continued the man as he pointed to the sawyer's camp, in sight of which +they had just arrived, "not one of 'em would give up his life to go and +work in town if you paid him ever so high wages." + +"I've no doubt their mode of life is fascinating; but still I should +think the heavy drinking in which they indulge sometimes impairs their +health and constitution." + +"Not a bit, sir! We never feel anything the worse for a spree, nor in +anyways sick; 'cos you see we work hard, and most always live in the +bush; so we are always healthy." + +"I've no doubt that will preserve you in a great measure; but still you +must be perfectly aware that, even if you never experience any +deleterious effects, you continually leave yourself destitute; and if +anything in the way of sickness should happen to you, so as to +incapacitate you for work, you would not only starve, but die from +neglect and want of proper treatment. + +"Don't you believe it, sir! There would be no fear of my wanting +anything. Do you think if one of my mates was sick now that I wouldn't +share with him what money I'd got, or that I wouldn't look after him as +if he was my brother? In course I would, and if I got sick my mates +would do the same for me." + +By this time Tom and his companion had half crossed the bed of the +river; and noticing the plans the men had adopted to get their timber +over the flats, Tom commenced a fresh interrogation to elicit from his +travelling concomitant some information on the usual mode of procedure. +As the subject may have some degree of interest to a few of our readers +we will give in our own words the substance of the dialogue, craving +permission to premise it by a remark or two on the general life and +movements of sawyers. + +They are a class of men who exist during the greater portion of the year +in the bush and scrubs bordering on the rivers and creeks, where they +unceasingly and uninterruptedly practise their vocations. They generally +work in gangs, either on equal shares or on wages to one of their +number, who may be more thoughtful than the rest; and one who, +notwithstanding a fair share of dissipation, may have accumulated, +possibly through the influence of a thrifty wife, some considerable +means. The classes of timber most in demand, and therefore most sought +for by these men, are cedar and pine; which are procured separately, in +certain localities, in great abundance. This local segregation of the +woods is a characteristic of the Australian bush, and more than anything +else tends to create that monotony which is everywhere perceptible. It +causes the eye of the traveller to weary as he looks continually on the +leafless bare-looking trunks of the blue gum (which without intermission +meets his gaze for miles and miles on the lonely road) or the +sombre-looking ironbark that with equal pertinacity monopolizes the +ranges. Rarely, if ever, will an admixture of timbers be found to any +extent; and, consequently, those sawyers who cut pine leave the cedar +scrubs to be visited by the others; and _vice versa_. + +The timber is usually cut in the dry season; and the trees after being +cleared of their limbs and foliate appendages, and denuded of their +bark, are drawn by the means of a bullock team to the nearest creek or +river, where they are deposited until such time as the rains +sufficiently swell the streams to float them from their resting-places. +With an iron brand in the shape of a punch, and a hammer, each cutter on +the end of every log indelibly marks his own property; and as the logs +are removed from their beds by the rising current, a staple is driven +into each. Through this a chain is passed, when the whole are collected +into one raft, and securely moored to wait, in their transit down the +stream, the pleasure of the proprietor. The time usually chosen to raft +the timber is when the rivers are moderately high after rains; or, in +the parlance of the upper part of the country, when there is "a flood," +and in the lower, when there is "a fresh" in the river. They are then +started in their downward course either by the directing aid of a small +boat (if the ascent of the stream is practicable for it) or under the +guidance of some of the party; who make a firm footing for themselves on +their floating platform, by sheets of bark and foliage. They then trust +themselves to the current, while they guide the course of the raft with +poles until they come to flats. When the rivers are to any extent +swollen, or (as it is said in the country) "running," the rafts usually +pass over without difficulty; but if the water is low, and the flats +barely covered, the passage is necessarily not so easily effected, and +frequently impossible. Such then was the case at the Waverley flats at +the time of which we write. And it was with the water almost at the +lowest ebb that the party Tom saw had been endeavouring to float over +their raft; the process for which they had adopted we now propose to +explain. + +It is necessary at some point to have a boat to assist the raftmen in +their guidance of the unwieldy mass, and one is usually kept by them for +that purpose at the highest point to which it can be conveniently +brought. After escaping all impediments the boat takes the raft in tow; +and, as it progresses on the stream and comes within the action of +tides, on the occasion of each flowing, the party have to draw their +raft into the bank, and camp until the return of the ebb. In their +journey to the mills rarely more than three or four of the party, +including the proprietor if not a joint stock affair, accompany the +timber; while the remainder pursue their occupation of cutting. + +The party that was camped at the Waverley flats consisted of five +individuals in all. They had been working in shares for some months +collecting the raft they then had with them, and were all accompanying +it to the mills to sell it and have the proceeds equally distributed. +But the season having been an unusually dry one they had here met with +an effectual check, and had no alternative but to wait for rain. + +When they first reached the flats the water was just running over them, +but not sufficiently deep to admit of the passage of their property; so +the fellows had recourse to the expedient of forming "a race" to effect +their purpose, and this they had accomplished in the following way: A +few of the logs were drawn up and arranged longitudinally from either +bank of the river in an oblique direction to a focus in the centre of +the flat; from this point the logs were arranged parallel to one another +right across the bank to the deep water below. They were then all firmly +staked into the soil, and the interstices between and below them were +packed so as to perfect a dam or barrier to the water. The result of +this plan as is evident was that the water flowing over the flat was +confined to the narrow channel between the parallel logs, and thereby +attained a higher elevation and a swifter current. To the mouth of this +impromptu canal, then, the sawyers brought the logs one by one, and they +were made, with very little guiding, to shoot through the passage with +speed and precision. After getting nearly a hundred of the logs in this +manner over the impediment, the water continuing to fall, eventually +left them with not even sufficient to make their sluice available; so, +with fully half their raft fixed above the flat, the men were compelled +to be idle until they had sufficient water to float the remainder over. + +Tom had expressed surprise to his companion that he and his mates did +not proceed with the timber that had passed the flat, and leave some of +their companions behind to watch for the flood in the river, and secure +the others as they should descend. He pointed out that by that means +they would, in all probability, have got their first raft down to the +mills, and had time to return before the rains came on. But this, his +companion told him, the sawyers were afraid to risk, because, he said, +if the river rose rapidly, which they fully expected, they would want +all their number on the spot, otherwise they might lose half the timber. +Besides, in the absence of their boat, it would be an impossibility to +secure any of the logs if they should be washed over. "And then," he +continued, "we have been expecting the rain to commence every day for +weeks past." So it was deemed advisable by the whole party to await the +rising of the river; and, even watchful as they were, they fully +expected that if the flood came upon them at all suddenly, they would +lose a considerable number of the logs. + +After crossing the river (or rather the bed of it), and leaving the +sawyers' party, Tom Rainsfield leisurely pursued his journey; and, after +riding for about twenty miles or so, he could perceive, by the nature of +the country and the occasional appearance of "improvements," that he was +approaching the town of Brisbane. Towards dark the road led him through +lines of fences, and past a few cottages and cultivated fields, and +thence by detached buildings, until he finally entered the town and put +up at his hotel not at all dissatisfied at the completion of his +journey. The country, even to town, had equally suffered by the drought. +Hardly a vestige of herbage was to be seen on the whole surface of the +ground, and the mortality amongst the beasts was fearful, and painfully +perceptible from the fulsome malaria in the atmosphere. Tom's horse was +reduced to a perfect shadow, and was so weak that when he reached the +inn he could hardly drag one foot after another, and certainly could not +have existed another day with a continuation of his privations. Hence +Tom was additionally delighted when he drew rein at the Crown Hotel, and +permitted his weary and faithful animal to be led away to the stables, +while he proceeded to refresh himself in a manner most pleasant after +his own fatigues. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + "Ye glittering towns, with wealth and splendour crown'd, + Ye fields, where summer spreads profusion round, + Ye lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale, + Ye bending swains, that dress the flow'ry vale." + + GOLDSMITH. + + +When Tom Rainsfield arrived in Brisbane he found it entirely absorbed in +politics, and the public attention so engaged in the all-important +question of separation that even the deplorable state in which the +country then was in was for the time forgotten. Business for the nonce was +entirely relinquished, and the good citizens were in a perfect ferment +of exultation, consequent on the receipt of joyous news. As a few +remarks respecting the topography of the place, and the nature of the +people's agitation, may not be here amiss we will endeavour to describe +and trace their progress through their various phases to the date of our +narrative. + +The town of Brisbane is pleasantly situated on a picturesque and +meandering river of the same name, about twenty miles from the point +where it disembogues into Moreton Bay. Passing its first establishment +it was not until the year 1840 that it was resorted to for the purposes +of trade. In that year drays first crossed "the range" by Cunningham's +Gap; and the squatters, who were then pushing on in the settlement of +the interior, discovered that this place could be made a convenient port +for the shipment of their produce to Sydney. The place, however, being +only a convict settlement free settlers were prohibited from approaching +it; and it was only by a special application to the government that on +the following year the land on the south bank of the river was surveyed +and laid out for a township, and a residence for the purposes of trade +permitted. The following year the convicts were wholly withdrawn from +the district, and the land that had been blighted by their occupancy was +thrown open to the public. From this period then, viz., 1842, is to be +dated the settlement of Moreton Bay, when the whole free population of +the district might have been numbered by dozens, and when the first +regular communication with Sydney was established. + +The town of Brisbane at that time, and even for years afterwards, +consisted only of a few wooden huts; and, with the exception of the +government buildings which had been erected during the penal era for the +housing and confinement of the convicts stationed there, not a decent or +substantial edifice existed. A few acres of ground had been cleared by +the prisoners for cultivation immediately round the settlement, and at +two places situated on the river below the town, respectively two and +seven miles distant; but otherwise the wilderness remained in its +primeval condition. + +The town on the northern bank of the river, which was much better +situated (both in a commercial and residentiary point of view) than that +on the southern, rapidly attracted the attention of speculators and +settlers. It was situated in a spacious pocket, caused by a bend in the +river, and flanked by gently undulating ridges. It was judiciously laid +out; with wide rectangular streets, commodious reserves for public +purposes, and was possessed of almost unbounded water frontage, which +could afford accommodation for a large commercial intercourse. One of +the boons left to the public upon the withdrawal of the convicts and +military, besides the court-house, hospital, and barracks, was a +botanical garden. It had been constructed for the especial pleasure and +accommodation of the officers and other officials of the settlement, and +became after their departure a very acceptable legacy to the people. + +The young settlement prospered amazingly as it became more peopled by +the streams of immigration from the southern parts of the colony. The +squatters who had advanced with their flocks and herds from the occupied +districts in the southern interior speedily formed stations in actual +contiguity to the township; which was daily increasing its trade, as its +intercourse with the interior became more settled and developed. The +architectural appearance of the town for years showed no improvement; +and the comfort of the inhabitants was little thought of in its +commercial prosperity. Large sums were annually gathered into the +government coffers from the sale of the lands in the township, but +nothing was ever done by the ruling powers to improve its condition; and +it was allowed to remain in that state in which it had left the hands of +the surveyors. The lines of the streets were certainly marked, but no +levels were fixed; and the idea of drainage never entered the minds of +the people's rulers. In fact, though the government, as we have said, +continued from year to year to derive large revenues from the sale of +these town lands, they never deemed it necessary to expend a fraction in +even the formation of the streets; and hence, after twelve years from +its occupation by a free population, it was, like all other bush towns +in the country, in a wretched and deplorable condition. After rains the +so-called streets became perfectly impassable, even to foot passengers; +and the principal thoroughfare was frequently the course of a swollen +torrent, that had in successive years worn for itself a bed, +interspersed with deep holes, which rendered it absolutely dangerous to +venture amongst its snares after dark. The extorting policy of the +government had always been to sacrifice the interests of the distant +settlers for a centralized aggrandizement; or, in other words, the +revenues derived from this or any other country district were applied, +not solely to the defraying of the expense of legislative machinery, +but to the improvement and embellishment of Sydney, and other works that +had no local importance to the out-lying districts. This was one of the +main grievances that induced the settlers in later years to petition for +separation from the parent colony. But we are anticipating. + +The advance of the district after its settlement continued with rapid +strides; and the labour requirements of the settlers kept continually in +advance of the supply. So that much inconvenience was felt by the +employers at the paucity of industrial bone and muscle procurable in the +district. For years the squatters were compelled to draw their supply of +labour from the Sydney market, an exceedingly expensive and by no means +satisfactory expedient, until the year 1848, when the influx of direct +immigration commenced. From this date ships at repeated intervals have +discharged their living freight on the shores of Moreton Bay, where they +have speedily met engagements at high rates of wages, and become +absorbed in the increasing population. + +The first labourers introduced into the district were by private +intervention, and though extraneous to our tale, we may be pardoned for +mentioning it here. The prime mover of this scheme was the Rev. Dr. +Lang, who was at the time a member of the Colonial legislature, and than +whom no greater benefactor to the colonies, and no sterner advocate for +the rights and privileges of the colonists existed or exists. He was +foremost in all works of reform and public utility. He seemed to be +gifted with a prescience of the colonist's requirements, and was +indefatigable in his exertions for their advancement and amelioration. +He is the antipodean agitator, and the acknowledged benefactor of his +fellow colonists in their land of adoption. Many of the privileges of +the Australian constitution owe their existence to Dr. Lang's +indomitable perseverance and skill, and many of the most sapient +enactments bear the impress of his mental perspicuity. He is the father +of Australia, and his name will long remain to the people "as familiar +as household words." + +Perceiving the great want of labour in the new settlement he was the +first who took any active part in the procuration of the desideratum. In +pursuit of this object in the year 1846 or 1847 he introduced a bill +into the legislature of New South Wales, having for its object the +introduction of an industrial class of immigrants into Moreton Bay. His +proposed plan was to induce the government to offer a small grant of +land to every immigrant arriving in the colony at his own expense, +equivalent to the amount of money actually paid for the passage. But the +project met with some opposition from the ministry of the day, and not +until after considerable perseverance did he receive assurances of their +assent. Being suddenly called to England on private affairs Dr. Lang +left his pet scheme in the hands of a colleague to procure for it the +formal sanction of the country; and he commenced to act upon the +assurance given him in the colonies by organizing a system of emigration +during his stay in England. This was in the years 1847 and 1848, when, +after continually drawing the attention of the middle classes of Great +Britain to the eligibility of Moreton Bay as a place for emigration, and +holding out the inducement of remission of the passage-money emigrants +would pay in an equivalent grant of land in the colonies, he succeeded +in the latter year in despatching three ships freighted with intending +settlers. Their arrival in the colony, though of considerable benefit to +the community there established, was fraught with many inconveniences +and privations to themselves. The Colonial government ignored their +title to grants of land; and the newly arrived immigrants found +themselves, upon landing in the country, disappointed in their +expectations, many of them destitute, and all in a place hardly +reclaimed from the wilderness of the bush, where no preparation had +been made for their reception. They were, therefore, disgusted with what +they considered the fraud that had been practised upon them, and were +loud in their declamation of those who had enticed them from their +comfortable homes to be subjected to the misery and discomforts they had +then to endure. Under these circumstances piteous were the +communications made to friends in the "fatherland," and dreadful the +detail of their distress in the far distant land of promise. + +Their case, however, attracted some little notice from the local +authorities, and a piece of land adjoining the town was allotted them, +on which to erect dwellings. On this they settled, calling it Fortitude +Valley, from the name of one of the vessels that had conveyed them +thither; and when they got over their mortification, and gave their +minds to industry, they speedily transformed the almost impenetrable +bush into a scene of life and animation. The first privations of +settlement very soon succumbed to comfort and independence, and "the +valley" shortly became a populous suburb of the town of Brisbane, and, +at the period of our story, closely approximated to, if not equalled it, +in population. The settlers themselves, introduced under so unfavourable +auspices, were not long in immensely improving their condition, and many +of them, in the course of a few years, rose to positions of comfort, +eminence, and opulence; and if they ever reverted to the period of their +immigration, must have done so with feelings of thankfulness and +satisfaction. + +From this period the influx of population continued, and the condition +in which the district flourished may be gathered from the following +tables:-- + +The entire district-- + + In 1846, contained 2,257 souls + 1851, " 10,296 " + 1856, " 22,232 " + + And was estimated, + + In 1861, to contain 30,000 souls. + + The town of Brisbane, of which we wish + more particularly to allude, + + In 1846, contained about 500 souls + 1851, the population was 2,500 " + 1856, 4,400 " + + And in 1861 was calculated + to contain 8,000 " + +Brisbane presents now a far different aspect to what it did some few +years back. As we have said, it is pleasantly and, both in a sanitary +and commercial point of view, admirably situated. From an obscure +settlement in the bush it has become a thriving town, with some good +streets, substantial stone and brick houses, stores, warehouses, and +wharves, and with shops that would not disgrace many a fashionable +thoroughfare in the British metropolis. It is possessed of spacious and +commodious government buildings, a gaol, mechanics' school of arts, an +hospital, several banking establishments, and fully a dozen churches +and other places of worship. The surrounding country, that was only a +few years before a wild waste, has mostly been cleared and put under +cultivation; and the banks of the river far above, and considerably +below the town, are studded with farms and gentlemen's seats, some +elegantly and tastefully constructed with a view both to comfort and the +exigencies of the climate. The town is further possessed of two steam +saw-mills; one daily, and another bi-weekly newspaper; weekly steam and +continual sailing communication with Sydney, and a dawning direct trade +with England. Five steamers ply on the river, and a daily coach runs by +land to Ipswich, and an export trade is done to the extent of +considerably over half a million sterling annually. The climate is +salubrious--the heat ranging, in the shade, between the means of 80 deg. in +summer, and 50 deg. in winter; and the soil of the neighbourhood has been +proved to be productive of a greater variety of plants than any other +country in the world. Coupled with wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, peas, +and a variety of other English edibles, its products comprise many of a +tropical nature, the practicability of the growth of which has been +fully demonstrated. Bananas, pine-apples, pumpkins, melons, figs, +grapes, peaches, maize, and sweet potatoes, are common articles of +culture; while indigo, arrow-root, sugar-cane, and cotton, flourish as +in their native climes. + +Of the latter product we would fain say a few words _en passant_, as its +production of late has been a question that has been much agitated in +Great Britain, and received some attention in the colonies. We believe +the experiment of its growth was first tried upon the joint suggestion +of an influential settler of New South Wales, Mr. T. S. Mort of Sydney, +and the Rev. Dr. Lang. The former gentleman procured a supply of the +best sea-island American seed, and also an instrument called "a gin" for +cleaning the seed from the cotton, and placed them at the disposal of +the settlers of Moreton Bay. The seeds were planted, germinated, and +yielded cotton of the first description; but difficulties arose which +cultivators were unable to surmount. The first was the impracticable +nature of the instrument they were possessed of for cleaning. It was +found to be useless, and all similar apparatuses that were subsequently +introduced, and constructed on ideas suggested to the minds of local +mechanical geniuses, equally failed to perform the requisite work with +cleanliness and precision. Though this was in itself almost +insurmountable, the greatest drawback to the culture of the cotton was +the rainy weather, which usually set in just as the cotton was ripening; +destroying the crop, and inflicting serious loss on the cultivator. It +was, however, discovered that in the Moreton Bay climate the plant +became a perennial; and that, after the first year's growth, the pods +ripened considerably earlier and avoided the wet weather; while the +staple of the cotton improved with the age of the plant. Satisfactory +as was this discovery, the first failure militated against its general +cultivation; for most of the farmers in the district, being dependent +for their subsistence on their yearly crops, could not afford to +experimentalize, notwithstanding that they were certain of an ultimately +remunerative crop. A subsequent attempt to cultivate the cotton was +tried with no better success. Though the staple was produced none of the +cleaning machines to be had were efficacious; and no means being +procurable to extract the seed from the cotton, it was sent to England +in its raw state to be separated there. The cotton was cleaned by +hand-labour in some of the penitentiaries of the "old country;" and when +submitted to judges of the article, was pronounced to be the finest +specimen ever introduced into the country. But these repeated failures +damped the cotton-growing ardour of the people; and, being able +otherwise more profitably to employ their labour and capital, they +permitted its culture to be abandoned. + +That cotton will eventually become a large export from this district we +have no hesitation in affirming, and we believe that the time is not far +distant when capitalists in England, interested in the cotton trade, +will take up the matter and embark in it. It is an undertaking which we +are confident, from the reasons we have expressed, would be found +remunerative even with the application of free European labour, and be +of considerable benefit to the manufacturers and consumers of the +staple. It has been frequently argued in the colony where it was grown +that the expense of labour would eat up the whole proceeds of the +cotton. But this we are disposed to dispute for many cogent reasons. In +the first place, notwithstanding the many assertions to the contrary, +Europeans can work at all times in the open air, even under the +scorching rays of a mid-summer sun; while the value of the cotton +produced, by the peculiar adaptation of the soil, has been found to be +of a superior character to even the finest American or Egyptian +productions; and, from the fact of the necessity of annual planting +being avoided, the expense of production after the first year is reduced +by more than one half. These facts at once disarm of its force the +statement that cotton cultivators in Queensland could not compete with +slave-grown produce without the aid of cheap coolie or lascar labour. + +The postulation that without Asiatic skill and economy the cotton +cultivation is a chimera, has been assumed by a few interested parties +in the colonies, and reverberated by them from mouth to mouth among +their own party, without a solitary echo from the mass of the people. It +has been advanced in ignorance, and persevered in in dogmatical +obstinacy, to the entire subversion of reason and the results of +experience. The theory has arisen in a desire of personal aggrandizement +by its advocates, who have never dreamt of the consequences that would +accrue from an influx of heathenism and depravity, or the detraction +from the honour of the colony, and the degradation of our labouring +fellow-countrymen and colonists. It is happily only a party cry, and +that only of so meagre a nature, that it is almost an inaudible squeak. +But though insignificant as it is in the country where it originated, by +its propagation and circulation in the press, its virus has been made to +travel through the entire arterial system of the commonwealth; which is +thus made to believe in the moral gangrene of this distant member of the +empire. But to return. + +Before we allowed ourselves to be led into the foregoing digression we +spoke of the land and water communication to the town of Ipswich; which +reminds us of the existence of that important town; and of which we also +crave permission, while on our topographical subject, to say a few +words. + +Ipswich, or as it was originally called, Limestone, from the quantity of +that mineral which pervaded the neighbourhood, is situated on the +Bremer river, which falls into the Brisbane. It is distant from the town +of Brisbane about twenty-five miles by land, and sixty by water, and is +stationed at the highest navigable point on either stream. It was +formerly used by the government as a station for the sheep and cattle of +the settlement during the penal times; and, upon the withdrawal of the +prisoners, it was, like its sister settlement, declared a township, +surveyed, and thrown open to the public. The first land in it was sold +in Brisbane in the year 1843; but for three years afterwards the town +made little progress. With the exception of a brick cottage that had +been erected for the overseer in charge of the military and prisoners +stationed there while it was a government establishment, and which, +after the break up, was converted into a public-house to afford +accommodation and allay the thirst of wayfarers to and fro between +Brisbane and the interior, few buildings, even of the most makeshift +description, were erected. The place had as then attracted little or no +attention; for the traffic passed it on its way without any further +stoppage than what a bush public-house is expected to effect among the +bullock-drivers and draymen, while the drays came right down to Brisbane +without any interruption to their loads. + +During the time of its attachment to the penal settlement at Brisbane +the communication between the two places had been maintained by the +means of boats and punts, in which the supplies of the station were +brought up, and live stock for consumption, and lime requisite for the +works at the township, returned. No doubt, acting on this knowledge, the +idea occurred to an enterprising settler of the district that the +traffic could be diverted from the road to the river, and would be +advantageous in the saving of time and trouble consequent on the +primitive style of land carriage in vogue. He therefore started a small +steamer in the year last mentioned, viz., 1846, to ply between the two +places; and though not successful in his project, so far as his own +pocket was concerned, the soundness of his conjectures was patent in the +benefits that resulted. The advancement of Ipswich may be dated from +that period, since which its progress has been extraordinarily rapid, +and even bids fair to maintain the race with the sister town with some +degree of success. + +Though Ipswich is admirably situated for the purposes of trade with the +interior, it is by no means so eligible a site for a town, nor so well +planned out as Brisbane. Its streets are narrow, and have been lined by +the surveyors without any regard to levels or the "lay" of the country. +It is situated in a hollow, so that the drainage falls into the centre +of the town, while the surrounding hills preclude the possibility of +approach of any of those breezes which are so deliciously refreshing +during sultry summer weather. The buildings, on the whole, are +creditable, and even fine for so young a place, though by no means +equal to those of Brisbane; and its peculiar characteristics are, +bullock-drays, dirty streets, and public-houses. It is, however, a busy, +thriving town; and if in the selection of its site a little more +judicious forethought had been exercised, and more consideration for +comfort, health, and amenity displayed in its surveying, it might have +been made, with its beautiful surrounding scenery, as pretty a spot as +could have been desired. But in this, as in every other case in the +colonies since their foundation, the only thing that has been exhibited +is the cupidity of the government, whose only desire has ever been to +realise as much as possible from the sales of land, with as little +outlay as practicable. Hence the inhabitants are doomed to live in a +place that, upon the minutest visitation of rain, becomes a perfect +"slough of despond;" and from its concave situation, when under a +vertical sun, is at least ten degrees warmer than any other place in the +district. + +This, then, is the point to which all the traffic now converges in its +passage to Brisbane, and diverges in its transit to the interior--the +highway between the two points being the river, while the road is merely +used for the lighter traffic of a few equestrians and light vehicles. +Such is the alteration, and we may of course add improvement, in the +appearance of the country by the influence of civilisation consequent on +the settlement of the district; and so rapidly has it taken place that +if any of the old official residents, who only knew it in its infancy of +freedom, were again to visit it, we have no hesitation in saying they +would not credit their senses. We are aware that in all new colonies, +where capital, industry, and perseverance are brought to bear upon the +barren wastes, the speedy transition to a smiling scene of plenty is the +inevitable result. But in most there is an air of freshness about +everything, which proclaims it a new place; while in those towns of +Moreton Bay the case is very different. They seem almost to have sprung +into maturity at once; and, especially in Brisbane, there is a +something about it so thoroughly English, that were it not for the +luxuriant growth of exotics, the heavy timber on the adjacent hills, and +the tropical appearance in the architecture of some of the suburban +dwellings which instantly strike the eye, a stranger could hardly bring +himself to believe this was the last formed of Britain's colonies; while +we can affirm it is already far from the meanest. + +Before taking leave of this local subject we beg permission here to +introduce a little episode that is characteristic of the relationship +that existed between the two towns, or rather the settlement and the +station, before the advent that proclaimed the country open to free +settlers. Towards the latter end of the penal, or military, +administration, the district was visited by a fearful flood that swept +over the face of the country and rendered all travelling, either by land +or water, perfectly impracticable. The intercourse, therefore, between +Brisbane and Limestone was entirely severed, and for weeks no +communication could be attempted. At the station, during this stoppage, +the supplies began to run short (it never having been deemed necessary +to anticipate such an emergency), and the residents were soon suffering +serious privations from the want of their necessary rations. No boats or +horses were at the station at the time, so that they were unable to +intimate to the authorities below the state in which they were situated. +The officials at Limestone waited from day to day in the vain hope of +seeing the waters recede, and the means of communication re-established, +but they were disappointed. The flood continued at its height, and +starvation was almost staring them in the face. In this emergency the +officer in charge of the prisoners offered a free pardon to any who +would accomplish the voyage to the settlement, and report there the +distress the people at Limestone were suffering. + +The passage was undertaken by two of the men, who knew that success was +freedom, and that failure's concomitant was death. One took the track +through the bush and perished, possibly by being washed away while +attempting the crossing of some swollen creek, but the other was more +successful, and succeeded in reaching the township in safety, where he +communicated the intelligence of the destitution at Limestone, and had +the gratification of relieving his former companions, and securing his +freedom. Supplies were immediately forwarded to the famished station on +pack-horses, which, only after surmounting considerable difficulties and +dangers, succeeded in reaching their destination. This passage was one +of the boldest and most extraordinary feats on colonial record, and, +considering the manner in which it was effected, freedom was certainly +not too great a reward. It was accomplished by the man tracing the +course of the river, travelling by land where such was practicable, and +taking to the river and swimming where it was not. When it is remembered +that all the low and flat parts of the country were under water, and +that it was computed half the distance of the journey, or nearly thirty +miles, was traversed in the swollen stream, with a flying current and +eddying pools, and amidst trees and other _debris_, swarming with +reptiles and insects brought down from the mountains and clustered on +the floating masses, some conception may be formed of what the intrepid +courier had gone through. But to return again to our narrative. + +The period of which we write is the summer of 1857, when the cry of +"separation" resounded through the country. Some time previous to this +the colonists had received intimation of the intention of her Majesty's +government to erect Moreton Bay into a separate state amongst the group +of Australian colonies. But at this period, as we have already stated, +fresh despatches had been received, in which the boundaries and a sketch +of its constitution were defined, and the inhabitants were deep in the +contemplation of these topics. We fear that this disquisition on +history and politics may be considered an interpolation foreign to the +nature of our work, and uninteresting to the majority of our readers; +but we must excuse ourselves for an encroachment upon the prerogative of +the historian, on the ground that we wish the indulgent public to have a +correct idea of the historical, as well as the physical and social, +nature of Queensland. We would, therefore, throw ourselves again on the +leniency of our readers, while we trace, as succinctly as possible, the +origin and growth of the separation movement. + +For some years previous to the year 1851 the colonists of Port Philip +had agitated the question of separation from the colony of New South +Wales, and in that year their efforts were crowned with success, their +district being, by imperial decree, erected into a separate colony under +the name of Victoria. The instigator and prime mover in this matter had +been the Rev. Dr. Lang; and at the commencement of the same year he +organized an agitation for a similar dismemberment of the Moreton Bay or +northern districts. + +The inhabitants of those districts, groaning under the habitual neglect +of a distantly removed and selfish government, were not slow to respond +to the call of the agitator. The first meeting to consider the subject, +which was held in January 1851, resulted in the despatch of petitions to +the throne, praying for an immediate separation from New South Wales, +and an establishment as an independent state. They enumerated among the +general grievances, the remoteness of the district from the seat of +government, the inadequate representation in the legislature, the +confirmed neglect and inattention of their rulers to their requirements, +the total absorption of their revenues for the improvement of the +capital, and the impossibility to procure the outlay of any money on +absolutely necessary works; in fact the total subversion of the rights +of the inhabitants, and the general inconvenience experienced by a +connexion with New South Wales. + +Much as the consummation was desiderated by all parties in the district +the people were divided into two bodies in the views which they took of +the subject; and each party drew up its own petition, and forwarded it +to England. One faction, and by far the most numerous and intelligent, +demanded a "free" separation, with the untrammelled administration of +their own affairs; while the other, principally composed of the +squatters in the interior, were contented with petitioning for +separation, with a reversion to the old penal system. Their object being +to have convicts sent to the new colony, and to procure their labour by +the old iniquitous "assigning" system. + +The struggle continued apace between the contending factions on the one +hand, and with the governments of Great Britain and New South Wales on +the other. The pro-convict party, who had established a weekly +newspaper to advocate their cause, gradually diminished, until +eventually their zeal expired, and they succumbed to popular feeling, +leaving the body of free separationists united and energetic. Petition +after petition continued to be poured at the feet of Her most gracious +Majesty, who at last condescended to listen to the prayer of her loyal +though distant subjects. In the year 1855, by an act passed in the +Imperial Parliament, entitled, "The Constitution Act of New South +Wales," right was reserved to her Majesty to separate from that colony +any portion of its northern territory she, by her ministers, might deem +expedient. It was then made manifest to the colonists that some hope +existed of the desired event taking place, and their importunities +consequently increased. In July 1856, the then Secretary of State for +the Colonies (Mr. Labouchere) intimated, in a despatch to the Governor +of New South Wales, that her Majesty's ministers considered that the +time had arrived when the dismemberment should be effected, and +suggested that the 30th parallel of south latitude should be fixed upon +as the boundary of the two colonies. About this parallel a natural line +of demarcation exists in the form of a mountain range, and at no other +part of the coast could so eligible a division be made. + +The magnates in Sydney perceiving that, notwithstanding all their +strenuous opposition, separation was determined upon considered it +useless to further attempt its prevention; but they were, nevertheless, +sanguine of their ability to mar the fair prospects of the new colony. +The thought of losing the revenue of so large a district rankled in +their bosoms, and the idea of procuring an alteration in the boundary +line, by a removal farther away from them, suggested itself to their +minds. Confident in their success and the time for an execution of their +machinations, that would be afforded them by the usual circumlocutions +of government, they forthwith entered upon their work. + +One of the districts embraced in the proposed new colony was the +Clarence river, which was only second in importance to that of Moreton +Bay itself, and which comprised a coast-line of upwards of 120 miles, +and a country that extended nearly double that distance inland. This, +then, they set to work to retain; and, though the inhabitants themselves +of the debateable ground were strongly averse to a continued connexion +with the parent colony, and desired annexation to the new one, a +petition was presented to the legislature, purporting to be from the +residents of that district, and praying for the maintenance of their +existing relationship with New South Wales. The opprobrium attached to +the concoction of this petition is due to the then member of the +legislature for the New England district; for through his chicanery the +signatures were obtained and the people deceived. It was represented to +them as for a local assize court, and their signatures obtained on blank +sheets of paper, which were afterwards attached to the genuine +anti-separation petition and laid before the government of the colony, +by whom it was forwarded to the British secretary. + +This fraud was shortly afterwards detected by the parties cajoled, who +exposed the deception practised upon them, and eventually petitioned the +crown with a similar view. But, too late: the first had reached the home +government as a genuine document, and the result may be imagined; for, +combining such a strong demonstration of public feeling as the petition +appeared to do with the biassed representations of the Sydney +government, the crown had no other alternative but to alter the boundary +originally intended Mr. Labouchere (dated just one year after his former +despatch) then informed the Governor of New South Wales that her +Majesty's ministers had determined to separate the northern colony at +the 28th (instead of the 30th) parallel of south latitude. There the +matter rested until the year 1860, when the proclamation calling into +existence the colony of Queensland was read in the capital city of +Brisbane by the first governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen. + +We would not have pursued this theme had it not been to explain the +ferment in which Tom Rainsfield found the good people of Brisbane when +he visited their town, as we have said, in the summer of 1857; and, +amidst the agitation of the public mind which absorbed all thought and +attention, we will leave him for the present to pursue his business. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + "Hark! there be murmurs heard in Lara's hall, + A sound--a voice--a shriek--a fearful call! + A long loud shriek--and silence--did they hear + That frantic echo burst the sleeping ear?" + + BYRON. + + +At a certain spot on the Darling Downs approaching towards their +northern extremity, and where the country divides the eastern from the +western water-sheds, a party was encamped for the night round their +fire; on which preparations were being made by a civilized black for the +evening meal of white men, who lay stretched on the ground in the full +enjoyment of their "doodeens." The culinary operator was Joey, and the +recumbent beings were his master and the shepherds, who had progressed +thus far with a flock of sheep, on their way from New England to Fern +Vale. + +The weather that had spread devastation over the face of the country, +was equally fatal in its effects to the flock of our hero. He had +attempted to force their march so as to reach his destination before +their entire destruction, but was at last constrained to halt in a +state, both to man and beast, of perfect exhaustion. He had been the +more anxious to reach his own station as he was aware that, after the +long and severe drought the district had been visited with, a flood +might be expected as the inevitable consequence; and that if he were +caught in it the strong probability was that he would lose the remaining +half of his flock. Further progression, however, for his exhausted +sheep, he saw was, at least for a time, perfectly hopeless; and he felt +his only alternative was to wait for the rain, which from the +portensions of the sky, was not far distant. Therefore a rude hut, or +arborous shelter of boughs and saplings, was erected to shield him and +his companions from the rays of the sun, and they waited with what +patience they could assume for the pluvial blessing so much prayed for +all over the country. + +Here then the party was located, anxiously waiting for the advent of the +propitious event that would admit of their progression; and, on the +evening we have discovered them to the reader, they were dragging out in +listless idleness the remainder of an intolerably hot day, too much +enervated to indulge in any exertion or conversation. While John +Ferguson, who was possibly even more taciturn than his companions, was +absorbed in his own gloomy thoughts, occasioned by the inauspicious +result of his journey, he with his colleagues was suddenly aroused from +his lethargy by a most unearthly sound in the close proximity of their +camp. He instantly started to his feet, and was greeted with a burst of +demoniacal laughter that made his very blood curdle in his veins. + +Before him stood a being evidently human, but no more like his first +prototype than Gabriel to Lucifer; a man wild and dishevelled in +appearance; his eyes like balls of fire; and his face and other parts of +his body, perceptible from his all but state of nudity, cut and +bleeding. In the fitful light of the camp fire he had more the +appearance of one of the eliminated shades of Hades than an habitant of +this world. The startled and affrighted quartette, who had been +interrupted by his unexpected appearance, gazed on the object with +wonder, commiseration, and alarm; for his condition was speedily made +palpable by his wild gesticulations and incoherent utterance. He was +mad, and in that most to be deplored state of madness--delirium +tremens. + +John Ferguson advanced a few steps towards the man with the object of +leading him to their temporary abode; but the maniac warned him off by +a wave of the hand, and darted off again into the settling obscurity +with the fleetness of an arrow. No human creature in such a condition +could be permitted thus to rush to inevitable death by observers with +any spark of Christian charity. John Ferguson and his companions felt +this, and notwithstanding the darkness of the night, and the +interminable nature of the bush around them, they instantly pursued the +fugitive, being guided in his track by his fearful cries and yells. + +The chase was tedious, and but for an accident might have been +fruitless. The unnatural stimulus of madness lends powerful aid to the +cartilaginous anatomy of its victims; so that, notwithstanding the +evident fatigue that this wretched inebriate had sustained, his crural +muscles performed their functions with even more force and facility than +those of his athletic pursuers; and he continued to keep considerably in +advance of them. But his course was providentially checked by a fall, +that not only stopped him in his headlong career of destruction, but +extinguished the treacherous spark that had stimulated his system, and +then left him prostrate and perfectly paralysed. When his pursuers came +up, and by the light of a "firestick" gazed upon him, they found him +writhing in agony on the ground, foaming at the mouth, gnashing his +teeth, and actually biting the very dust in the intensity of his +suffering. Nature could not long stand so fearful a tax as this without +speedily succumbing. Reason had already been hurled from her throne by +the arrogated sway of the incensed devils of debauch, and strength and +consciousness had been expatriated by the usurpation; while life was all +but extinguished. In this state he was borne by his rescuers back to +their camp, and tended with every care they could devise; but when he +awoke to consciousness, it was only to add the horrors of a raging fever +to those of dementation; the more fearful on account of the inability +of his attendants to afford him any assistance. + +To truthfully describe his appearance, or his sufferings, as he lay +rending the air with his fearful and impious imprecations, would not +only be beyond our powers of portrayal, but would have none other effect +than to sicken and disgust our readers. Nevertheless we feel +constrained, fain as we would draw a veil over the scene, to continue +our description for the furtherance of temperance and morality. The man +remained for fully twenty-four hours in the state we have mentioned; +when the exacerbation of his malady threatened to terminate his +existence. No hope of relief could be entertained, for none was +procurable in such a situation; even had the exhausted travellers been +capable of seeking it. So that the wretched being's doom seemed +inevitably sealed. + +At this moment the Fern Vale party were startled by the sudden +appearance of two others, who came seeking their comrade, and bore in +their countenances almost as indelible a stamp of dissipation as that on +the visage of the dying madman. From these new comers John learnt that +the three had been travelling in company of a bullock dray, and being +unable to proceed on their journey, through the loss of the greater +portion of the team, they had all been engaged in a social wassail on +some grog they had had in charge; and for a considerable period had all +been more or less drunk. Their companion had been in a fit of delirium +tremens for days; and while in a state of madness had suddenly gone, +they knew not, nor at the time cared not, whither. But finding he did +not return as they had anticipated even their besotted natures began to +take alarm for his safety, and had induced them to go in search of him. + +The two men now stood by the prostrate and paralysed form of their late +robust companion, on whom, blunted and debased as were their own +feelings, they could not gaze without emotions; and as they witnessed +the glaring blood-shot eyes, rotating in their sunken and discoloured +sockets, the pendent jaw which left the parched tongue protruding from +the open mouth, the colourless emaciated cheeks which contrasted +fearfully with the sore and livid lips, the generally wasted frame, the +shaking though powerless hands imploring with the looks of distracted +vision, and the ineffectual attempts to articulate the cravings for that +very poison which was fast hastening a commingling of his putrid carcass +with its native dust, their hearts sickened within them. They, however, +knew the purport of his signs; and subdued as they were by the presence +of the destroying angel, and chastened by the momentary visitations of +compunction, their devotion to their idol, and their belief in its +efficacies were such, that, even in the face of death, they exorcised +their destroying spirit. Before their motion could be anticipated, or +prevented by John Ferguson, one of the dying man's companions drew a +bottle from his bosom, and applied it to the lips of the sufferer. + +The taste of the exhilarating poison effected a transitory release of +the bonds of death's victim. His hands clasped with a convulsive grasp +the endeared destroyer of his life; and as the spirit flowed into the +celiac channel of his wasted system, its consuming fire mantled his +cheek with an unnatural erubescence, shot from his lustrous eyes, and +imparted vigour to his inert frame. If the men's action had been noticed +in time John would have no doubt prevented the drink being given, though +it would have signified little; for no power on earth could have saved +the victim, while possibly the draught of spirits which he had taken +ameliorated his departing agonies. Be that as it may he had hardly +swallowed it than fresh strength seemed to have been imparted to his +frame. He then started to his feet, waved the bottle above his head with +a fiendish laugh, and fell to the ground a corpse. + +Can mortals ever be rescued from the fearful infatuation of drink? Can +rational and sentient beings ever be brought to an abhorrence of that +vile and bestial vice that equally destroys the intellect and degrades +the body? or will reason ever inculcate in the mind of man the virtue of +temperance, so as to use without abusing the gifts of a bountiful +providence? Let an incorrigible drunkard stand before such a scene as we +have attempted to describe, and for five minutes witness the agonies and +death of a fellow inebriate; let his soul commune with the tortured +spirit of the wretched victim of intemperance; let him witness the +horrors of delirium tremens, that tear to pieces both body and life, and +consigns them to the lowest depths of perdition; let him not only +witness but feel the hell that burns up the very soul of the blind +votaries of Bacchus; and let him witness the last struggle, the tortuous +departure of the spirit, accompanied with the blasphemous ribaldry of +the vile worm that, while insinuating its eliminated spirit before the +judgment-seat of its Maker, dares to utter its arrogant defiance to the +august and omnipotent Creator. Let him see this; tell him this is the +consequence of intemperance possibly only indulged in moderately at an +early stage, but growing by degrees as evil does grow, like the +gathering avalanche accumulating in its downward progress until it +reaches its final descent amidst universal destruction. Tell him also +that a similar fate awaits every drunkard, and tell him, if he turns not +away from his course of vileness, such will be his; then, if his +conscience does not lead him to penitence through such a lesson, no +human effort can save him. + +The state of the weather, the mortification of the body, and its +consequent immediate decomposition, made it imperative that no time +should be lost in the interment of the corpse. The funeral obsequies +were speedily performed, with little more ceremony than what would +attend the burying of an animal, while nothing marked the spot where +lay the bones that would in all probability be soon forgotten. The two +men then took their departure, and we doubt not would soon return to +their carouse; such is the quickness with which man forgets the +visitations of the warning hand of God. + +A few days after the event we have just narrated the rain that had been +so long threatening at last appeared with one of those terrific +thunder-storms which the colonies are in the summer visited with; and +speedily the whole surface of the country became deluged. The arid and +thirsty soil drank in the moisture, and almost spontaneously shot forth +its herbage. The flock was then enabled to luxuriate on the tender +grasses and, notwithstanding the deluging rains, to pursue its journey +with more comfort than it had experienced for some considerable time +previously. + +For a week the rain continued with unabating violence when John Ferguson +and his flock struck the course of the Gibson river near Brompton. The +river was "bank high" at the time, rolling its swollen volume on in +sullen impetuosity; while the ground around was so saturated and swampy +that the travelling of the sheep was exceedingly tedious; and their +owner began to feel anxious lest their course should be altogether +impeded. He, however, managed to push on past Brompton, when the weather +happily moderated; and though still overcast, and rainy-looking, the +actual fall of water ceased. The respite was made good use of by John +Ferguson, who pushed on as rapidly as he could, and he arrived at the +Wombi without any interruption; but there he met with a check he had +little anticipated. He fully expected the bridge would be level with the +water or even covered, and thought that he might have to wait for the +river to fall; but the volume of water had considerably subsided and +left no trace of the structure he and his neighbours had erected. It had +in fact been washed away by the flood, and he was made painfully aware +that the only course open to him was to wait until the swollen current +became sufficiently reduced to make it practicable to swim over his +sheep. With that object he camped his party and flock on the bank of the +Wombi. + +For some days they waited in this position; but the river, +notwithstanding that the rain had ceased, fell very slowly; while the +surrounding gloominess plainly indicated an additional visitation of wet +as not far distant. In conjunction with this the sheep began to show +signs of foot-rot; and John, becoming anxious to get them home, +considered it better under the circumstances to attempt a passage of the +river at once. Acting on this decision he removed the flock to the old +crossing-place and attempted the transit. + +Two of his men had, by the aid of a horse, swam the river, and a large +number of the sheep had either crossed or were struggling in the +current, when a noise was heard that struck our hero with dismay. The +distant roll of thunder, combined with the roar of battle, would convey +but an imperfect idea of its nature. Distinct and more distinctly came +the sound and, while the darkened atmosphere lent its gloom to the +mighty convulsion that seemed to rend the earth, the cause of the noise +seemed to approach nearer and nearer. Though John had never seen the +sudden rising of a river he had heard of such phenomena, and guessed +that the sound that he then heard was the harbinger of such an event. He +therefore used all his exertions, with those of Joey and the white man +that had remained with him on the upper bank of the Wombi, to prevent +the remainder of the sheep from following their fellows into the water. +They were with difficulty diverted from the stream; and those that had +already crossed, being driven by the men as far as possible from the +influence of the tide, John waited with an intense anxiety to watch the +fate of those that would of a certainty be overtaken by the current. + +The flood was in the Gibson river, and its cause can be easily explained +in a few words. Towards its source the rain had been continuous, and the +water-holes and surcharged swamps being filled to repletion, had burst +their bounds and added their immense volumes to the already swollen +stream. This imparted a force and impetuosity even greater than the +current had previously possessed, and forced the water in one immense +body down its course. On and on it swept like the monstrous rolling +surge of the ocean, carrying to inevitable ruin everything that it +overtook in its passage. John stood on an elevation sufficiently high to +enable him to watch the progress of the destructive fluid; and, with his +gaze alternately directed to it and his sheep still swimming in the +stream at his feet, he calculated their chances of reaching the bank in +safety. For this, however, he had little time, for the progress of the +flood was quicker than that of his thoughts; and the sudden rise in the +Gibson, as the deluge approached, caused a similar one in the Wombi. As +the main body in the river swept past, it flooded the minor stream with +its back current, sending the reversed tide, seething and swelling, up +its narrow channel, and carrying with it some hundreds of the swimming +sheep, most of which were drowned in their vain struggles with the +element. + +Unfortunate as this was John gave vent to no vain regrets, but at once +decided how he would act. He knew that the brunt of the flood was over, +and that the water would speedily fall in the river. He therefore +determined to camp where he was for the night, and in the morning to +send on the portion of his flock on the opposite side of the river, +while he waited with the remainder until the flood should have so far +receded as to permit his crossing them with safety. He communicated his +plans to both sections of his party, while Joey lit a fire and prepared +a camp. + +Towards midnight, when everything was hushed in the nocturnal stillness, +Joey came softly to his master, who was stretched in his blanket before +the fire on the damp ground, and awoke him from his sleep. John, when he +was aroused, instantly started up in the full expectation of some fresh +misfortune, and hastily demanded of Joey what was the matter. + +"You no hear, massa?" replied Joey; "you listen. The black fellows come +back again and make great noise." + +John listened attentively for some moments, and unmistakably +distinguished the sounds of blacks' voices, though what was the purport +of the noise he could not conjecture. It was evident to him they had +returned to the neighbourhood and, from the sounds he heard, in +considerable numbers. But where could they be camped? he asked himself; +surely not at their old ground in the scrub, he thought; for the noise +plainly indicated a closer proximity. In fact, it sounded to him as if +it emanated from somewhere about Strawberry Hill, if not from that very +place. Then John's thoughts led him to make the enquiry what could bring +them across the Gibson; if they had any object in visiting Strawberry +Hill; and if so, what that object could be? His thoughts, once led into +such a channel, were not long in picturing a gloomy catalogue of +probable causes. A remembrance of Rainsfield's cruelties was too +indelibly impressed upon his mind to be forgotten, and the scene he had +witnessed at the blacks' camp on the night previous to their departure +was instantly conjured up in all its horrors. Though the disappearance +of the blacks for months had momentarily dimmed his memory to the pangs +he then witnessed and felt, they were instantly remembered when his mind +reverted to the subject; and he vividly recollected the ebullition of +evil passions that had been kindled in the breasts of some of the +survivors and relatives of the victims. In his fancy he heard anew the +threat of revenge that was uttered against Rainsfield; and he began to +entertain the belief that the blacks were at the station of Strawberry +Hill, and had come there for the purpose of wreaking vengeance on their +destroyer and his family at a time when they would imagine their +visitation least expected. + +At the same time, however, he could not bring his mind to imagine that +the blacks would be bold enough to attack the whole station, being +confident the knowledge of the superior prowess of the whites would +deter them, besides their dread of fire-arms, which, they would know at +least all the men on the station would possess. He had no doubt, either, +but that Rainsfield, having incurred the enmity of the aborigines, would +take every precaution against surprisal, and believed that he could, +with the assistance of one or two of his men, preserve himself against +the assaults of a hundred of the blacks. But still John Ferguson could +not divest his mind of some degree of apprehension, which +(notwithstanding his endeavours to calm the perturbation his train of +thoughts had led him to experience) still lingered there, and dark +forebodings disturbed his brain. + +"Where are they, do you think, Joey?" he enquired, as if he wanted +corroboration of his own senses. + +"Strawberry Hill, I believe, massa," was the reply. + +"I am afraid so, too," said John; "and I fear they are up to no good. If +they were only going to rob the store they would never make so much +noise over it." + +"No, massa, they not go to rob the store," said Joey; "they be frighted +to do that again, I believe; taltoe (food) kill too many black fellow +that time when they steal 'em ration; they be going to kill now, I +believe." + +"That's what I've been thinking too, Joey," replied his master; "but +they wouldn't have any chance if the white fellows had guns." + +"I don't know, massa," replied the black boy; "p'rhaps no, p'rhaps +yes--black fellows be very frightened of guns; but the Nungar black +fellows, you pidner (know), very wild and budgery belonging to fight +(good at fighting), and bael they lik'em (hate) Mr. Rainsfield; so I +believe they will try very hard to kill him." + +"I've no doubt they will," replied his master, "if they can get a mark +at him; but if he keeps himself and his men within the house they will +be able to fire away at the blacks without giving them a chance at +themselves." + +"White fellows all sit down liket huts," said Joey, by which he meant to +imply that the men in all probability would be in their own huts, +removed from the house of the station; "and," he continued, "bael Misser +Rainsfield fight 'em all round big fellow humpie; and black fellow, when +he find 'em bael come out, he gett'um firestick, and mak'em humpie one +fellow-corbon fire;" which may be rendered into our vernacular by +saying, that Rainsfield would be unable of himself to protect all parts +of the dwelling; while the blacks would unhouse him by setting on fire +the building, which it must be remembered was of wood. + +John mused a few minutes in a reverie, in which his feelings sustained a +violent convulsion. That love preserved a prominent position we have no +doubt; and, also, that apprehension for the safety of the object of that +love maintained a lively agitation in his mind. We fear we must not +attribute his sympathy and anxiety for the family to a general +friendship alone, but to the additional stimulus of a more inspiring +feeling. However, we will not arrogate to ourselves the censorship of +his motives, but simply confine ourselves to a recordance of events. + +"Joey, get my horse and saddle him," said John, turning to the boy, who +was standing with his body bent in an attitude to catch the floating +sound of the blacks' voices. + +Joey turned his eyes, looking surprised at his master; and though he did +not actually ask him the nature of the work he intended to require of +his horse, his manner and hesitation made that inquiry; and his master +devising its meaning voluntarily made the explanation. + +"I will go over at once to Strawberry Hill, Joey," he said, "and see +what the blacks are doing; for I cannot bear this suspense, and I fear +the morrow will disclose some fearful work." + +"Bael you cross the river, masser," cried the boy; "too much water sit +down. Bael you swim, masser? More liket be drowned." + +"Don't make yourself uneasy, Joey," replied his master, "my horse has +taken me over worse floods than that; it is only back water from the +Gibson, and there is very little current." + +"But oh! massa, bael you go! supposing you cross river, and supposing +black fellows fight with Misser Rainsfield, what you can do? bael you +got 'um gun or pistol, and black fellow have plenty spear; so you do +nothing, and black fellow only kill you." + +"No fear, Joey," said John. "The blacks would have no object in killing +me; and if they are congregated at Strawberry Hill, to commit some +outrage as I suspect, I may be enabled to effect some good by inducing +them to abandon their scheme; or, at least, I can afford some assistance +to the family they are attacking." + +"Oh no, massa! I tell you no," exclaimed the poor faithful attendant. +"These black fellows kill any white fellow now; bael they care for you +now; they come to kill Misser Rainsfield; and Misser Rainsfield's +friends liket help him they kill them too. Bael you go! Budgery massa!" +exclaimed the attached creature, as he threw himself down on the ground +before his master, and clung to his feet. + +The expression and evidence of so much attachment in the poor boy +sensibly affected the kind nature of John Ferguson; and he was moved to +see so much genuine warmth and affection in one of a race which was +looked upon as incapable of such emotions--a race which is deemed by +professed judges of their nature to be destitute of all human virtue; to +be the lowest in the social scale; incapable of the inculcation of +civilisation, morality, and religion; to be only a stage above the brute +creation, and to be segregated by an insuperable barrier from all +sentient creatures. Could you, oh, self-sufficient philosopher (who +enunciate these doctrines), only present yourself before these two, and +penetrate with a visual percipiency the heart that beats in the breast +of that poor, prostrate black, thou wouldst surely be brought to +acknowledge the existence of that germ that was implanted in our first +parents by the omnipotent Creator. Thou wouldst also be brought to +acknowledge, unless prejudice blinded thine intellect, that, degraded as +that race which thou contemnest undoubtedly is, much of the weight of +that degradation has been the burdening of thine own countrymen. Say not +that, by the immutable decrees of Providence, the black races are +destined to disappear before the white, and to succumb their savage +natures and existence to advancing civilisation. Such may, or may not, +be so; but in either case how can you relieve yourself of the obligation +imposed upon you by the Supreme Being to ameliorate the condition of +that unfortunate people of whom you first rob their inheritance and then +sweep from the face of the earth, by instilling into their +unsophisticated natures all the vices incidental to yours; without +attempting their regeneration, or even an ethic inculcation. + +John looked upon his faithful attendant as he implored him not to +venture either near the blacks or across the swollen river before him; +and he felt a pleasurable sensation, akin to gratitude, towards the poor +creature. It is true he had himself almost reared the poor boy, who had +been always near him; but the idea of so much attachment being in the +nature of the black had never occurred to him; and its discovery +therefore caused him astonishment. + +"I must go, Joey," he said, "I have no fear for danger to myself; and if +anything should happen this night to the family at Strawberry Hill, and +I remained here, I shall ever accuse myself as being, by my selfish +neglect, accessary to their fate." + +"Will massa let me go with him?" enquired the boy. + +"No, Joey," replied his master; "I wish you to stop here with the +shepherd and sheep, until the water falls sufficiently to enable you to +cross with them; but get me my horse, I must lose no time;" saying which +he turned away to seek the shepherd, who was watching the flock, to give +him directions, while Joey performed the necessary services for the +horse. + +The black boy went down with his master to the edge of the river, in +vain entreating to be permitted to accompany him, and stood on the +brink of the water as John plunged his horse into the dark rolling +stream. The night was black and cloudy and the opposite bank was hardly +discernible in the gloom; while the opaque waters rolled their disturbed +body in their sullen course. As John had said the river was not swift, +but it was deep and treacherous. Its tide, though swollen by the immense +volume in the Gibson, ran only slowly; but it was filled with eddies +caused by the stoppage of its own natural current. Its passage was +therefore more dangerous than perhaps it would have been had it been +running with the velocity of its parent stream. + +As John entered the water the noble animal that carried him, guessing +the nature of the work that was expected of him, courageously breasted +the current, and swam for the opposite bank. For some minutes he could +have been seen speeding his course, with precision for his desired goal; +when anon he would be drawn into the vortex of one of those whirlpools +in which the stream then abounded, and from which his persevering beast +would extricate himself, and again struggle on his course. The horse and +rider had nearly reached the other side, and were almost lost to Joey's +sight in the obscurity, when suddenly both man and beast were entirely +submerged; and the next instant the animal's feet were plainly +discernible above water, in a state of violent agitation. + +With one bound the black boy sprang into the water, and swam vigorously +for the spot where his master had disappeared; but his anxieties were +relieved by John's reappearance, and seeing him strike out for the bank +in company with his horse. Joey did not return when he perceived that +his master was safe, but pursued his course. Long and arduous was his +struggle, and he had enough to do to preserve himself from the eddies +and floating masses that were rotating in the pools, or that were +descending the stream. But he succeeded in crossing it without any +mishap, and he presented himself to his master as the latter was about +to mount his horse after his own dangerous passage. + +"What, Joey!" exclaimed John as he witnessed the boy before him, "what +on earth has possessed you to risk your life in crossing the river by +yourself, and after my telling you I wanted you to stay with the sheep?" + +"Oh! massa," replied the boy, "me thinkum you be drowned, when me been +seeum you capsized; bael me help coming after you to see you all right." + +"Well, I suppose I must not be angry with you Joey," said his master. + +"Oh no, massa!" replied the black, "but that very ugly capsize, how 'em +happen?" + +"A log that was floating in one of the pools," said John, "turned the +horse over and me with him; but I kept hold of the bridle and reached +the shore safe enough, with only the addition of a little extra wetting. +But I can't stop now, Joey, I must not lose any more time, and you will +have to get back again as soon as you can; for that man you have left +on the other side will not be able to watch and 'shepherd' the sheep all +by himself. You can get your own horse that the two fellows crossed with +yesterday to take you back." + +"But, massa, you let me come now with you? and I be over the river all +right liket morning." + +"Well, come if you will," said his master, "you can follow me;" and he +dashed spurs into his horse and rode off. + +Joey thus obtaining the permission he sought wasn't long in getting his +horse saddled, and he galloping after his master whom he overtook on the +road; as, notwithstanding his impatient haste, John was unable, owing to +the fatigue his horse had already endured in the water, to keep in +advance of the fresher steed of his black boy. + +The two horsemen for some minutes rode rapidly side by side; and, as +they approached Strawberry Hill, they every moment became more +conscious, not only of the proximity of the blacks, but of their either +meditating, or actually perpetrating some diabolical work. These kept up +a chorus of voices which formed a perfect Babel of discord, resounding +through the still night, and reverberating among the vaulted and +umbrageous canopy of the bush like the conclaves of assembled +pandemonium. Anon this was succeeded by frantic yells that curdled the +very blood in John Ferguson's veins; and then shriek after shriek +pierced the air, telling too plainly the nature of the savages' work. + +What further stimulus could John have had for his fears? Here was a +realization of his most direful dread. The very echo of the woods +proclaimed the fate of his friends; and possibly that being whom he +loved most on earth was by that wail numbered among the dead; her lovely +features defaced by the brutality of fiendish savages; and her fair form +mutilated and possibly dishonoured. The thought was too harrowing; it +deprived him of all consideration for his own person; the idea of his +own saftey never entered his mind, and unarmed and defenceless as he +was, he dashed the spurs again and again into the side of his steed, and +galloped madly until he reached the scene of horror. He sprang from his +horse, as the panting animal halted before the house, which was now +still and apparently desolate; while the retreating forms of the blacks +might have been seen by other eyes than John Ferguson's. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + "Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes, + His mansion, and his titles in a place + From whence himself does fly?" + + MACBETH, _Act 4, Sc. 2_. + + +When Rainsfield parted from Jemmy Davies he retraced his steps to his +own house, which he reached as the first rays of the morning sun +irradiated the eastern sky; and, flinging himself upon a sofa in the +sitting-room, he sought a few hours' rest. Sleep we cannot call it for +it was more of the nature of a waking dream than refreshing slumbers; +and, after enduring two or three hours of increasing restlessness, he +sprang from his couch, and, while it was yet early morn, strolled forth +to refresh his fevered brain. + +His reflections were of no enviable kind. That the object the blacks had +in returning to the neighbourhood was, as Jemmy Davies had warned him, +he had no doubt; for, however much he was disinclined to credit the +disinterestedness of Jemmy, and his good feeling towards himself, he +could not imagine any motive that could influence the black in +acquainting him of a plot if no plot existed. Rainsfield had no faith in +one of their colour, believing sincerity a virtue incompatible with +their nature; but at the same time he fully credited the information of +Jemmy, especially after the evidently hostile preparations he had +witnessed. He was also perfectly aware that he might expect the +animosity of the blacks while they remained in the neighbourhood; and +though he had flattered himself upon their former disappearance that he +had been for ever relieved from the annoyance of their proximity, he now +found he had exorcised the demon which threatened his destruction. + +What their mode of procedure would be he could hardly conjecture, +though he had doubted not, from what he had witnessed at the camp, that +they had not only concerted measures, but that their plans would be on +somewhat an extensive scale. Their primary object, he believed, would be +his life; but personally he had a supreme contempt for the whole race, +and flattered himself that, with a little caution, he was a match, +numerically speaking, against extreme odds. He believed, as in fact +experience had demonstrated, their cowardice was one of their inherent +characteristics, and that, with decision on his part, and a chastisement +by a few examples, he would avert the threatened danger. He imagined +that their tactics would be a perpetual ambuscade, never dreaming that +they would so far venture on the offensive as to assume the aggressive +overtly, but would rather attempt a surprisal; in which case he +determined, as soon as his opponents showed themselves, to take upon +himself the offensive. As the harass, however, of a perpetual watch +would not only inconvenience him, but weaken his already too small +force, he bethought him to acquaint his neighbours of his position, and +beg their assistance. His first care, then, was to apprise all his men +on the station of the intention of the blacks, and to provide them with +fire-arms, so far as his stock admitted, charging them to use every +vigilance to prevent the approach of any of the aborigines, and to shoot +them if they came within range of their guns. + +On the evening of that day, acting under the advice of Jemmy Davies, Mr. +Rainsfield posted himself, and two of his men, in the bush near the +house, where he expected the blacks would be lurking if they visited the +station at all; and not long after night-fall he became sensible of the +stealthy approach of some of the natives. Rainsfield and his men had +secreted themselves so as to elude even the keen vision of the +aborigines, at the same time that they themselves could discern, as +plainly as was practicable in the darkness, the crouching forms of the +reconnoiterers. The party in espionage watched their victims until they +approached sufficiently near to enable them to distinguish their dusky +outlines, and then they simultaneously discharged the contents of their +three pieces into their very midst. + +The report was instantly followed by more than one yell, and at least +one body was heard to fall heavily to the ground, when the next moment a +shower of spears rattled amongst the trees and bushes where the party +lay concealed. Rainsfield and his men remained perfectly motionless, not +daring to venture another shot; for they knew well that every native had +already shielded himself behind some tree, and was watching for a +repetition of the fire to guide them whence to aim their own missiles. +By remaining in his quiescence Rainsfield was aware he was safe; for he +knew the blacks would not trust themselves to a closer investigation of +the quarter from whence emanated their destruction. Of the two watching +parties the blacks were the first to withdraw, after discharging +another random volley of spears, and taking with them their dead or +wounded. When Rainsfield was convinced of their departure he came out +from his hiding-place, and returned to the station much pleased with his +adventure, and, arguing from the nature of the reception the blacks had +met with, that they would considerably cool in their ardour for any +further visitation of his premises. + +The other inmates of Strawberry Hill were too much occupied with their +attention to Eleanor, and too much engrossed by their anxieties for her +welfare to be conscious of the occurrence we have lately described; for +when the doctor arrived with William from Alma she was in an exceedingly +dangerous state, and it was not until the day following the encounter +that the son of Galen considered himself warranted in taking his +departure, and leaving his patient to the care of her own friends. +Eleanor's state was still precarious, and though the fever was +sufficiently subdued to relieve her friends of alarm, her nervous +system had received a tremendous shock. Added to her corporeal +sufferings she had to endure mental agonies of a far more acute +description, which kept her prostrate, dispirited, and almost +unconscious, while her friends ministered with affectionate hands to her +every want. Days thus passed over with only shadows of improvement; and +William, who at first returned home leaving his sister at Strawberry +Hill, came back and brought her away from the bedside of her friend. + +As Mr. Rainsfield had anticipated, the blacks entered no further +appearance after their first night of reconnoitering; and, though the +watchfulness of himself and his men was unabated, he began to entertain +less fears of their carrying out or even attempting their premeditated +design. All the men on the station were now well armed, and were quite +capable, acting in unison, of repelling the attack of a whole host of +natives should they make the attempt. At least so thought Rainsfield +and his _employes_; for their first success, and the subsequent +respectful distance that the blacks had maintained, engendered a sense +of security in their minds. + +How many has this very feeling ruined, and will continue to ruin for +succeeding ages, who can tell? "A sea of troubles" is incidental to our +existence, and the dark prognostic that rises on our mental horizon, +heralding the approach of some destructive blast, is too often unheeded +by us until it has swept over our devoted heads. While the necessary +precautions to avert the coming danger have been either neglected or +postponed under the impression of false security we have fallen victims +to our own procrastination; and as the withering blast howls in its fury +as it settles its incubus form upon our spirits, we mourn our own +inertness, when timely exertion would have saved us from the calamity. +We will not say this was exactly the case with Mr. Rainsfield, though +after a few days of unceasing watchfulness without any other +molestation taking place, he began to relax in his vigilance, and was +imitated by his servants. He already looked upon the blacks as cowed and +vanquished, and entertained very little apprehension of another +visitation, though at the same time he was not altogether at ease +considering that they still remained in his vicinity with the avowed +purpose of attacking the station. + +The idea had struck him that he could report to the authorities the +attack already made by construing what might have been an intention into +an act itself, as also the determination of the blacks to renew it, and +their location in his neighbourhood in a hostile and warlike spirit. He +would then be enabled to claim the protection of the police; but, what +would be more to his purpose, he would be enabled to obtain a warrant +for the apprehension of the ringleaders of the perpetrated and intended +breach of the peace. Armed with such a document he could make use of it +to visit their camp; while he was aware, from his knowledge of the +blacks, that the only result of the farce would be a rupture with them, +but by its means he would gain the opportunity he desired, viz., of +driving them from the country. + +That such a farce as the administration of justice, or rather the +enforcement of the law, in one proscribed form on the savage should be +permitted to exist is deeply to be deplored. To punish the ignorant +aboriginal for the sins we have either taught or compelled him to +commit, without his having any knowledge of their nature, is +sufficiently iniquitous to require no comment; and to expect him to +conform to laws of which he has no conception, and which are contrary to +his natural instincts, is equally absurd and unjust. But such is the +case: the aboriginal is supposed to be a British subject in all but the +privileges pertaining to those favoured individuals; and if he commits +any act contrary to the code of our justiciary he is made amenable to +our laws and judged accordingly. Mr. Rainsfield was as well aware of +this as any one, but it mattered not to him. All he desired was to +possess some recognised authority for his molestation of the natives, +while he was nominally in the performance of a duty, though in reality +shielding himself under the protection of the law in the committal of an +unjustifiable aggression. That he would receive an order to obtain the +assistance of the native police he had no doubt, though he did have +misgivings as to their services being forthcoming. He little cared, +however, if they were so; in fact, it would suit his views better than +if they accompanied him, as he would prefer not to be annoyed with the +supervision of police, even though troopers, and they only blacks. He +could obtain sympathy, he thought, from his friends, and collect a small +body of volunteers that would aid him in his operations far more +effectually than police. Thus he hatched a scheme that had for its +object a trap in which to catch the unwary blacks; so that, by some +show of resistance, he would be warranted in taking the law into his own +hands in self-defence for himself and his friends and to enter upon +their crusade of extermination. Such was the offspring of Rainsfield's +mind: a laudable undertaking worthy of the cool-blooded monsters of +antiquity. + +The rains, of which we spoke in the last chapter, had by this time set +in, and Rainsfield watched the rising of the Gibson river with some +degree of satisfaction. Knowing the blacks to be encamped on the other +side, he looked upon a flood as an insuperable barrier to their advance, +and an impregnable circumvallation to his own station; therefore he had +no fears of an attack while the water maintained its height, and he +determined to choose that opportunity for carrying out the preliminaries +of his plot. + +He explained so much of his plans as he thought necessary to his wife, +including, of course, his object in leaving her, and attempted to allay +her fears, if she had had any, by assuring her that it was impossible +for the blacks to cross the river in its then state, while long before +the flood settled he would collect such assistance as would not only +protect them from any attack but enable him to drive their annoyance to +a safe distance. Mrs. Rainsfield, however, entertained no fears, +notwithstanding the monitory aspect of affairs around her. She had long +accustomed herself to look upon her husband's operations against the +unfortunate natives as not only harsh but cruel and unjust; and she +lamented his proneness to seize upon every opportunity of treating them +with severity. Believing them to be ill-used, and at the same time +inoffensive, she saw no cause for fear, and therefore did not +participate in her husband's alarm and felt no uneasiness in his +meditated absence. + +Mr. Rainsfield, though he thought very little, if any, danger was to be +apprehended, deemed it expedient for his wife and family's safety to use +some precaution, and therefore for their protection requested Mr. +Billing to take up his abode in the house. He gave him strict +injunctions to keep the place well secured against the possibility of +any ingress, and himself always in possession of a relay of arms, which +he was to use without any hesitation if a black presented himself within +range of his fire. Giving similar instruction to the remainder of his +men he took his departure. + +His first step was to proceed to Alma and make a declaration before a +bench of magistrates to the effect that the blacks had already made an +attack upon his premises, and were still in considerable force in his +neighbourhood, to the imminent peril of his life and property; and that +the said party was headed by a half-civilized black named Barwang. Upon +making this affidavit he at once obtained what he desired, viz., a +warrant for the apprehension of the ringleader, Barwang, and all others +who might either commit or incite other of Her Majesty's subjects to +commit a breach of the peace. He also procured the promise of +assistance from what portion of the native police could be collected, +who would be stationed at Strawberry Hill for his protection, until such +time as the blacks should be quieted. Succeeding thus far he then +proceeded to Brompton to enlist the services of Bob Smithers, knowing +well that few arguments would suffice to induce him to engage in a work +which was exactly to his tastes. He found him at home, and, after the +ordinary greetings had been passed, and Bob's asking him what brought +him from home, he entered upon the subject of his mission by replying: +"I want your aid, Smithers, to chastise those infernal blacks, for they +are at me again. I have beaten them off once, but I believe they are +only now prevented from attacking me in full force by their inability to +cross the Gibson from their camp. See here I have got a warrant for the +apprehension of their chief, so that will be sufficient authority for us +to carry out our own plans." + +"All right, old boy," exclaimed Bob, as he gave his friend a proof of +his exuberance and readiness to join him by administering a playful poke +in the ribs; "I'm your man. I am fully convinced we shall never live in +peace until those d--d blacks are exterminated. Nothing would give me +greater pleasure than to shoot every mother's son of the dogs; so, by +Jove! you may depend upon my lending you a hand." + +"I do not believe, either," said Rainsfield, "that we shall ever enjoy +any degree of quietude until we have suppressed the wretches. It is no +use our looking to government for protection; we must take the +administration of the law into our own hands and punish them ourselves. +But to effect this we ought to make it a common cause, and all work in +unison for our mutual protection." + +"Just so!" said Smithers; "I perfectly agree with you." + +"I've long thought of the plan," continued Rainsfield, "to form +ourselves into a confederation for that purpose; but owing to the +absence of the blacks for some months past I have allowed it to escape +my memory. Now, however, I think, is a time that some such measure +should be adopted, for if these depredations are not speedily checked +the blacks may be going to such extremes that our position in the +country will become untenable." + +"I am quite of your way of thinking," said Smithers, "and so I know are +many others. I am confident Graham would assist you in a minute, and so +would Brown, and many others round us. I'll tell you what; if you like +I'll just go round to a few of them and bring them over to your place, +so that if you return home now, and keep the black scoundrels in check +for a day or two, until I get my forces collected, we will give them a +lesson which they will not forget in a hurry; that is, if any of them +survive to have any recollection." + +Diabolical as was the intention implied in this threat it fully +accorded with Rainsfield's own desire and determination, and he readily +fell into the views of his colleague, who at once started on his +recruiting expedition, while Rainsfield, in high fettle, the following +morning took his ride home. On this journey we will leave him for the +present while we glance at the events in progress at another scene of +our narrative. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + "Friend of the brave! in peril's darkest hour, + Intrepid virtue looks to thee for power." + + CAMPBELL. + + "She only left of all the harmless train, + The sad historian of the pensive plain." + + GOLDSMITH. + + +Everything went smoothly at Strawberry Hill for two days after the +departure of Mr. Rainsfield; but the night of the third was that which +was destined to bring with it a scene of horror, which happily has never +had its equal in the Australian colonies since the first settler +penetrated into its unknown wilds. The blacks had now remained some time +dormant; for since their first visit, owing to the warm reception they +had then met with, they had not ventured to repeat it. Towards the +evening in question, however, they might have been seen swimming, one by +one, the swollen current of the Gibson, until a considerable body had +congregated on the bank opposite to their camp. + +We will not presume to judge their motives, or profess conversance with +the impulses that influenced their movements. Possibly their instincts +might have taught them that the time for a most successful attack was +when the difficulties of approach rendered their coming least expected; +or it might have been that they were possessed of the knowledge of their +enemy's absence from home, and were determined to wreak their vengeance +on those belonging to him when they had not to fear his presence. That +Rainsfield was feared by them there was no doubt; his very name struck +terror into their souls, and none but the very boldest of them would +confront him, even in the consciousness of vastly superior force. It +was therefore quite possible they were acquainted with his absence, and +intended to take advantage of the occurrence to pay their premeditated +visit to the station; or their choice of this period might have been the +result of a fortuitous circumstance. Nevertheless be either as it may +the flooded river did not prove the barrier Rainsfield had calculated it +would, for the blacks crossed it with apparent ease and, as we have +said, collected themselves on the bank on the Strawberry Hill side. +Their evident intention being to proceed direct to the station when they +thought the inmates would have retired to rest. + +A little before midnight the murderous crew spread themselves over the +station; and simultaneously commenced their work of destruction by +entering the huts, and butchering all they could surprise in their +sleep. The first of their victims was a woman, the wife of a shepherd. +Hearing the unusual barking of the dogs she incautiously rose to +ascertain the cause without disturbing her husband, whose period of +sleep she considered valuable. The poor woman appeared at the door of +her hut with a child in her arms, too good a mark for the spears of the +savages; for in their thirst for blood they had no respect for either +sex or age but buried more than one of their weapons in the poor +creature's bosom. She fell across the threshold pierced to the heart and +in the agonies of death, with merely a sufficiency of the vital spark +remaining to utter a faint cry and clasp instinctively her babe to her +breast. As the infant's eyes turned in wonder on the ruthless savages +one of them seized the little innocent by the legs, tore it from its +mother's embrace and dashed out its brains; while his compeers rushed +into the interior of the hut, and, almost before the sleeping man could +sufficiently collect his senses to comprehend the nature of his +position, his spirit had joined those of his wife and child. The other +huts were in likewise visited, and those of the inmates who were not +successful in effecting an escape were similarly massacred. + +These proceedings had been gone about by no means noiselessly, so that +the family at the house had become aware of the presence of the savages, +though they could not conjecture the extent or the nature of the +outrages they had committed. Those of the men who had escaped from the +murderous hands of the aborigines deemed it safer to seek shelter in the +bush than to venture to the house, or even remain near the station. So +that, beyond the painful evidence of her ears, Mrs. Rainsfield could +ascertain no knowledge of what was going on. When she first heard the +noise that had heralded the visitation she hastily threw on some +clothing and emerged from her room; and, speedily becoming alive to the +imminence of the danger, she for the first time deplored the absence of +her husband. Mrs. Billing had removed with her youngest child to be near +her better half while he remained at the house, but the rest of her +family she had left at her own cottage; and having also been disturbed +by the uproar she wrought herself into a perfect fever of anxiety for +their safety. She fancied she heard every moment their dying screams as +they were being seized by the ruthless hand of some infernal savage; and +in her agony she fancied she could distinguish above the noise of the +now unrestrained articulation of the blacks their little voices calling +upon her for help, and she entreated to be allowed to rush at once to +their rescue. + +Her husband, however, was more rational, and pointed out to her that +that would, in all probability, only incur instant death to herself and +afford no relief to her children. He suggested that they should wait, +and see what the blacks proposed doing next; and as in all probability +it would be to attack the house, he remarked that their suspense would +be of short duration. He then bethought him of his fire-arms, which he +got in readiness for instant use, while he provided pistols to the +females. His next care was to barricade all the apertures through which +the blacks could effect an entrance, while Mrs. Rainsfield crept softly +to the bedside of Eleanor to ascertain if she had been disturbed by the +noise. By the time these arrangements were completed, and the family +assembled in conclave in the sitting-room, the blacks had collected +before the house and became clamorous for admittance. + +Mr. Billing, though not blessed with too great a share of physical +courage, had, nevertheless, in the moment of danger, a sufficient +perception of the line of conduct necessary for the defence of himself +and those under his protection. Notwithstanding that the gun he then +held in his hand was in all probability the first that he ever had in +his possession with the intent of putting it to use, he handled it as if +it were an old and friendly companion, and proposed that he and his two +female colleagues should fire simultaneously on the savages, so as to +give them the idea that the house was well defended. His suggestion, +however, was overruled by Mrs. Rainsfield, who at once expressed her +disapprobation of such a course; being convinced, as she said, that the +blacks could not force the building, and even if they did that they +would have no cause to commit any violence to any of the inmates. While +if they found that they could not gain admittance they would depart at +most, perhaps, with robbing the store. This belief was far from +according with Mr. Billing's opinion, but he was constrained to assent +to the will of the lady; and they all, with a breathless silence, +continued to watch the movements of their assailants. + +The blacks finding they were unmolested, and seeing no opposition +offered to them, and no signs of life about the house, became bolder and +attempted to force some of the doors and windows; while the affrighted +party sat in a state of fearful anxiety, and, though unseen themselves, +they could plainly distinguish the forms of the aborigines trying the +window of the room in which they were. Mr. Billing at this moment +placed the muzzle of his gun close to the glass of the window, that was +left visible through a crevice in the barricade, and had he fired would +have assuredly sent one savage to his account in the other world. Would +that he had; for in all probability it would have driven the blacks to a +distance from the house, and possibly saved us from the task of +narrating this fearful tragedy. But his eagerness to fire was restrained +by Mrs. Rainsfield, and the moment was lost; for the blacks, finding +their efforts to gain an ingress unavailing, gave up the fruitless +attempt, and withdrew to some short distance to hold converse on their +proceedings. + +Mrs. Rainsfield at once began to congratulate herself and her friends +that they had retired as she had anticipated, leaving them nothing more +to fear; and at that moment hearing the faint voice of Eleanor calling +to her she hastened to account for the disturbance about the house and +appease her alarm. Eleanor was in a state of considerable agitation, +having been aroused from her fitful slumbers by the noise of the blacks, +and being still very low in strength and spirits, and excessively +nervous, her alarm and agitation threatened to bring on fever again. It +was only with considerable difficulty that Mrs. Rainsfield could +persuade her she had no cause to fear. She told her that the blacks had +already taken their departure from the house, and would in all +probability by that time have left the station; and she entreated her +not to give herself any uneasiness, but to be still for a few minutes, +and then she would return to her bedside and sit with her for the +remainder of the night. + +With these assurances, Eleanor was constrained to be pacified, and so +Mrs. Rainsfield returned to the sitting-room, where she found Mrs. +Billing wringing her hands and crying in an agony of grief. Mr. Billing +was more calm, but not less apprehensive of danger or death. He drew the +lady of the house to the crevice of the window to gaze upon the scene +without, while she uttered a cry of surprise and terror, as her startled +vision took in the tableau there displayed. Before the house stood a +group of the assailants in all the hideousness of barbarity, paint, and +savage nudity. They had possessed themselves of "fire sticks," which +acted as torches, at the same time that they served to exhibit their +bodies in all their diabolical repulsiveness; and their intentions were +too plainly indicated in their jestures. To say that they looked like a +band of incarnate fiends would be to convey but a poor impression of the +horrors of their appearance, as the fitful light reflected their hideous +forms; exhibiting them in, if possible, a more fearful aspect than their +stern realities; and giving them the appearance as the beholders thought +(and as was, alas! but too true) of being besmeared with blood. It is +not to be wondered at that at such a sight the hearts of two frail +women, and even that of a man, should have quailed; and if not before +despair certainly did then seize upon the spirits of those present. + +The object of the villains had by this time become perfectly apparent, +and though neither of the trio dared to breathe their individual +suspicions they were unanimous in the one belief that the lighted +torches were intended to fire the premises; and thus either drive them +from their shelter or bury them in the ruins. They therefore saw that +only two courses were open to them; either to arm themselves and defend +the house until the last, or to throw it open to the savages and try and +pacify them with any _douceur_ the wretches might covet. That there was +extreme danger in thus throwing themselves upon the mercy of fiends they +were perfectly aware; and any one better acquainted with the black's +character would have considered it absolute madness and voluntarily +seeking for a death more horrible than that which would await them in a +defensive perseverance. But the exercise of calm judgment and reason +could hardly be expected from two agitated and terrified women, and one +man whose nature was made of very little sterner stuff than theirs. + +Mrs. Rainsfield was the first that broke the painful silence that +ensued, and addressing Mr. Billing, said: "I think we had better open +the door at once, or they will set fire to the house, and we will be +burnt alive. If they determine to kill us we can but meet our death with +firmness; while there is a possibility of their sparing us if we satisfy +their cupidity by allowing them to plunder the place. Will you open the +door, Mr. Billing, and attempt the work of conciliation?" + +Mr. Billing silently obeyed this behest, and addressed himself to the +blacks, who were at this time standing immediately before the house +preparing to apply the fire. They instantly desisted from their +incendiary work when they saw signs of capitulation, and directed their +gaze to the doorway. By the light of their own "fire sticks" they could +distinguish Mr. Billing, who stood there with the women at his back +perfectly unarmed; having left his gun by Mrs. Rainsfield's desire in +the room they had vacated so as to give the savages, as she imagined, no +cause for offence by appearing to offer any resistance. When the blacks +satisfied themselves that they had nothing to fear they burst out into a +loud laugh of derision, and crowded towards the defenceless garrison in +a menacing and mocking attitude. What were the feelings of the trio at +this moment it would be difficult even to conjecture. With Mrs. Billing, +however, those of the mother overcame all personal and selfish +considerations, and she darted from the house to ascertain the fate of +her children. That action may be said to have decided the doom of the +whole party; for though possibly even under other circumstances the +blacks might not have spared those whom they had got into their power, +and the strong probability is that they would not, yet the sudden +movement of Mrs. Billing cost her her life, and gave the savages the +stimulus to commence the further shedding of blood. + +Mrs. Billing had not proceeded many steps before she uttered a loud +shriek and fell prostrate to the earth with a spear piercing her back +and protruding its point from her breast. Her husband witnessing the +deed, eliminated from his bosom all feelings save those of devotion and +sympathy for his wife, rushed to clasp her in his arms and met a similar +fate. The climax of this fearful tragedy was nearly attained. Mrs. +Rainsfield fled from the open doorway, where she had been the spectator +of this connubial sacrifice, and sought momentary refuge with her +children in her room. Just as the blacks entered the house the servants, +who had by this time been aroused to a sense of their danger, opened a +door which led from the kitchen into the hall. But perceiving the +murderous assailants pouring in they left the door wide open as they had +flung it and made a hasty exit by another passage into the obscurity of +the night, and beat a precipitate retreat to the bush. In their flight +they were followed by a few of the savages who had perceived them; but +who shortly tired of a chase in which fear lent wings to the pursued. +They returned to aid their colleagues in forcing an entrance into the +room of Mrs. Rainsfield and commenced their work there of insatiable +cruelty with hideous and diabolical evidences of satisfaction. + +The atrocities of these fiends were more like the evil machinations of +devils than the actions of human beings. But to enumerate all the +horrors, and to paint the scene with sufficiently forcible life-like +delineation, would be beyond the capabilities of our pen, and would only +sicken our readers by the perusal. Therefore we will merely say that +they first murdered the children before the eyes of their mother, while +they sported with the agonising despair of their victim, and then +despatched the lady; brutally mangling her body in their inordinate lust +for blood. + +Eleanor had remained spell-bound during the perpetration of those +horrors, which she had animation sufficient to discern were being +enacted in the house; but without either enough strength to move, or +power of utterance to give vent to the fearful sensations that preyed +upon her mind. Alarm we cannot call it: such a feeling sinks into +insignificance compared with the mental anguish she then endured; being +conscious, from the heart-rending cries that struck her ear, that her +dearest earthly friends were meeting with a death too horrible to +contemplate, and not knowing how speedily a similar fate awaited +herself. She lay thus in a sort of trance, or tremulous expectancy, for +some considerable time, while she could hear the work of destruction +going on all around; to which work the savages had taken when they had +completed their murders. But still they had not visited her, and she +continued to lie, the prey to the most fearful mental agonies. + +Sounds of rapidly approaching horsemen were then heard, and the blacks +began to leave the scene of their bloody desolation for fear of the +retribution which they expected from the approaching rescue. To Eleanor, +though she was nigher to death than a sublinary existence, the sound was +joyous; and she began to entertain hope that the relief would prove +opportune for the saving of her friends, as she felt it already was for +the rescue of herself. But oh! how unaccountable are the decrees of +Providence. At the very moment when she imagined the house was vacated +by the murderers the door of her room opened, and a hideous black +monster literally besmeared with blood burst in, and with uplifted arm +and bloody weapon, rushed to extinguish in her soul the flickering spark +of life. The black was followed by another, also with a hand elevated +and grasping a tomahawk. But the sight was more than Eleanor's shattered +nerves could bear; and starting into a sitting posture on her bed, her +tongue was loosened; she gave one piercing shriek, and sank back +senseless half leaning over the edge of her couch. The fate, however, +she had expected she did not meet with; for, instead of the glancing +steel of the second black being imbrued with her blood, it was buried in +the brain of the first, who sank to the floor a corpse. + +The cause of Eleanor's escape we may here explain to the reader. The +frame of the door to her room was placed in immediate contiguity to that +of the one which opened into the kitchen; and by some strange design of +the builder this latter was made to open out into the hall. Thus when +the servants opened it, and left it so, the fortuitous circumstance of +its irregularity proved Eleanor's preservation; for when thrown back it +entirely concealed the entrance to her room, and eluded almost +completely the vigilance of the murderers. It was, as we have seen, just +as they were retreating from the place that one of the stragglers +accidentally discovered it; and, thinking that the spot had not been +visited by either himself or his compeers, he entered to satisfy his +curiosity by a hasty visit; which would assuredly have terminated the +existence of Eleanor but for the timely blow dealt him by his fellow. + +This extraordinary internecine action may also require some elucidation; +and we will dispel the mystery by an explanation. Barwang and his party +upon their first visit to Strawberry Hill, when they met with their +repulse, became convinced that their movements had been betrayed by one +of their tribe, and they doubted not but that the betrayal emanated from +Jemmy Davies. They therefore kept a watch upon him lest he should again +carry information to Mr. Rainsfield, and preserved their own councils +from his knowledge; so that, until they had actually started on their +expedition, he was quite ignorant of their plans. When an opportunity +offered, however, he followed them on their track up to the house; and, +though he did not venture into the building, he kept hovering about in +the hope that he might be able to render some assistance to the family. +But not until the approaching sounds of horses' feet drew off the masses +of the tribe did he deem it safe for his own security to enter. He did +so; and, as he passed into the hall, he saw one of his countrymen +opening the door of a room and stand for a moment in the aperture gazing +fixedly in one direction. The glance of this savage's eye, as his own +keen vision caught the momentary flash, told Jemmy Davies that vengeance +gleamed from the other's orb, and in an instant he sprang after him, and +saved an innocent life by the sacrifice of one worse than worthless and +infamous. When he was convinced the house was empty of his countrymen, +and being aware that if he were caught in the place by any white man the +colour of his skin would be the warrant for his instant death, he took a +hasty survey of the fearful scene of blood that was visible even in the +partial darkness, and left the house by the back as two horsemen, +riding rapidly up to the front, leapt from their saddles and rushed in. +These two, as may be conjectured, were John Ferguson and Joey. + +Fearful as John had been of the nature of events he believed were +transpiring the sight that met his gaze as he entered the dwelling +struck him dumb with horror, and perfectly sick at heart, and paralysed +at the bloody disclosure. The whole floor of the house was slippery with +the gore of the murdered victims as it had been carried about by the +feet of the murderers. He hastily struck a light from the materials he +had about him; and, with the pulsations of his heart almost audible, +made a survey of the habitation. The first things that he noticed were +the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Billing, which had been dragged by the +savages into the hall, possibly with the intention of consuming the +whole in flames after they had finished their work; and then in the +sitting-room he saw the signs of the barricade that had been hastily +thrown up before the window. From that he hastened to the one which had +in life been occupied by the amiable lady that had been mistress of the +place, and there he witnessed the mangled remains of herself and her +family. As he gazed upon the hardly to be recognised features of that +friend who had so often greeted him with the cordial grasp of friendship +he could not restrain the tears that in a flood coursed their way down +his cheeks. Continuing his melancholy search he next entered the room of +Eleanor, and almost stumbled over the carcass of the black who lay in +the middle of the floor weltering in his blood. This sight caused him no +little surprise; especially, when with a sad foreboding he approached +the couch of that being he adored above all mundane objects, to find her +pendent form though insensible was scathless. But it was not a moment to +indulge in conjectures; he had discovered his idol in the midst of death +still living. So placing the unconscious creature on the bed, and +enveloping her in the clothes, he snatched her in his arms; and +pressing her to his breast bore off the precious load. + +With the assistance of his attendant he mounted his horse; and +despatching Joey instantly with injunctions to fly, if possible, to Alma +for the doctor and bring him to Fern Vale, he turned his own horse's +head homewards, and proceeded as fast as the animal with his additional +burden could travel. + +Bright and beautiful the morning dawned as he rode towards his home; but +serene as were the sublimities of nature their contemplation had no +place in his mind. All his thoughts were centred in the inaminate form +encircled by his arms. Thus he rode unconscious to all around, and would +have so ridden to the end of his journey had not a faint sigh struck his +ear; and he instantly stopped his horse to enable him to enjoy the sight +of returning vitality to his much loved Eleanor. He gently removed the +covering that he had placed over her face, when her melancholy eyes for +a moment rested upon his. It was only for a moment, however, for they +were instantly secluded from the light by the closing lids; and, +considering it better not to agitate her with conversation, and +satisfied for the time with the assurance of his hearing and vision, he +impressed one rapturous kiss on her fair forehead, again covered her +face from the morning air, and proceeded on his way. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + "All those rivers + That fed her veins with warm and crimson streams + Frozen and dried up; if these be signs of death, + Then is she dead.... But I will be true + E'en to her dust and ashes." + + DECKER. + + +Mr. Rainsfield pursued his way homewards little anticipating the sight +that awaited him on his arrival; but, owing to the heavy state of the +roads from the saturation of the ground, he was only enabled to travel +slowly. Consequently he perceived the flood coming down the Gibson long +before he reached the crossing-place of the Wombi; and, knowing that +there would be no use attempting a passage there, since the bridge had +been swept away, he at once struck off for the Dingo Plains to get over +by the upper crossing-place. By making this detour it was near morning +before he approached the station. + +Upon his reaching home he at once went to the stable and attended to his +horse, the first consideration of a bushman, and then bent his steps to +the house, feeling an unaccountable sensation of awe, which the +pervading solitude and death-like stillness inspired him with. This +feeling he was ashamed to indulge in, and tried to banish it from his +mind and deceive his conscience by attempting to whistle a lively air, +while he submitted his right boot to a playful castigation with his +riding-whip. All these stratagems, however, proved futile: a gloom had +settled upon him which he could not shake off, and he hastened his steps +to his dwelling with his heart in a perturbation that gave place to the +most fearful apprehensions as he perceived the house open to free +ingress. The truth at once burst upon him with overwhelming force, and +he rushed like one demented into the room where he had expected to meet +the embrace of his wife, but only to witness her mutilated remains +surrounded by those of her children. He gazed upon their forms for some +minutes in the uncertain light with a sad, though calm and almost +stoical cast of countenance; and then, kneeling by the side of his +wife's body, he parted her clotted hair from off her brow, which he +stooped down and kissed, and, while dashing a scalding tear from his +eye, thus apostrophised the fane of the departed spirit: + +"And was it for this I left you, my darling Mary, to seek for you +protection, and obtain assistance to drive the disturbers of our +happiness from the land? Oh! that I could but have foreseen this, to +have either preserved you and our poor little innocents, or perished +while I shielded your heart with my breast. Curses on my cruel fate, and +the blinding fancies of security which led me away from your side. Oh, +Mary, Mary! more dear to me than life, to have lost you thus, butchered! +by a set of ruthless savages, consumes my very heart. But you shall be +revenged. By heaven! you shall." And, springing to his feet with +clenched fists, and gazing into space as the whole expression of his +countenance changed, he continued: + +"What is life to me now, deprived of all the ties that bound me to this +earth? It shall be devoted to the cause of vengeance; and here, Mary! in +the presence of your spirit, and in the sight of my Maker, I swear to be +revenged upon all the blacks in this country; never shall one cross my +path alive. I'll spare neither their old nor their young. I'll hunt them +from their dens, like the vermin that they are. They shall be made to +bite the dust. Their bodies shall rot, and their bones bleach in the +sun. Never shall they rest until they are wholly exterminated, or my +strength and life fail me; and I swear that so long as one black remains +of all their race my vengeance shall not be satisfied. Hear me, Mary! +while I pray to God for the strength of Hercules, and the age of +Methuselah, that I may be a terror to their species, and they may learn +to curse the day when first they tasted the blood of mine. And oh, Mary! +if thou seest me from the portals of that abode where the eternal dwell, +look down upon me and commend my work, help my weak arm; encourage my +drooping spirit; be a light to beacon my path in the remainder of my +gloomy passage through this world; and let not the cup of vengeance be +removed from the lips of thy foul murderers until they have tasted of +the very dregs. So now, my angel wife! my once fond and loving but now +lost wife! sacrificed through thy husband's folly and neglect, if +vengeance is sweet to thee thy spirit shall be appeased; for henceforth +my name shall be one to strike dismay into the souls of blacks +throughout the land. So help me God!" + +Having uttered this fearful oath, and calling down the aid of his Maker +to assist him in its performance, Rainsfield left the room and the house +a broken-hearted man; re-saddled his horse, which he mounted, and went +he knew not whither. His state was truly piteous; his better and softer +nature was in perpetual warfare with his fiendish feelings, which +prompted nothing but a thirst for vengeance. The memory of his wife, and +the sudden shock occasioned by her loss and fearful death, had at first +subdued the evil passions of the mortal; and he had gazed upon the +placid features of the corpse with a calm and settled grief. But as he +awoke to a plainer perception of the horrors of the event, and what must +have been the sufferings of his defenceless family, with the brutality +of their hellish assailants, all softer feelings evanished before the +sterner one revenge; which in the one moment of decision he determined +should be the sole object of his future life. In this frame of mind he +left his home, that had so lately been smiling and happy but now +gloomy, bloody, and to be shunned; for he felt to dwell under that roof +again was impossible. His home for the future would be under the canopy +of heaven, and his life that of the avenger. Thus he left the house, +misfortune having so overcome his reason that he had no idea of further +inspection of the building, possibly believing that all had met with the +same fate, not even to glance into the room of Eleanor; and he wandered +forth absorbed in grief, without any definite notion of where he was to +go, or how he was to dispose of the bodies. + +Towards noon of the following day he entered the township of Alma, and +his horse stopping instinctively before the door of the "Woolpack" inn, +he alighted; and allowed the animal to be taken from him while he +mechanically entered the house. The news of the massacre had already +spread through the country, while the thousand tongues of mercurial +gossip had imparted to the original tragedy as many phases of horror as +imagination could possibly invent. The fearful occurrence had arrested +the attention, and absorbed all the interest of the residents of Alma; +and they were in several knots in deep and earnest conclave, discussing +the bloody event, as they saw the chief sufferer approaching their town. + +The loudest declamation, and the deepest uttered anathemas against the +natives, were in an instant checked. The earnestly asseverated opinion, +that the lives of the settlers would be perpetually in danger, unless +the blacks were speedily exterminated,--the noisy declaration of some +bold patriot, as he expressed his determination to declare eternal +warfare against the savages, and even to enter upon the crusade +single-handed if no one would lend him aid; with the faint voice of some +more philanthropic polemic, who attempted to check the stream of +exuberant passion, by palliating without defending (on the plea of +retribution) the horrible murder,--were all hushed, and gave place to a +heartfelt though silent sympathy as Mr. Rainsfield rode into the town. +And even after he was lost to their vision, by ensconsure in the +"Woolpack," their conversations were resumed in a lower cadence, lest +(even at a distance at which their most stentorian utterances could +hardly have been distinguishable) the nature of their conversation +should strike his ear and recall the subject of his grief. + +The news had reached them that morning by Joey when he arrived +post-haste for the doctor. He had been fortunate in finding the resident +son of Galen at home; and, obeying the injunctions of his master, had +delivered his message, and returned with him immediately. Short as had +been his stay it was quite long enough to enable the inhabitants to +elicit from him the facts of which the reader is acquainted. They learnt +with some degree of satisfaction that one of the family still retained +life, and would possibly be able, at some time, to recount the +circumstances of the massacre. Thus, in the presence of so much to +engender the feeling of compassion, a morbid curiosity to learn all the +details of horror seized upon the minds of the good people of Alma. But +such is the nature of man; selfishness reigns supreme, and shines forth +in all his motions and actions. + +When Joey returned with the doctor he deviated from the beaten track, to +cross the Wombi by the upper fords; thinking that his companion might +object to the more dangerous one of the lower. Rainsfield, on the +contrary, in his journey, never dreaming of dangers or difficulties, had +taken the lower; hence the parties had missed one another. This caused +the gossips of Alma to wonder greatly what had brought him away from his +house; especially as they had heard that he had been absent at the time +of the outrage, and must have since visited the scene, and met the +doctor and messenger on the road. But they were unacquainted with the +circumstance that had prevented the meeting, and they were destined, at +least at that time, to remain in ignorance; for the landlord of the inn +to whom they had recourse, rough and unfeeling as he appeared, had too +much respect for the grief of his visitor to attempt obtaining any +information from him. + +The landlord, without enquiring from him if he would take any meal, +prepared the table for a repast, and placed on it some edibles, with a +bottle of brandy and some water. Then, without uttering a syllable, he +left the room and the sorrow-stricken man to an uninterrupted solitude. +Rainsfield sat for some time gazing fixedly on the viands before him +without attempting or desiring to partake of them; retaining an +unaltered position on each occasion that he was surveyed by the +sympathising host through the key-hole of the door. In this state he +might have remained, until exhausted nature had induced a return to +consciousness, had not his attention been attracted by the arrival of an +extensive cavalcade at the door of the inn. Glancing his eye languidly +over the features of the riders as they were dismounting he instantly +recognised amongst the group the person and voice of Bob Smithers; and +the object of the party was at once made apparent. + +New life was at once infused into his veins; the blood once more mantled +his cheek, and fire was imparted to his eye, as he, with compressed lip +and determined visage, leapt from his seat and strode to the doorway. + +"Show those gentlemen in here, landlord," he said, addressing that +individual, as he was ushering the newly-arrived travellers into a +separate room. + +"I thought, sir, you would prefer to be alone," replied the landlord, +"so I was going to let you have the parlour to yourself." + +"Never mind, let them come in here," replied Rainsfield. + +The party by this time had entered the room they were shown to, so the +landlord turned to them, and said: + +"If you would like to step into the other room, gents, you will find it +more comfortable; there is only one other gent there, perhaps you know +him," he continued in an under tone, "it is Mr. Rainsfield." + +A low murmur ran through the party at the mention of the name, though it +was unheard by Rainsfield himself, he having turned again into the +parlour. The name of Rainsfield was repeated by them all in a tone of +voice that unmistakeably indicated a sorrowful compassion. They were all +squatters in the district and friends of Smithers, who had collected +them to go to the assistance of their neighbour for his protection +against the aborigines. They had heard as they came along the fearful +news of the massacre, and had accelerated their speed to arrive on the +scene of action as soon as possible, in the hope of finding some of the +family living, or being in time to afford some assistance, either in the +preservation of their lives, the protection of their property, or the +chastisement of their murderers. + +Smithers instantly proposed to join Mr. Rainsfield, and at once +adjourned to the other room, followed by his companions; and, as he +entered and advanced with extended hand, but without venturing to speak, +Rainsfield grasped the proffered token of friendship, while he said: +"Too late, Smithers! too late! except for revenge, and that is all I +hope to live for." + +"And in which we can now only serve you," replied his companion. "But we +will organize some plan of operation; we count fifteen now, and are +sufficient to be irresistible to the whole tribe of blacks. In the +meantime let the landlord prepare dinner, and then we will discuss +matters quietly. I think you know all our friends here?" + +The form of introduction being gone through where the parties were not +acquainted, and the shaking of hands where they were, the necessary +instructions were given to the landlord to prepare something for the +company, and they fell into a desultory conversation previous to +entering upon their plans. It is not our intention to weary the reader +with a verbose report of the initiatory proceedings of the party, and +will therefore merely state that they formed themselves into a mutual +protection society, with the professed object of combining to repel the +encroachments of the blacks, though in reality to hunt them down like +dogs. For the furtherance of this scheme they bound themselves by +stringent oaths to let none escape them, but to kill all they should +come across. Each individual swore to take active part in the process of +destruction so as to make all equally implicated. They vowed, by the +most solemn obligations, never to make any disclosure that would +criminate any of the society; while, before any neophyte could be +admitted within the periphery of their mysterious bonds, it was +determined he should be subjected to an ordeal that would protect the +members from the possibility of any disclosure that would cause their +amenability to the law. + +In the course of conversation with the landlord Smithers learnt that one +of the family (which his informant could not tell him) was still living, +and that a messenger, supposed from Fern Vale, had come over that +morning for the doctor. Smithers communicated this to Rainsfield, who +then remembered for the first time that he had not visited the room of +Eleanor, and therefore inferred that it must be she, he having had too +clear a demonstration of the total absence of life in the bodies of his +wife and children. This he mentioned to Smithers, and they both agreed +that Eleanor must have been discovered by some of the Fergusons, who had +removed her to their own house, and sent for the doctor. They therefore +determined to adhere to their original plan of starting early on the +following morning, after taking a night's rest where they were, it being +needed by most of the party as well as by their horses. + +On the following morning they were early on the road, so that few saw +them leave the township. But though nothing had been said by any of the +Society respecting the object of their journey it was pretty shrewdly +guessed at, if not positively known, by most of the inhabitants; and it +was evident to them no body of men, armed with rifles and revolvers, +could be travelling to the scene of a murderous outrage with any +peaceable intent. The sympathies, however, of most went with them; and +even though some of their number had been disposed in simple argument to +feel for the blacks, none dared to incur public opprobrium by making any +representations of the supposed hostilities to official quarters. The +Society itself proceeded on its way very quietly, its members being +mostly absorbed in sketching out, mentally, plans of the campaign on +which they were entering, so that the journey was almost entirely +performed in silence. + +When they reached the station its appearance was quite desolate; no +signs of life were perceptible, and the stillness of death spread +around its influence, which was sensibly felt by all. The house was +closed to all ingress, and on the door was nailed a card bearing the +words: "Let Mr. Rainsfield proceed to Fern Vale the instant on his +arrival." Rainsfield read the sentence, and at once guessed the import; +he perceived that when the murder had been discovered by the Fergusons +they had removed the bodies thither, if possible, to await his arrival +before interment; and he determined to go on at once, though, before +departing, he desired once more to gaze upon the rooms through which the +steps of his wife and the merry voices of his children had so lately +resounded, but which were now tenantless, desolate, and bloody. An +entrance was effected by a back window, and the party admitted; when +great was the surprise of Mr. Rainsfield to find no sign or vestige of +the fearful crime that had there so lately been committed. He read in +all this the kind hand of his neighbours, and his heart smote him in the +midst of his grief for the manner in which he had behaved to young +Ferguson. To his friends he pointed out with a melancholy precision the +spots where he had found the various bodies, described their position +and their mutilated condition, and then wandered through the rooms with +an abstracted air conjuring in his imagination the scenes that were +passed, never more to return, and peopling them in his fancy with those +loved forms whose spirits had fled to the source from whence they +sprang. + +His friends did not attempt to interrupt the gratification of this +melancholy pleasure, but allowed him to be the first to propose a +retreat, which, when he did, they were ready to agree to. The whole +party then left the house to proceed to Fern Vale; and while they are on +the road we will precede them and take a momentary glance at the doings +there, both at the exact period of our narrative and also +retrospectively for a few hours. + +John Ferguson, when he bore the all but lifeless body of Eleanor into +his own house, arrested the volatile reception of his sister with an +expression of countenance that betokened deep sorrow. To the poor girl +the look was unaccountable; she had only risen the instant her brother +had arrived, and had heard nothing of his approach; consequently she was +a little surprised at his presence. But when she was about to rush into +his embrace his manner appalled her, while she was equally surprised at +the singular burden he carried in his arms, for in the manner in which +he had enveloped the body of Eleanor the form was undefinable. John, +however, saved his sister the necessity of any questioning, by saying: + +"Don't ask me any questions at present that will require any explanation +of the cause of my unexpected appearance with this almost lifeless form. +Lead the way to your room, Kate, for I must place it under your charge; +and I can assure you it requires your tenderest care. I have already +sent for a doctor, and expect him here in the course of the day." + +The astonished girl preceded her brother to her room, and, as John laid +his burden gently on his sister's bed, he uncovered the face and +disclosed to the vision of Kate the pallid features of the unconscious +Eleanor. + +"Oh, John! dear John! tell me what is the meaning of this! what fearful +thing has happened?" Kate passionately exclaimed. + +"A dreadful event, Kate, as you may imagine," replied her brother, "by +my bearing that dear creature in such a state, and bringing her here to +be ministered to by you. She is now destitute of friends; but I cannot +tell you more at present, your nerves could not sustain the recital of +the horrors of the tale. I know that I need not ask you to bestow upon +Eleanor your utmost attention and most affectionate sympathy; but I must +caution you, should she return to consciousness, to make no allusion to +the circumstances of her misfortune; nor do you attempt to elicit +anything from her; rather try to soothe and calm her troubled spirit." + +"Oh, poor dear Eleanor! what cruel fate has put you in this awful +predicament?" cried Kate, when she burst into tears and buried her face +in the clothes by the side of her friend. + +In the meantime John left the room, and, proceeding to the kitchen, he +requested their female servant to go to the assistance of her mistress. +Here he found the servants who had escaped from the massacre at +Strawberry Hill relating to the astonished and horrified listeners as +much of the fearful outrage as they had witnessed, and what they +imagined to be the conclusion. But their narrative, though dreadful, was +not a tithe of the reality. He next sought his brother, to whom he +related the sad events, and commissioned him to break the tale to Kate +in as mild a way as possible. Then he informed him that he had left the +sheep at the Wombi and suggested that he and some of the men should go +over and assist the fellows that were with them, as they would +necessarily be short-handed, especially for the portion of the flock +that had not crossed the river. He then hastily partook of some +refreshment, and taking a few of his own men, and the servants and those +who had escaped from Strawberry Hill, he returned to that station to +remove, if possible, the signs of the outrage, and bring the bodies of +the victims to his own place; so that if Rainsfield should have heard of +the circumstance before his arrival he would not be maddened by a sight +of the murderous destruction. + +The house was speedily cleansed of all vestiges of blood. Similar stains +were removed from the corpses. The house was arranged in order, and +closed up, and the party left it as John affixed to the door the card we +have already noticed. The cavalcade moved slowly from the deserted +mansion, and, as it proceeded on its way with its load of inert +mortality, it was overtaken by the doctor and Joey from Alma. To the +latter, in a few words, he gave directions, and left him to follow with +the bodies, while he and the doctor pushed on. + +In the meantime Eleanor had at frequent intervals opened her eyes and +gazed vacantly on all the objects around her, including even the face of +her friend, whom she never for an instant appeared to recognise. To +Kate's tender soothing attempts she took no heed; but on each occasion, +with a faint sigh and shudder, relapsed into her former torpor. This +state continued until the arrival of the doctor, who, though he did not +express his fears, entertained serious apprehensions for her life; and +afterwards communicated to John his alarm, that, though her corporeal +system might recover, the shock to her nerves had been so great that he +feared her mind might give way and either become impaired or totally +demented. He recommended her room to be kept dark, and as cool and as +quiet as possible; and during her waking intervals, her mind to be as +much diverted as could be. He then prescribed certain medicines, amongst +them powerful soporifics, and Joey was instantly despatched, upon his +arrival, to Alma to get them compounded, while the doctor remained by +the patient to watch her malady. + +On the following day Rainsfield presented himself at Fern Vale. Smithers +could not be persuaded to approach the house; therefore he and his +friends encamped themselves on the creek to wait until their companion's +return. As Rainsfield approached the house he was met at the door by +John Ferguson; and, as he felt the warm pressure of the young man's +hand, it was only with an effort he prevented the tears from oozing from +his eyes. John led him to the room where lay his family; and, leaving +him for a few moments to his own silent meditations over their lifeless +forms, walked out on the verandah, from whence he saw the party that had +accompanied the bereaved man. He was for a minute wondering who they +could be, and why they did not come up to the house, when he felt the +touch of Mr. Rainsfield on his arm, who said to him: + +"How much I owe you for this kindness my heart is too full to explain +even if my words could utter it. But believe me so long as I live it +shall be gratefully remembered. I had seen them a few hours before in +all the horrors of their death. It was a sight to dry up the fountains +of a kindly nature in any heart, and made me swear to live a life of +perpetual vengeance." + +"Ah, my dear sir," exclaimed John, "it is ever difficult to meet with +resignation the chastisements of an all-wise Providence; but we should +learn to look upon all His dispensations as tending to a beneficial +end." + +"I'll not pretend to argue with you," replied the other; "but my nature +and feelings will not admit the embrace of such an immaculate creed. I +must be avenged!" + +John, in the then state of his companion's mind, did not attempt to +impress the precept as he believed the thirst for vengeance would +slacken as the poignancy of his grief wore off. + +"And Eleanor," said Rainsfield; "what is her fate?" + +A shade came over John's brow as he replied: "It is not yet decided. She +is in a most dangerous state, and the doctor is now here attending her. +He considers her case so precarious that he is remaining for some days +to be constantly near in his watch for the turning-point which shall +decide between life and death. I will ascertain if she can be seen;" and +John left the spot. + +Upon his return he led the way to her room; and, as Rainsfield followed +him, he asked, "Why didn't you bring your friends up with you to the +house?" + +"They preferred stopping at a distance and awaiting my return," he +replied. + +"But you are not going to leave us immediately," exclaimed John; +"and they cannot think of camping out there while we can make some sort +of a shake-down here." + +"I fear the presence of some of them at least would be objectionable to +you," replied Rainsfield; "and I have no doubt they would prefer to +remain where they are." + +"Nonsense," cried John; "I could not think of permitting such a thing. +May I ask who are those who would not accept of what hospitality I can +offer them?" + +"Smithers, Graham, and Brown," replied Rainsfield. + +John ushered Rainsfield into the room where Eleanor lay still and +motionless in a bed, at the side of which sat her watchful friend and +nurse, who rose and left her seat as Rainsfield approached. He stood +silently looking on the placid features of his cousin, which, but for +the gentle heaving of the snowy linen that covered her breast, would +have appeared as if inexorable death had already left the impress of his +hand. + +In the meantime John walked down to where the party of gentlemen lay +stretched on the ground; and, addressing those whom he knew in a manner +as if nothing had ever happened to mar the good feeling and fellowship +that should have existed between them, invited the party up to the +house. He prevented any refusal from Smithers (who could not dissemble +his shame and mortification) by taking him cordially by the hand, and +requesting that he would not give him the pain of a refusal, and of +seeing him encamped with his friends within sight of his windows. He +stated the accommodation he could afford them was not very commodious, +but he would consider it unsocial if they did not accept it. The +consequence of this appeal was that within a few minutes their horses +were running in an adjoining paddock and they were all walking up +together to the Fergusons' domicile. + +The next day was devoted to the interment of the earthly remains of the +victims of the Strawberry Hill massacre; and, as that beautifully +sublime and solemn ritual of the Anglican Church was read by one of the +party over the bodies they were lowering respectively in their rough and +hastily-constructed encasements into that lodgment where the grim tyrant +retains his grasp until the last trumpet shall summon the dead from the +caverns of the earth; and, as the heavy clod resounded with a hollow +dullness on the lids of the coffins, more than one eye was moistened, +and more than one tear rolled its course down the cheek of some of the +strongest minded of the manly group. The grave was speedily filled in, +and the party returned to the house to partake of a repast; after which +they took their departure. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + "O! pardon me thou bleeding piece of Earth + That I am meek and gentle with these butchers." + + JULIUS CAESAR, _Act 3, Sc. 1_. + + +When "the Society" left Fern Vale they jaunted leisurely on for a short +distance, when they were overtaken by Sawyer and his son-in-law, the +notable Captain Jones, who made up to Mr. Rainsfield and told him they +had come out to join his party against the blacks. Though these +volunteers were not exactly the sort of men "the Society" would have +desired to enroll they were determined looking characters, and had the +appearance of those, who, if they could be trusted, could be made +serviceable in any desperate act. Therefore their aid was accepted, and +they were forthwith admitted into the confidence of the brethren. Such +is the influence of either perpetrated or contemplated crime that it +breaks down all social demarcation and collects in the bonds of unity +and friendship the most heterogeneous natures of man. + +The cavalcade had proceeded about half-way towards Strawberry Hill when +some distance in advance of them a bullock crossed the road followed by +a black on horseback at a hard gallop. Both animals Rainsfield at once +recognised as his own; and, dashing spurs into his horse, he joined in +the chase, followed by the remainder of the party, with the intention of +sending one of his family's destroyers to a last account. The bullock +ran with his head carried low and his tail erect at a speed which for +some time kept him considerably in advance of his pursuer; but after a +while his pace relaxed and the superior mettle of the horse soon brought +him alongside the bovine fugitive. As the animals ran side by side the +rider seized the uplifted tail of the bullock in a firm grasp, while he +stimulated his horse to additional exertion, and with the application of +very little force he tilted the beast over its own head, and it fell +with its own velocity, breaking its neck. + +The black was quite conscious all this time that he was the object of +pursuit; so giving a glance at his fallen prey to ascertain if his work +had been effectual, and another behind him to see if his pursuers were +in an unpleasant proximity, he continued his career through the bush +until he arrived at the banks of the river Gibson. Into it he plunged +without hesitation, and slipping from his saddle, as the horse entered +the water, he held on by the bridle and stirrup, and swam by the +animal's side. The black kept his eye upon the bank he had just left +until he saw approaching through the bush a number of horsemen; who, as +they reached the edge of river, presented their guns and fired. The +next moment the horse rolled over in the stream, dyeing the water with +his blood, and floated lifeless down the current. + +Nothing was visible, however, of the black. He had sunk ere their pieces +were discharged; and the party knowing that he was untouched for some +minutes watched vigilantly for his reappearance, but in vain. Barwang +(for they had discovered it was he) did not show himself above the +surface of the water; and they thinking that he was floating down +concealed in some way with the carcass of the horse, followed it to +watch. It at the same time occurred to them that he might have dived and +was swimming for the other bank, assisting himself in eluding them by +first floating some distance down the river. They had thus gone down the +bank some two or three hundred yards, when they heard a loud hoarse +laugh from behind them; and, turning to the direction whence the sound +proceeded, they saw on the opposite side, some distance above where they +stood, him for whose reappearance they were watching. Barwang had +escaped them by swimming against the current and not with it as they had +anticipated he would; and once safely on the margin of the stream he +felt he was secure, and stood pointing at his pursuers in derision and +defiance. A dozen pieces were instantly pointed at him by the +disappointed party; but he with another loud laugh darted into the scrub +and, before the report of their guns was heard, was evanescent. + +The chagrined company then proceeded to Strawberry Hill, where +Rainsfield proposed to lodge them; and where they would fix upon their +future plans of action. + +That night the Society sat in grave debate, and various were the schemes +proposed to effect visitation on the blacks of an exterminating +retribution. The members at length became weary of making propositions +that met with no support from the body, and were beginning to be silent +when Dr. Graham renewed the energies of the meeting by remarking: + +"I'll tell you what it is all you fellows! you'd better 'keep your eyes +on the picture.'" + +All the eyes of the assemblage if not kept on the imaginary picture that +haunted the brain of this disciple of AEsculapius were at least kept +attentively fixed on the features of the speaker, who continued. "See +here! what is the good of the whole of us sitting here and looking at +one another? There won't be a black in that scrub to-morrow; so if we +don't go at them at once, they'll escape us as that scoundrel did +to-day. They will be sure to know what we are here for, and will make +themselves scarce at once; and if we once let them slip us we need never +expect to get at them again for they are sure to take up their abode +among the hills, gullies, or scrubs, where we could not follow them." + +"But is the river crossable?" asked one. + +"Rainsfield will tell you," replied the Doctor. + +"I have not been at the ford for some time," said Rainsfield, "and do +not remember the usual depth of water. But the river has now gone down +considerably, and I have no doubt it can be crossed; at any rate it +shall soon be ascertained for I will do it myself this night in your +presence so that you can judge by my success or failure." + +"Right," said Graham. "Then we all try it together, and that too as you +say this very night. At once! say I. I go; so let who likes follow me:" +and he started from his seat. + +The movement then became general, and in a short time the whole +cavalcade were again on the move in the direction of the crossing-place +near which Barwang had escaped them. About an hour afterwards the party +were mustering in a state of saturation upon the edge of the scrub, +after having passed through the still swollen stream, which they had had +to swim. They noiselessly dismounted from their horses, arranged +themselves on the bank of the river, fastened their steeds to adjacent +trees, and then threaded the scrub under the guidance of Rainsfield, to +the camp of the blacks; which they speedily distinguished by the glare +of the fires. The party then halted and arranged to divide themselves +into two companies, one to advance from the spot where they then stood, +while the other made a detour so as to encompass the camp. Then upon a +given signal, they were to fire alternately into the midst of the +blacks, and so long as any of the unfortunate wretches remained +stationary to continue reloading and firing; but to close in upon them +with revolvers if the victims showed any disposition to break through +the compass of their rifles. + +They then advanced, and as quickly as possible encircled the unconscious +aborigines, who lay, some in their gunyahs, and some stretched round the +fires. All were in a deep sleep, into which they appeared to have fallen +in a state of inert satiety, as was evident from the scattered remains +of roasted meat that strewed the ground around them. Not a sound was to +be heard in the whole camp except the sonorous breathing of the supine +gorgers; for even those watchful monitors, the dogs, had benefited by +this rare occasion, by indulging in a glut that inoculated them with the +same somnolent ineptitude. + +In a few moments after the Society had spread itself in the array of +attack a low whistle was heard; when, almost simultaneously, eight +flashes describing a semicircle on one side of the camp momentarily lit +the dark avenues of the bush. They were instantly followed by a report, +whose echoes mingled with the shrieks and dying groans of the wounded, +and in an instant the unscathed portion of the prostrate forms stood +erect; while the gunyahs disgorged their living inmates, called forth in +their consternation and half unconscious lethargy, to offer marks for +their concealed executioners. Other eight shots then told their +murdering effects upon the huddled mass of the blacks, who remained in a +perfect state of bewilderment hardly knowing which way to turn. Many +rushed in the direction opposite to that whence the last fire had +emanated, but only to fall by the shots of the first division of the +Society, who, having thrown themselves down to avoid the chance of their +colleagues' fire, had reloaded, and were ready for action. Again and +again was this manoeuvre repeated, and discharge followed discharge. +The carnage had commenced, and many of the blacks sought a temporary +shelter in their gunyahs, while the majority, not knowing what to do, +remained in the open area, to be shot down by the rifles of the whites; +who, when they tired of reloading their pieces, closed in upon the camp, +and setting fire to their bark gunyahs drove the poor wretches from +their retreat, and butchered them indiscriminately with their revolvers. + +One of the assailants, however, while dealing destruction around him, +was active in searching for one above all others of the blacks he prayed +to find. That searcher was Rainsfield, and the object of his concern we +need hardly say, was Barwang. Rainsfield had scanned the features of +every black, as he buried a ball in each victim's heart; but without +recognising the monster for whose blood he thirsted, and without which +he would never be appeased. He searched long, but in vain. The fiendish +leader of the tribe he could not discover; and he began to entertain +fears that the wretch's cunning had enabled him to elude his grasp. +Almost worn out with his work of death he was about relinquishing the +search in despair when he spied a dark form creeping from a heap of +bodies, and crawling away in the direction of the adjacent scrub. The +fitful glare of a fire fell upon the features of the crouching form and +disclosed the furtive glance of Barwang to the eyes of him who longed in +his very soul for the meeting. + +The recognition was instantaneous on both sides, and at the same moment +that Rainsfield sprang forward and fired at the black the other leaped +from the ground and in an instant, poising a spear in his hand, buried +it in the body of his antagonist. Rainsfield tore the weapon from his +breast, and seeing that the black was not killed by the shot he had +fired at him, and it being the last he had, without time to reload, he +drew his knife and sprang upon his enemy. The struggle was fierce, +though short, for both the athletes were powerful men, and were +determined upon each other's death, even if they perished themselves +while effecting it. The black caught the right arm of his opponent as it +descended with the weapon that was intended to terminate his existence, +and with the other hand he seized the throat of Rainsfield, into which +he buried his fingers like the talons of an eagle. + +Rainsfield taxed his strength to the utmost to disengage the hand from +his throat, and save himself from strangulation while he effected the +death of the black. Each strained and struggled as they, locked in each +other's grasp, panted to eliminate the spirit from each other's bodies. +After some time they stopped to gain breath, while they for a few +moments silently eyed one another with looks of vengeance and rage. The +conflict, however, was speedily renewed with fearful energy. Every nerve +was strained to the utmost tension in both frames; when, in a moment, +the black made several rapid lunges, battering with his hard cranium the +breast of his foe; at the same time that Rainsfield managed to bury the +knife up to its handle in the neck of Barwang. The loss of blood arising +from the previous wounds, and these excessive strainings and shocks, +soon produced their effects. Exhaustion speedily ensued; and the two +belligerents, still firmly knitted in a death grasp, sank to the ground +never again to rise in life. + +In the meantime the work of destruction progressed all around with +unabated activity until no living black remained on whom to wreak a +vengeance. Nearly the whole tribe had been sacrificed, for few escaped +into the bush among the general slaughter. When the members of the +Society contemplated the result of their labours they felt perfectly +satisfied with the extent of their reparation, and surveyed the scene +with a complacency ill befitting the work. How little did they remember +that a work similar to this in result had been the cause of the reprisal +that had brought desolation to the Rainsfield family! and less did they +consider that they were incurring the displeasure of an indignant Maker. +No! they thought not of the judgments of Divine wrath: the victims, in +their imaginations, were only blacks, whose extermination was an +ordination of Providence, and an advantage to civilisation. Besides +which they looked upon the slaughter they had been engaged in as a just +punishment to the savages for their perfidious treachery in the murder +which they, the Society, were unable to prevent, but which they could, +and did avenge. By this sort of reasoning they quieted their +consciences, if any had been disturbed, and attempted to justify +themselves in the eyes of their God. + +The forensic vision was that which most troubled them, for they knew, in +the eye of the law of their country, they were guilty of an act which, +if discovered, would cost them an atonement by the surrender of their +lives. But they were aware that, with the exception of their own +members, none could criminate them; while the probability of such an +event occurring was very remote, for all were equally implicated. While, +at the same time, the distance they were removed from the seat of +government, and the ineffectual means supplied for the protection of the +settlers in the border districts, would partly justify them in being +armed in the present affray; and the magistrates of the territory being +all of their own body, and consequently sympathising with their +movements, they experienced very little apprehension of danger. + +We may here remark that this is not the only case in the land where +similar influences have actuated the settlers to take summary vengeance +on the blacks, for reprisals and peccadillos in themselves +insignificant. Hundreds, ah! we may say thousands, have been shot with +perfect impunity; and we hesitate not to say thousands more will +continue to meet the same sad fate, until the last of the race shall +have vanished from this terrestrial sphere. Yet we firmly believe their +blood will sink into the soil, and at a future age, when the people have +long since become extinct, will it cry aloud for vengeance; and woe to +the land if the great Governor of the universe should listen to that +cry. + +The party when about to leave the ground suddenly missed their companion +Rainsfield, and, thinking that he might still be engaged on some +operations of retribution in another part of the camp, called him aloud +by name; but without meeting with any response. They waited impatiently +for his return but after a time finding he did not return they commenced +a search in the neighbourhood of the camp, at the same time that they +made the bush resound with their cooeys to attract him if he had +strayed. Still to no purpose were their calls, for no responsive cry +echoed to them; and not until they returned to the camp weary and +dispirited as the first coruscations from the solar rays darted their +luminous salutations over the eastern horizon did they discover his body +with that of his last antagonist. His position, and the spear wound in +his body, sufficiently explained his fate; and silently and sorrowfully +he was removed, and carried by them to where their horses were secured. +They then recrossed the river on their way back to Strawberry Hill, +which had now become destitute of an owner. + +Shortly after their passage of the stream the cavalcade was met by John +Ferguson, who had heard the firing, and guessing its import had ridden +over for the purpose of inspecting the scene and satisfying himself upon +the nature and extent of the slaughter he knew must have taken place. +But when he saw the returning party he rode up to them and addressing +himself to Doctor Graham, who happened to be riding a little in advance, +he said: + +"May I be permitted to enquire the nature of the firing which was +carried on in the scrub last night?" + +"Oh, certainly, sir," replied the Doctor, "you are permitted to ask +whatever you like, for this is a free country. If you want to know the +cause of the reports you heard last night I may inform you for your +satisfaction that our friend Rainsfield had a warrant for the +apprehension of Barwang, and that he attempted to put it in force, while +we volunteered to assist and protect him. As might have been imagined we +were attacked by the villains, and had to fire upon them for our own +defence. In the affray we lost our friend Rainsfield, for he was killed +by the wretch he was attempting to secure, and who at the same time met +with his deserts." + +"Rainsfield is dead, did you say?" enquired John in hurried tones; "is +life perfectly extinct?" + +"Yes, dead!" replied the other, "as any herring. Go look at him +yourself;" and he pointed behind him to where followed a horse with the +body thrown across the saddle. "You can see there for yourself, where +you may keep your eye on the picture." + +John silently surveyed the pale, discoloured, and distorted features +which he had seen only a few hours before in life and perfect health, +and with a deep drawn sigh, as he turned away, he muttered: "Poor +fellow! such a terrible doom." + +The company then proceeded to the house of the Fergusons, when the +melancholy obsequies of the previous day were repeated; after which the +Society broke up, having ensured themselves against further +interruptions from the blacks by the success of their first onslaught; +and, although they arranged to be ready upon any emergency, they had no +anticipation of any future necessity. + +We must now in the course of our narrative precipitate our readers over +a period of some six months after the events we have just related, which +interval was passed with the occurrence of few circumstances worth +detailing. Tom Rainsfield had been hastily recalled from town, but had +not arrived until after the final scene of the tragedy had been enacted. +The horrors of the events came upon him with such a shock, and so +subdued his spirit, that it was some time before he could school himself +to comprehend their full extent; and not until some weeks had elapsed +could he bring his mind to the level of mundane matters, and then only +with a melancholy feeling did he set to work to put the station in +order. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + "In smoothest terms his speech he wove, + Of endless friendship, faith, and love; + She listened with a blush and sigh, + His suit was warm, his hopes were high." + + SIR WALTER SCOTT. + + +On a beautifully mild afternoon in that loveliest of Australian seasons, +the transition between winter and summer, there reclined in an easy +chair, on the verandah of the Fern Vale cottage, a young girl whose pale +though handsome features seemed to be invested with an angelic air as +they were contrasted with the deep mourning in which she was attired. We +need hardly explain to the reader that this was Eleanor Rainsfield. At +one side of her sat our hero, attempting to relieve the weary hours of +the invalid by some light and amusing reading, and on the other side sat +his sister, who, while she was listening to her brother, was engaged in +some of that description of work which constitutes at the same time +young ladies' toil and amusement. + +During Eleanor's gradual return to convalescence John Ferguson had been +assiduous in his endeavours to keep her mind diverted from the +contemplation of her grief; and, forgetful of all his past resolutions +to think of her only as a seraph exalted above his possession, their +constant contiguity, if possible, more than ever made havoc in his +heart, immersed him more than ever deeper in the sea of love, and made +him yield a willing sacrifice to the ecstatic delirium of his dream. + +The attention of the trio, at the moment we have visited them, was +suddenly attracted by the sounds of an approaching horseman, and looking +up they perceived Bob Smithers riding wildly towards the house. Eleanor +instantly rose from her chair; and, leaning upon Kate, entered the +sitting-room, while she said to John: "I expect the object of Mr. +Smithers' visit is an interview with me, and if he desires it I will see +him." Then addressing her friend, she said: "Leave me, dearest Kate, for +the few minutes he is here. I don't expect he will stay long." + +In another instant Smithers pulled up before the house; and, throwing +his bridle over the fence, he strode up to John, who was waiting for him +with a welcome and an extended hand. + +"How do you do, Mr. Smithers?" he said. "It is some time since you +honoured us with a visit. I hope you're well." + +"I wish to see Miss Rainsfield," replied Smithers, without heeding the +proffered hand or the inquiry after his health. + +John felt rather chagrined at the want of civility on the part of his +guest; and, pointing to the half-opened window of the room in which +Smithers could find the lady he desired to see, he turned upon his heel +and walked out of hearing. + +What was the nature of John's thoughts that this visit of Smithers gave +rise to we will not attempt to divine, though we may safely assume they +were of no pleasing nature from the cloud that came over his countenance +as he left the house. And yet a gleam of hope would at intervals attempt +to break through the gloom. As he stood leaning over the fence in front +of the house, thus ruminating over the circumstance and its +contingencies, he was startled by the precipitate approach of Smithers, +who, clenching his fist and shaking it at him in a menacing attitude, +exclaimed: "This is your work; but, by G--, you shall repent of ever +having interfered in my private affairs." After the delivery of this +minatory declaration the infuriated individual mounted his horse and +galloped from the station. + +John remained for a few minutes musing upon the strange address he had +just heard until a faint appreciation of the cause flashed across his +mind, and, his heart beating with salient palpitations, he entered the +house to solve the mystery. With this intent he walked into the +sitting-room, but found it empty. Eleanor had retired, and he was about +to leave it again in search of his sister when his eye rested on an open +note lying on the floor. The superscription, he perceived, was--"To Mr. +Robert Smithers;" and in its caligraphy he at once detected the tracing +of Eleanor's hand, and saw a solution of the mystery even before he +glanced at the epistle's contents. If his heart beat quickly with +pleasing apprehensions before his curiosity prompted him to pick up and +read the note its proper functions were almost destroyed by the violent +palpitations as his eyes devoured the following lines:-- + + DEAR SIR,--I hardly know how to break to you the subject on + which I wish to address you. When I say it is with regard to + our engagement you will understand what I mean, more especially + when I tell you that I think, for both of our sakes, it were + wise to annul it. To recount to you all the causes that have + actuated me in the establishment of this desire would only be + to reiterate all your various acts of contumely to myself and + friends, and to relate all my daily sufferings. I will not say + that I never loved you. When I was induced to consent to become + your wife I would have endeavoured to have placed my whole + heart at your disposal; but your conduct has not only been such + as to estrange from you the most forgiving nature, but towards + me it has been absolutely cruel. + + I say this not to stigmatize you for your ill-treatment of me, + but to endeavour to show you that you can entertain no regard + for me; and, in the absence of all mutual affection, such an + union as ours would only entail misery on both of us. You will + therefore perceive that it will be better for us to forget the + relationship that has existed, and remain independent of one + another. + + I bear you no ill-will, and desire to maintain a friendship + for yourself and your kind relatives; but beyond the light of a + friend I never can consent to regard you. So there will be no + use of your attempting to alter my determination; it is already + fixed.--Yours truly, + + ELEANOR RAINSFIELD. + +John's astonishment when he read this was only equalled by his raptures; +and it was not until he had twice re-read the note that he could +withdraw his eyes from feasting on the blissful lines. "She has then +discarded Smithers," he said to himself, "and there is hope for me." If +there needed but one rivet to clench the fetters that bound the captive +heart of our hero it was now fastened. He gave himself up like a +voluptuary to the indulgence of his greatest earthly pleasure, the +dissipation of love's charm, and the realization of his fondest hopes +and wildest dreams; and, in the delirium of delight, his spirit ascended +in imagination into the seventh heaven. He was, however, speedily +brought to a recollection of his existence in this terraqueous globe by +his sister shaking his arm while she exclaimed: + +"Why, what is making you so absent, John? I have spoken to you four +times, and you have taken no notice of me." + +"Have you, Kate?" replied John. "Well, I did not hear you, for I was +thinking when you addressed me." + +"That was evident," replied the girl. "But tell me, John, what could +have brought that man Smithers here? He has terribly upset poor Eleanor, +and she has been obliged to go and lie down. I quite hate that horrid +fellow, and wish he would never show his face here again." + +"I don't think it is very probable he ever will again, Kate," replied +her brother. + +"Well, I hope not. But what letter is that you have got in your hand?" +said the girl as she glanced over the epistle that hung listlessly in +the hand of her musing brother, who had attempted to conceal it, but +not before Kate had spied the address. "Oh, show me the letter, John, +dear John!" she continued. "I see it is addressed to that man, and from +Eleanor I am sure; so it will explain all about it. Do show it to me." + +Her brother put it into her hands, and she read it with unqualified +delight. Then looking up into his face, she exclaimed: "I am so +delighted, John;" and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she +kissed him in the exuberance of her joy, after which she bounded from +the room, retaining possession of the cherished note. + +For the remainder of that day Eleanor confined herself to her room, but +on the following forenoon she came out, with her pale, marble features, +looking in John's eyes more lovely than ever. They were presently seated +together, as was their wont, in the shade of the verandah; but somehow, +on this occasion, the reading was not prosecuted with such spirit as +usual, nor listened to with the accustomed interest, while the +conversation was equally vapid. Eleanor and John thus sat for some time +alone, Kate being absent on her household duties, and William out on the +station, without hardly uttering a word, until John, mustering +sufficient courage to enter upon the subject that wholly engrossed his +mind, without any preface, said: + +"I picked up a letter of yours in the room yesterday, Eleanor, after Mr. +Smithers' departure." + +A deep crimson mantled the cheek of his pale companion as she replied: +"I know it John; Kate has told me all." + +John gazed upon the features of the dear girl at his side, and met her +eyes as they were raised from her lap to rest upon his face. He +rapturously exclaimed: "Dear Eleanor if I could but tell you how dearly +I love you I--" But he proceeded no further; a glance from the lustrous +orbs of his companion had penetrated his heart, and he was silenced. Was +it in fear? No! he had understood the glance, and comprehended its +hidden secret. He was silenced, but it was to impress a virgin kiss +upon the lips of his fair enslaver; and there for a little let us leave +them in the full enjoyment of inamoratos' bliss. + +We have said that John interpreted by a look the secret of Eleanor's +heart; and let not loves' sceptics think such is only a figure of our +imagination. Such glances have been read from the earliest eras of the +world, and will continue to be so to the latest. Lovers' eyes are to +each other like telegraph-dials, and reflect in their own mysterious +characters the messages from the heart as the electric needle indicates +the wishes of some unforeseen communicant. Their flashes are +instantaneous, and they impress upon the hearts' tablets of their +correspondents, with unmistakeable accuracy, the sentiments of the +inosculated spirits. Theirs is a language secret and unknown but to the +souls communicating, and unmeaning and unnoticeable to mortals, until +made neophytes to the creed of Cupid. + +John and Eleanor for some time enjoyed uninterruptedly the commune of +their plighted hearts, each discovering in the other a reciprocity which +heightened the ardour and enhanced the raptures of their own loves. +Their tongues were no longer tied. John was all volubility and +animation; while the colour that the excitement of her affection called +forth irradiated the cheeks of Eleanor, and imparted to her features a +loveliness that John gazed upon with ecstacy. Their privacy, however, +was at length broken in upon by William, who bounded into their presence +in a state of high glee, while he exclaimed: + +"I've got some news to astonish you. Our friend Captain Jones has +bolted, and has swindled his much-respected father-in-law to the tune of +about five hundred pounds." + +"Bolted, has he!" exclaimed John; "what is that for?" + +"Simply because it has pleased the gentleman on two previous occasions +to enter the matrimonial state, and that both better halves, and sundry +little pledges, are all living to attest to his identity. One of his +former helpmates," continued William, "traced him to his late retreat, +and claimed him as her lawful spouse; and he, thinking, I suppose, a +_denoument_ would be rather unpleasant, has deemed it expedient to +abscond." + +"And will the poor girl he last married have no redress?" asked Eleanor. + +"Very little, I fear," replied John. + +"I expect from what I have heard," continued William, "that old Sawyer +intends to keep it as dark as possible. From Jones' bigamy the quondam +Mrs. Jones becomes again Miss Mary Ann Sawyer, and he purposes looking +out for another match for her." + +"But she surely," said Eleanor, "would not lend herself to so base a +deception and gross impropriety." + +"I am not so sure of that," said William. + +"I suppose," remarked John, "if they can't punish the _soi disant_ +Captain Jones they think the wisest thing they can do is to make the +best of it by keeping it as quiet as possible; and I have no doubt they +will find many a swain who will not scruple to offer the lady a name." + +"Well that is dreadful!" exclaimed Eleanor. + +"So it is," replied John, "but it is partly their own fault. They were +so blinded by the notion of getting a gentleman to marry their daughter +that they took no trouble to investigate the man's character, or even to +ascertain anything about him; consequently they fell into the trap of a +base scoundrel." + + + + +CONCLUSION. + + "I have done: pray be not angry + That shall I wish you well: may heaven divert, + All harms that threaten you; full blessings crown + Your marriage." + + SHIRLEY. + + +We must again hurry our readers over another period of some three +months, and request them to accompany us for a few minutes up the bank +of the creek flowing through Fern Vale. At a pretty little secluded spot +overhung by the bright acacia two grassy mounds, encompassed by a neat +white fence and adorned with two white slabs of wood, pointed themselves +out as the graves of the sufferers in the Strawberry Hill massacre. + +Leaning over the railing of one of these enclosures was a young man, who +might have been recognised as Tom Rainsfield, and at his side, encircled +by his arm, our friend Kate Ferguson. After some few moments of silence +Tom pressed to his heart the willing form of the lovely girl that graced +his side, and said: + +"Dearest Kate, why not let us be married at the same time as John and +Eleanor? Strawberry Hill is all ready for a mistress, and I am sure the +very trees about the place are impatient to have domesticated amongst +them the sweet successor of that good and amiable creature who lies +beneath that sod. We could not have a better opportunity than John's +marriage, for we could all go to New England together, and the double +ceremony could be performed at the same time." + +"But that is so soon, Tom," replied Kate. + +"It cannot be too soon, my dear," exclaimed the advocate for despatch; +"why postpone our happiness?" + +"Poor Will will be so lonely with John and Eleanor going away," said +Kate, "if I leave him too. We ought to delay it until they return." + +"What for twelve months, Kate!" cried Tom. "It would drive me wild. I +could not wait more than one at the very outside, and if you say another +word of opposition I will run away with you. So now, dearest, let it be +settled; we must be married next month altogether." + +No further objection was urged by the fair polemic, and a mutual +inosculation sealed the compact. + +About a month from this date a traveller approaching Acacia creek might, +from the joyous appearance of every face he saw, have been sensible of +the existence of some happy occasion; and, if he had but stepped into +the house and seen those who sat around the breakfast table, he would +have been aware that the festivities were occasioned by a matrimonial +ceremony; and, upon the slightest scrutiny, he would have discovered +that two young couples had been bound by the Gordian knot. + +The first move that was made after the despatch of the formal meal was +the departure of John Ferguson and his now blooming bride. He led her to +the arms of his mother; and, as the good lady embraced her sweet +daughter-in-law, tears of joy coursed down her benign and matronly +cheeks, and, imprinting another kiss on the lips of her son's choice, +she bestowed her parting blessing. The rest of the leave-taking was soon +effected and the young couple mounted their horses and rode away. + +We may remark for the information of our readers that it was John's +intention to proceed to Brisbane and Sydney, there to spend the +honeymoon, and afterwards to take a trip "home;" by which term he knew +old England though he had never seen it, nor had any ties of +consanguinity to bind him to it. They were to return to the colony in +about twelve months; after which Tom Rainsfield had promised a similar +journey to Kate. In the meantime, however, Tom and his wife intended to +take up their abode at Strawberry Hill, and thither they started almost +immediately after John and Eleanor. As they left the paternal roof of +the Fergusons a similar commingling of tears was effected between Kate +and her mother as was witnessed upon the previous departure. Mr. +Ferguson warmly grasped the hand of his son-in-law, while Mr. Wigton +informed Tom that he had made up his mind to spend a short time with his +friend William, to relieve his solitude and endeavour to persuade him to +follow the example of his brother, and afford him, Mr. Wigton, the +pleasure of tying another knot in the family. He would also, he said, +while he was in the neighbourhood, avail himself of the opportunity of +visiting his friends at Strawberry Hill. + +William promised to confer the happiness on Mr. Wigton of being fettered +by his medium whenever it was his determination to be so foolish as to +enter the married state: but affirmed for the present he had no +intention of following in the steps of his brother and friend, and had +not the most remote idea of assuming a marital character. + +Tom laughed at William's little sally, and gave him one of those jocose +applications of the extended thumb to his ribs which in concomitant +natures are thought so amiably vivacious and funny; and then turning to +Mr. Wigton, expressed the delight he would feel at his making Strawberry +Hill his home. Amidst the congratulations of his friends, Tom now led +his bride to the door, and safely depositing her in her saddle, waved +the last adieu as they cantered off. + + +THE END. + + +EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY THE CALEDONIAN PRESS. + + + * * * * * + + +MR. NEWBY'S + +NEW PUBLICATIONS + +In 2 vols., demy 8vo, price 30s. cloth, + + +THE TURKISH EMPIRE: in its Relations with Christianity and Civilisation. +By R. R. MADDEN, F.R.C.S., and M.R.I.A., Author of "Travels in Turkey, +Egypt, and Syria," "The Life of Savonarola," "Memoirs of the Countess of +Blessington," etc. + + "Dr. Madden's work is the result of two processes seldom + conjoined in a history of this kind--namely, the most complete + reading and research, and the most vigilant personal + observation, accomplished by years of residence in Turkey at + different periods, from 1824 up to the present time. Altogether + his work is a most admirable one; and for accuracy of fact, + lucid arrangement, and agreeable style of narration, will prove + alike acceptable to the student and to the general + reader."--_Dublin Evening Post, March 18th._ + + "A most invaluable book. With the history of the Ottoman Empire + no English writer is better acquainted than Dr. Madden, whose + thorough mastery of the subject has been gained by a residence + in the East at three different periods."--_Liverpool Albion._ + + +In 3 vols., + +YORKE HOUSE. By W. PLATT, Esq., Author of "Betty Westminster," etc. + + "Like 'The Woman in White' and 'A Strange Story,' 'Yorke House' + is what is termed a sensation novel, and a prodigious sensation + it will make. How Mr. Platt has contrived to produce a work so + immensely superior to any of his previous tales we cannot + imagine. This book, however, will stand in able rivalry with + the fictions of the best novelists of the day."--_Express._ + +MARRYING FOR MONEY. By Mrs. MACKENZIE DANIELS, Author of "My Sister +Minnie," "Our Brother Paul," etc. + + "Readers of every class will be delighted with Mrs. Daniels' + new novel. It is truthful to nature, graceful in its language, + pure in its moral, full of incident, and the tale extremely + interesting. We consider it the best novel by this talented + authoress."--_Express._ + + "An excellent novel, and one which deserves higher commendation + than is awarded to the large majority of works of + fiction."--_Observer._ + + "The sentiment, tenderness, humour, and delicate touches which + pervade every page will give it a lasting popularity and a + foremost place in the ranks of the most instructive kind of + fiction--the moral novel."--_Sporting Review._ + + "The incidents are natural and interesting, its tone pure and + refined, its moral lofty. There is nothing in the book to + injure the slightest susceptibilities."--_Morning Post._ + + +In 3 vols., 31s. 6d., + +THE COST OF A CORONET: a Romance of Modern Life. By JAMES M'GREGOR +ALLAN, Author of "The Intellectual Severance of Men and Women," etc. + + "A clever, sensible, and extremely interesting novel, which + women of every class will do well to read, and lay to heart the + admirable lessons it inculcates."--_Herald._ + +THE FRIGATE AND THE LUGGER: A Romance of the Sea. By C. F. ARMSTRONG, +Author of "The Two Midshipmen," "The Cruise of the _Daring_.' + + "The best sea tales of Marryatt and Cooper do not excel or even + equal this in incident."--_Kent Express._ + + "The details of the novel are full of excitement."--_Observer._ + + +In 3 vols., price 31s. 6d., + +THE CLIFFORDS OF OAKLEY. By CHARLOTTE HARDCASTLE, Author of "Constance +Dale." + + "Of 'Constance Dale', we spoke in laudatory terms, which the + reading public freely endorsed; and we are glad to be able to + give still higher praise to 'The Cliffords of Oakley,' for it + is a work of greater power, as well as of greater thought. It + will rank with the best novels of Miss Bronte, Miss Muloch, and + Miss Kavanagh."--_Express._ + + "It is but seldom that we meet with a book in this department + of literature so life-like, interesting, and containing so + excellent a moral."--_Brighton Examiner._ + +WHALLABROOK. By EVASHOPE. + + "The author's description of Devonshire scenery is quite equal + to anything written by Miss Mitford. The tale only requires to + be known to be universally read and appreciated."--_Ashford + News._ + + "The tale is one which will not lack admirers."--_Observer._ + + "A very interesting tale, full of point and vigour."--_Sporting + Review._ + + +In one vol., 10s. 6d., + +VICTORIA AS I FOUND IT: during Five Years' Adventure in Melbourne, on +the Roads, and the Gold Fields. By HENRY BROWN. + + "The most generally interesting portions of Mr. Brown's amusing + narrative are those relating to the Gold Diggings, quartz + crushing, and adventures on the road. The story is told in a + simple unaffected manner."--_Spectator._ + + "The author narrates in a pleasant manner his experiences of + Australian life. The book is interspersed with many anecdotes, + and some serious though amusing contretemps."--_Observer._ + + +In 2 vols., 21s., + +THE WOMAN OF SPIRIT. + + +NEW WORKS by Popular Authors, Just Ready. + + +In 2 vols., 21s., + +MARY GRAHAM. By. J. CURLING. + + +In 3 vols., + +RIGHT AND LEFT. By Mrs. C. NEWBY, Author of "Mabel," "Sunshine and +Shadow," "Mary Hamilton," etc. + + +In 2 vols., + +GERALD RAYNER. By KARL HYTHE. + + +In 2 vols., + +A MARRIAGE AT THE MADELEINE; or, Mortefontaine. + + +In 2 vols., 21s., + +THE DULL STONE HOUSE. By KENNER DEENE. + + +In 3 vols., 31s. 6d., + +SCAPEGRACE AT SEA. By the Author of "Cavendish," "The Flying Dutchman," +etc. + + +In one vol., 10s. 6d., + +A GENTLEMAN'S STORY. + + +In 3 vols., 31s. 6d., + +BLANCHE ROTHERHAY. By the Author of "The Dalrymples," etc. + + +LONDON: NEWBY, 30 WELBECK STREET. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fern Vale (Volume 3), by Colin Munro + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FERN VALE (VOLUME 3) *** + +***** This file should be named 37559.txt or 37559.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/5/5/37559/ + +Produced by Nick Wall, Matthew Wheaton and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |