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text-align: left; } - .c019 { vertical-align: top; text-align: center; padding-right: 1em; } - .c020 { margin-left: 1.39%; } - .c021 { margin-left: 2.78%; margin-right: 2.78%; margin-top: 0.5em; - margin-bottom: 0.5em; } - .c022 { margin-left: 2.78%; margin-right: 2.78%; } - .c023 { margin-left: 2.78%; margin-right: 2.78%; text-align: right; } - div.tnotes { padding-left:1em;padding-right:1em;background-color:#E3E4FA; - border:1px solid silver; margin:2em 10% 0 10%; } - .covernote { visibility: hidden; display: none; } - div.tnotes p { text-align:left; } - .covernote {visibility: hidden; display: none;} - @media handheld { .covernote { visibility: visible; display: block;} } - td.tdp {text-indent: 2em;} - .ph1, .ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } - .ph1 { font-size: xx-large; margin: .67em auto; } - .ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } - .ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } - .ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } - .notem {font-style: normal;} - .sc {font-style: normal;} - </style> - </head> - <body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's In Bad Company and other stories, by Rolf Boldrewood - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: In Bad Company and other stories - -Author: Rolf Boldrewood - -Release Date: February 27, 2016 [EBook #51314] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN BAD COMPANY AND OTHER STORIES *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, MWS and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class='tnotes covernote'> - -<p class='c000'> <strong>Transcriber's Note:</strong></p> - -<p class='c000'> The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p> - -</div> - -<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_i'>i</span></div> -<div class='ph1'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>IN BAD COMPANY</div> - <div class='c002'>AND OTHER STORIES</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_ii'>ii</span>THE WORKS OF</div> - <div class='c002'>ROLF BOLDREWOOD</div> - <div class='c002'><span class='sc'>Uniform Edition</span></div> - <div class='c002'><em>Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. each.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_1'> - <li>ROBBERY UNDER ARMS. - </li> - <li>A COLONIAL REFORMER. - </li> - <li>THE MINER'S RIGHT. - </li> - <li>A MODERN BUCCANEER. - </li> - <li>NEVERMORE. - </li> - <li>THE SQUATTER'S DREAM. - </li> - <li>A SYDNEY-SIDE SAXON. - </li> - <li>OLD MELBOURNE MEMORIES. - </li> - <li>MY RUN HOME. - </li> - <li>THE SEALSKIN CLOAK. - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>THE CROOKED STICK; or, Pollie's Probation.</span> - </li> - <li>PLAIN LIVING. - </li> - <li>A ROMANCE OF CANVAS TOWN. - </li> - <li>WAR TO THE KNIFE. - </li> - <li>BABES IN THE BUSH. - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>IN BAD COMPANY, and other Stories.</span> -<hr class='c004' /> - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>THE SPHINX OF EAGLEHAWK: A Tale of Old Bendigo.</span> Fcap. 8vo. 2s. - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>THE GHOST CAMP; or, The Avengers.</span> Cr. 8vo. 6s. - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='sc'>MACMILLAN AND CO., Ltd., LONDON.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_iii'>iii</span> - <h1 class='c005'>IN BAD COMPANY<br /> <br /><span class='xlarge'>AND OTHER STORIES</span></h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>BY</div> - <div class='c002'><span class='large'>ROLF BOLDREWOOD</span></div> - <div class='c002'><span class='small'>AUTHOR OF</span></div> - <div class='c002'><span class='small'>'ROBBERY UNDER ARMS,' 'THE MINER'S RIGHT,' 'THE SQUATTER'S DREAM,'</span></div> - <div><span class='small'>'A COLONIAL REFORMER,' ETC.</span></div> - <div class='c001'><span class='large'>London</span></div> - <div class='c002'><span class='large'>MACMILLAN AND CO., <span class='sc'>Limited</span></span></div> - <div class='c002'>NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY</div> - <div class='c002'>1903</div> - <div class='c003'><span class='small'><em>All rights reserved</em></span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_iv'>iv</span><em>First Edition 1901</em></div> - <div class='c002'><em>Re-issue 1903</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_v'>v</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<table class='table0' summary='CONTENTS'> - <tr> - <td class='c007'> </td> - <td class='c008'>PAGE</td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>In Bad Company</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Morgan the Bushranger</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_135'>135</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>How I became a Butcher</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_146'>146</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Moonlighting on the Macquarie</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_165'>165</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>An Australian Roughriding Contest</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_174'>174</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>The Mailman's Yarn</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_182'>182</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Dear Dermot</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_190'>190</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>The Story of an Old Log-Book</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_199'>199</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>A Kangaroo Shoot</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_208'>208</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Five Men's Lives for One Horse</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_214'>214</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Reedy Lake Station</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_220'>220</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>A Forgotten Tragedy</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_234'>234</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>The Horse you don't see Now</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_241'>241</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>How I began to Write</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_249'>249</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>A Mountain Forest</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_255'>255</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>The Free Selector</span>—<span class='sc'>A Comedietta</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_261'>261</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Bush Hospitality</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_282'>282</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Lapsed Gentlefolk</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_288'>288</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Shearing in Riverina, New South Wales</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_296'>296</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Ancient Sydney</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_321'>321</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>After Long Years</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_335'>335</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>In the Droving Days</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_341'>341</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>The Australian Native-born Type</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_351'>351</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_vi'>vi</span><span class='sc'>My School Days</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_360'>360</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Sydney Fifty Years Ago</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_369'>369</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Old Time Thoroughbreds</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_377'>377</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>The First Port Fairy Hunt</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_387'>387</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Bendemeer</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_398'>398</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Sport in Australia</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_407'>407</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Old Stock-riders</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_415'>415</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Mount Macedon</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_422'>422</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Walks Abroad</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_430'>430</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>From Tumut to Tumberumba</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_437'>437</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>In the Throes of a Drought</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_444'>444</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>A Spring Sketch</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_449'>449</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c009'><span class='sc'>New Year's Day 1886</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_455'>455</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>A Dry Time</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_461'>461</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Australian Collies</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_466'>466</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>In the Bloom of the Year</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_474'>474</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>Fallen among Thieves</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_481'>481</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>A Transformation Scene</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_491'>491</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'>In Bushranging Days</span></td> - <td class='c008'><a href='#Page_501'>501</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c006'>IN BAD COMPANY</h2> -</div> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_1'>1</span> - <h3 class='c010'>CHAPTER I</h3> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Bill Hardwick was as fine a specimen of an Australian as -you could find in a day's march. Active as a cat and strong -withal, he was mostly described as 'a real good all-round -chap, that you couldn't put wrong at any kind of work that a -man could be asked to do.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>He could plough and reap, dig and mow, put up fences -and huts, break in horses and drive bullocks; he could milk -cows and help in the dairy as handily as a woman. These -and other accomplishments he was known to possess, and -being a steady, sensible fellow, was always welcome when work -was needed and a good man valued. Besides all this he was -the fastest and the best shearer in the district of Tumut, New -South Wales, where he was born, as had been his father and -mother before him. So that he was a true Australian in -every sense of the word.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It could not be said that the British race had degenerated as -far as he was concerned. Six feet high, broad-chested, light-flanked, -and standing on his legs like a gamecock, he was -always ready to fight or work, run, ride or swim, in fact to -tackle any muscular exercise in the world at the shortest -notice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bill had always been temperate, declining to spend his -earnings to enrich the easy-going township publican, whose -mode of gaining a living struck him as being too far removed -from that of honest toil. Such being his principles and mode of -life, he had put by a couple of hundred pounds, and 'taken -up a selection.' This means (in Australia) that he had -conditionally purchased three hundred and twenty acres of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_2'>2</span>Crown Land, had paid up two shillings per acre of the upset -price, leaving the balance of eighteen shillings, to be paid off -when convenient. He had constructed thereon, chiefly -with his own hands, a comfortable, four-roomed cottage, of the -'slab' architecture of the period, and after fencing in his -property and devoting the proceeds of a couple of shearings -to a modest outlay in furniture, had married Jenny Dawson, a -good-looking, well-conducted young woman, whom he had -known ever since he was big enough to crack a stockwhip.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In her way she was as clever and capable; exceptionally -well adapted for the position of a farmer's wife, towards which -occupation her birth and surroundings had tended. She was -strong and enduring in her way, as were her husband and -brothers in theirs. She could milk cows and make excellent -butter, wasn't afraid of a turbulent heifer in the dairy herd, or -indisposed to rise before daylight in the winter mornings and -drive in the milkers through the wet or frozen grass. She -could catch and saddle her own riding-horse or drive the -spring cart along an indifferent road to the country town. -She knew all about the rearing of calves, pigs, and poultry; -could salt beef and cure bacon—in a general way attend to all -the details of a farm. Her father had acquired a small -grant in the early colonial days, and from its produce and -profits reared a family of healthy boys and girls.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They had not been educated up to the State school standard -now considered necessary for every dweller in town or country, -but they could read and write decently; had also such knowledge -of arithmetic as enabled them to keep their modest accounts. -Such having been the early training of Bill's helpmate, it was -a fair augury that, with luck and good conduct, they were as -likely as any young couple of their age to prosper reasonably, -so as eventually to acquire a competence, or even, as indeed not -a few of their old friends and neighbours had done, to attain -to that enviable position generally described as 'making a -fortune.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>For the first few years nothing could have been more -promising than the course of affairs at Chidowla or 'Appletree -Flat,' as their homestead was formerly named, in consequence -of the umbrageous growth of the 'angophora' in the meadow -by the mountain creek, which bordered their farm. Bill -stayed at home and worked steadily, until he had put in his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span>crop. He cleared and cultivated a larger piece of ground -with each succeeding year. The seasons were genial, and the -rainfall, though occasionally precarious, did not, during this -period, show any diminution. But annually, before the first -spring month came round, Bill saddled the old mare, and -leading a less valuable or perhaps half-broken young horse, -packed his travelling 'swag' upon it and started off for the -shearing. Jenny did not particularly like being left alone for -three months or perhaps four, with no one but the children, -for by this time a sturdy boy and baby girl had been added to -the household. But Bill brought home such a welcome -addition to the funds in the shape of the squatters' cheques, -that she hid her uneasiness and discomfort from him, only -hoping, as she said, that some day, if matters went on as they -were going, they would be able to do without the shearing -money, and Bill could afford to stop with his wife and -children all the year round. That was what <em>she</em> would like.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So time went on, till after one more shearing, Bill began -to think about buying the next selection, which an improvident -neighbour would shortly be forced to sell, owing to -his drinking habits and too great fondness for country race -meetings.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The soil of the land so handily situated was better than -their own, and, as an adjoining farm, could be managed without -additional expense.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The 'improvements' necessary for holding it under the -lenient land laws of New South Wales had been effected.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were not particularly valuable, but they had been -passed by the Inspector of Conditional Purchases, who was -not too hard on a poor man, if he made his selection his -'<i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">bona fide</span></i> home and residence.' This condition Mr. Dick -Donahue certainly had fulfilled as far as locating his hard-working -wife Bridget and half-a-dozen bare-legged, ragged -children thereon, with very little to eat sometimes, while he -was acting as judge at a bush race meeting, or drinking -recklessly at the public-house in the township.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So now the end had come. The place was mortgaged up -to its full value with the bank at Talmorah, the manager of -which had refused to advance another shilling upon it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The storekeeper, who had a bill of sale over the furniture, -horses and cows, plough, harrow, and winnowing machine, had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>decided to sell him up. The butcher and the baker, despairing -of getting their bills paid, declined further orders. -Poor Bridget had been lately feeding herself and the children -on milk and potatoes, last year's bacon, and what eggs the -fowls, not too well fed themselves, kindly produced.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Jenny had helped them many a time, from womanly pity. -But for her, they would often have been without the 'damper' -bread, which served to fill up crevices with the hungry brood—not -that she expected return or payment, but as she said, -'How could I see the poor things hungry, while we have a -snug home and all we can eat and drink?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then she would mentally compare Bill's industry with -Dick's neglect, and a feeling of wifely pride would thrill -her heart as she returned to her comfortable cottage and -put her children, always neatly dressed, to sleep in their -clean cots.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As she sat before the fire, near the trimly-swept hearth, -which looked so pleasant and homely, though there was but -a wooden slab chimney with a stone facing, a vision arose -before her of prosperous days when they would have a ring -fence round their own and the Donahues' farm—perhaps -even an 'additional conditional lease,' to be freehold eventually—afterwards -a flock of sheep and who knows what in the -years to come.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The Donahues, poor things, would have to sell and go -away, that was certain; <em>they</em> couldn't prevent them being -sold up—and, of course, Bill might as well buy it as another. -The bank manager, Mr. Calthorpe, would sell the place, -partly on credit, trusting Bill for the remainder, with security -on both farms, because he was sober and industrious. Indeed, -he told Bill so last week. What a thing it was to have a -good name! When she thought of the way other women's -husbands "knocked down" their money after shearing, forty -and fifty pounds, even more, in a week's drunken bout, she -felt that she could not be too thankful.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now Bill, when shearing was over, generally took a small -sum in cash—just enough to see him home, and paid in the -cheque for the season's shearing to his bank account. It was -over sixty pounds last year, for he sold his spare horse—a -thirty-shilling colt out of the pound, that he had broken in -himself—to the overseer, for ten guineas, and rode home on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span>the old mare, who, being fat and frolicsome after her spell, -"carried him and his swag first-rate."</p> - -<p class='c000'>'As to the two farms, no doubt it would give them all they -knew, at first, to live and pay interest. But other people -could do it, and why shouldn't they? Look at the Mullers! -The bark hut they lived in for the first few years is still there. -They kept tools, seed potatoes, odds and ends in it now. -Next, they built a snug four-roomed slab cottage, with an -iron roof. That's used for the kitchen and men's room. -For they've got a fine brick house, with a verandah and -grand furniture, and a big orchard and more land, and a -flock of sheep and a dairy and a buggy and—everything. -How I should like a buggy to drive myself and the children -to the township! Wouldn't it be grand? To be sure they're -Germans, and it's well known they work harder and save more -than us natives. But what one man and woman can do, -another ought to be able for, I say!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>And here Jenny shut her mouth with a resolute expression -and worked away at her needle till bedtime. Things were -going on comfortably with this meritorious young couple, and -Bill was getting ready to start for the annual trip 'down the -river,' as it was generally described. This was a region -distant three hundred miles from the agricultural district where -the little homestead had been created. The 'down the river' -woolsheds were larger and less strictly managed (so report -said) than those of the more temperate region, which lay near -the sources of the great rivers. In some of them as many as -one hundred, two hundred, even three hundred thousand -sheep were annually shorn. And as the fast shearers would -do from a hundred to a hundred and fifty sheep per day, it -may be calculated, at the rate of one pound per hundred, -what a nice little cheque would be coming to every man -after a season's shearing. More particularly if the weather -was fine.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bill was getting ready to start on the following morning -when a man named Janus Stoate arrived, whom he knew -pretty well, having more than once shorn in the same shed -with him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was a cleverish, talkative fellow, with some ability and -more assurance, qualities which attract steady-going, unimaginative -men like Bill, who at once invited him to stay till -<span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>the morning, when they could travel together. Stoate cheerfully -assented, and on the morrow they took the road after -breakfast, much to Mrs. Hardwick's annoyance, who did not -care for the arrangement. For, with feminine intuition, she -distrusted Janus Stoate, about whom she and her husband -had had arguments.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was a Londoner—an 'assisted' emigrant, a radical -socialist, brought out at the expense of the colony. For which -service he was so little grateful that he spoke disrespectfully -of all the authorities, from the Governor downward, and -indeed, as it seemed to her, of respectable people of every rank -and condition. Now Jenny, besides being naturally an intelligent -young woman, utilised her leisure hours during her -husband's absence, for reading the newspapers, as well as any -books she could get at. She had indeed more brains than -he had, which gift she owed to an Irish grandmother. And -though she did by no means attempt to rule him, her advice -was always listened to and considered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I wish you were going with some one else,' she said with -an air of vexation. 'It's strange that that Stoate should -come, just on your last evening at home. I don't like him -a little bit. He's just artful enough to persuade you men -that he's going to do something great with this "Australian -Shearers' Union" that I see so much about in the newspapers. -I don't believe in him, and so I tell you, Bill!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I know you don't like Unions,' he answered, 'but see -what they've done for the working classes! What could we -shearers have done without ours?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Just what you did before you had anything to do with -him and his Union. Do your work and get paid for it. -You got your shearing money all right, didn't you? Mr. -Templemore's cheques, and Mr. Dickson's and Mr. Shand's, -were always paid, weren't they? How should we have got -the land and this home, but for them?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, but, Jenny, we ought to think about the other -workers as well as ourselves—"Every man should stand by -his order," as Stoate says.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I don't see that at all. Charity's all very well, but we -have our own business to look after and let other people -mind theirs. Order, indeed! I call it disorder,—and them -that work it up will have to pay for it, mark my words. You -<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>look at those children, William Hardwick, that's where you've -got to give your money to, and your wife, and not a lot of -gassing spouters like Janus Stoate, who don't care if their -families starve, while they're drinking and smoking, talking -rubbish, and thinking themselves fine fellows, and what fools -you and the rest are to pay them for it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, but the squatters are lowering the price of shearing, -Jenny; we must make a stand against that, surely!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And suppose they do. Isn't wool falling, and sheep too? -Aren't they boiling down their ewes, and selling legs of -mutton for a shilling apiece? Why should they go on paying -a pound a hundred when everything's down? When prices -rise, shearing'll go up again, and wages too—you know we -can get mutton now for a penny a pound. Doesn't that -make a difference? You men seem to have no sense in you, -to talk in that way!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, but what are we to do? If they go on cutting -down wages, there's no saying what they'll do next.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Time enough to think about that when it comes. You -take a fair thing, now that times are bad, it'll help them that's -helped you, and when they get better, shearing and everything -else will go up too. You can't get big wages out of small -profits; your friends don't seem to have gumption enough -to see that. I'm ashamed of you, I really am, Bill!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, I must go now—I daresay the squatters will give -in, and there'll be no row at all.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What do you want to have a row for, I should like to -know? Haven't you always been well treated and well fed, -and well paid?—and now you want to turn on them that did it -for you, just as if you were one of those larrikins and spielers, -that come up partly for work, and more for gambling and -stealing! I say it's downright ungrateful and foolish besides—and -if you follow all the Union fads, mark my words, -you'll live to rue the day.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, good-bye, Jenny, I can't stop any longer, you're too -set up to be reasonable.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Good-bye, Bill, and don't be going and running risks at -another man's bidding; and if you bring that man here again, -as sure as my name's Jane Hardwick, I'll set the dogs on -him.' And here Jenny went into the cottage, and shut the -door with a bang, while Bill rode down the track to join his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>companion, feeling distinctly uncomfortable; the more so, -as he reflected that he and Jenny had never parted in this -way before.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You've been a long time saying good-bye,' said that -gentleman, with a sneering accent in his voice; 'that's the -worst of bein' married, you never can follow your own -opinions without a lot of barneyin' and opposition. It's a -curious thing that women never seem to be on the side of -progress—they're that narrow-minded, as they don't look -ahead of the day's work.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'My old woman's more given to look ahead than I am,' -said Bill seriously. 'But, of course, we all know that we -must stick together, if we expect to get anything out of the -employers.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, yes—by George, you're quite right,' said Stoate, as -if Bill had enunciated an original and brilliant idea. 'What -I and the workers want is to bring the capitalists on their -knees—the labour element has never had its proper share of -profits in the past. But we're going to have things different -in the future. How was all the big estates put together, and -them fine houses built, except by <em>our</em> labour? And what do -we get after all, now the work's done? We've never had our -fair share. Don't you see that?' Here he looked at Bill, -who could find nothing to say but—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I suppose not.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Suppose not? We've as much right to be ridin' in our -buggies as the man as just passed us with that slashin' pair. -Our labour made the land valuable—built the houses and -put up the fences. Where do <em>we</em> come in, I ask you?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, I suppose the men that worked got their wages, -didn't they?' answered Bill. 'There's been a deal of employment -the last few years. I did pretty well out of a fencing contract, -I know, and my mate started a big selection from his share.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, yes, I daresay, that's where you fellers make the -mistake. If you get a few pounds slung to you by these -capitalists, you don't think of the other poor chaps walkin' -about half starved, begging a meal here and a night's lodging -there. What we ought to go in for is a co-operative national -movement. That's the easiest of all. One man to find the -money.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Is it?' Bill could not help saying, interrupting the flood -<span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>of Stoate's eloquence. 'I've always found it dashed hard to -find a few pounds.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I don't mean fellers like us; we work hard—a dashed -sight too hard for all we get. I mean the regular professional -capitalist, in a manner of speakin', that's got his money by -buying land, when the Government oughtn't never to have -sold it, if they'd had any savey, or had it left him by his -father, as had robbed the people some other way. Well, he -finds the money, you and I the muscle—and mark you, they -can't do nothin' without <em>that</em>—and others, smartish chaps as -comes from the people mostly, finds the brains.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And what after that?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's what I'm a-coming to,' answered Stoate pompously. -'When the sheep's shorn, the fat ones sold, the wheat reaped, -and the money put in the bank, we all divide fair, according -to our shares. So much for interest on capital, so much for -labouring work, so much for head work, so much for light, -easy things like clerking, as most any fool can do.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That sounds pretty fair,' replied Bill, scratching his head, -as he endeavoured to grasp the complex conditions of the -scheme. 'But who's to boss the whole thing? There must -be a boss?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh, of course, there'll be a council—elected by the people—that -is of course the shareholders in each industrial, co-operative -establishment; they all have votes, you know. The -council will do all the bossing.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh, I see, and all share alike. One man's as good as -another, I suppose.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Certainly, all have equal rights; every man willing to work -has a right to have work found for him by the State.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'But suppose he won't work when it <em>is</em> found for him? -You and I have known plenty of coves like that.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, of course, there <em>is</em> a difference in men—some -haven't the natural gift, as you may say—don't care for -"hard graft," but you must remember no one'll have to work -hard when labour's federated.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How'll the work be done, then?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why, you see, every one will have to do four or six hours -a day, rich and poor, young and old, from sixteen to sixty. -Before that their eddication [Mr. Stoate's early environment—his -father was a radical cobbler—had fixed his pronunciation of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>that important word inexorably], this eddication, I say (which -is the great thing for a worker, and enables him to hold his -own against the employers, who've always had a monopoly of -it), has to be attended to. After sixty, they've to be pensioned off, -not wanted to do no more work. And as Bellamy says in his -<cite>Looking Backward</cite> (a great book, as all our chaps ought to read)—"If -every one in the State worked their four hours a day, the -whole work of the world could be easy done, and no one the -worse for it."'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That sounds well enough,' said Bill thoughtfully, 'but I'm -afraid it wouldn't wash. A lot of chaps would be trying for -the easy parts, and those that were cast for the rough and -tumble wouldn't do it with a will, or only half and half. And -who's to draft 'em off? The fellers elected to do it would -have all the say, and if they had a down on a chap—perhaps -a deal better man than themselves—they could drop him in -for the lowest billets going.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That could all be set right in the usual way,' replied -Stoate, pompously mouthing his words as if addressing an -imaginary audience. 'Every member of the Association -would have the right of appeal to the Grand Council.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And suppose they didn't side with the workin' feller—these -talking chaps, as like as not, would hang together—he'd -have to grin and bear it. He'd be no better than a slave. -Worse than things are now. For a man can get a lawyer, and -fight out his case before the P.M., and the other beaks. -They're mostly fair and square—what I've seen of 'em. -They've no interest one way or the other.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No more would the Grand Labour Council.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Don't know so much about that, working coves are -middlin' jealous of one another. If one chap's been elected -to the Council, as you call it, and another feller opposed him -and got beat, there's sure to be bad blood between them, and -the man that's up like enough'll want to rub it into the man -that's down—and there'd be no one to see fair play like the -beaks.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why, you're getting to be a regular "master's man." -That's not the way to talk, if you're goin' to be a Unionist.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh, I'll follow the Union,' replied Bill, 'if things are -going to be fair and square, not any other way, and so I tell -you. But if it's such a jolly good thing to put your money in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>a station and share and share alike with all the other chaps, -why don't some of you Union chaps put your money together?—lots -of you could raise a hundred or more if you didn't -drink it. Then you could shear your own sheep, sell your own -wool, and raise your own bread, meat, vegetables—everything. -You could divide the profits at the end of the year, and if -running a squatting station's such a thundering good thing, -why you'd all make fortunes in no time. What do you say to -that now?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, of course, it sounds right enough,' answered Stoate, -with less than his usual readiness. 'There's a lot of things to -be considered about afore you put your money into a big -thing like that. You've got to get the proper sort of partners—men -as you know something about, and that can be -depended on for to work steady, and do what they're told.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Do what they're told? Why, ain't that the one thing you -Union chaps are fighting the squatters about? They're not -to be masters in their own woolsheds! The shearers and -rouseabouts are <em>not</em> to obey the squatters' overseer, they must -work as the Union's delegate tells 'em. What sort of fake -d'ye call that? Suppose I'm harvestin'—my crop's not much -now, but it may be, some day—d'ye mean to say I'm not -to talk sharp to my own men, and say "do this" or "do -that"? And a delegate walkin' up and down, makin' believe -to be boss, while I'm payin' for the wages and rations, and -horses and thrashing-machine, and the whole boiling, would I -stand that? No! I'd kick him out of the place, and that -dashed soon, I can tell you!' And here Bill's eyes began to -sparkle and his fists to tighten on the reins as if he itched to -'stand up to his man,' with steady eye and watchful 'left,' -ready for the first chance to 'land' his adversary.</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>The sun was scarcely an hour high when the wayfarers -came in sight of the village-appearing group of edifices -familiarly known as a 'sheep station.' The 'men's hut' came -first into view—a substantial dwelling, with horizontal sawn -slabs and shingled roof, a stone chimney and a dining-room. -Boasting a cook, moreover, of far from ordinary rank. A -superior building, in fact, to the one which the owner of the -station thought good enough for himself for the first few years -of his occupation of North Yalla-doora.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>This was the abiding-place of the resident labourers on the -station; men who received a fixed weekly wage, varying from -a pound to twenty-five shillings per week, with board and -lodging additional. The Australian labourer is catered for on -perhaps the most liberal dietary scale in the world. He is -supplied with three meals per diem, of beef or mutton of the -best quality, with bread <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">à discrétion</span></i>, also tea (the ordinary -drink of the country) in unlimited quantity, with milk and -vegetables if procurable. Condiments, sauces, and preserves, -if his tastes run that way, he has to pay for as extras.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They can be procured, also wearing apparel, boots, and all -other necessaries, at the station store; failing that, at the 'township,' -invariably found within easy distance of any large station.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Besides the 'men's hut' comes next in rank the 'shearers' -hut,' dedicated to those important and (at shearing time) -exclusive personages; the sheep-washers', the rouseabouts' -huts, all necessary different establishments; as also the -'travellers' hut,' set apart for the nomadic labourer or 'swagman,' -who sojourning but for a night is by the unwritten law -of Bushland provided with bread and meat, cooking utensils, -water, and firewood <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">gratis</span></i>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then, at a certain distance, the woolshed—with half an -acre of roofed, battened yards and pens—the 'big house,' -the stable, the horse-yard, the stock-yard, the milking-yard, -with perhaps half-a-dozen additional nondescript constructions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It may easily be imagined that such buildings, scattered -and disjointed as they were, had much more the appearance -of a village than of a single establishment owned, managed, -and supported by one man (or one firm), and absolutely subject -to his orders and interest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Might as well stop here to-night,' said Stoate; 'it's twenty-five -mile to Coolah Creek for to-morrow, and the road heavy in -places. Look at it! There's a bloomin' township to belong -to one man, and <em>us</em> travellin' the country looking for work!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It took a lot of labour to put up all the huts and places, -not to count in the shed and yards, you bet,' said his companion, -who had been silent for the last half-hour, 'and many -a cheque was drawed afore the last nail was drove in. I -know a chap that's made a small fortune out of Mr. -Templemore's contracts, and that's got a farm to show for it -to-day. What's wrong with that?'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>'Why, don't you see? Suppose the State had this first-rate -block of country, cut it up in fair-sized farms, advanced -the men the money to put up their places and crop it the first -year, see what a population it would keep. Keep in comfort, -too,' he continued, as he refilled his pipe and made ready for -a leisurely smoke. 'Let me see, there's fifty thousand acres -of freehold on this North Yalla-doora run, besides as much -more leased. Divide that into nice-sized farms, that'd give -us a thousand fifty-acre lots, or five 'underd 'underd-acre ones. -See what a crowd of families that'd keep.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And suppose there come a dry season,' queried Bill -rather gruffly, 'how about the families then? I've seen the -sheep dyin' by hundreds on this very place—and the whole -forty thousand 'd 'a died in another month if rain hadn't come. -But I'm gettin' full up of this Union racket. Small farms in -a dry country's foolishness. Where are we goin' to camp? -Look at the grass on that flat! And I've seen it like a road.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It ain't bad near the creek,' said his companion. 'You -can let the horses go while I go up to the overseer and get a -bit of ration.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'There's no call to do that. See that bag? My old -woman's put bread and beef enough in that for a week -anyhow, besides bacon, and tea, and sugar.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's all right,' answered Stoate airily, 'but we may as -well get fresh mutton for nothing. They always give -travellers a pound or two here, and a pannikin of flour. It -comes in handy for cakes.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, I'm d—d!' said Hardwick, unable to contain his -wrathful astonishment. 'D'ye mean to tell me as you're -a-goin' to <em>beg</em> food from this squatter here and take his -charity after abusing him and all belonging to him and -schemin' to ruin 'em? I call it dashed, dirty, crawling -meanness, and for two pins I wouldn't travel the same side of -the road with you, and so I tell you, Janus Stoate.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was a snaky glitter in Stoate's small, black eyes as -he met for an instant the bold gaze of the Australian; but, -with characteristic cunning, he turned it off with a half laugh.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why, Bill, what hot coffee you're a-gettin', all over a little -joke like this 'ere. Now I feel as I've a right to be fed on -the road when I and my feller-workers bring our labour to -the door—in a manner of speakin'. We've no call to think -<span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>ourselves under obligation to the squatters for their "miserable -dole," as our Head Centre calls it. It's only our due when -all's said and done.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Miserable dole,' growled Bill, now engaged in taking off -his pack. 'That's a dashed fine name to give free rations, -to the tune of half-a-dozen sheep a night, and a couple of bags -of flour a week, which I know Tambo did last shearing. A -lot of chaps going about the country askin' for work, and -prayin' to God they mayn't find it—and abusin' the people -that feed 'em on top of it all. I wonder the squatters don't -stop feedin' travellers, and that's all about it. I would if I -was boss, I know, except the old men.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How about the sheds and the grass when the weather gets -dry?' asked Stoate, with a sidelong glance of spite.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's easy enough, if a chap's a d—d scoundrel; but -suppose he's caught and gets five years in Berrima Gaol, he'd -wish he'd acted more like a white man and less like a myall -blackfellow. But stoush all this yabber. You boil the billy, -while I get out the grub and hobble the horses. I feel up to -a good square feed.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>So did Mr. Stoate, apparently, as he consumed slice -after slice of the cold corned beef and damper which Jenny -had put up neatly in Bill's 'tucker bag,' not disdaining divers -hunks of 'brownie,' washed down with a couple of pints of -'billy tea,' after which he professed that he felt better, and -proceeded to fill and light his pipe with deliberation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By this time the hobbled horses had betaken themselves -through the abundant pasture of the river flat, and their bells -sounding faint and distant, Bill declared his intention of -heading them back, in case they should try to make off towards -the home they had left. He returned in half an hour, stating -that they were in a bend and blocked by a horseshoe -lagoon.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Both men addressed themselves to the task of putting up -the small tent which Bill carried, and bestowed their swags -therein, after which Mr. Stoate proposed that they should go -over to the men's hut, and have a bit of a yarn before they -turned in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bill remarked that they had to be up at daylight, but -supposed that an hour wouldn't matter. So the wayfarers -strolled over to a long building, not far from the creek bank, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>which they entered without ceremony. They found themselves -in the presence of about twenty men, in the ordinary -dress of the station hand, viz. tweed or moleskin trousers and -Crimean shirt. Some had coats, but the majority were in -their shirt sleeves. There were mostly of ages between twenty -and forty, differing in nationality, speech, and occupation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>England, Ireland, Scotland, and Australia were represented. -A Frenchman, two Germans, a coloured man (American), -besides a tall, well-made Australian half-caste, who spoke much -the same English as the others, but had a softer voice, with -rather slower intonation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At one end of the large room was an ample fireplace, with -a glowing wood fire, around which several men were sitting or -standing, mostly smoking. Others were seated at the long, -solid dining-table reading, for in one corner stood some fairly -well-filled bookshelves. One man was writing a letter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A few were lying in their bunks, rows of which were on -either side of the room. A certain amount of quiet conversation -was going on. There was no loud talking, swearing, or -rude behaviour of any sort, and in spite of the bare walls and -plain surroundings an air of comfort pervaded the whole.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Stoate was greeted by several of the younger men, one of -whom was disposed to be facetious, as he exclaimed—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Hulloa, my noble agitator, what brings you here? Goin' -to call out the shearers, and play the devil generally, eh? -You've come to the wrong shop at North Yalla-doora—we're -all steady-going coves here.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I suppose you're game to stand up for your rights, Joe -Brace, and not afraid of getting your wages raised, if the Union -does that for you?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>If</em> it does,' rejoined Joe sarcastically; 'and who's to go -bail for that, I'd like to know? You and your crowd haven't -done any great things so far, except make bad blood between -masters and men—when everything was peace and goodwill -before, as the parson says.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well—what's that? Yer can't get nothin' in the world -without fightin' for it—I reckon we're going to have a bit of -war for a change. Yes, <em>war</em>, and a dashed good thing too, -when men have to take orders from their feller-men, and be -worked like slaves into the bargain.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Brayvo, Janus, old man!' replied the other, with mock -<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>approval. 'I see what it's come to. You're to be a delegate -with a pot hat and a watch-chain, and get four pound a week -for gassin', while us fools of fellers does the hard graft. That's -your dart, to sit alongside of Barraker and the rest of the -people's try-bunes—ain't them the blokes that stands up and -says, like Ben Willett, as we're trod on, and starved, and treated -worse than nigger slaves?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'So you are, if you only knew it. Look at all this here -country-side in the hands of two or three men, as sucks your -blood, and fattens on it!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The boss here ain't too fat, if that's what's the matter, and -we're not a very hungry-lookin' crowd, boys,' said the speaker, -looking round. 'We've got good wages, good food, a book -or two to read, and a table to write our letters at. You've -been loafin' in Melbourne, Janus, and got oppressed there—spent -all your money, forgot to buy a decent rig-out (them's -last year's boots as you have on), come on the roads to beg -from station to station, and abuse them as feeds you, after -your belly's full. What do <em>you</em> say, Paddy?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The man whom he addressed folded up the sheet upon -which he had been writing, and rising from the form on which -he sat, stood before the fire, displaying an athletic figure, and -determined countenance, lighted up by a pair of glancing blue -eyes, which proclaimed his nationality.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I say that this strike business is all d—d rot, run by a lot -of sneaks for their own ends. <em>They're</em> the vermin that fatten -on the working-men, that are fools enough to believe their -rubbish—not the squatters, who've mostly worked hard for what -they've made, and spent it free enough, more power to them! -Where's there a man on North Yalla-doora that's got anything -to complain of? We're well paid, well fed, well cooked -for, eh, Jack? and as comfortable in our way as the boss is in -his. More indeed, for we've got a shingled roof, and his is -box-bark. The travellers' hut's shingled, so is the rouseabouts'. -He's never had time to have his own place done up, though -he lives like a gentleman, as we all know.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yer 'arf a gentleman yerself, ain't yer, <em>Mister</em> O'Kelly?' -replied Stoate sneeringly. 'No wonder yer don't take no -interest in the workers—the men that makes the wealth of -this country, and every other. Yer the makin's of a first-class -"scab," and if the chaps here was of my mind you'd be put -<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>out of every hut on the river.' Before the last word was fully -out, O'Kelly made a couple of steps forward with so vengeful -a glare in his blue eyes that Stoate involuntarily drew back—with -such haste also, that he trod on the foot of a man behind -him and nearly fell backward.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You infernal scoundrel!' he cried; 'dare to take my name -into your ugly mouth again, and I'll kick you from here to -the woolshed, and drown you in the wash-pen afterwards. I've -done a man's work in Australia for the last five years, though -I wasn't brought up to it, as some of you know. I've nothing -to say against the men who gave me honest pay for honest -work, and whose salt I've eaten. But skulking crawlers like -you are ruining the country. You're worse than a dingo—<em>he</em> -don't beg. You come here and whine for food, and then try -to bite the hand that feeds you. Didn't I see you at the -store to-night, waiting for grub, like the other travellers?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No, yer didn't then,' snarled Stoate.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, I have before this, and more than once. I expect -you're loafing on your mate, who's a decent fellow, and the -sooner he parts company with a hound like you, the better. -But this is our hut, and out you go, or I will, and that's the -long and short of it. Come on, Joe!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The public's not on for a sermon to-night, Janus, old -man,' said the young fellow before mentioned. 'Paddy's got -his monkey up, and it'll be bloody wars if you don't clear. -Yer mate's a cove as we'd like to spend the evenin' with, but -the votin's agin yer, Janus, it raly is.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I came in with Stoate,' said Bill, 'and in course I'm -here to see it out with him, man to man. But this is your -hut, and not ours, mate, so we'd better get back to our camp—good-night -all!'</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span> - <h3 class='c010'>CHAPTER II</h3> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>The sun-rays were slowly irradiating 'the level waste, the -rounded grey' which accurately described the landscape, in -the lower Riverina, which our travellers had reached after a -fortnight's travel, and where the large and pastorally famous -sheep station of Tandāra had been constructed. Far as the -eye could range was an unbroken expanse of sea-like plain, -covered at this spring time of year with profuse vegetation—the -monotony being occasionally relieved by clumps of the -peculiar timber growing only amid the vast levels watered by -the Darling. The wilga, the boree, and the mogil copses -were in shape, outline, and area so curiously alike, that the -lost wanderer proverbially found difficulty in fixing upon any -particular clump as a landmark. Once strayed from the faint -irregular track, often the only road between stations thirty or -forty miles apart—once confused as to the compass bearings, -and how little hope was there for the wayfarer, especially if -weary, thirsty, and on foot! The clump of mogil or wilga -trees, which he had toiled so many a mile in the burning afternoon -to reach, was the facsimile of the one left, was it that -morning or the one before? More than once had he, -by walking in a circle, and making for apparently 'creek -timber' at variance with his original course, found himself at -the <em>same clump</em>, verified by his own tracks, and the ashes of -his small fire, as the one which he had left forty-eight hours -ago.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Reckless and desperate, he takes the course again, feeling -weaker by two days' hard walking—footsore, hungry—above -all, <em>thirsty</em>, to the verge of delirium. Let us hope that he falls -in with a belated boundary rider who shows him an endless-seeming -<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>wire fence, which he commands him to follow, till he -meets the jackaroo sent with a water-bag to meet him. If -this good angel (not otherwise angelic-seeming) 'drops across' -him, well and good; if not so, or he does not 'cut the tracks' -of a station team, or the lonely mailman going a back road, -God help him! Soon will the crows gathering expectant -round a pair of eagles, telegraph to the sharp-eyed scouts of -the wilderness that they may ride over and see the dried-up, -wasted similitude of what <em>was</em> once a man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>No such tragedy was likely to be enacted in the case of -our two shearers. They were fairly mounted. They had -food and water to spare. Bill was an experienced bushman, -and both men had been along this track before. So they -followed the winding trail traced faintly on the broad green -sheet of spring herbage, sometimes almost invisible—or wholly -so, where an old sheep camp had erased the hoof-or wheel-marks—turning -to the right or the left with confident accuracy, -until they 'picked up' the course again. Wading girth-deep -through the subsidiary watercourses—billabongs, cowalls, -and such—bank high in this year of unusual rain and plenty -(they are synonymous in riverine Australia, 'arida nutrix'), and -scaring the water-fowl, which floated or flew in countless flocks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That gigantic crane, the brolgan (or native companion), -danced his quadrille in front of them, 'advance, retire, flap -wing, and set to partner,' before he sailed away to a region -unfrequented by the peaceful-seeming but dangerous intruder. -Crimson-winged, French grey galah parrots fluttered around -them in companies, never very far out of shot; the small -speckled doves, loveliest of the columba tribes, rose whirring -in bevies, while the</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in10'>swift-footed 'emu' over the waste</div> - <div class='line'>Speeds like a horseman that travels in haste.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>To the inexperienced European traveller beholding this -region for the first time, all-ignorant of the reverse side of -the shield, what a pastoral paradise it would have seemed! -Concealed from his vision the dread spectres of Famine, -Death, Ruin, and Despair, which the shutting-up of the -windows of Heaven for a season, has power to summon -thereon.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was a good year, however, in pastoral parlance. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>Thousands of lambs born in the autumnal months of April -and May were now skipping, fat and frolicsome, by the sides -of the ewes, in the immense untended flocks. They had -been but recently marked and numbered, the latter arithmetical -conclusion being obtained by the accurate if primitive -method of counting the heaps of severed tails, which modern -sheep-farming exacts from the bleeding innocents. The -percentage ranged from ninety to nearly a hundred, an -almost abnormally favourable result.</p> - -<p class='c000'>How different from the famine years of a past decade, still -fresh in men's minds, when every lamb was killed as soon -as born 'to save its mother's life,' and in many stations -one-half of the ewes died also, from sheer starvation; when -immense migratory flocks, like those of the 'mesta' of their -Spanish ancestors, swept over the land, destroying, locust-like, -every green thing (and dry, too, for that matter), steering -towards the mountain plateaux, which boast green grass and -rill-melodies, the long relentless summer through—that -summer which, on lower levels, had slain even the wild -creatures of the forest and plain, inured from countless ages -to the deadly droughts of their Austral home.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>When the kangaroos by the thousand die,</div> - <div class='line'>It's rough on the travelling sheep,</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>as 'Banjo' sings.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This station, when reached, presented a different appearance -from North Yalla-doora. The prairie-like plain, far as the eye -could reach, was bisected by a wide and turbid stream, flowing -between banks, now low and partly submerged, now lofty and -precipitous; occasionally overhanging as if cut away by the -angry waters, in one of the foaming floods which, from time to -time, alternated with seasons when the shallow stream trickled -feebly over the rock-bars in the river-bed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The buildings were large, but less complete in appearance -than those of Yalla-doora. An air of feverish energy pervaded -the whole establishment, which seemed to denote that time -was more valued than finish, for the pressing work in hand. -The windings of the river could be distinctly marked by the -size of the great eucalypts which fringed the banks, refusing to -grow away from its waters. How often had they been hailed -with joy by the weary wayfarer, athirst even unto death, who -<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>knows that his trials are over, when from afar he sights the -'river timber.' And now, the signs of the campaign were -visible. Men rode in at speed from distant parts of the -immense area known as Tandara 'run.' From the far -horizon came nearer and yet nearer the lines of unladen -waggons, with long teams of lagging horses or even bullocks, -from twelve to twenty in number.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Far from fat and well-liking were these necessary beasts of -draught, but sure to leave the station frolicsome and obese -after a few weeks' depasturing upon the giant herbage which -for a hundred leagues in every direction waved in vast meads -like ripening corn. An assemblage of tents and hastily constructed -shelters on a 'point' of the river proclaims the 'camp' -or temporary abode of the expectant shearers and rouseabouts, -wool-pressers, ordinary hands, and general utility men, -upon every large run at shearing time, but more especially -on so exceptionally important a property as that of Tandara.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'By George! there's a big roll up on Steamer Point this -time,' said Bill. 'I've shorn here twice, and never seen as -many afore. There won't be stands for half of 'em when the -roll's called.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No more there will,' said Stoate, as he looked in the -direction of the populous camp, where much talk and argument -seemed to be going on. 'And them that wrote and got -their names put down months back won't have a rosy time of -it neither.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why not?' queried Bill. 'Ain't they done right to come -and shear when they promised last year, and got the cove to -keep places for them?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh, I didn't mean that, though I don't hold, mind you, -with taking places such a dashed long time before shearin's -on. It's hard on a chap, when he comes to a shed after -travellin' three or four 'underd mile, to be told that all the -stands is took up. But there'll be a big row all the same.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How's that?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why, Drench the delegate told me, the last place we -stopped at, that orders had come up that if the boss wouldn't -give in to the Shearers' Union agreement the men were to be -called off the board.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Hunter won't stand it,' said Bill. 'You take my word. -He's always been a good employer; no man can deny that. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>Good wages, good rations, and pays cash on the nail when the -men want it. Don't even give cheques, and that blocks the -publican, because a chap can pay as he goes, and needn't -hand his cheque over the bar counter. But I know what he'll -say to the delegate, or any other man that tells him he's not -to be boss in his own shed.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What'll that be?' asked Stoate, with a sidelong look, half -of curiosity, half of concealed malice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He'll tell 'em to go to hell and mind their own business, -and leave him to look after his; that he'll see the Union and -every one connected with it d—d first before he'll give up -the right to manage his own property in his own way.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We'll show him different—that is, the Union will,' said -Stoate, correcting himself hastily. '<em>His</em> property! Who made -it? who dug the tanks and put up the fences, and shepherded -the sheep afore they was paddocked? and built the blooming -shed, as is an emblem of tyranny, to my thinking—when -every man ought to have his five 'underd or a thousand ewes -of his own, and a neat little place to shear 'em in? <em>His -property!</em> I say it's <em>our</em> property. <em>We</em> made it—with the -labour of our 'ands—and we ought to have the biggest say in -the managin' of it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What about buyin' the sheep and cattle, and the horses, -and the payin' of wages this year?' said Bill. 'Suppose they -come o' theirselves, "kinder growed," as the nigger gal says in -that book about slavery in America, as Jenny read out to me -last winter.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Wages be hanged!' retorted the disciple of Henry George -and Bellamy. 'Our labour makes the fund out of which they -pays their bloomin' <em>wages</em>, as they call 'em—infernal skinflints, -as they are. It's dashed easy for them as gets the profits of -our hard earnin's to dribble a trifle back, hardly enough to -keep us in workin' order, like them team 'orses as is just -turned out—a bite of chaff, and that's about all.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, only for the chaff, they'd be deaders the first dry -season—down from weakness for a week or two, with their -eyes picked out by the crows, and the ants eatin' 'em alive. -I've seen the wild "brumbies" like that. I expect <em>they</em> ought -to go on strike for stable keep, and three feeds of oats a day?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Men and 'orses is different—you can't compare 'em, in -the way of their rights.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>'No; I know you can't,' answered Bill. 'The horses are -a dashed sight the straightest crowd of the two. Howsomever, -we shan't agree on them points, if we talk till Christmas. You -take your way, and I'll take mine. But look here, Stoate, if -there's goin' to be any of this burnin' and smashin' racket, as -I've heard tell of, I'm <em>not on</em>. Mind that—don't you make -any mistake! I've a bit of property of my own, as I've worked -hard for, and I'm not goin' to hurt another man's savin's, -Union or no Union, for all the Labour delegates in Australia, -and so I tell you.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Stoate did not speak for a few moments, then his eyes -once more assumed the covert look of malice which they had -worn before, as he said slowly—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That means that you're not game to stand up for the -rights of your horder, and you'll act the spy on the men as -does.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bill's grey eyes blazed out with so sudden a light, as he -made a half movement to jump off his horse, that Stoate -involuntarily tightened his rein, and touched his leg-weary -steed with the one spur of which he made constant use. But -Bill resumed his saddle seat, and putting strong constraint on -himself, replied: 'I'm that game as I'll give you a crack on -the "point," as 'll stop your blowin' for a bit, if you'll get -down and put your hands up. You're a light weight, and not -very fit, or I'd knock some of the gas out'n yer now if you'd -stand up to me. Not as you would—you're a deal better at -talkin' than fightin', let alone workin'. But you and me's -mates no more, mind that. You clear out with your moke, -and make your own camp, and don't you come anigh me -never again, or I'll give you what for, in a style you'll -remember till the shearin' after next.' And so saying, Bill -touched up his horse, and went off at a hand gallop, with his -pack-horse—which by this time had learned to follow his -companion steed—after him. Mr. Stoate regarded this -action on the part of his whilom companion with baleful eye -and resentful feeling, which at length found vent in these -memorable words—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You're very flash, Bill Hardwick, with your fresh 'oss -and yer packer. S'pose you think you've left me in a hole, -all for a few words on these blarsted, hungry, grinding -squatters; but I've seen better coves'n you straightened afore -<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>to-day. And by——! I'll be even with yer before the year's -out, as sure as my name's Janus Stoate!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>After which pious resolve, Mr. Stoate jogged sullenly -onward to the head station, where his sense of the dignity of -labour did not prevent him from joining a crowd of men, -who were in turn receiving the ordinary bush dole—viz. a -pound or two of fresh beef or mutton, in addition to a pint -pannikin of flour. As there were at least forty or fifty men -who received these components of two substantial meals—supper -and breakfast—it may be guessed what a daily contribution -the squatter was required to make toward the -support of the nomadic labourer of the period.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With respect to that universally recognised Australian -institution, the 'travellers' hut,' to which Mr. Stoate betook -himself, on receiving his free supper and breakfast materials, -an explanation may not be out of place. In the good old -times, 'before the war,' in the pre-union days, and when owing -to the smaller size of pastoral properties the hands required -were necessarily fewer, the chance labourer was made free of -the 'men's hut.' In those Arcadian days the men's cook -prepared his meals, and he sat at meat with the permanent -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">employés</span>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was all very well, when one or two casual guests at -the outside were wont to arrive in an evening. But when, in -consequence of the growth of population, and the increase of -stock, the units were turned into scores, with a possibility of -hundreds, the free hospitality had to be restricted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Complaints were made by the permanent hands that the -pilgrim was in the habit of picking up unconsidered trifles, -when the men had gone to work after breakfast, and absconding -with the same. The cook, too, expostulated, inasmuch as the -'traveller,' after availing himself copiously of the meals set -before him, generally took the precaution of loading himself -with 'cooked food' sufficient for the next day or two, whereby -he, the cook, was kept baking and boiling all day and half -the night, in addition to his ordinary work.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For some or all of these reasons, the 'travellers' hut' was -decided upon. A roomy and substantial structure, placed -near the creek or dam, as the case might be, at a certain -distance from the other buildings, to which all future travellers -not being gentlefolk, coming with introductions to the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>overseer's quarters, or 'the big house,' were relegated. -'Bunks' or sleeping-places, a table, and stools were mostly -provided; also a load of firewood, an axe, a frying-pan, -bucket, and iron pot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Wayfarers henceforth came under the obligation to cook -for themselves. The frying of chops, the boiling of beef and -the baking of cakes—operations, with which every bushman is -familiar, not being considered to be hardships worth speaking -of. The stock of firewood was kept up, it being found that, -in default, the uninvited guests felt no delicacy in burning the -interior fittings, or even the doors and window frames. To -this sanctuary, Mr. Stoate, in place of his former comfortable -camp with Hardwick, was fain to betake himself. It was -half a mile 'down the creek,' and he cursed freely at being -told by the overseer that he must turn out his horse in the -'strangers' paddock,' another half-mile farther, and on no -account to put him into the homestead horse-paddock.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I'm not going to have all the feed ate up that I've saved -for the station horses,' said that functionary, in decided tones, -'and so I tell you. You shearers and rouseabouts think it's -nothing, I suppose, to find grass for a hundred or two horses, -and a mob of bullocks big enough to stock a small run. -But you'll have to pay for your grass one of these fine days, -if you don't mind your eye.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'D'ye think a man's to walk all over the bloomin' bush, -lookin' for work and carrying oats and hay with him, if he's -got a moke?' growled Stoate. 'The squatters have got all -the blessed country, and they grudge a pore man a mouthful -of food, and every blade of grass his horse eats.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'A poor man!' said the overseer. 'What sort of a poor -man d'ye call yourself, Stoate? Your cheque last year, what -with fencing and shearing, was over forty pounds for three -months' work. You've neither wife, chick nor child (not in -this country, anyhow). What have you done with your -money? Spent it in town; now you come up here crawling -and begging for the bread you eat, and doing all the harm you -can to the men you're living on. Why don't you keep a -pound or two for the road, like Bill Hardwick and other chaps? -Then you needn't be beholden to any one; and if you like to -talk rot to the men that are fools enough to trust you, that's -their look-out. But to come here and to every station along -<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>the river begging for food and trying to harm the men you're -living on is mean, d—d mean, and treacherous to boot. -If the boss was of my way of thinking, he'd never let you -inside a shed of his, or pay you another pound for shearing, -and now you know my mind,—take your grub.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>And then Mr. Macdonald, an athletic Australian Scot, who -towered above the short though wiry Londoner as does a -mastiff above a lurcher, poured the pannikin of flour into the -'tucker bag' which Stoate held out, and cutting off a lump of -fat mutton tossed it contemptuously at him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Stoate caught the meat before it fell, and looked at the -overseer with evil passions writ plain in his sullen face and -snaky eye, as he said: 'You might come to be sorry for -this some day, boss, big as you are!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, you sneaking hound, I know what that means. -But I've got old Harry Bower (who used to shepherd here -long ago, before he turned bushranger) as night-watchman -at the shed, in case some of you dogs that disgrace the -Shearers' Union take a fancy to light it up. He was a <em>man</em> -when he took to the bush. <em>You'd</em> do it and fellows like you, -only you haven't the pluck. He's got a double-barrelled gun, -and swears by his God he'll use it if he catches any curs -sneaking about the shed after dark. The grass is too green -to burn for a month or two, but if I come across you near -a bush fire, after shearing, I'll shoot you like a crow. So -take that with you—and do your worst.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Macdonald, though a born Australian, had inherited, -it will be seen, the characteristic '<span lang="la" xml:lang="la">perfervidum ingenium</span>.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>It seemed imprudent of him to speak so openly before -the crowd of shearers and '<i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">bona-fide</span></i> travellers,' so called. -But a bold, declared policy is sometimes more diplomatic -than a halting, opportunist one. The men knew that war -was declared, given certain acts of aggression or intimidation -on their part. Severe sentences would unquestionably follow—if -convictions were secured before the courts. On the -whole, though they did not fear him, they respected him more -for his openness and decided action.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He's a <em>man</em> that hits out straight from the shoulder,' said -one young fellow. 'I like that sort. You know where you -have 'em. I don't hold with all this Union racket. It does -more harm than good, to my mind. The most of these -<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>delegates is reg'lar blatherskites, as I wouldn't trust to carry -a pound note across the street. Pretty coves to make laws -for the likes of us.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I'm dashed sorry I ever had any truck with this Union -crowd,' said his mate, as they walked away. 'I'd never no -call to complain, as I know. If I didn't like a man's ways -in his shed, I didn't shear there. There's plenty more. I -don't fancy free men like us shearers bein' under one man's -thumb, and him lookin' out for himself all the time. It's too -much of the monkey for me, and I'm not goin' to stand it -after this season, no matter what comes of it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The minor troubles having been surmounted, the roll-call -read over, the rouseabouts settled and contented—each man -in receipt of twenty-five shillings per week, with everything -found on a scale of liberality, not to say profuseness, huts, -cooks, wood and water, beef and mutton, tea and sugar, -vegetables—everything reasonable and unreasonable, in fact, -that the heart of bushman could desire.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The shearers, in number nearly a hundred, were apparently -placated by being allowed to shear for the first time at -Tandara under 'Union Rules,' a copy of which was posted -up in a prominent part of the shed, setting forth that on -certain points of dispute, if such should arise, the Delegate, -that important, dignified personage, should have the power -of joint decision with the shed manager. Wool had gone -down nearly one-half in price, fat sheep as much or more; -but holding to a modern doctrine that wages were not to be -regulated by profits, and that Labour and not Capital provided -the wage-fund, the same rate of payment per hundred sheep -as was paid in more prosperous times had been exacted by -the shearers' representatives. This was agreed to under protest, -though considered inequitable by the proprietors of North -Yalla-doora and other representative sheds as the lesser evil, -compared with that of a delayed shearing and perhaps ruined -wool clip. A truly serious matter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For the same reason the Union Rules had been accepted -by several proprietors, though much against the grain, and the -woolshed ticketed for the first time as a 'Union Shed.' This -was done under the impression that a feeling of loyalty to the -principles which professed to guide the Shearers' Union would -ensure steady and continuous work.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>It was a concession to expediency, unwillingly made by -Mr. Hunter and others at the last moment, in the hope of -'getting the shearing over quickly'—a matter involving great -gain or loss. The latter, in this particular era of low prices -of wool and stock of all kinds, cattle and horses, as well as -sheep, approaching the margin of ruin, ominously close. 'If -the fellows shear decently and behave themselves, I don't -care what they stick up in the shed, or what they call their -confounded Union. They shore well enough for me and -Anderson last year, so I shall go on with them as long as -they treat me well. You might as well do so, too.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This had been the reasoning of Mr. M'Andrew, one of -Mr. Hunter's neighbours, a shrewd, somewhat self-seeking -man of the world. And it had a savour of argument about -it. 'What did it matter,' he had said, 'how other squatters -looked at the question? All they had to think of was to -get their own work properly done, and let every man mind -his own business. He was not sure that the Pastoral -Association did much good. It only set the men and -masters more at odds with each other. A great deal of this -ill-feeling and strike had been brought on by such proprietors -as old Jackson, M'Slaney, and Pigdon. Men notoriously -hard and grasping in their dealings with their <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">employés</span>—cutting -down wages, the price of shearing and contract bush -work, in every way possible; feeding, housing, and paying -their people badly, while charging exorbitant prices for necessaries—flour, -meat, shears, tobacco—all things, in fact, -which they could not carry with them and were bound to -buy from the station store. These pastoralists were primarily -responsible for the dissatisfaction which had led to the strikes -and rioting. For his part, as he had always acted fairly -and squarely with his men, as everybody knew, it was not -to be expected that he should be compelled to pay up for -a contest which he had no share in bringing on.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This had seemed fair reasoning to that class of men who -are glad of any excuse to avoid paying cash out of pocket -and to the avowal of a decided policy. But there were other -squatters equally averse to unnecessary outlay, who, possessing -more forecast and logical acumen, refused on principle to -make terms with the shearers' or any other Union. They -had stated their grounds of dissent from the policy of opportunism, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>and, what was more important, acted upon them with -courage and consistency.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'This station,' said Archibald Douglas Kinross, 'chiefly -freehold land, with the sheep depasturing thereon, is <em>my</em> -property, as the law stands at present. And I claim the -right of every Briton to manage his own affairs in his own -way. To employ persons to do my work—<em>my</em> work, you -understand, not any one else's—as I shall choose, in my own -way and after my own taste. If any section of workmen does -not wish to work for me, they are at liberty not to do so. I -leave them absolute freedom in that respect; but if they accept -my pay and my employment, they must do my work <em>as I choose</em>—not -as <em>they</em> choose—all socialistic sophistry notwithstanding.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Australia still contains men willing to work for high -wages and good food, and to do what they are told by a -fair employer, and if I am threatened or my property injured -by lawless ill-disposed persons, I shall appeal to that statute -under which law and order have hitherto, in Australia, been -vindicated. Moreover I, Archie Kinross, am <em>not</em> going to -place myself under the heel of any body of men calling themselves -by one name or another. Once concede Trade Unions -their right to coerce the individual, and farewell to that -freedom which has so long been the Briton's boast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Every man who had the misfortune to acquire or inherit -property would, as the so-called Unions gained power by -cowardly subservience or mistaken reasoning, be at the mercy -of an irresponsible, ignorant, perhaps more or less unprincipled -committee, anxious to blackmail those more fortunately placed -than themselves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'They would be told how many servants they were to -employ, and what they were to pay them; feed, clothe, and -otherwise provide for them. Not improbably, other concessions -would be gradually exacted. The whole result being -reached in a state of modified communism, certain to end in -bloodshed and revolution. A social upheaval, which all history -tells us is the invariable precursor of a military despotism.'</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>After ever so much trouble, worry and anxiety, arising from -the offensively independent and even obstructive attitude of the -shearers at all the sheds in the Lower Darling and elsewhere -in New South Wales, a start was made at Tandara.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>Jack Macdonald, bitterly aggrieved that his employers -should have given in, was almost out of his mind with the -irritating, puerile demands and objections which he had to meet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'In old days he would have knocked down the ringleader, -and told the sympathisers to "go to the devil"—that they -need never show up at this shed or station again. Never -should they get a pound of mutton or a pannikin of flour -from the store, if they were dying of hunger; that they were -ungrateful dogs, and here—at Tandara of all places, known -for the most liberal station in the whole blooming district for -pay and rations, where useless old hands were pensioned and -kept on at make-believe work, when no one else would have -had them on the place; where more expensive improvements—huts, -fencing, tanks, wells, and stock-yards—had been -made and put up, than on any station from the Queensland -border to the sea. And now, what had come of it all?</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Where was the gratitude of the working-man, who, with -his fellows, had been fed, lodged, and supported in good seasons -and bad—when wool was down and money was scarce, and -half the squatters on the verge of ruin? When the shed was -down with influenza last year, didn't the wife and daughters of -the "boss," who happened to be staying over shearing that -year, make jelly, sago puddings and cakes, all sorts of blooming -luxuries for the men that were going to die (by their own -account), and couldn't hold their heads up?</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And now, because labour was scarce, owing to the Coolgardie -goldfield having broken out, and the season coming on -early, with the burr and grass seeds ripening every day, they -must try and ruin their best friends, the squatters—threatening -to strike for this and that—faulting the meat, the bread, the -sugar, the tea, every mortal thing (far better than ever they'd -been used to), and all at the bidding of a fellow like Stead, a -man that had been educated at the expense of the State, people -putting their hands in their pockets to pay for his schooling. -And this is the first use he makes of it. It was enough to -make a man feel ashamed of the colony he was born in, -ashamed of being an Australian native, enough to make him -clear out to South Africa, where the Boers and blackfellows -were said to be no great things, but couldn't be such sneaks -and dogs and thieves as his countrymen here.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Jack Macdonald repeated this unreserved statement of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>opinion so often, for the benefit of all whom it might concern, -that he began to know it by heart, and half thought of standing -for the district, when the next election came round. However, -the men liked him, and didn't mind his hard words, knowing -that they held the key of the position, and that he was powerless -if he wanted his sheep shorn. He couldn't afford to kick -them out, however much he might wish so to do. All the -sheds in the district were short of men, and if the shearers -left in a body, the year's clip would suffer ruinous loss and -injury. So they turned up their noses at the beautiful, fat, -well-cooked mutton,—said 'they wanted more chops.' To -which Macdonald sarcastically replied 'that he supposed they -must grow a new breed of sheep, <em>all chops</em>.' In spite of their -<em>five</em> meals a day, early breakfast, tea and 'brownie' at eleven -o'clock, dinner at one, afternoon tea at four o'clock, and -supper at half-past six, they were not satisfied, and, indeed, -would not have gone without a second supper at 9 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span> if the -cook had not refused point-blank, and being a fighting man of -some eminence, invited the deputation to 'step outside and -put up their hands,' one after the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, as before mentioned, a start <em>was</em> made, and -though the quality of shearing was no great things, and Mr. -Stoate, duly elected Shearers' Delegate, produced his appointment -and walked up and down the shed, with great dignity, -carefully ignoring Macdonald, and ostentatiously writing or -telegraphing to W. Stead, Esq., President of the A.S.U., -Wagga Wagga,<a id='r1' /><a href='#f1' class='c012'><sup>[1]</sup></a> N.S. Wales, some kind of progress was made, -and the super's face began to lose its saturnine expression. -The weather, which in the early days of spring had been -showery and unfavourable, changed for the better, and the -heaviest of the flocks having been shorn, 'big tallies'—a -hundred and thirty, and even one hundred and fifty or sixty—began -to be made.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f1'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. </span>Pronounced 'Waūgăh Waūgăh.'</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The discontented shearers even, whose minds had been -unsettled by specious, communistic talk, prophesying a general -distribution of property among the wage-earners, according to -the gospel of Bellamy, commenced to be more or less -satisfied. Visions of the big cheque, to which each man was -adding now (prospectively) at the rate of from a pound to -thirty-five shillings <em>a day</em>, commenced to float in the air. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>All was comparative peace and joy. Macdonald, it is true, -had a trifling altercation with Mr. Janus Stoate one Friday -afternoon, during which the last-named gentleman received a -telegram, which he put into his pocket, after reading it, with a -sneering smile. 'You'll know directly who's master on this -floor—you, the hired servant of a capitalist, as is livin' on the -blood of these pore ignorant chaps; or me, that's been elected -by the workers of the land to see as they gets justice from -their grindin' employers.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Macdonald made one step towards the insolent underling, -as might the second mate of a north sea whale-ship, if cook -or fo'c's'le hand dared withstand him, while the wrathful -glitter in his eye caused the offender to alter his tone. But -the thought of the shearing, now three-parts through, being -delayed on his account, was even a stronger controlling force.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Halting, with an effort, he glared for a few seconds at the -contemptible creature, that yet had such power of annoyance, -as if he could crush him with his heel. Then with studiously -calm and measured tones, he said: 'You'd do great things -if you were able, Mr. Delegate Stoate. If I had my way, -I'd have you shot and nailed up on a barn door, as they do -your namesakes in the old country. That's the only way to -treat varmint, and it's a pity it isn't done here.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The man received this little compliment with an attempt -at cynical self-possession, which his shifty, malignant gaze -belied, as the small eyes gleamed with reptilian malice. 'I'll -learn yer,' he hissed out, 'to talk to the people's chyce as if -he was the dirt under yer feet.' 'Men of the Australian -Shearers' Union,' he said, raising his voice to a shrill cry, -'listen to me, and drop them shears—every man Jack of yer. -D'ye know what's in this bloomin' tallagram? A strike's -ordered. D'ye hear?—a <em>strike</em>! Here's the wire from the -Head Centre at Wagga.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"By order of the President and Council of the Australian -Shearers' Union. Every shed in the Darling district, Union -or non-Union, is hereby commanded to come out and stop -working <em>instantly</em> on receiving this notice from the Delegate -of the Branch, under penalty of being reported to the Council -of the Union at Headquarters.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Signed by me, <span class='sc'>W. Stead</span>,</div> - <div class='line'>At Wagga Wagga, this 30th September 189-."'</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span> - <h3 class='c010'>CHAPTER III</h3> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>This was a bombshell with a vengeance. The anarchist, who -threw it metaphorically, would have had no scruples—except -those of personal apprehension—in casting a dynamite duplicate -on the shearing floor. A sudden confusion filled the shed. -Murmurs and sullen rejoinders were made, as the more -prudent division of the men recognised that their shearing -cheques, the outcome of weeks of hard work, were doomed -to delay, perhaps to forfeiture. Some openly withstood the -triumphant delegate, others, less impulsive, were disposed to -temporise, while 'I thought this was a Union shed' remarked, -with slow impressiveness, a gigantic native, considerably over -six feet in height, whose wiry, muscular frame and tremendous -reach stamped him as one of the 'ringers' of the shed. -'Ain't the Union Rules put up there?' pointing to the copy -ostentatiously affixed at the end of the shed for reference. -'What's this darned foolishness, stoppin' men that's only a -week's work between them and a big cheque?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You can read and write, I suppose,' replied Mr. Stoate -contemptuously. ('Better nor you,' murmured a young -fellow just within earshot.) 'Is them words on the telegram, -what I told the men of this shed, and are you thereby -ordered to come out, or are you not? That's what I want -to know. Are you a-goin' to defy the Union? Think a bit -afore you chance that and turn "scab."'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I'm goin' to think a bit—just so,—and I hope you other -chaps'll do the same, and not rush into law, like a bull at a -gate, and lose your money, because of any second fiddle in -the land. As to being a "scab," Delegate Stoate, I'm no -more one than you are, perhaps not as much, if the truth's -<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>told. But don't you say that to me again, or I'll pitch you -through one of them skylights, with one hand too.' And -here the giant stretched forward his enormous fore-arm, and -looking upward to the skylight in the roof of the woolshed, -made as though there would be no unusual difficulty in the -feat. 'Show me that telegram, please; this step wants consideration.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Ain't you goin' to obey the Union?' demanded Stoate -with a great assumption of dignity. 'P'raps you ain't aweer, -men, as this is a serious act of disobedience, which I shall -report accordin'.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's all very well,' answered the dissenter, whose unusual -height, as he towered above his fellows, seemed to give him -a certain title to leadership. 'I'm as good a Unionist as any -man here; but I see no points in chuckin' away our money -and hurtin' an employer who's been fair and square with us. -Where's he gone against our rules? I ask you all. Isn't the -rules put up at the end of the shed, all ship-shape and reg'lar? -Didn't we stop shearin' for two days last week, and the -weather fine, because the delegate here said the wool was -damp? I didn't feel no damp, nor my mate neither, and we -lost two dashed good days' work—a couple of pounds each -all round. Now, I don't want to go dead against the Union, -though I can't see the fun of losin' a goodish cheque, and, as -I say, hurtin' a gentleman as never did any man here a bad -turn. Let's try a middle course. Suppose we pick a man -as we all can trust, and send him to Wagga. He can interview -the Head Centre there, and <em>make sure</em>, afore we chuck -away our stuff, whether every Union shed's bound to come -out, or whether, under partic'lar circumstances like this here, -we can't <em>cut out the shed</em> afore we go. I move a resolution to -that effect.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And I second it,' said Bill Hardwick. 'I want to take -my money home to my old woman and the kids; I've got a -lot to do with it this season, and so, I daresay, have most -of you, chaps. I don't see no sense in clearin' out now, when -we've got fifty or sixty pound a man, to take and goin' off -with neither money nor grub. Of course, we can <em>wait</em> to be -paid out of Union funds, but we know what <em>that</em> means. -Those that votes for Jim Stanford's motion, and fair play, -hold up your hands.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>The scene that followed was hard to describe. A forest of -hands was held up, while there rose a babel of voices, some -laying down the law, others expressing a doubt of the prudence -of flouting the mysterious powers of the A.S.U., in the midst -of which Mr. Stoate, standing upon the wool table, vainly -attempted to make himself heard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The controversy continued until the dinner-bell rang, by -which time it was clear that the sense of the meeting was -overwhelmingly in favour of Stanford's amendment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So, in spite of Stoate's threats and envious malice, a -steady-going, middle-aged shearer of known probity and experience -was chosen and despatched to Narandera, <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en route</span></i> -for Wagga Wagga, for further instructions. In the meantime, -it was agreed to go on with the shearing, to which the men -addressed themselves with such energy and determination, -that when the knock-off evening bell sounded, the tallies -were larger than on any preceding afternoon of the week. -Jack Macdonald was delighted, though he refrained from -open commendation, as he noticed that all the fast shearers -made a point of shearing carefully and giving no room for -disapprobation on his part.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Stoate viewed the whole proceedings with unconcealed -disgust, and talked big about taking down the names of -every man in the shed, and so reporting them that they -would never get another 'stand' in a Union shed. He found, -however, that except among the young, unmarried men, and a -few reckless spendthrifts, who were carried away by the specious -ideas at that time freely ventilated, he had little influence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Stanford and Hardwick were noted men—honest, hard-working, -and respected as 'ringers,' and as such, leaders in -their profession. As Stanford bent his long back, and lifted -out a fresh sheep every few minutes from the pen, with as -much apparent ease as if the big, struggling seventy pound -wether had been a rabbit, a feeling of industrial emulation -seemed to pervade the great shed, and each man 'shore for -his life,' as old Billy Day expressed it—'and that dashed neat -and careful, as if there was a hundred pound prize at next -Wagga Show hangin' to it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Wait till George Greenwell comes back,' said Stoate—'and -he ought to be here inside of eight days, as he can get the -rail from Narandera—and see what you'll have to say, then.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>Of course, telegrams had been sent, and arrived with -reiterated command from the Napoleon at Wagga Wagga—to -lay down their arms, or rather their shears, as ordered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And this was the crowning injustice and treachery of the -ukase—that all the <em>Union</em> sheds in New South Wales, where -the proprietors had surrendered their independence, and -pocketed their pride, at the bidding of expediency, were -penalised. Those squatters who 'bowed not the knee to -Baal,' and fought out the contest, with sheds half full of -'learners,' and strangers from other colonies, brought over by -the Pastoral Association, as well as the free shearers, who, -intimidated by the Union guerillas, were often injured and -hindered as to their lawful work, were now in a far better -position. They were able to laugh at the surrendering -squatters.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You have given in,' said they; 'sacrificed principle and -set a bad example for the sake of getting quickly through -this season's shearing. You betrayed your pastoral comrades, -and are <em>now betrayed by the Union</em>; you are left in the lurch. -Serve you right!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>So, 'deserted in their utmost need,' with half-shorn sheep, -and no hope of fresh men—as the non-Union sheds had -secured most of the available labour—they were in a pitiable -condition, neither help nor sympathy being procurable; -while many of the free sheds were shearing steadily and -comfortably, with a 'full board.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>In seven days, Mr. Greenwell was expected to appear. -He could ride to Narandera in three days; twenty-four hours -would take him to Wagga Wagga, after stopping for the night -at Junee Junction. This was far and away the finest railway -station in New South Wales, perhaps in Australia, having -not only an imposing structure connected with the railway -proper, but a very fine hotel, erected by the Government -of New South Wales, liberally managed and expensively -furnished.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There, the railway passenger could spend the night, or a -week, if he so decided, being sure that he would be called at -the proper time, either by night or day, to be despatched on -his journey in an enviable and Christian state of mind.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The days passed on at Tandara, the week was nearly over. -Such quick and clean shearing had never been done there -<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>before. The last day of the allotted time approached. Greenwell -had not arrived, but surely he would turn up on the -morrow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Stoate was uneasily anxious. He hinted at treachery. -But Greenwell, a regular, downright 'white man,' could not -be 'got at.' Every one scoffed at the idea. One of the -rouseabouts, who had known better times, hummed the refrain -of 'Mariana in the moated grange': 'He cometh not, she said.' -Worst of all, from Stoate's point of view, the shearing would -be finished in two more days. The shed would then be paid -off—shearers, pressers, rouseabouts, the cook and his mate, -everybody down to the tar-boy. If their emissary didn't come -before then, he might just as well not come at all. The -'might, majesty, and dominion' of the Australian Shearers' -Union, with 20,000 members in all the colonies, which -had aimed at one great 'Australian Labourers' Union' in -town and country, would be set at nought. They had planned -the inclusion of every worker—that is, muscle-worker, for -brains didn't count—from the ship's cook of the coaster to the -boundary rider on the Lower Darling or the Red Barcoo; from -the gas-stoker in Melbourne or Sydney, where they hoped to -plunge the cities into darkness, to the stock-rider, behind his -drove of Queensland bullocks; and the back-block carrier, with -his waggon and team of fourteen unshod Clydesdales or -Suffolks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And now, in the case of the Tandara shed, one of -the best known and oldest stations on the Darling, this -campaign against capital was to end in defeat and disappointment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Stoate groaned in despair, as the eighth day arrived and -no messenger. For the last forty-eight hours he had been -looking anxiously for the cloud of dust at the end of the long, -straight road across the endless plain, which heralded the -approach of team, coach, or horseman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As if to aggravate the Strike leaders, and all connected -with that beneficent institution, the weather had been -miraculously fine. No spring storms had come out of the -cloudless sky, not so much as a 'Darling River shower'—four -drops upon five acres,' in the vernacular—had sprinkled -the red dust of the plain, to give the delegate the excuse to -declare the sheep too wet to shear, and so lose a day. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>Nothing, in fact, happened. And on the noontide hour of -the fourth day succeeding the week, Tandara shed 'cut out.' -The 'cobbler,' the last sheep—a bad one to shear, and so -considerately left for 'some one else,' by every man who -picked out of the large middle pen—was lifted aloft by -Stanford, amid the jeers of the men, now preparing with stiff -backs and aching sinews to surrender their task for a full -week at any rate, before they 'struck' the next shed, lower -down the river.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I could shear him,' said he, regarding the closely wrinkled -'boardy' fleece, 'if he was covered with bloomin' pin-wire. -My word! isn't it a pity that Greenwell didn't turn up afore? -Eh, Mr. Delegate? D'ye think the Union'll guillotine us, -same as they did chaps at the French Revolution? I'm off -to Launceston in case of accidents. My cheque'll keep me -for the rest of the summer, in a country that <em>is</em> a country—not -a God-forsaken dust-heap like this.' Thus speaking, and -shearing all the while, with punctilious precision, Mr. Stanford -trimmed the 'cobbler' with a great affectation of anxiety, and -dismissing him down the shoot of the pen with a harmless -kick, said, 'Good-bye, and God bless you, old man; you make -eighty-nine—not a bad forenoon's work.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Come along, men, down to the office,' said Macdonald, -'your money's ready for you—the storekeeper and I were up -pretty nigh all night getting the accounts made out. You'll -enjoy your dinners all the better for having your money -in your pockets. The rouseabouts and shed hands can -come in the afternoon. They won't want to leave before -morning.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Who's that coming along the Wagga road on a grey -horse?' said a sharp-eyed young shearer. 'By Jing! I -believe it's Greenwell. Whatever can have kep' him, Mr. -Stoate?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Never mind him,' said Macdonald. 'John Anderson, -this is your account; look it over. £45:10:6. You'll -take a cheque; here it is—sign the book. I'll take you all -by the alphabet.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>As the men stood round the little room at the side of the -big store, that served for the station office, the traveller on the -grey horse rode slowly towards them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The men were in a merry humour. Their keen eyes had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>recognised horse and rider afar off. It <em>was</em> the messenger -who had so signally failed in coming up to time. He was -received with a storm of ironical cheers and derisive exclamations.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Halloa, George—where yer been? To Sydney and -back? Got warrants for us all? To think as we should -ha' cut out, and you on the road with an order from the -Head Centre in your pocket! Come along, Mr. Delegate, and -talk straight to him.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>These and the like specimens of humorous conversation -were shouted at the unlucky emissary, who, as he came up -and wearily dismounted, evidently knew that an explanation -would be demanded of him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Stoate walked out with a solemn and dignified air to meet -him. 'Well done, Mr. Delegate, give it to him from the -shoulder. He's a jolly telegraph, ain't he? Why, Joe -Kearney the sprinter could have <em>run</em> all the way and beat -him, hands down.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Will you oblige me by statin' the cause of your delay on -a mission of importance to the Union and your feller-workers?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now then, George, speak up—give us the straight -griffin. What was it? Honour bright; did yer join a circus? -Was there a good-looking girl in the way? And you a married -man. For shame of you!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Between the awful visage of Mr. Stoate and the running -fire of chaff from his mates, Greenwell looked rather nonplussed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, girding himself for the contest, he mustered up -courage, and thus delivered himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, boys, the long and short of it is, I was took ill at -Junee, on the return journey, and after stayin' a day, just as -I was startin' back, some old mates of mine, as had just cut -out at Hangin' Rock, come along, and—well, the truth's the -truth, we all got on a bit of a spree. Now the murder's out, -and you can make the best of it. I don't see as there's anything -broke, so far.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Anything broke,' retorted Stoate indignantly. 'Hasn't the -shed been cut out, in direct disobedience of orders, and the -Union treated with contempt?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We're just gettin' our cheques,' called out a young fellow -<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>at the back of the crowd. 'Jolly awkward, ain't it? But -I'll get over it, and so'll Dick Dawson.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the weighty matter of the payment was over, and -the men were finishing their 'wash and brush up,' getting up -their horses and settling their packs, one of the older men -approached Stanford, who was quietly proceeding with his -preparations, and thus addressed him—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now, Jim, you knowed that chap afore, didn't yer? -Hadn't yer no notion as he might get on a "tear," with money -in his pocket, and half nothin' to do like?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Stanford made no verbal answer, but drawing himself -up to the full height of his exalted stature, looked down into -the interrogator's face, with an expression of great solemnity. It -is just possible that he may have observed a slight deflection -in the corner of his left eye, as he relaxed the severity of -his countenance, while he observed resignedly, 'Well, it might -have been worse; I've got the boss's cheque for £57:14s., -and a few notes for the road in my pocket, this blessed -minute.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Mine's a shade more'n that,' replied 'Long Jim,' with -deliberation. '"All's well that ends well" 's a good motter. -I've done enough for this season, I reckon. I had a fairish -fencing contract in the winter. It'll be time enough to think -about the "dignity of labour" and the "ethics of war" -(wasn't that what the Head Centre called 'em?) afore next -shearin' comes round. I'm off to a cooler shop across the -Straits.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The shearing at Tandara having ended satisfactorily to the -shearer, the sheep-washers, the rouseabouts, the boundary -riders, the overseers, to every one connected with the establishment -in fact, from the 'ringer' to the tar-boy, all of whose -wages and accounts were paid up to the last hour of the last -day, in fact to every one except Mr. Janus Stoate, whose -remuneration was in the future, a great silence commenced to -settle down upon the place so lately resounding with the -'language used, and the clamour of men and dogs.' The -high-piled waggons, drawn by bullock teams of from twelve to -twenty, and horse teams of nearly the same number, had rolled -away. The shed labourers had walked off with swags on their -backs. The shearers, many of whom had two horses, poor -in condition when they came, but now sleek and spirited, had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>ridden off with money in both pockets, full of glee and playful -as schoolboys. The great shed, empty save for a few bales -of sheepskins, was carefully locked up, as were also the -shearers' and the other huts. Even Bower, the grim night-guardian -of the woolshed, liberally remunerated, had left for -Melbourne by Cobb and Co.'s coach. There, among other -recreations and city joys, he betook himself to the Wax-works -in Bourke Street.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As with hair and beard trimmed, newly apparelled from -top to toe, he wandered around, looking at the effigies of -former friends and acquaintances, now, alas, cut off in their -prime, or immersed in the dungeon of the period for such -venial irregularities as burglary, highway robbery, manslaughter, -and the like, his gaze became fixed, his footsteps arrested. -He stands before the waxen, life-like presentment of a grizzled -elderly man, in rough bush habiliments, his hat a ruin, his -clothes ragged and torn, his boots disreputable. A double-barrelled -gun rests on his shoulder, while above his head is -a placard, on which in large letters could seen by the staring -spectator—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>'<span class='sc'>Harry Bower, the Celebrated Bushranger.</span>'</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Cut to the heart, not so much by the heartless publicity of -the affair as by the disgraceful attempt to brand him as a -dirty disreputable-<em>looking</em> individual, he glared angrily at his -simulacrum. 'And me that was always so tasty in my dress,' -he muttered. So saying, he seized the hapless figure by the -arm, and dragging it along with wrathful vehemence, made for -the door.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh, Mr. Bower, Mr. Bower!' cried the proprietress, -'ye'll ruin him—I mane yerself. Sure ye wouldn't go to -injure a poor widdy woman, and all the people sayin' it's your -dead imidge.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Imidge of me, is it?' shouted Bower, the furious, ungovernable -temper of the 'long sentence convict' breaking out. -'I'll tache ye to make a laughing-stock of Harry Bower, -this day. Ye might have dressed me dacent, while ye wor -about it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>So saying, he dragged the inanimate malefactor through the -door, and casting him down upon the Bourke Street pavement, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>commenced to kick him to pieces, to the great astonishment -of the crowd which speedily gathered around him. A rumour -had started that 'Bower the bushranger was killing a man -outside the Wax-works,' and before many minutes the street was -blocked with men, women, and children, lured to the spot by -the expectation of seeing a real live bushranger in the exercise -of his bloodthirsty vocation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A few minutes later—having dissevered several vital portions -of the 'Frankenstein' individual, and, like Artemus Ward's -enthusiastic Bible Christian, who 'caved Judassis' head in,' -more or less demolished the victim—Mr. Bower, desisting, -stalked moodily up the street, his peculiar reputation not -leading any one to volunteer pursuit. There was no constable -in sight, so the Mrs. Jarley of the establishment was left to -her lamentations, and the dubious satisfaction of a remedy -by civil process.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next day, below startling headlines, similar paragraphs -appeared in the leading journals.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>'<span class='sc'>An Ex-Bushranger.</span></div> - <div class='c002'>'<em>Assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>'About three o'clock yesterday afternoon, such denizens -of Bourke Street as were passing Mrs. Dooley's interesting -collection of Wax-works were alarmed by the spectacle of an -aged man of athletic proportions, who had assaulted an -individual of similar age and appearance; had thrown him -down on the pavement, and was savagely kicking him about -the head and the body; indeed it was feared—such was the -fury of his gestures—that he was actually trampling the unfortunate -victim of his rage to death. None dared to interfere, -every one appeared paralysed; but after one or two public-spirited -individuals had started for the Swanston Street police -station, an adventurous bystander called out, 'Why, it's a wax -figure.' Though a shout of laughter greeted the announcement, -no one cared to remonstrate with the hero of so many -legends—the man who, long outlawed, and captured after a -desperate resistance, had barely escaped the gallows for the -manslaughter of the warders of the hulk <em>President</em> in a -frustrated plot for escape—the dreaded bushranger, Henry -Bower. We have since learned that this attempt at <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">felo de se</span></i> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>(in wax)—for the injured individual turned out to be a -fairly correct likeness of himself—can only be proceeded for -as a debt, which Bower in his cooler moments will not be -averse to liquidating, he having returned from the bush with -a reasonably large cheque, earned in the service of an old -employer, who gave him a berth at a couple of pounds a week -as night-watchman of his woolshed. In these times of -disturbance and incendiary troubles, most of our readers will -concur with our opinion, that old Harry Bower, with his -double-barrel, not swayed by frivolous objection to bloodshed, -was, in such a position of trust, "the right man in the right -place."'</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>When the shearers took their cash or cheques as each elected, -and departed, splitting into small parties, on different routes, -division of opinion took place likewise. Bill Hardwick openly -declared his intention, as did several others, to 'cut the Shearers' -Union' and go 'on their own' for the future. 'I've had -enough of this Union racket,' said he, as, lighting his pipe, -and jogging off with his two fat horses, saddled and packed, he -prepared to take the 'down river' road. 'I don't see no -points in being bossed by chaps like this Stead, and callin' -theirselves chairmen and presidents, and what not—fellers as -have done dashed little but blather this years and years. -They've turned dog on the squatters as trusted 'em and "went -Union," and deuced near done us out of six weeks' hard graft -at this very shed. We've got our cash, boys; that'll carry -us on for a bit. But suppose we'd turned out when that -galoot at Wagga wanted us to, where should we be now? -Travellin' the country without a shillin' in our pockets, -our shearin' money forfeited by the next police magistrate -(and serve us right, too, for bein' such bally fools), and -summonses and warrants out against every man on the -board. I'm full of Mr. Head Centre at Wagga, with his -top hat, and gold chain, and his billiards, as our money -goes to pay for. But he won't get none of mine to monkey -with, nor you either, Janus Stoate, and so you may tell him -next time you wire.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I'll report your language to the Union secretary, William -Hardwick, never fear,' replied Stoate, fixing his snaky eye -upon him. 'You'll soon know which is the strongest—you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>or the Association, as protects the workers' interests. So -I warn you, and all others as is fools enough to stand by -you.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That'll do, Mr. Delegate,' said Bill; 'don't you go to -bully me. Say another word, and I'll give you a smack or -two, that'll make a better yarn when you're touching up the -tell-tale business for the Head Centre. I'm off to Moorara, -where there's 300,000 sheep to shear, and a board only half -full. Who's comin' my way?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>There had been a hum of approbation when Bill finished -his humble oratorical effort, after which a dozen of the best -and fastest shearers announced their intention to go with him, -to the wrath and despair of Mr. Stoate.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I'll be even with you, Bill Hardwick,' he yelled, 'and -you too, Johnny Jones—see if I don't. You'll get no stands -from us this year, nor next either.'</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>A hundred and fifty miles below Tandara. A red-walled -promontory overlooking the Darling, in this year a broad, -majestic stream, with anabranches of equal breadth and -volume running out for many a mile, where the river steamers -took their course, cutting off corners, and, because of the depth -of water in this most bountiful season, almost indifferent to -obstacles. Here stood the great Head Station of Moorara. -Miles of fencing of substantial character surrounded it on all -sides. There was none of the ordinary carelessness as to -finish, popularly supposed to be characteristic of back-block -stations 'a thousand miles from everywhere,' as had been -said descriptively by an imaginative tourist. On the contrary, -every hut, paling, fence, gate, wall, and roof in that immense -holding was in what old-fashioned English country people -called 'apple-pie order.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Everything was mended and kept right, up to date. Six -carpenters and three blacksmiths lived on the premises all the -year round. There was no waiting until that pastoral millennium -'after shearing' arrived. Everything was done at once, and -done well. The 'stitch in time' was an article of the faith at -Moorara, and, as such, religiously observed. If any superficial -judging tourist, observing these things, ventured to remark -that such improvements must have cost a mint of money, or -to hint a doubt whether such a place 'paid,' he was frowned -<span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>down at once and haughtily reminded that this was Moorara, -the property of the Hon. Mr. M'Cormack, whose sheep shorn -last year (this was <em>one</em> of his long list of stations) would total -up to over a million!</p> - -<p class='c000'>Just calculate what so many fleeces come to, the average -weight being eight or nine pounds, and the value per head -<em>rarely</em> under as many shillings. Then, of course, there are -the other stations, carrying six hundred thousand high-class -merino sheep!</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now the woolshed to which Bill and his ten or twelve -companions were bound was one of which the owner had -'stood out' from the first against the tyranny of the Shearers' -Union.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As Bill and his companions journeyed down the river, -rumour reached them of serious developments of the Great -Strike. This protest against the alleged dictation of Capital -had reached its culminating stage. The o'er-vaulting ambition -of the State-school educated Mr. Stead, the originator -and prime mover of the Civil War, which was now fully -recognised, had struck a blow at the State itself—that State -under which he had been bred and nurtured, fed, protected, -and presented with a 'free, compulsory, and secular education.' -He had justified the forebodings of old-fashioned Conservatives, -who had always doubted the wisdom of educating the labouring -classes at the expense of the ratepayers, of breeding up -an army of enemies to Capital and to the settled order of the -Government.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And now the long-threatened result <em>had</em> come to pass—a -revolt against order and good government, a deliberate -attempt to subvert the Constitution under the specious guise -of federated labour. It had commenced with a quarrel between -the cook's mate of a coasting steamer and the so-called -'delegate' of the crew, spreading with portentous rapidity, -like the bush-fires of the land, until it enveloped the stock-riders -of the Paroo and the teamsters of 'the Gulf.' It -menaced life and property. It attempted to plunge cities into -darkness by 'calling out' the gas-stokers. It essayed to -paralyse commerce by intimidating the carriers, whom it forbade -to convey the wool—the staple Australian export—to the -wharves, by restraining the wharf labourers from loading the -vessels.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>But, in these two instances, the common-sense of the city -populations came to the rescue. The young men of the -learned professions, of the upper classes—in the true sense of -the word—came out to play a man's part in the interests of -law and order. They manned the gas-works, and, amid furnace-heat -and grime, provided the necessary labour, all unused as -they were to toil under such conditions. The cities were -<em>not</em> wrapped in darkness, and the streets were <em>not</em> made ready -for the spoil by the burglar, the garrotter, and the thief. A -line of wool teams was driven down the principal street of -Sydney by barristers and bankers, by clerks and merchants, -chiefly young men, high-couraged and athletic. But on the -foremost waggon, high-seated behind his four-horse team, -which he tooled with practised ease, might be recognised the -leonine visage and abundant beard of Winston Darling, the -Explorer, the Pioneer Squatter, the well-known Pastoral Leader -and Ruler of the Waste.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The streets were crowded with yelling, blaspheming, riotous -Unionists, with difficulty kept within bounds by a strong body -of police.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Stones were thrown, and foul epithets freely used. But -though one youthful driver had his head cut open, no further -damage was done. And the wool was safely conveyed to the -wharves and shipped in spite of the threatening demeanour of -the assembled thousands.</p> - -<p class='c000'>These amateurs, native-born Australian gentlefolk, worked -for weeks, from six to six, in many instances galling the hands, -which were wholly unused to such rude treatment. But they -kept at it till the stubborn conflict subsided, and not till then did -they fall out of the ranks of the 'muscle-workers,' who in this -and other instances have arrogated to themselves the title -of the <em>only workers</em> in this complex and many-sided body -politic.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This demonstration was chiefly confined to the seaports. -When, however, the Ministry was sufficiently strong to call out -the Volunteer regiments, their disciplined action gained control -of the disorderly mobs, and order was regained, without discouraging -delay.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But in the bush, far from help, police or military protection, -matters were far otherwise. Lonely stations were terrorised. -Large camps of armed and apparently desperate men were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>formed, who intimidated those non-Union shearers and bush -labourers who neither conformed to their rules nor submitted -to their dictation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were in many cases captured, so to speak, assaulted, -maltreated, and illegally restrained from following their lawful -occupation. The carriers' horses or bullocks were driven away -or slaughtered, their waggons, in some instances, burned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>These outrages were directed against men and their -employers who had dared to be independent, to exercise the -right of free Britons to manage their own affairs and their own -property.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It may easily be imagined how bodies of two or three -hundred men, well armed and mounted, could terrorise a -thinly-populated country. Specific acts of incendiarism and -other offences against property were frequent. Woolsheds -were burned with their contents, sometimes to the value of -thousands of pounds; fences were cut and demolished; -bridges and telegraph lines destroyed; in short, no lawless -action which could result in expense and loss to the pastoralist, -or those of the labourers who defied the New Tyranny, was -omitted.</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span> - <h3 class='c010'>CHAPTER IV</h3> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Some explanation of the Great Australian Strike of 1890, -which lasted in more or less virulence and intensity until -1895, producing widespread damage and ruinous loss, may -not here be out of place.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This important industrial conflict exhibited the nearest -approach to civil war which Australia has known. It originated, -as did certain historical revolutions and mutinies, from -an occurrence ludicrously insignificant compared with the -magnitude of the results and the widespread disasters involved.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A fireman was discharged by the captain of a coasting -steamer belonging to the Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company, -whereupon the Seamen's Union took up the matter, the -man being their 'delegate,' and demanded his reinstatement.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He had been 'victimised,' they asserted, by the chief -steward, who must be dismissed or the fireman reinstated. -The Cooks' and Stewards' Union, in the interests of the chief -steward, held an inquiry, in conjunction with the Seamen's -Union, to which the fireman belonged. The result failed to -substantiate any charge against the chief steward. But the -Seamen's Union decided to hold the captain responsible, -threatening to take the crew out of the ship. No inquiry was -asked of the owners.</p> - -<p class='c000'>About a month after the threat the crew gave notice, and -were paid off. The captain had received the following -letter:—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'<span class='sc'>Seamen's Union Office,</span></div> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Sydney</span>, <em>July 1890</em>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>'Captain ——, Steamer ——.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>—We are instructed by the members of the above -Society to state that we intend to have our delegate —— -<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>reinstated on board. If he is not reinstated by the return of -the ship to Sydney, the crew will be given twenty-four hours' -notice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We intend to protect our members from being victimised -(<i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">sic</span></i>) by chief stewards and others, and intend at all hazards to -have him reinstated.—I remain, yours truly,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'<span class='sc'>The President and Acting Secretary</span>.'</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'<span class='sc'>Sydney</span>, <em>6th July 1890</em>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>'The Acting Secretary.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<span class='sc'>Sir</span>—With regard to your letter as to the discharge of a -fireman from the steamer <em>Corinna</em>, the captain informs me -that the chief steward had nothing whatever to do with the -discharge. The fireman made no complaint about his food. -He was discharged in the Company's interests, but there is no -objection to his joining any other of the Company's vessels. -The captain also was not aware that he was a delegate, and -had nothing to do with his discharge. It seems strange that -men should leave the Company without explanation, while the -Company is denied the same right.—I remain, etc.'</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>Now, what in the world had the colliers of Newcastle, -N.S.W., to do with the injustice or otherwise meted out to the -fireman through that powerful and distinguished official, the -ship's cook, or even by the chief steward? Such would be -the common-sense view of any ordinary person, especially if -he had been reared in the belief that 'mind your own business' -was a maxim of weight and authority, verified by the -lore of ages. Not so thought the leaders of the mining community. -A fatal fascination appeared to have actuated one -and all under the influence of a false and specious principle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>No sooner had the steamer arrived at the Agricultural -Association's wharf desiring a cargo of coal than the miners -'came out' of the Sea Pit, at that time in full work. Then -the Northern Colliery owners, justly indignant at this breach -of agreement, stopped work at all the pits under their control. -Fourteen days' notice should have been given by the miners, -on the terms of their agreement.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was no grievance between master and man, and yet -at the bidding of an outside person the miners abandoned their -work without notice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Unionist shearers, at the instigation of their dictator, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>hasted to join the revolt. They commenced to formulate -an agreement imposing higher pay, shorter hours, the supervision -of sheds by workmen appointed by themselves, the -deposition of the rule of the employer over his own work, as -to his own property, in his own woolshed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the employers, up to that time slow to move and -more or less disunited, saw that the time had come for them -to combine against the tyranny of a communistic organisation. -The Shearers' Union, however, as represented by their president, -thought it improper of other people to form Unions. -They began to threaten as follows:—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Should the employers maintain their present attitude, the -trades' organisation will be compelled to use <em>every means</em> to -win their cause, methods which at present they have avoided.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'For instance, they could call out <em>all the shearers</em> (<em>sic</em>), and -at one blow cause widespread disaster. [This they did later on, -including those who, in reliance on their promises, were shearing -under Union Rules.] The effects of such a step would be -to paralyse the whole industry of the colony. In Victoria, -shearing is only just commencing. In New South Wales it is -barely half over. At the Labour Conference in Sydney it was -decided that the Western miners be called out next day. This -meant cutting off the sole remaining coal supply of the -colony. Decided also that all the shearers, rouseabouts, and -carriers be called out. Instructions sent accordingly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'In New South Wales alone this will affect 22,000 shearers, -15,000 rouseabouts, 10,000 carriers also, together with all -affiliated trades, such as butchers, bakers, grocers, and compositors. -Whether the railway men will be included cannot -be now ascertained.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>As a sample of the class of arguments used to set class -against class, and to inflame the minds of the bush labourers -against their employers, the following circular, signed by the -leaders, and privately distributed, may serve as a specimen. -It was headed:—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='sc'>An Appeal to Station Labourers.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>'A shed labourer's lot is not a happy one. To work all -hours and to endure all manner of privations. To work hard -for a miserable starvation wage. A victim of capitalistic greed -and tyranny. Suffering <em>worse treatment than the negro slaves</em> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>of the Southern States of America. The reason for this being -that they have had no means of protection. Let them unite. Let -them be men, free men, and have a voice in the settlement of -the terms at which they shall sell their labour.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The rights of the labourers will then be recognised. -Capital will no longer have Labour by the throat. The mighty -heritage of a glorious independence is in their grasp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Let them rise above the bondage of capital, and be a unit -in that which will make one powerful whole—the General -Woolshed Labourers' Union of Australia!'</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>That this sort of language was calculated to arouse the -passions and heighten the prejudices of uneducated men may -well be conceded. The ludicrous comparison with the -'wrongs of slaves' in the Southern States of America might -raise a smile, had not reports of outrages, unhappily but too -well authenticated, followed this and similar proclamations.</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, the Employers' Union and the Pastoral Association -were not minded to submit tamely to the oppression of -a 'jacquerie,' however arrogant, as the following extract -from a metropolitan journal, under date 22nd September -1890, will show:—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'In Sydney that picturesque procession of lorries, loaded -with non-Union wool, and driven by leading merchants and -squatters, will once more betake itself through the streets, and -may be the signal of actual civil war. These waggons, with -their unaccustomed drivers, embody in a dramatic shape that -aspect of the strike in which the Unionists have morally -the weakest case. The shearers have undertaken to make -Unionism <em>compulsory</em> at one stroke, in every woolshed in -Australia, by the tyrannical process of forbidding every bale of -wool shorn by non-Unionists to reach a market. Why must -merchants and squatters, at the risk of their lives, drive these -particular bales of wool to the wharf? We frankly hope that -the wool "boycott" will break down hopelessly, ignobly. All -reasonable men are against this fatal blunder of the Unionists.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Commencing in 1890 among men 'who go down to the -sea in ships,' the revolt against employment and authority -spread among 'all sorts and conditions of men' dwelling in -the continent of Australia. All trades and occupations by -which the muscle-workers of the land, falsely assumed to be -the only labourers worthy of the name of 'working-men,' were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>attempted to be captured and absorbed. To account for the -readiness with which the new gospel of labour was accepted, -it must be borne in mind that many of the better-educated -labourers and mechanics had been for years supplied by their -leaders with so-called socialistic literature. They had in a -sense sat at the feet of apostles of the school of Henry George -and Mr. Bellamy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The former was convinced that all the 'riddles of the -painful earth' might be solved by the taxation and gradual -confiscation of land; this plausible-appearing policy would -remove all the oppressions and exactions under which the -excellent of the earth had so long groaned. Mr. Bellamy's -method of procuring universal happiness, solvency, and contentment -was simple and comprehensive. Every adult was -to be compelled to labour for four hours of the day—no one -to be permitted to work for <em>more</em> than this very reasonable, -recreational period. Every one to be pensioned when he or -she reached the age of sixty.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By this happy apportionment of the primeval curse, every -one would be obliged to furnish a sufficient quantity of labour -to provide for his own and other people's wants.</p> - -<p class='c000'>No one would be expected to do a full day's work—always -unpopular as a task, and suspected to be unwholesome.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dining and Music Halls, an artistic atmosphere, with all -mental and physical luxuries, to be provided by the State, in -exchange for Labour Coupons of specified value.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It cannot be doubted that speculative theories of this -nature, proposals for minimising labour and dividing the -wealth, accumulated by the industry and thrift of ages, among -individuals who had neither worked nor saved for its maintenance, -had a wide-reaching influence for evil among the -members of the Labour Unions. Dazzled by alluring statements, -they were ready to adopt the wildest enterprises, -founded on delusive principles and untried experiments.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Perhaps the most important of the Utopian projects, -which at the close of the conflict found favour in the eyes of -the Unionists, was that of a Communistic settlement in -Paraguay, to which the leader, an Americanised North Briton, -gave the name of New Australia. This was to be somewhat -on the lines of the settlement so delicately satirised by -Hawthorne in the <cite>Blithedale Romance</cite>.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>It was decided by a caucus of certain wise men of the -Union that a country where the dietary scale for working-men -was the most liberal in the world, the hours of work the -<em>shortest</em>, the pay the highest, the climate the most genial, -the franchise the most liberal, was not adapted for British -labourers. It was accordingly agreed to establish a co-operative -community in a foreign land, where brotherly love -and the unselfish partition of the necessaries of life might -exhibit to an admiring world an ideal State, free from the -grasping employer and the callous capitalist. This modern -Utopia they proposed to call New Australia. Money not -being so scarce among Australian labourers as, from the -tremendous denunciations of their leader, which freely compared -them to negro slaves (only worse paid, fed, and driven), -might have been supposed, they were expected to pay sixty -pounds each towards the charter and freight of a suitable -vessel.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This notable plan they carried out. One man indeed sold -a cottage in a country town for £400, and putting the cash -into the common fund, sailed away for South America amid -great jubilation from the Radical press and Labour organs; -thankful, however, before long to work his passage back to -England.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hope and Mr. W. G. Spence told a flattering tale before -experience came to the audit. A tract was found in the -Paraguayan Chaco—'234,000 acres, well watered and -timbered—splendid land,' thus described in the New Australia -newspaper, the journal of the New Co-operative Settlement -Association, Wagga, New South Wales, 28th January 1892.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In September 1893 two hundred and sixty New Australians -arrived to take possession of the Promised Land. Even -on board ship differences of opinion arose. In December -there was a notable desertion. The 'five-meal, meat-fed -men' doubtless thought sadly of poor 'Old Australia,' where -they had no dictator and few privations, save those irreparable -from high wages and good food. They missed many things -for which they had been the reverse of thankful, when supplied -gratis. They even missed the police and the magistrate. -One man at any rate did, who was thrashed for impertinence, -and could not so much as take out a summons for assault. -They must have gasped when they saw, in their own journal, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>in answer to questions—'A. K. If you didn't like it, you -could leave. The equal annual yearly division of wealth -production would enable you to ship back to Australia, if you -wanted to.' Many wanted to, but the Dictator's reply, slightly -altered from that of Mr. Mawworm in <cite>The Serious Family</cite>, -was—'We deeply sympathise, but we <em>never</em> refund.' As to how -the deserters got to Buenos Ayres, on their way 'home,' -doubtless many tales of adventure could be told. The equal -partition did not work out well. No one had a right to -anything, apparently—milk for a sick child—a razor—any -trifling personal possession, when all had a right to everything. -The dissatisfaction deepened to despair. The 'rest is silence.' -Migration to the 'Gran Chaco' is played out.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Shearers' Strike drifted into the Shearers' War. Not -vigorously dealt with at the beginning by the Government of -any colony, it emboldened the agitators, who called themselves -tribunes of the people, to suggest bolder assaults upon the law, -to carry out yet more dangerous disturbances of the public -peace.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The specious process of 'picketing'—an illegal practice -involving insult and intimidation, under the transparent guise -of 'persuasion'—was tacitly permitted. Becoming habituated -to the assembling in force, armed and drilled in military -fashion, it was patent to the lowest intelligence that the -Government, if worthy of the name, must confront these -menacing and illegal levies.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tardy Executives, which had watched the ill-usage of -free citizens, the burning of woolsheds, the killing of stock, -with apparent apathy, now became alarmed and ordered out -the Volunteer regiments. Directly a disciplined contingent, -properly armed and officered, took the field, the pseudo-guerillas -disbanded and disappeared. If prompt measures -had been taken at the start, years of demoralisation and -damage, loss of wages, and ruin of property would have been -saved both to employers and workmen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Such a disgraceful incident as that reported from Bowen -Downs in July 1895 might never have occurred.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'A private message states that <em>two attempts</em> have been -made within three days to poison free shearers here. On -the first occasion eight men were poisoned; on the second, -forty-nine.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>A Barcaldine telegram states: 'Forty-nine fresh cases -reported from Bowen Downs. Strychnine suspected to have -been put into the meat and sago pudding used by the men. -A letter received states that the scenes in the shed at Bowen -Downs were beyond description. The men, contorted with -agony, lying about in all shapes. One man named Thomas has -since died. He is not known in the district. Name probably -an assumed one. Richardson, one of five brothers, said to be -very bad; also Christie Schultz; a second death expected.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Bowen Downs was managed by Mr. Fraser for a Scottish -Investment Company. It is expected that 250,000 sheep -will be shorn there this year. Sharing in the "strike troubles" -last year (1894), the sheep were shorn by free labourers and -some Unionists.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'They followed the example of Howe and others on the -Barcoo run, and went to work in defiance of the Union -mandate. This year many of the same men returned to the -station to shear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The authorities had previous information that poisoning -was likely to be resorted to on some stations. The Aramac -and Mutta-burra police are at the station. No evidence -was attainable against the authors of this cowardly crime, -resulting in one murder at least, and the possible death of a -score or more of their fellow-workmen. It is significant, -however, as against the theory of <em>accident</em>, that the injured men, -well-nigh sick unto death, were <em>free shearers</em>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It is notorious that elaborate preparations have been made -for committing further outrages on property, and violence on -persons. Hitherto the Government has erred on the side of -insufficient precaution and protection to loyal subjects.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Violence and intimidation, on the other hand, have been -approved by the Labour Federations. A demand is made by -them that employers should not be allowed the right to -employ any but Union men, on Union terms. Such an edict -is inadmissible in a free country. So Sir Samuel Griffith, -C.J., of Queensland, stated the case.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The Moreton Mounted Infantry left by the Wodonga for -the seat of the disturbance. In consequence of further outrages -by the so-called Labour organisations, one of which was -the shooting of a team of working bullocks, eleven in number, -belonging to a non-Union carrier, Colonel French has been -<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>sent to the north with a force of 130 men, having also a -field-piece and a Gatling gun. The Union leaders had -boasted of the wreck and ruin of squatting property which -would follow the strike.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the second year of the revolt a special parade of the -Queensland Mounted Infantry was ordered. They were -ready to a man. In view of the outrages already committed, -and the justifiable expectation of more to follow, military -protection was manifestly needed. This drew forth a pathetic -remonstrance from the 'General Secretary of the Australian -Labour Federation.' He was virtuously indignant at the -whole force of the Government being 'strained to subjugate -the wage-earners of the central district, under the dictation of -capitalistic organisations.' It was emphasised that 'the -Australian Labour Federation's steady influence had always -been used to substitute peaceful agitation and moderation for -needless suspension of industry. The Government is urged -to use its influence to induce organised capitalism to meet -organised labour in the conference.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The high official so addressed replied: 'The Government -is merely endeavouring to maintain law and order; to punish -disorder, violence, and crime. The existing state of matters is -misrepresented by the Labour organs.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>As might have been expected, manslaughter and arson, if -not murder and spoliation, <em>did</em> result from this and similar -teachings. Some of these crimes were undetected, others -were partially expiated by imprisonment; while in more -instances the wire-pullers—the deliberate and wilful offenders -against the law of the land—escaped punishment. But when -the burning of the <em>Dundonald</em> took place, with the capture of -free labourers by disguised men, the tardy action of the -Executive was accelerated. That the apprehensions of the -dwellers in the pastoral districts, and their appeals to the -Government of the day in the first years of the strike, were not -without foundation, an extract from a letter taken, among -others, from the person of an arrested 'labour organiser,' -affords convincing proof.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'<span class='sc'>Queensland Labour Union, Maranoa Branch</span>,</div> - <div class='line'>'<span class='sc'>Roma</span>, <em>10th March 1891</em>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>'<span class='sc'>Dear George</span>—It is a mistake collecting our men at the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>terminus of the railway. Better to split them up in bodies -of a hundred and fifty each. One lot to stop at Clermont, -another at Tambo; others at outside stations, such as Bowen -Downs, Ayrshire Downs, Richmond Downs, Maneroo, West-lands, -Northampton, and Malvern Hills. Say a hundred and -fifty at Maranoa; same below St. George. Every station that -a hundred and fifty men came to would demand police protection -from the Government. Then, if you wanted to make -a grand coup, send mounted messengers round and have -all your forces concentrated, away from railways if possible, -and force the running by putting <em>a little more devil</em> into the -fight. They will have no railways to cart the Gatling guns -and Nordenfeldts about.—Yours, etc.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Ned ——</span>.'</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Such were the missives which passed between the 'labour -organisers' and their 'brother officers.' Small wonder that -the rank and file were stirred up to deeds of wrong and -outrage, stopping short by accident, or almost miracle, of -the 'red fool-fury of the Seine.' Imagine the anxiety and -apprehension at the lonely station, miles way from help, with -a hundred and fifty horsemen, armed and threatening, arriving -perhaps at midnight—the terror of the women, the mingled -wrath and despair of the men. And the temperate suggestion -of the labour organiser to 'put a little more devil into the -fight, to force the running!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Doubtless it would, but not quite in the manner which -this calculating criminal intended. Such a wave of righteous -indignation would have been evoked from the ordinarily -apathetic surface of Australian politics, that the culprits and -their cowardly advisers would have been swept from the face -of the earth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If it be doubted for a moment whether the serious acts -of violence and outrage alluded to were actually committed, -or, as was unblushingly asserted by the so-called democratic -organs, invented, exaggerated, or—most ludicrous attempt at -deception of all—got up by <em>capitalists and squatters</em> for the -purpose of throwing <em>discredit upon Unionists</em>, let a list of acts -perpetrated in deliberate defiance of the law of the land be -produced in evidence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Dagworth woolshed had seven armed men on watch, -as the Unionists had threatened to burn it. Among them -<span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>were the Messrs. Macpherson, owners of the station. When -the bushranger Morgan was killed at Pechelbah, in their -father's time, they hardly expected to have to defend Dagworth -against a lawless band humorously describing themselves as -Union Shearers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In spite of their defensive operations, a ruffian crawled -through and set fire to the valuable building, which was totally -consumed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were armed, and shots were freely interchanged. -One Unionist found dead was believed to be one of the -attacking party.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The 'Shearers' War' languished for a time, but was still -smouldering three years afterwards, as on the 4th of August -1894 the Cambridge Downs woolshed was burnt. This was -a very expensive building, in keeping with the size and value -of the station, where artesian bores had been put down, and -artificial lakes filled from the subterranean water-flow. Money -had been liberally, lavishly spent in these and other well-considered -improvements, aids to the working of the great -industrial enterprise evolved from the brain of one man, -and having supported hundreds of labourers and artisans for -years past. In the great solitudes where the emu and kangaroo -or the roving cattle herds alone found sustenance, the blacksmith's -forge now glowed, the carpenter's hammer rang, the -ploughman walked afield beside his team, the 'lowing herd -wound slowly o'er the lea,' recalling to many an exiled Briton -his village home.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The 'big house,' the squire-proprietor's abode, rose, garden-and -grove-encircled, amid the cottages and humbler homes -which it protected—a mansion in close resemblance, allowing -for altered conditions and more spacious surroundings, to -homes of the Motherland, which all loved so well. At what -cost of head and hand, of toil, and danger, and hardship, ay, -even of blood, let the headstones in the little shaded graveyard -tell! And now, when long years, the best years of early -manhood, had been expended freely, ungrudgingly in the -conflict with Nature, was the workman, the junior partner -in the enterprise, well paid, well fed and housed during the -doubtful campaign, the loss of which could smite to ruin the -senior, to lay his rash destroying hand upon the beneficent -structure he had helped to raise?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>Pulling down in suicidal mania, at the bidding of a secret -caucus, the industrial temple, which so surely would whelm -him and his fellows in its ruins!</p> - -<p class='c000'>Ayrshire Downs woolshed followed suit. At Murweh, the -roll of shearers was about to be called, and fifty thousand -sheep were ready for the shears, when it was set on fire and -burned—all the preparations for shearing rendered useless. A -makeshift woolshed would probably be run up, which meant -loss of time—hasty indifferent work, a few thousand pounds -loss and damage inevitable. At Combe-Marten a station -hand was shot, and several prisoners committed to take -their trial at Rockhampton. The woolshed at Errangalla -was burned to the ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Netallie shed, with eighty thousand sheep in readiness, -was attempted to be set on fire—kerosene having been profusely -exhibited for the purpose—but, with all the goodwill -(or rather bad) in the world, the plot miscarried. After a -riot at Netallie a large force of Unionists attempted, but -failed, to abduct the free labourers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At Grasmere woolshed the police were compelled to use -firearms. Shortly before 9 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span> a hundred Unionists came -to Grasmere, and gathered at the men's huts, saying that they -were armed and determined to bring out the free labourers. -Sergeant M'Donagh said they could not be allowed to do so. -He was felled to the ground, and the door of the free -labourers' hut smashed in with a battering-ram. Shots were -exchanged between the police and the Unionists. Two of -the latter were wounded. One free labourer fired with a -revolver. The attacking party then retired, taking the wounded -men with them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The police overtook them, and, taking charge of the -wounded men, conveyed them to Wilcannia Hospital in a -buggy. One was shot in the left breast; the other near the -same spot. The bullet travelled to the back, near the spine. -From the size of the bullet it would appear to have been fired -by a free labourer, the police navy revolvers carrying a -larger bullet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Unaware of the extreme length to which 'the ethics of -war' (to use a phrase grandiloquently applied in one of Mr. -Stead's harangues) had been pushed, Bill Hardwick and his -comrades rode gay and unheeding 'down the river.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>They were within a dozen miles of Moorara, and had -travelled late in order to get to the station that evening, as -shearing had commenced. An unwonted sight presented -itself. Before them lay a large encampment, from which -many voices made themselves heard, and around which were -fires in all directions. 'Hulloa!' said one of the men, 'what's -all this? Have they moved the station up, or what is it? -Have the men got to camp here because of the grass, and -ride to Moorara and back, like boys going to school?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'By Jove! it's a Union Camp,' said Bill; 'we'd better look -out. They're a rough lot here by all accounts. They might -go for us if they hear we've dropped the A.S.U.—for a bit.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I don't see as they can do much,' said a grey-haired -man, one of the best shearers in the shed. 'We've come -last from a Union shed. We've no call to say more nor that -till we get to Moorara.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's all right,' said a younger man, who, like Hardwick, -was a selector on the Upper Waters, 'but that sweep Janus -Stoate might have wired to the delegate here and put us -away. Anyhow, we'll soon see.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Who goes there?' suddenly demanded a voice from the -pine scrub. 'Who are you, and where from?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Who are you, if it comes to that?' answered Bill. 'Is -this here an army, and are you goin' to take the bloomin' -country, that a man can't ride down the river on his own -business?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We'll soon learn yer,' said the man who had challenged. -'Where are yer from last?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'From Tandara. It's a Union shed, I believe, and we shore -under Union Rules.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We know all about that. What's yer name—is it William -Hardwick?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I never was called anything else,' answered Bill, who, -now that he had got his monkey up (as he would have said), -cared for nothing and nobody.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, yer accused by the delegate, as was in charge of -that shed, of disobedience of orders; also of conspiring to -bring the Union into contempt, and of being on the way, with -others, to shear at a non-Union shed against the interests of -the Australian Workers' Federated Union. What d'ye say in -reply to the charge?'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>'Go to the devil,' said Bill, at the same time spurring his -horse. But the strange man jumped at his bridle-rein, and -though Bill got in a right-hander, before he could get loose, -armed men broke out of the pine clump, and, rifle in hand, -forced the party to dismount.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Tie their hands,' said the leader. 'We'll show the bally -"scabs" what it is to pal in with the squatters, as have ground -down the workers long enough. March 'em up to the camp -and bring 'em afore the Committee.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'This is a jolly fine state of things,' said one of the -younger men of Bill's party. 'I used to believe this was a -free country. One would think we was horse-stealers or -bushrangers. Are ye goin' to hang us, mate?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You hold yer gab, youngster, or it'll be the worse for you. -We'll straighten yer a bit, afore yer goes shearin' again in -the wrong shed,' said a man behind him, sourly, at the same -time giving him a blow on the back with the butt-end of a -rifle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'By——! if my hands was loose, I'd give yer something -to remember Dan Doolan by, yer cowardly, sneakin', underhand -dog, crawlin' after fellers like Stoate, keepin' honest men -out o' work, and spendin' it on spoutin' loafers. Well, we'll -see who comes out on top, anyhow,' upon which Mr. Dan -Doolan relapsed into silence—being 'full up,' as he would -have expressed it, of 'Government of the people, by the people, -for the people,' in its logical outcome.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Arrived at the camp, they were surrounded by a crowd of -men, looking less like workmen of any kind than an array of -freebooters. Nearly all had arms. Others had apparently put -them by for the night. They affected a raffish, semi-military -rig, and evidently regarded themselves as revolutionists; -which, in point of fact, they were. Not as yet, perhaps, ripe -for a policy of plunder and bloodshed, but within measurable -distance of it—needing but an accidental contest with the -police or a well-defended station (and there were such) to be -irrevocably committed to it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A great show of form and ceremony was aimed at, as Bill -and his companions in captivity were brought before half-a-dozen -serious-looking individuals, seated before a table outside -of a tent of larger than average size. One man was in the -centre, and was addressed as Mr. President.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>'Have you brought the suspected individuals, mentioned -in the communication received by the Committee this morning, -before us?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, Mr. President. Here they are. We found them -close by the camp, a-ridin' towards Moorara.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What are their names?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The apprehending personage read out from a telegraph -form the names of William Hardwick, Daniel Doolan, George -Bond, Donald MacCallum, James Atkins, Joseph Warner, -John Stevens, Cyrus Cable, Thomas Hyland, John Jones, -William Murphy, Jacob Dawson, and Martin Hannigan.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You stand charged with obstructing the work of the -Delegate of the A.S.U. at Tandara, and disobeying an order -to come out, sent by the duly authorised Vice-President at -Wagga Wagga. How do you plead?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Is this a bally Supreme Court?' inquired Bill. 'What are -we to plead for? I never signed no agreement to obey a pair -of loafers like Stoate and Stead. I've seen one of 'em beg -rations from a squatter, layin' by to do him all the harm in -his power, and the other tried his best to take their money -out of the pockets of hard-working men at Tandara. You -may talk till you're black in the face, I'm not goin' to play at -court work, for you or any other blatherskite, and so I tell -you.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Remove these men to the lock-up hut, and place a sentry -before the door,' said the chairman, with dignity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Bill and Co. were hauled off, and bundled into a small -hut, where they spent the night without food or bedding.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Their swags had been considerately taken care of, and -their horses turned out among the camp herd for the night. -This done, they listened to the order given to the sentry to -shoot any man that attempted to come out; and much -musing upon the strange condition in which they found -themselves in their native country, spent the night in a most -unpleasant state of discomfort.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As for the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">corps d'armee</span></i>—as they, no doubt, considered -themselves to be—they were more jovial and self-contained.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Songs and recitations were given, apparently met with -admiration and applause. Rifles and revolvers were discharged, -as well to have the loading replaced as to inform -any <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">employés</span> of the adjoining station that the camp was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>armed, and considered itself to be an independent, well-provided -contingent. Orations were made by speakers filled -with detestation of the tyranny of the squatter, and the -malignant nature of all Capital, except when diverted into the -pocket of the virtuous (and muscular) working-man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hints were thrown out, not too closely veiled, of the -retribution in store for those treacherous enemies of the -working-man, who, instead of supporting him, like brothers, -against the curse of Capital, presumed to have opinions of -their own, and exercised the right of private judgment even -against the interests of their own <em>Order</em>—this was a great word -with them. Dark suggestions were made with regard to a -cargo of free labourers (otherwise 'scabs' or blacklegs) now -coming down river in a steamboat. They were to be met -and 'dealt with,' after what fashion the speakers did not as -yet enlighten their hearers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the wire-pullers of the Australian Shearers' Union -had converted or terrorised the labourers of the land to such -an extent that employers were met at every turn by exorbitant -demands, or impossible regulations, it became necessary to -form a Pastoral Association to oppose the tyranny. For it -was evident that unless united action was taken they would -be no longer permitted to manage their own affairs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The work and wages connected with an immense export, -with a property to the value of hundreds of millions sterling, -were to be regulated by irresponsible impecunious agents, -chosen by a plebiscite of labourers naturally unfitted for the -direction of affairs involving important national issues.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Some idea of the magnitude of the interests involved may -be gathered if it is considered that the cost of management of -the vast flock of sheep depastured on the freehold and Crown -lands of the colonies necessitates the paying away annually not -less than £10,000,000 sterling, most of which is expended -for wages, for shearing, and for stores. Shearing, which lasts -for a considerable period of each year, finds employment for -25,000 shearers, and the extra hands required in connection -with this work may be put up at 10,000 to 12,000.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The following figures tend to further explanation of the -position:—Value of freehold land on which stock is depastured, -£200,000,000 sterling; value of sheep and plant, -£100,000,000 sterling. The income from the properties is, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>as nearly as possible—from wool, say £22,000,000, from -surplus stock £5,250,000, and stock £27,250,000.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The outgoings will be—for wages, carriage, stores, -£10,000,000; interest on £300,000,000 capital at 5¾ -per cent, £17,250,000; total outgoing, £27,250,000. The -returns are comparatively small, taking the whole of the population -together.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The frequent droughts, causing the loss of millions of -sheep, with other ills and ailments fatal to stock, have not -been taken into the calculation. The properties as a whole -will bear no increase in cost of management.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Another reason which actuated the employers, pastoralists, -merchants, and others connected with the pastoral industry, -was that the sudden withdrawal of their labourers was attended -with greater loss and expense than, say, in the case of mines -or shipping. The mines could be closed, the ships laid up. -Expenditure on the part of owners would then cease until -the strike was ended. But, on the far back stations, wells -had to be worked, wood carted for machinery, edible shrubs -cut for starving sheep, in default of which <em>immediate loss</em> of -stock to a very great extent would take place.</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span> - <h3 class='c010'>CHAPTER V</h3> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>One of the methods which the Pastoralists were compelled to -use to defeat the attempted domination of the Shearers' Union -was to import free labour: men who were contented to work -for high wages and abundant food; to obey those who paid, -lodged, and fed them well. It may here be stated that the -fare in shearing time, provided for the shearers, the station -hands, and the supernumerary labourers, was such as might -well be considered not only sufficing and wholesome, but -luxurious, in any other part of the world. Three principal -meals a day, consisting of beef or mutton, good wheaten -bread, pudding, vegetables when procurable; three minor -repasts of scones and cakes, with tea <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">ad libitum</span></i>; the whole -well cooked, of good quality, with no limitation as to quantity. -Where is the rural labourer in Europe similarly provided?</p> - -<p class='c000'>Agencies were established in the principal towns of the -colonies. Men were hired and forwarded to such stations as -were in need. The cost of transit was paid by the associated -employers. They were forwarded by rail, by coach, on horseback, -or by steamer, as such transit was available. An unfair, -even illegal system of intimidation, under the specious name -of 'picketing,' to prevent the men thus engaged from following -their lawful occupation, came into vogue. Unionists were -stationed along roads or near stations, nominally to 'persuade' -the free labourers not to fulfil their agreements, but, in reality, -to threaten and abuse, not infrequently with brutal violence -to assault and ill-treat the nonconformists.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The majority of the Unionists were well-intentioned men, -led away by specious demagogues; but among them were -lawless ruffians, who, ignorantly prejudiced against their -<span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>superiors and even their equals, who had risen in life by the -exercise of industry and thrift, were capable of any villainy, -not even stopping short of arson and bloodshed. Up to this -time the Ministry of the day had been tardy and over-cautious, -both in the protection of property and in the punishment of a -criminal crew. But they were gradually coming to a determination -to stop such disorders summarily. The strong -arm of the law was invoked to that intent. For too frequently -had peaceable workmen, under the ban of the Unionist tyranny, -been captured, ill-treated, robbed, and temporarily deprived -of their liberty.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Grown bold by previous toleration, the Union Camp by -Moorara had determined to make an example of this -particular steamer, with her load of free shearers and rouseabouts—to -teach them what the penalty was of withstanding -the Australian Shearers' Union and bringing a load of -blacklegs past their very camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was nearly midnight when a scout galloped in to -announce that the <em>Dundonald</em> was within half a mile of the -camp, on her way down river with fifty free labourers on board.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'By the God of Heaven,' shouted a dissolute-looking -shearer, 'we'll give them a lesson to-night, if we never do it -again. I know the agent well—a d—d infernal swell, -who looks upon working-men as dogs, and talks to them like -the dirt under his feet. I told him I'd meet him some day, -and that day's come.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Come along, lads,' shouts an evil-faced larrikin from a -city lane; 'let's give it 'em hot. We'll burn their bloomin' -boat, and have roast blackleg for breakfast.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You'd as well mind your eye, my lad,' said a slow-speaking, -steady-going Sydney-sider, from Campbelltown. -'Seth Dannaker's the skipper of this boat—I can hear her -paddles now, and he'll shoot straight if you meddle with his -loadin'. You're not the sort to face Seth's pea-rifle, 'nless yer -got a fairish big tree in front of yer.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Upon this discouraging statement, the product of 'a city's -smoke and steam'—under-sized, untended from childhood, -grown to manhood, untaught save in precocious villainy—slunk -into the background, while from the centre of a group -emerged the man who had posed as the 'President of the -Council,' and thus addressed the crowding shearers:—</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>'Bring out Bill Hardwick and them other "scabs." We'll -have 'em in front when the shootin' begins. It'll do 'em good -to feel what their friends' tyranny's brought the people to.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The sentry was directed to quit his post, and a score of -eager hands competed for the privilege of dragging out the -weary, famished men, and rushing with them to the river-bank, -while with slow, reverberating strokes the measured -beat of the paddles was heard, as the dimly-lighted hull of -the steamer showed amid the ebon darkness—the throbbing -of her overpowered engines sounding like the heart-beats of -some monstrous creature, slow-emerging from the channels -of a prehistoric morass.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Boat ahoy!' shouted the President, with an accent -telling of a seaman's experiences. 'Heave to, and let us -have a look at your passenger list.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Who the hell are you, anyway?' was returned in answer—the -intonation confirming the Sydney-sider's information. -'What's my passenger list to you? I'm bound to Moorara, -and the men on board hev' their passage paid—that's all I've -to look to. Full steam ahead!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>A derisive laugh was the only answer from the river-bank. -But the skipper's complacency was of short duration, as a -violent shock almost dislodged him from the bridge, and -made every bit of loose timber, or unsecured deck cargo, -rock and rattle again. The <em>Dundonald</em> had gone full speed -against a wire rope, or rather against two twisted together, -which had been feloniously taken from a punt higher up the -river, because the misguided lessee had carried across free -labourers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A yell of exultation burst from the excited crowd, now -fully determined to board the obnoxious steamer, while a -voice from their midst, after commanding silence, called out, -'Steamer ahoy!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, what is it? What do you want, stopping me on a -voyage? You'd as well take care; I'm a quiet man, but a -bad one to meddle with.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We want those infernal traitors you've got aboard.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And suppose I won't give up my passengers?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Then we'll burn yer bloomin' boat, and roast them and -you along with it. Don't yer make no mistake.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Then you'd better come and do it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>At this defiance, a chorus of yells and execrations ascended -through the warm, still air, as a hundred men dashed into the -tepid waters of the smooth stream, the slow current of which -hardly sufficed to bear them below the steamer's hull. Like -a swarm of Malay pirates, they clambered on the low rail of -the half barge, half steamer, which had done her share in -carrying the wool-crop of the limitless levels so many times to -the sea. But her last voyage had come. The crew -stubbornly resisted. Many a man fell backward, half stunned -by blows from marline-spikes and gun-stocks—though as yet -only a few shots were fired—and more than one of the rioters -narrowly escaped death by drowning. But the 'free -labourers,' disordered by the suddenness of the onslaught, -fought but half-heartedly. Outnumbered by ten to one, they -were driven back, foot by foot, till they were forced aft, almost -to the rail, before the skipper yielded.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A few shots had been fired from the bank before the -charge through the water was made, in the pious hope of -hitting the captain or one of the crew; better still, a free -labourer. They were promptly returned, and one of the men -nearest the leader fell, shot through the body. But at that -moment the leader's strident voice was heard. 'Stop firin'; -I'll shoot the next man that holds up a gun. Let's catch 'em -alive and deal with 'em and their blasted boat afterwards. -There's enough of yer to eat 'em!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the surrender was imminent, the skipper had one of -the boats lowered—a broad-beamed, serviceable, barge-like -affair, in which great loads had been conveyed in the flooded -seasons—and putting a white cloth on to the end of his rifle-barrel, -called for a parley. It was granted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'See here, yer darned pirates! I want a word or two. -There's a ton of powder on board, and the man you wounded -with your cowardly first shoot is sitting on a chair beside a -coil of fuse, with a sperm candle and a box of matches. -It's a sure thing he won't live, and he don't love the men -that took his life, foul and coward-like. I'm to fire this -revolver twice for a signal, and next minute we'll all go to -hell together, sociable like. Jump into the boat, men, and -take your guns, some grub, and a tarpaulin. Those that like -may stay with me—I stop with the ship.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>If there's anything that undisciplined men fear, it is an -<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>explosion of gunpowder. They did not know for certain -whether there was any on board. But if there was, there -was no time to lose. A panic seized them, one and all. -The crew descended into the boat in good order, obeying the -captain's commands. His cool, decided voice imposed upon -the rioters. They tumbled into the river by scores—knocking -over their comrades and even striking them, like men in a -sinking vessel, under the influence of fear—until the last man -had reached the bank, when they even ran some distance in -their terror before they could rid themselves of the fear of -hearing <em>too late</em> the thunderous roar of the explosion, and -being hurled into eternity in an instant.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The free labourers, on the other hand, from having assisted -in the navigation of the steamer in her slow voyage from -Echuca, had made themselves acquainted with every nook and -cranny and pound of cargo on the boat. They knew that -there was no magazine, nor any powder, and, divining the -captain's ruse, made for the opposite bank with all convenient -speed. Those who could swim, lost no time; and -those who could not, escaped into the bush, undisturbed by -the privateering crowd that had been so valorous a few -minutes before.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the boat returned and not before, the captain -descended with deliberation, remarking, 'Now, lads, we've -got a clear track before us. There ain't no powder, there -ain't no wounded man, and I reckon them long-shore skunks -will find themselves in an all-fired mess when the police come. -There's a big body of 'em only ten miles from here, at -Moorara Station. We'll just make camp and have a snack—some -of us want it pretty bad. We'll build fires to -warm those that's wet—wood's plenty. Leave 'em burning -and make down river so's to warn the police under Colonel -Elliot. The Union army won't cross before morning, for -fear of the old tub blowing up and making a scatteration -among 'em.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The programme was carried out. The night was of -Egyptian darkness. Supper was hastily disposed of. The -fires were freshly made up, and shortly afterwards the whole -contingent took the down-river road and by daylight were -miles away from the scene of the encounter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The unusually large body of police which had been ordered -<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>up by the Government, to join with another force on the -Darling, had made rendezvous at Moorara, having heard from -a scout that mischief, rather above the ordinary limit, was -being enacted near Poliah. When, next morning, the captain -and crew of the <em>Dundonald</em>, with the greater portion of the -free labourers, arrived, a strong sensation was aroused. This -was an unparalleled outrage, and, if unchecked, meant the -commencement of <em>Civil War</em>, plain and undisguised.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What horrors might follow! A guerilla band, with its -attendant crimes—murder, pillage, outrage! Such a band of -reckless desperadoes, armed and mounted, like a regiment -of irregular horse, was sufficient to terrorise the country; -gathering on the march, till every criminal in the land that -could steal a horse and a gun would be added to their ranks -in a surprisingly short time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Once launched on such a campaign of crime, the country -would be ravaged before a military force could be organised. -The proverbial snowball may be arrested at the first movement, -but after gathering velocity, it descends the mountain-side with -the force and fury of the avalanche.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The colonel in command of the Volunteers was a soldier -to whom border raids in wild lands, with a wilder foe, was -not unfamiliar. 'Boot and saddle' was sounded. Without -a moment's unnecessary delay, the troop was in full marching -order along the 'river road,' a well-marked trail, heading for -Poliah.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The night was still dark, but comparatively cool. No -inconvenience was felt as the men trotted briskly along and -joked as to the sort of battle in which they would engage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Bless yer, they won't fight, not if there was another -thousand of 'em,' said a grizzled sergeant, 'and every man -with the newest arm invented. I've seen mobs afore. Men -as ain't drilled and disciplined never stands a charge.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'They've got rifles and revolvers, I know,' said a younger -man, 'and they can shoot pretty straight, some of 'em. -Suppose they keep open order, and pepper us at long -range? What's to keep 'em from droppin' us that way, -from cover, and then makin' a rush?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'There's nothin' to keep 'em, <em>only they won't do it</em>,' replied -the sergeant oracularly. 'They know the law's agin' 'em, -which means a lot in Australia—so far. Besides that, they've -<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>never faced a charge, or don't know what it's like to -stiffen up in line. You'll see how they'll cut it when they -hear the colonel give the word, not to mention the bugle-call. -Why, what the devil——?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the sergeant, ending his sentence abruptly, almost -halted, as a column of flame rose through the night air, -sending up tongues of flame and red banners through the -darkness which precedes the dawn.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'D—d if they haven't burned the bloomin' steamer!' -quoth he. 'What next, I'd like to know? This country's -going to the devil. I always thought it was a mistake -sending our old regiment away.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Halt!' suddenly rang out in the clear, strong tones of -the colonel—the voice of a man who had seen service and -bore the tokens of it in a tulwar slash and a couple of bullet -wounds. 'These fellows have set fire to the steamer, and of -course she will burn to the water's edge. They will hardly -make a fight of it though. In case they do, sergeant, take -twenty men and skirt round so as to intercept their left wing. -I'll do myself the honour to lead the charge on their main -body, always supposing they wait for us to come up.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The character of the resistance offered proved the sergeant's -estimate to be absolutely correct. A few dropping shots were -heard before the police came up, but when the rioters saw the -steady advance of a hundred mounted men—an imposing -cavalry force for Australia—saw Colonel Elliot, who rode at -their head with his sword drawn, heard the clanking of the -steel scabbards and the colonel's stern command, 'Charge!' -they wavered and broke rank in all directions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Arrest every man on the river-bank with firearms in his -hands,' roared the colonel. The sergeant, with a dozen of -his smartest troopers, had each their man in custody a few -seconds after the order was given—Bill Hardwick among the -rest, who was fated to illustrate the cost of being found among -evil-doers. One man alone made a desperate resistance, but -after a crack from the butt-end of a carbine, he accepted his -defeat sullenly. By the time his capture was complete, so -was the rout of the rebel array. Hardly a man was to be -seen, while the retreating body of highly irregular horse -sounded like a break-out from a stock-yard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Matters had reached the stage when the stokers at the Gas -<span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>Works were 'called out,' and the city of Melbourne threatened -with total darkness after 6 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span></p> - -<p class='c000'>Then a volunteer corps of Mounted Rifles was summoned -from the country. The city was saved from a disgraceful panic—perhaps -from worse things. The Unionist mob quailed at -the sight of the well-mounted, armed, and disciplined body of -cavalry, whose leader showed no disposition to mince matters, -and whose hardy troopers had apparently no democratic doubts -which the word 'Charge!' could not dispel.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the deserted Gas Works, aristocratic stokers kept the -indispensable flame alight until the repentant, out-colonelled -artisans returned to their work.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was the crisis of the struggle—the turning-point of -the fight; as far as the element of force was concerned, the -battle was over. It showed, that with proper firmness, which -should have been exhibited at the outset, the result is ever -the same. The forces of the State, with law and justice behind -them, must overawe any undisciplined body of men attempting -to terrorise the body politic in defence of fancied rights -or the redress of imaginary wrongs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The rioting in the cities of Melbourne and Sydney was -promptly abated when the citizen cavalry, 'armed and accoutred -proper,' clanked along Collins Street in Melbourne, while -Winston Darling led the sons of his old friends and schoolfellows, -who drove the high-piled wool waggons in procession -down George Street in Sydney to the Darling Harbour -Warehouses.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Much was threatened as to the latter demonstration, by -blatant demagogues, who described it as 'a challenge; an insult -to labour.' It was a challenge, doubtless—a reminder that Old -New South Wales, with the founders of the Pastoral Industry—that -great export now reaching the value of three hundred -millions sterling—was not to be tyrannised over by a misguided -mob, swayed by self-seeking, irresponsible agitators.</p> - -<p class='c000'>No doubt can exist in the minds of impartial observers -that if the Ministries of the different colonies over which this -wave of industrial warfare passed, in the years following 1891, -had acted with promptness and decision at the outset, the -heavy losses and destructive damage which followed might -have been averted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the labour vote was strong—was believed, indeed, to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>be more powerful than it proved to be when tested. And -the legislatures elected by universal suffrage were, in consequence, -slow to declare war against the enemies of law and -order.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They temporised, they hesitated to take strong measures. -They tacitly condoned acts of violence and disorder. They -permitted 'picketing,' a grossly unfair, even illegal (see Justice -Bramwell's ruling) form of intimidation, employed to terrorise -the free labourers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The natural results followed. Woolsheds were burned, -notably the Ayrshire Downs; the Cambridge Downs shed, 4th -August 1894; Murweh, with 50,000 sheep to be shorn—roll -to be called that day. Fences were cut, bridges sawn through, -stock were injured, squatters and free labourers were assaulted -or grossly reviled.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Everything in the way of ruffianism and disorder short of -civil war was practised, apparently from one end of Australia -to the other, before the Executive saw fit to intervene to -check the excesses of the lawless forces which, well armed and -mounted, harassed the once peaceful, pastoral Arcadia.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At length the situation became intolerable; the governing -powers, with the choice before them of restraining bands of -<i><span lang="it" xml:lang="it">condottieri</span></i> or abdicating their functions, woke up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was high time. From the 'Never Never' country in -remotest Queensland, from the fabled land 'where the pelican -builds her nest' to the great Riverina levels of New South -Wales, from the highlands of the Upper Murray and the Snowy -River to the silver mines of the Barrier, a movement arose, -which called itself Industrial Unionism, but which really -meant rebellion and anarchy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was rebellion against all previously-accepted ideas of -government. If carried out, it would have subverted social -and financial arrangements. It would have delivered over the -accumulated treasure of 'wealth and knowledge and arts,' -garnered by the thrift, industry, and intelligence of bygone -generations, to one section of the workers of the land—the -most numerous certainly, but incontestably the least intelligent—to -be wasted in a brief and ignoble scramble.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The list of outrages, unchecked and unpunished, during -this period, makes painful reading for the lover of his country.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A distinguished and patriotic member of the 'Australian -<span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>Natives' Association,' in one of his addresses before that body, -declared 'that, for the first time in his life, he felt ashamed of -his native country.' That feeling was shared by many of his -compatriots, as day after day the telegrams of the leading -journals added another to the list of woolsheds deliberately -set on fire, of others defended by armed men—sometimes, -indeed, unsuccessfully.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the directors of the Proprietary Silver Mine at -Broken Hill saw fit to diminish the number of miners, for -which there was not sufficient employment, it was beleaguered -by an armed and threatening crowd of five thousand men. -A real siege was enacted. No one was allowed to pass the -lines without a passport from the so-called President of the -Miners' Committee.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For three days and nights, as the Stipendiary Magistrate -stated (he was sent up specially by the New South Wales -Government, trusting in his lengthened experience and proved -capacity), the inmates of the mine-works sat with arms in their -hands, and without changing their clothes, hourly expectant -of a rush from the excited crowd.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The crisis was, however, tided over without bloodshed, -chiefly owing, in the words of a leading metropolitan journal, -to the 'admirable firmness and discretion' displayed by the -official referred to—now, alas! no more. He died in harness, -fulfilling his arduous and responsible duties to the last, with a -record of half a century of official service in positions of high -responsibility, without a reflection in all that time having been -cast upon his integrity, his courage, or his capacity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>More decisive action was taken, and was compelled to be -taken, in Queensland than in the other colonies.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There, owing to the enormous areas necessarily occupied -by the Pastoralists, the immense distances separating the holdings -from each other, and, perhaps, the heterogeneous nature -of the labour element, the acts of lawlessness became more -serious and menacing. A military organisation was therefore -found to be necessary. Volunteers were enrolled. Large -bodies of these troops and of an armed constabulary force -were mobilised, and many of the incidental features of a civil -war were displayed to a population that had rarely seen firearms -discharged in anger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The nomadic population had been largely recruited from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>the criminals of other colonies, who, fleeing from justice, were -notoriously in the habit of crossing the Queensland border, -and evading a too searching inquiry.</p> - -<p class='c000'>These were outlaws in the worst sense of the word; -desperate and degraded, conversant with undetected crime, -and always willing to join in the quasi-industrial revolts, -unfortunately of everyday occurrence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In these, bloodshed was barely avoided, while hand-to-hand -fights, inflicting grievous bodily injury, were only too common.</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span> - <h3 class='c010'>CHAPTER VI</h3> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>After the burning of the <em>Dundonald</em>, a score of the rioters -had been arrested and imprisoned. But owing to the confusion -of the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mêlée</span></i> and the prompt dispersion of the Unionists -it had been found difficult to procure the necessary identification -and direct evidence of criminality. Thus, after some -weeks of imprisonment, all were discharged except six -prisoners, among whom, unfortunately for himself and his -family, was that notorious malefactor, William Hardwick. Fate, -in his case, would appear to have leaned to the wrong side!</p> - -<p class='c000'>His appearance and manner had so favourably impressed -the Bench of Magistrates, before whom, after several remands, -he and his fellow-prisoners had been brought, that they were -on the point of discharging him, when Janus Stoate was -tendered by the Sub-Inspector of Police in charge of the -case as a material witness for the Crown. He had kept in -the background after he saw the affair well started, taking -care to be heard protesting against violence on the part of the -Unionists. Having been sworn, he admitted his connection -with them, to the extent of belonging to the camp and having -acted as a delegate, appointed by the Council of the Australian -Shearers' Union. He had worked last at Tandara woolshed. -At that station the men had completed their contract and -been paid off in the usual way. He as delegate had received -notice from the President of the Union to call out the shearers -before shearing was concluded. They declined, temporarily, -and a messenger, elected by the men, was sent to Wagga -Wagga for further instructions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Before he returned, the shed had 'cut out'—finished -<span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>shearing, that is. He could not say he approved of the -arrangement, but was glad that the contract was completed -and all settled amicably. He was an upholder of passive -resistance, and could bring witnesses to prove that he dissuaded -the men from violence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did he know the defendant, William Hardwick?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, very well—he was sorry to see him in this position.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Had he seen him inciting or assisting the men who were -concerned in the burning of the steamer?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No, he could not say that he had, but——'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The witness was urged to explain, which he did, apparently -with unwillingness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He had seen him standing by the river-bank, with a gun -in his hand.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did he discharge the gun?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, he did; he saw him put the gun to his shoulder and -fire.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Was it directed at any one of the crew of the <em>Dundonald</em>?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He could not say that. The night was dark—just before -daylight. He fired at or near somebody, that was all he could -say.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That will do.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Another Unionist witness was brought forward. This man -was actuated by a revengeful spirit towards the free labourers, -and especially towards those shearers that had opposed the -Union. He therefore gave damaging evidence against Bill -and his companions. He swore that he had seen Hardwick—that -was his name, he believed—anyway he was the 'blackleg' -now before the Court—loading and firing, like some of the -camp men.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was warned not to use the expression 'blackleg,' as it -was disrespectful to the Court. Such conduct might lead to -his being committed for contempt of Court and imprisoned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The witness had 'done time' in another colony, been -before a Court more than once or twice probably. He -laughed impudently, saying, 'He didn't mean no offence, but -it was 'ard on a man, as was true to his fellow-workers, to -keep his tongue off such sneaks.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was one of the cases where a magistrate, not being -able to deal effectively with a witness, will take as little -offence as possible, so as to get him out of the box and have -<span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>done with him. In a city or county town such a man would -be sent to gaol for twenty-four hours, for contempt of Court, -to appear next morning in a chastened frame of mind. But -as the fire-raisers were to be committed for trial and forwarded -under escort to the Circuit Court at Wagga Wagga, nothing -would be gained by delaying the whole affair for the purpose -of punishing a single witness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So poor Bill, being asked by the magistrate what he had -to say in his defence, made a bungling job of it, as many an -innocent man, under the circumstances, has done before, and -will again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He could only state, that though seen among the Unionist -rioters, he was there under compulsion; that he and his -mates, who had come from Tandara, had determined, after -seeing the unfair way in which the sheds that "shore Union" -had been ordered out, to cut loose from the tyranny. But -they had been captured by the rioters at Moorara; made -to carry arms and stand in front, where they were nearly being -shot. As God was his Judge, he never fired a shot or meant -to fire one. He would far rather have emptied his gun at -the fellows who had robbed and ill-treated him—for his -horses, saddles, and swag were "put away," he believed, his -cheque and loose money were gone, and he had nothing but -what he stood up in. What call had he to hurt the boat, or -any one aboard her? It was the other way on. The witnesses -had perjured themselves, particularly Janus Stoate, who had -eaten his bread and borrowed money from him in times -past, and now was swearing falsely, to ruin him, and rob his -wife and children of their home. He had no more to say.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Unluckily for poor Bill, several of the accused, who <em>were</em> -guilty, had made substantially the same defence. They were -proved, by the evidence of the crew of the <em>Dundonald</em> and -the police, to have been actively aiding and abetting in the -outrage. One, indeed, who tried to look virtuous and made -a plausible speech, had been seen pouring kerosene over the -doomed steamer, preparatory to her being set on fire.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This prejudiced the Bench against all defences of the same -nature as Bill's. He might, of course, have called on his -mates, who had left the Tandara shed with him, resolving to -sever all connection with the Union. They would, of course, -have been able to corroborate his story, and have ensured -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>his discharge. But, here again, Fate (or else blind Chance, -which she too often resembles) was against him. 'Fortune's -my foe,' he might have quoted, with reason, had such literary -<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">morceaux</span></i> been in his line.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One of the shearers from Tandara, being a smart bushman, -had escaped, in the uncertain light and confusion of the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mêlée</span></i>, -and discovering the horses of the party, feeding by themselves, -in an angle of the station fence, caught the quietest of the lot, -annexed a stray halter, and ran them into a yard. He then -returned to the insurgents, and mingling with the crowd, -managed to warn his comrades, except Bill, who was wedged -in between two armed men, with another at his back, by -special instruction of Stoate. Leaving unostentatiously, they -escaped notice, and providing themselves with saddles and -bridles from the numbers which lay on the ground outside of -tents, or on horizontal limbs of trees, departed quietly, and by -sundown were many a mile away on the road to the next non-Union -station. They would not have abandoned their -companion had they the least idea of what he was likely to -undergo at the hands of the law; but the last thought that -could have entered into their heads would be that <em>he</em> was liable -to arrest and trial in connection with the burning of the steamer. -So, believing that they might run serious risk by remaining -among the excited, dangerous crowd, at the same time being -powerless to do him any good, they decided to clear off.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As there was sworn evidence to incriminate him without -available witnesses to testify in his favour, the Bench had no -alternative but to commit William Hardwick for trial at the -next ensuing Assize Court, to be holden at Wagga Wagga. -Thither, with the other prisoners, ruffians with whom he -could neither sympathise nor associate, was poor Bill, manacled -and despairing, sent off in the up-river coach, a prey to anxiety -and despondent imaginings.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What would be Jenny's feelings when she saw in an extract -from the <cite>Wilcannia Watchman</cite>, too faithfully copied into the -<cite>Talmorah Advertiser</cite>:—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>'<span class='sc'>Outrage by Unionists.</span></div> - <div class='c002'>'<em>Burning of the "Dundonald."</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>'Arrest and trial before the Bench of Magistrates at -Tolarno. William Hardwick, John Jones, J. Abershaw, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>T. Murphy, and others, committed for trial at next Assize -Court. Severe sentences may be looked for.'</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>Jenny's distress at this announcement may be imagined. -She had not heard from Bill since he left Tandara, at which -time he had written in good spirits, mentioning the amount of -his cheque, and his resolution to cut loose from the Shearers' -Union (which he was sorry he ever joined), and more particularly -from Stoate and all his works.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It's that villain, and no one else,' cried poor Jenny. 'I -knew he'd do Bill a mischief before he'd done with him—a -regular snake in the grass. I'd like to have a crack at him -with a roping pole. He's worked round poor Bill, some road -or other, who's that soft and straightforward, as any man could -talk him over—and yet I wonder, after what he wrote——'</p> - -<p class='c000'>And here Jenny took Bill's last letter out of her homely -treasure-chest, read it once more and cried over it, after which -she dried her eyes and changed her dress, preparatory to -seeking counsel of Mr. Calthorpe, the banker in the township. -This gentleman received her sympathetically, and heard all she -had to say, before giving an opinion.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In small and remote centres of population such as Talmorah -the bank manager is, even more than the clergyman or the -doctor, the 'guide, philosopher, and friend' of the humbler -classes, whom he chiefly advises for their good, and, in -moderation, aids pecuniarily, if he can do so, with safety to the -bank. He is often young, but, from a wider than ordinary -outlook on men and affairs, endowed with discretion beyond -his years. For Jenny and her husband he had a genuine -liking and respect, based chiefly on his knowledge of character, -but partly on the creditable state of Bill's bank account.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It's a bad business, Mrs. Hardwick,' he said, when Jenny -had concluded her story in a fit of weeping, which she could -not restrain. 'And Bill's the last man I should have expected -to be mixed up with this affair. It's wonderful what harm -this strike business is doing all over Australia. However, it's -no use thinking of that. The question is, how to help your -husband out of the trouble, now he's in it. He's only committed -now—which doesn't go for much. It's the trial before -the Judge and Jury we have to look to.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here Mr. Calthorpe took down a file of newspapers and -looked through them. 'Yes, I thought so; to be tried at -<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>next ensuing Assize Court at Wagga. You'd like him to have -a lawyer to defend him, wouldn't you?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Of course I would,' replied the loyal wife. 'We've -worked hard for our bit of money, but I'd spend the last -shilling of it before Bill should go to gaol.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Quite right. Bill's man enough to make more—his -liberty's the main thing. Well, I'll send a letter by this -night's mail to the Manager of our bank at Wagga and ask -him to see Mr. Biddulph, the solicitor—I was stationed there -years ago—and <em>he'll</em> get him off if any one can. Money is -wanted, though, to pay witnesses' expenses—you must be -prepared for that.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Whatever's wanted, let him have, in God's name,' Jenny -cried recklessly. 'You know Bill's good for it, sir, and I've -butter-money saved up of my own. Bill always let me keep -that. I've got it in this bag. It will do to begin with.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Never mind that,' said the banker, good-humouredly. 'I -have your deeds, you know, and the balance is on the right -side of your account. So don't be down-hearted, and I'll let -you know as soon as I hear from Biddulph. Good-bye, and -keep up your spirits; fretting won't do you any good, or Bill -either. All right, Mr. Mason,' he said, as his assistant, after -knocking, looked in at the door; 'tell Mr. Thornhill I can see -him in a minute.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I'll never forget your kindness,' said Jenny, as she shook -hands warmly with the friend in need. 'You'll let me know -directly you hear anything.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You may depend on that. Good-bye till Saturday; the -up-river mail will be in then.' As she passed out, a stoutish, -middle-aged man came in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Morning, Calthorpe. Comforting the widow or the orphan? -Saw she was in trouble.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Deuced hard lines,' said the Manager gravely. 'Very -decent people—selectors at Chidowla, near Curra Creek. Her -husband's got into trouble—committed for trial about that -burning of the <em>Dundonald</em>.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Serve him right, too. Those Union fellows are playing -the deuce all over the country. If they're not stopped there's -no saying what they'll do next. The country's going to -the devil. The Government won't act with decision, while -property is being destroyed and life menaced every day. I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>don't blame the men so much; it's these rascally agitators -that ought to suffer, and they mostly get out of it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I'll never believe that Bill Hardwick went in for the steamer-burning -business,' said the banker, 'though he seems to have -got mixed up with it somehow. There's some cur working it, -I'm sure. He's got a decent stake in the country himself. -He'd never risk losing his farm and the money that he's saved. -I won't believe it till it's proved.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'But he must have been with those Union fellows or they -couldn't have arrested him,' answered the squatter. 'What -was he doing in a Union Camp? Comes of keeping bad -company, you see. I'm sorry for his wife—she seems a good -sort; but if a man takes up with such people, he must pay -the penalty.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>And then the Manager went keenly into his client's business, -removing all thought of Bill's hard luck and Jenny's sad -face from his mental vision. But after his day's work was -done, and his books duly posted up, as he took his usual -walk round the outskirts of the township, the 'case of William -Hardwick, charged with arson in the matter of the steamer -<em>Dundonald</em>,' recurred again and again with almost painful -iteration.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Must be a put-up job!' he ejaculated, as he turned towards -the unpretending four-roomed cottage which served -him for dwelling-place, office, and treasure-house. His clerk -and assistant, a young fellow of twenty, in training for higher -posts when the years of discretion had arrived, slept there -with him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But both took their meals in the best hotel of the township -(there were only two)—a more interesting way of managing -the commissariat than house-keeping where servants were -scarce, as well as presenting distinct advantages from the -cooking side. It may be added that they were never absent -from the bank at the same time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In addition to the convenience of the latter arrangement -a country banker in Australia finds his account in a general -suavity of demeanour. Bits of information then fall in his -way, which a less cordial manner would not have attracted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the ordinary table of the Teamsters' Arms, Talmorah, -being a great 'carrying centre,' all sorts and conditions of -men were represented. Not that the partially renovated swagman -<span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>or bullock-driver sat at meat with the correctly attired -squatter, station-manager, or commercial traveller. Such is -not the fashion in rural Australia. Meals, except in case of -illness, are not served in private rooms—a limited staff of -servants forbidding such luxury. But a second table is provided, -of which the lower tariff practically effects a separation -between the socially unequal sections. If not, a hint is never -wanting from the prudent but decisive landlord.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the bar counter, however, a nearer approach to democratic -equality is reached; and it was here that Mr. Calthorpe -caught a few words that decided him to ask for a glass of beer, -while a rather heated argument was being carried on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Heard about Bill Hardwick fallin' in, over that steamer-burnin' -racket?' queried a sunburnt teamster, whose dust-enveloped -garb and beard proclaimed a long and wearisome -trail.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We all heard of it,' answered the man addressed—an -agricultural-appearing person, not so distinctively 'back-block' -in appearance as the first speaker—'and we're dashed sorry -it's true in this quarter. Bill's a neighbour of mine, and a -straighter chap never stepped. I don't hold with that sort of -foolishness that the Union's been carryin' on lately. I joined -'em and so did Bill, and I'd be as well pleased I hadn't -now, and so'd he I reckon. But as for him helpin' to burn -a steamer, I'd just as soon believe he'd stick up this bank.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Banks is one thing and Union leaders is another,' decided -the man from the waste, finishing a portentous 'long sleever.' -'But a chap's fool enough to go with his crowd now and -again; he don't care about being ticketed as a "blackleg." -Why shouldn't Bill do it as well as another?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Because he's the wrong sort; he's married and has a -couple of kids. His wife's a hard-working, savin' kind of -woman as ever you see—always at it from daylight to dark. -Besides, he's lookin' to go in for another selection. That's -not the sort of chap that goes burnin' sheds and steamers. -It's a bloomin' plant, I'll take my oath.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's your notion, is it?' quoth the teamster, who, having -imbibed as much colonial beer as would have half-drowned a -smaller and less desiccated man, was disposed to be confidential. -'I wouldn't say as you're far out. I was comin' -by Quambone with Bangate wool—forty-five bales of greasy—it's -<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>now onloadin', and I'd a yarn with a chap that was in the -Union Camp at Moorara. He kep' as far back as he could, -and cleared out first chance. Of course they was all mixed -up when the firin' came, and some of 'em, as hadn't wanted to -go too far, took their chance to cut it. But afore he went, he -heard Stoate ('you know him?'—the listener nodded) tell -another of the "committy," as they called theirselves, "that -he'd fix up Bill Hardwick if it come to a trial—if any man -had to do a stretch over it, <em>he'd</em> not get off."</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"How'll you work that?" says the other cove. "He's -never gone solid along of us; and now he'll be dead agen -Unionism, and no wonder. He told some one this morning -he'd lost his shearing cheque."'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'So that's the way they nobbled him,' said his hearer. -'Infernal bloomin' scoundrels to swear a man's liberty away. -Bill's got a friend or two yet, though, and money in the bank, -though some of them spoutin' loafers has his cheque in their -pockets. So long.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The gaunt, sun-baked teamster departed to turn out his -bullocks, and generally recreate after his journey, deferring -till the morrow the pleasant process of receiving his cheque -for carriage and safe delivery of his valuable load—over five -hundred pounds' worth of merino wool.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But Mr. Calthorpe, the banker, who, without listening to -the whole conversation, had caught Bill's name occasionally, -touched Donahue's arm (for that perfunctory agriculturist it -was) as he turned reluctantly homeward, and questioned him -concerning his late acquaintance's words.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nothing loath, indeed gratified with the chance of -placating the local potentate who wielded the power of -life and death (financially) over him and others, he cheerfully -disclosed all that he had heard, being, moreover, a good-natured, -obliging sort of fellow, as indeed thriftless persons -often are.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now, look here, Donahue!' said the great man. 'I've a -liking for Hardwick, whom I've always found a steady and -industrious chap, that it's a pleasure to help. Some men are -not built that way, Dick'—here he looked Donahue squarely -in the face. 'They idle their time, and spend the money -drinking and horse-racing that ought to go to paying their -debts and keeping the wife and children.' Mr. Donahue -<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>looked embarrassed, and gazed into the distance. 'But I -want your help to take this business out of winding, and -if you'll work with me, I <em>might</em>—I don't say I will, mind you—recommend -the Bank to give you time to pay off the -arrears on your selection.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dick Donahue, whose cheerful demeanour covered an -aching heart and remorseful feelings whenever he thought -of the possibility of the family losing their home because of -his want of steady industry, turned round, almost with the -tears in his eyes, as he said, not without a touch of natural -dignity—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Mr. Calthorpe, I'd do what I could for Bill, who's a -better man than myself, with all the veins of my heart—as -poor old father used to say—and ask no return in the world; -and for Jenny Hardwick, who's been a good head to Biddy -and the children (more shame for me that they wanted help), -I'd risk my life any day. And if you think well of givin' me -more time to pay up, I've got a fencing contract from Mr. -Dickson, after the New Year, and I'll never touch a drop till -it's finished, and give you an order on him for the lot.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'All right, Dick, we can arrange that; you work like a -man and do your duty to your family, and you'll find a friend -in me.' He held out his hand, which the repentant prodigal -shook fervently, and turned away without another word.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nothing more was said on that day, but in the following -week Richard Donahue, fairly well turned out, and riding a -horse 'fit to go for a man's life,' as he expressed it, started -'down river,' leaving Mrs. Bridget in a state of mind very -different from that with which she ordinarily regarded her -husband's absence from home 'on business,' always uncertain -as to return and rarely satisfactory as to remuneration.</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span> - <h3 class='c010'>CHAPTER VII</h3> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>The inland town of Wagga Wagga, in New South Wales, -historically celebrated as the dwelling-place of the Tichborne -Claimant, where that lapsed scion of the aristocracy followed -the indispensable but not socially eminent occupation of -butcher, was, if not <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en fête</span></i>, pardonably excited at the arrival -of the Judge and officers of the Assize Court to be holden -on the morrow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This traditional spectacle—almost as interesting as the -Annual Race Meeting or the Agricultural Show—was afforded -to the inhabitants at half-yearly intervals. The curiosity -aroused by these unfamiliar personages, before whom were -decided the issues of freedom or imprisonment, life or death, -was concentrated and intense. The Judge who presided, -the Bar, the Deputy Sheriff, the Crown Prosecutor, the -Associate, were objects of admiration to the denizens of a -city three hundred miles from a metropolis—chiefly ignorant -of other than rural life, and to whom the ocean itself was -almost unknown. To the jurymen, culled from the town -dwellers and the surrounding farms, the summons to aid in -the administration of justice was a memorable solemnity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The compulsory withdrawal from their ordinary avocations -was fully compensated by urban pleasures, and doubtless -aided their intelligent comprehension of the laws of the land.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Among the townspeople a certain amount of social festivity -was deemed appropriate to the occasion.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It may therefore be imagined that among the young men -and maidens the infrequent procession of the Judge's carriage, -escorted by the Superintendent of Police and half-a-dozen -<span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>troopers, well armed, mounted, and accurately turned out, -created a thrill of pleasurable anticipation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>These feelings were heightened by the fact that Wagga -(as, for convenience, the thriving town on the Murrumbidgee -River was chiefly designated) stood at the edge of a vast -pastoral district, being also bounded by one of the finest -agricultural regions of Australia.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The cases to be tried at this sitting of the Court concerned -as well the great pastoral interest as the army of labourers, -to whom that interest paid in wages not less than ten millions -sterling annually.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Punctually as the Post-office clock struck ten, the Court -House was filled, great anxiety being shown to behold the -six prisoners, who were marched from the gaol and placed -in the dock, a forbidding-looking, iron-railed enclosure with -a narrow wooden seat. On this some promptly sat down, -while others stood up and gazed around with a well-acted -look of indifference. Bill Hardwick had never been in such -a place before, and the thought of what Jenny's feelings would -be if she had seen him there nearly broke his heart. He sat -with his head covered with his hands—the picture of misery -and despair. He knew that he was to be defended—indeed -had been closely questioned long before the day of trial about -his conduct on the eventful morning of the burning of the -<em>Dundonald</em>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He had asserted his innocence in moving terms, such as -even touched the heart of the solicitor, hardened as he was -by long acquaintance with desperate criminals as well as cases -where plaintiffs, witnesses, and defendants all seemed to be -leagued in one striking exhibition of false swearing and prevarication -calculated to defeat the ends of justice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's all right,' said the lawyer, 'and I believe every -word you've said, Bill, and deuced hard lines it is—not that -I believe defendants generally, on their oath or otherwise. But -you're a different sort, and it's a monstrous thing that you -should have to spend your hard-earned money on lawyers and -witnesses to defend yourself from a false charge. But what -we've got to look to, is to make the Judge and jury believe -you. These d—d scoundrels that were on for burning the -boat, saw you with a gun in your hand while the affair was -going on, and will swear to that, back and edge. Your friend -<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>Stoate, who isn't here yet, but will be up in time for the trial, -will clinch the nail, and he can bring the constable to back him -up, who saw you holding a gun. He doesn't say more than -that, but it goes to corroborate. The jury must go by sworn -evidence. There's only your own statement, which won't -weigh against deponents, who've apparently nothing to gain -on the other side.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It's all the spite of that hound Stoate,' cried out Bill -passionately. 'He was crabbed for my belittling him in the -Tandara shed. He's put those Unionists up to ruining me, and -I'll break his neck when I get out, if I have to swing for it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No, you won't, Bill! If you get a sentence, which I hope -you won't, when you come out you'll be so jolly glad to find -yourself free, that you won't want to go back even for revenge. -But never mind that for the present; we must look things in -the face. It's a thousand pities you couldn't get some of -those chaps that were driven into the hut along with you, by -the Unionists, the first night. Any idea where they've gone? -Know their names?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'They went down the river, I heard say. They're hundreds -of miles away by this time. What's the use of knowing their -names?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's my business. It's wonderful how people turn up -sometimes. Come, out with their names—where they came -from—all you know about them.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus adjured, Bill gave their names and a sketch of -personal appearance, home address, and so on. 'All of them -were natives, and some of them, when they were at home, -which was not often, had selections in the same district.' This -being done, Mr. Biddulph folded up the paper, and left Bill to -his reflections, telling him that he could do nothing more for -him at present, but to 'keep up his pecker,' and not to think -the race was over till the numbers were up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This quasi-encouragement, however, availed him but little. -'He had lost his shearing cheque; and here was money,' he -sadly thought, 'being spent like water, to prove him innocent of -a crime for which he never should have been charged. His -wife would be nearly killed with anxiety, besides being made -aware that they could not now think of buying Donahue's or -any other selection. How everything had gone wrong since -he rode away from home that morning with Stoate (infernal, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>blasted traitor that he was!), and had been going from bad to -worse ever since. It was against Jenny's advice that he joined -the Union. She had a knack of being right, though she was not -much of a talker. Another time—but when would that be?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Bill—'a hunter of the hills,' more or less, as was the -Prisoner of Chillon—had to pass the weary hours until the day -of trial, and he could exchange the confinement of the gaol -for the expansive scenery of the dock—restricted as to space, -certainly, but having an outlook upon the world, and a sort of -companionship in the crowd of spectators, lawyers, and -witnesses, finishing up with the Judge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At this judicial potentate Bill looked long and wistfully. -He had an idea that a Judge was a ruthless administrator of -hard laws, with a fixed prejudice against working-men who -presumed to do anything illegal, or in fact to trouble themselves -about anything but their work and wages. However, -he could not fail to see in this Judge a mild, serious, patient -gentleman, showing greater anxiety to understand the facts of -the case than to inflict sentences. Still, he was only partly -reassured. Might he not be one of those benevolent-seeming -ones—he had heard of such—who would talk sweetly to the -prisoner, reminding him of the happy days of childhood, and -his, perhaps, exemplary conduct when he used to attend -Sunday School—trust that he intended to lead a new life, and -then paralyse him with a ten years' sentence, hard labour, and -two days' solitary in each month?</p> - -<p class='c000'>He did not know what to expect. Wasn't there Pat -Macarthy, who got three years for assault with intent to commit -grievous bodily harm (certainly he more than half killed the -other man)? Well, his wife worked his farm, and slaved away -the whole time, denying herself almost decent clothes to wear. -At the end of his term, he came out to find her hopelessly -insane; she had been taken to the Lunatic Asylum only the -week before.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bill hardly thought that Jenny would go 'off her head,' in -the popular sense. It was too level and well-balanced. But if -he was sentenced to three or five years more of this infernal, -hopeless, caged-in existence, he expected <em>he</em> would.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The prisoners that he had watched in the exercise yard -didn't seem to mind it so much. But they were old and worn-out; -had nothing much to wish themselves outside for. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>Others did not look as if they had worked much in their lives—had -indeed 'done time' more than once, as the slang phrase -went, content to loll on the benches in the exercise yard and -talk to their fellow-convicts—not always after an improving -fashion. But to <em>him</em> it would be a living death. Up and -out every morning of his life at or before daylight,—hard at -work at the thousand-and-one-tasks of a farm until it was too -dark to tell an axe from a spade,—how <em>could</em> he endure this -cruel deprivation of all that made life worth living?</p> - -<p class='c000'>Fortunately for him, in one sense, the day of his trial was -absolutely perfect as to weather. Bright and warm—it was -late December—the sky unflecked by a single cloud. But -there was a cool, sea wind, which, wandering up from the -distant coast, set every human creature (not in sickness, sorrow, -or 'hard bound in misery and iron'), aglow with the joy of -living. It raised the spirits even of that plaything of destiny -known among men as William Hardwick, so that as the -whispering breeze stole through the open windows of the Court -he held up his dejected head and felt almost like a man again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The proceedings commenced, the jury had been impanelled. -The Crown Prosecutor threw back his gown, and fixing his -eyes on the Judge's impassive countenance opened the case.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'May it please your Honour, you will pardon me perhaps -if, before calling witnesses, I sketch briefly the state of affairs -which, more or less connected with the strike of 1891, has -developed into a condition of matters perilous to life and -property, and altogether without precedent in Australia.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'From a determination on the part of the seamen on coasting -steamers to refuse work unless certain privileges were -granted to them by the owners, a commencement was made -of the most widespread, important, and, in its effects, the most -disastrous strike ever known in Australia. Into the question -of the adequacy or otherwise of the wage claimed, it is not my -intention to enter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The consequences, however, of the refusal of these seamen -and others to continue at work except under certain conditions, -were far-reaching, and such as could not have been -reasonably anticipated. The revolt, as it was called by the -leaders of the movement, spread from sea to land, and -throughout all kinds and conditions of labourers, with -startling rapidity.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>'Many of these bodies of workmen could not have been -thought to have been concerned with the original dissentients, -by any process of reasoning. But by the leaders of -the rebellion—for such it may truly be designated—the -opportunity was deemed favourable for the promulgation of -what are known as communistic or socialistic doctrines. -More especially was this observable in the conduct of a large -body of workmen, members of the Australian Shearers' Union. -Guided by ambitious individuals of moderate education but -considerable shrewdness, not wholly unmingled with cunning, -the shearers, and indeed the whole body of labourers connected -with the great wool export, had been misled. They -were asked to believe that a conspiracy existed on the part -of the representatives of capital, whether merchants, bankers, -or landholders—indeed of all employers, whether private -individuals or incorporated companies—to defraud the labourer -of his hire.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Inflamed by seditious pamphlets and utterances, shearers -and others banded themselves together for the purpose of -intimidating all workmen who were unwilling to be guided by -the autocratic Unions, and arranged on their own terms with -employers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Not only did they, by "picketing,"—an alleged method of -moral suasion, but in reality a policy of insult, annoyance, -and obstruction,—forcibly prevent other workmen from following -their lawful occupations, but they commenced to destroy -the property of the pastoral tenants, believed to be opposed to -Union despotism. As a specimen of the inflammatory -language used, perhaps your Honour will permit me to read -an extract from a paper published in the (alleged) interest of -the working classes.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>His Honour 'thought that however such extracts might -indicate a tendency on the part of certain sections of workmen -to engage in acts of violence causing injury to property,—a -most lamentable state of feeling, in his opinion,—yet the -Court was directly concerned to-day with only specific evidence -as to the complicity of the prisoners in the crime of arson on -which they were arraigned. He thought the extract at this -stage irrelevant.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'After drawing the attention of your Honour and the jury -to the seditious, dishonest statements referred to, I will briefly -<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>refer to the lamentable list of outrages upon property, not -stopping short indeed of personal violence and grievous -bodily injury.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Matters have reached such a pitch that a state of civil war -may be said to have commenced. If not only the country -but the towns and cities of Australia are not to be theatres of -bloodshed, outrage, and incendiary flames, from which, by -the mercy of Providence, Australia has up to this period been -preserved, the law in its majesty must step in, and adequately -punish the actors in the flagrant criminality as to which I have -to address your Honour this day.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The prisoners, having been duly arraigned, with one -accord pleaded not guilty. The last name was that of -William Hardwick. Just before his name was called, room -was made in the crowded Court and a seat provided by the -Sergeant of Police for a woman with two children, whose -travel-worn appearance denoted recent arrival.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bill turned his head, and in that fragment of time recognised -Jenny with their little boy and girl. His name had to -be repeated a second time. Then he drew himself up, squared -his shoulders, and looking straight at the Judge, said 'Not -Guilty' in a voice which sounded throughout the Court, and if -it had not the ring of truth, was a marvellous imitation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Poor Jenny, who had preserved a strained, fixed look of -composure, broke down at this juncture. The sight of her husband, -standing in the dock with men of crime-hardened and to -her eyes of guilty appearance—one of whom, indeed, wore leg-irons, -which clanked as he moved—overcame all attempts at -self-possession. Her sobs were audible through the whole Court.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Wife of the prisoner, your Honour,' explained the -sergeant. 'Just off the coach; been travelling twenty hours -without rest or sleep.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Had she not better stay in the witnesses' room?' suggested -the Judge sympathetically. 'Refreshment can be brought to -her there.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>But Jenny, though temporarily overcome, was not the -woman to give in at such a time. Wiping her eyes, 'I've -come a long way, if you please, your Honour,' she said, 'to hear -my man tried on a false charge, if ever there was one; and I -hope you'll let me see it out. I'll not disturb the Court again.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was a piteous spectacle.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>Little Billy Hardwick, a precocious, resolute youngster -'rising five,' looked for a while with much gravity at his -father, and then said, 'Is this a church, mother? Why -doesn't father come out of that pew?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Jenny was nearly overcome by this fresh assault on her -sympathies, but accentuating her order by a shake, replied, -<i><span lang="it" xml:lang="it">sotto voce</span></i>, 'It's not a church, Billy; but you mustn't talk, or -else a policeman will lock you up in prison.' The child had -heard of prisons, where bad people were locked up, even -in Talmorah, where the primitive structure was, in his little -mind, associated with the constable's children, who used to play -therein when the cells were empty. He would have liked -further explanation, but he read the signs in his mother's -set face and closed lips, and spoke no more; while the little -girl, holding on to her mother's gown, mingled her tears with -those of her parent. Jenny Hardwick was 'not much in the -crying line,' as an early friend had said of her, and was besides -possessed of an unusual share of physical courage as well as of -strength of mind. So, when she had hastily dried her eyes, -she gave every indication of being as good as her word.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Call the first witness,' said the Crown Prosecutor, anxious -to get to work. This proved to be the Captain of Volunteers, -who marched into the box accordingly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Your name is Gilbert Elliot, formerly of the 60th Regiment, -now commanding a mounted Volunteer force. Were you at -Moorara on the Darling on the 28th of August 1894?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I was.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Please to state what you did and what you saw then.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'When the troop reached Poliah, at the date mentioned, -I saw the steamer <em>Dundonald</em> floating down the river. She -was on fire and burning fiercely. Apparently no one was -on board. There was a large camp of armed men—several -hundreds—whom I concluded to be Union shearers. They -were yelling and shouting out that they had just burned the -—— boat and would roast the crew and captain for bringing -up "blacklegs." I called upon them to disperse, and as they -made a show of resistance I ordered my men to charge. -They commenced to retreat and disperse, upon which I -caused all the men to be arrested who had arms in their -hands, and who were pointed out to me as having fired at the -crew of the steamer or having set fire to the vessel.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>'Do you recognise the prisoners before the Court?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes; all of them.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Your Honour, I appear for prisoner William Hardwick,' -said a shrewd, alert-looking person, who had just then bustled -into the Court and appeared to be well known to the legal -section. 'May I ask to have the captain's evidence read over -to me? Ordinarily I should not think of troubling your -Honour or delaying the business of the Court; but I have -travelled from Harden, and, being delayed on the road, have -only this moment arrived.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Under the circumstances, Mr. Biddulph, the evidence of -Captain Elliot may be read over from my notes.' This was -done.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The witness's evidence was proceeded with.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Was there any show of resistance by the men assembled -in the camp?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'There was a movement as if they were disposed to fight. -They outnumbered my troopers more than six to one, but at -the first charge they wavered and dispersed. They made no -opposition to my arresting the prisoners before the Court. -One of them, the one now in irons, made a desperate resistance, -but was not supported.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now, Captain Elliot,' said Mr. Biddulph, 'will you look -at the prisoner at this end of the dock; do you remember -him?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Perfectly. He had a rifle in his hand when I ordered -him to be arrested.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did he resist?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did he say anything? If so, what was it?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He said, "I'm not here of my own free-will. I've been -robbed and ill-treated by these men. I was forced to carry -this gun. You can see that it has not been discharged. My -mates (there are several of them) can prove that." I asked -him where they were. He said he did not know.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Then you had him arrested, though he disclaimed taking -any part in the unlawful proceedings? Did you not believe -him?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I did not. As it happened, other prisoners made substantially -the same defence who had been seen firing their -guns just as we rode up.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>'That will do, captain.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next witness was called.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'My name is Humphrey Bolton. I am a Sergeant of -Volunteers, and came up from Moorara by a forced march as -soon as we heard that the steamer was burnt. When we -struck the camp there were six or seven hundred men, most -of them armed. They appeared very excited. I saw the -steamer drifting down the river. She was on fire. I saw -a barge with a number of men in it. I noticed the Unionists -standing on the bank of the river and firing from time to time -in the direction of the barge. The men in the barge were -bending down and lying in the bottom as if afraid of being -hit. I did not hear of any of them being hurt; a few shots -were fired back, and one man in the camp was wounded.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What happened next?' said the Crown Prosecutor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Captain Elliot ordered me to capture all men on the -river-bank who had arms in their hands. The six prisoners -before the Court and about a dozen others were taken in -charge accordingly.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did the crowd resist their capture?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'They made a show of it at first, but as soon as we charged, -they gave way and cleared off in all directions.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now, sergeant,' said Mr. Biddulph, 'look at the prisoner -William Hardwick. Had he arms?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He was carrying a gun.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you see him fire it?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you examine it, when he said it had not been fired?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, the captain ordered me to do so; it had not been -fired recently.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Wasn't that proof that he was speaking the truth?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How could I tell? He might have been going to fire, or -picked up one that had not been used. Besides, my officer -told me to arrest him, and, of course, I obeyed orders. He -was in company with men who had just committed a felony, at -any rate.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I see—evil communications. You may go down, sergeant.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next witness was the captain of the <em>Dundonald</em>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'My name is Seth Dannaker, Master Mariner, out of -Boston, U.S.A. I was lately in command of the steamer -<em>Dundonald</em>—now at the bottom of the river Darling. I had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>come from Pooncarrie, carrying forty-five free labourers, last -Saturday, without obstruction or disturbance. I took wood on -board, and tied up, with swamp all round, a little below Poliah. -We heard that a large camp of Unionists were waiting to attack -us there; they had wire ropes across the river. We had steam -up all night and a watch was kept. About four o'clock <span class='fss'>A.M.</span> a mob -of disguised men rushed on board the boat, and took possession -of her. They knocked me about, and put me and the crew on -board the barge, now moored at Moorara. They afterwards -set the <em>Dundonald</em> on fire. She drifted down the river, and -finally sank. They took possession of the free labourers, and -counted them. They had guns and revolvers, threatening to -shoot me and all who resisted them. I have lost all my personal -effects, including money. I thought this was a free country; -now I know it isn't.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Cross-examined by Mr. Carter, appearing for the prisoners—with -the exception of William Hardwick.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You say you were threatened by one or more of the -Unionists. Can you recognise any of the prisoners now -before the Court?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes; the man in irons. I was told his name was Abershaw. -He put a revolver to my head, swearing he would shoot me -if I resisted; also that he would burn the b——y steamer, -and roast me and the Agent of the Employers' Association for -bringing up blacklegs.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Was he sober?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I cannot say. He was much excited, and more like a -madman than any one in his senses. Two or three men -struck me. I cannot identify any other prisoners. I had left -my revolver in the cabin, or I should have shot some of them.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you see any persons firing at the vessel or crew?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes; there was a line of men on the bank firing with rifles -at the crew. They wounded two of them. I cannot identify -any of them.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Cross-examined by Mr. Biddulph.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Will you look at the man in the corner of the dock nearest -to you? Did you see him firing or carrying a gun?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I never saw him at all, to my knowledge. Of course there -was confusion.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next witness. 'My name is James Davidson. I am the -Agent of the Employers' Association. On or about the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>28th August 1894, I came up in the <em>Dundonald</em> in charge of -free labourers (forty-five) to a spot near Poliah. The police had -been sent for from Tolarno. We had heard of the Unionists -intending to obstruct the boat, and so kept watch above and -below. Next morning, just before daylight, a number of men -rushed on board. One of them pointed a gun at the man who -tried to set the boat free, threatening to kill him if he moved. -They went into the wheel-house, and struck the captain; I -heard them tell him they would kill him and burn the boat. He -was knocked about badly. I got a few blows before the leaders -got the men quiet. Then they started getting my men out.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>By the Crown Prosecutor. 'Whom do you mean by your -men?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The free labourers.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did they resist, or go quietly?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Some went quietly—others resisted, and were thrown overboard. -A few were only in their shirts, as they had not had -time to dress. They were then set up in a line and counted, -to see if they were all there. A guard was put over them.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Was the guard armed?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes. Another gang was busy unloosing the steamer, and -preparing her for the fire. They smashed in the cabins and -stole everything. Nothing escaped them when they began to -pillage. I lost my portmanteau, clothes, and money. Everything -was taken out of my cabin, leaving me nothing but the -clothes I had on.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Were the Unionists much excited?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Excited?—raving mad, I should call it. We were lucky -to get off with our lives. Fortunately, few persons were injured. -We received every attention when we got to Moorara. There -is a large Union Camp at Tolarno. They have given out -that they intend to burn two more steamers, for carrying free -labourers.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Do you identify the prisoners in the dock?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Two of them. The man in irons struck the captain, and -said he would burn the boat and roast him alive. The one -with the large beard was the one who said he would shoot the -man who was unloosing the cable. The others I have no -knowledge of.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>By Mr. Carter. 'Did you see the prisoner William Hardwick—the -one at this end of the dock?'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>'Not that I am aware of.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You said you lost some money?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, ten or twelve pounds; it was in a purse in my portmanteau. -I had to draw on the Association for a few pounds, -as I was left penniless and without a change of wearing apparel.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I suppose that was a form of "picketing," in accordance -with the "ethics of war."'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"Pickpocketing," I should call it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'One moment, Mr. Davidson,' interposed Mr. Biddulph, as -the Agent turned to leave the witness-box. 'Did you see -the prisoner at this end of the dock, carrying a gun or in any -way joining in this creditable work?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I never saw him at all.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That will do.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Call Janus Stoate, witness for the Crown.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>As his name was mentioned, Bill turned his head towards -the door where the witnesses came in, with a look of -murderous hate, such as no man had ever seen before on his -good-natured countenance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Jenny, as she looked anxiously towards the dock, hardly -knew him. By that door was to walk in the man who had -eaten many a time at his humble but plentiful table, and in -return had treacherously denounced him, ruined his character, -helped to deprive him of his hard-earned wages, gone near -to render his children paupers, and break his wife's heart. A -man of his easy-going, confiding character, easily deceived, is -not prone to suspicion, but when injured—outraged in his -deepest, tenderest feelings—is terrible in wrath. As Bill unconsciously -clenched his hands, and stared at the open door, he -looked as one eager to tear his enemy limb from limb.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the thronged Court was disappointed, and Bill's vengeance -delayed, as no Janus Stoate appeared.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Biddulph, who had left the Court, now appeared in -company with a mounted trooper, whose semi-military attire -told of a rapid ride. He spoke in a low voice to the Sub-Inspector -of Police, who thereupon proceeded to address the -Judge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'If your Honour pleases, there will be a trifling delay -before this witness can give his evidence, owing to circumstances -to which I cannot at present allude. As the hour for -your Honour's luncheon has nearly arrived, may I suggest a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>short adjournment? I can assure your Honour that I make -the application for sufficient reasons.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I am opposed,' answered the Judge, 'to adjournments in -criminal cases; but on Mr. Sub-Inspector's assurance, I consent -to relax my rule. Let the Court be adjourned until half-past -one o'clock.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was a gasp of relief, half of satisfaction, half of disappointment, -from the crowd as they hurried from the Court -to snatch a hasty meal and ventilate their opinions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It's another dodge of the Government to block our workers -from gettin' justice,' said one oratorical agitator, partially disguised -as a working-man, and whose soft hands betrayed -his immunity from recent toil. 'It's a conspiracy hatched -up to block Delegate Stoate's evidence agin that blackleg -Hardwick.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You be hanged!' said a rough-looking bushman, who had -just hung his horse up to one of the posts in front of the -Murrumbidgee Hotel. 'You won't have so much gab when -you see Delegate Stoate, as you call <em>him</em>, before the Court, -and some one as can tell the truth about him. Bill Hardwick's -as honest a cove as ever walked, and he <em>is</em> a worker, -and not a blatherskite as hasn't done a day's work for years, -and sets on skunks like Stoate to rob honest men of their -liberty. Don't you stand there gassin' afore me, or I'll knock -your hat over your eyes.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was presumably a majority of Mr. Stoate's own -persuasion around listening to the foregoing remarks, but the -onlookers did not seem inclined to controvert this earnest -speaker's arguments—seeing that he was distinctly an -awkward customer, as he stood there, obviously in hard -condition, and eager for the fray.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'See here now, boys,' said a large imposing-looking policeman, -'sure it's betther for yees to be gettin' a bit to ate and a -sup of beer this hot day, than to be disputing within the -hearin' of the Coort, and may be gettin' "run in" before -sundown. Sure it's Misther Barker that's sittin' the good -example.' Here he pointed to the agitator, who, after -mumbling a few words about 'workers who didn't stand by -their order,' had moved off, and was heading straight for the -bar of the Murrumbidgee Hotel.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This broke up the meeting, as the Union labourers were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>anxious to hear the conclusion of the case, Regina <em>v.</em> Hardwick -and others, and were not unobservant either of the unusually -large force of police which the Resident Magistrate of -Wagga Wagga, a man of proverbial courage and experience, had -called up, in anticipation of any <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">émeute</span></i> which might arise as -a result of this exciting trial. At half-past one o'clock the -Judge, accompanied by the Deputy Sheriff, took his seat -upon the Bench, and the Court was again formally declared -open.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As the name Janus Stoate was called by the official, in a -particularly clear and audible voice, every eye was turned -toward the door by which the Crown witnesses entered, and -that distinguished delegate walked in, closely accompanied by -a senior constable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>His ordinarily assured and aggressively familiar manner -had, however, deserted him; he looked, as the spectators -realised, some with surprise, others with chagrin, more like a -criminal than a Crown witness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bill's gaze was fixed upon him, but instead of homicidal -fury, his whole countenance exhibited unutterable scorn, -loathing, and contempt. As he turned away, he confronted -the spectators and the Court officials generally, with a cheerful -and gratified expression, unshared by his companions in -misfortune.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Even they regarded Stoate with doubt and disfavour. -Deeply suspicious and often envious of their fellow-workmen -who attained parliamentary promotion, and more than that, -a fixed and comfortable salary, they were skilled experts in -facial expression. In the lowered eyes and depressed look -of Mr. Delegate Stoate they read defeat and disaster, not -improbably treachery.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The beggar's been squared or "copped" for some bloomin' -fake,' said the prisoner on the other side of the man in irons. -'He's goin' to turn dog on us, after all.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'If I don't get a "stretch,"' growled the other, 'his blood-money -won't do him no good.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Silence in the Court,' said the senior Sergeant, and -Mr. Stoate was duly sworn.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Your name is Janus Stoate, and you are a shearer and -a bush labourer?' said the Crown Prosecutor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That is so, mostly go shearin' when I can get a shed.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>'Now, do you know the prisoners in the dock? Look at -them well. Their names are William Stokes, Daniel Lynch, -Hector O'Halloran, Samson Dawker, Jeremiah Abershaw, and -William Hardwick.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, your Honour; I've met 'em as feller-workers. I -don't know as I've been pusson'ly intimate with 'em—except -prisoner Hardwick.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>He does know him</em>, to our sorrow, the false villain!' cried -out Jenny, coming a pace forward with a child in each hand, -and delivering her impeachment before any one could stop -her. 'Ask him, your Honour, if he hasn't lived with us, lived -<em>upon</em> us I call it, for weeks at a time—and now he's going to -bear false witness and ruin the family, body and soul.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Is this the person who interrupted before?' said the Judge. -'Order <em>must</em> be kept in the Court. Let her be removed.' -Here the Deputy Sheriff said a few words in a low tone to -his Honour. 'Indeed!' said the Judge mildly. 'She must -control her feelings, however. My good woman, if I hear -another interruption, it will be my duty to have you removed -from the Court.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Mrs. Hardwick,' said Biddulph, when Jenny's sobs had -ceased, 'don't you make a fool of yourself, you're hurting -Bill's case. I thought you had more sense. Do you want -me to throw it up?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This settled poor Jenny effectually, and humbly begging -pardon, she promised amendment, and kept her word—only -regarding Stoate from time to time with the expression which -she had assumed at times when a native cat (<em>Dasyurus</em>) had -got into her dairy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Were you at a place called Poliah, on the river Darling, -on or about the 28th August last?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, I was.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Was there a camp there of Unionist shearers?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'There was workers of all sorts, besides shearers, rouseabouts, -and labourers, also loafers.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Very likely; but what I want you to tell me is, were they -chiefly shearers? In number, how many?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, say six or seven 'underd.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You acted as a delegate, I believe, under rules of -the Australian Shearers' Union, at several stations during -shearing?'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>'I was app'inted as delegate by my feller-workers, and -acted as sich on several occasions.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What were your duties as a delegate?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I 'ad to be in the shed while shearin' was goin on, to -see the rules of the Australian Shearers' Union was carried -out strickly, and that the men got justice.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'In what way?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, that they wasn't done out of their pay for bad -shearin', when they shore reasonable well; that they got -proper food and lodgin', and wasn't made shear wet sheep, -which ain't wholesome—and other things, as between employer -and employee.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'As delegate, did you go to Poliah? and did you see a -steamer called the <em>Dundonald</em> on the river?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, I did.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you see a number of men rush on board of her, and -take the free labourers out of her?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No. I was at the back of the camp persuadin' of the -men not to use no vi'lence. Then I heard a great hubbub, -and guns fired. After that I saw the steamer afire and -drifting down river.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you see who set it on fire?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you see who fired the guns?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No; I heard the reports of 'em.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you see any men on the bank with guns in their -hands?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes; a line of 'em along the river.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Were the prisoners now before the Court there?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'They might have been, I can't speak positive.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Was the prisoner Hardwick there carrying a gun?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I can't be sure. He might have been. I thought I saw -him, but I wasn't near him, and I can't be sure in my mind.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You can't be sure?' asked the Crown Prosecutor angrily. -'Didn't you swear at the Police Court at Dilga that you saw -him not only holding a gun, but firing it towards the -steamer? I'll read your deposition. "I saw the prisoner -holding the gun produced. He appeared to have been -firing it."'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now, Mr. Stoate, is that your signature? and how do you -account for your going back on your sworn evidence? You're -<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>intelligent enough—in a way. I am at a loss to understand -your conduct.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, I was a bit flurried at the time—confused like. -The police came down and charged the mob, and a lot of the -shearers cleared out.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Then you won't swear that Hardwick held the gun, or -fired it?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No; I wasn't near enough to him to be dead certain. It -was a man like him.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Your Honour,' said the Crown Prosecutor, 'this is a -most extraordinary change of front on the part of this witness; -it amounts to gross prevarication, if not something worse. I -<em>may</em> have occasion to prosecute him for perjury. You may go -down, sir.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Not yet. With your Honour's permission, I propose to -cross-examine the witness,' interposed Mr. Biddulph. 'Now, -Mr. Delegate Stoate, is Janus your Christian name?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Janus, is it? Sounds more heathen than Christian; more -suitable also, if I mistake not. Now, Janus Stoate, you're -my witness, for the present—remember that—and I advise -you to be careful what you say, for your own good, and don't -"suppose" so much as you did in your answer to my learned -friend. You and Hardwick were on friendly terms before -shearing, and came down the river together?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, we were friends, in a manner of speakin'.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Were you friends or not? Answer me, and don't fence. -Have you not stayed at his house often, for more than a week -at a time?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, now and then—workers often help one another a -bit. I'd 'a done the same by him if he'd 'a come along the -road lookin' for work.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Given him house-room, and three meals a day for a week -or more, I daresay. But, let me see—<em>have you a house</em>?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, not exactly. I live in Melbourne.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Where?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'At a boarding-house.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You left his house, then, for the shearing, the last time you -were there. You had board and lodging for the previous -night, and came down the river to North Yalla-doora together; -is that so?'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>'Yes.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you say you were a delegate before the shearing -began?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why not?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'For no reason in partic'lar.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you and he have a dispute on the road, and part -company before you came to North Yalla-doora?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, we had a bit of a barney, nothing much.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh! nothing much? You were at Tandara while the -shearing was going on; and did he and others refuse to -come out on strike when you produced a telegram from the -Head Centre, or whatever you call him, at Wagga?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He refused to obey the order of the properly app'inted -hofficer of the Australian Shearers' Union; and was disrespectful -to me, pusson'ly.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you then say that you would make it hot for him at -the next shed?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I don't remember. But I was displeased at his disloyal -haction.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Disloyal to whom? to the Queen?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No, to a greater power than the Queen—to the People, -as is represented by the Australian Shearers' Union.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Very good; keep that for your next speech. You'll find -out something about the powers of Her Majesty the Queen -before long.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Do you not think, Mr. Biddulph,' said the Judge, with -much politeness, 'that you have tested this part of the cross-examination -sufficiently?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It was necessary to prove malice, your Honour; but I will -proceed to the witness's acts and deeds, which are more -important. Now, Mr. Delegate, answer these few questions -straightforwardly.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I am on my oath, Mr. Lawyer.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I am aware of that; I don't attach much importance to -the obligation, I am sorry to say. Did you not say to the -President of the Shearers' Committee, during the riot, which -might have ended in murder, and did end in arson—"Send a -couple of men with Bill Hardwick and put him in the front -with a rifle"?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Nothing of the sort.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>'If it is sworn by a respectable witness that he heard you, -will you still deny it?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Certainly I will.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Call Joseph Broad. (I merely call this witness to be -identified, your Honour.) Did you see this man at the -shearers' camp?' to Stoate.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I saw him there, but that's all.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That will do, Broad; go out of Court for the present. -Did you hear your President speak to him?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Not to my knowledge.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did Lynch and another man stand on each side of Hardwick -on the bank of the river, and threaten to shoot him if -he didn't stop there and hold out his rifle?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I didn't hear them.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now listen to me, and be very careful how you answer -this question. Did <em>you</em> stand close behind him with a -revolver and say, "Don't you move for your life"?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Not that I remember. We was all crushed up that close -together, as the crew of the steamer fired into us, that a man -couldn't tell who was next or anigh him.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Very probably. That will do. Stay,' as Mr. Stoate turned -away, and left the witness-box with a relieved expression. -'Go into the box for a moment. How did you come here—walk -or ride?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Rode.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Rode your own horse?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No, a police horse; I came up with Sergeant Kennedy.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh, then, he lent you a horse—very kind of him—and -accompanied you here. How was that?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, I believe there was some sort of a case trumped-up -against me.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh! some kind of a trumped-up case, was there? We'll -hear more about that, by and by. That will do for the -present, Mr. Delegate.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The witness then left the Court, followed by the strange -trooper, so closely indeed, that but for the absence of handcuffs -he might have been thought to have been in custody.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Call Sergeant Kennedy.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>John Kennedy, being duly sworn, deposed as follows: -'I am a senior Sergeant of Police, stationed at Dilga, on -Cowall Creek, which runs into the Darling. I saw the last -<span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>witness at Tandara Run on December the 20th instant. He -was given into my custody by Mr. Macdonald, the manager, -charged with wilfully and maliciously setting fire to the run. -I searched him in his presence and found on him two -half-crowns, a knife, a meerschaum pipe, a plug of tobacco, -two sovereigns, a copy of Union Shearers' rules, a letter, and -a cheque. The cheque was drawn by John Macdonald in -favour of William Hardwick, dated 10th October. The -amount was £55: 17s.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>When this announcement was made an audible murmur -arose from the body of the Court, even a few hisses were -heard, which were promptly suppressed. Bill opened his eyes -in wonder and amazement, and then turned to where Jenny -sat crying peacefully to herself, but not from grief. Their -money had been recovered, their traitorous enemy disgraced -and confounded. She, in her mind's eye, saw her home -once more glorified with Bill's presence—a free, unstained -man. God was merciful, and she despaired no longer of His -goodness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You didn't observe anything in the rules of the A.S.U. -as to pocketing the cash of all shearers unfriendly to the -Union? No? Then you may go down.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I have no questions to ask this witness,' said the Crown -Prosecutor, with emphasis—'at present, that is to say.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Mr. J. Stoate, who had departed with the trooper, was -for greater safety and security lodged in the modern substitute -for the dungeon of the Middle Ages, until the Judge, -after the finding of the jury, should have pronounced sentence -or otherwise on the <em>other</em> prisoners.</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span> - <h3 class='c010'>CHAPTER VIII</h3> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>'Call Cyrus Cable!' for the defence. As the long-legged, -bronzed Sydney-sider lounged up to the witness-box, Bill's -face, which had assumed a more hopeful expression, became -distinctly irradiated. For this man was one of the shearers -who had travelled down with him from Tandara, and had -agreed to drop all connection with the Union and its -revolutionary tactics. They had both been imprisoned at -Poliah; had suffered wrong and indignity at the hands of -the insurgents. How had he come up from the Darling, -just in the nick of time? Bill didn't know, but if he had -seen Dick Donahue outside of the Court he might have -guessed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'My name's Cyrus Cable, native of Bathurst. I'm a -shearer in the season; have a selection at Chidowla, this -side of Tumberumba. I know some of the men in the dock; -saw them at Poliah when the row was on and the steamer -was burnt.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Will you point out any of the prisoners that you can -identify?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, there's Bill Hardwick, an old mate of mine—and -fellow-prisoner, if it comes to that. It's dashed hard lines -on him to be scruffed and gaoled by those Union scallowags, -first for not joinin' 'em, and then locked up and tried because -they ill-treated him and he couldn't get away. I call that a -queer sort of law.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The witness is requested to confine himself to answering -such questions as are put to him, and not to give his opinion -as to the law of the land.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Do you identify any other prisoners?'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>'Yes. I saw that beauty with the hobbles on, fire his -gun at the crew on the boat twice; I saw him reload. He -was one of the men as hustled Bill, and the rest of our -mob that came from Tandara, into the tent and set a guard -on us. I took notice of him then, and can swear to him -positive.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Was the prisoner Hardwick with the rioters?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, like me, because he couldn't help himself. I heard -the President, as he calls himself—there he is, the t'other -end of the "bot" (I mean the dock, but it's so like a branding -pen)—say to that Janus Stoate, him as passed the wire with -our names when we left Tandara—"Put a good man on each -side of Bill Hardwick, so's he can't stir, and they'll take -him for a Unionist and keep pottin' at him. What fun it'll -be!" and he laughed. "I'll be behind him," says Stoate, -"so he won't have no chance of boltin'." That's the way -it was worked to bring Bill, as straight a chap as ever -sharpened shears, into this steamer-burnin' racket.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How was it that you and your mates left your comrade -in the lurch?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, we cleared as soon as the police came. The -Union men bolted in all directions and left the free labourers -to mind themselves. We thought Bill was comin' after us, -and never missed him till we were miles away.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you not return to rescue him?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No fear! We thought the police might run <em>us</em> in for -"aidin' and abettin'." It was every man for himself, and the -devil take the hindmost.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The witness was reprimanded for levity, and directed not -to refer to the devil unnecessarily. In cross-examination he -stated that he took particular notice of the man in irons, as -he had repeatedly struck him and his mates with the butt-end -of his rifle. Like the other rebels, he was very brave against -unarmed men, but cut it when the police showed they meant -business.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Have you not a revengeful feeling against the prisoner -Abershaw, the one who is (very improperly, in my opinion) -brought into the Court in leg-irons?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, I've the feelings of a man, and I don't cotton to a -cowardly dog who kept rammin' the butt-end of his gun into -the small of my back, when I couldn't defend myself. But -<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>I'm here to speak the truth, and to get justice for an innocent -man.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I suppose you were told that you would be paid your -expense for attending this trial?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I got a Crown subpœna. So did Martin.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Who served it to you?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'A police constable at Toovale.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Was anybody with him?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, Dick Donahue. He told me and my mate, Martin -Hannigan, that Bill Hardwick was to be tried at Wagga for -burnin' the <em>Dundonald</em> and shootin' at the crew. "That be -hanged for a yarn!" says I. "Fancy Bill, with a farm and a -wife and kids, settin' out to burn steamers and kill people! -Holy Moses! Are you sure he didn't rob a church, while he -was about it?" But he said it was no laughing matter, and -he might get three years in gaol. So of course we come, and -would have turned up if we'd had to do it on foot and pay -our own expenses!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Of course, your Honour will note this witness's evident -bias?' said the counsel for the prisoners.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I shall take my notes in the ordinary manner,' said the -Judge. 'It is not necessary for counsel to suggest points of -practice to a Judge before he addresses the Court at the -conclusion of the evidence.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Your Honour will perhaps pardon me; I thought it might -have escaped your notice.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I trust, Mr. Carter, that <em>nothing</em> escapes my notice in an -important criminal case. Let the next witness be called.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Martin Hannigan is your name?' said Mr. Biddulph. -'You were at Poliah Camp on the 28th of August, were you -not? Do you know the prisoners before the Court?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Some of them. I know Bill Hardwick, and the man with -the leg-irons, but not his name. Yes; I know the one with -the black beard—they called him the President.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Who called him by that title?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The shearers, or rioters, or loafers, whoever they were. -They were six of one and half-a-dozen of the other, if you -ask me.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Never mind answering what you are not asked. What -did you <em>see them do</em>?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well—Mr. President and his mob, all armed, made Bill -<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>and me and eight or nine other chaps that came down from -Tandara, prisoners of war, in a manner of speakin'—"robbery -under arms" I call it, for they boned our swags, our horses, -our grub, and our pack-saddles. I found the horses, when -they were boltin' from the police, or we should 'a never -seen 'em again; two of us had to ride bareback. I seen -that gaol-bird there—he's "done time," I'll take my oath—and -another man shovin' Bill Hardwick between them towards -the river-bank—one of 'em was puttin' a gun into his hand—swore -he'd shoot him if he didn't carry it. I saw one of 'em -fire at the boat. I'd not swear he hit anybody. I heard the -"President" say, "We'll burn the bally boat; that'll learn -'em to bring 'scabs' down the river." I saw the steamer -blaze up after the crew and free labourers was out. Then -the police came, and Martin, my mate, and I cleared for our -lives. We caught our horses in a bend and rode down the -river to Toovale, when we got a non-Union shed, and wired in. -That's about all I know.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>By the Crown Prosecutor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Your name is Martin Hannigan. Are you an Irishman?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No, nor an Englishman either. I'm an Australian, and -so was my father. What's that to do with the case?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I thought you were rather humorous in your evidence, -that's all. The Irish are a witty race, you know.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'So they say. I've never been there. Anythin' else you'd -like to ask me?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Only a few questions. When were you served with a -subpœna to attend this Court, and where?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'At Toovale, on the Lower Darling. The policeman came -to the shed where Cable and I were working and served -us. Dick Donahue came with him, and told us that Bill -Hardwick was being tried with the other men for burning the -<em>Dundonald</em>.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Didn't you know before? That seems strange.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, we were workin' hard to make up for lost time, by -this strike foolishness, and we were too dashed tired at night -to go in for readin' papers, or anything but supper and a -smoke.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I suppose Donahue told you all about Hardwick's being -arrested, and you had a talk over the case—what evidence -you could give, and so on.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>'He didn't say much about evidence. He knew we was -there, and seen all there was to see; might have <em>felt</em> something -too, if a bullet had come our way—they were flying -pretty thick for a few minutes. I seen that President chap fire -once, and load again.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And that was all that passed?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, pretty well all; we weren't "coached," if that's -what you mean.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You swear that you saw that man fire, and load again?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you see the free labourers?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, forty or fifty; some looked damp, as they had -been chucked into the river. Some had only their shirts on. -They were stood up in a line, and counted like a lot of store -cattle. They cleared off like us, when the police came, and the -Union fellows bolted. We passed little mobs of them makin' -down the river.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You swear you didn't see Hardwick fire his gun?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It wasn't his gun, and he didn't shoot.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The sensational part of the trial was over; other witnesses -were examined for the defence. They agreed in 'swearing -up' for the prisoners before the Court, always excepting for -Bill Hardwick. 'The other four men had exhibited great -mildness, and a desire for peace. They had not seen the -captain of the <em>Dundonald</em> assaulted; they saw the steamer on -fire—they didn't know how it had started burnin'—might -have been from kerosene in the cargo—it often happened. -There was some shooting, but the crew of the steamer fired -first. They didn't see any of the prisoners firing at the boat, -except William Hardwick. Would swear positive that he -had a gun, and loaded, after he fired every time—yes, every -time. Saw no men thrown overboard. Some of them swam -ashore, but they did it of their own accord.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>These witnesses broke down under cross-examination.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Crown Prosecutor made a brief but powerful address -to the jury, pointing out discrepancies in evidence, and the -manifest perjury committed by the last witnesses. He trusted -the jury would not overlook their conduct, and appraise their -evidence at its true value.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The counsel for the defence, a well-known barrister, made -a long and impassioned appeal to the jury 'to excuse the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>more or less technically illegal acts, which, he admitted, could -not be defended. It was, however, in the line of "rough -justice," the origin of which was a long series of capitalistic -tyranny and oppression. They had suffered long from inadequate -payment for their skilled labour, for shearing was no -ordinary muscle work which could be performed by the mere -nomadic labourer of the day. It required an apprenticeship, -sometimes lasting for years. It was difficult, and exhausting -beyond all other bush labour, having to be performed at -a high rate of speed and for long hours, unknown to the -European workman. The food was of bad quality, the -cooking rude. The huts in which they had to dwell, worse -than stables, nearly always. They had besides to travel long -distances, expensive in time lost and wayside accommodation. -For all these reasons, they had come to the conclusion that -the question of pay and allowances, with other matters, required -reconstruction, and failing to obtain a conference with -the Employers' Union—a combination of squatters, merchants, -bankers, and plutocrats generally—they had used the only -weapon the law allowed to the workers of Australia and had -organised a <em>strike</em>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The labour leaders had in all cases counselled moderation -and constitutional action for the redressing of their wrongs. -But—and it was by none more regretted than by the labour -organisers themselves—rude and undisciplined members of the -Union had resorted to personal violence, and had injured the -property of squatters and others, believed to be desirous of -crushing Unionism. Some allowance might be made for -these men. They saw their means of livelihood menaced by -cargoes of free labourers, bought up like slaves by the capitalistic -class. They saw their wages lowered, their industry -interfered with—the bread taken out of their mouth, so to -speak—by a wealthy combination, which had no sympathy for -the workers of the land, who had by their labour built up this -enormous wool industry, now employing armies of men and -fleets of vessels.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Were they, the creators of all this wealth, to be put off with -a crust of bread and a sweating wage? No! They had been -worked up to frenzy by a plutocratic invasion of their natural -rights; and if they crossed the line of lawful resistance to -oppression, was it to be wondered at? He trusted that his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>Honour, in the highly improbable event of a verdict of "guilty," -would see his way to inflict a merely nominal term of imprisonment, -which, he undertook to say, would act as an effective -caution for the future.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>His Honour proceeded to sum up. 'In this case, the -prisoners were charged with committing a certain act, distinctly -a criminal offence, punishable by a term of imprisonment. -He would not dilate upon the collateral results, but impress -upon the jury that all they had to consider was the evidence -which they had heard. Did the evidence point conclusively -to the fact that the prisoners had committed the crime of -arson—the burning of the steamer <em>Dundonald</em>—then and there, -on the 28th of August last, on the waters of the Darling River? -With the conflicting interests of the pastoral employers, and -the rate of wages, or the propriety of strikes, or otherwise, they -had nothing whatever to do. He would repeat, <em>nothing whatever -to do</em>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did they believe the evidence for the prosecution? He -would take that evidence, <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">seriatim</span></i>, from his notes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'First there was that of the officer of Volunteers, which was -direct and circumstantial. He deposes to having seen the -steamer <em>Dundonald</em> floating down the river, burning fiercely -then, with apparently no one on board. He saw a large camp -of armed men, who shouted out that they had burnt the -steamer, and would roast the captain and crew, for bringing up -blacklegs. This last expression, he was informed, meant non-Union -labourers. He caused the arrest of several men with -arms in their hands, pointed out to him as having fired at the -crew of the vessel, or having set fire to her. Among them was -the prisoner Hardwick, who had a gun in his hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The next witness was the sergeant of Volunteers. He -saw the burning vessel, the crowd of armed men, and also -men firing in the direction of a barge containing the crew -presumably. He arrested by the colonel's order the six -prisoners now before the Court, as well as others. They had -arms in their hands.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Captain Dannaker of the <em>Dundonald</em> deposed to a very -serious state of matters. He had as passengers forty-five free -labourers. Before daylight, a band of armed, disguised men -boarded the vessel—of which they took full possession. Their -action was not far removed from that of pirates. They -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>threatened with death the captain, the crew, the agent of the -Employers' Union, several of whom were assaulted, and ill-used. -They "looted" the steamer, to use an Indian term—smashing -cabins and appropriating private property. These -unlawful acts they completed by forcing the free labourers to -land, compelling the crew to go into the barge, setting the -steamer on fire and casting her away, after which she was -observed to sink. He also saw men on the river-bank firing -at the crew and passengers. He identifies Abershaw, the -prisoner in irons, as the man who assaulted and threatened -him. He did not notice prisoner Hardwick.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Mr. Davidson, the agent of the Employers' Union, corroborates -the foregoing evidence in all particulars. He himself -was assaulted, as were the free labourers. He saw the rioters -throw some of the free labourers overboard. He saw them -unloosing the steamer and preparing it for burning. His -clothes and money were taken out of his cabin. He -identifies Abershaw, but not prisoner Hardwick. He identifies -Dawker, the man with the large beard, as the "President," so -called.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The witness for the Crown, Janus Stoate, gave, in his (the -Judge's) opinion, unsatisfactory evidence after the adjournment. -He described himself as a shearer; also a delegate -appointed by the Shearers' Union. Though present at the -scene of outrage, he apparently saw no one conduct himself -indiscreetly, with the exception of his friend and fellow-shearer, -William Hardwick. He swears that he saw <em>him</em> load and fire -a gun in the direction of the steamer. He did not see the -two prisoners Abershaw and Dawker, identified by the other -witnesses, say or do anything illegal. He heard the report of -firearms, but could not say who used them, except in the case -of Hardwick. In several respects his evidence differed from -that given before the Bench of Magistrates at Dilga Court of -Petty Sessions, when the prisoners were committed for trial. -He admitted in cross-examination having had a quarrel with -Hardwick at Tandara woolshed, and to having arrived here -in custody.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Sergeant Kennedy, of the New South Wales Police, -deposes to the arrest of this witness at Tandara station, on -a charge of maliciously setting fire to the grass on the run, -and to finding in his pocket, when searched, a cheque drawn -<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>in favour of William Hardwick for £55: 17s., said prisoner -having previously testified as to its being lost or stolen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He would tell the jury here that he had no confidence -whatever in the evidence of the witness Stoate. He appeared -to have prevaricated, and also to have been actuated by a -revengeful feeling in the case of William Hardwick, though, -strange to say, he was apparently without eyes or ears in the -case of the other prisoners, all of whom had been positively -identified as having been seen in the commission of unlawful -acts. In conclusion, he would entreat the jury to examine -carefully, to weigh well, the evidence in this very serious -and important case, and with close adherence to the obligation -of their oaths, to bring in their verdict accordingly. The -Court now stands adjourned till two o'clock.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The jury were absent more than an hour, and during that -time Mr. Biddulph persuaded Jenny to have a cup of tea, -and otherwise refresh herself and the children, who had outstayed -their usual meal-time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She, with difficulty, was induced to touch anything: dead -to all ordinary feelings, as she described herself, until Bill's -fate was decided. 'How can I think of anything else?' she -exclaimed passionately to Dick Donahue, who, with unfailing -optimism, tried to convince her that Bill must be let off, and -next day would be with her and the children on the way to -Chidowla.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How can we tell?' said she. 'Wasn't there Jack Woodman, -and the lawyers told him he must be let off on a point -of law, instead of which he got three years, and he's in gaol -now.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Ah! but that was for cattle-stealing,' replied Mr. Donahue; -'and Jack had been run in before, for duffing fats off Mount -Banda—tried too, and got off by the skin of his teeth. This -time he shook a selector's poddies, and the jury couldn't stand -that. But Bill's innocent, as everybody knows. See what the -Judge said about Stoate's evidence! I'll bet you a hat to a new -bonnet that Bill's out a free man this afternoon, and that -Stoate's in the dock for settin' fire to Tandara, with a six to -one on chance of seem' the inside of Berrima Gaol, and those -four other chaps to keep him company.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Jenny couldn't help relaxing into a wintry smile at this -reassuring prophecy. But her face assumed its wonted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>seriousness as she said, 'Well, Dick Donahue, you've been a -staunch friend all through this trouble, and I'll never forget -you and Biddy for it as long as I live, and Bill won't neither.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Don't be troubling yourself about that, Mrs. Hardwick,' -said Donahue. 'You were a good friend to her and -her children before all this racket—they would have wanted -many a meal only for you. But I'm a changed man. I've -some hope before me, thanks to Mr. Calthorpe; and if Bill -will go partners with me, we'll be Hardwick and Donahue, -with a tidy cattle-station one day yet.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The Court's sitting,' called out some one, 'and the jury's -agreed.' A rush was made by all interested persons and the -spectators generally. Not a seat was vacant as the Court -official demanded silence, and the Judge's Associate proceeded -to read out the names of the jurors, who, headed by their -foreman, stood in line on the floor of the Court.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Are you agreed, Mr. Foreman, on your verdict?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We are.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How do you find?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We find William Stokes, Daniel Lynch, Hector O'Halloran, -Samson Dawker, and Jeremiah Abershaw guilty of arson, and -we find William Hardwick <em>not guilty</em>.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The verdict of guilty was received in silence. A number -of the spectators were Unionists, and though the more sensible -members of the association had always been opposed to lawless -proceedings, yet from a mistaken sense of comradeship they -felt bound not to repudiate the acts of any of their confraternity. -No doubt at the next ballot the voting would have -been almost unanimous against injury to property, and such -outrages as the law's slow but sure retribution has never yet -failed to overtake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But when the verdict of 'Not Guilty' was announced, there -was a cheer which it tasked the stern mandate of the Deputy-Sheriff -and the vigorous efforts of the police to suppress. -Jenny did not hear much of it, as the fateful words had -barely been pronounced when she fell as if dead. She was -promptly carried out into the witnesses' room, and measures -taken for her recovery. When she came to herself, Bill was -bending over her, and the children, smiling amidst their tears, -were holding fast to one of his hands.</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>Anxious as both husband and wife were to shake the -Wagga dust from their feet and get away up the river to their -half-deserted home, Bill's Court work was not yet concluded. -He was constrained to appear again in the memorable cases -of Regina <em>versus</em> Stoate, charged with arson, and the same -Gracious Lady (who impersonates Nemesis on so many -occasions over such a wide area of the earth's surface) <em>versus</em> -Stoate, charged with 'larceny from the person.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>No sooner had the jury been dismissed, and, with the -witnesses, were wending their way to the office of the Clerk -of the Bench, expectant of expenses, than the Crown -Prosecutor addressed his Honour, representing that only at -luncheon had he received the depositions in a fresh case—he -referred to that of Regina <em>versus</em> Stoate. He was aware that -the cases just disposed of had been supposed to conclude the -sitting, and that his Honour was expected at Narrabri the -day after to-morrow; but under the peculiar circumstances, -as several of the witnesses and two members of the legal -profession who were concerned in the last case were to be -briefed in this, he trusted that his Honour would overlook -his personal discomfort, and consent to deal with this case at -the present sitting of the Court.</p> - -<p class='c000'>His Honour feared that the jurors and witnesses in the -heavy cases at Narrabri might suffer inconvenience by -the postponement of his departure; but, as the adjourning -of this case to the next Assize Court—nearly five months—would -more seriously affect all concerned, and as he was -opposed on principle to prisoners on committal being detained -in gaol, or defendants delayed one week longer than was -actually necessary, he would accede to counsel's very -reasonable request.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Let another jury be impanelled, Mr. Associate, and then -adjourn the Court until ten o'clock to-morrow morning. I -shall consider the evidence taken in the previous cases, and -deliver the sentences at the opening of the Court. The -prisoners may be removed.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the following morning the five prisoners were again -placed in the dock, looking anxious, and more or less -despondent, with the exception of Abershaw, the man in -irons. He was a hardened offender, and reckless as to what -might befall him in the shape of punishment. He had served -<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>terms of imprisonment in another colony. Like many criminals, -he had unfortunately not taken warning by previous penalties, -as it was less than a year since he had been released. He -looked around with an affected contempt for his surroundings, -and smiled at an occasional sympathiser in Court with -unabashed defiance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But, as the Judge commenced to address the prisoners -before announcing the sentences, the look of tension on -the other men's faces was painful to witness, and even <em>he</em> -appeared to feel the seriousness of the situation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'William Stokes, Daniel Lynch, Hector O'Halloran, Samson -Dawker, Jeremiah Abershaw, you have been found guilty, on -the clearest evidence, of a dangerous and concerted attack -on society. If organisations of this kind were permitted—if -lawless bodies of men, organising themselves with the discipline -of a military force, were permitted to go about the country -interfering with honest men—there could be no safety for any -one in the community. I am gratified to find that the jury have -arrived at the only conclusion rational men could arrive at in -such a case, and with no more time spent in deliberation than -was necessary to consider the case of each man separately. I -do not suppose that, excepting the residents of the neighbourhood -of Poliah and the Lower Darling region generally, people -are fully aware of what has been going on there.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I have had a tolerable knowledge of the country, but I -had no idea, until I came to try this case, what a state of -things existed in the locality mentioned in depositions—a -state of things probably unparalleled in the history of New -South Wales.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I should not have thought it possible that six or seven -hundred men could camp on a main stock route, by a -navigable river, for the purpose of preventing honest men -going to work, much less could capture, bind them as prisoners, -and hold them as such.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Let any one contemplate what may follow if this kind of -thing is permitted. There would be an end of liberty and -safety; but the law exists for the protection of all, whether -high or low, in the community, and those who take part in -proceedings of this kind must expect to have every man's -heart hardened against them. If a man's liberty were interfered -with, if his life were threatened by overwhelming -<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>numbers, he and every other honest man is entitled to -protect himself by taking the lives of those who come upon -him. This, in law, is termed justifiable homicide; on the -other hand, if lawless persons take life, they are guilty of -murder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Having explained the law on intimidation, I will pass on -to the circumstances more immediately surrounding the case. -It is proved beyond doubt that the <em>Dundonald</em> steamer -was deliberately and wilfully set on fire by the prisoners and -others. If any person had perished in the flames by their act, -or if, when shooting at the vessel, any of the crew or passengers -had been killed, they would now be on their trial for murder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'As it is, they have, most properly, been found guilty of -arson by the jury, a crime punishable, under Victoria No. 89, -section 6, with imprisonment with hard labour, and solitary -confinement.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I accordingly sentence Samson Dawker, who has been -referred to as the "President," and Jeremiah Abershaw, to -three years' imprisonment with hard labour, and periods of -solitary confinement, both to be served in Berrima Gaol. -The other prisoners do not appear to have been so actively -employed in these unlawful, demoralising acts. They are -therefore sentenced to two years' imprisonment only, with -hard labour. I cannot conclude my remarks without stating -that I fully agree with the verdict of acquittal by the jury in -the case of William Hardwick, who might have been deprived -of his liberty by a conspiracy of unprincipled persons, had not -the jury rightly discriminated as to the manifest unreliability -of the evidence against him. He therefore is enabled to -leave the Court, I have pleasure in stating, without a stain -upon his character.'</p> - -<h4 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Regina</span> <em>v.</em> <span class='sc'>Stoate</span>.<br /> <br /><em>Charged with Arson.</em></h4> - -<p class='c011'>'May it please your Honour,' said the Crown Prosecutor, -'the prisoner before the Court is charged with wilfully -and maliciously setting fire to the grass of the Tandara Run. -I purpose calling the arresting constable and the manager, Mr. -Macdonald; also the aboriginal Daroolman, who is exceptionally -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>intelligent. The case will not be a lengthy one. Call -Senior Sergeant Kennedy.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'My name is John Kennedy, Senior Sergeant of the New -South Wales Police Force, stationed at Dilga, on the Darling. -I called at Tandara station on duty. I there saw Mr. -Macdonald, the manager. He remarked that there had been -no rain for a month, and the grass was very dry. He requested -me to accompany him a few miles on the up-river road. He -mentioned that a man named Stoate had left shortly before, -having been refused rations, threatening "to get square with -him." He considered him a likely person to set fire to the -Run, and was just going to track him up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I agreed, and put my black boy on the trail. After riding -two or three miles, the boy pointed to the tracks leaving the -road and making towards a sandhill. We rode fast, as we -saw smoke rising. The aboriginal said "that one swaggie -makum fire longa grass, me seeum lightem match." We saw -a man kneeling down, and galloped towards him. Apparently -he did not hear us coming; as he looked up he seemed -surprised. The grass around him had just ignited and was -burning fiercely. There was no wood near. Mr. Macdonald -seized him by the arm, saying, "You scoundrel! You're a pretty -sort of delegate! I thought you were up to some mischief." -Prisoner seemed confused and unable to say anything. The -black boy picked up a brass match-box, half full of wax -matches; also a half-burned wax match. The match-box -(which I produce) had J. S. scratched on one side. Prisoner -declined to say anything, except that he was going to boil his -billy. There was no wood, nor any trace of roadway in the -vicinity. I arrested him on the charge of setting fire to the -Tandara Run. He made no reply. On searching him I -found the cheque referred to in my former depositions, it was -drawn in favour of William Hardwick for £55: 17s., also a -knife, two sovereigns, and some small articles. I conveyed -him to the lock-up at Curbin, where he appeared before the -Bench of Magistrates, and was committed to take his trial at -the next ensuing Assize Court. We put out the fire with -difficulty; if it had beat us it might have destroyed half the -grass on the Run.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>John Macdonald, being sworn, states:</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I am the manager of Tandara station. I have known the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>prisoner, off and on, for some years, as a shearer and bush -labourer. He came to me on December 20th and asked for -rations. He was on foot. I said, "You had better ask the -Shearers' Union to feed you, I have nothing for agitators; -you tried to spoil our shearing, and now you come whining -for rations." I threatened to kick him off the place.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He went away muttering, "I'll get square with you yet." -Being uneasy, I mounted my horse, and shortly afterwards the -last witness and a black boy came up, and at my request -accompanied me. The boy followed his track till it turned -off the main road in the direction of a sandhill. As we rode -nearer, a small column of smoke rose up. We found prisoner -standing by the fire, which had just started. I saw the black -boy pick up the box of matches (produced in Court) from -under prisoner's feet. It was marked J. S., and was nearly -full of wax matches. The black boy pointed to a half-burnt -match, close to the tuft of grass from which the fire had -started. I said, "You scoundrel! You're a pretty sort of -delegate!" I saw the sergeant take the cheque (produced) -for £55: 17s., payable to William Hardwick, out of his -pocket. If we had been five minutes later, all the men in the -country couldn't have put the fire out; it would have swept -the Run.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What would have been the effect of that?' asked the -Judge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We might have had to travel 100,000 sheep, which alone -would have needed fifty shepherds, besides the expense of cooks -and ration-carriers, with tents, provisions, and loss of sheep. -Altogether it would have meant an expenditure of several -thousand pounds at the very least—besides injury to the sheep.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Have you any questions to ask, prisoner?' said the Judge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'None,' said Mr. Stoate. 'These witnesses are at the beck -of the capitalistic class, and will swear anything.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Richard Donahue and the black boy corroborated the -previous evidence, the latter saying, 'Me seeum light when -piccaninny match-box tumble down alonga that one fella -tarouser.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Being asked if he had anything to say in his defence, Mr. -Stoate elected to be sworn, taking the oath with great -solemnity, and making a long-winded, rambling defence, in -which he abused the capitalists, the police, the bankers, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>the selectors, who, he said, were all in a league with the -'plutercrats' to crush the Union workers, and grind down the -faces of the poor. With regard to the cheque, he had picked -it up, and intended to restore it to Hardwick. If that man -swore that he never gave him or any other man authority to -take care of his money, he swore what was false. It was a -common custom among mates. If the jury convicted him on -this trumped-up charge, which any one could see was manufactured, -he would willingly suffer in the cause of his fellow-workers. -But let the oppressor beware—a day of reckoning -would come!</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span> - <h3 class='c010'>CHAPTER IX</h3> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>The Court was not very full. The 'fellow-workers' to whom -Stoate so often referred had made up their minds about him. -Open warfare, rioting, plunder, even arson or bloodshed, in a -moderate degree they would have condoned. But to be -<em>caught in the act</em> of setting fire to a Run, and detected with a -stolen cheque in your pocket—that cheque, too, belonging to -a shearer—these were offences of mingled meanness and -malignity which no Union Caucus could palliate. 'He's a -disgrace to the Order; the Associated Workers disown him. -The Judge'll straighten him, and it's hoped he'll give him a -good "stretch" while he's about it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was the prejudicial sentence. And having made up -their minds that their over-cunning ex-delegate by dishonourable -imprudence had played into the hands of the enemy, few of the -Unionists took the trouble to attend, for the melancholy pleasure -of hearing sentence passed on their late comrade and 'officer.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>So, the evidence being overwhelming, the jury found Mr. -Stoate guilty, and the Judge, having drawn attention to the -recklessness and revengeful feeling shown by the prisoner—not -halting at the probable consequences of a crime against -society, by which human life might have been endangered, if -not sacrificed—sentenced him to five years' imprisonment with -hard labour. He was immediately afterwards arraigned on the -charge of 'stealing from the person,' and the sergeant's evidence, -as well as that of Hardwick, was shortly taken. Being again found -guilty, he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment—which, -however, the Judge decreed to be concurrent, trusting that the -longer term of incarceration might suffice for reformation. In -conclusion, he again congratulated William Hardwick on the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>recovery of his money and his character, both of which he had -so nearly lost through association with men who had banded -themselves together to defy the law of the land, and to -attempt illegal coercion of workmen who differed from their -opinions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Such associations often led to consequences not foreseen -at the time. Many a man had cause to blame them for loss -of liberty, if not life. He trusted that this lesson would be -received in the way of warning, and that he and all honest -working-men who had witnessed the proceedings in this Court -would go home resolved to do their duty in their own station -of life, not following blindly the lead of agitators, however glib -of speech, who might prove as unprincipled and dangerous -guides as the prisoner who had just received sentence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>No time was lost, it may be imagined, by Bill and Jenny -in 'clearing,' as they expressed it, for Chidowla. The coach -for Tumut held a very cheerful load when he and she, in -company with Dick Donahue, who had covered himself with -glory, and had a satisfactory outing as well, took their seats. -Bill wished to cash his newly-found cheque, but Jenny—practical -as usual—persuaded him to give it to her for transmission -to Mr. Calthorpe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I brought down a pound or two that I'd got stowed away, -and there'll be just enough to take us back without breaking -the cheque. Mr. Calthorpe's stood by us, and we must do -our level best to get square again, and show the bank as he -knows the right people to back. I'll go bail we'll do it inside -a year, if we don't have any more delegate and Union business, -eh, Bill?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No fear!' replied Bill with emphasis. 'I'm another man -now, though I won't get the feel of them handcuffs off me for -a month o' Sundays. I'm goin' to be a free labour cove, to -the last day of my life. And Janus Stoate's where he wanted -to put me, d—n him! I hope he feels comfortable. But -I'll never give the clever chaps as lives on us fools of shearers -a chance to work such a sell again. Dick, old man, you -stood to me like a trump. We must see if we can't go in for -a partnership, when we're turned round a bit. What do you -say, Jenny?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I say yes,' said Jenny, 'with all my heart. Biddy's -milkin' those cows of ours now, or I don't know what I'd 'a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>done. I believe if we put both our selections into a dairy -farm we could make money hand over fist. But we must -have more cows; this cheque of Bill's—and Jenny slapped -her pocket triumphantly—now we've got it, will buy near a -dozen, and we'll soon make a show.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dick Donahue, for the first time in his life, found hardly anything -to say. He gripped both their hands, but brought out little -more than 'Thank ye, thank you both! You've given me a new -lease of life, and I'll—I'll keep my side up—now I've something -ahead of me, or my name's not Dick Donahue. Thank God, -it's a grand season, and that gives us a clear start, anyhow.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they arrived at Tumut—some time after dark, but all -well and happy—they found Biddy awaiting them with the -spring cart, which she had driven over. There were a few -stumps on the road, but Bill's eyes were good, so that they -got home safely and with a superior appetite for the supper -which Biddy had set out for them. This they discussed with -their friends, who had much to hear and tell; after which the -Donahues drove away and left them to the enjoyment of their -home, which looked like a palace to Bill, after his misfortunes -and adventures.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were both up, however, before sunrise next morning, -and at the milking-yard, where they found everything just as it -should be. In the dairy, moreover, there was a keg of butter -three-parts full, which Biddy had made during their absence. -Bill was thinking of going into Talmorah after breakfast, when -a boy galloped up with a letter from Mr. Calthorpe, requesting -him not to come in till Saturday (the day after next), as a few -friends and fellow-townsmen wished to meet him at two o'clock -at the Teamster's Arms to show their regret at his undeserved -persecution, and to present him with an Address, -expressive of the same.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Bother it all,' said Bill, 'I wish they'd let a fellow alone. -I suppose I shall have to make a speech.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh, you <em>must</em> go,' said Jenny. 'Mr. Calthorpe wants -you, and we mustn't be ungrateful after all he's done for us. -Besides, didn't you make one at Tandara, when the shed had -cut out, after "long Jim Stanford" euchred the Head Centre -at Wagga? My word, you were coming on then; next thing -you'd 'a stood for Parliament, or been elected delegate, any -way.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>'See here, Jenny,' replied Bill. 'I suppose I'll have to -say something when they give me this Address, as they call it; -but after that's over, if any one but you says a word about our -"feller-workers" or "criminal capital," or any bally Union rot -of that kind, I'll knock him over, as sure as my name is Bill -Hardwick.'</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>Bill and Jenny went into Talmorah a little before twelve -o'clock on Saturday morning, the former to meet his friends, -and the latter to pay in the celebrated cheque to their account, -and have a few words with the banker; also, to make quite -sure that Bill didn't have more than a whisky or two on the -auspicious occasion. When the meeting was assembled in the -big room at the Teamster's Arms, they were astonished at the -number of townspeople that turned up. Some, too, of the -neighbouring squatters appeared, whom they only knew by -name, and that Bill had never worked for. The clergyman, -the priest, the opposition banker, the storekeepers, great and -small, were there—in fact, everybody.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Saturday afternoon in country places is a recognised -holiday, except for shop assistants; and as they have on other -days of the week much leisure time on their hands, they do -not object. It is a change, an excitement, and as such to be -made the most of.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A long table had been laid on trestles in the 'hall' of the -principal hotel, a room which had been used indifferently in -the earlier days of Talmorah, when it was a struggling hamlet, -for holding Divine service, police courts, and 'socials,' which -included dancing, singing, recitations, and other expedients -subversive of monotony.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Couples had been married there by the monthly arriving -minister; prisoners sentenced to terms of imprisonment, even -hanged, after depositions duly taken there and the verdict of a -coroner's jury. Political meetings had been held, and on the -election of a member for the district it had been used for a -polling booth, so that it was well and favourably known to the -inhabitants of the town and district, and no one had any -difficulty in finding it. It was now more crowded than on -any occasion recalled by the oldest inhabitant.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Thornhill, the principal landowner in the district, holding -the position by reason of his wealth, power, and popularity, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>which is generally yielded to the squire in the old country, -was unanimously elected chairman, and opened the proceedings.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Ladies and gentlemen,' he commenced—'for I am pleased -to see so many of the former present, as also my good friends -and neighbours in the district, who have worked with me in -peace and harmony for so many years—(murmur of applause)—we -are met together this day to do an act of simple justice, -as well as of neighbourly kindness, by welcoming back to his -home and friends a man whom we have all known personally -or by report as an honest, straightforward, industrious settler. -A man of small means, but a son of the soil, and the head of -a family. (Interjection—"No; Jenny's the boss.") (Laughter.) -My friend who corrected me, doubtless with the best intentions, -is aware, as I am, that a good wife is the very sheet-anchor -of success in life—(cheers)—and that probably, if our -friend Hardwick had taken her counsel rather than that of agitators -and false friends, he would not have suffered the pecuniary -loss, anxiety, and—er—inconvenience which we so deeply -regret this day. (Great cheering.) However, that is past and -gone; we have now a pleasurable aspect of the case to dwell -upon. We congratulate our friend, Mr. William Hardwick, -and his good and true wife, upon their return to their home -and their neighbours, by whom they are so deservedly respected. -(Immense cheering.) In this connection it should not be -overlooked that the high character, the result of years of -honest industry, neighbourly kindness, and upright dealing, was -of signal advantage in the time of need. By it they had -gained staunch friends, who stood by them in the day of -adversity. Mr. Calthorpe, the manager of the Bank of Barataria, -had done his best for them, and they knew what a power -for good a gentleman in that position could be in a country -place. (Loud cheering.) Their neighbour, Mr. Donahue, -had mustered important witnesses for the defence in a manner -which only a good bushman, as well as a good friend, could -have accomplished, while Mrs. Donahue had personally managed -the farm and the dairy in Mrs. Hardwick's absence. -(Repeated bursts of cheering.) Other friends and neighbours, -among whom he was proud to number himself, had helped in -the matter of expense, which, as everybody knew who had -anything to do with law and lawyers, was unavoidable. (Cheers -<span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>and laughter.) Though here he must admit that his friend -Mr. Biddulph's professional services were invaluable, and if -ever he or any of his hearers got into a tight place—well, he -would say no more. (Great cheering and laughter.) He -would now read the Address. Mr. William Hardwick, please -to stand forward.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here Bill advanced, looking far from confident. However, as -he confronted the chairman, he held up his head and manfully -faced the inevitable, while the following Address was read:—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'To Mr. William Hardwick of Chidowla Creek.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>—We, the undersigned residents of Talmorah, -desire to congratulate you and Mrs. Hardwick upon your -return to your home and this neighbourhood, during your long -residence in which you have been deservedly respected for -industrious, straightforward conduct. We have sympathised -with you sincerely, while regretting deeply the unmerited -persecution by which you have suffered. We feel proud to -think that residents of this district were chiefly instrumental in -establishing your innocence, their evidence having caused his -Honour, Judge Warrington, to discharge you "without a stain -upon your character." We beg to tender you this address, -signed by the principal inhabitants of this town and district, -and to beg your acceptance of the purse of sovereigns which -I now hand to you.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bill's self-possession failed him under this ordeal, and he -nearly dropped the purse, which contained fifty sovereigns. -Jenny had put her head down between her hands. This -seemed to suggest to Bill that somebody was wanted to -represent the family. So turning, so as to have a view of -the assembled neighbours, as well as the Chairman, he -managed to get out with:</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,—I'm no hand at a -speech, as perhaps most of you know. I did make a try in -the woolshed at Tandara just before the Shearers' War bust -upon us. I don't deny as I might have come on a bit, with -practice; might have been promoted as high as to be a Union -Delegate—(laughter)—but bein' among the prisoners of war, -when the naval battle of the Darling River took place, I was -"blocked in my career," as the sayin' is. I found myself in -gaol pretty soon after, when it was explained to me, for the first -(and, I hope, the last) time, what steel bracelets were like. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>The next place where I had to talk was in the dock, -when I made a speech with only two words in it. They was -"Not Guilty." (Cheers.) I'm in for a longer one now, and -then I'll shut up for good, and never want to hear another -sham-shearer talk rot, or hear the gag about Unionism again, -as long as I live. <em>I</em> don't join another one, no fear! (Cheers.) -And now, I just want you to believe, all my old friends as -have turned up to stand by us in this handsome way, and Mr. -Thornhill, the Chairman (and if all squatters were like him -there'd never have been a strike, or the thought of one), I -hope you'll believe that Jenny and I feel your kindness to the -very bottom of our hearts, and that we shall remember it to -our dying day.' Here the cheering burst forth; stopped and -began again, until one would have thought it never would -have ended.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By this time, however, tables had been covered with an -array of bottles of wine and beer, and certain viands in the -shape of sandwiches, tongues, hams, rounds of beef, biscuits, -and cakes of various hue and shape—all things necessary for -a cold but generous collation. The corks being drawn, the -sound wine and beer of the country was set flowing, when -Bill's health and Jenny's were drunk with great heartiness -and fervour.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Chairman then proposed—'His friend Mr. Calthorpe, -in fact, the friend of all present, as the gentleman who, by -equipping Richard Donahue and sending him to find and -notice witnesses for the defence, had done yeoman's service -for the worthy pair they had met to honour that day.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the course of an effective speech in return for the toast -of his health, which was enthusiastically honoured, Mr. -Calthorpe stated that the directors of the bank which he had -the honour to serve always supported their officers in any -extra-commercial action—as he might call it—in favour of -honourable constituents, such as William Hardwick and his -wife. He might take this opportunity to inform them that -a partnership was in train, and would probably be arranged -under the style of 'Hardwick and Donahue,' as these worthy -yeomen had decided to join their selections, indeed to take up -additional, conditional leases and devote themselves to dairy-farming -on a large scale. They hoped to secure a share of -the profits of butter-making which were attracting so much -<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>attention in their district of Talmorah, for which the soil, -climate, and pasture were so eminently adapted. He might -inform them that he had applications in the names of each of -the partners, for nine hundred and sixty acres of conditional -leasehold. This, with the original selections, would form -an area of two thousand five hundred and sixty acres. They -would agree with him, a tidy grazing-farm on which to -commence the dairying business! Furthermore, he would -take this opportunity of stating that there was every prospect -of a butter-factory being established in Talmorah within twelve -months. He trusted that the new firm's enterprise would -inaugurate, in that method, one of the most profitable labour-employing -industries, by which our graziers, big and little, -have ever benefited themselves and advanced the interests -of the town and district at large.' (Tremendous cheering.)</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the applause had subsided, the prospective partners -lost no time in getting off, Jenny being aware that all -conversation after such proceedings was liable to conclude -with the 'What'll you have?' query—one of the wiles of the -'insidious foe.' Bill confessed to two or three 'long-sleevers,' -the day being warm and the lager beer cool; but Dick Donahue, -who had 'sworn off' before the priest for two years, before he -went down the Darling, had touched nothing stronger than -tea. Upon reaching their homes, the whole four resumed -their working clothes and busied themselves about the farms -until sundown. 'We'll sleep better to-night, anyhow,' said -Jenny as, after putting the children to bed, she sat by Bill -while he had his after-supper smoke in the verandah. 'But -we must be up at daylight; it will give us all we know to get -the cows milked and breakfast over and clean things on, for -church in the township. For we'll go <em>there</em>, Bill, as we've -good right to do, after all that's come and gone—won't we?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Right you are, Jenny; seems as if we'd been took care of, -somehow.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the old mare missed <em>her</em> Sunday holiday, and had to -trot into Talmorah between the shafts of the light American -waggon—the capital all-round vehicle, that in the bush -answers so many different purposes; and the Donahues went -to their chapel, where, no doubt, Father Flanagan congratulated -them on their improved prospects, while admonishing Dick to -be more regular in his 'duty' for the future.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>From this time forward the fortunes of the firm of -Hardwick and Donahue steadily improved and prospered. -The wives and husbands were eminently suited for co-operative -farm management.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Biddy could milk a third more cows in the morning than -any other woman in the district, and had won more than one -prize for butter at the Agricultural and Pastoral Show. -Jenny was not far behind her in these industries, but in the -curing of bacon and hams had rather the best of it, by the -popular vote. Dick was the smarter man of the two, having, -moreover, a gift of persuasive eloquence, which served the firm -well in buying and selling stock; this department having -been allotted to him. He was thus able to get the change -and adventure which his soul loved, and as he stuck manfully -to his pledge, he wasted no time, as formerly, in his attendance -upon shows and auction sales.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He began to be looked up to as a solid, thriving grazier, -and with hope before him, and increased comfort in his home -and family, pressed forward with energy to the goal of success -which he saw awaiting him. His children were well fed, well -clothed, and well schooled, holding up their heads with the -best of the other yeoman families.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bill worked away with his old steadiness and perseverance, -not envying the change and occasional recreation which -Mr. R. Donahue came in for. 'He had had enough of that -sort of thing to last him for the rest of his life. His home, -with Jenny and the children [now an increasing flock], was -good enough for him,' he was heard to say.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was also a run of good seasons, which in Australia -is summed up and may be exhaustively described in one word -<em>Rain</em>, with a large R by all means. The grass was good; so -were the crops; so were the prices of butter, cheese, and -milk.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The factory at Talmorah was a substantial, well-equipped, -scientific institution, the monthly cash payments from which -caused the hearts of the storekeeper and the tradesmen of that -rising township to sing for joy. The only persons who discussed -the change from 'the good old times' with scant approval were -the publicans, who observed that the farmers sent the monthly -cheque for milk to their account at the Banks of Barataria or -New Holland, and their orders by post to the tradespeople, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>instead of 'going into town like men and stopping at the hotel -for a day,' whenever they sold a ton of potatoes or a load of -wheat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From such modest commencements many of the most -prosperous families in New South Wales and Victoria have -made their start in life. Such families not infrequently hold -the title-deeds of thousands of acres of freehold land. Contented -to live economically and to re-invest their annual -profits, they acquire large landed estates. As magistrates and -employers of labour their position year by year becomes one -of greater provincial importance and legislative influence. In -physique, energy, and intelligence their sons are an honour to -their respective colonies, and a valued addition to the loyal -subjects of the British Empire—that Empire, in whose cause -they are, even as I write, sending the flower of their youthful -manhood to a far-off battlefield, holding it their proudest -privilege to fight shoulder to shoulder with the 'Soldiers of -the Queen.'</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span></div> -<div class='ph2'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>MORGAN THE BUSHRANGER</div> - <div class='c002'>AND OTHER STORIES</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span> - <h2 class='c006'>MORGAN THE BUSHRANGER</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>For several years the announcement 'I'm Morgan,' uttered -in the drawling monotone which characterises one section of -Australian-born natives, sufficed to ensure panic among ordinary -travellers, and if it did not cause 'the stoutest heart to quail' -in the words of the old romancers, was seldom heard without -accelerated cardiac action. For the hearer then became aware, -if he had not earlier realised the fact, that he was in the power -of a merciless enemy of his kind—blood-stained, malignant, -capricious withal, desperate too, with the knowledge that the -avenger of blood was ever on his trail, that if taken alive the -gallows was his doom, beyond doubt or argument. A convicted -felon, who had served his sentence, he bore himself as one -who had suffered wrongs and injustice from society, which he -repaid with usury. Patient and wary as the Red Indian, he -was ruthless in his hour of triumph as the 'wolf Apache' or -the cannibal Navajo exulting with a foe, helpless at the stake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>An attempt has lately been made to rehabilitate the -memory of this arch-criminal, so long the scourge and terror -of the great pastoral districts lying between the Upper Murray -and the Murrumbidgee rivers. We are not disposed to deny -that there were individuals not wholly abandoned among the -misguided outlaws who ravaged New South Wales in the -'sixties.' There was usually some rude generosity in their -dealings with victims. They encountered in fair fight, and -bore no ill-will to the police, who were paid to entrap and -exterminate them. They were lenient to the poorer travellers, -and exhibited a kind of Robin Hood gallantry on occasion. -Among them were men who would have done honour to their -native land under happier auspices. For, with few exceptions, -they were sons of the soil. But Daniel Morgan differed from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>Gardiner, Hall, and Gilbert, from the Clarkes and the Peisleys, -from O'Malley and Vane, from Bourke and Dunn. He -differed as the wolf differs from the hound, the carrion vulture -from the eagle. His cunning on all occasions equalled his -malignity, his brutal cruelty, his lust for wanton bloodshed. -Rarely was it, after one of his carefully-planned surprises, -when he swooped down upon a defenceless station, that he -abstained from injury to person or property.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was skilful and persevering in discovering his 'enemies,' -as he called them,—a not too difficult task,—for he had abettors -and sympathisers, scoundrels who harboured and spied for -him, as well as those who, fearing the vengeance of an -unscrupulous ruffian, dared not refuse food or assistance. -Those whom he suspected of giving information to the police -or providing them with horses when on his trail he never -forgave, often wreaking cruel vengeance on them when the -opportunity came. He would reconnoitre from the hill or -thicket for days beforehand. When the men of the household -were absent or otherwise employed, he would suddenly appear -upon the scene, to revel in the terror he created; certain to -destroy valuable property, if indeed he did not imbrue his -hands in blood before he quitted the spot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was, for the most part, his habit to 'work' as a solitary -robber; he rarely had a companion, although in the encounter -with Mr. Baylis, the Police Magistrate of Wagga Wagga, when -that gentleman showed a noble example by bravely attacking -him in his lair, it is supposed that his then companion was -badly wounded. Mr. Baylis was shot through the body, but -that man was never seen alive again. The popular impression -was that Morgan killed him, so that he might not impede his -flight or give information. The tale may not be true, but it -shows the quality of his reputation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It seems wonderful that Morgan should have been so long -permitted to run the gauntlet of the police of two colonies. -It may be doubted whether, in the present efficient state of the -New South Wales force, any notorious outlaw would enjoy so -protracted a 'reign,' as the provincial phrase goes. He had -great odds in his favour. A consummate horseman like most -of his class, a practical bushman and stock-rider, with a command -of scouts who knew every inch of the country, and -could thread at midnight every range and thicket between -<span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span>Marackat and the Billabong, Piney Range and Narandera, it -was no ordinary task to capture the wild rider, who was met -one day on the Upper Murray and the next morning among -the pine forests of Walbundree. Horses, of course, cost him -nothing. He had the pick of a score of studs, the surest -information as to pace and endurance. In a horse-breeding -district every animal showing more than ordinary speed or -stoutness is known and watched by the 'duffing' fraternity, -fellows who would cheerfully take to the road but for fear of -Jack Ketch. It may be imagined how easily the hackney -question is settled for a bushranger of name and fame, and -what advantages he has over ordinary police troopers in -eluding pursuit.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I was living on the Murrumbidgee during a portion of his -career, in the years 1864 to 1869. He was seen several times -within twenty miles of my station, and I have had more than one -description from temporary captives, of his appearance and -demeanour. There is not an instance on record of his having -been taken by surprise, or viewed before he had been employed -in reconnoitring his antagonist.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Some of his adventures were not wholly without an element -of humour—although the victim well knew that the turn of a -straw might change the intent, from robbery to murder. The -late Mr. Alexander Burt, manager of Tubbo and Yarrabee, -was riding on the plains, at a distance of ten or twelve miles -from the head station, when a horseman emerged from a belt -of pines. He wore a poncho, but differed in no respect from -ordinary travellers. Without suspicion he rode towards the -stranger. As he approached and, bushman-like, scrutinised -horse and man, he observed the JP brand, and recognised the -animal as one stolen from the station. A tall, powerful Scot, -Mr. Burt ranged alongside of the individual in the poncho -and reached over to collar him. At that moment a revolver -appeared from under the poncho, and a drawling voice uttered -the words 'Keep back!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was unsafe to try a rush, and the snake-like eye of the -robber told clearly that the least motion would be the signal -for pulling the trigger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What's yer name?' queried the stranger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'My name is Burt.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Then Burt—you get off—that—horse.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>Being unarmed, he had no option but to dismount.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Give—me—the—bridle. So—you—tried—to—take—my—horse—did—yer? -I've—a—dashed—good—mind—to—shoot—yer. -Now—yer—can—walk—home. I'd—advise—yer—to—make—a—straight—track.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>And with this parting injunction he rode slowly away, -leading Mr. Burt's horse, while that gentleman, cursing his -hard fate, had to tramp a dozen miles before relating the foregoing -adventure.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At another time he surprised the Yarrabee Station, 'bailing' -Mr. Waugh the overseer, Mr. Apps, and others of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">employés</span> -of Mr. John Peter, but beyond placing the JP brand in the -fire, and swearing he would put it on one of them, as a suitable -memento, he did nothing dreadful.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At Mr. Cochran's of Widgiewa, as also at Mr. M'Laurin's -of Yarra Yarra, preparations were openly made for his -reception; yet, though he made various threats of vengeance, -he never appeared at either place.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At Round Hill Station, near Germanton, he enacted one -of his murderous pranks. Suddenly appearing in the shed at -shearing time, he terrorised the assembled men, fired on, -wounded and threatened the life of the manager. After -calling for spirits and compelling all to drink with him, he -turned to ride away, when, incensed by a careless remark, he -wheeled his horse and fired his revolver at the crowd. A -bullet took effect in the ankle of a young gentleman gaining -shearing experience, breaking the bone, and producing intense -agony. Appearing to regret the occurrence, Morgan suggested -to another man to go for the doctor. Having started, Morgan -followed at a gallop, and overtaking him, said with an oath, -'You're not going for the doctor—you're going for the police.' -With that he shot the unfortunate young man through the body, -who fell from his horse mortally wounded.</p> - -<p class='c000'>About the same time he was seen by Police Sergeant -M'Ginnerty riding near the Wagga Wagga road. Having no -suspicion, he galloped alongside, merely to see who he was. -Without a moment's hesitation Morgan fired <em>through his poncho</em>. -The bullet was but too sure—it may be noted that he rarely -missed his aim—and the ill-fated officer fell to the ground in -the death agony. He coolly propped up the dying man in a -sitting posture, and there left him.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>When it is considered that he killed two police officers, -besides civilians, Chinamen, and others, and that he shot a -police magistrate through the body (inflicting a wound nearly -fatal, the consequences of which were suffered for years after), -it will be admitted that he was one of the most formidable -outlaws that ever roamed the Australian wilds.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He is said to have encountered a pastoral tenant, of large -possession, whom he thus accosted—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I—hear—you've—been—pounding—the—Piney—boys'—horses—haven't—you?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The witness was understood to deny, or, at any rate, shade -off the unpopular act.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Piney Range,' near Walbundree, was understood to be at -one time the robber's headquarters. Here he was harboured -in secret, and more comfortably lodged than was guessed -at by the public or the police. The 'boys' were a horse-and -cattle-stealing band of rascals—now fortunately dispersed—who -generally made themselves useful by misleading the police, -as well as by giving him notice of hostile movements. Towards -subsidising them the spoils of honest men were partially -devoted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But this did by no means satisfy the 'terrible cross-examiner.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You look here now! If yer don't drop it, the—very—next—time—I—come—over—I'll—shoot—yer. -For—the—matter—of—that—I—don't—know—whether—I—<em>won't—shoot—yer—now</em>.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>And as the dull eyes fastened with deadly gaze upon the -captive's face—he looking meanwhile at the mouth of the -levelled weapon, held in the blood-stained hand of one who at -any time would rather kill a man than not—be sure Mr. -Blank's feelings were far from enviable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To one of his victims he is reported to have said—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I—hear—you're—a—dashed—good—step-dancer. Now—let's—have—a—sample—and—do—yer—bloomin'—best—or—yer—won't—never—shake—a—leg—no—more.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Fancy performing on the light fantastic before such a -critic!</p> - -<p class='c000'>A cheerful squatter (who told me the tale) was riding -through his paddocks one fine afternoon, in company with his -family and a couple of young friends of the 'colonial experience' -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>persuasion. They were driving—he riding a handsome blood -filly. In advance of the buggy, he was quietly pacing through -the woodland—probably thinking how well the filly was coming -on in her walking, or that fat stock had touched their highest -quotation—when he was aware of a man sitting motionless -on his horse, under a tree.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tree was slightly off his line, and as he approached it -the strange horseman quietly rode towards him. He noted -that he was haggard, and dark-complexioned, with an immense -bushy beard. His long, black hair hung on his shoulders. -His eyes, intensely black, were small and beady; his air sullen -and forbidding. He rode closely up to the pastoralist without -word or sign. Their knees had nearly touched when he drew -a revolver and pointed it at his breast, so quickly that there -was hardly time to realise the situation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Which—way—are—yer—goin'?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Only across the paddock,' was the answer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You—come—back—with—me—to—that—buggy.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>By making a slight detour, they came in front of the -vehicle, the occupants of which were perfectly unsuspicious of -the strange company into which the head of the house had -fallen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he suddenly accosted them, levelling the revolver, -commanding them to stand, and directing the young gentleman -who was driving to jump to the ground. He was famed -for his activity, it is said, but the spring made on that occasion, -at the bidding of Morgan, beat all former records. The other -young gentleman, though of limited colonial experience, was -not 'devoid of sense,' as he dropped two five-pound notes from -his pocket into a tussock of grass, whence they were afterwards -recovered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After relieving all of their watches and loose cash, the -bushranger asked the proprietor whether he had seen any -police lately.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, two had passed.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And—you—fed—'em, I expect? I'm half—a—mind—to -blow—the bloomin'—wind—through—yer.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What am I to do?' queried the perplexed landholder. -'I should feed you if you came by. I can't deny them what -I give to every one that passes.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'D'ye—know—who—I—am?'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>'I never met you before, but I can pretty well guess. I've -never done you any harm that I know of.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It's—a—dashed—good—thing—yer—haven't. What's—that—comin'—along -the road?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The mail coach.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How—d'ye—know—that?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, it comes by every day about this time, and of -course I know it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well—I'm—just—goin'—to—stick—it—up. Don't—yer—tell—no—one—yer—saw—me—to-day—or—it'll—be—a—blamed—sight—worse—for—yer.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>And with this precept and admonition the robber departed, -to the infinite relief of all concerned. In a few minutes they -heard the pistol shot with which he 'brought-to' the mail-coach.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Blest if I seen a speck of him till he fired the revolver -just over my head,' said the driver afterwards. 'I was that -startled I wonder I didn't fall off the box.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>No harm was done on that occasion, save to Her Majesty's -mails, and the correspondence of the lieges. My informant -gathered up the strewed parcels and torn sheets into a large sack -next morning, and forwarded them to the nearest post-office.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In Morgan's whole career there is not recorded one -instance of even the spurious generosity which, if it did not -redeem, relieved the darkness of other criminal careers. He -had apparently not even the craving for companionship, which -makes it a necessity with the ordinary brigand to have a -'mate' towards whom, at any rate, he is popularly supposed to -exhibit that fidelity which he has forsworn towards his kind. -Rarely is it known that Morgan pursued his depredations in -concert with any one. He may have had confederates, -harbourers he must have had, but not comrades.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was never known to show mercy or kindness towards -women. When they were present at any of his raids, he -seems either to have refrained from noticing them or to have -derided their fears. There is no record of his having -suffered their entreaties to prevail, or to have ceased from -violence and outrage at their bidding.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Subtle, savage, and solitary as those beasts of prey which -have learned to prefer human flesh, and once having tasted -to renounce all other, Morgan lurked amid the wilds, which -he had made his home, ever ready for ruffianism or bloodshed—a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>fiend incarnate—permitted to carry terror and -outrage into peaceful homes, until his appointed hour of -doom. This was the manner of it.</p> - -<h3 class='c010'><span class='sc'>Morgan's Death, told by the Manager.</span></h3> - -<p class='c011'>Peechelbah Station, on the Murray, was a big scattered -place, a regular small town. There was the owner's house—a -comfortable bungalow, with a verandah all round. He and -his family had just come up from town. My cottage was half a -mile away. I was the Manager, and could ride or drive from -daylight to midnight, or indeed fight, on a pinch, with any man -on that side of the country. I was to have gone up to the 'big -house' to have spent the evening. But it came on to rain, so -I did not go, which was just as well, as matters turned out.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I was writing in my dining-room about nine o'clock when -a servant girl from the house came rushing in. 'What's the -matter, Mary?' I said, as soon as I saw her face. 'Morgan's -stuck up the place,' she half whispered, 'and he's in the -house now. He won't let any one leave the room; swore -he'd shoot them if they did. But I thought I'd creep out and -let you know.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You're a good lass,' I said, 'and have done a good night's -work, if you never did another. Now, you get back and -don't let on you've been away from your cups and saucers. -How does he shape?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh, pretty quiet. Says he won't harm nobody. They're -all sitting on the sofa, and he's got his pistols on the table -before him.' And back she went.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here was a pretty kettle of fish! Many things had to be -done, so I pulled myself together, and set about to study the -proper place for the battle. It was no use trying to rush the -house. There were a lot of hands at work on the place and in -the men's huts. But in those days you couldn't be sure of half -of them. I had a few confidential chaps about, and I intended -to trust entirely to them and myself. I was a good man in -those days, as I said before.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But here was Morgan in possession—one of the most -desperate, bloodthirsty bushrangers that had ever 'turned out' -in New South Wales or Victoria. Nothing was surer than, if -we made an attempt to besiege the house, he would at once -<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>shoot Mr. M'Pherson, and his partner Mr. Telford, who -happened to be there with him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So I had to be politic or all would go wrong.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I first thought of the money. For a wonder I had four -hundred pounds, in notes, in my desk. I had got them from -the bank to buy land, which was to be sold that week. I -didn't often do anything so foolish, you may believe, as to -keep forty ten-pound notes in a desk.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next thing, of course, was to 'plant' it. I made it -into a parcel, and taking it over to the creek, hid it under the -overhanging root of a tree, in a place that Mr. Morgan, unless -he was a thought-reader, like the man we had staying here the -other night, would not be likely to find.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This done, I sent my body-servant down to the men's hut, -to tell them all to come up to my place—that I wanted to -give them a glass of grog. Grog, of course, is never allowed -to be kept on a station by any one but the proprietor or -manager. But I used to give them a treat now and then, so -they didn't think it unusual.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I mustered them in my big room and saw they were all -there. Every man had his glass of whisky, as I had promised. -Then I said: 'Men! There's a d—d fellow here to-night that -you've often heard of—perhaps seen. His name's <em>Morgan</em>! -He's stuck up the big house, with Mr. and Mrs. M'Pherson -and the family. Now, listen to me. The police will be up -directly. I intend to surround the house. But I don't want -any of you fellows to run into danger, d'ye see? It's my -order—mind that—that you all stop in here, till you have the -word to come out. Antonio!' I said—he had been with me -for ten years and was a determined fellow; a sailor from the -Spanish main, half-Spanish, half-English, and afraid of -nothing in the world—'Antonio, you stand near the door. -My orders are that <em>no one</em> leaves this room to-night till I tell -him. The first man that tries to do so, shoot him, and ask no -questions.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'By ——! I will,' says Antonio, showing his white teeth -and a navy revolver.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The men looked queer at this; but they knew Antonio, -and they knew me. They had had a glass of grog, besides, and -I promised them another by and by. This pacified them; so -they brought out some cards and set to at euchre and all-fours. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>They were safe. I had made up my mind what to -do. I never intended Morgan to leave the place alive. I -had sent off for the police, and among the men I could trust -was a smart fellow named Quinlan, a dead shot and a steady, -determined man. He had several times said what a shame it -was that a fellow like Morgan should go about terrorising the -whole country, and what fools and cowards people were to -suffer it. He had his own gun and ammunition, and, when I -told him, said he wanted nothing better than to have a slap -at him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We weren't so well off for firearms as we might have been, -for I had hid a lot of loaded guns in an empty hut, ready to -get hold of in case of sudden need. Confound it, if some of -the boys hadn't taken them out the day before to go duck-shooting -with. However, we rummaged up enough to arm the -picked men, and kept watch.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was a long, long night, but we were so excited and -anxious that no one felt weary, much less inclined to sleep. -Mr. Telford was in the house with Mr. M'Pherson, and he -chaffed Morgan (they told me afterwards) about having his -revolvers out in the presence of ladies. However, he couldn't -get him to put them away. He was always most suspicious. -Never gave a man a chance to close with him. He was well-behaved -and civil enough in the house, and, I believe, only -wished one of the young ladies to play him a tune or two on -the piano. He drank spirits sparingly, and always used to -call for an unopened bottle. He was afraid of being poisoned -or drugged. Some of his <em>friends</em> wouldn't have minded much -about that even, as there was a thousand pounds reward for -his capture, alive or dead. I have good reason for thinking, -however, that one or two of the 'knockabouts' would have -given him 'the office,' if we hadn't got them all under hatches, -as it were.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Daylight came at last. I've had many a night watching -cattle in cold and wet, but none that I was so anxious to end -as that. Of course I knew our man wouldn't stop till sunrise. -He was too careful, and never took any risks that he -could help.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And at last, by George! out he came, and walked down -towards the yard where his horse was. I had pretty well -considered the line he was likely to take, and was lying down, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>the men on each side of me, as it happened. But, cunning -to the last, he made M'Pherson and Telford come out with -him, one on each side, not above a yard away from him. As -he passed by us we couldn't have fired without a good chance -of shooting one of the other two. So we let him pass—pretty -close too. However, when he'd passed Quinlan, the track -turned at an angle, which brought him broadside on; it -wasn't to say a very long shot, nor yet a very close one. It -was a risk, too, for of course if he had been missed, the first -thing he'd have done would have been to have shot M'Pherson -and Telford before any one could have stopped him. But -Quinlan had a fair show as he thought, and let drive, without -bothering about too many things at once. That shot settled -the business for good and all. His bullet struck Morgan -between the shoulders and passed out near his chin. He fell, -mortally wounded. In an instant he was rushed and his -revolvers taken from him. He lay helpless; the spine had -been touched, and he was writhing in his death agony, as -better men had done before from his pistol.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first thing he said was, 'You might have sent a fellow -a challenge.' One of the men called out, 'When did you ever -do it, you murdering dog?' He never spoke after that, and -lived less than two hours.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The police didn't come up in time to do anything; no -doubt they would have been ready to help in preventing his -escape. But I was only too glad the thing had ended as it -did. The news soon got abroad that this man—who had -kept the border stations of two colonies in fear and trembling, -so to speak, for years—was lying dead at Peechelbah. Before -night there were best part of two hundred people on the place. -I can't say exactly how much whisky they drank, but the -station supply ran out before dark, and it was no foolish one -either. 'All's well that ends well,' they say. We've had -nobody since who's been such a 'terror' to settlers and -travellers. But I don't want to go through such a time again -as the night of Morgan's death.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span> - <h2 class='c006'>HOW I BECAME A BUTCHER</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>I was wending my way to Melbourne with a draft of fat cattle -in the spring of 1851, when the public-house talk took the -unwonted flavour of gold. Gold had 'broken out,' as it was -expressed, at a creek a few miles from Buninyong. Gold in -lumps! Gold in bushels! All the world was there, except -those who were on the road or packing up. A couple of -hundred head of fat cattle were not, perhaps, the exact sort -of impedimenta to go exploring with on a goldfield, but it was -hard to stem the tidal wave, now rolling in unbroken line -towards Ballarat. Men agreed that this was the strange new -name of the strange new treasure-hold. I incontinently pined -for Ballarat. I sold one-half of my drove by the way, -purchased a few articles suitable for certain contingencies, and -joined the procession; for it was a procession, a caravan, -almost a crusade.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The weather had been wet. The roads were deep. -Heavy showers, fierce gales, driving sleet made the spring -days gloomy, and multiplied delays and disasters. None of -these obstacles stayed the ardent pilgrims, whose faith in their -golden goal was daily confirmed, stimulated ever by wild -reports of luck. The variety of the wayfarers who thronged -that highway, broad as the path to destruction, was striking. -Sun-tanned bushmen, inured to toil, practised in emergencies, -alternated with groups of townspeople, whose fresh complexions -and awkward dealings with their new experience stamped -them as recruits. Passengers, who had left shipboard but a -week since, armed to the teeth, expectant of evil. Mercantile -Jack, whose rolling gait and careless energy displayed his -calling as clearly as if the name of his ship had been tattooed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>on his forehead. Other persons whose erect appearance and -regular step hinted at pipe-clay. Carts with horses, ponies, -mules, donkeys, even men and women, in their shafts. -Bullock drays, heavily laden, in which the long teams at -fullest stretch of strength were fairly cursed through the -slough, to which the army column ahead and around had -reduced the road. Bells! bells! bells! everywhere and of -every note and inflexion, dog-trucks, wheel-barrows, horsemen, -footmen, lent their aid to the extraordinary <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mélange</span></i> of sights -and sounds, mobilised <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en route</span></i> for Ballarat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Slowly, 'with painful patience,' as became experienced -drovers, we skirted or traversed the pilgrim host. We -drove far into the night, until we reached a sequestered -camp. A few days of uneventful travelling brought us to the -Buninyong Inn. This modest hostelry, amply sufficient for -the ordinary traffic of the road, was now filled and overflowed -by the roaring flood of wayfarers. The hostess, in daily -receipt of profits which a month had not formerly accumulated, -was civil but indifferent. 'I <em>might</em> get supper,' she dared say, -'but could not guarantee that meal. Her servants were -worked off their legs. She wished indeed that there was -another inn; she was tired to death of having to provide for -such a mob.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>When I heard a licensed victualler giving vent to this -unnatural wish, as I could not but regard it, I recognised the -case as desperate, and capitulated. I managed to procure a -meal in due time, and mingled with the crowd in hope of -gaining the information of which I stood in need. My -assistants were a white man and a black boy. The former -was a small, wiry Englishman, formerly connected with a -training stable. He called himself Ben Brace, after a famous -steeplechaser which he had trained or strapped. Hard-bitten, -hard-reared, mostly on straw and ashplant, as goes the nature -of English stable-lads, to Ben early hours or late, foul weather -or fair, fasting or feasting were much alike. Of course he -drank, but he had enough of the results of the old stable -discipline left to restrain himself until after the race was -run. I had therefore no feeling of apprehension about his -fidelity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For the time was an exciting one, and had not been without -its effects upon all hired labour, though things had not -<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>developed in that respect as fully as when a year's success had -made gold as common as shells on the seashore. Then, -indeed, by no rate of wages could you ensure the effective -discharge of the indispensable duties of the road. When -every passing traveller who spoke to your stock-riders, or -requested a light for a pipe, had nuggets of gold in his pocket, -'or knowed a party as bottomed last week to the tune of -£1200 a man,' it was small wonder that, valuable as their -services were conceded to be, they should themselves deem -them to be invaluable. Independent, insolent, and ridiculously -sensitive as drovers became, it became an undertaking -perilous and uncertain in the extreme to drive stock to -market.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I have seen the only man (beside the proprietor) in charge -of three hundred head of fat cattle confronting that sorely-tried -squatter, with vinous gravity and sarcastic defiance, as thus—'You -s'pose I'm a-goin' to stay out and watch these —— -cattle while you're a-sittin' in the public-house eatin' your -arrowroot? No. I ain't the cattle dorg. I'm a man! as -good as ever you was, and you can go and drive your bloomin' -cattle yerself.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This fellow was in receipt of one pound per diem; his -allegations were totally unfounded, as his master had done -nearly all the work, and would have done the remainder had -the instincts of a large drove of wild cattle permitted. I saw -my friend's grey eyes glitter dangerously for a moment as he -looked the provoking ruffian full in the face, and advanced a -step; then the helplessness of his position smote him, and he -made a degradingly civil answer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I was fortunate in not being likely to be reduced to such -destitution. Besides Ben, the black boy Charley Bamber -was at exactly the right age to be useful. Of him I felt -secure. He was a small imp whom I had once brought -away from his tribe in a distant part of the country and -essayed to educate and civilise. The education had progressed -as far as tolerable reading and writing, a perfect -mastery of that 'vulgar tongue' so extensively heard in the -waste places of the earth, joined with a ready acquaintance -with the Bible and the Church Catechism. He would have -taken honours in any Sunday School in Britain. The civilisation, -I am bound to admit, was imperfect and problematical.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>But the son of the forest was quick of eye, a sure tracker, -and the possessor of a kind of mariner's compass instinct -which enabled him to find his way through any country, -known or unknown, with ease and precision. He was a -first-rate hand with all manner of cattle and horses, when -freed from that unexorcised demon, his temper. It was -simply fiendish. Bread and butter, shoes and stockings, -the language of England and the language of kindness, had -left that inheritance untouched. In his paroxysms he would -throw himself upon the earth and saw away at his throat -with his knife. This instrument being generally blunt, he -never succeeded in severing the carotid artery. But he often -looked with glaring eyes and distorted features, as if he would -have liked in this manner to have settled the vexed question -of his creation. Strange as it may appear, the incongruity -of his knowledge with his tendencies was to him a matter of -wrathful regret. Being reproached one day for bad conduct -by the lady to whose untiring lessons he owed his knowledge, -he exclaimed, 'I wish you'd never taught me at all. Once, -I didn't know I was wicked; now I do, and I'm miserable.' -The pony which he always rode, a clever, self-willed scamp -like himself, once took him under the branches of a low-growing -tree, scratching his face in the process. Lifting the -tomahawk which he generally carried, he drove it into the -withers of the poor animal. On reaching home he confessed -frankly enough, as was his custom, and appeared grieved and -penitent. He was sorry enough afterwards, for the fistula -which supervened necessitated a tedious washing every morning -with soap and water for twelve months. This attention -fell to his lot with strict retributive justice, and before a cure -was effected he had ample leisure to deplore his rashness. -With all his faults he could be most useful when he liked. -He was so clever that I could not help feeling a deep interest -in him, and during the expedition which I describe he was -unusually well-behaved.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Having put the cattle into a secure yard, and seen my -retainers comfortably fed and housed, I betook myself to -the coffee-room. This apartment was crowded with persons -just about to visit, or on their return from visiting, the -Wonder of the Age. The conversation was general and -unreserved. I was amused at the usual conflict of opinion -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>with regard to the duration, demerits, and destiny of the -Australian goldfields.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The elderly and conservative colonists took a depressing -view of this new-born irruption of bullion. 'It tended to -the confusion of social ranks, to the termination of existing -relations between shepherds and squatters, to democracy, -demoralisation, and decay. Had other nations, the Spaniards -notably, not found the possession of gold-mines in their -American colonies a curse rather than a blessing? Would -not the standard value of gold coin be reduced? Would not -landed property be depreciated, agriculture perish, labour -become a tradition, and this fair land be left a prey to -ruffianly gold-seekers and unprincipled adventurers? The -opposition, composed of the younger men, the 'party of -progress,' with a few democrats <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">enragés</span></i>, scoffed at the words -of wary commerce or timid capital. 'This was an Anglo-Saxon -community. Capacity for self-government had ever -been the proud heritage of the race. We had that sober -reasoning power, energy, and innate reverence for law which -enabled us to successfully administer republics, goldfields, -and other complications fatal to weaker families of men. -With such a people abundance of gold was not more undesirable -than abundance of wheat. Glut of gold! Well, there -were many ways of disposing of it. Civilisation developed -the need for coin nearly as fast as it was supplied. A -sovereign would be a sovereign most likely for our time. -Land! The land of course would be sold, cut up into farms -for industrious yeomen, and high time too.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The destiny of our infant nation was not finally settled -when I slipped out. I had mastered two facts, however, -which were to me at that time more immediately interesting -than the rise of nations and the fall of gold. These were the -increasing yields at Ballarat, and that, as yet, the diggers were -living wholly on mutton, of which they were excessively tired.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Long before daylight we were feeding our horses and -taking a meal, so precautionary in its nature that (more -especially in Charley's case) the question of dinner might -safely be entrusted to the future. With just light enough to -distinguish the white-stemmed gums which stood ghostly in -the chill dawn, we left the sleeping herd of prospectors and -politicians and prepared for a day of doubt and adventure.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>Silent and cold, we stumbled and jogged along, something -after the fashion of Lord Scamperdale going to meet the -hounds in the next county, for an hour or two. Then the -sun began to cheer the sodden landscape, the birds chirped, -the cattle put their heads down, life's mercury rose.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We had reached the historic Yuille's Creek, upon the -bank of which the great gold city now stands. Then it was -like any other 'wash-up creek'—a mimic river in winter, a -chain of muddy water-holes in summer. As I looked at the -eager waters, yellow with the clay in solution, as if the great -metal had lent the wave its own hue, I felt like Sinbad -approaching the valley of diamonds, and almost expected to -break my shins against lumps of gold and silver. I determined -to advance and reconnoitre; so, leaving Ben and -Charley to feed and cherish the cattle until my return, I put -spurs to old Hope, and headed up the water at a more -cheerful pace than we had known since daylight. I turned -the spur of a ridge which came low upon the meadows of -the streamlet. I heard a confused murmuring sound, the -subdued 'voice of a vast congregation,' combined with a -noise as of a multitude of steam mills. I rounded the -cape, and, pulling up my horse, stared in wonder and excitement -upon the strange scene which burst in suddenness -upon me.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On a small meadow, and upon the slopes which rose -gently from it, were massed nearly twenty thousand men. -They were, with few exceptions, working more earnestly, more -absorbingly, more silently than any body of labourers I had -ever seen. They were delving, carrying heavy loads, filling -and emptying buckets, washing the ore in thousands of -cradles, which occupied every yard and foot of the creek, -in which men stood waist-deep. Long streets and alleys of -tents and shanties constituted a kind of township, where -flaunting flags of all colours denoted stores and shops, and -St. George's banner, hanging proudly unfurled, told that the -majesty of the law, order, and the government was administered -by Commissioners and supported by policemen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I rode among the toilers, amid whom I soon found friends -and acquaintances. On every side was evidence of the magical -richness of the deposit. Nuggets were handed about with a -careless confidence which denoted the easy circumstances of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>the owners. The famous 'Jeweller's Point' was just yielding -its 'untold gold,' and one sanguine individual did not overstate -the case when he assured me they were 'turning it up -like potatoes.' I ascertained that, with the exception of an -occasional quarter from an adjoining station, the grand army -was ignorant of the taste of beef, that mutton was beginning -to be accounted monotonous fare, and that he who reintroduced -the diggers to steaks and sirloins would be hailed -as a benefactor and paid like a governor-general.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Having ascertained that this society, in which no trade -was unrepresented, contained several butchers, I presented -myself to these distributors, my natural enemies. I found -that the abnormal conditions among which we moved had -by no means lessened our antagonism. We did battle as of -old. They decried the quality of my cattle, and affected to -ignore the popular necessity for beef. Thinking that I was -compelled to accept their ruling, they declined to buy except -at a low price. I retired full of wrath and resolve.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Had I come these many leagues to be a prey to shallow -greed and cunning? Not so, by St. Hubert! Sooner than take -so miserable a price for my weary days and watchful nights, -I would turn butcher myself. Ha! happy thought! Why -not? There was no moral declension in becoming a butcher, -at least temporarily; all one's morale here was <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bouleversé</span></i>. -'Tis done. 'I will turn the flank of these knaves. Henceforth -I also am a butcher. Chops and steaks! No! steaks -only! Families supplied. Ha! ha!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>I returned to the cattle, which I found much refreshed -by the creek side. We drove them to the bank of the great -Wendouree Lake, then a shallow, reedy marsh, made a brush -yard, established ourselves in the lee of a huge fallen gum, -and passed cheerfully enough our first night at Ballarat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next morning I commenced the campaign of competition -with decision. I gave Charley a lecture of considerable -length upon his general deportment, and the particular duties -which had now devolved upon him. He was to look after -or 'tail' the cattle daily by the side of the lake; to abstain -from opossum hunts and other snares of the evil one; to look -out that wicked men, of whom this place was choke-full, did -not steal the cattle; to rest his pony, Jackdaw, whenever he -could safely; and always to bring his cattle home at sundown. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>If he did all these things, and was generally a good boy, I -would give him a cow, from the profit of whose progeny he -would very likely become a rich man, when we got back to -Squattlesea Mere. He promised to abandon all his sins on -the spot. As the cattle stood patiently expectant by the -rails, I sent a bullet into the 'curl' of the forehead of a -big rough bullock. The rest of the drove moved out with -small excitement, and the first act was over.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We flayed and quartered our bullock 'upon the hide,' -a 'gallows' being a luxury to which, like uncivilised nations, -we had not attained.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I chose a location for a shop in a central position among -the tented streets, being chiefly attracted thereto by a large -stump, which was a—ahem—butcher's block ready made, -divided our animal into more available portions, and with -modest confidence awaited 'a share of the public patronage.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>At first trade was slack—the sun became powerful—the -flies arrived in myriads—a slight reactionary despondency -set in—when lo! a customer, a bronzed and bearded digger. -I think I see his jolly face now. 'Hullo, mate! got some -beef? Blowed if I didn't think all the cattle was dead! -We're that tired of mutton—well, I ain't got much time to -stand yarnin'. Give us a bit now, though. Thirty pound—that'll -do. Here's a sov'ring. Good-bye.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Myself.—'Tell the other fellows, will you?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'All right. Won't want much tellin',' shouted my friend, -far on his way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>My soul was comforted. It was the turn of the tide. -Another and another came who lusted for the muscle-forming -food. Towards evening the news was general that there was -'beef in Ballarat.' The tide flowed and rose until the last -ounce of the brindled bullock had vanished, and I was left -the owner of a bag of coin weighty and imposing as the -purse of a Cadi.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'My word, sir, we'll have to kill two to-morrow,' quoth -Ben, 'if this goes on; and however shall we manage to cut -'em up and sell too?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, we'll see,' said I confidently; 'something will turn up.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>As we returned to our <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">depôt</span> by Wendouree, we met by the -wayside a middle-aged man sitting on a log in a despondent -mood. He was the only man I had yet seen at Ballarat who -<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>was not full of hope and energy. I was curious enough to -disturb his reverie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What's the matter?' said I. 'Have you lost your horse, -or your wife, or has the bottom of your claim tumbled out, -that you look so down on your luck?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, master, it ain't quite so bad as all that, but it isn't -so easy to get on here without money or work, and I was -just a-thinkin' about going back to Geelong.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I should have thought every one could have got work -here, by the look of things.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, a many do, but I am not much with pick and -shovel. I'm gettin' old now, and I can't a-bear cookin'. Now, -I was as comfortable as could be in Geelong, a-workin' steady -at my trade. I was just a-thinkin' what a fool I was to come -away, surelye!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What is your trade?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, master, I'm a butcher!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>There <em>must</em> be good angels. One doubts sometimes. -But how otherwise could this man, an unimaginative Englishman, -lately arrived, not easy of adaptation to strange surroundings, -have been conveyed to this precise spot, <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">planté là</span></i>, that -I might stumble against him in my need? I could have -clasped him in my arms.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But I said, with assumed indifference, 'Well, I want a man -for a week or two to do slaughtering. You can have five -shillings a day, and come home with us now, if you like.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Thank ye, master, that I'll do, and main thankful I be.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>When we reached the fallen tree, which, like a South Sea -cocoa-palm, supplied nearly all our wants (being fuel, fireplace, -house, furniture, and one side of our stock-yard), the -cattle were in, the camp kettle was boiling, and Charley, standing -proudly by the fire, received my congratulations. Our -professional comforted himself internally. We regarded the -past with satisfaction and the future with hope, and were -soon restoring our taxed energies with unbroken slumber.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next day we slew two kine, ably assisted by our new man, -who, however, looked rather blank at the absence of so many -trade accessories. Our bough-constructed 'shop' on the flat -became a place of fashionable resort, and the conversion -of cows into coin became easy and methodical. Having real -work to do, I donned suitable garments, and as I stood forth -<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>in blue serge and jack-boots, wielding my blood-stained axe -or gory knife, few of the busy diggers doubted my having -been bred to the craft. One or two jokes sprang from this -slight misapprehension.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Ah! if you was at 'ome now, and 'ad yer big cleaver, -yer'd knock it off smarter, wouldn't yer now?' This was a -criticism upon my repeated attempts to sever an obstinate -bone with a gapped American axe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the first day of my butcherhood I had bethought me -of the cuisine of my old friend the Commissioner, which I -essayed to improve by the gift of a sirloin. Placing the -exotic in a gunny-bag, I rode up to the camp, and said to -the blue-coated warder, 'Take this joint of beef to Mr. -Sturt with my compliments.' I had no sooner completed the -sentence than I saw an expression upon the face of the -man-at-arms which reminded me of my condition in life. -Gazing at me with supercilious surprise, he called languidly -to a brother gendarme, 'Jones, take this here to the Commissioner -with the <em>butcher's</em> compliments!' For one moment -I looked 'cells and contempt of court' at the obtuse myrmidon -who failed to recognize the disguised magistrate; but the -humour of the incident presenting itself, I burst into a fit -of laughter which further mystified him, and departed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I was now settled in business. I diverted a large share -of the trade previously monopolised by my rivals, who now -bitterly regretted not having disposed of me by purchase. -Every night I went up to the Government camp with my bag -of coin, which I delivered over for safe keeping. As many -friends were located there, with them I generally spent my -evenings, which were of a joyous and sociable character. -The conditions were favourable. Most of us were young; -we were all making money tolerably fast, with the agreeable -probability, for some time to come, of making it even -faster.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The exodus from Melbourne was exhaustive. There, -daily to be seen in red shirt and thick but very neat boots, -stood the handsome doctor of 'our street' by the cradle, -for which he had abandoned patients and practice. Next to -him, with constant care lowering the ever-recurring shaft-bucket, -was a rising barrister. Hotel servants, tradespeople, -farmers, market-gardeners, civilians, cab-drivers, barbers, even -<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>the tragic and the comic muse, had enrolled themselves among -the players at this theatre, where the popular drama of -'Golden Hazard' was having a run till further notice. The -ranks of the 50th Regiment were thinned by desertions in spite -of the utmost vigilance; while the ships in the bay were likely -to be reduced to the condition of the world's fleet in Campbell's -<cite>Last Man</cite>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Pitiable the while was the position of the squatters, -especially of those who held sheep. On a cattle station the -proprietor or manager, with the assistance of a boy or two, -can do much. It is not so with sheep. Particularly was it -not so in those pre-fencing days. In vain the sheep-owner -doubles his men's wages and removes apparent discontent. -He tries to think that matters will go on pretty well till -shearing. One night comes a traveller, a wretch with a bag -of gold. Next morning a shepherd is missing, and so on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We gave a little <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">festa</span></i> one evening in honour of a friend -who had sold his share in the claim and wisely gone back -to follow his profession in town. The conversation had a -philosophical turn, and it was debated whether or no the -country would come well out of the ordeal to which, particularly -on account of its uneducated classes, it was being -subjected. Some one expressed an opinion adverse to the -result upon national morality and progress.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I hold a directly opposite conviction,' said Jack Freshland. -'So do all the men who, like me, have seen order -produced from chaos in California. "Scum of the universe" -was a complimentary description of her population. -"Hell upon earth" was a weak metaphor explanatory of -her social state. Look at her now—self-regenerate, orderly, -honestly progressive in every phase of industry. I don't say -that you run no chance of being shot; accidents will happen -when fellows' belts and coat pockets are full of loaded -revolvers, whisky being cheap. But you run far less chance -of being robbed than in London or Paris. When I came -away you might leave your valuables scattered about your -tent for days. No one dared to touch them. I don't know -whether we shall come to ear-marking pilferers and hanging -horse-stealers, but this is an Anglo-Saxon population, and in -some way, I will stake my existence, order will be preserved.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Talking of horse-stealers, I found Fred Charbett's "Grey -<span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>Surrey" the other day,' said Moore O'Donnell, 'in rather -queer company.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's the horse he won the Ladies' Bag at the Port -Western Races with,' I cried out eagerly, 'a tremendous mile -horse, but no stayer. Had he a large D brand?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He had then; and a large S—if that stands for sore back—that -ye could see a mile off.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He is a flat-ribbed horse,' I explained, 'and any one with -a bad saddle might give him a back in a day that a week -couldn't cure. How glad old Fred will be to see him again! -Who is the ruffian that has him now?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'One Moore O'Donnell. Maybe ye wouldn't mind putting -your interrogation in another form, Mr. Boldrewood, if it's -agreeable to ye?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'A thousand pardons, really—but I didn't understand that -you had taken possession of him.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>We all laughed at this, and Jack Freshland said, 'Come, -Moore, you old humbug, tell us how you stole the poor -fellow's horse. It's all very well for Boldrewood to back you -up with his alphabetical evidence. I don't believe half of -it. You'll be up before the beak if you don't mind.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Give me the laste drop of that whisky,' said O'Donnell, -stretching his long legs, 'and I'll tell you all how I compounded -a felony, for there is the laste flavour of <em>that</em> about the transaction. -I was mooning about looking for old "Paleface," -when, after a great walk, I came upon the villain in company -with a strange grey, also in hobbles. You know what a hot -brute mine is: the stranger was about the same. Neither -would dream of allowing me to catch him. So, after a long -chase, I arrived at home, exhausted and demoralised, with -just sufficient strength left to put them into the bullock -yard. I refreshed myself from the whisky-jar, and after lunch -and a smoke, feeling better, I strolled out to look at the grey. -I thought we had been introduced. Of course, there he was, -the great Surrey, no less. The last time we met, I had seen a -sheet pulled off with pride by a neat groom, just before Fred -took him down to the races. Here he was, dog-poor, rough-coated, -and with a back fit to make one sick; D on the -shoulder, 2B under the mane. Identification complete. -"Such is life," thought I. "Just as one's in fine hard condition, -with all the world before you, and lots of money and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>friends, you get stolen, or come to grief, grass-feeding, and an -incurable sore back!"'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Rather a mixed metaphor, if I may be allowed a friendly -criticism,' said a dark-haired, quiet youngster named Weston, -who had been reading for the bar 'before the gold,' as people -distinguished the former and the latter days. 'I don't quite -follow who lost the money, or did you or the horse suffer from -the sore back?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Go to blazes with your special pleading,' shouted O'Donnell. -'Can't a man make the smallest moral reflection among ye, a -lot of profligate divils, but he must be fixed to logical exactness, -as if he was up for his "little go"? Ye've no poetry in -ye, Weston, divil a bit. It's a fatal defect at the bar. Take -my advice in time, or I wash my hands of your future prospects. -And now hear me out, or I'll stop, and the secret will be buried -with me.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Go on, Moore; you won't be the last of your line, will -you?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How do you know, sir? None of your Saxon sneers. -The O'Donnell! Ha! ye villain, I'm up to you this time. -Next day, as big a ruffian as ever ye seen came up to the tent -and asked me "what I meant by stealin' a poor man's 'oss." -"See here now," says I, "the stealing's all the other way, it -strikes me. He belongs to a friend of mine, who would never -have sold him. He may have strayed and got into pound, -and you may have bought him out, or you may—pardon me—have -stolen him yourself."</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"I bought him off Jem Baggs, as got him out of Burnbank -Pound," replied he doggedly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"That may be true. I think not, myself. This is what I -am going to do. The horse is in my possession, and there -he will remain. You can either take him, if you are man -enough (and I pointed this remark with the butt of my -revolver), or you can summon me before the Bench, or take -this £5 note for your claim. Which will you do?" He held -out his dirty paw for the fiver with a grin, as he said, "All -right, you can 'ave 'im for the fiver. He ain't much in a cart, -anyhow."'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Hurrah!' sung out half-a-dozen voices together. 'How -glad old Fred will be to see him again. What did you do -with him? Hasn't Bill Sikes re-stolen him yet?'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>'I sent him back by a stock-rider next day. He is safe at -"The Gums" by this time. I'm dry, though. You wouldn't -think it, now! Pass the whisky.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I say,' said Maxwell, 'there's a feller which is a poet in -this company. Wasn't that a ballad, Aubrey, that you pulled -out of your pocket just now, among all those tailors' bills, or -licences, or whatever they were? Let's have it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was addressed to a fair-haired youngster who was -arguing with great interest and eagerness the relative fattening -merits of shorthorns and Herefords.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, it's something in the scribbling line. If you want -it, you must read it though; I'll be hanged if I will. Writing -it has been quite bother enough.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well,' said Maxwell, 'it's not every fellow who can read, or -spell either, for the matter of that. I'll read it myself, sir; -perhaps you may find the effect heightened. Now listen, you -fellows; a little sentiment won't do none of us any harm. -What's it called? H—m!</p> - -<h3 class='c010'>A VISION OF GOLD</h3> - -<div class='lg-container-b c002'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'I see a lone stream rolling down</div> - <div class='line'>Through valleys green, by ridges brown,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Of hills that bear no name;</div> - <div class='line'>The dawn's full blush in crimson flakes</div> - <div class='line'>Is traced on palest blue, as breaks</div> - <div class='line in4'>The morn in orient flame.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'I see—whence comes that eager gaze?</div> - <div class='line'>Why rein the steed in wild amaze?</div> - <div class='line in4'>The water's hue is gold;</div> - <div class='line'>Golden its wavelets foam and glide</div> - <div class='line'>Through tenderest green—to ocean-tide</div> - <div class='line in4'>The fairy streamlet rolled.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'Forward, Hope, forward! truest steed,</div> - <div class='line'>Of tireless hoof and desert speed,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Up the weird water bound,</div> - <div class='line'>Till echoing far and sounding deep,</div> - <div class='line'>I hear old Ocean's hoarse voice sweep</div> - <div class='line in4'>O'er this enchanted ground.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'The sea! Wild fancy! Many a mile</div> - <div class='line'>Of changeful Nature's frown and smile,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Ere stand we on the shore;</div> - <div class='line'>And yet that murmur, hoarse and deep,</div> - <div class='line'>None save the ocean surges keep—</div> - <div class='line in4'>It is the cradles' roar!</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>'Onward! I pass the grassy hill</div> - <div class='line'>Around whose base the waters still</div> - <div class='line in4'>Shimmer in golden foam,</div> - <div class='line'>Oh! wanderer of the voiceless wild,</div> - <div class='line'>Of this far southern land the child,</div> - <div class='line in4'>How changed thy quiet home!</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'For, close as bees in countless hive,</div> - <div class='line'>Like emmet-hosts that tireless strive,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Swarmed, toiled, a vast strange crowd;</div> - <div class='line'>Haggard each face's features seem,</div> - <div class='line'>Bright, fever-bright, each eye's wild gleam;</div> - <div class='line in4'>Nor cry, nor accent loud.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'But each man delved, or rocked, or bore</div> - <div class='line'>As if salvation with the ore</div> - <div class='line in4'>Of the mine-monarch lay;</div> - <div class='line'>Gold strung each arm to giant might,</div> - <div class='line'>Gold flashed before the aching sight,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Gold turned the night to day.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'Where Eblis reigns o'er boundless gloom,</div> - <div class='line'>And in his halls of endless doom</div> - <div class='line in4'>Lost souls for ever roam,</div> - <div class='line'>They wander (says the Eastern tale),</div> - <div class='line'>Nor ever startles moan or wail</div> - <div class='line in4'>Despair's eternal home.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'Less silent scarce than that pale host,</div> - <div class='line'>They toiled as if each moment lost</div> - <div class='line in4'>Were the red life-drop spilt;</div> - <div class='line'>While heavy, rough, and darkly bright,</div> - <div class='line'>In every shape rolled to the light</div> - <div class='line in4'>Man's hope, and pride, and guilt.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'All ranks, all ages, every land</div> - <div class='line'>Had sent her conscripts forth to stand</div> - <div class='line in4'>In the gold-seekers' rank;</div> - <div class='line'>The bushman, bronzed, with sinewy limb,</div> - <div class='line'>The pale-faced son of trade, e'en him</div> - <div class='line in4'>Who knew the fetters' clank.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> * * * * *</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>''Tis night; her jewelled mantle fills</div> - <div class='line'>The busy valley, the dun hills,</div> - <div class='line in4'>'Tis a battle-host's repose;</div> - <div class='line'>A thousand watch-fires redly gleam,</div> - <div class='line'>Where ceaseless fusillades would seem</div> - <div class='line in4'>To warn approaching foes.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'The night is older. On the sward</div> - <div class='line'>Stretched, I behold the heavens broad</div> - <div class='line in4'>When, a Shape rises dim;</div> - <div class='line'>Then clearer, fuller, I descry</div> - <div class='line'>By the swart brow, the star-bright eye,</div> - <div class='line in4'>The gnome king's presence grim.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>'He stands upon a time-worn block;</div> - <div class='line'>His dark form shrouds the snowy rock,</div> - <div class='line in4'>As cypress marble tomb;</div> - <div class='line'>Nor fierce, yet wild and sad his mien,</div> - <div class='line'>His cloud-black tresses wave and stream,</div> - <div class='line in4'>His deep tones break the gloom.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'"Son of a tribe accurst, of those</div> - <div class='line'>Whose greed has broken our repose</div> - <div class='line in4'>Of the long ages dead;</div> - <div class='line'>Think not for naught our ancient race</div> - <div class='line'>Quit olden haunts, the sacred place</div> - <div class='line in4'>Of toils for ever fled.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'"List while I tell of days to come,</div> - <div class='line'>When men shall wish the hammers dumb</div> - <div class='line in4'>That ring so ceaseless now—</div> - <div class='line'>That every arm were palsy-tied,</div> - <div class='line'>Nor ever wet on grey hillside</div> - <div class='line in4'>Was the gold-seeker's brow.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'"I see the old world's human tide</div> - <div class='line'>Set southward on the Ocean wide,</div> - <div class='line in4'>I see a wood of masts;</div> - <div class='line'>While crime and want, disease and death,</div> - <div class='line'>By rolling wave and storm-wind's breath</div> - <div class='line in4'>Are on these fair shores cast.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'"I see the murderer's barrel gleam,</div> - <div class='line'>I hear the victim's hopeless scream</div> - <div class='line in4'>Ring through these sylvan wastes:</div> - <div class='line'>While each base son of elder lands,</div> - <div class='line'>Each witless dastard, in vast bands,</div> - <div class='line in4'>To the gold city hastes.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'"Disease shall claim her ready toll,</div> - <div class='line'>Flushed vice and brutal crime the dole</div> - <div class='line in4'>Of life shall ne'er deny;</div> - <div class='line'>Disease and death shall walk your streets,</div> - <div class='line'>While staggering idiocy greets</div> - <div class='line in4'>The horror-stricken eye!</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'"All men shall roll in the gold mire,</div> - <div class='line'>The height, the depth, of man's desire,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Till come the famine years;</div> - <div class='line'>Then all the land shall curse the day</div> - <div class='line'>When first they rifled the dull clay,</div> - <div class='line in4'>With deep remorseful tears.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'"Fell want shall wake to fearful life</div> - <div class='line'>The fettered demons; civil strife</div> - <div class='line in4'>Rears high a gory hand;</div> - <div class='line'>I see a blood-splashed barricade,</div> - <div class='line'>While dimly lights the twilight glade</div> - <div class='line in4'>The soldier's flashing brand.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>'"But thou, son of the forest free!</div> - <div class='line'>Thou art not, wert not foe to me,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Frank tamer of the wild!</div> - <div class='line'>Thou hast not sought the sunless home</div> - <div class='line'>Where darkly delves the toiling gnome,</div> - <div class='line in4'>The mid-earth's swarthy child.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'"Then be thou ever, as of yore,</div> - <div class='line'>A dweller in the woods and o'er</div> - <div class='line in4'>Fresh plains thy herds shall roam;</div> - <div class='line'>Join not the vain and reckless crowd,</div> - <div class='line'>Who swell the city's pageant proud,</div> - <div class='line in4'>But prize thy forest home."</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'He said; and with an eldritch scream</div> - <div class='line'>The gnome king vanished, and my dream—</div> - <div class='line in4'>Day's waking hour returned.</div> - <div class='line'>Yet still the wild tones echoed clear,</div> - <div class='line'>Half chimed with truth in reason's ear,</div> - <div class='line in4'>And my heart inly burned!'</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>'Well done, Maxwell, old fellow; didn't think you could -read so well! I haven't been asleep above two or three times. -I enjoyed it awfully. Particular down on us. Your underground -friend, though, prophesies war, famine, and mixed -immigration! Cheerful cuss!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Mr. Aubrey, will ye oblige me by coming before the -curtain. It's proud I am to know ye. I have seen worse, -sir, let me tell ye, in the pages of the <cite>Dublin University -Magazine</cite>, where the name of Moore O'Donnell is not -entirely unknown. I would like to repate to ye a short ode -of my own on——'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Rush oh! at Cockfighter's Flat,' burst in a new man—Markham—impetuously. -'That's all the talk now, my boys! -They say the gold's thicker than the wash, shallow sinking, -and lots of water. Jackson just told me; he's off there -to-morrow to buy gold and go to Melbourne with it. I'm -away, then. Any of you chaps join me?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I don't mind taking a look,' said Maxwell. 'I've half a -mind to turn gold-buyer myself. It's a paying game.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It's an awfully risky one,' said Freshland. 'A man takes -his life in his hand once he's known to carry gold. I know a -fellow who started from here for Melbourne a fortnight since, -and has never turned up.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Perhaps he's bolted,' suggested a cynic.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Perhaps so,' answered Freshland carelessly; 'but if so, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>his wife, from her looks, they tell me, is not in the secret. -I'm afraid it's the old story,' continued he, gazing mournfully -into space. 'I know well how it's done. I can see it all as -I sit here. A fellow goes stepping along the road through the -Black Forest, whistling cheerfully and thinking of the ounces -he has in his belt, or of what has gone down by the escort, of -a piano for his wife, of the children who will have grown so, -of the pleasant Christmas they will spend together, when, just -where the creek crosses the road, One-eyed Dick and Derwent -Bill step suddenly out.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"Morning, mates," says he, "fine weather after the rain."</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"Thundering fine," growls the one-eyed ruffian. "This -yere's a fine day for <em>us</em>, anyhow. Done well at the Point, -young chap?" As they talk they attempt grim jocularity, -but their eyes, cold, sinister, watchful, betray their intent as -they close upon him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"For the love of God, for my wife and children's sake, -spare my life!" gasps the poor fellow; "you shall have every -shilling I have in the world."</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"We ain't a-going to hurt ye. Just come off the road a -bit, will yer?" says the crafty brute. Pah! I can't bear to -think of it. Next summer some bullock-driver finds a skeleton -lashed to a tree, in the thickest part of the scrub.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I say, Freshland,' I pleaded, 'don't. I've got a couple of -miles to walk in the dark to-night. I think I'd rather hear -that kind of story by daylight. But I must be off now. We -tradesmen, you know! Good-bye.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>I walked back through scattered tents and darksome trees, -moaning in the midnight, as the breeze swept through them. -I was unable to banish Freshland's horrible tale from my -mind, and was decidedly relieved when the yard of our -encampment loomed into view. The cattle were lying down, -Ben was smoking his pipe on guard, all was safe. Murderers -and burglars were exercising their talents elsewhere. I was -soon in a land where the mystery of permitted evil troubled -me not.</p> - -<p class='c000'>My career at Ballarat was, however, drawing to a close. -While we were transacting our <i><span lang="es" xml:lang="es">al fresco</span></i> breakfast, a 'real -butcher' made his appearance with proposals for the purchase -of my remaining cattle, and the collateral advantages of stock-in-trade, -plant, and goodwill. 'Why had I not come to him -<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>in the first instance?' he asked with good-humoured surprise. -Some accident had prevented me hearing of him. Mr. Garth -laughed, and said he was in a small way compared to the -others, with whom I had disagreed. I may say here, that it -would be hard to pass through the populous, wealthy, energetic -city of Ballarat now, without hearing much about Mr. Garth, -owner of farms, mills, hotels, mining companies, what not.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I was pleased with his frank, liberal way of dealing, and -augured favourably of his future career. He was the ideal -purchaser, at any rate. He adopted, without a word of -dissent, my prices, terms, and conditions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With the conclusion of breakfast the whole affair was -arranged. The cattle-edifices, tools of trade, and journeyman -butcher were delivered as per agreement; Charley was sent -for the horses, Ben was ordered to pack, the route was given, -and in an hour we had turned our backs upon Ballarat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I sent Ben and Charley back to the station, presenting the -former with a coveted brown filly, and the latter with a white -cow, as good-conduct badges. They reached home safely, -after a journey of a couple of hundred miles, a 'big drink' -indulged in by Master Ben on the road notwithstanding.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For myself, I went to Melbourne, having business in that -deserted village. I had much difficulty in getting my hair -cut, by the only surviving barber. The site of my shanty and -block now trembles under the traffic of a busy street. The -'lost camp' at Wendouree Lake is valuable suburban property. -Steamers run there. Why did I not buy it? If I had taken -that, and one or two other trifling long shots, I might have -been living in London like Maxwell, or in Paris like Freshland, -if a stray Prussian bullet has not interfered with his matchless -digestion. However, why regret these or any seeming errors -of the past? They are but a few more added to the roll of -opportunities, gone with our heedless youth, and with the -hours of that 'distant Paradise,' lost for evermore.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span> - <h2 class='c006'>MOONLIGHTING ON THE MACQUARIE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>There are different kinds of work connected with the management -of cattle-stations in the far bush of New South Wales. -Some of them strike the stranger as being curious. At any -rate, most people have not heard of them before, or if they -have, don't know much. Something depends upon <em>finding</em> -the cattle which you are required to manage. Didn't Mrs. -Glass say, before yarning about hare soup, 'First catch your -hare'? Right she was! If you'll come with me to the -Wilgah brakes, 'Hell's Cages,' and 'Devil's Snuff-boxes' of the -Lower Macquarie, you will see the pull of the 'first catch' -arrangement. Don't suppose for a moment that ours is a -neglected herd. If you were to see the stud animals—chiefly -Devons and Herefords, for we found that the 'active -reds' could pace out many a mile from the frontage in a dry -season, and be back at their watering-place while a soft shorthorn -would be thinking about it, and, of course, losing flesh. -As I was saying, if you saw our 'Whitefaces' and 'Devon -Dumplings,' you wouldn't think that. But those M'Warrigals, -that we bought the place from long ago, were careless beggars; -thought more of their neighbours' calves—some people say—than -minding their own business and doing their proper station -work. Now the back of the run is scrubby in parts, and the -cattle there are 'outlaws' that increase and multiply. They -get joined by other refugees and breakaways—brutes with no -principle whatever. We seldom see them, as they have got a -nasty habit of feeding at night, like tigers and lions and other -wild animals. When we do see them—by day—they break -away, scatter, and charge. All the horses and dogs in the -country wouldn't get them.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>What are we to do? There are some famous bullocks -among them—rather coarse, perhaps, but rolling fat—ugly -with fat, as the stock-riders say. And as cattle are a first-class -price just now, and the feed grand all the way to market, there's -no use talking; we must have a shy at them. It won't do -for me, a native-born Australian, and manager of my father's -best cattle-station, to be beaten by anything that ever wore -a hide. Have 'em we must. The new paddock is just finished. -We are going to muster the other side of the run—the quiet -side—the day after to-morrow, and if we can make a good haul -out of these 'scrub danglers' we shall have together as fine a lot -of fat cattle as ever left the Macquarie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And how are we going to do it? There are half-a-dozen -as good hands on this Milgai Run, including the black boys -Johnny Smoker and Gundai, as ever rode stock-horse or -followed a beast. And yet, if we rode after this lot for a -month we shouldn't get more than a couple of dozen, tear our -clothes to rags, stake our horses, and get knocked off in the -Wilgah scrubs—after all get next to no cattle—that's what I -look at. Still, there is a way—and only one way—that we -may fetch 'em by, and perhaps in one night. I'm going to -tell you about it. We must <em>moonlight</em> 'em.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is a strange thing—and I've no doubt it was found out -by some rascally 'duffer,' some cattle-stealing brute that went -poking about after his neighbours' calves (but the amount of -cleverness <em>they</em> show when it's 'on the cross,' no man would -believe, unless he knew it from experience)—it's a strange -thing that wild cattle are twice, ten times, as easy to drive by -night as they are by day. Whether they are afraid—like -children—whether they can't see so well, or what it is, I don't -know. But every old stock-rider will tell you that all cattle, -particularly wild ones, are much easier to handle by night -than by day. Another reason is, they go out a long way into -the open plains to feed at night. Whereas by day they lie -in their scrubs like rabbits near a hole, and directly they hear -a whip, or a voice, or a stick crack almost, they're off like a -lot of deer. Not that I ever saw any; but one thinks about -the red deer listening and then popping into fern-brakes and -heather-glens. Perhaps I shall see <em>them</em> some day, who -knows, if cattle keep up?</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, we had to wait for a day or two, till the moon rose, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>about ten o'clock. When the moon rises soon after dusk, -they keep about the edge of the timber, and are ready to -dash back directly they see or hear any one. But when it's -dark for some hours before the moon rises, they'll go out far -into the plains and feed as steadily as milkers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, we sent word to our neighbours and mustered up -about twenty men. We went into the timber at sundown, -near a point where we thought they wouldn't come out, and -hobbled our horses. We had brought something to eat with -us, and made a billy of tea; and after we lit our pipes, it was -jolly enough. My stock-rider, Joe Barker, was one of the -smartest riders and best hands with cattle on the river, but, as -is sometimes the case with good men and good horses, he had -a queer temper. I wanted him to bring his old favourite, Yass -Paddy, as good and sure a stock-horse as ever heard a whip. -But no, he must bring a new mount that he'd run out of the -wild mob!—a good one to go and to look at, but the biggest -tiger I ever saw saddled. Joe was put out about something, -and I didn't like to cross him. A stock-rider is a bad servant -to quarrel with, unless all your run is fenced, or very open. -Besides, with his riding, a donkey would have been 'there -or thereabouts.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>So we sat and talked, and smoked, and looked about for -an hour or two. At last the time came. We pouched our -pipes, saddled up, and headed for the plains, making a point -for a few trees a good way out, near where the lot we were -after often fed. We didn't talk much, but rode far from one -another, so as to have a better chance of seeing them. At -last Gundai rode up alongside me, and pointed ahead. I -looked and saw something dark, which seemed to change line. -There were no Indians, no wolves, no buffaloes, in our part of -the world. It might have been horses, of course, but we were -soon near enough to see tails—not horses'—and a big mob too. -Cattle, by Jove! and the heaviest lot we have seen together -since the general muster, many years since, just after we bought -the station. 'All right, boys! we're in for a good thing.' -They were, of course, scattered, feeding about, looking as -quiet as store cattle. The regular thing to do was, of course, -known to most of us. A couple of the smartest riders must -start to 'wheel' them, one on each side. Charley Dickson -and the black boy, Gundai, were told off. You couldn't lick -<span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>Charley, and Gundai was the most reckless young devil to -ride that ever broke down a stock-horse. But just at this -pinch we want 'em to be pretty quick. Never mind about -horses' legs, we look to them afterwards. Off they go like -mad Arabs. You can see the dust and dry grass sent up by -Gundai's horse's hoofs, like a small steam-engine. We hear -the rolling gallop of the heavy bullocks, as the big mob of -cattle all raise their heads and make off in a long trailing -string—like a lot of buffaloes—directly they hear the first -horse. We ride steadily up in line, so as to intercept -them in the rush they will be sure to make back towards the -scrub. In the meanwhile Charley and Gundai have raced to -the two ends of the string, and are ringing and wheeling, and -doubling them up together, till the mob is regularly bothered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then we go at them, still in well-kept line, and at whichever -point a beast tries to 'break' he finds a horseman ready -to 'block' him. There is no shouting, whip-cracking, or -flash work generally. The great thing is to ride like ten -men and be always ready to head or stop a breaking beast, -which can be done at night by only showing yourself. No -row or nonsense; it only makes the cattle worse. Always be -in your own place, and do your work without crossing any -one else's line; that's the only way with cattle. Of course -we don't mind their running a little wide as long as they are -heading out into the plains, and not back towards their scrub -forts and hiding-places. So we let them trot a bit, keeping -one man ahead to stop them if they get too fast, as they might -get winded, and then charge and have to be left on the -plains. We keep steadily behind them, while they are streaming -out well towards the middle of the plain, and in a direction -that by a little judicious 'edging' will land them at the Milgai -stock-yard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Of course there are well-known incorrigibles that have -escaped many a muster, and will be sure to try it on now. -'There goes the grey-faced bullock. Look out! Look out!' -shouts a stock-rider, as an enormous red bullock, with a -speckled Hereford face, turns deliberately round, and, breaking -through the line of horsemen, makes straight for 'Hell's -Cage.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>I am riding Wallaroo, the best stock-horse on the river—at -least that is my belief and opinion. I race at him, and we -<span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>go neck and neck together for a hundred yards, at a pace that -would win the Hack Stakes at a country meeting. Wallaroo's -shoulder is jammed against the bullock, his head just behind -the brute's great horns. At the batt Greyface is going, of -course, he is occasionally on the balance. As I rush the -game little horse against him, again and again, I can feel his -huge bulk tremble and shake. I am too near for him to -horn me, unless he had time to stop and turn, which, of -course, I take care that he has not. After a while he edges -round a bit, then a little more, then he sees the cattle and -makes straight for them as they are moving past in the original -direction in front of him. I slacken pace for an instant, and -as I do so, drop the twelve foot stockwhip on to him with -a right and left, which sends him right up among the tail -cattle. He breaks no more for a while, and we are getting -on pretty well. We know our direction now. Some of -the cattle have got rather blown, and their tongues are out. -We round them up, and let them stand for a bit to recover -breath.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Off we go again. Can't stay here all night. They can run -for miles in the scrub, and why not now? Much more steady -this time. Begin to give it up. 'Hullo, what's that?' 'The -brindled leader has doubled on us this time.' This was -another regular outlaw. He was called 'Leader' because he -was never far from the two or three foremost cattle wherever -he was. Many a camp had he been on. Many a man had -had a turn at him. But the inside of a yard he hadn't seen -for years. He generally waited till the mob had gone some -distance; when he did turn there was no stopping him. Joe -Barker to-day must have a try at him. Away he went. His -horse had not been behaving quite the fair thing, and Master -Joe was in a great rage accordingly. Away he went, as I -said, driving his spurs into the horse, and nearly jumping on -to the brindled bullock's back, when he caught him up. He -flogged for a bit without trying to turn him, and no man in -these parts could use a whip with Joe Barker; he always had -it in great order, oiled and lissom, with first-rate hide fall, and -the exact thing in crackers. As the whip rose and fell, every -cut marking itself in blood on the brindle's quarters, we all -knew that he hadn't had such a scarifying for years, if he -ever had. This was only to let him taste what the whip, in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>Joe's hands, was like. He knew, bless you, that it was no -good to try and turn 'Leader' at first. After he'd smarted -him enough, he went broadside on, and let him have it about -the near side of his face. He could sit on his horse at a hard -gallop and flay a beast alive. After a bit the brindle began -to feel it hot. He turned and made a dangerous rush at -Joe. It wasn't so easy to get away as you'd think, because -the horse was partly sulky, and had it taken out of him a good -deal. We had stopped the cattle, and were looking at the -fun. He did get away, however, and flogged that bullock -over the face and eyes until he was more than half blinded. -Then he turned again and made for the scrub. At him, -broadside on, went Joe, still flogging to the inch—forward, -backward, every way, all on the near side, till the brindle -could stand it no longer. He sidled and sidled away; lastly, -he turned right round, and, as soon as he saw the cattle again, -made for them like a milker's calf, Joe following up and warming -him all the way in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fight wasn't over though, for Joe had been punishing -his horse for being awkward, and the horse's sides and the -bullock's back must have been all of one colour if we could -have seen. I mentioned that Joe Barker had the devil's own -temper; it carried him too far this time. The horse was a -sour, peculiar animal, partly nervous, partly determined, as all -the worst buck-jumpers, and what people call vicious horses, -are. There are very few really vicious horses. Half of it is -ignorance or stupidity on the part of the horse or his rider—generally -the last, sometimes both. In this case I think there -<em>was</em> vice. At the last few strides, as Mr. Leader, regularly -blown and bullied, was dashing into the tail cattle, with the -intention of working up to the front as usual, Joe gave his -horse two or three tremendous drives with the spurs, standing -up and letting him have them right. He then brought the -double of the whip down over his head, swearing at him for -the sulkiest brute he had ever crossed. It wasn't proper -treatment for any horse, but he was beside himself with rage; -and I made up my mind to speak to him in the morning -about it after we had the cattle all safe. The horse took the -law into his own hands, or feet, or fingers, or whatever they -are. The geological fellows tell you once upon a time horses -had three toes, and all but the middle one became unfashionable, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>and finally hooked it. I know country where a three-toed -horse would come in very handy. But Joe's horse -showed now he hadn't mistaken his character. He gave a -snort as if he had just seen a man for the first time, propped -dead, and in a couple of seconds was bucking away, as you -may swear he did the very first time he was crossed. I -thought it served Joe right, and nobody was uneasy, as he -could sit anything with a horse's skin on. But this one kept -bucking sideways, front ways, every way, rearing and kicking, -and what I never saw any horse but a wild one do, biting and -snapping like a dog at Joe's foot every time he turned his -head round. Joe, of course, kicked him in the mouth when -he got a chance, and the horse was just done when he caught -his jaw accidentally in the stirrup-iron—his under jaw. Here -he was fixed. He swung round and round with his head all -on one side till he got giddy, and fell with a crash before any -one could get to him. It was a hard bare place, as luck -would have it. Joe was underneath him. We lifted him with -his thigh smashed, and a couple of ribs broken. Here was a -pretty thing—ten miles from home, and our best man with -his leg in two. However, there was no help for it. We let -go his horse, put the saddle under his head for a pillow (and, -except that this one was rather hot, it isn't such a bad one), -left a black boy with him till we could send a cart from the -station, and started on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After this none of the cattle gave any trouble till we were -quite within sight of the yards. There was a large receiving -paddock outside of these again, into which I intended to put -the mob for the night, as I fancied we could get them into the -drafting yards better by daylight. But anything of the nature -of post and rails is very terrifying to the uneducated 'Mickies' -and 'clear-skins.' They are always likely to bolt directly they -see a fence. The bullocks might follow them, and if much -confusion arose and there was a little timber there, we might -lose the lot. So our troubles were not over yet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But for the wild young bulls and the unbranded heifers -born and bred in the thick covert of the 'Cage' and the -'Snuff-box,' both belonging to the infernal regions, I had a -different kind of help. As the mob now moved slowly on, the -old cows roaring, the calves chiming in, the bullocks occasionally -giving a deep low bellow, making, like all cattle off their -<span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>bounds, noise enough for four times the number, I knew that -assistance was not far off. So it turned out, for about two -miles from home we were met by two black dogs, walking -slowly to meet us. A brace of very powerful and determined, -not to say ferocious-looking animals they were. Half bulldog, -half greyhound, they took about equally after both sides -of the house. They were moderately fast and immoderately -fierce, most difficult to keep back from bloodshed. They had -required an immense amount of training, which in their case -meant unmerciful licking, before they could be brought to -obey orders. In their own line they couldn't be beat. They -were too slow to follow horses all day, but, as they were fond -of cattle work, they always came out a mile or two to meet us, -when they heard the whips and the well-known sounds. -Danger and Death, as I had christened the brothers, were -known all up and down the Macquarie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now I felt quite safe for the first time since we had started, -and as we closed up a little round the cattle, I looked -anxiously for a 'break.' It was not long in coming. A three-year-old -bull and a splendid red heifer charged back, and -broke in regular fancy scrub style. Danger luckily took the -heifer; she was clearing out like a flying doe. Danger was a -good deal the quickest on his feet. Death was as sure as his -namesake. He had his customer by the muzzle before he had -gone any distance, and a loud roar, half of rage, half of pain, -told us he was brought to bay. It was not a bad fight. The -bull raised him from the ground more than once, and dashed -him down with such force as would have satisfied any ordinary -dog. But his mother's blood was strong in him, and, after an -unavailing resistance, the dog having shifted his hold, and -taken to the ear in preference, Micky was half dragged, half -driven into the mob, among which, for security, he immediately -rushed. Meanwhile the red heifer, rather 'on the leg' and -not too fat, forced the pace, so that I really thought she was -going to run away from old Danger. But he lay alongside -of her shoulder doing his best, and every now and then -making a spring at her head. At last he nailed her, and as -he stopped and threw all his weight against her, with his -terrible grip on her nostrils, her head went right under, and -she fell over on her back with such force that she lay stunned. -I thought she had broken her neck. When she got up she -<span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>staggered, stared piteously all round, and finally trotted after -the cattle like an old milker. We had only one more break, -just as they were going through the paddock rails. Then we -had a wing—fine thing a wing, saves men and horses, too—and -the whole lot were in and the rails up before they knew -where they were going.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next day we put them in the strong yard, without much -trouble, and after drafting the cows, calves, strangers, and -rubbish, we had over a hundred of as good fat cattle as ever -left our district. We picked out a few of the out-and-outers, -including the grey-faced bullock and Leader, and 'blinded' -them, after which they travelled splendidly, fed well, and gave -us no trouble on the road down. Isn't it cruel? Not particularly. -We don't put their eyes out. We run them into -the 'bot.' The bot is a 'trevis' or pen, high, strong, and so -near the size of a beast that they can't turn round after they've -been inveigled into it. Then we can do what we like with -them. They may roar and knock their horns about, or kick -if they're horses—they can't hurt you. For 'blinding' we cut -a broad flap of greenhide, and hang it over the face of any -bullock that has bad manners. It is secured above and -below. It works wonders. He can't see in front of him, -only out of the corners of his eyes. Sometimes he runs -against trees and things. This makes him take greater care of -himself. He mostly follows the other cattle then, and in a -week feeds like an old milker. We were nearly selling Greyface -and Leader for a pair of working bullocks before we got -down.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Poor Joe was a long time before he got round. He was -never the same man again. We dropped in for a first-rate -market in town, and so were handsomely paid for a night's -'moonlighting on the Macquarie.'</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span> - <h2 class='c006'>AN AUSTRALIAN ROUGHRIDING CONTEST</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>In June 1891, at Wodonga, on the Murray River, in the -colony of Victoria—on the opposite bank to Albury, a town of -New South Wales—was arranged an exhibition for testing the -horsemanship of all comers, which I venture to assert had but -few parallels.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Prizes were to be allotted, by the award of three judges of -acknowledged experience, amounting in all to about £20. -Much interested in matters equine, 'nihil equitatum alienum -me puto,' I traversed the three miles which separate the -border towns in a cab of the period, and arrived in time for -the excitement.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The manner of the entertainment was after this wise. An -area of several acres of level greensward was enclosed within -a fence, perhaps eight or ten feet high, formed of sawn battens, -on which was stretched the coarse sacking known to drapers -as 'osnaberg.' This answered the double purpose of keeping -the non-paying public out and the performing horses in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I had heard of the way in which the selected horses were -saddled and mounted; I was therefore partly prepared. But, -tolerably versed in the lore of the wilderness, I had never -before seen such primitive equitation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>About thirty unbroken horses were moving uneasily within -a high, well-constructed stock-yard—the regulation 'four rails' -and a 'cap'—amounting to a solid unyielding fence, over -seven feet in height.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That the steeds were really unbroken, 'by spur and snaffle -undefiled,' might be gathered from their long manes, tails -sweeping the ground, and general air of terror or defiance. -As each animal was wanted, it was driven or cajoled by means -<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>of a quiet horse into a close yard ending in a 'crush' or lane -so narrow that turning round was impossible. A strong, high -gate in front was well fastened. Before the captive could -decide upon a retrograde movement, long, strong saplings were -thrust between his quarters and the posts of the crush. He -was therefore trapped, unable to advance or retire. If he -threatened to lie down, a sapling underneath prevented that -refuge of sullenness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mostly the imprisoned animal preserved an expression of -stupid amazement or harmless terror, occasionally of fierce -wrath or reckless despair. Then he kicked, plunged, reared—in -every way known to the wild steed of the desert expressed -his untameable defiance of man, occasionally even neighing -loudly and fiercely. 'Twas all in vain. The prison was too -high, too strong, too narrow, too everything; nothing but -submission remained—'not even suicide,' as Mr. Stevenson -declares concerning matrimony, 'nothing but to be good.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This, of course, with variations, as happens perchance in -the married state irreverently referred to.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Before the colt has done thinking what unprincipled wretches -these bush bipeds are, a 'blind' (ingeniously improvised from -a gentleman's waistcoat) is placed over his eyes, a snaffle -bridle is put on, a bit is forced into his mouth; at the same -time two active young men are thrusting a crupper under his -reluctant tail, have put a saddle on his back, and are buckling -leather girths and surcingle (this latter run through slits in the -lower portion of the saddle flaps) as if they meant to cut him -in two.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This preparatory process being completed in marvellous -short time, the manager calls out 'First horse, Mr. St. Aure,' -and a well-proportioned young man from the Upper Murray -ascends the fence, standing with either leg on the rails, -immediately over the angry, terrified animal.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What would you or I take, O grey-besprinkled reader, to -undertake the mount Mr. St. Aure surveys with calmest confidence? -(We are not so young as we were, let us say in -confidence.)</p> - -<p class='c000'>Deftly he drops into the saddle, his legs just grazing the -sides of the crush. 'Open the gate!' roars the manager. 'Look -out, you boys!' and, with a mad rush, out flies the colt -through the open gate like a shell from a howitzer.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span>For ten yards he races at full speed, then 'propping' as if -galvanised, shoots upwards with the true deer's leap, all four -feet in the air at once (from which the vice takes its name), to -come down with his head between his forelegs and his nose -(this I narrowly watched) touching the girths.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The horseman has swayed back with instinctive ease, and -is quite prepared for a succession of lightning bounds, sideways, -upwards, downwards, backwards, as he appears to turn -in the air occasionally and to come down with his head in the -place where his tail was when he rose.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For an instant he stops: perhaps the long-necked spurs -are sent in, to accentuate the next performance. The crowd -meanwhile of 600 or 700 people, mostly young or in the -prime of life, follow, cheering and clapping with every fresh -attempt on the part of the frenzied steed to dispose of his -matchless rider. Five minutes of this exercise commences to -exhaust and steady the wildest colt. It is a variation of -'monkeying,' a device of the bush-breaker, who ties a bag on -to the saddle of a timid colt, and he, frightened out of his -life, as <em>by a monkey</em> perched there, tires himself out, permitting -the breaker to mount and ride away with but little resistance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Sometimes indeed the colt turns in his tracks, and being -unmanageable as to guiding in his paroxysms, charges the -crowd, whom he scatters with great screaming and laughing as -they fall over each other or climb the stock-yard fence. But -shortly, with lowered head and trembling frame, he allows -himself to be ridden to the gate of egress. There he is halted, -and the rider, taking hold of his left ear with his bridle-hand, -swings lightly to the ground, closely alongside of the shoulder. -Did he not so alight, the agile mustang was capable of a -lightning wheel and a dangerous kick. Indeed, one rider, -dismounting carelessly, discovered this to his cost after riding -a most unconscionable performer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A middle-aged, wiry, old-time-looking stock-rider from -Gippsland next came flying out on a frantic steed <em>without a -bridle</em>, from choice. For some time it seemed a drawn battle -between horse and man, but towards the end of the fight the -horse managed to 'get from under.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>One horse slipped on the short greensward and came over -backwards, his rider permitting himself to slide off. The next -animal was described as an 'outlaw,' a bush term for a horse -<span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span>which has been backed but never successfully ridden. She, a -powerful half-bred, fully sustained it by a persevering exhibition -of every kind of contortion calculated to dissolve -partnership. At one time it looked as if the betting was in -favour of the man, but the mare had evidently resolved on a -last appeal. Setting to with redoubled fury, she smashed the -crupper, tore out one of the girth straps, and then performed -the rare, well-nigh incredible feat of sending the saddle over -her head <em>without breaking the surcingle</em>. This is the second -time, during a longish acquaintance with every kind of horse -accomplishment, that I have witnessed this performance. It -is not always believed, but can be vouched for by the writer -and about five or six hundred people on the ground. I <em>felt</em> -the girth, and saw that the buckle was still unslacked.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The rider, Mortimer, came over the mare's head, sitting -square with the saddle between his legs, and received an -ovation in consequence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The last colt had been driven into the crush 'fiercely -snorting, but in vain, and struggling with erected mane,' and -enlarged 'in the full foam of wrath and dread,' when another -form of excitement was announced. A dangerous-looking -four-year-old bullock was now yarded in the outer enclosure, -light of flesh but exceeding fierce, which he proceeded to -demonstrate by clearing the place of all spectators in the -shortest time on record.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Climbing hurriedly to the 'cap' of the stock-yard fence, -they looked on in secure elevation, while the <i><span lang="nl" xml:lang="nl">toreadors</span></i> -cunningly edged him into the crush, and there confined him -like the colts. Here he began to paw the ground and bellow -in ungovernable rage. At this stage the manager thus -delivered himself: 'It's Mr. Smith's turn, by the list, to -ride this bullock, but he says he don't care. Is there any -gentleman here as'll ride him?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>With Mr. Smith's natural disinclination for the mount the -crowd apparently sympathised. The bullock meanwhile was -pawing the earth and roaring in a hollow and blood-curdling -manner, as who should say, 'Let me at him; only let me have -one turn with hoof and horn.' To the unprejudiced observer -the mount seemed one that no gentleman would court or -even accept.</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, the Gippslander, removing his pipe from his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>mouth, calmly remarked, 'I'll ride him,' whereupon the crowd -burst out with a cheer, evidently looking upon the offer as one -of exceptional merit.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was no bridle or saddle in this case. A rope was -fastened around the animal's body, and with this slender -accoutrement only, the stock-rider deposited himself upon the -ridge of the red bullock's back. Then the gate was opened, -and out he came in all his glory.</p> - -<p class='c000'>No one that has merely observed the clumsy gambols of -the meadow-fed ox can have an idea of the speed and agility -of the bush-bred steer, reared amid mountain ranges and -accustomed to spurts up hill and down, with a smart stock-horse -rattling by the side of the drove, always making excellent -time, and not infrequently distancing their pursuers amid the -forests and morasses of their native runs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This one had a shoulder like a blood horse, great propelling -power, and stood well off the ground, with muscular -arms and hocks to match.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He reared, bucked, and plunged almost with the virulence -and variety of the colts, and when, after a prolonged and -persevering contest, he gradually managed to shift his rider on -to his <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">croupe</span></i>, and thence by a complicated and original twist -of his quarters dislodged him, it was felt by the spectators -that he had worthily sustained the honour of the stock-riding -fraternity. Cheers resounded from all sides, as the crowd -returning to a centre surrounded the fallen but not disgraced -combatant. I think the boys were privately disappointed that -the bullock did not turn to gore his antagonist, but he was -too much excited for such an attack. He made a bee-line for -the fence, which, all-ignorant of its flimsy nature, he did not -attempt to jump or overthrow, contenting himself with running -by the side of it until he came to the corner, where a gate -was cunningly left open for his departure. After a respectable -'cap' had been collected for the veteran, who was more than -twice the age of the other competitors, the prizes were -distributed, and the entertainment concluded.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As an Australian I may be slightly prejudiced, but I must -confess to holding the opinion that our bush-riders in certain -departments are unrivalled. The South American 'gaucho' -and the 'cow-boy' of the Western States are, doubtless, wonderful -horsemen, but they ride under conditions more favourable -<span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>than those of our bushmen. The saddle of the Americans is -the old-fashioned Spanish one—heavy, cumbrous, and, besides -the high pommel and cantle, provided with a horn-like fixture -in front, to which the lasso is attached generally, but which serves -as a belaying-pin and a secure holdfast for the rider in case -of need. The tremendous severity of the heavy curb-bit must -also tend to moderate the gambades of all but the most vicious -or untamed animals. Besides all this, the horses ridden by -them are mere ponies compared to the big, powerful Australian -colts, and as such easier to control.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But let the stranger, when minded to try his horsemanship, -find himself upon a 'touchy' three-year-old, and how insecure -does his position appear! He is a good way off the ground, -which said ground is mostly extremely hard. The colt is -nearly sixteen hands high, and feels strong enough in the loins, -if fully agitated, to throw him into a gum-tree. The single-reined -snaffle, to which he trusts his life, is of the plainest, -cheapest description of leather and iron. The saddle is the -ordinary English saddle, fuller in the flap and pads, but otherwise -giving the impression of being hard, slippery, and affording -but little hope of recovery when once the seat is shaken.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When, with nothing but this simple accoutrement, or perhaps -a rolled bag, strapped in front of the pommel, our bushmen -ride, as I have described, it must be conceded that no horsemen -could be less indebted to adventitious aid.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the peculiar, strictly Australian department, known as -'scrub riding,' no one not 'to the manner born' can be said -to hold a candle to them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The home of the half-wild herds of cattle and horses is -frequently mountainous, thickly-wooded, and rocky. Amid -these declivitous fastnesses in which they are reared, the outliers -of the herd acquire speed, wind, and activity, which must -be known to be believed. Through these interlaced and -thick-growing woodlands, down the rocky ridge, across the -treacherous morass, away go the cattle or the wild horses at a -pace apt to take them out of sight and hearing in remarkably -short time. The ordinary horseman, able to hold his own -fairly well on road or turf, even in the hunting field, here finds -himself hopelessly at fault. Not wanting in pluck, he does -his best for a mile or more. But he knocks his knee against -one tree, his shoulder against another, and narrowly escapes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>dashing his brains out by reason of a low-lying branch, which -knocks off his hat, and might easily—he reflects—have performed -the same office for the head which it covered. He -realises the disability under which he labours by reason of not -being able to calculate his distance from the unyielding timber -in front, beside, around; at the same time to distinguish the -route of the fast-vanishing 'mob' (<em>Anglice</em>, drove), while all -his skill and strength are required to control a stock-horse, if -such a mount has been provided for him, which clambers -along hillsides and tears down the same with the sure-footedness -of a mule, while he leaves the full responsibility of -directing his headlong career to his rider. When at the end -of several miles the visitor pulls up, he is entirely out of the -hunt. Neither men, horses, dogs, nor cattle are within sight -and hearing. He is not accustomed to tracking, nor perhaps -is the ground favourable to such practice. Nothing is left for -him but to follow on as nearly as may be in the direction of -the riders, fortunate if, some hours after, he is hunted up by a -man sent in search of him, or, more fortunate still, has left all -path-finding to his horse, and joyfully recognises the homestead, -which comes into sight much sooner than he expected.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In contrast to this exploit, behold the sons of the waste -under the same circumstances. Riding along with apparent -carelessness, several pairs of sharp eyes are piercing the forest -glades in every part of the foreground. One man has descried -the outline of a group of slowly-moving forms, or it may be -but a single beast, high up a hillside in the gorge of a mountain-range, -the depths of a narrow brook, traversed ravine—it -matters not. It is the herd they are seeking, or a section of -it. The quick-eyed scout gives a low whistle, perhaps holds -up his hand; the signal is understood. Bridle-reins are -gathered up. No word is spoken, but each man has his horse -in hand as they move slowly towards the grazing or stationary -outliers. A few minutes bring them nearer, within perhaps -good wheeling distance, when a sentinel gets view or winds -them, and the whole troop is off like a shot. Each horse, but -a minute since stumbling along at a 'stockman's jog' or a -go-as-you-please walk, starts into top speed as if for a mile -heat. The men, taking a 'bee-line,' ride straight for the fast-vanishing -cattle, as if there was not a tree or a rock within -miles. How they do it is a never-ending marvel to the uninitiated. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>But they will not only keep with the outlaws, but out-pace -and out-general them; wheeling them at critical places, -racing ahead and rounding them up; eventually, with mingled -force and diplomacy, hustling them across a country without -track, road, or apparently natural features, till dead-beat and -defeated they are landed in the high, secure stock-yard, from -which some of their number at least will never emerge alive.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span> - <h2 class='c006'>THE MAILMAN'S YARN<br />AN OWER TRUE TALE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>'Rum things happen in the bush, you take my word for it,' -suddenly broke out Dan M'Elroy as we were sitting smoking -round a camp fire, far back in the 'Never Never' one night. -The whole tract of country west of the Barcoo was under -water that summer. We were all stuck hard and fast, about -fifty miles from Sandringham, waiting for the creeks and -cowalls to go down. They weren't small ones either—twenty -feet deep in some places and half a mile wide. There were -a dozen teamsters with wool-waggons, Jim and me and two -black boys with four hundred head of fat cattle from Marndoo. -A police trooper bringing down a horse-stealer for trial, committed -by the Bench there, made up the party. The prisoner -was made comfortable—only chained to a log for safety. Here -we were, waiting, waiting, and had to make the best of it. We -walked about in the daylight, and did a bit of shooting. -We'd put up a bough yard for the cattle, more for the exercise -than anything else; and to make the time pass we'd taken to -telling yarns. Some of them were that curious I wish I -hadn't forgotten 'em. But this one that Dan told that night -I shall remember to my dying day. He was the mail contractor -between St. George and Bolivar Run, a weather-beaten -Bathurst native, as hard as iron-bark, who'd have contracted to -run the mail from the Red Sea to Jordan in spite of all the -Arabs if they'd made it worth his while. He was afraid of -nothing and nobody. In his time he had been speared -by blacks, shot at by bushrangers, fished for dead out of -flooded creeks, besides being 'given up' in fever, ague, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>sunstroke in exploring of mail routes through the 'Never Never' -country. Hairbreadth escapes were daily bread to him. He -seemed to thrive on 'em, but this one must have been out of -the common way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He looked round over the great plain, where we could -see the glimmer of water on every side by the light of the low -moon, just showing, red and goblin-like. A murmuring wind -began to whisper and sob among the stunted myall, swaying -the long streamers as if they were mourning for the dead. It -felt colder, though we'd piled up the logs on the fire lately, -when he filled his pipe and said: 'We'll turn in after this, but -you may as well take it to sleep on. It was nigh twenty year -ago it happened, yet it comes back to me now as fresh as I saw -it that cursed night. You chaps remember,' he said, taking a -good steady draw at his pipe, by way of starting it and the -yarn at the same time,—'you remember, as I told you, I was -running a horse mail between Marlborough Point and Waranah, -somewhere about '68. A different season from this, I tell -you. No rain for about eighteen months, and when the -autumn came in dry, with the nights long and cold, the sheep -began to die faster than you could count 'em. I had a fairish -contract, and though the mail was a heavy one, I was able to -manage it by riding one horse and leading a packer. A -terrible long day's ride it was—three times a week—eighty-five -mile. Of course I had a change of horses, but I didn't get -in till eleven or twelve at night to Waranah. The frosty nights -had set in, and sometimes, between being half-frozen and dead-tired, -I could hardly sit on my horse. It was getting on in -June, and still no rain, only the frosts getting sharper and -sharper, when I came along to a sandhill by the side of a billabong -of the Murrumbidgee, about ten miles from Waranah. -There was a big water-hole there; it was a favourite camping -place between the township and Baranco station. I was later -than usual, and it was about midnight when I got to this point. -Through a weak horse as had knocked up I'd had to walk five -miles. I was nigh perished with the cold; hungry too, for I'd -had no time to stop and get a feed; and as I'd been in the -saddle since long before daylight, you may guess I was pretty well -tuckered out. A particular spot, too, when you come to think -of it. The sand-ridge ran back from the water-hole a good -way (there was a big kurrajong-tree beside it, I remember), and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>spread out near upon a mile till you got into a fair-sized plain. -The ridge—that's the way of 'em in dry country—was covered -as thick as they could stand with pine-scrub. An old cattle-track -ran right through to the plain, where they used to come -to water in the old days when Baranco was a cattle-run. I -was dozing on my horse, dog-tired and stiff with the cold, when -I came to the water-hole at the foot of this sandhill. I always -used to pull up there and have a smoke; so I stopped and -looked round about, in a half-sleepy, dazed kind of way. I -felt for my box of matches, and I'm dashed if they weren't -gone—shot out, I expect—for I'd been working my passage -and been jumbled about more than enough. That put the -cap on. I felt as if I'd drop off the horse there and then. I -never was one for drinking, and I didn't carry a flask. How -I'd get on the next couple of hours I couldn't think.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'All of a sudden a streak of light came through the darkness -of the pine-scrub to the left of me. It got broader and -broader. It wasn't the moon, I knew, for that wouldn't show -till nigh-hand daylight. It must be a fire. Somebody -camping, of course; but why they didn't stop by the water, -the regular place, with good feed and open ground all round -them, I couldn't make out. I was off like a shot, and hung -up my horses to the kurrajong tree, which stood handy. It -was too thick to ride through the pine saplings, and I thought -the walk would freshen me up. I started off quite jolly with -the notion of the grand warm I should have at the fire, and -the pipeful of baccy I'd be able to borrow. It was a big fire -I saw as I stumbled along, getting nearer and nearer the head -of an old-man pine, the branches as dry as timber, and would -burn like matchwood. I could see three men standing round -it. As I got nearer I was just going to halloo out, partly for -fun and partly for devilment, when the wind blew the flame -round, and made one of the men, who was poking a pole into -the fire, shift and turn his face towards me. Mind! I was in -the dark shadow of the pines. The glare of the fire lit up his -face and those of the two other men as clear as day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The man's face, as it turned towards where I was standing, -had such a hellish expression, that I stopped dead and drew -behind an overhanging "balah" that grew among the pines. He -seemed to be listening. Another man with an axe in his hand -said something to him, when he walked a few steps down the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>track towards me and stopped. My God, what a face it -was! No devil out of hell could have looked more fiendish -than he did. It was like no human face I'd ever seen. I -began to think I was asleep, and dreaming of a story in a -book.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'They were not more than twenty yards from where I stood. -My heart beat that loud I was afraid they'd hear it. My hair -stood on end, if any one's ever did, while as the tall, dark man -began to poke the fire again, and pushed something further -into it that was <em>not a log of wood</em>, I deuced near fainted, and -beads of perspiration rolled down my forehead and face. What -did I see that caused every drop of blood in my veins to turn -to ice? What the strange man stirred in the fire, making the -sparks to fly all round among the red glowing embers, was a -<em>corpse</em>! There was no mistaking the dreadful shape. One -arm stuck out. The legs were there, the skull blackened and -featureless, and, Heavenly Father! beyond and in the middle -of the heap of glowing embers lay another shape huddled -together, and showing no angle of limb or bone. The other -man, with a broom of boughs tied together, was busy sweeping -in all the pieces of charcoal, so as to prevent the flame from -spreading through the tall, dry grass. At a short distance -I could make out a tilted cart, such as hawkers use in the -bush. "By——!" said the man with the pole, "I'll -swear I heard a stick crack. Any traveller as come to -the water-hole and followed the track up, 'll have to be rubbed -out, and no two ways about it. It will be our lives against -his!"</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"Haven't we had blood enough for one day?" says -the other man. "By George! when I think of these -two poor chaps' faces, just afore you dropped 'em with the -axe, I'd give all we've made ten times over to have 'em alive -again."</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"You always was a snivelling beggar," says the tall man. -"If you'd had your back scratched at Port Arthur half as -often as me, you'd think no more of a man's life than a wild -dog's. I believe it must 'a been one or a wallaby as made -the stir."</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I've faced a trifle of danger, and seen some "close calls" -in my time, but nothing came near that half-hour I spent there -till I could make myself steady enough to stir. I couldn't sit; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>I was too done to stand; so there I had to crouch down and -wait till I got the chance to go back on my tracks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'All the time they kept pushing the bodies into the centre -of the fire, without stopping, as they got smaller and smaller. -Two of the men were at this dreadful work, while the third -was sweeping round every edge of the fire. At last the two -men I first saw, sat down on a log close handy and began to -smoke. Now was my chance. I crawled from my tree and -crept along the cattle-track till I come to where my horses -were standing. I mounted one, somehow, and took the other's -bridle. I rode steady enough for a while, and then, hustling -the poor brutes into a hand-gallop, kept along the road to -Waranah till I reached the gate at the boundary of the run. -Even then I felt as if I was hardly safe. I looked round and -could almost see witches and devils following me through the -air, and waving ghosts' arms in every bough of the stunted -trees through which the road wound.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'When I saw the lights of the little township, I was that -glad that I shouted and sang all the way up to the hotel where -the mail was delivered. I had a strange sort of feeling in my -head as I rode up to the door. Then I reeled in my saddle; -everything was dark. I remembered no more till at the end -of a week I found myself in bed recovering from fever.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I suppose I'd been sickening for it before. What with -hot days, cold nights, and drinking water out of swamps and -dry holes that were half mud and half—pah! something you -don't like to think of—the wonder is we bushmen don't get -it oftener. Anyhow I was down that time, and next morning -it seems they had the doctor to me. He was a clever man -and a gentleman, too, my word! He fetched me round after -a month, but I was off my head the first week, and kept raving -(so they told me afterwards) about men being knocked on the -head and burned, hawkers' carts, and Derwenters, and the big -water-hole by Budgell Creek.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'They thought it was all madness and nonsense at first, and -took no notice, till one afternoon Mr. Belton, the overseer of -Baranco, comes riding into town, all of a flurry, wanting to -see the police and the magistrate, Mr. Waterton. This was -what he had to say:—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'There had been some heavy lots of travelling sheep passing -through the station, and he was keeping along with them for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>fear they might miss the road and not find it again till they'd -ate off a mile or two of his best grass. All of a sudden a mob -of the Baranco weaners ran across a plain and nearly boxed -with 'em. Mr. Belton gallops for his life—I expect he swore -a bit, too—and was just in time to head 'em off into the pine-scrub -by the sandhill. They took the old cattle-track over -towards the water-hole, he following them up, till all of a sudden -he comes plump on a hawker's cart!</p> - -<p class='c000'>'This pulled him up short. He let the sheep run on to -the frontage and got off his horse. He knew the Colemans' -cart. They always stayed a night at Baranco. When they -passed, <em>a week since</em>, they were to make Waranah that night. -What the deuce were they doing here? Hang the fellows! -were they spelling their horses? Feed was scarce. No! they -were not the men to do that. Honest, straight-going chaps -they'd always been.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He walked over to the cart. Something wrong surely! -The big slop-chest was open. The cash-box, with lock smashed, -was empty. Boots, clothes, tobacco, which they always -had of the best, lying scattered about. Where were the poor -fellows themselves? If they had been robbed, why hadn't -they gone to the police at Waranah and complained? -Whoever had done this must have camped here in the middle -of the scrub. Then there'd been a fire over by the big pine-stump—an -"old man" fire too. Wonder they hadn't set a -light to the dry grass? No rain for the half-year to speak of. -No; they had been too jolly careful. Swept in the twigs and -ashes all round. Curious fire for bushmen to make too—big -enough to roast an ox. He stares at the ashes; then gropes -among them with his hand. My God! What are these -small pieces of bone? Why, the place is full of them. And -this? and this? A metal button, a metal buckle—one, two, -three—twelve in all.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It comes back to him now that three travellers left the -Baranco men's hut the same morning as the Colemans—one -a tall, dark, grey-haired old hand, with a scar across his face. -He gets his horse with a long sort of half-whistle and half-groan -and rides slow, in a study like, toward the township. -The next day the magistrate, Mr. Waterton (he's a squatter, -but sits most times when the Police Magistrate isn't on hand), -goes out with the Sergeant of Police and the best part of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>townspeople of Waranah. He holds an Inquiry. The doctor -attended and gave evidence that he had no doubt whatever -that the bones formed part of human skeletons. The surface -of the fire was raked over, and a lot of metal buttons and -buckles—as many as would be used for two pairs of trousers—with -other remains of clothing, were found. A verdict of -"wilful murder against some person or persons unknown" -was returned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'On the second day after the murder three men crossed -the Murray River pretty high up, near a public-house. Their -ways were suspicious. One of them fired off a revolver. They -had on new suits of clothes, new boots with elastic sides, and -no end of tobacco of a queer brand—not known in those -parts. Large swags too! The boss of the crowd was a tall, -dark man, with a scar and grey hair. He was the man who -fired the revolver and used wild language. The police from -Crowlands picked up the trail so far. If they had followed -hard on, like the Avenger of Blood (as the feller says in the -play), they might have run down the murderin' dogs. But the -publican had a bad memory. <em>He couldn't remember</em> seeing -any out-of-the-way travellers cross the river that week. So -the police turned back, and lost the scent for good and all.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'A queer enough thing about the matter was, that directly -after the Inquiry was published, a telegram was sent from the -poor fellows' friends to the sergeant at Waranah. He was to -look under the lid of the big slop-chest and he'd find a false -top that slid back—very neat made, so that people mostly -wouldn't notice it. Behind this was a drawer, and in it -notes and cheques. They never kept more than a fiver or -so in the cash-box, and told the secret to their relatives before -leaving town. Sure enough the sergeant finds the secret-drawer, -and in it, after being in the open bush nearly a fortnight, -£90 odd in notes and good cheques, which of course -he sent to their friends. The villains only got £4 and a -fit-out of clothes and tobacco. The police never could get -wind of these wretches for years after. However, they -dropped on the man with the scar, whose name was Campbell. -He was sworn to as the man who left Baranco with the other -two on the day of the murder, as the man as had new clothes -and tobacco (such as nobody but the Colemans sold in the -district) two days after. It was proved that they were all -<span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>hard up and ragged when they left Baranco. The evidence -was in dribs and drabs. But they pieced it together, bit by -bit. It was good enough to hang him, and hang him they -did. I swore to him as the man I saw at the fire that terrible -night. And now, mates, I'll turn in. There's no fear of -being burned to bits here, is there? Good-night all!'</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span> - <h2 class='c006'>DEAR DERMOT</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>Somehow the days of my youth seem to have been inextricably -mixed up with horses. How I loved them, to be sure!—thought -of them by day, dreamed of them by night. Books -and girls might temporarily enter into competition as objects -of engrossing interest; but the noble animal must have had -possession of my thoughts for a large proportion of the waking -hours.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From boyhood the proprietor of studs more or less -extensive, I was quick to discern excellence in other people's -favourites. My mind was stored, my imagination fired, -besides, with tales of equestrian feats, performed chiefly by -Arab chiefs and other heroes of old-world romance. In -a chronic state of expectancy, I was always ready to do -honour to the legendary steed, so rarely encountered, alas! -save in the bounteous realm of fiction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When, therefore, I <em>did</em> fall across 'the courser of the -poets,' or his simulacrum, I was prepared to secure him at a -fancy price; holding that if I could recoup the outlay by -selling a pair of average horses of my own breeding, the -luxury of possessing a paragon would be cheaply purchased.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And would it not be? Albeit there are multitudes of -people to whom one horse, save the mark, is much like -another. For them, the highest joy, the transcendent -sensation of being carried by 'the sweetest hack in the world,' -exists not. But to him who recognises and appreciates the -speed, the spirit, the smoothness, and the safety of the -'wonderful' hackney, there are few outdoor pleasures possessing -similar flavour.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is more than half a century, sad to relate, since I first -<span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>took bridle in hand. During that time I have ridden races -on 'the flat,' over 'the sticks,' and have backed for the first -time a score or more of wholly-untried colts. I have tested -hundreds of saddle-horses, over every variety of road, at all -sorts of distances, in all ranges of climate, and after this -extended experience I unhesitatingly pronounce Dermot, son -of Cornborough, to be in nearly all respects the finest example -of the blood hackney which I ever mounted. The 'sweetest,' -etc., he certainly was. Almost too good for this wicked world.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The birth of this unrivalled steed was mainly due to one -of the magnates of the earlier Victorian era, himself an example -of the strangeness of that destiny which shapes our ends in -life. A member of a family of financial aristocrats, domiciled -in London and Paris, with which capitals our friend was -equally familiar, Mr. Adolphus Goldsmith scarcely dreamed -in youth of 'colonial experience.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>But something went wrong with the finance arrangements -of his near relatives. A crisis culminated, and the necessity -arose for Goldsmith (<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">fils</span></i>) applying himself to the stern realities -of life. He had previously performed the strictly ornamental -duties of a young man about town. But with a cool -perception of the situation, characteristic of the man, and -a steadfast determination to conquer adverse fate, the whilom -<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">élégant</span></i> of the Bois de Boulogne and the Row looked over -the map of the world, picked his colony, giving the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">pas</span></i> to -Victoria, the then fashionable El Dorado for younger sons -and <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">vauriens</span></i>, converted the remnant of his fortune into -letters of credit, and sailed for Port Phillip.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As an Englishman by birth and rearing as well as adoption, -Mr. Goldsmith had sported park hacks and ridden to hounds -in his day. He possessed the Englishman's love for horses. -Visions, therefore, arose of improving the breed in the new -country which he was about to patronise, and incidentally -devoting himself to agricultural pursuits.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Distrusting, however, his suitability for the necessary -purchases and arrangements, he sensibly cast about for a -coadjutor, fully instructed in bucolic lore, to whom he might -confide details.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was successful beyond expectation, inasmuch as he -induced Mr. Hatsell Garrard, a gentleman farmer from the -midland counties (whose love of all genuine sport had, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>combined with a run of bad seasons, probably rendered rent-paying -temporarily arduous), to accompany him as General -Manager to Australia. And whoso recalls his fresh-coloured -countenance, his pleasant smile, his shrewd blue eye, his neat -rig and bridle-hand, reproduces out of memory's storehouse -the ideal yeoman from 'Merrie England.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Garrard promptly demonstrated a knowledge of his -business by purchasing Cornborough, son of Tramp, a -grandson of the immortal Whalebone. For this sole -achievement he deserves a statue, and in that Pantheon which -future Victorians may rear for the founders of their prosperity -and glory, the square-built, genuinely English figure of Mr. -Garrard should find a place. What a responsibility was cast -upon him when you come to think of it! How easily might -he have chosen an equally blue-blooded, but leggy, rickety, -pernicious weed, such as has so often been foisted upon -unwary breeders.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Instead of which, he enriched us with the noble, whole-coloured, -brown horse, choke-full of the best blood in England, -of medium height, but perfect in symmetry, soundness, -faultless in wind and limb, temper and courage, fated to be -the long-remembered sire of racers, hacks, and harness horses -of the highest class—to be honoured in life, regretted, ay, -sincerely mourned, in death. For on his unexpected demise, -his disconsolate owner was discovered in such a state of -prostration and grief that every one thought his wife must be -dead, or, at any rate, some relative near and dear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Truly, the squatter of the 'forties' was from one reason or -another a man <i><span lang="it" xml:lang="it">sui generis</span></i>, with whom the present pastoral era -furnishes few parallels. Mr. Goldsmith, in addition to other -accomplishments (did he not challenge Charles Macknight to -a bout at single-stick, duly fought out within the precincts of -the Melbourne Club?) was a musical connoisseur and no -mean performer. When the comfortable cottage at Trawalla -was completed, albeit stone-paved and bark-roofed, the -drawing-room contained a handsome piano, to which, after -dinner, the proprietor mostly betook himself. There, in -operatic reminiscences and compositions of impromptu merit, -he was wont to wander from the realms of reality to a dreamworld -of sweet sounds and brighter souvenirs. How one -envied him the delicious distraction!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>So the Trawalla estate had birth and beginning. It was a -first-class 'run' in those simpler times; well watered, with -picturesque alternations of hill and dale, plain and forest. The -'shepherded' sheep had unfailing pasture and ample range. -There were no fences in those days, excepting around the -horse-paddock.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Temptations to over-stocking were fewer, and chiefly—in -default of boundary—took the form of an invasion of some -neighbour's territory, a trespass which his shepherds were -prompt to resent. Thus, the natural grasses were but moderately -fed down, and, with the autumn rains unfailing in <em>that</em> -district, assumed a richly verdurous garb, scarcely so frequent -in the wire-fenced decades. I do not recall the name of the -deserving but less fortunate pioneer, the first or second -occupant of this desirable holding, from whom Mr. Goldsmith -purchased the 'right-of-run,' with probably a mere handful of -stock. With cash in hand, he was doubtless enabled to make -an advantageous purchase, and thus enter upon his predecessor's -labours; once more, as it turned out, to place his -foot on fortune's ladder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Far from London and Paris, Ascot and Goodwood, as he -found himself, the erstwhile man about town was not wholly -debarred from congenial society. William Gottreaux, another -musical enthusiast, was at Lilaree; Hastings Cunningham at -Mount Emu; Donald and Hamilton, Philip Russell, and -other gentleman pioneers within an easy ride. He became a -member of the Melbourne Club, then in Collins Street, upon -the site of the Bank of Victoria. The late Sir Redmond -Barry was his early and intimate friend. (I took charge of a -small package of tobacco, on my homeward voyage, from the -Judge, as it seems that particular brand was not procurable in -Paris.) When things were settled at Trawalla and the stock -manifestly improving, with Cornborough in a snug loose-box, -and the sheep increasing fast, the owner of Trawalla found a -reasonable amount of recreation, as comprised in frequent -sojourns at the Melbourne Club, and the enjoyment of the -metropolitan society of the day, quite compatible with the -effective supervision of the station.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus, on the advancing tide of Victorian prosperity, then -steadily sweeping onward, unknown to us all, Trawalla and its -owner were floated on to fortune—a gently gliding, agreeable, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>and satisfactory process. The sheep multiplied, the fleece -acquired name and repute—one <em>couldn't</em> grow bad wool in -that country, however hard you might try. Cornborough -became a peer of the Godolphin Arabian in all men's eyes, -and the A.G. brand, on beeve-or horse-hide, an accredited -symbol of excellence. A purchase of waste land at St. Kilda, -made solely, as he informed me, in order to qualify as a -legislator, turned out a most profitable investment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Swiftly the golden period arrived when, after the first years -of doubt and uncertainty, it became apparent to holders of -station property that nothing prevented them from clearing -out at a highly satisfactory price, and leaving the conflicting -elements of dear labour, high prices, and a heterogeneous -population, to settle themselves as best they might. Mr. -Goldsmith, now free to return to Europe, seriously considered -the claims of the Rue de Bellechasse, Faubourg St. Germain, -as contrasted with Collins Street and the Melbourne Club.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It may be that the owner of Trawalla would have decided -upon continuous occupation, with a view to founding an -estate, if his sons, who visited Victoria in 1851, had exhibited -any aptitude for the life of Australian country gentlemen. -But Messrs. Edward and Alfred Goldsmith, who had been -educated chiefly in Paris, when they visited their father in -1851, did not take kindly to his adopted country. Cultured, -polished young men, yet decidedly more French than -English, Parisians to their finger-nails in all their tastes -and habitudes, they grieved and irritated their Australianised -parent.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Chiefly they lacked the adventurous spirit which would -have enabled them to behold, mentally, the grand possibilities -of a colonial possession. All their sympathies were with their -lost Eden, the Paris which they had quitted. In Victoria they -beheld nothing but the distasteful privations of a new country, -hardly redeemed from primeval <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">sauvagerie</span></i>. The roads were -rough, the beds hard, the cookery—'Ah, mon Dieu!—lamentable, -indescribable.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was a good time to sell, and though the Trawalla estate -of to-day represents a considerably larger sum than Mr. Simson -gave for the run and stock, perhaps our old friend was not so -far out when he decided to let well alone and retire upon a -fair competency.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>To that end the stud was sentenced to sale and dispersion; -many a descendant of the lamented Cornborough went to -enrich the paddocks of friends and well-wishers. I think Mr. -Hastings Cunningham bought the greater number of the brood -mares and young stock, at an average rate per head.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, Dermot was the old gentleman's hack. (Was he -old, or, perhaps, only about forty-five? We were decided then -as to the time of life when decay of all the faculties was -presumed to set in.) I many a time and oft admired the swell, -dark bay, striding along the South Yarra tracks with aristocratic -elegance, or, more becomingly arrayed, carrying a lady in the -front of a joyous riding-party. His owner was <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">un galant -uomo</span></i>, and the gentle yet spirited steed was always at the -service of his lady friends.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So when, one day at the club, he suggested to me to buy -Dermot—more than one lady's horse being required in our -family at that time, and only fifty pounds named as the price—I -promptly closed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dead and buried is he years agone; but I still recall, with -memory's aid, the dark bay horse, blood-like, symmetrical, -beauteous in form as aristocratic in bearing. 'Hasn't he the -terrifyin' head on him?' queried an Irish sympathiser, somewhat -incongruously, as he gazed with rapt air and admiring -eyes at the tapering muzzle, large, soft eyes, and Arab frontal.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Delicate, deer-like, strictly Eastern was the head referred to, -beautifully set on a perfectly-arched neck, which again joined -oblique, truly perfect shoulders. Their mechanism must have -been such, inasmuch as never did I know any living horse with -such liberty of forehand action.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Walking or cantering down an incline, shut but your eyes, -and you were unable to tell by bodily sensation whether you -were on level ground or otherwise. He 'pulled up' in a way -different from any other horse. Apparently, he put out his -legs, and, lo! you were again at a walk. No prop, shake, or -jar was perceptible. It was a magical transformation. An -invalid recovering from a fever could have ridden him a day's -journey. No one could fall off him in fact.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>He who had no peer was born</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>amid the green forest parks of Trawalla, at no great distance -from Buninyong, or the historic goldfield of Ballarat.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>His sire, Cornborough, than whom no better horse ever left -England, was a brown horse, like The Premier and Rory -O'More; like them, middle-sized, symmetrical rather than -powerful. Among the early cracks that owed their speed and -courage to him were Cornet, Bessie Bedlam, Beeswing, Ballarat, -The Margravine (dam of Lord Clyde), with many others, now -half forgotten. Cornet was, I think, the first of his progeny -trained. He ran away with most of the two-year-old stakes of -the day, to be ever after known as a fast horse and a good -stayer. I remember his beating Macknight's St. George at -Port Fairy, in a match for £100, and winning various other -stakes and prizes. His half-sister, Mr. Austin's Bessie Bedlam, -was one of the most beautiful race-horses ever saddled. I -well remember her running in old days, and can see her now, -stepping along daintily with her head up, like an antelope. -She won many a race, and was successful as a stud matron -after turf triumphs were over. Beeswing was also good, but -not equal to her. Ballarat was a great raking, handsome -chestnut mare, bred by Dick Scott, a stock-rider of Mr. -Goldsmith's. She must have had a good turn of speed, -inasmuch as she won the All-aged Stakes in Melbourne, as a -three-year old. The Cornboroughs, like the Premiers, were -remarkable for their temperate dispositions. They had -abundance of courage, but no tendency to vice of any kind.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On his dam's side Dermot boasted Peter Fin (Imp) -as grandsire, and other good running blood. His pedigree -was incomplete, thus leaving him open to a suspicion of being -not quite thoroughbred. But the stain—the 'blot on the -scutcheon,' if such there was—showed neither by outward sign -nor inward quality.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then, as to paces. He walked magnificently, holding up -his head in a lofty and dignified manner; his mouth of the -lightest—velvet to any touch of bit—but withal firm. He had -always been ridden with a double bridle, and showed no -provincial distaste to bit and bridoon. If required to quicken -his pace from a fast but true walk, he could adopt a rapid -amble, so causing any ordinary stepper to trot briskly. And -then his canter—how shall I describe it? Springy, long-striding, -yet floating, improving his speed at will to a hand-gallop -if you merely shook the reins, and as readily, smoothly -subsiding at the lightest sustained pull.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>With such a horse under you it seemed as if one could go -on for ever. Mile after mile fled away, and still there was no -abatement in the wonderful living mechanism of which the -spring and elasticity seemed exhaustless. The sensation was -so exquisite that you dreaded to terminate it. When at length -you drew rein, it was, so to speak, with the tears in your eyes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the safety of this miraculous performance. You -were on a horse that never was known to shy or bolt, and -that <em>could not</em> fall down. Nature had otherwise provided. -With such a balance of forehand, he may have at rare intervals -struck his hoof against root or stone, clod or other obstacle, -but trip, blunder, fall—these were words and deeds wholly -outside of his being. With legs of iron, and hoofs that matched -them well, never once did I know Dermot to be lame during -all the years of our acquaintance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Fortunately for me, and for society generally, he was not -quite fast enough for promotion to a racing stable. He was -thus enabled to elude the turf dangers and so pass his life in -a sphere where he was loved and respected as he deserved.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With regard to his stamina. I rode him a distance of -seventy miles one day, being anxious to get home, during the -last ten miles of which he waltzed along with precisely the -same air and manner as in the morning—with thirteen stone -up, too. In addition to other qualities, he was an uncommonly -good feeder: would clear his rack conscientiously, and eat all -the oats you would give him. I never knew him to be tired, -or met any one that had heard of his being seen in that -condition.</p> - -<p class='c000'>His graceful, high-bred air, his large, mild eye and intelligent -expression, warranted one in crediting him with the -perfect temper which indeed he possessed. So temperate -was he, that the lady whose palfrey he habitually was (as -such, beyond all earthly competition) was in the habit of -sending him along occasionally at top speed in company, -confident in her ability to stop him whenever she had the -inclination.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was utterly free from vice, either in the stable or out of -it. But, if uniformly gentle, he was always gay and free—that -most difficult combination to secure in a lady's horse. An -angel enclosed in horse-hide, such was 'Dear Dermot.' The -doctrine of metempsychosis alone can account for such a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>consensus of virtues—an equine prodigy, a wonder and a -miracle. Generations may roll by before such another -hackney treads Australian turf. We are not of the school -which decries the horses, the men also, of the present day. -There are, there must be now, as good horses, as gallant -youths, as ever new or old lands produced. But Dermot—may -he rest in peace!—was a <em>very</em> exceptional composition. -And I must be pardoned for doubting whether, as a high-caste -saddle-horse, I shall ever again see his equal.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span> - <h2 class='c006'>THE STORY OF AN OLD LOG-BOOK</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>Notwithstanding our share in New Guinea and the debateable -land of the New Hebrides, besides the proposed cession -of Santa Cruz, the Sydney of 'the thirties' wore the look of -being more in touch with the South Sea Islands and the -Oceanic realm generally, than at present. The wharves were -redolent of the wild life of The Islands and the mysterious -land of the Maori. Weather-beaten sailing-vessels showed a -sprinkling of swarthy recruits, whose dark faces, half strange, -half fierce, were mingled with those of their British crews. -Hull and rigging bore silent testimony to the wrath of wind -and wave. There were whale-ships returning in twelve months -with a full cargo of sperm oil, or half empty after a three -years' cruise, as the adventure turned out.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Schoolboys were fond of loitering about among them, -wondering at the harpoons, lances, and keen-edged 'whale -spades,' at the masses of whalebone and spermaceti, or the -carved and ornamental whales' teeth, of which Jack always -had a store.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the forecastle of one ship might be seen the tattooed -lineaments and grim visage of a Maori; from another would -peer forth the mild, wondering gaze of a Fijian. Bows and -arrows (the latter presumably poisoned), spears, clubs, and -wondrous carved idols were the principal curios, nearly always -procurable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The whale fishery was at that time a leading industry. -Sperm oil figured noticeably among the first items of our -export trade. Merchants made advances for the outfit and all -necessaries of the adventure, trusting in many instances for -repayment to the skill, courage, and good faith of the commander. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>No doubt losses were incurred, but the lottery was -tempting. The profits must have been considerable. Sperm -oil, before the discovery of gas or petroleum, was worth eighty -or ninety pounds per ton. A large 'right whale' was good for -eighty barrels, eight barrels going to the tun. He was a fish -worth landing. To get back to the ship, even after hours of -hard pulling and the chance of a stove boat, towing a monster -worth nearly £1000, was exciting enough.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The crew, like shearers of the present day, were proverbially -hard to manage. They did not receive wages, but a share in -the net profits—a 'lay,' as it was called. The ship was, in -fact, a floating co-operative society. This did not prevent -them—for human nature is weak—from committing acts -distinctly opposed to the spirit as well as the letter of the -agreement. They got drunk when they had the chance. -They occasionally mutinied. They resisted the mate and -defied the captain. They proposed to take savage maidens -for their dusky brides, and to live lives devoid of care in The -Islands. It strikes landsmen as a curiously dangerous and -anxious position for a captain, who had to confront a score or -two of reckless seamen with the aid only of the officers of the -ship. Yet it was done. The peril dared, the ship saved, and -order restored time after time, by the resolute exercise of one -strong will and the half-instinctive yielding of the seamen to -the mysterious power of legal authority.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Before me as I write are the well-kept and regularly-entered -pages of a whale-ship's log-book, the record of a voyage from -Sydney harbour over the Southern main, which bears date as -far back as April 1833. In that year again sailed the stout -barque, which had done so well her part in bringing us safely -to this far new land. Her course lay through the coral reefs -and Eden-seeming islands of the Great South Sea; along the -storm-swept coast of New Zealand; among the cannibals of -New Ireland and New Britain; among the as yet half-unknown -region of the Solomon Islands and Bougainville -Group. As to the dangers of such a voyage, one incident of -the strange races that people these isles of Eden is sufficiently -dramatic. A boat's crew had pulled over to an inviting -looking beach within the coral ring for the purpose of -watering. As the boat touched the beach, stem on, one of -the crew sprang ashore with the painter in his hand. A cry -<span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>escaped him and the crew simultaneously, as he sank to his -neck in a concealed pit, a veritable <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">trou-de-loup</span></i>. He hung on -to the rope fortunately, and so pulled himself up and into the -boat again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not a native was in sight. But the treacherous pitfalls -being probed and laid bare, the intention was manifest. A -line of holes was discovered in the sands, nine or ten feet in -depth, cone-shaped and sloping to a narrow point, where were -placed sharp-pointed, hard-wood stakes, the ends having been -charred and scraped. Sharp as lance-heads, they would have -disabled any seaman luckless enough to fall in, especially in -latitudes where Jack prefers to go barefooted. Forewarned, -walking warily, and 'prospecting' any dangerous-looking spot, -they succeeded in unmasking all or nearly all of these man-traps, -into which the ambushed natives expected them to fall. -They were ingeniously constructed: the top covered with a -light frame of twigs and grass, sand being sprinkled over all. -Any ordinary crew would have been deceived.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they reached the village they found the property of -a boat's crew, who had been surprised or betrayed. One -piece of evidence after another came to light. Last of all, the -oars, on the blades of which were marks of blood-stained -fingers closed in the last grasp which the ill-fated mariner -was to give.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Righteous indignation succeeded this gruesome discovery. -A wholesale burning of the town and canoes was ordered. A -shower of arrows was sent after the departing boat, as the -murder isle was quitted with a distinct sense of relief. It is -not improbable that similar experiences have been repeated -during the last few years. In those days the 'labour trade' -did not exist, and to 'black-birding' was no scale of profit -attached.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There is a pathetic simplicity about this unvarnished -record of perilous adventure, after the close of half a century. -One looks reverently upon the yellow pages which photograph -so minutely the daily life of the floating microcosm. The -course, the winds, the storms, the calms, the days of failure -and good fortune! The huge sea-beast harpooned and half -slain, yet cunning to 'sound' deeply enough to pay out all the -line, or, the iron 'drawing,' finally to elude capture altogether. -Then again what a day of triumph when the hieroglyph show -<span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>six whales killed and 'got safely alongside.' Midnight saw -the boilers still bubbling and hissing; the tired crew with -four-and-twenty hours' severe work before them, after, perhaps, -half a day's hard pulling in the exciting chase.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then out of the endless waste of waters rises the lovely -shape of the fairy isle. 'Mountain, and valley, and woodland'—a -paradisal climate; a friendly, graceful, simple race, -reverencing the stranger whites, with their big canoe and loud -reverberating fire-weapons; or, on the other hand, sullen and -ferocious cannibals, sending flights of poisoned arrows from -their thickets, or surrounding the ship with a swarm of canoes, -full of hostile savages, eager to climb her deck to slay and -plunder unchecked.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is characteristic, perhaps, of the greater simplicity of -manners, and steadfast inculcation of the religious observances -of that era, that on board the ship referred to, Divine -service was regularly performed on each recurring Sunday. -If whales were sighted, however, the boats were lowered; and -on one Sunday afternoon two whales were killed. It was -obviously a part of the unwritten code of salt-water law that -whales were not to be allowed to escape under <em>any</em> -circumstances, upon whatever days they were sighted by the -look-out man. As it was tolerably certain that the ship would -be more than once in jeopardy from hostile attacks, a few guns -and carronades were mounted; boarding-nettings were not, I -presume, overlooked. The old Ironsides' maxim, 'Trust in -Providence and keep your powder dry,' was in effect a -strictly observed precaution.</p> - -<p class='c000'>How strange it seems to think of the altered conditions -made by the passing away of a generation or two! Cold is -now the hand which traced the lines I view; stilled the hot -blood and eager soul of him who commanded the ship—a -born leader of men if such there ever was.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Of the crew that toiled early and late at sea, through sun -and storm,—that drank and caroused and fought and gambled -on shore when occasion served,—how small the chance that -any one now survives!</p> - -<p class='c000'>With reference to the Solomon Group, which has been -visited by many a vessel since the barque safely steered her -course through shoal and reef, insidious currents and -treacherous calm, matters seem to have been much about the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span>same as at present. At some islands the natives were simple -and friendly; at others, sullen and treacherous, ready at all -times for an attack if feasible; merciless and unsparing when -the hour came.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To refer to the Log-book.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>Monday, July 22, 1833.</em>—At Bougainville; several -canoes came off, trading for cocoa-nuts and tortoise-shell.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>Monday, July 29.</em>—Beating along the coast of New -Georgia. Canoes came off; traded for cocoa-nuts and -tortoise-shell. Shipped Henry Spratt, who left the <em>Cadmus</em> -last season. [A bad bargain, as future events showed.]</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>August 8.</em>—Sent the boats ashore at Sir Charles Hardy's -island. At 7 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span> boats returned, having purchased from -the natives, who were very friendly, a quantity of cocoa-nuts -and a pig. Discovered an extensive harbour on the west side.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>September 4.</em>—Sent boats ashore at New Ireland; -natives particularly friendly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>Saturday, October 5.</em>—Bore away for the harbour of Santa -Cruz. At 2 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span> cast anchor in thirty fathoms, one mile from -shore. There an adventure befell which altered existing -relations.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>Sunday, October 6.</em>—Sent casks on shore and got them -filled with water. Next day got two rafts of water off, and -some wood. Purchased a quantity of yams from the natives.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>Tuesday, October 8.</em>—Hands employed in wooding, -watering, and stowing away the holds. The natives made an -attack on the men while watering, and wounded one man -with an arrow. Brought off natives' canoes, and made an -attack on their town, which was vigorously contested. -Another of the ship's company severely wounded. All hands -employed getting ready for sea.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>Wednesday, October 9.</em>—At 4 <span class='fss'>A.M.</span> began to get under -weigh. Discharged the guns at hostile village. Men in -canoes shot their arrows at the ship. Volley returned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>October 19</em>, 1 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span>—Henry Stephens, seaman, died of -tetanus, in consequence of a wound inflicted by a native of -Santa Cruz with an arrow. The burial-service read over him -before the ship's company. Strong winds and high seas at -midnight.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>His midnight requiem, mariner's fitting dirge,</div> - <div class='line'>Sung by wild winds and wilder ocean surge.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>The author of <cite>The Western Pacific and New Guinea</cite> -(Mr. H. H. Romilly) states in that most interesting work, -that in September 1883 a Commission was appointed by M. -Pallu de la Barrière, then Governor of New Caledonia, to -inquire into the nature of the arrows, commonly reported to -be poisoned, so much in use among the natives of the surrounding -islands.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The conclusions arrived at (Mr. Romilly states) by the -Commission are only what were to be expected. 'It has long -been known to me, and to many other men in the Pacific who -have studied the question, that the so-called poison was, if not -exactly a harmless composition, certainly not a deadly one. -Of course, ninety per cent of the white men trading in the -Pacific believe, and will continue to believe, in the fatal effects -of poisoned arrows. The Santa Cruz arrow, usually considered -the most deadly, is very small, commonly about two feet in -length, while the New Hebrides arrows are much heavier, -capable of inflicting a mortal wound on the spot. Carteret, -more than a hundred years ago, was attacked by the natives -of Santa Cruz. Of the ten men hit, three died from the -severe nature of their wounds. No mention is made of tetanus. -If any of his men had died from so remarkable and terrible -a disease, Carteret could hardly have failed to mention the -fact.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>With all due respect and deference to Mr. Romilly, we -must take the liberty of siding in opinion with the 'ninety per -cent of white men trading in the Pacific,' and believe that the -arrows <em>are</em> poisoned—are deadly and fatal, even when only a -scratch is produced. The deaths of the unknown sailor, Henry -Stephens, sixty-seven years ago, and of the late lamented -Commodore Goodenough recently, <em>both from tetanus</em>, surely -constitute a marvellous coincidence. It is hard to believe -that nervous predisposition was the proximate cause of tetanus -in two persons so widely dissimilar in mind, station, and education. -Carteret's three seamen possibly died from the same -seizure; though, having many other things to attend to, the -ancient mariner failed to record the fact.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In addition to the excitement of killing and losing their -whales, being wrecked on a coral reef or hit with poisoned -arrows, our mariners were fated not to run short of dramatic -action in the shape of mutiny.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span>This was how it arose and how it was quelled:—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>Thursday, September 1883, off New Ireland.</em>—At 4 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span> -calm, the ship being close under the land and driving -rapidly, with a strong current, farther inshore. The captain -ordered the starboard bow boat to be lowered for the purpose -of towing the vessel's head round in such a position that the -current might take her on the starboard bow, and cause her -to drift off shore. The boat was consequently lowered, and -the mate ordered Henry Spratt to take the place of one of the -boat's crew, who was at that moment on the foretop-gallant -masthead looking out for whales. Spratt refused to do so, -saying that he didn't belong to any boat, and that it was his -watch below. He continued to disobey the repeated orders -of the mate till the matter was noticed by the captain, who -called out, "Make that man go in the boat," when he at length -did so, but in an unwilling manner and muttering something -which was not distinctly heard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'On the boat being hoisted up, the captain addressed -Spratt in the most temperate manner on the subject of his -insubordination, and warned him as to his future conduct.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Spratt became insulting in his manner and remarks, and -ended by defying his superior officers and forcibly resisting -the mate's attempt to bring him from the poop to the main -deck for the purpose of being put in irons. While the irons -were preparing, he bolted forward, and evading every attempt -to secure him, stowed himself below in the forecastle. The -crew evincing a strong disposition to support this outrageous -conduct, the captain armed himself and his officers, and -ordered the chief mate to bring Spratt from below. He -refused peremptorily, and struck the mate several blows, attempting -to overpower him and gain possession of his sword. After -receiving two or three blows with the flat of the sword, he -was, with the assistance of the third mate, conveyed on deck -and made fast to the main-rigging.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'While the prisoner was being made fast, the greater part -of the crew came aft in the most mutinous and tumultuous -manner, exclaiming against his being flogged, and questioning -the captain's right to do so.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'They were ordered forward, and some of them (Murray -in particular) showing a disposition to disobey and force -themselves aft, the captain found it necessary to strike them -<span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span>with the flat of his sword, and to draw a rope across the deck -parallel with the mainmast, warning the crew to pass it at -their peril.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The captain then, calling his officers around him, instituted -a trial, and the whole of Spratt's conduct being calmly considered, -he was unanimously sentenced to three dozen lashes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'One dozen was immediately inflicted, and the prisoner -was then asked if he repented of his misconduct, and would -faithfully promise obedience for the remainder of the period that -he should be permitted to remain on board. This promise -being given, and the greatest contrition being expressed, he was -unbound, and the remainder of his sentence commuted. As, -however, he was considered a dangerous character, orders were -issued that he should be treated as a prisoner (having the -liberty of the deck abaft the mainmast) till he could be -landed at New Georgia (the island from which he shipped), -or elsewhere, if he thought fit.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">émeute</span></i>, which might have ended easily enough in a -second Mutiny of the <em>Bounty</em>,—or as <em>did</em> happen when the crew -of a whale-ship threw the captain overboard on the coast of New -Zealand,—having been quelled by the use of strong measures -promptly applied, the ordinary course of events went on uninterruptedly. -On September 8 (Sunday, as it happened) -two whales were killed. The canoes came off and hailed as -usual. A violent gale seems to have come on directly the -boiling was finished. They were alternately running under -close-reefed topsails, wearing ship every four hours, being at -5 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span> close under the high land under Cape St. Mary. -Pumps going every watch, sea very high, ship labouring heavily—then -close to Ford's Group. The gale lasted from Monday -to the following Friday at midnight. One fancies that from -the 'captain bold' downwards, they must have had 'quite a -picnic of it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Spratt was what is known to South Sea mariners as a -'beach-comber'—one of a proverbially troublesome class of -seamen. He had, probably, left the <em>Cadmus</em> for no good -reason. However, the treatment seems to have cured him, -as on September 1 we find the entry:—'Returned Spratt to his -duty at his own request, he having promised the utmost -civility, attention, and obedience. Fresh breeze and head sea -till midnight,' etc.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>On Saturday, April 27, 1833, the good teak-built barque -cleared the Sydney Heads, outward bound, and on Saturday, -May 10, 1834, at 4 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span>, saw the heads of Port Jackson, and -at midnight entered, with light winds from north-east.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'<em>Sunday, May 11, 1834.</em>—Calm; the boats towing the ship up -harbour. Pilot came on board. [They had come in without -one—such a trifling bit of navigation, after scraping coral reefs -by the score and being close inshore, with strong current -setting in, not being worth considering.] At 5 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span> came to -anchor abreast of batteries. Most of the hands went ashore.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>And here, as 'Our Jack's come home again,' let us conclude -this story of an old Log-book.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span> - <h2 class='c006'>A KANGAROO SHOOT</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>Another month has passed. The calendar shows that the -midwinter is over, and still the much-dreaded New England -cold season has not asserted itself. Such weather as we have -had in this last week of June has been mild and reassuring. -Certes, there have been days when the western blast bit -shrewdly keen, and ordinary garments afforded scant protection. -In the coming spring there may be wrathful gales, sleet -and hail—snow, even. We must not 'hollo till we are out of -the wood.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the meantime it is not displeasing to see a trifle of mud -again—marshes filling with their complement of water; to -hear the bittern boom and the wild drake quack in the -reed-bordered pool,—sights and sounds to which I have been -a stranger for years and years.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The showers have refreshed the long-dry fallows, and a -goodly breadth of wheat is now looking green and well-coloured. -But to-day I marked three ploughs in one field, availing of -the favourable state of tilth. The ordinary processes of a -country neighbourhood are in full swing. Loads of hay, top-heavy -and fragrant, meet you from time to time upon the -metalled highway. A pony-carriage passes, much as it might -do in the narrow lanes of Hertfordshire or Essex. The -straggling briar and hawthorn hedges have been trimmed -lately. All things savour strongly of the old land, from which -the district takes its name. As in England, the guns are now -in use and request; and amid my peregrinations it chances -that I fall upon a custom of the country, which is partly of -the nature of work and partly of play.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes, it is a kangaroo drive or battue—a measure rendered -<span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>necessary by the persistent multiplication of these primeval -forms, and their tendency to eat and destroy grass, out of all -proportion to the value of their skins.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To this gathering I am bidden, and gratefully promise to -keep tryst, divining that certain of the neighbours and notables -will attend, with wives and daughters in sufficient abundance -to warrant a dance after the sterner duties of the day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And while on the subject of sport and recreation, how little -is there worthy of the name in the country districts of Australia. -Fishing is there none, or bait fishing at the best; hunting is a -tradition of our forefathers; shooting, an infrequent pleasure. -Since the introduction of the railway many of the ordinary -travelling roads have been practically deserted. The well-tried -friend or the agreeable stranger no longer halts before the -hospitable homestead; months may pass before any social -recreation takes place in the sequestered country homes -which were wont to be so joyous. But just at the exact period -when such resources were strained, the too prolific marsupial -has come to the rescue. He it is who now poses as the -rescuer of distressed damsels, and <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ennuyées châtelaines</span></i>, -wearying of solitary sweetness as of old; and yet he is classed -by reckless utilitarians and prosaic legislators as a noxious -animal! Behold us, then, a score of horsemen gaily sallying -forth from a station of the olden time,—one of those happy, -hospitable dwellings, where, whatever might be the concourse -of guests, there was always room for one more,—well mounted, -and mostly well armed with the deadly chokebore of the -period. The day is cloudy and overcast; but no particular -inconvenience is apprehended. The majority of the party are -of an age lightly to regard wind or weather. The conversation -is free and sportive. Compliments, more or less equivocal, -are exchanged as to shooting or horsemanship, and a good -deal of schoolboy frolic obtains. Dark hints are thrown out -as to enthusiastic sportsmen who blaze away regardless of -their 'duty to their neighbour,' and harrowing details given of -the last victim at a former 'shoot.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>As we listen to these 'tales for the marines,' uncomfortable -thoughts will suggest themselves. We recall the grisly incident -in <cite>The Interpreter</cite>; when at a 'wild-schutz' the Prince de -Vochsal's bullet glides off a tree-stem and finds a home in -Victor De Rohan's gallant breast. Might such a <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">contretemps</span></i> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>occur to-day? Such things are always on the cards. May -not even the rightful possessor of this susceptible heart be -widowed ere this very eve, and the callow Boldrewoods be -rendered nestless? No matter! One can but die once. It -won't be quite so hot as Tel-el-kebir. Even there survivors -returned. So we shake up our well-tried steed, shoulder the -double-barrel, and ruffle it with the rest, serene in confidence -as to the doctrine of chances.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And now after three or four miles' brisk riding o'er hill and -dale—the country in these parts may certainly be described as -undulating—we come upon a line of recently 'blazed' trees. -These are half-way between a ravine or gully, and the crest of -a range, to which it runs parallel. As the first man reaches -a marked tree, he takes his station, the next in line halting as -he comes to the succeeding one. The distances between are -perhaps seventy or eighty yards, and each man stands sheltered -on one side of his tree-trunk. The number of guns may be -some ten or fifteen. The beaters, horsemen also, have gone -forward some time since, and our present attitude is one of -expectation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In about ten minutes a sound as of galloping hoofs is -heard upon the western side, of ringing stockwhips, shouts and -yells, then nearer still the measured 'thud, thud' which tells of -the full-grown marsupial. Bang goes a gun at the end of the -line; the battle has begun. A curious excitement commences -to stir the blood. It is not so much unlike the real thing. -And a line of skirmishers in close quarters with an enemy's -vedette would be posted like us, and perhaps similarly affected -by the first crackling fire of musketry. Two more shots right -and left nearer to our position; then half-a-dozen. A volley -in our immediate neighbourhood raises expectation and excitement -to the highest pitch. 'May Allah protect us! There -is but one Prophet,' we have but time to ejaculate, and lo! -the marsupial tyrant of our flocks and herds is upon us in -force. Here they come, straight for our tree, seven or eight -of all sizes, from the innocent 'joey' to the grim ancient, 'the -old man,' in the irreverent vernacular of the colonists.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now is our time. We step bravely from behind our tree -and bang into the patriarch's head and shoulders, as for one -moment he arrests his mad career in wild astonishment at our -sudden apparition.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>He staggers, but does not fall. <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">Habet</span></i>, doubtless; but -the half-instinctive muscular system enables him to carry off -the balance of a cartridge of double B.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As the affrighted flock dashes by, we wheel and accommodate -the next largest with a broadside. It is more effective; a -smashed hind-leg brings down the fur-bearing 'noxious animal,' -which lies helpless and wistful, with large, deer-like eyes. A -smart fusilade to the left reveals that the fugitives have fallen -among foes in that direction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The small arms being silent, we quit our trees, each man -scalps his victims, giving the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">coup-de-grâce</span></i> to such of the -wounded as need a quietus. No quarter is given—neither -age nor sex is spared. Even the infants, those tender weaklings -the 'joeys,' are not saved. It is the horrible necessity of -war—a war for existence. As thus: If the kangaroo are -allowed to live and multiply, our sheep will starve. We can't -live if they don't. Ergo, it is our life and welfare against -Marsupial Bill's, and he, being of the inferior race, must go -under.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One wonders whether this doctrine will be applied in the -future to inferior races of men. As the good country of the -world gets taken up, I fear me pressure will be brought to -bear by the all-absorbing Anglo-Saxons, Teutons, and Slavs -upon the weaker races. Wars of extermination have been -waged ere now in the history of the world. They may be yet -revived, for all we can predicate from existing facts.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As we go down the line the scalps are collected in a bag. -We are thus enabled to compare notes as to success. One -gentleman has five kangaroos lying around him; he is not -certain either whether an active neighbour has not done -him out of a scalp. The collecting business having been -completed, a move is made for the horses, hung up out of -danger, and another paddock is 'driven' with approximate -results.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A good morning's work has been done, and a sufficiency of -bodily exercise taken by one o'clock, at which time a move is -made towards a creek flat, where on the site of a deserted -sheep-station, with yards proper, of the olden time, a substantial -picnic lunch is spread. Appetites of a superior description -seem to be universal, and a season of hearty enjoyment -succeeds to that of action.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>The spot itself might well have stood for the locality -sketched in Lindsay Gordon's unpublished poem. Strange -that the poetic gift should enable the possessor to invest -with ideal grace a subject so apparently prosaic and homely -as a deserted shepherd's hut.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Can this be where the hovel stood?</div> - <div class='line in2'>Of old I knew the spot right well;</div> - <div class='line'>One post is left of all the wood,</div> - <div class='line in2'>Three stones lie where the chimney fell.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Rank growth of ferns has well-nigh shut</div> - <div class='line'>From sight the ruin of the hut;</div> - <div class='line'>There stands the tree where once I cut</div> - <div class='line in2'>The M that interlaced the L.</div> - <div class='line in2'>What more is left to tell?</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>As we were converging towards this spot before lunch, -the smart shot of the gathering was made. A forester -kangaroo, demoralised by the abnormal events of the day, -came dashing up towards the party. He wheeled and fled as -we met, and a snap shot but staggered him. Then one of -the party dropped the reins on his horse's neck, and with a -long shot rolled him over, dead as a rabbit.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A succession of 'drives' make a partial clearance of each -paddock, all being taken in turn. The short winter day, -accented by heavy showers in the afternoon, begins to darken -as we ride homewards, damp but hilarious. The day had -been successful on the whole. Plenty of fun, reasonable -sport, manly exercise, and a fair bag. Nearly a hundred legal -'raisings' of 'h'ar' prove that the average has been over ten -head per gun. Dry clothes, blazing fires, a warm welcome -and sympathetic greetings, await us on arrival. The advantage -of bearing trifling discomfort, to be compensated by unwonted -luxury, presents itself to every logical mind. The dinner -was a high festival, where mirth reigned supreme; while the -ball in the evening—for had not all dames and demoiselles -within twenty miles been impressed for the occasion?—fitly -concluded the day's work with a revel of exceptional -joyousness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If there be a moral connected with this 'study in Black -and White' it must be that while most people (excepting the -advocates for the abolition of capital punishment) admit that -it is a good and lawful deed to clear the 'noxious' marsupial -<span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>off the face of the earth, we trust that the process will not be so -swift as to bring speedily to an end such enjoyable gatherings,—these -sociable murder parties, wherein business and -pleasure are happily conjoined, as in the battue at which I -had the happiness to be present.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span> - <h2 class='c006'>FIVE MEN'S LIVES FOR ONE HORSE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>'Yes; it does seem a goodish price to pay for a half-bred -mare—worth ten pound at the outside,' said old Bill, the -cook for the rouseabouts at Jergoolah Station, one wet evening, -as the men gathered round the fire after supper, with their -pipes in their mouths. It had been wet for three days, so -there was no shearing. Very little work for the other men -either—half a hundred strong—as the wet-fleeced sheep were -best left alone. The shearers were sulky of course. They -were eating (and paying for) their own rations. But the -ordinary 'pound-a-week men,' whose board, with lodging, was -provided for them gratis, were philosophically indifferent to -the state of the weather.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I don't care if it rains till Christmas,' remarked a dissipated-looking -youth, who had successfully finished a game -of euchre with a dirty pack of cards and an equally unclean -companion. 'It's no odds to us, so long's the creeks don't -rise and block us goin' to the big smoke to blue our cheques. -I don't hold with too much fine weather at shearin' time.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why not?' asked his late antagonist, staring gloomily at -the cards, as if he held them responsible for his losses.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why not?' repeated the first speaker; ''cause there's no -fun in watchin' of bloomin' shearers makin' their pound and -thirty bob a day while we can't raise a mag over three-and-six—at -it all hours like so many workin' bullocks, and turned -out the minute shearin's over, like a lot of unclaimed strangers -after a cattle muster.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why did ye come here at all?' asked a tall, broad-shouldered -'corn-stalk' from the neighbourhood of Penrith; -'nobody asked yer. There was plenty for the work afore you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span>struck in. It's you town larrikins that spoil the sheds—blackguardin' -and gamblin' and growlin' from daylight till -dark. If I was the boss I'd set bait for ye, same's the -dingoes.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You shut up and go home to yer pumpkin patch,' -retorted the card-player, with sudden animation. 'You -Sydney-siders think no one can work stock but yourselves. -You've no right this side of the Murrumbidgee, if it comes to -that; and I'd make one of a crowd to start you back where -you come from, and all your blackleg lot.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Put up your hands, you spieler!' said the New South -Wales man, making one long stride towards the light-weight, -who, standing easily on guard, appeared in no way anxious to -decline the combat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Come, none of that, you Nepean chap,' said a good-humoured, -authoritative voice; 'no scrappin' till shearin's -over, or I'll stop your pay. Besides, it's a daylight start -to-morrow morning. I've a paddock to clear, and the glass -is rising. The weather's going to take up.' This was the -second overseer, whose word was law until the 'cobbler' was -shorn, and the last man with the last sheep left the shed -amid derisive cheers. After a little subdued 'growling,' the -combatants, there being no grog to inflame their angry -passions, subsided.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What's that old Bill was sayin' about horses and men's -lives? I heard it from outside,' demanded the centurion. -'Any duffing going on?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why, Joe Downey passed the remark,' made answer a -wiry-looking 'old hand,' then engaged in mending one of his -boots so neatly that he might have passed for a journeyman -shoemaker, had it not been an open secret that he had -learned the trade within the walls of a gaol, 'that if a man -was to "shake" a horse here and ride him into Queensland, -he'd never be copped.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh, he wouldn't, eh? And why did Bill get his hair -off?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, Bill he says, "You're a d—d young fool," says -he. "I've seen smarter men than you lose their lives over a -ten-pound 'oss—yes, and bring better men to the same end."'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'But he said something about five men,' persisted the -overseer. 'What did he mean by that?'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>'What did I mean by that?' said the old man, who had -now drawn nearer, in stern and strident tones. 'Why, what -I say. It's God's truth, as I stand here, and the whole five -of 'em's now in their graves—as fine a lot of men, too, as ever -you see—all along of one blasted mare, worth about two -fivers, and be hanged to her!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old man's speech had a sort of rude eloquence born -of earnestness, which chained the attention of the variously -composed crowd; and when Mr. Macdonald, the overseer, -said, 'Come, Bill, let's have it. It's a lost day, and we may -as well hear your yarn as anything else before turn-in time,' -the old man, thus adjured, took his pipe out of his mouth, -and seating himself upon a three-legged stool, prepared to -deliver himself of a singular and tragic experience.</p> - -<p class='c000'>William James, chiefly referred to as 'old Bill,' was a true -type of the veritable 'old hand' of pre-auriferous Australia. -Concerning an early voyage to Tasmania he was reticent. -He referred to the period ambiguously as 'them old times,' -when he related tales of mystery and fear, such as could have -only found place under the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">régime</span></i> of forced colonisation. -No hirsute ornament adorned his countenance. Deeply -wrinkled, but ever clean-shaved, it was a face furrowed and -graven, as with a life-record of the darker passions and such -various suffering as the human animal alone can endure and -live. Out of this furnace of tribulation old Bill had emerged, -in a manner purified and reformed. He gave one the -impression of a retired pirate—convinced of the defects of -the profession, but regretful of its pleasing episodes. Considered -as a bush labourer, a more useful individual to a -colony did not live. Bill could do everything well, and do -twice as much of it as the less indurated industrialist of a -later day. Hardy, resourceful, tireless, true to his salt, old -Bill had often been considered by the sanguine or inexperienced -employer an invaluable servant. And so in truth -he was, until the fatal day arrived when the 'cheque fever' -assailed him. Then, alas! 'he was neither to hand nor to -bind.' No reason, interest, promise or principle had power -to restrain him from the mad debauch, when for days—perhaps -for weeks—all semblance of manhood was lost.</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, he was now in the healthful stage of constant -work—well fed, paid and sheltered. Cooking was one of his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>many accomplishments: in it he excelled. While, despite -his age, his courage and determination sufficed to keep the -turbulent 'rouseabouts' in order. In his leisure hours he -was prone to improve the occasion by demonstrating the folly -of colliding with the law—its certain victory, its terrible -penalties. And of the gloomy sequel to a solitary act was -the present story.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I mind,' he began—pushing back the grey hair which he -wore long and carefully brushed—'when I was workin' on a -run near the Queensland border. It's many a long year ago—but -that says nothin'; some of you chaps is as young and -foolish as this Jack Danvers as I'm a-goin' to tell ye about. -Well, some of us was startin' a bit of a spree like, after -shearin'; we'd all got tidy cheques; some was goin' one way -and some another. Jack and his mate to Queensland, where -they expected a big job of work. Just as we was a-saddlin' -up—some of us had one neddy, some two—a mob of horses -comes by. I knew who they belonged to—a squatter not far -off. Among 'em was a fine lump of a brown filly, three year -old, half bred, but with good action.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"That's a good filly," says Jack—he'd had a few glasses—"she -could be roped handy in the old cattle-yard near the -crick. Lead easy too, 'long with the other mokes."</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"Don't be a darned fool, Jack," says I; "there'll be a -bloomin' row over her, you take it from me. She's safe to be -missed, and you'll be tracked up. D—n it all, man," says -I, "what's a ten-pound filly for a man to lose his liberty over? -If it was a big touch it might be different."</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"You're a fine cove to preach," says he, quite savage. -The grog had got into his head, I could see. "Mind your own -—— business." I heard his mate (he was a rank bad 'un) say -something to him, and they rode away steady; but the same -road that the "mob" had gone. I went off with some other -chaps as wer' inside having a last drink, and thought no more -about Jack Danvers and the brown filly till nigh a year after. -Then it come out. The filly'd been spotted, working in a -team, by the man that bred her. The carrier bought her -square and honest; had a receipt from a storekeeper. They -found the storekeeper in Queensland; he'd bought her from -another man. "What sort of a man?"—"Why, a tall, good-looking -chap, like a flash shearer." Word went to the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span>police at Warwillah. It was Jack Danvers of course; they'd -suspected him and his mate all the time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, Jack was nabbed, tho' he was out on a Queensland -diggin' far enough away. But they sent up his description -from the shed we'd left together, and he was brought down in -irons, as he'd made a fight of it. The storekeeper swore to -him positive as the man that had sold him the brown J.D. -filly—old Jerry Dawson's she was. The jury found him guilty -and he got three years.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now I'm on to the part of the play when the "ante-up" -comes in. You mind me, you young fellers, it <em>always does</em> -sooner or later. He'd no call to shake that filly. I said -so then, and I say so now. And what come'd of it? Listen -and I'll tell you—<em>Death</em> in five chapters—and so simple, all -along of an unbroke filly!</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now Jack wa'n't the man to stop inside of prison walls -if he could help it. He and another chap make a rush one -day, knock over the warder and collar his revolver. Another -warder comes out to help; Jack shoots him dead, and they -clear. <em>Man's life number one.</em> Big reward offered. They -stick up a roadside inn next. Somebody gave 'em away. -Police waitin' on 'em as they walk in—dead of night. Soon's -they see the police, Jack shoots the innkeeper, poor devil! -thought he'd sold 'em. <em>Man's life number two.</em> Jack and his -mate and the police bang away at each other at close quarters—trooper -wounded—Jack shot dead—mate wounded, dies -next day. <em>Men's lives number four.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'>'Who gave the office to the police and collared the blood-money? -Friend of Jack's, a pal. Five hundred quid was too -much for him. What became of <em>him</em>? Job leaked out -somehow—friends and family dropped him. The money did -him no good. Took to drinking straight ahead, and died -in the horrors within the year. <em>Men's lives number five.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes; he was the fifth man to go down. Two pound -apiece their lives fetched! They're in their graves because -Jack Danvers was a d—d fool, and when he was young, -strong, good-looking and well-liked, must go and duff a man's -mare out of sheer foolishness. He didn't see what was to -come of it, or he'd 'a cut off his right hand first. But that's -the way of it. We don't see them things till it's <em>too late</em>. -But mark my words, you young chaps as has got all the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>world before you—take a fool's advice. <em>It don't pay to "go -on the cross"</em>—never did; and there's no one has cause to -know it better than old Bill James.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'By George!' said the overseer, 'that's the best yarn I -have heard for a year. And if the parson preaches a better -sermon when he holds service in the woolshed next Sunday, -I'll be surprised.'</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span> - <h2 class='c006'>REEDY LAKE STATION</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>The Post-office clock in Bourke Street, Melbourne, is about -to strike six, in the month of June 1858. At this 'everlastingly -early hour <span class='fss'>A.M.</span> in the morning' (as remarked by Mr. -Chuckster), I am the box-passenger of Cobb's coach, <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en route</span></i> -for Bendigo. The team of greys stand motionless, save for a -faint attempt to paw on the part of the near-side leader. -The first stroke vibrates on high. Mr. Jackson, with an -exclamation, tightens his 'lines.' The six greys plunge at -their collars, and we are off.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was no Spencer Street terminus in those days. We -were truly thankful to King Cobb. I, for one, was glad to -get over a hundred miles of indifferent road in a day—winter -weather, too. We did not grumble so comprehensively as -latter-day travellers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Remembered yet, how, when we came to the long hill at -Keilorbridge, the driver let his horses out when half-way -down. The pace that we went 'was a caution to see.' The -wheel-spokes flew round, invisible to the naked eye. The -coach rocked in a manner to appal the nervous. The horses -lay down to it as if they were starting for a Scurry Stakes. -But it was a good piece of macadam, and we were half-way -up to the next hill before any one had time to think seriously -of the danger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nobody, of course, would have dared to have addressed -the driver upon the subject. In those flush days, when both -day and night coaches loaded well, when fares were high and -profits phenomenal, he was an autocrat not to be lightly approached. -It almost took two people to manage a communication—one -to bear the message from the other. Silent -<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>or laconic, master of his work in a marvellous degree, he -usually resented light converse, advice infuriated him, and -sympathy was outrage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The roads were bad, even dangerous in places. Muddy -creeks, bush-tracks, sidelings, washed-out crossings, increased -the responsibilities and tried the tempers of these pioneer sons -of Nimshi. Men of mark they mostly were. Americans to a -man in that day, though subsequently native-born Australians, -acclimatised Irishmen, and other recruits of merit, began to -show up in the ranks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I remember the astonishment of a newly-arrived traveller -at seeing Carter, a gigantic, fair-bearded Canadian, coming -along a baddish road one wet day, with seven horses and a -huge coach, containing about fifty Chinamen. How he -swayed the heavy reins with practised ease, his three leaders -at a hand-gallop; how he piloted his immense vehicle through -stumps and ruts, by creek and hillside, with accuracy almost -miraculous to the uninitiated.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Carter was not a 'man of much blandishment.' I recall -the occasion, when a spring having gone wrong, he was, with -the assistance of a stalwart passenger, silently repairing -damage. A frivolous insider commenced to condole and -offer suggestions in a weakly voluble way. 'Go to h—l,' was -the abrupt rejoinder, which so astonished the well-meaning -person, that he retreated into the coach like a rabbit into a -burrow, and was silent for hours afterwards.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One always had the consciousness, however, that whatever -could be done by mortal man, would be accomplished by -them. Accidents might happen, but they belonged to the -category of the inevitable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One dark night, near Sawpit Gully, a tire came off. Al. -Hamilton (poor fellow! he was killed by an upset in New -South Wales afterwards) was off in a minute; found his way -to the smith's house; had him back in an inconceivably short -time; left word for us to get the fire lighted and blown up—it -was cold, and we thought that great fun; and before another -man would have finished swearing at the road, the darkness, -and things in general, the hammer was clinking on the red-hot -tire, the welding was progressing, and in three-quarters of an -hour we were bowling along much as before. We had time -to make up, and did it too. But suppose the blacksmith -<span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>would not work? Not work! He was Cobb and Co.'s man—that -is, he did all their 'stage' repairs. Well he knew that -the night must be to him even as the day when their humblest -vehicle on the road needed his aid. As a firm they went -strictly by results and took no excuses. If a man upset his -coach and did damage once, he was shifted to another part of -the line. If he repeated the accident, he was dismissed. -There was no appeal, and the managing body did not trouble -about evidence after the first time. If he was negligent, it -served him right. If he was unlucky, that was worse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The journey to Bendigo was accomplished at the rate of -nine miles an hour, stoppages included. It was midwinter. -The roads were deep in places. It was therefore good-going, -punctual relays, and carefully economised time, which -combined to land us at Hefferman's Hotel before darkness -had set in. As usual a crowd had collected to enjoy the -great event of the day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bendigo was in that year a very lively town, with a -population roused to daily excitement by fortunes made or -lost. Gold was shovelled up like sugar in bankers' scoops, -and good money sent after bad in reckless enterprise, or -restored a hundredfold in lucky ventures.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here I was to undergo a new experience in company with -Her Majesty's Mails.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As I rather impatiently lingered outside of Hefferman's -after breakfast next morning, an unpretending tax-cart, to -which were harnessed a pair of queer, unmatched screws, -drove up to the door. 'German Charlie'—his other name I -never knew—driver and contractor, informed me that I was -the only passenger, lifted my valise, and the talismanic words -'Reedy Creek' being pronounced, vowed to drop me at the -door. He had always parcels for Mr. Keene. This gentleman's -name he pronounced with bated breath, in a tone of -deepest veneration.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Beyond all doubt would I be landed there early on the -morrow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I mounted the Whitechapel, saw my overcoat and valise in -safely, and, not without involuntary distrust, committed myself -to Charlie's tender mercies. He gave a shout, he raised his -whip—the off-side horse made a wild plunge; the near-side one, -blind of one eye, refused to budge. Our fate hung on the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>balance apparently, when a man from the crowd quietly led -off the unwilling near-side, and we dashed away gloriously. -The pace was exceptional, but it was evidently inexpedient to -slacken speed. We flew down the main street, and turned -northward, along a narrow track, perilously near to yawning -shafts, across unsafe bridges, over race channels; along -corduroy roads, or none at all, our headlong course was -pursued. The sludge-invaded level of Meyer's Flat is passed. -Bullock Creek is reached, all ignorant of reservoirs and weirs, -and a relay of horses driven in from the bush is demanded.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A smart boy of fourteen had the fresh team, three in -number, ready for us in the yard. He felt it necessary to -warn us. They 'were not good starters, that was a fact.' The -statement was strictly correct. One horse was badly collar-galled, -one a rank jib. The leader certainly had a notion of -bolting; his efforts in that direction were, however, neutralised -by the masterly inactivity of his companions. After much -pushing, persuasion, and profane language, we effected a -departure.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That the pace was kept up afterwards may be believed. -Sometimes the harness gave way, but as the shaft and outrigger -horses were by this time well warmed, they did not -object to again urge on their wild career.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We stopped at the 'Durham Ox Inn' that night, then a -solitary lodge in the wilderness, a single building of brick, -visible afar off on the sea-like plain, which stretched to the -verge of the horizon. Woods Brothers and Kirk had at that -time, if I mistake not, just concluded to purchase Pental -Island from Ebden and Keene, but were debating as to price. -The pasture seemed short and sparse, after the deep, rich -western sward, but overtaking a 'mob' of Messrs. Booth and -Argyle's cattle farther on, I felt satisfied as to its fattening -qualities. Each cow, calf, steer, and yearling in the lot was -positively heaped and cushioned with fat. They looked like -stall-fed oxen. And this in June! I thought I saw then -what the country could do. I was correct in my deduction, -always supposing the important factor of <em>rain</em> not to be absent. -Of this, in my inexperience, I took no heed. In my favoured -district there was always a plentiful supply; sometimes, indeed, -more than was agreeable or necessary.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Kerang was passed; Tragowel skirted; Mount Hope, then -<span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span>in the occupation of Messrs. Griffith and Greene, reared its -granite mass a few miles to the south. As Sir Thomas -Mitchell stood there, gazing over the illimitable prairie, rich -with giant herbage and interspersed but with belts and copses -of timber, planted by Nature's hand, the veteran explorer exclaimed -with a burst of enthusiasm, 'Australia Felix! This is -indeed Australia Felix!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Steady stocking and an occasional dry season had somewhat -modified the standard of the nutritive grasses and -salsolaceous plants, at this point advantageously mingled. -But that the country was superlative in a pastoral point of -view may be gathered from the fact that, upon my first visit -to the homestead a few weeks afterwards, I saw five thousand -weaners—the whole crop of lambs for the previous year—<em>shepherded -in one flock</em>. Very fine young sheep they were, and -in excellent condition. Of course it was on a plain, but, -unless the pasturage had been exceptional, no shepherd could -have kept such a number together.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Later in the afternoon my Teutonic conductor, who had -been going for the last twenty miles like the dark horseman in -Burger's ballad, pulled up at Reedy Lake Head Station. -There dwelt the resident partner and autocrat of his district, -Mr. Theophilus Keene.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I saw a slight, fair man with an aquiline nose, a steady grey -eye, and an abundant beard, who came out of a neat two-roomed -slab hut and greeted me with polished courtesy. 'He -was extremely glad to see me. He had looked forward to my -coming this week in terms of a letter he had received from -Messrs. Ryan and Hammond, but, indeed, had hardly expected -that I would trust myself to their mail.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Keene, whom I saw then for the first time, was probably -verging on middle age, though active and youthful in appearance, -above the middle height, yet not tall—of a figure inclined -indeed to spareness. He impressed me with the idea that he -was no commonplace individual.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He carried nothing of the bushman about his appearance, -at home or in town, being careful and <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">soigné</span></i> as to his -apparel, formal and somewhat courtly in his address. He -scarcely gave one the idea of a dweller in the waste; yet the -roughest experiences of overlanding squatter-life, of a leader of -the rude station and road hands, had been his. He looked -<span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>more like a dandy Civil Servant of the upper grades. Yet he -was more than a pioneer and manager—an astute diplomatist, -a clever correspondent, an accurate accountant. The books -of the Reedy Lake Station were kept as neatly as those of a -counting-house. The overseer's sheep-books, ration accounts, -and road expenses were audited as correctly as if in an office. -The great station-machine revolved easily, and, though unaided -by inventions which have smoothed the path of latter-day -pastoralists, was a striking illustration of successful administration.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This large and important sheep property, as it was held to -be in those primeval times, had considerably over 150,000 -sheep on its books. Reedy Lake stood for the whole, but -Quambatook, Murrabit, Lake Boga, Liegar, Pental Island and -other runs were also comprised within its boundaries. These -were separate communities, and were, upon the subdivision of -the property, sold as such. These were worked under the -supervision of overseers and sub-managers, each of whom had -to render account to Mr. Keene—a strict one, too—of every -sheep counted out to the shepherds of the division in his -charge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Ebden, erstwhile Treasurer of Victoria and for some -years a member of Parliament, was the senior partner. He -had sagaciously secured Mr. Keene, then wasting his powers -on the Lower Murray, by offering him a third share of the -property, with the position of resident partner and General -Manager. Mr. Ebden, residing in Melbourne, arranged the -financial portion of the affairs, while Mr. Keene was the -executive chief, with almost irresponsible powers, which he used -unreservedly—no doubt about that.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was the day, let it be premised, of 'shepherding,' pure -and simple. There were, in that district at least, no wire -fences, no great enclosures, no gates, no tanks. Improvements, -both great and small, were looked upon as superfluous forms of -expensiveness. To keep the shepherds in order, to provide -them with rations and other necessaries, to see that they neither -lost the sheep nor denied them reasonable range,—these were -the chief duties of those in authority. And tolerably anxious -and engrossing occupation they afforded.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus the great Reedy Lake Head Station, always mentioned -with awe, north of the Loddon, was not calculated to strike the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>stranger with amazement on account of its buildings and -constructions, formed on the edge of the fresh-water lake from -which it took its name. The station comprised Mr. Keene's -two-roomed hut aforesaid; also a larger one, where the overseers, -young gentlemen, and strangers abode—known as The -Barracks; the kitchen, a detached building; the men's huts, -on the shore of the lake, at some considerable distance; an -inexpensive, old-fashioned woolshed might be discerned among -the 'old-man salt-bush' nearly a mile away; a hundred acre -horse-paddock, surrounded by a two-railed sapling fence; a -stock-yard—<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">voilà tout</span></i>; there was, of course, a store. These -were all the buildings thought necessary for the management -of £150,000 worth of sheep in that day. How different -would be the appearance of such a property now!</p> - -<p class='c000'>The special errand upon which I had journeyed thus far -was to inspect and, upon approval, to accept an offer in writing, -which I carried with me, of the Murrabit Station, one of the -subdivisions of the Reedy Lake property, having upon it -sixteen thousand sheep and <em>no improvements whatever</em>, except -the shepherds' huts and a hundred hurdles. The price was -£24,000—one-third equal to cash, the remainder by bills -extending over three years.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tide of investment had set in strongly in the direction -of sheep properties, near or across the Murray. I had followed -the fashion for the purpose, presumably, of making the usual -fortune more rapidly than through the old-fashioned medium -of cattle. To this end it was arranged that Mr. Keene and I, -with one of the overseers whom I had known previously, -should on the morrow ride over and inspect the Murrabit -country and stock, lying some twenty miles distant from -Reedy Lake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is held to be bad form in Bushland to mount an -intending purchaser badly. It is unnecessary to say that it -was not done in this case. No detail was omitted to produce -a state of cheerful self-complacency, suited to the distinguished -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">rôle</span> of guest and buyer. When Mr. Keene's famous pony -Billy, an animal whose fame was heralded in two colonies, -and from the Loddon to the Murrumbidgee, was led forth, I -felt I was indeed the favoured guest. He certainly was 'the -horse you don't see now,' or, if so, very very rarely. Neat as -to forehand, with a round rib and powerful quarter, fast, easy, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>and up to weight, he was difficult to match. The area from -Kerang northwards was known as 'salt-bush' country. But -little grass showed except on the edges of watercourses. Bare -patches of red sandy loam between the salsolaceous plants did -not lead the early explorers to consider it first-rate pasturage. -Varieties, however, were plentiful, from the 'old-man salt-bush,' -seven to ten feet high, to the dwarf-growing but fattening plants -on the plain. The cotton-bush, too, known to indicate first-class -fattening country, was plentiful. Perhaps the best testimony -to the quality of the herbage, however, and which I was -sufficiently experienced to appreciate, was the uniform high -health and condition of every flock of sheep that we saw. -Nothing could be finer than their general appearance, as indeed -is always the case in reasonably-stocked salt-bush country; -no foot-rot, no fluke, and, <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">absit omen</span></i>, no sheep-scab. This dire -disease was then, unhappily, common in Western Victoria. -It had been a fair season. Everything was fit to bear -inspection. The wether flock looked like donkeys for size, -the breeding ewes were fit for market, the weaners precociously -fat and well-grown. Nothing could look better than -the whole array.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Besides the salt-bush country, plains chiefly, and a large dry -lake, there was an important section of the run known as 'The -Reed-beds,' which I was anxious to visit. This tract lay between -Lake Boga, a large fresh-water lake on one side, the Murrabit, -an anabranch, and the south bank of the Murray. In order to -ride over this it was arranged that we should camp at the hut -of a shepherd, known as 'Towney,' on Pental Island, thence -explore the reed-beds and see the remaining sheep on the -morrow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Pental Island, formed by the Murrabit, a deep wide stream, -which leaves the main river channel and re-enters lower down, -we found to be a long, narrow strip of land, having sound salt-bush -ridges in the centre, with reed-beds on either side. -Crossing by a rude but sufficient bridge, we discovered Mr. -'Towney' living an Alexander Selkirk sort of life, monarch of -all he surveyed, and with full charge of some ten or twelve -thousand sheep turned loose. The bridge being closed with -hurdles, they could not get away. His only duty was to see -that no enterprising dingo swam over from Murray Downs on -the opposite side and ravaged the flock.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span>The night was cloudless and starlit, lovely in all aspects, as -are chiefly those of the Riverina—an absolutely perfect winter -climate. The strange surroundings, the calm river, the untroubled -hush of the scene, the chops, damper, and tea, all -freshly prepared by Towney, were enjoyable enough. After a -talk by the fire, for the night air was cool, and a smoke, we -lay down on rugs and blankets and slept till dawn. Our entertainer -was dejected because he had not a Murray cod to offer -us. 'If we had only come last week.' 'Tis ever thus.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That day's ride showed me the reed-beds in the light of -sound, green, quickly-fattening pastures. At one angle of the -Murrabit, on <em>my</em> run—for my run, indeed, it was destined to -be—there were two flocks of sheep, five thousand in all, of -which the shepherds and hut-keeper inhabited the same hut. -It was managed thus. One flock was camped on the northern -side of the bridge, one on the other. The hut-keeper, long -disestablished, but then considered an indispensable functionary, -cooked for both shepherds. £30 a year with rations was the -wage for the shepherds; £25 for the hut-keeper.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then there was a frontage of, perhaps, a mile and a half to -the southern end of Lake Boga. This noble fresh-water lake, -having shelving, sandy shores, is filled by the rising of the -Murray. On the bluff, to the right of the road to Swan Hill, -was a curious non-Australian cottage, built by Moravian -missionaries, and situated upon a reserve granted to them -by the Government of Victoria. These worthy personages, -becoming discouraged at the slow conversion of the heathen, -or deeming the <em>locale</em> unsuitable, sold their right and -interest to Messrs. Ebden and Keene. I decided to place the -head station close by, and there, I suppose, it is at the present -day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A picturesque spot enough. Northward the eye ranged -over the broad, clear waters of the lake, now calm in the bright -sunshine, now lashed into quite respectable waves by a gale. -Eastward, over a wide expanse of reed-bed, dead level and -brightly green, you traced the winding course of the great river -by the huge eucalypti which lined its banks. Around was the -unending plain, on which the salt-bushes grew to an unusual -size, while across the main road to Melbourne, fenced off by -the horse-paddock of the future, was a cape of pine-scrub, -affording pleasing contrast to the wide, bare landscape.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>We returned to Reedy Lake that evening, and before I -slept was the contract signed, accepting price and terms; -signed in high hope, and apparently with a fair prospect of -doubling the capital invested, as had done many another. -Had I but known that this particular indenture, freely translated, -<em>should have run thus</em>:—</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>'I hereby bind myself to take the Murrabit Run and stock -at the price agreed, and to lose in consequence every farthing I -have ever made, within five years from this date.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'(Signed) R. <span class='sc'>Boldrewood.</span>'</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>Why can't one perceive such results and consequences now -and then? Why are so many of the important contracts and -irrevocable promises of life entered into during one's most -sanguine, least reflective period? Will these questions ever be -answered, and where? Still, were the veil lifted, what dread -apparitions might we not behold! 'Tis more mercifully -arranged, be sure.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus we entered with a light heart into this Sedan business, -much undervaluing our Prussians. After visiting Melbourne, -it was arranged that delivery of stock and station should be -taken within a specified time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I didn't know much about sheep then; what a grim jest it -reads like <em>now</em>! I had leisure for reflection on the subject in -the aftertime. I judged it well to leave the apportioning of -the flocks to my host and entertainer. He did far better for -me than I could have done myself. I had every reason to be -satisfied with the quality of the sixteen thousand instruments -of my ruin. There was a noble flock of fat wethers, three -thousand strong; for the rest, 'dry' ewes, breeders, weaners, -two-tooths, were all good of their sort. After engaging one of -the overseers, a shrewd, practical personage, I considered the -establishment of my reputation as a successful wool-grower to -be merely a question of time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Fiend is believed to back gamblers at an early stage -of their career. It looked as if His Eminence gave my dice -a good shake <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">pour commencer</span></i>. The first sale was brilliant: -the whole cast of fat sheep to one buyer (at the rate of £1 -each for wethers, and 15s. for ewes)—over six thousand in all. -They were drafted, paid for, and on their way to Melbourne -in the afternoon of the day on which the buyer arrived. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span>The lambing was good; the wool sold at a paying price, -considering the primitive style of washing. Next year, of -course, all this would be altered. Meanwhile I surveyed the -imprint 'R.B.' over Murrabit on the wool-bales with great -satisfaction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'But surely,' says the practical reader, 'things were going -well; season, prices, increase satisfactory. How did the fellow -manage to make a mull of it?' There <em>were</em> reasons. The -cost of a run bought 'bare' is unavoidably great. Huts, yards, -woolshed, homestead, paddock, brushyards, lambers, washers, -shearers, all cost money—are necessary, but expensive. The -cheque stream was always flowing with a steady current, it -seemed to me. Fat stock, too, the great source of profit in -that district, gradually declined in price. Interest and commission, -which amounted to 12½ per cent or more, in one way -and another, gradually told up. In 1861 an unprecedented -fall took place in cattle, such as had not been felt 'since the -gold.' Beeves fell to the price of stores. Buyers could not -meet their engagements. The purchaser of my cattle-station -in Western Victoria was among these. He was compelled -to return it upon my hands after losing his cash deposit. -Thus seriously hampered, the finale was that I 'came out' -without either station or a shilling in the world. What -was worse, having caused others to suffer through my -indebtedness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Murrabit was then sold, well improved, though not -fenced, with twenty thousand good sheep on it, at £1: 5s. -per head—£25,000—nearly the same price at which I had -purchased; but with four thousand more sheep, and costly -improvements added, including a woolshed which had cost -£500. The new purchaser paid £10,000 down, and I was -sorry to hear afterwards lost everything in about the time it -had taken me to perform the same feat. But he had, I believe, -the expense of fencing—an economical luxury then so impossible -for a squatter to deny himself. In addition to this, -that terrible synonym of ruin, sheep-scab, broke out in the -district, and in time among the Murrabit sheep. This, of -course, necessitated endless expenditure in labour, dressing-yards, -dips, and what not. No further explanation is needed -by the experienced as to why my equally unlucky successor -went under.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span>Talking of scab—now a tradition in Australia—it was then -plentiful in Victoria, with the exception of certain favoured -districts, among which the trans-Loddon country was numbered. -Now in the days when Theophilus was king, foreseeing the -ruin of the district (or chiefly, perhaps, to Ebden and Keene) -which would ensue should the disease get a footing, he fought -against its introduction, either by carelessness or greed, with -all the vigilant energy of his nature.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There are men of contemplation, of science, of culture, of -action. My experience has been that these qualities are but -rarely united in the same individual. This may be the reason -why 'Government by Talk' often breaks down disastrously—the -man who can talk best being helpless and distracted when -responsible action is imminent. This by the way, however. -Mr. Keene did not dissipate his intelligence in the consideration -of abstract theories. He never, probably, in his life saw -three courses open to him. But in war time he struck hard and -promptly. In most cases there was no need to strike twice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Touching the scab pestilence, this is how he 'saved his -country.' Primarily he put pressure upon his neighbours, until -they formed themselves into a league, offensive and defensive. -They did not trust to the Government official, presumably at -times overworked, but they paid a private Inspector £200 -a year, furnishing him also with serviceable horses and free -quarters.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This gentleman—Mr. Smith, let us call him—an active -young Australian, kept the sharpest look-out on all sheep -approaching the borders of the 'Keene country.' He summoned -the persons in charge if they made the least infraction -of the Act, examined the flock most carefully for appearances -of disease, and generally made life so unpleasant, not to say -dangerous, for the persons in charge, that they took the first -chance of altering their route. If there was the faintest room -for doubt, down came Keene, breathing threats and slaughter. -And only after the most rigid, prolonged inspection were they -allowed to pass muster. Why persons selfishly desired to carry -disease into a clean district may be thus explained. Store -sheep—especially if doubtful as to perfect cleanliness—were -low in price in Western Victoria. Near to or across the New -South Wales border they were always high. If, therefore, they -could be driven to the Murray, the profits were considerable. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>No doubt such were made, at the risk of those proprietors -through whose stations they passed. A <em>single sheep</em> left behind -from such a flock, after weeks likely to 'break out' with the -dire disease, might infect a district. Mr. Keene had fully -determined that 'these accursed gains' should not be made at -<em>his</em> expense.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day he received notice from Mr. Smith that a lot of -five thousand sheep of suspicious antecedents was approaching -his kingdom. They were owned by a dealing squatter, who, -having country both clean and doubtful, made it a pretext for -travelling sheep, picked up in small numbers. 'From information -received' just ere they had entered the clean country, -Mr. Keene appeared with a strong force, with which he took -possession of them under a warrant, obtained on oath that -they were presumably scabby, had them examined by the -Government official, who found the fatal acarus, obtained the -necessary authority, <em>cut their throats, and burned the five -thousand to the last sheep</em>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After this holocaust, remembered to this day, it became -unfashionable to travel sheep near the Reedy Lake country. -He 'who bare rule over all that land' rested temporarily from -his labours. They were not light either, as may be inferred -from a statement of one of his overseers to me that about -that time, from ceaseless work in the saddle, anxiety, and -worry, he had reduced himself to an absolute skeleton, and -from emaciation could hardly sit on his horse. Nothing, -perhaps, but such unrelenting watch and ward could have -saved the district from infection. But he won the fight, and -for years after, not, indeed, until Theophilus I. was safe in -another hemisphere, did marauders of the class he so harried -and vexed dare to cross the Loddon northwards. As soon as -the normal state of carelessness and 'nobody's business' set -in (Mr. Smith having been discontinued), the event foreseen -by him took place. The district became infected, and Reedy -Lake itself, Murrabit, and other runs, all suffered untold loss -and injury. Rabbits came in to complete the desolation. -What with Pental Island being advertised to be let by tender -in farms, dingoes abounding in the mallee, free selectors -swarming from Lake Charm to the Murray, irrigation even -being practised near Kerang, if Mr. Keene could return to -the country where once he could ride for forty miles on end -<span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>requiring any man he met to state what he was doing there, -he would find himself a stranger in a strange land. Without -doubt he would take the first steamer back to England, -hastening to lose sight and memory of a land so altered and -be-devilled since the reign of the shepherd kings. Of this -dynasty I hold 'Theophilus the First' to have been a more -puissant potentate during his illustrious reign than many of -the occupants of old-world thrones.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span> - <h2 class='c006'>A FORGOTTEN TRAGEDY</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>It is difficult for the inhabitants of settled districts in Australia, -where the villages, surrounded by farms or grazing estates, are -now as well ordered as in rural England, to realise the nature -of outrages which, in earlier colonial days, not infrequently -affrighted these sylvan shades. It is well, however, occasionally -to recall the sterner conditions under which our pioneers -lived. The half-explored wilds saw strange things, when -<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">émeutes</span></i> with murder and robbery thrown in compelled -decisive action. In the year 1836 immense areas in the -interior, described officially as 'Waste Lands of the Crown,' -were occupied by graziers under pastoral licenses. Caution -was exercised in the granting of these desirable privileges. -It was required by the Government of the day that only -persons of approved good character should receive them. -Being merely permissive, they were liable to be withdrawn -from the holders for immoral or dishonest conduct. When -it is considered that the men employed in guarding the flocks -and herds in these limitless solitudes were, in the great -majority of cases, prisoners of the Crown, or 'ticket-of-leave' -men, whose partially-expired sentences entitled them to quasi-freedom, -it is not surprising that horse-and cattle-stealing, -highway robbery, ill-treatment of aboriginals, and even darker -crimes were rife.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The labourers of the day were composed of three classes, -officially described as free, bond, and 'free by servitude.' -This last designation, obscure only to the newly-arrived -colonist, meant that the individual thus privileged had served -his full term of imprisonment, or such proportion of it as -entitled him to freedom under certain restrictions. He was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>permitted to come and go, to work for any master who chose -to employ him (and most valuable servants many of them -were), to accept the wages of the period, and generally to -comport himself as a 'free man.' But he was restricted to a -specified district, compelled at fixed periods to report himself -to the police authorities, and he went in fear lest at any time -through misconduct or evil report his 'ticket-of-leave' might -be withdrawn, in which case he was sent back to penal -servitude. The alternative was terrible. The man who the -week before had been riding a mettled stock-horse amid the -plains and forests of the interior, or peacefully following his -flocks, with food, lodging, and social privileges, found himself -virtually a slave in a chain-gang, dragging his heavy fetters -to and fro in hard, distasteful labour. This deposition from -partial comfort and social equality, though possibly caused by -his own misconduct, occasionally resulted from the report of -a vindictive overseer, or betrayal by a comrade. It may be -imagined, therefore, what vows of vengeance were registered -by the sullen convict, what bloody expiation was often -exacted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Taking into consideration the ludicrous disproportion of -the police furnished by the Government of the day to the -area 'protected'—say a couple of troopers for a thinly-populated -district about the size of Scotland—it seems truly -astonishing that malefactors should have been brought to -justice at all. Even more so that armed and desperate felons -should have been followed up and arrested within comparatively -short distances of the scene of their misdeeds.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It says much for the alertness and discipline of the -mounted police force of the day that in by far the greater -number of these outrages the criminals were tracked and -secured; more, indeed, for the active co-operation and public -spirit of the country gentlemen of the land, who were invariably -ready to render aid in carrying out the law at the risk of -their lives, and, occasionally, to the manifest injury of their -property.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Circumstances have placed in my hands the record of a -murder which, in careful premeditation, as well as in the -satanic malignity with which the details were carried out, -seems pre-eminent amid the dark chronicles of guilt.</p> - -<p class='c000'>More than sixty years ago Mr. Thursby, a well-known -<span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>magistrate and proprietor, residing upon his station, which was -distant two hundred and fifty miles from Sydney, was awakened -before daylight, when a note to this effect from the constable -in charge at the nearest police-station was delivered to him:—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Last night the lock-up was entered by armed men, and -two prisoners removed. One man knocked at the door, -stating that he was a constable with a prisoner in charge. I -opened it; when two men rushed in, one of whom, presenting -a pistol at me, ordered me into a corner, and covered my head -with a blanket. I heard the door unlocked. When I freed -myself the cell was empty.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Upon receipt of this information, Mr. Thursby despatched -a report to the Officer in charge of Police at Murphy's Plains, -distant eighty-five miles. Taking with him the manager of a -neighbouring station, and the special constable quartered there -(a custom of the day), Mr. Thursby started in pursuit of the -outlaws. Their tracks were not hard to follow in the dew of -early morn, but near Major Hewitt's station, seven miles distant, -they became indistinct. After losing much time the station -was reached, and here a black boy was fortunately procured. -With his aid the trail was regained, and followed over rough, -mountainous country. Mr. Jones, the manager who had -accompanied the party, informed Mr. Thursby that five of -the convict servants assigned to the owner had run away -previously—'taken to the bush.' They had committed -depredations, and had been unsuccessfully followed by the -mounted police, whose horses, after coming more than eighty -miles, were fagged. However, two of them surrendered -themselves next day. One man (Driscoll) was suspected of -having spoken incautiously of the leader's doings (a man -named Gore), who had vowed vengeance accordingly. Driscoll -had been placed in the lock-up, along with Woods, a -suspicious character, who said he was a native of Windsor, -New South Wales. Gore and the other men were still at -large.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After leading the party for some distance through the -ranges, the black boy halted, and pointing to a thin thread -of smoke, barely perceptible, said, 'There 'moke!' When -they came to the fire from which it proceeded, what a spectacle -presented itself! On the smouldering embers was a human -body, bound and <em>partially roasted</em>. It lay on its back, with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>legs and arms drawn up. The middle portion of the body -was burned to a cinder, leaving the upper and lower extremities -perfect. Mr. Thursby recognised the features of the man -called Woods, who had been imprisoned the day before. -The black boy was so horrified that he became useless as -a tracker, and as the day was far advanced, Mr. Thursby had -the body removed to Engleroi, a station not more than a mile -distant.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here fresh information was furnished. The tragedy -deepened. Before daylight on the previous morning, Driscoll -had knocked at the door of the shepherd's hut, breathless and -half insane with terror, imploring them for the love of God to -admit him as 'he was a murdered man.' Nothing more could -be elicited from the shepherds, though it since appeared that -they could have named one of the murderers. Fear of the -'Vehmgericht' of the day doubtless restrained them—fear of -that terrible secret tribunal, administered by the convicts as -a body, which in defiance of the law's severest penalties tried, -sentenced, and in many cases <em>executed</em>, the objects of their -resentment. The party decided later on to proceed to Mr. -FitzGorman's head station, and on the way arrested and took -with them the hut-keeper of the out-station. They did not -know at the time (as was since proved) that he was one of the -murderers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On leaving the lock-up, the men had stolen the constable's -blue cloth suit, and being informed at Tongah that a man in -blue clothes had been met with, a few miles down the Taramba -River, Mr. Thursby rode forward with the black boy, leaving -the hut-keeper secured, to await his return. Some time was -lost, as the tracks were not picked up at once, but on reaching -Mr. FitzGorman's station, forty miles distant, at midnight, the -man in blue clothes was discovered, housed for the night. -He was at once secured. On being questioned, he said his -name was Burns, and that he was looking for work. He -produced a certificate, which did not impose upon his captor, -who knew it to belong to the constable, who, being a ticket-of-leave -man, required to hold such a document. In his -bundle, when searched, several articles taken from the lock-up -were found. Gore the bushranger and murderer stood confessed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Thursby was at that time ignorant that the second -<span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>murderer was already in his hands, but determined to follow up -the pursuit, caused Gore to be mounted on one of the station -horses, and rode back with as much speed as might be to -Tongah. Suspecting the hut-keeper (whose name was Walker) -of being in some way an accomplice of Gore, Mr. Thursby -had both men lodged in the lock-up. Still unrelaxing in -pursuit, and believing that the second murderer might be one -of the three runaways from Major Hewitt's station, Mr. -Thursby raised the country-side, and took such energetic -measures that on the following day they were apprehended.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By this time the shepherds, gaining confidence from the -capture of the outlaws, of whose vengeance they went in fear, -commenced to make disclosures. The constable identified -the hut-keeper (Walker) as the man who, at the point of the -pistol, ordered him to stand in the lock-up. Driscoll knew -him and Gore as the two men who removed him and Woods -from the lock-up. He then went on to state that, after being -hurried along for several miles after leaving the lock-up, they -halted in a lonely place, where Gore ordered them to make -a fire. When it was kindled to a blaze, Gore tied them back -to back and blindfolded them. At this time Walker held the -pistol. Driscoll heard a shot, when Woods dropped on the -fire, dragging him with him. The bandage falling from his -eyes, Walker struck him twice on the head with his pistol. -In his agony, getting his hands free he ran for his life. He -was followed for a considerable distance, but eventually -escaped to Engleroi. Half an hour afterwards, Gore came -up in search of him. What must have been the feelings of -the hunted wretch, so lately a bound victim on his self-made -funeral pile, when the armed desperado, who made so little -of human life, reappeared? However, he contented himself -with compelling Driscoll and the shepherds, among whom he -was, to swear under tremendous penalties not to disclose the -fact of his presence there.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Gore and Walker were brought before the nearest Bench -of Magistrates and committed for trial at the next ensuing -Assize Court.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was not sufficient evidence, though a strong presumption, -that the other runaways were implicated in the cold-blooded -murder. It appeared to have been chiefly arranged -by Gore and Walker—the former in order to be revenged -<span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>on Driscoll, and the latter to get rid of Woods, who had -threatened to give evidence against him for robbery and other -misdeeds. No doubt their intention was to murder both men, -destroying all evidence by burning their bodies. Driscoll had -the good fortune to escape, and was thus enabled to give the -necessary evidence at their trial. But though not directly -implicated in the graver crime, the remaining three bushrangers—for -such they were—lay under the charge of being -associated with Gore in committing depredations which had -alarmed the neighbourhood for the last six or seven weeks. -They had not wandered far from the scene of their freebooting, -and after eluding the police on several occasions, remained to -be delivered up to justice by a party of civilians—headed, it -is true, by an experienced and determined personage, exceptionally -well mounted from one of the most famous studs -in New South Wales. In that day the bushranger, desperate -and ruthless though he may have been, was at a disadvantage -compared to his modern imitator. He was mostly on foot. -Horses were scarce and valuable. There were few stopping-places, -except the stations of the squatters, where an armed, -suspicious-looking stranger was either questioned or arrested. -'Shanties' had hardly commenced to plant centres of -contagion in the 'lone Chorasmian waste.' The 'Shadow -of Death Hotel' was in the future—fortunately for all sorts -and conditions of men.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is a curious coincidence, showing at once the just view -taken of the circumstances of the locality and the means -proper to lead to the extinction of 'gang robbery' (as the East -India Company's servants termed the industry), that Mr. -Thursby had just forwarded to the Legislative Council an -estimate of the cost of a proposed Court of Petty Sessions at -Wassalis. He also 'most respectfully begged to submit for -the consideration of His Excellency the Governor a suggestion -that a mounted police force would be advantageously -stationed there, as well for the protection of the district as for -the purpose of connecting the detachments of police at -Murphy's Plains and Curban.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Many a year is in its grave' since the incidents here -recorded affrighted the dwellers in the lonely bush.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is satisfactory to note that Wassalis was promoted to be -a place where a Court of Petty Sessions is holden.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>Walker and Gore, being found guilty, were sentenced to -death, doubtless by Sir Francis Forbes, the Chief Justice of -the day—indeed the first Chief Justice of Australia. They -confessed their guilt in gaol, and were duly hanged—let us -hope repenting of their crimes. The brother of the magistrate -whose courage and energy led to their arrest, frequently -visited them in gaol, where they confessed everything. The -constable, on recommendation, was promoted. The police -station at Wassalis is now organised and equipped with good -horses, smart men, revolver at belt and carbine on thigh. -Telegraphs in every direction are available for giving or -receiving information; but it is doubtful whether armed and -desperate felons, red-handed with the blood of their fellow-men, -were ever more closely followed up, more quickly -brought to justice, than the murderers of Woods.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span> - <h2 class='c006'>THE HORSE YOU DON'T SEE NOW</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>Many years ago I was summoned to attend the couch of a -dear relative believed to be <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">in extremis</span></i>. The messenger -arrived at my club with a buggy, drawn by a dark bay horse. -The distance to be driven to Toorak was under four miles—the -road good. I have a dislike to being driven. Those who have -handled the reins much in their time will understand the -feeling. Taking them mechanically from the man, I drew -the whip across the bay horse. The light touch sent him down -Collins Street East, over Prince's Bridge, and through the -toll-bar gate at an exceptionally rapid pace. This I did not -remark at the time, being absorbed in sorrowful anticipation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>During the anxious week which followed I drove about -the turn-out—a hired one—daily; now for this or that -doctor, anon for nurse or attendant. Then the beloved -sufferer commenced to amend, to recover; so that, without -impropriety, my thoughts became imperceptibly disengaged -from her, to concentrate themselves upon the dark bay horse. -For that he was no ordinary livery-stable hack was -evident to a judge. <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">Imprimis</span></i>, very fast. Had I not passed -everything on the road, except a professional trotter, that had -not, indeed, so much the best of it? Quiet, too. He would -stand unwatched, though naturally impatient. He never -tripped, never seemed to 'give' on the hard, blue metal; was -staunch up-hill and steady down. Needed no whip, yet took -it kindly, neither switching his tail angrily nor making as if -ready to smash all and sundry, like ill-mannered horses. -Utterly faultless did he seem. But experience in matters -equine leads to distrust. Hired out per day from a livery-stable -keeper, I could hardly believe <em>that</em> to be the case.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span>All the same I felt strongly moved to buy him on the -chance of his belonging to the select tribe of exceptional -performers, not to be passed over by so dear a lover of horseflesh -as myself. Moreover, I possessed, curious to relate, -a 'dead match' for him—another bay horse of equally -lavish action, high courage, and recent accidental introduction. -The temptation was great.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I will buy him,' said I to myself, 'if he is for sale, and -also if——' here I pulled up, got down in the road, and carefully -looked him over from head to tail. He stepped quietly. -I can see him now, moving his impatient head gently back and -forward like a horse 'weaving'—a trick he had under all -circumstances. Years afterwards he performed similarly to -the astonishment of a bushranger in Riverina, whose revolver -was pointed at the writer's head the while, less anxious indeed -for his personal safety than that old Steamer—such was his -appropriate name—should march on, and, having a nervous -running mate, smash the buggy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To return, however. This was the result of my inspection. -Item, one broken knee; item, seven years old—within mark -decidedly; legs sound and clean, but just beginning to -'knuckle' above the pasterns.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was a conflict of opinions. Says Prudence, 'What! -buy a screw? Brilliant, of course, but sure to crack soon. -Been had that way before. I'm ashamed of you.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Said Hope, 'I don't know so much about that. Knee -probably an accident: dark night—heap of stones—anything. -Goes like a bird. Grand shoulder. <em>Can't</em> fall. -Legs come right with rest. Barely seven—quite a babe. -Cheap at anything under fifty. Chance him.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I'll buy him—d—dashed if I don't.' I got in again, and -drove thoughtfully to the stables of Mr. Washington, a large-sized -gentleman of colour, hailing from the States.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He's de favouritest animile in my stable, boss,' he made -answer to me as I guardedly introduced the subject of -purchase. 'All de young women's dead sot on him—donow's -I cud do athout him, noways.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Every word of this was true, as it turned out; but how -was I to know? The world of currycombs and dandy-brushes -is full of insincerities. <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">Caveat emptor!</span></i> I continued -airily, 'You won't charge extra for this broken knee? What's -<span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span>the figure?' Here I touched the too yielding ankle-joint -with my boot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That may have decided him—much hung in the balance. -Many a year of splendid service—a child's life saved—a grand -night-exploit in a flooded river, with distressed damsels nearly -overborne by a raging torrent,—all these lay in the future.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You gimme thirty pound, boss,' he gulped out. 'You'll -never be sorry for it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Lend me a saddle,' quoth I. 'I'll write the cheque now. -Take him out; I can ride him away.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>I did so. Never did I—never did another man—make a -better bargain.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I had partly purchased and wholly christened him to -match another bay celebrity named Railway, of whom I -had become possessed after this fashion. Wanting a harness -horse at short notice a few months before, I betook myself to -the coach <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">depôt</span> of Cobb and Co. situated in Lonsdale Street. -Mr. Beck was then the manager, and to him I addressed -myself. He ordered out several likely animals—from his -point of view—for my inspection. But I was not satisfied -with any of them. At length, 'Bring out the Railway horse,' -said the man in authority. And out came, as I thought, -rather a 'peacocky' bay, with head and tail up. A great -shoulder certainly, but rather light-waisted—hem—possessed of -four capital legs. Very fine in the skin—yes; still I mistrusted -him as a 'Sunday horse.' Never was there a greater mistake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Like to see him go?' I nodded assent. In a minute and -a half we were spinning up Lonsdale Street in an Abbot -buggy, across William and down Collins Street, then pretty -crowded, at the rate of fourteen miles an hour; Mr. Beck -holding a broad red rein in either hand, and threading the -ranks of vehicles with graceful ease.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He can go,' I observed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He's a tarnation fine traveller, I tell you,' was the answer—a -statement which I found, by after-experience, to be strictly -in accordance with fact.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The price required was forty pounds. The which promptly -paying (this was in 1860), I drove my new purchase out to -Heidelberg that night. One of those horses that required of -one nothing but to sit still and hold him; fast, game, wiry -and enduring.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>When I became possessed of Steamer, I had such a pair as -few people were privileged to sit behind. For four years I -enjoyed as much happiness as can be absorbed by mortal -horse-owner in connection with an unsurpassable pair of -harness horses. They were simply perfect as to style, speed, -and action. I never was passed, never even challenged, on -the road by any other pair. Railway, the slower horse of the -two, had done, by measurement, eight miles in half an hour. -So at their best, both horses at speed, it may be guessed how -they made a buggy spin behind them. Then they were a -true match; one a little darker than the other, but so much -alike in form, colour, and courage, that strangers never knew -them apart. They became attached readily, and would leave -other horses and feed about together, when turned into a -paddock or the bush.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A check, however, was given to exultation during the first -days of my proprietorship. Both horses when bought were -low in flesh—in hard condition, certainly, but showing a good -deal of bone. A month's stabling and gentle exercise caused -them to look very different. The new buggy came home—the -new harness. They were put together for the first time. -Full of joyful anticipation I mounted the driving seat, and -told the groom to let go their heads. Horror of horrors! -'The divil a stir,' as he remarked, could be got out of them. -Collar-proud from ease and good living, they declined to -tighten the traces. An indiscreet touch or two with the whip -caused one horse to plunge, the other to hold back. In half-and-half -condition I had seen both draw like working bullocks. -Now 'they wouldn't pull the hat off your head,' my Australian -Mickey Free affirmed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By patience and persuasion I prevailed upon them at -length to move off. Then it <em>was</em> a luxury of a very high -order to sit behind them. How they caused the strong but -light-running trap to whirl and spin!—an express train with -the steam omitted. Mile after mile might one sit when roads -were good, careful only to keep the pace at twelve miles an -hour; by no means to alter the pull on the reins lest they -should translate it into an order for full speed. With heads -held high at the same angle, with legs rising from the ground -at the same second of time, alike their extravagant action, -their eager courage. As mile after mile was cast behind, the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>exclamation of 'Perfection, absolute perfection!' rose involuntarily -to one's lips.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In this 'Wale,' where deceitful dealers and plausible horses -abound, how rare to experience so full-flavoured a satisfaction! -None of us, however, are perfect all round. Flawless might -be their action, but both Steamer and his friend Railway had -'a little temper,' the differing expressions of which took me -years to circumvent. Curiously, neither exhibited the least -forwardness in <em>single</em> harness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Railway was by temperament dignified, undemonstrative, -proud. If touched sharply with the whip he turned his head -and gazed at you. He did not offer to kick or stop; such -vulgar tricks were beneath him. But he calmly gave you to -understand that he would not accelerate his movements, or start -when unwilling, if you flogged him to death. No whip did he -need, I trow. The most constant horse in the world, he kept -going through the longest day with the tireless regularity of an -engine.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They never became quite free from certain peculiarities at -starting, after a spell or when in high condition. Years passed -in experiments before I wrote myself conqueror. I tried the -whip more than once—I record it contritely—with signal ill-success. -It was truly wonderful why they declined to start on -the first day of a journey. Once off they would pull staunchly -wherever horses could stand. Never was the day too long, -the pace too fast, the road too deep. What, then, was the -hidden cause, the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">premier pas</span></i>, which cost so much trouble -to achieve?</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nervous excitability seemed to be the drawback. The fact -of being attached to a trap in <em>double</em> harness appeared to overexcite -their sensitive, highly-strung organisations. Was it not -worth while, then, to take thought and care for a pair which -could travel fifty or sixty miles a day—in front of a family -vehicle filled with children and luggage—for a week together, -that didn't cost a shilling a year for whip-cord, and that had -<em>never</em> been passed by a pair on the road since I had possessed -them? Were they not worth a little extra trouble?</p> - -<p class='c000'>Many trials and experiments demonstrated that there was -but one solution. Success meant patience, with a dash of -forethought. A little saddle-exercise for a day or two before -the start. Then to begin early on the morning of the eventful -<span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>day; to have everything packed—passengers and all—in the -buggy—coach fashion—before any hint of putting to. Both -horses to be fed and watered at least an hour before. Then -at the last moment to bring them out of the stable, -heedfully and respectfully, avoiding 'rude speech or jesting -rough.' Railway especially resented being 'lugged' awkwardly -by the rein. If all things were done decently and in order, -this would be the usual programme.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Steamer, more excitable but more amiable, would be -entrusted to a groom. Silently and quickly they would be -poled up, the reins buckled, and Railway's traces attached. -All concerned had been drilled, down to the youngest child, -to be discreetly silent. It was forbidden, on pain of death, to -offer suggestion, much less to 't-c-h-i-c-k.' The reins were -taken in one hand by paterfamilias, who with the other drew -back Steamer's traces, oppressed with an awful sense of -responsibility, as of one igniting a fuse or connecting a torpedo -wire, and as the outer trace was attached, stepped lightly on -to the front seat. The groom and helper stole backward like -shadows. Steamer made a plunging snatch at his collar; -Railway followed up with a steady rush; and we were off—off -for good and all—for one hundred, two hundred, five hundred -miles. Distance made no difference to <em>them</em>. The last stage -was even as the first. They only wanted holding. Not that -they pulled disagreeably, or unreasonably either. I lost my -whip once, and drove without one for six months. It was -only on the first day of a journey that the theatrical performance -was produced.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But this chronicle would be incomplete without reference -to the sad alternative when the start did <em>not</em> come off at first -intention. On these inauspicious occasions, possibly from an -east wind or oats below sample, everything went wrong. -Steamer sidled and pulled prematurely before the traces were -'hitched,' while Railway's reserved expression deepened—a -sure sign that he wasn't going to pull at all. The other -varied his vexatious plungings by backing on to the whippletree, -or bending outwards, by way of testing the elasticity of -the pole.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nothing could now be done. Persuasion, intimidation, -deception, had all been tried previously in vain. The recipe -of paterfamilias, as to horse management, was to sit perfectly -<span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span>still with the reins firmly held but moveless, buttoning -his gloves with an elaborate pretence of never minding. All -known expedients have come to nought long ago. Pushing -the wheels, even down hill, is regarded with contempt; -leading (except by a lady) scornfully refused. The whip is -out of the question. 'Patience is a virtue'—indeed <em>the</em> virtue, -the only one which will serve our turn. Meanwhile, when -people are fairly on the warpath, this dead refusal to budge an -inch is a little, just a little, exasperating. Paterfamilias -computes, however, that ten minutes' delay can be made up -with such steppers. He smiles benignantly as he pulls out a -newspaper and asks his wife if she has brought her book. -Two minutes, four, five, or is it half an hour? The time -seems long. 'Trois cent milles diables!' the natural man -feels inclined to ejaculate. He knows that he is sinking fast -in the estimation of newly-arrived station hands and chance -spectators. Eight minutes—Railway makes no sign; years -might roll on before <em>he</em> would start with an unwilling mate. -Nine minutes—Steamer, whose impatient soul abhors inaction, -begins to paw. The student is absorbed in his leading article. -Ten minutes!—Steamer opens his mouth and carries the -whole equipage off with one rush. Railway is up and away; -half a second later the proprietor folds up his journal and -takes them firmly in hand. The children begin to laugh and -chatter; the lady to converse; and the journey, long or short, -wet or dry, may be considered, as far as horseflesh is concerned, -to be <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">un fait accompli</span></i>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the end of four years of unclouded happiness (as -novelists write of wedded life), this state of literal conjugal -bliss was doomed to end. An epidemic of lung disease, such -as at intervals sweeps over the land, occurred in Victoria. -Railway fell a victim, being found dead in his paddock. Up -to this time he had never been 'sick or sorry,' lame, tired, or -unfit to go. His iron legs, with feet to match, showed no -sign of work. In single harness he was miraculous, going -mile after mile with the regularity of a steam-engine, apparently -incapable of fatigue. I was lucky enough to have a fast, clever -grandson of Cornborough to put in his place. He lasted ten -years. A half-brother three years more. The old horse was -using up his <em>fourth</em> running mate, and entering upon his -twentieth year <em>in my service</em>, when King Death put on the brake.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>Not the least noticeable among Steamer's many good qualities -was his kindly, generous temper. His was the Arab's docile -gentleness with children. The large mild eye, 'on which you -could hang your hat,' as the stable idiom goes, was a true -indication of character. I was a bachelor when I first became -his master. As time passed on, Mrs. Boldrewood and the -elder girls used to drive him to the country town in New -South Wales, near which we afterwards dwelt. The boys -rode him as soon as they could straddle a horse. They hung -by his tail, walked between his legs, and did all kinds of confidential -circus performances for the benefit of their young -friends. He was never known to bite, kick, or in any way offer -harm; and, speedy to the last, with age he never lost pace or -courage. 'All spirit and no vice' was a compendium of his -character. By flood and field, in summer's heat or winter's -cold, he failed us never; was credited, besides, with having -saved the lives of two of the children by his docility and -intelligence. He was twice loose with the buggy at his heels -at night—once without winkers, which he had rubbed off. On -the last occasion, after walking down to the gate of the -paddock, and finding it shut—nearly a mile—he turned round -without locking the wheels, and came galloping up to the -door of the house (it was a ball night, and he had got tired -of waiting). When I ran out, pale with apprehension, I -discovered the headstall hanging below his chest. His extreme -docility with children I attribute to his being for many -years strictly a family horse, exclusively fed, harnessed, and -driven by ourselves. It is needless to say he was petted a -good deal: indeed he thought nothing of walking through -the kitchen, a brick-floored edifice, when he thought corn -should be forthcoming. Horses are generally peaceable with -children but not invariably, as I have known of limbs broken -and more than one lamentable death occasioned by kicks, -when the poor things went too near unwittingly. But the -old horse <em>couldn't</em> kick. 'I reckon he didn't know how.' And -when he died, gloom and grief fell upon the whole family, who -mourned as for the death of a dear friend.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span> - <h2 class='c006'>HOW I BEGAN TO WRITE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>For publication I mean. Having the pen of a ready writer -by inheritance, I had dashed off occasional onslaughts in the -journals of the day, chiefly in defence of the divine rights of -kings (pastoral ones). I had assailed incoherent democrats, -who perversely denied that Australia was created chiefly for -the sustenance of sheep and cattle and the aggrandisement of -those heroic individuals who first explored and then exploited -the 'Waste Lands of the Crown.' The school of political -belief to which I then belonged derided agriculture, and was -subsequently committed to a scheme for the formation of the -Riverina into a separate pastoral kingdom or colony. A -petition embodying a statement to this effect, wholly unfitted -as it was for the sustenance of a population dependent upon -agriculture, was forwarded to the Secretary for the Colonies, -who very properly disregarded it. The petitioners could not -then foresee the stacking of 20,000 bags of wheat, holding -four bushels each, awaiting railway transport at one of the -farming centres of this barren region in the year 1897. Allied -facts caused me to reconsider my very pronounced opinions, -and, perhaps, led others to question the accuracy of theirs. -My deliverances in the journals of the period occurred in the -forties and fifties of the century, and gradually subsided.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I was battling with the season of 1865 on a station on the -Murrumbidgee River, at no great distance from the flourishing -town of Narandera, then consisting of two hotels, a small -store, and a large graveyard, when an uncertain-tempered -young horse kicked me just above the ankle with such force -and accuracy that I thought the bone was broken. I was to -have ridden at daylight to count a flock of sheep, and could -<span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span>scarcely crawl back to the huts from the stock-yard without -assistance, so great was the agony. I sat down on the frosted -ground and pulled off my boot, knowing that the leg would -swell. Cold as it was, the thirst of the wounded soldier -immediately attacked me. My room in the slab hut, preceding -the brick cottage, then in course of erection, was, to use -Mr. Swiveller's description, 'an airy and well-ventilated apartment.' -It contained, in addition to joint stools, a solid table, -upon which my simple meals of chops, damper, and tea were -displayed three times a day by a shepherd's wife, an elderly -personage of varied and sensational experiences.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I may mention that the great Riverina region was as yet in -its unfenced, more or less Arcadian stage, the flocks being -'shepherded' (expressive Australian verb, since enlarged as to -meaning) and duly folded or camped at night. Something of -Mrs. Regan's advanced tone of thought may be gathered from -the following dialogue, which I overheard:—</p> - -<p class='c000'>Shady township individual—'Your man shot my dorg -t'other night. What d'yer do that fer?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mrs. Regan—''Cause we caught him among the sheep; -and we'd 'a shot <em>you</em>, if you'd bin in the same place.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Township individual—'You seem rather hot coffee, missus! -I've 'arf a mind to pull your boss next Court day for the -valley of the dorg.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mrs. Regan—'You'd better clear out and do it, then. The -P.M.'s a-comin' from Wagga on Friday, and he'll give yer -three months' "hard," like as not. Ask the pleece for yer -character.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Township individual—'D—n you and the pleece too! -A pore man gets no show between the traps and squatters in -this bloomin' country. Wish I'd never seen it!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was by the way of interlude, serving to relieve the -monotony of the situation. I could eat, drink, smoke, and -sleep, but the injured leg—worse than broken—I could not -put to the ground. Nor had I company of any kind, save -that of old Jack and Mrs. Regan, for a whole month. So, -casting about for occupation, I bethought myself that I might -write something for an English magazine. The subject pitched -upon was a kangaroo drive or battue, then common in Western -Victoria, which I had lately quitted. The kangaroo had -become so numerous that they were eating the squatters out -<span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>of house and home. Something had to be done; so they -were driven into yards in great numbers and killed. This -severe mode of dealing with the too prolific marsupial, in -whole battalions, I judged correctly, would be among the -'things not generally known' to the British public.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I sat down and wrote a twelve-page article, describing a -grand muster for the purpose at a station about twenty miles -from Port Fairy, and seven miles from my own place, Squattlesea -Mere.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first time I went to Melbourne I posted it, with the -aid of my good friend, the late Mr. Mullen, to the editor of -the <cite>Cornhill Magazine</cite>, and thought no more about the matter. -A few days after the adventure, my neighbour, Adam M'Neill, -of North Yanko, hearing of my invalid state, rode over and -carried me off to his hospitable home. I had to be lifted on -my horse, but after a month's rest and recreation was well -enough to return to pastoral duties. I was lame, however, -for quite a year afterwards, and narrowly escaped injuring the -other ankle, which began to show signs of over-work. About -the time of my full recovery, I received a new <cite>Cornhill -Magazine</cite>, and a note from Messrs. Smith and Elder, forwarding -a draft, which, added to the honour and glory of seeing -my article flourishing in a first-class London magazine, afforded -me much joy and satisfaction. The English review notices -were also cheering. I thereupon dashed off a second sketch, -entitled 'Shearing in Riverina,' which I despatched to the -same address. The striking presentment of seventy shearers, -all going their hardest, was a novelty also to the British public.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>The constant clash that the shear-blades make</div> - <div class='line'>When the fastest shearers are making play</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>(as Mr. 'Banjo' Paterson has it, in 'The Two Devines,' more -than twenty years later), could not but challenge attention. -This also was accepted. I received a cheque in due course, -which came at a time when such remittances commenced to -have more interest for me than had been the case for some -years past.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The station was sold in the adverse pastoral period of '68-'69, -through drought, debt, financial 'dismalness of sorts'; -but 'that is another story.' Christmas time found me in -Sydney, where it straightway began to rain with unreasonable -<span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>persistency (as I thought), now it could do me no good; -never left off (more or less) for five years. The which, in -plenteousness of pasture and high prices for wool and stock, -were the most fortunate seasons for squatters since the 'fifties,' -with their accompanying goldfields prosperity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The last station having been sold, there was no chance of -repairing hard fortune by pastoral investment. '<span lang="la" xml:lang="la">Finis Poloniæ</span>.' -During my temporary sojourn in Sydney I fell across a friend -to whom in other days I had rendered a service. He suggested -that I might turn to profitable use a facile pen and some gift -of observation. My friend, who had filled various parts in the -drama of life, some of them not undistinguished, was now a -professional journalist. He introduced me to his chief, the -late Mr. Samuel Bennett, proprietor of the <cite>Sydney Town and -Country Journal</cite>. That gentleman, whom I remember gratefully -for his kind and sensible advice, gave me a commission -for certain sketches of bush life—a series of which appeared -from time to time. For him I wrote my first tale, <cite>The Fencing -of Wanderoona</cite>, succeeding which, <cite>The Squatter's Dream</cite>, and -others, since published in England, appeared in the weekly -paper referred to.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus launched upon the 'wide, the fresh, the ever free' -ocean of fiction, I continued to make voyages and excursions -thereon—mostly profitable, as it turned out. A varied colonial -experience, the area of which became enlarged when I was -appointed a police magistrate and goldfields commissioner in -1871, supplied types and incidents. This position I held for -nearly twenty-five years.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Although I had, particularly in the early days of my goldfields -duties, a sufficiency of hard and anxious work, entailing -serious responsibility, I never relinquished the habit of daily -writing and story-weaving. That I did not on that account -neglect my duties I can fearlessly aver. The constant official -journeying, riding and driving, over a wide district, agreed -with my open-air habitudes. The method of composition -which I employed, though regular, was not fatiguing, and -suited a somewhat desultory turn of mind. I arranged for a -serial tale by sending the first two or three chapters to the -editor, and mentioning that it would last a twelvemonth, more -or less. If accepted, the matter was settled. I had but to -post the weekly packet, and my mind was at ease. I was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span>rarely more than one or two chapters ahead of the printer; -yet in twenty years I was only once late with my instalment, -which had to go by sea from another colony. Every author -has his own way of writing; this was mine. I never but once -completed a story before it was published; and on that occasion -it was—sad to say—declined by the editor. Not in New South -Wales, however; and as it has since appeared in England, it -did not greatly signify.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In this fashion <cite>Robbery Under Arms</cite> was written for the -<cite>Sydney Mail</cite> after having been refused by other editors. It -has been successful beyond expectation; and, though I say it, -there is no country where the English language is spoken in -which it has not been read.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I was satisfied with the honorarium which my stories yielded. -It made a distinct addition to my income, every shilling of -which, as a paterfamilias, was needed. I looked forward, -however, to making a hit some day, and with the publication -of <cite>Robbery Under Arms</cite>, in England, that day arrived. Other -books followed, which have had a gratifying measure of acceptance -by the English-speaking public, at home and abroad.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As a prophet I have not been 'without honour in mine -own country.' My Australian countrymen have supported me -nobly, which I take as an especial compliment, and an expression -of confidence, to the effect that, as to colonial -matters, I knew what I was writing about.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In my relations with editors, I am free to confess that I -have always been treated honourably. I have had few discouragements -to complain of, or disappointments, though not -without occasional rubs and remonstrances from reviewers for -carelessness, to which, to a certain extent, I plead guilty. In -extenuation, I may state that I have rarely had the opportunity -of correcting proofs. As to the attainment of literary success, -as to which I often receive inquiries, as also how to secure a -publisher, I have always given one answer: Try the Australian -weekly papers, if you have any gift of expression, till one of -them takes you up. After that the path is more easy. Perseverance -and practice will ordinarily discover the method -which leads to success.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A natural turn for writing is necessary, perhaps indispensable. -Practice does much, but the novelist, like the poet, is -chiefly 'born, not made.' Even in the case of hunters and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_254'>254</span>steeplechasers, the expression 'a natural jumper' is common -among trainers. A habit of noting, almost unconsciously, -manner, bearing, dialect, tricks of expression, among all sorts -and conditions of men, provides 'situations.' Experience, -too, of varied scenes and societies is a great aid. Imagination -does much to enlarge and embellish the lay figure, to deepen -the shades and heighten the colours of the picture; but it -will not do everything. There should be some experience -of that most ancient conflict between the powers of Good -and Evil, before the battle of life can be pictorially described. -I am proud to note among my Australian brothers and sisters, -of a newer generation, many promising, even brilliant, performances -in prose and verse. They have my sincerest -sympathy, and I feel no doubt as to their gaining in the future -a large measure of acknowledged success.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As to my time method, it was tolerably regular. As early -as five or six o'clock in the morning in the summer, and as -soon as I could see in winter, I was at my desk, proper or -provisional, until the hour arrived for bath and breakfast. If -at a friend's house, I wrote in my bedroom and corrected in -the afternoon, when my official duties were over. At home -or on the road, as I had much travelling to do, I wrote after -dinner till bedtime, making up generally five or six hours a -day. Many a good evening's work have I done in the clean, -quiet, if unpretending roadside inns, common enough in New -South Wales. In winter, with a log fire and the inn parlour -all to myself, or with a sensible companion, I could write -until bedtime with ease and comfort. My day's ride or -drive might be long, cold enough in winter or hot in summer, -but carrying paper, pens, and ink I rarely missed the night's -work. I never felt too tired to set to after a wholesome if -simple meal. Fatigue has rarely assailed me, I am thankful -to say, and in my twenty-five years of official service I was -never a day absent from duty on account of illness, with one -notable exception, when I was knocked over by fever, which -necessitated sick-leave. It has been my experience that in -early morning the brain is clearer, the hand steadier, the -general mental tone more satisfactory, than at any other time -of day.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span> - <h2 class='c006'>A MOUNTAIN FOREST</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>Excepting perhaps the ocean, nothing in Nature is more -deceitful than a mountain forest. Last time we crossed -through snow, enveloped in mist and drenched with pitiless -rain. Now, no one could think evil hap could chance to the -wayfarer here—so dry the forest paths, so blue the sky, so -bright the scene, so soft the whispering breeze. The shadows -of the great trees fall on the emerald sward, tempering the -ardent sun-rays. Flickers of light dance in the thickets, and -laugh at the stern solemnity of the endless groves. Bird-calls -are frequent and joyous. We might be roaming in the Forest -of Arden, and meet a 'stag of ten' in the glade, for any hint -to the contrary. Forest memories come into our heads as -we stride merrily along the winding track. Robin Hood and -his merry men, Friar Tuck and Little John! Oh, fountain -of chivalry! How indissolubly a forest life in the glad -summer days seems bound up with deeds of high emprise; -how linked with the season of love and joy, hope and pride, -with a sparkle of the cup of that divinest life-essence, youthful -pleasure.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'Here shall he fear no enemy,</div> - <div class='line'>But winter and rough weather.'</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>As we thus carol somewhat loudly, we are aware of a man -standing motionless, regarding us, not far from a gate, humorously -supposed to restrain the stock in these somewhat careless-ordered -enclosures. Ha! what if he be a robber? We -have been 'stuck up' ere now, and mislike the operation. -He has something in his hand too. May it be a 'shooting-iron,' -as the American idiom runs?</p> - -<p class='c000'>We continue to sing, however,</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>'Viator vacuus coram latronem.'</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>Our treasury consists of half-a-sovereign and an old watch, a -new hat and a clean shirt—what matter if he levy on these? -He has a dog, however,—that is a good sign. Bushrangers -rarely travel with dogs. And the weapon is a stick. Ha! -it is well. Only an official connected with the railway line, -awaiting the mailman. We interchange courtesies, and are -invited to the camp with proffer of hospitality. We feel -compelled to decline. We may not halt by any wayside -arbour.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We reach St. Bago Hospice at Laurel Hill before lunch -time. Sixteen miles over a road not too smooth. Really, -we have performed the stage with ridiculous ease. We are -half tempted to go on to Tumut; but twenty-eight miles -seems a longish step. Let us not be imprudently enthusiastic. -We decide to remain. The hospice has put on a summer -garb, and is wholly devoid of snowballs or other wintry -emblems. The great laurel, the noble elm, the hawthorn, -are in full leaf and flower. The orchard trees are greenly -budding. At the spring well in the creek five crimson -lories are drinking. They stand on a tray, so to speak, of -softest emerald moss, walking delicately; all things tell of -summer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>During the afternoon, so fresh did we feel that we took -a stroll of five miles, and visited the nearest farmer. As we -stepped along the red-soiled path, amid the immense timber, -we realised the surroundings of the earlier American settlers. -Hawk-eye might have issued from the ti-tree thicket by the -creek and chuckled in his noiseless manner, while he rested -<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">la longue carabine</span></i> on a fallen log. Uncas and Chingachgook -would, of course, have turned up shortly afterwards.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tiny creek speeds swiftly onward over ancient gold-washings -and abandoned sluice channels. Tracks of that -queer animal the wombat (<em>Phascolomys</em>) near his burrows and -galleries are frequent. His habitat is often near the sea, but -here is proof that he can accommodate himself to circumstances. -Easily-excavated soil like this red loam is necessary -for his comfort apparently. Ferns are not objected to. Our -host at Bago informed us that one dull winter's evening he -observed two animals coming towards him through the bush. -He took them to be pigs, until, shooting with both right and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span>left barrels, they turned out to be wombats. He had happened -to be near their burrow, to which they always make if disturbed. -In confirmation of this statement he presented me with a skin—dark -brown in colour—with long coarse hair, something -between that of a dog and a kangaroo. The thick hide covers -the body in loose folds. The dogs become aware by experience -that, on account of its thickness and slippery looseness, -it is vain to attempt capture of a wombat. Retreating to his -burrow, he scratches earth briskly into his opponent's mouth -and eyes until he desists. One peculiarity of this underground -animal is, that the eyes are apparently protected by a -movable eyebrow, which, in the form of a small flap of skin, -shuts over the indispensable organ.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We are politely received at the selector's house. A few -cattle are kept; pigs and poultry abound. The father and -son 'work in the creek' for gold, when the water is low, and -thus supplement the family earnings. Clearing is too expensive -as yet to be entered into on a large scale. Want of -roads must militate for a while against farming profits in -rough and elevated country. A flower-garden and orchard -bear testimony to the richness of the soil. But looking -forward to the value of the timber, the certainty of annual -crops, the gradual covering of the pasture with clover and -exotic grasses, the day is not distant in our opinion when the -agriculture of this region will stand upon a safe and solvent -basis. It is hard to overestimate the value of a moist, -temperate climate, and this the inhabitants of the vicinity -possess beyond all dispute.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The sun is showing above the tall tree-tops as we sit at -breakfast next morning. The air is keen. We need the fire -which glows in the cavernous chimney. In ten minutes we -are off—ready to do or die—to accomplish the voluntary -march or perish by the wayside.</p> - -<p class='c000'>How pleasant is it as we swing along in the fresh morning -air. If we had had a mate—one who read the same books, -thought the same thoughts, had the same tastes, and in a -general way was congenial and sympathetic—our happiness -would be complete. But in this desperately busy, workaday -land, properly-graduated companionship is difficult to procure.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Still, to those who do not let their minds remain entirely -fallow, there is choice companionship in these wooded -<span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span>highlands—that of the nobles and monarchs of literature is -always at hand; ceases not the murmuring talk of half-forgotten -friends, acquaintances, lovers, what not, of the spirit-world -of letters; 'songs without words,' wit and laughter, -tears and sighs, pæans of praise, sadly humorous subtleties, -recall and repeat themselves. So we are not entirely -alone, even were there not the whispering leaves, the frowning -tree-trunks, the tremulous ferns and delicate grasses, the -smiling flowerets, each with its own legend to keep us -company. The sun mounts higher in the heavens; still it is -not too hot. The green gloom of the great woodland lies -between us, a shade against the fiercest sun-rays. So we fare -on joyously. Three hours' fair walking brings us to the end -of the forest proper. We take one look, as we stand on a -clear hill-top—while on either side great glens are hollowed -out like demoniac punch-bowls (the Australian native idiom)—at -the mountains, at the oceans of frondage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We are on the 'down grade.' At our feet lies the Middle -Adelong, with deserted gold-workings, sluices, and all the -debris of water-mining; a roomy homestead, with orchard -pertaining, once an inn doubtless; now no longer, as I can -testify.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is high noon and hot withal. The sun, no longer -fended off by o'erarching boughs, becomes aggressive. We -have gained the valley and lost the cooling breeze. We -request a glass of water, which is handed to us by the good-wife. -We drink, and, seating ourselves upon a log on the -hillside, commence upon a crust of bread—unwonted -foresight this—with considerable relish. As we happen -to have Carl Vosmaer's <cite>Amazon</cite> in our hand (every step -of the way did we carry her), we tackle an æsthetic chapter -with enthusiasm.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In twenty minutes we breast the hill, a trifle stiffer for the -rest, and, it may be fancy, our left boot-sole has developed an -inequality not previously sensitive. We swing along, however, -in all the pride of 'second wind,' and fix our thoughts upon -the next stage, eight miles farther on. We have come about -sixteen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We pass another hill, a plateau, and then a long declivitous -grade. By and by we enter upon the fertile valley which -leads to Tumut. The green valley of river-encircled sward on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span>either side is one mat of clover and rye-grass. We display -an increasing preference for the turf as distinguished from -the roadway. The sun is becoming hotter. The clouds -have retired. There is a hint of storm. The heavy air -is charged with electricity. We put on the pace a little. -One may as well have this sort of thing over in a condensed -form.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here we stop to look at a man ploughing for maize. Our -brow is wet with 'honest——,' whatsy name? We must -weigh pounds less than this morning. How far to the -Gilmore Inn? 'Four miles!' Thermometer over a hundred -in the shade. We set our teeth and march on. We are -acquiring the regular slouching swing of the 'sundowner,' it -appears to us. There is nothing like similar experience for -producing sympathy. We can almost fancy ourselves accosting -the overseer with the customary, 'Got any work, sir, for a -man to do?' and subsiding to the traveller's hut, with the -regulation junk of meat and pannikin of flour. Can partly -gauge the feelings of the honest son of toil, weary, athirst, -somewhat sore-footed (surely there must be a nail?), when -said overseer, being in bad temper, tells him to go to the -deuce, that he knows he won't take work if it's offered, and -that he has no rations to spare for useless loafers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is more than an hour later—we think it more than an -hour hotter—as we sight the Gilmore Inn, near rushing -stream, hidden by enormous willows. We have abstained from -drinking of the trickling rill, hot and dusty as we are. -Thoughts of 'that poor creature, small beer,' obtrude, if the -local optionists have not abolished him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the parlour of this snug roadside inn we put down -our 'swag,' and order a large glass of home-brewed and a -crust of bread. We certainly agree with Mr. Swiveller, 'Beer -can't be tasted in a sip,' especially after a twenty-mile trudge. -When we put down the 'long-sleever' there is but a modicum -left.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We give ourselves about half an hour here, by which time -we are cooled and refreshed, as is apparently the day. Sol is -lower and more reasonable. We sling on, by no means done—rather -improving pace than otherwise—till overtaken by a -friend and his family in a buggy. He kindly proffers to drive -us in; but we have made it a point of honour to walk every -<span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span>yard, so we decline. He will leave the valise at our hotel—which -kindness we accept. The rest is easy going. We -lounge into the 'Commercial' as if we had just dismounted, -and order a warm bath and dinner, with the <em>mens conscia -recti</em> in a high state of preservation.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span> - <h2 class='c006'>THE FREE SELECTOR <br /><span class='sc'>A Comedietta</span></h2> -</div> - -<h3 class='c010'>ACT I</h3> - -<p class='c015'><em>Enter <span class='sc'>The Honourable Rufus Polyblock</span>, Member of Upper -House, and immensely rich squatter—his Overseer, <span class='sc'>Mr. -Gayters</span> (imperfectly educated).</em></p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>The Hon. Rufus.</span> Well, Gayters, how's everything gettin' -on? I mean the sheep, of course. Splendid season, ain't it? -Grand lambing, tremendous heavy clip, eh? Why, you look -dubersome?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Marked 92 per cent of lambs all round. The -clip'll be heavier than it was last year—that means money -off a hundred and fifty thousand sheep, but——</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon. Rufus.</span> Sheep right; lambs too; shearing all to -the good; why, what <em>can</em> be wrong? (<em>Walks up and down.</em>) -Must be them infernal, underminding free selectors. Rot -'em! if they ain't worse than blackfellows or dingoes—and you -can't shoot 'em or poison 'em legally; not yet, that is—<em>not yet</em>!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> You've about hit it, sir. I'd hardly the face -to tell you, one of 'em's taken up the main camp, opposite -the big water-hole—a half-section, too! [320 acres.]</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon. Rufus.</span> What! Our main camp! Good Gad! Why, -the country's goin' to destruction! The best water-hole on the -creek, too. Why, <em>I</em> thought that had been secured. Wasn't -Sam Appinson to take it up last Thursday?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Yes, sir; cert'nly, sir; but his mother went -and died the day afore, and he had to go down the country. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span>Didn't think it would matter for a week; when this young -chap pops in, all on a sudden like, and collars it. It's turned -out quite contrairy, ain't it, sir?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon. Rufus.</span> Contrairy! It's ruination, that's what it -is! It'll play h—l and Tommy with the sheep in the Ban -Ban Paddock. What's to keep 'em off his pre-lease? And he -can pound 'em any day he likes. He'll do me thousands -of pounds' worth of harm with his beggarly half-section. Have -to buy him out and give him two prices—the old story.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> I hardly think he'll agree to that, sir! I heard -him yesterday say, says he, 'I'm a-going to settle down for -good, and make a home in this wilderness; this here land is -so fertile,' says he——</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon. Rufus.</span> Wilderness indeed! On a flat like that! -Fert'le, fert'le—what's that? Good corn land? D—n his -impudence; what's it to him, I'd like to know? Is he going -to <em>cultivate</em> for a living in a dry country? Bah! I've seen -them kind of coves afore. I give him two years to lose everything, -to his shirt! What sort of a chap is he, Gayters?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Well, a civil-spoken young man enough, sir. -Talks very nice, and seems to know himself. I should take -him to be a gentleman.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon. Rufus.</span> A gentleman! Bosh! How the devil <em>can</em> he -be a gentleman and a free selector, eh? A feller that robs -people of their land. He's next door to a cattle duffer. He'd -turn bushranger, only he ain't got pluck enough.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Very true, sir; cert'nly, sir; but he says it's -not agin the law.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon. Rufus.</span> The law! <em>Hang</em> the law! What's that -got to do with it? A parcel of fellers that never owned a -run or a foot of ground get into this Lower 'Ouse and makes -laws to bind people that could buy 'em out over and over -again. D'ye call that honest? I call it daylight robbery; -and I'm not a-goin' to keep laws made that way if I can find -a way to drive through 'em; yes, <em>through</em> 'em, with a coach -and four!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Yes, sir; but what are we to do? He'll have -his nine hundred and sixty acres of pre-lease, and our sheep -can't be kept off it nohow.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon. Rufus.</span> Put a man on to free select right agin his -frontage, take up two flocks, and shepherd all round him. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span>I'll feed him out; I'll make him keep to his blasted -half-section. Curse him! I'll ruin him! Damme! I'll have -him in gaol afore I've done with him. I'll——</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>Enter <span class='sc'>Miss Dulcie Polyblock</span> in her riding-habit, also</em></div> - <div><em><span class='sc'>Miss Alice Merton</span> (a friend).</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Miss Dulcie.</span> Why, dad, what's all this about? Who's -to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, whatever that means? -We used to have it in our history lesson. Oh, I want to tell -you something! Whom do you think we met?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon. Rufus.</span> Don't know, I'm sure. Was it Lord Arthur -Howard or young Goldsmith? I know they came up to -Deem Deem the other day.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Miss Dulcie.</span> Well, he was <em>such</em> a handsome young man, -father; and so polite and gentlemanlike. Alice's horse shied at -a hawker's cart, and Sultan, like an old goose, began to rear. -Alice dropped her whip, so he picked it up and gave it -to her with such a bow! He said he was coming to be a -neighbour of ours, so perhaps it <em>was</em> Lord Arthur. Oh, I -nearly forgot! He gave me a card, and said he hoped he -might be permitted to call. Here it is.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon. Rufus.</span> H'm, ha! Likely it was his lordship, or -one of them swells that I heard were coming up to learn -experience at Deem Deem. Old Maclaren's a regular brick -for hospitality! Well, I'll ask him over, Dulcie. He won't -see a prettier girl anywheres, nor a better one, tho' I say it. -We must have him over to dinner on Sunday. What did you -say his name was?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Miss Dulcie</span> (<em>reads from card</em>). Mr. Cecil Egremont. -Isn't it a pretty one?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon. Rufus.</span> Eggermont, Eggermont, eh? Hand me -over that paper there; it's a copy of a Application. Why, -confound and smother all land-stealin' villains, if that ain't -the very man that's took up my main camp! He a gentleman! -He's an impostor, a swindler. He's tryin' to rob your poor -old father. He's a <em>free selector</em>!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Both Girls</span> (<em>horrified</em>). A free selector! Oh!! (<em>Scream -loudly and run out of room.</em>)</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>END OF FIRST ACT</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span> - <h3 class='c010'>ACT II</h3> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><em>Enter <span class='sc'>Mr. Cecil Egremont</span>, dressed in blue Crimean shirt,</em></div> - <div><em>moleskin trousers, knee-boots, straw hat.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> And so I'm farming in Australia. A thing -I've longed for all my days. Such a free, independent, -pleasant life. No one to bother you; no one to interfere with -you. Such a splendid large piece of land I've secured too—three -hundred and twenty acres, with three times as much for -grazing. Grazing right, that's the expression—a pre-lease, ha! -(<em>Looks in book.</em>) I believe my fortune's made. Who's this? -Some neighbour probably. Good-day, sir; very glad to see you.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> It's more'n I am to see <em>you</em> here. D'ye know -where you are?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> On the Crown Lands of Her Majesty the -Queen of England in the first place, and on the farm conditionally -purchased (<em>refers to Land Regulations</em>) by Cecil -Egremont, gentleman farmer, late of Bideford, Devon.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> What's the good of all this rubbish? You're -on our <em>main camp</em>.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Camp? camp?—I see no traces of an -encampment. In what historical period, may I ask?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Can't yer see this? (<em>Kicks bone aside.</em>) It's -our cattle camp. I don't mean a soldier's camp or any of -that rot. It's been our—the Hon'ble Rufus Polyblock's—Bundabah -Run, this twenty year and more.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Has this land been sold before? Then that -land agent has deceived me! And yet he looked respectable. -I paid him eighty pounds deposit. Have his receipt.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> I don't mean sold exactly—not but that Mr. -Polyblock would have bought it fast enough if Government -had let him. But we had a lease of it and always had stock -running on it.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Oh, a lease!—for a special object I presume, -or perhaps a pastoral lease? (<em>Consults book.</em>) Perhaps it was a -Run—Run—oh, I have it here!—page 38. But surely that -gives you no legal right to hold it against the <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">bona-fide</span></i> -conditional purchaser?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Well, I expect we've no <em>legal</em> claim if it comes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>to that. But no gentleman in this country goes to select on -another gentleman's run. It ain't the thing, you know.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Oh, 'it ain't the thing'? Something like -poaching or shooting without a license; but how was I to -know? The law says, 25 Vict. No. 1, Section 13 (<em>opens -copy of Crown Lands Alienation Act</em>), 'On and from the -first day of January 1862——'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Oh, hang the law! The Act's all very well for -them as knows no better, or as wants to take advantage-like -of a squatter, but it ain't the square deal if you mean to act -honest—what I call between man and man. Good-morning, -sir.</p> -<div class='c016'>[<em>Exit <span class='sc'>Gayters</span>.</em></div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>soliloquising</em>). What an extraordinary country! -When I quarrelled with my uncle, who wanted me to go into -the Church, and came out to Australia to carve out a fortune -in a new world where land was plentiful and caste unknown, -I never expected to meet with class distinctions. Instead -of being able to live my own life in peace, I am met with -obstacles at every turn. I might as well have remained in -North Devon, for all I can see. Well! courage—I'll go and -finish my work, and cut this splendid log into lengths for -fencing slabs. (<em>Begins to chop log.</em>) Why, here comes the young -lady whose horse was frightened yesterday. How handsome -she is, and such a figure too! What a soft voice she had. -I had no idea the girls out here were anything like this! -(<em>Goes on chopping; his dogs rush out.</em>) Down, Ponto! -Down, Clumber! Come to heel! (<em>Throws down axe and -calls off dogs.</em>) Pray don't be frightened—a—I haven't the -pleasure of knowing your name—I hope you have quite -recovered yesterday's accident.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Miss Dulcie P.</span> I am not in the least frightened, thank -you. What beautiful dogs! I am sure they are too well-bred -to hurt a lady. Oh, my name! (<em>slight confusion</em>)—my name is -Dulcie Polyblock. I feel much obliged by your kindness last -evening.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> (<em>Aside</em>—Polyblock! Polyblock! Why, that's -the name of the owner of the station, the overseer told me. -Probably a nice person. I'll go and explain matters to him.) -(<em>Speaks.</em>) Really I'm delighted to have been of the slightest -service. I hope, as I am settled in this part of the world, -that I may have the privilege of meeting you occasionally.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span><span class='sc'>Miss Dulcie</span> (<em>confused</em>). I don't know—I can't say—just -at present, but—— (<em>Aside</em>—How distinguished-looking he is, -but what queer clothes!)</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Does your father, Mr. Polyblock (<em>aside</em>—Droll -name, but that doesn't matter), live in this neighbourhood?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Miss Dulcie.</span> <em>Live</em> here! Why, he owns the Run -you're on. Our home-station, Bundabah, is about five miles -off.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Oh, indeed, what a long way! I had thought -we might be near neighbours. I had intended to call and -inquire if you had quite recovered from your fright.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Miss Dulcie P.</span> I wasn't frightened, pray don't suppose -<em>that</em>, but I might have been hurt if you had not come up. -Are you going to stay here long?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>proudly</em>). Till I make a fortune. [<span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> -(<em>aside</em>)—Oh!] I have resolved to turn this waste into a -productive farm—a—it will be the work of years.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Miss Dulcie.</span> I should think it would. (<em>Aside</em>—Waste, -indeed!) It's the best part of Bundabah Run.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> So I was quite right to purchase it from the -Crown.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Miss Dulcie.</span> Oh no. Quite <em>wrong</em>. It's never done, -except by—by low sort of people.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Indeed! Then perhaps I'm mistaken about -the law. Just oblige me by looking at this section of the -Land Act. (<em>Hands book to her—she stoops from her horse—their -heads come close together—she reads</em>—'Section 13, Crown -lands other than town lands,' etc.) Well, it really seems as if -you had the right to do it, or anybody else, but father's in the -Upper House, and all that. He says it's a perfect robbery to -free-select on his Run. It's very confusing, don't you think? -But I must say good-bye.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Good-bye, Miss Polyblock. (<em>Shakes hands -warmly.</em>) You have really comforted me very much. If you -had time to explain this Act to me I really think I should get -over all my difficulties; as it is, I despair.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Miss Dulcie P.</span> (<em>Aside</em>—Poor fellow! It's very hard for -him; and how white his hands are—such expressive eyes -too. I oughtn't to have come, I know, but still—I might -bring about an understanding between him and father.) -Well, perhaps I <em>might</em> be riding this way on Saturday, near that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span>water-hole where the willows are. Good-bye. Now then you -naughty Sultan (<em>canters off</em>).</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>sitting down on log</em>). She has gone! disappeared -like a beautiful dream. What a kind face it is too—anxious -to be friendly, and yet, with maidenly diffidence, -doubting the propriety. Polyblock! Dulcie! a sweet name. -Dulce Domum—ha! shall I ever have a home in this -wilderness? So she's the daughter of this old party who owns -the Run—the Run—ha! ha! What an idea! This elderly -fossil in aboriginal times fed his flocks and herds here. He -doesn't know the difference between lease and freehold -evidently. What ignorant people these Australians are! -But the daughter—how could she have acquired that air of -<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">fierté</span></i>, that aplomb, that intonation? I must consider my -course. (<em>Puts his head between his hands and seems lost in -thought for some minutes.</em>) I have resolved (<em>rises and walks -proudly erect</em>) I will visit the old gentleman in his own house. -I will convince him of his error. I will argue the point with -him. I will show him this Act of Parliament—these Regulations -(<em>slaps book</em>). I will appeal to him as an Englishman -bound to respect the law. We shall then be on good terms. -Perhaps I may even catch a sight of <em>her</em>. But I must finish. -(<em>Recommences chopping—sees a horseman approaching, and sits -down on log. <span class='sc'>Mr. Gayters</span> rides up.</em>)</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Good day—good day, Mr. Whatsisname! So -you've sat down here permanent, it seems?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> My name is Egremont, if you will please to -remember; yours I believe to be Gayters. I don't quite -follow you about sitting down (<em>rises</em>); I get up occasionally, I -assure you. But I have settled here permanently, as far as -that goes.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Oh yes, cert'nly, cert'nly, of course! We know -all that. Heard it afore. But perhaps you'll hear reason -(they mostly does). I'm here to make you an offer—so much -on your bargain.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> I don't quite understand?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Well (<em>sits down</em>), let's argue it out between -man and man.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> I'm ready; which section do you refer to? -(<em>Takes up copy of Act.</em>)</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Oh, blow the Act! What's it got to do with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span>it? (<em><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> makes gesture of surprise.</em>) See here; of -course you're here to make money?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Honestly—legally—certainly I am.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Dash the honesty! the legal part's all right of -course—else it wouldn't <em>wash</em>, you know. Now you know, -this being our main camp, it ain't the good you can do yourself, -but the harm you can do him—the boss—the Hon'ble -Rufus—that's what you're looking at, naturally.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>appears puzzled</em>). Can't understand you.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Perhaps you'll understand <em>this</em> (<em>takes out -cheque</em>). Mr. Polyblock says, 'Gayters,' says he, 'we've not -been half sharp this time; this here land ought to have been -secured. But the young chap's been and got the pull, and we -can't afford to lose our main camp. Of course he'll go -pounding our stock night and day; so you take him this five -'undred pound—five 'undred! and give it him <em>on conditions</em> -as he does the residence for twelve months and then -conveys the s'lection over to me, all legal and ship-shape,' -says he—and here it is. (<em>Hands out cheque.</em>) Ha! ha! I -expect you understand me now.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>rising slowly</em>). I believe I do.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters</span> (<em>rising quickly</em>). Just you sign this, then.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>with lofty anger</em>). Confound your cheque, sir! -Take it back, and with it my scorn and contempt, which you -can present to your master, telling him from me, at the same -time, that you are a pair of scoundrels!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Scoundrels! What d'ye mean? Are yer off -yer chump? A free selector to call the Hon'ble Mr. Polyblock -of Bundabah and his super a pair of scoundrels! Take -care what you're about, young man. A camp's a public -place, or close up. 'Words calculated to cause a breach of the -peace——'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>deliberately</em>). Yes, scoundrels! First of all to -insult a gentleman by treating him as a rascally blackmailer; -secondly, by offering an honest man money to break the law -of the land—to violate every principle of honour and integrity. -And now, if you don't quit my land at once, I'll kick you -from here into the brook!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters</span> (<em>hastily mounting</em>). You take care what you're -about, young man—two can play at that game. (<em>Aside</em>—Most -extraordinary chap! Rummest free selector <em>I</em> ever seen.)</p> - -<p class='c017'><span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span><em>Later—Bundabah House—<span class='sc'>The Hon'ble Mr. Polyblock</span> in -his morning room, pacing up and down, disturbed in -mind. Enter <span class='sc'>Gayters</span>.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock.</span> Well, what is it? He's got the money -of course—I'm always <em>had</em>, seems to me. D'ye want any -more cheques? If you'd been half sharp enough he'd never -have been there.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> You won't want no more cheques, unless you're -drove to dummying all round him.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock.</span> <em>Dummy</em>, sir! Damme! What d'ye -mean by that expression? Are you aware that I'm a member -of the Hupper 'Ouse, Mr. Gayters?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Beg pardon, sir. I meant perhaps other -parties might desire to select on his pre-lease and might want -a bit of assistance, like.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock.</span> That's another matter! I always make -a point of advancing money to the struggling free selector—as -long as I get a proper mortgage on the land—Bonus -Allround sees to that. But about this young chap?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> He won't take the cheque; all but threw it at -me.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock</span> (<em>much astonished</em>). Won't take the -cheque! and won't go out?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Not he; won't hear of it. Called you and—well -his language was horful!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock.</span> What did he call me—<em>me</em>?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Said we was a pair of damned scoundrels! and -he'd kick me off his ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock</span> (<em>solemnly</em>). This is what the country's -a-comin' to! What with universal sufferage, bushranging, and -free selection—as is land robbery by Act of Parliament—pore -old Australia ain't a country for a gentleman to live in. Are -you sure he called <em>me</em>, the Hon'ble Rufus Polyblock, a -scoundrel, or was it only <em>you</em>?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Both of us, sure as I'm alive. 'Take this to -your master,' says he, 'with my scorn and contempt.' He -talked like a chap I see at that circus last shearin'. He -looked grand, I tell you, sir.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon'ble Rufus</span> (<em>gloomily</em>). He won't look so grand when -I've done with him. He's got no stock yet?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Not so much as a horse. He's building his -cottage at present, he says—ha! ha!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Hon'ble Rufus</span> (<em>grimly</em>). Wait till he gets his stock on, -that's all. And you watch him—watch him night and day. -If he puts a foot on my ground, pull him for trespass; if he -touches a head of stock, have him up for stealin' 'em. It's -what he's layin' himself out for, of course, and we may as well -fit him first as last.</p> -<div class='c016'>[<em>Exit <span class='sc'>Gayters</span>.</em></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>END OF SECOND ACT</div> - </div> -</div> - -<h3 class='c010'>ACT III</h3> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Mr. Egremont</span> (<em>discovered nailing up slabs, in order to -complete dwelling</em>). Well, this is a most enjoyable life; that -is, it will be enjoyable when I have completed my cottage (<em>hits -finger with hammer, and examines same</em>), but at present I seem -rather hurried. I have had to help the ploughman in order -to get the crop in. I have quite ten acres of wheat nicely -sown and harrowed. I intend to plant potatoes after the -cottage is up, and I must manage to have some turnips; -they're always useful for the stock. A good deal of money -seems to be going out; it is equally certain that none is -coming in. No man can have worked harder either in an old -or new country. But the worst of it is (<em>sits down on round -post and considers</em>), I am not fully convinced that I am working -to the best purpose. I may be doing all this for nothing! -Miss Polyblock—somehow I'm always thinking of that girl!—implied -as much the last time I saw her. By all the saints -and angels, here she comes! How gloriously handsome she -always looks, and how well her habit becomes her! Strange, -what a gulf there seems to be between us!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> So you're working away as usual, Mr. Egremont? -You certainly are a pattern young man. How hot it must -make you this terrible weather?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> I thought everybody worked hard in this -country.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> That's a popular error, as you'll find out by and -by. They work in some ways, but not usually with their -hands, except when pioneering or exploring.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Well, am I not pioneering?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>bursting out laughing</em>). What! upon three hundred -and twenty acres of land! Excuse my rudeness in laughing.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>rather nettled</em>). <em>We</em> think it a decent-sized -piece of land in England.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Oh, do you, really? I beg your pardon, but -father did all the pioneering work here years and years ago. -Fought the blacks when he took up the country, and was -speared by them when I was a little girl. So there isn't much -pioneering left for <em>you</em> to do, is there?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> I wish there was.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Oh, do you? Then why don't you go outside?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Outside—outside—where's that? I thought -I was pretty well outside here; I haven't slept under a roof -these two months.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>laughing again</em>). Oh, indeed, I didn't mean that. -Of course you're outside now; I wish you were not. I'm -afraid you'll get a dreadful cold, the weather is so changeable; -but I mean <em>real outside country</em>, beyond the settled districts, in -Queensland, Western Australia, Kimberley—anywhere.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> But how far off is that?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Oh, a couple of thousand miles; but it doesn't -matter <em>how far it is</em>; it's the way to make money, and position, -and a name. Here no one can do anything but potter about, -live miserably, and—and vegetate.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> But I thought everybody <em>farmed</em> in Australia?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Farmed! farmed! (<em>with amazement</em>). Why, -<em>nobody</em> does; no <em>gentleman</em> farms, I assure you. But English -people never seem to understand things for the first year or -two.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>with air of astonishment</em>). Oh, then I shall -only <em>begin</em> to understand the country in another year? At -present I am supposed to be blissfully ignorant of the real -meaning of matters Colonial. I may have all my work to -undo; is that what <em>you</em> think?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Well, very nearly. It's rude, of course, to say -so, but you'd rather be told the truth, wouldn't you? (<em>He -bows.</em>) I've heard young Englishmen say over and over again -that if they'd done nothing for the first two years they would -have learned a great deal and saved all their money.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> But surely there is nothing so hard to understand -about the country after all? Any one can see the sense -<span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>of these regulations, for instance. (<em>Produces book, Land Act -Amendment.</em>)</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Oh, don't show me that horrid book! It's about -free selection and all that, and dad says it's done no end of -harm. Oh, I wish I could advise you properly!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> If you only would undertake the task! (<em>Takes -her hand and looks at her tenderly.</em>)</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>hastily</em>). Oh, really, I have no time now; I shall -be late for lunch as it is. Good-morning.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock's Drawing-Room.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock</span> (<em>looks at wrong card</em>). Mr. Stanley—Hubert -Stanley—oh, one of the swells that came up with the -governor! Show him in.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>Enter <span class='sc'>Mr. Egremont,</span> neatly and cleanly attired in</em></div> - <div><em>bush-fashion—Crimean shirt, moleskin trousers, no coat.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. P.</span> (<em>surprised and irritated</em>). Hulloa! who the devil -are you? Oh, I see, swell out of luck! Want employment -or else, perhaps, I wouldn't mind advancing twenty pound till -your remittance came out. Is that the game?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>haughtily</em>). No, sir; I am perfectly able to pay -my way, and trust to be so for the future. We have not met -before, but no doubt you will know who I am when I tell you -that my name is Cecil Egremont.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. P.</span> Eggermont? Eggermont? We've not met afore, as -you say; but, by George, I'll meet <em>you</em> some day! You're the -chap as took up my main camp. Then what the devil do you -want at my private house, eh? Mind, I won't sell you a -pound of beef or mutton either, if you want it ever so bad. I -ain't to be had that way.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>proudly</em>). You're over-hasty in your conclusions, -sir. I have no pressing need for butcher's meat. But -you are right in surmising that I <em>do</em> want something from you—something -of value also.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. P.</span> (<em>much surprised</em>). Good Gad! (<em>Aside</em>—What can -he want? Don't want money nor beef; perhaps it's wheat or -'taters. Never knew a free selector yet that didn't want one -of 'em.) What is it, man, speak out?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> The fact is, Mr. Polyblock, your daughter; -that is, I have long cherished an admiration——</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span><span class='sc'>Mr. P.</span> (<em>wrathfully</em>). Admiration be hanged! You said -my daughter—<em>my</em> daughter! God bless my soul and body! -You don't mean to say she'd ever say a word to the likes of you?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> I fear, sir, that without the least intention of -gaining her affections clandestinely, I have been so imprudent -as to receive counsel respecting my course of action in a strange -land, which Miss Polyblock was too generous to refuse. This -harmless intercourse has ripened into intimacy—into, I may -boldly say, mutual affection. As a man of honour I feel it -my duty to acquaint you with the fact, and to respectfully -demand her hand. I——</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. P.</span> (<em>deeply shocked and violently affected</em>). Stop! not -another word! Man of honour! Ha! ha! how the devil -<em>can</em> a free selector be a man of honour? So you think my -daughter, as has been eddicated equal to the first lady in the -land, is to go into a hut, and—and—— (<em>Breaks into uncontrollable -rage.</em>) You—you—robber—murderer—<em>free selector</em>! -Leave this room—get off my place, or by —— I'll set the dogs -on ye! (<em>Advances threateningly.</em>)</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>slowly receding</em>). I can afford to smile at your -vehemence, to laugh at your threats. There are reasons which -prevent me from resenting your ignorant, ungentlemanly -conduct.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. P.</span> (<em>in boxing attitude</em>). Come on, if that's what you -want. Put up your 'ands. I may be a member of the Hupper -'Ouse, and not so young as I was, but I can take the conceit -out of a chap like you yet. (<em>Advances with hands up.</em>)</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>coming from behind, pulls him by the coat-tail</em>). -Oh, father, father! don't touch him.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. P.</span> Let me go, girl!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Oh, Cecil, <em>Cecil</em>! why don't you go away? -(<em>Throws her arms round <span class="notem">Mr. P.</span> and drags him back; <span class='sc'>Egremont</span> -slowly retreating, <span class="notem">Mr.</span> <span class='sc'>Polyblock</span> struggling and menacing him.</em>)</p> -<div class='c016'> [<em>Curtain falls.</em></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>END OF THIRD ACT</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span> - <h3 class='c010'>ACT IV</h3> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><em>About a year afterwards—<span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock</span> in library,</em></div> - <div><em>also <span class='sc'>Mr. Gayters</span>.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. P.</span> (<em>walks up and down</em>). Well, I feel regularly stumped -and dried out. Haven't felt so bad since the '68 drought. -I don't know what's comin' over the country. This young -Colonial experiencer stands up agin' me like a bulldog ant in -front of a team of bullocks! My gal, Dulcie, as I've spent -thousands on—and where's there a gal like her, high or low?—is -turned that stupid and ungrateful that she's crying her -eyes out; and who for? Why, a low feller with only a half-section -of land to his name—worse than a boundary-rider, I -call him! Damme! I'll dummy all round him—eat him up -that close that he won't have grass for a bandicoot. I'm that -miserable as I could go and drownd myself in that creek -afore the door. Blast that infernal Land Act and them as -made it! It'll ruin the country and every man of property in -it. Well (<em>turns angrily to <span class='sc'>Gayters</span></em>), what do <em>you</em> want?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters</span> (<em>hesitatingly</em>). Mr. Overdew has just sent his -reporter for ten thousand sheep, sir; wants to know if you'll -let him take them through the Run, along the back track.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. P.</span> (<em>with concentrated wrath</em>). Tell him if he dares to -go one yard off his half-mile from the main-frontage road I'll -pound every hoof of his grass-stealin', hungry, loafin' sheep, as -is the dead image of their owner—if he <em>does</em> own 'em, and not -the bank. Tell him <em>that</em>, and mind you shepherd him slap -through the boundary gate.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Of course, sir; cert'nly, sir. Anything else, sir?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. P.</span> (<em>with sudden fury</em>). Only, you stand gapin' there -another minute and I'll knock yer through my study winder!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Gayters.</span> Cert'nly, sir; of course, sir.</p> -<div class='c016'>[<em>Exit hastily.</em></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em><span class='sc'>Mr. Cecil Egremont</span> on his selection, discovered chopping</em></div> - <div><em>down a tree</em>.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>(<em>Speaks.</em>) I am more than ever confirmed in my opinion -that this is <em>the</em> most extraordinary, puzzling, topsy-turvy country -in the whole world. I might just as well have remained -<span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span>in North Devon for all the good I am likely to do. I could -have taken a farm there, and—well—probably have managed -to pay the rent. I <em>have</em> bought a farm here, become a free-holder—that -most enviable position, at least in England—and -now when I've got it I don't know what to do with it. Old -Polyblock's sheep eat right up to my boundary, and beyond it -too. I gather there's not much to be done with three hundred -and twenty acres in a dry season. My wheat is prematurely -yellow; my potatoes won't come up! I must fence my farm -in; that will cost—at six shillings a rod—let me see—how -much? (<em>Sits down on log and begins to cipher in pocket-book.</em>)</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>who has ridden closely up in the meantime, and -is watching him, coughs slightly</em>). Don't let me interrupt you, -but you seem absorbed in thought. Is it about the value of -the tree, or some other abstruse calculation?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>jumps up hastily</em>). Oh, my dearest Dulcie! -neither, that is, both—really I hardly know what I am about -at present. I was working to distract my mind. I suppose -it's always right to cut down a tree?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Nonsense! About the worst thing you could -do. Sinful waste of time. Do you suppose father made his -money in that way? The pencil and pocket-book look more -like it. We say in Australia that a man's head ought to be -good enough to save his hands. Are your birth, breeding, and -education only equal to a pound a week? Because you can -buy a man's work for that—all the year round.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> But I thought all the early colonists worked -with their hands, tended their sheep, drove bullocks and all -that—the books say so.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Nonsense! The people who know, don't write -books—very seldom at least. The people who write books, -don't know. That's the English of it. But I came through -the township and I've brought your post. Here's a letter and -a newspaper.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Heaven be thanked and my Guardian Angel! -That's <em>you</em>, my dearest Dulcie. Oh, that I had you always -to be near me—to protect me from the ways of this wicked -Australian world!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> H—m! <em>You want some one</em>, I do believe. I -might consider over the contract, but my tender—ahem!—wouldn't -be accepted at present. Father's going on like an -<span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span>old 'rager' bullock, all by himself in the strangers' yard. -But hadn't you better open your letter?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Then you <em>do</em> take an interest in me? After -this I fear nothing. Why will you not consent to trust your -future welfare to my guidance?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>scornfully</em>). A likely thing! Trust a free -selector! Not if I know it!!! Why, what would become of -us? Perhaps you'd like to see me lifting the top off a camp-oven—on -a fire, under that black stump there—whilst you -were—chopping—down—a—tree! ha! ha! No! (<em>surveying -her well-fitting riding-habit—her thoroughbred horse, and -stroking her gloves</em>) I seem to like this sort of thing better. I -must drag on for a while with my allowance from poor old dad.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>with lofty resolve</em>). You are heartless, Dulcie—devoid -of natural affection. You laugh at my inexperience, -you sneer at my poverty—let us part for ever. Go back to -your father's mansion and leave me to my fate. I feel that -I shall succeed, perhaps make a fortune, in the end.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>Aside</em>—It will be a precious long time first! -What a dear, noble fellow he is—I hate to bully him!) <em>Aloud</em>—Come, -Cecil (<em>winningly</em>), you mustn't be cross. I am only -a poor simple girl brought up in the bush (I wonder what <em>he</em> -is then?), but of course I know more about stock and land -than you do. If we are not to be married (you see I love -you a little) till you make enough to buy the ring out of this -calf-paddock of yours, we may wait till we're grey! But -why don't you open the letter? It might contain something -of importance.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>partly mollified</em>). I'm afraid not; merely an -entreaty to return from this wild country, where there are no -people fit for me to associate with, where I may starve, or be -killed by blacks or wild beasts—that's the general tone of my -letters of late. Ha! What is this? (<em>Reads</em>—Your poor -Uncle Humphrey died last week; he was on bad terms with -our side of the house, and has not spoken to your father for -forty years; but he has left you £20,000, for which you will -receive a bank-draft by this mail. Of course you will come -home at once!) Of course, of course! Oh! eh! Dulcie -dear? Now I shall build a house here, plant a garden, make -a lakelet, sow artificial grasses, fence and subdivide,—in -fact, make a paradise of these desolate, bare acres. Eventually -<span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span>it will be highly remunerative. But when my house is completed -and furnished in accordance with modern art, <em>you</em> -will come there to be my queen and its most brilliant ornament? -(<em>looks entreatingly at her</em>).</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>with expression of horror</em>). What! improve a -selection? Spend thousands of pounds on it? Build a -really good house and ask me to live <em>there</em>! Did you ever -hear of Tarban Creek?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Not that I can recall—an aboriginal name, I -presume. I have caught the name of Curbin, I think. Is -that a similar watercourse?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>restraining herself</em>). It's hardly worth explaining—a -little joke of mine. But to come to business. Suppose -<em>I</em> show you a way to invest your money—to get twenty per -cent for it in a few years, at the same time to make father -think you a clever, rising man—an opinion which, ahem! -he does <em>not</em> hold at present—and lastly, to cause him to give -his consent to our marriage, (<em>coaxingly</em>) what should you say -then? Would you be willing to do what I told you?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> I always thought you as clever as you were -beautiful, my own dearest Dulcie! Take me with all that is -mine and do what you will.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Very nice—indeed flattering! How long will -it last, I wonder? 'Now you lisdens do me' (as our German -gardener used to say) and you will hear something to your -advantage. But first promise to do what I ask—you <em>will</em> -promise? (<em>looking entreatingly and archly at him</em>).</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> On my honour; on the cross of my ancestor's -sword—he was a Crusader.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> The first is enough; I am afraid you are -inclined to be a Crusader too, as far as romantic enthusiasm -goes—still it's a fault on the right side, and will be cured by -colonial and other experience. Firstly, you must sell this -selection.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> <em>What!</em> sell my farm—my home—my first -venture in this new world?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Stuff and nonsense! It's poor dad's Run, to -begin with, and you ought never to have touched it! You -wouldn't, either, if you'd known how hard he worked for it -before I was born.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>meditatively</em>). How could it be <em>his</em>; or, if -<span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span>so, how did the Government sell it to <em>me</em>? (<em>Placing his hand -to his forehead</em>) I never <em>shall</em> understand the Land Act of this -country. But don't ask me to sell my—my—birthright!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>decisively</em>). You've promised me, and you <em>must</em> -sell it. Of course if you prefer living here by yourself as a -'hatter'—for <em>I'll</em> never come into it—you may keep it.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> (<em>Aside</em>—A hatter!—is that a legal term in -this most perplexing Act? What can she mean? However, -I surrender unconditionally.) To whom shall I sell it?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> That's a good boy and he shall be rewarded. -Go into the township and ask for the office of Mr. Bonus -Allround, the lawyer; offer it to him, and he'll give you a -cheque for it. How much has it cost you? Thousands by -this time, I suppose.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Really more than any one would suppose. -Firstly, the deposit, five shillings per acre—and seed wheat—and -other things.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Oh, of course, I forgot! Well, value all your -improvements, loss of time, etc. You have lost plenty of -time, you know, talking to me. We won't say yet whether -you mightn't have done worse. But put it all down, every -shilling; add your own time at a pound a week—you're not -<em>quite</em> worth that, but he'll pass it to get the land. He'll pay you -the money sharp, and all you have to do is to sign a transfer.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Seems simple enough—only turn myself out -of house and home. Well, after that little step?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Go to Sydney as soon as you can. I see -Banda Plains Run is in the market, with only a few head of -cattle—two thousand, I think. I've heard father talk about -the place by the hour; he thinks no end of it—says he never -saw better fattening country.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>doubtingly</em>). Am I to go to him?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Not yet, goose! When you're in Sydney, call -on Messrs. Drawwell and Backer—get Banda Plains as cheap -as you can, but <em>buy</em> at all risks. Give them their price at last; -then come back and tell dad what you've done. He can't -eat you.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> He looked as if he <em>would</em> last time, without -salt! But I will go straight to Sydney and do your bidding. -Drawwell and Backer, Stock Agents, Pitt Street, Sydney, -that's the address (<em>notes in pocket-book</em>).</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> You're getting quite a man of business. If -you're so much improved in an hour, what will you be in a -year? Really, I'm quite proud of my handiwork. And oh, -one thing, dearest! don't forget—it's most important (<em>impressively</em>)—have -your hair cut by Adger! You see it is a -little long (<em>touches his hair</em>)—thinking of your woes, I -suppose? But we respect the fashions in Australia, though -you mightn't think it. You'd better not be eccentric.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont</span> (<em>laughs</em>). Anything else, Miss Polyblock? I -see the foreshadowing of an oligarchy. But it will be a -benevolent despotism, I trust?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie.</span> Bless me! how late it is! The sun is quite -low. I shall have to ride fast. Don't <em>you</em> lose a moment -either.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> Trust me; but—one minute—as a reward -for my unquestioning obedience, don't you think——</p> -<div class='c016'> [<em>Comes close as if to whisper—kisses her, and exit.</em></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>ACT V</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock</span> (<em>discovered walking up and down the -library</em>). Well, I don't know as ever I spent a more miserable -month. Dulcie don't take no interest in the things as used -to amuse her. I don't know what's come to the gal. If I -could see my way at all, and thought this young chap was -steady and sensible—likely to get on—I might push him; -but—a free selector—a half-section, crawling duffer as won't -have grass for a milker nor credit for a bag of flour in -another year—No! I couldn't think of it. It's enough to -make a man turn agin his own flesh and blood. (<em>Knocking -heard.</em>) Who's that?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Maid.</span> A gentleman wants to see you, sir.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock.</span> Who is it? That chap as was going to -buy the Weejoglag store-cattle, p'raps?</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>Enter <span class='sc'>Cecil Egremont</span>, dressed in tweeds.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock.</span> Oh, it's you, Mr. Eggermont! (<em>Aside</em>—How -well the feller looks! Holds up his head too! Dashed -if he ain't a fine, upstanding, good-looking chap when he's -turned out decent! He looked more like a shearer when I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_280'>280</span>seen him last.) Well, sir! what can I do for you? Sheep -been trespassing, I suppose?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> No, Mr. Polyblock, such is not the case. -Nor will it matter to me in future. I have sold my land.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock.</span> Sold the s'lection! You don't say so! -Who to? who to? Mr. Eggermont, why didn't you come to -me, if you wanted to part with it? I'd have given you -anything in reason.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> You must pardon me for reminding you, Mr. -Polyblock, that your manner was not reassuring at our last -interview.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock.</span> Perhaps not—rather hasty, I know. -Mustn't mind an old man; but who's got the s'lection?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> I disposed of it to Mr. Allround in the -township, from whom I received a cheque, paying me in -full for all improvements and loss of time.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock.</span> Bonus Allround! Good shot! It's -all right—you've sold to <em>me</em> through him—he's my agent. I -should have been sold, my word! if any other buyer had -come in there. And now what are you a-goin' to do? -You're a man of capital now, you know!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> I was fortunate enough to have a moderate -legacy left me by an uncle just before I went to Sydney. -While there, under advice, I invested eight thousand pounds -in a run called Banda Plains, on the Queensland border. -They tell me it's a good purchase. There are two thousand -cattle, besides horses.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock.</span> Good purchase, sir! It's the best -thing in the market. Banda Plains, with only two thousand -head of cattle—it's a gift—a reg'lar gift! Your fortune's made.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Egremont.</span> It gratifies me to hear you say so, Mr. -Polyblock—most deeply, I assure you. And now, sir, -perhaps you will reconsider your rather strongly-expressed -refusal to me of your daughter's hand?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>who has opened the door softly and stolen into the -room</em>). Oh, dad, you don't want to break your poor Dulcie's -heart! I <em>do</em> love him so!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock</span> (<em>clearing his throat and speaking in a -parliamentary tone of voice</em>). Ahem! I am not aware, Mr. -President, that there's anything in the Land Act or Regulations -against the daughter of a M.L.C. marryin' a squatter—a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span>squatter, you observe, Mr. Eggermont. Had the party been -a selector; but I won't dwell on a subject too painful to a -parent's feelin's. Take her, my boy! And a better gal, tho' I -say it—good, game, and good-lookin'—she's all that and more—never——'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Dulcie</span> (<em>moving up to <span class='sc'>Egremont</span> and placing her hand on -his shoulder</em>). Never gave advice to a struggling free selector. -Is that what you were going to say, daddy? Never mind—he -had sense enough to take it. Hadn't you, Cecil dear?</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>Mr. Polyblock.</span> Seems to me he's free selected on a -pastoral holding to some purpose, you monkey. Is there any -clause about that in the new Land Act, I wonder, as they're -makin' such a bother about? Anyway, I'm the happiest -lessee in the unsettled districts, now this little matter's settled -satisfactory. And tell you what, Dulcie (<em><span class='sc'>Gayters</span> comes in -here—looks rather blank</em>), I'll send Gayters out to Banda -Plains to take delivery and wire into the bullockin' for a bit. -It'll do him good—he's been takin' it too easy lately; and as -it happens to be Christmas time, we'll get the transfer business -put through by the Rev. Mr. Robinson at the township, and, -Cecil, my boy! give us your hand (<em>puts <span class='sc'>Dulcie's</span> into it</em>). -There now, you can take up this additional conditional -selection. It won't want improvin', that's one thing. Ha! -ha! I'm that full of happiness that I can get a joke out of the -Land Act—Rum-ty-idity—fol-de-rol (<em>dances round the room</em>).</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em><span class='sc'>Cecil</span> puts his arm round <span class='sc'>Dulcie</span>; they look tenderly into</em></div> - <div><em>each other's faces.</em></div> - <div class='c002'>CURTAIN FALLS</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span> - <h2 class='c006'>BUSH HOSPITALITY</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>In the pioneer period of the pastoral industry, which has since -known such phenomenal development and, alas! no less -phenomenal declension, the hospitality of the dwellers in the -wilderness was proverbially free and unchallenged. But even -then there were 'metes and bounds.' Like Colonial society—though -apparently 'a free and a fetterless thing'—there were -lines of demarcation. These, though unsubstantial and -shadowy to superficial observers, were nevertheless discovered -by experiment to be strangely hard and fast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In those Arcadian days the stranger, on arriving at the -homestead of a man whom he had never seen, and whose -name possibly he had scarcely heard, was warranted by custom, -on riding up to the door, in proposing to stay all night. It -was the rule of the period. If there was no inn within a dozen -miles, it became an unquestioned right.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The owner or manager of the station, if at home, welcomed -the stranger with more or less courtesy, according to his disposition, -assisting the guest, whom Allah had sent him, to take -off his saddle and place it in the verandah of the cottage, to -turn out his horse in the paddock, or, in default of that "improvement," -to hobble or tether the trusty steed on good -pasture.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If the personages referred to were absent, the traveller, -unless he happened to be abnormally diffident, informed the -cook, hut-keeper, or any station hand whom he might chance to -encounter, that he had come to stay all night, turned his horse -out, and entering the plainly-furnished abode, made himself as -comfortable as circumstances would admit of.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If his host delayed his coming, supper was served. The -<span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span>stranger foraged about among the books and newspapers, and -with the aid of tobacco, managed to spend the evening, retiring -to rest in the apartment indicated, with perfect cheerfulness and -self-possession.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If, as chiefly happened, the hard-worked colonist returned -from the quest of lost sheep or strayed cattle before bedtime, -he usually expressed himself much gratified by the unexpected -companionship, and after a cheery confab about the latest -news, politics, prospects (pastoral), and a parting smoke, both -retired to the couches where unbroken slumbers were the rule. -It was a mutual benefit. The monotonous life of the squatter -was cheered by the advent of a fresh face, fresh news and ideas. -The weary traveller found frank entertainment for man and -beast, company and a guide, possibly, for the morrow's journey.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In these strictly equestrian days (for gentlefolk) no man -could carry more than a limited change of apparel in the -leather valise strapped to the fore-part of the saddle. Saddlebags -were occasionally used, but they were held to be cumbrous. -The journeys were rough and protracted. Clean linen has ever -been unwillingly dispensed with by the Briton. In that -barbaric epoch, Crimean shirts could not be, the quarrel with -the Sultan about the mythical keys not having arisen. Paper -collars, much more celluloids, were in the future. The only -recognised departure from the full-dress white raiment, the -'biled shirt' of the American humorist to come, was the -check or 'regatta' shirt.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now this was a garment of compromise, not disreputably -soiled after a couple of days' use. Still its existence as a -respectable article of apparel had a limit. When that was -reached, the stranger was permitted to levy on the host's wardrobe, -if a bachelor, to the extent of one coloured shirt, leaving -his own in lieu. This was held to be fair exchange—the alien -vestment, when washed, being, if of ordinary texture and age, -of equal average value to the one taken; the host doing likewise -when on <em>his</em> travels. The chief and perhaps only -undesirable result was, that every proprietor on a frequented line -of road had a collection of the most varied and cosmopolitan -autographs in marking ink, on his shirts, probably ever noticed -in one gentleman's wardrobe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now this was all very well in the days when Mr. Jones -and Mr. Smith were in the free and independent condition of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span>bachelors. They could smoke their pipe unconcernedly with -Jackson the cattle-dealer, or Tomkins the working overseer -from an out-station, or Binks, who was nobody in particular, -or Jinks, who was a cheeky sort of a fellow, but with no harm -in him. But all this was changed when Jones or Smith took -unto himself a wife. He then desired to have his evenings to -himself; and though a gentleman or an agreeable stranger was -always welcome, he by no means cared about entertaining half-and-half -people, or being bothered with making talk for -uncongenial persons all the evening. Yet he did not quite -like to send all wayfarers whom he did not know or care -about to the 'men's hut.' Some of them doubtless were -more at home there, or managed to pass the evening without -complaint; still, mistakes were occasionally made. Therefore -some kind of intermediate arrangement came to be needed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When an inn was within a mile or two, the difficulty was -removed. No stranger could desire to be entertained at the -house of a man he did not know, merely because it was -cheaper. If he were mean enough to make the attempt, he -received a rebuff—possibly no more than his due. Still, in -some instances, the squatter, even if unmarried, dreaded the -hotel as the nucleus of a township, and bore the enforced -intrusion rather than risk the invasion of his Run.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It became thus one of the unwritten laws of Bushland that, -though a bachelor station was fair game, and introductions -might be dispensed with, more circumspection must be -exercised in the case of the homestead which contained a lady. -Even if the hospitality was unrestricted as of yore, the restraint -was felt by the more homely of the wayfarers, and a sensible -lowering of the average of visitors took place.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And even when there was no such adequate reason, the -resident proprietor was occasionally, by nature or on principle, -opposed to the indiscriminate entertainment of chance-comers, -and cast about for some method of ensuring privacy. The -late Mr. Charles Ebden discovered that 'Carlsruhe,' named -after a continental reminiscence of travel, was by no means -likely to be the 'Charles' Rest' which the name promised. -So he made a bold innovation, the fame of which went -through the length and breadth of the land: he established -a 'visitors' hut.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>There appeared to be no great harm in this—merely a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>comfortable cottage, wherein the visitor was supplied with an -evening meal, bed, and breakfast, all comfortably arranged. -His horse would of course be cared for, paddocked, and -brought up in the morning. One would fancy this gratuitous -entertainment would have been voted sufficient. But the -roving pastoralists were dissatisfied. They did not want -merely meat and drink—they wanted a welcome: to have -speech also with the master of the house. He was suspected -of considering himself too good for his surroundings. And so -'Carlsruhe' was gradually avoided—not that the perhaps too -fastidious 'Count' Ebden cared a jot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>An amusing <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">contretemps</span></i> with respect to this novel disposal -of guests was that related of the late Sir James -Hawthorn. The good old gentleman arrived late one evening -at 'Carlsruhe,' naturally concluding that he would receive -special consideration. It did not so chance, however, whether -from non-recognition—he was not a knight then, but a -doctor—or some other cause. Before leaving the visitors' hut -in the morning, he left a formal note of thanks for his night's -lodging, and enclosed a cheque for a guinea as payment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the Colonial Treasurer of the future was equal to the -occasion. He made answer by post, in a carefully-worded -epistle, acknowledging 'a most extraordinary communication, -containing a cheque, for which he was totally unable to -conceive any reasonable explanation, and had forwarded to -Secretary of the Lunatic Asylum.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>After the changes which turned the homesteads of the -larger stations into small villages, the 'big house,' as it came -to be called, was no longer expected to accommodate the -proprietor, the overseer, and the young gentleman learning -Colonial experience, in addition to every wanderer that turned -up. The overseer generally had a commodious if, perhaps, -plainly-furnished cottage allotted to him. This came to be -known as the 'barracks,' and to be used as a convenient abode -for strangers and pilgrims, as well as for the storekeeper, the -working overseers, and the young gentlemen. Here, in -summer, they could sleep on the verandah, smoke and yarn on -the same, or, in winter, around the cheerful fire, without -danger of disturbing the squatter's domestic arrangements. -This of course without prejudice to personal friends or strangers -of distinction.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span>As to the pilgrims, they might be described as 'human -warious.' There was first the squatter proper, young, middle-aged, -or elderly, on his way from one station to the other, -returning from new country or from a journey with fat cattle or -sheep. He was of course welcome, being, presumably, ready -and willing to repay the accommodation in kind. Then there -were overseers and managers, cattle and sheep buyers, agents -and drovers. These were pastoral personages, and, of course, -to be considered. The dealers, even when roughish in manner, -were a power in the land, capable too of drawing cheques to -an amount which secured respect. They could not in any -case be sent to the men's hut. Tourists, <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">bona-fide</span></i> travellers, -and globe-trotters, having business of some sort, others without -any particular aim or destination,—these gentry in the -'barracks' were evidently the 'right men in the right place.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>It must be surmised also that adventurers travelled about -among the stations as a pleasant way of seeing the country -and spending a few months at free quarters. A man of prepossessing -appearance and agreeable manners, 'who wanted to -buy a station—a real first-class property, you know,' made his -appearance in a certain district just 'after the gold.' He was -courteously treated, and shown a variety of stations. He -passed a whole summer in the leisurely inspection of sheep -and cattle properties, none of which quite suited his taste. -He became quite a well-known inhabitant. Many people -believed at last that he had so invested, and accepted him as -a recognised identity. But he never <em>did</em> buy a station or any -stock—eventually contenting himself with a Government billet -of a moderate description, under circumstances which proved the -presumption of his being a capitalist to have been erroneous.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As a general rule it may be stated that the farther back, -the more distant the station, the more liberal and invariable -the hospitality. When men went seldom to town, when books -and newspapers were scarce, the lonely squatter was well -disposed towards any kind of stranger guest above the level of -shepherd or stock-rider. He was a change, an animated -evening newspaper, and as such intrinsically valuable. His -visit, besides, was of a transitory or fleeting nature, so that only -his good qualities were apparent.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Even this form of enjoyment was subject to abatement. -There was the pilgrim now and then who declined to proceed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span>on his pilgrimage, especially when he fell upon a comfortable -bachelor abode, with <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">cuisine</span></i>, library, and liquor reasonably -up to date. Not infrequently the pilgrim's steed would stray, -which the owner would search for in such a perfunctory -manner that it seemed as if years might roll on before he was -run in. One really most agreeable and gifted person——he -afterwards became Premier in a neighbouring colony—was -celebrated as protracting his visits by this device. One -morning there appeared in a provincial paper the startling -announcement, 'Mr. Blank's horse is found.' It was the -making of him. The laughter was so general that he left that -colony, and attained in another to political eminence and -material prosperity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not always, however, was even the <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">bona-fide</span></i> squatter on -his travels made welcome. A friend of mine arrived at a -station late in the evening. 'I am Mr. Blake,' he said, 'of -Kilrush'—a name well known throughout his own and other -districts for generous, unstinted hospitality. The proprietor -stood at his door, but offered no welcome.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How far is it to the next place?' inquired the traveller.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Sixteen miles; you can't miss the road.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Thanks; much obliged.' So he put spurs to his weary -steed—he had come far since sunrise—and departed, reaching -the station, so obligingly referred to, long after dark on a -cold night.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the following year the same squatter arrived at Kilrush. -He was cordially received—invited to stay a day and rest his -horse. 'I killed him with kindness,' were my friend's words—relating -the affair to me years afterwards—'and when he -rode away, did everything possible, short of holding his stirrup -for him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"Mr. Blake," said he, "you've behaved to me like a -gentleman! I am afraid I didn't give you that idea when -you called at Bareacres. I feel ashamed of myself, I assure -you."</p> - -<p class='c000'>'"So you ought to be," I said, looking him straight in the -face. He muttered something and rode away.'</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_288'>288</span> - <h2 class='c006'>LAPSED GENTLEFOLK</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>Ah me! who has not known and pitied them in this Australian -land of ours? The workman's Paradise! yet all too well -adapted for converting the gently-nurtured waif into the -resigned labourer, the homeless vagrant. The gradations -through which slowly, invisibly, but none the less surely, -drifts to lower levels the luckless gentleman adventurer, are -fraught with a melancholy interest. How sad it seems to -realise that of the hundreds of well-dressed, well-educated, -high-hearted youngsters, fresh from pleasant British homes, -who every season land on our shores, a certain proportion -will, in a few years of Colonial Experience (save the mark!), -be transformed into misanthropic shepherds, ragged tramps, -or reckless rouseabouts.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One always sees a few in the men's hut at shearing time, -owning no higher aspirations than the ordinary station hand, -living the rough life of the bush-labourer, relishing coarse -tobacco and the coarser jests when the day's work is done, -hardly distinguishable in dress, tone, and manner from their -ruder comrades. Like them, alas! too prone to end each -term's unrelieved labour by an aimless, ruinous drinking-bout.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is not that the daily toil, the plain fare, and rude -companionship would be in any sense degrading, were they -used as means to an end. Did the cadet resolve to save all -but the cash absolutely required for clothing and other needs, -a small capital might easily be acquired, with reasonable -credit in proportion, for which a profitable outlet is always -to be found. And a knowledge of the rougher side of -Australian life is always valuable wherever his lot might be -cast.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_289'>289</span>The real social deterioration accrues when the well-born -or well-educated man becomes fatally contented with his -humble surroundings; when hope has faded out, when -ambition is dead, when repeated trials have landed him in -deeper failure; when the conviction is only too well founded -that for him no higher position is attainable in this world. -Nay, that even if attained, he is no longer fitted to occupy it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Persons imperfectly acquainted with our social system -may say, 'Oh, once a gentleman, always a gentleman!' and -so on. From whatever rude environment, he will come forth -true to his training, and assume his earlier habitudes as easily -as the well-fitting garments which his altered circumstances -render necessary.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is not so, unfortunately. Granted that the exceptional -individual emerges from the wreck of his youthful aspirations -safe and uninjured, more numerous are they tenfold who -reach the shore bleeding and disabled, never to be again -but the simulacra of their former selves—hopeless of ever -attaining the fair heaven-crowned heights, so near, so tempting -of ascent in boyhood; heedless but of the lower pains and -pleasures to which they have all unresistingly yielded their -future lives.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Much of course depends on the mental fibre of the -youngster. If happily constituted, he may defy the most -inauspicious surroundings to alter his habits of thought or -change his settled purpose in life. One boy, at the roughest -station in the 'back blocks,' will save his money and do his -work in a cheerfully observant spirit; he will utilise the spare -time, of which he has so large a supply, in reading and -improving his mind; he will find out all he can about the -working of the station, with a view to future operations when -he is promoted to partnership or management. To this he -resolutely looks forward. He preserves the manners and -the principles which he brought from home untarnished; an -easy enough matter, since even in the farthest wilds, among -the roughest working men in Australia, a true gentleman's -mien and tone are always held in respect, which no man -loses save by his own act.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Say that he has a few years of hard work and privation, -he is sure to rise in life, and eventually, by dint of perseverance -and attention to detail, to become the owner of or -<span class='pageno' id='Page_290'>290</span>partner in a station. His character for steadiness, efficiency, -and industry becomes known from one end of the district -to the other. And if those with whom he is temporarily -connected do not advance him, be sure that some neighbouring -proprietor in need of an active lieutenant will not lose the -opportunity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The young man of less robust self-denial takes station life -after a very different fashion. His fixed idea has been from -the first that galloping about on horseback, smoking, shooting, -and drinking are the recognised pastoral industries by which -fortunes in Australia are made. He does not bother his head -about the science of sheep-breeding, or the management of -that capricious but profitable animal the merino. He forgets -messages. He overrides the station horses. He smokes -diligently, talks familiarly and plays cards with the men, from -whom he learns to swear profanely and acquires no useful -knowledge—on the contrary, much that is evil. On his -visits to the village or post-town he learns to drink spirits, -and thus lays the foundation of a dangerous habit, which, if -not checked, may destroy his after-life. At the end of his -two years' experience he is regarded as about on a level with -the ordinary rouseabout—hardly as good, certainly no better. -On making up his mind to leave for other employment, he is -told that he is heartily welcome to please himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Occasionally the unsuccessful gentleman, emigrant or -colonial, is not distinctly to blame for his fall in social -position. He has adopted a bush life, trusting vaguely to -be able to get on in one of the numerous ways of which he -has heard tell. He tries hard at first for situations suited to -his former position in life, finding, however, that no one is -in pressing need of an inexperienced youth not brought up -to work. Still, if strong and willing, he can earn ordinary -wages as a station hand. He learns how to manage the -routine work nearly as well as his comrades in the men's hut, -and by degrees, not being mentally persistent, he adopts the -tone and manner of the men who are his companions—not -at once, and not altogether, but after a year or two—to a -much greater extent than any one would think possible. In -a work of fiction some kindly squatter would free the poor -fellow from his rough, or let us say uneducated comrades, -but in real life no one would risk the experiment. He may -<span class='pageno' id='Page_291'>291</span>have been deceived before. He would argue that though -the waif might be a gentleman by birth, it must have been -his own fault in some way that he was in his present position—most -likely drank, gambled, or had done something shady; -and this would be true in nine cases out of ten. If he -introduced Mr. Waif to his family, or took him into his -house if a bachelor, he might, of course, behave well for a -time, but one fine day, unable to withstand the temptation -of an open sideboard, would be found dead drunk or madly -intoxicated on his employer's return.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Gradually the unsuccessful one, after a year or two of -nomadic life, tramping it from one end of a colony to -another, begins to abandon the punctilious habits of his -early life. His speech shows signs of degeneration. He -talks of people indifferently as 'coves' or 'cards'; <em>causerie</em> -with him is 'pitching'; he refrains with difficulty from -expletives, and so on. His reading has not been kept up, -though, had he cared, it might have been. He is scented -unpleasantly with coarse tobacco, occasionally, alas! with the -too frequent 'nip' of alcohol. If he by any chance re-enters -civilised life, he shows in a dozen ways that he is no longer -in touch with it. He makes things uncomfortable for his -friends or companions, and is thoroughly convinced that he -is out of place himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A youngster of this type came to a squatter's station one -evening, carrying his 'swag' like any other tramp. The -owner knew that he was or had been a gentleman, but -apologised, as he had guests, for not asking him into the -house. He was too dirty to be quite exact, and neither in -raiment nor in other matters was he then fitted for the society -of ladies. So he had his supper and bed in the men's hut, -smoked his pipe over the fire with the man-cook, and turned -in, quite contented with his accommodation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Sometimes, if fairly industrious and steady, the ex-tramp -makes his way to a managership, or even a share in a station, -where he recovers a portion of his earlier form. But he is -apt to be rough and careless to the end, which his English -friends attribute to the necessarily deteriorating influences of -colonial life.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Perhaps the saddest sight of all is the broken-down 'swell' -of maturer years, carrying his 'swag' along the road, sometimes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_292'>292</span>a solitary 'traveller'—a name that has its own significance -in Australia—sometimes in company with other 'sundowners.' -He is free of the guild now, unluckily. They -neither resent his companionship, nor feel flattered by it; -in no way do they alter their mode of speech or action in -consequence. It is known that he has 'seen better days,' as -the phrase runs. If so, it is nobody's business but his own. -A certain amount of reticence characterises Australian bushmen, -which is not noticeable among their British comrades. -The nomadic habit, and the goldfields' experience—for nearly -every able-bodied man in Australia has graduated there—may -be held accountable for this trait. Travel is the true -civiliser, and in many respects supplies the place of the higher -education, teaching reserve, undemonstrativeness, and the -patient endurance of privations and dangers which cannot be -evaded.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So, though it is generally believed that Jack Somers or -Bill Brown <em>was</em> a gentleman (nothing, alas! will ever make or -keep him one again), he is treated by the master who employs -him, and the station hands or farm labourers who work with -him, exactly as the others—neither better nor worse. Generally -a smart, intelligent worker, whether a shearer, rouseabout, -boundary rider, road hand, what not, during the often protracted -periods when he is compulsorily sober. This is -secured by giving him no money (the more obvious necessaries -can be procured from the station store), until his term of -work be completed or his contract finished. Then he gets -his cheque, and short work he makes of it. For the nearest -bush public-house is to him a barrier fixed and impassable, -while there is a pound in his purse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After all, Australia is perhaps the best country for the -fallen swell. A reasonable share of honest work is always open -to him, which, from the custom of the country, is not held to -be degrading, as it would be in Europe. He could not work in -the field in Britain, tend sheep, drive a team, break stones. -All these things he can do in Australia with but temporary -loss of prestige or social rank. He would find it next to -impossible to gain a living in the old country in any form of -day labour. Were he even to succeed in doing so, he would -be gazed and wondered at by the whole country-side. A man -of good family requested me to officially certify his identity -<span class='pageno' id='Page_293'>293</span>for the security of his people at home, who were remitting -money to his credit. Roughly dressed was he—had evidently -been 'on the wallaby' recently. After telling me his name -and birth, he must have thought I looked doubtful, for he -said, 'I am the man I say; I'm not the Claimant.' That -great personage was then supplying England and Australia -with food for conversation. A book lay near me with a Latin -quotation on the frontispiece. This I slightly indicated; he -at once took the hint and translated it correctly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What have you been doing lately?' I inquired. His -hands, roughened and gnarled, with no make-believe manual -labour, assured me that he had been pretty continuously at -work of some sort.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, station work mostly,' he returned answer. 'My last -job was cooking for a survey camp.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Was it for this that you graduated at Trinity College, -Dublin?' was my unspoken thought. That he drank hard -between times, poor fellow, was apparent to my experienced -eye. He received his money duly, which was, of course, 'blued' -like all previous remittances. I exchanged letters with the -friends who had written after him. I advised, if they were really -anxious for his return, that he should be placed on board ship, -but no money given to him till safe on blue water. What -historiettes of lapsed gentlefolk in the colonies might be -written! The Honourable Blank Blank, long past even the -middle passage of station work, who loafs about country -towns, taking work as ostler, or even 'boots' at the hotels, -ready to drink with any rough, and feebly subsisting upon -the reflection of former greatness, until he becomes too -useless for even such a position, is locked up for repeated -drunkenness, and finally dies in a gutter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The 'cranky' long-bearded shepherd vegetates on a back-block -station, amid desert regions now becoming traditionary, -where wire fences are all unknown, or by dingoes rendered -ineffectual.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A row of books adorns his solitary hut, a weekly paper, -perhaps his sponge and ivory-backed brushes, curious-appearing -souvenirs of old days. He talks pleasantly enough to the -rare-appearing stranger, who is also a gentleman. The -British tourist, if a new arrival, rides off with pity in his heart, -possibly with some idea of aiding the hermit to return to his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_294'>294</span>friends in England. If a colonist, he knows better; knows -that the old man has his half-yearly or annual 'break-out'; -that he can no more inhabit the same dwelling as ardent -spirits without utter debasement than fly; that such will be -his life, without change or amendment, until he ends it in a -Benevolent Asylum, or, more probably, is found dead in his -hut. Then from his papers it will be discovered that 'Old -Jack' or 'Jindabyne Joe' was, once upon a time, Lieutenant -Harry Willoughby Howard of the—th Fusiliers, one of the -smartest subalterns in that distinguished and tolerably fast -regiment. What brought him here? How fared he so ill in -Australia, where blue blood always counts for something, the -Radical press notwithstanding? Heigho! These and other -questions may be answered some day, or they may never be. -The nearest magistrate holds an inquiry, sitting on a bench -outside of the lonely hut on the sandhill. The overseer counts -out his flock to a fresh hand, and the ex-Fusilier, younger -brother of one of the magnates of Blankshire, is carted into -the head station and decently buried, with the collie dog -as chief mourner, <em>his</em> grief being real and unaffected, -and his lamentations for the next few days touchingly -audible.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Having a favourite horse to put in harness in the early -goldfield days, I betook me to an establishment in Melbourne -where a brake was kept. Of course I mounted the box to -watch and perhaps assist in the interesting performance. When -the brakesman got up—a good-looking middle-aged man with -grey whiskers—if he was not a gentleman, and an ex-swell at -that, I had never seen one. From his cravat to his well-polished -boots—a neat foot, too—from his hat to his accurate -dogskin gloves, he was 'good form.' He might have walked -straight out of one of Whyte Melville's novels.</p> - -<p class='c000'>His 'hands,' in stable language, were perfection, and as he -and the brake-horse between them, with practised adroitness, -conducted the drag and my Zohrab, a slashing grey son of -Donald Caird, out of the yard and up Lonsdale Street, I -felt a measureless pity for the dear old man, who, doubtless -failing to score at Bendigo or Sandhurst, had come down to -this for a livelihood. Charmed with his conversation and -manners, I am afraid I prolonged the lesson unduly, for when -we returned my aristocratic friend was urgently required to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_295'>295</span>school other young ones at a guinea per lesson. The -proprietor, a vulgar person, expressed his disapproval in -language unfit for publication. I remonstrated hotly, but the -dependent <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">emigré</span></i> said no word. I departed sadly, and never -saw him more. Melbourne was full of such derelicts in 'the -fifties.'</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_296'>296</span> - <h2 class='c006'>SHEARING IN RIVERINA, NEW SOUTH WALES</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>'Shearing begins to-morrow!' These apparently simple words -were spoken by Hugh Gordon, the manager of Anabanco -Station, in the district of Riverina, in the colony of New South -Wales, one Monday morning in the month of August. The -utterance had its significance to every member of a rather -extensive <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">corps dramatique</span></i>, awaiting the industrial drama -about to be performed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A low sandhill, a few years since, had looked out over a -sea of grey plains, covered partly with grass, partly with -salsiferous bushes and herbs. Three huts built of the trunks -of the pine and roofed with the bark of the box-tree, and a -skeleton-looking cattle-yard with its high 'gallows' (a rude -timber arrangement whereon to hang slaughtered cattle), alone -broke the monotony of the plain-ocean. A comparatively -small herd of cattle, numbering two or three thousand, found -more than sufficient pasturage during the short winter and -spring, but were often compelled to migrate to mountain -pastures when the precarious water-stores of the 'Run' were -dried up. But, at most, half-a-dozen stock-riders and station -hands were ever needed for the purpose of managing the -herd, so inadequate in number and profitable occupation to -this vast area of grazing country.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But a little later, one of the chiefs of the pastoral interest—a -shepherd king, so to speak—of shrewdness, energy, and -capital—had seen, approved of, and purchased the Crown lease -of this waste kingdom. As if by magic, the scene changed. -Gangs of navvies appeared, wending their way across the silent -plain. Dams were made, wells were dug. Tons of fencing-wire -<span class='pageno' id='Page_297'>297</span>were dropped on the sand by long lines of teams which -never ceased arriving. Sheep by thousands and tens of -thousands came grazing and cropping up to the erstwhile -lonely sandhill—now swarming with blacksmiths, carpenters, -engineers, fencers, shepherds, bullock-drivers—till the place -looked like a fair on the borders of Tartary.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Meanwhile everything was moving with calculated force and -cost, under the 'reign of law.' The seeming expense illustrated -the economic truth of doing all necessary work at once, rather -than by instalments. One hundred men for one day, rather -than one man for a hundred days. Results began to demonstrate -themselves. Within twelve months the dams were full, -the wells sending up their far-fetched, priceless water, the wire-fences -completed, the shepherds gone, and a hundred and -seventy thousand sheep were cropping the herbage of Anabanco. -Tuesday was the day fixed for the actual commencement of -the momentous, almost solemn transaction—the pastoral Hegira, -so to speak, as the time of most station events is calculated -with reference to it, as happening before or after shearing. -But before the first shot is fired which tells of the battle begun, -what raids and skirmishes, what reconnoitring and vedette duty -must take place!</p> - -<p class='c000'>First arrives the cook-in-chief to the shearers, with two -assistants, to lay in a few provisions for the week's consumption -of seventy able-bodied men. Now the cook of a large shearing -shed is a highly paid and irresponsible official. He is chosen -and provided by the shearers themselves. Payment is generally -arranged on the scale of half-a-crown a head weekly from each -shearer. For this sum he contracts to provide punctual and -effective cooking, paying out of his own pocket as many -<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">marmitons</span></i> as may be needful for that end, and must satisfy -the taste of his exacting and fastidious employers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the present case he confers with the storekeeper, Mr. -de Vere, a young gentleman of aristocratic connections, who is -thus gaining an excellent practical knowledge of the working -of a large station; and to this end has the store-keeping -department entrusted to him during shearing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He is not, perhaps, quite fit for a croquet party as he stands -now, with a flour-scoop in one hand and a pound of tobacco -in the other. But he looks like a man at work, also like a -gentleman, as he is. 'Jack the Cook' thus addresses him:</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_298'>298</span>'Now, Mr. de Vere, I hope there's not going to be any -humbugging about my rations and things. The men are all -up in their quarters, and as hungry as free selectors. They've -been a-payin' for their rations for ever so long, and of course, -now shearin's on, they're good for a little extra.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'All right, Jack,' returns De Vere good-humouredly; 'your -order was weighed out and sent away before breakfast. You -must have missed the cart. Here's the list. I'll read it out to -you—three bags flour, half a bullock, two bags sugar, a chest -of tea, four dozen of pickles, four dozen of jam, two gallons of -vinegar, five lbs. pepper, a bag of salt, plates, knives, forks, -ovens, frying-pans, saucepans, iron pots, and about a hundred -other things. You're to return all the cooking things safe, or -<em>pay for them</em>, mind that! You don't want anything more, do -you? Got enough for a regiment of cavalry, I should think.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, I don't know, sir. There won't be much left in a -week if the weather holds good,' makes answer the chief, as -one who thought nothing too stupendous to be accomplished -by shearers; 'but I knew I'd forgot something. As I'm here, -I'll take a few dozen boxes of sardines, and a case of pickled -salmon. The boys likes 'em, and, murder alive! haven't we -forgot the plums and currants; a hundredweight of each, Mr. -de Vere. They'll be crying out for plum-duff and currant-buns -for the afternoon, and bullying the life out of me if I -haven't a few trifles like. It's a hard life, surely, a shearers' -cook. Well, good-day, sir, you have 'em all down in the -book.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Lest the reader should imagine that the rule of Mr. Gordon -at Anabanco was a reign of luxury and that waste which -tendeth to penury, let him be aware that shearers in Riverina -are paid at a certain rate, usually that of one pound per -hundred sheep shorn. They agree, on the other hand, to pay -for all supplies consumed by them, at certain prices fixed -before the shearing agreement is signed. Hence it is entirely -their own affair whether their mess bills are extravagant or -economical. They can have everything within the rather wide -range of the station store—<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">pâtés de foie gras</span></i>, ortolans, roast -ostrich, novels, top-boots, double-barrelled guns, <em>if they like to -pay for them</em>; with one exception—no wine, no spirits! -Neither are they permitted to bring these stimulants 'on -to the ground' for their private use. Grog at shearing? -<span class='pageno' id='Page_299'>299</span>Matches in a powder-mill! It's very sad and bad; but our -Anglo-Saxon industrial champion cannot be trusted with the -fire-water. Navvies, men-of-war's men, soldiers, <em>and</em> shearers—fine -fellows all. But though the younger men might only -drink in moderation, the majority of the elders are utterly -without self-control, once in the front of temptation. And -wars, 'wounds without cause,' hot heads, shaking hands, delay, -and bad shearing, would be the inevitable result of spirits, <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">à -la discrétion</span></i>. So much is this a matter of certainty from -experience, that a clause is inserted and cheerfully signed in -most shearing agreements, 'that any man getting drunk or -bringing spirits on to the station during shearing, loses <em>the -whole of the money</em> earned by him.' The men know that the -restriction is for their benefit, as well as for the interest of -the master, and join in the prohibition heartily.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Let us give a glance at the small army of working-men -assembled at Anabanco—one out of hundreds of stations in -the colony of New South Wales, ranging from 100,000 sheep -downwards. There are seventy shearers; about fifty washers, -including the men connected with the steam-engine, boilers, -bricklayers, etc.; ten or twelve boundary riders, whose duty it -is to ride round the large paddocks, seeing that the fences are -intact, and keeping a general look-out over the condition of -the sheep; three or four overseers; half-a-dozen young gentlemen -acquiring a practical knowledge of sheep-farming, or, as it -is generally phrased, 'colonial experience,' a comprehensive -expression enough; a score or so of teamsters, with a couple -of hundred horses or bullocks waiting for the high-piled wool-bales, -which are loaded up and sent away almost as soon -as shorn; wool-sorters, pickers-up, pressers, yardsmen, extra -shepherds. It may easily be gathered from this outline what -an 'army with banners' is arrayed at Anabanco. While statistically -inclined, it may be added that the cash due for the -shearing alone (less the mess-bill) amounts to £17,000; for the -washing (roughly), £400, exclusive of provisions consumed, -hutting, wood, water, cooking, etc. Carriage of wool, £1500. -Other hands from £30 to £40 per week. All of which -disbursements take place within eight to twelve weeks after -the shears are in the first sheep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Tuesday arrives, 'big with fate.' As the sun tinges the -far sky-line the shearers are taking a slight refection of coffee -<span class='pageno' id='Page_300'>300</span>and currant-buns, to enable them to withstand the exhausting -interval between six <span class='fss'>A.M.</span> and eight o'clock, when serious -breakfast occurs. Shearers diet themselves on the principle -that the more they eat the stronger they must be. Digestion, -as preliminary to muscular development, is left to take its -chance. They certainly do get through a tremendous amount -of work. The whole frame is at its utmost tension, early and -late. But the preservation of health is due to natural strength -of constitution rather than to their profuse and unscientific -diet. Half an hour after sunrise Mr. Gordon walks quietly -into the vast building which contains the sheep and their -shearers—called 'the shed,' <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">par excellence</span></i>. Everything is in -perfect cleanliness and order. The floor swept and smooth, -with its carefully planed boards of pale yellow aromatic pine. -Small tramways, with baskets for the fleeces, run the wool up -to the wool-tables, superseding the more general plan of handpicking. -At each side of the shed-floor are certain small -areas, four or five feet square, such space being found by -experience to be sufficient for the postures and gymnastics -practised during the shearing of a sheep. Opposite each -square is an aperture, communicating with a long, narrow, -paled yard, outside of the shed. Through this each man -pops his sheep when shorn, where he remains in company -with the others shorn by the same hand, until counted out. -This being done by the overseer or manager, supplies a check -upon hasty, unskilful work. The body of the woolshed, -floored with battens placed half an inch apart, is filled with -the woolly victims. This enclosure is subdivided into minor -pens, of which each fronts the place of two shearers, who -catch from it till the pen is empty. When this takes place, -a man detailed for the purpose refills it. As there are local -advantages, an equal distribution of places is made by lot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On every subdivision stands a shearer, as Mr. Gordon -walks, with an air of calm authority, down the long aisle. -Seventy men, chiefly in their prime, the flower of the working-men -of the colony, they are variously gathered. England, -Ireland, and Scotland are represented in the proportion of -one-third of the number; the balance is composed of native-born -Australians.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Among these last—of pure Anglo-Saxon or Anglo-Celtic -descent—are to be seen some of the finest men, physically -<span class='pageno' id='Page_301'>301</span>considered, the race is capable of producing. Taller than -their British-born brethren, with softer voices and more -regular features, they inherit the powerful frames and unequalled -muscular development of the breed. Leading lives -chiefly devoted to agriculture, they enjoy larger intervals of -leisure than are permissible to the labouring classes of -Europe. The climate is mild and favourable to health. -They have been accustomed from childhood to abundance -of the best food; opportunities of intercolonial travel are -common. Hence the Anglo-Australian labourer, without, -on the one hand, the sharpened eagerness which marks -his Transatlantic cousin, has yet an air of independence -and intelligence, combined with a natural grace of movement, -unknown to the peasantry of Britain.</p> - -<p class='c000'>An idea is prevalent that the Australians are, as a race, -physically inferior to the British. It is asserted that they -grow too fast, tend to height and slenderness, and do -not possess adequate stamina and muscle. This idea is -erroneous. The men reared in the cities on the sea-boards, -living sedentary lives in shops or counting-houses, are often -pallid and slight of form. Such are they who live under -similar conditions all over the world. But those youngsters -who have followed the plough on the upland farms, or lived -a wilder life on the stations of the far interior; who have had -their fill of wheaten bread, chops, and steaks since they could -walk, and sniffed up the free bush breezes from infancy, they -are <em>men</em>—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Stout of heart and ready of hand,</div> - <div class='line'>As e'er drove prey from Cumberland</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>—a business, I may remark, at which many of them would -have distinguished themselves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Take Abraham Lawson, as he stands there in a natural -and unstudied attitude, six feet four in his stockings, wide-chested, -stalwart, with a face like that of a Greek statue. -Take Billy May, fair-haired, mild, insouciant, almost languid, -till you see him at work. Then, again, Jack Windsor, handsome, -saucy, and wiry as a bull-terrier; like him, with a -strong natural inclination for the combat; good for any man -of his weight or a trifle over, with the gloves or without.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is curious to note how the old English practice of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_302'>302</span>settling disputes with nature's weapons has taken root in -Australia. It would 'gladden the sullen souls of defunct -gladiators' to watch two lads, whose fathers had never -trodden Britain's soil, pull off their jackets, and go to work -'hammer and tongs' with the savage silence of the true island -type.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is now seven o'clock. Mr. Gordon moves forward. As -he does so, every man leans towards the open door of the -pen, in front of which he stands. The bell sounds. With -the first stroke each one of the seventy men has sprung upon -a sheep; has drawn it out, placed its head across his knee, -and is working his shears, as if the 'last man out' was to be -flogged. Four minutes—James Steadman, who learned last -year, has shorn down one side of his sheep; Jack Holmes -and Gundagai Bill are well down the other side of theirs; -when Billy May raises himself with a jerking sigh, and -releases his sheep, perfectly clean—shorn from the nose to the -heels, through the aperture of his separate enclosure. With -the same effort apparently he calls out 'Wool!' and darts -upon another sheep. Drawing this second victim across his -knee, he buries his shear-point in the long wool of its neck. -A moment later (a lithe, eager boy having gathered up fleece -number one and tossed it into the tram-basket) he is half-way -down its side, the wool hanging in one fleece like a great -glossy mat, before you have done wondering whether he did -really shear the first sheep, or whether he had not a ready-shorn -one in his coat sleeve, like a conjurer. By this time -Lawson and Windsor, Jack Holmes and Gundagai Bill are -'out,' or finished, and the cry of 'Wool! wool!' seems to -run continuously up and down the long aisles of the shed, -like a single note upon some rude instrument. Now and -then the refrain is varied by 'Tar!' being shouted instead, -when a piece of skin is snipped off as well as the wool. -Great healing properties are attributed to this extract in the -shed. And if a shearer slice off a piece of flesh from his own -person, as occasionally happens, he gravely anoints it with the -universal remedy, and considers that the onus then lies with -Providence, there being no more that man can do. Though -little time is lost, the men are by no means up to the speed -which they will attain in a few days, when in full practice and -training. Their nerve and muscle will be then, so to speak, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_303'>303</span>at concert-pitch, while sheep after sheep will be shorn with a -precision and celerity almost magical to the unprofessional -observer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The reader may here be informed that speed and completeness -of denudation are the grand desiderata in shearing. The -employer thinks principally of the latter, the shearer of -the former. To adjust the proportion equitably is one of the -incomplete aspirations which torment humanity. Hence -the contest—old as human society—between labour and -capital.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This is the first day. According to old-established custom, -a kind of truce obtains. It is before the battle—the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">salut</span></i>, -when no hasty word or too demonstrative action can be -suffered by the canons of good taste. Red Bill, Flash Jack, -Jem the Scooper, and other roaring blades, more famous for -expedition than faithful manipulation, are shearing to-day with -a painstaking precision, as of men to whom character is everything. -Mr. Gordon marches softly up and down, regarding -the shearers with a paternal and gratified expression, occasionally -hinting at slight improvements of style, or expressing -unqualified approval, as a sheep is turned out shaven rather -than shorn. All goes on well. Nothing is heard but expressions -of goodwill and enthusiasm for the general welfare. It -is a triumph of the dignity of labour.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One o'clock. Mr. Gordon moved to the bell and sounded -it. At the first stroke several men on their way to the pens -stopped abruptly, and began to put on their coats. One fellow -of an alert nature had just finished his sheep and was sharpening -his shears, when his eye caught Mr. Gordon's form in close -proximity to the final bell. With a bound like a wild-cat, he -reached the pen and drew out his sheep a bare second before -the first stroke, amidst the laughter and congratulations of his -comrades. Another man had his hand on the pen-gate at the -same instant, but by the Median law was compelled to return -sheepless. He was cheered, but ironically. Those whose -sheep were in an unfinished stage quietly completed them, -the others moving off to the dinner, where the board literally -smoked with abundance. An hour passed. The meal was -concluded; the smoke was over; and the more careful men -were back in the shed sharpening their shears by two o'clock. -Punctually at that hour the bell repeated its summons <i><span lang="it" xml:lang="it">da -<span class='pageno' id='Page_304'>304</span>capo</span></i>. The warm afternoon gradually lengthened its shadows; -the shears clicked in tireless monotone; the pens filled and -became empty. The wool-presses yawned for the mountain -of fleeces which filled the bins in front of them, divided into -various grades of excellence, and continuously disgorged them, -neatly, cubically packed and branded.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At six o'clock the bell brought the day's work to a close. -The sheep of each man were counted in his presence, and -noted down with scrupulous care, the record being written in -full and hung up for public inspection in the shed next day. -This important ceremony over, master and men, manager, -labourers, and supernumeraries betook themselves to their -separate abodes, with such avoidance of delay that in five -minutes not a soul was left in or near the great building -lately so busy and populous, except the boys who were sweeping -up the floor. The silence of ages seems to fall and settle -upon it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next morning at a rather earlier hour every man is at his -post. Business is meant decidedly. Now commences the -delicate and difficult part of the superintendence which keeps -Mr. Gordon at his post in the shed nearly from daylight to -dark for from eight to ten weeks. During the first day he -has formed a sort of gauge of each man's temper and workmanship. -For now and henceforth the natural bias of each shearer -will appear. Some try to shear too fast, and in their haste -shear badly. Some are rough and savage with the sheep, -which do occasionally kick and become unquiet at critical -times, and, it must be confessed, are provoking enough. -Some shear fairly and handsomely to a superficial eye, but -commit the unpardonable offence of 'leaving wool on.' Some -are deceitful, shearing carefully when overlooked, but 'racing' -and otherwise misbehaving directly the eye of authority is -diverted. These and many other tricks and defects require -to be noted and abated, quietly but firmly, by the manager of -the shed—firmly, because evil would develop and spread -ruinously if not checked; quietly, because immense loss -might be incurred by a strike. Shearing differs from other -work in this wise—it is work <em>against time</em>, more especially in -Riverina. If the wool be not off the backs of the sheep before -November, all sorts of drawbacks and destructions supervene. -The spear-shaped grass seeds, specially formed as if in special -<span class='pageno' id='Page_305'>305</span>collusion with the evil one, hasten to bury themselves in the -wool and even in the flesh of the tender victims. Dust rises -in red clouds from the unmoistened, betrampled meadows, -so lately verdurous and flower-spangled. From snowy white -to an unlovely bistre turn the carefully-washed fleeces, -causing anathemas from overseers and depreciation from -brokers. All these losses of temper, trouble, and money -become inevitable if shearing be protracted, it may be, beyond -a given week.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hence, as in harvest with a short allowance of fair weather, -discipline must be tempered with diplomacy. Lose your -temper, and be over particular; off go Billy May, Abraham -Lawson, and half-a-dozen of your best men, making a weekly -difference of two or three thousand sheep for the remainder -of the shearing. Can you not replace them? Not so! -Every shed in Riverina will be hard at work during this -present month of September and for every hour of October. -Till that time not a shearer will come to your gate, except, -perhaps, one or two useless, characterless men. Are you to -tolerate bad workmanship? Not that either. But try all -other means with your men before you resort to harshness; -and be <em>quite</em> certain that your sentence is just, and that you -can afford the defection.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So our friend Mr. Gordon, wise from tens of thousands of -shorn sheep that have been counted out past his steady eye, -criticises temperately but watchfully. He reproves sufficiently, -but no more, any glaring fault; makes his calculation as to -who are really bad shearers, and can be discharged without -loss to the commonwealth; or who shear fairly and can be -coached up to a decent average. One division, slow, and -good only when slow, have to be watched lest they emulate -'the talent,' and so come to grief. Then 'the talent' has to -be mildly admonished from time to time lest they force the -pace, set a bad example, and lure the other men on to -'racing.' This last leads to slovenly shearing, ill-usage of the -sheep, and general dissatisfaction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Tact, temper, patience, and firmness are each and all -necessary attributes in that captain of industry who has the -delicate and responsible task of superintending a large woolshed. -Hugh Gordon had shown all in such proportion as -would have made him a distinguished person anywhere, had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_306'>306</span>fortune not adjusted for him this particular profession. Calm -with the consciousness of strength, he was considerate in -manner as in nature, until provoked by glaring dishonesty or -incivility. Then the lion part of his nature awoke, so that -it commonly went ill with the aggressor. As this was matter -of public report, he had little occasion to spoil the repose of -his bearing. Day succeeds day, and for a fortnight the -machinery goes on smoothly and successfully. The sheep -arrive at an appointed hour by detachments and regiments at -the wash-pen. They depart thence, like good boys on -Saturday night, redolent of soap and water, and clean to a -fault—entering the shed white and flossy as newly-combed -poodles, to emerge on the way back to their pasturage, slim, -delicate, agile, with a bright black <strong>A</strong> legibly branded with tar -on their paper-white skins.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Anabanco world—stiffish but undaunted—is turning -out of bed one morning. Ha! what sounds are these? and -why does the room look so dark? Rain, as I'm alive! -'Hurrah!' says Master Jack Bowles, one of the young -gentlemen. He is learning (more or less) practical sheep-farming, -preparatory to having (one of these days) an -Anabanco of his own. 'Well, this is a change, and I'm not -sorry, for one,' quoth Mr. Jack. 'I'm stiff all over. No one -can stand such work long. Won't the shearers growl? No -shearing to-day, and perhaps none to-morrow either.' Truth -to tell, Mr. Bowles' sentiments are not confined to his -ingenuous bosom. Some of the shearers grumble at being -stopped, 'just as a man was earning a few shillings.' Those -who are in top pace and condition don't like it. But to many -of the rank and file—working up to and a little beyond their -strength—with whom swelled wrists and other protests of -nature are becoming apparent, it is a relief. They are glad -of the respite. At dinner-time all the sheep in the sheds, put -in overnight in anticipation of such a contingency, are reported -shorn. All hands then are idle for the rest of the day. The -shearers dress and avail themselves of various resources. -Some go to look at their horses, now in clover or its -equivalent, in the Riverina <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">graminetum</span>. Some play cards, -others wash or mend their clothes. A large proportion of the -Australians, having armed themselves with paper, envelopes, -and a shilling's worth of stamps from the store, bethink -<span class='pageno' id='Page_307'>307</span>themselves of neglected or desirable correspondents. Many -a letter for Mrs. Leftalone, Wallaroo Creek, or Miss Jane Sweetapple, -Honeysuckle Flat, as the case may be, will find its way -into the post-bag to-morrow. A pair of the youngsters are having -a round or two with the gloves; while to complete the variety -of recreations compatible with life at a woolshed, a selected -troupe are busy in the comparative solitude of that building, at -a rehearsal of a tragedy and a farce, with which they intend, the -very next rainy day, to astonish the population of Anabanco.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the home station a truce to labour's 'alarms' is proclaimed, -except in the case and person of Mr. De Vere. So -far is he from participation in the general holiday, that he -finds the store thronged with shearers, washers, and 'knockabout -men,' who, being let loose, think it would be nice to -go and buy something. He therefore grumbles slightly at -having no rest like other people.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's all very fine,' says Mr. Jack Bowles, who, seated -on a case, is smoking a large meerschaum and mildly regarding -all things; 'but what have you got to do when we're all -<em>hard at work</em> at the shed?' with an air of great importance -and responsibility.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's right, Mr. Bowles,' chimes in one of the shearers; -'stand up for the shed. I never see a young gentleman work -as hard as you do.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Bosh!' growls De Vere; 'as if anybody couldn't gallop -about from the shed to the wash-pen, and carry messages, -and give half of them wrong! Why, Mr. Gordon said the -other day he should have to take you off and put on a -Chinaman—that he couldn't make more mistakes.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'All envy and malice and t'other thing, De Vere, because -you think I'm rising in the profession,' returns the good-natured -Bowles. 'Mr. Gordon's going to send 20,000 sheep, -after shearing, to the Lik Lak paddock, and he said I should -go in charge.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Charge be hanged!' laughs De Vere (with two very bright-patterned -Crimean shirts, one in each hand, which he offers to -a tall young shearer for inspection). 'There's a well there, -and whenever either of the two men, of whom you'll have -<em>charge</em>, gets sick or runs away, you'll have to work the whim -in his place, till another man's sent out, if it's a month.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This appalling view of station promotion rather startles Mr. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_308'>308</span>Bowles, who applies himself to his meerschaum, amid the -ironical comments of the shearers. However, not easily -daunted, or 'shut up,' according to the more familiar station -phrase, he rejoins, after a brief interval of contemplation, -that 'accidents will happen, you know, De Vere, my boy—<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">apropos</span></i> -of which moral sentiment, I'll come and help you in -your dry-goods business; and then, look here, if <em>you</em> get ill or -run away, I'll have a profession to fall back upon.' This is -held to be a Roland of sufficient pungency for De Vere's -Oliver. Every one laughed. And the two youngsters betook -themselves to a humorous puffing of the miscellaneous -contents of the store: tulip beds of gorgeous Crimean shirts, -boots, books, tobacco, canvas slippers, pocket-knives, Epsom -salts, pipes, pickles, pain-killer, pocket-handkerchiefs, and pills, -sardines, saddles, shears, and sauces; in fact, everything which -every kind of man might want, and which apparently every -man did want, for large and various were the purchases, and -great the flow of conversation. Finally, after everything had -been severely and accurately debited to the purchasers, the -store was cleared and locked up. A store is a necessity of a -large station; not by any means because of the profit upon -goods sold, but it obviously would be bad economy for old -Bill the shepherd, or Barney the bullock-driver, to visit the -next township, from ten to twenty miles distant, as the case -may be, every time the former wanted a pound of tobacco, or -the latter a pair of boots. They might possibly obtain these -necessary articles as good in quality, as cheap in price. But -there are wolves in that wood, oh, my weak brothers! In -every town dwells one of the 'sons of the giant'—the Giant -Grog—red-eyed, with steel muscles and iron claws; once in -these, which have held many and better men to the death, -Barney nor Bill emerges not, save pale, fevered, nerveless, and -impecunious. So arose the station store. Barney befits himself -with boots without losing his feet; Bill fills his pockets -with match-boxes and smokes the pipe of sobriety, virtuous -perforce till his carnival, <em>after</em> shearing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next day was wet, and threatened broken weather. -Matters were not too placid with the shearers. A day or two -for rest is all very well, but continuous wet weather means -compulsory idleness, and gloom succeeds repose; for not -only are all hands losing time and earning no money, but -<span class='pageno' id='Page_309'>309</span>they are, to use the language of the stable, 'eating their heads -off' the while. The rather profuse mess and general expenditure, -which caused little reflection when they were -earning at the rate of two or three hundred a year, became -unpleasantly suggestive now that all was going out and -nothing coming in. Hence loud and deep rose the anathemas, -as the discontented men gazed sadly or wrathfully at the -misty sky.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A few days' showery weather having well-nigh driven our -shearers to desperation, out comes the sun in all his glory. -He is never far away or very faint in Riverina.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All the pens are filled for the morrow; very soon after the -earliest sunbeams, the bell sounds its welcome summons, and -the whole force tackles to the work with an ardour proportioned -to the delay, every man working as if for the ransom of -his family from slavery. These men work, spurred on by the -double excitement of acquiring social reputation and making -money rapidly. Not an instant is lost; not a nerve, limb, or -muscle doing less than the hardest taskmaster could flog out -of a slave. Occasionally you see a shearer, after finishing his -sheep, walk quietly out, and not appearing for a couple of -hours, or perhaps not again during the day. Do not put him -down as a sluggard; be assured that he has tasked Nature -dangerously hard, and has only just given in before she does. -Look at that silent, slight youngster, with a bandage round -his swollen wrist. Every 'blow' of the shears is agony to -him, yet he disdains to give in, and has been working 'in -distress' for hours. The pain is great, as you can see by the -flush which surges across his brown face, yet he goes on -manfully to the last sheep, and endures to the very verge of -fainting.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A change in the manner and tone of the shed is apparent -towards the end of the day. It is now the ding-dong of the -desperate fray, when the blood of the fierce animal man is up, -when mortal blows are exchanged, and curses float upwards -with the smoke and dust. The ceaseless clicking of the -shears—the stern earnestness of the men, toiling with feverish, -tireless energy—the constant succession of sheep shorn and -let go, caught and commenced—the occasional savage oath or -passionate gesture, as a sheep kicked and struggled with -perverse, delaying obstinacy—the cuts and stabs, with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_310'>310</span>attendant effusion of blood, both of sheep and shearers—the -brief decided tones of Mr. Gordon, in repression or command—all -told the spectator that tragic action was introduced into -the performance; indeed, one of the minor excitements of -shearing was then and there transacted. Mr. Gordon had -more than once warned a dark, sullen-looking man that he -did not approve of his style of shearing. He was temporarily -absent, and on his return found the same man about to let -go a sheep, whose appearance, as a shorn wool-bearing -quadruped, was painful and discreditable in the extreme.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Let your sheep go, my man,' said he, in a tone which -arrested the attention of the shearers; 'but don't trouble -yourself to catch another.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why not?' said the delinquent sulkily.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You know very well why not!' said Gordon, walking -closely up to him, and looking straight at him with eyes that -began to glitter. 'You've had fair warning; you've not -chosen to take it. Now you can go!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I suppose you'll pay a man for the sheep he's shorn?' -growled out the ruffian.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Not one shilling until after shearing. You can come -then, if you like,' answered Mr. Gordon with perfect -distinctness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The bully looks savage; but the tall, powerful frame and -steady eye were not inviting for personal arbitration of the -matter in hand. He puts up his two pairs of shears, takes up -his coat, and walks out of the shed. The time was past -when Red Bill or Terrible Dick (ruffians whom a sparse -labour market rendered necessary evils) would have flung -down his shears on the floor and told the manager that if he -didn't like that shearing he could shear his —— sheep -himself and be hanged to him; or, on refusal of instant -payment, would have proposed to bury his shears in the -intestines of his employer, by way of adjusting the balance -between Capital and Labour. Wild tales are told of woolshed -rows. One squatter at least was stabbed mortally with -that fatal and too convenient weapon, a shear-blade.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The man thus summarily dealt with could, like most of his -companions, shear very well if he took pains. Keeping to a -moderate number of sheep, his workmanship could be good; -but he must needs try and keep up with Billy May or -<span class='pageno' id='Page_311'>311</span>Abraham Lawson, who can shear from a hundred to a -hundred and thirty sheep per day, and do them beautifully. -So in 'racing' he works hastily and badly, cuts the skin of his -luckless sheep, and leaves wool here and there on them, -grievous and exasperating to behold. So sentence of expulsion -goes forth fully against him. Having arrayed himself for the -road, he makes one more effort for a settlement and some -money wherewith to pay for board and lodgings on the road. -Only to have a mad carouse at the nearest township, however; -after which he will tell a plausible story of his leaving -the shed on account of Mr. Gordon's temper, and avail -himself of the usual free hospitality of the bush to reach -another shed. He addresses Mr. Gordon with an attempt -at conciliation and deference:</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It seems very 'ard, sir, as a man can't get the trifle of -money coming to him, which I've worked 'ard for.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It's very hard you won't try and shear decently,' retorts -Mr. Gordon, by no means conciliated. 'Leave the shed!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Ill-conditioned rascal as he is, he has a mate or travelling-companion -in whose breast exists some rough ideas of fidelity. -He now takes up the dialogue.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I suppose if Jim's shearing don't suit, mine won't either.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I did not speak to you,' answered Mr. Gordon, as calmly -as if he had expected the speech; 'but of course you can -go too.' He said this with an air of studied unconcern, as if -he would rather like a dozen more men to knock off work. -The two men walk out; but the epidemic does not spread; -and several take the lesson home and mend their ways -accordingly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The weather is now splendid. Not a cloud specks the -bright blue sky. The shearers continue to work at the same -express-train pace; fifty bales of wool roll every day from the -wool-presses; as fast as they reach that number they are -loaded upon one of the numerous drays and waggons which -have been waiting for weeks. Tall brown men have been -recklessly cutting up hides for the last fortnight, wherewith -to lash the bales securely. It is considered safer practice to -load wool as soon as may be; fifty bales represent about a -thousand pounds sterling. In a building, however secure, -should a fire break out, a few hundred bales are easily burned; -but once on the dray, this much-dreaded <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">edax rerum</span></i> in a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_312'>312</span>dry country has little chance. The driver, responsible to the -extent of his freight, generally sleeps under his dray; hence -both watchman and insulation are provided.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The unrelaxing energy with which work is pushed at this -stage is exciting and contagious. At or before daylight every -soul in the great establishment is up. The boundary riders -are always starting off for a twenty or thirty mile ride, and -bringing tens of thousands of sheep to the wash-pen; at that -huge lavatory, there is splashing and soaking all day with an -army of washers; not a moment is lost from daylight till dark, or -used for any purpose save the all-engrossing work and needful -food. At nine o'clock <span class='fss'>P.M.</span> luxurious dreamless sleep obtains, -given only to those whose physical powers have been taxed to -the utmost, and who can bear without injury the daily tension.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Everything and everybody is in splendid working order, -nothing is out of gear. Rapid and regular as a steam-engine -the great host of toilers moves onward daily, with a march -promising an early completion. Mr. Gordon is not in high -spirits, for so cautious and far-seeing a captain rarely feels -himself so independent of circumstances as to indulge in that -reckless mood, but much satisfied with the prospect. Whew! -the afternoon darkens, and the night is given over to waterspouts -and hurricanes, as it appears. Next day is raw, gusty, -with chill heavy showers, drains to be cut, roofs to be seen to, -shorn sheep shivering, washers all playing pitch-and-toss, -shearers sulky; everybody but the young gentlemen wearing an -injured expression of countenance. 'Looks as if it would -rain for a month,' says Long Jack. 'If we hadn't been delayed, -might have had the shearing over by this.' Reminded that -there are 50,000 sheep yet remaining to be shorn, and that -by no possibility could they have been finished; answers, 'He -supposes so, always the same, everything sure to go agin the -pore man.' The weather does not clear up. Winter seems -to have taken thought, and determined to assert his rights -even in this land of eternal summer. The shed is filled, and -before the sheep so kept dry are shorn, down comes the rain -again. Not a full day's shearing for ten days. Then the -clouds disappear as if the curtain of a stage had been rolled -up, and lo! the golden sun, fervid and impatient to obliterate -the track of winter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the first day after the recommencement, matters go -<span class='pageno' id='Page_313'>313</span>much as usual. Steady work and little talk; every one is -apparently anxious to make up for lost time. But on the -second morning after breakfast, when the bell sounds, instead -of the usual cheerful dash at the sheep, every man stands -silent and motionless in his place. Some one uttered the -words 'Roll up!' Then the seventy men converge, and -slowly, but with one impulse, walk to the end of the shed, -where stands Mr. Gordon.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The concerted action of any large body of men bears with -it an element of power which commands respect. The -weapons of force and number are theirs; at their option to -wield with or without mercy. At one period of Australian -colonisation a superintendent in Mr. Gordon's position might -have had good ground for uneasiness. Mr. Jack Bowles sees -in it an <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">émeute</span></i> of a democratic and sanguinary nature; -regrets deeply his absent revolver, but draws up to his leader, -prepared to die by his side. That calm centurion feels no -such serious misgivings. He knows there had been dire -grumbling among the shearers, in consequence of the weather. -He knows of malcontents among them. He is prepared for -some sort of demand on their part, and has concluded to -make moderate concessions. So, looking cheerfully at the -men, he quietly awaits the deputation. As they near him -there is some hesitation; then three delegates come to the -front. These are old Ben, Abraham Lawson, and Billy May. -Ben Thornton had been selected from his age and long experience -of the rights and laws of the craft. A weather-beaten, -wiry old Englishman, his face and accent, darkened as the -former is by the Australian summers of half a century, still -retain the trace of his native Devonshire. It is his boast -that he had shorn for forty years, and as regularly 'knocked -down' (or spent in a single debauch) his shearing money. -Lawson represents the small free-holders, being a steady, -shrewd fellow, and one of the fastest shearers. Billy May -stands for the fashion and 'talent,' being the 'Ringer,' or -fastest shearer of the whole assembly, and as such truly admirable -and distinguished.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well now, men,' quoth Mr. Gordon, cheerily meeting -matters half-way, 'what's it all about?' The younger delegates -look at old Ben, who, now that it was 'demanded of him -to speak the truth,' or such dilution thereof as might seem -<span class='pageno' id='Page_314'>314</span>most favourable to the interests of the shed, found a difficulty, -like many wiser men, about his exordium.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, Muster Gordon, look'ee here, sir. The weather's -been summat awful, and clean agin' shearin'. We've not -been earning our grub, and——'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'So it has,' answered the manager, 'so it has; but can I -help the weather? I'm as anxious as you are to have the -shearing over quickly. We're both of us of one mind about -that, eh?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's right enough, sir,' strikes in Abraham Lawson, -feeling that Ben was getting the worst of the argument, and -was moreover far less fluent than usual, probably from being -deprived of the aid of the customary expletives; 'but we're -come to say this, sir, that the season's turned out very wet -indeed; we've had a deal of broken time, and the men feel it -hard to be paying for a lot of rations, and hardly earning -anything. We're shearing the sheep very close and clean. -You won't have 'em done no otherways. Not like some sheds -where a man can "run" a bit and make up for lost time. -Now, we've all come to think this, sir, that if we're to go on -shearing the sheep well, and stick to them, so as to get them -done before the dust and grass-seed come in, you ought to -make us some allowance. We know we've agreed for so -much a hundred, and all that. Still, the season's turned out -so out-and-out bad, and we hope you'll consider it and make -it up to us somehow.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Never knew a worse year,' corroborated Billy May, who -thought it indispensable to say something; 'haven't made -enough, myself, to pay the cook.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was not strictly true, at any rate, as to Master Billy's -own earnings; he being such a remarkably fast shearer (and -good withal), that he had always a respectable sum credited -to him for his day's work, even when many of the slower men -came off short enough. However, enough had been said to -make Mr. Gordon fully comprehend the case. The men were -dissatisfied. They had come in a roundabout way to the -conclusion that some concession, not mentioned in their -bond, should come from the side of Capital to that of Labour. -Whether wages, interest of capital, share of profits or reserved -fund, they knew not, nor cared. This was their stand. And -being Englishmen they intended to abide by it.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_315'>315</span>The manager had considered the situation before it actually -arose. He now rapidly took in the remaining points of debate. -The shearers had signed a specific agreement for a stipulated -rate of payment, irrespective of the weather. By the letter of -the law they had no case. Whether they made little or much -profit was not his affair. But he was a just and kindly man, -as well as reasonably politic. They had shorn well, and the -weather had been discouraging. He knew, too, that an abrupt -denial might cause a passive mutiny, if not a strike. If they -set themselves to thwart him, it was in their power to shear -badly, to shear slowly, and to force him to discharge many of -them. He might have them fined, perhaps imprisoned by the -police court. Meanwhile how could shearing go on? Dust -and grass-seeds would soon be upon them. He resolved on a -compromise, and spoke out at once in a decided tone, as the -men gathered yet more closely around him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Look here, all of you! You know well that I'm not bound -to find you in good shearing weather. Still, I'm aware that the -season has been against you; you have shorn pretty well, so -far, though I've had to make examples, and am quite ready to -make more. What I am willing to do is this: to every man -who works on till the finish, and shears to my satisfaction, I -will make a fair allowance in the ration account. That is, I -will make no charge for the beef. Does that suit you? There -was a chorus of 'All right, sir, we're satisfied.' 'Mr. Gordon -always does the fair thing,' etc. And work was immediately -resumed with alacrity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The clerk of the weather, too gracious even in these regions, -as far as the absence of rain is concerned, became steadily -propitious.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Cloudless skies and a gradually ascending thermometer -were the signs that spring was changing into summer. The -splendid herbage ripened and dried; patches of bare earth -began to be discernible amid the late thick-swarded pastures, -dust to rise, and cloud-pillars of sand to float and eddy—the -desert genii of the Arab. But the work went on at a high rate -of speed, outpacing the fast-coming summer; and before any -serious disaster arose, the last flock was 'on the battens,' and -amid ironical congratulations the 'cobbler' (or last sheep) was -seized, and stripped of his dense and difficult fleece. In ten -minutes the vast woolshed, lately echoing with the ceaseless -<span class='pageno' id='Page_316'>316</span>click of the shears, the jests, the songs, the oaths of the rude -congregation, was silent and deserted. The floors were swept, -the pens closed, the sheep on their way to a distant paddock. -Not a soul remains about the building but the pressers, who -stay to work at the rapidly lessening piles of fleece in the bins, -or a meditative teamster who sits musing on a wool-bale, -absorbed in a calculation as to when his load will be -made up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is sundown, a rather later time of closing than usual, but -rendered necessary by the possibility of the grand finale. The -younger men troop over to the hut, larking like schoolboys. -Abraham Lawson throws a poncho over his broad shoulders, -lights his pipe, and strides along, towering above the rest, erect -and stately as a guardsman. Considerably more than you or -I, reader, would have been, had we shorn a hundred and thirty-four -sheep, as he has done to-day. Billy May has shorn a -hundred and forty-two, and he puts his hand on the four-foot -paling fence of the yard and vaults over it like a deer, preparatory -to a swim in the creek. At dinner you will see -them all, with fresh Crimeans and jerseys, clean, comfortable, -and in grand spirits. Next morning is settling day. The -book-keeping department at Anabanco being severely correct, -all is in readiness. Each man's tally, or number of sheep -shorn, has been entered daily to his credit. His private and -personal investments at the store have been as duly debited. -The shearers, as a corporation, have been charged with the -multifarious items of their rather copious mess-bill. This sum-total -is divided by the number of the shearers, the extract -being the amount for which each man is liable. This sum -varies in its weekly proportion, at different sheds. With an -extravagant cook, or cooks, the weekly bill is often alarming. -When the men and their functionary study economy, it may -be kept reasonably low.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The men have been sitting or standing about the office for -half an hour, when Mr. Jack Bowles rushes out and shouts, -'William May.' That young person, excessively clean, attired -in a quiet tweed suit, with his hair cut correctly short, advances -with an air of calm intrepidity, and faces Mr. Gordon, now -seated at a long table, wearing a judicial expression of -countenance.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_317'>317</span>'Well, May! here's your account:—</p> - -<table class='table1' summary='account'> - <tr> - <td class='c007'>So many sheep at £1 per 100</td> - <td class='c007'> </td> - <td class='c018'>£</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c009'>Cook, so many weeks</td> - <td class='c007'>£</td> - <td class='c018'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c009'>Shearing store account</td> - <td class='c007'> </td> - <td class='c018'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c009'>Private store account</td> - <td class='c007'> </td> - <td class='c018'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'> </td> - <td class='c007'>———</td> - <td class='c018'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'> </td> - <td class='c007'> </td> - <td class='c018'>———</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c019' colspan='2'>Total</td> - <td class='c018'>£</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c007'> </td> - <td class='c007'> </td> - <td class='c018'>======</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p class='c000'>Is the tally of your sheep right?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh, I daresay it's all right, Mr. Gordon. I made it so and -so; about ten less.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, well; ours is correct, no doubt. Now, I want to -make up a good subscription for the hospital this year. How -much will you give? You've done pretty well, I think.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Put me down a pound, sir.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Very well, that's fair enough. If every one gives what they -can afford, you men will always have a place to go to when -you're hurt or laid up. See, I put your name down, and you'll -see it in the published list. Now, about the shearing, May. -I consider that you have done your work excellently well, and -behaved well all through. You're a fast shearer, but you shear -closely, and don't knock your sheep about. I therefore do -not charge you for any part of your meat bill, and I pay you -at the rate of half-a-crown a hundred for all your sheep, <em>over -and above</em> your agreement. Will that do?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Very well indeed, and I'm much obliged to you, Mr. -Gordon.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, good-bye, May. Always call when you're passing, -and if any work is going on you'll get your share. Here's -your cheque. Send in Lawson.' Exit May in high spirits, -having cleared about three pounds per week during the whole -time of shearing, and having lived a far from unpleasant life, -indeed akin to that of a fighting cock, from the commencement -to the end of that period.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Lawson's interview may be described as having similar -results. He also was a first-class shearer, though not so -artistic as the gifted Billy. Jack Windsor's saucy blue eyes -twinkled merrily as he returned to his companions, and -incontinently leaped into the saddle on his wild-eyed colt. -After these worthies came a shearer named Jackson. He -belonged to quite a different class; he could shear well if -<span class='pageno' id='Page_318'>318</span>he pleased, but had a rooted disbelief that honesty was the -best policy, and a fixed determination to shear as many sheep -as he could get the manager to pass. By dint of close -watching, constant reprimand, and occasional 'raddling' -(marking badly shorn sheep and refusing to count them), -Mr. Gordon had managed to tone him down to average -respectability of execution; still he was always uneasily -aware that whenever his eye was not upon him, Jackson -was doing what he ought not to do, with might and main. -He had indeed kept him on from sheer necessity, but he -intended none the less to mark his opinion of him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Come in, Jackson. Your tally is so and so. Is that -right?'</p> - -<p class='c000'><em>Jackson.</em>—'I suppose so.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Cook and store account, so much; shearing account so -much.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><em>Jackson.</em>—'And a good deal too.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That is your affair,' said Mr. Gordon, sternly enough. -'Now, look here, you're in my opinion a bad shearer and a -bad man. You have given me a great deal of trouble, and -I should have kicked you out of the shed weeks ago, if I had -not been short of men. I shall make a difference between -you and those who have tried to do their best; I make you -no allowance of any sort; I pay you by the strict agreement; -there's your cheque. Now, go!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Jackson goes out with a very black countenance. He -mutters, with an oath, that, if he'd known how he was going -to be served 'he'd 'a "blocked" 'em a little more.' He is -believed to have been served right, and he secures no -sympathy whatever. Working-men of all classes in Australia -are shrewd and fair judges generally. If an employer does -his best to mete out justice, he is always appreciated and -supported by the majority. These few instances will serve as -a description of the whole process of settling with the shearers. -The horses have been got in. Great catching and saddling-up -has taken place all the morning. By the afternoon the whole -party are dispersed to the four winds: some, like Abraham -Lawson and his friends, to sheds 'higher up,' in a colder -climate, where shearing necessarily commences later. From -these they will pass to others, until the last flocks in the -'mountain runs' are shorn. Those who have not farms of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_319'>319</span>their own then betake themselves to reaping. Billy May and -Jack Windsor are quite as ready to back themselves against -time in the wheat-field as on the shearing-floor. Harvest over, -they find their pockets inconveniently full, so they commence -to visit their friends and repay themselves for their toils by a -liberal allowance of rest and recreation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Old Ben and a few other specimens of the olden time get -no further than the nearest public-house. Their cheques are -handed to the landlord, and a 'sdubendous and derrible spree' -sets in. At the end of a week or ten days, that worthy informs -them that they have received liquor to the amount of their -cheques—something over a hundred pounds—save the mark! -They meekly acquiesce, as is their custom. The landlord -generously presents them with a glass of grog each, and they -take the road for the next shed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The shearers being despatched, the sheep-washers, a -smaller and less regarded force, file up. They number some -forty men. Nothing more than fair bodily strength, willingness, -and obedience being required in their case, they are more -easy to get and replace than shearers. They are a varied and -motley lot. That powerful and rather handsome man is a -New Yorker, of Irish parentage. Next to him is a slight, -neat, quiet individual. He had been a lieutenant in a line -regiment. The lad in the rear was a Sandhurst cadet. Then -came two navvies and a New Zealander, five Chinamen, a -Frenchman, two Germans, Tin Pot, Jerry, and Wallaby—three -aboriginal blacks. There are no invidious distinctions -as to caste, colour, or nationality. Every one is a man and -a brother at sheep-washing. Wage, one pound per week; -wood, water, tents, and food provided. Their accounts are -simple: so many weeks, so many pounds; store accounts, so -much. Hospital? Well, five shillings. Cheque; good-morning.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The wool-pressers, the fleece-rollers, the fleece-pickers, -the yardsmen, the washers' cooks, the hut cooks, the spare -shepherds—all these and other supernumeraries, inevitable at -shearing-time, having been paid off, the snowstorm of cheques -which has been fluttering all day comes to an end. Mr. -Gordon and the remaining <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">sous-officiers</span></i> go to rest that night -with much of the mental strain removed, which has been -telling on every waking moment for the last two months.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The long train of drays and waggons, with loads varying -<span class='pageno' id='Page_320'>320</span>from twenty to forty-five bales, has been moving off in -detachments since the commencement. In a day or two -the last of them will have rolled heavily away. The 1400 -bales, averaging three and a half hundredweight, are distributed, -slow journeying, along the road, which they mark from afar, -or standing huge and columnar, like guide tumuli, from -Anabanco to the waters of the Murray. Between the two -points, a hundred and fifty miles, there is neither a hill nor -a stone. All is one vast monotonous sea of plain—at this -season a prairie-meadow exuberant of vegetation; in the late -summer, or in the occasional and dreaded phenomenon of a -<em>dry winter</em>, dusty and herbless as a brickfield, for hundreds of -miles.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Silence falls on the plains and waters of Anabanco for the -next six months. The woolshed, the wash-pen, and all the -huts connected with them are lone and voiceless as caravanserais -in a city of the plague.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_321'>321</span> - <h2 class='c006'>ANCIENT SYDNEY</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>Our good barque anchored in Launceston harbour in 1831—about -the same year, by the way, in which Marcus Clarke's -dream-ship, the <em>Malabar</em>, ended her eventful voyage to the -same port. The writer's father owned and commanded the -vessel. Our steerage passengers were of the same class as -those of the <em>Malabar</em>, being a draft of convicts, in process of -deportation to the strange South land, there to undergo -experimental discipline, which to some meant probationary -industry—the path to a prospective fortune; to others, a -slave's dread life, a felon's shameful death.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Ruffians doubtless cursed and caballed among the two -hundred prisoners which crowded the lower deck, but they -were in a minority. A herd of luckless peasants constituted -the main body; found guilty of rick-burning and machine-breaking -only—crimes common enough in England, before -the repeal of the corn-laws.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Their offences had been but the ignorant, instinctive protest -of Labour against Capital; less dangerous far than the organised -communism of the present day. Poachers and petty larcenists, -with other humble criminals, completed the list. For the most -part they were a timid and obedient company, cowed and -unresisting, incapable of planning mutiny or revenge. Our -family party consisted of two tiny sisters and myself, my mother, -and our nursemaid—a resolute, sterling Englishwoman, destined -in days to come to be the best friend our childhood could have -found in the new world or the old. The ordinary military -guard, so many rank and file, with their officers, together -with the Surgeon-Superintendent, had been detailed for the -duty of ensuring discipline and the safety of the ship.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_322'>322</span>It may well have been that among the band of exiles were -some unjustly sentenced, mixed up accidentally with a crowd -of excited rustics engaged in unlawful deeds—wondering -spectators rather than actors. Such a victim was probably the -unhappy Annetts, a vacant-faced farm labourer, from Essex or -Dorset, whose wife, accompanied by their two children, came -daily to see him before the ship sailed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I seem to remember the wretched group, though most -probably it was my good nurse's description that imprinted it -indelibly on my memory.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There would they sit, hour after hour, bathed in tears—he, -with the irons on his limbs and the ugly prison garb; she -almost a girl, with traces of rustic beauty, as he was hardly -more than a boy—holding each other's hands and weeping -silently for hours; then, sobbing in paroxysms of lamentation, -both repeatedly declaring his innocence, the children wondering -gravely at the strange surroundings, at times mingling their -tears with those of their parents. It was a sight to touch the -heart of the sternest. Then the last agonised parting, when -the fainting woman was carried on shore, when the hopeless -outcast watched his native land recede, instinctively aware that -he gazed on it for the last time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Is there such a physiological process as a broken heart? -It would seem so, even in this world of lightly-borne sorrows -and forgotten joys. He, at least, was not thus fashioned, -stolid peasant as he seemed to outward view, untaught, -uncared-for, born to the plough and the monotonous labour of -the farm animals, which in his undeveloped intelligence he so -closely resembled. But their fidelity to the heart's deepest -feelings was rooted in his being. He never raised his head -afterwards, as the phrase goes. He moved and spoke, went -through the ordinary motions of humanity, as in a dream. -Day by day he pined and wasted; in little more than a month, -from no particular ailment, he died and found burial in that -mysterious main which before his sentence he had never seen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The only other death on board was that of the second mate, -a fine young seaman named Keeling. Strange to say, he had -a presentiment that drowning would be the manner of his end. -He would say as much, on one occasion telling us that he -was one of three brothers. Two had been lost at sea. He -<em>knew</em> the same fate was in store for him. He even put his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_323'>323</span>head in a bucket of water once, and held it there, 'to see how -it felt.' He was strong, active, temperate, and a smart officer. -One day, in calm weather, when spearing fish from the dolphin-striker, -he lost his balance and fell overboard. The ship had -way on, though the breeze was light. He was a good swimmer; -a boat was instantly lowered. I believe that my recollection of -seeing him rise and fall upon the waves, far astern of the vessel, -is accurate. The boat rapidly nears him—swimming strongly -and easily supporting himself. It turns for a moment, shutting -him out from sight. A man leans over to grasp him. Why -do they commence to pull round in circles? Why can we not -see the rescued man taken into the boat? After an interval -which appears terribly long, the boat comes back to the ship -<em>without him</em>. At the very moment of rescue a wave drove the -boat stem on. The keel struck him on the head. He sank -like a stone, never being visible to the boat's crew afterwards. -Thus was his doom accomplished.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Though our passengers did not resemble those of the -<em>Malabar</em>, we boasted a similar military force. The Surgeon-Superintendent -was a much-travelled, cultured man. The -Major and Subalterns in charge of the detachment were -agreeable personages; fortunately they were not required to -act in any military capacity beyond causing guards to be -strictly kept. Had the prisoners even been other than they -were, their chance in rising would have been small, having to -deal with one of the most watchful, prompt, and determined -men, in the captain of the vessel, that ever trod a plank. It -was happily ordered otherwise. The voyage was successful -and devoid of adventure. There were neither storms, mutinies, -fevers, nor other disasters. And somewhere about the month -of August (as we left England in April 1831) we delivered our -passengers to the authorities in Launceston, in good order and -condition. Our military friends quitted us after our arrival in -Sydney, our final destination. My father had visited the port -when an officer in the East India Company's service as far -back as the year 1820, had been struck with the land's -capabilities, and augured well of its future. He resolved to -settle therein in the aftertime, did events shape themselves -that way. By that voyage our destinies as a family were -decided.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Paris of the South was then a seaside town, numbering -<span class='pageno' id='Page_324'>324</span>not more than thirty or forty thousand inhabitants. Described -in station parlance, it was well grassed and lightly stocked. -As a matter of fact there was a good deal of grass in the -streets, and between Macquarie Place, which was our first -location, and the Domain, the little Alderney cow, which had -accompanied us on the ship, was able to pick up a good living. -She and other vagrom milch kine often eluded the vigilance of -the sentry, at the entrance to the Domain, where they revelled -in the thick couch-grass; to be turned out at the point of the -bayonet when discovered. Much of the city is changed; -but much remains unchanged. Our first abode was a -moderate-sized house in Macquarie Place. It possessed a -second story and a garden, standing next to a tall, narrow -building, occupied by Mr. Harrington, an eminent civil servant -of the pre-parliamentary <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">régime</span>, later on Griffiths Fanning's -office. Messrs. Montefiore, Breillat, and Co. possessed the -corner house with its walled enclosure, taking in the angle of -Bent Street, with a frontage also to O'Connell Street. The -wall, the house, and the store <em>still</em> stand, unaltered in half a -century. Mr. Dalgety, then himself a junior clerk, might -be seen walking to and fro from the wharves, inspecting cargo, -note-book in hand. Think of that, young gentlemen in like -positions, and ponder upon the mercantile monarchies which -have been (and may still be) reached by perseverance, financial -talent, and prudent ambition!</p> - -<p class='c000'>Chief-Justice and Mrs. Forbes, with their family, inhabited -a large stone house on the opposite side of the street, also -surrounded by a wall. It now forms a portion of the Lands -Office buildings. Archdeacon Cowper lived on the other side, -now New Pitt Street, a grass plot with two large cedars being -in front of the house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Sydney must have been then not unlike in appearance to one -of the larger country towns, Bathurst or Goulburn, save and -excepting always its possession of the unrivalled harbour and -that fragment of Eden the Botanic Garden. There we children -walked in the mornings of our first summer in Sydney. The grateful -freshness of the air, the beauty of the overhanging trees, the -vision of blue water and white-winged skiffs seen through flower -thickets, still remains among my childhood's fairest memories.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the back of our garden rose a stone wall, which -supported the higher level of the allotments fronting O'Connell -<span class='pageno' id='Page_325'>325</span>Street. In a balconied mansion opposite lived Mr. Raymond, -the Postmaster-General, with his numerous family of sons and -daughters.</p> - -<p class='c000'>How few survive of that merry band of youths and -maidens, whom I remember so well! After our debarkation -no time was lost in sending me to school. A lady who lived -conveniently close, in O'Connell Street, first directed the pothooks -and hangers, which, further developed, have since -covered so many a printed page. Mr. Walter Lamb and the -late Colonel Peel Raymond were among my schoolfellows. -At the ripe age of seven, being according to the maternal -partiality too far advanced for a dame school, I was promoted -to Mr. Cape's Sydney Academy, in King Street, opposite to -St. James's Church. Seventy boys more or less were there, -not a few of whom have since distinguished themselves 'in -arms, in arts, in song.' William Forster, Walter Lamb, -Whistler Smith, and Allan Macpherson were among my older -comrades. I well remember on the day of my arrival how -Forster, actuated by the hatred of injustice which characterised -his after-life, fought a sanguinary battle with another oldster -who had been oppressing a smaller boy. Sir James Martin -was there then, or came soon afterwards. At any rate he was -one of the scholars when Mr. Cape, then newly appointed -Headmaster of the Sydney College, moved over and took -possession of that institution upon its opening day. The -Nortons, James and John, were among the pupils, with many -others whom I could perhaps recall, but whose names are at -present fading in the mists of the past. The Dowlings, -Mitchells, David Forbes, Sir John Robertson, Mr. Dalley, with -many another, were among the pupils of that most conscientious -and earnest teacher. They will always acknowledge, -doubtless, their indebtedness to him for a sound classical -training, the groundwork of their higher education.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The late Mr. James Laidley was one of the smaller boys at -that time. Our fathers had been friends in other lands. I -saw Commissary-General Laidley's funeral—a military one—and -Dick Webb, the family coachman, leading the dead -officer's favourite chestnut mare in the procession.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the day of my introduction came also a new boy, about -the same age. His name was Hugh Ranclaud. We were -placed in a class in order to test our reading, and, as the last -<span class='pageno' id='Page_326'>326</span>comers, at the bottom of the class. The lesson commenced; -the others went through their allotted portion haltingly, after -the fashion of the small boy of the period. When it came to -Ranclaud's turn, he commenced in a clear, distinct, properly-punctuated -manner, much as if he had been in the habit of -performing at penny readings, or acting as curate on occasion. -I see (as if it were yesterday) Mr. Cape, who paused to listen, -take him by the arm and march him to the head of the class. -I was promoted, too, and we soon quitted that class for a -higher place in the Division, from that day to be close friends -and confidants in literary matters. Eager, voracious readers -we both were. He was a poet as well. We used to walk about -arm in arm and recite bits out of Walter Scott and Byron. -Until we left school and settled in different colonies our -friendship remained unbroken.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first thing I remember after the ceremony of installation -was the adjournment to the new cricket-ground granted -for our use in that part of Hyde Park then known as the -Racecourse, which was opposite to the College, now the -Grammar School. Percy and Hamilton Stephen were at the -wickets. They, with their cousins James and Frank, Alfred, -Consett, and Matthew Henry were among the schoolboys of -that period; Prosper and André de Mestre, with, later on, -Etty (Etienne), then a little chap, like myself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We of the old school were much gratified at the superior -advantages we now enjoyed in the way of playgrounds. The -free use of Hyde Park, then merely fenced and not planted, -was granted to us. Below the school building was a large -area, divided by a wall from the present labyrinth of terraces -built on the Riley Estate, then a furze-covered paddock of -pathless wilds, in which we were free to wander.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A chain-gang was at that time employed, under armed -warders, in levelling the line of road which leads towards -Waverley. One of the prisoners tried to escape and was shot -by a warder. We boys went over. There he lay dead in his -prison garb, with a red stain across his chest, 'well out of the -scrape of being alive and poor,'—only paupers were unknown -then, and prisoners, of course, plentiful.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We were near enough to the Domain for the boarders to -walk to 'The Fig-tree,' that well-known spot in Wooloomooloo -Bay, where so many generations of Sydney boys have learned -<span class='pageno' id='Page_327'>327</span>to swim. The old tree (a wild one) was there long years -after, and from the stone wharf, with steps considerately made -in Governor Macquarie's time, how many a 'header' has been -taken, how many a trembling youngster pitched in by ruthless -schoolmates! There was no danger, of course, and among -rough-and-ready methods of teaching a useful accomplishment, -it is perhaps one of the best. Mr. Cape was a good swimmer, -and on the mornings when he accompanied us, these little -diversions were not indulged in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>My recollections of him as a headmaster, and, indeed, in -every other capacity, is uniformly favourable. He was a -strict, occasionally severe, but invariably just ruler. Discriminating -too, always ready to assist real workers such as -Forster, Martin, George Rowley, and other exceptional performers. -But for us of the rank and file, whose scholastic -ambition lagged consistently behind our powers, he had -neither mercy nor toleration. A thorough disciplinarian, -prompt, punctual, unsparing, we knew what we had to expect. -The consequence was that a standard of acquirement was -reached at a comparatively early age by his scholars which -with a less resolute instructor would never have been gained.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The constitution of the school was professedly in accordance -with the Church of England denomination, but it was -wisely ordered by the founders that no religious disability -should exist. The fees were low, particularly for the day -scholars. All ranks and denominations were equally -represented, equally welcome. Mr. Cape himself, though -inflexibly orthodox as an Anglican Churchman, was liberal -and comprehensive in his views. The school was commenced -(I think)—certainly ended—with a prayer from the Liturgy. -The boys who belonged to Jewish, Roman Catholic, or Nonconformist -denominations were permitted at pleasure to -absent themselves from this observance. Very few troubled -themselves to do so. Among the boys themselves I never -remember the religious question being raised. We remained -united and peaceable as a family (resorting, of course, to the -British ordeal of single combat on occasions), but all took -rank in the school chiefly in accordance with their prowess in -the classes or the cricket-field. We had no other standards -of merit.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Talking of cricket, the 'stars' of my day were Mr. William -<span class='pageno' id='Page_328'>328</span>Roberts, senior, who with his brothers Dan and Jack were -my contemporaries, and Mr. William Still. Roberts was a -distinguished bat, renowned for the finer strokes and artistic -'cuts.' Still was a deadly bowler, a first-class field, and -unerring catch.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In those days the old barrack-square was in existence, -taking up many thousand feet of priceless frontage, at present -value, in George Street. The military reviews and evolutions -performed therein afforded unfailing interest to the schoolboy -and nursery-maid of the period. Colonel Despard was -the military commander of the day. His carriage and pair -of chestnut horses, George and Charger, both nearly -thoroughbreds, passed into our hands at the sale of his effects -previous to his departure from the colony for New Zealand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Racing matters, which have received of late years such -astonishing development, were then in an infantile condition, -it may be believed. Hyde Park was probably the first race-course. -The next arena (literally) was the Old Sandy Course -near Botany. To this unimproved tract I remember trudging -with school comrades in 1836, when we witnessed a closely -contested race, in heats too, between Traveller and Chester, -the former winning. Frank Stephen rode a mule that day, -who kicked all the way there and back. Lady Godiva and -Lady Cordelia were the heroines of that meeting. Charles -Smith and Charles Roberts were the principal supporters of -the turf. This was near the proclamation of Her Gracious -Majesty's accession to the throne at the age of eighteen years. -Hugh Ranclaud and I attended the ceremony, and heard the -proclamation read among the oak trees not far from the Lands -Office.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The late Colonel Gibbes was a friend of the family. -Edmund Gibbes was a schoolfellow, and many holiday visits -were paid to Point Piper, their lovely residence. It was my -ideal of perfection as a haven of bliss for boys, far removed -from lessons and other drawbacks of youth. Many a happy day -I spent there, though nearly coming to premature grief in the fair -(and false) harbour. A large, well-ordered mansion, sufficiently -removed from town to have country privileges, Point Piper -contained all the requirements for youthful enjoyment. The -kindest hostess, the nicest girls, a picturesque old-fashioned -garden with fruit and flowers in profusion, fishing, bathing, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_329'>329</span>boating to any extent, books, and music,—all the refinements -and elegancies then procurable in Australia. As to the course -of everyday life, it did not differ noticeably, as I can aver -from after-experience, from that of country-house life in -England. The stables were well ordered, grooms and coachman -being assigned servants of course. Perhaps a stricter -supervision was necessary for some reasons. At a stated hour -one of the sons of the house was expected to walk down to -the stables, which were half a mile distant, to perform the -regulation inspection, to see the evening corn given, the horses -bedded down for the night.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We boys (Edmund, his younger brother Gussie, and -myself) used to fish and bathe nearly all day long, continuing -indeed the latter recreation in the summer afternoons till the -sun scorched our backs. Then, after a joyous evening, how -sweet to fall asleep, lulled by the surges, which ever, even in -calmest weather, made mournful music on rock or silver-sanded -shore the long night through!</p> - -<p class='c000'>About this time a certain adventure befell our party, which -might have ended tragically. One fine morning Gussie and I, -with a kinsman about the same age, went fishing in the bay. -Our 'kellick' was down, and the sport had been good. The -provisional anchor was lifted at length, as the wind, having -shifted, began to blow off the land. We had delayed too -long, and found it hard work to make headway against it. -Pulling with unusual determination, one oar snapped. The -blade floated away. The gale was rising fast. Moving -broadside on meant being blown out to sea. An interval of -uncertainty ensued. Gussie, who was a little fellow, began to -cry as we rapidly receded from the Point and the waves rose -higher.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I took the command—my first salt-water commission. It -was no use letting matters (and the boat) drift. To this day -I wonder at the inventiveness which the emergency developed. -Taking off Gussie's pinafore, a brown holland garment of -sufficient length, I caused him to stand up and hold it like a -sail. Wallace, the other boy, was to act as look-out man. I -took the tiller and steered towards Shark Island, which lay -between Point Piper and the Heads. Our spread of canvas -was just sufficient to keep steerage way on. The wind was -right aft. And in a comparatively short time we jammed the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_330'>330</span>boat's bow between two rocks, where there was just beach -enough to haul her up safe on our desert island.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We knew, of course, that they would see us from the -house, and judging that we were cast away, send for us. Soon -we discerned a boat coming to our rescue manned by the -groom and the gardener—both fair oarsmen. The wind was -a good capful by this time, and it took two hours' hard pulling -to land us at the Point Piper jetty. 'Oh, you naughty boys!' -I can hear the mild <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">châtelaine</span> saying in simulated wrath as -we marched up, extremely glad to be so well out of it; and as -they were very glad too, no serious consequences tending to -moral improvement ensued.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the Sydney College half-yearly examination Archbishop -Polding was always among the examiners—a gentle, if dignified, -old man, whom all of us revered. Our own Bishop -and clergy attended on these occasions, but I have a more -distinct impression of the Prelate first mentioned than of any -other clergyman of the day. St. Mary's Cathedral was -building then—it is building now—a monument of the -persistent progress of the Church of Rome. What she begins -she always ends, rarely relinquishing an undertaking or a -stronghold. My reason for mentioning the religious aspect of -the question is that, save for the morning and evening prayer -and Mr. Cape's regular church-going, our school, though -strictly denominational in theory, was virtually national and -secular; chiefly, as I said before, because we of the different -sects and persuasions agreed to respect each other's religious -opinions and beliefs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Whether this practical Christianity made us the worse -churchmen in after-life I leave others to judge. When my -father deserted salt water for the land permanently, he -did not fix on one of the charming nooks embosomed in sea-woods -which lay so temptingly between Hyde Park and the -South Head road. Like most sailors, he had had enough of -'the sad sea waves,' whether in play or in earnest, and was -relieved to be out of sound of them. Glenrock was, I -believe, offered to him at a temptingly low rate, but he -preferred to buy a tract of wild land at Newtown, as the -suburban hamlet was then called, there to build and improve.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Beginning in good earnest, the walls of a large two-storeyed -house soon arose—something between a bungalow and a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_331'>331</span>section of a terrace. One Indian feature of the place was a -verandah fully a hundred feet in length, and twelve feet in -breadth, running across the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">façade</span> and turning the ends of -the house. This was flagged with the cream-coloured Sydney -sandstone. Well do I remember its refreshing coolness of -touch and appearance in our first summer. The house being -built, the garden planted, and the whole purchase substantially -fenced, the property was christened 'Enmore,' the name -borne by the suburb into which it has grown to this day. -East Saxon originally, it may be quoted as an instance of the -evolution even of names. From one of the eastern counties -of England it emigrated to Barbadoes, where it served to -distinguish the plantation of an intimate friend of my father, -the late James Cavan, a wealthy mercantile celebrity of -Barbadoes in the good old days—the days of slavery and -splendour, of princely magnificence and gorgeous profits, -whereof the author of <cite>Tom Cringle's Log</cite> has left such -picturesque descriptions. Hence to an Australian suburb, -and going further afield, still following the course of colonisation, -the homely name has travelled into the far interior. -There are now the Enmore Blocks, an Enmore sheep station, -and possibly in the future there will arise an Enmore inland -town, with railway terminus, town hall, and municipality -complete.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the years between 1836 and 1840, when we lived at -Enmore, we had, like all other householders of the day, -assigned servants. The only exceptions at that time were our -confidential nurse, and Copeland the coachman, an ex-50th -man. Most fortunate was it for us young people that such a -woman had attached herself to the family; of exceptional -energy and intelligence, deeply religious, with an earnest and -unswerving faith—'a slave of the ought,' like Miss Feely. As -she abode with us from 1828 to 1858, it may be imagined -what an influence for good she exerted upon us children when -almost wholly under her control.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As for the poor convicts, they were really much the same -as other people. Some were good, none of them particularly -bad. Their master, though with a natural leaning to quarterdeck -discipline, was not severe. When they got 'into trouble,' -as they expressed it, it was through their own irregularities. -A man would apply for a 'pass' (a permit in writing), granting -<span class='pageno' id='Page_332'>332</span>leave to go to town and return by, say, eight o'clock <span class='fss'>P.M.</span>; -instead of which (like the ingrate who stole geese off a -common) he would get drunk, be locked up by the police, and -be brought up before Captain Wilson or other Police Magistrate -of the day, charged with intoxication and being out after -hours, whereupon he received twenty-five or fifty lashes, and -was carefully returned to our service. The first intimation we -received was the sight of Jack or Bill, as the case might be, -coming up the carriage-drive in charge of a constable; his -blood-stained shirt tied over his shoulders by the sleeves, -instead of being worn as usual.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The flogging wasn't child's play, as may be believed. I -have seen the weals and torn flesh; but the men did not seem -to care so much about it, nor did it tend to brutalise them, as -asserted. They admitted that it was their own fault, for -running against that stone wall, the law. We had nothing to -do with it, but indeed suffered loss of work thereby. In a -day or two they were all right and cheerful again, well behaved -of course, until that fatal 'next time.' Whether the men -were of tougher fibre in those days, I can't say; but fancy a -latter-day larrikin getting fifty or a hundred lashes, as these -men did occasionally, without wincing, too! Compared to -the modern product, the 'larrikin,' with his higher wages, -better food, and more of the comforts of life than are good -for him, they were angels of light.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The groom was a prisoner; so also the gardener, the -butler, the housemaid, the laundress, the cook. The women -were, no doubt, more difficult to manage. If they got to the -sideboard when there was a bottle of wine open, trouble -ensued. Hard working and well behaved generally, none of -them could withstand the temptation of drink. This may -have occurred more than once, but the ultimatum of which -they stood in dread was, after repeated misbehaviour, to be -sent to the Factory at Parramatta—the Bridewell of the -colony. Their hair was cut short in that house of correction. -They were supposed to work at hard and monotonous tasks. -The work the unfortunates did not mind so much, but the -short-cropped hair—all ignorant of the turn fashion was to -take in after-years—they detested unutterably.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Two of these <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">engagés</span></i> (as French colonial officials called -them) played us a pretty trick, for which, though it caused -<span class='pageno' id='Page_333'>333</span>temporary inconvenience to the household, I have always felt -inclined to pardon them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The butler was a smartish young Dublin man, not more -than a year out. He behaved well—was steady and willing. -The laundress—Catherine Maloney, let us say—a quiet, hard-working -young woman, was a valuable servant, worth about -fifteen shillings a week, as wages go now. Fancy the privilege -of keeping a capable servant, say, for four or five years certain! -'Please to suit yourself, ma'am,' and the later domestic -tyrannies were then unknown. However, Patrick and Kate -nourished deep designs—made it up to get married; wicked, -ungrateful creatures! One fine morning they were missing, -and, what was really exceptional in those man-hunting days, -were never discovered—never indeed found from that day to -this! 'These lovers fled away into the storm.' It would be -in 1839, just about the 'breaking out' of Port Phillip. They -probably got there undetected. Who knows? One wonders -what became of them. Did Patrick grow rich, prosperous—even -politically eminent? It was on the cards. They had -my good wishes, in any case.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When we migrated to Port Phillip in 1840, a special permit -was obtained from the Governor in Council to take down our -servants—eight men and two women. The men went overland -with the stock, and of course remained till their tickets-of-leave -were due. But the women, our fellow-passengers by -sea, married soon after they got to Melbourne. It was a -'rush,' in the latter-day goldfields' idiom, and women were at -a premium. We might have refused our royal permission to -this, but were not hard-hearted enough to do so. We were -thus left desolate and servantless, a condition in life much less -common in those days than it is now, I grieve to say, speaking -as a householder. The men on the whole behaved well. -George Stevenson, a clever mechanic and gardener from the -north of Ireland, was drowned while crossing the Yarra at -Heidelberg by night—a shanty being the fatal temptation. -The groom died in the Benevolent Asylum at Melbourne, -after many a year of faithful service to us and others. All our -men but one got their tickets-of-leave, and drifted away out of -ken. But while on the question, I may here record my -opinion, that these men and their class generally did an -immense deal of indispensable work in the earlier decades of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_334'>334</span>the colony. They were, on the whole, when fairly treated, -well behaved. They rarely shirked their work, were often -touchingly attached to the families wherein they had done -their enforced servitude, and after their virtual freedom was -gained, mostly led industrious and reputable lives.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_335'>335</span> - <h2 class='c006'>AFTER LONG YEARS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>'This is the place; stand still, my steed, let me review the -scene!' Quite correct, this is the place, though so changed -that I hardly recognise the homestead which I built when I -'took up the Run' still known as 'Squattlesea Mere,' so many -a year ago. Can it be possible that half a century should -have passed—fleeted by like a dream—as a tale that is told—and -that I should again stand here, looking at the work of my -hands in that old time, whereof the memory is so fresh? The -huts, the stock-yards, the cottage wherein we dwelt in peaceful -contentment, nearly all are there, though much decayed and -showing manifest signs of old Time—<i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">edax rerum</span></i>—with his -slow but sure attrition. The fruit trees in the garden, planted -with my own hands, are of great age and size, and still bearing -abundantly in a soil and climate so favourable to their growth. -I find it almost impossible to realise that in June 1844, being -then a stripling of eighteen, I should have established this -'lodge in the wilderness,' now developed into a fair-sized freehold, -besides supporting a number of families in comfort and -respectability on the selected portions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well do I remember the dark night when I reached this -very spot, on a tired horse, having ridden from Grasmere on -the Merrai that day, nearly fifty miles, without food for man -or beast. The black marauders of the period held revel on a -cape of the lava-bestrewn land which jutted out upon the -marsh, near the Native Dog's Well. I had stumbled on to -their camp, not seeing it until I was amid their dimly-burning -fires. Relations were strained between us, and as they were -then engaged in banqueting upon one of my milch cows -(name Matilda), there is no saying what might have happened -<span class='pageno' id='Page_336'>336</span>to the chronicler if my colt, a great-grandson of Skeleton -(own brother to Drone), had not responded to the spur.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The overseer and I, arming ourselves, rode to the scene of -the entertainment next morning, which presented an appearance -much resembling the locality in Robinson Crusoe's -island after the savages had finished their repast. Portions -of the murdered milker were visible, also her orphaned calf, -lowing in lament after his kind. But our sable neighbours -had vanished.</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>I drove over the identical spot last week. How different -its aspect! Drained and fenced—the black soil of the fen -showing by depth and colour what crops it is destined to -grow—a wire fence, a dog-leg ditto, all sorts of queer enclosures. -Only the volcanic trap ridges remain unchanged, -and the 'Blue Alsatian Mountains,' as typified by Mount -Eeles and Mount Napier, which seem to 'watch and wait -alway.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes. The landscape has an altered appearance. What -we used to call 'the smooth side' of the Eumeralla—as -differentiated from the 'stones' of Mount Eeles, then, as -now, rough enough in all conscience—has since our day -been almost wholly denuded of timber. The handsome, -umbrageous, blackwood trees (<em>Acacia melanoxylon</em>), which -marked and shaded the 'islands' in the great mere, are dead -and gone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The marsh lands, then divided into islands, flats, and reed-beds, -now present one apparently dead level, less picturesque, -but more profitable, as fields of oats and barley are now to be -seen where the 'wild drake quacked and the bittern boomed.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yon broad arterial drain is responsible for this transformation. -More complete reticulation will in time turn the ancient -fen, I doubt not, into one of the most productive agricultural -areas in the Port Fairy district.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Still, with the increase of population and the onward -march of civilisation, one natural enemy of the grazier comes -forward as another is displaced. The dingo and kangaroo, -with our poor relations, the aborigines, have mostly disappeared. -But the rabbit in countless multitudes has -arrived and come to stay; while the hero of our nursery tales -and I wot not of what mediæval legends, Master Reynard, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_337'>337</span>the fox, has found the climate suit his constitution. He raids -the good-wife's turkeys, not wholly neglecting lambs, much as -he might have done in the midland counties of England. -Charles Kingsley's father (he tells us) took him into the -garden one night to hear a fox bark, believing that the breed -would soon be extinct in England; but he has held his own -so far in the old country, and as I was told of a vixen with -six cubs discovered in a log at Snaky Creek last week, I -doubt whether we should not be able to re-export him, like -the hares and rabbits, if a demand sprang up for the -Australian Reynard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Squattlesea Mere was certainly a good place for game. -Snipe were plentiful, and might be shot, so to speak, from -the parlour window. Wild ducks, geese, turkeys, quail, and -the beautiful bronze-wing pigeon also. The kangaroo was -then in the land, and helped our larder (notably with his tail, -which made excellent soup), and an occasional dish of steak -or hashed wallaby. The flesh tasted something between lean -beef and veal, not at all a bad substitute for salt junk, when -well cooked. A couple of hundred rabbits at least must -have crossed the road, running eastward, in two or three -miles, as we drove along this morning.</p> - -<p class='c000'>How such a sight would have astonished us formerly! -Hares, too, from time to time. Our kangaroo dogs were -then nearly as fast as the pure greyhounds now so plentiful on -every estate, and what good sport we should have had! -Driving by coach between the towns of Hamilton and Macarthur, -I observed with satisfaction that the old stations -survived in the form of respectable, though not overgrown, -freehold estates. And although the owners are no longer the -same, they still bear their old names, and are thus distinguished -from the smaller-sized arable and grazing farms which have -occupied the remaining areas.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Monivae' (the first in order along the Macarthur road), -from which I have more than once seen Acheson Ffrench -driving his four-in-hand, now boasts a mansion and excellent -fencing. The old cottage, however, yet stands, surrounded -by the station buildings, where the merry girls and boys grew -up, and where we used to be glad to be asked to stop for a -night in the 'dear dead days beyond recall.' Werongurt too, -where John Cox held sway, where the first orchard was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_338'>338</span>planted, where the choice Herefords roamed at will, where -The Caliph and The Don were located, may still be recognised. -There the rye-grass and clover—in after-years destined to -overspread the land—were introduced; and more wonderful -still, where the first swing-gate for drafting cattle was put up -in 1842 or 1843 (<em>pace</em> Mr. Lockhart Morton). At the -thriving township of Macarthur I had the pleasure of -renewing my acquaintance with my old friend Mr. Joe -Twist, formerly the crack stock-rider of the Port Fairy -district.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At a little distance on the old Port Fairy road to Hamilton, -now left untouched by the present railway, is Lyne, once the -station of Messrs. Lang and Elms. At Macarthur, where I -again beheld the deep, unruffled waters of the Eumeralla, still -exists a compact freehold, running back to Mount Eeles and -the volcanic country, which is now, I am afraid, an extensive -rabbit preserve. This is known as Eumeralla West, at present -in the occupation of Mr. John Learmonth, in whose hands it -presents a thriving well-managed appearance. On the other -side of the river is Eumeralla East, cut off from the original -run by an authoritative decision of Mr. Commissioner Fyans, -and now in the possession of Mr. Staughton.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dunmore alone—once a show station for the quality of its -sheep, cattle, and horses—has suffered a melancholy change. -The last of the three partners, Messrs. Campbell, Macknight, -and Irvine, strong in youthful hope and sanguine trust in -fortune when I first knew the district, died but a few months -since.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Tis a saddening task to run over the list of the companions -of one's youth and to note how the summons of -death, the warning, the unsparing hand of time, has thinned -or menaced their ranks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Poor dear old Dunmore! How many a jolly muster have -we shared in there! How many a loving 'look through' the -stud—how many a race had we talked over with the first -owners! It was taken up only a year or two before Squattlesea -Mere. What dances and picnics, rides and drives, had we there -joined in! What musters of well-bred bullocks, fat and high-priced, -had we escorted from Paradise Camp when 'Long -John Mooney' reigned as king of the cattle-dealers! And -now, to think of all this greatness departed! The pity of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_339'>339</span>it! No herd of cattle, no stud—Traveller and Clifton, -The Premier, Tramp, Triton and Trackdeer, St. George, -The Margravine, Lord of Clyde, Mormon—all dead and -gone! Equine shadows and phantoms of the 'brave days -of old.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hospitably received by the present proprietor of Squattlesea -Mere, with whom I had much in common, as we had shared -the changing seasons and varying profits of the Riverina in -the sixties, I stayed a day at the old place. Once more I -slept in the old chamber, sat at the table in the parlour where -so many a cheerful evening had been passed by the young -people who then formed our family circle, and for whom for -a decade it was so safe and healthy a shelter. Again I heard -the roll of the surges, as they beat in days of old on the -shore. Again I felt as I rose at sunrise the fresh, pure -air of early morn, and wondered if I should have the -horses run into the stock-yard to pick out those wanted for -the day's work.</p> - -<p class='c000'><i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">Tempora mutantur</span></i>, indeed. Where are now the overseer, -the groom, the stock-rider, who, well mounted, and high-mettled -as their steeds, were wont to fare forth with me for -a long day's muster of 'the lower end of the run'? Where, -indeed? Frank, the groom, most patient and cool-couraged -of rough-riders—good alike on camp or road—is -dead. The trusty overseer, who could ride all day and night -at a pinch, or stride through the Mount Eeles rocks for hours -at a time, now walks with a stick and is restricted to a buggy -with a quiet horse for locomotion. And the gay Irish stock-rider, -who took so kindly to the trade, though not to 'the -manner born,' would, I fear me, distinctly decline to sit in -the saddle for ten hours of a winter's day, wet to the waist -and splashed to the eyes, as many a time and oft was our -custom.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There is no doubt we are Rip Van Winkle. All the -intervening life which has passed like a dream and left so few -traces, must be in the nature of a magic slumber.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We could think so, were it not for certain changes we -wot of.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The knight has been to the wars, and though shrewdly -wounded, has escaped with life, and once more beholds the -walls of the old keep. It sadly recalls the ballad—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_340'>340</span>Hawk, hound and steed roam masterless,</div> - <div class='line in2'>His serving-men grow grey,</div> - <div class='line'>His roofs are mossed—'tis thirty years</div> - <div class='line in2'>Since the warrior went away.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>My next stage was past Orford, on the Shaw River, locally -known in that olden time 'before the gold' as the 'Crossing -Place,' now a township with inhabitants. The brothers -Horan, my faithful servitors, were the principal business men -there, after the Free Selector's Act of Sir Gavan Duffy altered -the pastoral proprietary so materially.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One kept the hotel, The Horse and Jockey, built and first -opened by the Dunmore stud-groom, Baker. He trained -Triton, Tramp, Trackdeer, and other Tr-named descendants -of Traveller. A good jock and finished horseman in his day, -but grown too heavy for the trade, he took to the general stud -business, and subsided into hotel-keeping. Death, the inexorable, -had claimed Mr. Michael Horan, but his widow still -holds the license, with a goodly number of young people, -mostly settled in life, to uphold the family name and fame.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Patrick Horan owns the general store which supplies -the wants of the township, but the hardships of bush life have -told on the once active and athletic frame, and though the -dark blue eyes are still bright and clear, the white beard and -faded lineaments might well accompany an older man. However, -men can't live for ever, even in the cool and temperate -clime of Port Fairy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Pat and I are still in the land of the living. For that, and -the moderate enjoyment of life, let us be duly thankful; and -though neither of us, I venture to say, will ride buck-jumpers -any more, or follow the fast-receding herd through the forest -thickets, some reasonable recreation may yet be meted out to -us in our 'declining days.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Melancholy-sounding phrase! But <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">triste</span></i> or otherwise the -reality has arrived. And we must make the best of it.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_341'>341</span> - <h2 class='c006'>IN THE DROVING DAYS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>It is midwinter. The season has been severe, the rainfall heavy -and continuous, almost without parallel. The floods are out -and the whole country is generally spoken of as being 'under -water.' We are on the road from Goulburn, New South -Wales, to Gippsland with a thousand head of store cattle. We -have crossed the high bare downs of the historical district of -Monaro, rich in tales of wonderful feats of stock-riding, performed -by 'the old hands,' and repeated by one generation -of stock-riders after another. The Snowy River, rushing -savagely over granite boulders, is in sight, and we hail that -turbulent stream as a midway stage in our long, tedious, and -adventurous journey.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now there is cattle-droving and cattle-droving. When -loitering in early summer-time over rich or level country the -expedition is an idyll. The cattle follow one another without -pressing, feeding as they go. The horses lounge along or -are driven among the cattle, some of the men always preferring -to be on foot. The dogs are easy in their minds, the whips -are at rest. Around the camp-fires at night are heard sounds -of careless merriment; the air seems charged with exhilaration, -and all is <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">couleur de rose</span></i>. This sort of business is occasionally -the rule for weeks, causing the unreflecting newcomer -to exclaim, 'Is this the overlanding of which we have heard so -much? Why, any fellow could do this.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Quite another style of travelling was that which we had -experienced for weeks and which was even now becoming -intensified. When the country travelled through is rough, -thickly timbered, or mountainous; when ceaseless rain floods the -rivers and soaks the baggage; when the horses and cattle are -<span class='pageno' id='Page_342'>342</span>enfeebled and therefore prone to straggle, ordinary difficulties -are increased fourfold. Everybody is required to be at the -fullest stretch of exertion, with both head and hand, from -daylight till dark—occasionally for all night as well. Horses -become lame or die; losses occur among the cattle; the -person in charge has a tendency to become gruff, even -abusive; hard work, anxiety, and perhaps short commons -are frequently inscribed on this, the reverse side of the shield. -Such is the prospect which we shrewdly suspect lies before -us as we halt the drove nearly a mile from the formidable -ice-fed stream, 'rolling red from brae to brae,' and prepare for -a swim over.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our party consists of eight mounted men, exclusive of a -cook or tent-keeper, and a boy, hardy, knowing, and, it might -be added, impudent beyond his years. The leader is Mr. -Harold Lodbroke, an Australian of English descent; he has -managed cattle from his youth up, and these are not the first -thousand head that he has personally conducted from one side -of the country to the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Elms, the second in command, is an Englishman who -has plainly, by some peculiar arrangement of circumstances, -been 'born out of his native country.' In speech, in manner, -in the fifteen stone which he walks, in the square-built, clever -cob which he rides, he is as conspicuously English as his name -'John Meadows Elms' would lead you to suppose. Nevertheless -he is a 'Campbelltown native'—(why were so many of -the early Australians born in that curious old-fashioned village -in New South Wales?)—and he knows, I feel persuaded, not -only what any cow or bullock would do under given circumstances, -but what they would <em>think</em>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>James Dickson (otherwise Monaro Jim) and his mate, whom -he introduced at their hiring as 'a young man from the big Tindaree,' -are stock-riders of the ordinary run of Australian bush -natives. They are given to long hair, tight breeches, tobacco, -and profane swearing; it is possible they may be 'everything -that is bad,' but bad riders—their worst enemy could find no -fault in that respect. They require to be kept well in hand, -but as they will receive no payment until the completion of -the journey, it is probable they will do their work well.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Jones (of England) is a young gentleman recently -arrived, who has joined the partly mainly for the sport and to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_343'>343</span>add to his colonial experience—of this last commodity he is -likely to gain on this expedition perhaps a little more than -accords with amusement; but he is plucky and energetic, so -he will most likely come well through, with a fair allowance -of grumbling, as befits his nation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Some preparation for the wilderness is now progressing, -this being the last outpost of civilisation. Whips are looked -to, and 'crackers' are at a premium; every horse has his shoes -examined in anticipation of rocky passes and absence of -blacksmiths. 'You won't find no shoes on the Black -Mountain,' says Monaro Jim to Mr. Jones, 'and you'd look -well leading that chestnut mare fifty mile.' At this cheerful -way of putting things, Mr. Jones has a close overhaul of his -charger's feet and makes at once for the smithy. Flour and -beef are laid in, spare boots, and, above all, full supplies of -tobacco are secured by the men, and lastly the pack-saddles, -provisions, tent, and general property are ferried across the -river in a rough sort of punt. It is now mid-day, dinner is -ready, and after due observance of that ceremony, every one -mounts and real work begins.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Harold Lodbroke on The Dromedary, a long brown -horse, not far from thoroughbred, plain enough, but with legs -of iron and a constitution to match, slides in among the -cattle, followed by Monaro Jim and his mate. They bring -on separately, or as they would say 'cut off,' three or four -hundred of the vanguard; the rest of the party close up -behind these and they are brought briskly towards the river. -There is a steep but sandy bank, below which is the river -shore. The cattle see this and hesitate; at a shout from the -leader, every whip and every voice is raised simultaneously; -the half-wild, half-fierce bullocks dash forward like a herd of -deer. Down the bank they go, dropping over and breaking -down the overhanging bank as they are forced on by the -maddened animals in the rear. Harold jumps The Dromedary -over the crumbling ledge, and, making a drop leap of three -or four feet, lands right among their undecided lead. Swinging -his twelve-foot stockwhip and yelling like a Sioux Indian, he -forces half-a-dozen bullocks into the foaming water. The -next moment they are struggling with the deep, violent stream, -heading straight for the further shore and followed by all the -rest. Other detachments are brought down, which readily -<span class='pageno' id='Page_344'>344</span>follow their comrades, and in little more than an hour the -whole expedition is safe on the right side of the treacherous -Snowy River. We do not purpose to camp after the usual -fashion to-night; no watching is thought necessary, we can -see for some ten miles in every direction, the cattle are not -likely to re-swim that pleasant rivulet, so the order goes forth, -'Let 'em rip.' They graze peacefully in the gathering darkness, -a fire is made of drift-wood, the tent is pitched, and that day -at least is successfully over. I have often thought that a -nearer approach to perfect contentment, and therefore to -happiness, is more frequently realised 'on the road' than -under any other circumstances of life's travel. Everything -conduces to those 'short views' which Sydney Smith recommended. -The hours spent in the saddle or at the watch-fire -tend to a pleasant weariness of mind and body. Health and -spirits are at a high register, owing to a freshness of the -atmosphere and the regularity of muscular action. A certain -amount of anxiety is felt for the success of the daily enterprise, -and when that is reached in the crossing of a dangerous river, -or by the attainment of a favourable camp, the needs of our -nature seem fully if temporarily gratified. Let the morrow -provide for itself. The abstract incompleteness appears to -diminish, almost to disappear in the illimitable distance, and -we smoke our meerschaum by the watch-fire, or sink into well-earned -repose, in the luxurious enjoyment of that unbroken -slumber which is born of toil and toil alone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So, one by one, we lie down to rest with the lulling sound -in our ears of the turbulent, rock-strewn river. The <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">réveillé</span></i> -is sounded at 5.30; there is no possibility of daylight for more -than an hour, but breakfast can be cooked and eaten before -dawn, whereas horses cannot be profitably searched for without -some manner of daylight. The day breaks, cold and discouraging. -The rain, which had poured steadily during the -latter part of the night, causes us to congratulate ourselves -that we are on the right bank of old Snowy, now rising fast. -The faintly chiming bells, which every other horse of the -twenty-three composing our 'caballada' wore, warn us of -their whereabouts. We see, as the mist lifts, long lines of the -cattle at various distances, but within easy reach of the camp. -The horses, now driven in by the boy, Sydney Ben, and the -'young man from the Tindaree,' arrive. The cattle are soon -<span class='pageno' id='Page_345'>345</span>put together. It seems improbable that any stragglers had -left the main body. Mr. Elms, after looking through them, -gives it as his deliberate opinion that he didn't miss any of -the 'walk-about mob.' We take the trail that faces the dark -woods and frowning ranges of the south, and the grand array -moves on. It would be hard to find a more bitter day, except -on a Russian steppe in a snowstorm. The unsheltered, stony -downs over which we pass seem to invite the whirlwinds of -sleet which ever and anon sweep over them. The cattle -refuse to face their course from time to time, only to be forced -on as regularly in the very teeth of the blast. The stage is -comparatively long, so we toil on, drenched to the skin and -cold to the very marrow, in spite of oilskins and wraps. Still -'the day drags on, though storms keep out the sun,' and -nightfall find us at the appointed halting-place. We do not -propose to 'chance' the cattle to-night, so a camp is made. -First of all the drove is permitted to graze peaceably to the -particular spot selected. This is either a dry knoll or the -angle of a creek, fence, or whatever boundary may help to -confine the cattle at night and lessen the labour of watching. -This being accomplished, they are gradually driven up into -such a compass as gives room for comfort without undue -extension of line. Fires are as quickly as possible lighted -around them. The horses are unsaddled, hobbled, 'belled,' -and turned loose. For all night purposes cattle can be -managed on foot, always excepting when they have been -recently brought from their native pastures, in which case a -relay of fresh 'night horses' is always kept ready for a rush -or other emergency. Regular watches now are allotted to the -different members of the party, changing, of course, every -night. On this occasion Mr. Jones, who is on the first watch, -is informed by the cook that his tea is ready, a piece of -information which he receives with the keenest gratification. -He seats himself between the tent and the camp-fire upon his -rolled up gutta-percha ground-sheet and bedding, and thinks -he never enjoyed anything so much in his life as the boiled -corned beef, fresh damper, and quart-pot tea. Monaro Jim, -who is his companion on watch, is also partaking after a -deliberate and satisfying fashion, volunteering from time to time -his impressions about the weather, the road, and the state of -the cattle.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_346'>346</span>Mr. Lodbroke and the rest of the party are at this time -fully engaged in lighting fires, and 'steadying the cattle.' -Their turn for luxury, tea, and improving conversation will -come at a later period.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Terrible hard they seem to camp to-night,' quoth Jim, -taking off a wedge of beef with his clasp-knife, and looking -approvingly at Mr. Elms, who is rushing frantically after an -old cow with a fire-stick in his hand. 'One comfort is, some -of it'll be out of 'em by the time we're on watch.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Surely we two won't be able to keep them on the camp?' -queries Mr. Jones, alarmed at the responsibility about to -devolve upon him and his companion, and picturing cattle -escaping into the darkness in all directions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Dessay we'll do well enough, after a bit,' said that experienced -person reassuringly. 'Just you keep walking round -'em till you come to me. I'll be t'other side. If two or -three sneaks out, rush at 'em and keep a fire-stick handy to -throw. If a string makes for goin', holler for me. But they -ain't fond of leavin' one another, nor yet travellin' in the dark. -We'd as well go on now.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Supper having been concluded without unnecessary hurry -on his part, Monaro Jim walks forth, filling his pipe as he -goes. He explains to Mr. Jones the position of the fires he -is to guard, and departs to his post. As they advance, the -rest of the party make for the main camp-fire with considerable -alacrity, leaving Mr. Jones nervous but sternly determined. -For the first half-hour he paces rapidly from fire to -fire, anxiously peering into the darkness and driving back -straggling animals. Rather to his surprise they rush back to -their companions in the herd directly they see him or hear -his voice, in preference to what he supposed to be their -obvious course, viz. to disappear in the darkness and elude -pursuit.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Finding that Jim did not think the same activity necessary, -and observing that the cattle, with few exceptions, remained -stationary, even commenced to lie down, Mr. Jones moderates -his energy and lights his pipe. He finds time to smoke in -peace by the middle fire. As the night wears on he employs -himself in replenishing the fires on his side, and occasionally -carrying or dragging heavy logs of wood. Happening to look -at his watch after doing all this, he finds to his astonishment -<span class='pageno' id='Page_347'>347</span>that half his vigil is over. He feels refreshed by his late -heartily-eaten meal. He warms himself from time to time by -the blazing fires which he has piled up. Once every half-hour -he walks round his watch and ward. The night is -calm and starlit. The cattle have mostly lain down, and are -apparently not disposed to stir. When another hour has -passed, Mr. Jones begins to realise a treacherous inclination -for slumber.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He has been up early, has worked hard all day, and after -the third hour of watching begins to feel as if he would give -all the world for a good, careless sleep. However, he combats -the feeling, and it passes off. Great comfort comes -from the thought that when his watch is over at ten o'clock, -he can have unbroken rest till breakfast-time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The last hour dies hard, but comes to its end in due time, -and then Mr. Jones, with secret joy, veiled under a careless -manner, shakes the feet of the pair who are to relieve him and -his mate, telling them to keep moving as the cattle are troublesome -on the far side. Having seen them drowsily dressing -and finally on their way to his outside fire, Mr. Jones betakes -himself to his cork mattress, ground-sheet, and blankets, where -under five minutes he is sleeping that sleep which comes to -the just and the unjust alike if only they be sufficiently tired.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At half-past five <span class='fss'>A.M.</span> Dan, the cook, is roaring out unfeelingly, -'All aboard!' It seems but a few minutes to our tired -hero, but on reference to his watch the fact is fully borne out. -So ends his first night's watching.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Another day, with its difficulties to be surmounted and its -dangers to be risked. We have said farewell to the cold -uplands of Monaro proper, and are entering a mountain land, -amid deep ravines and narrow gorges, sunless glens, dense -forests, and precipitous ranges. We become aware that our -droving difficulties are commencing. The subsoil, saturated -with the rains of the most severe season known for thirty -years, gives under the heavy trampling of the leading bullocks. -In the vain struggle to pass quickly many of the stronger cattle -only succeed in getting deeper and deeper into the treacherous -hillsides.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is even difficult to ride, and Mr. Jones more than once -finds himself confronted by a bullock of forbidding aspect, -who, unable to advance or retire, glares as if too happy to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_348'>348</span>have the chance of 'skewering' him, and keeps, with the -defiance of despair, turning his horns instead of his heels -towards Mr. Jones' person.</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, by patience and strategy, these difficulties are -disposed of and the camp is reached, in the darkest and most -gloomy of forests. No more easy days, no more 'lazy-ally' -for us. We have entered the 'big timber,' <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">crede</span></i> Monaro Jim, -and it will be all hard work and 'slogging' till we sight the -parks and meadows of Gippsland. So we fare on, gradually -ascending the forest hills which are to bring us to the -celebrated pass by which we shall surmount the grand alpine -chain. Sometimes we pass through darksome forests, where -the scanty vegetation tantalises the hungry drove; now we -stand upon the brow of rocky pinnacles and see stretching -before us a cloud-world of mountain peaks and glaciers, rosy -in the flush of dawn. We dine by the side of clear, cold, -alpine streams, which ripple and gurgle through long summer -days, full-fed as now. By such a brook, it chances one day, -as we round a rugged promontory, that the unwonted appearance -of a settler's hut startles us; an inhabited dwelling too, -with smoke issuing from the chimney, a real woman, and -(ever so many) children. Shy and wondering, they stand -gazing at us as if we were Red Indians, while their mother -civilly offers milk and potatoes—luxuries both.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Her husband was away,' she explained in answer to our -inquiries. 'He was nearly always out on the run, and sometimes -away for weeks at a time, mustering.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Was she not afraid?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh no; who would harm her? And there was not much -to steal.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Wasn't she awfully dull?' (This from Mr. Jones.)</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, it was rather quiet, but there—the children, and the -cows, and the garden,—she always had something to do.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Her husband was handy if he made that water-wheel, -eh?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh no. Yankee Jack, the digger, made that one -summer he was prospecting about here.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'However did they manage to get the dray here?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well' (rather proudly), 'it was the only dray for many a -mile round; her father gave it to them—and Joe, he packed -it on the old horse, up the range, bit by bit.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_349'>349</span>'Did she think the mountains fine?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh yes. They were very well, but she wished they -wouldn't rise just out of their back-door like.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>We said farewell to the kindly, simple dame and her sturdy -brood of Anglo-Saxons—blue-eyed and rosy-faced as if they -had come out of Kent or Devonshire—true types of a race -which claims the waste places of the earth for a heritage and -which creates thereof New Englands and Greater Britains.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We wander slowly on with our sauntering, grazing herd, -this rarely mild, calm winter day. We look back as the -cottage grows dim in the distance—the little garden, the -water-wheel, the patient wife listening ever for the hoof-tramps -of her husband's horse, fade in the darkening eve. -But we do not forget the little home picture, this floweret of -tender bloom beneath the melancholy alp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We'll have to look out pretty sharp to-morrow, Mr. Jones,' -says Monaro Jim. 'We've got rather bad country before us.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Bad country? Why, what do you call this?' hastily -returns that gentleman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We're only just a-comin' to it,' calmly explains the -saturnine stock-rider. 'You'll see what the sidelings is like; -why, this here's a plain to it—cattle slipping and perhaps -killing theirselves, big rocks falling fit to knock yer brains -out; there ain't hardly a yard fit for a horse to carry you. -Them boots of your'n won't look very fresh to-morrow night.' -Here Jim took a soothing draw at his pipe, and glanced -pityingly at Mr. Jones' neat elastic-sided boots, apparently -absorbed in pleasing thoughts of evil which the morrow night -will bring forth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Is there much more "sideling," as you call it?' inquired -Mr. Jones, rather overcome by this terrific description, and -almost prepared to arrive in Gippsland like a barefooted friar, -if indeed he ever reached that far and, as he is beginning to -believe, fabulous country.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Not more'n a week of the wust of it,' answered the hard-hearted -Jim. 'I wish we was well over it. I've known -a-many accidents in the sidelings in my time.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The dawn is still grey as we ascend a green peak, at the -summit of which commences the first of the dreaded sidelings. -The peculiarity of the track here is, that while on the upper -side the mountains through which the Snowy River cleaves -<span class='pageno' id='Page_350'>350</span>its rugged path rear themselves heavenwards with a gradient -of about one foot in three, on the lower side there is not an -inch of level ground between the track and the foaming waters -of the river. Where the river shore should have been is a -mass of granite crags and boulders. The trails of the many -herds which have preceded us are deeply-worn ruts, along -which it is just possible for men to walk in single file; if -slippery with recent rains, or if any confusion occurs, they -are all but impassable. If the cattle, as was their constant -endeavour, manage to climb upwards, it is difficult and -dangerous to force them down. If they slip or fall downwards -towards the river, it is a forlorn hope to get them up.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_351'>351</span> - <h2 class='c006'>THE AUSTRALIAN NATIVE-BORN TYPE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>Numberless speculations, dogmatisms, and prophecies have -found utterance, in and out of Australia, touching the characteristics -and destiny of the Children of the Soil. Colonial -critics sitting in judgment upon their own and other people's -offspring have chiefly felt moved to deliver a verdict of -inferiority to the sacred British type. Not noticeably diverse -has been that of the untravelled European philosopher or -social student. In nearly all cases, the mildest judgment indicated -some degree of physical or mental differentiation; -another term, for degeneration. If in the former greater -height and length of limb were conceded, to be neutralised by -lack of muscle and vitality. Worse again, if in the latter -category a savage precocity and perceptive intelligence were -admitted, it was rarely if ever supported by persistency, application, -or broad mental grasp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the very early days of New South Wales, which I am -old enough, alas! to remember, my boyish experience -familiarised me with various products, animate and inanimate, -of the Cape of Good Hope, then a handy storehouse of -necessaries, for this far and oft-forgotten continent. The -mention of 'Cape' geese, 'Cape' wine, 'Cape' horses, 'Cape' -gooseberries, was unceasing. Indeed I once heard the pied -peewit—a bird familiar to all observing youth—referred to as -a Cape 'magpie.' This was, of course, natural enough. But -the logical outcome of this simple nomenclature, which -puzzled me at the time, was that 'Cape,' used in that sense, -was another name for almost any article resembling but -<em>inferior</em> to a prized original. Thus the Cape wine was what -we still, perhaps erroneously, consider that inspiriting but less -<span class='pageno' id='Page_352'>352</span>delicate beverage to be; the Cape geese were smaller and -marketably less valuable than their thick-necked solemn -English cousins; the Cape gooseberries were sweet with a -mawkish sweetness, how far below the rough richness of the -English fruit! The Cape horses, not devoid of pace, were -weedy and low-caste; while the Cape pigeon was not a pigeon -at all, but a gull; and even the Cape magpie was held to be -a species of lark, dressed up in the parti-coloured plumes of -his august relative, the herald of the dawn.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Can my readers recall a period in which the adjectives -'colonial' or 'native' were not held to express very similar -ideas as contrasted with 'European' or 'imported'? Along -with the 'Cape' associations, I acquired, from many sources, -a fixed idea that an indefinable, climatic process was somehow -at work in Australia, preventing like from producing like. -It applied equally to men and women, horses and cattle, -sheep and goats, plants and flowers, qualities and manners. -Over this anomaly, dooming the unconscious 'currency lads -and lasses' to perpetual 'Cape' creolism, I marvelled greatly. -My sympathies, meantime, were loyally enlisted with the -'native' party.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Years rolled on. I visited other colonies and roamed -over tracts of broad Australia, far from my boyhood's home. -Yet I never lost sight of the question which so troubled my -youth. I neglected no opportunity of making observations, -recording facts, or instituting comparisons connected with -this mysterious subtle Australian degeneration theory.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I even enjoyed the privilege—of which I desire to speak -reverently and gratefully—of visiting the dear old land, -whence came the ancestors of all Australians, the land of the -real, veritable 'old masters,' before any like-seeming but -disappointing 'Cape' copies of the glorious originals were -thought of. I enjoyed thus certain opportunities, of which -I did not fail to make reasonable use.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I mention personal facts merely to show that, having -early in life apprehended the magnitude of the question, I -set myself, not without certain facilities for generalisation, or -reasonable time devoted to the inquiry (about fifty years—ah -me!), to do battle with the error, now as then, possessing -vitality and power of propagation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first primary fact which appealed to my reasoning -<span class='pageno' id='Page_353'>353</span>powers as subversive of the 'Cape' or degeneration doctrine -was that of the high and increasing value of the fleece of the -Australian merino sheep. This astonishing animal, bred -from individuals of selected <i><span lang="es" xml:lang="es">cabanas</span></i> of the highest Spanish -lineage, was landed in New South Wales in the early years -of settlement, and tenderly cherished by the Macarthurs, -Rileys, Coxes, and other leading colonists, more enthusiastic -for the welfare of the land than their own aggrandisement. -Kept free from 'improvement'(?) by heterogeneous imported -blood, it was actually declared by Shaw of Victoria and other -clear-visioned pastoral prophets to be equal, nay <em>superior</em>, to -the best imported sheep. It was contended for him that the -calumniated climate and pastures of Australia had in the -acclimatised merino produced a fleece delicately soft, free, -lustrous; withal, so highly adapted for the finer fabrics that -nothing European could compare with it. That from the -type, now securely fixed, and capable of reproducing itself -illimitably, had been evolved the most valuable fleece-producing -animal, reared in the open air and under natural conditions, -<em>in the whole world</em>. That so far from the infusion of the -best Spanish and Gascon blood improving the Camden -merino, as it commenced to be called, marked deterioration -followed. Horror of horrors! <em>imported blood</em> injurious—what -heresy was this? Yet, incontestably, the prices of the Havilah, -Mount Hope, Larra, and Ercildoune clips would seem to -have triumphantly established Mr. Shaw's daring proposition.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As to horses, slowly and yet surely it began to be asserted, -if not believed, that any stud-master in possession of a family -of Australian thoroughbreds, originally imported and bred -uncrossed for generations beneath the bright Australian sky, -reared on the crisp Australian pastures, had probably better -pause before he introduced English blood, <em>unless he knew</em> it -to be absolutely superior and likely to assimilate successfully. -Later on men were found to say that, given pure pedigree, -speed, and soundness on the part of sire and dam, Australian -blood-horses, though reared for generations under -the <em>fibre-relaxing climatic influences</em> of the Great South Land, -were as grandly grown, as speedy, as sound in wind and limb, -as full of vigour and vitality, as any of the 'terribly high-bred -cattle' which at Newmarket represent the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ne plus ultra</span></i> of -equine perfection.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_354'>354</span>To this latter-day heresy, speculations as to what might -have come to the reputation of the race-courses of the land -if evil hap had chanced to the son of Cap-à-pie and Paraguay, -lent considerable force.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Gradually, also, uprose a bucolic, protesting party, who -denied that the unqualified supremacy of the British-bred -shorthorn was to last for all time. Second Hubback cows -and bulls of the blood of Belvidere and Mussulman, Favourite -and Comet, had landed here before the rival names of Bates -and Booth were household words, from the Hawkesbury to -the Sylvester. Careful breeders, enthusiasts for pedigree, had -jealously kept the blood pure. Size and beauty, hair, colour -and handling, constitution and flesh-amassing power were -equalled or even exceeded in their descendants. Though -sorely trammelled by the 'Cape' orthodoxy, these even at -length ventured to raise their flag and proclaim a revolutionary -epic of fullest colonial brotherhood, other things being equal. -Following them came the champions of Devon and Hereford -cattle. Lastly, the Suez mail brought news that certain -Bates' Duchesses, born and bred in America, in the United -States, where the 'Cape' theory as regarding man and -beast to this day doth flourish luxuriantly, were re-exported -and sold in England for dream-prices before an idolatrous -audience. 'So mote it be,' argued the bolder reasoner—'even -yet in Australia preserve we but our pure tribes -inviolate!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>It irks one to recall how rigidly comprehensive was the -elastic network of the 'Cape' theory. By no means would -the bulldog fight, nor die in battle the close-trimmed cock, -nor sing the bird, nor flower perfume the breeze in Australia, -as did their prototypes in 'Merrie England.' Long years -since this prejudicial indictment has been laid to rest amid -the limbo of forgotten absurdities. Man, the most highly-organised -animal, suffered of course the most injurious -disparagement; he has but slowly been able to clear himself -from these damaging aspersions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yet, methinks, old Time, his 'whirligigs and revenges,' is -even now uplifting the personal character of the Southern -Briton, no longer forced to resent the damaging accusation. -In the lower forms of the great School of Effort our champions -have arisen and done battle with many a dux of the Old World. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_355'>355</span>They have abundantly demonstrated that they could 'make -the pace' and yet exhibit the 'staying power,' which is the -great heritage of the breed. Lofty of stature and lithe of limb -as they may be—though all are not so—they have shown that -they inherited the stark sinews, the unyielding muscles, the -indomitable, dogged energy of those 'terrible beef-fed islanders' -from whom we are all descended. In the boat, on the cricket-field, -at the rifle-targets, and in the saddle, the Australian -has shown that he can hold his own with his European -relatives.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It remains to be seen whether in the more æsthetic -departments he has exhibited the same power of competing -on equal terms with his Northern kinsmen. I now venture to -assert, considering the limited number of families relatively -from which choice could be made, that a very large proportion -of Australian-born persons, of both sexes, have exhibited a high -degree of talent, and, in some cases, unquestioned genius in -the literary, forensic, or scientific arena. That small and distant -English-speaking population, which in a single generation -produced such men as Wentworth, Robertson, Martin, Dalley, -Stephen, Forster, Halloran, Deniehy, Kendall, and Harper—Australians -by birth or rearing—may fairly lay claim to the -highest intellectual proclivities, to a moral atmosphere favourable -to mental development. It is inexpedient to mention -names in a limited community, but I may assert, without -laying myself open to that accusation of boasting for which -a colonial synonym has been adopted, that in the learned -professions Australians may be found, if not at the acknowledged -pinnacle, so near as to be worthily striving for pre-eminence. -Among the fair daughters of the land we know -that there are numbered singers, painters, musicians, histrionic -artists, and writers, of an eminence which fits them worthily -to compete with European celebrities.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Pledged to observing, with deep interest, the native -Australian type, so far as it has been presented to me, I have -rarely missed an opportunity of testing not only the general -characteristics of the individuals examined,—I have even pushed -my inquiries almost to the verge of rudeness as to the nationality -of parents and grandparents; from the Parramatta River to the -Clarence, from the Moyne to the Murrumbidgee, from the Yarra -to the Mataura, I have noticed 'natives' of all ranks, ages, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_356'>356</span>sexes. The eager ethnological reader will naturally require my -conclusive opinion—a prosaic, possibly a disappointing one. -Australian-born persons, with trifling exceptions, are very like -everybody else, born of British blood, anywhere. So far from -all being run into one mould, as it pleases strangers to believe, -they present as many instances of individual divergence from -the ordinary Anglo-Saxon or Anglo-Celtic types—mentally and -physically—as are to be found in Europe or elsewhere. Then -the heat, the constant eating of meat, the locomotive, speculative -habit of the land—do these not produce a variation of type? -How <em>can</em> they be like people born in the green Motherland? -is eagerly asked. My answer is—that 'race is everything.' -A little heat more or less, a little extra wayfaring, the prevalence -of the orange and banana, of abundant food—these things -do not suffice to relax the fibre and lower the stamina of the -bold sea-roving breed which has never counted the cost of the -deadliest climate or the wildest sea where honour was to be -satisfied, thirst for adventure to be slaked, or even that lower -but essential desideratum, a full purse to be secured. If the -air be hot, there sighs the ocean breeze to temper it withal. -On the great interior plateaux, the pure, dry atmosphere, which -invigorates the invalid, rears up uninjured the hardy broods of -the farmer, the stock-rider, and the shepherd. Stalwart men -and wholesome, stirring lasses do they make. The profusely-used -beef and mutton diet, due to our countless flocks and -herds, though it does not tend to produce grossness of habit, -is a muscle-producing food, best fitted for those who are -compelled to travel far and fast. The ordinary bush-labourer, -reared on a farm or a station, is generally a tall, rather graceful -personage. He may be comparatively slight-looking, but if -you test or measure him, you will find that the spareness is -more apparent than real. His limbs are muscular and sinewy; -his chest is broad; his shoulders well spread; he is extremely -active, and, either on foot or horseback, can hold his own with -any nationality. Wiry and athletic, he is much stronger than -he looks. He will generally do manual labour after a fashion -and at a pace that would astonish a Kent or Sussex yokel. If -he have not the abnormally broad frame of the English navvy -or farm-labourer, neither has he the bowed frame, the bent -back, the shorter limbs of the European hind. With all his -faults he is much more as Nature made him, unwarped by -<span class='pageno' id='Page_357'>357</span>ceaseless compulsory labour, and more capable of the rational -enjoyment of life.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With regard to mental characteristics. It has been the -fashion to assert that a certain want of thoroughness is -observable in the native Australian youths. 'They will not -fag at their books to the same extent as a Britisher. They -are superficial, light-minded, unstable, what not.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>I well believe this to be an unfounded charge. When will -people cease to talk of 'Australians' doing this and that, or -permit colonists to differ among themselves from birth, as -elsewhere? Here, under the Southern Cross as under Ursa -Major, are born the imaginative and the practical, the energetic, -the dreamy, the slow and the brilliant, the cautious and the -rash, the persevering and the fickle. As the inscrutable human -unit enters the world, so must he or she remain, I hold, but -partially modified by human agency, until the day of death. -Change of abode or circumstance will not perceptibly alter -the mysteriously-persistent entity. The eager British or other -critic sums up the inhabitants living in five hundred different -ways as typical colonists. 'The Australian' (saith he) 'does -this, or looks like that, dislikes formality, or abhors uniformity. -He is quick, but not persevering; he is not so profound, so -long enduring, so "thorough" as the Englishman.' Such -reasoners surely assume that all Australians 'to the manner -born' were hewn out of one primeval eucalyptus log, instead -of, as I had the honour to remark before, possessing in full -abundance the endless differentiations and divergences from -the parent type, and from each other, so noticeable in Great -Britain.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Know, O friendly generaliser, that there be tall Australians -and short Australians, lean Australians, and those to whom -the increase of adipose tissue is a sore trial. There be fair-haired -and dark-haired, brown-and auburn-haired youths and -maidens, and ever, as the outward man or woman ripens -diverse under the same sun, do the invisible forces of the -mind wax faint or fierce, feeble-clinging or deathless-strong. -There are speculative, rash Australians; also cautious, <em>very -wary</em> Australians. Some to whom gold is but dross, peculiarly -difficult to 'pocket' in life's billiard-table, and woefully given -to the losing hazard; others to whom pence and half-pence -are dear as the rarest coins of the collector, prone to fight for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_358'>358</span>or hoard them with desperate tenacity. 'Natives' who are ready -to accept the gravest charge without a grain of self-distrust; -'natives' to whom responsibility is a misery and a burden. -Some there are who from childhood to old age scarcely -glance at any literary product except a newspaper. Born -on the same stream, or tending the same herds, shall be -those whose every waking thought is more or less connected -with books; to whom the unvisited regions of the Old World, -through such glorious guides, are rendered common and -familiar. There is <em>no</em> generic native Australian definition, -such as we carelessly apply to Englishmen, Americans, -Frenchmen, or Germans, when we call the first practical, -the second 'go-ahead,' the third gay, the fourth solid. The -Australian, perhaps, more nearly resembles the Briton, from -whom he has chiefly sprung, than any other sub-variety of -mankind.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There may be a slight but noticeable tendency to variation, -but it smacks of progressive development rather than of retrogression. -Let it be remembered that the inhabitants of the -principal subdivisions of Britain have mingled and intermarried -in Australia to a greater degree than is possible in -the mother-country. Doubtless English and Scotch, Scotch -and Irish, and so on, continuously form alliances in Britain; -but there scarcely can have been such a thorough sifting -up together, such intermixture of blood there, as where the -three divisions, having been imported in rateably even quantities, -have intermarried, for nearly a century. The thorough welding -of Celt and Saxon, Dane and Norseman, Ancient Briton, -Scoto-Celt, and Hiberno-Saxon strains, is hardly possible -except in a colony. Hence Australia may eventually produce -a type of the highest physical and mental vigour possible to -the race. It has been conceded that borderers—presumably -mixed—have always excelled in stature and mental calibre -the pure races. As much may be asserted in days to come -of Australians. As it is, instances are not wanting of a type -of manhood combining harmoniously those qualities of which -English, Irish, and Scotch have from time immemorial been -accustomed to boast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I conclude this outline of a deeply-important question by -recording my deliberate conviction, that in the essentials of -character, the Southern British race truly resembles and in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_359'>359</span>none falls short of the parent stock. Apparent physical -peculiarities may be explained, as the results of a higher -average standard of living, a less stationary habit, and the -unshared freshness of a glorious atmosphere.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Great South Land, in extent and variety of climate -and soil, offers a more fruitful field for the development of -the root-qualities of the race than did any former abiding-place -of the great Aryan stock. And though the average -stature be exceeded, and the rugged lineaments, no longer -ocean-striving, but fanned by softer airs, approximate more -closely to the chiselled features of the Greek, ever and for -ever more will Australia 'keep unchanged the strong heart -of her sons'; for ages yet to come jealously claiming the -proud title of 'Britons of the South,' and as such, when the -world's war-dogs bay around the sacred standard of the -Empire, eagerly emulous to be enrolled among the 'Soldiers -of the Queen.'</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_360'>360</span> - <h2 class='c006'>MY SCHOOL DAYS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>It savours of the improbable to assert that the life-careers of -my school-comrades have proved to be mainly in development -of their boyish traits of character; yet in the majority of -instances such has been the case.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Sir James Martin, late Chief Justice of New South Wales, -was always <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">facile princeps</span></i> among us—in every class, in -every subject. He may not have posed as a too industrious -worker, but, whatever his method, he mastered every department -of knowledge which he essayed with unvarying success. -That he, in common with most of the 'old boys,' wrote with -ease and effectiveness was due, perhaps, to the care bestowed -upon the study of English composition. It was a speciality -of the school. Hugh Ranclaud once produced an essay so -polished and scholarly that suspicion of plagiarism was aroused. -A subject was given to him, 'Marauders by land or sea,' to -work out under supervision. He emerged triumphantly from -the ordeal. The first numbers of <cite>Pickwick</cite> appearing about -that time, in green covers, if I mistake not, Martin commenced -a tale, embodying a similar style of incident. I forget the -title now, but some numbers were printed. It was a boy's -audacious imitation, but even at this distance of time I recall -the undoubted ability of his performance. Part of the action -was laid in London, a city, strangely enough (though he knew -more of its history and topography than many a dweller -within sound of Bow Bells), that he was never destined to -behold.</p> - -<p class='c000'>William Forster was much the same kind of boy as he -was a man: obstinately honest, uncompromising, detesting -the expedient; clever at classics and mathematics, yet with a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_361'>361</span>strong leaning to poetry. He left us to go to the King's -School at Parramatta, then in charge of the Rev. Mr. Forrest, -Hovenden. Hely, Whistler and Eustace Smith, Moule, the -Rossi Brothers, Walter Lamb, and a large contingent of -Stephens were contemporaries. Alfred of that ilk and I -were great chums. He was a steady worker, as were most -of that branch of his family. Consett (Connie) was then a -handsome, clever boy, who could learn anything when he -liked, but was not over-fond of work. Matthew Henry (now -a Supreme Court judge), on the other hand, was an insatiable -acquirer of knowledge, and bore off a bagful of prizes, so to -speak, at every examination. Frank, his cousin, was not over-eager -about draughts from the Pierian spring, which led to -misunderstandings between him and our worthy master; but -he was famous for tenacity of purpose and indomitable resolution, -qualities which served him well in after-life. Among -the boys who came comparatively late was George Rowley. -He must have been fourteen, at least, and by no means -forward. In two years he was not far from the head of the -school. The Brennans—John, the late sheriff, and his brother -Joseph—David Moore, a Minister of the Crown in Victoria -in days to come, David Forbes, the present judge, and George -Lord were the Spofforths, Bannermans, and Massies of that -long-past day—old fashioned, perhaps, in a cricketing sense, -but prophetic of triumphs to come.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There were fights now and then, and 'what for no?' -But these necessary conflicts were conducted with all proper -decorum at the bottom of the playground. Mr. Cape, very -properly, did not discourage them as long as there was no -unfairness. I reminded Mr. William Crane, stipendiary -magistrate, years since, of an obstinate engagement between -us, in which his superior science gained the victory. I -'knocked back' or put out a knuckle of my right hand (as our -schoolboy phrase was) in that or some other desperate fray. -Dr. Parsons, a medical friend whom I met in the street, -reduced the swelling for me. The worthy stipendiary showed -a similar displacement, attributable to the same cause, as we -compared notes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Ronald Cameron was one of our leading champions, being -ready to fight anything or anybody at short notice. He -challenged to the combat Cyrus Doyle, a long-limbed native, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_362'>362</span>big enough to eat him, with the assurance of a gamecock -defying an emu. He lost the fight, of course; but no other -boy of his size in the school would have thought of commencing -it. He had been at sea for a year, and was thereby -enabled to tell us wonderful tales of his adventures among -the South Sea Islands—much after the fashion of 'Jack -Harkaway,' who, however, like gas in the time of Guy -Fawkes, 'wasn't then inwented.' In after-years a report was -current among us that he was lost at sea. Whether true or not -I am unable to say. He certainly was, with the exception of -Carden Collins, the most utterly fearless boy I ever saw.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Of course, with so large a school, under masters were required. -These gentlemen were excellent teachers and conscientious -disciplinarians. First came Mr. Murray, the English and -arithmetical master; then Mr. O'Brien, writing master and -teacher of mathematics. He had a way of saying, when arrived -at the Q.E.D. of a problem in Euclid, 'And the thing is done.' -How well I remember his desk and the pen he was always -mending! No steel pens in those days. We had to learn to -mend our own quill pens and keep them in good order. -If the pens were bad and the writing suffered thereby, we -suffered in person. This led to the careful preparation of -the obsolete goose-quill—now a figure of speech, a thing of -the past.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Rev. Mr. Woolls was for a year or more classical -master. He afterwards went to Parramatta and established -himself independently. A fair-haired, ruddy-faced, Kingsley-looking -young Englishman was he when he first came to -Sydney College. He was the ideal tutor, and most popular -with us all: strict in school, but full of life and gaiety when -lessons were over.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The late Reverend David Boyd, afterwards of East -Maitland, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, succeeded -him. He was an accomplished person if you like: a first-rate -classical scholar, with a fair knowledge of French, -German, and Italian—possibly Hebrew, for he knew pretty -well everything, from astronomy to single-stick, fencing to -comparative philology. He rode, drove, shot, fished, painted, -was musical, mathematical—a mesmerist doubtless. '<span lang="la" xml:lang="la">Omnibus -rebus et quibusdem aliis</span>' ought to have been his motto. -We boys looked upon him as a successor of the Admirable -<span class='pageno' id='Page_363'>363</span>Crichton, and revered him accordingly. I was very glad when -he 'followed the rush' to Port Phillip in 1842, and gave the -Hammonds, Howards, myself, and a few other ex-Sydney -College boys our last year's teaching. We ought to have -made the most of it, for, as none of us got any more, we had -to rely upon those early years of conscientious grounding for -the foundation of any edifice of learning we should elect to -place thereon. It has proved extremely useful to all of us, -and it was no one's fault but our own if we did not imbibe -every form of useful knowledge short of what university -training alone could have supplied.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Besides these gentlemen we had drawing and French -masters. Mr. Rodius was a German artist, a painter in watercolours -and a limner of likenesses in crayon. Many of the -early celebrities will owe whatever immortality they may secure, -to his industrious pencil. Still linger in old colonial mansions -a few portraits, not obtruded perhaps, but too life-like to -be lost sight of, bearing the signature 'C. Rodius.' In our -family scrap-album several water-colour sketches are to be seen, -showing perhaps more than the portraits—which were necessary -'pot-boilers' in that material age—the true artistic touch. -He used to scold us, his pupils, for our indifference and -inattention: 'Ven I was yong I did rone a whole mile every -day so as to be in dime vor my bainding lezzon; I belief you -would all rone a mile do esgabe it.' I don't know that he -succeeded in forming artists of that generation, but possibly -we may have been rendered more appreciative of the paintings -which most of us were to behold in the Galleries of Europe. -Mr. Stanley, our French master, knew his Paris intimately, I -doubt not. He had the Parisian accent, too, very different in -quality from the provincial French which, when spoken -fluently, enables so many professors of the language to pass -muster. He was a man of distinguished bearing and 'club' -form, resembling curiously in appearance, and in some other -ways, a late fashionable celebrity. Why he had come to live in -a colony and teach French at a boarding-school we might -wonder, but had no means of ascertaining. His life, doubtless, -contained one of the romances of which Australia was at that -time full. He was generous to all his pupils. No unkind -word was ever said regarding him. He imparted to us a -thorough comprehension of the genius of the language; and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_364'>364</span>if we never fully probed the subtle distinctions of irregular -verbs, it was no fault of his. Long afterwards, when at the -Grand Hôtel de Louvre, or the '<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Trois Frères Provencaux</span>,' I was -able to make my wants known, surrounded by British and -American capitalists, sitting mute as fishes, I recalled with -gratitude Mr. Stanley's faithful monitions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One of our school games was, of course, that of 'fives.' -We played against one of the high gables of the college building, -where the ground had been partially levelled; but it was -rather rough still. A road-party was doing something to the -present College Street when a master suggested that I should -ask my friend Mr. Felton Mathew, then Surveyor-General and -Chief Road-superintendent, to allow the men to complete our -'fives' court. Mr. Mathew was our neighbour at Enmore; -he bought the ground from my father on which he built -Penselwood. My request was granted, and a party of men -under an overseer soon made another place of it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A tragical incident connected with the game occurred -about this time. Some of the boys were playing in Sydney -against a high wall in a court built for the purpose. It was -not properly supported, for it fell suddenly, killing poor Billy -Jones, who was one of the players. I don't think I remember -any other accident. There was an epidemic of influenza, -precisely like the 'fog fever' of recent years in symptom, cause, -and effect. It was universal, severe, and troublesome, but we -all recovered in due time. Even 'fog fever,' therefore, is no -new thing. A certain school of weather prophets is convinced -that, as they state their proposition, 'the seasons have -changed; since the old colonial days they have become drier -or cooler, even hotter, sometimes.' After a pretty clear recollection -of most of the seasons since the 'three years' drought' of -1836-7-8, I am opposed to that belief. What has been will -be again. People were justified in surmising about the time -of last autumn that it had forgotten how to rain in New -South Wales and part of Queensland. In this year of our -Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven that -theory may be said to have exploded.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What was a really exceptional, even phenomenal, form of -weather, however, did take place in and near Sydney in one -of the dry years mentioned, which was a fall of snow. We -made snowballs at Enmore and enjoyed the usual schoolboy -<span class='pageno' id='Page_365'>365</span>amusements connected therewith. It must have been nearly -as cold a day as last Monday week. There was snow on all -the hills around Albury, but I did not hear of any snowballing -quite so near Sydney as I refer to. If the Messrs. Chaffey -Brothers succeed in their irrigation scheme, and make the -Mildura salt-bush wilderness to bloom as the rose, we may -attain partial security from droughts at least. Nevertheless -let us pray to be delivered from the legendary visitations -which grey-headed aboriginals have described to pioneer -settlers. Such an one, unbroken for <em>seven years</em>, is now laying -waste Queensland.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The sons of Sir Thomas Mitchell—Livingstone, Roderick, -and Murray—were among the denizens of that old enclosure -of learning, where, as Hood so truly sings—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Ay! there's the playground—there's the lime,</div> - <div class='line'>Beneath whose shade in summer's prime</div> - <div class='line in4'>So wildly I have read!</div> - <div class='line'>Who sits there now and skims the cream</div> - <div class='line'>Of young romance and weaves a dream</div> - <div class='line in4'>Of love and cottage bread?</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Who, indeed! and how few are left of all that joyous crew -that ran and leaped, shouted and whooped with the delight of -abounding animal spirits? Besides the Mitchells were the -sons of Colonel Snodgrass; the Dowlings, the present worthy -judge and his brother Vincent; the Ritchies; the Nortons, -James and John; George Wigram Allen; the Mannings, -Arthur and Henry. These with others might be considered -the aristocratic section, but there were no divisions founded -upon social inequalities. We learned and fed, played and -lived generally, in generous and hearty fellowship.</p> - -<p class='c000'>William Wentworth the younger, who afterwards distinguished -himself at Cambridge, but died early, was intellectually -a loss to his native land of no trifling extent.</p> - -<p class='c000'>John Lang, whose name to this day is well remembered in -the Madras Presidency, was a Sydney College boy. Known -to be clever, no one was surprised to hear that he distinguished -himself at Cambridge, and passed as a barrister with credit. -He made a short visit to Sydney afterwards, where, politically, -he followed the banner of Mr. Wentworth. But he preferred -to quit Australia for the exciting life and larger fees with which -Indian barristers are credited. There, thanks to an unusual -<span class='pageno' id='Page_366'>366</span>facility for acquiring languages, he acquired legal celebrity and -a brilliant forensic reputation. He gained the historic case -of Jootie Persaud, a native contractor, against the Government, -which involved half a million of money. His fee, it -was said, paid by the grateful plaintiff, was the royal one of -a <em>lakh of rupees</em> (£10,000). A brilliant companion, a -more than popular society man, whose promising career was -cut short by an early death, he found time to write several -Anglo-Indian and an Australian novelette or two. <cite>Will He -Marry Her?</cite>, <cite>The Forger's Wife</cite>, <cite>York; you're wanted</cite>, are -still in constant demand, judging from the number of cheap -editions issued. But to my mind <cite>Wanderings in India</cite> is -one of the best of the lighter descriptions of Eastern life -ever published. The mingled realism and pathos of the style -have been rarely excelled.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our worthy master was fully aware that moral suasion was -by no means wholly to be relied upon for the steady stimulation -of his troop along the high-road of knowledge. Yet did he -make from time to time appeals to the higher nature, attributed -to boys in improving works of fiction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Bear in mind,' he would say on these occasions, 'that -you are to be the future leaders and guides of society in this -new country, which is destined to develop into such a great -and important one. Out of your ranks, from among those -who stand before me in this hall this day, will be chosen the -judges, the magistrates of the land, the clergymen, the lawyers, -the legislators and civil servants. These high positions and -responsible offices must be filled by you, or boys of like age -and training, when grown to be men. Should you not, therefore, -strive earnestly, resolutely, to fit yourselves to discharge the -duties to which in the course of nature you are to be called, -intelligently, efficiently, honourably? And is there any -probability that such will be the case unless you apply yourselves -lovingly, perseveringly, to the tasks set you by me, your -teacher and your friend, for which purpose and no other you -are placed here by your worthy parents? Master Jones will now -commence the Latin lesson of the day—the second ode of -Horace, if I mistake not, etc.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Portions of this wise, thoughtful advice were probably retained -mechanically, as an exercise of memory, though not -seriously reflected upon. Much passed 'in at one ear and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_367'>367</span>out of the other,' unheeded and soon forgotten, with the -incredible heedlessness of early youth. Yet how strangely -accurate has been the fulfilment of these long-past warnings. -Among us then stood in embryo a Chief Justice, since eminent -among high legal authorities, dying in proved possession of a -massive intellect, a wide-reaching grasp of principles, a rapid -faculty of generalisation which will ever cause his memory to -be revered and his decisions to be quoted; three puisne -judges, all of whom have earned the respect of men for legal -attainment and unswerving impartiality; a Right Honourable -Privy Councillor of our Gracious Sovereign, whose Jubilee -(now that half a century has rolled by since Hugh Ranclaud -and I, arms crony-like about each other's necks, heard the -Proclamation of her majority read under the oaks of Macquarie -Place) received a world-wide celebration. A Privy Councillor, -moreover, whose privilege it was, by one act of statesmanlike inspiration, -to nationalise Australia and to immortalise himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Alfred Stephen became a clergyman, always a hard-working, -conscientious parish priest, beloved by his parishioners. -He died in harness. Poor Connie, when I saw him many a -year after his schoolboy days, was no longer handsome and -careless, but as an eminent solicitor, and thus chained to the -Bench, a galley-slave of the law, comparatively war-worn of -visage. And pray what are we all in middle life but the bond-slaves, -scarcely disguised, of some form of ownership which -we dignify with the name of Circumstance? He and his -brother Matthew Henry were in the House of Assembly at -one time, thus justifying the prophecy as to the school being -the nursery of future legislators.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Sir James Martin was Her Majesty's Attorney-General, and -afterwards Chief-Justice William Forster was in more than one -Ministry. Allan Macpherson was for many years regularly -returned to Parliament. Sir George Wigram Allen, the -steadiest of workers at school, again kept close to Hood's -humorous declaration—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Each little boy at Enfield School</div> - <div class='line'>Became an 'Enfield's Speaker.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>He, with the Honourable James Norton, his neighbour and -class-fellow, but continued unchanged the steadfastness and -success of his school record. With one's schoolfellows the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_368'>368</span>physical proportion seems to alter strangely and, in a sense, unnaturally -in the aftertime. The big boys, the eldsters of one's -early days, when met with in other years, appear unaccountably -shrunken; while the 'little boys' of the same period -seem to have developed abnormally and assumed the gigantic. -For instance, a small orphan creature was brought to the -school very young. He seemed unable to face the strangeness -of his surroundings. When, years afterwards, I met at -the race-ground of another colony an athletic six-foot manager -of a cattle-station, mounted on a fiery steed, and by repute -the show stock-rider of the district, I could not reconcile it to -credibility that he should be the 'Bluey' (such was his -sobriquet) of our school days. He was, nevertheless.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Broughtons of Tumut, Archer and Robert—now no -more—were among the elders of the Sydney College. During -the last two years I have visited their homes in that romantic -corner of New South Wales. All this time I had a curiosity -to explore their ancient town of Tumut under the shadow of -the Australian Alps, with its rushing river, green valleys, and -romantic scenery. I shall always feel thankful that my desire -has been gratified.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We were not permitted to go boating in the harbour -unless in charge of relatives. And very properly. But we -were allowed to bathe in the summer afternoons, after applying -for formal leave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Our greatest treat was, on the Saturday half-holiday, the -picnic to Double Bay. We chose this as being a quasi-romantic -spot. Some one had commenced a mansion there -and had not completed it. There was a deserted vineyard, -which looked like an amphitheatre; an artificial fish-pond -too—an object of deep interest. In those golden summer -eves we gathered bagfuls of the native currant—a small -fruit capable of being converted into jam in spite of a -startling acidity of flavour—and having eaten our lunch, 'sub -Jove,' used to fish, bathe, and scamper about the beach till it -was time to return. Still runs the tiny creek into which we -used to dash 'like troutlets in a pool'; still ebb and flow the -tides of the little bay; but the neighbourhood is crowded -with buildings, incongruous to the scene, and the glory of -youthful adventure, which then pervaded all things, like the -<i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">genius loci</span></i>, has, with the long-past years, fled for ever.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_369'>369</span> - <h2 class='c006'>SYDNEY FIFTY YEARS AGO</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>Soon after we went to live at Enmore, I being then nine or ten -years old, my first pony was presented to me by my father. -A tiny Timor mare was little Bet; Dick Webb, the well-known -horse-dealer and livery-stable keeper, being the -intermediary. Cargoes of these small Eastern horses, -degenerate in size only, from scant feeding and crowded -pastures, were then imported from the islands of Timor and -Lombok. Disrespectful remarks have been written touching -the quality of these early Australian hackneys. They were -accused of spoiling the breed of our horses. Spoiling, forsooth! -Nothing better ever trod on turf than these -miniature Barbs, for such they undoubtedly were. Clean-legged, -long-pasterned, bright-eyed, lean-headed, mostly with -well-placed shoulders and well-bent hocks, each with pluck -enough for a troop of horse—where could one get a better cross -than these wonderful little 'tats,' with legs and feet of iron, -and though only ranging from ten to twelve hands high, able -to carry a heavy man a long day's journey?</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Shetland pony, grand little chap as he may be, is a -degenerate cart-horse, nothing more; he can trot, walk, and -carry a burly gamekeeper up a steep hillside, but he has no -pace. The Timor ponies, on the contrary, with light-weights, -could make very fair racing time, were high-couraged and -untiring, in or out of condition, bequeathing to their offspring -the fire and speed of the Eastern horse, with a quality of legs -and feet difficult to find nowadays. My little mare was a -trotter, a jumper, a clever all-round hack. A colt of my -next Timor mare I used to ride when I was a man grown, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_370'>370</span>nearly twelve stone in weight, the which impost he could carry -like a bird, and even bolt with occasionally.</p> - -<p class='c000'>More than one fashionably bred racehorse of the present -day has the blood of a Timor ancestress in his veins, and -though the fact is not obtruded, doubtless owes the staying -power and undeniable legs and feet to that infusion. In -those early days whole cargoes of them were brought through -the streets of Sydney by the sailors, the manner being thus—half-a-dozen -were tied neck to neck with strong short ropes, a -halter attached to the one on the near side of the string, the -which a couple of stalwart sailors tugged manfully, another -encouraging the line from the rear. They were half-covered -with hieroglyphs in the shape of brands. Prices ranged from -five pounds to ten, according to quality. The sons of well-to-do -people were to be seen mounted upon them. When fed -and groomed they were as showy and fast hackneys as a light-weight -would desire.</p> - -<p class='c000'>While dwelling upon these incidents of an earlier day, the -hours and limits of school deserve notice. At the Sydney -College we were expected to attend at nine o'clock in the -morning. At mid-day an hour's recess was granted. In that -interval the boarders dined; the day-scholars having disposed -of their lunches hurriedly, went in for as much play as the -time would admit. From 1 o'clock till 3 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span> was occupied by -afternoon school; the day-scholars departing then whithersoever -they listed. The boarders dispersed to play cricket, -went for a walk or into town—after applying for leave in the -latter cases. On Saturday we worked from nine till twelve, -when the half-holiday set in. There was no whole holiday in -my day. And three morning hours, multiplied by the weeks -in a year, should account for a fair measure of work.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After the country had become fairly prosperous and it was -seen that tens of thousands of men could find work and room -for their energy in the virgin waste of the interior, immigration -was encouraged by the Government of the day. A bounty -was paid to each emigrant or to the agent who recommended -or persuaded him to come to the far, unknown land.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was curious, even then, to find a class which held that -they had a vested labour interest in the colony—which disapproved -strongly of assisted, unrestricted immigration. They -complained that other persons should come out at the expense -<span class='pageno' id='Page_371'>371</span>of the State to compete, as they alleged, with them and -lower the price of labour.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It was the prisoners' colony,' asserted the demagogues -who formulated this view. 'Free men had no right to come -here, subsisted and helped by the Government.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Enmore, being about three miles from the Sydney College, -was rather far for a daily walk before the advent of little Bet, -but with the aid of a drive now and then (of course there were -no omnibuses) I managed it pretty well at first. The only -house at all near us was tenanted by Mrs. Erskine, with -whose sons I used to beguile the tedium of the road. Once -we asked a wood-carter for a lift, whom not acceding to our -request, we pelted with stones. He complained to the -authorities, and we suffered in person accordingly. Then an -adventure befell which led to grief and anxiety. It might -well have been serious. I had started on the home-track in -the afternoon, when one of the tropical storms not unknown -in Sydney to this day commenced. The rain came down as -if to repeat the deluge, an inch apparently falling every ten -minutes. The low lands near the Haymarket were flooded. -I was drenched. Streams and torrents coursed down every -channel. The drains burst up. Things looked bad for a long -walk with creeks to cross. At this juncture a tidy-looking old -woman (she sold milk) invited me to enter her dwelling. I -did so, and found myself in a neat and cleanly cottage. The -rain not abating, she invited me to stay for tea, exhibiting -most excellent bread and butter. Finally, discovering that I -had so far to go and the waters being still 'out,' she prevailed -upon me, nothing loth, to remain all night.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Unluckily, as it turned out, my father was in town, and had -called at the school to take me home. He was told that I -had left shortly before. Driving rapidly, being eager to overtake -me, he reached home to find that I had not turned up. -After an anxious interval, during which fears obtruded themselves -that I had fallen into a creek or water-hole and so got -drowned, he rode back into town, searching vainly of course -for my extremely naughty self, then calmly reading by the -light of a tallow candle, my aged hostess meanwhile knitting. -When he again visited the College on the off-chance of my -having concluded to return, and was told to the contrary, he -gave me up for lost. Mr. Cape, however, stated his belief that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_372'>372</span>R. B., though of tender years, was a boy exceptionally capable -of taking care of himself, and probably would be found even -now in a place of safety.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This, however, was accepted by my anxious parent merely -as an amiable attempt at consolation, whereupon he rode home -again through mud and mire in despairing mood. A restless -early riser by habit, he was in the saddle before dawn, with a -view to having the creeks and hollows searched, when happening -to pass my old woman's cottage, I recognised the horses first -(Australian fashion), my stern Governor and the groom next. -I called out. He turned and saw me. Anger would have -been natural and deserved. But he was too overjoyed at my -return from the dead, as he doubtless considered it. 'God -forgive you, my boy, for what you have caused us to suffer,' -was all that he said. I rode home behind the groom, and -was received, I need not say, with what transports of delight. -Ah me, how ungrateful are we all for the care and tenderness -lavished upon us in childhood!</p> - -<p class='c000'>'All's well that ends well' is a comforting and satisfactory -proverb. The good old dame was duly thanked and -rewarded. Matters soon returned to their former footing. -But one mischance, directly proceeding from the demoralisation -of the household on that night, was of a serious and melancholy -nature. Our inestimable Alderney cow took advantage -of the open door of the feed-room to assimilate part of a truss -of Lucerne hay; then, 'acting with no more judgment than to -take a drink,' died from excessive inflation. An irreparable -loss, and one remembered against me at intervals long -afterwards.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Promoted to the Timor mare, I used to make pretty good -time down Brickfield Hill and so round Black Wattle Swamp -and Mr. Shepherd's garden. She was a good trotter, and I -have owned a performer in that line—fast, extra, or only -moderate, but always a trotter—from that time to this. A -trotter is generally a good animal otherwise. I have seen few -exceptions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. A. B. Spark, a mercantile magnate of the day, was -our neighbour at Cook's River. I was sent with a letter early -one spring morning to Tempé. There I found the good old -gentleman in his garden. 'Can you eat strawberries, my -boy?' was his prompt inquiry. It is unnecessary to repeat -<span class='pageno' id='Page_373'>373</span>my answer. 'Then set to, and we'll have breakfast afterwards.' -That is the way to talk to a boy! I could have died -for him; I respect his memory now. At breakfast he told me -that the pretty freestone, white-columned house had been built -on the model of a Greek temple in the Vale of Tempé. -Hence its classical name, which it still retains. The fresh -eggs, laid by pure Spanish hens, were the largest I had ever -seen. When he showed me some lop-eared rabbits after -breakfast and promised me a pair, my heart was almost too -full. I rode back the happiest boy in the land, and never -forgot the old gentleman's amazing kindness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It may be that kindly memory, eliding the darker shadows -of the past, presents the colonial period which I am recalling, -from 1831 to 1840, as almost Arcadian in peaceful simplicity, -in steadfast industry, in freedom from atrocious crime, compared -with later developments. And yet New South Wales -was then to all intents and purposes a convict colony. Shiploads -of prisoners arrived from time to time. Expirees from -Tasmania no doubt made their way to a land where wages -were comparatively high, and where new country offered a -refuge from close official inspection. Whether the old-fashioned -rule—strict, vigilant, unrelaxing—was better suited -to the natural man, free or bond, than the present mercy-mongering -management, may partly be judged by results.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'The bush'—a vast and trackless wilderness—was -gradually being occupied and reclaimed by that strange -lover of the waste places of the earth, the wilful, wicked, -wandering Anglo-Saxon. Tragedies from time to time -doubtless occurred. Bushrangers were not unknown, but -what were they to the Kellys, the Halls and Gilbert, the -Clarks and Morgans? Aboriginal blacks were shot occasionally; -more than one cruel murder was brought home to the perpetrators, -for which they justly atoned. At the same time a -lonely hut-keeper or shepherd was often found prone and -motionless, speared or clubbed as the case might be; many -a stock-rider's horse came home without him. Yet, in a -general way, life and property were far more secure under the -modified martial law of the period than they have been -known to be under a constitutional Government and quasi-democratic -rule. When it is considered that for half a -century the worst criminals of the old country, as well as the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_374'>374</span>more ordinary rogues, had been sent to Australia, it says much -for the management or for the material that so orderly and -improvable a society was evolved.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If there were occasional crimes of deepest dye, who could -feel surprise? The wonder was that they were so few in -comparison to the population. Captain Knatchbull, ex-post-captain -R.N., knocks out the brains of a poor washerwoman -for the sake of eight pounds sterling, ending on the gallows a -life of curiously varied villainy, which had included attempted -poisoning, mutiny, and betrayal of comrades. There was the -memorable 'Fisher's Ghost' tragedy, in which a supernatural -agent was alleged to have led to the discovery of a deed of -blood. There were crimes, doubtless, that cried aloud to -heaven for vengeance, but which never will be fully known -till the Great Day. But discovery, arraignment, and trial -followed close on the heels of wrongdoers. In a general way—I -assert it unhesitatingly—Sydney was as quiet, as peaceful -and orderly in appearance as any town in Britain, save in the -purlieus of that half-recognised Alsatia, 'The Rocks'; more -decent, sober, and outwardly well-behaved than George Street -and Pitt Street in 1887.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It may truly be suggested that one of the great dangers of -modern civilisation—certainly of Australian national life—would -appear to be the crowding of an unreasonable proportion -of the inhabitants into the cities and larger towns.</p> - -<p class='c000'>An increasingly dangerous class is there encouraged to -grow and multiply, averse to the honest and well-paid toil -of the country, preferring to it a precarious employment in -a city, with the accompaniment of the baser pleasures; -clamouring at every interval of employment for relief works, -subsisting but for <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">panem et circenses</span></i>, like the profligate populace -of old Rome, the pandering to which eventually sapped the -grandeur and glory of the Mistress of the World. <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Absit -omen!</span></i></p> - -<p class='c000'>At the corner of Elizabeth and King Streets might have -been seen a provisional lock-up, used for the temporary -detention of criminals about to be tried at the adjoining -courts. A rudely-hewn pillar of sandstone had been deposited -there, and served as a seat for wayfarers or persons more -immediately concerned. We schoolboys were chiefly interested -in the stocks, that old-fashioned detainer in which drunken -<span class='pageno' id='Page_375'>375</span>and disorderly persons were securely placed for such periods—a -portion of a day—as the magistrates might consider -expedient. In such fashion was Hudibras fast imprisoned -when the lady and her steward coming by gazed on him -bowed to the earth with shame. In this ancient engine of -distraint upon the human property, in default of other, did the -malcontents of the day sit, stolid and defiant, upon a more or -less uncomfortable seat, 'fast bound in misery and iron.' -One doubts whether it would not be more effectual now than -the short sentence served in a comfortable, secluded -establishment, which the modern offender boasts that 'he -can do on his head.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>During the whole period of the time embraced in my -reminiscence, I cannot recall a week while we lived in Sydney -or near to it, that the Domain and Botanical Gardens were not -a joy, a solace, a luxury to us and to the society with which -we were acquainted. What a priceless boon was thus bestowed -upon the inhabitants of Sydney then and for all time by the -dedication of this lovely natural park to the public! What -walks—what drives—what merry bathing parties—what -lingering in summer eves—what early morning saunters has -not this precious primeval fragment, this art-adorned yet -beauteous wilderness, witnessed? The pleasure then enjoyed -by the toil-worn citizen, the stranger, or the invalid was more -exquisite and intense, from an assured freedom from that -modern pest, the larrikin. All who were met with in the -gardens were courteous and well-mannered persons for the -most part; for whomsoever conducted themselves otherwise -there was a short shrift, and if not a ready gallows, an -effectively deterrent punishment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The early formation of William Street, now the great -arterial highway to Darlinghurst and the aristocratic suburbs, -was then progressing. In its straight course it carved away a -few acres of the Rosebank suburban property then owned by -Mr. Laidley. On the triangular portion so excised were -three white cedars, the most graceful of our shade trees. No -doubt the proprietor was compensated for the severance and -resumption, though not at the prices ruling in favour of latter-day -claimants.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What fortunes might have been made by judicious, or even -injudicious, purchasers of suburban land in those days! No -<span class='pageno' id='Page_376'>376</span>one foresaw that any notable rise in value would take place in -less than a century or two. That land purchased by the acre -would sell for such prices in the life of the buyer, by <em>the foot</em>, -entered not into the mind of man. Wharves, street frontages, -building sites, allotments all passed under the hammer of the -Government auctioneer of the day at curiously low prices. -Who was to foresee that gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, and -tin were all to make their appearance in peaceful, pastoral -New South Wales and her erstwhile appanage the Port Phillip -District, afterwards the Colony of Victoria?</p> - -<p class='c000'>The great public schools of that day were our College, the -King's School at Parramatta, and the Normal Institution, this -last organised by Dr. Lang—that eminent colonising clergyman. -The Reverend Robert Forrest was the Principal of the -King's School. He was understood to have been a strict -disciplinarian, as indeed he needed to be. We of the Sydney -College thought ourselves superior in scholarship; but doubtless -good work was done then as now at the Parramatta -school.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Carmichael—Scottish, of course—presided at the -Normal Institution, which was situated on the northern side of -the Racecourse, or Hyde Park as at present named. We were -near enough to play cricket together sometimes; also to fight, -indeed, as occasions of strife will arise among schoolboys. -Roland Cameron, a boy by nature warlike in the earlier stages -of life, had then his celebrated combat, having challenged an -oldster of the Normal, a head taller than himself. He didn't -come off victorious, but he walked forth with an apparently -calm consciousness that he couldn't be really conquered, which -I have rarely seen paralleled among later and more tragic -experiences.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_377'>377</span> - <h2 class='c006'>OLD TIME THOROUGHBREDS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>When the sons of Woden are admitted into Valhalla, it will -be an incomplete Elysium for some of us, maugre the perennial -flow of ale and the æsthetic fancy of the goblets, unless the -good steed Hengst, whom we have so loved on earth, be -permitted resurrection. Alick and Jimmy Hunter would miss -Romeo. Could Cornborough be excluded from any realm -of bliss which contained 'Dolly' Goldsmith? How superior -were those grand horses, not to mention The Premier and -Rory O'More, in all their attributes to the average human -individual, about whose title to such noble immortality there -is no question. I cannot believe that they are doomed to -extinction, to eternal oblivion. They are dead and gone, -doubtless. But lest any reader of these memories should lack -future opportunity of feasting his eyes upon those wondrous -equine shapes, I essay faintly to recall their leading -characteristics.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Romeo, son of Sir Hercules and Pasta, was a golden -chestnut, with a narrow blaze and white hind legs. Originally -imported to Tasmania from England, he was in 1842 located -at Miamamaluke Station on the 'Devil's River' in Victoria, -then the property of the Messrs. Hunter. He died in my -possession some years later, and, as I used to look at him for -at least half an hour every day for the first few months of -ownership, I may, without presumption, attempt a pen-and-ink -portrait.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not a large horse—he might almost be classified as small, -indeed, compared with modern fashionable families, but of -superb symmetry and superfine quality. 'A head light and -lean,' though scarcely equal to The Premier's, his neck was of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_378'>378</span>moderate length, with a delicately-marked crest. But his -shoulder! Never have I seen mortal horse with such -another. It was a study. So oblique was it; so graceful and -elastic was the fore-action in consequence, that you wondered -how horses of less perfect mechanism got on at all. His back -was short, his croup high. The finely formed, silken-haired -tail, which after his death hung in my room, was set on like -that of an Arab. He might easily have been ridden without -a girth to the saddle. Though his back appeared to be hardly -the length of one, he stood over more ground than horses that -looked bigger in every way. His barrel was rounded and well -ribbed up. Below the knee and hock the legs were admirably -clean and flat-boned, with pasterns just long enough to give -the elastic motion which so peculiarly distinguishes the -thoroughbred.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In those days (I was young, to be sure) I occasionally -relieved my pent-up feelings by the perpetration of verse. In -an old scrap-book are traced certain 'Lines to a Thoroughbred' -which must have been inspired by Romeo. They -commence—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Is he not glorious, in the high beauty proud,</div> - <div class='line'>Which from his desert-spurning Arab sires</div> - <div class='line'>To him was given? Mark the frontlet broad!</div> - <div class='line'>The delicate, pointed ear, and silken mane,</div> - <div class='line'>Scarce coarser than the locks which Delia boasts,</div> - <div class='line'>Attest his stainless race, etc.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Allusion was also made, if I mistake not, to a problematic -ancestor, the well-ridden steed of the poets, who after</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Children's voices greet the rescued sire,</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>became 'a cherished playmate, loving and beloved.' Though -high-tempered enough, Romeo was a good-humoured horse in -the main, but the companionship of grooms and stable-boys -had partly rubbed off the inherited <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">gentillesse</span></i> of the desert. -Notably in one particular.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Whether he had been in some way teased or troubled, or -that some mischievous groom had been at the pains to teach -him the specific trick, I cannot say; but the fact was -notorious that if any one—in or near the stable—made a -noise with the mouth, like the drawing of a cork, the old -<span class='pageno' id='Page_379'>379</span>horse fell into a paroxysm of rage and went open-mouthed at -all and sundry being within reach at the time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The knowledge of this peculiarity was turned to account -more than once as a practical joke, sometimes with results -more or less unpleasant to the unsuspecting bystander. But -the joke occasionally recoiled. I happen to know of one -instance. A well-known veterinary surgeon of those days, -one Mr. Robertson—afterwards drowned in the Goulburn, -poor fellow!—happened to be paying a visit of inspection, when -a thoughtless friend made the cork-drawing signal. It was -Romeo <em>versus</em> Robertson, with a vengeance. Like a wild -horse of the prairies, he charged the astonished vet, a resolute -active man, who had all he could do to protect himself with a -heavy, cutting whip which he fortunately carried at the time. -He got out of the box unharmed, but seriously ruffled and -demoralised.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first thing which occurred to him, however, on banging -the door of the loose-box behind him, was to lay his whip with -hearty goodwill and emphasis across the shoulders of the -humourist. Robertson was a burly Scot of more than average -physique. His blood was up, and I do not recall the fact of -the author of this unusually keen jest making effective resistance. -He probably was cured of that particular form of -joking, and learned practically that horseplay is one of the -games in which two can engage. I never knew the old horse -to commit unprovoked assaults, and think that some unusual -experience must have led to the tendency described.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Though ordinarily well-behaved, it will be noted that there -was a savour of dangerous dealing when aroused, and, as -might be expected, a few of his progeny were not famous for -the mildness of their tempers. They were, however, handsome -and distinguished-looking, good in every relation of equine -life. They supplied for many years a regular contingent to all -the races in Victoria, and, indeed, within a widely extended -radius round Kalangadoo and beyond the South Australian -border. Few indeed were the meets, metropolitan or -provincial, in which a Romeo colt or filly did not figure in the -first flight. Latterly he became the property of Mr. Hector -Norman Simson, from whose stud the celebrated Flying Doe -and other cracks were evolved.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Young Romeo, Baroness, Countess, and Clinker had all won -<span class='pageno' id='Page_380'>380</span>reputations on the Flemington race-course—which then presented -a somewhat different appearance—before 1842. Young -Romeo, a handsome, upstanding, dark chestnut horse, then -the property of Captain Brunswick Smyth of the 50th Regiment, -was raffled, in 1843, I think for a hundred and fifty guineas. -We took a five-guinea ticket, but my drawing, innocently -young as I then was, did not carry the proverbial gambler's -luck. Oberon, a sweet little white-faced chestnut that Dr. -David Thomas used to drive somewhat unprofessionally as -tandem leader about Melbourne in 1851, was one of the later -offspring. The worthy doctor, ever ready for a lark, delighted -in getting Oberon's head over the shoulders of stout old -gentlemen in the street before they were aware of him or his -chariot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was somewhere near the end of the 'forties,' those -pioneering years paving the way to the golden era which set -in for Australia shortly after their decease. I happened to be -in Melbourne upon a cattle speculation. At Kirk's Bazaar -after breakfast I saw my ideal steed in a loose-box, apparently -for sale. After feasting my eyes upon him for a reasonable -period, I interviewed Mr. Dalmahoy Campbell, and sought -particulars.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old horse by this time had grown hollow-backed, and -was evidently on his last legs. Still at a moderate price he -would not be unprofitable, and the value of his blood distributed -amid my stud could hardly, I thought, be over-estimated. -The main thing to be considered by a prudent young pastoralist -(I really was one in those days) was the price. This -turned out to be under £50. Money was not abundant in -that particular year. Stock were ludicrously cheap. For some -reason his owners had decided to sell the dear old horse. His -age and growing infirmities were against him. Still here was -a chance I might never get again. I had just made a largish -offer for the store cattle referred to. There was no use talking, -however. I felt like a man who had been offered the Godolphin -Arabian by a sheik hard-pushed for a ransom. I <em>must</em> -have the horse; that was all about it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was another slight difficulty. I had not ten £5 -notes in my pocket. Far otherwise. I stated facts in the -office. I can see old 'Dal's' kind face as he said, 'We'll take -your bill at three months, my boy; that will give you time to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_381'>381</span>turn round.' I gratefully assented, and Romeo—intoxicating -thought—was mine. That was my first bill. Never before -did I write 'Rolf Boldrewood' across the face or back or -below any of those insidious substitutes for ready money. -Would that the negotiable instrument had been my last. Well -impressed on my mind was the look of the worthy gentleman -who managed the financial department of the firm which had -the privilege of 'keeping my account' when I exultingly -informed him of my transaction. He had grown grey in commerce, -not altogether successfully. Doubtless memory carried -him back for a moment over years of high hope, guarded -enterprise, succeeded by wearing anxiety and dull despair. -Looking into my youthful, sanguine countenance, he said, -'Take my advice, and never sign another. I wish <em>I</em> had never -seen one.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>I did <em>not</em> take his advice, it is hardly necessary to say. It -was many a year before the application came in. Such is the -general course of events. But if every future acceptance had -been as anxiously considered, as punctually paid, and as profitably -contracted as Number One aforesaid, no great harm would -have been done.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I rode proudly out of Melbourne next day, leading my -valued purchase, duly muzzled and sheeted, along the western -road. Travelling by easy stages, only varied by a swim across -the Leigh River, 'where ford there was none,' I got on well. -It was an anxious moment for me, though, when the strong -current swept my precious steed round in midstream; but he -fought gallantly for a landing, which we finally gained. A -slip, a stagger, and we were safely over. At Dunmore he -received the admiration which was his due, while I was -congratulated on my enterprise and good fortune.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When I reached home the illustrious stranger was treated -with deserved attention. A roomy loose-box was specially -dedicated to his use. Boiled food, ground corn, every delicacy -of the season was lavished upon him. A revival of constitution -apparently took place. But he only lived a year, leaving -behind him, however, at Dunmore the beautiful, graceful -Pasta, half-sister to St. George, and also to The Margravine -and Track-Deer; and at Squattlesea Mere, Bonnie Dundee, -Ben Bolt, Fairy, and a few other notable nags. 'He owed -me nothing,' as his groom said when I sorrowfully attended -<span class='pageno' id='Page_382'>382</span>his burial in the capacity of chief mourner. He lies under -a blackwood tree on an 'island' in the mere, where -the close-spreading clover blossoms climb and struggle -amid the tussock grass of the marshes. He was accorded -respectful interment, and my grief was more sincere -than that which accompanies more ostentatious funerals. -He had not perhaps the opportunity which another year -would have furnished of leaving an illustrious progeny in -the Port Fairy district, but some of his offspring made their -mark.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dundee, being my principal hackney and stock horse, was a -wonderful performer. An admixture of Clifton blood gave -him height and 'scope.' He had the sloped Romeo shoulder, -with propelling machinery of unusual power. He was fortunately -just short of racing speed. But he was a grand -'camp horse'; could be ridden without flinching right into -the shoulder of the worst outlaw of the herd, carrying a fourteen-stone -weight over any three-railed fence, and stay for a week. -He lived to make a trans-Murray reputation, and still the wild -riders of the mallee remember the powerful chestnut that was -so well to the front with Sylvester Browne and the brothers -Beveridge in more than one 'moonlighting' foray.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Ben Bolt, his half-brother, was a bright chestnut, with four -white legs, a broad blaze, and a considerable quantity of white -in the corners of his eyes, with which he had an uncanny way -of regarding his rider. He was truly illustrious in more ways -than one. There is no record of any white man (or black one -either) having seen him tired. At the end of the longest day, -or the most terrific 'cutting-out' work, Ben's head was up, his -clear eyes watchful, his uneasy tail, switching slowly from side -to side, like a leopard not fully agitated. He had been known -to leave Melbourne after a trip with fat cattle (his rider had a -young wife on the station certainly), and late on the second -day the marshes of the Eumeralla were in sight. A hundred -and eighty miles—winter weather too! I can state from -personal experience that as a hackney he was deliciously easy, -fast, and free. But the luxurious sensation of being so charmingly -carried was modified by the ever-present thought that he -could 'buck you into a tree-top' whenever it so pleased him; -and at what minute the fit might take him no one had ever -been able to foretell.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_383'>383</span>Sprung from a daughter of the Traveller line, Ben inherited -the dire resolution of that potent blood, with a fervent intensity -peculiar to the descendants of Romeo. The 'nick' was -therefore only a partial success. If one had required, as do -certain Indian rajahs, a horse warranted to distinguish himself -in combat with a tiger, Ben Bolt was the very animal. Once -let him get his heels into position and no living tiger would -have had a show. He might as well spring at a mitrailleuse. -But under saddle he was distinctly unreliable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I used to break my own colts in those days, and in the -course of events Ben was duly haltered and enticed into the -stable. Though sensitive certainly, he was not overtly rebellious -until the third day, when he kicked at me in -what I held to be an unfair and treacherous manner. I -gave him a tap in requital with the butt-end of a hay-fork, -upon which he deliberately kicked down the partition -between his and the next loose-box. He hardly left a slab -standing, and generally conducted himself as if he was not -sure whether he would not smash the whole building while he -was about it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I avoided contention after this, and in every way applied -myself to calm his fears and inspire confidence. It was all in -vain. When approached he would contract every muscle till -his flesh felt like a board, glaring the while at you with his -strangely bright, white-rimmed eyes, in a blood-curdling -homicidal way. However, at the end of a week I backed -him, looking to every strap and girth, and picking a good -soft spot to fall on. He was led, as was the fashion then, -along by the side of another horse, and, to every one's -surprise, walked away like an old stager. No irregularity -took place the next day or the one following. His mouth -was good; he held his head up. I was charmed, and -rode him proudly about by myself. Next morning he -was queer and sullen, and in the middle of the day, for -no earthly reason apparently, reared, plunged, bolted, and -commenced to buck like a demon. I 'stuck to him' until -he gradually got way on, and being apparently temporarily -insane, ran into a paling fence, against which he fell down. -I came off, of course, but remounted, when he did nothing -further.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I rode him daily afterwards, until he passed into the second -<span class='pageno' id='Page_384'>384</span>stage of breaking, being comparatively handy and pleasanter -than many older horses, but we never seemed to get nearer -to confidential relations. He took me unawares again ('underhand,' -as Mr. Paterson's native young man hath it) while out -on the run, and kicked savagely at me while falling. I began -to think—having certain responsibilities—that it was hardly -worth while to run such risk of life and limb only for the sake, -too, of twenty or thirty pounds, and the strictly local reputation -of 'being able to ride anything.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>So I relinquished the task of Ben's education to Frank -Lawrence, my stud groom, than whom no better rough-rider -ever sat in saddle. Plucky, patient, and a fine horseman -generally, he gradually brought the rebel round. The reformation -was apparently complete. Kept in regular work, he -ceased to be fractious, and acquired a decent character in the -neighbourhood. He even carried the black boy without -protest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Months passed. The stock-riders were mustering up for -the morning's work—neighbours and station hands. Frank -was sitting carelessly on Ben Bolt, now regularly 'made' and -recognised as a stock-horse. Suddenly, without a moment's -warning he 'exploded'—there is no other word for it. Before -any one could offer a remark, Frank was catapulted on to the -crown of his head, and Ben was tearing down the paddock, -kicking at his bridle-reins and trying to send the saddle after -the man. Frank arose slowly, and after a careful examination -of his neck had convinced him that it was not really -broken, as might have been surmised, said, 'I believe Ben -means to finish me yet.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I would shoot him now if I thought that, Frank,' I -answered; 'the treacherous brute. Better take another horse -to-day.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Frank, of course, would not hear of this, and remounted -the ungrateful one, led up as he was in a few minutes, with -eyes like burning coals and nostrils quivering in anything but -a reassuring manner. He made no sign, however, and came -in, after about fourteen hours' galloping and camp work, as -fresh as a daisy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the station changed hands I passed our mutual -friend over to Frank, who sold him at a profit. Our paths -lay thenceforward apart. Years afterwards, my brother and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_385'>385</span>I walked into the stables of Cobb and Co. at Hamilton, by -candlelight, while awaiting a start in the mail. The team -which interested us stood harnessed and ready.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Did you ever see that chestnut leader before?' I queried.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Great Jove! there he stands—white legs and all—the -dear old tiger. To think that we should ever come <em>to sit -behind Ben Bolt!</em>'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Looks like it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Nice horse that chestnut with the white hind legs, ostler.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Pretty fair, sir. Depends on 'ow 'e's 'andled, in a manner -of speakin'.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'So I should think. How did you get him?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, he chucked Mr. Jones sky-high; broke his back-ribs, -like; so he took and swapped him to the Company.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How does he go?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, he <em>goes</em> right enough when you get him in, but we -drives him a double stage every day, just to stiddy him. -He's been a year on this piece, and we don't care how soon -we get shut on 'im.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>As the day broke, the cry of 'all aboard' was sounded; -the passengers took their seats in the coach as the horses were -led out. The leaders were not 'hitched' till the last -moment; Ben Bolt having a second helper told off to him as -he came out with head up and waving tail, the old fashion. -<em>Very</em> quickly and noiselessly was he attached, and as the -driver drew his reins tight the coach moved on, without a -word or whip-touch, Ben demonstrating by the way in which -he went into his collar that he was ready and willing to undertake -the whole contract. At the end of our stage of twenty-two -miles, done in quick time, three horses only were taken out. -Ben Bolt, after having run true and level for every yard of the -distance, and never once having slackened his pace, was -treated to another twenty miles in the company of the fresh -team.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Good horse, that near-side leader,' I remarked to the -driver tentatively.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'He's the devil on four legs, if you want to know,' gruffly -answered that official; 'takes me all my time to watch him. -He'll smash some of us yet, if he don't kill himself first.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>I returned a year after to find the prediction verified. -Ben Bolt was no more. True to his name and reputation, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_386'>386</span>he had broken away from the helper while being put to, and -after a headlong gallop was discovered to have injured himself -beyond hope of recovery. He died a soldier's death. But -for the 'accidents and offences' resulting from his demoniac -temper, I shall always hold his maternal ancestor, Traveller, -mainly responsible.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_387'>387</span> - <h2 class='c006'>THE FIRST PORT FAIRY HUNT</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>The cattle were pretty well broken to their new run at -Squattlesea Mere. Little more was necessary than to go -round them daily and discourage explorers. The heathen -were temporarily at rest, brooding (like the Boers) over fresh -ambuscades. A suspicion of monotone pervaded the -'eucalyptine cloisterdom,' when, neither by telegram nor -newspaper—our Arcadia knew neither brain-disturber in -1844—word came orally, personally transmitted, that the -Mount Rouse Hounds were to throw off at Port Fairy, with -races to follow, the whole to wind up with a ball.</p> - -<p class='c000'>These astonishing tidings so affected me that I became -unable to settle down to daily details. A meet with <em>real</em> -fox-hounds, races, and—temptation overwhelming—a ball! -I have resisted things in my day, have exhibited Spartan -virtue in sorrowful altruism, economies, mortifications of the -flesh, what not. But this special attraction was complicated, -ingenious, subtly alluring 'in the brave days when we were -twenty-one.' I lacked a year or so of that romantic period, -and consequently was more prudent, more intolerant, and -more abstemious than in the aftertime. People may talk as -they like, but youth is the time for wisdom. That riper years -bring prudence, steadfastness, circumspection, indeed any -improvement of mind or body, is a widespread error. It is -a fable of the wary ancient. The real sage, the true -philosopher, the consistent disciple, is the ingenuous youth. -The Greeks knew this. Contrast Telemachus with that old -humbug Ulysses, far-travelled, much experienced in war; -council, battle, and peace alike familiar to him. How reprehensible -was his conduct, flirting with Calypso and other -<span class='pageno' id='Page_388'>388</span>beguilers, poor lonely 'Griselda Penelope' doing her worsted -work and tatting from year to year, the excellent Telemachus -meanwhile looking after the 'selection' at Ithaca. However, -this is miles away from the scent. 'Get in there, Fancy.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the solitude of my slab-hut this announcement stirred -my blood. I considered the pecuniary aspect of the question, -and was nearly not going at all. Coin was scarce in the -forties, credit shy and difficult. More prudent by far it -seemed to remain quietly at home. And yet it <em>was</em> hard. -A glimpse of Paradise to be had scarce thirty miles away. -A brilliant idea flashed, meteor-like, through my brain. The -expense would not amount to more than a bullock. One -bullock! The herd was increasing. And I could work so -much harder afterwards. My conscience was salved. I made -the modest preparations befitting that pioneer period. The -valise was packed, the black mare was run in, and proudly -mounting that fast, clever hackney, I took the track to the -crossing-place of the Shaw River, singing aloud for pure -joyousness of heart, like a mavis in springtime.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When I arrived in Port Fairy, and took up my quarters at -the Merrijig Hotel (the southern aboriginal predicate signifying -'good,' and thus equivalent to the 'Budgeree' of the -Kamilaroi), what news and marvels were afloat! The town -was full. Everybody was there or coming; also everybody's -favourite horse. All the world and his wife were 'on the -march for Rome.' Mr. James Lord had arrived from -Tasmania with a draft of hounds for John Cox of Werongurt; -had also brought with him The Caliph as a present to the -same gentleman from his old friend Sir Richard Dry. The -Caliph was a hunting celebrity; I was naturally anxious to -see him. The Dunmore people were not down, but were -coming of course, with Neil Kennedy and Bob Craufurd, -Fred Burchett, the Aplins, Captain and Mrs. Baxter, the -Hunters (Alick and Jimmy), George Youl, and the Kemps, -Claud Farie, and his partner Rodger—in fact, everybody, as -I said before. Old Tom, the stock-rider, had managed to -trap a fine dingo. To-morrow the hounds would throw off -near Archie M'Neill's farm, across the Moyne. There were -to be races the day after, including a steeplechase, for which -Richard Rutledge was going to ride Freedom, a well-known -blood hackney. Mr. Rodger had bought the grey racing pony -<span class='pageno' id='Page_389'>389</span>Skipjack, a winner on the Melbourne turf. The ball was to -be in the big room of the Merrijig Hotel. Could imagination -have devised anything more ecstatically delightful?</p> - -<p class='c000'>The <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">table d'hôte</span></i> dinner that night was a thing to remember—a -score or two of men, none of whom had passed 'the golden -prime,' while the greater proportion had but lately entered -manhood. One or two might have been described by a cynic -as beardless boys. I was the youngest squatter in the district. -I then exhibited more discretion than has always characterised -the mature individual. However, <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">nemo omnibus</span></i>. We had -few misgivings about the future in those days. We said to -the present 'Stay, for thou art fair,' disturbing not ourselves -about autumnal tints.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Such laughter, such jests—keen and incisive enough in all -conscience! Such horse-talk—when every man was an owner, -a breeder, a connoisseur more or less, of the noble animal; -moreover, always possessed a favourite hackney, which he -held to be a combination of all the equine virtues. The -flowing bowl of the period was not disregarded—claret and -champagne were the weaknesses of the day; Dalwood and -Cawarra, Yering and Tahbilk, were all to come; even whisky -had not made good its footing in society. But for the preponderance -of the 'kindly Scot' in Victoria, the 'real Donald' -would have been traditionary. However, then as now, the -clans mustered strong in the rich pastures west of Geelong. -Our host, Archie M'Neill, a stalwart, sinewy Highlander, was -a horse-breeder too, Archie's colt being a promising sapling -Traveller. The old hereditary feelings had by no means -died out. A neighbour of his was wont, when 'the maut gat -abune the meal,' to formulate thus his tribal antipathies: -'I'm Macdonald frae Glencoe! D—n the bloody Campbells -of Glenlyon!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Although there were necessarily differences of opinion—as -will arise even among friends on such topics at such times—we -enjoyed ourselves in all proper moderation. There was -far more talking, laughing, and indeed singing, than steady -drinking. In those days it was wonderful how musically -inclined were all honest revellers. Just before the finale a -messenger came to say that 'Old Tom' had made the usual -miscalculation, and was then lodged in the Port Fairy lock-up. -It was not to be endured that the purveyor of the quarry -<span class='pageno' id='Page_390'>390</span>which was to furnish our entertainment for the morrow, should -languish in a dungeon. We arose and in a body marched to -the watch-house, where any amount of bail was proffered to -the astonished constable. The cell-door being opened, the -veteran came forth, bent and humbled, looking not unlike -an old dog-fox himself, as he sought his couch unobtrusively, -vowing supernatural sobriety for the morrow.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>The morning broke—a lovely sight;</div> - <div class='line'>The sun flashed down on armour bright,</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>wrote Hugh Ranclaud in his Marmion period. Slightly -altered, this description might have suited our array, which, -owing to circumstances, exhibited more variety and good -intention than uniformity. A pink or two, a good many -black cut-aways, with a green riding-coat worn by John Cox, -the uniform of a Tasmanian hunt club. His tall figure as -he reined The Caliph, a grand half-Arab grey sixteen-hander, -up to any weight over any country, looked workman-like. -Cords and tops were tolerably plentiful, though 'butcher -boots,' such as most of us affected for ordinary stock-riding, -were in the ascendant.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One frolicsome youngster, indeed, in default of a pink, -resolved to conform as nearly as possible to the fashion of -his forefathers. To this end he possessed himself of a bright -red serge shirt, such as was occasionally donned by all sorts -and conditions of men in those days of sincere effort. This -he persuaded the village tailor to fashion into the form of a -coatee, and thus arrayed, he rode proudly amid the front-rankers, -congratulating himself, with perfect correctness, upon -having added a fresh sensation to the entertainment. Fred -Burchett had two chestnut hackneys, one a neat cob named -Friendship. This day he rode the other, which he had -christened Love, being, as he explained, 'very like friendship, -only nicer.' Bob Cox (Robert Clerk's brother-in-law—not -related to the Clarendon family) might have been there -on Bessborough. I am not certain whether he did not join -our band of heroes later on. But, if so, the hunt missed -that day a joyous comrade, a handsome face with bright dark -eyes, never unwelcome in hall or bower; one of the boldest -yet most artistic horsemen that ever sat in saddle. Poor old -Bob! I used often to think how I should have enjoyed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_391'>391</span>mounting him 'regardless,' and pitting him against the best -men with the Quorn, the Pytchley, or wherever the unrivalled -English sport in the ancestral isle still holds sway. What -nice things a Monte Cristo might do—in that and a few -other ways!</p> - -<p class='c000'>The hounds were to throw off on the Warrnambool side -of the Moyne, where a broad flat was bounded by farms and -the line of sand-dunes, which ran parallel to the sea. A -variety of jumping was ensured by this choice of country, -the farm fences being of every shade of height, breadth, and -solidity. Sound and springy was the turf. If the dingo, -when turned down, took the cross country line towards Tower -Hill, he was likely to lead us a dance, unless he found refuge -in one of the wombat holes with which the ferny slopes, breast -high in bracken, abounded.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It must have been ten o'clock or thereabouts when Mr. -Lord, arrayed in the well-worn pink, cords, tops, and hunting-cap -complete, conducted the spotted beauties across the ford -of the Moyne. Within an hour all the Port Fairy world—among -which half-a-dozen riding-habits showed that the ladies -were not willing to be left out of the excitement—was gathered -around. The Australian Reynard, all-ignorant that his imported -compeer was, in after-years, to be a prize for scalp-hunters, -had been liberated previously, with a due allowance -of law, and on a line which involved a reasonable share of -fencing. After a preliminary cast or two, the leading hounds -hit off the scent, and with a burst of melody which caused -more than one of us to anticipate the sensations of Mr. -Jorrocks, away went the flower of the horsemen of the -western district, riding rather jealous, it must be admitted, -but not to be stopped by anything under a six-foot stock-yard -fence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was a scene to be remembered. The blue sky, the -green sward, sound and springy as a cricket-ground, the -limitless ocean plain, the long resounding surge, the eager -hounds, the medley of horsemen now slightly tailing off, as -the pack raced with a breast-high scent towards the volcanic -crest of Tower Hill.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Many were the falls, various the fortunes, of those who -followed hounds that day. Every man rode as if the honour, -firstly, of his station, of the district afterwards, were centred -<span class='pageno' id='Page_392'>392</span>in him personally. It was before the Traveller days, so -that the Dunmore triumvirate were mounted on steeds that, -though good of their kind and well-bred (for they always -went in for blood), were not quite up to the form of St. -George and Trackdeer, Triton or Jupiter. William Campbell -rode a roan, Houndsfoot, five years old; and Macknight, -I believe, his grand old mare Die Vernon—one of those -brilliant all-round goers that you couldn't put wrong.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I rode my favourite black mare Tanny, the dam of -Hope, Clifton, Red Deer, and Comanchee—the first three -winners in the aftertime either on the flat or 'over the sticks.' -She could both jump and gallop, as I must show when I -have time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I regret that I cannot supply details anent this almost -prehistoric run. I recall The Caliph sailing over everything -and taking all manner of fences, from 'chock and log' to -stiff three-railers, in his stride. Freedom would probably be -running away as usual, being a horse that no mortal man -could hold for the first mile. Alick Hunter and his brother, -doubtless, were there or thereabouts; and Robert Clerk of -Mummumberrich (the M.F.H. in time to come) was forward -enough with Rocket in spite of weight over the average. It -was pretty straight going. We were used to risks by flood -and field. Ordinary stock-riding was hardly safer than this -or any other run with hounds. Matters were prosperous, and -everybody was looking forward to a first-class run, when 'the -devil or some untoward saint' put it into our quarry's head -to double back as nearly as possible along the line upon -which he had come.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We had the satisfaction of taking nearly the same jumps -over again, when, lo and behold! dingo, apparently bent on -self-destruction, made across the hummocks, and charging -the Pacific Ocean as if he meant to cross over to Tasmania, -swam gaily out to sea. As he reached the surf the desperate -pack raced down to the beach, where they sniffed and circled -in unwonted doubt and desperation. Eventually Reynard -found the enterprise disproportionate to his powers, and, -swimming back, reached the beach in a state of exhaustion. -The hounds were whipped off, however, and Old Tom and -his bag being again called into requisition, the sheep-killer -was reserved for another and perhaps a straighter run.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_393'>393</span>The day but half done. We had therefore leisure as we -rode homeward for a considerable amount of general chaff -and criticism, which resulted, as usual, in wagers and a match -or two.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now my friend James Irvine of Dunmore had been riding -the racing pony Skipjack, a very perfectly-shaped grey with -a square tail, such being the mistaken fashion of that day and, -I grieve to say, of the later one. He was an acknowledged -flier, and having won races at Flemington (or the Melbourne -Course as it was then called) was thought too good for anything -in the provinces. I had always considered my black -mare to be fast, but as she was wholly untried it might have -been only the fond fancy which a man has for his favourite. -Still I believed in her. It ended in my challenging the -redoubtable Skipjack for a mile spin on the following day, -present riders up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The odds were against me, inasmuch as the mare was off -grass and, excepting on this occasion, had not seen oats for -months. She was not even shod, whereas her antagonist was, -if not in training, in hard stable condition. Like many of the -best hacks of those days he had been bred in Tasmania. He -showed Arab blood, and probably owed his speed and strength -to that ancient race. Tanny, on the other hand, was a -Sydney-sider by extraction, her dam being brought over in -'Howie's mob,' one of the earliest lots of horses driven overland. -I saw them sold in a cattle-yard, then standing at the -corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets. Mr. Purves senior -afterwards occupied the cottage built there, for I remember -him showing me Banker in the stable. Dr. Campbell lived -there afterwards. A similar sale in the same spot would -excite astonishment now in any given forenoon.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So it was an intercolonial contest. More than this, it was all -Eumeralla against the Hopkins, inasmuch as Mr. Rodger abode -at Merang, while the Dunmores and I rode home towards the -setting sun from Port Fairy. Old Tom, a veteran in the pig-skin -and a judge of pace, told his friends that 'Tanny was -the divil's own mare to pull, but if the masther could hould -her the first half mile, she'd give Skipjack his work to do at -the finish.' A trifle of speculation resulted, the odds being -tempting. James Irvine was a well-known workman on the -flat and a light weight. Bets were taken accordingly, and a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_394'>394</span>book or two made in a small way. When on the morrow the -entire population of the district turned out to see the races, -and when, ours being the first, we did the customary pipe-opener, -the leading artists at Goodwood or Ascot felt less -pride, possibly less desperate determination.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Down went the flag and off went we. With much ado -mastering the mare's wild impulse to bolt, as she had done -many a time before in company, I lay well up to my friend, -but allowed him to make the pace. He made it a cracker -accordingly, hoping to run me out—his obvious line with a -slower or untrained horse. But I bided my time. The -mare knew me well and gradually steadied down to the work, -and when a safe distance from home I made my effort and -landed the good, game animal a winner by a neck, I felt, -amid cheers, congratulations, and smiles, as if earth had no -higher glories to offer, life no brighter joys. 'Bedad, she's -a great mare intirely,' said Old Tom as he led her away. -'I wouldn't say but she'd win the Maiden Plate if we -thrained her. There's an iligant course at the Native Dog-Hole.' -This suggestion was not followed up. Though -passionately fond of horses, I was a practical person in -those days, eschewing all connection with public racing on -principle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There were other races, a Hack Scurry among them, then a -highly-enjoyable picnic lunch, after which the principal event -of the day, the steeplechase, was to come off. A fair hunting -line had been marked, including among others a solid 'dead-wood' -fence. For this race there were a dozen starters more -or less, and great was the excitement. The black mare and -I were among them, I know—the morning's exercise not -being considered of sufficient importance to keep us out -of it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Caliph was thought too good for the company, and -was therefore not entered by his owner. Macknight and -Bob Craufurd, Fred Burchett and I, Neil Kennedy and -Dick Rutledge, with some others of the old set, were duly -marshalled in line and started. It was on that occasion, -during some preparatory schooling, that Neil made his famous -reply to Norman M'Leod, who, himself a fine horseman and -steeplechase jock, scandalised at Neil's loose riding, thus -expostulated—</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_395'>395</span>'Look here, Kennedy, why don't you lift your horse at his -fence?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Lift be d—d,' returned Neil in desperation; 'I've -quite enough to do <em>to hold on</em>.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Neil was utterly fearless, a sort of Berserker horseman, -ready to ride any sort of horse at any manner of leap, of any -height, breadth, or stiffness; but he was not famous for -adherence to the pig-skin. Falls, many or few, made no -difference in his willingness to try his luck again. If he did -not break his neck, practice would make him perfect in time. -So, accordingly, Neil faced the starter on a hard puller, full of -faith in his star, and confident in future triumphs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first fence was wide and high, composed of brush-timber -and more or less negotiable, so we sailed over in line -in a gallant and satisfactory way. The next was reasonable. -Then came our rasper, the dead-wood fence, a kind of wooden -wall, raised to nearly five feet, and composed of logs, stumps, -and roots of trees, piled horizontally after a compact and -unyielding fashion.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Freedom, with Dick Rutledge up, leading by a dozen -lengths, flew it without altering stride. Bob Craufurd was -over next. Neil Kennedy and I racing for a place charged -it, when his horse, hitting it hard, performed a complete -somersault, balancing himself for a moment on the broad of -his back, and sending Neil flying so far ahead that there was -as little danger of his being crushed as likelihood of his being -in the race afterwards.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The majority were fairly up at the finish: three made a -creditable struggle for second place; but Freedom, a fast two-miler, -won the race from end to end, and taking all his leaps -without baulk or mistake was never challenged.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So ended the second day's sport. Sport indeed, was it -not? How little the faint copies of recreation, misnamed -pleasure, resemble it nowadays! As we went home the tide -was in, the ford deep, with a fair swim in the midstream, which -was the reason I chose to take the short cut I suppose, thus -letting off the exuberance of youthful spirits as well as directing -certain bright eyes towards myself and the mare as we breasted -the broad water.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The remainder of the day but sufficed to see all the horses -properly looked to, after their exciting day, in the loose-boxes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_396'>396</span>or improvised stabling which 'The Merrijig,' when put on its -metal, was enabled to supply; afterwards a dinner, which, if -the cooking was not quite equal to that of the '<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Trois Frères -Provencaux</span>' or the Café Riche, was more thoroughly enjoyed. -Lastly came the needful preparation for the ball. The ladies -who had come into town specially for the affair were accommodated -at Mr. Rutledge's hospitable mansion or other -private houses. This was just as well, as the modified -communism which extended to shirt collars, ties, boots and -shoes, indeed to all wearing apparel whatever, involved so -much rushing in and out of rooms that awkward <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">contretemps</span></i> -must inevitably have occurred.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The music was that of a piano—a really good one—lent -for the occasion, and the new dining-hall of the hotel, then -constructed by way of addition, properly draped and lighted, -made a commodious and effective ballroom.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Would that I could have photographed the costumes -displayed that evening—among us men of course. Ladies -always manage to be becomingly arrayed under whatever contradictory -circumstances. It was not so easy in our stage of -civilisation—recently emerged from the pioneer epoch—to -provide irreproachable raiment. Few possessed the accredited -articles; fewer still bore them about when travelling.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I can hear the waltz now, and see the lady who played, as -with one rapt glance I took in the situation on entering the -room, for I had my toilette troubles to overcome, and was a -trifle late. What did we dance in those days, more than -fifty years agone? The <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">trois temps</span></i> and hop waltzes, the galop, -quadrilles, lancers; I think there must have been reels, Scots -being in the majority. But no polka, no <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">deux temps</span></i> or -'military' waltz, no Highland or other schottische, certainly no -Washington Post. That sounds a tame programme, doesn't -it? Still we danced and talked, nay, even flirted, very -much as people do nowadays, and enjoyed ourselves generally, -more, far more, than the comparatively languid moderns. It -must have looked something like a hunt ball, though a slightly -unconventional one, inasmuch as those who were conscious -of correct riding toggery elected to sport it. Every variety of -rig, in coats, shirts, collars and ties, boots and shoes, from tops -to feminine stuff-boots (and not bad things on a pinch), -adorned the main body. The supper was welcomed as the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_397'>397</span>crowning glory of the evening. Healths were proposed, -speeches were made, dancing was resumed with additional -spirit, and daylight found us still unsated—ready, indeed, to -begin the programme <i><span lang="it" xml:lang="it">da capo</span></i>. Prudence and the counsels -of the aged, as represented by the infrequent paterfamilias, -however prevailed, and the patriotic melody having sounded, -there was an end to joy unconfined for the present. Everything -had been a triumphant success. No awkwardness -of any sort had occurred, if we may except an impromptu -<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">tableau vivant</span></i>—a pretty housemaid fleeing Ariadne-like into -the ladies' dressing-room, closely pursued by an enterprising -youngster, who did not discover, until too late, the awful -presence which he had invaded. A wrathful senior declined -to see the classic appositeness of the incident, and muttered -threats of vengeance dire; but upon Bacchus being adroitly -suggested to be in fault, as of old, he was gradually appeased. -And so with laugh and jest, and many a pleasant memory to -cherish, we fared homewards next day from the First Port -Fairy Hunt.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_398'>398</span> - <h2 class='c006'>BENDEMEER</h2> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c003'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>That bower and its music I never forget,</div> - <div class='line'>But oft when alone, in the bloom of the year,</div> - <div class='line'>I think—Is the nightingale singing there yet?</div> - <div class='line'>Do the roses still bloom by the calm Bendemeer?</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The æsthetic pioneer who bestowed this romantic name -upon the New England village between Tamworth and Uralla -probably realised a hazy similarity. Yet roses must have -been few and far between, eminently suitable as are soil and -climate; and the nightingale awaits the millennium of acclimatisers. -The sparrow—wastrel of Europe that he is—doth -first appear. The clear stream of the Macdonald, winding -through the green hill-encircled valley, renders the comparison -faintly apposite. On the whole, the name of Bendemeer will -sound as well to our federal successors as Curra-wohbo-lah or -Murra-munga-myne; and if it sets young Australia to reading -<cite>Lalla Rookh</cite>, it may act as a counterpoise to overmuch -devotion to wool and horse-racing—may even tend to the cult -which <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">emollit mores</span></i>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>These slight incongruities notwithstanding, I would counsel -any Australian Beckford, in want of a site for the antipodean -Fonthill, to realise the poet's dream in the vale of Bendemeer -(Great Northern Railway line, New South Wales), and so -immortalise himself in the minds of generations of grateful -compatriots.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As I stand in front of the little hostelry in the sweet -moonrise of this summer night and gaze around, my heart -sympathises with the unknown sentimental sponsor. I feel -constrained to admit that he had the true poetic insight, -piercing the measureless spaces of the future—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Far as human eye can see.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_399'>399</span>It is the last month of the year, in the hour for a 'midsummer -night's dream' (antipodean); the fervent noonday -glare has given place to the fresh, delicious temperature -which in this elevated region succeeds sunset; the heavens -are cloudless. As the moon's orb is slowly lifted, the -grand mountain-chain which lies beyond the head waters of -the river shows clearly defined in majestic gloom and ebon -shades.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the hills which enclose this fair green valley, each tree-stem, -bough, and frond is traced with pre-Raphaelite distinctness. -Fronting the inn, on the river-terrace, hang the -pendent branches of an aged willow-tree, the umbrageous -spread of which has caused its utilisation as a shade for the -horses of customers and wayfarers. A round dozen of these -have just been released from durance, as their owners, warned -of the closing hour, ride off into the night. The equestrian -habit principally differentiates the tavern of the new country -from that of the old. Otherwise, in the matter of civility, -cleanliness, and quietude, this particular inn and some others -I affect in my rambles closely resemble the snug roadside -retreats of Old England.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As I pace slowly over the thick green sward which carpets -the river-meadow, the thought pursues me of what changes -the future Lord of Bendemeer would find requisite. Aided -by the Genius of Capital, they could not be wholly impracticable. -And what a delicious Palace of Summer Delights, a -charmed refuge from the world's woe and the clamorous -chatter of society, might he rear amidst these cloistered shades! -Important alterations, not in accordance with latter-day legislation, -would be first effected. The acquisition of the freehold -for leagues around, the disestablishment of stores, telegraph-and -post-offices—pernicious contrivances these last for bringing -unrest into remotest solitudes; the closing of schools and -churches; the abrogation of the utilities; the suppression of -trade; the exile of industry; I include with regret the old-fashioned, -reposeful hostelry. Happy thought! It would -probably be spared until the army of workmen required for -the erection of the palace had been disbanded; as also, -for similar reasons, the police-barrack which dominates the -district, whence issues the man-at-arms of the period, 'native -and to the manner born,' but soldierly and erect of bearing—a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_400'>400</span>sleuth-hound in pursuit of horse-thieves and highwaymen, -mounted and accoutred proper upon the good steed which he -alone can rein.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The railway-line has been averted by good genii or through -the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">laissez aller</span></i> tone of thought which characterises the inhabitants -of the vale. It clangs and thunders through a -gorge on the head waters of the river, thus avoiding desecration -by scrambling tourists and irreverent sons of commerce; but -a huge, white, staring wooden bridge, the financial goal and -triumph of the local tradesfolk, disfigures the rippling moonlit -water. At a wave of the magic wand it disappears. A -fairy-like structure arises in its place, delicate with marble -tracery of pillars and arches, where the elves may flit love-whispering -through the long sweet nights, may beckon to the -Lorelei as she combs her tresses and warbles the fateful song -on the rock which guards the midstream above the shimmering -whirlpool.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The passes are guarded; the river-course on either side -securely barricaded against the conditional purchaser and the -drover—sole survivors they of the raider and moss-trooper, -which a too considerate civilisation permits. Deer alone are -permitted to crop the herbage of the park-like slopes; under -the heavy shadows of the mountain, the leaping trout and -lordly salmon, the ancient carp with silver-gleaming sides, -would flash through stream and pool (this last no visionary -image) as the shadows lengthened and the twilight stole -tremulously forward. When the day was done, on such a -full-orbed night as this, 'the harp, the lute, the viol's cry' -should awaken the echoes as a most fair company (for would -not all gallant knights and <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">gracieuses</span></i>, dames and damsels—whether -summoned from afar or dwelling near at hand—with -attendant poets and troubadours, be free of right to -the enchanted vale?) flee the hours with song and dance till -bright Cynthia paled at the approaching dawn, or, wandering -through cedarn alleys and rose-thickets, listen to the nightingale's -song as it blended with the murmur of silver-plashing -fountains. The gnomes that dwell in the mountain -passes, where they pile undreamed-of heaps of ore, steal -forth to watch the enchanted revels. The river elves and -fays float through mazy measures in fairy rings, or recline, -'neath starry fragrant blossoms, on rose-leaf couches. Even -<span class='pageno' id='Page_401'>401</span>the unseen genius of the Austral wild—no malign, amorphous -terror, but a benignant sylvan deity—might peer through the -forest leaves and smile wonderingly at the fantasies of the -'coming race.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hark! Is that the grey owl? With strange, unmelodious -cry he stirs the stillness. I turn to watch him, as he swims -the night air with moveless wing—dropping, like the emissary -of an evil witch, on the willow branch between me and the -moon. Bird of ill omen, thou hast shattered my dream! -The Palace has disappeared, the lutes are silent, the fair -company dispersed; the nightingale, that sang of 'love, and -love's sharp woe,' is mute for another century. Only the -faint plash of the river, rippling over its sand-bars; only the -mountain shadows beneath the waning, gibbous moon; only -the unbroken silence of the Austral woodland, brooding, -majestic, as of one watching through the eternities for the -birth of a nation. 'The light that never was on sea or land' -fades rapidly, and with the sigh that greets the evanishing of -the undersoul's fair fantasies I seek my couch.</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>An early <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">réveillé</span></i> comes Duty, with reason-compelling -Circumstance; a deputation demanding answers to questions, -of which due notice has been given. 'Enterprises of great -pith and moment are imminent.' We must to horse and -away, not betaking ourselves to pilgrim's staff, as is customary -with us; time permits not. What bard—was it the sweet -singer of a Brisbane Reverie, 'The Complaint of the Doves,' -the laureate of Royalty (black), the minstrel of the desert -steed, that in a lighter hour proclaimed—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>For I am bound to Stanthorpe town,</div> - <div class='line'>And time with me is tin?</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>We are not journeying quite so far as the stanniferous stronghold; -yet is our errand not unconnected with the metal that -the Silures and Phœnicians delved for in Cornwall long -before Julius Cæsar, without reference to the susceptibilities -of king, kaiser, or chancellor, established his protectorate of -Britain.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The stern Roman, the world's master, has vanished from -among the tribes of men. His descendant, an ignoble <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">fainéant</span></i>, -a stolid peasant, or a hired model, sells the right to mould -<span class='pageno' id='Page_402'>402</span>the heroic form which has survived the heroic soul. The -wide-ranging, sea-roving Anglo-Saxon, descendant of the -fiercer races, has succeeded to his heritage of universal -empire.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But can it be that the mother of nations is sinking into -senile decrepitude, with selfish querulousness evading responsibility, -only to lapse into deserved decay of power, -and well-merited insignificance in the council halls of the -world?</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Oh for one hour of Wallace wight,</div> - <div class='line'>Or well-skilled Bruce to rule the fight!</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>sang Scotland's bard, in the lament for the fortunes of the -field which sealed his country's fate. May not the modern -Briton make the application, and in mingled wrath and -despair regret the lost leader, who trod firmly, if warily, who -drifted not, irresolutely weak, from peril to disasters, and -delayed not the call to arms until the foe was at the gate -of the citadel?<a id='r2' /><a href='#f2' class='c012'><sup>[2]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f2'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. </span>Written in 1884.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>But this savours of the digressive. Where are we? -Whither is this plaguey, many-sided, chiefly unnecessary, or -wholly superfluous, mental apparatus, as some hold (being -rarely serviceable in the muck-rake or money-storing business), -leading us? To fairyland but yesternight; anon to Albion, -Germany, Rome, amid Liberal Ministers even, to their Austral -countrymen all too illiberal, stepfatherly, stern, repressive. -Prose and the present to the rescue! So we fare on, the -trooper and I, along the course of the Macdonald, in the -fresh purity of this New England summer morn. How blithe -and gladsome are all things! Hard is it to believe that -disease, death, and unforeseen disaster can exist in so fair -a world! The river ripples merrily onward, or sleeps in deep -pools under o'erhanging oaks, whence the shy wild-duck -floats out with dusky brood, or the heron rises from the -reedy marge and sweeps along the winding stream. Masses -of granite overhang the water. The everlasting hills rear -themselves, scarped and terraced, at dizzy altitudes on either -side. The late rains have lent a velvet, emerald tinge to the -thick-growing matted sward. Marguerites, dandelions, white -and yellow immortelles, the crimson bunches of hakea, fringed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_403'>403</span>violets, with bright purple masses of swainsonia, diversify -mead and upland. Tiny rills and springheads show a well-watered -country—'a land that drinks the rain of Heaven -at will.' Ever and anon the willow, with foliage of vivid -tender green, contrasts with the sombre filaments of the river -oak.</p> - -<p class='c000'>My companion is an active, intelligent young fellow—a -native-born Australian, whose fair hair and steadfast grey-blue -eyes show that the Anglo-Saxon type is not likely to alter -materially in Southern Britain.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He and his horse are well suited—the latter a well-bred -bay, fast at a finish, and ready to stay for ever. He has done -a hundred miles on end before now, and been ridden twenty -hours out of the twenty-four. In more than one skirmish, -when revolvers were out, he has proved steady under fire, and -is the very model, in appearance, in condition, and pace, of -what a charger should be in a troop of Irregular Horse. As -he stretches along with smooth, fast, easy stride, he looks as -quiet as a lamb, and what superficial critics call 'properly -broken in.' None the less will he refuse to let a stranger -bridle, much less ride him; he would in such case snort and -plunge like an unbacked colt.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I have had no experience of the metropolitan police, -against whom it is occasionally the wont of a section of the -press to say hard things. These may be true or false, for -what I know, though I am disposed to believe the latter. -But for the last twenty years I have had much knowledge of -the mounted portion of the New South Wales force in the -towns and districts of the interior, and I willingly record -my testimony—not being in official relations with them at -present—that a more efficient, well-disciplined, well-behaved -body of men—smart, serviceable, and self-respecting—does not -exist in any part of the world. In old days they were sometimes -at a disadvantage against outlaws, who could ride and -track like Comanchee Indians, the police being chiefly of -British birth and rearing. But the mounted troopers are -now largely recruited from natives of the colony, or men who -have lived here from their youth. In one of these, as in my -guide of to-day, the cattle-thief or other criminal has a pursuer -to contend with as well mounted as himself, and fully his -match in all the arcana of bushcraft.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_404'>404</span>But good as the white Australian may be at following a -track, his sable compatriot is a degree better. A tamed preadamite, -either borrowed for the occasion from a squatter, or -attached by pay and cast-off uniform to a police-barrack, -makes a matchless sleuth-hound. Such a one, I am told, -helped to run down a notorious party of horse-thieves in -these very mountains, following with astonishing accuracy the -marauders, who travelled <em>only by night</em>, using every artifice as -well to blind tracks and divert pursuers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We cross the river once more, and note an island, upon -which in floodtime a leading pastoral proprietor was washed -down and nearly drowned. Another mile discovers a picturesquely-situated -homestead, overlooking the river, where, -winding round a granite promontory, it turns westward on its -way to the great plain beyond the 'divide.' The roses proclaim -their vicinity to the famed Bendemeer, the decomposed -granite having a special chemical affinity; while the violets, -large of leaf and profuse of bloom, seem as if prepared to -found a new variety, so widely do they differ from the ordinary -floweret.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For half a century or more has the venerable pioneer -dwelt hard by the river-brim, where now, handsomely lodged, -garden-surrounded, he dispenses hospitality, with all the concomitants -of successful pastoral life around him, save and -excepting only the wife and bairns, the stalwart sons and -bright-eyed daughters, with which so worthy and energetic a -colonist should have strengthened the State. But '<span lang="la" xml:lang="la">non cuivis -contingit adire Corinthum</span>'; it is not every man's lot thus to -wind up life's tale. And it may be conceded that he who at -an advanced age, retaining every faculty unimpaired, is permitted -to view the work of his hands, conducted from the -stage of the untamed wild to smiling prosperity, who can -look forward cheerfully to end his days among a population -entirely composed of friends and well-wishers, has secured a -large proportion of the good which is permissible to mortal -man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Onward, still onward, ride we, for many a mile must be -passed ere sunset. Onward through rugged defiles and rock-strewn -passes, over which the sure-footed steeds are constrained -to clamber like chamois. Indeed we are nearly blocked in -consequence of adopting one very tempting 'cut,'—by the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_405'>405</span>way, in bush parlance, the old English predicate has been -eliminated, and with reason; one does not speak of a 'long -cut,'—for we find ourselves in the centre of a rock labyrinth -locally termed a 'gaol.' The path, however, amid the huge -boulders eventually conducts us to a grand granite-floored -terrace, apparently constructed by one of the Kings of Bashan. -Here we have a wide, extended view of the varied landscape, -'valley and mountain and woodland,' but it does not otherwise -serve our purpose.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Speedily recovering lost ground, we strike the creek and -the tin mines thereon located, which had been the cause of -the exploration. The sanguine, undaunted prospectors are -as usual delving and ditching, felling the forest, constructing -dams, and generally committing assault and robbery upon -patient mother Hertha.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We see the stream tin being washed out everywhere, like -dark-coloured pebbly gravel. We note where the same rivulet -has been formerly ravaged by the wandering mining hordes. -We thread the gorges which lead into a rock-walled alpine -valley, not inaptly named the 'Giant's Den,' and there meet -with tin—more tin—<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">toujours</span></i> tin. For this fastness of the -Titans has been turned into the Grand United Sluicing Company—no -liability, let us say—and for the ten thousandth -time, more or less, we admire the indomitable pluck and -sanguine confidence of the miner proper. Here steam engines, -pumping machinery, iron piping by the mile, dams, houses, -men and material, are all found, in different stages of adaptation -to an end. Evidently the shareholders, some of whom are -practical men of transcolonial experience, have faith in the -venture. The energetic Victorian captain beguiles us into a -long, hot, pedestrian tour of inspection. He, always in advance, -shovel on shoulder, prospects from time to time, and 'pans -out,' with invariable success, the stanniferous gravel. Sooth -to say, we have reached at length the mystic region where -there is no 'want of tin.' It occurs everywhere in abundance—in -new ground, in old workings, in mullock, in trenches, in -each and every conceivable place. At the end of our bit of -training, which mentally places us on a footing with Weston -and other 'peds' of fame, we express our opinion that, with a -steady supply of water for ground-sluicing, the Company should -pay handsome dividends for years to come. The energetic -<span class='pageno' id='Page_406'>406</span>captain, 'bred and born in a briar patch,' that is, on a goldfield, -so that he is a 'legitimate miner' in every sense of the -word, smiles appreciatively. We thankfully resume the saddle, -and bid farewell to the 'Giant's Den.' 'It may be for years; -it may be for ever.'</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_407'>407</span> - <h2 class='c006'>SPORT IN AUSTRALIA</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>Very early in a land peopled by the roving Englishman did -sport of one kind or another begin to put forth those shoots -which have since so grown and burgeoned. For some years -there must have been so few horses, that racing contests were -difficult if not impossible. The first cattle were herded without -horses, some of the pedestrian stockmen acquiring thereby -extraordinary speed of foot. It was customary for early -Australians to make longish journeys on foot, and legends are -yet rife in colonial families as to the distances performed then -by the seniors—tales which strike with astonishment their -descendants, who rarely walk, much less run.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We doubt not, however, that as soon as the colts and -fillies began to grow up, their young riders, with or without -leave, commenced to ascertain their relative speed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Parramatta has, it is said, the honour of holding the first -race meeting in 1810, the example being followed by the -officers of the 73rd Regiment, then in Sydney, who utilised -the reserve now known as Hyde Park for the purpose. -From that time annual races commenced to be held there. -The country towns, as they arose, were only too eager to -follow the example of the metropolis. Favourites of the turf -acquired fame which was trumpeted abroad through the -restricted sporting circles of the day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Sir John Jamison's Bennelong—named after a well-known -aboriginal—was one of the early racing celebrities. He ran -against Mr. Lawson's Spring Gun in 1829 for a heavy wager -as they went then; and the old-world system of heats finishing -up Spring Gun, he won easily. He carried off the -principal turf events in Parramatta in 1832. In the same -<span class='pageno' id='Page_408'>408</span>year Mr. H. Bayley's imported colt, Whisker, won the great -races at the Hawkesbury meeting. Trotting was not entirely -overlooked. It appears that a Mr. Potter's horse trotted twelve -miles within the hour for a bet of £30, winning by fifteen -seconds.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In May 1834 the Sydney Subscription Races were held -on the New Course, Botany Road, for the first time. This -course was new as compared with Hyde Park, but came to be -called 'the old Sandy Course,' in relation to Homebush, the -next established convincing-ground. At this meeting, Mr. C. -Smith's Chester, a son of Bay Camerton, won the Cup; -Whisker the Ladies' Purse. This grand horse won the -Town Plate of £50; also the Ladies' Purse, £25, again -beating Chester. Whisker, for whom £1400 had been -offered three days previously, died within the week. I was -present at that same old Sandy Course in the autumn of -1835, when Chester beat his half-brother Traveller—the latter -fated to belong to my old friend and neighbour, Charles -Macknight, at Dunmore, Victoria, in years to come. The -well-known Emigrant mare, Lady Godiva, ran at the same -meeting, and won her race for the Ladies' Purse, containing -the modest sum of £30. The Town Plate was £50.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The celebrated horse Jorrocks, 'clarum et venerabile nomen' -in turf annals, belonged to that period. A son of Whisker -from Lady Emily (imported), he inherited some of the best -racing-blood in the world; the dry air and nutritive pasturage -of his native land did the rest. A horse of astonishing speed, -stoutness, and courage, his record covers a longer list of -victories than that of any other Australian racehorse. In -those days of three-mile heats, he might not win the first, but -rarely lost the succeeding ones. It used to be said that when -the 'native' lads began to cheer, Jorrocks seemed to comprehend -the situation, and would win on the post or die in -the attempt. I saw him once, a retired veteran, and can -never forget his shape, almost symmetrically perfect. A long -forehand, with light, game head and full eye, grand sloping -shoulders, cask-like back-rib, muscular quarter and Arab -croupe, legs like iron, as indeed they needed to have been; -a long, low horse, scarcely exceeding fifteen hands, I should -say, in height—such was Jorrocks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Intercolonial races began in 1849. Without railways there -<span class='pageno' id='Page_409'>409</span>was a difficulty in transporting horses; but it was overcome. -Petrel, the property of Mr. Colin Campbell, a popular -Victorian squatter, ran a great race on the Melbourne Course -with Mr. Austin's Bessie Bedlam, a beautiful daughter of -Cornborough.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Dark brown, with tan muzzle.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Gordon's description might have been written for her. She -was, to my thinking, the handsomest mare ever stripped on an -Australian course. Petrel won, and Mr. Campbell gave a -ball at the Prince of Wales' Hotel in Melbourne on the strength -of his winnings, at which I was a guest—and a very good -ball it was. The same year saw Emerald and Tally-ho -(from New South Wales), Coronet and Hollyoake (of -Tasmania), beaten by the Victorian horse Bunyip, a big -powerful bay. He won the Town Plate, Publicans' Purse, -and Ladies' Purse at the same meeting; and starting for -fourteen principal races that season, won them all—a truly -phenomenal animal.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By this time the gold 'boom of booms' had occurred. -There were no more £50 Town Plates. In 1856 Alice -Hawthorn won £1000 for Mr. Chirnside, beating Mr. -Warby's Cardinal Wiseman; in her turn losing the three-mile -race with Veno—an intercolonial duel—for £2000. In -1859 I saw Flying Buck win the Champion Melbourne Sweepstakes -for £1000, eighteen starters, and may have heard the -late Mr. Goldsborough offer a thousand to thirty against him -after the start, and Roger Kelsall call out 'taken.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The pageant of Flemington on Cup day was yet a visionary -forecast. Mr. Bagot had not appeared above the horizon. -First King, Briseis, Archer, and Glencoe—much less Carbine -and Trenton—were in the dimmest futurity. I was to see -Adam Lindsay Gordon win the steeplechase of '69 upon -Viking, with Babbler half a length behind. Glencoe the -same year bore the coveted Cup trophy to New South -Wales.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What a wondrous change had taken place in a few short -years between the primitive racing and rude surroundings of -the old Botany Course and the shaven lawns, the flower-beds, -the asphalt walks, the immense grand-stands, the order, -comfort, and perfect organisation of Randwick and Flemington—exceeding -<span class='pageno' id='Page_410'>410</span>indeed, in these respects, the race-courses of -the old country! What a difference in the size and quality -of the fields of running horses, in the amount of money -wagered, in the multitude that attends, in the facilities of -rail and road by which the tens of thousands of spectators -are safely, comfortably disposed of in transit!</p> - -<p class='c000'>In these and other astounding developments of the era -we cannot but mark the transition stage from a colony to a -nation, from a collection of humble towns and hamlets to a -cluster of cities commencing to take rank with the world's -important centres. An Anglo-Saxon dominion unmatched, -for the period of its existence, in wealth and culture, population -and trade, in progress in all that constitutes true, steadfast, -abiding civilisation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With respect to sport other than horse-racing, the men who -had left 'Merrie England' so far away across the Southern -main, conscious that in many cases they had looked their last -upon that earthly paradise of the angler, the huntsman, the -fowler, and the deer-stalker, began to cast about for substitutes -and compromises. Hares and rabbits there were none (did -we catch a cheer, or was it a groan?); but the active marsupials -which then overspread the land afforded reasonable coursing, -and led to the formation of a breed of greyhounds, stronger, -fiercer, in some instances hardly less fleet, than those of the -old country. Reynard was still absent, but Brer Dingo was -fast across the open, and a good stayer, while his insatiable -appetite for mutton and poultry rendered him beyond a doubt -the fox's natural successor. Even as a 'bagman' he was -fairly serviceable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus at an early date in Tasmania, a land of farms and -small enclosures, and later on in Sydney, the old-world rural -recreation, with pinks and tops, horn and hound, huntsman -and whipper-in, 'accoutred proper,' was welcomed and -supported. In Victoria there are now home-grown foxes in -abundance, with hares, and, alas, rabbits in still greater -proportion for them to subsist upon; while as to the fields, -no straighter goers are to be found in Christendom—<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">moi -qui parle</span></i>—than our young Australians, men and maidens, -married or single—let the stiff three-railers of Petersham and -Ballarat, Geelong and Rooty-hill testify; no better horses—fast, -well-bred, clever, and up to weight. It seems hard that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_411'>411</span>distance, expense, and long voyage should stand in the way of -members of Australian hunt clubs trying their own and their -steeds' mettle in 'the Shires.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now for the gun. Wild-fowling has obtained always on -the inland lakes and rivers, on marsh and lagoons, with quail -and snipe, more or less, still extant; yet it must be confessed -that it has chiefly partaken of the nature of 'pot-hunting.' In -marshy localities snipe are abundant in the season—I have -known a bag made of twenty-five couple in Squattlesea Mere -in old days; but the quail, the brown variety of which more -nearly resembles the partridge, has a way of disappearing from -haunts too much disturbed. Unlike the partridge, it will not -return to the same cornfields year after year. The native -pheasant is a shy bird, for the most part inhabiting the -thickets of the interior and the forests of the main range—localities -where sport can hardly be carried out under proper -conditions. The wild turkey is a grand bird, both as to size -and flavour, but wary and a dweller on plains. He is only to -be approached by stratagem.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, the partridge -and pheasant, though often imported—my old friend Mr. -Yaldwyn brought out both to his station near Macedon early -in the 'forties'—have never thriven in the bush proper. -Edible seeds and berries are scarce, while natural enemies are -plentiful. In New Zealand, a virgin Britannia of the South, -the converse obtains. There are in that priceless possession, -obtained by pluck and luck (before we got into the habit of -advertising for the colonisation of our territory by foreigners), -no eagles, no crows, no dingoes or dasyures. Partridges or -pheasants turned loose in the woods of the North Island -multiply apace, and a tremendous bag of the former was made -to my knowledge by a Sydney proprietor on a visit there, -walking in breast-high fern, but a few years since. As to -introduced game, a herd of red deer, led by a 'stag of ten,' -may be seen on the grassy slopes of Laverton, within easy -reach of Melbourne, and near enough for an occasional hunt, -while fallow deer are plentiful, both there and in other -Australian localities. Among the farms they have grown to -be somewhat of a nuisance indeed; hence a trifle of justifiable -poaching no doubt occasionally takes place. In a general -way no great harm has been done by the introduction of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_412'>412</span>European game. Hares have increased amazingly, while -greyhounds of stainless pedigree, with coursing matches to -suit all comers, are plentiful in every country district.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the 'werry important and particlar' exception to this -comfortable doctrine has been the rabbit. Alack! and alack! -What evil genius, hostile to the good South Land, prompted -the importation of that fiend in a fur-jacket? 'Brer Rabbit' -has amply revenged upon us the sufferings of his kind in -bygone ages, and left a balance yet unpaid. What have we -spent on him? What tens of thousands of pounds sterling -are yet to be disbursed by suffering squatters, o'erburdened -tax-payers, even by the humble 'retrenched' civil servant, -against whom appears to be the hand of every man in the -hour of financial need!</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the subject is too painful. Far removed from any -description of sport. Sport? Ha! ha! Death, indeed, is the -closer designation. However we may have been deceived as -to certain results 'on this behalf,' let us not forget that our -enemy is, like most of his congeners, excellent eating—good -alike on the table of the poor man and the rich. In time, as -population advances and smaller enclosures become necessary, -his doom of extermination will be fulfilled, while the more -harmless ministers of sport will be protected and encouraged.</p> - -<p class='c000'>About cricket it seems unnecessary to dilate. It has -been taught sedulously to the Australian boy, by precept -and example. No denominational bias has hindered <em>that</em> -lesson being learned thoroughly—a fair argument, by the -way, supposing the national reputation and existence to -depend solely upon cricket, in favour of the secular system. -How all our boys love it! Did I not see a youngster, of say -seven or eight, yesterday, leading two small brothers, with one -cry of 'Cricket match!' dash up to the engraving of the -Gentlemen of England and 'Our Boys' in London, on the -cricket-ground, now on view in a bookseller's window in -George Street? How they gloated over it!</p> - -<p class='c000'>Many a good match have I seen in the old Hyde Park, -when the Sydney College boys had a right of occupation there -for a special purpose. His Honour Judge Forbes, then a -crack bowler at one wicket, with Mr. William Roberts senior -performing the part of the historic veteran of Dingley Dell -with the bat. William Still looking out for a catch, George -<span class='pageno' id='Page_413'>413</span>Hill or Geoffrey Eager, or Moule or Hovenden Hely, alert -at cover-point or slip, mid-wicket or long-stop.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Ah me! those days have gone, and how many of those -who then ran and shouted in all the glee of youthful spirits -and health! Those who remain are growing old, if not in the -'serious and yellow' stage, and the young ones are coming -on, doubtless to fill their places, 'in arms, in arts, in song.' -When Hugh Hamon Massie made that 206 score for the -Australian team against Oxford, our British cousins were -probably of the same opinion. His triumph on that occasion -was by no means a solitary one, and successive teams have -demonstrated that in Australians our kin beyond sea will -always find foemen worthy of their steel. Long may the -friendly rivalry last; and in the deadlier contests to come—as -surely they <em>must</em> come—may they always stand, like -Highlanders, 'shouther to shouther.'<a id='r3' /><a href='#f3' class='c012'><sup>[3]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f3'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r3'>3</a>. </span>Written in 1885. A prophecy fulfilled in February 1900.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Next to the outside of a horse—even, perhaps, as regards -the coast towns, before that instinctively natural position—your -true Australian is most at home in a boat. Those who -watch the appearance of Sydney Harbour on a holiday must -come to the conclusion that as a nursery for seamen it is -excelled by few sea-boards in the world. Gay is the sea-lake -with every kind of sailing craft, from the fifty-ton yacht, brand -new and not launched under a cost of £2000 or £3000, to -the canvas dingy flying along, bows under, with a big sail, and -the youthful crew perched like seagulls on the weather gunwale. -When a capsize occurs, which with these craft is a -matter 'quite frequent,' they dive like a brood of wild-ducks, -as they right their frail craft, and are soon bowling along as -reckless as ever.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With such aquatic habits, small wonder if we have bred or -trained the men who have beaten with the sculls not only old -England but the world—ay, the world!—at this particular -sport. Not only is it now demonstrated that we possess -equal skill in all the manlier exercises—the boast of the island -Briton, and at which he was long held to be unrivalled—but -that in strength, stature, and the desperate courage which -prolongs the contest to the last dangerous degree of exhaustion -and afterwards, our men, Australian-born or reared, are -equal to the best Briton that ever trod a plank, or to the best -<span class='pageno' id='Page_414'>414</span>transatlantic colonist, himself superior in that special section -of sport to his British kinsmen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All Sydney boys, of whatever degree, take naturally to the -boat. And when I saw a young friend but the other day, in -a Masaniello rig, expand his broad chest and glide into stroke -with one stretch of his bronzed muscular arms, I hummed -instinctively as I watched the retreating skiff, 'Rule Britannia, -Britannia rules the waves.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The 'incomplete angler' necessarily commenced by deep-line -fishing in Botany Bay, where he discovered the highly-edible -schnapper, that moderately-boned fish of comfortable -size and toothsome flavour. To him all honour therefor. -Also the rock and other cod-fish, whiting, bream, mullet, -trumpeter, flounder, sole, and many others (not forgetting -yellow-tail for bait)—all these for sea-fish are not to be -surpassed. It was some years before the lordly Murray Cod -was handled with the help of rod and line, by reason of the -Murray, our Australian Mississippi, not being then discovered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Since then we have made piscatorial advance, and doubtless -shall make more. If we have not finally settled the question -as to the acclimatisation of <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">Salmo ferox</span></i> in Tasmania, we -have the best of all evidences of the existence of trout of -exceptional size in Australian waters. Fly-fishing is still in its -infancy, though the <em>thymallus</em> of the Yarra Falls rises eagerly, -and gives good sport. Trout and herring furnish many an -hour's enjoyment to the disciple of Izaak Walton in Tasmania. -Huge lake-trout are to be found in the erstwhile eel-tenanted -deeps of New Zealand. A salmo-appearing fish, weight 27 lbs., -was killed in Tasmania in 1893.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In time—only give us time—and rest assured, my Australian -brethren and English kinsfolk, that we shall have such -sport in the South Land generally as shall do no discredit -to our race—the best all-round sportsmen in the world. And -so, fully aware that this is a bald and incomplete sketch of -the rise and progress of sport in Australia, but promising to -do better (if spared) at the next Centennial, and wishing us -all good fun and fortune at this, one Australian hunter's horn -must cease 'blowing' and sound the recall.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_415'>415</span> - <h2 class='c006'>OLD STOCK-RIDERS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>So poor old 'Flash Jack' is dead, says the <cite>Port Fairy Gazette</cite>, -drowned in a creek—a stock-rider's not unfitting end. We -remember him, young, <em>debonair</em>, tall, sinewy and active, with -longish, curling brown locks of which he was rather proud, as -also of the cabbage-tree hat of the period. But every one -seems to be old nowadays except a crowd of juniors so painfully -young that one wonders they are permitted to take life -seriously. His sobriquet was acquired more through the -ebullitions of a harmless vanity than from any of the offensive -qualities which the well-worn colonial adjective is wont to -imply. There was a certain amount of 'blow' about Jack, -doubtless, but never in undue proportion to his attainments, -which, as a stock-rider, horse-breaker, and mailman, were -admitted to be creditable. His introduction to the Port -Fairy district was through the Messrs. Carmichael, while before -taking service with them he had reached Melbourne from -England in the <em>Eagle</em>, Captain Buckley—both ship and commander -favourably known in the early days.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A rumour prevailed that Jack was the scion of a good -family; had been sent to sea as a midshipman, possibly to -cure the malady of 'wildness,' for which a voyage to or -residence in Australia is (erroneously) held to be a specific. -It did not answer in Jack's case, for he quitted his ship, -'taking to the bush' (in a restricted sense), and never afterwards -abandoning it. Uncommunicative about such matters -generally, he threw out hints from time to time that he was -not in the position for which his early associations had -prepared him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'My name's not Crickmere, Mas'r Rolf,' he said to me -once, as we were riding through the Eumeralla marshes. (He -<span class='pageno' id='Page_416'>416</span>always adopted the fiction that he was an old retainer -of our family.) '<em>Far from it.</em>' But after this dark saying he -relapsed into his usual reserve on the subject and enlightened -me no further. One trait of character which was in keeping -with his presumed social past he was well known to possess.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You seem mighty independent, my man,' said an employer -to him on one occasion.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes,' replied Jack proudly, 'and I can uphold it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was in my service before and after 'the gold' as stock-rider, -horse-breaker, and road-hand, both at Port Fairy and -Lake Boga. Not the man to save his wages; unlike many of -his contemporaries, who are now men of substance, Jack -varied but little in his non-possession of the world's goods. -But there were many homesteads in his old district where he -was always sure of a welcome, a glass of grog, and a week's -lodgings, so that when out of employment he was never in -any great straits.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With one influential class of the community he was especially -acceptable, and a favourite to the last. He had a natural -'Hans the boatman' faculty for amusing children, whom he -delighted by making miniature stockwhips and other bush -requisites, while they never tired of listening to his wondrous -tales of flood and field.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the matter of stockwhip-making he was a second -'Nangus Jack,' and, moreover, an extraordinary performer -with that weapon in the saddle. I have seen him cantering -along with a steady stock-horse, standing in the saddle and -cracking a brace of stockwhips, one in either hand—a feat -which any young gentleman is free to try if he wishes to -ascertain if it be easy or otherwise. He had been through -the rougher experiences of bush life, and mentioned casually, -once, having been speared by blacks in Gippsland. The -company being disposed to treat the statement as 'Jack's -yarn,' he gave ocular proof by exhibiting a cicatrice, far from -trifling in dimensions, where the jagged spear-point had been -cut out above his hip-bone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was a reliable horse-breaker, for several reasons. Being -long and loose of frame, he rode a good deal 'all over his horse'—unlike -some breakers, who are so still and noiseless in their -method that any unwonted cheerfulness of manner is apt to -startle their pupils into 'propping,' But as Jack on his excursions -<span class='pageno' id='Page_417'>417</span>was always singing, shouting, and whistling; leaning -half out of his saddle to greet a friend, or leaving his colts -tied up at a public-house; by the time he had done with them -they were safe for anybody, and would be difficult to alarm -or astonish on account of these varied experiences.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As a road-hand Jack was quite in his element, and a -decided acquisition to any overlanding party. He would have -been invaluable in South Africa. Always in good humour, he -kept every one alive during the monotonous days of driving -and dreary nights of watching with his songs and stories, his -'quips and quiddities.' He was also of signal service to the -commissariat, making frequent <em>reconnaissances</em> where the -country was inhabited, and returning with new-laid eggs, butter, -and other delicacies, out of which he had wheedled the farmers' -wives or daughters.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At one time or other Jack had been in the employment of -all the principal stockholders in the Port Fairy district, including -Mr. John Cox of Werongurt, the Messrs. Rutledge, Campbell, -and Macknight, Kennedy, Carmichael, and others. His -never staying very long in one place was less due to any fault of -his own than to an inherent restlessness and love of change. -A born roamer, with strong Bohemian proclivities, Jack had -wandered over a considerable portion of the colony. With -commendable taste he latterly elected to make Western -Victoria his habitual residence; and, strangely enough, he -was fated to finish a roving life as nearly as possible at the -place where he first took service, more than forty years since, -on his first arrival in the district.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A fellow-worker and in a sense a companion of my youth, -he 'was a part of those fresh days to me.' Many a day we -rode together in the heaths and marshes, the forests and volcanic -trap-ridges which lie between the lower Eumeralla and the sea. -At many a muster have I heard Jack's cheery shout, and -enjoyed with others his drolleries at camp and drafting-yard. -Now poor Jack's whip is silent; his songs and jests are hushed -for evermore. A man with few faults and no vices. 'Born for -a protest' (as Mrs. Stowe says somewhere) 'against the excessive -industrialism of the age.' Many a dweller in the Port -Fairy district must have felt sincerely grieved at the news of -poor old Jack's ending, and deemed that 'they could have -better spared a better man.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_418'>418</span>Peter Kearney, who came to Port Fairy first with Mr. Frank -Cobham from Monaro (a good specimen of the old race of -stock-riders), was one of Jack's earlier contemporaries. With -Tom Glendinning, generally known in the district as 'Old -Tom,' he was employed for a time on the Eumeralla station. -Irish by birth and 'Sydney-siders' by residence, these last had -served apprenticeship to every grade of colonial experience. -The naming, indeed, of the Eumeralla station and river was -due to 'Old Tom' and his mates, who brought from New South -Wales the J.T.H. cattle (formerly the brand of John Terry -Hughes), with which the station was first 'taken up' by Mr. -Hunter. From some fancied resemblance to the Umaralla -(spelt differently, by the way), one of the streams which mingle -their waters with the Snowy River near the Bredbo, the men -christened the new watercourse after the old one. There is -no special resemblance, rather the reverse, inasmuch as the -Port Fairy river, if such it be, runs mostly underground, percolating -through marshes and trap dykes, and generally pursues -an erratic course, while the Umaralla of New South Wales is a -merry, purling, snow-fed stream, which nearly attained celebrity -by drowning Mr. Tyson, who crossed it ahead of our cattle in -1870, unobtrusively travelling, as was his wont, on horseback -to Gippsland.</p> - -<p class='c000'>While on the subject of stock-riders, it is noticeable how -many different nationalities and sub-varieties there were among -them. Peter and Old Tom were, as I said before, Irishmen, -both light weights, first-rate riders, and extremely good hands -at 'breaking-in cattle to the run'—that lost or almost unnecessary -art, except 'down the Cooper, where the Western drovers -go,' or thereabouts. I may stop here to state that 'Clancy of -the Overflow,' quoted by a writer who signs himself 'Banjo,' -which appeared lately, was, in my opinion, the best bush-ballad -since Lindsay Gordon. It has the true ring of spur and -snaffle combined with poetic treatment—a conjunction not so -easy of attainment as might be supposed. When charged -with the responsible duty of breaking-in store cattle freshly -turned out, Old Tom was ever mounted and away by daylight. -He disregarded breakfast, knowing that the early morn is the -time for getting on the tracks of wandering cattle. Carrying -his quart-pot with him, a wedge of damper and a similar -segment of cold corned-beef, after he had gone round his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_419'>419</span>cattle and satisfied himself that none of the leaders were away, -then, and not till then, he lighted a fire, made his tea, and -settled to his breakfast with a good appetite and a clear -conscience. He came with me from Campbell's farm, in order -to point out Squattlesea Mere, then unoccupied, somewhere -about May 1843. We stayed at Dunmore for lunch. The -members of the firm were absent, but good, kind Mrs. Teviot -provided me with such a meal of corned-beef, home-baked -bread, fresh butter, short-cake and cream, that, as I told my -guide, I was provisioned for twenty-four hours if needful. As -it happened, by some mischance, we <em>were</em> very nearly that -precise time before we had the next meal.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Jemmy' White, Mr. John Cox's stock-rider at Werongurt, -and Joe Twist, his assistant, a native-born Tasmanian, had -both followed Mr. Cox's fortunes from Clarendon in the lovely -island. 'Jemmy' was a solid, elderly man of considerable -experience, and under his management the Werongurt Herefords -were kept in admirable order. He, like his fellow-servant -Buckley, was assisted by Mr. Cox in the purchase of a -run adjoining his master's station, where, with a flock of sheep -to start with, he became independent and comparatively rich. -After marrying and settling down, he built himself a comfortable -brick house at Louth, and died the possessor of beeves -and pastures, horses and sheep, in patriarchal plenty.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Joe Twist—now, doubtless, 'old Mr. Twist,' and a substantial -burgess of Macarthur—was a boy when I first came to -the district, but growing up in the fulness of time, was promoted -to be head stock-rider, <em>vice</em> White retired. He had by that -time developed into one of the smartest hands in a yard that -ever handled drafting-stick, as well as a superb horseman in -connection with cattle-work. He would stand in a stock-yard -among the excited, angry cattle (and those that came out of -the Mount Napier lava country were playful enough) as if -horns were so many reeds, even waiting until the charging -beast was almost upon him before stepping out of the way, -with the cool precision of a Spanish toreador.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With all due respect for the ancestral Briton, whom every -good Australian should reverence, I hold that the native-born -artist, while equal in staying power, far surpasses him in -dexterity. What Britisher could ever shear as many sheep—ay, -and shear them well—as the 'big blow' men of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_420'>420</span>Riverina sheds? Natives they of Goulburn, Bathurst, the -Hawkesbury, Campbelltown—all the earlier Sydney settlements. -Can any imported 'homo' even now pilot twenty bullocks, -with the wool of a small sheep-station on the iron-bark waggon, -along the roads the teamster safely travels? And similarly for -'scrub-riding,' drafting, and camp-work, though many of the old -hands, grown men before they ever touched Australian shores, -became excellent, all-round bushmen, yet the talent, to my -mind, lies with their sons and grandsons, who are as superior -when it comes to pace and general efficiency as Searle and -Kemp to the Thames watermen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well remembered yet is the first typical Australian stock-rider -I ever set eyes on—a schoolboy then out for a holiday. -I was riding to Darlington, our Mount Macedon Run, early in -the 'forties,' with a relative. From Howie's station a young -man, detailed to show us a short cut, rode up, furnishing to my -delighted vision the romantic presentment of a real stock-rider -of the wild, such as I had longed to see. Tall, slight, -neatly dressed, with spur and stockwhip, strapped trousers and -cabbage-tree hat, 'accoutred proper,' he joined us, mounted -upon a handsome three-parts bred mare, in top condition. -She shied and plunged playfully as she came up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now, Miss Bungate,' he said, with mock severity of tone, -'what are you up to?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was one of the mental photographs, little heeded at -the time, which were of use in days to come. Tom or Jack, -'Howie's Joe' or 'Ebden's Bill'—the rider's name cannot be -guaranteed by me, but that bay mare I never can forget. -'Wincing she went, as doth a wanton colt.' The summer -leaves may fall, and that dreary season, the winter of age, come -on apace, but Miss Bungate will be enshrined among the -latest memories which Time permits this brain to register and -recall.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The stock-riders of the past were a class of men to whom -the earlier pastoralists were much indebted. Placed in positions -of great trust and responsibility, they were, in the main, -true to their salt and loyal to their employers. If they occasionally -erred in the wild confusion of strayed cattle and -unbranded yearlings, presumably the property of the Government -(was there not a celebrity thus claiming all estrays -humorously designated 'Unbranded Kelly'?), their temptations -<span class='pageno' id='Page_421'>421</span>were great. Without their aid, living lonely lives on the -remoter inland stations, the cattle herds, often menaced or -decimated by the blacks, and roaming over vast areas of -natural pasture, would never have enabled their owners to -amass fortunes and create estates. They were, as a rule, -fearless sons of the wilderness, having some of the vices but -many of the virtues which have always honourably distinguished -pioneers.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_422'>422</span> - <h2 class='c006'>MOUNT MACEDON</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>In the later days of 1842 I paid my first visit to Macedon, -beyond which mountain our sheep-station, Darlington, had -been formed in 1838. The overseer, on a business visit to -Melbourne, whether in recognition of personal merit, or as -desiring to do the polite thing to his employer's son, invited -me to return with him. I jumped at the proposal. The -paternal permission being granted, the following day saw me -mounted upon a clever cob named Budgeree, a survivor of -the overland party from Sydney to Port Phillip in 1838, fully -accoutred for my first journey into Bushland—the land of -mystery, romance, and adventure, which I have well explored -since that day—that Eldorado whence the once-eager traveller -has returned war-worn and pecuniarily on a level with the -majority of pilgrims and knights-errant.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>And o'er his heart a shadow</div> - <div class='line'>Fell as he found</div> - <div class='line'>No spot on ground</div> - <div class='line'>That looked like Eldorado.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>We reached Howie's Flat, spending the night at the solitary -stock-rider's hut near Woodend. I still recall the keenness of -the frost, which came through the open slabs and interrupted -my repose. Macedon was the first mountain I had encountered -in real life, familiar as I was with his compeers in -books. I regarded his shaggy sides, his towering summit, -with wonder and admiration, as we rode along the straggling -dray-track of the period.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Walls of dark-stemmed eucalypti bounded the narrow road; -shallow runlets trickled across the rock ledges; while the -breeze, strangely chill even at mid-day, but rippled the ocean -<span class='pageno' id='Page_423'>423</span>of leafage. Gloomy alike seemed the endless forest ways, the -twilight defiles, the rough declivities. At one such place my -companion remarked, 'This blinded gully is where Joe Burge -capsized the wool dray last shearing.' I thought it would be -a nice place for robbers. German stories of the <cite>Bandit of the -Black Forest</cite> and such-like thrilling romances, which ended in -the travellers being carried off into caverns or tied up to trees, -began to come into my head. I was glad when we sighted -the open country again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We arrived at Darlington next day, not without adventures, -in that we lost one horse. He slipped his head out of the -tether rope, so we had to double-bank old Budgeree, who -proved himself a weight-carrier, equal to the emergency.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What a change has passed over the land since then! Mr. -Ebden was at Carlsruhe; Mr. Jeffreys close by; the Messrs. -Mollison at Pyalong; and Coliban, Riddell, and Hamilton at -Gisborne. Hardly any one else in the direct line of road. -What waving prairies of grass! what a land of promise! -what a veritable Australia Felix, was the greater portion of the -country we rode over!</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>A decade has almost rolled by. What motley band is this -which faces outward, from Melbourne, along the selfsame road -on which old Macedon looks grimly down, as they ramble, -straggling past under his very throne? They are gold miners, -actual or presumptive.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Both worlds, all nations, every land</div> - <div class='line'>Had sent their conscripts forth to stand</div> - <div class='line'>In the gold-seeker's ranks.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Mother Hertha has for once hidden her treasures so carelessly -that the most unscientific scratching shall suffice to win -them. A hundred deeply-rutted tracks now cross or run -parallel with the once sole roadway. Wild oaths in strange -tongues awaken the long-silent echoes. All ranks and orders -of men are mingled as in the old crusades. Different they, -alas, in purpose as in symbol! Watch-fires gleam on all sides. -Night and day seem alike toilsome, troubled, vulgarised by -noise and disorder, strangely incongruous with the solemn -mountain shadows and the old stern solitude.</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_424'>424</span>Again the years have passed. The lurid, early goldfields -are no more. Order reigns where crime and lawless violence -once were rife. Handsome towns have succeeded to the -crowded, squalid encampments where dwelt the fierce toilers -for gold, the harpies, the camp-followers, the victims. I am -seated in a commodious stage coach, which behind a well-bred -team bowls along at a creditable pace over a well-kept, -macadamised road. We are <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en route</span></i> to Sandhurst, now a -model town, with trees overshadowing the streets, a mayor -and a corporation, gaols and hospitals, libraries and churches. -Yet, as we pass Macedon, tales are told of mysterious -disappearances of home-returning diggers, which recall my -early association of brigands with the dark woods and lonely -ravines.</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>'<span lang="la" xml:lang="la">Tempora mutantur et nos mutamur in illis.</span>' Shade of -Mr. Cape, is the quotation correct, or are we doing dishonour -to that great man's memory,—'building better than -he knew,'—and the careful heed of quantities, inculcated by -personal application to our feelings, in the days of heedless -boyhood? Times have changed with a vengeance. Again in -Melbourne! It is changed, I trow. Great, famous, rich, one -of the known and quoted cities of the earth. <em>We</em> have helped -to produce this triumph. But at what a price? Our youth has -gone in the process. When we look at all the fine things that -fill one's vision by day, by night, within its lofty halls, amid its -crowded streets, we feel like the man in the old story, who for -power and wealth sold himself to the Fiend. 'All that's very -fine, my friend,' an unkind sprite whispers to us. 'You may -or may not enjoy a part of this splendour, but you are not so -young as you were. I won't mention the D—— in polite -society, but the demon of Old Age will leave his card on you -before long.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes, we are still extant, not wholly invalided, in this year -of grace 1884. Instead of sitting on the box of Cobb's coach -in Bourke Street at 6 <span class='fss'>A.M.</span>, while the punctual Yankee driver -is waiting for the Post-office clock to strike, my old friend and -I, <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en route</span></i> for his well-known hospitable home on the spurs -of Macedon, enter a comfortable railway carriage at mid-day. -As we are whirled luxuriously through the grassy, undulating -downs and wide-stretching plains which surround Melbourne -<span class='pageno' id='Page_425'>425</span>on the north-east, we have ample leisure to enjoy the view. -Macedon is visible from the outset, dimly shadowed, kingly as -of old, raising his empurpled bulk athwart the summer sky. -Passing the towers of Rupertswood, the thriving towns of -Gisborne and Riddell's Creek—did I not know them in their -earliest 'slab' or 'wattle-and-daub' infancy?—in two hours of -extremely easy travelling, relieved by conversation and light -literature, we see 'Macedon' on the board of the railway -station, and find ourselves at the village so named, built on -the actual mountain slope. Piles of timber of every variety, -size, and shape, which can be reft from the <em>Eucalyptus obliqua</em> -or <em>amygdalina</em>, show that the ancient trade of the mountain -foresters has not diminished. The chief difference I suppose -to be that the splitters and sawyers are no longer compelled to -lead a lonely, half-savage life, bringing the timber laboriously -to Melbourne by bullock dray, and, one may well believe, -indulging in a 'sdupendous and derrible shpree' after so rare -a feat. They now forward their lumber by rail, live like -Christians, go to church on Sundays, and read <cite>The Argus</cite> -daily for literary solace.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We relinquish here the aid of steam, and trust to less -scientific means of locomotion. We are in the country in the -sweet, true sense of the word—component portions of a -company of wisely-judging town-dwellers, who by their choice -of this elevated habitat have secured a weekly supply of -purest mountain air, unfettered rural life, and transcendent -scenery. Various vehicles are awaiting the home-returning -contingent. Buggies and sociables, dog-carts, pony-carriages, -and phaetons with handsome, well-matched pairs—the reins of -the prize equipage in the latter division being artistically -handled by a lady. Our party and luggage are swiftly -deposited, a start is made along the rather steep incline—the -lady with the brown horses giving us all the go-by after a -while. Half an hour brings us to our destination. We leave -the winding, gravelly road; turning westwards, a lodge gate -admits us through the thick-ranked screen of forest trees. -Conversation has somehow flagged. What is this? We have -all in a moment quitted the outer world, with its still, rude -furnishing—tree stumps, road metal, wood piles, and bullock -teams—and entered into—shall I say it straight out?—an -earthly paradise!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_426'>426</span>Prudence here nudges me. 'Come now, don't overdo it; -you're really too imaginative.' Well, there may be just the -least <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">soupçon</span></i> of idealism, Prudence dear. I never was there, -or if in a former state of existence, have forgotten details; but -if aught mundane can furnish a partial presentment of Eve's -favourite nook in that lost glory of our race, surely it is -the dream-garden which now opens before our wondering -vision.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the lip of the forest hollow, taking studied advantage -of every point of natural conformation, has been created a -many-acred, garden landscape, absolutely perfect in growth, -harmony, and sustained beauty of composition. The natural -advantages, it must be admitted, are great, perhaps unequalled. -'The dark wall of the forest,' but partially invaded, forms a -highly effective background to the cultured loveliness and -delicate floral brilliancy which it overshadows. On either -side, the sheltering primeval groves make effectual barrier -against the withering north wind of summer, the winter's -southern sea-blasts.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Cooler air and a lowered heat-register are consequent upon -the altitude, when on the plain below, plant and animal nature -alike suffer from the unpitying sun. Here rarely frost is seen -or rude gales blow. Proudly and secure may the dwellers on -Darraweit Heights look from their mountain home, across the -unbroken stretch of plain and grassy down, relieved but by -copses, around farm-steadings and cornfields, where the -harvest sheaves are now standing in thick rows. In the dim -distance are the gleaming waters of the Bay. That cluster of -far-seen lights, when the shades of night have fallen, denotes -the position of the metropolis. Can that misty, pale-blue -apparition be a mountain-range—the austere outline of the -Australian Alps? Westward lie the broad plains which -stretch in unbroken level, well-nigh to the coast, two hundred -miles from Melbourne. Around are companion heights and -forest peaks. Still regal as of yore, though his woods have -been rifled and his solitudes invaded, Macedon rears his -majestic summit. The house—roomy, broad verandahed, -luxuriously comfortable, more commodious than many a -pretentious mansion—overlooks the 'pleasaunce,' to use the -old Norman-French nomenclature, here so curiously appropriate. -Grounds of pleasure they, in every sense of the word. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_427'>427</span>More spacious than a garden, less extensive than a chase, the -reclaimed wild is unique in form and design as in floral -loveliness. It combines the colour-glories of the garden -proper with the freedom, the 'fine, fresh, careless rapture,' of -a mountain park.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now for a closer description. We confess to have hung -off, involuntarily, in despair of giving even a fairly accurate -sketch of this adorable creation. What then does it -comprise? Nearly all things that man has lacked since the -primal fall. A collection of longed-for luxuries, for which the -o'ertaxed heart of world-wise, world-wearied man so often sighs -in vain. An abode of rest where, from morn till dewy eve, -the eye lights on nought but 'things of beauty,' which are 'a -joy for ever'; the ear is invaded by no sound but those of -Nature's harmonies. Here, if anywhere on earth, may the -soul be attuned to heavenly thoughts; here may this fallen -nature of ours be purged from all save ennobling ideas, so truly -Eden-like are the surroundings. Rare flowering shrubs -developed by soil and irrigation into forest trees; masses of -choice flowers, exhibiting in this our fiercest summer month a -freshness and purity of bloom as astonishing as exquisitely -beautiful.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The natural features of the locale have doubtless been -exhaustively considered. Yet few horticultural artists would -have seized so unerringly upon the difficult compromise -between Art and Nature which has here been achieved. The -winding walks through the mimic forests are lonely and -sequestered as those of an enchanted wood. The sultry heat -of the day's last lingering hour is effectually banished. The -musical trickle and splash of the tiny waterfalls is in your ear -as, book in hand, or lost in the rare luxury of an undisturbed -day-dream, you saunter on. Half-hidden recesses appear, -where great fronds of foreign ferns show strangely in the -'dim religious light'—'beautiful silence all around, save -wood bird to wood bird calling.' Out of the sad, sordid, -struggling world, far from its maddening discords and -despair-tragedies, your soul seems to recognise a purer, -more sublimated mental atmosphere, nearer in every sense to -the empyrean, and freed from the lower needs of this house of -clay. A half-sigh of regret tells of fair visions fled, even -though you emerge on the lower, wider lawns gay with ribbon-borders -<span class='pageno' id='Page_428'>428</span>and yet brighter flower-fantasies in newer unfolding -beauty.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For lo! in this region of glamour and the long-lost kingdom -of the sorcerer, the wandering knight has fallen upon a -fresh enchantment. Proudest of all the engineering triumphs, -the prize must be accorded to the lakelet which glitters in the -lower grounds. How the calm water sleeps beneath the -heavy foliage of the farther shore! How the shadows reflect -the tracery of the willow tresses, the feathery shafts of the -bamboo clump! How freshly green the bordering turf! -There is even an island and a wooded promontory. More -than all—or do my eyes deceive me?—a shallop, light as that -in which</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>The maiden paused as if again</div> - <div class='line'>She thought to catch the distant strain;</div> - <div class='line'>With head upraised and look intent,</div> - <div class='line'>And eye and ear attentive bent.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>By my halidome! stands she not therein—the 'Ladye of -the Lake' herself,—fair as her prototype, though modernly -arrayed, gracefully poising her light oar. With a smile that -might lure an archangel she beckons us to embark with her -on this magical mirrored water, under the charmed shadows of -the golden summer eve.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Surely all this is a dream. It cannot be but illusion. We -shall wake on the morrow, or next week at the farthest, to feel -again the hot dust-blast as we ride across the desert plain at -midnight, to mark the red moon glaring wrathfully upon the -pale-hued, ghostly myall tree, that sighs despair amid the -death-stricken waste.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Even so. Yet let us dream on and be happy, if but for a -little space. Glide smoothly, O bark; shine tenderly, O -stars, soft glimmering through the o'erhanging, rustling leafage; -fan this sun-bronzed cheek, O whispering breeze, this -careworn brow, till each fevered pulse be cooled. Short is our -mortal span at most. How weary distant the ever-lengthening -goal! But wherever Fate may guide, however stern the fray, -how faint soe'er our footsteps in the onward march, this fair -remembrance shall have power to refresh and reanimate our -soul.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yet another joy ere the evening, bright with songs and -music, with cheerful converse and pleasant reminiscence, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_429'>429</span>comes to an end. We sit amid the happy household group on -the broad verandah-balcony, inhaling the cool night air, and -watching the wondrous effects of light and shade produced by -the late arisen moon. Masses of shrubbery stand picturesquely -gloomed against the moonlit lawns; odours of invisible flowers -pervade the still, pure atmosphere. Opaque as to their lower -bulk, the turreted tree-tops stand in clearest illumination to -their most delicate leafage against the cloudless firmament. -There is no wind or any faintest breeze to stir the tenderest -leaflet. All nature is so still that the tinkling murmur of the -tiny rivulets, which thread the lawns and flower-beds, falls -distinctly on the ear. In faint but rhythmic cadence they -drip and ripple, gurgle and splash, the summer night through. -The flowers in the near foreground alone border on -individuality. Rose clusters and a few lily spikes are -recognisable. Unlike their human kalotypes, they await the -dawn to recommence their fascination. And then, in calmest -contemplation, or enjoyment of low-toned interchange of -thought, ends the restful, happy day. On the lower levels, in -the country towns and around the metropolis, as we were -subsequently assured, it was felt to be sultry and oppressively -heated, while on these happy heights of Darraweit—the Simla -of Victoria—the air was at once cool and fragrant, subtly -exhilarating as the magic draught which renews the joys of -youth.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_430'>430</span> - <h2 class='c006'>WALKS ABROAD</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>Only a month to midsummer—<span class='fss'>A.D.</span> 1883—when on this verge -of the great north-western plain-ocean we fall across a section -of the railway to Bourke in course of construction. Nature -is here hard beset by Art. What a mighty avenue has the -contractor's army cut through the primeval forest! The close-ranked -trees taper, apparently, to nothingness until the horizon -is reached. In the twelve miles that your sight reaches, there -is not the smallest curve—no departure from the mathematically -straight line. If you could see a hundred and twenty -miles, you would find none greater than is visible now; for -this avenue is something over that length, and is said by railway -men to be one of the longest 'pieces of straight' in the -world.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The still incompleted work is even now being ministered to -with the strong, skilled hands of hundreds of men. All the -same, the inspecting overseer is a necessary personage in the -interests of the State. He it is who descries 'a bit of slumming,' -however minute; who arrests progress, lest bolts be -driven instead of screwed; who compels 'packing' and other -minute but important details upon which the safety of the -travelling public depends.</p> - -<p class='c000'>How efficiently is man aided by his humbler fellow-creatures, -whom, for all that, he does by no means adequately -respect or pity. See those two noble horses on their way to -be hooked-on to a line of trucks! They are grand specimens -of the Australian Clydesdale—immense creatures, highly fed, -well groomed, and, it would appear, well trained.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They have no blinkers, and from the easy way in which, -unled, they step along the edge of the embankment, where -<span class='pageno' id='Page_431'>431</span>there is but a foot-wide path, lounging through the navvies -without pausing or knocking against anybody, they seem fully -to comprehend the peculiarities of railway life. They are -attached by chains hooked to the axles of two of the six -trucks, weighing some fifty or sixty tons, which require to be -moved. Once in motion, of course, the draught is light, -but the incline is against them, and the dead pull required -to start the great weight is no joke. At the word they go -into their collars with a will, the near horse, a magnificent -dark bay, almost on his knees, and making the earth and -metal fly at the side of the rails in his tremendous struggle to -move the load. He strains every muscle in his powerful -frame gallantly, unflinchingly, as if his life depended upon the -task being performed and all at a word; he is neither touched -nor guided.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>He knew his duty a dead sure thing,</div> - <div class='line'>And went for it then and there.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>His comrade lacks apparently the same high tone of feeling, -for his efforts are stimulated by an unjustifiable expression on -the part of the driver, and a bang on the ribs with a stout -wattle. The line of trucks moves, however; then glides -easily along the rails. When the end of the 'tip' is reached -both horses stop, are released, walk forward a few paces, and -stand ready for the next feat of strength and handiness. -This happens to be pay-day on the line, which agreeable -performance takes place monthly. The manner of personal -remuneration I observe to be this: the paymaster and his -assistant, with portentous, ruled pay-sheets, take their seats -in a trench. The executive official carries a black leather -bag, out of which he produces a number of sealed envelopes -variously endorsed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Different sections are visited, and the men are called up -one by one. Small delay is there in handing over the indispensable -cash. 91. William Jones, £9: 12s.; 90. Thomas -Robinson, £9: 4s., one day; 89. John Smith, £8: 16s., two -days. Smith acquiesces with a nod, signifying that he is -aware that the two days during which he was, let us say, -indisposed after the last pay-day have been recorded against -him, and the wage deducted. There is no question apparently -as to accuracy of account. The envelopes are stuffed into -<span class='pageno' id='Page_432'>432</span>trouser-pockets, mostly without being opened. A few only -inspect their contents, and gaze for a second upon the crisp -bank-notes and handful of silver. Some of the sums thus -paid are not small—gangers and other minor officials receiving -as much as twelve and thirteen shillings a day; the ordinary -pick and shovel men, eight. Overtime is paid for extra, which -swells the amount received. One payment for fencing subcontractors -exceeded eighty pounds. Sixteen hundred pounds, -all in cash, came out of the superintendent's wallet that day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I noticed the men for the most part to be under thirty, -many of them almost boyish in appearance. They were -cleanly in person, well dressed and neat for the work they -have to do, well fed, and not uncomfortably lodged considering -the mildness of the climate. One and all they show grand -'condition,' as is evidenced by the spread of shoulder, the -development of muscle, with the lightness of flank observable -in all. As to nationality they are pretty evenly divided; the -majority are British, but an increasing proportion of native-born -Australians is observable, I am told. With regard to pre-eminence -in strength and staying power the home-bred English -navvy chiefly bears the palm, though I also hear that the -'ringer' in the pick and shovel brigade is a Hawkesbury man, -of Cornish parents, a total abstainer, and an exemplary workman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With such a monthly outflow of hard cash over a restricted -area, it may be imagined what a trade is driven by boarding-house -keepers and owners of small stores. The single men -take their meals at these rude restaurants, paying from 18s. -to £1 per week. The married men live in tents or roughly-constructed -huts in the 'camps' nearest to their work.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I fear me that on the day following pay-day, and perhaps -some others, there is gambling and often hard drinking. The -money earned by strenuous labour and strict self-denial during -the month is often dissipated in forty-eight hours. The -boarding-house keepers are popularly accused, rightly or -wrongly, of illegally selling spirits. Doubtless in many instances -they do so, to the injury of public morals and the -impoverishment of the families of those who are unable to -resist the temptation. A heavy penalty is always enforced -when proof is afforded to the satisfaction of justice; but -reliable evidence of this peculiar infraction of the law is -<span class='pageno' id='Page_433'>433</span>difficult to obtain, the men generally combining to shield the -culprits and outswear the informer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A few miles rearward is the terminus of this iron road that -is stretching so swiftly across the 'lone Chorasmian waste.' -Here converge caravans from the inmost deserts. Hence -depart waggon-trains bearing merchandise in many different -directions. What a medley of all the necessaries, luxuries, -and superfluities of that unresting, insatiable toiler, man! -They lie strewed upon the platform, or heaped in huge -mounds and pyramids under the lofty goods sheds. Tea and -sugar, flour and grain, hay and corn, chaff and bran, machines -of a dark and doubtful character connected with dam-making -and well-sinking; coils of wire, cans of nails, hogsheads of -spirits, casks of wine, tar, paint, oil, clothing, books, rope, -tools, windlasses, drums of winding gear, waggons, carts, and -buggies all new and redolent of paint and varnish; also -timber and woolpacks, and, as the auctioneer says, hundreds -of articles too numerous to mention. What a good -customer Mr. Squatter is, to be sure, while there is even the -hope of grass, for to him are most of these miscellaneous -values consigned, and by him or through him will they be -paid for.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We are now outside of agriculture. The farmer, as such, -has no abiding-place here. That broad, dusty trail leads, -among other destinations, to the 'Never Never' country, -where ploughs are not, and the husbandman is as impossible -as the dodo.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Perhaps we are a little hasty in assuming that everything -we see at the compendious <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">depôt</span> is pastorally requisitioned. -That waggon that creaks wailingly as it slowly approaches, -with ten horses, heavy laden though apparently empty, proclaims -yet another important industry. Look into the bottom -and you will see it covered with dark red bricks, a little -different in shape from the ordinary article. On a closer view -they have a metallic tinge. They are <em>ingots of copper</em>, of -which some hundreds of tons come weekly from the three -mines which send their output here. As for pastoral products, -the line of high-piled, wool-loaded waggons is almost -continuous. As they arrive they are swiftly unloaded into -trucks, and sent along a special side-line reserved for their -use. Flocks of fat sheep and droves of beeves, wildly staring -<span class='pageno' id='Page_434'>434</span>and paralysed by the first blast of the steam-whistle, arrive, -weary and wayworn. At break of day they are beguiled into -trucks, and within six-and-thirty hours have their first (and -last) sight of the metropolis.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the meantime herds of team-horses, bell-adorned, make -ceaseless, not inharmonious jangling; sunburnt, bearded -teamsters, drovers, shepherds, mingled with navvies, travellers, -trim officials, tradesfolk, and the usual horde of camp-followers, -male and female, give one the idea of an annual fair held -upon the border of an ancient kingdom before civilisation -had rubbed the edges from humanity's coinage, and obliterated -so much that was characteristic in the process.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I stood on the spot an hour before daybreak on the -following morn. Hushed and voiceless was the great industrial -host. Around and afar stretched the waste, broadly -open to the moonbeams, which softened the harsh outline of -forest thicket and arid plain. The stars, that mysterious -array of the greater and the lesser lights of heaven, burned -in the cloudless azure—each planet flashing and scintillating, -each tiny point of light 'a patine of pure gold.' The low -croon of the wild-fowl, as they swam and splashed in the river-reach, -was the only sound that caught the ear. Glimmering -watch-fires illumined the scattered encampment. For the -moment one felt regretful that the grandeur of Night and -Silence should be invaded by the vulgar turmoil of the coming -day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One of the aids to picturesque effect, though not -generally regarded as artistic treatment, is the clearing and -formation of roads through a highland district. Such a region -is occasionally reached by me, and never traversed without -admiration. The ways are surrounded by wooded hills, some -of considerable altitude, on the sides and summits of which -are high piled</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8'>rocks, confusedly hurled,</div> - <div class='line'>The fragments of an earlier world.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>But here the road-clearing, rarely supplemented by engineering -disfigurement, produces the effect of a winding, thickly-grown -avenue. On either side stand in close order the -frenelas, casuarinas, and eucalypts of the forest primeval, -with an occasional kurrajong or a red-foliaged, drought-slain -callitris, 'like to a copper beech among the greens.' The floor -<span class='pageno' id='Page_435'>435</span>of this forest-way is greenly carpeted with the thick-growing -spring verdure, a stray tiny streamlet perhaps crossing at -intervals, while leaflets of the severed saplings are bursting -through in pink or dark-red bunches. In the far distance -rises a dark-blue range, towering over the dim green ocean of -forest, and marking the contrast sharply between the land of -hill and dale and the monotonous levels of the lower country.</p> - -<p class='c000'>With all the capriciousness of Australian seasons the -springtime of this year has shown a disposition to linger—waving -back with grateful showers and dew-cooled nights and -mornings the too impatient summer. Still is the grass brightly -green of hue, the flower unfaded. The plague of dust has -been stayed again and again by the welcome rainfall. There -has never been more than one day when the winds have risen -to a wintry bleakness. But who recks of so trifling a discomfort -from such a cause, and will not King Sol be avenged -upon us ere Christmastide be passed—ere the short, breezeless -nights of January are ended?</p> - -<p class='c000'>What contrasts and discrepancies Dame Nature sanctions -hereabouts in the formation of her feathered families! That -soaring eagle, so far above us heavenward, in the blue -empyrean, how true a monarch among birds is he! Now he -stoops, circling lower and yet lower still, with moveless outstretched -pinion and searching gaze that blenches not before -the sun's fiercest rays. The tiny blue-throated wren perches -fearlessly near, and hops with delicate feet from stone to stone -amid the sheltering ferns. That downy white-breasted diver, -a ball of feathers in the clear pool of the mountain streamlet, -now with a ripple become invisible—the devoted pelican, with -sword-like beak and pouch of portentous dimensions. Lo! -there sits he with his fellows by the edge of a shallowing -anabranch, or revels with them in the evil days of drought -upon the dying fish which in hundreds are cast upon the -shore. As I tread the homeward path, the skylark springs -upward from the waving grass; trilling his simple lay, he -mounts higher and yet higher, no unworthy congener, though -inferior as a songster to his British namesake. In the adjacent -leafless trees is a flight of gaunt, dark-hued, sickle-beaked -birds. Travellers and pilgrims they, relatives of earth's oldest, -most sacred bird races. Behold a company of the ibis from -far far wilds. Their presence here is ominous and boding. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_436'>436</span>They are popularly supposed to migrate coastwards only when -the great lakes of the interior begin to fail. This, however, is -not an unfailing test of a dry season, as in long-dead summers -I have had occasion to note. They are not too dignified, -in despite of their quasi-sacred hierophantic traditions, to eat -grasshoppers. As these enemies alike of farmers and squatters -are now despoiling every green thing, let us hope that the ibis -contingent may have appetites proportioned to the length of -their bills and the duration of their journey. A white variety -of the species is occasionally noted, but he is rare in comparison -with the darker kind.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By the creek bank, in the early morn, the well-remembered -note of the kingfisher, so closely associated with our youth, -sounds close and clear. Yonder he sits upon the dead limb -of the overhanging tree—greenish blue, purple-breasted as of -yore. Stonelike he plunges into the deep pool, reappearing -with a small fish or allied water-dweller. More beautiful is -his relative the lesser kingfisher, metallic in sheen, with -crimson breast—flashing like a feathered gem through the -river shades, or burning like a flame spot against the mouldering -log on which he sits. Of palest fawn colour, with long -black filament at the back of his head, that graceful heron, the -'nankeen bird' of the colonist, is also of the company; the -white-necked, dark-blue crane, and that black-robed river pirate -the cormorant. While on the bird question, surely none are -more delicately bright, more exquisitely neat of plumage and -flawless of tone, than the Columba tribe. Ancient of birth -are they as 'the doves from the rocks,' and principally for -their conjugal fidelity have been honoured, by the choice of -Mr. Darwin, as exemplars in working out experiments connected -with the origin of species. In western wanderings -I find five varieties of the pigeon proper. The beautiful -bronze-wing, the squatter, and the crested pigeon. Besides -these, two varieties of the dove are among the most exquisitely -lovely of feathered creatures. Both are very -small—one scarcely larger than a sparrow. The 'bronze-wing' -is too well known to need description. The 'squatter pigeon' -is a plainer likeness, with a spot of white on either cheek, and, -as its name implies, is unwilling to fly up, being struck down -occasionally with the whip or a short throwing stick in the act -of rising. The crested pigeon, the most graceful and attractive -<span class='pageno' id='Page_437'>437</span>of the family, is from its tameness and extreme cleanliness of -habit most suitable for the aviary. In colouring, the breast is -a delicate slate-grey tinged with faintest pink as it rises towards -the wing muscles, the front wings barred with dark, pencilled -cross-lines, the larger feathers of the extremities a burnished -green, and the last row having feathers of a vivid dark pink -or crimson. A crest and elongated pointed tail give character -and piquancy to the whole appearance. As they fly up, a -whirring noise, not unlike that of the partridge, is heard. -When the male bird swells his chest and lowers his wings in -defiance or ostentation, he produces a sound not unlike that -of his long-civilised congener. They will lay and hatch in -captivity, and I observed in an aviary one of the females -sitting on her eggs complacently in a herring tin.</p> - -<h3 class='c010'>FROM TUMUT TO TUMBERUMBA</h3> - -<p class='c011'>It was rather too far to walk this time; besides, the days -are shortening. From Tumut to Tumberumba is forty-five -miles all out, and a bad road. At breakfast-time we had no -earthly idea of how or where to get a horse. A friend in -need tided over that difficulty. So, mounted upon a clever -mountain-bred hackney, we cleared the town about 9.30 <span class='fss'>A.M.</span>, -and headed for the Khyber Pass (in a small way), up which -the road winds south-easterly. The time was short, but we -meant going steadily, if not fast, all through, and trusted, as -we have done 'with a squeeze' full many a time and oft -before, to 'save the light.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Buggies are comfortable vehicles when roads are good and -horses fresh. You can carry your 'things' with you, and, -in cases of entertainments, come out with more grandeur and -effect than if on horseback. But give me the saddle, '<span lang="la" xml:lang="la">haud -juventutis immemor</span>.' It brings back old times; and certainly -for people whose appearance is in danger of being compromised -by a tendency to increased weight, riding is the -more healthful exercise. Besides, one always feels as if adventures -were possible to cavaliers. Wheels circumscribe one -too narrowly. You must start early. You had better not drive -late. Your stopping-places must be marked and labelled as -it were. You are <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">affiché</span></i>, for good or evil.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_438'>438</span>Now, once started on a fine morning, on a good horse, a -'lazy ally' feeling seems to pervade the surroundings and the -landscape. If you meet wayside flowers, you may linger to -gather them. You may avail yourself of chance invitations, -secure that you can 'pull up time' late or early. As you -sail away, if your horse walks well and canters easily (as does -this one), you insensibly think of 'A day's ride, a life's -romance.' Is that romance yet over? It may be. We are -'old enough to know better.' But still we were quite sure -when we started that we should meet with an adventure or two.</p> - -<p class='c000'>First of all, we saw two young people in a buggy, driving -towards the mountain land which lay eastward in a cloud-world. -There was something in the expression of their backs -as they passed us which suggested an early stage of the Great -Experiment. The bride was fair, with, of course, a delicate -complexion—that goes without saying in this part of the -world. The bridegroom was stalwart and manly looking. -Presently we were overtaken by another young lady of prepossessing -appearance, with two attendant cavaliers, well -mounted and evidently belonging to the same party. Bound -for some miles along the same lonely but picturesque road, -we asked permission to join the party, and fared on amicably. -Together we breasted the 'Six-Mile Hill,' and at length -emerged upon the alpine plateau, which for many miles lies -between the towns before mentioned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here the scene changed—the climate, the soil, the timber, -the atmosphere. Eastward lay the darkly-brooding Titans of -Kiandra, snow-capped and dazzling, the peaks contrasting -with their darksome rugged sides, the blue and cloudless -sky. Beneath our feet, beside and around us, lay the -partially-thawed snow of Saturday's fall, in quantities which -would have delighted the hearts of certain children of our -acquaintance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Snow in the abstract, 'beautiful snow,' is a lovely nature-wonder, -concerning which many things have been sweetly -sung and said. But in the concrete, after a forty-eight hours' -thaw, it is injurious to roads, in that it causes them to be -'sloppy' and in a sense dangerous to horse and rider. Given -a red, soapy soil, somewhat stony, sticky, and irregularly -saturated, it must be a very clever steed, the ascents, descents, -and sidelings being continuous, that doesn't make a mistake -<span class='pageno' id='Page_439'>439</span>or two. All the same, the girl on the well-bred chestnut horse -kept sailing away, up hill, down hill, and along sidelings steep -as the roof of a house; the whole thing (to quote Whyte-Melville) -'done with the graceful ease of a person who is -playing upon a favourite instrument while seated in an armchair.' -We kept in sight the second detachment, coming up -in time to bid farewell as they turned off to the residence of -the bride's family, where there was to be a dance in celebration -of the auspicious event. We separated with my unspoken -benison upon so promising a pair.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The wedding guests having departed, we paced on for -half-a-dozen miles until a break in the solemn forest, like a -Canadian clearing, disclosed the welcome outline of the half-way -hostelry. Here were there distinct traces of the austerity -of the patriarch Winter, so mild of mien on the lower levels. -Half a foot of snow lay on the roofs of barn and stable, while -the remnant of a gigantic snow-image, reduced to the appearance -of a quartz boulder, lay in front of the house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A bare half-hour for refection was all that could be spared -here, and as our steed ate his corn with apparently the same -zest that characterised our consumption of lunch, it was time -well spent. Boot and saddle again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'But first, good mine host, what is the exact distance? -The sun is low; the road indifferent rough; the night unfriendly -for camping out.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Fifteen mile if you take the "cut"; eighteen by the -road, every yard of it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We mistrust short "cuts,"' say we, consulting the watch, -which indicates 3.30 <span class='fss'>P.M.</span>; 'they have lured us into difficulties -ere now. But three miles make a tempting deduction -from the weary end of the journey. We cannot miss it. -Thanks; of that I am aware. Turn to the left, opposite the -second house, cross the creek, turn to the right, and follow -straight on.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Of course. Just so. The old formula. How many a -time have we cursed it and the well-intentioned giver, by -all our gods, when stumbling, hours after, trackless, over -an unknown country in darkness and despair. Reflected that -by merely following the high road we should have been -warmly housed, cheered, and fed long before. However, -unusual enterprise or the mountain air induces us to try the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_440'>440</span>short cut aforesaid; only this time, of course, we turn to -the left, and immediately perceive ('facilis descensus Averni') -that the path leads into a tremendous glen, with sides like -the roof of a house. We dismount, as should all prudent -riders not after cattle, and lead down our active steed. At -the foot of the <span lang="es" xml:lang="es">cañon</span> is a hurrying, yellow-stained mountain -stream. Dark-red bluffs, undermined and washed to the -gravel, exposed in all directions. 'Worked and abandoned' -is plainly visible to the eye of the initiated upon the greater -portion of the locality; but still lingering last are miners' -cottages and a garden here and there. Children, of course. -Ruddy of hue and sturdy, they abound like the fruits of a -colder clime in these sequestered vales.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What is the name of this—place?' say we guardedly to a -blue-eyed boy, good-humouredly nursing a fractious baby.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Upper Tumberumba,' he returns answer proudly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And the road to the town?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Cross the creek and follow down for six mile, and there -you are.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The road on the far side of the violent little creek follows -that watercourse, and is fairly made. Bridges are the main -consideration, for there seem to be <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">trois cent milles</span></i> water-races, -some too deep to fall into scathless; and 'beauty born -of murmuring sound' must be plentiful, judging from the -rushing, gushing, leaping, and tumbling waters before and -around us.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This is a land of sluices, of head-races and tail-races, -evidently, where 'first water' and 'second,' dam sites, and -creek claims, with all the unintelligible phraseology of 'water -diverted from its natural course for gold-mining purposes,' -were once in high fashion and acceptance. As the short -winter day darkens without warning, we trust that the bridges -are sound, more especially as we have just cantered over one -with a hole in it as big as a frying-pan.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One advantage secured by our adoption of the 'cut' is -patently that of drier footing, the which causes our steed to -amble with cheerfulness and alacrity. The night comes on -apace, but there is still sufficient light to distinguish the roadway -from obstacles and pitfalls. When the well-known sound -of the water-mill breaks the stillness, light and voices betray the -proximity of a township, and Tumberumba proper is reached.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_441'>441</span>When we quit Tumberumba in the early morn for the -return journey to Tumut, the air is charged with vapour, -the mists lie heavily upon the hills. The low grey sky, the -drizzle and the damp which pervade all nature, suggest 'The -Lewis' or other Hebridean region. One can fully realise -the sort of weather chiefly prevailing when the King of Bora -uttered his pathetic farewell 'to his little Sheilah,' returning -to his desolate dwelling alone, to distract himself as best he -might with the company of the simple (but not vulgar) -fishermen and a reasonable consumption of alcohol.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This opens up to the contemplative mind the whole vast -'Grief Question, and how people bear it.' What volumes -might be written about the sorrows of the bereaved, the -forsaken men or women!—'all the dull, deep sorrow, the -constant anguish of patience.' How the slow torture drags -on, varied only by pangs of acute mental pain—the throbs, -the rackings, the utterly unendurable torment—what time -the agonised spirit elects to quit its earthly tenement and -face the dread unknown, rather than longer suffer the too -dreadful present! So the soldier, captured by Indians, shoots -himself to escape the inevitable torture. Also in this connection -regarding anodynes, distractions, solaces, and medicaments, -the which can be used harmlessly by one class of -patients, but in no wise by others.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'An early start makes easy stages,' saith the seer. So it -comes to pass that soon after mid-day we find ourselves at -the Bago Cabaret, after which we incontinently dismount, -fully minded to bait, after four or five hours' battling with -the stony, sticky, slippery sidelings of the track. The good -horse well deserves a feed. Also, thanks to the keenness of -the atmosphere, we experience a steady prompting towards -luncheon.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The horse is led away, and in the parlour we find a fire, -a welcome, and agreeable society. We learn that the wedding -dance duly took place, well attended, and a great success—our -fair informants having been there and danced till daylight, -after which they walked home a trifle of five miles, -which, with snow still on the ground, showed, in our opinion, -praiseworthy pluck and determination; a convincing proof, -were any needed, that the Anglo-Saxon race has not degenerated -in this part of the world. 'The reverse if anything,' -<span class='pageno' id='Page_442'>442</span>as the irascible old gentleman in the hunting-field made -answer after a fall, when it was politely inquired of him -'whether he was hurt.'</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>But pleasures are like poppies spread—</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>fair yet fleeting in the very constitution of them; so an hour -having quickly passed, much refreshed in sense and spirit, -we tackle the twenty-six very long miles, in our estimation, -which divide us from the fair Tumut Valley. Still lowers -the day. The mists shut out the snow-crowned peaks. The -forest is saturated with moisture, which ever and anon drops -down like a shower-bath when the breeze stirs the leaves -briskly. It is not a gala day, exactly. But oh, how good -for the country!</p> - -<p class='c000'>What beneficent phenomena are the early and the latter -rain! As we look downwards we can see thousands of tiny -clover leaflets, none of your <em>Medicago sativa</em>, with its yellow -flower and deadly burr, but the true, sweet-scented English -meadow plant, fragrant in spring, harmless, fattening, and -sustaining to a wonderful degree, whenever it can command -the moisture which is its fundamental necessity of growth. -In days to come, every yard of this grand primeval woodland -will be matted with it and the best English grasses, not forgetting -that prime exotic the prairie grass (<em>Bromus unioloides</em>).</p> - -<p class='c000'>We are not aware whether there has been an extensive -forest reserve proclaimed hereabouts, but in the interests of -the State there should be. These grand, pillar-like timber -trees, straight as gun-barrels, a hundred feet to the lowest -branch, the growth of centuries, should not be abandoned -to the bark-stripper, the ring-barker, the indiscriminate feller -of good and bad timber alike. There is material here—gum, -messmate, mountain ash, every variety of eucalyptus—to -serve for the sawpits, the railway bridges, and sleepers of -centuries to come, if properly guarded and supervised. And -it behoves the elected guardians of the public rights to permit -no private monopoly or forestalling; to see to the matter in -time. For many an unremembered year have these glorious -groves been slowly maturing. The carelessness of a comparatively -short period may permit their destruction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The eucalypts, as a family, have been subjected to undeserved -contumely and scorn as trees which produce leaves -<span class='pageno' id='Page_443'>443</span>but do not furnish shade, which are 'withered and wild in -their attire' as regards umbrageous covering. All depends -upon the locality, the altitude, the consequent rainfall. Here -the frondage is thick yet delicate in the older trees, while -among the younger growth the habit is almost as dense -and drooping as that of the <em>Acmena pendula</em>, which many of -them resemble in the mass of pink-grey leafage. I notice, -too, the beautiful blackwood or hickory of the colonists -(<em>Acacia melanoxylon</em>), though not in great abundance nor of -unusual size. Nothing, for instance, like the specimens near -Colac, Western Victoria, or between Port Fairy and Portland. -And scrutinising closely the different genera, we discovered a -tree which bore a curious resemblance to a hybrid between -the eucalyptus and the said blackwood. The leaves were -thick, blunt-edged, and singularly like the blackwood. The -bark was like that of the mimosa on the stem and branches, -but roughened towards the butt. The blossom—for it was -just out—was unmistakably that of the eucalyptus tribe. We -had never met with the specimen before and it puzzled us. -It is locally known as the 'water gum.' The true mimosa and -the wild cherry (<em>Exocarpus cupressiformis</em>) were common—this -last of no great size; the wild hop occasionally. The -English briar was not absent—as to which we foresee, for this -rich soil, trouble in the future.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Lonely and hushed—in a sense awful—is this elevated -region. The solitude becomes oppressive as one rides mile -after mile along the silent highway, nor sees nor hears a sign -of life save the note of the infrequent wood-thrush or the cry -of the soaring eagle. But lo! the ruins of an ancient stock-yard! -Easily recognised as belonging to the hoar antiquity of -a purely pastoral <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">régime</span></i>. The selector-farmers do not put up -such massive corner posts or cyclopean gateways. Not for -them and their slight enclosures is the rush of a hundred wild -six-year-old bullocks, with a due complement of 'ragers,' given -every now and again to carry a whole side of the yard away. -This was the station stock-yard, doubtless, what time 'Bago -Jemmy' and other stock-riders of the period acquired a -colony-wide reputation for desperate riding (and equally hard -drinking) amid these break-neck gullies and hillsides. They -are gone; the wild riders, the wild cattle. Even the rails of -the stock-yard have been utilised for purposes wide of their -<span class='pageno' id='Page_444'>444</span>original intention. 'Their memorial is perished with them,' -all save the huge corner and gate-posts, which, embedded -four feet in the ground, are regarded as difficult and expensive -to remove, and of no particular use, ornament, or value -when uprooted. So they remain, possibly to puzzle future -antiquarians, like the round towers of the Green Isle.</p> - -<h3 class='c010'>IN THE THROES OF A DROUGHT</h3> - -<p class='c011'>This is my last ramble for a while through the plains and -forests of the North-West; would that it had been made -under more pleasing circumstances. 'How shall I endure -to behold the destruction of my kindred?' The quotation -is apposite. All pastoralists are akin to me by reason of -old memories; and if Rain comes not in this month of -March, or even in April, their destruction, financially, seems -imminent.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What a weary time it is in the 'plains dry country,' whither -my wandering steps have strayed at present. Far as eye can -see, there is no herb nor grass nor living plant amid the -death-stricken waste; not even the hard-visaged shrub—the -attenuated, closely-pruned twigs of the salsolaceous plant. -Earlier in the season a large proportion of the stock were -removed, and were agisted at a high cost. The remainder -were left to live or die as the season may turn out. The -station-holders have at length become reckless, and have -ceased to take trouble about the matter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>How hard it seems! For years the energetic, sanguine -pastoralist shall invest every pound he has made, and more -besides, in stud animals of high value, in judicious improvements, -from which he is reasonably certain in a few years to -receive splendid interest for the capital invested. When his -plans are matured, when the improvement of his stock is -demonstrated, will not his fame redound to the furthest limits -of Australia? Eventually he will be able to revisit or for -the first time behold Europe. All imaginable triumphs will -be his. Rich, fortunate, envied, he will be amply repaid -for the toils, the sacrifices, the privations of his earlier -years.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_445'>445</span>'Then comes a frost, a killing frost.' Well, not exactly -that, though frosts of considerable severity do occur, hot as is -the climate; but it 'sets in dry.' No rain comes after spring; -none during summer; none in autumn; curious to remark, -none even in winter—except, of course, insignificant or partial -showers. That seems strange, does it not? Instead of -from sixteen to twenty-six inches of rain in twelve months, -there fall but six—even less perhaps. What is the consequence -of all this? The creeks, the dams, the rivers dry up; the -grass perishes; what little pasturage there may be, is eaten up -by the famishing flocks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>During the summer it does not appear that the evil will -be of such magnitude. The stock look pretty well. There -is water; and the diet of dust, leaves, and sticks, with unlimited -range, and no shepherds to bother, does not seem to disagree -with them. Then the autumn comes, with shorter days; -longer, colder nights. Still no rain! The sheep, the cattle, -even the wild horses, begin now to feel the cruel pinch of -famine. The weakest perish; the strong become weak; day by -day numbers of the enfeebled victims are unable to rise after -the weakening influences of the chilly night. The water-holes -become muddy; defiled and poisoned with the carcases of -animals which have had barely strength to drag themselves -to the tempting water, over many a weary mile, have drunk -their fill, and then lacked power to ascend the steep bank or -extricate themselves from the clinging mud.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What a time of misery and despair is this for the luckless -proprietor! He sees before his eyes the thousands and tens -of thousands of delicately woolled sheep, in whose breeding -and multiplication he has taken so much pains,—on behalf of -which he has studied treatises, and gone into all the history -of the merino family since the days of ancient Spanish -Cabanas, Infantados, Escurials, what not,—converted into a -crowd of feeble skeletons, perishing in thousands before his -eyes without hope or remedy, save in the advent of rain, -which, as far as appearances go, may come next year or the -year after that.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Is it possible to imagine a condition more melancholy, -more hopeless, more calculated to drive to suicide the hapless -victim of circumstances, beyond his—beyond any man's control? -It has had the effect ere now. The torturing doubt, the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_446'>446</span>hope deferred, <em>has</em> resulted in the dread, irrevocable step. -And who can find it in his heart to condemn?</p> - -<p class='c000'>In a season like this, every one can realise the benefit of -railways. How would these inland wastes be supplied were -it not for the all-powerful steam-king? The dwellers hereabouts -would scarcely have bread to eat; the necessaries of -life would be enhanced in price; forage would be unattainable, -except at prices which would resemble feeding them upon -half-crowns. Talking to a teamster the other day about the -signs of the times, I remarked that he and his comrades were -compelled to carry quantities of forage with which to support -their horses, while delivering loading.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We'll have to carry a tank soon,' replied the tall, sun-bronzed -Australian, 'if the season holds on this way. The -water-holes are getting that low and choked up with dead -stock as they're neither fit for man or beast to drink; and we -lose horses too.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How is that?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, the heat, or the dust, or the rubbish in the chaff -kills 'em. I can't rightly tell what it is; but these three teams -lost five horses in one day—dropped down dead on that -terrible hot Sunday.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>I did not wonder. There were the upstanding, well-conditioned -Clydesdales walking along with their loads, -gamely enough, but in a perfect cloud of dust. Above them -the burning sun; around, the sandy, herbless waste. Different -surroundings from those of the misty Northern Isles, from -which their ancestors, near or remote, had come! Ponderous, -heavy of hoof and hair, it seemed wonderful that they can do -the work and travel the immense distances they do, under -conditions so alien to their natural state. I inquired of -their driver, himself an example of gradual adaptation to -foreign habitude, whether the medium-sized, lighter-boned -draught horses did not stand the eternal sun and drought -better than their larger brethren. He thought they did. -'Wanted less food, and not so liable to inflammation or leg -weariness.' I should be disposed to think that the Percheron -horse, of which valuable breed several sires have lately been -imported to Melbourne from Normandy, would be suitable for -the long, hot, waggon journeys of the interior—a clean-limbed, -active, spirited horse, immensely powerful for his size, easily -<span class='pageno' id='Page_447'>447</span>kept, and more likely 'to come again' after exceptional fatigue. -But I know from experience that the Australian horse in <em>every -class</em>, from the Shetland pony to the Shire, is the strongest, -most active, and most enduring animal that the world can -show. And I hesitate in the assertion that by any other -horse can he be profitably superseded.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As one traverses the arid waste, from time to time a whirlwind -starts up within sight; a sand-pillar raises itself, -contrasting strangely with the clear blue ether. Darkly -smoke-coloured, furiously plunging about the base, it gradually -fines off into the upper sky if you follow it sufficiently long.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'People doubt,' said the Eastern traveller to his guide, -'what produces those sand-pillars which so suddenly appear -before us.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'There is <em>no doubt</em> about the matter, praise be to Allah!' -quoth the Bedouin. 'It is perfectly well known, say our -holy men, that they are (<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Djinns</span></i>) evil spirits.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Is it so? and do they come to dance exultingly amid the -stricken waste, over ruined hopes, dying herds and flocks—to -mock at the vain adventurer who deemed that he could alter -natural conditions and wrest fame and fortune from the -ungenial wilds? Who may tell? They can scarcely afford -a good omen. The unimaginative boundary-rider regards -them as a 'sign of a dry season.' More likely, one would -say, they are its result. In a long-continued drought the -production of dust must needs be favourable to the action of -whirlwinds.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The oppressiveness of the summer is more felt in March, -perhaps, than in any other month of the year. The hot -weather has tired out the bodily power of resistance. One -yearns and pines for a change; if it comes not, an intolerable -weariness, a painful languor, renders life for all not in robust -health hard indeed to bear. Gradually relief arrives in the -added length and coolness of the nights. Rain does not -come, but the mosquitoes disappear. The dawn is almost -chilly; the system is refreshed and invigorated. With the -first heavy fall of rain a decided change of temperature takes -place. In those happier sections of the continent, where this -is the first cool month, the weather is all that can be wished. -'<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Ces jours cristals d'automne</span>,' so much beloved by Madame de -Sevigné at Petits Rochets, are reproduced. The friendly fireside—emblem -<span class='pageno' id='Page_448'>448</span>of domestic happiness—awaits but the first -week of April to be once more kindled. The plough is -seen again upon the fallow fields. The birds chirp, as if with -fresh hope, from the reviving woodlands. Nothing is needed -but a rainfall for the full happiness of man and his humbler -fellow-creatures. May His mercy, so often shown at sorest -need, not fail us now!</p> - -<p class='c000'>From what road-reports come across me, I gather that -typhoid fever is no infrequent visitor when the water becomes -scarce, when sources are polluted, and the carcases of the -rotting stock lie strewed over larger areas. Medical men -seem to be at odds about the generation of this dire disease. -Fever germs, bacilli, bacteria, water pollution, direct contagion,—all -seem to have their advocates. It seems probable that -towards the end of a drought the very air, uncleansed by -shower and storm, becomes charged with disease germs. As -to water pollutions, sometimes the disease is at its fiercest -before a heavy fall of rain, to disappear almost magically -afterwards. At other times the rain seems to intensify the -epidemic. The dry air of the interior, however hot, has -always been thought to be antagonistic to the disease. It -has not proved so of late years. Occasionally there is an outbreak -of exceptional virulence in some particular locality; but -nothing has hitherto been elicited as to the special conditions -tending to produce or to aggravate the disease.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At and around Bourke matters seem approaching a crisis. -Much of the 'made' water on the back blocks has failed of -late, and the stock have been brought into the 'frontage,' -there to drink their fill, doubtless, but to be utterly deprived -of food as represented by the ordinary herbage. If rain does -not come within a month, dire destruction, worse and more -extensive than in any previous drought, <em>must</em> take place; and -yet since 1866 I have so often heard the same prediction, -and it was <em>never</em> fulfilled. In the meantime man can do -nought but hope and pray, if faith be his in the Divine -Disposer of events. In days to come, a comprehensive system -of water supply may alleviate much suffering and prevent -misfortune; but though water may be secured and stored, the -sparse herbage of the boundless plain, the red-soiled forest, -cannot be so treated. Unless the rainfall be timely in these -far solitudes, no human energy or forecast can avert disaster.</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_449'>449</span> - <h3 class='c010'>A SPRING SKETCH</h3> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>In the saddle once more, and away for a week's journeying -o'er the wide Australian Waste! The springtime is again -with us. The clouds have dispensed their priceless moisture, -albeit not all too generously. The level sun-rays shine clear -over leagues of bright-hued turf and greenwood free. The -pale, dawn-streaked azure was cloudless; the morning air -keenly crisp. All nature is now jubilant. The voice of -Spring, faint in tone but wildly sweet, is audible to the lover -of nature. The cry of birds, the rustling leaves in the tall -trees that shade the winding river, and the green waste of dew-besprinkled -herbage, awaken thoughts of long-dead years—of -the season of youth—of the lost Aïdenn of the heart's -freshness.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That Paradise we shall regain nevermore, ah me! But we -must do our devoir as best we may in these days of the aftertime. -Many a mile must be passed before nightfall, and we -are a little short of time as usual; but our steed is fleet and -free, the livelong day is before us, and the experienced -cavalier can cover a long long stretch of woodland and -plain before latest twilight without distressing the good horse -either.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So we follow the winding waggon-tracks at only a moderate -pace; observing as we go, in plant-and bird-life, floweret and -herb, visible signs of development since our last acquaintance -with them. The beautiful bronze-winged pigeon flits shyly -through the thickets to her nest with its two white eggs, not -unlike those of the tame congener. In the brook-ponds or -marshy shallows the blue heron, the pied ibis, and the white -spoonbill are wading or lounging, with the listless elegance of -their tribe. The gigantic 'brolgan' or 'Native Companion,' -tallest of Australian cranes, is to be seen in companies, ever -and anon mirthfully conversing or 'dancing high and -disposedly' before his ranked-up comrades.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For all manner of wild-fowl this is the 'close season.' -Marauding teamsters, and others who should know better, -now and then disregard the law; but on the whole the statute -is enforced. A season of rest permits the black duck and the -wood-duck, that smallest and most elegant of geese (for such is -<span class='pageno' id='Page_450'>450</span>the <em>Anas boscha</em> in scientific nomenclature), the shoveller, the -teal, the imposing mountain-duck, to rear their broods in peace.</p> - -<p class='c000'>While we are environed by that darksome eucalyptus, the -sombre 'iron-bark' of the colonists, the mournful balāh, and -the cypress-seeming pine, no token of the advancing spring -greets us. 'A fringe of softer green' may brighten the pine -wood, but as yet the touch of the magician's wand is unheeded. -But as we speed towards the noonday, and the great plains -of the North-West spread limitless before us, the frondage -changes. The monotony of the endless champaign is broken -by clumps and belts of timber. And amid these welcome -oases of leafage might a botanist hold revel and delight his -inmost soul. There is a sprinkling of casuarina and pine, but -these copses are crowded with new and strangely-beautiful -shrubs. First in pride of place comes the wilgah, or native -willow, a brightly-green umbrageous tree, with a short upright -stem and drooping salicene festoons, evenly cropped at the -precise distance that the stock can reach from the ground. -There are few lawns or meadows in Britain that would not be -improved by the transplantation of the wilgah from these -untended gardens of the wild. The mogil (native orange) is -a dense-growing shrub, not wholly unlike the prince of fruit- -and flower-bearers; to complete the resemblance, it is possessed -of a fruit resembling in appearance only, faintly perhaps in -perfume, the European original. The leopard-tree, with -spotted bark, has for a comrade the beef-wood, with blood-red -timber, almost bleeding to the remorseless axe. The glaucous-foliaged -myall, 'intense and soulful-eyed,' with its swaying arms -and drooping habit, looks like a tree out of its mind. It -boasts, with its more sturdy cousin, the yarran, a strangely-powerful -violet perfume. These, with thorn acacias and -delicate fringed-leaved mimosas, seem ready to burst into flower -with the next calm tropical day. An early-blooming acacia -has made a commencement; a shower of fresh, golden sprays -illumines its tender greenery.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here our pretty, pink-legged, pink-eyed flock-pigeons, with -their crests raised, and their pointed tails elevated as they -perch, rejoin us. The grey and crimson galāh parrots are still -numerous. They have surely delegated their nursery duties. -They must pair and multiply, but, like fashionable parents, -manage to enjoy the pleasures of society notwithstanding.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_451'>451</span>The day is still young. The great flocks of merino sheep, -running loose in paddocks enclosed only by wire fences, have -not arisen to commence their daily round of nibbling. About -five thousand are encamped near the corner of an intersecting -gate. Near them are the remnants of a leading aboriginal -family, in the shape of twenty or thirty 'red forester' kangaroos, -popularly called 'soldiers.' These curiously-coloured marsupials -are so bright of hue that one wonders whether they -gradually acquired the colour (<em>pace</em> Darwin) so as to assimilate -with the red earth of the plains over which they bound. -They do not trouble themselves to go far out of my way—they -simply depart from the road; and in calmly crossing a -track one of the flying does 'takes off' a yard before she -comes to it, and clearing the whole breadth without an effort, -sends herself over about twenty feet without disturbing her -balance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Early as the season is, long trains of wool-waggons, drawn -by bullocks or horses, are slowly crossing the plains. They -carry from thirty to fifty bales each, much skill of its kind -being required to secure the high-piled loads in position. At -one rude hostelry I counted not less than twelve bullock-waggons -so laden. The teams—at that moment unyoked, and -feeding in a bend of the creek, from fourteen to eighteen in -each—made up a drove of nearly two hundred head. Their -bells sound like the chimes of a dozen belfries, pealing in -contest. On the waggons, drawn up with shafts towards the -railway terminus, were, say, four hundred bales of wool, -representing a value of not less than six thousand pounds. -Each bale bore in neat legend the brand of the station, with the -weight, number, and class thereon imprinted, as 'J.R., Swan -Creek—No. 1120—First combing.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The last month enjoyed at least one sufficing fall of rain, -not less than two inches by the rain-gauge. It is hard to -cause these salsiferous wastes 'to blossom like the rose'; -but a result closely analogous invariably follows rainfall. Along -the watercourses, the alluvial flats and horseshoe 'bends' are -ankle high with wild trefoil and quick-springing grasses. The -cotton-bush and salt-bush, perennial fodder plants often most -'wild and withered' of attire even when fairly nutritious to the -flocks, put forth shoots and spikelets of a tender appearance. -All Nature, strange as her vestments may be, under a southern -<span class='pageno' id='Page_452'>452</span>sky, is full of the beauty and tenderness of the earth's jubilee, -joyous Spring.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But surely we are impinging on the domain of the giant -Blunderbore, falsely alleged to have been slain by the irreverent -Jack, prototype of the modern 'larrikin' in his turbulent -denial of authority. Yea, and yonder plain is his poultry-yard. -Hither come his cochins and dark brahmas to be fed on corn -as large as bullets, with tenpenny nails by way of tonic. They -walk softly along, lowering their lofty heads to the earth, -running too, occasionally, like dame Partlet, after a grasshopper, -and diversifying their attitudes like Chanticleer. -We count them, twenty-six in all, gigantic fowls able to pick -the hat from your head. They are emus! See the quarry, -and neither hound nor hunter! When, lo! from out the -further belt of timber rides forth a band of horsemen. They -are shearers, bound on a holiday excursion. The preceding -day has been wet, and the supply of sheep consequently short. -All are well mounted, and look picturesque as they burst into -a sudden gallop, and every horse does its best to overtake -the (figuratively) flying troop, now setting to for real work. -The pace is too good for the majority; but one light weight, -mounted on a long-striding chestnut, that probably has ere -now carried off provincial prizes, is closing on the apteryx -contingent. Another quarter of a mile—yes—no—by George!—yes. -He has collared the leader; he crosses and recrosses -the troop. Had he but a stockwhip or lasso he could wind -either round one of the long necks so invitingly stretched. -But he has proved the superior speed of his horse. Such a -trial was said in old days to have sent to the training-stable -one of Sydney's still quoted race-horses. There is no need to -kill aimlessly one of the inoffensive creatures; and he pays -an unconscious tribute to the modern doctrine of mercy by -drawing off and rejoining his comrades.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Further still our roving commission has carried us; we -have halted at the homestead of a great pastoral estate. A -cattle-station in the days when small outlay in huts and -yards was fitting and fashionable, now it has been 'turned -into sheep,' as the phrase goes. A proprietor of advanced -views has purchased the place, less for the stock than for the -broad acres, and the improvement Genie has worked his will -upon the erstwhile somnolent wilderness.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_453'>453</span>The change has been sweeping and comprehensive. The -vast area of nearly half a million of acres has been enclosed -and subdivided by the all-pervading wire-fencing. A couple -of hundred thousand merinos, with a trifle of forty thousand -half-grown lambs, now graze at large, without a shepherd -nearer than Queensland. A handsome, well-finished house -stands by the artificial sheet of water, formed by the big dam -which spans the once meagre 'cowall' or anabranch of the -main stream.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A windmill-pump irrigates the well-kept garden, where -oranges are in blossom and ripening their golden globes at the -same time. Green peas and cauliflowers, maturing early, -appeal to a lower æstheticism. The stables, the smithy, the -store, the men's huts, the carpenter's shop, form a village of -themselves; not a small one either.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A quarter of a mile northward, backed up by a dense -clump of pines, stands the woolshed, an immense building -with apparently acres of roofing and miles of battened floors, -£5000 to £6000 representing the cost. It is now in full -blast. We walk over with the centurion to whom that particularly -delicate commission, the captaincy of 'the shed,' -has been entrusted. It is by no means an ordinary sight. -We ascend a few steps at the 'top' of the shed, and look -down the centre aisle, where sixty men are working best -pace, as men will only do when the pay is high, and -each man receives all he can earn by superior skill or -strength.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They are chiefly young men, though some are verging on -middle age, and an old man here and there is to be seen. -Scarcely any but born Australians are on the 'board,' as the -section devoted to the actual shearing operation is termed. -Though an occasional Briton or foreigner enters the lists, the -son of the soil has long since demonstrated his superior -adaptation to this task, wherein skill and strength are so -curiously blended.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Watch that tall shearer half-way down the line. A native-born -Australian, probably of the second or third generation, he -stands six feet and half an inch, good measurement, in his -stockings. His brawny fore-arm is bare to the elbow. Broad-shouldered, -deep-chested, light-flanked, he would have -delighted the eye of Guy Livingstone. You cannot find any -<span class='pageno' id='Page_454'>454</span>man out of Australia who can shear a hundred and fifty full-grown -sheep in a day—as he can—closely, evenly, with -wonderful seeming ease and rapidity. Like his horsemanship—a -marvel in its way—it has been practised from boyhood, -and, as with arts learned early in life, a perfection almost -instinctive has resulted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The shearers proper are all white men. The pickers-up -and sorters of the fleece are a trifle mixed, the former being -chiefly aboriginal blacks, some of the latter Chinamen. In -the pressing demand for labour which obtains when a thousand -sheds are at work, or preparing to shear, in the early spring -months, over the length and breadth of the land, the inferior -races find their opportunity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A pound a week, lodging, and a liberal diet-scale, render -the shearing season a kind of carnival for the proletariat, from -the first fierce gleam of the desert sun in July, till the mountain -snow-plains are cleared in January and February.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There are eight men at the wool-table—a broad, battened -platform—on which the fleeces are spread, skirted, rolled up, -and self-tied by an ingenious infolding knack, thrown into the -wool-sorter's narrow pathway, and by him transferred to the -separate bins of first and second combing, clothing, super, etc. -The next stage carries them to the wool-presses, which somewhat -complicated machinery, aided by skilled and experienced -labourers, turns out daily fifty to sixty neatest, compactest -bales. Thence on trucks propelled to the dumping-press, -an hydraulic ram-driven monster, which reduces them to -less than half their former size, and hoops them with iron -bands.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Waggon teams are in attendance at the dumping-sheds, -and before sundown much of the wool that was on the -sheep's backs at sunrise will be loaded up, or on the road to -the railway terminus.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Even that bourne of the weary wayfarer by coach, and -the dusty, bearded teamster, is shifting its position nearer and -nearer annually to the great central wilderness. As I ride -homeward, the tents of navvy gangs appear suddenly through -the darkening twilight, in the midst of pine-wood and wilgah -brakes. The muffled thunder of blasts is borne ever and -anon through the rarely-vexed atmosphere, as the sandstone -hills are riven. But the central plain once reached, no work -<span class='pageno' id='Page_455'>455</span>but the shallow trench and the low embankment will be -required for hundreds of miles.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In a few years the great pastoral estates will have their own -railway platforms, within easy distance of the 'shed,' when -possibly a tramway thence to the dumping-room will be a -recognised and necessary 'improvement.' When that day -comes, shearers and washers will arrive by train from the coast-range, -or the 'Never Never' country; King Cobb will be -deposed or exiled; 'Sundowners' will be abolished; and -much of the romance and adventure of pastoral life will have -fled for ever.</p> - -<h3 class='c010'>NEW YEAR'S DAY 1886</h3> - -<p class='c011'>In the list of rambles, possible in the event of certain -undefined conditions coming to pass, one fairly-original project -has always commended itself to me. An overland tramp -from Sydney to Melbourne in the garb and character of a -swagman seemed to offer special inducements. Inexpensive -as to wearing apparel and including a position not difficult to -keep up, the idea suggested health, variety, and adventure. -From such a standpoint all grades of society might be -observed in new and striking lights.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Circumstances prevented me, during the present holiday -season, from carrying out this plan in its entirety. Nevertheless -I found myself, in company with the usual midsummer -contingent of strangers and pilgrims, in the metropolis of the -southern colony; like them in quest of the rare anodyne which -deadens care and allays regret. And what a blessed and -salutary change is this from the inner wastes, the sun-scorched -deserts, whence some of us have emerged but recently! I am -not going to cry down the Bush, the good land of spur and -saddle, of manly endeavour and steadfast endurance, which -has done so much for many of us; but after a long cruise it -is conceded that every sailor-man, from foremost Jack to the -Captain bold, needs a 'run ashore.' His health demands it; -his morale is, in the long run, not deteriorated thereby. For -analogous reasons those of us who dwell afar from the green -coast-fringe, having perhaps more than our share of sunshine, -require a sea change. Every bushman, gentle or simple, -should compass an annual holiday, which I recommend him to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_456'>456</span>pass, if possible, in the colony where he does <em>not</em> habitually -reside.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Home-keeping youth have ever homely wit' is an aphorism -which has been variously garbed. I endorse the dictum, -with limitations. For the removal of that insidious mental -fungus, provincial prejudice, there is no remedy like a moderate -dose of travel.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Chief among the luxuries in the nature of Christmas gifts -with which the wayfarer is presented on arrival in Melbourne -may be reckoned an almost total immunity from the heat -tyranny. The thermometer registers a scale usually associated -with personal discomfort, but oppressiveness is neutralised by -certain adjuncts of civilisation—lofty houses, cool halls, and -shady trees. The ever-sighing sea-breeze—fair Calypso of -the desert-worn Ulysses—invites to soft repose; while the -prevalence of ice, as applied to the manufacture of comforting -beverages, transforms thirst into a disguised blessing. The -glare of the noonday sun, so harmful to the precious gift of -sight, even to reason's throne, is here 'blocked,' to use the -prevailing idiom of the week, by a hundred cunning devices. -The marvels of capitalised industry, the results of science, the -miracles of art, are daily displayed. Old friends, new books, -freshly-coined ideas, strange sights, wonder-signs of all shades -and hues, press closely the flying hours. The tired reveller -sinks into dreamless rest each night, only to enter upon a -fresh course of enjoyment and adventure with the opening -morn.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I find myself following a multitude on one of the first days -after arrival, not 'to do evil,' it may be humbly asserted, but -to behold the Inter-Colonial Cricket Match. We step out -past the Treasury and enter a side alley of Eden. The broad, -asphalted walk leads through an avenue of over-arching elms—a -close, embowered shade over which our enemy, the sun, has -scant power. Anon we cross a winding streamlet, rippling -through a gloom of fern-trees and a miniature tropical forest. -There the thrush and blackbird flit unharmed, the moss velvet -carpets the dark mould, and but a slanting sun-ray flecks the -shadows from the close-ranked lofty exotics—'a place for -pleading swain and whispering lovers made.' But the order -of the day for all sorts and conditions of men and maids is -plainly Richmond Park. Only a few deserters are seen from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_457'>457</span>the ranks of the holiday-seeking army as we thread the leafy -defiles. Presently we emerge upon the unshaded road which, -through the Jolimont estate—erstwhile a Viceregal residence—conducts -us to the Melbourne cricket-ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here, truly, is a sight for unaccustomed eyes. The great -enclosure encircled by ornamental iron railings, larrikin proof, -as I am informed, its level, close-shaved green a turf triumph -and species of enlarged billiard-table as applied to cricket -purposes. It is girdled by a ring of well-grown oaks and elms, -through which the glossy-leaved Norfolk Island fig-trees, pushing -their more lavish and intense foliage, communicate a southern -tone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I stand invested with the privileges of the pavilion, an -imposing three-storeyed edifice, containing all necessary -conveniences for the comfort of the athletes of the contest, -as well as of their friends and well-wishers, who are in the -proud position of members. The arrangements are liberal and -comprehensive. Refreshment bars and luncheon tables, lavatories, -dressing-rooms, billiards, and other palliatives are here -provided, while on the western side are asphalted grounds, -defended by wire netting, where the votaries of the racquet -and tennis-ball display their skill. From the graduated tiers -of seats in the lower or upper rooms, as well as from the roof -itself, a perfect view of the game may be obtained; while on -either side of the lawn, under cover or otherwise, full provision -is made for the comfort of the gentler sex, always liberal in -patronage of these popular contests. Around the remaining -portions of the enclosure, and protected from the <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">profanum -vulgus</span></i> by a high iron fence, accommodation is provided for -the rank and file of the spectators, who, at a small cost, are -admitted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The hour is come and the man. Twelve o'clock has struck. -New South Wales has won the toss. From the pavilion gate -the manly form of Murdoch is seen to issue, cricket-armoured, -with trusty bat in hand. He enters the arena amid general -plaudits, followed by Alec Bannerman. Then forth file the -eleven champions of Victoria, who spread themselves variously -over the field. Palmer gives the ball a preliminary spin; -Blackham stretches his limbs and stands ready and remorseless—a -cricketer's fate—behind the wicket. The first ball is -catapulted—swift speeding, with dangerous break. Murdoch -<span class='pageno' id='Page_458'>458</span>'pokes it to the off' or 'puts it to leg,' and the great -encounter has commenced.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Wonderful and chiefly comprehensible must it be to the -uninitiated or the foreigner to mark the rapt attention with -which the performance is viewed by the thousands of all -classes and ages who are now gathered around. Ten thousand -people watch every flight of ball or stroke of bat with eager -interest, with prompt, instructed criticism. Wonderful order, -indeed a curious silence, for the most part, prevails. It is -too serious a matter for light converse. The interchange of -opinion is conveyed with bated breath; a narrow escape, to -be sure, is noted with a sigh of relief; a hit with cheers and -clapping of hands. When the fatal ball scatters the stumps, -or drops into the hands of the watchful adversary, one -unanimous burst of applause breaks from the vast assemblage. -His Lordship the Bishop of Melbourne, who sits in one of -the front seats watching the scene with an air compounded of -interest and toleration, doubtless wishes that he could secure -a congregation on great occasions so large, so deeply observant, -so closely critical, so sincerely aroused. Doubtless his -Lordship, conceding, with the kindly wisdom that distinguishes -him, that the people must have their recreations, would admit -that from no other spectacle could so many persons of all -ranks and ages, and both sexes, derive so large an amount of -innocent gratification.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The 'cricket is so good' that several days elapse before the -perhaps somewhat too-protracted match is over. Heavy scoring -on both sides in the first innings. An exciting finish on the -fifth day wrests the chaplet temporarily from New South Wales. -Victoria wins with three wickets to go down. But those -who are willow-wise aver that if—ah me! those ifs—Spofforth -and Massie had been there, the latter with the advantage of -the matchless wicket, another tale might have been told—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>From Fate's dark book a leaf been torn,</div> - <div class='line'>And Flodden had been Bannockbourne.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>The bells have chimed on that fateful midnight when died -the old year; the radiant stranger is a crowned king. In the -forenoon we turn our steps westwards, and enter another of the -parks with which this city has been generously endowed. A -<span class='pageno' id='Page_459'>459</span>holiday-loving race, certes, are we Australians. Had Victoria -been a Roman province, her populace would have been regally -furnished with <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">panem et circenses</span></i>, or known the reason why. -With the eight hours' system, high wages, and frequent holidays, -the working-man of the period, compared with his European -brother, is an aristocrat. But here we are once more on the -Flemington race-course, and of it, as of the Melbourne cricket-ground, -we feel inclined to assert (<em>pace</em> Trollope) that it must -be, in its way, the best in the world.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Much thoughtful care has been bestowed upon the grounds, -the buildings, the adjuncts; much money spent since the old -days, when it differed little from an ordinary cattle-paddock. -And the results are bewildering. Whence this lovely lawn -'with verdure clad,' where, amid flowers and fountains, crowds -of well-dressed people stroll and linger, protected as in their -own gardens from inconvenient sound or sight? this broad, -smooth terrace-promenade below the Stand? this immense -edifice, where in sheltered comfort every stride of the race can -be seen? these perfect arrangements for the protagonists—brute -and human—in the Olympian games we have come to -witness? Is this the place where often amid heat and dust, -not infrequently under soaking showers, the same sports have -been witnessed by the much-enduring crowd? or has the -Eastern enchanter of our boyhood carried off the ancient -race-course bodily, and replaced it with this garden of Armida?</p> - -<p class='c000'>If the surroundings are complete, and the concomitants -exhilarating, the weather is delicious. All things have combined -to make this first-born of the opening year a day of days. -The unobtrusive sun is merely warm; the bright, blue sky -softly toned by fleeting clouds; the sea-breeze whispers of the -wave's cool marge and ocean caves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'On such a day it were a joy to die,' and as in the first -race—the 'Hurdle'—one beholds Sparke's rider pulling -desperately at the chain-bit in his horse's mouth, as he fights -madly for the lead, it appears but too probable that he is -destined for the sacrifice. The violent chestnut, however, -contrary to an established theory, does not run himself out, -or smash his jockey. He retains the lead gallantly, and, with -the exception of a perilous bang over the last hurdle, touches -nothing. He wins the race from end to end, confounding -the backers of Lady Hampden and Vanguard, the latter horse -<span class='pageno' id='Page_460'>460</span>having carried a hurdle on his hocks for some distance, and -so lost his very good show in the race.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Archie wins the Bagot Plate, confirming his friends in -their previous good opinion. Those, however, who backed -him for 'the Standish' on the strength of it, are doomed to -furnish another example of the 'you never can tell' theory, -as he is therein beaten by Mr. Charles Lloyd's Chuckster. -The remaining races are well contested, and many a good -horse extends himself ere the Criterion Stakes, the last race -on the programme, are won; but, curious to relate, one feels -more interested in the people nowadays than in the horses. -The pleasant walks and talks, which are possible in this equine -paradise, detract from the keen interest with which formerly -the possible winners were regarded. Even the luncheon at a -friend's table (one of a series provided by the Management), -with its accompaniments of smiles, champagne, and lightsome -converse, takes its place as a principal event. Afternoon tea, -not less pleasant in its way, succeeds; after which function the -mass of handsomely-appointed equipages in the carriage enclosure -begins to disintegrate, driving up singly to the side entrance. -Whether the beer, presumably imbibed by the coachman, has -got into the horses' heads, I am unable to state; but the latter -prefer the use of their hind-legs temporarily. This effervescence, -however, soon subsides. The four-in-hands depart. Carriage -after carriage rolls away; their daintily-attired occupants are -whirled off safely. <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Nous autres</span></i> take the Flemington road, -or fight for a railway seat; and a day of pleasure, marked with -a white stone for some of us, comes cheerily to an end.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_461'>461</span> - <h2 class='c006'>A DRY TIME</h2> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c003'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>As I ride, as I ride,</div> - <div class='line'>With a full heart for my guide.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c016'><span class='sc'>Browning.</span></div> - -<p class='c000'>The moon has waxed and waned, yet one may not, in 1883, -recall with the poet</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>The lonesome October</div> - <div class='line'>Of a most immemorial year,</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>inasmuch as that month in these Southern wilds is for the -most part a gleesome, companionable time, rich in flower-birth -and fruit-promise. None the less, if the windows of heaven -be not the sooner opened, the present year of our Lord will -be aught but immemorial in the chronicles of the land.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Surely the blessed dews of heaven, the rain for which in -these arid wastes all Nature cries aloud, will not long be denied. -How clearly can we realise the force of the strong Saxon of -the Vulgate, 'And the famine was sore in the land.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here now exists the same hopeless, long-protracted absence -of all moisture which drove the Patriarch to 'travel' with his -flocks and herds, viz. camels and she-asses, his sons and their -families, from dried-out Canaan to the rich 'frontage' of the -Nile. Here, as then, in that far historic dawn, is dust where -grass grew and water ran. Strange birds crowd the scanty -pools, while among the great hordes of live stock, reared in -plenteous seasons, the strong are lean and sad-eyed, the weak -are perishing daily with increasing rapidity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The hand of man, which has done so much to reclaim -these wondrous wastes, is powerless against Nature's cruel fiat. -None can do more than wait and pray; for the end must come, -when the days shorten and the nights grow cold, even in this -<span class='pageno' id='Page_462'>462</span>summer land; and utter, unredeemed ruin is the goal towards -which many of the proprietors have perforce turned their eyes -these many weary months past.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fair but fleeting promise of the bygone month has -been unredeemed. Only a few days of the threatening sun -have sufficed to wither the tender herbage, the springing plantlets -which essayed to cover the baked soil. The broad road -seems that veritable way to Avernus, so bare, sun-scorched, -adust is it, for hundreds of leagues. Far away one may note -its swaying deflections, and hold a parallel course, guided -solely by the well-nigh continuous dust-line of the waggon-trains.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yet, maugre the terrors of the time, certain feathered inhabitants -have their provision secured to them. How else -trip and flit from myall twig to pine bough, bright-eyed and -fearless, this pair of delicious tiny doves? The most exquisitely -formed and delicately lovely of all the Columba family, -they are, perhaps, the smallest—not larger than the brown -bush-quail. Not half the size of the crested pigeon, there is -a family resemblance in the fairy pink legs, the pointed tail, -the bronze bars of the wing-feathers, the tones of the soft, -azure breast. By no means a shy bird, as if conscious that -few fowlers could be cruel to the hurt of so delicate a thing of -beauty, so rare a feathered gem, in these stern solitudes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not that all the tribes of the air can be described as beautiful -and harmless. Riding slowly through a belt of timber, -musing, it may be, on the undeserved sorrows of the lower -animals, I am suddenly and violently assaulted—'bonneted,' -as the humorous youth of the period has it. I clutch my -hat just in time to save it from being knocked off. There -are two round holes near the brim, which I had not previously -observed, and a cock magpie is flying back to his station on a -tree hard by, much satisfied in his mind. It is a well-known -habit of this bold, aggressive bird in the breeding season. -He keeps watch, apparently, the livelong day, hard by the -nest, and, pledged to drive away intruders, is no respecter of -persons. Long years since, the present writer was similarly -attacked; when essaying to lift his hat some hours afterwards, -and finding resistance, he discovered that the bird's beak had -penetrated the felt and inflicted a smart cut. Blood had -actually been shed, and, having dried, caused adhesion. The -<span class='pageno' id='Page_463'>463</span>'piping crow,' as ornithologically the magpie of the colonies is -designated, is not truly a magpie at all. He is carnivorous -and insectivorous. Withal a handsome bird, with glossy raven -breast and back, and most melodious, flute-like carol, at -earliest morn and eve. He is easily tamed, and in captivity -learns to talk, to whistle, and even to swear with clearness -and accuracy—more particularly the last accomplishment. -As a member of the household, he exhibits great powers of -adaptation, has the strongest conviction as to his rank and -position, despises children, whose undefended legs he pecks, -and will engage in desperate combat with dog or cat, turkey -or gamecock. An Australian naturalist of eminence gives his -testimony to the courage with which a tame bird of the species -relieved the tedium of a homeward-bound voyage by its -constant duels with such gamecocks as the coops produced.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Feeding in the open plain, and in a leisurely way inspecting -the sparse vegetation with an eye to grasshoppers, strolls a -bustard with his mate. This noble game-bird, the wild turkey -of the colonists, is fully equal, perhaps superior, in flavour to -his tame congener. Longer in neck and limb, crane-like of -head, the plumage presents several points of resemblance -which justifies his title to the name. He has also the trick of -strutting with drooped wings and outspread tail before the -female. Shy and difficult of approach by the sportsman on -foot, he is easily circumvented by riding or driving around in -circles, gradually narrowing, when an easy shot is gained.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A reminiscence arises here of the regal sport of hawking -enjoyed in connection with a bird of this species. Hard hit -with double B, he found it difficult to rise above the tall grass -of the marshy plain where he had been stalked, though -gradually gaining strength. As he cleared the reed-tops, a -wedge-tailed eagle (the eagle-hawk of the colonists) swooped -down from airy heights and dashed at the huge bird like a -merlin at a thrush. Very nearly did the 'lammergeier' make -prize of him, but the long sweep of the bustard's wing kept -him ahead. Presently he got 'way on,' assisted by a slight -breeze. Down the wind went hawk and quarry, neck and -neck, so to speak, while the sportsman put his horse to speed, -going straight across country, with head up and eyes fixed on -the pair, as they gradually rose higher in the sky. Ever and -anon the eagle would make a dash at the wounded bird, but -<span class='pageno' id='Page_464'>464</span>whether the temporary shock had only staggered him, or that -it was nature's last effort, the edible one soared away far and -fast, eventually disappearing from our gaze.</p> - -<p class='c000'>While on the subject of hawking, there is little doubt -that the 'aguila' referred to might be trained to fly at the -larger game—turkeys, geese, kangaroo, and emu—while the -smaller falcons, which are sufficiently plentiful, might be equally -effective in pursuit of the traditional heron. The beautiful -blue crane of the colonists (<em>Ardea Australis</em>) is found in every -streamlet and marsh, as also the spoonbill, the white crane -(snowy of hue, and with curious fringing wing-feathers), not -forgetting the bittern.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Young Australia, gentle or simple, might find worse employment -than riding forth in the fresh morn of the early summer, -with hawk on wrist, inhaling even this faintest flavour of the -romance of the great days of chivalry.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the broad, still reaches of the river, or the wide sheets -of water artificially conserved, behold we the pelican, in no -wise differing in appearance from the traditional dweller in -the wilderness. Whether the Australian is unselfishly prodigal -in the matter of heart's blood in favour of her young is -difficult of proof, forasmuch as no living man, apparently, -ever sets eyes on a youthful pelican. In the untrodden deserts -which surround the heart of the continent is popularly deemed -to lie the haunt of the brooding bird; and an Australian -poetess has mourned the fate of the gallant brothers—bold -and practised explorers—last seen on their way to the unknown, -half-mystic region, 'where the pelican builds her nest.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>As the hot breath of the fast-coming summer proves yet -more deadly to every green thing, the pelican flocks sail coastward -in great numbers from their failing streams and marshes. -With them comes the beautiful black swan—'rara avis in -terra,' but here an everyday sight—graceful, with scarlet -beak, wreathed neck, and 'pure cold webs'; the wild, musical -note clanging from the soaring, swaying files cleaving the -empyrean. Rarely-seen waders and swimmers are of the -contingent if the 'weather holds dry'—a wayworn, far-travelled -host, priceless to the naturalist could he but observe -them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Let but the stern drought continue unbroken, all-heedless -of man and his great army of dependants, through the brief -<span class='pageno' id='Page_465'>465</span>spring, the long summer—till the days shorten and (even -here) the nights grow cold—unprecedented losses must occur -in certain localities. Still, hope is not dead. The dry zone -is restricted in area. Outside and around it, what the shepherds -term 'fine storms' have refreshed the pastures. Even -yet there is corn in Egypt.<a id='r4' /><a href='#f4' class='c012'><sup>[4]</sup></a> There is grass and to spare -beyond the Queensland border. Thither will many a sorely-oppressed -proprietor send a section of flock or herd, availing -himself of the time-honoured institution of 'travelling for -feed.' Such, neither more nor less, was the last resort of -those grand historic sheiks of the desert, even Abraham and -Lot, when 'the land was not able to bear them'; and to -such an alternative must the latter-day, salt-bush sheik turn -in his need, or see his live stock perish before his eyes, in -thousands and ten thousands.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f4'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r4'>4</a>. </span>There is no corn in Egypt now (as far as Queensland is referred -to) it must be admitted with deep regret. The famine in the land has -reached the biblical record of 'seven years of drouth.'</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>He will improvise a nomadic establishment with dray and -tent, shepherds and cooks, stock-riders and bullock-drivers, -horses and cattle, everything save camels, needed in a patriarchal -migration. Even these last ungainly thirst-defiers are -now bred in Australia. Hard by the tropic he will pass into -a land of grass prairies and flooded streams—the promised -land of the desert-worn hosts. He will here find himself—'most -ingenious paradox'—in a region where live stock are -high-priced, but where 'country' is cheap. He will rent, -perhaps purchase another run. The drought which drove -him forth may so and in such manner make his fortune yet. -Let us hope so, in all sympathy and good fellowship. There -he will reach his haven of rest. He may sell out again, or -decide to cast in his fortunes with the newer colony, but in -any case he will remain there until, as far as King Sol is concerned, -'this tyranny be over-past.'</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_466'>466</span> - <h2 class='c006'>AUSTRALIAN COLLIES</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>In the stage of the early history of New South Wales, when -her increasing herds bid fair to overspread the waste, the dog, -his ancient and faithful servant, came to the aid of man. The -Scotch collie, friend of the lonely hill-shepherd in North -Britain from time immemorial, was unanimously elected to -fill the responsible position—not, however, as being the only -available canine connected with stock management, for the -Smithfield drover's dog had also emigrated, that wonderful -stump-tailed animal, which managed to keep his master's -cattle separate at the great London mart, though thousands -of beeves be around, unfenced and unyarded. Matchless in -his own department, he was gradually superseded by the -collie, which came to the front as a better all-round dog, more -intelligent, faithful, and companionable; when trained, equally -suitable for the 'working' of sheep or cattle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The breed, at first pure as imported, became crossed with -other varieties of the multiform genus <em>Canis</em>, and so suffered -partial deterioration. Still, such was the original potency of -the collie proper, that many of the mongrels, even the product -of the ovicidal 'dingo,' were excellent workers, in some -instances even superior to their pure-bred comrades. The -climate, too, appeared to be favourable to the breed. The -Australian offspring of the imported collies were handsome, -vigorous animals, with correct 'flag and feather,' yet reproducing -the traits of fidelity and human attachment concerning which -so many a tale was told, poem written, and picture painted in -the old land. The 'harder' or fiercer animals were chosen -for cattle work, and being bred for the qualities of 'heeling,' -and even doing a mild imitation of bull-baiting on occasions, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_467'>467</span>became almost a distinct breed. In the old-fashioned cattle -districts, like Monaro and the Abercrombie River, where in -early days a sheep was never seen, the cattle dogs—true -collies in appearance and extraction—were very different in -their manners and customs from their sheep-guiding relatives -of the settled districts, whose 'bark was (so much) worse than -their bite.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was quite the other way with the cattle dogs. They -were encouraged to 'heel' or bite the fetlocks of the stubborn, -half-wild cattle, in a way which bustled them along as crack -or cut of stockwhip could never effect. In the case of a -breaking beast they would hang on to his tail, and perhaps, -when bringing back a wild yearling to the yard, assault tail, -heels, nose, and ears impartially, with dire results. They ran -their chance of being kicked or horned at this rough-and-tumble -game, but from practice became exceeding wary of -these and other dangers. A cattle dog has been seen to -'work' (or help drive) a drove of horses, heeling when desired -to do so most impartially, and yet managing to keep clear of -the dangerous kicks which the half-wild colts aimed at him. -Every man of experience with stock will bear testimony to -the admirable service which a good cattle dog will perform. -Wearied and low-conditioned droves they will 'move' in a -way which no amount of whip and shouting will effect. On -the other hand, where caution and diplomacy are required, -their sagacity is astonishing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I once had occasion, 'in the forties,' to drive a small lot of fat -cattle some days' journey to a coast town in Western Victoria. -They had come to me in a deal, and I wished to turn them -into cash. It was a good way from home. The vendors -simply 'cut them out' from the camp, accompanied me to the -Run boundary, and gave me their blessing. I had no mate -but an ancient cattle dog. It may be surmised by the experienced -how many times the home-bred cattle tried to break -back. Again and again I thought they would have beaten -me. I kept one side, the dog Peter the other, necessarily. -Had either rashly caused a separation the game was up. It -was beautiful to see the old dog's generalship. If a beast -diverged on his side, he would walk solemnly out, keep wide -and dodge him in with the smallest expenditure of voice or -emotion. By this time some of the others would be looking -<span class='pageno' id='Page_468'>468</span>back, preparatory to a dash homeward. These he would -hustle up promptly, just sufficiently and no more. That I -was watchful on my side needs no telling; an occasional tap or -whipcrack kept them going. Even fat cattle know when the -stockwhip is absent. We—I say it advisedly—yarded them -safely that night, when a well-managed hostelry consoled me -for the frightful anxiety I had undergone. Next day they -travelled more resignedly, and the third night saw them -delivered to 'the man of flesh and blood' in Portland, and, -what was better still, paid for.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the Port Fairy district, then chiefly devoted to cattle, -were many famous cattle collies. Old Mr. Teviot at Dunmore -had three I remember, their peculiarity being that they -understood nothing but Lowland Scotch, in which dialect -they had, though Australian by birth, been trained. 'Far -yaud' (as Dandie Dinmont says), and other mysterious commands, -wholly unintelligible to us youngsters, they understood -and obeyed promptly. But it was amusing to watch the air -of surprise or indifference with which they regarded the -stock-riders, who sometimes in time of need suggested 'Fetch -'em along, boy!' or 'Go on outside.' Like most people to -whom dogs are wildly attached, Mr. Teviot was austere of -manner towards them, feeding regularly, but permitting no -familiarity. How they loved him in consequence! If -returning from a trip to the township after dark, they would -listen for the footfall of his horse, and long before human -ear caught the far, faint sound, would rise up solemnly and -walk half a mile or more along the road to greet him. These -dogs were popularly credited with being able to do anything -but talk, and were renowned throughout the country-side for -their obedience and thorough comprehension of their owner's -wishes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I once owned a cattle collie of great intelligence, by name -Clara, the daughter of a one-eyed female of the species, celebrated -for her 'heeling' propensities. The mother was uncertain -as to temper, and was often soundly chastised by her owner -for erratic work or short-comings. After a good flogging she -jumped up and fawned upon him with the fondest affection, -thus verifying the ancient adage. But Clara was a gentle -and kindly creature though a good driver, and in all respects -strangely intelligent, a handsome black and tan as to colour. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_469'>469</span>In yard work she showed out to the greatest advantage. -Always keenly observant at such times, and curiously eager -to assist—leaving a very young family on one occasion. One -day in particular a panel of the stock-yard was broken; there -was no time for repairs. But Clara was on guard, and there -she stayed, never letting a beast through till the drafting was -over.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Poor Clara! she met with an early death. Coming back -from a muster, she was forgotten in the hurry and bustle. -The weather was hot; the distance greater than usual. It -was supposed that she died of thirst, or was killed by the -dingoes, for she was never seen alive afterwards.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Peter, a Sydney-side dog, brought down by his owner -before 1840 or thereabouts, with some of the early herds, -was probably one of the cleverest animals in his way that ever -followed a beast. His owner was a Sydney native of the -'flash gully-raking sort,' from whom probably Peter had -received his education in indifferent company. We judged -this from the cautious and unobtrusive way in which he went -about his work. He was a medium-sized, dark-coloured dog, -wiry and active. He was not fond of working for any one -but his master, who could make him do all sorts of queer -things. When he came into the kitchen and the maidservants -chaffed him, he had only to whisper 'Heel 'em, -Peter!' and the next minute the girls would be screaming and -scampering, with Peter's teeth very close to their ankles. -When tired—and they often travelled far and fast—he would -come to the horse's fore-leg and beg to be taken up. Pulled -up to the pommel of the saddle, he would sit upright, quite -gravely, leaning against his master until he was sufficiently -rested; then, when dropped to earth, he would go to work -with amazing vigour. If any particular beast kicked him, he -would wait till there was a crush at a gate, and 'heel' that -very animal to a certainty at a time when it was impossible -to retaliate.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The collie, on the other hand, whom fate had destined -to a less romantic association with sheep, was trained and -exercised differently. He was expected to guide and intimidate -his timorous, delicate, though often frantic and obstinate -charge chiefly by the sound of his voice and a threatening -manner. Biting was forbidden under severe penalties. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_470'>470</span>'Working wide'—that is, continually running beyond, ahead, -outside of the flock, which was therefore turned, stopped, or -directed—was inculcated in every possible way. It is to be -noted that the fashion is chiefly inherited, the untrained puppy -of pure blood doing most of it as naturally as the pointer -puppy lifts his fore-leg. A slight nip now and then in driving -weary or obstinate sheep is permitted, but nothing approaching -injury to the easily-hurt flock. It is an interesting sight -to mark a trained collie walking back and forward in the rear -of a large flock, intimating to them as plainly as possible -without speech that they are to move along steadily in a -given path, and, though permitted to nibble as they go, by no -means to straggle unduly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then observe that shepherd with his flock of, say, two or -three thousand. If strong and in good order, the 'head' -will string out fully half a mile in advance of the 'body' and -'tail.' If left alone they will soon be out of sight at the -rear-guard. Then a division would follow, and once away, -after nightfall, wild dogs and dangers are on every side of -them. Nor could the shepherd on foot, as he is always, run -round ahead and turn them. By the time he reached the -head, the tail would be marching in a different direction. -When he turned them, the head would be gone again, -etc. etc.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But mark the dog! Despatched by a wave of the hand, -he races off at full speed. He flies round the scattered sheep, -keeping wide, however, and so consolidating them, until he -reaches the leaders, which, directly they see him, scurry back -to the centre of the flock. Returning, he walks dutifully -behind, with the air of one who has fulfilled his mission. In -half an hour perhaps the same performance is repeated. In -the middle of the day, if warm, the flock indulges in a 'camp' -by a water-hole or other suitable locality. As it feeds home to -the yard, very little of the morning activity is observed. Our -collie, while watchful and ready for a lightning dash at a -moment's notice, walks soberly behind, evidently contented -with the day's work.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As the New Zealand shepherd, a man in his best years of -strength and activity, is a different man from the elderly and -often feeble shepherd of Australia, so the collie of Maoriland, -having to climb rock-strewn defiles, and search amid glacier -<span class='pageno' id='Page_471'>471</span>plateaux and savage solitudes, for the scattered, half-wild -flocks, has an air of seriousness and responsibility. There is -but little frolic and gamesomeness about <em>him</em>. The dogs of -Ettrick and Yarrow, accustomed to snow and the blasts of -an iron winter, claim kinship with him. Compelled to act -on his own discretion, he tracks outliers, finds and collects -his flock in all weathers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Sirrah, ma mon, they're awa!' says James Hogg to his -wonderful collie, the 'dark-grey puppy' that he bought for -a pound, if I mistake not. The dog, in the drear darkness -of a snowstorm, goes forth, and hours afterwards is found -guarding the four hundred lost lambs, not one being missing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So when muster-day comes, the New Zealand collie makes -for the mountain peaks: on the lonely plain far above the -snow-line, where in severe seasons a hundred sheep may be -found dead and frozen, he beats and quarters his country, till -he finds and brings down to the appointed place all the -straggling lots that may have summered there.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Independently of the qualities necessary for the successful -mobilisation of sheep, the collie is, perhaps, of all the sub-varieties -of the canine race, the most faithful and sympathetic. -Time after time has one observed the tramping shepherd -or swagman and his dog. Poor and despised, 'remote, -unfriended, melancholy, slow,' the forlorn wayfarer had one -staunch friend—one faithful ally—that regarded not his -poverty, his lowly condition, his lack of self-denial. Who has -not marked the tramp asleep <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">sub Jove</span></i> at daylight, with -scant shelter or covering, his watchful dog sitting near, -prepared to show his teeth, or indeed do something more, at -the nearer approach of the stranger? The dog of the imprisoned -shepherd, immured by Sir Hugo de Pentonville for -inebriety, lies stretched disconsolately before the prison gate, -howling at intervals, apparently in deepest despair, betraying -on the other hand the most frantic joy at his release. The -railway favourite goes heavily, mourning as unmistakably as a -Christian—more sincerely than some—in abstracted gloom, -melancholy gait, and aimless daily search for his master, -untimely slain by the remorseless Juggernaut. A hundred -times has one caught the watchful eye of affection with which -the collie regards his ragged owner, as if fearing to lose the -least word or gesture.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_472'>472</span>And though the recipients of this unstinted devotion rarely -appear to appreciate the gift so lavishly bestowed, it must be -recorded, for the honour of human nature, that instances of -the contrary <em>do</em> occur. But the other day, a lonely pilgrim, -who had been ailing few weeks past, was found by the good -Samaritan, cold in death, with his arm <em>round his dog's neck</em>. -A shepherd will carry the young family of his (female) collie, -born during a journey, tied in a handkerchief, at much -expenditure of toil and trouble. In many an instance -blood feuds, savage conflicts ending in manslaughter—suicides -even—have occurred, connected with injustice, real or fancied, -to the 'dawg.' 'Love me, love my dog,' is an ancient adage -by no means without force in Australia. But recently a -farmer deliberately shot a neighbour whom he accused, -wrongfully or otherwise, of killing his dog. Prior to that -occurrence a shepherd, noticed to be despondent for days past, -telling one inquirer that some one had poisoned his dog, -<em>hanged himself</em>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Touching the price of a really good dog, it may range -from two pounds to twenty—an owner often declaring that -he would not part with his dog for the last-named sum. -Within the present month, indeed, two legal processes, to the -writer's knowledge, have been put in force in the collie -interest. In one case £10 was sued for as being the -value of a cattle dog, alleged to have been illegally poisoned. -The other was nothing less than a 'Search-warrant for -stolen goods and chattels,' commanding the Sergeant of -Police and all constables of Bundabah to make diligent -search, in the daytime, at the residence of the man -referred to, whose name is not known, but who can be -identified, for the said black collie slut, named in the information -as 'feloniously stolen, taken, and carried away as aforesaid, -and if you find the same, that you secure the said black collie -slut, and bring the person in whose custody you find the same -before me, or some other justice of the peace.—(Signed) <span class='sc'>John -Jones</span>, J.P.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the annual pastoral and agricultural shows, the trial of -sheep dogs has never-failing interest for the spectators. Most -curious is it to note the gravity with which each competing -collie essays to drive three wildish paddocked sheep into a -very small fold of hurdles.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_473'>473</span>The free exhibition of strychnine, rendered necessary by -the incursions of the dingo, and, 'sorrow it were and shame to -tell,' by the increase of foxes, has led to the death of many a -valued collie. But good animals are now carefully looked -after. Greater attention is paid to breeding. Dogs of the -best strains are annually imported. And as the ranks of -Australian collies are thus recruited with pure blood and -high-class animals, it is not too much to assert, that as a -stock dog, our Australian collie is not inferior to his British -ancestors, while he may claim even a wider range of accomplishments -and experience.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_474'>474</span> - <h2 class='c006'>IN THE BLOOM OF THE YEAR</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>The first week of December! And seeing that we are in the -realm of Australia, in the district of Riverina, where the -season has been wet, which is 'dry country' English for -triumphantly prosperous, also that vegetable growth is at its -acme, we regard our title as fully justified.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All plant-life is now profusely, riotously luxuriant. A -drenching winter, following a wet autumn, preceded a late, -showery spring; thus, and because of which, the pastures and -cornfields, the orchards and gardens, are rich with verdure and -promise to a degree unknown since the proverbial year of 1870.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Some few sultry days have we had, but the true Australian -summer has not, so far, appeared in its lurid, wasting splendour. -Hardly a ripening tinge is yet visible on the wide-waving -prairies, the bespangled meadows, the shaded forest lawns. -Wild flowers of every shape and hue—blue and scarlet, pink -and orange, white and yellow, perfumed or scentless—glorify -the landscape.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As we drive along, this balmy, breezy, sun-bright day, -through the champaign, which lies anear and around an -inland country town, let us (if haply it may tend to dispel -some small portion of the ignorance of our British friends as -to the 'bush of Australia') put on record the 'scenes and -sounds of a far clime' in this season of the year.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The wheat crops, standing strong and level for leagues -around, as high, generally, as the rail fence which protects -them, have not as yet been assailed; but the reaper and -binder has made many a foray into the hayfields. Here we -notice one of the results of machinery. In the majority of -instances the oats, though green of hue, are in sheaves and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_475'>475</span>stooks. The time-honoured spring romance of fragrant haycocks -is hastening to its doom, inasmuch as the greater -portion of the oat-crop saved is intended to be reduced into -chaff, as being more portable or saleable in that form. It is -obviously better economy, by using the reaper and string-binder, -to have it arranged mechanically in sheaves and hand-placed in -stooks. It is then more convenient for loading, stacking, and -the final operation of the chaff-cutter. Most of these sheaves -are six feet and over in height. Heavy-headed, too, withal. -We were informed that four tons of chaff to the acre is not -an uncommon yield this year. The lambs, which are running -with their mothers in the great enclosures, wire-fenced and -ring-barked as to timber, through which the high road passes, -are wonderfully well-grown and healthy-looking. The percentage, -averaging from eighty to ninety, is exceptionally high, -when it is considered that the expense of tendance is nominal. -From five to seven thousand ewes—even more sometimes—are -running in each paddock, unwatched and untended till -marking-time, thence to the shearing, which is also the weaning -period. This year the shepherd-kings have a right royal -time of it, though not more than sufficient to compensate -them for the losses and crosses of the last decade. Apropos -of this woolly people, here approaches an aged shepherd. -He is mounted, so that he has received his cheque. Solvent -and resolved, he is journeying to the town, on pleasure bent, -of a rational nature let us hope. The flies of mid-day are -troublesome, but he has a net-veil round his weather-beaten -face; so has the steady veteran steed. The collie, following -dutifully, is unprotected from flies, but accoutred with a wire -muzzle—not, as the young lady from the city supposed, to -prevent his biting the sheep, but lest he should swallow the -innocent-seeming morsel of meat by the wayside, intended -for vagrom canines, and containing the deadly crystals of -strychnine. Certes, with plenteousness the land runs o'er, -this gracious year of our Lord 1887. The cattle lounging -about the roads—the roads, like the fields, knee-deep in -thick green grass—with their shining coats and plump bodies, -testify to the bounty of the season. The birds call and -twitter. The skylark, faint reflex as he is of his English -compeer, yet mounts skyward and sings his shorter lay rejoicingly. -The wild-duck, gladsome and unharmed, swims in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_476'>476</span>the meres which here and there divide the river meadows. -The fat beeves in the paddock ruminate contemplatively, or -recline around some patriarchal tree. All nature is joyous; -the animated portion 'rich in spirits and health,' the vegetable -contingent spreading forth and burgeoning in unchecked -development. As we pass Bungāwannāh, one of the large -estates, formerly squattages, which alternate with the farms -and smaller pastoral holdings, a fallow doe with her fawn -starts up from the long grass, gazing at us with startled but -mildly-timid eye. They are outliers from a herd of nearly a -hundred, which have increased from a few head placed there -by a former proprietor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In this our Centennial year it must be conceded that -Australia is a land of varied products. We pass orchards -where the apples are reddening fast, where apricots are turning -pink, and the green fig slowly filling its luscious sphere. -We note the vivid green of the many-acred vineyards, now in -long rows, giving an air of formal regularity to the cultivated -portion of the foreground. Then we descry the dark green -and gold of an orangery, hard by the river-bank—in this year -a most profitable possession to the proprietor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Amid this abundance we miss one figure sufficiently -familiar to the traveller in other lands, or the European -resident, viz. 'the poor man.' He may be somewhere about, -but we do not encounter him. He does not solicit alms, -at any rate. His nearest counterpart is the swagman or -pedestrian labourer. He is differentiated from the shearer and -the 'rouseabout' (the shearing-shed casual labourer), who -travel, the former invariably, the latter occasionally, on horseback. -But the humble dependant upon the aristocratic -squatter or prosperous farmer is a well-fed, fairly well-dressed -personage, who affords himself an unlimited allowance of -tobacco. Say that he elects to journey afoot in an equestrian -country, he needs pity or charity from no man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When one thinks of England, with its three hundred souls -to the square mile, one cannot but be thankful, in spite of -the ignorant, insolent diatribes of the Ben Tillett agitator -class, for the condition of the labouring classes in this -favoured country. They are at a premium, and will be for -years to come, while tens of thousands of acres of arable land -are awaiting the hands which shall clear and plant them. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_477'>477</span>Meanwhile, a small annual rent is obtained for the State by -means of purely pastoral possession—a form of occupation -destined to be surely, if slowly, superseded by agriculture, -when demanded by the needs of a more developed epoch -and a denser population.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This particular district has for many years been settled -after a fashion which permits of moderate-sized holdings. -For a lengthened period, therefore, have the exotic trees and -shrubs, which even the humblest farms boast, grown and -flourished. The tall, columnar poplars, the wavy, tremulous -aspens, the umbrageous elms, are large of girth, stately of -height, and broad of shade. They are to be seen around the -farm-house, or near the mansion which peeps out amid wood -and meadow. Here a row of stately elms borders the roadside, -affording a grateful shade to the weary wayfarer. The -season has been exceptionally humid, as when</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Low thunders bring the mellow rain</div> - <div class='line'>Which makes thee broad and deep.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Yet the oak is not so common. Slow of growth, he does not -seem to assimilate himself to all soils, although in a few -localities he may be observed doing no discredit to his -British comrades. The lime, the Oriental plane, the ash, the -willow, and the sycamore proclaim the generous nature of the -soil and climate which they have reached, so far across the -foam. Besides these are the noble <em>Paulownia imperialis</em>, -majestic with gigantic leaves and purple-scented flowers; the -catalpa and even the magnolia, beauteous and fragrant—a -botanic miracle. The olive grows rapidly, forgetting oft in -eagerness to add branch to branch to mature the fruit, which -will one day furnish a valuable export.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All these with others in this last season are spreading -their green pennants to the summer breeze—grateful in -shade to the traveller wearied and adust; beautiful to -the eye of the lover of all plant-life; 'things of beauty -and of joy for ever,' even to those whose sense of -harmonious landscape-arrangement is rudimentary and undeveloped.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We halt for an instant on the verdant level, hard by the -little creek whose waters, this gracious year, run yet with -musical monotone, to watch the drivers of these high-piled -<span class='pageno' id='Page_478'>478</span>waggons, who are even now unloosing their teams. There -are five waggons, which, with wheels of the adamantine iron-bark -eucalyptus, are warranted to carry the heaviest loads -procurable; and heavy loads they are. Forty bales of wool -in each, or thereabouts. Sixty or seventy horses in the -five teams, all 'grade' Clydesdales or Suffolks, and averaging -in value from £25 to £35 each. The 200 bales of -wool are worth, say at £20 each, £4000; £1500 for the -team horses; £300 for the waggons. A not inconsiderable -total of values. Stay! In haste we have forgotten the sixty -sets of harness and the tarpaulins,—£5000 or £6000 in all. -A large property to be in the hands of five young fellows -hardly known to the proprietor of the freight. It is fortunate -that there are no robber barons at this time of day to demand -tribute, or land pirates and buccaneers, <em>except those who collect -the intercolonial protective duties</em>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The hare which runs across the road in front of us is an -introduced, imported animal, like the deer we saw a while -back. He is becoming numerous, but, unlike his cousin and -comrade, 'Brer Rabbit,' has not been disastrously destructive. -The settlers eat him at present. 'Brer Rabbit' in some -districts has commenced to reverse the process.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Among the manifold natural beauties of the season we -must by no means omit the hedgerows; in beauteous blossom -these, and though, perhaps, chiefly too wild and luxuriant, yet -affording pleasing contrast to the bare utilitarianism of rail and -wire fence, and the monotony of the barked, murdered woods. -Various are they, ranging from the dark green of the hawthorn, -lovely with sweet souvenir bloom of long-past English springs, -to the pink flower-masses of the quince, the crimson showers -of the rose-hedges, and the yellow hair of the <em>Acacia armata</em>; -while high, towering, thorny, impervious, with brightest -glittering greenery, grows the Osage orange—a transatlantic -importation, which in some respects is the most effective green -wall known, being a species of live barbed wire, with an -agreeable appearance of leafage, yet exuding a bitter juice, -which prevents its mutilation by live stock. All these, interspersed -occasionally with the sweetbriar, the scent and wild-rose -flower of which almost atone for its predatory habits, its -illegal occupation of Crown Lands. In one instance an -economical or patriotic farmer had permitted the fast-growing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_479'>479</span>eucalyptus saplings to interlace his 'drop' fence—an effective -and not wholly unpicturesque road border.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From time to time amid the larger enclosures we came -across a half-forlorn, half-picturesque patch 'where once a -garden smiled.' A roofless cottage, a score of elms and -poplars, with straggling rose-bushes abloom among the thistles, -mark the abandoned homestead. In the 'distressful country' -these would be the signs of an eviction. Here, when Michael -or Patrick unhouses himself, he does so with a comfortable -cheque in his pocket and the wherewithal to 'take up' a -larger holding, perhaps six hundred and forty acres, or even in -the central district, two thousand five hundred, by the payment -in cash to the Crown—of how much does the reader unlearned -in the New South Wales land laws believe? Two shillings -per acre! The remaining balance of eighteen shillings per -acre to be paid in twenty years, with interest at five per cent, -or <em>ninepence</em> per acre annually! The neighbouring landholder -has bought out honest Pat or Donald, or François or -Wilhelm, as the case may be—several nationalities being here -represented—giving him a handsome profit in cash for his labour -and outlay. The fences are then pulled down, the roof falls -in, the elms, the poplars, with a few peach-trees and roses, -alone remain to tell the tale of the deserted homestead. As -we pass one of these, a grand cloth-of-gold bush, six feet and -more in height, hanging over a fence, tempts us with its -fragrant clusters. We choose a lovely bud and an opening -flower, with its curiously-blended shades of gold and faintest -pink, and, much moralising, go our way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the good old days, when there was no salvation outside -of vast pastoral holdings, when small freeholds were considered -not only inexpedient but immoral, this was held to be a -waterless region, unfit for the habitation of man, away from -the river frontage. Now near every farm appears a dam or -other successful method of conserving water. The homesteads, -too, are well built, and substantial for the most part, standing -in neatly-kept gardens and fruitful orchards. Milch kine -graze in the fields or stroll about the grassy roadways, sleek-skinned, -well-bred, and profitable-looking.</p> - -<p class='c000'>No indications save those of comfortable living and easy-going -rural prosperity present themselves. Buggies or tax-carts -with active horses, driven mostly by farmers' wives or -<span class='pageno' id='Page_480'>480</span>daughters, trot briskly along the high-road to the town, going -to or returning from their marketing. Occasionally a girl on -horseback canters by, sometimes escorted, often without -cavalier or attendant. The road-maintenance man jogs by in -his covered cart, filling up ruts with metal here and there, or -clearing a drain where the storm-water runs too impetuously. -In all this savage land which I have described in detail, there -are no lions or tigers, no bushrangers, no Indians. In fact, -but for a few varieties of vegetation, one might fancy oneself -back again in rural England.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_481'>481</span> - <h2 class='c006'>FALLEN AMONG THIEVES</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>In the spring of 1867 I had occasion to travel from my -station, Bundidgaree, near Narandera, on the Murrumbidgee -River, to the historic town of Wagga Wagga, the residence of -Mr. Arthur Orton, whose claim to the Tichborne title and -estates was then agitating Britain and her Colonies. An -elderly nurse returning to her home was to accompany me in -an American buggy. The roads were good; the weather fine; -the horse high in condition, exceptional as to pace and -courage. Yet was the situation doubtful, even complicated. -The road was risky, the head-station lonely and unprotected. -A gang of bushrangers, under a leader popularly known as -'Blue-cap,' was at the time I mention within twenty or thirty -miles of Narandera. There was a strong probability that I -should encounter them, or that they would visit the station -during my absence. Either hap was disagreeable, not to say -dangerous. I left home with mingled feelings. But circumstances -were obdurate. I had to go. The outlaws, five in -number, were 'back-block natives,' all young men with the -exception of a middle-aged personage known as 'The Doctor.' -He was credited with having 'done time,' that is, served a -sentence of imprisonment, which apparently had not led to -reformation, as he was looked upon as the most dangerous -member of the band. Not as yet committed to acts of bloodshed, -they had exchanged shots with Mr. Waller of Kooba—a -station below Narandera—who had surprised them while -encamped upon his Run. He was a determined man and a -well-known sportsman. The story was that he nearly shot -'Blue-cap,' that gentleman having slipped behind a stock-yard -post, which received the breast-high bullet. The honours of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_482'>482</span>war remained with the squatter, however, whose party forced -the robbers to retreat across the river, leaving (like the Boers) -horses, saddles, and swags behind. It was not known when -I started whether they had gone up or down the river. -Meanwhile, the pair of police troopers who <em>protected</em> the -district of Narandera, a region about a hundred miles square, -were 'in pursuit.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The question of carrying arms had to be dealt with. I -thought at first of a double-barrelled gun and revolver. But -the idea of an effective defence against five well-mounted, well-armed -men, the while embarrassed with a frightened woman -and two spirited horses, did not seem feasible. I finally -decided to trust to the probability of not meeting the evil-doers -at all, and to go unarmed rather than to carry arms which I -could not use effectively. The journey to Wagga, about fifty-five -miles, was accomplished safely. Making an early start -next day, about three-fourths of the return trip was over when -I came opposite to Berrembed, the homestead of my -neighbour Mr. Lupton. I was walking the horses over a -curious formation of small mounds, provincially known as -'dead men's graves,' when I became aware of three horsemen -coming along the road towards me.</p> - -<p class='c000'>My first thought was, 'Here they are-bushrangers!' my -second, 'It cannot be the gang—these are too young; and I -don't see the "Doctor."' The foremost rider, enveloped in a -poncho, decided the question by throwing it back and -presenting a revolver, at the same time calling out in what he -meant to be a tone of intimidation, 'Bail up. Stop and get -out. If yer move to get a pistol I'll blow yer brains out.' By -the time he had come to the end of this unlawful demand, he -had ridden close up, and held the revolver, into the barrel of -which I could see, and also that it was on full cock, unpleasantly -close to my head. He was a bush-bred cub, hardly -of age, who had but little practice, evidently, in the highwayman -line, for his hand trembled and his face was pale under -the sun-bronzed skin.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus I felt (like Mickey Free's father) somewhat perturbed, -as, if I tried to bolt, he might shoot me on purpose, and if I -stayed where I was, he might shoot me by accident. Meanwhile, -I secured the reins to the lamp iron, and got down in a -leisurely manner. 'I have no arms,' I said, as I stood by the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_483'>483</span>off-side horse—the celebrated Steamer; 'there's no hurry. I -can't well run away.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Give up yer money,' he said gruffly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I haven't any.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That be hanged! A man like you don't travel without -money.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I generally have some, but I paid a bill at Martin's -(naming an inn a few miles nearer Wagga) and it cleaned me out.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Hand out them watches, then!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>He saw by the appearance of my waistcoat that I had -more than one. I had brought back a watch belonging to a -relative from Wagga, where it had been sent for repair. They -were both gold watches of some value.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As he sat on his horse, I being on foot, he kept his bridle-reins -and the levelled revolver in one hand, and reached down -to me for the spoil. As he did so, I looked him in the eye, -thinking that a strong, active man might have pulled him off -his horse, grabbed the revolver, and shot one if not both of his -comrades. I had no intention of trying the double event -myself, but I know a man or two who would have chanced it -with such a youthful depredator.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What I said was, 'You don't often get two gold watches -from one man.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No. I know we don't. Turn out that portmanteau.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'There's only a suit of clothes and my hair brushes. You -don't want them.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>At this stage of the intercourse, old Steamer, an impatient -though singularly good-tempered animal, moved on, as of one -proclaiming, 'This foolery has lasted long enough.' I -walked to his head and soothed him, upon which one of the -subordinates said civilly, 'I'll hold your horse, Mr. Boldrewood.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>I looked at him with surprise, and saw for the first time -that he was Mr. Lupton's stock-rider, and the other 'road -agent' the son of that gentleman. The mystery was explained. -They were <em>pressed men</em>. We were within sight of the home -station. The rest of the gang were helping themselves to the -proprietor's best horses in the stock-yard when they saw me -coming along the road. So they had detailed this youth for -my capture, and ordered the two others to go with him to -'make a show' in case of the traveller resisting.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_484'>484</span>However, the interview was nearly at an end. The first -robber dismissed me with a brief 'You may go now.' I drove -off slowly, not desiring to show haste, in case the capricious -devil which abides in this particular breed might prompt him -to call me back. He did so indeed, but it was only to say, -'Show us yer pipe. You might have a good 'un.' I exhibited -an old briar-root, at which he waved his hand disdainfully, -and going off at a gallop, made for the homestead with his -attendants on either side, like the wicked Landgrave in -Burger's ballad.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I drove in leisurely fashion until they were out of sight, -when I let my horses out at their usual 'travelling' pace of -twelve miles an hour, or a trifle over, and was not long before -I 'reached my cattle-gate.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>While the 'momentous question' was in the stage of discussion -I had been anxious and troubled—so to speak, afraid. -Not for my personal safety. I did not think any bushranger -in the district would slay me in cold blood. We were popular -in our neighbourhood, for though I was the Chairman of -the Narandera Bench when the Police Magistrate of Wagga, -Mr. Baylis, was absent, and as such officially a terror to evil-doers, -my wife had endeared herself to our humbler neighbours -by acts of charity and womanly sympathy in cases of sickness -or other sore need. But what I <em>was</em> afraid of, tremulously -indeed, was lest the outlaws should 'commandeer' one or -both of my horses. Eumeralla, a fine upstanding grey, bred -at Squattlesea Mere, good in saddle and harness, and carried -a lady, was most valuable, while Steamer, who died after -twenty years of priceless service, was simply invaluable. I -was only saved from this disastrous loss by the fact that -Mr. Lupton's stock-yard (he was absent from home—perhaps -fortunately) was full of good station hacks, and as his stud was -of high reputation in the district, his loss on that occasion -proved my salvation. What had happened at Berrembed was -simply this. The bushrangers, with Mr. 'Blue-cap' in command, -arrived in the early afternoon unexpectedly. There -were few men about the place. The overseer and Mr. Lupton -were away. Mrs. Lupton, the governess and the children, with -the eldest son, a boy of sixteen, and the stock-rider, were at -home. The master of the house had firmly expressed his -intention to defend his home, and to that end had sent to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_485'>485</span>Melbourne for a magazine-rifle, capable (it was said) of -discharging sixteen cartridges in quick-firing time. The gang, -hearing of this preparation, had sworn to pay him out for it at -an early visit. In his absence they behaved well, assuring the -lady of the house that 'she need not be apprehensive; they -only wanted horses and the new repeating-rifle,' which last -they demanded at once. She was not frightened—a native-born -Australian, come of a Border family, she was not -timorous, and had presence of mind enough to deny knowledge -of the rifle. The leader was better informed. 'That -won't do, Mrs. Lupton. Master Johnnie shot a bullock -with it last Saturday. Better give it up. These chaps -might turn rusty. They're quiet enough now.' The lady -yielded to <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">force majeure</span></i>. The governess was sent to bring -the rifle from the shower-bath, where it had been placed, -and the bushrangers rode off. One of the men, after roaming -through the house, appeared with the baby in his arms, which -he had taken from the nurse, alleging that 'it reminded him of -his happy home.' This was intended as a joke, and no harm -came to the infant, who did not seem to object to a change of -nurses. No pillage took place other than that of the rifle and -a remount all round. Besides losing their horses and saddles -at Kooba, and being reduced to an infantry force, having to -cross the river ignominiously upon a sheep-wash temporary -bridge, they had another mischance. They called at Brookong -Station on Mr. Cuthbert Fetherstonhaugh. Here they treated -themselves to grog, in which they vainly tried to make Mr. -Fetherstonhaugh join them, and finally went off across country. -Near the Urangeline Creek they were startled by the galloping -of a body of horsemen in pursuit (as they thought), and racing -desperately away, rode into the Urangeline, then in half flood. -The others got out, but the 'Doctor,' parting company with -his horse, was unfortunately drowned, thus cheating the -hangman, and not improbably preventing the commission of -bloodshed, into which his evil influence might have led his -less-hardened comrades. They were next heard of near -Narandera, as to which my wife had a sensational visit from -a person in the confidence of the police.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the morning of my departure she was told by the maidservant -that a man outside wished to speak to her. He -would not come in, or dismount from his horse. Rather -<span class='pageno' id='Page_486'>486</span>surprised, but being, like our neighbour Mrs. Lupton, -Australian born, and not afraid of men or horses or anything -in a general way, she walked up to the horseman, who sat in -his saddle in the middle of the courtyard, formed by a dining-room -and kitchen on one side and store on the other. He -was not anxious to be overheard, as he leaned forward and in -an agitated voice said that he had been sent by the Senior -Constable of Police at Narandera to inform her that the -bushrangers had recrossed the river, and might be expected to -visit the station on that or the following day. If there were -arms in the house she was advised to conceal them for fear of -irritating the bushrangers; that the police could not come themselves, -as they were following up the tracks in another direction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was not cheering news. But action was taken promptly. -The armoury consisted of a two-grooved rifle, carrying a bullet -of such size that, unlike the 'Mauser,' there was no fear of its -penetrating a vital organ without causing instant death. I -used to make good practice from an upper chamber at any -mark within a hundred and twenty or thirty yards' distance. -There was also an effective double-barrel, with a couple of -revolvers. A young relative of the family lived with us and -helped with the management. We could have made a decent -defence probably after warning given. But in nineteen out -of twenty cases no warning is given, or, as in this case, too late -to be of service.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It so happened that a wool-bale had been suspended in an -outer room, into which broken fleece, pieces picked up on the -Run, was placed from time to time. Under the wool, therefore, -the guns were hidden for the present.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When I returned from Wagga after my adventure I was -naturally anxious to hear if the bushrangers had called in my -absence. My first words to the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">châtelaine</span> were, 'Have you -seen the bushrangers?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Answer—'No. Have you?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well—ahem—I—have!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the story was told in full.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This band, compared with the career and exploits of other -gentlemen of the road, hardly rose above the amateur level. -They were taken by a sergeant of police and his troopers on -the Lachlan. He came unexpectedly one morning, and -marching towards them with a determined air, called upon -<span class='pageno' id='Page_487'>487</span>them in the Queen's name to surrender. 'Blue-cap' -levelled his rifle. 'What!' roared the sergeant in a voice of -thunder. He had known of him when he was a stock-rider, -indifferently honest. 'You d—d scoundrel! Would you -shoot <em>me</em>?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Whether the idea of the awful crime in the provincial -mind, implied in resisting much less attempting the life of -such a magnate, overbore the remains of his courage (they -were pretty sick of the outlaw business), or that he shrank -from deliberate murder, cannot be told; at any rate, they -were disarmed, handcuffed, and conducted to the nearest -lock-up—magazine-rifle and all. Brought in due course before -a bench of magistrates, they were committed to take their -trial at the next ensuing Court of Assize, to be holden at -Wagga Wagga.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I had occasion to visit the 'Place of Crows' (aboriginal -name of Wagga Wagga) some weeks after. The Assizes were -coming on, and armed with the police magistrate's order, I -interviewed the captives.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the cell door was opened, and my friend of the -poncho and revolver stood revealed, '<span lang="la" xml:lang="la">quanto mutatus ab illo -Hectore!</span>'—'the plume, the helm, the charger gone'—we -looked on each other with very different expressions.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, young man,' said I with careless raillery.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He grinned, as who should say 'Met afore.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Better have stuck to the mail-driving,' I continued.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'It's too late to think of that now,' he made answer; 'but -I wish I'd broken my leg the day I started this bloomin' -racket. It was all through the "Doctor" as they called him. -He led us chaps into it, simple, with those yarns of his. -Anyway, he's dead and gone now. Serve him dashed well -right—and me too for being a fool! I was earning good -money, and had no call to turn out. And this is what it's -done for me. What d'yer think we're goin' to get? They -won't hang us?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'No,' said I; 'you'll get a dozen years' gaol. Luckily -you didn't kill any one, so the chief can let you off light. If -you behave yourselves you'll be all out again before the end -of your sentence.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I'll behave all right—no fear!' he replied. 'I'm full up -of this "cross" work.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_488'>488</span>With the leader, 'Captain Blue-cap,' I had a more lengthened -interview. Not a bad-looking young fellow, of the stock-rider -type, it seemed inexplicable that he should have preferred the -life of a hunted outlaw to that of the well-paid, well-fed, easy-going -life of a stock-rider. A gentleman's life, so to speak: -independent, with change and variety in fair proportion, three -or four good horses always at command, and receiving an -amount of consideration far above that of any other <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">employé</span></i> -under the rank of overseer; to whose orders, if the proprietor -of the station was resident, he did not always hold -himself bound to attend. And now—here he was, a fettered -captive in the dungeon of the period, awaiting trial, certain of -ten years' penal servitude, and not without fear of five years -additional, before he walked out a free man again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We had an amicable conversation, there being 'no -animosity' on either side, apparently. It has always struck -me as a favourable trait in human nature, that criminals in -a general way rarely harbour revengeful feeling against -magistrates and others, who are, officially, their natural -enemies. Nothing is more common than to hear them say, -of the police or higher officials, 'Oh, they're paid for it; it's -all in the day's work. I don't blame 'em for doin' their -duty.' But the amateur they <em>do</em> hate with an exceeding bitter -hatred, as having 'gone out of his way' to do them injury. -For which interference with the natural order of affairs they -are ready to exact, and have before now exacted, memorable -revenge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>However that may be, we chatted away, without the introduction -of moral axioms on my side or anarchical references -on his. It was a lovely, early summer day, without a solitary -cloud in the bright blue sky, and he <em>may</em>, as he watched the -sunlight fleck the elm-tree within sight of the barred window -of his cell, have had a spasm of regret. For this is what he -said, gloomily: 'They call it a short life and a merry one. I -didn't see nothen jolly about it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Many a man's found that out, but you're a young -man. If you give no trouble in gaol you'll not have to -serve all your time. Face it, and look forward to coming -out again.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'God knows!' he said. 'I might be dead before then; but -it's the only thing to do, I suppose.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_489'>489</span>'Did you ever get hit,' I said, 'in a scrimmage with the -police?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That near done for me,' he explained, pulling back his -singlet and showing a large, ragged cicatrice over the region -of the heart. 'I wish to God it had. But it wasn't the -police.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How then?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Goin' up to a hut at night; the feller waited for me. -Them marks are slugs.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Wonder it didn't kill you,' I said. 'Must have been a -good handful of them.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, I crawled off, and some chaps I knowed nursed me -till I got round. But it was a near thing. "Born to be -hanged," they say, "save you a lot." But it won't run to <em>that</em>, -d'ye think, sir, when we haven't killed any one?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Not quite,' I said, 'though you fired at Mr. Waller and -his men with intent, as the Act says, to do serious bodily -harm. You'll get a term of imprisonment of course.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'A long "stretch," I expect,' he said. 'Well; it's no use -cryin'. Good-bye, sir, and thanks very much.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then we parted. He went on his way and I saw him no -more; circumstances prevented that. I never met him or -his companions again. They were sentenced to twelve years' -imprisonment, and as all this happened thirty odd years ago, -they must be out years and years since. Let us hope that -they reformed. It is on the cards, also, that they may have -'struck it rich' on a Queensland or West Australian goldfield.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After this capture and disposal of our highwaymen, the -land had rest for a season. One of the consequences of the -outbreak might have had an ending calculated to surprise the -European wool-buyer. Just before the bale of broken fleece -referred to was filled up and put into the press, Mrs. Boldrewood -recollected that she had never seen the box of ammunition -since the day they were huddled into the wool-bale. It -was hastily examined and the explosives hauled out, just as -the press was being put down; great was the laughter in the -shed, as the men thought of the faces of the wool-brokers in -a London saleroom when the 'mixed pieces' were turned out -for inspection.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I never got my watch back, though my cousin recovered -his. The police heard that the bushrangers had, holding out -<span class='pageno' id='Page_490'>490</span>a hatful of watches, invited the stock-rider to choose one, for -his noble conduct and 'moral support' in my affair. He -chose my young friend's, which he afterwards returned to him. -But mine I saw never again, having to content me with a -silver one of small value for the next decade.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_491'>491</span> - <h2 class='c006'>A TRANSFORMATION SCENE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>'Look alive, boys,' said Hugh Tressider; 'we must slog on -for the next hour or two. Pitch dark, and going to be a wet -night; but if we don't lose the road we shall pull Barallan -before bedtime. There we're sure of a yard and a welcome. -A night's sleep won't do us any harm.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'A night's sleep? Dashed if I've had any for a week,' -growled the head stock-rider. 'I'm fit to drop off my -bloomin' moke this minute; and he's just the size to kick me -for falling. Them blessed B.R. cattle's like a mob of -kangaroos for breaking and rushin' if so much as a 'possum -squeals or a stick breaks. But I know Mr. Bayard's is a -regular stunning place to stop at. Gentle or simple, it's all -one to him. He's a gentleman as <em>is</em> a gentleman; and every -workin' man in the district 'll say the same.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'All right, Joe; then stir up those lads and the blackfellow -a bit; don't let the tail cattle struggle, whatever you do. -I'll go on with the lead; my old horse will keep the track.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'What a thundering wild night it's going to be,' said the -drover to himself as he threaded his way through the thick-growing -timber, skirting the half-seen wildish herd, which, but -a week from the pastures where they had been bred, were still -troublesome and prone to break back at the smallest opportunity. -The rain, which had held off during the gusty, stormy -day, now came down in driving sleety showers, ice-cold, and -wetting to the skin the dogged, silent horsemen, who, by the -nature of things, were incompletely clothed for resisting so -serious a downfall. The cattle, beginning to low with discomfort -and uneasiness, were with difficulty restrained from -facing towards the opposite point of the compass, away from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_492'>492</span>the blinding storm, which now drove full in their teeth. To -those unacquainted with the skill, acquired by long experience -in this particular occupation, it would have seemed little short -of a miracle that four men and a black boy, who had also the -special care of a pack-horse, could guide six hundred head of unwilling, -half-wild cattle through a thickly-timbered country on so -dark a night, with rain and storm to complicate matters withal.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But it <em>was</em> possible. It was done well and effectively. -The leader's horse, an Arab-looking grey, visible from time to -time, denoted each turn and direction of the road. The quick -eyes of the stock-riders were seldom at fault, and detecting -each straggling animal, they were instant to urge a wheel before -separation from the main body took place. The gregarious -habit of cattle was in their favour, as also their indisposition to -straggle overmuch in the darkness. When they were doubtful, -the piercing organ of the man of the woods was called into -play. His decision was prompt and unerring.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was, 'Me see 'um two fellows cow and that one red -bullock yan along a gully, likit picaninny way. You hold 'em, -this one pack-horse, me fetch 'um.' And back they came -accordingly. One hour, then another, had slowly passed. -The rain had ceased, but the heavens were ebon black and -murky. Still rode the man, who had first spoken, at the head -of the great drove, which, lowing from time to time, kept -plodding monotonously forward, at other times silent and all -but soundless as a procession of ghostly beeves, escorted by a -company of spectre horsemen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Wet and weary, chilled to the bone, too dispirited to speak—indeed -conversation would have been difficult under the -circumstances of compulsory separation—the jaded stock-riders -moved on; the rain-drops showering from the leaves as they -brushed from time to time under the low-growing shrubs and -sapling eucalyptus, the horses' feet sinking deeply in the clay -and decomposed gravel of the forest; or splashing shoulder-deep -through the mountain streams that crossed their track; -their watchful outlook strained and concentrated to the fullest, -each man at his allotted station. It was a phase of Australian -backwoods life not always credited to the much-enduring -bushman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'By George! this is a hard life,' soliloquised the weary -pioneer, for such he had been in more than one colony, as he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_493'>493</span>sat, stiff, sore, and aching in every limb, upon his game but -over-tired horse. 'Hold up, old man, you haven't had the -saddle off your back nor I my clothes for the last six-and-thirty -hours; but another half-hour will see you in a good paddock -and me in Barallan parlour, with the cattle safe inside of post -and rails, if we haven't taken a wrong track. Only for Bandah -we should have followed the old Bundoorah road, a mile back, -and found ourselves in the middle of a howling scrub, with a -strong chance of losing these confounded B.R. cattle, the worst -herd to drive in the district, and no more likelihood of bed or -supper than if we were afloat on a raft.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>And here the travel-worn bushman, sodden and soaked, -splashed and sleepy as he was, laughed aloud at the absurdity -of the conceit.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Managing to light his pipe again by sheltering the match -with his shut hand against the night-wind, in a manner peculiar -to backwoods Australians, he was silent for a while. Then -recommenced: 'Yes, a hard life, this of mine; work and -anxiety by day and by night, wet and dry, hot or cold, burnt -up and scorched in the summer, half drowned and starved -with cold in the winter, and all for what? Just for a decent -living, with little enough chance of putting by anything for a -rainy day—I mean for a dry season,' he added, with another -laugh. 'Well, though it is a hard life, I wouldn't exchange -it for everyday work in a merchant's office, in a bank, or a -Government department. These may be very well for some -people, but they wouldn't suit Hugh Tressider at all. Give -me the open air for it! And then, hard as the occasional -rubs are, you have the benefit of contrast, and enjoy it all the -more, as I shall a good supper and a good bed, which I'm -morally certain to drop in for to-night. What a trump that -Arnold Bayard is! If all squatters were like him, travelling -would be a luxury and a privilege. Besides, I have the comfort -of thinking—and it does keep me from being a peg too -low at times—that all my hard work has not been for my own -advantage, and that I have benefited others. Bless all their -hearts! How I wish I could do more for them. Was that a -dog's bark? Yes, by Jove! and there's the Barallan paddock -fence on the left; it makes a wing to the stock-yard. Right -you are, old man' (to his horse); 'we can't go wrong now; -we'll go back, and help a bit with the tail.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_494'>494</span>Making back to the next horseman, Tressider shook up the -leg-weary but still game and willing hackney, and finding his -way to the rear, informed all hands of the change in their -immediate prospects, with the certainty of a speedy entrance -into a haven of rest and refection. The intelligence had a -distinctly stimulating effect. The pace of the drove was perceptibly -quickened. Men, dogs, and horses seemed to have -acquired new life and spirit. In less than half an hour the -cattle were safely bestowed in a capacious stock-yard, the gates -carefully secured, and the whole party dismounted before the -outbuildings of Barallan Station.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Though it had been dark for four hours by the watches of -the night, it was not more than half-past ten by the clock. -Lights were still visible in the principal building, and a glowing -fire in the men's kitchen showed that the cook was all alive, -or had very lately retired.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A tall man with an abundant beard now advanced, and -looked earnestly in the face of Tressider as he advanced to -meet him. 'Oh, it's you, old man!' he said, in a voice every -intonation of which bespoke kindly, unequivocal welcome. 'I -expected you yesterday. What a drenching you must have -had this miserable day. Mrs. Bayard has gone to bed, but -there's nothing to prevent you and me from being comfortable -for another hour. Of course the cattle are in the yard?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Well, look here, you fellows, put your horses through that -wicket-gate. Capital feed inside, and not too big a paddock. -Joe hasn't turned in yet. He'll soon have supper ready for -you. And, hold on, when you've turned out your horses, come -up to the back door of the house. A glass of grog all round -won't hurt any of you this cold night.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Thank you, Mr. Bayard,' was the reply from the oldest -stock-rider.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In fifteen minutes at the outside Hugh Tressider was -enabled to realise the justice of his proposition, that from the -great contrasts of existence the essence of pleasure is extracted. -His waterproof valise had furnished a complete change of -dry garments, arrayed in which he was seated before a blazing -fire, subsequent to the absorption of a glass of hot grog. A -substantial meal was imminent, and as he watched the neat-handed -Phyllis deftly covering that hospitable board, he was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_495'>495</span>confirmed in the opinion that life had but few avenues of -higher enjoyment open to him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Arnold Bayard, the owner of the station, a wealthy and -much-respected magnate in the land, had a particular fancy for -this young fellow, whom he watched enjoying himself after his -day, or indeed days, of toil and travail, with paternal benevolence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'A deuced hard-working, honourable, well-principled young -fellow,' he was wont to say. 'Every one ought to do him a -good turn. I wish all the young ones were like him. His -father, Captain Tressider, an old Waterloo veteran, bought that -farm of theirs, on the Upper Hunter, instead of a station in -the old days, and ruined himself trying to grow oranges and -olives, and all that rot, instead of sheep and cattle. When -he died, Hugh was left with his mother and the little brothers -and sisters to look after. Quite a boy himself, too. He -buckled to it then, and it has been all against collar with him -ever since. Working like a nigger, and living like one, too, -sometimes, but he has managed to keep them going, and -pay for their education, though he came off rather short himself. -Never mind that; I say he is as true a gentleman as -ever stepped, and some day he must come out right. The -Tressiders are high enough in point of birth. There's a title, -too, in the family, I'm told, if the next heir at home were -cleared off, but of course Hugh's too practical a fellow ever to -bother his head about that.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus far, Mr. Bayard. But this was only to strangers. -Most of the people in the district knew so much, and honoured -Hugh Tressider accordingly. Nobody could be poorer; no -one could work harder. But curious as it may seem to those -people who persist in manufacturing a stage Australia for -themselves,—which is as like the country as the English milord -of the Porte St. Martin, with his <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">boule-dogue</span></i>, his top-coat, -and the ever-present 'god-dam,' to the real aristocrat,—there -are few places where gentle birth and the manners which -chiefly accompany that accidental circumstance are more truly -honoured. So it will not be considered as anything very -wonderful by Australians that Hugh Tressider, though only -a drover by occupation, who received a certain sum per head -for the conveying of large lots of cattle from one part of the -colonies to another, known to be the son of a retired military -officer, to be proverbially just, true, and self-respecting in all -<span class='pageno' id='Page_496'>496</span>his dealings, was held in high estimation accordingly, and took -rank socially with the best people, many of whom could have -counted a thousand pounds to his every ten.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hugh slept the sleep of the just that night, it may be -confidently stated—the delicious, dreamless, utter repose of -the fatigued worker; a luxury which the dwellers in high places -of the earth very seldom taste. The dawn of a winter's -morning had, however, but faintly commenced to tinge the -lowering sky when he instinctively arose, and dressing with -expedition proceeded to stir up his men and make preparations -for an early start. The hut cook, an official whose position -rarely permits of morning slumbers, was already up, and had -the fire lighted which was to boil the huge breakfast-kettle. -A restricted toilette suffices for road-hands in winter time. -In half an hour the horses were saddled, a breakfast of beefsteak, -damper, and hot tea disposed of, the packer fully -accoutred, and all was ready for the road.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Now boys,' says Tressider, 'I'll count the cattle out of -the yard. There won't be another chance for a while. We've -had a good night of it, thanks to Mr. Bayard. Let them -feed for an hour or two, as soon as they steady to the road, -and I'll overtake you somewhere about the Burnt Hut Flat.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Having counted out his herd, which he was gratified to -find turned out the correct number of six hundred and twenty-three—a -matter which might well have otherwise resulted after -the darkling difficulties of the previous night—and seen them -straggle out over the wet green grass, the young man betook -himself with a light heart back to the 'big house,' which he -reached just in time for the family breakfast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here were assembled all the olive branches—from Melanie, -aged sixteen, and giving promise of general captivation, to -a roly-poly three-year-old boy, who ruled the household -despotically, and sat on Hugh's knee, with wide wondering -eyes scanning his features, as if seriously considering whether -they had met in a former state of existence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Very glad to see you, Mr. Tressider,' said the lady of the -house, a handsome, hospitable matron, as became the -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">châtelaine</span> of Barallan and the wife of Arnold Bayard; she -couldn't well have been otherwise. 'We were afraid that you -were going to be one of the mysterious guests who come after -every one is in bed, and go away before they get up.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_497'>497</span>'Like the avenger of blood in <em>Anne of Geierstein</em>, mother,' -put in Melanie, with her hand on her parent's arm. 'There -is something so weird about cattle-men. They always seem -to be doing their work at unearthly hours, or beside watch-fires, -like the people in the German legends.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And don't they have to light fires when they travel with -sheep?' asked Jack, aged fourteen. 'Girls don't know anything -about stock, do they, father?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'They know as much as some boys who forget to fasten -gates, and let the weaners "box" after a day's hard drafting,' -returned Mr. Bayard with mildly reproachful emphasis. Here -Mr. Jack subsided, while a certain tremulous movement of the -lip showed the effect of the reminder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Never mind, poor old man! he'll remember next time. -I'm sure he was as sorry as any one,' said the tender mother, -giving a squeeze to the boy's hand. 'And now, breakfast is -quite ready. You had better sit here, Mr. Tressider, and you -can tell me how they all were at Rimandah, and who won -the tennis match.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'By the way,' said the Master, seating himself in a contemplative -way before a noble round of beef, 'there is an -English newspaper and a letter for you in the smoking-room; -came yesterday. We were so busy yarning over the fire last -night that I forgot to tell you.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'They'll keep till after breakfast,' said Hugh calmly. -'There isn't a soul out of Australia that I care two straws -about. I suppose some one has sent me a <cite>Times</cite> with -nothing in it that can possibly concern me. Thanks; I will -take some chicken-pie. I can fall back upon corned beef on -the road, though one never seems to tire of it.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How are they all on the Allyn?' said Mr. Bayard. 'Have -you heard from home lately?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Oh, doing quite splendidly,' said the young man, his face -lighting up with an expression of tenderness which transfigured -the weather-beaten features and imparted a pathetic lustre to -his dark-grey eyes. 'Elinor was improving in her drawing—going -to be quite an artist. Fairy was taking lessons in -singing; she always had a wonderful voice. Bob was head of -his class at school, and was safe for a scholarship if he kept -up the pace. Mother was stronger than she had been for -years. I shall get back there at Christmas time if I've luck -<span class='pageno' id='Page_498'>498</span>on this journey, and we're going to be no end jolly. The -Armordens are coming over from Braidwood, and we shall be -as happy as kings—much happier, indeed, by late accounts.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I'm sure you deserve it,' said Mrs. Bayard half-unconsciously -to herself. 'But what a terrible day you must have -had of it yesterday. It never ceased raining here. It is -perishing weather even now. However you can endure your -life in such a season as this, astonishes me.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'We get used to it, Mrs. Bayard, like the eels, you know. -Somebody must do it, or who would buy the Barallan cattle, -and get them to market?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Yes, I see; but I can't bear to think of nice people—of -one's friends, you know—sitting in the saddle through these -long, dismal, bitter nights, or watching by fires in the forest, -like demons or ghosts.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'That's the pleasantest part of it, I assure you. When the -virtuous drover has eaten his supper, made up his fire, and -lighted his pipe, he feels—well, nearly as comfortable as Mr. -Bayard here when he has locked up the house and put out -the lamp for the night. It doesn't always rain, either.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Here are your letters and paper, Mr. Tressider,' said -Melanie, who had quietly arisen from the breakfast-table; -'I was afraid dad would forget them again. Hadn't you -better open them? I would if I had letters from England.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'You have my permission,' said the lady of the house. -'Some people are dreadfully cold-blooded about letters. -Fancy a woman leaving her letters unread all this time!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Theirs are pleasanter than ours,' murmured the recipient. -'That is, generally speaking. Ha! This seems a different -hand from the last correspondent. I thought I knew the old -fellow's writing well.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>With the sleepless curiosity of youth, Melanie and Jack had -kept their eyes fixed upon their friend's face. To their great -and unaffected surprise they observed him to flush all over, -bronzed cheek and forehead, and afterwards to turn deadly -pale. The letter slipped from his nerveless hand, and his -eyes assumed such a fixed and strange expression, that the -young people were alarmed. Mr. and Mrs. Bayard, with -averted heads, were discussing matters of family interest, and -so had escaped the bit of melodrama.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Bayard was recalled by Melanie's eager tones—</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_499'>499</span>'Oh, father! Mr. Tressider's taken ill. He's had some -bad news in his letter.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Why, old fellow, what is it?' inquired Bayard, turning to -him with a face of sincere concern. 'Anything gone wrong -at home? I didn't know you heard from relatives in the old -country.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hugh Tressider stood up and looked at his good friend -with a staid and serious expression, not by any means habitual. -'All is well; better than well, my dear Mr. Bayard. I -know it will rejoice your kind heart. But it <em>was</em> rather -sudden, and as unexpected as an order to become Governor-General. -I'm Lord Trewartha, that's all; and there's -Trewartha Castle, with not much of an income yet, but a -fair sum in cash at my credit to support the dignity. More -will fall in when another relative dies. It rather knocked me -over at first. The thought of all I could do for the girls and -Bob, and the poor Mother who has slaved her soul out all -these years for us, was too much for me—my heart struck -work for a minute or so. I nearly fainted. There's the -letter.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>'And you're a lord?—Lord Trewartha—a real live lord!' -said Melanie and Jack, each taking hold of a hand, and -jumping up and down with wild excitement and the exuberant, -unselfish joy of youth. 'Oh, what fun! Isn't it splendid? -And will people have to say, "Yes, my lord," and "No, my -lord," and "If your lordship please"? Of course you will -send these crawling B.R. cattle to Jericho.' This last was -Master Jack's suggestion.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I shall carry out my engagements, even if I were made a -marquis,' said Hugh, recovering his spirits, 'which I read -somewhere is ever so much higher than a baron. And you -are all to call me Hugh, without Mr. or anything. That is -all the difference. Otherwise I shall leave you nothing in my -will. And now I must go and have a smoke with your father, -or I shall have a fit.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was all true. Is true. For the matter of that, something -very like it happened only the other day under nearly -similar circumstances. Hugh Tressider will never more need -to undertake to drive cattle from Kiandra (let us say) to the -Paroo, or from Mount Cornish to Adelaide, at per head. -Elinor and Fairy will have <em>such</em> private lessons and masters -<span class='pageno' id='Page_500'>500</span>and general embellishment that they will do more than pass -muster among their European kinsfolk. Bob will graduate at -Oxford or Cambridge, and if ever he revisits Australia—as -being a younger brother he probably will—it will be impossible -to tell him, at first sight, from the imported Anglo-Saxon -aristocrat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And Hugh Tressider, what of him? As he smokes his -pipe that evening by the camp-fire—one of the last of the -series he is likely to warm himself by—what avenues of -enjoyment, hitherto undreamed of, seem lengthening out into -vast and endless grandeur, like the Sphinx-guarded paths of -Egyptian cities, all ending in wondrous palaces, purple-draped -and gold-illumined! The hard and homely present nearly -faded out of sight; only by an effort could he recall himself -to the rude primeval surroundings he was so soon to quit for -ever. A peer of England! A man of fortune! The heir of -an ancient name! Free to meet and mingle with the world's -best and fairest, bravest and most exalted, on terms of -freedom and equality. His foot slipped into a pool of ice-cold -water amid the tussocks of frosted grass as he thought of -all this, and with a light laugh at the incongruity of his -situation and prospects, he resumed his walk around the -recumbent drove.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At no distant date the Tressider family sailed for England, -when doubtless most of the good things in keeping with their -altered fortunes were duly dispensed to and appreciated by -them.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_501'>501</span> - <h2 class='c006'>IN BUSHRANGING DAYS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>The practice of 'intromitting with the lieges travelling on -their lawful business'—as Captain Dugald Dalgetty (sometime -of Marischal College, Aberdeen) hath it—is an ancient and -fascinating, if irregular mode of financial reconstruction. It -has always commended itself as a combination of business -and pleasure to those bolder spirits who chafe at the -restriction of an over-timorous social system.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From the days of the mad Prince and Poins there were -those 'for sport sake content to do the profession some -grace.' Risks of death and dishonour were thus taken in -countries boasting a high civilisation—a short shrift and a high -gallows constituting the accepted termination of a period of riot -and revelry; and though the strong hand of the law rarely failed -to bring the bold outlaw to his doom, certain alleviations always -served to cast a glamour around the pleasant and profitable, -if perilous career of the highwayman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Brigand or bandit, pirate or smuggler, bushranger or -buccaneer, as might be, he rarely failed to enlist the feminine -sympathy, which has flowed forth in all ages towards the doer -of bold deeds—the scorner of gold save for revel and gift—the -fearless withstander of the law.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The feats of these heroes of Alsatia have been sung and -their valour vaunted in the ballads of all lands and ages; -indeed they have formed no inconsiderable portion of the -material. 'Yo Soy Contrabandista' never fails to evoke a -storm of applause from every Spanish audience.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They have flourished alike under the rule of kings and the -co-operative coercion of democracy. Monarchies fail to -extirpate, republics to suppress them. They apparently owe -<span class='pageno' id='Page_502'>502</span>their existence to some unexplained ordinance of Dame -Nature, whose <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">enfans gatés</span></i> they are. Her forest children -they. Lords of the Waste, roamers through wood and wold, -formulating thus a world-old protest against the dulness of -respectability, the greed of industrialism, the selfishness of -property.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Products as well of the careless ordering of new countries -as of the stern discipline of older communities, small wonder -that they should have arisen in this brand-new, scarce century-old -Austral land of ours, hugging the South Pole and dissevered -from many of the formalities of civilisation. Small -wonder, I say, that amid our pathless woods and sea-like -plains, with every natural advantage and conceivable aid -from the habits of a migratory, restless, centaur-like population, -these unlicensed tax-gatherers should have appeared. Thus -the profession and practice of what is now called 'Bushranging' -occurred at a very early period of Australian history. The -term easily grew out of the natural desire of the escaped felon, -desperate from harsh treatment, or perhaps merely averse to -toil, to hide himself in the woods which then surrounded the -settlements.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old English words 'wood' and 'forest,' 'copse' and -'thicket,' had been superseded by the comprehensive colonial -term 'bush,' doubtless suggested by the close approximation -to 'scrub' or 'jungle,' which the interminable eucalyptus -wilderness then presented to the first emigrant Britons. 'The -bush' came next, as more fully comprehensive and explanatory, -signifying something analogous to the Dutch-African 'veldt,' -not necessarily woodland, but the waste lands of the Crown -generally. This nomenclature must have mystified later arrivals -considerably, much of the so-called 'bush' being composed of -plains nearly, and in some cases altogether, without timber -of any description.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The wandering robber, necessarily 'a burgher of that -desert city,' came then, by general consent, to be described -as a 'bushranger.' The term was even Latinised, as the -philologist may discover by reading the description in St. -James's Church, Sydney, on the tablet placed there to -commemorate the death of Dr. Wardell, of 'Wardell's Bush,' -Petersham, slain in the early thirties, 'latrone vagante' (<em>sic</em>). -The first robbers were in all cases convicts. For the small -<span class='pageno' id='Page_503'>503</span>proportion of free men employed as guards and warders, -overseers and head workmen, there was obviously no temptation -to leave recognised positions, to ramble through the -terrible foodless wastes, with a price on their heads, as was -the stern usage of the period.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But in the case of the reckless felon the conditions were -different. He had been flogged—he was worked in irons for -bad conduct. If returned by his employer to the authorities -as useless or stubborn, no prospect lay before him but that -of ending a wretched life in the severer penal settlements, -where incorrigibles were doomed to chains and slavery. He -declared for the open sky, the free forest. The toll levied on -the drays of the squatter, the homestead of the farmer, or the -wayfarer on the high-road, was necessarily the chief, almost -the only support of outlaws. For a time they lived and -flourished. Having secured arms—the fowling-piece, musket, -or pistol of the period—they entrapped or intimidated the -unwary traveller. They made stubborn defence against the -minions of the law, unless the odds were too great. In some -instances, having discovered retreats known only to the -aboriginal tribes or outlying shepherds, mostly sympathisers, -their evasion of justice was prolonged for years. The end, -however, was but delayed. Tracked down, betrayed, slain in -fair fight with police, with soldiers, with settlers combining for -self-defence, the same fate awaited all.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Found with arms in their hands, they were hanged as a -matter of course. No sentence of imprisonment afforded -them hope of escape, with further possibilities of crime. -They had played the great hazard, and the forfeit was duly -paid.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Living in this condition of continual warfare—their hand -against all men, and, with rare exceptions, all men against -them, the gallows or the bullet their certain doom—it is not -to be wondered at that crimes of violence shocked and aroused -the community. 'As well be hung for a sheep as a lamb,' -was the familiar proverb quoted in reference to deeds of -blood and rapine. With fancied wrongs and years of oppression -to avenge, they showed no mercy. They had received -none. Fighting with the rope round their necks, they were -reckless and ruthless. And when the last act of the grim -tragedy was played, with the hangman for stage manager and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_504'>504</span>a quasi-criminal crowd for audience, the leading actor had -more than once boasted of a score of murders and kindred -outrages.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the first outbreaks the highwaymen of the period had -neither horses nor arms worthy of the name. Revolvers were -unknown; pistols were far from being 'arms of precision.' -Rifles even were rare; only the fowling-piece and the Tower -musket were in common use. Horses, too, were scarce. So -that the colonial summons of 'Bail up,' or even the old-fashioned -British demand, 'Your money or your life,' came -mostly from a ragged Robinson Crusoe-like individual behind -a tree, with a rusty gun-barrel protruding therefrom.</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>Of course after the 'breaking out' of Port Phillip—as the -earliest colonisation of Victoria was disrespectfully termed—in -1837, persons of darksome record hasted to the new settlement -to hide from the law or prey on the public. Among -them were three escaped Tasmanian felons, named Williams, -Jepps, and Fogarty.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This worthy triumvirate raided the wilds of the Upper -Plenty, robbing and holding to ransom the lieges, terrorising -a line of farm-houses. They took prisoners my good friend -Charles Ryan and the late Mr. Alick Hunter, adding insult -to injury by eating the breakfast prepared for the latter -gentleman and his friends. What the fashionables of the -day wanted on the banks of the Plenty Rivulet I never could -make out. But it was considered 'the thing' apparently to -have a farm in that locality; it was even surmised that -these aristocratic amateurs might make money by the practice -of agriculture—a delusion long dispelled. What the -solid fact amounted to <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">re</span></i> Jepps and Co. was that, like the -footpads in <cite>Don Juan</cite>, their first accost was 'D—— your eyes, -your money or life.' So much for the 'first robbers' in -Victoria.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To them enter four gentlemen—volunteers, squatters of -the period and overlanders at that—Mr. Henry Fowler, of -Fowler's Flat, near Albury; Mr. Peter Snodgrass, M.L.A., -son of the Colonel and Lieutenant-Governor of that name, -historically known as commanding the 13th Portuguese -Regiment, when on August 31, 1813, he mounted the -'imminent deadly breach' at the siege of St. Sebastian; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_505'>505</span>Lieutenant Robert Chamberlain, a retired military man; and -Mr. Gourlay, squatter. Arming in haste, they followed hard on -the tracks of the spoilers, and, as they crossed the creek flat, discovered -the bushrangers entrenched in a slab hut, fully prepared -for battle. The outlaws had the best of the position, having -cover, behind which they could fire through windows and other -openings. The attacking force did not stop to weigh probabilities, -but charged up to the fortress, the besieged returning -fire with effect. Mr. Chamberlain was slightly wounded; Mr. -Fowler was shot through the jaw. But 'blood will tell.' The -volunteers were cool and determined. One of the robbers -was shot dead, and the others captured before the smoke had -well cleared from the tiny battle scene, which compared -favourably as to killed and wounded with more pretentious -engagements. The prisoners were conveyed to Melbourne, -there to await trial, sentence, and execution. Their captives, -I may mention, finding themselves neglected, promptly quitted -the field, their position between two fires being eminently -unsafe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It were tedious to follow the calendar of crime more -or less connected with the highway in old colonial days. -In many instances the records testify not less to the unflinching -courage of the settlers than to the recklessness of the -robbers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Among memorable incidents that of Mr. Charles Fisher -Shepherd, of Monaro, deserves to be recorded. On the 14th -of December 1835, being attacked by bushrangers at night, -also deserted or betrayed by other inmates of the station, he -shot one robber dead and kept up a fight against odds in the -most gallant manner, until, being wounded in the head and -half-a-dozen other places, he was left for dead. He recovered, -however, as if by a miracle, and gave evidence at the trial and -conviction of the chief criminal and his abettors.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As far back as 1830 this evil, so far from being stamped -out by chain-gang and gallows, assumed alarming proportions, -as may be judged by a newspaper extract containing a letter -from Mr. George Suttor to Mr. E. B. Suttor, of Baulkam -Hills. On the 27th of October in that year, a meeting of the -magistrates and inhabitants of Bathurst was called at the -Court-house to consider what steps should be taken as to a -band of bushrangers. They were led by a desperate convict, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_506'>506</span>said to have been flogged unjustly; and numbering at times -from twenty to thirty, kept the district in a state of alarm. -Murder, as well as serious depredations, was laid to their -charge. A body of volunteers numbering twelve, well armed -and mounted, was at once formed, Mr. W. H. Suttor being -nominated commander by Major Macpherson.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They started at five o'clock <span class='fss'>P.M.</span>, after hearing of a fresh -robbery committed at the house of one Arkell. Mr. Suttor, -always a friend of the aboriginal race, met two aboriginal -natives who knew him, and enlisted them as guides. They -ran the tracks until the robbers were descried in a rocky glen -near the Warragamba River, about an hour before sunset. -The volunteers dismounted and prepared to take them by a -<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">coup de main</span></i>, but a stone falling, alarmed the gang. They -instantly took to the trees for cover, and kept up an incessant -fire. The volunteers stood their ground and returned the -fire. While Mr. Suttor was on the rock giving orders, a -bullet passed through his hat. The firing was kept up for -about an hour. Two bushrangers were wounded and fell, -but were got to the rear. Mr. Suttor made a feint to charge, -which caused the robbers to run from their position, though -he had but an empty carbine to threaten with. He then -effected a retreat, none of his men being wounded. Mr. -Charles Suttor was the last to leave the glen. All remounted -their horses, which they had left in charge of the two blacks -and a lad they had taken from the bushrangers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The night after the skirmish was stormy, and Mr. Suttor -was vexed to find that most of the horses had strayed; while -seeking them the mounted police were met with, eager to -overtake the bushrangers. Had they but come up sooner, -their united force would have been sufficient to take or shoot -the whole gang. In the encounter which took place, two of -the troopers were shot and five of the horses lost. Lieutenant -Brown did all that a brave officer could, even carrying off the -wounded men on the back of his own horse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The number of the robber band was between fourteen and -twenty. They escaped at that time, but were pursued by -Captain Walpole and Lieutenant Moore with separate detachments, -to whom they surrendered. 'Major Macpherson -was much pleased with the brothers Suttor for going forward -in the prompt manner they did' (<em>sic</em>).</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_507'>507</span>There was talk of a 'rising' at Mudgee, which did not -come off; and doubtless all the 'banditti,' by which term -they are referred to in this interesting letter signed G. Suttor, -under date October 27, 1830, were shot or taken in usual -course. Let us trust that our country may never fall short -of sons of the soil ready to act with the courage and loyalty -of the Messrs. Suttor and the other Australian volunteers in -the 'battle' described.</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>Although gold-mining on a large scale practically commenced -in New South Wales in the month of May 1851, -when Mr. John Richard Hardy was appointed the first Goldfields -Commissioner, and, with a body of mounted police, -commenced to issue licenses and to administer the law at -Ophir, where a large number of diggers had already collected, -and where an eighteen-ounce nugget was found a day or two -after their arrival, no robberies of consequence were committed. -Still, tent thefts were frequent. Mysterious disappearances -from time to time took place, while drunken brawls, horse-stealing, -unlicensed liquor selling, and such-like, kept the -police fully employed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But no organised road robbery on a large scale occurred -until 1862. Then all Australia was thrilled by an announcement -of the gold escort robbery by Gardiner's gang, near -Forbes in New South Wales. A peculiar significance attached -to this daring crime, from the fact of the perpetrators being -chiefly native-born Australians. It shook the general belief, -long held, that the sons of the soil were free from the reproach -attached to their progenitors. The New South Wales natives -were proverbially sober. Not prone to the graver crimes, -reared amid favourable surroundings, the type had developed -few of the faults of former generations. Much might be -expected of the coming race. This optimistic opinion was -now unrooted. The details of the crime left but little hope -for the philanthropist, while it confirmed the cynic's mockery -of his kind.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the 15th of June 1862, the gold escort coach from -Forbes was stopped and robbed by Gardiner's gang, eight or -ten men in all, with blackened faces, and wearing red shirts. -Bullock drays had been placed across the narrow road, and -a rude breastwork constructed, at a place locally known as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_508'>508</span>'Eugowra Rocks.' Behind this an armed band suddenly -appeared. No challenge was given, but at the word 'Fire' -from the leader, a volley was poured into the coach, on which -sat the police in charge of the gold. The sergeant and the -trooper were hit. The sergeant fell, wounded in the side. -The police, taken by surprise, made no effectual defence. -The horses, left to themselves, bolted and overturned the -coach. The robbers then took possession of the escort gold -and notes, packed in four iron boxes, amounting to about -fourteen thousand pounds in value. It is in evidence that a -division was made, which gave about twenty-two pounds weight -of gold to each man besides his share of the notes—roughly, -one thousand pounds or more each—a tempting booty enough -even in those days of universal plenty and comparative wealth, -enjoyed by all sorts and conditions of men throughout Australia—those -colonies which had not as yet produced gold, sharing -almost equally in enhanced profits and heightened wages with -those which had.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Very soon after the robbers had packed their ill-gotten -gold upon the coach leaders and ridden hard for the gullies -of the Weddin mountainland, which had many a time and -oft sheltered fugitives from justice, the police, with that indispensable -sleuth-hound the black tracker, were on their -trail.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So hot was the pursuit, that on the Thursday following, -Superintendent Saunderson's division came up with part of -the gang, in one of the fastnesses of 'the Weddin'—discovered -their camp and the scales with which the gold had -been weighed and divided. They caught sight of the outlaws, -but, on their tired horses, failed to overtake them, splendidly -mounted as they appeared to be. However, they were forced -to abandon a pack-horse, which the police found to be richly -laden, having in four bags, secured to the saddle, about fifteen -hundred ounces of gold.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Sir Frederick Pottinger, Mr. Mitchell, C.P.S., and Detective -Lyons also arrested two men near Narandera, one of whom -had with him two hundred and thirteen ounces of gold and -one hundred and fifty pounds in notes. These were doubtless -accessories or confederates. A reward per head was offered -by the Government for information leading to capture of any -of the gang. Thus ran the proclamation:—</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_509'>509</span>'<span class='sc'>Mail and Escort Robbery</span></div> - <div class='c002'>'<em>£1000 Reward, and Pardon to an Accomplice</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>'Whereas it has been represented to the Government that -on the afternoon of the 15th inst. the gold escort from the -Lachlan was attacked on the road between Forbes and Orange -by a band of armed men, said to be ten in number, and -described as dressed in red shirts and caps, with their faces -blackened, who fired on and wounded the police forming the -guard, opened the mail-bags and letters, and carried off a -large amount of gold dust and money: Notice is hereby -given that a reward of one thousand pounds will be given by -Government for such information as shall lead to the apprehension -and conviction, within six months from this date, of -each of the guilty parties; and a pardon will also be granted -to any accomplice in the above outrage who shall first give -such information.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Charles Cowper.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-l c020'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>'<span class='sc'>Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney</span>, <em>June 17, 1862</em>.'</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>The great gold robbery having been accomplished, the -actors in which were for a time uncaptured and unpunished, -other enterprises of the same nature disturbed the land.</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>More than one gang had apparently been formed, whose -doings were heard of, sometimes in one direction, sometimes -in another.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well armed and admirably mounted, they were not easily -overtaken or overpowered by the police force of the day, then -recently organised on the centralising system, which has since -proved so efficacious. Before the advent of Captain Mayne, -Captain M'Lerie, and Inspector-General Fosbery, the police -in New South Wales were under the control of the magistrates -of the district, much as obtained formerly in the rural parts of -England. The system did not work well: one police magistrate -might be alert and courageous, likely to keep his men in -good order; another might be easy-going, slack of discipline—mentally -even in near resemblance to Justice Shallow. It -was evident that there would be little <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">esprit de corps</span></i>, each -division working for its own hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_510'>510</span>But when the new <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">régime</span> came into force all was changed. -The force became at once semi-military in discipline, in -prestige, in general organisation. The officers, each in -graduated rank, responsible for a district, maintained a high -standard of efficiency, while the inspector-general at headquarters -enjoyed much the same power and rank as the -military commandant of a colony. From that time forth the -bush outlaws were more easily traced, more often captured, -and more invariably punished than had been the case in -former years.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Still, the circumstances of the country were so much in -favour of this particular class of offender, that from time to -time society waxed impatient at the protracted immunity of -known criminals fresh from the scene of notorious outrage. -Outlying stations were attacked, and more than one household -had reason to rejoice at their narrow escape from capture and -ill-treatment. Perhaps one of the most daring outrages of -Hall and Gilbert's gang was the attack on the house of -Mr. David Campbell, of Goimbla. The story of the siege and -of his memorable defence I had from his own lips in the -summer of 1869. He was then living at Cunningham Plains, -where I visited him <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en route</span></i> from Narandera to Goulburn.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Campbell was Scottish by descent, though born in -India. A keen sportsman, a high-couraged, chivalrous gentleman, -he was justly indignant that he should be menaced by -the lawless men who were then terrorising the country. In -expectation of an attack, he made more than usual provision -in the way of arms; a double supply of which were at hand -in places of concealment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus his story ran:—</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was the time of the evening meal. Mrs. Campbell was -a refined, delicately-nurtured woman, but none the less fearless -in time of trial, as the event proved. Hearing a noise, Mr. -Campbell went out into a passage, at the end of which he saw -an armed man, who at once fired at him. He returned fire -without effect, retiring upon his base of operations. A volley -from the front of the house crashed through the windows. -The siege had begun.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Campbell returned fire so accurately and repeatedly, -having several rifles and fowling-pieces, that the robbers -believed more than one man to be behind the defences. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_511'>511</span>Mrs. Campbell carried ammunition and helped to load. On -one occasion, when crossing the line of fire, a bullet grazed -her neck. All this time the firing was kept up briskly, though -more than once a proposal came to harm nothing if the -garrison surrendered, but with ruffianly threats if the defence -was continued. One only reply was made, 'Come and take us.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>After half an hour's incessant fusillade, a new idea struck -the attacking party. The outbuildings were composed of -'<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">pisé</span>,' a preparation of rammed earth, as its name implies, -much favoured by Mr. Campbell, and singularly adapted for -dwellings in an arid land. Now came a lull with fresh -disposition of forces.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The stable immediately in the rear of the cottage was -discovered to be in flames. A favourite horse of Mr. -Campbell's, unable to escape, was burnt alive. As the screams -of the tortured animal pierced the night air, his owner (he -confessed) felt uncommonly wolfish. 'I will have one of you -for poor Highflyer,' said he, as he ground his teeth. The -burning stable would have caused the roof of the cottage to -catch fire, as there was a dray loaded with hay standing -between it and the back of the house, had not Mrs. Campbell -and the servant maid courageously covered the hay with a -tarpaulin.</p> - -<p class='c000'>During the pause in the firing which took place, after -the flames lighted up the scene, Mrs. Campbell made an -important reconnaissance. Stealing to the corner of the -verandah, she examined a high paling fence, from behind -which the assailants had commenced the attack. 'I saw,' -she told her husband on returning, 'a man jumping up -from time to time, and looking over towards the house.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Campbell awaited the next appearance, and, taking a -snap-shot, sent a bullet through the outlaw's throat. A final -volley was fired and returned. Then silence ensued. Half -an hour afterwards the 'besieged resident' walked down to the -men's hut and brought up the station-hands, who had preserved -a strict neutrality during the engagement. They found -O'Malley lying dead under a tree, whither he had been dragged -by his companions through the standing oats. The siege of -Goimbla had been raised.</p> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<p class='c000'>Mr. Keightley's experiences as a 'besieged resident' were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_512'>512</span>not dissimilar from those of Mr. Campbell. A Goldfields -Commissioner, a sportsman, and a determined man, he was -attacked in his own house at Dunn's Plains, near Bathurst, -while the robbers of the escort were still at large.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Like Mr. Campbell, he was prepared, was a dead shot, and -killed one of his assailants. I may mention that I knew Mr. -Keightley well for many years, and had the account of the -affair from himself. The gang surrounded the house at mid-day, -and finding such cover as they might, commenced firing, -after calling upon the garrison to surrender. Mr. Keightley, -on his part, kept up a brisk fire from time to time, and -dislodged several of the besiegers from their hiding-places. -He himself narrowly escaped being hit on several occasions, -as his position was not completely protected. Bourke had -been the most daring and aggressive of the party, and in -gaining a nearer position, he partially exposed himself and was -laid low by a snap-shot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Up to this stage of the affair the conditions were not unlike -those of the Goimbla siege. The robbers lost a man in each -case. But here the circumstances varied materially. The -attack on Mr. Keightley's household was during daylight—the -one on Mr. Campbell's after nightfall. On the death of -O'Malley, the robbers decided upon a retreat; but soon after -Bourke fell, a discovery was made that Mr. Keightley's -ammunition had been expended. He was therefore at their -mercy, and had no alternative but to yield.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The four persons then in the house—Mr. and Mrs. -Keightley, Dr. Pechey, a relative of the lady of the house, and -a servant woman—surrendered themselves to the bushrangers, -who announced their intention of shooting Mr. Keightley in -requital for their comrade's death. To this end he was -marched to some distance by two of the bushrangers, while -the others were holding a colloquy with Mrs. Keightley and -the servant, who passionately implored them to spare Mr. -Keightley's life.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They retorted that he had not spared Bourke's, and also -that 'he had boasted that he would have the reward which -the Government had offered for their capture.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mrs. Keightley replied that he had never dreamed of a -reward: he was the last man to take blood-money; if he -had shot Bourke it was in defence of his home, which any -<span class='pageno' id='Page_513'>513</span>man would do. Furthermore, if they would allow her to ride -to Bathurst, she would undertake to bring them five hundred -pounds in notes on the following day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'How could you get that?' asked Ben Hall.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'From my father. You know that he is a wealthy man, -and would gladly give it to me for such a purpose. Surely -you will not kill my husband in cold blood before my face?'</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lady was young and beautiful. Her tears and -entreaties in this dread position were such as to have moved -the sternest heart. She was a native-born Australian, like -themselves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They had shed blood, but it had been in fair fight. They -had never been accused of inhumanity otherwise. They -relented, finally agreeing to take the five hundred pounds -if brought to a certain tree, visible for a considerable -distance, by a specified hour on the next day. The -messenger was to come alone. They would hold her husband -as a hostage for the performance of the bond.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two men told off as executioners had by this time -called upon their prisoner to turn his back towards them for -the fatal shot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>'I have never done that to any man living, and will not -now,' returned he; 'fire away!'</p> - -<p class='c000'>As he folded his arms and looked his captors in the face, a -voice was heard from below—</p> - -<p class='c000'>'Hold on! There's to be no shooting; we've agreed to -take the money.'</p> - -<p class='c000'>Mrs. Keightley was then suffered to depart in company -with Dr. Pechey for Bathurst, while her husband remained in -the custody of the gang, pending the arrival of the ransom. It -may be imagined that his feelings were of a mingled nature. -He was assured of the safety of his wife. Still, he could not -be free from anxiety as to his own, in case of default of payment -or pursuit by the police.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the brave woman well performed her part. As the -appointed hour on the next day drew perilously near, a horseman -was seen from afar to approach the track to the well-known -fire-scathed tree. He reached it, and throwing down a -package, returned as he came. It was speedily taken possession -of, and found to contain one hundred five-pound notes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Mr. Keightley was released.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_514'>514</span>Many years have elapsed since these events took place. -Few of the actors are now living. The hand of time and the -Nemesis of the law have thinned the ranks of the combatants. -Their deeds and adventures are passing into the domain of -legend and tradition. In a few decades they may take rank -with Dick Turpin and Claude Duval, while the feats of -Gardiner's 'Darkie' may be quoted by the 'coming race' as -in rivalry with those of Black Bess of sainted memory.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>THE END</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div><em>Printed by</em> <span class='sc'>R. & R. Clark, Limited</span>, <em>Edinburgh</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_515'>515</span></div> -<div class='ph2'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>THE NOVELS OF ROLF BOLDREWOOD.</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><em>Crown 8vo. 6s. each.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><strong>IN BAD COMPANY</strong>, and other Stories.</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>BABES IN THE BUSH.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>OUTLOOK.</cite>—"A lively and picturesque story."</p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>DAILY TELEGRAPH.</cite>—"Bristles with thrilling incident."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>WAR TO THE KNIFE; or, Tangata Maori.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>ACADEMY.</cite>—"A stirring romance."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>A ROMANCE OF CANVAS TOWN</strong>, and other Stories.</p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>ATHENÆUM.</cite>—"The book is interesting for its obvious insight into life in the -Australian bush."</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c022'> - <div><em>Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. each.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><strong>ROBBERY UNDER ARMS.</strong></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>A STORY OF LIFE AND ADVENTURE IN THE BUSH AND IN THE</div> - <div>GOLD-FIELDS OF AUSTRALIA.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c021'><cite>GUARDIAN.</cite>—"A singularly spirited and stirring tale of Australian life, chiefly -in the remoter settlements."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>A MODERN BUCCANEER.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>DAILY CHRONICLE.</cite>—"We do not forget <cite>Robbery under Arms</cite>, or any of its -various successors, when we say that Rolf Boldrewood has never done anything so good as -<cite>A Modern Buccaneer</cite>. It is good, too, in a manner which is for the author a new one."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>THE MINER'S RIGHT.</strong></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>A TALE OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD-FIELDS.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c021'><cite>WORLD.</cite>—"Full of good passages, passages abounding in vivacity, in the colour and -play of life.... The pith of the book lies in its singularly fresh and vivid pictures of the -humours of the goldfields—tragic humours enough they are, too, here and again."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>THE SQUATTER'S DREAM.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>FIELD.</cite>—"The details are filled in by a hand evidently well conversant with his subject, -and everything is <i><span lang="it" xml:lang="it">ben trovato</span></i>, if not actually true. A perusal of these cheerfully-written -pages will probably give a better idea of realities of Australian life than could be obtained -from many more pretentious works."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>A SYDNEY-SIDE SAXON.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>GLASGOW HERALD.</cite>—"The interest never flags, and altogether A <cite>Sydney-Side -Saxon</cite> is a really refreshing book."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>A COLONIAL REFORMER.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>ATHENÆUM.</cite>—"A series of natural and entertaining pictures of Australian life, -which are, above all things, readable."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>NEVERMORE.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>OBSERVER.</cite>—"An exciting story of Ballarat in the fifties. Its hero, Lance -Trevanion, is a character which for force of delineation has no equal in Rolf Boldrewood's -previous novels."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>PLAIN LIVING.</strong> A Bush Idyll.</p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>ACADEMY.</cite>—"A hearty story, deriving charm from the odours of the bush and the -bleating of incalculable sheep."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>MY RUN HOME.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>ATHENÆUM.</cite>—"Rolf Boldrewood's last story is a racy volume. It has many of the -best qualities of Whyte-Melville, the breezy freshness and vigour of Frank Smedley, with -the dash and something of the abandon of Lever.... His last volume is one of his best."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>THE SEALSKIN CLOAK.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>TIMES.</cite>—"A well-written story."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>THE CROOKED STICK; or, Pollie's Probation.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>ACADEMY.</cite>—"A charming picture of Australian station life."</p> - -<p class='c000'><strong>OLD MELBOURNE MEMORIES.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'><cite>NATIONAL OBSERVER.</cite>—"His book deserves to be read in England with as -much appreciation as it has already gained in the country of its birth."</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>Fcap. 8vo. 2s.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><strong>THE SPHINX OF EAGLEHAWK.</strong></p> - -<p class='c021'>A TALE OF OLD BENDIGO.</p> - -<div class='c023'>[<em>Macmillan's Pocket Novels.</em></div> - -<p class='c021'><cite>QUEEN.</cite>—"There is the usual mystery, the usual admirable goldfields' local colour, -which we expect from our favourite Rolf Boldrewood."</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_516'>516</span></div> -<div class='ph2'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>MACMILLAN'S</div> - <div class='c002'>RECENT SUCCESSFUL NOVELS,</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>OF WHICH</div> - <div class='c002'>One Million and Fifty-seven Thousand Copies</div> - <div>have been sold.</div> - </div> -</div> - - <dl class='dl_1'> - <dt>365th Thousand.</dt> - <dd><strong>RICHARD CARVEL.</strong> - </dd> - <dt> </dt> - <dd> By <span class='sc'>Winston Churchill</span>. - </dd> - <dt>213th Thousand.</dt> - <dd><strong>THE CHOIR INVISIBLE.</strong> - </dd> - <dt> </dt> - <dd> By <span class='sc'>James Lane Allen</span>. - </dd> - <dt>120th Thousand.</dt> - <dd><strong>THE INCREASING PURPOSE.</strong> - </dd> - <dt> </dt> - <dd> By <span class='sc'>James Lane Allen</span>. - </dd> - <dt>100th Thousand.</dt> - <dd><strong>IN THE PALACE OF THE KING.</strong> - </dd> - <dt> </dt> - <dd> By <span class='sc'>F. Marion Crawford</span>. - </dd> - <dt>75th Thousand.</dt> - <dd><strong>VIA CRUCIS.</strong> - </dd> - <dt> </dt> - <dd> By <span class='sc'>F. Marion Crawford</span>. - </dd> - <dt>70th Thousand.</dt> - <dd><strong>THE FOREST LOVERS.</strong> - </dd> - <dt> </dt> - <dd> By <span class='sc'>Maurice Hewlett</span>. - </dd> - <dt>47th Thousand.</dt> - <dd><strong>THE PRIDE OF JENNICO.</strong> - </dd> - <dt> </dt> - <dd> By <span class='sc'>Agnes</span> and <span class='sc'>Egerton Castle</span>. - </dd> - <dt>44th Thousand.</dt> - <dd><strong>YOUNG APRIL.</strong> - </dd> - <dt> </dt> - <dd> By <span class='sc'>Egerton Castle</span>. - </dd> - <dt>23rd Thousand.</dt> - <dd><strong>RICHARD YEA-AND-NAY.</strong> - </dd> - <dt> </dt> - <dd> By <span class='sc'>Maurice Hewlett</span>. - </dd> - </dl> - -<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_517'>517</span></div> -<div class='ph2'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>MACMILLAN'S THREE-AND-SIX-PENNY</div> - <div>LIBRARY OF BOOKS BY</div> - <div>POPULAR AUTHORS</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>Crown 8vo. Cloth extra. 3s. 6d. each</div> - <div class='c002'>Containing works by</div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li><strong>CHARLES DICKENS</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>W. M. THACKERAY</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>F. MARION CRAWFORD</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>ROSA N. CAREY</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>ROLF BOLDREWOOD</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>EGERTON CASTLE</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>HUGH CONWAY</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>MRS. CRAIK</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>SIR H. CUNNINGHAM</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>DEAN FARRAR</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>ARCHIBALD FORBES</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>W. WARDE FOWLER</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>BRET HARTE</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>THOMAS HUGHES</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>HENRY JAMES</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>SIR WALTER SCOTT</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>THOMAS HARDY</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>CHARLES KINGSLEY</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>CHARLOTTE M. YONGE</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>ANNIE KEARY</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>A. E. W. MASON</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>MAARTEN MAARTENS</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>F. D. MAURICE</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>D. CHRISTIE MURRAY</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>W. E. NORRIS</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>MRS. OLIPHANT</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>MRS. PARR</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>W. CLARK RUSSELL</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>J. H. SHORTHOUSE</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>JOHN TIMBS</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>E. WERNER</strong> - </li> - <li><strong>MONTAGU WILLIAMS</strong> - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>and other Writers</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_518'>518</span></div> -<div class='ph2'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>THREE-AND-SIXPENNY LIBRARY</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><em>By ROLF BOLDREWOOD</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Robbery under Arms - </li> - <li>The Miner's Right - </li> - <li>The Squatter's Dream - </li> - <li>A Sydney-side Saxon - </li> - <li>A Colonial Reformer - </li> - <li>Nevermore - </li> - <li>A Modern Buccaneer - </li> - <li>The Sealskin Cloak - </li> - <li>Plain Living - </li> - <li>The Crooked Stick - </li> - <li>My Run Home - </li> - <li>Old Melbourne Memories - </li> - <li>War to the Knife - </li> - <li>Romance of Canvas Town - </li> - <li>Babes in the Bush - </li> - <li>In Bad Company and other Stories - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Nellie's Memories - </li> - <li>Wee Wifie - </li> - <li>Barbara Heathcote's Trial - </li> - <li>Robert Ord's Atonement - </li> - <li>Wooed and Married - </li> - <li>Heriot's Choice - </li> - <li>Queenie's Whim - </li> - <li>Mary St. John - </li> - <li>Not Like Other Girls - </li> - <li>For Lilias - </li> - <li>Uncle Max - </li> - <li>Only the Governess - </li> - <li>Lover or Friend? - </li> - <li>Basil Lyndhurst - </li> - <li>Sir Godfrey's Granddaughters - </li> - <li>The Old, Old Story - </li> - <li>Mistress of Brae Farm - </li> - <li>Mrs. Romney, and But Men Must Work - </li> - <li>Other People's Lives - </li> - <li>Rue with a Difference - </li> - <li>Herb of Grace - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By EGERTON CASTLE</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Consequences - </li> - <li>The Bath Comedy - </li> - <li>The Pride of Jennico - </li> - <li>The Light of Scarthey - </li> - <li>La Bella, and others - </li> - <li>"Young April" - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By HUGH CONWAY</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>A Family Affair - </li> - <li>Living or Dead - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By Mrs. CRAIK</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Olive - </li> - <li>The Ogilvies - </li> - <li>Agatha's Husband - </li> - <li>The Head of the Family - </li> - <li>Two Marriages - </li> - <li>The Laurel Bush - </li> - <li>My Mother and I - </li> - <li>Miss Tommy - </li> - <li>King Arthur: Not a Love Story - </li> - <li>About Money, and other Things - </li> - <li>Concerning Men, and other Papers - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By F. MARION CRAWFORD</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Mr. Isaacs - </li> - <li>Dr. Claudius - </li> - <li>A Roman Singer - </li> - <li>Zoroaster - </li> - <li>A Tale of a Lonely Parish - </li> - <li>Marzio's Crucifix - </li> - <li>Paul Patoff - </li> - <li>With the Immortals - </li> - <li>Greifenstein - </li> - <li>Sant' Ilario - </li> - <li>Cigarette-Maker's Romance - </li> - <li><span class='pageno' id='Page_519'>519</span>Khaled - </li> - <li>The Witch of Prague - </li> - <li>The Three Fates - </li> - <li>Marion Darche - </li> - <li>Children of the King - </li> - <li>Katharine Lauderdale - </li> - <li>Pietro Ghisleri - </li> - <li>Don Orsino - </li> - <li>The Ralstons - </li> - <li>Casa Braccio - </li> - <li>Adam Johnstone's Son - </li> - <li>A Rose of Yesterday - </li> - <li>Taquisara - </li> - <li>Corleone - </li> - <li>Via Crucis. A Romance of the Second Crusade - </li> - <li>In the Palace of the King - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By Sir H. CUNNINGHAM</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>The Heriots - </li> - <li>Wheat and Tares - </li> - <li>The Coeruleans - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By CHARLES DICKENS</em></div> - <div class='c002'>Reprints of the First Editions, with the Illustrations; and</div> - <div>Biographical and Bibliographical Introductions</div> - <div>by Charles Dickens the Younger</div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Pickwick Papers - </li> - <li>Oliver Twist - </li> - <li>Nicholas Nickleby - </li> - <li>Martin Chuzzlewit - </li> - <li>The Old Curiosity Shop - </li> - <li>Barnaby Rudge - </li> - <li>Dombey and Son - </li> - <li>Christmas Books - </li> - <li>Sketches by Boz - </li> - <li>David Copperfield - </li> - <li>American Notes - </li> - <li>Letters of Charles Dickens - </li> - <li>Bleak House - </li> - <li>Little Dorrit - </li> - <li>Tale of Two Cities - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>'ENGLISH MEN OF LETTERS,' 13 vols.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <dl class='dl_2'> - <dt> I.</dt> - <dd>Chaucer, Spenser, Dryden - </dd> - <dt> II.</dt> - <dd>Milton, Goldsmith, Cowper - </dd> - <dt> III.</dt> - <dd>Byron, Shelley, Keats - </dd> - <dt> IV.</dt> - <dd>Wordsworth, Southey, Landor - </dd> - <dt> V.</dt> - <dd>Lamb, Addison, Swift - </dd> - <dt> VI.</dt> - <dd>Scott, Burns, Coleridge - </dd> - <dt> VII.</dt> - <dd>Hume, Locke, Burke - </dd> - <dt>VIII.</dt> - <dd>Defoe, Sterne, Hawthorne - </dd> - <dt> IX.</dt> - <dd>Fielding, Thackeray, Dickens - </dd> - <dt> X.</dt> - <dd>Gibbon, Carlyle, Macaulay - </dd> - <dt> XI.</dt> - <dd>Sydney, De Quincey, Sheridan - </dd> - <dt> XII.</dt> - <dd>Pope, Johnson, Gray - </dd> - <dt>XIII.</dt> - <dd>Bacon, Bunyan, Bentley - </dd> - </dl> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By DEAN FARRAR</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Seekers after God - </li> - <li>Eternal Hope - </li> - <li>The Fall of Man - </li> - <li>Witness of History to Christ - </li> - <li>Silence and Voices of God - </li> - <li>In the Days of thy Youth - </li> - <li>Saintly Workers - </li> - <li>Ephphatha - </li> - <li>Mercy and Judgment - </li> - <li>Sermons in America - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By ARCHIBALD FORBES</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Barracks, Bivouacs, and Battles - </li> - <li>Souvenirs of Some Continents - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_520'>520</span><em>By W. WARDE FOWLER</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>A Year with the Birds - </li> - <li>Tales of the Birds - </li> - <li>More Tales of the Birds - </li> - <li>Summer Studies of Birds and Books - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By THOMAS HARDY</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Tess of the D'Urbervilles - </li> - <li>Far from the Madding Crowd - </li> - <li>The Mayor of Casterbridge - </li> - <li>A Pair of Blue Eyes - </li> - <li>Two on a Tower - </li> - <li>The Return of the Native - </li> - <li>The Woodlanders - </li> - <li>Jude the Obscure - </li> - <li>The Trumpet-Major - </li> - <li>The Hand of Ethelberta - </li> - <li>A Laodicean - </li> - <li>Desperate Remedies - </li> - <li>Wessex Tales - </li> - <li>Life's Little Ironies - </li> - <li>A Group of Noble Dames - </li> - <li>Under the Greenwood Tree - </li> - <li>The Well Beloved - </li> - <li>Wessex Poems and other Verses - </li> - <li>Poems of the Past and the Present - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By BRET HARTE</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Cressy: A Novel - </li> - <li>A First Family of Tasajara - </li> - <li>The Heritage of Dedlow Marsh - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By THOMAS HUGHES</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Tom Brown's Schooldays - </li> - <li>Tom Brown at Oxford - </li> - <li>Scouring of the White Horse - </li> - <li>Alfred the Great - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By HENRY JAMES</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>A London Life - </li> - <li>The Aspern Papers, etc. - </li> - <li>The Tragic Muse - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By ANNIE KEARY</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>A York and a Lancaster Rose - </li> - <li>Castle Daly - </li> - <li>Janet's Home - </li> - <li>Oldbury - </li> - <li>A Doubting Heart - </li> - <li>Nations around Israel - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By CHARLES KINGSLEY</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Westward Ho! - </li> - <li>Hypatia - </li> - <li>Yeast - </li> - <li>Alton Locke - </li> - <li>Two Years Ago - </li> - <li>Hereward the Wake - </li> - <li>Poems - </li> - <li>The Heroes - </li> - <li>The Water Babies - </li> - <li>Madam How and Lady Why - </li> - <li>At Last - </li> - <li>Prose Idylls - </li> - <li>Plays and Puritans - </li> - <li>The Roman and the Teuton - </li> - <li>Sanitary and Social Lectures - </li> - <li>Historical Lectures and Essays - </li> - <li>Scientific Lectures and Essays - </li> - <li>Literary and General Lectures - </li> - <li>The Hermits - </li> - <li>Glaucus - </li> - <li>Village and Town and Country Sermons - </li> - <li>The Water of Life, and other Sermons - </li> - <li><span class='pageno' id='Page_521'>521</span>Sermons on National Subjects - </li> - <li>Sermons for the Times - </li> - <li>Good News of God - </li> - <li>The Gospel of the Pentateuch, etc. - </li> - <li>Discipline, and other Sermons - </li> - <li>Westminster Sermons - </li> - <li>All Saints' Day, and other Sermons - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By MAARTEN MAARTENS</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>An Old Maid's Love - </li> - <li>The Greater Glory - </li> - <li>My Lady Nobody - </li> - <li>God's Fool - </li> - <li>The Sin of Joost Avelingh - </li> - <li>Her Memory - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By A. E. W. MASON</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>The Courtship of Morrice - </li> - <li>Buckler - </li> - <li>The Philanderers - </li> - <li>Miranda of the Balcony - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By F. D. MAURICE</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Lincoln's Inn Sermons. Vol. I. - </li> - <li>     "           "         II. - </li> - <li>     "           "        III. - </li> - <li>     "           "         IV. - </li> - <li>     "           "          V. - </li> - <li>     "           "         VI. - </li> - <li>Sermons Preached in Country Churches. - </li> - <li>Christmas Day - </li> - <li>Theological Essays - </li> - <li>Prophets and Kings - </li> - <li>Patriarchs and Lawgivers - </li> - <li>Gospel of Kingdom of Heaven - </li> - <li>Gospel of St. John - </li> - <li>Epistles of St. John - </li> - <li>Friendship of Books - </li> - <li>Prayer Book and Lord's Prayer - </li> - <li>Doctrine of Sacrifice - </li> - <li>Acts of the Apostles - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By D. CHRISTIE MURRAY</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Aunt Rachel - </li> - <li>Schwartz - </li> - <li>The Weaker Vessel - </li> - <li>John Vale's Guardian - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By W. E. NORRIS</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Thirlby Hall - </li> - <li>Bachelor's Blunder - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By Mrs. OLIPHANT</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Neighbours on the Green - </li> - <li>Joyce - </li> - <li>Kirsteen - </li> - <li>A Beleaguered City - </li> - <li>Hester - </li> - <li>He that Will Not when He May - </li> - <li>The Railway Man - </li> - <li>Marriage of Elinor - </li> - <li>Sir Tom - </li> - <li>The Heir-Presumptive, etc. - </li> - <li>A Country Gentleman - </li> - <li>A Son of the Soil - </li> - <li>The Second Son - </li> - <li>The Wizard's Son - </li> - <li>The Curate in Charge - </li> - <li>Lady William - </li> - <li>Young Musgrave - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_522'>522</span><em>By Mrs. PARR</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Dorothy Fox - </li> - <li>Adam and Eve - </li> - <li>Loyalty George - </li> - <li>Robin - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By W. CLARK RUSSELL</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Marooned - </li> - <li>A Strange Elopement - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By Sir WALTER SCOTT</em></div> - <div class='c002'>The Large-type Illustrated Border Edition of <span class='sc'>The Waverley Novels</span></div> - <div>In 24 volumes</div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Waverley - </li> - <li>Guy Mannering - </li> - <li>The Antiquary - </li> - <li>Rob Roy - </li> - <li>Old Mortality - </li> - <li>The Heart of Midlothian - </li> - <li>A Legend of Montrose, and the Black Dwarf - </li> - <li>The Bride of Lammermoor - </li> - <li>Ivanhoe - </li> - <li>The Abbot - </li> - <li>The Monastery - </li> - <li>Kenilworth - </li> - <li>The Pirate - </li> - <li>The Fortunes of Nigel - </li> - <li>Peveril of the Peak - </li> - <li>Quentin Durward - </li> - <li>St. Ronan's Well - </li> - <li>Redgauntlet - </li> - <li>The Betrothed, and The Talisman - </li> - <li>Woodstock - </li> - <li>The Fair Maid of Perth - </li> - <li>Anne of Geierstein - </li> - <li>Count Robert of Paris, and The Surgeon's Daughter - </li> - <li>Castle Dangerous, Chronicles of the Canongate, etc. - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By J. H. SHORTHOUSE</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>John Inglesant - </li> - <li>Sir Percival - </li> - <li>Little Schoolmaster Mark - </li> - <li>The Countess Eve - </li> - <li>A Teacher of the Violin - </li> - <li>Blanche, Lady Falaise - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By W. M. THACKERAY</em></div> - <div class='c002'>Reprints of the First Editions, with all the Original Illustrations,</div> - <div>Facsimiles of Wrappers, etc.</div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Vanity Fair - </li> - <li>The History of Pendennis - </li> - <li>The Newcomes - </li> - <li>The Virginians - </li> - <li>The History of Henry Esmond - </li> - <li>Barry Lyndon and Catherine - </li> - <li>Paris and Irish Sketch Books - </li> - <li>Christmas Books - </li> - <li>Burlesques, From Cornhill to Grand Cairo, and Juvenilia - </li> - <li>Book of Snobs, Miss Tickletoby's Lectures, History of the next French Revolution, A - Little Dinner at Timmins', etc. - </li> - <li>The Yellowplush Correspondence, Diary and Letters of James de la Pluche, History of - Samuel Titmarsh and the Great Hoggarty Diamond, and Contributions to the Constitutional - [and Public Ledger] - </li> - <li><span class='pageno' id='Page_523'>523</span>Critical Papers in Literature and Art - </li> - <li>The Fitzboodle Papers, Men's Wives, The Second Funeral of Napoleon, and other Sketches - </li> - <li>Lovel the Widower, and other Stories - </li> - <li>Lectures on the English Humorists of the Eighteenth Century, The Four Georges, - Charity and Humour, etc. - </li> - <li>Sketches and Travels in London, Mrs. Brown's Letters to a Young Man about Town, The - Proser - </li> - <li>Ballads and Verses, Miscellaneous Contributions to <cite>Punch</cite> - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>Other Volumes to follow</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By JOHN TIMBS</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Lives of Painters - </li> - <li>Lives of Statesmen - </li> - <li>Doctors and Patients - </li> - <li>Wits and Humourists. 2 vols. - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By E. WERNER</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Success, and How he won it - </li> - <li>Fickle Fortune - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By MONTAGU WILLIAMS</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Leaves of a Life - </li> - <li>Later Leaves - </li> - <li>Round London - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>The Heir of Redclyffe - </li> - <li>Heartsease - </li> - <li>Hopes and Fears - </li> - <li>Dynevor Terrace - </li> - <li>The Daisy Chain - </li> - <li>The Trial - </li> - <li>Pillars of the House. Vol. I. - </li> - <li>    "          "          II. - </li> - <li>The Young Stepmother - </li> - <li>Clever Woman of the Family - </li> - <li>The Three Brides - </li> - <li>My Young Alcides - </li> - <li>The Caged Lion - </li> - <li>The Dove in the Eagle's Nest - </li> - <li>The Chaplet of Pearls - </li> - <li>Lady Hester, and Danvers Papers - </li> - <li>Magnum Bonum - </li> - <li>Love and Life - </li> - <li>Unknown to History - </li> - <li>Stray Pearls - </li> - <li>The Armourer's 'Prentices - </li> - <li>The Two Sides of the Shield - </li> - <li>Nuttie's Father - </li> - <li>Scenes and Characters - </li> - <li>Chantry House - </li> - <li>A Modern Telemachus - </li> - <li>Bywords - </li> - <li>Beechcroft at Rockstone - </li> - <li>More Bywords - </li> - <li>A Reputed Changeling - </li> - <li>The Little Duke - </li> - <li>The Lances of Lynwood - </li> - <li>The Prince and the Page - </li> - <li>Two Penniless Princesses - </li> - <li>That Stick - </li> - <li>An Old Woman's Outlook - </li> - <li>Grisly Grisell - </li> - <li>The Release - </li> - <li>The Long Vacation - </li> - <li>Ben Beriah - </li> - <li>Henrietta's Wish - </li> - <li>The Two Guardians - </li> - <li>Countess Kate, and the Stokesley Secret - </li> - <li>Modern Broods - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_524'>524</span><em>By C. M. YONGE and C. R. COLERIDGE</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Strolling Players - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>By VARIOUS WRITERS</em></div> - </div> -</div> - - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Hogan, M.P. - </li> - <li>Flitters, Tatters, and the Counsellor - </li> - <li>The New Antigone - </li> - <li>Tim - </li> - <li>Memories of Father Healy - </li> - <li>CUTCLIFFE HYNE.—The "Paradise" Coal-Boat - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>Canon</span> ATKINSON.—The Last of the Giant Killers - </li> - <li>R. H. BARHAM.—The Ingoldsby Legends - </li> - <li>HAWLEY SMART.—Breezie Langton - </li> - <li>ANTHONY TROLLOPE.—The Three Clerks - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>Sir</span> H. LYTTON BULWER.—Historical Characters - </li> - <li>RICHARD JEFFERIES.—The Dewy Morn - </li> - <li>FRANK BUCKLAND.—Curiosities of Natural History. 4 vols. - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>Mrs.</span> HUMPHRY WARD.—Miss Bretherton - </li> - <li>D. C. MURRAY and H. HERMAN.—He fell among Thieves - </li> - <li>LUCAS MALET.—Mrs. Lorimer - </li> - <li>LANOE FALCONER.—Cecilia de Noël - </li> - <li>M. M'LENNAN.—MuckleJock, and other Stories - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>Major</span> GAMBIER PARRY.—The Story of Dick - </li> - <li>S. R. LYSAGHT.—The Marplot - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>Sir</span> H. M. DURAND.—Helen Treveryan - </li> - <li>MARCHESA THEODOLI.—Under Pressure - </li> - <li>W. C. RHOADES.—John Trevennick - </li> - <li>E. C. PRICE—In the Lion's Mouth - </li> - <li>BLENNERHASSET <span class='fss'>AND</span> SLEEMAN.—Adventures in Mashonaland - </li> - <li>W. FORBES-MITCHELL.—Reminiscences of the Great Mutiny - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>Rev.</span> J. GILMORE.—Storm Warriors - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>Lord</span> REDESDALE.—Tales of Old Japan - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>Sir</span> S. BAKER.—True Tales for my Grandsons - </li> - <li>HENRY KINGSLEY.—Tales of Old Travel - </li> - <li>W. P. FRITH, R.A.—My Autobiography - </li> - <li>CAMILLE ROUSSET.—Recollections of Marshal Macdonald - </li> - <li>CHARLES WHITEHEAD.—Richard Savage - </li> - <li>F. A. MIGNET.—Mary Queen of Scots - </li> - <li>F. GUIZOT.—Oliver Cromwell - </li> - <li>M. R. MITFORD.—Literary Recollections - </li> - <li><span class='sc'>Rev.</span> R. H. D. BARHAM.—Life of R. H. Barham - </li> - <li>—— Life of Theodore Hook - </li> - <li>Biographies of Eminent Persons Vol. I. - </li> - <li>       "          "                II. - </li> - <li>       "          "               III. - </li> - <li>       "          "                IV. - </li> - <li>       "          "                 V. - </li> - <li>Annual Summaries. Vol. I. - </li> - <li>   "       "          II. - </li> - <li>Masson's French Dictionary - </li> - <li>Shakespeare's Works. Vol. I. - </li> - <li>     "          "        II. - </li> - <li>     "          "       III. - </li> - </ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='tnotes'> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c006'>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</h2> -</div> - <ol class='ol_1 c003'> - <li>Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors. - - </li> - <li>Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - - </li> - </ol> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of In Bad Company and other stories, by -Rolf Boldrewood - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN BAD COMPANY AND OTHER STORIES *** - -***** This file should be named 51314-h.htm or 51314-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/3/1/51314/ - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, MWS and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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