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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5700476 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #51704 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51704) diff --git a/old/51704-8.txt b/old/51704-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 667733c..0000000 --- a/old/51704-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6235 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fern Vale, Volume 2 (of 3), by Colin Munro - -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: Fern Vale, Volume 2 (of 3) - or the Queensland Squatter - -Author: Colin Munro - -Release Date: April 9, 2016 [EBook #51704] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FERN VALE, VOLUME 2 (OF 3) *** - - - - -Produced by Nick Wall, David K. Park and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - - - FERN VALE - - OR THE - QUEENSLAND SQUATTER. - - A NOVEL. - - BY COLIN MUNRO. - - IN THREE VOLUMES. - VOL II. - - LONDON: - - T. C. NEWBY, - - 30 WELBECK STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE. - MDCCCLXII. - - - EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY THE CALEDONIAN PRESS, - - "The National Institution for Promoting the Employment of Women in the - Art of Printing." - - - - -CONTENTS. - PAGE - CHAPTER I 1 - CHAPTER II 32 - CHAPTER III 48 - CHAPTER IV 77 - CHAPTER V 105 - CHAPTER VI 128 - CHAPTER VII 146 - CHAPTER VIII 180 - CHAPTER IX 205 - CHAPTER X 232 - CHAPTER XI 253 - CHAPTER XII 287 - CHAPTER XIII 325 - - - - -FERN VALE. - -CHAPTER I. - - "What are these, - So withered, and so wild in their attire, - That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth, - And yet are on't?" - -MACBETH, _Act 1, Sc. 3_. - - -"Those fellows have been up to some mischief I am certain," said Tom -when the blacks departed, as described in the last chapter. "I am -confident my brother has not given them anything; and if they have got -any rations at Strawberry Hill, they must have stolen them. However, if -you intend going over to their corroboree, I'll accompany you." - -"I do intend going," said John, "for I have never seen them in such -force as they'll be to-night, and I am curious to see the effect. Do -you know what is the nature of the ceremony of their kipper corroboree?" - -"I can't exactly say," replied Tom, "their ordinary corroborees are -simply feasts to commemorate some event; but the kipper corroboree has -some mystery attached to it, which they do not permit strangers to -witness. I believe it is held once a year, to admit their boys into the -communion of men; and to give 'gins' to the neophytes, if they desire to -add to their importance by assuming a marital character. I believe it is -simply a ceremony, in which they recognise the transition of their -youths from infancy to manhood; though they keep the proceedings veiled -from vulgar eyes." - -"When, then," continued John, "the kippers are constituted men, and get -their gins, are their marriage engagements of a permanent nature; I mean -does their nuptial ceremony, whatever it may be, effectually couple -them; and is it considered by them inviolable?" - -"I believe," replied Tom, "the ceremony is binding on the gins, but -their lords are permitted to exercise a supreme power over the liberty -and destiny of their spouses. The gins are merely looked upon as so many -transferable animals, and they are frequently stolen and carried off by -adventurous lovers from their lawful lords and masters; and as -frequently made over with the free consent of their husbands, the same -as we should do with flocks and herds. Most of the quarrels among the -tribes arise from such thefts; and the wills and inclinations of the -gins are never for a moment considered." - -After this remark the conversation of the young men turned into other -channels. About sundown they prepared themselves for their visit, and -mounting their horses started off to the Gibson river; which, owing to -the darkness of the night, and the difficulty they experienced in -threading the bush, and avoiding the fallen logs, they did not reach so -quickly as they had anticipated. They, however, crossed by the flats, -and guided by the noise of the blacks, and the light from their fires in -the scrub, they soon came upon the "camp;" where they found Dugingi, -true to his promise, waiting for them. - -The camp was composed of about fifty "gunyas" or huts, formed in a -circle; in the midst of which were several of the natives, talking and -gesticulating most vociferously and wildly. The gunyas were small -conical structures of about five or six feet in diameter; formed by -pieces of cane being fixed into the ground in an arched shape, so as to -make ribs, which were covered with the flakey sheets of the tea tree -bark, and laid perfectly close and compact, in which position they were -fixed by an outer net-work of reedy fibre; making, though primitive and -meagre in accommodation, a dwelling perfectly impervious to the weather. -Into these burrow-like domiciles, crowd, sometimes, as many as five or -six human beings, who coil themselves into a mass to economize space, -and generate caloric in cold nights; when they have a fire in front of -the opening which serves for a door. In warmer weather, however, they -generally stretch themselves under heaven, with only a blanket to cover -them; and, with their feet towards the fire, a party may frequently be -seen radiating in a circle from the centre of heat. - -When the camp was approached by the young men, the host of dogs, which -are the usual concomitants of a black's tribe, gave warning of the -visitors' presence; and Dugingi, who was by that means attracted, first -removing their horses to a place of safety, led them within the -mysterious periphery. As they emerged suddenly from the obscurity of the -scrub into the open space where the corroboree was in full progress, -they were not a little startled at the scene before them. In the centre -was an immense fire; and around it, about one hundred and fifty men were -assembled in a circle, except at a gap at the side from which the -visitors approached. Here sat, or rather squatted, the gins, the -piccaninies, and the males incapacitated from senescence or infirmities. -The blacks having ceased their exertions as our friends arrived, the -latter had a good opportunity of surveying the picture at their leisure. - -In the spot where the blacks had made their camp the ground was -naturally clear, and was covered with a smooth sward; while immediately -beyond the circumscribed limits of the natural clearance, the thick -scrub was, to any but a black fellow, perfectly impenetrable; thus -presenting to the eye of the beholder, the appearance of an umbrageous -amphitheatre especially created for those savage orgies. The men were -all more or less bedecked and besmeared; and, at the moment of our -friends' contemplation of them, stood taking breath preparatory to the -repetition of fresh exertions. The immense fire was being continually -replenished by the gins, and threw a fitful glance over the whole scene -that struck the mind with an indescribable sensation of mingled awe, -dread, and disgust. While those sensations were traversing the minds of -John and Tom Rainsfield Jemmy Davis stepped forward from amidst the -group, and saluted them with the greatest urbanity. But such was his -metamorphosis that our friends did not, until he had declared himself by -speech, recognise in the painted savage before them an educated and -civilized black. - -His hair was drawn up to a tuft on the top of his head, and into it had -been thrust numerous of the most gaudy parrot and cockatoo feathers. -When he walked this top knot acquired an eccentric oscillation, which -gave his head the appearance of a burlesque on the plumed cranium of a -dignified hearse horse; and was the only part of his ornature that was -of a ludicrous character. His forehead was painted a deep yellow; from -his eyes to a line parallel to his nose his skin shone with a bright -red; while the rest of his face showed its natural dirty brown colour. -His body was fancifully marked in white, delineating his ribs; with -grotesque devices on his breast and back. His legs and arms were as -black as charcoal could make them; and with a necklace of bones and -shells, his toilet was complete. It has been facetiously stated that the -New Zealander's full dress consists of a shirt collar and a pair of -spurs; but Jemmy Davis had no such useless appendages; and, as he stood -before his guests in the conviction of his costume being complete, and -in the pride of conscious adornment, he never dreamt but that his own -self-gratulation was also shadowing their admiration and delight. - -In a few minutes John and his companion were left alone; and the -corroboree commenced afresh by the resumption of the musical -accompaniments, which, as they were peculiar, we may as well describe. -We have already said, the gins were squatted on the ground near the -circle; and, we may now add, they had composed their ungraceful forms -in the oriental fashion. Some of them had their hands half open, or -rather their fingers were kept close together, while the palms were made -to assume a concave shape, as if for the purpose of holding water. With -them in this form they struck them simultaneously on their supine -thighs, with a metrical regularity, which made an unearthly hollow -noise, and formed the base of their orchestral display. Others of them -beat a similar measure on their waddies, or sticks; while the whole -burst into a discordant vocal accompaniment, in which they were joined -by the men and piccaninies in a dull and monotonous cadence. This was -their song; which, to adequately describe, would be impossible. Some -idea, however, may possibly be formed of it, when we say that they all -commenced in a high mournful key, in which they unintelligibly mumbled -their bucolic. On this first note they dwelt for about half a minute; -and descended the gamut in the same metre, resting only on the flats, -and expending their breath in a prolongation of the last, and deepest, -note they could utter; terminating in one eructation something between a -grunt and a sigh, or a concentration of the idiosyncratic articulation -of the London paviers. And as they dwelt upon this note for about a -minute, the combined effects of their mutterings, and the noise of their -feet, were not unlike the distant fulmination of thunder. - -Their dance too, was conducted totally different to the wild gestures of -other savages. The participators in the ceremony, as we have already -explained, stood in a semi-circular line. Slightly stooping, they swung -their arms backwards and forwards before their bodies, and with their -feet beat a measured tread on the ground; while they continued to -contract their frames, almost into a sitting posture, and to accelerate -their pendulous and stamping motions; until, with an universal -convulsion, the last sigh or grunt was expatriated from their carcasses. -After a dead stop of some few seconds, with a recommencement of their -femoral accompaniment, they erected their bodies with their voices, and -proceeded _de capo_; presenting a scene more like a festival in -pandemonium than a congregation of human beings in "this huge rotundity -on which we tread." - -The feelings of the young men, as they stood and watched this -performance, were varied; neither of them had seen a corroboree on so -grand a scale before; and they were for a time lost in wonder at an -exhibition, which no description can truthfully depict. John was -dreaming of the emancipation and improvement of a race, which he -believed, could be made to ameliorate their condition; and felt -sorrowful that, in the midst of civilisation (with its examples before -their eyes, and the inculcations which had been instilled into the -nature of one of their number), the blacks should be still perpetuating -the emblems of their barbarity and degradation. Tom's meditations were -of a different nature; though he advocated kind treatment to them in -the intercourses of life, he still believed them an inferior race of -sentient beings; if not altogether devoid of the mental attributes of -man. He, moreover, thought he read in their manner, despite all the -suavity of Jemmy Davis and Dugingi, something that portended evil; and -fancied he heard more than once, his own name uttered by them in their -song. It might have been only fancy, he thought; but an idea of -something premeditated had seized upon his mind, and he could not divest -himself of it. - -Our young friends by this time, having seen quite enough to satisfy -them, and being unnoticed in their position, quietly left the spot; -and, having procured their horses, retraced their steps to the river. -They there mounted, and having crossed the stream, returned almost -silently to Fern Vale, and retired to rest. On the following morning Tom -took his leave of his friend; while, almost contemporary with his -departure, John's black boys, Billy and Jemmy, presented themselves to -resume their former life on the station. We may remark that Billy had by -this time perfectly recovered from his castigation, though he, and also -his companion, did not fail to stigmatize in very strong, if not in very -elegant, or pure English, phraseology, the conduct of Mr. Rainsfield; -and as much as insinuated that the tribe were in no very friendly way -disposed towards him. - -This, John Ferguson was seriously grieved to learn; for he dreaded the -consequence of an open rupture between the aborigines and his neighbour. -He knew, if the blacks became more than ordinarily troublesome, that -Rainsfield would enlist the sympathies of his friends, and his class -generally; when blood would inevitably be shed, and the poor natives -hunted from the face of the earth. He therefore determined, if he should -not see Tom in a day or two, to ride over and call upon Mr. Rainsfield; -and while adverting to the treatment received by his black boy from -him, warn him of the danger, not only to himself, but to all the -settlers in his neighbourhood, by his persisting in his stringent -course. With this intention, a few days after the corroboree, not having -seen his friend in the interval, he rode over to Strawberry Hill. - -As he approached the residence of the Rainsfields, despite his struggles -to suppress it, he felt his heart beat high with the anticipation of -seeing Eleanor, for the first time since his meeting with Bob Smithers. -John had, of late, striven hard to wean himself from what he attempted -to believe was his wild infatuation; and thought that he had -sufficiently schooled his mind, so as to meet her without the slightest -perturbation. But he had deceived himself; and as he approached the -house, and felt a consciousness of her proximity, he experienced that -strange agitation over which mortals have no control. He, however, -determined to avoid giving any outward indication of his mental -disquietude, so as not to cause any uneasiness to Eleanor from his -visit; and for that purpose he stopped his horse in the bush, before he -came within sight, and collected himself into a settled calmness. Having -performed this little piece of training he proceeded, and was passing -the huts on his way to the house, when he was accosted by Mr. Billing; -who informed him that Mr. Rainsfield had desired him to intimate, that -if he, Mr. Ferguson, desired to see that gentleman, he would meet him at -Mr. Billing's cottage in a few minutes. This request John thought rather -singular; but he turned his horse's head to the direction of the -cottage, at the door of which he alighted; and, after fastening his -horse to the fence, he entered. - -"You will no doubt think it exceedingly rude in me, Mr. Ferguson," -exclaimed the little man, "to intercept you in your road to the house. -Though you perceive me, sir, in a menial capacity, I am perfectly -conversant with, as I am also possessed of the feelings of a gentleman; -therefore I feel a repugnance, sir, in wounding those feelings in -another. You are doubtless aware, sir, we have had another marauding -visitation from those insolent savages; and Mr. Rainsfield is not only -greatly enraged at them, but has become, sir, extremely irascible and -truculent towards myself; and has conceived a notion that you are in -some way influencing and encouraging them in their depredations. The -pertinacity with which they annoy him, sir, is certainly marvellous; and -he is confirmed in the belief that it is in a great measure owing to -your instigations; therefore he gave instructions that, in the event of -your calling, I should request you to step under my humble roof, while I -sent him notice of your presence. This, sir, I have done, so you may -expect to see him in a few minutes. I merely mention these -circumstances, sir, not in disparagement of my employer; but to account -to you for my rudeness, and exonerate myself from the imputation of any -voluntary violation of good breeding." - -"Pray, don't mention it, Mr. Billing," replied John; "I don't imagine -for a moment that you would intentionally commit any breach of decorum, -even if the interruption of my passage could be termed such; but I must -confess, I can't understand why Mr. Rainsfield should wish to prevent me -from calling upon him in his own house." Though John said this, his -heart whispered a motive for such interruption. - -"I am flattered, sir, by your good opinion," said Mr. Billing, "and I -thank you. I believe, sir, you're a native of the colony, and have not -visited Europe; but you are a man of the world, sir, I can perceive, and -will readily understand the anomalies of my position. I, who have been -bred, sir, in the mercantile community of the cosmopolitan metropolis, -being subjected to the petty tyrannies of a man, whom I consider -mentally my inferior. I am disgusted, sir, with the incongruities of my -situation, and harassed by the thought of my trials being shared by -Mrs. Billing (who, I assure you, sir, is an ornament to her sex); and -the total absence, sir, of all those comforts, which a man who has been -in the position I have been in, sir, and who has come to my years, -naturally expects, tends to make this occupation distasteful to me." - -John, we are ashamed to say (at the moment forgetful of his own) felt -amused at the sorrows of the little man; though he smilingly assured him -that he thought a man of his evident abilities was thrown away in the -bush, and that he believed it would be considerably more to his -advantage, if he forsook so inhospitable a pursuit, as that in which he -was engaged, for something more congenial to his nature and compatible -with his education. - -"My dear sir," replied the enthusiastic storekeeper, "I again thank you. -I perceive, sir, by your judicious remarks, you are a gentleman of no -ordinary discernment. The same idea has often struck me, sir; in fact, I -may say the 'wish is father to the thought;' but, unfortunately, -'thereby hangs a tale.' If you have no objection to listen to me, sir, -for a few minutes, I will explain the peculiarities of my position." - -John having expressed himself desirous of hearing the explanation, Mr. -Billing proceeded. "You must know, sir, that after finishing a sound -general education at one of the public schools of London (you will -forgive me, sir, for commencing at the normal period of my career), my -father, who was a medical man of good practice but large family, sent -me, sir, to the desk. I, in fact, entered the counting-house of my -relatives, Messrs. Billing, Barlow, & Co., of Upper Thames Street, in -the city of London, a firm extensively engaged in the comb and brush -line, and enjoying a wide celebrity, sir, in the city and provinces. I -continued at my post, sir, for years, until I obtained the situation of -provincial traveller, which place I continued to fill for a lengthy -period. I need hardly say, sir, that in my peregrinations my name was -sufficient to command respect from our friends and constituents, who -naturally imagined that I must have been a partner in the firm I -represented; consequently, sir, my vicissitudes were almost imaginary, -and my comfort superior to the generality of commercial travellers. I -did not, of course, sir, enlighten the minds of our constituents on -their error, the effects of which I every day enjoyed; more especially -as the firm, from my long services, had solemnly pledged themselves to -receive me into their corporate body as a partner. The mutations of even -our nearest relatives, sir, are not to be depended upon; for I found in -my experience, that the word of a principal is not always a guarantee. -Upon urging the recognition of my claims, I found a spirit of -equivocation to exist in my friends; and such conduct not agreeing, sir, -with my views of integrity, I uttered some severe strictures on their -scandalous behaviour, and withdrew, sir, from the connexion. - -"I must remark, sir, that about three years before this event (ah, sir! -that was a soft period of my life), I took unto myself an accomplished -lady as the wife of my bosom. I had been at great pains and expense, -sir, to consolidate our comfort in a nice little box at Brixton; and had -been blessed, sir, with two of our dear children. About this time the -fame of the Australian _El Dorado_ had spread far and wide; and, after -my rupture with my relatives, I was easily allured, sir, from my -peaceful hearth to seek my fortune in this land of promise; I say a land -of promise, sir, but I impugn not its fair name when I add that if it -ever was one to me, it failed to fulfil its obligations. I fear, sir, I -am tedious," said Mr. Billing, breaking off in his discourse, "for this -is a theme I feel I can dilate on;" but being assured by his companion -that he was by no means tiresome, he continued: "I told you, sir, that I -had taken great pains and expense to furnish my house at Brixton; and I -felt a reluctance to submit it to the hammer, and to sever myself and -family from the blissful fireside of our English home. However, sir, -avarice is strong in the minds of mortals; and visions of antipodean -wealth decided my fate, and caused the sacrifice of my contented home on -the altar of Plutus. I had heard that the difficulties of the diggings -were insuperable to genteel aspirants after gold; and I, therefore, -determined, sir, to be wise in my own generation, and, instead of -digging for the precious metal, to open an establishment where I could -procure it, sir, by vending articles of every-day use. For this purpose, -sir, I invested my capital in stock of which I had had practical -experience, that is, in combs and brushes; conjecturing, sir, that they -would be articles which most speculators would overlook, and, -consequently, be in great demand. In due time, sir, I arrived in the -colony with my goods, and lost not a moment unnecessarily in repairing -to the diggings. I need not recount, sir, the many difficulties which -beset my path; I believe they were common to all in similar -circumstances; and you, are no doubt, sir, sufficiently acquainted with -such scenes yourself. Suffice it to say, sir, that eventually I reached -my destination, and discovered, as we would say in mercantile parlance, -that my goods had arrived to a bad market. I assure, you, sir, the -horrid creatures who congregated at those diggings, notwithstanding that -their heads were perfect masses of hair, disdained, yes, absolutely -disdained, sir, the use of my wares. - -"I then asked myself what was to be done; and while meditating on a -reply, sir, a viper was at hand to tempt me to my ruin. A plausible, -well-spoken gentleman, sir, introduced himself to me as a Mr. Black; -and proposed that as my goods were of no value on the diggings, but -were very saleable in Melbourne, I should take them back and commence -business there. He at the same time remarked, sir, that to commence -business it would be essential for me to have 'colonial experience;' -and doubting if I possessed such an acquirement, he, therefore, begged, -sir, to offer his services. He, in fact proposed that he should join -me in the undertaking; stating, sir, that through his general knowledge -of business, he was convinced that the speculation would succeed; -and suggested that we should at once proceed to Melbourne, sir, with -my goods. He would embark, he said, his capital in the concern, and -purchase an assortment of goods for a general business, which we were -to carry on under the name and style of 'Black and Billing.' This -he facetiously made the subject of a witticism, by remarking that -it would be rendered into 'Black Billy'[A] by the diggers when they -visited town; and would of a certainty ensure our success. I must -confess, sir, I was taken in by the scoundrel's wiles, and readily -entered into his scheme; the result of which is easily related. With -the expense of carrying my goods and myself backwards and forwards from -the diggings, my spare cash was all but expended; and when, sir, I -rejoined Mrs. Billing, whom I had left behind me, sir, in Melbourne, -until I should have become settled, I found myself almost penniless. -However, sir, although I'm a man of small stature, I am possessed of -considerable energy and, therefore, sir, set myself earnestly to work. -I soon procured a shop, though with miserable accommodation, and at -an enormous rental; but my partner assured me it was no matter, as we -would soon reap our harvest. I got my goods, sir, into the place, and -shortly afterwards my partner procured an extensive assortment also; -when we commenced our business, as I thought, under very favourable -auspices. But I soon discovered my mistake; for one fine morning -I found Mr. Black had decamped with all the money of the concern, -after converting as many of the goods into gold as he could. I then -discovered, sir, that the stock he had procured was upon credit, on the -strength of that which I had in the place at the time; and finding his -defalcations were greater than I could possibly meet, and my creditors -being fearful that I would follow his example, I was compelled to -relinquish my property to liquidate their claims. I then, sir, found -myself not only destitute, but homeless; with my wife and children -dependent upon me for their subsistence. - -[Footnote A: A name applied by the diggers to the tin pot in which they -boil their water, as also to black hats.] - -"I managed, sir, however, to procure employment by driving a cart; and, -after saving sufficient money, succeeded in getting round to Sydney, -where my wife, sir, had relations. They, sir, promised me assistance, -and after a short interval fulfilled their promise by establishing me in -a store at Armidale; where I got on, sir, pretty well, and would have -succeeded, but for the chicanery of some scoundrels, sir, by whom I lost -considerably, and was a second time reduced to labour for a support. -Through various vicissitudes, sir, I have come to this, and, you may -well imagine, that a man of my sensitive feeling and appreciation of -honour, in this menial capacity meets with nothing but disgust and -mortification. But, sir, I do not repine; however dark is the horizon -of my fate, despair does not enter my mind; the clouds of depression -must necessarily some day be removed; and then, sir, the sun of my -future will burst forth with a refulgence, the more resplendent from its -previous concealment. I desire, sir, in fact it is the fondest wish of -my heart, to return to Old England; but at present that cannot be, for -means, sir, are wanting; the all potent needful is required; money, sir. -But things must improve, they cannot last for ever thus; to think that -I, a gentleman, and Mrs. Billing a gentlewoman, should waste our very -existence, sir, in this wilderness; banished, sir, from the very -intercourse of man; expatriated, sir, from all we hold most dear, and, -forsaken, sir, by the society whence we are ostracized. The thought, -sir, is harrowing; yes, sir, harrowing beyond measure." - -Mr. Billing was now getting pathetic and rather lachrymose; and his -confessions might have become of a confidential, and a painful nature, -had they not, very much to the relief of our hero, been cut short by the -opportune entrance of Mr. Rainsfield, who, when Mr. Billing had left the -room, addressed himself to John: - -"I must apologize for keeping you waiting, Mr. Ferguson, but I was -engaged at the moment I heard of your call; and I thought by your -meeting me here it would save you from that pain which, otherwise, your -visit might have occasioned you, after the circumstances which -transpired when you last favoured us with your company." - -"I am particularly indebted to you for your solicitation," replied John; -"but I may remark, I had sufficient confidence in myself to feel assured -that I would have neither received, nor given any pain in the manner in -which I presume you mean. And I may also state that, but for the desire -I had to give you some information that may be of vital importance to -you, I would have disdained your bidding." - -"Then, may I beg to know the object of your call," enquired Rainsfield. - -"I have two," replied John, "first I have been informed by one of my -black boys that you severely maltreated him; and considering myself -aggrieved by the act, as it was the means of depriving me of his -services, I beg you to explain the cause for so unwarrantable a -procedure." - -"I justify my acts to no man," exclaimed Rainsfield, "and recognise no -blacks as others than members of their general community; who take upon -themselves to perform various acts of aggression. The laws of our -country not being potent enough to protect us from their marauding, we -do it ourselves; and if you think fit to gainsay our right, you know -what course to pursue; and now, sir, for your second object." - -"I might with equal justice," said John, "decline to afford you the -information I by accident obtained, but I have no desire to show such -churlishness, and I believe that by judiciously acting upon it, you may -save yourself from some calamity; which I have good cause to believe is -impending. My two black boys who left me after your assault on one of -them, and who were only persuaded to return after their great corroboree -by my conciliating their chief, have informed me, in an imperfect -manner, that some overt act of aggression, on the part of the tribe, is -meditated; and it is to put you on your guard against this that I have -ventured to trouble you with my presence." - -"Then it was at that corroboree on the spoliation of my property that -you heard this?" exclaimed Rainsfield. "My goods were purloined to feast -those imps of darkness, and you lent your presence to grace their -proceedings? I always thought you encouraged the villains in their -infamies, and I now perceive my suspicions were well founded. However, -sir, I am perfectly independent of you, and your so called information. -I have decided upon my course of action, and will not therefore trouble -you further to interest yourself in my behalf. You will no doubt -readily perceive that your presence here at any time would be extremely -unpleasant; and I must therefore request that you absent yourself from -my house as much as possible. I shall now wish you good day;" saying -which Rainsfield quitted the room. - -John Ferguson was so taken by surprise at the violent tirade he had just -listened to, that he had had no idea of defending himself from an -accusation, the manifest absurdity of which merely struck him as -contemptuous. But he felt a source of grief at being summarily estranged -from the other members of the family; and whatever his feelings had been -when he came to the station, he left it with a heavy heart, and returned -home to meet the cavalcade, which we have seen in a previous chapter had -gone over. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - "I have it, it is engender'd: hell and night - Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light." - -OTHELLO, _Act_ 1, _Sc._ 3. - - "Then should I know you by description; - Such garments and such years." - -AS YOU LIKE IT, _Act_ 5, _Sc._ 3. - - -Despite his professed contempt for John Ferguson's information Mr. -Rainsfield felt an uneasy apprehension at the growing confidence, and -contumacious freedom of the blacks. He even began to doubt if he would -be able to maintain his position single-handed against them, and thought -seriously of the advisableness of calling a meeting of the surrounding -settlers, to organize a league for their mutual protection. But then he -remembered the blacks directed all their _animus_ against himself, and -it was therefore questionable, he imagined, if he could induce more than -two or three of his neighbours to join him; besides which, even they -could not constantly be on the alert; while he must, consequently, be -frequently open to surprisal. A thought, however, struck him, or rather -we should have said, a diabolical idea suggested itself to his mind; -and, after cogitating and arguing with himself for some time, he -determined to act upon it. - -The pestilence, so he mentally soliloquized, had now reached its height, -and something must be done; for he was not only robbed of his station -supplies, but he was frequently losing even cattle; while, instead of -seeing any prospect of amendment, he only perceived that the successes -of his despoilers were emboldening them to fresh adventures. He knew -that an application to the government for protection was absolutely -useless; for they hadn't it to give. It is true he might stir the -district to agitate the settlement of a native police detachment in that -quarter; but he also knew, even if he succeeded in obtaining such a -location, that the force would be necessarily so miserably small as to -be perfectly inadequate to the contingencies. (Possibly three or four -men stationed in the centre of fifty square miles to protect the -scattered population against as many hundred savages.) The idea was -preposterous, and he scouted it. No, he thought, he must depend upon -himself for protection, and would therefore adopt a line of policy that -would check, if not annihilate, the nuisance; while the exigencies of -the case would justify him in his measures. Such, then, were the -thoughts that passed through the mind of Mr. Rainsfield after his -interview with our hero. - -He returned to Mr. Billing's cottage after John Ferguson's departure, -and accosted his _employé_ in his blandest and most suasive manner. "Mr. -Billing," said he, "I am about to enter upon a crusade against the -native dogs, which I find are becoming very troublesome to the sheep -in the upper part of the run; and, to effectually destroy them, I intend -to poison some carcasses to be left for them to make a meal of. I would -therefore like you to ride over to Alma, and explain the matter to Mr. -Gilbert, the storekeeper there; and procure for me a supply of -strychnine and arsenic. I would not trouble you, but you are aware that -he would not give it to a shepherd without a request from me; and it is -hardly safe to send any of the men. I would be particularly obliged to -you if you would undertake the task, as I can confidently depend upon -your judgment to prevent any mistake." - -This little piece of what the Yankees would designate "soft sawder" on -the part of Rainsfield, had the effect, not only of removing any -objections his diminutive confidential might have had to such a journey, -but of inducing him to acknowledge the compliment in a series of -corporeal oscillations; while he replied to the blandishment, in the -following strain: "It would afford me, sir, the greatest earthly -pleasure to comply with your wishes; even to the considerable personal -inconvenience, sir, and bodily suffering of your humble servant; but you -must be aware equestrianism sir, is an accomplishment I never deemed it -necessary to acquire. During my mercantile career, sir, I was reputed, -and I think I may add justly too, sir, one of the best amateur whips in -the city of London; and had my transit, sir, to be effected by a -vehicular means, I flatter myself, sir, none could accomplish the -mission better." - -"That I am convinced of," replied Mr. Rainsfield; "but I fear, Mr. -Billing, I shall have to defer the pleasure of witnessing your skill in -handling the ribbons until I am induced, by the existence of roads, to -treat myself and my family to the luxury of a carriage. But, with regard -to the journey I have mentioned, I can provide you with a quiet horse; -and I have no doubt a man of your various accomplishments will find no -difficulty in adding to them the art of riding. In fact, unless you had -mentioned it, I would never have imagined but that you were a perfect -equestrian; your stature and figure are just such as would show to best -advantage on horseback; and, with the constant opportunities which -present themselves here, I really am surprised that you don't ride. You -know 'it is never too late to mend;' so you must really permit me to -persuade you (irrespective of this journey) to commence at once -practising the art, and take a regular course of riding. I am convinced -you will not only find it pleasant, but beneficial to your health." - -"I appreciate your kindness, sir," replied the little man. "As you say, -it is never too late to mend, and I really think, sir, it is ridiculous -that I should not be able to ride; but the fact is, to be candid, sir, I -have always dreaded the first lesson." - -"There is really nothing to fear, Mr. Billing," said Rainsfield. "You -will find, once on your horse, riding will come natural to you; the -only inconvenience you will experience is being at first a little stiff -after it." - -"When would you desire me to start, if I took this journey?" enquired -the would be equestrian. - -"Well, I should prefer it at once," replied his tempter. "If you were to -start within half an hour you would have at least six hours of daylight; -and the distance is only about twenty-five miles, so you could reach the -town at your leisure before dark, and return to-morrow." - -"I have decided then, sir," exclaimed Mr. Billing; "you may command my -services, and I will be at your disposal before the expiration of half -an hour." - -"That's right, Mr. Billing," replied his superior; "and I'll get a horse -in from the paddock for you; and by the way, will you just leave the -keys of the store with Mrs. Billing. When you are away I purpose -removing all the stores into the house, and have prepared a room for -their reception; so if our black visitors should favour us with a call -during your absence they will find themselves disappointed." - -"Most assuredly, sir, as you desire," replied the quondam commercial; "I -will hand the badges of my office into your hands myself, to prevent, -sir, the possibility of any mistake:" saying which the two separated; -Mr. Billing filed with the importance of his mission, to communicate it -to his wife, and obtain her aid in a speedy preparation for his -hazardous journey; and his employer, with a complaisant smile of -satisfaction on his features, to give instructions for the immediate -capture of a steed. - -Within the specified time an animal was brought by Mr. Rainsfield up to -the door of Mr. Billing's abode duly caparisoned for the journey, and -with an old valise strapped upon the saddle. At the same time the -adventurous storekeeper also made his appearance; having undergone by -the careful assiduity of his wife a perfect transmutation. On his head -stood erect a black cylindrical deformity, designated in the vulgar -parlance of the colony "a Billy," but which he, while he smiled benignly -at the ignorance of the _canaille_ (as he gave it the extra rotary -flourish of the brush, while he read "Christy's best London make" in the -crown), called a hat; and the only proper head-dress for a gentleman. He -was encompassed in a coat of the gigantic order, possessed of many -pockets; a garment truly noble to look upon, and one that had done -service to its owner in days of yore; when on cold and wet mornings Mr. -Billing nestled himself in his wonted position in the Brixton 'bus, to -be conveyed to his diurnal bustle in the city. In this habiliment -evidences of an affectionate wife's forethought were visible in the -protrusion from the pockets of sundry pieces of paper, denoting the -occupation of those receptacles by certain parcels; the contents of -which, should the reader be anxious to know, we are in a position to -disclose. - -In the lower pocket on the right hand side, we are enabled from our -information (which is from the most reliable source) to inform the -curious, was a parcel (thrust by Mrs. Billing with her own hands) -enclosing two garments, of a spotless purity, essential for a -gentleman's nocturnal comfort. In the contemporary pouch was a package -of humbler pretensions, containing sundries to appease a traveller's -appetite; while in another was deposited that necessary paraphernalia -for a morning's toilet, embraced in the apparatus known as a -"gentleman's travelling companion." His legs were encased in trousers -that had been brought specially to the light. They were of a -questionable colour, something between that of kippered salmon and hard -bake; and were strapped down to his feet with such powerful tension that -he was threatened every moment with a mishap most awkward in its -consequences. When he walked he effected the exercise with a -sprightliness that appeared as if galvanic agency was that which had -set his nether limbs in motion; and his feet started from the ground at -every step with a spring that promised at each evolution the protrusion -of some part of his crural members. - -In this perfect costume Mr. Billing considered himself adjusted for the -road; and construing the smile of amusement that played on the features -of Mr. Rainsfield as a mark of affability returned it in his most -winning style. - -The horse provided for this Gilpin excursion was an animal of no mean -pretensions. He boasted of having in his veins some of the best blood of -the country, though, now perhaps, that blood was somewhat vapid, and he -rather patriarchal. He had served many masters, and performed various -duties; from racing to filling the equivocal position of a station and -stockman's hack. Though once possessed of a spirit that required a -strong arm and determined will to maintain a mastery over, he was now as -quiet and subdued as a lamb; although he was as sagacious as most of -his riders, and as knowing as any "old hoss" in the country. He had -settled into an easy-going stager, that neither persuasion nor force -could induce to deviate from the "even tenor of his way;" while his -general appearance, at this stage of his life, was long-legged, -raw-boned, lean and screwed, with the additional embellishment of being -minus his near eye. - -Mr. Billing surveyed the beast that was to carry him to Alma with about -the same comprehension as a ploughman would contemplate a steam engine; -while the horse returned the gaze from the corner of his sound eye, and -winked in a manner that might have been interpreted into a request "to -wait until he got him on his back." Mr. Billing, however, was perfectly -unacquainted with the significance of his horse's looks, and perhaps -well for him that he was; for we are convinced, had he known what was -in store for him, he would never have risked his valuable person and -life on the back of so perverse a dispositioned animal. We have heard -that an inclination of the head is equivalent to the closing of one eye -to a quadruped whose ocular organs are in a state of total derangement; -and we therefore presume that the momentary stultification of our -quadruped's vision had the same effect upon our Cockney-born viator -as the craniological recognition mentioned in the aphorism would have -had on his horse. Consequently, he was in blissful ignorance of the -trials that awaited him; and, under the directions of Mr. Rainsfield, -he prepared to mount with an alacrity which he prided himself as -pertaining to a "city man of business," and which he still retained in -his animated anatomy. - -For some time he experienced considerable difficulty, in fact he found -it absolutely impossible, to so far stretch his limbs as to get one leg -high enough from the ground to reach the stirrup; and not until, at the -suggestion of his highly-amused employer, his loving spouse produced a -chair from the cottage, had he any prospect of reaching the saddle. -However, being elevated by the chair, he made a bound on to the back of -the steed, but unfortunately with too great an impetus; for he lost his -equilibrium in attempting to gain his seat, and measured his length on -the ground. This mishap tended to cast a gloom upon his spirits, but he -was soon rallied by Mr. Rainsfield, who told him he would be all right -when once in his saddle and on the road. Upon a second attempt he -exercised more caution, with better success; and, as he seated himself -in his saddle bolt upright, he gazed about him, and below him, with a -proud consciousness of the elegant symmetry of himself and horse; and -doubted not he would, as he then stood, be a prize study for any -sculptor. His following remark will not therefore be wondered at. - -"As you a few minutes ago affirmed, sir, now that I am possessed of my -seat, I do feel myself all right. I experience, sir, a confidence in -myself that, if called upon, I could do any equestrian prodigy, even to -eclipse the stupendous leap of Martius Curtius; or to perform, sir, any -other feat that my destiny may decree." - -"I am equally confident in your abilities, Mr. Billing," replied his -master; "but I trust they will never be put to so severe a test. I will -walk with you to where the roads to Alma and Brompton diverge. It is not -more than a mile beyond the Wombi, so, though I can tell you yours is -the left hand road, I may as well accompany you to the junction. From -that you will have no difficulty in keeping to the track, if you just -give the horse his head; for he has been so used to the road that he -will know perfectly well where he has to go. You will perceive I have -strapped a valise on your saddle; it is for you, when you procure the -poisons, to put them into it, and keep them out of harm's way; while it -will save you the annoyance and trouble of carrying them." - -When they arrived at the spot where the tracks separated Mr. Rainsfield -parted from his colleague; and looking after him for a few minutes, -until he was lost from view by a turn in the road, he burst into an -inordinate fit of laughter, and turned on his heel to retrace his steps. -After walking for some time in abstracted silence, apparently absorbed -in deep meditation, he suddenly started with the ejaculation, "Yes! by -Jupiter, that'll stop them. I expect they won't trouble me much after -that." - -But while we leave him to his cogitations and silent walk, we will -pursue Mr. Billing and accompany him on his ride. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - "His horse which never in that sort - Had handled been before, - What thing upon his back had got, - Did wonder more and more." - -COWPER - - - -When he departed from his master, as we have described in the last -chapter, Mr. Billing went on his way with a joyful heart. But, thinking -the slow walking pace of his steed might safely be improved upon; and -also considering, that if he could only prevail upon the horse to walk a -little faster, it would facilitate his journey amazingly; he commenced a -series of exhortations that were excellent adjuncts to the theory which -advocates the superiority of persuasion to the application of force, -but extremely ineffective in practice, when the subject is a quadruped -of rather a stubborn nature, and perfectly ignorant of the vernacular in -which he is addressed. Thus, when Mr. Billing endeavoured to accelerate -the speed of his animal, by the utterance of such pathetic and endearing -appeals, as "now, come along, poor old horsey;" "there's a good old -horse;" "ge up;" "now, don't be angry" (as the beast showed signs of -uneasiness); "walk a little faster, like a good old horse;" we say we -would not have been surprised, had the horse paid no more heed to Mr. -Billing's entreaties than we should be likely to do, were we addressed -in a lively asinine interpellation, by one of those animals, whose -peculiar idiosyncrasies are proverbial. But, strange to say in this -case, the horse did notice the requests of his rider. Whether he was an -animal of superior discernment, and detected the wishes of Mr. Billing -in the tone of that gentleman's appeals; or, whether the intonation -sounded to his ears strange and novel, and stimulated him with a desire -to accommodate the applicant; or, whether he himself became anxious to -reach his destination, to realize his visions of a stable and a feed, we -cannot venture to say. But we simply record the fact, that Mr. Billing's -request to the "old horse" was complied with; and the quadruped went off -in a step, which was an incongruous mixture of a shambling walk, a -canter, and a trot. - -That fable of the frogs, who in answer to their prayer for a king, -obtained a carnivorous monarch of the aves genus, has no doubt been -forcibly impressed on the memories of our readers during their -scholastic probation. They will readily, then, understand the feelings -of Mr. Billing, when he imprecated his rashness for disturbing the -equanimity of his horse's pace; and we are convinced that the animals in -the apologue never prayed more fervently for a discontinuance of their -visitation than he did for an alleviation of his misery. All his -"woa's," and "stop old horse's," were perfectly unavailing; the -quadruped proceeded without the slightest notice, and with the greatest -unconcern. But the torment to the biped was dreadful. What was he to do? -He had uttered the talismanic syllable, that had called up the spirit; -while he was not possessed of the power to exorcise it. His agony of -body, was only equalled by that of his mind. He remembered Mr. -Rainsfield had said the animal never went out of one step; and if that -in which he then was should be the step, which he would of a necessity -continue during the whole of the journey, what would become of him? The -thought was horrible and insuperable; but he, Mr. Billing, the quondam -pride of Thames Street, could not answer it; and in a stoical distress -of mind he gave vent to a sigh, which seemed to jolt out by inches the -centre of his little fastidious anatomy. He a thousand times wished -himself back again, safe alongside the partner of his bosom; when no -power on earth should persuade him to submit again to so ignoble a -position and spectacle, as a ride on horseback. But something must be -done, he thought; for as the horse proceeded in his jogging step, so did -Mr. Billing continue to be battered by his jolting. - -The unfortunate equestrian was a perfect picture of distress. At every -step of the animal, he was almost bounded from his seat. He could not -speak, for the breath was almost shaken out of his body; while he dared -not look around for fear of losing his equilibrium. He had also lost his -hold of the bridle, which he dropt on the horse's neck; while he seized -the pommel of the saddle for his further security, with the air and -grasp of a resolute man who preferred even torture to the indignity of -being unseated. - -What Mr. Billing's appearance was, when he was undergoing this ordeal, -our readers who have witnessed a first riding lesson can easily imagine; -and would, no doubt, were they witnesses of the scene, be ready to laugh -at the victim's sufferings as we penitently confess ourselves to have -done. Our friend's torture, however, continued as he turned over in his -mind the best means of obtaining relief. If he should be so far -fortunate as to meet any one in the road who would kindly stop the -refractory animal, he thought, how grateful he would be; but of that he -feared there was little chance. A thought, however, struck him and -suddenly illumined his perturbed spirit. Why could he not stop him -himself? It never occurred to him before, but now he experienced a gleam -of hope; he thought, if he could but pull the bridle, the animal would -cease his torturing career. But then how was he to effect this? If he -relinquished his hold, he might lose his seat; however, he determined to -try, and, summoning all his energies to his aid, he suddenly relaxed his -grasp of the saddle, seized the bridle, and gave it as violent a tug as -his strength would permit. His object, however, was not gained; for in -his avidity to stop the horse he had pulled on the one side of the -bridle, and his Rosinante, instead of slackening his speed to the -desired pace, turned his head and looked Cyclops-like at his rider, in a -way that said as plainly as looks could: "What is it you want?" But we -have already stated that Mr. Billing was not versed in the significance -of horse's looks, so he understood it not; but continued to tug with a -violence that threatened his own downfall, and the dislocation of the -quadruped's jaw. - -Servants, however industrious and painstaking, may sometimes find it -difficult with petulant employers to ascertain the precise wishes of -their superiors; and not unfrequently have we witnessed some truculent -master abusing his menials for an act, the very nadir of which had -previously met with his disapprobation; leaving the abusees in a state -of doubt as to what really were the desires of "the master." In the same -way was the horse in our narrative. He turned his head in the direction -indicated by Mr. Billing's tug; and finding it still continued, he -followed with his whole body; and, possibly under the impression that -he was required to return home in the same leisure trot, he commenced a -retrogression. That was not, however, what his rider required, at least -while his journey was unaccomplished; for though, for his personal -comfort, he devoutly desired it, such a course of action could not be -thought of. Mr. Billing was a man of honour, and volunteered to perform -the duty; had even pledged his word; while his respected master had told -him that he relied upon his good judgment; therefore, was such a -confidence to be misplaced, and his integrity to be called into -question? "Never!" Mr. Billing mentally ejaculated; even if his life -were to be sacrificed in an expenditure of sighs. An imputation of such -a dereliction had never been cast upon the name of Billing, and should -he be the first to disgrace the family? He mentally replied with an -emphatic and forcible negative, and tugged away with increased energy at -the bridle he continued to hold in his hand. - -It is needless to say the horse became bewildered at the manoevering -of his rider. He had never experienced such treatment before, and could -not comprehend its meaning. He stopped; the tugging continued. He turned -again, and the tugging ceased. He thus discovered the desire of his -director; and being at the time somewhat accommodatingly disposed, he -proceeded at a snail-paced ambulation. Our readers will have by this -time discovered that Mr. Billing's Rosinante was an animal of rather a -peculiar temperament; and will therefore be prepared to hear that, -having gained some experience of the style of individual on his back, he -gave evidences of a disposition which caused no little uneasiness to the -sensitive mind of the Strawberry Hill Mercury. This highly to be -deprecated perversity, displayed itself in various "little games" of his -own, which were performed with a degree of _nonchalance_ highly edifying -to an admirer of coolness, though extremely alarming to our friend. -Some of the most salient we may mention, were, grazing in the bush at -the side of the track; rubbing himself against the trees; taking erratic -turns in search of water-holes; and finally stopping altogether. - -This trial was worse than all, and brought Mr. Billing's patience to a -culminating point. That the poor animal should desire a drink he thought -in no way extravagant; but to coolly stand still, and decline any -further progression, was the height of assumption; which even he could -not tolerate. He therefore grew importunate in his demands for -locomotion; and vibrated his legs like pendulums, while he shouted in a -voice that betrayed anger. He again seized the bridle, and tugged away -with equal violence as before, only varying the operation by pulling -alternately, one side, and the other. Under this, or some unaccountable -influence, the horse regained his amiability, and returned to the road; -and, moreover, took the right direction for Alma; which, though at a -pace by no means so fast as Mr. Billing could desire, yet in one which -he thought preferable to that, the inconveniences of which he had had -such tangible proof. However, he now jogged on at his leisure, and would -doubtless have continued to have done so without any further adventure, -had he not been disturbed from his equanimity by the unmistakeable -sounds of an approaching bullock dray. The idea of meeting this threw -him into a perfect state of perplexity, and he therefore thought of -getting off the track to allow it to pass; but how to guide his perverse -animal he knew not. The sounds came nearer, but his horse paid no -attention to his admonitions; so, with visions of being gored to death -by bullocks, he relinquished the contest with his animal, and gave -himself up for lost. - -The dray slowly dragged its course along, and approached within sight of -our adventurous friend; when its companions, amused at the figure before -them, halted their team to have a little conversation with one whose -appearance was truly enough to excite their risibility. Mr. Billing's -horse, in like manner, aware that it was expected of him to halt, also -did so; and the individual, who officiated as driver to the team, -addressed the equestrian in the following easy style of familiarity: - -"I say, mate, don't you think you'd better get inside?" - -The force of this coarse joke was duly appreciated by the utterer's -travelling companions; though it was entirely lost upon our friend, who -gazed in mute astonishment at his questioner. While he indulges in this -visual inspection, we will crave permission to make a slight digression, -for the purpose of describing the parties thus unceremoniously -introduced to the reader's notice. - -The driver of the dray, and the individual who had addressed Mr. -Billing, was a man of ordinary stature; slight in make, and past the -meridian of life. His features were sharp; his hair was tinged with -gray; his eyes were of the same colour, and somewhat sunken in his -head; on his chin and lip was hair of about a week's growth, having very -much the appearance of a worn-out scrubbing brush, and of quite as -course a texture. He was clad in the usual bushman's style, and carried -the long whip of his order. At his side walked a young man, in -appearance and manner a considerable improvement on the old one; and -high upon the laden dray were perched two females. One was an old dame -with features of the nut-cracker cast, and apparelled with an evident -desire to combine in her person all the prismatic hues. Her more -juvenile companion, while emulating the same laudable disposition, was -certainly superior in looks to her, in the same proportion as the young -man was to the old. The appearance of the whole party was such as -proclaimed them at once, to the practised eye of Mr. Billing, to be of a -class having no pretensions to gentility; though there was an air about -them of careless freedom and easy comfort that, to him, ill accorded -with their position. He had satisfied himself on this point, by his -scrutiny, when he ventured to reply to the before mentioned remark of -the old man by making the following observation: - -"May I be permitted, my good sir, to enquire the nature of the -expression you just made use of? I presume you must have spoken in -metaphor." - -"Not a bit, old cock," replied the man, "I guess I spoke in English. You -didn't seem to enjoy travelling that ere way, so I just axed you if -you'd get inside." - -"And pray, sir, what did you mean by that?" asked Mr. Billing, whose -choler began to rise at what he considered the rude insolence of his -interrogator. - -"Oh! nothing," replied the young man, who saw that their new -acquaintance was likely to be a little irascible, "my father was only -joking." - -"And pray, young man," said Mr. Billing, "is not your father aware that -it is a gross breach of decorum his attempting to pass his jokes off on -a gentleman? eh, sir?" - -"Certainly," replied the young fellow, "he is quite aware of it, but he -has got such a way of joking with people that he does it all the same -with friends and strangers; and I have no doubt he could not resist the -temptation of having a slap at you, when he saw so elegant a rider and -gentleman." - -This attempt of the young witling, while it highly amused the various -members of the travelling menage, pacified Mr. Billing; who failed to -perceive any irony in it; and, addressing the elder of the party with -his usual suavity, he said, "May I be so bold as to enquire sir, the -point of your destination? As I am not aware of the expectation of any -one at our place, I presume you are bound for our neighbours at Fern -Vale?" - -"No, we ain't, old fellow," replied the party addressed, "we are going -to our own place, t'other side of Fern Vale. I 'spose you don't know us? -My name's Sawyer, and this 'ere chap's my son: that there's my old -woman on the dray; and our gal alongside on her. I've bought a run on -the Gibson river, and am going to settle on it now. So, as you know all -about us, take a 'ball,' and tell us who you are." With which he handed -to Mr. Billing a bottle, containing some alcoholic fluid; and took out -his pipe which he inserted between his teeth, and made to give forth a -whistling sound, to satisfy himself upon the non-obstruction of the -passage, preparatory to replenishing it with the weed. - -Mr. Billing having smelt the contents of the bottle, which had rather a -rummy odour, returned it to old Sawyer with the remark: "You really must -excuse me, sir, for I invariably make it a rule to abstain from spirits -in the middle of the day, and never at any time drink them raw." - -"We can give you water old 'bacca' breeches, if you like it best that -way," replied Sawyer, sen. - -"Not any, I thank you," said Billing, "I would prefer, I assure you, -sir, to be excused; at the same time I value your kind attention." - -"Well, here's luck to you, old feller," said the other, as he took a -pull at the bottle. "I don't believe in watering grog, it spoils good -liquor. But I say, old cock, who are you?" - -"I, sir," said Mr. Billing, not exactly relishing this unceremonious -style of questioning, and with difficulty suppressing his indignant ire, -at being so vulgarly addressed by a low-minded besotted man. "I, sir," -he repeated, "am Mr. James Billing of Strawberry Hill, and late of the -firm of Billing, Barlow, & Co., of the city of London." He said this -with the air of a man who would strike his interrogator with a sense of -that forwardness that could prompt so rude a query as that which had -been made by the head of the Sawyer family; and as one resolved to -maintain the honour of his position, and claim that respect which was -due to him as the representative of that class which is the -acknowledged source of England's greatness; viz., the mercantile -community. - -"I 'spect Strawberry Hill ain't yourn?" said Sawyer, unmindful of the -reproof conveyed in the tone and language of Mr. Billing. "I believe it -belongs to a chap of the name of Rainsfield, don't it?" - -"Mr. Rainsfield is the proprietor of the station, sir," replied Billing, -"and I am his confidential assistant." - -"Oh, the 'Super?' I suppose," exclaimed the other. - -"No, sir," replied our friend, "his accountant." - -"Oh, I see," cried the old man, as the nature of his interlocutor's -position flashed across his mind, "the storekeeper, that's all, eh? and -where are you going now, mate?" - -"I can't see, sir," replied Mr. Billing, "how that can interest you in -the slightest degree. I am not called upon to submit to your -catechising; you must be perfectly aware that your questions are -bordering on the impertinent; and but that I am a man of peace, I would -resent your inquisitiveness, sir, as an insult." - -"My father meant no offence, sir," said the young man, while his parent -gave vent to his amusement in a prolonged whistle, "it is only his way." - -"And a most unwarrantable way too, sir," said the now irate commercial -man. - -"You need not get your rag out, old fellow," said the senior Sawyer, "if -you can't take a bit of chaff you oughtn't to live in the bush." - -"Of that, sir, I'm the best judge," replied the indignant Billing. "No -man is justified in offering chaff, as you call it, to a gentleman; -more especially when the parties are perfect strangers. I made no rude -and inquisitive remarks to you; and am surprised that you should have -ventured to utter them to me." - -"Well, old fellow," said the other, "I ain't agoing to quarrel with you -no how, so if you don't mean to tell us where you're going, why, you -can just please yourself." - -"That, sir, I intend to do," replied Mr. Billing; "so, if you have no -further enquiries to make, we may just as well part company." - -"All right, old chap," said Mr. Sawyer, "we'll go;" and while he put his -team in motion, with his whip, he imparted a slight titillation to the -flanks of Mr. Billing's horse, which caused that eccentric animal to go -off in the step most torturing to his rider, amidst the united -cachinnations of the Sawyer family. - -Mr. Billing experienced a return of all his former horrors; but his -efforts this time to reduce his horse to a tractable obedience were -fruitless; the animal persisted in keeping to his own pace, -notwithstanding the various tugs, bridle sawings, admonitions, and -solicitations of our disconsolate equestrian. He was fain at last to -give up the contention, and submit to his fate; and, be it mentioned to -his commendation, he bore his torture to the end of his journey with a -degree of fortitude perfectly astounding. - -It was night when the horse stopped in front of the "Woolpack" inn, at -Alma, and well was it for Mr. Billing's sensitiveness that it was so; -for it saved him from the cruel jeers and laughter of the unsympathising -ignoramuses who would have been sure to have made his misfortunes a -subject for merriment. He was aroused from the abstraction of his calm -resignation by the cessation of motion; and he perceived, with a lively -joy, that his troubles were for the time at an end. How he got down from -his saddle we are as ignorant as he was himself; though we can affirm -that he scrambled off in such a manner as to bring himself to the ground -in a prostrate position. Upon recovering from his surprise, after -carefully brushing the dust from his apparel, he noticed that his horse, -who was apparently well acquainted with the _locale_ of the place, had -entered the yard, and was standing at the stable door, waiting with an -exemplary patience to be admitted. Leaving him there, to be attended to -by the proper authority, our friend entered the house with a step -somewhat resembling the progression which, is to be assumed, would be -that of an animated pair of compasses. He was met in the passage of the -hostel by an individual of the masculine gender, who, with a sardonic -grin, asked him "if that 'ere 'oss what was in the yard belonged to -him;" and being answered in the affirmative, and that the repliant -desired to be shown to the coffee-room, and required supper and a bed, -he remarked, "I suppose you come from Mr. Rainsfield's? I know'd his old -'oss the moment I seed him, and he knows us as well as he does his -master." - -"Indeed!" replied Mr. Billing, "it's very probable, my good fellow; but -I have no desire to enter into a discussion with you respecting the -merits or acquaintances of the animal. I would be exceedingly obliged to -you if you would show me to my bed-room, and let me have some supper as -soon as possible." - -"I don't think you've been much used to a riding of 'orses, sir," said -the cool stable functionary, as he eyed our travel-worn friend from apex -to base. But Mr. Billing was too indignant to answer him. He really -thought that all the vagabonds in the country had conspired to insult -him, and he determined to submit to their contumelies no longer; so, -turning round upon his questioner, with a look of indignant scorn, he -said: - -"I'll suffer no impertinence from you, sir, and I have to request you'll -refrain from indulging in any further offensive remarks and queries, -sir. If you are the landlord of this hostlery, sir, you are evidently -unacquainted with your business; and if you are a servant in the -establishment be good enough to inform your master that I desire to -speak to him." - -"All right, sir," replied the man, "if you want to see the gov'ner I'll -tell him." Saying which, the facetious servant took his departure with -an evident risible excitement. In a few minutes the landlord himself -made his appearance; and received Mr. Billing's order, and complaint -against the domestic, with as much indifference as if they were matters -not worth noticing; and without deigning any acknowledgment or reply -beyond that which he put to his visitor in the following words. - -"Do you want anything to drink?" - -"Not at present, I thank you," replied the urbane son of commerce; "I -desire first to have something to eat." - -"Oh! then you'll have to wait," replied the landlord, "for we don't cook -meals at this time of night." - -"Well, my good friend," replied Mr. Billing, "I don't wish to -inconvenience you, and your household; but I am perfectly voracious, and -desire something solid. I am not fastidious and would be content with -something cold, if your larder contains such." - -"No, we ain't got nothing cold," replied the master of the "Woolpack;" -"we never keep it:" and with a grunt this specimen of politeness left -the room. - -The unfortunate Mr. Billing was now subject to another species of -annoyance; and we verily believe, had he not been the personification of -patience, he would have been perfectly driven to distraction. Though -shouts of revelry, and indications of drinking, emanated from the bar, -he was not surprised or disturbed, for he expected it; but he heard -sounds in the passage as of suppressed laughter, accompanied by stifled -expressions in a strong Hibernian dialect. Whether the utterance was by -male or female, it was difficult to conjecture; but Mr. Billing's doubts -(if he had had any on the subject) were soon put to rest, for he plainly -discerned the frontispiece of a biped; which, by the manner of arranging -its natural scarlet covering, plainly proclaimed itself as belonging to -the order of feminine. The features displayed a broad grin; and an -inquisitive glance met that of our friend, as he stood facing the door. -The head was hastily withdrawn when its owner perceived it had been -noticed; but a laugh succeeded its withdrawal, and another cranium was -protruded into the aperture, and retired in its turn with a laugh, to -make way for another. - -Mr. Billing submitted to this scrutiny with the assumed fortitude of a -stoic; and attempted to allay his rising ire, and deceive his perturbed -spirit, by whistling one of the favourite airs from Norma. Now, Mr. -Billing prided himself upon the accomplishment of whistling; for he did -consider it an accomplishment, notwithstanding that some people call it -vulgar. He had given it his study; and when in the height of -conviviality, when he was at any time induced to favour his friends with -a specimen of his art, he would throw his whole soul into the -performance, and remain an unconscious spectator of passing events until -the last note of his Æolian melody died away amid the vociferous -plaudits of his friends. He therefore, on this occasion, resolved to -indulge in a little music to save himself from a knowledge of the -annoyance of the menials' gaze, and to show them his utter contempt both -for them and their unparalleled rudeness. With his eyes, then, firmly -fixed upon a cleanly-dispositioned fly on the canvas ceiling of the -room, as it was going through various crural manipulations on its -cranium, he warbled forth a stanza in his most enchanting strain; so -exquisitely sweet as to have softened the hearts of heathens had they -been present. At least so says Congreve, in his oft-used sentiment, such -is the opiate influence of phrygian chords on unsophisticated natures; -but in the auditory of Mr. Billing it was otherwise. They possessed no -taste for music, and only greeted his performance with screams of -laughter. - -Human nature could not quietly submit to this fresh indignity, and Mr. -Billing advanced with undisguised chagrin, and banged the door upon the -sounds of retreating merriment. He was annoyed, disgusted, and ill at -ease; and mentally made a resolution to get out of the place as speedily -as possible, and never to darken the door again. It was fully an hour -before his expected repast was put upon the table; and with a disturbed -spirit, and body racked with pains of unutterable puissance, he partook -of his meal and early sought the consolation of his pillow. - -On the following morning he habited and arranged himself with -punctilious neatness; and waited upon Mr. Gilbert, the principal or -rather the only storekeeper in the town, for the purpose of obtaining -the articles required by Mr. Rainsfield. Upon his procuring these he -arranged them in the valise prepared for them, and settled his reckoning -at the inn previous to taking his departure. At his desire the horse was -brought to the door; and, being provided with a chair, he effected a -mounting with less difficulty than on the previous day. But his trials -were not yet at an end; for not only the whole inmates of the Woolpack -inn, but almost the entire population of the township (some hundred -people), assembled _en masse_ to witness the start of the potent -personage. The horse was set in motion by an admonitory application of a -stick by one of the bystanders, which started him off in the step which -was the dread of our friend; while he was hailed on all sides with a -deafening cheer and shouts of laughter, which rung in his ears for some -distance on his journey. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - "What dire offence from amorous causes springs, - What mighty contests rise from trivial things." - -POPE. - - -We last left John Ferguson returning to Fern Vale after his interview -with Mr. Rainsfield; and he had reached his home, and had actually -dismounted from his horse, before the merry laugh of his sister roused -him from his reverie. When Kate and the rest of the party had reached -the house, they were surprised to find John absent; the more so as they -were informed he had ridden over in the morning to Strawberry Hill. They -certainly had not passed him on the road, and they thought there was no -probability of his having been diverted from his purpose; they -therefore could not understand where he had got to, though they agreed -the best thing they could do was to await his return. - -William had taken them all over the place, and through the house that -was only waiting the arrival of the furniture, to claim its pretty -little visitor as its mistress; and the party were just emerging from -the building, when Kate spied her brother John approaching, apparently -absorbed in deep thought, and perfectly deaf to the sound of the voices -of herself and her friends. When she, however, saw him alight from his -horse, at the huts a short distance off, and perceived that he was -perfectly abstracted, she could restrain her spirits no longer, and ran -laughingly to throw herself in his arms. It was at this moment, that -John Ferguson was made alive to the fact that his home had been honoured -by the visit of his friends; and he advanced to meet his sister, and -greeted her with a fond inosculation, as a token of fraternal affection. - -We do not approve of the constant eduction of scenes of affectionate -union, where the thoughts, contemplations, and utterances, the -spontaneous ebullitions of love, are dragged before the gaze of all. We -deem them at all times too sacred to be made subject to the comments and -criticism of uninterested parties; and therefore, in the case of Kate's -meeting with her brother, would beg to draw a veil over the scene, and -wait, in the resumption of our apologue, until they join their friends. - -The various greetings and congratulations were soon ended; and Tom -Rainsfield commenced the general conversation by asking of his friend: - -"What on earth became of you, John? When we arrived here we were told -you had gone over to our place; but you had not been there before we -left, and if you had gone by the track we should have met. I suppose you -were emulated with a desire for discovery, and attempted to find a short -cut through the bush, eh?" - -"No indeed," replied John, "I kept to the road; but, I imagine, I must -have been at Strawberry Hill just before you started, for, as I was -coming up to the house, I saw saddled horses at the door. I was called -in by Mr. Billing as I was passing his cottage, as he said he desired a -little conversation with me; so I presume that, owing to that -circumstance, I missed you." - -"What could have induced that inordinate old humbug," continued Tom, "to -have drawn you into his den? I suppose to tell you all about his family -affairs." - -"Yes," replied John, "he certainly did treat me to a long dissertation -on his misfortunes in life; the greatest of which was his coming to the -colony, and which appears, _prima facie_, to be the head and front of -his offending." - -"But didn't you ask for us?" enquired Tom; "or did you see my brother? -and did he not tell you that we had gone over to your place?" - -"I did see Mr. Rainsfield," said John, "but to tell you the truth, I did -not go up to the house." - -"And you didn't even ask for me?" enquired Mrs. Rainsfield. "I could -hardly have believed in such thoughtlessness in any of my friends, and -especially in you. Pray, sir, will you make some explanation? I am -almost inclined to be angry with you. But, as we intend to retain -possession of your sister for some time, we shall demand of you, as -penance; a constant attendance upon us at 'The Hill.'" - -"I fear, my dear Mrs. Rainsfield," replied John, "I must decline to -enlighten you on my remissness; and I am afraid also I shall prove a -refractory penitent; for, in the first place, I think it highly -improbable that I shall have the pleasure of visiting Strawberry Hill -again; at least for a time. And I must take an early opportunity of -relieving you of the protection of Kate." - -"What does the man mean?" exclaimed his good-natured lady visitor, in -mock astonishment. "Am I to understand that you not only refuse to come -and see us, but that you are churlish enough to desire to seclude your -sister with yourself in mutual confinement? You are really becoming -perfectly mysterious, John Ferguson. I do not understand all this, and -must insist upon a solution. Tell me, now," continued she, as she went -smilingly up to him, "what is it that makes you estrange yourself from -us, and studiously avoid our society? I think I can read you better than -to ascribe it to that little fracas at our pic-nic." - -"I do not wish to pain you, my dear madam," replied Ferguson, "by making -an explanation that I am confident will be extremely disagreeable to -you; rather let me remain as I am, and retain your esteemed friendship, -and believe me I have good cause for absenting myself from your house." - -"Nay, I will not be satisfied with that," replied Mrs. Rainsfield, "you -are only intensifying my curiosity by endeavouring to evade my demand; -something has occurred, I am sure, to make you so determined in your -avoidance of us; and I must know what it is. If you decline -enlightening me on the subject I must seek information from Mr. -Rainsfield, or Eleanor; so you had better make a virtue of necessity, -and tell me at once." - -"I had much rather the subject had not been broached," said John; "but, -as you are determined to know the cause of my elimination, I suppose I -must communicate what I would sooner have buried in oblivion. It appears -that your husband has formed some prejudice against me, the cause of -which I am unable to account for. I accidentally learnt from my black -boys that some espionage, in connexion with your station, was meditated -by the Nungar tribe; and I took an early opportunity of going over to -Strawberry Hill to apprise Mr. Rainsfield of the fact. He received me -with marked coolness, for what reason I am at a loss to conjecture; and -actually accused me of exercising an incentive influence over the tribe -to his detriment. I would willingly believe that he has formed some -misconception of my actions; but to impute such a motive to me is -simply ridiculous. He loaded me with invective, and wound up his -inflammatory tirade by requesting that I would discontinue my visits to -his house; and before I recovered from my surprise I found myself alone; -though, even if he had remained, I question if I should have succeeded -in disabusing his mind, for he seemed in no disposition to listen to -reason. I have no doubt but that he will very soon discover his error; -but until then, you will perceive, Mrs. Rainsfield, it is utterly -impossible that I can pay my respects to you at 'The Hill;' and it would -also, under the circumstances, be highly inconsistent in Kate stopping -longer with you than can be helped." - -"I am truly grieved," replied the lady, "to hear of your rupture with my -husband, Mr. Ferguson; it gives me great pain, I can assure you. I can't -think he can be prejudiced against you, for he always entertained the -highest esteem for you. It is possible he may have formed some -erroneous impression with regard to those horrid blacks; but, whatever -is the cause of the ill feeling, I will endeavour to dispel it; and have -your friendship reestablished upon the old footing. But, in the -meantime, it is impossible that you can take Kate away from us; you -can't put her into an empty house, and you certainly would not have the -cruelty to lodge her in those huts of yours. You must leave her with us, -at least until you have made a comfortable home for her; and even then, -I don't think the poor girl will have a very enviable life, living in -seclusion, without a female near her." - -"I have already thought of that," replied John, "and have hired a man -and his wife; the latter, who is a professed cook, will be entirely -under Kate's direction. Besides, our little black fellow, Joey, whom we -brought from New England with us, is as useful, if not more so, as half -the female servants in the country. So I think, on that score, we will -be able to make our sister perfectly comfortable." - -"At all events," said Mrs. Rainsfield, "it is understood you leave her -with us until your furniture arrives." - -"Very well," replied John, "I suppose it must be so. I need not beg of -you to refrain from mentioning to any one in your house, not even to -Kate, that any unpleasantness exists between our families; your own good -judgment will convince you of the non-necessity. But suppose we join our -friends, for we appear to have wandered quite away from them during our -conversation;" and John Ferguson, and Mrs. Rainsfield, returned to the -spot where the rest of the party stood. - -"Well, it is to be hoped you two are satisfied with your 'confidential,'" -remarked Tom, as the parties thus addressed joined the _menage_. "We -were beginning to think you were meditating an elopement, and were just -proposing giving you chase. We are agitating the question of return. -Miss Ferguson says she does not like this dreadful wilderness of yours, -John, and is anxious to get back to Strawberry Hill, and within the -bounds of civilisation." - -"Oh, what a dreadful falsehood!" cried Kate, "you know I never said such -a thing; for that I am half disposed to stop here at once, and if I -thought it would be any punishment to you, I would. I am sure my brother -would make room for me if I desired it." - -"I offer an abject apology, my dear Miss Ferguson," exclaimed the -culprit; "we could not dream of losing you now; so I will make any -reparation necessary to appease you." - -"Well, then behave yourself, sir, and adhere to the truth," said Kate. - -"I think, my dear," said Mrs. Rainsfield, "we really had better return, -or it will be dark before we get home; so if Tom did not read your -thoughts, his fib suggested an expediency." Kate now took leave of her -brother; and Mrs. Rainsfield, she, and Tom mounted their horses, and -departed; the latter turning in his saddle as he left the station, -called out to John, "I'll be over in the morning;" and the party were -speedily lost to sight. - -Mr. Wigton and the brothers turned into the hut, and were soon engaged -in a conversation, which, though interesting to themselves, it is -unnecessary for us to follow. Towards the close of the evening as they -sat before their hut, the brothers enjoying their pipes over the fire -that was boiling the water for the infusion of the temperate beverage -that graced their board at the evening meal; and while Joey, who -officiated in the culinary department, was preparing the repast in the -interior of the domicile, the dray that we have met already on the road -from Alma, was seen to wind slowly off the face of the ridge and down -the vale to the creek that ran through it. Here it stopped, while the -driver seemed to hold an altercation with his companions, and appeared -to be undecided as to some course they were meditating. - -"Who are those people, William?" said his brother. "Where on earth can -they be going? Just step down and see; for they must surely have gone -out of their way, and find themselves now at a stand still." - -William walked down to the spot where the dray had halted; and returned -in a few minutes with the information, that the travellers were on their -way to take possession of a "run" one of the party had bought, on the -river below their own place, from Bob Smithers; and stated that he had -told the fellow that he might camp where he was, and go over and form -his station on the following day; he had also invited him to come up to -the hut in the evening and smoke his pipe, which the man had promised to -do. His name, William said, was Sawyer; and he appeared to be an -individual who had not been blessed with either much cultivation or -education. "He is," said William, "a regular specimen of an old hand, -and I expect has seen much service." - -In the course of the evening Mr. Sawyer made his appearance with his -"old woman," as he familiarly designated his wife, and daughter. The -family was unaltered in appearance since we last introduced it to the -reader; and while the females took their seats on two stools, provided -for them by the Fergusons, in a stiff and formal manner which they -intended for a distinguishing mark of good breeding, the old man threw -himself down on the grass before the fire. After collecting a few -sticks, and throwing them on himself, he lit his pipe with a "fire -stick," and commenced the following conversation; which he continued -between the intervals of his smokey eructations. - -"I suppose you ain't been here long, mate," said he, addressing John; -"you look as if you had newly settled, and the country here can't have -been long taken up." - -"It is true," replied John, "we have not been resident here very long, -not yet twelve months. My brother tells me you have purchased the block -of country below us; may I ask if you are about to stock it?" - -"Well, I ain't agoing to do nothing else. You see I have got my dray -down there with my rations, and traps; and I am now going over to fix -upon a place for my station, and put up some huts and yards. We have -bought our stock on the 'Downs,' and my other son is there now, waiting -for me to go back, to be there while the sheep are drafted. We must get -a place up first to put the old woman and the girl in, and then we will -look after the stock." - -"But," said William, "you surely are not going to leave your wife and -daughter alone, while you go back to the Downs for your flocks? It can't -be your intention to leave them unprotected, in this part of the bush? -Are you aware of the freedom of the blacks here?" - -"No," replied Sawyer, "I don't know much about the blacks in these -parts; 'cos I ain't seen much of them yet; but I know just exactly what -they were on the Hunter twenty years ago; and I be sure they arn't -worse here than they were there; and my old woman has had as much to do -with them as me. Do you think I am afraid to leave her by herself? Lord -bless you, sir; my word! she is 'all there' to take care of herself; and -in her own house I'll back her against any dozen white men and any fifty -blacks." - -"You are quite at liberty," said John, "if you like, after you have -built your huts, to leave your wife and daughter and your stores and -things here to await your own return." - -"I am obliged to you, young man," exclaimed old Sawyer; "but I'd rather -leave them at our own station, and I reckon they would rather stop there -themselves; besides if I built my huts, and then left them, the -blackguardly blacks would most likely burn them." - -"Well, Mr. Sawyer, you can please yourself," replied John, "but you are -quite welcome to make use of our place if you like." - -"All right, sir," replied he addressed, "I've no doubt; but you see -I've no fear of my old woman being alone, so I shall just leave her to -bide until I come back. Howsomdever we shan't be long away, and I don't -think I shall be so lucky as to find, when I do come back, that anybody -has run away with her." - -"I trust, Mr. Sawyer," continued John, "you may have no cause to -reprehend yourself for your confidence in your wife's ability to protect -herself and her daughter; and, if we can be of any service to them, I -trust you will make no scruple in commanding us; for we desire to live -on terms of amity with our neighbours, and it is essential to be -mutually obliging at times." - -"In course, young fellow; you are a brick, so give me your hand," cried -the head of the Sawyer family, as he started to his feet, "we must have -a nobbler on the strength of that;" saying which he abstracted a bottle -from the breastine recesses of his garments, and handed it to John, who -called to Joey to bring some pannikins and water. - -"I must apologize," said he, "for not offering you a glass of grog -myself before this; but, to tell you the truth, we have not got any on -the station, and here we don't usually drink it; but to keep you -company, I don't mind taking a small drop." - -The bottle was handed to Mr. Wigton, William, and the women in -succession; the two former of whom declined, and the latter partook; -while the dispenser himself filled out a jorum for his personal -libation, and drank success to himself, and the world generally, in that -comprehensive aphorism which seemed to him to answer for all occasions; -viz., "here's luck." He felt disappointed, however, when, upon a second -presentation of the "homiletical stimulator," he found no one to join -him, and he remarked with an apparent degree of truth: - -"Why, I never did see fellers like you refuse good liquor. I can't think -how you can do it; for my part, I'm blow'd if I ever do: it's a sin." - -"Don't you think, my good man," said Mr. Wigton, "it's rather a sin to -indulge too freely in its use? If you do not think so, I can assure you -that it is; to say nothing of the moral degradation of the drunkard, the -lavish squandering of your means, and the injury to your health." - -"Lor' bless you, sir," replied Sawyer, "I never felt the worse of my -liquor. I might ha' been a bit drunk now and then, but what's the odds -of that? I get all right again in a giffey; I wouldn't give a snuff for -a fellow that couldn't take his grog, and get drunk now and then like -other men. When I was an overseer on the Hunter some years ago, a mate -of mine and me got two gallons of rum up to my hut, to have a spree one -night. One of my fellows, who was an assigned 'un, was a decent cove, -though he never spoke to the other men, 'cos he thought hisself a real -gent. Well I pitied this coon; and seeing him that evening, I asked him -if he'd come up to my hut, and have 'a ball' or two with us; but bless -you, he flew into a pelter, and called us all sorts of names, because, -he said, we wanted to make beasts of ourselves; just as if having a bit -of a spree, was making of beasts of ourselves, and as if we hadn't a -right to drink our own grog. Well, thinks I, you are a chicken; but I -lets him 'ave his own way; and what do you think, sir? He took to -bush-ranging and was hanged. Now, do you think he was better than me, -for not getting drunk that time?" - -"In his refusal, he certainly showed an appreciation of right, whatever -his previous or after career may have been," replied Mr. Wigton. "But, -Mr. Sawyer, you must really permit me to impress upon you the absolute -uselessness of drinking to excess; its sinfulness I will be able to -convince you of afterwards. In the outset of your spree, as you call it, -you provide a stock of spirits, which you lay yourself out to drink, -uninterruptedly, until it is finished. After the first hour you become -quite unconscious of everything around you, while you continue to drink -mechanically, without actually knowing you are doing so, and certainly -without your palate experiencing any gratification. So that the greater -portion of the spirits you have drank has been consumed without -affording you any satisfaction; in fact, wasted; and your money thrown -away. Now, consider, what are the effects of this spree? If you are of a -good constitution, and escape _delirium tremens_, are not your -sufferings still very acute? far more so than to be commensurate to the -wild excitement of the debauch? You are sick, your head seems every -moment ready to split; you are for days absolutely wretched and ill; and -not until your constitution works off the ill effects of your -dissipation do you recover your wonted health; whereas, if you had -confined yourself to drinking your grog in moderation, you would have -enjoyed it for a lengthened period, escaped all the unpleasant symptoms -I have mentioned, and not injured your health; so you will perceive -that drunkenness is useless. I am well aware that it is difficult to -convince men such as you, who like their grog, to such a belief; but if -you could only be induced to try abstinence I have no doubt you would -readily agree with me, with regard to its sinfulness." - -"Oh, never mind that," cried Sawyer, "I don't want to have no sermon; if -I like to buy grog, and drink it all at once, it don't hurt nobody but -me; and if I choose to do it, why, it is my look out, and don't matter -to anybody else. But come along, old woman," he continued, addressing -his wife, "we must be going down to our camp;" and turning round to -John, he said, "we left our boy down with the dray, and he will be -thinking the time long without us." - -"I'll come over to you in the morning," said William, "I may be of some -assistance to you, as I have no doubt you will want to get up a covering -for the females as soon as possible." - -"All right, young man, we will be glad to see you," replied Sawyer; -saying which, and uttering a general "good night," that was echoed by -his accompanying helpmate and progeny, he bent his steps towards the -light of his own fire; and was speedily lost in the gloom. - -"I could have desired," said Mr. Wigton, as the Sawyers departed, "more -eligible neighbours for you than those people, and should recommend you, -at the outset, not to permit too much familiarity from them; nor to -cultivate a very close degree of acquaintanceship. It is as well to -preserve a good feeling as neighbours; but for Kate's and your own sakes -I would recommend that you let them understand at once, by your manner, -that you do not intend to admit them on an equality. The example they -would set to you all, especially to your sister, I consider highly -reprehensible; and it is better to avoid at once the possibility of -contamination than discard it when once the infection is made palpable." - -"I think with you," said John, "that they are by no means desirable -neighbours; and I will certainly follow your advice. I did not like the -appearance of the people from the first; and the offer I made them to -remain here I could not in common civility avoid; however, I am happy -they did not accept it, and only regret that William should have -promised to go over to them." - -"Oh," said William, "I only want to learn something of that man's -history. I know his life must have been an eventful one from the few -remarks he made while here. You may believe me, otherwise I have no -desire to devote much of my time to his or his family's society." - -"You are quite right William," said Mr. Wigton; "but tell me," said he, -turning to John, "what arrangements have you made for the reception of -your sister? I see you have got a very nice little cottage, but it will -surely take you some time to put things in perfect order for her." - -"I expect," said John, "a dray up every day with furniture, and the -necessity utensils for the commencement of our housekeeping. If -anything is amiss we must fall back on William, for he selected them. -When they arrive they shall be put in as good order as possible; I have -engaged a man and his wife, and with the assistance of the latter, I -think Kate will get on swimmingly. She will have very kind neighbours at -Strawberry Hill, who are extremely anxious to keep her with them; and I -am sure will be very attentive to her when she settles herself with us. -So I think, so far, everything appears auspicious; though I would -considerably have preferred having the house ready for her at once. -To-day I came to an open rupture with Rainsfield, and he forbade me his -house for the future; under which circumstance I think it is hardly -right for one member of our family to be partaking of his hospitality." - -"I am grieved to hear of your quarrel," remarked Mr. Wigton; "how did it -occur? is it possible to heal the breach?" - -"Why, for my own part," said John, "it were easy; but, judging from the -animus displayed by my opponent, I do not think it would be readily -accomplished. Mr. Rainsfield is under the strange hallucination that I -am influencing the blacks in their depredations on him; and when I -called upon him, to put him upon his guard against impending danger, he -attacked me with surprising virulence. I fear the quarrel is -irremediable, and I only now desire to get Kate away; I have got every -thing here comfortably arranged for her, and am only waiting for the -furniture to complete her home." - -"I think you are perfectly right," replied the clergyman, "in your -desire to bring your sister under your own roof; though, I have no -doubt, she would desire to remain a short time longer with the kind -ladies whose friendship she has been fortunate enough to secure. But -it is only proper that she should join you when you complete your -arrangements, in which, I think you have certainly shown some judicious -management. I am sure Kate will reward you by settling into a -first-rate little house-wife. She is a good, kind-hearted, affectionate -girl; and, from what I have witnessed, I only think you will be speedily -called upon to part with her; for, you may depend, such a treasure as -she is will soon be discovered, even in this remote spot." - -"I expect that will be the result of our training," said John, -laughingly; "but, if our sister's happiness will be furthered by the -severance, I will be truly happy to make the sacrifice; though I don't -think we have much fear of losing her for some time to come. But tell -us, my dear friend, about your own movements. I trust you intend -favouring us with your company for some lengthened period." - -"I can remain with you for some little time," replied Mr. Wigton, -"perhaps a fortnight or more; but next month I am expected to be in -Brisbane, and will, therefore, have to leave you in time to reach town -before the middle of next month. I am particularly desirous of having -some interviews with the blacks of your neighbouring tribe, to -endeavour, if possible, to ameliorate their wretched condition; and, if -you have no objection, I will get you to pilot me to their camp." - -"With all my heart," said John, "I am quite at your service whenever you -desire to go, and I am sure William will join us too; what do you say, -Will?" - -"By all means," replied he, "I'll go over with you, if you like, -to-morrow afternoon, when I return from those people below us. You will -have a good opportunity of speaking to them, Mr. Wigton, as the greater -part of the tribe is assembled in the scrub just now." - -After making the best arrangements they could for their visitor in their -limited accommodation, the brothers and their friend retired for the -night; and, on the following forenoon, William mounted his horse and -rode over to the Sawyers' run, to satisfy his curiosity with regard to -the Sawyer paterfamilias. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - "I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word - Would harrow up thy soul." - -HAMLET, _Act 1. Sc. 5._ - - -William leisurely followed the track of the Sawyers' dray for about an -hour, when he came up to their encampment, where they had apparently -fixed upon a spot for their station. They must have been early in their -departure from Fern Vale, and industrious in the interval; for, at the -moment of William's arrival, they had got up a tent, under which they -had placed the loading from their dray; while, amongst the various -packages, the fair Hebe of the previous night was to be seen busily -plunging, tugging, and sorting. Already pegs were placed at various -distances in the ground to point out the boundaries for their respective -enclosures and establishments; and a large tree lay stretched on the -sward, in the spot on which it had fallen when succumbing to the axe of -the younger Sawyer. The paternal couple were engaged dissecting the -monster in sections of about nine longitudinal feet, and were plying the -cross-cut saw with a will; while the son was driving an iron wedge into -one of the lengths, thus dissected, to split it up into slabs for the -erection of their hut. - -William had approached close to this industrious family, before their -attention was diverted from their work by a knowledge of his presence; -and the old man raising his head from his stooping posture, as the saw -cut through the log, greeted him with a "good morning," that was echoed -by the group. - -"There, old woman," said her husband, "you can go help Mary Ann in the -tent, and I'll go on splitting with Reuben. Well, young un," said he, -turning to William, "yon chap at your place, last night, I guess was a -parson; he wanted to give me a sermon, but I didn't see it, so I cut it -short; what does he do there with you?" - -"Nothing," replied William, "he is merely a friend of ours, and only -came to the station with me yesterday; he is a kind-hearted excellent -man, and I am sure whatever he would have said to you would have been -sound advice." - -"Oh, I never doubt him," said the other, "only I don't like those -parsons, and never get into any arguments with them; whatever you say -they twist so to suit their own ways and sayings. Who would ever have -thought that he would have said that fellow, as I was a talking of, was -any better for a blackguarding of me for offering him of my grog." - -"What were the particulars of that story?" enquired William, "you did -not tell us last night." - -"Well, if you wants to hear it," replied Sawyer, "I don't mind having a -pull at my pipe for a few minutes while I tell you." - -"I would like exceedingly to hear," replied William. Whereupon the old -man took his seat upon the log he had been splitting; filled his pipe -and lit it; while Rueben was resting on his maul, and William, who had -affixed the bridle of his horse to the stirrup, and allowed him to graze -about the spot, took his seat at the old man's side. After ejecting from -his mouth a volume of smoke he commenced the following narrative; which, -for the sake of perspicuity, we will take the liberty of clothing in our -own words. - -Old Sawyer was "an old lag," and had been a long time in servitude (and -afterwards in freedom) on the Hunter river. During the latter part of -his career in that district he had been pretty successful as a farmer, -and had accumulated some little means; but agriculture, in his opinion, -ceasing to be a profitable occupation he had determined to turn to -squatting; and had consequently sold his farm, and taken up the run on -which he was then settling. It is of his early career, however, that we -have at present to speak. - -At a primary era of his penal servitude he was, in common with most of -his class, assigned to a master in the district in which he was located; -and, after a time, was made by his master an overseer over the other -servants. Amongst those under his supervision, were two young men who -had held some posts of trust in England, and either from some fraudulent -delinquencies, or culpable dereliction of duty, had made themselves -amenable to the then stringent laws of their country, and were -transported to the penal colony. They were both men of education and -gentlemanly bearing; and, from a life in a clerical appointment, they -were both totally unused to manual labour, and unfit to grapple with the -trials of the convict discipline. They were, consequently, awkward and -clumsy in the performance of their allotted tasks; while their inability -was construed, by their truculent master, into perversity and -stubbornness; and he swore, by increased toil and exactions, to break -their gentlemanly pride, as he termed their unskillfulness. - -The two young men were put on one occasion, by the direction of the -master, to fell some large trees, and they were given a cross-cut saw -for the purpose; but on the first tree, on which they tried their hands, -they broke their saw. As soon as the circumstance became known to their -employer, he sent them to the magistrate; and had them sentenced to -fifty lashes each for insubordination; and, after the execution of the -sentence, to be sent back to work. They returned to their work, but from -that moment they were altered men. The crushing influence of the convict -system had done its work; they had undergone the demoniacal transition; -and two more victims were added to that mass who breathed only for -vengeance on their tyrants. It was during the period between this -punishment, and the accomplishment of their vengeance, that Sawyer, who -really pitied the poor fellows, had given the bibulous invitation, and -met with the rebuff. - -Not long after this, the two convicts made their escape, and took to the -bush; which was scoured for months, over an immense extent, for their -recovery, but ineffectually. Nothing was heard of them for nearly two -years, when one, famished and emaciated, gave himself up at the -settlement; reported the death of his companion; and confessed to the -participation in one of the most horrible crimes on record; that which -we are about to relate. - -About six months after the escape of himself and his companion, when it -was supposed they had perished in the wilds of the bush, the man whom we -have mentioned as their master was suddenly missed. Upon instituting a -search his body was found; but in such as state of putrefaction, and -presenting such a hideous spectacle, that it was not removed; but a -hole dug at the spot where it was discovered, and the remains, like any -other vile carcass, shovelled into its last resting-place. The event at -the time was thought of little moment, as the man was generally -detested, and had no friends to agitate the matter; so it was hardly -conjectured who were the perpetrators of his murder, and not until the -criminal himself had confessed to the crime, were the authorities at all -acquainted with the matter. - -It appeared that the young men, when they effected their escape, -secreted themselves in gullies and crevices of the rocks; only venturing -out in search of food during the darkness of night. In this way they -existed; enduring the greatest privations, and living only for the hope -of revenge. They waited for the opportunity that was to throw their -victim into their hands, with a patience worthy of a better cause; and -watched with an eagerness and vigilance, almost perpetual, until the -happy moment arrived, and they possessed themselves of the person of -their late detested master. - -He had been returning over-land from Sydney, and was leisurely -approaching the settlements of the Hunter, when he was espied by the -convicts. Great was their joy at this moment; though they knew, that -even now that he was within their reach, they would experience great -difficulty in securing him; more especially, as they were convinced he -would be armed, while they were not. However, they determined to risk -their lives in the attempt, for his death to them was sweeter than the -preservation of their own lives. - -They secreted themselves, one on either side of the road along which he -had to go; and, at the moment when he was just about passing them, they -simultaneously rushed from their ambush; and, before he was hardly aware -of their presence, they had seized him by the arms, dragged him from his -horse, and deprived him of the fire-arms he had had no time to use. -They then bound him, and led him away into the bush, leaving his horse -to find its way home at pleasure. - -The captors, after pinioning the arms of their victim, took him through -the country, over ranges and across gullies, into the recesses of the -bush, where they had taken up their abode; not deigning to enter into -any conversation with him by the way. He, however, treated his captivity -lightly, imagining that they were merely removing him from the road, to -give themselves a surer opportunity of escape when they released him. He -had no doubt but that their object was simply to rob him; and, by -withdrawing him from the chance of assistance, they were only securing -their retreat, in the event of his returning to arrest them after -regaining his liberty. He was therefore consoling himself that he had -very little on him to lose; and would experience very little difficulty -in finding his way to the settlement. Very different ideas traversed the -brains of his captors; though they preserved a uniform taciturnity to -his jocular sallies; and, except that they well guarded against the -possibility of his escape, they took not the slightest notice of him, -and treated him with the most marked contempt. - -After walking thus for about two hours, they came to a deep gully, -through which rippled a small limpid creek; on the sides of which, and -extending up the faces of the gorge, were masses of rock piled in -endless confusion. Here they halted, and having secured their prisoner -to a tree, while one lit a fire, the other disappeared among the rocks, -and returned with some edibles, scanty in quantity, and mean in quality. -Having with these appeased their hunger, and quenched their thirst at -the stream; they sat down by the fire, and conversed together in a low -tone; protracting their conclave until darkness enclosed the scene. - -The fears of the wretched victim were at length aroused by these -mysterious proceedings. A horrible sensation crept over his mind; he -felt no doubt that the convicts were holding a consultation as to how -they would dispose of him; and he entertained a secret suspicion, that -their object was not plunder, but murder. He still, however, argued with -himself, that they could have no object in taking his life, by which -they would gain nothing; whereas they might enrich themselves by robbing -or ransoming him. He therefore attempted a parley to induce terms. - -"I say, young fellows," he shouted, "how long are you going to keep me -here? you may as well take what I have got and let me go; or if you -demand a ransom, let me know the amount, and provide me with pen and -ink, and I will give you a cheque on the bank in Sydney." - -"Silence, wretched man!" replied one of the convicts, advancing to him -and presenting one of his own pistols at his head, "or I'll blow out -your brains; we scorn to appropriate an article belonging to you. Even -these instruments of death shall be left with you when we leave you; we -do not desire booty. Your time has come, when you are called upon to -atone to man for your many iniquities: and to-morrow you will have to -account to your God." - -"What! you surely do not mean to kill me?" screamed the terrified -captive, in a voice that echoed in a thousand keys through the cavernous -glen: "what have I done to deserve death from you? I have never wronged -you to my knowledge; if I have, I will make all the reparation in my -power; but spare my life, and I will give you whatever you demand." - -"'Tis useless, you dog," replied his inquisitors. "If we desired -plunder, we know you too well to believe in promises, extracted from you -under such circumstances as these; and we are also aware of the -impossibility of our procuring the ransom you may offer, or, even if we -got it, of enjoying it." - -"No, by heaven!" exclaimed the frantic wretch, "I swear to you on my -soul, spare me my life, and I will give you whatever you ask, one -hundred, five hundred, or a thousand pounds." - -"Your prayers to us," replied his captors, "are of no avail, to-morrow -you die; so in the meantime, make your peace with your Maker, if such be -possible." - -"But why kill me?" screamed the agonized man, "what have I done to -deserve death?" - -"Wretch! do you want a recital of your sins?" replied his quondam -servant; "have they been so insignificant that you cannot call any to -present recollection? Are they not rather as numerous as the hairs on -your head? does not the black and heinous catalogue rise before you, and -darken your very soul? You have asked us why you are to die; I will tell -you, and let God judge between us whether your fate is not your just -reward; while you, vile reptile that you are, answer if you can, if we -have not just cause to require your death to expiate your crimes. - -"How have you fulfilled the government requisitions to your assigned -servants? How have you fed them and clothed them? Have not their -coverings been such, as to be as bad or worse than none? insufficient -for any season; causing paralysis in winter, and sun-strokes in summer? -Has not their food been unfit for pigs? Have you not tyrannized over -them, and submitted them to unheard-of cruelties; simply to gratify your -insatiable thirst for witnessing torture? Have you not, when you had a -willing servant, who was anxious to conduct himself orderly and give -satisfaction, made some paltry excuse to have the man punished; because -you feared you would lose his services, by his obtaining his 'ticket of -leave,' for good conduct? Have you not done all this? Yes! and more. You -have even compelled your men to intoxicate themselves; and then accused -them before a magistrate of stealing the spirits, to obtain the -cancelling of their tickets. You have by your cruelty driven men mad, to -the bush, or to a lingering death; you have crushed the germ of -contrition in the breasts of hundreds, and degraded them to the level of -beasts; while the only sounds grateful to your ears, have been the yells -of anguish of your victims; and the only spectacle pleasing to your -sight, the application of the lash. You have done all this, and even -more in hundreds or thousands of cases. You have done so to us; you have -heaped ignominy upon our heads; and with starvation, exposure, and -accumulated toil, you have caused unjustly our backs to be lacerated by -the lash, and our spirits to be broken by your barbarity. Life to us has -lost its charm; we thirst only for your blood; vengeance is now in our -hands, and you shall die." - -The yells of the wretched man, that followed this denouncement, sounded -through the glen as the shrieks of a demon or a maniac; and his cries -might have been heard far into the bush, had there been any one near to -help him. But they were lost on the wilderness' air; and he at last sank -exhausted in his bonds, while his captors watched alternately at his -feet, with his own loaded pistols ready for use in case of emergency. - -The morning dawned as brightly as ever; though the stillness of the bush -cast a gloom upon everything within its umbrageous influence. The -convicts were up and stirring by daylight, and their first task was to -arouse their unconscious victim (who seemed to doze in a lethargic -indifference), and prepare him for his approaching fate. - -He was speedily denuded of his attire, and bound hand and foot; in which -condition he was laid over the bed of an ant's nest, and tied by his -extremities, in a state of tension, to opposite trees; in such a manner -as to keep his body immoveable over the nest. The wretched man soon -awoke to the horrors of his situation, and implored, with the -earnestness of a dying man, of his murderers to save his life. But he -appealed to feelings and sympathies that were dead; that had, in fact, -been strangled by himself: it was in vain. After the most desperate -resistance he was secured in his place of torture, while the very skies -rang with his cries of anguish and despair. - -His body was no sooner prostrate on the heap, than the ants in myriads -attacked it vigorously; in a few minutes making its surface black with -their swarms; penetrating into his very flesh, and making use of the -natural channels to affect ingress to his inner system; and travelling -in continuous streams in and out of his nostrils, ears, and mouth. The -horrors of the picture it is impossible to describe; and the expression -of his features it is equally difficult to conceive. The colour of his -skin speedily changed to deep blue; the veins and muscles stood out in -bold relief; his eyes projected from his head, and rolled, bleared as -they were, in sockets of livid flesh; he gnashed his teeth in his -unutterable agony, and rent the air with horrible and impious -imprecations; while the utterance was almost diabolical by the vermin -that choked the passages of his system. - -No human being could long bear this excruciating torture; and at last -the body perceptibly swelled, the coeliac or cavernous parts becoming -horribly distended, and the spirit fled to its heavenly judgment. Not -till then, did the two calm spectators leave the spot, where they had -witnessed the death of their victim, and where they now left "nature's -scavengers" to finish the work they had commenced. - -The sufferings of the two convicts from this time must have been -fearful; for one shortly succumbed to them, while the other bearing it -for some months longer, gave himself up to the authorities, and met his -fate on the gallows. - -After the relation of the above tale of woe the elder Sawyer and his son -resumed their work, and the conversation took a general turn; while -William, who found he could not be of any service to the settlers, -caught his horse and took his leave. - -When he returned to his own place he found that, during his absence, the -expected dray had arrived from town with their furniture, which lay -strewn on the ground, in front of the cottage, where it had been -discharged. And he at once became busy in unpacking and sorting the -things; while his brother superintended the refreighting of the vehicle -with what return loading they had for it. The man and wife who had been -hired for them, and who had accompanied the dray, busied themselves in -arranging the things in the cottage. - -The proposed visit to the blacks, by this opportune arrival, was -necessarily postponed; and it was determined that William should, that -very afternoon, ride over to Strawberry Hill; inform Kate of the orders -of things; and desire her to join them as soon as possible. John -impressed upon his brother the necessity of urging Kate to lose no time, -as the place would be quite ready for her by the following day; and he -did not think, under the existing circumstances, it was consistent for -her to remain longer with the Rainsfields than was absolutely necessary. -"Of course," he said, "Kate would be perfectly ignorant of the rupture -between myself and Mr. Rainsfield, and might therefore battle against so -speedy and abrupt a termination to her visit." But he left the matter, -he told William, to himself to manage, without entering into any -explanations to their sister, which would necessarily be painful to all -parties; besides which, he had no doubt, when Mrs. Rainsfield perceived -it was his desire to have Kate home with them, she would offer no -objection to her departure, as she would understand his motive for -desiring it. - -William was accordingly dispatched on the errand; and returning in the -evening, in company with Tom Rainsfield, gave an account of his -diplomacy. As was anticipated by the brothers, Kate could with -difficulty be persuaded to break off her engagement with the -Rainsfields; but that when she saw that both her brothers desired it, -and that she was not pressed to prolong her visit, she reluctantly -acceded to her brother's request; and promised to be ready to come over -to Fern Vale on the following morning. So William had engaged to return -for her the next day. - -"It is lucky for you, my fine friend," said Tom, "that I was not at -home, when you persuaded your sister to such an ungracious -determination; for I, most assuredly, would have annihilated you, and -kept her in captivity. It is really cruel just to leave her with us -sufficiently long to cause us all to adore her; and then snatch her away -from us in such an unceremonious manner. What on earth can you mean by -carrying her off in this way?" - -"Why," said John, "we are afraid of losing sight of you altogether, Tom; -you would have forgotten us entirely while you retained possession of -our Kate; and besides we want to make some use of our idle little -sister. But tell us now, if you were not at home when William was at -your house, pray, where did you spring from?" - -"I have been over to the black's camp, to try and conciliate the -rascals," replied Tom, "but I am sorry to find they are death on my -brother for his treatment of them." - -"You seem to have agitated them by your visit," said John, "for they -have made a fearful disturbance all the afternoon." - -"They were holding some discussion when I arrived there," said Tom, "but -they were quieted upon my presenting myself." - -"They appear then only to have been 'called to order' by you," said -John, "and maintained it simply during your stay; for did you ever hear -such a Babel of voices as are screaming now; it is enough to deafen us -even at this distance." - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - "If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well - It were done quickly." - -MACBETH, _Act I, Sc. 6._ - - -When Mr. Rainsfield parted from Mr. Billing, after escorting him to the -junction of the Alma and Brompton roads, he returned home to carry out -his contemplated arrangements; in the concatenation of which, his first -step was to remove the stores from the building used as a store to an -apartment in the house; and he had barely effected this, before Tom, his -wife, and Kate returned. When the ladies retired in the evening Tom -asked his brother if John Ferguson had been at Strawberry Hill in the -morning; and how it was that he had not been seen by any other inmate -of the house. - -Rainsfield replied that John Ferguson had certainly been there in the -morning; and that the cause of his not having been seen by the family -was an interview that had taken place between himself and Ferguson by -which he, Mr. Rainsfield, had learnt that the blacks were meditating -some fresh outrage; and he would therefore be glad if Tom would -undertake a mission to them to mediate a pacification. - -Rainsfield was playing a deep and hazardous game, and he felt it -himself. Even to his brother he had recourse to dissimulation to blind -or divert him from a perception of a stratagem in which he was aware he -could not procure Tom's concurrence. He therefore wished to get him out -of the way while he worked his diabolical machinations. He knew that -whatever the purpose of the blacks might be, they would not be diverted -by the persuasion of Tom; and, as he naturally conceived their object -to be pilfering, he intended to be perfectly prepared for them. At the -same time he wished none of his own family to witness the preparations -he was making. - -"Very well," said Tom, "I will go to-morrow; for, to tell you the -truth, I have myself thought for some time that they were hatching some -mischief; and my suspicions were the more aroused when I witnessed, -along with John Ferguson, their last corroboree. It struck me then, more -than once, that I heard your name uttered by them in their song." - -"Were you then at the corroboree?" enquired Rainsfield. - -"Yes," replied Tom. "But tell me what information John Ferguson imparted -to you, and how he obtained it." - -"Well, I can hardly tell you now," said Rainsfield, "for I was so -agitated at the time that much of it was lost to me; but I believe he -said his blacks boys, who had returned from the camp after the -corroboree, had informed him that the tribe intended something; though -what the exact nature of the meditated aggression was, they were unable -or unwilling to explain." - -On the following day Rainsfield was anxious to get Tom off before the -arrival of Billing, whose absence he had not perceived. And he wished, -if possible, to prevent the necessity of accounting for the -storekeeper's journey to Alma; the very circumstance of which, unusual -as it was, he knew would excite the wonder of Tom. While, if not -perfectly satisfied with his explanation, he feared his brother might be -induced to seek further information from Mrs. Billing; whom Rainsfield -felt no doubt was a confident of her husband, and acquainted with the -object of the journey, at least such object as was assigned to it by -himself. So he urged upon Tom the advisableness of dispatch, to prevent -the blacks from carrying out their plans, if they meditated anything -that night. - -Tom promised to go about mid-day, or early in the afternoon, and to stop -with them until late in the evening, so as to detain them, if they -meditated any outrage on the station, from its execution; and about one -o'clock he took his departure, much to the relief of his brother. Not -long afterwards the horse that was supposed to be carrying the burden of -Mr. Billing's body presented himself at the door of the house, though -minus his rider. The valise was instantly removed by Mr. Rainsfield, who -perceived that the desired articles were therein; and he then dispatched -one of his men, with the horse, to go back and look for the missing -equestrian; without allowing the sensitive nerves of that doating -creature, the sharer of all his earthly troubles, to be unnecessarily -agitated by a knowledge of her husband's abasement. - -The rider was not long in returning with the lost representative of -commerce, who had in the agony of his motion, and in a futile effort to -stop the career of his carrier, lost his balance in his saddle, and -described what in skating counties is designated a "spread eagle." He, -however, found himself less hurt than he at first anticipated, and he -speedily adopted a sensible resolution to make the best progress he -could on foot. While the horse, after relieving himself of his -encumbrance, and getting beyond the reach of capture, must have taken -his leisure, for Mr. Billing was no very great distance behind him. - -"Well, Mr. Billing," said his master, as that individual addressed made -his appearance in a sorry plight, "how did you enjoy your excursion to -Alma? I am sorry to see you have got thrown; I trust you have not hurt -yourself." - -"I am happy, sir, to assure you," replied Mr. Billing, "that, through -the gracious dispensation of Providence, I have sustained no osseous -fractures; though, sir, I may add, my mental agony, and bodily -sufferings, have been such as I never wish again to experience." - -"You must expect to have some inconvenience in your first ride, Mr. -Billing," said his master; "but you will find, upon your second attempt, -that the unpleasantness will be diminished." - -"That second attempt, sir," replied the little man, "will never be made -by me. I have a positive abhorrence for a horse, sir, and no power on -earth, sir, would induce me to become a chevalier." - -"Very well, Mr. Billing," replied the other, "I'll not attempt to -persuade you against your own inclinations; I can only thank you for -your services on this occasion, and if you will meet me in the store, -when you have recovered yourself a little, we will proceed to business;" -saying which, the couple parted. - -In the store where Rainsfield entered were, besides sundry articles that -were not strictly alimentary, the carcass of a sheep, suspended from one -of the beams, and a bag of flour; or rather a bag that had contained -flour, for the bag was suspended supinely by two ropes, with its mouth -open; and on a sheet on the floor was heaped the flour it had contained. -To this heap, after closing and locking the door, Rainsfield advanced; -and, first taking a furtive glance around, to satisfy himself that he -was unnoticed, he stooped down and deliberately mixed with it the -arsenic that had been brought by Mr. Billing. He had performed this -operation, and had just rebagged the flour, when Billing turned the -handle of the door, at the sound of which Rainsfield started like a -detected thief. - -At no time are the words of the immortal bard, "thus conscience doth -make cowards of us all," more forcibly displayed than when an honourable -or upright man steps from the straight path of honour and integrity to -perform a despicable or criminal action. Thus Mr. Rainsfield could not -quiet the chidings of his conscience, which did not disguise from him -the enormity of the crime he was committing; and when he heard the step -of his storekeeper at the door he felt the weight of contemplated -guilt, and for some moments had not the power of articulation. - -Mr. Billing was just turning away, thinking his master was not in the -building, when Mr. Rainsfield opened the door with a blush on his cheek, -and a lie in his mouth, to support his first deception and subsequent -interruption. - -"I hardly heard you, Mr. Billing," said he, "when you tried the door, as -I was busy, and I had locked it to prevent being disturbed. You see," he -continued, as his confidential entered, "I have had a sheep killed for -our purpose. This we will now inoculate with the strychnine you have -procured; and we will send it out to the plains for the dogs to consume -to-morrow; and we can continue the operation at frequent intervals until -the animals disappear. The arsenic, I think, we may keep for the -present, and see first how this acts. You will perceive I have removed -all the stores into the house with the exception of this one bag of -flour, which I discovered to be slightly damaged, so had it sifted. I -was just packing it again as you came to the door, and being so much -occupied I did not hear you. By the way," he repeated to himself, "I may -as well close it up;" and turning to Billing, he resumed: "will you be -good enough to step into the house and get me a needle and string?" - -Mr. Billing went for the required articles, and during his absence, -Rainsfield removed the sheet on which the flour had been spread, and -destroyed all traces of his labour; so that, upon Billing's return, the -work, or that portion of it, was accomplished, and the bag was placed in -an upright position against the wall. - -The sheep was then removed from the beam, and the inside was well rubbed -and besmeared with the poison; after which it was placed in its former -position, and the outside submitted to a similar manipulation. This -completed the pair left the store; the door was locked by the master, -and the key taken away by him to prevent, as he said, the possibility -of accidents. - -"Do you not think," suggested Mr. Billing, "we had better have the flour -removed into the house?" - -"Oh, no, it does not signify to-day," replied Rainsfield, "it will take -no harm there until the morning, and we can have it removed then when we -send the fellows up to the plains with the meat." - -In the meantime Tom took his way to the blacks' camp, where he found a -large number of the tribe collected; and all in apparent agitation. He -at once perceived that some event was about to take place, and he -conjectured that what was intended was a sortie on his brother's -station. The men were mostly standing before the entrances to their -"gunyahs," facing one another in the circular enclosure; and carrying -on a united disputation at the highest pitch of their voices, all at one -and the same time. They were supported occasionally by the opinions of -the gins, which, though volunteered by those soft, if not fair -creatures, were, as is usually the case even with their civilized -contemporaries, totally unheeded by their lords; who continued their -ratiocination with unabated ardour. Whatever was the nature of the -discussion in progress, it ceased as Tom rode into the midst of the -disputants; and to the sound of the human hubbub succeeded that of the -canine, which, but for the reverence the blacks had for their dogs, Tom -would have silenced by knocking the brains out of a score of the brutes. -He, however, resisted the temptation, and made his way straight up to -the abode of the chief, dismounted, fastened his horse to a tree, and -advanced to the sable scoundrel with a smile; which was returned by a -malignant scowl. This was not lost upon Tom, though he pretended not to -have seen it; and, as he sat down upon a log in front of Dugingi, and -lit his pipe from a fire-stick, he said: - -"Well, Dugingi, what are you up to now? I see you have got something in -the wind." - -A grunt was the only answer he got to this query; but he pushed his -enquiries and demanded: "Are you going to pay us another visit at -Strawberry Hill, Dugingi?" Still he elicited no information, and began -to be rather disgusted. - -"Do you mean to answer me at all, you black thief?" he exclaimed; "see -here! if you won't be civil and open your mouth beyond those grunts, -I'll break your head." And he raised the heavy riding-whip he carried, -as he spoke, in an attitude of menace that made the black shrink to the -entrance of his gunyah. - -"What's the matter, Mister Tom?" said Jemmy Davies, who came up at this -juncture, "why are you 'riled?' Has Dugingi been saying anything to -you?" - -"No, Jemmy, it is because the wretch won't speak that I am put out. I -have asked him what is the cause of this uproar; and what he is up to -with the tribe; and the brute won't utter a word, but only answers me -with grunts. I am of a good mind to treat him to a sound thrashing for -his insolence; but you tell me, Jemmy, what you are after here?" - -"Nothing particular, sir," replied the black; "some of our fellows are -kicking up a row, and they won't be quiet." - -"Well, what are they kicking up the row about, Jemmy?" - -"One feller said, that another feller hit the other feller's gin, -because the gin beat the other feller's gin's piccanini." - -"Well," said Tom, "that is a very lucid explanation of the subject of -discussion in your conclave, Jemmy; but I strongly suspect it is not -strictly true. Now, tell me, were you not hatching some mischief against -us?" - -"No, sir, 'pon my honour," exclaimed Jemmy Davies, "we never thought of -such a thing." - -"Now, it's no use telling that to me," cried Tom, "I am confident you -were; and I know you have been thinking of it for some time. Were you -not talking about it in your last corroboree; and was not this talk -to-day the continuation of the plot? You may as well confess it to me, -for I know it all; you intend my brother some injury." - -"Well, sir," replied the black, "suppose we were talking about Mr. -Rainsfield we would not hurt you." - -"I am not at all afraid of your hurting me," exclaimed Tom; "for it's -short work I'd make of a score of you, if you were to try any violence -to me; but why annoy my brother?" - -"You see, sir," replied Jemmy, "we all like you, because you are good to -the black fellows; but your brother is bad to us, and the tribe hate -him. They would not kill him because he never killed any of them; but -they still hate him and take his rations." - -"That's it!" said Tom; "it is just because you steal his rations that he -is so severe on you; if you had not molested us, he would not have -molested you; but we are obliged to keep you away, because you have -made yourselves dangerous. Why don't you behave yourselves to us, the -same as you do to the Fergusons? and we wouldn't prevent you coming to -the station; but if you persist in stealing I am afraid my brother will -some day be disposed to shoot some of you." - -"We don't interfere with Mr. Ferguson," replied Jemmy Davies, "because -he is good to us; and I have told you the reason why we hate Mr. -Rainsfield is because he is bad to us. I don't believe the tribe would -ever like him now however good he would be." - -"Will you just try and persuade them, Jemmy, to be a little more civil," -said Tom, "and depend upon me to get you justice. It is of no use our -always living like this; and you may be sure my brother will shoot some -of you if you continue to steal. Tell me now the truth; are you thinking -of robbing us again?" - -"No, sir," replied the black, "don't you believe it. Some of them want -to, and some do not; I don't; I will try and keep the others back." - -"That's right, Jemmy," exclaimed Tom, "exert yourself, for depend upon -it it will be better for you, and the tribe too, to remain friendly to -us." - -Tom Rainsfield had some confidence in, not only the word of Jemmy -Davies, but also in his influence with the tribe; and therefore believed -the ingenuous story the black told of the animated discussion; his -refusal to acquiesce in the meditated theft; and his desire to deter the -others from its committal. He therefore felt relieved in his mind for -the time being; and determined to impress upon his brother the -necessity, for his own security, of adopting some lenient measures -towards the blacks. In this train of thought, and accompanied by Jemmy -Davies, he left the camp, and returned to the crossing-place of the -river, where he parted with his companion, after obtaining a -re-assurance from him that no outrage would be committed with his -concurrence. - -Tom, after crossing the Gibson, and directing his steps homewards, fell -in with William Ferguson, returning from Strawberry Hill, and was easily -persuaded to accompany him and remain the night at Fern Vale; where, in -the meantime, we will leave him to revert to Mr. Rainsfield and his -expected visitors. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - "Of darkness visible so much he lent, - As half to show, half veil the deep intent." - -POPE. - - "Man's inhumanity to man, - Makes countless thousands mourn." - -BURNS. - - -After he left the store with Billing Mr. Rainsfield gave particular -instructions that the flocks should be well watched; and he anxiously -waited for the approach of night. When the family retired to rest he -found some excuse to detain him in the sitting-room; and, wondering at -the protracted stay of his brother, he paced the room with a disordered -step and agitated mind. He desired to see Tom back, to hear his report, -and see him retire to his bed; but he waited in vain; while the idea -never occurred to him of the probability of his going over to the -Fergusons. He, however, as the night grew on, extinguished the light in -the room; and, the night being pitch dark, sat with the French light -open, with his eyes and ears strained to their fullest distention to -catch the appearance of any moving object, or any sound in the direction -of the store. - -He had remained thus until past midnight when he thought he detected the -sound of voices uttered in a low cadence; and he strained his auricular -organs so as to endeavour to catch some convincing proof of the -proximity of his victims. Again the same sound struck him. It must be -the voices of the blacks, thought he. "It is, by heaven! they are here," -he mentally exclaimed, as their subdued conversation (which could -plainly be distinguished in the still night air) was again heard. He was -not long either before he had ocular demonstration of their approach; -for round the corner of the store, he could discern, through the -obscurity, the dusky form of a black stealthily and cautiously creeping. - -The vision, however, was only transitory, for in a moment Rainsfield -lost sight of the figure, and believing that the fellow's mission might -have been to steal up to the house, and reconnoitre while his -confederates were effecting an entrance to the store, he all but closed -the window; though he still kept his eyes and ears on the alert through -the aperture. Again his ears caught a sound: "ah! the fellow's trying -the door," he muttered; "perhaps you would like the key, my friends? -However, I suppose you won't allow yourselves to be disappointed by a -trifle of a lock; burst it open," he continued, "no one will hear you. -Ah! there you are again! back to your companions, practised burglar! I -suppose your confederates keep in the background, while you try the -premises. You are quite safe; I'll guarantee you shan't be disturbed -this time. Get in any way you like, but don't burn the place." - -Such were the mental ejaculations of the proprietor of Strawberry Hill, -as he continued at the window of his sitting-room, holding open a leaf -in each hand, and gazing with breathless attention at the quarter where -the late apparition momentarily disappeared; and with intense anxiety -did he continue to pierce the darkness, in the hope of witnessing a -reappearance of the nocturnal visitant. Nor had he to wait long to be -gratified; for presently a similar object showed itself at the point -which was the focus of Rainsfield's gaze; and almost immediately after -another, and another; and then the obscurely luminous passage was -perfectly darkened with human forms. - -This incident was not lost on Rainsfield; he saw at once that the blacks -were determined to effect their purpose; and he secretly indulged in a -fiendish gratulation at the pertinacity with which they were throwing -themselves into his trap. "Ah!" said he, continuing his meditations, -"you are in force are you? why, you must have your whole tribe with you. -Well now, how are you going to manage your business? hark! surely that -must be the door unlocked; yes! there the hinges creak! Well, you -beauties, you have done that cleverly." So he continued to cogitate, and -watch the progress of his scheme's effect, till the dark forms of the -sable thieves could be discerned evidently treading on each other's -heels, while they bore off their purloined prize. Desirous as he was to -satisfy himself whether or not they had decamped with the poisoned meat -and flour, he dared not venture out for fear that some of their number -lurked about the station to cover the retreat of their friends; and not -until he heard from the distance the call of the blacks vibrating in the -bush did he consider himself safe to examine his own premises. - -He crept from his ambush with as much stealth as the thieves had -approached his own property; his heart beating almost audibly, and his -eyes glancing furtively around him, attempting to pierce the darkness; -while he started at the sighing of the faintest breath; shrinking at the -sound of his own footsteps, and conjuring the wildest phantasies in the -midnight air. Conscience was at its work, and he felt already the hot -blast of guilt searing his very soul. - -He approached the store; the door was open; he entered; the darkness -seemed doubly dark, and nothing could be distinguished in the internal -gloom. He mechanically went to the spot where he had left the bag of -flour; groped with his hands about the wall and on the floor, and found -it gone. He walked across the room, with his arms extended in such a -manner as to come in contact with the suspended carcass if it had been -there; but he found it gone also; and when he had satisfied himself upon -that point, his arms dropt to his side, while he stood musing in the -middle of the building. - -"So they have robbed me again, have they?" he muttered; "well, they -will have to answer for their own deaths; it is their own voluntary -action." Conscience, however, refused to be silenced by such sophistry, -and, as the homicide wrapt himself in his self-justification, startled -him from his quietude by uttering in the still small voice, "Thou shalt -not kill." The effect of the rebuke was but momentary, for the man -argues: "I do not kill them, they kill themselves. Surely I may poison -meat for the extermination of vermin; and how more securely can I keep -it than under lock and key? Then if they steal it and eat it, and meet -their death in consequence, surely no blame can be attached to me." - -"Thou shalt not kill," still urged the silent monitor; "thou knewest -well the poisoned food would be stolen by the ignorant savages, and thou -didst poison it for that purpose." - -"But if the villains persisted in stealing what was poisoned," urged the -guilty man, "they commit the crime of theft; and thereby evoke the -punishment in the death which follows. The fact of its being poisoned -involves no criminality on the part of the owner, because the property -is surreptitiously acquired; thereby relieving him of any participation -in their death by the fact of its means being obtained, not only without -his sanction, but in violation of his precautions to preserve it. If," -continued the mental disputant, "I had given them the meat intentionally -to destroy them, then would I have been guilty; but having placed it in -what I believed a perfect security, the blacks having voluntarily rushed -upon their doom, am I to be blamed? Did not Achan, when he appropriated -of the spoils of Jericho, meet with the just reward of his disobedience -in his death?" - -"Thou shalt not kill," repeated conscience; "and God hateth false lips, -'he that speaketh lies shall perish.' Thou knewest the blacks would -steal the meat, notwithstanding your boasted security of it; and, -moreover, thou didst desire that they should. Their death will not be -upon their own heads, notwithstanding that they meet it through the -committal of a sin. Their sin they commit in ignorance, and God only -shall judge them of it; thou takest their life knowingly, meanly, and -cowardly, and God shall judge you for it. Achan met his death by the -command of the omnipotent Judge, for the disobedience of the divine -command; while your victims have no conception of their infringement of -any law. Dost thou remember the judgments that fell upon David for the -murder of Uriah? Your act is far more atrocious than his; for with him, -the victim was one, and might have been said to have been through the -fortunes of war; while your victims are many, and are murdered in a -cold-blooded way, to screen you from the laws of your country, and the -opinions of men. Heavy is the curse on him who sheddeth man's blood, and -verily the curse of the Lord will smite thee, thou worker of iniquity. -If thou desirest not their death hasten now after them, and prevent -them from eating of the food." - -"They would not believe me if I told them it was poisoned," argued -conscience's opponent, "but would simply imagine that I was endeavouring -to recover my property." - -"Offer them other for it, or tell them to try it first on their dogs," -suggested conscience. - -"I dare not show myself to them at all," replied the man; "I believe -they would kill me if I did; besides, if they choose to poison -themselves let them. It is no business of mine to prevent them; they -have long been a source of annoyance to me, and no one can blame me for -their death. No jury in the world would convict me of murder; then why -should I fear? Is not self-preservation the first law of nature? and is -not a man perfectly justified in adopting any measure to preserve his -life and his property. If I am to be taxed with the death of these -wretches, whose riddance from the earth will be an inestimable blessing -to the district and civilisation, no one would be justified in killing -an attempted assassin or a burglar; and a landowner, who sets -spring-guns for the protection of his preserves, becomes a murderer if -his instruments of destruction take effect. In fact the law itself has -no right to exercise its jurisdiction in the disposal of life; and the -execution of a condemned criminal is nothing more than a forensic -murder. But why need I allow my morbid fancies or sympathetic feelings -to overcome justice and my own judgment, or frighten me into a belief -that I am committing a sin? No! if it be necessary, I will blazon the -matter to the world, and let my fellow-men judge me; and I am convinced -I will be exonerated from all criminality." - -Conscience was stifled for the time; and Rainsfield left the store, -taking care to leave the place precisely as it was vacated by the -blacks; and as the first gray streaks rose above the horizon, heralding -Aurora's approach, he returned to the house as cautiously as he left it; -entering by the open window of the sitting-room, and seeking his bed to -sleep the troubled sleep of a disquieted mind. - -At an early hour of the morning, as Mr. Billing resumed his daily -vocations, the robbery on the store was discovered; and the intelligence -was speedily communicated by that individual to his master, who affected -the utmost surprise at the theft, and the deepest concern at the -inevitable fate of the wretched aborigines. "Poor creatures," he -exclaimed, "I would not have cared for the loss of the rations; but to -think that the poor deluded beings are unconsciously the instruments of -their own deaths, through the gratification of their own cupidity, is -truly melancholy. I am vexed at myself for leaving the meat in the -store, for now I see it was the most likely place where it would be -molested. I would give anything to save them; what can be done, Mr. -Billing? can they be warned of their danger before it is too late? I -would not for worlds that the poor wretches should be poisoned, even -though it were through the consumption of stolen food, and, -notwithstanding the thorn they have been in my side; I wish Tom were -here. Speak, Mr. Billing, what can be done?" - -Shall we say that this philanthropic consideration for the poor ignorant -blacks was the spontaneous ebullition of a genuine contrition; or a mere -verbose eruption of assumed sympathy, studied and expressed with the -view of disarming suspicion of the sheep being intentionally poisoned -and placed in the store as a trap? Without wishing to be harsh or -uncharitable, we must conscientiously express our fears that the latter -was the case; and that Rainsfield's apparent sorrow for the fate of his -victims was a predetermined link of his scheme. - -"I fear nothing can be done, sir," replied Mr. Billing to the query of -his master; "they have evidently been possessed of their booty, sir, -some hours; and, doubtless, by this time it is consumed. I cannot -venture, sir, to suggest any remedy; and would merely recommend that -until we are aware, sir, of the extent of the evil, you would not allow, -sir, the circumstance to prey too much on your mind." - -"Do you not think, my dear sir," said Rainsfield, "some good might be -done by sending some one over to warn them of their danger?" - -Instant visions of his late journey occurred to the mind of Mr. Billing; -and when he hastily replied, "no, sir, I really think it can be of no -service," he might have been under the impression that it was the -intention of his master to send him as the warning messenger he alluded -to. "I assure you, sir," he repeated, "it can be of no use; for as I -have already stated, sir, I believe that ere this the whole of the -provisions have been consumed." - -"But tell me, Billing," enquired the suddenly created philanthropist, -"how was the store entered? because I imagined, that having locked it, -it was perfectly secure." - -"It appeared, sir," replied Mr. Billing, "that the cunning scoundrels, -when they discovered the door to be secure, managed, sir, to wrench one -of the slabs out of the back; and from the inside, after effecting an -entrance by that means, they opened the door, sir, for their greater -convenience, and decamped; performing the whole so noiselessly, sir, -that even I who was in their vicinity was not disturbed. And, sir, both -Mrs. Billing and myself are extremely uneasy in our rest. I can assure -you, sir, the slightest noise is likely to arouse either of us. I -remember on one occasion, sir (if you will permit me to make an -observation on my private experience?), before my evil genius prompted -me to break up, sir, my pleasant and comfortable little home in the -mother country, to seek my fortunes, sir, in this inhospitable land, I -resided, as I believe I have already informed you, sir, in the genteel -suburban neighbourhood of Brixton. My means then, sir, enabled me to -possess some of the luxuries of life, of which a cheerful and -comfortable home, sir, I believe to be not the least. However, upon one -occasion, sir, when Mrs. Billing and I had retired to rest; for we were -early people, Mr. Rainsfield, very early people and had a strong -objection to late hours; believing, sir, that they destroy the -constitution, without imparting any satisfaction commensurate to the -loss. Well, sir, as I observed, we had retired early to rest one -evening; and the reigning stillness of the house, sir, was hardly broken -by the musical voice of my wife. I will do her the justice to remark, -sir, that she is a sensible woman, a very sensible woman, sir; -notwithstanding that she was treating me on that occasion, to a little -dissertation on her system of housekeeping; though I would have you -distinctly to understand, sir, not in a style of eloquence peculiar to -that good lady, Mrs. Caudle. That, Mr. Rainsfield, is not one of my -wife's idiosyncrasies; but she prided herself upon her domestic economy, -and she was making a voluntary explanation of her expenditure; while I -was dozing under the influence of her soporific lullaby. My spirit would -have speedily fled to the land of dreams had not my sense of hearing, -sir, detected a sound that was inimical to our peace, and I started -erect in my bed, sir, with my forefinger raised to Mrs. B. to enjoin -silence; while I listened with an ardent attention. - -"'What on earth is the matter, James?' exclaimed my wife, sir, 'you -quite frightened me; what made you start in such an extraordinary -manner.' - -"'Don't you hear anything, my love?' replied I; 'can't your quick ear -detect sounds that portend to an unpleasant visitation?' - -"'No,' she replied, sir, 'what do you mean, James? what sounds?' - -"'The sounds of the housebreaker,' I replied, 'attempting to violate the -sanctity of our dwelling. Are you so deaf, my love,' I said, 'that you -cannot hear the regular grating of a saw at work on some of our doors or -shutters?' - -"'I can certainly hear some sound,' she replied, 'but it is only the -gnawing of a rat, or a mouse in the wainscot of the room; rest your mind -easy, James,' she continued, 'no thieves would think it worth their -while to molest us.' - -"'I am not so sure of that, my dear,' I replied; 'but, even if I were, -do you imagine that I would lie dormantly in my bed (while I was -convinced some nocturnal villain was attempting to enter my premises), -perhaps to see the wife of my bosom murdered in cold blood before my -very eyes, and possibly have my own throat cut afterwards to complete -the tragedy?' - -"My apprehensions were not entertained by my wife, sir, for she urged me -to lie down. 'Do not frighten yourself at nothing,' she exclaimed, 'and -alarm me so at your dreadful imageries; allow me to convince you it is -all fancy; besides if thieves tried to get in, all the places are too -well secured for them to gain an entrance.' - -"'Ah, my wife!' said I, 'there you show your inexperience; a practised -housebreaker would not be deterred by the presence of bars, bolts, or -locks; the greater the supposed security, the greater are the chances of -his success; besides while my suspicions are aroused, I could not rest -until I had satisfied myself that they are groundless, and that is -speedily done. So I am determined to see;' with which I got out of bed, -and with many cautions from my wife, in the event of my discovering any -thieves, not to venture into danger or to allow myself, sir, in my -indignation, or courage, to be exposed to either the ruffians or the -night air, I hastily threw some clothes over me to guard against the -risk of catching cold; for I was always susceptible to cold, sir. I -quietly crept down stairs, sir, and the sound that greeted my ears -distinctly proclaimed the fact that the thieves, sir, were at their -nefarious work. When I reached the passage I perceived, sir, they were -not at the front door; so, hastily entering the parlour and convincing -myself, sir, that they were not there, I seized a poker for my personal -protection, and descended, sir, towards the basement of the house. As I -turned for this purpose, sir, the sound which had momentarily ceased, -now recommenced, and I could detect it, sir, almost in my very presence. -It was at a door leading into our garden and back premises, and in the -indistinct light of the spot, I had almost said total darkness, sir, I -perceived a saw at work cutting through the panel of the door. It was -being industriously plied, sir, by some one on the outside, and at the -time of my arrival, sir, had almost completed its work of extracting a -piece sufficiently large to allow a man's arm to be thrust through, by -which means I imagine, sir, the operator intended to unfasten the door. -However, sir, the instrument, which I discovered was of a tender -description, I snapped asunder with one blow, sir, of the weapon I held -in my hand; and, with as truculent a voice as I could assume, informed -my visitors, sir, that unless they instantly decamped, I would fire on -them. My interruption to their proceedings, sir, was hailed with a -volley of combined expletives; after the utterance of which, sir, I had -the satisfaction of distinctly hearing the sounds of their retreating -footsteps, and could see from one of my back windows, to which I had -removed to prospect, two ill-favoured looking rascals clambering over -the garden wall. So, sir, if it had not been for my quickness of hearing -on that occasion, I should of a certainty have been robbed, and most -probably murdered." - -"You certainly made a happy escape, Mr. Billing," said Rainsfield, after -listening, or appearing to listen, to this episode in the history of his -storekeeper; "but I regret your hearing did not render you much service -on this occasion, and surely the blacks, to have taken out one of the -slabs in the store, must have made some considerable noise." - -"No, Mr. Rainsfield," replied the bland _employé_, "I assure you, sir, -there could have been no noise; otherwise, sir, with my keen hearing, I -would of a certainty have been disturbed; but their movements, sir, are -like cats, and I defy any one, I say, sir, any one, to hear them, even -were an individual awake, and as close to them as I was when sleeping." - -Rainsfield smiled, possibly at the conceit of the little man, but at the -same time, probably, at his knowledge to the contrary; however, it was -not his object, either to quarrel with Billing, or to enlighten him, so -he remarked: - -"I think you had better go over to the Fergusons, Mr. Billing, and see -if Tom is there; I imagine he is; and explain the circumstances to him, -and tell him I would like him to see what effect the unhappy event has -had at the camp. I think it is better that you should go in preference -to any of the men, as the circumstances are better known to you. You can -either ride over, or if you prefer it, which possibly you may, you can -take the ration cart; and I have only to entreat you to use as much -speed as possible. I am desirous of disabusing the minds of the blacks -(if any, indeed, survive) of any intentional harm to them being -meditated by me; and I am aware no one could better undertake such a -mission than my brother." - -Mr. Billing readily agreed to visit Fern Vale, the more so, perhaps, as -he imagined by offering any objection he might be required to perform a -less agreeable journey. So as he was not to undergo another edition of -the punishment of the Alma trip, he readily agreed, and was, therefore, -speedily on his way to Fern Vale, to look for Tom Rainsfield. - -After Billing's departure, Mr. Rainsfield again visited the store, to -witness in daylight the success of his trap; and he contemplated the gap -in the wall, and the absence of the flour and meat with a degree of -complacency and satisfaction that would almost have impressed a beholder -with a belief that he was inwardly comforting himself with the -meditation of a recently performed charitable action. - -"Well, I begin to think," said he to himself, "that my plans have been -executed pretty cleverly. Everybody will believe that the blackguards -have been poisoned by mistake; and their own mistake too. So that no -blame can be attached to me; and I shall have the immense advantage of -having effectually stopped their depredations. I wonder what my friend -John Ferguson will do for his _protegés_? will he pine for them? Perhaps -he may recriminate me for my treatment of him, and try to accuse me of -their murder; but he can't, and he dare not. The law will protect me; -and if he dares to breathe one word against my name he shall rue the day -he uttered it. I hate that young viper as intensely as formerly I liked -him. He has thwarted me in more ways than one; he dares to oppose -Smithers in his suit with Eleanor, and to show his contempt for me by -carrying on his intrigue under my very eyes, and in my own house too. -But he shall not have her; so long as there is breath in my body I will -not permit it, in fact I cannot; she must be Smithers', and, by heaven! -she shall. He has dared to show fight after I cautioned him; the -villain! and then to inflame those infernal blacks against me; the vile -dog! he shall smart for it. His lively blacks have already got their -deserts; and, I have no doubt, by this time are rotting on their own -ground." - -"Thou shalt not kill," suggested conscience. - -"Oh, bah!" exclaimed the culprit, "what a fool I am, to be continually -chiding myself for the fate of these wretches. They die by their own -act, so let their death be answered for by themselves;" saying, or -rather thinking which, the conscience-stricken man turned on his heel -and left the store. - -In the meantime let us retrospect for a few hours, and trace the -movements and proceedings at the camp. When Jemmy Davis left Tom -Rainsfield at the crossing-place, he returned to the camp, where the -discussion, interrupted by Tom's arrival, was renewed with increased -force. The excitement of the disputants ran so high that any one -unacquainted with the verbose inanition of such argumentary proceedings, -and the natural antipathy of the blacks to bellicosity, would have -imagined that the termination of the meeting would have been of a -tragical character. However, it ended, as all such meetings usually do -with them, viz., in words; and, towards midnight, the animated -disputants sank under the fatigue of their disquisition, and in a short -time all was hushed. - -As the embers of the fires gave a fitful glare on the now silenced camp -a head might have been seen protruding from the aperture of one of the -gunyahs; and, after surveying the scene for some time, and putting its -ear to the ground to catch, if possible, any sound that would denote -watchfulness on the part of the tribe, it, or rather the body to which -it belonged, crept from the habitation in that posture designated in -nursery parlance "all fours." With spear in hand it passed round to the -back; where the individual assumed a more upright position, though he -still crept under the shade of the gunyahs. Then lightly striking in -succession the bark structures with his spear as he went along he was -joined by about twenty men; whose appearance was so sudden that they -almost appeared to have been called into instantaneous existence by the -potent wand of the conjurer. - -This was Dugingi and a select band of confederates, his supporters in -the late discussion; and they moved away from the camp, to carry out -their predetermined plot of robbing the store of the Strawberry Hill -station. The opposition to the scheme had been strenuous; and the -disapproving blacks, headed by Jemmy Davies, being the most numerous and -loud in their condemnation of the project, had retired, fully convinced -that the idea had been abandoned by Dugingi and his party. But they had -been deceived, for Dugingi was only quieted, not dissuaded; and the -present secret expedition was the result of the defeat on his motion for -a general movement. He was determined, in his own mind, to rob the -premises of Mr. Rainsfield; and, if he could not obtain the concurrence -of his tribe, he was resolved to perform it simply with the assistance -of some of his own party. - -We have already seen how he affected an entrance to the store; so we -need not trouble our readers by tracing his movements while perpetrating -the theft. Suffice it to say, that at an early hour in the morning, the -party returned to the camp with all the rations they could lay their -hands upon in the store; and which, we have already noticed, consisted -of the carcass of a sheep and a bag of flour. - -Their first proceeding, then, was to heap up their fires; on which they -threw their meat to roast, and then set the gins to work with the flour -to make "damper." These preparations soon aroused the entire camp, who -were in a moment alive and stirring. At the first glance Jemmy Davies -detected the state of affairs; and saw that he had been outwitted by -Dugingi; who, while he (Jemmy) and his party slept, had committed the -theft, and were now preparing to feast on the spoil. He was grieved at -the sight; because he had given his word to Tom Rainsfield that he -would prevent any outrage if possible, and he had a sincere desire to -pacify his countrymen in their animosity towards Mr. Rainsfield. He -therefore cautioned his partizans against tasting the food; and, in the -language of his tribe, addressed them in the following words: - -"My brothers--our brother Dugingi has behaved bad to us; and bad to the -white fellow. Bad to us, because he went away to the white fellows' -'humpey,' when we wanted him not to go, and when, if we had known him -going, we would have prevented him; and bad to the white fellows because -he steals his 'rations.' The white fellow is very strong, and very -brave; and has plenty of horses and guns; and he will take revenge on -the black fellow. Dugingi steals the white fellow's rations, and the -white fellow thinks all the Nungar tribe steals it, and he will hate all -the Nungar tribe. I have been to the great country where the white -fellows 'sit down.' Our fathers thought once that when the black fellow -dies he afterwards 'jump up white fellow;' but white fellows come a -'long way more farther' than big waters, and have gunyahs higher than -the tall bunya tree; and with very many humpies in them. Some of them -would hold all the Nungar tribe. Now, my brothers, do you think we can -fight against the white fellows? The white fellows will fight us, if we -steal their rations; and we cannot fight them, for they must kill us if -we do. Now, the white fellow _will_ fight us, for Dugingi has stolen his -rations; he has brought upon us this trouble; for he did it when we -wished him not to; and the white fellow will think all the Nungar black -fellows did it. - -"Now this is what I say. I have been telling the white fellow Tom -Rainsfield, that we would not steal from his brother; and I've been -telling him that we want to live, and we want to be friends with him and -his brother, as we are friends with the white fellow Ferguson and his -brother. And the white fellow Tom Rainsfield says he is friends with us. -Now what do you think he will say when he finds the black fellow has -been stealing his rations? He will say all black fellows are rogues, and -all black fellows liars; and he will no longer be our friend. But, my -brothers, you take not the food from Dugingi that he has stolen from the -white fellow. Touch it not; but let him and his friends eat it if they -will, and let them give it to their gins if they will; and may it choke -them, and may they die. But I will go to the white fellows, and will -tell them myself, that Dugingi and his friends did steal the rations, -and not the Nungar tribe; so we, my brothers, will be friends with the -white fellows." - -At the conclusion of this address Jemmy Davies left the thieves in -possession of their prize, and was followed by the majority of his -supporters; notwithstanding that the savoury smell of the roasting meat -was particularly grateful to their olfactory nerves, and they were sadly -tempted to remain and partake. - -Dugingi little heeded the harangue of his opponent, which was greeted -with a shout of derision from the whole of the foraging party; who -continued with their culinary operations in the highest possible state -of hilarious loquacity; rending the air with their shouts, and making -the bush reverberate with their laughter. - -The sheep was speedily so far cooked as to serve their purposes, and -tearing it to pieces amongst them they were soon busily engaged in the -process of mastication. The "damper" was devoured with equal avidity; -and when they had all eaten to satiety, as the sun rose resplendent to -walk his diurnal course, they stretched themselves to sleep with the -complacency of satisfied gormands. - -No such comfort, however, was allowed them. First one, and then another, -became restless; a gnawing pain devoured their stomachs; an insatiable -thirst consumed them; and then the first painful wail was heard that -proclaimed the poison at its work. The wail increased; the agonies of -the victims became insufferable; and, in their anguish and suffering, -many rushed to the river to drink their last draught; while others threw -themselves into the fires or on the ground, gnashing their teeth and -biting the earth in the intensity of their torments. All now bemoaned -their fate, and cursed their participation in what they plainly saw was -their funeral feast. - -Jemmy Davies calmly, though sorrowfully, gazed upon the scene. He -imagined the cause of his countrymen's sufferings, for he had, in the -days of his civilisation, seen his master poison meat for the native -dogs, and he had seen them die from the effects of the poison. He -therefore understood its mysterious workings, and at once detected its -operations in the suffering beings before him. Not so his countrymen; -they imagined their fate was produced by his curse; believing that he -possessed the secret power of working their death by some spells or -occult influence he had acquired from the whites; and they therefore -crouched before him and implored his relief. But he, poor semi-savage, -could do nothing for them, and he knew they must die. The melancholy -scene before him overcame his fortitude, and he burst into tears as he -exclaimed: - -"I can't help you, my brothers; I do not kill you, it is the white -fellow that kills you for stealing his rations. He has made his meat to -kill you because you eat it; if you had not eaten it you would have -lived." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - "In Lybian groves, where damned rites are done, - That bathe the rocks in blood, and veil the sun." - -CAMPBELL. - - -As the residents of Fern Vale early bestirred themselves on this -eventful morning their astonishment was great at the continued -altercations which seemed to agitate the black's camp. None of the party -had ever heard them continue their discussions so unceasingly; and the -Fergusons and their friends were disposed to think that it presaged some -evil. They therefore proposed, that their intended visit for that day -should be made at once, so that they might learn the cause of the -strange agitation; and acting on this decision the four horsemen were -speedily mounted and on their way to the "flats." - -They had reached the bank of the river, and were about entering the -water to cross, when they were stopped by hearing a voice in their rear -calling upon Tom Rainsfield. He instantly turned towards the new comer, -whose appearance greatly surprised him, and anxiously demanded of him -the nature of his message. This was given in as few words as Mr. -Billing's habitual sinuosity of expression could devise utterance; and -hastily desiring the storekeeper to remain where he was with the cart -until his (Tom's) return from the camp, he joined his friends and rode -through the ford. - -"What is the matter with you, Tom?" said William as they passed through -the water, "you seem quite nervous and agitated? Has Billing brought you -any news that has annoyed you?" - -"He has indeed, my dear fellow," replied Tom, "brought me news that -overwhelms me. How my brother will be able to reconcile the act to his -conscience I do not know; when I, who, as God knows, had no -participation in it, feel the weight of murder on my soul." - -"Murder!" exclaimed his friends. "What on earth do you mean Tom? you're -surely raving! How murder? explain yourself," said John. - -"I wish to God I was raving," replied he; "that my fears were only a -fantasy of the mind; or that that prating idiot Billing had merely -dreamed the story he has just now told me. But it seems too substantial; -all the circumstances that have transpired, and those that are at this -very time transpiring, lead to prove it. There! hear you that wail? that -is the death-cry of scores of those wretched blacks. Hark! there it is -again; does not that cry rise up to heaven? and will not our family -there be judged for this? If I could but think it were accidental I -would be satisfied; though I fear, I fear, oh, horrid thought! murdered -by my brother." - -"Calm yourself, my dear sir," said the minister, who had with deep -sorrow been witnessing the outpourings of his companion's grief. "Though -you have not mentioned to us the nature of the communication received -through the messenger from your home, we would infer from your remarks -that some dreadful calamity has come upon this tribe through the agency -of your brother; whom, God forbid that you should condemn, without being -thoroughly convinced of his guilt. It affords us consolation to hear you -express only a fear that your brother has not acted up to the precepts -of his Maker, and the dictates of his conscience. I sincerely trust, as -I believe, that your fears are groundless, and that you over-estimate -the criminality, if any criminality exist. I pray you dispel any such -belief from your mind, until at least you have indubitable proof of your -brother's crime; and, in the meantime, be charitably disposed towards -him, for you may be doing him an injustice by your harsh suspicions. It -is true we are unacquainted with the circumstances which arouse them, -but we sincerely trust you will find you have been deceived." - -"I would readily, oh! I long to believe," exclaimed Tom Rainsfield, -"that it was unintentional; but my heart tells me there has been -duplicity. I feel a portion of the mental load, consequent on crime, -attached to me; for only the night before I pledged my word to those who -may be now in the convulsive agonies of death that I would befriend them -and bring about a reconciliation with my brother. I know his nature -well; he is hasty and impetuous; and, though kind-hearted and generous, -he is severe and even cruel where his passions are aroused; so I fear -the worst. But I will tell you the cause of these people's wails. It -appears that my brother, after I had left the station yesterday, -poisoned a sheep for the purpose, he said, of destroying the native dogs -on the station. That sheep was left in the store during the night, when -it was stolen by the blacks, who have, no doubt ere this, feasted on -it, and are meeting their fate in a violent death. Now, the -circumstances which I am surprised at, and deprecate, are -these:--Leaving the poisoned meat in a place above all others where, if -the blacks intended to visit us, they would go first; sending Billing -clandestinely into Alma for the poison; and having all the stores -removed into the house during his absence, leaving nothing in it but the -poisoned meat, and a bag of flour, in the full expectation, I am afraid, -that the blacks were going to rob us. But the most extraordinary part of -my brother's conduct is, that he kept me in entire ignorance of -Billing's journey, which in itself was unusual, for he never before left -the station on any pretence; and the next incongruity was this crusade -against the dingos, which have given us no annoyance for some time past. -Many smaller events now flash across my mind, which tend to stimulate my -fears; however, as you kindly remark, I ought not to judge too harshly -of my brother; and I will try, until I see more definite cause for my -alarms, to believe him innocent of any intentional murder. But listen to -those poor wretches; are not their cries piteous?" - -Truly they were; and as the shrieks and howls of the victims pierced the -ears of the quartette, as they crossed the river and entered the scrub, -all their feelings of compassion were aroused; and they accelerated -their speed, hoping to be of assistance, where no human efforts could -avail. - -The picture that presented itself to their astonished vision, as they -emerged from the mazy labyrinths of the scrub into the area of the camp, -was fearfully sickening and revolting. Scattered on the ground, in -indescribable postures and contortions, were writhing bodies of men -women and children, giving vent to cries that would have melted a heart -of stone; anon starting from their recumbent position, to stand erect in -the freshness of the morning breeze, only to enjoy a momentary respite; -and then flinging their arms wildly in the air with an agonizing shout, -to fall again prostrate to the earth, and yield, with a convulsive -shudder, their spirits to their Maker. - -Our party had gazed upon this scene for some minutes ere the miserable -objects before them noticed their presence; the extent of their -sufferings absorbing all their faculties, and our friends remained -unnoticed or unheeded spectators of the dire destruction working around -them. However, they were at last perceived; and, before they could -devise the meaning, many of the suffering objects crawled to their feet, -and with imploring looks and gestures, sought relief from that death -which they imagined was the result of some mysterious agency caused by -the will of the white man. The malady had reached its exacerbation; and -the miserable sufferers, as they prostrated themselves at the feet of -their white-skinned brethren, sank in groups to rise no more. The -picture was more than affecting (even if such existed) to natures -possessed of no spark of human feeling; while to Tom its contemplation -was fearful, and he turned from the spot to conceal his emotion. - -Mr. Wigton, recovering from a momentary abstraction into which he had -been cast by sorrows of the event, addressed to the sufferers in their -own language words of commiseration and comfort. He did not, however, -disguise from them their condition; but told them they would not live, -for that they had eaten of that which destroyed life, even the white -man's life; and that no white man could help them. - -"Then why did the white man kill us?" they piteously asked. - -"My brothers," replied the messenger of peace, "the white man made the -food for the dingos which kill his sheep, and your brothers did steal -the food, and did eat it, and will die; but the white man is sorry that -you eat it, and is sorry that you die. We would all save you if we -could, but we can't; and, my poor brothers, we can only ask the great -Spirit in the skies to look down upon you and save you if He will. He is -a good and great Spirit and could save you, if you would be His children -and His brothers; He loves even the black fellow, if the black fellow -will love Him; and He knows all about the black fellow, what the black -fellow likes, and does, and thinks. He lived a long time ago down on the -ground with us, and told us all these things, and He now lives in the -skies, and sees all that the black fellows do. He saw the black fellows -last night steal the food, and He was very angry with them; but He would -forgive, even as the white man forgives them, if they would be sorry for -doing bad things, and would do them no more, but love the great Spirit. -But the great Spirit says some of you have been very bad, and that you -will not love Him; and so you must die. But if you will love him, He -will save some of you, even some of you that have eaten the white man's -food." - -The wail that followed this _petite_ sermon of Mr. Wigton was the death -knell of many; while the preacher himself was so overcome by the horrors -of the scene that he had not perceived the approach of a ferocious -black, who, leaping over the bodies of the dead and dying, advanced to -within a few feet of him. This being confronted him in a menacing -attitude almost face to face, and held a spear poised in his uplifted -hand ready to bury it in the heart of the clergyman whenever he should -so determine. - -He was a tall athletic black, of good make, and, for an aboriginal, -considerable muscular development; he had a determined and ferocious -aspect; his eyes were blood-shot and swollen; his nostrils were dilated, -while they exuded a fetid secretion horribly offensive. He foamed at his -mouth, and the sinews and muscles of his face contracting spasmodically -under the influence of the agonies caused by the poison he had taken, he -presented a most hideous spectacle. Instantly upon confronting the -clergyman, he accosted him thus: - -"You not know me, white man? I am Barwang; brother belonging to Dugingi, -and he is dead. The white fellow kill him, and kill plenty of black -fellow: but I live. I not die, though very sick. I live to kill all -white fellows. You like to see black fellow die: you think black fellow -cannot kill white fellow, you shall see." He stretched his arm with the -poised weapon to pierce the heart of Mr. Wigton; but just at that -moment, when the spear was leaving the fingers of Barwang, it was -suddenly snatched from his grasp by a black, who sprang from some -covert, and, passing behind his countryman with a bound, deprived him of -the offensive weapon; and stood in his turn with it balanced towards the -frustrated homicide. At the same moment Tom Rainsfield, who had -witnessed the danger of Mr. Wigton, leapt forward to protect him with -his person, though the opportune act of the friendly black rendered such -unnecessary; while Barwang, thus seeing himself assailed on both sides, -made good his retreat. - -"Thank you, Jemmy Davies," said Tom, "that was nobly done, and an act I -will not forget. I have been looking out for you ever since I have been -in the camp, but have never seen you until this moment. At last I began -to fear that you had fallen a victim to this dreadful malady, but am -pleased to see that you at least have escaped. This has been a fearful -business, Jemmy, and it has given me much sorrow; from what I told you -last night, and from what you told me, I thought we would have been able -to have established a friendship between your tribe and ourselves, and I -felt perfectly satisfied that our hostilities were at an end. I did not -go home last night, Jemmy (perhaps if I had I might have prevented the -robbery, and averted the fate of so many of your tribe); and this -morning my brother sent over to tell me that the black fellows had -robbed his store, and taken away a sheep that he had poisoned for the -native dogs. So you see, Jemmy, your tribe came by their death by -persisting in stealing our goods. Many would say that they merit their -fate, but I, Jemmy, am very very sorry, and would have given anything I -am possessed of to have prevented it." - -"I believe you, Mr. Tom," replied the black. "I know you are a good -friend to the black fellow, and would not do him any hurt; but Dugingi -and his friends behaved bad to us, and to you, and have died, and it is -well. They left the camp in the night, after promising me and my friends -that they would not steal any more from your brother; and we went to -sleep, believing them that they would not go. But they did go, and stole -the meat and the flour, and the first that I knew of it was, in the -morning, hearing them make a noise as they were roasting it. I saw at -once what they had done, and spoke to all the tribe. I told them they -would never live in their country if they stole from the white fellow, -because the white fellow was strong and would kill them; and that it -was better to be friends with the white fellow and live. But the friends -of Dugingi would not hear me, and they did eat; but all my friends, that -wished to be friends with the white fellow, would not eat it, and I told -them they were right, for the food would do them no good. But Dugingi -laughed at me, and roasted the meat and made damper with the flour; and -he and his brothers and friends eat the meat, and they gave the damper -to their gins and piccaninies. They all died, except Barwang and two or -three more, who quarrelled over their shares, and had it eaten by the -others. So they have not died because they did not get enough to kill -them. If they had seen you alone they would have tried to kill you; and -it was because I saw Barwang coming to you that I watched him and took -his spear. He won't stop with us now, he will be too frightened, and -will go with his friends to the tribe in the mountains." - -"Did you say," asked Tom, "that the gins and piccaninies only eat the -damper? did they not get any of the meat? Surely they did not die by -only eating the damper?" - -"Yes, Mr. Tom," replied the black, "only damper, and they died too. The -damper and meat were both poison together; the black fellows eat the -meat and they died, and the gins and piccaninies eat the damper and they -died." - -A cloud came over the brow of Tom Rainsfield as he heard this. "As I -dreaded!" he muttered to himself. "I would almost have given my life, -Jemmy, to have prevented this; but it is done, and it cannot be -remedied. The only satisfaction I feel is that you were wise, Jemmy, and -would not let yourself or your friends taste the poison, thus saving -yourself and them. I will stop with you now a little while, and see what -I can do for you; but wait;" and turning to his friends he said to them: -"I will remain here with Jemmy Davies for some hours, but I need not -detain you. Leave me here, and return home; and if you will merely -mention to Billing what you have seen, that will be sufficient for him -to communicate to his master." - -"William was going over to your place this morning," replied John, "and -he may as well depart at once; but for ourselves, I will remain with -you, and I have no doubt it is the intention of Mr. Wigton to do the -same." - -The latter gentleman having expressed his determination to wait at the -camp William was dispatched to join Mr. Billing, to whom he was to -communicate the tidings of death, and then proceed to Strawberry Hill to -take home his sister. - -The three whites, accompanied by their black friend, now walked through -the camp; and for the first time saw the extent of the devastation. It -was now stilled. Bodies lay scattered in every direction, while no -strife or contention now agitated their minds. It appeared as if the -destroying angel had spread his arm over the devoted tribe, and hushed -their voices for ever; for death had done his work with an effectual -hand; and though only a portion had suffered, the rest, from a fear to -face the grim tyrant in the majesty of his presence, lay concealed -within the precincts of their own habitations. - -When we stand by the couch that supports the frame of some dear friend -or relative, while the spirit wafts itself from its earthly shrine to -that ethereal haven of its rest where it "beacon's from the abode where -the eternal are;" and when the slightest utterance of grief is -suppressed in the solemn silence that we maintain to catch the last -breath of the departing loved one: and when that soul is fled, and we -gaze on the placid features, and fear ourselves to breathe lest we -should disturb the sleep of the quiescent and unconscious clay, and -recall its spirit to a renewal of its earthly trials: when we visit the -scene of some mighty conflict (sombred and silenced by the shades of -night), where the powers militant have exhausted their strength, and -left their best blood and blossom of their countries to bleach upon the -battle plain: when we walk through the desolate streets of an infected -city, where pestilence has cut off the first-born in every family, and -where no sound is heard save the faint cries of the dying, or the -distant rumbling of mortals' last mundane vehicle: wherever, in fact, -and whenever we gaze upon scenes where the grave reigns paramount, then -we feel the true force of the expression "the stillness of death -prevailed." And as Tom Rainsfield and his party threaded the corpses of -young and old, men, women, and children, they felt the awfulness of the -scene, and were too much absorbed with their own thoughts, to break a -silence that was a mutual comfort and respite. - -"Here is some of the damper, sir," said Jemmy Davies, as he pointed to -the lifeless form of a gin, with a large piece in her hand, clutched as -in the agony of death. "You see, sir, she has been eating that, and it -has killed her; for the black fellows themselves eat all the meat." - -What the feelings of Tom were, when he stooped to release the pernicious -food from the grasp of the woman, we cannot describe; but sorrow was -depicted in his countenance, and his strong manly features were -disturbed by the force of his mental sufferings. He silently broke off a -small piece from the lump; and, kindling a flame from the embers of one -of the fast dying fires, burnt it to endeavour to detect the presence of -arsenic by its exhalation of a garlic odour. Not satisfying himself by -this test, he put the remains into his pocket while he said to the -black, "I will take this with me, Jemmy, and see if it contains any -poison; but I trust to God you are mistaken, and that these poor deluded -wretches have at least in this eaten wholesome food. "Oh, harrowing -thought!" he exclaimed, "to think that my brother should have been the -witting instrument of this people's destruction." - -"By this," said Mr. Wigton, "it would certainly appear strange; but we -must not deprecate your brother's conduct on mere suspicion. You know -the Scriptures tell us that we are to 'judge not lest we also be -judged;' and also that vengeance rests with the Almighty. If your -brother has committed this great wickedness and sinned against his God, -let his Maker be his judge, and his own conscience his scourge; for -'cursed are they who worketh iniquity,' and 'the judgment of the Lord -overtaketh the evil-doers,' even in this life; while in the next, 'the -wages of sin is death.' He may escape the punishment of a human -judicature, but he can never wholly satisfy the still small voice of -conscience, nor at all escape the high tribunal of his Maker. When the -last trump of the archangel shall summon him before the 'great white -throne,' to give an account of the deeds done in the body, then shall -the true nature of this action be known, whether it was the result of a -mere inadvertency, or the premeditated plan of murder. In the meantime, -with all sincerity, I pray God that it may be the former; and that the -soul of your brother may not be inscribed with the guilt of so -diabolical a crime as the destruction of so many of his -fellow-creatures. It is but right that all justice should be given him; -and therefore, in the first place, I think you are correct in -determining whether or not the flour contains poison, as surmised by -Jemmy Davies. If it does, submit the fact to your brother for -explanation, and afford him an opportunity (if it be possible) of -exculpating himself." - -"I agree with you perfectly, Mr. Wigton," replied Tom; "let the Almighty -and my brother's conscience be his judges, if he has committed this -crime. But I feel for these poor blacks, the more that I have -endeavoured to bring about a reconciliation, and only last night pledged -myself to befriend them." - -"I know and all my friends know, Mister Tom," exclaimed Jemmy Davies, -"that you would not do us any harm, and we all like you; yet most of our -tribe hate your brother for this, though Dugingi did steal the meat, -and they did not want him to. I am not angry with your brother, but my -friends are; and I am afraid they never will like him. You will not be -troubled any more with us, for my friends will never steal from your -brother; but they will always be frightened to take anything from him as -friends." - -"I am exceedingly sorry to hear you say that," said Tom, "as I had -hoped, even out of this catastrophe, some good might have resulted. I -had thought that since the removal of our implacable opponent we could -have lived on terms of amity with your tribe; and I yet hope to -accomplish that aim. However, in the meantime, let us see what can be -done with the bodies." - -"If you will permit me to make a suggestion," said John Ferguson, "you -will let me go home, and get one or two of our men with spades, that we -may dig one grave for the whole of the bodies." - -"No, Mr. Ferguson," replied Jemmy Davies. "My tribe would not like them -buried that way; they would rather do it their own way, thank you. We -will bury them here in the camp, and then leave it for ever. We will -bury them all to-day, and then good-bye. You had better not stop Mr. -Ferguson and Mr. Tom; leave us now, and we'll say good-bye." - -"My friend! permit us to stay," said Mr. Wigton; "we wish to befriend -you if it be in our power. Let us help you to bury your dead, and when -you have finished let me say a few words to your tribe." - -"You can all stay if you like," said Jemmy; "but we are many and we -don't want you to help us, it is not work for white fellows. I will tell -my tribe you want to stay, and they won't heed you; and I will tell them -you want to speak to them, and they will hear you." With this Jemmy -Davies shouted some words in his own vernacular, at which the survivors -of the tribe emerged from their concealment; and he continued to his -visitors: "They say that if the white fellows wish they can stop, and if -the budgery (good) white fellow who woollers (talk) belonging to great -Spirit, wishes to talk to them, they will listen." - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - "And say supernal powers! who deeply scan - Heaven's dark decrees, unfathomed yet by man, - When shall the world call down, to cleanse her shame, - That embryo spirit, yet without a name." - -CAMPBELL. - - -The blacks commenced their obsequies with a lugubrious mien; and after -collecting the bodies, which numbered nearly a hundred, prepared to -entomb them according to their own peculiar custom. Usually, upon the -death of a black, the surviving relatives bemoan their loss by -besmearing themselves with coloured clay or mud, and venting their grief -for days in fasting, frantic gestures, and wails; while the gin (if the -deceased be a man possessed of one) covers her head with white -feathers, which species of mourning she wears for a "moon," _i.e._, a -month. On this occasion, however, the deceased were nearly all the -members of separate families, and the survivors had little sympathy for -them, except in common; consequently, the last rites were performed in -uniform silence. - -For each body was erected four forked posts (standing about four feet -high), on which were formed a platform of boughs, so as to make a sort -of foliate table to support the lifeless clay. The bodies, when duly -placed, were then over-spread with long dry grass, and, afterwards, -with an outer covering of boughs, which, to be prevented being removed -by the weather, were tied together at each end as a bundle of sticks. -These impromptu sepulchres were elevated from the ground just -sufficiently to prevent the access of the native dogs, and protected -overhead from the molestation of carnivorous birds by the covering we -have described. They are, however, no more defended, than a subterranean -tenement would be, from the depredations of insects and vermin; the -most numerous of which, who attack this, or any other carrion in the -Australian bush, being ants; which have rightly been designated -"nature's scavengers." - -In such encasements it is not to be wondered at that the flesh is -speedily removed from the bones; and, after a short time, they stand -inoffensive monuments to the memory of departed friends. They remain -intact for years; until, either consumed by some bush fire, washed away -by some gigantic flood, or the supports give way under the decay of -successive seasons, the sepulchre and its enshrined contents fall -together to the earth to reunite with their parent dust. - -When the blacks finished their toil, the cemetery had a most -extraordinary appearance. With nearly a hundred four-legged tombs, of -various size placed side by side, and their heads set facing the rising -sun, they almost filled the centre space of the camp; and, with the -conical gunyahs around them in a wide circle, they presented, at the -cessation of the buryer's work, one of the most novel and picturesque -scenes that could be imagined. - -Upon being informed by Jemmy Davies that he could now speak to the -blacks Mr. Wigton called them together, and addressing them in their own -language, said: "My friends! you say I am the white man who speaks of -the great Spirit; I would speak of him to you now. I know that you say -there is no good Spirit, only an evil one; but you are wrong, for there -are both; and of the good one I will now tell you. A very long time ago -he made all the big hills, and large rivers, the plains, and the great -sea; and he made man, and all the beasts, birds, and fishes; he made -white men, and black men; he made everything. When he made the first -man, he told him he would love him, and teach him great wisdom, if he -would do what the great Spirit wished. He gave him a wife and put them -both in a large country, where was plenty fruit that possums and -parrots like, and which was very good for man. But one tree was there -that they were not to touch; because it belonged to the evil spirit. The -good Spirit told man, that if he eat the fruit that grew on that tree he -would be wicked, and the good Spirit wouldn't love him. But when the -good Spirit left him, and the man and his wife 'walked all about,' and -saw a very fine country with plenty of fruit to eat, and plenty of -animals who would not do him any harm, but come to him when he called -them, he was very much pleased. But the evil spirit presently came to -the woman and said to her, 'Now, you take that fruit that the good -Spirit says belongs to me, and that is not good; you will find it very -good, the best in the country; it belongs to me and you may take as much -of it as you like.' Now the woman did not care what the good Spirit had -told her, so she took it, and gave some of it to the man, after telling -him what the evil spirit had said to her, and they both eat it. But when -the good Spirit knew it, he was very angry; and told the man and the -woman, that as they had done what he had told them not to do, and had -stolen the fruit off the tree which he told them not to touch, he would -turn them out of the country into another country where there was no -fruit growing, and where the beasts were all wild and where they would -have to work for their food, and always be in danger and trouble. So you -see the first trouble that there was in the world, was from stealing and -disobeying the good Spirit; and the man and woman were punished, though -they did not die like your friends this morning. - -"Well, my friends, the man and woman lived a long time together, and -they died; and others grew up, and they died; and so on, until by and -bye a great many people lived on the earth, who forgot all about the -good Spirit; just as you have done. Then the good Spirit was very sorry -for them, because they did as the evil spirit told them; and when they -died, they all went to the evil spirit, and lived with him in fire. But -the good Spirit wished them to live with Him in a beautiful country, -where they would never want to eat and drink, but would always be happy. -So He sent them His Son to tell them what to do to please Him, and make -themselves happy, when they 'jump up' again in the sky, after they die -on the earth. He told them what to do, but very few of the people did -it; for the evil spirit always persuaded them not to notice Him, or -believe Him. But the good Spirit did many good things for them. He -brought to life again some of their friends after they had died; and He -made food 'jump up' when they were hungry, their clothes never to wear -out, and plenty such things. And He told them that if they did as he -said they would go to His Father's country in the sky, and live there -with Him in happiness and never die; but that if they would not do as He -told them, they would have to go to the evil spirit, where they would be -always burning, and never die either; while their sufferings would -always continue. To escape this, and procure happiness, He told them -what they must do. The good Spirit loved them; so they must love the -good Spirit. The good Spirit hated murder, theft, lies, and cruelty; so -they must hate them too. They must be peaceable and kind to one another, -and, next to the good Spirit Himself, they must love one another, -especially the poor; and He told them if they would do all this, the -good Spirit would be very pleased, and would take care of them; but if -they would not do so, then He would be very angry and punish them. Now, -a good many people believed what the Son of the good Spirit said, and -did as he told them; and when they died they all went to the good -Spirit. But the evil spirit persuaded a great many more not to believe -Him; and they didn't, but killed Him; but He 'jumped up' again and went -back to his Father, the good Spirit, and the people that killed Him, -when they died, all went to the bad spirit to be punished. Now, the bad -spirit is always telling people to do bad things, to vex the good -Spirit, and get the people himself. They are very foolish, and do what -the evil spirit tells them, and therefore get sent to his place of -fire, and are very wretched. And I must tell you, my friends, both the -Good and evil spirit still live, and are always walking about. They are -both here just now, and were here last night; the good Spirit told you -not to steal the white man's food, and you were good and did not steal -it; but the evil spirit told Dugingi and his friends to go and steal it, -and they did, and died. - -"Now, my friends, which of these would you like for your master? The -good Spirit? then do as he tells you. Love him and give up killing one -another, and stealing, and telling lies, and hating the white man. I -will stop with you, and teach you how to love the good Spirit; so that -when you die you will go to the good Spirit in the sky. But if you will -not love the good Spirit, and will not do as He tells you, then you -will be the friends of the evil spirit, and be burnt up with him in his -fire. The evil spirit is a very bad spirit, and will tell you all sorts -of things to make you not to love the good Spirit. He will tell you it -is of no use; that the good Spirit does not care for you, and will not -trouble about you, and that he only cares for the white man; but do not -believe him, for he wants to get you for himself. You try to live as the -good Spirit tells you, and you will not only enjoy the happiness with -the good Spirit when you die, but you will be happy while you live here; -and now, my friends, I will pray to the good Spirit for you." - -Mr. Wigton then lifted his voice in earnest supplication to his Master, -to beseech in His unbounded beneficence, that He would dispel the -darkness from the minds of the poor benighted heathen before Him, and -reflect on them the light of His gospel. He concluded his exhortation -and prayer, and found Jemmy Davies still standing by his side, where he -had remained during the whole time of the short discourse, deeply -interested with the truths that flowed from the preacher's mouth. Not -so, however, the rest of the tribe; for Mr. Wigton had noticed with -pain, that after the first few minutes of his addressing them, they lost -all interest in his gospel story, and showed evident signs of impatience -and uneasiness; even indulging in frivolities, and taking no notice of -his speaking at all. Though grieved at this, he yet did not despair of -bringing them to a knowledge of the truth. He had frequently on former -occasions preached to the blacks with similar success; but his heart was -undaunted; he persevered in his work; and, in the tribe to whom he was -then appealing, he had hopes (with the blessing and assistance of God) -of planting the seed in their sterile souls and, by the aid of heaven's -grace, of seeing it germinate and "bring forth fruit meet for -repentance." That such a hope was visionary, all his friends were in the -habit of telling him; they repudiated the idea of the possibility of -infusing the truth of the gospel into the natures of the blacks; but he -had a more exalted faith, and believed the omnipotence, as well as the -mercy of the Almighty, would still work the regeneration of this outcast -race. He was, therefore, stimulated to pursue his course in the -instruction of these rude children of nature, to endeavour to impress -upon them an application of things divine; and he determined to remain -in their neighbourhood as long as possible, and devote to the work as -much of his time as he could command. - -The party now took their leave of Jemmy Davies and his tribe, and left -the scene of the late distress for the home of the Fergusons; where they -found the news of the massacre had preceded them, and their two black -boys, Billy and Jemmy, decamped to join the remnant of the tribe. But in -the meantime we will trace the steps of William Ferguson, after he left -the camp to join Mr. Billing. - -William found the storekeeper waiting very patiently for Tom -Rainsfield's return; and he rather sententiously communicated to him -what he had witnessed, leaving him to conjecture much of the detail. As -he felt in no humour to be bored by Billing's loquacity, he excused -himself from accompanying him on the road, on the plea that he was -anxious to get to Strawberry Hill, his sister being there waiting him; -and he left his companion, and rode on. - -When he arrived at the Rainsfields' house he met Mrs. Billing and the -children going out for a walk; and, upon enquiring for the ladies, he -was told they had been expecting him for some time, and were at that -moment taking a stroll towards the bridge. After leaving his horse, -thither he followed them; and found that his sister was ready habited -for her ride, and her friends had stepped out for a short walk with her -before she took her departure. When they saw William, they all rallied -him on his dilatoriness and want of punctuality; but he, finding that -they knew nothing of the tragedy amongst the blacks, refrained from -making any explanation; simply pleading guilty to the indictment of his -fair friends, and begging leniency at their hands. - -His sister replied that she had intended, if he had not made his -appearance before their return from their walk, to have taken off her -habit and stopped at Strawberry Hill, just to teach him punctuality. But -stepping up to him, and laughingly patting his cheek, she said that, as -he had acknowledged his negligence, she would not disappoint him, but -start whenever he pleased. - -William and his convoy returned to the house, where they found the table -spread with a light repast ready waiting them; after partaking which, -the girls took an affectionate leave of one another; and, with repeated -mutual regrets at parting, promises from Kate to speedily revisit them, -and many extorted pledges and solemn obligations from William, to -frequently bring his sister over, they parted; and Kate and William left -Strawberry Hill at a canter, at which pace they continued until they -reached Fern Vale. - -Upon their arrival there, the little house-keeper was received with all -honours, and duly installed in possession of her domicile and in the -importance of her office, with a gaiety which even Kate's unpractised -eye could detect to be assumed. There was a gloom upon the whole party, -particularly Tom Rainsfield, that ill accorded with their usual manner; -and it did not fail to strike her. She saw there was some mystery; and, -looking from one to the other in a state of perplexity, at last -requested an explanation. Tom excused himself from the task, possibly -from a feeling of delicacy in shocking her young and innocent mind with -a recital of the horrible events of the past twelve hours; but her -brother John, thinking it better that a knowledge of the circumstances -should be imparted to her by themselves, in preference to their reaching -her ears through some other channel, communicated to her as much as he -deemed necessary in the meantime for her to know. - -To say that the story horrified her would but inadequately describe the -sensations with which she heard the dreadful narrative. She wept! though -not at the usual standard of young ladies' tears that are shed upon the -most trivial occasions when effect is deemed by them desirable; such -tears are easily conjured into existence, and have no impression on the -beholder other than as the sparkling dew on the morning flower excites -the admiration or pleases the fancy of the florist. Her's were tears of -true sympathy, gushing forth from a warm and affectionate heart; and the -burst of feeling grief of one who was always joy and sunshine touched -the hearts of her assembled friends; and more than one strong man, that -had calmly looked on the misery of the poor victims in the very presence -of death, now turned away their heads to conceal their moistened -eyelids. - -As soon as Tom Rainsfield could sufficiently muster his courage to -speak, he took the two hands of Kate in his, and said in a voice -tremulous with emotion: "My dear Miss Ferguson, your kind sympathy for -these poor blacks does you infinite honour and credit; but pray calm -yourself. Much as the circumstances are to be regretted, it is more than -probable they will be found to result to our benefit, as the greatest -ruffians of the whole tribe have been removed; and we may now hope to -live without fear of any molestation." - -The rest of the day passed ordinarily enough. The Fergusons were fully -occupied in putting their house in order; and Tom took his leave to see -his brother and communicate to him details that he could not expect from -Mr. Billing. He promised, before he went, to return the following -morning and join Mr. Wigton in revisiting the camp and sepulchres of the -blacks. True to his engagement, the next day Tom presented himself at -Fern Vale; when he, Mr. Wigton, and John, took their departure on their -meditated errand; leaving William at the station, to superintend some -work which required the presence of either him or his brother. - -As the trio rode on their way, Tom was the first to break the general -silence, by remarking, "I am sorry to say Jemmy Davies was only too -correct, when he surmised that the flour had been poisoned as well as -the meat. I have tested it on some animals, with a fatal result; which -leaves it beyond doubt that it contained poison; while my brother's -explanation of the fact is very equivocal. He may be, and I trust he is, -sincere in his asseverations; but I must confess that the whole matter -appears to me inexplicable. He denies the possibility of the flour being -poisoned, unless it were from contact with the meat, or by their own -inadvertent use of the arsenic; which he says they must have taken from -the store with the other things, under the impression of its being -sugar. Now, though it is possible that the blacks might have made use of -the fat of the meat in making their damper, in the other supposition I -don't think there is a shadow of probability. However, let it rest -between his conscience and his God. I only trust he will enlighten his -wife on the subject, for I would not like that duty to devolve upon me, -as I could not so far dissemble as to disguise from her my suspicions; -and I know the knowledge of her husband's criminality would break her -heart." - -"You need not doubt, my dear sir," said Mr. Wigton, "but what she will -hear of it from your brother. He will be sure to tell her, if it is only -to prevent her crediting any other version that she may hear; so you -need have no apprehension on that head. But let us consider now, that we -are about to revisit these wretched blacks, what we can do to ameliorate -their condition." - -"I share with you, Mr. Wigton, your sympathy for these poor creatures," -said Tom, "and would gladly render you all assistance that lies in my -power; though that assistance will necessarily be limited. But I fear -their regeneration is a task of far greater magnitude than you -conceive; and I am afraid you are too sanguine." - -"Why so? my dear, sir," asked the clergyman; "nothing is impossible with -God! and with his blessing I have no fear, but that I shall be able to -work great changes in them." - -"True," replied Tom, "you may with the blessing of Providence; but you -must excuse me, my dear sir, if I remind you, that we must not expect -the Almighty to deviate from his prescribed laws of nature, and work -miracles in the conversion of these savages." - -"I don't quite understand you," replied the minister. - -"I will explain," said Tom. "You are aware that these people's habits -and customs, are totally different from ours, and their peculiar -prejudices are deeply rooted. Now, I don't deny for a moment the -possibility of the application of the gospel to them, or the probability -of a few of their number accepting it (though of that I must confess I -have little hope); but I certainly do think that no great progress will -be made until you can get them to assimilate their ways to those of -civilisation; and that is the point where you will find the difficulty." - -"For the sake of argument," said Mr. Wigton, "and to hear your views, I -will grant your theory that civilisation must precede the preaching of -the gospel; as I take it, that is what you mean. Then I would ask; what -is to prevent their being induced to domesticate themselves, and live as -we?" - -"Nothing," replied Tom, "that I see, except their inherent antipathy to -a settled life, and an existence where they require to labour to gain a -subsistence. Numerous attempts have been made to wean the blacks from -their wandering, lazy, and unsettled habits, but without success. You -could not have a better instance than Jemmy Davies; one perfectly -civilized you may say, yet living a savage life. But for the influence -of his tribe, and his home associations (which he could not be induced -to renounce), he might have been made a respectable member of society; -and may yet become one, for he has had the rough edge of his savage -nature worn off. You may have another instance in John Ferguson's black -boys, who are better specimens than the general class. You see they, at -the slightest breath of excitement, leave their work and join the camp. -Any attempts to cultivate their intellects like Jemmy Davies would be -useless, unless like him they were removed from the influence of their -people. Again, you have another instance in little Joey; he has been -taught to accommodate himself to the ways of the whites, and never -desires to change his condition. But that is owing to the fact that he -has known no other, by his having been taken from his home when quite -young, educated with whites, and never having imbibed the prejudices of -his race. - -"To christianize the blacks I believe they must be civilized; and to be -civilized they must be removed from the influence of their natural -predilections and superstitions; for if they are not thoroughly and -effectually eliminated from all domestic influence they will never -retain their civilisation, but return to their tribes upon the earliest -opportunity. On the other hand if they are segregated, and kept beyond -the contamination of their kindred, they become, from the absence of -their natural habits, alienated from them; and of necessity they -assimilate their ways to civilisation. I could mention examples of -these, but need only advert to the native police; who, possibly you are -aware, when they are drafted from their tribes, are instantly removed to -a distance for active service. The consequence of this is that they -remain in the force because they have no opportunity of leaving it -without coming into contact with other tribes; the natural animosities -of whom against one another are such as to render a passage through them -to their own tribe extremely perilous. There is no propinquity or -friendly intercourse between them; and the native police are therefore -retained in service, if not from choice, at least from a knowledge of -security. - -"Do not imagine, Mr. Wigton, that I argue the impracticability of your -scheme from any spirit of opposition; nothing is further from my -intention. I am far rather desirous to accomplish their disenthralment, -though I fear it cannot be effected without alienating them first from -their own peculiar habits." - -"I will not attempt to argue with you on the subject," replied Mr. -Wigton, "because I cannot but deny the theory that questions the -attributes of the Almighty. I will rather hope to prove to you the -fallacy of your sophistry by results. You say that Jemmy Davies is -educated; I can see that he is civilized; and can also perceive, from -his attention to me yesterday, that he is willing to be instructed, and -susceptible of the Christian impress. And I ask, why cannot the others -of his tribe be made the same? His training has been purely of a secular -kind; whereas it would have been as easy, while he was being taught the -rudiments of the English language, to have had the truths of the gospel -inculcated; and he would now have been in all probability, if not a -Christian, at least a moral man, and less prone to return to his former -barbarous nature. I would propose, while instructing the mature, to have -a school for the young, so as to put them under a regular course of -training; and I have no doubt whatever that the result would be a speedy -regeneration." - -"Then, my dear sir," replied Tom Rainsfield, "to effect it you would -have to remove the children entirely from the influence of their -parents; as otherwise you would never be able to retain them under you -care. The parents would soon begin to feel the restraint of your -tuition, and would remove to escape it; while the children, nothing -loath to resume their freedom, would gladly accompany them. To make -such a system effective I believe you would require to detain the -children, even against the wishes of their parents; and, when their -education was complete, remove them elsewhere to learn some handicraft -so as to accustom them to labour. Then having been brought up in the -comforts of the whites, and having learnt to earn a livelihood by the -use of their own hands, they would have lost all yearnings after the -life of their kindred; especially as their parents, by that time, would -have been taught to look upon them as lost. In a word, to accomplish -their amelioration, you must carry out a system of domestic -expatriation, continuing to separate the young from the old until the -former will all have been reclaimed, and the latter in the course of -time (as a new generation grows up) will have totally disappeared." - -"I think there is some feasibleness in your separation scheme," said Mr. -Wigton, "but I think it would be a cruel alternative to dismember -families in that way; and I do not despair of effecting the desired -object without such stringent measures, which I question if the -government and society would sanction. However, here we are at the camp; -we will see the result of our present interview, and then have an -opportunity of further speculation on this theme." - -But as the party rode into the area of the camp they were surprised to -see that it was empty. Not a black was visible; and to our friend's -repeated "cooeys" not a return sound was to be heard, not even the -distant bark of the aborigines' dogs. So they concluded that the camp -had been broken up, and Jemmy Davies and his tribe retired to another -part of the scrub; and as they turned, disappointed to retrace their -steps, Tom said to Mr. Wigton, "I think you have in this conclusive -evidence of there being no guarantee that without restriction the blacks -will ever receive instruction." - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - "Come let us fill the flowing bowl - Until it doth run over; - For to-night we'll merry be, - To-morrow we'll get sober." - -OLD SONG. - - -Some time had elapsed since the events mentioned in the foregoing -chapter had transpired; but few changes had come over the scene of our -narrative. Kate Ferguson had settled down into the circle of her -domestic duties with a spirit that charmed her brothers and enchanted -every one about her. Mr. Wigton had, at an early date, left Fern Vale -for Brisbane. The blacks had entirely disappeared from the country, and -Mr. Rainsfield had almost, if not entirely, forgotten their existence -and the dreadful means he had adopted for their expatriation; while Tom -Rainsfield, if he continued to remember it, never allowed any mention of -the circumstances to pass his lips. The whole of the events were of -course, by "the thousand tongues of scandal," speedily noised about the -country; but the general feeling exculpated Rainsfield from any blame, -and the judicial enquiries were extremely superficial. The government -being perfectly satisfied with the report of the magistrates of the -neighbourhood; who in their turn were content with the unsubstantiated -version of their colleague Mr. Rainsfield. Tom Rainsfield was a constant -visitor to his friends at Fern Vale; while William Ferguson and his -sister made repeated visits to "the Hill," though their brother John -rarely moved off his own run. - -The spring had set in with its calm salubrious atmosphere, and plenty -and contentment pervaded all nature. At nearly every station shearing -had been completed; and, except at some of the remote localities where -labour was only with difficulty obtained, the excitement and bustle -incidental to that time had subsided, and the squatters had settled down -into the monotony of their usual routine. - -At a pretty little spot on a tributary creek of the Gibson river, about -ten miles from Brompton, was situated the station of Clintown, the -residence and property of a retired medical man of the name of Graham. -This gentleman was rather a portly individual of stupendous dimensions; -with a body rather obese, and limbs of great power. His face was -decidedly rubicund, and, kept scrupulously free from hairy excrescence, -displayed a pair of pendent cheeks. His nose was not much out of the -common, except that it was possessed of a certain erubescence, which, -increasing in intensity towards the extremity, gave some indication of -the owner's predilection for spirituous comforts. His cranium on the -summit had a decided tendency to sterility, notwithstanding the -continual exudation of an unctuous nourishment; and, but for the stamp -of the voluptuary which was unmistakably impressed upon his visage, and -other slight defects, would have been considered by phrenologists a fine -head. - -If not respected in the district Dr. Graham was at least tolerated; -perhaps more from dread than any other feeling his presence or society -was likely to create. Among the lower orders he was generally detested; -he was abhorred by the shepherds whom he employed, and who never could -be induced to stay with him longer than they were absolutely compelled; -while many were the charges of rapacity brought against him, by those -who had been in his service, and had been defrauded of their wages on -some unjust pretext. His bellicosity was well known; and bold indeed was -the man who would dare to risk an encounter with the self-dubbed -"champion of the Downs." He was reputed wealthy; or rather his means -were supposed to be considerable, though there was a story attached to -their acquisition, which, if true, reflected lasting opprobrium on this -worldly medicus. - -He was said to have been located at one time as a practitioner in a -distant part of the colony, and to have conceived the idea of -establishing an hospital in a certain town, centrally situated in the -bush. To accomplish this end he travelled the country soliciting -subscriptions; and such was the confidence reposed in the individual, -whose disinterestedness and zeal were generally admired, and the -desideratum that such an edifice was considered, that he was eminently -successful in his canvass. The squatters readily and munificently -subscribed to the project, and Dr. Graham soon found himself in -possession of a considerable sum of money. - -That this money was applied to the purposes for which it was contributed -is more than doubtful; for the hospital was never erected, while Dr. -Graham shortly afterwards became possessed of the station of Clintown. -It was said that some of the subscribers, not relishing the manner in -which they were taken in, insisted upon a return of their money, or its -legitimate application; and in some few instances, to quiet the -importunities of those who were disposed to be turbulent, the money was -returned. But in the majority of the cases the parties were too timorous -or indifferent to make any demands; and the subscriptions and hospital -scheme remained in _statu quo_, the one in the pocket, or rather -represented in the sheep of Dr. Graham, and the other in the fond -expectation of the deluded subscribers. Whether this tale be true or -false we are not in a position to say; but it was darkly brooded about, -no one daring to venture an open assertion, in consideration of the -pugilistic accomplishment of the party most concerned. One thing, -however, is certain that the Doctor, prior to the scheme, was always -supposed to be in debt, from the difficulty "those little accounts" -could be extorted from him, while after the successful ruse, he suddenly -became possessed, to a remarkable extent, of a laudable desire for -honourable liquidation. - -The general characteristics of Dr. Graham's nature were as peculiar as -his personal appearance. He was parsimonious and exacting in his -intercourse with his neighbours, and inhospitable to those not his boon -companions; to whom again, he was lavish and profuse. Nothing gave him -greater pleasure than the society of a companion who could join him in -copious libations; and upon one occasion he carried out his principle in -a remarkable manner. He was detained on business for a short time in -Sydney, and was disposed to enjoy himself in "a little bit of a spree;" -though, unfortunately for his happiness, he could not fall in with a -concomitant spirit to join him in the way of friendship. None who knew -him were disposed to submit to his imperiousness; so he was driven to -the necessity of procuring, by engagement, the companionship of some -congenial nature. He, therefore, hired a man who was recommended to him -for the purpose; an individual who was famous in his generation for his -bibulous capabilities, and willing to submit to any indignity for a -gratuitous supply of the inebriate's nectar. The debauch commenced and -was conducted with considerable spirit so long as it lasted; but the -principal and his co-adjutor soon parted, owing, as the former used to -say, to the fellow's incapacity to take his liquor. His contentment in -loneliness was another feature in his character; which was also -exemplified by another tale often told about him. He was an enthusiastic -lover of whist, and when he could make up a rubber with three of his -choice spirits he was content; though still without them he was equally -partial to his hand, and was actually discovered on one occasion sitting -with his usual solace, his grog and his pipe, silently going through the -formula of playing with three dummies. - -In the sitting-room pertaining to the dwelling of this worthy -individual, who, we may mention, had never thought it advisable "to -settle in life," sat three specimens of the genus homo--the proprietor -of the station, a neighbouring squatter of the name of Brown, and our -old acquaintance, Bob Smithers. At the moment of our intrusion upon this -triumvirate, they were assiduously attentive to a dark-coloured opaque -receptacle, containing a brown stimulating fluid, and which was -circulated (to use an antithesis) in a triangle from one to the other of -this trio, and followed by its usual concomitant, an earthenware vessel -of a porous nature (containing a more translucent liquid), and vulgarly -denominated "a monkey." In fact these gentlemen were what steady, sober, -and sedate people would call drinking; but what they, choice sons of -Bacchus, simply designated "taking a nobbler." They were also emulating -the example of the first potent initiator, and "blowing a cloud," from -three diminutive and jetty instruments, that were retained in their -dental position, irrespective of any inconvenience to expectoration or -without any hindrance to the conversation, which was carried on in an -animated manner; the only proceeding that called for a removal from -their ivory fetters being that which was necessary to alleviate thirst. - -At the moment which we have chosen to introduce this company to our -readers a head was thrust into the room, and a voice called the master -of the establishment, who instantly left the apartment, after telling -his visitors not to mind his absence. This was an injunction which was -perfectly needless, for, in the presence of the before mentioned -stimulator, the parties addressed seemed in nowise disconsolate at his -leaving them. - -The Doctor's absence was only of short duration, for in a few minutes he -returned with a bottle in his hand, which he set down upon the table -with the following aphorism: "May we never want a friend, and a bottle -to give him;" while he continued addressing Smithers: "Here, Bob, old -fellow, here is a spiritual visitant in the shape of as good brandy as -ever you drank. I have plenty more, so don't be frightened of the -liquor. I am obliged to keep it in my bed-room, or I would not have a -drop in the house in twelve hours; those confounded rascals of mine -would rob a church if they could get any drink out of it;" and then -turning to his other friend he said: "How are you getting on, Brown? -take another 'nip,' and don't shirk your grog;" at which little -pleasantry of his own he burst into a laugh. - -Brown did as he was desired with very little show of reluctance, and -asked of his host what had occurred to make him so merry. - -"Why," said the Doctor, "I have had a little adventure with one of my -fellows, who wanted to be master; but I soon taught him submission. My -overseer came to tell me that one of the scoundrels had refused to work, -so I quietly went out to him and knocked him down. I hate to have words -with the fellows; that's meeting them on their own ground. I like to -deal with them pointedly; so when the blackguard got upon his legs again -I told him the next remedy I would try would be a stock-whip, and if -that failed I would summon him before the bench. That sent him to work, -for my fellows know it is a bad game to come before the magistrates with -me; so telling him to 'keep his eye on the picture' I left him, and I'll -vow he won't trouble me again in a hurry." - -"But," said Brown, "how have you managed to establish such a wholesome -dread of the bench in the minds of your men? For my part, if ever I have -any of my fellows up, I not only rarely obtain any satisfaction, but am -put to a great deal of trouble and inconvenience." - -"Oh, I suppose you don't know how to manage it," replied the Doctor. "I -never let any of my fellows have a case against me. If they have at any -time the impertinence to serve me with a summons, or lodge a complaint, -I always prevent them getting any of their own witnesses, by finding -them something to do to keep them out of the way of a subpoena; -whereas that overseer of mine is an uncommonly useful fellow, he always -sees things in the same light that I do." - -"But still I can't see," said Brown, "if the fellows are determined to -be troublesome, how you are to punish them unless they commit a breach -of their agreement; and they are generally wide awake enough to keep all -right there." - -"Nothing easier in the world," replied the Doctor. "I'll just tell you -how I served one fellow that gave me a great deal of trouble. He was a -'new chum,' just out from home. My agent in Brisbane hired him from the -ship when he arrived, and he was an infernally saucy fellow, as all -those new chums are; for they not only demand higher wages, but are -always more difficult to satisfy, readier with their objections, and -lazier and less handy with their work, than men with 'colonial -experience.' Now, this fellow gave me some cheek one day, and I -thrashed him; but what do you think of his impertinence? he actually -summoned me for assault. Well, Bill, my overseer, very conveniently saw -him raise his hand to strike me, so I was forced, you perceive, to knock -him down in self-defence, and the case was dismissed. But I was -determined to break my fine fellow's pride, and let him see that he had -got into the wrong box when he fancied he could ride rough-shod over me; -and I wasn't long in giving him the lesson. I had him engaged as a -shepherd, in the usual way, 'and to make himself generally useful;' so -one fine Sunday morning, when he had dressed himself in his 'Sunday -go-to-meeting clothes,' I found a nice little job for him that I knew he -wouldn't relish. I had a couple of horses in a paddock at the other side -of the creek; which had been flooded just previously, so that the -paddock was nearly half covered with mud and water; and to get over to -it there was no other way than to ford the creek, which I give you my -word was none of the cleanest to cross. I ordered the fellow to fetch me -one of the horses, knowing perfectly well that, as there was not another -on the station, he would have to accomplish it on foot. I was sure this -would try his metal, and guessed he wouldn't half like the idea of -soiling his clean clothes; and I was right. He didn't like it; and -positively refused to go, saying that he was not obliged to work on a -Sunday beyond what was absolutely necessary, such as tending his flock, -for which he was engaged. I, however, put a boy to mind his sheep, and -then ordered him again to bring in the horse for me; but he still -refused. So I just had him up, under 'the Masters and Servants Act,' for -refusing to obey my lawful orders, and he was fined forty shillings and -ordered to go back to his work. But he declined to do that, and was then -committed to gaol for a month, at the expiration of which he was sent -back to his work, whether he liked it or not. Well, sir, he was always -civil after that; but I determined that he should remember the lesson. -So when his term expired, and I settled with him for his wages, I -charged him with twenty sheep that had been missing out of his flock -while he had refused to work. He was fool enough to decline receiving -the balance of his wages, and actually sued me; but I produced my -stock-book before the bench, when the loss was shown, and my overseer -swore to the deficiency, so my gentleman had to submit; and, being -rather abusive upon his defeat, I quieted him by threatening another -thrashing, and told him to 'keep his eye on the picture,' unless he -wished to be still farther treated to a drilling." - -"Well," said Brown, "but suppose a fellow like that should persist in -giving you trouble, his services would not at any wages be worth having, -considering the nuisance of continually dragging him before the bench; -and he might get a lot of your men as witnesses against you; and even if -he did no good for himself, he would do you considerable injury, by -drawing the men away from their work." - -"I never have any bother in that way," replied Dr. Graham. "I told you I -never allow any of my fellows to have witnesses, if I can help it, and I -generally can; so you see I don't lose their time in that way; and as to -their being of any service to the fellow who wants to complain, I don't -believe it, for I get it all arranged before their case is heard. You -know, I am generally on the bench myself; and before we commence -business, I, and whoever may be sitting with me, have a talk over the -cases on the sheet; and, of course, there being one in my name, I just -explain the matter to the other fellows, and we easily settle between us -what the chap shall have. So that when my case is called, I sink the -magistrate for the time, and leave the bench for the witness box, where -I give my evidence and obtain the sentence I require. Only the last case -I had was one brought against me by a bullock-driver I had employed, and -who, not having done his work as he ought to have done, I gave a -thrashing to, and he summoned me for assault. Now it happened, the day -my case came on, I was on the bench with Ned Telford, who had a case -against one of his men; and we arranged between ourselves, that while he -sat to hear and dismiss my case, I would hear his, and give his fellow a -fortnight in the lock-up. The thing was done as easily and quietly as -possible, without any trouble or annoyance to either of us. What is the -use of 'the Master and Servants Act' if we can't make the fellows -obedient? It is high time that the blackguards were brought to their -senses, for they have had their own way far too long, and I don't half -so much trouble myself with them now as I used to do; they begin to know -me, and understand that I will not put up with any of their nonsense." - -"You certainly," said Brown, "manage to keep them pretty subordinate so -long as they stay with you, which, I imagine, is not longer than they -can help; but, for my own part, I am not so fortunate, for I am -continually having trouble with my men. They are principally 'fresh -emigrants,' and are always grumbling and growling, notwithstanding that -they get higher wages than other men, and have less to do than usually -falls to the lot of older hands. I begin to find that 'new chums' are -the worst class of men that can be had; I would sooner have black -fellows if they could be got to stick to their work." - -"So would I," replied the Doctor, "if we could only make the black -devils work, but that no one on earth can do. You see we are obliged to -get new chums, at least I am, for the old ones disappear somehow; as -soon as ever they get paid off, they bolt off down the country, and we -see no more of them." - -"Just so, Graham," said the other, "I find it equally as difficult to -get men that have colonial experience as you do. The fact of the matter -is simply this, some fools particularly busy themselves in spreading -reports down the country that the blacks are fearfully troublesome in -this district, and that no man's life is safe; the consequence of which -is, that no one will engage to come out here but 'new chums,' who have -not had time to hear the idle stories. I hear that emigration from home -is likely to cease from the representations of a set of scoundrels in -Sydney and Melbourne that the destitution there is great. If emigration -is stopped, I don't know what we, in the outlying district, are to do -for labour; what do you think Smithers?" - -"I think," replied that individual, "that if the people in the large -towns complain of the scarcity of work it is only because they won't go -into the country to look for it. The fools won't stir out of the town, -notwithstanding that there are too many of them there, and that their -labour is wanted in the country. If the blackguards will not come into -the bush when work is offered to them I would send them to work on the -government roads." - -"Yes, by Jove! you are right," said Brown; "but then that can't be done -without some stringent enactment of government; which I am certain -would be afraid to go in so heavily. One thing is very certain, labour -we must have of some sort or another; for at present we are not only at -the mercy of our men, but we have to pay them ruinously high wages, to -be treated with contumely, have our work neglected, and our property -sacrificed." - -"For my part," said the Doctor, "I would sooner have the old convict -times back again; then we could compel the fellows to do their work, and -keep very civil too, unless they wanted a little buttering with the -lash. Besides, it was far more satisfactory to have the scoundrels under -our control, and not so expensive as paying the men, as now, forty and -fifty pounds a year and their rations; but, halloo! who have we got -here?" - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - "I am his Highness' dog at Kew, - Pray, tell me, sir, whose dog are you?" - -POPE. - - -The last remark in the preceding chapter was elicited by the appearance -of a stranger, who, at the moment of its utterance, rode up to the -station, and knocked at the open door of the house. Upon being desired -in the stentorian voice of the owner of the place, from the room in -which he sat, to "come in," a rather gentlemanly-looking man of about -the middle height and relative age, presented himself before the -conclave; and said: "I have to apologize, gentlemen, for intruding upon -your privacy; have I the pleasure of addressing Dr. Graham?" - -"That is my appellation," replied the individual in question. - -"And mine, sir, is Moffatt, of the Sydney firm of that name, -wool-buyers; possibly it may be known to you. I am purchasing wool, and -if you have not already disposed of your clip, will be happy to make you -an offer. I have come over-land, right through the New England district, -and having consumed more time on the road than I intended, I find I am -rather late for the stations in these northern parts; they having got -most of their clips away." - -"Well, sir, I have got mine off too; all but a few bales," replied the -proprietor of Clintown. - -"If you have not already made any arrangements relative to its -disposal," remarked the buyer, "I can judge of your clip by what you -have remaining, and make you an offer for the whole; and, if we come to -terms, you can intimate the sale to your agents before its arrival at -port, and instruct them to deliver it to my order." - -"All right," exclaimed the squatter, "we'll talk about business -presently; join us in a nobbler, there is the bottle. You will find a -glass over there," and he pointed to an hermaphrodite piece of -furniture, standing at one side of the room. - -The stranger thanked his host, and taking his seat, while he assisted -himself to a "stiff ball," said, "Pray, don't let me disturb the -conversation that you were engaged in at the moment of my abrupt -entrance." - -"Well," said Brown, "to resume our topic, I differ from you Doctor. I -don't think we, even as a class, would be benefited by a return of the -old penal system, and I will tell you why. In the first place, I don't -believe that their labour was cheaper than that of free men, for never -could the convicts be made to do a proper amount of work; they had no -will to do so. What they did was only what the compulsory system had the -power of enforcing; just so much as not to be actual idleness, which -they were only too ready to indulge in when they momentarily escaped the -strict surveillance of the overseers; who frequently were necessarily -men of their own class, and connived with them in their derelictions. -Besides, then we were never free from bush-rangers, and, with all -practicable vigilance, sometimes the convicts would escape to the bush, -and continually place our lives and properties in danger; so all things -considered, bad as our straits now are, I would not wish to see a return -of the penal times." - -"You have forgotten to mention another drawback to the system," -suggested the stranger, "and that is the immoral influence such a class -of men have upon the community, and the contamination to which your -family is liable." - -"Hang the immoral influence, as you call it," exclaimed the Doctor; -"whose morals are they going to effect, I should like to know? Ours? my -word! if we can't take care of them, I would ask you, who can?" - -"By Jove! Graham," exclaimed Smithers, laughing, "it would be hard for -any fellow to vitiate yours." - -At this sally of Bob's, the man of physic laughed too, and replied: -"Well, I mean the prisoners have only got themselves to mix with, so -what signifies any consideration for their morals; they can't make -themselves worse than they were when they are first convicted." - -"There, sir, you are mistaken," said Moffatt. "You will admit that there -were many who were serving their time as convicted felons who had come -to that position by some false step in life, of which they deeply -repented; but that, being mixed up with the vilest ruffians -indiscriminately, they were subjected to this immoral influence of which -I speak. We are perfectly aware that many (but for their one offence) -honourable and exemplary men, who would scorn to do even a mean action, -as derogatory to their natures, have been so subjected; and what has -been the result of their contact with these vilest of the vile--villains -whose hearts and souls were devoted to the practice of infamy--wretches, -whose hearts, as Tom Hood said, were "inscribed with double guilt?" Has -it not been a general debasement, and a levelling in most instances of -the would be virtuous, to the standard of the despicable criminals -themselves? I know it has been argued by many that an honourable man -would shun the influence of such; and that the ruffians themselves, -having no kindred feelings with their conscientious companions, would -not trouble them, but afford the penitent every opportunity of avoiding -a contact. But it was not so. What escape had a man of feeling, -education, and penitential desire, from society such as was general -among the convicts? None! He was compelled to endure it; and, upon a -perpetual exhibition of vice and infamy before his eyes, hearing it -highly spoken of, joked upon, and even lauded, he too frequently ceased -to abhor it; began by degrees to look upon it with a callous -indifference, and then to acquire, and practise, what before the very -contemplation of would have been revolting to his nature; and ultimately -he became as hardened a wretch as any of the rest. I say this was too -frequently the case; and only shows that there was an immoral influence -at work, even amongst the prisoners themselves. The employers of the men -were sufferers by it likewise; for, by the cultivation of penitence in a -willing subject, the employer secured the services of a valuable -servant; whereas if the moral dispositioned man became as debased as the -vile ones he was as unprofitable as they. But the evils of the system, -in a moral point of view, were more particularly felt by the employers -in the fearful example made to their families. Just picture to yourself -rearing a young family subject to the dreadful contamination of such a -school; the influences of which tuition all the academies of punctilio -in the universe would be unable to eradicate. Happily for us, and for -posterity, those times are past and never can nor will return, however -much individuals in certain classes may desire. The mass of the -population would never permit the re-introduction of such an incubus on -civilisation, Christianity, and morality; but pardon me, sir, I am -warming on the subject; it is one I have always abhorred, for I have -constantly witnessed its fearful iniquities." - -"What you say," replied Dr. Graham, "may be all very well with regard to -people that have families and live in towns; but you must remember that -squatters are the stay of the colony, and must be supported. What would -the colonies be but for their exports of wool? and how, I would like to -know, is that staple commodity to be obtained if the squatters are not -enabled to procure labour? At present we pay higher wages than any other -country in the world, notwithstanding which we cannot get sufficient -labour to do our work. It is a question that affects the entire -country; for if we do not get labour our staples will decrease, and -that, you will admit, will be a public calamity. The long and the short -of the matter is simply this, we must have labour, and the government -must exert itself to procure it. If it does not, we ought to advocate a -return of convicts." - -"Well, sir," replied Moffatt, "I don't pretend to dictate to you -personally, presuming that you are the best judge of your own affairs. -Wages in the colonies are certainly high, but then the employers can -well afford to pay the high rates; and, but in these remote parts, I -have heard few complaints of the scarcity of labour. Until your district -becomes more settled you will have to expect it, for it is one of the -inconveniences of an unsettled country; but as soon as it becomes better -known and more occupied, I think you will find that labour, as in -everything else where there is a supply and demand, will find its own -level." - -"That's very true," said Brown, "but, remember in the meantime, we are -sufferers; what are we to do?" - -"I can scarcely tell you," said the other, "but fear you will have to -put up with it. It is, as I have said, a contingent incidental on your -remote location. You can't force labourers to settle in a country, of -which they know little, and that little disparaging. You must offer some -inducements to tempt men out into these wilds other than high wages. -What militates considerably against you, I imagine, is the current -belief that the blacks are rather dangerous neighbours." - -"It is all very well for people that are not affected as we are, to tell -us we must put up with it," said Brown; "but, assuming that labour would -find its own level as you state; that is, I imagine, by offering -security against the blacks, if we admitted that the blacks were -dangerous (though we deny it); does it not follow, that we, in these -districts, are entitled to some consideration on the part of our rulers? -We contribute to the support of the state, and are therefore entitled -to protection from the government; but are we likely to get that? I -don't believe it. We are just allowed to struggle on as best we can. But -it will result in this; we will have to take the remedy into our own -hands; labour we must have, and if our own countrymen will not accept -our employment, even at exorbitant wages, we will have to procure it -from some foreign source." - -"May I enquire," said Mr. Moffatt, "the source you would propose?" - -"It is immaterial which," replied Brown; "whatever would be found the -most advantageous, the people that would be most industrious, and whose -labour could be obtained at the cheapest rate of wage. I have often been -at a loss to understand why the Victorian government has adopted such -stringent laws to endeavour to keep the Chinese out of Melbourne. They -are essentially an industrious class of people, and just the very sort -of men we want; they make excellent shepherds, more attentive to their -work than Europeans, less difficult to please in their rations, and can -be obtained at far less wages." - -"I can enlighten you," said the wool-buyer, "if you are ignorant as to -the reason of the Victorian people desiring a restriction on the immense -influx of Chinese immigrants. They have been landed in that colony in -thousands, and may be said, though forming an integral part of our -population, to be a distinct people and nation. They speak their own -language only, have their own religion, are proverbially the laziest, -filthiest, and most immoral people contained in the state, and come -without their females. So that they do not settle amongst us; but those -that are sufficiently fortunate to make money return with their gains to -their own country to excite the avarice of their countrymen; while those -that are not successful are left to starve and die, or commit -depredations on our settlers. They swarm together in large numbers in -small tenements in our large towns; and, by their vice and filth, -generate noisome diseases amongst themselves, and pestilence in the -neighbourhood in which they live; and their abodes and their persons are -alike mephitic. They are in fact the scum of our population, and far -more degraded even than the denizens of the vilest purlieus of Britain's -metropolis. They, as doubtless you are aware, live and migrate in large -bodies, from one to other of the diggings, blighting each locality in -their transient passage, as swarms of locusts. They stab one another, -and commit murder amongst themselves, of which the authorities never -hear. They commit depredations on the whites, for which they are never -punished from the difficulty in detecting the delinquent; and, as I said -before, they spread disease wherever they go. They are therefore no -benefit to the country; for, with the exception of rice and opium, they -consume no mercantile commodities, but annually drain a considerable -quantity of gold from it. It is considering these facts, and that they -are filling places that could be advantageously occupied by our own -countrymen, that the colonists of Victoria have attempted to restrict -their entrance into the country, by the exaction of a ten pound -poll-tax. I am only sorry to see that the example is not followed by the -other colonies, for while Victoria stands alone, she will never succeed -in keeping the evil away." - -"And I am very glad to think the other colonies are liberal-minded -enough not do so," said Brown. "You will please to bear in mind that -this is a free country, and it is a lasting disgrace to Victoria that -she refuses admission to any foreigner. The government of Great Britain -might as well attempt to exclude certain people or classes from the -asylum of her shores." - -"No, sir," replied Moffatt, "there it does not signify. Her own -population would more than counterbalance any influx; but here it is -different. The news of our gold fields, spread by rumour, and the -return of successful diggers to China, have generated a spirit of -adventure in that country which shows itself in the emigration of swarms -of her people to our shores. Already as many as sixty thousand Chinamen -are in Victoria; and they being acknowledged an inferior and by no means -desirable class of settlers, even if they remained, it was deemed -expedient to stop or at least check their immigration. As the complaint -was desperate, so, necessarily, was the remedy. As you say their -entrance into the country could not be prohibited, so the tax was levied -on them to discourage their coming." - -"And I think it was a most iniquitous tax," said Brown. "It has been -urged against the Chinamen that they consume nothing but rice, and that -on the diggings they are in the way of British colonization. Now it is a -proverbial fact that they are ousted from all good 'claims;' which, if -of any value, are instantly 'jumped' by the diggers, while the poor -Chinamen are forced to take up the abandoned and worked out 'claims,' -where Europeans have found a continuation of labour unprofitable. On the -yield from these holes they manage to live, so it is evident that -instead of their being a curse to the country, as has been affirmed, -they are positively a benefit; for the gold, if they do take any out of -the country, is only that which, but for them, would never have been -extracted from the earth." - -"That is a perfect fallacy," replied the other; "Chinamen will no more -work on bad ground than white men; and as to their working abandoned -'claims' that is a thing that is done every day now; for formerly, when -the diggings were in their glory, claims yielding what would now be -considered 'paying quantities,' were thrown up by their holders for some -more promising ground. But in these times diggers are content to try -over all the old ground; so the assertion that the practice is confined -to the Chinese is fallacious." - -"However, be it as it may," said Brown, "the Chinese have a perfect -right to come here if they please; and I should like to see them landing -in Moreton Bay in as many thousands as they do in Melbourne. Then we -should have an opportunity of getting shepherds, whereas now we -experience considerable difficulty. Some of the settlers on the northern -part of the coast have for sometime agitated the question of the -introduction of coolie or Chinese labour into those parts; arguing that -the climate is admirably adapted for the growth of cotton and sugar, -though too tropical for the European to labour at agriculture in the -sun. It would, however suit those accustomed to such a temperature; and -without them the resources of the country will never be developed. I -perfectly agree with them, and think the introduction of some cheap -labour, such as that, would be of immense advantage to the country." - -"I must again differ from you, sir," said the stranger; "their -introduction would be of incalculable mischief to the entire colony." - -"How so?" asked the other, "will you explain?" - -"Certainly," replied Mr Moffatt; "it would little matter to you, -perhaps, who only want to realise your fortune, and return with it to -your native land. But how different is it with the labouring man who -settles here with the intention of making this his home for the -remainder of his days? Let us consider the prospect it offers to the -colony in this light. It is argued that the northern parts of this -island are possessed of a climate that will not admit of the manual -labour of Europeans; and that without the introduction of tropical -labour the country must remain unproductive. Now, admitting this theory, -it naturally follows that, with the exception of owners of property and -capitalists, the population would be a mixed and foreign one; and would -form a state peculiar in itself, and different in its language and -manners from the other colonies. This, be it remembered, in the midst -of a British colony, inhabited by the Anglo-Saxon race. Now, it must be -manifest that this people, forming no inconsiderable part of our -population, must be either admitted to the privileges of British -subjects, or governed as a conquered race or an inferior people. -Assuming, then, that they are to be recognised as a class of free -immigrants, which is in accordance with your own opinion, they at once -become colonists, over whose actions we have no undue control. They -would be entitled to all the privileges of our constitution, and, -consequently, could not be debarred the exercise of the franchise. To -say nothing of the absurdity of having a Chinaman or coolie returned to -a seat in our legislature, and other incongruities; what would be the -effect of their introduction upon our own working population? we will -see. This desirable class of labourers with whom you desire to inundate -us, we will assume, are introduced into the country in swarms, -ostensibly for the cultivation of tropical produce in the northern -latitudes of this colony. They are engaged at wages commensurate to the -exigencies of competition, so as, as you say, to enable the cultivator -to develop the resources of the country by raising a marketable -commodity to compete with the slave-grown produce of the western -hemisphere. What is the result? Is it to our advantage? Certainly not! -The value of our exports are increased, you say, but at what a fearful -sacrifice? Granted that these coolies are engaged, and for a period of -years say, and that they are bound stringently by penalties to the terms -of their agreement. To enforce this, or even to carry on your work, you -must have the services of some interpreter; at whose mercy you must ever -be, even if you are so fortunate as to obtain one. I would ask you, -then, what security have you for the due performance of your labourers' -contract? None but their agreement. And how can you in a court of law -prove its legality, or the liability of the contracting party, when -that party is totally unacquainted with your language and you with his; -and he does not admit its validity? But even granting that one or two -refractory coolies could be subdued, where would be your remedy if -scores or hundreds repudiated their contracts, and refused to work for -you at the wages offered to them? That they would so refuse I am firmly -convinced, for we are all aware that two differently remunerated classes -of labour of the same description co-existent is incompatible with the -laws that govern commerce; and men would be found, as you yourself have -admitted, who would be ready to obtain their services in other -capacities by the offer of higher wages; while the coolies, in their -turn, would readily accept an improvement in their positions, without -considering the violation of their contract, the nature of which they -would doubtless have but an imperfect idea, if not be entirely ignorant. -Thus they would be continually drawn off from their intended occupation -to fill positions to the exclusion of the white man; and the cotton and -sugar cultivator would require to give an equivalent to the European's -wages, or supply the places of those who abscond by a fresh importation. -In such an emergency it is more than probable that the latter would be -the course adopted. Hence we would have a perpetual influx of these -undesirable immigrants, who would merely serve a probationary term with -their importers, and then mix with our white population on terms of -equality. Is it not evident then that Asiatic labour would be brought -into direct competition with European? and who can deny that the result -would not be disastrous to the latter? Some strait-laced philosophers -and fireside philanthropists, who see the miseries of their -fellow-creatures through the beeswing of their after-dinner potations, -dictate the means for the amelioration of the sufferings of their race -with the same self-sufficient spirit that they rule the destinies of -their own household. These argue that the introduction of the heathen -immigrants to our shores would be an inestimable blessing to humanity, -and add an additional lustre to the cause of Christianity, by the -intercourse of the two races, and a consequent enlightenment and -christianizing of the disciples of feticism. But this I deny, for debase -the European labourer by reducing his means to that of the Asiatic -(which I affirm would be the consequence of this influx), and instead of -the latter being elevated to the level of the former, the former would -be rather dragged down to that of the latter. Without going so far as to -question the omnipotence of the Almighty I firmly believe that the moral -condition of the Asiatic would not be ameliorated in the slightest -degree by the contact; while humanity and Christianity would receive a -blow in the demoralization of our countrymen. Depend upon it, sir, the -expediency of the introduction of cheap labour is a fallacy; whereas the -very existence of our religion, and the realization of our future -greatness, depend upon the settlement of the wastes of our colony by a -thorough British population." - -"But, my good sir," said Brown, "how do you reconcile to your objection -the thesis that, as the European cannot labour in field service in the -tropical heat of the northern part of our colony, without the assistance -of Asiatic labour the productions of our land will lay dormant?" - -"That," replied the other, "I also deny. I believe European labour is -practicable in our climate, even in the remote north; and in support of -my belief I could name numerous precedents. Was it not a Spanish -population that peopled South America? an European that later settled -Texas? and is even now (I allude more particularly to the Germans) -growing cotton in that province to compete with the slave-grown produce -of the States? Have not the French settled Algiers, and cultivated its -soil, even producing that desired staple, cotton? But to come nearer -home; have not our own brave countrymen in India incontestably proved, -in the trials of the last fearful campaign, without having been inured -to the climate, the capability of the Englishman to withstand its heat?" - -"But still," said Brown, "the price at which we purchase our labour -would never enable us to cultivate either sugar or cotton profitably. We -must have cheap labour to perform the work; and, for my own part, I -can't see but that, if coolies be introduced into the country as -labourers for a specific purpose, they could be compelled by the law of -the land to continue at that labour. If the introduction for that -purpose is found desirable, the practice of their immigration could be -legalized by an enactment that at the same time would bind them to the -species of work for which they were engaged, and make their hire or -employment for any other purpose, or in any other part of the country -beyond the tropical boundary, a felony punishable by a heavy penalty." - -"That was just the point I was coming to," replied Mr. Moffatt; "but -first I will answer your previous objection. It is practicable for -Europeans to cultivate the soil to the northward, though they will do so -in the manner most advantageous to themselves. If they find the -cultivation of cotton and sugar unprofitable they will turn their -attention to other products; but I am inclined to believe that cotton -could be profitably cultivated even by our own expensive labour. I have -a friend, resident in the vicinity of Brisbane, who has grown some -cotton as an experiment, and the result, even in this temperate climate, -has been most satisfactory. The cotton he sent home was submitted to -some of the first judges in Manchester and Liverpool, who pronounced it -of the finest sea-island description, and superior to any obtained from -the United States. Now this cotton was cultivated from the ordinary -American sea-island seed; so that its fineness arose, not from any -excellence in its germ, but the peculiar adaptation and efficiency of -the soil in which it was grown; and which does not differ from the land -on our entire coast line. This shows that our cotton would be of -superior quality, and consequently of greater value. Another fact to be -remembered is this, that in 'the States,' owing to the frost and -severity of the winter, the plant is only an annual; while with us, as -my friend has discovered, from the absence of frost the cotton tree -becomes a perennial, and increases its yield each season; while the -staple does not deteriorate in quality. Thus, it will be seen, we should -have considerable advantage in the cost of production over the American -planter; notwithstanding his slave labour. But to return to the coolies; -with regard to their forced compliance with the terms of their -agreements,--to effect which, you say, certain enactments would have to -be passed to meet the exigencies of the case,--I believe the first step -would be the dismemberment of those districts from the parent colony, -and their erection into a separate state; so as to preserve the -stringencies necessary in its government from infringing the -constitution of the other colonies. Now in this new state the -preponderance of the population would be black, who would in fact -comprise all the working part of it; and it would necessarily follow -that the government of the state would be comprised of the employers of -this very labour, their servants, or sycophants, or at least those whose -interests would be intimately connected with theirs. So that they might -be necessarily expected to legislate so as to entirely meet their own -views, and subvert the rights and freedom of their foreign labourers. -The system would then descend into a compulsory labour; and, but for its -name, would in nowise differ from slavery; worse in fact than actual -slavery, from the fact of the stimulus of protection to one's own -property being wanting in this case, that would in the other act as a -preventive against unusual tyranny and oppression. So that the right of -disposal by death, might reasonably be expected, would be exercised -almost with impunity. Depend upon it, sir, such a system would give rise -to a state of things, not only deplorable, but derogatory to a Christian -nation. But I am convinced it never would gain the countenance or -consent of the home government, who, for its own honour, could not -tolerate the introduction of coolie labour on such terms; and our own -population would never suffer its introduction on terms of equality." - -"Well, sir," replied Brown, "though I don't admit myself a convert to -your way of thinking, I still believe there is some truth in your -arguments; but the thing we can't get over is the want of a labouring -population here in the bush; and if we can't induce our own countrymen -to emigrate we must try others." - -"Believe me, sir," said Mr. Moffatt, "it is not a want of inclination -that deters thousands of Britain's redundant population from flocking to -our shores; it is the supineness of our short-sighted government, who, -instead of creating a fund for the introduction of an agricultural -population by the sale of the waste lands of the colony, or by the grant -to every immigrant of a piece of land equivalent in value to the amount -he has paid for his passage, lock up the lands from agricultural -settlers in the fear lest their interests should clash with the -pastoral. This suicidal policy has long been manifest; in no way more so -than by the fact that we are obliged to depend upon a foreign supply for -our very articles of common consumption; whereas nowhere could they be -produced with greater advantage than within our own territory. By all -accounts you are likely, in this district, to be separated from New -South Wales; and one of your first acts in your legislative independence -should be to facilitate the settlement of your agricultural lands. The -two interests, that and the pastoral, may be separately maintained -without detriment to either, and with immense advantage to the state." - -"Oh, hang these politics!" cried Graham; "sink all dry arguments just -now, you have made me quite thirsty with merely hearing your clatter. -Never mind the agricultural lands, coolies, or Chinamen, though I would -be very happy to see them and hope we will be able to get a supply of -them soon. We will just polish off another bottle of grog, while we -screw a spree out of Smithers here." With this little prologue he left -the room for a few minutes, returning with a bottle which he placed on -the table, and took his seat while he continued: "Bob tells me he is -going to 'put his foot into it.' You know he has long been engaged to -that niece of Rainsfield's (a deuced fine girl, by Jove!), and he states -he is to be married in about a month. Now I say, if he does not give us -a spree before he throws us overboard, we will cut him as dead as a -herring after he is 'spliced.' What do you say, Brown?" - -"Most assuredly," replied that individual, "Smithers ought to entertain -his bachelor friends before he withdraws himself from their clique; and -I have no doubt he will." - -"He tells me too," said the Doctor, "that those young fellows at Fern -Vale have behaved scurvily to him, that one of them has tried to cut him -out, and striven hard to set the girl against him. Now I would propose -that Smithers give a spree at Brompton, and get his brother to invite -the guests for him; then he would be able to have his girl and her -friends there, and these young Fergusons too. We could have some -glorious fun, get up some races or something of that sort, to please the -women and amuse ourselves; besides, it would answer the purpose of -showing off his girl and introducing her to his friends, at the same -time that it would annoy his rival. And for the matter of that we might -oblige him by picking a quarrel with young Ferguson, and giving the -fellow a good drubbing, just for the satisfaction of the thing. Eh, gad! -Bob must promise to give us a spree, or we won't let him out of this -house. It is not often one of our fellows gets spliced; and we can't -lose one without a jollification. You had better promise at once, Bob." - -"Well, for my part," replied Bob, "I would give you a spree in a minute, -but how am I to get it up? I would not know who to ask; and, besides, no -one would come to my invitation except such fellows as you, who would -drink all day, or until you had drained the house dry of liquor." - -"Get your brother to do it," replied the Doctor, "and work round to the -blind side of his wife. I'll be bound she's woman enough to join in it -heartily; the mere prospect of the thing will be sufficient inducement -to make her fall into your views; and depend upon it she will not only -undertake the whole affair, but get together a good company for you." - -"But there is another thing," urged Bob, "if we are to invite fifty or a -hundred people to our place we will have to find quarters for most of -them, and how shall we manage that?" - -"Nothing easier in the world," replied the contumacious Doctor; "give up -all your spare room to the women folks, and we fellows can shake down -anywhere, camp under a tree if you like; or those that don't like that, -let them take the wool-shed." - -"Well, I'll see if the thing can be managed," replied Bob, "and let you -know in good time." - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - "Yes! loath indeed: my soul is nerved to all, - Or fall'n too low to fear a farther fall." - -BYRON. - - "Well, be it as thou wilt." - -SIR WALTER SCOTT. - - -Some few days after the meeting of Doctor Graham's friends at Clintown -the monotony of the little circle at Fern Vale was disturbed by the -arrival of a horseman with a letter for Miss Ferguson; who received into -her hand one of those intricately folded missives which at once proclaim -the correspondent to be of the fair sex, and proceeded to read the -following epistle: - -"DEAREST KATE.--I'm having a few friends at Brompton on Friday week to -spend the day, and of course expect to see you and your brothers of the -number. I will take no excuse, you must come; and, if you can possibly -manage it, I would be delighted by your prolonging your visit for a -week or as long as you like. However, that I will leave to yourself. -Eleanor and Mrs. Rainsfield I expect with Tom, so that you will have -company on the road. We will do what we can to amuse you all day, and -you need not make yourself uneasy about the journey, for I will have -plenty of room in the house for you, as well as all my friends, and -Mr. Smithers will provide for the accommodation of the gentlemen. You -had better ride over on the Thursday, and the party will break up -comfortably on the Saturday morning. Tell your brothers that part of -the programme of the day's pleasures is a race, and as I know that -William at least is fond of racing, he might like to join in it. The -man that carries this will be able to tell him more about it than I -can, so I will leave him to gain all that information from him. With -warmest love, believe me, dearest Kate, your affectionate friend, -ELIZA SMITHERS. - -"_Tuesday morning._ - -"_P. S._--Write me a reply by the bearer, and mind as you value my -friendship make no excuses." - -The delighted girl had no intention of declining the invitation; for -when did a young and joyous creature in the zenith of youthful spirits -ever desire seclusion from the innocent enjoyments of life? She ran with -the open letter in her hand to her brother William (who was at the time -a short distance from the house giving instructions to some of his men), -and cried: "See, Will, here is an invitation from Mrs. Smithers to a -party at Brompton; you'll go, won't you, Will? I know you will; I'll go -and write an answer to say we will accept it." - -"Don't be in such a violent hurry my little Diana; give me time to read -the letter," said her brother, "before you act as sponsor for me. There -is no necessity, my dear, to be so impatient; I dare say the messenger -will wait for a few minutes;" and then, after perusing it, he continued: -"For my part I will be delighted to go, though I'll first see what John -says. But, my Kitty! you should not run out in the sun with your head -uncovered; you will be spoiling your beautiful complexion and getting a -_coup de soliel_. Then your invitations to parties would be at an end; -be off now and put on a hat, and we will go look for John, and get his -decision on the question." - -The affectionate mandate of her brother, was soon obeyed by Kate; and -the two went in search of John, to submit the note to his perusal. After -reading it, he expressed a disinclination to accept the invitation, -excusing himself that as they had determined to shortly start for New -England he had no wish to join the festivities; but to enable his -brother and sister to go to Brompton, he said he would delay his -departure until after their return. - -Kate and William endeavoured in vain to dissuade him from this, but he -was inexorable; so it was at last arranged that they should join the -party without him, and Kate hastened to communicate the intelligence to -her friend, while William took the opportunity of eliciting from the -Brompton messenger all the information he could obtain respecting the -arrangements. - -The reader may conjecture the motives that actuated John Ferguson in his -desire to keep aloof from Brompton. He was aware the marriage of Bob -Smithers and Eleanor Rainsfield was fixed for a period not very remote; -and, perceiving the object of the meet was to exhibit the young lady to -the admiring gaze, and introduce her to the notice of the friends of the -family as the affianced bride of Bob Smithers, he wished to avoid a -meeting which, he doubted not, would be irksome to the lady and painful -to himself, especially as he would be compelled to witness the triumph -of his rival, who, he believed, would take a malicious pleasure in -making him feel his defeat. He therefore resolved to absent himself from -a society where he was calculated to experience disappointment, rather -than pleasure; where for him there would be no enjoyment, except the -melancholy satisfaction of gazing on the features of the one he dearly -loved, but who so shortly was to be the bride of another. As his brother -and sister left him he resumed the occupation at which he had been -disturbed on their approach, and continued wrapt in his own gloomy -meditations, until he was aroused from his reverie by the cheerful voice -of Tom Rainsfield calling him by his name; when turning round he -perceived his friend standing at his side. - -"Why, what on earth is the matter with you, John?" said Tom, as he gazed -upon the sorrowful features of the young man; "you look ill, wretchedly -ill; what ails you, man?" - -"Nothing," replied John. "I never felt better in my life; I am not -ailing." But his looks belied his speech, for his pallid cheek bore the -stamp of a mental depression, and his haggard features the evidence of -sufferings other than corporeal; for, let the truth be told, the -consciousness that Eleanor was lost to him for ever, preyed upon his -mind; and, notwithstanding his repeated efforts to rally his drooping -spirits, a melancholy gloom had settled upon his brow, there giving -indication of the tumult of thought and feeling that had and still was -agitating his brain. - -His passion for Eleanor Rainsfield, since the fire of love had first -entered his soul, had ever been the material of his dreams both by day -and night; she was the star of his destiny, the cynosure to which the -magnetic needle of his hopes always pointed, and to which his fondest -affections continually looked for guidance. He loved her madly, and had -half fancied, notwithstanding her avowment of a pre-engagement, that -some fortuitous circumstance might have transpired to break off that -connexion, and lead her to join her destinies with his. He believed he -was not altogether an indifferent object in her eyes, and the fates, -even though hitherto unpropitious, he had believed would have ultimately -favoured his cause. Thus he continued, even with his heart under a -prohibitory decree, to cherish the tender feeling for the lovely girl, -although his calmer nature told him there was no hope. He offered up his -mind a willing sacrifice to the pleasing though deadly poison, and -permitted his soul to be ravished by the wild delirium of his infatuated -love. He had, in fact, hoped against hope; but now, that he discovered -the creature he adored was irrevocably passing from him to become the -wife of another, life appeared to him a blank, and he felt no desire to -prolong an existence expatriated from the society of the only one who -made it dear to him. These were the feelings that had consumed the -spirits of the young man between the interval of his separation from his -sister and his meeting with Tom Rainsfield, and which had left such -indubitable marks of distress on his countenance that his friend had not -failed to detect them. - -We say that John Ferguson was aware that the marriage of Bob Smithers -and Eleanor was settled. This he had heard some time previously, and the -tenor of Mrs. Smithers' note had confirmed it; while in his susceptive -imagination he pictured to himself the whole plan, needing no better -prompter than his fears. While there had been a shadow of hope, John had -borne with commendable fortitude the disappointment of unrequited -affection, and sustained the devastation of the consuming fire that was -burning within him without the possibility of egress. But now that the -barrier of his expectancy had been rudely broken down; that the -circumvallation of his breastine citadel had been razed to the ground, -and the delicate fabric of his heart exposed to the rough greeting of -the unfriendly blast, and the piercing shafts of despair, his spirit -sank under the assault, and left him crushed and almost demented. - -"Why, man," said Tom, "you look the perfect picture of misery. I know, -or can guess, the cause of your grief; but never mind, cheer up, old -fellow! You know the old adage: 'The battle is never lost till it's -won;' so do not despair. Eleanor is not married yet, and, by Jove! she -won't be either; at least to Smithers; you mark my words." - -"My dear fellow," said John, "do not destroy her happiness or peace of -mind by attempting to separate her from her betrothed. He is her choice, -and it is her pleasure to accept him; then what have I to complain of? -Pray, don't frustrate her marriage with Smithers out of any regard for -me; for I feel convinced any intrigue you may enter into to further such -an object would be distasteful to her." - -"Not at all," replied his friend; "you mistake her, John, and me too, -and I may add yourself as well. Though Eleanor has given her consent to -this arrangement I know her heart is not with it. Do you think I would -be disappointing her, or making her miserable, by destroying a bond that -would only bind her in a state of abject misery for the entire period of -her life? Would I not rather be justified in rescuing her from such a -condition? Of course I would. Then that is the reason I object to her -marriage with Smithers; for I am certain she would never know a day's -happiness from the hour of her union with him. Two natures never were -more diametrically opposed to one another; the dove and the hawk might -as well be allied as she to him. She all purity, virtue, and innocence; -he all licentiousness, vice, and depravity, without the capacity to -appreciate so priceless a gem, and I believe without one feeling of -regard for her. No, by--I was going to swear; but, never mind, it cannot -be, and I say it shall not be; I'll prevent it yet, for I am sworn to -it." - -"I fear, Tom," said John Ferguson, "you are disposed to judge too -harshly of Smithers; Eleanor evidently sees something in him that she -admires, or I imagine she would not accept him; so I would beg of you -again to leave her to the dictates of her own feelings. Much as I should -desire to be blessed by the possession of her hand, I would not attempt -it by an opposition to her own inclinations." - -"Well, John," replied the other, "I am really surprised to hear you talk -so if you love Eleanor, as I am convinced you do. For her sake, as well -as for your own, you will save her from the misery of so unnatural an -alliance as this she meditates. It cannot but terminate unhappily, for I -am sure Smithers' treatment of her will be on a par with his general -conduct, selfish and brutal." - -"Pray, don't imagine, my dear Tom," continued John Ferguson, "that I am -advocating his cause out of opposition to you, or of perverseness to my -own interests. I would consider it the _acme_ of human felicity to be -possessed of so inestimable a treasure as Eleanor Rainsfield; but, next -to the happiness of that possession, my desire is to see her happy. -Bearish as Smithers may be, and I believe is, it will be impossible for -him to witness the devotion of such a gentle heart as hers without being -warmed in the sunshine of her affection. He cannot but treat her with -love and respect, for her nature would command them even from the breast -of a savage." - -"No doubt it would," said Tom, "but I believe that Bob Smithers has not -got the feelings of a savage except in his barbarity. But, come John, -this won't do; I can't see you perseveringly standing in your own light, -and, instead of arousing yourself to exertion, indulging in melancholy -reflections. You must be stimulated to work the release of that girl. -Why, man, you have lost her through your own supineness. Do you think if -I had loved a girl as you have Eleanor, that I would have cared about -all the Bob Smithers' in the colony. I would never have ceased my -importunities, until I had induced her to look favourably upon me, and -condemn her other suitor. You know the saying that the constant dropping -of water will wear away the stone; and if I had not worn a hole into her -heart, it is a wonder; especially if my rival was such a careless wooer -as Smithers; and when once I had got her to prefer me to him, Bob -Smithers, or Bob anybody else, might have gone to Jericho for me. I'll -bet I'd have soon choked him off; but, my dear fellow, let me see you -put a bright face upon the matter, and thrust your foot through 'Bob's -affair'; for I am convinced it does not require much to turn the scale -in your favour even now, notwithstanding all Eleanor's scruples. The -girl must be yours, so take heart." - -A sickly smile was the only response Tom got from his friend for this -attempt to rally him, but he continued: "Well, look here, John, if you -don't exert yourself to avert what I consider a domestic calamity I -shall cease to consider you my friend. I never saw one who so -pertinaciously adhered to a despondency, without attempting to extricate -himself, as you. William tells me you have declined the invitation to -Brompton. Now, I must insist upon your going; I'll take you under my -especial care, and will engage to bring about something to your -advantage." - -"I am extremely indebted to you for your sympathy, Tom," said his -friend; "but I regret I have a pre-engagement to start for New England -before that time; and I fear to delay my journey much longer as the -weather threatens to break." - -"Now, you know that is all nonsense," said Tom; "I am going down to town -myself in a few days, and a day or two will make no more difference to -you than to me. I know the object of your refusal, so that excuse won't -serve. Why should you desire to avoid the Smitherses or ourselves? It is -true Bob has behaved to you in a most ungentlemanly manner, but you need -not notice him; the invitation comes from his brother and lady, and you -may be sure he will be compelled to treat you with civility. With regard -to our party, you need not be under any apprehension; Mrs. Rainsfield, -Eleanor, and myself will form our cavalcade, so you may anticipate no -unpleasantness by the chance of meeting my brother. While, if I judge -rightly, our going ought to be an inducement to you, for of course we -shall join to make one party on the road." - -"I really can't go," said John. - -"I'll hear of no objection," replied Tom; "you must go, unless you wish -to displease all of us by your moroseness. Besides, bear in mind that -your absence will give Bob Smithers an opportunity of glorying over your -defeat. If it is only to oppose him I would urge you to come; and make -yourself as agreeable to Eleanor as you can." - -"I have already declined the invitation," said John, "and I doubt not -ere this the messenger has returned with Kate's reply; so it would be -unbecoming of me to go after my refusal." - -"Moonshine!" exclaimed Tom. "Who would ever think of studying etiquette -with our friends in the bush? Besides your apology is a difficulty -easily remedied, for the man is going to stop at our place all night; so -we can get your sister to write another note, and I will take it over to -him, and exchange it for the one he has; we may therefore consider that -arranged, and that you go." - -"I will go to please you," said John; "but I can assure you I have -little pleasure in the prospect." - -"Well, you are a stubborn and ungrateful fellow," exclaimed Tom -Rainsfield. "I have a good mind to repeat that remark to Eleanor, unless -you promise me to make amends by being assiduously attentive to her, -despite all frowns of another." - -"I fear," replied John, "that is a difficult task; however, I'll attempt -that also to please you." - -"That's right, my dear fellow," cried Tom, "that's the first sensible -thing I have heard you utter for some time, and inclines me to entertain -some hopes of you yet. But come let us join your sister and William; we -will talk over our plans, and set the young lady to work on her letter." - -The two young men then sauntered quietly up to the house, and Tom -Rainsfield taking the lead entered first, and addressed Kate Ferguson in -his lively manner as he did so. - -"I have been successful, my dear Miss Ferguson," he said, "in making a -convert of John. I have overruled all his objections to join us, and he -has promised to accompany our party to Brompton. So we have to beg of -you to concoct another epistle for Mrs. Smithers, which I will be the -bearer of to the Brompton messenger, who is to remain at our place all -night." - -Kate instantly sprang from her seat, and clapped her hands with delight; -then running to her brother threw her arms round his neck and kissed -him, gazing in his eyes as she said: "I am so delighted, dear John, -that you are coming with us. You have been looking so melancholy of late -that I have felt quite wretched to see you; but you will be pleased with -the visit, I know you will, and happy too; will you not, John?" - -"Yes, my dear," he replied, "but am I not always happy?" - -"I don't know," replied the affectionate girl; "but I hardly think you -are always so. Are you really happy now, John? You do not look so." - -"But I am, my love," said he; "how could I be otherwise?" - -"Of course not," said Tom; "I should like to know what fellow would not -be happy when he had a pair of delicate little arms affectionately flung -round his neck, a brace of luscious little ruby lips pouting to his, and -warbling the sweet music of affection, and with two lovely eyes peering -into his dull orbs. By Jove! the very thought of it ought to make him -happy; and it is my firm conviction that he has been showing all this -opposition just to be tempted in that way. I only wish I could induce -any little charmer to try the same experiment on me. I would be -incessantly wanting an application of the persuasive influence. Do you -desire me to join the party, Miss Ferguson?" - -"Of course, we do," replied the young lady; "we couldn't well do without -you." - -"Then I've determined not to go," replied Tom. "Neither Mrs. Rainsfield -nor Eleanor care much about my company, so I think I'll absent myself." - -This palpable hit of Tom's was rewarded by a hearty laugh from John, and -a blush and an ejaculation of "you horrid man," from the damsel; who -pouted her lips, and attempted to frown, while she went to her little -writing-desk to pen a revised edition of her note of the morning. Her -anger, however, as Tom well knew, was only assumed and of short -duration, and after a few moments of attempted frigidity she said -smilingly: "You are really incorrigibly rude, Mr. Rainsfield, and you -may depend upon it I will tell Eleanor of your impertinence." - -"My dear young lady," replied the delinquent, "that would be nothing new -to her; she is already fully acquainted with my peculiarities, and would -probably recommend you to try the effect of your balm." - -"Why, you are getting worse than ever, you insolent fellow," cried Kate. -"I'll really get angry with you, and forbid you accompanying us, which I -am sure, notwithstanding your statement of indifference, would be a -severe punishment. But leave me alone a few minutes pray, until I write -my letter; and then I will expect you to apologize to me for your bad -behaviour." - -"I will be as dumb as a dormouse," exclaimed Tom, "until you have -completed your task, so proceed; or, perhaps, you would like to employ -me as your amanuensis. I will be happy to be of service to you." - -"Then be good enough to hold your tongue," said Kate, "you are not -fulfilling your promise of silence." - -"No; but I am merely making a suggestion for your benefit," said Tom. - -"You are positively dreadful," cried Kate; "you men, insolent fellows! -are continually talking of women's tongues; but, I declare, no woman -could have one that is kept so unceasingly occupied as yours, for you -give it no rest; even when you are requested to do so, and when you -actually make the attempt." - -"You shall have no further cause to complain," said Tom; "I will be -silent until you finish your letter; that is, if you do not occupy as -much time as is necessary to pen a government dispatch. Ladies' -specimens of chirography are proverbially voluminous, are as vague as an -electioneering address, and require as much attention and time in their -composition and execution, as if each individual epistle was of the -greatest moment of their lives." - -"Hush! for goodness sake," exclaimed Kate; "when will you stop? pray be -silent for a few minutes, and then you may talk as much as you like." - -The desired truce was at length obtained, and the letter written and -handed to Tom for delivery. - -"Now," said he, "where has William gone? we ought to have him here to -discuss plans; however, I daresay, you, Miss Ferguson, John, and I, can -manage. What I would propose is this; that you all come over to -Strawberry Hill the night before, and start thence the first thing in -the morning; for I fear that you, Miss Ferguson, will find that fifty -miles will be quite far enough to ride in one day, and Brompton is very -nearly that from our place." - -"That proposition I should decidedly object to," said John; "it would -not be consistent to intrude ourselves upon your brother. The extra -distance between this and your place will be of little consequence, -especially as Kate is a good horsewoman, and I am sure will think -nothing of the distance." - -"Very likely not," replied Tom; "but consider a young lady cannot be -expected to be ready for a journey so early as you would, and to do it -comfortably you should start from here at daybreak. Be reasonable now -for once, John, and if you won't come yourself let William bring your -sister over the day before, and leave her that night with Eleanor. You -can pick her up as you pass on Thursday morning, while we will join -company, and all proceed together. What do you say to that arrangement, -Miss Ferguson?" - -"I should like it very much," replied Kate; "but I will do whatever John -wishes. If he does not desire me to stop at your house I will endeavour -to ride the whole distance in the day, though I must confess it is -rather a long ride." - -"Of course it is," said Tom, "far too long for you, excellent equestrian -though you be; and, besides, I can't see what objection John can have to -your visiting us. You come as a guest to my sister-in-law; therefore, -my brother's quarrel with John should in no way prevent you from -sojourning with us. Waive all unpleasant feelings, John, and let your -sister stop with us for that night." - -"I don't wish to detain her," replied John, "out of any ill-feeling -towards any member of your family; I am sure you are perfectly aware of -that; but from a feeling that it would be hardly proper under the -circumstances." - -"There can be no impropriety in it," said Tom; "my sister-in-law would -be delighted with the arrangement; in fact, she herself proposed the -scheme to me this morning, when she received her invitation and heard -that you were expected to go too. To settle the matter, I'll bring her -over here on Thursday, and she will take Miss Ferguson back with her; -for I know very well you'll not attempt to dispute the question with -her. What do you say to _that_ arrangement, Miss Ferguson?" - -"Oh, I should be so happy to join Eleanor," she exclaimed, "and stop -with her that night if John will let me." - -"Of course, he'll let you," replied Tom; "he has no serious objection I -know, but is only opposing me because you are desirous of the adoption -of my scheme. He wants a little more of your lip salve, when I'll -guarantee he'll be softened." - -"Now, you are mocking me," said Kate; "it is cruel of you to make fun of -my affection for my brother. I am almost determined not to have anything -farther to say to you; you are a hard-hearted unfeeling fellow." - -"Pardon me, my dear young lady," cried Tom, "I was only attempting to do -faint justice to your insuperable power of fascination. One soft -embrace, similar to that I witnessed a short time ago, I am sure will -melt your inexorable brother, who is even worse to deal with, and -requires more coaxing than any 'stern parient' I ever saw." - -"I'll be softened without that this time," said John, "as it is Mrs. -Rainsfield's desire that you should break your journey by starting from -her house, Kate, I have no desire to oppose your own wish; you may go if -you like, and William and I will join your party on Thursday morning." - -The delighted girl again ran over to her brother, and sitting on his -knee, with her arms encircling his neck in an amatory embrace, leant her -head on his breast, and looked roguishly pleased from her dark blue eyes -at Tom, who sat in perfect raptures, gazing at the lovely seraph. - -"Upon my life, Miss Ferguson, you'll be the death of me," he exclaimed; -"how do you imagine any mortal man can withstand such temptation? If I -witness another scene like that to-day, I'll lose my senses. I must be -off home, unless you wish to have the weight on your mind of being the -cause of rendering me a raving maniac." - -"I think you are that already, sir," replied Kate; "for you are always -strange in your manner, and invariably accompany, in your addresses to -me, insults in your flattery." But the kind-hearted girl, thinking, -even in her playfulness, she had said something too harsh, came over and -stood by Tom's chair, and continued in a sweet and kindly voice and with -a smile beaming on her charming features: "But I will give you full -permission during our visit to Brompton, to say as many cruel things to -me as you like and I won't be angry. You may flatter me as much as you -please, and I'll pledge you my word I'll not believe you. So there will -be no occasion for you to take leave of your senses just at present." - -"To live under the smile of your countenance," exclaimed Tom, "would be -a sufficient talisman against any evil spirit; so I fear none of their -machinations, and feel sufficiently armed against that demon lunacy; -towards whom, since I have known you, I have always had an irresistible -tendency." - -"Then I should advise you," said Kate, "to instantly fly my presence." - -"That, Miss Ferguson, would only have the effect of hastening an -exacerbation of my malady; my only hope for relief is in a continuance -of your smiles." - -"Your case is certainly a most extraordinary one," said Kate; "you say -your only relief is from me, and yet I am the cause of your mental -subversion." - -"It is not at all extraordinary, my dear young lady," said Tom; "but -perfectly consistent with the doctrines of pharmacology, both allopathic -and homeopathic, by the principle embodied in the doctrine of the -latter, viz., '_similia similibus curantur_.' If your smiles wound my -heart, they are the sweetest as well as the surest remedy to heal it; -and, if an exhibition of your specious favours almost drives me to -distraction, the balm whose curative powers is the most effective is a -permission to continue in the thraldom of your mellifluent bondage." - -"Well, now, I declare you are a dreadful fellow," said Kate, "I did not -give you permission to flatter me until Thursday week, but you commence -now in spite of me." - -"What! is he flirting again, my Kitty?" said William, as he burst into -the room. "Tom, we will have to send you, like your renowned namesake, -to Coventry. You will be spoiling our sister, cramming her poor little -head with your love speeches. She will be thinking of nothing else but -those little chubby-faced winged archers, whose destined occupation is -to traverse the globe with flambeau in hand, to ignite the inflammable -material of mortals' hearts. And instead of our finding substantial -meals, to satisfy the cravings of our hunger, we will some day be -expected to feed on the ambrosia of that little mischief-making deity. -Is John superintending your flirting, my turtle doves?" - -A hearty laugh was the response of Tom Rainsfield to this sally; while -John replied that he had been too much amused at the farce to interrupt -it. Kate, however, took a different mode of explanation. She advanced -nimbly to her brother and saluted him; not in the way she had done to -John, but with an inoffensive titillation on his cheek with her downy -little hand; which she intended, as she said, for a slap for his -impertinence. "But tell me, Will," said she, "what made you rush in in -such a hurry; was it to frighten us?" - -"Frighten you, my pet?" he replied. "No! I have got some fun to tell -you. A few minutes ago while I was down at the stock-yard I had a -letter put into my hands by young Sawyer; but as the missive is an -epistolary production somewhat unique I will read it to you for your -benefit. The orthography is not at all in harmony with any of the -lexicographers to whom it has been my fortune at any time to refer; but -in open violation of Dr. Johnson and all his colleagues. However, that -is a minor curiosity, and can be digested in detail." - -"Well, read us the letter," replied his auditory, "or let us look at -it." - -"Here it is," said William, as he commenced to read it; while we, to -give the reader a better conception of the production, crave pardon for -inserting it verbatim. The superscription is "Mr. Wm. Fuggishon, Esqe. -Farn Vail per barer," and the contents are: - -"Weddingsday, Dare Sir, Exkuse the libety i take for to rite yer but -Capting Jones and me presints our comblemints and 'ave to say as how -weir agoing to 'ave a partey on nixt munday and wood be glad if you'd -cum as theril be golley sprey and lots of gents. be shuer and cum and -also yer syster cos we shal 'ave ladeys to at hour ouse, and theril be -no fears on her getting 'ome agin, cos I thinks you dosent drink so of -corse you'd not git drunk I am Mr. Fuggishon sir yours truly Mrs. -Capting Jones wat is to be or Mary ann Sawyer now. - -"_P.S._--If you now any other frends as wood like to cum, bring em." - -When the laughter that had followed the reading of this epistle had -somewhat subsided William said to his sister: "Now, Kitty, what do you -think of that invitation? my word! but we are going to have a gay time -of it up here; parties will be going the round of the country after -this. Of course, you will go to the Sawyers rejoicings, Kitty, and put -on your pretty, and good behaviour?" - -"If I had not known you were joking, Will, I would be angry with you," -exclaimed the indignant girl. "The impertinence of the horrid creatures -indeed!" - -"But you know, Kate, 'I dosent drink,' as the prospective Mrs. Jones -affirms; consequently there is no fear of you, unless you too often -drink to the health of the happy couple." - -"Don't talk nonsense, Will, but tell us how this affair has come about; -it is the first I have heard of a marriage in their family being -contemplated?" said Kate. - -"Well, my little poppet," said William, "I will impart to you all the -information I have been able to glean, and which has been obtained from -Mr. Reuben Sawyer, the brother of the bride, and the bearer of the note -of invitation. It appears that a certain gentleman rejoicing in the name -of Jones, and honoured by the prefixed title of Captain (though from -whence, or in what service I know not), has by some means introduced -himself to the family of Sawyer, and made a conquest of the heart of the -younger female member. They are to be married at Alma on Sunday, thence -to return to the hall of the bride's father, and entertain their friends -on Monday. What the pecuniary arrangements are, I don't know; but I -strongly suspect they are to the advantage of the _soi-disant_ Captain, -of whom, by the bye, I imagine the Sawyer family know very little. It -strikes me it will turn out a sell for the girl, for I fully expect the -bridegroom will be discovered to be an impostor. I am convinced he has -assumed a title and garb to palm himself off on them as a gentleman, -while they have snatched at the bait." - -"What a dreadful man he must be then," said Kate. - -"Even so, Miss Kate," said Tom; "but there are numbers of such 'dreadful -men' prowling about in the colony; who appropriate and abandon as many -aliases and personate as many characters as would people a small town. -They have a convenient knack of falling in love with such girls as Miss -Mary Ann Sawyer, to whom they give a glowing account of all their -wealthy friends and genteel relations. Then before the effect dies out -they propose, are accepted, recommend a speedy marriage to prevent, as -they say, their relations from hearing and stopping the intended match, -and induce, too frequently, not only the girl, but her friends to fall -into their views; while they do not discover their error until the gay -Lothario takes leg-bail upon the first symptoms of an enquiry being made -after him by the victim of some previous matrimonial swindle." - -"Well," said William, "I am inclined to accept the invitation for -myself. I would like to witness the fun, for fun I am sure there will -be; and I am authorised to invite any friends, so will make use of my -_carte blanche_ and ask you, Tom. What do you say, will you go? If you -will, we will go together. I would like to see their spread, and -attempts at doing the genteel thing; but, at the same time, I should -like to have some one to accompany me." - -"Oh, I don't mind it at all," said Tom, "I'll join you with pleasure to -witness the feast. I expect it will be a rich sight, if not a rich feed. -Will you make one of us, John?" - -"No," replied John, "I could not endure their disgusting affectation; -and I would find no pleasure in witnessing their gross fooleries. I will -remain at home, and take care of Kate; she will want some one to keep -her company, while you two roisterers are absent; and I am sure it will -be more congenial to both of us." - -"Yes, it will indeed," said Kate; "I am glad you don't think of leaving -me all alone, John, and going to visit those horrid people." - -"Well, we will make amends by giving you a graphic description of it -when we return," said William; "and, unless I am very much mistaken, it -will be of such a nature as will excite your risibility." - -"Very well then," replied Kate, "I hope it will be funny; but whatever -you do, Will, pray don't give any of the creatures any encouragement to -come here, for I am sure I could not bear the sight of them in our -house." - -"Never fear, _ma cher_," replied William, "our little tutelary angel -shall never be contaminated by the intercourse of our plebeian -neighbours; who must learn to consider, notwithstanding an officer has -married into their family, that they are only entitled to gaze at our -bright star, and that it is too much felicity to expect permission to be -graced by an admission within the circle of its rays." - -"Don't talk any more nonsense, Will," replied his sister, "but be sure, -if any of those people make any proposition to come here, that you will -use all your endeavours to prevent them." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - "Tam saw an unco sight! - Nae cotillon brent new frae France, - But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels, - Put life and mettle in their heels." - -BURNS. - - -On the following Monday, towards the evening, Tom Rainsfield and William -mounted their horses at Fern Vale, to ride over to the domicile of the -Sawyers. They had delayed their visit until the close of the day, -presuming, though their invitation specified no time of meeting, that -they would be quite early enough at the hour they were going. They -therefore rode leisurely along, and approached "Industry" (as the -Sawyers had christened their place) just as the sun was sinking in the -west. The scene that then presented itself to their vision was truly of -a novel character, and one that rather amused them. - -A short distance from the cottage had been erected a bowery hall for the -reception and feasting of the guests; and at the time when it first -burst upon their view the shouts that arose from its umbrageous walls -plainly indicated the nature of the proceedings within. But as the -reader is not supposed to be possessed of the same ubiquitous faculties -as the author, we may be permitted, for the purpose of enlightenment, to -describe the nature of those proceedings. - -In the interior of this retreat, and stretching its entire length, was a -bench or impromptu table, with seats on each side of it of a similar -construction; in the whole of which the rough material was plentifully -and principally called into use. On the board stood the remains of -sundry viands, proclaiming the conclusion of a feast; and bottles, and -drinking utensils of various shapes, sizes, and material, were kept in -constant activity by numerous grim-visaged masculine beings who sat -round the table. The variety of costumes was particularly striking, from -the perfect black, donned for the nonce by the head of the Sawyer -family, to that of one of his choicest friends, who sat in resplendent -vest, and shirt sleeves; having divested himself of his outer garment on -the principle of preference to ease over elegance. In the rear of what -we may call the saloon, in the shade of the bush, another party was -assembled; and from the shrieks of the women, and the boisterous mirth -of the men, it was evident their amusement was something other than that -of a passive nature. - -As our friends approached this group a fleet-footed female darted from -the human labyrinth like a startled fawn closely pursued by one of the -merry-making lords of the creation. The chase was continued amidst the -repetition of a perfect Babel of shouts and laughter, until the panting -and exhausted roe sank into the arms of the pursuing hart, and yielded -to the requiting inosculation. Blush not, gentle reader; these matured -specimens of the family of man, for the time forgot the dignity of their -years, and were amusing themselves by a renewal of their youthful -pristine enjoyments. They were in fact playing at "kiss in the ring." - -In the rear of the house the young men detected another foliate shed, in -which were, secured to some rough stalls, numerous specimens of -horse-flesh; while in the vicinity were scattered drays, light spring -carts, and even shakey gigs, evidently the conveyances of the various -guests. Here our friends left their horses; and judging the best place -to present themselves to their host, and where they were most likely to -see him, would be the leafy hall, they bent thither their steps. Upon -reaching the entrance they perceived the company was being enlivened by -the performance of some disciple of Apollo, who was venting forth in a -stentorian voice a rendering of "The Maniac;" and when he uttered (as -the young men arrested their steps so as not to "disturb the harmony"): -"No, by heavens! I am not mad," they really thought he was under the -same strange hallucination as the subject of the song, and labouring to -deceive himself upon a reality. If he was not mad, they imagined, he was -at least bordering on that state; while the whole of his hearers were -not far removed from the same, when they tolerated such uproar -unworthily dignified by the name of music. - -However, when the song ceased, in the midst of the deafening shouts, and -clatter of tumblers etc. that followed, William and his companion -entered; and at once distinguished the late singer as the individual who -sat at the head of the board. This personage was a coarse-looking, -red-faced, thick-set fellow; with lowering eyebrows, bushy moustache -(though otherwise cleanly shaved face), and hair of an objectionable, -though undefinable colour. He was dressed, as far as was perceptible, -in a black coat, white waistcoat, and neckerchief, and with an immense -frill front to his shirt. He seemed to be exceedingly heated with the -exertion of his song; and was drying his face and forehead with a white -handkerchief, in which action he was displaying more than one massive -ring; adorning fingers, that, to the eyes of our friends, proved -experience in more active and manual employment than military discipline -would be likely to require. He sat smiling complacently at his friends, -as one who was conscious of having displayed the possession of a -valuable talent; and, though gratified by the adulation of his hearers, -he took it as a just homage, and as a proof that they were not destitute -of a phrygian taste; or at least could appreciate music, when they heard -it in perfection, as when he himself sang. - -This individual, our friends rightly judged, was Captain Jones. On -his right sat his lady, the quondam Miss Sawyer, and on his left her -worthy papa. Whether the young lady was enchanted by the lyric strains -of her lord, or not, we are at a loss to say; notwithstanding that we -know she was possessed of what she called a "pihanner," and had a soul -for music, having on various occasions accompanied herself on that -instrument to the immense delight of her admiring friends. She might -have been actuated in her lengthened sitting by motives of a protective -character, to preserve her husband from a too free libation; or, it -might have been, that she felt happy in no other society but his. -Either of which reasons were sufficiently cogent, though we are unable -to conjecture which might have influenced her. But, be it as it may, -there she sat; and, with the exception of her mother, who occupied the -foot of the table, she was the only representative of her sex in the -assembly. - -William and Tom had made their way very nearly up to the head of the -table before they were noticed by the host; who, when he perceived them, -jumped from his seat, and seizing them each by the hand, expressed all -sorts of pleasure at their presence, and formally introduced them to -the bold Captain Jones and his lady. The latter having received their -congratulations with the most perfect nonchalance, proposed, as the -evening was drawing on, that the company should all adjourn to the -house; and suiting her motion to her word she sallied from the bower, -escorted by our friends, and followed by the bridegroom, and the other -"beings of sterner stuff." - -In the cottage they were joined by those who had been amusing themselves -on the green; and all then sat down to another substantial meal that -went by the name of tea. This being despatched, while the rooms were -being cleared, the men adjourned to the verandah and grass to smoke, and -were joined by some of the women; while the rest assisted in the -domestic arrangements inside. These being completed, and the smokers -satisfied with "blowing their cloud," they reentered the dwelling, -which had in the short space of time they had occupied in the enjoyment -of the narcotic weed, become perfectly metamorphosed. The principal room -had been converted from _la salle á manger_ to _la salle de danse_; and -its transition had been so speedily effected that the company were quite -delighted, and loud in their praises of the effective adornment We are -inclined to think, however, more was to be attributed to the spirit that -pervaded the company to be pleased with everything than that there was -any display of wonderful taste. A few boughs of green foliage were stuck -about the walls; and the benches of planks were arranged all round the -room, and covered with scarlet blankets; while, by way of chandeliers, -and in lieu of candlesticks, bottles, containing "Belmont sperms," were -dispersed and stationed on every available stand, by which simple means -the lighting and decorating of the hall was completed. - -The superior guests (we mean our young friends William and Tom) were -led away by "the Captain," who acted as major domo M.C., etc., to a back -room; which on ordinary occasions served as the dormitory of Mr. Reuben -Sawyer, but on the present was set apart for the especial refreshment of -"the gents;" while the bridal apartment in the front was made to endure -a similar profanation for the benefit of "the ladies." The Captain, -after enjoying another shake of the hand from his visitors, gave vent to -his feelings in a rapturous expression of delight at the honour of their -patronage; declaring the moment to be the happiest of his life; trusting -he should long enjoy the pleasure of their friendship; regretting that -their friends had not found it convenient to accompany them; and finally -requested them to join him in a drink. Upon receiving an acquiescence to -this request, he exclaimed: "What shall it be? Brandy? gin? wine? -claret? champagne? Ah, champagne; yes! we will have a bottle of -champagne for good fellowship sake." Upon which he took up a bottle and -cut the string, when away flew the cork, while he poured the wine into -three tumblers. Two of these he pushed over to his guests, while the -third he raised to his own lips, with the trite though universal toast -of "here's luck," and drained his glass at a draught; while he smacked -his lips with the air of a connoisseur, and said: "You'll find that an -excellent wine, for I selected it myself. The fellow I bought it from -tried to palm some inferior stuff on to me, but it wouldn't do; he did -not know I was a judge of wine until I convinced him I was not to be -humbugged by any of his rubbish. But to tell you the truth wine is all -stuff; it does not do a man any good; it may suit a Frenchman (who has -got no blood in him) to drink it; but give me beer or brandy they are -the drinks for an Englishman. What'll keep life in a fellow like brandy? -the only right thing the French ever did was to make brandy; it's the -real stuff to cheer you after all. Try a 'ball,' will you?" - -Both William and Tom thanked the enthusiastic Captain, but declined the -proffered ball; while he assisted himself to a pretty stiff jorum of the -_eau de vie_, and quaffed it as if it was a really necessary concomitant -to his life; after which he said: "Well, suppose then we go into the -room to the women; they will be wanting me to start them off in a dance. -But have a smoke? here's some cigars if you like them. You know we don't -object to smoking in our drawing-room, ah! ah! ah! This is Liberty Hall! -for you can do as you like. But excuse me, I must be off; make -yourselves perfectly at home." Saying which, and puffing vigorously at a -cigar, he left them, while they leisurely sauntered into the verandah in -front; from which they could witness the terpsichorean arrangements. - -Elevated in a remote corner of the room, was a professional gentleman of -the Paganini school; but, unlike that great performer, he was not -content to manipulate upon one chord, but continued with strenuous -efforts to raise discord on four. His music, if not exactly metrical, -was at least spirited, and that was sufficient for the lovers of the -"light fantastic," who danced "their allotted hour" with no small degree -of delight. As all human happiness must have an end so had the enjoyment -of these merrymakers; and the jig was terminated in a long drawn sigh, -and "Oh! dear me," from the women, and an explosion of the remaining -pent-up steam of the men. These forthwith adjourned "to liquor," leaving -the softer sex to do the same if they felt so disposed, which many of -them appeared to be. After about half an hour had elapsed, when the -guests returned by degrees to the saloon, Captain Jones volunteered a -song; and, upon obtaining the greatest degree of silence practicable, -gave the "Ship on Fire." It was in much the same style as the former -specimen of his vocalic talent; except that he was a little more -boisterous, and sang with a less distinct utterance. But still he was in -keeping with the character of the epic; for, unless his face very much -belied his internal state, he was in one intestine blaze. There is an -oft repeated story of Sir Walter Raleigh that while he was one day -smoking his wonted pipe his servant brought him in his beer; but when -the domestic, uninitiated to the consolation of the weed, beheld a -volume of smoke emitted from the mouth of his master he imagined him to -be inflicted by a celiac conflagration, and cast the contents of the -flagon into Sir Walter's face. If the ingenious servitor had only lived -in our day, and been called upon to wait on our friend the Captain as he -appeared on this occasion, he would assuredly have made the same waste -of malt liquor on the illuminated visage of that individual. However, -the "Ship on Fire" was got through, and elicited great applause; after -which, the _artiste_, perceiving his genteel guests rather apart from -the rest of the company, and not joining in the festivities, came over -and addressed them in the following words: - -"Why don't you make yourself at home? you haven't had anything to drink -to-night; some refreshments will be round in a minute or so, and then we -will have a dance; but you've never heard my wife sing, have you?" Upon -receiving a reply in the negative, he continued: "Then, my word, she's a -stunner! I'll go and tell her you want her to sing. You know she sings, -'I should like to marry.' I composed a song for her to that tune, and -you shall hear it;" saying which he left them to induce his fair bride -to oblige her friends; at the same time that Mr. Sawyer, junior, made -his appearance with a large jug and a number of tumblers, and asked our -friends if they would take a drink. They thought it strange to bring -water round to imbibe, considering that most of the guests ignored that -beverage without its being plentifully diluted with spirits (as the -Captain said). But thinking it was possibly on their account, seeing -that they did not indulge alcoholically as the others did, our young -friends gladly accepted a glass, and held it to be filled from the jug. -To their astonishment, however, what they had imagined was water gave -evidence, by its appearance, of more inebriating qualities. - -"Why, what on earth is that you're giving us, Reuben?" asked William. - -"Champagne," replied the youth. - -"Champagne!" they both uttered at once; "that is a novel way of serving -champagne." - -"Oh, father said it was humbug to open a bottle and hand it round in -mouthfuls to the people," replied the youth; "so, you see we opened a -lot, and turned them into this jug, so that everybody can take a drink -of it." - -This idea considerably amused our friends, and they laughed heartily at -the champagne service, as they called it; but were checked suddenly in -their mirth by the "charming and accomplished" Mrs. Jones warbling forth -her desires for a suitable match in the matrimonial way. We need not -repeat her song but merely state that her desiderata were centred in a -young digger with plenty of gold, and a good hut, which was to be -possessed of a brick chimney; and not a slab "humpie" with a hole in the -bark roof, containing a tub or other cylindrical vessel to carry off the -smoke. And the desired one, should he present himself, was to go down on -his knees, and conscientiously swear that he "had left no wife at home." -When the lady had finished her song the plaudits of her enraptured -hearers rang through the house, and the woods outside. The company were -enchanted, and no doubt imagined she had far surpassed even the efforts -of a Grisi (did they but know such a being existed). The fair creature -herself was equally satisfied with her performance, which she considered -exquisite; though our friends were rude enough to think otherwise, -notwithstanding that they were profuse in their praise to the lady and -her husband. Dancing was then resumed, and the young men, having seen -enough to afford a fund of amusement to themselves and their respective -family circles, waited for an opportunity to slip away unmolested. The -fortuitous event was not long in presenting itself; and at a moment when -the majority of the men were engaged "fast and furious" at their -wassail, the two young men saddled their horses, mounted, and returned -to Fern Vale. - - -END OF VOL. II. - - -EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY THE CALEDONIAN PRESS - - - - -MR. NEWBY'S - -NEW PUBLICATIONS. - - -In 2 vols., demy 8vo, price 30s. cloth, - -THE TURKISH EMPIRE: in its Relations with Christianity and Civilisation. -By R. R. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. 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: Fern Vale, Volume 2 (of 3) - or the Queensland Squatter - -Author: Colin Munro - -Release Date: April 9, 2016 [EBook #51704] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FERN VALE, VOLUME 2 (OF 3) *** - - - - -Produced by Nick Wall, David K. Park and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="600" alt="Front Cover" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap"/> -<h1><span class="title">FERN VALE</span><br /> -<small>OR THE</small><br /> -QUEENSLAND SQUATTER.</h1> - -<p class="center mt2 title">A NOVEL.</p> - -<p class="center mt2 title2">BY COLIN MUNRO.</p> - -<p class="center mt2 title4">IN THREE VOLUMES.<br /> -VOL II.</p> - -<p class="center mt2 title4">LONDON:<br /> -T. C. NEWBY,<br /> -30 WELBECK STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE.<br /> -<small>MDCCCLXII.</small></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="center mt2 title4">EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY THE CALEDONIAN PRESS,</p> - -<p class="center mt2 title4">"The National Institution for Promoting the</p> - -<p class="center mt2 title4">Employment of Women in the Art of Printing."</p> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap" /> - -<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> -<tr><td class="tdl"> </td><td class="tdr"> </td><td class="tdr"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">I</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">II</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">32</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">III</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">48</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">IV</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">77</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">V</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">105</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">VI</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">128</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">VII</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"> 146</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">VIII</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">180</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">IX</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">205</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">X</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">232</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">XI</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">253</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">XII</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">287</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td><td class="tdr">XIII</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">325</a></td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p class="center title">FERN VALE.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"What are these,</div> -<div class="line">So withered, and so wild in their attire,</div> -<div class="line">That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,</div> -<div class="line">And yet are on't?"</div></div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Macbeth</span>, <i>Act 1, Sc. 3</i>.</div> -</div> - -<p>"Those fellows have been up to some mischief -I am certain," said Tom when the blacks -departed, as described in the last chapter. -"I am confident my brother has not given -them anything; and if they have got any -rations at Strawberry Hill, they must have -stolen them. However, if you intend going -over to their corroboree, I'll accompany you."</p> - -<p>"I do intend going," said John, "for I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> -never seen them in such force as they'll be to-night, -and I am curious to see the effect. Do -you know what is the nature of the ceremony -of their kipper corroboree?"</p> - -<p>"I can't exactly say," replied Tom, "their -ordinary corroborees are simply feasts to -commemorate some event; but the kipper -corroboree has some mystery attached to it, -which they do not permit strangers to witness. -I believe it is held once a year, to admit their -boys into the communion of men; and to -give 'gins' to the neophytes, if they desire to -add to their importance by assuming a -marital character. I believe it is simply a -ceremony, in which they recognise the -transition of their youths from infancy to -manhood; though they keep the proceedings -veiled from vulgar eyes."</p> - -<p>"When, then," continued John, "the kippers -are constituted men, and get their gins, are -their marriage engagements of a permanent -nature; I mean does their nuptial ceremony, -whatever it may be, effectually couple them;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> -and is it considered by them inviolable?"</p> - -<p>"I believe," replied Tom, "the ceremony is -binding on the gins, but their lords are permitted -to exercise a supreme power over the -liberty and destiny of their spouses. The -gins are merely looked upon as so many -transferable animals, and they are frequently -stolen and carried off by adventurous lovers -from their lawful lords and masters; and as -frequently made over with the free consent of -their husbands, the same as we should do -with flocks and herds. Most of the quarrels -among the tribes arise from such thefts; and -the wills and inclinations of the gins are -never for a moment considered."</p> - -<p>After this remark the conversation of the -young men turned into other channels. About -sundown they prepared themselves for their -visit, and mounting their horses started off to -the Gibson river; which, owing to the darkness -of the night, and the difficulty they experienced -in threading the bush, and avoiding -the fallen logs, they did not reach so quickly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> -as they had anticipated. They, however, -crossed by the flats, and guided by the noise -of the blacks, and the light from their fires -in the scrub, they soon came upon the -"camp;" where they found Dugingi, true to -his promise, waiting for them.</p> - -<p>The camp was composed of about fifty -"gunyas" or huts, formed in a circle; in the -midst of which were several of the natives, -talking and gesticulating most vociferously -and wildly. The gunyas were small conical -structures of about five or six feet in diameter; -formed by pieces of cane being fixed into the -ground in an arched shape, so as to make ribs, -which were covered with the flakey sheets of -the tea tree bark, and laid perfectly close and -compact, in which position they were fixed -by an outer net-work of reedy fibre; making, -though primitive and meagre in accommodation, -a dwelling perfectly impervious to the -weather. Into these burrow-like domiciles, -crowd, sometimes, as many as five or six -human beings, who coil themselves into a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> -mass to economize space, and generate caloric -in cold nights; when they have a fire in front -of the opening which serves for a door. In -warmer weather, however, they generally -stretch themselves under heaven, with only a -blanket to cover them; and, with their feet -towards the fire, a party may frequently be -seen radiating in a circle from the centre of -heat.</p> - -<p>When the camp was approached by the -young men, the host of dogs, which are the -usual concomitants of a black's tribe, gave -warning of the visitors' presence; and Dugingi, -who was by that means attracted, first -removing their horses to a place of safety, led -them within the mysterious periphery. As -they emerged suddenly from the obscurity of -the scrub into the open space where the corroboree -was in full progress, they were not a -little startled at the scene before them. In -the centre was an immense fire; and around -it, about one hundred and fifty men were -assembled in a circle, except at a gap at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> -side from which the visitors approached. -Here sat, or rather squatted, the gins, the -piccaninies, and the males incapacitated from -senescence or infirmities. The blacks having -ceased their exertions as our friends arrived, -the latter had a good opportunity of surveying -the picture at their leisure.</p> - -<p>In the spot where the blacks had made -their camp the ground was naturally clear, -and was covered with a smooth sward; while -immediately beyond the circumscribed limits -of the natural clearance, the thick scrub was, -to any but a black fellow, perfectly impenetrable; -thus presenting to the eye of the -beholder, the appearance of an umbrageous -amphitheatre especially created for those -savage orgies. The men were all more or -less bedecked and besmeared; and, at the -moment of our friends' contemplation of -them, stood taking breath preparatory to the -repetition of fresh exertions. The immense -fire was being continually replenished by the -gins, and threw a fitful glance over the whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> -scene that struck the mind with an indescribable -sensation of mingled awe, dread, and -disgust. While those sensations were traversing -the minds of John and Tom Rainsfield -Jemmy Davis stepped forward from amidst -the group, and saluted them with the greatest -urbanity. But such was his metamorphosis -that our friends did not, until he had declared -himself by speech, recognise in the painted -savage before them an educated and civilized -black.</p> - -<p>His hair was drawn up to a tuft on the top -of his head, and into it had been thrust numerous -of the most gaudy parrot and cockatoo -feathers. When he walked this top knot -acquired an eccentric oscillation, which gave -his head the appearance of a burlesque -on the plumed cranium of a dignified hearse -horse; and was the only part of his -ornature that was of a ludicrous character. -His forehead was painted a deep yellow; -from his eyes to a line parallel to his nose -his skin shone with a bright red; while the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> -rest of his face showed its natural dirty brown -colour. His body was fancifully marked in -white, delineating his ribs; with grotesque -devices on his breast and back. His legs -and arms were as black as charcoal could -make them; and with a necklace of bones and -shells, his toilet was complete. It has been -facetiously stated that the New Zealander's -full dress consists of a shirt collar and a pair -of spurs; but Jemmy Davis had no such useless -appendages; and, as he stood before his -guests in the conviction of his costume being -complete, and in the pride of conscious adornment, -he never dreamt but that his own -self-gratulation was also shadowing their -admiration and delight.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes John and his companion -were left alone; and the corroboree commenced -afresh by the resumption of the -musical accompaniments, which, as they were -peculiar, we may as well describe. We have -already said, the gins were squatted on the -ground near the circle; and, we may now -add, they had composed their ungraceful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> -forms in the oriental fashion. Some of them -had their hands half open, or rather their -fingers were kept close together, while the -palms were made to assume a concave shape, -as if for the purpose of holding water. With -them in this form they struck them simultaneously -on their supine thighs, with a -metrical regularity, which made an unearthly -hollow noise, and formed the base of their -orchestral display. Others of them beat a -similar measure on their waddies, or sticks; -while the whole burst into a discordant vocal -accompaniment, in which they were joined -by the men and piccaninies in a dull and -monotonous cadence. This was their song; -which, to adequately describe, would be impossible. -Some idea, however, may possibly -be formed of it, when we say that they all -commenced in a high mournful key, in which -they unintelligibly mumbled their bucolic. -On this first note they dwelt for about half a -minute; and descended the gamut in the same<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> -metre, resting only on the flats, and expending -their breath in a prolongation of the last, and -deepest, note they could utter; terminating in -one eructation something between a grunt and -a sigh, or a concentration of the idiosyncratic -articulation of the London paviers. And as -they dwelt upon this note for about a minute, -the combined effects of their mutterings, and -the noise of their feet, were not unlike the -distant fulmination of thunder.</p> - -<p>Their dance too, was conducted totally -different to the wild gestures of other savages. -The participators in the ceremony, as we have -already explained, stood in a semi-circular -line. Slightly stooping, they swung their -arms backwards and forwards before their -bodies, and with their feet beat a measured -tread on the ground; while they continued -to contract their frames, almost into a sitting -posture, and to accelerate their pendulous -and stamping motions; until, with an universal -convulsion, the last sigh or grunt was expatriated -from their carcasses. After a dead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> -stop of some few seconds, with a recommencement -of their femoral accompaniment, they -erected their bodies with their voices, and -proceeded <i>de capo</i>; presenting a scene more -like a festival in pandemonium than a congregation -of human beings in "this huge -rotundity on which we tread."</p> - -<p>The feelings of the young men, as they stood -and watched this performance, were varied; -neither of them had seen a corroboree on so -grand a scale before; and they were for a -time lost in wonder at an exhibition, which -no description can truthfully depict. John -was dreaming of the emancipation and improvement -of a race, which he believed, could -be made to ameliorate their condition; and -felt sorrowful that, in the midst of civilisation -(with its examples before their eyes, and the -inculcations which had been instilled into the -nature of one of their number), the blacks -should be still perpetuating the emblems of -their barbarity and degradation. Tom's -meditations were of a different nature;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> -though he advocated kind treatment to them -in the intercourses of life, he still believed -them an inferior race of sentient beings; if -not altogether devoid of the mental attributes -of man. He, moreover, thought he read in -their manner, despite all the suavity of Jemmy -Davis and Dugingi, something that portended -evil; and fancied he heard more than once, -his own name uttered by them in their song. -It might have been only fancy, he thought; -but an idea of something premeditated had -seized upon his mind, and he could not divest -himself of it.</p> - -<p>Our young friends by this time, having seen -quite enough to satisfy them, and being unnoticed -in their position, quietly left the spot; -and, having procured their horses, retraced -their steps to the river. They there mounted, -and having crossed the stream, returned almost -silently to Fern Vale, and retired to rest. -On the following morning Tom took his leave -of his friend; while, almost contemporary with -his departure, John's black boys, Billy and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> -Jemmy, presented themselves to resume their -former life on the station. We may remark -that Billy had by this time perfectly recovered -from his castigation, though he, and also his -companion, did not fail to stigmatize in very -strong, if not in very elegant, or pure English, -phraseology, the conduct of Mr. Rainsfield; -and as much as insinuated that the tribe were -in no very friendly way disposed towards -him.</p> - -<p>This, John Ferguson was seriously grieved -to learn; for he dreaded the consequence of an -open rupture between the aborigines and his -neighbour. He knew, if the blacks became -more than ordinarily troublesome, that Rainsfield -would enlist the sympathies of his friends, -and his class generally; when blood would -inevitably be shed, and the poor natives -hunted from the face of the earth. He therefore -determined, if he should not see Tom in -a day or two, to ride over and call upon Mr. -Rainsfield; and while adverting to the treatment -received by his black boy from him,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> -warn him of the danger, not only to himself, -but to all the settlers in his neighbourhood, -by his persisting in his stringent course. -With this intention, a few days after the -corroboree, not having seen his friend in -the interval, he rode over to Strawberry -Hill.</p> - -<p>As he approached the residence of the -Rainsfields, despite his struggles to suppress -it, he felt his heart beat high with the anticipation -of seeing Eleanor, for the first time -since his meeting with Bob Smithers. John -had, of late, striven hard to wean himself -from what he attempted to believe was -his wild infatuation; and thought that he -had sufficiently schooled his mind, so as to -meet her without the slightest perturbation. -But he had deceived himself; and as he -approached the house, and felt a consciousness -of her proximity, he experienced that -strange agitation over which mortals have no -control. He, however, determined to avoid -giving any outward indication of his mental<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> -disquietude, so as not to cause any uneasiness -to Eleanor from his visit; and for that purpose -he stopped his horse in the bush, before he -came within sight, and collected himself into -a settled calmness. Having performed this -little piece of training he proceeded, and was -passing the huts on his way to the house, -when he was accosted by Mr. Billing; who -informed him that Mr. Rainsfield had desired -him to intimate, that if he, Mr. Ferguson, -desired to see that gentleman, he would meet -him at Mr. Billing's cottage in a few minutes. -This request John thought rather singular; -but he turned his horse's head to the direction -of the cottage, at the door of which he -alighted; and, after fastening his horse to the -fence, he entered.</p> - -<p>"You will no doubt think it exceedingly -rude in me, Mr. Ferguson," exclaimed the little -man, "to intercept you in your road to the -house. Though you perceive me, sir, in a menial -capacity, I am perfectly conversant with, as I -am also possessed of the feelings of a gentleman;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> -therefore I feel a repugnance, sir, in -wounding those feelings in another. You -are doubtless aware, sir, we have had another -marauding visitation from those insolent -savages; and Mr. Rainsfield is not only -greatly enraged at them, but has become, -sir, extremely irascible and truculent towards -myself; and has conceived a notion that you -are in some way influencing and encouraging -them in their depredations. The pertinacity -with which they annoy him, sir, is certainly -marvellous; and he is confirmed in the belief -that it is in a great measure owing to your -instigations; therefore he gave instructions -that, in the event of your calling, I should -request you to step under my humble roof, -while I sent him notice of your presence. -This, sir, I have done, so you may expect to -see him in a few minutes. I merely mention -these circumstances, sir, not in disparagement -of my employer; but to account to you for -my rudeness, and exonerate myself from the -imputation of any voluntary violation of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> -good breeding."</p> - -<p>"Pray, don't mention it, Mr. Billing," replied -John; "I don't imagine for a moment that -you would intentionally commit any breach -of decorum, even if the interruption of my -passage could be termed such; but I must -confess, I can't understand why Mr. Rainsfield -should wish to prevent me from calling upon -him in his own house." Though John said -this, his heart whispered a motive for such -interruption.</p> - -<p>"I am flattered, sir, by your good opinion," -said Mr. Billing, "and I thank you. I believe, -sir, you're a native of the colony, and have not -visited Europe; but you are a man of the -world, sir, I can perceive, and will readily -understand the anomalies of my position. I, -who have been bred, sir, in the mercantile -community of the cosmopolitan metropolis, -being subjected to the petty tyrannies of a -man, whom I consider mentally my inferior. I -am disgusted, sir, with the incongruities of my -situation, and harassed by the thought of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> -my trials being shared by Mrs. Billing (who, -I assure you, sir, is an ornament to her sex); -and the total absence, sir, of all those comforts, -which a man who has been in the -position I have been in, sir, and who has come -to my years, naturally expects, tends to make -this occupation distasteful to me."</p> - -<p>John, we are ashamed to say (at the moment -forgetful of his own) felt amused at the -sorrows of the little man; though he smilingly -assured him that he thought a man of his evident -abilities was thrown away in the bush, -and that he believed it would be considerably -more to his advantage, if he forsook so inhospitable -a pursuit, as that in which he was -engaged, for something more congenial to his -nature and compatible with his education.</p> - -<p>"My dear sir," replied the enthusiastic -storekeeper, "I again thank you. I perceive, -sir, by your judicious remarks, you are a gentleman -of no ordinary discernment. The same -idea has often struck me, sir; in fact, I may -say the 'wish is father to the thought;' but,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> -unfortunately, 'thereby hangs a tale.' If you -have no objection to listen to me, sir, for a -few minutes, I will explain the peculiarities -of my position."</p> - -<p>John having expressed himself desirous of -hearing the explanation, Mr. Billing proceeded. -"You must know, sir, that after -finishing a sound general education at one -of the public schools of London (you will forgive -me, sir, for commencing at the normal -period of my career), my father, who was a -medical man of good practice but large family, -sent me, sir, to the desk. I, in fact, entered -the counting-house of my relatives, Messrs. -Billing, Barlow, & Co., of Upper Thames -Street, in the city of London, a firm extensively -engaged in the comb and brush line, -and enjoying a wide celebrity, sir, in the city -and provinces. I continued at my post, sir, -for years, until I obtained the situation of -provincial traveller, which place I continued -to fill for a lengthy period. I need hardly -say, sir, that in my peregrinations my name<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> -was sufficient to command respect from our -friends and constituents, who naturally imagined -that I must have been a partner in -the firm I represented; consequently, sir, my -vicissitudes were almost imaginary, and my -comfort superior to the generality of commercial -travellers. I did not, of course, sir, enlighten -the minds of our constituents on their -error, the effects of which I every day enjoyed; -more especially as the firm, from my -long services, had solemnly pledged themselves -to receive me into their corporate body -as a partner. The mutations of even our -nearest relatives, sir, are not to be depended -upon; for I found in my experience, that the -word of a principal is not always a guarantee. -Upon urging the recognition of my claims, I -found a spirit of equivocation to exist in my -friends; and such conduct not agreeing, sir, -with my views of integrity, I uttered some -severe strictures on their scandalous behaviour, -and withdrew, sir, from the connexion.</p> - -<p>"I must remark, sir, that about three years<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> -before this event (ah, sir! that was a soft -period of my life), I took unto myself an accomplished -lady as the wife of my bosom. I -had been at great pains and expense, sir, to -consolidate our comfort in a nice little box at -Brixton; and had been blessed, sir, with two -of our dear children. About this time the -fame of the Australian <i>El Dorado</i> had spread -far and wide; and, after my rupture with -my relatives, I was easily allured, sir, from -my peaceful hearth to seek my fortune in -this land of promise; I say a land of promise, -sir, but I impugn not its fair name when -I add that if it ever was one to me, it -failed to fulfil its obligations. I fear, sir, I -am tedious," said Mr. Billing, breaking off -in his discourse, "for this is a theme I feel -I can dilate on;" but being assured by his -companion that he was by no means tiresome, -he continued: "I told you, sir, that I had -taken great pains and expense to furnish my -house at Brixton; and I felt a reluctance to -submit it to the hammer, and to sever myself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> -and family from the blissful fireside of our -English home. However, sir, avarice is strong -in the minds of mortals; and visions of antipodean -wealth decided my fate, and caused the -sacrifice of my contented home on the altar of -Plutus. I had heard that the difficulties of the -diggings were insuperable to genteel aspirants -after gold; and I, therefore, determined, sir, -to be wise in my own generation, and, instead -of digging for the precious metal, to open an -establishment where I could procure it, sir, by -vending articles of every-day use. For this -purpose, sir, I invested my capital in stock of -which I had had practical experience, that is, -in combs and brushes; conjecturing, sir, that -they would be articles which most speculators -would overlook, and, consequently, be in great -demand. In due time, sir, I arrived in the -colony with my goods, and lost not a moment -unnecessarily in repairing to the diggings. I -need not recount, sir, the many difficulties -which beset my path; I believe they were -common to all in similar circumstances; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> -you, are no doubt, sir, sufficiently acquainted -with such scenes yourself. Suffice it to say, -sir, that eventually I reached my destination, -and discovered, as we would say in mercantile -parlance, that my goods had arrived to a bad -market. I assure, you, sir, the horrid creatures -who congregated at those diggings, notwithstanding -that their heads were perfect masses -of hair, disdained, yes, absolutely disdained, -sir, the use of my wares.</p> - -<p>"I then asked myself what was to be done; -and while meditating on a reply, sir, a viper -was at hand to tempt me to my ruin. A -plausible, well-spoken gentleman, sir, introduced -himself to me as a Mr. Black; and -proposed that as my goods were of no value -on the diggings, but were very saleable in -Melbourne, I should take them back and commence -business there. He at the same time -remarked, sir, that to commence business it -would be essential for me to have 'colonial -experience;' and doubting if I possessed such -an acquirement, he, therefore, begged, sir, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> -offer his services. He, in fact proposed that -he should join me in the undertaking; stating, -sir, that through his general knowledge of -business, he was convinced that the speculation -would succeed; and suggested that we -should at once proceed to Melbourne, sir, -with my goods. He would embark, he said, -his capital in the concern, and purchase an -assortment of goods for a general business, -which we were to carry on under the name -and style of 'Black and Billing.' This he -facetiously made the subject of a witticism, -by remarking that it would be rendered into -'Black Billy'<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> by the diggers when they -visited town; and would of a certainty -ensure our success. I must confess, sir, I was -taken in by the scoundrel's wiles, and readily -entered into his scheme; the result of which -is easily related. With the expense of carrying -my goods and myself backwards and forwards -from the diggings, my spare cash was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> -all but expended; and when, sir, I rejoined -Mrs. Billing, whom I had left behind me, sir, -in Melbourne, until I should have become -settled, I found myself almost penniless. -However, sir, although I'm a man of small -stature, I am possessed of considerable energy -and, therefore, sir, set myself earnestly to -work. I soon procured a shop, though with -miserable accommodation, and at an enormous -rental; but my partner assured me it was no -matter, as we would soon reap our harvest. I -got my goods, sir, into the place, and shortly -afterwards my partner procured an extensive -assortment also; when we commenced our -business, as I thought, under very favourable -auspices. But I soon discovered my mistake; -for one fine morning I found Mr. Black had decamped -with all the money of the concern, after -converting as many of the goods into gold as -he could. I then discovered, sir, that the stock -he had procured was upon credit, on the -strength of that which I had in the place at -the time; and finding his defalcations were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> -greater than I could possibly meet, and my -creditors being fearful that I would follow -his example, I was compelled to relinquish -my property to liquidate their claims. I -then, sir, found myself not only destitute, but -homeless; with my wife and children dependent -upon me for their subsistence.</p> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> -A name applied by the diggers to the tin pot in which they -boil their water, as also to black hats.</p></div> - -<p>"I managed, sir, however, to procure employment -by driving a cart; and, after saving -sufficient money, succeeded in getting round -to Sydney, where my wife, sir, had relations. -They, sir, promised me assistance, and after a -short interval fulfilled their promise by establishing -me in a store at Armidale; where I got -on, sir, pretty well, and would have succeeded, -but for the chicanery of some scoundrels, -sir, by whom I lost considerably, and was a -second time reduced to labour for a support. -Through various vicissitudes, sir, I have come -to this, and, you may well imagine, that a -man of my sensitive feeling and appreciation -of honour, in this menial capacity meets with -nothing but disgust and mortification. But,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> -sir, I do not repine; however dark is the -horizon of my fate, despair does not enter my -mind; the clouds of depression must necessarily -some day be removed; and then, sir, the -sun of my future will burst forth with a -refulgence, the more resplendent from its -previous concealment. I desire, sir, in fact -it is the fondest wish of my heart, to return to -Old England; but at present that cannot be, -for means, sir, are wanting; the all potent -needful is required; money, sir. But things -must improve, they cannot last for ever thus; -to think that I, a gentleman, and Mrs. Billing -a gentlewoman, should waste our very -existence, sir, in this wilderness; banished, -sir, from the very intercourse of man; expatriated, -sir, from all we hold most dear, and, -forsaken, sir, by the society whence we are -ostracized. The thought, sir, is harrowing; -yes, sir, harrowing beyond measure."</p> - -<p>Mr. Billing was now getting pathetic and -rather lachrymose; and his confessions might -have become of a confidential, and a painful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> -nature, had they not, very much to the relief -of our hero, been cut short by the opportune entrance -of Mr. Rainsfield, who, when Mr. Billing -had left the room, addressed himself to John:</p> - -<p>"I must apologize for keeping you waiting, -Mr. Ferguson, but I was engaged at the -moment I heard of your call; and I thought -by your meeting me here it would save you -from that pain which, otherwise, your visit -might have occasioned you, after the circumstances -which transpired when you last -favoured us with your company."</p> - -<p>"I am particularly indebted to you for -your solicitation," replied John; "but I may -remark, I had sufficient confidence in myself -to feel assured that I would have neither -received, nor given any pain in the manner in -which I presume you mean. And I may also -state that, but for the desire I had to give -you some information that may be of vital -importance to you, I would have disdained -your bidding."</p> - -<p>"Then, may I beg to know the object of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> -your call," enquired Rainsfield.</p> - -<p>"I have two," replied John, "first I have -been informed by one of my black boys that -you severely maltreated him; and considering -myself aggrieved by the act, as it was the -means of depriving me of his services, I beg -you to explain the cause for so unwarrantable -a procedure."</p> - -<p>"I justify my acts to no man," exclaimed -Rainsfield, "and recognise no blacks as others -than members of their general community; -who take upon themselves to perform various -acts of aggression. The laws of our country -not being potent enough to protect us from -their marauding, we do it ourselves; and if -you think fit to gainsay our right, you know -what course to pursue; and now, sir, for your -second object."</p> - -<p>"I might with equal justice," said John, -"decline to afford you the information I by -accident obtained, but I have no desire to -show such churlishness, and I believe that by -judiciously acting upon it, you may save<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> -yourself from some calamity; which I have -good cause to believe is impending. My two -black boys who left me after your assault on -one of them, and who were only persuaded to -return after their great corroboree by my -conciliating their chief, have informed me, in -an imperfect manner, that some overt act of -aggression, on the part of the tribe, is meditated; -and it is to put you on your guard -against this that I have ventured to trouble -you with my presence."</p> - -<p>"Then it was at that corroboree on the -spoliation of my property that you heard -this?" exclaimed Rainsfield. "My goods were -purloined to feast those imps of darkness, and -you lent your presence to grace their proceedings? -I always thought you encouraged the -villains in their infamies, and I now perceive -my suspicions were well founded. However, -sir, I am perfectly independent of you, and -your so called information. I have decided -upon my course of action, and will not therefore -trouble you further to interest yourself in my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> -behalf. You will no doubt readily perceive -that your presence here at any time would be -extremely unpleasant; and I must therefore -request that you absent yourself from my -house as much as possible. I shall now wish -you good day;" saying which Rainsfield -quitted the room.</p> - -<p>John Ferguson was so taken by surprise -at the violent tirade he had just listened to, -that he had had no idea of defending himself -from an accusation, the manifest absurdity of -which merely struck him as contemptuous. -But he felt a source of grief at being summarily -estranged from the other members of -the family; and whatever his feelings had -been when he came to the station, he left it -with a heavy heart, and returned home to -meet the cavalcade, which we have seen in a -previous chapter had gone over.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"I have it, it is engender'd: hell and night</div> -<div class="line">Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Othello</span>, <i>Act</i> 1, <i>Sc.</i> 3.</div> -</div> - - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"Then should I know you by description;</div> -<div class="line">Such garments and such years."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">As you like it</span>, <i>Act</i> 5, <i>Sc.</i> 3. -</div> - -<p>Despite his professed contempt for John -Ferguson's information Mr. Rainsfield felt an -uneasy apprehension at the growing confidence, -and contumacious freedom of the -blacks. He even began to doubt if he would -be able to maintain his position single-handed -against them, and thought seriously of the -advisableness of calling a meeting of the -surrounding settlers, to organize a league for -their mutual protection. But then he remembered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> -the blacks directed all their -<i>animus</i> against himself, and it was therefore -questionable, he imagined, if he could induce -more than two or three of his neighbours -to join him; besides which, even they could -not constantly be on the alert; while he must, -consequently, be frequently open to surprisal. -A thought, however, struck him, or rather we -should have said, a diabolical idea suggested -itself to his mind; and, after cogitating and -arguing with himself for some time, he determined -to act upon it.</p> - -<p>The pestilence, so he mentally soliloquized, -had now reached its height, and something -must be done; for he was not only robbed of -his station supplies, but he was frequently -losing even cattle; while, instead of seeing -any prospect of amendment, he only perceived -that the successes of his despoilers were -emboldening them to fresh adventures. He -knew that an application to the government -for protection was absolutely useless; for -they hadn't it to give. It is true he might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> -stir the district to agitate the settlement of a -native police detachment in that quarter; but -he also knew, even if he succeeded in obtaining -such a location, that the force would be -necessarily so miserably small as to be perfectly -inadequate to the contingencies. (Possibly -three or four men stationed in the centre -of fifty square miles to protect the scattered -population against as many hundred savages.) -The idea was preposterous, and he scouted it. -No, he thought, he must depend upon himself -for protection, and would therefore adopt a -line of policy that would check, if not -annihilate, the nuisance; while the exigencies -of the case would justify him in his measures. -Such, then, were the thoughts that passed -through the mind of Mr. Rainsfield after his -interview with our hero.</p> - -<p>He returned to Mr. Billing's cottage after -John Ferguson's departure, and accosted his -<i>employé</i> in his blandest and most suasive -manner. "Mr. Billing," said he, "I am about -to enter upon a crusade against the native<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> -dogs, which I find are becoming very troublesome -to the sheep in the upper part of the -run; and, to effectually destroy them, I intend -to poison some carcasses to be left for -them to make a meal of. I would therefore -like you to ride over to Alma, and explain -the matter to Mr. Gilbert, the storekeeper -there; and procure for me a supply of -strychnine and arsenic. I would not trouble -you, but you are aware that he would not -give it to a shepherd without a request from -me; and it is hardly safe to send any of the -men. I would be particularly obliged to you -if you would undertake the task, as I can -confidently depend upon your judgment to -prevent any mistake."</p> - -<p>This little piece of what the Yankees would -designate "soft sawder" on the part of Rainsfield, -had the effect, not only of removing any -objections his diminutive confidential might -have had to such a journey, but of inducing -him to acknowledge the compliment in a series -of corporeal oscillations; while he replied to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> -the blandishment, in the following strain: "It -would afford me, sir, the greatest earthly -pleasure to comply with your wishes; even -to the considerable personal inconvenience, -sir, and bodily suffering of your humble servant; -but you must be aware equestrianism -sir, is an accomplishment I never deemed it -necessary to acquire. During my mercantile -career, sir, I was reputed, and I think I may -add justly too, sir, one of the best amateur -whips in the city of London; and had my -transit, sir, to be effected by a vehicular means, -I flatter myself, sir, none could accomplish the -mission better."</p> - -<p>"That I am convinced of," replied Mr. -Rainsfield; "but I fear, Mr. Billing, I shall -have to defer the pleasure of witnessing your -skill in handling the ribbons until I am -induced, by the existence of roads, to treat -myself and my family to the luxury of a carriage. -But, with regard to the journey I have -mentioned, I can provide you with a quiet -horse; and I have no doubt a man of your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> -various accomplishments will find no difficulty -in adding to them the art of riding. In fact, -unless you had mentioned it, I would never -have imagined but that you were a perfect -equestrian; your stature and figure are just -such as would show to best advantage on -horseback; and, with the constant opportunities -which present themselves here, I really -am surprised that you don't ride. You know -'it is never too late to mend;' so you must -really permit me to persuade you (irrespective -of this journey) to commence at once -practising the art, and take a regular course -of riding. I am convinced you will not only -find it pleasant, but beneficial to your health."</p> - -<p>"I appreciate your kindness, sir," replied -the little man. "As you say, it is never too -late to mend, and I really think, sir, it is -ridiculous that I should not be able to ride; -but the fact is, to be candid, sir, I have always -dreaded the first lesson."</p> - -<p>"There is really nothing to fear, Mr. Billing," -said Rainsfield. "You will find, once on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> -your horse, riding will come natural to you; -the only inconvenience you will experience is -being at first a little stiff after it."</p> - -<p>"When would you desire me to start, if I -took this journey?" enquired the would be -equestrian.</p> - -<p>"Well, I should prefer it at once," replied -his tempter. "If you were to start within -half an hour you would have at least six hours -of daylight; and the distance is only about -twenty-five miles, so you could reach the town -at your leisure before dark, and return to-morrow."</p> - -<p>"I have decided then, sir," exclaimed Mr. -Billing; "you may command my services, and -I will be at your disposal before the expiration -of half an hour."</p> - -<p>"That's right, Mr. Billing," replied his -superior; "and I'll get a horse in from the -paddock for you; and by the way, will you -just leave the keys of the store with Mrs. Billing. -When you are away I purpose removing -all the stores into the house, and have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> -prepared a room for their reception; so if our -black visitors should favour us with a call -during your absence they will find themselves -disappointed."</p> - -<p>"Most assuredly, sir, as you desire," replied -the quondam commercial; "I will hand the -badges of my office into your hands myself, -to prevent, sir, the possibility of any mistake:" -saying which the two separated; Mr. Billing -filed with the importance of his mission, to -communicate it to his wife, and obtain her aid -in a speedy preparation for his hazardous -journey; and his employer, with a complaisant -smile of satisfaction on his features, to give -instructions for the immediate capture of a -steed.</p> - -<p>Within the specified time an animal was -brought by Mr. Rainsfield up to the door of -Mr. Billing's abode duly caparisoned for the -journey, and with an old valise strapped upon -the saddle. At the same time the adventurous -storekeeper also made his appearance; having -undergone by the careful assiduity of his wife<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> -a perfect transmutation. On his head stood -erect a black cylindrical deformity, designated -in the vulgar parlance of the colony "a Billy," -but which he, while he smiled benignly at the -ignorance of the <i>canaille</i> (as he gave it the -extra rotary flourish of the brush, while he -read "Christy's best London make" in the -crown), called a hat; and the only proper -head-dress for a gentleman. He was encompassed -in a coat of the gigantic order, possessed -of many pockets; a garment truly -noble to look upon, and one that had done -service to its owner in days of yore; when on -cold and wet mornings Mr. Billing nestled -himself in his wonted position in the Brixton -'bus, to be conveyed to his diurnal bustle in -the city. In this habiliment evidences of an -affectionate wife's forethought were visible in -the protrusion from the pockets of sundry -pieces of paper, denoting the occupation of -those receptacles by certain parcels; the -contents of which, should the reader be -anxious to know, we are in a position to disclose.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the lower pocket on the right hand side, -we are enabled from our information (which is -from the most reliable source) to inform the -curious, was a parcel (thrust by Mrs. Billing -with her own hands) enclosing two garments, -of a spotless purity, essential for a gentleman's -nocturnal comfort. In the contemporary -pouch was a package of humbler pretensions, -containing sundries to appease a traveller's -appetite; while in another was deposited that -necessary paraphernalia for a morning's toilet, -embraced in the apparatus known as a "gentleman's -travelling companion." His legs were -encased in trousers that had been brought -specially to the light. They were of a questionable -colour, something between that of -kippered salmon and hard bake; and were -strapped down to his feet with such powerful -tension that he was threatened every moment -with a mishap most awkward in its consequences. -When he walked he effected the -exercise with a sprightliness that appeared as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> -if galvanic agency was that which had set his -nether limbs in motion; and his feet started -from the ground at every step with a spring -that promised at each evolution the protrusion -of some part of his crural members.</p> - -<p>In this perfect costume Mr. Billing considered -himself adjusted for the road; and -construing the smile of amusement that played -on the features of Mr. Rainsfield as a mark of -affability returned it in his most winning -style.</p> - -<p>The horse provided for this Gilpin excursion -was an animal of no mean pretensions. He -boasted of having in his veins some of the -best blood of the country, though, now perhaps, -that blood was somewhat vapid, and he rather -patriarchal. He had served many masters, -and performed various duties; from racing to -filling the equivocal position of a station and -stockman's hack. Though once possessed of -a spirit that required a strong arm and determined -will to maintain a mastery over, he -was now as quiet and subdued as a lamb; although<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> -he was as sagacious as most of his -riders, and as knowing as any "old hoss" in -the country. He had settled into an easy-going -stager, that neither persuasion nor force -could induce to deviate from the "even tenor -of his way;" while his general appearance, at -this stage of his life, was long-legged, raw-boned, -lean and screwed, with the additional -embellishment of being minus his near eye.</p> - -<p>Mr. Billing surveyed the beast that was to -carry him to Alma with about the same comprehension -as a ploughman would contemplate -a steam engine; while the horse returned the -gaze from the corner of his sound eye, and -winked in a manner that might have been -interpreted into a request "to wait until he -got him on his back." Mr. Billing, however, -was perfectly unacquainted with the significance -of his horse's looks, and perhaps well for -him that he was; for we are convinced, had -he known what was in store for him, he would -never have risked his valuable person and life -on the back of so perverse a dispositioned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> -animal. We have heard that an inclination -of the head is equivalent to the closing of one -eye to a quadruped whose ocular organs are in -a state of total derangement; and we therefore -presume that the momentary stultification of -our quadruped's vision had the same effect -upon our Cockney-born viator as the craniological -recognition mentioned in the aphorism -would have had on his horse. Consequently, -he was in blissful ignorance of the trials that -awaited him; and, under the directions of Mr. -Rainsfield, he prepared to mount with an -alacrity which he prided himself as pertaining -to a "city man of business," and which he -still retained in his animated anatomy.</p> - -<p>For some time he experienced considerable -difficulty, in fact he found it absolutely impossible, -to so far stretch his limbs as to get -one leg high enough from the ground to -reach the stirrup; and not until, at the -suggestion of his highly-amused employer, his -loving spouse produced a chair from the -cottage, had he any prospect of reaching the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> -saddle. However, being elevated by the chair, -he made a bound on to the back of the steed, -but unfortunately with too great an impetus; -for he lost his equilibrium in attempting to -gain his seat, and measured his length on the -ground. This mishap tended to cast a gloom -upon his spirits, but he was soon rallied by -Mr. Rainsfield, who told him he would be all -right when once in his saddle and on the -road. Upon a second attempt he exercised -more caution, with better success; and, as he -seated himself in his saddle bolt upright, he -gazed about him, and below him, with a proud -consciousness of the elegant symmetry of -himself and horse; and doubted not he would, -as he then stood, be a prize study for any -sculptor. His following remark will not -therefore be wondered at.</p> - -<p>"As you a few minutes ago affirmed, sir, -now that I am possessed of my seat, I do feel -myself all right. I experience, sir, a confidence -in myself that, if called upon, I could do -any equestrian prodigy, even to eclipse the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> -stupendous leap of Martius Curtius; or to -perform, sir, any other feat that my destiny -may decree."</p> - -<p>"I am equally confident in your abilities, -Mr. Billing," replied his master; "but I trust -they will never be put to so severe a test. I -will walk with you to where the roads to Alma -and Brompton diverge. It is not more than a -mile beyond the Wombi, so, though I can tell -you yours is the left hand road, I may as well -accompany you to the junction. From that -you will have no difficulty in keeping to the -track, if you just give the horse his head; for -he has been so used to the road that he will -know perfectly well where he has to go. You -will perceive I have strapped a valise on your -saddle; it is for you, when you procure the -poisons, to put them into it, and keep them -out of harm's way; while it will save you the -annoyance and trouble of carrying them."</p> - -<p>When they arrived at the spot where the -tracks separated Mr. Rainsfield parted from -his colleague; and looking after him for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> -few minutes, until he was lost from view by -a turn in the road, he burst into an inordinate -fit of laughter, and turned on his heel to -retrace his steps. After walking for some -time in abstracted silence, apparently absorbed -in deep meditation, he suddenly started with -the ejaculation, "Yes! by Jupiter, that'll stop -them. I expect they won't trouble me much -after that."</p> - -<p>But while we leave him to his cogitations -and silent walk, we will pursue Mr. Billing -and accompany him on his ride.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"His horse which never in that sort</div> -<div class="line">Had handled been before,</div> -<div class="line">What thing upon his back had got,</div> -<div class="line">Did wonder more and more."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Cowper</span></div> -</div></div> - -<p>When he departed from his master, as we -have described in the last chapter, Mr. Billing -went on his way with a joyful heart. But, -thinking the slow walking pace of his steed -might safely be improved upon; and also considering, -that if he could only prevail upon -the horse to walk a little faster, it would -facilitate his journey amazingly; he commenced -a series of exhortations that were excellent -adjuncts to the theory which advocates -the superiority of persuasion to the application<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> -of force, but extremely ineffective in -practice, when the subject is a quadruped of -rather a stubborn nature, and perfectly ignorant -of the vernacular in which he is addressed. -Thus, when Mr. Billing endeavoured to accelerate -the speed of his animal, by the utterance -of such pathetic and endearing appeals, as -"now, come along, poor old horsey;" "there's -a good old horse;" "ge up;" "now, don't be -angry" (as the beast showed signs of uneasiness); -"walk a little faster, like a good old -horse;" we say we would not have been surprised, -had the horse paid no more heed to -Mr. Billing's entreaties than we should be likely -to do, were we addressed in a lively asinine -interpellation, by one of those animals, whose -peculiar idiosyncrasies are proverbial. But, -strange to say in this case, the horse did notice -the requests of his rider. Whether he was an -animal of superior discernment, and detected -the wishes of Mr. Billing in the tone of that -gentleman's appeals; or, whether the intonation -sounded to his ears strange and novel,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> -and stimulated him with a desire to accommodate -the applicant; or, whether he himself -became anxious to reach his destination, to -realize his visions of a stable and a feed, we -cannot venture to say. But we simply record -the fact, that Mr. Billing's request to the "old -horse" was complied with; and the quadruped -went off in a step, which was an incongruous -mixture of a shambling walk, a canter, and -a trot.</p> - -<p>That fable of the frogs, who in answer to -their prayer for a king, obtained a carnivorous -monarch of the aves genus, has no doubt -been forcibly impressed on the memories of -our readers during their scholastic probation. -They will readily, then, understand the feelings -of Mr. Billing, when he imprecated his rashness -for disturbing the equanimity of his -horse's pace; and we are convinced that the -animals in the apologue never prayed more -fervently for a discontinuance of their visitation -than he did for an alleviation of his -misery. All his "woa's," and "stop old horse's,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> -were perfectly unavailing; the quadruped -proceeded without the slightest notice, and -with the greatest unconcern. But the torment -to the biped was dreadful. What was -he to do? He had uttered the talismanic syllable, -that had called up the spirit; while he -was not possessed of the power to exorcise it. -His agony of body, was only equalled by that -of his mind. He remembered Mr. Rainsfield -had said the animal never went out of one -step; and if that in which he then was should -be the step, which he would of a necessity -continue during the whole of the journey, -what would become of him? The thought was -horrible and insuperable; but he, Mr. Billing, -the quondam pride of Thames Street, could -not answer it; and in a stoical distress of -mind he gave vent to a sigh, which seemed to -jolt out by inches the centre of his little -fastidious anatomy. He a thousand times -wished himself back again, safe alongside the -partner of his bosom; when no power on -earth should persuade him to submit again to -so ignoble a position and spectacle, as a ride<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> -on horseback. But something must be done, -he thought; for as the horse proceeded in his -jogging step, so did Mr. Billing continue to be -battered by his jolting.</p> - -<p>The unfortunate equestrian was a perfect -picture of distress. At every step of the -animal, he was almost bounded from his seat. -He could not speak, for the breath was almost -shaken out of his body; while he dared not -look around for fear of losing his equilibrium. -He had also lost his hold of the bridle, which -he dropt on the horse's neck; while he seized -the pommel of the saddle for his further -security, with the air and grasp of a resolute -man who preferred even torture to the -indignity of being unseated.</p> - -<p>What Mr. Billing's appearance was, when -he was undergoing this ordeal, our readers -who have witnessed a first riding lesson can -easily imagine; and would, no doubt, were -they witnesses of the scene, be ready to laugh -at the victim's sufferings as we penitently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> -confess ourselves to have done. Our friend's -torture, however, continued as he turned over -in his mind the best means of obtaining relief. -If he should be so far fortunate as to meet -any one in the road who would kindly stop -the refractory animal, he thought, how grateful -he would be; but of that he feared there was -little chance. A thought, however, struck him -and suddenly illumined his perturbed spirit. -Why could he not stop him himself? It never -occurred to him before, but now he experienced -a gleam of hope; he thought, if he could but -pull the bridle, the animal would cease his -torturing career. But then how was he to -effect this? If he relinquished his hold, he -might lose his seat; however, he determined -to try, and, summoning all his energies to his -aid, he suddenly relaxed his grasp of the -saddle, seized the bridle, and gave it as violent -a tug as his strength would permit. His -object, however, was not gained; for in his -avidity to stop the horse he had pulled on the -one side of the bridle, and his Rosinante, instead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> -of slackening his speed to the desired -pace, turned his head and looked Cyclops-like -at his rider, in a way that said as plainly as -looks could: "What is it you want?" But -we have already stated that Mr. Billing was -not versed in the significance of horse's looks, -so he understood it not; but continued to -tug with a violence that threatened his own -downfall, and the dislocation of the quadruped's -jaw.</p> - -<p>Servants, however industrious and painstaking, -may sometimes find it difficult with -petulant employers to ascertain the precise -wishes of their superiors; and not unfrequently -have we witnessed some truculent -master abusing his menials for an act, the -very nadir of which had previously met with -his disapprobation; leaving the abusees in a -state of doubt as to what really were the -desires of "the master." In the same way was -the horse in our narrative. He turned his -head in the direction indicated by Mr. Billing's -tug; and finding it still continued, he followed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> -with his whole body; and, possibly under the -impression that he was required to return -home in the same leisure trot, he commenced -a retrogression. That was not, however, what -his rider required, at least while his journey was -unaccomplished; for though, for his personal -comfort, he devoutly desired it, such a course -of action could not be thought of. Mr. Billing -was a man of honour, and volunteered to -perform the duty; had even pledged his -word; while his respected master had told -him that he relied upon his good judgment; -therefore, was such a confidence to be misplaced, -and his integrity to be called into -question? "Never!" Mr. Billing mentally -ejaculated; even if his life were to be sacrificed -in an expenditure of sighs. An imputation -of such a dereliction had never been -cast upon the name of Billing, and should he -be the first to disgrace the family? He -mentally replied with an emphatic and -forcible negative, and tugged away with increased -energy at the bridle he continued to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> -hold in his hand.</p> - -<p>It is needless to say the horse became bewildered -at the manœvering of his rider. He -had never experienced such treatment before, -and could not comprehend its meaning. He -stopped; the tugging continued. He turned -again, and the tugging ceased. He thus -discovered the desire of his director; and -being at the time somewhat accommodatingly -disposed, he proceeded at a snail-paced -ambulation. Our readers will have by this -time discovered that Mr. Billing's Rosinante -was an animal of rather a peculiar temperament; -and will therefore be prepared to hear -that, having gained some experience of the -style of individual on his back, he gave -evidences of a disposition which caused no -little uneasiness to the sensitive mind of the -Strawberry Hill Mercury. This highly to be -deprecated perversity, displayed itself in -various "little games" of his own, which -were performed with a degree of <i>nonchalance</i> -highly edifying to an admirer of coolness,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> -though extremely alarming to our friend. -Some of the most salient we may mention, -were, grazing in the bush at the side of the -track; rubbing himself against the trees; -taking erratic turns in search of water-holes; -and finally stopping altogether.</p> - -<p>This trial was worse than all, and brought -Mr. Billing's patience to a culminating point. -That the poor animal should desire a drink -he thought in no way extravagant; but to -coolly stand still, and decline any further -progression, was the height of assumption; -which even he could not tolerate. He therefore -grew importunate in his demands for -locomotion; and vibrated his legs like pendulums, -while he shouted in a voice that betrayed -anger. He again seized the bridle, -and tugged away with equal violence as before, -only varying the operation by pulling alternately, -one side, and the other. Under this, -or some unaccountable influence, the horse -regained his amiability, and returned to the -road; and, moreover, took the right direction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> -for Alma; which, though at a pace by no -means so fast as Mr. Billing could desire, yet -in one which he thought preferable to that, -the inconveniences of which he had had such -tangible proof. However, he now jogged on -at his leisure, and would doubtless have continued -to have done so without any further -adventure, had he not been disturbed from -his equanimity by the unmistakeable sounds -of an approaching bullock dray. The idea of -meeting this threw him into a perfect state -of perplexity, and he therefore thought of -getting off the track to allow it to pass; but -how to guide his perverse animal he knew -not. The sounds came nearer, but his horse -paid no attention to his admonitions; so, with -visions of being gored to death by bullocks, -he relinquished the contest with his animal, -and gave himself up for lost.</p> - -<p>The dray slowly dragged its course along, -and approached within sight of our adventurous -friend; when its companions, amused at -the figure before them, halted their team to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> -have a little conversation with one whose -appearance was truly enough to excite their -risibility. Mr. Billing's horse, in like manner, -aware that it was expected of him to halt, also -did so; and the individual, who officiated as -driver to the team, addressed the equestrian -in the following easy style of familiarity:</p> - -<p>"I say, mate, don't you think you'd better -get inside?"</p> - -<p>The force of this coarse joke was duly -appreciated by the utterer's travelling companions; -though it was entirely lost upon our -friend, who gazed in mute astonishment at his -questioner. While he indulges in this visual -inspection, we will crave permission to make -a slight digression, for the purpose of describing -the parties thus unceremoniously introduced -to the reader's notice.</p> - -<p>The driver of the dray, and the individual -who had addressed Mr. Billing, was a man of -ordinary stature; slight in make, and past -the meridian of life. His features were sharp; -his hair was tinged with gray; his eyes were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> -of the same colour, and somewhat sunken in -his head; on his chin and lip was hair of -about a week's growth, having very much the -appearance of a worn-out scrubbing brush, and -of quite as course a texture. He was clad in -the usual bushman's style, and carried the -long whip of his order. At his side walked a -young man, in appearance and manner a considerable -improvement on the old one; and -high upon the laden dray were perched two -females. One was an old dame with features -of the nut-cracker cast, and apparelled with an -evident desire to combine in her person all -the prismatic hues. Her more juvenile companion, -while emulating the same laudable -disposition, was certainly superior in looks to -her, in the same proportion as the young man -was to the old. The appearance of the whole -party was such as proclaimed them at once, -to the practised eye of Mr. Billing, to be of -a class having no pretensions to gentility; -though there was an air about them of careless -freedom and easy comfort that, to him, ill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> -accorded with their position. He had satisfied -himself on this point, by his scrutiny, when -he ventured to reply to the before mentioned -remark of the old man by making the -following observation:</p> - -<p>"May I be permitted, my good sir, to -enquire the nature of the expression you just -made use of? I presume you must have -spoken in metaphor."</p> - -<p>"Not a bit, old cock," replied the man, "I -guess I spoke in English. You didn't seem to -enjoy travelling that ere way, so I just axed -you if you'd get inside."</p> - -<p>"And pray, sir, what did you mean by -that?" asked Mr. Billing, whose choler began -to rise at what he considered the rude insolence -of his interrogator.</p> - -<p>"Oh! nothing," replied the young man, who -saw that their new acquaintance was likely to -be a little irascible, "my father was only -joking."</p> - -<p>"And pray, young man," said Mr. Billing, -"is not your father aware that it is a gross<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> -breach of decorum his attempting to pass his -jokes off on a gentleman? eh, sir?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly," replied the young fellow, "he -is quite aware of it, but he has got such a -way of joking with people that he does it all -the same with friends and strangers; and I -have no doubt he could not resist the temptation -of having a slap at you, when he saw -so elegant a rider and gentleman."</p> - -<p>This attempt of the young witling, while it -highly amused the various members of the -travelling menage, pacified Mr. Billing; who -failed to perceive any irony in it; and, addressing -the elder of the party with his usual -suavity, he said, "May I be so bold as to -enquire sir, the point of your destination? -As I am not aware of the expectation of any -one at our place, I presume you are bound for -our neighbours at Fern Vale?"</p> - -<p>"No, we ain't, old fellow," replied the party -addressed, "we are going to our own place, -t'other side of Fern Vale. I 'spose you don't -know us? My name's Sawyer, and this 'ere<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> -chap's my son: that there's my old woman -on the dray; and our gal alongside on her. -I've bought a run on the Gibson river, and -am going to settle on it now. So, as you know -all about us, take a 'ball,' and tell us who -you are." With which he handed to Mr. -Billing a bottle, containing some alcoholic -fluid; and took out his pipe which he inserted -between his teeth, and made to give -forth a whistling sound, to satisfy himself -upon the non-obstruction of the passage, preparatory -to replenishing it with the weed.</p> - -<p>Mr. Billing having smelt the contents of -the bottle, which had rather a rummy odour, -returned it to old Sawyer with the remark: -"You really must excuse me, sir, for I invariably -make it a rule to abstain from spirits in -the middle of the day, and never at any time -drink them raw."</p> - -<p>"We can give you water old 'bacca' -breeches, if you like it best that way," replied -Sawyer, sen.</p> - -<p>"Not any, I thank you," said Billing, "I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> -would prefer, I assure you, sir, to be excused; -at the same time I value your kind attention."</p> - -<p>"Well, here's luck to you, old feller," said -the other, as he took a pull at the bottle. -"I don't believe in watering grog, it spoils -good liquor. But I say, old cock, who are -you?"</p> - -<p>"I, sir," said Mr. Billing, not exactly relishing -this unceremonious style of questioning, -and with difficulty suppressing his indignant -ire, at being so vulgarly addressed by a low-minded -besotted man. "I, sir," he repeated, -"am Mr. James Billing of Strawberry Hill, -and late of the firm of Billing, Barlow, & Co., -of the city of London." He said this with -the air of a man who would strike his interrogator -with a sense of that forwardness that -could prompt so rude a query as that which -had been made by the head of the Sawyer -family; and as one resolved to maintain the -honour of his position, and claim that respect -which was due to him as the representative -of that class which is the acknowledged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> -source of England's greatness; viz., the mercantile -community.</p> - -<p>"I 'spect Strawberry Hill ain't yourn?" -said Sawyer, unmindful of the reproof conveyed -in the tone and language of Mr. Billing. -"I believe it belongs to a chap of the name -of Rainsfield, don't it?"</p> - -<p>"Mr. Rainsfield is the proprietor of the -station, sir," replied Billing, "and I am his -confidential assistant."</p> - -<p>"Oh, the 'Super?' I suppose," exclaimed -the other.</p> - -<p>"No, sir," replied our friend, "his accountant."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I see," cried the old man, as the nature -of his interlocutor's position flashed across -his mind, "the storekeeper, that's all, eh? -and where are you going now, mate?"</p> - -<p>"I can't see, sir," replied Mr. Billing, "how -that can interest you in the slightest degree. -I am not called upon to submit to your catechising; -you must be perfectly aware that -your questions are bordering on the impertinent;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> -and but that I am a man of peace, I -would resent your inquisitiveness, sir, as an -insult."</p> - -<p>"My father meant no offence, sir," said the -young man, while his parent gave vent to his -amusement in a prolonged whistle, "it is only -his way."</p> - -<p>"And a most unwarrantable way too, sir," -said the now irate commercial man.</p> - -<p>"You need not get your rag out, old fellow," -said the senior Sawyer, "if you can't -take a bit of chaff you oughtn't to live in the -bush."</p> - -<p>"Of that, sir, I'm the best judge," replied -the indignant Billing. "No man is justified -in offering chaff, as you call it, to a gentleman; -more especially when the parties are -perfect strangers. I made no rude and inquisitive -remarks to you; and am surprised -that you should have ventured to utter them -to me."</p> - -<p>"Well, old fellow," said the other, "I ain't -agoing to quarrel with you no how, so if you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> -don't mean to tell us where you're going, why, -you can just please yourself."</p> - -<p>"That, sir, I intend to do," replied Mr. Billing; -"so, if you have no further enquiries to -make, we may just as well part company."</p> - -<p>"All right, old chap," said Mr. Sawyer, -"we'll go;" and while he put his team in -motion, with his whip, he imparted a slight -titillation to the flanks of Mr. Billing's horse, -which caused that eccentric animal to go -off in the step most torturing to his rider, -amidst the united cachinnations of the Sawyer -family.</p> - -<p>Mr. Billing experienced a return of all his -former horrors; but his efforts this time to -reduce his horse to a tractable obedience were -fruitless; the animal persisted in keeping to -his own pace, notwithstanding the various -tugs, bridle sawings, admonitions, and solicitations -of our disconsolate equestrian. He was -fain at last to give up the contention, and -submit to his fate; and, be it mentioned to -his commendation, he bore his torture to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> -end of his journey with a degree of fortitude -perfectly astounding.</p> - -<p>It was night when the horse stopped in -front of the "Woolpack" inn, at Alma, and -well was it for Mr. Billing's sensitiveness that -it was so; for it saved him from the cruel -jeers and laughter of the unsympathising -ignoramuses who would have been sure to -have made his misfortunes a subject for merriment. -He was aroused from the abstraction -of his calm resignation by the cessation of -motion; and he perceived, with a lively joy, -that his troubles were for the time at an -end. How he got down from his saddle we -are as ignorant as he was himself; though we -can affirm that he scrambled off in such a -manner as to bring himself to the ground in -a prostrate position. Upon recovering from -his surprise, after carefully brushing the dust -from his apparel, he noticed that his horse, -who was apparently well acquainted with the -<i>locale</i> of the place, had entered the yard, and -was standing at the stable door, waiting with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> -an exemplary patience to be admitted. Leaving -him there, to be attended to by the proper -authority, our friend entered the house with -a step somewhat resembling the progression -which, is to be assumed, would be that of an -animated pair of compasses. He was met in -the passage of the hostel by an individual of -the masculine gender, who, with a sardonic -grin, asked him "if that 'ere 'oss what was -in the yard belonged to him;" and being -answered in the affirmative, and that the -repliant desired to be shown to the coffee-room, -and required supper and a bed, he remarked, -"I suppose you come from Mr. Rainsfield's? -I know'd his old 'oss the moment I seed -him, and he knows us as well as he does his -master."</p> - -<p>"Indeed!" replied Mr. Billing, "it's very -probable, my good fellow; but I have no desire -to enter into a discussion with you respecting -the merits or acquaintances of the animal. I -would be exceedingly obliged to you if you -would show me to my bed-room, and let me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> -have some supper as soon as possible."</p> - -<p>"I don't think you've been much used to a -riding of 'orses, sir," said the cool stable functionary, -as he eyed our travel-worn friend -from apex to base. But Mr. Billing was too -indignant to answer him. He really thought -that all the vagabonds in the country had -conspired to insult him, and he determined to -submit to their contumelies no longer; so, -turning round upon his questioner, with a look -of indignant scorn, he said:</p> - -<p>"I'll suffer no impertinence from you, sir, -and I have to request you'll refrain from -indulging in any further offensive remarks -and queries, sir. If you are the landlord of -this hostlery, sir, you are evidently unacquainted -with your business; and if you are -a servant in the establishment be good enough -to inform your master that I desire to speak -to him."</p> - -<p>"All right, sir," replied the man, "if you -want to see the gov'ner I'll tell him." Saying -which, the facetious servant took his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> -departure with an evident risible excitement.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes the landlord himself made -his appearance; and received Mr. Billing's -order, and complaint against the domestic, -with as much indifference as if they were -matters not worth noticing; and without -deigning any acknowledgment or reply beyond -that which he put to his visitor in the -following words.</p> - -<p>"Do you want anything to drink?"</p> - -<p>"Not at present, I thank you," replied the -urbane son of commerce; "I desire first to have -something to eat."</p> - -<p>"Oh! then you'll have to wait," replied the -landlord, "for we don't cook meals at this -time of night."</p> - -<p>"Well, my good friend," replied Mr. Billing, -"I don't wish to inconvenience you, and your -household; but I am perfectly voracious, and -desire something solid. I am not fastidious -and would be content with something cold, if -your larder contains such."</p> - -<p>"No, we ain't got nothing cold," replied the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> -master of the "Woolpack;" "we never keep it:" -and with a grunt this specimen of politeness -left the room.</p> - -<p>The unfortunate Mr. Billing was now subject -to another species of annoyance; and we -verily believe, had he not been the personification -of patience, he would have been perfectly -driven to distraction. Though shouts of -revelry, and indications of drinking, emanated -from the bar, he was not surprised or disturbed, -for he expected it; but he heard -sounds in the passage as of suppressed -laughter, accompanied by stifled expressions -in a strong Hibernian dialect. Whether the -utterance was by male or female, it was -difficult to conjecture; but Mr. Billing's -doubts (if he had had any on the subject) -were soon put to rest, for he plainly discerned -the frontispiece of a biped; which, by the -manner of arranging its natural scarlet covering, -plainly proclaimed itself as belonging -to the order of feminine. The features displayed -a broad grin; and an inquisitive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> -glance met that of our friend, as he stood -facing the door. The head was hastily -withdrawn when its owner perceived it had -been noticed; but a laugh succeeded its withdrawal, -and another cranium was protruded -into the aperture, and retired in its turn with -a laugh, to make way for another.</p> - -<p>Mr. Billing submitted to this scrutiny with -the assumed fortitude of a stoic; and attempted -to allay his rising ire, and deceive -his perturbed spirit, by whistling one of the -favourite airs from Norma. Now, Mr. Billing -prided himself upon the accomplishment -of whistling; for he did consider it an accomplishment, -notwithstanding that some people -call it vulgar. He had given it his study; -and when in the height of conviviality, when -he was at any time induced to favour his -friends with a specimen of his art, he would -throw his whole soul into the performance, -and remain an unconscious spectator of -passing events until the last note of his -Æolian melody died away amid the vociferous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> -plaudits of his friends. He therefore, on this -occasion, resolved to indulge in a little music -to save himself from a knowledge of the -annoyance of the menials' gaze, and to show -them his utter contempt both for them and -their unparalleled rudeness. With his eyes, -then, firmly fixed upon a cleanly-dispositioned -fly on the canvas ceiling of the room, as it -was going through various crural manipulations -on its cranium, he warbled forth a -stanza in his most enchanting strain; so -exquisitely sweet as to have softened the -hearts of heathens had they been present. -At least so says Congreve, in his oft-used -sentiment, such is the opiate influence of -phrygian chords on unsophisticated natures; -but in the auditory of Mr. Billing it was -otherwise. They possessed no taste for -music, and only greeted his performance with -screams of laughter.</p> - -<p>Human nature could not quietly submit to -this fresh indignity, and Mr. Billing advanced -with undisguised chagrin, and banged the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> -door upon the sounds of retreating merriment. -He was annoyed, disgusted, and ill at ease; -and mentally made a resolution to get out of -the place as speedily as possible, and never -to darken the door again. It was fully an -hour before his expected repast was put upon -the table; and with a disturbed spirit, and -body racked with pains of unutterable puissance, -he partook of his meal and early sought -the consolation of his pillow.</p> - -<p>On the following morning he habited and -arranged himself with punctilious neatness; -and waited upon Mr. Gilbert, the principal or -rather the only storekeeper in the town, for -the purpose of obtaining the articles required -by Mr. Rainsfield. Upon his procuring these -he arranged them in the valise prepared for -them, and settled his reckoning at the inn -previous to taking his departure. At his -desire the horse was brought to the door; -and, being provided with a chair, he effected -a mounting with less difficulty than on the -previous day. But his trials were not yet at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> -an end; for not only the whole inmates of -the Woolpack inn, but almost the entire -population of the township (some hundred -people), assembled <i>en masse</i> to witness the -start of the potent personage. The horse was -set in motion by an admonitory application of -a stick by one of the bystanders, which started -him off in the step which was the dread of -our friend; while he was hailed on all sides -with a deafening cheer and shouts of laughter, -which rung in his ears for some distance -on his journey.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"What dire offence from amorous causes springs,</div> -<div class="line">What mighty contests rise from trivial things."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Pope.</span></div> -</div> - -<p>We last left John Ferguson returning to -Fern Vale after his interview with Mr. Rainsfield; -and he had reached his home, and had -actually dismounted from his horse, before -the merry laugh of his sister roused him from -his reverie. When Kate and the rest of the -party had reached the house, they were surprised -to find John absent; the more so as -they were informed he had ridden over in -the morning to Strawberry Hill. They certainly -had not passed him on the road, and -they thought there was no probability of his -having been diverted from his purpose; they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> -therefore could not understand where he had -got to, though they agreed the best thing they -could do was to await his return.</p> - -<p>William had taken them all over the place, -and through the house that was only waiting -the arrival of the furniture, to claim its pretty -little visitor as its mistress; and the party -were just emerging from the building, when -Kate spied her brother John approaching, -apparently absorbed in deep thought, and -perfectly deaf to the sound of the voices of -herself and her friends. When she, however, -saw him alight from his horse, at the huts a -short distance off, and perceived that he was -perfectly abstracted, she could restrain her -spirits no longer, and ran laughingly to throw -herself in his arms. It was at this moment, -that John Ferguson was made alive to the -fact that his home had been honoured by the -visit of his friends; and he advanced to meet -his sister, and greeted her with a fond inosculation, -as a token of fraternal affection.</p> - -<p>We do not approve of the constant eduction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> -of scenes of affectionate union, where -the thoughts, contemplations, and utterances, -the spontaneous ebullitions of love, are dragged -before the gaze of all. We deem them at all -times too sacred to be made subject to the -comments and criticism of uninterested parties; -and therefore, in the case of Kate's -meeting with her brother, would beg to draw a -veil over the scene, and wait, in the resumption -of our apologue, until they join their friends.</p> - -<p>The various greetings and congratulations -were soon ended; and Tom Rainsfield commenced -the general conversation by asking of -his friend:</p> - -<p>"What on earth became of you, John? -When we arrived here we were told you had -gone over to our place; but you had not -been there before we left, and if you had -gone by the track we should have met. I -suppose you were emulated with a desire for -discovery, and attempted to find a short cut -through the bush, eh?"</p> - -<p>"No indeed," replied John, "I kept to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> -road; but, I imagine, I must have been at -Strawberry Hill just before you started, for, -as I was coming up to the house, I saw -saddled horses at the door. I was called in -by Mr. Billing as I was passing his cottage, -as he said he desired a little conversation with -me; so I presume that, owing to that circumstance, -I missed you."</p> - -<p>"What could have induced that inordinate -old humbug," continued Tom, "to have -drawn you into his den? I suppose to tell -you all about his family affairs."</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied John, "he certainly did treat -me to a long dissertation on his misfortunes -in life; the greatest of which was his coming -to the colony, and which appears, <i>prima facie</i>, -to be the head and front of his offending."</p> - -<p>"But didn't you ask for us?" enquired -Tom; "or did you see my brother? and did -he not tell you that we had gone over to your -place?"</p> - -<p>"I did see Mr. Rainsfield," said John, "but -to tell you the truth, I did not go up to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> -house."</p> - -<p>"And you didn't even ask for me?" enquired -Mrs. Rainsfield. "I could hardly have believed -in such thoughtlessness in any of my -friends, and especially in you. Pray, sir, will -you make some explanation? I am almost -inclined to be angry with you. But, as we -intend to retain possession of your sister for -some time, we shall demand of you, as penance; -a constant attendance upon us at 'The Hill.'"</p> - -<p>"I fear, my dear Mrs. Rainsfield," replied -John, "I must decline to enlighten you on my -remissness; and I am afraid also I shall prove -a refractory penitent; for, in the first place, -I think it highly improbable that I shall have -the pleasure of visiting Strawberry Hill again; -at least for a time. And I must take an early -opportunity of relieving you of the protection -of Kate."</p> - -<p>"What does the man mean?" exclaimed -his good-natured lady visitor, in mock astonishment. -"Am I to understand that you not -only refuse to come and see us, but that you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> -are churlish enough to desire to seclude your -sister with yourself in mutual confinement? -You are really becoming perfectly mysterious, -John Ferguson. I do not understand all this, -and must insist upon a solution. Tell me, -now," continued she, as she went smilingly -up to him, "what is it that makes you estrange -yourself from us, and studiously avoid our -society? I think I can read you better than -to ascribe it to that little fracas at our pic-nic."</p> - -<p>"I do not wish to pain you, my dear -madam," replied Ferguson, "by making an -explanation that I am confident will be extremely -disagreeable to you; rather let me -remain as I am, and retain your esteemed -friendship, and believe me I have good cause -for absenting myself from your house."</p> - -<p>"Nay, I will not be satisfied with that," -replied Mrs. Rainsfield, "you are only intensifying -my curiosity by endeavouring to evade -my demand; something has occurred, I am -sure, to make you so determined in your -avoidance of us; and I must know what it is.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> -If you decline enlightening me on the subject -I must seek information from Mr. Rainsfield, -or Eleanor; so you had better make a virtue -of necessity, and tell me at once."</p> - -<p>"I had much rather the subject had not -been broached," said John; "but, as you are -determined to know the cause of my elimination, -I suppose I must communicate what I -would sooner have buried in oblivion. It -appears that your husband has formed some -prejudice against me, the cause of which I am -unable to account for. I accidentally learnt -from my black boys that some espionage, in -connexion with your station, was meditated -by the Nungar tribe; and I took an early -opportunity of going over to Strawberry Hill -to apprise Mr. Rainsfield of the fact. He -received me with marked coolness, for what -reason I am at a loss to conjecture; and -actually accused me of exercising an incentive -influence over the tribe to his detriment. -I would willingly believe that he has formed -some misconception of my actions; but to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> -impute such a motive to me is simply ridiculous. -He loaded me with invective, and -wound up his inflammatory tirade by requesting -that I would discontinue my visits to his -house; and before I recovered from my surprise -I found myself alone; though, even if -he had remained, I question if I should have -succeeded in disabusing his mind, for he -seemed in no disposition to listen to reason. -I have no doubt but that he will very soon -discover his error; but until then, you will -perceive, Mrs. Rainsfield, it is utterly impossible -that I can pay my respects to you at -'The Hill;' and it would also, under the circumstances, -be highly inconsistent in Kate -stopping longer with you than can be -helped."</p> - -<p>"I am truly grieved," replied the lady, "to -hear of your rupture with my husband, Mr. -Ferguson; it gives me great pain, I can assure -you. I can't think he can be prejudiced -against you, for he always entertained the -highest esteem for you. It is possible he may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> -have formed some erroneous impression with -regard to those horrid blacks; but, whatever -is the cause of the ill feeling, I will endeavour -to dispel it; and have your friendship reestablished -upon the old footing. But, in the -meantime, it is impossible that you can take -Kate away from us; you can't put her into -an empty house, and you certainly would not -have the cruelty to lodge her in those huts of -yours. You must leave her with us, at least -until you have made a comfortable home for -her; and even then, I don't think the poor -girl will have a very enviable life, living in -seclusion, without a female near her."</p> - -<p>"I have already thought of that," replied -John, "and have hired a man and his wife; -the latter, who is a professed cook, will be -entirely under Kate's direction. Besides, our -little black fellow, Joey, whom we brought -from New England with us, is as useful, if not -more so, as half the female servants in the -country. So I think, on that score, we will -be able to make our sister perfectly comfortable."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> - -<p>"At all events," said Mrs. Rainsfield, "it is -understood you leave her with us until your -furniture arrives."</p> - -<p>"Very well," replied John, "I suppose it -must be so. I need not beg of you to refrain -from mentioning to any one in your house, -not even to Kate, that any unpleasantness -exists between our families; your own good -judgment will convince you of the non-necessity. -But suppose we join our friends, -for we appear to have wandered quite away -from them during our conversation;" and -John Ferguson, and Mrs. Rainsfield, returned -to the spot where the rest of the party stood.</p> - -<p>"Well, it is to be hoped you two are satisfied -with your 'confidential,'" remarked Tom, -as the parties thus addressed joined the -<i>menage</i>. "We were beginning to think you -were meditating an elopement, and were just -proposing giving you chase. We are agitating -the question of return. Miss Ferguson<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> -says she does not like this dreadful wilderness -of yours, John, and is anxious to get back to -Strawberry Hill, and within the bounds of -civilisation."</p> - -<p>"Oh, what a dreadful falsehood!" cried -Kate, "you know I never said such a thing; -for that I am half disposed to stop here at -once, and if I thought it would be any punishment -to you, I would. I am sure my brother -would make room for me if I desired it."</p> - -<p>"I offer an abject apology, my dear Miss -Ferguson," exclaimed the culprit; "we could -not dream of losing you now; so I will make -any reparation necessary to appease you."</p> - -<p>"Well, then behave yourself, sir, and adhere -to the truth," said Kate.</p> - -<p>"I think, my dear," said Mrs. Rainsfield, -"we really had better return, or it will be -dark before we get home; so if Tom did not -read your thoughts, his fib suggested an expediency." -Kate now took leave of her -brother; and Mrs. Rainsfield, she, and Tom -mounted their horses, and departed; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> -latter turning in his saddle as he left the -station, called out to John, "I'll be over in -the morning;" and the party were speedily -lost to sight.</p> - -<p>Mr. Wigton and the brothers turned into -the hut, and were soon engaged in a -conversation, which, though interesting to -themselves, it is unnecessary for us to follow. -Towards the close of the evening as they sat -before their hut, the brothers enjoying their -pipes over the fire that was boiling the water -for the infusion of the temperate beverage -that graced their board at the evening meal; -and while Joey, who officiated in the culinary -department, was preparing the repast in the -interior of the domicile, the dray that we -have met already on the road from Alma, -was seen to wind slowly off the face of the -ridge and down the vale to the creek that -ran through it. Here it stopped, while the -driver seemed to hold an altercation with his -companions, and appeared to be undecided -as to some course they were meditating.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Who are those people, William?" said -his brother. "Where on earth can they be -going? Just step down and see; for they -must surely have gone out of their way, and -find themselves now at a stand still."</p> - -<p>William walked down to the spot where -the dray had halted; and returned in a few -minutes with the information, that the travellers -were on their way to take possession of a -"run" one of the party had bought, on the -river below their own place, from Bob Smithers; -and stated that he had told the fellow -that he might camp where he was, and go -over and form his station on the following -day; he had also invited him to come up to -the hut in the evening and smoke his pipe, -which the man had promised to do. His -name, William said, was Sawyer; and he -appeared to be an individual who had not -been blessed with either much cultivation or -education. "He is," said William, "a regular -specimen of an old hand, and I expect has -seen much service."</p> - -<p>In the course of the evening Mr. Sawyer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> -made his appearance with his "old woman," -as he familiarly designated his wife, and -daughter. The family was unaltered in -appearance since we last introduced it to the -reader; and while the females took their -seats on two stools, provided for them by the -Fergusons, in a stiff and formal manner -which they intended for a distinguishing -mark of good breeding, the old man threw -himself down on the grass before the fire. -After collecting a few sticks, and throwing -them on himself, he lit his pipe with a "fire -stick," and commenced the following conversation; -which he continued between the -intervals of his smokey eructations.</p> - -<p>"I suppose you ain't been here long, mate," -said he, addressing John; "you look as if you -had newly settled, and the country here can't -have been long taken up."</p> - -<p>"It is true," replied John, "we have not -been resident here very long, not yet twelve -months. My brother tells me you have purchased -the block of country below us; may I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> -ask if you are about to stock it?"</p> - -<p>"Well, I ain't agoing to do nothing else. -You see I have got my dray down there with -my rations, and traps; and I am now going -over to fix upon a place for my station, and -put up some huts and yards. We have -bought our stock on the 'Downs,' and my -other son is there now, waiting for me to go -back, to be there while the sheep are drafted. -We must get a place up first to put the old -woman and the girl in, and then we will look -after the stock."</p> - -<p>"But," said William, "you surely are not -going to leave your wife and daughter alone, -while you go back to the Downs for your -flocks? It can't be your intention to leave -them unprotected, in this part of the bush? -Are you aware of the freedom of the blacks -here?"</p> - -<p>"No," replied Sawyer, "I don't know much -about the blacks in these parts; 'cos I ain't -seen much of them yet; but I know just -exactly what they were on the Hunter twenty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> -years ago; and I be sure they arn't worse -here than they were there; and my old -woman has had as much to do with them as -me. Do you think I am afraid to leave her -by herself? Lord bless you, sir; my word! -she is 'all there' to take care of herself; and -in her own house I'll back her against any -dozen white men and any fifty blacks."</p> - -<p>"You are quite at liberty," said John, "if -you like, after you have built your huts, to -leave your wife and daughter and your stores -and things here to await your own return."</p> - -<p>"I am obliged to you, young man," exclaimed -old Sawyer; "but I'd rather leave -them at our own station, and I reckon they -would rather stop there themselves; besides -if I built my huts, and then left them, the -blackguardly blacks would most likely burn -them."</p> - -<p>"Well, Mr. Sawyer, you can please yourself," -replied John, "but you are quite welcome to -make use of our place if you like."</p> - -<p>"All right, sir," replied he addressed, "I've<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> -no doubt; but you see I've no fear of my old -woman being alone, so I shall just leave her -to bide until I come back. Howsomdever we -shan't be long away, and I don't think I shall -be so lucky as to find, when I do come back, -that anybody has run away with her."</p> - -<p>"I trust, Mr. Sawyer," continued John, "you -may have no cause to reprehend yourself for -your confidence in your wife's ability to protect -herself and her daughter; and, if we can be -of any service to them, I trust you will make -no scruple in commanding us; for we desire to -live on terms of amity with our neighbours, and -it is essential to be mutually obliging at times."</p> - -<p>"In course, young fellow; you are a brick, -so give me your hand," cried the head of the -Sawyer family, as he started to his feet, "we -must have a nobbler on the strength of that;" -saying which he abstracted a bottle from the -breastine recesses of his garments, and handed -it to John, who called to Joey to bring some -pannikins and water.</p> - -<p>"I must apologize," said he, "for not offering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> -you a glass of grog myself before this; -but, to tell you the truth, we have not got -any on the station, and here we don't usually -drink it; but to keep you company, I don't -mind taking a small drop."</p> - -<p>The bottle was handed to Mr. Wigton, -William, and the women in succession; the -two former of whom declined, and the latter -partook; while the dispenser himself filled -out a jorum for his personal libation, and -drank success to himself, and the world -generally, in that comprehensive aphorism -which seemed to him to answer for all -occasions; viz., "here's luck." He felt disappointed, -however, when, upon a second -presentation of the "homiletical stimulator," -he found no one to join him, and he remarked -with an apparent degree of truth:</p> - -<p>"Why, I never did see fellers like you refuse -good liquor. I can't think how you can -do it; for my part, I'm blow'd if I ever do: -it's a sin."</p> - -<p>"Don't you think, my good man," said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> -Mr. Wigton, "it's rather a sin to indulge too -freely in its use? If you do not think so, -I can assure you that it is; to say nothing -of the moral degradation of the drunkard, -the lavish squandering of your means, and -the injury to your health."</p> - -<p>"Lor' bless you, sir," replied Sawyer, "I -never felt the worse of my liquor. I might -ha' been a bit drunk now and then, but what's -the odds of that? I get all right again in a -giffey; I wouldn't give a snuff for a fellow -that couldn't take his grog, and get drunk -now and then like other men. When I was -an overseer on the Hunter some years ago, a -mate of mine and me got two gallons of rum -up to my hut, to have a spree one night. -One of my fellows, who was an assigned 'un, -was a decent cove, though he never spoke to -the other men, 'cos he thought hisself a real -gent. Well I pitied this coon; and seeing -him that evening, I asked him if he'd come -up to my hut, and have 'a ball' or two with -us; but bless you, he flew into a pelter, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> -called us all sorts of names, because, he said, -we wanted to make beasts of ourselves; just -as if having a bit of a spree, was making of -beasts of ourselves, and as if we hadn't a right -to drink our own grog. Well, thinks I, you -are a chicken; but I lets him 'ave his own way; -and what do you think, sir? He took to bush-ranging -and was hanged. Now, do you think -he was better than me, for not getting drunk -that time?"</p> - -<p>"In his refusal, he certainly showed an -appreciation of right, whatever his previous -or after career may have been," replied Mr. -Wigton. "But, Mr. Sawyer, you must really -permit me to impress upon you the absolute -uselessness of drinking to excess; its sinfulness -I will be able to convince you of -afterwards. In the outset of your spree, as -you call it, you provide a stock of spirits, -which you lay yourself out to drink, uninterruptedly, -until it is finished. After the -first hour you become quite unconscious of -everything around you, while you continue<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> -to drink mechanically, without actually -knowing you are doing so, and certainly -without your palate experiencing any gratification. -So that the greater portion of the -spirits you have drank has been consumed -without affording you any satisfaction; in -fact, wasted; and your money thrown away. -Now, consider, what are the effects of this -spree? If you are of a good constitution, -and escape <i>delirium tremens</i>, are not your -sufferings still very acute? far more so than -to be commensurate to the wild excitement -of the debauch? You are sick, your head -seems every moment ready to split; you are -for days absolutely wretched and ill; and -not until your constitution works off the ill -effects of your dissipation do you recover -your wonted health; whereas, if you had -confined yourself to drinking your grog in -moderation, you would have enjoyed it for -a lengthened period, escaped all the unpleasant -symptoms I have mentioned, and -not injured your health; so you will perceive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> -that drunkenness is useless. I am well -aware that it is difficult to convince men such -as you, who like their grog, to such a belief; -but if you could only be induced to try abstinence -I have no doubt you would readily agree -with me, with regard to its sinfulness."</p> - -<p>"Oh, never mind that," cried Sawyer, "I -don't want to have no sermon; if I like to -buy grog, and drink it all at once, it don't -hurt nobody but me; and if I choose to do it, -why, it is my look out, and don't matter to -anybody else. But come along, old woman," -he continued, addressing his wife, "we must -be going down to our camp;" and turning -round to John, he said, "we left our boy -down with the dray, and he will be thinking -the time long without us."</p> - -<p>"I'll come over to you in the morning," said -William," I may be of some assistance to you, -as I have no doubt you will want to get up a -covering for the females as soon as possible."</p> - -<p>"All right, young man, we will be glad to -see you," replied Sawyer; saying which, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> -uttering a general "good night," that was -echoed by his accompanying helpmate and -progeny, he bent his steps towards the light -of his own fire; and was speedily lost in the -gloom.</p> - -<p>"I could have desired," said Mr. Wigton, as -the Sawyers departed, "more eligible neighbours -for you than those people, and should -recommend you, at the outset, not to permit -too much familiarity from them; nor to cultivate -a very close degree of acquaintanceship. -It is as well to preserve a good feeling as -neighbours; but for Kate's and your own -sakes I would recommend that you let them -understand at once, by your manner, that you -do not intend to admit them on an equality. -The example they would set to you all, especially -to your sister, I consider highly reprehensible; -and it is better to avoid at once the -possibility of contamination than discard it -when once the infection is made palpable."</p> - -<p>"I think with you," said John, "that they -are by no means desirable neighbours; and I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> -will certainly follow your advice. I did not -like the appearance of the people from the -first; and the offer I made them to remain -here I could not in common civility avoid; -however, I am happy they did not accept it, -and only regret that William should have -promised to go over to them."</p> - -<p>"Oh," said William, "I only want to learn -something of that man's history. I know his -life must have been an eventful one from the -few remarks he made while here. You may -believe me, otherwise I have no desire to -devote much of my time to his or his family's -society."</p> - -<p>"You are quite right William," said Mr. -Wigton; "but tell me," said he, turning to -John, "what arrangements have you made -for the reception of your sister? I see you -have got a very nice little cottage, but it will -surely take you some time to put things in -perfect order for her."</p> - -<p>"I expect," said John, "a dray up every -day with furniture, and the necessity utensils<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> -for the commencement of our housekeeping. -If anything is amiss we must fall back on -William, for he selected them. When they -arrive they shall be put in as good order as -possible; I have engaged a man and his wife, -and with the assistance of the latter, I think -Kate will get on swimmingly. She will have -very kind neighbours at Strawberry Hill, who -are extremely anxious to keep her with them; -and I am sure will be very attentive to her -when she settles herself with us. So I think, -so far, everything appears auspicious; though -I would considerably have preferred having -the house ready for her at once. To-day I -came to an open rupture with Rainsfield, and -he forbade me his house for the future; under -which circumstance I think it is hardly right -for one member of our family to be partaking -of his hospitality."</p> - -<p>"I am grieved to hear of your quarrel," -remarked Mr. Wigton; "how did it occur? is -it possible to heal the breach?"</p> - -<p>"Why, for my own part," said John, "it were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> -easy; but, judging from the animus displayed -by my opponent, I do not think it would be -readily accomplished. Mr. Rainsfield is under -the strange hallucination that I am influencing -the blacks in their depredations on him; -and when I called upon him, to put him upon -his guard against impending danger, he -attacked me with surprising virulence. I fear -the quarrel is irremediable, and I only now -desire to get Kate away; I have got every -thing here comfortably arranged for her, and -am only waiting for the furniture to complete -her home."</p> - -<p>"I think you are perfectly right," replied -the clergyman, "in your desire to bring your -sister under your own roof; though, I have -no doubt, she would desire to remain a short -time longer with the kind ladies whose friendship -she has been fortunate enough to secure. -But it is only proper that she should join you -when you complete your arrangements, in -which, I think you have certainly shown some -judicious management. I am sure Kate will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> -reward you by settling into a first-rate little -house-wife. She is a good, kind-hearted, affectionate -girl; and, from what I have witnessed, -I only think you will be speedily called upon -to part with her; for, you may depend, such -a treasure as she is will soon be discovered, -even in this remote spot."</p> - -<p>"I expect that will be the result of our -training," said John, laughingly; "but, if our -sister's happiness will be furthered by the -severance, I will be truly happy to make the -sacrifice; though I don't think we have much -fear of losing her for some time to come. But -tell us, my dear friend, about your own movements. -I trust you intend favouring us with -your company for some lengthened period."</p> - -<p>"I can remain with you for some little -time," replied Mr. Wigton, "perhaps a fortnight -or more; but next month I am expected -to be in Brisbane, and will, therefore, have to -leave you in time to reach town before the -middle of next month. I am particularly desirous -of having some interviews with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> -blacks of your neighbouring tribe, to endeavour, -if possible, to ameliorate their wretched -condition; and, if you have no objection, I -will get you to pilot me to their camp."</p> - -<p>"With all my heart," said John, "I am -quite at your service whenever you desire to -go, and I am sure William will join us too; -what do you say, Will?"</p> - -<p>"By all means," replied he, "I'll go over -with you, if you like, to-morrow afternoon, -when I return from those people below us. -You will have a good opportunity of speaking -to them, Mr. Wigton, as the greater part of -the tribe is assembled in the scrub just now."</p> - -<p>After making the best arrangements they -could for their visitor in their limited accommodation, -the brothers and their friend retired -for the night; and, on the following forenoon, -William mounted his horse and rode over to -the Sawyers' run, to satisfy his curiosity with -regard to the Sawyer paterfamilias.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word</div> -<div class="line">Would harrow up thy soul."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Hamlet,</span><i>Act 1. Sc. 5.</i></div> -</div> - -<p>William leisurely followed the track of the -Sawyers' dray for about an hour, when he -came up to their encampment, where they -had apparently fixed upon a spot for their -station. They must have been early in their -departure from Fern Vale, and industrious in -the interval; for, at the moment of William's -arrival, they had got up a tent, under which -they had placed the loading from their dray; -while, amongst the various packages, the fair -Hebe of the previous night was to be seen -busily plunging, tugging, and sorting. Already<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> -pegs were placed at various distances in -the ground to point out the boundaries for -their respective enclosures and establishments; -and a large tree lay stretched on the sward, -in the spot on which it had fallen when -succumbing to the axe of the younger Sawyer. -The paternal couple were engaged dissecting -the monster in sections of about nine longitudinal -feet, and were plying the cross-cut -saw with a will; while the son was driving an -iron wedge into one of the lengths, thus -dissected, to split it up into slabs for the -erection of their hut.</p> - -<p>William had approached close to this industrious -family, before their attention was -diverted from their work by a knowledge of -his presence; and the old man raising his -head from his stooping posture, as the saw -cut through the log, greeted him with a -"good morning," that was echoed by the -group.</p> - -<p>"There, old woman," said her husband, -"you can go help Mary Ann in the tent,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> -and I'll go on splitting with Reuben. Well, -young un," said he, turning to William, "yon -chap at your place, last night, I guess was a -parson; he wanted to give me a sermon, but -I didn't see it, so I cut it short; what does -he do there with you?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing," replied William, "he is merely -a friend of ours, and only came to the station -with me yesterday; he is a kind-hearted excellent -man, and I am sure whatever he would -have said to you would have been sound -advice."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I never doubt him," said the other, -"only I don't like those parsons, and never -get into any arguments with them; whatever -you say they twist so to suit their own ways -and sayings. Who would ever have thought -that he would have said that fellow, as I was -a talking of, was any better for a blackguarding -of me for offering him of my grog."</p> - -<p>"What were the particulars of that story?" -enquired William, "you did not tell us last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> -night."</p> - -<p>"Well, if you wants to hear it," replied -Sawyer, "I don't mind having a pull at my -pipe for a few minutes while I tell you."</p> - -<p>"I would like exceedingly to hear," replied -William. Whereupon the old man took his -seat upon the log he had been splitting; filled -his pipe and lit it; while Rueben was resting -on his maul, and William, who had affixed the -bridle of his horse to the stirrup, and allowed -him to graze about the spot, took his seat at -the old man's side. After ejecting from his -mouth a volume of smoke he commenced the -following narrative; which, for the sake of -perspicuity, we will take the liberty of clothing -in our own words.</p> - -<p>Old Sawyer was "an old lag," and had -been a long time in servitude (and afterwards -in freedom) on the Hunter river. During -the latter part of his career in that district -he had been pretty successful as a farmer, -and had accumulated some little means; but -agriculture, in his opinion, ceasing to be a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> -profitable occupation he had determined to -turn to squatting; and had consequently sold -his farm, and taken up the run on which he -was then settling. It is of his early career, -however, that we have at present to speak.</p> - -<p>At a primary era of his penal servitude -he was, in common with most of his class, -assigned to a master in the district in which -he was located; and, after a time, was made -by his master an overseer over the other -servants. Amongst those under his supervision, -were two young men who had held -some posts of trust in England, and either -from some fraudulent delinquencies, or culpable -dereliction of duty, had made themselves -amenable to the then stringent laws -of their country, and were transported to the -penal colony. They were both men of education -and gentlemanly bearing; and, from a -life in a clerical appointment, they were both -totally unused to manual labour, and unfit to -grapple with the trials of the convict discipline. -They were, consequently, awkward and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> -clumsy in the performance of their allotted -tasks; while their inability was construed, by -their truculent master, into perversity and -stubbornness; and he swore, by increased toil -and exactions, to break their gentlemanly -pride, as he termed their unskillfulness.</p> - -<p>The two young men were put on one occasion, -by the direction of the master, to fell some -large trees, and they were given a cross-cut -saw for the purpose; but on the first tree, on -which they tried their hands, they broke their -saw. As soon as the circumstance became -known to their employer, he sent them to the -magistrate; and had them sentenced to fifty -lashes each for insubordination; and, after the -execution of the sentence, to be sent back to -work. They returned to their work, but from -that moment they were altered men. The -crushing influence of the convict system had -done its work; they had undergone the -demoniacal transition; and two more victims -were added to that mass who breathed only -for vengeance on their tyrants. It was during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> -the period between this punishment, and the -accomplishment of their vengeance, that -Sawyer, who really pitied the poor fellows, -had given the bibulous invitation, and met -with the rebuff.</p> - -<p>Not long after this, the two convicts made -their escape, and took to the bush; which was -scoured for months, over an immense extent, -for their recovery, but ineffectually. Nothing -was heard of them for nearly two years, when -one, famished and emaciated, gave himself up -at the settlement; reported the death of his -companion; and confessed to the participation -in one of the most horrible crimes on record; -that which we are about to relate.</p> - -<p>About six months after the escape of himself -and his companion, when it was supposed -they had perished in the wilds of the bush, -the man whom we have mentioned as their -master was suddenly missed. Upon instituting -a search his body was found; but in -such as state of putrefaction, and presenting -such a hideous spectacle, that it was not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> -removed; but a hole dug at the spot where -it was discovered, and the remains, like any -other vile carcass, shovelled into its last -resting-place. The event at the time was -thought of little moment, as the man was -generally detested, and had no friends to -agitate the matter; so it was hardly conjectured -who were the perpetrators of his murder, -and not until the criminal himself had confessed -to the crime, were the authorities at all -acquainted with the matter.</p> - -<p>It appeared that the young men, when they -effected their escape, secreted themselves in -gullies and crevices of the rocks; only venturing -out in search of food during the darkness -of night. In this way they existed; enduring -the greatest privations, and living only -for the hope of revenge. They waited for the -opportunity that was to throw their victim -into their hands, with a patience worthy of a -better cause; and watched with an eagerness -and vigilance, almost perpetual, until the -happy moment arrived, and they possessed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> -themselves of the person of their late detested -master.</p> - -<p>He had been returning over-land from -Sydney, and was leisurely approaching the -settlements of the Hunter, when he was -espied by the convicts. Great was their joy -at this moment; though they knew, that even -now that he was within their reach, they -would experience great difficulty in securing -him; more especially, as they were convinced -he would be armed, while they were not. -However, they determined to risk their lives -in the attempt, for his death to them was -sweeter than the preservation of their own -lives.</p> - -<p>They secreted themselves, one on either -side of the road along which he had to go; -and, at the moment when he was just about -passing them, they simultaneously rushed -from their ambush; and, before he was hardly -aware of their presence, they had seized him -by the arms, dragged him from his horse, and -deprived him of the fire-arms he had had no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> -time to use. They then bound him, and led -him away into the bush, leaving his horse to -find its way home at pleasure.</p> - -<p>The captors, after pinioning the arms of -their victim, took him through the country, -over ranges and across gullies, into the recesses -of the bush, where they had taken up -their abode; not deigning to enter into any -conversation with him by the way. He, however, -treated his captivity lightly, imagining -that they were merely removing him from the -road, to give themselves a surer opportunity -of escape when they released him. He had -no doubt but that their object was simply to -rob him; and, by withdrawing him from the -chance of assistance, they were only securing -their retreat, in the event of his returning to -arrest them after regaining his liberty. He -was therefore consoling himself that he had -very little on him to lose; and would experience -very little difficulty in finding his -way to the settlement. Very different ideas -traversed the brains of his captors; though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> -they preserved a uniform taciturnity to his -jocular sallies; and, except that they well -guarded against the possibility of his escape, -they took not the slightest notice of him, and -treated him with the most marked contempt.</p> - -<p>After walking thus for about two hours, -they came to a deep gully, through which -rippled a small limpid creek; on the sides of -which, and extending up the faces of the -gorge, were masses of rock piled in endless -confusion. Here they halted, and having -secured their prisoner to a tree, while one lit -a fire, the other disappeared among the rocks, -and returned with some edibles, scanty in -quantity, and mean in quality. Having with -these appeased their hunger, and quenched -their thirst at the stream; they sat down by -the fire, and conversed together in a low tone; -protracting their conclave until darkness enclosed -the scene.</p> - -<p>The fears of the wretched victim were at -length aroused by these mysterious proceedings. -A horrible sensation crept over his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> -mind; he felt no doubt that the convicts were -holding a consultation as to how they would -dispose of him; and he entertained a secret -suspicion, that their object was not plunder, -but murder. He still, however, argued with -himself, that they could have no object in -taking his life, by which they would gain -nothing; whereas they might enrich themselves -by robbing or ransoming him. He -therefore attempted a parley to induce terms.</p> - -<p>"I say, young fellows," he shouted, "how -long are you going to keep me here? you may -as well take what I have got and let me go; -or if you demand a ransom, let me know the -amount, and provide me with pen and ink, -and I will give you a cheque on the bank in -Sydney."</p> - -<p>"Silence, wretched man!" replied one of -the convicts, advancing to him and presenting -one of his own pistols at his head, "or I'll -blow out your brains; we scorn to appropriate -an article belonging to you. Even these instruments -of death shall be left with you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> -when we leave you; we do not desire booty. -Your time has come, when you are called -upon to atone to man for your many iniquities: -and to-morrow you will have to account to -your God."</p> - -<p>"What! you surely do not mean to kill -me?" screamed the terrified captive, in a voice -that echoed in a thousand keys through the -cavernous glen: "what have I done to deserve -death from you? I have never wronged you -to my knowledge; if I have, I will make all -the reparation in my power; but spare my -life, and I will give you whatever you -demand."</p> - -<p>"'Tis useless, you dog," replied his inquisitors. -"If we desired plunder, we know you -too well to believe in promises, extracted -from you under such circumstances as these; -and we are also aware of the impossibility of -our procuring the ransom you may offer, or, -even if we got it, of enjoying it."</p> - -<p>"No, by heaven!" exclaimed the frantic -wretch, "I swear to you on my soul, spare me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> -my life, and I will give you whatever you -ask, one hundred, five hundred, or a thousand -pounds."</p> - -<p>"Your prayers to us," replied his captors, -"are of no avail, to-morrow you die; so in the -meantime, make your peace with your Maker, -if such be possible."</p> - -<p>"But why kill me?" screamed the agonized -man, "what have I done to deserve death?"</p> - -<p>"Wretch! do you want a recital of your -sins?" replied his quondam servant; "have -they been so insignificant that you cannot -call any to present recollection? Are they -not rather as numerous as the hairs on your -head? does not the black and heinous catalogue -rise before you, and darken your very -soul? You have asked us why you are to -die; I will tell you, and let God judge between -us whether your fate is not your just reward; -while you, vile reptile that you are, answer if -you can, if we have not just cause to require -your death to expiate your crimes.</p> - -<p>"How have you fulfilled the government<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> -requisitions to your assigned servants? How -have you fed them and clothed them? Have -not their coverings been such, as to be as bad -or worse than none? insufficient for any -season; causing paralysis in winter, and sun-strokes -in summer? Has not their food been -unfit for pigs? Have you not tyrannized over -them, and submitted them to unheard-of -cruelties; simply to gratify your insatiable -thirst for witnessing torture? Have you not, -when you had a willing servant, who was -anxious to conduct himself orderly and give -satisfaction, made some paltry excuse to have -the man punished; because you feared you -would lose his services, by his obtaining his -'ticket of leave,' for good conduct? Have -you not done all this? Yes! and more. You -have even compelled your men to intoxicate -themselves; and then accused them before a -magistrate of stealing the spirits, to obtain -the cancelling of their tickets. You have by -your cruelty driven men mad, to the bush, or -to a lingering death; you have crushed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> -germ of contrition in the breasts of hundreds, -and degraded them to the level of beasts; -while the only sounds grateful to your ears, -have been the yells of anguish of your victims; -and the only spectacle pleasing to your -sight, the application of the lash. You have -done all this, and even more in hundreds or -thousands of cases. You have done so to us; -you have heaped ignominy upon our heads; -and with starvation, exposure, and accumulated -toil, you have caused unjustly our backs -to be lacerated by the lash, and our spirits to -be broken by your barbarity. Life to us has -lost its charm; we thirst only for your blood; -vengeance is now in our hands, and you shall -die."</p> - -<p>The yells of the wretched man, that followed -this denouncement, sounded through -the glen as the shrieks of a demon or a -maniac; and his cries might have been heard -far into the bush, had there been any one near -to help him. But they were lost on the wilderness' -air; and he at last sank exhausted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> -in his bonds, while his captors watched alternately -at his feet, with his own loaded pistols -ready for use in case of emergency.</p> - -<p>The morning dawned as brightly as ever; -though the stillness of the bush cast a gloom -upon everything within its umbrageous influence. -The convicts were up and stirring by -daylight, and their first task was to arouse -their unconscious victim (who seemed to doze -in a lethargic indifference), and prepare him -for his approaching fate.</p> - -<p>He was speedily denuded of his attire, and -bound hand and foot; in which condition he -was laid over the bed of an ant's nest, and -tied by his extremities, in a state of tension, -to opposite trees; in such a manner as to -keep his body immoveable over the nest. -The wretched man soon awoke to the horrors -of his situation, and implored, with the -earnestness of a dying man, of his murderers -to save his life. But he appealed to feelings -and sympathies that were dead; that had, -in fact, been strangled by himself: it was in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> -vain. After the most desperate resistance he -was secured in his place of torture, while the -very skies rang with his cries of anguish and -despair.</p> - -<p>His body was no sooner prostrate on the -heap, than the ants in myriads attacked it -vigorously; in a few minutes making its -surface black with their swarms; penetrating -into his very flesh, and making use of -the natural channels to affect ingress to his -inner system; and travelling in continuous -streams in and out of his nostrils, ears, and -mouth. The horrors of the picture it is -impossible to describe; and the expression of -his features it is equally difficult to conceive. -The colour of his skin speedily changed to -deep blue; the veins and muscles stood out -in bold relief; his eyes projected from his -head, and rolled, bleared as they were, in -sockets of livid flesh; he gnashed his teeth -in his unutterable agony, and rent the air -with horrible and impious imprecations; -while the utterance was almost diabolical by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> -the vermin that choked the passages of his -system.</p> - -<p>No human being could long bear this -excruciating torture; and at last the body -perceptibly swelled, the cœliac or cavernous -parts becoming horribly distended, and the -spirit fled to its heavenly judgment. Not -till then, did the two calm spectators leave -the spot, where they had witnessed the death -of their victim, and where they now left -"nature's scavengers" to finish the work they -had commenced.</p> - -<p>The sufferings of the two convicts from -this time must have been fearful; for one -shortly succumbed to them, while the other -bearing it for some months longer, gave himself -up to the authorities, and met his fate on -the gallows.</p> - -<p>After the relation of the above tale of woe -the elder Sawyer and his son resumed their -work, and the conversation took a general -turn; while William, who found he could not -be of any service to the settlers, caught his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> -horse and took his leave.</p> - -<p>When he returned to his own place he -found that, during his absence, the expected -dray had arrived from town with their furniture, -which lay strewn on the ground, in -front of the cottage, where it had been discharged. -And he at once became busy in -unpacking and sorting the things; while his -brother superintended the refreighting of the -vehicle with what return loading they had -for it. The man and wife who had been -hired for them, and who had accompanied -the dray, busied themselves in arranging -the things in the cottage.</p> - -<p>The proposed visit to the blacks, by this -opportune arrival, was necessarily postponed; -and it was determined that William should, -that very afternoon, ride over to Strawberry -Hill; inform Kate of the orders of things; -and desire her to join them as soon as possible. -John impressed upon his brother the necessity -of urging Kate to lose no time, as the place -would be quite ready for her by the following<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> -day; and he did not think, under the existing -circumstances, it was consistent for her to -remain longer with the Rainsfields than was -absolutely necessary. "Of course," he said, -"Kate would be perfectly ignorant of the -rupture between myself and Mr. Rainsfield, -and might therefore battle against so speedy -and abrupt a termination to her visit." But -he left the matter, he told William, to himself -to manage, without entering into any -explanations to their sister, which would -necessarily be painful to all parties; besides -which, he had no doubt, when Mrs. Rainsfield -perceived it was his desire to have Kate home -with them, she would offer no objection to -her departure, as she would understand his -motive for desiring it.</p> - -<p>William was accordingly dispatched on the -errand; and returning in the evening, in -company with Tom Rainsfield, gave an account -of his diplomacy. As was anticipated -by the brothers, Kate could with difficulty be -persuaded to break off her engagement with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> -the Rainsfields; but that when she saw that -both her brothers desired it, and that she was -not pressed to prolong her visit, she reluctantly -acceded to her brother's request; and -promised to be ready to come over to Fern -Vale on the following morning. So William -had engaged to return for her the next day.</p> - -<p>"It is lucky for you, my fine friend," said -Tom, "that I was not at home, when you -persuaded your sister to such an ungracious -determination; for I, most assuredly, would -have annihilated you, and kept her in captivity. -It is really cruel just to leave her -with us sufficiently long to cause us all to -adore her; and then snatch her away from -us in such an unceremonious manner. What -on earth can you mean by carrying her off in -this way?"</p> - -<p>"Why," said John, "we are afraid of losing -sight of you altogether, Tom; you would have -forgotten us entirely while you retained -possession of our Kate; and besides we want -to make some use of our idle little sister. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> -tell us now, if you were not at home when -William was at your house, pray, where did -you spring from?"</p> - -<p>"I have been over to the black's camp, to -try and conciliate the rascals," replied Tom, -"but I am sorry to find they are death on my -brother for his treatment of them."</p> - -<p>"You seem to have agitated them by your -visit," said John, "for they have made a fearful -disturbance all the afternoon."</p> - -<p>"They were holding some discussion when -I arrived there," said Tom, "but they were -quieted upon my presenting myself."</p> - -<p>"They appear then only to have been -'called to order' by you," said John, "and -maintained it simply during your stay; for -did you ever hear such a Babel of voices as -are screaming now; it is enough to deafen -us even at this distance."</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well</div> -<div class="line">It were done quickly."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Macbeth</span>, <i>Act I, Sc. 6.</i></div> -</div> - -<p>When Mr. Rainsfield parted from Mr. -Billing, after escorting him to the junction of -the Alma and Brompton roads, he returned -home to carry out his contemplated arrangements; -in the concatenation of which, his -first step was to remove the stores from the -building used as a store to an apartment in -the house; and he had barely effected this, -before Tom, his wife, and Kate returned. -When the ladies retired in the evening Tom -asked his brother if John Ferguson had been -at Strawberry Hill in the morning; and how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> -it was that he had not been seen by any -other inmate of the house.</p> - -<p>Rainsfield replied that John Ferguson had -certainly been there in the morning; and -that the cause of his not having been seen by -the family was an interview that had taken -place between himself and Ferguson by which -he, Mr. Rainsfield, had learnt that the blacks -were meditating some fresh outrage; and he -would therefore be glad if Tom would undertake -a mission to them to mediate a pacification.</p> - -<p>Rainsfield was playing a deep and hazardous -game, and he felt it himself. Even to his -brother he had recourse to dissimulation to -blind or divert him from a perception of a -stratagem in which he was aware he could -not procure Tom's concurrence. He therefore -wished to get him out of the way while he -worked his diabolical machinations. He -knew that whatever the purpose of the blacks -might be, they would not be diverted by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> -the persuasion of Tom; and, as he naturally -conceived their object to be pilfering, he -intended to be perfectly prepared for them. -At the same time he wished none of his -own family to witness the preparations he -was making.</p> - -<p>"Very well," said Tom, "I will go to-morrow; -for, to tell you the truth, I have -myself thought for some time that they were -hatching some mischief; and my suspicions -were the more aroused when I witnessed, -along with John Ferguson, their last corroboree. -It struck me then, more than once, -that I heard your name uttered by them in -their song."</p> - -<p>"Were you then at the corroboree?" -enquired Rainsfield.</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Tom. "But tell me what -information John Ferguson imparted to you, -and how he obtained it."</p> - -<p>"Well, I can hardly tell you now," said -Rainsfield, "for I was so agitated at the time -that much of it was lost to me; but I believe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> -he said his blacks boys, who had returned -from the camp after the corroboree, had informed -him that the tribe intended something; -though what the exact nature of the meditated -aggression was, they were unable or unwilling -to explain."</p> - -<p>On the following day Rainsfield was -anxious to get Tom off before the arrival of -Billing, whose absence he had not perceived. -And he wished, if possible, to prevent the -necessity of accounting for the storekeeper's -journey to Alma; the very circumstance of -which, unusual as it was, he knew would -excite the wonder of Tom. While, if not -perfectly satisfied with his explanation, he -feared his brother might be induced to seek -further information from Mrs. Billing; whom -Rainsfield felt no doubt was a confident of -her husband, and acquainted with the object -of the journey, at least such object as was -assigned to it by himself. So he urged upon -Tom the advisableness of dispatch, to prevent -the blacks from carrying out their plans, if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> -they meditated anything that night.</p> - -<p>Tom promised to go about mid-day, or -early in the afternoon, and to stop with them -until late in the evening, so as to detain them, -if they meditated any outrage on the station, -from its execution; and about one o'clock he -took his departure, much to the relief of his -brother. Not long afterwards the horse that -was supposed to be carrying the burden of -Mr. Billing's body presented himself at the -door of the house, though minus his rider. -The valise was instantly removed by Mr. -Rainsfield, who perceived that the desired -articles were therein; and he then dispatched -one of his men, with the horse, to go back -and look for the missing equestrian; without -allowing the sensitive nerves of that doating -creature, the sharer of all his earthly troubles, -to be unnecessarily agitated by a knowledge -of her husband's abasement.</p> - -<p>The rider was not long in returning with -the lost representative of commerce, who had -in the agony of his motion, and in a futile<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> -effort to stop the career of his carrier, lost his -balance in his saddle, and described what in -skating counties is designated a "spread -eagle." He, however, found himself less hurt -than he at first anticipated, and he speedily -adopted a sensible resolution to make the best -progress he could on foot. While the horse, -after relieving himself of his encumbrance, -and getting beyond the reach of capture, -must have taken his leisure, for Mr. Billing -was no very great distance behind him.</p> - -<p>"Well, Mr. Billing," said his master, as that -individual addressed made his appearance in -a sorry plight, "how did you enjoy your -excursion to Alma? I am sorry to see you -have got thrown; I trust you have not hurt -yourself."</p> - -<p>"I am happy, sir, to assure you," replied -Mr. Billing, "that, through the gracious dispensation -of Providence, I have sustained no -osseous fractures; though, sir, I may add, my -mental agony, and bodily sufferings, have -been such as I never wish again to experience."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You must expect to have some inconvenience -in your first ride, Mr. Billing," -said his master; "but you will find, upon -your second attempt, that the unpleasantness -will be diminished."</p> - -<p>"That second attempt, sir," replied the -little man, "will never be made by me. I -have a positive abhorrence for a horse, sir, and -no power on earth, sir, would induce me to -become a chevalier."</p> - -<p>"Very well, Mr. Billing," replied the other, -"I'll not attempt to persuade you against -your own inclinations; I can only thank you -for your services on this occasion, and if you -will meet me in the store, when you have -recovered yourself a little, we will proceed to -business;" saying which, the couple parted.</p> - -<p>In the store where Rainsfield entered were, -besides sundry articles that were not strictly -alimentary, the carcass of a sheep, suspended -from one of the beams, and a bag of flour; or -rather a bag that had contained flour, for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> -bag was suspended supinely by two ropes, -with its mouth open; and on a sheet on the -floor was heaped the flour it had contained. -To this heap, after closing and locking the -door, Rainsfield advanced; and, first taking a -furtive glance around, to satisfy himself that -he was unnoticed, he stooped down and deliberately -mixed with it the arsenic that had been -brought by Mr. Billing. He had performed -this operation, and had just rebagged the flour, -when Billing turned the handle of the door, -at the sound of which Rainsfield started like -a detected thief.</p> - -<p>At no time are the words of the immortal -bard, "thus conscience doth make cowards of -us all," more forcibly displayed than when an -honourable or upright man steps from the -straight path of honour and integrity to perform -a despicable or criminal action. Thus -Mr. Rainsfield could not quiet the chidings of -his conscience, which did not disguise from -him the enormity of the crime he was committing; -and when he heard the step of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> -storekeeper at the door he felt the weight of -contemplated guilt, and for some moments -had not the power of articulation.</p> - -<p>Mr. Billing was just turning away, thinking -his master was not in the building, when Mr. -Rainsfield opened the door with a blush on his -cheek, and a lie in his mouth, to support his -first deception and subsequent interruption.</p> - -<p>"I hardly heard you, Mr. Billing," said he, -"when you tried the door, as I was busy, and -I had locked it to prevent being disturbed. -You see," he continued, as his confidential -entered, "I have had a sheep killed for our -purpose. This we will now inoculate with -the strychnine you have procured; and we -will send it out to the plains for the dogs to -consume to-morrow; and we can continue the -operation at frequent intervals until the -animals disappear. The arsenic, I think, we -may keep for the present, and see first how -this acts. You will perceive I have removed -all the stores into the house with the exception -of this one bag of flour, which I discovered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> -to be slightly damaged, so had it -sifted. I was just packing it again as you -came to the door, and being so much occupied -I did not hear you. By the way," he repeated -to himself, "I may as well close it up;" -and turning to Billing, he resumed: "will you -be good enough to step into the house and get -me a needle and string?"</p> - -<p>Mr. Billing went for the required articles, -and during his absence, Rainsfield removed -the sheet on which the flour had been spread, -and destroyed all traces of his labour; so that, -upon Billing's return, the work, or that portion -of it, was accomplished, and the bag was -placed in an upright position against the wall.</p> - -<p>The sheep was then removed from the -beam, and the inside was well rubbed and -besmeared with the poison; after which it was -placed in its former position, and the outside -submitted to a similar manipulation. This -completed the pair left the store; the door -was locked by the master, and the key taken -away by him to prevent, as he said, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> -possibility of accidents.</p> - -<p>"Do you not think," suggested Mr. Billing, -"we had better have the flour removed into -the house?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, no, it does not signify to-day," replied -Rainsfield, "it will take no harm there until -the morning, and we can have it removed -then when we send the fellows up to the -plains with the meat."</p> - -<p>In the meantime Tom took his way to the -blacks' camp, where he found a large number -of the tribe collected; and all in apparent -agitation. He at once perceived that some -event was about to take place, and he conjectured -that what was intended was a sortie on -his brother's station. The men were mostly -standing before the entrances to their "gunyahs," -facing one another in the circular -enclosure; and carrying on a united disputation -at the highest pitch of their voices, all at -one and the same time. They were supported -occasionally by the opinions of the gins, -which, though volunteered by those soft, if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> -not fair creatures, were, as is usually the case -even with their civilized contemporaries, -totally unheeded by their lords; who continued -their ratiocination with unabated -ardour. Whatever was the nature of the discussion -in progress, it ceased as Tom rode -into the midst of the disputants; and to the -sound of the human hubbub succeeded that -of the canine, which, but for the reverence -the blacks had for their dogs, Tom would -have silenced by knocking the brains out of -a score of the brutes. He, however, resisted -the temptation, and made his way straight up -to the abode of the chief, dismounted, fastened -his horse to a tree, and advanced to the sable -scoundrel with a smile; which was returned -by a malignant scowl. This was not lost -upon Tom, though he pretended not to have -seen it; and, as he sat down upon a log in -front of Dugingi, and lit his pipe from a fire-stick, -he said:</p> - -<p>"Well, Dugingi, what are you up to -now? I see you have got something in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> -wind."</p> - -<p>A grunt was the only answer he got to this -query; but he pushed his enquiries and -demanded: "Are you going to pay us another -visit at Strawberry Hill, Dugingi?" Still he -elicited no information, and began to be -rather disgusted.</p> - -<p>"Do you mean to answer me at all, you -black thief?" he exclaimed; "see here! if you -won't be civil and open your mouth beyond -those grunts, I'll break your head." And he -raised the heavy riding-whip he carried, as he -spoke, in an attitude of menace that made -the black shrink to the entrance of his gunyah.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter, Mister Tom?" said -Jemmy Davies, who came up at this juncture, -"why are you 'riled?' Has Dugingi been -saying anything to you?"</p> - -<p>"No, Jemmy, it is because the wretch won't -speak that I am put out. I have asked him -what is the cause of this uproar; and what -he is up to with the tribe; and the brute<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> -won't utter a word, but only answers me with -grunts. I am of a good mind to treat him to -a sound thrashing for his insolence; but you -tell me, Jemmy, what you are after here?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing particular, sir," replied the black; -"some of our fellows are kicking up a row, -and they won't be quiet."</p> - -<p>"Well, what are they kicking up the row -about, Jemmy?"</p> - -<p>"One feller said, that another feller hit the -other feller's gin, because the gin beat the -other feller's gin's piccanini."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Tom, "that is a very lucid -explanation of the subject of discussion in -your conclave, Jemmy; but I strongly suspect -it is not strictly true. Now, tell me, were you -not hatching some mischief against us?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir, 'pon my honour," exclaimed -Jemmy Davies, "we never thought of such a -thing."</p> - -<p>"Now, it's no use telling that to me," cried -Tom, "I am confident you were; and I know -you have been thinking of it for some time.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> -Were you not talking about it in your last -corroboree; and was not this talk to-day the -continuation of the plot? You may as well -confess it to me, for I know it all; you intend -my brother some injury."</p> - -<p>"Well, sir," replied the black, "suppose we -were talking about Mr. Rainsfield we would -not hurt you."</p> - -<p>"I am not at all afraid of your hurting -me," exclaimed Tom; "for it's short work I'd -make of a score of you, if you were to try -any violence to me; but why annoy my -brother?"</p> - -<p>"You see, sir," replied Jemmy, "we all like -you, because you are good to the black fellows; -but your brother is bad to us, and the tribe -hate him. They would not kill him because -he never killed any of them; but they still -hate him and take his rations."</p> - -<p>"That's it!" said Tom; "it is just because -you steal his rations that he is so severe on -you; if you had not molested us, he would -not have molested you; but we are obliged to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> -keep you away, because you have made yourselves -dangerous. Why don't you behave -yourselves to us, the same as you do to the -Fergusons? and we wouldn't prevent you -coming to the station; but if you persist in -stealing I am afraid my brother will some -day be disposed to shoot some of you."</p> - -<p>"We don't interfere with Mr. Ferguson," -replied Jemmy Davies, "because he is good -to us; and I have told you the reason why -we hate Mr. Rainsfield is because he is bad -to us. I don't believe the tribe would ever -like him now however good he would be."</p> - -<p>"Will you just try and persuade them, -Jemmy, to be a little more civil," said Tom, -"and depend upon me to get you justice. It -is of no use our always living like this; and -you may be sure my brother will shoot some -of you if you continue to steal. Tell me -now the truth; are you thinking of robbing -us again?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir," replied the black, "don't you -believe it. Some of them want to, and some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> -do not; I don't; I will try and keep the -others back."</p> - -<p>"That's right, Jemmy," exclaimed Tom, -"exert yourself, for depend upon it it will -be better for you, and the tribe too, to remain -friendly to us."</p> - -<p>Tom Rainsfield had some confidence in, -not only the word of Jemmy Davies, but also -in his influence with the tribe; and therefore -believed the ingenuous story the black told -of the animated discussion; his refusal to acquiesce -in the meditated theft; and his desire -to deter the others from its committal. He -therefore felt relieved in his mind for the -time being; and determined to impress upon -his brother the necessity, for his own security, -of adopting some lenient measures towards -the blacks. In this train of thought, and -accompanied by Jemmy Davies, he left the -camp, and returned to the crossing-place of -the river, where he parted with his companion, -after obtaining a re-assurance from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> -him that no outrage would be committed with -his concurrence.</p> - -<p>Tom, after crossing the Gibson, and directing -his steps homewards, fell in with William -Ferguson, returning from Strawberry Hill, -and was easily persuaded to accompany him -and remain the night at Fern Vale; where, -in the meantime, we will leave him to revert -to Mr. Rainsfield and his expected visitors.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"Of darkness visible so much he lent,</div> -<div class="line">As half to show, half veil the deep intent."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Pope.</span></div> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"Man's inhumanity to man,</div> -<div class="line">Makes countless thousands mourn."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Burns.</span></div> -</div> - -<p>After he left the store with Billing Mr. -Rainsfield gave particular instructions that -the flocks should be well watched; and he -anxiously waited for the approach of night. -When the family retired to rest he found -some excuse to detain him in the sitting-room; -and, wondering at the protracted stay of his -brother, he paced the room with a disordered -step and agitated mind. He desired to see -Tom back, to hear his report, and see him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> -retire to his bed; but he waited in vain; -while the idea never occurred to him of the -probability of his going over to the Fergusons. -He, however, as the night grew on, extinguished -the light in the room; and, the night -being pitch dark, sat with the French light -open, with his eyes and ears strained to their -fullest distention to catch the appearance -of any moving object, or any sound in the -direction of the store.</p> - -<p>He had remained thus until past midnight -when he thought he detected the sound of -voices uttered in a low cadence; and he -strained his auricular organs so as to endeavour -to catch some convincing proof of the -proximity of his victims. Again the same -sound struck him. It must be the voices of -the blacks, thought he. "It is, by heaven! -they are here," he mentally exclaimed, as their -subdued conversation (which could plainly be -distinguished in the still night air) was again -heard. He was not long either before he -had ocular demonstration of their approach;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> -for round the corner of the store, he could -discern, through the obscurity, the dusky form -of a black stealthily and cautiously creeping.</p> - -<p>The vision, however, was only transitory, -for in a moment Rainsfield lost sight of the -figure, and believing that the fellow's mission -might have been to steal up to the house, and -reconnoitre while his confederates were effecting -an entrance to the store, he all but closed -the window; though he still kept his eyes -and ears on the alert through the aperture. -Again his ears caught a sound: "ah! the -fellow's trying the door," he muttered; "perhaps -you would like the key, my friends? -However, I suppose you won't allow yourselves -to be disappointed by a trifle of a lock; burst -it open," he continued, "no one will hear you. -Ah! there you are again! back to your companions, -practised burglar! I suppose your -confederates keep in the background, while -you try the premises. You are quite safe; -I'll guarantee you shan't be disturbed this -time. Get in any way you like, but don't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> -burn the place."</p> - -<p>Such were the mental ejaculations of the -proprietor of Strawberry Hill, as he continued -at the window of his sitting-room, holding -open a leaf in each hand, and gazing with -breathless attention at the quarter where the -late apparition momentarily disappeared; and -with intense anxiety did he continue to pierce -the darkness, in the hope of witnessing a reappearance -of the nocturnal visitant. Nor -had he to wait long to be gratified; for -presently a similar object showed itself at -the point which was the focus of Rainsfield's -gaze; and almost immediately after another, -and another; and then the obscurely luminous -passage was perfectly darkened with human -forms.</p> - -<p>This incident was not lost on Rainsfield; -he saw at once that the blacks were determined -to effect their purpose; and he secretly -indulged in a fiendish gratulation at the pertinacity -with which they were throwing themselves -into his trap. "Ah!" said he, continuing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> -his meditations, "you are in force are you? -why, you must have your whole tribe with -you. Well now, how are you going to manage -your business? hark! surely that must be the -door unlocked; yes! there the hinges creak! -Well, you beauties, you have done that -cleverly." So he continued to cogitate, and -watch the progress of his scheme's effect, till -the dark forms of the sable thieves could be -discerned evidently treading on each other's -heels, while they bore off their purloined prize. -Desirous as he was to satisfy himself whether -or not they had decamped with the poisoned -meat and flour, he dared not venture out for -fear that some of their number lurked about -the station to cover the retreat of their -friends; and not until he heard from the -distance the call of the blacks vibrating in -the bush did he consider himself safe to -examine his own premises.</p> - -<p>He crept from his ambush with as much -stealth as the thieves had approached his own -property; his heart beating almost audibly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> -and his eyes glancing furtively around him, -attempting to pierce the darkness; while he -started at the sighing of the faintest breath; -shrinking at the sound of his own footsteps, -and conjuring the wildest phantasies in the -midnight air. Conscience was at its work, -and he felt already the hot blast of guilt searing -his very soul.</p> - -<p>He approached the store; the door was -open; he entered; the darkness seemed -doubly dark, and nothing could be distinguished -in the internal gloom. He mechanically -went to the spot where he had left the -bag of flour; groped with his hands about -the wall and on the floor, and found it gone. -He walked across the room, with his arms -extended in such a manner as to come in contact -with the suspended carcass if it had been -there; but he found it gone also; and when -he had satisfied himself upon that point, his -arms dropt to his side, while he stood musing -in the middle of the building.</p> - -<p>"So they have robbed me again, have they?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> -he muttered; "well, they will have to answer -for their own deaths; it is their own voluntary -action." Conscience, however, refused to be -silenced by such sophistry, and, as the homicide -wrapt himself in his self-justification, -startled him from his quietude by uttering in -the still small voice, "Thou shalt not kill." -The effect of the rebuke was but momentary, -for the man argues: "I do not kill them, they -kill themselves. Surely I may poison meat for -the extermination of vermin; and how more -securely can I keep it than under lock and -key? Then if they steal it and eat it, and -meet their death in consequence, surely no -blame can be attached to me."</p> - -<p>"Thou shalt not kill," still urged the silent -monitor; "thou knewest well the poisoned -food would be stolen by the ignorant savages, -and thou didst poison it for that purpose."</p> - -<p>"But if the villains persisted in stealing -what was poisoned," urged the guilty man, -"they commit the crime of theft; and thereby -evoke the punishment in the death which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> -follows. The fact of its being poisoned involves -no criminality on the part of the -owner, because the property is surreptitiously -acquired; thereby relieving him of any -participation in their death by the fact of its -means being obtained, not only without his -sanction, but in violation of his precautions -to preserve it. If," continued the mental -disputant, "I had given them the meat intentionally -to destroy them, then would I -have been guilty; but having placed it in -what I believed a perfect security, the blacks -having voluntarily rushed upon their doom, -am I to be blamed? Did not Achan, when -he appropriated of the spoils of Jericho, meet -with the just reward of his disobedience in -his death?"</p> - -<p>"Thou shalt not kill," repeated conscience; -"and God hateth false lips, 'he that speaketh -lies shall perish.' Thou knewest the blacks -would steal the meat, notwithstanding your -boasted security of it; and, moreover, thou -didst desire that they should. Their death<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> -will not be upon their own heads, notwithstanding -that they meet it through the -committal of a sin. Their sin they commit -in ignorance, and God only shall judge them -of it; thou takest their life knowingly, -meanly, and cowardly, and God shall judge -you for it. Achan met his death by the -command of the omnipotent Judge, for the -disobedience of the divine command; while -your victims have no conception of their -infringement of any law. Dost thou remember -the judgments that fell upon David -for the murder of Uriah? Your act is far -more atrocious than his; for with him, the -victim was one, and might have been said to -have been through the fortunes of war; while -your victims are many, and are murdered in -a cold-blooded way, to screen you from the -laws of your country, and the opinions of -men. Heavy is the curse on him who -sheddeth man's blood, and verily the curse -of the Lord will smite thee, thou worker of -iniquity. If thou desirest not their death<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> -hasten now after them, and prevent them -from eating of the food."</p> - -<p>"They would not believe me if I told them -it was poisoned," argued conscience's opponent, -"but would simply imagine that I was -endeavouring to recover my property."</p> - -<p>"Offer them other for it, or tell them to try -it first on their dogs," suggested conscience.</p> - -<p>"I dare not show myself to them at all," replied -the man; "I believe they would kill me -if I did; besides, if they choose to poison themselves -let them. It is no business of mine to -prevent them; they have long been a source -of annoyance to me, and no one can blame me -for their death. No jury in the world would -convict me of murder; then why should I -fear? Is not self-preservation the first law of -nature? and is not a man perfectly justified -in adopting any measure to preserve his life -and his property. If I am to be taxed with the -death of these wretches, whose riddance from -the earth will be an inestimable blessing to the -district and civilisation, no one would be justified<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> -in killing an attempted assassin or a burglar; -and a landowner, who sets spring-guns -for the protection of his preserves, becomes a -murderer if his instruments of destruction take -effect. In fact the law itself has no right to -exercise its jurisdiction in the disposal of life; -and the execution of a condemned criminal is -nothing more than a forensic murder. But why -need I allow my morbid fancies or sympathetic -feelings to overcome justice and my own -judgment, or frighten me into a belief that I -am committing a sin? No! if it be necessary, -I will blazon the matter to the world, and let -my fellow-men judge me; and I am convinced -I will be exonerated from all criminality."</p> - -<p>Conscience was stifled for the time; and -Rainsfield left the store, taking care to leave -the place precisely as it was vacated by the -blacks; and as the first gray streaks rose -above the horizon, heralding Aurora's approach, -he returned to the house as cautiously as he -left it; entering by the open window of the -sitting-room, and seeking his bed to sleep the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> -troubled sleep of a disquieted mind.</p> - -<p>At an early hour of the morning, as Mr. Billing -resumed his daily vocations, the robbery -on the store was discovered; and the intelligence -was speedily communicated by that individual -to his master, who affected the utmost -surprise at the theft, and the deepest -concern at the inevitable fate of the wretched -aborigines. "Poor creatures," he exclaimed, -"I would not have cared for the loss of the -rations; but to think that the poor deluded -beings are unconsciously the instruments of -their own deaths, through the gratification of -their own cupidity, is truly melancholy. I -am vexed at myself for leaving the meat in the -store, for now I see it was the most likely place -where it would be molested. I would give anything -to save them; what can be done, Mr. -Billing? can they be warned of their danger -before it is too late? I would not for worlds -that the poor wretches should be poisoned, -even though it were through the consumption -of stolen food, and, notwithstanding the thorn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> -they have been in my side; I wish Tom were -here. Speak, Mr. Billing, what can be done?"</p> - -<p>Shall we say that this philanthropic consideration -for the poor ignorant blacks was -the spontaneous ebullition of a genuine contrition; -or a mere verbose eruption of assumed -sympathy, studied and expressed with the -view of disarming suspicion of the sheep being -intentionally poisoned and placed in the store as -a trap? Without wishing to be harsh or uncharitable, -we must conscientiously express our -fears that the latter was the case; and that -Rainsfield's apparent sorrow for the fate of -his victims was a predetermined link of his -scheme.</p> - -<p>"I fear nothing can be done, sir," replied Mr. -Billing to the query of his master; "they have -evidently been possessed of their booty, sir, -some hours; and, doubtless, by this time it is -consumed. I cannot venture, sir, to suggest -any remedy; and would merely recommend -that until we are aware, sir, of the extent of the -evil, you would not allow, sir, the circumstance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> -to prey too much on your mind."</p> - -<p>"Do you not think, my dear sir," said -Rainsfield, "some good might be done by -sending some one over to warn them of their -danger?"</p> - -<p>Instant visions of his late journey occurred -to the mind of Mr. Billing; and when he -hastily replied, "no, sir, I really think it can -be of no service," he might have been under -the impression that it was the intention of -his master to send him as the warning messenger -he alluded to. "I assure you, sir," he -repeated, "it can be of no use; for as I have -already stated, sir, I believe that ere this the -whole of the provisions have been consumed."</p> - -<p>"But tell me, Billing," enquired the suddenly -created philanthropist, "how was the -store entered? because I imagined, that having -locked it, it was perfectly secure."</p> - -<p>"It appeared, sir," replied Mr. Billing, "that -the cunning scoundrels, when they discovered -the door to be secure, managed, sir, to wrench -one of the slabs out of the back; and from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> -the inside, after effecting an entrance by that -means, they opened the door, sir, for their -greater convenience, and decamped; performing -the whole so noiselessly, sir, that even I -who was in their vicinity was not disturbed. -And, sir, both Mrs. Billing and myself are -extremely uneasy in our rest. I can assure -you, sir, the slightest noise is likely to arouse -either of us. I remember on one occasion, sir -(if you will permit me to make an observation -on my private experience?), before my evil -genius prompted me to break up, sir, my pleasant -and comfortable little home in the mother -country, to seek my fortunes, sir, in this inhospitable -land, I resided, as I believe I have already -informed you, sir, in the genteel suburban -neighbourhood of Brixton. My means -then, sir, enabled me to possess some of the -luxuries of life, of which a cheerful and comfortable -home, sir, I believe to be not the least. -However, upon one occasion, sir, when Mrs. -Billing and I had retired to rest; for we were -early people, Mr. Rainsfield, very early people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> -and had a strong objection to late hours; -believing, sir, that they destroy the constitution, -without imparting any satisfaction -commensurate to the loss. Well, sir, as I -observed, we had retired early to rest one -evening; and the reigning stillness of the -house, sir, was hardly broken by the musical -voice of my wife. I will do her the justice -to remark, sir, that she is a sensible woman, a -very sensible woman, sir; notwithstanding -that she was treating me on that occasion, to -a little dissertation on her system of housekeeping; -though I would have you distinctly -to understand, sir, not in a style of eloquence -peculiar to that good lady, Mrs. Caudle. That, -Mr. Rainsfield, is not one of my wife's idiosyncrasies; -but she prided herself upon her -domestic economy, and she was making a -voluntary explanation of her expenditure; -while I was dozing under the influence of her -soporific lullaby. My spirit would have -speedily fled to the land of dreams had not -my sense of hearing, sir, detected a sound<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> -that was inimical to our peace, and I started -erect in my bed, sir, with my forefinger -raised to Mrs. B. to enjoin silence; while I -listened with an ardent attention.</p> - -<p>"'What on earth is the matter, James?' -exclaimed my wife, sir, 'you quite frightened -me; what made you start in such an extraordinary -manner.'</p> - -<p>"'Don't you hear anything, my love?' -replied I; 'can't your quick ear detect sounds -that portend to an unpleasant visitation?'</p> - -<p>"'No,' she replied, sir, 'what do you mean, -James? what sounds?'</p> - -<p>"'The sounds of the housebreaker,' I replied, -'attempting to violate the sanctity of our -dwelling. Are you so deaf, my love,' I said, -'that you cannot hear the regular grating of a -saw at work on some of our doors or shutters?'</p> - -<p>"'I can certainly hear some sound,' she -replied, 'but it is only the gnawing of a rat, -or a mouse in the wainscot of the room; rest -your mind easy, James,' she continued, 'no -thieves would think it worth their while to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> -molest us.'</p> - -<p>"'I am not so sure of that, my dear,' I replied; -'but, even if I were, do you imagine -that I would lie dormantly in my bed (while -I was convinced some nocturnal villain was -attempting to enter my premises), perhaps to -see the wife of my bosom murdered in cold -blood before my very eyes, and possibly have -my own throat cut afterwards to complete -the tragedy?'</p> - -<p>"My apprehensions were not entertained -by my wife, sir, for she urged me to lie down. -'Do not frighten yourself at nothing,' she -exclaimed, 'and alarm me so at your dreadful -imageries; allow me to convince you it is all -fancy; besides if thieves tried to get in, all -the places are too well secured for them to -gain an entrance.'</p> - -<p>"'Ah, my wife!' said I, 'there you show -your inexperience; a practised housebreaker -would not be deterred by the presence of -bars, bolts, or locks; the greater the supposed -security, the greater are the chances of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> -success; besides while my suspicions are -aroused, I could not rest until I had satisfied -myself that they are groundless, and that is -speedily done. So I am determined to see;' -with which I got out of bed, and with many -cautions from my wife, in the event of my -discovering any thieves, not to venture into -danger or to allow myself, sir, in my indignation, -or courage, to be exposed to -either the ruffians or the night air, I hastily -threw some clothes over me to guard against -the risk of catching cold; for I was always -susceptible to cold, sir. I quietly crept down -stairs, sir, and the sound that greeted my -ears distinctly proclaimed the fact that the -thieves, sir, were at their nefarious work. -When I reached the passage I perceived, sir, -they were not at the front door; so, hastily -entering the parlour and convincing myself, -sir, that they were not there, I seized a poker -for my personal protection, and descended, -sir, towards the basement of the house. As I -turned for this purpose, sir, the sound which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> -had momentarily ceased, now recommenced, -and I could detect it, sir, almost in my very -presence. It was at a door leading into our -garden and back premises, and in the indistinct -light of the spot, I had almost said -total darkness, sir, I perceived a saw at work -cutting through the panel of the door. It -was being industriously plied, sir, by some one -on the outside, and at the time of my arrival, -sir, had almost completed its work of extracting -a piece sufficiently large to allow a -man's arm to be thrust through, by which -means I imagine, sir, the operator intended to -unfasten the door. However, sir, the instrument, -which I discovered was of a tender -description, I snapped asunder with one blow, -sir, of the weapon I held in my hand; and, -with as truculent a voice as I could assume, -informed my visitors, sir, that unless they -instantly decamped, I would fire on them. -My interruption to their proceedings, sir, was -hailed with a volley of combined expletives; -after the utterance of which, sir, I had the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> -satisfaction of distinctly hearing the sounds -of their retreating footsteps, and could see -from one of my back windows, to which I -had removed to prospect, two ill-favoured -looking rascals clambering over the garden -wall. So, sir, if it had not been for my -quickness of hearing on that occasion, I -should of a certainty have been robbed, -and most probably murdered."</p> - -<p>"You certainly made a happy escape, Mr. -Billing," said Rainsfield, after listening, or -appearing to listen, to this episode in the -history of his storekeeper; "but I regret your -hearing did not render you much service on -this occasion, and surely the blacks, to have -taken out one of the slabs in the store, must -have made some considerable noise."</p> - -<p>"No, Mr. Rainsfield," replied the bland <i>employé</i>, -"I assure you, sir, there could have -been no noise; otherwise, sir, with my keen -hearing, I would of a certainty have been disturbed; -but their movements, sir, are like -cats, and I defy any one, I say, sir, any one,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> -to hear them, even were an individual awake, -and as close to them as I was when sleeping."</p> - -<p>Rainsfield smiled, possibly at the conceit of -the little man, but at the same time, probably, -at his knowledge to the contrary; however, -it was not his object, either to quarrel with -Billing, or to enlighten him, so he remarked:</p> - -<p>"I think you had better go over to the Fergusons, -Mr. Billing, and see if Tom is there; I -imagine he is; and explain the circumstances -to him, and tell him I would like him to see -what effect the unhappy event has had -at the camp. I think it is better that you -should go in preference to any of the men, as -the circumstances are better known to you. -You can either ride over, or if you prefer it, -which possibly you may, you can take the -ration cart; and I have only to entreat you -to use as much speed as possible. I am -desirous of disabusing the minds of the blacks -(if any, indeed, survive) of any intentional -harm to them being meditated by me; and I -am aware no one could better undertake such<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> -a mission than my brother."</p> - -<p>Mr. Billing readily agreed to visit Fern -Vale, the more so, perhaps, as he imagined by -offering any objection he might be required to -perform a less agreeable journey. So as he -was not to undergo another edition of the -punishment of the Alma trip, he readily -agreed, and was, therefore, speedily on his way -to Fern Vale, to look for Tom Rainsfield.</p> - -<p>After Billing's departure, Mr. Rainsfield -again visited the store, to witness in daylight -the success of his trap; and he contemplated -the gap in the wall, and the absence of the -flour and meat with a degree of complacency -and satisfaction that would almost have impressed -a beholder with a belief that he was -inwardly comforting himself with the meditation -of a recently performed charitable action.</p> - -<p>"Well, I begin to think," said he to himself, -"that my plans have been executed pretty -cleverly. Everybody will believe that the -blackguards have been poisoned by mistake; -and their own mistake too. So that no blame<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> -can be attached to me; and I shall have -the immense advantage of having effectually -stopped their depredations. I wonder what my -friend John Ferguson will do for his <i>protegés</i>? -will he pine for them? Perhaps he may recriminate -me for my treatment of him, and -try to accuse me of their murder; but he can't, -and he dare not. The law will protect me; -and if he dares to breathe one word against -my name he shall rue the day he uttered it. -I hate that young viper as intensely as formerly -I liked him. He has thwarted me in -more ways than one; he dares to oppose -Smithers in his suit with Eleanor, and to -show his contempt for me by carrying on his -intrigue under my very eyes, and in my own -house too. But he shall not have her; so long -as there is breath in my body I will not permit -it, in fact I cannot; she must be Smithers', -and, by heaven! she shall. He has dared to -show fight after I cautioned him; the villain! -and then to inflame those infernal blacks -against me; the vile dog! he shall smart for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> -it. His lively blacks have already got their -deserts; and, I have no doubt, by this time -are rotting on their own ground."</p> - -<p>"Thou shalt not kill," suggested conscience.</p> - -<p>"Oh, bah!" exclaimed the culprit, "what a -fool I am, to be continually chiding myself for -the fate of these wretches. They die by their -own act, so let their death be answered for by -themselves;" saying, or rather thinking which, -the conscience-stricken man turned on his heel -and left the store.</p> - -<p>In the meantime let us retrospect for a few -hours, and trace the movements and proceedings -at the camp. When Jemmy Davis left -Tom Rainsfield at the crossing-place, he returned -to the camp, where the discussion, -interrupted by Tom's arrival, was renewed -with increased force. The excitement of the -disputants ran so high that any one unacquainted -with the verbose inanition of such -argumentary proceedings, and the natural -antipathy of the blacks to bellicosity, would -have imagined that the termination of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> -meeting would have been of a tragical -character. However, it ended, as all such -meetings usually do with them, viz., in -words; and, towards midnight, the animated -disputants sank under the fatigue of their -disquisition, and in a short time all was -hushed.</p> - -<p>As the embers of the fires gave a fitful -glare on the now silenced camp a head might -have been seen protruding from the aperture -of one of the gunyahs; and, after surveying -the scene for some time, and putting its ear -to the ground to catch, if possible, any sound -that would denote watchfulness on the part -of the tribe, it, or rather the body to which -it belonged, crept from the habitation in that -posture designated in nursery parlance "all -fours." With spear in hand it passed round -to the back; where the individual assumed a -more upright position, though he still crept -under the shade of the gunyahs. Then lightly -striking in succession the bark structures with -his spear as he went along he was joined by -about twenty men; whose appearance was so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> -sudden that they almost appeared to have -been called into instantaneous existence by -the potent wand of the conjurer.</p> - -<p>This was Dugingi and a select band of -confederates, his supporters in the late discussion; -and they moved away from the camp, -to carry out their predetermined plot of robbing -the store of the Strawberry Hill station. -The opposition to the scheme had been strenuous; -and the disapproving blacks, headed -by Jemmy Davies, being the most numerous -and loud in their condemnation of the project, -had retired, fully convinced that the idea had -been abandoned by Dugingi and his party. -But they had been deceived, for Dugingi was -only quieted, not dissuaded; and the present -secret expedition was the result of the defeat -on his motion for a general movement. He -was determined, in his own mind, to rob the -premises of Mr. Rainsfield; and, if he could -not obtain the concurrence of his tribe, he -was resolved to perform it simply with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> -assistance of some of his own party.</p> - -<p>We have already seen how he affected an -entrance to the store; so we need not trouble -our readers by tracing his movements while -perpetrating the theft. Suffice it to say, that -at an early hour in the morning, the party -returned to the camp with all the rations they -could lay their hands upon in the store; and -which, we have already noticed, consisted of -the carcass of a sheep and a bag of flour.</p> - -<p>Their first proceeding, then, was to heap -up their fires; on which they threw their -meat to roast, and then set the gins to work -with the flour to make "damper." These -preparations soon aroused the entire camp, -who were in a moment alive and stirring. At -the first glance Jemmy Davies detected the -state of affairs; and saw that he had been -outwitted by Dugingi; who, while he (Jemmy) -and his party slept, had committed the theft, -and were now preparing to feast on the spoil. -He was grieved at the sight; because he had -given his word to Tom Rainsfield that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> -would prevent any outrage if possible, and he -had a sincere desire to pacify his countrymen -in their animosity towards Mr. Rainsfield. -He therefore cautioned his partizans against -tasting the food; and, in the language of his -tribe, addressed them in the following words:</p> - -<p>"My brothers—our brother Dugingi has -behaved bad to us; and bad to the white -fellow. Bad to us, because he went away to -the white fellows' 'humpey,' when we wanted -him not to go, and when, if we had known him -going, we would have prevented him; and -bad to the white fellows because he steals his -'rations.' The white fellow is very strong, and -very brave; and has plenty of horses and -guns; and he will take revenge on the black -fellow. Dugingi steals the white fellow's rations, -and the white fellow thinks all the Nungar -tribe steals it, and he will hate all the Nungar -tribe. I have been to the great country where -the white fellows 'sit down.' Our fathers -thought once that when the black fellow -dies he afterwards 'jump up white fellow;'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> -but white fellows come a 'long way more -farther' than big waters, and have gunyahs -higher than the tall bunya tree; and with -very many humpies in them. Some of them -would hold all the Nungar tribe. Now, my -brothers, do you think we can fight against -the white fellows? The white fellows will -fight us, if we steal their rations; and we cannot -fight them, for they must kill us if we do. -Now, the white fellow <i>will</i> fight us, for Dugingi -has stolen his rations; he has brought -upon us this trouble; for he did it when we -wished him not to; and the white fellow will -think all the Nungar black fellows did it.</p> - -<p>"Now this is what I say. I have been -telling the white fellow Tom Rainsfield, that -we would not steal from his brother; and I've -been telling him that we want to live, and -we want to be friends with him and his -brother, as we are friends with the white fellow -Ferguson and his brother. And the white -fellow Tom Rainsfield says he is friends with -us. Now what do you think he will say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> -when he finds the black fellow has been stealing -his rations? He will say all black fellows -are rogues, and all black fellows liars; and -he will no longer be our friend. But, my -brothers, you take not the food from Dugingi -that he has stolen from the white fellow. -Touch it not; but let him and his friends eat -it if they will, and let them give it to their -gins if they will; and may it choke them, -and may they die. But I will go to the white -fellows, and will tell them myself, that -Dugingi and his friends did steal the rations, -and not the Nungar tribe; so we, my brothers, -will be friends with the white fellows."</p> - -<p>At the conclusion of this address Jemmy -Davies left the thieves in possession of their -prize, and was followed by the majority of -his supporters; notwithstanding that the -savoury smell of the roasting meat was particularly -grateful to their olfactory nerves, -and they were sadly tempted to remain and -partake.</p> - -<p>Dugingi little heeded the harangue of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> -opponent, which was greeted with a shout of -derision from the whole of the foraging party; -who continued with their culinary operations -in the highest possible state of hilarious -loquacity; rending the air with their shouts, -and making the bush reverberate with their -laughter.</p> - -<p>The sheep was speedily so far cooked as to -serve their purposes, and tearing it to pieces -amongst them they were soon busily engaged -in the process of mastication. The "damper" -was devoured with equal avidity; and when -they had all eaten to satiety, as the sun rose -resplendent to walk his diurnal course, they -stretched themselves to sleep with the complacency -of satisfied gormands.</p> - -<p>No such comfort, however, was allowed -them. First one, and then another, became -restless; a gnawing pain devoured their -stomachs; an insatiable thirst consumed -them; and then the first painful wail was -heard that proclaimed the poison at its work. -The wail increased; the agonies of the victims<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> -became insufferable; and, in their anguish -and suffering, many rushed to the river to -drink their last draught; while others threw -themselves into the fires or on the ground, -gnashing their teeth and biting the earth in -the intensity of their torments. All now -bemoaned their fate, and cursed their participation -in what they plainly saw was their -funeral feast.</p> - -<p>Jemmy Davies calmly, though sorrowfully, -gazed upon the scene. He imagined the cause -of his countrymen's sufferings, for he had, in -the days of his civilisation, seen his master -poison meat for the native dogs, and he had -seen them die from the effects of the poison. -He therefore understood its mysterious workings, -and at once detected its operations in -the suffering beings before him. Not so his -countrymen; they imagined their fate was -produced by his curse; believing that he -possessed the secret power of working their -death by some spells or occult influence he -had acquired from the whites; and they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> -therefore crouched before him and implored -his relief. But he, poor semi-savage, could do -nothing for them, and he knew they must die. -The melancholy scene before him overcame -his fortitude, and he burst into tears as he -exclaimed:</p> - -<p>"I can't help you, my brothers; I do not -kill you, it is the white fellow that kills you -for stealing his rations. He has made his -meat to kill you because you eat it; if you -had not eaten it you would have lived."</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"In Lybian groves, where damned rites are done,</div> -<div class="line">That bathe the rocks in blood, and veil the sun."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Campbell.</span></div> -</div> - -<p>As the residents of Fern Vale early bestirred -themselves on this eventful morning their -astonishment was great at the continued altercations -which seemed to agitate the black's -camp. None of the party had ever heard -them continue their discussions so unceasingly; -and the Fergusons and their friends were disposed -to think that it presaged some evil. -They therefore proposed, that their intended -visit for that day should be made at once, so -that they might learn the cause of the strange -agitation; and acting on this decision the four<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> -horsemen were speedily mounted and on their -way to the "flats."</p> - -<p>They had reached the bank of the river, -and were about entering the water to cross, -when they were stopped by hearing a voice -in their rear calling upon Tom Rainsfield. -He instantly turned towards the new comer, -whose appearance greatly surprised him, and -anxiously demanded of him the nature of his -message. This was given in as few words as -Mr. Billing's habitual sinuosity of expression -could devise utterance; and hastily desiring -the storekeeper to remain where he was with -the cart until his (Tom's) return from the -camp, he joined his friends and rode through -the ford.</p> - -<p>"What is the matter with you, Tom?" said -William as they passed through the water, -"you seem quite nervous and agitated? Has -Billing brought you any news that has annoyed -you?"</p> - -<p>"He has indeed, my dear fellow," replied -Tom, "brought me news that overwhelms me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> -How my brother will be able to reconcile the -act to his conscience I do not know; when I, -who, as God knows, had no participation in it, -feel the weight of murder on my soul."</p> - -<p>"Murder!" exclaimed his friends. "What -on earth do you mean Tom? you're surely -raving! How murder? explain yourself," -said John.</p> - -<p>"I wish to God I was raving," replied he; -"that my fears were only a fantasy of the -mind; or that that prating idiot Billing had -merely dreamed the story he has just now -told me. But it seems too substantial; all -the circumstances that have transpired, and -those that are at this very time transpiring, -lead to prove it. There! hear you that wail? -that is the death-cry of scores of those -wretched blacks. Hark! there it is again; -does not that cry rise up to heaven? and -will not our family there be judged for -this? If I could but think it were accidental -I would be satisfied; though I fear, -I fear, oh, horrid thought! murdered by my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> -brother."</p> - -<p>"Calm yourself, my dear sir," said the -minister, who had with deep sorrow been -witnessing the outpourings of his companion's -grief. "Though you have not mentioned -to us the nature of the communication -received through the messenger from your -home, we would infer from your remarks -that some dreadful calamity has come upon -this tribe through the agency of your brother; -whom, God forbid that you should condemn, -without being thoroughly convinced of his -guilt. It affords us consolation to hear you -express only a fear that your brother has not -acted up to the precepts of his Maker, and the -dictates of his conscience. I sincerely trust, -as I believe, that your fears are groundless, -and that you over-estimate the criminality, if -any criminality exist. I pray you dispel any -such belief from your mind, until at least -you have indubitable proof of your brother's -crime; and, in the meantime, be charitably -disposed towards him, for you may be doing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> -him an injustice by your harsh suspicions. It -is true we are unacquainted with the circumstances -which arouse them, but we sincerely -trust you will find you have been deceived."</p> - -<p>"I would readily, oh! I long to believe," -exclaimed Tom Rainsfield, "that it was unintentional; -but my heart tells me there has -been duplicity. I feel a portion of the mental -load, consequent on crime, attached to me; -for only the night before I pledged my word -to those who may be now in the convulsive -agonies of death that I would befriend them -and bring about a reconciliation with my -brother. I know his nature well; he is hasty -and impetuous; and, though kind-hearted -and generous, he is severe and even cruel -where his passions are aroused; so I fear the -worst. But I will tell you the cause of these -people's wails. It appears that my brother, -after I had left the station yesterday, poisoned -a sheep for the purpose, he said, of destroying -the native dogs on the station. That sheep -was left in the store during the night, when it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> -was stolen by the blacks, who have, no doubt -ere this, feasted on it, and are meeting their -fate in a violent death. Now, the circumstances -which I am surprised at, and deprecate, -are these:—Leaving the poisoned meat in a -place above all others where, if the blacks intended -to visit us, they would go first; sending -Billing clandestinely into Alma for the -poison; and having all the stores removed -into the house during his absence, leaving -nothing in it but the poisoned meat, and a bag -of flour, in the full expectation, I am afraid, -that the blacks were going to rob us. But -the most extraordinary part of my brother's -conduct is, that he kept me in entire ignorance -of Billing's journey, which in itself was unusual, -for he never before left the station on -any pretence; and the next incongruity was -this crusade against the dingos, which have -given us no annoyance for some time past. -Many smaller events now flash across my -mind, which tend to stimulate my fears; however, -as you kindly remark, I ought not to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> -judge too harshly of my brother; and I will -try, until I see more definite cause for my -alarms, to believe him innocent of any intentional -murder. But listen to those poor -wretches; are not their cries piteous?"</p> - -<p>Truly they were; and as the shrieks and -howls of the victims pierced the ears of the -quartette, as they crossed the river and entered -the scrub, all their feelings of compassion -were aroused; and they accelerated their -speed, hoping to be of assistance, where no -human efforts could avail.</p> - -<p>The picture that presented itself to their -astonished vision, as they emerged from the -mazy labyrinths of the scrub into the area of -the camp, was fearfully sickening and revolting. -Scattered on the ground, in indescribable -postures and contortions, were writhing bodies -of men women and children, giving vent to -cries that would have melted a heart of stone; -anon starting from their recumbent position, -to stand erect in the freshness of the morning -breeze, only to enjoy a momentary respite;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> -and then flinging their arms wildly in the air -with an agonizing shout, to fall again prostrate -to the earth, and yield, with a convulsive -shudder, their spirits to their Maker.</p> - -<p>Our party had gazed upon this scene for -some minutes ere the miserable objects before -them noticed their presence; the extent -of their sufferings absorbing all their -faculties, and our friends remained unnoticed -or unheeded spectators of the dire destruction -working around them. However, they were at -last perceived; and, before they could devise -the meaning, many of the suffering objects -crawled to their feet, and with imploring -looks and gestures, sought relief from that -death which they imagined was the result of -some mysterious agency caused by the will -of the white man. The malady had reached -its exacerbation; and the miserable sufferers, as -they prostrated themselves at the feet of their -white-skinned brethren, sank in groups to rise -no more. The picture was more than affecting -(even if such existed) to natures possessed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> -of no spark of human feeling; while to Tom -its contemplation was fearful, and he turned -from the spot to conceal his emotion.</p> - -<p>Mr. Wigton, recovering from a momentary -abstraction into which he had been cast by -sorrows of the event, addressed to the sufferers -in their own language words of commiseration -and comfort. He did not, however, disguise -from them their condition; but told them -they would not live, for that they had eaten -of that which destroyed life, even the white -man's life; and that no white man could -help them.</p> - -<p>"Then why did the white man kill us?" -they piteously asked.</p> - -<p>"My brothers," replied the messenger of -peace, "the white man made the food for -the dingos which kill his sheep, and your -brothers did steal the food, and did eat it, -and will die; but the white man is sorry -that you eat it, and is sorry that you die. -We would all save you if we could, but we -can't; and, my poor brothers, we can only ask<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> -the great Spirit in the skies to look down -upon you and save you if He will. He is a -good and great Spirit and could save you, if -you would be His children and His brothers; -He loves even the black fellow, if the black -fellow will love Him; and He knows all about -the black fellow, what the black fellow likes, -and does, and thinks. He lived a long time -ago down on the ground with us, and told us -all these things, and He now lives in the skies, -and sees all that the black fellows do. He -saw the black fellows last night steal the food, -and He was very angry with them; but He -would forgive, even as the white man forgives -them, if they would be sorry for doing bad -things, and would do them no more, but love -the great Spirit. But the great Spirit says -some of you have been very bad, and that you -will not love Him; and so you must die. -But if you will love him, He will save some -of you, even some of you that have eaten the -white man's food."</p> - -<p>The wail that followed this <i>petite</i> sermon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> -of Mr. Wigton was the death knell of many; -while the preacher himself was so overcome -by the horrors of the scene that he had not perceived -the approach of a ferocious black, who, -leaping over the bodies of the dead and dying, -advanced to within a few feet of him. This -being confronted him in a menacing attitude -almost face to face, and held a spear poised -in his uplifted hand ready to bury it in the -heart of the clergyman whenever he should -so determine.</p> - -<p>He was a tall athletic black, of good make, -and, for an aboriginal, considerable muscular -development; he had a determined and ferocious -aspect; his eyes were blood-shot and -swollen; his nostrils were dilated, while they -exuded a fetid secretion horribly offensive. -He foamed at his mouth, and the sinews and -muscles of his face contracting spasmodically -under the influence of the agonies -caused by the poison he had taken, he presented -a most hideous spectacle. Instantly -upon confronting the clergyman, he accosted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> -him thus:</p> - -<p>"You not know me, white man? I am -Barwang; brother belonging to Dugingi, and -he is dead. The white fellow kill him, and -kill plenty of black fellow: but I live. I not -die, though very sick. I live to kill all white -fellows. You like to see black fellow die: -you think black fellow cannot kill white -fellow, you shall see." He stretched his arm -with the poised weapon to pierce the heart of -Mr. Wigton; but just at that moment, when -the spear was leaving the fingers of Barwang, -it was suddenly snatched from his grasp by a -black, who sprang from some covert, and, -passing behind his countryman with a bound, -deprived him of the offensive weapon; and -stood in his turn with it balanced towards the -frustrated homicide. At the same moment -Tom Rainsfield, who had witnessed the danger -of Mr. Wigton, leapt forward to protect him -with his person, though the opportune act of -the friendly black rendered such unnecessary; -while Barwang, thus seeing himself assailed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> -on both sides, made good his retreat.</p> - -<p>"Thank you, Jemmy Davies," said Tom, -"that was nobly done, and an act I will not -forget. I have been looking out for you ever -since I have been in the camp, but have never -seen you until this moment. At last I began -to fear that you had fallen a victim to -this dreadful malady, but am pleased to see -that you at least have escaped. This has -been a fearful business, Jemmy, and it has -given me much sorrow; from what I told -you last night, and from what you told me, I -thought we would have been able to have -established a friendship between your tribe -and ourselves, and I felt perfectly satisfied -that our hostilities were at an end. I did not -go home last night, Jemmy (perhaps if I had -I might have prevented the robbery, and -averted the fate of so many of your tribe); -and this morning my brother sent over to -tell me that the black fellows had robbed his -store, and taken away a sheep that he had -poisoned for the native dogs. So you see,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> -Jemmy, your tribe came by their death by -persisting in stealing our goods. Many would -say that they merit their fate, but I, Jemmy, -am very very sorry, and would have given -anything I am possessed of to have prevented -it."</p> - -<p>"I believe you, Mr. Tom," replied the black. -"I know you are a good friend to the black -fellow, and would not do him any hurt; but -Dugingi and his friends behaved bad to us, -and to you, and have died, and it is well. -They left the camp in the night, after promising -me and my friends that they would not -steal any more from your brother; and we -went to sleep, believing them that they would -not go. But they did go, and stole the meat -and the flour, and the first that I knew of it -was, in the morning, hearing them make a -noise as they were roasting it. I saw at once -what they had done, and spoke to all the -tribe. I told them they would never live in -their country if they stole from the white -fellow, because the white fellow was strong<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> -and would kill them; and that it was better -to be friends with the white fellow and live. -But the friends of Dugingi would not hear -me, and they did eat; but all my friends, that -wished to be friends with the white fellow, -would not eat it, and I told them they were -right, for the food would do them no good. -But Dugingi laughed at me, and roasted the -meat and made damper with the flour; and -he and his brothers and friends eat the meat, -and they gave the damper to their gins and -piccaninies. They all died, except Barwang -and two or three more, who quarrelled over -their shares, and had it eaten by the others. -So they have not died because they did not -get enough to kill them. If they had seen -you alone they would have tried to kill you; -and it was because I saw Barwang coming to -you that I watched him and took his spear. -He won't stop with us now, he will be too -frightened, and will go with his friends to the -tribe in the mountains."</p> - -<p>"Did you say," asked Tom, "that the gins<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> -and piccaninies only eat the damper? did -they not get any of the meat? Surely they -did not die by only eating the damper?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, Mr. Tom," replied the black, "only -damper, and they died too. The damper and -meat were both poison together; the black -fellows eat the meat and they died, and the -gins and piccaninies eat the damper and they -died."</p> - -<p>A cloud came over the brow of Tom Rainsfield -as he heard this. "As I dreaded!" he -muttered to himself. "I would almost have -given my life, Jemmy, to have prevented this; -but it is done, and it cannot be remedied. -The only satisfaction I feel is that you were -wise, Jemmy, and would not let yourself or -your friends taste the poison, thus saving -yourself and them. I will stop with you now -a little while, and see what I can do for you; -but wait;" and turning to his friends he said -to them: "I will remain here with Jemmy -Davies for some hours, but I need not detain -you. Leave me here, and return home; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> -if you will merely mention to Billing what -you have seen, that will be sufficient for him -to communicate to his master."</p> - -<p>"William was going over to your place this -morning," replied John, "and he may as well -depart at once; but for ourselves, I will -remain with you, and I have no doubt it is -the intention of Mr. Wigton to do the same."</p> - -<p>The latter gentleman having expressed his -determination to wait at the camp William -was dispatched to join Mr. Billing, to whom -he was to communicate the tidings of death, -and then proceed to Strawberry Hill to take -home his sister.</p> - -<p>The three whites, accompanied by their -black friend, now walked through the camp; -and for the first time saw the extent of the -devastation. It was now stilled. Bodies lay -scattered in every direction, while no strife or -contention now agitated their minds. It appeared -as if the destroying angel had spread -his arm over the devoted tribe, and hushed -their voices for ever; for death had done his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> -work with an effectual hand; and though -only a portion had suffered, the rest, from a -fear to face the grim tyrant in the majesty of -his presence, lay concealed within the precincts -of their own habitations.</p> - -<p>When we stand by the couch that supports -the frame of some dear friend or relative, -while the spirit wafts itself from its earthly -shrine to that ethereal haven of its rest where -it "beacon's from the abode where the eternal -are;" and when the slightest utterance of -grief is suppressed in the solemn silence that -we maintain to catch the last breath of the -departing loved one: and when that soul is -fled, and we gaze on the placid features, and -fear ourselves to breathe lest we should -disturb the sleep of the quiescent and unconscious -clay, and recall its spirit to a renewal -of its earthly trials: when we visit -the scene of some mighty conflict (sombred -and silenced by the shades of night), where -the powers militant have exhausted their -strength, and left their best blood and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> -blossom of their countries to bleach upon the -battle plain: when we walk through the -desolate streets of an infected city, where -pestilence has cut off the first-born in every -family, and where no sound is heard save the -faint cries of the dying, or the distant -rumbling of mortals' last mundane vehicle: -wherever, in fact, and whenever we gaze -upon scenes where the grave reigns paramount, -then we feel the true force of the -expression "the stillness of death prevailed." -And as Tom Rainsfield and his party threaded -the corpses of young and old, men, women, -and children, they felt the awfulness of the -scene, and were too much absorbed with their -own thoughts, to break a silence that was a -mutual comfort and respite.</p> - -<p>"Here is some of the damper, sir," said -Jemmy Davies, as he pointed to the lifeless -form of a gin, with a large piece in her hand, -clutched as in the agony of death. "You -see, sir, she has been eating that, and it has -killed her; for the black fellows themselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> -eat all the meat."</p> - -<p>What the feelings of Tom were, when he -stooped to release the pernicious food from -the grasp of the woman, we cannot describe; -but sorrow was depicted in his countenance, -and his strong manly features were disturbed -by the force of his mental sufferings. He -silently broke off a small piece from the lump; -and, kindling a flame from the embers of one -of the fast dying fires, burnt it to endeavour -to detect the presence of arsenic by its exhalation -of a garlic odour. Not satisfying -himself by this test, he put the remains into -his pocket while he said to the black, "I will -take this with me, Jemmy, and see if it contains -any poison; but I trust to God you are -mistaken, and that these poor deluded wretches -have at least in this eaten wholesome food. -"Oh, harrowing thought!" he exclaimed, "to -think that my brother should have been the -witting instrument of this people's destruction."</p> - -<p>"By this," said Mr. Wigton, "it would certainly -appear strange; but we must not deprecate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> -your brother's conduct on mere suspicion. -You know the Scriptures tell us that we are to -'judge not lest we also be judged;' and also -that vengeance rests with the Almighty. If -your brother has committed this great wickedness -and sinned against his God, let his Maker -be his judge, and his own conscience his -scourge; for 'cursed are they who worketh -iniquity,' and 'the judgment of the Lord -overtaketh the evil-doers,' even in this life; -while in the next, 'the wages of sin is death.' -He may escape the punishment of a human -judicature, but he can never wholly satisfy -the still small voice of conscience, nor at all -escape the high tribunal of his Maker. When -the last trump of the archangel shall summon -him before the 'great white throne,' to give -an account of the deeds done in the body, -then shall the true nature of this action be -known, whether it was the result of a mere -inadvertency, or the premeditated plan of -murder. In the meantime, with all sincerity, I -pray God that it may be the former; and that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> -the soul of your brother may not be inscribed -with the guilt of so diabolical a crime as the -destruction of so many of his fellow-creatures. -It is but right that all justice should be given -him; and therefore, in the first place, I think -you are correct in determining whether or not -the flour contains poison, as surmised by -Jemmy Davies. If it does, submit the fact to -your brother for explanation, and afford him an -opportunity (if it be possible) of exculpating -himself."</p> - -<p>"I agree with you perfectly, Mr. Wigton," -replied Tom; "let the Almighty and my -brother's conscience be his judges, if he has -committed this crime. But I feel for these -poor blacks, the more that I have endeavoured -to bring about a reconciliation, and only last -night pledged myself to befriend them."</p> - -<p>"I know and all my friends know, Mister -Tom," exclaimed Jemmy Davies, "that you -would not do us any harm, and we all like -you; yet most of our tribe hate your brother -for this, though Dugingi did steal the meat,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> -and they did not want him to. I am not -angry with your brother, but my friends are; -and I am afraid they never will like him. -You will not be troubled any more with us, -for my friends will never steal from your -brother; but they will always be frightened -to take anything from him as friends."</p> - -<p>"I am exceedingly sorry to hear you say -that," said Tom, "as I had hoped, even out of -this catastrophe, some good might have resulted. -I had thought that since the removal -of our implacable opponent we could have -lived on terms of amity with your tribe; and -I yet hope to accomplish that aim. However, -in the meantime, let us see what can be done -with the bodies."</p> - -<p>"If you will permit me to make a suggestion," -said John Ferguson, "you will let me -go home, and get one or two of our men with -spades, that we may dig one grave for the -whole of the bodies."</p> - -<p>"No, Mr. Ferguson," replied Jemmy Davies.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> -"My tribe would not like them buried that -way; they would rather do it their own way, -thank you. We will bury them here in the -camp, and then leave it for ever. We will -bury them all to-day, and then good-bye. -You had better not stop Mr. Ferguson and -Mr. Tom; leave us now, and we'll say good-bye."</p> - -<p>"My friend! permit us to stay," said Mr. -Wigton; "we wish to befriend you if it be -in our power. Let us help you to bury your -dead, and when you have finished let me say -a few words to your tribe."</p> - -<p>"You can all stay if you like," said Jemmy; -"but we are many and we don't want you to -help us, it is not work for white fellows. I -will tell my tribe you want to stay, and they -won't heed you; and I will tell them you -want to speak to them, and they will hear you." -With this Jemmy Davies shouted some words -in his own vernacular, at which the survivors -of the tribe emerged from their concealment;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> -and he continued to his visitors: "They say -that if the white fellows wish they can stop, -and if the budgery (good) white fellow who -woollers (talk) belonging to great Spirit, wishes -to talk to them, they will listen."</p> - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"And say supernal powers! who deeply scan</div> -<div class="line">Heaven's dark decrees, unfathomed yet by man,</div> -<div class="line">When shall the world call down, to cleanse her shame,</div> -<div class="line">That embryo spirit, yet without a name."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Campbell.</span></div> -</div> - -<p>The blacks commenced their obsequies -with a lugubrious mien; and after collecting -the bodies, which numbered nearly a hundred, -prepared to entomb them according to their -own peculiar custom. Usually, upon the death -of a black, the surviving relatives bemoan -their loss by besmearing themselves with -coloured clay or mud, and venting their grief -for days in fasting, frantic gestures, and wails; -while the gin (if the deceased be a man possessed -of one) covers her head with white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> -feathers, which species of mourning she wears -for a "moon," <i>i.e.</i>, a month. On this occasion, -however, the deceased were nearly all the members -of separate families, and the survivors had -little sympathy for them, except in common; -consequently, the last rites were performed in -uniform silence.</p> - -<p>For each body was erected four forked posts -(standing about four feet high), on which were -formed a platform of boughs, so as to make a -sort of foliate table to support the lifeless clay. -The bodies, when duly placed, were then over-spread -with long dry grass, and, afterwards, -with an outer covering of boughs, which, to -be prevented being removed by the weather, -were tied together at each end as a bundle of -sticks. These impromptu sepulchres were -elevated from the ground just sufficiently to -prevent the access of the native dogs, and protected -overhead from the molestation of carnivorous -birds by the covering we have -described. They are, however, no more defended, -than a subterranean tenement would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> -be, from the depredations of insects and vermin; -the most numerous of which, who attack -this, or any other carrion in the Australian -bush, being ants; which have rightly been -designated "nature's scavengers."</p> - -<p>In such encasements it is not to be wondered -at that the flesh is speedily removed -from the bones; and, after a short time, they -stand inoffensive monuments to the memory -of departed friends. They remain intact for -years; until, either consumed by some bush -fire, washed away by some gigantic flood, or -the supports give way under the decay of -successive seasons, the sepulchre and its enshrined -contents fall together to the earth to -reunite with their parent dust.</p> - -<p>When the blacks finished their toil, the -cemetery had a most extraordinary appearance. -With nearly a hundred four-legged tombs, of -various size placed side by side, and their -heads set facing the rising sun, they almost -filled the centre space of the camp; and, with -the conical gunyahs around them in a wide<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> -circle, they presented, at the cessation of the -buryer's work, one of the most novel and picturesque -scenes that could be imagined.</p> - -<p>Upon being informed by Jemmy Davies -that he could now speak to the blacks Mr. -Wigton called them together, and addressing -them in their own language, said: "My -friends! you say I am the white man who -speaks of the great Spirit; I would speak of -him to you now. I know that you say there -is no good Spirit, only an evil one; but you -are wrong, for there are both; and of the -good one I will now tell you. A very long -time ago he made all the big hills, and large -rivers, the plains, and the great sea; and he -made man, and all the beasts, birds, and -fishes; he made white men, and black men; -he made everything. When he made the -first man, he told him he would love him, and -teach him great wisdom, if he would do what -the great Spirit wished. He gave him a wife -and put them both in a large country, where -was plenty fruit that possums and parrots<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> -like, and which was very good for man. But -one tree was there that they were not to -touch; because it belonged to the evil spirit. -The good Spirit told man, that if he eat the -fruit that grew on that tree he would be -wicked, and the good Spirit wouldn't love -him. But when the good Spirit left him, and -the man and his wife 'walked all about,' and -saw a very fine country with plenty of fruit -to eat, and plenty of animals who would not -do him any harm, but come to him when he -called them, he was very much pleased. But -the evil spirit presently came to the woman -and said to her, 'Now, you take that fruit that -the good Spirit says belongs to me, and that -is not good; you will find it very good, the -best in the country; it belongs to me and -you may take as much of it as you like.' -Now the woman did not care what the good -Spirit had told her, so she took it, and gave -some of it to the man, after telling him what -the evil spirit had said to her, and they both -eat it. But when the good Spirit knew it, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> -was very angry; and told the man and the -woman, that as they had done what he had -told them not to do, and had stolen the fruit -off the tree which he told them not to touch, -he would turn them out of the country into -another country where there was no fruit -growing, and where the beasts were all wild -and where they would have to work for their -food, and always be in danger and trouble. -So you see the first trouble that there was in -the world, was from stealing and disobeying -the good Spirit; and the man and woman -were punished, though they did not die like -your friends this morning.</p> - -<p>"Well, my friends, the man and woman -lived a long time together, and they died; -and others grew up, and they died; and so -on, until by and bye a great many people -lived on the earth, who forgot all about the -good Spirit; just as you have done. Then -the good Spirit was very sorry for them, -because they did as the evil spirit told them; -and when they died, they all went to the evil<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> -spirit, and lived with him in fire. But the -good Spirit wished them to live with Him in -a beautiful country, where they would never -want to eat and drink, but would always be -happy. So He sent them His Son to tell them -what to do to please Him, and make themselves -happy, when they 'jump up' again in -the sky, after they die on the earth. He told -them what to do, but very few of the people -did it; for the evil spirit always persuaded -them not to notice Him, or believe Him. -But the good Spirit did many good things for -them. He brought to life again some of their -friends after they had died; and He made -food 'jump up' when they were hungry, their -clothes never to wear out, and plenty such -things. And He told them that if they did -as he said they would go to His Father's -country in the sky, and live there with Him -in happiness and never die; but that if they -would not do as He told them, they would -have to go to the evil spirit, where they would -be always burning, and never die either; while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> -their sufferings would always continue. To -escape this, and procure happiness, He told -them what they must do. The good Spirit -loved them; so they must love the good Spirit. -The good Spirit hated murder, theft, lies, -and cruelty; so they must hate them too. -They must be peaceable and kind to one another, -and, next to the good Spirit Himself, -they must love one another, especially the -poor; and He told them if they would do all -this, the good Spirit would be very pleased, -and would take care of them; but if they -would not do so, then He would be very angry -and punish them. Now, a good many people -believed what the Son of the good Spirit said, -and did as he told them; and when they died -they all went to the good Spirit. But the -evil spirit persuaded a great many more not -to believe Him; and they didn't, but killed -Him; but He 'jumped up' again and went -back to his Father, the good Spirit, and the -people that killed Him, when they died, all -went to the bad spirit to be punished. Now,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> -the bad spirit is always telling people to do -bad things, to vex the good Spirit, and get the -people himself. They are very foolish, and -do what the evil spirit tells them, and therefore -get sent to his place of fire, and are very -wretched. And I must tell you, my friends, -both the Good and evil spirit still live, and -are always walking about. They are both -here just now, and were here last night; the -good Spirit told you not to steal the white -man's food, and you were good and did not -steal it; but the evil spirit told Dugingi and -his friends to go and steal it, and they did, -and died.</p> - -<p>"Now, my friends, which of these would -you like for your master? The good Spirit? -then do as he tells you. Love him and give -up killing one another, and stealing, and -telling lies, and hating the white man. I will -stop with you, and teach you how to love the -good Spirit; so that when you die you will -go to the good Spirit in the sky. But if you -will not love the good Spirit, and will not do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> -as He tells you, then you will be the friends -of the evil spirit, and be burnt up with him -in his fire. The evil spirit is a very bad -spirit, and will tell you all sorts of things to -make you not to love the good Spirit. He -will tell you it is of no use; that the good -Spirit does not care for you, and will not -trouble about you, and that he only cares for -the white man; but do not believe him, for -he wants to get you for himself. You try to -live as the good Spirit tells you, and you will -not only enjoy the happiness with the good -Spirit when you die, but you will be happy -while you live here; and now, my friends, I -will pray to the good Spirit for you."</p> - -<p>Mr. Wigton then lifted his voice in earnest -supplication to his Master, to beseech in His -unbounded beneficence, that He would dispel -the darkness from the minds of the poor -benighted heathen before Him, and reflect on -them the light of His gospel. He concluded -his exhortation and prayer, and found Jemmy -Davies still standing by his side, where he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> -had remained during the whole time of the -short discourse, deeply interested with the -truths that flowed from the preacher's mouth. -Not so, however, the rest of the tribe; for Mr. -Wigton had noticed with pain, that after the -first few minutes of his addressing them, they -lost all interest in his gospel story, and showed -evident signs of impatience and uneasiness; -even indulging in frivolities, and taking no -notice of his speaking at all. Though grieved -at this, he yet did not despair of bringing -them to a knowledge of the truth. He had -frequently on former occasions preached to -the blacks with similar success; but his heart -was undaunted; he persevered in his work; -and, in the tribe to whom he was then appealing, -he had hopes (with the blessing and -assistance of God) of planting the seed in -their sterile souls and, by the aid of heaven's -grace, of seeing it germinate and "bring -forth fruit meet for repentance." That such -a hope was visionary, all his friends were in -the habit of telling him; they repudiated the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> -idea of the possibility of infusing the truth of -the gospel into the natures of the blacks; but -he had a more exalted faith, and believed the -omnipotence, as well as the mercy of the -Almighty, would still work the regeneration -of this outcast race. He was, therefore, -stimulated to pursue his course in the instruction -of these rude children of nature, to -endeavour to impress upon them an application -of things divine; and he determined to -remain in their neighbourhood as long as -possible, and devote to the work as much of -his time as he could command.</p> - -<p>The party now took their leave of Jemmy -Davies and his tribe, and left the scene of -the late distress for the home of the Fergusons; -where they found the news of the massacre -had preceded them, and their two black boys, -Billy and Jemmy, decamped to join the -remnant of the tribe. But in the meantime -we will trace the steps of William Ferguson, -after he left the camp to join Mr. Billing.</p> - -<p>William found the storekeeper waiting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> -very patiently for Tom Rainsfield's return; -and he rather sententiously communicated to -him what he had witnessed, leaving him to -conjecture much of the detail. As he felt -in no humour to be bored by Billing's -loquacity, he excused himself from accompanying -him on the road, on the plea that he -was anxious to get to Strawberry Hill, his -sister being there waiting him; and he left -his companion, and rode on.</p> - -<p>When he arrived at the Rainsfields' house -he met Mrs. Billing and the children going -out for a walk; and, upon enquiring for the -ladies, he was told they had been expecting -him for some time, and were at that moment -taking a stroll towards the bridge. After -leaving his horse, thither he followed them; -and found that his sister was ready habited -for her ride, and her friends had stepped out -for a short walk with her before she took her -departure. When they saw William, they all -rallied him on his dilatoriness and want of -punctuality; but he, finding that they knew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> -nothing of the tragedy amongst the blacks, refrained -from making any explanation; simply -pleading guilty to the indictment of his fair -friends, and begging leniency at their hands.</p> - -<p>His sister replied that she had intended, if -he had not made his appearance before their -return from their walk, to have taken off her -habit and stopped at Strawberry Hill, just to -teach him punctuality. But stepping up to -him, and laughingly patting his cheek, she -said that, as he had acknowledged his negligence, -she would not disappoint him, but -start whenever he pleased.</p> - -<p>William and his convoy returned to the -house, where they found the table spread -with a light repast ready waiting them; after -partaking which, the girls took an affectionate -leave of one another; and, with repeated -mutual regrets at parting, promises from Kate -to speedily revisit them, and many extorted -pledges and solemn obligations from William, -to frequently bring his sister over, they parted; -and Kate and William left Strawberry Hill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> -at a canter, at which pace they continued -until they reached Fern Vale.</p> - -<p>Upon their arrival there, the little house-keeper -was received with all honours, and -duly installed in possession of her domicile -and in the importance of her office, with a -gaiety which even Kate's unpractised eye -could detect to be assumed. There was a -gloom upon the whole party, particularly -Tom Rainsfield, that ill accorded with their -usual manner; and it did not fail to strike her. -She saw there was some mystery; and, looking -from one to the other in a state of perplexity, -at last requested an explanation. Tom -excused himself from the task, possibly from -a feeling of delicacy in shocking her young -and innocent mind with a recital of the horrible -events of the past twelve hours; but -her brother John, thinking it better that a -knowledge of the circumstances should be -imparted to her by themselves, in preference -to their reaching her ears through some other -channel, communicated to her as much as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> -deemed necessary in the meantime for her to -know.</p> - -<p>To say that the story horrified her would -but inadequately describe the sensations with -which she heard the dreadful narrative. She -wept! though not at the usual standard of -young ladies' tears that are shed upon the -most trivial occasions when effect is deemed -by them desirable; such tears are easily -conjured into existence, and have no impression -on the beholder other than as the -sparkling dew on the morning flower excites -the admiration or pleases the fancy of the -florist. Her's were tears of true sympathy, -gushing forth from a warm and affectionate -heart; and the burst of feeling grief of one -who was always joy and sunshine touched -the hearts of her assembled friends; and more -than one strong man, that had calmly looked -on the misery of the poor victims in the very -presence of death, now turned away their -heads to conceal their moistened eyelids.</p> - -<p>As soon as Tom Rainsfield could sufficiently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> -muster his courage to speak, he took the two -hands of Kate in his, and said in a voice -tremulous with emotion: "My dear Miss -Ferguson, your kind sympathy for these poor -blacks does you infinite honour and credit; -but pray calm yourself. Much as the circumstances -are to be regretted, it is more than -probable they will be found to result to our -benefit, as the greatest ruffians of the whole -tribe have been removed; and we may now -hope to live without fear of any molestation."</p> - -<p>The rest of the day passed ordinarily -enough. The Fergusons were fully occupied -in putting their house in order; and Tom -took his leave to see his brother and communicate -to him details that he could not -expect from Mr. Billing. He promised, before -he went, to return the following morning and -join Mr. Wigton in revisiting the camp and -sepulchres of the blacks. True to his engagement, -the next day Tom presented himself at -Fern Vale; when he, Mr. Wigton, and John,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> -took their departure on their meditated errand; -leaving William at the station, to superintend -some work which required the presence of -either him or his brother.</p> - -<p>As the trio rode on their way, Tom was the -first to break the general silence, by remarking, -"I am sorry to say Jemmy Davies was only -too correct, when he surmised that the flour -had been poisoned as well as the meat. I -have tested it on some animals, with a fatal -result; which leaves it beyond doubt that it -contained poison; while my brother's explanation -of the fact is very equivocal. He may be, -and I trust he is, sincere in his asseverations; -but I must confess that the whole matter -appears to me inexplicable. He denies the -possibility of the flour being poisoned, unless -it were from contact with the meat, or by -their own inadvertent use of the arsenic; -which he says they must have taken from the -store with the other things, under the impression -of its being sugar. Now, though it is -possible that the blacks might have made use -of the fat of the meat in making their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> -damper, in the other supposition I don't think -there is a shadow of probability. However, -let it rest between his conscience and his God. -I only trust he will enlighten his wife on the -subject, for I would not like that duty to devolve -upon me, as I could not so far dissemble -as to disguise from her my suspicions; -and I know the knowledge of her husband's -criminality would break her heart."</p> - -<p>"You need not doubt, my dear sir," said -Mr. Wigton, "but what she will hear of it from -your brother. He will be sure to tell her, if -it is only to prevent her crediting any other -version that she may hear; so you need have -no apprehension on that head. But let us -consider now, that we are about to revisit -these wretched blacks, what we can do to -ameliorate their condition."</p> - -<p>"I share with you, Mr. Wigton, your sympathy -for these poor creatures," said Tom, -"and would gladly render you all assistance -that lies in my power; though that assistance -will necessarily be limited. But I fear their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> -regeneration is a task of far greater magnitude -than you conceive; and I am afraid you are -too sanguine."</p> - -<p>"Why so? my dear, sir," asked the clergyman; -"nothing is impossible with God! and -with his blessing I have no fear, but that I -shall be able to work great changes in them."</p> - -<p>"True," replied Tom, "you may with the -blessing of Providence; but you must excuse -me, my dear sir, if I remind you, that we must -not expect the Almighty to deviate from his -prescribed laws of nature, and work miracles -in the conversion of these savages."</p> - -<p>"I don't quite understand you," replied the -minister.</p> - -<p>"I will explain," said Tom. "You are -aware that these people's habits and customs, -are totally different from ours, and their -peculiar prejudices are deeply rooted. Now, -I don't deny for a moment the possibility of -the application of the gospel to them, or the -probability of a few of their number accepting -it (though of that I must confess I have little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> -hope); but I certainly do think that no great -progress will be made until you can get them -to assimilate their ways to those of civilisation; -and that is the point where you will -find the difficulty."</p> - -<p>"For the sake of argument," said Mr. -Wigton, "and to hear your views, I will grant -your theory that civilisation must precede -the preaching of the gospel; as I take it, that -is what you mean. Then I would ask; what -is to prevent their being induced to domesticate -themselves, and live as we?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing," replied Tom, "that I see, -except their inherent antipathy to a settled -life, and an existence where they require to -labour to gain a subsistence. Numerous -attempts have been made to wean the blacks -from their wandering, lazy, and unsettled -habits, but without success. You could not -have a better instance than Jemmy Davies; -one perfectly civilized you may say, yet -living a savage life. But for the influence -of his tribe, and his home associations (which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> -he could not be induced to renounce), he -might have been made a respectable member -of society; and may yet become one, for he -has had the rough edge of his savage nature -worn off. You may have another instance in -John Ferguson's black boys, who are better -specimens than the general class. You see -they, at the slightest breath of excitement, -leave their work and join the camp. Any -attempts to cultivate their intellects like -Jemmy Davies would be useless, unless like -him they were removed from the influence of -their people. Again, you have another instance -in little Joey; he has been taught to -accommodate himself to the ways of the whites, -and never desires to change his condition. -But that is owing to the fact that he has -known no other, by his having been taken -from his home when quite young, educated -with whites, and never having imbibed the prejudices of his race.</p> - -<p>"To christianize the blacks I believe they -must be civilized; and to be civilized they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> -must be removed from the influence of their -natural predilections and superstitions; for -if they are not thoroughly and effectually -eliminated from all domestic influence they -will never retain their civilisation, but return -to their tribes upon the earliest opportunity. -On the other hand if they are segregated, -and kept beyond the contamination of their -kindred, they become, from the absence of -their natural habits, alienated from them; -and of necessity they assimilate their ways -to civilisation. I could mention examples -of these, but need only advert to the native -police; who, possibly you are aware, when -they are drafted from their tribes, are instantly -removed to a distance for active -service. The consequence of this is that -they remain in the force because they have -no opportunity of leaving it without coming -into contact with other tribes; the natural -animosities of whom against one another are -such as to render a passage through them to -their own tribe extremely perilous. There is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> -no propinquity or friendly intercourse between -them; and the native police are therefore -retained in service, if not from choice, at -least from a knowledge of security.</p> - -<p>"Do not imagine, Mr. Wigton, that I -argue the impracticability of your scheme -from any spirit of opposition; nothing is -further from my intention. I am far rather -desirous to accomplish their disenthralment, -though I fear it cannot be effected without -alienating them first from their own peculiar -habits."</p> - -<p>"I will not attempt to argue with you on -the subject," replied Mr. Wigton, "because I -cannot but deny the theory that questions the -attributes of the Almighty. I will rather -hope to prove to you the fallacy of your -sophistry by results. You say that Jemmy -Davies is educated; I can see that he is civilized; -and can also perceive, from his attention -to me yesterday, that he is willing to be instructed, -and susceptible of the Christian -impress. And I ask, why cannot the others<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> -of his tribe be made the same? His training -has been purely of a secular kind; whereas -it would have been as easy, while he was -being taught the rudiments of the English -language, to have had the truths of the gospel -inculcated; and he would now have been in -all probability, if not a Christian, at least a -moral man, and less prone to return to his -former barbarous nature. I would propose, -while instructing the mature, to have a school -for the young, so as to put them under a -regular course of training; and I have no -doubt whatever that the result would be a -speedy regeneration."</p> - -<p>"Then, my dear sir," replied Tom Rainsfield, -"to effect it you would have to remove -the children entirely from the influence of -their parents; as otherwise you would never -be able to retain them under you care. The -parents would soon begin to feel the restraint -of your tuition, and would remove to escape -it; while the children, nothing loath to resume -their freedom, would gladly accompany<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> -them. To make such a system effective I -believe you would require to detain the -children, even against the wishes of their -parents; and, when their education was -complete, remove them elsewhere to learn -some handicraft so as to accustom them to -labour. Then having been brought up in the -comforts of the whites, and having learnt to -earn a livelihood by the use of their own hands, -they would have lost all yearnings after the -life of their kindred; especially as their -parents, by that time, would have been taught -to look upon them as lost. In a word, to -accomplish their amelioration, you must carry -out a system of domestic expatriation, continuing -to separate the young from the old -until the former will all have been reclaimed, -and the latter in the course of time (as a new -generation grows up) will have totally disappeared."</p> - -<p>"I think there is some feasibleness in your -separation scheme," said Mr. Wigton, "but I -think it would be a cruel alternative to dismember<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> -families in that way; and I do not -despair of effecting the desired object without -such stringent measures, which I question if -the government and society would sanction. -However, here we are at the camp; we will -see the result of our present interview, and -then have an opportunity of further speculation -on this theme."</p> - -<p>But as the party rode into the area of the -camp they were surprised to see that it was -empty. Not a black was visible; and to our -friend's repeated "cooeys" not a return sound -was to be heard, not even the distant bark of -the aborigines' dogs. So they concluded that -the camp had been broken up, and Jemmy -Davies and his tribe retired to another part -of the scrub; and as they turned, disappointed -to retrace their steps, Tom said to Mr. Wigton, -"I think you have in this conclusive evidence -of there being no guarantee that without restriction -the blacks will ever receive instruction."</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"Come let us fill the flowing bowl</div> -<div class="line">Until it doth run over;</div> -<div class="line">For to-night we'll merry be,</div> -<div class="line">To-morrow we'll get sober."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Old Song.</span></div> -</div> - -<p>Some time had elapsed since the events -mentioned in the foregoing chapter had transpired; -but few changes had come over the -scene of our narrative. Kate Ferguson had -settled down into the circle of her domestic -duties with a spirit that charmed her brothers -and enchanted every one about her. Mr. -Wigton had, at an early date, left Fern Vale -for Brisbane. The blacks had entirely disappeared -from the country, and Mr. Rainsfield -had almost, if not entirely, forgotten their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> -existence and the dreadful means he had -adopted for their expatriation; while Tom -Rainsfield, if he continued to remember it, -never allowed any mention of the circumstances -to pass his lips. The whole of the -events were of course, by "the thousand -tongues of scandal," speedily noised about the -country; but the general feeling exculpated -Rainsfield from any blame, and the judicial -enquiries were extremely superficial. The -government being perfectly satisfied with the -report of the magistrates of the neighbourhood; -who in their turn were content with the -unsubstantiated version of their colleague Mr. -Rainsfield. Tom Rainsfield was a constant -visitor to his friends at Fern Vale; while -William Ferguson and his sister made repeated -visits to "the Hill," though their -brother John rarely moved off his own run.</p> - -<p>The spring had set in with its calm salubrious -atmosphere, and plenty and contentment -pervaded all nature. At nearly every -station shearing had been completed; and,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> -except at some of the remote localities where -labour was only with difficulty obtained, the -excitement and bustle incidental to that time -had subsided, and the squatters had settled -down into the monotony of their usual -routine.</p> - -<p>At a pretty little spot on a tributary creek of -the Gibson river, about ten miles from Brompton, -was situated the station of Clintown, the -residence and property of a retired medical -man of the name of Graham. This gentleman -was rather a portly individual of stupendous -dimensions; with a body rather obese, and -limbs of great power. His face was decidedly -rubicund, and, kept scrupulously free from -hairy excrescence, displayed a pair of pendent -cheeks. His nose was not much out of -the common, except that it was possessed of -a certain erubescence, which, increasing in -intensity towards the extremity, gave some -indication of the owner's predilection for -spirituous comforts. His cranium on the -summit had a decided tendency to sterility,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> -notwithstanding the continual exudation of -an unctuous nourishment; and, but for the -stamp of the voluptuary which was unmistakably -impressed upon his visage, and other -slight defects, would have been considered by -phrenologists a fine head.</p> - -<p>If not respected in the district Dr. Graham -was at least tolerated; perhaps more from -dread than any other feeling his presence or -society was likely to create. Among the -lower orders he was generally detested; he -was abhorred by the shepherds whom he employed, -and who never could be induced to -stay with him longer than they were -absolutely compelled; while many were the -charges of rapacity brought against him, by -those who had been in his service, and had -been defrauded of their wages on some unjust -pretext. His bellicosity was well known; -and bold indeed was the man who would -dare to risk an encounter with the self-dubbed -"champion of the Downs." He was reputed -wealthy; or rather his means were supposed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> -to be considerable, though there was a story -attached to their acquisition, which, if true, -reflected lasting opprobrium on this worldly -medicus.</p> - -<p>He was said to have been located at one -time as a practitioner in a distant part of the -colony, and to have conceived the idea of -establishing an hospital in a certain town, -centrally situated in the bush. To accomplish -this end he travelled the country soliciting -subscriptions; and such was the confidence -reposed in the individual, whose disinterestedness -and zeal were generally admired, and -the desideratum that such an edifice was -considered, that he was eminently successful -in his canvass. The squatters readily and -munificently subscribed to the project, and -Dr. Graham soon found himself in possession -of a considerable sum of money.</p> - -<p>That this money was applied to the purposes -for which it was contributed is more -than doubtful; for the hospital was never -erected, while Dr. Graham shortly afterwards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> -became possessed of the station of Clintown. -It was said that some of the subscribers, not -relishing the manner in which they were -taken in, insisted upon a return of their -money, or its legitimate application; and -in some few instances, to quiet the importunities -of those who were disposed to be -turbulent, the money was returned. But in -the majority of the cases the parties were too -timorous or indifferent to make any demands; -and the subscriptions and hospital scheme -remained in <i>statu quo</i>, the one in the pocket, or -rather represented in the sheep of Dr. Graham, -and the other in the fond expectation of the -deluded subscribers. Whether this tale be -true or false we are not in a position to say; -but it was darkly brooded about, no one -daring to venture an open assertion, in consideration -of the pugilistic accomplishment of -the party most concerned. One thing, however, -is certain that the Doctor, prior to the -scheme, was always supposed to be in debt, -from the difficulty "those little accounts"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> -could be extorted from him, while after the -successful ruse, he suddenly became possessed, -to a remarkable extent, of a laudable desire -for honourable liquidation.</p> - -<p>The general characteristics of Dr. Graham's -nature were as peculiar as his personal appearance. -He was parsimonious and exacting -in his intercourse with his neighbours, and inhospitable -to those not his boon companions; -to whom again, he was lavish and profuse. -Nothing gave him greater pleasure than the -society of a companion who could join him in -copious libations; and upon one occasion he -carried out his principle in a remarkable manner. -He was detained on business for a short -time in Sydney, and was disposed to enjoy -himself in "a little bit of a spree;" though, unfortunately -for his happiness, he could not fall -in with a concomitant spirit to join him in -the way of friendship. None who knew him -were disposed to submit to his imperiousness; -so he was driven to the necessity of procuring, -by engagement, the companionship of some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> -congenial nature. He, therefore, hired a man -who was recommended to him for the purpose; -an individual who was famous in his generation -for his bibulous capabilities, and willing -to submit to any indignity for a gratuitous -supply of the inebriate's nectar. The debauch -commenced and was conducted with considerable -spirit so long as it lasted; but the principal -and his co-adjutor soon parted, owing, as the -former used to say, to the fellow's incapacity to -take his liquor. His contentment in loneliness -was another feature in his character; which -was also exemplified by another tale often told -about him. He was an enthusiastic lover of -whist, and when he could make up a rubber -with three of his choice spirits he was content; -though still without them he was equally -partial to his hand, and was actually discovered -on one occasion sitting with his usual -solace, his grog and his pipe, silently going -through the formula of playing with three -dummies.</p> - -<p>In the sitting-room pertaining to the dwelling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> -of this worthy individual, who, we may -mention, had never thought it advisable "to -settle in life," sat three specimens of the genus -homo—the proprietor of the station, a neighbouring -squatter of the name of Brown, and -our old acquaintance, Bob Smithers. At the -moment of our intrusion upon this triumvirate, -they were assiduously attentive to a dark-coloured -opaque receptacle, containing a brown -stimulating fluid, and which was circulated -(to use an antithesis) in a triangle from one -to the other of this trio, and followed by its -usual concomitant, an earthenware vessel of -a porous nature (containing a more translucent -liquid), and vulgarly denominated "a monkey." -In fact these gentlemen were what steady, -sober, and sedate people would call drinking; -but what they, choice sons of Bacchus, simply -designated "taking a nobbler." They were -also emulating the example of the first potent -initiator, and "blowing a cloud," from three -diminutive and jetty instruments, that were -retained in their dental position, irrespective<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> -of any inconvenience to expectoration or -without any hindrance to the conversation, -which was carried on in an animated manner; -the only proceeding that called for a removal -from their ivory fetters being that which was -necessary to alleviate thirst.</p> - -<p>At the moment which we have chosen to -introduce this company to our readers a head -was thrust into the room, and a voice called -the master of the establishment, who instantly -left the apartment, after telling his visitors -not to mind his absence. This was an injunction -which was perfectly needless, for, in -the presence of the before mentioned stimulator, -the parties addressed seemed in nowise -disconsolate at his leaving them.</p> - -<p>The Doctor's absence was only of short -duration, for in a few minutes he returned -with a bottle in his hand, which he set down -upon the table with the following aphorism: -"May we never want a friend, and a bottle to -give him;" while he continued addressing -Smithers: "Here, Bob, old fellow, here is a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> -spiritual visitant in the shape of as good -brandy as ever you drank. I have plenty -more, so don't be frightened of the liquor. -I am obliged to keep it in my bed-room, or I -would not have a drop in the house in twelve -hours; those confounded rascals of mine would -rob a church if they could get any drink out -of it;" and then turning to his other friend -he said: "How are you getting on, Brown? -take another 'nip,' and don't shirk your -grog;" at which little pleasantry of his own -he burst into a laugh.</p> - -<p>Brown did as he was desired with very -little show of reluctance, and asked of his host -what had occurred to make him so merry.</p> - -<p>"Why," said the Doctor, "I have had a -little adventure with one of my fellows, who -wanted to be master; but I soon taught him -submission. My overseer came to tell me -that one of the scoundrels had refused to -work, so I quietly went out to him and -knocked him down. I hate to have words -with the fellows; that's meeting them on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> -their own ground. I like to deal with them -pointedly; so when the blackguard got upon -his legs again I told him the next remedy I -would try would be a stock-whip, and if that -failed I would summon him before the bench. -That sent him to work, for my fellows know -it is a bad game to come before the magistrates -with me; so telling him to 'keep his -eye on the picture' I left him, and I'll vow he -won't trouble me again in a hurry."</p> - -<p>"But," said Brown, "how have you managed -to establish such a wholesome dread of the -bench in the minds of your men? For my -part, if ever I have any of my fellows up, I -not only rarely obtain any satisfaction, but -am put to a great deal of trouble and inconvenience."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I suppose you don't know how to -manage it," replied the Doctor. "I never let -any of my fellows have a case against me. If -they have at any time the impertinence to -serve me with a summons, or lodge a complaint, -I always prevent them getting any of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> -their own witnesses, by finding them something -to do to keep them out of the way of a -subpœna; whereas that overseer of mine is -an uncommonly useful fellow, he always sees -things in the same light that I do."</p> - -<p>"But still I can't see," said Brown, "if the -fellows are determined to be troublesome, -how you are to punish them unless they -commit a breach of their agreement; and -they are generally wide awake enough to -keep all right there."</p> - -<p>"Nothing easier in the world," replied the -Doctor. "I'll just tell you how I served one -fellow that gave me a great deal of trouble. -He was a 'new chum,' just out from home. -My agent in Brisbane hired him from the -ship when he arrived, and he was an infernally -saucy fellow, as all those new chums -are; for they not only demand higher wages, -but are always more difficult to satisfy, readier -with their objections, and lazier and less -handy with their work, than men with -'colonial experience.' Now, this fellow gave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> -me some cheek one day, and I thrashed him; -but what do you think of his impertinence? -he actually summoned me for assault. Well, -Bill, my overseer, very conveniently saw him -raise his hand to strike me, so I was forced, -you perceive, to knock him down in self-defence, -and the case was dismissed. But I -was determined to break my fine fellow's -pride, and let him see that he had got into -the wrong box when he fancied he could ride -rough-shod over me; and I wasn't long in -giving him the lesson. I had him engaged -as a shepherd, in the usual way, 'and to make -himself generally useful;' so one fine Sunday -morning, when he had dressed himself in his -'Sunday go-to-meeting clothes,' I found a -nice little job for him that I knew he wouldn't -relish. I had a couple of horses in a paddock -at the other side of the creek; which had -been flooded just previously, so that the -paddock was nearly half covered with mud -and water; and to get over to it there was -no other way than to ford the creek, which I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> -give you my word was none of the cleanest -to cross. I ordered the fellow to fetch me -one of the horses, knowing perfectly well that, -as there was not another on the station, he -would have to accomplish it on foot. I was -sure this would try his metal, and guessed he -wouldn't half like the idea of soiling his clean -clothes; and I was right. He didn't like it; -and positively refused to go, saying that he -was not obliged to work on a Sunday beyond -what was absolutely necessary, such as tending -his flock, for which he was engaged. I, however, -put a boy to mind his sheep, and then -ordered him again to bring in the horse for -me; but he still refused. So I just had him -up, under 'the Masters and Servants Act,' for -refusing to obey my lawful orders, and he was -fined forty shillings and ordered to go back -to his work. But he declined to do that, and -was then committed to gaol for a month, at -the expiration of which he was sent back to -his work, whether he liked it or not. Well, -sir, he was always civil after that; but I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> -determined that he should remember the -lesson. So when his term expired, and I -settled with him for his wages, I charged him -with twenty sheep that had been missing out -of his flock while he had refused to work. -He was fool enough to decline receiving the -balance of his wages, and actually sued me; -but I produced my stock-book before the -bench, when the loss was shown, and my -overseer swore to the deficiency, so my gentleman -had to submit; and, being rather abusive -upon his defeat, I quieted him by threatening -another thrashing, and told him to 'keep his -eye on the picture,' unless he wished to be -still farther treated to a drilling."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Brown, "but suppose a fellow -like that should persist in giving you trouble, -his services would not at any wages be worth -having, considering the nuisance of continually -dragging him before the bench; and he might -get a lot of your men as witnesses against -you; and even if he did no good for himself, -he would do you considerable injury, by drawing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> -the men away from their work."</p> - -<p>"I never have any bother in that way," replied -Dr. Graham. "I told you I never allow -any of my fellows to have witnesses, if I can -help it, and I generally can; so you see I don't -lose their time in that way; and as to their -being of any service to the fellow who wants -to complain, I don't believe it, for I get it all -arranged before their case is heard. You -know, I am generally on the bench myself; -and before we commence business, I, and whoever -may be sitting with me, have a talk over -the cases on the sheet; and, of course, there -being one in my name, I just explain the -matter to the other fellows, and we easily -settle between us what the chap shall have. -So that when my case is called, I sink the -magistrate for the time, and leave the bench -for the witness box, where I give my evidence -and obtain the sentence I require. Only the -last case I had was one brought against me -by a bullock-driver I had employed, and who, -not having done his work as he ought to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> -done, I gave a thrashing to, and he summoned -me for assault. Now it happened, the day -my case came on, I was on the bench with -Ned Telford, who had a case against one of -his men; and we arranged between ourselves, -that while he sat to hear and dismiss my case, -I would hear his, and give his fellow a fortnight -in the lock-up. The thing was done as -easily and quietly as possible, without any -trouble or annoyance to either of us. What -is the use of 'the Master and Servants Act' if -we can't make the fellows obedient? It is -high time that the blackguards were brought -to their senses, for they have had their own -way far too long, and I don't half so much -trouble myself with them now as I used to -do; they begin to know me, and understand -that I will not put up with any of their -nonsense."</p> - -<p>"You certainly," said Brown, "manage to -keep them pretty subordinate so long as they -stay with you, which, I imagine, is not longer -than they can help; but, for my own part,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> -I am not so fortunate, for I am continually -having trouble with my men. They are principally -'fresh emigrants,' and are always -grumbling and growling, notwithstanding -that they get higher wages than other men, -and have less to do than usually falls to the -lot of older hands. I begin to find that 'new -chums' are the worst class of men that can be -had; I would sooner have black fellows if -they could be got to stick to their work."</p> - -<p>"So would I," replied the Doctor, "if we -could only make the black devils work, but -that no one on earth can do. You see we are -obliged to get new chums, at least I am, for -the old ones disappear somehow; as soon as -ever they get paid off, they bolt off down the -country, and we see no more of them."</p> - -<p>"Just so, Graham," said the other, "I find it -equally as difficult to get men that have colonial -experience as you do. The fact of the -matter is simply this, some fools particularly -busy themselves in spreading reports down -the country that the blacks are fearfully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> -troublesome in this district, and that no -man's life is safe; the consequence of which -is, that no one will engage to come out here -but 'new chums,' who have not had time to -hear the idle stories. I hear that emigration -from home is likely to cease from the representations -of a set of scoundrels in Sydney -and Melbourne that the destitution there is -great. If emigration is stopped, I don't know -what we, in the outlying district, are to do -for labour; what do you think Smithers?"</p> - -<p>"I think," replied that individual, "that if -the people in the large towns complain of the -scarcity of work it is only because they won't -go into the country to look for it. The fools -won't stir out of the town, notwithstanding -that there are too many of them there, and -that their labour is wanted in the country. -If the blackguards will not come into the -bush when work is offered to them I would -send them to work on the government roads."</p> - -<p>"Yes, by Jove! you are right," said -Brown; "but then that can't be done without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> -some stringent enactment of government; -which I am certain would be afraid to go in -so heavily. One thing is very certain, labour -we must have of some sort or another; for at -present we are not only at the mercy of our -men, but we have to pay them ruinously high -wages, to be treated with contumely, have -our work neglected, and our property sacrificed."</p> - -<p>"For my part," said the Doctor, "I would -sooner have the old convict times back again; -then we could compel the fellows to do their -work, and keep very civil too, unless they -wanted a little buttering with the lash. -Besides, it was far more satisfactory to have -the scoundrels under our control, and not so -expensive as paying the men, as now, forty -and fifty pounds a year and their rations; -but, halloo! who have we got here?"</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"I am his Highness' dog at Kew,</div> -<div class="line">Pray, tell me, sir, whose dog are you?"</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Pope.</span></div> -</div> - -<p>The last remark in the preceding chapter -was elicited by the appearance of a stranger, -who, at the moment of its utterance, rode up -to the station, and knocked at the open door -of the house. Upon being desired in the -stentorian voice of the owner of the place, -from the room in which he sat, to "come in," -a rather gentlemanly-looking man of about -the middle height and relative age, presented -himself before the conclave; and said: "I -have to apologize, gentlemen, for intruding -upon your privacy; have I the pleasure of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> -addressing Dr. Graham?"</p> - -<p>"That is my appellation," replied the individual -in question.</p> - -<p>"And mine, sir, is Moffatt, of the Sydney -firm of that name, wool-buyers; possibly it -may be known to you. I am purchasing -wool, and if you have not already disposed of -your clip, will be happy to make you an offer. -I have come over-land, right through the New -England district, and having consumed more -time on the road than I intended, I find I am -rather late for the stations in these northern -parts; they having got most of their clips -away."</p> - -<p>"Well, sir, I have got mine off too; all but -a few bales," replied the proprietor of Clintown.</p> - -<p>"If you have not already made any arrangements -relative to its disposal," remarked -the buyer, "I can judge of your clip by what -you have remaining, and make you an offer -for the whole; and, if we come to terms, you -can intimate the sale to your agents before its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> -arrival at port, and instruct them to deliver it -to my order."</p> - -<p>"All right," exclaimed the squatter, "we'll -talk about business presently; join us in a -nobbler, there is the bottle. You will find a -glass over there," and he pointed to an -hermaphrodite piece of furniture, standing at -one side of the room.</p> - -<p>The stranger thanked his host, and taking -his seat, while he assisted himself to a "stiff -ball," said, "Pray, don't let me disturb the -conversation that you were engaged in at -the moment of my abrupt entrance."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Brown, "to resume our topic, I -differ from you Doctor. I don't think we, even -as a class, would be benefited by a return of -the old penal system, and I will tell you why. -In the first place, I don't believe that their -labour was cheaper than that of free men, for -never could the convicts be made to do a -proper amount of work; they had no will to -do so. What they did was only what the -compulsory system had the power of enforcing;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> -just so much as not to be actual idleness, -which they were only too ready to indulge -in when they momentarily escaped the strict -surveillance of the overseers; who frequently -were necessarily men of their own class, and -connived with them in their derelictions. -Besides, then we were never free from bush-rangers, -and, with all practicable vigilance, -sometimes the convicts would escape to the -bush, and continually place our lives and -properties in danger; so all things considered, -bad as our straits now are, I would not wish -to see a return of the penal times."</p> - -<p>"You have forgotten to mention another -drawback to the system," suggested the -stranger, "and that is the immoral influence -such a class of men have upon the community, -and the contamination to which your family -is liable."</p> - -<p>"Hang the immoral influence, as you call -it," exclaimed the Doctor; "whose morals are -they going to effect, I should like to know? -Ours? my word! if we can't take care of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> -them, I would ask you, who can?"</p> - -<p>"By Jove! Graham," exclaimed Smithers, -laughing, "it would be hard for any fellow to -vitiate yours."</p> - -<p>At this sally of Bob's, the man of physic -laughed too, and replied: "Well, I mean the -prisoners have only got themselves to mix -with, so what signifies any consideration for -their morals; they can't make themselves -worse than they were when they are first -convicted."</p> - -<p>"There, sir, you are mistaken," said Moffatt. -"You will admit that there were many who -were serving their time as convicted felons -who had come to that position by some false -step in life, of which they deeply repented; -but that, being mixed up with the vilest -ruffians indiscriminately, they were subjected -to this immoral influence of which I speak. -We are perfectly aware that many (but for -their one offence) honourable and exemplary -men, who would scorn to do even a mean<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> -action, as derogatory to their natures, have -been so subjected; and what has been the -result of their contact with these vilest of the -vile—villains whose hearts and souls were -devoted to the practice of infamy—wretches, -whose hearts, as Tom Hood said, were "inscribed -with double guilt?" Has it not been -a general debasement, and a levelling in most -instances of the would be virtuous, to the -standard of the despicable criminals themselves? -I know it has been argued by many -that an honourable man would shun the influence -of such; and that the ruffians themselves, -having no kindred feelings with their -conscientious companions, would not trouble -them, but afford the penitent every opportunity -of avoiding a contact. But it was not so. -What escape had a man of feeling, education, -and penitential desire, from society such as -was general among the convicts? None! He -was compelled to endure it; and, upon a perpetual -exhibition of vice and infamy before his -eyes, hearing it highly spoken of, joked upon, -and even lauded, he too frequently ceased to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> -abhor it; began by degrees to look upon it -with a callous indifference, and then to acquire, -and practise, what before the very contemplation -of would have been revolting to his -nature; and ultimately he became as hardened -a wretch as any of the rest. I say this was -too frequently the case; and only shows that -there was an immoral influence at work, -even amongst the prisoners themselves. The -employers of the men were sufferers by it -likewise; for, by the cultivation of penitence -in a willing subject, the employer secured the -services of a valuable servant; whereas if the -moral dispositioned man became as debased -as the vile ones he was as unprofitable as -they. But the evils of the system, in a moral -point of view, were more particularly felt by -the employers in the fearful example made to -their families. Just picture to yourself rearing -a young family subject to the dreadful -contamination of such a school; the influences -of which tuition all the academies of punctilio -in the universe would be unable to eradicate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> -Happily for us, and for posterity, those times -are past and never can nor will return, however -much individuals in certain classes may -desire. The mass of the population would -never permit the re-introduction of such an -incubus on civilisation, Christianity, and -morality; but pardon me, sir, I am warming -on the subject; it is one I have always abhorred, -for I have constantly witnessed its -fearful iniquities."</p> - -<p>"What you say," replied Dr. Graham, "may -be all very well with regard to people that -have families and live in towns; but you -must remember that squatters are the stay -of the colony, and must be supported. What -would the colonies be but for their exports -of wool? and how, I would like to know, is -that staple commodity to be obtained if the -squatters are not enabled to procure labour? -At present we pay higher wages than any -other country in the world, notwithstanding -which we cannot get sufficient labour to do -our work. It is a question that affects the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> -entire country; for if we do not get labour -our staples will decrease, and that, you will -admit, will be a public calamity. The long and -the short of the matter is simply this, we must -have labour, and the government must exert -itself to procure it. If it does not, we ought -to advocate a return of convicts."</p> - -<p>"Well, sir," replied Moffatt, "I don't pretend -to dictate to you personally, presuming that -you are the best judge of your own affairs. -Wages in the colonies are certainly high, but -then the employers can well afford to pay the -high rates; and, but in these remote parts, I -have heard few complaints of the scarcity of -labour. Until your district becomes more -settled you will have to expect it, for it is -one of the inconveniences of an unsettled -country; but as soon as it becomes better -known and more occupied, I think you will -find that labour, as in everything else where -there is a supply and demand, will find its -own level."</p> - -<p>"That's very true," said Brown, "but, remember<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> -in the meantime, we are sufferers; -what are we to do?"</p> - -<p>"I can scarcely tell you," said the other, -"but fear you will have to put up with it. -It is, as I have said, a contingent incidental on -your remote location. You can't force labourers -to settle in a country, of which they know -little, and that little disparaging. You must -offer some inducements to tempt men out -into these wilds other than high wages. -What militates considerably against you, I -imagine, is the current belief that the blacks -are rather dangerous neighbours."</p> - -<p>"It is all very well for people that are not -affected as we are, to tell us we must put up -with it," said Brown; "but, assuming that -labour would find its own level as you state; -that is, I imagine, by offering security against -the blacks, if we admitted that the blacks -were dangerous (though we deny it); does it -not follow, that we, in these districts, are entitled -to some consideration on the part of -our rulers? We contribute to the support of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> -the state, and are therefore entitled to protection -from the government; but are we -likely to get that? I don't believe it. We -are just allowed to struggle on as best we can. -But it will result in this; we will have to -take the remedy into our own hands; labour -we must have, and if our own countrymen -will not accept our employment, even at -exorbitant wages, we will have to procure it -from some foreign source."</p> - -<p>"May I enquire," said Mr. Moffatt, "the -source you would propose?"</p> - -<p>"It is immaterial which," replied Brown; -"whatever would be found the most advantageous, -the people that would be most -industrious, and whose labour could be obtained -at the cheapest rate of wage. I have -often been at a loss to understand why the -Victorian government has adopted such -stringent laws to endeavour to keep the -Chinese out of Melbourne. They are essentially -an industrious class of people, and just -the very sort of men we want; they make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> -excellent shepherds, more attentive to their -work than Europeans, less difficult to please -in their rations, and can be obtained at far -less wages."</p> - -<p>"I can enlighten you," said the wool-buyer, -"if you are ignorant as to the reason of the -Victorian people desiring a restriction on the -immense influx of Chinese immigrants. They -have been landed in that colony in thousands, -and may be said, though forming an integral -part of our population, to be a distinct people -and nation. They speak their own language -only, have their own religion, are proverbially -the laziest, filthiest, and most immoral people -contained in the state, and come without their -females. So that they do not settle amongst -us; but those that are sufficiently fortunate -to make money return with their gains to -their own country to excite the avarice of -their countrymen; while those that are not -successful are left to starve and die, or commit -depredations on our settlers. They swarm -together in large numbers in small tenements<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> -in our large towns; and, by their vice and -filth, generate noisome diseases amongst -themselves, and pestilence in the neighbourhood -in which they live; and their abodes -and their persons are alike mephitic. They -are in fact the scum of our population, and -far more degraded even than the denizens of -the vilest purlieus of Britain's metropolis. -They, as doubtless you are aware, live and -migrate in large bodies, from one to other of -the diggings, blighting each locality in their -transient passage, as swarms of locusts. They -stab one another, and commit murder amongst -themselves, of which the authorities never -hear. They commit depredations on the -whites, for which they are never punished -from the difficulty in detecting the delinquent; -and, as I said before, they spread disease -wherever they go. They are therefore no -benefit to the country; for, with the exception -of rice and opium, they consume no mercantile -commodities, but annually drain a -considerable quantity of gold from it. It is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> -considering these facts, and that they are -filling places that could be advantageously -occupied by our own countrymen, that the -colonists of Victoria have attempted to restrict -their entrance into the country, by the -exaction of a ten pound poll-tax. I am only -sorry to see that the example is not followed -by the other colonies, for while Victoria stands -alone, she will never succeed in keeping the -evil away."</p> - -<p>"And I am very glad to think the other -colonies are liberal-minded enough not do so," -said Brown. "You will please to bear in mind -that this is a free country, and it is a lasting -disgrace to Victoria that she refuses admission -to any foreigner. The government of Great -Britain might as well attempt to exclude -certain people or classes from the asylum of -her shores."</p> - -<p>"No, sir," replied Moffatt, "there it does -not signify. Her own population would more -than counterbalance any influx; but here it is -different. The news of our gold fields, spread<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> -by rumour, and the return of successful diggers -to China, have generated a spirit of adventure -in that country which shows itself in the -emigration of swarms of her people to our -shores. Already as many as sixty thousand -Chinamen are in Victoria; and they being -acknowledged an inferior and by no means -desirable class of settlers, even if they remained, -it was deemed expedient to stop or -at least check their immigration. As the -complaint was desperate, so, necessarily, was -the remedy. As you say their entrance into -the country could not be prohibited, so the -tax was levied on them to discourage their -coming."</p> - -<p>"And I think it was a most iniquitous -tax," said Brown. "It has been urged against -the Chinamen that they consume nothing but -rice, and that on the diggings they are in the -way of British colonization. Now it is a -proverbial fact that they are ousted from all -good 'claims;' which, if of any value, are -instantly 'jumped' by the diggers, while the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> -poor Chinamen are forced to take up the -abandoned and worked out 'claims,' where -Europeans have found a continuation of -labour unprofitable. On the yield from these -holes they manage to live, so it is evident -that instead of their being a curse to the -country, as has been affirmed, they are positively -a benefit; for the gold, if they do -take any out of the country, is only that -which, but for them, would never have been -extracted from the earth."</p> - -<p>"That is a perfect fallacy," replied the -other; "Chinamen will no more work on -bad ground than white men; and as to their -working abandoned 'claims' that is a thing -that is done every day now; for formerly, -when the diggings were in their glory, claims -yielding what would now be considered -'paying quantities,' were thrown up by their -holders for some more promising ground. -But in these times diggers are content to try -over all the old ground; so the assertion that -the practice is confined to the Chinese is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> -fallacious."</p> - -<p>"However, be it as it may," said Brown, -"the Chinese have a perfect right to come -here if they please; and I should like to see -them landing in Moreton Bay in as many -thousands as they do in Melbourne. Then -we should have an opportunity of getting -shepherds, whereas now we experience considerable -difficulty. Some of the settlers on -the northern part of the coast have for sometime -agitated the question of the introduction -of coolie or Chinese labour into those -parts; arguing that the climate is admirably -adapted for the growth of cotton and sugar, -though too tropical for the European to labour -at agriculture in the sun. It would, however -suit those accustomed to such a temperature; -and without them the resources of the country -will never be developed. I perfectly agree -with them, and think the introduction of -some cheap labour, such as that, would be of -immense advantage to the country."</p> - -<p>"I must again differ from you, sir," said the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> -stranger; "their introduction would be of -incalculable mischief to the entire colony."</p> - -<p>"How so?" asked the other, "will you -explain?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly," replied Mr Moffatt; "it would -little matter to you, perhaps, who only want -to realise your fortune, and return with it -to your native land. But how different is it -with the labouring man who settles here with -the intention of making this his home for the -remainder of his days? Let us consider the -prospect it offers to the colony in this light. -It is argued that the northern parts of this -island are possessed of a climate that will not -admit of the manual labour of Europeans; and -that without the introduction of tropical -labour the country must remain unproductive. -Now, admitting this theory, it naturally -follows that, with the exception of owners of -property and capitalists, the population would -be a mixed and foreign one; and would form -a state peculiar in itself, and different in its -language and manners from the other colonies.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> -This, be it remembered, in the midst of a -British colony, inhabited by the Anglo-Saxon -race. Now, it must be manifest that this -people, forming no inconsiderable part of our -population, must be either admitted to the -privileges of British subjects, or governed as a -conquered race or an inferior people. Assuming, -then, that they are to be recognised as a -class of free immigrants, which is in accordance -with your own opinion, they at once -become colonists, over whose actions we have -no undue control. They would be entitled to -all the privileges of our constitution, and, consequently, -could not be debarred the exercise -of the franchise. To say nothing of the absurdity -of having a Chinaman or coolie returned -to a seat in our legislature, and other -incongruities; what would be the effect of -their introduction upon our own working population? -we will see. This desirable class of -labourers with whom you desire to inundate -us, we will assume, are introduced into the -country in swarms, ostensibly for the cultivation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> -of tropical produce in the northern latitudes -of this colony. They are engaged at -wages commensurate to the exigencies of competition, -so as, as you say, to enable the cultivator -to develop the resources of the country -by raising a marketable commodity to compete -with the slave-grown produce of the -western hemisphere. What is the result? Is -it to our advantage? Certainly not! The -value of our exports are increased, you say, -but at what a fearful sacrifice? Granted that -these coolies are engaged, and for a period of -years say, and that they are bound stringently -by penalties to the terms of their agreement. -To enforce this, or even to carry on your work, -you must have the services of some interpreter; -at whose mercy you must ever be, even -if you are so fortunate as to obtain one. I -would ask you, then, what security have you -for the due performance of your labourers' contract? -None but their agreement. And how -can you in a court of law prove its legality, -or the liability of the contracting party, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> -that party is totally unacquainted with your -language and you with his; and he does not -admit its validity? But even granting that -one or two refractory coolies could be subdued, -where would be your remedy if scores or hundreds -repudiated their contracts, and refused to -work for you at the wages offered to them? -That they would so refuse I am firmly convinced, -for we are all aware that two differently -remunerated classes of labour of the same description -co-existent is incompatible with the -laws that govern commerce; and men would -be found, as you yourself have admitted, who -would be ready to obtain their services in -other capacities by the offer of higher wages; -while the coolies, in their turn, would readily -accept an improvement in their positions, -without considering the violation of their contract, -the nature of which they would doubtless -have but an imperfect idea, if not be -entirely ignorant. Thus they would be continually -drawn off from their intended occupation -to fill positions to the exclusion of the -white man; and the cotton and sugar cultivator<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> -would require to give an equivalent to -the European's wages, or supply the places of -those who abscond by a fresh importation. In -such an emergency it is more than probable -that the latter would be the course adopted. -Hence we would have a perpetual influx of these -undesirable immigrants, who would merely -serve a probationary term with their importers, -and then mix with our white population -on terms of equality. Is it not evident then -that Asiatic labour would be brought into -direct competition with European? and who -can deny that the result would not be disastrous -to the latter? Some strait-laced -philosophers and fireside philanthropists, who -see the miseries of their fellow-creatures -through the beeswing of their after-dinner -potations, dictate the means for the amelioration -of the sufferings of their race with the -same self-sufficient spirit that they rule the -destinies of their own household. These -argue that the introduction of the heathen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> -immigrants to our shores would be an inestimable -blessing to humanity, and add an -additional lustre to the cause of Christianity, -by the intercourse of the two races, and a consequent -enlightenment and christianizing of -the disciples of feticism. But this I deny, for -debase the European labourer by reducing his -means to that of the Asiatic (which I affirm -would be the consequence of this influx), and -instead of the latter being elevated to the level -of the former, the former would be rather -dragged down to that of the latter. Without -going so far as to question the omnipotence of -the Almighty I firmly believe that the moral -condition of the Asiatic would not be ameliorated -in the slightest degree by the contact; -while humanity and Christianity would receive -a blow in the demoralization of our -countrymen. Depend upon it, sir, the expediency -of the introduction of cheap labour -is a fallacy; whereas the very existence of our -religion, and the realization of our future -greatness, depend upon the settlement of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> -wastes of our colony by a thorough British -population."</p> - -<p>"But, my good sir," said Brown, "how do -you reconcile to your objection the thesis -that, as the European cannot labour in field -service in the tropical heat of the northern -part of our colony, without the assistance of -Asiatic labour the productions of our land -will lay dormant?"</p> - -<p>"That," replied the other, "I also deny. I -believe European labour is practicable in our -climate, even in the remote north; and in -support of my belief I could name numerous -precedents. Was it not a Spanish population -that peopled South America? an European -that later settled Texas? and is even now (I -allude more particularly to the Germans) -growing cotton in that province to compete -with the slave-grown produce of the States? -Have not the French settled Algiers, and -cultivated its soil, even producing that desired -staple, cotton? But to come nearer home; -have not our own brave countrymen in India<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> -incontestably proved, in the trials of the last -fearful campaign, without having been inured -to the climate, the capability of the Englishman -to withstand its heat?"</p> - -<p>"But still," said Brown, "the price at which -we purchase our labour would never enable us -to cultivate either sugar or cotton profitably. -We must have cheap labour to perform the -work; and, for my own part, I can't see but -that, if coolies be introduced into the country -as labourers for a specific purpose, they could -be compelled by the law of the land to continue -at that labour. If the introduction for -that purpose is found desirable, the practice -of their immigration could be legalized by an -enactment that at the same time would bind -them to the species of work for which they -were engaged, and make their hire or employment -for any other purpose, or in any other -part of the country beyond the tropical -boundary, a felony punishable by a heavy -penalty."</p> - -<p>"That was just the point I was coming to,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> -replied Mr. Moffatt; "but first I will answer -your previous objection. It is practicable for -Europeans to cultivate the soil to the northward, -though they will do so in the manner -most advantageous to themselves. If they -find the cultivation of cotton and sugar unprofitable -they will turn their attention to other -products; but I am inclined to believe that -cotton could be profitably cultivated even by -our own expensive labour. I have a friend, -resident in the vicinity of Brisbane, who has -grown some cotton as an experiment, and the -result, even in this temperate climate, has been -most satisfactory. The cotton he sent home -was submitted to some of the first judges in -Manchester and Liverpool, who pronounced -it of the finest sea-island description, and -superior to any obtained from the United -States. Now this cotton was cultivated from -the ordinary American sea-island seed; so that -its fineness arose, not from any excellence in -its germ, but the peculiar adaptation and -efficiency of the soil in which it was grown;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> -and which does not differ from the land on -our entire coast line. This shows that our -cotton would be of superior quality, and consequently -of greater value. Another fact to -be remembered is this, that in 'the States,' -owing to the frost and severity of the winter, -the plant is only an annual; while with us, -as my friend has discovered, from the absence -of frost the cotton tree becomes a perennial, -and increases its yield each season; while the -staple does not deteriorate in quality. Thus, -it will be seen, we should have considerable -advantage in the cost of production over the -American planter; notwithstanding his slave -labour. But to return to the coolies; with regard -to their forced compliance with the terms -of their agreements,—to effect which, you say, -certain enactments would have to be passed -to meet the exigencies of the case,—I believe -the first step would be the dismemberment of -those districts from the parent colony, and -their erection into a separate state; so as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> -to preserve the stringencies necessary in its -government from infringing the constitution -of the other colonies. Now in this new state -the preponderance of the population would be -black, who would in fact comprise all the -working part of it; and it would necessarily -follow that the government of the state -would be comprised of the employers of this -very labour, their servants, or sycophants, or -at least those whose interests would be intimately -connected with theirs. So that they -might be necessarily expected to legislate so -as to entirely meet their own views, and -subvert the rights and freedom of their -foreign labourers. The system would then -descend into a compulsory labour; and, but -for its name, would in nowise differ from -slavery; worse in fact than actual slavery, -from the fact of the stimulus of protection to -one's own property being wanting in this case, -that would in the other act as a preventive -against unusual tyranny and oppression. So<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> -that the right of disposal by death, might -reasonably be expected, would be exercised -almost with impunity. Depend upon it, sir, -such a system would give rise to a state of -things, not only deplorable, but derogatory -to a Christian nation. But I am convinced it -never would gain the countenance or consent -of the home government, who, for its own -honour, could not tolerate the introduction of -coolie labour on such terms; and our own -population would never suffer its introduction -on terms of equality."</p> - -<p>"Well, sir," replied Brown, "though I don't -admit myself a convert to your way of thinking, -I still believe there is some truth in your -arguments; but the thing we can't get over -is the want of a labouring population here -in the bush; and if we can't induce our own -countrymen to emigrate we must try others."</p> - -<p>"Believe me, sir," said Mr. Moffatt, "it is -not a want of inclination that deters thousands -of Britain's redundant population from -flocking to our shores; it is the supineness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> -of our short-sighted government, who, instead -of creating a fund for the introduction of an -agricultural population by the sale of the -waste lands of the colony, or by the grant to -every immigrant of a piece of land equivalent -in value to the amount he has paid for -his passage, lock up the lands from agricultural -settlers in the fear lest their interests -should clash with the pastoral. This suicidal -policy has long been manifest; in no way -more so than by the fact that we are obliged -to depend upon a foreign supply for our very -articles of common consumption; whereas -nowhere could they be produced with greater -advantage than within our own territory. By -all accounts you are likely, in this district, -to be separated from New South Wales; and -one of your first acts in your legislative -independence should be to facilitate the -settlement of your agricultural lands. The -two interests, that and the pastoral, may be -separately maintained without detriment to -either, and with immense advantage to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> -state."</p> - -<p>"Oh, hang these politics!" cried Graham; -"sink all dry arguments just now, you have -made me quite thirsty with merely hearing -your clatter. Never mind the agricultural -lands, coolies, or Chinamen, though I would -be very happy to see them and hope we will -be able to get a supply of them soon. We -will just polish off another bottle of grog, -while we screw a spree out of Smithers here." -With this little prologue he left the room for -a few minutes, returning with a bottle which -he placed on the table, and took his seat -while he continued: "Bob tells me he is going -to 'put his foot into it.' You know he has -long been engaged to that niece of Rainsfield's -(a deuced fine girl, by Jove!), and he states he -is to be married in about a month. Now I -say, if he does not give us a spree before he -throws us overboard, we will cut him as dead -as a herring after he is 'spliced.' What do -you say, Brown?"</p> - -<p>"Most assuredly," replied that individual,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> -"Smithers ought to entertain his bachelor -friends before he withdraws himself from -their clique; and I have no doubt he will."</p> - -<p>"He tells me too," said the Doctor, "that -those young fellows at Fern Vale have behaved -scurvily to him, that one of them has -tried to cut him out, and striven hard to set -the girl against him. Now I would propose -that Smithers give a spree at Brompton, and -get his brother to invite the guests for him; -then he would be able to have his girl and -her friends there, and these young Fergusons -too. We could have some glorious fun, get -up some races or something of that sort, to -please the women and amuse ourselves; besides, -it would answer the purpose of showing -off his girl and introducing her to his friends, -at the same time that it would annoy his -rival. And for the matter of that we might -oblige him by picking a quarrel with young -Ferguson, and giving the fellow a good drubbing, -just for the satisfaction of the thing. -Eh, gad! Bob must promise to give us a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> -spree, or we won't let him out of this house. -It is not often one of our fellows gets spliced; -and we can't lose one without a jollification. -You had better promise at once, Bob."</p> - -<p>"Well, for my part," replied Bob, "I would -give you a spree in a minute, but how am I -to get it up? I would not know who to ask; -and, besides, no one would come to my invitation -except such fellows as you, who would -drink all day, or until you had drained the -house dry of liquor."</p> - -<p>"Get your brother to do it," replied the -Doctor, "and work round to the blind side of -his wife. I'll be bound she's woman enough to -join in it heartily; the mere prospect of the -thing will be sufficient inducement to make -her fall into your views; and depend upon it -she will not only undertake the whole affair, -but get together a good company for you."</p> - -<p>"But there is another thing," urged Bob, -"if we are to invite fifty or a hundred people -to our place we will have to find quarters for -most of them, and how shall we manage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> -that?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing easier in the world," replied the -contumacious Doctor; "give up all your spare -room to the women folks, and we fellows can -shake down anywhere, camp under a tree if -you like; or those that don't like that, let -them take the wool-shed."</p> - -<p>"Well, I'll see if the thing can be managed," -replied Bob, "and let you know in good time."</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"Yes! loath indeed: my soul is nerved to all,</div> -<div class="line">Or fall'n too low to fear a farther fall."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Byron.</span></div> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"Well, be it as thou wilt."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Sir Walter Scott.</span></div> -</div> - -<p>Some few days after the meeting of Doctor -Graham's friends at Clintown the monotony -of the little circle at Fern Vale was disturbed -by the arrival of a horseman with a letter for -Miss Ferguson; who received into her hand -one of those intricately folded missives which -at once proclaim the correspondent to be of -the fair sex, and proceeded to read the -following epistle:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span></p><blockquote> - -<p>"<span class="smcap">Dearest Kate.</span>—I'm having a few friends -at Brompton on Friday week to spend the -day, and of course expect to see you and -your brothers of the number. I will take no -excuse, you must come; and, if you can -possibly manage it, I would be delighted by -your prolonging your visit for a week or as -long as you like. However, that I will leave -to yourself. Eleanor and Mrs. Rainsfield I -expect with Tom, so that you will have company -on the road. We will do what we can to -amuse you all day, and you need not make -yourself uneasy about the journey, for I will -have plenty of room in the house for you, as -well as all my friends, and Mr. Smithers will -provide for the accommodation of the gentlemen. -You had better ride over on the -Thursday, and the party will break up comfortably -on the Saturday morning. Tell your -brothers that part of the programme of the -day's pleasures is a race, and as I know that -William at least is fond of racing, he might -like to join in it. The man that carries this</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p><blockquote> - -<p>will be able to tell him more about it than I -can, so I will leave him to gain all that information -from him. With warmest love, -believe me, dearest Kate, your affectionate -<span class="word-spacing">friend, </span><span class="smcap">Eliza Smithers.</span></p> - -<p> -"<i>Tuesday morning.</i> -</p> - -<p>"<i>P. S.</i>—Write me a reply by the bearer, -and mind as you value my friendship make -no excuses."</p></blockquote> - -<p>The delighted girl had no intention of declining -the invitation; for when did a young -and joyous creature in the zenith of youthful -spirits ever desire seclusion from the innocent -enjoyments of life? She ran with the open -letter in her hand to her brother William -(who was at the time a short distance from -the house giving instructions to some of his -men), and cried: "See, Will, here is an invitation -from Mrs. Smithers to a party at -Brompton; you'll go, won't you, Will? I -know you will; I'll go and write an answer -to say we will accept it."</p> - -<p>"Don't be in such a violent hurry my little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> -Diana; give me time to read the letter," said -her brother, "before you act as sponsor for me. -There is no necessity, my dear, to be so impatient; -I dare say the messenger will wait -for a few minutes;" and then, after perusing -it, he continued: "For my part I will be -delighted to go, though I'll first see what -John says. But, my Kitty! you should not -run out in the sun with your head uncovered; -you will be spoiling your beautiful complexion -and getting a <i>coup de soliel</i>. Then your invitations -to parties would be at an end; be -off now and put on a hat, and we will go look -for John, and get his decision on the question."</p> - -<p>The affectionate mandate of her brother, -was soon obeyed by Kate; and the two went -in search of John, to submit the note to his -perusal. After reading it, he expressed a disinclination -to accept the invitation, excusing -himself that as they had determined to -shortly start for New England he had no -wish to join the festivities; but to enable his -brother and sister to go to Brompton, he said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> -he would delay his departure until after their -return.</p> - -<p>Kate and William endeavoured in vain to -dissuade him from this, but he was inexorable; -so it was at last arranged that they -should join the party without him, and Kate -hastened to communicate the intelligence to -her friend, while William took the opportunity -of eliciting from the Brompton messenger all -the information he could obtain respecting the -arrangements.</p> - -<p>The reader may conjecture the motives that -actuated John Ferguson in his desire to keep -aloof from Brompton. He was aware the -marriage of Bob Smithers and Eleanor Rainsfield -was fixed for a period not very remote; -and, perceiving the object of the meet was to -exhibit the young lady to the admiring gaze, -and introduce her to the notice of the friends -of the family as the affianced bride of Bob -Smithers, he wished to avoid a meeting which, -he doubted not, would be irksome to the lady -and painful to himself, especially as he would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> -be compelled to witness the triumph of his -rival, who, he believed, would take a malicious -pleasure in making him feel his defeat. -He therefore resolved to absent himself from -a society where he was calculated to experience -disappointment, rather than pleasure; -where for him there would be no enjoyment, -except the melancholy satisfaction of gazing -on the features of the one he dearly loved, -but who so shortly was to be the bride of -another. As his brother and sister left him -he resumed the occupation at which he had -been disturbed on their approach, and continued -wrapt in his own gloomy meditations, -until he was aroused from his reverie by -the cheerful voice of Tom Rainsfield calling -him by his name; when turning round he perceived -his friend standing at his side.</p> - -<p>"Why, what on earth is the matter with -you, John?" said Tom, as he gazed upon the -sorrowful features of the young man; "you -look ill, wretchedly ill; what ails you, man?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing," replied John. "I never felt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> -better in my life; I am not ailing." But his -looks belied his speech, for his pallid cheek -bore the stamp of a mental depression, and his -haggard features the evidence of sufferings -other than corporeal; for, let the truth be -told, the consciousness that Eleanor was lost -to him for ever, preyed upon his mind; and, -notwithstanding his repeated efforts to rally -his drooping spirits, a melancholy gloom had -settled upon his brow, there giving indication -of the tumult of thought and feeling that had -and still was agitating his brain.</p> - -<p>His passion for Eleanor Rainsfield, since -the fire of love had first entered his soul, had -ever been the material of his dreams both by -day and night; she was the star of his destiny, -the cynosure to which the magnetic -needle of his hopes always pointed, and to -which his fondest affections continually looked -for guidance. He loved her madly, and had -half fancied, notwithstanding her avowment -of a pre-engagement, that some fortuitous circumstance -might have transpired to break off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> -that connexion, and lead her to join her destinies -with his. He believed he was not altogether -an indifferent object in her eyes, and -the fates, even though hitherto unpropitious, -he had believed would have ultimately favoured -his cause. Thus he continued, even -with his heart under a prohibitory decree, to -cherish the tender feeling for the lovely girl, -although his calmer nature told him there -was no hope. He offered up his mind a willing -sacrifice to the pleasing though deadly -poison, and permitted his soul to be ravished -by the wild delirium of his infatuated love. -He had, in fact, hoped against hope; but now, -that he discovered the creature he adored was -irrevocably passing from him to become the -wife of another, life appeared to him a blank, -and he felt no desire to prolong an existence -expatriated from the society of the only one -who made it dear to him. These were the -feelings that had consumed the spirits of the -young man between the interval of his separation -from his sister and his meeting with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> -Tom Rainsfield, and which had left such indubitable -marks of distress on his countenance -that his friend had not failed to detect them.</p> - -<p>We say that John Ferguson was aware that -the marriage of Bob Smithers and Eleanor -was settled. This he had heard some time -previously, and the tenor of Mrs. Smithers' -note had confirmed it; while in his susceptive -imagination he pictured to himself the whole -plan, needing no better prompter than his -fears. While there had been a shadow of -hope, John had borne with commendable fortitude -the disappointment of unrequited affection, -and sustained the devastation of the -consuming fire that was burning within him -without the possibility of egress. But now -that the barrier of his expectancy had been -rudely broken down; that the circumvallation -of his breastine citadel had been razed -to the ground, and the delicate fabric of his -heart exposed to the rough greeting of the -unfriendly blast, and the piercing shafts of -despair, his spirit sank under the assault, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> -left him crushed and almost demented.</p> - -<p>"Why, man," said Tom, "you look the perfect -picture of misery. I know, or can guess, -the cause of your grief; but never mind, cheer -up, old fellow! You know the old adage: -'The battle is never lost till it's won;' so -do not despair. Eleanor is not married yet, -and, by Jove! she won't be either; at least -to Smithers; you mark my words."</p> - -<p>"My dear fellow," said John, "do not destroy -her happiness or peace of mind by -attempting to separate her from her betrothed. -He is her choice, and it is her pleasure to -accept him; then what have I to complain of? -Pray, don't frustrate her marriage with -Smithers out of any regard for me; for I feel -convinced any intrigue you may enter into -to further such an object would be distasteful -to her."</p> - -<p>"Not at all," replied his friend; "you mistake -her, John, and me too, and I may add -yourself as well. Though Eleanor has given -her consent to this arrangement I know her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> -heart is not with it. Do you think I would -be disappointing her, or making her miserable, -by destroying a bond that would only bind -her in a state of abject misery for the entire -period of her life? Would I not rather be -justified in rescuing her from such a condition? -Of course I would. Then that is the reason -I object to her marriage with Smithers; for I -am certain she would never know a day's -happiness from the hour of her union with -him. Two natures never were more diametrically -opposed to one another; the dove and -the hawk might as well be allied as she to -him. She all purity, virtue, and innocence; -he all licentiousness, vice, and depravity, -without the capacity to appreciate so priceless -a gem, and I believe without one feeling of -regard for her. No, by—I was going to -swear; but, never mind, it cannot be, and I -say it shall not be; I'll prevent it yet, for I -am sworn to it."</p> - -<p>"I fear, Tom," said John Ferguson, "you -are disposed to judge too harshly of Smithers;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> -Eleanor evidently sees something in him that -she admires, or I imagine she would not accept -him; so I would beg of you again to leave -her to the dictates of her own feelings. Much -as I should desire to be blessed by the possession -of her hand, I would not attempt it -by an opposition to her own inclinations."</p> - -<p>"Well, John," replied the other, "I am really -surprised to hear you talk so if you love -Eleanor, as I am convinced you do. For her -sake, as well as for your own, you will save -her from the misery of so unnatural an -alliance as this she meditates. It cannot but -terminate unhappily, for I am sure Smithers' -treatment of her will be on a par with his -general conduct, selfish and brutal."</p> - -<p>"Pray, don't imagine, my dear Tom," continued -John Ferguson, "that I am advocating -his cause out of opposition to you, or of -perverseness to my own interests. I would -consider it the <i>acme</i> of human felicity to be -possessed of so inestimable a treasure as -Eleanor Rainsfield; but, next to the happiness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> -of that possession, my desire is to see her -happy. Bearish as Smithers may be, and I -believe is, it will be impossible for him to -witness the devotion of such a gentle heart as -hers without being warmed in the sunshine -of her affection. He cannot but treat her -with love and respect, for her nature would -command them even from the breast of a -savage."</p> - -<p>"No doubt it would," said Tom, "but I -believe that Bob Smithers has not got the -feelings of a savage except in his barbarity. -But, come John, this won't do; I can't see -you perseveringly standing in your own light, -and, instead of arousing yourself to exertion, -indulging in melancholy reflections. You -must be stimulated to work the release of that -girl. Why, man, you have lost her through -your own supineness. Do you think if I had -loved a girl as you have Eleanor, that I -would have cared about all the Bob Smithers' -in the colony. I would never have ceased -my importunities, until I had induced her to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> -look favourably upon me, and condemn her -other suitor. You know the saying that the -constant dropping of water will wear away -the stone; and if I had not worn a hole into -her heart, it is a wonder; especially if my -rival was such a careless wooer as Smithers; -and when once I had got her to prefer me to -him, Bob Smithers, or Bob anybody else, -might have gone to Jericho for me. I'll bet -I'd have soon choked him off; but, my dear -fellow, let me see you put a bright face upon -the matter, and thrust your foot through -'Bob's affair'; for I am convinced it does -not require much to turn the scale in your -favour even now, notwithstanding all Eleanor's -scruples. The girl must be yours, so -take heart."</p> - -<p>A sickly smile was the only response Tom -got from his friend for this attempt to rally -him, but he continued: "Well, look here, -John, if you don't exert yourself to avert -what I consider a domestic calamity I shall -cease to consider you my friend. I never saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> -one who so pertinaciously adhered to a despondency, -without attempting to extricate -himself, as you. William tells me you have -declined the invitation to Brompton. Now, I -must insist upon your going; I'll take you -under my especial care, and will engage to -bring about something to your advantage."</p> - -<p>"I am extremely indebted to you for your -sympathy, Tom," said his friend; "but I -regret I have a pre-engagement to start for -New England before that time; and I fear -to delay my journey much longer as the -weather threatens to break."</p> - -<p>"Now, you know that is all nonsense," said -Tom; "I am going down to town myself in a -few days, and a day or two will make no -more difference to you than to me. I know -the object of your refusal, so that excuse -won't serve. Why should you desire to avoid -the Smitherses or ourselves? It is true Bob -has behaved to you in a most ungentlemanly -manner, but you need not notice him; the -invitation comes from his brother and lady,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> -and you may be sure he will be compelled to -treat you with civility. With regard to our -party, you need not be under any apprehension; -Mrs. Rainsfield, Eleanor, and myself -will form our cavalcade, so you may anticipate -no unpleasantness by the chance of meeting -my brother. While, if I judge rightly, our -going ought to be an inducement to you, for -of course we shall join to make one party on -the road."</p> - -<p>"I really can't go," said John.</p> - -<p>"I'll hear of no objection," replied Tom; -"you must go, unless you wish to displease -all of us by your moroseness. Besides, bear -in mind that your absence will give Bob -Smithers an opportunity of glorying over -your defeat. If it is only to oppose him I -would urge you to come; and make yourself -as agreeable to Eleanor as you can."</p> - -<p>"I have already declined the invitation," -said John, "and I doubt not ere this the -messenger has returned with Kate's reply; -so it would be unbecoming of me to go after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> -my refusal."</p> - -<p>"Moonshine!" exclaimed Tom. "Who -would ever think of studying etiquette with -our friends in the bush? Besides your apology -is a difficulty easily remedied, for the man is -going to stop at our place all night; so we -can get your sister to write another note, and -I will take it over to him, and exchange it for -the one he has; we may therefore consider -that arranged, and that you go."</p> - -<p>"I will go to please you," said John; "but -I can assure you I have little pleasure in the -prospect."</p> - -<p>"Well, you are a stubborn and ungrateful -fellow," exclaimed Tom Rainsfield. "I have -a good mind to repeat that remark to Eleanor, -unless you promise me to make amends by -being assiduously attentive to her, despite all -frowns of another."</p> - -<p>"I fear," replied John, "that is a difficult -task; however, I'll attempt that also to please -you."</p> - -<p>"That's right, my dear fellow," cried Tom,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> -"that's the first sensible thing I have heard -you utter for some time, and inclines me to -entertain some hopes of you yet. But come -let us join your sister and William; we will -talk over our plans, and set the young lady -to work on her letter."</p> - -<p>The two young men then sauntered quietly -up to the house, and Tom Rainsfield taking -the lead entered first, and addressed Kate -Ferguson in his lively manner as he did so.</p> - -<p>"I have been successful, my dear Miss -Ferguson," he said, "in making a convert of -John. I have overruled all his objections to -join us, and he has promised to accompany -our party to Brompton. So we have to beg -of you to concoct another epistle for Mrs. -Smithers, which I will be the bearer of to the -Brompton messenger, who is to remain at our -place all night."</p> - -<p>Kate instantly sprang from her seat, and -clapped her hands with delight; then running -to her brother threw her arms round his neck -and kissed him, gazing in his eyes as she said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> -"I am so delighted, dear John, that you are -coming with us. You have been looking so -melancholy of late that I have felt quite -wretched to see you; but you will be pleased -with the visit, I know you will, and happy -too; will you not, John?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, my dear," he replied, "but am I not -always happy?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know," replied the affectionate -girl; "but I hardly think you are always so. -Are you really happy now, John? You do -not look so."</p> - -<p>"But I am, my love," said he; "how could -I be otherwise?"</p> - -<p>"Of course not," said Tom; "I should like -to know what fellow would not be happy when -he had a pair of delicate little arms affectionately -flung round his neck, a brace of -luscious little ruby lips pouting to his, and -warbling the sweet music of affection, and -with two lovely eyes peering into his dull -orbs. By Jove! the very thought of it ought -to make him happy; and it is my firm conviction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> -that he has been showing all this -opposition just to be tempted in that way. -I only wish I could induce any little charmer -to try the same experiment on me. I would -be incessantly wanting an application of the -persuasive influence. Do you desire me to -join the party, Miss Ferguson?"</p> - -<p>"Of course, we do," replied the young lady; -"we couldn't well do without you."</p> - -<p>"Then I've determined not to go," replied -Tom. "Neither Mrs. Rainsfield nor Eleanor -care much about my company, so I think I'll -absent myself."</p> - -<p>This palpable hit of Tom's was rewarded by -a hearty laugh from John, and a blush and an -ejaculation of "you horrid man," from the damsel; -who pouted her lips, and attempted to -frown, while she went to her little writing-desk -to pen a revised edition of her note of the morning. -Her anger, however, as Tom well knew, -was only assumed and of short duration, and -after a few moments of attempted frigidity -she said smilingly: "You are really incorrigibly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> -rude, Mr. Rainsfield, and you may -depend upon it I will tell Eleanor of your -impertinence."</p> - -<p>"My dear young lady," replied the delinquent, -"that would be nothing new to her; -she is already fully acquainted with my peculiarities, -and would probably recommend you -to try the effect of your balm."</p> - -<p>"Why, you are getting worse than ever, -you insolent fellow," cried Kate. "I'll really -get angry with you, and forbid you accompanying -us, which I am sure, notwithstanding -your statement of indifference, would be a -severe punishment. But leave me alone a few -minutes pray, until I write my letter; and -then I will expect you to apologize to me for -your bad behaviour."</p> - -<p>"I will be as dumb as a dormouse," exclaimed -Tom, "until you have completed your -task, so proceed; or, perhaps, you would like -to employ me as your amanuensis. I will -be happy to be of service to you."</p> - -<p>"Then be good enough to hold your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> -tongue," said Kate, "you are not fulfilling -your promise of silence."</p> - -<p>"No; but I am merely making a suggestion -for your benefit," said Tom.</p> - -<p>"You are positively dreadful," cried Kate; -"you men, insolent fellows! are continually -talking of women's tongues; but, I declare, -no woman could have one that is kept so unceasingly -occupied as yours, for you give it no -rest; even when you are requested to do so, -and when you actually make the attempt."</p> - -<p>"You shall have no further cause to complain," -said Tom; "I will be silent until you -finish your letter; that is, if you do not occupy -as much time as is necessary to pen a -government dispatch. Ladies' specimens of -chirography are proverbially voluminous, are -as vague as an electioneering address, and -require as much attention and time in their -composition and execution, as if each individual -epistle was of the greatest moment of -their lives."</p> - -<p>"Hush! for goodness sake," exclaimed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> -Kate; "when will you stop? pray be silent -for a few minutes, and then you may talk as -much as you like."</p> - -<p>The desired truce was at length obtained, -and the letter written and handed to Tom for -delivery.</p> - -<p>"Now," said he, "where has William gone? -we ought to have him here to discuss plans; -however, I daresay, you, Miss Ferguson, John, -and I, can manage. What I would propose -is this; that you all come over to Strawberry -Hill the night before, and start thence the -first thing in the morning; for I fear that -you, Miss Ferguson, will find that fifty -miles will be quite far enough to ride in one -day, and Brompton is very nearly that from -our place."</p> - -<p>"That proposition I should decidedly object -to," said John; "it would not be consistent -to intrude ourselves upon your brother. The -extra distance between this and your place -will be of little consequence, especially as -Kate is a good horsewoman, and I am sure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> -will think nothing of the distance."</p> - -<p>"Very likely not," replied Tom; "but consider -a young lady cannot be expected to be -ready for a journey so early as you would, and -to do it comfortably you should start from -here at daybreak. Be reasonable now for once, -John, and if you won't come yourself let -William bring your sister over the day before, -and leave her that night with Eleanor. You -can pick her up as you pass on Thursday -morning, while we will join company, and all -proceed together. What do you say to that -arrangement, Miss Ferguson?"</p> - -<p>"I should like it very much," replied Kate; -"but I will do whatever John wishes. If he -does not desire me to stop at your house I -will endeavour to ride the whole distance in -the day, though I must confess it is rather a -long ride."</p> - -<p>"Of course it is," said Tom, "far too long for -you, excellent equestrian though you be; and, -besides, I can't see what objection John can -have to your visiting us. You come as a guest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> -to my sister-in-law; therefore, my brother's -quarrel with John should in no way prevent -you from sojourning with us. Waive all -unpleasant feelings, John, and let your sister -stop with us for that night."</p> - -<p>"I don't wish to detain her," replied John, -"out of any ill-feeling towards any member of -your family; I am sure you are perfectly -aware of that; but from a feeling that it would -be hardly proper under the circumstances."</p> - -<p>"There can be no impropriety in it," said -Tom; "my sister-in-law would be delighted -with the arrangement; in fact, she herself -proposed the scheme to me this morning, when -she received her invitation and heard that -you were expected to go too. To settle the -matter, I'll bring her over here on Thursday, -and she will take Miss Ferguson back with -her; for I know very well you'll not attempt -to dispute the question with her. What do -you say to <i>that</i> arrangement, Miss Ferguson?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I should be so happy to join Eleanor," -she exclaimed, "and stop with her that night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> -if John will let me."</p> - -<p>"Of course, he'll let you," replied Tom; -"he has no serious objection I know, but is -only opposing me because you are desirous of -the adoption of my scheme. He wants a -little more of your lip salve, when I'll guarantee -he'll be softened."</p> - -<p>"Now, you are mocking me," said Kate; -"it is cruel of you to make fun of my affection -for my brother. I am almost determined -not to have anything farther to say to you; -you are a hard-hearted unfeeling fellow."</p> - -<p>"Pardon me, my dear young lady," cried -Tom, "I was only attempting to do faint -justice to your insuperable power of fascination. -One soft embrace, similar to that I -witnessed a short time ago, I am sure will -melt your inexorable brother, who is even -worse to deal with, and requires more coaxing -than any 'stern parient' I ever saw."</p> - -<p>"I'll be softened without that this time," -said John, "as it is Mrs. Rainsfield's desire -that you should break your journey by starting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> -from her house, Kate, I have no desire to -oppose your own wish; you may go if you -like, and William and I will join your party -on Thursday morning."</p> - -<p>The delighted girl again ran over to her -brother, and sitting on his knee, with her -arms encircling his neck in an amatory embrace, -leant her head on his breast, and looked -roguishly pleased from her dark blue eyes at -Tom, who sat in perfect raptures, gazing at -the lovely seraph.</p> - -<p>"Upon my life, Miss Ferguson, you'll be -the death of me," he exclaimed; "how do you -imagine any mortal man can withstand such -temptation? If I witness another scene like -that to-day, I'll lose my senses. I must be -off home, unless you wish to have the weight -on your mind of being the cause of rendering -me a raving maniac."</p> - -<p>"I think you are that already, sir," replied -Kate; "for you are always strange in your -manner, and invariably accompany, in your -addresses to me, insults in your flattery."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> -But the kind-hearted girl, thinking, even in -her playfulness, she had said something too -harsh, came over and stood by Tom's chair, -and continued in a sweet and kindly voice -and with a smile beaming on her charming -features: "But I will give you full permission -during our visit to Brompton, to say as -many cruel things to me as you like and I -won't be angry. You may flatter me as much -as you please, and I'll pledge you my word -I'll not believe you. So there will be no -occasion for you to take leave of your senses -just at present."</p> - -<p>"To live under the smile of your countenance," -exclaimed Tom, "would be a sufficient -talisman against any evil spirit; so I fear -none of their machinations, and feel sufficiently -armed against that demon lunacy; towards -whom, since I have known you, I have always -had an irresistible tendency."</p> - -<p>"Then I should advise you," said Kate, "to -instantly fly my presence."</p> - -<p>"That, Miss Ferguson, would only have the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> -effect of hastening an exacerbation of my -malady; my only hope for relief is in a continuance -of your smiles."</p> - -<p>"Your case is certainly a most extraordinary -one," said Kate; "you say your only -relief is from me, and yet I am the cause of -your mental subversion."</p> - -<p>"It is not at all extraordinary, my dear -young lady," said Tom; "but perfectly consistent -with the doctrines of pharmacology, -both allopathic and homeopathic, by the principle -embodied in the doctrine of the latter, -viz., '<i>similia similibus curantur</i>.' If your -smiles wound my heart, they are the sweetest -as well as the surest remedy to heal it; -and, if an exhibition of your specious favours -almost drives me to distraction, the balm -whose curative powers is the most effective -is a permission to continue in the thraldom of -your mellifluent bondage."</p> - -<p>"Well, now, I declare you are a dreadful -fellow," said Kate, "I did not give you permission -to flatter me until Thursday week,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> -but you commence now in spite of me."</p> - -<p>"What! is he flirting again, my Kitty?" -said William, as he burst into the room. "Tom, -we will have to send you, like your renowned -namesake, to Coventry. You will be spoiling -our sister, cramming her poor little head with -your love speeches. She will be thinking of -nothing else but those little chubby-faced -winged archers, whose destined occupation is -to traverse the globe with flambeau in hand, -to ignite the inflammable material of mortals' -hearts. And instead of our finding substantial -meals, to satisfy the cravings of our -hunger, we will some day be expected to feed -on the ambrosia of that little mischief-making -deity. Is John superintending your flirting, -my turtle doves?"</p> - -<p>A hearty laugh was the response of Tom -Rainsfield to this sally; while John replied -that he had been too much amused at the -farce to interrupt it. Kate, however, took a -different mode of explanation. She advanced -nimbly to her brother and saluted him; not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> -in the way she had done to John, but with -an inoffensive titillation on his cheek with -her downy little hand; which she intended, -as she said, for a slap for his impertinence. -"But tell me, Will," said she, "what made -you rush in in such a hurry; was it to -frighten us?"</p> - -<p>"Frighten you, my pet?" he replied. "No! -I have got some fun to tell you. A few -minutes ago while I was down at the stock-yard -I had a letter put into my hands by -young Sawyer; but as the missive is an -epistolary production somewhat unique I will -read it to you for your benefit. The orthography -is not at all in harmony with any of -the lexicographers to whom it has been my -fortune at any time to refer; but in open -violation of Dr. Johnson and all his colleagues. -However, that is a minor curiosity, and can -be digested in detail."</p> - -<p>"Well, read us the letter," replied his -auditory, "or let us look at it."</p> - -<p>"Here it is," said William, as he commenced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> -to read it; while we, to give the reader a -better conception of the production, crave -pardon for inserting it verbatim. The superscription -is "Mr. Wm. Fuggishon, Esqe. Farn -Vail per barer," and the contents are:</p> - -<p>"Weddingsday, Dare Sir, Exkuse the -libety i take for to rite yer but Capting Jones -and me presints our comblemints and 'ave -to say as how weir agoing to 'ave a partey -on nixt munday and wood be glad if you'd -cum as theril be golley sprey and lots of -gents. be shuer and cum and also yer syster -cos we shal 'ave ladeys to at hour ouse, and -theril be no fears on her getting 'ome agin, -cos I thinks you dosent drink so of corse -you'd not git drunk I am Mr. Fuggishon sir -yours truly Mrs. Capting Jones wat is to be -or Mary ann Sawyer now.</p> - -<p>"<i>P.S.</i>—If you now any other frends as -wood like to cum, bring em."</p> - -<p>When the laughter that had followed the -reading of this epistle had somewhat subsided -William said to his sister: "Now, Kitty,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> -what do you think of that invitation? my -word! but we are going to have a gay time -of it up here; parties will be going the round -of the country after this. Of course, you -will go to the Sawyers rejoicings, Kitty, and -put on your pretty, and good behaviour?"</p> - -<p>"If I had not known you were joking, Will, -I would be angry with you," exclaimed the -indignant girl. "The impertinence of the -horrid creatures indeed!"</p> - -<p>"But you know, Kate, 'I dosent drink,' as -the prospective Mrs. Jones affirms; consequently -there is no fear of you, unless you -too often drink to the health of the happy -couple."</p> - -<p>"Don't talk nonsense, Will, but tell us how -this affair has come about; it is the first I -have heard of a marriage in their family being -contemplated?" said Kate.</p> - -<p>"Well, my little poppet," said William, "I -will impart to you all the information I have -been able to glean, and which has been -obtained from Mr. Reuben Sawyer, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> -brother of the bride, and the bearer of the -note of invitation. It appears that a certain -gentleman rejoicing in the name of Jones, -and honoured by the prefixed title of Captain -(though from whence, or in what service I -know not), has by some means introduced -himself to the family of Sawyer, and made a -conquest of the heart of the younger female -member. They are to be married at Alma on -Sunday, thence to return to the hall of the -bride's father, and entertain their friends on -Monday. What the pecuniary arrangements -are, I don't know; but I strongly suspect -they are to the advantage of the <i>soi-disant</i> -Captain, of whom, by the bye, I imagine the -Sawyer family know very little. It strikes -me it will turn out a sell for the girl, for I -fully expect the bridegroom will be discovered -to be an impostor. I am convinced he has -assumed a title and garb to palm himself off -on them as a gentleman, while they have -snatched at the bait."</p> - -<p>"What a dreadful man he must be then,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> -said Kate.</p> - -<p>"Even so, Miss Kate," said Tom; "but -there are numbers of such 'dreadful men' -prowling about in the colony; who appropriate -and abandon as many aliases and -personate as many characters as would people -a small town. They have a convenient knack -of falling in love with such girls as Miss Mary -Ann Sawyer, to whom they give a glowing -account of all their wealthy friends and genteel -relations. Then before the effect dies -out they propose, are accepted, recommend -a speedy marriage to prevent, as they say, -their relations from hearing and stopping the -intended match, and induce, too frequently, -not only the girl, but her friends to fall into -their views; while they do not discover their -error until the gay Lothario takes leg-bail -upon the first symptoms of an enquiry being -made after him by the victim of some -previous matrimonial swindle."</p> - -<p>"Well," said William, "I am inclined to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> -accept the invitation for myself. I would -like to witness the fun, for fun I am sure -there will be; and I am authorised to invite -any friends, so will make use of my <i>carte -blanche</i> and ask you, Tom. What do you -say, will you go? If you will, we will go -together. I would like to see their spread, -and attempts at doing the genteel thing; -but, at the same time, I should like to have -some one to accompany me."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I don't mind it at all," said Tom, "I'll -join you with pleasure to witness the feast. -I expect it will be a rich sight, if not a rich -feed. Will you make one of us, John?"</p> - -<p>"No," replied John, "I could not endure -their disgusting affectation; and I would find -no pleasure in witnessing their gross fooleries. -I will remain at home, and take care of Kate; -she will want some one to keep her company, -while you two roisterers are absent; and I -am sure it will be more congenial to both -of us."</p> - -<p>"Yes, it will indeed," said Kate; "I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> -glad you don't think of leaving me all alone, -John, and going to visit those horrid people."</p> - -<p>"Well, we will make amends by giving -you a graphic description of it when we -return," said William; "and, unless I am very -much mistaken, it will be of such a nature as -will excite your risibility."</p> - -<p>"Very well then," replied Kate, "I hope it -will be funny; but whatever you do, Will, -pray don't give any of the creatures any -encouragement to come here, for I am sure -I could not bear the sight of them in our -house."</p> - -<p>"Never fear, <i>ma cher</i>," replied William, -"our little tutelary angel shall never be contaminated -by the intercourse of our plebeian -neighbours; who must learn to consider, -notwithstanding an officer has married into -their family, that they are only entitled to gaze -at our bright star, and that it is too much -felicity to expect permission to be graced by -an admission within the circle of its rays."</p> - -<p>"Don't talk any more nonsense, Will,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> -replied his sister, "but be sure, if any of those -people make any proposition to come here, -that you will use all your endeavours to prevent -them."</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"Tam saw an unco sight!</div> -<div class="line">Nae cotillon brent new frae France,</div> -<div class="line">But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels,</div> -<div class="line">Put life and mettle in their heels."</div> -</div></div> -<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Burns.</span></div> -</div> - -<p>On the following Monday, towards the -evening, Tom Rainsfield and William mounted -their horses at Fern Vale, to ride over to the -domicile of the Sawyers. They had delayed -their visit until the close of the day, presuming, -though their invitation specified no -time of meeting, that they would be quite -early enough at the hour they were going. -They therefore rode leisurely along, and approached -"Industry" (as the Sawyers had -christened their place) just as the sun was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> -sinking in the west. The scene that then -presented itself to their vision was truly of a -novel character, and one that rather amused -them.</p> - -<p>A short distance from the cottage had been -erected a bowery hall for the reception and -feasting of the guests; and at the time when -it first burst upon their view the shouts that -arose from its umbrageous walls plainly indicated -the nature of the proceedings within. -But as the reader is not supposed to be -possessed of the same ubiquitous faculties as -the author, we may be permitted, for the -purpose of enlightenment, to describe the -nature of those proceedings.</p> - -<p>In the interior of this retreat, and stretching -its entire length, was a bench or impromptu -table, with seats on each side of it of a similar -construction; in the whole of which the -rough material was plentifully and principally -called into use. On the board stood the remains -of sundry viands, proclaiming the conclusion -of a feast; and bottles, and drinking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> -utensils of various shapes, sizes, and material, -were kept in constant activity by numerous -grim-visaged masculine beings who sat round -the table. The variety of costumes was -particularly striking, from the perfect black, -donned for the nonce by the head of the -Sawyer family, to that of one of his choicest -friends, who sat in resplendent vest, and shirt -sleeves; having divested himself of his outer -garment on the principle of preference to ease -over elegance. In the rear of what we may -call the saloon, in the shade of the bush, -another party was assembled; and from the -shrieks of the women, and the boisterous -mirth of the men, it was evident their amusement -was something other than that of a -passive nature.</p> - -<p>As our friends approached this group a -fleet-footed female darted from the human -labyrinth like a startled fawn closely pursued -by one of the merry-making lords of the -creation. The chase was continued amidst -the repetition of a perfect Babel of shouts and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> -laughter, until the panting and exhausted roe -sank into the arms of the pursuing hart, and -yielded to the requiting inosculation. Blush -not, gentle reader; these matured specimens -of the family of man, for the time forgot the -dignity of their years, and were amusing -themselves by a renewal of their youthful -pristine enjoyments. They were in fact playing -at "kiss in the ring."</p> - -<p>In the rear of the house the young men -detected another foliate shed, in which were, -secured to some rough stalls, numerous specimens -of horse-flesh; while in the vicinity -were scattered drays, light spring carts, and -even shakey gigs, evidently the conveyances -of the various guests. Here our friends left -their horses; and judging the best place to -present themselves to their host, and where -they were most likely to see him, would be -the leafy hall, they bent thither their steps. -Upon reaching the entrance they perceived -the company was being enlivened by the performance -of some disciple of Apollo, who was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> -venting forth in a stentorian voice a rendering -of "The Maniac;" and when he uttered (as the -young men arrested their steps so as not to -"disturb the harmony"): "No, by heavens! -I am not mad," they really thought he was -under the same strange hallucination as the -subject of the song, and labouring to deceive -himself upon a reality. If he was not mad, -they imagined, he was at least bordering on -that state; while the whole of his hearers -were not far removed from the same, when -they tolerated such uproar unworthily dignified -by the name of music.</p> - -<p>However, when the song ceased, in the -midst of the deafening shouts, and clatter of -tumblers etc. that followed, William and his -companion entered; and at once distinguished -the late singer as the individual who sat at -the head of the board. This personage was a -coarse-looking, red-faced, thick-set fellow; -with lowering eyebrows, bushy moustache -(though otherwise cleanly shaved face), and -hair of an objectionable, though undefinable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> -colour. He was dressed, as far as was perceptible, -in a black coat, white waistcoat, and -neckerchief, and with an immense frill front -to his shirt. He seemed to be exceedingly -heated with the exertion of his song; and was -drying his face and forehead with a white -handkerchief, in which action he was displaying -more than one massive ring; adorning fingers, -that, to the eyes of our friends, proved experience -in more active and manual employment -than military discipline would be likely to -require. He sat smiling complacently at his -friends, as one who was conscious of having -displayed the possession of a valuable talent; -and, though gratified by the adulation of his -hearers, he took it as a just homage, and as a -proof that they were not destitute of a phrygian -taste; or at least could appreciate music, -when they heard it in perfection, as when he -himself sang.</p> - -<p>This individual, our friends rightly judged, -was Captain Jones. On his right sat his lady, -the quondam Miss Sawyer, and on his left<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> -her worthy papa. Whether the young lady -was enchanted by the lyric strains of her lord, -or not, we are at a loss to say; notwithstanding -that we know she was possessed of what -she called a "pihanner," and had a soul for -music, having on various occasions accompanied -herself on that instrument to the immense -delight of her admiring friends. She -might have been actuated in her lengthened -sitting by motives of a protective character, -to preserve her husband from a too free libation; -or, it might have been, that she felt -happy in no other society but his. Either of -which reasons were sufficiently cogent, though -we are unable to conjecture which might have -influenced her. But, be it as it may, there -she sat; and, with the exception of her mother, -who occupied the foot of the table, she was -the only representative of her sex in the -assembly.</p> - -<p>William and Tom had made their way very -nearly up to the head of the table before they -were noticed by the host; who, when he perceived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> -them, jumped from his seat, and seizing -them each by the hand, expressed all sorts of -pleasure at their presence, and formally introduced -them to the bold Captain Jones and his -lady. The latter having received their congratulations -with the most perfect nonchalance, -proposed, as the evening was drawing -on, that the company should all adjourn -to the house; and suiting her motion to her -word she sallied from the bower, escorted by -our friends, and followed by the bridegroom, -and the other "beings of sterner stuff."</p> - -<p>In the cottage they were joined by those -who had been amusing themselves on the -green; and all then sat down to another substantial -meal that went by the name of tea. -This being despatched, while the rooms were -being cleared, the men adjourned to the -verandah and grass to smoke, and were joined -by some of the women; while the rest assisted -in the domestic arrangements inside. These -being completed, and the smokers satisfied -with "blowing their cloud," they reentered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> -the dwelling, which had in the short -space of time they had occupied in the enjoyment -of the narcotic weed, become perfectly -metamorphosed. The principal room had -been converted from <i>la salle á manger</i> to <i>la -salle de danse</i>; and its transition had been so -speedily effected that the company were quite -delighted, and loud in their praises of the -effective adornment We are inclined to -think, however, more was to be attributed -to the spirit that pervaded the company to -be pleased with everything than that there -was any display of wonderful taste. A few -boughs of green foliage were stuck about the -walls; and the benches of planks were arranged -all round the room, and covered with -scarlet blankets; while, by way of chandeliers, -and in lieu of candlesticks, bottles, containing -"Belmont sperms," were dispersed and -stationed on every available stand, by which -simple means the lighting and decorating of -the hall was completed.</p> - -<p>The superior guests (we mean our young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> -friends William and Tom) were led away by -"the Captain," who acted as major domo -<span class="smcap">M.C.</span>, etc., to a back room; which on ordinary -occasions served as the dormitory of Mr. -Reuben Sawyer, but on the present was set -apart for the especial refreshment of "the -gents;" while the bridal apartment in the -front was made to endure a similar profanation -for the benefit of "the ladies." The -Captain, after enjoying another shake of the -hand from his visitors, gave vent to his feelings -in a rapturous expression of delight at -the honour of their patronage; declaring -the moment to be the happiest of his life; -trusting he should long enjoy the pleasure of -their friendship; regretting that their friends -had not found it convenient to accompany -them; and finally requested them to join him -in a drink. Upon receiving an acquiescence -to this request, he exclaimed: "What shall it -be? Brandy? gin? wine? claret? champagne? -Ah, champagne; yes! we will have -a bottle of champagne for good fellowship<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> -sake." Upon which he took up a bottle and -cut the string, when away flew the cork, while -he poured the wine into three tumblers. Two -of these he pushed over to his guests, while -the third he raised to his own lips, with the -trite though universal toast of "here's luck," -and drained his glass at a draught; while he -smacked his lips with the air of a connoisseur, -and said: "You'll find that an excellent wine, -for I selected it myself. The fellow I bought -it from tried to palm some inferior stuff on to -me, but it wouldn't do; he did not know I -was a judge of wine until I convinced him I -was not to be humbugged by any of his -rubbish. But to tell you the truth wine is -all stuff; it does not do a man any good; -it may suit a Frenchman (who has got no -blood in him) to drink it; but give me beer -or brandy they are the drinks for an Englishman. -What'll keep life in a fellow like -brandy? the only right thing the French -ever did was to make brandy; it's the real -stuff to cheer you after all. Try a 'ball,'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> -will you?"</p> - -<p>Both William and Tom thanked the enthusiastic -Captain, but declined the proffered -ball; while he assisted himself to a pretty -stiff jorum of the <i>eau de vie</i>, and quaffed it as -if it was a really necessary concomitant to -his life; after which he said: "Well, suppose -then we go into the room to the women; they -will be wanting me to start them off in a -dance. But have a smoke? here's some cigars -if you like them. You know we don't object -to smoking in our drawing-room, ah! ah! -ah! This is Liberty Hall! for you can do -as you like. But excuse me, I must be off; -make yourselves perfectly at home." Saying -which, and puffing vigorously at a cigar, he -left them, while they leisurely sauntered into -the verandah in front; from which they could -witness the terpsichorean arrangements.</p> - -<p>Elevated in a remote corner of the room, -was a professional gentleman of the Paganini -school; but, unlike that great performer, he -was not content to manipulate upon one chord,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> -but continued with strenuous efforts to raise -discord on four. His music, if not exactly -metrical, was at least spirited, and that was -sufficient for the lovers of the "light fantastic," -who danced "their allotted hour" with no -small degree of delight. As all human happiness -must have an end so had the enjoyment -of these merrymakers; and the jig was -terminated in a long drawn sigh, and "Oh! -dear me," from the women, and an explosion -of the remaining pent-up steam of the men. -These forthwith adjourned "to liquor," leaving -the softer sex to do the same if they felt so -disposed, which many of them appeared to be. -After about half an hour had elapsed, when -the guests returned by degrees to the saloon, -Captain Jones volunteered a song; and, upon -obtaining the greatest degree of silence practicable, -gave the "Ship on Fire." It was in -much the same style as the former specimen -of his vocalic talent; except that he was a -little more boisterous, and sang with a less -distinct utterance. But still he was in keeping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> -with the character of the epic; for, unless -his face very much belied his internal state, -he was in one intestine blaze. There is an -oft repeated story of Sir Walter Raleigh that -while he was one day smoking his wonted -pipe his servant brought him in his beer; -but when the domestic, uninitiated to the -consolation of the weed, beheld a volume of -smoke emitted from the mouth of his master -he imagined him to be inflicted by a celiac -conflagration, and cast the contents of the -flagon into Sir Walter's face. If the ingenious -servitor had only lived in our day, and -been called upon to wait on our friend the -Captain as he appeared on this occasion, he -would assuredly have made the same waste -of malt liquor on the illuminated visage of -that individual. However, the "Ship on Fire" -was got through, and elicited great applause; -after which, the <i>artiste</i>, perceiving his genteel -guests rather apart from the rest of the company, -and not joining in the festivities, came -over and addressed them in the following<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> -words:</p> - -<p>"Why don't you make yourself at home? -you haven't had anything to drink to-night; -some refreshments will be round in a minute -or so, and then we will have a dance; but -you've never heard my wife sing, have you?" -Upon receiving a reply in the negative, he -continued: "Then, my word, she's a stunner! -I'll go and tell her you want her to sing. You -know she sings, 'I should like to marry.' I -composed a song for her to that tune, and you -shall hear it;" saying which he left them to -induce his fair bride to oblige her friends; at -the same time that Mr. Sawyer, junior, made -his appearance with a large jug and a number -of tumblers, and asked our friends if they -would take a drink. They thought it strange -to bring water round to imbibe, considering -that most of the guests ignored that beverage -without its being plentifully diluted with -spirits (as the Captain said). But thinking it -was possibly on their account, seeing that -they did not indulge alcoholically as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> -others did, our young friends gladly accepted -a glass, and held it to be filled from the jug. -To their astonishment, however, what they -had imagined was water gave evidence, by its -appearance, of more inebriating qualities.</p> - -<p>"Why, what on earth is that you're giving -us, Reuben?" asked William.</p> - -<p>"Champagne," replied the youth.</p> - -<p>"Champagne!" they both uttered at once; -"that is a novel way of serving champagne."</p> - -<p>"Oh, father said it was humbug to open a -bottle and hand it round in mouthfuls to the -people," replied the youth; "so, you see we -opened a lot, and turned them into this jug, -so that everybody can take a drink of it."</p> - -<p>This idea considerably amused our friends, -and they laughed heartily at the champagne -service, as they called it; but were checked -suddenly in their mirth by the "charming -and accomplished" Mrs. Jones warbling forth -her desires for a suitable match in the matrimonial -way. We need not repeat her song -but merely state that her desiderata were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> -centred in a young digger with plenty of -gold, and a good hut, which was to be -possessed of a brick chimney; and not a slab -"humpie" with a hole in the bark roof, containing -a tub or other cylindrical vessel to -carry off the smoke. And the desired one, -should he present himself, was to go down on -his knees, and conscientiously swear that he -"had left no wife at home." When the lady -had finished her song the plaudits of her -enraptured hearers rang through the house, -and the woods outside. The company were -enchanted, and no doubt imagined she had -far surpassed even the efforts of a Grisi (did -they but know such a being existed). The -fair creature herself was equally satisfied with -her performance, which she considered exquisite; -though our friends were rude enough to -think otherwise, notwithstanding that they -were profuse in their praise to the lady and -her husband. Dancing was then resumed, -and the young men, having seen enough to -afford a fund of amusement to themselves and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> -their respective family circles, waited for an -opportunity to slip away unmolested. The -fortuitous event was not long in presenting -itself; and at a moment when the majority -of the men were engaged "fast and furious" -at their wassail, the two young men saddled -their horses, mounted, and returned to Fern -Vale.</p> - - -<p class="center">END OF VOL. II.</p> - - -<p class="center">EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY THE CALEDONIAN PRESS</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="chap"/> -</div> - -<p class="center heading">MR. NEWBY'S</p> - -<p class="center subheading">NEW PUBLICATIONS.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center">In 2 vols., demy 8vo, price 30s. cloth,</p> - -<p>THE TURKISH EMPIRE: in its Relations -with Christianity and Civilisation. By <span class="smcap">R. R. Madden</span>, -F.R.C.S., and M.R.I.A., Author of "Travels in Turkey, Egypt, -and Syria," "The Life of Savonarola," "Memoirs of the -Countess of Blessington," etc.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Dr. Madden's work is the result of two processes seldom conjoined -in a history of this kind—namely, the most complete reading and research, -and the most vigilant personal observation, accomplished by -years of residence in Turkey at different periods, from 1824 up to the -present time. Altogether his work is a most admirable one; and for -accuracy of fact, lucid arrangement, and agreeable style of narration, -will prove alike acceptable to the student and to the general reader."—<i>Dublin -Evening Post, March 18th.</i></p></blockquote> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"A most invaluable book. With the history of the Ottoman -Empire no English writer is better acquainted than Dr. Madden, whose -thorough mastery of the subject has been gained by a residence in the -East at three different periods."—<i>Liverpool Albion.</i></p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span></p> - -<p>MARRYING FOR MONEY. By Mrs. -<span class="smcap">Mackenzie Daniels</span>, Author of "My Sister Minnie," -"Our Brother Paul," etc.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Readers of every class will be delighted with Mrs. Daniels' new -novel. It is truthful to nature, graceful in its language, pure in its -moral, full of incident, and the tale extremely interesting. 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By the Author of -"Cavendish," "The Flying Dutchman," etc.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center">LONDON: NEWBY, 30, WELBECK STREET.</p> - -<div class="chapter"><hr class="tb" /> -<div class="transnote"> -<p>Transcriber's notes</p> - -<p>Spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been standardised.</p> - -<p>Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (italics).</p> - -<p>Table of Contents has been added.</p> -</div> -</div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Fern Vale, Volume 2 (of 3), by Colin Munro - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FERN VALE, VOLUME 2 (OF 3) *** - -***** This file should be named 51704-h.htm or 51704-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/7/0/51704/ - -Produced by Nick Wall, David K. 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