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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. MADDEN, F.R.C.S., and M.R.I.A., Author of "Travels in Turkey, -Egypt, and Syria," "The Life of Savonarola," "Memoirs of the Countess of -Blessington," etc. - - "Dr. Madden's work is the result of two processes seldom conjoined - in a history of this kind--namely, the most complete reading and - research, and the most vigilant personal observation, accomplished - by years of residence in Turkey at different periods, from 1824 up - to the present time. Altogether his work is a most admirable one; - and for accuracy of fact, lucid arrangement, and agreeable style of - narration, will prove alike acceptable to the student and to the - general reader."--_Dublin Evening Post, March 18th._ - - "A most invaluable book. With the history of the Ottoman Empire no - English writer is better acquainted than Dr. Madden, whose thorough - mastery of the subject has been gained by a residence in the East - at three different periods."--_Liverpool Albion._ - - -MARRYING FOR MONEY. 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By EVASHOPE. - - "The author's description of Devonshire scenery is quite equal to - anything written by Miss Mitford. The tale only requires to be - known to be universally read and appreciated."--_Ashford News._ - - "The tale is one which will not lack admirers."--_Observer._ - - "A very interesting tale, full of point and vigour."--_Sporting - Review._ - - -THE FRIGATE AND THE LUGGER: A Romance of the Sea. By C. F. ARMSTRONG, -Author of "The Two Midshipmen," "The Cruise of the _Daring_." - - "The best sea tales of Marryatt and Cooper do not excel or even - equal this in incident."--_Kent Express._ - - "The details of the novel are full of excitement."--_Observer._ - - -In one vol, 10s. 6d., - -VICTORIA AS I FOUND IT: during Five Years' Adventure in Melbourne, on -the Roads, and the Gold Fields. By HENRY BROWN. - - "The most generally interesting portions of Mr. Brown's amusing - narrative are those relating to the Gold Diggings, quartz crushing, - and adventures on the road. 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HENRY BARRY, M.A., late Rector of -Draycot Cerne, Wilts, Author of "Cæsar and the Britons," etc. Edited by -his Daughter, Author of "Mabel," "Margaret Hamilton," etc. - - -THE ANCHORET OF MONTSERRAT. By Mrs. KELLY, Daughter of the late Mrs. -Sherwood. - - "An able and powerfully written tale."--_Observer._ - - "The incidents are carefully put together, and the novel will be - read with satisfaction."--_News of the World._ - - -In one vol., 10s. 6d., - -CHRISTOPHER CHATAWAY. - - - - -NEW WORKS BY POPULAR AUTHORS, =JUST READY.= - - -In 2 vols., 21s., - -THE LAST DAYS OF A BACHELOR. By J. M'GREGOR ALLAN, Author of "The Cost -of a Coronet," etc. - - -In 3 vols., - -RIGHT AND LEFT. By Mrs. C. NEWBY, Author of "Mabel," "Sunshine and -Shadow," etc. - - -In 2 vols., - -GERALD RAYNER. By KARL HYTHE. - - -In 2 vols., - -A MARRIAGE AT THE MADELEINE; or, Mortefontaine. - - -In 2 vols., 21s., - -THE DULL STONE HOUSE By KENNER DEENE. - - -In 3 vols., 31s. 6d., - -SCAPEGRACE AT SEA. By the Author of "Cavendish," "The Flying Dutchman," -etc. - - -LONDON: NEWBY, 30, WELBECK STREET. - - - * * * * * - - - -Transcriber's notes - -Spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been standardised. - -Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (italics). - -Table of Contents has been added. - - - - - - -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 51704-8.txt or 51704-8.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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