PERILOUS SITUATION DURING THE FIRE.--STEEL SPRING TURNS UP.
As Murden crouched down by my side, he loosened his pistols in his belt,
and whispering to me, requested that I would follow his example. While I
wondered at his command, he spoke to his men, and then I understood his
motive.
"During our long connection with the police force," the lieutenant said,
"we have never been placed in a situation like the present. We have
undergone almost starvation--we have had bushrangers howling at our
heels and ready to kill all who fell behind while on the march--we have
been nearly dead for the want of water--we have been surrounded by
natives wielding poisoned spears, and you know that a prick from them is
death--we have enjoyed good and bad fortune together, have we not?"
"We have," replied the men, with one accord.
"And during all the scenes through which we have passed, have I not
shared your dangers and toils?" Murden asked.
"That you have," the police said, uttered in a tone of voice that showed
they should like to see the man who would gainsay it.
"I ask you these questions, men, because all dangers through which we
have, passed were nothing compared to the present. Our safety depends
upon our actions."
"Our actions?" repeated the men, in great surprise.
"Yes, I repeat it. Our safety depends upon ourselves. You feel that the
air is close and heated within our retreat. In half an hour's time the
present temperature would seem like winter if offered in contrast to
what we shall endure. We shall suffer for water, and perhaps none of us
will survive the ordeal; but let me tell you that our hope of safety is
in keeping still, and enduring all without a murmur. If a disturbance
does come in our midst, and one of you loses his reason, remember I
shall not hesitate to sacrifice him to preserve the rest. I have my
pistols with me--they are loaded, and I seldom miss my aim."
The men listened in silence, and by their looks appeared to agree in the
conclusion to which Murden had arrived.
For a few minutes not a word was spoken, and not a man moved from his
position or even offered to fan his heated face, for fear the act would
be construed into one of suffering.
Almost over our heads we could hear the roaring of flames as they
gathered force and fury in their course; but worse than all, the groans
of the wounded bushrangers fell upon our ears with awful distinctness,
in spite of the falling trees, which at times crashed upon our heavy
roof, and sifted down dirt through the cracks like falling rain.
The flames were almost forgotten--the heat, oppressive as it was, seemed
endurable when compared to the sufferings which we knew the bushrangers
were experiencing.
We listened attentively, and could tell when they expired, one by one,
by the cessation of groans, oaths, and curses which they heaped upon us.
Those who survived the longest appeared to have become insane; and after
dragging their mutilated bodies to the entrance of the vault, laughed as
they told us of the delicious warmth which they were experiencing, and
died cursing their Maker, and their mothers who bore them.
I stopped my ears, but, long after the most hardy had died, I fancied
that I could hear their dreadful ravings; and even at this late day, I
frequently start from my sleep as I dream of the frightful scenes which
I encountered in that black forest. Better death a thousand times than
again purchase life at such an expense of suffering at the hands of
others.
Hour after hour passed, and it seemed as though we could not possibly
survive many minutes longer. Our tongues were swollen and hanging from
our months, dry, parched, and apparently ready to crack for the want of
moisture.
Our eyes were expanded, fierce, and fixed--our brains seemed melting,
and a heavy pressure rested upon our temples. I counted my pulse, and
found that, as near as I could judge, it was beating at the rate of two
hundred per minute. My heart appeared to keep pace with my pulse, and
throbbed so violently that it seemed as though it would force itself
through my side. A feeling of death-like sickness stole over me--I
closed my eyes, and tried to fancy that I was by the side of a cool
stream, and at length, I think that my senses did wander; for I was
brought to myself by feeling a hand laid upon my shoulder, and no gentle
shake aroused me.
"Courage, friend Jack," cried the consoling voice of Fred. "Cheer up,
man! the worst is over, and in a short time we shall be free again.
Come, cheer up."
I remember looking at my friend long and anxiously, and trying to settle
in my mind where I had seen his face before. I think that I even
laughed, and told him that he was taking great liberties with a
stranger, and demanded what he meant by striking me on my shoulder.
I also think that I saw him carefully remove my revolver, and place it
beyond my reach. But all was uncertain; a blur appeared to be before my
eyes which prevented my seeing distinctly.
"Here, drink of this," whispered Fred, and as he spoke he raised a small
bottle to my lips.
The draught restored me to full consciousness. The liquor was
claret--warm, almost hot; yet I thought that I never tasted any thing
half so sweet and reviving.
I saw a score of eager eyes fixed upon the bottle which I held, and even
Murden glared like a famished wolf as he heard the gurgling of the
liquor in my mouth.
"Softly," whispered Fred, as I was about to apply the bottle to my lips
the second time. "Remember there are others suffering as well as
yourself."
Noble-hearted Fred! when did you ever fail to sympathize in the
sufferings of others, and use your utmost endeavors to contribute to
their relief?
"If hell," groaned Murden, "is hotter than this hole, I have no desire
to go there."
"You would not get liquor like this to cool your tongue there," Fred
said, handing the lieutenant the bottle to wet his parched lips.
"The bushranger is dying, sir," cried one of the men, who was seated
nearest to the wounded man.
Murden hesitated while raising the bottle to his lips for a moment.
"If I thought, that the contents of the flask would save him, I would
yield it," he said; "but all the wine in the universe would not bring
him to active life, while a few drops will help sustain me. My duty is
clear. I will try and preserve my own existence."
He barely wet his lips, however, but even while he was doing so, I saw
by the appearance of the men that they were perishing from thirst; yet
such was their pluck and discipline that not one of them uttered a
groan, or spoke in an angry tone.
"Divide it fairly, men," Murden said, passing the bottle to Maurice.
"Remember, each one can only wet his lips."
The injunction was obeyed, and the half pint of claret went the rounds,
and came back to Fred with a few drops remaining.
As though to reward the men for their forbearance, a slight breeze,
deliciously cool, swept over our heads, and revived us with new life. At
the same time we heard a hissing on the outside, which sounded like a
piece of hot iron suddenly thrown into a pail of water. We all listened
attentively at the sound, hardly daring to believe that what we heard
was real. The noise grew louder and louder, and through the small
opening we caught, sight of huge drops of rain falling.
"Hurrah!" yelled Murden, starting to his feet and poking his head out of
the den; "we are all right now--it's raining in torrents."
The news was so good that we shook hands with each other, and
congratulated ourselves as being under the especial care of Providence.
Even Rover added his joyful barks to our cheers, and so eager was he
that I suffered him to go out and roll in the wet to his heart's
content.
The fire was being rapidly extinguished by the torrents of water which
were falling, and so eager did our party feel to gain the open air once
more, that they preferred to brave the rain and smoke to remaining in a
place that liked to have been their grave.
It was rare to have rain at that time of year in Australia, and a number
of the men construed it into an omen of the good will of Providence; but
I reflected, and came to the conclusion that the cause was natural, and
could be produced at any time if there were forests enough to burn so as
to obtain the requisite amount of heat.
The danger, however, was not all passed. The ravages of the flames were
stayed, but the ground which the fire had burned over was covered with
smoking brands and livid coals, which, unless speedily extinguished by
the rain, would keep us prisoners for a number of days--and with nothing
to eat, the prospect was any thing but cheering. It is no wonder, then,
we all mentally prayed that the rain would continue, and that our eyes
were cast towards the heavens often to see if there was a prospect of
the clouds breaking away.
Still the rain poured down in torrents, and huge clouds of mist and
vapor filled the air and walled us in until we seemed as though confined
in a steam box. We cared not for that, however; rain, rain in torrents
was all that we prayed for; and so engrossed were we, that even the dead
bodies of the bushrangers, lying almost at our feet, were neglected.
At length, however, our reason returned, and we found time to pay some
respect to the dead. We resolved to bury them in a grave near the
excavation in which we had sought shelter, and for this purpose three or
four of the men commenced throwing dirt upon a large pile which we had
previously thrown up. Hardly had the second shovelful been added before
an extraordinary movement amongst the dirt took place, and the police
started back in wonder and alarm.
"What are you afraid of?" demanded Murden.
"We are afraid of nothing," replied Maurice; "but the dirt appears to be
bewitched."
"Nonsense! Strike the earth with the point of your shovels and let's see
what witchery there is concealed there," cried the lieutenant,
authoritatively.
Maurice no longer held back. He raised his shovel and drove it into the
soft earth, and the effect was electrical.
"Blast yer hies, vot is ye 'bout," roared a voice that we instantly
recollected; and before we could utter a word in astonishment, up rose
the lank form of the genius Steel Spring.
"Is this the vay to treat a man vot does hevery thing he can to save
ye?" the impudent wretch demanded, in an indignant tone.
"For God's sake, how came you alive?" asked Murden, looking at the man
as though he expected to see him disappear from before his eyes at a
moment's warning.
"O, it's wery vell to ax me how I does a thing after I get's out of a
fix," Steel Spring replied, with one of his grins; "but I know'd that I
varn't goin' to kick the bucket vithout vun trial for my life."
"Tell me how you managed to preserve your worthless life?" asked the
officer, too much astonished to feel indignant, and almost inclined to
believe that the fellow was under the protection of some good genii.
"Vell, I doesn't think my life very vorthless if you do, Mr. Hofficer;
but in case you should ever get cotched in the same kind of a trap, I'll
tell ye. Do ye see, ven I found that your company vas exclusive, I looks
herround for means of safety, but I didn't find heny wery 'andy; if I
'ad I don't think that I should be here now; vell, the longer I stopped
to consider, the wus I felt; and at length, ven the fire begins to burn
the nice clothes vich I vore, I thought it bout 'time to do somethin';
so I 'appens to cast my hies on this loose dirt, and then quicker than
lightning I digs a place, and lays down and covers me all hup, leaving
only a leetle 'ole to breathe through. It vas varm, though--hawf'ul
varm; and at one time I feared I should die; but the Lord supported me
in my trouble, and here I is, safe and ready to be of service agin."
For a short time every one was silent, so astonished did we feel to hear
the treacherous wretch use the name of his Maker in connection with
himself.
"God has preserved your life for some object which we mortals cannot
understand," Murden said. "I shall not punish you, neither shall my men.
The courts of Melbourne must decide upon your guilt." "Vot, is you going
to take me afore the big vigs?" asked Steel Spring, with dismay.
"There is only one chance to escape such a fate," replied the
lieutenant.
"Name it, name it," cried Steel Spring, with avidity.
"By leading me to the hiding place of that arch fiend, Nosey."
"Is that all?" cried the fellow, with a look of intense delight.
"And do you consent?" asked Murden, disgusted at the fellow's
treacherous instincts.
"Consent?" he repeated; "vy, of course I does; vouldn't Nosey 'ang me
and all of his gang for the purpose of saving his life? and vy should I
refuse; to 'elp stretch his neck ven I can keep mine free of the rope?
Consent? of course I does."
"Remember," said Murden, with a stern look, "that we are to have no
tricks here. If you even offer to lead me out of the right course I'll
make a hole in your body big enough to throw a Bible through."
"I should then he sanctified, vouldn't I, lieutenant?" asked the wretch,
with one of his cunning grins.
"How far from this place is the gang?" demanded Murden.
"Not more than four or five miles, I guess," was the answer.
"In the woods?"
"In the woods," repeated Steel Spring.
"Easy of access?"
"Vot is that?"
"I mean, can I and my men get at the gang without being surprised on our
part?"
"Vell, if I hoffers to guide you there'll be no difficulty, 'cos I knows
the vay, and no mistake. But my life is to be preserved, you know.
Recollect that, lieutenant."
"I shall remember my word, and I will keep it in every respect. If you
prove true, your life is safe, but if false, not a man under my command
but will single you out for instant death. I know your tricks, and shall
be watchful."
"I 'opes you vill, 'cos I can bear a great deal of that kind of
vigilance. But I'm all right now. I know my friends."
"You'll know them better if you lead me into an ambush," remarked
Murden; and here the conversation with Steel Spring dropped, but Fred
and myself took occasion to speak to the lieutenant on the folly of
trusting to him, but Murden was firm.
"If I can use this man," he argued, "to break up the gang of Nosey, and
destroy that wretch, I shall think that I have been of real use to the
country, and feel content to retire on my honors. There is some risk,
you say. I grant that there is; but consider how many people have been
murdered by the villains, and then reflect whether it is not better to
entertain the danger and strike a blow that shall free this part of the
country of bushrangers for months to come. Come, come, look at matters
in their true light and promise me your cooperation."
How could we refuse him, after the trouble he had endured for our sake?
We extended our hands, and with a warm pressure the compact was sealed.