TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO BALLARAT, WITH THE BUSHRANGERS.
We did not allow our attention to be drawn from the bushrangers, even
for a second, while they were descending, and the scamps knew it, for
they cowered, as though expecting to be shot every moment, and one of
them muttered something about his being honest, and never engaged in a
robbery; while one of the wounded ruffians, who was groaning piteously
in the ravine, prayed that his life might be saved, as he had many
important revelations to make, which the police would like to hear.
We had taken the precaution to disarm the wounded men, before they
fairly recovered from their surprise, so that they were powerless to
inflict harm; and after the two bushrangers who were uninjured stood
before us, obedient to our will, we began to ask ourselves what we
should take to secure them with.
Luckily, upon one of the horses was a halter of considerable length,
which we had used when we staked the animals for feeding nights, and we
determined to secure them with this, and then carry them to Ballarat in
triumph.
Fred stood guard over the ruffians, while I got the rope, and carried
our resolution into effect. Bill, the leader of the gang, who was one of
the uninjured, uttered a number of angry oaths, as I bound his limbs;
but the cocked pistols which Fred held were too much for him to attempt
to brave, and he submitted without a struggle.
Even while tying the rope, I used due precautions to prevent their hands
from getting at the knots; and although the scamps winced a little, as
the cord sunk into their flesh, I did not pay that attention to their
comfort that I should, had they been other than bushrangers.
After lashing them together, and then making them lie down upon their
backs, from which position they could not move without help, we turned
our attention to the two wounded men, who were groaning piteously.
One of them had received a ball near the hip, which had shattered the
bones in that region, and prevented his standing upon his feet, even for
a second.
The other was wounded in the back, near the spine, and could not move
without great exertion. We could not relieve their pains, or even
furnish them with a drink of water, for which they begged piteously; but
we promised that they should be removed to Ballarat, as soon as
possible, and that their wants should there be attended to.
We then led our horses to the spot where the inspector was lying, and
was glad to find that he was quite cheerful, in spite of his intense
suffering.
We briefly explained to him what we had done, but it was some time
before he would really believe that we were giving a true account of our
proceedings. It seemed so extraordinary that two men could accomplish
so much, by the aid of a little strategy, that he was lost in wonder,
and declared that to us alone did he owe his life.
Only wait until I get back to Ballarat and tell the police force that
two Americans have saved my life, and refused to leave me, even when
their own was in danger, and you shall see the manner in which they will
treat you and your countrymen. I'll never complain again that Americans
are troublesome at the mines, and if I had the power, not one of them
should be called upon for the payment of a tax.
Mr. Brown never forgot us, and even now, I am in the habit of receiving
letters from him from Australia, and in each one there is an allusion to
the ravine scenes. But I am again getting before my story.
"We have but little time to spare," said Fred; "we must reach Ballarat
before sundown, and send out a party to look after the wants of the
wounded bushrangers; now, if you think that you can ride to the mines,
we will start immediately. Even if the pain of moving is great, let me
advise you to endure it for much depends upon your firmness."
The inspector understood the meaning of Fred's words too well to
hesitate about which course he should pursue. He knew that his wounds
were dangerous, and that they would mortify in a short time, unless
dressed and cleansed; for already a crowd of flies were hovering in the
air about his head, and ready to plague his life out, the instant we
withdrew a short distance.
"I think that I can ride to Ballarat," the inspector said, after feeling
of his leg, and finding that the bleeding had nearly ceased; "at any
rate, I cannot remain here through half of the night. Lift me on to one
of the horses, and let me see how I can navigate."
We raised him gently in our arms, and placed him in my saddle, and to
our great satisfaction, we found that after the first paroxysm of pain
was over, he could get along very well. We led the animal upon which he
was mounted slowly along the ravine, until we reached our prisoners, who
were lying in the same position as when we left them.
Upon the inspector's thinking that it would be better to take the two
uninjured men with us, we cut a portion of their bonds, but still
allowed their arms to be confined, and after a hasty examination of the
wounds of the two bushrangers, we promised them speedy assistance, and
then started on our return to Ballarat.
Our prisoners marched in advance of us, in gloomy silence, for a short
distance, but I could observe that the leader, or the man who was called
"Bill," cast anxious glances at the inspector, as though desirous of
speaking, yet fearing that his remarks would not be received with much
cordiality. At length he mustered sufficient nerve to exclaim,--
"It is long since we have met, Mr. Brown."
"I know that, Bill; yet you have managed to keep your name alive, so
that you see I have not forgotten you."
"I never was a favorite of yours, even while at the hulks," replied the
bushranger, with a gloomy scowl.
"It was your own fault, Bill. I would have treated you in the manner
that the others were treated, had you but given me the chance. Was not
your conduct of the most stubborn and rebellious nature? Did you not
endeavor to excite to mutiny the prisoners of your ward, and when you
were detected, how could you hope for mercy at the hands of the prison
commissioners?"
"But you flogged me--flogged me until my back was marked and bruised,
and even now the scars are visible. You tied me up like a dog; you would
not hear me, although I begged with tears for death, rather than have
the cat touch my back. I then felt like a man. After the flogging I was
a brute, and ready to avenge my wrongs upon all who crossed my path."
The outlaw stopped while delivering his remarks, which were uttered with
vehement passion, and we were obliged to compel him to move on, so
carried away was he with his subject.
"The flogging which was administered to you caused you to murder a miner
and his wife, who were journeying towards Melbourne, rejoiced to think
that they were worth a few hundred pounds," continued Mr. Brown,
sarcastically.
"It's a lie," muttered the fellow, with a downcast look.
"You know that you murdered both, while sleeping. Coward that you are,
you feared to meet the miner awake."
"It's a lie.'" returned the fellow, with a glance towards the inspector
that would have annihilated him if it had been possible; "I met them
when awake, and--"
He ceased suddenly, and continued to walk forward at a rapid rate.
The inspector glanced at us in a meaning manner, as though desirous that
we should remember all that was said.
"Your brother pal, who was with you at the time, and who is now working
out a sentence on the roads, tells me that you crept up to the miner and
wife, and struck the former first; and that after the deed was
completed, you refused to share the gold dust."
"That's another lie!" cried the fellow, stamping his foot with passion;
"I gave him his share for silencing the woman, while I dealt with the
man. He knows it, and he also knows that he spent the dust in three days
at Melbourne, where we were in disguise, and stopped at old mother
Holey's."
A gratified expression beamed upon the inspector's face, and I doubt if
he remembered the pain with which he was afflicted, for the murder that
he had thus suddenly brought to light was one that had puzzled him for a
long time, and a reward of two hundred pounds was due to whoever
revealed the mystery. He had indulged in a little fiction to make Bill
confess the crime, and he had succeeded beyond his utmost expectations.
For a long time after Bill had revealed his knowledge of one of the most
brutal murders that ever occurred in Australia, our prisoner refused to
talk, although Mr. Brown provoked him to reveal other matters that he
was anxious of knowing.
The bushranger appeared to recollect that in a moment of passion he had
disclosed more than he should have done, and therefore refused to
converse; but at length Mr. Brown led him to talk of the days when he
was a prisoner at the hulks, and when the inspector was an overseer or
turnkey at the same institution.
"How many years have passed, Bill, since you crossed the water?"
inquired the inspector; meaning, in a polite way, to find out the exact
time he had been transported.
"It's over six, I think; let me see; it's two years next month since I
left my quarters at the hulks and started in search of fortune, and at
times a hard one it has been," returned the prisoner.
"I've no doubt of it. Had you but remained faithful and obedient, your
time would have nearly expired, now, I think," continued the inspector,
in a friendly tone; but I could see that he was only leading the
bushranger along for the purpose of extracting information.
"Yes," replied the fellow, bitterly, "my time would have arrived, and I
would have been discharged from the accursed hulks, but not by human
hands. Death would have claimed me long before this; and death would
have been preferable to the life that I led."
"But there were others who were confined with more serious charges
against them than yourself, and yet you know that many of them were
pardoned, or obtained tickets of leave, and are now doing well."
"Yes, because they became slaves to your will, and played the spy upon
those who dared to remonstrate against the food and the treatment which
they received. I was one of their victims, and well I paid for my
independence."
"You did, indeed," muttered the inspector, but Bill did not hear him.
"I went to the hulks determined to serve out my time like a man; but a
few weeks' residence convinced me that, unless I became a slave, and
trembled at the officer's nod, I should be broken in body and spirit.
Then I laid my plans for an insurrection of the convicts, and had I not
trusted to your minion, Ned, you would not have been driving me to
certain death at the present time."
"Well, what would you have done?" asked the inspector, quietly.
"There were eight hundred of us, all desperate men, and reckless of
life. We should have murdered our officers, and then, before an alarm
could have reached the soldiers, we should have attacked their quarters,
and those who would not have joined us must have perished without mercy.
Afterwards we intended to sack Melbourne, collect all the gold that we
could, and seek for asylums upon some of the islands in the broad
Pacific. Such was our programme, and it would not have failed, I am
convinced; but your spies destroyed our hopes, and brought me to
punishment and shame."
The bushranger strode on as though he was at the head of an army, and
his dark features were lighted up at the thought of the carnage which he
and his companions intended to inflict.
"Your plot could not have succeeded," the inspector said, after a
moment's pause, "because every citizen in Melbourne would have armed
himself, and hunted you to the death. But we will not discuss the
subject. You failed in your design, and were punished as you deserved to
be. Were I in the same position that I then held, and should another
attempt be made to revolt, I should recommend, not the lash, but death
to all who were engaged."
"Better death a hundred times, than a hundred lashes," cried the
bushranger, with a fearful oath. "But I have revenged myself for the,
flogging, and for every lash I have made some one pay dear."
"Bah! that is all talk!" cried the inspector, in a careless way; but I
saw that he was trembling with anxiety to learn a correct history of the
prisoner's outrages.
"Is it all talk?" repeated Bill, with a sneer. "It was talk, I suppose,
when we robbed the escort of thirty thousand pounds. It was talk, I
suppose, when we picked off six of the soldiers, and drove the rest,
like frightened curs, from the treasure. It is talk, when I tell you
that we have been in the vicinity of Ballarat for two months past, and
have watched for you night and day, and never got a chance to strike
until to-day. Talk, is it? Well, we have talked to some purpose, and
even if I am a prisoner, I feel satisfied."
"But you could not have spent your share of the plunder," said Mr.
Brown, in a soothing, conciliating tone.
The bushranger stopped, and looked full in the face of the inspector,
and a glow of triumph overspread his face as he answered,--
"I understand your question, but it will not do. When I die, I carry all
knowledge of the place where the dust is buried to the grave, and you
shall never see a grain of it. I have you there, and will enjoy my
triumph."
"But perhaps a disclosure may obtain your pardon; and surely, for your
life you would give up the gold," the inspector said, still maintaining
a cheerful deportment.
"The trick is stale, and will not answer," the ruffian returned, with a
hoarse laugh; "you may load me with chains, and starve me to death, but
I'll never divulge the secret!"
As though he did not wish to converse further upon the subject, the
bushranger turned his back upon us, and maintained a stoical silence
until we reached Ballarat.
"I have overcome more remonstrance than you will offer, my friend," the
inspector muttered, in a low tone; "the gold that you have buried shall
yet be brought to light."
"Were you in earnest in promising a pardon?" I asked of Mr. Brown.
"In promising, yes; in expecting to get it granted, I tell you frankly,
no. We have to resort to many ways to accomplish our ends, and promises
work well; and why should we scruple to use them? The gold that fellow
has buried somewhere near here will help enrich three honest,
men--meaning us--and would it not be a shame to let the fellow die
without divulging?"
"But I supposed that property recovered from bushrangers went to
government, unless the rightful owners claimed it."
"So it does, when the owner can prove that the gold dust belongs to him.
Rather a difficult thing, you will imagine; and to prevent dispute, we
generally take care of it. Depend upon it, that fellow will make a
confession to me, a few days before his execution, and with the hope of
receiving a pardon. After his death, I shall know whether he has lied or
not. If he sticks to the truth, as one would naturally suppose he would,
just before his death, we may calculate upon having done a good day's
work."
We contrasted the inspector's idea of right, and wrong with Murden's,
his brother officer, and found that there was but little difference
between them. Both were determined to make money when it was possible,
and were, sometimes, not overscrupulous in their transactions.
It was the effect of a system which belonged exclusively to Australia,
and the jealousy of a government that did not recognize talent unless
backed by influence. The police were not looked upon as men of character
and trust; and they retaliated by making money as fast as possible, so
that they could leave the force, and enter into business more in
accordance with the feelings of gentlemen.
We hinted to the inspector our opinion, and he frankly acknowledged that
such was the case, but he offered a plea in extenuation.
Mr. Brown had become so interested in his subject that his bodily pains
were forgotten. We should have been willing to have listened to him for
hours, for his remarks showed a good knowledge of the country, and what
it required to make it great and prosperous; but we were close to
Ballarat, and issuing from the town we saw a squad of mounted police,
who quickened their pace when they saw us.
"I will wager an ounce of gold that my men have become alarmed at my
prolonged absence, and are just starting in search of me," said the
inspector.
The surmise was correct, for Mr. Brown had left word that he should be
back by noon, and it was now past three o'clock.
The guard of police looked surprised when they saw their chief, who
certainly appeared somewhat the worse for his trip; but their discipline
was too good to permit them to ask questions, although I could see that
they were anxious to.
"I have met with a slight accident, men," Mr. Brown said, after
exchanging a word with the sergeant of the corps, "and to these two
gentlemen am I indebted for my life. Look at them well, and remember
that they are my friends for life, and if you can ever benefit them in
any way, you are to do it. They are Americans, and strangers in
Ballarat, and must be protected in their business if every other firm is
ruined.
"Jackson," the inspector said, "get a team, and take six men with you,
and proceed immediately to 'Snake Paradise.' In the ravine you will find
two wounded and two dead bushrangers. Bury the latter, and bring the
former to the prison, where their injuries can be attended to. Lose no
time, but start immediately."
The corporal addressed as Jackson stopped only long enough to detail six
men, when he starred towards the town at a brisk gallop, which raised a
cloud of dust that resembled a fog bank.
"Two of you take these fellows to prison and double iron them, and tell
old Warner that he had better look after them sharp, for they are
bushrangers of some notoriety."
"And tell your keeper that I have escaped from more secure jails than
the one in Ballarat, and that Bill Swinton still possesses the pluck of
a man."
"That will do," returned the inspector, dryly, after the bushranger had
finished. "Take him away, and to pay him for that speech, tell Warner to
put a ring around his waist, in addition to the double irons."
"I still hope for the time when I can meet you alone, and when no
interfering Yankees will save you from my vengeance. Bill Swinton is
worth a dozen dead men, and woe--"
The remainder of the man's remarks was lost, for the police hurried him
off with his companion, who appeared to be completely broken in spirit.
"Now, Sam, give this gentleman (pointing to Fred, who had walked nearly
all the distance from the ravine) your horse, for I am mounted on his."
The man relinquished his animal without a word, and we rode towards the
town, followed at a short distance by the squad of policemen. As we
passed along the main thoroughfare of Ballarat, a crowd of people
assembled to greet us, for already the news had circulated extensively
that a large gang of bushrangers had been broken up through our
instrumentality; and the miners were rejoiced at the intelligence, for
they were more interested than any other class of people in freeing the
country of robbers, so that escorts of gold dust could pass to the large
cities without molestation. Under these circumstances the police were
cheered, and that was something that had not occurred since the struggle
between the government and the miners had commenced regarding the mining
tax.
"You see how much we are indebted to you," remarked the inspector, with
a grim smile, as we helped him from his horse upon reaching his
quarters. "To-morrow the knaves would cheer just as lustily if we were
driven from the town. Good by--don't fail to come and see me early
to-morrow morning."
And with these parting words we turned our horses' heads and started for
our store, where we found Rover keeping guard, and every thing safe.
Tired with our day's jaunt, we resisted several pressing invitations to
attend the indignation meeting that was to be holden that evening by the
miners, and went to bed early.