A YOUNG GIRL'S ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF HER LOVER.
We speedily prepared a good breakfast, and invited our _protégé_ to
satisfy his appetite, for he looked hungry and appeared hungry; but to
our surprise he manifested some reluctance to eating before us, and not
all of our rallying could overcome his diffidence.
"Come, come, take hold and eat heartily," I said, "and don't appear like
a young girl in the presence of her beau. Your modesty is all thrown
away in the mines of Australia."
"You know me, then?" he asked, in a sad tone, and his head was bent low
to hide his blushes, which covered his face like a thick coating of
rouge.
"Know you? not we; but that is what we are anxious about, and after
breakfast you must tell us what freak drove you to this country, and how
it happened that you were in Tom's tent at such an early hour in the
morning."
"I was weary," he said, making a desperate effort to appear at his ease,
"and having no money, I thought that I would rest myself where I should
not be called upon to pay for lodgings. When I first went there the tent
was unoccupied; but when I awoke, I found that the men had returned
while I was asleep, and then they accused me of stealing their gold
dust, and would have beaten me had you not interfered."
"I have no doubt of that, my lad," I answered, "and I see that they used
you rather roughly, at any rate. One, of the brutes has knocked off a
piece of skin from your neck."
"You had better have a little salve rubbed upon your bruises, for wounds
in this country have to be attended to without delay," Fred said.
I went to my trunk and got all the healing ointment that we possessed,
and offered it for his use--but he firmly declined, and declared that he
did not suffer from the effect of his bruises, and that they would soon
be well. I turned away disappointed, and inclined to be angry, which the
young fellow saw in a moment.
"Don't be cross with me," he said, in such a soft, pleading tone, and he
looked into my face with his gentle eyes so full of tears, that all my
resentment was banished in a moment. "I will work for you as hard as my
strength will allow, but please don't be cross," the boy repeated; "I am
very grateful for what you have done for me, and know that I shall never
be able to repay you; but don't be cross, will you?"
"No, no; we will never use a cross word to you," Fred said, laying his
hand upon the boy's head and patting his check, both of which actions
seemed to cause the young fellow excessive alarm. "You may stay here in
the store as long as you please, and we will pay you for your labor.
When you wish to go, say so, and we will part company without any
ill-feeling."
The boy seemed grateful for our kindness, but he did not express it in
words; and while he and Fred were talking I rummaged my trunk, and found
a number of articles of clothing that were suitable for him, and in
which he stood in great need, his garments being somewhat the worse for
wear.
"Strip off your stockings and shirt, and put these on," I said, handing
him a new pair of socks, and a calico shirt too small for me, but which
I thought would answer his purpose.
Again did the tell-tale blood mount in the young fellow's face, and he
looked embarrassed and perplexed.
"I would rather not," he said, after a moment's pause, and I saw that he
was trembling violently.
"Nonsense--off with your shoes at once," and Fred stooped down to assist
him, and in spite of his resistance tore off his ragged stockings, and
was about to replace them with mine, when the boy began to cry again.
We looked at his grieved face, suffused with blushes, and then we looked
at the naked foot and ankle, and immediately arrived at our conclusions;
and, strange to say, they were of wonderful unanimity. We thought the
exposed limb was too white to belong to our own sex, and as our eyes met
we exclaimed,--
"The devil! A woman!"
"Who would have thought it?" cried Fred, with wonder depicted upon his
face.
"Don't cry," I said, addressing the girl in as mild a tone as I could
assume; but to my astonishment, the little thing only cried the harder.
"You are a smart man to talk to women," Fred exclaimed, pettishly. "That
voice of yours is enough to frighten a female into convulsions, and your
face is not very prepossessing as I suppose you are aware. This is the
way you should go to work."
To my surprise, the impudent puppy seated himself by the side of the
girl, took one of her unresisting hands in his own, and began to talk to
her in such a soothing manner that her tears were dried up, as if by
magic; and she actually smiled when he told her how comfortable she
could be in a little bedroom which, he promised to fit up for her
exclusive accommodation, and where no one would intrude upon her moments
of privacy.
"Jack," said Fred, suddenly jumping up and laying his hand on my arm,
"we must protect this poor girl to the best of our ability."
"I suppose that we must," I returned, with great philosophy.
"She is an innocent little thing," my friend added, in a musing tone.
"Is she?" I asked; "pray, how do you happen to know?"
"O, because she is constantly blushing and crying," Fred answered,
boldly.
"Is that the only method by which you judge?" I asked, quite lost in
admiration at his perceptible powers.
"Of course it is--innocence always blushes."
Let ladies take note that in the estimate of some men a blush is
regarded with more veneration than a hundred protestations of purity.
Where my friend obtained his knowledge of women I am unable to say, for
he was never married, although many times in love.
"What is she doing here at the mines?" I inquired.
"That I have not found out as yet, but I will interrogate her on the
subject," replied Fred, with much confidence.
He began his examination in such a delicate manner that the girl grew
more and more communicative, and revealed her history, which was not a
common one.
Her name was Mary Ann Purcel, and she was the daughter of a respectable
cordwainer of London. Her father, as usual with men of his kind of
business, had taken an apprentice to learn his profession, but it seems
that the young fellow had studied the beauty of the girl more than his
duties, which gave greater satisfaction to the lady than the parent, and
a quarrel ensued; and Robert Herrets' (the name of the apprentice)
indentures were broken or given up, and the young fellow was told that
he had better seek his fortune in some other quarter of the globe, or at
least attempt some other business besides that of being a cordwainer.
The lover did not relish the summary manner that his claims were
disposed of, and so intimated; but he was ridiculed for seeking to ally
himself with a man who could afford to give his daughter five hundred
pounds on her wedding day, and yet keep up his business.
Robert, like all lovers, did not despair of yet claiming the girl as his
wife, and to Mary he made known his plans. She was to remain single for
three years, and to await his orders, while he tried to push his fortune
in the mines of Australia; for they had just been opened to the world,
and thousands wore leaving the shores of England to suffer hardships,
privations, and perhaps death, to collect a portion of the dross. The
girl readily consented to any terms that he offered, and with tearful
eyes kissed her lover, and wished him God speed on his long journey of
thousands of miles across the salt ocean.
He arrived at Melbourne safe and well; and to convince us that, her
story was true she pulled from her bosom half a dozen letters written by
Robert after he had reached the island. In his first he told her of his
stormy passage, and the bad food that he had been compelled to eat to
save himself from starvation; but he was confident and hopeful, and told
her to remember her promise of being his wife, and that if he should
succeed in making money he would send for her, and that they could he
married the day of her arrival. The next letter was dated at Ballarat,
where the lover had proceeded as soon as possible, and where he was hard
at work sinking a shaft, with great hope of taking out gold by the
pound.
The third letter was still more encouraging, for he had cleared in
three months three hundred pounds above his expenses, and yet he wrote
that he had not reached the richest part of the earth which he was
mining. The fourth letter was an urgent appeal for the lady to come to
him without delay, and he would send a draft to pay her expenses.
At this stage of the correspondence the father of the lady died, and
upon an investigation of his affairs it was found that he was insolvent
long before his death. Creditors seized upon every thing, and the matter
preyed upon the mother in such a manner that she, too, died within two
months after her husband. The poor girl was nearly distracted with
grief, and for a long time knew not which way to turn, or whom to
confide in; and during all her troubles another letter from Australia
reached her, upbraiding her for her infidelity, because she had not
written as often as Robert had desired, and because she had not joined
him. The poor girl hesitated no longer. Only a portion of the money
which she had received from the draft was left; but with this she paid
for a steerage passage to Melbourne, arrived there safe, and with barely
sufficient funds to pay her board for a week. She made a number of
inquiries for Robert, but received slight attention at the hands of
those whom she interrogated, for at Melbourne steerage passengers are
not looked upon with that degree of reverence and respect vouchsafed to
those who arrive at our seaports. Besides, there are too many women sent
from the old country, for various misdemeanors, to inspire the
Australians with much confidence that the stories which are told are all
true.
After submitting to numerous insults, for the girl's face was handsome,
and her form was good, (who ever heard of a girl with a very plain face
being insulted?) and after shedding more tears than a man's neck is
worth, the poor thing, to escape persecution and insult, resolved to
disguise herself in boy's clothes, cut off her long hair, and then make
the best of her way to Ballarat, and see if she could not find the man
who had cost her so many hardships. She carried her design into effect,
and then spent the last piece of coin that she possessed to pay her
passage to Ballarat.
Undiscovered, unsuspected, the girl entered Ballarat at a late hour in
the night, and was then told to seek for lodgings wherever she pleased;
and, half-dead with fatigue, she strayed about the town, not daring to
ask a question of the fierce-looking men whom she chanced to meet
reeling towards their tents after a drinking bout at one of the numerous
saloons with which Ballarat was cursed.
At length she became so completely exhausted that she could no longer
stand, and thinking that a tent which she saw was unoccupied, she
entered it and lay down in one corner. Sleep speedily made her forget
all of her miseries, and when she awoke she was arrested by the two
miners, who had staggered home drunk during the night, and thrown
themselves upon their beds not knowing that she was present.
While the ruffians were discussing what, punishment should be meted out
to her, the girl eluded their vigilance and fled, not knowing or caring
where her footsteps led her, as long as she escaped from their horrid
threats and obscene jests. The miners pursued with fierce oaths and
bitter imprecations, and the road, luckily for Mary, led near our door,
and as hundreds joined in pursuit, and all raised the yells which had
awakened us, we were enabled to go to her rescue, and perhaps saved her
from a life or death of shame.
Such was the poor girl's story, told with a simplicity that carried
conviction to our hearts, and strengthened our resolution to protect and
serve her to the extent of our ability.
"You will have to remain with us for a few days," Fred said, after Mary
had concluded her history, "and during that time we think that it is far
better you should maintain your incognito, and appear as you seem--a
boy."
"I have a trunk containing female apparel on the cart that brought me
here," she said; as though she had much rather be dressed in the
habiliments of her own sex.
"There are numerous reasons why you should maintain your present attire,
but I will not wound your delicacy by repeating them," Fred said. "The
people of Ballarat are censorious, and we must give them no groundwork
for remarks," he continued.
The girl hung her head, but seemed to appreciate the advice and delicacy
of Fred. She made no response.
"If the person you are in search of--Mr. Robert Herrets--is to be found
in the mines of Ballarat, you shall see him before this time to-morrow;
and even after he has joined you, I should recommend that you impose
upon the good miners here, and not let them think that the person we
have rescued and the newly-made bride is one and the same person."
The girl looked into Fred's face with an earnest gaze, as though she
would rather have heard some one else mention the idea of marriage, but
my friend did not appear to notice it.
"He will, of course, be rejoiced to meet you, and will sympathize with
you in your troubles; and after your union you will forget your new
friends."
If Fred had but seen the expressive look that the girl gave him, and
then noted the painful thoughts that appeared to have crossed her mind,
he would not have continued in that strain.
"I can readily imagine the joy that Mr. Herrets will feel when he knows
that, for the purpose of becoming his wife, you have braved the dangers
of the ocean, and struggled nobly against a thousand obstacles, and
overcome them all. He will appreciate your love the more, or he will not
be human."
She appeared to listen without the power of speech. I suspected the
cause of her emotion, but did not dare to hint to Fred my suspicions. I
wondered how it would end, and trembled for the fate of the girl if she
should continue to nourish the passion that I saw she entertained for my
friend. It was marvellous, and almost beyond belief. She had known Fred
but a few hours, and yet already was she inspired with a feeling of love
for the man, that threatened to annihilate all traces of her passion for
the apprentice. I hardly believed it possible, and yet I knew that I
could not be mistaken. Fred seemed blind not to perceive it.
"We will go to the police office, and request that diligent search be
made for Mr. Herrets," Fred said, and he motioned to go; but the girl
murmured something in a low tone, and he stopped. "You made some
request?" he asked.
"I only said that--that perhaps--you were tired, and therefore had--had
better rest--before proceeding to the--police."
She tried to look indifferent, but the effort was a failure.
"O, bless your heart, not at all," answered Fred, cheerily; "we will go
at once, and you can read a few books that we own until we come back.
Rover will take care of you."
The hound stretched himself in the doorway, and showed his teeth as
though he understood the order, and was prepared to obey without
demurring.
I saw a slight frown gather upon the brow of the girl, and I read her
thoughts in a moment. She was asking herself if she would not have
possessed more power had she been dressed in female apparel and had
never sacrificed her hair. She passed her hand over her short locks two
or three times, and a sigh escaped her at the ravage which the scissors
had effected.
"Let us go," I said; and I urged my friend from a sight more dangerous
to him than a thousand pyramids of black snakes, and yet he was
unconscious of fear.
We directed our steps towards the residence of Mr. Brown, the inspector,
and were readily admitted to his presence. He was stretched upon his
bed, but was slowly recovering from the effect of his bruises, and was
quite cheerful over his bodily injuries.
He extended such a welcome to us as gratified our pride, yet did not
make us feel as though we were overpraised. We soon laid our business
before him, and he ordered a book containing a list of the tax-paying
miners of Ballarat to be brought, and which he consulted, for a few
minutes, in silence.
"There is no such name as Robert Herrets in the book, but there is a
Robert Henrets, and that may be the person you are in pursuit of. I will
ask if any of my men know the latter."
He touched a bell, and the policeman who was on duty at the door
entered.
"James," inquired the inspector, "do you know a miner here named Robert
Henrets?"
"Yes, sir; young fellow--sandy hair--blue eyes--scar over the left
one--saves his money--is doing well--never heard that he was a
suspicious character," answered the officer, promptly.
"Pshaw!" returned Mr. Brown, pettishly; "you think that every person I
ask about is a rogue; you are mistaken. Show these gentlemen to the
shaft that Henrets is sinking, or the mine that he is working, and
attend to their orders."
"Yes, sir; I know where he is; works the old 'Dugget mine;' smart
lad--makes money--pays his tax regular, and never growls 'cos he has
to."
"Then he is the only one at the mines," returned the inspector, good
humoredly, and we took our leave, fearful that he would begin a long
discussion on the merits and rights of taxation.
We had to walk about a mile before we reached the "Dugget mine," but our
tramp was beguiled in listening to the peculiar conversation of our
guide, who jerked out his sentences and words as though he was firing
them at a whole regiment of refractory miners, and wished to make as
short work as possible with them.
"You have been at the mines some time," I said, drawing the man into
conversation.
"Ever since they were opened--one of the first police officers
here--hard times for grub, then, let me tell you; used to eat leather,
or any thing soft; horses all died for the want of water; gold
plenty--miners died with overwork--few people here, then--civil--treated
the police well, and made us presents. Used to dig myself,
sometimes--didn't like it, though--hard work, very--by and by a lot of
d----d furreners came here--got drunk and made rows--used to fire
pistols at us when we arrested 'em--got hit once, but didn't hurt me
much--the fellow gave me ten pounds to settle the matter--he was a
Yankee, I think--had a revolver, and used to be desperate when he got
drunk--thank God, he died one day, and I saw him buried."
Although the subject was a grave one, we could not refrain from laughing
at his summary method of disposing of a sailor who used to be known at
Ballarat as "Yankee Jim," and who was a terror to all police officers
when he was drunk. He was represented as being as strong as half a dozen
ordinary men, of the courage of a lion, and perfectly reckless when
under the influence of liquor. Even his boon companions were often
obliged to flee for their lives when one of his cross fits came on him:
and if he was thwarted in the most trifling particular, his rage was
unbounded. He would bite glass and chew it with his teeth, lacerating
his gums in a dreadful manner; and it was at one time reported that
"Yankee Jim" used to diet on tumblers whenever he felt disposed to grow
fleshy.
The fellow was in the United States navy for many years, and ran away
from a ship of war that was lying at Sydney when the gold mines were
first discovered. The dissipated course that he pursued soon terminated
his life, and he died, after a residence of only three months at
Ballarat, with delirium tremens.
There were numerous stories told of the sailor, and I was at some pains
to investigate the man's history; but beyond that he was called "Yankee
Jim," and claimed Cape Cod as his birthplace, found but little to repay
me for my trouble; and perhaps a mother is now anxiously expecting a
son, whose bones have long since mouldered at Ballarat.