ARRIVAL OF SMITH.--ATTEMPT TO BURN THE STORE.
Even after we had captured the cassiowary we did not know what to do
with it, as Murden would not listen for a moment to the idea of its
being killed, and yet the bird was too formidable an opponent to play
with. While we were debating how to get the bird to Ballarat, an old
stockman, who upon the discovery of gold had left his employment and
gone into the teaming business, suggested that we should tie a
handkerchief over his head, and guaranteed that we would then lead as
docile as a pet lamb.
"Now, then, how are we to improve the advice of the stockman?" asked
Murden. "Who will throw a handkerchief over the bird's head, and then
have the hardihood to tie it?"
No one volunteered to perform so perilous a duty until our American
friend, who had recovered from the effects of his kick, suggested that
all present should take hold of the two ropes, and by pulling in
opposite directions manage to keep the bird in a state of strangulation
that would utterly prevent all resistance.
Murden was delighted with the hint, and acted on it without delay. We
pressed those present into service, and in a few minutes the eyes of the
huge bird were screened from the light, and he was ready to follow us
wherever we should lead. In this way we escorted him to town, and
Murden, when he returned to Melbourne, carried his pet; and the bird may
be alive now for all that I know, for the lieutenant gave him to the
governor-general, and for many months after the presentation the
cassiowary was to be seen on the grounds, near the palace, an object of
great curiosity to all new-comers.
After seeing the bird safely housed at the back part of our store, where
we kept our horses, and after astonishing Steel Spring by telling him
that he was to make his entree into Melbourne on the back of the bird,
we again took the road, and were soon gratified by meeting our partner,
Smith, with two huge loads of merchandise of all descriptions, and each
drawn by four yokes of oxen.
"Well, I've got along," he said, with one of his most cheerful smiles,
"and a precious whack of itself I've got piled on the carts. Here's a
little of every thing. Cheap for cash, you know."
"Then you made good trades in Melbourne?" we both demanded.
"I should rather think I had. There's three or four American clipper
ships in port with cargoes that must be sold, and no demand. I bought a
lot of stuff at auction, and I never paid such a low figure before."
"But how did you manage to get clear of your wife so soon after
marriage?" Fred asked.
"Ah, I see that the lieutenant has been giving you the news," replied
Smith, with a genuine blush. "Well, the fact of it is, she is too
sensible a woman to regret the absence of one whom she knows is
bettering himself, so that there were but few tears shed between us."
The lieutenant, with a consideration that did him credit, rode in
advance a few rods, out of hearing, as he rightly judged that we must
desire to make a few inquiries of a private nature respecting our
business relation.
"Did you get the gold that was in the custody of the old--"
We were about to say "old convict," when we recollected that he was
Smith's father-in-law.
"Of course I did," our partner interrupted, apparently taking no notice
of our mistake. "He read the order over a dozen times, and then made me
sign a paper, stating that the money was given up to me on such a day,
at such a time, and then called his daughter to witness the delivery. He
wished you both all manner of prosperity, and said that he didn't want
you to think hard of him for not letting you mine on his claim, but
hoped to be rich enough before many days to relinquish it entirely, and
then you could come and be welcome."
"Tell him we appreciate his kindness," returned Fred, with a laugh at
the shrewdness of the old fox.
"Yes, I will," returned Smith, seriously. "But let me finish with an
account of how I spent a portion of the funds, and what I did with the
remainder. I have ten barrels of flour, or a ton as we term it, which I
got cheap enough, and if we don't realize a profit on it I shall be much
mistaken--then I have sugars, molasses, whiskey, wine, spices, boots
and shoes, clothing, meal, preserved meats and vegetables, tobacco and
cigars, pipes, pork, a cask of vinegar, a barrel of pickles, firkins of
butter, and a dozen cheeses, and fifty other things that I don't
recollect, but which I have no doubt will meet with a ready sale after
we have once got started."
"And the price for all these things was low?" we asked, quite amazed at
the variety that our partner had selected.
"So low that over two thirds of the money that we subscribed now awaits
our order at the Melbourne bank." And to confirm his words, Smith pulled
from his bosom a small pouch that contained a certificate of deposit.
Of course we congratulated our friend on the prospect that he had
afforded us of making a large percentage on his purchases, and by the
time that we had finished our interrogations we had reached Ballarat and
drew up in front of our new store; and in spite of the warmth of the
afternoon, we stripped off our coats, and went to work unloading the
carts and arranging the goods to suit our ideas of convenience and
display.
Even Murden did not disdain to lend a hand, and Mr. Brown, when he
dropped around to take a cup of tea with us in the evening, finding that
there was plenty of work to be done, sent us half a dozen policemen; the
latter labored as though they liked it, and when, about ten o'clock in
the evening, we knocked off, and offered to pay them, to our surprise
they told us that they were already paid, and all our entreaties were
powerless to make them accept of a shilling. But they still lingered in
the store, and we wondered at it; and at length we hinted to Murden that
we thought they wanted something for their services, although they had
refused money.
"Leave them to me," the lieutenant replied, "and I will find out what
they expect."
"Well, boys, we have had a pretty hard evening's work," the lieutenant
said, speaking to the men, who had no idea that he belonged to the
service.
"Yes, sir; carrying in the barrels is apt to make one dry and tired,"
replied the men.
"Yes, I know; but you understand that there is no such thing as liquor
in the store," and Murden winked mysteriously.
"O, we knew there was none," cried the men, with wonderful unanimity,
and their faces experienced a change for the better immediately.
"I suppose if there was liquor here, and it was offered, you could take
off half a tumbler full without much trouble?"
The men were confident that they could, although they once more
expressed their full conviction in none being in the store.
"Tap a barrel and give them a strong pull at it," Murden whispered, "and
you need not fear of their informing."
It was but the work of a moment to accomplish the object, and perhaps we
were the more ready from a desire on our part to taste what Smith had
bought. The six policemen threw back their heads with military
precision, and emptied their tumblers without making even a wry face;
but their lips smacked like the reports of six distinct pistols, and as
they turned to go one said,--
"Liquor is not allowed to be sold at the mines without a full license,
and the rules and regulations prevent us from touching any kind of
spirits; therefore we are all temperance men; but, I must say that you
have got some of the best colored water to be had in the country. Good
evening, sirs; we should like to assist again when our services are
needed;" and off went the policemen, well satisfied with their reward.
It was as the men stated--liquor had to be licensed or not at all; and
although a large amount was disposed of daily at Ballarat, yet it was
never sold in the presence of a policeman, or a person who would be
likely to inform of the vender.
We ate our supper with a good appetite, glancing with pride upon our
well-filled store and carefully-selected goods, and bright anticipations
arose in our minds as we thought of the profits that we should reach
before they were all disposed of. A fortune of colossal size seemed
within our reach, and only required a little tact to grasp. While we
were thus cogitating, a barefooted, wild-looking boy, who seemed as
though he had worked under ground all his life, and was only on the
surface for a few minutes for the sake of astonishing civilization, made
his appearance, threw down a dirty-looking note, and then disappeared as
suddenly as he came.
"What does the fellow mean?" asked Murden, who was lazily swinging in a
hammock, smoking a pipe with infinite relish, and endeavoring to keep
the insects at bay by raising clouds of burnt tobacco.
"We are as much in the dark as yourself," I replied, examining the
superscription of the letter, and finding that the address was to the
"Two Americans, who keep the store."
"Well, open it and enlighten us," the lieutenant said, carelessly, and
we complied, and found that the contents were as follows:--
"BALRAT, AUSTRALE.--You felers is in danger and i wont to tel you
of it, but i mustnt be seen round or i shal be spected and then no
confidince will be plac in me, the felers round think you is agin
um in the mining tack, but i say no, take care of your store to
night, or you wil see the devil. no more now. A MAN YOU BENIFITTED
ONE TIM."
"A pleasant kind of note, truly," remarked Murden, laying down his pipe;
"and I don't believe that the writer of the letter had any idea of
needlessly alarming you. He is evidently your friend, and would call and
give you information were he not fearful of being suspected by his
comrades."
"But what is this danger that we are threatened with?" queried Fred.
"I don't know, but it strikes me very forcibly that I have been the
means of involving you in difficulty. The spy who overheard our plans
last night has evidently reported that you are on the side of
government, and to vent their spite against you is undoubtedly the
object of the disaffected miners. What they intend to do I don't know;
but this I do know--I will have every policeman in Ballarat stationed
around your store before it shall come to harm, and I will lose my own
life but I will preserve yours and your property." Murden spoke with an
air of sincerity and confidence that convinced us he was in earnest.
"Our property," repeated Fred, in a musing tone, and he glanced around
the store, where bale and cask were strewed in confusion.
"That is what is aimed at," cried my friend, suddenly starting up.
"Depend upon it, the villains mean to fire the store and destroy all the
goods that we have purchased at such a large expense. But we will be
ready for them."
He drew his revolver from his belt and examined carefully each barrel,
and then saw that the caps were fresh and fitted well.
"In that they shall be disappointed," Murden exclaimed; "I will go to
the police quarters at once and state the facts of the case. A dozen men
shall be detailed to guard your store, day and night, until all danger
is past."
The impetuous officer, filled with this idea, would have rushed
instantly to the inspector's; and before Fred could stop him he had got
into the street.
"Come here for a moment," cried Fred, in a quiet tone, and Murden
doggedly consented.
The instant that he was in the store Fred closed the door and locked it,
and put the key in his pocket.
"What is it you wish!" asked the lieutenant, after a moment's silence,
surprised at the act.
"I wish you to hear a little reason, and not ruin us with your good
intentions," my friend answered, quietly.
Murden looked astonished, but made no reply. He refilled his pipe and
lighted it in silence. At length he asked,--
"What do you mean by saying that I shall ruin you with my intentions? Do
you think that I do not feel very keenly the situation in which my own
thoughtlessness has placed you?"
"We have no doubt that your motives are good," replied Fred, "but we
know that you will listen to reason, and after a few words of
explanation will agree with us that our course is right."
Murden looked incredulous, and puffed away at his pipe vigorously; but
he muttered, "Go on," and we discovered that he was softening rapidly.
"It is evident," Fred went on to state, "that the disaffected portion of
the miners at this place think that we are in league with government in
endeavoring to force the tax upon them, and, to revenge themselves,
undertake to burn our store. This we must prevent."
"That is what I told you in the first place," interrupted the
lieutenant. "We must have a police force around the store, and shoot
down every suspicious character that approaches during the night."
"Such a course would soon make the mines too hot to hold us, and instead
of getting sympathy, we should get the undying hatred of every man in
Australia. No, no; we must meet violence with kindness, and instead of
making enemies, make friends."
"Go on, and tell me how you will act to do so," cried Murden.
"It is very simple: we must watch for those who seek to harm us, and
convince them of our friendship," responded Fred, earnestly.
"By hanging or shooting, I suppose," replied Murden.
"Neither one nor the other method should we adopt. We will keep watch,
and if an incendiary seeks to fire our building, we will seize him, and
convince him that we are favorable to his cause, or that we mean to
remain neutral during the coming struggle, and then set him free to
return to his friends with the news."
"Hadn't you better throw in a glass of liquor, and a few plugs of
tobacco?" asked the officer, sarcastically, never having heard of such
kind of treatment to people who were disposed to be vicious.
"Your suggestion is good, and shall be acted on," replied Fred,
pleasantly. "Have you any other?"
"No, but I wish to tell you that you are laboring under a mistaken idea,
and that you will regret your benevolent motives. Such a course as you
describe might answer very well if the population of Ballarat was made
up of high-minded and honorable men, and not the refuse of the old
countries, whose crimes have outlawed them, and whose greatest
inclination is to be in mischief."
"You forget," said Fred, "that this tax movement originated with the
best and most intelligent men at the mines, and that the class of people
you have described are bushrangers, or else men who live upon the
community without work. If ever the miners and the government do have a
collision, you will be surprised at the respectable ranks that the
former will show."
"I have no doubt of it," responded Murden, dryly.
"Under these circumstances, we must think that it is better to depend
upon ourselves than upon the police for protection, because the instant
that the latter are arrayed on our side it will be known all over
Ballarat, and then our business and reputation will be lost."
"Then you are really serious?" queried Murden, after a moment's thought.
"Quite so, for it is our only hope to escape persecution," returned
Fred.
"Well, perhaps you are right," the officer said, "and I will consent to
follow your suggestions; but I claim the privilege of assisting you in
your watch."
"That we are quite willing to accord, and as it is past twelve o'clock
we may as well begin it, for there is no knowing how soon our enemies
may steal upon us."
To prevent the dog from giving an alarm we tied him up, and then
extinguished our lights, and carefully walked around the building,
keeping well in the shade, so that if any one was approaching we could
be informed of the fact, and be prepared to give a warm reception. The
night was very quiet and warm, and the only sounds to be heard were the
humming of the thousands of insects that filled the air, or an
occasional howling of some dog, tied up during the temporary absence of
its owner, or the loud snoring of Steel Spring, who, taking but little
interest in matters that did not concern his stomach or himself, went to
sleep at an early hour in the evening with his head resting on a herring
box, and his long legs on a barrel, and such doleful sounds did he emit
from his nasal organ, that even the horses were kept in a state of
perpetual irritation, and were inclined to refuse their provender.
Occasionally on the heavy night air would come a dull sound, like a
splash of water, which showed that some industrious miners were trying
to keep their claim clear, and for that purpose were bailing out water
day and night.
Twice did we patrol around our store, and yet saw nothing of danger or
any suspicious circumstance. Hour after hour passed away, and we began
to grow dozy from the effect of a hard day's work, and we sat down
within the building, and thought that we would refresh ourselves with a
few whiffs from our pipes; but while filling them, a low growl from
Rover startled us. In an instant I was by the dog's side, and quieted
him with a word, and during all the confusion that ensued that night,
the hound did not disgrace his training.
The sound that had started the dog appeared to us to proceed from a tent
some distance off; but we were not certain in that respect, and listened
attentively. For a few minutes all was quiet, and then we distinctly
heard the cracking of a stick, and then all was still for the space of
five minutes.
We cautiously moved, so that we could observe every portion of the
building, and yet we saw nothing that deserved notice, and we began to
think that our imaginations were running riot, when a repetition of the
cracking sound once more occurred.
"Some one is under the building," whispered Fred.
Our store rested upon two small hillocks, which was an advantage during
the wet season, for the water was all carried off towards the river, and
the constructor of the store had rightly judged that it would flow under
the building, and leave the front part perfectly dry. It was, therefore,
very easy for one or more persons to crawl along the rough gulf which
the water coursed over, and stopping under the former, kindle a fire
that would give us great difficulty to extinguish in the absence of
engines and scarcity of water.
We all listened attentively, but no sound was heard, and we began to
fear that the flames might already be kindled, and that the incendiaries
had made their escape. Smith and Murden agreed to creep down one side of
the building, while Fred and myself undertook to guard the other.
With this understanding we parted company, and cautiously reached the
gulf, so that we could look under the building, and there, sure enough,
we saw that ample preparations had been made for smoking us out, for a
pile of kindling nearly a foot high was raised, and two men, who, when
they spoke, did so in whispers, were busy adding to it.
"There, there's enough," cried one, "to set fire to all the shanties in
Ballarat. Light the match, and let's be off, or the dog will be snuffing
around, and then we shall have the fellers about our ears."
"Faith, there's mighty little fear of that, for don't you hear 'um snore
as though they hadn't slept a bit for a month. Pile on the stuff, and
let's have a rousing fire while we are 'bout it," replied the other; and
his voice sounded familiar to us, although who the speaker was we had no
idea.
"You forget that firewood is dear at Ballarat," and he chuckled as he
spoke, as though amused at the thought.
"Thin we'll have it chaper before long," returned the other; and by his
language we knew that he was an Irishman.
They worked for a few seconds, and after a match was lighted and thrust
into the pile of kindlings, and then the incendiaries crawled towards us
as fast as possible, for the purpose of escaping, and getting clear of
the flames, which already began to shoot up and crackle, as they
gathered headway.