SAME CONTINUED.--DEATH OF ROSS.
"Young man," cried the colonel, his face swelling as though the hot
blood would burst through its thin covering, "do you mean to tell me
that those animals do not belong to you or your partner?"
"In the first place," answered Fred, with quiet dignity, "my name is
Frederick ----, and I desire to be addressed as such in our
communications, and not by the ambiguous title of 'young man.' In the
next place, as I told you before, we are not the owners of those
animals."
"It's a trick to cheat us," muttered the commissioner.
"Did you address a remark to me?" Fred asked, turning to the police
officer.
The commissioner declined to reply, but he seemed to feel what he had
uttered.
"The animals are wanted, and we shall take them, sir, for the use of
the government; for the use of the government, sir, I suppose that you
understand," the colonel cried.
"That is something that we have no control over, and are not interested
in. I have no doubt that the owner or owners of the animals know how to
protect their own property, and will do so."
The commissioner made a signal to his men, and three or four of them
started for the stable to remove the animals. Just at that moment the
agent of the stage company entered the store, and his presence was never
more desirable.
"Hullo," he cried, "what the devil are you doing with my horses, Fred?"
"We are doing nothing with them, but these gentlemen seemed to think
that government was in want of them, and therefore are about to
confiscate them. I am glad that you have arrived in time to make terms
of sale."
"Terms of the devil!" the agent shouted; "here, you, sirs, take those
animals back to the stable, or I'll break you finer than a piece of
quartz after it has passed through a mill!"
The men stood irresolute, and looked towards their chief.
"We want the animals," the colonel said.
"And will have them," the commissioner exclaimed.
"Gentlemen," said the agent of the stage company, "these animals belong
to me; I have paid for them, and have a bill of sale, and the man who
dares to detain them does so at his peril."
"Let us see the document," the military man said, after a whispered
consultation with the commissioner.
The agent handed the paper to the colonel, and he studied over it
carefully.
"Why, this document was signed last night," he exclaimed, with a sour
look at Fred.
"What's that got to do with the question?" the agent asked, abruptly.
"Because I believe that it's a d----n trick to cheat the government!"
shouted the colonel, boiling over with rage.
"Do you dare address such words to me, sir?" cried Fred.
"Or to me, either?" demanded the agent.
"Your uniform shall be no protection, unless you unsay what you have
uttered," Fred continued, advancing in a menacing manner towards the
colonel.
"Don't be rash," I whispered, laying a hand on Fred's shoulder;
"remember that he is high in rank, and won't meet you."
"But I will post him in every town in Australia, unless he apologizes or
fights."
"When the government solicited our company to establish a daily line of
stages between Ballarat and Melbourne, we were promised all the
assistance that officials could afford, and no interference was to be
allowed; I see that the commissioner, and you, Colonel Kellum, are
desirous of driving us from the town, and compelling us to abandon our
enterprise. I shall take immediate steps to let the government know the
reason of our refusal to continue the contract."
The speech of the agent was a telling one on the colonel and
commissioner, for they knew that government would never pardon
interference with a line that cost so much money to establish, and which
was carrying information through the country at an unprecedentedly rapid
rate. No wonder they stopped to consider, and changed their fierce
aspect for one of conciliation, for they knew that suspension from duty
would probably follow a remonstrance from the company.
"If you have bought the horses we have nothing further to say," the
commissioner remarked, turning to the agent; "it was a mistake on our
part in supposing that they belonged to these gentlemen, whom we are
proud to call friends, and to whom we now desire to state that we only
proposed to borrow the animals for a short time, and return them after
these unhappy troubles."
"If the d----d brutes were not killed," muttered the colonel, _sotto
voce_, and with a look of the most intense hatred.
"Colonel Kellum, you accuse me of acting unfairly in this business, and
I desire an explanation," Fred said, the matter still rankling in his
mind.
"I have given the only explanation that I shall give, and with that you
must rest satisfied," was the reply of the red-faced Briton.
"Then I suppose that you will favor me with a meeting at an early hour?"
Fred asked.
"What!" cried the military man, with some surprise, "a colonel in her
majesty's army meet a dealer in tea and coffee? You must be mad!"
The red face of the military man grew purple as he thought of the
indignity.
"Then I can only suppose that you are a coward, and that even a blow
would not induce you to fight. Is that the case, sir?"
The colonel smiled with bitter scorn, and turned to leave the store.
"You refuse me an apology, do you?" Fred demanded, springing in front of
Kellum, and barring his way to the door.
"Out of my way, grocer," the colonel shouted, with a laugh so insulting
that Fred could contain himself no longer. He raised his hand and struck
his opponent a light blow across his face.
Kellum swelled until I thought that every vein in his body would burst
at the indignity. He muttered a few inaudible words, and then rubbed his
forehead as though he did not half comprehend the insult, and wished to
recall his scattered senses to know whether it was real.
"Now," said Fred, "you can go. I have repaid you insult for insult, and
we are even-handed. If you desire satisfaction for the blow, you know
where to find me."
"Yes, I can find you now!" Kellum hissed, with an oath of some
magnitude; "you have struck me, and have sold your last pound of tea on
earth."
"Look out!" shouted the stage agent; and his words of caution were none
too soon, for the colonel drew his sword suddenly, and made a desperate
lunge at Fred, which he avoided, and the point of the blade struck
against a nail keg, and broke short off.
"A brave man, to refuse to meet a grocery dealer," my friend said,
sarcastically; "I hope that the British army is not composed of such
noble spirits as you; if it is assassination must be held in repute
wherever there is a regiment."
The colonel was too angry to reply, but I thought that he seemed ashamed
of his late attempt on the life of my friend, for he sheathed his sword
without seeking to again use it.
"You shall hear from me in the course of the day," Kellum said, and
without looking to the right or left he marched from the store, mounted
his horse, and left our part of the town in peace.
"He is the most unscrupulous colonel in the English army," the agent
said, after we had got rid of our unwelcome visitors; "he is feared by
his men, and disliked by his officers, and he was never yet quartered in
a town without finding cause to quarrel with some of the inhabitants. He
has been sent here to crush this rebellion, and unless you shoot him he
will do it, even if he has to shed torrents of blood.
"By the way," the agent said, as he turned to leave the store, "the
miners must have employed our countrymen to chop wood for them last
night, if I might judge from appearances."
"How so?"
"Why, haven't you heard the news?" he asked, in surprise.
"No; what has transpired?"
"Why, the miners are building fortifications on Gravel Pit Hill, and
last night the sound of axes was heard from dark until light. A thousand
trees were felled and trimmed, and cut into suitable lengths for a
palisade, and even now men are at work digging holes in the sand to
insert the ends of the timber. The miners mean mischief, and we shall
have a hot fight before long."
"But why don't the commissioner interfere, and prevent the men from
continuing the work?" I asked.
"That is something that I cannot explain, although I have endeavored to
solve the mystery. The miners think that he is frightened, and therefore
count on an easy victory."
The agent bade us a good morning, and walked off to attend to his
duties.
"Can't you see through this seeming indifference?" asked Mr. Brown; "the
commissioner has sent for artillery, and expects the arrival of the
company in a day or two at farthest. The palisade will afford but
trifling resistance to a twelve pound cannon ball. Besides, there is
more glory for the officers if the miners are fortified. Be assured that
the commissioner winks at the operations of the disaffected, simply
because he can crush them more effectually if cooped up, than displayed
upon the plain."
"But if the artillery were cut off and sent back to Melbourne with the
loss of their guns, the miners would have the best of the bargain," I
suggested.
"By the Lord Harry, I never thought of that," cried Mr. Brown, with
enthusiasm; "that would be worth a careful consideration if Ross only
could get the idea. I've half a mind to suggest it to him."
While he was speaking Steel Spring entered the store, ostensibly to buy
a plug of tobacco, but in reality not to pay for it.
"Well," I whispered, while serving him, "did you convey the information
to Ross?"
"Of course," he replied, promptly.
"And what did he say?" I asked.
"That he now knew his friends, and would take measures to prewent the
sogers from getting here in a hurry."
I had no time to talk farther with Steel Spring, for he seemed impatient
to be gone, so I slyly slipped the money into his hand, and he left the
store with a chuckle of such intense delight that a tall policeman near
the door asked him where he got his swipes.
Trade was remarkably good that day. There was a steady stream of gold
dust pouring in, in exchange for many articles which were usually slow
of sale. A large portion of our stock of liquors was sold in bottles and
demijohns, and there were many inquiries for powder and lead, but we
were not allowed by the authorities to deal in such articles, and even
if we had been, we should have declined to sell them under the
circumstances, knowing that the ammunition was intended for the especial
benefit of the soldiers and police officers, and in the latter force we
had many friends.
We closed the store earlier than usual that night, for there was an
agitation pervading the working class that showed that the eventful hour
was approaching when the miners were to measure their strength with the
disciplined soldiers of their country. The red coats were under arms at
their barracks, and a man informed me that he had seen each soldier
served with ball cartridges, and that afterwards they loaded their guns
carefully, as though determined to make every shot tell.
Two or three times during the evening we were on the point of venturing
into the streets; but a fear of getting embroiled with the military
prevented us.
We heard the heavy tramp of men as they marched through the street, and
each moment expected to listen to the roar of musketry. While we were
thus expectant, a light rap at the door, and a voice with which we were
familiar, attracted our attention.
I unbarred the door and let in Steel Spring.
"Things is vorking," he said, rubbing his hands with glee; "'fore
morning we'll 'ave a fight, and I don't care vich vins, I don't."
"How do the miners remain?" I asked; "are they firm?"
"Vell, vot there is of 'em is brave 'nough, but that 'ere Ross has sent
avay 'is best men, and let others go 'ome for the night. He vill catch
it afore mornin'."
"The man is mad," remarked Mr. Brown. "He should have kept every miner
under arms through the night. The commissioner means mischief, I'll
warrant."
"Don't he, though!" exclaimed Steel Spring, winking both his eyes
violently.
"What are his plans?" I asked.
"Vell, 'tain't hardly right in me to tell 'em," the fellow said, as
though he didn't want to reveal all that he knew, although I could see
that he was anxious to, "but the commissioner has sent out men to
mislead the party vot has gone to stop the artillery, and they vill get
on another road and not come back for two or three days. The Yankee
chaps vid their rifles 'ave gone vid the green vons, and now the colonel
don't care an old button for the rest. An attack vill be made to-night
at one o'clock, but don't tell that I said so."
We did not promise a compliance with his request, and after a liberal
drink of whiskey Steel Spring left us to plot mischief, and to steal
whatever he could lay his hands on during the melee.
We held a short counsel, and then resolved that, as the time was near at
hand when the attack was contemplated, we would risk our lives in
witnessing it, and, if possible, render some assistance to the injured,
whether miners or soldiers. We locked up our gold in the safe, and then
started for Gravel Pit Hill. The streets were silent and deserted. Not a
policeman wearing a blue coat was to be seen until we entered the square
where the palisades were erected, and there we found about five hundred
men drawn up in line, silent and immovable, their muskets gleaming by
the starlight, awaiting but the order to open a volley upon the poor
fellows who were cooped up behind the timber, full of pluck, yet hardly
prepared to meet so many disciplined men, and hoping that only a menace
was intended.
"Who comes there?" shouted a sentry, as we approached.
"Friends," I replied.
"Well, friends, stand back and keep out of sight, or you'll lose the
number of your mess," the soldier added, jocosely.
We had no desire for such a calamity, and therefore retired to another
part of the hill, and managed to secrete ourselves from observation by
keeping within the shadow of a friendly tree.
We had not been in our position more than fifteen minutes when we heard
a clash of arms, and the sound of many feet in motion. The soldiers were
formed in two columns, and were rushing with headlong speed towards the
palisades.
The movement was so sudden that the miners were entirely unprepared.
Many of them were asleep, and others had laid their guns aside, and were
at work strengthening the fortifications when the soldiers commenced the
attack. A number of the bravest raised a shout and discharged their
muskets at the approaching columns, but the soldiers did not falter.
They answered the cheer of the miners with a yell, at the sound of which
many of the young men became panic-stricken, threw down their arms, and
fled for their lives.
Amid the uproar I could hear the loud voice of Ross urging his men to
stand to their posts firmly and fight to the last, and a few obeyed, and
poured straggling volleys upon the red coats. Occasionally I could hear
the sharp crack of the American rifle, and I felt sorry to think that my
countrymen were fighting against men who would show them no mercy if
victory perched upon the banner of the government officials.
Cheer after cheer both parties gave, and then there was heard the sound
of axes and the placing of scaling ladders, as the soldiers gained the
palisades.
"On them, bullies!" shouted a voice, which I recognized as Colonel
Kellum's; "show the d----d rebels no quarter! Kill, kill, kill!"
The soldiers had got their blood up, and responded to the barbarous
orders with a yell like famished tigers on the scent of blood. The
timbers were torn away, and in rushed the disciplined men, firing volley
after volley upon all who met their view. We could hear the groans of
the wounded, and shrieks of the dying, until at last the firing ceased
for the want of victims, many having made their escape.
"Do you surrender?" we heard the colonel shout; and although we could
not see whom he addressed, we suspected that Ross and his boldest
adherents were making a stand in the enclosure.
"Let us try and save them," cried Fred; and without listening to our
warning, he started towards the palisade, followed close by Mr. Brown,
Smith, and myself.
The soldiers took but little notice of us, thinking that we were
government officials; so we worked our way by them until we reached the
spot where Colonel Kellum was standing, surrounded by his officers.
"Do the d----d rebels surrender?" the colonel repeated, just as we could
witness the proceedings.
"Here's the leader of 'em, sir, that says he will," cried two or three
soldiers, escorting Ross towards the colonel.
"The leader, hey! Bring him here," was the command.
Ross walked firmly towards his conqueror, and stopped when within a few
paces.
"Are you the leader of these ragamuffins?" demanded Kellum, arrogantly.
"I was the leader of the miners, sir," Ross replied, firmly.
"You own it, do you? Hand me your gun."
Ross complied with the command.
"Is it loaded?" the colonel asked.
"Yes, sir," was the brief response.
"Then I will discharge it for you," the military despot said.
He cocked the piece, placed it within two feet of the Canadian's breast,
and fired. The unhappy man sprang into the air, threw his arms wildly
over his head, and fell a corpse, a bullet having entered his heart.