NEPTUNE'S SON
The trial of the Barker's Creek gang excited much interest, and it took
place at Bathurst.
It is needless to go through the evidence given at the trial, as it
merely recapitulated the events with which we are already familiar.
All the prisoners were sentenced to death, and there was a general
feeling of satisfaction with the verdict.
Constable Doonan was soon afterwards promoted and raised to the rank of
sergeant, and had charge of the district formerly under control of the
unfortunate Machinson. All who took part in the fight and the
extermination of the gang were eulogised for their bravery.
One lady was so enamoured of Dr Tom that she wrote and offered him her
hand and fortune, which he respectfully declined.
Jim Dennis prospered during the next few years, and his son Willie was a
great help to him.
A claimant to Cudgegong Station appeared in the person of a cousin of
Rodney Shaw, and he made good his claim.
The new owner of Cudgegong, Chris Shaw, was a very different man to his
cousin, and he soon became a firm friend of Jim Dennis's. He was not,
however, enamoured of station life, as he had lived in Sydney, and one
day he made a proposition to Jim that he should take over the management
of Cudgegong.
'I mean to live in Sydney, Dennis,' he said. 'This life does not suit
me, and I want to get back to my racing and town amusements. Will you
take it in hand?'
'What about Ben Nix?' said Jim. 'I should not care to oust him out of
his billet.'
'Ben is growing old,' said Chris Shaw, 'and he is quite willing to
remain and leave the responsibility to you. He says you always got on
well with him.'
'Very well,' said Jim; 'I will accept, and the terms you offer are quite
good enough; in fact, generous.'
'And if at any time you can afford to buy Cudgegong you shall have it at
a reasonable figure,' said Chris Shaw.
Jim's eyes glistened. He would have dearly loved to make Wanabeen and
Cudgegong one property for Willie's sake, but it seemed beyond his most
sanguine dreams.
He thanked Chris Shaw for his offer, but said there was very little
chance of his being able to buy such a large station.
Chris Shaw went to Sydney, and Jim Dennis and Willie had their hands
full with Wanabeen and Cudgegong.
Everything prospered, and they had no severe droughts. Jim Dennis put by
all the money he earned as manager, and also made a big profit out of
Wanabeen. He commenced to have hopes of realising his ambition after
all.
Neptune had grown into a fine sire, and Jim Dennis had many good horses
and mares by him.
One in particular he set great store by. This was Grey Bird, a beautiful
horse the colour of his sire, out of a mare named Seamew.
Grey Bird was a four-year-old, and had won a couple of minor races at
Swamp Creek and Barragong, but so far as the big meetings were concerned
he was an unknown quantity.
Jim Dennis knew if he could win a race, such as the Sydney Cup, he could
win a lot of money and not risk much. Against such a horse as Grey Bird
the odds in a big race would be remunerative, more especially if Willie,
an unknown rider in the metropolis, had the mount.
He had entered Grey Bird for the Sydney Cup, but it was regarded as a
piece of bluff, and no one ever thought it was his intention to run the
horse.
The journey to Sydney was long and tedious, as there was no railway
communication within some hundreds of miles, and then it was hardly safe
to train a valuable horse.
Jim Dennis had, however, overcome far greater difficulties than the
sending of a horse to Sydney. His never-failing counsellor, Dr Tom, was
consulted, and expressed his opinion that the thing was feasible and
that Grey Bird would have a chance in the Sydney Cup.
'Try it, Jim. Try it,' he said. 'There's nothing like self-confidence,
and I am sure none of the southern jockeys can give Willie much. He's
the cleverest lad I ever saw on a horse. By Jove, how he snatched that
Barragong Handicap out of the fire on Dart! It was a better race than
the memorable one he rode on Neptune.'
'I think I'll try it. We can all go down to Sydney together with the
horse. You will go with us?' said Jim.
Dr Tom looked gloomy. As usual, funds were low, and he did not think he
could stand the expense.
'Of course you will go as my guest,' continued Jim. 'I want your
company, and your skill would come in useful in case of accident.'
Dr Tom smiled as he replied, 'Generous as ever, old man. You know where
the shoe pinches. I will accept your offer because I know it is made
with a good heart.'
'I am not afraid to leave the stations now Dalton's gang are out of the
way. What a curse they were!'
'No mistake about that. It was a fight! I'm itching for another.'
'There will be no chance for a nest of thieves round here with such a
man as Sergeant Doonan about.'
'No,' replied the doctor; 'he deserves all the praise he receives.'
Willie Dennis was delighted at the thought of going to Sydney and riding
his pet Grey Bird in the great race. He loved the horse, and Grey Bird
was so fond of his young rider that he was uneasy when anyone else rode
him.
The arrival of the coach was anxiously awaited, in order to see the
weights for the Sydney Cup.
At last the paper came, and Jim Dennis eagerly tore the wrapper and
glanced up and down the columns, Willie looking over his shoulder.
'There it is!' said Willie, pointing to a long list of horses.
'That's it. I say, Taite's horse has top weight, nine stone twelve
pounds; that's a fair start. Our fellow will be near the bottom. What
will he get? Let's guess!'
He put down the paper and looked at Willie.
'I'll guess seven stone twelve pounds,' said Jim. 'That would give him a
chance.'
'Too much,' replied Willie. 'I'll say seven stone six pounds.'
Jim opened the paper again and looked down the list.
'Here's luck, Willie. He's only got seven stone.' Then his face fell and
he said, 'You will not be able to get down to that weight.'
'Yes, I shall,' said Willie, and ran outside to the weighing-machine.
'I am only seven stone seven pounds now,' he shouted. 'That seven pounds
can soon be knocked off. Dr Tom will see to that. Tell him he will have
to dose me.'
'We will have no dosing,' said Jim. 'It weakens you too much, and you
require all your strength for a long, severe race like the Sydney Cup.'
It was considered a stroke of good fortune for Jim Dennis's Grey Bird to
have only seven stone in the Sydney Cup, and Swamp Creek and Barragong
folk vowed they would back the local horse no matter how good the others
in the race might be.
Adye Dauntsey and Dr Tom were present at Grey Bird's final gallop before
his long walk to Sydney commenced. The magistrate meant to take a few
weeks' holiday and go to Sydney to see the race.
'I saw his sire win one of the best races I ever witnessed at Swamp
Creek, and I must see his son eclipse even that performance.'
'We shall be mighty proud of your company at Randwick,' said Dr Tom. 'To
have the celebrated P.M. from Barragong with us will considerably
enhance our reputations.'
'Chaffing as usual, doctor. I believe you would laugh at a funeral.'
'Probably, if I had not been attending the deceased in a medical
capacity,' replied the doctor.
'I suppose under such circumstances you might possibly think you had a
hand in facilitating his departure from this life,' laughed Mr Dauntsey.
The Sydney Cup was a great race even in those days, when such horses as
Yattendon, Fishhook, The Barb, Flying Buck, Zoe, Archer, Banker,
Lantern, Toryboy, Flying Colours, Clove, and many other good ones were
winning, or had just won, all the big events at Sydney and Melbourne. It
was the year of good horses when Grey Bird went south, and Jim Dennis
knew that with only seven stone his horse would have no easy task.
The handicapper had not much regard for station-bred and trained horses,
and he said to himself, when he came to Mr James Dennis's Grey Bird,
four years, by Neptune--Seamew, 'From Wanabeen, eh? That's near the
place where that fight occurred with Dalton's gang a few years ago. They
cannot have much idea of training in that quarter; and I do not suppose
the horse will run. If they have the pluck to bring him all that way,
and run him against such cracks as we have now, they deserve to be given
a good chance. Seven stone will do you, Grey Bird,' and then he set to
work to try and give others a chance with the top weights, a somewhat
difficult task.
Grey Bird's final gallop pleased them all, and Willie rode him
splendidly.
'He is a mover,' said Mr Dauntsey. 'He'll not disgrace our district in
looks or in the race.'
'If my property would carry a mortgage, I'd back Grey Bird for all I
could get on it, but I am afraid a loan would cause the premises to fall
down,' said Dr Tom.
'Shaky, are they?' asked Mr Dauntsey, laughing.
'Very,' replied the doctor.
All preparations were made for the departure for Sydney, and Dr Tom
decided to ride one of Jim Dennis's horses, as he said he doubted
whether his own would carry him so far.
Adye Dauntsey was to join them at Barragong. He preferred good,
congenial company to the quicker way, and more doubtful society, by
coach.
Ben Nix was left in charge at the stations, and Sal had a friend from
Swamp Creek to stay with her.
Sergeant Doonan promised to keep a strict eye on Wanabeen, and this was
a pleasing duty to him, as he was very partial to Sal's company.
'And, Jim, just put me this on Grey Bird for luck,' said Sergeant Doonan
as he handed him five one-pound notes.