For two or three days I strolled about the diggings, looking for some
opportunity of setting myself to work. On the Eureka lead I found five
men holding a claim, that stood a good chance of being "on the line."
It was within four claims of a place where gold was being taken out; and
the "lead" would have to take a sharp turn to escape this place. A
shaft had already been sunk to the depth of twenty feet, that would have
to go down about ninety feet further. It would require eight hands to
work the claim; and the five who owned it wished to sell some shares--
for the purpose of making up the number.
The price asked was fifty pounds each; and, not seeing any better
prospect of getting into a partnership, I purchased a share; and paid
over the money.
I did not much like the appearance of my new partners. None of them
looked like men accustomed to do hard work, or earn their livelihood in
any respectable way. They seemed better suited for standing behind a
counter, to sell gloves and ribbons, than for the occupation of
gold-digging. But that the claim was likely to prove rich, I should not
have chosen them as working associates.
One of the number was named John Darby. He was one of those
individuals, who can never avail themselves of the fine opportunities
afforded, for saying nothing. Darby's tongue was constantly on the go,
and would often give utterance to a thousand words that did not contain
a single idea. His eloquence was of the voluble kind, and very painful
to the ear--being nothing but sound, without one grain of sense. His
voice often reminded me of the clattering of the flour-mills I had heard
in Callao. Whenever he would mount a hobby, and get his tongue freely
going, the air seemed to vibrate with the movement of ten thousand
demons, each hurling a fire-ball into the brain of the listener!
According to his own account, Darby had been ten times shipwrecked on
the voyage of life. Several times, by not being able to marry as he
wished; and once, when he was too successful in this design. The latter
misfortune he regarded as being more serious than all the others.
Physically, as well as morally and intellectually, my gold-digging
companion, John Darby was a singular creature. He did not weigh more
than ten stone--though he was six feet one inch high standing in his
shoes.
He had a small round head, from which hung long bay-coloured tresses of
hair; and these he every day submitted to a careful dressing _a la
Nazarene_.
Another member of our interesting "firm," who went by the name of
"George," was simply an educated idiot.
In the opinion of many persons the man who has received a book
education--whatever his natural abilities--must be a highly intelligent
person. For my part, I think different; and I have adopted my belief,
from an extensive experience of mankind.
It has been my misfortune to meet with many men of the class called
"educated," who knew absolutely nothing that was worth the knowing; and
George was one of these. He had received college instruction, yet no
one could spend five minutes in his company without thinking of the
phrase "ignorant idiot."
Like most people of his class, his folly was made amusingly conspicuous,
by his assumption of an intellectual superiority over the rest of his
companions.
Like most people, too, he had his vexations, the greatest being that his
superiority was not always acknowledged. On the contrary, he was often
chagrined by the discovery: that the light of his genius--like that of
the lamp that burned in Tullia's grave--could not be seen of men. His
eccentricities were at times amusing. Perhaps he had not been created
in vain, though it was difficult to determine what had been the design
of bestowing existence upon such a man--unless to warn others against
the absurdities, by which he daily distinguished himself. He was a
living lesson in the sixth volume of the great work of Nature; and none
could study him, without subjecting themselves to a severe
self-examination. Useless as I may have supposed the existence of this
man to be, I must acknowledge myself indebted to him for many valuable
lessons. My observation of his follies had the effect of awakening
within me certain trains of thought, that removed from my own mind many
strong prejudices hitherto possessing it. In this sense, I might say,
that, he had not been created in vain, though his intended mission could
not have been that of delving for gold on the fields of Ballarat.
Another of our firm had been an apothecary's assistant in London; and
had but recently made his _debut_ on the diggings. He could not think
of anything else, nor talk on any other subject, than the "shop," and
what it contained; and I could not help fancying myself close to a
chemical laboratory, whenever this individual came near me.
The other two partners of the concern used to make their appearance on
the claim, about ten o'clock in the morning; and generally in a state of
semi-intoxication.
These two men kept my mind in a constant state of trepidation--that is,
when they were at work with me. I could never feel safe, in the shaft
below, when I knew that either of the two was at the windlass.
Any man, in the least degree affected by drink, is a dangerous associate
in the working of a gold mine--especially when entrusted with the charge
of the windlass. He may not see when a bucket wants landing; or, when
trying to lower it, he may hang the handle over the wrong hook--an
almost certain consequence of which will be the crushing in of the skull
of whoever may have the misfortune to be below!
No wonder that I felt some apprehension, while toiling in the
companionship of my intoxicated partners.
Volume Two, Chapter XXXII.