The Gold Hunter's Adventures Or, Life In Australia Volume 2 ( Of 2 ) by William H. Thomes (books to read in your 30s TXT) π
Friends To Give Them A History Of My Adventures In That Land Of Gold,
Where Kangaroos Are Supposed To Be As Plenty As Natives, And Jump Ten
Times As Far, And Where Natives Are Imagined To Be Continually Lying In
Ambush For The Purpose Of Making A Hearty Meal Upon The Bodies Of Those
Unfortunate Travellers Who Venture Far Into The Interior Of The
Country--Where Bushrangers Are Continually Hanging About Camp Fires,
Ready To Cut The Weasands Of Those Who Close Their Eyes For A
Moment--And Lastly, Where Every Other Man That You Meet Is Expected To
Be A Convict, Transported From The Mother Country For Such Petty Crimes
As Forgery, House-Breaking, And Manslaughter In The Second Degree.
Read free book Β«The Gold Hunter's Adventures Or, Life In Australia Volume 2 ( Of 2 ) by William H. Thomes (books to read in your 30s TXT) πΒ» - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: William H. Thomes
Read book online Β«The Gold Hunter's Adventures Or, Life In Australia Volume 2 ( Of 2 ) by William H. Thomes (books to read in your 30s TXT) πΒ». Author - William H. Thomes
"No, I Won't, For You Are Homely Enough In All Conscience," I Answered,
Pretending To Think That He Referred To Personal Beauty.
The Stranger Turned On Me Like Lightning, And His Sinister Eyes Were
Expressive Of Intense Rage, But I Pretended Not To Notice His Actions.
Rover, However, Became Slightly Alarmed For My Welfare, And Placed
Himself Between Us, And Showed His Strong Teeth With Perfect Frankness.
"Call Off Your Dog," Our Visitor Said, Finding That It Was Useless To
Intimidate, "Or I Will Make Short Work Of Him, And Sell Him To The
Chinamen As A Luxury."
"You Would Never Have Another Chance To Trade With The Celestials," I
Answered, Carelessly.
"Why?" Demanded The Black Ruffian, With A Grim Smile, As He Walked
Towards That Portion Of The Store Where Fred Was Sitting, Mr. Critchet
Having Entered His Room.
"Because, If You Harmed My Dog, I Should Take The Liberty Of Shooting
You Without A Moment's Delay."
"Well, That Is A Question That Two Would Have To Study Over," The
Stranger Answered, In A More Subdued Tone, And With Less Inclination To
Swagger. "I Suppose That You Little Think That I Carry These Things
About Me, And That They Sometimes Bark When I Say The Word, And More To
Volume 2 Chapter 62 (The Same, Continued) Pg 116The Purpose Than Any Dog You Ever Owned." And He Tapped The Butts Of His
Pistols With A Confident Air, But The Announcement Was Not Such As He
Had Anticipated.
"We Sometimes Do A Little In That Line Ourselves," I Answered, "And We
Take Care That The Tools We Use Shall Be The Best That Money Can Obtain.
When This Speaks It Means Something."
I Quietly Drew From My Coat Pocket A Revolver, And Held It Before Him,
And Then As Quietly Returned It To Its Resting-Place.
"I'm Satisfied With Your Word," The Dark-Haired Stranger Said, A Grim
Smile Spreading Over His Face. "When Gentlemen Meet They Should Know How
To Treat Each Other With Courtesy. By Your Weapon I Judge That You Are
An American."
"My Friend And Myself Both Claim That Country As The Land Of Our
Births," I Replied, Pointing To Fred, Who Sat Smoking His Pipe For The
Purpose Of Keeping The Insects, Attracted By Our Light, At A Distance.
"O, I Didn't See That You Had A Companion," The Stranger Exclaimed,
Spying Fred For The First Time, Which Somehow Rather Disconcerted Him;
But He Quickly Rallied, And Continued To Converse In A Free And Easy
Manner, Like A Man Who Had Seen Much Of The World, And Had Opportunities
Of Enjoying It.
"I Am Glad To Know That You Are Americans, For I Have Visited That
Country, And Was Kindly Treated By Those With Whom I Came In Contact. A
Great And Fast Country, As I Can Bear Witness, For While Travelling In
The Southern Part I Suffered A Railroad Collision And A Steamboat
Explosion On The Same Day, And Yet Escaped With Whole Bones. Were I Not
An Englishman I Would Be An American, To Use The Words Of Alexander,
Altered To Suit The Occasion."
"May I Ask If You Belong Here In Ballarat?" I Demanded, With The
Intention Of Finding Out What His Business And Prospects Were.
"To Tell You The Truth, I Am Here On What Your Countrymen Call A
'Bender;' A Freak That Assails Me About Once In Three Months, And After
It Is Over I Return To My Stock-House And Think How Great A Man Can Be,
And Yet How Little."
"Then You Are A Stockman?" I Said.
"That Is Not What I Am Termed," He Cried, With An Expression Of Pride
Upon His Dark Face. "I Employ Stockmen To Look After My Cattle, But I Am
Called A Proprietor."
"I Always Supposed That Proprietors Preferred To Live In The Large
Cities, And Trust Their Flocks And Herds To Employees," Fred Said,
Dryly.
"What Is It To You What I Prefer?" He Demanded, Turning On Fred
Fiercely. "Have I Not A Right To Do As I Please As Long As I Am My Own
Volume 2 Chapter 62 (The Same, Continued) Pg 117Master, And Pay Those Who Work For Me?"
"No One Denies It, I Believe," Exclaimed Fred. "I Only Made A
Supposition. Some Men Dislike To Be Seen In Cities, While Others Would
Go Mad If Obliged To Live On The Plains. I Sometimes Think That It
Depends Entirely Upon The Conscience Which Every Man Is Supposed To Have
Locked Within His Breast, Although My Arguments Are Liable To Be
Refuted, On The Ground That There Are Some Men Destitute Of Such An
Article."
"Death And The Devil! Do You Refer To Me, You Babbler?" Shouted The
Stranger, His Hands Again Seeking The Pockets Where His Pistols Were
Nestling.
"Don't Get Enraged At A Few Words," I Said, Half Soothingly And Half
Ironically. "My Friend Didn't Mean To Cut You With His Remarks."
"We Won't Quarrel Over An Unmeaning Word," I Said. "Give Me A Quart Of
Good Whiskey, And I Will Go Back To The Tent Where I Have Agreed To Stop
For The Balance Of The Night. I Was Told That I Could Get The Best
Liquor Here Of Any Place In Ballarat."
"Raising Cattle Is Considered A Profitable Business In Australia," I
Hinted, While Pretending To Be Attending Upon His Wants.
"I Find It Satisfactory," He Returned, Shortly, As Though Determined To
Baffle My Inquiries.
"I Have Some Thoughts Of Engaging In The Business," I Continued, "And
Would, If I Could Buy A Tract Of Land On The Banks Of The Loddon Or The
Campaspe. All The Pasturing That Is Desirable Within Sight Of Mount
Macedon Skirt Is Already Sold, I Suppose."
"I Should Think It Was," He Answered, With A Grin; "But I Am Open For An
Offer."
"How! Do You Wish To Sell?" I Asked, Apparently In Surprise.
"If I Can Get My Price, Yes."
"How Long Have You Occupied Your Tract?" I Inquired.
"For Four Years, And During That Time My Flocks Have Increased
Threefold, And Now I Count My Sheep By Thousands And Cattle By
Hundreds."
"And Your Range Is Located On The Banks Of The Loddon?" I Asked. "How
Much Land Have You Taken Up?"
"Five Thousand Acres Of As Good Pasturage As Can Be Found In The
Country, Well Watered, And Free Of Bogs And Quicksands."
"Why Do You Desire To Sell, If The Raising Of Cattle Is So Productive?"
I Demanded.
Volume 2 Chapter 62 (The Same, Continued) Pg 118
"None Of Your Business. If You Wish To Buy, Say So, And I'm Open For A
Trade. Come And See Me Some Day, And I'll Talk With You On The Matter;
At The Present Time I'm In A Hurry."
"I Think That I Know A Man Who Will Take The Station Off Your Hands
Without Delay. Wait A Moment And I'll Bring Him To You."
I Left The Cattle Raiser Wondering At The Suddenness Of My Exit, And
Entered The Small Room, Where I Found Mr. Critchet Suffering With
Nervous Agitation.
"Have You Heard All?" I Asked.
"Yes, All."
"And Do You Think That You Recognize The Voice?"
"It Is Follet," He Whispered.
"Dare You Face Him, And Demand Restitution For Your Wrongs?" I Inquired.
"Why Should I Fear To Meet Him, And Strike Terror Into His Guilty Heart?
Let Me Go At Once."
"Then Roll The Collar Of Your Coat Over Your Face, And Slouch Your Hat
Over Your Eyes, And Keep Them There Until I Ask You To Remove Them. Now
Keep Up A Stout Heart, And Trust To Fortune For The Result."
Mr. Critchet Followed Me From The Room Without Another Word. His
Agitation Seemed To Have Left Him, And He Displayed All The "Pluck"
Which Characterizes The Representatives Of Great Britain, When Placed In
Situations That Require Nerve And Courage.
"Hullo! Is That The Man You Have Selected To Purchase My Stock?" Cried
The Stranger, With A Hoarse Laugh; "Why, A Horseback Ride Of Ten Miles
Before Breakfast Would Finish Him For The Day, And If Bullocks Should
Get Sight Of His Thin Form, They Would Break Into Open Rebellion, For
They Know That It Requires A Powerful Arm To Use A Stock-Whip. Take Your
Old Granddaddy Back To Bed, And Send Me A Customer That Can Keep The
Saddle All Day, And Sleep In A Pond Of Water All Night, If Need Be."
"He Is Not So Feeble As He Looks," I Replied, Giving Fred A Quiet
Signal, Which He Understood, And Therefore Rose And Sauntered Near The
Counter, So That He Could Be In The Rear Of The Stockman, In Case He Was
Disposed To Use Violence.
"See," I Continued, Removing The Hat Of Mr. Critchet, And Throwing Back
His Collar, "He Does Not Look So Very Weak, After All."
I Noticed The Stranger Gave A Convulsive Start When He Saw That Pale
Face, So Full Of Mild Reproach; I Heard Him Utter An Exclamation Which
Sounded Like An Oath, And Then He Turned And Rushed Frantically Towards
The Door; But Before He Reached It, He Was Attacked By An Enemy In His
Rear That He Little Counted On.
Rover, Who Had Been Lying Quietly At Our Feet, Watching The Movements Of
The Stranger With Distrust, Yet Apparently Determined To Give The Man A
Fair Hearing Before He Made Up His Mind In Regard To His Character,
Uttered A Yell When He Saw Our Visitor Turn To Fly, And Before He
Reached The Door The Faithful Dog Had Seized A Portion Of His Garments
On That Section Of His Body Where The Strain Is Supposed To Be The
Strongest, And, With Defiant Growls, Held Him Fast.
"Call Off Your Dog," Shouted Follet, With An Oath, "Or I'll Send A Ball
Through His Lean Carcass."
"If You But Offer To Lay Your Hand Upon A Pistol You Are A Dead Man!"
Exclaimed Fred; "Remain Quiet, And You Are Safe."
"Why Should I Obey You?" Demanded Follet, With A Sudden Jerk Of His
Body, For The Purpose Of Freeing Himself From The Jaws Of The Dog, In
Which He Was Unsuccessful, For Rover Took A Double Grip, And I Think
That His Teeth Grazed The Forger's Flesh, For He Attempted To Apply His
Hands To The Spot, But Was Not Able, And Therefore They Once More Sought
The Formidable Pistols Which His Pockets Contained.
"Curse You And Your Dog! Do You Think I'm A Bullock, To Be Thus Dragged
Down, And Make No Resistance?"
He Was In The Act Of Cocking The Pistol When A Slight Blow Upon His Arm,
Near The Elbow, With The Butt Of A Stock-Whip, Made
Comments (0)