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
With Flat Roof, And Constructed Entirely Of Rough Logs, Yet Fitted
Together With Considerable Pretensions To Skill And Nicety.
On The Roof, To Keep Out The Rain, And To Prevent The Bushrangers Or
Natives From Setting Fire With Burning Arrows, Was Dirt About A Foot
Deep, And Sodded Over With Turf. The Body Of The Building, We Could See,
Was Full Of Loopholes, And Commanded Every Approach, And There Was No
Tree Or Outhouse Sufficiently Near To Interfere With This Arrangement,
Or Any Unequal Ground Which A Foe Could Take Advantage Of.
At Some Distance To The Left Of The Castle, As Mr. Brown Facetiously
Called It, Were Three Immense Pens, One Filled With Sheep, And The
Others With Horses And Other Animals, And I Judged There Were As Many
Dogs On The Outside Of The Pens As There Were Rams On The Inside, For
The Instant We Appeared In Sight We Were Greeted With Such Frightfully
Discordant Yelling And Barking That I Began To Fancy We Must Indeed
Present A Woeful Spectacle, Or We Never Should Be Saluted By Such
Vindictive Sounds. Still, Not A Shadow Of A Human Being Did We Discover,
And I Began To Think That The Bushrangers Had Made A Descent, Murdered
Those Connected With The Farm, And Then Escaped, When I Was Suddenly
Convinced Of My Error By Hearing The Report Of A Musket, And An Ounce
Ball Whizzed By My Head And Struck The Ground About Ten Rods In The Rear
Of Us.
"That Says, Stop Where You Are, Plain Enough," Remarked Day, Checking
His Horse; An Example Which We Were Not Slow In Following.
"But If We Remain Here We Shall Get No Supper," I Remarked.
"That Is The Truest Word That You Ever Uttered," Cried Mr. Brown, With A
Grin, At Our Predicament.
"Will You Go Forward, Day, And Let Mr. Wright Know That We Are Friends?"
I Asked; But The Shepherd Shook His Head, And Declined, And Manifested A
Willingness To Retreat From The Neighborhood Of The House, Although I
Will Do Him The Justice Of Stating That He Showed No Signs Of Fear.
"Look At The Cowards At The Windows Of The House," Cried Mr. Brown; And
Sure Enough, The Inmates Of The Building Had Thrown Open The Iron
Shutters, And Were Gazing At Us With Some Curiosity, Although I Noticed
That Each Man Held A Musket In His Hand For Fear Of Surprise.
"I Wouldn't Refuse To Speak With All The Bushrangers In Australia, If I
Had A Fortress Like That To Retreat Into," Muttered Mr. Brown, With A
Smile Of Contempt.
"Let Us Cross The Lodden, And Find The Hawkswood Station," Suggested
Day, "I'll Warrant That We Shall Get Something To Eat, And Perhaps A
Drink Of Rum There. I've Had A Taste Of The Hospitality Of That Place
More Than Once."
I Was Almost Resolved To Follow The Advice, But A Look At The Heavens
Volume 2 Chapter 73 (Arrival At Mr. Wright's Station.) Pg 185Convinced Me That We Should Have Rain Before Many Hours, Owing,
Probably, To The Fire Which Was Raging At A Distance, As Fiercely As
Ever, And Night Was Nearly Upon Us. Besides, I Began To Feel Really
Exhausted For The Want Of Food And Rest, And I Was Fearful That If Day
Should Miss The Trail We Might Wander About Until Daylight, And Still Be
Some Distance From The Place We Were In Search Of.
With These Opinions I Combated Both Mr. Brown And Day, And Made An
Impression, For The Former Exclaimed Pettishly, That If I Was Desirous
Of Remaining, I Might Devise Some Way Of Giving Mr. Wright And His
Numerous Proteges Intelligence Of Our Honesty. The Task Was A Difficult
One, But I Scorned To Be At A Loss For Expedients.
In The Bosom Of My Shirt I Had A Handkerchief, Made Of India Silk, And
Of A Yellow Color, But At A Short Distance It Appeared White, And I
Thought It Would Answer For A Flag Of Truce. Therefore, Before My
Companions Were Aware Of My Intention, I Flourished The Handkerchief
Over My Head, And Galloped At A Moderate Pace Towards The House,
Expecting Every Moment That I Should Get A Shot For My Recklessness, But
I Intended, If There Was Any Firing, To Wait Until The Farmers Were
Satisfied That I Meant Honestly, Provided, Of Course, I Escaped Getting
Hit, Of Which I Was In Some Fear, I Must Confess.
Luckily For My Safety, Mr. Brown And Day Remained Where I Left Them, And
Were Watching My Movements With Some Curiosity, And Considerable
Anxiety. Had They Advanced Towards The House At The Same Moment As
Myself, We Should All Have Bitten The Dust, And Rich Pickings The
Stockmen Would Have Had Emptying Our Pockets, And Boasting Of Their
Exploits In Shooting Three Men With But A Single Effective Revolver To
Defend Themselves.
On I Galloped, Waving My Handkerchief In Token Of Friendship, And
Exciting Dismal Howls From The Canine Brutes, Whom I Expected Every
Moment Would Desert Their Flocks And Attack Me, But I Afterwards
Understood That The Dogs Were So Well Trained That No Amount Of
Temptation Could Induce Them From Their Charges. Had It Been Otherwise,
My Gallant Horse Would Have Had To Put His Speed To Good Account, Tired
As He Was.
When Within Three Rods Of The House, I Halted, And Prepared For A Parley
With The Garrison, And I Was The More Ready To Commence It, From The
Simple Circumstance Of Seeing About A Dozen Old Muskets Pointed At Me,
And The Holders Of The Same Glancing Along The Barrels, As Though
Meaning Mischief.
"Can You Give Me And My Friends Supper And Lodgings To-Night?" I Asked,
Addressing The Crowd, Seeing No One That I Supposed Was In Authority.
"Go Away Wid Ye, Ye Thaves And Murderers," Cried A Voice, "Rich With
Brogue," And I Could Not Help Laughing In The Fellow's Face At The
Answer.
"We Will Pay You Well For Our Entertainment," I Continued, After I Had
Sufficiently Recovered My Composure.
Volume 2 Chapter 73 (Arrival At Mr. Wright's Station.) Pg 186
"Will Ye Lave, Yer Blackguard?" Demanded The First Speaker, Shaking His
Old Gun At Me, And Motioning For Me To Depart As Soon As Possible.
"We Have Been Without Food All Day," I Continued, "And, After Escaping
The Dangers Of The Burning Plains, It Seems Hard To Be Driven Away From
A Christian's Door Like Dogs."
"It's A Pity, So It Is, That Ye Wasn't Consumed In That Same Fire. Away
Wid Ye, And Don't Bother Honest People Like Us. Ye Can't Come In Here,
And That's Flat."
"I Suppose That You Imagine We Are Bushrangers," I Said; "In That You
Are Mistaken. We Have Just Escaped From A Gang."
"Thin Ye Had Better 'Scape Back Agin, As Fast As Yer Two Legs Will Carry
Ye," Cried The Irishman.
"It's The First Time That I Ever Knew A Native Of The Emerald Isle To
Refuse A Stranger A Crust Of Bread Or A Drop Of Water," I Continued,
Resolved To Try What Virtue There Was In Flattery.
"Will Yer Save Yer Blarney?" Demanded The Fellow, Again Levelling His
Gun In My Direction, A Proceeding That I Did Not Thank Him For, Although
I Did Not Manifest Alarm.
"Go To The Devil!" I Cried, Thoroughly Out Of Patience, "And Send Your
Master To Me."
"O, Holy St. Patrick! Only Hear Him! He Calls Me Master The Devil, And
Thinks I Won't Resent The Insult. Look Out For Yer Eye, For By The Piper
That Played Before Moses, I'll Bore Yer Through And Through!"
I Believe The Fellow Would Have Kept His Word, And I Was Just About To
Show Them My Horse's Heels, When I Heard A Man Speak In A Tone Of
Authority,--
"Up With Your Guns, And Don't Make Fools Of Yourselves By Shooting An
Unarmed Man."
In Obedience To The Order The Guns Were Lowered, And A Number Of The Men
Fell Back From The Window, And Allowed Me To Get A Glimpse Of The Person
Whom I Supposed To Be Mr. Wright. He Was A Tall, Well-Built Man, With
Broad Shoulders, And A Face Entirely English, Covered With Sandy
Whiskers.
"Who Are You?" He Asked, With The Bluffness And Arrogance Of A Native Of
Great Britain.
"A Man," I Replied.
"I Have Your Word For That, But I Require Better Evidence."
"What Better Evidence Do You Require?" I Demanded.
He Did Not Notice The Remark, But Continued,--
"I See Many People Every Week, And Although They Have The Form Of Men,
They Are Villains."
"The More Reason Why You Should Treat Honest People With Courtesy When
Chance Brings Them This Way," I Replied.
"Hear The Feller's Blarney," Muttered The Irishman.
"Silence," Said Mr. Wright, And The Command Was Obeyed.
"We Have To Be Extremely Cautious Whom We Admit Within These Walls," Mr.
Wright Continued, "For A Gang Of Bushrangers Has Been Prowling Around
The Farm For A Week Or More, And Are Endeavoring To Destroy My Flocks.
How Shall I Know That You Don't Belong To The Gang?"
He Waved His Hand In A Significant Manner, And I Could Not Have Been
More Surprised Had An Earthquake Shaken Me From My Horse.
"My Deeds Have Always Been Squared In Accordance With The Great
Principles Of The Fraternity," I Replied, And It Was Pleasing To See
What A Change Took Place In The Demeanor Of The Farmer.
"Down With Your Guns," He Shouted, "And Unbolt And Unbar The Door. See
To The Gentleman's Horse, And Let Us Have For Supper The Best That The
Station Affords."
The Heads Disappeared From The Windows As If By Magic, And In A Few
Seconds' Time The Heavy Outer Door Was Thrown Open, And Forth Issued Mr.
Wright At The Head Of His Employees. I Signalized To Mr. Brown And Day
To Advance, And Then Dismounted And Met The Strong Grip Of The Farmer's
Hand With One Equally As Hearty.
"I Ask Ten Thousand Pardons," He Said, "For My Questions, But I Am
Obliged To Keep A Strict Guard Over My Property, Or I Should Be
Surprised By The Forest Rovers, Who Would Amply Repay The Numerous
Checks Which They Have Received At My Hands, Were They Able To Do So."
"Make No Apologies," I Replied, "For I Don't Blame You For Classing Me
With Suspicious Characters; But The Fact Is, We Have Passed Through A
Cordon Of Flames, And I Think Our Clothing Is Somewhat Damaged, And Our
Personal Appearance Not Very Prepossessing. We Should Not Have Troubled
You Had Not Necessity Compelled Us."
"No Trouble, No Trouble," He Exclaimed, With All The Heartiness Of An
Englishman Who Is Disposed To Be Friendly; "I Am Always Glad To See
Company, Provided, Of Course, It's The Right Kind."
By This Time Mr. Brown And Day Had Joined Us, And Were Waiting To
Receive The Same Welcome That Had Been Bestowed Upon Me. I Introduced
Them In Due Form, And Gave Mr. Brown His Ex-Title, Which Pleased Him
Excessively.
"I Know You," Mr. Wright Said, Addressing Mr. Brown. "Haven't We Met
Before?"
"I Should Say That We Had," Replied My Friend, Scanning The Farmer's
Face Keenly.
"You Were Stationed At One Time In Melbourne?" Mr. Wright Inquired.
"For A Number Of Years."
"And Of Course You Remember That I Landed At That City Ten Years Since,
With One Hundred Pounds In My Pocket?"
"Large Numbers Of Emigrants Arrived With
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