A Tale of the Otago Diggings, 1862.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 57, 12 August 1890, Page 3

A Tale of the Otago Diggings, 1862.

Written for the “ Peiorus Guardian ” , {All Rights Reserved.) f ( Conchided .)

Neither of the ruffians replying, Ephraim sternly continued, see here, we want to know what the signals are and by the bones of General Jackson we will know, so ye may as well own up if ye wish to save vour wretched lives, for by the ’tarnal alligator we are in airnest this time.

After a moment’s pause the prisoners asked to be allowed to confer together for a few minutes. Wall, replied Ephraim, the coort will grant your request and give you fifteen iminets. But remember ye hev got to die ef ve don’t do what’s required. Take them back boy* for thet time while the coort fills its pipe and we’ll all be done together. When the Irishman returned they asked Ephraim if he really meant to execute the prisoners if they were obstinate. Wall, no, replied the Yankee, I kinder don’t like to kill them outright but ef you boys keep a stiff upper lip we shall git all the information we want without having to rub them out. In this the Yankee proved a true prophet, for when the-- prisoners were again brought they at once offered to give the required information provided their lives were spared. This being agreed to they informed the “ coort ” that a handkerchief flying on a stick on top of the ridge in daylight, and a small fire at night, would induce their mates to believe all was right, and added that the handkerchief .ought to be fixed up at once. Jerusalem I -exclaimed ■ Ephraim on bearing this, I must be off at oncet. give us that handkerchief out of the prisoner’s pocket Brian, thet thur may be no mistake, and I’ll take one of those guns with me in case I find occasion fur a long shot, if ye hear a report mind and be ready, for by the great coon of Kentucky it will ; mean war. Bight ye’s are cried Brian, we’ll be ready, for be the powers me fingers is itching for a fight, and Denny will be glad to return the compliment he got wid the pick handle, eh .me bKoy ? Faith, I will, replied Denny, an’ may a red diviltake me but I’ll return it as hearty as it wor, given. Picking up one of the guns Ephraim bravely departed on his errand,-half an hour’s sharp walking brought him to the summit of the ridge, where he threw himself down, and gazed around cautiously in every direction. Having convinced himself that no one was in sight be proceeded to plant his flag. .He lay there until the night began to dose in, and then lighting a small fire weturned to his mates. Walking into 4he inner cave he asked the prisoners what their mates were i to bring from tthe township, and if they, intended to sell the gold. From their answers he learned that the gold was to be sold and the proceeds equally divided, and that their mates were bringing two gallons of whiskey. Good, cried Ephraim, we’ll save you the trouble of dividing the money, and the more there is the better ye’ll fare, and the whiskey will hev to pay tin? expenses of this here coort. He then went out to his friends a.nd told them he intended to watch outside where the track come* down the bill so as to get the returning robbers between two fires, but he added, you two'keep a sharp look out, sad down them the moment they enter the care, fur I don’t want to shoot ef I kin help it. He had rather a long and lonely watch some two hours having elapsed before he heard anything of the foe. About that time however he could hear their voieea far up the hill, and from their tone learned that the men were far gone in liquor. Thet simplifies the matter, now I’ll :j»sfc:warn >iy.mates. Hurrying to the cave he whispered, look out boys '! they’re doming, and seem quite booney; let th«m git inside afore ye make ynjr.rush, I shall be close arter so don’t bit me in mistake. He then * crawled back and waited eagerly for the fray. Meantime the returning robbers came gleefully along rather more than three sheets in the wind, and one with a keg of rum on his back, they had seen the remains of Ephraim s fire, and being so late imagined ; their matss had turned in. Rejoicing that their journey was done they staggered into tw&re, where they were immediately to the earth; by the powerful Irishmen. Thet will do sonny’s exclaimed Ephraim, light the candles, and let us see what sort of critters we. hev caught, when ihe lights came he saw that both men were stunned, and : immediately dashed cold water in their faces. This gradually brought them round, when they were securely lashed and their pockets searched. They panned ont three hundred and fifty odd pounds, which Ephraim held up in great exultation. Jerusalem 1 boys, he cried, ’tain, so bad this, take yer own sonny’s, and just chuck them jailbird* in with the others,! their trial flfon’t come oil’ afore the morning. Having complied, the Irishmen asked

him what they should do next. Her a feed replied Ephraim, for my inside begins to feel my throat’s cut, I’m as empty as the purse of a full private in Her Brittanic Majesty’s army, and thar’s enough loose skin around my stomach to make a half-a-dozen tambourines, and a big drum for a brass band. Good an ye, laughed Brian, I’m hungry enough meself, for I niver ait a full feed since Denny, the spalpeen, got murtbered, but the Lord be praised, I kin make up for it now, an’ while the billy boils, I rote we sample the keg of rum the villains brought wid thim. In a short time the friends sat down to a plentiful meal, to which they did full justice, and after filling his pipe Ephraim lay back and said that he felt party durnation comfortable. Towards morning they began to consider what they should do with the prisoners. The Irishmen were for letting them go at once, not wishing to lose time by putting the law in force, Ephraim partly agreed with them, but said he, although it does take a party considerable amount of time and money to make the British Lion wag his tail, as I told ye afore, Jedge Lynch does not charge so much/ileastways not while he’s wrapped up iu the corpse of Ephraim Bates junior. Take them a feed and we’ll try; them in a legal manner arter. One of the varmin treated this coort with, great disrespect, and. by the ’tarnal alligato** he’s got to prove himself as good a man as he thought afore he parts company with this child, after which they kin go to old Nick for all I care, anyhow give them a good blow out and then I’ll try them according to my law. An hour or so later Denny and Brian brought the prisoners into the outer cave, and Ephraim thus addressed them Prisoners at the bar, don’t ye think ye’re a party lot o’ darned skunks to molest honest diggers without any a provocation, I guess ye know well enough the fate of sich cattle as ye on diggings when taken redhanded and tried afore Jedge Lynch. Howsomedever we ain’t bloodthirsty, we ain’t seen it flow ’afore I reckon, and therefore am not mighty curious to see it run again, for which ye kin thank yer lucky stars. But one of ye treat' d this coort with contempt yesterday, and reckoned he could chaw up;this poor child easier nor a mud oyster, and now I calculate - he’s - a going to hev the chance. Untie him .Brian, him with the red shirt, and let us see if he’s the war boss he reckoned, and ye kin show us both fair play. Brian complied, but the man showed no disposition to rise from the ground. What! shouted Ephraim, hev the fighting devil evaporated clean out of ye, or do ye prefer the revolver, Brian lend him yours, and give the signal to fire. Brian handed him the revolver, but instead of taking it, the man hurst out crying, thus proving himself but a cowardly bully alter all. The Yankee gazed on him for some moments in stern and contemptuous silence. And then exclaimed git up you cur, you hev not the pluck of a root digging Injun. Untie the rest boys, and let them absquatulate. I guess they will keep our trail for the future, ef not we’ll raise thar hair for sarting. Clar put on this he shouted as Brian released them, and remember this ef Ephraim Bates sets eyes on either of ye again, he’ll take,yer scalp, he will thet, by the great coon of Kentucky. The four men slunk off like whipped curs, glad to get away so easy, having doubtless acquired a wholesome horror of the Yankee. As soon as they were out of sight Denny poured out some whiskey, and kicking up hie heels gave vent to his joy in shouts of satisfaction, Brian and Ephraim joined in his drink, and to a moderate extent bis satisfaction also, and the' latter having agreed to help the Irishmen work out their claim, two hours later, the three men,. loaded like pack horses, might have been seen wending their way to the Irishmen’s claim, where for the present we must leave them. - ' THE EKD.