MEMORIES CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY Gold Discoveries IN VICTORIA

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 39, 22 December 1894, Page 15

MEMORIES CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY Gold Discoveries IN VICTORIA

(By an Old Identity). *

(Written for the Southern Cross.) [all rights reserved.] CHAPTER XVII Continued. Disquieting Revelations. —An Anxious Xight. Home Thoughts. —Unexpected Denouement.

After Kintock’s hasty announcement that we were to be “ bailed up ” next morning by the Burns gang and his emphatic threat to let “ daylight ” through some of them, he left for his tent and in a few minutes returned with his gun. While getting it ready for active service he furnished me with full particulars as to what he had gleaned while eavesdropping at the rear of the conspirators’ tent. Both Jerry and Bat, he said, had revolvers, which they had hitherto succeeded in concealing from us, while Burns was to do his share of the business with an axe. Black Harry had declined to take any part in the programme, txuthfully remarking that his “ reckoning ” was heavy enough already. He was, however, sufficiently loyal to his associates not to interfere with their proposed robbery, but knowing that Burns had a special grudge against me, hs stipulated that no murder was to be done, and threatened to “ peach ” on them if any harm befell me besides the loss of my gold. The proposed outrage was to take place just before daylight. Jerry and Bat were to slit open the back of his (Tom’s) tent. If he gave up his gold quietly no further harm was to be done him ; but if he declined to surrender it and “ showed fight ” they were to shoot him. Burns was to attack our quarter, and had remarked that no fighting would be done there, as he knew how to settle matters quietly with us. If it was to be a case of blood-letting they were to burn the tents, retreat into Bullarook forest, and rejoin their friends there. The story thus related by Kintock did not occasion me much surprise, I had been anticipating for some time a crisis in our. relations with these people, and constant intercourse with danger since I first met Burns had to some extent seasoned me and prepared me to meet it. I had, however, to consider that I was almost totally unprovided with effective weapons for the expected collision, and it became a question whether it would not be wiser to take to the ranges with my gold rather than risk my life in a shooting affray with them. The advice I had received from Cartwright when in pursuit of Mclnnes also weighed with me, and I expressed doubts as to the prudence of remaining in the place any longer. Kintock was working rich ground at the time, and it was doubtless that fact that inspired him with the eloquence and importunity with which he endeavoured to dissuade me from showing what he called the u white feather.” “ Ho British judge and jury,” he went on to say, “ would convict us for pieserving our own from these rascals —in fact they would give us credit if we destroyed them root and branch.” To the observation that they had twelve shots to our four, he replied, “ Depend upon me to bring down two at the outset, and after that it will be strange if we three cannot put the quietus on Dan Burns. Black Harry needn’t be counted on in the mat- * * Kintock seemed bent on trying conclusions with our antagonists, and endeavoured to lend force to his counsel for aggressive measures by a halffriendly insinuation that if we had from the first shown a bolder front to Burns and his friends we would still be in possession of the gold that Mclnnes hal robbed us of.

That vvas the most effectual argument that could have been used towards gaining the object he had in view. Time had not obliterated the keen annoyance I felt the morning I had been so artfully outwitted by simple Mac. and deprived of my first earnings on the creek, and the mention of it at that particular juncture decided me to adopt Tom’s proposal. Although I thus gave in, my adhesion to assist in the business of the following morning, I may at once disclaim possession of courage in the common acceptation of the word, and, could I have honourably done so would have preferred to procure a substitute to do my share of the fighting—or even have allowed Tom to do it all himself. Courage or valour are interesting subjects to read about, and have always had a peculiar fascination for me —in print ; but Nature has so constituted me that I have inclined in life to deal with my fellows by moral suasion rather than physical force. Indeed, with the exception of the irresistible charm that contact with undisturbed Nature and bush life had for me —-where I always risked falling in with undesirable company —I have ever had a decided predilection for avoiding rather than meeting danger. Occasions occur in life, however, —and especially in such situations as we were then placed —when duties foreign to our natures are thrust upon us that cannot be well avoided ; and the ordinary usages of civilised society have to be ignored. So after mentally viewing all the surroundings of the peculiar position, I found that the only honourable course open was to manfully face the position ; and as it was through Kintock’s assiduity and disregard of the perils he had exposed himself to that we were indebted for the discovery of the plot, I willingly conceded to him the leadership in so novel and trying an experience. To counteract the diabolical plot that had thus been fortunately discovered, it was arranged that there was to be no sleep by any of us. It was a bright starlight night, and on their being first sighted a signal coo-ee was to be given by the discoverer. Tom was to give each of the two that made for his place a double charge of buckshot that he had obtained for kangaroo and wallaby hunts. Burns would have some little difficulty in getting into our abode, as it was surrounded with gum branches that were used for “ break winds.” The only accessible opening was in the front, and there would be no difficulty in popping him off. That was the whispered arrangement proposed by our ally, who then put the leading question —■“ Are you game, boys P Remember it is a case of either shoot or be shot!”

Kintock had the knack of enunciating his views in a brief and practical way, and as he never exhibited nervousness or perturbation in his actions together with being an excellent shot, he infused a considerable amount of his own combativeness and enthusiasm into the writer, and I again agreed to heartily co-operate with him in defence of our lives and property, Johnny was silent when we made the arrangements described. Before leaving Tom suggested to him to place fresh caps on on the pistols. But here an unforeseen difficultyarose. Johnny would neither watch nor fight. He was not a fighting man, he said, and had promised to be back to his wife in twelve months at most, and didn’t want to run any unnecessary risks. We had diyided our gold a few days previously and buried it under where we lay at night, and he said he would take his share and make for the ranges. After departing I remarked to Tom that Burns’ party had a decided advantage over us in numbers and firearms. “ Hover mind, ” he replied, we’re better off without Jacky—it wants pluck to deal with these robbers and murderers and he’d do more harm than good if there’s to be shooting. Come to my tent; it will be the first attacked —and after we give them a warm re-

ception there will be no further trouble.”

“ Kintock possessed true British grit. The more difficulties he had to contend with the better he seemed to be pleased. His temper was now fairly aroused, and I became to a great extent saturated with the strong feeling he displayed in the matter. It is needless to say that the night was a terribly anxious one to the two watchers. Wearily the hours dragged along, and only once a few whispered words passed between us. Too much time was afforded us for reflection. Our position was perilous in the extreme. If in possession of a dog to warn us of the approach of the wouldbe murderers, we could have defied them, but about midnight dark clouds overspread the face of the sky, and completely obliterated the bright starlight that we had depended upon in the early part of the night to assist us in our observations, and they might be within a few paces of us for several hours without our knowledge. Although he did not exhibit the slightest trepidation and appeared collected in all his movements, my iron-nerved fellow sentinel must have frequently allowed his thoughts to wander anxiously during that night of dire peril to his family —of whom he had often spoken in affectionate terms, and for whose sake he was then encountering such fearful risk. But to more impulsive or sensitive natures, such as |mine, an ordeal similar to that we underwent acts with much greater wasting force than on one constituted like Kintock. The leading events of a brief lifetime crowded up, and visions of kindred, friends, and the old home beyond the seas flitted before me, Prominent amongst them was the last happy Christmas eve and night spent under the paternal roof. Friends and relations had come —some from long distances—to spend with me the most joyous and regularly celebrated festival of fatherland —■ the last that I was destined to participate in with them. In imagination 1 saw the great traditional yule log burning in the open fireplace, the dancers whirling under the familiar holly-branch, festooned with wreaths of mistletoe—and heard the laugh, jest, and hearty chorus to some favorite old-time song, and again noted the keen enjoyment exhibited in the features of all the actors except one —• she that had tended and anxiously watched over me in infancy, childhood,'and early boyhood,and from whom I was about to part in all likelihood for ever. And anon came the sweet rhythmical notes of the waits as they ushered in the the natal day of the Saviour with that oldest and grandest of all songs of praise that have been written to celebrate that auspicious event. “ Hark ! the herald angels sing Glory to the new born King.” When these visions and meditations passed through ray heated brain I felt strongly inclined to break away from my position and take to the hills as Bristol Johnny had done; but then my thoughts were diverted to another channel by the click of his gun-lock, as my statuelike companion raised the hammer at a slight rustling noise in our vicinity, and dropped it again when satisfied that it was only caused by an oppossum or a bandicoot. And when I reflected that Kintock had a wife and family depending upon him for support, and that he was prepared even to risk his life in defence of his property, I felt that it would be rank cowardice to desert, and decided to stand by him at all hazards. But the oppressive stillness and uncertainty of our position began to tell heavily on the nervous system, and I could not resist whispering: “ Miserable work this, Tom,”

The reply, as usual, was brief and pointed. Tom was conversant with most of the quaint axioms and old proverbs in use in many of the inland English counties, and when desirous to avoid distasteful subjects,was in the habit of uttering the most appropriate that occurred to him and then lapse into silence. On the occasion referred

to his reply was prompt and suggestive. With a strong friendly grip he responded in barely audible tones—- “ No pancakes without egg-break-ing,” and resumed his task of endeavouring to penetrate the intense darkness through the slit he had made in the back of his tent.

Nothing more suitable for the occasion could been uttered than these few words. There was a sermon in them, and conveyed a world of meaning. No sweets in life without tasting its bitters - little pleasure without its alloy of pain—no sunshine without shadows. They furnished food for reflection, and braced me afresh jfor any contingency that might arise.

I calculated that it would be within half-an-hour of daylight, and that the expected attack might be made at any moment, when an unexpected incident occurred that completely disarranged the plans of the bandits, and prevented bloodshed for that time at least. A distant rumbling noise, and apparently approaching from the direction of Cartwright s, broke the deep stillness that had prevailed during the night In a few minutes it was sufficiently near to cause us to suspect the approach of a troop of horsemen. A pause was made by them on the ridge of the range just above our camp, and we concluded that a contingent of marauders had come from Bullarook Forest to assist our neighbours to carry out their nefarious scheme. Then I suggested to Kintock the futility of offering any resistance. His quick, stertorous breathing indicated that he also realised the magnitude of our danger, but before he could reply the troop came down with a rush, and appeared to completely surround my domicile. Impressive stillness reigned in our midst for the next two or three minutes—the most anxious I have ever spent. It was pitch dark, and we could not distinguish any object more than a few yards distant. It would be folly to deny that we were both thoroughly scared. No cry for help would be encouragingly responded to there, except from Him from whom all goodness emanates. But what was that ? An almost imperceptible bellowing noise broke upon our ears, and almost instantaneously we were relieved of a fearful load of anxiety as to our fate. Coming outside we descried our abode completely hemmed in by wild cattle. By shouting and hurling amongst them fire-brands taken from the burning ashes of our previous night’s fire we succeeded in dispersing them, and as frightened as we were by their approach, they stampeded up the flat at full speed. I requested Kintock to discharge one barrel of the gun after them so as more effectually to deter them from again coming near us. “No !” he answered determinedly, and sufficiently loud to be heard by the outlaws, who were now outside fully dressed. “ I intend to keep the contents of these two barrels for more dangerous cattle that I. have been lately expecting.” That was the most effective shot he could have fired. The signification of the remark appeared to be thoroughly understood, for daylight set in without any attempt being made to molest ns.

A few days after we learned the cause of the visit that had so disconcerted us, and which we had no previous experience of. Cartwright and his son had fallen in with a mob of wild cattle rn the ranges, and succeeded in cutting off a number from the main body, intending to keep them for station purposes. These had broken loose from the temporary stockade in which they had been confined, had careered in our direction, and startled by Bristol Johnny, who had selected his hiding place close to where they made their first halt, had rushed down the slope and right into the heart of our camp. Discussing the subject later on, our plucky ally (Kintock) acknowledged that for the first time in his life he was fully impressed with a sense of danger and misgiving when he heard the animals tramp down the side of the

range. The long period of watching and waiting in the darkness for the event we had heen anticipating had strained the nervous system of both to the utmost tension, and never was dawn of day heralded with greater satisfaction by either than when we were able once more to clearly view our surroundings. The experience of that night has often been a source of reflection to the ■writer —especially the wild rush of the cattle into our midst .when we were momentarily expecting to be attacked by the outlaws who were doing sentinel duty at the same time as ourselves, and who appeared to be quite as much disconcerted by the interruption. Their murderous plot—f ru strated in the way described occupied my thoughts several times during the following two weeks, and I then attributed to a lucky accident or natural causes the failure of the conspiracy. The escape from perils that night, however, when viewed in conjunction with an occurrence that will be referred to later on ultimately led to a conviction that for some wise but unrevealed purpose, an unknown force was interposing in my behalf. (To be continued.)