THE STORYTELLER.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 1, 11 July 1896, Page 9

THE STORYTELLER.

,—«- A TALE OF BOLD-HUNTING, JBy Victor Zeal. I was oa the golclfielcls and starving. My last shilling had gone to buy yesterday's dinner, my last sixpence to get a fig of tobacco. Two months ago [ had pegged oat rny claim, and had worked like a slave at it ever since, and it was not until three days hack that I realised that the tr»acherous reef which was showing good gold on either side of me had by some impish means twisted itself out of my claim altogether. Hoping against hope, I had worked bravely on for those three days, but without getting so much as a " colour,'' and at last was forced to admit that my labour had been all in vain. I crept into my tent, and flinging myself on the bunk drew the blankets over my head, and, like the Israelite king of old who could not get what he wanted, turned my face to the wall and groaned in . despair. Some one shook me rather roughly. " Get up, man, and see what has been turned up on the very edge of your claim! The men are going wild about it. House yourself and come." I sprang from the bunk in great . excitement, forgetting my hunger . and my empty tobacco pouch, for -the words " on the very edge of ■your claim," sounded like good tidings indeed to me. Outside there was a great crowd of men surging round one spot on the ground near my tent, talking loudly and excitedly. One, seeing me, called out. "Your fortune's made, man ! Come and look at this." I rushed over, and my eager, covetous eyes fell on a great jutting piece of reef of almost pure gold, and only a few feet from the lefthand corner of my claim. I say my eyes were covetous because in very truth the tenth commandment did not exist for me in that hour. I felt in my heart that the golden treasure had clone me a personal injury in not running into my claim also, and L unjustly felt that. I had a perfect right to a share of the good fortune of those men. The men around us were all laughing and shouting with joy, but I could not see why they need make such a fuss over other men's good luck. 1 tried to stop the beating of my heart, when a, man slapped me on the shoulder, saying : " What in thunder are you looking so blue about? Your turn will come next; the reef lias run down in your claim." By " run down" I suppose he meant the reef had gone deeper than I had been digging; but 1 didn't believe him, I wanted the gold that lay shining at my feet, let those who would take the chance of what was hidden deep in my claim. It was a summer evening, and a cool breeze blew across the hills be- , hind which the sun was slowly sinking. I turned away from the joyful group, and began walking up and down excitedly. ]My hands were clasped behind my back, and my face felt cold as ice. •' I say, partner," called out a good-natured fellow from the door of his tent, " come in and have a ■bit of supper with me. I see you are thinking so much of the fortune in your ground that you've furgotten to eat." I could not refuse, for I had not tasted food for 30 hours ; so thauking him. I made a good meal, and also accepted a plug of tobacco with which to till the empty pipe I had been holding between my teeth when I entered his tent. "Them's lucky men," said the digger, leaning against the lent pole, and seemingly counting the rings of smoke that curied away from his pipe. " Yes, indeed." I answered, hotly. '' Why should they be so lucky, and i. in a state of starvation '? It's neither i'.iiv nor right." •• Ave thing,-, as low as that; with you'.'" asked the man, s::ting up strai-i.. now and locking at me keenlv. " 'J J:• ■ ji L advise von to

go to bed and think about nothing." "I'll think about what I please," I replied, Hinging myself out of the tent, and resuming my interrupted walk. I dug mv hands info m\ r empty pockets. How was I to live tomorrow and the next day, and the next ? It was no use digging any more, for I might drop dead over the shovel from sheer weakness before I could get enough gold to buy me a crust of bread. Looking up. 1 found I had almost run against my lucky neighbours' tent. Darkness was covering the earth and lights twinkled here and there across the gokifield. I crouched at the back of the tent and pooped through a jagged fray in the calico. The men were seated on the floor, and between them lay the lumps of wealth, which ought to have been mine. " Don't, you think we ought to hide it," said one to the other. " Hide it ? No ! All the men are as honest as the day, and all are getting gold except the poor beggar next us. I'll just put it in this bag under my pillow." " Well, as you please ; but I'd rather not bo in your place supposing a thief dil come in. Goodnight." " Cfood-night," said the other. " To-morrow we'll double this, I hope." They rolled themselves in their blankets and in two minutes were snoring. I crept round and entered the tent. AVhat I had come to do I must do boldly. With stoalthy footsteps I neared the bunk. The man's head had fallen off the pillow and was hanging over the side of the bed ; his mouth was open. Quietly I lifted the heavy bag and darted from the tent like, what I truly was, a thic-f in the night. Oh! What a weight was that bag, and how heavy were my feet. I seemed to be running with slowdragging steps, instead of like the wind as I wished to. Hark ! There is a great cry in the distance. The gold has boon missed, and they are after me. Can I over go fast enough ? I hear call answering call, and the sound of many feet stampeding here, everywhere. I run on; I stumble aud fall ; up again, still clutching the bag of gold—l race into the darknoss for my life. They are after me—after me ; nearer and nearer they come. 0 ! human bounds, can I erer escape you 1 The great forest looms in the near distance. Once there, I may be able to dodge them. " Stop ! stop !" I hear them cry, but I only go faster. Why aie my feet so heavy ?—oh why ? 1 trip over a log. At last I am near the forest, but my pursuers are close—so close. The giant trees seem to bend forward to meet me, to hide me in their anus. I give one last bound and sink on the ground amongst the fern behind a great clump of bush lawyers. I am safe for a time, at least. " Come out of this, you crawling hound !" cries a voice above me, while a strong hand catches me by tiie collar. " Did you think you could get safely away from me— fiom me i We'll teach you to steal gold, that we will." He dragged me to my feet, and to my surprise did not knock me down agaui. The full moon hail arisen and flooded the forest with radiant light. A crowd of diggers had come running up and surrounded us. " Let us take the gold and set the starving beg.gar free," said (he man who had given me a supper. •• We'll see ii the gold is all right first,'' said the owner. " You stand back, thief!" i stood back waiting- for my doom, while the Ikilt was emptied. An exclamation of astonishment burst from the men as the contents of tin; bag wen: tipped out on the .ground, ami then a great roar of laughter, which was repeated again and again. •'.lust look what he has run away wit.li—three pick'neads ! —not gold at all. I la ! ha ! ha!" " Kred, I 're 1 ! rouse up, my boy : tne sun has been streaming over your face for hours." i started up, looking wildly roun 1 me. •• Where am 1 • in mv tent safe

and sound ? Well, dim, I'm glad you woke, me, even if it is for another day of dreary work, for I've just had a. beastly dream about our next-door neighbours.'' " Oh, you're too fond of dreaming," said dim : '• but I'm' got some news that will stop your dreams for a while. A rich reef has been struck am! it leads straight through the corner of your claim." True enough. h\ three months' time I was a rich man, and since then many a laugh have I had about my dream, ond being so nearly convicted of stealing—three pickheads.