CHAPTER VI.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1559, 1 July 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VI.

How glad Jack felt when he got out into the freshened air. Youth is always buoyant, and desires to shake off melancholy feelings. Jack did feel troubled about his mother ; but then he had been accustomed to these scenes, and he felt suro that it would all blow over as usual. Still the terrible face ho had just seen haunted bis mind, and aiosc every now aud then like a spectre from the dead. The life and bustle around Jack, however, soon dissipated all such thoughts. Men hurried to aud fro, in Gritty GriiUy, trying to ascertain the amount of damage done by the waters, which still tumbled down, foaming and roaring. Those who had claims in the bed of the creek looked particularly rueful ; but the generality of the diggers were henrtily glad, for there would be plenty of water to wash the dirt. They were all agreed on one thins I—thnt1 — thnt the event should be celebrated with some liquor. Those whose claims had been swamped, declared they must have something to raise their spirits ; while thoso who had dry claims, and looked forward to being able to rapidly reduce their heaps of washdirt to piles of gold dust., "shouted" energetically. Therefore, the landlords reaped quite a harvest. The principal stieot. was swamped in water, ifc is fciue ; but, since there were so many people leady to keep it out by imbibing brandy, what about that? So all the hotels remained open, displaying m much light as they possibly could in those godless, kerofienele&s days. There was some law that hotels should bo closed at a reasonable hour ; but, as all the available constabulaiy M r cre lying in the back parlour of the Garryowen Jlotel — (u weathei -board and tin structure, thought quite a palace), exhau e ted after their day's labour — a mild way of putting it — -and the commissioner and some confreres were playing euchre in the select parlour -thcro was no one to sec the law put into force. Jack, after paddling about in the water with all the excitement a youth feels when anythingfresh turns up, thought ho would look in at the Ganyowen, to scj what fun was going on. The bar was crowded ; and behind it stood the landloid, Mick Ryan, and his handmaiden, Prudence, smiling, of course. A tremor went through Jack's frame as he noticed that Hector stood in front of the bar, talking to her. How sweetly she spoke to him, and what a slave to her he appeared 1.0 bo. Jack's fists began to tfench, and he felt as if he could go up to Hector and tell him to the ground. Jack noticed that his futhor came up to Hcctoi, and began to hold animated conversation with him. Piesently Bunakum jumped on toafoim. Instantly the crowd loft olf drinking, talking and smoking. "Miners of Grit," ciied Itanakum, the time has come find the man. Let us all adjourn to the largo room, and held a public meeting, at which measure's will be preponderated to you for tho rcdresi of your grievances. Como ! miners of Giit, come." A stampede at once took place, and, of course, Jack was not to bo left behind. Before many minutes an impromptu platform had been got up at the end of the largo room, and a tablo fixed, whereon was a decautei of brandy and a bottle, ot water. Mr White, Bertha's lather, took the chaii, and, after a few remarks, introduced their old and esteemed friend, Mr Bunnkum. (Cheers.) Surveying the strnngo iibsomblngc, Bunakum threw him.vlf into an attitude, and delivered the folloM'iu'f oration — pausing frequently to have a nip, forgetting- always to have anything to do with the water-bottle: — "Mincis of (hit," said lie, "the honest, hard-workiug woim will walk in the dust, attending to its duties, and for a time heed not the tramping of the proud oppiossor, that spurns it with his foot. 1 jut only tui- a tune" (a nip). " Only for ii time. Then it, will turn and sling ; and the tyrant will bo l<nd low." (Gicat cheers.) "Miners of Grit, you aio tho worm, the pioud tiyaut the commissioner.'' (Immense applause. Several ohaits smashed.) " Nor months lie has been tiampmg unon you, extorting from you licen-e-fees. For what ? To stive you from the flood ? To cover you from the sun ? To protect you from rapacity ? No ! To dino luxuriously every day in hi» cool aibor on the hill." (Teirino applause ) "But the worm will tuin, and the time has come, "lie allowed tho hard work of months to bo swept away like the dust off his svcll polished boots. Who uses a toothbiush 9 Who wears a stove-pipo hat, and a boiled shirt? 1 ' (Chews and counter clicks.) " \ou, who have lived on the Pacific Slope, in the Kieat land of California, will you stand it? No! Nero, gentlemen, fiddled when Rome was burning;. Tho commissioner played euchre M'hiln Gritty Gully Mas destroying our woik." (He laid great emphasis on our, as if he wore the hardest worker theie.) %( You Avill cry, ' Lead us to death and victory !' How, gentlemen? You must be cautious how you proceed. You have a subtle enemy. I will tell you how to meet the ioe." (A long draught.) " Establish a paper." Choois , counter chee 1'"1 '" and frantic destruction of fuinituie. Tho speaker could not proceed for ten minutes. Cries of "'That's the idea," &c, &c, resounding through the room.) " Establish u paper. Subscribe, subscribe ! A powerful pen is sit your disposal. Hector Macimiis" — (Tremendous choeriug) — "is known to you all. Give it a chance in a local paper." (Frantic applause.) "My humble self' — (great cheeiing) — " will help to make the Gritty Gully Trumpet respected throughout the laud." (Cheeis, and some ' Ohs !') " I move that u journal, to bp called the G"Uty Gully Tiunipd, bo at ouco established; Mr Maciuniti being editor, and myself manager." Bunakum now sat down amidst thunders of applause. Several enthusiastic admirers at ouce rushed to him with brandy bottles. Mr Obadiah Sweetcoinfort, sen., rose to second tho motion ; and it wis put and carried item, eon., amidst cbeei's and reiterated cheers ; with groans for the commissioner, and cries of " Lynch him!" Whereupon 'several Ca'lifornianß at once drew their bowie-knives. Bunakum jumped up, however, at once, and cried out, *« Down with <ih9_ dust, gentlemen P Give us life at once, j have given £10 myself" — (whence came the £10 ?),—" Mr White, 1 £10, and/Mr kweetcoinfort, £10. Subscribe!"' 1 ' And they' did. On|e aftei' the ' other went up the platform;' and/ere the yote.of thanks'io the chairman wa"s fl passed/ £500 had been collected by '^Bunaknm J IJeetor MacinnW; hpwever^'knbwlii^ Where the,., money wrfuldje' go^itoiri^ thafo worthy^ h6iridBVQ^uietily^to'pK?it''asjtrea^uterl Lijjtlef

at once made up to Prudence, and that she neglected the thirsty consumer to listen to him. " Prudence, dear Prudence," Jack heaid him say, amidst the din, " I am now able to offer you a home. Be mine, dearest — mine for ever. 1 ' She blushed, and allowed him to take her hand* " She will not be iv tho way," Jack heard her say. How tho boy's blood boiled. He knew who was referred to. The agonised face he had seen so lately haunted him again. " No, no," replied Hector; "I have done with her for ever. Never speak of her again."