CHAPTER XIV. A SEMI-DESERTED GOLD-FIELD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1771, 10 November 1883, Page 5

CHAPTER XIV. A SEMI-DESERTED GOLD-FIELD.

No sight in nature is more melanoholy than a worked-out diggings. A tract of Country, shorn of timber, and partially denuded of all vegetation — for even grass will not grow on the wash dirt, which is known as " tailings" — adorned with huge mounds of clay and gravel, in most cases surmounted by the skeleton of a shed, which onoe covered the shaft, around which the mass has accumulated ; hero and there yawning chasmß in the* earth, and everywhere broken bottlea, tins, shreds of clothing, and other refuse. In such a scene, the eye seeks in vain for one pleasureable resting-place; all is drear, barren, colorless, and eminently depressing. It is an Aceldama — a battle-field where men have fought the fight with Mother Earth, and rifled her and her treasures, leaving decay and de- 1 solution behind. Not quite to this drear condition was Indigo Creek reduced at the time when James Squires picked his way through the abandoned claims, on the day after we left him in the editor's den in Albury. A few fortunehunters still remained behind, toiling against hope, but lacking the energy to more away. These were, for the most part, "hatters" (that is, men working without partners) who had with them their wives and families, and upon Jwhom the res angustA domi pressed so heavily that they had lost hope and faith, and lived only in the present, satisfied that the future could bring no amelioration of their condition — at least, as far as this world is concerned. These men lived in huts on their claims, in such poverty and dirt as is almost inconceivable to the reader whose only knowledge of digger-life is derived from books and newspapers. Not one of these men but could have kept his family in decent comfort, had he been content to work for a weekly wage — but it is the curse of gold-digging that those who have once seen, even afar off, the rich prizes which fall to the lucky few, can never again be content to settle down to the monotony of regular labour for regular pay. They hope, until hope merges into despair, and they are lost. At rare intervals, greater signs of activity may be seen. Vigorous work is in progress, and the dwelling-place near the claim is more free from accumulated rubbish, and often boasts of a small patch of garden, in a high state of cultivation. Nearing such an oasi3 in the desert, you hear a constant chatter, not unlike the chirping of birds, and presently you are saluted by a chorus of ' good days,' from merry fatfaced little men, and you know that you are among the much-abused Chinamen. They are not dirty, ragged, half-starved, and hopeless 1 Ble&3 you, nothing can be neater, and more prosperous-looking, than John, when he has doffed his working-suit, and is taking his ease after a hard day's labour. What is hia secret ? If I know it not, I believe that I can at least give you the secret of the extreme poverty of his European neighbour — whioh may be briefly summed up in the one word, Bum. John Chinaman has his vices, but drunkenness is not amongst them, and he can live well on the money which the poorest white digger weekly wastes in drink. And John, on the diggings, is not so offensive as he is in towns. He is not so crowded, and he smells sweeter. Then he is not so addicted to opium and gambling as his metropolitan brother, and his other more ! unmentionable vices are not so apparent, because less opportunity exists for their indulgence. A clump of two or three shanties, by the wayside, formed the " township " at the portion of Indigo Creek with which we have to deal. These were a store, public-house, and butcher's shop — all of which seemed to share in the general decay. A blight seemed to have fallen upon all and everything in the valley — save and except the portions occupied by the despised race before-mentioned. James hitched his horse to a post, and went into the publio-house. The interior was even less inviting than the exterior. The floor was stained with spilt liquor and tobacco-juice accumulated till naught but a jack-plane would ever have made it wholesome ; and countless generations of flies had besmirched the walls till all trace of their original covering was lost. There were some pictures — very dreadful works of art in their palmiest days, but now so warped and discolored that their identity was lost, and they served merely as land-marks to break the monotony of the dreary ocean of filth by which they were surrounded. For all furniture, there were two benches, fixtures against the walls, and the bar. This last boasted no bright-handled beer-engines, and was guiltless of leaden covering ; whilst its solitary ornament was a decanter-shaped fly-catcher, filled with a grewsome mass of putrid inseots. In one corner stood a hogshead, with a brass tap, and, on the shelf, at the back, were many dirty bottles, variously labelled, but all bearing intrinsic evidence that they had done duty for many a weary day. Two sodden, grimy, men, who had long since lost all claim to be considered as reasonable creatures, were seated side by side, on a bench, with a pewter pot placed between them ; and each held in his hand a claspknife, and a filthy sandwich of oorned-beef and damper. These were- single men, and they were enjoying their dinner, if such degraded animals can ba said to " enjoy " anything. Leaning over the bar was the landlord — ft greasy, bloated, individual, with blood-shot watery eyes, and tremulous under-lip — signs that he was not above taking his share of the liquors he dispensed. James Squires— who was fastidious — oudgelled his brains for an idea as to what drink he might venture to imbibe without giving offence by too open a display of disgust. At last he decided on schnapps. Let me here digress for a moment to give the reader a piece of advice, founded upon personal experience. It .was my fate once to spend some idle days in a bush publio-house. I began on whiskey. It was poison. Then t tried brandy,, pale and dark— then rum— a beverage I abominate. AH were alike awful to the palate, and calculated to induce delirium tremens at the shortest notice. Then I became a total abstainer, until the landlord remonstrated with me, and, an explanation ensuing, recommended sohnapps as being the safest drink anywhere, alleging, as the reason, that it was so cheap that it was not worth a man's while to adulterate it. I hate sohnapps, worse even than rum, bat, whenever I travel in unknown parts, and feel that I need a stimulant, I choose it in preference to- any other spirit. As for wines, no sane, mart ever asks for wine in a 'Country public-house,', and suoh beer as is procurable is always warm, muddy,-and poisonous. Experto crede. When James Squires had been • supplied with some sohnapps, he said : ■ . „ , - , ,"Do you remember, &. man named Board* man who used to work yon these - ; diggings, about a year ago?" > \"L /• , /iV»v J^ / "A'y-^lmpkj George we/tfalied hiin,'!sa,B.

the reply. " I mind him well, and so does these gentleman here." The gentlemen referred to granted, and James immediately asked them to join him in a drink. .When was ever snoh an invitation refused by gentry of that stamp? They actually staggered to .their feet, and shuffled over to the counter ; whilst the landlord, without waiting for instructions, poured out a couple of glasses of rum. " Here's my best respex," said the livelier of the twain, as he raised a tumbler in his trembling hand. Then, after he had gulped down the fiery liquid at a draught, without diluting it with water, he added : " You was a-speakin' of George Boardman ? Why, bless you, he were a mate o1o 1 mine one time 1 " "Is he here now ? " asked James, affecting ignorance of the man's fate. " Which he left these yer diggin's over a twelvemonth ago," was the response. " Made his pile, he did, and cleared out." " Whereby he Bhowed his sense," said the other man, speaking for the first time. " An' never in your born days, Joe Simmons, did you speak a truer word," remarked the first speaker. " There's a many on us wishes we follered Luoky George's example whiles we had the money to do it— but luoky ho allus was, and allus will be." "It warn't no bad sorter luok to git quit o' that rantin' old fishfag of a wife of his'n," added the landlord. " That's gospel, lan'lord," said Mr. Joe Simmons. "Their plaoe ain't noways fur from mine, and I hears 'em plain, every night. Lor, how she do carry on when she's got her skinfull of grog." "Is Mrs. Boardman here still then?" asked James. 14 Yes — Luoky George he leaves her behind, and goes off wi the swag ; which come home no mere he don't, but sends her two quid a week reg'lar." •' Gould you show me where she lives ? " asked James. _ ' Mr. Simmons could, and would, with plea- ,' sure ; but he still lingered, casting a loving glance at his empty glass, and James divined that he was expected to pay for a fresh supply : of liquor, which he incontinently did, further adding to his popularity by telling the landlord to fill a glass for himself. Ten minutes' walking brought them to a spot from whence Mr. Simmons -pointed out the hut occupied by Mrs. Boardman, and then ha took his leave, well satisfied, for James had remunerated him for his services by the present of half-a-crown, and he now felt sure of being able to get satisfactorily drunk before nightfall. The Boardman establishment was quite as forlorn and dilapidated as the majority of the dwellings on that portion of the creek, being merely a dirty two-roomed hut, with a bark skillion at the baok. Some ragged-looking fowls, a mangy pig, and two disreputable goats, which, with a gaunt yellow dog, formed the live stock of the family, were variously grouped around the hut, and noticed the arrival of a stranger each after the manner of its kind, raising altogether quite a respectable uproar, whioh soon brought the mistress to the door. Verily, a termagant indeed. A tall scraggy woman, with flat back and bosom ; whiteybrown unkempt hair; seamed, pallid face, and fierce littla ferrety eyes, which gl*rod enquiringly as James approached. "Mrs. Boardman? " he said, with his best smile, and a flourish of his hat. " Yes— what was yer a-wantin' ? — Now you keep inside, you little devils, or I'll smack the life out of yer I " — This to sundry dirty brats who hung about her skirts, and strove to make their way to the front. " I should like to have a few minutes' conversation with you," said James ; " that is, if you can spare the time. By the way, could you oblige me with a tumbler, and some water — it is a very thirsty day, and I forgot to get anything to drink from when I bought this bottle of schnapps." On learning the lady's tastes, he had provided himself with that sure passport to her favour — a bottle of grog. Mrs. Boardman's eyes glistened, and she civilly invited him to step inside. In the interior, dirt and squalor reigned triumphant. It is useless to particularise — such a place must be familiar to all who have entered homes of the poorer classes where the mother is a drunkard. Three or four children stood gaping around, as James took his seat on a rioketty bush sofa ; but Mrs. Boardman speedily ejected them by the summary means of cuffing those nearest to her, and sweating at them collectively. Then she brought a cracked tumbler, and a dipper of water, and took her seat on a three-legged stool by the fire-place. James drew the cork from the bottle, poured out a bumper of schnapps, and handed it to the lady. "After you is manners, sir," she said. "I'll take 'a cup myself, seem' as we're short of glasses since the old man left." " I heard he had gone away," said James, filling the cup she handed to him. " How is he getting on ? " " Dunno. How should I know ? " she asked, fiercely — " seem' as how the old villi'n never send no word since he left ? " " Yet I understood that he remitted to you tffo pounds a week regularly." " What if he do ? Ain't he a right to pay' fur the keep of his own children? Two pound ! What's two pound to find a family on these diggin's ? Yah 1 " "Little enough, indeed," said James, anxious to soothe the lady. " But who be you, a-oomin', and a-pryin' into other folkseß' bizness ? " asked Mrs. Boardman, lashing herself into a fury — one glass of spirits is quite sufficient to upset the equanimity of a lady of that stamp. "You must forgive me,V said James. "I have some news to tell you about your husband ; but, before I do so, I must ask you a few questions." " News ! What news ? Spit ifc out at once. Not that I care. I wish the old wretch was burning, I do 1 " "Let me help you to another glass of schnapps," said the politic James, suiting the action to the word. "He never writes, you say?" " Never 1 Anyways, he can't read nor write himself, but he might 'git someonos else to write fur him. Write ? Not he ! — But, hold on — read that " — here Mrs. Boardman took an old letter from a dilapidated work-box, which stood on a stool by her side, and | handed it to James. " That'll tell you how he treats his own wife, wot he vowed to love and obey till death do us part. Oh, he's a duckl" ' • James read ; • " Jane Boardman— you led me such a life that I don't mean to go back to you no more. So long as you stops at the Indigo, , you gets two pound a week regular ; but, if you leaves the diggings, or goes prying into what don't ooncern you, a-trying to find out where I am, the allowance stops to the minute, and you never hears no more of me. George Boardman, his X mark." " Well ? " said the lady. " What do y6u think of that now?" "Itis a oruel letter." ' ' , u You may say that l And me that toiled and moiled fur that man, a-wearin' the flesh off, of my bones a-workin' fur, him— and faithful; and true to him when there was 'lots, as .'ud' a,, given me, silken gowndsjrad buggies tpyride; m, if 1$ leftjhim ! I.do, just; want.ronce to getin'y fi^gers,'on. 4 his ugly-^cja l^^'d^ari^

ended in a scream, which might hare been heard a quarter of a mile away. "And this letter is over a year old ?" pursued Jame3, when the lady had calmed, down a little, and refreshed herself with' another glass of sohnapps. " Over a year, and never no word of him since, only the two pound a week. God knows where he's got to ! The money allus comes from Melbourne, with no address nor nothink." " Had he much money when he leffc you ? " " He had, nigh as I could' guess, he bein' allus a close-fisted chap as ever you see, nary a penny less than six hundred pound. And thon to put his wife and fam'ly off wi his dirty two pound a week <I " ' " What did he propose to do, when he left here ? " "He were a-goin' to take up some land, Sydney side, he tole me — the old liar ! Said he'd send for me soon's he'd found a likely spot, and run up a bit of a place to live in." . It is necessary here to explain that James Squires had been led into making this visit to Indigo Greek, by, the hope that some proof might be obtained that Boardman — or the man who had been found dead, apd was supposed to be Boardman — had intended to take up land on John's run, or, at least, on Mr. Dawson's. If this could be proved, it would be an important link in the chain of evidence, as it would supply a motive for the murdej?. He found, by the depositions taken at the inquest, that Boardman was supposed to have come from Indigo Creek, the information having been supplied by a publican at whose house he had stayed for a night. The result of his enquuies, for the moment, grievously disappointed James ; but then a brilliant idea occurred to him. Boardmau was alive, but hiding from his wife, and therefore, in all probability, living under an assumed name. He could not read or write, and thus would remain in ignorance of what might occur at John's trial, unless he was informed by some of his associates ; which would nbt be likely to happen, as the odds were that they would not know his real name, and would thus fail to connect him with the story. It would be quite possible, James thought, to prove that the man set forth with the intention of free-selecting on Buckinburra, and account for the money sent to* his wife on the supposition that it was " consciencemoney," remitted by John to the family of the man he had murdered. Or it might be regarded as merely restitution of the sum taken from the body by the murderers ; 'for only a few shillings were in the pockets when it was examined by the police. It was a beautiful idea, and James inwardly chuckled as it occurred to him. Again, there was the further chance that Boardman really had been murdered and robbed, and that the robber, being cohscienoesmitten, had taken means .to provide for the family of his victim. If this were the case, there would be even le3s chance of John escaping, for the real murderer would preserve silence .for his own sake. t James made Mrs. Bo«o.'dman acquainted with the facts that had came out at the inquest, and then added that two young squatters were now suspected of having killed her husband. He finished by suggesting -that the weekly allowance came from them. It would be unpleasant to read, as well as to write, all that the lacly said when she heard James's tale — suffice it to say that she raved, stormed, swore, blasphemed, tore her hair, sobbed, cried; and finally vowed vengeance on the murderers, declaring that she would proceed to Albury without further delay, so as to be present at the hearing of the case in the police court. James left her, well satisfied with his day's work; but, before going, he induced her to promise to maintain silence as to the part he had taken in visiting her. This she 'did readily enough, for he accompanied the request by the present of five pounds, and the promise of as much more if the secret did not leak out till all was over. Not that he cared much if it were known, for he proposed to excuse himself by saying that, hearing a rumor that Boardman was still alive, he had visited Indigo Creek with a ' view to find out the truth. Mr. James Squires gave promise of developing, in time, into a very superior kind of scoundrel. Indeed, he had quite a talent that way ; just as I have a talent for doing nothing (if I can help it.) Unfortunately, I have not the same opportunities for cultivating my talent as James had for cultivating his. Still I do what I can.