The Gold Hunter's Adventures Or, Life In Australia Volume 2 ( Of 2 ) - William H. Thomes (large screen ebook reader txt) 📗
- Author: William H. Thomes
Book online «The Gold Hunter's Adventures Or, Life In Australia Volume 2 ( Of 2 ) - William H. Thomes (large screen ebook reader txt) 📗». Author William H. Thomes
Suggestion, There Would Be A Pretty Row," Muttered The Captain, Still
Hesitating.
"But They Need Not Know It," I Repeated.
"Come, Captain Fitz, For Old Acquaintance Sake, Let Us See The Young
Man. No Harm Will Come Of It, And You Will Be Doing A Good Service,"
Said Mr. Brown, Who Knew The Officer While Quartered At Melbourne.
"Well, I Will See What I Can Do For You; But Remember, I Shall Give You
Only Five Minutes."
Volume 2 Chapter 82 (Arrest Of Fred.--Trip To Melbourne, And Its Results) Pg 266
"That Will Answer Our Purpose," I Replied.
"Then Wait Here A Few Moments, Until I Report Myself Ready For The
March. The Prisoners Are Being Mustered, And Preparing For The Long
Tramp, For We Have Got To Get Them Out Of Ballarat Before Daylight, For
Fear Of An Attack And Rescue."
He Spoke Hurriedly, And Then Entered The Commissioner's Room, Where He
Remained Ten Minutes, When He Again Joined Us.
"All Right," He Whispered; "Put On These Overcoats And Caps--You Must
Pass For Officers, Or There Will Be An End To All Attempts At An
Interview."
We Were Too Glad To Comply With The Request To Waste Words, And As Soon
As We Had Donned The Disguise We Followed The Captain Out Of The Front
Door, Passed Double Lines Of Soldiers, Still On Duty, But Resting On
Their Arms, And At Length Reached A Strong Building Where The Prisoners
Were Confined, And Where Preparations Were Being Made For Their Removal.
A Dozen Or Twenty Soldiers Guarded The Door; But At The Sight Of The
Captain And His Uniform, Arms Were Presented, The Door Was Unlocked, And
We Passed Into A Room Thirty Feet Square, Where We Found About
Twenty-Five Of The Most Prominent Miners, Lounging About, Talking, And
Apparently Entirely Indifferent To Their Fate. We Cast Our Eyes Over The
Crowd, And Soon Saw Fred, Holding A Conversation With A Soldier, Whom He
Was Endeavoring To Bribe To Get Writing Materials, So That He Could
Indite A Few Lines To Us Before He Left.
"Step This Way, My Man," I Said, Disguising My Voice, And Addressing My
Friend.
He Looked Somewhat Astonished, But As He Could Not See My Face, He Did
Not Know Me.
"Well, Gentlemen, What Is Your Pleasure?" He Asked, As He Followed Us To
The Most Remote Part Of The Room.
"To See You Before You Left, And To Convince You That We Will Make Every
Exertion To Secure Your Release," I Whispered.
"Ah, Jack," My Friend Said, Squeezing My Hand, "I Knew That You Would
Not Let Me Leave Without Making An Effort To See Me. A Thousand Thanks
For This Kindness."
"Don't Be Discouraged," I Continued; "Mr. Brown And Myself Are Going To
Melbourne In The Morning, And We Will Use All Our Influence To Get You
Clear. Is There Any Thing That You Desire?"
"I Don't Know Of Any Thing, Unless You Can Send Me A Few Clothes, So
That I Can Have A Change After Reaching The City."
"We Will Await Your Arrival, And While We Are Away, Smith Must Look
After The Business."
Volume 2 Chapter 82 (Arrest Of Fred.--Trip To Melbourne, And Its Results) Pg 267
"Time Is Up, Gentlemen," Captain Fitz Said, Approaching Us.
"One Moment, Sir.--Have You Any Gold In Your Pockets?" I Asked.
"A Few Shilling Pieces--Nothing More," Fred Replied.
"Then Take These Sovereigns;" And I Slipped A Dozen Into His Hand.
"I Must Again Remind You, Gentlemen," The Captain Remarked.
"We Are All Ready To Leave, And Have Only One More Favor To Ask. Let Us
Have A Moment's Conversation With The Orderly Sergeant, Who Will Have
The Immediate Care Of The Prisoners."
"There He Stands," The Captain Replied, Pointing To A Six-Footer, Who
Was Ironing The Men, And Who Was Waiting To Handcuff Fred.
The Captain Smiled To See The Eagerness With Which I Rushed Towards The
Man, And Then Very Wisely Turned His Back Upon Us. He Suspected What I
Intended To Do.
"You Have The Immediate Charge Of The Prisoners?" I Asked.
"Yes, Sir," He Replied, With Some Show Of Respect, For We Wore The
Overcoats Of Officers.
"Will You See That My Friend There Has Every Comfort That It Is Possible
To Obtain On The Route?" I Asked.
"They Must All Share Alike, Sir," He Answered.
"But Will You Promise Not To Iron Him, And Accept His Word Of Honor That
He Will Not Attempt To Run Away?" I Asked.
"Couldn't Think Of Such A Thing, Sir. I'm Responsible For Every Man."
"But He Is A Gentleman, And Will Keep His Word, Let What Will Happen," I
Pleaded.
Another Reproval Was Springing From His Lips, When Suddenly His Face
Underwent A Remarkable Change, And A Smile Took The Place Of A Frown.
"Fifty More When I Meet You In Melbourne, If You Strictly Comply With My
Requests," I Whispered.
The Soldier Put His Hand Into His Pocket With Wonderful Dexterity, And I
Heard Gold Chink As He Withdrew It.
"All Right, Sir--Rely Upon Me. The Gentleman Shall Have My Bed And Grub,
And Ride Beside Me In The Ambulance. I Must Keep An Eye On Him, You
Know, 'Cos I'm 'Sponsible For His Safe Keeping."
"Watch Him As Close As You Please," I Replied, "Although I Assure You
Volume 2 Chapter 82 (Arrest Of Fred.--Trip To Melbourne, And Its Results) Pg 268That He Would Not Escape After He Has Once Passed His Word For All The
Gold In The Mines Of Australia."
"Them's The Kind Of Coveys I Likes," Responded The Soldier. "He Shan't
Feel The Touch Of The Irons, And Shall Fare Like A Grenadier. But You
Won't Forget The Other Fifty."
I Assured The Man That The Money Should Be Forthcoming; And Just Then
The Shrill Notes Of A Trumpet Were Heard Outside, Followed By The Roll
Of A Drum.
"You Must Leave Instantly," Cried Captain Fitz, Hurriedly. "The
Prisoners Are About To Be Led Out."
We Rushed Towards Fred, Gave Him A Hearty Shake Of Our Hands, Whispered
A Few Words Of Encouragement, And Then Were Compelled To Leave The
Building.
"Pass This Way, Gentlemen," The Captain Said; "I'll Escort You Through
The Lines, As You Might Find Some Difficulty In Answering The Sentry's
Challenges."
We Followed The Kind-Hearted Officer, And Were Soon Outside The Lines,
When We Thanked Him For His Kindness.
"Some Other Time We Will Talk Of The Matter," He Answered. "I Must Now
Hasten Back To My Command; But One Word Before We Part. Don't Think That
All British Officers Resemble Colonel Kellum. Now, I Will Thank You For
The Overcoats, Or My Brother Officers Will Scold Worse Than A Dragoon.
Adieu. We Shall Meet In Melbourne."
He Disappeared In The Darkness, And We Walked Silently To The Store,
Where We Found Smith, Who Was So Overcome By The Arrest Of Fred That He
Had Drank Six Or Seven Glasses Of Whiskey, And Announced His Intention
Of Continuing To Imbibe Until He Was Lost To All Reason. A Few Words Of
Comfort, However, And An Announcement That We Should Leave For Melbourne
In The Morning, And Require Him To Look After The Store Until Our
Return, Sobered Him, And He Vowed Not To Touch Another Glass Of Spirits
Until Fred Was Released.
Mr. Brown Promised To Accompany Me, And Before Morning We Packed Up Our
Clothes, And At Daylight We Were On Our Way In The Stage, Rolling Along
At The Rate Of Ten Miles An Hour; And In Two Days After Leaving The
Mines We Were In Melbourne, And Closeted With Murden, Who Proved Himself
Our Friend In Adversity, As He Was In Prosperity.
"I Will Do All That I Can," He Said, After Listening To Our Story. "The
Commissioner Has So Magnified Matters That The Governor And Council
Really Think A Most Formidable Insurrection Has Occurred, And That He
Has Displayed Great Power In Putting It Down. To Make The Affair As
Complicated As Possible, The Governor Seems To Think That The Americans
Were At The Head Of The Conspiracy, And Have Urged The English On To
Action. I, Of Course, Know Better, And Will Endeavor To Have Him Put
Right On The Subject."
Volume 2 Chapter 82 (Arrest Of Fred.--Trip To Melbourne, And Its Results) Pg 269
Murden Appointed An Interview In The Afternoon, And Then Left Us To Lay
Our Case Before A Few Of The Most Influential Members Of The Council,
While We Visited Old Acquaintances, And Explained To Smith's Wife, Who
Was Living In A Very Pleasant House In The City, The Reason Why Her
Husband Would Not Return For A Week Or Two. The Lady Was Heartily Glad
To See Me, And At Her Request Mr. Brown And Myself Took Up Our Quarters
In Her House During Our Stay In The City.
In The Afternoon We Called On Murden, And Found That He Had Accomplished
His Object. The Governor, On His Representations, Had Ordered A
Discharge To Be Immediately Made Out, And Sealed By The Broad Seal Of
The Colony, And Intimated That A Most Thorough Investigation Should Be
Instituted Regarding The Conduct Of Both The Commissioner And Colonel
Kellum At Ballarat.
"And Now To Conclude A Long Story," Said Murden, "Here Is A Discharge
Which States That Your Friend Was Unjustly Arrested, And That He Be
Released From Custody, No Matter Under Whose Jurisdiction He May Be,
Forthwith. His Excellency Also Bade Me State That He Should Be Pleased
To See You Before Your Departure From The City, And Requests Mr.
Inspector Brown To Repair To Ballarat And Report For Duty."
"Ah, Murden," Mr. Brown Exclaimed, "I Am Indebted To You For This
Re-Appointment."
"I Thought That I Might As Well Kill Two Birds With One Stone, As The
Saying Is, And Faith I've Done It. But I See
Comments (0)