The Gold Hunters' Adventures Part 69

"Come, ain't you fellers a goin' to drink with us? That ain't exactly the thing, you know. There ain't no aristocracy in these parts. Every feller is tree and equal, as the old Const.i.tution of the States says."

We could not withstand Ben's pressing intimation that we were to consider ourselves no better than others present, and after waiting five minutes for a chance at a gla.s.s, we managed to swallow a few mouthfuls of the vile stuff.

"That's the ticket!" he cried, when he saw that we were disposed to follow his example; "nothing like good whiskey to keep a man all right, at the mines. I don't drink much myself, but I've no objections to other people taking a nip now and then."

As he spoke, he held out his gla.s.s for another nip, and the attentive Charley, with an eye to his profits, quickly filled it.

"I give you," said Ben, appealing to the crowd for silence--for most of the miners had grown talkative, under the influence of their drink--"I give you a toast. Here's to the tax, and d---- the man that wouldn't d---- it!"

The toast was received with yells of applause, and even when the confusion was at its height, I noticed a small, dark-complexioned man, wearing a blue frock coat with bra.s.s b.u.t.tons, but with no other insignia of office or authority, enter the room.

His presence was not noticed by the crowd, which still continued its revels, until the new comer approached us, when a death-like silence crept over the a.s.sembly.

"Good evening, gentlemen," said the dark man, addressing Fred and myself in a courteous manner; "I belive that you are recent arrivals?"

"Not more than three hours since," I replied, returning his salutation.

"I believe you have stated the hours correctly," he returned, dryly; "we live fast, here in Ballarat, yet I think you have outstripped us by your activity."

"No one can regret the circ.u.mstance which has taken place more than myself," replied Fred.

"Perhaps not," answered the dark man with a grim smile; and while he was speaking, I noticed that those in the saloon edged towards us for the purpose of hearing our conversation.

"The quarrel was occasioned by a dispute about horses, I believe?" the little man said.

"You are correct in your suppositions," returned Fred.

"Will you be kind enough to inform me how those animals came in your possession?" interrogated the stranger.

"I don't know what business it is of yours," returned Fred, with some asperity; "but as we seek to disguise nothing, I will frankly inform you that we purchased the horses and paid for them."

"A likely story, truly; I never yet knew the police of Melbourne to sell their spare horses."

At these words, we saw that the crowd looked at each other suspiciously, and appeared to regard us as being guilty of some serious crime.

"When you show us your authority for asking questions, we will explain matters." I replied, after a moment's hesitation.

"Perhaps you will explain before it suits your convenience," the little man said, ironically; "I heard of the quarrel and the duel which one of you has been engaged in, and while investigating, I took occasion to look at the horses which you rode. You will imagine that I was surprised to discover that each animal had upon his hind quarter the private mark of the police of Melbourne. I repeat, sir, that the authorities of that city are not in the habit of selling horses to adventurers."

The little man spoke confidently, and glanced around the crowd to see if his words were having an effect upon his audience. Thinking that he would complete our humiliation, he continued:--

"Our worthy miners here at Ballarat, have sometimes been put to great trouble by losing the dust which they have sent to the cities, and I think that I am right in demanding, in their name, a strict account of all suspicious people who visit us."

This was a shrewd bit of acting on the part of the little man, for he instantly carried all the miners with him. Hardly one present but had suffered at the hands of the bushrangers, and was anxious to avenge his loss.

"Let the fellers show who they is," the crowd began to murmur; and even our former friend, Charley, I observed, joined in the cry, while Ben remained silent, and drank two more gla.s.ses of whiskey during the tumult.

"It is evident that you suspect us of being bushrangers," observed Fred, coolly.

"I certainly think that you are," returned the little man, bluntly; "and it is a matter of surprise to me that I see you in the company of a man who has, during his trading at the mines, borne a good character."

This was a hard dig at Smith, and he sought to explain, but Fred checked him.

"If we should prove to you that we are honest men, I suppose that you would be willing to make an ample apology for the manner in which you have addressed us?" Fred said.

The little man smiled sarcastically, and intimated that he should be most happy.

"Then," Fred exclaimed, drawing a paper from his pocket and handing it to the little man, "you will please to read that, and see if you are acquainted with the signatures."

The stranger called for a candle, for it was nearly dark, and by its light began perusing the doc.u.ment.

"What is this?" he muttered; "a bill of sale of two horses, formerly owned by the police of Melbourne, to Messrs. Frank ---- and James ----, signed by Hansen, the captain of police, and Murden, lieutenant. Can it be possible? Yes, it must be; I understand it all."

The little man threw himself upon us, grasped each of our hands, and to the intense astonishment of all present, began shaking them as though he was working a pump.

"How could I be so mistaken?" he asked. "I really thought; but, pshaw, my suspicions were so absurd."

"What's the row?" demanded big Ben, who began to feel the effects of the chemical whiskey.

"There is no row, only I am happy to say that I made a mistake in my man," the little person said.

"What, ain't they men, after all?" shouted Ben; "if they ain't men, they must be wimmin, and that's all the better; if one of 'urn wants a husbin' I'm the feller for her!"

"Their past conduct don't prove that they are women!" cried the little man. "They are the two Americans who are known all over the island as bushranger hunters. We have all read an account of their doings in the Melbourne papers, and we welcome them to the mines, and hope that they will be as successful here as they have been elsewhere."

"The devil they is; why, I thought when I seen that ere feller stand up to be shot at, that he had smelled gunpowder afore. Give us your hands, my chickens! Cuss me, if ye ain't an honor to the States!"

We hardly dared trust our hands within Ben's grip, yet when we did so, we were delightfully surprised to find that he was reasonable.

"Well, I allers said that they was all right!" cried Charley, who turned with the tide; "the instant I seed 'um insulted, I knew that I should be on the right side. You wouldn't like to pay for the whiskey which has been drunk, would you?" he asked, in an undertone.

Fred put a number of gold coins in his hand, but whether our sponging friend was overpaid, or whether the money fell short, I never knew, as I saw the little man give him a glance that was very expressive of his disapprobation, and with an ashamed look, the fellow slunk back to his whiskey cask.

"Come, gentlemen," said the little man; "this is no place for tired travellers. Let us retire, and leave the crowd to drink themselves drunk."

We followed his advice, and in a few minutes had left the dissipated miners to their revels.

CHAPTER x.x.xVI.

ARRIVAL AT BALLARAT.--MR. BROWN'S STORY.

We walked slowly along the main street of Ballarat, and chatted with our new friend on a variety of subjects. He appeared to be well informed on mining, and shrugged his shoulders when we intimated that our intention was to get rich by delving in the earth, and bringing its riches to light.

"By the way," our new acquaintance said, "it is a little singular that Murden did not give you a letter to me. He knows that I am stationed here, and that I would do all in my power to a.s.sist his friends."